The storm crept slowly over the horizon, dimming the golden orange rays of evening sunlight. Kanto held its breath in trepidation at what was to become a rainy autumn night.
"If we take this shortcut we might be able to get to Pallet Town two hours earlier than if we continue to follow the GPS," Brock said, gesturing to an overgrown path through the forest that led off the main road. According to his memory, it would cut right through the mountain pass and save them the trouble of having to walk all the way around.
"Yeah, I'd like that," Ash remarked. "my feet are killing me."
"Pika." Agreed his partner Pokémon.
"What are you complaining about, Pikachu? You've been freeloading on my shoulder all the way."
"Brock, we're not taking any more of your so-called 'shortcuts'" Misty cut in. "I'm done with you getting us lost every other day. We're sticking to GPS."
The older trainer frowned back at her. "Misty, I have walked this road a dozen times before. There's no way we'll get lost. I can prove it to you once we reach the top of the mountain. We'll be able to see pallet town from there."
"I said no. You see that storm on the horizon? That's what we'll end up stuck in if we follow your directions."
Ash listened only half-heartedly to their argument. They had been traveling non-stop for the past 3 days from the south coast after returning from the Orange Islands. The stress from the Orange league combined with only a few hours of sleep in the subsequent days had left the whole group tired and irritable. Although Ash still felt the euphoria from his victory against supreme Gym leader Drake. The thought of finally getting home to celebrate and rub it into Gary's stupid face was enough to put a grin on Ash's own face and reenergize him.
"I think it's worth a shot." Ash shrugged. "If it turns into nothing, we can always use GPS to get back on track."
"I can't believe you're agreeing to this! Have you two learned nothing from all the times we've gotten lost before?" Misty asked exasperatedly.
They ignored her and stepped onto the forest path, towards the mountain. She stared after them in incredulity then she followed with a huff.
"Boys."
"Mind if we crash at your place tonight, Ash?" Brock asked, hiking up the steep, rocky slope.
"No, you two can sleep outside on our doorstep." Ash smirked, pushing away the branches that had grown over the path. The foliage was very thick around this area. But as long as they could see the mountain they knew they were on the right trail. Misty grumbled a "Very funny," behind them.
Brock rolled his eyes. "Just thought I'd at least ask."
They hiked up to the side of the mountain, nobody speaking much as they were all quite tired. Ash frowned slightly. Something felt off. He turned to look behind him and locked eyes with Misty who gave him one of her best glares. He smirked at her and turned back. But the feeling didn't dissipate. Next to his head Pikachu's ears twitched every now and then, looking nervous like it had picked up on whatever sensation its trainer was feeling. But the Pokémon didn't do anything else. If there was something seriously wrong Ash was sure Pikachu would alert them immediately. So, he shrugged it off and kept walking.
When they reached the top of the slope, their destination came into view on the horizon, Pallet Town. Home.
"See?" Brock smugly pointed. "What did I tell you? Way shorter."
"Even an Absol has a lucky day every once in a while. Doesn't change that it's a disaster Pokémon." Misty said, lifting her chin up at him. Her Togepi chirped in oblivious happiness.
They weren't there yet. Pallet Town was still quite a distance away. At least four miles Ash estimated from their point of view. They would have to hurry up if they didn't want to get caught in the rain. The entire landscape had fallen silent in anticipation of the storm. Not even the rustle of leaves or the call of a Pidgey could be heard.
Too quiet.
The sinister feeling of wrongness returned and Ash frowned. Pikachu squeaked in agitation.
"Don't you guys think it's unusually silent around here?" Ash asked the other two trainers.
"Hm?" Brock was holding a hand above his eyes and squinting towards Pallet Town.
"I can't hear any Pokémon." Ash said, gesturing vaguely at their general surroundings.
"Well, it's gonna rain, guess they all went to look for shelter." Misty shrugged.
"As should we," Brock said, starting his trek back down the mountain. "Let's go."
For a moment Ash wanted to argue it further. But they were probably right. Maybe he was simply feeling the change in air pressure. He was about to follow them when he heard it.
