Chapter 2:

The chieftain of tribe red is usually the oldest, most-traveled member of the community, often times this leads to warrior of the tribes settling into the role of chieftain in their older age. For tribe red, their chieftain was widely regarded as the most powerful woman west of Fortree city. One of the only tribal people to become a registered trainer it was said that Lady Elen of the Red had stood on the steps of Evergrande city before flying home for some unknown reason.

The woman that met my eyes as I lifted the flap of the hut radiated power and confidence, her eyes seemed to grow dark and I could feel sins of past and future slithering across my skin like Sevipers. I bowed hastily, removing my scarf and goggles and throwing them into my pack before sitting cross-legged across from her. In the dark, cool inside of the dome tent I could feel every ounce of fatigue setting in, but the fear of disrespecting the old woman in front of me and the anxiously waiting beast curled in the sand beneath us.

I began to speak in what tribe speak I knew, hoping to alert her to the wild Pokemon sitting beneath us in wait, but a stern glare cut me off. She patted the ground beside her in what sounded like a strange song. The ground beneath us rumbled in some strange reply before I was sent scrambling as the sand beneath began to rise. I backed myself into the corner of the tent as the Lady Elen was also lifted, although she seemed right at home as the sand fell away from the black armor of the pokemon. With a short grunt, the beast revealed itself as a Hippowdon, an absolutely menacing Pokemon, with a massive set of jaws and angry red eyes.

The sweet smile of the Red chief seemed to suggest familiarity, and her shoulders seemed to twitch in what could only be suppressed laughter. "Come now, boy, he will not bite. Not before I've had a look at you. Say hello to Warden, my trusted partner." Perfect english I thought, well maybe a hint of that tribal accent, but the stories of the Lady Red spoke true I suppose. Hastily, I bowed once to the great monster, making sure not to meet its eyes in challenge. Hippowdon were incredibly territorial, and I was in its territory now.

The old woman cackled and quickly her partner joined in. A Hippowdon laugh sounds like a truck horn being strangled, deep rasping that promised death. She gestured me to retake my seat in front of her and the beast. The sharp red eyes never left my person as I sat once again. "You must be young Mathias, a great many Chief speak of the young explorer, more traveled in the desert than men twice his age, and how the old women conspire to chain him to wife." Her eyes seemed to sparkle as I flinched at the last part, women of the desert liked to catch them early and the older women played a mean game of matchmaker.

"I'm fifteen, Chief Elen, and I'm of the city. I have no want to be settled yet." I tried respectfully as I could. Thankfully, the old woman seemed to understand and nodded.

"Indeed, a great many things to come. Hoenn, in its great arrogance marches towards devastation boy. Have you seen this?" I frowned, the terrorist groups of Magma and Aqua were troubling, but nothing major.

"There has only been one successful attack, the last was stopped in time by Leader Wallace." Magma had attacked a shipyard in Sootopolis, after some relics that had been excavated from nearby ruins. I grew more uncomfortable in the tent with every passing minute. The sun had begun it's lengthy descent to the horizon and the shadows had grown longer, more menacing the longer I stayed. Emotions rolled off the old woman in waves, some harder to identify than others. Mirth, at her own joke no doubt. Sadness, maybe she knew why I ventured the desert. Longing, I could feel that one easily. Emotions are easier to feel when you've experienced them, maybe she longed for the outside world one last time. I shook away the feelings from my mind, mental blocks coming up with practiced ease. I hated it, the people of Hoenn hide their happiness, crush it under the weight of duty and tradition. All anyone over the age of twenty felt was sadness, and I hated them all, why should I be forced to feel it as well.

Again the old woman nodded, but her face hardened in a frown. "Do you know the old history? Of the creation?"

I didn't. It wasn't something that was taught in the trainer school, history and science were for historians and scientists. Trainers focused on the now. I shook my head in resignation, and then came the story pouring out like ash from Mt. Chimney.

