Chapter 58; The duo of thunder

Brock and Misty were anxiously waiting for the cops having had no contact with either Ash and Tails or Sonic and Knuckles.

"Do you think they're ok?"

"I hope so. I'm afraid Ash will get his headstrong nature get the better of him and try to stop team rocket alone".

"Your little friends have no idea what they're in for" Jessie taunted them. James and Meowth had surrendered completely and didn't even try to taunt their guardians.

"We've already established you only know to lie. Now shut up" Misty fired back.

Jessie was obviously lying, hoping a chance for then to escape would arise. But Misty didn't have to know that.

"We lied you know" she said with a menacing voice "we do know what our comrades are planning".

Misty and Brock didn't seem to believe them until Jessie decided to play mind games.

"Don't you know what team rocket wants above all?"

"Yes we do" Brock answered not seeing how that could hurt "to rule the world".

"Then riddle me this" Jessie wore a sinister smile "could they possibly do that with the hedgehog and his little crew on the loose, constantly on their tail?"

It worked. Misty and Brock were unnerved.

"What do you mean?" Brock asked.

Jessie laughed a sinister laugh.

"Your twerp friend and the three menaces are heading into a trap. A trap meant for Sonic alone".

Misty and Brock looked at each other in looks of concern.

"Buuut… if you let us go we can direct you to where you need to go before it's too late".

Brock weighed their options for a while wondering if they were lying or not. If what they were telling was the truth why didn't they confess to Sonic? He hadn't been exactly gentle in his approach.

Misty on the other hand didn't want to risk it. She dreaded the possibility of something happening to Ash.

"Alright. You can go… after you tell us what the trap is".

"Nah ah. First you let us go".

Brock tried to stop Misty.

"They must be lying. We need to trust Ash. He is not alone, Tails will be with him".

Misty contemplated it but in the end made her choice.

Cutting Meowth free she demanded to know what trap team rocket had set for Ash and team Sonic before she released Jessie and James.

Meowth seeing its chance to escape an encounter with Sonic after everything had gone down, slashed at Misty. The latter dodged the attack by jumping backwards. Meowth took the chance to free Jessie and James. As the three fled towards freedom Jessie was laughing like a maniac to the disappointment of her two teammates who were more focused on running away than taunting the twerps.

"You fell for it! We know nothing! Ahahaha!" Jessie's maniacal laugh echoed through the area.

Misty was very disappointed at herself. Brock tried to comfort her, stating she only wanted to protect Ash and team Sonic from harm. Misty suggested they contact Ash to let him know of their goof-up.

After calling him 3 times, Brock got worried. His friend wasn't picking up.

"Something has gone wrong. He wouldn't not pick up" he said worried.

"Try calling Sonic or Knuckles"

Brock went to do so, until a police car arrived and an officer Jenny came out. Brock's attention instantly shifted.

Misty, after the initial disappointment in her fellow gym leader, looked up in the sky, hoping Ash would be careful. They would have to get the mess with Tyranitar cleared up here.

While that was taking place, Sonic and Knuckles were racing through the woods heading for the site of team rocker's operation. Their anxiousness was at an all time high.

"He promised they would only scout and report. What went wrong?" Sonic exclaimed as they jumped over a log.

"A lot could have gone wrong" Knuckles grimly suggested "and I'm afraid Ash had something to do with it".

Sonic didn't support or oppose this theory. Ash was the action type. There was a good chance he tried to save the day and got Tails hurt by accident.

His mind went back to Brock's explanation that team rocket was using the device to call electric types to themselves. With a lot of lightning rods there was a good chance they had amassed a small army of electric types.

"What if Tails was zapped by all of them combined?" Sonic said stopping to consider the chance.

Knuckles stopped as well.

"That is a frightening thought. But if i'm being honest, it doesn't sound like team rocket to me".

"Excuse me?"

"They want you out if the picture. Why not have a bargaining chip against you?"

Sonic nodded. His friend's guess was indeed accurate or at least made sense.

"Then let's go. If we stay here any longer I will overthink it and the rockets will get away".

He then dashed off, with Knuckles following right behind him.

Following the map, they easily found the place.

When they arrived they couldn't believe their eyes. Brock had been right about team rocket's plan.

There were about 30 rockets there similar to the slowpoke well. Most of them were regular grunts, which made sense. To Sonic's anger, the ones leading the operation were Butch and Cassidy. He could tell it was them, even though their backs were turned.

"So that was the case all along" he said pissed off "they came to intercept us to buy time".

"Sonic look" Knuckles suddenly pointed to the device.

Sonic turned his head and saw several pokemon. Some of them he did recognize as pokemon usually wielded by the rockets like Ekans and rattata but there were also other. Both Kantonian and probably Johtonian species. They all looked to be guarding the device.

