Real Friends

Flashback 1 day ago,

Alakazam came running down towards Axel to give him an important piece of information.

"Hey, what happened? You look serious?", asked Axel.

"I have some serious news. That king rank Arcanine is going to die after a few days.", said Alakazam.

"What? I thought it could still live for a couple of months. Why is it dying after a few days?", asked Axel.

"Well, I could not go to the south to personally find out. The place is heavily guarded and they don't want any other Pokemons to come there. However, I did talk to the rulers of the other side of the forest. They said that it was a human and his Pokemon that had severely hurt Arcanine."

"Light, I don't think that is possible. Even though Arcanine had become weak due to old age, it is still a tier 3 king-rank Pokemon. I don't think there is anyone in the Hakone city that could hurt a tier 3 king-rank Pokemon.", said Axel.

Axel had heard that the king rank Arcanine of the south side of the forest would be dying soon due to old age. It was the king of the south side of the forest. After a king dies, another king would take the throne and that would create a lot of bloodshed.

Axel was worried that it would also affect the city, so he decided to stay here for a couple of months to protect his family. He had also told Alakazam to talk to the other rulers of the east and west sides to know what was happening. As Axel was busy with the competition, he didn't go with Alakazam personally to talk to them. 

"I also don't think that there is someone capable enough to injure Arcanine.", said Alakazam.

"There could only be 2 reasons for it. Either the Pokemons are wrong about the human interference or there is someone hiding in the dark who wants to create problems for us.", concluded Axel.

"Yes, I believe in the second reason. The Pokemons are not stupid. They would know if there is a human interference or not."

"OK, I will talk to the mayor about it after the end of the competition. I believe that the Pokemons want to start a tide now.", said Axel.

"Yes, you are right. After the death of Arcanine, the wild Pokemons of the south side of the forest would start a Pokemon tide. I think we might have a week or two to prepare.", said Alakazam.

"Are the east and the west sides supporting us?", asked Axel.

"Yes, they are. But they are not going to send anyone weaker than that rare rank. I don't know the exact numbers of their help. Axel, I don't think that we have enough force to withstand this tide. We might win, but we will suffer heavy losses.

The south side of the forest is the biggest forest of the city and it is also very rich in resources.", said Alakazam.

"Don't worry, I will handle it. For now, we prepare. I will talk to the mayor and we will start to prepare for the tide. I will also contact the league for help.", said Axel.

Flashback end.

###

"So, the sons of Arcanine want vengeance and you are going to face a Pokemon tide?", asked Lance.

"Yes."

"So, how powerful are they?", asked Kate. Everyone was listening to the story. 

"Well, there are 2 sons of Arcanine and both of them are tier 3 king-rank Pokemons.", said Axel.

"Damn! That is a huge force. What is the grade of tide that we are going to face?", asked Lance.

"We?"

"Of course, I am not letting my brother face the tide alone."

"Thanks, Lance. Help is appreciated. I don't know about the grade of the tide but it would not be as severe as Kanto league. I plan to meet with the mayor tomorrow and discuss this with him.

So, Lance is down. Are any one of you interested in facing the tide with me?", asked Axel and looked at others.

K immediately agreed. He wanted first-hand experience in dealing with the tide and Axel was also his sworn brother. So, he could not say no.

Cody wanted Axel to confirm with Angela. Cody had a tier 3 king rank Pokemon and he was a powerful trainer in the ranks of Venu family. So, the permission of the leader was a must. The tide might go on for months.

Axel messaged Angela about the issue and she replied immediately saying that Cody could stay there. She also said that if Axel needed some help, then she would send some force to deal with the tide.

Axel was happy with the positive response. 

3 of them had agreed to help Axel and he was happy. Lance and Cody were powerful trainers as they had king-rank Pokemons. 

When Axel looked at others, their reply was not so positive.

"Axel, I want to help, I really do, but you also know that I work for the league. The league would not want me to face such a thing so early in my career. So, I would have to say no.", said Lorelai.

Axel nodded his head. He could understand it. He was asking her to risk her life. It was perfectly normal to say no.

"Axel, we are also sorry. But our family has some secret quest that we must finish. So, me and Hymer would not be able to participate.", said Lyra.

And finally,...

"Sorry Axel, we also have some unfinished work to complete. Our parents would also not let us fight the tide ourselves without any personal backup. So, we will also have to say no.", said Kate on behalf of Zard family.

Loyal and un-loyal friends would separate when the death countdown comes. Axel was not sad that they said no. It was too much to ask for them to risk their life. But now, he knew who were his real friends and who were not.