"The first spark of creation, millions of years ago, brought about two sisters. The Sister of the Light and the Sister of the Dark. For thousands of years the two sisters labored, forming the earth from nought but dust and fire. At the creation of our world the sisters, in their wisdom birthed from their combined power two beings. On four legs stood Arceus, the bringer of life, and on wings of darkness, Giratina, the bringer of death. Brothers in all but form, Arceus birthed the first legendaries. Groudon and Kyogre turned fire and dust to Earth and Sea, and to govern them both Rayquaza was born for the sky. Arceus continued to birth more Pokemon of legend, but Giratina grew jealous of his brother's power over life and creation. Turning to the Dark Sister, she bestowed upon him the Spirit world. A land where death rules, but the direct creations of Arceus were unhindered by death for they were a part of the living world." At that she seemed to settle for a moment, and it felt as if the shadows of the tent shook in the names of creation.

"The Light Sister took pity upon Giratina and created from her essence the first humans and his name was Edra and hers Ezren. From them came the human race, but creation did not end there. The sisters of the Light and Dark watched as men and Pokemon lived together, interacted. The Dark sister grew jealous of the Light's pure creation and so she brought about her own creation. Men and women, with powers of the dark, fought the humans of Light for a time and both sides lost. Magic, the dark ones named their power Magic and the light dubbed their powers Aura. Together, the humans brokered peace between each other and the ways of Magic and Aura were lost in times of peace." Magic and Aura were fairy tales, told by elders to scare and teach young children. Evil witches would bite your toes if you didn't stay in bed or Aura knights would guard your dreams from evil if you ate your vegetables. I didn't believe in it of course. Horse shit I've heard spew out of my classmates mouths, told to them by their parents late at night. Lost in thought I almost missed when she started again.

"-gry with her sister, the Light ripped away Giratina from the spirit world, locking him away in a third world. A parallel world, where no human or Pokemon dared to venture. The Light locked the lord of death up and threw away the key. That is why Ghost pokemon exist, why spirits are able to be born into this world, young Mathias. The final day will see the doors to the three words ripped open. Spirit, Life, and the Parallel world will fall upon each other when the saga of the Hero ends." With that final line the dim light seemed to return to the dark of the camp, the red light peeking through the holes in tent returned from wherever it hid.

I stifled a yawn with my hand as I contemplated the story. The old woman seemed to watch me. "Thank you, Lady Elen, for sharing this fable with me." I said standing to find a spot to sleep for the night.

The crone's eyes twinkled in mirth at some hidden joke. "Yes boy, only a fable. A myth or legend to sooth the fear of the unknown. Do you know the story of the Hero's saga then?" She smiled, an unnerving twitch of her wrinkled face as the skin pulled into a smile.

"A boy, ventures from home in a stupid quest for glory, saves a princess, a demon comes back from the dead, man kills witch, princess dies as well, boy becomes man, and finally throws open the doors to save the princess. Ends the world. I think I remember most of it." I finished quickly, my legs aching from the day and sitting had done them no good.

"In fewer words than I remember, out of order as well." Her eyes seemed to harden and her beast below her rumbled in what felt like… fear. "In time, we will see each other two more times. One to run and one to question. Now." Her shoulders seemed to sag against the weight of the world and the wrinkles she wore were deep from stress and worry. "My old bones need rest. Orrin's tent is on the outskirts of camp, he has not returned from the desert yet, you may use his tent for tonight."

"Thank you, Lady Elen. May the wind still in your path." A tribal saying, polite. I bowed once more to elder and Pokemon alike. Two more times she said, what was the crazed woman talking about.

"May the wind will you home soon, Mathias." The Lady of the Red, trainer, elder, and a conqueror of Victory Road. I wished to never see her again. The Great Desert was vast, and it's people nomads, always on the move. To see the same tribe is rare for any but those with close ties. To meet the same elder not twice, but three times… I shook my head again. No, a rare instance of dementia. I put the elder's words out of my mind, right next to thoughts of rogue dragons, as I walked towards the edge of the camp. Eager to rest and rest I did. In a near empty tent I laid out a blanket I had packed and sleep found me as my head hit the soft sand.