Chapter Forty-seven: Chosen

The Next Step

I opened the front door of the Center, and a gust of wind blew past. I shivered. Both from the cold and out of fear. I was about to walk into something new and grave. It was scary. In a few moments, I would be face-to-face with Lea.

I didn't want to wait for the others for quite a few reasons. One, they were waiting to have every single puzzle piece put together; we wouldn't have enough time for that, and there was a large chance we would have never ever found everything out

Two, I felt like this was my battle. I had four other people I had brought into this, and they were putting themselves in danger. I couldn't let anything happen to them. The presence chose me. This was my problem; my responsibility.

Three, I couldn't wait any longer. I had to go finish whatever this was for good. The Beings needed me. They were in trouble.

I called out my Pokémon and flew up in the air. I was able to grab my coat and shoes as I left the room. I hugged my coat tighter. It was dreadfully cold in the middle of the night. Dark and cold. Two things I didn't exactly like paired together. Especially tonight.

The moon was high in the sky, and the light was reflecting off of the snow. I saw the shadowy forest. "We're getting close, Thumper." I told my Pokémon. He whined, and I knew he didn't like this idea. Too bad.

Then I saw it. The temple. It stood tall and proud. Right off the bat I noticed the problem: Guards. And a lot of them. A group was surrounding the area; one could only guess how many there were inside the premises. How many there were protecting Lea.

I swooped to the left, I wanted to avoid directly flying over all of those highly trained (For the most part) guards. I hoped that the darkness was on my side and The Callousen didn't see me. I quickly landed and returned Thumper. I felt very lonely once I did. I could really tell that my presence was no longer with me. Or, possibly no longer here.

But I didn't want to think about that possibility.

Okay, okay…A plan. I thought. I can always attack head-on, I can probably out-strength these guys…But there are so many…No. I can try the roof…No. I can distract…No. I can steal a uniform…No. Huh, who comes up with these plans, anyway? Maybe I did need the whole group. Oh well. Too late now. So, a plan… I thought for a moment. Then I got an idea. Better do it before it's too late.

I straightened myself up and started to proudly walk towards the group of guards. They looked at me with quite confused faces, but then it registered that I was me, and they all crowded around me. I didn't look intimidated or scared at all, and I hoped that intimidated and scared them.

"I demand to talk to Champion Lea, right this very second." I said, my loud voice leaking with confidence and a sense of regality I had never felt in my life.

Then, someone pushed me down from behind, pulled my bag away from me, hoisted me in their arms and took me into the temple, where more guards helped bind me with ropes so tightly I couldn't feel my body. And again I have to wonder, how did my plans ever work before?

A guard who wore a different uniform, a commander I assumed, walked up to me. "So, Miss Everheart, what in hades are you doing here, huh?" His voice was husky and smelled like spirits. I would know, because he was an inch away from my face. Intimidated? Oh yes.

"I'm here to challenge Lea, why else?" I matched his tone as best I could.

He laughed. "You amuse me, child." He stood up. He looked at the other guard. "Take her to him. You," he pointed to another commander, "go up and warn him of her arrival." He scurried up the steps and the guards moved me to my feet. He basically carried me up to the second floor. Where the maze used to be, nothing stood.

"What happened?!"

"Fire Types. Can't believe those old monks or whatever didn't think of that. C'mon, it's Ice Temple and an icemaze." The guard mused.

The guardians. I didn't even think about them. My heart fell slightly, but then I pushed the thoughts away. Don't think about it right now. We went up the next flight of stairs and through the large wooden door. The room was large and icy, much like the other rooms, but there were a few things which were different.

There was a large frozen Pokémon in the middle of the room, next to the large frozen Pokémon was a glass cage with three glowing orbs floating around inside, and then behind the cage was a man, who I recognized right away.

"Drop her." Lea said. The guard harshly dropped me, and then left the room, closing the door. I gulped, my throat ran dry. He walked towards me. I started to panic and wiggle around, but my bindings left me on the floor. "Hello, hello. It's weird finally meeting in person, isn't it?" He grinned.

"Yes, it is weird." I muttered. In person?

He chuckled. "Yes, yes." He messed with his hair. I noticed that it was in mats. In fact, all of him was in mats. Black circles were under his eyes, a shadow lined his face, and his eyes were bloodshot. He must not have slept in days. "So, my dear, what are you doing here?" He smirked.

"I'm sure you know, Lea." I was blatantly honest there. "I want answers." I yelled.

"You want answers? But don't you have everything figure out? My evil plan? No, no, I do believe it's more like you owe me answers." He smiled.

"No, I think—"

"Cynthia, this will go much faster if you just help me out here, you know, one friend to another." He cut me off.

I frowned. "You're not my friend!"

"Oh, darn, and I thought we had something going." He shook his head. "No matter, you don't have a choice but help me out, so let's get it over with, and then you can go back to your gym leader and grandmother. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"I don't have to do anything. My friends will wake up soon, and you'll have a price to pay!"

He laughed. "Right. Well, let me go ahead and save you a long explanation…That is exactly why I have armed guards. It would be mighty unfortunate to have that happen."

I gasped. Was it possible by me trying to save my friends from danger…I put them at a bigger risk?


