"So, what do you plan to do?"
"I plan to go home and train my Pokemons to the fullest.", said Axel.
"I believe that would hurt your growth a bit but I want you to have your time with your family.
Why don't you go to Charicific Valley? You could leave your Charizard there for some time and return. Your Charizard also needs to know where its stands in the hierarchy. It is strong now but it is still weaker compared to a lot of Charizards there.", said Oak.
"That is actually not a bad idea. I want Charizard to see how other Charizards fight. But do you think that me leaving Charizard there would be a good choice?"
"Axel, even Pokemons have to grow and mature. You have done a good job and you will do it in the future too. But, it is not bad to get a second opinion. Maybe Charizard would learn something very different in Charicific Valley. My Charizard did. So you could not rule out the possibility.
And I believe that Charizard should also meet its parents. It had not met its parents till now. Liza and Elizabeth would be happy to have you there."
"Alright, I have decided. I would go to Charicific Valley tomorrow and meet with Liza and Elizabeth.", said Axel with new vigor.
Elizabeth was the one who monitored Charicific Valley. Liza was the granddaughter of Elizabeth and she was very young. Elizabeth was one of the strongest trainers and it was due to her Charizard. Her Charizard was said to be only weaker than Oak's Charizard.
"Good decision. I would give a call to her and you can book a flight for tomorrow. You are now preparing for the league. If you are in need of training sessions, do tell me. I would arrange something for you.", said Oak.
Axel was very grateful. Oak said that cause he felt that he had done almost nothing to Axel. He had given Axel some resources like TMs and potions and also opened some doors for him, but he had not done anything personally.
Oak thought that it was now time for him to be serious about Axel's training and well-being.
They talked for some time and went to their hotel rooms. It was a very tiring day for them.
###
Tring.. Tring.. Tring. Tring….
"Hello.", came a sweet voice.
"Oh, hey Elizabeth. How the hell are you doing?"
"You need to learn how to greet, Oak. And why are you calling me this late at night?"
"Just some info nothing else. My successor is coming to your Charicific Valley tomorrow. I want you to greet him well. His Charizard came from your valley."
"Of course, I know about him. I know about every Charmander that left the valley. Hydreigon would be happy to meet it. I am not so sure about Charizard. You know the nature of Charizard and how it acts when its offspring are evolved to Charizard themselves."
"Oh, I know about it. I think that his Charizard needs some competition and a good pat on its head. It needs to learn how a Charizard fights."
"Don't worry. I will give it a very good welcome.", said Elizabeth with an evil smile.
###
Next day,
Axel was having a very tiring day. He hated plane rides cause he could not train here and it made him very tired. Since he was on the border of Kanto and Johto region, it didn't take long to reach there. It was 14 hours flight and now it seemed normal to him.
Pokemon world was very large compared to Earth. A 14-hour flight was considered a short trip.
Axel landed in the nearest town and started to search for directions. It was his first time in the Johto region and the vibe was completely different from the Kanto region.
The culture, the dresses people wore, and the way people talked; all of them were slightly different than Kanto region. Axel had never thought that the culture and tradition of the Kanto and Johto region would be different. It had never crossed his mind before.
###
"Ahh, Excuse me…"
A young girl felt a tap on her right shoulder. She turned back to find a younger boy around 14 years old, with silver long hair, straightened back with a Pokeball cap calling her.
The girl had pink long hair, a fair face, long legs, and a cute face. The girl or a woman was around in her late 20s.
"Yes, can I help you in something?", asked the woman.
"Yes, can you tell me where would I have to go for Charicific Valley?", asked the boy.
"Yes, you see that huge mountain over there? That is Charicific Valley.", said the woman.
"But what is the route to go there?"
"There are no routes. You would have to ride in your Charizard to reach there. Remember, you must have a Charizard if you want to go there. You don't seem to be around here. I am Clair by the way. Clair Whitney."
