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."

Ash glanced back. " Hurry up!"

" I'm trying! But it's not easy untying really thick knots! And we also have to do the ones around your arms!"

Ash winced. " Gary, forgot going fast. Just.... Please go easy."

Gary raised a brow and gently rolled the ropes up.

His wrists were red

" They burned them." He muttered.

Ash glanced back. " What happened?"

Gary hesitated, looking at Ash’s wrists with a frown. "These ropes… they were tied too tightly. Your skin’s all raw. Looks like they rubbed your wrists pretty badly."

Ash glanced down at his wrists, noticing the angry red marks for the first time. "Guess I didn’t feel it when Team Rocket grabbed me. I was too focused on Pikachu."

Gary nodded, carefully running his fingers around the burns to check the damage. "Does it hurt?"

Ash shrugged, trying to brush it off. "A little. But it’s nothing. Let’s just get going!"

But Gary wasn’t convinced. "Hold on, Ash. You need a minute. I can’t just let you run off like this."

Ash huffed. "I’m fine. Really, Gary."

Gary gave him a determined look, holding Ash’s wrists gently. "Look, if we don’t treat these burns now, it’ll only hurt more later. We’re already a team, right? Let me take care of this first, and then we’ll go find Pikachu."

Ash wanted to argue, but the concern in Gary’s eyes made him pause. "Fine," he muttered, settling back against the wall. "But only for a minute."

Gary gave him a small smile and pulled out a first aid kit from his backpack. "Alright, stay still. I’ll clean these up, and it won’t take long."

He took a wipe from the kit, tearing the packet open and carefully pressing it to Ash’s wrist. Ash hissed slightly as the antiseptic stung, and Gary paused. "I know it hurts. Just a bit more, okay?"

Ash gave a small nod, trying to keep his expression steady. "Thanks, Gary. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Gary’s smirk returned, though his touch was still careful as he continued cleaning Ash’s wrists. "Probably still be stuck here tied up, if I’m being honest."

Ash rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t let me hear the end of it, alright?"

Once the wounds were cleaned, Gary wrapped each wrist gently in gauze, securing the bandages carefully. "There. That should keep them safe. Just don’t go punching Team Rocket with these wrists until they heal a bit."

Ash cracked a smile. "No promises."

Gary rolled his eyes. " Okay, time to loosen the ropes."

Ash groaned. " Just.... Hurry."

Gary nodded, and spotted a knife on a box. He grabbed it and gently inserted it between the ropes, sawing carefully.

The ropes around Ash's arms dropped to the ground.

" And my wrists?" Ash asked.

Gary did the same thing for them.

Ash sighed. " Thanks Gary."

Gary stood, offering a hand. "Alright, partner, ready to go save Pikachu for real this time?"

Ash grabbed Gary’s hand, pulling himself to his feet with a determined look. "You know it."

With one last glance back to make sure he hadn’t left anything, Gary gave a nod. "Then let’s go show Team Rocket what happens when they mess with us!"