While this is not a reqest, it is based on a PM from Animemangalover24: "Are you going to update your story "runs with Toros"?" It is also the final chapter for this story.

# 128: Tauros; the Wild Bull Pokemon.

Pokedex entry: After seeing an enemy, it whips itself with it's three long tails while charging. The members of a herd will often butt heads with themselves to prove their strength, even against the battle-scarred protector.

NOTE: Contains vague reference to my DISCONTINUED story; Runs With Tauros. Uses the Fuschia City format from Red, Yellow and Blue. As well as the un-aired, in America, Pokemon Safari Episode.

Rated: High T for animal and human abuse as well as gun use.

Before I let you see the chapter, I just want to say something. I'm sorry. I wrote this with the intention of staying with it during a time when my life was nothing but chaos and I needed to escape from it. I feel like I've let you all down, everyone whose favorited and like this story, and me. I just can't finish it anymore. There's too many and it's too much. I am so sorry.

And now, without further ado, the final chapter of this story: Runs with Tauros.

"Mom, can I get a Pokemon now?" Eight year old Ash asked, taking his mother's hand as they walked through Fuschia City to reach his grandfather Koga's home.

Delia shook her head, her arm laiden with grocceries. "No, sweetheart I'm sorry. You still have to wait another two years.

Ash looked down with a pout, letting his mother's hand go. He didn't want to wait. Why should he? Kids that were years younger than him got pokemon. It wasn't fair. Ash stopped by the fenced Tauros pen, mulling over his anger.

"Hold still you stupid-!"

He heard that voice, followed by the cracking of a whip and the cries of a pokemon in pain. He ran around the pen to see two men, on in the pen with a whip and the other by the open portion. "Get that thing loaded in here!"

The one in the pen smacked the whip against the animal, who cried out but didn't move. "Damn thing isn't moving!"

"Hey!" Ash wasn't aware he'd even spoken, let alone began moving, until he stood in front of the man and the tiny bull. "Leave it alone you bully!"

"Move you little brat!" The man said, glaring him down and smacking the two tailed whip to enforce his authority over the child.

"No!" Ash yelled, spreading his arms out to protect the bull even as he wet himself. He was being big, brave, to prove he could handle himself and have a pokemon.

The man laughed, pulling the whip back. "Brat!"

Feeling the whip's end with small metal embedded hit his eye made Ash bleed, it stung and burned, but he wasn't backing away. "Make me! You big jerk!" He yelled, closing his eye as he felt blood leaving it.

The bull behind Ash was shaking in horror. If it wasn't so small and so afraid, it could do something. But it was both, and a small human was protecting him. What could he do?

"Little brat!" The man was about to strike the child again, when his buddy walked forwards.

"Here, I got this." He said, reaching into his vest. He pulled out a gun and aimed it at Ash.

"Whoa, your gonna shoot a kid? Really?" The first man asked.

The second man pulled back the hammer. "You didn't mind smack him with your whip." He said, looking at the first man. He turned back to Ash, and fired.

The boy felt the bullet whoosh past him, the air rushing past his ear and into his hair. He let out a scream of terror and pain from the bang of the shoot, which got louder when the gun cocked again.

"Oh be silent, your making a scene." The second man said, aiming again. He looked over at his accomplice. "Get ready to move the body."

The first man shook his head. "No way man. I'm out!" He took off running, just as there was a quiet bellow.

All Ash heard was the bellowing of something, the gun firing, and the ringing before all was quiet but his screams. He didn't remember much after that, other than he was in the hospital, being grounded and never being able to have a pokemon until he moved out of the house. The ringing stopped, the bleeding dried and was cleaned. It was revealed that he was now blind in that eye and would have hearing trouble for the rest of his life.

All he kept asking about was the small bull he encountered that day.

Two weeks later, the Warren of the Safari came to see Ash and his mother.

"I'd like to take him on as my apprentice," he said. "When he's older anyway. It's mostly easy work, making food pellets for the trainers in the safari, collecting money from the trainers who enter." He explained. "You'll be great at it, after saving that Tauros calf from them poachers."

Ash nodded. "Is it okay?"

The man nodded. "He is, but he's awful skittish. Maybe, when your better, you can come by an' break him out of his slump."

"I'll do it." Ash said.

Three weeks later, Ash was released from the hospital and sent home. He went to see the Tauros as soon as he could.

"Hi there." Ash said, coming up to the pokemon that had been moved to a new pen.

It saw him and recognized him after a few moments. It made it's way to him with a gallop, sticking it's head through the fence to gently butt heads with him.

"Easy boy." Ash said, smiling at it. He saw that there was a hole in it's horn. Ash took his bandanna off and threaded it through before tying it. "There. Good as new." He received a happy bellow in response.

50 years later

"Is that a real story, grandpa?" Mazi asked Ash as they walked through the Safari.

Ash nodded to his granddaughter, a bucket of feed in his hand and his trusty Growlithe by his side. "It sure it Maz." Something caught his eye. "And, here it comes."

A lone bull trotted over to them, a bandanna tied through it's horn. It went right up to Ash and gently butted heads with him.

Ash laughed softly. "Easy boy." He put a hand on it's head with a soft smile while the Growlithe circled it's legs in hello.

Mazi looked up at the creature, her eyes wide in amazement. It was true! She backed behind her grandfather when the big, opposing animal looked down at her. She peeked out as the beast lowered itself to her height with it's head bowed to let her pet it.

As Mazi reached to pet the old, large bull, Ash knelt down to pet Growlithe. The girl giggled as the bull breathed on her hand. They stayed that way for a few moments before the bull stood. It walked over to Ash, who was now standing and muttering about his back, and butted heads with him. But they stayed like that.

"It's time, isn't it?" Ash asked, getting a soft bellow. He untied the bandanna from it's horn. "Yeah, me too." He offered.

The bull nuzzled against Ash's cheek before it slowly pulled away and trotted off into the forest. When it was out of sight, Ash knelt next to Mazi.

"Here, Mazi," Ash said as he tied the bandanna around her neck. "This is yours now." He stood up with a smile. "Come on, let's go back home."

That was the last time Ash and the Tauros saw each other.