By the time Aurora had fully recovered her aura loss, we had been traveling for a week. I was walking at the front, listening to Aurora and Mandite tell stories and laugh. Aurora... Now that I knew that I loved her, I seemed to be getting myself into more awkward moments. The situation is not really the same, anymore – I am always thinking about her. What am I to her? Am I like a guardian, an older brother, or did she feel the same way about me? I pushed pass some undergrowth, clearing a path for me to walk through. Beyond it, I could smell the fresh scent of wildflowers – we would be out of the forest, soon; and good riddance.
"Watch out!" I quickly turned around to see Mandite flying towards me with a vine clasped in his hands. Perhaps he warned me too late; Mandite crashed into me in a painful collision, and we both tumbled onto the forest floor. I am lucky that he decided he did not want to wear his mask today, or else my face would hurt much more than it did, now. Groaning, I sat up, and rubbed my throbbing cheek.
"Oops, sorry." Mandite smiled sheepishly, tapping his hands together. I sighed, not knowing what to say now. Mandite, despite being so nimble and quick, can also be rather clumsy, leaving him – and in most cases – and me in a mess. This, in turn, makes me feel just as clumsy, leaving my face flushed and humiliated. Somehow, if Aurora ever got in the situation, she would accept it naturally, as if it did not bother her; I admire that she can still hold her head high in those times. I got to me feet, took Mandite by his arms, and set him upright.
"Thanks, dude." Mandite flourished his wings, and like a little, energetic beast, he bounded forward.
"Last one to the end of the forest is a rotten egg!" he called back to us. I smiled to myself, ready to take his challenge.
"But you got a head start!" Aurora shouted from behind me. I heard Mandite blow a raspberry off in the distance. She only chuckled, shaking her head as she slowly started to walk. I managed to halt myself, wondering why she wasn't taking flight – she loved to run, so why not now? I glanced over to her to see her roll her eyes.
"I bet he didn't see the sinkhole." she said to me.
"What sinkhole?" I asked, curious. All of a sudden, we heard Mandite yelp, followed by the sound of crashing branches and leaves.
"That one," Aurora said, and started leaping over underbrush, "now, let's go see what's Mandite up to." I numbly followed, amazed by how much knowledge Aurora had of the forest – it practically stuns me. After passing under several fallen trees, moss encrusting their bark, around dense patches of fern, and over rock formations, we finally came upon a gaping, dark hole in the ground. It was not terribly large, but large enough to fit Mandite, who was gazing glumly up at us as we peered over the edge of it.
"Hey guys," he called up, "how 'bout a lift?" The sides were wet, slippery to the touch. Lacking claws, aside the thorns on his wings, Mandite had no way to climb out. Mandite had wings, so did he really need to climb out? Aurora smiled and called back down to him.
"Why don't you use your little wings and flap yourself back up, then?" Mandite lifted his wings and glanced at them with a peculiar uncertainty. They were not very large, nor they looked strongly developed either, under my judgment; I started to wonder if they really could fly. Yes, he had shown us that he could soar, but in the ravine so many days ago, when the flash flood was racing towards him, he had not flown. Mandite seemed to be lost for words, gazing off in a upset trance. Then, his eyes fixed on Aurora and he pouted, his lost daze gone.
"But I got a boo-boo." he whined, pretending to rub a sore arm. Knowing that Mandite was a tough child, I knew he was faking it, but at least it made sense – the drop onto the cold, hard stone seemed to be painful. Aurora knew this as well, but she took the bait anyways. With Mandite inside the cavity within the ground, the sinkhole seemed larger than it actually is, providing the fact Mandite is rather short. However, with Aurora reaching her arm down to full stretch, Mandite safely clambered out after hopping a bit. He shook himself off, and then looked at us, blinking. What was he thinking now? Mandite looked and his arms.
"Can I have my armor, please?" he said, pompously. Aurora handed him the bundle of metal wrapped in his cape, and Mandite took it with a relish. He unwrapped his belongings, and carefully adorned himself in his shoulder plates, pointed shoes, white gloves, and, with uppermost pride, his mask. He sighed, and tossed Aurora his cloak.
"Keep that, will you?" Aurora nodded, and Mandite rubbed his now gloved hands together. He looks so serious in his armor, making it hard to imagine that this warrior was the same person as Mandite.
