Trials of everyday life
Mid-morning
Treasure Town
Condominium
Layla hooked her claws on a large stretch of stone and dragged it downwards, the screech of bone on rock, echoed in the room. Gashes crisscrossed the slab and sparks flew from it. She continued honing her claws relentlessly and the tips heated with a agreeable tingle. Amidst the screeching of bone on stone, her acute hearing picked up the absurdly cheerful bulbasaur's humming. The grass type woke early and indolently paced the length of the crumbling pavement, sniffing dew and allowing the sun's watery rays to warm his bud. Noticing a dark presence on the third floor veranda, Red angled his face towards her and beamed a greeting. Repulsed by his jollity, she retreated into her room and groomed. Left to his devices, Bulbasaur ambled along and finally decided to check on his best friend. Climbing to the second floor, he pushed Green's door open; the orange lizard slept, curled tightly amongst red logs and snored softly in the hearth. Red approached the sleeping Oak and beheld the fire type mumbling a string of incoherent words and winding his tail against a burning log. Grimacing at the heat thrown by the fire place, Bulbasaur endured a lengthy growl from his stomach and carelessly woke his friend with what he deemed as a pleasant surprise.
He showered Green with a mixture of sweet scent and paralyze spores.
Cowering under the fire type's acrid stare, Red waited for his companion to thaw from paralysis before suggesting breakfast. Green on the other hand, irritably waved him away and cleaned; rasping tongue over skin. Sighing and not wanting to face a moody Layla early in the morning, the grass monster draped on the sill of a circular window and absorbed snippets of sunlight. Oak eyed the slate, pulled it closer and attempted to sharpen his claws; he hacked on the piece of stone senselessly and checked his steel tips. They gleamed at him, dull and blunt. Deciding to ask their absol friend how exactly he should sharpen his claws, Charmander grabbed a pail of water and doused the roaring bed. He spent the next few minutes trying not to cry at the sight of a smoking, rapidly cooling fire place and when Bulbasaur offered to spray healing spores, the lizard tossed the bucket aside and descended for breakfast.
The duo collectively stiffened on seeing Layla munching a mouthful of berries; Green drew to his full height and stalked towards the table after murmuring a greeting whilst Red shakily glanced at her mouth and scuttled over, squashing up to his best friend. "Thanks for the breakfast Layla!" The seed pokemon chirped and dove into his food whilst Oak mechanically chewed on a slice of seed loaf and berries. The trio ate their breakfast in strained silence and Red, unable to take the suffocating spell, piped up, "so what's our agenda today? I suppose we should head to the guild for more training but we have to go in the afternoon. Are you busy today or can the three of us amble the streets like friends and enjoy life?" Green choked on his bread and reached for a steaming mug of milk.
Red's courage is inversely proportional to his desire to live. The charmander dully concluded.
Absol ran a sable tongue around her jaws and lapped a dish of juice before quietly replying. Both Red and Green agreed she was an agreeable creature if not angered. "I have work in the evening," she clarified, "so this morning I am free. I'll show you around Treasure Town so the two of you won't need to rely on me for every niggling problem you have." Red nodded exuberantly and Green absentmindedly reached for a large leaf and growled at his friend to wipe the traces of berry juice dripping off his jaw. "You can do whatever you like afterwards. This Town has a mart, a park and an eatery. I can't cook so you may head over there if you get sick of eating raw food." Hurriedly Green assured her they were grateful for what she did for them and Layla dismissively shook her head. The seashells on her horn clinked melodiously.
Sunlight splashed on the pavement and heat rolled across town. Red bounced ahead of his friends and drank in the sights of the hamlet. The trio trailed across several streets and bypassed the mart, they marched back to the guild and Layla sailed through the doors, to have a word with the receptionist. Meanwhile, Green and Red examined the village center, it consisted of a circular clearing surrounded by a scattering of aged, mossy stone columns; fine fissures snaked cracked the plinths and some of them broke into two, the pieces lay on the ground, their forms devoured by grass. Bushes and a large, wooden notice board stood to the side, strolling to the board; the duo stood on tip toes and snatched a yellowed sheet of paper. A request.
A plea to find a friend lost in the dungeons.
"Are we really in hell?" Bulbasaur dubiously questioned and pinned the document back to the board. "This...Feels so surreal. This Town is normal and life is peaceful. What is our purpose for being here?" Red exasperatedly questioned and his cheerful facade cracked. "I don't understand why we are alive, this place is quiet and wonderful...shouldn't..." his tone dropped into a whisper when Layla emerged from the guild, "we be punished for what we done?" Green's contemplative expression twisted and he gazed at his friend with a mixture of anger, regret and sadness. The charmander plopped on the grass, his tail dropped and the plants around him steamed and dried. He absentmindedly checked his claws and the misshapen shapes leered at him.
