Chapter 72; The duo of thunder: reunion
"Cyndaquil don't stop! Flamethrower full power!"
Cyndaquil putting all of its power into the final flamethrower, showered the whirling Steelix with flames, turning the sandstorm swirling move into a blazing whirlwind. Steelix stopped and after a few short moments collapsed, seared to unconsciousness, being trapped in its own move.
"Steelix is unable to battle. Cyndaquil wins! The winner is the challenger Ash Ketchum!" Janina the referee declared.
"Oh yeah! We did it Cyndaquil!"
"Qui!" cyndaquil cried out before stumbling from exhaustion.
Jasmine recalled Steelix.
"That was one sweet strategy. Trapping the opponent in their own move is not something you see every day".
Ash rubbed his nose with a prideful smile.
"Yeah. I intend to strike back at Sonic in the same way in the Johto league. I owe it to him after the way he beat Pikachu in Kanto".
"What do you mean?"
"Sonic's raichu had trapped Pikachu in a headlock with its tail, Pikachu fired thunder and raichu let go just in time, causing Pikachu to get struck by its own move" Brock explained in short.
Jasmine was rather impressed.
"I see. You intend to adapt his strategies in your own way".
"You bet. And I intend to take the victory I should have gotten in Kanto".
After Jasmine gave Ash the mineral badge and escorting them out, Brock remembered he wanted to ask something.
"Have you had any contact with them?"
"… no".
"Do you think they're ok?" Misty voiced her concern.
"After their latest victory, I don't see a reason to worry about them. But I still do".
"Ooh" Ash decided to get in teasing mode "looks like someone has fallen hard".
Jasmine's cheeks turned red.
"Cut it out you're being immature again" Misty berated Ash.
"What? I'm just making a joke".
"Playing with a girl's heart is no joke!" Misty continued on.
"And why are you offended? You don't even have a heart" Ash shut her down, ice cold calm.
Jasmine gasped. Sonic had mentioned Ash being savage during his stay near the lighthouse but that was just too savage.
"In any case" she spoke in order to prevent war breaking out "it's for the best at the current time. No one but my contact can know where they are".
"But we could help" Misty argued.
"After the dirty moves detective Looker pulled yesterday we need to let things shimmer down for a while. Hopefully by that time our friends will have ended this".
Ash rolled his eyes.
Jasmine took notice of this and raised her eyebrow in question.
Brock took notice of this small exchange.
"Yeah… Ash and Sonic are not exactly friends in the literal way" he explained to Jasmine.
"Really? But you helped him without any hesitation yesterday. That's what friends usually do".
"We had a couple of adventures together sure. One of them was me saving his skin" Ash began explaining.
"Actually the debacle at the orange islands might not have been resolved successfully had it not been for both of you" Misty reminded him of how Sonic was the bait.
"Maybe. But I just cannot agree with him as a trainer. He had his entire team evolve, possibly pushing aside any feelings they had towards evolving. Sure he did it to fight team rocket but I have been kicking their butts since Kanto too without evolving all my Pokemon".
Jasmine was wondering what Sonic's side of the story was.
"Well I guess the time will come for you two to settle it in the Johto league. I will be attending too. No way am I missing this year's tournament. It's a pity I can't really compete though".
"Good. I want everyone to witness my triumph over both him and Knuckles" Ash declared, his confidence at an all-time high.
Afterwards Ash and co left to prepare for their departure for the next gym. Which was in Mahogany town.
The same town detective Jake Morrison was driving towards with team Sonic riding along.
"So to answer your earlier question" Morrison continued "it is believed that the lake of rage is not a natural lake. Once, a hoard of Gyarados assembled there and caused a storm so wild and devastating it created a massive crater. The crater then filled with water as time went by and rains occurred and eventually became known as the lake of rage".
"And if I had to guess, Gyarados live there by the tens?" Tails guessed.
"Precisely" Morrison confirmed as he overtook another car, driving a bit faster than allowed.
"Ok but what does that lake have to do with the Pokemon becoming irritated?" Sonic brought them back to the original topic.
