Welcome to the Ikimono League
By Neko (Silver Tru-Neko)
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.
Author's Note: Okay, next is Karasu Island (meaning 'crow' or 'raven'). Wondering what this name has to do with the story? Read on...
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Chapter 5 – Nightmare in Karasu
The newly earned Medal Badge glimmered in the bright sunlight, nestled in his palm. Gary studied it with a smile, seated cross-legged on Blastoise's back. Waves lapped at the edges of the Pokémon's shell, but Gary's carefully staked position was dry. He was headed to the second north most island, Karasu, for his next badge.
Gary slipped the badge back into his pocket, stretched, and glanced around. No sign of Ketchum so far, he noted with satisfaction. Perhaps he'd already given up on this unusual league.
Gary had a theory – that each gym in the Ikimono league would test a different aspect of training. If you were unprepared for such a feat, it could be challenging. Gary found this method of examination quite fascinating; it would take more than luck and an advantageous type to gain victory here. A trainer needed to use their brains. For example, Laura of Uma had focused on a Pokémon's speed instead of measuring its prowess in battle. Luckily, all of Gary's Pokémon were well trained for such a test. Whatever Karasu's gym leader threw at them, they'd best.
Smirking at that, Gary reached over and rubbed Blastoise's head. "I can't wait for the next gym. I wonder what we'll have to do there."
Blastoise rumbled in agreement.
Leaning back, Gary pondered that. Other than speed, what else was there to test? Dexterity, maybe, or physical strength, he mused. Nevertheless, his Pokémon were ready for the test!
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Ash and his friends made away from Uma in the late afternoon, riding on Lapras. Ash had needed to stop at the Pokémon Centre – to boast his victory, among recuperating his team and swapping Tauros for good old Cyndaquil. Misty wanted to take in the sights and learn about the city; Brock became infatuated with Nurse Joy. Finally, they managed to drag him away.
"Next up, Karasu Island!" Ash cheered. "Maybe we'll even get the badge before Gary! Hey." He paused suddenly and turned to Brock. "What's this badge called, anyway?"
Brock consulted his map. "We're looking for Violet Town's gym, I guess, since it's the only settlement. It's a very small island."
"And the badge?"
"Uhh," Brock grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Professor Oak didn't have that information yet."
"Oh." Ash's face fell for a moment. Then he smiled. "Well, we'll just have to get it for him!"
Misty rolled her eyes.
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"So this is Violet Town, huh?" Gary stood on the shore of the small island, staring up an expanse of rocky beach to a cluster of wooden buildings. Forest crowded in all around the town, covering the majority of the isle.
"Blastoise," Blastoise confirmed, getting to its feet beside him. Gary nodded.
"Right, I'll ask around about the gym. Thanks for the ride."
Blastoise ducked its head, obediently returning to its Poké ball. Gary then marched up to the nearest building.
After interrogating a few villagers, he found out that Violet gym lay at the outskirts of the town. Gary followed the main road, small stones crunching under his boots. He couldn't help but admire the town's architecture: it seemed the locals were fully self-reliant, living off their land. Every house was formed of neatly stacked logs, none of them very high. Still, every structure held a certain natural elegance to it. Some had intricate carvings winding up their sides; at a closer glance, Gary recognized Pokémon. Others had sprigs of plants growing from the thatched roofs, spilling over the eaves. These ones seemed almost to sink into the forest background.
One house in particular stood out for the stone statues inhabiting the front lawn. Gary stooped by one he recognized as a Larvitar; the carver had taken care to detail the Pokémon's face accurately. Gary could have sworn the Pokémon's curious stare was real.
Finally he crossed the forest's threshold, and the houses thinned. Gary walked on, eyes now on the approaching edge of the town. He could see the row of buildings ending just ahead, and his eyes shifted over the last few. None of them looked promising to be a gym, all of them ancient and some even crumbling.
Gary stopped.
This was it; here, the dirt path ended and the true, tangled forest began. There was nothing to indicate the presence of the gym, no sign. Gary stood, mulling over this and fighting down frustration. There had to be an explanation for this. He could not have gotten mixed up; several villagers had repeated the same message: Violet gym is on the edge of town. Was he on the wrong edge?
