Ch.12: Reflecting on the Past! Let the Journey Begin!
Many homes were lost in the Marble Stone City battle, leaving a path of destruction from the fight. Some possessions were tattered and broken while others were scorched to ash. Restoring the city to its former glory would take months and lots of hard work. Fortunately, the citizens of Marble Stone City were more than ready.
Upon seeing the destruction when the first reached the surface, they couldn't help but feel sadden by the loss of their homes. They were at least fortunate no lives were lost in the battle. Still, seeing their city turned to rubble wasn't that surprising after hearing the chaos below ground. They were certain the city would be in a state such as this upon resurfacing. They knew the damages would be severe.
Even with the destruction, it didn't damper their pride. They knew they had a lot of work ahead of them if they wanted this city back in order. There was no room for slacking. They were going to repair this city, enduring the backbreaking labor and countless nights they must spend to do so.
As the week rolled by, everyone contributed in some way to keep things moving. Wes helped with clean up duty, using his various amulets and magic to make the process go by faster. Flint helped with organizing the plans, devising schedules for who should do what and when. It kept things in order and allowed for a steady flow of teamwork. Ella contributed to making meals for everyone. It was a tiring process since she was making food for practically an entire city, but she was rewarded with the grateful thanks and appreciation, allowing her to keep moving.
Gwyn was busy with making potions and mixtures to help with repairing the homes. Not all the homes were destroyed, so some people had to offer their houses for other to reside in or had to sleep outside. Since they didn't have the proper equipment, like wood and cement, to repair the homes, these potions will act as substitutes.
She was relieved her mother's shop was still intact. A few things here and there fell over from the shockwaves, an unavoidable fate, but most of her equipment still stood. And she was even more relieved the map restoration potion wasn't spilt. That would have been a disaster. She finished making it near the end of the week and they planned on soaking the map on the day the Eeveelutions prepare to leave.
It was the last day of the week. They were getting their stuff together and preparing to set out on their journey once they head over to the shop. Other than helping with the cleanup, they were also planning out the rest of their journey.
Flint held out a map of Mysto and spread it out in front of them. "Alright, we're not sure where the map could take us, so we need to be prepared for anything." He held up his money bag. "That means buying the necessary equipment to traverse any possible harsh terrain."
Wes waved it off with a calm smile. "Relax, bro. This isn't my first rodeo. I've traveled to some pretty harsh areas. This won't be any different."
"Yes, but you weren't looking for such important artifacts." He dragged his paw around on the map. "Any one of these areas might have the key. To stay hidden for so long, they're heavily guarded and protected. We cannot underestimate our enemy."
Ella rubbed her chin. "Ten keys…and how long would this take?"
"If we consider the possibility of traveling through outrageous areas in the various zones, could take us a year or two, at best."
Wes smiled widely and rubbed his paws together. "One long adventure…excitement!"
The Flareon sighed. "And that's only going off the assumption we survive."
Ella scoffed jokingly. "Are you denying our skills? We took on a whole army of shadows and survived."
"From what I read about the shadows, that was just a sample of their forces. They can replicate themselves, making it increasingly difficult to put them down." He picked up his backpack and rummaged through it. "Wes' Lumios Storm spell may have helped us, but now we're aware these things are capable of possession. If they takeover a powerful magic user, we're gonna be in some serious trouble."
The Umbreon narrowed his eyes. "Meaning I need to learn new spells to combat any possible threats?"
"Precisely."
"Okay, so then what about making money? The bits we have now can only support us for so long."
Flint smirked. "Really? You need my advice on making money? You're clearly in charge of that department."
He shrugged. "Hey, I've been in a slump for a while."
The Flareon reached out and patted his back. "You kidding me? If anyone can get us some bits, it's you, bro."
Wes smiled a bit at the comment. "Thanks."
"No problem. Now then…" He rolled up the map. "We can't stop for anything until night comes. We'll either camp out or stay at a hotel or lodge."
"I have no problem with that!" Wes exclaimed.
"Then we better start heading over to Gwyn's shop so we can get started." He stood up.
Ella sighed. "It's still a shame she doesn't want to come along with us."
Flint froze halfway putting on his backpack. He looked down with a solemn expression. She did want to come along with them, but repairing the city came first above her wants. That, and he knew she couldn't part with her mother's shop. She has only been in one environment her entire life. It would be hard for her to leave somewhere so familiar.
She didn't know what she might get herself into coming along with them. All she knew were the little things she taught herself over the years, such farming and basic cooking. Yet she was also socially inept. If she were on her own, she could easily get swindled if she wasn't careful. It was the same real world experience they had to learn, especially Wes.
They could teach her how to survive on a journey. She already knows how to hold her own in a fight, and she can make a wide variety of potions to assist her.
Flint couldn't help but feel sad about it. He felt he bonded well with the Mew over the week. They had a unique interested in learning new things. He'd even taken a much greater interest in potion making after seeing hers.
He really wished she could come, but he didn't want to force her to join. It was just going to be hard to say goodbye.
The Flareon finally spoke. "Maybe we can stop by here every so often to see how she's doing."
"True…" Wes muttered. He sighed and shook his head. "We better start heading over."
They gathered their belongings and made their way to the Belladonna Potion Shop.
Pots and flasks littered the Mew's shop as she was hard at work brewing together potions. Gwyn has been hard at work making makeshift cement and making lumber with her magic. It seemed like a tiring process, but it didn't slow her down one bit. She was perfectly fine with doing some backbreaking labor. She does it on a daily basis. Actually cleaning up the place, however…eh, she'll do that later.
She checked the time. Her friends will be here soon with the map. She walked over to her fridge and retrieved the pot of glowing blue liquid. If she did everything correctly, this should remove the potion effects around the map, allowing the pathway to the keys to be revealed.
She stared into the liquid, seeing her reflection bouncing back at her. She wondered what kind of adventures the Eeveelutions would get into. Perhaps epic chases from bandits or battle a battalion of pirates. A perilous quest with twist and turns, constant danger at every corner, and sheer thrills mashed with the company of friends by her side. It would be a dream come true for her.
