Chapter 18
Oh Where Oh Where has my Pichu Gone?
I only slept a few hours that night, waking up at around 6am. Even though it was only a short four hours or so, I felt very refreshed. After my normal routine of showering, brushing my teeth, washing up Pichu, and the other things, I walked into the pokcenter lobby. I plopped myself down on the couch, turning on the TV as I heard Nurse Joy moving some things around behind the counter. The television kicked on, and was tuned onto the news.
"-murder has occurred here in Olivine City." The announcer spoke,halfway into her interview. "Once again, I repeat, an attack on a police officer has happened, an attempted murder has occurred here in Olivine City. The police said that the young man grabbed a iron pipe and brutally bea-"
"Ga!" I groaned as I changed the channel. "Why is it every time I turn on the TV in this region that all I ever hear is bad news?"
"Pi?" Pichu asked, looking at me from my shoulder.
"'A death in a bar!', 'Dead person found in Cherrygrove', Death death death." I said as I mimicked the newscasters. "I mean come on, I gave them a slight interview, and how come I haven't seen that yet?"
"Ha!" I heard the Joy laugh. "You call that an interview?"
"What?" I turned around to look at her. "Did you see it?"
"Yeah, they were broadcasting live." She laughed. "You stayed there for all of three seconds and then you were gone like a bullet."
"So?" I huffed, changing the channel to some cartoons. "They were just… crowding me, that's all."
"You know." She chuckled again. "For being a pokemon master you sure are camera shy. It's pretty funny if you think about it. The person that is most likely to be filmed is also so scared of a camera they can't even stay on the air for three seconds." She then looked at me. "And on top of that he came to Goldenrod two times! You'd figure that you would learn your lesson the first time you came here."
"I didn't come here to be on TV." I said as I stood up. Pichu ran from my shoulder and sat on the couch. He was watching the cartoons very contently; actually, I think he really liked this show. When I was at my Mom's house him and my little sister used to watch that show all the time. It had something to do with fat headed ninja that didn't speak and a little girl with a pigtail-buns haircut that always tried to kiss him. It was quite funny, I must admit, and Pichu thought so too. As I was walking away from him I heard him laugh in a little mousy way.
"Pi-he-he!" He giggled, rolling on the couch.
"So yeah." I said, taking the pokeball of my neck and laying it on the table. "My Arcanine got pretty beat up back in Olivine, I was wondering if you could take a look at him."
She took the pokeball and looked back at me. "What's wrong with him, Mr. Gray?"
"Well, the Nurse Joy there said all he needed was some bed rest, but what happened was he got into a really heated battle and broke his ribs."
"If the Joy there said that, then I'm sure that he is okay." She then took the pokeball over to the healing machine, placing the ball in there and waiting for the stats to show up on the monitor. "Looks like the only things that are wrong are the ribs." She said. "I can give him some medicine for the pain, but he should really be confided to his pokeball, or a bed, for the next two weeks or so."
"Would you mind if we go back in the back and let him out." I asked, pointing to the ER. "You know, to see how he's doing?"
"Sure." She said with a smile, and then stopped to look at Pichu who was sitting on the couch. She then pointed to him, asking me in a silent way if he would be okay.
I turned to face him. "Hey, Pichu." But he didn't even hear me. "Pichu!" And, once again, still didn't hear me. I walked over to him, standing in front of the TV. He then looked up and me and began to franticly move his arms.
"PI! Pi-pi-pi!" He screamed, motioning for me to move.
I laughed a little on the inside as I bent down to his level. "Me and Nurse Joy are going in the back to check on Arcanine. Okay?"
"Pi…" He said in an annoyed way, peeking over my shoulder at the TV.
"Alright." I said, standing up. "But if you need me I'll be back there."
"Pi, pi…"
He's so not listening.
***_-Scene Change-_***
Only a few minutes had passed since Kyle left, and that was all it took for the episode to be over on the TV.
"Pi…" Pichu whined as he rolled over, having his belly up on the couch, still watching the TV upside down. "It's over." He whined again. Another show came on and Pichu stuck out his tongue. "Yuck, I hate that show."
"Do-Do-Do-Da-Do-Do-Do" The sound of an ice cream truck played as it rolled by the center.
"Pi!" Pichu said, jumping up and running to the window. He spied the truck stopping beside the center, giving out ice cream to some kids on their way to school. "Ice cream!" Pichu yelled as he bolted out the door.
