Chapter 60; Nemesis or frenemy?
Sonic woke up fully energized from a good night's sleep. He exited the tent and stretched, observing the rising sun with excitement for the new day to start.
Things had settled down a lot ever since their latest clash with team rocket. Team Sonic had spent about 2 weeks training hard at the beach close to Olivine city's lighthouse. They were determined to get stronger for the next round with their enemies no matter what.
Their daily routine consisted of 4 main training sessions. The first part was combat training which consisted of basic stuff like practicing moves and working hard to increase their power output. Simple but vital as Sonic had suggested.
The second part was sparring. The three trainers would take turns sparring with each other. They chose at random who would spar with who in order to stay vigilant. Most of the times it was Tails or Knuckles vs Sonic or more specifically Sonic and his Raichu. The electric type mouse pokemon was proving to be a good opponent for their teams who grew continuously stronger with every spar with it.
The results of this part of the training started becoming visible around the 9th day for 2 main reasons. First was the revelation of the Larvitars knowing rock slide. The two rock and ground types had used this move in unison impressing everyone present. Hitmontop had immediately set out to replicate the move, succeeding after 2 days of hard work
The second hint that they were growing stronger was when Tails and Knuckles would have a full battle or at least as much of a full battle as they could since neither had a full team. At first Knuckles won with relative ease. But as time went on Knuckles started having difficulties even with Tails only having 3 pokemon.
Tails had trained the most out of everyone in team Sonic, so he would undoubtedly be the one with the most growth. His scyther had become an absolute terror on the battlefield. Its wild nature and incredible power reminded Sonic a lot of his Pinsir.
Tails' butterfree was also becoming a very annoying opponent to deal with. Having learned silver wind, which Tails wasn't expecting as that was a move butterfrees usually learned later in life, it had become adept in flying around and dodging moves, while firing stun spore and sleep powder to give them openings as well as confusion and silver wind for damage.
Tails had of course learned not to depend on dodging and waiting to apply status conditions before attacking. Butterfree had also gained battle might, its confusion so powerful it managed to confuse Raichu and silver wind was equally as powerful of a move.
Lastly eevee was becoming agile and nimble, making sure it wouldn't get hurt out there, though Tails hadn't yet decided what to evolve it into or even find another evolution stone. He didn't regret choosing the leaf stone in the bug contest a while ago but just couldn't help but want eevee to evolve. Eevee's adventurous nature also made it want to grow stronger and experience new things, including evolving. It had grown incredibly close to Tails, though it didn't miss an opportunity to meet Cosmo on camera whenever she and Tails video called one another.
Tails had also started becoming more confident as an individual and that could be noticed in the way he talked to Cosmo as the days went by.
Normally he was calm and reserved like a wall flower. Sometimes he would allow his nerdy nature to take over and get all technical and just rumble on and on before he realized he was doing so. Cosmo didn't mind, in fact she laughed every time the moment he realized, as she found it very cute.
But as Tails' battle might grew, so did his confidence. He began using words that reflected his confidence, cracking jokes to make her laugh, and sometimes even going the extra mile by slightly deepening his voice.
His two teammates had noticed these changes in their attitude and of course teased him about it from time to time. But deep down both were very proud. Their wall flower friend was growing up on them very fast.
As the second part of their training was yielding these very results, the third part was also yielding its own results. The team trained a lot together, putting their minds together and working out ways to cooperate most effectively in battle. A lot of their pokemon could work well with each other, one example being Raichu and Quilava. The two were growing to be an unrivalled battering ram, with Quilava using flame wheel to break an enemy's defense and Raichu seizing the opening to take out at least one opponent.
Another powerful pair was Bayleef and Butterfree. If one was being attacked by more than one opponents the other would take the attention off of the first by using their moves with the utmost effectiveness, like Bayleef using razor leaf to force possible opponents to stop attacking butterfree or butterfree spraying their opponents with either of its status moves while Bayleef could buy some time with protect if there was a way to learn it.
The list went on and on. Of course not all party members could work together with the same effectiveness but team Sonic would continue trying to make breakthroughs in their teamwork training.
