Chapter 32; the true rival returns
Sonic was talking with his friends and brother waiting for the announcement of the final to begin.
After his defeat of Ash he had decided to just get it over with and sweep the rest of the competition. As he expected most trainers didn't even hold a candle to the preparation he had done with his team for this day or against Moltres and raichu. They were an unstoppable force.
The excitement Sonic had felt one that very morning had completely dissolved. He felt like his soon to be triumph at this very tournament wouldn't be really earned. Having faced truly powerful opponents like Giovanni and Agatha, he just couldn't see anyone below their level as competition anymore.
"Look at the bright side Sonic" Tails said "you will win the tournament. Return home with a shiny trophy".
"It does sound cool… but I just feel like I haven't earned it. This tournament is supposed to host the best trainers to complete the gym challenge and not a single one has been able to beat more than 3 of my pokemon".
"You faced powerful and dangerous opponents which raised your threshold of power" Knuckles said arms crossed "I doubted from the start anyone would be a match for you here".
"That's nice of you Knucks but I just feel like I trained all that much just to stomp on everyone else".
The announcer declared the beginning of the final. Sonic and his friends parted way one more time before the end of the tournament. Afterwards they would all return home together as Sonic's journey would be complete with that. Sonic entered the arena under the applause of the crowd. His opponent, the kid with the hood also entered and stood opposite of him. Sonic could see a smile on his face.
"I hope whoever that guy is gives Sonic a good lesson" Ash said from the stands. He had stayed after his defeat hoping to see Sonic lose to someone.
Sonic took out Alakazam's pokeball intending to start with it. The strange kid also took out one of its pokeballs.
"Trainers send out your pokemon in 3, 2, 1! Go!"
"Go Alakazam!"
"Go gengar!"
As the two pokemon appeared, they looked into each other's eyes. Their eyes widened as they approached and shook hands as if they knew each other.
"Alakazam what are you doing?" Sonic asked it confused.
"Let them have their chat. It's been quite a while since the last time they met" his opponent said smiling under his hood.
"Last time they met?" Sonic asked him still confused.
"Well yeah. It's been a long time since their mutual evolution".
His words caused Sonic to gasp.
"No way! Mike is that you?!"
Mike smiled even brighter and removed his hood.
"In the flesh".
Sonic forgot about the final.
"How is that possible?"
"I saw your message on TV. You were right. Mourning Jolty is easier compared to living for it".
The referee cut them short and reminded them they were supposed to be battling not chatting. Mike asked to say something first through the microphone. The announcer of the match nodded to the referee and he passed Mike his earphone.
"Viewers of the tournament. My name is Mike. I'm other trainer who kicked team rocket out of silph co alongside Sonic the hedgehog".
Everyone of the viewers gasped and started speaking at the same time. Ash who was sitting at the stands with his friends, Delia and professor Oak remembered Sonic speaking about a friend of his who lost his Jolteon in that battle.
"Is that the guy Sonic was talking about?"
"Seems like it" Brock agreed.
"Our battle with team rocket's boss is exactly as Sonic has said. We won but my Jolteon perished in the battle. I was lost for a long time after this, mourning my partner. Until I heard of Sonic's accomplishments. Taming the legendary Moltres, kicking team rocket out of Kanto once and for all. It inspired me again. So I got back out there! Trained hard and made a full team as well! So I can fulfill your wish! Let's have the battle you desired!"
Sonic felt his heart pumping with excitement at last. Mike had almost beaten him in their first battle with 3 pokemon when he had 4. A full team would finally be a real challenge.
"You got it Mike! Ready Alakazam?!"
Alakazam raised its spoons and took its battle stance.
"Gengar shadow ball!"
"Counter with shadow ball!"
The shadow balls clashed canceling each other out. Sonic and Mike smiled as they knew each other would be their greatest challenge in this tournament. A battle worthy of the final round.
"Gengar use sludge bomb!"
"Use psychic to redirect it!"
Alakazam easily redirected the sludge balls towards gengar though they barely phased it.
"Shadow punch!"
Sonic racked his brain to make the best out of that situation as shadow punch was undodgable and not even reflect would protect them sufficiently.
"Alakazam use psychic around you!"
