AN: a new chapter, just in time for Pokémon Legends Arceus!
Episode 16: The Magical Oracle Delphi!
The trio's next destination was the nation of Greece, and why they weren't looking for any new Gym to challenge, the Mediterranean Sea provided good places for them to train. Kris was also interested in checking out the ruins left behind by the Ancient Greeks, where tales of mythic proportions were first told and reenacted.
"The Greeks gave us so much of our modern culture," Kris said. "Did you know they even guessed that Antarctica existed before any human being set foot on that continent? So ahead of their time!"
"Sound like a bunch of nerds to me," Ashton scoffed.
"You know, the Spartans were also seen as fierce warriors, while it was the people of Athens that were the philosophers," Dylan pointed out. "They had as much brains as they did brawn between the two of them." He looked around the ruins as Joker flew overhead. "The sea breeze is letting Joker get in good flight training."
"Any Pokémon around we can fight and/or catch?" Ashton asked Kris.
The blue-haired girl hummed and held up her Pokégear. "Not unless you want to go fishing. Wait, I'm getting a signal of a powerful Psychic type nearby! It's just on one of the smaller islands by the sea."
The trio ran down the coastline, following the signal until they reached where it was strongest. Just a hop across the water was a sizable outcropping of rock, upon which stood a Delphox. It wasn't a regular Delphox, however, as they wore what looked like a Mismagius hat and a tattered scarf.
"Oh hello, darlings!" the Delphox spoke. It didn't use telepathy; it spoke full English! "Have you come to rescue me?"
"A talking Delphox!" Ashton exclaimed.
"I have to document this," Kris said.
"What do you need rescuing from?" Dylan asked the Delphox.
"Why, from the ocean, of course!" the Delphox replied. "I need to get back to land, but as you can see, this water is in the way, and the Abra I used to get here Teleported away."
"The water isn't that deep," Ashton said, stepping into the sea. "It's not even a foot down!"
"Do you know how easy it is to drown?" the Delphox said, panic in her voice. "It only takes a few inches to seal your fate! I could trip, fall on my face, and then die in an instant!"
"She does have a point," Kris said.
"Don't help her," Ashton sighed.
"Look, if we help you across, will that make you happy?" Dylan asked.
"Indeed, it will!" the Delphox nodded. Joker suddenly swooped down, landing on her hat. "Oh? It seems that your little friend wants to life me across."
"Joker, you're not strong enough to carry and entire Delphox," Dylan said.
"All he needs is a little encouragement," the Delphox giggled. She held Joker and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Joker blushed, then flew up and started to glow, evolving into a Tranquill! Putting his talons of the Delphox's shoulders, Joker easily flew over the small gap of water an onto land.
"I can't believe he evolved because of a kiss," Ashton groaned, comically falling over into the water.
"Thank you, good sir," the Delphox said to Joker, the Tranquill cooing in delight. "Now then, where are my manners? I didn't introduce myself!" She took off her hat and bowed. "My name is Delphi, the magical, future-seeing witch!"
"Uh, nice to meet you, Delphi," Dylan greeted. "I'm Dylan, the one drowning is Ashton, and our other friend here is Kris. You already met Joker."
"So Future Sight is one of her moves," Kris muttered to herself as she typed up notes.
"As a thank you for rescuing me, allow me to put my services to use," Delphi giggled. She set her hat on the ground then tapped it with her wand. Picking her hat up, a blue tent appeared in its place, with the Delphox going inside. "Well? Come on it, dearies!"
"I don't think she realizes that her way of speaking is odd," Ashton said.
"It could just be part of her gimmick, or something," Dylan shrugged.
Going into the tent, the gang pushed past the bead curtain to reveal that the space was actually larger on the inside than it appeared to be from outside. The only thing in the room was a table with a red cloth draped over it that Delphi sat at. The Delphox beckoned the gang over to sit across from her.
"Now then, as I said, I will provide my services to you," Delphi said.
'She's still putting weird emphasis on that word,' the trio thought wearily.
Delphi continued. "Normally I charge for this, but since you saved my life and all that, I'll let it slide this time." He clapped her hands together. "Stellar! Bring me my cards."
A Shinx, Stellar, poked his head out from the back of the tent, leaving before returning with a deck of cards in his mouth. Stellar then jumped up on the desk, getting a pet from Delphi before dropping the cards.
"Thank you, Stellar," Delphi said. "Now then, let's see what the future holds for each of you." She fanned out the deck. "Please, pick a card."
Kris went first, drawing a card and turning it over. The card depicted an eight-spoked wheel with a sphinx on top, runes written around the wheel's edge while other creatures filled the corners of the card.