"Bye bye!" he piped, and dashed off, the brush of wind hitting our faces as he sped away. Aurora shook her head, and laughed. Instead of pursuing him in the path he took, Aurora gave a great leap and disappeared into the trees, leaving me alone. Something in my heart wanted to follow Aurora, but I was never really good at climbing trees. I am not planning to have my back broken, or simply making a fool of myself – I think I will just follow Mandite. I closed my eyes, tensed my muscles slightly and crouched. Breathe in, breathe out – GO. I sprang forward and started to close the long gap between me and Mandite. My feet were at once nimble and carefully placed – running on uneven terrain is not for the dull minded. If one foot is misplaced, I might end up snapping it in two – thinking is even more critical when the ground is a blur beneath me, making it hard to see footholds. A small creek was up ahead, the stones shining with a watery glaze, possessing an obvious chance to trip someone. I glanced at a tree that stood next to this trickling water source, and planned a route. I pushed off the ground, rotated my body so that the bottom of my feet made a firm stand on the tree, and lunged off of that, landing on the other side. I continued my quick velocity, leaves flying up around my legs in a flurry. Beyond the growth of juvenile saplings, I saw the sun's rays, each strand reaching into the forest, penetrating the dark. The way the broken light was gliding through the patches of leaves, lighting them in a bright, rich green, was amazing. Suddenly, I was cast in shadow, the light blocked out briefly by a silhouette streaking overhead. I smiled, and urged myself to pick up the pace – I had caught up to Aurora. With the edge of the forest growing closer and closer, I felt the thrill of finally being in open air. I cleared the last patch of undergrowth and leaped out onto the waving grass. Light brilliantly shone all around, the sun warm on my back.
"Look out!" I didn't have time to completely turn around, before something struck me hard in my side and sent me tumbling. I made one last flip, before I landed on my back in the grass. Ah – my shoulder and side feel bruised. I sat up, the breathe knocked clean out of me, and raised a paw to feel my throbbing head.
"Lucario!" I looked up to see Aurora sliding to a stop in front of me. She knelt and looked at me in the eye, her own pinched in concern.
"I'm really sorry, Lucario," she apologized, and gently touched my shoulder with her paw, "are you okay?" Wincing, and finally able to breathe again, I answered in a winded voice,
"Yes, I am fine." Groaning, I managed to stand, shaking. I growled softly, not liking the way my body was complaining; I straightened my posture. Aurora was peering at me with a guilty look in her flaming eyes.
"I really didn't meant to run into you, Lucario." she said quietly, "Are you hurt?" I blinked, and opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I couldn't speak, so I cleared my throat.
"I am fine Aurora," I told her, "there's nothing to feel sorry about." Aurora didn't look so reassured, so I reached out and rested my paw on her shoulder and smiled.
"Honestly, I am fine." Aurora glanced away, and nodded, looking a little uncomfortable. Flushing, I took my paw back – did I intrude her personal space? She now probably thinks that I am some mentally disturbed, inconsiderate pokemon. Biting my tongue, I turned away, thinking bitterly.
"Took you guys long enough! Where have you two been?" We both raised our heads to look at an impatient Mandite, his arms crossed and eyes glaring beneath a sharp angle in his mask, the very picture of someone with authority. It's still bizarre that this was only a seven year old. Not knowing what to say, I only shrugged.
"I thought so." Mandite replied, punctuating his sentence with a well-defined period. Something behind him caught my eye, and I switched my focus point to see what it was. Towering into the sky, its blue rugged slopes were partially covered by clouds, being so high. Although its peak lay hidden in mist, its sacred point hidden from commoners' view, the grand mountain still had a powerful, overwhelming effect. Standing tall and strong, this lone mountain looked more majestic than any I have ever seen. My mind stirred with wonder and awe – I only have dreamed of seeing what lay before me now. It is the one, holy mountain out of all of Sinnoh region my parents had always talked about. The regal landmark that stood towering over us all, surrounded by rich, dense plains, was Mt. Coronet, home of Spear Pillar, and home of the deities. I knew that this had to be that mountain – there was no others like it. It stands alone, its holy peak covered by clouds, towering above everything. This had to be Mt. Coronet.
"Lucario..." Aurora gasped.
"What, do I have something on my mask?" Mandite touched his mask, and then turned around. Standing perfectly still as the mountain, Mandite gazed upon the natural structure. Finally, he drew out a long whistle.
"That's one big mountain." I nodded in silence. We all stood there, staring at Mt. Coronet. I was thinking about climbing up this mountain to the peak where Spear Pillar was, but considering the size and the residence of Spear Pillar, I decided I would not interfere. Instead, I would relish this moment.
"Hey, what's that?" Mandite moved past me and stood in front of a peculiar object, scrutinizing it with his sharp eyes. I heard him gasp.
