PMD: The Dawn of Life
Chapter 21: Premonitions
"AAAAAAAAAHHHH!" I screamed as I jerked awake from the nightmare, still feeling the sensation of death sinking into my body. I immediately grasped my neck, checking to see if my Harmony Scarf was still there and luckily, it was. No wound was present either. Still, the pain from the shadow's blade impaling my throat felt so real. It couldn't have just been a nightmare. It was a premonition.
"What time is it anyways? I went to sleep late in the morning after Carracosta's hellish lecture…" I got out of bed unsteadily and looked outside my window into the sky. The sun was crossing the peaceful atmosphere, indicating that it was the afternoon. Late afternoon probably, "I should see if Eden is up. Might as well do some expeditions to clear my head"
Pushing the trauma from the nightmare out of my head, I grabbed my dungeon bag and pushed open my door, seeing that Nuzleaf was once again missing from the house. Probably off investigating the whole petrification thing. Whether it was true or not was another matter.
"Didn't even bother leaving a note this time. Hmph," I grumbled internally as I left the house, closing the door behind me and wondering if Eden was around. My question was answered for me when I heard Carracosta's voice screech from Eden's bedroom.
"YOU CALL THIS CLEAN?! WHAT ABOUT THIS?!"
"Okay, okay, Pops! Calm down!" I heard Eden's voice protest, "I got this! I know how to clean my own room!"
"Clearly you don't! What's this pile of candy wrappers doing in the corner?"
"Oh uhm… you said I couldn't burn stuff in the house because of smoke. So I just… left them there"
"Why didn't you burn them outside?!"
"I was lazy!"
"Of course you are…"
I was listening in to the father and son's conversation before realizing Eden had the Expedition Gadget and Connection Orb. I couldn't go on expeditions without them, but Eden looked to be occupied the entire day as punishment for the Ancient Barrow incident. What to do…?
"Hey, I think I found some litter over here!" I heard Eden's voice call again and then a flash of brown flew out of Eden's window, landing in front of me. It was his dungeon bag, "Oops!"
"You fool! Maybe push stuff aside instead of throwing them across the room!"
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Lemme just go downstairs to retrieve it," I heard Eden respond, "I hope nobody takes something from it. I have a neat looking orb and gadget that I want to investigate"
"Nobody here is wicked enough to steal from a child. I don't understand your worries"
"Perhaps, but you never know. Be right back, Pops!"
Taking Eden's cue as permission to take the Expedition Gadget and Connection Orb, I quickly dug through the leather bag until I found the items I needed. Stashing them away quickly, I made my getaway before anybody noticed. I glanced back and saw Eden retrieve his bag before flashing me a wink. He was in on it from the start.
"Looks like I'm on my own today then. Perhaps I can convince one of the school kids to help out?" I thought to myself as I reached the bridge leading towards the town square, "Could pay a visit to Espurr. She's good and reliable"
Walking right towards Espurr's house, I slowly knocked on the cat's door. I wondered if she was still asleep from the adventure yesterday. That wonder was quickly dashed once Espurr opened the door, her expression looking as flat as always. No signs of exhaustion.
"Oh? Greetings, Azri," The cat said politely, "What are you doing here? Where's Eden?"
"We're not attached by the hip, you know," I grumbled and Espurr smirked, "Carracosta is making him clean the house as punishment for yesterday, so I'm alone today. I wanted to visit and perhaps… chat"
"Chat," Espurr repeated. I didn't want to ask her right away to accompany me on an expedition, given the events yesterday. Just have a nice chat, hang out for a bit and then lay the offer on her, "I guess I don't mind. Not many people visit, so don't expect a great amount of hospitality"
"That's fine. I'm coming because you're one of my more trusted friends next to Eden," I replied, allowing myself in the house while Espurr blushed from the compliment, "I thought I could get some answers from you as well"
"Is that so? Well, that sounds ominous," Espurr closed the door behind her and returned to a small chair in the corner of her abode, beside her unusual bed. She picked up a book that was left lying on the chair and began to read again, "Please, take a seat and ask away"
Tentatively, I sat down on a wooden chair next to Espurr's desk containing the family portrait, "What do you know about the two other humans-turned-Pokemon, Alfrin and Silvin?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you know anything about them? I mean, you're clearly one to engross herself in a good book," I continued, pointing to the volume in Espurr's paws, "As you know, I'm one of those humans turned Pokemon, so…"
"Ah. So you want potential answers or clues about them that could help determine your fate"
"Exactly"
"I see. Well, I've never met anybody like you before, so it's debatable how much information I have…" Espurr set down her book on a nearby nightstand before getting up, walking over to her bookshelf next to her desk, "What do you already know?"
