Hey everyone. Before the chapter starts, I would like to give a big shoutout to digital artist Stina Sia who reached out to me for the potential of collaborating about turning the story into a comic. Sadly I had to decline because I am not financially independent and was therefore in no position to accept but had I been I would definitely have accepted. Her art and work is stunning and the comic would have undoubtedly looked absolutely gorgeous. You can check out her work on instagram (profile stinasia9) and if any of you is interested in you can reach out to her through Instagram or through the following accounts (Twitter: stina_sia4, Discord: stinasia). Very kind, very understanding, reasonable prices and again, her work is just gorgeous, strongly recommend. With all that said and without further ado, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 93; A hero's welcome
The treeline finally started to end as Sonic, Wally and Devon corporation researcher Ian, as he had introduced himself without giving a last name, finally made it out of Petalburg woods.
"Oh there it is" Ian said in gratefulness at the sight of Rustboro city in the distance, on the other side of the lake "I've never been happier to see this place".
"Yeah. I could eat something" Sonic said, wanting to eat something to distract himself for a while.
As the trio and the pokemon accompanying Sonic and Wally rested by the lakeside to relax a bit before heading into town, Ian spoke again.
"Thank you again. For saving me from the enforcer".
"Don't mention it. But… could you please tell me about him? Why do you call him the enforcer?"
Ian didn't feel really bad comfortable talking about it but relented.
"There is a company here in Hoenn called the Socexp corporation. It's being chaired by a businessman named Maxie. The corporation is mostly known for building construction and other activities that are linked with human expansion. Socexp is actually a short for society expansion. Maxie believes and has made it his life's goal to raise the living standards worldwide, starting with Hoenn. According to him, this can be solved with making the most effective usage of the ground we live on. Though he has mentioned a couple of times that we could do so much more if we had more ground to work with".
Sonic found it all fairly interesting but outside the point.
"That's good and all but what has this got to do with the enforcer?"
"In recent years, a group of people has been seen around Hoenn doing shady things that eventually resulted in more contracts for Socexp. The group has taken responsibility for those shady actions and call themselves team Magma. They have declared their allegiance to Socexp but Maxie has denied any connection to them whatsoever multiple times. Investigations into Socexp and its properties seem to back his claim up. Regardless the activities of team Magma have only increased in capacity and severity".
Sonic connected the dots.
"And this enforcer…"
"Is team Magma's fist. He appeared a few months ago, but I could swear it feels like he was always here, hidden. Any hard or important task, he takes upon himself to complete. And he ALWAYS, achieves his goals. Until today".
"And do you know his name?"
"No. Noone does. I daresay noone but you has seen his face. Come to think of it…" Ian suddenly remembered "you still haven't told me your name".
"You really don't recognize him?!" Wally asked Ian in utter disbelief.
"Should I?"
Wally was flabbergasted.
"Relax Wally. I'm Sonic. Sonic the hedgehog".
Ian's eyes widened but quickly returned to normal.
"That explains why you were able to stand up to the enforcer. Again, thank you for that. In fact, follow me. I daresay the president of Devon would like to personally thank you".
"The president?" Sonic exclaimed. That was growing a bit out of proportion.
"That is so cool! Just like after your legendary saving of silph co! Do you think you'll get some cool gear for your journey or something?!" Wally asked ecstatic.
Before he knew it, Sonic was basically being dragged towards the Devon corporation building.
Upon arrival, they were informed that the president, Mr Stone, was overseeing part of the research while also awaiting Ian with the papers.
They rode the elevator to the research floor. When Mr Stone saw Ian, his face was worried, as the enforcer had stolen a lot from them lately.
Ian's joyful face however calmed Mr Stone but also made him wonder…
"What went right?" he asked as Ian handed the papers over.
"A hero happened sir".
Everyone of the present employees locked eyes on Sonic and realized what had happened. They all began applauding as Mr Stone hugged the overwhelmed Sonic's hand.
