POKÉMON: INFINITE LEGACIES
THE CIPRYS REGION
CHAPTER 20
THE TOWER

How am I going to beat Declan? Flame wondered, pacing back and forth outside the Whistltree Town Gym, as his mind replayed his defeat: the sight of the smoke clearing and Tomeinx towering over Litten. How am I going to beat Declan? He had been so confident before the battle had begun, but now doubt flickered in his mind. Can I beat Declan? Am I strong e—

"Hey, Flame! Wait up!"

Flame turned towards the familiar voice as Selina appeared out of the gym's entrance.

"You weren't going to hurry off without saying goodbye, were you?" said Selina, her arms crossed.

Flame fiddled with his headband. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry."

Selina's expression softened. "What are you going to do now?" she said, searching his gaze.

Flame looked away. "What else? Think of a way to beat your dad."

"I can help you train, if you want? I haven't got much else on—well, maybe apart from helping my dad with the gym."

Flame hesitated.

Selina rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, Flame. I'm not going to tell Declan any of your secrets. I'd rather you beat him, actually."

Flame smiled slightly and nodded. "Okay, sure. I think I'm going to need the help."

They returned to Whistltree Town's Pokémon Centre. Flame booked a room for four nights and Selina convinced him to hand all his Poké Balls to Nurse Joy, even Oriota's. "No more training tonight," she had told him. "You and your Pokémon need time to recover. Besides, we'll be discussing strategy over dinner."

After showering they met in the canteen. It was quiet, so they quickly found a free booth and ordered their food.

Selina grabbed a slice of bread from the basket. "So, how do you think you're going to beat Declan?"

Flame had already beaten Selina to the bread basket. He gulped, then said, "I'll blast him away with Litten's Flame Charge!"

Selina buttered her slice in silence. Looks like his confidence is back.

"Maybe. I guess . . ."

Or not. Selina took a bite out of their starter. "Tomeinx's Poison Touch," she pointed out.

"Okay . . . Then I'll go with Eevee's Quick Attack!"

"Which is a Normal-type move."

"Fair point."

Selina finished her slice. "How about you use Oriota instead?"

Flame went for seconds. "Maybe." He didn't bother with butter and tore into the plain bread. "But Oriota hasn't got much experience," he began after a gulp. "Maybe Eevee doesn't have that much either, but she's definitely a higher level than Oriota, and even if her moveset is limited, I want to give her the chance to"—he hiccupped—"avenge her defeat."

Selina nodded. "I understand. Then maybe we should teach your Eevee some new—"

A sudden thought entered his mind. "I know someone who"—hiccup—"might be able to help with that." He grabbed his bag and stood up. "I'll be"—hiccup—"back in time for dessert."

"Slow down. Relax. And what about your food? The main course'll be here any minute now."

At the mention of food, Flame contemplated staying—their starter had only subdued his hunger for now—but he knew tomorrow's training was more important. "I can't," he said, hurrying away. "This is more important than food!" Besides—he licked his lips—if I'm quick, this won't take too long.

Selina shook her head slowly, then started giggling at the sight of a waiter nearing their booth. That boy's always full of surprise . . .

Flame's hands were clasped together into a pleading ball as he gazed into the monitor with his very best impression of the Fairy-type move, Baby-Doll Eyes. "Please, please, please, Professor. Please . . ."

Professor Julietta Aconite sipped tentatively at her frappe. "I'm not sure, Flame," she said after a moment, placing her iced coffee back down on the nearest pile of paperwork. "I wouldn't want to show favouritism toward certain students."

Flame grinned mischievously. "C'mon, Professor, I know I was your favourite student."

Professor Aconite laughed. "Favourite student? Teachers maybe, but we professors never have favourite students."

"C'mon . . ." persisted Flame, using Baby-Doll Eyes for a second time.

It was not very effective, though. Professor Aconite averted her gaze, examining the piles of paperwork that were strewn throughout her office. It's going to be another late night, she thought as she returned her gaze to her former student, memories flashing through her mind. "Knowing you, Flame, I don't think you are going to stop asking me until you get what you wish. Am I correct?"

"Sure are, Prof! Besides, it's not Eevee's fault she's a Normal-type Pokémon. She was born that way."

On cue, Eevee appeared in Flame's lap and looked up at the Pokémon Professor's face with wide, pleading eyes. "Brreeee, Eevee!"