"There has been a lot of reports from swimmers and fishermen lately, that gyarados have been getting irritated, attacking people and sinking boats as a result. Thankfully there have been no casualties so far, but still when we're talking about a Pokemon like Gyarados…"
"I know what you mean" Tails stopped him "inside the cave of Lugia was a chamber that required one to choose one of 5 possible paths. Choose the wrong path… and a Gyarados would eat you" he explained grimly.
"Petrel didn't share this detail with his minions. 8 of them were devoured by the time we got there" Sonic revealed.
Morrison was shaken but nodded.
"If only Looker could see the bigger picture you guys wouldn't be in this mess right now".
"Did he tell you what he wants with us?" Sonic asked Morrison.
"He said he wants to tear down your legend because you unwillingly built it on the destruction of silph co".
"I remember that" Tails said "it was the same thing he tried to arrest us for in Ecutreak".
"And when I mentioned I destroyed the master ball, he again tried to use it as a stepping stone to arrest me" Sonic also remembered.
"So clearly whatever reason he has to want to arrest us is connected to silph co. But what is it?" Knuckles asked.
"I don't really know. You see Looker isn't his real name. It's a codename. I've worked with him on another case in the past when he had a different codename. That's how we know each other. Back then he was much more lax. He did uphold the law as much as possible like he claims he wants to do now but there is clearly something else here".
"Maybe we should try figuring it out" Tails suggested.
"That will be my task. You 3 have your own task to accomplish. We're here".
Looking outside team Sonic noticed they were on the outskirts of mahogany town, outside a small cottage.
"Where are we?"
"My family's cottage. It's the one place no one will think to look. And it's where you three will be staying to go unnoticed. No neighbors around so perfect place. Just make sure you go into town or back here through the small forest in the back" Morrison explained handing them the keys.
Sonic was taken aback and wanted to object.
"Don't you dare object" Morrison got to him first "the least I can do is to help you go unnoticed. Though if possible don't open any curtains or windows. Can't risk anyone… you know".
"We know. We won't let you down" Sonic assured him, offering him a handshake.
The two shook hands, solidifying their trust in each other. It was a vital component for their mission with so much at stake.
Afterwards Morrison left and the three trainers entered the house locking the door behind them.
The house was cozy and warm though it only had 2 beds, a double bed and a single bed. Standard core family bed lineup.
"Alright who'll be sleeping with who?" Knuckles asked.
"Right now, nobody with noone. We got work to do" Sonic reminded him.
"Alright. So where do we start?" Tails inquired.
"At the lake of rage obviously. We have to go there and try to see what's happening with all the Gyarados" Sonic said.
Nodding Tails opened his map.
"Alright. The path to the lake of rage is at the north of the town. The quickest route is through the upper west neighborhood of the town. You know" he realized lowering the map "I think we should disguise ourselves while here. If we can use the element of surprise we should".
"Well" Knuckles rummaged through their stuff "I got some stuff. A hat, sunglasses, a bandana. We can definitely come up with something".
10 minutes later, they were heading to town through the small forest. Sonic was now wearing the bandana in a way that pushed down his spiky hair in order to go undetected along with sunglasses. Tails was rocking a hat worn backwards along with sunglasses of his own. Lastly Knuckles wore a fedora hat he wore during his treasure hunts along with – what a surprise – a pair of sunglasses.
"Why do I have a feeling these disguises are actually going to backfire?" Sonic asked while wiping some sweat off his forehead.
"No way" Knuckles assured him "we totally blend in".
As they began crossing the neighborhood in order to get to the path leading to the lake of rage, they crossed paths with a familiar face.
Gary Oak. Followed by a group of cheerleaders.
"Haha. Check those losers out. Have you girls seen anyone so pathetic before?"
The cheerleaders all began laughing and sucking up to Gary.
Sonic side-eyed Knuckles who scratched his head.
"Yeah… in hindsight, looking like a hippie, a rapper and a cowboy are not the most subtle of disguises".
"Duh you think?" Sonic sarcastically asked before turning back to Gary.