He ran beside the back tire of the truck, looking up at the window as the man inside handed out three ice cream cones to the three kids. Pichu watched as the kids began to lick the ice cream, making some drip to the pavement. "Ice cream." Pichu said as he began to drool. He frantically looked around at the truck for a way to get in, and spied a little door above the bumper of the truck. "Ice Cream!" He squealed as he jumped up on the bumper, struggling to open the door. While he was working so hard on the door, the truck had already started to move, but Pichu didn't even notice, instead he kept hard at work trying to get into that tiny door.
Finally, after several stops, Pichu was able to get into the small compartment. He climbed into the small vent, and noticed right away something was strange. "Brrrr…" He shivered. "It's so cold." It was then that he looked up and saw about twenty boxes with pictures of ice cream cones on them. His face lit up as he dove into one of the open boxes. Inside he found about fifty little cups of vanilla ice cream, all in sizes that were just perfect for him. "Yay!" He screamed in a happy way, with a smile so big it went from cheek to cheek and enough feet kicking action to open up another few cups of ice cream.
Not wasting a moment of this he dug his little yellow face into the cup of ice cream, sloshing it everywhere as vanilla started to cake deep into his yellow fur.
***_-Scene Change-_***
"Alright." Joy said as she closed the door behind us, leading me to an open area of the ER with a large table. "Release him." I did as she said and a bandaged up Arcanine sat on the floor beside me. He looked down at his injuries, and then back to me. I guess this is really the first time he has seen the damage to his own body.
Arcanine then tried to stand up, but winced as he sat back down. "Hey," I said, putting a hand on his head. "You're okay boy. I know it hurts, but Nurse Joy is going to give you some medicine to make the pain go away. Okay, boy?"
"Arr..." He whined as he struggled to hop up on the table. He did, with a little help from me, but there wasn't much I could do when it came to lifting a 500 pound dog. He laid on the table as Nurse Joy brought out a needle.
She began to walk towards me with it, the pointy end facing me. "Hey! Whoa! Wait!" I backed up into the table as she walked closer and closer. "What are you doing?"
"I'm giving him a shot." She said as she looked at me. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah… yeah…" I said, backing away as I took a deep breath. Thank God, it's not me. I then looked to Arcanine who was giving me a strange look. "Hey, its, um, okay, boy." I said as I put on a fake smile. I can feel the blood running from my face. I know I must be pale as a sheet right now.
"Are you okay, Mr. Gray?" Joy asked, looking at me as she began to pull the hair back on Arcanine's side.
"Yeah, I'm-a… fine." I watched as she put an alcohol pad on the place the needle was going. I closed my eyes, not being able to watch what was going on.
"Alright, all done." Joy said. "And you can open your eyes, baby." She laughed as I opened my eyes, watching as she put the needle up. "Wow, you are a weird one. Not only is the Pokemon Master camera shy but he is also scared of needles! Just wait till the press hears about this!"
"Wait! What?" I jumped back, looking at her. "That is not true… I just… um… had the sun in my eyes, that's all."
Arcanine's ear twitched as he raised his head, looking at the door.
"What sun?" Joy barked. "We are in a ten story building, on the bottom floor with no windows!"
"There's windows all around this room!" I said, pointing at the walls that were all windows.
"Yeah, windows that show the hallway, and only the hallway!" She laughed.
We both stopped bickering when Arcanine stood up on the table. He looked at the door and jumped down, whimpering under the pain of the impact.
"Um, Joy?" I asked
"Yes, Mr. Gray?"
"How long does it take for that medicine to kick in?"
"About ten minuets or so." She said, looking at Arcanine as he bolted out the door. "That is, ten minutes or so from now."
We both stopped talking and ran after him. He was ramming himself into the walls, not able to keep his balance as he ran into the lobby. I watched as he bolted out the main door.
I ran trough the lobby in pursuit when I stopped and looked at the couch. "Pichu!" I said, as Joy stopped too. "Pichu! He's gone!"
"No time!" Joy barked. "Arcanine, he's-" but by the time we turned around, Arcanine was out of sight.
"Crap!" I said, looking outside. "Nice, now I'm missing two of my pokemon."
"Kyle! Listen!" Joy grabbed me. "Arcanine's medicine will kick in within the next ten minutes. When that happens he wont fele like he's hurt at all."
"Alright?"
