Chapter 12 – Psychic..?

It was about an hour before the group had realized how far they were from any civilization. Autumn clung to her Skarmory's steely neck, for she was practically frozen. Her skin was rosy, and her cheeks were a light crimson. However, she soon found that the iron-like feathers were much colder; she reluctantly let go of them soon after.

Tyler, who was near the front of the group, clung to his Fearow's feathers, pulling on them forcefully. The Fearow, in sheer anger, let out a low squawk and halted immediately. This caused Chaos to nearly fall of the end of the large bird. Adrienne couldn't help but snicker as she stopped next to them.

Des flapped slowly next to them and so did Autumn. "What's up?" he called to Tyler, who pointed directly below them.

Everyone followed his finger, and everyone immediately smiled and looked at each other. Directly below them, was a small floating civilization. Twelve or so little log homes floated in the deep water, which was slow and rippling, but rushed dangerously near the edge of the 'town'.

"Should… should we stop there for a bit?" Amphie asked from behind Adrienne.

"YES WE SHOULD!" suddenly shouted Autumn, clutching her sides and shaking.

"Well, she's the boss, let's go," Tyler agreed, giving his Fearow the 'cue'. Immediately, the Fearow folded his wings and went into a dive; Leaving Chaos no choice but to clutch onto the tail feathers of the bird and scream like there was no tomorrow.

Adrienne laughed shrilly, and Amphie gave a nervous laugh. "Are we going to do that too…?" she asked, looking at Adrienne with slight fear.

"Well… sorta," Was Adrienne's only reply. "C'mon, Aurora, let's go!" she ordered, giving the Dragonair a short nudge on her slender side.

Aurora quickly shifted from hovering to a dive; her long, serpentine-like body slithering behind her. Amphie had a hard time trying to stay put the slippery hide of the Dragon-type forcing her derriere to slide. No further than two feet from the water itself, Aurora pulled up, and started flying slightly above the water. Amphie and Adrienne's toes just touched the water; skimming it as they went along.

Autumn and Des took they're time descending, talking about possible whereabouts for the 'Villains-at-large'. They soon landed gracefully on the largest platform, where the Poke Centre stood upon. The old, oaken boards were wet with the splashes of water and slowly rotting away from either old age or just being too wet.

Aurora floated next to the platform, allowing Adrienne and Amphie to slide off her back. "Thanks for the lift," Adrienne said, returning the pokemon.

"Did anyone see Tyler?" Autumn asked, looking around.

"Right there," Amphie said, suddenly starting to laugh. She pointed before trying to restrain her laughing.

There, in the water, was Chaos, screaming and flapping her arms wildly. Tyler and his Fearow were hovering over her, making a feeble attempt to get her out. After several minutes of listening to her screaming and shouting orders, Tyler gave up trying to not try and fished Chaos out. His Fearow picked Chaos up by her tail and dropped her on the deck.

Grumbling curse words under her breath, she trudged inside the Centre, drenched with cold water. Tyler and Adrienne gave each other a Hi-Five before following her inside, Des and Amphie also. Autumn hung back and looked at the little homes around her.

"Maybe – maybe I can find some clues or something…"

"Did Autumn even come in?" Amphie asked, grabbing one of the bowls of noodles eagerly.

"Hm, from the looks of it, no," Adrienne said sarcastically. A grin slapped on her face as she watched Chaos shake her orange hair, sending dirty Growlithe-scented water at everybody.

"HEY, HEY HEEEYYY!" one adult behind Chaos shouted. "Just got my hair done, thank you! Geeze… kids these days..." he said before shuffling along.

"I'll show you!" Chaos growled, forgetting her towel and turning around. Before she had even opened her mouth to do anything, Tyler threw a rice ball at her before continuing to slurp down his noodles. She rounded on him, opening her mouth to say something, but Adrienne shoved a Rice ball into her mouth, and continued eating without another movement or word.

Autumn looked around again, once more walking across the slender 'bridges' that connected each platform to the next. This time, she found herself standing in front of one of the oldest-looking homes in the tiny town. This is when it hit her. This was Pacifidlog Town! Duh, how could she be so stupid? She remembered once in Petalburg town, talking to a boy that went by the name of Wally. He told her that there was a small town that floated on submerged Corsola, and in the oldest, most aged building, lived a man who was extremely wise.

