Ch.7: Welcome to Marble Stone City! Meeting the Mysterious Cloaked Assistant!
As predicted by Wes, the trek to Marble Stone City took about two days. The excitement of finally finding a potion master stopped the Umbreon from sleeping a couple of times. Actually, the excitement affected Flint and Ella, too. Fortunately, they got plenty of bedrest on the second night of travel, much to their relief. If they traveled another day without getting proper sleep, they would have passed out on the road.
Speaking of which, they were currently walking down a dirt road, passing some signs that said Marble Stone City was roughly a mile from their current position. This annoyed them a bit, but at least it wasn't dreadfully far away. Now, if it were five to ten miles, they would have just set up camp and fell asleep on the spot. They're adventurers, but walking can get exhausting after a several hours.
Wes smiled at his friends. "This is great. We're almost there, gang."
"Fantastic!" Ella exclaimed. "First thing I'm doing is heading to the spa and getting a massage. My back is killing me."
Flint glanced at her. "Ella, we have no time for leisure. We need to meet with Clara as soon as possible."
"Assuming she's still alive," the young Ravenfield muttered.
The Flareon rolled his eyes. "Wes…"
"Hey, I like to look on the bright side of things, but Clara has been in hiding for years. You heard the reports people gave when they went to her shop. Some state they've seen her under a cloak and couldn't see her face. How do we know that just isn't someone trying to pose as her? I mean, if you can't see the face, there's a chance it could be any Lilligant. Heck, maybe even a Ditto taking her place."
"He makes a good point," Ella agreed. "I'm just now learning about this woman and even I know there's something fishy about all of this."
Flint sighed. "I'll admit, even I'm having a hard time understanding what's going on. And all that stuff Ava said really left me confused."
"Yeah, what was all the junk about 'something missing from the past'? And the pathways are covered in fog?"
"That's just how most fortune tellers talk," Wes explained. "They do it as a way to make everything dramatic. Trust me, seeing into the future is both boring and a convoluted mess. Especially when you take in too much of the future."
"So you're saying there was no meaning behind those words?"
"Well…not exactly." He rubbed his chin. "Truth be told, she could have meant anything by those lines."
"Maybe she referred to Clara not being properly seen in years," Flint suggested.
"If that's the case, then why was her visions covered in fog?"
He shrugged. "Don't go asking me. I'm no expert on it."
Ella sighed with an eye roll. "In any case, we at least know there's someone who can help us with the map. Whatever Madame Ava meant was probably nothing important."
"I wouldn't go dismissing the future," her ex warned. "Fortune tellers are some of the most skilled in magic. Xatu and other future seers may be able to see the future, but a fortune teller can predict events beyond normal comprehension. If she says something is wrong, something is wrong."
She rolled her eyes again. "Sorry, I'm just a little…apprehensive with seeing this person. Anyone who hides their face for that long obviously has a story to tell. Plus, how do we know we can trust her?"
Flint chuckled. "You worry too much, Ella. Ms. Belladonna is one of the kindest people in all of Mysto. She would never pull off some scam on us."
"Course, if she did, I'd burn her shop to the ground!" Wes shouted. His Flareon brother glared at him, earning a sheepish grin from him. "…I mean, have a civilized discussion about why it is wrong to swindle innocent folks like us."
Ella giggled at his usual brand of goofiness. "In any case, I still say we should be on our guard. There's a reason I don't trust people." Her eyes darted to the right. "Though, when you work in a bar like I do, those instincts become second nature."
Wes rubbed his chin. "Well, I still say Clara is trustworthy…then again…" He stopped for a moment.
Flint and Ella stopped a bit in front of him. "Something wrong, bro?"
He narrowed his eyes into a serious expression and looked up at them. "Professor Geno mentioned how the Shadow King could not survive without a living host. If Clara really has been hiding herself for all these years, wouldn't that mean…"
His brother shook his head. "Doubtful. The Shadow King was a brilliant strategist and tactician. He wouldn't make himself that obvious to the public."
"True, but still…"
Ella reached into Wes' bag and pulled out the idol map. She waved it in front of their faces. "That's the point I'm trying to make here. We're going to be handing over a map with secrets to an undisclosed location that has been kept behind the walls of mythology for thousands of years or so. Even if it wasn't the Shadow King we were worrying about, it would definitely be some pirate or lowlife scum trying to get their greasy mitts on this beauty."
