Chapter 3; obstacles in the way
Sonic was lying on the ground in his sleeping bag stargazing while Pikachu and squirtle were sleeping next to the fire they had made to keep warm at night. It had been a rough day for all 3 of them.
They had spent a total of 2 days in the forest training to prepare for their first gym battle. Sonic had decided they would go to pewter city tomorrow. The time had come and he was sure their training would pay off.
His phone rang silently as he had put on sleep mode. He was receiving a face time call from his brother. He decided since he was not sleepy yet to pick up.
"Hey bro where have you been these last 2 days?"
"Shh! They're sleeping!"
"Oh sorry. Wait they?"
Sonic turned the phone and showed him squirtle and Pikachu.
"No way!" Jet yelled silently "you caught a Pikachu?!"
"Yes. Mind if we talk tomorrow? I'm challenging the first gym first thing in the morning".
"Already? It usually takes trainers weeks before they're ready".
"Maybe. But I believe in them. I'm sure we'll emerge victorious".
"Hope so too bro. Before you go one more thing. Is it true you beat 5 team rocket grunts all on your own".
"No. I wasn't on my own. Squirtle helped me a lot. And that battle was the reason Pikachu joined us. I'll explain in greater detail tomorrow".
"Cool. Talk tomorrow then goodnight" Jet said and hang up. Sonic put his phone away and returned to his thoughts.
"Who could have guessed 2 days ago that all of a sudden I would have pokemon and take on the gyms" he wondered as he looked at his 2 sleeping pokemon. His gaze remained on Pikachu for a while.
"Damaging a ground type. Was it a one-time thing or is this Pikachu special?" he wondered again as he let himself drift asleep.
Minutes turned into hours as the sun rose and its bright rays hit Sonic in the eye waking him up. He decided to get up and stretch to put himself in the mood for battle. Pikachu and squirtle woke up as well but were still sleepy.
"Morning guys ready?"
They both tried to answer crying out their names but eventually just fell back to sleep. Sonic knew they needed more sleep so he recalled them to let them rest in their balls. He then started walking to pewter city.
Once he arrived he sat at a café to grab some coffee and a good breakfast. He called out his pokemon to make sure they would be ready and well fed. While eating he noticed people gazing at him.
"What's with them? Is there something on me?" he wondered as he continued enjoying his breakfast.
After all 3 were done eating, Pikachu and squirtle were recalled in their balls and Sonic made his way to the gym. To his surprise no one was around. He slowly walked in opening one of the two doors to the building.
"Hello? Anybody here?" he asked walking in carefully.
Suddenly the lights turned on. The door slammed shut behind him. As Sonic looked at it in surprised he heard a voice.
"Welcome challenger".
Sonic turned around and saw a young man sitting on the floor ankles crossed.
"Are you the gym leader?" Sonic asked him.
"Yes. The name's Brock".
"I'm Sonic. Sonic the hedgehog".
"I see. The young trainer who foiled the plans of those team rocket thugs in the forest 2 days ago".
"News travels fast I see".
"2 days of training and you feel ready to challenge a gym? Even for someone with your accomplishment I think you're biting more than you can chew".
"We'll see about that" Sonic answered.
The floor between him and brock opened and a rocky arena was lifted from underground. Brock jumped up and revealed his first pokeball.
"Are you aware of the rules?"
"Rules?"
"We can only use 2 pokemon each. Once both lose their trainer loses. Also the pokemon cannot leave the arena or it is considered as surrendering".
"I see" Sonic said calmly taking out squirtle's pokeball.
"We send our pokemon out at the same time. Three, two, one!"
"Go! Geodude, squirtle!" Both of them said at the same time.
"Squirtle huh? You figured I use rock types?"
"Your arena was kind of a giveaway that you use either ground or rock types".
"Very perceptive. Very well then let the battle begin! Geodude use mud slap!"
"Squirtle rapid spin!"
Squirtle spinned very fast erasing the mud slap from existence.
"Impressive. Canceling out my move in the blink of an eye".
"Let's keep the momentum squirtle! Water gun!"
Squirtle unleashed its water gun attack.
"Geodude take cover behind the rock!"
Geodude hid behind the rock which blocked the water gun.
"Now use rock throw and throw that rock!"
Geodude grabbed the rock and threw it at squirtle.
"Withdraw then water gun again!"
Squirtle withdrew in its shell then unleashed its water gun launching itself dodging the rock and stopping right next to the geodude.