"Was he such a douche in Kanto too?" Tails asked while murmuring.
"Yeah he was" Sonic replied also murmuring, taking a step forward.
"You haven't changed at all since last time pal" he said taking the sunglasses off.
Gary's pupils jumped out of their eye sockets. The cheerleaders converged and began whispering amongst themselves.
Gary had just insulted team Sonic.
"Well, well, well" Gary tried to recover "what a surprise finding you here heroes".
"What are you even doing here?" Sonic asked him.
"Oh nothing much, just taking a walk with my lovely fan club after my great victory" he gloated revealing the glacier badge.
"Huh. So that makes 7 for you. I guess you will meet me and Knuckles in the league".
Knuckles fist bumped his fists together so Gary could tell who Sonic was referring to.
"That's good. Twice the heroes against me, double the glory for beating you".
Sonic cracked a smile.
"You literally lost to Ash in Kanto and I pummeled Ash. What chance do think you stand against us?"
Gary struggled to counter that. The memory of Sonic and his raichu standing up to Giovanni and Mewtwo came to his mind. The hedgehog had a point.
He might be able to beat Knuckles but could he really beat Sonic?
"Ash lost to me and when we met in Goldenrod city. My eevee and his Pikachu had one of the most amazing one on one battles I have ever been a part of but he lost. So you better watch your back hero. The Johto league is mine for the taking".
"Hmph" Sonic kept smiling "I bet my friend Tails here could beat you. And he is not even taking part in the league".
"Sonic? Why are you dragging me into this?"
"Challenge accepted. Full battle!"
"Suit yourself" Sonic shrugged and turned to his friends.
"Sonic what are you doing?"
"Come on. Ash beat him in Kanto. With all our training you will stomp him down even with just 5 pokemon".
Tails was still unsure but with some encouragement from Knuckles he stepped forward.
The cheerleaders immediately started dancing and cheering Gary on.
"Gary Gary he is our man. If he can't do it no one can!"
"Someone wipe my memory. This is so much cringe" Tails thought as he took out scyther's pokeball.
"All right here goes! Nidoqueen!"
Nidoqueen emerged. Tails was impressed by the immediate use of a fully evolved species but nevertheless met him head on.
"Scyther how about some slashing?!"
Scyther also appeared wielding its scythes around for a few moments eager to attack.
"Nidoqueen mega punch!"
Nidoqueen charged up its fist with energy and attempted to attack.
Scyther used its wings to dodge the attack.
"Too slow! Slash!"
Scyther let out a loud cry then started slashing with all its might. Nidoqueen cried out in pain, catching Gary off guard.
"Dammit they're his friends. They probably are almost just as strong as he is" Gary thought as he recalled the time he had spent in his grandfather's lab thinking after the Kanto tournament.
After his defeat at the hands of Ash and the latter's subsequent defeat at Sonic's hands he had started having second thoughts about the whole power thing. He had always claimed he would be the best only to be saved from Mewtwo when the time came.
In the end he had chosen to make a fresh start in Johto and build power with his pokemon from scratch. He believed this time it would be different.
For a long time it seemed like it. He had managed to beat Ash this time around as he had mentioned earlier. But when he heard from Ash that Sonic was also around and not only that but he also had friends with him this time, Gary knew he would have to up his game even further.
He had also met Ash in Olivine once a few days ago. After the back and forth they had about how they would beat each other in the league, Ash told him not only about the return of Sonic but also the potential Tails and Knuckles were carrying. He had also claimed Tails was somehow familiar with a legend of Johto called Raikou. That and the fact Tails was the least strong of the three members of team Sonic.
"If I can't stand against their weakest member… no! It wasn't all for nothing! I will be the strongest" Gary thought as he prepared the counter attack.
"Nidoqueen double kick!"
The double kick did almost no damage to scyther but succeeded in pushing it away, giving Nidoqueen time to breathe.
Furthermore the slashes triggered Nidoqueen's ability.
Scyther's face got a purple color.
"Damnit! It has poison point?" Tails rhetorically asked.
"Now's our chance Nidoqueen! Hyper beam!"
