Chapter 22: Small Town - Flame Charge
Ryan returned to town and handed six Poké Balls to Nurse Joy for recovery. He then told her about his encounter with the Hoenn region's Champion in the cave. Upon hearing it was Champion Steven, Nurse Joy was somewhat concerned, but she nonetheless contacted the Pokémon League, informing them of the situation and requesting they quickly return the Zubat and Golbat to their original location.
Lillie, in turn, envied Ryan for meeting the Champion and receiving his guidance. Ryan smiled without comment. After the six Pokémon recovered, he and Lillie left the town, heading for their next destination—the supposedly unique Town. They encountered no further incidents, and Lillie's leg injury healed completely, allowing her to walk normally again. After a day and a half of traveling, Ryan and his companions arrived at this unique Town.
Upon entering, the temperature rose several degrees, and they immediately understood why this place was so special. Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Vulpix, Ninetales, Growlithe, Arcanine, Ponyta, Rapidash, and countless other Fire-type Pokémon from various regions could be seen throughout the town.
Ryan asked the townspeople about the dormant volcano nearby, which had attracted a large number of Fire-type Pokémon to settle in the area. The locals had also developed natural hot springs there, giving the town some regional fame. However, due to its relatively small size, it wasn't as well-known as Cinnabar Island, and remained a hidden gem. But because of the hot springs and the abundance of Fire-type Pokémon, it had earned its reputation as a premier Fire-type destination.
Ryan also heard about a kind owner at the local hot springs resort who would teach Fire-type Pokémon the ultimate Fire-type move—Flame Charge—completely free of charge.
The two, already eager to experience the famous hot springs, immediately decided to visit.
Following the townspeople's directions, Ryan and Lillie arrived at the traditional-style hot springs resort. The owners were an elderly couple who ran the establishment with obvious pride. When the grandfather heard that Ryan wanted to learn Flame Charge, he patted his chest confidently and promised he could teach the technique. Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, "Our hot spring allows both trainers and Pokémon to bathe together—it's one of our special features!"
Ryan rolled his eyes at the old man's enthusiasm, thinking he was quite the character. Even so, the therapeutic benefits were well-documented.
After paying the fee and changing into swim trunks, Ryan and his six Pokémon eagerly entered the hot spring. The water had a faint sulfur scent, but it wasn't overwhelming. Natural hot springs typically contain various beneficial trace minerals and maintain temperatures above 86°F. These mineral-rich warm springs are known to help with various conditions including muscle tension, joint stiffness, stress relief, and minor skin irritations.
Moderate-temperature springs, around 100°F to 104°F, have a calming effect on the body and offer benefits for stress, insomnia, mild circulation issues, and muscle soreness.
Higher-temperature springs, above 109°F, have a more stimulating effect and can help improve overall physical conditioning, boost immune function, and provide general wellness benefits.
Lillie also brought her Pokémon to the springs, wearing a modest white one-piece swimsuit with a towel wrap. Her Pokémon also soaked in the mineral-rich water, closing their eyes in obvious comfort. Only Charizard had to rest his tail flame outside the spring to keep it from being extinguished—a minor inconvenience he bore with good humor.
After their relaxing soak, the resort provided complimentary hot spring bread and fresh milk. Following dinner at the inn, Ryan and Lillie made their way to the back of the resort, where a professional Pokémon battle field had been constructed. A Charizard—smaller than Ryan's own Charizard but radiating obvious power and experience—was already waiting there.
Ryan's Charizard approached the field and began communicating with the resident Charizard. The elderly man's Charizard began explaining the mechanics of Flame Charge, then demonstrated the technique with practiced precision. Taking advantage of this rare learning opportunity, Ryan also had Mewtwo and Nidoking—both capable of learning Fire-type techniques—observe closely to pick up Fire Punch, Flamethrower, and Fire Blast. He also encouraged Lillie to send out her Nidorina and Clefairy to learn alongside them.
While these moves typically require Technical Machines to learn efficiently, they can be mastered through direct instruction from experienced Pokémon. The process is slower and less convenient than using TMs, and success depends heavily on the student Pokémon's natural aptitude and intelligence.
This wasn't a concern, however, as Lillie's Nidorina and Clefairy showed solid potential, while Ryan's team consisted of exceptionally gifted Pokémon with remarkable learning capabilities.
After explaining his intentions, the kind old man generously sent out his experienced Charmeleon to serve as an additional instructor. Within just twenty minutes, Mewtwo had mastered all three Fire-type techniques. Then, tugging at Ryan's shirt, he communicated telepathically, "Trainer, I want to learn other moves too."
Ryan considered for a moment, then sent out Greninja to teach Mewtwo Water Pulse. In just four minutes, Mewtwo had mastered that technique as well. By the time Charizard had finally learned Flame Charge, Mewtwo had already absorbed every compatible move from Greninja, Bellossom, and Beedrill.
Charizard's solid performance filled Ryan with pride. At the same time, he sensed a deep conflict within his starter Pokémon—this newer team member was rapidly surpassing him in versatility and power. But Charizard's determination burned brighter than ever; as Ryan's first Pokémon, he refused to be left behind.
Charizard then approached the elderly man's Charizard for guidance on Heat Wave and Inferno. Under Ryan's careful supervision, Mewtwo began focusing on refining his move execution speed and reducing lag time, while using his psychic abilities to maintain aerial positioning and enhance his fundamental battle conditioning.
They continued intensive training until nightfall. After dinner and another therapeutic soak in the hot springs to ease their fatigue, everyone settled in for the night.
Later, Charizard opened his eyes and looked toward Mewtwo, who was floating in meditative rest. Sensing the attention, Mewtwo opened his eyes and met Charizard's gaze. Charizard gestured toward the door, and Mewtwo nodded in understanding, teleporting them both silently out of the bedroom.
Ryan lay with his back to his Pokémon and sighed quietly. Charizard was incredibly proud and stubborn. While he would never voice complaints to his trainer, Ryan could sense his growing concern about his role on the team.
After all, Charizard was Ryan's very first Pokémon. While he didn't obsess over maintaining his position as team leader, watching Mewtwo grow from a tiny, newly-hatched Pokémon into a powerhouse of comparable—and now superior—strength was clearly weighing on him. Charizard worried about being unable to keep pace with the team's evolution, and his anxiety was becoming increasingly visible.
Although Ryan didn't play favorites among his team, he recognized that Charizard had reached a personal crossroads that only he could navigate. Ryan couldn't intervene directly—Charizard had his own fierce pride, and any obvious attempt to address the situation would only make things worse.
"Come on, Charizard," Ryan murmured as he settled into bed. "Don't lose to your own doubts."
(End of Chapter)
join patreon for update and advance 40+ chapters
https://www.p-atreon.com/c/Soulforger
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
"If you're enjoying this story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone! Your support keeps me motivated and helps the novel reach more readers."
"100 Power Stones this week = 1 extra chapter release!"
"500 Power Stones = 2 extra chapter release ."