Chapter the Second;
Drowzee's Claim
Moon took a deep breath and held it, waiting for the air to become fire in her flame sac. It took all of about ten seconds before Moon could feel the heat burn in her chest. She released the air onto the water. As soon as the elements touched, they combined.
Moon watched as the water grew on a flame-like texture. It danced like flame but was still clear like water. She knew then that whatever she was experiencing wasn't real. It was a dream or spell. A spell! Why hadn't she thought of that before?! It explained everything! She knew that finding Hypno would be a hard task to accomplish and that there were spells surrounding his home that protected him from intruders. This must be one of the spells.
Moon smiled, she understood now what she was experiencing. The spell took the one that had been casted upon into a dream-like state, except they're awake in reality, sort of. Their mind was transported to a place where they had to face a fear to get back to reality, but there was one catch. Whenever the casted moved in the spell, their body would also move. So if the casted walked too far they would end up walking off the side of the mountain and plunge to their death.
Moon's fear had been conquered. Water scared Moon, fire didn't. She wadded through the warm liquid flame until the snowy island was directly in front of her. She placed a paw on the cold surface to have the scenery entirely change around her.
All plant life vanished and was replaced by a few shrubbery bushes. Everything was covered in snow that grazed Moon's underside when she walked. She saw the tracks she had made when she had first climbed into the spell's range. She noted that she had been dangerously close to the edge a few times.
"Whoever you are, you knew what you were doing, how is that?" asked a voice from behind Moon. She turned her head quickly to see a Pokémon slowly making its way toward her. Its yellow snout hung low over its mouth which was turned up into a smile.
"I-I heard about Hypno's spells and their effect. It seemed only reasonable that he would use them to defend his den. Who are you, by the way?" Moon asked. She had never seen a Hypno before but she had heard of their looks and she knew that whatever Pokémon stood in front of her wasn't one of them.
"Me? Oh ho ho, I'm Ster a Drowzee and one of Hypno's apprentices, though I'm the only one here right now. If you didn't know, Hypno has been kidnapped! The others went out to get help and I was left here, to guard the place and to redirect anyone who needed spells. I'm guessing that you thought you needed one?" the Drowzee explained. Though the Pokémon's story seemed true, Moon couldn't shake her uneasiness about Ster.
"Th-that's exactly right," Moon said. She couldn't let the Drowzee get the idea that she didn't trust it. "I need a spell. But I guess I'll have to return some other time."
"Now now, you don't have to go, well, I suppose you do, but please wait here for a second. I'll be right back," said the Drowzee before it scurried off back toward the abandoned human house that made up Hypno and Drowzee's den.
Moon wasn't sure if she should stay or go but she decided that it wouldn't hurt to see what Ster brought out. If she had to fight she was, by the looks of it, more experienced, giving her an advantage.
The yellow Pokémon returned moments later with a few items in its hands. Ster showed Moon the items before asking anything from her. "This here is a Relic Vase. It is really old and I meant to give it to an old friend, but that was before Hypno's kidnapping. I never got the chance to give it to my friend, though, and I ask if you could, in fact, do this for me?"
Moon eyed the vase with uncertainty. It was quite small and Moon was certain it held something of value inside. Ster placed the vase on the ground in front of her. Moon stuck her head out to inspect the vase. Inside was a bitter powder that stunk.
"What is this inside?" asked Moon, scrunching her nose to show her distaste.
"It is a powder that heals. My friend, you see, collects helpful herbs and berries so that he can help the Pokémon that come to him. He's sort of like Hypno, in a way," explained Ster. Though the Drowzee was keeping calm and answering all Moon's questions, the Flareon couldn't help but get the vibe that he wanted her to go.
"Ah," Moon said, trying to sound like the questions she asked could be asked by anyone and not just someone who didn't trust him. "There is but one other thing I shall need to know."
"And what is that?" asked Ster. His voice leaked his anxiety for her to leave though he covered it well.
"I shall need to know where it is your friend lives of course! There isn't a way to bring this to him otherwise!" Moon explained cheerily. Humor echoed through her voice at the Drowzee's noticeable reaction of relief. She flicked her tail in amusement.
"Oh of course," said Ster. "He lives in the forest near the river. There is an old human hut that has been abandoned for years there and that is where I believe you will find him. He is often very busy so the vase should just be set in front of the hut. He will find it there."
"If there is nothing else, I shall then be off," said Moon. She took the vase into her mouth, the only way possible for her to carry it, and was careful to not inhale the powder. She didn't know what it would do in her flame sac. Turn to flame or burn? Or was it really something else that could hurt the insides of the consumer?
The Drowzee nodded and waved 'good-bye' to Moon. She turned and carefully began her descend of the mountain.