Nidoqueen unleashed a powerful beam of orange energy. The beam landed head on, knocking scyther into a tree. Scyther collapsed.
"One down! Am I the best or what?" Gary gloated.
Scyther however started screeching, its wild instincts kicking in. Getting up it flew like a blur towards Nidoqueen readying a wing attack.
"Dodge it Nidoqueen!"
"No point" Sonic smiled "you used hyper beam. Your pokemon needs time to catch its breath now".
The wing attack landed, followed by a nonstop slashfest. Scyther was in the zone, having entered a frenzy, its mind focused on one thing; destroying its opponent.
"Nidoqueen!" Gary called out to it as it toppled, fainting.
Scyther however didn't seem ready to stop.
"Scyther stop!" Tails commanded it, trying to make his voice dominating.
Scyther stood still for a moment then obliged.
Tails smiled. 1-0 to him.
That was until the poison kicked in again. Without the berserker rage driving it, scyther collapsed, fainting as well.
"Scyther you ok?" Tails ran to its side.
"Scy…"
"You were amazing. And I'm proud of you for not hurting it further. Get a good rest".
Gary also recalled Nidoqueen, a tad bit worried. That was an unevolved form being strong enough to knock out a fully evolved form, not to mention a pokemon he had since Kanto.
"I won't lose this! If I can't beat their least strong then neither Ash not I stand a chance against Sonic".
Tails took out Espeon's pokeball next.
"Espeon! Your turn!"
Espeon appeared. From the first moment it looked bothered by something.
"Espeon?"
"It must be the same effect causing the gyarados to rampage. This means it affects and possibly originates here" Sonic reminded Tails "Espeon's psychic type must be making it extra susceptible to it".
Tails turned to Espeon again.
"Espeon do you need to go back in?"
Espeon cried out negatively, merely bothered by whatever was causing that disturbance, still perfectly fit to battle.
"All right then! I will respond with this!"
A roar was carried through the wind as an Arcanine appeared and roared.
"So it evolved" Tails said chenched his fist, knowing this was going to be a hard fight.
"How would you know my Arcanine started off as a growlithe?" Gary asked him tilting his head.
"I was there. When you and Sonic first battled in Vermillion city".
Gary recalled the moment and realized the fox was right.
"True. No matter! Arcanine fire blast!"
Arcanine launched a powerful star shaped fire attack towards Espeon.
"Dodge with quick attack!"
Espeon moved out of the way, causing the fire blast to miss. Using its momentum it rammed into Arcanine's fur. Tails however expected the outcome of the attack; a big pokemon like arcanine would be phased at best by a smaller size pokemon ramming into it.
"Too weak! Arcanine flamethrower!"
"Use confusion to redirect it!"
Using confusion on Arcanine, Espeon caused it to misfire the attack, giving Tails another opening.
"Now Espeon! Psychic!"
"Psychic?!" Sonic and Knuckles both exclaimed.
Lifting Arcanine with its psychic abilities, Epseon slammed it hard against the ground, damaging it greatly.
"Yeah way to go!" Tails complimented his partner pokemon.
"Not yet! Get up Arcanine! Take down!"
Arcanine hopped up and rammed into Espeon. Unlike the previous physical altercation, this time the attack had dire consequences.
Arcanine slammed into Espeon, sending it rolling on the ground. Espeon despite the cries of pain, managed to stand up.
Arcanine on the other hand, knocked itself out due to the recoil from take down.
"What?! It's still standing?!" Gary couldn't believe his eyes.
Doubt began creeping up on him. Arcanine was literally one of his first pokemon, having been with him since Cerulean city. And yet it was defeated by an Espeon with probably only weeks of experience.
After all Ash had told him that when they first met in Johto, only Sonic and Knuckles had pokemon.
That meant Tails and his party had become an actual challenge in mere weeks.
Before doubt completely took over he pushed it back down, taking out his next pokeball. It wasn't over, not by a longshot.
"Go Golem!"
Golem appeared.
"Where did he even get someone to trade for it?" Knuckles asked Sonic quietly.