"That explains the Tyranitar" Knuckles said half heartedly "they brought several captured but powerful pokemon to assist them with guarding the device".

"What's the point though? To protect the device means they wanted it to keep running at all costs. But why in heck would they care about that?"

"To capture more pokemon?" Knuckles guessed.

Sonic wasn't absolutely sure. Sure more pokemon sounded good but not worth the risk after the slowpoke well.

"Sonic! Knuckles!"

It was Ash, carrying the half conscious Tails.

Sonic and Knuckles shushed him, praying the rockets had not heard them. Gently placing Tails down, they were immediately concerned with how regretful his face was.

"I'm sorry" he kept repeating with an very low voice, barely over a whisper.

"Shh. It's ok Tails. We got you" Knuckles tried to comfort his friend.

Sonic turned to Ash.

"What happened?"

Ash hesitated to answer.

"Answer me man. Why is my friend in this state? What went wrong?"

"That happened" Ash answered pointing to the rockets.

Sonic and Knuckles looked towards the rockets just as Butch and Cassidy stopped obstructing the view of what they were looking at.

What they saw was out of this world. It was inconceivable, impossible. And yet very much happening right in front of their eyes.

The legendary Raikou was standing on a platform covered head to toes with mud, shackles around its legs and chains attached to the shackles, holding it in place while one long chain was wrapped around its body, preventing it from moving too far in any way.

Raikou of course wasn't just having it, but there wasn't really a lot it could do. It roared over and over as it tried to break free with no success.

Butch and Cassidy were observing, satisfied with the successful capture, but not smiling as it was impossible to do anything with it while it was still conscious even if tied up. Cassidy specifically was surprised their trap had worked as intended.

Butch on the other hand was not surprised at all. The intervention of the fox was something he expected when he heard that declaration from him.

That team rocket wouldn't hurt another pokemon.

All that had earned that kid was a thunderbolt from Raikou straight to the face.

From the cover of the bushes, Sonic and Knuckles took a whole 20 seconds to process this before turning back to Ash.

"What happened here? We can't have taken more than 10 minutes to get to the cave and back" Sonic demanded to know.

Tails again said a soft "I'm sorry" followed by a just as weak "I… I tried".

"We got here just as planned" Ash began narrating.

FLASHBACK

Tails and Ash cautiously walked through the woods, heading for the location indicated on the map. As Sonic and Knuckles had the map in order to get there ASAP after going to that cave to see why Larvitar was eager to return there, they were using Ash's Pikachu as a compass.

Their idea soon proved to be a good one as they finally reached the rocky clearing and blow in the hole, there they were. A small team of rocket grunts, with the leaders of the operation being Butch and Cassidy.

Tails felt like an idiot for having not figured it out sooner. Butch and Cassidy were the leaders of this operation. And they had come to intercept them in person to throw them off their trail.

There was also a device that confirmed the claims of the farmer couple; an electricity generator, powering many lightning rods attached to the generator.

A big cage was also placed nearby with many electric type pokemon trapped inside. Most of them were first stage ones like magnemite, voltorb and mareep. There was also a bigger yellow one which Tails identified as Ampharos, the pokemon they had stolen from Olivine city's most lighthouse.

"They stole it to jumpstart the device" Tails was quick to point out "ingenious. They take a considerable risk, then sit back, relax and allow their assets to come to them".

"What creeps" Ash said disgusted "not even having the spine to do their dirty work themselves".

Tails waved his head in disagreement.

"No that's the right course of action. They need to play smart to make a comeback like they intend. But then again… why are they just stacking the pokemon inside that cage? Why even bring a bigger cage to begin with?"

"Probably because they want to get as many of them as possible" Ash assumed.

Tails again didn't think this was the case.

"That doesn't sound like an optimal plan. One mistake could cost them the entire operation. And after the blow we dealt them at the slowpoke well they don't have the luxury of failing again".

"Does it matter why the big cage? Let's call Sonic and tell him".

"No. Not yet".

"What?!"

"We need to play this smart. If we try to attack them head on, they will overpower us and we will lose any chance we have of freeing the pokemon" Tails racked his brain before deciding to take a risk.

"Stay here" he said as took off his backpack.

"Where are you going?"

"I will sneak to the cage and free the Pokemon. When I signal you, cause a distraction. By the time they figure out what's happening the pokemon will be free".

"But what about team rocket? Aren't you supposed to make sure they don't get away again?"

Tails gritted his teeth. Sonic would probably tell him off afterwards.

"I won't risk the lives of those pokemon to bring them down. Just cause the distraction when I signal you".

And before Ash could object again, Tails started crawling through the bushes approaching the cage as quietly as he could. He had to be careful to not be noticed not only by team rocket but by any of the pokemon as well. If they saw him, their reaction could blow his cover.

