Ash's Charizard: Difference between revisions

Charmander originally belonged to a boastful {{pkmn|Trainer}} named [[Damian]]. However, in ''[[EP011|Charmander - The Stray Pokémon]]'', Damian grew tired of Charmander being weak and so he abandoned it, leaving it on a rocky outcrop and telling it that he would come back later. Charmander's health deteriorated, but it was able to resist capture by {{Ash}} twice before explaining to {{AP|Pikachu}} that it was waiting for Damian. Later, Ash met Damian and learned that he never planned to return for Charmander. Outraged but mostly concerned for Charmander, who was now stuck out in the rain loyally awaiting Damian, {{an|Brock}}, Ash, and {{an|Misty}} rushed to its rescue, with Brock carrying it to the [[Pokémon Center]] while Ash sheltered the little remaining tail flame with his coat.

Despite the care shown to it, Charmander was unwilling to remain at the Pokémon Center and returned to the rock where it had been staying. However, it came across {{TRT}}, who had stolen Pikachu. Charmander ordered them to return Pikachu, and when they ignored it, it blasted them with Flamethrower to send them running away, leaving behind Pikachu. Ash invited Charmander to join them, but Damian turned up with a bunch of Poké Balls and said that he had abandoned Charmander on purpose to toughen it up. Damian threw a Poké Ball at it, but Charmander deflected the Ball in defiance. Having seen Damian's character, Charmander staunchly refused to return, and when Damian threatened to crush it with all of his other Pokémon, it attacked Damian with a Flamethrower attack alongside Pikachu, who used {{m|Thunder Shock}}. Damian fled and Charmander happily joined Ash's team instead.

Charmander immediately became one of Ash's main Pokémon, being used in the [[EP012|very next episode]] as a torch to help Ash through the caves. Also, it joined with a group of other Charmander on the [[S.S. Anne|St. Anne]] in ''[[EP015|Battle Aboard the St. Anne]]'' to repel {{tc|Team Rocket Grunt}}s. [[EP016|Later]], Charmander used Flamethrower to torch a hole in the capsized St. Anne's hull, allowing the group and Team Rocket to escape the ship.

In ''[[EP025|Primeape Goes Bananas]]'', Charmander battled a berserk {{AP|Primeape}}. It finally subdued its opponent by using {{m|Rage}} and Flamethrower. Charmander made its Gym Battle debut in [[EP026|the next episode]], where it defeated [[Erika]]'s {{p|Weepinbell}} after burning {{m|Razor Leaf}} and then striking a powerful Skull Bash. However in the next round, the pure stench emitting from her {{p|Gloom}} caused Charmander to choke and faint. In Ash called on Charmander's assistance against [[Koga]] in ''[[EP032|The Ninja Poké-Showdown]]''. It went up against Koga's {{p|Venomoth}} briefly before their match was interrupted by Team Rocket. For the official Gym battle, Charmander went up against [[Koga's Golbat]] and defeated it with Ember and Fire Spin, earning Ash the {{Badge|Soul}}.

Ash stopped using his disobedient Charmeleon, but tried again in ''[[EP046|Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon]]'' to repel wild Fossil Pokémon, which it refused to do. When an {{p|Aerodactyl}} swooped past, knocking Charmeleon over, Charmeleon attempted to fight back. It then jumped up and grabbed the escaping Aerodactyl's tail and followed it into the open air, but was soon shaken off. Upset, Charmeleon evolved into {{p|Charizard}} and flew after Aerodactyl to avenge its injured pride. It managed to catch Ash and put him on the ground, but unfortunately, retained its disobedience.

Charizard's disloyalty began to cause Ash some serious problems during his journey, losing the [[Cinnabar Gym] battle against [[Blaine]] in ''[[EP058|Riddle Me This]]'', as it simply loafed off and allowed {{p|Rhydon}} an easy win with {{m|Horn Drill}}. In [[EP059|the next episode]], Charizard refused to help dam the volcano, but changed its mind after seeing Blaine's powerful {{TP|Blaine|Magmar}} contributing. After working together, the duo were left with a burning desire to test each other's strength. Blaine permitted a battle at the peak of the volcano, and the two seemed evenly matched. Magmar dropped Charizard into the lava, but Charizard regained the upper hand by dazing Magmar with an aerial Submission attack and then knocking it out with its powerful Seismic Toss.

Ash took Charizard with him to the [[Orange Archipelago|Orange Islands]], despite its refusal to obey him. Ash had noticeably stopped trying to use it in battles, although in ''[[EP093|Navel Maneuvers]]'', Charizard, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur were used in the second round of the match between Ash and [[Danny]]. Charizard was initially unwilling to participate, and Danny nearly won. However, Charizard inadvertently helped when it tried to use Flamethrower on Ash but missed and carved an ice pillar into a sled. This meant Ash won the round and was able to continue the match.