"Beats me. Maybe Ash… but then again he is just as insufferable to Ash so… don't know" Sonic shrugged.
"Espeon back!" Tails recalled it. Golem required a special treatment.
"Lapras!" Tails sent it out.
Gary took a second to consider his choices. It was the most unfavorable matchup. But then again his other pokemon, save for one of them, would have trouble against Lapras. As much as he hated to do it, Golem had to be cannon fodder.
"Golem rollout!"
Golem retracted its limbs and head into its round body and started rolling around like a huge wrecking ball.
"Lapras hit it with hydro pump!"
Lapras fired hydro pump but with only one training session done so far, it was not able to hit a moving target, especially not at this speed.
Golem seized the opening and rolled into Lapras, its massive, heavy and hard body damaging the endangered water type heavily.
However it also gave Tails an opening. Lapras getting hit had managed to halt the golem as it wasn't able to continue rolling afterwards.
"Hydro pump go!"
Hydro pump found its mark, hitting the golem in close range. The ground and rock type stood no chance as it collapsed.
Gary gritted his teeth. But the damage Lapras had sustained allowed him to send out the best possible choice for this scenario.
"Scizor cleanup duty!"
The red armored bug appeared, causing Tails to go back to the day Knuckles was tortured.
"This… thing!" he muttered as his fist trembled.
Sonic took notice.
"Tails calm down. Remember that was then".
"Lapras Hydro pump!"
"Quick attack then slash!"
The quick attack allowed Scizor to dodge the hydro pump and, using its already built momentum, to slash at Lapras's throat, knocking the wind out of it and subsequently Lapras itself out.
"No!" Tails reached out.
He couldn't believe it. A lot of his training was driven because of his desire to make the iron masked marauder pay.
He had to beat that Scizor. And he would start with Gary's.
"Butterfree! Come on out!"
Butterfree came out, ready to fight.
"A butterfree? Don't mock me! Scizor return! Magmar you're up!"
"Magmar?!" Tails exclaimed.
Knowing Gary's last pokemon was probably his Blastoise as he had seen Gary having a Wartortle in Vermillion, that meant Tails had to defeat a fire type, a water type and a bug and steel type with, a ground and steel type, a psychic type and a bug and flying type.
It was the worst possible matchup.
"Damnit I should have recalled Lapras!" he thought in frustration.
"Tails calm down" Sonic tried to get to his friend "it's far from over. Remember. You're strong and a member of team Sonic right?"
Tails' mouth opened for a moment in realization and then nodded confidently.
"Ahahaha!" Gary burst out laughing "you call yourselves team Sonic? As in you and the red one are invisible? I have never come across anyone so pathetic" Gary roasted them as he laughed.
"Does your home have no mirrors?" Knuckles fired back.
"Oh snap!" Sonic backed him up.
Tails, his confidence restored and his gratefulness for his friends at its peak, set his plan in motion.
"Butterfree charge!"
Butterfree charged airborne towards Magmar.
"What a moron. Magmar fire blast!"
Magmar unleashed a star shaped attack just like Arcanine earlier.
"Now! Barrel roll then sleep powder!"
Butterfree rolled mid-air, flying just around the attack, passing between two of the 5 of the fire blast's extrusions. Before Gary or Magmar could react, Magmar was sprayed with the sleep powder, falling asleep in a matter of seconds.
"You gotta be kidding! Magmar wake up!"
"Butterfree confusion!"
Butterfree started attacking Magmar with confusion, using the move over and over. Magmar in its sleep started hurting itself as it was dreaming attacking the butterfree and was instead hurting itself.
"Damnit Magmar get up!"
Magmar's eyes opened widely. After one more attack on itself cause of confusion it stood up.
"No chance this time! Flamethrower!"
With all its might, Magmar unleashed a powerful flamethrower that engulfed Butterfree.
"Noooo!" Tails reached out.
Butterfree collapsed. But before Gary could celebrate, a gold dust was emitted from Butterfree's body, engulfing Magmar right before the bug type fainted.