She sighed at the thought. Even if it all sounded tempting, she couldn't put up with the idea of leaving the place she was born in. This was her home. Could she really leave it all behind after everything she has been through?
Taking on an army of shadows and a possessed Floatzel would make one think she was brave enough to survive, but it wasn't bravery that was holding her back. It was her memories that held her back.
Her mother, that horrible witch, this shop…everything. She went through her childhood here and only here. She never traveled anywhere, never had any friends (save for the Eeveelutions), and, as they've pointed out many times, she wasn't socially adept. She doesn't know if she can go on an outstanding adventure without the worries of failing in the long run. All her knowledge came from living in this shop.
Maybe she was putting too much pressure on herself. Still, even then, she didn't want to leave these people on their own after the ordeal they've been through. It wouldn't sit well with her conscience.
Her friends understood, of course. She knew they were a little glum about it. She was, too. They were her first real friends and it made her happy. She was going to miss them deeply.
She sighed and rested her head in her folded arms. She scanned her eyes around the room. "I don't want to leave everything behind…"
A knock bounced off her door. She squeaked and jumped a few feet in the air, slipping over scattered paper on the floor. Stars spun around her head in a daze. A second series of knocks snapped her awake. She picked herself up and raced over to the door, carefully stepping over everything.
She swing the door open and greeted the friendly smiles of the Eeveelutions with a smile of her own. "Hey guys!"
"Hey Gwyn," Wes greeted first. "How are you doing?"
"Oh, good. Fine. Great! Excellent!" Her smiled stretched widely. Maybe a bit too wide. They blinked in confusion and slight concern. She sighed and lowered the facial expression to a sheepish one. "I've been trying to catch up on sleep…"
Flint chuckled. "With you working hard, I can't blame you. May we come in?"
"Of course! Step inside!" She stepped out of the way and let them through.
Immediately stepping foot inside, they took in the state it was in. Scattered materials everywhere and stacks of lumber lying off to the side. Even more equipment was laying on the ground. It was more disorganized than when they first came here. "Whoa…you really are busy."
"You don't know the half of it. Using my magic to make wood gets exhausting, so I had to make some growth potions. Doesn't work as fast, but definitely easier." She bent down and scooped some stuff up. "A few people will be coming by to pick them up."
"I still can't believe everyone is cooperating to restore the city," Ella muttered.
Flint smiled. "You can't blame them. This was their home. They feel obligated to restore it, like Gwyn."
Wes smiled. "That's pretty cool."
"I still can't believe how well everyone is reacting to my appearance…" Gwyn mentioned in slight disbelief.
As expected from when they got everyone out of the shelter, they were caught off guard by who Gwyn was, even after seeing her throw her cloak off. What came as a shock to her was how they didn't do the things she expected them to do, like kidnap her for some ritual or something. They were in awe, but were respectful as well.
It kind of made her realize she was overreacting a bit about her trust issues. To think she actually thought these people wanted to use her for some deadly ritual was absurd. They were very calm about it once she got to explain her relation with Clara. It became easier to talk to everyone after that.
"Well, I doubt anyone wants to attack you after that beat down you gave the shadows!" Wes exclaimed with a gleeful smile.
She chuckled. "You got a point there."
"So, back to the matter at hand…" He reached into his bag and pulled out the map. "Is the potion ready?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Hand it over." He passed the map over to her and she led them to the back, where the bubbling, blue potion sat.
She got some safety gloves on and a pair of tongs. She clamped them a few times before picking up the rolled up map with them. She raised it over the potion and, gently, dipped it down.
Nothing happened for the first moment. The room was filled with the sounds of bubbling. Gwyn pulled the tongs out and set them to the side as they waited for a reaction to occur. She tapped her fingers against the table while the Eeveelutions leaned in close in anticipation. The suspense was killing them.
A solid five minutes have passed before something happened. A rainbow of colors pierced through the blue liquid, taking the shape of the map inside. They smiled in excitement. It was working. The potion around the map was being dissolved.
Gwyn grabbed the tongs and dipped them into the potion to pick up the map. She pulled the dripping paper out and set it down on a mat. She took her gloves off and threw them into her sink before pulling out another piece of equipment.
It looked like a glue gun, but the back had an empty vial in it. Wes tilted his head. "What's that?"
"This is my mom's potion sprayer. It can turn a potion into a gaseous state. However, if you set it into reverse…" She flipped a switch and aimed it at the map. With a click of the trigger, it began sucking up the potion into a steady stream. The blue tint around the map slowly disappeared. No drop was left behind.
The empty vial in the device filled up with blue liquid. Once she was done. She pulled it out and shook it side to side with a wry smile. "Tada!"
They clapped lightly. "Very nice. Your mother was an inventor, too?"
She rubbed the back of her head. "Sort of. She made little things like this with some enchantments. Not sure why she made stuff like this, though. She had this for a long time from what she told me." She put it away. "Doesn't matter."
They set their attention on the map. Wes stepped forward and picked it up. It shook in his paws in anxiousness and excitement. This was the moment they've been waiting for.
"I…think I need a moment to take it all in…" he said as he took some breaths. He never got this excited over a single treasure hunt in his life. This was the adventure that was going to make his career. Once he opened this map, there was no turning back. His infectious curiosity will consume him with the desire to search high and low, to the ends of the planet, to find these keys. To find the Idol of Origin.
After calming himself, he slowly unraveled the map, with his friends looking over his shoulder with wide eyes.
No longer was the map blank. Instead, there were ten lights glowing off the surface. Orange, red, blue, green, yellow, purple, dark blue, silver, white, and black. Ten lights. Ten locations. Ten keys.
Wes' eyes shimmered as tears built up inside. "It's so…beautiful." He sniffled and covered his face. "I need another minute…" He collapsed on the ground and cried with joy.
Flint took the map from him, shaking his head with an awkward grin. He can be embarrassing sometimes. He laid the map flat across the table. "I can't believe we're seeing this with our own eyes. Do you know how many archeologists would kill to get this map? This is worth a fortune. This…This is a historical discovery. We, alone, have the location to one of the greatest artifacts ever created that was believe to be nothing more than a legend."
Gwyn looked over his shoulder. "Why are there different colors?"
"Hang on, I got this." They, along with Wes who calmed down, looked at Ella who was flipping through a mythology book. "Let's see…ah, Idol of Origin! Here it is!"
"When did you get a mythology book?" Wes asked.
"I found it in my bag. Hal must have gave it to us in case of something like this." She flipped through the first few pages. "Okay, according to 'legend'," she started, intentionally adding air quotes, "the Idol possessed great power over the states of the world. As such, it had to be locked away forever. Ten keys were created, the only thing capable of opening the entrance to the tomb.
"Each key represented a property of the world, what makes it up. The orange key represents Earth. Red is Fire. Blue is Water. Green is Life. Yellow is Lightning. Purple is Space. Dark Blue is Time. Silver is Metal. White is Power. And black is Darkness."
Flint rubbed his chin. "Getting a hold of those already sounds challenging."
"Originally, they were kept in unknown locations, hidden far from society. But, whoever our mystery guy is, apparently he found this 'unknown' location." She slammed the book shut. "All these years and one guy finds them. Not sure if I should be impressed or ashamed of the brilliant minds who made it their life goal to find this kind of stuff," she joked, snickering afterwards.
Wes shook his head. "In any case, we now have the locations." He looked at the map and scratched his head, realizing something. They had where the keys were, in terms of area. But they didn't have a specific location. "Uh…so which is closer?"
Flint tapped the map, hoping it worked like an enchanted map. The image swirled and showed a detailed landscape of their current location, with a red arrow in the position where the shop was. "It worked!" He messed around with it a bit, trying to assess their next trek. "The closest key is…the key of Earth."
"Where?"
He tapped on the key of Earth, giving the location. "Slab Blade Mountain." Wes' eyes widened.
"Well…that guy hid the key well…"
Gwyn tilted her head. "Uh…I'm lost here. Is there a problem?"
Ella explained, "Slab Blade Mountain has dangerous terrain. There are areas cut off from the public due to public safety. There have been reports of idiots trespassing in the middle of the night. They would either be found injured or lying dead in a field of jagged rocks."
The Mew gulped. "Sounds…uncomfortable." She looked at Flint. "Someone actually went through the trouble of putting it there?"
"If they wanted to keep it safe, then yes. And we're not even accounting for what's guarding it." He rubbed his forehead and groaned. "I can only imagine where the other keys are being kept."
"So, how far is Slab Blade from here?" Ella asked.
Wes took the map and looked it over. "Considering our position from Marble Stone City to Igneous Valley, taking into account the stops and breaks we will have to take, and if we kept an even pace, I say…two weeks."
"Two weeks…" she sighed. "Are we stocked up on food?"
"Not much. But there's a town we can stop by and pick some up. Along with the equipment we might need to traverse the mountains." He rolled up the map and put it away. He smiled brightly. His body jittered in eagerness. "I can't wait to start!"
Ella shook her head. "Then we better get going."
Gwyn smiled sadly. "Yeah…you guys do that…"
They turned toward the Mew and returned the expression. "Well…guess this is goodbye," Flint said.
"Yeah…"
Wes' smiled brightened a bit. "Hey, let's not think of this as a 'We'll never see you again and never come back' goodbye. More like a 'See ya real soon, buddy ol' pal' goodbye!"
Ella laughed at Gwyn's confused expression. "What he's saying is…we'll see each other again. Maybe down the road, we'll come back and see how progress is going down here."
She smiled. "Yeah…that would be nice. I hope you all visit again."
Ella wrapped her forelegs around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Take care, Gwyn." She hugged back.
"Same to you, Ella."
She stepped away, allowing Wes to give his goodbye. Gwyn squeaked as he threw his forelegs around her and hugged her tightly, pushing the air out of her. "I'm gonna miss you, Gwyn!" he cried, comedic tears streaming down his face. "I know it's only been a week, but you're an amazing friend! Please don't forget me!"
"Trust…me…I won't…" she choked out. She pushed him off and panted heavily. She shook her head and smiled. "Bye Wes."
He stepped away, wiping his tears away. Flint walked up to Gwyn and smiled lightly at her. "It's…been fun."
"Agreed." She rubbed her arm. "I've said this before, but…thank you for everything. For helping me open up. I don't think I'd be standing here like this if it weren't for you."
"You don't give yourself enough credit. You chose to come help us. You chose to expose your identity to fight the shadows. If I was in your shoes, I would have been cowering at the thought. You're very brave, Gwyn."
She smiled, then wrapped her arms around him, which he reciprocated. "Goodbye Flint."
"Goodbye Gwyn."
They soon separated and backed away from each other, smiling. Wes patted his brother's back. "We better hit the road."
They opened the door and gave one final wave to the Mew, who waved back. They shut the door behind them and made their way out of the city, saying goodbye to the bystanders who were repairing some buildings.
They reached the edge of the city and sighed, giving the place one last look. It was slow, but the place was looking cleaner compared to a week ago.
With that, they began their trek to Igneous Valley. To Slab Blade Mountain, they go.
An hour passed after she parted ways with the Eeveelutions. Gwyn had finished making the potions and lumber for today and decided to finally clean the place up. She kept tripping over everything and she doubt her head could take anymore abuse. Besides, she needed something to occupy her thoughts.
She started off with the room upstairs, which served as her bedroom. It was the only one in the shop. She used to share it with her mother when she was a kid. It made her smile a bit, remembering the good times they've had together.
She picked up some picture frames that fell of her nightstand and set them up. Glass shards from it littered the ground. She sighed and dusted them up. She dumped them into a bin and pushed it to the side.
She grabbed the picture and held it up to her face. A black and white photo of her and Clara. Gwyn was much smaller in the picture and wore clothes that looked too big for her. She didn't possess her long hair, looking like a normal Mew, even though under the black and white color was green fur. She had her tongue sticking out at the camera with one eye closed, smiling. Clara held the cute Mew in her arms with a happy expression of her own.
Gwyn ran her hand down the frame with a peaceful expression. This picture always kept her from losing her cool. Things may have been bad for most of her life, but there were some years that were worth remembering.
FLASHBACK
Clara walked around the shop, which was cleaner compared to the present. She had ash covering her face and narrowed eyes. She put her hands on her hips. "Young lady, where did you go?"
She could hear the childish giggles of her daughter coming from somewhere around the living room. She scanned the room as she walked around, checking for any possible hiding spots.
The task proved to be simple upon seeing something wiggling from under the couch. A long, green tail. Clara raised a brow humorously. One could guess she was smirking as well. "I wonder where my mischievous little girl is," she said with an exaggerated tone. "Dearest me, wherever could she have gone?" She picked up a bucket. "Is she in here? No." She opened a drawer. "In here? Oh no, she isn't."
Gwyn giggled from under the couch and backed up a bit. She watched her mother looking around, 'confused'. She was such a great hider. That's what her mommy told her.
Clara danced around the room with mock worry. "Oh, will I ever find her?!" With a devious glint in her eye, she swiftly reached under the couch and grabbed her tail. She squealed as she was pulled out and held in front of her mother, who chuckled. "Oh yes, I will."
Gwyn giggled and wiggled around. "Hiya, Mommy!"
"Young lady, do you know what you did wrong?"
"Um…" She stuck her tongue out in thought. "I don't know." Clara pointed to her face, specifically the ash covering it. "OH! I made a messy!" she shouted, laughing with a cute squeak.
"Oh yes, you made a messy." She rotated her up right and looked her in the eyes. "You're in trouble, missy."
She frowned and whimpered. "Am I going to be punished?"
"Oh yes, you are." She set her down on the couch. "Your punishment…" She wiggled the tips of her leafy hands. "A thousand tickles of doom!" She lunged and tickled the Mew's sides.
She squealed and laughed out loud. She fell on her back and kicked the air. "N-N-NO!" She tried to squirm out of her grasp, but she was held down tightly. "I-I-I'm-HAHAHAHA-sorry!"
"Are you? Are you really?" she asked, laughing along with her.
"Y-Y-Yes!" Tears stream down her face as she laughed harder.
Clara gave it some thought, then nodded. "Very well, you're forgiven." She stopped her tickling assault, but wrapped her arms around her and sat her down in her lap.
Gwyn let out the last of her laughter and wiped her tears away. She snuggled up to her mother. "Sorry about the mess."
"Oh, it's fine, no harm done." She rubbed her daughter's head. "Why were you messing with Mommy's equipment, anyway?"
"I wanted to be like you!" she exclaimed. "I want to make potions!"
"Oh, do you now?"
"Uh huh! I want to go around the world and help people like you did!"
Clara's eyes widened. "Where did you hear that?"
"Um…" Her ears drooped. She smiled awkwardly. "Not because I was eavesdropping!"
Clara shook her head, chuckling. She must have heard her when she was writing letters to her old friends. She had a habit of talking out loud when she did so. "Oh sweetie…those years are behind me now. Now I just help people in Marble Stone City."
"But I still want to be like you!"
She looked away for a moment. "Sweetie…I'm not sure how I feel about you going out on your own."
"How come?"
"Well, for starters…your particular species is very uncommon. I wouldn't want you getting unwanted attention from corrupted Pokémon. It would make Mommy very worried."
She pouted. "But I want to help people! I want to go outside!"
She rubbed her cheek. "Maybe one day. But for now, I'm just not sure. I've…been through a lot before I had you, dearie. It's hard for me to trust anyone these days."
"Why?"
"Sometimes people can be very untrusting. You never know who might turn on you until it's too late." She bent down and nuzzled her cheek. "I promise you, one day, I'll show you the real world. But for now, Mommy just can't put up with that right now."
"Okay, Mommy…"
Clara chuckled. "Don't give me that gloomy tone. Give me a smile before I tickle you again." She poked the Mew's sides.
She squeaked, before laughing. "Okay, I'm smiling! Don't tickle me!"
"That's my girl…" She hugged her close, rubbing her head. "That's my Little Rose…"
FLASHBACK ENDS
Gwyn set the frame down and resumed her cleaning. Those were the good times. No witches, no curses, no worries. Just her and her mother, together.
She reached under the wardrobe and picked out the trash hiding under it. She gagged upon pulling out a rotten banana peel. "Eww! When did I last eat this?!" She tossed it in the bin and shivered, wiping her hand on her sweater. "Gross, gross, gross…"
She reached under the wardrobe again, fearing what she might pull out this time. She grabbed something round and hard. She gagged. "I swear, if this is a stale donut…" She pulled it out, then tilted her head in confusion.
It was a golden, heart shaped locket, with a vine design engraved into it. She looked it over in curiosity. She doesn't remember seeing this before. Then again, with the state of shop, she misplaces a lot of things she has never seen before.
She pulled it out a bit more and saw the chain had an envelope attached to it. She unclipped it and pulled it off. She looked it over for an address, but there was none to be seen.
She pulled open the flap to check inside, but was interrupted by the knocking of the front door. The pickup crew was here. She stuffed the envelope and locket in her pocket and raced downstairs.
She jumped over some buckets and stopped in front of the door. She opened it up and was greeted by the Kangaskhan, Muk, and Slurpuff she met last week. "Oh, it's you guys."
"Hello, Ms. Bellodonna," the Muk greeted. "Is the wood ready?"
She stepped out of the way and gestured to the large piles. "Yep. Should be enough to fully repair two houses. I'll have more made later."
"Excellent." He made his way in and started grabbing them.
Gwyn looked at the Slurpuff. "How's your son doing?"
"He's doing fine. He was a bit shaken from the whole thing, but he's feeling much better."
"That's good to hear." She walked in and helped Muk.
"So, I saw those three travelers left today," Kangaskhan mentioned as she walked in.
"Oh yeah, they did. They had to get started on their journey."
"It was really sweet of them to help out for as long as they did." She picked up some wood and carried it out, throwing it into the large wagon they brought along. "Wish we could have thanked them before they left."
"I'm sure you can if…" She shook her head. "I mean, when they return."
"I'm surprised you're still here," Muk laughed as he shuffled passed her, carrying some wood out.
"Huh?" She tilted her head, confused.
"Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we want you to leave or anything. Just that with how chummy you were with them, we assumed you would have tagged along."
