Mareep, Gible, and Ledian were such a distance away from Genevra and Redley that they couldn't hear or see anything about the fiery combustion that activated near the king tree. In fact, they were so much a distance away that they couldn't even recognize the storm of Ariados being lifted into the air by Genevra's sparkling and efficient Fairy Wind. From their standpoint, Genevra and Redley had a spacious view that allowed them to see Gible's Sandstorm, but Mareep and Gible stayed grounded between the thick swaths of apple trees. For this, it was rather difficult for them to see any indication of a signal.
The once-guile Pachirisu now lay dead before their feet, the corpse barely beyond recognition. The sockets that once held the squirrel's eyes were empty, leaving a half-eaten brain visible through the holes of the skull. The jaw had been ripped in half jarringly, the tongue hanging out in a grotesque manner that would have demanded a scream from even those young boys who self-proclaimed to be the toughest of all in primary school. The blood was black and dry, crusts of it staining the white fur while various innards lay around the dirt floor looking like squirming worms. The stench was repugnant, and if anyone who had just finished a meal came even close to smelling the foul odor, the eaten food would spring back out of their mouths mercilessly.
"Th… That's P-Pachirisu?!" Mareep's eyes were expanding in a dreadful trepidation, her body shaking very loudly, the Treasure Bag against her back clattering articulately from the quivers.
Even Gible had a difficult time registering the dead body before him. "Oh… Arceus…" The dragon looked away from the corpse, feeling disgusted. One might have thought that the dragon was carnivorous, though Gible himself restrained from ever eating other Pokémon, for he was quite content with sticking to a diet filled with merely fruits, vegetables, dairy, or anything that didn't mean sacrificing the life of another being. He was not a wild dragon who would feel guiltless about eating other Pokémon; he was a civilized Pokémon that understood the value of life, and he would never take away another Pokémon's life for the benefit of his own. He decided a long time ago that only wild dragons who didn't live in the cosmopolitan Treasure Town would only be ruthless enough to eat others, and he made a vow to himself and Mareep that he would never become one of them. The promise held true even now, for the young Gible began feeling a sickening nausea take over him. He thought of regurgitating his last repast.
Mareep coughed, feeling an acidic bile rise within her throat. "Oh… Oh, Arceus…" The sheep dashed away to a nearby bush, the contents of her stomach wanting to push its way out of her mouth. "It's so terrible!"
Gible ineptly followed, desperate to control his own stomach. "Arceus… why…?!"
Mareep heard the question, but she couldn't answer, for she didn't have any clue. Besides, she had already begun vomiting, the sour tears stinging her eyes as she struggled to endure the rancid pain.
Ledian grimaced, clearly uncomfortable with the current situation. She herself knew that Mareep and Gible were young, only blooming into their pre-teen years. One could have said that such a sight might have corrupted their "innocence"; that was always subjective, however. In either case, they would grow from this experience, and that was certainly objective. They recovered in a time that was not swift, nor slow, but an amount in which was required an empathetic understanding for both tormented children.
Unbeknownst to them, the stray group of Ariados that had chanced upon Charmeleon and Monferno earlier were now heading for the three Pokémon placed near the dead Pachirisu, which they had eaten a while back. They hid amongst themselves rather expertly, so much that even a veteran resident of Apple Woods like Ledian could not sense them. The time the sheep, the dragon, and the ladybug had spent in front of the dead Pachirisu gave the spiders enough of an opportunity to stumble upon them.
"Oh, will you look at that," one whispered in a subdued voice. "More prey!"
"At least we'll have something to eat! All of those other Ariados are probably happy that they finished eating the Poison-Type Pokémon. They didn't allow us to eat with them anyway," another said, the disgust towards them evident in the tone of the voice.
"Well, we have our own prey to claim as our own, now," the leader of the Ariados group said finally, and began leading his group in a planned formation. "You know the protocol. Don't mess this up! We haven't eaten since that Pachirisu came!"
More rustles were heard, the whispers of the bushes tingling with a carnivorous excitement. The sheep instinctively recognized the atmosphere of predators about to hunt for their prey first; it was the nature of preyed-upon animals to identify such a feeling very quickly. Her head swung from one direction to the next, her eyes nervously and sharply darting around for any sign of danger.
"Uh…" The sheep's eyes widened in fear, unable to see any of the Ariados. "… Guys?"
The land shark was alert, for he had already sensed that something of a sinister air had surrounded them. He didn't know what Pokémon they were, but there was something predatory running in the air, and he wasn't stupid in perceiving it.
Ledian felt the atmosphere, too; she quickly flew up into the sky to look down at Apple Woods from a bird's eye view. When she could see the various, familiarly purple-and-yellow-striped Ariados legs poking about, moving around like the spiders they were between bushes and trees, she yelled, "ARIADOS!"
Mareep screamed, the ear-piercing shriek jolting the surrounding predators, the sudden outburst surprising them. Historically, members of the Mareep evolution line were always preyed upon because of their supposed tender meat; being a Mareep, she was predisposed to becoming timid around predators.
"Use an Electro Ball!" Gible yelled immediately as she finished letting loose her cry of fear. "We need help!"
The sheep's legs shook on its own; Mareep could no longer keep hold of herself, and it seemed impossible for her to do so anyway. All of the strength Mareep once carried vanished into a forgotten abyss immediately, replaced with paralyzing timidity and cowardice.
