Chapter 7
Chapter is Rated M (Some Graphic Depictions of Violence, Injury, Blood & Gore)
There may be mentions of death
"I have to admit, your battling skills improved drastically," Lance said as he slurped the noodles in front of him. The sudden movement on his lap forced him to bend his head closer to the bowl to avoid spilling any soup.
A rather prideful chuckle came from the woman who sat opposite on the dinner table. "For once, can't you just admit I won this time?" a smirk formed on her face, "Looks like all that travelling to other regions made me stronger as a trainer and as a Dragon Master,". Her smug expression was immediately replaced with a soft, loving one when she gazed at the baby sitting on Lance's lap.
"It also gave you a rather… unforeseen responsibility," the man replied provocatively.
The woman was taken aback. "Put a sock in it, Lance!" she spat furiously, "I'm not the first woman in the world to come back home pregnant! And don't you dare imply that my son is a burden to me!"
Her sudden outbursts caused the baby to bury his head on Lance's chest. In response, the man rubbed the boy's back soothingly with one hand while the other was raised in surrender.
"Okay! That was a bit out of line for me," he said in a tone of remorse. "Although, it would help if you just gave the father's name, Clair. I could track him down," Lance suggested.
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. "We talked about this," she whispered as her eyes landed on the baby once again. Her son was only 10 months old, meaning he had sensitive hearing. The mother in Clair felt guilty for raising her voice in front of her infant son.
Silence descended the room. The only sounds that could be heard was Lance's lightly audible slurping and the baby's occasional cooing. Clair was relieved that her cousin chose to drop the topic regarding her son's father. She was more than capable of being a single parent. Soon, their previous disagreement was long forgotten.
"What is it, Clark?" Lance asked the infant sitting on his lap. For some reason, the boy decided to tug and gnaw on the fabric of his jumpsuit. The man tried to gently remove the material between the baby's gums, but it snapped back with some drool splattering on Lance's face. The baby simply giggled at this.
"How adorable. He really likes you," Clair said as she tried to stifle her laughter at the sight.
"Okay, bonding time is over. I want to eat my noodles in peace before heading home," The man picked up the infant and passed him to the amused mother.
Clair allowed him to finish his meal. A thought lurked in her mind as she played with the boy who was now sitting on her lap. The sound of a bowl pushed slightly caused her to snap from her musings.
"Lance?"
"Hm?"
There was a momentary pause. "For any reason… if something happens to me in the future, you'll be there for my Clark, won't you?" she asked in a serious tone. Her right hand rested on the boy's chest as she turned to her cousin.
He was baffled by this question. Since they were children, Clair never gave much thought about things involving death and eventual demise. She believed it was not good to dwell on matters one cannot control.
However, things are different now; she is a mother.
His eyes met Clair's own.
"Of course, I'll look out for the little guy. Always." Lance declared.
Present Time
His leg throbbed in pain but chose to ignore it. He sat still on the hard, wooden chair as his eyes remained on the middle-aged man behind the desk. Piles of documents were neatly stacked on the far side and a telephone on the other. The rich aroma of brewed coffee occasionally wafted in the air from the two mugs placed at their front.
Lance was currently inside the office of Silver Town's mayor. He arrived an hour & a half ago after quite the concerning encounter back at Silver Cave. Thankfully, the mayor understood the urgency in his tone when he requested a private meeting.
The red-haired man wasted no time in discussing the clues he gathered. From the unsuccessful search for any bodies and secret hideouts, to his rather unexpected encounter with Moltres. In addition, he mentioned the Trident scars and his supposition of their connection to the current situation.
As expected, the mayor was perplexed to hear about this. Yet, who wouldn't be? Even a brief mention of the catastrophe 5 years ago could strike fear and trauma to anyone whose unlucky ears managed to perceive such.
The mayor cleared his throat. "I see you've gathered as much," he said before taking a sip from his mug.
"How about the inspection I ordered. Have they found a reason behind the withered plants?" asked Lance.
"I was told by the specialists you've sent that they couldn't find a cause. The people have been diligent in caring for their gardens, and soil quality is favorable for the plants to flourish," the mayor replied as he stood to gaze out the window behind him.
And the winter season is still several months away. Lance settled back in his chair, deep in thought. Initially, he believed that the case with the plants was done on purpose to lure certain targets. The people of this town relied greatly on the berries and herbs they grew. If those were to wilt, they would be left with the choice to procure from another town or to gather what is needed from the forest and foothills of Mt. Silver. However, Lance began to doubt his initial speculation when he saw the herbs and berries near said mountain— shriveled, dried, and drooped.
Things were slowly unraveling, but it's all a tangled mess inside his head. He found it confusing to connect the clues with what little he has gathered, but had a nagging feeling deep down that it was more than enough.
"Do you suppose we're eyeing another Blood Moon Invasion in our midst?" the elderly man's tone was grim and serious.
