Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 134: Temple of the 1,000 Kitsune
We've been on the road for a long time. Days, perhaps weeks of walking remain before we reach the next town…But that doesn't mean we haven't come across abandoned relics that were once the location of much traffic and tourism…
Today, we have made our way to a place known as 'The 1,000 Fox Temple'.
Location: 1,000 Fox Temple
Yumi's POV
"The 1,000 Fox Temple: A Buddhist Temple, and a Shinto Shrine, this location is over 500 years old. In Centuries' past, this was considered a peaceful sanctuary. Thousands of Kitsune Fox statues stand, warding the temple from great evil." Chapel, a seasoned Pokemon Ranger, was somewhat knowledgeable when it came to obscure locations around the region.
"This place is over 500 years old?" I was genuinely curious, and somewhat confused as I gazed around our surroundings. "This temple looks pristine-Like it was built yesterday."
Chapel shrugged her shoulders. Maybe if this temple was inhabited, information that was more accurate would be spread amongst the people in the world.
The 1,000 Fox Temple was shrouded in a golden white light, courtesy of the morning sun. In the midst of miles upon miles of endless grass as far as the eye could see, this temple stuck out like a sore thumb. The foundation of this place was concrete, but of a finer make than the concrete used for common sidewalks. The entrance to this shrine was very formal, a red Shinto Shrine separating it from the rest of the world. Statues of Kitsune(Foxes) were in abundance, all of them with sparkling rubies for eyes. The largest Kitsune statue lied at the very center of the temple, standing tall above the rest. It was as if this Kitsune was watching over everyone, like a Guardian God or something.
"Perhaps some people live here?" Rose answered my question with a believable questimate. "This is too well-maintained to have been abandoned for centuries."
"Doubt it." Chapel sounded absolute. "It's been years since people or trainers traversed this part of the region."
"Spoken just like a fool."
Hm? That was Seth speaking…
You could see it in Chapel's eyes, her urge to argue with Seth's objection. Resisting the urge to become irate, she forced a half-hearted smile on her face and asked, "I'm a fool? How so? I'd love to hear your explanation."
"How can anyone be so sure that no people have traversed this part of the region if no person has been here to confirm it? Your state of mind but an assumption…"
"…"
Wow…was Seth correct over Chapel? That was a bit of a rarity. Chapel was left speechless as she watched Seth proceed to the inside of the Shinto Shrine.
Was there a place in particular that Seth was going to? "Seth, wait up." I allowed no separation between us, as I wanted to know the answer.
"Chi…" Chikorita was on the fine concrete ground, and she raced up to one of the Kitsune statues. She looked into the ruby eyes of the Kitsune, as if entranced. "Chico."
"They say it's supposed to ward off great evil…"
"Huh?" I stood next to Seth, and I looked him in the eye as he began thinking to himself out loud, "What's supposed to ward off great evil? The temple, like Chapel said?"
"They say it's supposed to ward off great evil. And yet…" For a split second, Seth's left eye went from deep blue, to a dark purple, "And yet, the Fear that I house is an incarnation of pure evil itself."
A few feet away, I could see Rose. Her eyes were widened, and her mouth hung slightly open as she saw Seth fiddle with Fear's power. An emotionally fragile girl, she was. Maybe she was unnerved by Fear's very existence. Maybe it was time Seth put that power away.
You could tell what Rose wanted to say. She just couldn't find the nerve to allow the words to escape her lips. Fine, I'll ask for her…
"Hey Seth?" I slightly touched Seth on the shoulder, "Would you mind keeping that power restrained?" I asked this question as I returned my gaze to Rose. I gave her a knowing nod, prompting her to give a warm smile in return.
Seth, as perceptive as he was, followed my gaze. In less than a second, Rose's warm smile disappeared. In the face of Seth's cold stare with the dark purple left eye, Rose's uneasiness returned. For a moment, everything froze, before Seth eventually returned his left eye to normal, and looked away from Rose.
Rose sighed. She hasn't been herself for as long as I can remember. When was she herself? When we first started travelling, she shut herself away from the outside world. She was a shut-in, but she was closer to Seth than anybody else. But then…I saw her for the first time following Ecruteak City, and that's when I first noticed her change. She was no longer a shut-in, but she was distancing herself from Seth.
She told me that she feared the darkness in Seth. Her connection with Seth was not strong enough for him to resist Fear's power. She was stricken by Seth, and that was the turning point in their relationship. Their connection was severed, and they've yet to recover, even after all this time…
No matter their relationship issues, I won't allow it to spoil the adventure we call our journey. I needed to digress the situation to something small.