The entire cast of Ariados within the party came into view, circling the two Pokémon. Ledian flew back down, ready to defend the young explorers if required. An unyielding deadlock seemed to take place, for the two opposing parties merely stared at each other, one giving carnivorously anxious glares, the other with mixed feelings of apprehension and defensiveness.
"Hurry up with the Electro Ball already!" Gible urged on, his voice aggravated.
"B-But…!" Mareep closed her eyes tightly, her legs still shaking. "I—I can't!"
"Then I'll use Sandstorm!"
"B-But—"
"THEN USE ELECTRO BALL!"
The reply was yet another high-pitched, shrill shriek from the sheep, sharp enough to break even the most solid of finely crafted wine glasses. Gible and Ledian returned a scream in agony as a response, covering their ears. The Ariados seemed to be quite adapted to such screams from their prey, however, and only took this opportunity to start pouncing against the three Pokémon.
"I'M SORRY, MAREEP!" Gible apologized loudly, swiftly whipping up a Sandstorm. Irritating crumbs of sand cruelly began attacking the Ariados, singeing into their glossy, shiny eyes. The party of Ariados recoiled back, about to retreat from the sudden blitz; they didn't have enough time, for the Sandstorm increased its power, the wind picking up velocity as the bugs were trapped in the coarse-looking sand tornado, this time prompting screams from the Ariados.
It was here when Genevra and Redley managed to catch up with Gible and Mareep, seeing that Gible was doing an overly-fitting job from defending themselves against the spiders. It wasn't quite as easy as one might have thought; the young dragon soon picked up more wind and sand than he could control, and the power of the Sandstorm increased tenfold, nearly blinding everyone in the scene with the harsh sand.
"FOR ARCEUS' SAKE! CONTROL YOUR SANDSTORM!" some unidentifiable Pokémon yelled, their throats burning in having screamed at a large volume.
"I CAAAAAN'T!" Gible replied, his pudgy arms waving more and more recklessly by the second. His own eyes began watering from the sand stinging against him, and he dropped all control of the Sandstorm.
In this brief flash of time, the Gallade and the Gardevoir stepped back before the arenaceous clamor could take hold of them. While they were only a meter away from the actual sand tornado, the two could see Mareep and a Ledian clutching to each other tightly, their mouths discharging screams. The immense whirlwind of sand that cycled above grew in power, and Gible waved around his stout arms uselessly, only panicking even further knowing that he could do nothing else.
Without a moment's hesitation, Genevra swiveled up another Fairy Wind, hoping it would accomplish some sort of opposing action. She wasn't sure how much counterbalance would eventuate, but making an attempt was better than not making one at all. The winds in the air snarled, the Ariados' screams more dreadfully hair-raising as they flew within the sky like brightly colored, ice cream sprinkles.
It had taken a while, but Genevra's Fairy Wind was able to take hold of Gible's Sandstorm, and without another moment to spare, the Gardevoir pushed away the blizzard of winds to ranges away from where she stood. One could safely assume that some of the Ariados trapped in the earlier Sandstorm would be dead by now, for the fierce impact of smashing back onto the ground from gravity wasn't something to judge lightly. The Gardevoir breathed in quickly for air, sounding as if she had finished a marathon in an abnormally fast amount of time; Fairy Wind was not an easy move to utilize, and having to counteract the Sandstorm was something Genevra thought as almost incapable of handling.
By now, both Fairy Wind and Sandstorm dispersed into a nothingness of calm, the sky looking as if it had always been blue like the usual. One could gather that the apple trees around had suffered a great deal; leaves were torn off and scattered, while the weak apples from their former branches laid interspersed in all directions. Branches were entangled upon one another, pushed against a wild mesh of calamity. The scene was a near-perfect replica of the ruined aftermath of some Midwestern storm, the now-dead sand tornado having destroyed a piece of land that would take months to heal.
Everyone sighed in collective unison, relieved that both the Ariados and the Sandstorm were behind them. Those who weren't Genevra murmured thanks and appreciation to her, knowing that she had ended the disaster Gible stormed up.
Mareep turned around, examining her wool with disapproval. She frowned, and released blatant sigh of disappointment. "I have sand in my wool…again."
"I did say sorry," Gible said, turning to look at his partner.
"I know, but that Sandstorm went way out of hand!" Mareep retorted back to the dragon. "You've even destroyed all the trees around here!"
Gible frowned, his tone filled with shy hesitancy as he said, "Well, I guess I was just so nervous that I went overboard with the Sandstorm. All I wanted was to defend us. I mean… the Ariados and all..."
There was a silence, the spotlight shining unmistakably on Mareep and Gible. The sheep half-blushed; the anger in her heart was still pumping through her blood as fiercely as adrenaline, and so her frown was still in place on her face. Gible, on the other hand, only looked away in shame, feeling remorse for his previous actions.
"Whatever." Mareep sighed, shaking her head. "If you're going to protect someone next time, do a better job of it. Anyways, what's more important now is… Pachirisu…"
All five Pokémon turned their heads to the rotting corpse of the electric squirrel, now dismembered into more pieces that lay sprawling from the Sandstorm. Genevra and Redley shared a simultaneous skip of the heartbeat, seeing the disgusting masses of raw meat lay before them.
