Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 73: Pika and Goliath!
In the Forest...
The four heroes and their pokemon were having lunch together.
Brock prepared a soup for him and his friends to eat.
"Hungry?"He asked. "Don't worry there is plenty."
As the heroes were eating at a table, Piplup accidentally knocks a piece of food out of Pikachu's paw with its flailing arms.
The food piece bounced off causing Pikachu and Piplup to go after it.
"Hey, what's with them?"Ash asked.
"Don't go wondering off you two!"Dawn stated.
Denise notice Luxio finished eating his steak meal.
"Luxio, go and make sure they don't get lost okay?"She asked.
Luxio nodded. "Luxio."
The Spark Pokemon rushed after Pikachu and Piplup.
Pikachu and Piplup ran after the food piece.
Once the food piece stopped rolling, a strange Pichu picked it up, eating it right in front of Pikachu and Piplup.
Luxio rushed up to his two friends.
"Piplup!"Piplup said angrily.
Pichu looked at a direction.
"Pichu!"He called out.
Piplup, Pikachu and Luxio looked at him in confusion.
Ash, Dawn and Denise finished eating Brock's soup.
"Man, Brock sure knows how to cook."Ash remarked.
"But I'm still number 1 at baking, right?"Denise asked.
"Yeah, Dennie."Ash responded and stood up. "Man those three aren't back."
"I told them not to do this."Dawn commented.
"Well, let's go find them."Denise suggested.
Pichu's trainer, Sho, came out of the bushes.
"Pichu, what's up, home boy?"Sho asked.
"Pichu! Pichu!"Pichu replied and pointed at Pikachu.
Sho then saw Pikachu between Piplup and Luxio.
"Hey a Pikachu!"He said. "Great finding, yo!"
"Pikachu!"Ash's voice called out.
Piplup, Pikachu and Luxio see their trainers coming behind them.
"We were looking for you."Ash stated.
"Lucky, you three didn't go far."Denise commented.
"Back off, jack!"Sho shouted. "Find your own catch."
"Huh?"Ash said in confusion.
"Go time, boo-yah!"Sho said and threw out a pokeball.
His pokeball opened and a Raichu came out.
"Raichu!"
"That's a..."Dawn started.
"A Raichu."Ash finished.
"Pika!"Pikachu whispered.
"Iron Tail, go!"Sho ordered.
Raichu moved forward and its tail glowed white.
"Heads up!"Ash warned. "Quick, Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu countered Raichu's attack with an Iron Tail of his own.
Both the Iron Tails collided.
"Wow, check that power."Sho remarked. "That Pikachu is a untie pokemon, nope?"
"Of course not!"Ash replied. "Pikachu is my friend!"
"Pika pika!"Pikachu said angrily.
"Chill out, yo."Sho responded and took out a pokeball. "Check it, my Mareep for your Pikachu, switch!"
"Forget it!"Ash answered.
"Then try this on."Sho suggested and took out two pokeballs. "A Magnemite and a Magneton, we good?"
"Hey, I told you no deal!"Ash snapped.
"Pikachu!"Pikachu agreed.
"So why do you want Pikachu so much?"Brock asked.
"Easy."Sho replied. "I'm already down with a cool Pichu and Raichu, but I also want to make friends with a cool Pikachu. Let me break it down, I want a full-power evolution set, yo?"
"I never heard of a trainer, who was working towards something like that."Dawn admitted.
"Me neither, sis."Denise commented.
"So why don't you get your Pichu to evolve and be done with it?!"Ash demanded.
"No way!"Sho replied with a shrug. "Then I'll have to go and snatch another Pichu, dig? Look kid, if you don't wanna do business then book, take a hike?"
"Rai! Rai!"Raichu responded with a smirk.
Pikachu glared angrily at his evolved form and looked at Ash, who nodded at him.
"Let's do this!"Ash said. "Your Raichu against my Pikachu now!"
"Okay, but if I win this battle that Pikachu is mine all mine."Sho stated.
"No way!"Ash shouted.
"What's up with that?"Sho asked. "My guys will testify and I will straight up or maybe your bailing cause you can't cut it!"
"My Pikachu is not going anywhere!"Ash replied.
"What a wimp."Sho said with a smile. "Germs like you give a bad rap, guess I have to show you the fine battle of busting chumps, chumps."
Raichu smirked. "Rai! Rai!"
"Oh yeah?!"Ash questioned.
Pikachu frowned. "Pika!"
