V: Ancient Connections
Will took in a deep breath, enjoying the cool morning air as it filled his lungs. A thick fog blanketed the land around him, causing the windows of tiny Solaceon to stand out like distant stars. He wasn't complaining though. In fact, this kind of fog was the precise reason that the duo had diverged from their original path, and traveled to the small country settlement. The route leading to Snowpoint City was to take them through the lower caverns of Mt. Coronet, which were well known to be plagued by constant fog. Rather than spend days wondering lost in the underground, they had decided to seek out a move tutor who specialized in the Defog technique which would enable their Pokemon to clear out the natural barrier. As Will had no Pokemon capable of using the technique himself though, he had left Artemis to train with his Noctowl while he explored a series of ruins just beyond the eastern limits of the town. It didn't take him long to find them, the Solaceon Ruins were a great tourist attraction. He had hoped that his early morning arrival might deter the presence of any company, but much to his surprise he found a sprightly old man hurriedly pacing back and forth between the entrance.
"Well bless my beard it's a youth after all! Come to explore the ruins I take it?" he said rushing over to greet Will. "Excellent yes most excellent, you do your generation a great deal of good young man! Why if more of you were interested in these sorts of matters, the mysterious that plague such places would surely yield their secrets!"
"Uhm thank you I guess?" said Will a bit flustered by the man's energy.
"Not at all! Now then what am I to call you my new friend?"
"William, though Will is fine sir."
"A pleasure William! My name is Karl! I've been studying these here ruins for quite some time. It is most fortunate that you are here now though, for you see as of late the ruins have seemingly come alive with activity!"
"Alive?"
"Oh yes! You see they are a nesting ground for a very particular species of Pokemon that we call Unown. Have you ever encountered one before?" Will felt a tingle of excitement rush through his stomach. He had never met one, but the Unown were well known in his home region of Johto.
"I am familiar with them. In fact, they have a large nest in the Ruins of Alph back home from what I understand."
"Ahhhh so you are from Johto then I take it? A pleasure having you here in our region! Now then as I was saying, the ruins are all a buzz with activity. Normally, the Unown are quite docile. Yet something has them stirred up, and I am quite curious as to learn why. Care to accompany me down into the ruins?"
"Of course. The Unown, they aren't dangerous, are they?"
"Not at all dear boy, just a bit excited it seems is all. Still, there is safety in numbers, yes? Right then off we go!"
Without really waiting the old man was off into the cave with Will following swiftly behind. The ruins proved to be a bare sight, much to Wills dismay. He had hoped to explore an ancient temple, like the ones seen in the movies. This however, seemed to be nothing more than a hollowed cavern. On the far wall of the room was a series of carvings, while three separate flights of stairs led deeper into the earth. Not only that, but a cacophony of odd beeps emanated from somewhere within the ruins.
"Now then If my memory serves me correctly. we are going to want to take that second flight of stairs on our right. Off we go!" The old explorer was moving again and Will couldn't help but chuckle at his excitement. As he prepared to follow suit however, the carvings on the wall caught his eye.
"Wait, Karl?! What is that writing up on the wall?"
"What's that? Ahhhh yes, the inscription. Well you see an ancient tribe, whose name and origin remain to this day a mystery, are believed to have carved that writing upon the wall long ago. Each of their letters corresponds to one of the many different shapes that the Pokemon Unown may take. Isn't it just fascinating?"
"Yeah… Fascinating," thought Will as he followed down the stairs. He was wrong, he had seen the Unown before after all. Back at the Eterna mansion, they had been trapped in a piece of that odd machine. Even as his mind wondered at this the beeping noises grew louder. Soon they were in another much smaller room with more stairs leading down into different portions of the ruins. Small black shapes flickered in and out of sight above their heads, the Unown.
"Its been years since I have seen them so active. Normally the silly little critters spend all day sleeping on the walls, pretending to be letters themselves. But what's got them so anxious? That has been the subject of my study these past few days," said Karl as he paced around the room in circles, "Now then let's see which one was it again. Maybe here?"
Will found himself grateful for his guide as it quickly became apparent that the ruins were more like a maze, with many staircases leading into identical chambers, each completely empty save for a lone boulder at its center, and the many Unown buzzing about in clusters near the walls and ceilings. Before long he had completely lost track of where they were, and even Karl had to backtrack a few times to stay on some unseen course. Finally, after one final flight of stairs, they arrived in a much larger chamber. A slight mist pervaded the ground, and a second Inscription could be seen on the far wall. Before It stood someone. A figure concealed beneath a large, dark cloak. Will gave Karl a curious glance, but the archaeologist seemed every bit as perplexed by this unexpected visitor who was busy muttering under his breath.
