Chapter 10

The Legend of the Stone-Eyed Maiden

My friends and I have been on the road for quite some time, meeting an abundance of people and Pokémon, dreaming an abundance of dreams, and looking forward to an abundance of exciting adventures. At last, we arrived at Coumarine City, "where bay and butte are bound," as they say.

Coumarine City is a popular resort area made popular thanks to its clear skies and mild atmosphere. One thing that the city is known for is the fact that it consists of two geographically separate sections - the south portion in the foothills, and the northern portion by the seaside. The fastest route between them is the monorail, which stretches around Coumarine Hill. And at the top of this hill stood the largest tree I have ever seen.

As we entered South Coumarine City, we were amazed. Everywhere we went, we saw people and Pokemon, most of which were various Grass-types, decorating the buildings and landscapes. It almost felt like Christmas in August. "This has gotta be the festival we heard about," Delia mentioned.

"Ah, travelers!" a rusty voice said. A man rode over to us on the back of his Gogoat. He was an elder man in a golfer's cap. He wore a dark-green shirt, black pants, and strapped to his belt was a giant pair of shears. "Welcome to Coumarine City! You whippersnappers are just in time for the festival!"

"I knew it!" Delia commented. "I've heard stories about this event and wanted to see it for myself."

The man smiled as he dismounted his Gogoat. "So, how can I help the lot of you?"

"Well, for starters," I began, "we've come here looking for Ramos, the local Gym Leader. Do you know him?"

The man chuckled as he dismounted Gogoat. "Of course I know him. He's me," he began, surprising us all. "Ramos Salerno - Coumarine Gym Leader, Event Coordinator, Horticulturist, and even Ceremony Officiant… you name it, I'm probably your man."

Ash laughed. "This is perfect! We were hoping to have some Gym Battles with you, if you don't mind."

Ramos breathed in through his teeth, which was never a good sign in my book. "I hate to break it to you, but my Gym is closed for the duration of the festival. This is a rather symbolic annual event."

Serena stepped up to him. "Oh, please?" she began. "My friend Brianna is working hard to find a special power she needs to save everyone from Team Flare. This is rather important."

"I'm really sorry, lass, but-! Wait!" Ramos paused for a moment. "A princess… with a sacred power..."

He then looked at all of us with intense eyes. He seemed to put a little more emphasis on Serena and Ash as he looked at them. I was not sure why until much later…

Then the Gym Leader beamed bright. "You know what, young lady? You've convinced me!" he began. "I'll give you the Gym Battles you're looking for, and in exchange, all of you can help me with something I've been working on for the climax of the festival. We'll talk about the details later."

"Deal!" Serena and Ramos shook hands. "Now, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly is this festival?"

"This is a week-long event that takes place every year. It's the Festival of the Stone-Eyed Maiden."

'The Stone-Eyed Maiden?' Diancie asked. She then looked past the old man and saw a large statue. It depicted a woman attempting to run from an impending tragedy. It was as though someone took a single moment of her life and carved it into stone. A few humans and Pokemon gathered around bearing flowers, as though to pay their respects thereto. 'Is that her over there?'

"Actually, that's just an artist's depiction," he told us. "They never found the real deal, but many rumors will tell you that she's somewhere in the Coumarine area."

"I see..." Bonnie muttered. "So, who exactly is the Stone-Eyed Maiden? And why a week-long event?"

"Ah, that's a very long story. Do you like stories, young lady?"

"Yes! Our Daddy would read me stories all the time back home."

"Then, I hope you like this one. It all started a long time ago, before Kalos was even Kalos..."

A thousand years ago, the land that would be known as Kalos was divided in twain. The Kapulets, who reigned over the northwest, believed the land must be ruled by strength, lest the people become corrupt. Meanwhile, the Móntalos, who hailed from the southwest, believed the nation should be ruled by wisdom, lest the land fail to prosper. Slowly the days turned sour and the watchful nights closed in. The animosity between the two nations had grown too fierce. A sickness had begun to grow between them. It was a sickness of the mind. And where sickness thrives, bad things will follow. Both kingdoms were in a fragile relationship with one another and the cracks had begun to show. Soon, the nations would be at the cusp of a dreadful war that would forever alter its fate.

