"Dragyns," the Elder began, "as some of you might recall, we held a similar, but smaller meeting but a few weeks ago." A soft murmur rose from the throng. "Concerning our search for a jewel. The Ameridian Diamond."
An awed hush fell over the room. Even the Pokemon became silent, tense, waiting for the Elder to continue. Evidently everyone knew just how important this was.
Shadow felt her knees trembling and buckling. I can't hold on for much longer!
"The Diamond." The Elder paused deliberately. "This stone is not only unique and priceless, but it has a legend attached to it. To the average person, merely a legend, perhaps. But to us, it holds a greater meaning.
"The Ameridian Diamond was said to be born from the blood of an ancient dragon, one of the ancestors of all dragons, that was slew by the Great Magician Amerid. As the dragon's blood - as you all know how corrosive ancient dragon fluids are - fell onto the patch of rock and precious stones, he sealed the blood away into the largest diamond. He left the diamond where it was. Many years later, one of our own ancestors found it while searching in this very Den, and was given magical powers. He took it with him back to this very chamber. However, during a terrible fight with a number of other ruthless, powerful trainers, the diamond was lost. And it has only been until recently that reports have surfaced of its appearance.
"Some people hunt the diamond merely for its monetary value. But we know better. We know that this precious stone endows endless power to those who come into contact. If we manage to regain the Ameridian Diamond, the Dragyns will be invincible! We shall have power that is unrivalled by any!" the Elder said, his voice coming to a crescendo. "We shall rise! The Dragyns and dragons alike will rule the skies once more!"
The whole assembly broke into a roar of joy, clapping and excited yells. The dragon-type Pokemon flittered and swooped about, exhilarated. The Elder was quietly pleased, stroking his beard, before lifting his hand to call for quiet once more.
"Indeed, we are invincible now! Only but a day ago we managed to pry our diamond from the hands of a petty thief, who is currently incarcerated in one of the deeper chambers. And only just now were we able to prove it was the diamond, the one and only diamond. All of us shall be able to gain power from it in due time - patience, my friends, but we shall gain the power, and we shall rise! We all shall rise! And no one can stop us!"
After an arduous trek through the Dragon's Den, Yellow felt prepared to keen over and just give up. She sat down on one of the flatter rocks near a wall and watched as Red paced restlessly back and forth, eyes darting everywhere, searching for clues.
He's so desperate to find Blue, she thought. Would he be anywhere near that desperate if I was the one missing?
Rain trickled down the cave walls through cracks in the ceiling. The already dim light was steadily fading as evening fell, and Yellow wondered how much longer they could - would stay for before they had to turn back. They couldn't stay the night here, could they? Would they?
All of a sudden, Red paused, then darted away down the tunnel. He returned with a battered white hat in hand.
"Recognise this?"
"Blue's hat?"
Red nodded, his face darkening.
"Where could she be?"
"Pray to Arceus that she's alright," Red muttered.
"There's an opening. Over there. Wide enough for a Pidgeot and passenger to get through."
"What?"
"There," Shadow gestured quickly. "Go. There." She pressed a Pokeball into his hand. "Take him."
"Why? What for?" Silver was puzzled, but took the ball.
"Just do it." Shadow's voice was oddly flat, calm and low-toned. Her eyes were transfixed on something else that Silver hadn't noticed.
Silver decided to comply, slithering along the edge of the ceiling rim, until he reached the large cracked hole in the wall. A glance backwards told him - curiously - that Shadow hadn't moved an inch.
"Go," she mouthed.
"Fly, Pidgeot," Silver commanded, and the Bird Pokemon carried him through the slick wet tunnel. Almost immediately two Aerodactyls launched themselves on him, furiously flapping at him, crying raucously. Clinging desperately to Pidgeot's feathers, he urged it forward as the two ancient fossil Pokemon darted at its heels.
Shadow had already noticed the Dratini that had spotted them slide off the rim of the roof to raise the alarm. Not prepared to wait quietly, the dark girl leap down from the roof, flipped twice and landed square in the centre of the table.
A shocked cry rose from all the occupants in the room. Shadow straightened herself up and said, with a very slight smile, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen."