AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is chapter 44 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through the Johto region. This chapter is based off my experiences solving the puzzles in the Ruins of Alph on the Gold, Silver, and Crystal version games, but this will be just a trifle different. You'll see what I mean later. Plus, Foster from the anime makes an appearance in this chapter. Finally, this chapter and the next one's title are based off the song, "To Know the Unknown" from the third Pokémon movie. That song was written and composed by John Siegler and John Loeffler. Lyrics are by Norman J. Grossfield and sung by Innosense. Just so you know, I don't own Pokémon. Pokémon, Pikachu, and all other known character names are trademarks of Nintendo. As always, please feel free to read and leave responsible reviews when you have time.

TEASER: Tristan and Hillary's history lesson in the Ruins of Alph turns into a magnificent discovery, which leads them into a strange chamber. What secrets will they encounter in that chamber?

Chapter 44: TO KNOW THE UNOWN, PART 1

(Music Cue: Opening Title 1999-2001 (as heard at the beginning of "Once in a Blue Moon"))

Today, our heroes arrive at the Ruins of Alph, a popular tourist attraction and popular historical site. They plan to learn about the rich history of the prehistoric Pokémon and the never-ending secrets.

Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi were walking through the Ruins of Alph as they took in the sights.

Presently, Tristan noticed something on the wall. "Look at that. It looks like an Aerodactyl fossil."

"It sure seems like it," agreed Hillary. "And look at the arrow-shaped tail."

"I guess that's how Aerodactyl was named, huh?" said Tristan as he looked up Aerodactyl's entry in his Pokédex.

"Aerodactyl, the Fossil Pokémon. This vicious Pokémon is said to have flown in the ancient skies while shrieking high-pitched cries. Its hard teeth suggest that it was a carnivore. Its claws allowed it to capture its prey in prehistoric times."

"I don't know about you, but I never want to experience being caught that way by an Aerodactyl again," shivered Tristan.

"I wouldn't either," agreed Hillary. "After the experience we had at Grampa Canyon a while back, who would? But it's nice to at least learn about the Aerodactyl here."

And they kept walking until they saw a building in the distance.

"Hey, maybe someone there can help us learn more about this site's history," suggested Tristan.

"Good idea, let's go see," agreed Hillary as they walked closer to the building.

Inside, a man wearing a white lab coat was working on discovering a Pokémon fossil that he had just discovered.

Presently, Tristan and Hillary approached.

"Hello, there," said Tristan.

"Greetings," said the man. "And welcome to the Ruins of Alph's research center."

"We wanted to learn about the fossils that are here," explained Hillary.

"We saw an Aerodactyl fossil and wanted to learn more about some of the other fossils that were here," added Tristan.

"Well, you've come to the right place," said the man. "My name's Foster. I'm a researcher here at the Ruins of Alph.

"My name's Tristan," said Tristan. "And this is my sister Hillary."

"Hello there," added Hillary.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," smiled Foster. Follow me."

Foster led Tristan and Hillary to a lifelike exhibit of a forest. "This forest is a replica of an ancient forest that was here millions of years ago," he explained. "We built robots of prehistoric Pokémon that are so lifelike you'd think that they're really alive." And he showed them robots of Aerodactyl flying around in the forest.

"So this is how Aerodactyl lived in ancient times, right?" said Tristan.

"Boy, if we were to travel back in time to that time, we'd certainly believe it," added Hillary.

"And these are fossils of Kabutops, another of our prehistoric Pokémon," continued Foster.

"Wow," said Hillary as she looked up Kabutops' entry in her Pokédex.

"Kabutops, the Shellfish Pokémon. In ancient times, this Pokémon was able to swim quickly through the water by compactly folding up its razor-sharp sickles."

"That's pretty incredible," said Tristan.

"That's true," agreed Foster, "but what the Pokédex didn't say was that Kabutops would use said sickles to rip their prey to shreds and suck their body fluids."

"I wouldn't want that," said Hillary nervously.

"But here's something that'll calm you down," said Foster as he showed them two fossils. "These are Dome Fossils. They are used for reviving the ancient Kabuto, which is Kabutops' pre-evolved form."

Hillary looked up Kabuto's entry in her Pokédex.

"Kabuto, the Shellfish Pokémon. This Pokémon is said to have hidden on the sea floor three hundred million years ago. It also has eyes on the back that glow."

"And these are Helix fossils that are used for bringing Omanyte and its evolved form, Omastar, back to life," continued Foster as he showed them fossils that looked like spiral shells. The bigger fossil had spikes on it.

Tristan looked up Omanyte and Omastar's entries in his Pokédex.

"Omanyte, the Spiral Pokémon. Believed to have lived over two billion years ago, recent research indicates that it was able to control its buoyancy by storing and releasing air in its shell.

"Omastar, the Spiral Pokémon. The evolved form of Omanyte. This extinct Pokémon is believed to have used its sharp fangs in order to break through the shells of its prey in order to feed."

"That's incredible," said Tristan.

"Recently, when Professor Oak and his friends, Ash, Misty, and Brock came here, they learned about the prehistoric Pokémon," said Foster. "Not only that, we were able to save the Omanyte and Omastar and helped them go back to their original habitats."

"You mean there were real ones there?" gasped Tristan.

"That's an amazing discovery!" added Hillary excitedly.

"Well, there aren't any real ones here right now since they've all gone back home," said Foster. "But it was something that I'd been wanting to research for a while. But I couldn't just keep these Pokémon captive while visitors were tempted to catch them. So I put them in this very exhibit to protect them as long as I could. When we found out that Team Rocket was stealing the water, which is critical to all of our exhibits, we had to figure out a way to stop them. And thanks to Ash and his friends, we were able to do just that."

"I'm glad you were able to help the Pokémon out," said Hillary.

"That makes me happy to think that the Omanyte and Omastar have safe homes again," agreed Tristan.

Pikachu and Togepi nodded in agreement.

"Professor Oak and I have been friends and colleagues for years, especially since I was his top student at Celadon University," continued Foster. "Researching things has always been one of my favorite things to do. So I opened up this research center and guided Trainers through the rich history this place had to offer. Needless to say, this has been a big success."

Presently, Tristan noticed a strange tile with a letter on it. "What's this thing?" And he showed it to Foster.

(Music Cue: Messenger)

Foster closely examined it. "I'm not sure. I've never seen it here before."

Suddenly, a flat, thin line Pokémon shaped like an eye with appendages resembling the letter "A" appeared out of thin air behind Tristan and Hillary.

Pikachu pricked its ears up and alerted Tristan.

"What's up, Pikachu?" asked Tristan.

But before Tristan could see the Pokémon, it disappeared just as suddenly.

"I guess there's nothing there, Pikachu," said Tristan. "Maybe you just imagined it."

"Something wrong, Tristan?" asked Hillary.

"It's nothing, sis, I'm fine," replied Tristan.

"Hmm," said Foster as he continued to examine the artifact. "Something strange is definitely going on here. Why don't we go into the chamber?"

Foster led Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi into a nearby cave.

A young woman was waiting for them. "Hello there. And welcome to this chamber."

"Ma'am, would you kindly tell the kids about this chamber?" asked Foster. "I've gotta get back to my research...and learn more about this piece that we just recently discovered." And he showed the woman the tile.

(Music Cue: Strange Weather)

The woman took a closer look at it. "This appears to be an ancient form of writing of some kind. But what kind that is, I don't even know. I've never seen anything like this before." She turned to Tristan and Hillary. "This ancient form of writing is like what we see on these puzzle pieces. Tourists from all over the Johto region have tried to solve the puzzle, but with no success. Some people speculate that there may be something mysterious with it."

"Mysterious? How?" asked Hillary.

"None of us are sure exactly," answered the woman. "But all we know is that it's connected to some sort of ancient Pokémon."

Presently, Tristan's Silver Wing hanging around his neck began to glow. "That's weird."

"What's weird?" asked Hillary.

"My Silver Wing is reacting to something," said Tristan.

"You don't suppose..." began Hillary. "Nah, it couldn't be."

"Couldn't be what?" asked Foster.

"That a legendary Pokémon could be nearby?" wondered Hillary.

"All I know is that if the Silver Wing is reacting to the puzzle, then it's in my best interest to solve it," replied Tristan. "Right, Pikachu?"

Pikachu nodded in agreement as Tristan slowly walked over to the puzzle.

"Well, I don't know about any legendary Pokémon being nearby," said the woman. "But I can assure you that this place is empty. You won't find any wild Pokémon anywhere around the Ruins of Alph."

"I guess that makes sense, but why did the Silver Wing react like that?" asked Hillary. And she slowly followed Tristan to the puzzle.

