Pikachu: It has been some time since last. I hope we haven't been away for too long, but we think that this new chapter should be much better than what we have been producing up to now. Anyway here is the next chapter.
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Mia, Ivan, Isaac, Garet, Skitty and Vaporeon followed the tracks as far as they could, however when they reached the edge of the desert the trails had vanished completely. Not knowing what to do they returned to Alhafar, only to find out that their boat supposedly had been washed out to sea.
"What do you mean "it's gone"? We left it there yesterday and you tell me that it has vanished?" Garet hollered at the mayor. "Calm down sire. I assure you that we are doing what we can to find out what happened to your boat." The mayor shakily replied. After finding out that their boat was gone, Isaac and Garet had gone directly to the mayor's mansion to get an explanation, but it appeared that getting the mayor to talk was a difficult task, though he was so scared that he almost fainted. "Well, if you can't get our boat back then you should at least compensate the loss. Remember that you were charged with the responsibility of our boat when we paid you for docking our boat." Isaac answered in a cool voice. "No. That's wrong." The mayor replied, a smug smile spread a cross his face. "I charged you a fee yes, but I didn't specify exactly what it was." Isaac and Garet looked bewildered. "Didn't you?" Isaac asked. "No I'm pretty sure that you said it was a docking fee." "You got that on paper?" The mayor snapped. "Didn't think so." He said without waiting for an answer. "If you don't have any kind of proof that a deal was made between us then you have no right to demand any kind of compensation. In short, you don't have contract, I don't have responsibility." Isaac barely stopped Garet from punching the mayor in the face, though that didn't stop the mayor fainting from fear. "Let's go Garet. There's no need to be here if we can't do anything useful." Isaac calmly said. Garet moaned, but followed Isaac anyway.
When they got outside they met Mia. "Well, how did it go?" Mia looked from Garet's angry face to Isaac's disappointed look. "Let me guess, you didn't get any help?" "No. He flattered us with economical logic. We didn't have a contract so we could not demand any help." Mia sighed, "Ah well. Let us go back to the others and discuss our next course of action. We might not have a ship, but then again, we might not need it. Ivan is trying to find Pikachu with his psynergy." Mia turned to leave and Isaac and Garet continued after her. "You don't seem so upset about losing our boat. Why is that?" Isaac asked. "I can't explain. I just feel that losing the boat actually is good for us. As I said I can't explain why I feel so, but that is what I believe. And it is more important that we find Pikachu. I am really worried about her right now. Besides, I don't think you tried very hard either." Isaac and Garet didn't reply to the last accusation as they both knew what was true. Instead they increased their walking pace. After ten minutes of walking they finally arrived at the place Ivan, Skitty and Vaporeon waited. Ivan was sitting on a well with his legs dangling from the edge and looked expectantly at his friends. Skitty had curled herself up in the shade of the well and slept. Isaac and Garet couldn't see Vaporeon, but judging from the sounds coming from the well, he was down there, having a bath. "How did it go?" Ivan asked. Isaac and Garet looked down on their feet so Ivan didn't have to read their minds to find out. "Oh. But I've got some good news. I've found Pikachu, and she isn't far away. But she is moving. She seems to be afraid of something, but before I could find out what it was she stopped me and sent me back. The last thing I could find out was that she was expecting someone. I'm not sure about the last, but it felt like that." he answered. "Then I think we should get moving. Get Vaporeon out of the well." Isaac instructed. "Okay," Mia replied. "Vaporeon" she shouted into the well, "get up. We are leaving." Okay Vaporeon replied from inside the well, and with a blast of psynergy he landed gracefully in front of Mia.
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Shadow moaned and opened his eyes. He could see the faint shapes of three humans kneeling above him. "Hey, Shadow. Are you all right?" Shadow tried to focus on the voice, but it was too much of a strain, and he feel back and closed his eyes. "Come on. Don't you pass away again." Shadow heard the voice, but didn't want to do as it said. "Shadow, I won't allow you to pass out again. Do you hear me?" A new voice said. The voice sounded angry, but even in this state could Shadow hear that the one who said it was afraid. "Please get up." The voice said again.