Wes swiped the map back and put it back in his bag. "Exactly. I'm just saying we need to use extreme caution when handling this. After all, we are going to have to tell her about the map when she removes the potion effect. We can't exactly hide it."
"And if she tries anything, we'll be ready," the Espeon assured.
Flint sighed. "I still doubt Ms. Belladonna would be possessed…but her behavior over the last nine years does need to be taken into account. Whatever the case, let's just find her and get started on finding the keys."
Their conversation helped pass the time, as they were coming up on the city. The first thing they took it was the white stone buildings that stood tall throughout the streets. Many Pokémon walked about, interacting with one another and heading into the various buildings with goods and services to satisfy them. The street was made up of stone slabs, made into a neat and clean path. On the sidewalks were street lamps that were out since it was the middle of the day.
The Eeveelutions made their way in, with a sign saying 'Welcome to Marble Stone City'. They stopped for a moment to take in the active community. They were surprised to see just how clean the streets were. They even saw some random Bisharp pick up some trash that obviously wasn't hers and throw it in the trash.
They looked for the sound of giggling children and saw a group of kids running through the streets, playing what they assumed to be Tag. The crowd didn't seem to mind, almost like this was a regular thing that happened.
Wes smiled. "Heh…feels like home."
"Yeah, just nicer," Flint muttered.
Ella looked around and found a city map posted on a board in the middle of a large roundabout in the street. She walked over to it and hovered her paw around it. "Let's see…AHA! There it is!"
"Ms. Belladonna's shop?" Wes and Flint asked.
"Nope, the spa." They face-planted at her reply.
Flint shot up and shouted, "We have no time to go to the spa!"
She deadpanned. "Gee, sorry…"
Wes shook his head and read the city map himself. "Okay, we're here, so…" He hovered his paw around it. He followed the path of the street before pointing at a green block on the map. "There, that's where the shop is."
"Great, let's get moving," Flint said.
Ella nodded. "Yeah. And later, perhaps we can…" She got a glare from Wes and Flint. She darted her eyes to the side. "I wasn't going to say anything about the spa…"
"You're going to Ms. Belladonna's shop?" They turned to the sound of the voice and saw a Floatzel, who wore a white buttoned shirt, black blazer, and tan khakis. He smirked. "Good luck. That old witch hasn't shown her face in years. Heh, I wouldn't be surprised if she was dead."
Flint glared. "From what we heard, her business is still going."
"Doesn't mean anything. That witch hasn't been seen in years. She's dead."
"She's not a witch!" Wes shouted. "She's a potion maker!"
He snickered. "You're not from around here, are you, kid?"
He glared. "Perhaps…"
"Then you should know that no one has seen her. Yes, your friend is right that her business is still going. But anyone can run that business! She's gone, dead! And all because of what she did!"
"What?!"
He chuckled and flicked him in the forehead. "Figure it out for yourself, loser." He put his hands in his pockets and walked around them.
Ella got in front of him and stopped him, glaring angrily. "Hey, don't disrespect my friend like that."
He smirked and bent down, rubbing her chin. "Why bother hanging out with them, cutie? Why not hang out with a real man, like me?"
She gave a sly grin. "Tempting, but…" She turned around and raised her hindlegs, striking him in the gut. He gasped and clutched it, falling to his knees and trying to regain the air knocked out of him. "Not interested." She stepped on his tail, making him wince. "Plus, these two can take a kick without whining about it. Much more manly than you." She stepped on his other tail.
Wes snickered, while Flint narrowed his eyes. I can't believe Wes actually dated her at one point.
With a flick of her tail, she walked back over to them. "Come on, boys. We got a potion master to meet." They nodded and followed her.
The Floatzel looked up at them and glared. "Deny it all you want! That woman is a witch! A witch!" They drowned out his shouts as they walked farther and farther away.
They turned a corner and stopped for a moment. Wes growled. "I want to go back there and give that guy a piece of my mind…"
Flint placed a hand on his back. "Wes, calm down. Let's just forget about it."
Ella looked back with a glare. "What was that guy's deal? Calling someone a witch?"