"Alright?" She jumped back. "Maybe it's too early in the morning for you, but if he doesn't know he's hurt then he's going really hurt himself!"
"Oh man." I gasped. "You're right. So I need to find him fast."
"Got any ideas on how to do that within the next ten minutes?" Joy asked.
I gulped as a thought ran across my mind. "Yeah… I know one way to do it." I then looked over at the TV, which was still showing some cartoons.
"Well," Joy asked, looking at the TV. "What do we have to do?"
"I don't know about you." I said, looking back at the door again. "But it looks like I have to conquer one of my fears."
***_-Scene Change-_***
"Phft." Arcanine groaned as he watched Kyle look away. "I don't know why he is scared of these things, they don't even hurt." The needled pierced his skin as Arcanine laid there, feeling the cold liquid run through his veins. "Besides, I would much rather have a shot than four broken ribs." When the shot was over he began to relax. It was nice to be out of that pokeball. It gets cramped and claustrophobic in there.
Right when Arcanine began to relax he heard something, a voice, a voice that he had heard before. He raised up, making his ears point in the direction he heard the voice. "Ice Cream!" He heard.
"Was that, Pichu?" He thought as he listened harder. He then heard Pichu's little footsteps running, the door open, and then silence. "Oh no!" Arcanine barked as he jumped off the table. He felt his ribs bend as he landed, making one go out of place and then back in. He winced, but shook off the pain as he ran through the door. He made his way into the lobby, losing his balance and running into the walls. "Man." He groaned. "These ribs sure make it hard to keep my balance." He then ran into the lobby. Pichu's scent was everywhere, but Pichu wasn't. "Crap! I was right!" He bolted out the door, and watched as a truck began to drive off, with Pichu on the back of it.
"Pichu!" Arcanine barked as he began to run again, this time he felt the same rib go out of place, and stay out. He tried to push the pain away, running faster to the truck, but it was almost as if the truck started to drive faster every time Arcanine got closer to it. He must have ran for a solid two minutes before falling to the ground beside some alley, gasping and groaning. "God, it hurts." He gasped. "I'm sorry, Kyle. I'm sorry."
As Arcanine laid outside of the dark ally, six red eyes began to glow from the other end in the dark.
***_-Scene Change-_***
"Well, another ice cream, another dollar." Jerry said as he opened the door from the freezer to the driver side of the ice cream truck. "Yep! You sure can't beat those kids, man, what a profit." He then looked in the rearview mirror, something was following him, something big and red, no, orange. He squinted his eyes and saw that it was a massive dog, an Arcanine, with white clothes all over it, like rags, dangling down to the ground. "Whoa, that's a mangy dog." Jerry said as he began to speed up. But as he did, the dog picked up speed, stumbling and falling from time to time, struggling to keep up.
Jerry then picked up the speed, running the truck up to fifty miles an hour, but the dog was still there. "My gosh!" He said, watching as the dog tripped over a garbage can, flipping over and falling into an alley. "That dog's got rabies or something! I'd better call it in!" Jerry picked up the CB beside the radio. "Hey, come in, this is truck number 5."
"Crrt-" The radio cut in. "Yeah , we read ya. What's up?"
"You better call the cops or something." Jerry said. "I was just chased like six blocks by this Arcanine with rabies, or something. I just shook him at 9th street."
"Did you say an Arcanine?" They guy asked.
"Yeah, why?" Jerry answered. "Do you all know something."
"Well, the cops just made a call out saying that three Arcanines just escaped from the pound and are considered to be dangerous. They told us to call it in if any of our guys saw them."
"Well call it in! Cause that thing was huge!"
***_-Scene Change-_***
"Yes." Nurse Joy said as I sat behind her in a chair. She was on the videophone, and I could see some people on the other end as they peeked over her shoulder at me. "Yes, that's him right behind me."
"Hey, kid!" The person on the phone motioned me. "Come closer so I can see you." I did and I saw him gasp. "Holy Miltank! It really is the Kyle Gray!"
Why do people keep calling me that?
"So will you send some video people over here right away?" Joy pleaded. "His pokemon are lost and we think this is the only way we can find them."
"Yes ma'am!" They guy spoke as he put on his 'Channel 22 News' cap. "We will be right up there. Tell him not to move."
The video clicked off as Joy turned to face me. "They will be here in a few minutes." She said, taking a deep breath. "I hope that it's enough time to help your pokemon."