"Oh…I see." She scratched her head. "I mean, I considered it, but…I felt I needed to stay here and help you all out. There's a lot of work to be done and I can't let you all do everything on your own."
"Well, that's pretty sweet of you," Kangaskhan commented. "But you didn't have to do that for us."
"But I need to. This is my home, too. I feel responsible for its reconstruction just as much as you. Besides…" She looked up at the shop. "…I've never been anywhere outside this city. I wouldn't know where to start on a journey."
Muk set the wood down. "So you feel attached to this little city of ours?"
"In a way, yes. This is where I grew, even if I spent most of my time in my mother's shop." She ran her hand down the doorsill. "It would be difficult to part with it."
"You said you considered joining them, didn't you?" Slurpuff asked.
She sighed. "I mean…it would be nice to go on a journey. But…I'm not too sure."
The adults looked at each other with concerned expressions. Slurpuff walked up to her. "Dearie, do you really want to stay here? Is it because you want to help us or do you feel obligated to?"
"Um…" She rubbed the back of her neck. "I mean, I did deceive you all for years…"
"And you had a good reason as to why," she assured. "But, if you feel you have to stay here….you don't have to."
"But…"
"You said you wanted to go on a journey," Kangaskhan reminded. She gestured to the shop. "You can't do that if you restrict yourself to one area. The point of a journey is to explore and see new things."
She looked up at the shop. "But, I can't just leave this all behind."
Muk leaned against the wagon. "Hey, we all love this shop. The entire city would be glad to take care of it. It's like a piece of the family for us, too."
Gwyn narrowed her eyes. "I…"
Slurpuff smiled. "Gwyn, was it?" She nodded. "How much do you know about your mother?"
"Not much…"
"Well Gwyn, your mother was a remarkable woman. She has actually traveled around Mysto, from what I've heard. She used to travel around in a group, similar to your friends. She learned to become a potion master because she learned new and different things from all the different zones. She didn't learn everything from just reading books. She learned from the world around her."
"She…She did?"
"Oh yeah," Muk stated. "Before she became reclusive, she would tell her customers about her travels. She went around to many different places and learned a lot about different methods of potion making."
"Didn't she tell that story about how she and her travel companions had to escape some bandits due to a mishap with her potion?" Kangaskhan asked.
"I think I remember that one…" Muk muttered.
Gwyn shook her head, placing a hand against it. "So…my mom used to be a treasure hunter?"
"Technically, yes."
She blinked. "Why hasn't she told me?"
"She probably wanted to tell you when you were older. Can't say I blame her. She can get busy with making potions and tends to lose her train of thought."
"But she always told me the world was dangerous."
"She was probably looking out for you. That's what mothers do," Slurpuff said with a shrug. "I'm not sure what she has been through, but she might have had a good reason."
Gwyn stepped back and looked down at her feet in thought. As she thought back, her mother never outright forbidden the idea of going on an adventure. She was only looking out for her. She was young at the time, so of course she would limit her freedom like that. Was she the one who overreacted?
She had to teach herself anything she needed to learn, but never life skills. Her young, childlike mind took the advice and horror she lived with all the way to her young adulthood without anyone teaching her right from wrong. Everything she learned since her mother's passing was based on what she remembered as a kid.
Was it possible her mother wanted her to go on a journey, to discover herself and have the thrills she once had when she went on her own journey?
As she dropped her hands to her sides, she felt the object bulging in her pocket: the locket and envelope. She reached in and pulled the two items out. She glanced at the locket, then at the note. With the locket still in hand, she tore off the top of the envelope and pulled out a note.
It was wrinkled with age. It must have been under there for years. She took a brief second to realize how disorganized she was. Clearly she never taught herself how to keep a tidy house.
She got back on track and opened up the note. There was a message written on it:
Gwyn, if you're reading this, that must mean I have passed on. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you this in person, but with you busy training under Garret and practicing your magic, I couldn't find the time. I figured writing this would be the next best thing.
It has been a long, painful four years for the both of us. Me suffering from this dreaded curse, and you watching your poor mother wither away in pain. I'm sorry for what I had to put you through.
I wanted Garret to take you in and raise you himself, but he has his own children to worry about. I couldn't burden him like that. I've been leaving instructions around the house to teach you some basic skills. You may need to learn things on you own, but I know for a fact you can. You're a brilliant girl and an amazing daughter.
You won't be needing your mother anymore. Please make me proud, my Little Rose. I want you to follow your heart and do what you want to do. I haven't been able to guide you down the right path with how I've been raising you. I'm sorry for not giving you the freedom you deserved.
Please, when the time comes, I want you to choose your destiny. Don't let anyone…don't let anything stand in your way. Whether it be fear or doubt, a pirate or a thief, never let those things stop you from doing what you want to do.
Please…Please, oh please, stay safe in the years to come. And never lose sight of who you are.
I love you, Gwyn…my Little Rose.
-Mom
A tear landed on the bottom of the paper. Gwyn stared down at her mother's handwriting as a steady flow of tears ran down her face. She wished she found this sooner. She really did. She could feel her heart practically glow inside her chest.
She looked back at the locket and opened it. Inside was a picture of a young Gwyn happily pressing her cheek against her mother's. In the other frame was a picture of a rose, with the words 'Little Rose' over it.
"Mom…" Her lip quivered as she broke out into a smile. She closed the locket and hugged it against her chest. "Thank you…" She sniffled lightly, but still kept her content smile.
"You know…" She glanced over her shoulder a bit, as Kangaskhan spoke. "It has only been an hour. I bet if you ran, you might catch up with them."
Gwyn blinked through her tears before smiling bigger. "Y-Yeah! Right!" She ran back inside and scrambled together the essentials she needed. "My equipment, my books, some food…!" She listed off the items as she frantically raced around the shop. She poked her head for a brief moment. "Hey, can you-"
"-keep an eye on the place for you while you're gone? Sure thing, kid," Muk said with a smile.
She grinned and raced around again. She threw a book out of the shop, into Kangaskhan's hands. "That has information on the potions I sell! Don't worry, I have them written down in my journal!"
