Chapter 17; reunion
The waves crashed into the sharp rocks of the coastline as Sonic and his partner raichu followed the narrow path heading from Lavender town south. Sonic was proceeding carefully so as to make sure he wouldn't trip. As the fresh air of the sea flooded his nose, he let his spirit relax.
"Such a wonderful day isn't it buddy?" he asked his raichu.
"Rai rai" it cried out in agreement.
As they walked forward, Sonic thought of that kid he had met, earlier that day, Ash. He remembered the feeling he got when he shook his hand. He was flooded by an inexplicable feeling of infinite potential coming out of Ash.
"He said he wanted to be a pokemon master, whatever that means" Sonic said to himself "if what I felt back there was real, I think he will be one day. Though I don't know how possible this is with his Pikachu remaining a Pikachu".
As they got to the point where the Snorlax was once blocking the path, they found it had been moved. Sonic sighed in relief as a small part of himself had feared they would be forced to go back north through the rock tunnel or even worse through Saffron city just to go around the Snorlax.
"Would it really be that bad if I went through Saffron city this time around after my raid? I doubt they would try to attack me. The grunts at least" he thought to himself remembering Giovanni's terrifying power as well as the fact that Ariana and possibly more admins were still out there and having only fought Ariana wielding Giovanni's nidoking, he had no idea how strong their teams were.
"We will need to become a lot stronger to be ready for them next time".
As the sun had started disappearing behind the mountains, Sonic decided once they got to more level ground, they would set camp. Reaching the crossroads leading to either Fuchsia city or Vermillion city, Sonic and raichu proceeded a little more then set camp near the beach on their left. As Sonic sent out his pokemon so they could all relax and hang out together, just hang out and not train, he got a call from Jet.
"Hey bro. Heard from Tails and Knuckles. Good work".
"Thanks bro" he said as he laid on the grass and gazed on the sky turning dark "it was a long 2 weeks but I finally feel more at peace than I've had in a long time".
"Any more encounters with the rockets?"
"None. Ruining their base must have set the plans back a lot. Which is good cause it gives me more time to get stronger to tackle them again when the time comes. And Mike too. Guy began with a jolteon so he would have to catch and train more pokemon which would undoubtedly take more time".
"I'm sure you'll run into him again soon".
"Hope so. Oh just remembered. You'll never guess who I met before leaving Celadon".
"Who?"
"Brock and Misty".
"The gym leaders?"
"Yeah. They embarked on their own journey as well following a friend of theirs. His name was Ash".
"After what you told me about Brock back then, that he was stuck at the gym, I only feel happy for him. How come he has left though?"
"Beats me. Didn't get to ask him. Ash started savaging out on me. The dude called me spike, spikehead and quillhead to get me to battle him because his Pikachu wanted to beat raichu".
"Woah really? And?"
"Utterly crashed his Pikachu" Sonic said with a hint of pride for his raichu.
"Utterly? How utterly?"
"One thunder punch to the face knocked it out cold".
"Wait you had raichu forget thunderbolt?"
"Yeah. I noticed it had become adept at using iron tail and the attack had great effects. And plus after that beating Giovanni gave us… pinning raichu down immobilizing it…" Sonic said as he felt a chill running down his spine remembering that night "so I decided raichu should train as physical attacker. With its immense speed and quick attack getting to the opponents is the easiest part. So by training in physical combat and sharpening the reflexes I aim for it to be an unstoppable force. Giovanni won't pin us down next time".
"What do you plan to do about ground types?"
"Wartortle will be the main player against them. It's not like I aim to use raichu to solo team rocket. We're a team, me and my pokemon. Only together we will prevail against team rocket. And besides… it's not that raichu won't be able to land any hits on ground types. Iron tail can be a devastating attack if used correctly".
"I look forward to seeing it in action" Jet said "in the league tournament".
"We'll give a good show then. Too bad TV will make us look less awesome that we will look in real life".
"Who said anything about TV? I'll be there live".
"You will?"
"Tails and Knuckles too. My idea. No way we'd miss that".
Sonic felt filled by gratitude.
"Thanks bro".
"Don't mention it. Anyway I should hang up now. Friends waiting for me to log in".
"Gonna play more games online?" Sonic asked him jokingly.
"Gotta be me. Since I can't join you in the adventure yet".
"Hopefully soon bro. Good night".
"Good night".
As they hang up Sonic fantasized about the tournament. He was so focused on team Rocket and his own problems that he hadn't even given it a thought.
"I wonder who I will get to face in that tournament" he thought to himself as he read the proceedings of the tournament online "5 rounds huh, 32 trainers. Should be interesting" he said as he got into his sleeping bag and closed his eyes while his pokemon followed suit and curled up to sleep.