But not every member of the two nations was involved in this feud. There were two in particular - the heir to the Kapulet throne, Jan, and the heiress of the Móntalos royal line, Aila. They were supposed to be each other's sworn enemies, but instead, they fell in love. They would meet almost every day in secret at the top of what was now called Coumarine Hill. Both of them knew that it was forbidden for them to be in love, but it was already too late.

The only other person who knew of their love at the time was an oracle who held no ties with either nation. She warned them that if the two nations went to war, neither side would survive. So both Jan and Aila agreed to work together to end the meaningless feud before disaster. That day, they secretly married as a testament to their commitment for peace. As part of their wedding vows, they planted a little sapling on the spot where they wed.

Unfortunately, just before the oracle could declare them husband and wife, Lady Kapulet and Lord Móntalos discovered the ceremony, and they were outraged by it. They believed the opposing side had wedded their child to one another by force in an attempt to claim their birthrights. It was the spark that ignited the powder keg. The war had begun, with each side pledging to destroy one another. Such wanton death was dealt with in the days to follow, but even then, Jan and Aila still believed peace could be achieved.…

All of us listening to the story were hushed… our spines were tingling.

"So… were Jan and Aila killed in the battle?" Cocoa asked.

"No," Ramos told us and then looked at the statue. "Something far worse sealed their fates."

"What was it?" I asked.

"On the seventh day of the conflict, they heard a noise like a hurricane coming down from the East. The two armies ceased their assaults as the pines on the mountains creaked and cracked in the hot, dry wind. Then they saw a large creature blot out the rising sun, the shadow from its wings and tail covering the land in darkness..." He then turned back to us. "Yveltal had arrived."

"YVELTAL?!" Everyone native to Kalos shuttered and shook, with some of us clinging to nearby family.

Those of us from Kanto looked confused. "Who's Yveltal?"

"That's my cue," Dexter began, and the image of a red bird creature appeared on his screen.

Yveltal

The Destruction Pokémon

A Dark and Flying-type

When this Legendary Pokémon's wings and tail feathers spread wide and glow red, it absorbs the life force of living creatures. Very few have ever seen Yveltal… and lived.

.

"Indeed," Ramos continued. "Beckoned by destruction and corruption, Yveltal travelled the land to swallow the souls of the guilty. Those who spilled the blood of the innocent shall receive the Judgment of Fury, and seeing the carnage of war, such was the fate of both kingdoms."

The sons of man forgot their conflict and stood as one to face Yveltal, if only to survive and face one another in the future. But ultimately, it was not enough, for who could slay a god of death? Yveltal's Judgment of Fury, modernly dubbed Oblivion Wing, tore through the land, turning everything and everyone it touched to stone.

As the carnage continued, Jan joined the fight to defeat Yveltal, unleashing all he had upon it. Sadly, it meant nothing to the Destruction Pokémon. Worse yet, Yveltal readied its attack for him, mistaking him for his predecessor.

That was when Aila took matters in her own hands. They say there is no greater form of love than self-sacrifice. Aila made that most evident as she threw herself between Jan and Yveltal. In the process, she shoved Jan out of the way, causing him to fall off the nearby cliff and into the river. This was her last act of kindness to Jan as with this final attack, she turned to stone as well.

Massacre over and judgment passed, Yveltal withdrew from the kingdoms it destroyed. According to legend, it then came to the top of a lone mountain in the East, where it fell into a deep slumber.

Very few people and Pokémon survived that day… including Lady Kapulet and Lord Móntalos. Upon discovering what remained of his daughter, the lord fell to his knees and wept. Lady Kapulet knelt down and lay a hand on his shoulder

"I was just trying to keep her safe. And, now…" he sobbed. "This is all my fault."

"No… I ruined everything. And it cost me my son," she wept.

"No one person is at fault for this chaos..." said a familiar voice. It was the oracle who united the heirs in marriage. "Kapulet. Móntalos. Behold, the punishment you've been given for your hatred? And because you failed to see what your children saw, they have become innocent victims of your quarrel. Everyone has been punished."

The two rulers stood up, cleaned their faces of their tears, and looked to one another. "She is right," said Lady Kapulet. She stretched out her hand to Lord Móntalos, who accepted it. "This meaningless war..."