They watched with bugged out eyes as she raced around the shop like a child in the candy isle of a store. "Boy, that girl has a lot of energy…" Muk muttered.
Gwyn jumped out of the shop, slipping on her way out. She had a large backpack on, which contained everything from her lab and a few other items for the road. She sprung back onto her feet. "I'm alright!"
"Take it easy, dearie," Slurpuff suggested with a chuckle. "You might hurt yourself."
"No way! I can't slow down! Not even for a minute! I need to catch up with my friends! I won't let anything stand in my way!" She bowed to them. "Thank you for your words! Please look after my mother's shop!"
"Don't worry, we will," Kangaskhan assured with a smile.
"Now get going, kid," Muk said, pointing behind him. "You have a lot of ground to cover."
"Right!" She ran passed them with an enthusiastic attitude emanating from her being. "Here I come, guys!"
The adults smiled as she ran off. They loaded the last of the materials on and prepared to head off…just when Gwyn made a complete u-turn and ran back into her shop.
"I have NO idea where I'm going!" she shouted, the enthusiasm in her tone never dying. She rummaged around her shop and ran out with a map in her hand. "Goodbye again!" She ran and, this time, didn't turn back.
Muk chuckled. "She's just as scatterbrained as her mother."
"Maybe even worse," Kangaskhan commented with a light smile.
Gwyn reached the limit of the city and quickly opened her map, keeping a steady running pace. "The path to Igneous Valley…there! Just got to run this way! Legs, don't fail me now!" She went into a full sprint and ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
It has been three hours since they left Marble Stone City. The Eeveelutions were covering some distance. As Wes said, they should reach Slab Blade Mountain in two weeks.
They stopped on the side of the path for a lunch break. Three hours of non-stop walking was tiring after a while, especially since they spent the last week with barely enough sleep.
Wes made some sandwiches and passed them out to Flint and Ella. Flint was busy studying the map. He did take his sandwich and took a bite out of it.
"Okay, so Slab Blade Mountain is going to be blocked off when we get there. Any ideas on how we're going to get passed security?"
"Easy," Wes replied coolly. "We knock them out, ninja style!"
Ella rolled her eyes. "Wes, you're stealthy, but you're not a ninja."
"Hey, I've done it on a gang of pirates before."
"Yes, a bunch of blithering brutes who trip over each other from how drunk they get." She took a bite of her sandwich.
Wes stuck his tongue out at her jokingly before looking back at Flint. "Well, if the ninja thing is out, we could try circling around."
"Won't work," he muttered. "They have eyes all over the place. Sneaking around would be next to impossible." He rubbed his forehead. "Ugh, this is aggravating. Getting in is going to be much harder than I thought."
Ella finished off her sandwich and lay on her back. "Well, they have tours, right?"
Wes rubbed his chin. "Yeah, I think so. Wasn't Slab Blade an old mining spot?"
"It was until those jagged rocks were formed from the earth."
"Well…" the female Eeveelution continued, "if I were to try and find a way pass security, I would find some blind spots in the tour where we can sneak off from. We just observe the security's locations at all times…"
"…then we can estimate a proper time and location to sneak off from the tour group!" Wes finished with a large grin. "Ella, that's brilliant!"
She waved it off. "Nah, it isn't," she assured with a 'modest' grin.
Flint sighed. "The idea sounds ridiculous and convoluted…just like all our other plans, so it's the best one I've heard all day."
"Sweet! So we just need equipment and we're all set!" Wes jumped to his feet, throwing the last of his sandwich into his mouth. "Where's the closest town that has climbing gear?"
Flint pulled out his other map and checked for nearby towns. "Well, there's one five days from our current location. They have some top notch climbing gear, from what I've heard."
"Perfect," Ella commented. "We can get some stuff there."
Wes shook his money bag. "We may need to get more bits soon. Hopefully wherever we find the key has some jewels we can sell."
"Bro, not every temple or dungeon we come across is going to have spare jewels lying around."
"Hey, a guy can dream!" he shouted, leading his friends to laugh, then him after a moment. "Hahaha…but seriously, we need treasure."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it." He slung his bag onto his back and placed his map away before handing the idol map to Wes. "Let's get moving. We need to cover a lot of ground before the sun sets."
They nodded and got their stuff together before heading down the road. Wes hummed quietly to himself, as a way of occupying his time, but they didn't even cover five meters of ground before he came to a halt.
Ella stopped. "Yo Wester, what's the hold up? The point of covering ground is to not stop walking."
"Sorry, but…" He looked behind him. "I could have sworn I sensed a magic aura…"
Flint narrowed his eyes down the path. He could see a faint green light in the distance, which blazed in a mystic glow. It was definitely a magic aura. "He's right. Someone's following us."
Ella sighed. "Great, just what we needed: bandits this far out of civilization."
Wes reached under his shirt for his Star Amulet. "Let's light them up!" He almost activated it, but then he took another glance at the aura and let his amulet go. "Hold on…that aura looks familiar."
"It does?" Flint asked.
"Uh, hello?" Ella announced, stamping her paw on the ground. "Mind filling in the non-'magical aura seeing wizard' here? Whose aura is it?"
The two brother's narrowed their eyes and focused on it carefully, then gasped. "It's Gwyn!"
"Say what?"
The figure came into view and, truth be told, it was their favorite Mew running towards them…drenched horribly in sweat. Their eyes widened in shock.
Did she actually run all the way here?!
Gwyn panted heavily as she made her way over to them. Once she spotted them, she broke out into a smile, while also slowing her pace. "Hey…guys…how…are…" She held a finger up and bent down as she tried to regain her breath. She hasn't stopped once on her way here. Her legs were killing her. "How are you…doing?"
"Gwyn!" The Eeveelutions ran over to her and hugged her.
"I can't believe you're here!" Wes shouted.
"And, man, you're sweaty!" Ella shouted too, moving away from Gwyn and looking down at the sweat mark on her shirt. She shivered in disgust. "Gross…"
Flint quickly reached into his bag and handed Gwyn his canteen. "Did you actually jog all the way here?!"
She greedily took the canteen and chugged down the water inside, relieved to have some solace after her long trek. She handed it back to Flint with a relieved sigh. "Yep!" she happily announced.
