Pokemon: Advanced Wishes Black or White

Chapter 44: Highway to Heaven

"Rapidash, go rescue him!" a man hopped off his Fire Horse Pokémon.

The Rapidash hurried to the six-year-old boy, who froze before a Nidoking. "Nice, Nidoking?" the nervous boy laughed. Nidoking was upset that it'd entered its territory. His love for Pokémon was more powerful than any fear, even in the face of the terrifying Poison-Type Pokémon. Nidoking wasn't interested in becoming friends when he readied his Horn Attack, but its attention diverted to Rapidash's neigh.

The sounds of its hooves were recognizable to the boy, "Rapidash!" Nidoking changed his target to the horse. The boy watched in awe, but his attention went to Rapidash's trainer. He yelled, "Dad!"

"Rapidash, Bounce!" the trainer saw Nidoking come for them. Rapidash leaped into the air before Nidoking could impale it. The Drill Pokémon growled in anger. "Flare Blitz!" Rapidash's trainer had his Pokémon shoot down like a blazing comet.

His son's face brightened, "Awesome!" The Nidoking never stood a chance when Rapidash delivered the blow. Its attack cratered the Poison-type Pokémon. The fight concluded in a swift end.

The father wouldn't risk waiting till Nidoking regained consciousness. He got back on Rapidash and rushed to his son. He held his arm out, "Grab my hand!"

"Dad, you were amazing!" his son was still excited from watching the battle. He grabbed his father's hand and got pulled up on Rapidash. They rode away, far from danger, and back to safety.

When they reached the outskirts of Pallet Town, the father stepped off Rapidash. He lifted his son off the Fire Horse Pokémon. "Do you have anything to say for yourself, mister?" his father towered over him with arms crossed. He taught the Nidoking a lesson. Now, it was his son's turn.

His son rubbed the back of his head, "I just wanted to become friends with some Pokémon." There was no other way of putting it.

"You shouldn't have run off like that!" his father scolded him. The son was surprised. His father rarely yelled at him, but he knew he had done wrong. He lowered his head. The boy felt shame for disappointing him. His father saw the guilt in his eyes and softened his gaze, "It's ok to want adventure and seek out Pokémon, but it's not ok when you make your mother and I worry. You know you're not supposed to wander that far out of town. You're not ten yet."

His son sighed, "I wish I were."

"I know, but time flies. You'll be in Professor Oak's lab with your first Pokémon before you know it," his dad kneeled to meet his son's eyes.

His son looked at him. They both had the spirit of adventure in their eyes. "Why do you and Mom worry when I go too far?" the son asked.

His dad smiled, "Because you're our son. What kind of parent would I be if I allowed something to happen to my small boy?"

The son crossed his arms, "I'm not that small. I can climb trees on my own now."

The father laughed, "True, but you're not big enough to fight a Nidoking, especially without a Pokémon."

"One day I will be," his son flashed a confident smile.

"I'm sure you will," his dad had no doubts about it.

The boy raised his fist, "One day I'll be as strong as you, Dad!"

His dad nodded, "I know you will, but until you turn ten, no more wandering off."