Posted September 7th, 2022
I heard it again. Aquarius.
Libra always yelled that when she was worried about me. I don't like it. But this time I can't blame her. Legendries cloaked under water were called this by the Ancients of the Water Continent. Our namesake. Am I worthy of a name such as this?
The bright light of the Pokemon's attack lit up the entire cavern. Instinctively, I closed my eyes. I expected the searing pain to course throughout my whole body, but that wasn't the case.
Libra and I weren't the ones being aimed at, the Rescue Team we were babysitting was the target.
We couldn't stop it. It happened too quickly. Team Sharp Claw was hit by this strange Pokemon's Plasma covered Fists, with the three of them immediately dropping to the ground. The shockwave and gust of energy from the attack struck the floor and I felt my skin begin to shrivel up.
Why was this happening?
Dangerous Pokemon were following us. There's no denying them to be one of our suspicious mon. A strange, powerful Pokemon that hid away in a cave. Another suspicious Pokemon, holding onto an odd object and crying. Possibly connected to something, that not even the Chief could handle alone.
And now we have to pray for the best—our steps to be guided.
The odd white Pokemon sunk back into the bushes for a moment, before sniffing frantically. They then sat still. The crying continued as their eyes darted across the room and their ears twitched.
With those eyes on me, I felt paralyzed. "Just who are you?" I found the words slip out of my throat.
A low growl of a cry echoed throughout the cavern as the small Pokemon got up. They stared towards the other side. On the other side was a slope that led into a pool of water. More specifically an underground river. They wanted to escape. Their tail, thing curled between their legs as their breathing grew intense. They were scared of us.
"You are a Zeraora, correct?" Libra added, placing a paw on my shoulder.
The Pokemon, the Zeraora, cautiously eyed us.
Oh right! I lifted up one of the ends of my tie and showed it to them. On it, my Gold-Rank triangular winged League badge glistened in the light. "We," I paused to gesture at the Pokemon who fainted on the floor and Libra, "are League Pokemon."
Zeraora's muzzle suddenly brightened a bit.
"You know what that is?" I asked. "We are Pokemon that help everyone across the Continent deal with various issues and requests!"
They held the scroll tighter as they nodded.
Libra held out her paw. "Can we help you?"
"Yes," the soft voice of the Zeraora slowly filled the room. They slowly padded towards Libra and I, their whiskers twitching in curiosity.
Oh no, they're so cute! "So why were you crying?" I asked.
Libra flinched and then I felt an approaching wave of fury from outside. It's those outside Pokemon. She growled and stamped her paws into the floor. The stone broke.
"I was lost," Zeraora started and their ears flattened. "Now I have to find my way back," they hissed.
They can feel it just like the two of us. I felt the vibrations of the enemy Pokemon paw steps throughout the cavern and glanced behind me.
"We first need to get out of this cave," Libra said, her tail slowly wagging. I know the quirks of Riolu. From hanging around her for almost 20 years. "Let's go!"
Instantly I pulled my bag off my shoulder and dropped it to the ground. Libra and I can't leave the rookies in this place nor can we let this Zeraora get caught by whoever is chasing us.
"Zeraora I need you to follow our lead okay!"
"Understood!" the Zeraora responded.
I took out our Reviver Seeds and tossed them at the rookie Rescue Team members. The three woke up and stared at me in shock.
"Ugh, what's going on?" Nevada groaned. "Was this a secret tunnel?"
"Woah!" Glade immediately tried to get as far away as she could from Zeraora.
Her Treecko teammate gave her a glare and crossed his arms. "Where are you going?"
The Totodile cowered against a wall and pointed a finger."T-that's a beast of lightning! It attacked us!"
"So?"
"Get it away from me!"
"Get a grip you little hatchling. That's not important right now Glade," Linus ignored her and looked towards Libra and me."What are we still doing here, don't we have our requests?"
Nevada tried to get in between the two."Linus, I think you should maybe, be nicer to Glade. Cause ya know-"
"I don't care."
"You should! I'm-"
"You three!" the Riolu in front of them barked. "Shut up! We are going to escape with Zeraora!"