Ash and Sho then went to the field to have their battle while the others watched.
"My name is Ash, who are you?"Ash asked.
"Who, me? Guess it's time to represent!"Sho remarked. "Full out with electric power! The super, sizzling man of the hour! Lord of the lightning! It's Mr Sho!"
Dawn and Denise both sweat dropped.
"I lost to him after the first word."Dawn said.
"Piplup."Piplup answered.
"Well I guess that makes him a total weirdo."Denise insulted calmly with her arms crossed.
Luxio closed his eyes and nodded in agreement.
"Luxio."Luxio responded simply.
"Zip the lips!"Sho shouted with a frown.
"Okay, I'll be the referee."Brock stated.
"Save the sweat!"Sho stated.
"Rai..."Raichu said with a smirk and raised its tail.
"My partner says your Pikachu is going down town with a one hit cannon."Sho commented smugly.
"We'll see about that!"Ash answered.
"Pika!"Pikachu agreed coldly.
"Right, nubs don't have far to fall."Sho taunted.
"Ash make sure you don't lose!"Dawn stated.
"And show him who's boss!"Denise encouraged.
"Piplup pip!"Piplup called out.
"Luxio!"Luxio shouted.
"You bet!"Ash replied.
Pikachu nodded. "Pika pika!"
"Always let losers go to the head of the line."Sho said.
"Alright, Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu fired Thunderbolt but Raichu took the electricity, completely unfazed.
"Time to bum rush this show!"Sho admitted. "You call that juice!? Thunder, go!"
Raichu fired Thunder and Pikachu took the attack.
"Wow, Pikachu is just standing there!"Dawn said.
"Piplup."Piplup whispered.
"Lux."Luxio responded.
"Pikachu has no interesting in dodging."Brock commented. "This is a real battle of will!"
Denise didn't say anything and just looked at the battle.
Raichu and Pikachu smirked at each other.
"Try this one for size! Pikachu!"Ash stated. "Use Volt Tackle!"
Pikachu charged at Raichu with Volt Tackle.
"Give me a break! It's time for a little respect, yo!"Sho announced."Raichu, show them what a real Volt Tackle looks and feels like!"
Raichu used Volt Tackle as well and ends up bumping heads with Pikachu.
Both of the Volt Tackles collided, creating an explosion.
"What a collision of Volt Tackle!"Dawn admitted.
Raichu safely landed on its feet, but Pikachu slammed into a rock and struggled to stand back up.
"Pikachu!"Ash called out. "You okay!?"
Pikachu slowly stood up and nodded at his trainer.
"Alright use Iron Tail!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu leapt up and his tail glowed white.
"Show them how its done, Raichu!"Sho ordered.
Both Raichu and Pikachu used Iron Tail, skidding backwards on the ground.
"Twice Ash has been matched!"Dawn stated. "Move for move!"
"That guy's confident!"Brock said. "That's for sure!"
A worried look grew on Denise's face causing Luxio to look at her.
"I know we're faster than they are."Ash said quietly. "Alright Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
Pikachu's quick attack collided with Raichu's stomach, but Raichu didn't seem hurt at all.
"Kinda pathetic, aren't you?"Sho insulted. "Let's put a period on this! Hyper Beam, now!"
"Did he say Hyper Beam!?"Ash said in surprise. "Pikachu, dodge!"
Pikachu tried to run away but Raichu used its tail to attached him to a nearby rock so he couldn't run away.
Ash and Denise both gasped in shock, seeing this.
Raichu charged up its Hyper Beam attack and hit Pikachu at point-blank range.
This also destroyed the rock and sent Pikachu flying.
Sho smirked while the heroes were left speechless.
"Pikachu no!"Ash shouted.
Pikachu tried to stand up, but fell back down when Raichu stepped in front of it.
The Mouse Pokemon looked in fear at the face of the attacker before his vision blurred.
Ash rushed up to Pikachu.
"Pikachu, hang in there!"He said.
"And that's all she wrote."Sho remarked.
"Rai! Rai!"Raichu chuckled.
Ash placed Pikachu in his arms.
"Pika..."Pikachu whispered weakly.
"I had a hard time getting out of bed."Sho chuckled. "If that Pikachu were mine, this would've been a whole different game! Make that trade!"
"I'll say it again!"Ash replied with a frown. "No trade!"
"Pika!"Pikachu agreed.
"Rai rai."Raichu said with a smirk.
"Your right, Raichu."Sho answered. "If that's all you can do, give me a call in 100 years."
