Chapter 33; the journey ends
Sonic and Mike were waiting for the referee's signal to send out their next pokemon. They were evenly matched so far and were now starting again with 3 pokemon each. Sonic knew that Mike knew his other 3 pokemon. He also knew that Mike still had dugtrio, possibly his lapras and an electric type from the power plant.
"Trainers send out your pokemon… now!"
"Go raichu!"
"Go dugtrio!"
Raichu jumped on the field as dugtrio emerged. Sonic immediately went to recall raichu in hopes of a better matchup. However the pokeball didn't function.
"Damnit. Arena trap" Sonic cursed.
"Got lucky. Your raichu is your scariest pokemon so having this chance to take it out is good for me. So I'm afraid so Sonic, you're stuck. Let's see what your plan is here!"
"Ha I'd like to see how Sonic is planning to fight back" Ash said to his friends from the stand "now is his chance to prove if his raichu is all that powerful".
Gary who was observing from the top of the stands with his arms crossed remained stoic to this development.
"A ground type sure is a powerful opponent for an electric type. But Sonic and raichu are not the average trainer and pokemon".
"Battle continue!"
"Dugtrio earthquake!"
Dugtrio attacked with its ground waves. Sonic having to think fast ordered raichu to use iron tail to crack the ground beneath him and balance on its tail. Having discovered this trick during their training, the damage was minimized as raichu wasn't fully on the ground to be hit by the earth waves. Taking advantage of the opening Sonic ordered the next attack.
"Raichu quick! Use brick break!"
Raichu used its still hardened tail to propel itself towards dugtrio at a greater speed than Mike could expect. Raichu slammed hard on dugtrio and it took and big amount of damage. Dugtrio however wasn't out of the fight yet.
"Dig now!"
Dugtrio dag into the ground and disappeared. Sonic however also expected this. He knew raichu would have to train especially for a matchup like this.
"Use iron tail on the ground but this time as hard as you can, no balancing!"
Raichu once again nailed its hard tail on the ground sending sound waves through it. Dugtrio was forced to emerge due to the severity of the sound waves.
"Finish it with another brick break!"
"Mud-slap!"
Raichu attacked dugtrio with all its strength. The powerful but glass-cannon ground type was knocked out, unable to survive 2 brick breaks in a row. However its own attack also landed blurring raichu's vision and dealing a good chunk of damage.
"Dugtrio is unable to battle. Raichu is the winner".
"Dugtrio return" Mike said "good job. You weakened it. We'll finish it! Go Lapras!"
Lapras came out. Sonic remembered their battle on the beach. He was sure Mike did too. It would be risky to try and clear raichu's sight through lapras' attacks.
"Raichu come back take a break and clear your eyesight" Sonic commanded.
Raichu rushed out of the arena as Sonic took out his ultra ball. Mike noticed it and his face took an excited expression.
"There it is".
"Go Moltres!"
Moltres soared with its wings blazing like the sun under the cheers of the crowd.
"Risky move" Knuckles said "lapras is part water".
"Maybe but remember raichu needed to switch out. Sonic is in a bit of a disadvantage either way. Mike has lapras and something else. Sonic needs raichu healthy just in case and blastoise as a reserve".
"Yeah but Mike saw Sonic's strategy of solarbeaming. Won't he be able to counter it?" Jet inquired.
"Not necessarily" Tails explained "maybe he doesn't have a counter-plan set. Maybe he will still take it head on. But there is also a chance he could set up for his last pokemon".
"That's certainly strange. If he knew of Sonic's team why did he risk sending out dugtrio first? If Sonic brought out blastoise or Motres, Mike would be at a huge disadvantage against Blastoise and Moltres. They both would have a good chance of beating Dugtrio".
"I don't know. Maybe he could be intending to set up as I said. We'll have to watch to find out" Tails said getting back to the match.
"Absolutely magnificent" Mike commented on Moltres' greatness "let's see how well it battles".
"Moltres sunny day!"
"Just as I expected! Lapras use calm mind!"
Lapras closed its eyes and focused increasing its special attack and special defense.
"Damnit he's setting up! My plan backfired!" Sonic thought terrified.
"Moltres end this before it gets too tanky! Solarbeam!"
Moltres charged its attack and fired. Lapras however was too tanky to go down in one hit like that. And Mike wasn't even done with that.
