- Chapter 19: The Sunset Meeting -
Clearly, this tunnel had not been heavily used in a long time. From the light of my Swift stars and Ray's Force-Palm-charged paws, I spotted the faint beginnings of stalactites emerged from the ceiling. The rock dipped and rose in small waves where the floor merged with the walls.
The tunnel occasionally twisted to the right or left before correcting itself. Other than those minor deviations, we traveled in a straight line. Because of the sameness of our surroundings, time became very difficult to tell. We knew easily enough when night fell as it had been nearly sunset when we entered the cave. Now that we had awoken the next day, we had decided to eat breakfast right away and eat lunch when we felt hungry enough.
"Okay, Ray, your turn," I said. He and I had elected to switch turns in providing illumination to conserve our energy.
Ray's paws flared with orange light a few seconds later. I let my stars vanish with a faint sigh of relief. Maintaining that many for an extended period strained me more than I anticipated.
To keep my mind off my fatigue, I asked Ray, "I've been meaning to ask you, Ray: how come your Force Palm has two different forms?"
"Two different forms? It doesn't," he replied.
A little impatient at his vague answer, I said, "If they're not two forms, then what are they?"
"One move. I just execute it differently. This method," here he raised his paws, "is where I build up vibrational energy through the entirety of my paws and use them like boxing gloves. The other is where I build it up very quickly in just my pads and release it all at once."
"Like when you used it outside the Sparse Copse dungeon."
"Yeah, that."
"Cool techniques."
"It's nothing special."
We fell into silence. Conversation had been clipped like that while we were in the tunnel. The soft scuff of my paws against the stone lightly echoed off the walls. As we wounded to the left a little, I noted an abandoned wheelbarrow to my right. Immediately, I recalled a scene from Gilded Tears mentioning an overturned wheelbarrow. A faint sense of elation rose within me as I pondered the fact that I might be walking in the very same steps the author did when he was searching for inspiration.
I had written off my nightmare about the slave-built mine by that point. Out of stubbornness, I refused to entertain delusions about my dreams any further. These past few weeks had piled up enough on me already. I had to keep my wits about me, especially now that the stakes had upped.
Although I would never tell Eris or Ray, I knew that I was on a clock. I had been on a clock since the day I met Shroud. I had no idea how long I would take to spiral down to where Yurk was or even lower, but I sensed that the outcome—whatever it may be—was inevitable. Speed was of the utmost priority.
"—from somewhere beside Treasure Town?"
Emerging from my thoughts, I picked up Eris asking Ray a question. I heard a pebble being kicked.
"I don't want to talk about it," he replied.
I craned my head slightly over my shoulder. Did she ask about where Ray grew up? I thought. While I did not respond, my heart twanged with guilt as I remembered that I had sent my parents a letter before we had left Treasure Town. I wondered if they had replied with their own correspondence. Were they waiting to hear from me, not knowing that I would not return for weeks?
Glancing down at leather bracelet on my ankle, my mind whisked to thoughts of home. When I had brushed the dried mud off the bracelet earlier, I was pleased to find that nary a scratch or stain marred its surface. Now, the thing depressed me more than brought me happiness.
Would I ever return to them at all?
I frowned at myself. A dark, confined tunnel did little to stave off dark musings. I could hear Ray and Eris resuming idle chatter, but I paid no heed to them and continued treading onward.
We broke for lunch a few loosely estimated hours later. The familiar rock strata had become a kind of boring torture, and I itched to free myself of this dank prison. Our pace afterward was noticeably accelerated. Perhaps thanks to it, I spotted a tiny speck of light in the distance before we felt hungry enough for dinner.
The faint tickle of fresher air spurred us even faster. I extinguished my Swift soon after, the sunlight providing enough illumination. The introduction of light nearly blinded me, but my eyes adjusted after a few minutes. When we broke out of the tunnel, a feeling of liberation swept through me, and I smiled with elation.
Afternoon light, harsh and soft at the same time, glanced off the blades of ubiquitous long grass. A slope gently wound down from my paws, bowling out at fifty or so yards away. In the far distance, a ridgeline scurried along the mountains, curling around and looping back over my head to form an ovular valley.