Lance was hesitant to answer the question. After all, a lie was fabricated by the Champions and the Infiltration-8 (as per the order of the International Pokémon League Association's authorities) 5 years ago. They gave the world a false sense of security that the tragedy was truly over and that the mastermind, Sidero, no longer posed worldwide threat.
Yet the truth was far from it.
Sidero's true intentions are still being uncovered to this day. The man was dead, but he left an unfathomable mystery behind. He was dangerous even without the need for a physical existence.
Lance faced the mayor who still had his back turned. The man had the right to know because it concerned the safety of his people. Awareness of the situation can help him to plan ahead necessary actions, should the worst happen.
"It is possible, yes. This is especially with the information I've gathered so far. If we also look back, Pokémon lost control during the invasion—"
"—and they died; the Pokémon, the people, the plants. Basically, anything with life," the elderly man interjected, sharply turning to meet the Indigo League Champion's gaze.
Lance saw no need for further discussion; the mayor understood completely.
Finishing what remained on his mug, he stood to take his leave. "I will further coordinate with the G-Men regarding the matter. You may contact me anytime should something come up,"
He then left the office with a noticeable limp in his strides. Despite the sharp pain, several questions lingered in his mind.
The Blood Moon Invasion occurred during the dark of night. If this was to be another similar incident, why were there cases of disappearances occurring during the day?
Something doesn't add up.
And where are the missing people?
It seems that a wide scale search throughout the region is needed, in case they weren't within proximity of Mt. Silver.
As soon as he stepped into the open, a gentle breeze blew in his direction. Silver Town basked in golden rays as the sun began to set over the horizon, effectively painting the sky in a wispy combination of reds and oranges. It was a display that signified the final moments of day.
Lance pondered on how something as spectacular as a sunset was once dreaded by the world. Yet, observing the people around him, he knew that such fears were now long into the past. He saw children count down the time, teenagers taking pictures of the scenery, and families walking back home together. They were all at peace, no longer worried about the coming of night.
And he wants it to last.
Taking notice of the men and women clad in police uniforms, Lance realized just how much is at stake. If he wanted to preserve the air of tranquility that he sees at the moment, then the town's dire situation must be resolved.
Just as he was about to call out Dragonite to head home, he saw a group of police officers crowding near the PokéMart. From afar, he could glimpse a young boy and a woman both of whom seemed familiar.
As he strode towards them, some officers saw him approaching and gestured their colleagues to move aside. This gave him a clear view of the child and adult.
"Jace? Mrs. Willo?", Lance approached faster when he recognized the two individuals. Both immediately lowered their heads upon his presence, as if silently apologizing.
"What's going on here?" he asked the officers, "Has something happened?" the question now directed to the mother and son in front of him.
A policeman was about to speak, but Jace immediately interjected. "I-It's about… No, about…" he stuttered. Lance noticed that his eyes were red and swollen, as if he had been crying. The occasional sniffing was also a clear sign of that.
Just then, the man remembered something. "Wait, why are you in Silver Town? Wasn't Clark supposed to help you with an errand?"
"You don't know? he said you knew about him here," Jace replied incredulously.
Lance raised an eyebrow at this. "I don't quite follow," he told the boy.
Mrs. Willo, Jace's mother, placed her hands on her son's shoulders. She appeared to be on the brink of tears. "What Jace is trying to say… Clark did help him with his errand. They fetched some herbs here in the mart and were supposed to head back home, but I told them to stay a little longer for lunch,"
Lance felt his jaw tighten as she went on. Somehow, he could already deduce where her story was headed.
"…then I was to see them off. When the Pokémon took flight, Pidgeot lost some sense of control. She kept flying wildly in the air and brought Clark with her—"
"WHERE?" Lance interrupted, practically growling by the harshness in his voice. It caused the mother and son to tremble under his presence.
The woman pointed behind her shoulder. "T-To the f-f-forest… the forest,"
For many instances in life, time became his enemy.
When he was 7 years old, he wanted to bake a cake for his mom. At some point, he grew tired of following the recipe book and decided to continue without one. Thinking that high settings will bake thoroughly, he left the batter inside the oven for more than hour. Needless to say, they almost lost the house from the resulting fire.
At 14 years old, he tried his first attempt for the Champion title against the Indigo League. However, he never made it past Agatha due to poor timing in executing his strategy. His final Pokémon, Dragonair, was supposed to land a finishing blow to Gengar once it reappeared from the shadows. The mistake came from calling out the attack a few seconds too early, allowing the opponent to dodge and land a critical hit.
At 19, his father was left in deathbed due to a vehicular accident. He flew all the way from the league, but never made it on time to say farewell. Months later, he phoned his mom in the middle of the night after learning about her depression from Clair. He tried to comfort her, promising to immediately come home and be at her side. Turns out, his mother had been fighting it for so long since his father's death. It became unbearable that night when he called; the same night she took her own life. If only he had known earlier… If only he called months prior… If only he never isolated himself from the world (and from her) after his father's death…
Then, just years ago during the invasion, he left Blackthorn too soon when the Dragon's Den was attacked. The incident cost the lives of many residents, as well as his cousin Clair. If he stayed a night longer, the attack could have been intercepted immediately. Then, many of the people could've been spared that day… Clair would still be here… and Clark wouldn't grow longing for a mother.