"Make it rain lapras! Use hydro pump above you!"
"Make it rain?!" Sonic said in shock.
Lapras unleashed its hydro pump vertically up. Once the attack got to a high enough point it started splitting like a fountain and water drops started striking Moltres and Lapras at the same time. Lapras was slowly healed while Moltres was slowly but steadily taking more and more damage.
"Moltres don't let up! Solarbeam again!"
They had to find a way to end it fast. The sunlight from sunny day had at first weakened the effectiveness of hydro pump but calm mind had restored it. If they allowed lapras to get too strong their defeat was certain.
Back at Sonic's hometown unbeknown to everyone, his parents were watching the final. Most of the townsfolk who knew Sonic did. They were all cheering for him hoping he would break through Lapras. After all his reputation as the hero of Kanto had reached his hometown too.
Amy was also watching the final on her phone. Her state of mind was slowly deteriorating from the development.
"That loser is a hero and now will win the tournament?"
She couldn't understand how it had all gone that way. She had chosen Shadow over Sonic because of his ability to assert his dominance, to take what he desired and nothing would stand in his way. And somehow Sonic had become that very thing too. And a hero nonetheless.
They of course had had a big fight, Amy and Shadow over it. He was slowly becoming jealous of Amy's constant keeping tabs on Sonic for no apparent reason. They had gotten over it but it was obvious this crack in their relationship would expand over time.
Back in the tournament Sonic was racking his brain on how to beat Lapras. He could only see one way and it was a risky play. Knowing he had to take the risk he commanded the attack.
"Moltres use air slash at close range!"
"Lapras strike Moltres down! Hydro pump!"
Lapras unleashed its water jet aiming directily at Moltres this time. Moltres dodged the attack using its speed and once close enough unleashed a might air slash. The attack didn't do a lot but had the desired effect; lapras flinched.
"Lapras use calm mind quick!"
Lapras however didn't respond because of the flinching. It couldn't take its eyes off the legendary bird of flames. That attack, though not very powerful, had bought Sonic a few seconds.
"Again Moltres! Don't let it take a turn! Use air slash in quick succession!"
Moltres started flapping its wings fast, creating air blades very quickly, all aimed at lapras. The water and ice type endangered species pokemon found itself taking a barrage of air slashes. Taking cover by lowering its head Mike couldn't believe what was happening. He had not calculated for such an attack neither for Sonic to use such a strategy. However he had one final ace up his sleeve. But for that to work, he needed Moltres weakened severely.
"Lapras listen! I know you're scared! Use one more hydro pump above you once again!"
He wasn't really expecting lapras would heal itself fast enough with the hydro pump drops that would strike it and Moltres, especially if Sonic went for one more solarbeam. But it would certainly weaken Moltres if it used its move instead of trying to preserve its health. And best of all for Mike, he knew Sonic would go for it as by leaving Lapras alive he risked it using calm mind again and this time there would be no beating it.
"Moltres end this! solarbeam!"
Moltres taking advantage of the last turn of sunny day unleashed its grass attack. Despite the continuous damage from the hydro pump rain, it put all of its might in the attack. Lapras took it head on and collapsed unable to take any more punishment. The combined barrage of stab boosted air slashes and 2 solarbeams were just too much.
"Lapras return" Mike said "thank you and sorry. Your hard work will not be in vain" he said as he looked at Moltres again.
"Your legendary Moltres certainly doesn't disappoint Sonic. I will admit I wasn't expecting a tactic of fear to work on my team. Flinching is indeed a powerful tool in battles".
"I was saving it for the best time" Sonic admitted "and your Lapras was that time. Now bring out your last pokemon".
"Hehe" Mike said taking out to everyone's shock an ultra ball.
"He's got an ultra ball?" Tails said in surprise.
"What could he have?" Jet inquired worried.
Sonic was quick to connect the dots.
"Ultra ball. You visited a power plant… no it can't be!"
"Soar to the skies!" Mike shouted sending out his last pokemon.
The sky darkened momentarily and lightning bolts crackled as if a storm was approaching. The legendary Zapdos descended onto the field, screeching loudly.
"You caught Zapdos" Sonic commented with a hint of fear. That was one of the worst possible scenarios with his remaining pokemon.
