Plop!
The bobber hit the surface of the forest pond, making the Pokemon friends around Yellow cheer for good luck. However, she held her finger up to lips, making a shushing sound, as the group quietened down.
So far, it was a great fishing party! Plenty of berries to snack on, with each fruit checked with a "quality peck" for freshness. Some Butterfree had floated over some bait to use—a few pieces of bread and a handful of seeds—while two Pikachu was scoping out the water for fish.
Yellow knew from Uncle Wilton that real fishing required actual bait, but the thought of using other Pokemon to catch Pokemon—well, it just made her sick. Besides, the fish in the pond also liked to play along and get 'caught' on the string knot in the fishing line. Since it was much more preferable than a horrible hook, they had zero fear.
"This spot is no good!" One Pikachu proclaimed, as if they were the penultimate gatekeeper of all fishing knowledge, "We need to move!"
"Hardly!" Another Pikachu screeched, forgetting that silence was golden, before submerging their head fully into the water. After a few seconds, the mouse Pokemon yanked itself up with a splash, "Ha! I saw two!"
Yellow giggled, "Shh! You gotta be quiet!"
The sun set as the fishing party wrapped up. Everyone got what they wanted; several 'catches' and all the aquatic Pokemon had a yummy snack. Yellow tossed the remaining berries into the water.
"There you go!" Her giddiness was infectious, causing the fish Pokemon to wiggle around, "Enjoy! Thank you for the party!"
Yellow felt the soothing reminders of Mother Forest. Time for dinner and going to sleep for another big day tomorrow. Tilting her head up, the young forest daughter could see a faint breeze through the branches.
"Yes, Mother Forest!" An excited agreement, "Can I have some of Uncle's candy too?"
A smaller, quieter breeze. Yellow frowned, pouting as the silent commands echoed through her blood and mind. Mother Forest was urging her to eat her plentiful harvest bounty and not the sugar from the 'outside' lands.
While Yellow knew it was bad for her, it was still so good!
"Okay," She relented, making headway towards her woodland bed, "Mother Forest, can I sing songs and play Flower Dance with you? I found some beautiful flowers! I asked if they wanted to be picked, because I know they like growing, and they said yes! Or they didn't really say nothing, they weren't…"
Long, whistling sounds through the exposed roots and falling leaves: Shhh.
Yellow came upon her small resting area, seeing her grass cot and little hutch covered in new flowers. She had put them on days earlier, under Mother Forest's careful eye. The last time, Yellow fell and almost broke her arm!
A fresh basket of apples sat next to her bed.. Excited, she plucked out a fat, crisp fruit and chomped away at it.
Pokemon around her settled in for the long night, finding solace and comfort where they could. As Yellow continued to eat, she began her nightly ritual of reading the stars. It was one of the few things she felt connected to Mother Forest on a spiritual level.
"That one is…" She said, musing, "... Oh! Canis Major!"
Somewhat odd, though. Usually, the Sirius star was bright, but it seemed to be dim tonight. Perhaps the light pollution of Viridian City was excessive right now? Even then, the star still should be recognizable…
The trees felt like they were growing bigger and bigger, covering her vision with darkness. Yellow stopped chewing, feeling like her throat was tightening up from the intense claustrophobia of the dark wood.
"Mother Forest?" Her timid voice called out, "It's very dark...I...I can't read the stars good."
Lurching. Low rumbling.
"... Mother Forest?"
Gurgling under the ground, vibrating with pulsating rage. The Pokemon around the secluded area woke up, bolting in panic and fleeing with any second thought. Yellow tried to make out the signals of nature, but her confusion had boiled to her brain.
"Mother Forest, what's—"
An ear-splitting, piercing wind howl whipped right by the girl, forcing her to her knees as the sound screeched all the way through the blackness. Everything around Yellow had become distorted, spiraling into a maze of bewilderment and horror, as she tried to regain her footing.
Trilling. Roaring. The fight in a protective mother to defend her young.
Run.
Yellow's little feet moved first, propelling her body towards whatever path could lead her to safety. The forest bulged in madness, making the paths darker and harder to keep track of where one was going. Choking, thick clouds filled the gifted child's nose, making her sick with every inhale.
Pungent scent struck her. Fire.
Her friends! Her friends! Her dear friends!
Vaulting over a fallen tree trunk, Yellow raced towards the smoke. The forest could not burn down! If the forest burned down, where will the poor Pokemon live? They'll be vulnerable to the elements and lose their food source for months!
More choking. The pungent scent almost knocked her out flat, forcing her into a dizzy state as Yellow tried to cover her nose and mouth. Who would set all this smoke? Even a simple campfire couldn't have caused this much damage.
Judging by the surrounding area, Yellow figured that she was close to the northeast area of the forest. A large body of water was nearby that could help put out the fire and save her friends. How she was going to accomplish that was beyond her but it was better than nothing.