"Whitney? You mean the gym leader of Goldenrod City?", asked the silver-haired boy.
"That is actually my big cousin. But yes, I am from the Whitney family. Who are you?"
"I am Axel Blaze."
"So Axel, are you new in town?"
"I am actually new in the Johto region. I wanted to go to Charicific Valley."
"They don't let anyone there you know. Unless you have a recommendation."
"Really?"
"Yes, you thought that Charicific Valley is a public place? You have so much to learn. Why don't we sit in a cafe and talk? I am free for like an hour."
"That would be very nice. Thank you.", said Axel.
###
Whitney was a big name in the Johto region. They were the sole producer of Miltank milk in the whole world. Not only the Johto region but the whole world. Miltank was basically the natives of the Johto region and that was how they were able to monopolize this business.
They also had the sole authority of Miltank in the Johto region. That meant, no other trainers could have Miltank without their permission. That was huge. Miltank was basically the top Pokemon for milk production. There were other Pokemons like Gogoat but their milk was not as nutritious and delicious as Miltank.
So, the Whitney family was one of the richest families in the whole wide world.
So, what was a family member of Whitney family walking into the airport without any security? That interested Axel a bit. And why would she reveal her identity to a stranger?
Axel was a big name in the Kanto region but not in other regions, especially not in the Johto region as the Johto region did everything to dial down the new prodigy of the Kanto region.
He did become world famous during his eeveelutions and the news about being the successor of Oak but that was a long time ago.
They went to a cafe. The cafe had fewer people around and it looked very high-class. As expected from Whitney family.
Clair seemed to be a regular and she ordered some dishes and a coffee.
"Can I ask you a question?", asked Axel.
"Yes, please."
"Why is a family member of a mighty Whitney family introducing herself to me? I mean, you guys are the richest family in the Johto region."
"Hahahaha..."
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, you are right. You see Axel, Whitney family is a very big family. We have like 120 members in the family. I am from a branch family. I am not so important."
"Really? 120 members? That is a lot. You have branch families too?"
"Well, we control the production of Miltank milk of the whole world. We must be a big family to do it. We have 5 branch families and 1 head family. And the reason why I introduced myself is simple. I can say that you are a powerful and genuine trainer. It is good to have connections with such a person and I also like to help kids like you who are new to the Johto region."
"Thanks."
"So, about Charicific Valley. Do you have a recommendation? If not, I could write you one. But you must have a Charizard to go to Charicific Valley."
"I do have a recommendation, I guess. Oak did tell me that he would talk to Elizabeth about it."
"You mean the Pokemon master Oak?"
"Yes."
"So, you are the Axel Blaze? The successor?"
"Yes, that would be me.", said Axel with a smile. He felt shy when people talked to him about the successor part.
"Wohhh, so I have really hit my luck today. You must come to visit my family sometime."
"I would love to but I am very busy right now. I would come after I enter Johto region to challenge gyms and elite 4 and hopefully the champion."
They started to talk for an hour and it was now time for Clair to go her own way. They exchanged numbers and Axel was now going to fly to Charicific Valley.
It was weird to meet a family member of Whitney family here in the airport. It must have been his protagonist's luck or something. He went a bit far from the people's area and called out Charizard.
ROAAARRRR
This was Charizard's style. To roar when it was called upon.
"Charizard, we need to go there for Charicific Valley. Do you want to meet your parents?"
Charizard was not very excited to meet its parents. It had never met them before and it had considered Axel as its father and Gogoat as its mother. However, it did want to meet the powerful Charizard and battle them.
###
Axel realized why this place was called Charicific Valley. It was high in the mountains and one could only reach there by flying. Its routes were made in such a way that only a Charizard to go there safely. Other flying-type Pokemon could also go there but the high temperature was designed in such a way that only Charizard was considered as a safe ride.
After flying for 2 hours, they finally reached Charicific Valley. It was called a valley cause it was covered by mountains and hills. The place was also covered by a large body of water. The iconic statue of Charizard was covering the whole valley.