"I don't believe it." he picked it up and held it up in the sun. The rays caught the material of the object, and an array of brilliant rainbow lights flashed all around, the beauty of it all hurting my eyes. It seemed to be constructed of the finest ice, or a beautiful gem. Mandite stood, mesmerized by the new object.
"But it is," he whispered, "no one else can blow crystal like this – but how?" His voice trailed off. I started to wonder what he was mumbling about.
"What is that?" Aurora asked from behind me. Mandite turned around, lowering the object from his gaze with a blank stare.
"It's a vase," he said, "a vase made by the best glass-blower I have ever known." Something in my mind clicked – if this was made by a glass-blower he had known before, that meant this person was from Mandite's world.
"It could have been made by another glass-blower." I said, my nerves racing at the thought of more intrusions from an alien world.
"No one," Mandite said sharply, shaking the vase, "embroiders an 'A' on their work like he does!" I felt taken aback, rather shocked by Mandite's defensive reply. His eyes glowed a brighter yellow, and then, breathing deeply, Mandite settled down. Recovering my wits, I asked a question, trying to stay calm and slow.
"Are you so sure?" Mandite nodded, staring at the vase.
"I have no doubt," he said, his voice made even grimmer behind his mask, "but I wonder how it got all the way here?"
"Are you absolutely sure that you know this person?" It was Aurora's turn to ask a question, and with relief, I allowed her.
"Oh, I know him all right." Mandite huffed, "He was Uncle Tally's best friend. He gave me a candy jar that he had made himself so I can put candy in it – that's probably why I remember him so well." Mandite peered through the neck of the vase with one eye squeezed shut. I looked too, and saw through the intricate patterns of transparent vines, was something neatly rolled. Apparently, Mandite spotted it too, for he tipped the mouth of the vase on his hand, and shook it slightly. The thing fell out onto his open hand – it was a piece of paper. He placed the vase aside on the grass, and unfurled the note.
"It's to Uncle Tally." he said, his voice somewhat deflated. His eyes began to flick from side to side quickly, scanning the letter over. My mind pondered something – if this was to Mandite's uncle, then wouldn't it have been delivered to his home?
"Oh, wow." Mandite breathed.
"What's wrong?" Aurora asked, looking at Mandite with her eyes flaring with magenta concern. Mandite sucked in his breath.
"Well," he said slowly, thinking of how to word his explanation, "this guy vanished a while ago – thought to have been dead somewhere out in space – but this letter was written after he vanished." I couldn't help but feel slightly frightened by Mandite's words. Vanished? That word could mean so many things – and relate to so many dangers. At that moment, I realized that something dangerous was festering in Mandite's world, and slowly leaking into ours. I blinked, fear widening my eyes. This was no Mandite's "monster-under-the-bed" story – this was the whole world that is under threat. A rectangular piece of paper fell from the letter and onto the grass. Mandite looked down, and stopped to stare at it for a long time. I, too, looked over to see what it was. Once my eyes lit on that small rectangle, I felt surprised. On it was a picture of a tall, silver, creature with large ears – it is similar to a pachirisu, but with circular ears and long noses. I could tell from its facial features that it was a male, and quite a neatly groomed one, too. He was smiling, his golden eyes flashing beneath a black hat, wrapped in a matching cloak, enshrouding him with a mysterious, and laid back impression. In his arms held a baby version of him – I guess it was his son. Mandite reached out, picked up the picture, and carefully placed it back in the vase with the letter.
"Who was that?" Aurora asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. Mandite looked up quickly, and remained silent for a few seconds.
"That's the glass-blower." he finally said, and asked for his cape. Aurora silently handed it to him, which Mandite carefully pressed the vase into - the cloth's surface rippled like a disturbed lake around the masterpiece, and it was gone. As quickly as it went, Mandite threw his cape over his body, which settled comfortably with his armor.
"I think we had enough sightseeing." he said, and walked off, cape whirling behind him. Aurora and I looked at each other, our concerns the mirror image of the other. Aurora broke our contact, and quietly followed Mandite down the hill. I watched them leave, and turned my gaze back at Mt. Coronet. The clouds ringed around the peak hid a secret place – but does it hide another? Stealing one last glance at the great mountain, I glumly trailed after the other two.
I know I did a really poor job with this chapter (I had a brain fart), but it still has importance. This chapter is just a window looking into the "big picture" of my ENTIRE collection of stories. Yep, that includes the Rundas story, too. In addition, I thought I postponed my update on this story too long; don't worry, I'll make the next chapter at least better than this one! I'm going to start it ASAP.
As always, thanks to all my readers, especially Lupyne, King Sparky (you'll always be WolfWonders to me), and Opengunner. Thanks for reviewing!
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