Pokémon: Friends to the End
Chapter 46: A Maze-ing Race!
Dawn leads Denise, Ash and Brock to a Pokémon Center in a hurry in hopes of receiving a new application for her Pokétch.
"Hey Dawn, what's the hurry anyway?"Ash asked.
"If it's about the Hearthome Contest, don't worry we still have time!"Denise reminded.
"It's not that, Dennie, it's to get a new application!"Dawn replied in excitement.
"What's she talking about?"Ash asked.
"Well, an application is a new feature that Dawn can add in her Poketch, see?"Brock explained.
"Oh."Ash said.
"It makes my Poketch more useful."Dawn remarked.
"Well, I completely forgot about that."Denise admitted with a sheepish smile.
"I've just gotta have it!"Dawn stated happily.
The older twin sister ran more quicker causing her to arrive at the center first and took out a ticket while Denise and the boys arrived behind her.
"Excuse me, on my way to town, I've got this ticket for this new Poketch application."She commented. "So can you help me, Nurse Joy?"
"I'm sorry that isn't here."Nurse Joy replied. "They giving it away at the Pokemon Center on the other side of the woods."
Denise sighed in disappointment. "Seriously?"
"All that running for nothing."Ash admitted.
"Pika pika."Pikachu responded.
"And that give away is over at 5, this afternoon too."Nurse Joy added.
"HUH?!"Dawn said in shock.
Brock began flirting with Nurse Joy.
"Tough break, all others know to the give away when it comes to my love for you, Nurse Joy!"He flirted.
Croagunk tried to Poison Jab him, but Dawn quickly grabbed the Breeder as they headed out of the Center.
"Thanks, Nurse Joy!"Denise stated.
"See ya later!"Ash added.
Croagunk then followed the group from behind.
The four heroes rush in the woods to head to the other pokemon center and arrived in front of a cave where Team Rocket greeted them while in their disguises.
"You four sure look in a huge hurry!"James admitted.
"What makes you think that?"Ash asked.
"Pikachu."Pikachu said.
"Your right, which means we have no time to talk."Dawn commented.
"Well, if you stop talking you realise that taking a short cut in this cave."Jessie remarked.
"Really?"Dawn asked with a smile.
"It looks dark and gloomy by its appearance."Denise said.
"True."James agreed. "Though in the end there is a maze to deal with although with this map will be no confusion."
"Wow, what a convenient map."Brock admitted.
"We'll take it, thanks!"Dawn said kindly.
"Since your our thousand customer, it's free gift to you."James stated as he handed her the map.
"This is my lucky day, thanks."Dawn remarked.
"Let's get going then."Denise suggested.
"Wait just a minute!"Jessie giggled.
"Huh?"Dawn, Denise, Ash and Brock said in unison.
"Being our thousand customer carries great responsibility, so we'll need to take a photo of you and all your pokemon!"Jessie said.
"Remember, we are in a rush."Dawn reminded with a firm look.
"We'll have everything we need in no time."Jessie assured.
Inside the Cave...
The four heroes took out their pokemon for their photo shoot that Meowth was going to take.
"Can you hurry it up, it's almost 5."Denise reminded.
"Umm, first up how about having all your pokemon in the middle while you twerps-I mean guys move away in the end?"Meowth asked.
"Hurry up, please."Dawn stated.
"Hey Pikachu, why don't you go down the ground to stay with your buddies?"Meowth suggested.
Pikachu went off his trainer's shoulder and went next to his friends.
"Okay that's more like it."Meowth remarked. "Now all you give some cheesy smiles for the camera and lots of teeth!"
Everyone was interrupted by a group of Graveler and Golem passing by using Rollout.
"What's that?!"Denise said in shock.
"I don't know, but look out!"Ash warned.
The heroes and their pokemon rush out of the way while Meowth got run over by the wild rolling pokemon.
In a Part of the Cave...
Dawn was walking by herself while looking at the map.
"I sure wish, I can read this map better."She said worriedly. "Where am I anyway?"
The girl then heard footsteps from behind her.
"Denise, is that you?"Dawn asked. "Come on, its not funny."
Then a pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared causing her to shriek in fright.
Meanwhile...
Ash and Pikachu end up looking at three directions.
"Great, Dawn has got the map, so which way do I go?"Ash said.
"Pika!"Pikachu answered.
"Right that way, Pikachu!"Ash suggested pointing at the first tunnel direction.
The Pallet Town Trainer began to walk towards the first tunnel and they end up being outside.
