Pikachu: Sorry for the long delay. Without further ado, here is the next chapter.
Procne: Ok. We hope that there aren't any problems like that in this chapter. What can we say? Bolero is a blabbermouth.
Lennart: Thanks. Is it really funny? It is just amazing that we have produced something that can be called funny. Thanks a lot.
Evan: Sorry for the delay. Here's the next chapter.
Icy-Chan: How can a legend be good if it isn't a tad cliché? But I hope that it won't be like that later on. Please send suggestions to how we can prevent that.
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Garet's vision blurred, and suddenly he found himself standing in the chamber where he had left his friends. Isaac and the others stood up, but before any of them could speak, the whole place started to shake. With his eyes, Garet told the others to run out. He was about to run too, when he saw his djinn hiding behind a rock. With his left arm he heaped them up to Torchic and ran up the stairs as fast as he could. When he reached the door leading out to the spiral stairs, he noticed that molten lava was pouring out from the walls of the chamber. He could feel the heat of the molten rocks and he ran as quickly as he could.
On his way up he passed Mia and Ivan. When he came up he quickly laid his djinn and Torchic on the ground before turning back to the pool where Isaac, Vaporeon and Skitty. Down there he saw Mia and Ivan trying to outrun the rising lava. They had almost made it when the step they were on collapsed and sent them falling down towards the lava. Garet and the others turned away, not capable of watching two of their best friends fall to the death, when suddenly a gush of steam blew up behind them and shot Mia and Ivan to safe ground. Garet and the others hurried over to where they landed and checked to see if they were all right. Strangely enough, there was nothing that indicated that the two youths had almost burned to death by lava.
"What happened?" Isaac asked when Mia and Ivan recovered.
"It is all thanks to Mia." Ivan said, "When the steps disappeared, she quickly grabbed my arm and created a platform of extremely cold ice. When the cold ice met the hot lava, the pressure of the steam that the ice created, threw us up here." Ivan said.
"I didn't understand a word of what you said Ivan." Garet said. Ivan looked a bit disappointed, but Mia stepped up for him.
"Perhaps I can explain it to you. When the ice hit the lava it went directly from ice to steam. The pressure that was made under the ice platform became so strong that it shoved us up and out." She explained.
You really had us worried there. We thought that you would die for sure. Skitty said.
"We're okay, but what about the lava?" Mia wondered. Garet and Isaac looked at each other before turning around and looking into the pool. However, there was no lava in it. Instead it was filled up with water and looked quite serene.
"It's gone." They said in unison. "There is nothing to worry about."
I wouldn't say that Vaporeon interrupted.
"Why?" the four humans asked.
First of all, Torchic is still unconscious, second is that we are missing Pikachu. I think something has happened to her.
"Why do you think that?" Mia asked.
Because of that. He answered, pointing towards Pikachu's footprints suddenly disappearing and the footprints of a beast with two toes.
"Oh, no." Mia gasped, the others looked in horror.
"Pikachu must be in trouble, we have to find her quickly." Ivan instructed.
"Right." The other answered before they started following the trail.
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Pikachu started to regain consciousness. The first thing she felt was an aching pain in her head, but it faded rapidly. When she opened her eyes she found herself lying under the shade of a tree close to a river with crystal clear water.
"It seems that you've finally woken up." Pikachu turned her head to the source of the voice. What she saw was a Dino leaning towards a nearby tree. "And not a moment too soon." The creature, three times as big as Pikachu, started walking towards her.
Stop right there barked Pikachu.
"Drop your guard kid, and don't do anything stupid." The Dino, Pikachu guessed that it was a female, commanded.
And why should I listen to you? For all that I know you may just eat me right now. Pikachu was amazed by her own courage.
The Dino stopped and put her left claw against her side, "No, I'm not going to eat you. Whatever made you think otherwise?"
