I have to make this right.

The Tale of Twin Hearts

Chapter 2

A Rank mission. What is an A Rank mission? It's been an hour since we headed out to the unknown location given to us by Chatot and so far the place seems no different than it did when we left; tree and more trees. Since then, all I could think was Chatot freaking out over this "A Rank" mission that he just gave us. To be honest, I should say that the Guildmaster gave this mission to us, but since Chatot seemed to have been trying to hide it, I guess he knew about it beforehand.

The road to our destination was rather straightforward, but we didn't know that at first. The moment we left the Guild, we stopped at the crossroad right in front of the place and looked in our bag once again for some kind of direction as to where to go. searching around, we found a map inside one of the front pockets showing the entire region; it even had my hometown. Looking, we noticed a small "X" marked over a location not too far northeast of the guild. Next to the "X" was small writing that said "Read the letter, be safe" in red ink. At first, we didn't know what it meant by letter, but after looking in the pocket again, there was a letter folder almost perfect and tuck in just right. Opening it, the letter was mostly burned up, containing almost illegible writing but mentions demands for money and items in exchange for a "Hostage". The recipient? Mightyhena. The claw marks were too recognizable, but the scorch marks in between the cuts in the paper make all of us uneasy.

Continuing down the path to the location, Miya started looking around uneasy. Her expression was wary as if she'd spotted something but wasn't sure what it was.

"I don't like this place. Something's not right about it..."

"Yeah, something feels off," Pumpkin chimed in.

He too looked a bit uneasy, but his expression wasn't as noticeable as Miya's. Pumpkin, himself, is a mystery to me. The fact that his name is the same as a...fruit? vegetable? Whatever. The fact that his name is the same as a piece of food I used to eat, I'm starting to guess that it's not his real name, but what does that matter. To be honest, I don't know too much about Miya either. About four days ago, all three of us met at the beach, south of the Guild. It started off with Pumpkin suddenly appearing and Miya finding him, and me no too long after. Beforehand, I was walking around town not too far from the beach, trying to gather my courage to ask if I could join the Guild. When I realized that it wasn't working, I decided to go to the beach to try and calm my nerves but next thing you know, a flash of light appeared and out pops a Shinx, unconsciously laying on the sand. Miya was already there so she was the first to talk to him and ask him his name and where he came from, and then I came into the picture not too long after. From here, we got to know each other and then came to an agreement that we would start an exploration team and find out what happened to Pumpkin's memory.

...Ya know, I'm actually glad we met each other.

"I don't know what you two are seeing, but everything looks the same to me."

"You came from Blizzard Island, right?" Miya asked, looking back at me.

"Yeah. we rarely see anything as green as this, except the plants my mother used to grow in the house, but they were small compared to these trees."

"Heh, I can relate. I used to live on the islands in the middle of the Grand Sea. According to my father, it's not part of this region."

"Wow, so we both used to live on an Island, but that doesn't explain why you feel something is off."

"Do you not feel that?" Pumpkin said, halting for a moment. His fur began puffing out, standing on ends like a glameow after being startled. "We're being watched."

"Oh? The only thing I feel is heat and it's coming from us ahead. Why would a forest be this hot?"

Before anyone could respond, the bushes behind us began to rustle. Quickly, I moved closer to Pumpkin and Miya. It felt like the safest thing to do since if anything happened to one of us, the other would be able to help right away. After a moment, the rustling stop and the dead silence overtook the area, not even the trees were blowing. Looking around, we spotted nothing, just more trees than the eye could see. Unconvinced, Miya slowly walked up to the bushes. Out of nowhere, a dark blur jumped out of the bushes and Slashed at Miya, only to miss and cut the bark off the tree next to her. In a flash, the blur scurried away, quick enough that I couldn't get a good look at it. Running over to Miya, we helped her up before looking around once more.

"That was...close," She said, looking around once more. "What is going on? And what was that?

"I'm not sure, but I can sense that feeling again," Pumpkin said as his fur began puffing out again. At the same time, the spikes around Miya's neck suddenly became jagged and sharp. It appeared almost as if Miya was wearing a spiked collar, but more deadly. Honestly, I've never seen a Chikorita have a reaction like that.

Getting her attention, I point to her neck. "Uh, Miya..."

"...? What?"

Looking at her neck, she noticed the spikes and slowly touched them.

"What the...Why would these be-oh great."

"What?" Pumpkin and I said simultaneously.

"We're being taunted," She said as she closes her eyes, suddenly making the spikes around her neck round out and return to normal. "That's the feeling we kept noticing."

"Where do you think it's coming from?" Pumpkin asks as he shook his fur, returning it to normal.

"I'm not sure, but they know we're here. They're probably watching us."

"Wait, so, How come you guys could feel it, but not me?"

"I'm not sure Liloxi, but we best keep moving. There's no telling what they'll do if we don't hurry."

"Wait, what is this?" Curious, Pumpkin walks up to the tree with the claw marks embedded in it. it was low, a little bit above the base of the trunk. The groves made in it was deep, about neck level to Miya. Whatever made the marks was not messing around.

"These marks...Whatever attacked you Miya, I think it was trying to get rid of you for good. That probably would've gone for us as well if we went near the bush."

"...I...think we probably need to be more careful," She said, holding her neck. "Anyways, let's go."

"Hold on a moment. Do you see this? It looks like scorch marks." Moving closer to the marks on the tree, Pumpkin touches it then pauses. At first, we thought we were trying to get a good look at the marks, but after a couple of fo seconds, we started to get confused. Walking over to him, Miya nudges Pumpkin.

"Pumpkin? Are you ok?"

No response. The look in Pumpkin's eyes were distant, just as mile-long stare at the mark with his paw firmly implanted on it.

"Ok, this is getting strange. Pumpkin, can you hear me?

"Is...that...the leader...?" Pumpkin Mumbles to himself.

"What? Pumpkin, are you alright?" I asked tapping him.

"Who is that pokemon...tied up...? Need...to get..closer."

Bewildered, I try poking him some more. No matter what we do, he doesn't move, no even so much a flinch. Losing my patience, I reach for his paw implanted on the tree. Before I could touch it, Miya grabs my arm with her vine.

"Liloxi, hold on. I'm not sure what's going on, but I have a feeling that's a bad idea. Let's just wait a little longer."

Nodding, I stand back and watch as he continues to mumble.

"Who...are you...? Are you...ok?" He mumbles some more. For once, Pumpkin squints. It's the first reaction we got out of him in the past few minutes, maybe he's coming to.

"We're coming...We're...huh? No. W-Who..."

"Uh, Pumpkin, are you..."

Before Miya could ask, Pumpkin's eyes widen, and without warning, he suddenly gets propelled backward away from the tree. Frantically we rush to him as he tries to pick himself up off the ground. Once we helped him up, he shook himself off once more and looking around in a panic, blinking repeatedly.

"Pumpkin, are you alright?" Miya asked once more, giving him a concerned look.

"Miya...Liloxi...I...I don't know what happened, but I saw them. I saw the Hostage and-"

Before he could finish, his face grew dark. Statics suddenly began rippling through his fur. Trying not to get electrocuted, I let go of him, but Miya, all too eager, remained.

"Saw what? Pumpkin, what did you see?"

"The leader. I saw the leader...He attacked me. He knows we're here.