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STORY OF A DREAMER - JOSIE
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CHAPTER FIVE
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It was the next morning when I emerged from my thoughts. The sun was shining bright through the window and the other Pokemon were asleep, most on the ground, but some sitting high on the beams of the building. I yawned. Sleep hadn't come to me that night. It wasn't for lack of trying, but the thoughts and pain in my mind had kept me awake. As I stood up and stretched, stiff from sitting in the same position all night. As I glanced once again at the other Pokemon, Houndour stirred. Yawning, he immediately got to his feet, and noticing me standing in the corner of the room, he approached me.
"How are you this morning?" he asked, smiling.
"I'm all right thanks. My side is sore and I didn't sleep at all last night but I've got some things sorted in my head so that's good. And I've got a plan about how we can escape."
"If you have I'm sure we've already thought of it," he replied sceptically.
"I want you to get me sent to the cages," I said, putting confidence into my voice.
"What?!" Houndour looked in shock. "That's suicide!"
"Trust me," I replied, still with confidence in my voice.
"OK," he finally agreed. I think he realised I was serious, I'm not sure how, but I had convinced him.
When the others finally awoke we began to discuss our plans. Like Houndour, they were doubtful, but as I outlined the plans they began to feel more positive. All we had to do now was wait for Kern to come in. I was sure he would give me another test after what he had said yesterday, and I wasn't planning on winning. That sounded stupid even as I thought it, but if I won, then the plan would fail.
It was midday when Kern finally made an appearance. I had been restless all morning. Spearow had taken me to the roof to see the sun. I had sat there for hours, hoping that Butterfree would decide to make an appearance. She didn't. I didn't blame her, after seeing how dangerous it was here she was bound to stay away. I just hoped she was somewhere nearby, and that she hadn't given up on me.
Kern came through the door and slammed it behind him. He was not in a good mood. However, for all I knew this could be a good mood, I'd never seen him in a bad one before. He immediately summoned me, as I and expected.
"Pikachu!" he shouted. "Into the arena, now!" I obeyed immediately, as not to wind him up further, and as I took my place I found out who my opponent would be. Beedrill. As he stepped into the arena I saw him mouth the words 'good luck' to me. Then it hit me, and suddenly became terrified. I was to be sent to the place that all the Pokemon here dreaded.
"Pikachu. Thundershock… NOW!" his voice boomed. I gave out the weakest bit of electricity I could, it hit Beedrill, but the effect was only minimal. I just hoped it was bad enough to have me sent to the cages.
"Now, Beedrill. Get him with your poison sting." I watched as two points came flying towards them. I concentrated, and managed to dodge them. However, I still fell to the floor and rolled around on the ground in fake pain. Then, I closed my eyes and was still.
"Pathetic useless creature!" I heard Kern shout. Then I was grabbed by the scruff of my neck. As I was carried out of the room I watched the other Pokemon. They were all whispering 'good luck'. I realised I would need it.
oo00O00oo
It was only a short walk to the cages. I was surprised, I had expected it to take a while. Kern, still with my in his hand, took a key from his pocket and unlocked an old rusty door which led to a small building. It creaked loudly as it opened, and from within I heard shouts.
"Help…" voices said. "Help…"
"Quiet!" Kern shouted. Then there was silence. I was taken to the end of the room, past rows of metal cages, each containing a Pokemon, and I was placed in one by the window at the back end. I was thrown in roughly and the cage was locked. I was trapped. I watched in silence as Kern walked away from my cage, then I heard the door slam. It was locked. I was thankful that the sun was shining, I could see it through the window and it cast a bright light into the room, allowing me to see my surroundings. From what I could tell all the walls were covered with cages, and each of them had a Pokemon strapped inside. I glanced over at the one opposite me. Sitting in the corner, tears in its eyes, was a Togepi. Togetic's sister, I realised. To my horror, its shell had a crack running from top to bottom, and it was beginning to separate at the top. I gasped.
