Welcome to the Ikimono League
By Neko (Silver Tru-Neko)
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. I don't know how you'd even think I did, but still.
--
Chapter 6 – A Puzzling Dilemma
Ash arrived at Karasu Island sometime late in the afternoon; he leaped eagerly from Lapras's back onto the sandy shore, looking about. He took note of the quaint, old-fashioned village and the forest it nestled in.
"Brock, are you sure we're in the right place?" Ash asked his friend nervously.
Brock nodded, "We followed the Professor's directions to the letter."
Ash blinked again at the town, puzzled. "It…doesn't look like it has a gym."
Brock reasoned, "Remember, the last gym was a race track. Let's ask around, and we should get in and out before nightfall."
"Prriiii," Togepi whined in Misty's arms; the female trainer glanced down at it.
"First, we should get something to eat," she observed, "Togepi's starved, and so am I."
"Pika," agreed Pikachu.
Ash deflated, staring at his friends as if they had just broken a grand pact with him. "But…I need to get that badge before Gary!"
"Tell you what." Brock stepped between his companions before a fight could break out. "We'll stop somewhere to eat, and Ash, you can ask about the gym."
Grudgingly, Ash agreed, and so the friends wandered into the town.
At first, they were silenced by their awe of the surrounding encampment. Never before had they seen nature incorporated into a village so well, used as they were to Indigo's cities. Not even Celadon could manage such an impression of natural beauty.
"Pika!" Pikachu suddenly exclaimed, bouncing from his usual place on Ash's shoulder.
"Hey, wait–" Ash began as his Pokémon swiftly ascended one lawn to pause before a stone statue. Without a second thought, Ash charged after it.
"Pikachu, what–" Once again words failed Ash; he gasped and stared at the perfect stone replica of Pikachu. Smiling up at him, Pikachu posed as the stone one did – seated on the grass, arms tucked in front of its body, head tilted upward to warmly greet passing trainers.
"Misty, Brock, check this out!" A broad grin stretched across Ash's face.
As his traveling companions came weaving their way around the statues toward them, the door to the house opened.
"Hey!" a voice suddenly yelled. "What are you doing on my lawn?"
Ash jerked up, and Pikachu quickly leaped to his shoulder. Misty and Brock froze like deers in the glow of headlights behind Ash.
A lady rushed toward them, her apron flapping around her legs; it seemed she had been in the middle of preparing supper.
"We're very sorry, miss–" Misty began, but Brock shoved her aside.
"We only wanted to admire these beautiful carvings. Did you make them?" he said smoothly. Misty and Ash gave him surprised – but relieved – stares. It was impossible to tell if Brock naturally had this much charm, or if he was yet again under the spell of a woman's looks.
The lady, taken aback, stuttered a moment before regaining her composure. In the light breeze a strand of black hair slipped from her bun; she absent-mindedly pushed it back. "No, my husband makes them. They are quite beautiful, aren't they?" She paused, regarding the statue-filled lawn. "He loves Pokémon."
"We do, too," put in Brock. "In fact," – here he steered Ash in front of him – "my friend here is hoping to challenge the Violet Town gym leader."
"Oh." The lady seemed to have utterly forgotten her quarrel with them; smiling, she said, "Then you must have traveled far to get here."
"Yes. We only got here moments ago, and were searching for the gym."
The lady nodded, understanding. "It's dinnertime now, though; if you'd care to wait for the gym, you can come in for a moment."
"That would be very kind of you," said Brock, and was the first to follow her inside.
The small house looked just as rustic on the inside: the lady led them through a homey living room, where twin couches faced the fireplace built into the wall. A pile of logs lay, waiting, in the hearth. Ash paused a moment to admire a portrait of bird Pokémon on the wall.
In the kitchen, a long wood table lined with chairs was set for one. At Brock's inquiring gaze, she murmured, "My husband is away at work today."
A window at the head of the room spilled light over a sink and the kitchen counters lining the room. Pale blue curtains billowed in the breeze wafting in the open window. The entire kitchen was spotless; a lone pot perched on the stove.
Bustling to the cupboard, the lady pulled out some cutlery. "Soup?" she asked pleasantly.
Stomachs growling, the young trainers nodded.
The woman set the streaming pot of soup on the table and, after handing out the bowls, invited them to sit. She was the last to seat herself, saying, "I'm sorry – I haven't properly introduced myself. My name is Karin."
"It's nice to meet you, Karin," said Brock sincerely. "I'm Brock, and these are my friends Misty and Ash."
Karin nodded to each of them before tasting her soup. "It's rare to see outsiders in town," she said softly. "Do tell what brought you here."
Ash launched happily into a report of his battle on Uma, followed by an explanation that they were here from Indigo in order to test this new league.
"It's very different for us. We're used to just fighting in gyms," Ash confessed finally.
Karin nodded. "Yes. The tests here are designed not only for Pokémon, but to measure the strength of a trainer as well." Her eyes slid away, and Ash had the sudden feeling that she wasn't telling them all she knew.
