POKÉMON: INFINITE LEGACIES
THE CIPRYS REGION
CHAPTER 12
CIPRYS SUCKS!
"Whop! Not again!" a young boy exclaimed, nearly tripping because of the uneven ground. He flung his arms out and steadied himself. "It's late," he remarked, glancing up at the sky between the tips of the trees. "We shouldn't be here . . ."
The girl ahead of him rolled her eyes. She tutted him. "You're always complaining, Alex. You wanted to come earlier, didn't you?"
Kari Saito was older and taller than he was. She pushed through the thick undergrowth with ease, making a faint path for her companions who staggered after her. She had short hair, silky and black, and when her mouth curved into a smile, his heart leaped. He struggled to look away. She was the prettiest girl at their school—well, that's what Alex thought.
"Y-yeah . . ." Alex sighed back, his teeth gritted as nettles pricked his bare shins. I shouldn't have worn shorts. "But I didn't think it'd take this long," he muttered aloud.
"Quit complaining," Kari dismissed. "Don't you want to see what all the fuss is about?"
"It's all made-up, I bet," one of the other kids put in. "Our parents just wanna keep us away."
"Yeah!" exclaimed another. "What could be hidden there?"
"Could it be a Pokémon?!"
"A Pokémon! Gosh, that'd be, like, so cool!"
"What do you think, Kari?"
"We don't have any Poké Balls, though!"
Kari grinned as she came to a stop. "Oh," she remarked, turning and unzipping her rucksack. "Really? Is that so?"
Every one of the kids rushed forward and gazed wide-eyed into the rucksack. Alex had been the first one behind Kari, and despite the darkness, he noticed several red-and-white Poké Balls glinting at the bottom, beneath a bottle of water and half a packet of custard creams, like buried treasure or a Sableye's gems.
Kari's grin hadn't faded. "Cool, right?"
"Where'd you get them?"
"My gramps had them lying 'round the place."
"I don't know, guys—maybe Alex was right. We could get in trouble. We aren't old enough to catch Pokémon."
Kari scowled. "Go back if you want, but I'm sick and tired of it. You're not old enough," she mimicked her dad's voice. "Ciprys is too dangerous for you to travel around on your own. Wait a few years, and you'll be heading off in no time. Urgh—it's so stupid! If we were in Kanto, Galar, or any other region, we wouldn't have to wait this long! Ciprys sucks—there, I said it!"
"Oh, Arceus, that is so true, Kari!"
"Kari's right, guys! Like, Ciprys does totally suck!"
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Kari zipped up her rucksack and led the way. Alex followed just behind. He'd been less enthusiastic than the others. Sure, he contemplated, Ciprys has its share of negatives, but does it suck? I don't think so. And he really did want to see what the adults had labelled off-limits, as much as Kari and the others, but he was aware of the moon glowing brightly in the sky. Under the trees, there was little light remaining—besides their torches—and he wasn't sure exactly where they were. Even if they had their disagreements, he trusted his parents. Apprehension washed over him for a second time.
He bounded forward and tapped Kari's shoulder.
"What is it?"
"Are you s-sure about this?" he said, shakily. However much he wanted to impress her, he wasn't sure trekking into the wood at night was such a good idea. "Maybe there is a reason our parents tell us to stay away . . ." his voice trailed away.
Kari snorted. "You're such a baby."
His heart plunged. Like a Bagon attempting to fly.
Kari smirked. "It'll be fine."
Alex dropped back, his head lowered in shame, his eyes on the uneven ground. His hands retreated into his pockets. He'd planned on telling Kari how he felt about her tonight. I'm so stupid, he sulked. He slowed, falling to the back of the group and wondering whether there was any way to get her to like him.
His thoughts distracted his focus away from the present. Before he knew it, he was the last one through bushes and into a clearing. There was a shrine in the middle; it looked like it hadn't been visited in quite some time. Behind it, stone-grey steps. Steps that disappeared into darkness and fell away into the ground.
His gaze held there. He wasn't sure what he felt, a mixture of curiosity and fear maybe, but something felt off, wrong, disturbed. For a heartbeat, he thought he saw eyes glow and stare back at him, vanishing back into darkness before he could be sure. He opened his mouth, but could not put it into words.
"Is this all?" mumbled Kari, oblivious. "Hmm . . . well, who fancies going down the steps first?"
There was no response—their eyes were elsewhere. Kari's earlier smirk had evaporated. Fear swept into her widening eyes as she turned and stared at the recipient of all their gazes: a pendulum, swimming with purple energy, had appeared between the shrine and the steps. The children watched, frozen into silence, until the pendulum started to swing left, right. Left, right. Left, right in rhythmic fashion, slowly at first, but with every pass made, gaining more and more momentum.
"What the . . ."
"I'm getting out of here!" a scream. This boy turned and bolted, only to reach the edge of the clearing where he collapsed suddenly. He did not get back up.
"What do we do?!" wailed someone.
"We should have listened to our parents!" another cried out.
Alex stared at Kari. He wanted to help her, but she was lost in silence, unable to tear her gaze away from the pendulum. The circle at the centre was moving so fast now it was almost impossible to follow with the human eye. It captured Alex's gaze too and drew him in: Left, right. Left, right. His eyes saw the pendulum and nothing else. He forgot Kari. He forgot what he wanted to tell her. He forgot where he was, who he was. His legs grew weak and shook until he felt only the rhythm of the pendulum. He collapsed, but felt no pain, only the pendulum. His eyes closed.
And all he saw was the pendulum.
"So, you think a Pokémon's responsible?"
"Yes," the old lady confirmed. "Our grandson is among those missing. And so, we have been keeping our eyes peeled for a trainer capable of handling such a task. I wrote to the Gym Leader of Whistltree for help, but we are yet to receive a response."
"Well," Selina commented, "gym leaders are often busy, so that's no surprise."
"Yes—we agree, but we thought it worth a try. And," the old lady took a deep breath, "I'm worried the longer we wait . . ." her voice trailed off and she looked like she was about to break down into tears. Her partner stepped closer and rubbed her back.
Flame glanced skyward. The sky was darkening, the sun beginning to set. Nothing can be done tonight, he thought, that's for sure.
Selina noticed this too. "Why don't we head inside and talk about this in more detail?"
They started to turn.
"Can I join you?" Flame blurted. "I'd like to help." And it looks like a super strong Pokémon might be involved, he thought mischievously, concealing the excitement he felt.
The elderly couple exchanged a glance. "We would not want to see you in danger," murmured the old man.
Selina shrugged. "Let him come. He'll be useful bait."
Flame couldn't tell whether she was joking or not about the 'bait' part. He assumed (and hoped) she was. He followed the trio inside.
When the elderly couple had started to explain to Selina and Flame what had happened, the crowd had dispersed, realising that the battles were done for the day. Now, they found the Pokémon Centre lobby busy with trainers. Many congratulated Selina for winning so many battles; some offered Flame words of praise and/or encouragement. The four of them made their way through and over to the dining area. The teens were hungry: Flame opted for pepperoni pizza and orange juice while Selina asked for tuna salad and water. The old couple insisted they weren't hungry. As the two youngsters ate, they elaborated on what had happened.
"Are there a lot of Pokémon in this wood?" Selina asked between mouthfuls.
"A fair few," the old lady confirmed. "In the past, the area was used as a training ground. The Pokémon there should not be that strong."
The old man sighed. "We would venture into the woods ourselves and investigate, but we're too old, too frail to be of much use, I'm afraid."
"Speak for yourself," scolded the old lady.
Selina nodded. "Okay. I'll investigate in the–"
Flame coughed.
"We will investigate in the morning."
They arranged to meet bright and early in the lobby. Selina arrived prepared: tracksuit bottoms, long-sleeved top, baseball cap, and her hair tied back through the gap into a single ponytail. Flame . . . well, Flame hadn't put as much thought into his attire. He turned the corner, wiping sleep from his eyes, and had his usual capri shorts, black-and-red top, and headband on.
