The next morning...
Like every other day, Chelsey awoke and stepped outside, where Hope was just walking up.
"Chelsey ,good morning! Yesterday, I did some checking around. It turns out that the Hill of the Ancients is apparently in the Creat Canyon. We should go there right away! Off to the Great Canyon!"
He started to leave, but stopped and turned back to his partner, who simply stood there, still as a stone. He gave her a puzzled look.
"Huh? What's the matter?"
There was a pause.
"It's OK, it's nothing."
Hope, however, was not convinced.
"Huh? Weren't you going to ask me something? What's wrong? Don't you want to talk about it?"
Not really, Chelsey thought, but figured she might as well.
"Why do you try so hard?" she finally asked.
"Why...? You need to ask me that?"
"It's not for you..."
"That's why. Because it's not about me, I can try that much harder to do my best. We're friends, aren't we, Chelsey? I want to do my best because it's for you, Chelsey."
This statement touched Chelsey deep. She finally smiled.
"That's what this is about. So, as always, let's try our best to do well!"
They stopped in Pokemon Square first. They cleaned the Kecleon Shop out of Reviver Sees, putting two away and saving one for the journey, stopped at the bank to leave their money there, and put away most of their items, leaving only 26 gravelrock, an apple, an Oran Berry, a Sky Gummi they had obtained while rescuing Shiftry, and the single Reviver Seed. They only stopped one final time to give the Sky Gummi to Pineapple in the Wild Plains. They could tell he loved it. Now they headed towards the Creat Canyon...
"This is the Great Canyon..."
Hope went forth and looked around.
"The peak is called the Hill of the Ancients. According to Alakazam, the Hill of the Ancients is on 13F. Xatu should be there. Chelsey, let's do our best!"
And thus, they entered in. Skiploom, Breloom, Doduo and Phanpy were among the many Pokemon that attacked them. The upside was they were gathering good items, including TMs like Hidden Power and Brick Break. And the battling enabled them to go up levels. Chelsey was already up to 15, and learned PoisonPowder, much to her surprise. Along the way, Hope grew to level 14. Floor after floor, they scaled. It was exhausting work. FInally, they reached the 13th floor.
"Yes! We're finally made it to the top, Chelsey!"
Hope looked around for a moment.
"This is the Hill of the Ancients... Look! Over there!"
At the edge of the cliff was a bird Pokemon, staring out into the sun.
"Chelsey! Is that Xatu over there?"
The two arrproached.
"Excuse me? Are you maybe Xatu?"
The figure offered no reply. Hope moved up behind the bird Pokemon.
"Hello?"
"..."
"Maybe he didn't hear me? Hello?!"
Still nothing. Hope moved to one side, then up front.
"Hellooooooooooooooo?!"
Silence was all that answered. He circled, before turning to his equally quiet partner.
"It's useless. He's not responding at all. Maybe he's sleeping while on his feet? Chelsey, what should we do?"
Silence again answered. He was about to say something else, but she beat him to it.
"Tickle him."
"Huh? Tickle him? ...OK. It's worth a try."
The tiny Torchic walked over the the bird that towered over him and begin to tickle. He got nothing. He tickled harder. Still nothing. Harder still. Nothing. Hope finally gasped and sweatdropped before turning to Chelsey.
"It's no good, Chelsey. He's not responding."
As if to prove them wrong, a soft snort was heard.
"Huh?"
Another snort, followed by a giggle, and then.
"Bufufufufufufufufu..."
Hope sweatdropped.
"He's finally laughing now... Is he... just dense?"
Spreading his wings, the bird let out a loud cry, startling both Pokemon into jumping.
"Yikes!"
"Witness it... The sinking of the sun..."
The figure turned.
"Indeed. I am Xatu. You discerned my true identity... You are not an ordinary sort..."
Hope sweatdropped.
"Guessed your identity? That's a bit much."
"...No. I can tell this."
Xatu turned to Chelsey, who sat quietly.
"You there. You are no ordinary Pokemon. You are... human, yes?"
The two's attention was now caught hook, liner and sinker.
"Huh?! How can you tell that?!" Hope squawked.
Xatu turned away, back towards the sun.
"All day... I stare at the sun unblinking. It gives me sight for all things."
He turned to Hope.
"The past and the future, too."
Hope moved to stand by his shy friend and faced Xatu.
