Alright so before this Chapter begins, I have a few things to say.
First off, sorry for not posting for a bit, I needed to recharge my batteries and think about other things I can write so I'm not doing the same thing over a few weeks to a month.
Secondly, I have been slowly drawing the characters for this story, so if you want to go look at what they look like, even if my drawing style is not the best, you can see them here: /i/events/1330672192238084096. More will be added as they're done, so keep checking about once a month... though I am a slow Drawer so it might take a bit.
Lastly, because this is the first chapter that this is really going to be a thing, I am using different forms of text to differentiate between humans and Pokemon. To keep it simple, anything that is italicized text is for thoughts and writing of any kind, underlined text is for Pokemon speaking and thoughts, everything else will considered human unless otherwise stated. With all that said, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 13: City of Myths, Fairy Tale Grove
After about an hour of walking, the group eventually arrived at the outskirts of Fairy Tale Grove. "Ok, is there anything we should be worried about from Neo Cypher?" Hibiki asked Sigma.
"Well considering their base is nearby, I would say to be cautious and alert." Sigma responded.
"Why would they build one so close to a town with a Gym?" Echo questioned.
"According to Strong, it was so we could recruit strong trainers and train with the local trainers." Sigma responded.
"In that case, a suggestion that I might give is to maybe split into two groups. Might be for the best if they know we're traveling together." Cherry suggested.
"That does sound like a good idea, how should we split up?" Hibiki asked.
"Well, I was actually looking about getting some new clothes and I was hoping someone would help me look for something for me." Echo said.
"I can go help with that." Sigma offered. Echo simply smiled while Hibiki looked at Sigma with a weird look. "I live in a family with all girls and they take me on shopping trips all the time." Sigma told Echo.
"Fair enough, me and Cherry may as well look for the gym leader. We could ask him if he's noticed any strange activity around recently." Hibiki said.
"That sounds good to me, though I suggest we be careful." Cherry said as she got out Melody's Pokeball. As she went to return Melody to her Pokeball, Melody put her hand out to stop Hibiki from doing that.
"You want to explore the city on your own?" Hibiki asked. Melody simply nodded and Hibiki opened her mouth to say something, but quickly sighed and put away the ball. "Keep yourself invisible and be careful around town, no telling what sort of tech Neo Cypher might have around town." Hibiki said.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Echo asked her sis as Melody hummed happily.
"It might not be the best idea, but what sort of trainer would I be if I kept my partner in their Pokeball all the time." Hibiki responded. Echo and Sigma simply sighed at that while Cherry gave a sly smile in response. "Anyway, where should we meet up after we're all done?" Hibiki questioned.
"In front of the Gym?" Echo suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea." Echo nodded. Cherry and Sigma both agreed as the group walked in their separate directions, Melody going invisible and floating off into the city.
Echo and Sigma…
Echo and Sigma walked through the city, marveling at the more medieval-like architecture of the town. "This is so surreal after growing up in a mostly modern town. I know that this palace is also modern, but there's something about this place that feels comforting." Echo told Sigma.
"I can imagine, I grew up in more of the rural part of Kanto so I kind of can't relate, but I can tell what you mean." Sigma siad.
"So you're from Kanto huh, never would have guessed. No offense to you of course." Echo said.
"Hey none taken, I actually get that question asked a lot cause people never really see Kantonians around here. Is there any reason for that actually?" Sigma responded with a smile.
"Not really, other than coming here is generally very bland Pokemon wise from what I hear." Echo said.
"Oh yeah, I remember hearing about not any unique pokemon in this region, at least as far as people know." Sigma said. The two stopped talking as Echo stopped in front of a clothing store called "Clothing of Fantasy". Sigma noticed this and walked forward to enter the place. "I see you looking at this place. Come on, I'll pay for what we get." Sigma said. Echo, a bit surprised by the offer, simply nodded and headed into the store. Upon entering the store and being welcomed, the two saw a wide array of different clothes with various themes.
"Ok, I think I'm into this store." Echo said as she marveled at the various shirts and dresses.
"A fan of fantasy and the like?" Sigma asked as he casually browsed.
"Look, I live with a sister who is obsessed with writing stories and drawing when she can, of course I'm going to be into that stuff. Granted I am more of a technology fanatic, but I can appreciate fantasy worlds." Echo said. Sigma simply nodded and helped Echo look through various clothes. After a few minutes of looking, Sigma was waiting for Echo at the dressing room as she was trying on a few dresses.
"So if you don't mind me asking, what is your whole take on this situation?" Sigma asked Echo.
"...Oh you mean what's going on with my sister." Echo said. There was a moment of silence as Echo thought about that and put a dragon themed dress on the top of the door. "Honestly, I think she was kind of hoping for this kind of thing to happen." Echo told Sigma.