He felt his chest tighten by the sudden flood of memories, but immediately brought back his focus to the current situation.
Lance rode on Dragonite's back as he surveyed sections of the forest from above. He couldn't tell exactly how long he had been searching for Clark and the Pidgeot, but he knew time was running too fast for his liking. The first signs of dusk were already evident over the horizon. Soon enough, nightfall would make the task far difficult.
If the boy was even anywhere around, that is. He might have met the same fate as those missing people.
Lance shook himself from the thought. Errors in the past made him lose important people in his life, but he won't let that happen again today.
This time, it will be different. He will find Clark and could care less what it takes in doing so.
An Aerodactyl and two Dragonites approached the man from different directions. "Any signs of him or the Pidgeot?" he asked the Pokémon once within hearing range.
The draconic pseudo-legendaries simply shook their heads, but the pterosaurian fossil Pokémon let out a low-pitched squawk before turning to the eastern part of the forest.
"Found something? Alright, let's move!" Lance signaled for them to follow Aerodactyl's lead. As they sped through the skyline, he pulled a transceiver out of his pocket and instructed officer Jenny to track his coordinates. With the G-Men still on their way, the best he could rely on at the moment are the police force.
Dragonite took a sharp left turn before diving into the trees. Aerodactyl kept a straight trajectory through the woods until it landed abruptly on a clearing, the other Pokémon following suit. As Lance lowered himself to the ground, he carefully studied the area.
It was a disarrayed mess of nature. Uprooted trunks and fallen branches lay piled on top of each other, dried leaves scattered the forest floor, and rocks covered in moss dispersed amongst the boulders. Amidst such disorderliness, the sound of rushing water was heard. A narrow creek was in the middle of it all, species of aquatic plants covering its bank.
Upon closer inspection, the man noticed that the plants in the creek bank were withered. "Even these weren't spared," he muttered under his breath.
Suddenly, something caught his attention from the other side. He stood and cautiously waded through the water, his Pokémon tailing behind curiously. One of his Dragonites decided to play about on the water, although he paid it no heed.
As he reached for the object, he saw that it was a colorfully weaved basket toppled over. Beside it, dried herbs were strewn across the ground. Lance felt his eyes widen in realization. These were the herbal medicines that the boys picked up from the PokéMart. He recognized the Heal Powder, Energy Roots, and some other herbs from the list he took from Jace prior to his search.
This only meant that Clark was here at some point.
Lance once again pulled out his transceiver. "Officer Jenny, do you have my current coordinates? I'll need you to send me a group of Pokémon that can track scent. I think I know how we'll find Clark,"
The plan was relatively simple. At this point, he deduced that many species of plants within the perimeters of Mt. Silver and Silver Town already wilted. It meant that they may give off odors different from the ones they emit when flourished, or the scent may simply weaken to the point of being imperceptible. If so, then the herbal medicines can be used to trace Clark's tracks within the forest since the scent likely clung to his clothing.
He can only hope it succeeds.
A few minutes later, flocks of Swellows and Pidgeots carrying each a police officer on their backs arrived on the scene. Flashes of energy simultaneously lit up the now-dark surroundings as Growlithes, Arcanines, and Mightyenas were called out from their Pokéballs.
Lance wasted no time briefing the officers and Pokémon regarding the plan. This was followed by a quick, yet organized designation of locations. Everyone soon rushed into the forest hoping to find a young boy, the moonlight serving as their primary source of illumination.
Dragonite came to a sudden halt. The Arcanine that it had been following approached two large boulders. Lance pointed a flashlight to the area and saw the canine Fire-Type sniffing a rock sandwiched between the two boulders.
"Something the matter, Arcanine?" the police officer asked as he hopped off his Swellow.
The Pokémon beckoned for its master and Lance to check the solid mass. The Indigo League Champion immediately walked towards where it stood and bent on one knee for close inspection. The rock was greyish-black in color with a rugged surface. It felt cold and rough against his hand, but something particular caught his attention.
He gestured for the police officer behind him to also point a flashlight to the lower portion of the rock. Lance could make out dark stains on its surface that were also specked on the ground.
"Blood," he murmured, brushing a thumb against the now-dried reddish spot. "That means he's nearby. Come on, let's keep moving!"
With that, they continued in pursuit. Lance began to feel more apprehensive as they stumbled on leads to Clark's whereabouts. The blood was already an indication that the boy was harmed in some way. Whether or not his young cousin was alive, he will soon find out. He had to accept the reality of all possibilities.