"So then. At some point the two groups must have met, and shared their learnt knowledge. The myths of creation… Great catalysts concealed in the aftermath… and these hands that somehow guide… But where and when precisely did this occur? If only I knew…" Karl stepped towards the man.
"I daresay, I don't recall seeing you enter the ruins sir! My gosh you must have come quite early this morning if you beat me to the punch! I don't believe we've met before! You see I'm"-
"Professor Karl Fray. Yes, I know all about you," said the man turning to greet them. Will was taken aback. Vibrant violet eyes peered out from beneath a crown of raven dark hair, which fell long but neatly around his pale face.
"You are quite right! But my good man, I must admit. I don't recall having ever met before. May I ask for your name?" An unnatural chill ran down Will's spine as the man began to slowly pace the floor of the room. Something about him seemed very off and he could not help but instinctively reach for Weaviles Pokeball.
"Dirac will suffice professor. It is quite fortunate that you are here now. You see, I am a theorist of sorts who has been working for quite some time on a theory concerning matters of ancient cultures. My research led me to seek more information on the Unown, and there is no better place to study them in all of Sinnoh than here."
"Agreed!" Piped the professor. Will couldn't help but marvel at the old man's apparent lack of concern over their mysterious comrade, "A blessing for our fair region of Sinnoh. It is quite rare for the Unown to settle in such large numbers after all. We must count ourselves lucky!"
"Lucky indeed." Chimed the stranger, "Now then, a simple question. What do you make of these stones?" Dirac held out for them to see, three stones each a different color. One an intense orange, with a crystalline flame at its heart. Another a translucent blue with small bubbles all throughout it, and the last a yellow green stone with a bright yellow vein shaped like a bolt of lightning.
"Why those are evolutionary stones! But surely you knew that?" Piped the professor.
"Quite right. You see Professor Fray, the true curiosity lies not with the stones, but rather where they came from." The man began to pace about the room, his eyes wandering between the fluttering Unown. "Within this cave I'm sure you saw, are many chambers containing nothing but a lone rock. Truthfully, they are simple alters. Upon them in three separate chambers, I found these stones. Curious as to why they were there to begin with, I took the stones with me away from the ruins for closer inspection. Yet upon my return to replace them, I discovered that three more stones had appeared to take their place." Turning to face Will and the professor, he revealed this second set of stones, identical to the first. "What would you make of this phenomena professor?"
"Most engaging. The rooms that you found these stones in. Empty you say?"
"Quite right, although there was one thing I found to be unique to each of them. The Unown."
"I take it then that you were only able to find certain shapes in each room?"
"Shapes?" Interrupted William.
"Ahh yes excellent!" smiled the professor, "You see young man, some species of Pokemon have different forms to themselves, meaning that two of the same species will vary in appearance. Out of all species however, none come close to the variance of the Unown! Twenty-eight in total!"
"Meaning that the shapes he found have something to do with those stones?" asked William.
"An excellent theory dear boy, and I must concur!" Smiled the professor. Dirac too, seemed pleased with this answer.
"If this is true, then perhaps the nature of these alters becomes a bit clearer." Said Dirac, staring up at the large inscription upon the wall, "One might even say, the temple itself. You see many equate the Unown with an ancient language. One that appears not only here in Sinnoh, But Johto as well as the Sevii Isles. It has heavy ties to tribes that took up residence in those regions. Each had tremendous interaction and a unique understanding of the Unown themselves. So much so, that it is theorized they based their language upon the Pokemon. Of course, there are some who disagree with this, claiming that Unown are themselves an artificial Pokemon, engineered by the tribes. A most interesting claim."
"Hoho! I see you are a fan of Dr. Crofts Theory of Alchemical Pokemon generation?"
"Not so much a fan, though I admit it makes some… Useful speculations," Smiled Dirac.
"But why would these ancients want to make a Pokemon with so many shapes?" asked Will, feeling that this Dirac character was skirting something important.
"Wahahaha! Now that my dear William is a question whose answer would come with an Archaeological grand prize!"
"William?" asked Dirac whose gaze shifted onto the trainer for a moment, a wild light seeming to spark within them. "How… Nice to meet you… Now as to why they would create a Pokemon. Well I believe the answer lies before us here." He returned his gaze to the inscription. Studying it most intensely.
"Here William, it's no fun when you're stuck in the dark! Allow me to transcribe this for you!" said the professor before clearing his throat.
