Pokemon : Rewind

"What's causing all this noise?" Liza muttered as she soared through the skies on her Charizard, Charla. 

They had flown over two kilometers from Charicific Valley, following the faint but unmistakable sounds of a Pokémon battle.

"Did the Guardian Charizard send me out just to stop a random Pokémon fight?" Liza wondered aloud, puzzled.

It seemed odd. Charizard battles were a daily occurrence within the valley, and the Guardian rarely intervened. 

Even for Pokémon battling outside the valley, the Guardian wouldn't usually send her to mediate.

"Could it be because the fight is too close to the valley?" Liza considered. It was the only plausible explanation she could come up with.

As she drew closer, however, Liza's expression shifted to one of shock. The energy rippling from the distant battlefield was staggering.

"Are these Pokémon at Gym Leader level? Or… League-class?" Liza gasped, feeling a chill run down her spine.

No wonder the Guardian Charizard had alerted her. The sheer force of the techniques being used was terrifying. It was clear that these Pokémon were far beyond Charla's Silver-level capabilities.

Watching from a distance, Liza hesitated. "If this gets out of hand, I'll have to return and call for reinforcements from the valley…" she murmured.

---

Near the source of the commotion, Ash's Pokémon were hard at work. Despite their fatigue after an hour of intense training, Ash pushed them to continue, encouraging their endurance and resilience.

"Encore, Gyarados! Use Combat Twister!" Ash called out.

Though tired, Gyarados roared and unleashed a ferocious spinning attack, its energy swirling violently toward Snorlax, who braced itself and countered with a crushing Hammer Arm. 

The collision of the two attacks sent shockwaves rippling through the terrain, creating an impact worthy of top-tier Pokémon battles.

The clash left Gyarados skidding across the ground, carving out a long trench as it struggled to stop. Breathing heavily, it was clear the Pokémon had reached its limit.

"That's enough, Gyarados," Ash called out. "Take a rest with the others."

Gyarados let out a low growl, disappointed in itself, but it obeyed. It slithered over to the sidelines, joining the other resting Pokémon.

"Pikachu, Snorlax, you're up! Let's keep going!" Ash commanded.

Pikachu and Snorlax, still full of energy, resumed their training. Snorlax's endurance was particularly impressive, having withstood Gyarados's earlier onslaught with ease.

---

As the battle continued, Ash suddenly felt a strange sensation—an almost instinctual sense of someone approaching. 

Turning to the west, his sharp eyes caught sight of a shadow in the distance. It was a Charizard, flying swiftly toward them, with a human rider on its back.

"Is that… the Charicific Valley administrator?" Ash murmured, recognizing the figure. He vaguely remembered seeing her before in Ash's travels in the Anime.

"Pikachu, Snorlax, stop for now," Ash instructed.

Misty, noticing the abrupt halt in training, walked over curiously. "What's wrong, Ash? Why'd you stop?"

"Someone's coming," Ash replied, pointing toward the approaching figure.

Misty squinted, spotting the shadow growing larger on the horizon. "A Trainer heading to Charicific Valley, maybe?"

Brock, who had been reviewing notes in the tent, joined them after hearing the conversation. When he saw the figure in the distance, his eyes sparkled with excitement. 

"She's… my type!" he declared dramatically, already lost in his imagination.

---

From above, Liza finally got a clear view of the scene below. Her emerald eyes widened in astonishment as she saw Ash and his Pokémon.

"They're causing all this…?" she whispered in disbelief.

It wasn't just the intensity of the battle that caught her attention—it was the disciplined coordination and overwhelming power of Ash's Pokémon. The realization hit her like a thunderbolt.

"Wait… is that him?" Liza exclaimed. Her heart raced as recognition set in.

"Charla, let's land!" Liza urged her Charizard.

Charla, though confused by Liza's sudden excitement, obeyed without question, descending quickly. The pair landed gracefully just a few meters from Ash and his group.

"H-Hello!" Liza called out, dismounting hurriedly. She dashed toward Ash, her emerald hair swaying with her movements. 

Her voice was filled with excitement as she exclaimed, "You're… Ash Ketchum, aren't you? You have to be!"

Ash blinked in surprise. "Uh, yeah… that's me. And you are?"

"Ah, sorry! I'm Liza," she said, straightening up. Despite being taller than Ash—standing at a striking 1.7 meters—her tone was almost reverent. "I'm the administrator of Charicific Valley!"

"Well, it's nice to meet you," Ash replied, scratching his head, still a little caught off guard by her enthusiasm.

Liza's eyes sparkled with admiration. "I've heard so much about you and your incredible journey. And seeing your Pokémon in action just now… it's no wonder the Guardian Charizard wanted me to check things out!"

"The Guardian Charizard… sent you?" Ash asked, intrigued.

"Yes! It sensed something powerful near the valley, and now I understand why," Liza said. Her gaze shifted to Pikachu and Snorlax, who were watching the interaction curiously. "Your Pokémon are remarkable!"

Misty and Brock exchanged glances, with Brock clearly more interested in Liza herself than her story.

"Would you mind if I stayed for a bit?" Liza asked eagerly. "I'd love to see more of your training and learn about your techniques. It might even inspire the Charizard in the valley!"

Ash smiled, nodding. "Of course. You're welcome to join us."

Liza beamed, her excitement barely contained. Little did she know, this encounter would mark the beginning of a unique collaboration between Ash and the guardian Charizards of the valley.

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