Chapter 11-A Challenge Accepted

When I woke up the next morning, there wasn't any earthquake for a change, but what I did feel was my eyes were a bit wet. I walked over to my mirror and saw my eyes were red, like I was really crying all night. I got me super happy that I decided to go for a quick run, until someone knocked at my door.

My eyes were not so red at that point, so I opened the door and saw 4 Pokémon standing outside. One was a round, spiky purple creature that looked ghost-like with arms, legs, a tail, red eyes, and a wide, creepy grin which my instincts said this was Gengar. Another one was a purple snake with a yellow ring on its neck and called Ekans. The third one was a red and gray thick legged, thin torso cross between a fighter and a yoga artist called Medicham with the last one being a Gardevoir, who seemed friendlier than the other three.

Me: Can I help you guys and gals?

Medicham and Gardevoir: *Giggles*

Gengar: Are you the Riolu that's really a hedgehog?

Me: Yes I am. The name's Sonic.

Ekans: And are you the one that is ressstoring the Element Cryssstalssss?

Me: *Eyeing them suspiciously* How did you find out that?

Gardevoir: *Nervously* Uhh…please excuse them. The team used to be bad and some of their habits haven't left yet.

Medicham: Besides, Alakazam gave word out to any willing Pokémon that will have information on the Crystals' whereabouts and we wanted to help.

Me: Really? That's great!

Gengar: That's right! We Team Mean-er-PsyShadow are willing to help! Heh-heh, our old name nearly slipped out again.

Ekans: We usssed to be known asss Team Meaniesss in the passst, but not anymore thessse dayssss.

Medicham: We now call ourselves Team PsyShadow since most of us use Psychic-type attacks and our leader, Gengar here is known as the Shadow Pokémon.

Me: Hmm…makes sense of the name change. So what info do you have for me?

Gardevoir: Well we know about three of the Crystals so far and who's protecting them. The Fire Crystal is protected by Moltres on Mt. Blaze.

Medicham: Articuno in Frosty Forest protects The Ice Crystal, while the Water Crystal is protected by Ninetales on Mt. Freeze.

Me: Looks like I'll be getting a tough time on my paws with my team if we battle all three of those Pokémon.

Gengar: Also one more thing, you won't fight Ninetales. I know this because he and I go way back, but he is willing to challenge you so you can get more used to your new look, heh-heh.

Me: A challenge, huh? What's this challenge? I might handle it.

Scyther: *From a distance* What's this about a challenge?

I looked over to see my team come by from their areas. Shinx noticed Medicham and went over to talk to her, as if they were good friends. Gengar soon started again.

Gengar: O.K. The challenge is that you'll have to battle Moltres and Articuno, and restore the Crystals they are protecting, WITHOUT your team.

I looked at him in total shock, as well as the other Pokémon, except for Team PsyShadow. Without my team?!? Was Ninetales crazy or something?!? Gengar looked at me in a way that he understood my nasty surprise.

Gengar: I know what you're thinking. I thought the ol' fox was nuts, but he did seem pretty serious about it. He's also waiting for your answer.

Ekans: Alssso, if you decline, you won't be able to resssstore the Cryssstalssss.

Medicham: So what is your answer?

I thought for a moment. It seemed too hard to do since I'm not completely used to this body yet, until Gardevoir spoke up.

Gardevoir: There is one other thing we forgot to mention. There is a dungeon on the way to Mt. Blaze, called the Lapis Cave, where you can train your skills a bit so you'll know when you're ready to scale the fires of the mountain.

I thought again about my options. If I accept this challenge, I'll be able to help this world more, get stronger, and get used to this body! If I decline, then all of Lucario's efforts will go down the drain! I took a deep breath, knowing my answer.

Me: I…accept.

Shinx: ! You can't!

Scyther: ! Those other two are stronger than Zapdos!

Geodude: ! What if you don't come back, boss?!?

Me: I will come back! I faced worst, trust me I'll come back stronger than before! Plus this is a good opportunity for you three too!

Shinx: Really? How?

Me: You all can train up and do jobs while I'm gone, maybe even evolve at that Luminous Cave place.

Alakazam told me about that. Luminous Cave is a place over at Whiscash Pond where the Pokémon of this world evolve after leveling up, raising their IQ, or giving an item to the spirit of that place. Seeing I'll be gone for who knows how long, I figured the team deserved the chance.

Geodude: Are you sure about this?

Me: Yes I am. Also I'm leaving Scyther in charge while I'm gone. Is that alright with you, Scy?

Scyther: You can count on me!

Shinx: Please be careful.

Me: I will.

Gengar: Well, we'll go ahead of you and tell Ninetales the good news. Good luck, Sonic.

As I waved goodbye to Gengar and his team, I turned around to see Team ACT and Xatu in front of my mailbox. They looked at me as if they knew, and proved it when Xatu spoke.

Xatu: I see you've accepted Ninetales' challenge.

Me: Let me guess, you've seen it, haven't you?

Xatu: Yes, right after you left the Hill.

Alakazam: He told us already.

Charizard: And we came here to wish you good luck!

Tyranitar: And don't get eaten!

Me: Don't worry; there won't be any chance of that!

After saying goodbye to them, my team, and finding out that the whole town knew as I was stocking up and getting a little extra cash for myself, just in case, I started on my journey. I took a look at my map and saw that Lapis Cave was farther east past Silent Chasm and Mt. Blaze, my first main destination, was just outside of it. Knowing where I had to go now, I ran as fast as my feet could take me over to the cave.