Alakazam released its psychic like an aura. Though it was hit by gengar causing major damage gengar was also hurt by the psychic aura. The two pokemon took a moment to catch their breath as they weren't particularly tanky.
"Gengar return" Mike recalled it "rest for now we'll get another chance soon. You impress me Sonic. But let's see how well you fare against this!"
The pokeball opened and a beedrill came out.
"Wait… is that..?"
"Yes" Mike said with a smile so wide it felt like it was reaching his ears "I found my beedrill again! And we trained hard for today so come at us with all you got!"
"Alakazam this matchup is not favorable. Return!" Sonic said also recalling his pokemon "come on out Nidoking!"
Nidoking came out sparkling. Mike smiled.
"Ah yes. The shiny nidoking. You know… it's almost poetic. Giovanni had a normal nidoking. You got a shiny nidoking. The two kings clashed. And the shiny one came out on top".
"That's not exactly how it happened" Sonic said with a smile as well "but I get your point. Now come get us!"
"Beedrill! Use pin missile!"
Beedrill unleashed a barrage of missiles heading towards nidoking.
"Nidoking make it rain! Sludge bomb!"
Nidoking used its move the same way Agatha had. Beedrill being a poison type resisted the move and also was able to dodge most of the sludge balls by flying in between them at great speed. Nidoking however took all the missiles head on. The damage wasn't big but Sonic knew it would add up if they let it go on.
"Nidoking use megahorn!" Sonic said intending to take the lead by putting Mike on the back-pedal. Beedril however dodged the attack with ease.
"Swords dance!"
Beedrill's attack was sharply risen.
"Damnit. Backfired" Sonic thought.
"Nidoking make it rain again!"
"Not this time! Aerial ace!"
Sonic witnessed in awe as beedrill flew high first then dived avoiding all the sludge balls as it flew so close to the ground one wrong move would cause it to crash. It then struck nidoking head on resulting in a critical hit. Nidoking toppled with a thud and fainted.
"Nidoking is unable to battle. Beedrill's the winner!"
Sonic was at a loss for words. He had gotten so used to sweeping everyone, Mike actually prevailing hit him like a truck. But that was exactly what he wanted to experience in that tournament.
"Nidoking return" Sonic recalled it as the viewers were processing seeing the hero of Kanto actually on the back-pedal in a battle.
"That was an amazing tactic Mike. But I'm not out of this yet! Go pinsir!"
Pinsir came out threateningly clicking its pincers.
"Ah yes. I never saw that one in battle. Let's see how well it stands up against my old partner".
Beedrill took its battle stance ready for instructions.
"Pin missile!"
"Pinsir use bulk up!"
Pinsir braced itself while increasing its defense and attack. The pin missiles struck but the combination of its pincers used to deflect the pin missiles and the defense boost helped it escape unscathed.
"Nah I don't think I will let you set up! Beedril use sludge bomb!"
Beedrill unleashed its sludge balls. Pinsir deflected as many as it could until one hit the spot poisoning it.
"Damnit" Sonic cursed.
"Now end it! Aerial ace!"
Beedrill used its move heading fast for Pinsir which seemed to distracted by the poisoning. Once beedrill was a breath away from hitting Pinsir, Sonic smiled.
"Gotcha!"
Pinsir used its pincers with lightning quick reflexes to grab Beedrill. The attack pushed Pinsir back due to the built momentum but Pinsir soon came to a halt. Beedrill struggled to escape.
"Rock slide!"
Pinsir unleashed a barrage of rocks above it similar to its battle with Agatha's goldbat. At the last moment it raised beedrill above it to take the most of the damage. Beedrill fainted and Pinsir threw back at Mike who was in awe at Pinsir's might.
"Man. That is some power".
Sonic thought of what could have happened if he had sent any of his other pokemon to guard the employees and the freed pokemon back at silph co and had Pinsir with him. Mike figured out the same thing.
"Don't think about what ifs Sonic. All our actions and our choices led us here! And I wouldn't have it any other way! I miss Jolty too. So let's give it out all for it!"
Sonic closed his eyes momentarily and smiled.
"As you wish friend! Come get us!"
"I thank you for waking me up Sonic but now I'm gonna make you wish you didn't! Go ninetales!"
