Chapter 16; rising from the ash
Sonic completed his run around the clearing he and his pokemon were training at. Checking the timer he set he smiled.
"Another second off. Awesome".
After their raid in team Rocket's base and their brutal battle with Giovanni they decided it was time to get serious with their training. Their enemies were no child's play so they had to be ready. They immediately got to training with Sonic also training to become faster and stronger so as to be ready for possible physical confrontations in the future. Having asked Jet to ask Knuckles in his stead about possible exercises he could do to improve his strength pretending it was for himself, he had received a lot of good advice and got to work immediately. And finally the results had started to show.
After 2 weeks of hard work he and his pokemon had tackled the 4th gym securing an easy win. The gym leader, Erika, was severely overwhelmed by Sonic's kadabra whose will to get stronger and tackle team Rocket again when they had the chance to hopefully save its mother had resulted in its psychic attack becoming so strong it had knocked out Erika's Vileplume before it got the chance to move. Wartortle also had gotten stronger in the defense department with Sonic eventually having it take hits from its team members, the final opponent being Raichu. Though Wartortle wasn't able to take the thunder punch head on and stay up, its physical defense had increased immensely, tanking a brick break from Raichu as well as all of Nidorino's physical moves with immense ease. Nidorino too had learnt a new move in the form of sludge bomb to deal massive damage to any pokemon whose typing wouldn't resist it, also adding the higher chance of poisoning their target into the mix. Sonic also had the idea of stalling their opponents by having nidorino and wartortle learn protect with mr Fuji's help, with wartortle forgetting bite as Sonic deemed it unnecessary now, as well as nidorino forgetting to use double kick, deeming Raichu was strong enough to deal with anything weak to fighting moves, as well as forming the strategy of mud-slapping his opponents to lower their accuracy, dodging, using protect to stall and sludge bombing to deal heavy damage and hopefully inflict poison or even lowering their defense with leer while dodging and avoiding the opponent's attacks before launching a finisher against the heavily defense lowered opponent. Lastly raichu's battle with Persian had pushed it to train heavily in hand to hand fighting forgetting thunderbolt and picking up thunder punch instead, learning to channel its electricity into the thunder punch.
Their team was slowly growing into an unstoppable force. Reina was also there to witness the gym battle as well as hang out with them when she wasn't volunteering at mr Fuji's shelter in Lavender. Sonic had told her about his previous encounters with team Rocket and his ally and rival Mike who had a score to settle with them as well.
"If I had remembered to exchange numbers with him, he could have helped in the raid. But I think it's for the best that it went the way it went. It was just the wake-up call I needed" he had commented.
All of the memories of the last two weeks and their growth flooded his mind as he took deep breaths to calm his heartbeat and call his pokemon to him for lunch. After he ate the omelet he made – having asked his mother once again to teach him via the phone to cook more staff in order to not eat at fast food stands or the same dish over and over – he decided he owed himself to take responsibility for the way things had gone with Tails and Knuckles –to whom he hadn't talked during their two weeks of training as he felt he had to first redeem himself in his eyes. While his pokemon were digging in to their food he facetimed his friends in their common chat. As if on cue both of them entered the call at the same time.
"Look who finally decided to show their face" Tails joked.
Sonic felt joy in his soul as Tails was finally back to how he knew him to be.
"Yeah. I had to rethink some stuff. And finally start getting myself together".
"You sure have" Knuckles said "you think I believed Jet when he said he wanted that advice for himself?"
"Hehe. I suspected you didn't".
"What caused this change?" Tails asked him "last time we talked you were adamant on being…"
"Just like Shadow" Sonic said before Tails completed his phrase, catching him in surprise "you were right. I was becoming like him".
"Woah. I was not expecting that. You really are getting it now. How come?"
At that moment wartortle approached Sonic with its plate, asking for more food. On its left cheek the scratch from Persian could be seen.
"What the…? What's that on wartortle?" Tails asked in shock.
"I have a lot to tell you guys" Sonic said adding food to wartortle's plate before rejoining the call.
He spent the next 1 hour explaining to his friends everything that had transpired in the raid and their encounter with Giovanni. Both Tails and Knuckles couldn't believe it.
