So at the begining of the end..man I can't believe it..I've been trying to write this series for so long but I have never gotten past the fist book before getting new ideas and trying again! I'm glad you are all liking this and I hope you all come when I post book 2! After this chapter its going to be two chapters left!
Anyway hope you all enjoy please leave a comment!
Red eyes and blue eyes stare at each other, sizing each other up. And then Godzilla threw a rock at him.
"Char!" Charmander yelps in pain before grabbing the rock and throwing it back. Godzilla snorts before Aria gently picks him up in her arms. Aria ignores the shock looks of alarm coming from her friends. Nimbus, who was on her shoulder, was eyeing the new Pokemon, he seem like a grouch. While Hedwig was trying to calm down the Wisp who was now flying around Aria's head.
"Aria..how are you…" Hermione shakes her head, trying not to focus that her friend was carrying a Pokemon that weight 158.7 lbs and to try to focus on the thing that she just told them, "So your saying that Cipher is after the Cup of Life," she then points to the Wisp, "And that they need the Wisp as well.."
"That's what the lady said," Aria then blinks and slaps her face, holding Godzilla (the larvitar!) with one arm now, while the Wisp settled on her head. Nimbus was looking at her while Hedwig chirps at her for hurting herself "I'm fine Hedwig but I am so rude..I forgot to ask her for her name." Aria shakes her head, "But yeah that's what she said..turns out Cipher wants to break the seal that's keeping the Demon Gods in their prison,"
"But who would want to release them? From all the books I read, humans were treated horribly!" Hermione said while grabbing her Buneary who was trying to attack Piers' Scraggy.
"Hermione, lots of the old families want the Gods back.." Piers said, helping Scraggy with his pants. He rolls his eyes with her look of shock, "They think that if the Gods are back that they'll rule the world, that those who don't have divine blood will become their slaves..That only they are allowed Pokemon..they don't care that the Gods would probably make them slaves if they ever returned," he scoffs at the thought, "They don't want to believe it,"
"Still..how can the Cup of Life break the seal?" Neville asks, his Applin, Gram, was on his head, trying to escape Dahlia who was trying to eat his apple. "I mean," he looks to Lyn, "You said all it can do was bring back people from the dead or keep people from dying,"
Lyn nods her head, looking worry as she looks at her books, "It's only a theory but..it might be because of the horn that is wrapped around the cup..and the magic that made it.." she runs her hand through her hair, "Even I don't know how AZ created the Cup..what is known is that the Cup can't be destroyed..so I have no idea how the Cup could even break the seal…"
Lyn shakes her head and looks at the group of seven, "And I don't want any of you to do anything rash..for now it seems Fluffy is keeping sure that the Cup is safe.." Lyn holds up her hand when Aria opens her mouth, "I know Dumbledore wants you to somehow protect it from whoever is after it but I don't want you charging in..for now its safe,"
Aria sighs but nods her head. Lyn was right about it. Even if Aria hated to admit it, the person who is after the Cup and the Wisp were being cautious, probably just not because of Fluffy but also Dumbledore.
In the weeks that went by, years later Aria would wonder how she was able to concentrate. The thought of someone getting their hands on the Cup of Life, or the fact that the seal that keeps the worst Gods (ones who thought humans should be their slaves..she just finally got done from being her relative's slaves she does not want that again) from escaping their prison might break.
But still life had to go on and even so, all of them would press their ears against the door to make sure that Fluffy was still ok, still chirping madly in the room. Luckily it seems he only Dynamaxes when someone enters the room. Which is good because Aria would think that would be Pokemon abuse to keep Fluffy not only in Dynamax Form but in a small room.
But Aria tries her best to focus on her classes as the exams finally came. For some reason even though they have AC, the classes were sweltering hot. Aria's hands were sweaty as she held her pencil as they did their written papers. In the rafters above, Corvisquire with Keen Eye caw out very loudly and throws rocks at any sign of cheating.
They also had practical exams too, Professor Flitwick had them figure out which berries sort out which status conditions, while Professor Sprout had them use the seed of the berries that they had used to correctly plant a new tree. Professor McGonagall had watched them as they carefully brush their Pokemon, taking off any points for placing ribbons or bows on them. For Gryffindors (except Ron) and Hufflepuffs, Snape made them nervous, breathing down their necks as they tried to remember how to make a Full Heal.