At the bottom of the slope rested the Ruins of Eld in their decrepit glory. Pairs of stone colonnades, worn smooth from years of wind erosion, ran parallel to the slope. Between them wound a cobblestone path, barely distinguishable beneath the vibrant grasses. The ends of the colonnades turned ninety degrees in the same direction, traveled a way, and then turned back to meet each other, cordoning off a neat square courtyard. Yellow and purple wildflowers swayed within the colonnades' boundaries. Other such courtyards spread out to my right and left. When viewed altogether, they formed a neat line that led toward the end of the valley not but a hundred-fifty yards to my left. A larger cobblestone path ran between the courtyards.
At the end of the valley, a ruined fortress emerged from the mountainside. My mouth parted in awe at the sheer scale of the fortress. Its stone parapets loomed far above the earth, dwarfing the courtyards with their height. Behind the parapets lay the keep, its backside buried in the cliff face. A white stone dome formed the roof of the keep, contrasting with the gray stone of the rest of the fortress. Oddly, the fortress bore no front gate; its walls remained unbroken across their entire length.
"This place is so beautiful," I whispered as if speaking any louder would break the atmosphere.
Ray stepped up beside me, his arms crossed. "Looks ruined to me," he said.
"It's not ruined!" I exclaimed. It's—oh, very funny, Ray."
"Gosh, that tunnel did a number on your sense of humor," he snorted, his right eyebrow raising lightheartedly.
"No more than it did on your ability to jest," I replied.
"...That was a really poor follow-up."
"Shut up."
Eris wedged between us. "Um, g-guys, shouldn't we f-f-focus on that meeting w-we were going to, you kn-know...?"
Ray's eyebrows creased. "That's right. It's tomorrow," he said. He scanned the entire area of the ruins, and his eyes drifted to the right of the fortress. I followed his gaze and noted how the main cobblestone path wound to that side, dipping into the ground. The valley did extend a little farther beyond the fortress now that I was examining it for a second time, and I wondered where the path led.
"We got here ahead of time thanks to that tunnel. We should spend the rest of today and tomorrow searching for possible meeting spots. They wouldn't want to meet somewhere too open," he said, relaying his thought process to us.
"Sh-Shouldn't we r-rest up first? We j-just got out of...," Eris sputtered.
"No. We can't waste any time." Ray's paws gripped his biceps tightly, and he tilted his head away from Eris. The sudden intensity in his eyes concerned me; they smoldered as if emotion had been buried for a long time.
I lightly smiled to myself. For a guy who based his persona on being dispassionate, he could be very transparent at times.
"Ray's got a point, Eris. We've spent too much time to flub up now," I told the breloom. "This place doesn't look that big. We can look around up here while Ray searches around the side of the fortress. Sound good?"
"Good."
"S-Sure."
I nodded resolutely. "Alright, then. Let's split."
Ray did not hesitate to dash off toward the fortress. Far from rash, his movements belied a determination I had not seen before in the riolu.
Something has him riled up, I thought. I suspect this meeting means more to him than I previously assumed.
"C'mon, Eris. I say we scout out each courtyard, starting from the closest one," I said. She had been contemplating Ray as well, but when I spoke, she shifted her attention to me. With a nod from her, we trekked down the hill and slipped onto the path between the nearest colonnades.
Inside this courtyard lay a ruined statue. Its stand barely rose above the wildflowers, its figure broken into an indecipherable mess on the ground. I nearly punctured a paw pad on one of the fragments.
"Mona, is it j-j-just me, or d-do you feel a creepy...creepy vibe from this p-place?" Eris asked me.
I paused and cocked my head. "No, I don't. It just seems quiet and rather pretty to me. Why do you ask?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "I... Nevermind, I g-guess. J-Just...why would Mr. Ace w-w-want to meet h-here of all places?"
I bit my lip. "I'll admit that it's a little weird."
"A-And what's up with him? He's just so...so...confusing! I-I-I mean, first he's a, uh, teacher, and then he's an elite explorer, and now he's...," she babbled rapidly.