I gazed at Chikorita once more, who was fixated on the Kitsune statue. Upon further inspection of the statue, I realized something… "This statue looks like Braixen!"
"Chi?" Chikorita looked at me questioningly, and as soon as she realized what I was saying was correct, "Chico!" She chirped.
"Several of these statues look like Braixen. Fennekin too." Chapel had her hand on a Fennekin statue. "Fennekin and Braixen, Vulpix…"
Out of all the pokemon chosen to ward great evil, why did the ancient folk choose the Kitsune?
"Hm…" I took out Braixen's Pokeball, and looked at it intriguingly, "Why Kitsune?" Asking this question to myself out loud, I then tossed the Pokeball.
Appearing before Seth and I, her fur glistened in the morning sun.
"Zen?" Me summoning her outside of her Pokeball was sudden. It couldn't be helped that Braixen would be somewhat confused right now. "Brai zen?" She asked me.
"What will releasing Braixen accomplish?" Seth looked at me as he asked this question.
"The reason why I'm calling on Braixen is because I don't know what it'll accomplish." I answered Seth's question, and then addressed Braixen, "Good morning."
"Good morning, Braixen." Chapel greeted from the Fennekin statue a few feet away.
"Brai." Braixen waved to Chapel with a smile. "Braixen."
"Braixen," I started to give Braixen some words to carry out, "Look into the eyes of the Kitsune statue."
"Look into it's eyes, and tell us what you see." Chapel clarified.
"And let us know how you feel." Rose added.
"Zen." Chapel, Rose, and I weren't necessarily giving Braixen a command as a Trainer. We were talking to Braixen as if we were archeologists, eager for our translator to reveal to us the origins of this temple of ancient civilations. "…" She stared at the Braixen Kitsune statue intently.
Moments passed…
"Intruders?"
"Visitors."
Huh? Those words did not come from me. They did not come from Seth, nor Chapel or Rose.
"Strangers…" Rose's eyes widened. While she had kept from shutting herself off from the world, she is still getting use to crossing paths with the 'strangers' that cripple her psyche.
Was Seth's counterargument to Chapel really true? Were there really other people here in this long-forgotten area of the region?
"Hmph." Seth remained indifferent as he turned to where the voices were coming from.
There, staring in the direction of the sunrise, we could see two silhouettes, standing and addressing us.
"Strangers."
"Strangers."
The two silhouettes repeated Rose's whispered word in a somewhat monotone manner.
"Strangers."
Monotone, but not without emotion, unlike Seth.
"Zen?"
"Who are you? Where did you come from?" I was the first to step up as I asked to two figures this question.
"Should the Kitsune Temple welcome you?" The first silhouette questioned.
"Or should the Kitsune Temple repel you?" The second silhouette added.
The two silhouettes spoke in a very peculiar manner. Like they were a part of a perfectly matched set. They were complimentary, yet contrasting at the same time. Whatever words came from one's mouth, the other would say the exact opposite. This would prove to be very true, as the two would go off on some sort of tangent.
The first silhouette spun clockwise, beginning to enact some sort of graceful dance.
The second silhouette spun counterclockwise.
"We are the Sun."
"We are the Moon."
"We are the warmth."
"We are the cold."
"Day."
"Night."
"Fire."
"Ice."
"Yin."
"Yang."
"Onvitaikayan."
"Onvitaikayan."
"…"
"…"
Their words sounded much like rehearsed versus, fitting for that of an ancient ceremonial ritual. On cue and to the point…the two silhouettes eventually paused.
Curious to see what these silhouettes looked like, I took a single step forward.
"…"
"…"
At this moment, the morning sun was beginning to reach an angle where their faces were revealed.
Like I said before: two figures who seemed to be from a matched set, yet different somehow…They were both female, their ages impossible to discern.
The first girl had dark grey eyes. Her short hair was white, with a bit of a golden tint to it. She had white clothes with black edging.
The second girl had the same color grey eyes. Her hair was as white as winter snow. Her clothes were black, with white edging.
"Summer."
"Winter."
Simultaneously, they said these two words, and concluded with their dance.
"Huh?" I was confused, "Summer? Winter?"
I had no clue what to make of those words, or any of the others. In the face of my confusion, it was Seth who stepped up to clarify what the two girls said, "Summer and Winter: Their names."
Both girls fixated their attention on Braixen and I.
"Braixen…"
"And Trainer…"
The girls began their distinct speech pattern, once more.
"The question arises again…" Summer started.
