I now have braces, and I'm not liking them too much :( The good news is that I get to go away for the weekend on vacation :) This also means I'm not updating for some time :( Nevertheless, I love everyone who has left me reviews and who has read my story! It means alot to me! All the same, I hope you all enjoy the next chapter.
Note: Thoughts are in itallics.
Chapter 11: A New Goal
"Stay with me now. We are almost there." said General Parasect with a huff. He, along with Bolt, Riley and Lune were standing in front of a stone wall of long ivy vines that curled near the ground. He glanced around as his platoon came to a halt and slowly lifted one of his massive claws. The Mushroom Pokemon grabbed a good chunk of ivy and lifted it away to reveal a hidden passage. He nodded his head curtly as Lune, Bolt, Riley and the rest of his platoon went inside the small cave.
After everyone was inside the General gave one final scan of the surrounding forest before walking into the gave himself and allowing the curtain of vines to fall back in place. He scuttled up to the front of the group once again and lead them through a cool, damp cave. Lune's eyes adjusted fairly quickly to the new light setting since he was used to hunting at night, and felt Bolt place a paw on his side. The Umbreon knew the Pikachu hated dark places, and feeling his friend who could see well in the dark walking beside him gave Bolt some comfort.
The group continued to twist and turn through the tunnels of the cave for some time, and after about ten minutes the giant white Parasect suddenly stopped in front of Lune, Bolt and Riley. The trio of travelers stumbled after the quick halt, but the General's platoon ceased walking without missing a step.
The giant white Parasect shifted his body so that he was now facing Lune, Bolt and Riley. He looked side to side for a moment and then looked straight into the Umbreon's ruby red eyes.
"What I am about to show you is a secret we've kept hidden from the outside world. Only a select few outsiders are ever allowed inside, and fewer ever come back out without carrying this secret to the grave." Lune gulped as General raised a claw in front of the Umbreon's face and with a huff he said, "My boy, I trust you with my spirit that you will keep your word. Never show the location of this place to anyone."
Lune silently nodded his head a few times, and that was all General Parasect needed for reassurance. The Mushroom Pokemon nodded back and said, "Without any further delays, please walk ahead of me. You shall reach the end of the cave in a bit. I need to stay behind for a moment to make sure no one extra tags along with us."
Lune looked back at Riley, and the Aura Pokemon smiled a bit and held out his paw in front of his chest as a gesture to lead the way. The Umbreon looked ahead and hesitated a moment, but swallowed his doubt and took a step forward.
0-0-0
Somewhere out on an island the ocean...
"Lady Mienshao, the time has come for us to mobilize! That fool of an Aerodactyl failed in his mission, and Damon has entrusted it to you even though you are not his Pokemon to command!" hissed a voice.
The Martial Arts Pokemon sighed and turned from her usual spot on the balcony to face one of her trusted comrades. A Weavile with black tipped claws knelt before the fighting type with his head bowed. "Are you sure of this Weaver? I don't like taking orders from that Damon, but he is my love's trainer, so I guess I can put up with him for some time. I contacted him about one day ago, so I shouldn't have any problems reaching him."
Weaver nodded his head curtly as he looked up. "Speaking of which, he has also requested that you contact the spy tonight to discuss some important matters about the capture of the fugitive Lune. He wants it done within the next four days, and without too much harm coming to the target. I'm also here for your assistance as are my followers by the command of my trainer, Damon."
Mienshao sighed heavily and with a twitch of her whiskers she said with an airy voice, "Alright then. Tell your men that we leave for the mainland in one day. I am going to contact our little spy around midnight. Be back here at that time for details after I have my meeting with him. Now leave me in peace. I need to think some things through."
"Of course my Lady Mienshao." whispered Weaver, and with a flash he was out of site. Mienshao turned on her heel with narrow eyes and made her way to the communication room. Her hands trembled in anticipation and excitement. It had been a couple of days since her last mission when she dealt with the young trainer and his Flygon, and she was eager to draw blood once again. With a cruel smile the sadistic Pokemon thought,
I won't kill him. Oh no. That would be too easy. I need to be allowed some time to have fun. He never said I couldn't hurt the Umbreon until he was near dead. I'll play nice, or maybe I won't play so nice.
She curled her lips and began to show her sharp teeth.
This should be interesting...
0-0-0
"Wow. This place is amazing" said Lune with awe. His wide ruby eyes had a hard time taking it all in.
"Well thank you young one. I would like to personally welcome you to the Waterfall Village" said the General with a slightly raised claw in the moonlight.