"Oh wow!"Ash remarked. "We found the exit already!"
"Pikachu!"Pikachu said.
Then the trainer and pokemon saw someone familiar.
It was Paul.
"Is that Paul?"Ash said. "Hey, Paul!"
He ran for his rival until he stopped in time to see that he was on the edge of the land.
Pikachu panicked as he helped his trainer get back onto the land, regaining Ash's balance.
Ash looked down to see a huge maze that had different paths and dead ends.
"Whoa!"He said in shock. "When they said maze, they weren't kidding!"
Just then, a Fearow flew by.
Paul spotted it and took out a Pokeball in order to catch it.
However, his attention got distracted when Ash called out to him.
"Hey, Paul!"Ash called out. "Have you seen Dawn, Denise or Brock around here?"
Paul gritted his teeth and annoyance as he sighed.
"No, why should I?"He questioned bitterly.
This made Ash thought of where his friends could be.
"So, where is everybody?"Ash said. "Maybe they all got stuck in the maze!"
He then thought about Denise against a wall while in front of her was a pile of rocks that made her suffocate from the lack of air.
"Help, anyone."She whispered weakly.
That thought vanished as the Pallet Town Trainer began to panic.
"It could be worse!"Ash stated and looked at Pikachu. "Quick, Pikachu! We got to find everyone!"
"Pikachu!"Pikachu agreed.
The two ran off leaving Paul taking out a Pokéball again.
The rude trainer looked to see that Fearow was too far to battle or catch.
Paul scoffed and walked away while putting his hands in his pockets.
Ash and Pikachu were running around the maze to look for his friends.
"Don't worry, Dawn, Denise and Brock!"Ash stated. "I'm coming to save you guys!"
The Pallet Town Trainer was running too fast not even Pikachu was able to keep up.
"Pika Pika!"Pikachu called out.
Denise walked around a different part of the maze with Ralts and Hoot Hoot safely walking at her side.
"Man, this maze is like a total puzzle, but a painful one too."Denise stated. "Well, I say we break the walls to free ourselves!"
Hoot Hoot nodded in agreement. "Hoot!"
"Ralts."Ralts responded with a smile.
The three grew alarmed when they heard rumbling coming from behind them.
But the moment they turned around they saw a Wild Onix rushing their way causing them to panic and make a run for it.
Denise and her two pokemon quickly hid behind another side as the Onix passed by and disappeared from their sight.
The three looked at the side where Onix went with nervous looks.
"On second thought, I think it's best if we don't destroy any walls."Denise admitted while sweat dropping.
Then a Fearow flew by which earn their attention.
"Come on, let's keep going."Denise said quietly.
Hoot Hoot and Ralts both nodded in agreement.
The three headed to another side of the maze without noticing Paul glancing at them in silence.
Dawn walked out of the cave with Croagunk at her side.
"We finally found the exit, Croagunk..."Dawn admitted.
Croagunk croaked as a smile grew on the Twinleaf Girl's face.
"Now! We better get to the Pokémon Center!"Dawn remarked confidently.
She then heard a cry of a Fearow and looked up to see Paul.
"Paul!"Dawn called out.
The rude trainer turned to see the girl looking at him.
"Have you seen Ash, Brock or my sister anywhere?"Dawn asked.
Paul just huffed and turned away.
"Not you, too."He muttered.
Dawn just pouted as she turned away as well.
"Pardon me for living! Bye!"She muttered. "Let's go."
She then walked away with Croagunk.
Paul took out the Pokéball again, but he was once again interrupted.
"Hey, Paul!"Brock called out.
Paul angrily turned to see Brock with Luxio, Drifloon, Aipom, Staravia and Turtwig.
"Have you seen Ash, Dawn and Denise?"Brock asked.
Paul grew really annoyed as he angrily walked away.
"No!"He lied. "I haven't!"
"That's weird."Brock said. "Wonder what's eating him?"
Staravia, Drifloon, Turtwig and Aipom looked up in confusion while Luxio simply growled underneath his breath.
Brock looked up to see the maze.
"Being all split up like this, I'm getting worried."He said. "How am I going to find them all in a maze?"
Just then, Staravia flew up and chirped to Brock.
"Staravia, what's up?"Brock asked.
"Staravia!"Staravia explained.
Drifloon then looked at Brock.
"Drifloon."She said softly.
"Great idea!"Brock remarked. "You two can search from the air! Good luck!"
Staravia and Drifloon both nodded and began to fly to find the others.
Pikachu walked around the maze by himself after getting separated from Ash.
