A/N: I don't have much to say on chapter 2 other than that sometimes Pokémon will get their own chapter when it's important. In it, Pokémon will have standard dialogue, as well as humans. Chapter 3 will catch up on what Ash was doing during chapter 2 and end episode 1.
Also, I just finished up finals [which is why it took so long. That and editing]. That means more time to write and edit this story. After chapter 4, the stories should be all set up. The only lengthy chapters afterward should be important chapters, like Gym Leaders.
Chapter 2: I Do Choose You!
The gentle forest winds seemed colder to Helioptile today as he walked through the forest with Gary and Squirtle. Sturdy hardwood trees loomed over them as the lush grass rippled under their footsteps. Gary had been quiet ever since his win, and Helioptile had been mulling over the battle.
It wasn't until after he lost that Helioptile realized that he did have a preference over who won the battle. He wanted the black-haired boy with the considerate smile to win. Why didn't he? Helioptile's ears dropped as he walked behind Squirtle. The shy, azure Pokémon glanced behind herself, her deep crimson eyes swimming with an abundance of kindness. Slowing down to match pace with Helioptile, she stared at him with curiosity. An overwhelming urge to his rose within him, but he fought it back. He would not take his grumpiness out on her. Kicking a stone along the flat ground, Helioptile kept his attention on the path ahead.
"Are you excited for an adventure?" Squirtle asked, her eyes brimming over with joy.
Helioptile nodded as he hopped over a log with relative ease. Squirtle scrambled over the decaying matter, making various sounds as she hauled herself over it. Helioptile couldn't help but chirp in amusement as she finally managed to ease herself over the deadwood.
"I'm excited too!" she squeaked as she caught up with him, spraying fallen leaves wherever she went. "I'm sure Gary is going to treat us well! He seems really nice!"
Nice? Helioptile scoffed in his head. He didn't want to be rude, but Gary seemed arrogant. While Ash spoke directly to Pokémon, Gary seemed more enthralled with what humans thought about him. Sure, Gary was stronger than Ash now, but Helioptile remembered the battle. His scales vibrated with excitement as he remembered the battle. Ash commanded him well in that battle. He had the potential to be a great trainer.
Maybe his potential might not be realized for a while, but it was there. Even though he had lost his starter, the boy persevered nonetheless. Even after losing his starter to his rival, he seemed upbeat and optimistic. Helioptile's ears drooped at the thought of never battling with him again.
"You seem sad. Are you still thinking about Ash?" Squirtle inquired. Helioptile nodded solemnly. He glanced up at the sky and wondered if Ash even liked him. If he did, why didn't he fight harder? But he already knew the answer and gave wry smile.
Because he respected my decision. Even though I hope most trainers are like him, I highly doubt they are, Helioptile thought dryly. Glancing back, Helioptile could scarcely see Pallet Town. It looked like a Durant-hill due to how far they had come. The large hill that the lab rested on was almost too tiny to see. Helioptile's tail twitched as he contemplated going back. But a niggling thought kept him from actually going back. What if Ash rejected him? After all, what trainer would want a Pokémon who went back on their promise?
Squirtle gave him a sympathetic smile and nuzzled him softly as they trotted along the well-worn path.
"I'm sure he understands," Squirtle paused and looked down. "It's not too late you know. To go back, that is. If you go back now, I'm positive Ash will take you back with open arms."
Helioptile shook his head. Even if he had wanted to go back, it was uncertain if Ash would even take him back. Squirtle nodded and curled her tail around Helioptile's back, as a token of comfort.
XOXOXOXOXO
"Helioptile, use Pound!" Gary ordered.
Helioptile gave a brisk, rushing at the Spearow in front of it. The small, rusted bird snorted and spired into the air to avoid the attack. As it dodged the ground attack, Squirtle intercepted it with a high-powered blast of water.
"Spear!" it cried in pain as the water hit its chest. The stunned bird began to fall, its wings curved towards the sky as it plummeted.
