Chapter 4: Save a Life
Despite using Charmie's flame on her tail, Brock, Maddie, and Lynn were lost.
"I can't believe you got us lost!" Lynn fumed, stomping her foot in annoyance.
"Me? You were in the lead with Charmander, why is it my fault?" Maddie snapped back.
"Girls, stop fighting, we'll find our way." Brock interrupted before Lynn could retort.
"How do you suggest we get out of here?" Lynn asked, calming down.
Before Brock could answer, there was a rustle of wings in the distance. A Zubat flew down from the ceiling, hovering over them as it gave a screech. "A Zubat, I've always wanted one. Do you mind?" he asked the pair.
"Go ahead." Lynn nodded. Maddie nodded as well.
Brock took a Pokeball from his belt, enlarging it. "Geodude, come out and help me catch this Zubat!"
A white light appeared from within the Pokeball, revealing a Geodude. "Dude!" it cried.
"Geodude, use Tackle!" Brock shouted.
Geodude launched itself at Zubat, knocking it out of the air. Zubat landed on the cave floor, unconscious.
"Pokeball, go!" Brock threw a Pokeball, hitting Zubat on the head. The ball opened and enveloped Zubat in a red light. The ball closed and shook twice before going still.
"Congrats, Brock!" Maddie cheered. A second later, more rustling sounded as a cloud of Zubat descended upon him.
"RUN!" Lynn shouted, and the three of them scattered, running in opposite directions to escape the Zubat.
In another section of Mt. Moon, Jessie and James were walking along the path toward the cave entrance to Mt. Moon. James cocked his head suddenly, hearing a strange rustling noise that grew louder as they approached. "Do you hear that?" he asked Jessie.
"Sounds like birds…" Jessie squinted to at the entrance as a small figure appeared, running toward them.
James recognized the mop of blond hair a split second before he registered she was being chased by a cloud of flying Zubat. "She needs help." James dove into action, reaching for a Pokeball at his belt as he ran forward. "Lynn, go to Jessie, I'll take care of these rats with wings." He ordered, throwing a Pokeball to reveal Koffing.
"When did you-?" Lynn hesitated, but did as he asked, hurrying to Jessie.
"Koffing, use Smokescreen!" James shouted. Koffing issued copious amounts of black smoke, obscuring the Zubat in the cloud.
Screeches could be heard within the cloud as James ordered, "Koffing, use Tackle, take down as many Zubat as you can!"
Suddenly, without warning a Zubat burst free of the smokescreen. Instinctively, James raised his arm to shield his face, causing the Zubat to strike home with a huge bite. Burning pain shot up his arm from the source of the bite, making his vision go blurry.
Lynn gasped as she spotted James injured and hurried forward as James collapsed in pain. Lynn reached for her Stormy's Pokeball and released the electric mouse as she ran. "Stormy, take out as many Zubat as you can, we have to protect James!"
Stormy's cheeks sparked with electricity as he shot a bolt of electricity, striking the Zubat with lightning quick speed. One by one, the Zubat fell to the ground around James as Lynn hurried toward him. "James, hang in there, we'll get you help."
"M-my arm…" James panted, his face losing color as he clutched his arm. "I think that bite was poisonous."
"Oh no, I didn't think to bring any antidote, I only have bandages." Lynn took off her bag and searched through her things, trying not to panic.
"I-I have an antidote," Jessie said from behind them. Lynn heard her footsteps as she approached.
"I c-can't take your antidote, what if you need it…?"
"James, I only have Ekans, what Pokemon am I going to cure of poison?" Jessie reminded him with a little giggle as she handed Lynn the anitdote.
"Hold still, moving is just going to spread it more." Lynn concentrated on spraying on the poisoned bite while James hissed in pain. After a few seconds, the wound looked clean of poison. "Jessie, can you hold his arm while I bandage it?"
"Of course." Jessie nodded. With Jessie's help, Lynn wrapped his arm with bandages.
"How's that feel?" Lynn asked, putting away her bandages and repacked her bag.
