Chapter 15: The Way Forward

"So let me know if hearing this all right, Blondie." Giacomo said to Clemont, next to Mela standing outside the Academy gates.

"You need mine and Mel's help for a crapshoot mission in one of the most dangerous places on the planet- With no guarantee we'll even come back with our heads still screwed on?"

Clemont pushed his glasses up. "When you put it that way, it does sound a bit more... dire."

Mela glanced over at Clemont with a half-grin and her arms folded. "We're in."

Clemont was surprised at how readily his proposition was accepted. "Really? I'd have thought it'd take a tad more convincing than a getting straight to a yes."

Giacomo rested his hands behind his head. "No surprises here, Mel's a total adrenaline junkie who lives for this kinda thing. Can't leave our new bud hangin', can we?"

Mela crossed her arms and glanced back over at Giacomo. "Can't really say the same for you, bonehead. You'd think with all the trouble you get us in you'd be a bit more used to it by now."

She turned back over to Clemont. "But you gave us a big hand last time, and this current sitch seems like a pretty big deal." She said.

Clemont responded in earnest. "Trust me, if I had a choice I'd handle it on my own. But this might prove to be too much to handle without the right preparation. Thank you guys."

"So, how exactly are we getting down there, P.D? The entrance to Area Zero's basically a bottomless pit, and we kinda need to be alive if we're gonna do this. Jumping straight in's not really a question."

Clemont explained. "I was told by Chairwoman Geeta to seek out a certain place over in Alfornada City. She didn't say much else on the matter besides that, but I'm guessing whatever it is we need will be waiting there."

Giacomo chimed in. "What, you think she knows someone that can hook us up with a magic carpet?"

"Whatever she had in mind, we'll know about it soon enough. I'll make the trip and then meet up with you guys after I take care of that business. In the mean time, you guys should try and prepare anything you think we might need to make our mission as successful as possible."

Mela gave a nod of understanding along with a thumbs up from Giacomo.

"I'll meet back up with you guys soon." Clemont said.

It was afternoon when Clemont dismounted the train, arriving at his destination of Alfornada.

"Alright, so she told me to look just outside the building next to the left of the town centere. Easy enough." he said to himself.

Without delay, Clemont moved onward. Upon turning his head he could tell this building looked a bit shadier than the rest of the ones in the lively town. He walked up to it and observed further.

"Well, this is the place she told me." Clemont said thinking out loud.

"La Primera, I presume?" A soothing female voice from behind him spoke.

He turned around in shock, finding himself in front of a tall woman in a dark blue hooded robe that obscured her face.

"Y-yeah." Clemont responded.

She walked inside and motioned Clemont.

"Follow me." As they progressed inside, they descended a spiraling staircase where the lighting gradually became less visible. Finally upon arriving at the bottom she stopped. She then turned around and cut him a cold glance.

"By the way. You're not a spy, are you?" She spoke sharply. Clemont felt his soul almost escape his body.

"Wha- no, I-" She then turned her head back and let out a slight chuckle.

"I'm only teasing. I couldn't help but poke fun at all that tension you're carrying." Clemont wasn't amused.

"Yeah, stepping into a shady building with a questionable looking person I don't know is no reason to be tense at all." He responded.

"Fair point. Come on, sit down." She snapped her fingers and the room was illuminated in soft dark purple light, giving off a mysterious aura. Decorating it were maps to various locations and odd symbols that couldn't be made out by the average person. She unveiled her hood revealing dark brown, curled hair, olive skin and light grey eyes.

"My name is Mayah. La Primera told me you'd be coming, but didn't say for what reason. I'm sure there's a purpose for that, so I'll let you go ahead and explain."

And so Clemont did.

"I need to get to Area Zero, and I was told by the Chairwoman that you had the means to get me there." She looked back at him in surprise.

"Area Zero? So, I'm taking it you have a death wish? There's less extreme ways to-"

Clemont interrupted. "I know the risks. But someone I care about is there right now and I have to get her out."

Mayah looked at Clemont intently. "And you want me to be complicit in your suicide mission to rescue this girlfriend of yours?" Clemont spoke back determinedly.

"All I'm asking is to get whatever I need to get down there. You're not responsible for anything that happens to me down there." he responded.

She sighed, smiled and shook her head.

"I admire your bravery, I just hope you don't come to regret your decision." She then took out a pokeball and gently tossed it, out of it flying a tiny Natu. It hopped and looked at Clemont curiously.

"Uhhh... I'll be honest, I was expecting you to have something closer to an aircraft to get us there." Clemont said while Mayah rubbed the little bird's head, letting it hop into her palm.

"I assure you, this is all you need. Once you get to the Area Zero Gate, just whistle this tune."

She said whistling two notes in a low and high pitch. She returned it to it's pokeball and handed it to Clemont. "Uhm. Thank. You?" Clemont said, holding the Pokeball in his hands. Clemont sat there pensively, still holding his new traveling companion in his hands.

"Mayah?"

"Hmm?"

Clemont felt his inquisitive side beginning to get the better of him.

"Everything I've heard about Area Zero paints it as a super dangerous place but... what exactly, is down there?"