"Okay, Squirtle, Rapid Spin! Helioptile, Glare!" Gary smiled as his Pokémon followed the commands effortlessly. Helioptile's eyes glowed red and a transparent red beam shot out of them, hitting the Spearow. Visible static electricity spiraled around its body.
Squirtle tucked her head and limbs into her shell and spun her shell on its smooth, beige side. Her vigorous spinning was throwing small bits of debris and leaves into the air. Using the built-up momentum, she flung herself at the helpless Pokémon. The impact sent the tiny bird careening into a broad oak tree. It slid down rough bark; its feathers ruffled as it slumped onto the ground with a horse cry.
"Great! That's another one down for Mr. Gary Oak!" Gary tossed a Poké Ball at the helpless bird as it laid twitching on the ground. The sphere opened up and swallowed the Pokémon in a bright red light before it fell to the grass-laden floor. The ball wiggled ferociously, kicking up quite a bit of dirt. Even though they had done this before, Helioptile couldn't help but feel his body tense up. Helioptile held his breath as the orb jiggle relentlessly. Soon, the ball stopped shaking and laid still.
Puffing his chest out with pride, Gary casually strolled over and picked it up. Helioptile resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Gary hooked the Poké Ball onto his belt.
"That makes four Pokémon so far. The only Pokémon here this time of year are Sandshrews. Nidoran would usually be here, but they migrated up to Route 22 to eat some flowers that just bloomed up there. Whatever. I can just catch one to the west of Viridian City."
Helioptile nodded as he stretched his sore limbs. Small bits of electricity crackled along his body as the sun warmed his back. It wouldn't be long before he learned Thunder Shock. Shaking himself off, Helioptile cooed and walked over to Gary. Soon, he might actually be able to use an attack he didn't need to charge up like Rising Voltage.
As Helioptile strutted back, a shrill Pokémon call came from one of the towering oak trees. Helioptile froze and turned his head towards where the sound came from. He could see a glint as something watched him from the treetops. With a loud whoosh, a Spearow dove down from the dense crown of leaves.
"It's not fair!" she shrieked. "Why didn't I get caught?! Oh, why did he get caught before me?!"
Helioptile felt a flurry of sharp, quick jab hit his scales and the swift scratches of the sharp talons made him howl in pain. Fear and pain immobilized him as he tried to seek an escape route from the assault. Squeaking, Helioptile lopped towards the tree line, but the Spearow kept following and pecking at him. When the Spearow caught his delicate tail between her beak, she yanked on it and flipped him onto his back, exposing his soft underbelly.
A cry of triumph filled the air as she made another attack for his most sensitive part, his belly. Closing his eyes, Helioptile assumed that would continue her assault. But a yelp of pain made them shoot back open. Squirtle had slammed into the Spearow at full force, forcing the bird away. The bird Pokémon hovered in the air, its black eyes glinting wildly with rage. Without skipping a heartbeat, Squirtle sent a large blast of water at the Spearow, blowing it away and out of sight.
"And don't come back, ya hear?!" she yelled, her voice filled with passionate anger.
"T-thanks," Helioptile rasped as he scrambled to his paws.
"No problems. We're partners after all," Squirtle said while blushing. "Gary sent me here to help you."
Helioptile sunk his claws into the soft, squishy ground. They were partners. So why did he feel as if Gary didn't trust him as much as her? As doubt swirled around in his mind, Helioptile felt the warmth of Squirtle's cheek.
"Don't worry. Gary trusts you. I know he does," Squirtle reassured. Giving him a small lick on the cheek, Squirtle waddled back to Gary, who stroked her head. Helioptile looked longingly at the pair. The tip of his tail twitched slightly as he wondered if what Squirtle said was true.
Do I even belong here? Helioptile questioned as he walked over to the pair. As he made his way over to Gary and Squirtle, he couldn't help but feel as if he wasn't needed.
XOXOXOXOXO
An orange flame shimmered in the soft blackness of night. A soft, orange glow illuminated Gary's face, highlighting his distant gaze. Ever since the sun had gone down and he had made a fire, he lost a lot of his bluster. He gently pressed the long, whispy stick into the fluttering flames. The soft crackle of the fire filled the still night air.