"Still hurts but I'm on the mend." James smiled gratefully as he carefully sat up. "Thank you, both of you."
"Are you up to getting through Mt. Moon?" Jessie asked, unsure.
"I think so. I feel stronger now that the poison is out of my system." James nodded, getting carefully to his feet. "If we get attacked again, I'll be no good, this is my throwing arm."
"We'll protect you." Lynn promised. "I have to find my sister and our traveling companion before they get too worried."
"We have to get through Mt. Moon anyway, so we'll help you find them." Jessie agreed.
Lynn returned Koffing to its Pokeball and followed Jessie and James headed into the depths of Mt. Moon.
Brock and Maddie finally came to a halt, listening for sounds of rustling. When they heard no sound except for their heavy breathing, they gave a sigh of relief. "Sounds like we lost them." Brock panted, leaning against the wall to catch his breath.
"That's good. But now we've completely lost Lynn. I hope she didn't get hurt by the Zubat." Maddie worried, biting her lip.
"We should take a break for a bit and then we can go find her. Are you hungry? I brought a couple snacks." Brock reached into his bag and brought an energy bar. "I'd cook something but I don't want to do that in a poorly ventilated cave."
Maddie raised an eyebrow "Poorly ventilated?"
"We're too far from the entrance to get enough air in here. My dad always says when in a cave make sure you have good ventilation." Brock answered sagely.
"Smart man." Maddie nodded.
"Taught me everything I know about spelunking." Brock said proudly. When he saw her eyebrow raised higher, he added, "Cave exploring."
"If you have so much experience cave exploring, how come we got lost?" Maddie asked, frowning.
"Because my dad never took me very far into Mt. Moon. He only let me in far enough to get my Geodude. He thought I was not ready for it. Until now. This is the largest cave I've been in in my life."
"Better late than never." Maddie pushed herself off the wall where she had rested. "We should get going, we still have no idea how to get out of here or where my sister is."
"Good idea." Brock pushed himself upright and headed after her in the direction they were heading before taking a break.
"Hey, you okay still James?" Lynn asked, looking back at him. He still looked pale but stronger than he was after the attack. The three unexpected travelers had been traveling for a considerable amount of time into Mt. Moon and the temperatures were cooler than when they had entered.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just would really like to get out of this cave." James shivered, realizing how cold it had gotten the deeper they went into the cave.
"It is getting cold in here." Lynn agreed. "I can bring out Charmie so we can keep warm as we travel." Lynn suggested. She took out Charmie's Pokeball and brought her out, the flame on Charmie's tail instantly bringing the temperature up a few degrees and illuminating their surroundings.
From the distance, they heard a familiar voice, "Hey, there's light up ahead!"
Lynn recognized her sister's voice. "That's Maddie, hey over here!" she called, waving her arms despite not seeing her sister.
Maddie and Brock turned the corner and spotted them, waving. "Hey, there you are." Maddie hugged her sister, happy to find her again.
"What happened?" Lynn demanded, instantly turning stern for her sister worrying her. "You scared me half to death!"
"We kinda got lost in getting away from the Zubat. We don't know where they went." Maddie looked embarrassed.
"We do. They chased me out of the cave and met Jessie and James." Lynn responded at once. "We took care of them."
James regained a little color as he blushed at the compliment. "It was nothing, Lynn."
"You got yourself hurt trying to help me, James. That wasn't 'nothing.'" Lynn answered firmly. She turned back to her sister. "We should get out of here. James needs to be checked out at a center and I'm tired of being in this cave."
"James needs a-what?" Maddie asked, confused.
"I'll explain once we get out of here to a center, okay?" Lynn promised.
The five of them continued traveling through Mt. Moon, finally reaching the exit as the sunset. "Finally, we can make it to Cerulean City." Lynn sighed, emerging into the ruby-red glow of the setting sun.
"Where our second badge is." Maddie agreed, emerging from the cave as well.
"Good place to rest." James agreed, exiting as well, clutching his bandaged arm to his chest.
"Let's go then." Jessie confidently led the way to Cerulean City with the others following behind her.