I think "Lapis" means "crystal" because this cave was filled with crystals on the walls. The Pokémon there came in mostly Bug- and Poison-types, like Nidorino and Nidorina, who are the evolved forms of both Nidoran, Zubat, and their wide-mouthed evolution Golbat, which were basically blue and purple bats, Nincada, little gray cicada-like bugs with a claw in each arm, and Illumise, blue and purple firefly-like bugs with thick, yellow antennae and no flashy-thing on their rear. There were also Tangela, walking mass of vines, and Bagon, blue, wingless dragon-like creatures with thick heads, as well as items, gummis, berries, and Poké to pick up for the time being. This cave just was the ticket for me to get trained up in its 14 floor depths, because I felt stronger before I made it out and saw that Mt. Blaze was a blazing volcano!

Me: Oh boy. Looks like I gotta watch myself here, or Moltres would see a Riolu that's "well-done."

I saw that there was a Kangaskhan Rock at the base of the mountain and the sun was setting so I decided to stop for the night, watching myself so I didn't get burnt. As I was settling down to sleep, that spell activated and I only saw Knuckles and Lucario this time when they were checking up on me.

Knuckles: Hey there, Sonic! What's going on?

Me: Hey, Knux. Hey, Lucario. I'm on a challenge to handle the next three crystals by myself, without my team.

Lucario: Sounds like this is Ninetales' challenge. Where are you now?

Me: I just finished getting through the Lapis Cave and now I'm taking a snooze at the base of Mt. Blaze before I go up to handle Moltres and restore the Fire Crystal.

Knuckles: Well good luck and don't get Barbecued, O.K?

Me: O.K!

Lucario: Remember, everyone's faith is with you, no matter what.

Me: I will, thanks!

The power soon faded and I woke up to a sunrise, refreshed and alert. I had a few apples for breakfast and I started my climb up the mountain. I figured that there would be mostly Fire-type Pokémon and I was right and thankful I had Rawst Berries! There were Slugma, lava slugs, Magby, small little red guys with a beak-like mouth, Numel, small, yellow, camel-like creatures with almost a small volcano on their backs, Torkoal, black, rocky-shelled fire turtles, and Rapidash, fire horses with a horn on their heads. There were also Pidgeot, and Shuckle, little crawling red rocks with yellow legs and a head poking out. After 12 floors I rested a bit at the Kangaskhan Rock before handling Arcanine and Spearow's evolved form Fearow, large brown birds with very long beaks, as I reached the peak and Moltres' perch.

It was right near the crater, and the fire towers coming up from the lava seemed to help with setting the mood for a battle. I decided to call out to Moltres, almost like I did with Zapdos.

Me: HEY MOLTRES! I'M HERE TO CHALLENGE YOU!

Everything got dark and soon I heard his voice.

Moltres: You are you, little Riolu? State your name and reason for this challenge!

Me: My name is Sonic! I'm here to defeat you and restore the power of the Fire Crystal!

Moltres: Restore the Crystal? Is that the reason the mountain is crying in anguish? Then so be it! I consider your challenge accepted, Sonic!

Everything got bright again as he let out a cry and appeared in front of me. He looked like he was almost made of fire, especially on his wings, tail, and the crown on his head. I tossed a Sleep Seed to get him to sleep before I attacked him with mostly my speed and Quick Attacks, since Force Palm isn't that effective, except for paralyzing him! It took quite a few hits and a Reviver Seed to myself but after one critically strong Quick Attack, he was beaten. He spread his wings after he caught his breath, folded them to his body, and spoke to me kindly.

Moltres: Well done. I will grant you permission to restore the great Fire Crystal.

The mountain seemed to understand his words because there was a large flame coming from the ground near him and the Fire Crystal appeared in its place. It looked like the Electric Crystal, but the colour was a very dark, almost black, red. I walked up to it, and touched it, causing it to glow in a blinding light. I felt the intense heat and power of fire, and my true form briefly cloaked me again before everything faded and the Crystal glowed a bright red. Then I took my paw off before it disappeared in the same fashion it arrived in and all the unnatural forest fires and droughts stopped.

Moltres: You are the chosen one. Only you would have such power. I must warn you though.

Me: Really? About what?

Moltres: Articuno. She'll be protecting the Ice Crystal with all of her power and might not let you restore it as freely as Zapdos and myself.

Me: Yikes. She also sounds like she'll give me the cold shoulder. Literally.

Moltres: Yes but do not worry, I feel that you'll make a new ally after your battle with her.

Me: Whoa. Thanks, Moltres! I'll keep your words in mind!

Moltres: Let the flames of your spirit protect you!

With that, he left and I continued on my way to the Frosty Forest, which was to the north of Mt. Blaze and further north of that was Ninetales' home, Mt. Freeze. I kept going, keeping my determination strong and Lucario's last words in my heart.

But I did find myself feeling this unusual fear towards my friends at home that I shook off. But why do I feel that they are in real deep in hot water now? Well whatever it is, I know they can get themselves out as I continued north and the weather got colder.

END NOTES:

Hey there SMD fans! Sorry about the long wait but I almost forgot that I had an account here. ^^;

Anywhoo, new year and new update! Plus I got quite a few new watchers to boot! Thanks guys!

In this chapter Sonic gets a challenge from Ninetales and boy is it a doozy! I decided to do this part to keep the story interesting, and to help Sonic with his Riolu body.

Plus I realized something was mission from Sonic's range of attacks when I got Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky for my DS: his Bite attack. ^^; Of course this was made BEFORE EoS so I don't feel too bad about it.

Anywhoo Sonic managed to beat Moltres and learns of an ally on the way (NOTE: It is NOT Absol. I have a better role for him in the upcoming SMD2.)

Also I alsways assumed that Articuno was female. Of course that's just me. I felt the same way for Suicune as well.

Enjoy, and R&R please!

Sonic and related are (c) SEGA/Sonic Team

Pokemon are (c) Nintendo/The Pokemon Company/Game Freak