It was a huge canyon that had towering trees standing almost as tall as the sky. They lined the rocky walls and were in clusters all over the place. Some of them were connected with bridges and vines. Lune could see small bamboo houses perched in some of the branches. All around there was a plain that was teeming with lush grass. Bushes were dotted here and there, and they were bursting with berries of all shapes, sizes and colors. A crystal clear river cut the plain in two, and a couple of wicker bamboo bridges was stationed near the middle.
What stood out most was the countless amount of waterfalls that were lined up along the cliffs. Some of them were tiny and had miniature pools of clear water beneath them while others towered almost as tall as the trees and thundered water down into larger ponds. All of the water drained into the river, and it could be seen flowing through an opening in the canyon. The biggest waterfall stood at the far edge of the small canyon and it went up past the rocky walls. A large white oak tree stood to the right of the massive wall of water, and it was taller than any other tree in the lush canyon. The moonlight reflected off of the pale white tree causing it to look like it was glowing and it gave the water in the river and multiple ponds a nice gentle sparkle. Lune and Bolt stared at the wondrous place in silence.
Riley chuckled and tapped the two of them. "Come on you two. It's time we meet Mistress Petal. She is going to be able to help you Lune. If you follow me we can go see her immediately."
Lune nodded and followed his companions down the grassy hill. As he felt the plush grass form beneath his feet he thought,
I'll finally be able to figure out what my dreams are telling me, and if that can be used to help Alex and Jade. I just...pray to Arceus they are both alright. I'm sure they are okay. It's me they're after so they won't dare to hurt them...I hope...
The Umbreon was so lost in thought he didn't realize he bumped into Riley's back as he stood before the enormous white oak tree. Numerous Pokemon such as Deerling, Sawsbuck, Oddish, Gloom, and Vileplume to name a few, who had all been hiding in the village had come to sneak a peek at the rare visitors from the outside world. Pansage and Simisage swung from branches while small flocks of Pidove and Tranquil or Taillow and Swellow landed in the trees . General Parasect and his pre-evolved forms were doing their best in helping to persuade the villagers into not disturbing their guests.
Lune smiled a bit when he saw a shy creature that looked like a black fox peeing out from behind an Oran berry bush. The Zorua tried to walk up to Lune, but was held back by a larger black fox with a bushy red mane. He tried to get past her, but she held out a gentle paw to stop him each time.
"Aw, Mama! Come on! I want to see the strangers! They can tell me about the outside world!" complained the Zorua.
"Now, now Zak. I don't want you bugging these travelers. They are here to see Mistress Petal, and you know how she loves to help all Pokemon. You don't want them missing an opportunity like this one do you?" persuaded the Zoroark.
Zak looked back at Lune and then at his mother with big blue eyes and then said, "Well no! I guess not. I mean Mistress Petal is the greatest Pokemon to talk to ever!" He then made puffed his lip out and pouted, "I still would like to meet them though."
Riley heard what the younger Pokemon had been saying, and turned to face away from the towering oak tree. He proceeded to walk over to Zak and his mother. Riley stopped and patted the little Zorua's head and said, "We are going to be here until tomorrow, so after we're done seeing Lady Petal I'm sure my companions will be happy to meet you. Sound like a deal?"
Zak gasped in delight and while smiling up at his mother he begged, "Hey! Mama! Can they come over? Please? Please?"
Zoroark pretended to think long and hard about it in order to tease her son and then said to Riley, "Well how about this. Since you three are guests in our little village, they can stay the night instead? It's not like you have anywhere else to be, isn't that right?
Riley laughed a moment and then said, "Well when you put it like that how can we refuse? Of course Ms. Zoroark. We would be honored for you to have us at your home."
Zoroark nodded and said, "Well now that that's settled I'll allow you and your little friends to meet with Mistress Petal. Come along Zak, we have to go clean up the den for our guests."
Zak followed his mother obediently and with a groan he said, "I hate cleaning days!"
Riley chuckled as the mother and child left and soon returned to the huge white oak tree. "Well? What was that all about?" questioned Bolt.
"Don't worry about it. I've just found us a place to stay for the night, but enough of that. We're here to talk to Mistress Petal about Lune's dreams, and the connection they may have to what's been happening. Are you ready Lune? asked Riley.
Without a word Lune walked into the opening of the giant white oak where a set of carved out stairs were set to wind up into the upper areas of the tree. Bolt and Riley soon followed Lune up the staircase.
After climbing for a bit they came upon a circular room that was the size of the entire width of the giant oak. Numerous piles of books were stacked and scattered all over the place with some only having a few to others looking like they might topple over at any moment. To the left of the staircase a large window sat on one wall and it overlooked the entire Waterfall Village. To the right was a wall that had a huge stone fireplace with pictures and trinkets strewn across the mantlepiece. A roaring blaze was burning in the pit with a few comfy cushions and a small table placed near the hearth. Straight across from the staircase was a wall that had a few bookshelves that were full of jars, vials, branches of dried berries and herbs, and even more books. Multiple lanterns and candles burned in the room to give off more light and a huge woven carpet was laid in the middle of it all
There was another set of stairs that led to an even higher place in the tree near the fireplace, and Lune, Bolt and Riley could hear rustling sounds coming from the space above.