"What was that?" Gary asked Tails but the latter merely recalled Butterfree.
"You were perfect. Leave the rest to us" Tails said hoisting the pokeball on his belt and taking out his last healthy pokemon.
"Hope this works! Steelix let's rumble!"
Steelix caused a mini quake when it emerged.
"Ha. A steel type as your final stand? But then again what else have you got left? Your Espeon is crippled. I'd say this is as good as over. Magmar! Finish this with flamethrower!"
Magmar prepared the flamethrower but upon firing, yellow electricity crackled on its body, immobilizing it and canceling out the flamethrower.
"What?!"
"Now Steelix! Rock slide!"
Steelix fired the barrage of rocks to Magmar, which was unable to dodge, or even try to block in any capacity, resulting in a critical hit and an immediate knockout.
Gary clenched his fist as well. He wouldn't lose. Not now. Not to a trainer with no badges.
"You leave me no choice!" he said revealing a pokeball. He quickly kissed the pokeball before winding his hand.
"Blastoise! Come on out!"
Blastoise emerged. Tails felt uneasy. Having seen Sonic's Blastoise battle up close he knew how strong their kind was. And he was at a severe disadvantage.
"Steelix rock slide!"
"Blastoise rapid spin!"
Blastoise started spinning deflected the thrown rocks but not without some damage.
"Now! Hydro pump!"
Blastoise aimed with its cannons and opened fire.
"Protect!"
The hydro pump was blocked by the protect. Gary knew in the moment if they tried to go this back and forth Blastoise would get tired quickly. Therefore…
"Blastoise! Skull bash!"
Blastoise's head retreated into its shell. Sonic didn't expect a physical move on Blastoise but quickly realized what Gary was aiming for.
He wanted to warn Tails but refrained. It wouldn't be fair.
"Rock slide!"
Rock slide smacked Blastoise repeatedly but retreating into the shell had allowed it to raise its defense, therefore tanking the attacks better.
"Go!" Gary suddenly commanded.
Blastoise launched itself, head first into Steelix. The attack was not very effective but Gary had achieved what he wanted.
There was no longer any distance between the two pokemon.
Tails too realized what he was aiming for.
"Steelix quick! Bind Blastoise!"
Steelix wrapped its massive body around Blastoise, squeezing its shell with all its might. Blastoise did feel the pressure but maintained its composure. Gary smiled.
"Checkmate!"
"What?"
"Bite!"
Blastoise prepared to bite.
"Protect!"
The protect did work but their training was incomplete. The shield was created around them instead of around Steelix's body.
The bite attack went through, causing Steelix to lose its balance and for Blastoise to move just enough for its right cannon to be positioned directly in front of Steelix's face.
"Hydro pump!"
The attack blasted Steelix at point blank range. Steelix's head remained still for a few moments as it looked like it was looking at the sky for something.
And then the massive steel snake toppled causing a loud thud and releasing Blastoise.
"Game over fox. Looks like your friend put too much faith in you after all".
Sonic gritted his teeth. He didn't expect Gary to be this strong. But then again Gary was using pokemon from Kanto too. The fact that Tails had actually left him with 1 damaged and 1 healthy pokemon on a 5v6 wasn't a small accomplishment especially with his short time as an actual trainer, not to mention not having any badges.
Tails recalled steelix and was about to concede when Espeon came out on its own, bruised but still able to battle.
"Espeon?"
Espeon turned its eyes to Tails. Determination was written all over its face.
Tails couldn't help but respect its wishes to see this through to the end.
"Hmph. This puny Espeon isn't worth facing my ace. Blastoise return! Scizor you're up!"
Scizor came back out. Tails took deep breaths. It was now or never.
"Swift!"
Espeon fired a small barrage of stars towards Scizor. The bug and steel type didn't feel a thing.
"Weak! Scizor! Slash!"
Scizor prepared to slash.
"Quick attack!"
"Quick attack!"
The two pokemon moved like blurs then collided. Espeon was sent rolling on the ground as both its smaller size and its opponent's typing were against it.
"Psychic!"