"Are you sure you're still not overconfident? I mean saving pokemon from them in the wild is one thing but raiding their base? That was straight-up reckless".
"I know" Sonic admitted "but I couldn't sit back and let them take over the city. But I also know now that taking them on head-on on my own is suicide. They say that strength is in numbers for a reason. Next time I will find Mike first and we will tackle the rockets together.
"At least that's safer" Tails commented "you can have each other's back like in that warehouse in Saffron".
"Exactly" Sonic agreed.
"So what's next for you now that you're halfway there?" Knuckles asked Sonic.
"Haven't thought of that actually. But a little planning never hurt anyone" he said taking out his map.
"So the next gym is in Fuchsia city".
"Before you continue" Tails interrupted him "I just need to ask this. Why are all the cities there named after colors?" he asked laughing.
"No idea" Sonic answered laughing as well.
"And one of the towns is even named Pallet" Knuckles laughed as well.
The three friends laughed at the funny situation for a while before Sonic looked back at the map.
"As I was saying" he began speaking resisting the temptation to laugh again "there are 2 ways to Fuchsia city. One is through the highway on the west of Celadon. I don't have a vehicle not even a bike so that's out of the question. The other route is by going back to Lavender and follow the coastline. It's a long way maybe even 3 days long. But I think I will take that route. I want to do something calm for a while".
"Agreed. The gym challenge is supposed to be a fun experience but you have started a war with the pokemon mafia during your challenge. And it won't stop before one of you goes down. So yeah a little calm is what you'll need".
"True".
"Sonic" Tails said in a serious tone "I'm not joking about the war part. If you need us we'll be there on the first flight to Kanto. This is a serious matter. Don't tackle it alone ok?"
Sonic felt gratitude for his 2 friends.
"Thank you" he said sincerely.
"Anytime Sonic" Knuckles answered "I got to leave now. Talk soon".
"Bye Knucks. Bye Tails".
"Talk soon Blue" Tails joked before hanging up as well.
Sonic smiled feeling totally grateful for having friends like them. Turning to his pokemon in order to continue their training he noticed raichu had strayed off. Worried Sonic told his other pokemon to not stray off and rushed into the woods to find his partner.
Raichu in the meantime had strayed off in search of a wild spearow that had annoyed it for far too long. After chasing it for a while and losing it, it broke a stone with brick break in frustration and was about to return to camp before a Pikachu dashed in front of it, challenging it.
"Pika pika!"
"Rai!"
The two mouse pokemon circled each other for a moment before a voice was heard calling out to Pikachu.
"Pikachu!"
A young boy with a blue jacket, blue jeans and a red and white hat approached the two mouse pokemon as Pikachu jumped on his shoulder.
"Woah a raichu. Hey guys over here".
The boy's two companions approached and witnessed the raichu.
"Brock you should totally catch it".
Brock however felt a sense of familiarity looking at Raichu.
"How strange" he commented "I have a feeling I have met this raichu before".
"Catch it regardless" his friend insisted.
"If you say so" Brock said taking out a pokeball and throwing it at raichu. A forcefield however was activated around it preventing the pokeball from hitting it and knocking it back at Brock's hand.
Sonic felt raichu's pokeball buzz in his pocket fearing the worst.
"Raichu where are you?!" he started calling out to it.
Meanwhile raichu was staring at the 3 trainers and the Pikachu who had witnessed the pokeball hit the forcefield.
"It must belong to a trainer" Brock explained knowing why the ball didn't touch Raichu.
"But who?" his friend wondered.
"Raichu can you hear me?" they all heard a voice, raichu included.
"Rai!" it cried out as Sonic dashed to it having heard the cry.
"Oh my there you are buddy! Why did you stray off?" Sonic asked kneeling before raichu to make sure it was ok.
"Sonic?" he heard a familiar voice.
Lifting his eyes from raichu he saw the 3 trainers.
"Brock?!" he said in surprise not believing his eyes "and Misty too? What are you guys doing here?"
"Long story" Brock said as approached and shook his hand. Sonic then met the eyes of the boy with the jacket.
