Chapter Eighteen

Written in Stone

As the Magnet Train raced down the track, en route to the Midnight Mesa, the train's sole passenger watched the scenery pass with a heavy heart.

Sighing, Feldspar Earthshaker folded his stubby arms and sunk into his seat. The little Larvitar's reflection gazed forlornly back at him from the train window. Why the long face, Feldspar? Uncle Obsidian had asked him during the Festival party. Aren't you having fun?

Of course I am, Feldspar recalled himself replying vaguely. Just sad that tomorrow's the last day of holiday, you know. Then it's back to school for me.

But now, as he headed back to the Midnight Mesa Academy alone on the train, there was no need to keep on lying to himself and maintain a cheerful façade. Closing his eyes, Feldspar let his thoughts rest heavily upon his heart, nearly crushing it with their sudden weight. And when he could bear the pressure no longer, the Larvitar bolted onto his feet.

"I'm going back to school!" Feldspar cried determinedly from atop the plush seat cushion. "I will drop this crazy depression thing and be happy!"

But his father's harsh voice still rang unbearably in his mind. There will be no arguments between you and me, Feldspar! Corundum Earthshaker had bellowed at his son. YOU are going to become the Verdant Stadium Master whether you like it or not!

"Happy!" Feldspar yelled, shaking his head wildly from side to side to rid it of such memories. "I will be happy! Everyone will be happy!" Panting, he slumped back into his seat, working furiously to drive each and every upsetting thought out of his mind. The spacious train compartment fell into silence once more, save for the steady buzzing of the train itself.

A sudden tap at the window made Feldspar glance up. Long branches were grasping at the glass, snapping back with sharp clicks as the Magnet Train hurtled past. A small smile crept onto the Larvitar's face as the track ascended, revealing a stretch of emerald green treetops below. A mess of tangled dark hair flashed in his mind, along with a pair of wide brown eyes…

"Whatever happened to that girl, Lynn?" Feldspar mused. "Wonder if she made it around Verdant City okay."

A second face took the place of the first. This one was pale and small, but overflowing with happy gratitude. "And Eppie," Feldspar added absentmindedly. "I hope she made up with her brother."

The image of Eppie's face brought a stream of words along with it. The important thing is you can't back out! Else you're just making life miserable for yourself, which'll probably make life miserable for him, too, a small voice whispered in the back of the Larvitar's head. To Feldspar's consternation, he realized it was his own. You're not doing it to make him angry, he had told Eppie so confidently about her brother. You're doing it so you and him can finally see eye to eye –to make things happier for both of you!

"That's not so much to ask for, is it?" Feldspar mumbled to himself, falling back against the cushioned seat. Idly, he watched the snatches of forest fall away below. "I just wanna make us all a little bit happier…"

Before he could complete the thought, however, Feldspar went flying into the seat in front of him, then tumbling into the aisle. Getting dazedly to his feet, he realized that the Magnet Train had screeched to a stop. "What's going on?" he yelped.

The train rumbled, sending a strong vibrating sensation coursing down its length. Feldspar clenched his jaw to keep his molars from rattling about. "Is s-something w-wr-wrong?" he stuttered as the rumbling intensified.

With an approving hum of static, the train began to move. Once again caught unaware, Feldspar toppled forward and crashed into the front of the compartment. "Oh man!" the Larvitar yelped. Springing back onto his feet, he scrambled to the closest window and stared out. Treetops were zooming past in a green blur, getting closer with every passing second. Feldspar could only gape as the train descended low enough for several branches to brush against the windows. "We're going the wrong way!" the Larvitar cried. "We're going back the way we came!"

Back to Verdant City.

Feldspar's jaw dropped. "Hey, who do you think you are!" he exclaimed, shaking a fist at the ceiling. "My conscience or something?"

The train gave a little buck of satisfaction, throwing Feldspar across the compartment once more with an unpleasant jolt. "What are you thinking? I can't go back!" the Larvitar moaned. He picked itself up, rubbing at a newly-developed bump underneath his stony skin. "Dad wouldn't listen to me before, so what're the chances of him listening now? It's hopeless, I tell you! Really, truly, cross-my-heart hopeless!"