He then walked away with his Raichu.
"Creep."Ash muttered and stood up.
Denise, Brock and Dawn went up to Ash.
"He was right! You were pathetic!"
The heroes turned around and saw Paul.
"Its Paul!"Ash said.
"Speak of the devil."Denise muttered coldly.
Luxio growled in anger seeing the rude trainer.
"Did you see what just happened?"Dawn asked.
"Yeah and it wasn't a pretty sight to see."Paul replied.
Ash and Denise both glared at him.
"Well, we'll win the next time."Ash said and looked at Pikachu. "Right, buddy?"
"Pika Pika..."Pikachu replied weakly.
"Well, I think Pikachu needs to evolve."Paul said and walked away. "That should leave you equal...more or less."
"No one asked for your opinion, you moron!"Denise reminded bitterly.
Paul walked away in silence.
"It is true that Pikachu can't use Hyper Beam until it evolves."Brock stated.
"But wait, Ash."Dawn said. "In order for Pikachu to evolve, you need a thunder stone, wouldn't you?"
"A thunder stone..."Ash started.
Before Pikachu can say anything, he passed out in Ash's arms.
"Oh no, Pikachu!"Ash panicked.
In the Pokemon Center...
Pikachu was hooked up to a electrocardiograph to check his pulse and heart rate.
Upon having flashbacks of its life, Pikachu's pulse and heart rates began to plummet and Nurse Joy used a defibrillator and Chansey set it for 200 volts.
It was ineffective, so Nurse Joy told Chansey to set it for 300 volts instead.
After three more tries, Pikachu's heart and pulse rates began to go back to normal, much to everyone's relief.
Later that Evening...
Pikachu opened his eyes and saw his friends.
"Pikachu."Ash said with a smile.
"Pika pika..."Pikachu responded.
"We are so glad that you made it."Denise remarked softly.
"Luxio."Luxio answered with a smile.
"Your going to be fine."Dawn assured.
"And we're all so glad."Brock commented.
"Piplup piplup!"Piplup said happily.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu stated.
The Mouse Pokemon tried to rush to the window but Ash grabbed him.
"Hey where are you going?"Ash asked. "You need to rest."
"Pika pikachu!"Pikachu protested.
"Hold on, you really want to get that Raichu back?"Ash asked.
"Pika!"Pikachu replied.
"But Pikachu your hurt."Brock reminded.
"Pikachu."Pikachu said and looked down.
"Pikachu, we know that the damage Raichu did to you was really bad, but don't you think you should relax and train more before trying to battle him straight away?"Denise asked.
Pikachu fell silent at Denise's respond.
Ash took out a small bag that held a thunder stone in it.
"What's that?"Dawn asked.
"It's a thunder stone."Ash replied. "You see something like this happened before then the Nurse Joy in Vermillion City gave it to me."
"Pikachu..."Pikachu said weakly and rested his head on the bed.
"Pikachu, you gotta stay strong!"Ash protested.
"That battle with Raichu was really tough."Brock said.
"I think we should leave Pikachu to rest."Dawn suggested.
The gang leaves the room after Ash places the Thunder Stone on the table next to the window.
Later that Night...
Pikachu glared angrily at the thunder stone, quickly turning away from it.
He began to think about the Raichu he battled.
The Mouse Pokemon sits up, looking at the thunder stone.
When the heroes come into the room, Pikachu vanished and was no longer in sight.
"Pikachu, where are you?"Ash asked.
The gang notice the thunder stone was gone as well.
"The thunder stone is gone!"Brock said.
"Ash, if Pikachu took the thunder stone that means only one thing."Dawn admitted.
"If Pikachu evolved with Raichu thats fine."Ash stated.
"You don't mean-"Denise started.
"Come on, let's go find Pikachu."Ash said.
"Alright."Brock, Dawn and Denise replied.
Luxio and Piplup nodded in agreement.
Outside...
Ash and his friends go off looking for Pikachu.
"Pikachu!"Ash shouted.
"Pikachu!"Dawn called out.
"Piplup!"Piplup said.
"Luxio!"Luxio said.
"Pikachu, where are you?"Brock asked.
"Pikachu, come out!"Denise stated.
A jolt of electricity in the night sky was seen and Ash runs off in that direction.
"Ash, wait!"Denise protested and ran after her crush with Luxio following after her.
Ash, Denise and Luxio ran to the area, where the jolt was and saw Pikachu practicing Volt Tackle on a rock and breaking it.