"Ok, hold up, what do you mean by that?" Sigma inquired.
"Look Sigma, she really loves the idea of the Pokemon game stories. You know the ones I'm talking about right?" Echo explained.
"Oh for the love of… She knows that's more of a traditional starter thing and more of a local team right?" Sigma responded.
"Does she look like she cares? Of course I'm worried for her and am scared about this whole situation, but what kind of sister would I be if I didn't help her and encourage her through this?" Echo said.
"... I guess you're right in that sense, not much you can do at this point. Sorry if I brought up a sore topic, I was just curious and wanted to know." Sigma said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"It's fine, I actually wanted to talk with you about something before we met up with them. By the way, how do I look in this?" Echo said as she opened the changing room door and walked out with a steampunk themed dress.
"See that I like, something about the colors just matches well with you. What about this for your sister?" Sigma responded, holding up a jacket, shirt, and shorts.
"Looking to go on a date with her?" Echo asked, a judging glare being directed at Sigma.
"She's cute, but I'm honestly not looking for anyone right now. I'm just getting her this as a thank you present of sorts." Sigma responded, a bit of a nervous tone in his voice. Echo simply giggled as they paid for the clothes they picked out and headed off to meet up with Hibiki and Cherry.
Melody…
Melody was taking her time as she hovered through the city streets, staying invisible at all times to stay out of sight. "I'm surprised that she knew what I was going to say despite not me telling her anything. Then again, she does seem to at least care about my well being." Melody thought to herself as she passed by a few Pokémon. She quickly moved in the shade of a store awning as she looked at the various humans, some with more of a look of disgust.
"Neo Cypher huh? So those are the ones that are coming after me?" Melody whispered. She simply sighed and quickly decided to float up to the rooftops for a bit more of an open space. As she landed she mentally made herself visible again and sighed as she sat down where no one could see her. "I've been on the run for so long because of them and then I get stuck agreeing to go on this adventure with Hibiki. I don't know how this pilgrimage of mine ended up like this, but I can't exactly say I've hated it so far." Melody thought as she stared at the sky and hummed a song she remembered from her childhood. As she sang, various Pokemon heard the song and curiously gathered around Melody, who seemed a bit happy that there was an audience listening to her. As she finished, she looked at all the Pokemon and smiled before she heard a Pokemon scream behind her, causing the gathered Pokemon to flee. Melody quickly looked down into an alley and saw a hurt Misdrevious and a Gardevoir being attacked by a Neo Cypher grunt and his Galarian Linoone.
"Alright you two, I'm going to say this one last time. Come with me the easy way or you two are going to get it." the male grunt said.
"...Ok no, not dealing with this." Meloetta thought as she hopped down and sang Relic Song. Hearing the song, the four looked up just in time to see Meloetta deliver a kick to the Linoone, causing it to faint.
"What the… a Meloetta?!" the man yelled. He quickly reached for his Pokeball to recall his Linoone before Gardevoir quickly acted and tossed the man in the wall, knocking him unconscious.
"You two ok?" Melody asked the Gardevoir.
"Yeah, thanks for the help. Never expected to see a Meloetta in civilization, but this ain't exactly the best place to talk." the Gardevoir said as she held the hurt Misdreavus in her arms.
"Agreed, you two belong to a trainer or are you wild?" Melody asked as she changed back to Aria Form.
"Wild, I can teleport us out to the city limits and we can talk there." the Gardevoir said. Melody simply nodded as the three teleported away a bit out from the city and Melody went to make sure the Misdreavus was alright.
"It doesn't look too bad, she's just unconscious from what I can tell." Melody told Gardevoir.
"That's good, they got the jump on us and I couldn't do much cause I was worried about hurting the people in the city." the Gardevoir said.
"Why was he after you?" Melody asked.
"I have no clue, but he was spouting some speal about 'Glory to Neo Cypher' and ' You are needed for our plan.' To be honest, that's about all I heard from him before he started to preamble and I tuned him out." the Gardevoir explained.
"Anything else of importance that you can recall?" Melody questioned, a hopeful look in her eyes. The Gardevoir thought for a moment before she remembered something.
"Actually, I did remember something. He mentioned something about the Wishing Cave to the north of this city as he was taunting me, something about having already gotten what they needed from there and having cleared it out." the Gardevoir said. Melody simply nodded as the Gardevoir picked up the Missdrivious. "The two of us are going to be heading off now. Don't worry, we'll be safe. As for you though, watch your back, there's something happening in Alaria and not for the better." the Gardevoir said as she headed off into the forest.
"Well… that was a thing that happened. At least I do have things to tell Hibiki. Still, what was that Gardevoir referring to when something was going on in Alaria. It has to be Neo Cypher, but if it's not…" Melody thought before she turned invisible and headed back into town.