Desperate, Gary turned to the nearest house, trudged up the cracked stepping stone walkway, and knocked on the door.
As seconds passed, he realized the house must be deserted, and turned to try another. At that moment, the door creaked open a crack, and a solitary eye gazed out at him.
"Yes?" warbled a voice.
"I'm Gary Oak, of Pallet Town." He was almost getting tired of pleasantries. "Sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for the Violet gym."
The door opened further, and a stooped woman observed him. Wrapped in cloaks, only her creased face was visible.
"It is on the edge of town," she informed him, just as all the others had.
Gary sighed. "This is the edge. It's not here."
"No." The woman shook her head and put a hand on his shoulder, turning him to face the wall of trees. "Further."
Gary cast her an incredulous look; the lady smiled encouragingly with disturbingly crooked, yellow teeth. Gary tried to turn his grimace into a smile.
"Okay, thanks."
He walked quickly back to the edge of town, feeling the old lady's eyes on him the entire time. He shook off her spookiness; he would do anything to get to the gym.
I hope she's right, he thought grimly, pushing aside branches with his hands. He could only see thick foliage ahead, twisting trunks scattered about. Taking a breath, he stepped in.
Treading cautiously, Gary tried to walk straight ahead. As the trees closed around him, he became slightly disoriented. Still he pushed on, twice staggering on hidden roots and grasping at branches to right himself.
Light danced on the leaves ahead. There must be a clearing ahead, he reasoned. Stumbling, Gary forced his way toward the light. He burst at last from the bush, gasping.
He fell short abruptly; he stared.
In front of him towered a structure even more ancient than those deteriorating homes on the edge of town. Curiously, it seemed to be made of brick, with wooden planks only used to repair cracks and holes in the foundation. Still, many deep wounds in the building remained open to the eye. At its base, the building was wide, narrowing to a tower that stood high above him. The bricks gluing it together, instead of fading, seemed to have darkened with age. Nearly pitch-black, the building hung like an omen in front of him. Vines had taken a chokehold in more than one place, the highest extending to a window with broken glass. Gary could see no light inside.
As well, the dilapidated path winding to the crooked front door was lined with gigantic bushes. Gary, even on tiptoe, could not see over them to the yard beyond. He thought wryly that the bushes might conceal a haunted graveyard; considering the house's appearance, being haunted wasn't so far off.
Gary would have never guessed this haunted house could be a gym, save for the single large statue heading the path. Made of cracked and crumbling stone, it stood sentinel over the house. He knew it to be a Pokémon, but due to weathering, he could not recognize any of its features.
Gary glanced once more up at the house. Well, it was worth a try. He shook his head, again thinking of the creepy old lady who had brought him here. Maybe she had been an omen.
He slowly advanced down the path, head tilted up to observe the house. He was amazed it was still standing, considering how old it must be; he shuddered at the thought of it caving on him.
Sooner than he would have liked, he reached the door. He gave it a light push, half hoping it would be locked; the door swung open, shrieking, on loosening hinges. Gary stepped into darkness.
As sunny a day as it was, none of the light seemed to penetrate the musty gloom of the house. Gary cautiously took a step, squinting. He could make out some huge shape in front of him, but even as he puzzled over this the door snapped shut behind him.
Gary whirled around, heart pounding. "Who's there?"
His demand echoed in the dank room, mocking him. Gary drew a shuddering breath, trying to calm himself. He waited for his eyes to adjust.
After several long, agonizing moments, he made out the staircase in front of him. It led to somewhere high above; in this lighting, he couldn't tell where. On the wall to his left was a door and a grand picture frame, but again he couldn't make out its contents. Only the gold frame shone faintly, dulled with age.
Gary scuffed a foot on the floor and lifted a layer of dust. Coughing, he stumbled back to the front door and shoved against it. This time the door held; it was locked.
Gary's heart sank. He was trapped.
He glanced about, trying to think logically and stop the panic rising in his throat. There had to be another way out. He had to get out of this madhouse and find the real gym.
He started instead toward the framed picture. Maybe it would give him some clue where to go.
Even from up close, the picture was only dark. Gary ran a hand along it, feeling dusty canvas.
This is stupid, he realized, I can't do anything unless I can see somehow.
With that he flourished a Poké ball. "Umbreon, I choose you!"