"I don't mind. You can choose to participate or choose to back down. But if you are choosing to back down, then you will have to go back tomorrow morning cause the tide will be coming soon and all of us would be busy.", said Axel.

Those who said no, nodded their head in understanding. It was a polite way to say 'Fuck off' and they understood it. However, none of them complained cause they knew that they were torchiking out. 

###

Axel was happy that Cody, K, and Lance said yes. Frank was his student, so he was bound to stay with him. He vowed himself that these 4 would get the greatest help of Axel when needed. Now, he was a weak trainer in the grand scheme of things but he will be stronger in the future and he would help them reach new heights.

Kate, Ryker, Lorelai, Hymer and Lyra had made an easy choice to back down but they didn't know that they would have to pay heavily in the future.

###

They didn't know the grade of the tide. The grade might not be very high considering that the tide was going to happen in Hakone city. But it still spoke volumes when Lance and the group said to join cause they didn't even know the details of the tide. That was why Axel was so grateful. 

Axel had many plans in his mind but it would need some time and now he needed to calm down. He was obviously going to be the commander of this battle and he needed strategy.

###

They finished their dinner and Axel went to bed. He immediately called Hector.

"Hello."

"Hello, sir. It is nice to have your call.", replied Hector.

Hector was his second man. He had made a mercenary group a while ago and now they were training to raise their ranks and their Pokemon ranks. 

"Hector, I need your help. Summon all our members in my town. We are going to face a Pokemon tide.", said Axel.

"Yes sir. We are all ready. We are still shy from meeting the requirements but I believe that this tide will help us in achieving our goal. By the way, sir, what is the grade of the tide?", asked Hector.

"I have just been informed about it, so I don't know but I will get the answer by the time you come here. How much time do you need to come here?", asked Axel.

"I will need 3 days to come here.", said Hector.

"Spare no expense. Use all your connections and some extra money to come here fast. I will be waiting.", said Axel.

"Yes sir."

###

After calling Axel, he called Oak. He would have called Red but Red was on a mission and was still not available.

"Boy, give me a good reason for calling me during nighttime!!!", roared Oak.

Oak valued his sleep and he didn't like getting disturbed.

"I am facing a tide in the Hakone city."

Oak immediately calmed down after hearing the reason cause it was serious.

"What help do you need from me? I don't have an army to help you out.", said Oak.

Oak might not have an army to help him but even one of his master rank Pokemon could finish the battle. Master rank Pokemon was the highest rank Pokemon in mortal rank. They were not a joke.

"I know, I didn't call you for support. I want advice. Normally, I would ask Red for advice but Red is busy with the mission.", said Axel.

"Oh, so tell me the situation of the tide."

"Well, I don't know the exact grade of the tide as it would take a couple of days to figure it out but I can tell that the highest rank Pokemon would not be higher than tier 3 king rank. 

The attacks would only be from the south of the forest, so that is a relief.", said Axel.

"That is where you are wrong, Axel."

"How come?"

"Isn't the east and west side of the forest connected to the south side?", said Oak.

"Yes."

"So, are you getting what I am trying to say?", said Oak.

He thought for some time and then he came to a horrible realization.

"Damn it! They are going to attack the west and east sides too!!", shouted Axel.

Axel was a bit relaxed at first cause he knew that he would only have to deal 1 side of the forest as the east and west sides had friendly relations with him. 

3 sides of Hakone city were covered in forest. East, west, and south. The north side was the city. So, he expected help from the east and west sides and since he would have to concentrate on only 1 side, the pressure of the battle would be reduced by a huge margin. 

However, he failed to notice that the east, west, and south sides were connected with the forest. So, the help from the Pokemons of the east and west sides may not arrive and he might even have to help them in facing the tide. 

The battle had not become very hard.

"I want one help from you.", said Axel.

"Speak."

"If I cannot defend the city, you will have to take care of my family.", said Axel.

"No, I cannot do that.", replied Oak.

"Why? You helped me personally during my first tide experience and you don't want to even help my family now?", asked Axel.

"Axel, you are thinking it in the wrong way. Of course, I could help your family. I could even help you clear this tide without any casualty. But I would not do it.

You need to grow Axel. If I assured you to help your family, you will not feel the pressure of this tide. Previously, you were just a greenhorn, so I gave you assurance to protect you but now you are in the process of becoming a battle veteran. You would now become the leader of this tide and you need to learn the pressure of such a responsibility.

If I helped you in this, then you will never feel pressure. But now, you will not only have to save the city but also your family and yourself. Everything you hold dear is on the line. 

So, tell me, Axel, are you ready for it?"