"We all owe you a great debt now Mr the hedgehog. From revealing the corruption of our branch in Johto recently to actually driving away the enforcer. You have my sincerest gratitude".
The next few minutes went by like a dizzy blur for Sonic. He felt like the biggest imposter in history. All these employees and even the president thought him a hero just for one random battle.
All throughout the blur of shaking hands and listening to compliments Sonic was almost forcing himself to smile so that he wouldn't raise any suspicions.
Eventually Mr Stone asked for Sonic and Wally to come up to his office and Sonic asked for a minute to go to the bathroom before following.
Once inside he almost collapsed on the sink, grabbing his head. He didn't expect such a reaction from himself.
"I want to scream I'm guilty… but who will believe me?" he whispered.
After a few short breaths, Sonic rode the elevator up to the president's office. Wally was already there waiting.
"Ah there you are. Join us for a moment".
Sonic obliged, still keeping calm after his silent panic attack.
"Once again, I sincerely thank you for your brave act of driving away the enforcer. He has been a plague to our fair corporation as well as other businesses around Hoenn".
"Have you tried turning to the police?" Wally asked him.
Mr Stone smiled warmly and apologetically.
"My boy, as the president of major corporation I have to do things by the book. I need evidence to accuse the enforcer of anything".
"What if you knew who it was?"
Mr Stone turned to Sonic in hope.
"Do you know who it is? Do you have evidence?"
Sonic was disappointing when the word evidence was spoken. Acting outside the law had worked in Johto but it wouldn't here.
"No sir. I am certainly sure I know who it is but… if you need evidence then I got nothing to offer".
Mr Stone closed his eyes sadly.
"Pity. Just his name will not cut it. Either way thank you again. As a token of my appreciation, I'd like to offer you this" he said handing Sonic a device.
"It's called a pokenav. It's in a way the region's brand of a cell phone".
"Oh I see. I appreciate it Mr President…"
"Please call me Mr Stone".
"Right. Mr Stone. Thank you but I already have a cell phone. I don't want to be a snob though so… would you be ok if I passed it on to Wally here?"
Wally's eyes widened.
"You would?! This thing costs a lot! You just going to part with it?!"
"I just believe it will be more useful to you than me" Sonic explained genuinely.
Mr Stone smiled at this act of kindness and nodded.
"Of course. Here you go kid".
Wally was plain and simple ecstatic.
Sonic and Wally then motioned to leave, until Sonic remembered something else Ian had mentioned.
"If you don't mind me asking, how is your company's relationship with Socexp?"
"Cordial for the most part. The two companies have cooperated from time to time but I don't think I could say I trust chairman Maxie. He is a bit too… ambitious… when it comes to his work".
"Do you think he and the enforcer and team Magma are connected?" Wally asked him.
"I wouldn't put it past Maxie but he has never shown any support for that team. He has even offered to be an open book for the police at least without damaging his business if it means limiting their actions. So I don't really know to answer this question".
"Oh I see" Wally nodded.
After leaving, Sonic reminded Wally about their deal. Wally had accompanied Sonic to Rustboro and now it was time for him to return to Petalburg.
As Wally boarded the bus, he was legitimately saddened.
"It was only a day but I can argue it was the best of my life. Travelling with you, learning from you, seeing you in action… I just wish I could stick around".
Sonic felt sympathy for Wally in the moment so he decided to make the separation a little bit less painful.
"Hand me the pokenav".
"What for?"
"Trust me".
Sonic took the pokenav and typed something on it.
The bus began moving.
"Sonic!" Wally said urgently as Sonic walked by the bus still typing.
Sonic finished and handed it back to Wally just in time. He then waved him goodbye.
Wally was perplexed before receiving a message in his pokenav.
"If you ever need any advice on training, give me a call. S."
Wally was overjoyed and grateful. Sonic was offering to keep in touch.
"I will. Thanks" he typed back as the bus left Rustboro.