"Intruders?" Winter continued.
"Or visitors?"
"Strangers…"
"Strangers…"
No words escaped the mouths of Seth, Chapel, or Rose. Braixen at a loss at how to respond to the twins' acknowledgement, it came down to me to explain everything.
I took a step forward, "We didn't know anybody lived here. Sorry for trespassing…" I took a deep, apologetic bow. A couple of seconds later, I returned to facing the twins as I changed the subject, "So, what's with this temple? Its 1,000 Kitsune and its disputable origins, what does it all have to do with Braixen?"
"Zen." Braixen gave the twins a nod, letting them know that she was just as curious as me, to uncover the secrets of the temple.
Summer and Winter both walked forth. They stopped in front of Braixen and I, giving the Fire type an intrigued look before proceeding further. They passed Rose and Chapel. They passed an indifferent Seth. And finally, they passed a Chikorita who was still standing next to one of the many Kitsune statues.
Once we were all behind the them, the twins turned to us and gave what sounded like an order.
"Let us guide you, honored guests."
"You will follow our lead, trespassers."
Their last words to use were sung in unison, "Our Lady and Father will explain to you, the story."
"Zen." Braixen nodded, and was the first to follow.
I looked back to the gang, namely Seth, and smiled as I said, "Let's go."
….
I was amazed as we proceeded further into the 1,000 Kitsune Temple. Despite being devoid of people, its atmosphere was rich and crowded. The many small Goshol homes could house a neighborhood or two. Fennekin and Braixen, Vulpix and Ninetails, Zorua…so many Kitsune statues of so many species beyond the ones mentioned.
I couldn't help but turn to my nearest companion, Seth, with a smile and bright eyes. I was truly in awe. Of course, all he did was wave me off, but I would have none of his pessimistic indifference. I tried to force a smile on his face by LITERALLY grabbing his mouth and adjusting the edges upwards. I failed to successfully do this, but Seth was annoyed nonetheless. He tolerates my affection now, which was unheard of at the start of our journey. Just you wait, I haven't given up on making him return my feelings. Haha, I'll never take for granted that he thinks I'm pretty!
Chapel and Rose were giggling in the background.
"Focus." This was the only word the annoyed Seth said to me. This prompted me to return my gaze to what was ahead of me.
Braixen paid no mind to my antics. The twins before her stopped in front of what appeared to be the largest most elaborate 'house' in the 1,000 Kitsune Temple. No…this wasn't just a house. This was what would've passed as a 'manor' centuries ago.
"Onvitaikayan: Summer." As these words escaped the mouth of Summer, she entered a prayer-like stance.
"Onvitaikayan: Winter." Likewise for Winter.
I took a few steps further, stopping right next to Braixen. Together, we watched as the twins' prayer was seemingly answered. As if in response, the tall double doors of the manor began glowing, alternating between the colors of golden-blonde and snow-white.
"A little grand, don't you think?" I thought out loud, "Seems like a lot of effort just to enter a manor."
"Brai." Only half of Braixen's attention was focused on me as she stared into the doors opening. Her response to me was half-hearted.
Summer and Winter exited their prayer stances. In unison, they looked to us and said, "Come in."
"Zen." Braixen and I gave simultaneous nods to the twins, and shadowed them into the manor.
…..
"Chico?" Chikorita was confused, as was I, and the rest of the gang.
To be honest, when I entered the manor, I was disappointed at all there was to see. I was expecting some grand lobby, fitting for that of many rulers in the past. What I got…was a small room, devoid of fancy décor or anything else of that sort…with the exception of a small platform in the room's center.
"No Kitsune statues are present in this room…" Rose remarked what was likely on everybody's mind.
The twins were not prompted to respond to Rose's remark. Not bothering to acknowledge the comment's existence, Summer and Winter instead approached the platform at the room's center. It was there they stood. For the first time, the shading of the outside morning was not present when the twins faced us. Their faces were stoic; As cold as a statue expressing nothing-As hot as a statue given life by the concept of personification. Comparable, yet contrasting.
I walked onto the platform with Braixen. I waved to everybody with a mockingly coy smile.
Chapel was amused. Seth was bemused. Rose, the mature lady she was, gave me a slow shake of her head; one that an elder sister would use to express exasperation toward her younger sibling. Chikorita chirped, and they all boarded the platform.
With everyone on board, the platform began glowing the same golden-blonde and snow-white colors as the manor's door just moments ago. "Whoa!" I almost lost my balance, and the platform started descending, like an elevator!
