"I'm telling you that something's wrong, Thunder." I didn't understand, why couldn't he just believe me?
"Look, Nate, you might have been dreaming. I usually hear you move a lot in your sleep, and I didn't see or hear you get up." I know something happened though.
We stood next to Team Thunderpunch, who greeted us happily. "Good morning guys!" Pikachu greeted.
"Good morning Pikachu, Riolu."
"Soooo... Have you noticed the delay in the meeting?" she asked. Huh? I didn't think about it before, but we usually got straight to the point.
"S-she doesn't mean it like that!" Riolu flailed his arms seemingly to make a point. I tilted my head.
"Riolu, what are you talking about?" Pikachu flicked an ear, placing a paw on his shoulder.
"Nothing, Riolu just gets paranoid sometimes. He has a lot to live up to, his grandfather is the-"
"Er, ahem." The entire guild immediately went silent from Chatot's interruption. "I have a very important announcement to make."
"What do you think it is?" Thunder asked. I shrugged, looking back at him with confusion.
"Far to the Northeast, then farther into its outermost reaches... There lies a place called Treeshroud Forest," he continued, his sorrowful expression turning grim. "In Treeshroud Forest...time had apparently stopped."
"Huh?" Noibat gasped.
"Eek! What did you just say?!" Sunflora screeched.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Corphish took a step forward, raising a massive claw. "You're saying that time has just stopped?"
Chatot raised a wing, almost as if he were going to stop the arguing. "Yes," he nodded. "Time has come to a standstill in Treeshroud Forest. The wind has stopped... The clouds appear motionless..." The took a moment to shake his head. "Dewdrops are mid-fall from a leaf... They just hang there, suspended. In Treeshroud Forest, time has abruptly stopped.
Like some sort of frenzy, the pokemon at roll call abruptly shouted in conversation.
"Time has stopped?" I muttered.
"But... How could something like this happen?" Chimecho asked.
"I-it's awful!" Dratini squealed.
"Who would do such a thing?" Ducklett cried.
"Yes, the unthinkable has happened." Chatot looked to the Guildmaster with worry before addressing the guild with newfound confidence. "Why time has stopped in Treeshroud Forest? Well, it's because the Time Gear in that area was stolen."
Immediately, the tension and panic came back like the snap of a twig.
"T-the time gear was s-stolen?" Thunder gasped.
"That's what made the time stop," Corphish grumbled. "Hey, hey, hey!"
"I've heard that's it's possible..." Audino started, looking around the room with sadness. "But I never thought someone would actually go after one."
"That's because they WOULDN'T!" Exploud screeched with outrage, shutting everyone up. He took a step forward, letting out a frustrated yell. "Those time gears have been there for CENTURIES! I just can't believe that ANY pokemon would steal a TIME GEAR!"
I nodded in agreement. It was just as Thunder said, no pokemon would ever go after them. ...But what if that had to do with that strange feeling?
"Quiet!" Chatot ordered, flailing his wings rapidly. "Officer Magnizone has already opened an investigation. If one Time Gear has been stolen, then the others might be in danger. The officer has kindly asked us to look out for any suspicious characters."
"Do you think that's why we were on sentry duty," I whispered to Thunder.
"Maybe?" he shrugged. "That could be why they hired two new recruits."
"Ahem!" Chatot glared at us. "I ask that you take extra care on outlaw missions for the time being. This pokemon could be quite dangerous." Chatot looked around, noticing our sorrowful moods.
"Now then," he said, probably in an attempt to lighten the tension. "Here's to another busy day!"
"...HOORAY!" Most of the teams left to get work done; however, Thunder and I stayed behind.
"So a Time Gear really was stolen," I mumbled, trying to remember when Thunder explained this to me.
"You two, come over here," Chatot called. We looked at each other with confusion before moving towards the songbird. "You've been doing quite well with your work."
"T-thank you," Thunder stammered. Chatot nodded, a slight smile beginning to form.
"Yes, I have been very impressed with your skill lately. That mission with Drowzee was a complete success; I don't want to know what would have ended up happening to young Azurill if not for you two," he praised. He paused, looking over the two of us before nodding to himself. "So I have decided to give you a mission worthy of a proper exploration team."
I heard Thunder gasp beside me. "R-Really? Hooray!" He practically leaped for joy from the news.