Helioptile breathed in the cool night air and felt the breeze wrap around his body. A warm, relaxing feeling filled his heart as he rested his head on his paws. He could hear Squirtle breathing nearby as she laid down next to him, her shell pressing into his side. Gary sighed and looked up at the sky, a contemplative look on his face.
"The day I told Ash the incorrect time was the day my gramps suggested that I should become a Pokémon Researcher," Gary confessed. He was playing with a clump of grass as he continued. "I didn't mean to lie, of course, but I was just too annoyed to really bother remembering the correct time. I might tease Ash, but I don't hate him. It's just my gramps seem to want me to follow in his footsteps while he supports Ash's decision to become a Pokémon Master, whatever that means. I wish he was that supportive of my wish to become a Pokémon Master."
Helioptile glanced up at Gary. He didn't seem sorrowful or remorseful, but he did seem guilty. Looking back at the end of the battle, even though Gary seemed excited at first, he seemed to tone his bravado down when Ash admitted defeat. After a few seconds of silence, Gary continued.
"Ash and I have been rivals ever since he beat me in a science fair. I researched wild Rattata's battle behaviors and he did an experiment on methods for training Pokémon. He won the science fair while I got second place. That was the first time gramps told me to be a Pokémon Researcher. I feel that if I beat Ash, Gramps will finally have to realize my skills. And to beat Ash, Helioptile, I need you to evolve as soon as possible!" Gary exclaimed, getting a cheerful look on his face.
Helioptile froze and stared dumbfoundedly at Gary. It wasn't that he didn't want to evolve; Helioptile didn't care. But Helioptile also knew he didn't want to evolve right away. He wanted to get stronger as a Helioptile. An uneasy feeling crept up Helioptile's spine as he studied his trainer. Would he have to evolve just to please his trainer?
"Listen, Helioptile. To become a strong Pokémon, you have to evolve. That is the core principle of Pokémon Battles! You grow stronger and evolve. Unevolved Pokémon don't do as much damage and aren't sturdy enough to take as many hits," Gary said. "Unevolved Pokémon might be better at technical skills, but not raw battle strength."
Helioptile was silent, but he felt Squirtle lean in closer to him. Helioptile was unsure of how Gary took his silence, but it soon didn't matter as Gary settled into his light blue sleeping bag. As the night passed on the 10-year-old went to sleep. His soft sorning filled the air, and Squirtle let out a hollow sigh. Turning her deep crimson eyes on him, she looked at him with a kind, worried gaze.
"You know, you don't have to stay," she said abruptly, startling Helioptile. "Gary shouldn't decide your future. I can see in your eyes you don't want to evolve yet. It's not fair you should evolve just because a trainer wants you to."
Helioptile couldn't hold her intense gaze, so stared up at the moonlit sky. The endless diminutive stars stretched over the dark expanse. Their twinkling glow seemed to imitate the hopelessness Helioptile was feeling. Even if he did leave, where would he go? He was almost positive that Ash hated him now, and he couldn't have control over who his trainer was if someone decided to catch him. Sighing, he rested his head on his paws.
"Come on," Squirtle urged sharply. "Ash will understand, I promise. From what I saw of him, there's no way he would care about you changing your mind. The love I saw in his eyes for you was unmatched." When Helioptile didn't respond, she went on, her voice dropping to a soft murmur. "Listen, Helioptile, if you won't do it for yourself or Ash, do it for me. I want you to live your dream and prove to Gary he doesn't need to have the 'strongest' Pokémon to win. Please, you have to."
"Why do you care so much?" Helioptile muttered as he stared into the forest. He didn't have the will to look her in the eye. But, that didn't stop her from continuing.