Via the platform, we left the rather spacious room, then what we saw next…I stood agape as we continued to descend. "Woahhh…"
Below the floor of the manor, was a world of its own. We were in a sky that was as real and authentic as the sky in the real world above. How was this possible? To call this a mere floor or basement below the manor would be the greatest of insults. With this sky, and seemingly miles upon miles of geographics wonders, this was just as I said it was: a world of its own.
As we continued to descend, Chapel took a single step forward, looking into the distance as she started thinking out loud, "For years, this part of the region has remained untouched by humans. But who would've thought that beneath the surface, something like this existed?" She looked Summer and Winter in the eyes, "How long have you two lived here? How have you managed to create such an authentic replica of the world's vastness?"
"Lady." Summer replied.
"Father." Winter added.
Simultaneously, they finished with, "They will answer your questions."
We continued to descend, before making contact with the ground and halting. We were in the middle of what appeared to be opening in the midst of all the trees that were here. This place…actually looked better than the real world…
"Come."
"Follow."
The twins stepped off the platform. This opening in the midst of all the trees…it wasn't empty. In fact, there was an abrupt halt in the green grass, in favor of a patch of rich cherrywood. On this patch of cherrywood, was a white clothed table with dim lit candles on top, giving it a bit of a homey feel to it.
"Zen." Braixen stepped off the platform, and we all prepared to follow the twins, before…
"Summer? Winter?"
In my state of awe at the world surrounding me, I failed to notice that somebody was sitting at the white clothed table. As the voice called out to them, the figure stood up. It was a woman…a very beautiful woman. Her long hair was platinum blonde, her eyes a deep crimson color. On her neck was a black choker, and she wore a miko outfit fitting for that of a priestess.
In the presence of this woman, both Summer and Winter kneeled.
"Guests." Summer uttered.
"Strangers." Winter followed.
In unison, they finished with, "We bring them to you, Lady Anju."
With a warm smile, the woman called 'Lady Anju' approached the twins and gave them light pats on the head. This was signal that it was appropriate to exit their formal kneeling. They stood, while Lady Anju turned her attention to her guests. She looked at us all collectively, while paying particular focus to Braixen and I.
"This Kitsune…" Lady Anju uttered as she approached the Fire type, "Does she belong to you?"
I nodded, "Braixen is very special. She was the first pokemon I captured on my journey."
Lady Anju and touched her. Braixen's hand was in the grasp of both Lady Anju's human hands.
"Kitsune."
"Kitsune." The twins uttered simultaneously.
"Yes, a Kitsune, Braixen is." Lady Anju gently let go of Braixen's hand, "How long has it been since we last had a Kitsune visit us?" Lady Anju then clasped her hands together and spoke to us all, "Please allow my daughters and I to guide you. Lord Mito will be most intrigued by your presence."
So Summer and Winter were really Lady Anju's daughters? If that was the case, it was definitely strange that the twins were referring to their own mother as 'Lady'.
"We will lead."
"You will follow." Summer and Winter said this to us as they walked in front of us. They were guiding us, as they did before, but now Lady Anju was leading us all.
….
We continued with the walking. We passed the white-clothed table on the cherrywood ground, and proceeded into the trees. Were these trees as authentic as the ones in the real world above? Chapel and I each touch a tree with our hands. I saw no difference, but Chapel was more an expert than I. It took longer for her to attain a proper judgement, and by the time she returned the black glove to her hand, she had a look of utter perplexity on her face.
"This place is real…as real as the real world. I am intrigued though. How can one create and sustain such an environment?" She looked past the trees and into the sky, "That sun looks so much like the one in the world above, but it isn't. It's morning in the world above, meaning the sun should be giving off a distinct shade to the environment. That's not the case for this one." It looked as though it was the middle of the day in here…
"This place feels so surreal. Not just beneath the surface of the ground, but the entire 1,000 Kitsune Temple as well." Rose added.
"Lord Mito and I have lived here, alone, for many years. And in that time, we have constructed the perfect paradise. It is a Lost Paradise." Upon speaking, the speculation going on between Chapel, Rose and I halted, as we listened to what Lady Anju had to say. "It-"
"Impossible." That was the only word to escape the mouth of Seth. The black haired, blonde banged silent was blunt.
Seth's disbelief caused for Lady Anju to turn around and face him.
"Wrong." Summer looked to him too, as she said this.
"Incorrect." As did Winter.
"Do not be quick to jump to conclusions," Lady Anju said, "It is possible. Through Alchemy, the creation of this world was a dream-made reality."
"Alchemy?" I questioned.