"Yeah… me too…" Darnit, Pichu. This is a real fine mess you got us all into.
***_-Scene Change-_***
"Arrr." The voice chuckled from the dark alley. "Well, Boss, looky what we have here."
"Yeah! Looky." Another voice said. Arcanine turned to face down the alley, looking at the six red eyes that were glowing in the dark. As they got closer, so did the sound of the voices. "Yeah! That guy looks even bigger than you, Boss."
"You better put him in his place before he starts to get any ideas."
"Now hang on boys." A new voice spoke as the eyes came into the light. This time, the one that was talking was the pair of red eyes in the middle of the other two dogs. "This guy may just be one of us." There were three Arcanines standing there looking down at Arcanine.
Arcanine looked up at them and then somewhat chuckled. They were scrawny, and very weak on top of that. Even in his beat up condition he knew he could still take them, or thought so, anyway. But, nevertheless he didn't have time for that; he needed to get to Pichu. "Leave me alone." Arcanine spat as he struggled to stand.
"Hey now, I wouldn't back talk Boss, aint that right, Cody?" The medium size arcanine said as he walked in front of Arcanine.
"Yeah, Rosco's right." The dumb and smaller Arcanine said, as he stood beside Rosco. "If you mess with Boss, you're going to get burned!"
"I'd like to see you mutts try." Arcanine growled as he snorted embers out on Rosco's and Cody's feet. The pups jumped back as the hair on their feet began to burn off, showing burnt skin underneath.
"Ahh!" They both wimpered. "You! You! You'll pay for that!"
"Really?" Arcanine laughed as he stood up. "And who is going to stop me? You two?"
"No. I will." Boss said as he stepped forward, looking up at Arcanine. They were almost the same height, but Arcanine was still just a little bit bigger. "You can call me Boss." He spoke. "I own these streets, pounds, and the police dogs. There is not Arcanine that can take me down."
"Like that intimidates me." Arcanine said as he began to walk off.
Boss, seeing that Arcanine was leaving, used Extreme Speed, cutting him off. "So that doesn't do anything for you?" Boss asked. "Well fine, how about we give you a little demonstration!"
Cody, Rosco and Boss all jumped back about ten feet or so from Arcanine. They let out a howl as they sucked in some air, and blew out a three combination of Flamethrower. The flames spun together and hit Arcanine hard, instantly burning his bandages off, but it did little to no damage to Arcanine, him with his Flash Fire ability.
When the attack was over Arcanine opened his eyes and looked at the trio of Arcanine, who were backing away with a scared look on their faces. "If you mutts are done…" Arcanine began to speak, but as he did the sky turned from a sunny day, to a black rainy one. A cloudburst erupted and rain started to fall. The trio began to whimper and whine as they ran for cover. "Phft." Arcanine chuckled as he began to regain his strength. "I guess all that training in water really helped. But I still wonder where that cloudburst came from?" He shook off the thoughts as he felt his strength return. "No time to worry about that, Pichu needs me!"
Arcanine bolted from the ally and back onto the street. There he saw newscasters and people everywhere. They began to point and shout at Arcanine. "Agh…" Arcanine groaned. "Great, just what I need, people trying to block my way." He put his nose to the air and began to sniff out Pichu, but there was nothing. He ran down the street that he thought he saw the truck go, smelling everywhere franticly.
People were littering the streets, screaming and shouting at Arcanine as he ran by. Amazingly he felt a lot better, almost like his ribs were completely healed. So, he kicked in Extreme Speed, racing down every street he came across, until he finally found the same truck he as seen before.
***_-Scene Change-_***
"Aright, we are going live." The camera operator said as he began to hold up his hand for the count down. Lights and cameras were all over the Pokemon Center, as well as people. Everyone wanted to get in the shot behind me, wanted me to give out autographs or takes pictures with them, and some even wanted me to kiss their pokemon! Man, that's weird.
The newscaster lady put on her last bit of makeup as the cameraman started to count down. "Live, in 5, 4, 3, 2…"
"Good morning Goldenrod!" She started off. "This is Cindy here, live, at the Pokemon Center of our very own town, with an important message from a very important person, the world famous, Pokemon Master, Kyle Gray! Tell us, Mr. Gray." Cindy said as she handed the microphone to me. "What is it like being a Pokemon Master?"