Doing the best she could Aria tried to keep focus, but the feeling of her body was going to explode kept making her lose focus. Ever since she left the Forbidden Forest, it felt like she was bloated. The others had to force her to eat.
Aria sighs as she puts her pencil down, the others cheering as they finish the last exam which was for History. Professor Burbage who smiles at them, "Enjoy the time my dears! You have a week until you find out how you did!"
"That was far easier than I thought," Hermione said as they walk out of the classroom, "I was so worried but it seems I didn't need to memorize the 1637 Lycanroc Population Conduct of the Isle of Armor..or the Crown Tundra uprising of Elfric the Eager," Aria looks at Leon and both roll their eyes.
They all wandered down to the lake and released their Pokemon. Leon pulled out a lotion while his Honedge stays by his and Aria's side and begins to rub it in Charmander's (I am not naming him Rodan, Aria..I don't care if he and Godzilla reenacted the scene from Ghidorah! Piers stop laughing I'm blaming you and Ron for getting Ari into Godzilla) back to hopefully ease the pain from the evolution pains. Fomantis was playing with Dahlia and Rick (Ron's Sewaddle- name after Rick O'Connell). Gram was sleeping in Neville's lap while the boy laughs as Goomy runs away from Buneary (Hermione didn't want to force her to have a nickname until they were actually friends..the little one kept trying to hit her in the stomach) and Scraggy (the little rascal was always getting into trouble). Aria's Pokemon stayed by her side, Nimbus was helping Honedge keep watch while Hewdig was nibbling on the strands of her hair. Godzilla was laying in her lap, looking asleep but if you see his eye you can see that it was open to a slit. Piers' Pokemon were doing the same, Zigzagoon was on his lap, his nose twitching for any scent of danger and Inkay and Mothra were floating around talking to Yacker (The Wisp that was in Aria's Dynamax Band..the little one was very loud). Trevor, Trapinch, Ripley and Torakal were circling around, eyes on everything, becoming still when Siren (who was in the lake) gives out a call but calm down when they saw it was the tentacle of the giant Jellicent (female) that lived in the lake.
"Something is going to happen," Hermione whispers as she pets Crookshanks, "The Pokemon are acting up..they know something is going to happen.."
"Tonight," Piers said, "My vision is acting up..but something is happening tonight.."
Aria felt the others still, ever since the attack from the Shadow Garbodor, Piers explained that he had visions..almost of the future which is how he knew she and Hermione were going to be attacked. Aria bites at her lip looking at the grounds, watching as Hagrid comes to the lake with Norberta following at his heels. Her eyes then widen and she quickly sits up, her face paling.
"Ron," she whispers, "How hard is it to get a Tyrunt egg?"
Ron blinks as he sits up, "Well pretty hard I have to say...the Tyrunt line is extinct..only a few trainers have them because they have enough money to get the fossil revive..and its even harder to breed them since they have different instincts than other Pokemon..so pretty hard.
"Don't you think its odd?" Aria said turning to the others, "That some random person has a Tyrunt egg and Hagrid just meets them in a pub?"
The others stare at her with wide eyes before they begin chasing after Hagrid. The giant of a man turns, smiling at them, "Finished yer exams?"
But Aria was too concerned, "Hagrid who was the stranger who gave you Norberta's egg? What did they look like?"
Hagrid blinks at this and scratches at his beard, "Eh..dunno really," he shrugs at the stunned looks, "Ah don't worry..it's not unusual in the Embors's Flame..that's the pub in Hogsmeade. Might have been a breeder? Never saw there face,"
""What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"
Hagrid becomes confused, scrunching up his face at Aria's question, "Mighta come up..yeah he asked what I did, an I told him I was gamekeeper here along with being Professor Kettleburn's apprentice. He was pretty interested in that.."
"Professor Kettleburn?" Aria asked not knowing the Professor.
"He's the Breeding Professor. Breeding is one of the electives you get ter choose in third year," Hagrid explained, "Anyway I can't remember much since the guy kept buyin' me drinks but he had ter make sure I could handle it..So i told him, after Flufft, a dragon type would be easy,"
Trying to keep her voice calm Aria asked, "Was..he interested in Fluffy?"
