Chapter 5 - The Lost Tauros
We were now passing through Cherrygrove for the second time. In the route along the way, I had continued training my Pokemon, including my new Fearow, who was quite good in our wild battles, just like my Vulpixes. I was focusing much of my training on Eevee, trying to train her not to run off like she did every time there was a water source nearby. We caught a few of the more common Pokemon, but I wanted to keep my team down to the four I started with for the time being, so I sent the Pidgey, Rattatta, and Butterfree (among others) we had caught directly to Professor Oak. Anyway, the first time we passed through Cherrygrove without incident, but this time, things would be different. As we passed through the center of town, there was a lot of commotion. My Vulpixes and I ran over to see what was going on. There was Officer Jenny, questioning a small crowd of people. All around, there was great property damage - broken picket fences, broken glass, siding torn on houses, a couple cars with dented doors, and even some small trees and bushes trampled. I ran over to Officer Jenny, and asked, "What happened here?" She looked at me and replied, "We're not sure. Someone or something is vandalizing the townspeople's property. Have you seen anyone suspicious around?" "Well, no" I replied, "But we just came into town today." To that, she replied, "Well, if you do see anyone who looks like they're up to no good, contact me immediately!" I said, "Okay, I will", and continued through town with my Vulpixes to either side of me.
Further into town, we saw more property damage up ahead. We ran to check it out. This time, in addition to broken fences, broken windows, and ripped siding, there was an indentation in the side of a large tree. I immediately recognized the shape of the indentation. I heard Officer Jenny's motorcycle approaching and started yelling to her, waving her down with my hands. She drove over. "Officer Jenny, take a look at this!" I yelled excitedly to her. She examined the indentation and came to the same conclusion as me - this was clearly made from Tauros horns. Upon realizing this, she said, "So, our culprit isn't a person, it's a Pokemon! But Tauros aren't native to this area." She scratched her head. Then I remembered some Pokemon geography, and replied, "But they ARE native to the grasslands between Ecruteak and Olivine City, north of here. Maybe one wandered from the herd and worked his way down here!" I theorized. Officer Jenny looked at me and said, "You could be right. Well, he's moved on from here. If you see him in your travels, don't try to approach him. Wild Tauros can be very dangerous, especially if they're lost or frustrated. Just contact me if you see him." "I will" I replied, and then my Vulpixes and I once again continued through town.
As we reached the end of town, we heard a loud crash, and screaming. I looked ahead to see what was going on, and there was the Tauros, ramming the side of a car, sending it flying, and people were running for cover. The car crashed to the ground, just feet away from a woman holding her 2 year old baby, trapping them between the car, some broken crates, and a building. A man shouted to me, "Do something! My wife and child are trapped by that Tauros! You're a Pokemon trainer. Use your Pokemon to stop him!" I knew my Pokemon would be no match for a Tauros, and Officer Jenny told me not to approach him. "Please, you're our only hope!" the man shouted. The baby was crying and the mother clenched him tightly as the Tauros was preparing to charge at the car in front of them. I had to think quickly. "Maybe if we can confuse him, that would slow him down" I thought out loud. Then I looked to my Vulpixes and asked, "What do you think? Are you up for a real challenge?" They looked extremely nervous, but nodded in agreement. I knew I could always count on them. "Okay, we need to get pretty close" I said. The Tauros was just about to attack the car that was blocking the lady and the baby. "Flamefox, get his attention with ember!" I commanded first. He launched the less intense fire attack which hit Tauros right on his butt, making him angrily turn around. "Now, Flamefox, confuse ray!" I shouted. The confuse ray directly hit Tauros, causing him to fall down in confusion. "Good job, Flamefox!" I said excitedly. But then the Tauros stood back up. He was not only confused, he was furious! He started lashing out in all directions, kicking his back legs in the air, his three tails whipping in all directions. He was working his way towards us! "Flamefox, Firestorm, run!" I yelled, as the Tauros headed towards us in a blind rage, destroying everything in his path. "The confuse ray just made him worse" I said. Then I commanded, "Firestorm, try a flamethrower!" His eyes glowed white as the flames shot out of his mouth, engulfing the Tauros. When the flames dispersed, the Tauros was still coming at us in a rage - the attack didn't even slow him down! Firestorm watched in terror and just stood there, frozen with fright, as the rampaging Tauros shook off his confusion and glared at him. This was the first time I ever saw Firestorm afraid of a wild Pokemon! The Tauros, no longer