Sighing, I stopped walking and turned to face her. "Mr. Ace honestly isn't the last person I'd expect to be multi-faced, but your guess is as good as mine. I'm more concerned about this Icarus person he's meeting."
I continued ambling through the courtyard, and Eris silently followed next to me. Her questions had begun to raise a multitude more in my head. This meeting would undoubtedly answer many of them, and hopefully, we could finally figure out a way to put the kibosh on Shroud for good.
We explored the rest of the courtyards in front of the fortress. From my intuition, I figured that none of these places would be ideal for a covert meeting. The sun too easily illuminated them, and the wide spaces between the columns bordered each courtyard would make spying a breeze. While my spirits sank, Eris maintained her patience. When we finished examining the courtyards, she suggested we join Ray behind the fortress.
Following the main cobblestone path, we swung to the fortress's right side and encountered a downward, terraced slope. Here, the mountaintops cast shadows on the land. Prospects here seemed much better. To add to the likelihood, several ruined foundations dotted the terrace, perhaps the remnants of a settlement long lost.
Near the bottom, I discerned Ray picking among the rubble of a smaller rectangle. I called out to him, and he raised his head and waved. Eris and I bounded down the hill and reunited with him.
"Any ideas so far?" I asked him.
"Don't have any clue about the front. Back here is crummy. There's a narrow pass at the bottom that leads out somewhere. It's a possible entry point," he replied, gesturing over his shoulder to the pass. Indeed, the ridgeline from both sides of the valley almost converged at this point, leaving an innocuous gap in the rock face.
"S-So, there's t-two places, r-right? The valley and h-here?" Eris asked.
"Well, three if you count the tunnel," I corrected.
"Right. The courtyards? Discover anything useful?" Ray questioned the two of us.
"Not really. If they did meet up there, it'd have to be closer to the fortress. The outermost ones are too exposed, what with the lack of trees to provide any shade," I explained.
"Hmm," he grunted, his paw raising to his collar fur in thought. Taking the subtle cue, I nodded my head back up to the top of the slope.
"How about we go up there and look for spots that we can hide?" I suggested.
"G-Good idea, Mona. G-Guess we should've, uh, done that the first t-time," Eris remarked.
Together, we trekked back up the slope. Once we reached the courtyards, Eris and I showed Ray how exposed the area truly was, pointing out the observations we had made. When we finished, Ray responded in a way I did not expect him to: he approached a column, bunched his legs, and jumped into the air. He landed atop it gracefully. The pillar reached at least twelve feet in the air, higher than the jump I made when I leapt onto a roof to save Tasha from plummeting to her death.
Ray rotated slowly around on his perch, carefully examining all sides. After a few minutes, he clambered off the pillar. I nearly chided him for being a show-off.
"I see what you mean now. It'll be hard for us to find a place to hide without being noticed," he conceded.
"It's freaking frustrating," I hissed, my tail swishing.
Ray turned his head skyward. "Lights are nearly out. I guess we'll have to pick this up in the morning," he remarked.
"...Yeah," I breathed in response. At that moment, I noticed that Eris no longer stood next to me. Scanning the area, I found her perched atop a small rise, where she was busily flattening the grass.
"Are we too boring for you, Eris?" I called out to her.
She started and clumsily pivoted toward me and Ray. "Uh, n-no. I j-just thought I'd get our stuff laid out and...stuff."
Ray sighed and rubbed a paw on his face. "Arceus, she can be weird sometimes."
I smiled a little. "Speak for yourself."
Ray rolled his eyes at me. "Now, that's just rich. C'mon."
"Alright, alright. Let's go make dinner. I'm starving."
The next day, we established our plan. Rather than try to figure out the spot at which they would meet, we would instead hide in places where we could see over a wide area. From there, we would locate where Mr. Ace or Icarus arrived and tail them until they converged. As such, we would position ourselves as far away from the entrance points as possible and signal to each other once one of them had been spotted. Eris and I would camp in the courtyard area as it was greater in size; Ray would stick to the terrace. Guesswork would thus be eliminated.
