Yo! How are you Sonic and Pokemon lovers doing out there. College has been so hectic for me with all these assignments and stuff but I'm still updating. I am dead set on finishing this at some point so that there's at least one Sonic and Pokemon crossover that will be finished. Anyway I heard the news that Crush 40 is apparently back together again and making a new album for 2016 I think. Some people speculate that they may be involved with the Sonic Anniversary title in 2016. I certainly hope so I freaking love Crush 40.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7: I Choose You!

Callen had sat in the Pokemon centers lobby twiddling his fingers. After taking Sonic to the center and letting Nurse Joy treat him he spent the night there only to find himself eagerly awaiting the hedgehogs return the next day. He hadn't forgot his enthusiasm and excitement from yesterday about going to Birch's lab to choose a starter and it had been on his mind all morning. He honestly believed that no matter what starter he chose, he wouldn't regret the decision.

I don't know who to choose!

He ruffled his hair and sighed sitting back in the booth. More than anything he couldn't put Sonic out of his mind. His speed, agility, and overall personality struck Callen as the most interesting Pokemon ever. The three starters of Hoenn seemed to pale in comparison with the blue hedgehog who he saw had so much potential. He thought about seeing if he could ask the hedgehog to be his partner but dismissed idea knowing he was too busy looking for his friend. And besides that he came off to Callen as someone whose use to being independent and free not leashed down to anyone. Heh, after encountering a being from another dimension that's very different than my own I just made a comparison to a trainer having a Pokemon to someone being leashed. Either way he was sure the blue hedgehog wouldn't go for it and it kind of saddened to think about it.

"Callen?", the gentle voice of nurse Joy spoke breaking him away from his thoughts. He made his way towards the counter where Sonic was waiting for him.

"Feeling better?", he asked happy to see the hedgehog had none of the bruises or cuts from yesterday's intense battle.

"Right as rain," the hero smiled giving him a thumbs up.

"Oh and Callen, Professor Birch called in to make sure you were alright. He said he heard what you and this Pokemon did for one of his fellow scientists and wants to see you right away," Nurse Joy told him.

"Oh right the professor! I almost forgot we have to return the flash drive that Team Aqua guy stole back to the lab!" Callen was so wrapped up in taking Sonic to the center that he nearly forgot he had the thing.

"He also said he wanted you to bring the Pokemon who helped you as well." Joy gave Sonic another once over. She had nearly been perplexed at how to treat the hedgehog when the young boy had brought him. It wasn't that the bruises or cuts weren't easy to treat, she just simply had no basis for the mannerisms of this new Pokemon and she certainly didn't want to do anything it wouldn't like. None the less she was happy his treatment went fine despite the fact that she almost dropped the medicine when he started talking to her. He certainly was a very interesting character.

"Right, Sonic you don't mind coming with me to meet the professor do you? Maybe he could give you some information on where your friend is if he's seen him."

To Sonic it didn't sound like such a bad idea. After all he had no idea where to even begin looking for his ebony counterpart. Running around and entire planet was one thing but an entire dimension? It would take him who knows how long before he even hears any leads on where to look. "Sure, I guess I'll tag along."

Now that Sonic wasn't wearing anything to hide his appearance the people of the town were all giving the hedgehog strange looks and it didn't go unnoticed by the two. Actually the moment Callen had brought the hedgehog into the Pokemon center he had been receiving strange looks and he even had a few trainers come up to him and ask about him. Though part of him was slightly enjoying the attention he was recieving (and his ego was quite pleased about said attention he was getting even though Sonic didn't belong to him) he had to politely turn them all away when they began asking if he would trade with him. He was very careful not to mention that Sonic had not been caught or else it would made another problem he would of had to deal with.

So now the two were walking side by side to the professor's lab ignoring all the stares some of the people of Little Root town were giving him. When they arrived at the lab the professor seemed to be in the middle of one his introductions to a new trainer. Both Callen and Sonic had stood by silently waiting for the professor to finish.