Another buck sent him clattering to the other end of the train compartment. "Well," Feldspar grumbled as he sat back up. "If you're going to be ornery about it…"

The Magnet Train fizzled smugly, throwing a spray of sparks against the windows. Despite himself, Feldspar found a wide grin spreading across his face. Hoisting himself onto the nearest seat, he yelled out loud and clear.

"No one makes a hypocrite out of Feldspar Earthshaker, especially not himself! On to Verdant City!"

"My, that's a lot of flowers, Master Earthshaker."

Stifling an unwanted yawn with his large stony paw, Stadium Master Corundum favored the Human Stadium worker in the doorway with a weary smile. "Just appeared on my desk the other day, and they've been growing ever since," he replied, a second yawn breaking through despite his previous precautions. Wearily, he flicked a knot of vines off the back of his chair, then a spray of red flowers off his pencil holder. "Something the matter, Connelly?"

"There's someone waiting in the lobby right now. Says he needs to talk to you right away."

Corundum frowned. "It's the night of the biggest tournament of the year, and I've still got arrangements to make," he sighed. "Can't you tell whoever it is to come back tomorrow?"

"You might want to see who it is, sir."

Sighing, Corundum stood and shoved his chair in. "I'll be right down."

Several minutes after the tired Tyranitar had disappeared down the hall, a second Pokémon dashed in through a different set of doors. "Hey, hey, hey!" came the shrill voice of Himeka Madison as she scampered up to Corundum's office. "I'm here to register my Ringed for the tournament tonight!"

She giggled to herself as she shoved open the office door and peered inside. "Hey, hey, hey? Anyone here?"

Ignoring the fact that the lights were off and the room was obviously empty, the exuberant Eevee pup bounded right in. "Mister Stadium Master!" she called, hitting the light switch to illuminate the room. "Where are you?" Receiving no answer, Himeka pursed her pert mouth into a pout. "Aw, nuts," she said disappointedly. "I gotta register now! Papa's coming and everything! He'll be so confused if I'm not there when I said I'd be!"

A heavy vine that had been teetering on the edge of the desk fell at Himeka's front paws, startling her into a jump. Looking up at Corundum's flower-encrusted desk, Himeka's small forehead wrinkled in thought. "There's gotta be a schedule or something here!" she cried, leaping up and down for a better look.

Spying the swivel chair next to the desk, the Eevee's face lit up. Glancing around to make sure nobody was watching, she hopped onto the chair's seat. "Whee!" she screamed happily, seizing the edge of the desk drawer with her tail and pushing to spin herself around.

Corundum, however, had forgotten to lock the desk when he left. The drawer came open as Himeka grabbed at it, nearly knocking the little Eevee off the chair.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Himeka yelped, hastily clutching at the open drawer for support with her small paws. She sneezed several times as pollen from a nearby flower got into her nose. As she looked for something to wipe her face on, her large black eyes fell upon the drawer's contents. Papers here, a couple staples and yellowed leaves there…

"I'll leave a message for Mister Stadium Master!" Himeka proclaimed, pulling out a yellow memo pad and ballpoint pen with her mouth. As soon as she'd finished jotting down said message, she reached for the handle of the open drawer, hoping to spin herself around on the chair one more time. As Himeka looked down, however, her eyes fell on the long black box that had formerly rested underneath the removed memo pad.

"Ooh! What's this?" she squealed, prodding out the box with her tail. She squinted, grinning when she realized it was the same box that Feldspar had given Corundum when he'd arrived. Prying it open with her small paws, she gazed inside and gasped at the long feather inside.

"Pretty, prettier, prettiest!" she cried, captivated by the iridescent play of colors across the feather's surface.

Glancing around a second time to make sure nobody was watching, Himeka furtively closed the box and leapt off the chair. Clutching the box, along with its precious contents, in her mouth, she stepped into the hall and scampered out the way she'd come.