"We're really deep into the forest n— Champion! Look over there!" the policeman exclaimed, pointing a finger to where a limping figure moved in the shadows.
Lance angled the light to the same direction and it revealed the figure of a young boy in a shirt and shorts, his back turned to the two men.
"Clark!" the red-haired man immediately climbed down his Dragonite and ran towards the boy. Lance planted himself in front of his cousin when he didn't bother responding to the call of his name. "How did you get here? Are you oka—"
He instantly froze at the sight of Clark's appearance. There was obvious pallor despite the dim surroundings, a cut on the right temple, dried blood and sweat clinging to his face, and his eyes.
Bloodshot eyes.
What was even unsettling was how those orbs kept staring somewhere over Lance's shoulders, eerily agape and still.
The gears in his mind began turning. If he was uncertain about everything being related to the Blood Moon Invasion before, there was no denying it now.
Gazing upwards, he saw the moon turning into the lightest tint of red. When had that happened? If he were to look back on his experience 5 years ago, the moon would turn red when…
Panic surged through him upon the alarming realization. He took his transceiver and sent a voice message to all the officers scattered around the forest. "Everyone, leave this place now!" Lance bellowed over the speaker. He grabbed Clark and dashed towards Dragonite.
At that moment, the ground shook violently and began to crack. The fissures crept to several directions, extending into the deeper forest. Lance tried to evade them as best he can, but was swept off the ground by the sudden emergence of a colossal taproot. He was hurtled towards a tree, causing him to lose hold of Clark. The impact forced some air out of his lungs, but he was still conscious nevertheless.
"M-Ma-Mand—" the police officer stammered from somewhere nearby. He gulped before letting out a loud cry, "MANDRAKE!"
Lance turned behind him and saw a monstrous creature slowly emerging to the surface. It was a plant-like humanoid with taproot limbs and ovoid leaves in rosette formation sprouting from its head.
The mandrake tried to completely free itself, but could only manage half of the way; its lower half remained rooted to the ground. This state left it to flail wildly, causing more of its taproot arms to be unearthed and reveal longer length. Trees were violently uprooted in the process.
"Dragonite! Go shield Clark!" Lance ordered. He waited for the ground to stay still before running towards a clearing from afar where his young cousin lay.
"Arcanine, use Fireblast!"
The Indigo League Champion heard the police officer roar a command to his Arcanine. He stopped in his tracks to prevent the Pokémon from launching the attack. "Wait! Don't target the body—"
It was too late.
A stream of flames was released from the Pokémon's maw, forming a star-crossed pattern that directly landed on the mandrake's upper body. However, the creature was unaffected and simply absorbed the attack. It then let out a low screech with enough vibrations to blow branches off standing trees.
"We're lucky it wasn't loud enough to send us flying! Now, get out of here!" Lance shouted at the officer who also covered his ears tightly. The red-haired man was irritated by his companion's recklessness. Then again, he couldn't blame the officer since he was unaware of how the creature functioned. So much for keeping secrets to the people.
The police officer did as he was told and recalled Arcanine. The Swellow flew away as fast as it can with its trainer, but were knocked to the ground by the mandrake's arms. The tips of said arms snaked closer to the area, uncurling to reveal the corpse of a young girl. The lifeless body dropped in front of Lance, startling him.
Piercing screams were heard. The police and his Swellow were enveloped and constricted by the large taproot, smaller sprouting roots attaching to their necks.
Seeing this, Lance quickly approached the lifeless body in front of him. He rolled the deceased girl on her back, revealing several scars on her neck that resembled a whorled leaf arrangement.
The whorling scars; distinct marks left by the umbral mandrakes on their victims. These were the counterpart to the Trident scars inflicted by the penumbral reeds.
"Champ…h-help," the police choked as the taproot arm began to curl inwards, effectively trapping him and his Pokémon.
Lance immediately called out his Aerodactyl. "Use Ancient Power and destroy the leaves on its head!" the man ordered. The pterosaurian Pokémon's body glowed white as large chunks of rock were lifted from the ground. A luster of silver energy enveloped the rocks, forming levitating balls that were launched towards the giant leaves. The mandrake managed to evade the attack by swinging its other arm, but a single ovoid leaf took a direct hit that effectively destroyed it.
By now, the man reached for his young cousin laying on the ground. "Dragonite, use hyperbeam on the remaining leaves! Aerodactyl, dodge the taproots and keep using Ancient Power!"
Both Pokémon obeyed their master. Series of attacks were launched towards the mandrake, but the creature kept evading with swift movement of its arms. It was aware of its own physiology and knew that the leaves were its source of life and energy. If Lance would guess, the creature was not fully matured as per the scanty greens on top of its head. This may as well be the primary reason why it hasn't let out a powerful screech that could obliterate the entire forest.
"Facing this monster alone? You really are ambitious, Champion Lance" a masculine voice announced coolly behind Lance.
He peered over his shoulder and saw a young man with familiar brown hair, but was now sporting a light stubble. "Luca?"