"Because I don't want to evolve into a Blastoise! What I want is to be a Wartortle! I know my fate can't be changed, but yours can be. In fact, I believe you can make every Pokémon's lives better with Ash! People might see evolution isn't the only way to be strong. They might finally start listening to their Pokémon instead of overruling them because 'they know better.' The world right now is heavily flawed. As much as I love humans, and believe that they have our best interest in mind, they also seem to forget we can have dreams! To them, all our dreams revolve around battling. I do dream of being stronger, but I want more out of life. I want Gary to be happy and I dream of you being happy in your rightful place. Helioptile, if you pursue your dream of being the strongest you with Ash... there's no telling how much better the world will be."
Helioptile hesitated for a moment. Squirtle was putting all her faith in him to change the world. The pressure he felt was immense, but he also felt a different fear surge through him. He had a sinking feeling that Ash would reject him. Even just the thought rooted him to the ground with abject terror.
Here, he at least knew that Gary wanted him and would train him. In the wilderness beyond the fire, he didn't know what would await him. What if someone caught him on his way back? The unknown held him back, and he vigorously shook his head. He was needed here. Gary needed him here. If he could just convince him that he was strong as is, maybe he could stay?
"I can't leave Gary. He needs me," Helioptile decided, finally looking Squirtle in the eye.
Squirtle slowly shook her head. "Helioptile, Gary needs you to live your life. By doing so, he might finally see that he needs no one's approval to live his life to the fullest. Not Ash's nor his grandpa's. I think that you can be a beacon in his life. It might hurt to separate now, and it might be scary, but it's worth it in the long run."
Helioptile sighed, but he knew she was right. Gary was trying to prove something, and he was using his Pokémon as a proxy. In order to change his mind, Helioptile must leave. He had to take a chance and hope that Ash would accept him back.
Rising to his paws, Helioptile made his final decision. As long as Gary's worldview wasn't challenged he would remain static. And even if fear, guilt, and panic crawled throughout his body, Helioptile knew that he couldn't let that hold him back from his desire. He desired to be Ash's Pokémon and he would see that through. No matter what. Casting his gaze on the ground, Helioptile moved closer to Squirtle, his mind made up.
"Okay, I'll go back. But I'll miss you dearly, Squirtle. Although we only spent a day together, I feel as if we're close friends," Helioptile murmured, nuzzling Squirtle. She let out a little coo of agreement, wrapping her soft tail around his lithe body to mimic a hug.
"I feel the same way. But just because we're with separate trainers doesn't mean we can't talk! At night, if you ever want to talk to me, send me a message by shooting electricity into the sky. If I see it, I'll come running to you, and then we can talk then," Squirtle reassured, before giving a mischievous smile. "Of course, let's not stay up past midnight. I think our trainers might be a touched confused if they sent out sleeping Pokémon."
They chortled softly at the joke. But, once they stopped laughing, Helioptile knew he had to go. Gently untangling himself from her hug, he made his way to where Gary's bag was. The green backpack was a few inches from where he slept, so Helioptile moved as quietly as possible. With nary a sound, Helioptile craned his body over the edge and placed his face into the open entrance.
The jagged teeth of the backpack pressed against his stomach as he searched for the spherical object that told everyone who partnered with him. He was so involved in his search, he hardly heard the nearby rustling. And when it got close, he thought it was just Squirtle. But, he was surprised by the sudden gruff voice.
"If you're looking for your Poké Ball, it's right here."
Helioptile yelped in surprise and fell backwards. He fell onto the ground with a soft grunt. Scrambling onto his four paws, Helioptile stared up at Gary. His expression was unreadable, but Helioptile could see the items he held. In his right hand was a vibrant red, velvety satchel with a golden drawstring. In his left was the Poké Ball Helioptile was searching for.
Wordlessly, Gary opened the pouch and removed a rusted top half of a Poké Ball, placing it on the ground. Carefully, he placed Helioptile's Poké Ball in the satchel and pulled the drawstring.
"This Poké Ball broke in half when I had an argument with Ash. It represents our rivalry, to me at least," Gary murmured as he slowly rubbed his index finger on the top of the old, broken item. He focused on the Poké Ball instead of on Helioptile. "You can leave if you want. Even though we were teammates for a short time, it was great getting to know you. If you ever get bored with Ashy-boy, you can always come back to me and I'll welcome you with open arms." There was a half-joking tone, but Helioptile could detect the sadness buried in his voice.