Sonic watched it leave with a smile, before deciding to go looking for the gym.
He found the gym easily, surprisingly only 2 blocks away from the Devon building. Walking in he was met with a decor that could only indicate one thing.
The first gym leader used rock types.
Sonic was disturbed by this, as it meant Torchic would be at a severe disadvantage and using Raichu against the first leader was a risk due to its battle hardened nature.
Regardless, he approached one of the gym's trainer workers, asking him about the gym leader.
"Oh my! It's you! The leader of the Sonic heroes!"
"Oh come on! How many times will I be hit with such a greeting?" Sonic complained in his head.
"Gym leader Roxanne has been anticipating your arrival ever since it became known you registered for the Hoenn gym challenge. In fact she tasked me with leading you to her if you arrived while she was away".
"Uuh what?" Sonic was taken aback.
"Come on follow me" the young female trainer said, taking Sonic by the hand and dragging him before he could process or protest.
The two exited the gym as Sonic asked repeatedly where they were going and the trainer told him it was a surprise.
"Ok this is getting a bit unhinged" Sonic thought, wondering what was expecting him this time.
Soon enough they were outside a school building. The building had a big sign on the front.
"Pokemon school? That's a thing?" Sonic asked confused.
"Of course. Roxanne is basically running it. She is here right now, giving classes to the kids. She loves doing this".
Sonic then realized that he was brought here to meet not just Roxanne but the kids as well.
"You know I think I will meet her another time" he said attempting to leave.
"Nonsense! Come on they're waiting for you" the trainer stopped him, displaying unexpected strength by holding Sonic's arm tightly, preventing him from leaving.
Inside, in the courtyard, Roxanne was refereeing a small battle with rental pokemon between Max and another kid named Tommy. Max was using a poliwag and Tommy a magby.
Roxanne was also interacting with Ash's squad while refereeing the battle.
The battle ended without a result as Roxanne didn't want either of the two pokemon to faint but it was clear as day Tommy had the edge as Max had misplayed by increasing Poliwag's defense constantly with defense curl, leaving it open to get relentlessly attacked by Magby over and over, wearing it down.
"Don't worry Max. You did great" Ash encouraged him.
"You did do great but you should have fought back too" Roxanne told Max, disagreeing with Ash.
"I thought poliwag being strong defensively would give it an extra edge" Max admitted.
"Hey don't sweat it. You believed in Poliwag and had you been a little luckier you would have won I'm sure".
Roxanne again disagreed with Ash.
"Just belief is not enough. It's crucial but not everything. Which is why" she said to all the kids by raising her voice "I have invited a truly experienced trainer whom I'm sure you can learn a lot from".
"Who is it Ms Roxanne?" a young girl named Vivi asked.
Ash rubbed his nose while smiling confidently, thinking Roxanne meant him. After all why would he bring him and his friends to the school, right after Ash defeating her for her badge?
"He hasn't arrived yet" Roxanne replied.
Ash's eyes widened in silent shock. If not him then…
Roxanne noticed movement at the door leading into the courtyard.
"Actually I'm wrong. He is here!"
The kids as well as Ash's and his crew all looked to see the arriving or more accurately dragged there Sonic.
"It's him! The hero of Kanto!" Vivi screeched.
All the kids rushed to greet Sonic who attempted to run as he was not ready for such an occasion. The female trainer from Roxanne's gym barred his exit, trapping him in.
The kids all surrounded Sonic and bombarded him with questions and yells at how they admired him. Trying to act brave and confident, Sonic played the part as best he could even though once again he felt like an imposter.
Ash on the other hand, was fuming with jealousy.
"Why does he get such a treatment after everything?! I was in the Johto league finals like him!"
Brock didn't reply. No matter what he answered it was not the whole truth.
Max however didn't hold back.
"Yes but he brought down team rocket twice. And has tamed two legendary pokemon".
"So you're on his side?!"
"No. Of course not".
May tried to be the mediator.
"Ash I am on your side too but you got to admit Roxanne has a point wanting to bring him here. He is like an idol for those kids".
Ash got her point but wasn't going to make it easy for Sonic.
He causally approached wearing a taunting smile.
"Well, what a nice surprise meeting you here. Not every day a bunch of kids can meet their hero, right?" he said speaking the word hero with sarcasm.
Sonic was clearly uneasy but forced it down.
"Hi to you too Ash. How are the gym badges coming up?"
Ash revealed the stone badge.
"Nice! Already working your way up the ranks".
"You bet. But I make sure not to get too worked up".
Sonic fought his hardest not to change his expression. A kid then asked if they could meet his legendaries.
"Well maybe I could bring my Moltres here but my Entei… well it's on a… a mission with my friend Tails so…"
"Oh" the kid was disappointed "I was hoping you were using them on your journey here".
"Frankly I'm surprised you aren't. After all power is mandatory isn't it?" Ash jabbed him again.
That roast hit much closer to home than Sonic would have wanted. More specifically it brought Carrie Morrison's words to his mind.
"And that in my eyes, makes you just as bad as Giovanni".
He didn't even realize he had began whizzing until Roxanne got to his side.
"Are you ok?" she seemed really concerned.
"Yeah… I just need a moment to collect myself. Haven't had anything to eat. Where is the bathroom? A little water to the face would snap me back".
"Over there" she pointed to a door next to the courtyard's exit.
Sonic thanked her and headed there.
Roxanne watched him walk away until she heard May berating Ash.
"What's wrong with you? You see it's bothering him".
"Good. Because it should".
"What's happening here?" Roxanne asked to know.
"Sonic and Ash are not exactly on good terms" Max explained.
"Correction. We're in no terms at all. He is an enemy now" Ash stated.
"Woah those are big words. Why such an absolute?" Roxanne was surprised.
"Because Sonic went too far in the Johto league" Brock explained.
"Oh. I see. But it was an accident".
Ash wanted nothing more than to tell her it wasn't but he agreed with Sonic on this matter even if he didn't admit it. Even if Sonic went public about his bond with Raichu, who would believe him?
"It doesn't matter. Pikachu spent a month in bed, hurting inside and out. And it's all his fault".
"Noone denies you're in the right here but by acting like this, you're making him the victim" May tried to reason with him.
"Really?! Just whose side are you on?!"
"Enough!" Roxanne shushed them "regardless of what's going on with you and Sonic, it is undeniable the kids look up to him. So my decision to bring him here to meet and inspire the kids doesn't change".
"Whatever. I will get my payback in the Hoenn league. You know actually? Forget it. Someone bring him back".
"What are you planning?" May asked him.
"I say we give those kids a show".
Brock heard his friend talk as he walked off to find Sonic. The conditions under which he found Sonic were very disturbing.
Sonic had collapsed on the sink, trying to get his mind back in order. It was extremely difficult. Then again, the reaction wasn't fully unexpected when had convinced himself he was evil incarnate just like his nemesis and then most of his surroundings said otherwise. The contradiction was corrosive.
"Hey" Brock's voice brought him back.
"Need a minute" Sonic answered.
"Ash is asking for you".
"For what?"
"Knowing his language, a battle".
"A battle? He seriously wants a go at Raichu after everything?"
"No. He has caught another pokemon here. And knowing you got a pokemon from professor Birch, he probably wants those to battle".
Sonic looked back down. A battle between Torchic and whatever Ash had caught seemed like something that couldn't possibly go wrong.
"Alright. Set the stage and I'll be right there".
Brock nodded and turned to leave.
"I'm not in on board with this you know. His attitude towards you. You messed up big time but Ash continuously bringing it up and jabbing you with it is still not cool".
Sonic didn't reply. He assured Brock he was coming soon. Brock left and informed Roxanne to line up the kids so they could watch.
Ash stood proudly on one side of the arena. Sonic, with a much calmer face now, stood opposite him.