Suddenly a loud rumble shook through the area. We don't have much time to dwindle. "The brats are down here somewhere!" I heard a snarky voice's shout echoed through the cave.
Another voice called out. "They're in one of these caves with the one with the scroll!"
I stared at the cave in front of us and then considered our options. "What if we got them off our trail by going through the river?"
Libra stepped forward and peered into the water's edge. "Glade quickly check what's on the other side!"
"What?" she questioned.
"Get in!" I yelled. "Just go!"
The Totodile started running before diving into the river. Droplets splashed into the air as she propelled into the water.
We sent her for one simple reason. I wasn't fast enough. Not yet anyway. Froakies aren't known for our swimming speed. If only I was allowed to remain a Frogadier. The four of us waited with bated breath. She didn't return.
"Okay we're going in, get ready!" the words flew out of my mouth. There has to be something to help our resident fire-type. Maybe frubbles can do something?!
"To escape those Pokemon we have to go through this river for a little bit, you'll be okay Nevada?" I asked, holding the cream bubbles towards them.
"I'm sure I'll be fine as long as it's not too long, I think," the Charmander took some of my frubbles.
Then I hopped forward into the pool. Everyone else dove in after me. The pleasure and relief I felt to be immersed in the water was astounding. It was like all the day's stress and pressure went away.
Aquarius's blessing tribe and true. The dark water and equally dark passage were illuminated by our lanterns in orange spots. Not the time to be mesmerized. We aren't clear yet, I need to see everyone safe. I swung my arms and legs quickly, before sending my body out of the river.
I landed next to Glade somehow. She laid on her stomach as she took in ragged breaths. The Totodile lifted her head to stare at me. That's right, she's frightened by electric types. Wordlessly I placed my hand on her shoulder and sighed. "It's going to be okay," I tried to reassure her. "Libra and I will handle Zeraora, next time take it easy."
All of the non-water types soon made it to the other side of the underground river. They rose from the water to take a breath of fresh air and noticed the two of us.
"You made it!" I cheered as Libra emerged from the river, Nevada in her arms. She placed the Charmander down and the flame on their tail shot out. Following them, the Zeraora exited the water. Then a green-webbed hand waved in the air. Linus needs help! I hopped over to the waterside and dove in.
"Alright Zeraora," the Riolu said as the group dried off. "We're going to stay with you until you find your way back."
They glanced back at her and their whiskers twitched. "You will?"
"Is that okay?" I asked, pulling out Linus. Quickly I pressed on his chest. A torrent of water came flooding out of his entire body and he took in a deep breath. Judging by his weight the Treecko seemed to have absorbed too much water.
"Yes, I'm okay with that, I am a girl after all," Zeraora grinned.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Libra tilted her head.
"I don't like to be called Zeraora. I mean I am one, but I have a name," she crossed her arms.
"What should we call you then?" I adjusted my bag.
"My name is Xuě!" Zeraora answered with a smile.
Zahway ah, a Weian name! "Okay Xuě, everyone let's go!"
First, we needed to gather our bearings. The six of us looked up around the underground. The ceiling of the riverway was high enough to see an open cave by the shore.
There was a faint green light that caught our attention. Perhaps a gemstone. The shimmering made me realize something. It was a reflection of the shiny surface.
I turned my head to the opposite side. There were chunks of geodes and gems in a large section of the wall. It was the only way out of this cave so we started heading that way. As the six of us got closer, the path began to branch and split off. Four different tunnels stood before us.
Libra shook her head left, I shook mine right and Xuě nodded up. As if they had any input the rookie Team nodded down. "Let's follow Xuě here," I offered, noticing the Riolu beside me growing restless.
The Zeraora brightened up by the mention of her name and all of us headed inside. Hopefully, it won't be too long. The walls of each path were studded with small bits of minerals that sparkled in the light of our lanterns.
We continued inside, the size and variety of gems in the cavern increasing as the tunnel widened out. Soon we were in an open stretch of the cave.
A powerful gust of energy filled my entire body and the path behind us was swallowed up by earth. This must lead to a Mystery Dungeon. Libra glanced at me and lifted up her paw, in turn, I raised my hand. The rookies understood this, they sat still and waited for our instructions. "Xuě are you familiar with Mystery Dungeons?" the Riolu eventually spoke up.