Mysto allowed the practice of magic, but almost all of it outlawed the practice of witchcraft. It was black magic that caused misery and harm to many throughout centuries. One famous incident was the spread of a deadly plague that left many ill, injured, and even dead. It was basically bringing forth the forces of the darkest parts of the Underworld. It was frowned upon and can result in being arrested.
Flint shook his head. "That guy was just spitting nonsense, don't worry."
Wes narrowed his eyes. "Is that really a rumor going around here? Ms. Belladonna being a witch?"
Flint rubbed his chin. "From what I heard about the city, they adore her. Why would they think such a thing?"
"Unless that guy was from out of town and heard something different," Ella suggested.
"I've never heard about rumors like that," Wes said. "And I've been to many different zones."
Flint shrugged. "We live pretty far out of regular towns, Wes. I doubt people go around shouting things just for the sake of shouting."
Ella glared. "In any case, we still need to meet with Ms. Belladonna. You remember where to go, Wes?" He nodded and led the way.
They passed a few people on the way, who were simply minding their business. On the way, however, they decided to ask some questions, seeing as how the little incident earlier didn't leave their minds.
"They're just rumors, I assure you."
"She was such a lovely woman. It's a real shame we haven't been able to see her in so many years."
"I'll admit, the rumors are making me reconsider, but I know she isn't a witch."
The people they spoke with gave a similar response each time. They learned they were residents of this city. There were also the people who weren't from around here.
"She's a disgrace to all Pokémon! Using witchcraft in her work! What a disrespect to all of us!"
"A monster, that woman is!"
"Anyone who thinks she isn't guilty should be hanged!"
That last guy earned a sucker punch from Wes. He absolutely hated comments like that.
They stopped for a moment and sighed. "Well, that was a mess," Wes muttered.
Ella chuckled. "Speak for yourself, you knocked that guy's teeth out. That was hilarious."
Wes chuckled a bit, then frowned. "I can't believe we haven't heard about these rumors. That was horrible."
"Why would so many people assume she studies witchcraft? More importantly, how did this all start? You'd think this would become a thing for the whole region to know about."
The Umbreon shook his head. "Well, we're almost at the shop. Maybe we can figure something out."
"I thought we were on a deadline," Ella reminded.
He shrugged. "We can spare some time to get to the bottom of all this hostility."
Flint sighed. "Wes is right. Her name is being slandered with no remorse. But let's focus on the job, first." They nodded and continued ahead.
Another few minutes of walked and they reached their destination. A small shop conjoined with the other buildings. It had a darker color compared to the white buildings around them. The walls themselves were chipped and cracked. The open sign on the wooden door was broken and hung from one chain, the other swaying lightly. Despite the horrible outlook, the plants were a different story.
There were potted plants on the windowsill and they bloomed brilliantly. The vibrant colors bounced the sunlight off, mixing with the glorious colors. They were the only thing giving life to this rundown shop.
"Dang…" Wes mumbled. "This place is a wreck."
"I'm surprised it's still in business," Ella commented.
"Guess the city folk are far more loyal to her than outsiders," Flint said.
Wes walked up to the door and placed an ear against it. Didn't sound like anyone was home. Still, common curtsey and stuff. He raised his paw and knocked about three times on the door. He stood back and waited patiently for an answer.
There was a long stretch of silence before they heard footsteps within the shop. Then tumbling. Then crashing. Then squeaking. The unusual sounds occurring within the shop earned sweatdrops from the gang. Was Clara clumsy or something?
A series of locks unlocked one by one before the door partially opened. A rose red iris peered through the crack. They first thought it was Clara, but Lilligant tend to have eyes leaning more towards an orange color and this eye was a deep shade of red. Then there was the hand holding the door. It was green, just like a Lilligant's, but this was an actual hand, not a leaf hand. That, and it had fur on it. A green furred hand. They blinked in confusion.
"Sorry about that! I was sleeping!" she apologized. "I was working last night and there was this problem with the stove and…" She shook her head. "N-Never mind that. How may I help you folks?" She narrowed her eyes. "Unless you came here to throw more eggs at the shop."
Wes shook his head. "Do not worry, we're not like the outsiders. We actually came here seeking help from Ms. Belladonna. Is she in?"
"Uh…n-no. She's…sick at the moment. And she needs her bedrest." She slowly closed the door. "But thanks for coming!" The door stopped just inches from closing.
Wes smiled. "I understand and all, but we really need to see her. Can we come in?"
