Horrible Ransom note by WyldClaw
Plot: If you think I own any characters or ideas then a Steelix must have hit you hard...CAUSE I DON'T! " "= Human speech, italics are thoughts, () have translated poke-speech in them. The lullaby is all mine. I know Togepi's pronunciation of Aerodactyl is wrong but he's just a baby . this take place after the rocket attack. Please read and review. Thanks!
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"Be warned. This might sting your ribs a bit but it's going to help them heal. " Misty said as she placed the warm compress over Ash's ribs. They were back in their room at the Mahogany Town Pokémon Center.
As soon as the compress touched the skin, he winced from his spot on the bed on the bed. "Yeouch!"
She looked down at him. "Sorry, I warned you. Arbok must have been squeezing you extremely tightly. "
"he was . I couldn't even move an inch. I hate, I hate , I hate That stupid snake." he muttered under his breath.
Togepi looked up -Misty had let him out of his pokéball when they arrived in the Center but he had seen the whole attack through the ball. (Be glad you're not weally injured daddy.)
(At least arbok didn't pierce your skin with his fangs) Pikachu commented as he shuddered recalling the fangs piercing his skin back at the Cerulean City Gym just before the whole fiasco with Lawrence.
His trainer nodded. " I know pal. It was only dumb luck she didn't have had him do that. Also you know who would have been downright peeved at them - not that it would have stopped him."
The girl nodded as she stroked her boyfriend's hair. "That was a close call today."
"Too close if you ask me" he grumbled and then winced.
(When that Aerodactyl snagged me I thought it was going to eat me, not save me and take out the ballon.) The mouse remarked as Ash scratched him behind the ears.
"So did I, pal. "
(I was scared though my Pokeball, mommy. that airohdactyl was scary) Togepi had trouble with the name.
Misty smiled down at the little pokemon. " I know. They are scary looking Pokemon"
"The one in Grandpa canyon was bad enough" the teen shuddered. He still recalled the cold feel of the ancient pokemon's talons in his skin. If Charmeleon hadn't evolved into Charizard and Jigglypuff hadn't sung I wouldn't be here.
(You faced an airohdactyl before Daddy?) Togepi asked from the floor.
he nodded. "yup. I'll never forget it. it was where we found your egg."
(what happened?)
(I'll tell you over here Togepi) Pikachu said. His trainer let out a sigh of relief as the mouse jumped off the bed, walked over to the other side of the room, Togepi following him and started explaining what had happened.
The teen caught snatches of their conversation but wasn't really listening. His eyes glanced to the bedside table to the furled note. He gulped. In a way he was scared to read it-which was kind odd given all the things he had seen since starting his pokemon journey. Me, the kid who's faced Lawrence twice, as well as Dr. Namba, Domino, and Giovanni himself- scared of what's in that note. Misty knew what he was thinking and stopped stroking his hair. "You okay?"
"Just… thinking."
"About what those dolts said about you know who?"
"A little. " He admitted. " It's more…" he looked toward the folded up note.
You don't want to see what's on there, do you?" she looked at him and he nodded. "Cause of what you might see?"
"Not really." He squeezed her hand. "Cause I don't want know how hurt she is or what I'll have to do to save her. I mean," He lowered his voice "I nearly lost you the last time I got one of those notes and. And…" he trailed off.
She gave him a kiss on both cheeks. "That's totally understandable. Let's cheek your ribs"
She tenderly lifted the rag, put it to the side then examined the damage from under the clean white shirt Nurse Joy made Ash put on. It doesn't look that bad at all she thought. The injured ribs were a little bruised but the compress had worked. Arbok had squeezed him extremely tightly but there was no permanent damage. He's lucky it wasn't worse "How doe it looks?" He asked.
She was truthful. "It's a little bruised but there is no lasting damage. "
Pikachu and Togepi came back over and jumped up on the bed. (Doesn't look that bad at all) the mouse remarked.
(You'll be back to your wegular self soon, wight daddy?) There was a sad tone in his question. Togepi knew that ever since the airship incident Ash hadn't been the same. (Wight?)
He propped himself up to a sitting position and looked at the little pokemon. "Y-yeah."
Pikachu got the note from the table and gave it to his trainer (here ash)
"Thanks, buddy". He carefully unfurled the note and started reading .As he read the note to himself the color drained from his face , his courage plummeted to his shoes and his hands shook.
"What's wrong" Misty asked.
(What's it say?)
(Why are you shaking?)
