Meet Sour - One Hot Headed Charmeleon!

This furious-looking Charmeleon is named Sour. He is Charmander's older brother. He may be soft towards his little brother, but on the other hand he is angry and furious, especially towards kids' TV fully embracing the algorithm.

Unexpected, horrid twists and turns involving the Pokemon franchise are enough to send him blowing his nobbly top. The most recent incident happened to involve the one channel we all hate to love:

CBBC.

How, exactly? Well, when CBBC struck a deal with Nintendo to use Pokemon for their side of the algorithm, Sour was so furious he attacked CBBC with threats and emails to take Pokemon off the air once every month, in fear it might infringe copyright with the makers of Mario and Link.

Charmander always tells his hotheaded older brother than kind, gentle persuasion is the key, but he just ignores it entirely. He believes CBBC is cheating and betraying its viewers by neglecting storytelling and just focusing on algorithm. Computers are the true enemy, not Team Rocket, and they along with Ash and Pikachu have been kidnapped and used as torture machines multiple times by the horrible horrendous terrible tremendous British kids' channel.

And you know what? Sour's multiple protest-related actions have a good point. He is known by PACT and Ofcom to charge through the doors of the BBC TV Centre and fight off every single star, presenter and cartoon character, often with an army/mob of Digimon in tow, with Charmander following close behind.

He believes Pokemon should have a place on CITV, Cartoon Network and Sky One rather than something as horrendous and loud as CBBC. And guess what?

I think he's right about that!

Sour's Profile Of Favourite Things:

• Age: 15
• Favourite colours: Red and orange
• Favourite song: 'Fight For Your Right (To Party)' and 'Sabotage' by Beastie Boys
• Favourite TV show: Dragon Ball Z
• Favourite film: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (oh dear, dare I say it now...)
• Favourite food: Spicy chicken wings
• Favourite game: Playing at being a dragon with Charmander
• Common flaw: Lashing out in public
• Main occupation: Protester/activist
• Favourite toy: Panic Pete
• Favourite book: Grumpy Monkey

The Brave Journey Of Ash & Pikachu

The skies were black as ink spilled on a desk table, and thunder was crashing. Rain poured heavily down on a cloaked yet familiar figure, tagging alongside him was his Pikachu. His name? Ash Ketchum. Ash was carrying a spear in his hand and Pikachu was struggling to keep up. “Come on, Pikachu, not long now!” called Ash over the sound of the wind and the rain. “PIKA!” called Pikachu over the noise, but Ash was desperate. “Pikachu, it’s either follow me or die! It’s our only chance to survive!” called Ash.

Suddenly, the two came upon a black, flaming volcano with lava spewing out of it. Ash, not wanting to feel shy and left out, slowly walked up to the volcano and reached out to touch it. Pikachu covered his eyes as Ash’s hand got closer and closer to the ground that covered the volcano…

Just then, BANG! BOOM! FLASH! Thunder crashed down onto the volcano, and out of it, with a terrifying ROAR of anger, came a monstrous, angry-looking Charizard, as big as 20,000 buses, with evil red eyes and lava dripping from his skull. “Uh oh…” said Ash, “We’re so busted.” The Charizard gave out a loud ROAR, so loud in fact that it shook the whole valley, its orange light illuminated against the heavy rain and thunder.

“Pikachu, use your Thunderbolt!” cried Ash to his best friend. As Pikachu ran towards the Charizard and tried to electrocute him, Ash called out: “For Johto! For the new league! For every Pokemon in the world!” But Pikachu’s electric shocks made the Charizard impervious, and knocked Pikachu down to the ground again, seriously injuring him.

“PIKACHU!” cried Ash, running up to his best friend and kneeling beside him, making sure he’s okay. “Pi…ka…” whimpered Pikachu. “Hang in there, buddy, you’re going to make it,” said Ash, checking Pikachu’s pulse. But then, the Charizard leapt out of the volcano and landed feet first onto the ground, causing it to shake like an earthquake and also causing him to let out another huge, tremendous ROAR that caused Pikachu to run away!

“I know what I must do,” said Ash suddenly, feeling braver than ever. He walked up to the Charizard fearlessly as it became confused, then slowly reached out to touch it. Pikachu peered out from behind the tree and watched with astonishment as Ash slowly reached out to touch the Charizard’s snout. Once he did, Charizard felt a familiar feeling wash over him. Was this really…Ash Ketchum? The boy who raised him as a young Charizard? A friend to Pikachu. Tears fell down Ash’s face as he smiled and said:

“Remember me, Charizard. I’m your trainer, your partner, the one who gave you a family when you needed one. When you were left out in the rain you had no chance, but now you’re safe with me. Remember me…please…”

Memories of his past life with Ash and Pikachu began to flash up in his angry mind, then, in a hopeful beam of light, Charizard began to devolve. Pikachu knew this moment would come and ran to witness it as he and Ash were bathed in a warm, golden light. Before they knew it, the rain had stopped…and Charizard was no more. He was the all too familiar…

“CHARMANDER!” cried Ash in a flood of happy tears, and both of them ran towards each other in a wonderful embrace. Pikachu leapt to join the cuddle too, not wanting to be left behind upon seeing his friend. Out of Ash’s backpack came two Pokeballs containing Bulbasaur and Squirtle, and once they were freed, they and Pikachu had a happy and playful reunion with their friend.

At once, as if a ray of hope had beamed through Ash’s mind, the sun broke through the dark clouds and shone down on this reunited family of friends, as they ran across a beautiful grassy green meadow. Ash ran ahead of his Pokemon, but all four leapt into his arms, causing him to roll down a grassy hill. “Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!” laughed Ash and he and his Pokemon enjoyed the freedom within them.

Once they reached the bottom, they all laughed and laughed, and Charmander began to tickle Bulbasaur. Pikachu ran into Ash’s arms, and the two hugged - gently, so Ash won’t get electrocuted. For as long as Ash realises who his Pokemon are meant for, he will never forget all the friends he has made, all the Pokemon he has captured and all the happy times he spent with not just Pikachu, but everyone else, who he comes to accept as his extended family.

Pals forever…

…pals together.