Her eye darted back and forth. "Uh…one minute." She shut the door and fumbled around again. The group looked at each other and shrugged. The door opened again, this time all the way. They were greeted by the same girl, but she was dressed in brown robes and wore a cloak over her head, unable to see what she looked like. "Please, come in."
They walked in. The first thing they saw…was more plants. Vines wrapped around the support beams, potted plants resting on some tables, and some bushes off to the side. In the corner of the room was an open kitchen, with a stove, fridge, sink, and counter. There was a couch near the door, with leaves scattered on it. There were a set of stairs that led to the top. There was also a back door, possibly a storage room.
The cloaked figure walked to the open kitchen. "Do any of you want juice?"
Flint raised his paw and shook his head. "No, no, we wouldn't want to impose…"
"Oh, I don't mind. I grow a lot of vegetables and fruit, so we have plenty."
Wes looked at the others and smiled. "Well, if it's okay, what do you have?"
"Raspberry lemonade."
He licked his lips at the mention of the delicious drink. "Ooh, yes please!" Flint and Ella considered the offer and nodded in agreement.
The figure nodded and pulled out the carton that contained the drink. She pulled out some glasses and poured it. She placed the carton away and handed out the drinks. "Please enjoy."
"Don't mind if I do!" Wes leaned back and slurped the drink, shivering from the slight sour taste before drinking more.
Flint smiled and took a small sip. "You sure are friendly towards strangers."
She chucked and sat on a stool, setting her drink to the side. "Well, I try to show kindness. You're the first newcomers I've came across who weren't coming to shout their complaints."
Ella frowned. "Sounds rough."
"You get used to it. I'm staying strong so I can help Ms. Belladonna while she's…recovering." She shook her head and smiled. "But, enough about that. I'm Gwyn. I'm Ms. Belladonna's assistant."
"Wes Ravenfield. This is my brother, Flint Ravenfield, and our friend, Ella Cipher." They waved with friendly smiles.
"Nice to meet you all. So, what brings you here?"
Wes set his glass down on the table and wiped his mouth. "Well, we kind of need Ms. Belladonna's help with something. See, we need a potion to counteract another one soaked on a map we have. But it can only be done by someone who knows how to make potions. We were wondering if she has the time to help us."
Gwyn gripped her glass tightly. "Uh…I'm not sure about that. She's really…REALLY sick. I wouldn't want you all to catch what she has. Plus, she's far too weak to get up on her own."
The Umbreon frowned. "Oh…"
"I'm sorry. She's been getting sick a lot lately. But, uh, don't worry…she'll be fine." She frowned seeing their disappointed expressions. She sighed. "But…you're welcomed to stay for a bit. I…rarely have anyone else to talk to."
He smiled. "Well…okay."
She smiled and clapped her hands. "Great! Company!" She leaned forward. "So, where are you all from?"
Flint smiled. "We're from Quartz Plain Village. It's a small, quiet little place with plenty of friendly faces. I'm actually trying to major in archeology there."
"Oh, you're a college student?"
"Yeah. Are you?"
She shook her head. "No, I got all the education I need from Ms. Belladonna. I've actually lived here all my life. Working alongside her is some of the best moments of my life."
Ella leaned back. "Hang on, so you've never been to school? Don't you have any friends?"
Gwyn bit her lip and looked to the side. "Uh, well…no. I…I, uh…I'm very shy."
"You're talking to us just fine," she countered.
She chuckled nervously. "Really? Guess I'm over my shyness! Woo, lucky me…"
The gang looked at each other with perplexed expressions. They were all thinking the same thing. This girl was…strange. She seemed nice, sure, but she acted like she was being interrogated.
Wes decided to change the subject for now. "So, I see you and Ms. Belladonna really like plants."
She smiled sweetly. "Oh yes, I absolutely adore plants. Some many different varieties and shapes. Plants can be a vital ingredient when making a potion and I love studying about them. I'm trying to become a potion master myself. I'm ranked as a potion expert, actually. But I still have a long way to go to achieve my dream."
Flint smiled. "You must be really smart."
"Oh yes. I do a lot of studying to determine the different types of plants and vegetation that make up our world. It's a passion of mine to constantly learn new things."
The Flareon chuckled. "Funny…same here. I would love to see your work. If you don't mind, of course."