Hibiki and Cherry…
As the others did their own things, Hibiki and Cherry were walking through the streets, looking for the Gym Leader of the town. "So what do you know about the Gym Leader of this city? I only know what my mom has told me about him." Hibiki asked Cherry
"Myth is a very eccentric person from what I remember. He's not only a Gym Leader, but a damn good magician, to the point where I can't tell if he's a psychic or not." Cherry responded.
"A magician you say?" Hibiki said, a bit surprised by the answer.
"Yes… in fact I would not be surprised if he is putting on a show of his right now for the local kids." Cherry commented.
"I respect that, using your talent to entertain people and keep them happy. Whether that be Pokemon battles or being a magician. You know where he usually does these shows?" Hibiki responded. As Cherry was about to respond, the two saw a crowd of kids and adults gathered around a set up stage with a magician on it. The magician was a somewhat tan man with cyan hair and purple eyes wearing a darkish blue tux with purple trimmings, white undershirt and gloves, a blue cape with pink trimmings held with a purple bow, dark blue pants and purple shoes. On a table next to him was a magician's hat with a purple stripe and a black cane as well as a Hoennian Gardevoir with a magicians hat of its own.
"Now then, I do believe that we have one last performance today, but this one is a favorite of mine. Now then, I'll need a volunteer for this last trick of mine, who would like to be a part of this trick?" the magician said in a cheery voice. A lot of kids and even some adults all raised their hands, looking to be chosen.
"I take it this is Myth?" HIbiki asked as he picked a young girl from the crowd. Cherry simply nodded as the volunteer walked up on the stage and Myth brought out a large box with question marks on it.
"Now then, you might think this as a simple trick, but a magician can work wonders with simple things." Myth said as he got out a big propPokeball and set it on the floor next to him. He calmly directed the kid into the box and his assistant Gardevoir to lean down in the Pokeball, closing both after they got in. "All right, now watch as I switch the places of both my assistant and our volunteer." Myth said as he twirled his cane in his hand. The box and the prop Pokeball both shook for a moment before they both opened slowly and smoke came out of both of them. From the box emerged the Gardevoir and from the ball emerged the girl, now wearing a dress that looked similar to Gardevoir's, earning an applause from the crowd.
"Thank you all, I should apologize for the simple show today, but it is that time of year for my Gym Leading duties. Still, I thank you all for coming." Myth said as he bowed. The crowd cheered and applauded before dispersing, with Cherry and Hibiki staying behind to speak with Myth.
"Ok, I have to admit, that was pretty cool." Hibiki told Cherry.
"Agreed, that was simple, but he did put on a show." Cherry said as they walked up to Myth. Myth noticed the two and smiled when he saw Cherry, bowing as he did.
"Cherry darling, a pleasure to see you again. Tell me, what brings you here and who is your friend?" Myth said.
"Hey Myth, I'm actually here on a journey of sorts watching over Hibiki here and her sister." Cherry told him. Myth looked up at Hibiki before something clicked in his mind.
"Aria's kids? Well it's a pleasure to meet you Hibiki, your mother has told me a lot about you." Myth said as she extended his hand.
"I should say the same for you, that was a good trick you did." Hibiki responded, shaking his hand in the process.
"I take it you're here to challenge me for the League right?" Myth questioned.
"That is correct, but also to ask you something." Hibiki responded. Myth raised an eyebrow and Hibiki told him about the situation.
"Ah, that is indeed a situation. Well, in terms of suspicious activity, I have seen a few people in the armor that you have described. In fact, do you two mind accompanying me somewhere?" Myth said.
"Where do you want us to go?" Cherry asked.
"A cave to the north known as the Wishing Cave. I am the caretaker of the cave, mainly just to watch over it, but I haven't been able to go check on it recently because of the recent preparation for the league. I just have this strange feeling that something happened while I've been away." Myth explained.
"Well… I don't see the harm in us going." HIbiki said.
"How about this, I go to the gym to let the others know what you're doing with Myth and you go with Myth to the Wishing Cave." Cherry suggested.
"I think that is fair." Hibiki said.
"Perfect, now what do you say we head off?" Myth said as he began to walk off. Hibiki stayed silent, looking at the still standing stage, before Myth came back. "Forgot about the stage." Myth said, a bit embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his head. Hibiki and Cherry both laughed as they helped disassemble the stage. After packing up everything, Cherry headed off to the gym, leaving both Myth and Hibiki to head to the Wishing Cave.
"So what exactly is in the Wishing Cave?" Hibiki questioned.
"Well, it's the place where people go to leave wishes hoping someone will answer, be it big or small." Myth told Hibiki. Hibiki nodded before looking at Myth, noting the look of determination in Myth's eyes.
"I only hope this trip is quick and… oh who am I kidding? This is going to be an interesting sidetrack." Hibiki thought before shaking her head as they left the city and headed north.