"Yes. After Jolty's energy spirit disappeared Zapdos appeared and challenged me. Our battle was rough until my Lapras learned calm mind, was able to tank Zapdos' attacks and heal itself with the strategy you witnessed before. After that I was able to best and catch it".
Sonic was at a lack for words. Both he and Mike were equally heroes of Kanto. That proved it. Both were chosen by a legendary pokemon.
"Zapdos let's do this! For Jolty!"
Zapdos screeched awaiting commands. Moltres also let out a cry of anticipation.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Flamethrower!"
The attacks collided and caused a small explosion and a lot of smoke. The power of the legendary pokemon was incredible.
"Smokescreens won't work on me! Drill peck!"
Zapdos darted through the smoke and started pecking at Moltres with insane speed. Moltres cried out in pain as it tried to fly away with Zapdos was in hot pursuit.
"Moltres! Use solarbeam to blind it!"
"Not this time! I saw what you did against Ketchum! Zapdos use thunder!"
Solarbeam was charged and fired but at the same time a bolt of lightning much bigger and far stronger than Ash's Pikachu had ever managed to conjure, fell square on Moltres. The legendary fire bird screeched in pain and after the thunder dissipated, fell to the ground motionless.
"Moltres is unable to battle. Zapdos is the winner".
Sonic couldn't believe the turn of events. He knew Mike would be a strong opponent but to have Zapdos, the strongest of the legendary birds… it was an almost hopeless battle.
"Great work Zapdos" Mike complimented it.
Sonic gritted his teeth as he took out Blastoise's pokeball.
"Blastoise help me out!"
Blastoise appeared as Zadpos stared it down.
"Zapdos no games this time! Use thunder!"
Zapdos dropped another bolt of lightning.
"Protect!"
Blastoise shielded itself from the attack. Mike however knew he couldn't do it again.
"Thunderbolt!"
Sonic also ordered an attack hoping Blastoise's good defenses would keep it from fainting.
"Ice beam!"
The attacks collided and thunderbolt prevailed. Blastoise was zapped and toppled.
"Blastoise is unable to…"
"Now!" Sonic yelled all of a sudden.
And Blastoise who had merely toppled and not fainted, just like during their battle with Moltres before it joined them, fired a powerful ice beam at Zapdos. The attack connected and did a considerable amound of damage. Zapdos annoyed at this struck Blastoise with thunderbolt again, causing it to faint for real this time.
The referee checked and verified Blastoise had fainted this time. Sonic recalled it. Just like last time. Electric vs electric would be their final clash.
"Raichu are you all cleared up?"
"Rai rai!"
"Then go get them!"
Raichu dashed inside the arena as Zapdos observed it closely. It sent a small bolt of electricity towards it. Raichu took it in and sent one towards Zapdos.
"What are they doing?" Sonic wondered before realizing "wait they are communicating".
"Why would they do that?" Mike inquired.
Sonic recalled the night his raichu evolved from Pikachu.
"The night raichu evolved from Pikachu… we were battling a Zapdos… your Zapdos… and the Zapdos I fought… are most likely one and the same".
"Woah" Mike said in realization "talk about a crazy coincidence if that's the case. Maybe you could even call it destiny. Zapdos granted your Pikachu the gift of growth… turning it into raichu. And now they meet again in a final test".
"A test" Sonic repeated "a test which we will pass won't we partner?"
"RAI!"
"Zapdos! Ancient power!"
Zapdos threw a barrage of rocks towards raichu.
"Deflect them with iron tail!"
Raichu deflected the rocks with ease having trained with Moltres before the latter forgot ancient power.
"Now use quick attack!"
Raichu dashed fast and jumped trying to jump onto Zapdos.
"I don't think so! Shake it off!"
Zapdos dived down. Raichu was unable to hold on. It crashed to the ground with a big thud.
"Thunder now!"
Lightning came down on raichu hard. Sonic felt the electricity travel through his body as well. It wasn't a big amount but he still felt it. Grabbing his shoulders in pain, it was clearer than ever before. Raichu and he were connected. Though he did wonder why he only felt electricity and not any other type of attack, he shoved the thought aside. They had a challenge in their hands.
"Raichu use iron tail!"
Raichu jumped and tried to slam Zapdos with iron tail but the legendary bird of thunder dodged the attack.