"I only know Alfrin's story in detail, since it was documented. Silvin's story seemed to be lost to history," I admitted, "All I know is that Alfrin was turned into a human in order to fulfill a certain purpose: to save the world. And once his role was finished, he ceased being a Pokemon and returned to his old life"
"That's it then. It doesn't get more difficult than that probably," Espurr shrugged, pulling another volume out of her bookshelf, titled Fateful Saviors, the same book I got from Eden. It was a record of the first potential apocalypse the world went through, where a meteor threatened to destroy everything, "You being here means the world is going to be in danger sooner or later"
"Okay, but how am I supposed to tell WHEN I need to step up to my role? I've been stuck here in Serene Village for months now, going to school and adapting to my life as a Pokemon," I replied, frustrated, "But nothing's happening. I'm not regaining my memories and the only crisis going on is-"
I paused, wondering if I wanted to spill the beans on Nuzleaf's actions to Espurr. I didn't want to give her any false information to worry about, but the petrification WAS the only known crisis going on in the world, at least to my knowledge.
"The only crisis going on is…?" Espurr repeated, breaking me out of my thoughts. I suppose it wouldn't hurt for Espurr to know.
"It's something Nuzleaf told me about. Just take it with a grain of salt, since I hardly believe it myself," I took a deep breath, "Pokemon are being petrified across the world. Straight up turned into stone statues"
"What?! Just like that?"
"Just like that, according to Nuzleaf. He told me that a Wailord in the southern sea turned to solid rock a few weeks ago," I explained, "Nobody knows what's causing it yet and Nuzleaf's currently investigating it. It's why he's constantly absent from the village"
"That's… I have no words," Espurr frowned, "You'd think we'd hear about it, but Serene Village was always slow to get news. And it only happened to this Wailord?"
"I think so. I didn't prompt Nuzleaf further on the subject," I replied. While I mostly didn't believe Nuzleaf's tale, I reminded myself of the stone statue I saw in my nightmare last night. If that dream was a premonition of the future, then surely something afoot was going on, "Perhaps that's the crisis I was brought to this world for: to save Pokemon from the petrification"
"Maybe. No way to tell for sure, for the time being," Espurr put her copy of Fateful Saviors back onto her bookshelf, "My advice is to just wait it out, wait for destiny to come to you. If you were truly brought here for a purpose, then that purpose will find you eventually. No need to seek it out"
"Hm… that's what Alfrin decided as well. Still, it doesn't sit right with me, doing nothing while a potential world-ending threat looms on the horizon," I sighed.
"Just take the free time to get used to the world, grow stronger and gather allies before the climax of your own story," Espurr advised, "The journey is the reward, not the destination"
"True. I suppose I can't save the world as I am now," I smiled lightly, "Thanks for talking to me about this. I think I have the answers I need now"
"You're welcome. Now is that all you need from me?"
"I… actually wanted to ask you to join me on an expedition today, since Eden's absent," I offered, noticing Espurr's look of confusion, "You see, me and Eden are Junior Expedition Members of the Society and we take jobs to help those in need"
"Oh, so THAT'S what you two have been doing for the past month. Me and the others just thought you two were playing with each other in the woods," Espurr smirked and I blushed from the thought, "We were starting to wonder if you hated our company"
"Wha? Not at all!" I stammered, "Though you are right in that me and Eden… accompany each other to foreign dungeons to spend the day. So what do you say?"
"Well… I have nothing better to do and I know my way around a fight, so sure. Why not?" Espurr nodded and I grinned in glee. That didn't take much convincing.
"Good because today's job is taking us to…" I opened my dungeon bag and brought out the Expedition Gadget. Turning on the device, I saw a lone request to meet a Pansear at Peewee Meadow a little northeast from here. He apparently wanted to challenge us to a fight, "Here. Peewee Meadow"
"Let's set off then. Wouldn't want to keep our client waiting"
"Right!"
…
An hour later, me and Espurr arrived at Peewee Meadow, which was a verdant, wild field nestled between two mountains. It didn't look threatening, though the lack of Eden in a grass-focused dungeon didn't sound promising.
