"There it is, kids. Mangrove Island." Professor Oak pointed in the direction of the island that had just appeared on the horizon.
"I can't wait to see all those palomino Rapidash!" Misty said excitedly. "Bet you can't either, right, Ash?" Misty noticed that her friend looked a little ill. "Ash, are you all right?"
"Yeah, just a little queasy, that's all." Ash rubbed his eyes as the island in the distance grew blurry.
"It's kind of late for you to be getting seasick," said Misty, concerned. "Besides, the water's pretty calm here."
"Yeah, maybe it's just the excitement of seeing all those rare Pokémon," Ash replied. He shook his head and his vision immediately cleared up.
"Or maybe it was the excitement of Misty's kiss," Brock teased.
Ash's face grew bright red again.
---
Captain Silas finished unloading the last crate of supplies. "Well, that's the last of it. I'll see you in a few days. If you run into any problems while you're here, just radio me and I'll come pick you up."
"Thanks, Captain Silas!" Everyone waved as the boat started up and headed back out to sea.
"Everybody grab a bag or box and let's head for the south side of the island," said Professor Oak, gathering up his equipment. "The herd of Rapidash was last spotted in a field over there. It's about a twenty-minute hike from here."
The four headed into the woods on the center of the island.
"Hey, Ash, you're falling behind," Misty teased as the group made its way through the forest. "It's not like you to be bringing up the rear."
"Cut it out, Misty," Ash replied irritably. "I'm doing the best I can. I nearly drowned earlier. Give me a break."
"Are you all right, Ash?" Brock asked. "You look like you're limping."
"Nahh, I'm fine," Ash insisted.
Actually, he didn't feel fine. His right ankle was stinging and beginning to throb painfully. And once in a while he felt a little dizzy and his vision would get all fuzzy like it did on the boat earlier. But he wasn't about to let on that he was in pain. His pride wouldn't let him admit that he wasn't able to keep up with the rest of the group. He just had to bear it and keep on going.
"Come on, race you!" Ash dashed ahead of his friends, gritting his teeth all the while.
---
"There they are, kids." Professor Oak stopped at a cliff overlooking a field and pointed. Grazing in the fields below were about fifty Rapidash, each one a deep golden yellow.
"Oh, they're so beautiful," Misty sighed at sight of the beautiful horse Pokémon.
"They sure are," agreed Brock. "Their coats are so shiny that they look like they're made of pure gold."
Ash, who was painfully making his way up the hill behind his friends, hobbled up behind Misty.
"Wow, they do look like they're made of gold," Ash said, gazing down at the herd.
"You are one of the few people to ever see a palomino Rapidash," said Professor Oak, removing his binoculars from his backpack and handing them to Brock.
"Thanks for inviting us along, Professor," Brock said, taking the binoculars from the older man. "We're honored." The boy peered through the binoculars at the herd below. "Wow, take a look at that one, Misty. He looks like the leader." He handed her the binoculars.
"That really big one?" the girl asked, looking through the lenses.
"Let me have a look, Misty," said Professor Oak, taking the binoculars from her. "Yes, Brock, you're right. That one is definitely the alpha male. You can tell by the size and the deferential way the other Rapidash are acting towards him." He handed the binoculars to the boy standing next to him. "Take a look, Ash."
The boy peered through the binoculars and frowned. "I can't see a thing, Professor Oak. It's all fuzzy."
"Try adjusting the focus, Ash. I know that my vision isn't as sharp as yours. I've been meaning to get bifocals for a while, but I'm too vain to admit that I need them."
Ash fiddled with the focus knob and continued to frown. "It's no use, Professor. It's still fuzzy."
Misty grabbed the binoculars from her friend and peered through them. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ash. I can see everything perfectly."
"Maybe you're the one who needs glasses, Ash," Brock said.
"Cut it out, Brock. There's nothing wrong with my eyes," Ash insisted, handing the binoculars back to Professor Oak.
"Let's go make our camp first and then we can come back here later to further observe the Rapidash," Professor Oak said, putting the binoculars back into his backpack.