On this occasion, Baby-Doll Eyes was super effective. "No sane human being can refuse an Eevee," sighed Professor Aconite. "Okay. I can send you a TM that should help. Luckily I keep them more organised than my office," she joked to herself, laughing nervously, before adding to Flame, "but if I hear you haven't earned that Phantom Badge by the end of the week, you'll be in big trouble, mister."

Flame grinned happily. "Thanks, Professor! You're the best!"

A warm smile lit up Professor Aconite's face. "Talk soon. And good luck . . . Oh, and your sister's been doing well in my classes so far."

"See ya later, Professor!"

"Goodbye, Flame."

The monitor cut out. Flame, still grinning, high-fived Eevee's forepaw. "Good work. I never knew how effective your Baby-Doll Eyes was."

Eevee puffed out her chest and exclaimed, "Ee-vee!" as if to tell Flame, I know I'm just the cutest little ball of fluff around.

Turns out Flame did make it back for dessert (and a cold main course) but while he returned to his room at the Pokémon Centre for the night, Selina returned to the gym, which—because of its built-in living quarters—also functioned as her home. She entered through reception. As usual, it was dark, only a few candles dotted around. Phyllis was still sat behind her desk. She was all but hidden behind a desktop computer and onto her next book, The Tower, an 841-page, first-edition hardcover.

Like most of the books on display in the gym, Selina had raced through it when she was younger. It was a mysterious read, creepy, spine-tingling, told across different time periods, and not something an 8-year-old girl should have been reading, but it had been as scary as it had been exciting. If she hadn't already promised to help Flame with his training, she would have asked Phyllis where the spare copy was: Her father had collected spares over the years, so that if any book became damaged, there would always be a backup.

Selina remembered asking her parents the day after finishing the book if they could go on holiday to Lavender Town. They had looked at each other and chuckled and said, "Lavender Town isn't the sort of place people go for a holiday." Selina smiled at the memory. She would still like to visit Lavender Town and its tower someday, but now she was old enough to know that all the book had been was fiction, the result of an author's imagination . . .

"Is Dad still in there?" she asked Phyllis. Really there was no need, she knew what the answer would be.

Phyllis flinched at the sound of her voice.

Selina smiled uneasily. She must be at the bit where the piano starts playing.

Phyllis shut the book fiercely, as if afraid of releasing what was written within. The front cover—a grey tower that stretched into the sky shrouded by mist and clouds—stared at Selina, and Selina looked back, fascinated. She reached out. She placed a hand on the front cover. Her fingers settled on the fore-edge. She was about to flitter through the pages, about to open it . . .

"Selina."

Selina tensed up, but the voice seemed so far away. So unimportant when compared. Her eyes remained locked on the book. She forgot all else. That's all it was. A book. And she had to open it.

"Selina," said Phyllis, louder.

Selina flinched, and in the process, tore her hand away from The Tower. Suddenly she remembered promising the dark-haired boy with the blaze-orange eyes that she would help him with his training.

Phyllis grabbed hold of the book and pulled it away from Selina, placing it under the desk—out of view and out of reach. "That is my book," she growled, more frustrated with herself than Selina. "Don't you go near it again, child!"

Selina shrank back. She'd never seen Phyllis so angry. "I thought you were going to say it was haunted or something . . ."

Silence descended for a moment. Then Phyllis said, "Do you promise?"

What a strange question, thought Selina. Phyllis had been receptionist at the gym all her life and had helped raise her. Almost like a mother . . . Selina realised, but she was unsure what to think of her aggression over some old book. With a pang of sadness, she guessed Phyliss was just getting old.

Selina tried to reassure Phyllis with her best smile. "I promise, Phyllis."

Selina's words relaxed Phyllis' expression. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't realise that you had come in. Your father's been training on the battlefield ever since you and your friend left."

"That doesn't surprise me." What was his name again?

Phyllis leaned back in her seat and smiled at Selina. "That's your father for you," she commented, a sparkle in her eye. "I believe your nice friend has really motivated him."

Selina shrugged. "He can have that effect on some people, I guess . . ." Heat rushed to her face for some reason, even though she couldn't remember his name, and she felt compelled to add, "but not me." She started towards the doorway. "I'll go check how he is. See you later."