"Of course. Do you know how hard it is to get the two heads to accept the new one after they evolve! So I told him, Fluffy is a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down. Just play him some bit o' music and he goes straight to sleep.." Hagrid then pales, looking at them horrified, "I shouldn'ta told you that..hey wait where're yeh going?!"
Aria runs, the others following after her, none of them speak to each other at all until they found Lyn who was walking from the Great Hall, her face red in anger, "Lyn! Lyn! The stranger that Hagrid got Norberta's egg..we think it was Cipher..they got him drunk so it was easier for them to get past Fluffy.."
Lyn curses underneath her breath, "Great..and Dumbledore just left for the League.."
Hermione's eyes widened, "He's gone?! When he has the Cup under his protection!?"
"He received an so called urgent message from Minister Rose," Aria looks to the others, that so called urgent message was probably fake..made by the Cipher..
"Just great..its going to happen tonight..they're going to go through the trapdoor tonight. Cipher found out everything they need and now that Dumbledore's gone.."
The sound of books falling to the ground made them still and they turn to see Professor McGonagall staring at them with wide eyes, "How..do you know.." she then glares at them making Aria take a step back which made Hedwig hiss, Nimbus sparking and Godzilla growling at her.
"All of you back outside now!" she orders picking up her books, "I don't know how you all found out about the Cup but rest assured that its well protected and no one can possibly steal it," she glares at Ron and Leon who open their mouths, "Oh I suppose you all think you're harder to get past than what is guarding it? Enough of this nonsense all of you out! If I hear anyone of you go near the third floor I'll be taking fifty points from your Houses! Yes, even from my own House Weasley!" she then glares at Lyn who was holding on to a shaking Aria.
"And I thought you learned your lesson Lady Dragoon from your days looking for the Cursed Vaults," she glares at the woman that Albus decided to allow back in. She thought she finally got rid of the woman after she graduated last year, "I thought the death of Rowan would teach you what would happen to those around you when you put your nose in something that you have no right to know!"
To Aria's surprise Raihan growls and it was only thanks to Neville and Leon who grabbed him by the shoulders that he didn't attack the Deputy Headmistress, "How dare you! How dare you use my sister's death like that! My sister loved Lyn as family and she died because she was protecting her friends!"
Aria saw Professor McGonagall flinch, her eyes widening when she realized that Raihan was there. Aria watches her leave, not even apologizing.
"This is it then.."
The others stare at her, Raihan taking a deep breath and nodding his head, "We're going down the rabbit hole..aren't we?"
"You can't be serious! I know you want to make sure Dumbledore doesn't do anything drastic because he thinks you may not be under his thumb but you can die!" Hermione says, clutching onto Crookshanks.
"I know!" Aria growls gripping onto Godzilla, "But there's no other way. Don't you understand! The Demon Gods will be free if Cipher gets their hands on that Cup. Humans and Pokemon will be enslaved..heck we might all just be killed after they get revenge for our ancestors uprising against them. No more Pokemon battles, no more bonding with them.." she glared at them and Lyn smiled softly at the sight.
Hermione takes a deep breath, "You're right..but we need to prepare for this.."
"We have no idea what is guarding the Cup besides Fluffy.." Piers mention and Ron nods his head.
"I'll start making some potions, antidotes, burn heals, paralyze heals..even awakenings," Ron mutters.
Later that night as the full moon shined through the glass, all of them met up at the door besides Piers and Aria.
"Where are they?" Leon whispers making sure to keep an look out.
They all jump and Hermione almost scream before Neville place a hand on her mouth as the shadows moved. They all watched in horror as it shadows begin to morph..almost like ink. Piers falls out of the wall gasping for breath as another figure appears. Its glowing yellow eyes stares at them, as the shadows drip off their bodies..Two horns were wiggling a bit before the shadows seem to drip away revealing Aria.
"Never again!" Piers gasps as Raihan helps him up.
"We had no choice," Aria said, rolling her eyes. She has no idea why they react like that when she allows the shadows to cover her to easily slip by. The times she practice in front of them they said it felt like they were standing in front of something that they should bow, "Malfoy was staying in the common room..he probably heard we were sneaking out and was trying to bust us,"
"Does he know that would get all of Slytherin in trouble by losing points?" Ron asked with a raised eyebrow. Hanging on his shoulder was a bag full of medicine in case they needed it.