He showed them the note. It was written in huge letters. The huge red stains on the paper plainly weren't marker. The note read: I know who you are. I stole something from you. You will never see it again if you do not follow these instructions. Come to the heart of Mahogany Forest by 4PM tomorrow. Come alone. No tricks or police. If you do not come I will paint the forest red with the Cyndaquil's blood& kill it. Then I will come after you. You can't hide. As if to prove the point there was a huge red smear-certainly not paint- at the bottom of the page.
They looked at one another. (Whoever did this is truly sick) Pikachu said pointing at the red splotches. Nobody said anything about what the stains were- they knew the stains were dried blood.
"
"What do we do?" misty whispered.
"We-… I don't have a choice. We h-have to d-do what it says," Ash said, biting his lip – a habit he did when he was nervous or anxious. "If we don't..." he looked away for a few minutes.
Both his girlfriend and the pokemon saw his face. (Who do you think sent this note)?
"Don't know Pikachu but whoever it is knows where w-we are" his friend's voice was shaky. They could be watching us right now. The teen looked nervously around.
"We'll get her back, Ash" misty reassured him.
He looked at her, a sad look in his eyes. "You really think so"
"I know we will"
(You can do it daddy. Don't give up. Whoever took cyndaquil is going to wegret it) Togepi added helpfully.
(He's right. You're a great trainer. You can't give up ... for her sake) Pikachu put in.
His trainer scratched him behind the ear. "Thanks pal."
Time lapse Time lapse Time lapse Time lapse Time lapse Time lapse
That night doubts swirled in Ash's head and he couldn't sleep whether it was due to the note or his rib. He also had a bad dream that shook hin up. He watched in horror as Misty Pikachu and cyndaquil were tortured in different ways. He'd fallen down this hole with voices mocking him, saying things like how was just a kid and he wouldn't be able to save his own pokemon, things like that.
He sat up in bed thinking while stroking Pikachu's fur. Who wrote that horrible note? How did they know where I was? Who is the person James and meowth were talking about? What will we find in the woods tomorrow? Will it be another trap? He gulped just thinking about it.
He was no Espeon but Pikachu had been with the boy long enough to know what was on his mind. The little mouse licked his trainer's hand. (Are you worried about tomorrow?)
"Yeah." He nodded. "Who do you think took her?"
(I don't know. like I said whoever did it is really sick) the mouse shuddered, thinking about the dried blood on the note.
"And tricky" he added. " He knew we were in Mahogany and framed Jessie James and Meowth, almost knowing..."
(We'd blame them and They'd try to snag us) the mouse ended. (You'll find a way to save her. You usually do. Remember when you went after that stupid robot of theirs and nearly got squashed when the dimwits took Bayleef and me?)
At the sound of her name, Bayleef raised her head sleepily from the floor. (Hmm? Did you say my name?)
He patted her head. " Just about how I nearly got flattened chasing that stupid Bayleef-bot of team rockets when they took you."
She chuckled. (And you kept on begging me to help break the glass? And I was so mad at you I didn't want to help at first. I was so stubborn! I would get so show-offy just to make you pay attention to me.)
Pikachu smiled. (Yeah – you'd push me out of the way or something. You jumped on ash all the time)
The grass type was thankful it was pitch dark and they couldn't see her blush. (So I was a stubborn love sick Chickorita at the time. I mellowed out over time. ) The mention of this did nothing to erase the sadness she saw on his face. Ash looks sad. She thought. She licked his face constantly as a sign of affection.
" th-that tickles, Bayleef"
Out of the corner of her eyes, Bayleef saw a smile cross misty's face. She stopped a few minutes later (sorry, You were looking down and I thought it might make you remember the old time. you know before...)
A slow smile came across his face. "You wanted to cheer me up, huh?"
She nodded. (did it work?)
"A little."
(What's this I hear about someone taking Cyndaquil?)
He nodded. " Team rocket." He explained about the attack. "And-and." he pointed to the note on the bedside table.
She used Vine Whip to pick up the note and read it once before putting it back. (That's ... that's. way beyond evil and devious. there's no one way to describe it)
(That's describes it perfectly) Pikachu told her.
She lowered her voice (how are you going to get her back?)
He didn't say anything for a while, just fiddled with his covers. The grass type pokemon could tell he was trying to think. Poor Ash. She thought.
(We can't trick this person, whoever he is, or,) Pikachu couldn't even end his sentence.
"Nothing I can do but follow what it says. Whoever wrote that note means business. That's why I couldn't sleep."
(You think that maybe my Sweet Scent might help you sleep?) She asked.
(It might) Pikachu told her.
"We did go through a lot today so it should-" the teen yawned. "Should w-work"
(Okay.) Bayleef waved her scythe. A small cloud of sweet smelling pink powder fell over them and the mouse fell fast asleep. Ash felt his worries disappear a bit. (Did it help?)