"...is over," he finished.

From that day forward, the Kapulet and the Móntalos worked to revitalize the land in their children's name. It took many years of work and toil, but they restored the land to its full former glory. With the new world reaching full fruition, they founded one unified kingdom, naming it by combining their family names… Kalos.

As for Jan, nobody really knows what happened to him. Some believe he drowned in the river he fell into. Others suggest he was actually struck by the Oblivion Wing, and his stone form sank to the depths. Still others say he was so overcome with the despair of losing Aila that he took his own life. Regardless, all that was left of Jan was the sapling he and Aila planted at the top of the hill. Before long and despite all odds, that little sapling grew to become the largest tree in all of Kalos. To this day, it has become known as the Pledging Tree, in honor of Jan and Aila's vows.

"...since then," Ramos concluded, "it is said that any couple who proclaims their love to one another under that tree will be blessed with a loving relationship that never ends. It's a common tradition that we've held many weddings at the top of the hill year round."

I dried my eyes. "That's so sad… what happened to Jan and Aila..."

"I know..." Ramos told me, "but their lives have become a symbol of what society must strive to achieve."

"Amen," Grace stated in agreement.

"Anyway, enough about the festival's origin. Is there anything else I can do for you while you're here?"

"Actually, yes," Serena answered. "I was told there was going to be a Pokemon Showcase in town."

"Oh, are you a Performer?"

"Well, technically, not yet. This is going to be my very first Performance. But even so, I plan to be the next Top Idol this year!"

"Ah, a Rising Star, then," he smiled. "In that case, let me escort you to the Pokémon Center. You'll be able to register for the Showcase there. Follow me."

*Meowth's POV*

The Twerp-patrol did not know it, but Jessie, James and I had followed them into the city… after a long swim, that is. We heard bits and pieces of the setting. Something about a city-wide festival over some Stone Maiden and a Showcase.

"Meowth," James commented. "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"

"I think so, James," I replied. "But if genies can only grant three wishes, how did that sitcom last five seasons?"

"No, Meowth," he groaned. "That man said he's got something special planned for the festival's climax. Knowing that, it'll probably be something everyone in the city will partake in. If we set up a trap to swipe all the Pokémon from the city in one night, guess what happens?"

I grinned evilly. "Our names will soon be in lights, while the Boss walks us down Easy Street."

"It's perfect! Those Twerp emotions will be so frail, they won't know what hit them!"

"But we will, won't we? Because we'll be doing all the hitting!"

James turned around. "What do you say, Jessie?"

But unfortunately for us, Jessie's eyes were on a different prize. "And now, you're future Top Idol! None other than me, Jessilee!" In the time we were not looking, Jessie had donned some sort of fancy dress.

"Word up, Jessie!" I scolded. "Our job here is to poach primo Pokémon, not to indulge our fantasies on stage!"

"We're robbing them at the climax of the festival, not right now!" Jessie stated. "Right now, it's Jessilee's moment to shine as the new queen of the Showcase!" And with that she began to a more secluded location for her practice.

James and I groaned. Her thespian attitude got the better of her once again. "Sigmund Freud would've had a field day with her priorities..."

"Wobbuffet..."

*Ash's POV*

Ramos then escorted us to the Monorail station, where we caught the next train. As the passenger vessel curved over and down the hill, we could catch a clear view of North Coumarine. We could see countless ships in the port, including this one vessel that was larger than most of the others combined.

As we took in the view, I glanced at Serena, a small yet visible hint of pink on my cheeks. "You're so beautiful," I mumbled, absent-mindedly. I then bit my lip as I realized what I was saying.

Fortunately, it seemed, she misheard me. "Yeah, the view really is beautiful. I feel like I could watch it all day."

"So do I..." I chuckled.

I could not help what I was saying. Ever since I realized how I felt on the day of the Bake-Off, my feelings for her had grown to the point where there was no use denying them. I was still a little scared to confess them to her, but every time I was, I was reminded of my conversation with Misty back at Summer Camp… how she encouraged me to take a leap of faith, not knowing where I'll land.

