Things were not looking good for Ash. Already he was cornered by a swarm of wild rattata. There was no telling what could happen if he didn't get out of there.
In a desperate attempt to flee Ash had climbed up a tree. Now he was stuck up a tree with the mob swarming around it.
"Wait," Ash held on tightly to his Kakuna, "It looks like they're leaving!"
Ash was right the rattata were indeed leaving, but just as Ash was ready to climb down the rattata came charging back in full force! The massive wave of the sharp toothed rodents rolled right into the tree, rattling Ash and Kakuna like beads in a rattle!
"Wha!" Ash wrapped his one arm around the trunk of the tree as the wild pokemon charged again and again, "They're trying to topple the tree!"
In a moment of realization Clover gasped sending Erik turning back to her in worry.
"Ash!" Clover yelled, "Erik, you need to go in the forest and look for Ash! Oh lord he could be dead by now!"
Before Clover could say anymore Erik was already out the door on his Dragonite.
"Looks like we're done for, buddy!" Ash clung to his Kakuna for dear life. The tree couldn't take much more of the rattatas' constant battering.
Ash closed his eyes, hoping to spend his last moments in peace, but the action only seemed to heighten his other senses. There was the sound of at least a hundred sets of paws racing towards him, along with the creatures' angry cries as they charged. The smell of the foul creatures permeated Ash's nostrils, making him want to vomit. Ash's only comfort was the smooth shell of his friend beneath his fingers, and even that was spoiled by his own perspiration making him difficult to hold onto.
Again the tree lurched and a loud 'CRACK!' echoed throughout the forest. The rattata seemed to cheer and began ramming the tree with more vigor. With each ram the tree creaked, and with each ram Kakuna slipped more and more out of Ash's grip.
With one powerful tackle attack, Kakuna slipped out of Ash's hands! Almost immediately Ash's eyes snapped open just in time to see his Kakuna fall into the sea of rattata. Before Ash could see his friend perish, he dived off the tree and into the army of rats.
Erik scowled. All of this, because he wasn't at his cabin. This was all his fault! If he was at the cabin when Clover and Ash showed up, he could have found Sandshrew in no time and Ash would have never gone into the forest! And Sandshrew! Erik probably ruined this pokemon and his trainer's entire career! No matter what, Erik felt he was to blame.
No! Erik snapped himself out of his pity party. He couldn't be blamed for everything. There was no way of telling that Ash and Clover would show up. Besides, Erik was sure he could pull a few strings for Ash if he needed to; he was, after all,-
Erik's train of thought was cut off by the cry of his Dragonite. Directing his attention below, Erik stared in horror as he saw Ash dive toward the swarm of rattata!
Erik screamed to his Dragonite to dive. Faster and faster. The wind was cutting Erik's cheeks by then, but he shrugged it off. He had to catch that kid!
Almost there! Almost there! NO! Erik and his Dragonite were a second too late! Ash plummeted into the fury of teeth and claws, his signature hat flying off into the distance.
Ash was falling. He did not know what was going to happen. All that mattered was reaching his friend before he hit the ground.
Ash wasn't a complete fool. He knew that he would most likely not make it out of this. There was nobody to save him and even if there was, it would take a master to defeat all of the rattata in time.
His only hope was to reach Kakuna and return him to his pokeball before the rats got him. Pulling Kakuna's pokeball from his belt, Ash dived into the sea of angry teeth and claws.
