Summary: The group enters Turnback Cave at last, but it's no cake walk. As usual, most everything evil or not attempts to kill them.
Note: Hope everyone is having fun with this story so far, I know I am. In all honesty Pokemon probably has the most interesting world out of every Nintendo game. Just the pokemon themselves are proof of that. Anyways enjoy.
After I relived my mostly happy memory, Hexy returned with various berries including oran and sitrus. I took out some bowls and handed them between our 4 pokemon. Frillish stretched her tentacle over to try and feed me a berry but I declined. "No thanks. I think, I'll have some fish though".
She got giddy, 'Frill, frill'. I think I understood her, "You want to help me catch a magikarp"? She nodded her head, while Mimikyu also wanted to pitch in. Taking her over to the lake, she dived in and though squirted by a bunch of Water Gun shot, she snatched up two with her tentacles. They squirmed, until Mimikyu ran over to chop their heads off with his claws.
As we walked away from the boardwalk though, I nearly soiled myself as a gyrados rose out looking as terrifying as always. Lucky for us though, it ended up just gulping down the magikarp heads like chum and retreating back into the lake.
I took out a knife and began to chop up the fish, while Hexy elected to make a fire. Meanwhile, our pokemon all played together, minus Spiritomb who did his usual nothing but watching them do so. I walked over to Hexy, "You want some magikarp? There's two of them".
She responded, "Well I didn't make this fire just for you. But yes, I would like some. Thank you".
While the water types cooked over the fire, it was around sunset at this point so we decided to speak a little. I started, "So, how close are you to your pokemon"?
Hexy looked over at them, "I love them both. Though Spiritomb hardly does or says anything, we both have respect for each other at least. Though some of those spirits inside him are probably more than evil, he's never tried to harm me, even when I first went to catch him. But, Sableye I've had him even longer. I may not use him as much but he was my first real friend, until I met you at least".
I was surprised, "We're friends"?
She counter asked, "Aren't we"?
I acknowledged, "Yeah, of course. You know, I might be worried for Ethan, but having someone else human in life is something I've lacked for a long time. Working at the Poke Mart doesn't exactly rack in friendship you know. Just stack cans, man the registers and keep stock. Customers come and go, while the other employees are just, kind of there".
She kept listening, "I can admit I feel the same. Pokemon are incredible and all, but sometimes human interaction between other humans is what we need. Even me. I'm glad I stumbled across you Larson".
I smiled at her, "As am I. And please, call me Lars if you want".
Before we said anything more she noticed, "Oh, the food's done".
While we ate our magikarp on the grass, Frillish was cuddling up to and wrapping her tentacles around me the whole time. Hexy took notice, "She's very affectionate isn't she"?
I took another bite, "Yeah, I noticed. She's really grateful for my assistance against that sharpedo apparently".
Hexy added, "Maybe she's got a human crush".
Frillish looked to me as if to say yes, 'Frillish'. Then she kissed me on the cheek. "Jeez Frillish. I'm flattered, but we haven't known each other that long". She frowned and went off to pout as soon as I said that.
Hexy teased, "Uh oh, you upset her. She might try to poison you now for that".
I shrugged it off, "I'm sure she'll be fine in the morning".
The next morning, sure enough she was her happy, affectionate self again. Hexy returned her pokemon while I only returned Mimikyu. Frillish took both of us onto her bubbly head and swam us across to the cave entrance. I took a deep breath and composed myself, "Okay. Let's finally get into this cave".
I returned Frillish and exchanged her for Mimikyu, while Hexy responded to me, "Let's not waste anymore time. I'm curious as to what kind of dark stuff is in here".
A swarm of golbats flew past us, and Hexy outstretched her arm, touching some as they did so. "Ooh, so soft and coarse".
As we entered a room, we could see precisely jack shit. Inside the actual cave chamber was nothing but thick fog. We stuck together and walked in a straight line until finding ourselves in front of a giant pillar. "There's an inscription", I told Hexy.
She pushed past me to read it, "It says. Past 3 pillars...to the sleeping...before 30 is surpassed".
I wasn't really in the mood for riddles, "What does that mean, exactly"?
Hexy too was at a loss, "We won't find out until we get into another room I guess".
I noted, "But we can't see anything in this fog. How are we even supposed to get out of here? Let alone back the way we came".
She couldn't tell me, "We're just going to have to fumble around until we reach another room. Come on".
Taking lead, I followed with Mimikyu closely behind her. We were lucky enough to find the next entrance, but inside was more fog. Walking all around the room, we did find a second pillar in the center. Hexy was optimistic, "That's two. Maybe if we find one more we'll find a way out".
Leaving behind the next pillar, I spoke up to her. "You really think Giratina is in this cave"?
She still did, "More likely than not. The place seems evil enough and definitely eerie".
At this point unfortunately, our luck had run out as we found just an empty room up ahead. A few rooms later, much of the same. Me and her both lost our sense of direction at this point. "I swear we just went into the same room like 10 times".
Hexy agreed, "This place is definitely a maze. I'm also not seeing any pokemon...wait".
She halted me with her arm, "Do you see that purple light in the distance"?
I did, "Yeah. Let's investigate".
When we found the source, Hexy was less than enthused. A bunch of living candles with beautiful violet fire. She advised, "They might know the way, but we can't follow them".
I wondered, "Why not"?