"Thunderbolt!"
Raichu was hit by the thunderbolt. Sonic felt once again the electricity crawl through him. Mike noticed it.
"Hey you ok?"
"I'm fine" Sonic retorted unwilling to stop the battle before the end.
"There's got to be a way to strike Zapdos" Sonic thought as raichu panted exhausted trying to figure out a battle plan.
"Zapdos don't give them time! Thunderbolt!"
"Launch yourself then use thunder punch!"
Raichu used its iron tail as a pole to jump avoiding thunderbolt. Reaching the same height as Zapdos it delivered a powerful punch. But it also left them defenseless.
"Drill peck!"
Zapdos pecked raichu repeatedly. Raichu dropped to the ground with a thud once again struggling to get up.
"That'll teach him!" Ash said from the stands satisfied.
Sonic looked at his raichu struggling to get up.
"Partner if you're unable to don't please. We fought our hardest. It's not worth getting hurt".
Raichu looked at Sonic in disbelief.
"Rai! Rai rai!"
Sonic couldn't understand exactly what it was saying. But he knew what it meant.
"We've come too far! We will go all the way! Whatever it takes"
"Yes" Sonic said slowly "whatever it takes".
"Rai!" Raichu growled.
Electricity started crackling on its tail. Both Sonic and Mike were bewildered by it.
The next moment 2 lightning bolts fell from the sky engulfing Sonic and raichu at the same time. Everyone at the stadium gasped some even screamed. Mike observed in terror what he perceived as his friend and rival being struck by a deadly bolt of lightning.
"SONIC!" he screamed.
The lightning bolts dissipated the next moment. Sonic and raichu were both unharmed. Raichu was standing proudly, albeit still injured.
"Is it rejuvenated? Or is it just running on will?" Mike wondered "but in that case what was the bolt of lightning? And why was Sonic also struck by it?"
"Raichu one last attack!" Sonic ordered "quick attack then thunder punch!"
Raichu was launched faster than eyes could see. Its speed had become insane. It jumped and latched onto Zapdos.
"Shake them off before they land the attack!"
Zapdos started trying to shake them off, eventually diving again. Raichu this time held on with all its strength.
"Do it!" Sonic shouted.
Raichu charged its punch and using its tail as a grappling hook to not fall off Zapdos, delivered a devastating punch just before Zapdos opened its wings to avoid crashing.
The legendary bird crashed with a thud that shook the whole stadium raising a huge cloud of dust. Once the dust settled, Raichu was standing on top of the fainted Zapdos as if it had done a superhero landing.
"Zapdos is unable to battle! Raichu wins! The winner of the tournament is Sonic the hedgehog!"
"The hero of Kanto wins the tournament!" the announcer called out as cheers erupted all throughout the stadium. Sonic took in the scenery with a blank phase.
"We… we won. We won! We won raichu!"
"Rai!" Raichu cried out as trainer and pokemon hugged in the middle of the arena. Mike recalled Zapdos and approached Sonic.
"And so you prevail again. Congratulation friend".
The two shared a handshake as a stadium worker brought Sonic the trophy. Lifting it high above his head, everyone cheered.
Amy of course back home was fuming. Shadow was also watching the video claiming that it was no big deal. Amy agreed and shut off her phone but didn't believe it.
As Sonic and Mike reconvened with his friends after his victory, Tails was ecstatic.
"Sonic that was unbelievable! What was that move you pulled back there?!"
"To be honest I too don't get it" Mike admitted "I saw you do the exact same thing against Giovanni".
Sonic took a moment to think.
"I don't really know to be honest. The only thing I noticed during the battle that was out of the ordinary was that every time raichu was struck by lightning I felt the electricity course through me as well. Not lethally but I still felt it".
Tails looked confused for a moment then remembered something.
"WAIT!" he yelled causing everyone to jump.
"That could be because of the way raichu evolve remember?"
"Remember what?"
"You two had a fight exactly before and then you dived in front of a thunderbolt to protect Pikachu. It then evolved by declaring you its friend. The bond that makes it twice as strong as other raichu's must have formed at that moment. You two have a connection".
Sonic recalled all of it and even though it sounded farfetched it wasn't exactly impossible either. Pokemon were mysterious creatures with unlimited potential after all.