"Oh… another one…" Genevra sighed, her face twisting into a grim frown. Redley, who had the same grimace as she, was just as unpleased at witnessing more remains of dead Pokémon.
"… I don't want to go back to the guild without finding the Water Stone, though," Gible admitted quietly, his eyes showing gleams of sadness. The normally optimistic dragon found now that it was hard to keep even a smile, and Genevra and Redley sensed this obvious, pitiful emotion.
"I have an idea on where it might be," Genevra started, recalling her earlier vision, thankful that she could look away from the dead Pachirisu. "If you come with us, you might find it."
Mareep and Gible looked at each other in confusion, and then back at the Gardevoir. "What do you mean?"
"We'll need to go back over there to find out," Redley said as he pointed in the direction to the tall tree of Apple Woods. "We'll have to hurry before any more of the Ariados come."
"You two were over there?" Ledian questioned the Seekers.
Genevra and Redley gave a quick explanation to the unaware trio, summarizing their encounter with the Ariados as well as the encounter with Charmeleon and Monferno. The five hurriedly ran back towards the location of the Perfect Apples, and to their grateful relief, there were no Ariados showing signs of bothering the two Fire-Types.
The Seekers were quick to make their way to the grand tree; Mareep, Gible, and Ledian were slower in speed, taking their time and space in observing the setting around them. Their senses heightened precisely, sponging in the gruesome views of scattered remains, the bloody smell that stung their noses, and the eerie silence which prompted fears to intensify. Their skins prickled with unease, and their mouths began feeling a tang of sourness, only feeling all the more disquieting in such an environment. The three shared a look of collective disturbance, each reading the others' eyes agreeing, This is worse than what happened to Pachirisu!
"We found stuff behind all of the Perfect Apples," Monferno said as the five made their way to the king tree. "There's a whole pile of things near the back of the tree!"
Charmeleon followed Monferno out of the tree cave, grimacing as he took a last glance from the canopy of the hollow. "It also looks like Ariados eggs were planted in the tree, too, but there are no more eggs. All of them must have hatched already. We're safe for now."
Ledian looked closely at the clutter of items snuggled between the numbers of Perfect Apples, abruptly distinguishing familiar belongings that had been stolen from her village. Likewise, Mareep and Gible noticed a brilliant aqua-blue glint twinkling in a flash of a millisecond, revealing the dazzling wonder that was the Water Stone. They gasped in unison, accidentally pushing the other Pokémon in their way as they dove into the tree hollow to reach their items.
"We found the Water Stone!" Gible cried happily, holding the stone with his small hands. He turned to his partner with more radiant eyes than usual, saying joyously, "Mareep! We finished the mission! We're okay!"
Mareep released a steady but wide smile, her eyes sharing Gible's radiant glisten. "This isn't so bad after all!"
"There are a lot of other items here from other villages, too," Ledian noted, her voice slightly echoing in the tree hollow. "We'll need to bring them back to their owners."
"This has turned out to be an unusual event," Monferno commented, scratching his head. He looked around his surroundings once more, being wary of any Ariados. There were yet none.
"We should gather everything we need before the Ariados revive," Charmeleon added, hastily beginning to stash his own satchel with loose Perfect Apples. "Whoever decided to put all of the Perfect Apples in here must've been stupid. I mean, how will other Pokémon who need Perfect Apples be able to find them? And it'll take another three months to replenish all of them!"
Hearing this, Genevra and Redley shared a sheepish look, clearly understanding Team Skulls' intentions from the night before. The fleeting look between them was enough to acknowledge that Team Skull would not be talked of for a long time.
"Since all the Perfect Apples are already plucked, we might as well share them with others. There's too many to sell." Monferno peered into the large tree hollow, suddenly feeling wearier than before at seeing the enormous piles of Perfect Apples. "What do you think, Charmeleon?"
"Couldn't agree more." The fire lizard sighed as he stretched himself. "We don't need this many Perfect Apples. We might as well just give them to other Pokémon."
"I could go back and ask for help," Ledian offered. With this, she flapped her wings back out of the tree hollow, carrying several items within her hands. "Besides, there are a lot of things in there that we'll need help for."
Everyone consorted with one another: Ledian would swiftly fly back to her village to assemble helpers in delivering back personal items. It was also agreed that the large piles of Perfect Apples could not go to waste, and so everyone thought of it as the best thing to do when it was suggested that Perfect Apples would be distributed throughout the villages of Apple Woods. Any remaining Perfect Apples would be given to the Seekers, the Fire-Types, and Mareep and Gible.
It didn't take very long for Ledian to come back with capable Pokémon from her village. In all, there was enough Pokémon to gather the belongings, and since everyone was naturally good-natured, there was no doubt the items would be on their way back to their rightful owners. Despite the good number of Pokémon, however, the vast amounts of Perfect Apples required a bigger demand in tidying up the situation. Everyone who could help brought empty buckets to fill up the fruit, moving about in rapid velocity, transferring the apples from the king tree to local villages. They were aware that the more time passed, the higher of a chance that Ariados would come back to strike again, and no one wanted another insane battle of survival.
In completion, everyone was able to finish the arduous task without any Ariados pouncing upon them. The assemblage of Pokémon went back to the North Village, the news of the recent happenings spreading around like an eager bushfire. All six Pokémon, especially Genevra and Redley, had their reputations extended about in a good name in helping others from the terror of Ariados. Charmeleon and Monferno were praised for not charging anyone the extra Perfect Apples; normally, one might have thought that extra Perfect Apples reeled in more money. The two Fire-Types had a selfless heart, knowing that the excess amount of money they could have earned wasn't needed.