I looked at her oddly, wondering, 'What the heck does that have to do with anything?' I then took the microphone out of her hand, looking back at her. "What does it feel like to be a newscaster?" I said in a rude way, shaking my head and looking back at the camera. "People of Goldenrod, I am Kyle Gray, Pokemon Master and visitor to your lovely town…"
***_-Scene Change-_***
Buck and Jed were sitting at a bar with the rest of the bike gang. They were all drunk and pretty mad about that Kyle. Not only did him and that other kid kick their butts, they blew up their bikes. They also set it up so it looked like Buck and his posse were drunk and beat themselves up, as well as trashed their own bikes. As soon as they paid off their fine they headed straight for Goldenrod. They needed new bikes and fast, and Goldenrod was the closest place.
Buck downed another beer as he began to watch the TV. The same clip had been playing all morning, it was so boring, but at least it kept his time. When the clip changed, however, he almost spit out his beer. He screamed to the other members of the gang. "Hey! Look! Guys! Look!" Buck pointed to the screen as they saw a newscaster began to speak, and Kyle Gray sat behind her.
"This is Cindy here, live, at the Pokemon Center of our very own town, with an important message from a very important person, the world famous, Pokemon Master, Kyle Gray! Tell us, Mr. Gray." Cindy said as she handed the microphone to Kyle. "What is it like being a Pokemon Master?"
"What does it feel like to be a news caster?" Kyle smarted back, shaking his head and looking back at the camera. "People of Goldenrod, I am Kyle Gray, Pokemon Master and visitor to your lovely town. Two of my pokemon have gone missing, and one, my Arcanine, is in really bad shape, I'm not even sure he can walk. My Pichu is also very small and young, I have no idea what he has gotten into but I need the help of all the citizens of Goldenrod. Will you please help me find my missing pokemon?" Kyle then paused. "I will also have a reward out." He said. "$10,000 to whoever can bring me back both pokemon in tact."
"Boys!" Buck said as he stood up, almost stumbling. "We're going to go get us an Arcanine."
"What? You want the reward?" Jed asked.
"No, you idiot!" Buck barked. "His Arcanine and Pichu are what beat us before, they are probably his most powerful ones. We're going to catch those, and we are going to use them. And it'll be easy because that Arcanine is already pretty banged up." Buck grinned as Stan ran up behind him.
"You got a plan, Buck?" Stan asked.
"Yeah, I sure do." Buck grinned as he grabbed a pokeball of Stan's belt. He took it outside, releasing it to show a Poliwhirl. "Hey, Paul." He said, looking down at the Poliwhirl. "Use your Rain Dance." Buck said in a laugh as the Paul began to dance around, making clouds stir. Lightning began to strike as the rain poured down in Goldenrod.
"Nice plan!" Stan said as he recalled Paul. "Using Rain Dance to weaken the dog before we catch him."
"That's why I'm the leader." Buck said as he brought out the item holder in his pocket. "Lets ride boys." He threw the item holder out, releasing a bicycle that he had bought from the store in Olivine. It was pink with tassels and a basket.
"Buck…" Jed complained. "Do we have to?"
"Yes!" Buck snapped. "We have to! How are we suppose to be a bike gang if we don't have bikes?"
"But…" Jed said as they all brought out their pink bicycles with tassels and baskets. "They look so… so…"
"Shut up!" Buck screamed. "It was all we could afford and you know it! Besides, after we get those two pokemon we can hold them for ransom and get a lot more than 10 grand out of him."
"Hey, good thinking!" Jed said as they all hopped on their bikes.
"Now! Lets get that Arcanine!" Buck yelled, leading they way as they drove off on their pink bicycles, down the road. Jed, being in the middle of the group, tooted the little horn that was on his bike. "And cut that out!"
***_-Scene Change-_***
Arcanine ran up to the truck, seeing that it was parked outside of a dairy store, or something. The driver door was left open and there was no one inside. "Good." He said, looking around the truck for a good way to get in. The driver's door was much too small for him to fit in, and he was relived to find a large door on the back, with a smaller door in the bottom corner. "The same door I saw Pichu try to get into."
Arcanine jumped up on the bumper of the truck, latching his teeth on the handle of the large metal door. He gave it a good hard yank, pulling the leaver down as it swung open. Inside the truck were boxes, boxes everywhere, but no Pichu. Arcanine put his nose in the air and smelled. "His scent is everywhere in here." He barked. "Pichu! Hey, Pichu! Come on out, kid."