She shook her head and beamed brightly. "I don't mind at all!" She hopped up from her seat and grabbed his paw.
"WHOA!" the Flareon went as he was pulled from his seat and flying through the air, being guided by the energetic assistant. Wes and Ella looked at each other and chuckled before following.
Gwyn opened the back and lit a candle. "Tada!" In front of them was a bunch of equipment. Glass vials were stacked and stored in cabinets. In the cabinets as well are various ingredients and supplies for potion making, like dragon scales, dried root, eyeballs; a ton of weird stuff, basically. There was a counter that was spotless, showing she cleaned it recently. "Welcome to my lab!"
"Wow…" Flint awed.
Gwyn skipped around. "Ms. Belladonna gave me this space to practice my potion making skills. Some go well, some blow up in my face." She giggled at the thought. "I remember having to clean ash out of my fur for a whole week. Ah, good times…"
Flint looked around the lab. "This is a nice space to be doing research. What kind of potions have you been working on?"
"Oh, you know, basic stuff, like invisibility, night vision, explosive, smokescreen…that kind of stuff. I give them out to treasure hunters who need them on their hunts. It's the only thing that's really keeping this place open. They pay for a lot of potions."
"Makes sense," Wes said as he messed with a beaker. "Some treasure hunters don't use amulets, so they would need a potion or two."
Gwyn smiled. "Exactly. But personally, I do some experimenting in other fields." She ran over to one of the cabinets. "Like I said, I love plants. So I like creating ones from my potions." She reached in and pulled out two buckets full of seeds. "These are a batch of seeds I made. Once they're fully grown, they can become some pretty interesting plants." She set the buckets down and picked up one seed. "Want a demonstration?"
Ella tilted her head and blinked. "Uh…don't plants usually take a while to grow?"
"Yes, unless you have magic." She reached under the table and pulled out an orange pot. It was filled with soil already. She flicked the seed into the soil, burying itself in. She held her hand up and concentrated on the pot.
The Eeveelutions looked over it and waited for a change to occur. A green energy surrounded Gwyn's hand, the same green glow forming around the pot. A small stem slowly stretched out of the soil, waving from side to side as it took in its first few moments of air. Leaves grew out from the sides, spreading out far and wide. The tip of the stem opened up, a beautiful flower blooming into full view. Vibrant blue petals with star patterns etched into the petals. The center of the flower, the bud, was a magnificent red color, burning bright like fire. In fact it…swayed like fire? Wait…
"Is the bud on fire?" Wes muttered as he looked closely at the center. He could clearly see it waving like flames.
Gwyn smiled. "The flash freeze flower, as I like to call it." She plucked it out of the soil and twirled it in between her fingers. "When combined with magic, I can create an ice spell so cold, it burns like the flames of Hell."
Flint shivered at the thought. "That's an…interesting comparison."
She giggled lightly. "Maybe a mild exaggeration, but, trust me, you do not want to be hit by this." She planted it back in the soil. "I have a gift for using magic, but I never found the time to practice spells. My magic aura, however, is very receptive to plants. So, I did some studying and learned some plant spells. The obvious one being growth acceleration."
Flint took the pot with the flash freeze flower and looked at it. "And you made this yourself?" She nodded. "I never seen anything like this in the wild before. This is incredible."
She waved it off. "Oh, it's nothing special."
"Are you kidding? This is amazing. I would love to see how you make these."
She smiled at his interest. "Well, I do have some other experimental seeds on hand. Perhaps I can show you more."
"That'd be great!"
As they talked, Ella pulled Wes to the side. "As much as I would love to see more of her plants, we still need to speak with Ms. Belladonna."
Wes narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin. "I've been thinking about that, actually. Gwyn seems…a little nervous, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I've noticed that, too." She glanced at the cloaked Pokémon as she showed some more plants to Flint. "If she's trying to convince us her boss has been sick for years, that's a serious problem on its own."
"True, but…did you get the impression she was lying?"
"Perhaps. You?"
He nodded. "She's definitely hiding the truth from us. However, I can't see any ill intent in her words. I don't think she's a bad person. I think she's just hiding something."
Ella glanced upward. "Maybe we should check upstairs."
He shook his head. "Bad idea. We still need help with the map. We can't lose her trust. We'll just have to play it off until we find some way to convince her to tell us."