Ledian suitably noted the imbrued and lurid mess surrounding the Seekers, Mareep, and Gible. Dropping their messenger bags, the four were led to a nearby stream, flowing in sparkling clean movements conveniently split into shallow and deeper ends. Though Mareep was an Electric-Type, she happily dove into the water in hopes of wrestling out the prickling sand. Gible modestly sank into the water, slowly picking out the sand nestled between his scales as much as a dragon with pudgy arms could do.
While the younger explorers were content with their landings in the stream, Genevra and Redley were more careful. The Gardevoir was (she had to admit) concerned for the Gallade; his arm was still stinging. Genevra painstakingly led Redley into the water, duly checking that he was comfortable to the maximum.
"Don't worry about me," Redley said as he attempted to give a smile to his partner. "You should focus on yourself more. That Fairy Wind took a heavy toll on you, and you still look worn out from using it twice in a row."
Genevra looked away, her face blushing quietly. "That was nothing."
Redley turned red in response, his thoughts buzzing around in swarms of angry Beedrill. He wanted to say something, really anything, but every thought he had contradicted the things he wanted to speak. His mouth stayed shut, and he found himself looking away.
If I hadn't gone too far with the Queen Ariados, Genevra wouldn't have to be so worried…
Genevra glimpsed at her own hands, smudged with blood and Arceus knows what other body fluids. Her eyes trailed around herself, observing the mess that she was. Sighing, she began cleaning herself, working with the stains disseminating around her.
The four Pokémon were satisfied with their cleansings; they stayed in the stream as long as they needed in removing their stains. By the end, all was well; it was late afternoon when everyone had eaten their hearty lunches of Perfect Apples. Genevra and Redley had more than enough of the fruit to carry home back to Wigglytuff, while Charmeleon and Monferno made their ways elsewhere with their abundant Perfect Apples. Even Mareep and Gible were gifted Perfect Apples — there was enough to share with them. Everyone parted their ways with each other; friendly smiles were shared among one another as farewells were given.
Both Mareep and Gible asked both Seekers if they would accompany them back on the way home to Treasure Town; Genevra and Redley agreed without a second thought. They were, however, warned by an elderly Butterfree that at the time they were leaving now, it would be dangerous walking back to Treasure Town in the wild. An offer was given to the four Pokémon; perhaps they could stay at their village for the night before heading back the next day. Mareep and Gible argued that to do a thing would dishonor them from the Wigglytuff Guild; even Redley and Genevra had a desire to get back home, for spending another night in a place they couldn't call home seemed disheartening. The villagers were thanked for the offer, and the final decision was set in its finality. All four Pokémon would leave Apple Woods, even if the sun was about to set down. They left the North Village not long after Charmeleon and Monferno.
The walk back to Treasure Town would be longer than anticipated, and in the very best way possible.
The time has come…
Atop a nameless mountain of the Whitestone Mountains, where none of the winds could even lay a single breath of a breeze against the peak, there laid a modest heap of shiny black ashes, particles resting on particles, all necessary to create that one mythical phoenix that everyone knew as impossible to see, so impossible that He didn't even exist at all.
Ho-Oh.
It was the Pokémon in which archaic legends of all sorts from all cultures and all times express in every single one the beauty and etherealness and superiority that was. To see this Pokémon would bless those with eternal happiness; the supposed capacity of seeing this immortal bird was unsurpassed.
Those scholars who studied legends and mythology regularly debated about such a claim. Academics would especially provide justifiable reasons and principles that would render a storm of skepticism about Ho-Oh. Ancient writings were engraved on aging stone tablets regarding the observations of the bird, and it was tangible proof that the Pokémon was real. They could trust that their ancient ancestors weren't stupid; they had enough intelligence to master their own written word. In the end, the stories that accompanied were always the subject of controversy — many sounded as if they were intentionally twisted to please a biased point of view.
There was always something consistent about the recordings of Ho-Oh, however. Scholars noted this with ease, but they never asked any further when they should have. With every mention of Ho-Oh, Lugia was always written. Even if Lugia never played an actual role in whatever myth was written on the tablet, Ho-Oh would always be addressed in an apparently solemn heralding. "Ho-Oh, Brother Sibling of Sister Sibling Lugia," was the assured introduction to the mythical phoenix in every story.
In truth, Ho-Oh was forever fated to be tied with Lugia. No one, perhaps with the exception of the Creation Gods, could ever understand why this was so. (The Creation Gods were on such an empyrean status that matters like these were easy to comprehend.) One could call them "soul mates," but nowhere is it meant to be applied in a romantic sense. Fate is strange, for it is always the point of a heated debate in what is defined to be fate. Is it the work of Arceus? Or is it the work of all individuals, in which individuals choose their destiny? Or perhaps they are led to believe that individuals do have a choice, and they consciously believe that they are aware of what they choose, even though in the end, there is always another mastermind pulling the strings of the puppet? Perhaps in the end, the strings of the puppet are pulled so well that even the mastermind supposedly in charge has become trapped in the perpetual labyrinth we all call fate?