Shadow tried to open his eyes again, and this time he managed keep them open. "Spirit? Rainbow?" Shadow moaned. He looked around in the cave, then at Spirit and Rainbow, then at Aspen. "Where am I? And who is she?" Shadow asked. "You're in a cave on the Asgarnian continent and I am Aspen." Aspen said. "Pleased to meet you." She said. "Shadow, I'm so glad you made it?" Rainbow cried and gave Shadow a big hug. Shadow was surprised by this sudden emotional outburst, but he didn't say anything. "Say, what happened to you?" Spirit asked. Shadow tried to get up on his feet, but had to give up. "I'm not sure. It is foggy, but I think that I experienced something bad. I'm not sure why, but trying to remember makes me feel bad, as in afraid." He said. "Then don't strain yourself with it." Spirit replied. "I'm sure that it'll all come back to you." "Oh, but I have to remember. I just know that what happened to me can happen to any of you and we have to be prepared for it." Shadow said. "Are you sure, Shadow?" Rainbow asked. "Yes, I'm sure. We have to be prepared for whatever it was that attacked me." Shadow tried to get up on his feet, and this time he managed to stand up. Suddenly, pain shot through his chest and he fell back on his knees. He looked down and noticed his punctured chest. "I shouldn't even be alive." He said to himself. "Hmm? Did you say anything Shadow?" Spirit asked. "Nothing, nothing important, but wait. Are we missing someone?" Spirit and Rainbow looked at each other. "Song." They said in unison.
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Song looked down on a pool of lava. It didn't seem to be different from the other pools of lava she had seen, yet it was different. They were all different from each other in some way. She looked down in the lava and tried to see her own reflection. An image of her, made by the molten rocks. She had learned to see many images in the lava. It was just like watching the clouds and see what shapes they had. And now she thought that she saw herself, with flowing hair, kind eyes and a cheerful smile on the head of a nine year old girl. She felt a tickling sensation in her throat and felt a need to sing. She gently opened her mouth and let a wordless melody flow out of her throat and out into the hot air that surrounded her. She smiled inwardly as the crystal-clear tune echoed in the gigantic cave that made up the innards of Magma Rock.
Song sank down in a sitting position and sighed at the sound of her own melody. ¤It feels so great being able to sing. Ever since I was a child have I wanted too sing like the birds in the trees. And now I can sing each tune perfectly. It feels so great, though it came at a great cost. The loss of my personal memories.¤ Song sighed again and started walking around in circles. ¤It was the same with the three others. Shadow, Rainbow and Spirit. They all got skills that they had wished for, and they have all lost their personal memories. But why can't they be happy for what they have received, instead of being sad for what they have lost. I do not even understand why I must be here. Nightmare said that I had to be here because I had to test someone, but why would I want to do that. There doesn't appear to be any reason for this, so why must I do it? If I hadn't promised that I would do it, then I would leave this place.¤
Song walked back to the chamber she was supposed to guard. Inside it was a small island floating in the middle of a sea of lava. The only way to get to the island was with the help of stepping stones that hovered in the air. Song skilfully crossed the bridge to the island. It wasn't much there, except for a stone tablet and a very small harp. The harp was decorated with twelve different jewels and the strings were made out of golden hair. A long multicoloured band went from one end of the harp to the other in an arc so the harp could be carried like a bag. The harp itself was made out of cherry wood and it was indeed beautiful. Song had found it inside Magma Rock and had decided to keep it. Now she picked it up and gently stroke her fingers along the strings of the harp. A high pitched melody flowed through the entire chamber as Song's fingers playfully jumped along the strings of the harp.
When her little solo concert was over she looked at the harp. ¤I have never been able to strike a tune right before, but then I met you and now I play like an angel.¤ Song walked to the edge of the island and looked down at the lava sea. It had to be at least ten meters down, so if she fell she would have plenty of time to notice. She shuddered and turned around. When she turned she saw a tall lady standing on the opposite side of the island. She wore a flowing blue cape and had long dark hair. She wore a blue, loose dress and had a long sword sheathed in a belt she wore around her waist. "Well, you certainly do look young. But don't think that you'll fool me." The lady said in a threatening voice. "What?" Song said. "What are you talking about? And who are you?" The lady's face showed traces of anger as she said, "trying to act innocent? Well, I'll tell you what I'm talking about. I'm Alyn. The last Valkyrie of Limn. The town you and your demon friends destroyed. And now it is time for me to get revenge." The lady said.