The beautiful yellow fox pokemon appeared. Sonic considered switching Blastoise in but knew if he did Mike would simply switch in something else and they would just go back and forth. On the other hand, Mike now knew about rock slide. But he didn't know about their other super-effective move.
"Pinsir get ready".
"Pin".
"Ninetails use fire blast!"
Ninetails unleashed the star-shaped fire attack. The attack was coming fast and pinsir wouldn't be able to dodge.
"Pinsir brace yourself!"
Pinsir used its pincers to cut the attack in half though it was pushed back. It knelt.
"Should have switched Sonic" Mike said smiling.
"Should have seen the bluff" Sonic countered.
"Huh?"
"Earthquake!"
At that moment Pinsir started using earthquake. The ground rumbled as the ninetales was affected heavily by the attack. It toppled.
"There we go" Sonic said smiling.
"Ninetales is unable to.."
Ninetales however sprang back up, injured but still very ready to battle.
"It survived?!"
Pinsir then was engulfed in flames. The flames burned it momentarily and it toppled, fainting.
"Pinsir is unable to battle. Ninetales is the winner".
"Damn got lucky there" Mike smiled as Sonic's smile was erased from his face "Pinsir got burned by the attack slashing its physical power in half".
"Figured as much" Sonic said through his teeth recalling it. He was now 4 against 5.
"Alakazam help me out!"
Alakazam came back out fully rested and ready.
"Ninetales don't give them a fighting chance! Fire blast!"
"Light screen!"
"What?!"
Light screen was created deflecting most of the damage of the fire blast.
"Now use psychic!"
Alakazam raised ninetales above the ground damaging it with psychic and then letting it drop to the ground. Already weakened from the earthquake damage, Ninetales fainted.
"Ninetales is unable to battle. Alakazam is the winner!"
Mike recalled Ninetales.
"So much stronger than I remember it to be. But I expected nothing less".
"Good! Now bring out your next pokemon!"
"Gengar! Time to settle this!" Mike shouted calling his gengar back out.
Gengar reemerged. Alakazam raised its spoons in defense.
"Continue the battle!"
"Shadow ball!" both trainers screamed.
The shadow balls collided as the two pokemon were evenly matched.
"Sludge bomb!"
"Reflect!" Sonic ordered Alakazam.
The light screen deflected most of the sludge balls. Alakazam took one head on but survived and created the reflect barrier, making sure gengar wouldn't be able to use shadow punch as effectively this time.
"Psychic!"
"Gengar! Hypnosis!"
Gengar unleashed its move though it was heavily damaged by psychic. Alakazam however fell asleep rendering it defenseless.
"Gengar quick! Break through the reflect and use shadow punch!"
Gengar got to the physical move barrier and started punching it repeatedly. The barrier started cracking.
"Alakazam! Wake up! Please!" Sonic pleaded.
Gengar knowing that if Alakazam woke up it would be over for it started using Shadow punch even faster. With another one used the barrier finally cracked and shattered. Gengar winded up its fist creating another shadow punch.
"Alakazam! Shadow ball!" Sonic shouted hoping it would wake up.
Alakazam, the sleeping effect of hypnosis finally lifting, unleashed the shadow ball, giving up any chance of defense.
The shadow punch connected and sent Alakazam flying backwards. At the same time Alakazam launched the shadow ball which struck gengar. Both pokemon were sent flying backwards at the same time landing in front of their trainers. The referee observed the two pokemon.
"Alakazam and Gengar are both unable to battle! The result is a draw!"
Everyone cheered at the amazing development the final battle had taken thus far. Sonic and Mike recalled their pokemon and were told to take a break before reconvening for the 2nd part of the battle. The two rivals and friends met up at the corridor under the stands.
Sonic went to high five Mike but got a hug instead. Surprised he hugged back and as they let go he witnessed a face of gratitude and awe.
"You battle amazingly. I can't believe that we're actually tied".
"Same here. This is so stressful in a good way" Sonic answered "but where have you been all this time? I asked Reina and mr Fuji if they had seen you several times and they said they didn't".
"Oh they did. 2 days ago. They told me you had found a secluded place to train. I had brought them my team for moveset building purposes. It was nice catching up. But I also had a lot of training to do".