In any case, because of this inseparable bond, the awakening of Lugia stimulated the awakening of Ho-Oh. What would happen to one Pokémon would happen to the next. Disregarding the dubious intervals of time in which took place between their rebirths, the main point of fact remained essential: Ho-Oh and Lugia were to meet once again.
The lustrous ashes began assembling at its own will — Ho-Oh's higher acuity had taken hold, commanding the corporeal body in coming back to life not from the dead, but from an unconscious sleep. All that was a polished black color smoothed out into brighter hues of varying degrees: the signature fiery red color that could only be found on Ho-Oh's primary coverts, laying on top of the pristine white secondary coverts, in turn tipped with a crystalline jade shade near the delicate ends. The burning gold aura blazed with ferocity, coloring the tail-feathers, the majestic crest, and the finely shaped beak reminiscent of a crescent moon.
Ho-Oh cried out to the high sky above; despite its impressive volume, no Pokémon had heard the call. His wings stretched in a ceremonious attitude, as if fulfilling some ancient sacrificial rite, ready to fly into the sky to meet Lugia.
The time has come…
Exactly one day after they had left the shores of Treasure Town, Team Raider and the temporary army had passed Surrounded Sea, beginning their way through Miracle Sea. There was no obvious sign of Lugia yet; at most, the clouds seemed to float in a deeper gray color, looming over with a lethargic doom that made the atmosphere all the more intimidating. Moreover, there were countless numbers of Water-Type Pokémon escaping from a certain direction that prompted Gallade and the others to understand they were heading in the right way.
At the moment, there was a transitory break. Wailord stationed everyone at a solitary island, allowing all land Pokémon to get the familiar feel of solid dirt against their feet. It was here where members of the Lanturn Police Department would meet with Team Raider and the army, exchanging information. Wailord rested in the water, patiently waiting like the gentle Pokémon he was.
"Lugia is already at the heart of Miracle Sea," a Sheriff Lanturn informed the leaders. "She's rampaging like it's the apocalypse! We can't even stop Her, even with our electricity!"
"We'll need to find some way to besiege Lugia then," Sheriff Magnezone said, turning to Gallade. "Have you figured out anything yet?"
Gallade nodded brusquely, answering in an authoritarian voice. He was a superbly strategic leader, excelling in figuring out means that would execute efficiently in reality. "At this rate, there is no doubt Lugia will continue making Her way up here. With all of us, there's no way we are going to fight on Wailord; doing a thing would risk not only our lives, but his as well. There's no reason for Wailord to get tangled in this battle. He's done enough for us."
"So… we'll send him back?" Roserade figured.
"Correct." Gallade crossed his arms, turning his head as he began thinking once more. "Also, we'll need to ensure that Lugia comes here to this island. This is our only chance in stopping Her. If we lose, we can't fight Her on the islands in Surrounded Sea. There won't be enough time for Wailord to send us there, and doing that would, again, endanger his own life. I won't allow it."
Sheriff Magnezone felt a wave of unusual electricity crackle through it; it was equivalent to a warm-blooded Pokémon feeling shivers tremble down their skin. In the tone Gallade spoke with, it was impossible for it to argue against him. Gallade had magnetic power and charisma perfect for leading a society. The sheriff almost found itself jealous of his abilities; imagine how successful it would be at its own job if it had Gallade's strengths! Besides, that strength was probably what reeled in the hordes of fangirls. After all, he was the most popular guy that all fangirls chose to swoon over.
But back to the seriousness of the situation… the Sheriff Magnezone felt another wave of electricity.
"We'll have the Ghost-Types attack Lugia first," Gallade went on. "They are to surround Lugia in a spherical formation and attack her repeatedly. The Ghost-Types will lead Lugia closer to this island, and then that's when the rest of us will attack. The Rock-Types are to stay grounded here; on no circumstances are they to go near any water. A storm will be coming in their way, and the last thing I want is any of our Pokémon dead."
"I hate water," Rhyperior grumbled. The same declaration could be said for many of the other Rock-Types. Still, he knew he was here for a more important reason, and he couldn't let his own selfishness overtake him when there were other Pokémon's lives he needed to consider.
"As for the others, the Ice-Types and Dark-Types will surround the Rock-Types, protecting them should the rain severely start damaging them. The Rock-Types will attack Lugia, but the Ice-Types and the Dark-Types must watch their backs. That said, those two types are also allowed to attack Lugia, but the priorities of Rock-Types are just as important."
"And the Electric-Types?" a Deputy Sheriff Magneton asked.
"I want all of the Electric-Types near the edges of the island." Gallade said this as if it were an order. "I want them near the water. If they release their Electric-Type special attacks — Discharge, ThunderBolt, Electro Ball — the water will only increase the power. The super-effectiveness of the water will affect Lugia's storms, thus weakening Her. This is our best weapon."
The clean neatness of Gallade's plan impressed the others, and no one objected.
"All that is left to do is to wait for Lugia," Gallade concluded, his arms crossed as he faced the south.
Everyone hurriedly agreed, dispersing off into their respective groups. Wailord would be warned about the emerging battle, while Sheriff Magnezone and his assistants would go off to instruct other Pokémon of their specific places. Soon, everyone was preparing their own dinners while setting up their duly sparse camps. They were satisfied with their own meals — all light mélanges of Oran and Sitrus Berries meant for strengthening.