Flint turned the canteen upside down. Only a single drop fell out, making him sweatdrop. "Seriously?"
"Oh yeah! I was close to collapsing a couple of times! But I had to catch up with you guys!"
"How long were you looking for us?"
"Two hours, I think. I left the city an hour after you left."
Ella raised a brow. "We've been walking for the last two hours. How did it take you so long to catch up with us if you've been running?"
"Oh, uh…" she grinned sheepishly. "I had my map upside down." They face-faltered in response.
Flint got up and smiled. "I can't believe you're really here. But, what made you change your mind?"
She smiled down at the locket around her neck and held it gently in her hand. "I had some encouragement from my mother." She opened it up, showing the picture.
Wes leaned forward to look at it. He squealed, his eyes shimmering. "AWW! Gwyn, you were so cute as a baby!"
Flint read the thing in the other frame and smirked. "Little Rose?"
She blushed in embarrassment. "It was my mom's little nickname for me." She smiled warmly at the picture. "I can't believe I didn't find this sooner."
"Well, it's lovely," Ella complimented. "Your mother must have wanted to preserve the memory before she passed on."
"Yeah…" She hugged the locket close. "It's nice to know I'll have her by my side." She tucked it under her sweater and smiled brightly. "Which is why I'm joining you guys on your journey! I want to help the world like my mother! If that means I have to fight an army of shadows, pirates, bandits, or whatever, then I'm game!"
"Alright!" Wes threw his forelegs around her and hugged her. "This is going to be awesome!"
Ella patted her shoulder. "Finally, I don't have to be surrounded by a boring bookworm and a sugar crazed treasure hunter."
Flint narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "And we won't have to be alone with a cunning thief and her sarcastic comments."
She placed her paw over her heart, mock offended. "You wound me, Flint."
Gwyn giggled. "I can already tell I'm going to have fun."
Flint chuckled. "I'm really glad you're here, Gwyn. It felt…empty without you around."
She tilted her head and smiled. "Hey, you're the one who said a true friend always comes back to a friend in need. You guys needed help and I wouldn't be a true friend if I didn't chase after you guys, even if I got lost a couple of times…" She chuckled uneasily.
He smiled and hugged her. "Thanks."
She smiled sweetly and hugged him back. "No problem." She pulled back. "So, shall we get going?"
"Absolutely!" Wes shouted. "But, uh…we may need to find a pond or something." He held his nose. "You reek of sweat and it's burning my nostrils."
Flint glared. "Wes, don't be rude!"
"Easy, Flinty. He's right." She lifted her arm and sniffed herself, gagging. "Ugh! I do need a bath…"
"Well, I think I see a pond over there," the Flareon said, pointing off to the side.
"Fantastic!" Ella flipped Gwyn onto her back. "Let's throw her in!"
"H-Hey!" she yelled, laughing. The Espeon laughed along with her and ran to the pond.
"Hey, wait for me!" Wes called out, chasing after them.
Flint chuckled to himself, watching his friends jump into the pond and splash at each other, laughing. He stared at Gwyn, seeing the first signs of ease in her face. She wasn't doubting herself. She wasn't hiding under a guise. She was being herself. He was happy she could now open up. And, with so much unfamiliar land for the Mew to explore, she was going to make a great addition to the team.
"Your turn, Flint!"
He snapped out of his thoughts as Gwyn's vine whip wrapped around his ankle. His eyes widened. "W-Wait! No-AAAAHHHH!" He was flung in the air and thrown into the water. He surfaced and spat water out of his mouth. He smirked. "Oh, you are going to pay for that!" He swam after her, making her giggle as she swam away.
The gang of treasure hunters laughed and played around in the water like little children. This was probably going to put a dent in their travel schedule, but there was no harm in having a little fun before things got serious.
"Thank ye, come again!"
As the customer left, Hal was left in his shop alone, polishing the goblet he got from a trade. Things have been quiet ever since Wes and the others left. He didn't mind a little silence from them, especially Wes who can be a bit much to deal with, but the lack of excitement was driving him nuts.
He was a pirate, for Arceus' sake. He shouldn't be restricted to selling and buying artifacts from strangers. Not that he minded, as it was a job he enjoyed, but the boredom snuck up on him a lot. Can't something interesting happen in his life?! He wasn't getting any younger!
Fortunately, the only thing that quenched his boredom was Jonathan's research on the shadows. He said he wasn't making much headway, as there was very limited information on the shadows and their existence. Still, it was a great bit of information to keep him entertained.
Speaking of the professor, he opened the door to the pawn shop and went up to the counter, slamming an open book down in front of Hal. The pirate peeked over his shoulder. "Geno, me friend, how's the research coming along?"
The Scrafty pinched between his eyes. He had dark circles under his eyes. "I have spent many restless nights, trying to dig up anything on the shadows."
"I'm guessing it didn't go well again?"
"Actually, the opposite." He pointed at the book. The page his finger rested on had a picture of an eye. The sclera was black and the iris was red, with a black, reptilian pupil in the center. The eyes appeared blood shot, red veins popping out from the edges of the eyes. Eight creepy arms that looked like they were in the midst of twitching stretched out of the eye.
Hal's face twisted in disgust. "Ugh, that's not an attractive sight…"
"This is the symbol of the Tribe of Shadows. This is the symbol they bared on their flags during the Grand Imperium War. This is first real lead I found."
The pirate raised a brow in interest. "Ye don't say?"
"Yes." He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Unfortunately, this is where I reach a bump in the road. I just don't have the connections or skill to travel that great a distance for something. We still don't know who the Shadow King has possessed."
"Well, if it's connections ye want, ye came to the right man. I actually called in a favor of an old friend of mine."
"Should I be concerned?" the professor asked, raising a brow. He didn't know Hal on a personal level, but he was well aware of his outings with old companions of his. They would get drunk at the bar until they pass out.
"Relax. This friend of mine is sending his son, who's a friend of Wes'." He looked out the front window and smiled. "And there he is now."
The door opened. A Monferno calmly walked in. He wore a black blazer with a white shirt underneath. The blazer had solid dark orange line running up the sleeves, with black X patterns going up it. His black pants had a similar style running down the pants legs. He wore a fedora with a wide brim and a white band around it. He wore a white mask over his eyes.