"Red...Let's not talk about this." Oak said, "We will find out why we are here," he promised, "but for now, let's enjoy this peaceful reprieve...Alright?" Green growled and fire escaped his jaws, warily, Red shuffled away from him and grinned brightly at Layla. A satchel hung on her side, scrolls and books poking out of the cloth flap. Pointing to the parchments, Charmander enquired, "What are those? And if you don't mind, could I have a look at them later?"
She shot him a withering look and shook her head. "You don't have time, I confirmed with Manectric, you two must check in the guild before noon or else you won't have anyone to train you, the guild master and his team are on a tight schedule and my working hours vary." Green opened his mouth to ask more questions but the glare Absol sent him, stuffed the questions at the back of his throat. "Let's go, Treasure Town is quite big and it's always growing." A sardonic sneer seized hold of her feline features. "Make sure you keep up."
And with that, she bounded away. A streak of black and white melting into the colorful community.
Blinking, Bulbasaur crawled after her and Green inwardly measured his patience and decided he had enough to keep up with Red's infuriatingly slow pace. Falling in step, the two monsters sluggishly journeyed across cobblestoned paths and dirt stained roads. Buildings and foliage grew on all sides. Banners and papers chased each other in a slight breeze and Red blissfully tumbled across the town.
Utterly lost, the duo arrived at a seedy part of the settlement.
Squeezing through narrow alleys and completely ignoring Charmander's heated warnings in the quest to explore every inch of the seemingly peaceful hamlet, the plant type groaned and scraped through a constricted lane lying between two buildings; the outer covering of his bulb sheared on the un-plastered bricks and he winced in pain. Undeterred, he persevered and eventually, the street spat him in a shadowed alley. A couple of wooden shacks with corrugated tin roofs lay haphazardly and another, wider street lead to a square dotted with tarps and crawling with dark and ghost types. A handful of monsters barked at him whilst passing, and between the gaps formed by their bodies, Red spied stalls and shops heaped with iniquitous objects. Pendants with lackluster gemstones, necklaces of white bone, claws and severed limbs. A mason jar full of dubious candy and above all, a raw, fatty smell permeated the entire area. Bulbasaur wrinkled his nose and backed away when a pack of houndour bore on him. Green materialized and the hell-hounds gave the tiny dragon a look of mock horror before a pair branched off towards him.
A particularly loud thud shook the ground and the pack of dogs petrified and lowered their stubby tails, an all too familiar voice barked at them. "Correct me if I am wrong but I told you two to stay behind me," Layla snapped and Red turned around, glad to see her scowling face for once. "You should at least level up to your second stage of evolution before attempting to set foot in the black market." She rolled her amber eyes, one of the houndour handed her a pamphlet and mumbled about a sale. "I don't need it." She tore the paper and tossed the shreds in the wind; training her glare on Green, who flinched imperceptibly, she added, "I thought you were the more mature one, guess I was wrong, you can't even keep a measly bulbasaur in line."
Near the center of the black market, a dark creature shattered the silence with a snort.
"Our friendship is mutual; we do not intimidate each other," Red declared and instantly regretted the words when Absol whipped around to glower at him; he held his breath as her hackles rose and wondered why she became so angry. A moment passed and an ominous wind flowed from her, the houndour moved away, whimpering with their tails between their legs. Oak reared backwards and shielded himself whilst Red rooted to his spot and unflinchingly met golden eyes. She closed in on them, snarled some more and her tail drooped. "Green and I are best friends and we are fortunate enough to end up here together, he saved my life yesterday and we do not prey on each other's weaknesses. You...Should learn to trust others and not trample on them." The crimson eyed beast voiced, sticky sap oozed from the cracks of his bulb and he quivered. Layla sniffed indifferently and lumbered out of the winding streets, turning back, she barked at them to follow her.
They passed a dojo and Red, the previous threat to his existence forgotten, amiably chattered about mundane topics and Green delivered an occasional comment. Wordlessly, Layla listened to the bulbasaur, grinding her teeth over each other. What did that little weed know anyway? He was lucky to have such an understanding friend. She stopped when silence engulfed the area. Rotating, she beheld the duo standing by the dojo and marveling at it. Sitting on her haunches, she patiently waited for them to exhaust their never ending supply of awe and resume their obligatory romp through Treasure Town. The plant type returned with shining, cerise eyes and launched into a prose describing the way the dojo's polished wooden walls glowed when they reflected the sun; Green vainly tried to get his friend to shut up but unfortunately for him, the sun shone blindingly and Red bubbled like he was a bratty eleven year old child again.
