The Legendborn were standing at the shore of the island, looking out across the sea. Each of them had something on their mind, although none other than the prince had spoken.
"We will have to find something.", Ulfsigr replied, "Perhaps we could try and replicate one...?"
Prince Richard shook his head. "I refuse to be deceptive in that manner. Besides, I'm certain our dear Henry would be able to tell it was a fake almost instantly. We will have to find one the hard way."
Wolfe suggested, "I predict we'll find something if we go to the marketplace. Maybe we should check it out. Perhaps someone is selling the pearl we need."
Catherine shrugged. "It's worth a look, I guess."
So they set off back into the main city, curiously looking around for the pearl they needed.
Since it was approaching midday, the market was full of people and merchants, and the crowd was hard to navigate. Many of the Legendborn from other regions felt uncomfortable, Ulfsigr most of all.
It was also proving quite difficult to even see what the merchants were selling, since there were so many people here.
"Is this...normal?", asked John, as he tried to look around a group of people studying a farmer's cart.
Prince Richard answered, "No. Not even my home city of Royalldon has crowds like this, except during festivals. I'm relatively certain one is not going around right now."
Ray noticed a group of ragged, exhausted-looking individuals sitting sadly by an alleyway. There were quite a few of them, and as he looked around, he noticed similar-looking people all throughout the crowd.
However, Wolfe was the first to say something. "A lot of these people appear to be refugees from somewhere. Do you guys know anything about that?"
Ray shook his head. "I haven't heard of such a thing. What about you, Richard?"
"I'm certain that if there was a disaster of any sort, I would've known of it.", the prince replied, "But I know nothing of what happened to these people."
Carla noticed a girl about her age nearby, staring dejectedly at the sky. She walked over, a look of concern on her face.
"What happened to you?", she asked.
The young woman answered, "It was so sudden...the shadows came down from the hills, and a demon led their assault. They chased us here...they're among us even now. They'll kill me. They'll kill everyone!"
She broke down sobbing, and Carla looked nervous.
Clara walked over and placed a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's okay. You're safe right now. Could you tell us more, so that we can help you?"
The girl looked up, her eyes shimmering, both with tears and...something else.
"As the darkness rises, so too does the light...", she whispered.
Prince Richard flinched slightly, but otherwise said nothing.
Ray, however, noticed, and knew he needed to ask the prince about that at some point.
The girl then said, "Their leader is cruel and powerful. She can change her shape and disguise herself, and can use all sorts of abilities. But I can sense the spark in you. Her victory isn't yet assured."
She clutched onto Clara's hand as if it was the only lifesaver in a turbulent sea. "Please. You must stop her! Do it for my family!"
"We will do our best.", Clara replied, "I promise."
The girl smiled, before vanishing away with a sigh, as if she had never been.
Connor paled. "That was...disturbing."
Wolfe said, "I do not think we are going to find the pearl here. But where we are going to find it, I do not know."
Kelly whispered, "We could check the water..."
"What did she say?", asked Richard, "She is so very quiet, and I swear she's trying to avoid looking at me."
Ray shrugged. "She said we could check the water. And no, I'm not sure why she's acting that way."
Richard seemed thoughtful. "Hmm...very well, let us head to the beach, and see what we shall find." (-o-)
There were quite a few tourists at the beach when they arrived, and Ulfsigr groaned.
"Why must there be so many people...", he grumbled, "They just keep staring at me."
"Well, to be fair, your suit is very unusual and attention-drawing.", John replied, "Maybe not wear it all the time?"
Ulfsigr growled, "Not a chance."
Richard noticed that a lot of the people were staring at him now, too, and he shot them a cheerful grin and wave.
Ray looked over at the large marsh down the shore, and remembered the old ruin that was there. "Perhaps we could check the marsh? There is an abandoned temple there, and the pearl we are looking for could be stowed away inside it somewhere."
"This region is overloaded with ruins.", complained Connor.
But he followed everyone else into the marsh, even as the murky water throughout it reached up to their knees. Richard seemed disgusted, but the prince kept striding through to keep up pace with everybody else.
In here, there was less evidence of the crowded city outside, although one could see litter and other random objects left behind by the citizens who came here. As such, Ulfsigr asked, "Are you sure there'd even be a pearl here to obtain? This place looks rather frequented; surely all the loot here is gone."
Clara nodded. "Popular archeological sites rarely have anything valuable left - I don't think it's likely we could even find a stone statuette, much less an incredibly rare gem."
Wolfe said, "I foresee that we will find a great treasure ahead...but also a great danger. We must be very careful."
"You know, the fact that you get visions of the near future is both cool but also very nerve-wracking.", John stated.
"You have no idea.", Wolfe replied cryptically.
Ahead, they could now see a large, old building made of a strange, bluish stone. It was half-sunk into the swamp and choked with weeds and mangroves, as if the marsh was trying to devour it. Quite a few Croagunks were croaking at each other, but they scattered as the Legendborn came into view.
A Yanma buzzed past, flitting between the trees, before suddenly getting snatched up by an Ariados, which pulled it into the leaves where the unfortunate insect was probably devoured.
"Ominous.", stated Wolfe.
The adventurers proceeded to walk up towards the temple entrance, where they were soaked up to the waste in the muddy, sticky water. Catherine included, although normally her floating ability would've gotten her over it.
"Ugh, my retainers are not going to be pleased.", grumbled Richard.
Ray chuckled. "This is hardly the worst thing they've had to deal with."
Richard nodded. "True, true. Very much so."
Ulfsigr said, "Come on, you two. You'll end up luring that 'great danger' to us."
Carlos sighed. "Will we ever get a break?"
Carla replied, "Don't worry, bro, we'll be able to handle anything that comes our way!"
Carlos sighed again. "I wish I could be so confident..."
They reached the entrance to the temple, which was an old pair of stone doors with an unusual whale Pokemon upon it - the same one as the Miranas' coat-of-arms.
"I think it would be a bad idea to open this door...", whispered Kelly.
Catherine replied, "Well, I'm afraid we're going to have to. Anyone have any idea how we can do so?"
Ulfsigr slipped something put of his pack. "Stand back.", he warned.
Then he threw it, where it exploded against the doors and blasted them in.
Ray and Clara both winced. Neither of them appreciated the archeological damage.
"There's nothing some good explosives can't open.", Ulfsigr stated, "Let's find that pearl and get out of here, shall we?"
So they entered the musty temple, the dark flooded hallway broken up where portions of the ceiling had been damaged. The sunlight shined against various engravings on the walls, which showed various stylized pictures of water Pokemon.
As they walked farther in, the walls began to show scenes of destructive storms and waves, as well as panicking people and Pokemon. Beyond that, there were images of a colossal dinosaur-like Pokemon battling against the whale Pokemon, before both being sealed away by a familiar serpentine Pokemon.
Ray touched a hand to his emerald necklace. "That's the Sky Guardian. But those two other Pokemon...who were they?"
John shivered. "Whatever they are, they don't look any more pleasant than the Darkness. But I'm growing concerned we might end up encountering them..."
At the end of the hallway was another pair of doors, these ones sealed with a series of concentric, snake-like circles around a handprint.
Ulfsigr readied another grenade, but Ray shook his head. He strode over and placed his hand against the print, causing the circles to light up with emerald light and spin around, causing the doors to unlock and swing open.
The water on the floor rushed in to the open chamber ahead, signifying just how well-sealed the room had been.
Ulfsigr commented, "Whatever was put in there, I don't think it was meant to ever come out."
The Legendborn nervously stepped in, looking around.
The walls were all covered in images of waves and fish Pokemon, but the back wall was dedicated solely to a large picture of the whale Pokemon. In the center of its head, there was a socket where a large blue pearl shimmered.
Catherine frowned. "Okay, one, that's too easy, and two, how did that lord Henry guy know about that thing?"
Kelly seemed about to say something, but decided against it.
Ulfsigr had his gun ready, but his other hand was also ready to grab onto the aurablade at a moment's notice. Even he seemed to now be aware that there were some things he couldn't kill with a few bullets.
"What do we do?", asked Richard, "The gem is right there, but I am also quite aware of the danger of traps."
Ulfsigr studied the ground and walls. "I don't see anything, but I'm unable to detect anything magical, which this region seems to delight in. What about you?"
"My honest belief is that that gem is worse than anything it could be trapped with.", Carlos said, "Why else was it locked away so tightly and all the walls show pictures of suffering?"
Carla shrugged. "I'll check it out."
"Carla-", started Carlos, but she had already strode across the room. She plucked the pearl out of its socket...and nothing happened.
"Okay, I vote we leave now.", said Kelly, looking around very fearfully, "I feel like something's about to-"
Suddenly, the ground quaked, and there was a loud roar of rushing water. Turning towards the doorway, everybody was promptly slammed into the wall by a massive wave.
"I suppose I must thank you."