"Huh?" Song said, but before she could do something else, Alyn spun her sword in the air and called forth a lightning bolt that struck Song. Song yelped in pain as the electricity flowed through her body, but before Alyn could strike her again she leaped away. ¤What is it with her? Could I really have done something so wrong?¤ Song thought as she dodged another bolt. ¤Even if I have done that, I can't let her beat me like this. I have to defend myself in a way, but how? I can't fight, and I don't want to fight." Alyn hit Song with another electric bolt and she was knocked to the edge of the island. "Well, well. That was certainly easier than I thought. If I didn't know better I'd say that you are just a little girl." Song strained herself back on her feet. "I am nothing but a little girl." She coughed. "Liar." Alyn shouted and shot Song with another lightning bolt. However because of her anger, she missed Song. But the force of the impact pushed Song backwards and made her lose her balance. Right before she plummeted into the lava sea she grabbed hold of the edge of the stone. Alyn walked over to Song and stepped on her hands. "How does this feel to be at the mercy of someone else?" She gloated. "Please, stop it." Song begged. "Why should I? So you can keep up with your evil deeds?" "No. Because I beg you." Song replied. A tear rolled down her chin.
Alyn looked down on Song, and suddenly felt compassion for her. Even though she hated her, she couldn't bring herself to kill her like this. She slowly stepped of Song's hands and got down on her knees. "Here, take my hand." She said. Song burst in tears at the offer. "Thank you" she said. She raised her left hand and tried to take Alyn's hand. But just as she was about to grab hold of her, she lost her grip on her right hand and fell down into the lava. Alyn couldn't bring herself to see Song die and turned away. She heard a splash and looked back, but couldn't see Song anywhere. "NO." Alyn shouted in regret. She didn't see nor hear the being in the shadows. "This is good news. I'm sure the master will appreciate this." And with that, the being disappeared.
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Pikachu paced uneasily around a tree while trying to gather her thoughts. The last day had been quite different from the others. ¤Okay. Time to sum this up. Today I've been kidnapped by a Dino, but after getting to know her, I don't mind it all that much as she seems to be good.¤ Pikachu took a deep breath. ¤But I still have questions that go unanswered. Why did she kidnap me? There is something wrong, I just know.¤ Just then she heard a branch snap and jumped up. "Who's there?" She asked. "Relax, it's just me." Replied Natasha. "What is it? You seem nervous." "Well, it's just that it feels like something's wrong." Pikachu replied. "It feels like, I can't explain it, but it is as if I'm in a nightmare." "What do you mean by that?" Natasha asked. "Well, I just have a feeling, the same feeling I always have when I'm having a nightmare." Pikachu said. "But it may just be nothing. I might just be nervous like you said." "You know what I think it may be?" Natasha said. "I think that you're worried about meeting my group." Pikachu stared at the ground "Yes, you might be right about that." She said.
Just as she finished speaking she heard multiple footsteps rapidly closing on their location. Reacting on instincts, Pikachu instantly ducked for cover. Natasha however, just stood still. It didn't take long before nine Dinoes arrived at their place. "About time you arrived." Natasha said. "What took you so long?" From her hiding place, Pikachu could see the group part into two columns with four on each side. In between the two columns a lone Dino stood. Compared to the others s/he looked physically stronger and notably higher. "Well, try to sneak into a human town yourself. Don't think that it was easy." The Dino, Pikachu guessed it was a male, slowly walked towards Natasha. "But what about you? I don't see anyone else here." "If you really have to know. She is hiding, and I understand her. You weren't how to say it, the quietest bunch she's met." Pikachu heard from Natasha's voice that she was suppressing much anger. Pikachu shifted from her position, but in doing so, she brushed into some leaves. Although she barely made any sound, the Dino heard it. He quickly moved over to the place where Pikachu was hiding and picked her up. "Well, what do we have here?" He said, holding Pikachu in her tail. "Seems that you managed it after all." He chuckled. Pikachu tried to wiggle out of the Dino's grip. "Let go of me or you'll regret it!" She said. The Dino laughed before answering, "And what are you going to if I don't?" he mocked. "Cry? Call for help from your humans?" the Dino laughed and didn't see a faint pink aura that surrounded Pikachu. "You are the one who will be yelling." Pikachu said in a dark voice before yelling. "SUPREME THUNDER." Black clouds appeared on the sky and a gigantic lightning bolt shot down and hit Pikachu. Electricity coursed through her body and knocked everyone around her far away. However, the power was so strong that it knocked her unconscious.
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Vokteren: Well, that is the end of this chapter. I hope you like it.