"Bye for now, dear," said Phyllis, listening to the sound of Selina's footsteps fading down the corridor, before she heaved it back onto her desk. She stared evenly at the tower on the front cover and murmured, "Now, now . . . where was I?" as she opened it, searching . . .

Overhead the lanterns were even brighter than before, casting down enough colours to light up a haunted house. Enclosed torches connected to the pillars and fitted evenly along the goliath bookcases had been switched on too, providing a more natural hue of light. In the middle of it all was the Whistltree Town Gym Leader, Declan, instructing a group of Ghost-type Pokémon. A large book-shaped Pokémon, black and tattered and covered in arcane symbols, was trying to hit three smaller Pokémon with Will-o-Wisp: a spherical, horned Pokémon concealed under a grey cloth; a dark green Pokémon with long, pink-tipped hair; and a black, red-eyed Pokémon holding a sandy-coloured mask. Scrunched-up pieces of burning paper littered the floor. A skull-masked Pokémon with a grey coat, a white candle-like Pokémon, and a pumpkin-shaped Pokémon watched from the sidelines.

"Dad!"

Declan glanced in his daughter's direction. He waited until his Pokémon had finished the drill, then called a pause to training: Tomeinx landed with a thump and leaned against a pillar while Shuppet, Misdreavus, and Yamask rushed towards Selina. Just behind, Duskull and Pumpkaboo floated over with Litwick bouncing along. Their trainer followed more slowly with an amused expression on his face.

Selina grinned at the sight. "Hey, guys!"

They mobbed her. The six small Ghost-types hadn't seen her for a few weeks and were keen to play. Duskull, Misdreavus, and Shuppet became almost transparent and floated back and forth through her body while Litwick, Pumpkaboo, and Yamask circled her. Some might consider this strange—a Ghost-type passing through your body or how friendly terrifying Ghost-types were acting—but not Selina. She had grown up like this. She didn't mind one bit and had learned Ghost-types were really quite friendly once you got to know them. Smiling, she grabbed her Poké Balls. "Meet Rowlet and say welcome back to Eevee and Drifloon!"

Drifloon floated and Eevee trotted over. They were quickly chatting away with the other Pokémon. But Rowlet had flapped his wings until he'd reached the safety of his trainer's shoulder. He looked at the mass of Ghost-type Pokémon with suspicion, cooing quietly.

"They're not so bad," Selina murmured to him, as she felt his talons tightening around the fabric of her top. "And you'll be like them one day."

Rowlet titled his head, then started flapping his wings and cooing in alarm.

"No, no. I didn't mean that! But one day when you evolve into Decidueye you'll be a Ghost-type."

Rowlet started to calm down, his grip on her shoulder loosening. All the other Pokémon had been too excited to see each other again and hadn't paid attention to Rowlet's outburst.

"Eevee and Drifloon are there. Why don't you go say hello too?"

Rowlet hesitated. He's normally much more confident than this in battle, thought Selina, but then the grass quill Pokémon gave himself a shake and flew over. He was soon cooing away to Shuppet and Litwick.

"They are as happy to see you and your Pokémon as I am," said Declan, warmth radiating from his words, as he reached her, Tomeinx following. "How was your time away?"

"It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it."

"Marvellous. It should be good experience for when you become gym leader."

"Yeah, I guess so."

An uncomfortable silence gathered.

Selina played with her hair and stared at their Pokémon. "It's getting late," she said after a few moments had passed.

Declan looked oblivious. "Is it? What's the time?"

"Quarter past ten."

"No matter. Ghost-types never sleep!"

His Pokemon cried out in agreement. Drifloon and then Eevee added their own yowls of support. And then, so did Rowlet. Selina was outnumbered. With everyone included, it was 11-to-one against.

But she persisted, "Dad."

"Okay. One more—" a yawn interrupted Declan's words "—excuse me. Well then . . . perhaps you are right, my girl. We shall resume tomorrow." His Pokémon looked disappointed as he returned them to their Dusk Balls. "Since Nico is away, I could do with your help training tomorrow. Besides, I'd love to see your new Rowlet in action. What do you say?"

Selina half-smiled. Blaze-orange eyes reappeared in her mind and she wondered how on Ciprys she'd forgotten his name in the first place. "I would, Dad, but I already promised to help Flame with his training."

Declan chuckled. "You like this boy, don't you? I admit, during our battle, I liked his spirit."