"Blast it with water gun!"
Geodude was unable to react fast enough and was hit straight in the face getting knocked out instantly. Brock recalled it.
"Thank you geodude. Take a rest" he said as he took out the next pokeball "You impress me Sonic. That was one quick reaction and an even more impressive move".
"Thanks. Now bring out your 2nd pokemon!"
"Onix go!"
"Onix?!" Sonic said realizing what he was up against.
The pokeball opened and the giant rock snake emerged staring down at squirtle. Both it and Sonic looked in awe and anxiety at their opponent.
"Onix use rock throw!"
Onix grabbed a rock with its tails and threw it.
"Squirtle, rapid spin!"
Squirtle used the move trying to deflect the rock but it knocked it back. It managed to get back up after a moment.
"Water gun!"
Squirtle fired water gun but Onix, moving quicker than Sonic expected moved the part of its body that would get hit by the water gun out of the way.
"Onix use rock throw again!"
"Squirtle withdraw then water gun twice!"
Squirtle used its launching water gun withdraw combo to propel itself on Onix and immediately blasted it with water. However to both their momentary shock Onix managed to take the hit.
"How is this possible?!" Sonic wondered aloud in shock.
"Onix bind!"
Squirtle's body was binded by onix's tail and unlike the ekans' bind it was much harder.
"Squirtle use water gun to escape!"
"Don't let it Onix! Slam!"
Squirtle tried to fire water gun but the pressure of bind didn't let it. Onix lifted its tail and slammed it to the ground causing squirtle to take all the impact and fainting.
"No!" Sonic shouted in despair dropping on his knees.
"Why the despair? You have one pokemon left right?"
Sonic gritted his teeth. He did have Pikachu still. But his confidence had now dropped. Could Pikachu replicate that way of victory against Onix.
"I can't risk it yet" he thought "there is another way".
"Go Pikachu!"
Pikachu came out of its pokeball determined despite facing a ground type.
"I see. Your 2nd pokemon is Pikachu. You're in a disadvantage indeed. But you shouldn't despair. There is always a chance at victory" Brock encouraged them.
Sonic looked at Pikachu's eyes and nodded still not entirely sure though.
"Pikachu use tail whip!"
Pikachu whipped its tail causing Onix to lower its guard.
"Onix use rock polish!"
Onix's body shined as its speed was increased a lot.
"Onix use rock throw!"
Onix moving faster than before grabbed a rock with its tail and threw it at pikachu.
"Pikachu quick attack!" Sonic shouted betting it all on this move.
Pikachu disappeared in the blink of an eye dodging the thrown rock and tackled Onix head on with quick attack knocking it back close the edge of the arena but not outside it or knocking it out.
"No!" Sonic said realizing Onix didn't faint.
"Onix bind!"
Onix grabbed Pikachu with its tail just like with squirtle before.
"You fought valiantly Sonic. But now I end it! Onix slam!"
Onix raised its tail preparing to slam it down hard. Pikachu looked at Sonic.
"Pika pika!" it cried out as Sonic realized it had not given up.
"Thunder shock!" he screamed in pure instinct.
"That won't work Brock managed to say before the attack was discharged.
Pikachu's thunder shock was fired causing Onix to stop moving Pikachu toward the ground. It let out a deep cry as it was taking damage.
"Oooooniiix".
"What?!" Brock said caught off guard.
Onix in an attempt to end the attack threw Pikachu upward. Pikachu then looked at Sonic once again.
"Pika!"
"That move?!" Sonic said knowing what Pikachu was referring to but during their training it had never been used successfully. However if Pikachu just landed on Onix again it could be bound again and they would lose.
"You're right Pikachu! Now or never! Slam!"
Pikachu curled in itself and landed on Onix's head who managed to see it coming at the last moment and took a shocked expression, resulting in the hit being critical. The impact of Onix falling to the ground caused dust to rise around them. When the dust settled Pikachu was standing on the defeated Onix.
"We did it" Sonic whispered as he dropped on his back in relief "we did Pikachu!" he yelled in happiness.
Pikachu ran back to him and climbed on his as he laid to the ground. Squirtle albeit heavily damaged came out of its pokeball to celebrate with them. Sonic looked at his two pokemon as he petted them on the head.
"Amazing work both of you".
Brock recalled Onix not saying a word as he looked at Sonic in a calm yet surprised manner. He slowly approached him as Sonic stood up again.
