For a moment there was silence.
For that long moment the silence was deafening.
Then there was uproar.
"Unconceivable!"
"War? Never?"
"Fire walker beez underground too long."
"Why?"
"When?"
"What?"
"Surely not..."
Though even the loudest of our Pokémon went dead silent as the black bird yelled, "ENOUGH!"
"Thank you, Darus. You'll have to excuse us for making this as brief as possible," the Ninetales said, in her singsong voice. "I have fashioned a barrier of sorts to protect us but it will not last long. I have much to tell you and little time to do so. Please, come this way."
The Ninetales stood and turned to her companions. She nodded once to both and walked on; they and the fireballs followed.
"I don't trust 'em," Deimos growled. He hovered protectively over Atria.
"I don't know..." Atria said. "Maybe we could see what they have to say..."
"Grrr. You have a bias. I say we leave and torch this tunnel on the way out," Spyne said.
"Tobius?" Priya asked. She, like I, was having enough trouble getting over our talking Pokémon to think about other talking Pokémon and a coming war.
"Ground walkers all be same. This, that, the other things; all bez problems," Nyx scoffed from Cyril's head.
I sighed and leaned against the wall. I tried to clear my head and slowly slid down the cave side to the ground. Vulcan sort of curled his body around my form and rested his head on my chest. My Togepi, who'd been holding Vulcan's claws like a child with its parent, climbed over Vulcan's scales and plopped down on my stomach as well.
"Vulcan do any and all Master Trainer wants," Vulcan said. "Master Trainer Vulcan's bestest friend."
I couldn't help but laugh out loud. It was odd enough having an oversized Charmeleon that acted like an infant Charmander. It was all the more bizarre to have a fiery monster speaking like a helpless child. I heartily patted Vulcan's side.
"They don't smell bad," Ferno offered. He leaned his massive head against Priya's side to receive a scratch.
"I say we go," Cyril said in a very authoritative way. "We can't just sit here when our lands and clans may be in harm's way." And then he walked off, following the light. Nyx jumped off and landed on Deimos' back. The canine flicked his ears but didn't mind.
"Papi 'n Mami fer danger?" my little Togepi squeaked. He seemed to ponder something a moment before he stood up and pulled himself to Vulcan's shoulder. "Vulc, we save ma Papi 'n Mami?" he said, tears filling his little umber eyes.
Vulcan looked uneasily at me. I could tell he wanted to follow Cyril and the strange Pokémon but he would never disobey me. I looked deep into his eyes and said "Okay." Vulcan smiled broadly and nuzzled my head roughly before he helped me up.
"Alpha Priya?" Ferno asked, nudging his trainer. He held his ears back in a way I figured meant he was begging.
"It's going to be fine, I know it!" Atria offered.
"Yeah, alright," Priya said, stroking the two.
Deimos and Spyne gave loud growls of disapproval but said no more. Instead, they positioned themselves protectively around Priya and guided her along the tunnel. Nyx jumped off Deimos and flapped up to my head. She mumbled something about damn earth walkers but didn't offer anything more. Hand in Charmeleon claw, I followed the Fire-types.
The tunnel got slightly narrower before it opened into a giant 'room'. I couldn't help but stop and take it all in. Strange blue lanterns kept it lit. The area was shaped roughly like an egg. Along the rock walls were ledges on which the eerie blue lanterns sat. The ceiling was polished smooth save crystals that stuck out at random.
Then movements caught my eye. I hadn't noticed them at first but along the wall there were other forms as well. They occasionally moved to visit a neighbour and whisper something into the other's ear. It took a moment to identify them as they were staying out of the light but eventually one leaned over to the edge of its platform to get a better look at us. They were Cubone. I couldn't be sure but it looked like there were about 10 of them.
In the center of the room a group of crystals had been gathered. The pile was about 12 feet in height and probably around 8 feet in diameter. There must have been lanterns within as it shone the eerie blue light as well. In front of it stood the Pokémon from before along with another. I recognized the fourth as a Marowak, but it was different from others I had seen on TV or in books. This Marowak looked elderly with milky eyes, but judging by the way it held itself it could probably still put up a decent fight. It had black markings all over its body that could only be called tattoos, something I had never seen on a Pokémon. Its skull and bone weapon had similar markings, though they were red and it looked like some of them were engraved. The bone weapon also had three feathers attached to it and several holes that looked to have been drilled in to it.
"Introductions are an order, I think," the Ninetales said once we had all had a chance to take in our surroundings. "We know all of you, but you know none of us."
"Wh-" I started.
"She just said we don't have time for apathetic human inquires," the purple Pokémon said.
"Oaith!" the Ninetales hissed. She then sighed and continued. "Sadly, she is both rude and correct. We must make this brief so I will try to answer most questions you have."
"Damn mind readers," Spyne growled.
"Actually, I cannot read minds," the Ninetales answered. "That's a skill only true Psychics possess."
"You're not a Psychic?" Priya asked. "But everything you did. It was you, wasn't it? You moved us and made our Pokémon talk."
"Oh no, no," the Ninetales said with a genuine laugh. "I am not a Psychic, and your Pokémon could always talk. I just made it so you could understand them. A temporary effect that will wear off when you next awaken."
That seemed to affect everyone. Vulcan's claw clenched my hand and Cyril let out a deep and sad breath. In the few short minutes we'd had with this skill it had become normal. It felt right to really understand on another. The Ninetales smiled sadly at our expressions.
