Chapter 6:

Sinnoh and Punishment

I was still trying to comprehend the fact that Pichu was gone. Despite only knowing each other for a few days, it felt like we were years apart. Well, okay that's speaking literally to.

However, Darkrai's dream was still on my mind. What could it mean? It's been in my head the last few days. I know that Darkrai is found in Sinnoh, and there is one place where I know I can find out more about that region...

It had been ages since I was at the Ruins of Alph, but it only made sense to come back; the Sinjoh Ruins had been unearthed up north. I've heard that this is where you can reach them. They don't just let anyone go though, you need to proof your worth. Come on, I'm the Champion. I think I'll be allowed.

The Ruins feel like the only part of Johto virtually untouched since my journey. All the standing stone towers created by our ancestors hadn't moved an inch, and neither should they. They have been here for centuries, why move them now?

"Hello." I was greeted by an Archaeologist at the shack of the Ruins, where most of the research takes place. They mainly research into Unown, even though there isn't much to look into because… Unown sucks. Well, they did make the big discovery of finding ! and ? Unown, but they are still Unown.

Unown

061

Psychic Type

Symbol Pokémon

Region of origin: Johto

1'08" (0.5 m)

11 lbs (5 kg)

Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shapes appear to have some meaning.

"I'm Ethan, the Indigo Champion" I introduced. "I have come to see the Sinjoh Ruins."

"Of course Mr Champion!" he said. "I should introduce myself. I'm Tetsuya, I helped discover the Ruins. It is a crowning achievement. However, let it be known that I don't intend this on being a tourist attraction. You will be one of two people going over there."

Who was the other person?

At that point, the Shack door swung open, revealing a woman with long blonde hair and a black dress. "Sorry I'm late" she said.

My jaw dropped at the sight. "Cynthia?! The Champion of Sinnoh?" I couldn't believe what I was witnessing.

"Ethan. The Champion of the Kanto and Johto regions. We finally meet." We shook hands. "Interested in the Sinjoh Ruins are we?"

"More than interested" I said. "I want to go to Sinnoh." I went into my Bag and pulled out the Red Chain. "I kept this as evidence. Do you know what this is?

Cynthia nodded seriously. "More than know. We believe that Team Galactic are trying to make the Ultimate Chain." I handed it to her; if there was one person I would trust the Red Chain with, it was Cynthia. "Where did you find this?"

"From Akihiko, who's now working for Team Galactic as their Kanto commissioner. He tried it on Mewtwo, but it was too strong. It must be a prototype, or a very weak version."

"Hmm" she said. "Well, I can take it off you if you want. It will be in safe hands."

I said that I still wanted to go to Sinnoh. Not just to learn about the Red Chain, but because I wanted to see the Pokémon which can't be found in Kanto, Johto or Hoenn. But I also told her about Darkrai.

"Darkrai warned you?" she asked.

"Now now" Tetsuya said. "We've been waiting long enough. Come on out Abra!" Tetsuya sent out the yellow Psychic Type.

Abra

089

Psychic Type

Psi Pokémon

Region of origin: Kanto

2'11" (0.9 m)

43 lbs (19.5 kg)

If it decides to teleport randomly, it creates the illusion that it has created copies of itself.

"Okay Abra, use Teleport! To the Sinjoh Ruins!" We all gathered around Abra as is took us to a new destination.

We were whisked to a snowy area. I didn't know where we were. We couldn't be in Johto. The only snowy area is the Ice Cave, but even than that's only frozen on the inside.

"We're far north" Cynthia said. "No one can reach here on foot and the fog is took thick to fly in. These Ruins were slowly forgotten about over generations."

I saw in the distance what she was talking about; giant crumbling ruins with a massive entrance. I knew Johto had ruins, but not like this. The Ruins of Alph date back hundreds of years, those Ruins must date back thousands.

"Johto and Sinnoh have a strong relation with each other" Cynthia said. "This is the place where many people came to pray to Dialga and Palkia. Of course, eventually the legends shifted to Ho-Oh and Lugia, so these Ruins were abandoned when they became the central focus."

"Who are Dialga and Palkia?" I asked, as we started walking to the Ruins.

"Dialga is the Pokémon that controls time and Palkia is the Pokémon that controls space. Among these was another Pokémon named Giratina, but it was banished to an alternate reality called the Distortion World for its violence."