It was very big and a sight to see. Axel had seen it in anime but seeing it in reality was a different thing altogether.
Just when Axel landed near the gates, the guards came near him to ask for his identity.
"Hello, my name is Axel Blaze. Pokemon master Oak had told me to meet Elizabeth here.", said Axel. He used the name of Oak cause he didn't want any hassle.
"Yes, we have been informed about it. Please come inside. I will lead you to Elizabeth mam.", said one of the guards. A Charizard was behind the guard.
Even the guards had Charizard in Charicific Valley. This changed Axel's view of the Charicific valley. The Charizard was not emitting any aura so it was difficult to tell how strong it was but Axel felt that it was a powerful Pokemon.
His Charizard was also measuring the strength of this Charizard. Axel already told it not to fight unnecessarily, otherwise, his Charizard was famous to pick these types of fights.
###
Axel followed the guard. It was like a whole city out there. The city of Charizard. Axel had never seen so many Charizard in his life. Some of them were just sleeping in the grass. Some of them were training on the water. There were some of them in the training field.
All of them looked very strong. If this was a game, Charicific Valley was a boss-level area. There were some cute Charmander playing together. Axel really loved their innocence. In the far east of the valley, there was a tall mountain. The volcano was coming out of it.
'So, that was what made it so hot.', he thought.
"Mr. Guard, what is that place? And when will the volcano stop?", asked Axel.
The guard gave a short smile and said, "The volcano never stops out here. That place is very important. It is where the strongest Charizard lives."
"Strongest?"
"Yes, strongest. Charizards in the valley have a hierarchy. The hierarchy is dependent on their strength. The stronger a Charizard is, the more respect and facilities are provided to it."
Axel was shocked when he heard it.
Charizard was Pokemon who had high pride. So, how could a Charizard respect another Charizard, when the weak one also had its pride? Axel knew Charizard's nature cause he had one.
He was surprised at how Elizabeth was keeping this place alive.
They walked for 10 more minutes and reached a house. The house had 3 floors and they reached the 3rd floor.
KNock.. Kncok…
"Come in", came a womanly voice.
Both of the entered the room. Axel could see a room with an office setting interior. There was a table, a couple of chairs, some electronic equipment, a cupboard full of books, 2 sofas, and some flowers in the vase.
"Mam, I have brought Axel Blaze."
"Oh, thank you very much, Gordon. You may leave. Axel please come sit here.", said the woman.
Axel went to sit on the opposite side.
"So, I have heard a lot about you. You are one of the young prodigies of the Kanto region.", said Elizabeth.
He already knew who she was. She was Elizabeth. The caretaker and the owner of this valley.
"Thank you, mam."
"Well, Oak said a lot of good things about you. You have done very well and that old man hardly speaks anything good about anyone.
I assume that you have come here to train your Charizard.", said Elizabeth.
"Yes, Oak told me that it would be a good experience for my Charizard."
"He is right. Before I get into the training part, I have to tell you the significance of this place and why this place was formed.
Charicific Valley is a place that is owned by my family. It is a place where Charizard lives and trains. Not any Charizard can come here to train. You must fulfill a lot of conditions for it. You have passed all the conditions due to Oak and your Charizard is the son of my Charizard so I have a soft spot for you."
"Thank you for the opportunity, mam."
"You are welcome. Charicific Valley has a hierarchy. The strongest Charizard here is my Charizard which is a powerful master-rank Pokemon."
"Master rank?", asked Axel in a surprised voice.
"Yes, you thought only Oak had a master-rank Pokemon? There are many hidden players here. I am one of them. I just don't like to become a Pokemon master."
This was completely new information for Axel. He had never in his life thought that other trainers could also have a master-rank Pokemon. Well, Oak had multiple master-rank Pokemon so he was still the best.
"First, let me explain to you the hierarchy of Charicific Valley."