POV: Cynthia/ LOCATION: Foggy Forest

Upon opening my eyes, I am greeted with a brilliant blue sky. Harsh sunlight blankets the land, shedding vivid color to everything in its domain from the grass to the waterfalls to the mountainous ledges.

A warm breeze carries pollen throughout the clearing. Flower petals sift at the base of the two Pokemon statues, which in the sunlight appears as if they're ready to wake up after a long, petrified slumber.

"Amazing," Rowan mumbles beside me. "Just like that, the fog is lifted."

My brain still ricocheting in my skull, I pluck the hearts from the statues. I have a feeling these two stones will come in handy… a very, very staunch, unwavering hunch.

Rowan clears his throat, jarring me back to the present. "So. Those things are not mere evolutionary stones, are they?"

"N-No… I guess not. I don't even know what they are."

We settle into pensive silence. Then Rowan glances upwards. And the faintest of gasps escape his beard.

And when I squint to what he's gaping at, my jaw also drops.

Because there, rising into the sky like a chalice, is an island. A fucking island with fucking waterfalls streaming from the top, gushing downwards in crashing torrents. It's so high up there that clouds orbit around it.

"That's not an island," Rowan whispers. "That's a lake! A lake bounded by fog!"

"That's what Foggy Forest was hiding?" I huff. Sure, it's impressive, but still… Grandma hyped it up so much. I expected something more… bizarre.

While I mope over my brief disappointment, Rowan is beside himself scribbling into his notebook, sketching out everything and anything he sees. Too bad he can't draw for his life. Fogbound Lake looks like a funnel cake in his notes.

He glares at me. I feign hurt, but inside I'm splitting hips.

"This is an archaeological discovery of a lifetime!" he growls. "Onward, Cynthia! We must reach the top of Fogbound Lake!"

"What? How are we going to get aaaall the way up there?"

To that, Rowan utters a gruff chuckle. "With a will comes a way. We've no time to waste!"

Along the ascent is a very hot, very humid mystery dungeon called Steam Cave. While I pant for breath, Rowan speeds ahead like he's 16 instead of 60. Why, I never knew an old man could move so fast.

Ultimately, we reach the peak of Steam Cave. Nothing but a chamber of earth with an open ceiling to welcome the darkening sky. The once harsh sunlight has dimmed to fading violet hues.

"It's dusk already?" I whisper. My, how time flies when Rowan is having fun.

And beyond the antechamber is…

Is…

A lake. At the top of the plateau is a lake overlooking the forest below. We're so high up now that we're looking down at the fucking clouds.

"Cynthia, over there!"

In the center of the vast lake is a multicolored geyser, one so huge that its tip breaks into the stratosphere… or whatever it's called. It's that tall. Numerous Volbeats and Illumises circle around the fountain, lending it such a peculiar glow.

Rowan is humming to himself, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. "I see! The structure of Fogbound Lake allows it so water constantly wells up from below the earth. Without a conduit to escape, gravity then forces water to flow upwards, leading to the formation of this enormous lake."

"That makes no sense, Professor."

"Just enjoy the view."

I do… until I get bored. While the view of Fogbound Lake certainly is impressive, it's just that. Water. A giant geyser.

Although… the sunset is very spectacular. From this altitude, you can clearly see the sun dipping into a faraway sea in the east. A burning cinder when the sky is lit ablaze.

"This must be it!" Rowan says. "The treasure that the fog concealed… must be the view of Fogbound Lake!"

Really? All that for a petty postcard? I mean… beauty is in the eye of the beholder…

"That human is right. Not many live to tell the tale of Fogbound Lake."

My breath stops. Who said that? Rowan? But I've been watching him the whole time, and he's still engrossed in staring at the lake.

"I wonder… what trickery did these two pull to bypass my puzzle? Lifting the fog was no easy feat…"

I know this feeling! This sensation of being watched ever since we stepped foot into Foggy Forest. Someone… Something was out there. An unseen omnipotence.

Rowan quickly notices my unease. "What is it, Cynthia? Why are you spinning around like you lost your yoyo?"

"Didn't you hear it? That voice!"

"What voice?"

Then the space before me ripples. A being with eyes kept closed, a crimson jewel pulsating atop a golden crown. Gossamer tails skimming above the lake, leaving glittering, undulating trails in its wake.

"Humans," it growls. "It's been quite a while since they've been in my presence. The last one… was an unfortunate case.

"Now, take a good look at Fogbound Lake… for it will be the last sight you will ever see."

"Wait!" I yelp.

And to my immense surprise, the thing jumps.

Rowan's head is whipping between me and this puny pixie thing. "What in the world is going on? Were you talking to this Pokemon, Cynthia?"

I am shocked that he's shocked. To top it all off, the unknown Pokemon appears stupefied as well.

"W-What's this?" it murmurs. "This human… understood me?"

Not knowing what else to do, I manage a breezy, "W-Well, you were very loud. It was hard to pretend that it was just the fog."

The Pokemon frowns. Its forehead crumples, as if deep in thought, before it flies closer… and jabs my forehead.

"Interesting… quite a thick skull you have there."

To my right, Rowan is staring at me. Waiting for a plausible explanation that will never come.

"Your name is Cynthia?"

"How—"

"Like your mouth, your head is very loud. Ah. It appears that you favor violence as the ultimate answer."

"Hey—"

"What, is the notion of Pokemon talking that absurd? We did gift your kind the ability to think, feel, and act."

With a low hum, the golden Pokemon descends to meet my incredulous gaze.

"I am Uxie, the Guardian of Fogbound Lake. You and I need to have a talk… Cynthia."