Chapter 11
Absol led them through the dark forest. Contrary to how it first looked; the forest was teeming with life. Small Pokemon watched them curiously from the bushes, some occasionally leading them to any food sources. But none of them spoke, they seemed, not exactly scared, but weary, like if they were caught helping the newcomers they would be punished.
Many berry bushes grew in the forest. The three of them ate hungrily and quickly regained their strength. Pikachu was also able to restock the supplies in the toolbox. Even Absol had no idea what they might encounter at Mt Freeze, so its best they were over prepared. They spent the night in the forest, planning on leaving for Mt. Freeze first thing the next morning.
Amez was nervous, so she fell asleep quickly, but uneasily. The other two boys knew she would be, so they took it in turns to keep watch and let her sleep. Pikachu was always on the alert, even though Absol told him repeatedly there was no need to be overly cautious in this forest, but Pikachu just shrugged and said 'you never know what could be lurking in the dark'.
'You seem quite protective of Amez' Absol stated, as he woke up and was ready to take over the watch.
'What happened to Amez?!' Pikachu cried, looking around in panic, mishearing Absol's statement. Absol rolled his eyes.
Amez was sleeping against a tree trunk, and her dark fur blended in nicely, making her camouflage. The only thing that gave her away was her tail, which twitched every now and then in the wind. Pikachu saw this, and sighed in relief.
'I rest my case' Absol chuckled.
Pikachu smiled 'Amez is the first real friend I've had. When I was a young Pichu, I was always small for my age, and that made me timid. I was always scared of doing anything, so I would just play in Pokemon Square. And then I would see all sorts of brave rescue teams, and I began to imagine what it would be like to be in one. But I was always to timid to go after anything I wanted, but this dream I wanted more than anything. So I began to practice my battling skills in secret, and I soon evolved into a Pikachu. That gave me the courage to pursue my dream. But as I was looking around for any potential team members, I saw this crowd assembled around this famous rescue team. I know recognise them as Team ACT'
'I've heard of Team ACT. Word travels even as far as this' Absol said.
'And when I saw everyone fawning at them' Pikachu continued 'I realised I was stupid to think I could ever become like them. So I gave up, and went for a walk. That's when I came across Amez, who was passed out on the outskirts of the Square. When she awoke, she started rambling on about how she was actually a human. But there was something about her, something that made me feel I wasn't just some scared Pokemon who couldn't chase his own dream. So I asked her if she wanted to join me in a rescue team, and she accepted. I tell you, I've never seen anyone like her' he smiled in awe, his yes misting over slightly. Absol pretended not to notice, but he couldn't help grinning.
'She stood up to Team ACT, Zapdos, this evil Pokemon called Gengar who claimed she was the human from the Ninetales Legend. She wasn't scared, and she treated me as an equal. A fellow team member. She helped me regain my confidence, because, for some reason, I always felt the urge to protect her, even though she's more than capable then protecting herself'
'Do you believe she's the human from the Legend?' Absol asked.
Pikachu shook his head 'I know she isn't. No one like her could be that bad'
'I agree. Amez was the first Pokemon to speak to me without being unhappy to see me. And she opened up and let me into your team. I can never describe my thanks to her' Absol also smiled.
Both Pokemon turned over to look at their leader.
'She's special' they both said.
'I'll do anything to keep her safe' Pikachu vowed.
Absol smiled 'As will I. True friends we are'
And nearby, lying under the tree, Amez heard every word.
***
The next morning, Absol led them out the forest. As they emerged from the black trees, they were caught in the shadow of a huge sculpture of ice. It wasn't a mountain, just a block of ice that shot up from the ground. Mt. Freeze. It was so high they couldn't see the top, but the top was where Ninetales awaited them.
Absol and Pikachu glanced at each other, than to Amez, who stood behind them. As usual, she was staring at the ground.
'Let's go' Absol said softly. Mainly for Amez's benefit.
'Yeah. Everyone ready?' she asked, shaking her head, as if to get rid of thoughts, and moved to take her place at the head of the party.
The other two nodded, and they walked up to the hole at the base of the ice tower, and entered.
Inside the tower, it was just like a spiral staircase. They slowly climbed, carefully not to slip, because if they did, they would have to start all over again. In some places the ice was breaking, but Absol fixed that. He shot ice from his mouth, an attack he said was called 'Ice Beam'. No wild Pokemon attacked them. This ice tower was completely deserted, so quiet and lonely it was creepy.