No one had seen the sun set; the gray overcasts of clouds dominated the expanse of the sky, so much that no sign of any lively color would be visible. One could still tell when night had befallen on the island, however. Eventually, the sky, with its gray clouds, gradually dimmed into a thick, impermeable blackness. The scene was unparalleled to achieving absolute darkness, and the only light source available was the weak fires built from loose twigs.
Gallade was the last one awake when everyone else had fallen asleep. He was positive that even Roserade and Rhyperior wouldn't be aware that he had not yet gone to sleep, and he was right. Gallade kept his own eyes glued to the glowing fire, illuminating the surrounding sand in some husky golden color.
Memories of the previous day with Genevra and Redley cycled throughout his head as he lay down against the soft sand, soon toppling with even further memories from all of his past years. All of the events from his passed flowed through him now, a river of recollections and remembrances streaming into his consciousness without merciless force.
What if I am to die tomorrow…? Gallade thought. I made the vow with Roserade and Rhyperior that we would lose our lives in becoming explorers if anything should happen… Arceus, damn it, I don't think I want to die after all…
There is Genevra too… another voice crept inside the Gallade's mind.
I already know she's not mine; there is no use in trying to keep myself alive for her… Perhaps I should…
Gallade stopped himself, realizing how suicidal he sounded.
You are to keep living not for Genevra, he urged himself as he shook his head, but for the hundreds of thousands of other Pokémon living in this world. They may lose their lives should you fail, and that is the worst disgrace that any explorer should experience. If I die, I cannot die for Genevra. If I die, I have to die for the Pokémon of the world. There is nothing else I will take.
The Gallade wiped his face with a forearm, straightening himself. He would attempt to fall asleep. Tomorrow would be, needless to point out, a big day.
There was something that worried Dragonair, and it worried him up to the point where he wondered if he should swim back to the Royal Palace to ensure that the Holy Relic was still there.
The Panthalassa Time Gear…
"Don't be silly, Dragonair," the blue serpent admonished himself. "You'll be disrespecting your King and Queen. You'll be a disgrace to the entire family! Besides, you're already at the center of Surrounded Sea. It's unthinkable to go back!"
Dragonair paused; he was currently swimming near the surface of the water. It was an easy way to lift his head up to continuously look at the stars. Tonight, though, he would have to pay extra attention to the sky. He was sure that it was this night was the night in which a lunar eclipse would take place for a few hours — that would give him limited time in searching for the palace.
He knew he was fortunate in arriving at Surrounded Sea; there were signs scattered among the ocean floor that were enough to tell Dragonair that he had made it. There was a considerable amount of effort done to avoid passing Water-Types. Dragonair could not risk being identified as someone directly from the servants of the Royal Palace; there was absolutely no way in the name of Arceus he was going to let some random Pokémon even discover a slither of information about the egg he was entrusted.
The serpent lifted his head, paying close attention to the moon. After locating the position, he gathered that the lunar eclipse would start soon; in how much time exactly, he wasn't sure. He might have been a servant, but the King and Queen were kind. They had given all servants a necessary education, enough to call them mildly cultured in every field ranging from the sciences to the arts.
The full moon has already entered the penumbra…
"My dear Kyogre, I've made it…" Dragonair breathed, turning to his tail wrapped around the egg. He unwrapped the delicate formation of nature ever so gently, peeking at the marvelous life within the transparent shell, balancing it on his tail.
How in the name of Arceus shall I ever raise the Royal Prince?
Sighing, he shook his head, rewrapping the egg like a mother lovingly hugging her child. Some strange brew of feelings transformed madly within him; raising the prince would be no easy task, for he had never been a parent and he had never received proper training in raising a child. Heck, even though he had fallen in love before, he had never mated, so he did not have a solid idea on how to properly raise a baby Pokémon. Yet the King and Queen had faith in him, so he must have been doing something right.
Soon, the palace will show itself under the light of the lunar eclipse…
However, even if he was trusted, he still didn't know if he had escaped the wrath of Lugia. Yes, Lugia was a far ways behind him. But that didn't mean she was done rampaging. There was that ancient myth about Lugia having the capability of causing a forty-day storm, and knowing that Lugia was on a rage now, that specious illusion of the myth was, in actuality, now true and believable.
This gave him a legitimate reason to think that he was still not safe; if he was not safe, then the Royal Prince was not safe either. Dragonair would gladly sacrifice his own life to save the young prince, though that would only cause him to worry about who would take of him if Dragonair was dead. Such a thing would only cause more terror than needed!
Stop being so superstitious! Dragonair scolded himself. Lugia isn't going to come to the Surrounded Sea! I can't believe you're so gullible!
And yet, the small fact that Lugia could very well enter the Surrounded Sea denied to leave Dragonair's mind. The chance of it happening was there, and denying it would be the same as saying that Arceus didn't exist.