"That's it, take a good look," she remarked in a squeaking voice. She was only young. A tear came to my eye as I thought about what she must have been through. She had never been properly trained, and Togepi relies on happiness to grow strong. It didn't look like she had had much of that in her life. Her tiny arms and legs were thin. I could see the bone running from the tops to the bottoms. Her usually creamy shell was grey with dirt. I looked into her eyes. They were full of hatred.
"Stop staring!" she complained. "Leave me alone!" I drew my eyes away, not bearing to look at her any more. I glanced at the next two cages. In them were a Hoppip and a Cyndaquil. Hoppip's wings were almost useless, flopping down on either side of her, and Cyndaquil's fire had almost died out. Neither of them looked well fed or happy. I didn't blame them. They had been in a torture house for a long time.
"I'm here to help!" I shouted so that the whole room could hear me. "We're gonna get out of this place."
"What's the point?" Cyndaquil asked doubtfully. "It isn't as if we have any chance of surviving out there. Look at us, we're weak."
"There are humans who can help Pokemon… somewhere. I don't know where they are, but we can find them." Even as I said it I realised it was hopeless, the only human they knew was Kern, how could they believe in a better one? I was beginning to think that myself.
"All humans are like Kern," Hoppip replied, confirming what I had suspected. "We'd be best to stay away from them." I knew there was no point in arguing with them; it wouldn't make any difference. I sat back in my cage and watched the sun through the window for the rest of the day, and when the moon appeared I watched that as well.
oo00O00oo
I was woken at around midnight by something tapping on the outside of my cage, causing it to vibrate slightly. As I found my bearings and got used to the darkness I was able to see who it was. To my shock and pleasure, the face I saw before me was my friend, Butterfree.
"How did you get in here?" I gasped.
"I found a hole in the roof, it was big enough for me to get through, and certainly big enough to get most of these lot through," she replied, smiling. "I'm not alone either." I looked to the left and saw another face emerge from the shadows. It was a Pidgey.
"Where did you come from?" I asked.
"My father was captured by Kern a month ago. I've never given up hope that someday he might return." The Pidgeotto in the Gym, I realised, was his father. "I welcomed the chance to get him out of there."
"Do you have a plan?" I asked my friend.
"Kern left a key on a hook outside the door." I looked at her hands; in them was a shining silver key. "It opens the cages." Finally we had a chance. While I had been watching the sun I had given up hope. I had thought and thought and realised escape was impossible. Now my hope had returned, leaving a warm feeling deep in my heart. Butterfree navigated the key into the hole for the lock on my cage.
Click.
The padlock fell to the floor and the door opened. I jumped out excitedly, not being able to stand being trapped any longer. I landed on the floor and Butterfree threw the key to me. I began with the Togepi in the cage opposite me. She was asleep, and as the padlock fell, she stirred and opened her eyes.
"Hey!" she exclaimed. "What do you think you're doing? I was asleep!" Then she realised her cage was open and her eyes widened. She scuttled to the back of the cage and sat in terror.
"It's OK," I said gently. "It's me, Pikachu. We're letting you out."
"Why would I want to come out?" she asked, her voice squeaky. "I'm better off in here."
"No you're not! Now come on out." I jumped into the cage with her and grabbed her hand reassuringly. And slowly but surely she made her way to the front of the cage. It was then I realised we had a problem. Her legs were so weak they could hardly hold her up, and as she reached the front of the cage they gave way and she slumped to the floor.
"Leave me alone!" she shouted. "I don't need helping!" But I wasn't going to leave her there. I beckoned to Butterfree and Pidgey, who between them picked the shaking creature up and laid her on the ground carefully. As she made contact with the ground she tried to run away, but each time, she fell over and struggled to get up again. In the end she gave up and slumped to the floor, tears in her eyes.
While I had been helping Togepi out, Butterfree had opened all the other cages in the room. Some of the Pokemon had come out gladly and were now sitting on the floor waiting expectantly for the next stage of the plan. However a lot of them, like Togepi, were terrified and reluctant to come out. One by one I reassured them that they were safe, and one by one they made their way out of the cages until there were no occupied ones left. Now we were ready to escape.