"One pokemon each" Ash said taking out a pokeball.
"Agreed" Sonic nodded as Raichu stood aside.
"Battle start!" Brock who was refereeing declared.
"Treecko I choose you!"
"Come on out Torchic!"
Ash's treecko emerged, battle ready and holding a small twig on its mouth which Sonic admitted in his mind made it look cool.
Torchic came out and, to everyone's shock, sparkles as well.
"No way! How is this…?" Sonic back stepped, realizing he hadn't recalled Torchic before today.
"May that is a shiny Torchic!" Max told her.
May brought out her own Torchic, which was basically an inversed colored version of Sonic's Torchic.
Ash paid no mind to the shininess, as he called out the attack.
"Treecko! Quick attack!"
Treecko rammed into unsuspecting Torchic. Torchic used its legs to push back, crying out at Sonic to fight back.
"Alright… scratch!"
Torchic used its clawed legs to attack Treecko. The grass type expertly dodged.
"Go treecko! Pound!"
Treecko span and slammed its tail against Torchic that rolled on the ground but quickly recovered.
"Not so easy when you don't have all the power in the world isn't it?" Ash taunted Sonic.
The hedgehog did give Ash a point as they had never battled under those circumstances. Both times their pokemon had already grown quite a bit but Torchic and Treecko were literally beginners. The battle was truly even right now.
Though Sonic still had the type advantage. But it wasn't something he wanted to use yet.
"Perhaps if…" a thought started forming in his head but something pushed it down.
"No. Letting him win won't appease him. In fact he will take it as an insult".
"Don't stop Treecko! Quick attack again!"
"Growl!"
Torchic growled at Treecko, weakening the attack which showed as Torchic stood its ground better this time.
"Ha! You yourself stated back then moves like growl are not worth it and yet here you are resorting to it!"
"I never said anything like this. What are you talking about?"
Ash was referring to his own thought of removing false swipe from Heracross because of the opening it gave an opponent. Therefore in his eyes Sonic viewed all moves that gave an opening as weak in his eyes.
"Forget it! Treecko beat that Torchic! Pound!"
Torchic took this attack too a lot better than before.
"Scratch!"
Torchic's attack landed, but again Treecko was not hindered.
"Ok that thing has an insane amount of endurance" Sonic admitted.
"And we're just getting started! Treecko pound!"
"It only knows two moves!" Sonic realized as Torchic used scratch at the same time, the attacks cancelling each other out "and not a grass move either. How did he beat Roxanne?"
"That battle is so cool!" one kid shouted.
"They're both awesome!"
"Ha you see! I told you I can defeat you!"
Despite the guilt of the Johto league, Sonic couldn't help but feel the same sense of perplexion. Torchic and Treecko were fighting hand to hand and so far were evenly matched. Sure, Treecko was very durable but Sonic doubted it would handle ember well. And Torchic was going to go for it if it started getting exhausted. So what victory was Ash talking about?
"Nothing's over yet. You need to win before you can claim something like that".
"Then watch us win! Treecko! Pound!"
The moves collided again, though this time Torchic got the short end of the stick. The time was now.
"Torchic! No more games! Ember!"
Torchic fired ember. The flame damaged Treecko greatly and also annoyed Ash.
"Wow! Still the same! Still building power before any confrontation!"
"We trained! What did you think would happen? That we would remain the same?"
"If you believed in your pokemon, you wouldn't need to go to such lengths to win! But you don't!"
"Torchic end this! Ember!"
"Treecko jump and dodge it!"
Treecko jumped over the ember. As it began falling, it prepared a pound.
Sonic recognized the move; he had used a similar version on Knuckles and cyndaquil in their first battle. And he had the perfect moves to stop it.
"Torchic! Stand your ground and focus your energy!"
Torchic stood firm and used focus energy, becoming pumped.
"Pound it Treecko!"
At the last possible second, right as Treecko's tail was about to make contact with Torchic, Sonic made his move.