"Congratulations. You beat me".
"That was a tough battle" Sonic admitted.
"In all my time as a gym leader I have seen a lot of types of battles. But never something like what you pulled here. How did you do it?" he asked.
"You asking about…?"
"How your pikachu was able to damage my Onix with an electric move. That shouldn't be possible".
"I have no idea. The same thing happened when I was defending it from those thugs in the woods. I was inside a sand tomb and…"
"Inside? You let yourself get hit by sand tomb?!"
"Yes. Squirtle was almost knocked out and Pikachu was at a disadvantage against a sandshrew those thugs had so I stepped in myself".
Brock looked at pikachu.
"Maybe… it was you who awakened that power in Pikachu. Only knowing its other for 2 days and achieving something like this? It's just unheard of".
"Me?" Sonic asked in confusion.
"Yes. Clearly that kind of power could only be achieved through a deep bond. To think something like this could come out of such a short amount of time of bonding".
Sonic didn't know what to say.
"In any case you beat me. So here" he said taking out a badge from his pocket "the boulderbadge is yours".
"Thanks" Sonic said sincerely.
"And if you'd like I can treat your pokemon for their injuries in battle. And on top if you'd like I can teach your squirtle the move rock tomb".
"Rock tomb?" Sonic said clearly interested. He knew for the ealy stages of a pokemon's life especially one like squirtle who was meant to mostly grow and into a tanky attacker pokemon or a pure tank it would prove a useful move.
"I'd love to if that's not an issue for you".
"Sure. Bring them out".
Sonic and Brock exited the gym and Brock treated squirtle and Pikachu. After they were fully healed, he brought out Onix and started teaching squirtle to use rock tomb.
"How come you didn't use rock tomb in the battle?" Sonic wondered.
"Onix has not yet mastered the move. It's not an easy one to pull without a lot of practice".
"Then how come you don't practice the move to master it?"
Brock stopped for a moment and instructed Onix to keep showing squirtle. He looked to the sky as Onix continued.
"I don't like to battle much".
"A gym leader who doesn't like battling?" Sonic asked in surprise.
"I don't do it because I like it. I need to do it. To provide for my siblings" he said as he motioned to his siblings who were looking from inside the gym. Sonic noticed them.
"They closed the door when I entered right?" Sonic said with a smile.
"Yeah".
"Forgive me if I get into personal territory or look like insensitive… but why aren't your parents helping?"
Brock looked down uncomfortable.
"I'm so sorry" Sonic apologized realizing he goofed up "it was really insensitive of me I don't know why I asked".
"It's ok. You're not insensitive. My parents kind of are."
"What?"
"They have both left. To pursue their own dreams".
"They left you and 9 children to fend for yourselves?!" Sonic said in shock.
"Yes. You see my dream was to become the world greatest pokemon breeder. But I can't do it because I have to care for my siblings".
"Oh man" Sonic said "I'm sorry".
"What about you Sonic? What is your dream?"
"My dream?" he said not expecting the question "i… I don't know. I don't even think I have a dream".
"You don't? Then why did you start this journey?"
It was Sonic's turn to look down for a moment.
"I… I don't know. I just did".
Brock remained silent for a moment.
"I see. Figuring it out".
"Kind of" Sonic said.
"Looks like squirtle picked up the move" Brock commented.
They had squirtle showcase the move to them to make sure he picked it up and as a result Onix was able to also learn to use the move successfully. Sonic and brought then shared a handshake.
"Thanks for everything Brock. Hope you get a shot at your dream".
"Thanks Sonic. I'm sure we'll meet again. And when we do I will ask you what your dream is again".
Sonic smiled and then turned to leave with his 2 pokemon.
"Wait. Where is the next gym exactly?"
"Cerulean city" Brock said from afar "east of here! When you get there tell misty I said hi"
"Ok!" Sonic shouted as he walked further away.
They stopped at a market to get supplies for the trip. While leaving squirtle retreated into its ball to rest while Pikachu stood this time on top of Sonic's head and curled its tail close to its body relaxing. Sonic smiled at this but then took out the badge and looked at it remembering Brock's question of why he started the journey.
"I don't know" he thought to himself.
"You do" a voice echoed in his mind "you just won't admit it to yourself".
Sonic gritted his teeth as he silenced the voice and kept going. The road to cerulean city was long and he needed to pick up the pace.