Smiling gleefully, she took a few more steps and knocked on the door. Shuffling and clunking could be heard from inside. A click and a creak later, a short stubby man with a balding head opened the door. He had friendly eyes and square-rimmed glasses, and a short, graying beard. His appearance gave Autumn the distant feeling that he reminded her of Saint Nick.

"Why, hello there Miss!" he greeted with a friendly voice. He had to look up slightly to see her. "Have you come to visit an old fart like me?" he laughed at this and opened the door a little bit more for Autumn to step in.

"Come in, come in! Don't be a stranger!"

"But, sir, I am a stranger…." Autumn replied, but soon found herself being seated in a wooden chair at a round, highly polished table.

"Nonsense! No guest of mine is a stranger!" the man said, smiling. "I'm sorry, I never got your name."

"Autumn, sir," Autumn replied with a small bow of her head.

"Ah, yes, such a beautiful name, Autumn…." the man said with a distant voice. "I am the Wise One… there is no point in giving my name…" he said with a wink.

"Something is troubling you, would you like to talk over tea?" he suggested, hobbling over to a small kettle opposite of Autumn's chair.

"That would be nice, sir." Autumn said, looking around the small hovel. She looked at the back of the man's head.

"Is your name Mr. Smith?" she asked absently, as though she didn't know what she was saying.

Mr. Smith gave a hearty laugh and turned around, beaming. "Indeed, Autumn. I am Mr. Smith… I sense a psychic aura about you…"

Shaking her head violently, Autumn looked at Mr. Smith. "No, no… Its-"

"Hm… let's discuss that matter later… what is it you have been seeking here in Pacifidlog Town?" Mr. Smith plowed on, pouring some tea.

"One or two lumps?"

"Two, please…" Autumn said, taking her cup of tea. "Anyway, we were following a fleet of helicopters, but we have lost them. We do not know where they are…"

"Mirage Island, of course! But, that is a harsh place to hide something like a hideout. It disappears into the fog…. It's completely unpredictable." Mr. Smith answered, sipping his tea briefly.

"How'd you know that I was talking about a hideout!" Autumn demanded, but she was quite nonchalant.

"They don't call me the Wise One for nothing, you know," Mr. Smith said with a wink of his eye. "but, I suggest staying in Pacifidlog Town tonight. As for the psychic thing… Autumn, I sense a deep aura surrounding you…. You are either tainted, or you are psychic. Can you explain why?"

Autumn was quite flabbergasted, but something struck her. "My father told my I might inherit my mother's ability for fortune-telling and Seeing, as my mom was a Fortune-Teller; working along side her Alakazam, Umbreon, Gengar, and Xatu. I never believed him…"

"Autumn, this might really be happening. Just… if you get any premonitions, do exactly opposite of what you are Seeing in your mind." Mr. Smith warned, taking another sip of his tea.

"Oh, and Mirage Island is due to appear any day now…. So keep your eyes peeled. I want you to come back here tonight at eleven fifty-five sharp. Bring any ghost, psychic, or dark types you are carrying with you. Be here… I will truly see if you are gifted. Now, if you are quite done… your friends are waiting for you." Mr. Smith finished, watching as Autumn drowned her last cold dregs of coffee and standing up.

"Arrigato, Mr. Smith," Autumn said with another quick bow and darting outside.

"Where were you!" Tyler demanded, but laughing a little.

"Oh, just wandering… I didn't find anything important." Autumn replied, with a large smile. Tyler, Adrienne and Autumn were sharing a room tonight; the 'morphs in the room across the hall.

"Hm… so are we setting out tomorrow to this Mirage Island?" Adrienne asked, pulling off her goggles and unremorsefully throwing them on the bed.

"Well, no…. we'll see…." Autumn said, sounding slightly nervous. She looked to the digital clock next to her bed. Continuously, it flashed Eight Forty.

"I think I'm going to head in early," Tyler said, dropping the subject and stretching. 'Night Autumn… 'Night Adri."

"G'night," Autumn said with a smile. Adrienne rolled her eyes and crawled into her bed too.

"Yep… good night," she said, rolling to her side, and almost instantly falling asleep.

Autumn sat on her bed, watching the ceiling tiredly, waiting to leave the room to Mr. Smith's home. She had no idea what he was going to do, but decided to go along with it anyway.

Three hours passed since eight forty, and Autumn was soundly asleep in bed, no covers falling over her body, and her shoes not taken off. Sleeping beside the window was probably a good thing, especially leaving it open. A Pidgey landed on the windowsill, looking down at Autumn with his chocolate eyes.