"As you already know, this world is widely inhabited by creatures known as Pokemon. We humans live alongside Pokemon, at times playing together as friends, and at times helping one another out. And sometimes, we just like to have fun battling others like us! But as close as we are, we don't know everything about Pokemon. In fact, there are still many, many mysteries surrounding Pokemon," he began and as he spoke that last bit he couldn't help glance over to see the blue hedgehog who had just walked in with a young boy. His eyes had widened at the similarity he could see between the black hedgehog whom he had just seen nearly a week ago but he didn't stop his introduction there.

"I do research to try to unravel those Pokemon mysteries. But that's enough about me! Now it's time for you to choose your starter Pokemon so you can begin your very own journey." He walked over to a table with three pokeballs lined up in a row and the trainer followed curiously.

"The first Pokemon is the grass type Treecko. The Pokemon in the middle is the fire Pokemon Torchic. And the Pokemon to the far right is the water Pokemon Mudkip." Callen watched as the trainer took his time deciding on what starter he would go with. It reminded him of the fact that he himself was still very indecisive about who to choose. He looked over to his left to see Sonic listening with mild interest. He seemed very curious about the whole thing but he still didn't know what his take on it was. The kid ended up choosing Mudkip and after he did he released it from its pokeball to which it happily leapt in his arms. Birch then gave the kid a badge case and Pokedex allowing him to register to enter the Pokemon League. One thing is for sure though. Sonic may not have known what the relationship between Pokemon and trainer was supposed to be like but seeing the kid happily hold the Mudkip made him happy. It was like the two had finally found each other after all this time and there's no doubt in his mind that they would become very close friends in time.

After the trainer had left, Professor Birch had turned his attention on the two who stood silently waiting for his introduction to finish.

"There you are. So you're the trainer who retrieved the valuable information stored on the flash drive from that Team Aqua fellow? ", he inquired.

"Thats right professor. Actually if it hadn't been for Sonic I probably wouldn't have been able to do much." he took the small device out of his pocket and handed it to the brown haired man who accepted it gratefully. Birch took another look at the hedgehog who held a neutral expression on his face as he looked back to the man.

"Sonic is it? My name is professor Birch and I really appreciate what you did back there although what you did may have been a bit reckless, but I'm glad you and Callen came out of it just fine."

"No problem professor this kinda stuff happens to me all the time."

It was then that Joshua, Birches assistant had walked into the room carrying a stack of papers and cast his attention to the boy and hedgehog. He immediately walked over to Sonic as he remembered the hedgehog who resembled him.

"Hey, you look just like the other one who came through here about a week ago," he said amazement filling his voice thinking he would never find another rare Pokemon quite like Shadow again, at least not for a long time.

"The other one?" Sonic asked. "Does that mean Shadow was here?"

"Indeed he was. In fact Cynthia took him with her six days ago. I hope she helps him regain his memory."

"Wait what?" Shadow had lost his memory again? It wasn't the best news he was hoping to hear after finding out that his rival was here. Now that he knows his memory is gone it might make things difficult. Although he and Shadow were rivals that didn't mean he immediately came to trust Sonic. In fact it took quite awhile before his rival started to trust anyone after he was awakened. If he didn't know who he was then he won't be able to recognize Sonic when he came to take him back. That meant when they met in this world, they would probably end up fighting each other again.

"Did you say Cynthia? As in the Champion Cynthia of the Sinnoh League?"Callen asked. What was the Sinnoh League champion doing in Hoenn? And what could she have to do with Sonic's friend?

"I did. And it seems she's being kept busy by Commander Jenny too."Callen couldn't believe it. He knew there was obviously something special about sticking around the hedgehog but an opportunity to meet the champion from another region? He was already imagining all the things she could teach him about pokemon. But he still had the business of choosing a starter to take care of.

"Hey professor where did Shadow go?"Sonic asked catching Callens attention unknowingly. He was eager to track down the black hedgehog so he could bring him home before his head starts filling with some crazy notion of himself.

"I'm sorry but I'm not sure where she is by now. All I can tell you is that she most likely took the route all trainers take when leaving Little Root Town and that's going toward Petalburg City." Birch couldn't help but make a note to the concern in the emerald eyes of the blue hedgehog. if he'd known a friend of his would come looking he might have tried to convince Cynthia to stay but unfortunately things just didn't turn out that way.

