Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

A Claim to Flame

" Team Rocket did this, and they got Pikachu!"

" Not for long!"

Gary took off running, but Ash didn't move.

Gary turned. " Why aren't you getting up?"

Ash grunted. " I'm trying!"

He tried to stand but wobbled and almost fell to the ground.

" Ash!" Gary exclaimed as he ran to his side and helped him sit. " We need to take those ropes off you."

Ash nodded. " I can try."

" No you won't. Come on. Let me help."

Gary walked to Ash's back and started to untie the knots.

" How long have you been looking for me?" Ash asked

" A while. When I saw you leave the line I got suspicious."

" The line! I have the sign in!"

" Don't worry I did it for you."

" Thanks Gary."

" I had to. Given the fact you're always winding into trouble."

Ash turned. " Really?"

Gary smirked. " Hey, how'd you not recognize them?"

" They were... Disguised. Real well."

" You didn't look close enough did you?"

Ash sighed. " Fine."

Gary sighed as he tried to untie the last knot. " Well this is just great."

He spotted a knife in the closet Ash was in and grabbed it.

Ash scooted far back. " Don't kill me!"

Gary rolled his eyes. " I just need it to cut the ropes you're in."

" Right. Totally. Like that's true."

Gary rolled his eyes again. " Ash, stop being paranoid and let me help you!"

" I can do it on my own, thank you very much!"

Gary sighed and leaned on the wall. " Fine. Show me."

Ash glanced at the ropes binding his wrists and struggled against them, tugging and twisting his arms. He gritted his teeth, muttering to himself as he tried to wiggle out of the knots. But after a few moments, he barely made any progress and only managed to make his wrists sore.

Gary crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Go on, Mr. 'I can do it on my own.' Let’s see what you got."

Ash huffed, giving Gary a stubborn glare. "Fine, I’m just... warming up. It’s tougher than it looks, you know."

"Sure, sure," Gary teased. "Or, you know, I could just cut it, and we can go save Pikachu a little faster."

Ash hesitated, then let out a defeated sigh. "Alright, alright. Just... don’t get too close with that thing."

Gary chuckled, walking back over with the knife. "Relax, Ash. I’m not planning on accidentally stabbing you today."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Comforting."

Gary shook his head, laughing a bit. "Hold still," he instructed, carefully sliding the knife between the ropes, sawing gently so he wouldn’t accidentally nick Ash’s skin. "You really got yourself in a mess this time."

"Not like I meant to," Ash muttered, wincing as the knife rubbed against the ropes, slowly loosening them.

"Well, next time, maybe be a little more suspicious of people who suddenly ask for you to imprint pokemon footprints in cement when none of the other trainers are doing it," Gary said dryly.

Ash rolled his eyes. "Noted."

After a few more careful cuts, the ropes finally fell away, freeing Ash’s wrists. He flexed his hands, rubbing at the red marks left by the bindings. "Thanks, Gary."

" Don't thank me yet.  We still need to unite the ropes around your arms and body."

" Can't we use the knife?"

Gary shook his head. " Your body and the rope are too close together. I don't want to injure you."

" So... What are we going to do?"

" We could pull on it."

" Okay let's do it!"

Gary's eyes widened. " I was being sarcastic!"

Ash shrugged. "Well, we don’t have many options! Unless you have a secret trick to get these off, I’m game for anything."

Gary sighed, glancing around the small, dim room for inspiration. "Alright, let’s think this through. If I pull from the back, and you try to twist a little, maybe I can loosen it enough to work it off without hurting you."

Ash nodded, adjusting himself to give Gary as much access as possible without being uncomfortable. "Just go easy on the pulling, okay?"

Gary smirked. "I thought you wanted this off quick."

Ash shot him a look. "There's a difference between quick and snapping my spine, you know."

Gary laughed as he positioned himself behind Ash. "Fine, I'll try not to break you." He grabbed hold of the ropes near Ash’s shoulders, bracing himself. "On three. One... two... three!"

He tugged firmly, twisting the ropes just enough to create a slight gap between them and Ash’s chest. Ash squirmed, using the movement to loosen the ropes even further.

"Keep going, it's working!" Ash encouraged, feeling a bit more space as he shifted his arms.

Gary adjusted his grip and pulled harder, beads of sweat forming on his forehead from the effort. "Almost there… just a little more…"

Finally, with one last yank, the ropes slipped off Ash’s shoulders, falling into a messy heap around them. Ash rubbed his arms, sighing with relief. "Finally!"

Gary stepped back, catching his breath. "You’re welcome."

Ash grinned, clapping Gary on the back. "Alright, partner, let’s go save Pikachu!"