"Ah, the Wheel of Fortune, or just Fortune if you like," Delphi nodded. "It represents the cycles of life, good luck, and especially karma. As the old saying goes 'What goes around, comes around.' For you, I sense it means that while you may sometimes lose your way, even at the fault of others, time will bring you back to your purpose."
"Okay then," Kris said, skeptical of the reading.
Ashton went next, her card depicting a warrior in a chariot, being pulled by two sphinxes.
"This is the Chariot card," Delphi explained. "It represents willpower, determination, and strength. For you, this card means you're a very driven person, always racing towards your goals. However, that also can lead you to not thinking things through at times."
"Yep, that sounds like Ashton," Kris said, Dylan holding back a laugh at their friend's expense.
Dylan drew his card last, which depicted a man with an infinity symbol over his head, pointing to the sky as he stood in front of a table with various objects on it.
"And finally, the Magician," Delphi looked very interested in this one. "It represents resourcefulness, manifestation, and inspiration. You have the tools you need to succeed, as well as a vision as to where those tools can take you. Make sure you remember that your friends will be there to help you, though, as you can't do everything on your own."
The Delphox nodded, taking her cards back and pulling out her wand. "Now that we've established your Arcana, let's take a look into the future to see what else I can gleam." She stared into the flame at the tip of her wand intently. "Hm… I see… Oh really? Now that is oh so interesting." Delphi giggled as her focus turned back to the trio.
"Well, what did you see?" Ashton asked.
"I saw four things, one for each of you, and one for the group," Delphi stated. "For Kris, I see a great blizzard that you will stand a center of. I'm sure a Pokémon you've met before has hinted at which of its siblings will be yours to find."
She turned to Ashton. "As for you, I see a dark cave that will call to you. Don't run from the voices, but instead face the monster within. Do that, and you will grow stronger in your bonds with Pokémon that ever before."
"As for Dylan," Delphi gave a confused look. "Your future was the haziest, but I felt a call from one of your Poké Balls." She levitated Aurora's ball onto the table.
"That's Aurora, my Lucario," Dylan explained. "She's practically a sister to me."
"Yes, she has a great destiny to fulfill, but it's not my place to tell her that," Delphi stated. "Once you obtain the right stone, the bond you share will unlock an ancient power that has not been seen in thousands of years."
"So then, what's the last thing you need to tell us?" Dylan asked.
Delphi reached into her hat and pulled out an egg of all things. "Well, in your immediate future, this egg will be very important. Whatever Pokémon that hatches out of it will bring someone you'll meet on your journey great joy." She then blinked. "Oh, and watch your step! Don't want to fall into any rips in space-time either. That would be horrible."
"O-kay then," Kris said, standing up. "I don't know about you guys, but I believe in science, not magic."
"We live in a world that has actual ghosts," Ashton pointed out.
"Yeah, but you can explain that through science like the Silph Scope," Kris argued.
As the two girls left the tent, Dylan thanked Delphi for her services. "We'll keep those futures in mind." Putting the egg in his backpack, he left to join his friends. "By the way, what's the real reason you hate water?"
"To put it simply, I wasn't always the fabulous, foxy specimen you see before you," Delphi giggled, leaning on the table. "I used to be a human, but then the townspeople thought it would be 'fun' to see if witches actually float. As someone that never learned to swim, you can imagine how that turned out."
"Oh, sorry I asked," Dylan apologized.
"Don't worry, darling, I got back at them in the end," Delphi laughed. "They all got old and grey while I was reborn as a powerful Pokémon witch!" She straightened her hat. "Now then, go join your friends. We will meet again, and I can't wait to see Mr. Joker once he's fully evolved. A suave gentleman, just my type." Joker gave a bashful look as Delphi kissed him on the beak once more. "I'll show you more of my techniques in the future, trust me."
"Please stop hitting on my bird," Dylan sighed, before recalling Joker and leaving the tent.
Delphi giggled, but waved goodbye as the humans left. "Such good kids. Hopefully they take my advice and don't die horribly! Then again, what's the odds they end up in London by Friday?"
"Hey guys, if we catch a flight now, we can make it to London by Friday!" Kris called.
The Delphox slumped onto her table comically. "Sometimes my Future Sight is a bit too strong, even for me."
Author's Note
Delphi is a character that I've worked on with my co-author, Azakael, for quite a while now. This magical Delphox is actually part of their story "Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Starstorm Ultra" where she gave a similar Tarot Card reading to the main characters of that story as well. Timeline wise this story takes place before those events, so Delphi hasn't experienced anything from "Starstorm Ultra." Ironic since this story is only in its first act while that one is in its final act.