"Yes," Master has me train in various Mystery Dungeons every day."
"Have you been in this one?"
"No, not this one," the Zeraora answered.
"Hmm," Libra tapped her paws. "Could you come here?"
Glade clung onto Nevada's shoulder when Xuě walked over to the Riolu next to me.
"Masters Riolu and Froakie-"
"Oh you don't have to call us Master, you can call me A-san ," I explained.
"And I am called Libra," my partner explained.
"Alright," Xuě said.
"If necessary, can you fight?"
The Zeraora looked up and then her large fists. Her claws extended and sparked with electrical energy before she nodded. "I could beat up everyone chasing us."
I breathed a sigh of relief. Xuě is a powerful Pokemon, one with strength I could never obtain. All I can do is respect and trust her. She's a Zeraora after all, even if she's young.
Libra sniffed the air and yawned before stretching her back and shoulders."Okay, let's get going everybody."
We looked to the left and the right, noticing paths that led out of the massive room. On the left, there was a Crustle who slept near the exit so we opted to go head the other way.
The second I stepped into the narrow tunnel there was a dark-grey and black Raticate that started to barrel straight at us. There were little pathways on the sides of the tunnel but they didn't stop at the ones closest to us.
Libra and I spread out in front of the younger Pokemon behind us but as soon as the Raticate got within our reach they suddenly stopped in their tracks. It seemed like they stared at Xuě and then walked away into another tunnel.
We sighed in relief before heading down the middle into a small room. "Hey Xuě, what was that thing ya did?" Linus asked.
"Yeah, ya scared off a perfectly good challenge!" Glade stomped her feet.
Nevada's flame flickered. "I needed that experience to get stronger."
"Oh sorry," the Zeraora panicked.
"How did you do that?" I asked, shuddering. My skin was starting to tingle as a warm electric feeling covered my body.
She waved her paws frantically. "Ah I don't know, it just happens when I don't like something!"
Nevada sighed. "I… I wish I could do that, then maybe just maybe these two would play nice."
"I don't think you can."
"Cheating electric-type and grass-type Pokemon always get the cool abilities!" Glade grumbled.
"What was that?" Linus growled.
"It doesn't matter," Libra sighed. "Let's hurry along."
I hopped after the Riolu and turned to the rookie Team and the Zeraora behind me. "She's right ya know, we can't keep everyone waiting," I grinned.
We then found a staircase of stone with all sorts of gem shards inside and went up to the next floor.
"So Xuě, earlier you said you had to go back," I started as we made it to a long hallway stretch. "Where do you have to go back to?"
The Zeraora flattened her ears and sighed. "To where Master Zeze, er Zeraora left me."
"Why did you leave where your Master left you?" Libra frowned.
"I-"
I just realized the rookie Team wasn't following us. I turned around and saw them ogling a mineral deposit in an adjacent room."Stop looking at those damn crystals and stay with us!" I shouted.
The three jumped in their scales and hurried to catch up, nearly crashing into me in the process. I pushed them away and sighed. "Sorry about them, continue?"
Xuě looked a tad uneasy before tracing the pattern engraved in the scroll she held. "Master Zeze told me to hold onto the scroll for them."
"Why did your Master give you the scroll?" Libra questioned her.
"What does your Master look like?" I asked, getting a confused stare from them both.
The Zeraora glanced at the ceiling and rubbed their muzzle. "Uh, earlier I complained about not being taken seriously and doing anything important."
"So they gave you this scroll to take care of huh?" I smiled a bit.
"Yes, but I've kept it safe the whole time!"
"I see, now what does your Master look like?" I added.
"Master has the same features as me, but is yellow instead of white, they are also a bit bigger than you two," she gestured to Libra and I.
"Master Zeze said they would come back real soon and I was waiting by myself for a little bit before there were some big meanies who yelled at me," Xuě explained.
Libra's ears shot up and she pulled out her journal. "Did you get to see those mean Pokemon?"
"They were all final stage Pokemon wearing black, purple, and red capes and they have big grey marks on their fur."
"Is that all you know about them?" I tried to get more information. "What were they yelling about?"