For my hiding spot, I chose to duck behind a pile of boulders several feet above the tunnel entrance. The spot put me downwind, and I could easily see if anyone emerged from the mountain. Unfortunately, my position afforded me poor view of the land on the opposite side of the courtyards, but Eris had that side covered. She lay behind a cloister of scrubs, her natural skin color offering her the advantage of camouflage.
We had assumed our positions shortly before dusk. Now that the time was nearly upon us, I felt a shiver of apprehension slither down my spine. No turning back now. Time to see if I'll sink or swim, I told myself.
A faint wind whispered over the grasses. My eyes darted from side to side, down and up, searching for any sign of Mr. Ace or Icarus. I had no idea what Icarus's species was, but I figured if I saw something other than a serperior, I would know that it was him.
The sun had dipped behind the mountain, throwing gray shadows on the courtyard. I grit my teeth, now realizing that the courtyards were just as viable as the terraces. I would have to rely on my ears just as much as my eyes.
Whish.
My ears swiveled to my right. Closing my eyes, I focused on the sound I had just heard. My nose tickled with the scent of a new arrival. Faintly, I again detected the brushing of grass against limbs. Carefully, I shifted toward the noise, opening my eyes fully.
Initially, I spotted nothing. Fearing that I had been mistaken, I glanced around and between the columns. Then, a flash of green snaked between a pair of columns in the courtyard in front of the tunnel. A grin stretched across my face in relief when I recognized Mr. Ace. Immediately, the grin disappeared; the real trial had only begun.
Glancing across the way, I waved a paw at Eris. After a few waves, her head turned toward me. I pointed my paw at her, then Mr. Ace. She cocked her head to the side in confusion. I repeated the motion, my moves more forceful. As if finally getting the hint, she followed where my paw was pointing. She must have seen Mr. Ace because she slowly rose to her feet and began following him. At that moment, I prayed that her clumsiness had decided to take an impromptu vacation.
Mr. Ace had advanced to the last courtyard. Before I lost sight of him, I swung out from the cover of the rocks and stole down the mountainside. Once I had entered a courtyard, I followed behind the serperior, staying away from the cobblestone path. Mr. Ace wound out of the final courtyard and ventured toward the terraces. He paused for a moment to observe the magnificence of the fortress; then, he resumed his travel. Wary of entering the open, I instead tailed along to the right, making sure to remain the cover of the tall grasses. For once, my small size was actually a benefit.
Finally, Mr. Ace halted near one of the few trees in the area. Its shade hardly mattered at this time of day, yet he stood under the tree nonetheless. His lower body coiled itself, and he began to wait for Icarus to arrive.
I stopped as well near one of the last columns. Slowly, I examined the area behind me, frowning when I could not find Eris. Again, I scanned the grasses; then, I discern a shifting to my left. With a quiet grace that surprised me, Eris slunk into my direct vision, giving me a small smile in greeting. I lightly sighed in relief.
Returning my gaze to Mr. Ace, I spotted a silhouette in the distance. Too far to distinguish its species, it steadily approached us. When it drew closer, it revealed itself to be a lucario. I ground my teeth in excitement; this was finally, truly happening. After so long, I could finally get the answers to my questions.
"Were you followed?" Mr. Ace called out to Icarus.
"No," Icarus replied, male by the sound of his voice.
Icarus closed the distance between himself and Mr. Ace until the two stood together under the shade of the tree. Icarus extended a paw to Mr. Ace, who shook it with one of his vines.
"It's been too long, Icarus. How goes it?" Mr. Ace asked.
"Fine enough. The weather's been pleasant lately, so travel has been enjoyable," Icarus replied.
"I hope not too enjoyable. Heaven help us if you actually smile," the serperior joked in monotone.
Icarus laughed openly. "You're as heartless as ever."
"I do hope you're not here just to ridicule me."
"And if I am?"
My brows furrowed in confusion. They're talking like they're old friends meeting each other at the local bar. What the heck? I thought. Have we...Have we come all the way here just to waste our time spying on a useless meeting?
"How is the rest of your team doing? Have you heard from them lately?" Icarus asked.