And for the umpteenth time, Bulbasaur wandered off and hollered about the plants beckoning him. He ran through a hedge, rolled across a great carpet of aromatic grass and bumped into a wooden pole. Several grass types, squealing in delight, gravitated towards the newcomer and introduced themselves in euphonious voices. Layla scraped the ground irritably and prepared to wait; Green reluctantly joined her and warbled a lengthy apology. Absol shook her head and ponderously gazed at the marble fountain. "It's fine...We all came here bearing secrets we do not want others to find and he...Cried in his sleep last night." Resting her head on her paws, she studied the charmander. Uncomfortable by the sudden attention, Oak resolved to spear his emerald gaze at Red who rolled in a patch of daffodils. "I am very curious as to what the two of you did to land here." He shuddered at her question. "I understand if you don't want to tell me but you two hardly appear to be criminals..." Layla quieted and a sadistic smile lifted the corners of her mouth when Charmander frowned. "I heard rumors; apparently you and your best friend were some sort of criminal commanders?" Green nodded half-heartedly. "Huh...That doesn't matter anymore, we are all equal here and we are all waiting for salvation. Any tough acting will have the other members of town stripping you to your humble core and tossing you to the Beach of Evocation." When the fire type arched an eyebrow, she explained, "The place where we wake up. The sea robs memories so who ever named it the Beach of Evocation has a twisted sense of humor. Anyway, if you act tough, you must have the expertise and experience to go along with it."
Silently, the flame pokemon noted the ring of white bone fragments encircling her neck and inwardly agreed that she had all the experience and expertise to act like she ruled the world. Her presence exuded danger, it screamed of fear and she wore it proudly like armor. Absol, he contemplated, was rather pretty, the conch shells and raw gems on her horn complimented her burning amber eyes.
May Red have the sense not to point out her feminine features, Green silently prayed and blood drained from his face when his friend returned with a wide smile and a bouquet of flowers leashed tightly in thin vines. Shuffling to Layla, who straightened from the ground, Bulbasaur presented the flowers to her. Her glare could have turned the arrangement of multi colored petunias into grey ash.
Goodbye Red. Oak chanted in his head. It was nice knowing you in the afterlife...He broke off; instead of Layla biting Red's bulb off like she promised, she grudgingly took a single flower and crushed it under her jaws. The bulbasaur cheered and showered the rest of the plants over Oak.
He burned them to a crisp and further contemplated on lighting Red's bulb on fire.
Late afternoon
Treasure Town
Mart area
Absol guided them inside the mart zone and stubbornly refused Red's invitations; instead, she stood at the threshold, off to the side of the grand pole and revised the notes stuffed in her bag. Green wanted to stay with her and read, alas, the bulbasaur, sinfully blithe, dragged him inside and raced off to explore. The outdoor market covered a huge section of land and briefly, it reminded Red of the open air market near Slateport beach. He paused and sniffed the air, imagining the salty atmosphere and Sapphire's wild laughter ringing in his ears. The plant type remembered a vacation and loosely wrapping a tendril around Charmander's forelimb, he dragged his companion throughout the mart. Street performers rendered the air with music, a pair of leavanny danced to the upbeat rhythms of kricketune and gleaming piles of silver coins lay in a triangular heap near their feet. Vendors sat with their wares, a cofagrigus and seviper argued in the streets and other pokemon crowded to quell the quarreling. Colorful tarps shaded numerous stalls and overwhelmed by the rich experience, Red flitted from one store to the other. An Oran berry bush snared his attention and gasping; he immediately rushed to the item and picked it up.
"Green, look! I need to get this for my room, for midnight snacking and food on the go." Bulbasaur exclaimed and put the earthen tub down, gazing at it lovingly.
A garchomp's shadow landed over the duo. "An excellent choice young Bulbasaur," the dragon boomed heartily and the two craned their necks to see his face. "Oran berries are good for health and they are invaluable when you go through the trials." Green narrowed his eyes. Trials and dungeons...Everyone talked about them...What were they? "I have a premium selection of potted berry plants in my store, come and have a look if you want. And the price of the Oran berry bush is only one thousand Poke." The color drained from Red's face and he stammered an apology for having no money. Garchomp grunted, shook his head and scooped the pot plant from the ground. "Then you best get a job and earn your pay, even if this is Gehenna, we all need a means to survive." Forlornly, the bulbasaur and charmander loped out of the market area and Layla raised an eyebrow at their dejected forms.
"He wanted a berry bush but we have no money. Shop keeper said something about getting a job." Oak jerked his head at Red who dug a hole in the ground and planted himself in the hollow.
"...You can think about jobs later, right now, you have lessons with Wigglytuff and I'll be late for work." Absol unsympathetically stated and pointed towards the towering guild. "I trust the two of you know how to get there?" Green replied in affirmative. "Then get going, I might be late so keep the gate unlocked for me."
When they entered through the double doors of the guild, Manectric, proper and poised, greeted them warmly. The duo trudged upstairs and headed straight for the training room on the second floor. Today, a couple of new faces greeted them, a piplup, who kept on stumbling over its rather large head and a rufflet, effortlessly soaring near the rafters of the room. On seeing them, the guild master beamed and Red shot a bullet seed at the fuchsia beast. Again, Wigglytuff commanded them to complete fifteen laps without losing bodily control and to Green's astonishment and mortification, his comrade managed to finish the exercise without complaining or bulb unconsciously leaking. The grass type sent Oak a smug smile when the latter puffed smoke. Ignoring Bulbasaur's sadistic leer, Charmander focused on his laps and willed his protesting muscles to move. Red watched him for a while, silently cheering, before joining Wiggly for advanced lessons.