The dark Pokémon appeared at his side, red eyes glittering. However, Gary now had what he needed: the circles on Umbreon's hide glowed golden in the gloom.
"Umbreon, I need you to light the way," he explained, before turning back to the picture. As he had hoped, the canvas was now visible. Dark as the picture was, it still took him a moment to analyze.
"Murkrow," he murmured, tracing the image of the birdlike Pokémon in the centre of the picture. Its wings were spread to either side in mid-flight. Murkrow was surrounded by night sky.
Gary shook his head and wandered through the doorway to the next room; this, too, was deserted, and looked as if it had been for years. Umbreon followed faithfully at his side, and Gary could see the outline of two couches facing each other.
Gary lightly touched Umbreon's head, starting around the perimeter of the room. Perhaps there was another door here, or something. He soon discovered another picture frame, this one depicting a flock of Murkrow in a tree.
Someone likes Murkrow, noted Gary, or… He remembered Murkrow was considered a sign of bad luck to many people. Is Murkrow a warning?
Gary continued his investigation of the room. Another wall held a desk topped by a mirror. Gary bent to check the desk's drawers; Umbreon bounded onto the desktop to watch.
Something flickered in the corner of his eye, and Gary straightened to find himself staring at his reflection. "Umbreon," he ordered, and the Pokémon turned around.
Gary examined the mirror closely; its golden frame was blackened with grime. The lower right corner, however, looked brighter…as if someone had touched it recently…
Gary moved closer, and Umbreon darted out of his way. Then he saw it: a tiny slip of paper was wedged into the corner of the mirror's frame. Gary dug it out and unfolded it.
It was a drawing, sketchy really, of four Murkrow in a line. Gary frowned at it, Umbreon peering over his shoulder. Each Murkrow held the same pose, spread-eagled, while each featured a minor different. The first faced left, with left talons raised; next, the centered one; the right-facing one was third, with right talons extended; and finally came one facing left without the bared talons.
"What is it?" Gary puzzled, flipping the paper over to see if there was an explanation. The other side was blank.
"Reon," said Umbreon.
Gary nodded, "Yeah, it looks new, unlike everything else here…" He glanced around the room before turning back to the Murkrows.
"That one looks familiar, though," he mused, indicating the second Murkrow. Suddenly it clicked. "The painting!"
Gary walked quickly to the entrance hall, stopping short in front of the Murkrow image. He examined its frame, too, for clues, but nothing seemed out of ordinary.
"Maybe there's more paintings around here somewhere," he thought aloud. However, he'd already searched the main floor; the second room had no other exit. Maybe he'd have to try the second floor.
Gary had turned toward the staircase when Umbreon suddenly cried out. Gary glanced back to see his Pokémon sitting at the base of the painting.
"What is it?" He crouched beside Umbreon, and in the glow of its fur he apperceived the shoddy brick wall surrounding the painting.
"Reon!" Umbreon raised a paw, indicating a certain brick. Gary peered closer and saw, in the top corner of the brick, a tiny engraving of a Murkrow. He checked the paper again.
This Murkrow faced right, talons raised.
Gary grinned, "That's clever. Good eye, Umbreon." Umbreon purred, pleased.
Now Gary stood slowly, following the side of the painting with his eyes. He found another insignia on the right, the center-facing Murkrow.
Excitement growing, Gary searched the other sides. To the left was the first Murkrow, and at the very top was the last.
"Found them all," he declared proudly. "This has to be a clue of some sort. Maybe the painting's a door?" Gary pried at one edge, but nothing happened.
Umbreon prodded at the bricks. "Reon! Reon!"
Gary frowned. "Well, I guess it's worth a try." He found the first Murkrow, and, taking a breath, gingerly pressed it. The brick slid inward with a grating noise.
"That's one," he said slowly, moving to the rightmost Murkrow. Again, he forced it backward. The lowest Murkrow was next. Finally, he pushed the top one.
As the last brick slid into place, a low rumble shook the floor. Dust showered from the ceiling; Gary braced himself, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling. Was it about to cave…?
Abruptly the noise stopped. Something creaked behind them.
"What-" began Gary, turning. Umbreon called out excitedly.
A door had opened on the side of the staircase.
To be continued...
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