Of Charizards and Control

"So, Red's pretty pissed eh?"

"Pissed? You kidding me? He didn't even turn up for the tournament he was so mad."

To the untrained ear, the conversation would have come across as something along the lines of "squirtle squritle squirtle" and various combinations of "ivy" and "saur." But the ears of Squritle and Ivysaur were perfectly functional. Even as the crowd cheered as Charizard flattened Pikachu.

"Y'know, that shouldn't be happening," Squirtle said. "Pikachu should have the advantage."

"Huh?"

"Flying type, electric type…"

"Or dragon type."

Squirtle waved a hand. "Whatever. Point is…" He trailed off. "Nevermind. New world. Different rules."

Ivysaur chuckled. "Rules. Right. Guess that's why Red's pissed."

Squirtle nodded. And not just because Pikachu hit Charizard with a thunderbolt attack that seemed to level the playing field.

It hadn't always been like this, he recalled. In the last tournament, he, Ivysaur, and Charizard were a team. Ready to be summoned at Red's beck and call, fighting the good fight, getting trophies, rubbing them in Mewtwo's face to remind him that he hadn't been called back to participate. But somewhere along the line, Charizard got the idea that he could be an independent fighter. That he didn't need Red calling the shots from the sidelines. That he could fight on his own thank you very much, and show Lucario that (in his own words), "gen one is the best." Whatever that meant.

"I mean, maybe it was bound to happen," Ivysaur said as Pikachu grabbed hold of a ray gun and started firing. "Charizard was the most evolved of us. And there were troubles in the anime as well-"

"Ash isn't Red though," Squirtle interrupted. "Red's actually competent."

"Bah," Ivysaur said, shaking its back and letting pollen drift around. "Point is…well, let's face it. Pikachu fought alone. Mewtwo fought alone. Pichu was a joke, yet still fought alone." He met Squirtle's eyes. "Is it any wonder Charizard felt jipped?"

"You left out Jigglyfuff."

"My point exactly."

The pokémon watched as Charizard started his final smash, becoming Mega Charizard something or other (Squritle couldn't remember which was which). Sent flying into the distance, poor Pikachu never stood a chance.

The crowd cheered. Charizard roared. And Ivysaur kept talking.

"See?" he asked. "Proof right there. Charizard doesn't need Red to battle."

"You're speaking like you're part of his fan club."

"So? I'll be a venasaur one day. Then I can fight by myself as well." He laughed. "Maybe I could do it now."

Squritle ignored him. Ivysaur was one evolutionary level above him, yet still treated him like he was like unto a magikarp compared to him. A magikarp with no chance of ever evolving.

"So anyway," Ivysaur continued. "Who's next?"

There was a puff of smoke. And Greninja appeared.

"Hah!" Squirtle exclaimed. "A water type! Charizard doesn't have a chance now!"

"Wrong game Squirtle."

"Oh," the water pokémon said, getting dragged back into the world of insanity that he'd been in since the last tournament. "Right."

The announcer gave the go-ahead for the fight.

Bugger.

Charizard slammed into Greninja. Already the fight seemed to be won.

Well, at least the overgrown lizard's right about one thing, Squirtle thought. Gen 1 is the best.

Greninja slammed back into the fire type.

I think.

A/N

So, Charizard has been confirmed for his own character for Super Smash Brothers 4. Don't have a problem with that, though upon hearing the news, I couldn't help but wonder (on the meta level) what had happened to his trainer, Squirtle, and Ivysaur. Anyway, gave me the idea to write this.

Oh, and in case anyone's wondering, Gen 1 is best. And I say that with the complete authority of someone who's only played the first two. :)