Pokémon: A Tale Of Time (Volume One: Zephyr)

Chapter Twenty - A Prehistoric Problem!

Raido and Nidoran moved deeper into the dark cave, their path illuminated only by the narrow beam of Raido's flashlight. The walls of the cave were rough and damp, glistening with moisture. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like jagged teeth, and the floor was uneven, covered in loose stones and patches of slick mud. The air was cool and carried a faint, earthy scent, mixed with the musty aroma of ancient rock.

As they delved further, the sounds of the outside world faded, replaced by the eerie silence of the underground. Occasionally, the quiet was broken by the distant drip of water or the soft scurrying of unseen Pokémon. Raido's flashlight beam revealed Zubat clinging to the ceiling and Geodude nestled among the rocks. A pair of Onix slithered through a distant tunnel, their massive bodies barely fitting through the narrow passage.

"Nidoran, stay close," Raido whispered, his voice echoing softly in the confined space. Nidoran chirped softly in response, her ears twitching as she scanned the darkness.

The cave seemed to stretch on endlessly, each tunnel branching into multiple paths. Raido tried to keep track of their route, but the twisting passages soon became a confusing labyrinth. Despite his best efforts, he began to feel disoriented.

After what felt like hours of wandering, Raido realized they were lost. He stopped in his tracks, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and frustration. "I think we took a wrong turn somewhere," he muttered, glancing down at Nidoran. Her eyes were wide with worry, and she clung closely to his leg.

Panicking slightly, Raido called out, "Hello? Is anyone there?" His voice echoed through the tunnels, but there was no response. He strained to hear any sign of nearby trainers, but the cave remained eerily silent.

"Nidoran, we need to find someone," Raido said, trying to keep his voice steady. "We can't stay lost down here."

They scrambled through the tunnels, climbing over boulders and squeezing through narrow gaps. Every shadow seemed to hide potential danger, and every sound made Raido's heart race. The flashlight's beam flickered occasionally, casting fleeting glimpses of the ancient rock walls and the occasional Pokémon darting away into the darkness.

As they pressed on, the ground beneath Raido suddenly gave way. He stepped on a loose bit of rock, and it crumbled under his feet, opening up a large chasm in the floor. With a startled cry, Raido fell through the floor, barely managing to grab onto the edge of the rock. He hung there, dangling over the darkness below, his fingers gripping the rough edge for dear life.

"Nidoran!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fear. Nidoran stood above him, her eyes wide with panic as she saw her partner hanging precariously from the edge.

"Help me, girl!" Raido cried out, his arms straining as he tried to pull himself up. But the rock was slick and his fingers were slipping. He didn't have the strength to lift himself back up.

Nidoran looked around frantically, her little paws dancing nervously on the edge of the chasm. She let out a desperate cry, "Nida!"

"I can't hold on much longer!" Raido gasped, feeling his grip weakening. The darkness below seemed to stretch infinitely, a terrifying void waiting to swallow him whole.

As Raido's grip on the edge weakened, his heart pounded with fear. He braced himself for the inevitable fall into the abyss below. But just as he was about to lose his hold, a strong arm reached over the edge, grabbing him firmly. Raido's eyes widened in relief as he peered up to see a man with red hair and a black outfit peering over the ledge.

"Well, well, well, looks like someone's gotten themselves into a bit of a pickle here," the man said, his tone almost playful. "You should take better care in dangerous dark caves like this."

Raido exhaled in a mix of relief and gratitude. "I know," he admitted, his voice trembling. "I took a wrong turn. Please, help me up."

The stranger's gaze shifted, and Raido noticed an unusual intensity in his eyes. "Do you still have all of your Pokéballs?" the man asked, his tone strangely focused.

Raido nodded quickly. "Yes, they're all attached to my belt," he replied. "I haven't had the chance to use any of them."

The man nodded thoughtfully. "Good," he said, his voice low. "Now, I'll help you up, but you're too heavy at the moment. I need you to reach down and unlock your belt, then pass it up to me."

Raido frowned, confused by the request. But with his life hanging in the balance, he didn't question it. He reached down, fingers trembling, and unbuckled his belt where the Pokéballs were attached. With a shaky hand, he passed them up to the man's waiting grasp.

The man examined the Pokéballs, his expression unreadable. Suddenly, a dark, ominous smile crossed his face as he peered over the edge. Raido's heart skipped a beat as he realised something was wrong.

"I'm sorry, kid," the man said, his voice dripping with insincerity. "But I have no intention of helping you. I'm here to catch as many rare prehistoric Pokémon as possible for the Boss, and I need all the Pokéballs I can carry."

Raido's eyes widened in horror as the realisation hit him. "No, please!" he begged, desperation creeping into his voice. "Don't do this!"

But the man ignored his pleas, breaking his grip on Raido's hands. With a cry of terror, Raido plummeted into the darkness below, his screams echoing off the cave walls. Nidoran shrieked in anguish, her cries mixing with the man's maniacal laughter.

As Raido fell, his mind raced with thoughts of fear and regret. How had he ended up in this nightmare? What would become of him and Nidoran now?

Raido disappeared into the abyss, as the sound of Nidoran's heartbreaking cries echoed through the tunnels as he fell.