He smiled happily when he saw Grotle, Buneary, Happiny and Eevee talking with each other.
However Buneary and Happiny got in a bit of an argument of which direction they should go.
When Pikachu went up to them, Buneary became lovey dovey and hugged the electric type causing him to sigh.
Dawn looked at the map as Croagunk walked with her.
"I've got to step on it."She said. "I have to get there at 5 o'clock, its sure easy with you here, Croagunk."
Croagunk croaked in response.
"I've guess we gotta cut it close."Dawn admitted.
Croagunk then stopped walking earning the girl's attention.
"What's wrong?"She asked.
Dawn followed his gaze and saw the same group of Graveler and Golem passing by using Rollout.
The two went against the wall as the group rolled passed them and vanished.
"What a crowd."Dawn said.
Then another rumbling was heard and they saw a wild Onix heading towards them.
"We'll be squished!"Dawn panicked.
Croagunk saves Dawn from being squished by the Onix by pushing her into a crack in the maze wall which it made with Brick Break.
"Thanks Croagunk, you saved my life."Dawn said in surprise.
Croagunk croaked in response.
Buneary happily continued walking with Pikachu while holding hands with each other.
Behind them, Grotle carried a sleeping Happiny on his back and Eevee walked alongside him.
Ash found himself in front of a wall.
"Another dead end!"He said. "I hate not being with Pikachu!"
The Pallet Town sighed as he walked in another direction.
"Man, this is crazy."Ash admitted.
"Piplup, are you sure this is the right direction?"
"Piplup."
Ash smiled in relief when he saw Denise, Hoot Hoot, Ralts, Buizel, Pachirisu and Sudowoodo being lead by Piplup.
"Hey Dennie!"Ash said.
"Ash, boy, are we glad to see you."Denise remarked. "I thought we wouldn't find any of you."
Buizel then gave a response and pointed to another direction which upset the Penguin Pokemon.
"Hey, hey, come on this is not a good time for an argument."Denise reminded with her arms folded.
Pachirisu then gave the puppy eyes causing Denise and her two pokemon to have panic looks.
"Hey, knock it off, everything is gonna be fine!"Ash stated.
Pachirisu then electrified the group causing them to drop on the floor.
"Not again."Denise muttered.
"Now that you got this out of your system, can we all be nice?"Ash asked.
Buizel huffed in response while Pachirisu simply giggled.
Then a rumbling was heard and they saw the wild Onix rushing towards them.
"Okay, we'll use water move, Piplup use Bubblebeam!"Ash ordered.
Piplup fired Bubblebeam at Onix.
"Buizel use Water Gun!"Denise ordered.
Buizel fired Water Gun while Piplup used Bubblebeam which caused the wild Onix to retreat.
"Great shot!"Ash remarked.
"That was great you two!"Denise admitted kindly.
Buizel and Piplup smiled at each other while Ralts, Hoot Hoot, Pachirisu and Sudowoodo cheered at their friends.
In the Sky...
Staravia and Drifloon flew above the maze to look for their friends.
Dawn and Croagunk looked up and saw the two pokemon.
"Look its Staravia and Drifloon that means the others must be near by."Dawn suggested with a smile.
Croagunk nodded and the two of them began to follow the direction where the flying pokemon went.
Staravia and Drifloon flew where Brock, Luxio, Aipom and Turtwig were.
"Staravia, Drifloon, did you two spot something?"Brock asked.
Brock and the three pokemon followed the Flying Types to a maze top where a tree was.
There they saw Pikachu, Happiny, Buneary, Eevee and Grotle having a pretend tea party.
"Perfect, they are all together in one place."Brock admitted with a smile. "Hey, everybody!"
The five smiled seeing Brock and the others beneath them.
Dawn and Croagunk then rushed up to Brock.
"Brock!"Dawn greeted.
"Dawn, you got Croagunk."Brock said.
"But Brock, where is Ash and Denise?"Dawn asked.
"We haven't found them just yet."Brock replied and looked at the two Flying Types. "Staravia, Drifloon, you both go up and check it out one more time."
Staravia and Drifloon flew to the sky, but then two robotic hands grabbed them as Team Rocket's Balloon came to view.
"Staravia!"Brock shouted.
"Drifloon!"Dawn shouted.
Then Team Rocket began their motto.
"Is that twerp voices I hear?"
"I think we catch what we came for!"
"Pikachu!"
"It's true!"
"As the score!"
"We had such a rough day!"
"But now it's time to play!"
"We paid our price for blasting off early!"