Dizziness overtook her senses. Yellow couldn't make heads or tails of where she was going now. North? South? The stars were so covered that she could not even grasp at them for guidance.
"H-help…" So muffled, "Help…"
However, something cracked behind her. Dread dotted her forehead with sweat as the ground shook with fury. Yellow slowly turned, hoping that it was nothing more than a tree that had collapsed under the fire.
Glowing red eyes. White, sharp teeth. A hunger she had not seen before.
"Hello, runt."
Yellow backed away, her knees weak. Screams strangled in her throat. What was this creature? All she could read in their hearts was darkness and hunger. Long, stemming abuse and power mixed to create a beast.
It was a big, black dog with sharp horns. Like Uncle Wilton told her. But most dogs were cheerful dogs, he said. They like to protect people. This one had no interest in protecting her. In fact, it might want to eat her.
Run. Run. Run.
"Don't flee." The drool from the lower jaw dropped onto the ground. "I'll catch you, runt. I found you and I will find you again."
The earth shook with mighty power. Long, hefty tree roots exploded from the bottom, wedging itself between the two as the Pokemon leaped forward. The ground beneath the canine's paws sank as he fell into the abyss of dirt and roots.
Run, run, run!
An unnatural scream ripped across the burning scene. Yellow tried to cover her ears, but the bones inside her head rattled from the sound.
Mother Forest was in deep, horrific pain. She was calling out to her people. To all Pokemon that would defend her—and protect Yellow, the daughter. Centuries of magic and power swelled through the ground.
A streak of flames. The trapped dog was searing his way out of the wooded prison. It wouldn't be long before he caught up to her.
Yellow raced down the way. The river. She could hide at the river's end. The fire won't work there. Maybe whoever was doing this would stop when they realized it wouldn't work. A small prayer for a minor miracle.
"Yellow!"
The girl twisted her head, seeing a familiar Pikachu run down an inflamed trunk. An agile jump got her safely on Yellow's shoulder.
"ChuChu!" Yellow couldn't contain herself, "You're alive!"
"Not for long! There's people here-bad people! They're burning Mother Forest! What do we do?!" ChuChu's worry only heightened Yellow's fear. Bad men. Like the Pidgey claimed about that stranger.
Her bare feet swelled from the hot ground. She will collapse soon. Why didn't Yellow take her shoes like Uncle Wilton said?! She could run faster, pinching or no pinching!
However, another blast of fire made the two screech to a halt. Another dog, similar to the one before, but with smaller horns. Yellow could see the tongue slid across the sharp mouth, begging for a chance to dig in.
"Going somewhere, runt? You won't get far."
ChuChu puffed up her chest, "Leave Yellow alone!"
"Leave the heroics, rat. We're not interested in you. We've been tracking the girl." A thick, smug response, "Master will be so pleased. Maybe he'll make you our lunch."
Yellow paled. What were these Pokemon talking about? She never heard such things from a creature! All of her friends were so nice and cheerful, but these dogs were cruel! It was as if they looked forward to causing all this pain and destruction.
"Don't do this. Please. Mother Forest-"
"Who cares about a stupid forest? I want my food!"
A snap of the jaws and ChuChu had gotten snatched up. Yellow shrieked in horror as they tossed the mouse up in the air. The dog was treating her best friend as nothing more than a plaything, an idle toy to waste time with.
Screams. "Stop! Please! Stop!"
The earlier canine jumped into the scene, grabbing ChuChu's tail. Yellow flew upon her friend as the dogs pulled at the Pokemon. ChuChu was hanging on by a thread, her body stretching under the pressure and force.
Suddenly, a whistle. A high-pitched, jarring whistle. The dogs stopped, dropping the Pikachu to the ground as they stood at attention. Yellow scooped up her friend, focused entirely on healing.
ChuChu could not take deep breaths. Yellow's tears fell, weeping as she tried to heal her best friend. It would take all of her energy, but she had to. She just had to. If there was no ChuChu, then...
Her hand went over the first bite mark. Each deep sliver into the matted fur closed. Perhaps Yellow can heal ChuChu enough and go rescue other Pokemon. Maybe she could save them. Maybe…
"There she is!"
Yellow was too tired, scared, and weak to fight back. In a fell swoop, strangers had grabbed hold of her and made her drop ChuChu's frail body. Wailing, screeching sobs filled the air as they pinned her down.
"Mother Forest! Mother Forest, don't let them take me! Please! Don't let them take me! Mother Forest!"
Yellow's face smashed against some foul, sickly sweet cloth as her muffled cries tried to wrangle themselves free. Her limbs were giving out, unable to keep fighting, as cloudiness took over.
In the end, all Mother Forest and her remaining Pokemon children could do was watch as they carried away the young child.