"If you know, please tell us, Xatu! Next to me is my friend Chelsey... My friend woke up one morning as a Pokemon. And, without any memory as a human. Xatu, you can tell, can't you? Please tell us."
Xatu remained quiet a moment.
"The calamities of nature. There have been many in recent times. They occur because the world's balance is upset. And your becoming a Pokemon... They are tied together. Inseparbly so."
The last three sentences had been directed to Chelsey, who sat there, seeming to try and reflect on this.
"Wait. Chelsey becoming a Pokemon and... the natural disasters... are related?! What do you mean?! What does Chelsey have to do with the natural disasters we've been seeing?"
"..."
Anger took over the Torchic and he hopped up and down for a moment.
"What is it?! Why did you clam up?! Please, tell us! Please!"
Xatu turned to them.
"There are bigger concerns... I am afraid... The world's balance... It must be restored. Or the untinkable shall befall our world."
"Huh...? You're serious?! The world... The unthinkable is coming?"
"Every day I see it. The same future every day... I dread it..."
"Xa-Xatu..."
"I fear it... The world's destruction."
"The world's destruction...?" Hope repeated.
Somewhere further away, someone else was listening. It was none other than Gengar.
"Kekeh! Isn't that a surprise! That Chelsey... Was human..."
He paused, mulling it over. Suddenly, he grinned again.
"That's going to be useful! This should be interesting! Kekeh!"
With that, he headed off.
The next morning...
Chelsey awoke like always, wandering out into the yard. And like every other morning, Hope came up to greet her.
"Good morning, Chelsey! Let's keep on doing good... Actually, I want to ask you something."
She nodded, giving him the go-ahead. He continued.
"What do you think about what Xatu said yesterday? Does it bother you?"
"Yes."
"Yes, I guess you would be concerned too, Chelsey. There's suppose to be a link between the world's balance being upset and how you became a Pokemon... ANd because of the world's balance, natural disasters have been occuring... And more than anything, he said that the world will be ruined if the balance isn't restored... I want to do something... But there's something I don't understand. So, uh... The world's balance... What is it? Chelsey, do you know? What the world's balance is?"
Sadly, she shook her head.
"Don't know."
"OK... I guess so. You wouldn't know. I can't imagine what the world's balance is about... To be honest, I don't know what we should do... Well, I guess we'll have to keep doing what we can. One thing at a time..."
They headed to Pokemon Square. They saw Lombre, Bellsprout and Snubbull huddled together, talking.
"Huh? What are they chatting about?" Hope wondered.
"Yeah, I'm kind of shocked." Lombre was saying.
"I always thought it was only a legend." Snubbull added.
"But could it be true? I'm having a hard time believing it..." Bellsprout put in.
Curious, Hope and Chelsey approached.
"Hi, what's happening?"
A bit startled, the three Pokemon turned to them. Lombree spoke.
"Well, you know the Ninetales legend? The old story?"
The Torchic and Chikorita gathered closer.
"The Ninetales legend? What's that?"
"What, you don't know? You know, it's that old fairy tale. How you'll get cursed if you ever grab one of Ninetales's tails."
"All this time, everyone thought it was just a legend. But lately, it's been rumored that maybe it really happened." Snubbull agreed.
"Well, it is still a mere rumor. I wouldn't put too much stock in that story if I were you. Personally, I don't believe in rumors of that sort." Bellsprout stated.
"If you want to know more about the Ninetales legend... You should go see a Pokemon named Whiscash. He knows the story well. Whiscash is uh... You know, in his pond."
Lombre turned to point them in the right direction.
"You should visit him if you want to know more."
Nodding, the twosome hurried off towards the pond. Indeed, Whiscash was there waiting for them.
"Hohoho. You wish to hear me tell old folklore?"
"Please, we'd like to hear the Ninetales legend." Chelsey said, looking up at him as she sat down, joined by Hope.
"What was that? you wish to hear the Ninetales legend?"
The twosome nodded and Whiscash began.
"Hohoho. Fine, then. Let me recount the tale."
The two quickly inched closer, not wanting to miss a thing.
"There once lived a Pokemon by the name of Ninetales. Now, Ninetales had many tails, all of them imbued with psychic power... It was said that anyone so foolish as to touch a tail would be cured for a thousand years. But there was someone so foolish as to grab a tail. And it was a human."
"A human?" Hope asked.