While sleeping Sonic had another weird dream. Him and raichu were up against a huge flame. The flame kept sending fire lashes and fire balls at them which they either dodged or tried to tank as best they could and counterattack any chance they had. The battle was so fierce that it woke Sonic up in the middle of the night. He laid back down to sleep, looking at his pokemon sleeping peacefully which let him also sleep peacefully.
In the morning after waking up Sonic decided to allow his pokemon to sleep some more as their hard training meant always waking up early. While sitting on the sand and observing the sea he heard raichu cry out its name. Approaching it with haste to verify if it was ok, he witnessed in surprise as it ran towards the road only to be met halfway by a jolteon. As the two electric types cuddled and played in joy, the jolteon's trainer soon appeared.
"Finally found you" he said to Sonic.
"Mike?!"
"Yup new and improved".
He really was new and improved. When Sonic had met him Mike was dressed with dark clothes and a hoodie to cover his face. Now he had a more casual and open colored outfit consisting of a simple shirt and a set of jeans while he was also brandishing sunglasses. As the two trainers shook hands Mike brought up the obvious.
"Daring thing you pulled. Raiding an entire base on your own. Why didn't you call me for backup?"
"I wanted to. But we hadn't exchanged numbers. And also I had little time. Team rocket was planning to invade the tower in lavender town to catch ghost types to use against the Saffron city gym leader if she went against them".
"Makes sense. They are preparing something in the silph co headquarters. But without taking full control of the city their plan can only progress so much. And Sabrina's psychic pokemon are powerful opponents".
"Giovanni mentioned willpower being a key to getting out of a psychic lock. He must be training to fight her if the time comes".
"Giovanni? Who's that?"
"The big boss".
Mike was at a loss for words.
"You battled the big boss of team rocket?! And you're still here not disappeared?!"
"Yeah. I didn't win thought. At least not in my eyes. He only used his Persian but it got poisoned when it attacked my nidorino. The battle lasted long enough for the poison to knock it out. One more attack and he would have won".
"Man…." Mike said in shock " I could only dream of confronting him. And you did. And more importantly you live to tell the tale".
"Tell me about it" Sonic admitted.
Mike immediately raised a pokeball in front of Sonic's face.
"Battle me!"
"What?!"
"Battle me. I need to see your power! And I need to test my own power".
Sonic nodded after a moment of processing the sudden challenge.
"As you wish. I shall warn you me and my team are a lot stronger than what you might remember".
"I think you will find my new team members to be interesting too".
Returning to the beach, Sonic woke his pokemon up and after a quick but good breakfast they got into positions.
"How many pokemon?" Sonic asked.
"All of them. It needs to be all of our power".
"How many do you have?"
"Three".
"I have 4. It will be hard for you".
"Don't worry about us. Just show me the power you used against the boss!" Mike said temper flared.
Sonic took out the ball of his now recalled nidorino.
"On three"
"Sure" Mike said also holding his hand straight with a pokeball in his palm.
"One, two, three!"
"Go nidorino!"
"Go haunter!"
The pokemon appeared and stared down at each other.
"A haunter? You went into that tower?"
"Yeah. There were rockets inside. Using some sort of night vision goggles but for ghosts".
"Let me guess. Called the silph scope?"
"You knew?"
"Yeah but I thought they wouldn't go through with the plan after the hit I dealt them. Thank goodness you were there to stop them".
"We really need to coordinate after this. Anyway come at me!"
"Yeah I think not. Nidorino return".
"Retreating? That's not like you" Mike said in surprise.
"Tactical withdrawal. Go kadabra!"
"There it is. I remember this one. Let's see what it's made of!"
"Psychic!"
"Shadow ball!"
The 2 pokemon unleashed their attacks with kadabra taking the most damage being knocked out immediately.
"What the…" Sonic said in shock "in one hit?!"
"We trained hard! Team rocket will strike hard so we will strike harder! Now come on! Show me the power you used to go toe to toe with Giovanni!"
Sonic gritted his teeth. That haunter was a strong foe and due to its poison typing as well as Sonic remembering it had the ability levitate, Nidorino was not gonna be good enough. He also didn't want to bring out raichu just yet.
"Wartortle your turn!" Sonic decided sending out his starter pokemon. Mike noticed the cut on its cheek.
"Woah. Is that…?"
"A scar. From the battle with Giovanni".
Mike looked at it in awe and took a hyped look.
"Yes that's it! Show me your might!"
"Water pulse!"
"Hypnosis!"
"Hypnosis?!"