He walked up to the counter and tipped his hat. "Hello, Hal."
"Hello. Thank ye for coming." He looked at Jonathan. "Professor, meet Fernando Mangas."
Fernando turned towards the professor and bowed to him. "A pleasure to meet you."
Jonathan waved awkwardly. "Nice to meet you too…" He looked at Hal again. "Hal, who the heck is this?"
Hal chuckled, leaning against the counter with an amused grin. "Me apologies, Geno. Allow me to properly introduce him to ye. This is Fernando Mangas, a professional hitman for hire."
The Scrafty's eyes widened in shock. "You hired a hitman?!"
"Yes, of course!" he said, like it was an obvious idea. "I met his father during me times as a pirate. Back then, we'd always go out for a few drinks when we had the time." He laughed, slamming his fist on the counter. "Let me tell ye, he knew how to party!"
"Okay, but why his son?"
Fernando gladly answered. "Well, my father was getting too old to carry on with his contracts, so he passed the mantle down to me. I've been doing this job for three years now."
"His father owed me a favor after I saved him from some rogues. Who knew I'd finally cash in on that favor after all these years?"
"If it's all the same to you, gentlemen, I prefer not to dillydally. So, let us get onto business," the hitman insisted as he reached into his blazer.
Jonathan pressed his elbow against the counter. "Hal, it's not that I don't trust your motives, but wouldn't it make more sense to hire a bounty hunter? They specialize more in carrying out odd jobs. Hitmen just do assassinations."
Hal chuckled. "This is true, me friend. However, I have my reasons. One, I trust me friend. He said his son can carry out any job efficiently and he's reliable."
"And the other reason?"
Fernando pulled out a rolled up sheet of paper and handed it to the former pirate. "Here's the specialized contract, sir."
The Krokorok gave a toothy grin. "That, and hitmen can't be bribed. Whereas a bounty hunter can be swayed with money…" He unraveled the paper. "Hitmen are bound to the rules of the contract."
In his hand was a contract, lining out the conditions to the agreement. Faintly drawn under the text was a skull surrounded in a flame, which caught Jonathan's attention. "What the…is that…"
"A Contract of Flames." Hal smirked. "Everything seems to be in order." Fernando handed him a pen. The former pirate signed his name on the bottom. Once he finished, the signature lit up in spooky green light. "Excellent!" He rolled it back up. "Now for the fun part."
"Hold on, what are you…?" Jonathan watched as Hal extended the contract out and Fernando grabbed the other end.
The professor's eyes widened as the contract burst into ghostly green flames, wrapping around Hal's and Fernando's arm. He stumbled back and landed on his rear. The flames reflected off his eyes, shocked by the scene that was unfolding in front of him.
Hal smiled. "Fernando Mangas, as part of this contract, yer job is to locate the tomb of the Shadow King and find him. He will most likely be possessing someone, so keep an eye out for him."
He nodded. "Very well. As I am bound to the law of the contract, I shall not stray from my mission. What are the parameters?"
"One, do not kill anyone who is unaffiliated with the Tribe of Shadows or possessed by a shadow. This rule is considered null and void to yer other contracts, of course. Two, any information ye receive on the Shadow King must be given to me. No information must will be withheld."
The contract pulsed. The Monferno nodded. "Very well."
"This will not be a parameter, but I urge ye to keep this information to yerself. The exception, of course, being Wes, Flint, and Ella."
"As you wish, sir. Are those the parameters?" Hal nodded. "Then, by the flames of this contract, I am now bound to it. Until my mission is complete, this contract shall be seared into my soul for all of eternity!"
The contract exploded out of their hands and wrapped around Fernando. He was completely engulfed in the spectral flames. The flames circled around him for a moment before seeping into his right sleeve. His body smoked for a few seconds before shaking it off.
Jonathan got up and blinked. "What…was that?"
Hal crossed his arms. "That, me friend, was the Contract of Flames. Many contract types are determined depending on the level of importance of the assignment. The contract has been seared into his soul and will stay with him forever until he completes his mission. Even in the afterlife, he wouldn't be able to escape its power until he completes his assignment."
"That's…some hardcore contract."
Fernando smirked. "We hitmen take our jobs very seriously." He looked at Hal. "Now then, my assignment is to find out info on the Shadow King, correct? You have any leads I can start off with?"
Hal nudged the professor. He nodded and grabbed the book, showing it to the Monferno. "This is the symbol for the Tribe of Shadows. It's the only lead we have on them at the moment, but we feel it might help."
Fernando took the book in his hands and studied the image closely, rubbing his chin in thought. "A very unique symbol, I must say." He gave the book back and took out a notepad, making a sketch of the symbol. "Might take me some time, but I might be able to work with this. There are many scum of the earth with info on this type of information." He put the notepad away.
Hal handed him a bag of money. "And here's yer starting pay."
Fernando looked inside and counted the bits, making sure they were all there. "Perfect." He pocketed the money and tipped his hat. "Well, I'm off. I shall contact you when I have found something."
"Good luck, matey." Fernando nodded and made his way out of the shop.
Jonathan crossed his arms. "You sure this will work?"
"Positive. Just give it some time." He went back around the counter. "Speaking of time, ye need some sleep."
The Scrafty sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Perhaps. I've been spending so much time researching. Rest sounds good right about now."
"Well, ye take it easy. Once the college is finished being rebuilt, ye have a class to take care of. I'll keep ye up to date with Fernando's findings."
"Alright. Take care, Hal." With a yawn, Jonathan left the shop.
The pirate was about to head into the back when he saw the professor left his book by accident. He picked it up and flipped through a couple of pages. He wasn't well educated, but he does know a bit about the Grand Imperium Age. He wished he didn't. There was no telling what those shadows were capable of. It made him worry for Wes and the other's safety. They were trekking down dangerous territory now.
His only hope was that they make it out of this mess unscathed and find that idol before the Shadow King does. It had turned into a waiting game by this point, waiting to see how long the Shadow King will remain silent.
He closed the book and sighed. "Please stay safe, kids…"