This one's pretty short, but I guess that's the result of splitting up chapters.

Enjoy!

Chapter 71
Maya's Artifact

"Where did you hear that name from?"

Cilice watched her with a mixture of urgency and curiosity. Though slightly intimidated and confused by the woman's analyzing stare, Marina answered the question.

"I heard it from a couple of things that happened. Once was when I first went to the Ruins of Alph. The Pokémon I saw, the Unown, spelled it out for me. The other time was in a dream I kept having… but they only started after I got this."

Marina tugged and folded over the turtleneck on her shirt, revealing the accessory strapped around her neck. Intrigued, Cilice bent her knees to observe it closely. She was about to touch the choker, but paused.

"Do you mind if I take a better look?" she asked, glancing up at her for permission. Marina shook her head.

"No, go ahead."

Cilice nodded. With a gentle touch, she felt the leathery black strap as well as the faded red rose that held it together. She tried to take it off, but much like Marina's attempts, it failed to unlock. Her face was that of intense focus, she almost looked angry, so Marina had no idea what to think.

"This… I could be wrong, but... hm... How and when did you get this choker?"

"I don't really know," Marina answered nervously. All this talk of things she had kept so secret for months was making her anxious—a part of her was afraid that Cilice would mock her in disbelief of something she said. Even though she knew that was unlikely, it still made her uncertain. She vigorously fought against the feeling and continued her explanation.

"It was when I was in Goldenrod City last October, and I haven't been able to take it off since. I didn't know what to do, so I kept it since no one saw it anyway. But...oh! I first noticed it just after something weird happened in the Pokémon Gym there."

"Go on," Cilice encouraged, completely engrossed. Much like with the fake Poké Ball, she seemed to be taking in all of the rose choker's features

"Well, I wandered into the Gym when I noticed that a bunch of those Team Rocket guys were cornering the Gym Leader. I went to help her, but the battle got really bad for us and they ordered one of their Pokémon attack me.

"Before it could, there was a gust of wind and this huge crash. When I looked around, I saw that this really weird Pokémon had come in and beaten up Team Rocket's Pokémon. It...I don't know; it looked freaky. It was red or orange, and it stood on two legs like a person, but it had these long arms. I'm pretty sure it was psychic because it spoke to me; it said that it was sorry—I'm not sure why—and that it needed me to do a favor for it. Then I passed out. When I woke up, Whitney, the Gym Leader, had already taken me to the hospital so everything was okay. But then I saw that I was wearing this choker."

"Deoxys...?" Cilice muttered a name, her narrow eyes widening at her description.

"Yeah!" Marina exclaimed in recognition. "That was its name! I haven't seen it since then, but I wonder what kind of Pokémon it was? Do you know? I've never seen anything like that before."

"I can't believe it."

"What?"

"It protected you?"

"Um… Yeah. It just came in, knocked out the Pokémon that was about to hurt me, and I guess left."

Cilice stood up straight, incredibly troubled. "I did not even know it talked...but the fact that it went out of its way to save you all of a sudden...?"

"What? Is it a dangerous Pokémon?" Marina asked, casting an innocent stare up at the vexed woman.

"Yes, it is," she answered her stiffly. "It is a unique and unpredictable monster. You are very, very lucky that nothing became of you then."

"Oh..."

"But you do not need to worry about it any longer. It should be far away now."

Wow, I didn't know. It did look pretty strong, but it didn't seem bad—just really strange, Marina reflected. From seeing Cilice's reaction, however, she decided to keep it to herself.

"Enough of that," Cilice said and fixed her posture in an attempt to regain her elegant disposition. When she composed herself completely, she made eye contact with Marina again. "Now then… About the dreams: could you tell me about them?"

Marina explained the recurring dreams as she was prompted. She used as much detail as possible: the endless, dark and empty landscape; the suppressive atmosphere that made it difficult to speak or walk around; the different types of Pokémon that appeared such as Tauros, Suicune and even Unown; and the girl with the dark hair, who Marina suspected was named Maya. She described the dreams' sad and sometimes nightmarish nature, and about how Maya was never able to speak. Bringing up the neckband, Marina recounted the time where the girl pointed at Marina's collar and then at her own, which was precisely identical. She then mentioned the choker's tendency to tighten while she was awake, but also that it was never for very long and had not happened again in many months.

"But I haven't had any more dreams since December, either," Marina said. She took a breath to rest from talking. "At first I thought I had them because I was really stressed out. About what happened at the Ruins of Alph and other things… But I really think that this might be haunted or something."

Cilice was very quiet this time. She stared off into the distance for a little while, and then back at her—or her choker, Marina couldn't tell. But as she did not respond still, the girl was unable to contain her anxiety.

"What do you think? Is it bad? Maybe a coincidence? Am I just crazy and imagining it all? Do you think it's haunted too?"

Cilice once again held up her hand, and Marina stopped her flurry of questions.

"I think it is interesting," she simply said.

"Interesting?" Gazing at her oddly, Marina covered up the choker once more.

"Interesting and concerning. I will explain: there was a human named Maya, who was said to have known Aura. Supposedly, Aura took care of her. But information on her is obscure. Even people that believe in Aura's existence doubt that Maya was real, because she was only talked about but never seen. This is why I was so surprised to hear you say that name."