Aria shrugs before looking at Lyn. It was decided that while Aria will lead the charge, (so that way Albus will think he will be testing her), she was going to make sure that they didn't die. Even though they suspect that the traps were going to be easy enough for first years to get through..Cipher might already be there..
Nodding at each other, Ron quietly opens the door and looks to Mothra, "Use Sleep Powder girl," the Butterfree nods her head and flaps her wings, green sparkles falling down while easily dodging the three heads of the Dynamax Dodrio.
Once they were sure Fluffy was asleep, they quickly went in but as soon as Lyn entered, an Abra dropped down from the ceiling and landed on top of her head. Before they could blink the Abra teleported away.
Hermione screams while Piers sighs. Aria grabs her Rotom Dex and begins to dials Lyn's number. To the group's relief, Lyn answered, "Lyn?! What…" the others blink at the sight of Lyn in a glowing purple box.
"Someone is definitely down there..that Abra is able to sense how high Aura is and was able to grab onto me without me realizing it was there...and now I'm trapped in a Magic Room!"
Aria winces at that, while Magic Room suppresses the effects of all items it also stops the use of Aura for some reason..which means it was going to take a long time for Lyn to get out, "Ok..then we will get through the traps," she gives Lyn a look who opens her mouth, "If we wait they might already get the Cup..hopefully we can buy enough time for you to get out.."
Lyn sighs, "Alright but keep safe. Watch each other's backs..and work as a team!"
Aria nods and turns off her Rotom Phone before they head over the trap door. Ignoring the hot, fishy breath coming from Fluffy, they moved the very sharp talon foot off the trap door. Looking down, all they can see was darkness, until Hermione pulls out a flashlight.
"I..I think I can see vines..we should be ok if we drop down..I don't see anything we can climb down,"
"I'll go first," Aria said and before the others could stop her she cannon balls through the dark opening. Cold dark air rushed past her as she fell down and she grunted when she landed on the vines. Shaking her head she looks at the dark blue vines that were flecked with red spots before she looks up at the ceiling,"It's okay!"
At her words, the others follow, Ron, Leon, Neville, Piers, Raihan and Hermione. But as Neville gets up he gasps, "It's not vines! Its Tanglegrowth!"
Aria looks down to see the blue and red vines trying to circle around her feet, but she was quick enough to get to the ledge near the wall. Hermione, Raihan and Neville followed her but Leon, Piers and Ron's legs were trapped, their legs bound tightly together.
"Stop moving!" Neville orders, his eyes watching for any sudden movement, "Tanglegrowth ensnares anyone who touches its vines! The more you move the faster it and more tightly!"
"Oh! That's a great help Nev!" Ron snaps trying to get a vine off his neck.
"Oh.." Hermione wrings her hands together, "Professor Sprout said something about Tanglegrowths in Galar…"
Neville's eyes widened, "That's it..because of the soil in Galar, they liked the dark and damp environment .And are known to go underground during times of heat!"
Leon's eyes widen at that, and while struggling he grabs a Pokeball from his belt, "Charmander!" he croaks, "Ember!"
Charmander appears, and already the vines were cringing away from the flame on his tail. Soon by the small balls of fire, the Tanglegrowth loosen their grips and glares at them as the three boys pull free and scramble up to the ledge.
"Thank Dechraul for Neville and Hermione.." Leon said, rubbing his throat. He thanks Charmander before returning him.
"This way," said Raihain, pointing down a stone passageway, which was the only way forward.
Besides the gentle drips of water trickling down the wall, they could hear their footsteps. But soon they could hear another sound that echos towards them.
"It..it sounds like wings.."
Reaching the end of the passageway, they had ended up into a room that was filled with trees. But it was what was in the trees that caught their attention..fat gray-and-white pigeons, except they didn't coo like regular pigeons. They made this annoying metallic screeching sound that reminded Aria when her Aunt Petunia would screech at her. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door.
"Those birds..they're going to attack us aren't they?" Ron whispers and Aria nods her head.
"Those are Stymphalian birds..they eat human flesh.." Aria then hums, "Huh..I bet this is Professor Flitwick..with him being a troll he knows what could happen if the Cup goes in the wrong hands..must have told Dumbledore they were just harmless birds.."
"Yes..harmless," Hermione whispers, eyeing a red stain on the grass which she thinks was blood.
