Chapter 438

"It's a Date"

Mandy cuddled the cherry-red and white pokeball to her chin, affectionately nuzzling it, "Welcome to the party, Meru. It's going to be so awesome to have a Milotic." She lowered the ball and clipped it onto her waist, "Ummm," turning to Prince, "How do you think I should battle with it?"

Prince half-ignored her, half-entertained her. "What are you talking about?" His focus on reaching the tower that was close to a mile away.

"It shouldn't be too different than battling with a Poliwhirl. Both can battle on and off land. Just remember Milotic has healing abilities." Prince returned his gaze fully to the tower.

"I'll have to remember that." Mandy groaned and twisted her body, attempting to ease the pain in her legs from the long walk, "When it comes to battles I don't have much experience, but it is something I wanna improve at."

Hearing that, a thought struck Prince, "You said you don't battle much, right? Then why were you and Sonya guarding a tower?"

Mandy shrugged, "Beats me," she admitted, "we just did what Atlantis told us to do."

Prince stopped, her words had just stirred his curiosity. "Atlantis told you? What does that mean?"

Mandy sighed, "It's just as confusing for me as it is for you. All I have are these memories," gently massaging her forehead, "Long ago of what it used to be like here." She inhaled as if sucking in a blissful wind, "If bringing back Atlantis will make it like it was then I can't wait for things to go back to normal here."

"Memories," Prince rolled his eyes, "I really wanna believe all this talk about past-lives is bullshit but," he shook his head, "this whole journey from Mewtwo giving me Melbu, Sasha on Zion, everything seems to be connected to this time that I can't remember. What was it like here?"

"One word," Mandy smiled, "Magical. Atlantis was a magical city."

Prince chuckled, "You make it sound like Disneyland or something."

"It was," Mandy nodded, "It was just as peaceful and happy as Disneyland. Imagine a Disneyland for adults. A neon city, parties every night, everyone just living their lives free, open, no one judging anyone just free and happy."

"Sounds too good to be true." Prince snorted, "Isn't it human nature to judge things."

"Or is just the way society has made things and taught us to be?" Mandy countered.

Prince stood in thought for a moment, "Well, let's get this city turned on so we can see," continuing his march towards the tower.

Mandy wasn't ready to end the conversation. She groaned in pain as the trek continued but resumed the topic, "When I woke up here, I remembered a lot. I remembered that I was from Europe. Or the Forsaken Continent as it was called before."

Prince, again, was half-listening and half-tuning her out; doing his best to focus on the mission, the molded mind of a soldier.

Mandy endured his half-interest and said, "I was the daughter of a baker. We didn't have much at all and my father was sick. Then, one day an artist of the royal family stopped in to buy bread and he recruited me. He was recruited the most beautiful women of Italy to be emissaries to the pharaohs. I and three other girls were chosen. I was sent to the West."

Prince paused, "The East," turning to her, "Who was sent to the East?" Static in his mind as he searched for the answer.

"Eva Marie." Mandy answered, "She was sent to the East." Mandy looked up, relieved that they were almost at the tower, "During my trip to Atlantis, my father passed away. I had no reason to return to Italy, so I pretended to leave but I ended up staying here in Atlantis after I made a good friend here. Sonya. We were friends just living it up and trying to build a life together. All we wanted was to save enough gold to start a doughnut shop together. We worked hard. Sonya would go to the underground pokemon battles; I'd go to the pokemon contests. We were so close but then, the island sank and," Mandy turned to Prince, "That's about all I remember."

"We're almost there." Was all Prince said in response.

They walked in silence for a bit longer. Prince's mind was zeroed-in on the mission. Mandy's thoughts tumbled over the lost history of her previous life and tried her damnest to connect the pieces on what it all meant now.

Finally, when they reached the tower they were shocked by what they saw at the entrance.

"This looks like opal," Mandy tapped on large structure. "Opal Tower."

"What the-" Prince gawked at a small stone pillar in front of them. On the pillar there were three masks.

Wolf

Skull

Pumpkin

On the pillar beneath the masks, words were carved on:

"Without the mask where will you hide?

Can't find yourself, lost in your lie"

Prince scowled, walking around the pillar and pushing the door. It didn't budge. Then, he slammed his shoulder against it, trying to force the door open.

"Maybe," Mandy raised her hand, "We have to wear masks for it to open."

"I'm not putting that on." Prince declared, "Who knows what will happen?"

"Then," Mandy sighed, "I guess we walked all this way for nothing because that seems like the only way we're getting into the tower."

Prince crossed his arms and stared at the masks.

"I'll take this one," Mandy reached out, picking the pumpkin and placing it over her face.

"Whatever," Prince shook his head, taking the wolf mask. He stared at it for a moment, exhaled before sliding it over his visage.

The single door to the Opal Tower grunted, then there was an earthy hum as it slid open, revealing a well-lit entrance and two doors.

The two approached the entrance and found identical words carved on the twin doors.

Your obstacle is yours alone. Face it alone. Find the truth behind the mask.

Prince turned to Mandy, "One door for each of us," Pressing a hand on his door.

"See you on the other side." Mandy said, placing a hand on her door.

Both gently tapped the door, slowly they slid open and each stepped inside, waiting to face whatever challenge Opal Tower presented.