After getting as close to the cage as possible, Tails found it to be far too simple to open. Electric cage that opened with the push of the button. Getting ready to signal Ash, he wondered what their intended target was as it had to be a pokemon that wouldn't be physically able to open the cage.

Signaling Ash, the latter sent out Cyndaquil and Totodile and, along with Pikachu emerged from the bushes pretending to challenge them.

Tails immediately sneaked towards the cage. He was right about to push the button when he was grabbed from behind by a brute of a grunt.

"Agent Butch sir, this one was trying to open the cage like you predicted".

Butch and Cassidy let the grunts deal with Ash and his pokemon. Standing in front of Tails who was struggling to escape they began mocking him again.

"What a predictable little fox. Trying to play hero like his hedgehog friend and free the pokemon".

"You won't get away with this. When Sonic gets here…"

"By that time it will be too late. We will already have escaped with our prize".

Butch laughed at Tails' statement while Cassidy shut his threat of Sonic down.

"Did you hear him? When his friend gets here. Even if we're still here he will lose to us pathetic hero wannabe".

A beeping came from a small screen on the device they had been using to attract the electric types. Butch went over. Once he checked the readings his face took a greedy expression.

"Readings are off the charts. It's here Cassidy".

"Good" she smiled.

A roar pierced their eardrums. Dark clouds covered the sky. A lightning bolt came crashing down on a nearby cliff.

The legend of thunder had arrived.

Raikou looked down at team rocket and the captured pokemon, angry beyond imagination. And not just angry. Furious.

Raikou roared and brought down another lightning bolt, this time on team rocket, causing them to scatter, afraid of being electrocuted.

"Yeah! Show them what you got Raikou!" Tails cheered for it.

"Incredible" Ash said in awe as Pikachu and his other two pokemon witnessed the legendary beast of thunder do what it was good at.

"Don't just stand there morons! Subdue the prize!" Cassidy ordered the grunts.

Some of the grunts hesitated but a lot sent out several poison types and some ground types like sandshrews. Raikou wasn't even a little bit concerned about the overwhelming number of adversaries.

Roaring it used the move discharge sending electricity around it, causing some of the opposing pokemon to faint. Several grunts were also struck. Some of them however were smart enough to use their ground type pokemon as insulation by literally standing on top of them, causing them immense pain, and filling both Raikou and Tails with immense rage.

Butch and Cassidy observed the battle taking place with a calm and greedy expression patiently waiting for Ash and Raikou to get exhausted. The former was doing his best to assist Raikou in any way he could. The sheer number of opponents however had begun tiring them out.

A small part of Ash was filled with awe for Sonic and his Kanto team for taking on similar numbers back in Kanto most of the time alone and coming out on top.

Tails, knowing he couldn't be a sitting duck while Ash and Raikou fought so hard to save the pokemon, kicked backwards hurting the knee of the brute who was holding him. The brute grunt didn't fully let go of Tails but cursed as his right a rubbed the knee. Taking advantage of the distraction, Tails elbowed him, not hurting him but causing him to lose his balance. Grabbing a small rock he used it to knock out the brute, hoping he didn't hurt him too much.

Rushing to the cage, he was about to press the button to open it, until Butch pulled him from the shoulder, causing Tails to turn 180 degrees to face him. As Cassidy had called out a Granbull to assist the grunts who weren't holding Ash off, in subduing Raikou, Butch pushed Tails against the cage bars, his arm against Tails' throat, immobilizing him.

"Try as you might kid, you won't win. You're no hero. And certainly you're not like your friend".

Tails felt the same powerlessness he felt when he was unable to help Knuckles and Ash against them or when he was unable to save Tyranitar wash over him. He tried to reach for any of his pokeballs but couldn't.

But even if he could, if himself, Knuckles and Ash together couldn't beat Butch and Cassidy alone, what chance did they stand against them plus an entire batallion of rocket grunts?

Raikou witnessing Tails in need of help as well as the pokemon still trapped in the cage, unleashed another discharge to get its opponents off of it for a while. It then unleashed a thunderbolt, heading straight for Butch.

Butch saw it coming. Acting out of instinct – not that he would act any differently if he had time to consider his options – he shoved Tails in front of him before letting go just in the nick of time.

The thunderbolt that was meant for Butch hit Tails instead.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" Tails screamed as his body was fried and his skin was roasted. Pain exploded throughout his entire being, his mind flatlining, unable to make any thoughts. Unable to even wish, to even beg for the pain to end.

"TAILS NO!" Ash yelled in shock and disbelief.

Raikou took an entire 10 seconds to realize who it was really electrocuting.

Raikou immediately seized firing thunderbolt. Tails collapsed on the ground, unconscious and his body twitching a little.

Raikou stood still for about another 10 seconds, forgetting where it was, wondering how it would break the news to Suicune and Entei.