"Now," the balloon pokemon lectured and Red's focus constantly snapped to Wiggly's blind eye. "You have to learn how to conduct your moves. Pokemon are capable of wreaking devastation, they are able to summon meteor shards, they can use the power of the moon to maim others and even influence nature and place it under control. You are a plant type, you can manipulate trees, sunlight and to a lesser extent, the earth. Water and light are your greatest sources of energy and you need plentiful of it-"
"Wait just a minute!" The seed monster cut in, "What do you mean I have to learn my moves? Shouldn't it come naturally?" Near the back end, Green wheezed and covered himself in a smoke screen. "...I understand, we were once humans and thus we do not have the affinity to conduct ourselves the way pokemon do...And therefore we should learn..." Bulbasaur thought about his numerous attempts to fight Wiggly when the master wanted to sacrifice him, he could not harm a hair on the beast's body and Green fared no better. "So how do I learn these things? And when can I start preparing for acid dripping frenzy plant?" Red queried animatedly, "Just imagine what I could do with barbed vines...My Saur had barbed vines in his mega evolved state." Leaving Red to prattle about his 'Saur' Wigglytuff checked on an exhausted Oak, who lay as a vermillion carpet on the scratched floor.
The guild master picked the inert dragon by the scruff and placed him in one of the ripped couches. Oak curled immediately, wrapping paws around his feeble tail flame. The balloon monster returned to Red, sitting down, he instructed the young pokemon to meditate. Falling silent, Bulbasaur closed his eyes and settled comfortably on the floor, his breathing evened and his muscles relaxed.
Minutes passed.
Sunlight threw dappled shadows on the floor, the lizard's snores echoed in the room and Red concentrated, thick liquid sloshed in the confines of the tightly shut bud and it glowed lime and yellow. Snapping open, it spat a dozen razor leaves. The sharp edged leaflets rocketed outwards and this time, Wiggly ducked as a few sailed over him. Red's eyes widened in alarm and shock melted into delight when the stiff leaves embedded into the wood and refused to fall. Inhaling deeply, Red delved into another bout of quiet contemplation and Wiggly's voice interrupted him:
"That's enough." He waved protests away. "You will only exhaust yourself if you do that, and despite it being your element, synthesizing healing spores is extremely difficult. You should wait till you are more experienced. Remember to get plenty of sunlight and water and make sure your friend is placed in the fire." The grass type shivered involuntarily. Fire. "Go home, eat and rest." Seeing the mellow smile on Wiggly's face, the crimson eyed beast offered on of his own. "Come in for at least a week and then I'll sign the two of you at the dojo," Wigglytuff winked, "Master Mienshao will teach you advanced moves but you have to be in top shape before thinking of entering her dojo. Damn lady is pretty strict and her standards are ridiculous." Bundling Green in a stack of large leaves, he handed the parcel to Red who staggered underneath its weight. "Remember, same time tomorrow." The guild master called as the grass type tottered out.
Several days later
Guild
Second floor training chamber
A thick fog of black choked the room and a web of vines snaked across the floor. Red, his entire body glistening with a spray of fresh water, cautiously inched forward and next to him Piplup made a concentrated effort not to land her heavy head on the sensory network. In the air, rufflet and charmander surveyed the area, the lizard dangling from the predatory bird's powerful talons. Somewhere in the vast room, Wigglytuff glided and the four pokemon tried to pinpoint his presence. A rush of wind whipped past Bulbasaur and his bulb cracked open. With unerring accuracy, he fired a set of razor leaves and a water gun followed close behind.
Splat.
It hit nothing.
"Do you know where he is?" Piplup asked and rotated suspiciously, she tried peering through the gloom but to no avail. Charmander's smoke screen worked as a double edged sword, although the guild master failed to see them, they too, were unaware of his presence. Above, Rufflet screeched and flapped its wings desperately. Green slipped from his grasp and thudded to the ground. Red screamed in agony as his best friend charred the tangle of vines spread across the floor. They heard a noise. A tiny snort and the bird's keen eyes spotted their guild master travelling through the smoke and making a course for the solitary fire type. A gust blew the smoke apart and for a moment, Wiggly froze.
Later on, he looked back on the training test and commended himself on a job well done, sneering in Darkrai's face when the nightmare offshoot paid him a visit.
Like clockwork, the four creatures sprung. Vines snaked over Wiggly and trapped him to the spot, piplup charged forward with a peck, puncturing Wiggly's elastic skin before jumping away. Rufflet produced a chopping wind, severing Red from his vines whilst Charmander reared and a fire ball erupted from his mouth, swamping the pink monster in a wreath of coppery flames. The smaller beasts watched with bated breath, all of them inwardly proud at their efforts. Oak puffed his chest and promptly deflated when the guild master brushed himself clean and grinned at them, he stepped out of the flames and praised the quartet on a job well done.
