"Pikachu, thunderbolt!"

"Pika...CHU!"

"Hitmonlee no!"

"We won!" Ash cheered as Pikachu landed back on the ground after releasing a thunderbolt on it's opponent. He and the others had been stopped on their way to New Bark Town by a trainer who, after seeing Ash had won all eight Johto League badges, challenged him to a one on one battle.

"Pika!" Pikachu cheered punching the air with his fist. They had been battling a lot lately, and they had won every battle in the past week. Pikachu trotted back to his trainer's side as the opponent returned his Hitmonlee and stomped off.

"You did great Pikachu" Ash said picking up the little electric Pokémon. "But I think you've had enough battling for one day"

Pikachu sighed happily and climbed onto Ash's shoulder. This was their forth battle today, all against tough opponents, and Pikachu was beginning to feel tired.

"I think that we should set up camp, there's no way we'll reach New Bark Town before the sun goes down" Brock advised looking at the map in his hands.

"Are you sure?" Misty asked and Brock nodded. "Well just keep those bugs away from me" She said looking nervously at the trees surrounding them.

After they had walked for a little longer and found a clearing with a spring nearby, they set up camp and lit a fire. Brock busied himself cooking the dinner while Misty busied herself spraying around her spot with bug repeler. Pikachu had fallen asleep next to Togepi by the fire and didn't look like he was going to move any time soon.

That is until dinner was ready. As soon as the dinner was set down, Pikachu awoke with a start and started to wolf down his share, just like Ash was.

After dinner, Brock went back to making Pokéchow, Misty went back to worrying about the bugs in the forest and Ash went back to wondering how many battles they were going to win the next day.

Ash was the first to wake the next morning, being the first to fall asleep. He decided to just take a walk around the forest, but before he left he wrote a note and left it beside Pikachu, just so they wouldn't worry.

It was a very sunny day and Ash enjoyed the quiet surroundings. It was silent as he walked, but then he felt his foot step on something and a loud yell.

"Nine!"

Ash pulled his foot up as soon as he saw what had happened. A very angry Ninetails emerged from a bush right next to him, growling menacingly. "I-I'm sorry Ninetails. I didn't see your tail there, honest!" He said, backing away from the fire Pokémon.

The Ninetails growled and raised it's tails off the ground, pointing them out in all directions as it's eyes began to glow a blood red colour.

Ash panicked, but couldn't move. The last thing he saw was a fire spin heading towards him before he yelled in pain and blacked out.

The Ninetails walked over beside him and growled a little. It's eyes glowed again and it glared at him.

Brock, Misty, Togepi and Pikachu had been sitting around the fire eating their breakfast when they heard Ash yell in the distance.

Pikachu nearly choked on his pancake as he looked around. "Pikapi?"

"That sounded like Ash" Misty said in a worried tone.

"Come on" Brock said standing up and grabbing his bag.

Misty did the same, also picking up her bag along with Togepi. She set off after Pikachu and Brock, who had already headed in the direction of the yell.

The Ninetails growled as it faced it's new opponent, a male Rapidash. This Rapidash looked a little nervous. Ninetails decided to make this a quick match, and used a Tail Whip on the Rapidash, whipping him hard in the face with it's nine long tails, hitting it across the eye with one point. The tail whip was so strong it cause six long cuts across the Rapidash's face and Rapidash didn't even have time to recover as the Ninetails used a Fire Spin attack, knocking the Rapidash unconscious.

After a short while they came to the area were Ash had found the Ninetails. They wouldn't have stopped, unless pikachu had spotted something in the bushes opposite were the Ninetails had been sleeping

"Isn't that Ash's hat?" Misty said as she picked up the Pokémon League cap that was undoubtedly Ash's.

"Pika..." Pikachu said sadly lowering his ears.

"Hey you guys, get over here" Brock called from down the path.

Misty stood up and began to run down the path towards him. "What is it?"

"Looks like someone got into a fight" Brock said as he pointed into the forest beside the path.

The trees all around had been burned and Misty noticed most were destroyed. A little further in, she noticed a Rapidash lying on the ground, flames burning weakly. "Oh the poor thing" She said and without thinking, she walked in and knelt beside it. When Brock knelt down beside her she looked over at him. "Will it be ok?"

"I think so" Brock said. "Probably got into a tough battle or something, nothing that can't be helped" He said as he put down his bag beside him and took out some super potion.

"This one looked a little different than other, doesn't it?" Misty said looking at the Rapidash again as Brock sprayed some of the Super Potion on it. "It's like Ash's Noctowl, different coloured"

The Rapidash's eyes fluttered opened and he looked around. His vision was blurry but it could make out Brock and Misty. It neighed happily when it saw them.

Misty smiled. "Wow, this sure is a friendly one, especially for a wild Pokémon"

The Rapidash tilted his head and looked at Misty. He looked over and saw one of Brocks pots hanging out of the bag. He gasped when he saw it.

[I'm a Rapidash?!] Ash yelled jumping up as he saw his reflection in the pot, which reflected a Rapidash with brown eyes, a mane of black flames and his fur a darker colour than normal Rapidash. [No way, it can't be!]

"Rapidash, calm down" Misty said as the Pokémon began to panic.

[Calm down?! I'm a Rapidash! And I'm not even the right colour!] Ash yelled, rearing up and, without thinking, thrashing his hooves out dangerously.

Brock and Misty pulled away from the wild Rapidash and looked at it nervously. "Brock, what's the matter with it?"

"I don't know Misty, but we have to calm it down" Brock said, pulling Misty a little further away from the Rapidash.

"Rapidash" Misty said stepping forward. "If you don't calm down we can't help you, so please, take it easy"

Ash opened his eyes and looked down at Misty. It sighed and went back onto all fours as he began to relax. He looked over at Misty and nodded his head to show he was sorry.

Misty sighed. "Now that's better" She said, walking over to him. "Your a cute Rapidash, ain't ya?" She smiled as she patted his shoulder.

If Ash had been a human at that point, he'd be as red as a Charmeleon with the comment. He suddenly noticed how tall he was as a Rapidash, Misty was only up to his shoulder. Then he suddenly noticed how hungry he was, or at least his stomach told him.

Misty giggle. "Sounds like someone's hungry. Want some breakfast?"

Ash, of course, hardly ever refused a meal, so he nodded and neighed happily.

After Ash had filled himself up, he had decided to take a rest. After the Ninetails attack he was feeling tired, so he fell asleep quickly.

Just after he had fallen asleep, Misty and Brock had released Ash's Pokémon and were ordering them to go with Brock to look for Ash. Misty had been made stay behind with Rapidash and Togepi, who were both asleep.

Misty sighed as she sat so that Togepi was asleep in her arms and Rapidash was asleep in front her. "Were are you Ash?" She thought as she absentmindedly patted Rapidash on the shoulder.