All Fired Up, page 1
I want to be the very best there ever was
To beat all the rest, yeah, that’s my cause
Catch ’em, Catch ’em, Gotta catch ’em all
Pokémon I’ll search across the land
Look far and wide
Release from my hand
The power that’s inside
Catch ’em, Catch ’em, Gotta catch ’em all Pokémon!
Gotta catch ’em all, Gotta catch ’em all
Gotta catch ’em all, Gotta catch ’em all
At least one hundred and fifty or more to see
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny
Catch ’em, Catch ’em, Gotta catch ’em all
Gotta catch ’em all, Pokémon! (repeat three times)
Here’s the first 32 Pokémon.
Catch the next book Ash to the Rescue
for more of the Poké Rap.
Electrode, Diglett, Nidoran, Mankey
Venusaur, Rattata, Fearow, Pidgey
Seaking, Jolteon, Dragonite, Gastly
Ponyta, Vaporeon, Poliwrath, Butterfree
Venomoth, Poliwag, Nidorino, Golduck
Ivysaur, Grimer, Victreebel, Moltres
Nidoking, Farfetch’d, Abra, Jigglypuff
Kingler, Rhyhorn, Clefable, Wigglytuff
Words and Music by Tamara Loeffler and John Siegler
Copyright © 1999 Pikachu Music (BMI)
Worldwide rights for Pikachu Music administered by Cherry River Music Co. (BMI)
All Rights Reserved Used by Permission
Contents
Title Page
Chapter 1: The Charicific Valley
Chapter 2: Charizard’s Flight
Chapter 3: Ash’s Charizard vs. the Wild Charizard
Chapter 4: Good-Bye, Charizard
Chapter 5: GligarMan to the Rescue!
Chapter 6: The Secret of GligarMan
Chapter 7: Attack of the Metapod Man
Chapter 8: The Search for Cyndaquil
Chapter 9: Rescue in the Caves
Chapter 10: Cyndaquil vs. Sandslash
Chapter 11: A New Member of the Team
Sneak Peek
Copyright
“I have fought so many battles here in the Johto region,” Ash Ketchum complained. “And I’ve only won one badge!”
Ash and his friends Misty and Brock were hiking through a mountain range. Ash, a young Pokémon Trainer, had come to the western territories on an errand for his mentor, Professor Oak. But it was Ash’s lifelong dream to become the world’s greatest Pokémon Master. So while he was here, he planned on earning badges from the gyms in the Johto League. Once he earned eight badges, he would compete in the Johto League Tournament.
So far, Ash was not having much luck. The Violet Gym was the only place Ash had won a badge.
Misty was another Pokémon Trainer. She had orange hair and specialized in Water-type Pokémon. She always carried around Togepi, a cute little Fairy-type Pokémon.
“You have fought a lot of battles here, Ash,” Misty said. “But you can’t expect to win badges when practically all your battles are against Team Rocket.”
Team Rocket was a team of Pokémon thieves. Jessie, James, and Meowth were always trying to steal Pikachu. But they were even more well known for goofing up than for actually stealing any Pokémon.
“Of course,” Misty went on, “it wouldn’t mean much if they gave out badges for beating those pathetic thieves.”
“You said it,” Brock chimed in. Brock was a Pokémon breeder. He had once been the leader of his own gym.
Ash was beginning to feel insulted. “But Team Rocket isn’t the only one I can beat in Pokémon battles,” he pointed out. “Not with Pikachu by my side. And when things get really tough, I know Charizard will always help me out, too.”
“Pika!” As usual, Ash’s Electric-type Pokémon was perched right on top of Ash’s red-and-white baseball cap. Ash could tell that the little yellow Pokémon agreed with him.
But Brock and Misty were another story. “When the going gets tough,” Brock teased, “the tough get Charizard.”
“Relying on Charizard all the time really isn’t fair to your opponents,” Misty added.
“Not fair?” Ash had trained a cute little Charmander and evolved it into Charmeleon and then into a flying, fire-breathing Charizard.
But Brock agreed with Misty. “Your average Pokémon wouldn’t have a chance against Charizard,” he pointed out.