Before Sonic could ask where Petalburg City was located a beeping noise for one the monitors in the other room next to the lab went off indicating that someone was trying to contact the professor. "Give me a moment you two,"Birch said walking to the next room to take the call.

Callen had sat down in one of the chairs as Joshua began a conversation with Sonic. He tightened the green bandanna tied around his left arm and observed the blue hedgehog who decided to sit on one of the desks while telling the purple haired assistant more about himself. It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that Joshua was fascinated by whatever adventure the blue hedgehog was going into detail in at the moment.

"Callen?" Birch peaked his head around the corner to address the new trainer. "It's your father..."

My father? That's right I told him I would call him yesterday after I received my starter but with all the stuff that went on I had forgotten about that too. The auburn haired trainer walked into the room with the monitor just as Birch left to find that his father had indeed called. The man on the monitor was a brunette with a short haircut and brown eyes a little darker than Callens. He wore a black long sleeved shirt with a turquoise vest and yellow buttons

"Hey dad, listen I'm sorry about not calling you yesterday you won't believe what happened-" The boy began scratching the back of his head nervously.

"You encountered a mysterious Pokemon."

"Uhh well yeah." The boy's eyes widened when he came to a realization. "Did you have another vision?" His father had a unique ability to see events that could occur in the future but could also be liable to change. His father had told him that when he was young he had dream that he was a pokemon and after that the visions had started. He began calling this ability the dimensional scream because the way the experience makes him feel when peeking into possible events of the future.

"I did and there's much I need to tell you." The tone Callen's father took was completely serious and it made the new trainer uneasy. "A few weeks ago I had a vision of you and with a strange Pokemon that you had caught in an even stranger yellow pokeball. I did some research and learned that it was called a GS ball and found that it was in the possession of Professor Oak from Kanto. After some discussion he allowed me to borrow it and the moment I touched it, it gave me another vision of a horrible catastrophe."

"Two of Hoenn's legendary trio, Groudon and Kyogre went on a rampage breaking continents in half and raising the sea level flooding cities for miles under. The destruction was devastating. But despite that the strange Pokemon you had underwent a mega evolution unlike any I had ever seen before and began to battle them."

"Would this strange Pokemon you keep talking about happen to be blue, spiky and have green eyes."

"As matter of fact I believe it did look something like that," the man responded.

"But what does this mean? Sonic is my partner and we're supposed to fight two legendary Pokemon together?" Don't get Callen wrong having a reason to have Sonic as his partner might have been the most exciting news of his life but going up against Kyogre and Groudon was more than a bit intimidating of a task for him.

"My visions never reveal enough info to know for sure and their not guaranteed to be right but for now i would say...yes. I already made arrangements to send the GS ball to Birch. In fact it should be arriving shortly."

Callen sighed, "Sometimes I wish your visions came with a manual rather than give me unnecessary stress." his father chuckled the serious atmosphere dissipating a bit. "So do I. But listen, now that I've told you this event it might be even more likely to occur. If you follow on the path I believe you're going to take the damage done by the legendary Pokemon may be inevitable and whether or not they are stopped may depend on whether you and this Sonic you mentioned team up. I apologize for putting all this pressure on you before you even begin your journey but with all my visions there are a great deal of them that happen to come true. I wouldn't even be telling you this if it weren't for the fact that our family has had quite a few experiences with fate and destiny. " But then he began to grin as his eyes reflected a pride that lifted the boy's spirits. "However, no matter which path you choose or where it decides to take you I'll still be happy knowing my son will finally be a trainer. And if you happen to become someone very important in time well just make sure to remember your old man and your mother too."

"Thanks dad. I'll make sure to call her later." Callen's dad gave him one more smile before ending the call. The auburn haired kid had ran his hand through his hair before going to back to the lab to see the professor. The moment he entered, he and the professor shared a look.

"Wow I never would have guessed Shadow had such a history but it seems oddly fitting for him," Joshua said having had quite the conversation with the blue hedgehog. The assistant had also taken the time to show Sonic a map of the Hoenn region.

"Sonic," Callen spoke deciding to choose his words very carefully. He didn't want to go about this the wrong way but it was so important. "I want you to battle me."

The blue hedgehog still sitting on the desk with legs crossed gave the boy a strange look. "What do you mean battle you? What for?"

