Onix is On!
| Volume |
 Desperado Pikachu (Vol. 1) |
| Issue |
 Issue 2 - Wanted Pikachu |
| Japanese Title |
| VS. Onix |
| Scans |
 Yes |
| Important Locations |
| Pewter City Gym |
| Important Characters |
| Red, Blue, Brock |
| Events |
| Both Red and Blue defeat Brock and earn the Boulder Badge. |
| Pokemon Appearances |
| Pikachu, Poliwhirl, Bulbasaur, Onix |
Red is hurrying to the Pewter City Gym so that he can register to battle. When he arrives, there's a battle ring setup with a battle already in progress. Inside the ring is Red's rival Blue along with his newly evolved Charmeleon, who are already challenging Brock. Suddenly the announcer says "B-Block preliminary rounds will start." Red rushes to the reception desk to register before it's too late.
When it's Red's turn to compete, he must face Brock's henchmen before he can face the Gym Leader. Red is about to choose Pikachu, but it refuses to battle, so he's forced to use his other Pokemon instead, which aren't at full health. He sends out a tired Poliwhirl first to face the opponent's Graveler. Red doesn't waste any time, since one hit could KO Poliwhirl. Poliwhirl gets lucky and freezes Graveler solid with Ice Beam.
The trend of finishing the opposing Pokemon with the first attack continues, as Red's Poliwrath and Bulbasaur manage to get through the preliminary round to earn a match with the Gym Leader. Brock has been watching the whole time and is impressed with what he sees from Red and thinks that he has finally found a worthy adversary.
At the Gym's back entrance, Red begs Pikachu to battle Brock, since Poliwhirl and Bulbasaur are both exhausted. Pikachu refuses, so Red has to literally push it to the ring in time to battle. When the battle finally ensues, Brock's Onix attacks first with Rock Throw. At first Pikachu dodges the attacks with relative ease, but then one of the boulders hits it right in the head. Pikachu gets angry, but instead of attacking Onix, it turns around and shocks Red out instead, chasing his trainer around the ring.
Brock is infuriated and thinks that Red's wins were purely fluke. He tells Onix to use its ultimate attack-use its own body as a tornado, using the speed of the revolution to set off unstoppable shock waves. Once Onix starts the attack, Brock tells it to go for the final strike, Skull Bash. However, Red sees that Pikachu is about to get really hurt and jumps and grabs Pikachu out of way at the last second, saving both the match and his Pokemon.
Red asks Pikachu if it's all right and apologizes for forcing it to battle. He asks Pikachu if they can just be friends. Brock has had enough and tells Onix to attack once more, but Pikachu is ready this time and executes a devastating electric attack, sending Onix into pieces. Brock falls to his knees in shock exclaiming, "ItÖ it can't be." Pikachu takes a bow for the crowd as the referee raises Red's arm in victory.
As the sun is setting, Red admires his new Boulder Badge. Neither Red nor Blue ended up winning the bet, since they both were victorious at the Pewter City Gym. Red thanks Pikachu for helping him, introducing his good friends, Poliwhirl and Bulbasaur. Red invites Pikachu to join the team with a shake of the hand.
However, when Red grabs Pikachu's paw, Red gets a jolt of electricity, instead of the pledge of friendship he was hoping for. Pikachu begins chasing Red again, trying to shock him. Just when Red was thought they were finally getting somewhere, it was all a trick.
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