“No way!” Ash said.
Suddenly, a voice came from somewhere in the mountains. “No way!” it shouted.
“What?” Ash looked all around but saw no one. “Did you hear that?” he asked.
“That was just an echo,” Brock assured him. “Listen — I’ll yell ‘hello’ and it’ll answer back.” Brock cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hello!” he shouted, in goofy voice.
“Hello!” Brock’s voice echoed back.
“Not bad,” said a woman’s voice. Ash and his friends looked up, startled. A tall woman stood on a ledge in front of them. The woman had spiky green hair. She wore pointy earrings, high leather boots, and red shorts with a matching top.
“Not bad at all,” the woman repeated. “But if you want to hear a really great echo, you should try yelling ‘Charizard.’ You’re near the Charicific Valley, after all.”
Brock grabbed a guidebook from his backpack. He read out loud, “‘The Charicific Valley Nature Reserve is a well-known Charizard habitat.’”
“That’s right,” the green-haired woman said. “I’m Liza. I’m a Charizard Trainer.”
“A Charizard Trainer!” Ash exclaimed. He was always happy to meet a fellow Pokémon Trainer — particularly one who specialized in Pokémon as cool as Charizard.
Liza leaned toward Ash. “You have a Charizard, too, don’t you?”
“How did you know?” Ash asked.
Liza sniffed. “I can smell the scent of Charizard on your clothes,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for you since I heard that a Trainer with a Charizard had won a badge at the Violet Gym. Would you like to come with me to see the Charicific Valley? I can tell you guys really love Pokémon.”
“A natural Charizard habitat, huh?” Ash asked. “I’d definitely like to see that.”
“Okay, then,” Liza agreed. She raised her right arm and waved her walking stick in the air. “Come, Charla!” she shouted.
At that, an enormous Charizard came flying over the mountain peaks. Like all Charizard, Charla had wings, red-orange skin, and a tail with a flame on the end. But this Charizard had a pink bow on its head and a small hot-air balloon lashed to its tail. It landed on the path beside Ash and the others.
“This is Charla, my Charizard,” Liza said.
Liza climbed aboard Charla’s back. She pointed to Misty. “You and Brock can ride in the balloon basket.”
“Hey, what about me?” Ash asked.
“There’s only room for two in the basket,” Liza explained. “You can follow on your own Charizard. Let’s go!” Charla flapped its wings and took off.
Ash didn’t get it. His Charizard was really strong and a great flyer. But it had never given him a ride. He’d better ask Liza before she disappeared. “You want me to ride on my Charizard’s back?” he shouted.
Charla paused in the air. Liza stared coolly at Ash. “You’re Charizard’s Trainer, right? What kind of Trainer can’t ride his Charizard?”
Ash felt insulted. “Of course I can!”
Ash fished a Poké Ball from his backpack. “All right, Charizard, I choose you!”
The Pokémon appeared with a mighty roar. Nervously, Ash walked up to it. “Charizard, can you fly with me on your back?”
Charizard looked shocked. It squeezed its eyes shut and shook its head back and forth.
Liza looked down at Ash and Charizard. “What’s the matter, Charizard? Is Ash too heavy for you?”
Charizard was a stubborn Pokémon. Liza’s words were all it took to change its mind. It turned around and motioned for Ash to climb onto its back. Ash and Pikachu tried to steady themselves as Charizard jolted up into the air.
Ash looked at his friends with envy. Liza’s Charizard clearly knew how to carry passengers. Charla was cruising along smoothly.
Meanwhile, Ash’s Charizard was giving him and Pikachu a very bumpy ride! It kept bobbing up and down and zooming wildly from side to side.
Liza gave Ash a funny look. “Follow me!” she shouted. Her Charla sped away, leaving Charizard behind.
Ash wasn’t about to stand for that. He pumped his fist in the air. “Go, Charizard!”
His Pokémon began racing after Charla. Suddenly, it stopped dead in its tracks. A steep rock face loomed up ahead.
“Charizard! What are you doing?” Ash asked.