Pikachu snorted. You mean except for kidnapping, violence, threatening behaviour and the fact that every instinct in my body tells me to flee right now?
"Well, I'm still not going to eat you." She replied.
Well, if you're not going to eat me then why did you kidnap me? Pikachu asked.
"Simple. You are a threat to the world and I want to stop you from destroying it without having to resort to violent means and the only way for me to do that was to get you away from the humans and their bad influence." She answered.
WHAT? Pikachu hollered. What on Weyard do you mean?
"I mean what I said. Those humans have a bad influence on you and your four friends. It was pure luck that they've yet to make you a slave to them, like they've done to your friends."
Hold it there. I won't let anyone talk bad about Mia without explaining themselves first. What is all this talk about slavery? My friends are free to go as they please. They aren't slaves.
"Are you so sure about that? You don't have to bear a collar to be a slave. They are using you to fulfil their own goals."
That's not true Pikachu shouted, almost crying.
"Then tell me what they've done to help you and your friends getting home." The Dino challenged.
I'll tell you what they've done, they have… they have… Pikachu was brought to a stop. The only thing she could think of that Mia or any of her friends had done for her was to save her life when she had first met Mia. After that she could only see herself or her friends helping them. As far as she could remember, they hadn't even asked her about her family or her home, as if they were trying to make her forget all about it. Suddenly she realized what the Dino meant by slaves and started crying uncontrollably.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." The Dino said with an honest voice.
It's okay. There was no way you could know how true those words of yours are. Pikachu said between her tears.
"I don't understand what you mean." The Dino replied.
Where I come from, humans are nothing more than slavers, capturing our kin to use for meaningless battles or to profit from our natural strength. There are very few humans who see us as living creatures. Most see us as tireless fighting machines or easy money. They destroy forests and mountains; they separate families just for fun. I have lost more than one friend or family member because of the actions of humans. When I first found Mia I thought that she was kind, and I still believe so, but I no longer trust her friends. Having said that, Pikachu fell to the ground, shaking with fear and despair.
The Dino rushed over to Pikachu and held her firmly to her own chest. The rhythmic beating of the Dino's heart soothed Pikachu and clamed her down.
When she stopped shaking she looked up at the Dino with crystal clear eyes. Thank you. She said.
"For what?" The Dino asked confusedly. "For kidnapping you, scaring you to death, having a threatening behaviour and making you cry your eyes out?"
No. For freeing me, opening my eyes, helping me realize who I am, giving me my memory back and release my soul. Pikachu replied with a smile before embracing the big body of the Dino in a warm hug. A tear appeared in the corner of the Dino's eye.
Neither of them said anything for five minutes before the Dino pried Pikachu away from her body and looked at her with wet eyes.
"We have to go now. Can you please come without me having to carry you?" The Dino asked.
Pikachu jumped down to the ground. It depends. Where are we going?
"My job was to get you away from the humans and into our group. Now I must take you to my group. You will meet nine others of my kin, but I swear that you will be safe." The Dino replied formally.
Okay. I trust you. Pikachu replied. But before we go can you tell me one thing?
"Yes, what is it?"
What is your name?
"My name is Natasha. I am the leading female of my group and I am the wisest of them." She replied with a smile. "Come now. I can tell you more about myself while we are walking."
Pikachu smiled at her and eagerly followed. Her trust wisely and truly bound to her new friend.
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Rainbow was about to give up hope. She, Spirit and Aspen had done their best to tend to Shadow's cut, but it just didn't want to heal. Finally she rose up and went to the cave entrance. The sun was setting and the last rays of the sun danced in the leaves and reflected of a nearby lake. Butterflies fluttered around and danced to the sun and the gentle breeze flowing between the trees. The sight made Rainbow feel better, but she still worried. Aspen came to her in the opening and put her hand on Rainbow's shoulder.
"Is something bothering you?" She asked.
"Nothing, it's nothing." Rainbow replied.