Steadily the climbed, not speaking, only focusing on reaching the top. It seemed as if time had stood still, as no matter how much they climbed, the top never seemed to get any closer.
Many hours later, they finally trudged into a flat surface. Pikachu collapsed with exhaustion, panting, while Absol meekly sat down and concentrated on taking deep breaths. Amez was tired too, but her curiosity and worry were more dominant. She looked around. The walls glistened, and sunlight poured in from a crack in the roof. Apart from that, the room was deserted. No vegetation, no Pokemon, not even snow lined the floor, nothing.
'This is the summit, isn't it?' Amez asked, turning back to her team mates.
'It would appear so, but, it would appear to be inhabited' Absol's brow furred together.
'You mean… we walked…all the way up here… for nothing!' Pikachu cried, between pants.
'There they are!' a voice behind them made them all jump. Amez backed against the far wall, Pikachu shoot five feet in the air, and Absol growled violently.
Team ACT entered the room, purposely blocking the exit. Alakazam hovered, holding his spoons calmly, but with hard eyes, while Charizard and Tyranitar trembled, itching for a fight.
'It's about time. We finally caught up to you' Tyranitar bared his teeth 'Your fugitive act dragged us all the way out he' he complained.
'Pip down, Tyranitar' Charizard hissed 'We can finally settle things here'
'Yes, I'm burning for some action!' Tyranitar's eyes gleamed with a passion, as he advanced forward. Absol growled again.
'Water Pulse!' he ordered, and blew water from his mouth, so strong it knocked Tyranitar over.
'Pikachu, don't think badly of me' Charizard apologised 'I don't know how to show mercy' he swiped a claw at him, but he countered it with Thunderbolt, causing Charizard to scream in agony.
Alakazam eyed his two team mates, both easily owned by the smaller Pokemon. His gaze swept to Amez on the far side of the room. Her eyes were wide, but they showed no fear… yet.
'Amez, I didn't wish for this conclusion. But this is fate. The role of a rescue team is to bring peace to this world. We will… crush you with all our power!' he let out a battle cry.
Absol and Pikachu both bounded over to Amez, and stood in front of her defensively. Pikachu's red checks were crackling, while Absol's scythe gleamed, ready to kill if he must.
At the same time, both Team Firebolts, minus Amez who remained were she was, and Team ACT charged for each other. But just as they were about to reach the opposing team, a blinding light filled the room, causing them to fall back.
'Cease this at once!' a clear, feminine voice echoed around the room.
The light vanished as quickly as it had come. All six Pokemon looked around. A flash of yellow fell and landed in the middle of the room.
A beautiful creature stood majestically before them. She looked like a fox, but with nine tails flaring out as oppose to just one. She was a magnificent gold in colour, which sparkled in the sunlight. Her tails were tipped with orange, which was reflected in her eyes. She smiled welcomingly at the Firebolts, which made Pikachu and Absol stare at each other in confusion, and glared and Team ACT, which made them retreat a step back.
'Ninetales!' Amez cried, smiling.
Ninteals returned the smile, nodding at her. She then turned back to Team ACT.
'Cease this fighting at once. They are…' she turned again, facing the Firebolts, but looking mainly at Amez 'my guests'
'Tell us, Ninetales! Who was the human that appears in your legend?' Alakazam practically begged 'No, before that, was the Legend itself even true?' his usual air of authority was gone, and replaced by a display of panic and puzzlement.
'Depending on your answer, I will have no choice to eliminate them!' he said, meaning it to sound like a threat, but it came out as just a statement, like when old people are commenting on the weather.
Ninetales rolled her eyes 'Wheather they consider my curse to be legend or not, I care not. However, it did happen. Many years ago, I tried to lay a curse on a human. It was then, however, that Gardevoir, the player's human, dashed in, and selflessly bore the full brunt of the curse meant for the human. Then, the human did a selfish and cowardly thing' everyone was now hanging on her every word 'They abandoned Gardevoir and fled. That human eventually became a human' Team ACT all twitched, Pikachu and Absol were leaning closer, Amez remained still.
'Transformed…' Ninetales continued 'that human lives on'
Alakzam took a step forward 'And that human would be?' he pressed.
'Amez…' with the lithe movements of a dancer, Ninetales strode easily over to Amez. She smiled kindly 'it is not you'
Amez collapsed into Ninetales, who laughed pleasantly and caught her in an embrace. Everyone else just started, unable to move.
'Just now… what did you say?' Pikachu gaped.
'Amez is not the human that appears in the legend. That's what I said' Ninetales answered simply, but hugged Amez in a motherly way.
