Chapter 6
Dangers Around the Bend
Duchess and Sentret were trotting down the path through the woods. Duchess thought they were close to a meadow, but wasn’t sure. Finally they reached a large meadow full of different Pokemon including Rattata, Pidgey, Spearow, Raticate, Nidoran, and Pidgeotto. Duchess sprinted forward and leaped for joy in the meadow. In the process frightened a flock of Pidgey away. “Yeah! Yeah! Fly, fly, fly away! Ha-ha!” Duchess laughed. She jumped in the air and landed on her back in the warm, green, fresh grass. She sighed happily and closed her eyes. Sentret watched and shook her head and smiled at Duchess. “Duchess, what are you doing?” Sentret asked playfully jumping over to Duchess. “This is a beautiful place, isn’t it?” Duchess asked. “Yes, it is. But sometimes can be very dangerous, also,” Sentret added more solemnly. “What do you mean? It seams safe here to me. Are there big ugly monsters?” Duchess asked teasingly. Sentret frowned. “No! Much worse, really!” Sentret said sternly. She turned around and peered over the meadow. “What’s wrong? What’s worse? Nothing, huh? You’re trying to scare me! That’s it,” Duchess said knowledgably. “No!” Sentret yelled at Duchess. “Would I try to scare you?” Sentret emphasized. She frowned again. “Well, I haven’t really known you for a long time, but,” Duchess began. “But? But what? I wouldn’t! Now that’s that!” Sentret said quickly. “Yeah, yeah I guess….” Duchess mumbled under her breath. “What’s that I hear?” the Sentret said looking sternly at Duchess. “Nothing! I didn’t say anything! And why are you acting so strange lately?” Duchess asked cautiously. “Because of the danger!” Sentret said. “What danger?” Duchess yelled out. She was tired of no answer. Why was Sentret hiding it from her? “The predators here are great in number!” Sentret warned. “What?” Duchess sighed, knowing she wasn’t going to get a clear cut answer. “Predators come and eat us! We must go, now, now!” Sentret cried out frantically. “Hmmm? What is this; military school?” Duchess said grinning. “Now, now, now, now!” she mimicked. “No! Run! Run!” Sentret said. And with that she scampered off into an unused burrow. “Whatever!” Duchess said. She looked over the meadow. “Nothing’s here!” Duchess convincing said. She turned back to Sentret. “I’m not sure of that!” Sentret cried out. She backed up into the burrow. “Come, come here, now, please!” she begged. “Why? There’s nothing to be afraid of! Hmmm? What’s that?” Duchess listened carefully. “Oh no!” Sentret said. She started to slam her tail against the ground over and over again. “What are you doing?” Duchess yelled. She had to yell because of the noise the tail made and because of the strange noise coming nearer. “Run!” Sentret warned. “Run! Run!” Duchess couldn’t move. She was scared stiff. The noise echoed through her mind and she stood like a statue. Voices started to race through her head from the past. Oh, who needs you? No one! I know; that little pup sure is lucky! Dumb dog, why did you do that? Duchess, Duchess, where are you, Duchess? “Duchess, run!” Sentret said again. She raced out to Duchess and jumped in front of her. “Come on!” Then she raced back to the burrow. Although Duchess tried to move she couldn’t. The voices still whirled around in her mind. Duchess, where are you? Come home, Duchess! The voices of her mother ran back and forth. And her answers came back, also. Mommy! Mommy! Help! Aaaaaahhhhhh! She also remembered her mother’s friend. Aeroi, come on! There is no use. They got her. Save yourself now! The strange noise was getting louder, and the voices moved away. Duchess realized where she was and started to run forward. She couldn’t find the burrow or even hear Sentret for the noise was deafening. Now all she had to do was run as fast as she could forward. Hoofs beat against the grass. Duchess sprinted with all her might. “Run, run, run!” she kept urging herself. The Rapidash were caving in on Duchess. Then she started to move to the side so she could maybe escape by jumping into the safe grass. But when she started to move sideways the hoofs of a stray Rapidash slammed into her side. Pain struck Duchess once again. Chittering came from the side of the grass where bystanders watched nervously. The voices came back to Duchess. Mommy! Mommy! Aeroi, here girl! I’m sorry, girl. You’ll see her again someday, I hope. It’s okay! Duchess, I’m right here! Mommy’s here! Wait! Wait! At this point she remembered them taking her forever away from her mother, Aeroi. Duchess was flung to the side and the stampede roared through the once peaceful meadow. Her shoulder and side were covered with blood and she laid there for almost an hour, lying still. Sentret came running up to her, now. “Are you all right?” she asked. But without an answer she continued on. “Oh no! What to do, what to do?” she screamed out. A Nidoran passing by stopped and looked on. “Do you need any help?” he asked timidly. He walked forward to Duchess. “Well, do you have any?” Sentret snapped back at him. She frowned. “You don’t have to be so mean about it! In fact, I do, though.” Nidoran looked back at the onlookers. He stared into the sky and then looked back at Duchess. “I know someone who can heal her,” he finally said. Sentret looked from Duchess to the Nidoran. “It’s worth a try.” Sentret sighed. “Hey, Jinga! Over here!” Nidoran yelled out over the meadow. Soon, a Raichu leapt over the hill and raced down to Duchess. “What happened?” he asked. He sadly lowered his head to Duchess. “No time to explain! Get Armillo, now!” Nidoran ordered. Raichu nodded and turned back to the sky. “Raichu!” he yelled and sparks of electricity zapped through the air. A faint call of a Pidgeot answered back. Soon it came within sight and was coming lower toward Duchess and Sentret. When it landed the giant wings bent down and the Pidgeot crouches down low. Raichu held Duchess up and put her on the Pidgeot’s back. “Want to come along, Sentret?” the Nidoran asked. “And, by the way, the name’s Zikey!” And with that he leapt onto the bird’s back. Jinga and Sentret did the same and before they knew it, the Pidgeot was high in the clouds. Help was on the way, Duchess! Don’t worry! Hang in there and everything will be back to normal before you know it! A voice sounded in Duchess’ mind. Then it left behind words of encouragement for Duchess.