"Ahhhhaarrrggg…" Arcanine heard a low groan coming from an open box that was on the floor of the truck freezer.
He jumped up in the truck, making it shift weight from the front to the back, as well as making the box with Pichu in it slide to Arcanine's feet. Inside he saw what looked like a very fat, white, Pichu. "Pichu?" He asked. "Is that you?"
"Ahhhhhaararrgg…" He groaned as he rubbed his belly. "Too… much… ice cream… Ahhhhhahhaarrrggg…"
"Hmph." Arcanine snorted as he picked the vanilla stained rat up in his teeth, throwing him on his back as he hopped out of the truck, making the front-end slam onto the ground. "That's what you get for running off like that, kid." Arcanine scolded. "You had me and Kyle worried sick about you."
"Arrgggnnn… Head… Cold… Freeze… Arrrrgggnnnhhh…"
"Oh get over it." Arcanine said as turned around. "I'm not very happy with you right now." Arcanine began to walk out of the driveway where the truck was parked. Rain was still falling, washing some of the vanilla off of Pichu, making it drip onto Arcanine's thick orange fur. "Alright," He said to Pichu. "You'll have to hang on, I'm going to go pretty fast." He took a bow, getting into position for an Extreme Speed when he heard something. He turned to look down the street as he saw five guys on bicycles ride up to him.
Arcanine watched as the fat one jumped off and pointed at him. "That's the one, guys! I know it! I remember those eyes anywhere!"
"Yeah, well I remember your stench." Arcanine huffed as he began to turn away. "I can't believe I wasted time to let these fools ride up on us."
"Oh no you don't!" Buck said as he threw out his Weezing, which floated in front of Arcanine. "You're not going to get away from us this time!"
The rain was coming down hard now as Arcanine stared up the Weezing, it was the same one he fought with back on Cycling Road in Kanto. "Get out of my way." He barked. "You know I can make quick work of you, so just back off now."
"-Orry…" The Weezing coughed out. "I can't do that. Buck wants you."
"You're making a grave mistake." Arcanine growled.
"Weezing!" Buck yelled. "Poison Gas! Now!"
Weezing let out a stream of gas at Arcanine, who dodged it with ease. Pichu began to fall from his back, but he was able to nudge him back on his shoulder with his nose. Arcanine turned back to the battle, letting out a Flamethrower that hit the gas, igniting it on contact, which in return, caused Weezing to go up in flames.
"Weeee-Zzziiiinng!" It called out as Buck recalled it. He then looked back to the rest of the crew. "Well?" He screamed. "Throw um' all out! I want that thing, now!"
"Yes, sir!" They all said in unison as they threw out their pokeballs.
"Great. More trash to clean up." Arcanine said as he saw a Crobat, Raticate, Fearow, Electrode, Arbok and a Poliwhirl appear all around him.
"Give up now. Rrrraaa!" The Fearow squawked.
"Yeah, hhhhh, just give up!" The Raticate chimed in.
"Yeaaaaah. Um!" The Poliwhirl said as he puffed out his gut, putting his hands on his hips.
"Now!" All the bikers screamed. "Attack!"
In unison all the pokemon flew, and ran at Arcanine, with the exception of Poliwhirl, who stood back and began to take in a deep breath. Arcanine let out a loud roar as he covered himself in a mass of fire and flames. Soon, all that was seen in the area he was at was a large shield of fire. All the pokemon flew into it, trying to attack, but they were all pushed off. Then, Poliwhirl let out a massive stream of water. The Hydro Pump attack shot right for the ball of fire, making the fire extinguish on impact, but also making a mask of mist cover over everything.
Poliwhirl felt as the ground beneath him gave way, making him fall down into a hole. He opened his eyes, seeing two bright red glowing eyes looking back at him in the darkness of the hole. "Wait! Wait!" He pleaded. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"Too late for that." Arcanine huffed as the tunnel he had dug was soon engulfed in flames, burying Poliwhirl and knocking him out instantly.
The ground above was also set ablaze. Arcanine had carefully dug a hole under everyone of the pokemon that were on the surface; attacking the fire ball diversion he had set up.
Arcanine leaped out of the hole, Pichu still on his back. Above him he saw that the only two pokemon that were still able to fight were in the air. Fearow and Crobat.
"Get it!" The men screamed as the two flew at Arcanine.