A barrage of mud slaps and mud shots came down on Raikou like rain. The attacks showered Raikou in mud, greatly hurting it due to the high effectiveness of the attacks as well as their use in unison by team rocket.

"SEIZE THAT BEAST!" Butch ordered when the barrage stopped.

The grunts threw a big, heavy chain over Raikou, forcing the already hurt beast on its knees. As the mighty legend of thunder roared in pain, the grunts forgot all about Ash.

The Pallet town trainer found himself at a vital crossroad. He had to choose who to try and save.

Tails who was now half-conscious, reaching for Raikou in despair, or Raikou which was struggling against the overwhelming combined force against it, its fur covered in mud therefore greatly reducing the amount of electricity its body emitted.

Ash couldn't make that choice. He couldn't possibly leave someone behind.

Pikachu made the choice for him, firing thunderbolt against Butch, knocking him away from Tails.

Pikachu cried out to Ash to hurry and get Tails away while they still had time. Ash looked into Pikachu's eyes and knew what its partner meant.

They would have to retreat and fight again when the chance arose.

Ash recalled Totodile and Cyndaquil and rushed to Tails' side, Pikachu holding off any grunt while was not trying to subdue Raikou.

Reaching Tails he took his by the arms and dragged him into the bushes as fast as he could. He wished Brock was there to help him carry Tails away so the latter would have to be dragged so roughly away.

"Forget about me. Save the pokemon. Save Raikou" Tails faintly said but Ash didn't stop.

Cassidy had rushed to Butch's side when Pikachu used thunderbolt on him. When she noticed the twerp and the fox were escaping she went to pursue them but was held back when Butch grabbed her by the hand.

"Let them be. They're not important. Let's load the prize and the rest of our prey on the trucks and go back to the hideout quickly" he groaned as he got up, gazing upon their marvelous accomplishment.

Ash put Tails down gently and immediately took out his pokegear, dialing Knuckles' number which Brock bad given him before splitting.

END OF FLASHBACK

"And that was when I called you guys" Ash finished his quick narration.

Sonic looked down at Tails.

His friend had just gone through the same experience Sonic had gone through with Zapdos twice.

"Why didn't you wait for us?" Knuckles asked Ash frustrated.

"I wanted to but…" Ash didn't complete his phrase.

Tails again faintly apologized.

"Ssh" Sonic gently shushed his friend "get some rest Tails. And don't move ok? We'll get you to a hospital as soon as we free Raikou".

Sonic thought his friend would calm down and stay still if he assured him Raikou would be ok. But instead Tails' eyes widened and he started forcing himself to get up.

"N-no. I want to help".

"You can't help us Tails. Not in your condition. Please. Just lay down and let us handle this".

"No way…" Tails tried to push himself off the ground "we're… we're team Sonic. We're here to save the pokemon".

Sonic's heart broke at those words. Even in this state Tails' kind nature would kick into overdrive.

"Tails" Sonic's tone changed "stay down. We'll handle this".

His tone was one of anger. Hatred.

Team rocket had made a crucial mistake hurting his best friend like that.

"Follow me" Sonic coldly said to Knuckles and Ash.

Stepping outside the bushes, the three trainers stood together.

"HEY ROCKETS!" Sonic called out causing many of the grunts to flinch "let Raikou go and I might just show you some mercy".

Several grunts were tempted to run but Butch simply laughed.

"Do you really believe a mere threat can get us to surrender hedgehog?"

"I'm only going to give you this chance once. Let Raikou go or you'll go back to your base in pieces".

Knuckles was unnerved by Sonic's statement, remembering what he and Moltres had done against that illusion Entei.

Butch, without a hint of fear looked back to the grunts and then to Cassidy.

"Observe closely my comrades. My partner and I will show you here and now why we need not fear this so called hero. We are leaving this place victorious".

The grunts looked at their superior in anxiousness, wondering if they really could fight against the hero of Kanto especially in a 2 vs 3. But orders were orders.

"Shall we?" he smiled to Cassidy eager to avenge the boss.

"Indeed we shall. Go granbull!"

"Go primeape!"

"Together" Sonic said to Knuckles and Ash.

Tails in the meantime had forced himself to stand up, using a nearby branch as a crutch.

Sonic looked over his shoulder and gasped.

"Tails stand down! We got this".

"I got…" he said losing his balance due to his injuries but quickly regaining it "I got Raikou into this mess. I'm getting it out too".

"Tails I said stand down please. I don't want to have to save you too".

Tails' face became a mask of shock.

Even his best friend was saying it.

He was powerless.

What was even his purpose in team Sonic if he couldn't help anyone?

Sonic, Knuckles and Ash turned back to the battle at hand.

"Go Hitmontop!"

"Heracross let's finish what we started!"

"Cyndaquil I choose you!"

The three pokemon stood side by side as Hitmontop's intimidate weakened Granbull and Primeape.

"Hitmontop! Fake out that Primeape!"

Hitmontop went to use its move but Cassidy's Granbull got in the way, getting damaged and flinching instead of Primeape.

Butch seized the opening.

"Primeape thrash that Hitmontop!"

Primeape fought back against hitmontop hard. Hitmontop rolled on the ground but having trained a lot landed on its head like a spinning top, getting into position.

"Triple kick!"

Spinning towards Primeape, Hitmontop landed 3 precise kicks, giving Ash and Knuckles and opening.

"Heracross brick break!"

"Cyndaquil! Flamethrower!"

The two pokemon moved to attack, Cyndaquil striking Primeape and Heracross Granbull. Both were greatly damaged.

"How do you like my flamethrowing cyndaquil?" Ash said proud of his first stage pokemon knowing such a powerful fire move.

Primeape jumped back up, still in tip top shape despite the damage.

"I'd like it if it could actually do some damage. Primeape's still standing!"

"No time for arguing! Horn attack!" Knuckles pushed forward, stopping Ash and Sonic from bickering.

"Granbull! Stop that horn attack! Bite!"

Granbull stood its ground and bit down hard on Heracross' horn, causing it to cry out in pain.

Hitmontop use brick break!"

"Primeape counter with dynamic punch!"

Primeape countered brick break perfectly, sending Hitmontop flying backwards. Granbull also managed to lift Heracross by the horn, spin around once and throw it back to Knuckles.

Hitmontop and Heracross both fainted.

Tails tried to take out one of its pokeballs but the feeling of powerlessness prevented him from acting.

Butterfree and Scyther were already damaged from earlier and Eevee would have trouble against a fighting type.

Knuckles recalled Heracross and sent out Quilava while Sonic went with his Bayleef.

"Looks like we need to play smart. Ash Knuckles you be the sword. We will be the shield. Bayleef leech seed on Primeape!"

Granbull again jumped in front of Primeape getting hit instead. Seizing the opening Primeape used dynamic punch on Bayleef.

The attack went through. Bayleef managed to stand back up, while Ash's Cyndaquil and Knuckles' Quilava used their fire moves on Primeape which was recovering from using its move.

The flame barrage caused Primeape to finally topple. And after a few moments the effect of leech seed drained Granbull of its energy, restoring Bayleef and fainting Granbull.

"Looks like the fight's back in our favor" Sonic said smiling.

Butch and Cassidy merely laughed again, not a tad bit afraid of Sonic.

"The fight is over hero!"

The sound of a truck's exhaust hose was heard.

Sonic followed it to its source and only then did he realize just how much different this war with team rocket truly was.

It was obvious during the battle too. But he was too blind to see it. Blinded by his arrogance believing it would all go just like Kanto.

The rockets had changed. Had adapted to survive. All their moves, albeit with risks were carefully calculated.

And the theft of Raikou by loading it into the back of a truck while the agents kept the three trainers occupied and their attention to themselves was one of those moves.

"Agent Butch. The cage won't fit" a grunt called out to him as they were trying to load the cage with the captured electric types onto a second truck.

"Leave it! We got what we need!"

"No! We have to stop them!" Ash said in a shocked realization as well.

Sonic and Knuckles went to intercept the fleeing rockets. Knuckles reached the second truck on time as it took too long to ditch the cage resulting in him knocking out about 10 grunts who were trying to escape in the container as well as another 2 who were in the cab.

Sonic and Raichu were not as successful. Sonic had Raichu try to stop Butch and Cassidy from escaping but Raichu was repelled by a barrage of ground attacks similar to the one that had been used to subdue Raikou.

Butch and Cassidy climbed on the truck and looked down at the fallen Sonic.

"You can't win them all hero! Ahahahaha!" they laughed as they drove away abandoning the other half of their team.

"No!" Sonic yelled in shock.

He wanted to punch himself for not seeing through their plan sooner until he remembered they had actually abandoned their comrades.

Looking back at the truck his face gleamed until he remembered he didn't know how to drive.

Knuckles read his friend's mind.

"I got us mate! I can drive!"

"Wait you know?"

Knuckles jumped in the cab.

As he was trying to begin the truck, Sonic approached Ash and the now kneeling Tails who still couldn't fully support his weight.

"Tell Brock and Misty to come here. Keep those rockets here at all costs. We're going after them".

"Help me… on the truck…" Tails asked trying to stand up.

"Tails no. You're too injured for this".

"Please".

"Tails. To help others you need to help yourself first. You guys taught me that during my darkest hours in Kanto. Look at me in the eyes and tell me you can help yourself right now".

Tails looked into his friend's eyes but didn't utter a word.

"Don't worry" Sonic assured him "Raikou will be ok. Watch out for him ok?" he said to Ash as Knuckles pulled the truck alongside them so Sonic could hop on.