Rufflet ruffled his feathers indignantly, disappointed by his performance. "We couldn't even scratch you," he dourly muttered and Oak nodded in consent. Diminished, Bulbasaur propped on the window sill and profusely thanked piplup as she spat a bubble of water on him, he turned and listened to conversation as Wiggly placated the hot headed duo and repeatedly stressed the importance of team work.
"Under no circumstances do you venture into the dungeons alone..." The master's mind briefly flashed to Layla who did exactly that, "Team work is essential and whilst you two are powerful individuals, without your friends, you would not be able to conduct this attack." Green nodded and dipped his head respectfully; he sent piplup and Red a toothy grin. "Rufflet, you are still dissatisfied with yourself, you and Piplup will join me for me for extra training sessions." Wiggly's tone grew soft, threating. "I have to do something about that immeasurable pride of yours or else you will suffer a sad and miserable existence here in Treasure Town, if you manage to live that long. I have a feeling the ghosts will flay you first." The room dissolved into a deathly silence and the eaglet stepped back, avoiding the guild master's icy stare. Watery eyes widening, Wiggly quickly brought a fat fist to his ear and spoke, "Mel, uh...Yes they are ready. I did fix that sign! Tell that stupid Tamen to get his eyes corrected!" He puffed angrily. "What? Yes I do remember I have a mission with Rooque you don't have to remind me every hour. I'll leave Red and Green to you, make sure Layla goes with them...Sometimes that child worries me. Later." He beckoned the fire and grass types to him and dismissed the others. Green and Red followed Wiggly to the first floor; he directed them to the giant meeting area branching from the foyer and without a word, disappeared.
The two, confused, pushed their way into the room and beheld a gothitelle waiting for them. The psychic levitated a few inches off the ground and a crown of polished jewels gleamed on its head. "Welcome." A voice resonating like bells, greeted them and the duo halted in their tracks. A myriad of pendants glimmered on Gothitelle's bow shaped appendages and she sailed across to inspect the new comers. "I suspect Wiggly failed to mention me." The two beasts merely gaped at her and she sighed. Opposite her, Red exhaled as well and diffused a sweet scent, flushing meekly. "I go by the name of Melody. Unfortunately for the two of you, you must now embark on your first trial without prior preparations; this is due to Wiggly insisting that Layla take companions with her when she braves the trials." Instead of listening to the information she relayed, Bulbasaur focused on the sound of Gothitelle's voice. It pealed like wind chimes. Her voice rose and dipped like the accents of the ocean; it wormed into his ear and curled its way into his heart. Bulbasaur melted, his bud opened and startlingly red roses bloomed on his back. Green, in a similar hypnotized state, felt his skin heat to a feverish degree. To distract himself, he quickly glanced around and poked his best friend who showered rose petals to the floor. "...I bet my crown that none of you actually listened to what I said." Melody shook her head and circled the chamber. She curbed the desire to roll her eyes when Red sprouted more roses. The charmander's tail happily whipped back and forth.
Stupid Wiggly, she cursed the guild master and spent another moment cursing herself.
Red blinked and wondered why he sat in a carpet of crimson petals. Next to him, Green scrunched his face, tail weakly slapping the floor. The bulbasaur stood and rotated, noting a spray of blood red petals on the stone tiled floor, he gazed dumbly, first at Oak who appeared even more puzzled and then at the gothitelle who floated a meter away from them. Coughing, Red introduced himself and politely asked if she needed them.
"Yes..." her voice vibrated like plucked violin strings and a zany smile rolled across the plant type's maw. "But first, pay ATTENTION!" Melody screeched to no avail. Inhaling, she snapped her fingers and fed her message directly to them.
You will compete in a trial, monotone buzzed in their ears, beyond the forest lays your location and the two of you shall accompany Layla. Try to stay alive at all costs. Time is short; I regret not imparting more advice to you. The absol is leaving; meet her at the entrance of the guild. Go now.
When Gothitelle severed the psychic link, Charmander, upright and rule bound, scampered out of the room on all fours whilst Bulbasaur, a rule breaker and righteous blood knight, first gazed at her wondrously before shuffling out, he popped another handful of pink roses, bumped into the door and tumbled over the stairs, landing with a thump on top of his fire type comrade.
Outside, Layla's expression dripped disbelief when Charmander informed they will be accompanying her to the dungeon, he sounded unsure of the message he relayed. A faraway look churned in the depths of the Bulbasaur's ruby irises and he chewed on the stem of a rosebud. Her horn tingled, foretelling the vestiges of disaster and her senses screamed at her to go alone. Absol, the bringer of disasters, they taunted her. When she came close, the other pokemon fled. Shaking her head, she growled at them to return home but once again, Red surprised her by calmly spitting his half chewed rose and asserting their position. Green irritably wiped the remains of a saliva soaked blossom off him and swiped at his best friend. Growing increasingly angry, she watched the two raining a volley of insults and curses at each other, throwing vague references of their human lives around. From the broken, wrath fuelled conversation, she understood Red and Green were rivals, they hated each other's guts and by some funny twist of fate, banded together to form an unshakable friendship. "...I don't need anyone to help me in the dungeons!" Layla cut their quarrel short and Bulbasaur glared at her, he lectured her on the importance of teamwork and how the guild master was worried about her, in response, she bared her teeth and heard Charmander rumble throatily. "I do not need team work from a bubbling bud of tree sap and a dragon kid who clutches his tail like it's a teddiursa bear." Absol snarled.