"We should be cautious and keep our distance. This place is probably infested with Bug type Pokemon, which can take both of us out," Espurr frowned, gazing among the wildflowers that populated the nearby area, "Not to mention you're weak against Pansear. Are you sure this was a good idea?"
"It'll be fine. Pansear promised me an Energy Ball TM if we beat him and I could really use a move like that," I replied, steeling myself for the challenge ahead, "I've been struggling with mystery dungeons as of late and I need some form of power boost"
"Do you have a plan to fight Pansear at least?"
"Wands never failed me yet. I've got plenty of Slumber and Petrify Wands in my bag," I patted my dungeon bag in assurance, "And if we're ever in a bind, I have Warp, Stayaway and Guiding Wands"
"All of that in one bag," Espurr noted, impressed, "Alright then. You also have my abilities as a psychic. I can tell that the dungeon is only seven floors long, fairly less than the Ancient Barrow"
"Good. I don't want a harrowing challenge like that again," I grumbled, stepping forward into the wild field ahead of us, searching for the dungeon entrance. Luckily, the entrance was straight ahead replacing a rather large rabbit hole, brimming with the familiar blue aura, "Ready to go, Espurr?"
"Yes," The cat nodded and we both leaped into the dungeon, landing in the familiar maze-like area. Unlike another wildlife dungeon, Nectar Meadow, Peewee Meadow was covered in foliage from head to toe, as if it was a dense jungle. The leaves above us blocked out the sun, making light sparse and shade common, "By the way, I wanted to ask something Azri"
"What is it?" I asked as we picked a random direction and started moving, with me in the lead. I instinctively summoned my Leaf Blade in my hand, preparing myself for combat. One of Espurr's eyes turned from deep purple to blue, as if she was scanning the floor.
"What's with the scarf around your neck?" Espurr asked, pointing to the Harmony Scarf, "I've never seen something like it before. Looks exotic"
"Oh this?" I tugged at the comfortable yarn scarf, "Eden gave it to me a month ago. It's… a sign of our friendship, in his words"
"Aw, that's cute. Our resident troublemaker has a crush on the stoic snake swordmaster," Espurr remarked with a smirk. If it was coming from Pancham or Shelmet, I would've smacked them over the head, but I merely blushed at Espurr's remark, "I jest. It looks wonderful on you"
"Oh uhm… thank you. Eden has a copy of one too. Frankly, I don't know where he got it originally," I decided not to tell Espurr about Eden's origins. If anything, his story was more outlandish than mine, "... Why is your eye glowing blue?"
"I'm scanning the floor for the stairs and whatnot," The psychic cat replied as she carefully gazed around. There was nothing but dark foliage and silence, "Just keep your eyes in front of you for threats"
"Got it. I'll be the brawn and you the brains," I nodded and forged ahead, sword in hand. A Palpitoad noticed me up ahead and spat a glob of mud towards me with Mud Shot. Swinging my verdant sword upwards, I cut the mud mass in half and rushed towards the slashed it apart before it could follow up with Water Gun. What was a Water-Ground type toad doing here though?
"Don't get distracted!" Espurr called as her Psybeam shot past me and smashed an eager Koffing to the ground. The second Koffing behind it booked it after seeing their companion fall, afraid of Espurr, "It seems that this place is home to more than Grass and Bug type Pokemon"
"No kidding. A toad and then Koffing? This is going to be fun," I groaned, feeling frustration well up in my head again. Time and time again, every dungeon has something that can beat me one on one. It's like the world itself was against me, "Stay behind me and shoot down threats with Psybeam. I don't think we have the time to scan for the stairs"
"Fair enough. This would be better if we had more than just us two," Espurr noted as we continued moving forward, coming into a wide room with several emeras scattered around. I managed to pick up a Toughness and Power Boost X emera, attaching them to my looplet.
"Sadly, I didn't want to involve any of the other children in this. You're the oldest and most mature of us," I remarked as we descended the stairs in the room to the second floor, "So I trust you can take care of yourself. Somebody like Goomy or Deerling? Not so much"
"Even after the Ancient Barrow?"
"Even that," I admitted, "Plus the fact that they have their parents to contend with. Carracosta is already enough of a pain to deal with"
"Ah yes, parents. You may think of them overprotective, but they're simply looking out for you…" Espurr had a forlorn look in her eyes while I winced. Right… Espurr's parents disappeared. That was insensitive of me.