The attack connected though haunter was struck by the water pulse becoming confused. Wartortle however fell asleep.
"No, no, no! Wake up wartortle!"
"Dream eater!"
Sonic watched helplessly as wartortle's energy was absorbed though it looked still healthy.
"Again!"
Haunter attempted to use its move again but the confusion started taking its toll as it missed its attack and started hitting itself in its confusion.
"Oh come on!"
The haunter's cries of pain woke up wartortle who looked at its foe confused as to why it was beating itself up.
"Haunter listen to my voice! Hypnosis!"
"Not this time! Protect!"
It was Mike's turn to be shocked.
"Protect?!"
Wartortle shielded itself as hypnosis crashed into the protect shield being nullified.
"Now ice beam!"
"Ice beam?!"
The ice beam connected with haunter freezing it to Mike's frustration.
"Are you kidding me?!"
"Now's our chance wartortle! Water pulse!"
The water pulse landed smashing the ice due to the might of the impact knocking out the haunter. Mike recalled it.
"You have improved as well. But how does your wartortle know ice beam? It can't learn it naturally".
"I'll explain after the battle. Now bring forth the next pokemon".
"Go Jolteon!"
"Ah yes your jolteon".
"Thunderbolt!"
"Protect!"
The thunderbolt was nullified but Mike smiled at this turn of events.
"Perfect! Thunder wave!"
"No!"
Jolteon used its move paralyzing wartortle.
"Wartortle finish it before it's too late! Ice beam!"
Sparks crawled all over Wartortle's body as the paralyzing effects of thunder wave kicked in.
"Now to end this! Thunder!"
Contrary to the previous time Sonic saw the attack there was not tanking it or shielding from it; the bolt of lightning came crashing down on wartortle sending it flying into a rock as it fell face down on the sand knocked out.
"Two down and two to go" Mike said raising his hands clenched together in a victory pose. Sonic recalled wartortle knowing it was time to implement the stall strategy.
"Go nidorino!"
"Still won't bring out raichu will you? Fine I'll force it out! Thunderbolt!"
"Protect!"
The attack was once again cancelled to Mike's frustration.
"Now mud slap!"
The attack landed hard on Jolteon causing it minor wounds but lowering its accuracy as its eyes were covered in mud.
"Now sludge bomb!"
The barrage of attacks sent Jolteon into the sea water which cleared the mud of its face but left it exhausted. Mike noticed its exhaustion.
"Take a break partner" he said recalling it "you really are something else Sonic. But let's see how you do against this!" he shouted sending out a lapras.
"Woah where did you get that? It's said to be very rare".
"I've been busy too. Saved a couple of scientists from rocket control. They were the ones who told me about team Rocket's plan at silph co. One of them entrusted me with this rare pokemon. So… let's see how well you nidorino does against this! Ice beam!"
The ice beam coming from lapras was proven stronger striking nidorino but not knocking it out.
"Mud slap!"
"Not this time! Use water pulse on yourself!"
Nidorino's attack landed on lapras dealing slight damage and partially blinding it as water pulse was landed vertically upwards. It then fell back on lapras clearing its eyesight from the mud-slap but restoring its health instead of damaging it.
"Wha… how?"
"Water absorb" Mike said smiling mischievously "taking a water attack healed it".
"Damnit! Use sludge bomb!"
The sludge bomb connected damaging lapras but only barely.
"Ice beam!"
The attack landed. Nidorino was knocked out cold, leaving Sonic with just one pokemon.
"No other choice now. Send it out!"
Sonic was backed into a corner. But then again raichu was prepared to deal with an ice and water type.
"Raichu! You're up!"
"Rai!" raichu cried out as it stood opposite lapras.
"Ice beam!"
"Quick attack!"
Raichu dodged the ice beam as it was too fast to hit. Before Mike could react it had reached lapras.
"Thunder punch!"
Raichu jumped and punched lapras in the face as hard as it could. However that left it open for an attack.
"Ice beam!"
Ice beam hit at point blank range. Raichu rolled into the sand hurt but stood strong again as it cried out "Rai!" in pride. Lapras was now looking ready to faint. Mike however was not ready to throw in the towel.
"Water pulse on yourself!"
Lapras fired the water pulse once again vertically up. Sonic however had already predicted it.
"Quick attack, then spin and use iron tail!"
Raichu dashed at lapras and then jumped as the attack was fast approaching lapras. Curling into itself and with its tail glowing, the water pulse was cancelled out as the iron tail struck it, evaporating it completely. Raichu then completed the spin as iron tail smacked lapras on the head knocking it out. Mike was at a loss for words.