Bubbling tree sap? Red's jaw hung open, his mien aghast, the bud on his back bubbled cheerfully.
Charmander flattened himself; Layla's words scored a critical hit to his pride.
Teddiursa bear...His mind mercilessly reminded him.
"Whatever, I had no idea Green liked hugging bears but I assure you he is formidable in battle; He wasn't the runner up champion for nothing." Bulbasaur stage whispered and Oak's image shattered further.
Early evening
Outskirts of Treasure Town
Forest area
Their destination lied south west of Treasure Town. The trio set off with the dying light of the sun searing their backs. Bulbasaur, apprehensive to leave in the dark, lugged a huge sack of Oran berries, gummis and bottles of water, Green wallowed in the misery of his shattered pride and Layla, fierce and billowing ominous winds, led the procession through the endlessly shifting woods. Mist curled from between scoured trees trunks and soaked blades of grass as the trio trampled across the forest floor. Charmander shivered and Red pushed forward, his crimson gaze unwavering from the absol bounding in front of them, his strength ebbed and he recalled Gothitelle's words. Everyone in this town preached about trials and sins but none of them explained what these trials were. Slightly guilty for not doing the necessary research, he popped an Oran berry in his mouth and ate it, relishing the sweet, tangy taste of the healing fruit. The woods grew thicker and the light mist rolled into an opaque fog. As much as the seed monster liked the water clogged air licking over his skin, the fire type slogged through the towering bunches of grass and gasped for air. A pained noise escaped the back of Green's throat.
Why was he not being punished?
Red wondered time and time again.
They stopped half way for Green to catch his breath and grateful for the reprieve, Charmander snorted fire, coughing flames and breathing embers till the mist thinned and the air dried. Atop a stumped tree trunk, Layla unfurled a withered map and pointed to a dot west of their location, she spoke about a dungeon and the need to conquer it. When pressed for details, she clamped shut and grew quiet. Her amber eyes darted nervously and the duo wisely fell silent.
"Let's keep going." Green rasped and lumbered forward. Water seeped into his leathery skin and he shivered, the lizard longed to dig his blunt claws in the comforting grooves of a burning branch.
Around them, the woods woke, humming ghostly whispers and wails of promises long forgotten. Scared by the haunting voices surrounding them, Red scooted next to Green, uncaring if he scorched his bulb. His eyes flickered towards Layla who forged ahead, hacking the overgrown foliage aside with gleaming, obsidian claws. Dusk fell. Sunlight ceased to shine altogether and the forest floor bathed in the muted glow of burnt orange and garnets.
The mist coagulated to a solid cloud of milk white.
It clogged pores and forced itself down throats.
Choking them.
A rush of vermillion flames cleared the path before the clingy tendrils claimed the area once more.
Absol cast protect. The hungry fog pounded against the spherical barrier and Red watched, intimidated by the sentient fog. Safe inside the bubble, Oak ignited his tail flame and it blazed brightly, drying the dew on his skin. Layla weaved through the gloom and the three of them, enclosed in the fiery bauble, rolled past moaning woods and trees. Branches whipped the barrier, creating multicolored ripples on its hardened surface. As they neared a clearing, the protect shattered.
"What did you do that for?" Red demanded, eyes nervously flashing and legs shaking, Charmander, who formerly showed signs of life, slouched to the ground and Layla angled her face to the yellow moon hanging in the sky.
She drew their attention to a giant, grotesque, wooden thing in the distance. "We are here," Absol announced, "this is the dungeon of lust. Get ready to confront yourself. I cannot stress how difficult it is to complete just one of them, but you must go through the trials." Her lamp like eyes bored into Red who quivered next to his best friend. "I heard you warbling about punishment last night." The bulbasaur looked away, "Here you go. We have to go inside, brave the dungeon, fight the boss and reflect on our sins. Are you ready?"
Her words sounded surprisingly gentle and it did not suit her. At this moment, Bulbasaur determined he would rather have a raving, perpetually grumpy Layla than the beast exuding fear. Layla's hooked nails dug into the soft earth and she gazed at him, awaiting his decision.
Are you ready?
No.
No, his mind shied away from the punishment, he wanted to curl in his nest of fragrant leaves and chew on Oran berries.
Red slowly nodded and glanced at Green who dipped his head in agreement.
Let's go.