"Sorry about that," I apologized before leaping forward to sneak attack a Bergmite up ahead. It noticed me at the last second however and blasted me in the face with a cold Icy Wind, battering me backwards. I felt the chill creep into my bones, slowing me down before I remembered: the Poliwrath did the same to me. I had Contrary, "I don't think so! HaAH!"
Turning the frigid cold into an advantage, I blitzed towards the Bergmite, delivering a powerful slash that sent the iceberg tumbling away. Espurr's Psybeam finished it off before a bolt of Charge Beam whizzed past me, striking at a Deino.
"Get back! Types like ours can't beat a Deino!" Espurr commanded and I heeded her word, stepping away from the blind dragon as it reared its head backwards, opening its mouth, "Move!"
Me and Espurr swerved aside as the Deino breathed a blast of Dragon Rage in front of it, bathing the area in draconic blue fire. Deciding to take the blind dragon by surprise, I rushed towards it and brought my sword down to its neck. To my surprise, the blade only made a shallow cut through the draconic skin and angered the Deino.
"Hurraagghhh…!" The Deino growled, taking advantage of my shock by headbutting me backwards and then lunging with Bite. I rolled aside to dodge before twisting my body in a circle, conjuring a draconic Twister to encircle the dragon. The Twister blew the Deino into a wall before I threw a Blast Seed at it, making it explode into ruptured dragon bits. Nobody said dungeon fighting wouldn't be messy.
"We need some way to take care of those Deino quickly. They'll waste too much of our time and leave us open," Espurr noted, "You think you could carry your wands on hand in case they show up?"
"That's what I was thinking," I dug through my bag to grab three wands: one Sleepy, one Petrify and another Guiding. Eden's dungeon manual luckily made it easier to recognize which one was which. I waved the Guiding Wand and the stick glowed, conjuring a mass of light that floated ahead of me and headed towards the stairs. Discarding the disintegrating wand, me and Espurr followed the light towards the stairs, cutting down a Scraggy and Luxio along the way, "Wish I had more of this"
"Guiding Wands?"
"Yeah. We can practically skip floors with them, but I only managed to gather three. Maybe Eden can fix me up some more…" I mused as we descended down to the third floor. The floors went like clockwork after that, with me and Espurr being aware of the threats and how to counter them. Espurr was sadly helpless against anything Dark type aside from shooting weak Charge Beams, so it fell on me to cut them down or put them out of commission with a wand.
"We're making good progress. Only one more floor to go and then we can take on Pansear," I said with satisfied cheer a little while later. I didn't want to waste Guiding Wands, so we were searching for the stairs the normal way again, confident in our ability to finish the dungeon already.
"Wait. Stop for a second," Espurr spoke and I halted, turning back to see the psychic cat twitching her ears, as if listening for something, "Something's off about this floor"
"Uhm… what do you mean?" I asked, a little afraid. If Espurr thought something was threatening, then it must be something special.
"Look ahead," The cat pointed and I turned to see the corpse of a Pokemon lying in the dark foliage. It was picked clean of meat, leaving naught but bones gradually withering away.
"What's… wrong with that?" I muttered, a little creeped out, "It's just a skeleton. Any Pokemon can do that"
"Yes, but notice the lack of enemy Pokemon around the floor," Espurr continued. I frowned, realizing that we've been standing in the same spot long enough that any Pokemon would've noticed us now. Yet there was nothing. Just eerie silence and…
"Scuttling. I heard scuttling and hissing. Are they snakes or-"
"Spiders!" Instantly, Espurr turned behind her and fired a Charge Beam towards an incoming Thunderbolt that came out of nowhere. I watched in horror as the Thunderbolt sliced through Espurr's beam like nothing and struck her head on, knocking her unconscious with leftover electricity brimming off her. Out of the darkness of the shade emerged a giant yellow tarantula oozing electricity. A Galvantula.
"EEEYAAAAGHHH!" Scared didn't even begin to describe the feeling that overwhelmed me, completely erasing any rational thoughts. I picked up Espurr and bolted as fast as I could into the darkness of the dungeon, without any direction as I heard the Galvantula and a swarm of Joltik racing after me. I could tell by the amount of lightning bolts flying towards me, but I dodged them all the best I could. I was on complete fight or flight, driven by both terror of the Galvantula and the desire to protect Espurr.
"Hisss!" The Galvantula buzzed before I felt the air ionize above me. I dared to look up and saw a web of electricity forming. Swinging my Leaf Blade blindly, I managed to cut apart the web before it fully formed, giving me time to get away. I had no idea where I was going however and the unconscious Espurr was getting heavier and heavier the more I ran. Soon I would be overrun.