"A just little" he truthfully said. "I think it's also my injuries from Jessie's Arbok." He went on to tell her about the attack. she gasped in all the right places.
(Oh my goodness. That's terrible. ) She saw a tear escaping her trainer's brown eyes down his face and wiped it away with her vine. (It's okay, they're gone.)
"They came super close. " He sighed. "What am I going to do Bayleef?" he asked her quietly. "The thought of her in his grasp..."
(I wish I knew but I don't.) She noticed him looking at Pikachu for a few seconds. (You don't any of us to end up in his) she spat on the floor (hands after what happened on the airship with that persian)
"N-no" his voice was barely a whisper as he shook his head." I never want to see any of you guys in his hands or…w-worse " he gulped.. Rai-" he corrected himself -"Pikachu came way too close for my liking. "
She nuzzled his cheek. (We're right here for you. why would we go with him?). He smiled and yawned. She nudged him gently. (Get some Sleep. You're exhausted. After what happened I don't blame you. But you're not doing cyndaquil, or any of us favors by worrying yourself like this. I know you're worried about Cyndaquil's saftey but I have a feeling that she's okay. She's probably scared too. You need all your strength for tomorrow-I'll stay awake to make sure no one disturbs you.)
"Thanks Bayleef." he closed his eyes and before his head hit pillow he was asleep. His last thought before he fell asleep was don't worry, Cyndaquil I'll find you
Bayleef looked over at her trainer and sighed. Poor Ash. I can't say I blame him for being nervous about tomorrow. I wish I could help but that note mean serious, serious business. She looked out of the window. (Stay strong cyndaquil. where ever you are, stay strong we're coming)
XXX scene change XXX
Meanwhile deep in the Mahogany a single extremely injured figure was underneath a thick net. Cyndaquil had her paws chained together and a muzzle around her mouth as well as a heavy steel collar around her neck, which was linked to a strong fireproof chain connected to a nearby tree. There was a thick shock collar around her body. Devon had put her through another day of hellish torture.
She had tried to escape but got a huge shock every time so Parts of her skins were burnt raw. Devon said he needed to "test the net and collars out for tomorrow".
Cyndaquil looked up at the moon. She didn't know what he meant but it gave her a chill. He had even moved her far apart from the rejects so as to make her despair worse. Please save me. She didn't know if she would ever see her trainer or teammates again. She held back a tear. I have to stay strong. I know he'll find me. I have to stay strong.
Shea's voice entered her mind. Don't give up hope little one.
Shea? How can you-
I'm Part Espeon remember?
But what about that collar Devon put on you to suppress your powers?
It doesn't work on regular thoughts- only if I'm using my powers with it.
Speak with your mind.
I don't know how much more of this abuse from Devon I can take. He's using me to get my trainer and Pikachu- I don't know why. A tear ran down her face. I want to stay strong but after all I've been through I don't know how much more I can last. Wh-when I was here with my foster mother she was the strong one.
The traitor Quilava Devon was talking about?
Cyndaquil nodded. She wasn't my real mother. She defended my lone egg against an Arbok attack and raised me as her own after he murdered her own pups. I just found out the truth recently but Quilava was the only maternal figure I knew.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Thanks ….I'm terrified. Cyndaquil admitted.
Don't give up hope this easily, cyndaquil. I can tell from your stories that your trainer won't rest until he finds you. She paused. Do you have a Bayleef teammate?
She gasped. Yes! She's really friendly and kind.
My powers don't extend that far with the collar but my ears word fine. I thought I heard one say 'stay strong. We're coming'
That's ash's Bayleef! She tried to free herself but was rewarded with an electrical zap. I don't know if I can stay stronger much longer Shea. She admitted I don't know if I can fall asleep. I'm too scared of what tomorrow might bring
Let me sing you a song my trainer used to sing. Shea's voice took on a relaxing tone as she sang the song 'tomorrow'.
Th-that was beautiful.
Thanks. This is a lullaby I used to sing to my kits to get them to sleep when they were scared
You were a mother? Cyndaquil asked sleepily.
Once but that was .. in the past There was a wistful tone in Shea's voice as she began singing.
Just relax. Little one you've played all day
And had lots of fun
But it's time to sleep and ream the night away
Now that the day is done
Rest your weary little head
Now's time for all little pokemon to be asleep in bed
Close your tired eyes
That's a dear
Time to dream of sweet berry pies
And other good things- nothing to fear
Your body is weary
It's telling you it's time for sleep-y
Let go of your fears and worries too
For in your dreams nothing can harm you...
Let go of your fears and worries too
For in your dreams nothing can harm you...
However by the time the young hybrid got to the last verse the little fire type was fast asleep.
To Be Continued