"I want you to be my partner Pokemon and come with me on my journey. I'll even help you look for your friend."

"Sorry but no thanks. It's not that I don't like you kid, it's just that I can cover ground much faster on my own especially since Joshua showed me a map of Hoenn." He didn't mention it but he also didn't want to be treated like some kind of pet or be shoved into a small pokeball about the size of his hand. Ever since yesterday with the battle against the grunt and today after seeing the new trainer choose his starter he wondered a bit what it be like to be contained in such a small device. He'd rather not find out whether or not he was extremely claustrophobic today.

"Then let's make a deal. I'll battle you with one of the other Pokemon the professor has and if I win you have to be my partner. If I lose I'll leave you alone and you can go off and search for your friend on your own." There was something about the determination and confidence in the stare the kid was giving the blue hero that gave him a slight adrenaline rush. He couldn't stop himself from smirking, this wasn't a challenge he was going to turn away.

He hopped down off the desk and emerald eyes gave brown ones and equally determined gaze.

"It's a deal."

Just outside of the professor's lab surrounded by trees, Sonic and Callen stood ready to commence with the battle. The professor had decided to come along to help after the battle but he also wanted to see the blue hedgehog fight. Callen had already had the pokeball containing the Pokemon he was going to use in hand.

"I hope you don't have any hard feelings about this when you lose. You did accept the deal after all," he said looking at the completely calm and relaxed hedgehog standing with his arms crossed watching Callen.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head kid, cuz I won't be losing," he began stretching his legs one after another like a runner getting ready to sprint, then tapped the tip of one of his shoes against the ground a couple of times. "I'm ready when you are."

The auburn haired trainer reached back and threw the pokeball adrenaline beginning to start a jittery feeling inside him. "Now Manectric front and center!" he called out with eagerness.

The yellow and blue quadrupedal Pokemon came out in a red light, body tensing as it prepared for battle. Callen thought himself lucky that the professor just happened to have a Manectric. It's like fate was practically begging him to catch Sonic after meeting the azure traveler on the day he was going to get his starter and then the battle that followed after. Now with this Pokemon at his command he felt the chance for greatness making itself known.

"You can have the first move Sonic."

The blue hero didn't need to wait any longer to begin his attack. He dashed forward with a good amount of speed closing in on his target. "Manectric use fire fang." The electric dog like Pokemons fangs became engulfed in flame preparing to take a chunk out of blue hide as it approached. Unfortunately it was unsuccessful in reaching its target when when a gloved hand used the light blue snout as leverage to jump right over snapping its mouth shut. The temporary weight although not too heavy that had bore down on it in that instant had caused the Pokemon to meet ground but it was far from over yet. Sonic just grinned admiring the less than happy snarl present on the Manectrics face.

"That's a nice set of teeth you got there but it doesn't do any good if you're not fast enough to bite me with them,." Manectric gave a growl small sparks of electricity flaring about its body.

"It's alright, he can't run forever. Use quick attack to get close and then spark,"Callen said not intimidated in the least bit by seeing the blue Pokemon's speed up close once again. The Manectric took off in a burst of speed but Sonic was not impressed. He began spinning into a tight ball ready to attack only to collide with a fully charged spark. The collision resulted in a small explosion but both Pokemon came out alright. Sonic could feel the fur on his body standing on end after making contact with the electricity but he shook off the feeling. Callen was very attentive to the hedgehogs movements but it didn't look like the attack achieved the required result just yet.

"Manectric use thunderbolt," Callen said as yellow electricity gathered before being shot out. It missed again as the blue hedgehog approached Manectric from the right punching it. Sonic looked down at his hand observing it as if he expected something strange to happen.

My hand isn't glowing like it did before. I wonder why. "You know Callen if this is all your Pokemon can do, then this fight's going to be pretty one sided," he said smirking at the kid.

Manectric was back on its feet determined to win this battle for its temporary trainer and eager for a little payback. As a Pokemon it was pretty attuned to the emotions and feelings of others and right now it could easily pick up on the overly confident nature of its opponent.

"Heads up! I'm coming for ya!" The azure hero said as he began spinning at high speeds.