"I need to escape this. But I can't dig through my bag without me or Espurr being attacked…!" My panicked mind thought as I raced through the dense canopy, outrunning the Galvantula and Joltik, "Maybe I can use an Escape Orb and get both of us out. Screw Pansea- Gah!"
My thoughts were cut short as I crashed into some sort of sticky web that bound me in place. I tried using my Leaf Blade to cut apart the webs, but the sword bounced off effortlessly like it was made of steel. I struggled to get out of the trap before suddenly, I heard the hissing of the spiders again.
"Aanotther tassty morssell… two of them now!" A Galvantula rasped as it came out of the shadows, showing itself. So the chase was a trap to lure me into this web. I tried to stab it in a desperate attempt to fight back, but the webbing caught hold of more of my arm, disabling it. I shut my eyes, trying to not accept that this was end, "Coommmee Joltik… have your feast!"
"Is this really it? My life ended by a horde of spiders…?" I thought as I felt my skin being desiccated by dozens of tiny Joltik, each shooting painful jolts up my paralyzed body with their bites, "Eden… Espurr…"
"Fire Blast!"
My eyes snapped open as a familiar voice cried before a curtain of vibrant flames washed over the area, burning all the Joltik to ash and setting me free from the webs. That… that was Eden's voice! How did he find us here?
"Thiisss… is my prey! Baacckk off!" The Galvantula hissed, firing a deadly salvo of electricity towards the source of the flames. A wall of flame rose however, nullifying the attack easily.
"Nobody hurts Azri. Not while I'm around!" Eden called valiantly, "Flamethrower!"
A plume of flames roared through the foliage once more, smoking the electrical tarantula instantly. It didn't even have time to scream before the passionate flames consumed it, leaving nothing but a pile of ash. In fact, everything around the surrounding area was burnt away, a victim of Eden's furious inferno.
"Azri! Are you alright?!" Eden took in a deep breath, sucking away the remaining flames that populated the bush I was in. Miraculously, Eden's wildfire barely touched me and Espurr, "Thank goodness I found you in time. You almost became that spider's lunch!"
"Don't remind me…" I muttered as I sank into a hug with him, relief replacing the horror I've experienced. Eden blinked before awkwardly patting me on the back, trying to comfort me, "... Sorry. I'm just… just-"
"Scared. You were scared," Eden answered for me and I silently nodded. I was so used to being the fearless brawn to Eden's brain that I was almost embarrassed needing comfort from him, "It's okay, Azri. I would've fainted from shock in your situation. It's okay to be scared"
"I know, but I just… feel so frustrated lately. By my lack of power," I mumbled, "All the dungeons we've been in had something that counters me. I always feel like you're bailing me out and-"
"Really? Because I feel like it's the reverse. I merely saved you today, but you've always been a capable fighter and leader, despite the type disadvantages," Eden replied softly, holding me tighter against his warm body, "Don't sell yourself so short. The fact that you've survived this long proves your strength. Remember Salamence?"
"Oh for heaven's sake, don't remind me of that," I winced, "Besides, it was you who incompaciated him long enough for me to land Attract. I didn't do it alone"
"Yes, but the point is we're a team, Azri. We're Team Emberlight," Eden reminded me, "We do everything together as equals. Nobody is carrying one or the other. I… value you more than you think, Azri…"
I didn't respond, simply letting Eden's warm embrace wash over me. I briefly remembered Espurr's joke about Eden having a crush on me and it was starting to feel like more of a reality. Maybe I was just dense or blind to his feelings but-
"Hey, you dunce! You still have a job to do!" An internal voice snapped, jolting me back to reality, "You can embrace Eden all you like later or whatever, but you need to revive Espurr and finish this request!"
"Hey uhm… are we going to clear this dungeon or…?"
"Yeah, yeah! Right…" I coughed, letting go of Eden and opening my dungeon bag to find a Tiny Reviver Seed. I fed it to the unconscious Espurr and within seconds, she was awake again.
"Ughh… what was…" Espurr blinked several times while rubbing her head, trying to get my bearings, "Shouldn't have tried to take that Thunderbolt head on. Hey… what's Eden doing here?"
"Yeah, hold on a sec. How did you know we were here in the first place?" I asked as I helped Espurr stand, stabilizing the woozy psychic cat.
"I'll tell you guys later. The point is that we have a job here to fight Pansear, right?" Eden asked and I nodded, "Okay, I'll suck up his Fire type attacks while you two wail on him. Sounds good?"