Charizard stopped so quickly that it forgot to fly at all. It plummeted toward the ground. Ash and Pikachu tumbled after it.
“Charizard!” Ash yelled again. Just in time, the Pokémon remembered to flap its wings. It rose up under Ash and Pikachu. They landed on Charizard’s back.
“That’s it! Steady now!” Ash told Charizard.
By now, they were near the bottom of a narrow gorge. Ash was afraid that Charizard would smash into the sides. Or maybe it would plunge into the river that raged beneath them.
Charizard made it through the gorge, but Ash’s troubles weren’t over. A dense forest lay ahead of them.
“Hey, hey! Hold it! Wait! Charizard!” Ash screamed. Ash was sure that Charizard was going to fly into a tree.
& nbsp; By this time, Ash didn’t even care about catching up with Liza. He just wanted to get to the valley in one piece. If Charizard didn’t slow down, that wasn’t going to happen!
Meanwhile, Liza and the others were already in the Charicific Valley. It wasn’t hard to recognize. There were giant stone Charizard statues everywhere.
“The Charizard that live here are raised naturally, in the wild,” Liza said.
“Raised naturally?” Misty asked.
“That’s right,” Liza told her. “In this valley, Charizard don’t rely on human Trainers to help them become stronger. Instead, the Charizard compete against one another. It’s intense training. The Charizard here are the strongest in the world.”
Brock nodded his head. “I see,” he said. “They all have the same goal, so they encourage one another. They grow strong together.”
“That sounds a bit too hard for Ash’s Charizard,” Misty pointed out.
“Maybe so,” Liza agreed. “It can’t even keep up with my Charla.”
“We kept up!” Ash protested. He and Charizard had arrived in the valley. They were just in time to hear Liza’s insulting remark.
“Ash?” Misty and the others turned to stare at him and Charizard. The big Pokémon was panting and sweating. It had made the last leg of the trip on foot, with Ash and Pikachu still on its back.
“My Charizard made it,” Ash repeated. “Even if it couldn’t fly here.”
Misty gave Ash a sympathetic look. “Chill out, Ash. Why are you acting so tough?”
“I don’t have to act tough,” Ash informed her sternly. “I am tough, and so is Charizard, and we have the power to prove it!”
“Chaaaar!” Ash’s Charizard agreed. It reared back its head and breathed a huge stream of fire.
Liza frowned. “Only weak Pokémon show off like that,” she told Ash. “Your Charizard could use some serious training.”
Ash had heard enough. “Comments like that burn me up!” he shouted.
“Chaaaar!” Ash’s Pokémon let loose with another stream of fire. Ash had to duck to avoid getting fried. But he didn’t duck far enough. The next thing he knew, the seat of his jeans was in flames!
Luckily, there was a huge lake in the Charicific Valley. Unluckily, it was at the bottom of a long, steep flight of stairs. Ash yelled as he ran all the way down. With one last shout, he dove into the lake.
Of course, the water was freezing. Ash groaned. So far, he hated everything about the Charicific Valley!
“See, didn’t I tell you not to play with fire?” Liza asked.
Ash was dripping wet and humiliated. But he felt Liza was being unfair. His Charizard was great. He’d have to make her understand.
“My Charizard made it here, didn’t it?” he told Liza.
Liza shrugged. “Any old Charizard should be able to reach this valley,” she said. “But the Charizard in this valley aren’t just any old Charizard.”
“Are you saying that my Charizard is weaker than all the Charizard here?” Ash asked in disbelief. “’Cause you’re way wrong!”
Liza shook her head. “The Charizard in this valley are very high level. You don’t have a chance against them, but if you want to try …”
“We’ll give it a shot,” Ash replied. “Go, Charizard! You against that one!”
Ash pointed at Liza’s Charizard. His own Charizard roared. Charla jerked its head back in surprise.
“Hold on,” Liza said quickly. “Not against my Charla. It’s not a wild Charizard — it’s my pet.”
“Okay, fine,” Ash answered. “We’ll battle anyone. Bring ’em on!”
“Char.” Ash could see that his Pokémon was eager to battle.