"I guess. Still, how are we going to get the map fixed up if we can't even see Ms. Belladonna?"
Wes stuck his tongue out as he considered their options. "Well…there's a possibility Gwyn might know. She's a potion expert and she has been working alongside Ms. Belladonna for quite some time. She might be able to help us."
"You think so?"
"Considering our options right now, it's worth a shot. Come on." They walked back over to Flint and Gwyn, the latter showing off a red Venus flytrap with horns.
"Now this beauty was especially hard to make. First few batches tried to bite me. One actually got close to eating me alive." She laughed. "I ended up punching that sucker until he was out cold!"
"Out cold? It had a conscience?"
She giggled. "Some of my plants develop some form of conscience or volition, but the rest are harmless." She poked the flytrap, which tried to bite her finger, but she pulled back, laughing. "Nice try, buddy!"
Flint chuckled lightly. "You are certainly a delight."
"Thanks. It's really nice showing my work to other people…" She looked down and frowned.
The Flareon frowned in concern and walked to her side, placing a paw on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
She flinched and jumped back. "Of course I am!" She laughed and rubbed her hands together. "Oh, almost forgot! You all said you needed help with that potion."
He blinked, then shook his head. He almost forgot why they came here. "Oh…right." He looked at Wes, nodding his head at the cloaked Pokémon.
He nodded in understanding. "Well Gwyn, like we said, we need some help with a little potion we're dealing with and we need a potion master who can help us. I know Ms. Belladonna is unavailable, but is there any way you can help us?"
She rubbed her chin and looked up. The gang waited for her to give an answer. She looked as if she was in deep thought, considering the request with great, delicate care. Her face made different expressions. Worry, confusion, fear, sadness…then relief. Whatever was going on in her mind left the gang concerned.
She looked at them and smiled. "Well…I can certainly give it a shot if it's important."
Wes nodded. "It is. You think you can do it?"
"I've been studying potions for years. Whatever it is, I can handle it."
"Well…" He looked at Flint and Ella for a second opinion. They nodded and gave him a look that signified they trusted his decision. He smiled appreciatively and looked at Gwyn. "Okay." He reached into his bag, searching around in the cosmic void taking up the space inside. "This map is very important to us, but the potion soaked in it is keeping us from using it." He pulled it out and set it on the table.
Gwyn looked over the map, immediately noticing its gold color. "Oh my…" She held it up and turned it around, inspecting it carefully to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. "I haven't seen this kind of paper before. Where did you get this?"
"Uh…" He gulped. They needed to be careful with who they give the information out to. But, as far as he could tell, Gwyn was harmless. A bit wacky, but harmless. "Well, I need to ask you…have you ever heard of the legend of the Idol of Origin."
"Oh, of course! Who hasn't?" Ella raised her paw in response. "…oh…well, yes, my mother told me when I was young. She told me a lot of bedtime stories before bed. Those little legend tales always filled me with excitement. I couldn't go to sleep multiple times." She giggled. "She said I was a handful. That I got it from my dad…" She shook her head. "But, uh…yes, I have heard of that particular legend."
"Well…some legends are a lot truer than one might think." She scrunched her face in confusion. "That…is a map to the Idol of Origin."
The map nearly slip out of her hands from her shocked gasp. She juggled the map in her hands as she tried to keep it from falling. After a few seconds of spastic grabbing, she clutched it and set it down on the table. "What? Please don't tell me this is a joke."
He shook his head. "No, it's true. It's the real thing."
She ran her hand over her hidden head and stared in disbelief. "That's…impossible."
A small laughed hiccupped out of Flint. "Funny, I thought the same thing."
She blinked and looked them all in the eye. "Where did you find this?"
"Believe it or not, it was hidden within the walls of our college," Ella explained. "These two found the room by accident and I came soon after. There was a bunch of junk all around it and we found that map with it."
Gwyn held the map up to her face and opened it. "If this is a map to the idol, where are the directions?"
"That's why we're here. The potion magically hid where the ten keys are being hidden. We have no idea where to start looking. When we heard about Ms. Belladonna, we felt she could help us with our search. To help remove the potion effect on the map."
Gwyn set the map down, unfurled, and rubbed her chin. She looked up with them with a narrowed brow. "And…you're okay with showing all of this to me?"