And then there's the Panthalassa Time Gear…
Nonsense! The Holy Time Gear is safely tucked away under the Royal Palace! Even though the entire architecture is wrecked into pieces, the item itself is guarded under the fail-proof trap system…
In any case, Dragonair, keep your head high. You cannot disgrace the last orders of your King and Queen…
The four Pokémon — Genevra, Redley, Mareep and Gible — grew more and more silent as their walk back to Treasure Town progressed throughout the evening. At first, both Mareep and Gible had the energy and enthusiasm in marching back home — they recited all ten rules of Wigglytuff's Ten Rules for Exploration Teams repeatedly (this was to Genevra's horror, and she almost found herself cringing at the ridiculously hokey "rules," though Redley comforted her), they sang children's songs in nonsensical intonations that would have made a conservatively uptight classical music aficionado cringe in terror ("Stop making my ears bleed!" they would scream), and they danced in a totally out-of-sync fashion that somehow could be amusing if one pushed themselves to look at it that way. Despite the childish atmosphere, Genevra and Redley found themselves smiling along, ultimately enjoyed by the optimism emanating from the two. Psychic-Types like them were naturally sensitive to emotion, and just drinking in the pure spirit and optimism of the young children was exactly equivalent to what humans would enjoy in drinking gracefully aged, splendidly refined wine.
Eventually, the younger explorers started yawning when the full moon had just begun rising. By then, they had already eaten another handful of the succulent Perfect Apples for dinner, and they suddenly wished they stayed at the North Village back at Apple Woods instead of deciding to go back to Treasure Town.
"Besides, what if another wild Pokémon comes out and attacks us?" Mareep said, trying her best to keep her timidity from controlling her.
"Don't worry, Mareep!" Gible looked at his partner with pride. "If anything happens to you, I'll be there to protect you! Just like today!"
"Yeah, protect," Mareep said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. Then, her expression shifted rudely to the dragon. "Don't use Sandstorm anymore! I promise, the next time we're in a life-threatening situation, I'll use Electro Ball for sure!"
Gible merely smiled, despite her apparent nagging. He didn't say a word; he simply enjoyed listening to Mareep's tirade, though his smile was cut off when he released another yawn.
Mareep secretly wanted to camp somewhere and rest for the night; she wanted to ask her traveling companions if doing a thing would be okay. However, her conscious got the better of her — she and Gible would probably get in trouble from the Wigglytuff Guild (there was no way she wanted to deal with an explosive, temperamental Chatot), and besides, to ask a thing would make her feel selfish. She especially didn't want to ask Redley and Genevra, because after all they had done for her and Gible, she felt there was no way she could ask to camp out in the wilderness at night.
Genevra sensed her thoughts quite easily — it wasn't a concrete process of reading Mareep's mind, for she didn't grasp each and every word of the sheep's thoughts. Nevertheless, Mareep's feelings transferred to the Gardevoir through her intuition, and so she called out to the sheep and lowered her head to meet her.
"Would you like me to carry you on the way back to Treasure Town?" Genevra asked with a kind smile.
Everyone looked at the Gardevoir in surprise. Mareep couldn't answer; she was paralyzed at hearing the offer. Gible looked on, unsure of what to make of the situation. Redley easily understood the event, and his first feelings of surprise disintegrated rapidly into an understanding of Genevra's compassion and kindness.
"… Wh-What?" the sheep said reluctantly.
Genevra held her smile. "You look tired, so if it's okay with you, I can hold you. Just give me your Treasure Bag."
Mareep didn't know how to respond. "Uh…"
Redley found himself smiling along. He faced the Gible with an optimistic expression. "If you're tired too, Gible, I can carry you."
"What?!" the sheep and the dragon exclaimed in unison.
Genevra was the one looking at Redley at shock this time. It was then she understood that they were naturally attuned in looking out for the young, regardless of whatever Pokémon they happened to be. Yet, she found it so warming to her that she felt her cheeks grow hot once again; Redley's act of selflessness only drew her more towards the Gallade.
It also seems that despite his depressing past… he's making an effort to look towards the future now…
Mareep yawned loudly, snapping Genevra's attention. The Gardevoir looked back down to her with another smile, saying, "If you want to go to sleep, then you need the sleep. I don't want to make you walk back to Wigglytuff's Guild when you're so tired."
"B-But…what about you?"
"I'll be fine," Genevra said with an elegant wave of her hand, remaining adamant about her offer.
Hesitantly, the sheep agreed. Genevra lifted off her Treasure Bag, slinging it around her free shoulder, picking up the surprisingly lightweight Mareep in her arms. The soft wool tickled against her skin, and the sheep let out an acute noise of surprise, unused to having been carried in a long time. As far as Mareep's memories could serve her, the last time she had been carried was when she was just a baby in the Blissey Orphanage. She had to admit, being held again did feel nice.
Redley looked directly at Gible this time, proposing his offer once again. Knowing that Gible's tiredness was beginning to take even stronger hold of him, he agreed, allowing the Gallade to lift him into his arms. Gible did not carry a Treasure Bag, but Redley had to admit that the pudgy dragon was a bit heavier than he was expecting. Nonetheless, the Gallade and the Gardevoir went along together, the children in their arms drifting comfortably to sleep. They stayed traveling on the open dirt path, the moon taking on a deeper shade of red, signaling the lunar eclipse about to come.
"I almost wish that these two were awake to see this," Genevra murmured softly, her steps slower as she took in the view of the red moon.
"From the looks of it, I don't think they want to be awake," Redley noted, giving a sheepish smile.
Genevra returned the smile, followed by a quiet laugh. "Ah, yeah…"
There was a silence. Their ears became sharper: every step they took against the dirt ground felt clearer, more distinct so that the air seemed to carry some ghostly frailness. Sensitive and shy feelings emerged from the Gallade and the Gardevoir, their horns sensing one another's intuition as the anxiousness between them surged.