"Mistress, time," the black bird reminded the Ninetales.
"When you're right you're right, Darus," the Ninetales said. "My apologies but time is essential now—"
"Hope you can keep up," the purple Pokémon crackled. The Ninetales' ears flicked in irritation but she ignored the comment.
"In better circumstances introductions would be more thorough. However, things will be swift. This is Gruda the Elder of the Osse Clan," the Nintales said as one of her tales gestured to the elderly looking Marowak. At the name of the clan every Cubone clubbed the rock they stood on twice. Gruda nodded at us. "This is Darus the Honchkrow, he led you to the cave." The black bird nodded.
"Honchkrow?" I said, my memory sparked.
"Fool of a ground walker. That 'emz be my future form," Nyx said from my head. I really should have noticed before, there were many similarities. Still, I'd been appropriately distracted.
"And this is-" the Ninetales started.
"The name's Oiath. Oaith the Mismagius," the purple Pokémon interrupted. "You're probably more familiar with my pre-evolved form; Misdreavus." So it was a Ghost-type.
"You're a Ghost-type then, right?" Priya asked.
"Congratulations hu-"
"But you speak? You speak perfect English, how?" Priya asked. She looked more then a little annoyed at the Ghost-type but she clearly wanted an answer.
"I've been on this planet for some 600 years, hun, give or take a few decades. Humans fascinated me once upon a few centuries ago and I had the time so I gave myself a hobby," Oaith said and cackled with laughter.
"Are you immortal?" Ferno asked.
"Define immortal. I mean, I could go on living. I could choose to pass on. I could be killed. We Ghost-types are something else," Oaith said as she started floating upside-down.
"I've never heard anything like that," Priya said. I'd been thinking the same thing.
"Most human loving Ghosts choose to die not that long after their more mortal companions meet their end. Never really understood it myself," the Mismagius responded.
The Honchkrow, Darus, clicked his beak in irritation.
"And I am Arwa," the Ninetales said. "Excuse Oaith, she means well. Now, gather around for there is much you need to know."
The Ninetales turned to the crystals and used her tails and her—apparently not psychic—powers to move them. Light danced around the room and shadows made it seem like aliens shapes were materializing from the minerals. Gruda walked over to the cave's side and jumped up to one of the ledges where she sat. In a swift unified motion all the Cubone bounded to her sides and settled down behind her.
Cyril and Ferno were the first to move forward. They walked over and arranged themselves by the crystals and Arwa, leaving enough room so that our shorter selves could sit in front of them. My Togepi poked Vulcan and he grabbed both my hand and Priya's and led us over. Priya leaned against Ferno while the rest of her team gathered round her legs; Atria jumped into her lap.
I hesitated for a moment before leaning against Cyril. He was still a new addition to the team and I wasn't as comfortable around him as I was with Vulcan (who forced affection and loyalty on me) or Nyx (who I'd grown used to). My Tropius seemed to tense briefly but almost immediately relaxed and gave a short delighted hum. I smiled up at his large head before Vulcan forced me to catch my breath as he tried to curl up on my lap. Nyx made herself more comfortable on my head while my Togepi did the same on my crowded lap. I pushed Vulcan off a little, gesturing to the Togepi as if to say 'make room for him' even though I was actually wondering how long the blood would be able to run to my feet.
"So when is this so called big bad war?" Spyne asked as he sat down and let his back flame go out.
"Well," Arwa said hesitantly. "The thing is... I can't be certain."
"Ha! What is this then?" Deimos asked rudely. Priya flicked his ear.
"I am not a Psychic-type and I do not know Future Sight," Arwa said. "Though it is the power of Future Sight that is making the Guardians blind to what is coming. They see nothing so they refuse to accept my wisdom. I use the Power of the Ages. It is not clear but it allows me to sense a future most watchers are blind to. As such, only I seem to be aware of this impending peril."
"Guardians?" Priya asked.
"What?" was all I could utter.
"To truly understand I must bring you back to events of years passed," Arwa said. "There are a forgotten and misconstrued occurrences in history that I believe are key to what lies ahead. I will show you what really happened 750 years ago."
Then Arwa's powers moved one last crystal and a clear image appeared in the mineral mass. The image was of an old styled city with two tall overlooking towers. There seemed to be two giant flying Pokémon circling the city, as well. Arwa's eyes glowed brightly.
"You must look closely at the image. Let your being be absorbed," she said, eyes locked on the mystical crystals.
I tried to do as the Ninetales had instructed. I looked at the image and tried to take in every detail. Slowly, a strange feeling came over me. It was similar to the feeling before that had pulled me through the tunnel. However, this time all my senses started acting oddly. As I looked at the image it was like I was literally being pulled into it. The air smelled fresh like it does in early summer and a breeze played with my hair. Warmth that only the Sun can produce brushed my arm. The crystals let loose a bright light that forced me to close my eyes. As I did so my body felt light and then a feeling came over me that made me think my mind was being pulled forward, leaving my body behind.
"Fire ground walker beez so smart, eh?" Nyx asked. "How youz know exactly what happened?"
"Because," Arwa said slyly. "I was there."
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Author's Notes
Again, sorry for this not being the full story. This chapter, the previous 2, and the next one were going to me one chapter. It just got really long so I decided to cut it up once again. Sorry :/
Thanks of the greatest amounts go out to my lovely reviewers :)
PS: I am majorly disappointed with the latest new Pokémon -_-