Lastly, the fourth part of their training was bonding with their pokemon. This was vital, if not the most vital part of their training according to Sonic, as one bonding with their pokemon encouraged them to grow stronger. That was the reason Tails and eevee had grown so close. It was also how the two larvitars they had caught had managed to learn to trust them. Sonic feared that they would not trust them easily as they were so young and orphaned. Knuckles however broke the barriers of the two Larvitars after a while, getting them to start trusting him and Sonic.
As Tails and Knuckles also woke up after a while, they were not surprised to find their comrade already awake and ready to start the day.
"You really have become an early bird" Tails joked.
"The early pidgey gets the caterpie" Sonic responded smiling at the sunrise.
"So what's the plan for today?" Knuckles answered while yawning.
Sonic took a moment to consider their progress.
"We've come rather far these last 2 weeks. I say we have one final training session for today and tomorrow we take the first boat to Cianwood city".
"I agree" Tails answered eager "and you know what? I may not be doing the gym challenge but I think I will challenge the gym leader myself. He should prove a challenge for me and my team to take on".
Sonic was inspired once again by Tails' unending eagerness. It kinda reminded him of Ash.
A small part of him wondered if Ash had already beaten the Cianwood city gym leader.
"That would mean his power is growing. But so has ours. I think the Johto league will prove a most interesting event" Sonic thought at the prospect of fighting an actually powerful Ash.
While team Sonic was planning their day, a voice called out to them.
"Early pidgeys as always I see".
It was Jasmine, the gym leader of Olivine city.
"Good morning to you too Jaz!" Sonic called out.
The steel type trainer walked up to the three heroes having brought them breakfast as she often did when she visited. A couple of bagels and coffee for everyone.
"Hope I got them right" she joked.
"Perfection as always" Sonic answered with a smile, causing her to blush.
The first day of their training, the trio had visited the Ampharos in the lighthouse, as Tails wanted to see how it was doing. There they had met Jasmine who was actually Ampharos' caretaker in a way.
The Olivine city gym leader was quick to identify team Sonic as the ones who had saved Ampharos from team rocket. Though only rumors had spread as no one knew the full details of that day, Jasmine knew one thing for certain. The legendary Raikou had appeared and the same individuals who had supposedly awakened it at burned tower were present in the clash with team rocket. Therefore Jasmine put two and two together almost instantly.
She immediately thanked them for bringing Ampharos back safe and sound. After learning of their intention to set camp at the beach next to the lighthouse to train, she would visit from time to time, hanging out, giving them instructions on battle tactics and even offering to help Tails evolve his scyther by having it traded with her.
Tails of course was taken aback, not only in the face of such an offer but to learn that scyther could even evolve. Of course there was a catch in his eyes. Jasmine explained that scyther's evolved form was Scizor. The Pokemon species that had tortured Knuckles.
Upon hearing it Tails was completely against the idea. He still hated the iron masked marauder and getting a Scizor of his own would make the two similar. It took an entire day of consulting his teammates to understand that his choices made him who he was, not what Pokemon he used in battle.
"And besides, think of the irony" Knuckles had encouraged him "the Pokemon species that was once their spear against us will be used against them".
In the end, Tails was convinced, especially when he learned Scizor was steel and bug type, meaning it had a lot of resistance to most moves and only one weakness, that being fire. And with team rocket using poison types, a steel type, in other words a Pokemon that could not be poisoned would be a perfect spear.
He would however hold on to scyther for the time being, deciding it would evolve when they came back from Cianwood with the 5th badge earned by Sonic and Knuckles. Tails explained that we wanted to first catch another Pokemon, possibly in the safari zone which was just west of Cianwood and then challenge Jasmine himself even though he wasn't doing the gym challenge. He believed that in order to obtain a pokemon as powerful as Scizor he would have to earn it first.
While the team prepared to enjoy breakfast, they informed Jasmine of their intentions. She was rather sad they were leaving as she had enjoyed spending time with them.
As the four dug in, Jasmine again asked Tails to show her how he was able to fly. She just couldn't get enough of watching the two tailed fox soar to the sky like a flying type, often joined by several wild flying types like pidgeys and sometimes hoothoots.
After Tails landed, he remembered something.
"Oh shoot. I forgot I need to go town today".
"What for?" Knuckles inquired.
"I wanted to buy several parts to tinker with".
"Another invention idea? What have you got in mind this time?" Sonic asked amused.