The four headed back down the hill until they came to a clearing. "This looks like a good spot to camp. I'll get dinner started," said Brock. He reached inside his backpack and brought forth a small kettle. "How does stew sound?"
"Sounds good to me," said Misty. "I'll go get some wood to start a fire."
"Wait, Misty, I'll come with….gahh!" Ash winced. The rip in his jeans leg had allowed the thorns on a nearby bush to scrape against his already-injured ankle.
Misty grabbed her friend's arm as he stumbled. "Ash, are you all right?"
"Yeah, Misty…I'll be okay in a minute," Ash muttered through gritted teeth as he clutched his ankle.
Brock came running up. "What's wrong, Ash?"
"I'm okay…the thorn bush scratched me," Ash said as Misty helped him sit down on a nearby log.
"A little scratch wouldn't make anyone scream like that," said Brock. "Roll up your pants leg, Ash. Let's have a look."
"What's going on?" asked Professor Oak. He had been scouting the area for signs of any dangerous Pokémon and had heard Ash's cries.
"Ash hurt his leg," Misty explained.
"Guys, I'm fine," Ash insisted. "You don't have to make such a big deal out of this."
"Which leg is it, Ash?" Professor Oak asked, kneeling down next to the injured boy.
"It's my right one, but it doesn't really hurt that bad now."
"Let's have a look anyway, Ash." As he began to roll up Ash's pants leg, the boy cried out in pain. "It hurts that bad?"
Ash gritted his teeth. "No," he replied in a strained voice.
Concerned, Professor Oak continued to carefully roll up the leg of Ash's jeans, revealing an angry red welt several inches long just above the boy's ankle.
"What is that?" asked Brock.
"It looks like a Tentacruel tentacle," said Misty. "The shape looks just like the end of one of their tentacles."
"Ash, when you jumped overboard to save Togepi and Pikachu, did the Tentacruel sting you?" asked Professor Oak.
Ash shook his head. "I don't remember, Professor. I know that when it came at me I went underwater for a few seconds. It might've brushed against me, but I don't know for sure. I was too busy trying to hang on to Pikachu and Togepi to pay attention."
"It sure looks like a Tentacruel sting to me," said Brock.
"It sure does," agreed Misty. "When I was little, I got stung by one. My sister Daisy was in the middle of training one when I fell into the tank with it. I scared the Tentacruel and it stung me on the arm. It hurt for a week."
"Guys, I don't know why you're making such a big deal about this," said Ash. "I don't think the Tentacruel stung me. I think what happened was that I caught my leg on a nail when jumped overboard, ripped my jeans, and scratched myself. That's all."
"Ash, that doesn't really look like a scratch," Brock insisted. "I think Misty's right. That mark on your ankle does look like a Tentacruel tentacle."
"And Tentacruel are strong enough to rip and sting through clothes," said Misty. "I know. When I fell into the tank at the Cerulean City Gym, the Tentacruel ripped the arm of my favorite shirt and stung me right through it."
Brock reached into his backpack and brought out a red spray bottle. "This should help you feel better, Ash. I normally use this pain reliever on Pokémon, but it'll work on humans, too. It's made out of the saliva of Lickitungs."
"Lickitung drool? Eww." Misty stuck out her tongue.
"Hang on just a second, Misty. Brock has a good idea. The saliva of Lickitungs contains a paralyzing agent that temporarily numbs its attacker," explained Professor Oak. "It would act like a local anesthetic."
"See if this helps, Ash." Brock sprayed Ash's wound and the anxious expression disappeared from the boy's face.
"Wow, you're right, Brock. That does feel better." Ash stood up and began to put weight on his foot. "Hey, I can walk again! Come on, Misty. Let's go get some firewood."
Brock grabbed the back of his friend's jacket. "Hang on, Ash. You shouldn't be walking around with an injured leg. Maybe you'd better stay here and take it easy."
"Brock's right, Ash," said Professor Oak. "Why don't you stay here with Brock and I'll go help Misty look for firewood."
"Nahh, that's all right, guys. I'm fine now." Ash grabbed Misty's arm and started pulling her in the direction of the woods surrounding the camp. "Come on, Misty. Let's go. Bet I find more firewood than you."
To be continued…