"Really?" Marina asked. A small amount of excitement and fear swelled her heart. "So she's really real after all? Is it the same girl?"

"Perhaps. Now concerning the choker..." The woman paused for a moment as she had done multiple times; Marina was just glad that she no longer looked upset. "Since nothing has occurred in quite some time, I don't think we should cut it away with scissors just yet. From what I know, Maya was a very gentle soul. She would never hurt anyone."

Gentle…? Marina looked down, fiddling with the rose clip covered by her shirt.

"If her spirit really does reside in there, then you should not worry. You are more likely to scare her than the other way around."

"You sound like you've actually met her," commented Marina lightheartedly.

"Ah, but that's impossible, is it not?" Cilice returned with a refreshing smile to ease up the heavy atmosphere. "But if anything else happens, do not hesitate to visit me as soon as you can."

"I will!" Marina nodded several times.

This is the first time I've actually gotten some straight answers, she thought positively. She really knows what she's talking about. Not even the people in Ecruteak City knew about this!

"Now, this is all I know," Cilice announced. "You have given me so much more to think about, I thank you. I hope you are satisfied as well, so that you can continue your journey without it weighing so much on your mind."

"I've been trying to put it all behind me for a while now," Marina admitted with a weak smile. "I kind of just hoped it would all turn out to be a bad nightmare or an illusion from the Unown."

"I suppose that is possible, but dreams do not leave behind physical objects—however illusionary they are. Only Aura could create something like that Poké Ball."

"Yeah…" She laughed a little bit.

Footsteps and clacking echoed in the arena. They turned to see Pryce, who walked over to them as he noticed the girls and Marina's Lapras.

"How far along are you with your talk? I hope I'm not interrupting," he said.

"We just finished up, in fact," Cilice responded. "It was a very interesting chat. Isn't that right, Marina?"

"Um, yes! It was very interesting. I learned a lot!" said Marina. She turned back to Cilice and bowed deeply. "I really appreciate everything you've told me, Cilice. Thank you so much!"

"You are quite welcome. I learned some things as well," she replied with a small smile. "Do not forget to recall your Lapras before you leave."

"Oh, right!"

Marina reached behind her and fiddled with her one of the zippers on her backpack. She thought about what kind of Poké Ball to choose. But as she pulled out the classic red-colored one at random, she smiled. Squeezing it tight, she threw the ball at her still-drowsy Pokémon.

"Return, Lapras!"

The Poké Ball shook a couple of times, but stopped within seconds. She picked it up, staring attentively at its cold metallic surface.

"Did something happen to the old one?" Pryce asked her.

"Yeah," Marina tried to answer immediately. "It, um, just… broke. But, now it matches all my other Poké Balls so it's kinda like she's more part of the team now!"

"Hmm! Continue treating your Lapras with care," he encouraged. "I am certain she will only continue to warm up to you as you strengthen your bond through many battles."

"I will! Or at least I'll try. I've actually got a nickname for her in mind, Lyra, but I'll have to wait a little while for that."

"Ah, I see. That is a fine name."

"Mm hm!"

"Well now, you had best set off," Cilice said and patted the girl's shoulder lightly. "It is best not to waste daylight."

"Right. Thank you so much, again!" Marina nodded in gratitude.

"Of course. If you have any more questions, be sure to contact me. Goodbye, Marina."

"Goodbye! Bye, Pryce, thanks for your help, too!"

After the Mahogany Gym Leader returned the farewell, the young and energetic girl left. Pryce and Cilice stood in silence for a moment, a silence interrupted by the distant sound of the first battles of the day—battles from other Trainers in the main portion of the Gym. Cilice closed her eyes with momentary content.

There was so much that she did not know. She really did not know much about Maya, even in peaceful times. And though she was not going to forgive Deoxys for one second, she could imagine what it could possibly desire in its unreadable mind. Did it give Marina the black choker that possibly contained Maya's spirit? What for? Had it been holding onto the collar for the past one-hundred-fifty or so years? And what favor did it want from the girl? If it knew that Marina, with a connection to Suicune, would be able to communicate with her just as she did with Aura in the Neo Ball...

Could there possibly be a rational reason for why it had attacked her?

Cilice sighed, unwilling to consider the ridiculous idea any further. She would have time to think about other theories throughout the day.

"Now, what is it that you talked about?" Pryce asked her.

"You've been curious about it from the beginning, I see," she said.

"I have. You regard her with so much thought, like she is a difficult puzzle you are trying to figure out. It's unusual—even for you, Cilice."

"No need to exaggerate. It was nothing much," Cilice responded with a coy smile, "Simple girl talk."

Pryce laughed. "Ah, I see then. She must have had some very interesting things to say for you not to tell me."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," she replied in an exaggerated, aloof manner. She displayed a profound expression as she added, "She is a relatively normal child."

At least, she was for now. Cilice was not certain just what the rose neckband would bring about. The important fact was, however, that Marina was oblivious to her abilities—just as Suicune would have wanted.

But if she seeks and figures it out for herself, Cilice pondered with a smile. There is nothing anyone can do about it.