The Legendborn struggled to free themselves from where they were pinned to the wall as a strange woman strode towards them, the waters parting before her.
She wore a long flowing black gown, as well as tall armored boots and clawed gloves. Her hair was brilliant scarlet and draped over her shoulders, and her face was hidden behind a demonic mask. In her hands she was spinning around a pair of aurablades, styled to resemble twin daggers.
The woman continued, "Now, hand me the pearl...or you are all going to drown, one by one."
The water wrapped around each Legendborn, pinning them against the wall by the throat. The water rose up towards their mouth and nose threateningly, and the heroes knew they were in big trouble.
Carlos gasped, "Just...give her...it..."
Carla gave him a stubborn glare. "I'm not helping the bad guy!"
The woman flicked her wrist, and water flowed up to cover Carlos' face.
"He has at least thirty seconds.", the woman stated, "Unless you want him to die, I'd suggest handing it over."
Carla clenched the pearl, oblivious as it began to glow. "I'll figure out a way to help-"
Suddenly the orb flared,, causing the water to be blasted away from her and freeing Carlos, Connor, and herself. The three hit the ground, and immediately acted.
Connor sent out his Galvantula, while Carlos gasped for breath and magic swirled up around Carla. The woman lunged, daggers at the ready, while the other Legendborn were still left pinned to the wall.
"Watch out!", Carlos cried, as the woman attempted to stab his sister. But in the blink of an eye, Carla appeared at another part of the room, her eyes glowing with power.
The woman chuckled. "I sense your powers surging...but do you think you can truly control them? You are far too young for that..."
Carla cried out and doubled over, the magic around her crackling. The pearl fell out of her hands and rolled across the floor, and the woman seemed to smirk behind her mask.
As the others watched, Carla began transforming, as a pair of wings emerged from her back and her fingers turned into claws. Her legs turned into strange, orange-feathered appendages, and her face and neck elongated. Rapidly she turned fully into a Latias, though not in the color it was normally depicted as.
Carlos cried, "No!", and lunged for the pearl before the woman could grab it. He rolled to the side with it, and held it protectively against his chest while glaring fiercely at the foe.
Carla moaned, "I feel...so...strange..."
The woman strode towards Carlos, her daggers pointing threateningly towards him. "Surrender the pearl now, or I will kill everyone in this room."
The water that had not been dispelled by Carla submerged the faces of the bound Legendborn, showing that she intended to do just that.
"Don't do it...", Carla pleaded, trying to stand up but failing.
Carlos glared at the evil woman, and with a flash of blue magic, he sent a wave of force at her that sent her flying into the wall, dislodged a bunch of dust.
With a snarl, she leaped back to her feet, and the trapped Legendborn started struggling and panicking as she forced the water into their lungs. Ulfsigr's faceplate started cracking under the pressure, and even he seemed worried.
Yet at that moment, Arch leaped down from the ceiling, electrocuting the villain and releasing her hold on everyone.
The water splashed back down harmlessly, and the Legendborn fell, coughing up water. Ulfsigr readied his gun, trying to aim for somewhere lethal, but a psychic jolt forced him to drop it. The woman snarled in rage and threw the spider Pokemon off of her with telekinesis, and she hissed, "You have not truly won!"
In a flash of pink mist, she was gone, and everybody felt somewhat relieved.
No longer distracted by the enemy, Carla got a look at herself, and moaned.
"How the Distortion did I turn into...whatever this Pokemon is?", she said.
"I think it's like that one guy we fought at that tavern.", Connor answered, "You used too much of your powers too fast. I'm not sure what we can do..."
Ray said, "From what I know of the Eon Twins, they often disguise themselves as humans using their powerful illusion magic. You should be able to do that, at least until we can help you revert back normally."
Carla focused, and with a shimmer she looked normal again, although most of the people there could tell it was merely an illusion.
Carlos gulped. "So...all of us could end up like that if we overuse our powers?"
"We have no idea.", Catherine replied.
"Don't worry, Carlos.", Carla said, "Now that I'm over the shock, I feel...much stronger."
Richard said, "I'm going to need to study up on the Legendborn...let's head back to the castle, and get some rest. I think we could all use some."
Nobody argued in the slightest. (-o-)
AN: Well, things are happening. Next time we head to Azulia, even more will! Perhaps even some key info for stuff close to the ending...
Surely there was none of that this time though, right?
Next time, we're back to Glashear, and the Noble battle that happens there! This will be the first proper one since...how long?
I have no idea. But I hope you're excited for it! (-o-)