But who banished? This was my thought when we reached the inside of the Sinjoh Ruins.

We found ourselves standing on top of a giant relic. It was triangle shaped and had three circles. One circle was blue, one was pink and one was red. They all had a pointed section that pointed towards a circle in the middle.

"Arceus banished it" Cynthia explained. "The one represented in the centre of these Ruins. It is said to have created the Pokémon world as we know it."

My jaw dropped. So that's the origin of the Pokémon world. Looking up I saw two statues; one was bipedal and had a pearl on its arm and one was quadruped and had a diamond in its chest. Dialga and Palkia.

"Now I believe we should say our prayers to Dialga and Palkia, and Arceus of course" Tetsuya said. We all got on one knee and started praying. We had to be silent the whole time to show our respect, but thinking about Dialga and time got me to start thinking about Pichu. Tears rolled down my face as we prayed. By the time we were finished, my tears were uncontrollable.

"What's wrong?" Cynthia asked, clearly concerned.

"I lost a friend in the past" I sobbed. "It sacrificed itself so it could allow me to go back to this current time with Celebi. I feel like it's on me that I'll never see it again."

Cynthia hugged me. "It will be fine" she said. "It will always be in your heart. But there isn't anything you can do for now."

I stopped crying. Maybe there was a way. Time to do something insane. I ran over to the grand Dialga statue that towered above us. "Dialga, if you can hear me, bring back my friend please. It was taken by Team Rocket due to my over excitement, I am truly sorry."

I closed my eyes and hoped for the best.

Silence filled the cave, it was almost deafening in its own right. We waited for a solid minute, before I sighed. Well, it was worth a try…

"I understand what you were trying" Cynthia told me.

"Pii?" I heard the familiar chirp come from behind me.

"Pichu, no. I'm not in the mood." Hearing that though made my heart raise a little bit. I turned round and saw it. Small, yellow and in the flesh.

"PICHU!" I shouted as it jumped into my arms. "I can't believe you're back!" I turned back to the statues. "Dialga, Palkia, Arceus, thank you!" I ran back to Cynthia. "I'm going to Sinnoh as soon as possible. It's the next step of my adventure. No, it's a new one entirely! I don't just want to save the world or take Darkrai's request, I want to see"

"I suppose we better get back to the Ruins of Alph then" said Tatsuya. "You need to book your flight tickets. Come out Abra!"

Abra whisked us off to...

Ilex Forest? I was confused so I asked Cynthi; Why were we back here?

"Because, as sad as it is, Pichu can't leave beyond Kanto or Johto."

"What do you mean?" I asked, worried.

"This kind of Pichu is constricted to living here. If it leaves, it may just die. It's the weird power that it has."

"Oh" I said, shocked that I would have to leave it again. "Well Pichu,I guess this is goodbye. For real this time." Pichu jumped out my Bag. She wiped away a tear, before I petted its head. "I'll come back and see you again, I promise. But for now, I have to go to, and you do to."

Just then, a Pichu ran out from the bushes. Then another, and another. They were all delighted to see it.

"Well what do you know? Pichu has friends!" Cynthia said.

"So, the Sinnoh region?" Tetsuya asked. "Cynthia, you can escort him over can't you? Champion's get cheap tickets."

Cynthia nodded. "I'm heading back tomorrow."

"I'll fly on Togekiss then." I sent it out and got on it.

All the Pichu waved goodbye as we all walked out the forest.

I told Cynthia my plan about meeting Lyra first. She told me that she lives in Pastoria City, that would be my first destination.

"We have a long way to go Togekiss" I said.

"You have a big duty" Cynthia told me. "But I wish you luck."

With that, Togekiss lifted off the ground and flew me off...

...to a new adventure!

Credits

Based on:

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver versions for the Nintendo DS

Released Sept 12th 2009 (Japan) March 14th 2010 (America) March 26th (EU)

Developed by Game Freak

Published by Nintendo and the Pokémon Company

Directed by Shigeki Morimoto

Adapted into Fanfiction by Penguinja

Special thanks:

Game Freak, Nintendo and everyone else involved for creating this wonderful game!

Another special thanks:

You, the reader!

Pokémon The Journey: HGSS

Ethan's journey continues in Pokémon The Journey: DP!