“Okay,” Liza agreed, “I’ll open the gate.” She aimed a remote-control device at a solid iron gate that was built into the mountain side.
Ash gasped. Behind the gate were dozens of Charizard. Some flew. Some wrestled each other. Some just lazed in the sun. All of them looked extremely big and strong.
“Those Charizard are huge!” Ash pointed out.
Liza nodded. “They’re bigger than normal Charizard.”
She pointed out an especially large Pokémon. “Do you think you can beat that Charizard?”
“It’s gigantic!” Ash exclaimed.
“A Charizard’s skill is not a matter of body size,” Liza corrected him. “That Charizard is the gentlest of any in this valley.”
Ash looked at his Charizard. “What do you want to do?”
“Char!” Charizard was eager to face an opponent. It turned to the huge Charizard and breathed a stream of fire.
Ash clenched his fists nervously. He was afraid to see what the wild Charizard would do. To his surprise, it just stood there.
“Did that do it?” Ash asked.
The big Charizard turned away from his.
“Ha! It’s running away!” Ash exclaimed.
Liza shook her head. “Don’t count on it!”
Suddenly, orange-and-yellow flames filled the air. The wild Charizard was swinging its flaming tail.
“Charizard!” Ash screamed. The wild Charizard lashed out at Ash’s Charizard. The powerful tail of the wild Charizard smacked Charizard across the neck. The smack sent Ash’s Charizard flying backward.
Charizard flapped its wings frantically, but it was no use. The Pokémon fell forward onto its face.
Ash ran to its side. “Hang in there, Charizard!”
“It just doesn’t have the power to match the Charicific Valley Charizard yet,” Liza insisted.
Ash knew she was right. But his Charizard wasn’t ready to admit it. His Pokémon got to its feet. It threw back its head and breathed fire into the sky.
“Settle down, Charizard,” Ash begged. “You’ll always be the best Pokémon for me. We’ve still got lots more battles to face together.”
But Charizard wasn’t about to give up. It stomped toward its opponent.
Liza shrugged. “If it doesn’t give up now, I won’t be responsible for what happens.”
“That’s enough, Charizard!” Ash said.
But Charizard just kept going. Charizard isn’t making me look like much of a Trainer, Ash thought.
His Charizard stormed up to the wild Charizard. It gave the other Charizard its toughest look.
The wild Charizard wasn’t fooled for a second. With one swipe of its tail, it sent Ash’s Charizard flying.
Blam! Ash’s Charizard smashed into the mountain side. “Charizard!” Ash screamed.
Misty stared at the wild Charizard. “That’s the gentlest one?” she asked.
“It’s pretty brutal!” Brock exclaimed.
“Charizard!” Ash yelled. He couldn’t believe it. Once again, Charizard had gotten to its feet. And it was heading straight for the wild Charizard.
This time, the wild Charizard had had enough. It picked up its challenger and lifted the smaller Pokémon over its head. Then it threw Ash’s Charizard as hard as it could.
Charizard went flying through the air. It sailed all the way through the gate and landed at the bottom of the long staircase.
Ash, Misty, and Brock ran to the top of the stairs. Ash was afraid that his Pokémon might really be hurt this time. To his amazement, Charizard was already climbing the steep staircase. Ash could tell by the look on its face that it still wanted to battle.
Liza watched from the other side of the gate. “Sorry. You just don’t have what it takes to battle the Charizard here. Go on home,” she said.
Charizard kept marching. Finally, Liza aimed the remote and shut the gate tightly.
Charizard still wouldn’t stop. Furious, it began pounding on the gate with its fists.
The doors of the gate slid open again. Liza stood there, looking disgusted. “You leave me no choice,” she told Charizard.
“Charizard!” The stubborn Pokémon was anxious to battle.
“If you must battle someone …” Liza went on. She glanced over her shoulder at her pet Charizard. “My Charla has never been much for battles, but here goes.”
Charla let out a little roar. It’s just a pet, Ash thought. Maybe Charizard has a chance.
Wrong again! It took Charla only a second to grab Charizard and hurl it through the gate.
Charizard sailed back down the stairs. It landed in the lake with a tremendous splash.
