Editor's note: From this moment on, the Pokemon will speak English while alone with each other in a similar manner to how they would occasionally do in the comics and chapter books, in a bit of an "Animal speak" motif.
As the back door slowly squeaks open, Pikachu's ears begin to twitch curiously; upon slowly opening one eye, he notices Riolu running up the path, through the window, and gasps. Oh no, he thinks. Riolu's run away! Oh, I'll need to find him quickly before Ash wakes up. Slowly and carefully, the small electric mouse inches out from under the young boy's hand, taking care not to wake or otherwise disturb him, carefully climbs down from the bed, tiptoes towards the door, then begins hurrying along the path.
As he follows a trail of Riolu's footprints up the darkened path, the small electric mouse lights up his cheeks in an attempt to see better. Passing by some trees lining the path, Pikachu sees a Noctowl staring menacingly down from the branches, followed by a flock of Crobats rapidly fluttering from the trees and an Ekans peering out from a nearby rock with a sinister hiss. The small electric mouse shudders at the foreboding scenery. This place looks very dangerous, he thinks worriedly. Who knows how far Riolu may have gone or what kind of trouble he could be in by now? He could be bitten by Zubats, pecked at by Murkrows, chased by Houndors, tired, hungry...Or worse still, Team Rocket could find him!
At this moment, Pikachu suddenly spots Riolu running up a path banking on to a steep slope; feeling both relieved that his little friend was safe, though concerned by the still possible risk, Pikachu hurriedly rushes up to him. "Oh, Riolu, thank goodness I found you!"
"Oh, it's you," the small blue Pokemon replies with an indignant sniff as he peers over his shoulder. "Just the Pokemon I didn't want to see right now."
"Riolu, I have something I need to ask you."
"Yeah? Well, I've got nothing to say to you."
"But Riolu-"
"I said I've got nothing to say to youWHOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAA!" Riolu is cut off sharply as he trips over a rock jutting out from the path and goes toppling rapidly down the hill like a curled up Togedemaru.
"RIOLU!" Pikachu cries out as he begins barreling down the hill after his quickly descending friend, momentarily losing his own balance and flipping end over end, but managing to catch himself midway. Unfortunately, he isn't quite fast enough and Riolu plunges headlong into a river at the foot of the hill and is swept away by the current.
Nothing daunted, Pikachu dives in and rapidly swims after him, churning through the water like a speeding Buizel. Suddenly hearing growling and teeth gnashing behind him, the small electric mouse looks over his shoulder to see a large school of Carvanhas rapidly swimming towards him; Pikachu shudders to the core as he picks up his pace with the fish in hot pursuit, gnashing their teeth within inches of his ears and tail, but fortunately never making contact.
After successfully overtaking the Carvanhas, Pikachu suddenly spots Riolu clinging to a rock in the middle of the river and hurriedly swims up to him. "Riolu," he says, extending his paw to him. "Please take my paw and I'll swim us to safety." The small blue Pokemon sneers, "No way, mister, I'm swimming myself to safety."
"But Riolu," Pikachu replies urgently. "If we don't work together the Carvanhas will catch us." Upon noticing the rapidly ascending fish, the small blue Pokemon gulps audibly, now fully realizing the seriousness of the situation. "O-okay." He then extends his paw to Pikachu who gently and carefully swims him to shore.
Weary and short on breath, the two Pokemon collapse on their backs on the grassy shore. "B-boy," Riolu notes. "That was sure a close one." Pikachu turns to him with concern. "Are you doing well?"
"Sure, I'm fine, I'm always fine," Despite being tired, Riolu still miraculously had the energy to be cocky. "Anyways, thanks for saving me back there." Pikachu smiles softly, pleasantly surprised by Riolu's gratitude. "You're very much welcome, little friend."
The two Pokemon then hop a few feet apart from each other and shake the water from their fur; no sooner have they done so, however, than they hear thunder and look to see clouds filling the darkened sky, followed by drops of rain. Pikachu looks up with concern as the raindrops fall on his cheeks, causing them to spark. "Oh dear, it seems we're not out of the woods yet."
Noticing a forest a little ways from where they sat, Riolu is suddenly hit with an idea. "Woods? Yeah, woods! You just gave me a brilliant idea, buddy; follow me." Nothing daunted, Pikachu follows Riolu towards the trees.