In ''[[EP105|Charizard Chills]]'', Charizard battled [[Tad]]'s {{p|Poliwrath}}. It blatantly refused to listen to Ash's commands, continuing to use Flamethrower despite it having no effect on Poliwrath. Tad and Poliwrath resisted all of them until Poliwrath responded with a {{m|Water Gun}} that nearly doused the flame on Charizard's tail. It was then encased in ice by Poliwrath's {{m|Ice Beam}}, much to Ash's horror. Ash managed to smash the ice encasing Charizard's head, and Tad walked away scornfully, telling Ash that they would have a rematch when he could control Charizard. Ash lit a fire and thawed Charizard out, before rubbing Charizard all over to help it regain its body heat. Pikachu pointed out that Ash's hands were rubbed raw, but Ash replied that he didn't mind, and redoubled his efforts upon seeing that Charizard's tail flame was so small. Charizard woke up in a panic and tried to attack, but it was so cold that it could not produce a flame and passed out again. Misty provided a blanket and Tracey kept the fires up while Pikachu watched the flame, but Ash himself worked throughout the entire night to help Charizard recover.

Charizard also accompanied Ash on his journey to the [[Johto]] region, although it became apparent that it was unfairly superior to most of Ash's early competition. This was shown especially in ''[[EP118|The Double Trouble Header]]'', where Charizard easily defeated all three of {{an|Casey}}'s Pokémon, despite the disapproval of Misty and Brock. Team Rocket later capitulated on Casey's frustration, calling Charizard an illegal choice by Ash.

In ''[[EP134|Charizard's Burning Ambitions]]'', Misty criticized Ash for using Charizard too often against fresh young Trainers, making him unbeatable but in an unfair way. Ash then met {{Jo|Liza}}, who taught Ash and Charizard how to fly together. After arriving in the [[Charicific Valley]], Charizard was humiliated by Liza's insults and proudly tried to show off its power, but was shown to be smaller and weaker than the wild Charizard who lived there. Charizard continued to pick fights and kept getting itself beaten until Liza locked them out of the Valley, having [[Charla]] throw Charizard into the lake and telling it and Ash to stay away until they had trained and reflected. Team Rocket sympathized with Charizard and helped it to stay awake in the lake, as well as making a false attempt to break into the Valley, allowing Charizard to defeat them and win acclaim from Liza, Charla, and the wild Charizard. Facing an emotional battle, Ash told Charizard that he did not want a weakling on his team and he would be fine without it, forcing Charizard to stay at the Valley to train and become more powerful. He then ran away from the Valley, knowing that if he stopped, he would not be able to say goodbye. Pikachu wished Charizard well and followed Ash, leaving its teammate and friend behind.

During its time in the Charicific Valley, Charizard took the role of Charla's bodyguard, and the two seem to have a sort of [[ValleyShipping|romantic relationship]] with each other. Liza occasionally visited the [[Dragon Holy Land]] in [[Blackthorn City]] with the two Charizard. One such visit was in ''[[EP253|Great Bowls of Fire!]]'', which coincidentally occurred when Ash was there for his final [[Johto]] Gym battle. Charizard helped Ash, [[Clair]], Pikachu and {{TP|Clair|Dragonair}} calm the wild {{p|Dragonite}} that was rampaging in the Dragon Holy Land.

In ''[[EP254|Better Eight Than Never]]'', Charizard battled against Clair's Dragonair in Ash's [[rematch]]. It caused the water in the Gym's pool to evaporate with its Flamethrower and Fire Spin, thus depriving Dragonair of her protection. It then caught Dragonair with Seismic Toss and used Fire Spin to create a flaming twister to wear down Dragonair's defenses before she hit the ground and was knocked out. Ash surprised Liza by sending it back for training, knowing that Charizard still had a lot to learn.

Ash later used Charizard in the [[Silver Conference]] during his fight against [[Gary Oak]] in ''[[EP270|Can't Beat the Heat!]]'', as Brock had made a late night call to Liza requesting Charizard for the battle. [[Gary's Blastoise]] and {{p|Scizor}} cut Ash's team down to only Charizard, who had to fight three opponents single-handedly. It managed to match Scizor's speed and took advantage of its significant type advantage, defeating Scizor with a single Flamethrower. Despite Golem's weight preventing Charizard from using its Seismic Toss, Charizard overcame it with a powerful Dragon Rage. Charizard struggled against Gary's Blastoise, as it had supreme defensive capabilities and could keep Charizard at bay with Hydro Pump. Thinking outside the box, Ash told Charizard to superheat the field, which forced Blastoise to spend time cooling the molten rock. This created a huge steam cloud and allowed Charizard to seize Blastoise at close range. Blastoise could still use {{m|Withdraw}} to dodge Dragon Rage, so Charizard hurled Blastoise into the ground with Seismic Toss, defeating it and leaving Ash as the winner.

Charizard was then used in Ash's fight against {{jo|Harrison}} in ''[[EP271|Playing with Fire!]]'', where it went up against [[Harrison's Blaziken]]. Charizard's aerial advantage was negated by Blaziken's powerful legs and ability to maneuver in midair. Each Pokémon hit hard blows on the other, and their Flamethrowers were shown to be equal in power. Blaziken even managed to get up after a devastating Seismic Toss, while Charizard took a {{m|Blaze Kick}} to the neck and continued on. A fiery clash between Flamethrower and Dragon Rage knocked both Pokémon down, but only Blaziken could get up, eliminating Ash from the tournament. Charizard once again returned to Charicific Valley, and it was later revealed that it had injured Blaziken so badly that Harrison had to rest his primary battler in the next round, which contributed to his later loss.