Pikachu began to shake. Everyone looked at him, except for Amez, who burrowed her face into Nintales fur.
'What's happening to me?' he asked himself, as he slowly took the few steps toward Amez and Ninetales.
'Ok, deep breathes…' he said, taking small gaps of cool air.
He looked at Amez and Ninetales, and burst into cheers. 'Yes! I knew it, I knew it! In your face!' he shouted, and pointed at Team ACT. Absol and Ninetales laughed together as Pikachu virtually yanked Amez out of Ninetales grasp and into his arms.
Tyraniatar and Charizard sweatdropped; Alakazam looked embarrassed.
'I knew it, I knew it!' Pikachu sang, still holding Amez in a chokehold 'I knew Amez wasn't involved, I knew she could never have done those terrible things!'
'I have another thing to say' Ninetales interrupted. Pikachu had let go off Amez and was now happy-dancing, ponting and laughing at Team ACT. In the end Absol and to go and shush him, but that didn't wipe the huge grin off his face.
'It it true that I foretold of the Earth's balance becoming upset… However, that human becoming a Pokemon and the world's balance being upset are not linked in any way. The cause of the natural calamiies, conisits elsewhere' Ninetales continued.
'I knew it…' Absol muttered, thinking to himself.
'You were wrong!' Pikachu said angrily, marching right up to Alakazam and jabbing him 'You were wrong to hound and harass Amez!'
Alakazam sweatdropped 'I, er… um, we, apologise' he managed to choke out.
Tyranitar bowed his head in shame 'We're sorry. We got worked up by that Gengar'
Charizard laughed 'No, I suspected Gengar from the start. Amez just doesn't look like the treacherous type!'
'But I must say' Alakazam began, regaining his composure now 'You are to be commended for prevailing through this cruel journey and discovering the truth'
'I knew I was right!' Pikachu began to sing again. Absol groaned good naturedly. Everyone laughed.
'But wait' Pikachu suddenly stopped 'then why did Amez turn into a Pokemon? If Amez isn't the human from the legend, then how do you explain Amez's transformation?'
Everyone was silent at that. Even Ninetales was at a loss for words.
Pikachu looked Amez in the eye, not in a suspicious way, but in curiosity, like when you're questioning an unknown fact 'Amez, who are you?' he asked.
'Look out!' Absol cried.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Icicles from the ceiling began to drop down, causing the crowd to dodge and bump into each other. Only Absol and Ninetales remained upright, obviously used to such experiences.
'Quake?' Charizard asked.
Ninetales shook her head gravely 'The world's crust is shifting. The natural calamities are worsening. And, the shifting of the ground, it will awake the beast that embodies the ground. The beast that slept deep within; Groudon will be awakened!' she cried, as if telling a foreshadowing prophecy (which, in a way, she was).
'What? Groudon is rising?' Alakazam bellowed.
'What's a Groudon?' Pikachu piped up.
'A legendary Pokemon that has been spoken off only in myths. It is the Pokemon that raised the land masses and created continents… It is said to have taken to sleep after catastrophic battles with it's arch enemy Kyogre' Alakazam explained.
'If Groudon were to get loose, there would be chaos. It must be stopped!' Ninetales cried in panic.
'We will go' Alakzam stated quickly.
'So will we!' answered Pikachu.
'No. You must remain behind. Groudon is far more powerful than any Pokemon you have faced. Leave it to us' Alakazam ordered.
Charizad nodded 'That's how it goes. You go back to your rescue team base for a well earned rest'
'Don't worry about us. We didn't get our Gold Rank the easy way!' Tyranitar chipped in 'We'll get the job done, and we'll be back before you know it'
'Fine, we're off to quell Groudon!' Alakazam said. He raised his spoons, a pink light embodying his team. Charizard and Tyranitar nodded a goodbye, and disappeared. But before Alakzam vanished too, he placed a hand on Amez's shoulder.
'Be safe, Amez' he said, and vanished. Amez got one last look at his concerned eyes. Alakzam was like a father figure to her in this strange world.
'They've just teleported. Use your Team Badge to return to Pokemon Square' Ninetales explained.
Amez ran over to Ninetales. She was light and agile, and easily avoided falling on the shaking ground. She hugged Ninetales goodbye.
'Don't worry, your safe now. Your team will be there to battle alongside you' she whispered 'I will see you again'
'Goodbye Ninetales. Thankyou' Amez answered.
She held the Firebolts badge high above her head, and she, Pikachu and Absol were enveloped in a yellow light. And they too, vanished.