Helioptile gave a coo of sorrow as Gary placed the satchel over his shoulder. The frayed edges of the rope felt heavy on his shoulders. Helioptile took a deep breath and sprinted towards the undergrowth. As he made his way to the vegetation, Helioptile was surprised by how secured the bag was to him. It didn't buck into his stomach with every movement. He hardly noticed the item around his neck and shoulder. As he reached the beginning of the brush, he took one last pensive look back at his friends.
Squirtle's gave an encouraging nod. But, Gary had had his face turned away. Feeling a sick sense of guilt, Helioptile gave a crooked smile before fleeing into the brush. The soft, tendrils tickled Helioptile's face as he rushed away from the two. He could scarcely hold back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. Was he doing the right thing? Gary could hardly stand to watch him leave.
Stopping, Helioptile glanced over his shoulder. The glow of the fire had disappeared from view and he now found himself standing under a thin cluster of ferns. The darkness of night obscured his vision, and he suddenly realized that he couldn't fight back if something attacked him. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Helioptile allowed a sense of ease to pass over him. Pointing his nose to the sky, he took note of his surroundings.
The air was damp, and the nighttime breeze carried Helioptile's scent upwind. Deciding that it was unwise to move on, Helioptile resolved to make a temporary nest. Gathering soft moss and lichen from the surrounding log, Helioptile made a nest within the crevice of the gnarly roots of an old tree that lifted to form a den. The space was big enough for him, and while there was a Sandshrew scent, it was faded. Helioptile sighed and settled into his newly formed nest.
The silky plant matter cradled his body as he snuggled into it. Tomorrow, he would make his way back to Pallet Town. But, for tonight, he just wanted to sleep. Fatigue made his body and paws ache, and since had so much adrenaline pumping through him today, he didn't notice how tired he was.
Closing his eyes, Helioptile soon let the inky blackness of sleep overtake him.
XOXOXOXOXO
An intimidating scent woke Helioptile up with a start. He scrambled to his paws as loose moss and lichen clung to his scales. His scales were tingled as a powerful aura got closer to his hiding spot. Every sinew in his tissues screamed at him to flee, but he froze instead.
An invisible crushing pressure that felt like a Tauros stepping on him rooted Helioptile to the spot. And it wasn't just his imagination. Pidgey and Rattata from nearby fled from the underbrush. In their haste, some even knocked into him and then scurried away from him, crying in fear.
Every fiber of Helioptile felt as if it was getting crushed, and he began to pant. Panting, he screamed at himself internally to move. If he didn't whatever was creating that overwhelming aura would attack him.
Finally managing to shake off his mental block, Helioptile bolted from the dense vegetation, sending bits of his moss and lichen bed flying. He crashed through the ferns, their sharp leaves stung his face as he crawled through the cramped space. Heliptile bit his lip to avoid yelping in pain as he tripped on his own ears and tumbled onto the dirt road. The morning sun heated as back as the dull thud of pounding paws echoed. A spicy scent was getting closer, and Helioptile twitched. If the beast was close enough to smell this well, it was close enough to wrap its teeth around his neck and toss him like a ragdoll.
Groaning, Helioptile struggled to get to his feet, but the beast's shadow suddenly fell upon his tiny frame. Fear overwhelmed Helioptile, and his mind went blank. Closing his eyes, Helioptile waited for the beast to attack him mercilessly. But, the pain never came.
Slowly and nervously he opened his eyes and looked up. There was a giant beast, all right. But, there was also a girl who was riding on the monster as well. She peered down at the Helioptile curiously, her big brown eyes studying him. The beast, on the other paw, had a dopey look on its face. Even so, it was as big as a human and its glossy orange fur reflected the early morning sun. If it wasn't so scary and intimidating, Helioptile would have almost called it beautiful. To him, the creature looked as if it could be born from the union between the most magnificent and the darkest night, thanks to its startling orange fur with black stripes.
