Return of the defeated (on hold)

/Part 16/

May's glare softened slight, "What do you mean heal an old friend?"

"It will be easier to show you." Ash said crypcryptically. "Were I'm looking for is just down the path, when we get there everything will be explained." Ash help out his hand as May took it they walked silently down the trail.

They came upon a rock formation at the edge of the path when Ash stopped and faced it. "This is where you were sneaking off too?" May asked in confusion.

"May I want you to stay behind me and Lucario for a minute this might be ugly." Ash said, May looked even more confused but did as Ash asked. He pulled a poké ball from his belt and through it high in the air. As the white light faded a mighty roar filled the sky as orange wings emerged, a flaming tail whipped through the air and a pillar of fire shot straight up. Charizard landed in front Ash, he looked around for a moment and he recognized this place. Anger, sadness, bitterness and an over feel of negative emotions flowed from the fire type pokemon.

"Charizard, I need you to calm down buddy." Ash started but was cut off by Charizard's deafening roar and wild Flamethrower launched in all directions. Ash and Lucario both put a shield of aura to protect everyone from the flames, May now understood what Ash had been talking about. Ash was shouting over the noise trying to calm his friend down but was having little success.

Charizard's rage was consuming him, this painful memory had haunted him for years. It was part of the reason he acted out after evolving and it caused him so much heart ache. Suddenly through his rage a heard a voice, "Charizard calm down, its all going to be ok. We are all hear for you, your family is here for you."

The voice came from May, her smooth soft voice had cut through his rage allowing the others to be heard. "Charizard I know this is a painful place for you, but this is where we met, where we became friends all those years ago. I brought you here to help you let go of your pain and to help you move on from it." Ash said lowering his shield and walking up to the flame pokemon. Ash released the rest of the pokemon he had with him, Blastoise, Venusaur, Butterfree, and Pidgeot. May followed Ash and stood next to Charizard. "See bud we are all a family and have each other's backs through everything that happens."

Charizard looked at his oldest friends and grinned, tears formed in his eyes as the all came close to him letting him feel their support. They stood quietly together as more tears ran down Charizard's face, after a short while he stood tall drawing his full height. He knew that his friends would always be there for him and that would never change. Turning and facing the rock he once sat upon. he heard Ash speak, "Go on, let it all out and let go of your pain."

Charizard pushed all his pain and hatred out into a white hot vertical column of flames that stuck the rock formation. The heat was so intense that everyone could feel sweat forming on their foreheads. Charizard cut off his attack revealing a melted mass where the rock once stood. He felt a weight lifted from his shoulders and his mind quieted down.

"That feels better now doesn't it?" Ash asked running his hand over Charizard's neck. He pleasantly rumbled in response before turning to the other pokemon and speaking with them. After a few more minutes Ash recalled his pokemon and they went to clean up camp and have a little breakfast.

"I'm glad we could help Charizard with that, and thank you for helping him May." Ash said as they headed towards the Pokemon Center. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, I just didn't want anything to happen to you."

"I'm glad I could help, and I understand why you did what you did, but Ash you need to realize that your friends can take care of themselves. We also can take care of you if the need ever arises, you don't always have to be the lone hero." May said as she wrapped her arms around him.