"Brock you know this spikehead?" he asked in surprise. Sonic didn't expect being called a spikehead and considered answering back but decided against it.
"Yeah, He challenged me for my badge a while before you".
The boy smiled and offer his hand as well.
"I'm Ash. Ash Ketchum".
Sonic thought immediately that was the son of that lady he had helped in pallet town before he got squirtle and began his journey. He couldn't explain it at that moment but as he shook Ash's hand he felt a sensation as if he was standing in front of someone with unlimited potential of greatness. He shook the sensation off.
"I'm Sonic. Sonic the hedgehog".
While the two met, Pikachu was staring at Raichu, its eyes flaring for a confrontation.
"How have you been Sonic?" Brock asked "it's been so long since I last saw you. Your partner is now all grown up, a raichu already".
"Yeah. It was a rollercoaster of adventures. Are you guys headed to Celadon?"
"As a matter of fact we are".
"Great! I saw just about to return there to bid farewell to a friend and go off towards Fuchsia. How about we return to my camp so I can pick up my other pokemon and my stuff and we go together?"
"Sounds great. Let's go".
As the 4 trainers headed back to Sonic's camp. Pikachu kept staring at Raichu, at one point even getting off Ash's shoulder and walking besides it. The two exchanged cries of their names with the tones becoming more and more tense.
"Hey Ash do you mind if you calm you Pikachu down? It's becoming annoying" Sonic said.
"What's annoying about it?"
"Can't you see it's bothering my Raichu?"
"If you call a challenge bothering it" Ash said causing Sonic to gasp on the inside.
"What the…" he thought in surprise "is that what I sounded like? It's not like that other kid but still… savage" he thought to himself.
As they reached Sonic's camp to his relief, his other pokemon had listened to him and stayed there. Raichu reunited with its teammates as Sonic packed up his stuff while Ash, Misty and Brock observed his team.
"You've been busy" Misty commented.
"I have been" Sonic said finishing the packing process.
"Wow a blue nidorino. That is cool" Ash commented as he approached it.
"Wait don't!" Sonic screamed in terror but was too late.
Nidorino being relatively new to interaction with trainers having spent most of its time with Sonic defended itself by showering Ash with its sludge bomb.
"Ew gross!" Ash said in disgust.
"Should have warned you" Sonic said resisting the urge to laugh "wartortle clean him up will you?"
Wartortle obliged and fired water pulse at Ash removing the sludge from him but leaving him and Pikachu completely wet.
"Don't you dare bring out a fire type and try to dry me spike" Ash roasted him again. Sonic closed his eyes without anyone seeing him.
"Happy place. Happy place. Don't fall for it" he thought to himself.
After he packed all of his stuff up and put the backpack on his shoulders the 4 started heading towards Celadon. Sonic narrated the stories of how he caught Abra and Nidorino to the 3 friends who were mostly oblivious as to how he had come to meet them. Brock and Misty also told him how they had met Ash and joined him on his own journey. Ash himself told Sonic of having Pikachu as his first pokemon, of his dream of becoming a pokemon master, as well as his encounters with team Rocket, though contrary to what Sonic thought it turned out he meant Jessie, James and Meowth. He thought to himself that Ash was the trainer with the Pikachu team Rocket had mentioned when they crashed in front of him with their hot air balloon. Pikachu in the meantime was once again trying to goad Raichu into a fight. Raichu resisted the temptation until Pikachu used thunderbolt, angering Raichu causing Sonic to step in between them.
"Hey that's enough" he said "no need raichu".
"Rai" raichu cried out grumpy.
Pikachu however wasn't ready to give up the challenge.
"Pika pika!" it said as it used quick attack trying to hit raichu but ended up hitting Sonic instead who decided he had enough.
"Seriously now" he said getting up trying his best to stay calm "recall your Pikachu this getting annoying".
"Uh actually Pikachu refuses to go into its pokeball" Brock commented.
Sonic found it strange but sighed.
"Fine. Raichu I'm sorry but I'll bring you out later" he said raising his pokeball to recall it.
"Why recall it? Let them fight" Ash said clearly desiring this battle as well.