"You look like you've just woken up," Selina commented.
"I have," groaned Flame.
"Let's go."
"Can't I grab something to eat first?"
"Let's go."
"Fine," Flame yawned.
The cool morning air soon freshened Flame up. He didn't feel quite as groggy as Selina led the way into the wood. Because of the overarching branches and leaves, the sun was hardly visible overhead and the path ahead was covered in shade. A Pokémon hooted in the distance, a Pikipek drilled against a tree, and Bug-type Pokémon watched from the bushes that lined their impromptu path, or from up in the trees.
"Doesn't seem so bad," noted Flame. He waved at the Bug-types.
"Don't jinx us."
The Bug-types backed away a little and gave him blank stares. He shrugged, then tucked his hands into his pockets and started to whistle.
After a moment, Selina was compelled to say, "Can you stop whistling?"
"Why? It builds atmosphere."
Selina looked miffed. "Annoying was the correct answer. If you want atmosphere, let me tell you a story."
"Sure. I'm unscareable, if that's a word."
Selina picked out a black and green-spotted Poké Ball from her bag, then pressed the orange release-return button. A purple-coloured Pokémon with a cloud-like piece of fluff on her head and a yellow cross taped across her face appeared, floating in mid-air.
"Drifloon!" greeted Selina's Pokémon, holding out a thin, string-like arm with a yellow love-heart at the end towards Flame.
Flame accepted Drifloon's gesture happily. He held onto one of her yellow love-hearts. He wasn't sure what to make of the 'airy' texture of her hand, but he thought it'd be rude to let go.
Selina smiled sweetly. "Let me tell you a story about Drifloon: Drifloon is known as the balloon Pokémon, and in my town, when I was younger, we were told to stay away from Drifloon."
"Why?" Flame wondered. "I've never met a Drifloon before, but this one's really cute, actually."
Drifloon looked happy. She floated a little higher, tugging slightly at Flame's hand in the process. "Drifloon!" she exclaimed. "Drifloon! Drifloon!"
"Well, Drifloon can be a little too friendly sometimes. They like to hold onto the hands of children and drag them into the afterlife."
Flame let go. "What?!"
"Oh yeah, and it's said that Drifloon's balloon is filled with those spirits from the afterlife."
Flame shivered. "You don't seem so cute anymore."
"Drifloon!" Drifloon giggled mischievously, her body expanding and then shrinking as she did.
"Drifloon's been with me for a long time," Selina remarked. She laughed. "If you ever annoy me again, I'll have Drifloon carry you off into the sky."
Flame half-smiled. "I better stop whistling then."
Suddenly, the bushes ahead of them shook violently. Selina stopped and Drifloon stared. Flame burrowed into his pocket for a Poké Ball.
A large group of brown-and-white Pokémon, furry and small, scampered out, zigzagging through and away from the undergrowth. "Zigzagoon!" they cried. "Zigzagoon! Zigzagoon!"
The Zigzagoon rushed past Flame and Selina as if they weren't there.
Flame turned his head and watched them streak away. "Did they look spooked to you?"
Selina nodded. "Let's find out why."
They ventured off the track and into the undergrowth. The undergrowth was thick; nettles stung his shins, but Flame battled through. So did Selina, who led the way once more—Drifloon floating above. There were no more Pikipek chipping away, nor anymore hoots echoing out, nor any Bug-types examining them. The wood appeared silent.
"This doesn't seem right," Flame murmured, feeling uneasy
"You wanted atmosphere." Selina managed a grin. "This is your atmosphere."
"I guess . . ."
Flame rubbed his arms. He was sure it was darker than before, and he felt colder. What's going on? he thought.
He blinked.
And lost sight of Selina and Drifloon.
"Selina?" he murmured. "Selina . . ." He spun round, looked in every direction, but Selina was nowhere to be seen. A wave of shock, of fear crashed over him. "Selina!" he yelled. "Selina!"
Author's Notes:
Happy new year! One of my resolutions for 2020 has to be to keep writing and posting this story—hopefully, it doesn't go the way most resolutions do!