STORY OF A DREAMER - JOSIE
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CHAPTER FIVE
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It was the next morning when I emerged from my thoughts. The sun was shining bright through the window and the other Pokemon were asleep, most on the ground, but some sitting high on the beams of the building. I yawned. Sleep hadn't come to me that night. It wasn't for lack of trying, but the thoughts and pain in my mind had kept me awake. As I stood up and stretched, stiff from sitting in the same position all night. As I glanced once again at the other Pokemon, Houndour stirred. Yawning, he immediately got to his feet, and noticing me standing in the corner of the room, he approached me.
"How are you this morning?" he asked, smiling.
"I'm all right thanks. My side is sore and I didn't sleep at all last night but I've got some things sorted in my head so that's good. And I've got a plan about how we can escape."
"If you have I'm sure we've already thought of it," he replied sceptically.
"I want you to get me sent to the cages," I said, putting confidence into my voice.
"What?!" Houndour looked in shock. "That's suicide!"
"Trust me," I replied, still with confidence in my voice.
"OK," he finally agreed. I think he realised I was serious, I'm not sure how, but I had convinced him.
When the others finally awoke we began to discuss our plans. Like Houndour, they were doubtful, but as I outlined the plans they began to feel more positive. All we had to do now was wait for Kern to come in. I was sure he would give me another test after what he had said yesterday, and I wasn't planning on winning. That sounded stupid even as I thought it, but if I won, then the plan would fail.
It was midday when Kern finally made an appearance. I had been restless all morning. Spearow had taken me to the roof to see the sun. I had sat there for hours, hoping that Butterfree would decide to make an appearance. She didn't. I didn't blame her, after seeing how dangerous it was here she was bound to stay away. I just hoped she was somewhere nearby, and that she hadn't given up on me.
Kern came through the door and slammed it behind him. He was not in a good mood. However, for all I knew this could be a good mood, I'd never seen him in a bad one before. He immediately summoned me, as I and expected.
"Pikachu!" he shouted. "Into the arena, now!" I obeyed immediately, as not to wind him up further, and as I took my place I found out who my opponent would be. Beedrill. As he stepped into the arena I saw him mouth the words 'good luck' to me. Then it hit me, and suddenly became terrified. I was to be sent to the place that all the Pokemon here dreaded.
"Pikachu. Thundershock… NOW!" his voice boomed. I gave out the weakest bit of electricity I could, it hit Beedrill, but the effect was only minimal. I just hoped it was bad enough to have me sent to the cages.
"Now, Beedrill. Get him with your poison sting." I watched as two points came flying towards them. I concentrated, and managed to dodge them. However, I still fell to the floor and rolled around on the ground in fake pain. Then, I closed my eyes and was still.
"Pathetic useless creature!" I heard Kern shout. Then I was grabbed by the scruff of my neck. As I was carried out of the room I watched the other Pokemon. They were all whispering 'good luck'. I realised I would need it.
oo00O00oo
It was only a short walk to the cages. I was surprised, I had expected it to take a while. Kern, still with my in his hand, took a key from his pocket and unlocked an old rusty door which led to a small building. It creaked loudly as it opened, and from within I heard shouts.
"Help…" voices said. "Help…"
"Quiet!" Kern shouted. Then there was silence. I was taken to the end of the room, past rows of metal cages, each containing a Pokemon, and I was placed in one by the window at the back end. I was thrown in roughly and the cage was locked. I was trapped. I watched in silence as Kern walked away from my cage, then I heard the door slam. It was locked. I was thankful that the sun was shining, I could see it through the window and it cast a bright light into the room, allowing me to see my surroundings. From what I could tell all the walls were covered with cages, and each of them had a Pokemon strapped inside. I glanced over at the one opposite me. Sitting in the corner, tears in its eyes, was a Togepi. Togetic's sister, I realised. To my horror, its shell had a crack running from top to bottom, and it was beginning to separate at the top. I gasped.