"There's no need ok? Besides it's not exactly a fair fight. Pikachu is well… just a Pikachu. I don't think it can stand up to Raichu".
Brock and Misty didn't expect this answer and looked at Sonic in disbelief while Ash was beaming with confidence.
"It beat surge's raichu when I battled it. It can stand up to yours".
"Big deal" Sonic said "surge's raichu evolved too early and was merely a slow brute. My raichu is nothing like it" he contemplated revealing his and raichu's bond power increase but decided against it.
"I see. Ok I understand. It's alright if you're a total chicken" Ash said looking away with a mischievous smile.
Sonic at that moment felt his patience running out.
"Who are you calling a chicken?"
"You spike".
"My name is Sonic! Not Spike!"
"Whatever you say spikehead".
Sonic did his best to restrain himself and keep his cool.
"Ash I think you're going too far again" Brock tried to stop his friend.
"I'm not going far Brock. I just think spiky here is scared" he said with a slightly teasing tone.
"Look buddy you don't want this fight" Sonic said revealing his 4 badges "and don't call me spike".
"Ok I won't. Quillhead" Ash said still smiling with a confident look.
Sonic reached his limit at that moment.
"Alright ashy. You want a fight? Give him one raichu!"
"Rai!" raichu cried out as it stood opposite Pikachu.
"Pika pika!"
"Shouldn't we try to stop them?" Misty asked Brock.
"I don't think there's anything we can do to prevent this fight. Pikachu wants to prove his point again. After all the fight with surge was recent. It still burns with pride for its kind. As for Ash you know how eager he is to battle" Brock said crossing his arms in front of his chest serious.
"Ready Pikachu?" Ash said confidently "quick attack!"
Pikachu dashed at Raichu slamming into it. Raichu however remained unfazed not making a move.
"Pikachu use your agility quick" Ash said taking advantage of Raichu's immobility.
Pikachu started running around as fast as it could increasing its speed. Raichu's eyes followed it for a while but Sonic knew they couldn't keep up with it forever.
"Raichu don't try to keep your eyes on it. Relax".
Raichu closed its eyes greatly confusing Ash and Pikachu who continued using agility.
"If you won't attack we will! Pikachu use thunder!"
Sonic didn't expect Pikachu to know thunder as a giant bolt fell out of the sky striking raichu. While it visibly damaged it raichu remained sturdy. It looked at Pikachu and cried out its name threateningly scaring it.
"Don't be afraid Pikachu! Agility again!"
Pikachu once again started running but Sonic knew the battle was won. They had made Pikachu momentarily doubt itself. It was time to make their move.
"Raichu use iron tail on the ground!"
Raichu jumped and slammed its glowing tail hard into the ground causing it to crack and become uneven on certain parts. Pikachu tripped into a cracked part and rolled on the ground giving Sonic and raichu just the window they needed.
"Thunder punch!"
Raichu charged its punch with its electricity and before Pikachu could move out of the way, the attack landed with devastating effects. Pikachu was sent flying into a tree, crashing hard and being knocked out cold. Ash, Brock and Misty were at a loss for words.
"I told you Ash. You didn't want this fight. Next time you may want to be less savage. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be going cause I have a long way ahead of me later. Brock, Misty. It was nice seeing you. Bye" Sonic said calmly and after waving goodbye went ahead as Ash went to check on Pikachu. While Sonic and raichu were walking down the street heading to Celadon, Sonic recalled what Brock said about Pikachu fighting out of pride for its species.
"Does that mean it wishes to stay as a Pikachu forever? What a dumb decision" Sonic thought as they approached Reina's house. After a small chat with her, he revealed it was time for him to continue his journey. Reina was genuinely saddened but wished him luck and mentioned if he ever passed by Celadon or Lavender except right afterwards as he was planning to follow the coastline, he should visit. She also suggested Sonic visited the safari zone in Fuchsia city as it was home to many powerful pokemon species that could be a fine addition to his team. Sonic agreed with a smile and after bidding Reina farewell, healing his pokemon, buying supplies for the journey and verifying that the authorities had removed that Snorlax from the street leading from Vermillion to Lavender, left town and headed back to Lavender to prepare for the way to Fuchsia.