She told me, "They steal the life force from people and pokemon, minus ghost and dark types. Regardless they are basically vampires. We need to stay away from them.
I trusted her word, "Okay. Let me scan one though". I took out my Poekdex, 'Litwick, the candle pokemon. Litwick shines a light that absorbs the life energy of both human and pokemon. This becomes the fuel is burns for its flame. Those that follow it are lead aimlessly until their energy is completely drained'. I grimaced, "That's screwed up".
After about the 20th room at this point, we persisted, but then heard something up ahead. I menacing laughter. As we both continued to walk it became louder and louder. I called up to Hexy, "Don't you hear that"?
The laugh echoed throughout the cave but I could just feel it was getting closer. Hexy answered, but was cut off when we found the source, or it found us. "I think it's a…".
Out floating from the fog, a ghostly doll with a zipper for a mouth, leapt out at me causing me to stumble and fall on my ass. The pokemon kept laughing and began pointing at me while holding its stomach. I reached for my Pokedex again, "What the hell is that"? It explained, 'Banette, the marionette pokemon. Originally a plush doll, this pokemon became sentient after being discarded by children. It actively seeks out the child that disowned it'. I stood up, "So, kind of like a poltergeist".
As I tried to approach it, the banette unzipped its mouth and got up in my face again, laughing. I jumped back, "Damn it! What's the deal with all these ghost pokemon and pulling scares on everyone. What have you got nothing better to do"? I scolded it.
The pokemon zipped its mouth back shut and floated over to Hexy, who it tried to jump at, but she was unimpressed. "Yawn. Gotta do better than that". Banette then disappeared and popped up behind me, getting me again. Once more, laughter echoed around us, "What's your problem? Do you want something"?
Hexy said to me, "It's a ghost pokemon, like haunter or gengar. That's just their thing".
I didn't care, "Yeah, well the ones that helped raise me weren't half as obnoxious as this one".
I ranted at it, "Whatever. You want to just mess with us, we're out of here. We weren't the ones who abandoned you, so stop wasting our time". I took Hexy and Mimikyu and we began to walk away. Banette was upset about this and called us back, 'Bane, ette, ban'. We just ignored it, until it floated over in front of us as we walked.
I was irritated at this point, "What now"?
It lowered its head, 'Banette. Banette bane'. Hexy looked to me, "I think it's saying it's sorry for the pranks".
Still didn't really care, "Sure, whatever".
'Bane bane ette. Banette'. Hexy tried translating again, "It says it know the way out. That it can show us to the last pillar room and exit".
This did peak my interest a little, "Really"?
The banette nodded, 'Bane ette, et ban bane'. The pokemon motioned us to follow it and sure enough, we did end up at another pillar finally. "I'm impressed. You must know this place well since I assume you live here". Banette grinned with ego, 'Banette'.
Where it led us next, was where things got real. The fog was finally gone, at least in this room and this one even had steps and a podium at the center. But at the podium, next to a huge black portal of sorts, was Giratina itself. I rubbed my eyes, "I don't believe it. He's real...I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I am".
The godly pokemon's black wings spanned at least a few feet, and it had six legs making it look like a cross between a dragon and a centipede. No arms, but it looked both menacing and amazing with its face; a natural helmet or something which its blood red eyes peeked out from. Above all, it spoke telepathically to us. It's voice boomed and was both commanding and soothing at the same time, "You trespass on my territory humans. If you wish to see your world again, do not follow. You may leave unscathed".
Without another word, he flapped his large wings and flew into the portal behind him. I was speechless, but I managed to find my words, "We need to go after him. He might know where Ethan went from here".
Hexy was hesitant, meaning it probably wasn't wise, but I didn't care at the moment. "That portal leads to the Distortion World".
I shrugged, "So"?
She shook her head, "That is Giratina's domain. He is in control of everything in there. If we go in, we might not come out".
I said seriously, "That's a risk I'm willing to take for my friend. But, I don't want you or my pokemon hurt, so I'll just bring MissingNo in case".
She seemed touched by my words, "No. I'll come with you. I appreciate what you say, but, I just wanted to warn you. I only hope we come back".
As we went to step through the portal, the banette stopped us, 'Banette. Bane bane'. Hexy said to me, "It wants to come with us"?
I protested, "What so it can screw with us in another dimension too? No thanks".
The banette insisted, 'Banette! Ban ban et ette'. Hexy again told me, "I think it says it doesn't plan on it. It's mostly bored and would like to come along with us. That it will even let itself be captured".
"Hm. Really"? I was skeptical but I took out a Dark Ball and tossed it. Hitting the banette in the chest, it dented it, but like an actual doll or mattress it fixed itself. Turning into red energy, it was caught within only 2 red glows on the button.
I released it right after as a show of good faith, and true to its end of bargain it didn't attack. But I find out, 'Banette. Bane'. Hexy looked to me, "Oh and it says it's a female by the way".
I scratched my head, "How can a possessed plushy have a gender...nevermind. Let's just head through that portal. We need Giratina".
Banette followed us and I decided to give Mimikyu a break, while taking out Frillish. Me, Hexy, Frillish and Banette entered the black mass, and came out the other side to see nothing short of a hellish looking other world.
But not a moment after we entered, the portal shut behind us. We were trapped in the Distortion World, "Amazing. Now we have no choice but to find Giratina".
Hext noted, "He could be anywhere".
I didn't worry, "How hard can it be to find a giant flying centipede monster"?