Ash rushed up to Pikachu with Denise and Luxio.
"Pikachu that was awesome!"Denise chuckled.
"Luxio!"Luxio admitted proudly.
"Wow Pikachu, you wanna beat that Raichu without evolving?"Ash asked with a smile.
Pikachu nodded. "Pikachu!"
"Now your talking!"
The two trainers and their pokemon see Team Rocket.
"Team Rocket!"Ash said. "What are you doing here?"
"Here for trouble I guess."Denise retorted.
"Nice thought, but not today."Jessie responded.
"The truth is Pikachu don't need any rock to evolve!"Meowth remarked holding the thunder stone.
"We'll leave and steal while you two train in your twerpish hearts desire."James stated.
"So knock yourselves out."Jessie commented.
Team Rocket then walked away leaving the group alone.
"What was that all about?"Ash asked in confusion.
"No idea."Denise replied.
"Pikachu!"
Brock, Dawn and Piplup rushed forward.
"So you didn't evolve into Raichu."Brock said.
"I guess you wanna train without evolving into Raichu?"Dawn suggested.
Piplup smiled. "Piplup."
"Hey Ash, I know its late, but how about a quick battle before the big day?"Denise challenged with a smile.
"Well bring it on!"Ash encouraged.
Luxio looked at Pikachu.
"Luxio?"Luxio asked smugly.
Pikachu smirked. "Pikachu!"
Ash and Denise high five each other.
The Next Morning...
The heroes went out of an elevator in the pokemon center.
"What a nice breakfast."Ash chuckled and stretched his arms. "Your fruit parfait really hit the spot, Denise."
"It was just fruits and whipped cream, nothing special."Denise teased.
"Pika pikachu!"Pikachu said happily.
"Wow Pikachu sure healed fast."Brock commented.
"Of course that means is now time to take care of Raichu."Ash remarked confidently.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu replied in excitement.
The Mouse Pokemon then saw the rude trainer causing him to tap Ash.
Paul noticed that Pikachu hadn't evolved, but says nothing and walked right past the heroes.
Outside...
Ash was training Pikachu with frisbees to practice flips and spins.
"Wow!"Dawn said brightly. "What a jump!"
"Plup!"Piplup giggled.
Pikachu and spun the frisbee with his tail.
"The way you move your tail is getting much better!"Ash remarked. "Now go for a spin!"
Ash threw the frisbee and Pikachu grabbed it with his tail.
"Nice move, Pikachu!"Denise laughed.
"Luxio!"Luxio chuckled.
"I can't wait on how Pikachu uses that in battle."Brock admitted.
Then a jolt of electricity bursts from out of the trees, interrupting the training.
"That's Raichu's thunder, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Sho was seen with his Raichu, practicing against a few trees before the gang runs over.
"Sho!"Ash shouted.
"If it isn't my new buds, so what's shaking?"Sho asked.
"We want to battle your Raichu one more time!"Ash replied.
"Knock yourself out, but it will end the same."Sho said and looked at Raichu. "So what do you think, bud?"
"Rai rai raichu."Raichu answered.
Sho laughed. "It seems that Raichu is ready for another easy workout, so you're on!"
He took out a pokeball.
"Pichu, I want you to see how a strong gets stronger."Sho said.
"Pichu."Pichu chirped.
"Alright then bring it on!"Sho encouraged.
"Pika pikachu!"Pikachu chuckled.
"Pikachu says that he wants you to bring it first."Ash insulted.
"Why, you stuck up little..."Sho started angrily. "Go Raichu, Iron Tail!"
Raichu leapt up and his tail glowed white.
"Up and around, Pikachu!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu was able to dodge it by spinning over top of Raichu.
"Wow, nice move, Pikachu!"Dawn complemented.
"Piplup!"Piplup said.
"Hey, this might end up being fun."Sho admitted.
"Circle it around!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu spun around on the ground, dodging every Iron Tail Raichu threw at him.
"I think Pikachu is circling around Raichu to make it worn out."Brock stated.
"Alright!"Denise cheered.
"Lux!"Luxio smirked.
"Those low class tricks aren't gonna work!"Sho commented.
One of Raichu's Iron Tails hit Pikachu.
"Big bang boom!"Sho said.
Raichu then spun around and threw Pikachu in the air.
"Check out where Pikachu is gonna land!"Sho said. "Then use Volt Tackle!"
