Team Wildfire: Rekindled
Chapter Four: Sparks Fly in Thunderwave Cave!
*Riolu's p.o.v*
The team and I arrived at the rocky entrance to Thunderwave Cave where a pair of Magnemite waited. They quickly floated towards us right away.
"Are you the team who accepted our request?'' one of them asked in a Cyborg-like voice.
"Yes, we came to help your friends,'' I answered giving a reassuring smile.
"Thank Lord Arceus,'' the other sighed. "Our friends are stuck together as you know. We Magnemite run the risk of getting stuck together in an area with a lot of electricity such as this place. They should be on the very last floor of the cavern. Please hurry and save them!''
"You can count on us!'' I said. I then gestured for the others to follow me into the cave.
Inside the cave, there were pale-colored rock walls and the floor was a tan brown. It seemed as though the various rocks and the walls sparked with electricity. This put Squirtle on edge like a kid in a dentist's office. There was a loud electrical POP causing Squirtle to scream and withdraw into his shell shivering. I quickly shushed him fearing the risk of alerting enemy Pokémon in the vicinity.
"Squirtle, knock it off,'' I said sternly. "The electricity's not going to hurt you.''
"Easy for you to say,'' Squirtle said still shaken up. "You're not weak to Electric attacks.''
"No, it's because I have courage while you're just a big scared-y cat!'' I snapped.
"Riolu, lay off him,'' Zorua said seriously.
"Yeah, put yourself in Squirtle's shoes for a change and learn to be sympathetic,'' Anthony added glaring. I growled at my team's defiance. I was their leader! They need to do what I say without question, right?
"So you support Squirtle being weak?!'' I snapped.
"No, we just think you need-" Anthony began.
"Well you need to learn how to take orders and not be defiant! And Squirtle needs to man up! Now, move it!'' I barked angrily.
"Riolu…'' Anthony and Zorua snarled. Squirtle finally stood up.
"It's fine, guys,'' Squirtle said blankly. "Let's just get this mission over with.'' I nodded and turned towards the downwards leading staircase.
Eventually, we found a pair of Magnemite stuck together. They looked around fearfully as if something dangerous was in the area.
"Hey, there're the Magnemite!'' Zorua said happily. "Let's go bring 'em back to the surface!'' Zorua then ran towards the spherical Pokémon. However, I sensed the presence of multiple other Pokémon in the area due to my aura sensing capabilities.
"Zorua, wait! I think it's a-" I shouted before a massive thunder bolt struck the ground. The force of the blast sent Zorua backwards making him land at our feet. Then, there was the sound of sinister laughter coming from the ledges above us.
"Do you really think it'll be that easy to save your friends?'' a voice asked. We looked up and saw a Manectric and three Electrike appear on the ledge with their eyes filled with hate and fury. The latest natural disasters must be causing these Pokémon to go insane, I observed in my mind. The wolf-like Pokémon leapt from the ledge and landed between us and the Magnemite. "Sadly, it will not!''
"Yeah, you tell 'em, boss!'' an Electrike cheered.
"Please, we don't mean to intrude into your territory,'' Anthony begged. "Just let us take the Magnemite and we'll be out of here before you know it!''
"Quiet, mutt!'' Manectric snapped bearing his teeth. "We will settle this with a battle. If you win, you can take these intruders.'' Manectric paused. "But if you lose, then I can't guarantee you'll make it out of here…ALIVE.'' The Electrike snickered at Manectric's threat.
"You're on!'' I shouted. I then leapt at Manectric to grab him with Force Palm. Manectric jumped backwards, though, and grabbed me in his jaws and chewed into me causing me to yell in agony. Manectric was then hit by Anthony's Ember attack releasing me from Manectric's grasp. Anthony then tackled Manectric and ran to my side.
"Are you okay, Riolu?'' he asked eying the bite marks on my chest, arm, and back.
"I'll live, thanks,'' I said gratefully. We then heard Squirtle scream causing us to look in his direction. Squirtle was being chased by the three Electrike.
"Leave me alone! This isn't fair!'' Squirtle shouted in terror. Squirtle then tripped and the Electrike were quick to swarm him with Bite attack.
"Hey! Get away from him!'' Anthony yelled as he, Zorua and I ran to Squirtle's aid. Suddenly, we were hit by a Thunderbolt causing us to become paralyzed. The powerful electricity surged through our bodies like rats in a maze. Any normal animal or human could easily die from an attack like that. However, we Pokémon can handle the pain dealt by another Pokémon's attacks much better that, at the least, will just cause us to faint. Manectric stood proudly and laughed at our suffering.
"You boys have a lot of nerve to stand up to me,'' Manectric chided. "But, it's useless. You can't stand up to my skill level!'' Squirtle tried to stand but his knees wobbled. Bite marks covered his body. The Electrike looked towards Manectric. Manectric nodded. The Electrike then zapped Squirtle causing him to utter a blood-curdling scream.
"S-Squirtle!'' we screamed through the pain. Squirtle then collapsed to his hands and knees as sparks flew off of him.
"H-Help me…'' Squirtle pleaded to us.
"I must admit,'' Manectric began. "He'll make a tasty meal.'' Squirtle's eyes widened in fear.
"You wouldn't!'' Zorua exclaimed.
"Believe me, I would!'' Manectric smiled wickedly. Manectric then charged for Squirtle mouth opened wide. Squirtle closed his eyes and braced himself for the attack. I stood up and rammed into Manectric with Quick attack sending us tumbling.
"Don't you even think about killing my friend!'' I screamed as I pummeled Manectric. Manectric pushed me off of him and placed his paw on my throat.
"Then, I guess you'll be my meal,'' Manectric snarled. Manectric was about to bite me when Squirtle sent him flying with Water Gun. I looked up and saw Squirtle up and well.
"I remembered I had an Oran Berry in my shell,'' Squirtle said. Manectric got up and charged for Squirtle again. Squirtle tucked his head into his shell and then rammed into Manectric with Skull Bash. Manectric collided with the wall and was knocked out. The Electrike tried to attack Squirtle with more bites but Zorua and Anthony took care of them with Dark Pulse and Ember respectively knocking them out as well.
"Squirtle, that was great!'' Anthony beamed.
"Yeah, you sure showed that Manectric!'' Zorua added.
"Aw, thanks, guys,'' Squirtle said rubbing the back of his head blushing. Anthony, Zorua and I then collapsed due to paralysis. "Oh, I should heal you guys!'' Squirtle pulled out Cheri and Oran Berries and fed us healing us instantly.
"Now, can you get us out of here?'' one of the Magnemite asked.
"You bet!'' Squirtle said. Squirtle and I walked over to the Magnemite and escorted them out of the cavern.
After a couple hours, we finally made it out of the cavern and the Magnemite's bodies were finally separated.
"Freedom! Sweet freedom!'' one Magnemite cried happily.
"Thank you! Thank you so much for saving our friends!'' one of our client Magnemite said gratefully.
"Yes, but say thanks, you two,'' the other client said to our rescued Magnemite.
"Okay, thank you,'' the rescued Magnemite said.
"It was no big deal,'' I said. "It wasn't easy but we can handle anything that comes our way.''
"No doubt about it!'' a Magnemite praised.
"I can tell you'll become a successful team one day,'' another Magnemite added. My team and I smiled at the compliment.
"We should be going now, guys,'' a Magnemite suggested. The other Magnemite looked to him and nodded. "Good-bye, Team Wildfire! And good luck in your future rescues!''
"Thanks! Take care!'' Anthony yelled as the Magnemite floated away.
"We should be going too,'' Zorua said. "It's getting late.'' Zorua then let out a loud yawn.
"Stop it, Zorua, or you'll make ME yawn,'' Squirtle said before yawning as well.
"Well, let's get going then,'' Anthony said heading down the road. I stood there for a moment recollecting how mean I was to Squirtle earlier. "Hey, Riolu, you coming?''
"Oh, s-sure,'' I said hurrying to my friends' side. I know I should apologize to him but…*ugh* no one said it was easy to do so…
TO BE CONTINUED…