The girl on the monster's back pushed her chocolate brown hair out of her face. She was wearing a deep blue uniform of some sort with a ruby red ribbon around her neck. In her hands was a glass container with a golden bottom. The golden bottom had words engraved on it, but Helioptile couldn't read them. There were also bright red gems that decorated the bottom, which only memorized Helioptile as they glowed in the sun.
But, it didn't take long for Helioptile to snap back to reality once he felt the strong aura tie his stomach into a knot. It was as strong anymore, but it was still sickening. The beast's deep black eyes bored into him and it took a step forward, making the earth tremble. Unable to run or face the Pokémon, Helioptile gazed down at the ground, his whole body trembling. His heart was beating wildly as the monster bent its head down. Even though its mouth wasn't open, Helioptile could practically feel the heat coming from its massive jaws.
This the end! There's nothing I can do! Helioptile thought as he dug his claws into the ground. The beast placed its giant black nose near Helioptile's face and suddenly, a whirlwind unsteadied him and pulled him forward. He fell into the beast's nose. With a yelp of surprise, the beast skitted away and dropped into the muddy road.
Facedown on the muddy floor, the pouch that held his Poké Ball digging into his side, Helioptile couldn't help but feel exhausted. Why didn't the beast him up for the experience and move on with its life? The girl let out a sympathetic coo.
"Oh, you poor dear! Little Pokémon are you going to Pallet Town?" the girl asked. Groaning, Helioptile glanced up to see her looking down with a soft expression. Helioptile let out a little sneeze before he nodded. "Well, I'm going to Pallet Town as well. Do you need to go to Professor Oak as well?"
Helioptile looked at her in amazement. If he tagged along with her and her beast, they could get him there by noon! And if they did, he could meet Ash! Forgetting about his fear and fatigue, Helioptile scrambled to his paws and nodded enthusiastically.
"I'll take that as a yes then. You can ride on Arcanine. Don't worry though, he's harmlessly weak right now," the girl said. Arcanine lifted his lip above his sharp, curved fang, showing his displeasure at her comment. "It's true though. You only just hatched a week ago, so you're not fit for long battles yet! Besides, you evolved almost immediately since you decided to play with a Fire Stone as soon as you hatched. Cost me some points too since I was supposed to write a report on a Growlithe, not an Arcanine."
Arcanine lolled his tongue in amusement. "Hey, I'm a puppy. What did you expect me to do when I first hatched? Sit still?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "Don't you mock me. Ugh, I hate dealing with newbie Pokémon and trainers."
Even though her words seemed harsh, she didn't seem to mean them harshly. Their bond seemed sincere enough, and even though Helioptile still felt the pressure, it wasn't as bone-shattering. Cautiously, he crawled closer toward the Arcanine. Seeing Helioptile get closer, the girl patted her Arcanine's rear.
"Hop on. I'll take you to Pallet Town and Professor Oak," the girl offered. Helioptile quickly nodded and bunched his muscles, preparing for a leap. Judging the distance quickly, Helioptile sprang into the air and landed on Arcanine's back, behind the brown-haired girl. As he settled into the soft fur, he made sure to get a good grip.
"Hold on," she warned as she gently kicked Arcanine in its sides. With a howl of excitement, Arcanine race down the worn path. Helioptile felt the wind flatten him as it threatened to pull him off. The howl of the wind passed through his ears as the Arcanine jolted him with each graceful movement. Gritting his teeth, Helioptile pressed himself low to prevent being thrown off.
At this speed, Helioptile knew he'd be able to get to Pallet Town in no time. Once there, he could find Professor Oak or Ash and try to explain what had happened. He was unsure as to how he would do that, but he decided to deal with that when the time came. The large and foreboding forest was now a blur of browns and greens. Everything swirled by, which only made Helioptile more excited. He had only traveled at this speed in a car. But, feeling the blustering winds on his scales felt good. Taking a deep breath, he enjoyed the trip through the forest.
