Chapter 77; Back from the dead

Clair was breathing heavily, trying to think of any feasible way out of this predicament.

Hands in the air, the barrel of a gun on the back of her head.

"What is your purpose here?" the voice belonging to the one aiming at Clair asked.

Clair gulped.

"I am… looking for someone".

Silence for a few moments.

"You're out here… in the ruins of Aero town. Looking for someone. I don't buy it".

"It's true. I… I am looking for… some friends of my cousin".

The barrel was pressed harder against her head.

"I'm gonna need more than that to believe you. Who is it that you seek?"

Clair hesitated. If that was an enemy of team Sonic then revealing she and the others were looking for them would set off all sorts of alarms within team rocket.

But then again… was it even team rocket? They weren't known to use guns.

"Who am I speaking to?"

"That's on a need to know basis. And don't try to answer the question with a question. Who is it that you seek?"

Clair was trapped. She would never be able to send out her pokemon in time.

"I seek team Sonic".

A very quiet but still audible gasp reached her ears. The barrel of the gun was lowered, allowing her to sigh in relief.

"Why do you seek us? Who are you?"

Clair's widened.

Us?

Turning around she came face to face with none other than…

"Tails?!" Jasmine came out of nowhere, sprinting and hugging the fox.

"Jaz? What are you doing here?"

"We've been looking for you! I can't believe it! You're ok!"

Chuck and Pryce rushed to their location after hearing the shouting.

"Tails!" Chuck exclaimed "well I'll be! Jasmine was right! You guys are alive!"

Tails looked at the group of four before him with a million questions.

"Ok. Just so I do not get overwhelmed here, let's take this from the beginning. Hi Chuck and Jaz it's been a while. And you are?" he turned to Pryce and Clair.

"I'm Pryce, the Mahogany town gym leader.

"I'm Clair".

"Woah woah woah! Clair as in Clair the blackthorn city gym leader and Lance's cousin?!"

"I guess my cousin talked to you guys about me".

"Matter of fact he did. Wow. The four strongest gym leaders of Johto. All here. But why are you all here?"

"Jasmine rallied us here. She didn't want to give up hope. And now I'm glad she didn't" Clair admitted.

"Enough with the pleasantries. Where have you guys been?! Everyone thinks you are dead!" Jasmine demanded to know.

"We thought this would be the case. And I'm sorry we had you all believing this. But it was for a good reason".

"What reason could possibly be good enough to fake your own deaths?!" Chuck asked the fox, finding the very concept of one faking his death absurd.

"And how did you survive?" Pryce inquired "we found enough blood on the way for 3 Miltanks".

Everyone looked at him, creeped out.

"Ok I apologize bad analogy but still. How did you survive?"

"Follow me. It's a very long story for me to tackle alone. Plus I got to get Sonic. He is a bit isolated during the day".

"How come?"

"You'll understand" Tails merely said before taking off. Pryce and Clair were left with jaws hanging open.

With Tails leading the the way, the group headed deeper into the rings of the town until the were outside their destination; the town's old community center where the people of Aero town would assemble in the ancient past for all sorts of occasions, be it gatherings, feasts or even serious matters.

Tails landed and led them to a hole in the wall they had hidden with bushes to keep them safe.

As the four gym leaders walked through the hole into the massive ruined building, they found the remnants of a small campfire, which apparently had been lit with withered wood so no smoke would be released.

Next to the campfire was a tent.

And outside that tent was Knuckles, relaxing and listening to some music with Sonic's headphones.

"Jaz?!" he exclaimed in shock, hopping up and removing the headphones "you're here?! Chuck too?! And who are you two?!"

A few short exchanges later, including Knuckles meeting Pryce and Clair, the two were asked once again how they survived. Tails was about to explain but Knuckles stopped him.

"This is for Sonic to tell".

"Where is he then?" Jasmine asked again, impatiently.

"On the outskirts of the town, on the other side of it. He goes there a lot, when we don't train. He and Raichu go there a lot after what happened".

Tails lifted off the ground, intending to go call Sonic.

"Wait. I'll go find him" Jasmine offered to go instead.

"No need I got this. You guys make yourselves at home".

"Jasmine will go" Clair said with a tone indicating she wasn't taking no for an answer and if Tails wanted to insist he would have to fight.

"Ok then" Tails landed, understanding why Clair sounded so absolute about this.

Jasmine left the 5 trainers to chat as she got out of the building same way she got in and began heading east, to the other side of the town.

Every step felt like she was carrying a Golem on her back.

He was really alive.

He would be right in front of her.

She tried to think of what to say when she met him.

But her mind was empty.

What were you to say to someone you felt so strongly for but who had faked his death after a massive battle, let alone the fact he had somehow survived.

Not knowing how long had passed, she came out of her funk when she saw him in the distance.

Sonic was sitting by the lake, arms crossed on his chest, eyes closed, feeling the breeze and from what it looked in the distance, taking deep long breaths.

Next to him was Raichu, alive and well, doing the same thing its trainer was.

Jasmine wanted to call out to him, to run to him, so many things that she couldn't choose.

Sonic's ear moved as he picked up the sound of her shoes on the grass.

He smiled as his gaze turned to her direction and his green eyes met her browns ones.

"Took you long enough" he joked.

Her mouth slightly opened as she started slowly walking towards him.

Sonic turned his body to face her.

Raichu cried out in excitement seeing her again.

Jasmine didn't utter a word, only kept walking forward, until she was standing right in front of Sonic.

And without any warning, she gave him a strong slap.

Sonic was so shocked he couldn't reply.

"That! Was for faking your death you big blue idiot!" she berated him though he could tell she was emotionally overwhelmed.

"Ok, alright. I admit I deserved this" Sonic said smiling again.

"It's good to see you again".

With her lips trembling, she buried herself in his embrace.

"Heh. I missed you too" he hugged her back.

"Why?" she asked without breaking the hug "why did you do this? Why no text, no call, no sign you were ok?! II thought you were gone! I thought I lost you! I… I mourned you!"

Sonic's smile turned bitter.

"I can tell. And I'm so sorry you had to go through this. A lot happened that you don't know about. But I promise I'll explain it all. Me, Knuckles and Tails together. Follow me. Let's go meet up with them".

"I already met up with them. They told me where to find you".

Sonic nodded.

"That's good then. Let's go".

As they walked back to the team's hiding spot, Jasmine took a look at Raichu, trying to find its injury from the battle.

But there was nothing. As if Raichu had never been wounded.

"How is this possible?" she wondered silently.

Before she could ponder on this more, they had arrived. Sonic walked through the hidden entrance and after Jasmine walked in too, covered it with the bush just in case they were followed.

Of course upon entering he was met with the other 3 gym leaders with whom he first go acquainted with before Jasmine decided enough was enough. Some answers were in order.

"How did you guys survive your injuries?" she asked them.

Sonic rubbed his side, where the rhydon had pierced him. There was no injury there anymore either.

"Oh man you guys are in for a rollercoaster of a story here"

FLASHBACK

Police sirens screamed through the night, echoing throughout the valley as in the dark, Tails was observing with his night vision goggles, another creation of his with parts somewhat acquired without permission from his military uncle's house, the police arriving outside the souvenir shop and the cops racing inside.

"They just arrived at the souvenir shop!" he called out to Knuckles who was hiding with the unconscious Sonic and Raichu within some bushes.

"We need to get them help now! Tell me the streets are clear!"

Tails looked around town.

"No they're not! Cops are crawling all over the city! Some have even arrested escaping rockets!"

"Fuck! Then where do we go?! Sonic and Raichu won't last long if this continues!"

"What if we recalled Raichu and flew Sonic to Morrison's house?"

"I don't know how pokemon injuries work inside of a poke ball Tails! It's too big of a risk!"

He then noticed Raichu's bandage was getting too wet and therefore its effectiveness decreasing.

Quickly looking through their supplies his eyes widened in realization.

He only had one bandage left.

If he replaced Raichu's then there was a good chance Sonic would be the one to die.

As he was pondering what to do, Tails called out to him again.

"The cops are coming out of the exit! We need to go or they will find us!"

"Go where?!"

Tails looked around for a moment picking a path around west side of the lake of rage.

"What are you doing?!" Knuckles questioned him as Tails was picking up Sonic "civilization is the other way!"

"We need to dodge the cops first! Come quick!"

Knuckles cursed and picked up Raichu, following the airborne Tails on foot.

As they were racing through the path however, Knuckles felt his hands getting wet.

The bandage was failing.

"Tails stop!" Knuckles yelled as he cautiously and carefully set Raichu down in a clearing on the side of the path.

Tails landed with Sonic who had begun groaning in and out of consciousness.

"Tails…"

"Shh. Don't talk. Save your strength" Tails pleaded.

"Is… R-raichu…"

Knuckles closed his eyes tightly. He couldn't speak the words.

But he didn't have to.

As Sonic and Raichu were laying side by side on the grass facing the sky, Sonic felt the blood crawl under his palm.

He looked to his left to see Raichu barely staying conscious.

"R… rai…"

"I'm sorry" Sonic heard in his head.

"Raichu…" Sonic whispered.

He wanted to scream why. Why Raichu had jumped in the way.

But if it didn't…

He tried to get any words out but couldn't. His throat was dry.

"Rai… chu.."

"Entei was… right… about me" Sonic heard in his mind.

"What?"

Espeon rubbed its head against its comrade's failing body, with tears in its eyes.

"Why you fool?" it cried out "I didn't need saving. I was going to dodge!"

"I… I couldn't risk it…"

"Why?! Why throw your life away for me?!"

"Paying… my debt… to your brother".

"My brother?" Espeon's eyes widened.

"Brother?" Sonic whispered. Tails and Knuckles heard.

"Sonic?" Tails muttered not knowing Sonic could hear Raichu's thoughts "Jet is not here…"

His voice was broken. He was sure his friend was hallucinating because of his failing body.

"You know my brother? You know Jolteon? " Espeon asked Raichu.

"I… knew him…"

"Knew?" Sonic whispered before gasping.

"No… you can't be…" he looked to Tails' Espeon.

"What do you mean you knew him?!" Espeon shook Raichu with its head trying to get a response.

"He… died… to save… me" Raichu admitted with shame.

Sonic exhaled in disbelief.

"It can't be… Tails".

"What is it?" Tails knelt.

"Your Espeon… Jolty was its brother".

Tails fell back, looking down in shock.

It was all too much.

He didn't even know how or what to feel anymore.

"No" Espeon denied it "you're lying! This can't be true! Tell me it's not true!"

"It is… that's why… I did this… now… my debt is…" Raichu managed to say before falling out of consciousness once again.

Sonic too started falling out of consciousness. Their life forces were not connected but with injuries like theirs, there was no hope.

"No no no no! Come on Sonic stay with us!" Tails tried to snap him out of it.

But neither Sonic nor Raichu moved. In fact blood dripped out of Sonic's lips.

Horrified Tails placed his palm on Sonic, invoking his powers trying to send jolts of electricity through his body like a defibrillator.

"Come on Sonic!" Tails begged as Sonic's body was jolted, shaking for a moment.

Knuckles closed his eyes, forcing himself to remain calm.

Tails jolted Sonic again.

"Come on!"

"Tails".

"No! Don't tell me that!"

"You know it's the truth".

"He's not gone!"

"It's too late… he will be gone soon".

Tails broke down.

Was this what Sonic felt after Jolteon's death? This excruciating level of endless heartache? Endless despair?

Espeon had curled next to Raichu now. One thought dominating in its mind.

"You fool… it didn't have to end this way".

Knuckles had turned his gaze away, a different kind of darkness taking over him.

He had seen it.

In his dream version of Green hills, literally the previous day.

He had foreseen Sonic's fall.

He thought he had prevented it by returning.

"Dread it… run from it… destiny arrives all the same" he knelt as he spoke those words.

Tails heard them but he too was too busy mourning to question Knuckles about what he meant.

Knuckles took out his family's photo. His mother and father holding him as a baby in their arms.

"Mom… dad… I'm sorry. I couldn't save them".

Through his tears it seemed like his mother's eyes in the photo were glowing in a gold color.

Knuckles blinked a few times to clear the tears.

But the glow didn't go away.

It spread instead throughout the photo.

Throughout their surroundings.

Tails also noticed the glow.

Both friends turning their heads up at the same time, they came face to face with the source of the glow.

"Ho-oh" Knuckles muttered.

Tails was captivated. It was as majestic as the first time.

Then his mind remembered the legend of the beasts.

How Ho-oh had saved them.

Gasping he stood up.

"Ho-oh! My friend and his raichu are dying! They got hurt trying to save pokemon! Please! I beg of you! Save them!"

Ho-oh remained stoic for a moment while flapping its huge wings. It then let out a loud cry and proceeded to hover over Sonic and Raichu.

As it did, ashes started falling onto the fallen hero duo.

"Its sacred ash! In some legends Ho-oh bursts into flames at the end of its life and ressurects as a young Ho-oh! Its ashes are said to be miraculous! That must be how it ressurected the beasts back in the day" Knuckles said in disbelief at what they were witnessing.

A legend of Johto taking form before their eyes.

Slowly, Sonic and Raichu's wounds closed as their bodies were healed by the sacred ash.

Groaning Sonic opened his eyes first.

"What… happened… Ho-oh?!" he said in disbelief as he sat up looking at the falling ashes around him and then to his partner.

The hole in Raichu's stomach was closing right before his very eyes. And slowly but steadily, Sonic could feel their shared pain lessening.

Raichu's eyes jolted open and it hopped up, fully healed and looking at the rainbow pokemon in awe.

With a look of absolute gratitude Sonic got up and then down to one knee.

"Thank you Ho-oh. I swear to repay this gift of life one day".

Ho-oh let out a loud cry and then flew away majestically, glowing enough for just the three friends to see.

Sonic witnessed the deity of Johto leave, before being nearly crushed by a hug from Tails and Knuckles.

"You can't stop worrying us, can you? You blue idiot" Tails spoke in his ear.

Sonic simply smiled and closed his eyes, relishing in their brotherhood.

Raichu joined the hug as well, with Espeon by its side.

Team Sonic had made it out alive.

With a lot of help but they had nonetheless.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"You're kidding!" Jasmine uttered in disbelief "Ho-oh brought you back from the jaws of death?!"

"I suppose it did" Sonic grinned, happy to be alive.

"My, my" Pryce was speechless "to think I'd live to see the legend of the beasts coming true for you two. The mighty Ho-oh saving your lives as it once did for Raikou, Entei and Suicune. You must be something really special Sonic the hedgehog".

"I'm not special Pryce" Sonic said humbly "I'm just a hedgehog who does what he thinks is best for pokemon".

All 4 gym leaders were impressed. Even now, after coming back from the dead, Sonic didn't seek any glory.

Jasmine was proud of him. And of Tails and Knuckles of course. Without them he would have surely met his end.

"You are special because of this Sonic. Because of your lack of glory seeking. And so are you guys" she told Knuckles and Tails, meaning it.

"Appreciated" Tails smiled.

"Well, I'm happy you guys are alright. But still you have not explained how you came to seek refuge here" Chuck asked team Sonic.

"Well it's real simple actually" Sonic shrugged.

FLASHBACK

Team Sonic had no idea how long they had spent hugging. The sounds of the police from the exit of the rocket hideout brought them back to reality.

"Shit. We need to hide then head to Morrison's house to decide our next move" Sonic said

"No. We can't go there. They could see us" Tails countered that.

"Ok… maybe if called Jaz… tell her that…"

With quick moves, Tails took Sonic's phone and turned it off. He repeated the process with Knuckles' as well as his own.

"What the heck are you doing mate?"

"We can't call anyone Sonic".

"Why not? Are you suggesting we go off the grid?"

"Yes".

"Tails" Knuckles took him by the shoulder "Sonic and Raichu spilled nearly half their blood in there and around here. If we do not give anyone a life sign, everyone will think we died".

"I know. Which is why we have to do this".

"Do what? Fake our deaths?" Sonic tilted his head trying to make sense of Tails' logic.

Search lights then began dancing in the darkness as the police swept the area around the lake of rage for escaping rockets.

"We need to go now!" Tails urged his friends.

"Where?"

"Aero town. We can hide in the ruins for a while".

"For how long?" Sonic asked him.

"… let's find somewhere to hide first. I'll explain once we're settled. Trust me you will understand why I'm suggesting something so stupid".

Sonic and Knuckles gave each other a look and nodded. Tails must have had a good reason.

Leaving the clearing, full of Raichu's blood behind, with the latter taking off the bandage and dropping it on the ground, team Sonic followed the path towards Aero town.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"And so we found this place, settled in and trained hard for the last two days" Sonic explained.

Clair however was not satisfied.

"You faked your own deaths, not just to the Johto region but your families as well. And you still have not given us a satisfying answer. Why would you do that?"

Team Sonic frowned.

"Because it's not over yet" Sonic said seriously.

"Not over?" Jasmine looked at him in question.

Tails then revealed a big rolled-up piece of paper.

"We're in the endgame now".