"I guess we should investigate it back home" Sonic concluded.
"We sure will" Tails said doing a thumbs up.
At that moment Ash approached them.
"Well… congratulations I guess".
"Not to say I told you so but…"
"Yeah whatever. Next time we meet I will be much stronger just you wait".
"Oh I will wait" Sonic said smiling.
Once Ash left Sonic looked down closing his eyes.
"If only there was a next time".
"Huh?" Mike said in surprise "what are you talking about?"
"My journey has ended Mike. We're going home" he said referring to himself and his friends.
"Just… just like that?"
"Yeah. It started as an impulse when it started. I regret nothing but… it's over now. It's time to go home now".
Mike was speechless as he hadn't thought of what would happen after the tournament. He felt a small hint of regret as he had probably lost so much time with Sonic due to him being lost in darkness. He however managed to smile.
"I understand".
"Hey don't be sad. We're trainers right? Our paths will cross again someday. Just maybe not anytime soon".
Mike nodded. The two of them shared one final handshake before going their separate ways.
"See you around Sonic".
As Sonic and his friends headed for the airport to return home, Mike observed them fly off from Vermillion city.
"See you around Sonic" he said again as he mounted Zapdos and flew away, letting the wind guide them.
After a long and eventful flight as Sonic and his friends discussed every last bit of the tournament they landed home. When they all reached their neighborhood, Tails and Knuckles left the brothers to go to their houses. As Sonic and Jet headed for their home, Sonic still carrying his trophy and raichu curiously observing the new place, they heard a voice call out to them.
"Well, well look who returns triumphant".
Sonic and Jet knew who it was very well. Giving Jet the trophy to take home and telling raichu to go with Jet, Sonic turned around and came face to face with Amy.
"Looking good, been working out?"
Sonic giggled.
"You sure have a lot of nerve to show your face in front of me again" he said smiling.
"You should be honored. I am standing Shadow up a little bit to talk to you".
"Wow, talk about disrespect" Sonic commented "I should be honored because you treat your boyfriend like that? That's rough even for someone like Shadow".
Amy's smile slowly left her face.
"You think you're fooling me Sonic? Just because you played trainer for a month and won a tournament means you're anything but a softie loser?"
"Well that softie loser is known as the hero of Kanto and has tamed a legendary pokemon" Sonic said with a hint of gloating "so yeah. I think the only one fooling anyone here is you fooling yourself little girl".
Amy's face turned red. Sonic thought it was anger. And it was. But it was also a bit of turning on on her part.
"Who are calling a little girl?!" she said angrily approaching him, her face an inch away from his.
"You. And for that reason you're not worth my time doll. So mind your own business and leave me be. Ciao" Sonic toyed with her, putting his finger on her jaw as he spoke those words. She was left there trying to collect her thoughts. That wasn't Sonic she kept repeating. There was no way Sonic had become this confident.
"And this hot" Amy thought as she headed for her date with Shadow.
Sonic in the meantime entered the house with Raichu greeting his parents after a very long time.
Later that night, while Sonic and Jet were hanging out in their backyard, hanging out with Sonic's pokemon, their mother came out.
"I have some news boys. We're going on vacation".
"Vacation? Where?" Jet asked intrigued.
"And how come?" Sonic asked caught by surprise.
"To celebrate your victory of course. We're going to the orange islands for a week".
"Orange islands?!" Sonic repeated in pleasant surprise "they are a tropical paradise! For people and pokemon alike!"
"Exactly. We'll be leaving next week. So prepare your stuff".
"But… it's in a week" Jet said confused.
"Exactly. Only one week" she said and walked back in the house.
Sonic and Jet looked at each other silent for a moment then burst out laughing.
"Yeah same old mom" Sonic said.
Orange islands. Sonic couldn't wait. And neither could his pokemon desiring nothing more than to lay on a beach and relax. Back during their isolation on the secluded shore, they couldn't enjoy it as much in order to train. Now they would. At least for a little while.
Elsewhere a man named Lawrence was preparing his flying huge hovercraft, loading on high tech cages which could catch pokemon by encasing them with electromagnetic fields.
"Soon enough. Soon enough the prophecy will come true. And I will be there to collect my prize".
He returned to a map on his desk. He looked at it smiling menacingly.
"Orange islands here I come".