Chapter 1
Once upon a time, not too long ago in a place faraway, lived a fair lady by the name of Belle.
She lived with her parents and siblings a year or two younger than her, until one day her mother had fallen ill and in turn, her father set out to look for a herb that grew far in the wilderness of the mountains.
Belle was asked to stay behind and look for her in his absence, along with her siblings, and so did the old man go and together with his trusty Rapidash, set off to find said wild plant in the wilderness.
However, it had been an unfortunate day, and the sky did not seem to be on his side, but nevertheless he continued onward to find the remedy for his wife.
The power of love and loyalty was a great thing; it did not wear the old man from going.
He walked under the blowing winds, the pattering rain sizzling as they fell on his Rapidash's flaming mane.
They crossed wild running rivers of mud and puddles, into the forest of dead, dreary trees devoid of pokemon and which afar the thunder of the lightning beast roared.
The lightning bird casted its flash, the forest now becoming a strange maze, almost all trees identically confusing and soon the old man became lost.
Not even his Rapidash was able to distinguish the path they had just taken.
They walked through the trees, over fallen branches and tree stumps but nothing, under the heavy rain his Rapidash becoming bothered.
Then suddenly, he heard a faint cawing in the trees, and turning to look he saw a Murkrow perched in a tree branch watching them.
Murkrow then flapped its wings and flew, the old man followed it mounted on his Rapidash down the path of dead, wet trees until they arrived at the footsteps of a tall iron gate.
Murkrow had flown over the iron gates and perched on a statue under the eaves of the rather imposing, large and eerie abandoned castle.
Outside the intimidating iron gates, the old got off his horse and peeked to see at the rather large and dark castle he had never heard or seen before.
He marveled at the dim lit structure, skyscraping tall that dark clouds covered its reaching spires.
The gothic structure seemed old and worn and eerie, despite being unable to be fully seen because strangely enough, it was dark.
The gates suddenly creaked; they opened slightly due to the old man's weigh on them.
He was spooked, but due to the ongoing rain he decided to take refuge under the eaves of the castle's entrance and holding on his Rapidash's reins, both walked onto the front patio of the large place and under the roof of the entrance to wait it out.
The old man shuddered from being dripping wet, and because of the cold blowing wind.
It seemed the weather was against him this time.
The he heard the Murkrow caw, he turned to see the black bird pokemon look back at him from where it was perched, and then it flew to the floor facing the door, which opened a bit and the pokemon walked inside.
The scared old man was startled at seeing the foreign bird go inside, perhaps to disturb whoever lived within and out of courtesy he decided to knock and let the castle owner know he had been invaded by a black bird.
However, there was no response, and the door had simply opened so he decided to peek.
He looked at a darkened hallway entrance, tall columns that vanished to the darkened, high ceiling and a slight glint light not far.
Curious, he told his Rapidash to wait on him while he came back from fetching the Murkrow, the horse snorted in agreement and waited on his old owner.
Inside, the castle was no warmer and the old man was wary of the eccentric, eerie decor and artifact that filled the hallway and gave the place a rather unfriendly look.
The lack of light did not help it feel comely either.
The old man followed the cawing of the bird pokemon, "Murkrow… Murkrow…"
He followed it until he came to the large dining room, where warmth and light and a long table filled with food awaited him.
There was only one plate and glass and eating utensils, and the table had been served for him or someone else apparently, perhaps the owner of the place.
"Hello? Hello? Anybody home?" exclaimed the old man, but received no response, instead he was welcomed by a timid candle pokemon, Hitomoshi , who meekly told him the castle owner had set it all for him to eat.
"No, that can not be. But where is your master, then?" asked the old man, the shy candle pokemon said it was unfortunate of his to not be able to join him.
"He had priorities, but he greatly expected you so he left a gift. Please enjoy it!" and suddenly the old man was being shuffled by who attended to him, sitting him and setting up the mantel for him and serving him to eat.
Music was played mellow for him by Kriketunes and Smeargles, while Starlys and Chatot kept him company, the small ghost candle pokemon making sure his whims were satisfied.
And soon it was time to leave, for he felt awkward and ashamed of himself at feasting so greatly while his poor family starved back home.
So he asked the Hitomoshi if he could take some wrapped food home, which he agreed and Smeargles took and put as much inside a basket, neatly.
He was escorted out where his Rapidash awaited outside, well attended to by the bizarre pokemon servants of the castle whose owner was not at present at the moment.
The kind candle pokemon asked the old man, where he was off to and why he had wandered outside in a weather as this.
"My wife is home sick and I set out to find her some herbs that grow far in the mountains, but I got lost on the way and could not help a Murkrow had wandered into the castle…"
"I see, if it is herbs you seek then follow," asked the candle pokemon, escorting the old man to a small garden where various plants and flowers grew and pointed at some sprouting weeds.
"Is this what you seek?" asked Hitomoshi, the old man was shocked and happy to see the plant he was looking for.
"Revival herb! Yes, if I may," asked the old man, the Hitomoshi he did not mind and watched the elder husband pluck a shoot or two and tuck them into his basket.
While walking back, he could not help but notice a rose bush growing in a corner of the garden, it was big and lush and healthy.
Its buds and roses so big it could make a Roselia jealous.
And speaking of which, there were a couple or so of them just resting amongst the bush with their eyes closed, as if in eternal sleep.
The old man could not help but near the bush, and noticing the biggest one he plucked it with a thought of bringing it back home as a gift to his favorite daughter, Belle, who had always been the kind and helpful one.
But when he did that, all the accompanying servant pokemon fled and hid in terror, leaving a innocuous old man by himself.
When the old man turned to apologize, he saw not a soul and thought it strange, then he heard his Rapidash neigh and whine as if scared of something.
The old man begun to feel strange, a kind of presence and as he stared at his horse he saw things that floated in the air and then vanished.
They were all around, and some popped in front of him also for a look before disappearing again.
They were strange things, black things of strange shapes like symbols that peeked at him suddenly and got him terrified.
Then he heard rustling, shuffling steps and he turned to look to where they came from.
They came from behind the tall bushes of Rapunzel hairs and rose bushes, it was a beast.
A beast if it was no pokemon he had seen, a shape recognizable in story books and legendary descriptions.
One of robust shape yet tall by means of height at the shoulder. It was on all fours and its back had horns that sustain clouds and a terrifying face with a crown on its forehead.
Its body was stocky and powerful, full of tawny brown coat and paws white like snow shoes.
An Entei had appeared before him, staring at him with the bluest eyes, yet a frown as he could tell.
The Entei seemed disturbed, as if offended and it was not happy.
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