The man in question simply chuckled. "Been a long time, champ! I see you're a bit busy," he announced humorously, striding forward to observe the chaos ensuing in plain sight.
Lance felt slightly annoyed at his tone. Ever since he met Luca 5 years ago, he couldn't help but be irked by his outgoing demeanor. Primarily because he didn't trust the guy a hundred percent, and partly due to his lax attitude in critical situations. While Lance took his assignments seriously to avoid unnecessary harm, Luca would likely dismiss the number of lives lost just to accomplish the main goal. The young man was far too proud of his abilities…
"I like how my mere presence ticks you off," Luca said with a smirk, "One could sense it a mile away,"
"Save it for later. Right now, you might as well assist in saving my police companion," Lance pointed out.
"Don't bother. The guy and his Swellow are long dead. I think you're forgetting how relentless umbral mandrakes can be in absorbing life force from living beings," the young man dismissed. "We might as well team up to bring that thing down before it does any more damage,"
Clark whimpered against his jumpsuit. Lance checked the boy he held and saw that his condition worsened. The boy's skin was far paler, lips chapped, eyes half-lidded and still bloodshot. "Just a little more and I'll get you to the hospital," he whispered, worry evident in his tone. Much as he wants medical attention for his young cousin at this moment, their current predicament wouldn't let them anywhere past the forest alive.
Lance surveyed the area from above. He signaled for Aerodactyl to fly closer to where his three Dragonites are hurtling aerial attacks to the frenzied creature half buried on the ground. He waited for Luca's supposed signal before going through the plan. The red-haired man and his Pokémon would temporarily restrain the mandrake's movements while the younger man and his team attack overhead. Cliché, but it was one of the common strategies they've employed during the Blood Moon Invasion.
Suddenly, a Salamence appeared in the dark sky. The Pokémon carried Luca on its back as they positioned themselves high above the rampaging creature. When they reached their desired altitude, the trainer and his partner appeared as a silhouette against the pinkish moon. With a thumbs up, the young man signaled for Lance to begin.
"You two Dragonites! Attack each an arm using Hyper Beam!" the Champion ordered. One Dragonite shot a beam of yellow energy on the left limb, while another did the same to the right that still entrapped the police officer and Swellow. In response, the mandrake pulled back the entire length of its taproot limbs until the tips; it spanned several meters long, possibly reaching until the borders of Silver Town.
Lance motioned for Aerodactyl to fly to higher elevation when the roots slowly crept upwards in the sky. "Now, you two! Reach as high as your wings can take you. Fly alternately in a spiral!" he commanded, watching as his Pokémon made sharp somersaults before bolting skywards.
The Dragonites made quick work in bringing the taproots into a helical twist as each arm tailed behind one of the draconic Pokémon. Seeing the opportunity, Lance commanded his third Dragonite to use Blizzard. Shards of ice crystals were launched towards the mandrake, effectively freezing it in place.
From Luca's vantage point in the sky, he observed the creature temporarily subdued. It was now his turn for some action. "Let's finish this off quickly, Salamence. The people of Silver Town are starting to crowd outdoors. Wouldn't want them finding out about us," he told his partner. Noticing Lance and his team moving away from the area as planned, he positioned himself on one knee and pressed a palm against the Pokémon's back.
Closing his eyes, he focused. "I feel it. The flow of existence and the forces that bind it whole. Such is pervading… omnipresent… universal," Luca whispered in reflection. Invisible waves of energy began to ripple inwards towards him, channeling such forces to his Salamence. "As the planes align as one through me, I open the gates of synergy!"
In an instant, the pseudo-legendary began to change in appearance as it absorbed the force influx. Spikes appeared on its back and tail, wings becoming jagged with claws protruding from the edges. The scales on its underside spread to cover the outer limbs and front neck, with additional fins growing on the chin. It sported a menacing look as blue flames spewed from its maw.
"Dragon Breath!" Luca shouted out his command.
Salamence expelled a powerful flaming beam with an expanse three times the colossal mandrake's size. As the attack shot downward, it directly landed on the frozen creature. The forest was engulfed in a violent explosion; the force of it enough to send boulders and trees flying. Lance felt the heat against his face as he held his position tighter behind Aerodactyl. Despite the distance, they were still swept by the blast.
Dust lingered in the air momentarily. It eventually cleared when the three Dragonites generated gusts from different directions. The sight of the aftermath under moonlight was shocking, but there was no hint of surprise. Before them stood hectares of deforested land; tall trees reduced to stumps, and verdant fields turned into depleted wastelands. From a distance, smoke emanated from the spot where the umbral mandrake once stood; blackened residue surrounded the large cavity on the ground.
Something landed beside Lance with a soft thud. "It was only a Dragon Breath. We didn't go all out," Luca spoke as he took in the sight. "I wouldn't want to blow up majority of a forest filled with innocent Pokémon," the young man continued as he knelt to release a wild Rattata and Nidoran from his arms.