The Gardevoir let out a sudden yawn, surprising both herself and the Gallade. She shook her head a couple of times, determined not to grow any more tired.
"Genevra…"
Carefully, she turned to Redley. "…Yeah?"
"About earlier… I mean, about the Queen Ariados… thanks for being there with me, and, you know, helping me."
The Gardevoir was quiet, turning her head away as her cheeks blushed.
Just admit it, Genevra…
"I'm your partner. Of course I'm supposed to be with you when you're in danger. Isn't that what partners do anyway?"
"I—I know, but I just… wanted to let you know about it."
Genevra quietly sighed. "Well… the next something happens to us, and one of us is in danger, I'm going to trust that the both of us will look out for each other. So," here Genevra smiled, pushing herself to look at Redley, "the next time we're in trouble, and we save each other, let's agree that we won't need to worry about saying thanks to acknowledge it."
Redley looked at Genevra quietly, his red eyes melting into a soft look. He wasn't sure how to respond; the words were failing him, but it seemed that words weren't necessary. An understanding flowed between them, and Genevra's statement was established to a concrete verification.
"… Anyway…" Genevra continued, her steps slower as she turned around to face Redley with her entire body. "You know that I was… concerned for you, and that being worried about you made me feel worried too..."
The Gallade found himself blushing this time; hearing the words made his front horn all the more sensitive.
"I wish I could tell you something about myself," Genevra murmured. "You told me everything that happened to you back at Waterfall Cave, and I feel terrible for not being able to contribute enough about myself."
"I-It's not your fault!" Redley exclaimed, not wanting her to feel bad. "I mean, when I told you my side of the story, I only did it because I trusted you, and I wanted you to understand me a little more so that… so that we could grow stronger…"
"I know, but even though I said I couldn't trust you completely… it feels like…" the Gardevoir shook her head, angry at herself for her inability to speak her feelings concisely. "I don't know. It's just that I care about you more than before, and I only want to give more of myself to you but…" Genevra let out a sigh of frustration.
A sudden light appeared before their pathways, capturing both Genevra and Redley's attention. They looked at the sudden interruption, wondering who it was.
"Zzzt! Mareep and Gible are safe with Team Seekers!" a familiar voice buzzed.
Both Redley and Genevra saw the oncoming party come into clearer shapes. They were confused, and dialogues of bewilderment and clarity were exchanged. In noticing that Mareep and Gible were gone, both Wigglytuff and Chatot sent out a rescue team to search for them. They were all relieved to find a familiar team taking care of the two young guild members, and the group all made their way back to Treasure Town without another word of affectionate confession between Redley and Genevra.
Soon thereafter, Mareep and Gible were placed back into Wigglytuff's Guild, finding a storming Chatot, though Wigglytuff was rather calm about the situation. Guildmaster Wigglytuff was also informed of the Seekers' completion of the evaluation, though he advised coming back to the guild tomorrow to officially grade their status. (The reasons were quite obvious: everyone was brain-dead, and what was the use in earning their final exploration ranks if they were weary?) The two agreed without any argument, ready to go back to Sharpedo Bluff through the early dark hours of morning.
By then, the lunar eclipse had ended, and both Genevra and Redley were terribly tired, Genevra even more so. She found herself leaning against the Gallade as the seemingly long walk across Treasure Town carried on, and she was too weak to resist from holding onto him. A part of Genevra wanted her to continue her thoughts from earlier before the rescue team had showed up, but her brain could not form the proper sentences to reveal her true feelings. More unconscious than conscious, she gripped her hold to the Gallade, shocking Redley as he struggled to hold himself and Genevra.
There was no doubt Genevra was much more tired than Redley. One could legitimately argue she had overworked herself today; no one could blame her for being so exhausted after having to use two Fairy Winds to blow all Ariados away as well as stop Gible's barbarian Sandstorm. Redley remembered his earlier words, noting how much Fairy Wind had taken a heavy toll on her.
"Redley," she murmured, dangerously close to his ear.
Her breath was warm against his neck, and now all previous struggles to keep herself together stopped. At this point, the Gardevoir had no actual awareness that she was holding onto her partner; their warm bodies touched each other without shame, though it was not meant to suggest anything sensual. If she were truly awake, she would have noticed how horrendously rude she was being. Her unconscious desires now were far more dominant than her usual manners, only revealing that she was deeply attached to Redley.
When they finally reached Sharpedo Bluff, both had only a sliver of consciousness, enough to drop their Treasure Bags, the items slipping out of the bag in some disorderly array. Genevra tripped trying to reach her nest, making Redley trip in subsequence as he lay beside her. They half-landed onto someone's nest; it didn't matter whose nest it was. A blanket half-cloaked the two, providing needed warmth.
Together, they slept in each other's arms, too intoxicated on tiredness to be mindful their doings, relieved that they were still together in one piece. Both Pokémon refused to let go of each other as they fell into a deep slumber, secretly grateful that they could sleep with one another face to face, not having to confront their backs as they normally did. Genevra's hands tenderly encircled Redley's shoulders; Redley's arms dotingly covered Genevra's arms, his hands trailing off to her back. The feelings of love shifted between their horns as they slept, a spiritual, psychic bond enveloping them, establishing that the Gallade and the Gardevoir were, indeed, inseverable.