"Not sure exactly what route I'm following yet but I will give you a clue" Tails said raising his hand.
As he did, a small bolt of lightning crackled and landed close to Sonic who instinctively pulled back.
"Message received" he said half amused half frightened.
That sort of occurrence had become more and more common as the days went by. Tails would sometimes relax and when he would have to get up to do just about anything, lightning would launch from his arms. He had even accidentally hit Knuckles with a bolt when fist bumping. After several of those instances Tails was able to figure out that, apart from defensive instinctive reflexes, this new ability was triggered when he had a clear goal in mind. He of course didn't reveal this to his friends just yet, not only because he wasn't perfectly certain the idea he had would work, but also because he wanted it to be a surprise if it did work. Tails however was eager to train with eevee and therefore torn over what to do.
Sonic offered to go to town himself, asking only for a list of what to get Tails. Jasmine in turn offered to accompany him.
Tails and Knuckles of course teased their blue friend by raising their eyebrows. Sonic replied middle fingering them with a smile, without Jasmine witnessing any of the exchange as they burst out laughing.
"Do you think anything will happen this time?" Tails asked Knuckles dying to hear his opinion.
"Honestly? 50-50. She is cute but our friend is, one, too focused on our task here to notice and two, you know him. Unless he is in love he doesn't care about romance".
The smile was momentarily wiped as they recalled the time right before Sonic left for Kanto. They weren't of course as affected by Amy's actions as much as Sonic was, but Tails and Jet knew her since they were kids. It still made absolutely no sense why she would act that way even if her supposed feelings for Shadow were added to the mix.
The next moment Tails shoved the though aside.
"Tell you what. A chili dog says they will kiss".
"Deal but you should focus on yourself and your girl, lover boy"
"Oh shut up" Tails brushed him off, though in the back of his mind he still beat himself up over the night he had the chance to kiss Cosmo and be didn't take it. He wondered when their paths would cross again, or more accurately when they would meet face to face again.
In the meantime, Sonic received a message from Jet saying that Amy was planning to come find him in Johto. Sonic of course called her bluff, stating she was all talk. Jasmine wasted no time asking about her, with a hint of jealousy in her voice.
Sonic quickly and without details explained Amy was his friend turned crush turned out to be a horrible person and therefore he, his two comrades and his brother back home has turned their backs on her. Jasmine was relieved to some extent.
Having heard from Morty who had come by looking for Sonic in regards to the supposed appearance of Raikou during their scuffle with team rocket, she was amazed by Sonic's apparent accomplishments. Up until that point Jasmine had only heard rumors of who Sonic was but hearing in greater detail from both Morty and Falkner who happened to be in the area as well and who narrated his glorious battle with Sonic's Moltres had her falling for him.
Unfortunately for her, Sonic either didn't like her back or was immune to her hints.
And now that they had only one day left before team Sonic continued their journey, Jasmine was fighting to overcome her hesitation and make the most out of this day.
The two reached the tech store and started collecting the parts on Tails' list. Most were simple lab items and some were actual parts, but one in particular intrigued Sonic.
A trigger-shaped switch.
Reading the list all over again, Sonic went into a state of shock momentarily. The items on the list could be used to make a weapon.
Was Tails planning to create a gun? But then again… why would he ask for an electricity conductive hilt?
"What in the world are you planning Tails?" he wondered silently as they paid for the parts and exited the store.
As they walked down the street the duo started talking about team Sonic's plans after departing from town, a conversation of course initiated by Jasmine.
"Just curious" she said innocently "don't get me wrong, Cianwood is a nice place and all but there isn't really a lot you can do there".
"Well Jaz, apart from defeating the gym leader… what was his name again?"
"Chuck. He uses… "
"I'm gonna stop you Right here. Don't tell me what type he uses. One of us will figure it out upon fighting him. Don't want to give him an unfair advantage" Sonic said referring to himself and his friends.
"Anyway as I was saying, apart from defeating Chuck, we will probably stroll around town at least once, and of course visit the safari zone. One of the Pokemon in my Kanto team that proved vital in both my scuffles with team rocket there and my league victory came from Kanto's safari zone so it would be a huge mistake not to go explore the place. You never know what we could find there".
"Judging by your party I don't know how your team could get better. Maybe with a fire type but your type coverage so far is insane" Jasmine complimented him.