"But we came back now with complete positivity!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Meowth now that's a name!"
"Putting the Losers in their place!"
"We're Team Rocket!"
"In your face!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Mime Mime!"
Staravia and Drifloon were placed inside a cage together.
"Oh no!"Dawn shouted.
Then Team Rocket's robotic hand admit to grab the four pokemon.
"Watch out, you guys!"Brock warned.
Pikachu, Eevee, Happiny and Buneary quickly went on Grotle's back, who carefully brought them down the stairs avoiding the mechanical hand.
"We missed!"James complained.
"Don't lose your head."Jessie admitted. "We just simply go on the other side and then bam!"
"A way we go!"Meowth laughed.
Then Team Rocket's Balloon took off.
"It's hard to see because all these high walls."Brock said. "But I have a feeling Ash and Denise are much closer than we think."
"Hello, Ash, Dennie!"Dawn called out. "Where are you! If you two can hear me say something!"
Ash, Denise and their pokemon group continued running until they heard a familiar voices from the other side of the wall.
"Ash! Denise!"
"Let us know where you both are!"
"Whoa, it's the guys!"Ash said.
"Well, they sound real close."Denise commented.
The group went up to the wall.
"Hey, we're over here!"Ash called out.
"Ash, Denise, is that you both?"Dawn asked.
"Yes and the rest of our pokemon are here too!"Denise replied.
Dawn looked at Brock.
"Finally!"She said.
"But I guess we have to go through this wall."Brock suggested.
Then Team Rocket then come back on their balloon.
"It looks like the twerps are trapped like a bunch of bananas."Meowth remarked.
"I suggest we use a rock to block them from going and going."Jessie admitted.
"Right on!"Meowth agreed.
"Staravia!"Staravia called out.
"Drifloon!"Drifloon shouted worriedly.
Ash and Denise heard their cries and looked up in the air.
"Staravia!"Ash answered.
"Hey, you creeps give back our pokemon right now!"Denise demanded.
"Not today, twerpette!"Jessie giggled evilly.
Team Rocket then traps the group by crushing and placing rocks on the maze path using two mechanical hands.
"Oh no!"Ash said. "Now how do we get through?"
Team Rocket laughed in response.
"Quit it, it's not funny!"Denise said angrily.
Ash looked at the pokemon behind them.
"All right, we need your help!"He explained.
The six pokemon chirped in response.
"We've gotta aim for Team Rocket's Balloon, but don't hit Staravia and Drifloon, got it?"Ash said. "Just the balloon."
"Now Piplup Bubblebeam, Buizel use Sonic Boom and Ralts use Magical Leaf!"Denise ordered.
Piplup, Buizel and Ralts use Bubble Beam, SonicBoom and Magical Leaf respectively at the Rocket Balloon in order to free Staravia and Drifloon.
"Yeah now Pachirisu!"Ash stated.
Pachirisu stepped forward and began to charge up.
Sudowoodo looked at Denise.
"Sudowoodo!"He said.
"Right, Sudowoodo use mimic to cheer us on."Denise suggested with a confident smile and looked at her Flying Type. "And Hoot Hoot, you will use Aerial Ace to send Team Rocket packing."
Sudowoodo smiled. "Sudowoodo!"
"Hoot Hoot!"Hoot Hoot tweeted.
"Okay Pachirisu use Discharge!"Ash ordered.
Just as Sudowoodo and Hoot Hoot were about use Mimic and Aerial Ace, Pachirisu uses Discharge but zaps the group accidentally which amused Team Rocket.
"Same like a twerp!"James laughed.
"Good shot with enemies like you, who needs friends?"Jessie asked with a smile. "Bye bye."
Then Team Rocket escaped in their balloon.
"Ash, Denise, are you two okay?"Dawn asked. "What happened?"
She then groans in annoyance.
"They are just a few inches away and we can't do a thing!"Dawn complained.
"Wait Dawn, the walls in this maze are surprisingly thin."Brock admitted. "Maybe we could use the moves of some kind to break right through them."
"That's it!"Dawn said with a smile and looked at the wall. "Hey, Ash, Dennie, did you both hear that?"
Ash and Denise looked at the wall behind them.
"Yeah!"Ash answered. "We're gonna give it a shot from this side too!"
Brock nodded. "Great!"
"We'll need everyone's help!"Dawn commented.
Pikachu, Eevee, Buneary, Luxio, Happiny, Turtwig, Aipom and Grotle chirped in response.
"Pikachu, Eevee, you two take care of Team Rocket."Brock stated.
Pikachu and Eevee nodded in response before rushing off to a direction where Team Rocket was heading.
Brock then used a rock on the wall to signal Ash and Denise.
"Ash, Denise, focus on this one spot!"Brock called out.
"Right, got it!"Denise answered.
"All right, I'm gonna freeze the wall with Buneary's Ice Beam!"Dawn replied.
Buneary nodded with confidence.
"Then we hit the wall with Croagunk's Brick Break along with Aipom's Swift, Luxio's Night Slash alongside Grotle and Turtwig's Razor Leaves!"Brock added.
"Okay, let's give this one more try!"Ash suggested.
The six pokemon chirped in response.
"Pachirisu, maybe you should set this one out."Denise explained.
"Pachi."Pachirisu replied.
"All right, Buneary use Ice Beam, go!"Dawn ordered.
Buneary fired Ice Beam on the wall.
"Do it!"Ash ordered.
Sudowoodo, Piplup, Ralts, Buizel and Hoot Hoot then began attacking the wall from the other side.
Everyone then decided to break a hole in the maze wall without noticing Team Rocket watching them from their balloon.
"Now our turn!"Brock stated.
Aipom fired Swift as Luxio used Night Slash, Grotle and Turtwig both used Razor Leaf and Croagunk used Brick Break on the icy part of the wall.
Happiny then threw a big rock on the wall to help out her fellow pokemon causing Brock and Dawn to smile.
"Happiny."Brock said.
"Your super strength sure comes in handy when your friends are in trouble."Dawn remarked kindly.
Happiny giggled. "Happiny!"
Ash and Denise both watched as their pokemon group continued firing at the wall.
"You guys are doing great!"Denise admitted.
"Keep it up!"Ash stated.
"All right, almost there."Brock said.
"Keep going!"Dawn reminded.
After a while of their Pokémon executing attacks on it, the wall gets broken,
"Hey, we're through!"Denise cheered.
"There you are."Brock admitted.
"Come on, hurry!"Dawn suggested.
Ash, Denise and their pokemon group rush towards their friends.
"Thanks guys, you saved us."Ash commented.
"WHAT?!"Team Rocket said in shock.
"Did you know it's not nice to break other people's property?!"James demanded angrily.
"Get in there, Meowth or I will break you!"Jessie threatened.
"Right!"Meowth answered with a smirk.
Team Rocket made their Balloon go down only to see Pikachu and Eevee looking at them in a hill, which caused them to freak out and embrace each other.
"What a weclome!"James, Jessie and Meowth answered in unison.
"Iron Tail!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu uses Iron Tail to break Staravia and Drifloon's cage.
The Mouse Pokemon landed on Staravia's back.
"Okay, Eevee use Thunder!"Denise ordered.
Eevee leaps up and uses Thunder to send Team Rocket blasting off again.
"LOOKS LIKE THE MAZE GAME IS OVER!"Team Rocket screamed as they disappeared in the sky.
Drifloon grabs Eevee with her hands and brought her back to their friends with Pikachu and Staravia.
"With this team, we can do anything."Ash remarked.
"And we couldn't ask for more."Denise admitted with a proud smile.
The Pokemon cheered in victory.
Later in the Pokemon Center in the Woods...
"All right, what an application!"Dawn said happily and looked at her Pokétch. "I got Coin Toss!"
"Well, I guess we both do."Denise stated.
"Sounds cool, wow."Ash said.
Brock, however, focused on Nurse Joy.
"Coin Toss, maybe old, but I got other cool things in mind!"He flirted.
Then Croagunk used Poison Jab on the Breeder causing him to collapse on the wall.
"Like falling down."Brock muttered.
Croagunk grabbed his trainer and dragged him away.
The four heroes arrived in two directions and weren't sure which side to go.
"Dawn, let's use Coin Toss to decide which way to go."Denise suggested.
"Good idea, Dennie."Dawn said and looked at her Poketch. "Heads, we go right, tails, we go left, let it rip!"
She pressed the coin and went on the tail side.
"It's tail!"Ash said.
"You sure that's a good idea?"Brock asked.
The three trainers smiled at him.
"No need to worry, Brock!"They answered in unison.
"Pika!"Pikachu giggled.
The four heroes then continued their journey together.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Feel free to review of what you think so far:)
Denise's Team:
Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Razor Leaf and Bite
Eevee (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Attract and Thunder
Luxio (Male): Spark, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang
Ralts (Female): Psychic, Double Team, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Hoot Hoot (Male): Peck, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Hypnosis
Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish