Chapter 96; Encounters in the Granite Cave
"Are you serious?" Cosmo asked Tails in absolute disbelief.
"I'm afraid so" Tails said with a sad tone "which is why he is in Hoenn right now".
"Are you going to visit him?"
"Well… between caring for my pokemon and his johto team plus my research on his bond with Raichu I don't know".
He sighed.
"I'm tempted you know. To just drop everything here, take my research with me and come to Johto to be with you. Looker too has been asking if I'm coming by anytime soon. But… I don't want to leave the others here alone. Knuckles is busy with his work and visiting his grandfather in rehab. Jet and Wave have each other but… and Sonic's parents too. I can tell they're hurting at what he is going through and yet can't do anything because this is something he has to fix himself".
He slumped down on his chair.
"It's just all so much. I miss the chill times before we became trainers".
Raikou placed its head on Tails' lap purring. Cosmo also hugged him from behind.
"I don't regret having you in my life" he said gratefully, petting Raikou's head and stroking Cosmo's hand "but I just wish Sonic could become the individual he was once. Before Shadow came along and messed him up, sending him down a path that led to clashing with team Rocket".
Cosmo affectionately kissed Tails on the cheek.
"He needs to rediscover himself on his own Tails. We all need to stand by him even if it's from afar in this".
"I know. It just sucks. Ever since Sonic became a trainer it feels like he can't stay happy for more than a couple of weeks. Every time some new disaster waits for him around the corner".
"But team rocket is gone now. What danger could there possibly be in a peaceful region like Hoenn?"
Tails showed her his phone. One of Sonic's latest messages popped on screen.
The message was narrating his deal with Mr Stone to have eyes on Socexp corp in exchange for a few favors to the president.
Tails had replied to that message asking Sonic why in hell would he do something so shady.
Sonic's reply had worried him because it was bound to mess up his attempt at redemption.
"You need to walk into the shadows to catch a Shadow little buddy".
"He met that bully there?" Cosmo asked Tails concerned.
"Yes. And he is letting his emotions dictate his actions. And that could cause major damage to Devon corp. I know Mr Stone said he would throw Sonic under the bus if Maxie took legal action against it but Devon would still be affected".
Cosmo nodded.
"Have you ever talked to Sonic about the possibility that he let go of his hatred for Shadow?"
Tails smiled bitterly.
"No chance. He stated a little bit before leaving for Kanto the first time that he would never forgive Shadow".
Cosmo however meant something entirely different but let it slide for now. Both of them were exhausted, Tails by his word and her by the flight.
"Maybe we should cancel our plans" she suggested "let's just order something and get cozy in your place".
"But Jet, Wave and Knuckles have already agreed on meeting".
"We could call them over. If you want of course".
Tails actually smiled at the prospect. He was indeed exhausted as he had been trying to understand the complexities of Sonic and Raichu's thought sharing ability but wanted to see his friends. He wanted their input on the matter as well.
He pulled her in and kissed her.
"I love you, do you know that?"
Cosmo's face gleamed.
"I'll give them a call" Tails said after another kiss "I think Raikou and Entei" he said as looked at the side of the workshop where Entei was laying, taking a nap, somehow looking ferocious, proud and untamable even asleep "would like to hang out with their brother".
As this was taking place in Green Hills, in Dewford island of Hoenn, Sonic and Wally were wrapping up their meal and began making their way to the Granite Cave.
"What lore do you think exists in that cave?" Wally asked Sonic in excitement.
"Who knows. All I know is my friend Knuckles would die for a chance at anything related to ancient lore" Aonic joked.
As the two arrived outside the cave, Wally motioned to go in but Sonic stopped him.
"Don't think it's a good idea. Your asthma".
"Oh come on" Wally pushed his hand aside and walked in.
"See? Everything is fine. I am just…" he said before coughing took over.
Sonic just nodded as Wally used his inhaler and then walked back out.
"Ok ok you win. I'll train with Ralts".
Sonic nodded.
"I won't be long. If Steven Stone isn't here we'll go back to town and come back later" he said as he walked in.
The cave was very dark but at this point Sonic was used to it. Mt moon in Kanto and union cave in Johto had given him plenty of experience with dark caves.
Raichu took the lead, using its electric cheeks to light the way forward, scaring zubats and geodudes away.
Torchic attempted to attack some of the Pokemon they encountered but Sonic picked it up and put it on top of his head. They didn't need the unwanted attention right now.
Suddenly a pair of blue eyes shined in the darkness in front of them.
"Woah!" Sonic instinctively stepped back. Raichu growled to scare the being the blue eyes belonged to away but it didn't budge.
Instead mud came out of nowhere, striking Torchic off of Sonic's head and covering Sonic's face in mud.
Torchic sprang back up annoyed and fired ember. The ember lit the cave, revealing a small silver pokemon as it was struck by the ember.
Sonic cleaned some of the mud off his face, annoyed but intrigued by the discovery.
"Raichu immobilize it" Sonic suggested as Raichu stabbed iron tail into the ground as gently as it could, holding the pokemon down before it had a chance to attack again.
The small pokemon struggled to get out but was unable to, giving Sonic the chance to scan it with his pokedex.
"Aron, the Iron Armor Pokémon. Aron has an impressive defense power and eats iron ore in order to build up the metal in its body".
"A steel type?" Sonic spoke as he considered catching it. It was a steel type most definitely and it knew a ground move so it could also be a ground type. Tails' steelix typing was a massive pain to deal with without a type advantage.
"Why not?" he rhetorically asked as he took out a pokeball.
Aron didn't seem keen to be caught however. Sonic hesitated not wanting to force it into his team. Despite the potential he imagined Aron had, he didn't have to build an almighty team now.
While Sonic was contemplating on how to proceed about this, Torchic approached the Aron and began arguing with it over the mud on its face. Being a girl, it was disgusted.
Aron teased it about the mud causing Torchic to try and attack it only to be picked up by Sonic. Aron was surprised Sonic wasn't biased towards Torchic.
Aron now felt bad about its act so it turned back to Torchic and apologized, stating it was wrong to have teased it about it, especially after Torchic's trainer wasn't going to let it attack Aron. The steel type then requested a chance to make it up to Torchic by joining the team.
Torchic was surprised but cried out, smacking the pokeball out of Sonic's hand with its leg. The ball landed on Aron and absorbed it.
One, two, three wiggles.
The catch was confirmed.
Sonic was surprised but smiled at this. This was the first time his pokemon made the decision for him to bring another into their ranks. Sending out Aron so it could continue its chat with Torchic, he and Raichu looked into Aron's data in the pokedex.
The typing was revealed to be steel and rock which genuinely shocked and kind of unnerved Sonic at first. Aron was double weak to both ground and fighting.
But when he got to aron's ability he was shocked to find it had sturdy.
"Just like Eusine's Skarmory. It can't faint with a single strike".
All of a sudden Aron now seemed like a broken catch.
After a little bit of interaction between Aron and Torchic and brainstorming on Sonic's side as to how Aron could possibly battle, although he would have to see how it also chose to battle, Sonic gently recalled his two pokemon and proceeded further with Raichu. They had to get this over with.
Eventually the end of the tunnel could be seen. Sonic walked in and was amazed.
It was a huge chamber. Drawings on the walls everywhere. Each drawing carrying thousands of moments of Hoenn's history.
At the end of the chamber stood a young man and a teenage girl with their backs turned to Sonic, admiring part of the wall.
"The history of Hoenn never seizes to run of out secrets" the man said.
"I think I got something Steven. This part here says…"
"Steven" Sonic thought, instinctively taking a step to approach them.
"Hey there".
Both of them turned around. The girl took out a pokeball instinctively.
"State your business!"
"Woah, woah relax. I'm looking for Steven Stone".
"That would be me" Steven replied.
Sonic walked towards them, his face still covered in mud from aron's attack.
"What happened to you?" Steven asked him.
"Nothing major, got mud-slapped by a wild Aron I caught" Sonic shrugged.
A handkerchief was forced on his hands by the girl.
"Please clean your face. You shouldn't stay covered in mud" she asked with a formal tone.
Sonic was perplexed by this uncalled gesture but thanked her and rubbed the mud off.
Once his face is was clean, Steven's eyes widened.
"Wow. So the rumors are true. You really are in Hoenn".
The girl looked at him in confusion.
"What rumors are you referring to Steven?"
"Blaze you really don't know who this is?"
Blaze looked at Sonic for a few moments.
"He does look familiar… oh I think I remember you. You're that trainer everyone's talking about. Sonic right?"
"Yup that's me".
Blaze then steadied her pose and slightly bowed as she offered him a handshake.
"I'm Blaze the cat. It's an honor meeting you face to face".
"Oh um… nice to meet you too" Sonic replied in loss, still not getting why the formal tone.
"I have to admit" Steven spoke up again after Blaze was done introducing herself "this is not how I imagined I would meet you after all Lance has told me about you".
"You know Lance?" Sonic asked Steven.
"Yes I do. We have had a few battles a while back, the latest 3 weeks ago".
Sonic thought back to his depressed days and recalled a detail. A battle between Lance and another trainer had been advertised.
The opposing trainer was a champion.
Sonic gasped.
"Wait. Don't tell me… are you the champion of Hoenn?"
"Yes I am. Which is why I was expecting to meet you on the battlefield as my opponent instead of like this".
"Me? Opponent?" Sonic asked, kinda honored. The feeling was just like when Lance suggested the same thing.
"Who knows. Maybe someday. Anyways I was sent here by your father. He wanted me to hand this to you" Sonic quickly explained, handing Steven the envelope.
Steven's smile was erased. Blaze frowned.
"Something wrong?"
"No, nothing at all" Blaze replied, acting very serious but also sounding genuine "anyway, Steven I got what I needed from here. We should go".
"Very well then. I got to see what father wants anyway".
The two made for the exit, followed by Sonic who was also heading out.
"So…" Sonic said trying to break the silence "what were you guys looking at in there?"
"Apologies but this is a personal matter to me so I cannot say" Blaze said, again sounding unnecessarily formal.
"Oh. I see. I was asking because a friend of mine is interested in ancient lore so I could suggest he visited this cave if he ever came here" Sonic came up with a quick reply.
"It was a part of the history of Hoenn" Steven casually answered "one explaining the great war".
"The great war?" Sonic asked surprised.
"There will be a time for that" Blaze stopped Steven from revealing more "what is uncle writing to you about Steven?"
"I didn't look at it yet Blaze. Don't know when I will. I'm not sure how much I want to get involved with company matters".
"What if uncle is in need of our assistance? It is our duty to offer it if it is within our ability to do so".
Sonic wondered why Blaze was so keen on talking so formally and elegantly. He contemplated bringing it up but refrained. She didn't seem welcoming earlier.
"I know Blaze, I know. We'll look into it once we're out ok?"
Of course upon walking out they were met by Wally who almost had a heart attack.
"Oh! My! Goodness! Champion Steven! In the flesh! All this time i thought it was just a case of same name different person! You were meeting with Sonic?! Is a battle going to happen?!"
Both Sonic and Steven were taken aback at Wally's enthusiasm. Sonic was mostly used to it but it was still a bit much.
"Apologies but we are in a hurry so I do not think there is enough time for…" Blaze began saying.
"You know… I think I agree with the kid" Steven said "let's throw down".
"Wait what?" Sonic was shocked.
"Let's do it. Champion to champion".
"I'm not champion. I haven't beaten Lance".
"You have won two tournaments. That counts as a challenge to me and you count as a champion level trainer in my eyes" Steven quelled his doubts.
"Oh my god! It's happening! A battle between Sonic the hedgehog and Champion Steven Stone! This is the best day of my life!" Wally yelled in excitement.
"Just make it quick Steven. We need to look into uncle's letter" Blaze said, crossing her arms and laying back against the rocky surface.
Sonic looked at each of them one at a time, questioning his options before accepting the challenge.
The two walked a bit further away, closer to the water as they were on a beach.
Sonic nodded at Raichu and it dashed forward, taking a battle stance.
"So here's my partner! Metagross!" Steven called out as he threw the pokeball in the air.
A pokemon came out but before Sonic could get a good look at it, it landed on the sand with a loud thud, raising a cloud of sand.
Sonic and Raichu covered their faces and when the dust settled they were both amazed and unnerved.
Metagross was a huge silver pokemon with a huge golden x across its face or at least what Sonic thought to be its face. It also had 4 huge legs supporting its main body with small but sharp golden claws on each.
And to top it off, sparkles emerged from Metagross.
Sonic's jaw hang open.
"This Metagross is a shiny?!"
"Ah so you're aware of the term. But you should know shininess is only for show. Are you ready for our power?".
Sonic and Raichu exchanged a look and nodded.
"Bring it on!"
"Go get him Sonic!" Wally cheered him on.
"Your friend is strong but he has never battled someone like Steven" Blaze calmly said.
"Alright Metagross! Use Psychic!"
The psychic connected. Sonic didn't expect such an attack as Metagross didn't seem to be a psychic type so both he and Raichu were unprepared for the damage.
He fought not to groan before going on the offensive.
"Raichu! Quick attack!"
Raichu charged Metagross. It slammed into it and prepared to ricochet.
"Shadow ball!"
Metagross fired the shadow ball too fast for Raichu to dodge, taking advantage of the opening quick attack ricochetting gave him.
Raichu rolled down on the ground.
"You alright?" Sonic asked it.
"Rai rai".
"Come on Sonic! You can do it!"
"Don't get your hopes up kid. Your friend is good but Steven is the best" Blaze tried to bring Wally down to earth again.
As Raichu stood back up, Steven continued his assault.
"Shadow ball again!"
Sonic wasn't going to get hit by the same attack twice.
"Spin and use iron tail!"
Raichu span quickly. Steven saw the move coming a second too late.
Iron tail deflected the shadow ball right back at Metagross.
"Return to sender" Sonic joked as the iron tail deflected the shadow ball right back at Metagross, striking it head on.
"That was unexpected" Blaze was genuinely surprised, so much so she stood side by side with Wally, her interest peaked.
Metagross easily stood up again. Steven grinned.
