Ranma was sure he'd gone more than the original three miles as it got dark. However, he'd yet to find anything that resembled a town, or any signs of habitation. Or anything that resembled something other than a tree or shrub, really. With no one to talk to, he couldn't help but think over the events that led him to this point. That magical lamp, ditzy genie. Why had he ever sought help? What possessed her to make such a wish?
Each step increased his frustration and anger. She'd got what she'd wanted, didn't she, with no thought about the consequences, and now here he was in the middle of the forest, away from everyone...
His fist slammed into a tree trunk, with enough force to set the leaves shaking.
"Akane Tendo, this is all your fault!" he screamed into the empty sky.
He stood there a moment, letting his anger ebb a little. Huh. So that's why Ryouga did it. He did feel a bit better. But not really, though.
Sighing, he turned around, and was confronted by...it was hard to say. It looked like a bug, but folded up a bit. Yellow, it watched him with large black eyes. Then a second one dropped down to one side. Then another. And another.
Ranma began to look worried. "Uh..."
"[Intruder!]" The word was repeated over and over again from all sides. Then a new chorus erupted. "[Beedrill, defend us!]"
Before Ranma had a chance to say anything, the tree shook again, and the sound of buzzing filled his ears. "[Defend them.]" "[Defend them!]"
Ranma took one look at the swarm of large bee-like creatures, and decided that judicious use of the Saotome Secret Technique was called for. "AHHH! Run away!"
Ranma panted for breath, leaning against another tree. He was pretty sure he lost the bugs a while back, but still, the dangers of walking through unknown lands with strange creatures around in the dark was impressed on him. He fingered the two balls at his belt. Just Nabiki, or...
He thought about it for a moment, then carefully put both balls on the ground pressing their buttons. Twin flashes of light erupted, and the two Pokemon appeared.
"[What's she still-]" "[Why let her-]"
Ranma cut them both off. "Enough. I'm not against fightin' ya know. I like to spar as much as anyone. But sometimes there's better things to be doin' than fightin'. Ukyou, we need Nabiki if we're ever gonna get to this Pallet Town. Nabiki, your not going to make your life easier needlin' Ukyou all the time, neither. So either you two can agree to work together, or you can sit in the balls until ya can."
Ukyou and Nabiki has the decency to look embarrassed. Ukyou pawed at the ground a little, while Nabiki played with the tip of her tail.
"So?"
Ukyou sighed. "[Alright. I'll work with the mercenary rodent.]"
Nabiki shot her a quick glare. "[And I'll work with the empty-headed mare.]"
"[Empty-headed? Just because-]"
"Pallet Town?" Ranma cut in, questioningly.
"[Huh?]" Nabiki blinked, cut off track. "[Ah. Right. Um... Let's see.]"
Ukyou stamped a little, sulking as Nabiki sniffed around. "[Ah. Got it. Those Beedrill didn't send you too far off track. You're only about two miles out of town. It's that way.]"
Ranma nodded, picking up the two balls and putting them back in his belt. "Alright. Here, get up on the pack. I need ya to guide me, and you're too small ta keep up with Ukyou and me, anyway."
Ukyou huffed a little, moving out front. "[I'll lead, sugar. You'll be able to watch your feet by the light of my tail.]" she said, moving forward at a slow trot.
Nabiki took the offered lift up, curling warmly around the back of Ranma's neck, looking a little smug, Ranma thought. "[Alright, let's go. Just one thing, though...]"
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See other episodes by Will McDuff
(Posted Tue, 03 Feb 2004 05:09)
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