Hitting the road they followed the tire tracks until they could see the truck Raikou was in in the distance.

"Agent Butch we got company" the grunt driving warned his superior.

Butch looked back and Cassidy did too from inside the container.

"Those wannabe heroes don't know when to quit. Speed up!"

"We're losing them Knuckles go faster!"

Knuckles swapped speeds in the gearbox but wasn't very smooth with it, causing the truck to swerve a bit.

"Woah!" Sonic exclaimed until Knuckles stabilized the truck "I thought you said you know how to drive!"

"I've never really driven before! Last time was when my grandma was still alive! This is a huge step-up!"

Sonic cursed.

"Ok. Get me next to the truck" he said opening the door "when we're next to them I'll jump on it and free Raikou!"

"Are you insane?!" Knuckles asked to no avail as Sonic had already climbed on top of the cabin and then on the container.

Sitting on his knees to keep his balance, he patiently waited for his friend to bring them closer.

In the meantime Misty and Brock had received Ash's call and had reached the site of the fight. Tails was sitting on a log trying to catch his breath, somewhat forcing himself to remain standing.

When they arrived, Ash informed them of all that had transpired, along with the fact Sonic and Knuckles were pursuing team rocket on a truck.

Brock moved to help treat Tails as best he could.

"You're pretty roughed up" he commented worried as he bandaged one of Tails' burns.

Tails didn't answer.

"You ok?"

"No. I came here with my friends as a team and now I realize I was only dead weight the whole time! I was weak before and Tyranitar died. And now I was weak and Raikou got captured!"

"You did your best" Brock tried to comfort him.

"No. I didn't. If I did…"

"You tried to imitate Sonic" Ash suddenly said.

"What?"

"Back during the fight when Tyranitar…" Ash didn't finish the phrase. It was too fresh to speak about.

"In any case when Jessie and James attacked, you insulted them like Sonic would. And then you tried to scare them into confessing by suggesting Sonic takes over. And that declaration that no pokemon would suffer…"

Tails recalled those instances and a stroke of realization hit him.

From the moment he had sent Sonic to retrieve that sitrus berry he had been trying to act like him because it was too new to him to essentially be in charge and be out in the real world facing team rocket in the flesh and not just from behind a screen.

Ever since the journey had begun he had experienced many new things and trials and even fallen in love.

But until the moment he had met Cosmo, he had been seeing himself as Sonic's guy in the chair. Just like back in Kanto. Working from a desk was all he had known being a tech nerd. This was exactly why he had chosen to shape his team into a support team to help his two friends.

Cosmo's words now made even more sense. Yes. He had incredible amounts of kindness in him. But he lacked something important.

Tails recalled all of his life up until that point. How he was always a tech nerd and the only one who ever approached him was Sonic. It was Sonic who had introduced him to Knuckles and Amy. It was Sonic who had begun pushing Tails into accepting who he was and that it was ok to be a tech nerd even if that meant being in a lot of solitude.

And that had inadvertently led to Tails becoming complacent with his life, not needing a purpose other than helping his friends when they needed too and remaining a guy in the chair.

Now all of his views on reality had been shattered. And at the same time a new one was forming.

A reality in which Tails had to step up.

Sonic stepped up in Kanto and saved the region from team rocket.

Now it was time for Tails to step up and help his friends save Johto and the world from the return of team rocket.

Not as the guy in the chair. But as their equal.

He never had a purpose of his own. Up until now.

The flare that had burned inside him momentarily when he battled Butch and Cassidy earlier was ignited again.

"I want to help pokemon!" he declared loudly causing Brock to jump back in surprise and Ash and Misty to look at him in confusion.

"I am Miles Tails Prower! And I'm not a guy in the chair! I'm a member of team Sonic! And I will help my friends!"

He felt his legs lift from the ground.

"Just a little closer Knuckles!" Sonic urged his friend getting ready to jump.

Knuckles floored it.

Sonic jumped on the team rocket truck, losing his balance in the process.

Regaining it quickly, he was immediately cornered. Butch climbed on top of the can and Cassidy from inside the container on top of it.

"Don't make us do this hedgehog!"

Sonic responded by calling out Raichu.

"So be it" Butch smiled. It wasn't like they would allow Sonic to roam free if they could take him out "Go hitmontop!"

"Go houndour!"

Trainer and pokemon were surrounded. Raichu was weakened thanks to intimidate by the normal colored hitmontop.

"Quagsire help me out!"

Quagsire stood against houndour and Raichu against hitmontop.

"Hitmontop fake out!"

Hitmontop immediately went for Sonic's Raichu causing it to flinch.

While the battle was beginning however, team rocket truck's driver tried to ram Knuckles off the road.

The slam caused the battle to end before it had even began.

All 4 pokemon were launched onto Knuckles' truck while Sonic lost his balance, falling and almost slamming into Cassidy.