"They were yelling about something called eturn-nitty, Wicked Blow and the scroll Master gave me," the Zeraora said, rubbing her head.
"You mean eternity?" Nevada asked.
"Yeah," Xuě replied.
The Charmander tilted their head."Who is Wicked Blow?"
"Master said not to talk about them."
"And so did our Chief ," I reminded my fellow League members.
"At least until we get more solid info on them," Libra added. "Right now they are just a rumor."
Linus walked up to the Zeraora. "Do ya know what that them there scroll thingamajig does?"
"No, Master Zeze doesn't know either."
"Do y'all know what da gear means?" the Treecko glanced up.
"Sorry, we don't," Xuě apologized. "But-"
"Then why do you guys fucking have that thing!?" Glade shouted suddenly. The Totodile lunged at her. "You said you were strong didn't you?!"
Shit, she wants to spar with Xuě?! I don't know how it happened but Libra and I are on the same wavelength. "Cut it out!" we yelled. Xuě flinched as Linus shot out Leafage at the Totodile in front of her. "Linus enough! We'll have to think about that on our own," I declared, separating the Pokemon.
I sat with my thoughts as we calmed down. Eternity? I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. Wicked Blow… The Chief told us to be wary of them.
"Yeah, you know better than that," Libra sighed. "I'm glad we managed to avoid those Pokemon."
After wandering around for a while we headed up more stairs. An astonishingly bright light blinded my vision when we reached the top. Surprisingly we found ourselves in a rocky section of forest. I took a step to the side. The six of us made it out of the Mystery Dungeon really quickly. Or maybe it was just a small one.
"Now that we made it outside we can find Master Zeraora," I pulled out my map and stared at the sky. Judging by the color it was later in the day.
"Yeah," Xuě sighed. "And we don't have to worry about those meanies or getting lost in the Dungeon anymore!"
"Where did you last see your Master?" the Riolu asked.
"I don't know, there was a ton of berry bushes around us though, I'll know it when I see it."
"Berries huh," Linus looked at the Zeraora. "Did you eat any?"
"Yeah, I accidentally fell in the brambles too so I probably smell like them," she laughed.
The rookies took out their baskets and shuffled around inside. "What are you guys doing?" the Riolu beside me panicked.
"Hey!" I grabbed their shoulders."You're going to mess with your requested items!"
"We figured out what type of berry was near Xuě, it's a Globe Berry, green and blue big round ones!" Linus held up one of the berries.
"Ah, good work guys!" I smiled. "Let's go find some then!"
We searched through tangles and bunches of thickets for Globe Berries throughout the forest. It felt like hours before a breakthrough. Libra and I couldn't find it. We couldn't sense Xuě's Master. Neither could the Zeraora.
In an area with tons of eroded dark, jagged pillars of quartz sandstone there was a lonesome tune. As we wadded through another patch of Globe Berries I felt a tingling sensation around my body. The earth was damp with rainwater, but there were pockets of electricity. It had stormed while we were underground.
"Oh look!" Nevada called out.
"There's Master Zeraora!" the Team cheered, pointing up.
I was expecting to feel a spark or thunderclap like before, but there was nothing. The Zeraora stood on top of the tallest quartz sandstone pillar. So high up. Their eyes blazed an emotion unbeknownst to me.
Bileizen Ye Forest. It meant Lightning Rod Forest.
"We have to leave," I sighed.
"We need to thank you!" Xuě bowed. "You don't want to meet Master Zeze?"
Beside me, the Riolu folded her ears."W-we cannot go up there."
"Alright," the young Zeraora softly nuzzled against us."I'll never forget your presence! Master Zeze can feel it too!"
I flinched at the thought of getting close to them."Best wishes Xuě," we all said.
"Thank you! Goodbye."
"Team Sharp Claw will bring good fortune," our sources in the Union, friends of the League have prophesied in the past.
Encountering Master Zeraora's pupil, Xuě, and helping them was the most blessed I've ever been. The metal scroll with the gear symbols, what power is dwelling in it? Why did those Zeraoras have it?
Maybe those friends of the League were right when they told us this prophecy. Those three had great potential. It's been five long years and I'll never forget it.
We've got work to do.