The Storm, the Traitors, and the Idol

Chapter 2: Fighting for a Friend

After a week, we found ourselves traveling during a glorious sunny morning to where the Pikachu herd dwells. We did our best to put that horrifying vision from our minds, but I could not forget about the terrible fate of Storm. As we made our way to the edge of the area, Ash approached me and said, "I can't believe they could treat poor Storm they way they did." I just nodded in response. I had told them all about the events after my "release". Ash then said, "Did you like her? I mean, you really knew her well, and you cried out during the vision. I mean, uh, that is, I just wanted to…." Ash looked very uncomfortable and turned away.

I sighed and put my hand on his shoulder. "I…. don't really know…." I said. Then I added, "It is okay. Let's just go with this. It's an adventure after all! Anyway, we know that we succeed!"

Brock was overhearing and remarked, "Yeah, but that prophecy didn't say how high the cost would be." This really bothered me.

May and Max came over to us. May said, "Okay, we're nearly there. I'd say it's time to put our plan, well, Pikachu's plan, into action." I nodded, and I then unfolded the gray blanket I was holding. I then put it on like a cloak so it hid my face. "All righty!" Max said, "Let's go!"

We were passing by some bushes when I heard the familiar voice. "Who are they?" it said. It rang out to me like golden bells. "Storm?" I asked aloud. She stuck her head out from a bush. "Pikachu?" she asked. We just stared at each other for a few seconds, and then we ran toward each other a hugged, jumping up and down in a circle. It would be an immense understatement to say that we were glad to see each other.

After a few more seconds of this, we finally settled down, and I began to explain our mission. "I don't want to scare you," I said, "But I must tell you. There is a great evil in-."

Storm interrupted me saying, "I know, I know, The Great Electric One sent me a vision. However, I think maybe the end of the vision you saw was cut off or something. I didn't get to see how it ended." I shuddered when I remembered what was going to happen to her in the vision. "I can't let that happen!" I thought.

Storm then directed her attention to my friends. "This will probably be the only time I'll ever get to talk to humans," she said. Ash walked over to her and looked her up and down. "Pikachu has told us a lot about you," he said. "Oh please don't think about…that." I thought in fear. I didn't want her to know about anything like that until I was sure of it myself.

After everyone introduced themselves, we began to approach the herd. "So, what's with the cloak?" Storm asked.

"It's a part of our plan. I want to get in there as quickly as possible without anyone making a big deal about my return. Anyway, what about you? Have things gotten better?"

Storm nodded, "Yes, I suppose so. Lightning said I could 'mix with the herd in relative safety', but I still have to live away from the main herd in my little tree trunk shelter. You really helped me by standing up for me. Thank you."

I blushed and said, "Well, you stood up for me too. They may have hated me for leaving if it wasn't for you." Now we were both blushing.

We suddenly heard a voice say, "Awwwwww!" It was Brock. The squeak of pain and the grunt of exertion told us that Max had jumped up to pull his ear. We didn't really mind this interruption. Storm then asked, "How did you know I was there?"

I was confused and replied, "I heard you ask who was there."

Storm looked even more confused and said, "I didn't say anything. I was as quiet as a mouse. I was just thinking to myself…" Her voice trailed off. I suddenly had a wild thought, a thought that was confirmed when I heard Storm's voice from what seemed to be far away say, "Could he have heard my thoughts?"

We were both silent for a moment, then I quietly said, and thought for good measure, "Yes." We both realized that a special connection, a special bond, had developed between us.

Suddenly, we were interrupted by two gruff voices shouting, "Halt! Who goes there?" Two rough, tough, and scruffy looking Pikachus jumped out of the bushes and blocked our way.

"Let me do the talking," I muttered to my friends. I approached the two guards and said, "We are merely travelers seeking rest with this Pikachu herd. We come from a region far from here. Will you please admit us? We mean you no harm."

The one on the left grinned and said, "Travelers, eh? Well, do you know you have a mind reading witch freak among you?" Storm shrank back, tears beginning to come out.

I felt the anger rise within me. "What did you call her?" I asked, my voice, and my entire body, shaking with rage.

The one on the right stepped forward and stood on his tip-toes over me, trying to intimidate me. "He called her a mind reading witch freak," he said, "And so did I. Hah! Isn't she kind of young for you, old one?"

I took a deep breath, but I still couldn't calm down. "Just because I wear a cloak doesn't mean I'm an 'old one', I happen to be quite young, for your information, and just because she's different doesn't mean you can insult her like that!" I made up my mind right then and there. I was going to teach them a lesson.

"Stand back," I told my friends. They stepped back.

Storm suddenly gasped out and said, "No! No! No! Don't do this for me! You'll get hurt!"

I looked her straight in the eye. "I'll be okay; I'll take care of these bullies," I thought, "just trust me."

Storm blinked back her tears, and thought back to me in response, "Okay."

The left Pikachu guard laughed, "Ha, ha, ha! So, you wanna have a little brawl?"

I nodded and said, "It's gotta be one-on-one!"

He grinned, brought his fist down hard into his hand, and said, "I'm Thunder Hammer, Chu-Pika Ka-Ka-Ka!"

The other one made an electrically charged fist and held it in my face and said, "I'm Thunder Gauntlet, Chu-Pika Ka-Chu-Pik."

They then said with one voice, "We are the gate guardians! We are the Thunder Brothers, Chu-Pika Pika-Chu-'Achu-'Achu! If you are sure you will win, then you will agree that if you lose, none of you may enter as long as we live!" All of us, even Storm, nodded. "Good!" they said, "Now choose you opponent!"

I pointed to the one on the right. "I choose you, Thunder Gauntlet!"

Gauntlet laughed and said, "Get ready to feel pain, freak lover!"

Gauntlet tried to lay me out flat with a Quick Attack, but I dodged it nimbly with Agility and counter attacked, knocking him back a few feet. He roared and hit me with a Tackle. A grabbed onto him and unleashed a Thunder Shock into him. Gauntlet roared and jumped back, clutching his chest in pain. He looked at me a growled out, "We got our names from our special attacks. My brother can break solid rock with his bare hands, and I, well, why don't I just show you!" He raised his hand, and it crackled and sparked with power and electricity. Gauntlet leapt upon me with his super charged fist. I realized that there was only one thing to do: evade.

I jumped and dodged to the best of my ability. Gauntlet was tearing up trees, bushes, and even the ground. After a few minutes of this, Gauntlet was exhausted. He collapsed, breathing heavily, with a smoking hand. I bounded of a tree and yelled, "Now let's see how you like my special attack!" I ran towards him and became an earthbound comet, electricity streaming from my body as I ran towards him. "This is against all bullies and anyone who harms anyone because of their differences!" I roared out, and with all my strength, I hit Gauntlet with my Thunder Charge at full force. Gauntlet was blasted right smack into a thick trunked tree. He slid down the tree a came to a stop at its base, unconscious.

Hammer was in complete shock and disbelieve. He came up to me, and bowed. "You are a mighty warrior," he said, "Forgive me and my brother for our foolishness." He then turned to Storm and said to her, "I am truly sorry. Perhaps your gift is something to be proud of." And with that, we continued on our way into the Pikachu herd's land.