"Don't lie to me." She looked back over her shoulder at Spirit who was tending to Shadow's wounds. "It's him, right? You're worried about Shadow." She looked Rainbow straight into her eyes. "I promise you that he will survive this."
Rainbow looked down at her feet. "How can you promise me that? There is no way that you can know if he'll survive or not."
"Yes. There is no way I can know using logical means." Rainbow looked from her feet to Aspen. "But life stretches beyond logic. Faith by it very own nature will at all times transcend the laws of logic. Shadow will wake up and it will be in this world."
No sooner had she said that before Spirit called to them from within the cave. "Hey, Rainbow and Aspen, he's moving."
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"Your story is really interesting. I never thought that there existed so many creatures like you." Natasha said.
Well, they're not exactly like me, but what we have in common is that most humans look at us as "pokemon". I'm not sure what they mean about that, but they are still dangerous to us nonetheless. When I first came here I was kind of happy that the red and white ball shaped prisons didn't exist here, but the more I think about it, the more I miss my family and friends. I wish that I could get all of them here, but that may be unsafe too. I just wish I knew what would be wise to do in as situation like this. Pikachu said.
"But, if the humans are such a nuisance, why don't you rid the world of them for good? From what you have told me there must be some type of "pikamon" that is strong enough to beat them, I bet even you could handle them." Natasha replied.
Sometimes I feel that the world would be a better place without them, but if humans disappeared it would actually be bad. Nature would be thrown out of balance for instance, and the pokemon already captured by trainers would be forced to fight against us, and even if all of them broke free and helped us, humans have enough technology to destroy us all. The humans from where I come from have even more advanced weapons than the ones that exist here. I'm afraid that those weapons could be powerful enough to destroy the entire world.
"Then your world is in dire need of help. What kind of weapons is it?" Natasha asked.
Well, the one that is most common is a strangely shaped lump of metal that shoots a small bolt. The substance the bolt is made of seems to vary, but it's always lethal. They are so dangerous that they could kill even the most powerful creature. The only being I think can be able to survive an onslaught of this weapon must be one of the creatures mentioned in myths, namely Jirachi and Celebi. It is said that Jirachi can grant whatever wish it desire, and that Celebi can travel through time. Both of them could be powerful enough to stop the weapons, but Celebi hasn't been seen for over twenty years and Jirachi is said to be asleep at the centre of the earth.
"Humans really are dangerous. But do you really think that those weapons could kill, let's say, a dragon?"
If the human shot the dragon in his heart or his head then yes.
"Let's talk about something else, something that doesn't destroy the world."
Okay, we can talk about what you know about me… or you can tell me your story. Pikachu added the last part just in time.
"If you really want to hear it. It begins about a year ago, when I was normal and lived a normal life with my husband and my kids. I had four children, two male and two female, newly hatched and the cutest kids in the world. It was a great time for me, but then, one day while I was out hunting, I suddenly felt uneasy about my family. I immediately started to head back to our home as quickly as I could in order to see what the problem was. When I arrived I couldn't find them anywhere. I started searching for them, but when I finally found them I wish I hadn't. I found my husband and my kids mutilated in horrible ways. The scent of human was strong and it was no doubt that a human had done it. From that day I have always hated humans. I wandered around alone in disbelief for several days until I was found by the group I'm wandering with now. I was the last one to come into the group, but thanks to my strength and wisdom I quickly climbed the ranks and am now the second in command."
Pikachu looked at Natasha. Even though her story was sketchy and filled with holes, she understood that Natasha had experienced a lot of pain. I'm sorry. She replied quietly.
"There's no need to be. I just hope that you won't have to go through what I had to go through." She looked up. "We're here."
Pikachu looked around. Even though she and Natasha where the only ones here she could clearly see and smell that many Dinoes had been here quite recently and that they weren't far away. Suddenly she got an uneasy feeling.
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Vokteren: And that concludes chapter 25. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.