He smiled sheepishly. "I'll be honest, we were all a bit nervous with showing you this. Still am, really. But, instincts tell me you're alright."
She blinked, surprised by the claim. They were an odd bunch, definitely. Did she have a problem with that? No way. "Oh…well, uh…thanks." She smiled brightly. "Alright, let's check out this map!"
She set it down on her lab table and walked over to her cabinets. She opened it up and skimmed her finger over the individual vials in search of the one in particular she needed. It landed on a vial with the label 'Reveal'. She pumped her fist for a short celebration, making them chuckle at her enthusiasm, and pulled out the vial. Inside was a clear, green liquid.
She skipped over to the table and uncorked the vial. "This stuff is used specifically to show the contents of the potion. Doesn't do anything to the original potion, making it perfect to identify ingredients." She drizzled a steady amount over the map before corking the bottle.
The liquid absorbed into the map, surprisingly not staining it. The map glowed in a green light as streams of light seeped out of the edges. Their movements waved like a flickering candle in the path of a gentle breeze, desperately trying to stay lit. Gwyn smiled at the sight and reached under the table, pulling out a glass ball. She twisted it and took the two sides apart. She held the one half over a light stream.
The light touched against the smooth glass and slowly filled up the half. Once it was filled to a satisfying amount, she quickly attached the other half to the end and twisted it shut.
"Alright, done," she said as she looked at the light inside.
Ella walked around her and peered over her shoulder. "How…does this help us?"
She giggled. "The Reveal potion works in a tricky way. Once I have the light trapped in something like this, I just shake it and it'll show me what was used to make the potion. Then I just do some basic adjustments and figure out the ingredients for a counter potion."
Wes smiled. "Sweet!"
She shook the glass ball. "You all just hang tight while I figure this out, 'kay?" They nodded.
She took out a sheet of paper and a pencil and began writing the ingredients down one by one. The group sat still for about ten minutes, waiting for her to give instructions. She stuck her tongue out as she thought hard, studying the different ingredients and trying to figure a counter for all of them. It amazed the group how focused she was, clearly showing her status as a potion expert. Her eyes didn't leave the orb of light once. They could see some images appearing in the light, only proving how effective this potion was.
"Okay, that's the last ingredient. And to counter that one, I'll need…" Her eyes widened. "No…"
The Eeveelutions stood up and walked over to her. "What's wrong, Gwyn?" Flint asked.
She placed her pencil down and rubbed her forehead. "You've got to be kidding me…of all the freaking times…"
"What?"
"I don't have it."
Ella placed her paws on the cloaked assistant and shook her. "We don't have time to be playing the pronoun game! What are we missing?"
She pushed the Espeon off and sighed. "A sapphire comet flower."
"A sapphire comet flower?" Wes questioned.
"They're extremely rare flowers. They only grow from the remains of meteors infused with cosmic energy. They only bloom in the light of the moon. Obtaining one is a challenge of its own."
"You mean we can't complete the potion?!"
She shook her head. "I have everything else with me. But that one flower…I don't." She sighed pulled her hood even further down, hiding her rose red eyes. "I'm so sorry I got your hopes up…"
Flint frowned at seeing her looking sad. He placed a paw on her shoulder. "Hey, we appreciate you trying."
She sniffled. "I know…but I…I really wanted to help you all. I really did…" She wiped her eyes, then gasped. "Wait a minute, I just remembered!" Her sudden change in behavior made the group jump. "I know where to get a sapphire comet flower!"
Ella got over her shock first and smiled. "That's great! Where?"
That led to Gwyn frowning again. "Uh…that's the problem. There's one being held at a museum here, on display. It's being kept in an enchanted case to simulate moonlight, to keep in in bloom. Since finding them is near impossible, the owner would never give it to me."
Flint looked down. "Great…back to square one."
Wes, however, wasn't quick to give up. "Oh please!" They looked at him as he raised his paws. "I didn't come here just to crash into another dead end. We're getting that flower!"
"Wes, you'll get into a lot of trouble if you steal from a museum!" his older brother warned.
"I'm wanted in several towns already! One more won't be news to me!"
Gwyn blinked at the mentioning of him being wanted. She raised a hand to ask, but Ella shook her head and gave a look that said 'You don't want to know, trust me.' The cloaked assistant slowly lowered her hand.
"We can find another flower!"