The Dragon Type specialist remained silent. While he was aware of what these 'Synergists' are capable of, he could never fully comprehend the true extent of their abilities.
Then, Lance felt Clark shaking uncontrollably in his arms. He checked the boy who was now having convulsions and his bloodshot eyes showed dilated pupils. The urgency of the boy's state was all too clear; he needed immediate medical attention. "Aerodactyl! Fly us back to Silver Town," Lance instructed.
"Wait! Let me check what's going on with him!" Luca suggested to which the champion disregarded.
As they sped back to town, Clark bit his older cousin's arm before making choked sounds out of pain. Lance rubbed the boy's back in a failed attempt to ease him from the suffering. As Clark's teeth sank further against the jumpsuit fabric, he vomited and the convulsions worsened. "I got you, buddy. I got you. Just hang in there," the man whispered closely.
Suddenly, Aerodactyl came to an abrupt halt. In front of them appeared Luca and his Salamence. "Out of the way! This is an emergency!" Lance roared.
The young man seemed unfazed by the older one's tone. Instead, he examined the young boy from where he stood and held out a small vial and syringe. "The symptoms are clear; he was poisoned by a mandrake. This antidote we made back in my region should help,"
However, Lance was unconvinced. "I don't trust anything that comes from your kind. Now, move before I have my Dragonites tear you to pieces," he threatened.
"Champ, trust me on this one. If you take him to a hospital, the blood work will reveal the poisonous sap in his body. None of the people in this part of the world are aware of it! They'll have your boy poked and prodded like some experiment when they make the discovery!" Luca persuaded. "Besides, I helped save the world 5 years ago. I can save the kid now if you just let me. I'm not as heartless as you think I am," he added, further outstretching the antidote vial towards the Indigo League Champion.
For a moment, Lance considered the young man's reasoning as he weighed the risks in his mind. If there is any truth in Luca's words, then the antidote held out to him was the only option to save Clark. However, his young cousin might not respond well to the medicine considering it came straight from some lab in an unknown region; that is, if the label "UM-A152" on the vial was anything to go by.
"Fine. I'll give him the antidote," replied Lance, hesitation evident in his tone.
"When was the last time you went out for groceries? There's barely enough eggs and cheese!" a voice announced from the kitchen. Lance deliberately ignored it and entered Clark's room. He took the damp washcloth from the basin he held and placed it on the sleeping boy's forehead.
Currently, they were back home in Blackthorn City after a deadly encounter with the umbral mandrake. Just hours ago, his young cousin had been fighting for dear life due to some poisonous sap inoculated into his body. While it was unclear how that happened, Lance was willing to wait until the boy recovered before asking him about it.
There was also the antidote that Luca managed to persuade him in administering. Lance was thankful that his young cousin did not present any adverse reactions from the medicine. In fact, true to Luca's words, the antidote cured the boy's condition. Within minutes, the convulsions had stopped and his pallor reduced. By the time they reached Blackthorn, most of Clark's symptoms were alleviated; he was left with a high fever, but the worst had passed.
(Warning: Some paragraphs may include explicit depictions of blood and gore)
Lance felt his transceiver vibrating in his pocket. He took it out as he left the room before reading the messages received from the G-Men.
"Only one intact body recovered from the site. Results revealed 10-year old girl Bailey Reed. The remains of the Police Officer and his Swellow were recovered, mostly limbs and organs. No signs of the Pidgeot found so far. - Griz"
"We sent shots of the recovered remains and the investigation scene. - Jet"
"Commotion and unrest in Silver Town. Journalists and reporters arrived. We are attempting to keep everything under control as per your orders. – Hall"
The man immediately retrieved a laptop from his room and scrolled through his private e-mails. He lost track of time as he studied the photographs, his mind trying to fully grasp the whole situation. The first folder contained images of his police companion and the Swellow; rather, what was left of them. There were shots of the Pokémon's severed red foot sans a finger, a fissured beak, and a partially dissolved avian liver. Another set consisted of human remains; a bloodied heel with a protruding bone, and part of a limb with oozing lipid and blood vessels. These were what remained of them; outcomes of the immense power that is Synergy.
(A/N: It's safe now…)
Luca's words echoed in his mind: 'It was only a Dragon Breath. We didn't go all out,'
Lance shuddered at the thought of synergy in its full potential.
Moving on to another folder, it contained shots of the identified body of 10-year old Bailey Reed. She was one of the missing people who mysteriously disappeared without a trace. The man remembered how the mandrake's taproot uncurled to reveal her lifeless body. Is it likely that the others are also underground, trapped in the grasps of other mandrakes?
After some time, a certain brown-haired young man strode into the room. "Why do you even bother? It's clear that we're dealing with a continuation of the Blood Moon Invasion. Those missing people are most likely the victims," Luca spoke as he leaned against the doorway, munching on a plate of food.
