CHAPTER 3: AMBROSE'S WARNING
Brandon and company were now at the foot of the path, Ash looked at them, "Well are we going to go up or not?" he asked. Brandon looked at them and said, "Give us some time, we're still trying to assimilate the shock of this all…I mean we did give Mike a hard time about this, but to find out now that he might've been telling the truth about this place is just a tad too much."
Danyelle then went into a swooning fit, Mary caught her and asked, "Danyelle, are you alright?" Danyelle's eyes rolled back into her head, we they came back she said, "He said for us to hurry…he doesn't know how much time he has left, he said: 'it is trying to get me…please hurry.', I don't know what that means…but we may have to hurry."
As they started up the path Mary walked up to Brandon and said, "You know, if the legend of the Crystal Palace is true…then the legend of him might be true as well." Brandon looked back at Mary and said, "Don't think I haven't considered that…the legends of Mountain City still rest in my childhood memories, pounded in there by the elders and cattle branded in by Mike…funny thing was that Mike seemed to be the only one that took this all to heart."
May caught up to them, "I'm sorry if I interrupting anything…but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, so I have one question…who's him?"
"I'm guessing since you're not from around here that you haven't heard the legend of the Crystal King, they say he had it all…but when the palace was forgotten he stayed behind until his remaining days were utterly spent, they say his presence still haunts the palace to this day…but that's only if the legend proves true." Mary explained.
"That's sad…to die up there all alone." May said in a sadden tone.
"He wasn't alone, legend said he had a family consisting of himself and three daughters…his wife had died 3 years later after giving birth to the third one, they all left him save for the youngest…who stayed with him until it's said she was kidnapped by one of her cousins, if you're asking me…he died of a broken heart."
"A broken heart yes, lassie…but now vat heart has been filled with hate…and if you're smart, you'll stay away from vat thare place." A voice said to them, they all turned around to see an old man in a tattered cloak.
"Who are you?" Brandon asked, keeping a firm grasp on one of his Poké-balls. The old man bowed slightly and said, "My name be Ambrose…and unless you listen to me warnin' and turn back now, ye'll be in fer a horrific journey of character."
"But our friend is up there Mr. Ambrose…we just can't leave him." Danyelle argued. Ambrose gave a depressed look and said, "Ah yes, Mike…tried to warn him I did, but the lads' fascination wit' the place was too great…and now he's wit' him."
"Well we're going up there…and there's nothing you can do to stop us." Brandon argued.
Ambrose nodded with a bit of approval and said, "Okay sirs and madam's…but do remember this clue when ye get thare: 'Trust in your heart and not your eyes…for the walls lie'."
"Okay then," Brandon said. He then looked at the group, "Okay guys and gals…let's keep on moving, we have much more ground to cover."
As the group moved onward Danyelle caught up with Mary and said, "There's something strange about that Ambrose fellow, I could sense it…I think Ash's Pikachu could sense it a bit too, but what it is I don't know."
"Relax Danyelle…take your mind off it, just stick to the task ahead." Mary responded.
"Vat Girl Danyelle has a gift…one vat could aid her in the challenges she and her friends have laid ahead of themselves…but against an ancient evil as strong as the one they'll face, my only prayer is that it'll be enough." Ambrose thought to himself, and then suddenly he vanished into the wind…as if he hadn't actually been there.