confused, started charging towards us! "Uh oh" I said, then ran over to Firestorm, scooped him up in my right arm, and shouted, "Flamefox, run!" as I once again started running ahead, this time carrying Firestorm, who kept looking behind, over my shoulder. This Tauros was angry, frustrated, and now burned - one ticked-off Pokemon! As I ran, still holding Firestorm in one arm while Flamefox ran beside us, the Tauros was charging just a few feet behind us. I reached for the pokeballs on my belt with my free arm, and found the one I wanted. "Go Fearow!" I yelled, throwing the pokeball in the air. My Fearow materialized, in flight. "Fearow, use your drill peck!" I commanded. He flew down, hitting the Tauros with a volley of pecks from his long, sharp beak, knocking the Tauros to the ground for a few seconds, but he got right back up and started charging at us again. At least Fearow had bought us some distance. We kept running, and I shouted to Fearow, "Use your fly attack!" Fearow flew up high, then came down at Tauros very fast. Tauros anticipated the attack, and just as Fearow flew down, he jumped up and directly hit Fearow's chest with a head-butt, sending Fearow crashing to the ground. "Fearow, no!" I yelled. He just lay on the ground, defeated. "You did your best, Fearow. Return!" I said, recalling Fearow to his pokeball. But stopping to recall Fearow let the Tauros have time to start gaining on us again. We kept running, Flamefox at my side, Firestorm still in my arms. We were running out of options! We headed down an alley, in hopes of losing him, but soon saw that up ahead was a chain link wall! We were trapped. I looked at Flamefox, and said, "It's up to you now, Flamefox! Let's try one of the new attacks I taught you. I want you to use your dig attack!" At that, Flamefox nodded, then quickly burrowed under the ground. Firestorm and I watched as the Tauros came charging at us from the other end of the alley, closer, closer, almost there...perfect! "Flamefox, now!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. The tiny fire fox exploded up from under the ground in a fury of dirt, impacting the much larger buffalo-like Pokemon so hard that he went flying into the air, and then crashed down just a few feet away. The Tauros was barely able to stand, but as raging mad as ever! "Good, Flamefox! Now finish it with a quick attack!" I yelled. Flamefox ran up to the Tauros in a reddish-brown blur, and directly hit him before he even knew what was happening! The Tauros finally collapsed to the ground. I reached for an empty pokeball and threw it at the Tauros. He put up no fight as the white light of the pokeball engulfed him inside. "Yes!" I shouted, and Flamefox ran over to me, and jumped into my free arm. I held both of my Vulpixes and gave them a big hug! "Good work, guys! We make a great team!" I said to them excitedly. They hopped down after that, and we walked over to the pokeball containing Tauros and I picked it up. What a catch! I heard cheering and looked up to see some of the townspeople, Officer Jenny, the Mayor of Cherrygrove, and the mother and baby we had saved, standing with the father. I stood there, holding the pokeball, as my Vulpixes stood to either side of me. The family we saved came up to us first, and thanked us for helping them at such great risk to myself and my Pokemon. Then the Mayor and Officer Jenny walked over to us, and the Mayor said to me, "You and your Pokemon have helped save our city from this rampaging Tauros, and directly saved the lives of two of our citizens. We are in your debt! How can we ever repay you?" "Aw, it was nothing" I replied - "Yeah, right" I thought to myself. "Just let me keep the Tauros." The Mayor and Officer Jenny looked at each other, then at me. He then asked, "Are you sure you're up to taming down such a wild Pokemon?" I looked at the pokeball I held in my hand, and said, "Yeah, I think so. He was just lost and disoriented. With a little training, he'll be a great addition to my team! And when we reach Ecruteak, I can return him to his herd." The Mayor replied, "Spoken like a true Pokemon master! Very well. But at least let us have a banquet in honor of you and your Pokemon." I WAS hungry. "Well, if you insist" I replied. But my first order of business was to bring my Pokemon to the center to be treated, especially poor Fearow. After he was out of recovery, I went to see him. He was standing tall and noble on the table, like nothing ever happened. I petted his head and said, "You did good out there, Fearow. I was worried about you when you crashed, but I'm just glad you're okay now." He just looked at me in contentment.
The banquet was held that evening, and it was wonderful. I ate better than I had since I left home. My Pokemon were all treated to the most expensive Pokemon food. They were enjoying this as much as I was. The mother, father, and boy were all there, as was Officer Jenny, the Mayor, and several other city officials. I was presented the key to the city! Flamefox and Firestorm played with the 2 year old boy, taking turns letting him ride on their backs! I welcomed this enjoyable evening, and the meal, for tomorrow, we would be on our way to Violet City once again.