The dungeon loomed and the trio paused to ogle at the shape of the domicile. Bile rose in Oak's throat when he comprehended just what he stared at. A giant, wooden, baby doll; lying on its side. The surface of the baby bore centuries of scratch marks. Wide fissures bled from its lips and hollow, black eye sockets stared at the trial goers blankly. A splash of psychedelic wind gusted around them and the baby's mouth groaned open. Layla leapt, her talons scrabbling on the surface for a hold, she yelled at the gaping duo to follow her. Mist frothed around the base of the doll's head and swirled in a mush of blinding colors. Swallowing audibly, Red hooked his vines and pulled himself up till he stood next to Layla, on the bridge of the wooden baby's nose. Green climbed slowly, joined them on the outcrop and the doll's cavernous mouth stretched further. The scars on its lips widened and Absol jumped in purposefully. Red plunged in afterwards and Charmander hacked out a piece of wood and lighted it with his tail flame, he clutched the makeshift torch and dove into the inky blackness. Echoes of a child's merry laughter and sorrowful cries reverberated around him and he fell face first on a smooth, crystalline floor.
The baby laughed louder.
"Someday, I'll be permanently crippled if I keep landing on my bud more often," Bulbasaur joked and waited for Layla to peel him off the floor. "Help me...Please," he begged when she barked at him and nudged Charmander upright. The two stared at him for a moment then conveniently ignored him to scrutinize their surroundings. "Guys, I'm over here." The red eyed beast fruitlessly waved stubby extremities in the air. Green roared a brilliant flamethrower and the haunting reflection of the baby's cries, abruptly stopped. He stomped towards his flailing companion, flaming paws melting the glassy structure of the floor, and helped his friend upright. Oak scooted when Bulbasaur tried to thank him by blowing a sweet scent up his stuffed nostrils. Layla surveyed the area and twitched when the duo bickered behind her. "So, this place looks like a setting for a video game." Red offered and pointed at the various platforms whizzing up and down over a vast chasm. The floor sparkled and parts of it grew clusters of thick crystal beams. Each beam pulsed and the interior resonated with soft glows of pastel pink and baby blue. "The view is beautiful." The grass type breathed and splayed on the floor to drink in the ethereal sight.
A crystal beam shattered and with it, the ambience cracked.
Horror stricken, Green and Red watched a tangle of limbs emerging from the shattered crystals. A lopunny and a gothita flounced towards them and Layla screeched a command. Unthinking, the duo jumped on a moving platform and teetered to it. Absol smoothly bounced from one whizzing podium to the other, her snow white fur rippling over powerful muscles. Failing to emulate her grace, Red and Green improvised instead; the lizard used his tail to propel himself whilst the grass monster painstakingly created a thin platform of vines to traverse over. They watched a mass of pokemon gather on the far side, the beasts hissed threats, jumped and struck the floor. A breeze blew from the east and carried a burst of glowing particles with it. Red, crawling half way through his vine bridge, suddenly stopped. His tendrils unraveled and with a confused pout on his scaly face, he fell into the fathomless pit below.
"RED!" Green screamed. He turned circles on the platform and watched the bright green bulb descend into the darkness. His tail frantically beat the stage. "Layla!" He hollered and pointed to the winking speck, "Red just fell, he..."
His vision melted into each other.
Charmander giggled uncontrollably and Layla barked at him to stay put. Puffing steam, she tightly reigned herself, the winds and glowing particles inflicted confusion, Absol chanted in her head and refused to be fazed. On the hovering platform, Green completed three rotations and launched into the chasm. She bit down a growl as he snickered senselessly. The disaster pokemon blitzed next to him, sinking her teeth into the scruff of his neck. Charmander punched her, searing the cloak of fur hanging over her face, giggling, he set the glass platform on fire and the stage melted beneath her feet.
It cracked and she let go of the lizard as the two of them plunged.
They landed on a narrow strait of multicolored crystals. Near them, Red lay on his side, vicious green fluid leaking from his bruised bulb. A rain of cyan particles billowed in the chasm and Layla blew them away with a razor wind. Trotting to Red, she examined him, tugged a few berries out of her satchel and fed it to him. On approaching Green, she reeled back when the fire type stirred and shot upright, he calmed down after confirming they were all safe.
The space around them resembled a skeleton of bridges and crystal spires. Underneath, the floor opened into an absolute blackness. Globules of pink and blue light danced in the cavern, offering a fragmented view of the area. Marching in a single file, Layla warned them to steer clear of the crystalline beams and when Red crept past one, he spied the petrified forms of a gardevoir and mienshao entangled together. Their eyes rotated behind glass coffins and he uttered a fearful squeak. Eventually, they clambered on a wide platform, claws clinking on the surface. Layla stopped and sniffed the air; she appeared to be searching for something. "Could you give us an idea of what we should do here?" Green questioned and sat on the floor. "I...For a minute, I blanked out on the platform. There is no way I'll ever throw myself at Red like that. It makes no sense." Charmander shook his head and peered into the bright gloom.
"Wow, thanks so much Green. I'll remember your words the next time I hurtle off a cliff." Red snarkily delivered.
"Knowing you, it's entirely possible."