It was late afternoon by the time Feldspar arrived in Verdant City, and his initial enthusiasm was already starting to wan. His spirits had been high as he'd stepped into the Verdant City train station. His step had been sure as he'd marched towards the marble arches of the Stadium. But now, sitting in the lobby below his father's office, Feldspar began to have second thoughts.

My lack of common sense is going to get me killed one of these days, the young Larvitar thought ruefully. Along with my lack of tact, planning, and self-control. Yeah, all of my faults are probably sitting in a little room and plotting my demise right now…

Oh man, why'd I come back? Feldspar, I've heard of being impulsive, but this has gone way too far! The smart thing to do would be to get back on that train and hightail it outta…

"Feldspar?"

Feldspar nearly jumped a foot out of his seat. Looking up, he saw his father was looming over him, brow furrowed. "Shouldn't you be getting back to school?" Corundum asked, looking more confused than anything else.

"Hey…Dad…" Feldspar stretched his face into a too-wide, too-bright grin that belied his growing panic. He'd been brimming with indignant arguments and confident counters back on the train. Now, when he needed them the most, not a single one remained.

Thanks, faults.

"Hi, Dad…um…nice seeing you again, huh?" Feldspar said lamely. The lobby, devoid of all people save for himself and his father, was stiflingly silent. Feldspar gulped, suddenly wanting to curl up and burrow under the cushion seats. C'mon, Feldspar! he yelled at himself mentally. You got this far! No point in backing out now!

Bracing himself against the arm of the couch, Feldspar cleared his throat. "Well…er, I'm back. Well…um, I guess you can see that, since I'm here and everything. Heh, that's silly of me, trying to tell you what you already know, Dad." A nervous giggle popped out, much to the Larvitar's consternation. "Um, so…the thing is I…I think I kinda left last time on a sour note."

"A sour note?" Corundum echoed.

"Yeah, you know. Rolled off the wrong side of the bed. Spilled the milk and made it curdle. Put a bad foot forward and tripped down the stairs…."

"Feldspar, I know you're upset about what happened," Corundum said, breaking through his son's babbling. "And I'm sorry. However, I still stand by my decision. And if trying to change my mind is why you came back, I'm afraid you're wasting your time."

"That's the problem, Dad!" Feldspar exploded at last. "How can I hope to change your mind if you never listen to me!" Not even pausing to take in Corundum's startled expression, he rushed impulsively on. "Having me become the Stadium Master's a big deal, and I know it's important to you! But it's important to me, too! Maybe even more important!"

Panting, Feldspar swiped at his eyes, ignoring the fact that his paws came away wet. "Dad," he whispered, voice breaking. "This is probably the biggest decision I'll ever make in my entire life. Don't I get any say in it at all?"

There was no answer, only a speechless stare from Corundum. Gulping at his father's disbelieving gaze, Feldspar sat straighter and tried his best not to sniffle.

"Feldspar," Corundum said at last. "I know becoming the Stadium Master will be difficult for you. But still, you need to try."

Feldspar stiffened, a million arguments finally starting to coalesce in his head. To his surprise, his father sighed heavily. "Enough," Corundum said, putting up a broad paw. "Before you say another word, there's something I want to show you."

Curiosity piqued, Feldspar slid down from the couch. The Tyranitar's feet thudded against the tile floor as he led his son to the front of the lobby. "Do you know why we celebrate the Eight Days of Festival, Feldspar?" Corundum asked.

"Um…"

Feldpar's eyes followed Corundum's to the wall, where a stone carving was displayed. It was a rather old piece of art, one that Feldspar had never thought to take much notice of before. The engraving's once deep grooves had grown weathered, and the surrounding frame tarnished, long ago. The picture itself looked simple, consisting of only bold, broad strokes. Eight stylized figures had been carved around a circle, though whether these figures were Human or Pokémon Feldspar could not tell.