"Hang on a moment! I shall be down there in a second! Have a seat near the fire and I'll be down to prepare tea! May I ask who has come to visit me?" called out an unknown voice.
As Lune and Bolt walked over to the welcoming fire and sat themselves on separate cushions Riley called up to the voice, "My Mistress Petal! It's me Riley! I've come here with some companions of mine to seek your wisdom and guidance!"
"Oh Riley dear! It's been far too long!" squealed the voice.
An elegant Pokemon ran down the steps from the higher floor and gave Riley a huge hug with her leaf like arms. She had three legs with yellow feet shaped like slippers. The yellow flower adorned her neck like a piece of jewelery, and she had two large leaves sticking out of her back. The grass type also had gentle red eyes and a gorgeous red flower that tilted on her head to match.
"It's great to see you to Mistress Petal" said Riley as he returned the hug.
"Oh don't call me that, please! You and I are old friends, so you can refer to me as Petal if you like!" exclaimed the happy Lilligant.
"Hey Petal! Where's that tea you promised!" demanded Bolt. Lune sighed and said, "That's not the right way you say it." Petal furrowed her eyebrows in anger and said, "I don't ever recalling giving you the right to acknowledge me in such and informal way, so you will now refer to me as Mistress Petal! You got that?"
Bolt stuttered, "Bu...but...Aw come on! Why is that every time I meet someone they treat me like I'm some kind of jerk?"
"Maybe it's because you always act like one. Did you ever think of that?" mumbled Lune off to the side. Petal looked over at Lune and squealed again, "Oh my goodness! Isn't he just the cutest thing?" She went up to him and while giving Lune a hug around the neck she said, "My darling you may call me Petal if you like! I'm here to help you!"
Bolt stared in disbelief at the sight before him and then complained, "Hey now! He isn't an old time friend so why are you treating him different than me!" "Well that's simple really. I like him a lot more than you, and plus he isn't as big of a meanie to me as you are." said Petal in a bored voice.
Bolt fell back onto his cushion in a dumbfounded manner as Riley took his own seat on a cushion close to the fire. He then spoke up and said, "Petal-"
"Oh yes of course! Where are my manners? I promised you lads some tea. I'll go ahead and make some now!" interrupted Petal. With that she released her grip from hugging Lune's neck and walked away to find a kettle.
Lune then leaned over and whispered to Riley, "Hey, are you sure this girl can help us out? She doesn't seem like the old and wise Pokemon I pictured her to be." "Have no doubts. She may not be young, but wise? Petal is the only Pokemon I know of that can interpret dreams and destinies better than anyone or anything else in the world. You'll see. Have a little faith Lune. She'll help you." assured Riley.
Lune nodded and then looked at the table. He thought,
I turst Riley that this Pokemon can help me and all...but will she be able to tell me what that shadow is in my dream and what it means? I remember it telling me to 'find the place where the earth meets the sky, and to become the legend I was born to be...What in the world could that mean?...
"What that shadow told you must be confusing to you. It certainly has got me thinking about it." said Petal in a solemn voice. "Yeah. I don't understand why I've been able to- Hey wait! How did you know all of that?" exclaimed Lune in shock.
Petal smiled and set down a steaming kettle with four cups brimming with hot tea on the table. She explained, "That's one of the ways I'm able to help Pokemon as much as I do. Whenever I touch a Pokemon I can look into their minds and dreams. Sometimes description alone isin't enough. This is a way I can see exactly what the problem is and how it played out in my patients mind."
"Oh. I guess that makes sense." said Lune with a confused look on his face. Petal laughed softly and said, "I know it seems strange but it will help me to better help you. Now getting onto our business. You said that a shadow talks to you in your dreams. How long has this been happening?" questioned Petal as she sat down on a cushion next to Riley.
"It's been happening since I was a child." said Lune
"This shadow told you something, to go to a place where the earth touches the sky, and to become the legend you were born to be, correct?" asked Petal.
Lune nodded his head in silence. Then he turned to Riley and said, "I remembered something. Remember when we first met two days ago, you said I almost died because of the injury that Aerodactyl gave me, but then some water like substance spread all over my injuries even though we weren't near a river or pond or anything, and it healed my wounds."
Riley nodded his head and then said, "At that time when the water was healing you, I could also feel two aura's presence from within your body. Petal what can you make of this?"
"Normally two aura's shouldn't be present from within a Pokemon unless they have been infused with another Pokemon's essence. Which is..." said Petal as she trailed off in thought.
"What? Which is what Petal?" questioned Lune.
"You said you grew up in a laboratory right? And that you've been seeing this shadow in your dreams correct?" questioned Petal in a hurried tone.
"Yeah." said Lune shortly.
"Well, it could be this. From what I've piece together and from what I've heard from you, it could be that you have been infused with the DNA of another Pokemon, and more specifically a legendary Pokemon." explained Petal.
Bolt, Riley and Lune stared at Petal for a moment in pure silence and then she said, "It might make sense if I explain it to you. A well kept secret of my own was that as a Petilil I was raised in a laboratory, and although it was different than the one Lune was in it had the same experiments being conducted inside and the same motives."
"I had no idea that happened to you Petal." said Riley in shock. "Yes it's true I was once an experiment. One thing I remember was being injected multiple times with numerous amounts of chemicals with one of them being a bright pink liquid. After that, I also began to see images and shadows in my dreams." explained Petal.
"I remember something too. When I was at the island fortress, I remember being given an injection of this pale blue liquid. After that my body felt like it was on fire and then icy cold. After that everything went black. While I was asleep it was the first time the shadow appeared to me in my dreams. It happened for awhile but after me and my younger sister escaped I stopped seeing the shadow. Only after I was close to dying did I begin seeing him again." said Lune.
"Yes exactly. That's what happened to me when I was younger. The shape of my shadow was smaller than yours, and she had bright blue eyes with a thin tail. She also floated in the air and had a very playful personality. I figured out that I had been infused with the Legendary Mew's DNA. This is why I'm able to see your past and read your mind. It's because her psychic powers have had an influence on me."
"Wait a second. So your saying that if Lune does have the DNA of some other legendary Pokemon running though his veins, than does that explain why these guys want him captured so badly? And that's why they kidnapped Jade and Alex?" asked Bolt.
"That just might be it Bolt. It makes sense! Lune has the DNA and powers of a legendary Pokemon, and Markus Staffon, the man who I'm currently trying to get more information on, is lustful of the legendaries. It all ties together. But what could he want with a Pokemon that has legendary DNA? Why is he so keen on the legendaries themselves? What does he have planned?" exclaimed Riley.
"I think I know of someone who may help, and it ties into your dream Lune. With what's been happening to you I don't think I'll be able to help you any more than I am now. Your dream said to find the place where the earth meets the sky? What better place than Cloud Mountain? Travel to Cloud Mountain and meet a legendary Pokemon in the flesh. They might be what's best for you. At this time of year the Pokemon you want to meet should've migrated to Cloud Mountain already so you should leave immediately tomorrow." said Petal.
"So this Pokemon I'm going to meet on Cloud Mountain will be able to help me because they're a legendary?" questioned Lune. "Exactly. They will be able to tell you what legendary Pokemon's shadow appears in your dream, since I do not know it's shape myself." said Petal. Lune nodded his head then turned to Riley and said, "I think that's all the information we need."
Riley responded, "Yes. Thank you for your kind hospitality Petal, but we must be going now. We're getting some rest before we traverse the mountain tomorrow."
"Oh yes. Of course. I'll clean up here so you boys let yourselves out." said Petal. As Bolt and Riley made their way across the room and down the staircase Lune stayed behind and said, "Thank you very much Mistress Petal. I do not know how I can repay you for your help and kindness to me even if you don't know me at all."
Petal giggled and said, "Don't be indebted to me my dear Lune. I only wish that you are reunited with your family and that you stay safe. Be cautious and wary my dear. You are a target now, so you never know what may happen on your journey. Please take care."
Lune said, "Yes Ma'am. I will do that Petal. Thank you again, and have a good night." With a small smile of thanks Lune turned to the staircase and walked downstairs to where his companions were waiting for him. They then headed out of the old white oak tree and followed Riley to their resting place for the night.
Petal peered out her window and watched the trio of travelers and sighed softly. She folded her leaf like arms and said, "It sure is a beautiful night Mew. The stars have never looked bolder or brighter, but something troubles me. I have seen that young Umbreon's simply by looking into his eyes. Those were eyes of a misguided and hurt Pokemon, and he is now on a path filled with betrayal, hatred, and sadness. I pray to you Mew that he can survive the journey ahead of him, and I pray to you Arceus that young Lune may live to see the stars sparkle and shine like this once more with happier eyes than the ones he had tonight."
0-0-0
Whew. That was a lot to write. I hoped some things got explained there. If it doesn't make sense please tell me and I'll go back and rewrite it for you all. The reviews are always accepted and loved by me! Until next time, see you all later :)