" Help me..."
Ash stopped dead, one foot suspended in mid-air. Pikachu's ears and hair stood straight up as the rodent froze in place on its trainer's shoulders.
"Did you guys hear that?"
"Ash..." Misty sighed.
"No, seriously." He insisted.
"What?" Brock turned, already farthest down the pathway.
They all remained quiet for a moment. The eerie silence settled down on their surroundings like a thick, suffocating blanket.
" Please..."
"THERE IT IS AGAIN!" Ash shouted.
"Uhm...Are you alright, Ash?" Brock asked, now looking genuinely concerned. Misty frowned at him but for once didn't say anything.
"Didn't...didn't you guys hear that?" Ash asked the other two trainers.
"Hear what?"
"That voice. Someone was asking for help!" Ash said, steadily growing more and more irritated with their feigned ignorance.
"No one is asking for help, Ash."
"But I heard..." Ash faltered, feeling rather self-conscious at their reactions. "There was someone-"
" Help me..."
"You guys can't hear it?!"
Misty and Brock exchanged looks of panic. What was wrong with them? If this was a joke it was a very bad one. What if someone was hurt? Were they pretending not to hear just to mess with him?
'No...' Ash told himself. 'Misty and Brock would never do something like that.'
But then why could only he and Pikachu hear? Ash looked more closely at each of his friends and then noticed something. Misty's Togepi had gone rigid in its trainer's arms. It looked nothing sort of terrified. Right on cue, Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and pelted off into the woods towards the mountainside.
"Pikachu!" Ash yelled and ran after his Pokémon.
"Oh no..." Brock and Misty both groaned and then followed suit.
Even running flat out, Ash had trouble keeping up with Pikachu. All he had to go by were the occasional flashes of its lightning tail between the bushes. He finally saw his Pokémon disappear as it jumped right through a thicket. Cursing under his breath, Ash followed…
…And came out in front of a large, circular opening into the mountainside wall.
Pikachu had stopped right in front of it. A bright yellow spot in front of a pitch-black tunnel. It was so big that a Wailord could've comfortably fit inside it. How strange that he had never seen it before. A hole of that size should have been visible even from Pallet town. But the surrounding trees were positioned just right to hide the entrance completely, making it invisible unless you stood almost right in front of it. But that's not what was bothering Ash about it.
It was the way the tunnel seemed to absorb all light falling into it, making it look unnaturally dark. Ash couldn't see further into it than just a few meters. There was no way of telling how deep it went.
Brock whistled at the sight of their discovery as he and Misty appeared from the forest behind Ash. "Now that's creepy."
"Pikachu?" Ash called out.
Pikachu didn't move. It sat there, staring into the darkness, unmoving like a zen Darmanitan. Ash slowly walked up to his friend and crouched down, softly putting his hand on the Pokémon's head. Pikachu whirled back to look at Ash, startling both of them at the same time.
"Woah, easy there, buddy." Ash said with a nervous smile. The feeling of wrongness had increased tenfold. Pikachu started chittering away at him in Poke-speech but of course, he couldn't understand a thing. It was clearly agitated by what they had found.
" Help me, anyone..."
Behind him, Ash heard Brock curse and misty yelp. So now they heard it too.
"What was that?!" Brock exclaimed, unnerved, staring into the tunnel.
"Someone is in trouble." Ash said. "And they're in there."
"Yeah, no, I don't believe for even a split second that there is really a person in there. Or that anyone needs our help."
" Please..."
"…And what if there is?" Misty asked in a small voice, all former irritation gone.
They looked at each other. They were all thinking it; how could they know for sure?
"Look" Ash began, "If it's dangerous, it's the three of us and all of our Pokémon against whoever is in there. I think the odds are pretty good."
Pikachu gave a confident squeak of agreement, its cheeks sparking in determination.
The three trainers stared into the tunnel for a moment longer. Into the endless, black void.
" Help me..."
"Let's go." Ash said, defiantly.
End of Prologue