The disaster pokemon grunted, "Quiet you two...This is exactly why I did not want you to come with me." She exhaled and tugged a sheet from her satchel. "I didn't have enough time to research but this is Lust's vault and we are here to confront and learn how to curb our desires. This dungeon is composed of fight and psychic pokemon," she nodded to the faint outlines squashed together in a crystal beam, "and from what I saw, they emerge from those glass pillars and attack. The winds, orbs of light and mists of color inflict status ailments." Absol relaxed her muscles. "And these ailments include confusion, sleep, nightmares and infatuation. Be alert and aware. I don't want to keep saving your sorry behind all the time." She angled her face upwards and Bulbasaur timidly enquired if she wanted something. "I am looking for the trial marker...Basically, it is a depressing poem."
Depressing poem, the fire and grass monster contemplated and ogled at her. "Does it speak of death, destruction and rotting flesh?" Bulbasaur queried and she wrinkled her nose.
"I said depressing Red, not disgusting and morbid." Her amber eyes lit up. "Found it and let's go. Once we read the poem, the real trial starts," Layla informed and Oak suppressed a groan; he was drained before the real test. Red, who exhausted his supply of happiness, doggedly crawled after her; the trio crossed expanses of glowing crystals and alighted before a large, wooden sign hammered on an exquisite post. Three pairs of eyes skirted over graceful script and deep in the dungeon, a baby sung the words:
Intoxication taking hold
Of your mind. It molds
Your desires into many folds.
Into a maze of lust you are cajoled.
Poor soul, you are controlled
Till death robs a body cold
Thus you are enrolled,
In a place where punishment is doled
Mortal sins exposed,
Salvation…uncertain and in a future untold.
A spell of silence claimed them.
Deep in the wooden doll, a tempest howled, blowing colored particles of dust everywhere.
"Does this mean that going through the trials is fruitless?" Bulbasaur's voice rung discordantly in the eerily silent space. "In the last line, it says: Salvation is uncertain...Then, why are we doing this?" he asked. Layla's fur rose and she bared her teeth. Dumb neophyte.
But he had a point.
She smoothed the ruffled fur on her chest and replied, "The consequences of not completing the trials are far worse. Come on, if we stay in here, we will go mad. Do not hesitate to attack and defend yourselves from the denizens in here, they are not like us, despite appearing as pokemon." Shouldering past her gawking companions, Layla continued, "These creatures are ghosts...remnants of those who were forgotten...Those who refused to complete the dungeons or ones defying their fate. Here you don't ask questions, you simply do what you are told." She paused and faced them. "Here...You do not have the freedom of will." Turning around, she broke into a run, her form gliding over the crystal ground and the duo followed her as elegantly as they could. The flat plain around them burst into shards of crystals as a congregation of tangled arms and legs punched out of pillars and sailed towards them. Layla ran faster, the dragon hot on her heels, his tail bopped wildly with each step; far behind them lagged Red, who shouted encouragements to himself and hobbled with all his might. The procession of mienshao, gothita, lopunny and gardevoir drew closer, their ghastly wails melting into a synchronized growl as they clawed for prey. One of the rabbit pokemon somersaulted through the air and shattered the floor when she landed. Roaring, Absol wasted no time in digging her teeth in its throat. Green froze, hyperventilating when Layla tore the lopunny's head off. The spirit dissolved into a cloud of pink whilst Absol licked her lips and continued hurtling. She glanced over her shoulder and implored them to move. Oak careered several meters before twisting backwards and witnessing the group of female pokemon almost swallowing Red.
The grass type's legs ached and lurched clumsily. Clouds of toxic dust escaped his partially open bud, keeping the closest gothita at bay. Red knew he lacked speed.
Tottering to a stop, he turned around.
New voices assaulted his ears. Admonishing him to push forward and not look back, but Bulbasaur knew the feat was impossible. Above Green's worried snarls, Layla spat acrimonious words. Her tone vacillated, revealing concern and she repeatedly urged him to be sensible. No one in their right mind could possibly stand up to so many pokemon, Layla shrieked. Red focused, a thousand strategies played in his head as the hoard rushed towards him. Each of the monsters sported a black crest, the ink shining on their bodies. They were branded like slaves, the scarlet eyed beast mused and he spied collars hanging from their necks. Closing his eyes, he inhaled. Green marched back to him, with every intention of dragging Red along whilst Layla, tail flicking angrily, towered over his un-evolved form. The grass type firmly rooted himself and smiled at the disaster pokemon, his lips curling crookedly over his jaws. She tossed her head furiously and demanded if he had a death wish, to which he confidently replied:
"They don't call me a fighter for nothing you know." His grin grew wider. "I love fighting and right now, I am doing it for the sake of my friends." His bulb cracked open.
And a network of vines lashed out, spearing into the mass of jostling enemies.
A/N: Oh yes, I forgot to mention it in the previous chapters, but this fic has religious undertones and I hope not to offend anyone. You are welcome to correct any mistakes I made.
At Setriel: Thank you for your continuous support, I hope this story lives up to your standards.
Constructive criticism and reviews are always appreciated. Tell me your thoughts and arguments, they are always a pleasure to read and think on. Have a nice day and chocolate chip cookies to all.