Wes glared. "Where, exactly? Please show me where this cosmic meteor you know of is!" Flint deadpanned in annoyance, making the Umbreon sigh. "Sorry…"
He shook his head. "Yeah…sorry too." He sighed. "We don't have enough time to be searching. It took a while just to find a potion master." He groaned and rubbed his forehead. "I'm going to regret saying this…Wes, considering our options…" He had to swallow every ounce of decency he had to say the next nine words coming out of his mouth. "I'm giving you my…permission…to steal the flower."
He could practically see the Umbreon's eyes light up in excitement. Oh Arceus, what has he done? "A reason to steal WITH my brother's permission?" He threw his forelegs around his brother and hugged him. "Aww, I feel like I need to hear you say it again!"
"No!"
Gwyn chuckled at the brothers as they playfully fought with each other. "They're quite entertaining."
Ella nodded with a smirk. "Trust me, sister, they're a riot."
Flint pushed his younger brother off and adjusted his clothes. "Ella, go with Wes and make sure he doesn't do anything crazy."
She gave a mock salute. "Aye, captain."
"I'll stay here and help Gwyn fix up the potion so it's ready when you guys get back with the flower."
Wes and Ella nodded. "We'll be back soon," the treasure hunter promised before leading his friend out the door.
Flint sighed and shook his head. "I can't believe I asked him to steal…"
Gwyn giggled. "I'm a little envious. I've always wanted a sibling." She narrowed her eyes seriously. "So, you think he can get it?"
"The question isn't IF he can get it. More 'how and when' he is going to get it. Trust me, Wes is an expert on sneaking and stealing. He'll get that flower for sure."
The cloaked Pokémon smiled. "Great! Well, we better get started!" She walked over to the cabinets and tried reaching for the top. "Oh darn…" She stood on the very tips of her toes to reach for the high shelf.
Flint smiled for a moment, before his expression turned to curious when he saw Gwyn's tail swish briefly out of the cloak. It was long and thin, looking a bit thicker at the end. He only got a brief moment to see it, but he knew what he saw. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. The tail seemed familiar to him, yet he's never seen it before. Who is she?
The Floatzel walked down the street, rubbing his stomach in annoyance. "Rotten punks. They have no right to be pushing me around like that." He moved his hands into his pockets and grumbled. "I swear, if I ever see those brats again, I'm gonna give them a piece of my mind."
He passed by an alley, still mumbling to himself. He stopped when he heard a clanging sound skip through the darkness. He blinked briefly at the entrance before sighing and continuing ahead.
Another clang stopped him. This time, he turned around and walked over to the alley. He tried to squint through it, but the darkness was too thick to see anything.
…wait, it was the middle of the day. Why was the alley so dark?
"Hello?" He walked in, preparing to use Water Gun in case someone tried to ambush him. "Whoever you are, I'm warning you! I'm armed and dangerous!" He jumped when he heard snickering behind him. It was right up to his ear. He pivoted on his foot and slashed the air behind him. Nothing. "Alright, who's the Ghost-Type trying to scare me? Because it's not working!"
"Pitiful creatures…" A chill went up his spine. He slowly turned his head and saw a large shadow towering over him. Nightmare smirked menacingly. "Hello."
Floatzel jumped back in shock. He fired Water Gun into his face, but it passed right through him. "Who…What are you?!"
Nightmare chuckled lightly as he lowered himself to eye level. "My name is not important as of now. You, however, know of some Pokémon that I need to exterminate."
"Y-Y-You're gonna have to be more specific, bro! I-I-I-I know lots of people!"
A shadow slithered around his master and snickered. "Nightmare, this Pokémon doesn't possess a magic aura. But he is strong. Very strong."
The Being of Nightmares nodded in approval. "Excellent. Tell me, Pokémon, do you know of any creatures know as…Eeveelutions, I believe they're called."
That made Floatzel glare. "Oh, you mean those jerks? Yeah, I know about them." He cracked his knuckles. "What I wouldn't give to beat them senseless…"
"Well, allow me to make your wish come true." The shadow leader snapped his claws. Floatzel's eyes widened as the shadow next to Nightmare flew at him and wrapped him in darkness.
Outside of the alley, if anyone were around, his horrified screams echoed out, mixed with the delightful, wicked laughter of Nightmare and the surrounding shadows.