Hello again…I don't own Pokemon.
This chapter's a bit shorter than most, but it works better if I cut off at this point right now. I've got most of this written already, I'm just uploading it in pieces. Enjoy!!
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When he arrived on the scene just outside their home clearing, darkness had all but fallen. Even now, he was having trouble seeing. All around him, his family milled about in nervous agitation. It was feeling stuffy and warm, and their voices echoed all around him in his ears.
Oh dear, not this again.
I don't like this at all...
Frowning, Strange One pushed through the milling, murmuring crowd. In the dim light, his eyes strained, trying to recognize Tall One. He shook his head. This wasn't working. Then he had an idea. Concentrating, he let his blue Ice aura emerge, its light dimly illuminating the faces of the Pikachu. Where was Tall One?
There!
At a moment he was next to her. The question lingered in his eyes.
What's happened, Tall One?
She merely inclined her head towards the clearing, her eyes sad. What was wrong? Peering out from the underbrush, Strange One stared.
It was like his childhood all over again.
The cage stood there.
It stood with steel trap sprung, a grim metallic structure blatantly clashing with the peaceful nighttime forest that surrounded it.
But what Strange One saw inside the cage caused him to stiffen.
The young Pikachu that had been calling for help, now curled up into a frightened, shivering ball.
With a sob in his throat, Strange One leapt out into the clearing, still glowing. Tall One leapt over Strange One's head, blocking his path.
Don't, she said.
Strange One looked confused. Why?
Tall One sighed. He's been Taken.
Taken. The term for a Pikachu that had been captured by humans, Trainers or otherwise. Once a Pikachu was Taken, it was like they had never existed. But Strange One merely bristled at Tall One's answer, hissing through his teeth.
But he's right there! he protested.
Will you keep it down? And turn out that light! The humans could come any second! Do you want to endanger us all?! Tall One advanced on Strange One, trying to move him out of the clearing.
No. Strange One stood his ground, for the first time in his life blatantly disobeying Tall One. He didn't want another young one going through what he had. She seemed shocked by his reaction, but he spoke on nevertheless. Wasn't I Taken once? And didn't I come back? He shoved past Tall One and continued towards the cage, calling over his shoulder angrily. If you're so afraid, why don't you go back and hide with the rest of them?!
With that, he reached the cage, he looked back. Tall One was gone. With a sigh, Strange One turned back to the cage. Looked like he was doing this job alone.
*****
Peering through the bars, he stared at the baby Pikachu. It was the same kit who had tripped over him this morning. With a grunt, Strange One gave the bars a rattle.
Psst. Hey.
The young one's face appeared, forlon looking, even in the shadows.
Th-they didn't even c-come back! he murmured, shaking with shock. L-left me h-here... The young one curled up again, shivering.
Strange One hissed through his teeth again. So they had just left him, poor mite, to the mercy of his captors. He was angry with his family, angry with the humans who had set this trap, and angry with himself.
Why couldn't he open these bars? Furiously, he rattled the bars again, sizing up the situation.
Then he had an idea.
Carefully closing his eyes, Strange One called up all his Ice power. His dim blue aura flared up dramatically, brightly, dazzlingly white. The shadows were suddenly thrown backwards until the entire clearing was illuminated in the ghostly pale light. Feeling the energy surge through his body, Strange One opened his eyes.
And threw the Ice power at the bars.
He was careful to aim for only the bars, so as not to injure the young one inside, or cause the cage to accidentally collapse. First the bars froze. Then they shuddered. Strange One ground his teeth as he poured forth his final effort.
The bars shattered, falling to the ground as bits of metal, no longer a restraint to anything.
Strange One swayed a little, feeling horribly dizzy. His aura shriveled and disappeared, leaving everything dark again. He had never tried channeling that much power at once. He tottered a little, but managed to stay upright. The aura returned to aid his vision.
The kit!
In a twinkling, Strange One had brought him out of the horrible cage, carrying the little mite by the scruff of his neck. He had succeeded!
Loud rustling. And voices.
Human voices.
And lights.
With a flash, Strange One found himself riveted to the spot with fear. He tried hard to block his memories of the night he had escaped, which had been released by the lights. Bright lights. Bright, flashing lights.
Only now, this wasn't a memory.
They were back.
Strange One shuddered as the lights came closer.
The voices became clear enough to hear words.
"Blimey, that must've been some kind of explosion!"
"Here it is, I've found the cage."
There were a few shouted oaths as the bright beams rested on the ruined, frozen cage.
"Look at that! What could've done that?"
A lump rose in Strange One's throat as the beams suddenly oriented on him, attracted by his aura.
There were several more oaths shouted, but Strange One still couldn't feel his limbs.
"What the-"
"What is that?!"
"Grab it quick, before it bolts. Who has the tranqs?"
The humans were approaching. Why couldn't he move?
Then, as if on cue, the baby Pikachu in his mouth woke up and started wriggling and squalling.
"PPPPIIIIKAAAA!!!"
The cry brought Strange One to his senses. If he didn't move immediately, his life and that of the young one would be forefit to the humans. Suddenly, the feeling returned to his legs.
Strange One bolted, a tranquilizer dart lodging in the ground where he had stood moments later. There was an explosion of shouting as the beam followed him.
Then he was in the woods, blindly running through the underbrush, the lights not far behind him. Small branches stung at his face and legs as he ran.
Stop!
Some sixth sense stopped Strange One in his tracks, inches in front of a large tree. Thrusting out his forepaws, he groped until he felt the bark. The voices were getting closer again. Groping wildly, Strange One fought down his urge to panic and scream.
Then he found a hole in the tree.
Without a second thought, Strange One pushed his charge through, hurling himself into the hole at the same moment. Then, grabbing hold of the baby in his mouth once more, he started climbing up.
The center of the tree was hollow!
He felt a ledge. Saw it too, now that his eyes were used to the darkness. Pushing the baby Pikachu onto it, he then levered himself onto the ample ledge. Clamping a paw about the young one's mouth to keep him from squalling, the Pikablu held his breath, only hearing his heartbeat for moments.
Then the voices of the humans became clear again.
"Where'd it go?"
"Check up in the trees, I think they can climb trees."
"See any shaking branches?"
"No. How `bout holes in the ground?"
Strange One bit his lip as he saw, down below at the base of the tree. The beam of light scanned the enterance to the hiding place...
And then it was gone. By getting up on the ledge, Strange One had managed to evade them!
There was a sigh from outside.
"Best give it up. Thing's long gone."
"Should report this, don't you think?"
"Yeah, the boss'l be glad its here, and not in some city."
The voices died away slowly, until they were gone completely. The night remained silent. Even so, Strange One waited a full half-hour before relaxing.
With a sigh of relief, he let his paw down from where it had clamped the kit's mouth. Working his jaws out of a cramp, the little Pikachu gazed up at Strange One.
Y-you saved me! The others didn't come but you-
Yeah... Strange One grinned a little, ruffling the young one's head. Couldn't let you get Taken...might end up all mixed up like I did. Trust me, it was not a very pleasant thing.
Strange One's my hero, I don't care if you's mixed up! The baby Pikachu, barely even half Strange One's height, hugged the Pikablu. Despite his cold tendancies, Strange One felt himself flush.
Heh, either way...I'm probably in deep trouble for pulling a stunt like this. Tall One's not gonna be happy with me.
But in the face of things, Strange One found he'd rather be in trouble.
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