Friendship. All Lives Touch Other Lives to Create Something Anew and Alive
"To create something anew and alive," Repeated Dirac, "Yes. I believe that is just what the Unown were meant to do. The elemental stones I carry are just a small example of what the ancients could create by using the Unown's hidden powers. But this passage here, it's significance spans more than just the Pokemons purpose, but a question that I have long wondered."
"Is that right? Well my dear fellow, please don't keep an old kodger like me waiting! Do tell!"
"The truth of these Ancients. Don't you see, it? All lives Touch Others…I understand now that my former theory was incorrect. I once believed that all these tribes spread out across the globe originated here in Sinnoh. But now I can see. The ones that kept the language of the Unown, and perhaps even acted as its progenitors. They came from afar, drawn to this land by some mysterious force.
The information they carried; eventually they chose to share it with those who dwelt here. This temple, it is a testimony to the happy union of the two cultures. A place where knowledge was shared, and a new a friendship was born."
"Hmmm… you just might have something there. After all," said the professor, who was busy scanning the inscription once more, "To prove this however, we would need a linguistic to analyze and compare samplings of the texts here with that from other locations. I'd be willing to wager that your best bet for a match lies somewhere in the Ruins of Alph."
Dirac smiled again, and William felt a distinct air of triumph radiate from him.
"My dear Professor Fray, our chance meeting today strikes me as more than mere coincidence. But an act of fate! There is no doubt in my mind that you are meant to accompany me and my archaeological team in our investigations. With our combined knowledge we just might be able to lay claim that it was in fact Johto where the Unown and this language truly was born!" The professor smiled and began waving his hat about in the air.
"Ahh do you smell it boys! That is the grand aroma of adventure! History never truly rests and neither shall I! I accept your offer!"
When the trio resurfaced from the ruins the sun was already high in the sky. Dirac and Fray returned with William to Solaceons' Pokemon Center to collect their belongings before setting out to meet in Hearthome City. Will however, lacked the enthusiasm his two new colleagues shared. Instead a terrible anxiety seemed to have planted itself in his gut. As Dirac left for his room, Will found himself alone with Fray.
"Well my dear boy, this has been quite the exciting day, hasn't it? I've said it once and I'll say it again. If more youth were interested in history like you and that fellow Dirac, the world would be a very different place!"
"Professor, aren't you in the least bit… I don't know curious? As to who this Dirac guy really is? I mean you just met him and now you're flying off to another region to do groundbreaking research together? Don't you find anything I don't know…off putting about him?
"Your concerns are a valid one my boy but just look at me! Am I not also a rather eccentric fellow?
"Well… Enthusiastic sure but-"
"William, chance meetings such as these are wonderful opportunities! Why just look at us! You met me mere hours ago and yet already you are concerned about my well-being. It is as the ancients said about friendship. When one life touches another, something new is born! True I have never heard of this Dirac before; nevertheless, I am looking forward to tackling the great mysteries of the past alongside him. Adventure is out there! Not just for me, but for you and everyone who is willing to listen when it calls us! Take our meeting for example; I believe it was also no mere coincidence.
"What do you mean?" The professor glanced about the room before pulling William in closer to him, speaking in a hushed whisper.
"Now you might think me crazy when I say this, but last night I had a peculiar dream. In it I was standing atop a tall, icy mountain. Cresselia herself flew past me in a shimmer of light, and as I watched her fly away I noticed from my eyes corner, that a Glaceon was patiently waiting for me. As soon as we locked eyes, she began to guide me further up the snowy mountainside until we came to the mouth of a rather menacing cave. Inside, the walls were covered in Unown script patterned in these enormous circles! Then, a most peculiar young man appeared. His feet never touched the ground, and when he spoke his voice came out as more of an echo. He told me that Solaceons temple was expecting me, and that when I arrived I would meet a new friend. And wouldn't you know it, an hour later I met you!"
"You saw… a Glaceon?" Will said, more to himself than the professor who continued speaking.
"The mythical Pokemon of this world are amazing beings William, whose vast powers grant them a profound understanding of things beyond us. Although this old man has developed a keen intuition," he added with a wink, "sometimes the universe can't help but nudge us in the right direction. I look forward to seeing you again someday my newfound friend! Farewell!"
And as quickly as they had met the odd Professor Karl Frey was off, leaving Will with dozens of questions. The doors of the center were quick to open again, as Artemis arrived at the center.
"There you are! I've been looking all over for you! Is… is something wrong? What's with the face?"
"Artemis… can I ask you something?
"Is everything alright?" he asked with a worried expression.
"It's about Cresselia…and maybe something more."