"The Festival is built up around a legend," Corundum explained. "Long ago, many of the cities in this region were destroyed. Their inhabitants were driven out and slaughtered while ashes rained from the skies. It's said that the land fell into a dark age, during which much of the past was forgotten. To this day, no one knows what could have triggered such destruction, though there have certainly been many theories."

Corundum paused for the slightest moment, then coughed as if to admonish himself for straying off-subject. "At any rate," he continued, "after centuries of turmoil, eight individuals supposedly rose up and resurrected the eight major cities. Under their rule, the cities flourished, and the land began to prosper once more."

"Hey!" Feldspar exclaimed, eyes wide. "I remember hearing about this in school! They were called the Council of Eight, right?"

"Yes," Corundum asserted with a nod. "We now know them as the Council of Eight. The Eight Days of Festival were created in their honor, and the cities they resurrected still exist today."

"Mercury, Azure, Crimson, Malachite, Aurum, Roseine, and the Midnight Mesa!" Feldspar recited proudly. "And Verdant, of course!"

Corundum nodded at all of these names. "The Council of Eight still exists today, Feldspar," he said. "Not in its original form, of course, but instead through the chosen successors of the original eight, who still rule the eight cities you've just named. In Verdant City, this rule has always been passed down familially. With the title of Stadium Master."

For a moment, all Feldspar could do was gape. His mouth started moving, but his brain still lagged far behind. The strained, gulping motions he made the Larvitar look like a Goldeen stranded in a desert. Small, desperate, and helpless to act against an already sealed fate.

"That's stupid!"

Corundum blinked at his son's first coherent words. "Pardon?"

Despite his small stature, Feldspar had become a fierce sight indeed. His eyes blazed jet fire, and his paws clenched into hard fists. Corundum could nearly feel the intensity of his son's rage quivering through the very tiles on the floor.

"That's the worst reason ever for me to become Stadium Master!" Feldspar declared angrily. "To force myself into a job I hate for some stupid old tradition! For Master's sake, I can'thelp who my ancestors were! I'm not going to try and rule a city just because they did! I'd rather be…be…" Feldspar's voice faltered, before rushing back in a frantic shout. "I'd rather be Himeka Madison! At least her fatherdoesn't force her into things because of who her family was! She gets to do whatever she wants!"

The confusion on Corundum's face rapidly evaporated, replaced by rage. "You should appreciate your heritage, Feldspar," he said in a low, warning voice. "Do not begin to compare us to the Madisons. Countless generations have relied on the Earthshaker family to guide them. Believe me when I say you're not the first who's resisted the title of Stadium Master. But whether you like it or not, it is still your responsibility."

"Why?" Feldspar demanded, voice nearing a scream. "Forget about this heritage stuff; I'm just about as qualified as any old person on the street! Why don't you drag one of them in and make them the Stadium Master? THEY'RE sure to like it a lot better than ME!"

"SILENCE!"

Feldspar went hurtling into the wall. He crashed down, bringing chips of plaster raining down with him. Cracks formed in the suddenly writhing floor, hairline at first before widening into veritable canyons. Gasping, Feldspar edged up against the wall. His eyes lost all of their angry fire as they grew wide with terror.

Corundum Earthshaker stood at the front of the room, face contorted in undiluted fury. Every ridge in his stony brow seemed to be bulging out at once. Once again, the powerful Tyranitar slammed his tail into the ground. Tiles rattled, then shattered into a shower of sharp fragments as the floor tore asunder.

"You call yourself an Earthshaker?" Corundum said in a deathly quiet whisper. The Tyranitar's muscular tail crashed down again.

A whimper escaped Feldspar as the floor heaved beneath him.

"You're no member of my family," Corundum growled, voice rising in volume. "If you want so badly to desert the position of Stadium Master, then go right ahead! You don't deserve it."

And with that, he turned his back on his son.

"Dad, I…"

The terse reply brimmed over with disgust. "Get out of my city."

There was no shred of bravery left in Feldspar's badly-shaken body. Trembling, he got to his feet and left.