"A very well executed counter attack. Not a lot of trainers can pull such a move off. But let's see you handle this! Metagross! Earthquake!"
Metagross slammed its foot down, sending shockwaves through the ground.
"Jump with quick attack and charge thunder punch!"
Raichu flew through the air as its paw crackled with electricity.
It pointed the paw forward as thunder punch headed for Metagross.
"Head-on! Just the style I love! Metagross let's meet them halfway! Meteor mash!"
"Meteor mash?" Sonic managed to voice his question at what move this was before the attacks collided.
The clash of the attacks lasted for a fraction of a second. A cry came out of Metagross as the thunder punch took its toll. But meteor mash gave Raichu the short end of the stick.
The powerful steel move sent Raichu flying back, into a rock by the beach, knocking Raichu out.
Sonic gasped at the explosion of the impact through his body. His eyes bulged and he blacked out.
Trainer and pokemon collapsed at once.
"SONIC!" Wally rushed to his side.
Steven was shocked at this outcome, unable to understand what happened to Sonic.
"Step aside" Blaze ordered Wally urgently as she took Sonic's pulse.
"He's ok. A bit of heightened pulse but nonetheless ok".
On que, Sonic groaned as Raichu also twitched, struggling to get back up.
"You ok?" Wally asked him in concern.
Sonic's left eye opened.
"Well… that was new" he muttered.
"Steven call an ambulance. We need to get him professional medical assistance".
"No need" Sonic groaned as he recalled Raichu and fought to stand up with Wally and Steven's help.
"There is absolutely need. Something like that could be a serious hazzard to your physical health" Blaze insisted.
Sonic almost chuckled at the formal tone.
"Don't worry. That was just part of my bond connection to my Raichu" he said as they began walking towards the town, still aided by Wally and Steven.
"Connection?" Wally looked at him in question and interest.
"My Raichu is kinda unique. It is twice as strong as others of its kind. It was because of the way it evolved. A bond was formed between it and me, literally. It has enhanced us in more than one ways but also causes us to experience each other's pain. At first it was not a lot but throughout our Johto journey the connection has been amplified, making the pain greater as well".
Silence took over. Steven spoke after a while.
"So wait… it has been revealed that when you and your friends stormed team rocket's hideout and Lance didn't get to you in time, Raichu was stabbed by a horn drill. You mean to tell me…"
"I felt it. Every ounce of it" Sonic bitterly smiled.
Blaze was looking at him in disbelief and a hint of awe.
"So if we healed Raichu would you also be healed?"
"No. My physical health is just fine. I only feel the pain, it doesn't affect my health".
"So you have this string attached and yet you fought so bravely at Goldenrod city with your friends, getting the attention of team rocket all on your own even though any attack could literally knock you out?" Blaze voiced her question.
"Not any attack" Sonic smiled at her, looking cool despite being helped by Steven and Wally "only a champion level one. Right champ?"
Steven was relieved Sonic was harboring no hard feelings for that meteor mash.
The group made it back to Dewford town. Just as Sonic predicted, Raichu being healed didn't take away from his physical torment. Regardless he thanked Steven and Wally for the carrying.
"Thanks for the battle" Sonic offered Steven a handshake.
"I'll be waiting for the day of our rematch" Steven gently challenged him.
Steven and Blaze then left Sonic and Wally to go find shelter for the night and read Mr Stone's letter.
"Steven?"
"Hm?"
"Do you really wish to rematch him? Or were you just trying to be gentle?"
Steven smiled.
"Do you know how long he has been a trainer for?"
Blaze shook her head.
"4 months" Steven revealed.
Blaze's eyes widened.
"4 months and he actually got a hit on your Metagross?!"
"I know. I can only imagine what he and his Raichu could do with a lot more training and experience" Steven kept smiling at the prospect of such a challenge.
Blaze looked over her shoulder. Sonic and Wally were no longer visible but it felt like they were.
Blaze looked back ahead, trying to make sense of what that sensation was. It didn't feel romantic that was for sure.
But there was just something about Sonic. Something unique.
Another thought then crossed her mind. Sonic was known for a lot of things. One of them was taming two legendary pokemon. Blaze made a mental note of this.
Later on, as Steven read the letter from his father, which was revealed to be a piece of paper containing the rest of the Braille message in the sealed chamber, Blaze inquired about it.
"It's ok. Duty doesn't call right now" Steven assured his cousin.
Blaze nodded.
"That's good".
Steven raised his eyebrow.
"What's on your mind? Knowing you, you would be leaving for Rustboro already to see if my father really needs any amount of help".
"I know. But… I think I want to keep tabs on our new hedgehog friend for a while" Blaze said looking out the window, lost in her thoughts. Or more accurately, only one thought.
"Maybe… he is the key. Maybe he can help me find it".