"Now, if you would, please hand over your wonder map."
"Treasure Town is here," he said, pointing to said location with the very tip of his wing. "And..." he moved his wing to the Northeast. "Over here is where I'd like you to investigate. You see this waterfall?" We nodded. "By ordinary appearances, it looks just like a normal waterfall. But we've received intelligence that there may be something more to the waterfall."
"That's where we come in?" I finished. Chatot nodded, handing me the map.
"That is correct. I would like for you two to investigate this waterfall. That is all. Any questions?"
"Understood." Chatot went to continue but stooped to look at Thunder, who just started to shiver.
"Huh? What's wrong? You're shivering." I tilted my head. Not this again...
"Thunder? Are you alright?"
"Y-yes! I'm okay. It's just, this anticipation is killing me! This is the first time we're going on a real mission, and it's making me really nervous." I wouldn't have said he was nervous, for he had a huge smile on his face. "Oh, I feel like I'm going to burst from excitement! C'mon, Nate!"
We left immediately after that. I tried to convince Thunder that we should have stopped at Kecleon's Market, but he was too excited to listen. I really couldn't blame him though, he's been waiting for something like this for months, years even.
"I can't believe Chatot sent us on a real mission!" he exclaimed.
I looked ahead at Thunder, who I let lead due to his excitement. "I know, it doesn't seem like something Chatot would normally do. We must have really impressed him."
"I know, I know!" Geez, he's like a mile ahead and I can still hear him purring. "Hey, Nate, look!"
From a distance, the waterfall had been like a silent white stream flowing onto the surrounding land. As we ran towards it the noise had steadily increased until we could hardly hear each other over the thundering roar of the water. The waterfall loomed over us, almost as if we're inferior to its presence.
"Wow," I whispered.
"So this waterfall has some sort of hidden secret." Thunder examined the waterfall, then attempted to walk towards the rushing water, only to be thrown back with a tremendous amount of force. "Yow!"
"Are you alright?!" I yelled my eyes widening in shock.
He trembled on the ground for a moment before shakily standing up. "That water's coming down hard." I waited for him to say more, but he only stood in place. That must have shaken him up. I tilted my head, staring at the water.
"Hmm." I walked towards the water, making sure as to not get as close as Thunder had, and hesitantly placed a paw under the water. Within a moment, I withdrew my paw. He's right! It felt like I had placed it in fire and let it burn.
"See? it's intense," Thunder commented, but I could barely hear him. He looked at the bottom of the cliff. "If you fell under this thing, you would probably be battered. I didn't think it would be this powerful."
"Where do we even begin looking?"
Suddenly I felt a familiar sense of dizziness.
This again? I stared at the waterfall, or at least I tried to. The nausea was becoming too intense to even see straight. It's... It's just like before. I tried to stop myself from swaying, but it was to no avail.
The cliff, where the duo had just been, stood the silhouette of an unknown pokemon. The zorua couldn't make out who it was, but the pokemon was large and had pointed ears.
The pokemon turned around, almost as if they were leaving. Until they suddenly stopped and turned towards the waterfall.
It bolted forwards with no hesitation and made a leap of faith towards the waterfall.
The zorua thought for sure this pokemon had met their fate by crashing into a jagged surface behind the waterfall; however, the pokemon went through the water and rolled into a moist cavern.
The pokemon looked around, choosing to venture deep into the cavern.
I gasped, coming back to my senses. What... It happened again, but what did I see?
"Huh? Nate?" I glanced at Thunder, just barely hearing him over the water. "What's wrong?"
"I..." I paused, shaking my head to get nausea away. "I had one of those visions again. Like...like when I saw Drowzee and Azurill!"
He stared at me before the realization slapped him across the face. "What?! You had another vision?" I nodded, trying to remember what had occurred.
"Not only that, but there's a hidden cave behind the waterfall." He didn't answer. That means it's true. "My last vision was right, Thunder, so this one must be too. I saw a lone pokemon jump through the waterfall and ended up in a cavern."
"But..." He turned towards the water like he still was doubtful. "That water's coming down pretty heavy. Imagine if that was a solid cliff behind there...yikes!"
"You... You mean you don't believe me?" He looked away.
"If we were to jump through there, we'de be pounded badly," he admitted. "Are you really convinced that there's something behind there?"