Puffing out his chest slightly, and ruffling his scruffy feathers, he hopped down from the sill and onto Autumn's leg. He hobbled up to her chest, and pecked her nose and chin lightly, cooing.

"Piddgeey…"

Autumn rolled over, slightly irritated that she was almost awake… almost. Her head lolled to one side, and started snoring slightly. The Pidgey, in frustration, leaned over to Autumn's ear and clamped down hard on it.

Autumn woke up immediately, grabbing her arm out of reflex and with the other, attempted to swat the Pidgey away. She sat up, her hazel eyes glaring at the Pidgey, but he looked back at her with such innocence; she could never refuse it.

"Grrmph… I'll get you for that later… Guess Mr. Smith wants to see me, eh?" Autumn said, standing up and grabbing only two pokeballs; the ones that captivated her Haunter and Spirit, her Absol.

She gave one more wandering look at Flare, who looked fearful that she was going. "It's okay, Flare," Autumn reassured. "I'll be back in one piece… I hope." The Pidgey hopped on Autumn's shoulder and Autumn quietly snuck out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

At exactly 11:55 PM, Autumn walked through the door of Mr. Smith's little home. She was surprised, when she saw the whole room dark, with the exception of candles upon the table where she and Mr. Smith had tea just a few hours ago. Mr. Smith was standing beside the table, his face stern, but his jolly smile still playing on his lips.

The Pidgey on Autumn's shoulder gave her a peck of his beak on her cheek, and loyally flapped his way over to Mr. Smith. Holding his arm out for his Pidgey to land on his hand, Mr. Smith gave no sign of pain as the small, yet sharp talons of the Pidgey dug into his arm.

"Good to see you have arrived, Autumn. Release your pokemon, if you will," Mr. Smith greeted Autumn.

"Yes sir," Autumn said, holding her pokeballs beside her. "Spirit 'n Haunter, reveal yourselves," she ordered quietly, and slowly, Spirit the Absol and Haunter materialized next to her.

"No psychic types?" Mr. Smith asked, approaching Autumn and her pokemon.

"No, no sir," Autumn replied. "was it needed that I brought one?"

"No, not at all… anyway, I really want to see if you're a psychic or Seer. I myself used to See, but the old age has gotten the better of me." Mr. Smith said sagely.

"Anyway, I want you, Autumn, to approach the table… tell me if you feel anything…"

Autumn did as she was ordered, walking up to the table. Nothing occurred to her; not even the slightest chill wind that danced around the room. Closing her eyes in deep concentration, Autumn focused on the candles and the table. Opening her eyes, Autumn looked at Mr. Smith.

"I feel nothing," she stated, sounding quite grieved.

"Hm… try again, I know you can feel it." Mr. Smith said, motioning to the table again.

Autumn closed her eyes again, her Haunter and Absol joining their trainer at her sides. They both had a gift for this kind of thing. Haunter could go through death and life within a blink of an eye. Absol could disappear into the shadows, like a different dimension, but had no other powers besides that. They could both feel, however, that Autumn had no aura. Was this Mr. Smith lying to her?

Autumn shook her head. "No sir. But I may have a feeling why you think I am a psychic. I see things when I sleep… well, kind of."

Mr. Smith leaned in closer, quite intent what Autumn was saying. Why could this girl, one whose mother was talented in such things, not be able to sense another Ghost type hovering right before her?

"I also have this kind of feeling…. When a pokemon or a friend is in danger, or even if they are just near, ready to strike, it's like I sense it… Well, thanks for telling me where the hideout may be… and I am sorry to be a waste of your time, Mr. Smith." Autumn said, bowing her head, looking quite put-out.

"But one thing before I go; did you ever know my mother…?" Autumn asked as she returned her pokemon.

"Indeed, Autumn. I once foresaw that you would be here one day after your seventeenth birthday. I just never knew why. Your mother… always talented. You're right, you should get some sleep." Mr. Smith said, still smiling. Autumn wondered if he could make any other faces than smiling all the time.

"Hm… good night, Mr. Smith."

Autumn left without another word, yawning widely before trudging outside lazily. Mr. Smith watched as the door closed behind her slender frame. He looked over to the table, watching as a confused Ghastly appeared.

"No worries… false alarm, I hope." Mr. Smith said the Ghastly, blowing out the candles and all went dark once more.