Goodbye, Raichu

Chapter Two -- Onix

Ash set out early next morning for Cerulean City. It took several hours to walk there from Pallet, but Ash and Pikachu were used to it. Ash decided to walk through the fields and woods so as to avoid the main road via Viridian. That would be full of young trainers asking for battles, and Ash had neither the heart to refuse, nor really the time to spare if he wanted to be at his destination in reasonable time.

Suddenly, in a grassy field along the way, the ground started to shake. Leaves shook, flying Pokémon squawked, and they heard a terrifying low-pitched rumble.

"Earthquake!" yelled Ash, feeling the hair on his neck bristle from fear.

"Pikachu!" echoed Pikachu, squealing in fright.

Then, unexpectedly, from behind a hill advanced a huge segmented serpent, hard as rock, causing the ground to vibrate as it slid along.

"No, it's an Onix! But where's it going?"

The Onix swung its enourmous tail against a tree, shaking it to its roots. A wild Spearow flew out of the branches and looked very angry. It flew back and forth around the Onix's head to show its displeasure. The Onix swung its head to and fro trying to knock the bird down and getting angrier for failing.

Giving up in frustration, the Onix diverted its anger to a Sandshrew that was trying to escape the commotion. It started to chase the small Pokémon. The Sandshrew quickly burrowed into the soft earth, but the Onix dived under it, burrowing deepeer. The Onix's head suddenly burst out of the ground, scattering soil, stones and a stunned little Sandshrew.

Ash watched and wondered why an Onix would be on such a rampage. While Onix were tough opponents in battle, people and other Pokémon normally had little to fear so long as they stayed out of these giants' way.

Then Ash's attention turned to the Sandshrew. It was likely to get hurt, unless Ash could somehow divert the Onix's attention. He had an idea. He pulled out a small red and white ball and threw it. The ball, while in mid-air, hinged open in half, and out of it materialized a purplish blue turtle-shaped figure. The device was a Poké Ball, used by trainers to capture and store Pokémon.

"Go, Wartortle!" cried Ash. "Do a water gun on that Onix."

Wartortle obediently opened his mouth, took aim, and sent forth a spurt of water directly at the huge stone serpent. Ash's scheme worked, but perhaps a little too well. The Onix turned its atention away from the Sandshrew, but would it now attack them?

"Quick," called Ash, "behind this rock. Perhaps it won't realize who did it."

The rumbling resumed, coming closer. Ash looked around. Most of the field was open, but there were woods to their left. At least it might provide some cover.

"Everyone, let's run into the trees."

They all dashed as one into the woods without looking back, but they could feel the rumbling behind them. Ash, Pikachu and Wartortle hid behind a bush and hoped for the best.

Ash thought hard. How could he defeat an Onix? It's a Pokémon, after all. He defeated Brock's Onix once before, a long time ago, to get his first badge. But Pikachu had been supercharged for the event; now he was still recovering from yesterday's battle.

He could use Wartortle's water gun to make Pikachu's electric attack more conductive, but would it be enough for such a tough monster?

The vibration grew stronger, the rumbling louder, branches splintered, trees crashed, flying Pokémon squawked and ground Pokémon squealed. The Beedrill tried to attack the rampaging monster, but it poisonous barbs made scarcely a dent on the giant's hard, rocky surface.

The Onix's tail swished, another tree fell, another hiding Pokémon was revealed and squealed in fright. A Raichu! Raichu were electric Pokémon that evolved from Pikachu by the use of a Thunderstone. They weren't as common as Pikachu, but one encountered them from time to time.

However, the Onix's attention was focused on Wartortle. It swung its huge head left and right, looking where to attack.

Seeing the Raichu, Ash's experienced mind quickly formulated a plan. It was their only hope, and it had to work first time.

"Pikachu," whispered Ash, "can you get that Raichu to help us? Tell it to attack with you when I give the word."

Pikachu nodded to indicate he understood. "Pikachu, pikachu, chuu!" he called out to the Raichu.

"Chuu!" called the Raichu in reply.

Pikachu looked Ash confidently in the face, to let him know that the Raichu agreed.

Pikachu's voice also let the Onix know where are the group were hiding. It swung around towards them, and advanced. As it approached, it pushed a tree, knocking it over towards Ash and his Pokémon. Pikachu jumped to the right, and Ash ran away to the left, Wartortle behind him. That Wartortle was trapped by a falling branch, and couldn't get free.

"Wartortle," called Ash, "can you still reach it with your water gun?"

"Tortle!" nodded Wartortle.

"Okay!" yelled Ash, "Wartortle, Pikachu, Raichu, go!"

Wartortle opened his mouth, and a powerful torrent of water issued forth, drenching the huge stone serpent. Simultaneously, Pikachu strained with all his might and a shot out a fearful blast of lightning. A moment later, a blast twice as powerful came from the Raichu from the far side of the Onix.

The Onix was ablaze with light, sparks and flashes bouncing back and forth all over its length. Ash's hair bristled from the electric charge. The Onix rose high into the air, arched its back, and gave a frightening roar. The Pokémon continued their attack, giving it their all as long as they could, until, their energy spent, they ran out of the creature's away as fast as they could.

The Onix fainted. It's huge body wavered for a moment in mid-air, then went limp. In seconds it would crash.

Ash's stomach turned in fear for Wartortle, trapped under the branch. He quickly took out Wartortle's Poké Ball and aimed it at his friend. The Onix came tumbling down, crashing through trees and splintering branches, directly towards the trapped Pokémon.

The ground shook, wild Pokémon screeched, branches crashed to the earth below. A rush of wind and debris knocked Ash of his feet making drop the Poké Ball from his hand. But it had done its job. Wartortle had dematerialized and entered his Poké Ball not a moment too soon.

"Pika!" And Ash heard his companion's cry. Was he hurt? Ash got to his feet, ran around the unconscious Onix, looking for his Pikachu.

"Pika, pika." He sounded all right this time. Ash found him, saw him look a right mess, and laughed. After the stress of last few minutes Pikachu was a comical site, with a Pidgey nest dangling from one ear and broken egg all over his face.

"I'm glad you're OK, Pikachu. Well, we did it."

Pikachu nodded to Ash, then shaking his head briskly, he got off what mess he called. He turned to look for Raichu.

"Chuu!" called Pikachu.

"Chuu!" answered the Raichu. Being a wild Pokémon, it would not be likely to approach Ash without good reason. So Pikachu hopped off by himself to acquaint himself with his new-found ally.

"I wonder where that Onix came from," Ash asked himself, "and why it was acting so crazy?" He surveyed the awesome hulk, scratching his head.

A short distance away, Pikachu and the Raichu were busy chattering, getting to know each other. Pikachu was trying to clean the egg of his face with his paw, when Raichu started helping by licking it off.

"Boy, they're getting chummy," thought Ash.

Ash heard a voice behind him, and turned around to see the Onix dematerializing. Behind where it lay were standing a group of people in unusual costumes. An elderly man in old-fashioned clothing was standing in front holding a Poké Ball in his hand.

"Do you know why my Onix is in this condition?" asked the man when he noticed Ash.

"I knocked it out," replied Ash innocently.

"Now how did you manage that?" said the man, while the others started muttering to themselves in amazement.

"Is that your Onix?" asked Ash. "It was on a rampage and attack us."

"We're from the Pokéball Circus," said one of the others. "Our Onix escaped."

Ash put two and two together. "And why did it escape?" demanded Ash indignantly. "You were mistreating it, weren't you?"

"Well now that's none of your business," and said the third man angrily. He was tall, well built, with a hard face.

"Hold on, now," said the older man calmly. "Calm down, Brent. And what right have you, young man, to question us? As a matter of fact, I was about to offer you a lift back to Pallet Town, if that's where you're going."

Ash realized that the elderly man wasn't as bad as he had presumed. Perhaps all the gossip wasn't completely true after all.

"Oh," said Ash meekly. "Well... sorry about that. Actually, I was on my way to Cerulean Gym, but my Wartortle got hurt fighting your Onix, so I really have to take it to a Pokémon Centre."

"Cerulean Gym, you say. You don't happen to know the Cerulean sisters, now, do you?"

"Well, yeah, actually, Misty's a friend of mine."

The elderly man gave orders to the rest of the troop. "Everyone, returned to the circus, please, and prepare for the midday show. I'll take Onix and this young man to the Viridian Pokémon Centre."

"Thanks, Mister uh...," said Ash.

"The names Mr Monmaster, young man. Actually, that's my stage name. My real name is Mr Grey." As he led Ash to his vehicle, he asked, "And who might you be?"

"I'm Ash," replied Ash. Ash called Pikachu, and noticed that the Raichu had left. Ash guessed that it must have been scared of the people, and had gone to hide.

Pikachu arrived in response to his master's call, and the three drove off.

"Now tell me, Ash, what makes you think that Onix was mistreated?"

"Well, actually, the word's been going around Pallet Town that you guys don't treat your Pokémon very well. And Onix was on a rampage, and your friend said that he escaped."

"Hmm... so our reputation precedes us," remarked Mr Grey. "You know, there are two sides to every story, Ash. Pokémon fighting in the Pokémon League often suffer too. But when they succeed in what they were trained to do, and they hear the audience cheer and applaud, they realize that it was all worth it. It's just the same in the circus."

"I never thought of that way before," admitted Ash.

"Now sometimes we make mistakes. We set our goals to high and push our Pokémon too hard. A good circus trainer needs to be sensitive, just like a good trainer in the Pokémon League. But mistakes do happen. I gather you've been in the Pokémon League. Is that right, Ash?"

"Well, yeah. How did you know?"

"From what you did to my Onix, I thought you must be a pretty good trainer. And tell me, Ash, haven't you ever made mistakes with your Pokémon?"

Ash looked embarrassed.

Mr Grey changed the subject: "By the way, you say you know the Cerulean sisters?"

"Misty and I have been friends for ages."

"I've been meaning to meet them and learn about water Pokémon. I'd like to add some more variety in my acts."

"I guess I can try and arrange something," said Ash.

"Thank you, Ash. That would be greatly appreciated. And I hope your Wartortle is all right. We're nearly there."