My eyes fluttered open. Someone had kicked my shin. I looked to my side. Oliver. He was such busy sleeper. I yawned and sat up. I was trying to decide if I needed to go to the bathroom or not. That's when I saw the empty pile of blankets. What? I looked around the room. Oliver. Annie. The other one who shouldn't be named. No Cynthia. Uh oh. I jumped to my feet, careful not to wake the others. I grabbed my coat and somebody's boots that were next to the door and I took off.

I ran down the hall, into the lobby, then out the door. It was either really late at night, or really early in the morning, or somehow both; I couldn't tell. I stopped and thought for a second. This is a dangerously stupid idea…But, I have to risk it, because Cynthia is my best, and oldest, friend. Moving to Celestic was the best decision my parents ever made, and I gave it up. I actually made friends there…Now it's time to salvage one of the few friends I have. I released my Staraptor and flew into the sky, headed for a dangerously stupid destination.


Lea chuckled. "So, you'll help me?" I was surprised his voice was still smooth. I nodded. "Good! Now let's get right to work." He spun around. "This is The Tinker, otherwise known as Regigigas, he is one of the legendary Golem's. They all have a special power…This one is putting trio's back together. But, as you can see, he's frozen magically and the ice can't be broken…I presume you know why." He looked over his shoulder and smirked at me.

I racked my brain. My mind ran blank. I decided to make a deal. "I can't seem to remember…Why don't you answer a question?"

He turned and grinned. "I like the way you play. Ask away, my dear."

"What did you mean by meeting in person?" I asked.

"Don't you remember our other meetings? You can't forget those…All those times in the ballroom. I'm sorry I wasn't present for the real dinner and dance, but I was so pleased that I was able to have a private one with you." I thought back to the nightmares. Those awful nightmares…Filled with blood and torture.

"What…What do you mean?" I whispered, but he must have heard me.

"You know what I mean." His voice got rough, then he snapped back to normal. "Supernatural meetings. It was rather fun, wasn't it? Those meetings? Makes me feel like I really know you." He cocked his head to the side. "Don't you agree?"

Fear coursed through me. "You're…!" I couldn't think of anything else.

"A monster? Oh, we've already been through this. You're the monster." His eyes turned blood red. "Now help me!" His voice was husky and sounded demented. He had a visitor.

I thought of the first thing that popped in my mind. "Have you heard anything of the holy hour?" I stuttered.

"No, please explain, I'm getting impatient!" He yelled. I could tell, and it scared me to death.

"It's the time when you can do what you need to do, it happens at sunset." I couldn't get the words out fast enough. "Now we have a deal…Time for you to answer a question."

He frowned. "Be quick."

"How did you get dragged into this?" I wondered.

"I didn't get dragged into anything, I learned of this wonderful thing when I learned of Shaymin…I decided to get my perfect band of Pokémon. I'm currently the most powerful man in the world with my possessions, who wouldn't want that?" He grinned and black shadows surrounded him. "Of course I've had a little bit of help…But so have you…" He pointed to the cage with the orbs. "They're currently energy drained, so they're of no help to you." Of course. "So, sunset? I guess we'll be here for a while then?" He smiled.

"I guess so." I murmured. I looked around. I need to get out of here. I moved my hands and wrists, which were tied behind my back. They weren't coming undone. I moved my ankles and anything else I could to find a loose spot.

Lea's head snapped back at me and his eyes clouded over again. "Stop that!" He yelled. He walked over to me and grabbed my arm. He lifted me to my feet. "Don't you dare try to escape me."

"You? Or the Pokémon who's possessing you?" I spit.

He growled. "Both of us. You're not perfect yourself, remember them?" He pointed to The Beings. "I thought you did."

"Remember, I was chosen by three Pokémon, you were only chosen by one." The words spilled out of my mouth so quickly, I wished I could pick them up and throw them away.

He pushed me on the floor. I banged my head hard. I looked at Lea. He looked like he could kill. "I was chosen by the great and powerful Giratina! You were chosen by Pokémon who were hiding because they're weak!" I didn't recognize that Pokémon, but I didn't doubt it was great and powerful. The shadows left, and he cleared his throat. "After the sunset, what do I do?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do! Tell me now!" He grabbed my arm and hoisted me up again. I thought hard. What does come next?

I thought to the poems…Holy hour, put back together… "I don't think there is anything else. It's just that simple."

"For your sake, let's hope so." He dropped me to the ground again. Some light popped into the window. I didn't notice the small window until then. I noticed that it was directly in front of The Tinker. Made sense.

Some time passed. Lea was looking even more tired and anxious. How were we going to last until sunset?

I watched the light inch up until it touched the base of the Pokémon. Through time it travelled up, and once it hit the middle of the Pokémon, he started to glow. "What's going on?" Lea demanded.

"It must be at sunrise, not sunset." I gulped. Oh boy. The ice melted supernaturally quickly, and the large Legendary grunted.

"Yes! Yes!" Lea grinned then looked at me. "What next?! Tell me?!"

"I told you, I don't know!" Someone grabbed me from behind and lifted me up. I saw the guard uniform. Then, I felt something press to the side of my head. I knew what it was. A gun. I thought harder, and it came to me. The first poem. We come together, in only The Tinker's right hand. I looked at the Pokémon. Under his right hand was a door in the wall. "You need to put them in his right hand, and that'll do it."

He smiled. "Perfect. Now, my dear, I am done with you, you monster." He grinned and his eyes turned blood red. Then, the gun clicked, and a bullet went through my head.


Authors Note: Only one chapter left! Thanks for reading, I'm anxious to hear what you have to say.