Selina shrugged. "He's okay."

Declan smiled knowingly. "Since you are working with him, looks like I'm going to have to maximise the intensity of my training starting tomorrow."

Flame woke to knocking. He stared at the door, rolled over when it didn't stop, and checked the time.

"Ah! How it's 12:17 already?! We need to get training!"

Litten and Eevee uncurled themselves from opposite sides of the bed and started stretching. Flame slipped out of bed and rushed to the door, all the while thinking, I really shouldn't have stayed up so late watching those battle reruns!

He opened the door to a dark blue Pokémon with black-rimmed eyes that was around half his height. The Pokémon eyed the sleep that ringed his eyes and his scruffy hair with disapproval. "Croa-gunk," he croaked slowly. He handed out a small package with CDS – Secure Deliveries written on it before getting the human boy to sign an Osivin Corp-produced device.

"Thanks!" called Flame as the courier Croagunk walked away leisurely down the corridor, in no big hurry. His gaze followed the toxic mouth Pokémon.

Until he could hold back his excitement no longer. He had to know what TM Professor Aconite had sent him. He let the door fall shut and ripped the package open. He pulled out a transparent sleeve with a disc inside. He held it up in front of him. TM30 was written on a label. His grin grew wider the longer he stared at it. "This is a good move!" he said, punching the air. "I owe you one, Prof!"

Flame spent the next two days training with Selina in and around the Pokémon Centre. On the third, she persuaded him to go elsewhere.

"How much longer . . . ?" panted Flame, too sapped of energy to search for wild Pokémon amongst the bushes. They've probably all gone to the coolness spot in the forest anyway.

Selina was leading him through thick undergrowth, up a steep slope. They were back in Whistltree Forest; Selina had told Flame of a training area that was known only to the locals.

"Stop complaining. It's not far."

"Well, it's hot!" grumbled Flame. His eagerness had started to wane as soon as Selina had showed him the path they'd have to take to their destination. The heat sucking at his skin was only worsening his mood. They were in the shadows of the trees, but the sun still knew how to Buizel its heat beyond the canopy.

Flame continued to complain as he followed Selina:

"Training at the Pokémon Centre was fine . . ."

"There was plenty of space . . ."

"We were never far from shade, a shower, a cold drink. Some food . . ." He almost drooled at the thought.

But then the trees began to part. More and more blue sky appeared overhead, and Flame noticed something green and grey looming out of the forest ahead.

"That's not where we're going, is it?"

Selina nodded.

Wider at the base, the tower gradually became thinner the higher it climbed skywards. Up close, the grey vine- and moss-covered stone looked so worn, besieged by the natural elements, that it was hard higher up to distinguish between it and the leaves of the nearest trees. It was a sight to behold; Flame was impressed.

"Woah!" he exclaimed. Despite the heat, a chill raced up his spine. "Why didn't you tell me it was going to be something like this? I would have complained less!"

Selina shrugged. "I wanted it to be a surprise. We call it Spectre Tower."

Author's Notes:
I hope I didn't overload this chapter with scenes, but I wanted to end the chapter with Selina mentioning Spectre Tower, where we head in the next chapter, so that the chapter name had double meaning. I have already edited the next chapter, so that should be out sooner rather than later.

I really enjoyed editing this chapter, though. Particularly because of The Tower scene, but they were all fun scenes to write up and edit. Even though this current arc is driven by Flame's recovery, we got to delve into Selina's relationships and Flame had some more interaction with Professor Aconite. From my perspective, I thoroughly enjoyed featuring some more characters this chapter. We even got to meet the Croagunk Delivery Service. Might not be the fastest service around, but for sure are the most secure. Who would want to mess with a Croagunk?

I mentioned Lavender Town rather organically, but I had been reading chapters of KokoroEcho's Kickin' It In Kanto that were set in Lavender Town a few days prior to writing that scene, so that partly inspired it and I came across the idea of 'Lavender Town Syndrome' on Wikipedia. The mention of the piano playing came from NateWantsToBattle's interpretation of the Lavender Town theme, as well as the official HGSS version.

Coming up with The Tower really got me thinking more about Phyllis' character and a future storyline that could involve all her, Declan, and Selina to some degree, but we shall see. (That scene was originally much, much shorter without exploring the idea of what book Phyllis was reading at the time!).

Can anyone guess why The Tower has 841 pages?