"Yeah!" One of the bikers called out. "Use your Bite attack Crobat!"
Arcanine stood still, waiting for them to get close enough. When they were within striking range Crobat went for a bite around the neck, as Fearow went for a Wing Attack to the ribs, but neither of the attacks succeeded. Arcanine quickly seized the small window of opportunity to catch Crobat in his mouth, and pin Fearow down to the ground with a paw on its wing. Arcanine then turned his head, having his Crobat filled mouth facing Fearow as he let out a massive Fire Blast. Both pokemon were sizzled, and fell to the ground knocked out.
Arcanine turned to look at the scared men as they started to hop back on their pink bikes.
"Buck!" Jed called out. "Sorry man! But sometimes you gotta know, when to go, go, go!" They all recalled their pokemon as they drove off on their pink little bicycles.
"Well that was easy." Arcanine said as he looked back to Pichu, who was still groaning. He turned to walk away, heading back to the Pokecenter when the rain suddenly stopped. "Well, I guess that's a good sign."
***_-Scene Change-_***
"I found your Pokemon!" One man said as he ran up to me in the Pokecenter. The place was crowded with people, all wanting the reward money, and man, people were really getting desperate. The man then held out a Meowth that was painted orange with black stripes. "See look! It's your Arcanine! And here's your Pichu!" He then held up a block of cheese that was carved to look like a … mutated Pikachu.
I stared at the man, with a dumbfounded look on my face as the 'Arcanine' in his arms began to Meow. "Meeeee-outh!" It then bent over and took a bite out of the cheese 'Pichu', taking out part of its ear.
"Shhhh, boy." The man said stroking its head. "Isn't he funny?"
I kept staring at the man with a confused look before I spoke. "Are you stupid?"
"Hooowwwwwoooo!" I heard a loud howl as everyone in the center went quiet. In walked Arcanine, with a bloated Pichu on his back. Almost immediately everyone jumped Arcanine, trying to wrap their arms around him.
"Look Mr. Gray! I caught him! I caught him!"
"No you didn't! I did, Mr. Gray!"
"Well I caught the white one!" Another guy said as he grabbed Pichu off Arcanine's back. Arcanine snarled his teeth and began snapping at the people, which caused them to back off and drop Pichu. Arcanine then caught Pichu in his mouth as he walked up to me, placing him in my hands.
"Oh, God." I said as I held the white rat up in my arms. "My gosh! What did you get into? You're all… sticky… and… you smell like, vanilla!"
"Piiii…" Pichu groaned through his fat cheeks on his face.
Arcanine just snorted as he pushed his nose against the pokeball on my necklace, sucking him back inside. When he vanished I saw people all over the center began to jump and scream, running at me.
"You saw! I saved him! I saved him!"
"Give me my money!"
"I get the money!"
"No! I do!"
"Nu-huh! Me!"
Soon the bickering people turned into a mob of fist punching, hair pulling and kicking. I, seeing a opportunity, took Pichu and ran back in the ER, locking the door behind me.
"So you had the same idea I did?" The Joy said as she walked up beside me. We both looked out at the people, punching and kicking each other over something so stupid as money. "So who are you going to give the money to?"
"Nobody." I said, picking Pichu up and looking him over. God, he's so fat!
"Nobody?" Joy jumped back. "There are people out there going to kill each other over ten thousand dollars, that you promised, on live TV, and you're not going to give it to anybody?"
"Nope." I said, handing Pichu to her. "From what I saw, Arcanine got Pichu and they came back on their own. If anyone should get the prize money it should be Arcanine." I smiled. "And since I am his trainer, I suppose that money is automatically redirected to me." I then pointed to Pichu. "Hey, tell me what you think, will he be okay?"
"Yeah… I suppose." She said, looking him over. "I have seen this same thing before… several times, actually."
"Really?" I asked. "Is it common?"
"Among children." She chuckled. "Your little Pichu will be just fine. He just ate a little too much ice cream, that's all."
"How do you know that, Joy?"
"The vanilla ice cream in his fur is one good indication." She said, as she licked her fingers after handing the bloated little mouse back to me. "And people come in all the time when their kids give their pokemon pets a whole gallon of ice cream."
"You're telling me Pichu ate a whole gallon!" I jumped.
"Umm… no…" Joy said looking at him. "More like five… or six."
My jaw dropped as I picked the chunk up in front of me. "That's it, bud, you're going on a diet as soon as you're better."
"Piii…" He groaned.
Joy reached up, yanking the Pokeball off my necklace. "Hey!" I said, holding Pichu back in my arms as I ran over to her. "What are you doing?"
"I'm checking on Arcanine." She said calmly, placing his pokeball in a machine. We waited patently as some graphs and charts pulled up on the monitor overhead. "Oh no… Oh no… No, no no."
"What is it, Joy?" I asked, looking at the graphs, but none of it made any since to me.
"Well, it looks like your Arcanine did a lot of damage to itself."
"How so?"
"Well, for starters, he broke all four of his healing ribs again, as well as an additional one." She then read the charts more, and continued. "He also broke part of his front paw, pulled a few muscles, shoulder looks dislocated…"
"Man… that's a lot." I said, looking at his pokeball.
"He needs to stay here." Joy turned to look at me. "For at least a day… maybe more."
"Are you kidding?" I asked, pointing to the little window in the door. "If those people know Arcanine is here they would steal him in a heartbeat."
"Well, I'm sorry, but he does need medical help. Badly." Joy then turned to look at the graphs on the monitor again. "It looks like I can have him all bandaged up in an hour or so. If you can keep them busy until then, it will give me enough time to put Arcanine back in his pokeball and hide him out of sight. Then we can stage a diversion saying that you left town, or something."
I began to think as I heard glass breaking in the lobby. Man, they would really kill each other over this. I would hate to pay the bill on fixing thi... "That's it! I got it!"
"Got what?" Joy asked turning to face me again.
"Joy, do you have a cell phone?" I asked.
"Yeah." She looked at me with a face of uncertainty as she reached into her pocket, taking out a pink flip phone and handing it to me. "Why? What's up?"
"I might have a friend that can help us out." I smiled as I took the phone, flipping it open and began dialing a number.
"Hey, don't be too long, I don't have many minutes left on that phone."
It rang, and rang, and rang some more, before going to an answering machine. "Crap. Of course, he's not at his house." I closed the phone, cutting the call off as I opened it up again, dialing another number. It rang, and rang, and, to my astonishment, he finally picked up.
"Hello?" He asked, almost as if he just woke up.
"Bill! It's me, Kyle!" I said, happy as could be that I could get in touch with him.
"Kyle… its like…" There was a pause before he continued. "It's like 7 am. Why do you always call me so early?"
"Bill there is no time for this!" I explained. "Do you still have family in Goldenrod?"
"Well, yeah. But I'm-"
"Great!" I spoke cutting him off as I looked behind me. People were beginning to try to unlock the door leading into the ER, frantically ramming it. I ran to the corner of the room, opening a door to the back as I ran further into the back of the center, Pichu still in my arm. "Listen, Bill. There are about 100 people trying to rip my arms off and steal my pokemon. I need you to get one of your family members to run down to the pokecenter in Goldenrod, and tell the group of people they saw me running for Ilex forest."
"Um… okay, but-"
"No buts to it!" I shouted. "Bill! They are going to kill me!"
"Okay, man. I'll see what I can do." The phone then cut off as I sat down in the hallway beside a window. I could see that I was on the third floor, and remembered that the center was sitting on a hill, so the first floor was actually the third when you went to the back. I let out a sigh as Pichu opened his eyes, looking up at me.
"Piiii…"
"Oh, hush." I said to him in a scolding way. "All of this is because of your little sweet tooth you have. If you hadn't ran after some ice cream this never would have happened."
It was only a few minutes later when I heard all the bickering and fighting from down the hall stop. The center was quiet, and calm. I began to walk back the way I came, seeing Nurse Joy unlocking the doors. "Hey." I said, walking up behind her. "Did it work?"
"Yeah." She said with a smile as she struggled with the keys. "I don't know what you did, but it got rid of them."
The door swung open, and standing in front of the counter with his hands behind his head stood my dear friend. His light brown hair was still as scraggly as I remembered, and, also as I remembered, his choice of clothes hadn't changed much either. He was wearing a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and cacki pants to go along with it. He also had a tie, which was tan, with some brown swatches on it, as well as not tied straight, hanging loose around the not fully buttoned neck of his shirt.
"Hey, bud." Bill said with a smile as I looked at him jaw dropped, surprised he was here. "Long time no see. Glad I can still get you out of a pinch every now and again."