"Such speed. Such power. On a raichu of all things. How?"
Sonic and raichu smiled at the same time.
"Bond power! And hard training!"
Mike smiled.
"Is this all your power?! Or do you have more? After all, my jolteon is still standing!"
"Then bring it out!"
"You do know you're at a disadvantage right? Jolteon has volt absorb. Thunder punch won't work on it".
"Maybe not. But that doesn't mean we will back down".
"Fine then! Jolteon help me again!"
Jolteon came out not in prime condition but still standing nonetheless.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Quick attack!"
The thunderbolt was dodged by raichu who slammed into Jolteon pushing it back.
"Not yet! Jolteon double kick!"
"Iron tail!"
Jolteon kicked raichu twice easily overpowering iron tail which was not very effective against it. Raichu was knocked down but got back up. The two electric types stated at each other, visibly struggling to stand.
"Jolteon let's finish this! Thunder!"
"Raichu use iron tail to tank the thunder!"
Raichu raised its tail above its head as it started glowing. The thunder came crashing down but the tail caused it to split in two one part of it striking raichu and the other being redirected to the sand. Raichu almost lost its balance but regained it.
"Now before they move again! Brick break!"
Raichu jumped up and brought the attack hard down on Jolteon. Jolteon dropped to the ground and attempted to stand up again. After a few moments of standing up, it dropped again this time knocked out. Mike fell to his knees.
"Dude. After all this training… We lose".
Sonic fell back to the sand as he looked at the clouds exhausted.
"Honestly" he said panting "this was probably my first real pokemon battle. All my other battles so far were not this close or this serious with the exception of Giovanni. You pushed me to exhaustion… and I didn't even fight myself".
"I noticed that too. When I fought a kid with a Pikachu. As Jolteon and Pikachu clashed hard… I came to feel all the hits Jolteon took. Like if I was battling myself".
"I felt this in a bad way. When Giovanni had us pinned down and used fury swipes on raichu… it felt like I was receiving every scratch every ounce of pain raichu was receiving. Now I feel it again. But it feels good".
"Yeah. Pokemon battling is an amazing thing. I still aim to go for team rocket and stop them… and if possible find my beedrill. But I now want to battle more".
"Haha. You're crazy" Sonic joked.
As the two helped each other up and headed for Vermillion city to heal their pokemon as it was not very far, Sonic had an idea.
"Hey just realized we both have a pokemon that requires trading to evolve. What do you say we evolve them? If of course both of them desire it as well.
"Huh. Didn't even consider that. Yeah let's do it. Trade them to each other, evolve, trade them back. 5 minute business".
Sonic smiled at the prospect of having another fully evolved pokemon. Kadabra also desired to evolve as it wanted to grow stronger to save its mother from team rocket. Haunter didn't seem to object because as Mike put it "it likes to pull pranks on me, jolteon and lapras so evolving will only make it easier for it". As they approached the pokemon center Sonic also remembered the comment Mike made about the kid with the Pikachu.
"Hey what was the name of the kid you fought that had a Pikachu?"
"Don't know. Didn't trade names. It was back when I only had Jolteon and had just beaten the substitute gym leader of pewter. After that and becoming lost in mount moon, I met it while training with jolteon to tackle the 2nd gym. Again a substitute, the actual one left with that kid and the actual 1st gym leader".
"Ash" Sonic said in realization.
"You know him?"
"Fought him yesterday. He fought my raichu with Pikachu. I mopped the floor with it".
"Damn. And I lost to him?"
"Hey that was then and this is now. No looking back. There's a war ahead of us".
"Right. Keep our eyes on the prize".
After this exchange, they traded pokemon and observed as kadabra and haunter evolved into alakazam and gengar respectively. After trading them back, Sonic informed Mike of mr Fuji so that Mike could adjust his current and future team members' moves if he so desired, though skipped the part of the trial that Mike would have to go through as his was kind of situational cause of the snorlax. Afterwards the two were ready to go on their separate ways again as Mike still had to take on Erika in Celadon. As he was heading back to Saffron to go the hard way he remembered something.
"Hey Sonic! Catch!" he shouted as he tossed his rival and ally a grey weirdly shaped rock. Sonic observed it momentarily and knew what it was.
"Where did you get that?" he shouted back.
"Mt moon! I was lost in there remember? Give it to nidorino when it's ready! Next time I'll beat you so make sure you use it by then!"
"Not if I can help it" Sonic shouted jokingly as he observed the moon stone. Once he felt nidorino was ready he would let it evolve as well. And little did Sonic know that time was upon them as he returned to the road following the coastline while being observed from above by a pair of wild eyes.