Espeon's eyes glowed blue and Scizor was lifted from the ground. Again due to its typing, it was able to resist the move just enough to limit the impact with the ground after Espeon slammed it down.
"Finish this already! Slash!"
Espeon, still recovering from the earlier clash, was not quick enough to dodge.
The slash brought back the memory of Knuckles with cuts all over his body in Tails' mind. Gary was for a moment replaced by the iron masked marauder.
As Espeon struggled to get back up, Tails made his decision.
This battle wasn't worth Espeon getting unnecessarily hurt.
"Wait!" he called out as Scizor was preparing another slash.
The cheerleaders, who had been so entranced by the battle they had stopped cheering for Gary for the longest time, realized Tails was about to concede. They started cheering and dancing again.
Tails paid them no mind. To him all that mattered was that his partner wasn't hurt anymore. Not for this.
Tails reached out to Espeon again before beginning to speak the words.
"I yi…"
But before he could say the word yield, small bolts crackled in his hand.
"Huh?"
Gary took notice of this.
"What is this?"
"Tails?" Sonic cautiously asked.
"That's not me. I'm not doing this" Tails said calmly although his mind was racing.
The sky then suddenly started slowly but steadily darkening. Sounds of thunder crashing down filled the air all around them.
"What's happening?!" Gary demanded to know.
Tails remembered this pattern after a few seconds.
"Dark sky, thunderbolts… and now my arm… are you here?!" he called out.
"Who's he talking to?" Gary inquired.
He got his answer the next moment.
On a nearby building's roof, something appeared looking down at them. The moment everyone present turned their eyes to it, lightning struck in the background, blinding them to it.
The only one who didn't avert his gaze was Tails.
"You are here… Raikou" he smiled.
Raikou let out a loud roar, causing everyone besides Tails to flinch.
"That's… the legend of thunder of these lands! Raikou!" Gary said trying to believe what he was witnessing.
Raikou then jumped down to ground level and dashed toward them, stopping about 5 steps away from Tails.
The latter was shocked. They weren't this close last time.
With its mane billowing behind it, Raikou took a step forward.
Almost entranced, so did Tails.
Everyone held their breath.
Trainer and pokemon found themselves one step away from touching. Espeon looked at the mighty beast in awe.
Tails taking a leap of faith just like Knuckles did a few days ago, reached out with his hand.
Raikou sniffed the arm, and without warning, started rubbing its head against the arm and purring like a meowth.
Tails' smile was wider than a snorlax. This was too good to be true.
"And here I thought Suicune had taken a liking to me" Knuckles commented rubbing his eyes.
"Well" Sonic said as he slowly shook his head, deeply impressed "our little buddy did save Raikou's life".
Raikou then unexpectedly moved closer and started rubbing his head against Tails' face, even licking him once.
Espeon excitedly approached despite its injuries to greet the legend of thunder. The moment Raikou noticed said injuries, it became a beast again.
The two pokemon conversed for a few moments before Raikou locked eyes with Scizor and Gary while growling, unnerving them both.
Raikou then turned to Tails and cried out once.
"What are you telling me?" Tails asked it, not understanding what Raikou wanted, hoping it wasn't to kill Gary. It had a history with violence after all.
Raichu which had been standing next to Sonic for the whole battle, understood and was about to mimic it to Sonic. But there was no need.
"Weird" Sonic monologued for a moment "Tails I don't know how but I know what Raikou wants".
"And what is that?" Tails asked him.
"It wants to finish the battle as your unofficial sixth pokemon".
"Say what?!" Gary objected "that's not fair! I won already! Your friend was about to concede!"
Raikou growled at Gary silencing him.
"Yeah I don't think anyone of us is calling the shots right now Gary" Sonic joked amused.
Tails looked at Raikou.
"Is that what you want?"
Raikou nodded.
"Alright! Go get him! Thunderbolt!"
Raikou's thunderbolt was fired so fast it was almost impossible to notice with naked eyes. Scizor was blasted but by no means out of the fight.
"Scizor! Quick attack then slash!"