Lance peered over his shoulder before facing the person in front of him. "I forgot about you. Since you're here, maybe you can finally give a detailed explanation about those creatures and how your region is supposedly involved," the man said as he motioned for the synergist to take a seat.
Without a word, the young man sat on the empty bed while chewing on a piece of berry. "First off, I talked to your boy half an hour ago. You were too busy when he woke up, so I did the courtesy of asking him about what happened," he scooped some cheese before mixing it with the scrambled eggs. "He remembers some Mrs. Willo allowing the Flying Types to roam around as they ate lunch. When they were about to head home, Clark saw weird marks on Pidgeot's nape. Turns out, those were actually the Trident Scars. Then, the Pokémon lost control, flew to the forest with Clark, and chased him wildly until the kid was forced to hide. He doesn't remember much after that, but I deduce he was poisoned at some point,"
"Well? If you can arrive with that conclusion, then explain what in Arceus' name is this poison and why another invasion is brewing before us!" Lance said through gritted teeth. He was growing impatient with all the secrecy and partial information. It irked him that despite putting an end to the catastrophe 5 years ago, none of them truly understood what they were faced with. Why are the night creatures back? How did they reappear after all these years? What are they, really? Who was responsible this time?
Endless questions. No adequate explanation.
For the first time since they met, Luca appeared uncomfortable. He was unsure how to approach the Indigo League Champion's pursuit for answers. Lance noticed how he desperately avoided eye contact and kept poking the fluffy egg dish with a fork.
"If I were to be honest, I'm only allowed to disclose so much information," Luca muttered. "The lore of our region is deeply embedded in what the Unified World considers as 'paranormal' or 'fictional', such as Synergy and the Blood Moon Invasion. If I'm to give an explanation down to every bit of detail, then I might as well be exposing secrets that my region has guarded for eons,"
Silence.
None of the two men spoke for the next couple of minutes. There were attempts to continue the conversation, but most ended as mere movement of the lips. Lance did not bother to unplug his fully charged laptop when a notification popped, and Luca left his half-eaten dish going cold on the bedside table. The deafening stillness was interrupted when the older of the two received a request for a video call.
Lance swiveled on his chair and accepted the call on his laptop. Instantly, the familiar faces of the Sinnoh Champion and former Hoenn Champion appeared on the screen. "Steven? Cynthia?"
"Lance!" the couple said in unison, concern evident in their expressions. The blonde woman continued, "Are you fine? We heard what happened. Silver Town is all over the news,"
The Indigo League Champion adjusted himself on his seat. "I see. Then you're aware of the umbral mandrake's reappearance?"
"Quite so," Steven replied as he stroked his chin. "Also, did Luca aid you in battle? The news included a footage of that massive blast. We've seen enough 5 years ago to know such feat is only achievable by Synergists,"
Lance gazed behind him and was met with an empty bed. The egg dish remained on the bedside table, but there was no sign of the brown-haired young man. However, he heard movement somewhere in the living room. "Yes. He was there with me," the red-haired man said as he slowly faced the screen.
Cynthia was about to speak, but a sudden crash followed by childish laughter resounded through the call. "Would you excuse me for a moment," the woman whispered as she stood slightly off screen.
"WHAT DID MOMMY AND DADDY SAY WHEN THEY'RE ON AN IMPORTANT CALL?" she sternly asked.
An inaudible mumbling of protests by a toddler was heard. Lance saw Cynthia shift on screen to cross her arms. "No. Stop throwing and get down from there. I won't repeat myself, Garnet." She chastised. On the other hand, Steven remained on his seat and watched the whole exchange.
After a few moments, Cynthia returned to her seat. "Sorry about that," she cleared her throat before continuing, "I was meaning to say earlier… how did circumstances lead to this, Lance?"
A sigh came from the man in question as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He had no idea how to explain everything to them. Not many things were clear, add to the reluctance of Luca in providing vital information. Seeing his colleagues on screen made him realize how puzzled and uncertain they appeared; much like he is.
"I can tell Luca has been leaving out crucial info as always. The confusion is all too clear on your face, Lance," Steven announced, a small smirk forming on his lips. "But, know this. You two don't have to deal with the situation on your own. We're always ready to lend a hand, especially if it concerns the safety of the world," his tone now serious.
Cynthia placed a hand on top of her husband's that rested on the table. She sent him a warm smile before turning to Lance. "He's right. 5 years ago, we all fought together; the International Pokémon League Association, the Infiltration-8, and even the Synergists. Who's to say that can't be possible again? There's unfinished business with the Blood Moon Invasion after all, and this might be our chance to finally bring it to a conclusion,"
The Indigo League Champion considered their words momentarily. For now, it was only Silver Town that was affected. They could still control the circumstances and prevent another world catastrophe from occurring. "Fine. I'll tell you what I have gathered for the past days. Any further details, that will be Luca's responsibility. Later, I will persuade him."
