Catching Charmander

"Crimson Flame" listened quietly, its enormous head slightly lowered. A warm, lingering breath flowed from its mouth, carrying tiny sparks as it gently brushed over Charmander's body.

Then it let out a deep, resonant call, as though it came from the depths of the earth itself.

The sound was not loud, yet it strangely pierced through the somewhat noisy playfulness on the rock platform and the hiss of geothermal steam. It carried a heavy, steady strength, like mountains bearing the heavens, and clearly reached every Pokémon present, as well as Xinhai and Flannery.

Hearing it, the other Charizard and Charmeleon also stopped what they were doing. They raised their heads toward Crimson Flame in the center and the Charmander before him, responding with calls that were either deep and powerful or clear and bright.

For a time, the entire Geothermal Rock Platform Area echoed with low, solemn dragon cries.

The calls intertwined like an ancient, reverent farewell song, offering their most sincere blessings to this clan member about to embark on a new journey.

"Roar!" There seemed to be glistening light in Charmander's eyes, but it tried its hardest to hold its head high and keep that light from falling.

It looked at Crimson Flame, then at the familiar elders and companions around it, and let out one final low roar.

"Roar!" (Goodbye!)

That roar carried farewell, gratitude, and even more than that, a promise—a promise that it would remember all of this, that it would carry these blessings and expectations with it and strive to grow stronger.

Having done all that, it no longer hesitated. It turned around resolutely, took firm little steps, and quickly ran back to Xinhai's side.

After stopping, it gave one last look at the reddish-brown rock platform that held its earliest memories, then at