"It's ok but I still need to make my pokemon more versatile. I believe a lot of breakthrough can happen when our Larvitars grow and learn moves. They could help other pokemon learn said moves by example. Knuckles' Heracross and my shiny Hitmontop learned brick break via my Raichu's knowledge of it".
"Very smart" Jasmine commented.
Sonic went to elaborate on his idea to recall one of his Kanto pokemon to have bayleef learn protect from it until he saw a teenage boy exit from Jasmine's gym a bit further ahead. The teenager was a redhead.
Gasping silently, Sonic pushed Jasmine to a nearby alley, the latter about to greet the boy. Sonic motioned her to keep quiet while Silver passed by the alley looking very grumpy.
Jasmine, with her back against the wall couldn't help but be on cloud 9 at the close contact with Sonic despite the massive confusion. She subconsciously closed her eyes.
Sonic took a cautious look outside to see Silver's back.
"Ok he's leaving. Let's…" he stopped when he saw Jasmine's eyes closed and her face an inch from his.
"Uuh… Jaz?"
She opened her eyes slowly realizing what she was doing and blushing like a strawberry.
"What are you doing?"
"I… uh…"
"You know what scratch that. Listen. Do you know any place one would go to where noone else would bother them?"
Jasmine's eyes bulged. That was a complete 180 turn.
"W-why you ask?" she asked with a pretending cute and innocent voice.
"That guy and I have some unfinished business. And he also could lead me to team rocket. I need you to bait him somewhere where I can ambush him and get info out of him. And quick. This is of the utmost importance".
"Oh…" Jasmine tried not to sound too disappointed "wait. Bait him?"
"He came out of your gym. He must have wanted to battle you for your badge. Make him pursue you somewhere secluded and I will take care of the rest".
Any other guy saying this, Jasmine would not even consider agreeing. Sonic however had something reassuring on him. So reassuring in fact that she nodded positively right away.
The two started tailing Silver. Along the way Jasmine informed Sonic of an abandoned building teenagers had taken over for graffiti purposes. Sonic was in total agreement. That would be the perfect place.
Eventually the duo had Jasmine reveal herself while Sonic went on. Upon spotting Jasmine, Silver called out to her.
"Hey".
Jasmine, a little creeped out as she didn't know what Sonic meant by unfinished business, pretended not to listen and walked away.
"Hey you! The gym leader! Wait!"
Jasmine was relieved not a lot of people were around for this. Otherwise the makeshift plan they had would have been ruined already.
Reaching the abandoned building, Jasmine entered and, as per Sonic's instructions, hid in a room near the entrance. Sonic was already waiting inside.
"Did he follow you?" he whispered.
She nodded positively.
"Good" he said before hearing steps, his eyes widening.
"Shit he's coming this way! Sorry in advance for this!" he whispered before pressing his lips against Jasmine's.
The steel type gym leader's mind flatlined. Her eyes closed slowly forgetting where she was, why she was there and the approaching Silver. She let herself get lost in the eternity of the kiss.
Silver half entered the room and immediately stopped and turned around. He didn't have time to waste on lovebirds, neither did he care to. He had to get that 6th badge. Though he didn't understand why she had come here.
As Sonic heard him walk away, he pulled away from the kiss, not even realizing Jasmine had wrapped her hands around him.
"I think he's gone. So sorry for that. Anyway get out of here. I'll go confront this guy".
"Huh… what?"
Sonic looked back at her and she was having a blank dreamy look on her face.
"Well this took a turn for the… I don't know exactly but I will handle it later" he thought determined not to let Silver get away.
"Go back to your gym and I will come find you later. I need to go and confront that guy".
Jasmine was trying very hard to decide whether to have a heartbreak or not as she couldn't tell if that kiss was purely to keep Silver away or if Sonic did it for more than one reasons.
"Are you going to be ok though? Should I call Tails and Knuckles for backup".
"No need. The guy had to attack us at night to get a chance at me the first time around. He doesn't stand a chance if I expect him. Now go quick. I'll come by afterwards to let you know how it went".
Jasmine considered sticking around as backup but in the end nodded and left. Sonic then went to find Silver in the main room of the building.