Raichu used Volt Tackle.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu countered Raichu's Volt Tackle with an Iron Tail.
"Give me a break, Volt Tackle!"Sho ordered.
Raichu charged towards Pikachu.
"Wait then spin, Pikachu!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu was able to dodge it and then had to dodge a barrage of Iron Tails.
Raichu began to get tired.
"Now Quick Attack!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu used Quick Attack and slammed into Raichu's stomach.
Raichu was tossed backwards, but was able to stay on its feet.
"That amateur stuff is really getting old fast, yo!"Sho said. "Use Iron Tail!"
Raichu then came at Pikachu with an Iron Tail again.
"Dodge it and use Iron Tail!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu was able to dodge Raichu's Iron Tail and use Iron Tail on Raichu's stomach.
"Great strategy!"Brock stated. "Pikachu is turning Raichu's moves around while building more power!"
"Keep it up, Pikachu!"Dawn remarked.
Piplup and Luxio cheered at their friend.
Denise smirked in approval.
"Use Thunder!"Sho ordered.
"Volt Tackle, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu easily moved out of the way and used Volt Tackle.
This time when Raichu was hit, he fell to the ground.
Still Raichu was able to stand back up.
"See? What a lightweight!"Sho scoffed. "Use Hyper Beam!"
Raichu used his tail in the same way he had before, only this time Pikachu was held against a tree.
"The...end!"Sho announced.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"Pikachu ordered.
Right as Raichu's Hyper Beam collided, Pikachu was able to soften the blow with Thunderbolt.
Sho thought it was all over until the smoke cleared and Pikachu was still standing while Raichu couldn't move a muscle.
"It worked!"Denise chuckled.
"That Hyper Beam got turned into bits."Brock commented.
"Quick Raichu can't move!"Dawn warned. "This is your chance!"
"Pip piplup!"Piplup cheered.
"Alright Volt Tackle!"Ash ordered. "And top it up Iron Tail!"
Pikachu used Volt Tackle combined with an Iron Tail and slammed right into Raichu.
"We'll top you off, use Volt Tackle!"Sho ordered.
Raichu charged towards Pikachu with Volt Tackle.
"Pikachu use Volt Tackle!"Ash ordered.
The attacks collided and an explosion was created.
The pokemon were flung backwards and both were able to stand their ground.
"Even match?"Sho asked in shock. "But my Raichu should be all over Pikachu like a sunburn!"
"There's more to battling than size."Ash stated.
Pikachu smirked. "Pikachu!"
"Argh!"Sho said angrily. "Put a cork in this battle with Iron Tail!"
Raichu activated Iron Tail.
"Hit it head on with Iron Tail!"Ash ordered.
Raichu used Iron Tail on Pikachu, who countered with a spinning Iron Tail.
"Keep it up!"Ash remarked.
"I'm seeing things!"Sho argued.
Raichu was flung into a tree, however he was still able to get back up.
"Use Hyper Beam!"Sho ordered.
Raichu used Hyper Beam again, but his tail missed Pikachu.
"Now use the energy from the Hyper Beam!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu used the energy from the Hyper Beam to jump into the air and began to spin.
"Max power in the air then use Iron Tail!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu used the energy to go into an Iron Tail.
Iron Tail collided with Raichu, knocking him out.
"Raichu!"Sho said in shock.
Ash, Dawn, Denise, Brock, Piplup and Luxio rushed up to Pikachu.
"You were awesome, Pikachu!"Ash stated proudly.
"You were so powerful!"Dawn admitted.
"You really improved yourself."Denise remarked.
Piplup and Luxio smiled at Pikachu.
"Wow...they've taken in our spinning move and had it make their own, haven't they?"Dawn asked.
"Piplup."Piplup answered.
Paul watched the battle from the bushes and walked away.
Later that Evening...
"You know your Pikachu rocks."Sho admitted. "All your crew rocks!"
Raichu nodded. "Raichu!"
"You just chill for a while."Sho stated and returned Raichu in his pokeball. "But the next time we meet, we're gonna lock it down!"
"Pichu!"Pichu agreed while holding onto his trainer's shoulder.
"Yeah?"Ash asked with a smile. "We'll just see about that!"
"Pikachu!"Pikachu agreed.
Then the heroes said good-bye to Sho and walked off into the sunset.
(There will be Denise x Paul moments in future chapters)
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
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
Kirlia (Female): Psychic, Double Team, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Hoothoot (Male): Silver Wind, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic
Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish