~ CHAPTER ONE ~
The sun was shining brightly through the ancient green trees which lined the dirt path through the forest to the town of Carmine. The faintest breeze made the leafy branches dance and the sky was clear but for a few white streaks. The forest was alive with the chatter of birds and the play of young Pokemon.
The residents of Carmine were out in the sunshine taking advantage of the break they had been given from the normally cold Spring weather. Children were playing in the streets, clothing was out on the line, and everybody was out getting busy while they could. Many tame Pokemon were assisting their trainers in their duties, fixing leaky rooves, lifting and carrying, and using their special abilities.
Sitting at the steps to the Ancient Temple and enjoying the peace, Ash, Misty, Brock and Pikachu munched happily on a mid-morning snack.
"Wow. What a beautiful town." Misty commented.
"Yeah, it's nice." Ash agreed through his sandwich.
"I think it's great how the people and their Pokemon get along so well." Brock said, observing a Machoke lifting boards of wood to hand to a worker.
"It's always like this in Carmine." Came an old, wisened voice from behind them.
They turned around. A short, old but wise looking man in a white and grey robe was standing at the top of the stairs. He looked up at the sky.
"This change in the weather was very sudden." he frowned. "It may spell disaster for a young man, if he's not careful."
"Excuse me?" Misty asked.
The old man smiled, and looked down again. "Pardon me. My name is Tatewaki. I run this temple. Have you not heard the legends of the forests that surround Carmine to the North?"
"Legends?" Ash repeated.
"Follow me." Tatewaki turned and entered the Temple.
Inside the doors of the Temple was a small, colourful garden which was surrounded by covered area. The sun reflected off a small waterfall. Behind the garden, Ash could see a building which looked like it had two stories. The Temple did indeed feel very ancient.
The old man led them around the garden to the building. It was of the distinct Japanese style. There were carvings on some of the wood panels, some which looked like Pokemon, some like people.
Inside the Temple building Tatewaki served the three trainers some tea, and gave Pikachu his own cup of water. He sat down with them, pulling out an old scroll.
"This legend has been around longer than this Temple. The scrolls are passed down from the guardian to his son, who would become the next guardian." Tatewaki explained. "The legend goes like this: in the Carmine Forest lives a beast, who is not man, but not Pokemon or animal. The scrolls define it as part man, part Pokemon, a Werepokemon."
Tatewaki unrolled the scroll. On it were pictures of a man-beast, trapped in trees, attacking people, and there was scratchy writing that Ash couldn't read.
"The Werepokemon is a shape-shifter; he can take any form he wishes, except he cannot become completely human, or one Pokemon.
"Magic binds him to the Carmine Forest. He is forced to live there, for eternity, until he can pass his curse to another."
"How does he do that?" Brock asked.
"Much like a werewolf makes another werewolf through his bite, the Werepokemon must pass his curse on through his fangs." Tatewaki explained. "Once his curse has been lifted, he returns to his human form. It is said that when fate brings a clear day to Carmine, it will also deliver a victim to the Werepokemon."
"So that's what you meant by that thing you said outside." Misty realised.
"Yes."
There was a slight pause, and Ash brought his cup down with determination written on his face.
"I say we go find it." He said, standing up.
"What?" Tatewaki stood. "Are you mad?"
"Wouldn't it be cool to find it?" Ash asked. "A Pokemon Master would be able to!"
"Magic, mystery, it's all so romantic!" Misty sighed.
"And if we found him, we might even be able to help him lift the curse!" Brock suggested.
"Oh, you'll help him get rid of the curse alright." Tatewaki muttered under his breath, then yelled at the rising trainers. "It's too dangerous!!"
"Thanks for the tea!" Ash waved as he and his friends left the temple.
"You don't understand! It's not just a legend!" Tatewaki called after them. "The last boy! He was..."
The trainers were out of hearing distance.
"...my son..." Tatewaki trailed off, watching the three trainers run off into the forest.
"What a brilliant day!" Ash announced, stretching as he walked.
The pleasant sun peeked through the trees, dancing across the ground.
"It feels like nothing could go wrong." Misty breathed deeply.
Brock looked around at the bright, lively forest that surrounded them. "It's hard to believe that such a dark legend would surround such a beautiful forest."
"It's probably just to keep the tourists from trampling the flowers or something." Ash replied, hands behind his head.
Pikachu looked up to the branches of the trees.
The three trainers continued following the trail, chatting lightly about their surroundings, and Pokemon. Soon, the trail ended at a large, circular clearing.
"This'd make a great camping spot." Brock commented.
"So, d'you the think this is where the Werepokemon lives?" Misty asked.
"Let's look around." Ash suggested.
They spread out, walking to different ends of the clearing in search of clues of any kind. They sifted through grass, looked behind trees.
'Why does it feel like I'm being watched?' Misty wondered to herself, shuddering.
"Pika!" Pikachu yelled from the middle of the clearing.
"What is it, Pikachu?" Ash asked as he jogged up.
"It looks like a lunch box." Brock observed, crouched down over the item. "But very old. It must have been left here a long time ago."
"Weird." Ash commented.
There was a long, silent pause.
"Maybe we should get out of here." Misty shivered.
"What?" Ash demanded. "Go home? But we came for the Werepokemon! Don't tell me you're scared!"
"I'm not scared!" Misty snapped. "I just think we should be careful, that's all!"
"Well, the Werepokemon obviously isn't in this clearing." Brock said, standing. "I think that if we want to find it, we need to search the trees."
"Good idea." Ash agreed.
"Alright, but as long as we all stick together." Misty insisted.
"Fine!" Ash sighed, throwing his arms in the air.
The trainers marched off to the trees. Pikachu took one last look around, before hurrying to catch up to his friends.
"I've waited so long...." A voice softly moaned on the wind, hungry eyes watching the newcomers entering the forest.
His forest.