Silver was there just as Sonic thought. He was about to go confront that couple again, realizing she must have come here to meet her possible boyfriend.
And that was the moment he came face to face with Sonic.
"You?!"
Sonic grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him against the wall.
"That's right. And you're going to answer some questions".
Silver responded by delivering a good right hook, causing Sonic to stumble back.
"I don't have time for weaklings like you".
Turning to leave, he was tripped and fell to the ground. Sonic immediately hopped on top of him.
"Who do you think you're calling a weakling?"
Silver tried to escape but it was pointless.
"What do you want?" he asked Sonic calmly.
"I want you to answer some questions".
"… fine. Let me stand back up and I will answer".
Sonic lifted him up and pushed him back into the room, just to make sure he wouldn't try to make a run for it.
"Is the Pokemon you stole ok? Show me".
Silver's eyes closed half way as his expression darkened. Not saying a word he called out his croconaw.
Sonic also brought out Raichu.
"Buddy, ask it if it's ok".
Raichu nodded and proceeded to talk to croconaw for a few moments. It then nodded back to Sonic again in a positive way.
"I guess you're not mistreating it".
"No reason to. It's pulling its weight in my team".
Sonic felt anger rising.
"You told me that night that I took your father away from you. Who is your father?"
Silver looked away.
"Answer the question pal. Who's your father?"
"Drop the subject ok? It's not important".
"Not important? You declared war on me over this".
"There is a bigger war coming. So I suggest you let me go. We both fight for the same cause".
"Excuse me?"
"I fight to destroy team rocket".
Sonic wasn't expecting such a response. If Silver was who Sonic suspected his was, this target made absolutely no sense. Tails would even say it made reverse sense. Or at least that it would make sense in a reverse world.
"What kind of joke is this? You expect me to believe you?"
"That's up to you. Now ask your remaining questions".
Sonic fully expected Silver to get all defensive and try to fight his way out.
"Why do you want to bring team rocket down?"
"To end them once and for all. They're weaklings who lost to you at the height of their power. They were literally on the verge of victory and they blew it! The whole world was within his grasp and he went and blundered everything by losing to you!"
He. Sonic's eyes widened. Silver gad slipped up.
"Your father is Giovanni. Am I wrong?"
Silver gasped. He had expected Sonic to figure it out but not that fast. After all who in their right mind would imagine the teenage son of their archnemesis would try to hurt them?
"Croconaw! Surf!"
Croconaw responded immediately by firing water towards Raichu. Both it and Sonic were caught off guard as they were blasted by the wave. They were pushed back against the wall, Sonic feeling part of the force inflicted on Raichu both from the water attack and from the impact with the wall.
Angry and determined to get answers, he sent out Bayleef.
"Leech seed!"
Bayleef fired a seed. Vines emerged from the seed upon contact with the target, ensnaring croconaw.
"Bite!"
Croconaw, managing to move despite tangled in the leech seed, bit Bayleef in the neck hard.
Silver, remembering how that strategy had worked the first time around, thought Sonic would rush to recall it. However the hedgehog was calm. And with the hint of a smile on his face.
"Poison powder".
Bayleef, having pretended to be in pain, unleashed the poisonous powder from its body, causing Croconaw to let go. As the water type was damaged by both poisoning and the leech seed, Bayleef was regaining its health and standing strong. Silver recalled it to free it from the vines.
"You can't win pal. So answer the question. Your pokemon doesn't need to get any more hurt. If Giovanni is your father, why are you fighting to destroy what's left of his ambition?"
Silver didn't answer. He only looked at Sonic in hate and anger.
"What do you want from me hero of Kanto? You took everything from me, what more do you want?"
Sonic kept a blank face but found the whole interaction weird thus far. Silver first swore revenge for his father and now intended to destroy team rocket?
But more importantly, the fact that he seemed to harbor anger not only for Sonic which was understandable from a certain point of view but for Giovanni as well.
"I want to understand whose side you're on" he said after a while "because frankly, you don't make any sense".
"I'm on my side. That's all I will tell you".
"Not gonna cut it. I need a real answer. Why are you so eager to go against both me and team rocket?"
Silver gritted his teeth and screamed in frustration.
"You took my father away from me. What about me coming after you doesn't make sense to you?"
"Because it is me and my friends against team rocket. And you want to destroy both sides".
Silver again refused to answer.
"All right then. You leave me no choice. You either answer me right now or I call the police and tell them you stole that totodile".
Silver scoffed.
"You think I'm scared of spending a night on lock-up or even just paying a fine?"
"No. But I'm going to also tell them you are Giovanni's son. Your father is the most wanted man alive right now. Therefore they will have you do a DNA test. And if it comes out positive… which I have a hunch it will" Sonic smiled menacingly "trust me pal, your life will be over. Detective Looker has come after me and my team simply because I fought Giovanni. Just imagine how hard he will go after Giovanni's own son. A son who apparently is following in his father's footsteps by stealing that totodile".
Silver was expecting anything but this.
"You wouldn't dare".
"Oh I would dare. And I daresay to… my reputation will tip the scales against you even more. Unless… you come clean right now. Why are you after team rocket as much as me?"
Silver spat. It was a dead end.
"I want to destroy them because they are what is left of my father's weakness. He lost to you thrice then ran away. He should have been here, leading them into a comeback. He is weak. I am not. And I will prove it. I will purge that weakness no matter what".
Sonic sized up Silver, considering his words. In all honesty they did add up with the little he knew about him so far.
"I see. Very well then" Sonic said and turned to leave.
"What that's it?"
"Yes. Unless you actually want me to expose you as his son".
Silver didn't reply right away again.
"No. I don't want that".
"Good".
He motioned to leave but was stopped again.
"Hey. Don't think that makes as friends. Team rocket is the last proof of my father's failure. But you…" he clenched his trembling fist "you took him away from me. You forced him into exile. Because of you I'm all alone! My father was all I had left and you took him away from me. Once team rocket is out of the picture I will strike! And I will strike when you least expect it!"
Sonic was less than impressed.
"By that time me and my team will have reached out full potential. And so will my friends and their teams as well. I suggest you make peace with your reality. Because if your father crosses my path again… he will answer for all his crimes. And for Jolty's death".
And before Silver could give a response Sonic exited the room with Raichu after recalling Bayleef, leaving the teenage trainer in the room with his thoughts.
Making his way back to Jasmine's gym, he waited for her to finish a battle with a challenger which she ended up winning. The two of them then started walking back to team Sonic's campsite as he went through everything that transpired from moment Jasmine left until the present.
Sonic of course left out the bit where he blackmailed Silver into admitting Giovanni was his father. Jasmine didn't have to know that. The latter was really worried about Silver's statement.
"Hey cheer up Jaz. This was an absolute win. The guy is also planning to fight team rocket so that's one more problem for them".
"But what happens afterwards? What if he goes through with his threats?"
"Don't worry ok?" Sonic reassured her "he's all talk. I'm sure of it. I can't judge him when it comes to his battle prowess, but he is no Giovanni. We'll be fine".
Jasmine still had reservations but trusted Sonic's judgement.
As the duo reached the campsite, Tails told them ecstatic that scyther had learned wing attack. The attack wasn't anything crazy, but as long as they were still far from the big leagues, and with Scyther's incredible physical power backing it up, it could do some serious damage.
After a small demonstration of the attack, Jasmine promised she would find and keep a metal coat waiting for Tails when they returned from Cianwood so he could evolve scyther whether he chose to challenge Jasmine or not.
After the steel type gym leader left, Tails and Knuckles began bantering again while Tails checked the parts Sonic bought for him. And of course the bantering was aimed at Sonic, as they were trying to get him to answer about their bet.
Sonic laughed a little bit.
"You seriously placed a bet over that?" he asked amidst laughter.
"We did but don't change the subject".
"Ok then. I guess chili dogs are on Knuckles tonight" Sonic joked while slightly bracing himself.
A loud yell echoed throughout the beach as Tails was ecstatic and not only because he won the bet. Knuckles on the other hand, took his time before overcoming the shock and demanding details immediately.
The rest of the day was spent discussing the events of that day, with the conversation shifting from Silver's reasoning as well as his threats to Tails and Knuckles constantly teasing Sonic for being a chick magnet lately. Sonic punished them by declaring he would share the exact details of how the kiss occurred the following day on the ship before going to train with his Larvitar.
A new day was coming and with it a new destination to reach as well as new places to visit and new pokemon to meet.