With that, Lance recounted events from the moment he received a report from Silver Town's Mayor, up until what transpired in the forest.
Luca was slumped against the cushion as he stared blankly on the walls of the living room. He could hear tell-tale whispers coming from inside Lance's room. Sometime during his previous conversation with the man, he could not articulate a response. There was a sudden realization that he was risking his region's secrets if he were to answer the Indigo League Champion's questions. The limits of his expressions in this part of the world frustrated him. He was constantly anxious with every word uttered knowing that his region kept a close eye on him as their 'delegate'. The anxiety was left covered up through an outgoing and unperturbed demeanor.
Suddenly, he heard the door open beside him. "I left to give you some privacy with Steven and Cynthia. Did you guys finally catch up?" Luca said coolly.
Lance approached him and placed the plate of egg dish on his lap. "Let's arrive at a compromise," the man suggested as he sat down on the opposite sofa, fingers interlaced.
"A compromise?"
"Yes, a compromise. I know there's a reason why you are here. It doesn't take great intellect to deduce that it involves preventing the situation from escalating into catastrophe. After all, let's face it; as much as you isolate yourselves from us, we all live on this planet," Lance spoke with superiority.
The young man did not respond. He understood the champion's point.
The older man continued, "A week from now, the Sinnoh Champions League will ensue. On that day, you will tell us— the regional champions and the Infiltration 8— everything we need to understand in putting a stop to those night creatures. Permanently,"
Luca raised an eyebrow at this. "You ordered for a meeting?"
"I'll make the necessary arrangements with Goodshow. You don't have to concern yourself with that," Lance brushed him off. "Now, this is where we make a compromise. As I said, you will explain the necessary information, but we won't ask anything about your secrets. We don't care how you'll articulate everything while filtering out your region's lore; just provide what is needed. In exchange, I'll arrange for that footage of Salamence's Dragon Breath removed all over the media and internet,"
There was an indefinite pause.
"I will need to speak to my region's authorities. They'll decide which information should be passed on," replied Luca. He took the fork in his hand and continued what remained of the cold dish.
Little hands pressed against the full body mirror situated on the wall of her parents' bedroom. The toddler cooed and giggled at her reflection as she made funny faces. From outside the room, she could hear her parents having a conversation.
Earlier, she was scolded for interrupting an important call. Like most toddlers, her reaction was to sulk on the sofa. Later on, both parents spoke to her about the disrespectful behavior. Apologizing to her mom and dad with a 'Sowwy', the toddler was allowed to stay a few minutes past her bedtime.
Cynthia and Steven knew their young daughter. She would not sleep soundly until her mood calms or lightens up. And so, little Garnet Stone toddled around the place until she found something interesting to occupy her time. That is, playing with her reflection on the mirror.
At some point during her play, Garnet felt a stinging sensation on her left eye. She kept rubbing it until finding relief. When the toddler brought her hand down, she saw the same eye with an unusual appearance.
Her normally blue iris was now a glowing purple while the pupil appeared slightly imperceptible. The white area surrounding it had turned dark, making the purple glow far evident.
Then, it all disappeared in an instant. Her left eye was back to its usual appearance with the blue iris and normal sclera. However, the incident both intrigued and frightened her.
"Mama!" her small voice called out in shock.
A woman with a stream of blonde hair entered the bedroom. "What is it? Are you sleepy?" Cynthia said softly, slowly crouching to her daughter's level. Her gentle hands reached to fasten the lower buttons of Garnet's black pajamas adorned with Togepi prints.
The toddler pointed to her left eye. "Mama, Gawnet's eye puwple," she announced.
The mother tilted her head to one side before giving the girl an affectionate smile. "They're color blue. Just like your daddy's eyes," the woman replied before planting a kiss atop her daughter's head.
Garnet shook her head and turned back to her reflection in the mirror. "No! Puwple. Mama, this puwple," she insisted while rubbing her left eye.
Cynthia simply gazed at the toddler in confusion. She stood to pick up the little girl into her arms. "Steven! Did you let Wallace buy Garnet those 120 crayon colors?"
"Huh? Why?" a voice questioned from the living room.
"Didn't we agree to start her with the 8-colored basics? Now she's confusing blue from purple!" Cynthia declared.
That night, the thought of her eye turning purple kept Garnet restless. Steven eventually had to help his wife in putting the toddler to sleep. Cynthia lulled her with a soothing voice while Steven told stories of Mega Evolution and the rare stones he gathered.
Eventually, the girl fell into dreamland. All thoughts of that mysterious left eye forgotten, vanished into the deepest recess of her mind.
Would it appear again?
Only the cosmos can tell.
It looks like someone's abilities are surfacing…
Also, Wallace was finally mentioned in the story! More of him in the upcoming chapters.
Things also got dark at some point in this chapter, but it was mostly to highlight the nature of Lance's work with the G-Men, and showcasing the gravity of the situation (plus, presenting a scaling of Synergy's immense power).
Until the next update!