At that moment Sonic's friends and brother approached them.
"Sonic that was incredible!" Tails said "this battle is by far unlike anything I have ever seen!"
Mike outstretched his hand.
"Mike" he said.
Tails was caught off guard but shook Mike's hand regardless.
"Miles Prower. But my friends call me Tails".
"Tails" Mike repeated "you were the one who performed the cyber assault during our battle at silph co?"
"Guilty as charged" Tails admitted scratching his head.
Mike turned to Sonic again.
"You got some good friends man. Such an act could have landed you both in prison. And yet you did it without hesitation" he said referring to Tails.
"I made sure to cover my tracks".
"Nice" Mike complimented him.
Knuckles and Jet also got to know Mike. While they had a good chat, Mike asked for a moment with Sonic as the break in the battle would end soon. As Tails, Jet and Knuckles wished them both luck, the two rivals started walking down the round corridor.
"So now that it's just us again" Sonic started talking "where have you been?"
"It's a very long story. Immediately after our victory against team rocket, I merely took to walking aimlessly around the region. I was like a ghost. No worse than that. Like a zombie. Existing but not living. I didn't blame you for a moment regardless of what I said or didn't say. I blamed myself".
Sonic nodded feeling a bit of relief as Mike continued.
"Eventually the rumors of you being dubbed the hero of Kanto and the chosen one of Moltres reached me. And then I saw the broadcast of your speech. About how you made team rocket disband but Giovanni escaped into exile. And then you told me it's harder to live for someone you mourn than to mourn them. Instead of getting out of the darkness I slipped deeper into it".
"Oh man. I'm sorry I wasn't there. I wish I knew where you were" Sonic admitted.
"My path eventually led me to a power plant close to the northwest entrance of the rock tunnel. I was so lost that I mindlessly walked in. Several electric types tried to attack me while I walked through the corridors. But my dugtrio jumped out to defend me. When I reached the generator room, I broke down. Literally I had a breakdown. I started screaming incomprehensible things. I even stated… that I wish I had died instead of Jolty".
"What?" Sonic said in shock.
"Exactly. I wished to die so that the pain would go away. Then something happened. Something inexplicable. The electric type pokemon that live in the power plant – I later learned it was a self-sustainable power plant that only requires a monthly check to make sure everything is working properly so naturally pokemon moved in – all started emmiting electricity. The electricity entered the generator and then came back out. I saw it crackle in front of me as I was on my knees on the ground. The electricity then took shape… the shape of Jolty".
"WHAT?!" Sonic exclaimed.
"Yes. And it wasn't just a mind trick. The Jolteon made out of energy in front of me approached me and put its paw on my hand. I knew at that moment it was Jolty. I hugged it thinking it was calling me to it. But the electricity didn't course through my body. It was like a warm feeling instead. Jolty hugged me back in a way. And at that moment I realized what you were saying was true. I had to learn again to live for myself… and to live the life Jolty would have wanted me to live".
"And you managed to train so hard and in such a short amount of time… and even found you beedrill. How?"
"I first went home and took its ball with me. Then I went to the forest where I supposed it fled to after we freed it. To be entirely honest, I don't remember how I found it. I just remember finding it along with a plethora of pokemon… and the next thing I remember was my beedrill being back in its pokeball".
"Mewtwo" Sonic thought. Mewtwo must have had helped Mike find its beedrill and then erased his memories to tie up loose ends.
"After that I caught another pokemon to make a team of 6 as I had caught one immediately after breaking through the darkness at the power plant".
"I assume the 2nd one was Ninetales?"
"Yes?"
"And I can assume your last was an electric type from the plant. If I had to guess I'd say you caught an electabuzz".
"Maybe I did, maybe I caught something else" Mike said as he heard the announcer declaring the immediate continuation of the final "you'll see soon enough".
"Oh I hope it's something good. Cause what I said to Ash about my battle was true. My raichu really is twice as strong as others of its kind".
"All the better" Mike answered with confidence "it'll be all the more worth it when I beat it".
"Then less talking and more entering the arena" Sonic joked as the two opponents parted ways to enter the respective sides of the arena under the applause of the crowd. The two rivals looked at each other, each taking out their next pokeball. 3 against 3. The real battle was just beginning.