The team rocket agent dodged the hedgehog who managed to hold on by the container's edge. Seeing inside from a small window on the door he saw Raikou, chained in place, its fur now cleaned as team rocket had used Cassidy's tentacruel to clean it before presenting it to Archer.

Sonic was so distracted by the sight that he felt a boot stomp on one of his hands. Letting go in pain, he looked up and saw Butch ready to stomp down again. Cassidy was sadistically observing from behind.

"Sonic!" Knuckles called out slamming into the truck, causing Butch to miss Sonic's other hand and giving Sonic some time to try and climb.

Sonic fought to climb back up, calling out to Knuckles to bring the truck closer so Raichu could help him out.

But even if they did it wouldn't matter. Raichu and Quagsire were battling houndour and hitmontop on top of the other truck so even if Knuckles brought it closer, they wouldn't jump back.

Sonic tried to take out Bayleef but before he could send it out, Butch kicked him in the face.

Bayleef's pokeball slipped through his fingers.

"Nooo!" Sonic called out in a dramatic tone before his hand was again stomped by Butch, leaving him hanging on by just his other hand.

"End of the line hero. This is for the boss!"

The boot came down on Sonic's other hand causing him to let go.

The second went by like a millennium as Sonic fell off. He closed his eyes, waiting to be torn apart by the impact with the ground and the consequent force that would be applied to his body due to the momentum which would carry him forward before his body came to a halt.

The scientific explanation brought Tails to his mind. And the harsh words he had spoken to him earlier.

"I'm sorry Tails" he thought.

A pair of hands grabbed his own.

Sonic felt his fall coming to a halt and his body regaining momentum despite being in the air.

Opening his eyes he looked up and saw none other than his friend.

"TAILS?!"

"I got you Sonic!" the two-tailed fox shouted to be heard over the loud wheezing of the air with a huge smile etched on his face.

"But… how is this…?" Sonic stuttered as he tilted his head back as much as he could.

Tails was flying. His two tails were spinning at insane speed, somewhat resembling the rotor blades of a helicopter.

"Did… did your butt turn into a helicopter?"

"Haha a buttcopter. Good one Sonic!"

Knuckles was so shocked by his Tails' deus ex machina intervention, that he took his eyes off the road for a moment to get a glimpse of his friend's greatness.

Butch and Cassidy were taken aback so much that their jaws dropped almost to the container's roof.

How was it possible that fox, the apparent weakest member of team Sonic, would be the one to come to their rescue and give them a legitimate chance at victory here and now? And with the ability to fly nonetheless.

Tails flew Sonic back on the truck, while the two team rocket agents stepped back in fear.

"Oh by the way" Tails tossed Sonic a pokeball while still in the air "you lose Bayleef again I'm keeping it" he joked.

Sonic was beyond grateful. Tails had not only saved his life just now, he had saved Bayleef too.

The two teammates exchanged a nod. The tables were finally turning.

Tails then exchanged a nod with Knuckles as well who managed to do a thumbs-up despite almost losing control of the track in the process.

As for the Pokemon who were battling on the truck, Raichu and Quagsire had prevailed.

When Knuckles almost lost control of the truck, all 4 were launched off the roof. Sonic acted instantly, recalling his pokemon but Butch and Cassidy didn't move a muscle.

Tails made his choice in nanoseconds. Performing a crazy mid-air flip while flying, he caught houndour in a hug and grabbed hitmontop by the leg, sparing them a painful if not fatal collision with the rough asphalt.

Soaring back up, Tails released the pokemon in front of their idly standing trainers who were still trying to comprehend the complete reversal of the situation.

Tails noticed a key hanging from a small chain on Butch's waist.

"I'll take that" he smiled confidently, as he momentarily landed in front of the agents, stealing the key and jumping off again, using his tails to fly out of their reach.

"Yeah! Go Tails!" Knuckles cheered him on.

Tails flew at the back of the truck.

"Keep them busy! I'll free Raikou!"

"You got it!" Sonic said sending Raichu back out.

"Now… where were we?" he said in a menacing tone to the two agents.

Cassidy responded by calling out a Raticate and having it use super fang on Raichu.

Butch on the other hand, had only a meowth left. It wouldn't make any difference if he sent out or not.

The plan was to bring back Raikou and if they could get rid of the hero of Kanto, do so by any means necessary.

The timely arrival of that fox had ruined everything.

As Raichu and Raticate clashed, Tails opened the container doors, landing inside. He was met with about 10 rocket grunts.

Raikou's face lit up when it saw Tails. Then grunts on the other hand were not so happy.

Two of them tried to rush Tails who instinctively, with his mind focused on the singular task of saving Raikou, tried to punch the first one.

To his shock, the moment his fist came into contact with the grunt's body, electricity was sent out like a small scale thunderbolt. The attack then proceeded to go through the bodies of all the grunts in the container, knocking them all out.

Shocked but not having the time to check if they were ok, and not particularly caring if they were ok in the moment, Tails rushed to unlock Raikou's chains and shackles.

The legendary beast however, was visibly weakened. Team rocket had roughed it up a lot trying to capture it.

"In this state it won't be able to escape even if I free it. Unless… of course!"

Flying back out of the container and next to the truck Knuckles was driving, he called out to him.

"Where is the sitrus berry?!"

"What?!" Knuckles asked back trying to shout over the wind.

"The sitrus berry!"

Knuckles' eyes widened. He knew what Tails was meaning.

"In my backpack! Passenger's seat!"

Tails moved quickly, flying to the other side, climbing inside and quickly grabbing the berry from the berry pouch.

Knuckles then witnessed his friend fly back inside the container, full of pride.

"Go get them" he thought as he turned his attention back to the road.

Tails cautiously approached the still bound Raikou and presented it with the sitrus berry. Raikou sniffed it and then immediately started chewing down the berry as Tails began unlocking its bonds.

The ceiling of the container got a few dents along the way, which had Tails smiling. Raticate was getting pummeled.

Sonic thought the exact same thing. Raticate did manage to land a super fang on Raichu but it still far from a fair match.

"Surrender. There is no point in continuing".

"Never!" Cassidy refused defiantly "team rocket will not lose to you!"

Sonic waited for a second before smiling.

"But it will lose to us".

On queue Raikou roared from inside the container, sending chills down Cassidy and Butch's spines.

Tails flew on top of the container and landed next to Sonic.

"I warned you I won't let you hurt any more pokemon. And I intend to keep that promise!"

That very moment, Raikou jumped out of the container fully healed and free from the chains.

"The prize!" Cassidy reached out in anger and frustration.

"Get out of here Raikou! You're free!" Tails called out to the legend of thunder.

Instead of fleeing towards freedom however, it started chasing the trucks.

"Huh?"

"What?" Sonic looked at his friend, before also noticing Raikou in hot pursuit.

The beast was catching up fast, anger written all over its face. Dark clouds began converging ahead.

Tails having seen it earlier knew what Raikou was up to.

"KNUCKLES STOP THE TRUCK!" he screamed out in urgency.

Knuckles went to object as that would strand then on the enemy truck but face slapped. They would be ok. He slammed on the breaks, as the truck came to a halt. Raikou raced by, still chasing team rocket's truck.

"Recall Raichu, we're out of here!" Tails called out as he took off.

Sonic was about to ask why the urgency but when he saw lightning bolts crackle on Raikou's mane he knew what the urgency was.

Quickly recalling Raichu, Sonic jumped off the truck, being carried away by Tails.

Raikou then unleashed a mighty roar, sending a lightning bolt down on the truck, causing a tremendous explosion.

As Sonic and Tails landed next to Knuckles who had climbed off the truck, they witnessed the awesome and at the same time, terrifying spectacle. Raikou was observing the truck pieces and the fire his lightning bolt had started, though there was no wind and no trees nearby for the fire to spread.

As team Sonic simply observed, not know how to respond to this, Raikou turned back to them and simply stared. Tails, drawn to the legendary beast, cautiously flew closer.

"Tails?" Sonic asked hesitantly, spooked by what Raikou was truly capable of.

Tails landed 5 steps away from Raikou. As the two locked eyes, Tails couldn't explain or describe it. But the sense of familiarity between the two was a lot more prominent than it was back at burned tower.

It was like the two of them were tied by something stronger than life. Their bond felt like it was stretching beyond time. Only difference was Tails only suspected this. Raikou on the other hand, knew it to be a fact.

Raikou growled for a few moments still locking eyes with Tails. The growls weren't threatening. Tails could swear they weren't even real growls. More like purrs. Like if Raikou was a common house meowth.

Before Tails could question why Raikou seemed to have this familiarity towards it, the legend of thunder roared as if it was saying thank you and left the area, racing through the fields and up cliffs, heading for the unknown. Tails was left there, having unconsciously lifted his hand to reach out for Raikou as if to pet it.

After Raikou left, Sonic and Knuckles came to Tails' sides.

"That… was… wow" Sonic commented deeply impressed.

"I could swear Raikou took a step forward when you reached out" Knuckles said equally as impressed.

Tails didn't utter a word. Instead he simply smiled before collapsing.

"Tails?!" both of his friends exclaimed in shock, kneeling to check on their comrade.

Tails didn't respond.

"We need to get him to a hospital. Like now!" Sonic urgently told Knuckles.

Knuckles nodded and immediately contacted Ash to send help their way.

As team Sonic stood at the site of their victory, worrying over their fallen friend, Raikou raced away. It had to inform its brethren ASAP.