The flames came gently and quietly from the Arcanine's
mouth as it breathed onto the bars of its enclosure, but the heat of them was
no less intense. Within seconds the bars were glowing red-hot, then white-hot. Within
mere moments, several of the bars had been reduced to a puddle of molten iron
on the ground, creating a hole just big enough for the majestic Pokémon to
squeeze through. The night watchman was still patrolling the other side of the
zoo; he wouldn't be within sight of the enclosure for another few minutes. Now
was the time.
Quick as a flash, Arcanine darted through the gap in the
bars and sprinted off, racing down the path between the enclosures and towards
the wall of the zoo. Though it was high, the Arcanine's speed was such that it
simply ran straight up it, climbing it in two bounds and leaping over the top
to freedom.
Landing on all
four paws, the Pokémon slowed to a halt and began to consider the current situation.
It may have escaped the zoo, but it was still stuck in a strange city that it
did not know. Its trainer lay waiting in Ecruteak, it knew that much, but where
Ecruteak was in relation to this place was a complete unknown. What's more,
there was no chance that the zoo were going to just let their prized Arcanine
run off. If it was going to make it back to its trainer, it was going to need
help.
Looking around, the city seemed deserted; it was very
late at night, and there was hardly anyone around. There had to be somebody around
here that could help, though. Carefully darting across an empty road, the
Arcanine began to stalk the streets, in search of someone kind enough to assist
it. Someone with a pure heart.
There. Huddled in a side alley, shivering in the cold,
was a girl who could have been no more than ten. The Arcanine immediately felt
a deep sense of pity in its warm heart, but at the same time, it sensed that
this girl would be willing to help it. Its trainer had said something once:
"Those with the least to give are always the most generous".
The Arcanine entered the dark, dirty alleyway, heading
towards the shivering girl. She did not notice it until it was right beside
her, as its hot breath started to warm her freezing body. She looked up, and
upon seeing the Pokémon towering over her, jumped back with a startled cry.
"P-please don't hurt me," she stammered.
Unexpectedly, the Arcanine began to speak. "I'm
sorry," it said. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm not going to hurt
you, but I would like to ask for your help."
The girl was surprised to hear the Pokémon speaking.
"You… you can talk?" she said warily.
"Yes," said the Arcanine. "My owner taught
me how. However, I can only be understood by those who are pure of heart, like
yourself."
"I see…" said the girl, still a little rattled.
"Y… you want my help?"
"Yes," said the Arcanine. "My owner and I
were visiting this region from Ecruteak City when I was stolen. I was sold to
the zoo here, to be put on display, but I have now managed to escape. However,
I don't know the way back home. Would you be able to guide me there?"
"Uhh… I think so…" said the girl. "But…
why me?"
"No reason in particular," said the Arcanine.
"I just had a feeling that you would be willing to help me."
The girl, thinking about this some more, realized that
this could be a potential opportunity to do something about her current
situation. "If I do… what's in it for me?" she asked.
The Arcanine caught on fairly quickly. "You are
homeless, aren't you? An orphan?"
The girl shook her head. "I'm not an orphan. My
daddy died of cancer, but my mommy's still alive."
"Then where is she?" asked the Arcanine,
looking a little concerned.
"I don't know," said the girl. "She went
off a few weeks ago and never came back. But I know she's still alive."
The Arcanine thought for a moment. "But you have no
home, correct?"
The girl nodded sadly. "When daddy died, mommy
couldn't pay the bills, so we lost our house."
"My owner is a kind man," said the Arcanine.
"His heart is pure like yours. Perhaps, as a reward for helping to return
me, he will take you in, or at least help find you a place to stay."
The girl couldn't believe her ears. "Really?"
she exclaimed. "He'd do that for me?"
The Arcanine nodded. "Yes," it said, "I
believe he would."
"And my mommy?" asked the girl. "Can she
come too?"
This was a hard decision for the Arcanine to make.
"I'm afraid we don't have the time to try and look for her," it said
finally. "The zoo will be looking for me. We have to leave for Ecruteak as
soon as possible. Perhaps, once we're both safe, we can come back for
her."
The girl was a little downhearted to hear this, but knew deep
down that the Arcanine was right. "Okay," she said, nodding sadly.
"Thank you," said the Arcanine. "So, do
you know the way?"
To the Arcanine's initial dismay, the girl shook her
head. "Not exactly," she admitted. "But, I do know where we can
get a map of Kanto and Johto. That should lead us straight to your home."
"Okay," said the Arcanine. Then, it lowered
itself. "Get on."
Once more the girl was taken aback. "What? G… get on
you?"
"Yes," said the Arcanine. "It'll be faster
if you ride me. Don't worry; you won't fall off as long as you hold on
tight."
"Uhh… okay." Though she was still unsure, the
girl knew that once again, the Arcanine was right; it would be a lot faster if
she travelled on its back. Cautiously, she climbed onto the Arcanine's back,
hugging it tightly round the neck. She could feel the warmth of its body
against her cold, dirty skin; it was immensely comforting. She found herself snuggling
up against the warm fur beneath her.
"Hold on tightly," repeated the Arcanine,
"and whatever you do, do not let go. Understand?"
The girl nodded, and with that the Arcanine took off once
more, darting back out of the alleyway and into the empty streets. The girl
squealed as suddenly the wind began to rush past her, the buildings flying past
at speeds she had never experienced before. At first it was terrifying, and she
clung to the Pokémon for dear life, but as she got used to the speeds, she grew
to enjoy it. Before she knew it, she was laughing, the sound quickly snatched
away by the air rushing past her.
"So, where is this map?" asked the Arcanine,
shouting over the howling winds.
The girl was enjoying herself so much she had almost
forgotten why she was riding an Arcanine through the streets in the first
place. "Oh, right… uhh…" Looking around at the buildings as they
passed, she tried frantically to get a bearing on their location. "That
way… I think…"
The Arcanine nodded, and rushed off in the direction she
had pointed. It was going to be a long and difficult journey to make it back to
Ecruteak, but nothing was going to stop it from making it back to its trainer.
Not the distance, not the zoo staff, not even Team Rocket… nothing.
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