"I wasn't wrong about Drowzee." Or that strange feeling.
"Alright," he sighed. "I'm putting my faith in you, Nate. I doubted you before, and I don't want to do that again."
"Thank you, Thunder."
"Okay, I gotta be brave now," he mumbled quietly. "If I get scared and fail to leap through at full speed, then I'll be squashed no matter what I do. If I'm going to do it, I have to have no hesitation! Be brave... The bravest ever!"
"I believe in you Thunder!" I added. There's a slight chance that I could be wrong. I have to be brave too, I don't want to die like this!
"Ready? ...Ready! One... Two... Three... Now!"
As one, we dashed down the cliff and leaped. Naturally, I sealed my eyes shut preparing for the 'just in case' scenario. The water burned my pelt as we went through, but it soon released it's grip on us, shooting us onto the cold, hard rocky floor.
"Yow!" Thunder screeched. "Wait... We're alive!" He leaped up, running around me in a circle.
"Yeah, but look at this cave." Thunder stopped his dance to look with me.
"You were right, Nate. I thought for a moment we were toast!" Thanks, but I knew we would be okay. "Wow, let's go explore this cave!"
Unknown Cave B8F
"I feel like we've been walking forever," Thunder groaned.
"We have to check every nook and cranny. I don't want to miss anything."
I let Thunder lead me through the cave since he's an electric type. But after the 5th floor, he's been lagging being. "Besides, imagine if Chatot found out we cut corners on this mission."
"I know, especially since we impressed him."
Chatot would probably never let us hear the end of it if we were to go back having cut corners. I, especially, didn't want to end up like that salandit, Toxic. "I guess you're right. Besides, we should be getting used to dungeons by now."
"At least you're an electric type," I joked. He rolled his eyes, running forwards to walk beside me.
"Yeah, but you've been doing a good job at handling the wooper and Tangela."
"Thanks, but did you see- What's that?" I asked.
Up ahead I noticed a large opening in the hall. Brief flashed of different colored lights came from the opening. What's in there?
"Wow! Look at this, Nate!"
Inside the chamber lied thousands of different colored gems. All of them were either embedded in the wall, ceiling, or floor. They dazzled shimmered from the water's reflection, causing the entire room to sparkle.
"Woah, look at that giant gem!"
Straight ahead, embedded in the wall, was a gigantic pinkish red gem that shimmered more than the others. "Now that's a gem," I commented.
"That's an incredible treasure!" He turned to me, his eyes sparkling. "Let's take it back and show Chatot!" He placed his claws on both sides of the gem in an attempt to pull it out. "Urrrrgh!" He tried a few more times before backing out with a sigh. "It's just no good. I can't get it to budge. Why don't you try, Nate?"
"I'll do my best." I reached forwards, doing the same as Thunder, only to have my claws easily slip across the gem's surface. Dang! That really is stuck tight. I tried again, getting the same results. "Nope. I can't get it out."
"So you can't do it either?" He looked at the gem quizzically. "I'm sure there's a way to get it out. ...I'm going to have another go!"
How long has that Gem been in there? I narrowed my eyes, wanting to know all the answers to this strange cave.
I didn't have much time to think though, for I started to get dizzy again. It's happening again!
"Ugh!"
The same pokemon from before stood in the cave. It approached he very gem that the duo tried to pull out.
It stared at the gem before suddenly pushing on the gem.
Almost as if a key had been activated, the chamber shook. The unknown pokemon looked around; however, he didn't have any time to react.
Suddenly, a large, swift-moving stream of water flooded the area, sweeping the pokemon away.
"Huh!?" I looked around frantically, startled by the sudden vision. B-but that was!
"I... I just can't pull it out!" He shook his head with a sigh, suddenly leaning against the gem.
"Thunder, NO!" He jumped back in surprise, hearing a small click come from the gem. Just like in the vision, the whole chamber started to tremble.
"Huh? What's happening?!"
"W-We need to get out of here!" I shouted. We tried to run to the entrance but stopped due to Thunder's frantic yell.
"I-It's a flood! R-run Nate!"
I wanted to run, truly I did, but I was just frozen in place.
This is my fault! I crouched to the ground, closing my eyes tightly. I didn't tell him in time!
I took one last look at Thunder before being engulfed in the waves.