So, this is my first posted story, and my first ever Pokemon story. It has not been beta'ed. Sorry for any mistakes.

I had been considering this story idea for a while, but reading part of Human Born, Charizard Raised by Houndmon gave me the kick-start I needed.

Anyway, this is part of the prologue. I hope you like it! Review, please, and let me know.

Disclaimer: I do not own. *pouts*

Delia gasped as she walked into the clearing in the forest she was traveling through. Dozens of dead Pokémon lay sprawled around the smashed grass. She heard whimpers and watched one Pokémon spot her and stumble painfully toward the trees. She wanted to capture it, but her honor wouldn't let her. It was not right, to capture this obviously-traumatized Pokémon.

She heard a groan and a whimper coming from a Charizard. She frowned, and then her black eyes widened. The Charizard's wing was moving, as if something was pushing at it weakly.

Delia rushed over and gently pulled back the heavy wing. Her breath caught in her throat at what she uncovered.

Locked in a secure embrace by the Charizard's arms, was a small boy. He looked about four or five years old. He was naked save for a ratty, singed blanket wrapped around him, had a gash on his right shoulder and a burn on his left forearm. He was covered in dirt and soot, and his eyes were wild. She met the brown orbs, and her heart melted as she saw how terrified and angry he was.

"Hello?" she asked softly, reaching for him. He drew back, frightened, and made a growling noise, before whimpering out, "Char-char, charizard."

Her eyes widened. "Can you speak?" she asked, pulling her hand back.

"Char!" he wailed, tears running down his cheeks as he hugged one of the orange arms encircling him to his chest.

He seemed to realize that the Charizard wouldn't answer, and his tears flowed heavier as he cried out, "Pidgey? War-wortortle! Bee?" His voice broke, and he curled in on himself.

Delia was amazed. Did he only speak in Pokémon? And how did he learn? Gently, she unwrapped the Charizard's arms away from him, heart clenching painfully as he flinched away. Finally, she had him free, and she scooped him up into her arms. He fought her for a moment, and then wrapped his arms around her neck, sobbing wildly.

"You're okay. Shh. I've got you. You're okay." She murmured to him.

Delia was shocked when he repeated after her. "Ok, o-okay." She hugged him tighter, and then saw a man lying on the ground near the dead Charizard. He was obviously dead, charred beyond recognition, but he had a paper in his hand of the child in her arms, the face circled.

She realized that these Pokémon had been attacked by people. No wonder he was so scared! But…did that mean that he was raised by these Pokémon? How was that possible?

The man had blondish hair, from the singed tuft on top of his head. The boy must had decided that she looked different, and therefore was safe, as only a child could.

She heard a twig snap and whirled around, heart racing. A male voice snapped, "Where is Sam? He was supposed to get the brat and catch up with us half-an-hour ago!"

Her eyes flitted to the dead man, and then to the black head of the child in her arms. He was trembling; he recognized the voices. He had gone silent, and she made her decision then and there.

"Shh." She whispered, soothing back his black hair.

"Okay?" he asked in a whisper.

She nodded as she began to run back the way she'd come. "Okay. It's gonna be okay. I'll look after you. I promise." She muttered.

When she stopped just outside of the town she'd left just that morning, she stopped. Pulling away from the boy slightly, she rubbed some ash off of his forehead. "You've got ash on you." She smiled at him, breathless from her run. Luckily, he was small and lightweight, so fragile she wondered if he had hollow bones like a bird. "I wonder why?"

He cocked his head to the side and stared intently at her with deep brown eyes. She was reminded of the Charizard that had been protecting him, and her smile saddened. "That's what I'm going to call you, then. Ash."

Delia remembered that he was injured, and checked them into a hotel. She pressed his face against her chest so that no one could recognize him and give them away. She locked their room door, heart-pounding, and set Ash down onto the bed. He started and poked the bed, a curious look on his face. He really looked like a normal child for a moment.

Delia pulled out a first aid kit and removed the blanket, letting it fall to the bed, then began cleaning his wounds and wrapping bandages around him. He eyed her warily, but he let her, with a few small, "Chu? O-ok?" thrown in there, as if he was reminding himself to speak in "her" language.

She finished, and handed him an unwrapped protein bar. He sniffed it, unsure, and she mimed eating at him. "Food." She told him. "Food."

"Foo." He responded, taking a bite. Eyes wide, he crammed the bar into his mouth, chewing as if his life depended on it.

She handed him a bottle of water after he swallowed. "Water." She told him. "Water."

He dripped some onto his tongue, and bolted it down in a few swallows, coughing after he was done to clear his lungs as he breathed in some in his haste.

Delia waited until he was asleep, and then video-called her mother using one that was set up in her room. She would need help.

"Delia? What's going on?" her mother demanded, sounding tired, and she realized that it was nearly midnight.

"Mom, I…I have to come back home. I'm giving up training. I need to come back home. Can I work in the restaurant?"

Her mother's gaze sharpened with concern. "What are you talking about? Being a Pokémon trainer is what you've always wanted to do. Delia, are you alright? You look…frazzled."

Delia glanced back at the bed, where black hair was sticking out from the cocoon Ash had made of the blanket. "Mom, I-I need to tell you something." Remembering the terrified sobs from the child, her resolve firmed. "Mom, I have a son. His name is Ash."

So, what did you think? Please review and tell me how I am doing. Constructive criticism is welcome. Flames will be used to cook marshmallows. Mm, marshmallows.