"Yeah. I think you being here is going to make the fight much easier," I smiled, opening my bag again to find a Guiding Wand. I wasn't eager to encounter more of those devilish ticks and tarantulas. Following the light towards the stairs, we descended to find not one, not two, but three Pansear awaiting us in a clearing bathed in sunlight.
"Ha ha! I thought one Pansear would be too easy for a team like yours, so I brought some of my friends!" The Pansear in the center grinned gleefully, "Let's have a good old spar! Come on!"
"Oh, you're going to pay for what we've been through…" I growled and charged to engage the foe, trusting in Eden to keep me safe. He and Espurr stood behind me, launching their own Psybeams for support. One Pansear lunged at me with Scratch, but I blocked it with my sword before extending my arm with Vine Whip, ensnaring it around the Pansear's neck before flinging it across the room.
"Gotcha!" Another Pansear got some distance away from me as two Psybeams collided with his partner, knocking him out cold. The remaining Pansear took a deep breath before breathing a plume of flames with Incinerate straight towards me. However, his hopes of victory were quickly dashed by Eden redirecting the fire, absorbing it harmlessly into him, "H-huh?!"
"It's over!" I spun myself in a circle in a similar motion to Twister, but instead of a draconic cyclone, a tornado of leaves billowed underneath Pansear instead, flinging it high into the air. I grabbed the Pansear with Vine Whip just as Leaf Tornado died down, slamming it into the ground for good measure. The duel was done and rather anticlimactically at that.
"Hurghhh… well done. You've beaten us…" Pansear groaned, picking themselves off the ground, "As promised, we'll give you your reward for the duel. Go to the Cafe Connection for it, alright?"
"Yeah… thanks," I muttered, wondering if this whole experience was really worth it for an Energy Ball TM. After all, me and Espurr almost got eaten by spiders, "Let's get out of here guys"
"On it," Eden nodded, bringing out an Escape Orb. He then shattered it, transporting us out of the dungeon with the Pansear waving us goodbye. Finally this adventure was over.
…
"... and so I ran here as fast as I could, knowing that the duel with Pansear was the only job available today," Eden finished as we walked back to Serene Village, drained and grateful we were out of Peewee Meadow. Despite the whimsical name, I didn't want to go back there in a lifetime, "Thank goodness I finished Carracosta's chores as quick as I did, huh?"
"You are literally a lifesaver, Eden. I'll admit I have newfound respect for you," Espurr remarked, "Especially after that stunt in the Ancient Barrow. You aren't as prone to mistakes with your attacks as before"
"Aw, praise me more, will you? You know I did a great job there and now," Eden grinned with glee and Espurr only responded with a solemn nod, "Oh well"
"Praise isn't something to be given lightly. You'll receive it when you deserve it. Otherwise it enables your recklessness," Espurr said sagely, "Don't lose your head just because you saved the day today"
"Alright, alright, I hear you Mom…" Eden replied sarcastically before focusing back ahead. We were just about to arrive at Serene Village's eastern gate and I could see the village square coming into view. Despite the fact that evening was approaching however, there was a large mass of Pokemon gathered, "What's going on down there?"
"Looks urgent. Let's see what's happening," I broke off into a run, with Eden and Espurr following behind me. We made it to the village square in short order, where I was hearing musings from various conversations around me.
"Is something wrong? Why is everybody here?" Eden asked a nearby resident, a Raticate. The brown rat turned towards us, his teeth chattering in anticipation and fear. He was holding a newspaper in his hands.
"Take a look at this. Pelipper just dropped them off," Raticate handed Eden the paper and a mark of concern crossed over his face.
"Pelipper rarely comes down here. It must be dire news if so…" Eden stared at the paper's front page, reading it aloud,
"Stone statues, phony or true? Petrification grips the world, turning Pokemon to stone!"
"What?!" I gasped, stepping backwards. The stone statue I encountered in my nightmare… it wasn't just a dream after all. It was a premonition and Nuzleaf wasn't faking his story.
It was becoming a real horror.
Our team:
- Azri, Snivy: Verdant Oracle
Level 20
Abilities: Overgrow and Contrary
Moves: Leaf Blade, Leaf Tornado, Twister and Attract
- Eden, Fennekin: Solar Savior
Level 19
Abilities: Blaze and Magician
Moves: Flame Burst, Psybeam, Flame Charge and Psywave