"Alchemy: The very old study and philosophy of the changing and transmutation of basic substances." It seemed Seth was somewhat knowledgeable when it came to alchemy; or at least, more knowledgeable than me.
"Lord Mito was an accomplished scholar of Alchemy in the old world. He was considered one of the greatest to ever live." Lady Anju's smile disappeared as she explained to us, "However, despite his accolades, opposition arose. Religious Protestants were against the thought of Alchemy existing, thinking the idea to be as satanic as Giratina himself. Their protests spread to the people of the old world, and eventually the governments. It was a clash between the ideologies of science and religion, and religion won. Alchemy was outlawed, but that wouldn't stop Lord Mito. In secret, he continued Alchemist studies. However, he was eventually found out. Initially, Lord Mito was set for execution. He was to serve as an example to all who studied and practiced Alchemy. But a number of the religious people opposed Lord Mito's execution, considering it to be 'inhumane' to end a life over something as insignificant as 'studying'-it would upset Lord Arceus to see a life end like that, and for that reason, Lord Mito was exiled from his home country. He wandered the world, before meeting me and eventually settling here. Additional years were spent studying Alchemy, before his studies were eventually put into practice. He developed Alchemic power, and used it to create the world you see before you, and the 1,000 Kitsune Temple in the world above."
"I question the last part of your story, Lady Anju," Rose spoke up as we continued walking, "Many of my days in back in Neo Snagem were spent becoming mentally superior to that of the average human being. I have come across many of books with validities in regards to Alchemy being impossible. Now I ask: How is it that Lord Mito was able to gain the power of Alchemy."
Lady Anju was not at all caught off guard by such a young girl possessing that amount of knowledge. To not point out how impressed she was…that showed that she viewed Rose with more dignity that the humans in the world above. Rose was not to be underestimated because of her youth, and Lady Anju knew this. And so, Lady Anju smiled at Rose and curtly asked, "There have been strange anomalies in the world above, have they not?"
"Huh?" I was confused. What did that last question have to do with Alchemy?
"Lord Mito is very in tune with what goes on in the outside world. He knows various anomalies which have awarded humans supernatural powers. He knows about the world's struggle between truths and ideals. Light versus darkness? No, this struggle goes much deeper than a battle between good and evil. It is a struggle in which both light and darkness search far and wide, for the power needed to attain a common goal. This unusual 'unity' between light and darkness has brought you travelers here…right?" Lady Anju stopped and looked at us.
Seth was the darkness. Chapel was the light. Rose was a line in between the two. What did all three of them have in common?
She…She…Could she be referring to…?
"The power of the virus, Missingno…" Chapel uttered the answer to Rose's question.
"Lord Mito obtained the power of Alchemy by coming in contact with Missingno…" Seth uttered.
"Correct."
"Correct." The twins nodded, confirming the answer coming from Seth and Chapel.
Were there people with Missingno's virus powers that even Neo Snagem has yet to discover? This place WAS out of the way, and the organization has only really struck in towns and cities where millions live. There's no reason for them to acknowledge the existence of the 1,000 Kitsune Temple.
To Seth, Chapel, and Rose, Lady Anju said, "The three of you strive to correct the world above. You've all been awarded mysterious powers by Missingno, which allow your goal to be attainable. The same can be said for Lord Mito." She looked at me, "And you."
"Hm?" What? Was Lady Anju going to point out how I'm the only one here who's never seen Missingno?
"Not coming in contact with Missingno makes you unique here." Lady Anju proved my thought to be correct, "You have brought to us, Braixen. She is the first Kitsune from the world above that this temple has seen in many years. The Kitsune has always been a favorite animal or Yokai of Lord Mito, and I'm sure he'll be delighted to see you."
Braixen and I looked to each other. Upon Lady Anju saying what she said, we suddenly had looks of anticipation on our faces. An obscure man, capable of Alchemy and in love with Kitsune…We couldn't wait to meet him. Maybe, after watching Seth, Chapel, and Rose take turns growing over the course of this journey, it was finally my turn to gain some sort of exotic power. Yes, I could not wait. I want to offer even more to the team in our fight against the organization. I want to return to the lighthearted days of battling for pure sport or for Contests, without worry over whether or not tomorrow is promised….I want to impress Seth. I want for him to fall in love with me…Perhaps he'll learn to embrace the human part of his heart when the organization no longer exists. I want to see him smile; I want to see the entire world smile. For all my desires to be realized, my pokemon and I need to grow. It all starts here with Braixen, as we prepare for Alchemist, Lord Mito…
To Be Continued…