I then thought of the festival, the legend of the Stone-Eyed Maiden, and the saying about the Pledging Tree. I began to think that maybe this was fate at work. This could be my opportunity to show Serena how much I loved her.

The more I thought about it, the more I decided… 'I'll do it!'

*Serena's POV*

After we arrived at the port station, it was just a short walk to the Pokémon Center. But first, Ramos asked our mothers to help assist him with setup for the climax. They were a little surprised, but they still agreed, so we parted ways for the time being.

The Nurse Joy greeted us with kindness, as they normally do, and asked how she could help us. "I'd like to register for the Coumarine City Showcase, please?" I told her.

"Certainly," she replied as she typed into the keyboard. She then gestured to the counter in front of her. "If you would please place your Pokédex on this panel."

I did as Nurse Joy instructed and let the machine work its magic.

Serena Paschall from Vaniville Town

You are now registered to enter the Pokémon Showcase.

Current number of Princess Keys in your possession: zero.

We wish you the best of luck.

"You're all set," said Nurse Joy as Serena retrieved the Pokédex. "I'm happy to say that your entry into the Pokémon Showcase Rookie Class is complete. The Showcase isn't until tomorrow, so it'll give you some extra time to prepare."

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Before you go, would you like to update your profile? It'll only take a second."

"Sure, why not?" Nurse Joy then directed me to a nearby photo booth. There, I sat down in front of a backdrop while she took a photo with her camera. When I was done, I kneeled down to my Pokémon. "Now, Panchan? Fennekin? Are you two ready?" I asked them, and they both replied in the affirmative.

"I know you're gonna be great at it!" smiled Bonnie.

"Do you think you're ready for this?" Brock asked.

I nodded. "I do, but a little extra practice wouldn't hurt. I have to work really hard to be successful. Right, Ash?"

He gave me a look that seemed to motivate me even more. "You're gonna do just fine. Give it everything you got, and you'll have nothing to regret."

I nodded in agreement. But to be totally honest, the Showcase was not the only thing on my mind. I was also thinking about the Festival of the Stone-Eyed Maiden, and the saying about the Pledging Tree. Despite its tragic story of origin, the people of Coumarine City have adapted it into a celebration of kindness and love toward one another. Maybe this was meant to be. I was always too scared to share my actual feelings about Ash (though Brianna found out, and apparently Bonnie). With a setting such as this, maybe I had a shot. The more I thought about it, the more I made up my mind… 'I'm gonna do it! Before we leave Coumarine City, I'm gonna tell him how I feel!'

*Brianna's POV*

Ash's fourth Gym Badge…

Serena's first Princess Key…

My next Pure Heart…

All three of us had a goal to achieve while we were staying in Coumarine City. In exchange, we were asked to help the Gym Leader Ramos with a special festival event which apparently only he knew about. While I could not give a definite answer to what the climax was, I did know that we all had a lot to do this week, and just as many high hopes, as the journey continues…

*Delia's POV*

As Serena began her practice for the Showcase, Ramos asked Grace and I to come with him, stating he had something to show us. Loading the two of us into a rickshaw, he strapped it to his Gogoat and had us carried up to the Pledging Tree. Neither Grace nor I were aware of why he asked only us.

Once we got close to the top, he checked back behind us, to make sure there was nobody in sight. That was when I asked the obvious question: "What are we doing?"

He quickly shushed us, then turned back to us. From nearby, we saw a shape emerge from the bushes. I was later informed that it was an Absol. As it approached us, Ramos spoke with it. It looked at Grace and I with intense eyes… then it turned back to Ramos and nodded.

"I knew it…" he mumbled as he dismounted his Gogoat. He then asked us to do the same and we all followed Ramos into the greenery. Before long, we came across a small cliffside that was covered in vines. Ramos turned back to us. "Mrs. Ketchum… Mrs. Paschall… What I'm about to show you has never been seen by another living soul. Before I do, you must promise me you will not discuss what you've seen with anyone. Not the citizens of Coumarine, not your children or their friends, not even each other! Do you understand?"

Reluctantly, we agreed to his request. Then Ramos pulled the vines away to reveal a cave behind them. As he guided us into the cave, we were shocked to see what we found deep within… It was then that we fully agreed not to share with anyone until after the festival.

TO BE CONTINUED...