Meanwhile, Lugia, the Pokémon Tristan and Pikachu befriended, was flying through the skies when it suddenly stopped. I'm sensing something really big. I don't know what it is, but I doubt it's good. I have to get to Tristan before it's too late. And it quickly made a U-turn and flew as fast as it could.

Back in the chamber, Tristan turned on the radio on his Poké Gear and heard strange noises.

"Sounds like your Poké Gear's on the fritz," said Hillary.

"I don't think so," replied Tristan. "But I've never even heard it make that noise before."

Hillary then turned on her radio and noticed her Poké Gear making the same noises as Tristan's was. "Mine's doing that, too! That's so weird!"

Tristan began to work on the puzzle pieces as Foster and the woman watched. "Let's see...if I put that here and turn this piece this way...no, that's not right."

"Maybe I can help you figure it out," suggested Hillary. Then she saw something above the puzzle. "Hey, look! There's a message here!"

(Music Cue: The Moon Stone)

Tristan saw that Hillary was right. "We never saw it here before."

"Neither have I," said the woman. "I've been in this chamber numerous times, but have never seen that before. It must have just shown up recently. But what could it mean?"

Tristan looked at the message and then gasped in shock. "I...can...read it!"

"What? You can?" Hillary was surprised. She never knew that he was able to read something in an ancient language. "What does it say?"

Tristan deciphered the text.

"He who solves the puzzle here
Must have a heart that's so sincere...
Then he must help the ones in need
And thus, he shall complete this deed."

"But what does that mean?" asked Hillary. "And how were you able to read the text so easily?"

"I'm not sure," replied Tristan. "Maybe it's because our connection to the legendary Pokémon is so strong that we can read the text as if it were written in our language."

Hillary gasped in shock. "Hey, I can read that, too! But that's impossible! No mortal could read this text that easily except for a chosen few!"

"We must be the chosen few," said Tristan. "Because if the text says that someone needs our help, then we have to solve this puzzle."

For the next hour, Tristan and Hillary worked together to figure out which of the pieces connected together.

"I got these two connected," said Hillary. "But I don't understand where these two go." Then he saw a different piece that fit one of the pieces in his hand and connected. Sure enough, they fit perfectly. "All right! Maybe these two next."

They connected the puzzle together piece by piece. At last, they were down to the last one and connected it to the puzzle.

"Hey, we did it!" they said excitedly.

"Well done!" said Foster.

"Now that's what I call teamwork," agreed the woman.

Suddenly, the puzzle began to glow in a bright light.

(Music Cue: Lugia Appears (as heard in "Revelation Lugia"))

"What's going on?" gasped Hillary.

Then, just as suddenly, Tristan's Silver Wing glowed brightly. "My Silver Wing...it's glowing again!"

"I'm not liking this!" said Foster worriedly.

Then, Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi found themselves surrounded in a barrier of light.

Foster and the woman shielded their eyes because the light was so strong.

Seconds later, the light disappeared, and Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi had all disappeared.

"What? They're gone!" gasped the woman.

"But they were just here!" said Foster. "How could that be?"

Meanwhile, Lugia kept flying in the sky in the hopes of reaching Tristan in time. But suddenly, it stopped. Tristan! it exclaimed. Where are you?

(Music Cue: Ash's Decision to Fight (Ash Appears)

Presently, Mew and Mewtwo appeared next to Lugia.

What happened? asked Mewtwo.

It's Tristan, answered Lugia. I can't feel him at all. Hillary's disappeared, too! It's like they've vanished off the face of the planet!

You mean they're no longer here? asked Mewtwo. You don't suppose some Pokémon decided to Teleport them to a secret location somewhere, do you? That has happened before.

I'm telling you, they're not here! insisted Lugia.

Well, do you know where they are? asked Mewtwo. Are you able to contact him through the Silver Wing that you gave him?

I don't know, but I think Tristan's been cut off from me or something! He and Hillary both! Isn't there anything we can do to help them before they wind up in serious danger?

Mew might know where they are, replied Mewtwo. I'm sure Mew can take you to whatever place they might have ended up.

I welcome any help I can get, agreed Lugia. It then thought to itself. Don't worry, Tristan. I promise to find you and make sure you're safe.

And so, after solving an ancient puzzle, our heroes have suddenly and mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Where have they gone? Who needs their help? And will Lugia be able to find Tristan and Hillary, wherever they are? This adventure in the Ruins of Alph and beyond is only just beginning, so stay tuned!

► TO BE CONTINUED