Scizor's attack landed but Raikou retaliated with devastating consequences, biting down on Scizor and holding down with its paws.
As the sky darkened again and thunder roared, Tails knew what attack Raikou wanted to fire.
"Raikou! Thunder!"
Raikou summoned a lightning bolt then jumped out of the way, causing the thunderbolt to fall straight down at Scizor.
When the lightning stopped, Scizor was knocked out cold. Raikou roared triumphant then impatiently tapped its paw on the ground, egging Gary on to bring out Blastoise again.
"Zugzwang Gary".
"What does that mean?" Knuckles asked Tails.
"Chess term from a show I saw once. It means Gary can either fight and lose or concede. Either way we win".
Gary gritted his teeth.
"I do concede. But this isn't fair. I had you beat!"
"Then we call it a draw. What say you?" Tails suggested.
Gary wanted nothing more than to disagree.
"Come on. It's only fair. There were too many elements in our battle that made it unfair for both of us" Tails pushed him to accept.
Gary looked down for a moment. The fox made a fair point. Gary carried 3 pokemon from Kanto in this battle and had been a trainer far longer than Tails. And yet Tails had almost beaten him before Raikou intervened.
Even though Raikou's intervention altered the outcome, Gary couldn't help but believe that a Tails with as much experience as Gary had in battle would be far superior to him.
"Fine. I accept the draw" he begrudgingly agreed.
The cheerleaders were shocked at the outcome.
Afterwards before team Sonic continued on their way, with a stop at a pokemon center planned to heal Tails' team, Gary asked to speak privately to Sonic. As two walked a few steps away, one of the cheerleaders approached Tails who had gone back to petting Raikou.
"So… are you single?"
Tails' cheeks became red as Knuckles began laughing.
"I hate to admit it" Gary said to Sonic "but your friend's got some skill. The moves he pulled… even Ash hasn't impressed me this much. Is he really the weakest of you lot?"
"Wow rude" Sonic berated him "no. The proper pronunciation is the least strong of us. Trust me you don't want to be on his receiving end especially if you're team rocket".
"So it's true? They're really here?"
"Yes".
"Is… that… with them?"
"Mewtwo? No. Far away from this place".
"Oh I see. Phew" Gary said relieved "did you happen to see it again?"
"No" Sonic lied. He didn't like it but Gary knowing about Mewtwo's existence was bad enough.
"I see. Well… guess I'll be off. Make sure both you and your other friend bring your A game to the Johto league. Cause I will".
"Right back at you" Sonic said with a confident smile.
After Gary and his fun club left, the three heroes were left alone with their pokemon and Raikou.
Tails then turned to the legend of thunder again. There was something that just needed to be asked.
"You were awesome Raikou. You're insanely powerful and capable. And somewhat adorable too might I add" Tails added as he was licked again by the thunder pokemon.
"Do you want to come with us?"
Raikou was caught off guard.
"We could really use your help. And besides…" Tails said as he looked at his hand and lightning crackled on it "I never thanked you for these gifts. I want to repay you one day in full. So what do you say?" Tails asked revealing a pokeball.
Raikou looked at the pokeball, deeply conflicted.
It wanted nothing more than to join Tails. His kind soul and his desire to keep pokemon safe was resonating very much with Raikou.
Tails was basically Raikou in anthropomorphic animal form. They were in a way soulmates.
But no. It couldn't join Tails. Not yet.
Closing its eyes for a second Raikou gave Tails an almost apologetic look and then roared loudly before racing back into the wilderness.
Tails was left there heartbroken.
"Hey" Sonic took him by the shoulder "it's ok pal. Maybe it wasn't ready to give up its freedom yet. But I'm sure you will see it again soon".
"You definitely will" Knuckles also agreed.
Tails looked at the pokeball that it had offered to Raikou.
He cracked a smile. A faint smile but still a smile.
Maybe that was Raikou's final roar.
A promise of another reunion.
Raikou in the meantime was racing to meet its brethren again.
It had sensed it. Team Sonic was ready.
The time of reckoning was almost at hand. They had to decide their next move right away.