"So what about Violet's gym?" Ash asked conversationally, bringing his spoon to his lips. While he had been talking, his untouched soup had almost gone cold.
Karin shook her head. "I've never been in there, myself, so I cannot tell you much." Her hands cupped her soup bowl, eyes downcast. "But I know it is at the edge of our town."
"What does this gym leader test?" Ash inquired, but Karin only shrugged.
"Do you at least know who he – or she – is?" asked Misty.
Karin blinked up at the window over the sink. "No. Whoever they are, they do not come down to the town much."
Ash followed her gaze, and saw a miniature collection of stone Pokémon lining the sill. He got up to get a closer look. These ones were different from the ones outside; Ash realized after inspection that they all represented dark Pokémon. A Houndoom, a Tyranitar, an Umbreon, and finally four Murkrows posed for him. Ash frowned. These seven figures…why were they present in an otherwise cheerful kitchen?
"Your husband," said Brock, "tell us more about him."
"Yes," Karin said, suddenly perking. "He used to be a trainer, traveling the world – to your Indigo league and even the Johto. After we met, we decided to settle here. Violet Town is rather quiet – the peace is good for us. He took up carving, hoping to portray some of what he learned in his journeys. He loves Pokémon, all Pokémon. You noticed outside how real the portrayals are?" Ash, Misty, and Brock nodded. "He studied his subjects very carefully, and put some of what he thought to be that Pokémon's soul into every work. He believes all Pokémon have some good inside them, and he hoped to bring it out somehow."
"He sounds very nice," Brock supplied. "Truly a Pokémon master."
Karin smiled. "Yes. He is."
"But why did he stop?" puzzled Ash, turning back to the table.
Karin glanced into her empty bowl. "He wanted to share his knowledge with others."
She stood abruptly. "Here, let me take your dishes. You must be eager to get to the gym."
Ash started; he had not realized so much time had passed. "Yes, we'd better leave. Thanks for everything, Karin!"
And with a wave he dragged Misty and Brock hastily out the door.
-
"Why the sudden hurry, Ash?" gasped Misty, trailing along behind her companions. They were headed for the edge of Violet Town at a brisk jog.
"I never realized how long we were spending at Karin's! Now Gary's probably far ahead of us!"
Misty sighed. "Can you just forget Gary for one minute, Ash?"
Ash ran on, determined.
Brock seemed to be deep in thought as well. "Did you get the feeling," he said as he fell into stride with Misty, "that Karin knew more than she was letting on?"
Misty shook her head, bewildered. "What do you mean?"
"Well." Brock put a hand to his chin, thinking. "It seemed that whenever we asked her a question related to the gym, she didn't look at us when answering."
Misty gasped. "Do you think she was lying?"
"Not outright, no." Brock shook his head. "It's just really odd. In a town this small, you'd think everyone would know everyone and maybe –" His eyebrows raised as excitement entered his voice, coming upon a revelation. "Maybe that's why she wouldn't tell us!"
"Okay, you lost me," confessed Misty.
Brock turned to her, face shining. "All the villagers are in on some kind of scheme – they refuse to give out information about the gym because that would give someone an unfair advantage. They all know exactly what's going on!"
Misty stared at him, wide-eyed. "That makes sense!" Then she sighed, "I hope Ash is careful."
At the mention of their friend, the two glanced forward; Ash had already disappeared from sight ahead. They exchanged exasperated glances before quickening their pace.
-
Far ahead, Ash had wandered into the forest. He tripped over a root and fell – into a clearing.
"Uhhgg." Slowly, Ash climbed to his feet. His eyes fell on the massive structure in front of him and widened. Open-mouthed and staring, Ash took in the haunted-looking building.
"Is this…?" he wondered.
"Pika," hushed Pikachu.
Trainer and Pokémon cautiously approached the statue standing guard over the property. Ash tilted his head way back, squinting to make out the stone Pokémon's face, but there was only a mask of crumbling rock. He could not recognize any feature on this weathered statue.
Ash then turned to follow the path with his eyes; he saw, far ahead, the door leaning off its hinges, dilapidated steps leading up to it.
"Do you think we should go in?" whispered Ash. "It doesn't look like the gym."
"Pika pi," Pikachu assured him, clinging to his hat.
Ash took a breath. "All right."
He padded up the pathway on tiptoe, furtively watching for anything that might at any instant turn on him. Hairs stood up on the back of his neck; even Pikachu seemed nervous, craning its head about wide-eyed.
Reaching the door, Ash pushed it open and stepped inside. The darkness closed around him as the door creaked shut.
A long moment passed; finally, Ash could see faint outlines of the shapes around him. First and foremost was a staircase dead ahead.
"Hello?" asked Ash, his voice echoing around him: hello, hello, hello.
"Pikachu?" his Pokémon added to the ghostly reply.
Ash trod forward, saying, "Maybe someone's upstairs."
He had almost reached the first step when he heard a click.
"What the –"
He couldn't finish, as suddenly the floor dropped from beneath him and Ash plunged through cold, musty air into darkness.
To be continued...
--
Author's Note: Muahaha, evil cliffhanger! Please review!