As they blazed through the forest like a rampaging wildfire, Helioptile felt as if something was off. Trusting his instincts, he craned his neck upwards to look at the treeline. Helioptile gasped as he spotted something keeping a watchful gaze on them.
A deep russet bird Pokémon with a brown head and cream belly watched them intensely. As they passed under the tree, Helioptile's heart jumped into his throat. It was the same Spearow from yesterday that ambushed him! Her eyes were blazing with humiliation as she took into the air. With a war cry, she dove at Helioptile with her jagged beak.
"Watch out!" Helioptile gasped as he tried to duck. Unfortunately for him, Spearow were Pokémon who specialized in accurately hitting targets from a distance. Just because Pokémon didn't have to hunt each other anymore, didn't meant they lost their instincts on how to do it. A sharp pain pierced his backside as he was tossed off. He landed on the ground with a loud thud before he tumbled down the hill.
Helioptile frantically tried to stop his descent as the world spun before his eyes. Hitting the hard ground below, Helioptile was stunned for a moment. All he could see was the tall grass that surrounded him, and he felt dizzy.
But the loud screech forced him to work through the pain and face the oncoming Spearow. Helioptile stood and faced where the Spearow was coming from. The tiny bird folded its wings and dove straight for Helioptile like a missile. Ducking, Helioptile only narrowly missed the Spearow. He shivered as the cool wind created from that narrow miss blew over him.
The Spearow flew back into the sky, ready to strike at Helioptile again. Not waiting for Spearow to make another pass, Helioptile attempted to scrambled back up the hill. The loose clump of mud threatened to throw him off, but Helioptile made sure to dig his claws into the heap. Mud covered his belly and clung to his body, but he ignored the oozy mix of soil and water. He needed to get away from this Pokémon and her rampage.
But, as he did, Helioptile felt sharp claws dig into his back. The Spearow tried to drag him off. Desperately trying to shake her off, Helioptile began to try and cover himself in a veil of electricity. A small cover of spark ran along his body, but the charge soon ran out and Helioptile was left defenseless and panting. He was too weak to keep a charge for long without spending time charging it up.
Undeterred, Spearow tried to pull him off, dug his claws in deeper. He was not going to let this Spearow win! Using his tail, Helioptile tried to knock Spearow away, but she ignored it.
"I'm going to get my revenge! You should have attacked and caught me when you had the chance. Now, I'm going to make sure you feel the pain I did!" she cried as she gave a firm pull with her sharp talons.
Helioptile whined as he was finally dislodged and tossed to the ground like a piece of driftwood. He tried to stand, but the weariness in his whole body took the last bit of energy out of him and he collapsed. Barely able to open his eyes, Helioptile accepted the beating that was about to come.
Instead, he felt the sting of claws digging into both his sides and the sudden absence of stable ground. He was floating and the grassy ground where he once stood was now staring back at him.
"I'll bring you back to my flock. Seeing me beat a human-trained Pokémon ought to make them respect me," the Spearow crowed. Helioptile just hung limply as she carried him. He had lost the energy to fight his fate. As he was just about to close his eyes, he noticed a yellow blur steak across the clearing they were now flying over. "W-what is that?!"
That yelp was filled with terror and for good reason. An immense power seemed to be emanating from the yellow blur. But, unlike Arcanine's power, which threatened to tear anyone who came near it apart, this one said that it was only accepting challenges from those who could match their power. The fear Helioptile had felt from Arcanine didn't register. No, he felt respect. He would normally avoid the aura, but he would never fear it. Even if the pressure was absolutely crushing and tiring, there was something almost majestic about it.
The Spearow wabbled in the air, threatening to crash due to the new pressure. The new Pokémon stopped and watched the scene through narrowed eyes. Like Arcanine, this Pokémon also had black markings, but its teeth were longer and stuck out of its mouth. It had a long purple mane that reminded Helioptile of the wave and a lightning-shaped tail. Its red eyes watched the commotion, and its muscles were bunched up as it prepared to help. But it stayed for now. Its red eyes met Helioptile's blue, and they seemed to taunt Helioptile. The red eyes weren't kind like Squirtle's. They were wild and powerful and unlike any eyes Helioptile had ever seen. They seem to challenge him to either accept his fate or fight.