"So we have to find a way to get to the door..without demon pigeons that belong in myths stripping us to the bone.." Piers moans at this, but he takes a deep breath, "From what I remember from the stories..is that Hercules used noise! Loud noise..he used his Brongzong to make the most horrible nose ever!"
Aria blinks and takes Hedwig's and Godzilla's Pokeball off her trainer belt while Neville did the same. "Hedwig/Godzilla/Trevor! Use Screech!"
As soon as the Noibat, Larvitar and Aron were out of their Pokeballs the chamber was filled with the loud shirley cries. The demon pigeons went nuts, staring to fly in circles, running into each other like they wanted to bash out their brains. Rolling her shoulders Aria steps in her eyes glowing gold. The demon pigeons paid no mind to her, just trying to get rid of the pain.
"Saethau Anhrefn!" raising an arm, said arm glowing blue, which created arrows made of the same light in front of them. Aria smiles as the others applause when the arrows striked the birds, leaving the ground covered with dead bronzed-beaked pigeons.
With the birds dead they could easily cross, Ron opens the door but then yelps. As soon as his foot enter the room he was sent flying.
"Ron!" they yelled but then they look at the floor..it wasn't a floor but many spin tiles around the floor.
"Spin tiles!" Hermione whispers, "When you step on upon one it will move you in the direction of the arrow depicted on it,"
"Then that means we have to play across it," Leon said as he took a step. The others wince as he spins across the room.
Luckily it didn't take long for them to get across. Once Ron got over the wave of dizziness, he looked at the floor and smiled, "It's chess! You have to walk like a bishop!" After that it didn't take long for them to reach the other room, even if Neville had to throw up afterwards.
"What do you reckon next," Neville asks as he wipes his mouth.
"We had Sprouts, Flitwicks..I bet the Spin Tiles were McGonagall, I heard she likes chess..then that leaves Quirrell's and Snape's.
When they went through the next door they had to cover their noses at the familiar smell. Eyes watering they kept an eye on the fainted Garbodor just in case it woke up. They were thanking the Gods that it was already taken care of because this Garbodor was much bigger than the one they faced.
When they enter the next room they blink at the Xatu that stared at them along behind a table with seven differently shape bottles standing on it in a line.
"Snape's" said Aria as they walked in, "What do we have to do?" but she quickly turns when the door slammed shut behind them. When they checked to see if it would open, they grimaced when it wouldn't budge, "Great we're locked in.." she then blinked when she sees HErmione was reading a piece of paper. The others come behind her to read it over her shoulders..which she glared at them.
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind.
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find.
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are sleepers, waiting hidden in line,
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four;
First, however skyly the lavender tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third as you clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds sleep in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
Hermione cheered, and the others were amazed to see that she was smiling, "Brilliant...this is logic! A puzzle..a lot of trainers always have a hard time to actually get to the Gym Leaders because of the puzzle..they'll get stuck here..
"But so will we, won't we?" LEon asked scrunched up his face as he tries to make heads or tails with it.
Hermione rolls her eyes, "Of course not..everything we need is here on the paper.." she looks up at the Xatu.. "I guess we have to give him the.. 'Potion' that will takes us to the next room,"
"But how do we know which to give?" Ron wonders looking at the bottles.
"Give me a minute,"
They watched as Hermione read the paper several times, looking at the bottle and muttering to herself. At least she smiles and grabs the smallest bottle, "This is it!" she runs over to the Xatu and hands it over. They watched with a bit of fear as the Xatu drank the last bit of it..watching as the bird Pokemon shudders before the feeling of something pulling at their stomach took over.
Aria blinks her eyes open, taking a deep breath. She blinks at the mist that exited her mouth and looks around even as Raihan gasps in fear. The room that they were in was encased in ice.
"This..this is a Cursed Vault," Raihan gasps looking around the room, "The Vault of Ice.."
"That is very much so.." a voice said.
Turning to the direction of the voice, Aria grimaces at the sight of the Distortion Mirror..but then she focuses on the boy who was standing in front of them. His hair was messy, striking up in the back. He was wearing a long black turtleneck shirt, the sleeves covering his hands along with purple shorts held by couldn't see his face as it was cover by a white skull but they could see his purple eyes shining at them. He looked about the same age as them..or maybe a year younger.
"So..we finally meet, Aria Potter,"