"Use quick attack to dodge," Callen knew that with Sonic's overwhelming speed would make it impossible to dodge all his attacks but he had to try if only to give things a bit more time. Manectric began the almost frantic rhythm of using quick attacks to make quick stops or turns while Sonic mercilessly pursued. Out of every five attacks three of them usually made slight contact and usually one of those three became a direct hit. However unbeknownst to Sonic each time he made contact with the yellow and blue Pokemon his body became just a bit more charged with electricity.

Eventually Manectric became too tired and miscalculated its movement giving the hedgehog a great opportunity for a direct hit. "You can't outrun the fastest thing alive," he bounced off the ground to attack from above.

"Manectric use thunderbolt now!" The bolt hit Sonic in midair slowing his momentum and he gave out a scream as voltage painfully coursed through his body but it wasn't enough. His homing attack still hit home knocking the Pokemon away.

"Manectric!" Callen saw the attack hit the Pokemon square on and with all the running it around it had been doing he believed it might be over until he heard a groan from the blue hedgehog. Little sparks of electricity kept crackling all over his body and he looked like he was in pain as he slowly struggled to stand.

He's paralyzed…but is it enough? The trainer thought.

"What's wrong with me, I can't move like I want to." Sonic had never felt electricity do something like this to him. It's like his body just became stiff and it took all of his willpower to get his muscles to move.

Callen looked back at Manectric, it was standing again but there's no denying that it was covered in bruises and quite exhausted now. The kid hoped its strength could hold out just a bit longer. "Hang in there Manectric we're so close now."

The blue and yellow electric type gave a bark ready to charge back in. "Now quick attack!"

The blue hedgehog heard the command and managed to duck just as his opponent leapt over. "Now use fire fang to grab onto one his quills,"

Is he nuts, my quills are as sharp as steel. That pokemon will end up with a mouth that looks like swiss cheese if its not careful. Nonetheless less the Manectric was able to land a firefang and savagely bite into one his thick quills. The hero felt the fiery bite as it singed and burned the quills on his head conveniently blunting the area being attacked.

"Get off me." He shook his head violently and even tried to pry the pokemon off with his bare hands but the Manectric was holding on like it's life depended on it. Unfortunately for the blue hero it made it hard for him to try to spin to throw it off because his coordination was so poor at the moment. He eventually bristled his quills which lead to a bit of a muffled yelp coming from the Pokemon leading him to believe his quills may have injured him but it still didn't let go.

"Now Manectric finish this with your strongest thunderbolt and don't hold back even a little." Green eyes widened as he realized that this might have been what Callen wanted all along. It all made sense now. Callen wanted him to go on the offensive because he knew it would get him close enough to attack and paralyze him. That cheap-

He screamed as a point blank range thunderbolt hit him full force. The actual shock lasted several seconds longer than the previous one and hurt twice as much. When it was over Manectric had leapt off of the hedgehog the scent of charred fur and quills strongly in the air. Sonic took a few steps forward trying to keep his balance as he swayed from side to side, body a smoking wreck.

Paralysis still present, electrical burns flaring, and fur sticking out from all the extra electricity Sonic stood there holding his ground as silence spread all around him. Then he fainted unable to go on as both strength and willpower left him.

Professor Birch had walked over to the fainted hedgehog and was relieved to find that although the blue Pokemon had sustained injuries, none of them were critical. The scientist gently picked him up careful to avoid the quills before seeing the young boy go to check up on the Manectric

"You were amazing Manectric," he said giving it a rub on the head as the blue and yellow Pokemon nuzzled the boy's hand until it winced. And that's when he saw it, several blue quills no longer than his pinky lodged in the Pokemon side. He carefully removed them allowing the Pokemon to relax a little easier.

"Callen we need to get back to the lab to treat these two," Birch said adjusting the hedgehog in his arms.

"I'm coming professor," He carefully took one of the quills between gloveless fingers. If the battle had went on any longer I might've lost.

Once again impressed by another characteristic of what would now be his new partner Callen picked up the injured Manectric following the professor back to his lab.

_The mystery and importance of the GS ball won't be revealed until much later but until then it hope trying to figure how it plays a part in all this eats you alive to the point where you have to keep reading. And yes I made that reference to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky/Darkness if that wasn't obvious.