"Yes, a human. As one might expect, the human that grabbed the tail was subjected to a thousand-year curse. However, just when the curse was cast, a Pokemon name Gardevoir shielded the human... And sacrificed herself to absorb the curse."
"Why? Why would that Pokemon, Gardevoir, take the human's place?"
"To Gardevoir, that human was her partner.There exist strong bonds between humans and Pokemon."
"...OK. But humans... Aren't there good humans and bad ones too?"
"Correct. Taking pity on Gardevoir, Ninetales asked the human this... "Do you wish to save Gardevoir?" it said... But the human had already abandoned Gardevoir and fled. Ninetales became disillusioned with the human... And it made this prediction... 'T'hat human will one day be reborn as a Pokemon..."
"What?! A human turn into a Pokemon?!"
Chelsey and Hope exchanged uneasy glances.
"'And when the human becomes a Pokemon... The world's balance will be upset...' And that is how the legend ends. Well? Did you find it interesting?"
Interesting and disturbing, actually. Silence answered, but Whiscash only smiled.
"Ah-hah! You found it so interesting, you're at a loss for words? Hohoho. There's no need to wear such a serious expression. Certainly some rumors say that the legend may actually be true... But it is only ancient folklore, nothing more. If you feel the rge to hear my tale again, come see me. Hohoho."
Worriedly, the two left the pond. Neither said a word until they reached the edge of Pokemon Square.
"...Say, Chelsey."
She turned to her partner and waited for him to continue.
"Want to call it a day now? I can't seem to get motivated today..."
Sh nodded softly and they returned to the base.
"I'm sorry. For wanting to go home before we're done. But I just seem to get motivated. I guess it's because I heard that story. Ahahaha..."
The laugh was weak, and his expression so sad and ashamed.
"I'll go home and try to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
He started off, but paused again and turned to her.
"Chelsey! Sorry!"
The Chikorita looked surprised.
"I started doubting you a little, Chelsey... I'm not going to worry anymore. I believe in you, Chelsey. Because... You're a friend like no other, Chelsey. You're an invaluable... friend..."
Chelsey was again touched by the fire Pokemon's kind words. Hope seemed to brighten instantly.
"OK, Chelsey! Let's try our best to do well tomorrow!"
With that, he wandered for home, and Chelsey slipped inside the base, where her nice bed of leaves was waiting for her. It didn't take long for her to pass out, and tonight, she had the dream...
"...Again."
The silhouette flicked within her line of vision.
"...It's that dream again. I always see this silhouette... Who could it be? Oh? It's saying something! But... I can't quite make it out... It's clearer than it was before, but... I'll try talking to it. Hello. Please, tell me. You... Who are you?"
"... I am... I am Gardevoir."
"Ga-Gardevoir...?!"
"I'm so glad. Finally... I finally got to meet you..."
"...? Finally met me...? You knew me from before? What about me?"
"I am you..."
But before she could finish, she faded away.
"Oh! Wait. Just a little longer... I want to know more... No... It's fading.."
The next morning...
Chelsey awoke, looking around.
"... What a strange dream... It's the dream I always have, but it was clearer than it was before... I think I finally learned who that Pokemon was... That's it! Gardevoir! It was Gardevoir! Yesterday, Whiscash said..."
Flashback...
"Yes, a human. As one might expect, the human that grabbed the tail was subjected to a thousand-year curse. However, just when the curse was cast, a Pokemon name Gardevoir shielded the human... And sacrificed herself to absorb the curse."
"Why? Why would that Pokemon, Gardevoir, take the human's place?"
"To Gardevoir, that human was her partner.There exist strong bonds between humans and Pokemon."
End Flashback...
"... Maybe... Maybe, I... Maybe I was the human who was Gardevoir's partner... Maybe I was the one that abandoned Gardevoir when she was cursed... Maybe that's why I turned into a Pokemon..."
Crestfallen at the thought, she trudged outside, where she found Hope coming up.
"Morning, Chelsey! ...Oh? You look pale. Is something the matter? Well, anyway. As always, let's try to do our best! Oh yeah! When I was on the way here, I think there was a commotion at Pokemon Square. I wonder if something happened..."
Without a word, the two headed to Pokemon Square, to find out what was going on.
To be continued...
Finally, here's a long chapter for all of you! What's going on at Pokemon Square? Just wait and see. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Mini-Marianne