Giving a throaty growl, Helioptile knew what he needed to do. Screeching, Helioptile struck at Spearow with one of his claws. Spearow shrieked in surprise, and Helioptile took the opening. Wiggling fiercely, Helioptile was able to unsteady the Spearow and cause her to open her vicious talons.
Twisting in midair, Helioptile landed on his paws, panting. He wasn't going down without a fight. If his goal was to become the strongest Helioptile ever known, he should start acting like it! Holding his head up high, the velvet satchel that pressed against him gave him strength. He had to survive this ordeal and show Gary that he could be great, no matter what! He had to get back to Ash and show him how strong he had become! Whatever came at him, he knew he needed to fight it head-on.
The Spearow screeched as she crash-landed in front of Helioptile. Crouching down, Helioptile gave a hearty hiss. He was going to fight until this thing knocked him out. It might use him as target practice, but he would make sure that it remembered him by giving it the fight of its life.
The Pokémon from before padded beside him. Its regal fur blew in the air, and even though Helioptile wasn't looking directly at it, he felt in awe at its presence.
"Do you want to borrow my power?" the Pokémon asked softly, his voice barely a whisper. "If you take it now, your electric energy will be stronger than most. There aren't many Pokémon who can say they got their electricity from Raikou, the greatest Electric Pokémon to walk this earth."
Helioptile shook his head. "Give it to me when I'm ready. I cannot control my electricity without grounding myself first and charging it up. If I take it right now, I know I won't be able to handle it."
After that, the Pokémon was silent. Turning his head, Helioptile noticed that it had disappeared. But, before Helioptile could worry about that, a screech and a sharp beak to his neck brought him back to reality. He was sent rolling across the low-lying ground, but he sprang back up. His breath was heavy and ragged, but he wasn't giving up.
Charging forward, Helioptile was determined to meet the Spearow head-on. All he could use now was Pound and Glare. His other attacks either didn't affect it or took too long to charge up. But, as he turned to hit Spearow with his tail, Helioptile noticed that the air had suddenly changed. The humidity had gone way up, and the clouds now carried the scent of rain.
Wait, could that Pokémon… As Helioptile managed to finally strike Spearow and send it flying, his scales began to tingle with static electricity. Landing gracefully on the floor, in contrast to the Spearow who hit the ground hard, Helioptile wondered if he could use the built-up static in the air to attack. The atmosphere tingled with the chaos the threatening lightning storm brought, and Helioptile gave a battle-ready grin. His fatigue was forgotten for now. He was ready to send this Spearow flying.
The Spearow quickly hopped onto her talon and let out a soft growl. As she glared at him, ready to attack him again, a rock flew out of nowhere and hit her directly on the head. Even Helioptile was surprised. The grass was too tall to see anyone coming, so even if he was facing the direction of the throw, he hadn't seen who threw it.
"Richie, I think I got a Pidgey! The Safari Zone Live Cam shows people throwing rocks at Pokémon to weaken them, so I'm sure this will be fine," a familiar voice said. And his voice signaled the end to Helioptile's long nightmare. Finally, after the tiring, painful adventure, he had found the person he had been searching for!
"Ash!" Helioptile yelled as he launched himself towards the preteen. Helioptile's eyes shimmered as he ran over to him. A surge of joy spread through him at his good luck.
"Helioptile…?" Ash stared in disbelief as Helioptile jumped into his arms. Unfortunately, the moment was cut short by loud shrike and a call for help. Helioptile's blood ran cold as dozens of wingbeats filled the air, and the still forest was suddenly filled with an uproarious racket of anger and hatred.
A/N: If you're wondering why Raikou is here, well, Ho-oh was in Kanto doing something and so he followed it. He does play an important part next chapter, as the coming rain suggests.