"That's it, take a good look," she remarked in a squeaking voice. She was only young. A tear came to my eye as I thought about what she must have been through. She had never been properly trained, and Togepi relies on happiness to grow strong. It didn't look like she had had much of that in her life. Her tiny arms and legs were thin. I could see the bone running from the tops to the bottoms. Her usually creamy shell was grey with dirt. I looked into her eyes. They were full of hatred.
"Stop staring!" she complained. "Leave me alone!" I drew my eyes away, not bearing to look at her any more. I glanced at the next two cages. In them were a Hoppip and a Cyndaquil. Hoppip's wings were almost useless, flopping down on either side of her, and Cyndaquil's fire had almost died out. Neither of them looked well fed or happy. I didn't blame them. They had been in a torture house for a long time.
"I'm here to help!" I shouted so that the whole room could hear me. "We're gonna get out of this place."
"What's the point?" Cyndaquil asked doubtfully. "It isn't as if we have any chance of surviving out there. Look at us, we're weak."
"There are humans who can help Pokemon… somewhere. I don't know where they are, but we can find them." Even as I said it I realised it was hopeless, the only human they knew was Kern, how could they believe in a better one? I was beginning to think that myself.
"All humans are like Kern," Hoppip replied, confirming what I had suspected. "We'd be best to stay away from them." I knew there was no point in arguing with them; it wouldn't make any difference. I sat back in my cage and watched the sun through the window for the rest of the day, and when the moon appeared I watched that as well.
oo00O00oo
I was woken at around midnight by something tapping on the outside of my cage, causing it to vibrate slightly. As I found my bearings and got used to the darkness I was able to see who it was. To my shock and pleasure, the face I saw before me was my friend, Butterfree.
"How did you get in here?" I gasped.
"I found a hole in the roof, it was big enough for me to get through, and certainly big enough to get most of these lot through," she replied, smiling. "I'm not alone either." I looked to the left and saw another face emerge from the shadows. It was a Pidgey.
"Where did you come from?" I asked.
"My father was captured by Kern a month ago. I've never given up hope that someday he might return." The Pidgeotto in the Gym, I realised, was his father. "I welcomed the chance to get him out of there."
"Do you have a plan?" I asked my friend.
"Kern left a key on a hook outside the door." I looked at her hands; in them was a shining silver key. "It opens the cages." Finally we had a chance. While I had been watching the sun I had given up hope. I had thought and thought and realised escape was impossible. Now my hope had returned, leaving a warm feeling deep in my heart. Butterfree navigated the key into the hole for the lock on my cage.
Click.
The padlock fell to the floor and the door opened. I jumped out excitedly, not being able to stand being trapped any longer. I landed on the floor and Butterfree threw the key to me. I began with the Togepi in the cage opposite me. She was asleep, and as the padlock fell, she stirred and opened her eyes.
"Hey!" she exclaimed. "What do you think you're doing? I was asleep!" Then she realised her cage was open and her eyes widened. She scuttled to the back of the cage and sat in terror.
"It's OK," I said gently. "It's me, Pikachu. We're letting you out."
"Why would I want to come out?" she asked, her voice squeaky. "I'm better off in here."
"No you're not! Now come on out." I jumped into the cage with her and grabbed her hand reassuringly. And slowly but surely she made her way to the front of the cage. It was then I realised we had a problem. Her legs were so weak they could hardly hold her up, and as she reached the front of the cage they gave way and she slumped to the floor.
"Leave me alone!" she shouted. "I don't need helping!" But I wasn't going to leave her there. I beckoned to Butterfree and Pidgey, who between them picked the shaking creature up and laid her on the ground carefully. As she made contact with the ground she tried to run away, but each time, she fell over and struggled to get up again. In the end she gave up and slumped to the floor, tears in her eyes.
While I had been helping Togepi out, Butterfree had opened all the other cages in the room. Some of the Pokemon had come out gladly and were now sitting on the floor waiting expectantly for the next stage of the plan. However a lot of them, like Togepi, were terrified and reluctant to come out. One by one I reassured them that they were safe, and one by one they made their way out of the cages until there were no occupied ones left. Now we were ready to escape.