Mr. Ace clicked his tongue. "Nothing new from them. They've all been busy with organizational issues lately. Maple's probably stir crazy by now."
"That would be her."
After a pause, Mr. Ace asked, "I believe we are here to speak of other matters than our personal affairs."
Icarus paced to the side a little. "True, but you'll hardly believe what I've uncovered. I can still hardly believe it myself."
My muscles stiffened in anticipation. I heard Eris's breath catch.
"What have you found?"
Icarus fully faced Mr. Ace. "Shroud isn't merely breaking into the depths to secure an impenetrable base. He's after a powerful weapon in there that I thought had been destroyed in the Dark Age."
My head practically burst. These truly are the ruins that Shroud is breaking into, the ones Zane alluded to? Why does he need a base? Does he really have some sort of mass following? How is Ace involved in all of this? Who is Icarus to have found this out?
Most of all burned this question: what was in those ruins that Shroud, who already was so powerful, could possibly want that badly?
Mr. Ace had uncoiled himself. He then drew himself up and inquired, "Did you discover the nature of this item?"
"Unfortunately, I couldn't find out much else. My time was short, but I did learn that it's sealed behind many layers of warding, not to mention that impossible door guarding the depths in the first place," he replied.
"And that's the crux of the problem," Mr. Ace remarked. "Shroud's forces are still occupying much of the interior of the fortress, too. We've locked down the upper levels, but the Mystery Dungeon is proving to be a more formidable obstacle than we anticipated."
"Still no plans on how to secure both sides of the dungeon?"
Mr. Ace nodded. "Actually, we've worked out a plan in your absence. We just need more time to get all the pieces in place. It could very well be the decisive offensive."
"In that case, we should continue this inside," Icarus stated.
"I'm sure everyone would be pleased to see you again," Mr. Ace agreed.
"Is Riko still upset with me over that one incident?"
"You still remember that? I'm fairly sure he's long forgotten it."
"I'm not sure if I should be reassured by that."
As conversation turned casual once more, the two approached the smooth wall of the fortress. Dumbfoundedly, I wondered how the heck they would get into a place with no doors. As if to prove me right, they veered away from the walls and instead approached where the walls ended and where the mountain began. Reaching up with a paw, Icarus pressed a particular spot on the rock face.
To my surprise, a part of the mountain disconnected with the rest and sunk into the ground: a hidden door. The two filed in one after the other, leaving the door ajar. After a few moments, the rock began to slowly rise. I expected the door to shut without incident.
What I did not expect was for Ray, in a blue flash, to dash across the grass and leap into the passageway after them. Before I could blink, he was gone, and the door shut with a resounding clunk.
"What the heck?!" I shouted. Eris had leapt to her feet and had begun darting toward the now-concealed door. I followed after her, skidding to stop right in front of the door.
"N-No, no, no, R-R-Ray...!" Eris choked out.
"What was he thinking? That idiot! We need to go after him! Who knows what they could do to him!" I said, frantically scouring for where the button could be.
"Wait, M-Mona, we n-need to think this through," Eris cautioned, pivoting her emotions on a dime.
"I know, Eris, but we don't have the time for that! Ray could—"
Thunk.
I felt more than heard something hitting something else. Eris and I exchanged a horrified glance before we both began searching for the button. Eris patted the rock with her hands; she eventually stumbled upon the device. As her hand depressed the rock, the door rattled open. We leapt in and moved as quietly, yet as quickly, as we could.
Before the door shut and cut off our source of light, we rounded a bend. Not but twenty feet away were Icarus, Mr. Ace, and Ray. Icarus held Ray up by his throat, a glowing paw raised in front of Ray's face. The two stared each other down, Ray not relenting despite his bleak situation. Mr. Ace poised with a Leaf Blade behind Icarus.
"Who are you? What do you know?" Icarus growled. He lowered his paw even closer to Ray's face such that he nearly touched the riolu.
"Really, now? Is that how you greet me after so long?" Ray said cockily.
Icarus balked at Ray. He blinked several times, and his mouth parted in shock. In response, Ray merely smiled.
"Yes. It's been a long time...brother."
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