"Parry with scratch!"
With a lightning quick move, Torchic scratched the tail away, sending Treecko crashing to the ground.
"No Treecko!"
"Now ember!"
Treecko could do nothing as the ember struck it head on, resulting in a critical hit that knocked it out.
"Sonic wins!" Brock declared.
The kids rushed to Sonic ecstatic, all asking about the last move he pulled with parrying the pound. Sonic, with a hint of a smile and momentarily forgetting his guilt, explained how after Torchic had focused its energy and standing its ground, it had been able to move at the perfect time to parry the attack and fight back with the winning strike.
Following the battle, class for the kids was adjourned and they left, each walking up to Sonic and telling him either how great of a battle that was or that they wished to be like him one day. Sonic had smiled throughout the process but felt a pinch of guilt rise back up as none of the kids knew about his darkness.
After the kids had left, Ash spoke his mind.
"Must feel nice, always battling with a boost".
Sonic was fed up. Forgiveness or no forgiveness, the jabs would end.
"Alright this has gone on far enough. I kept my mouth shut in front of the kids but now you're just asking for it".
"Oh yeah? Go on! Show everyone who you really are!"
"What are you mad about in this very moment?! What I did to Pikachu had no effect on Torchic and Treecko's battle!"
"Treecko doesn't know any grass move yet! I had to improvise that attack to beat Roxanne!"
"And whose fault is that?! You knew what you were heading into and went through with it instead of taking the wise path and prepare!"
"I had faith in Treecko and it paid off! But you? You once again overtrained your pokemon to learn a powerful move! Which means you have no faith in it!"
Torchic was visibly shaken by this. Raichu took it aside.
Sonic noticed Torchic get sad.
"Leave Torchic out of this, you hear me?!"
"I just think it deserved to know its trainer doesn't have faith in it, that's all".
"Ash I think you're going a little too far" Brock warned him.
"A little too far?! If this is a little too far then he has crossed every line imaginable!"
Sonic felt the urge to punch Ash for being so unreasonable, his hand even forming a fist but refrained. He sighed deeply to push down the frustration.
"Are you really going to blame the result of this battle, on our core difference? That I build bonds with my pokemon by building power and you do so by being all huggy-waggy?"
"Huggy-waggy?" Roxanne tilted her head in confusion.
"Write that down! Write that down!" Max shouted to himself as he looked for something to write the line down, wanting to remember this expression so as to use it in the future.
"I won't push my pokemon to grow stronger against their will! I want them to grow at their own pace! When they feel like it! How many times did your pokemon just want to relax only to have to train?!"
Sonic closed his eyes for a moment actually pondering the question. But it just didn't seem like it was the case. Neither of his two teams had ever a problem with training to protect other pokemon.
"That was at war and I did what I had to do. As did my friends. You beat Knuckles so you should be able to tell how much work we all had to put in to win".
"I was there with you when they caught Raikou and when they tried to catch Lugia. I handled myself pretty well. So your war is an excuse".
Sonic sighed. Ash lacked the context of their enemies' power. So he wouldn't understand.
"There is no more point discussing this. I'm heading out cause frankly, I'm starving. Just know one thing Ash. I want to earn your forgiveness, sure. But don't think I will let you walk all over me with jabs like today's. There is a big difference between the two. Keep that in mind".
He then turned to leave before stopping.
"And one more thing. Keep in mind also, that just because I intend to do whatever I can to make it right for my mistake in Johto, it doesn't mean I will go easy on you in the Hoenn league or during our journey here. Expect a team as strong as my previous two".
"And you expect to be defeated next time".
Sonic shot him one blank look and left.
He wanted to fire one last shot at Ash but that would only perpetuate the back and forth.
As he went with Raichu and the still troubled Torchic to grab something to eat, he allowed himself to speak the phrase he wanted to speak to Ash in his mind.
"Then put in the work to beat us. Cause we certainly will".