CHAPTER SIX:
THE CALM BEFORE
-Ruffles-
When we got back to the inn, Udon went to get Amp situated in his room, while I decided to look through the many different items I had picked up at the shops.
Most of the things I bought were impulse buys. Like stuff that you would never need in everyday life.
Well, at least stuff that you wouldn't need as a Pokémon.
The flannel I didn't need, obviously, and it was way too big. I just wanted to know what it was like to wear clothing again.
I pulled out of my flannel pocket two things. One was the music player, and the other was a map. I didn't know where the map led to, but I thought it would be nice to have.
I didn't tell Udon or Amp about what I had yet. I never really had time to, but I would at some point.
Sitting down on my bed, I looked over the music player. It took a minute to turn on, and when it did, I was greeted with an abundance of songs.
A lot of the songs on it were things I had never heard of before. But one song's name in particular caught my eye.
"Huh, I remember this," I thought.
I didn't remember much from life as a human, so this was surprising.
I hesitated playing the song, but when I did, I was filled with emotions. Somehow, I was remembering things about my human life that I had completely forgotten.
Like, for example, my friends and family. Did they just forget about me, like I never existed? Or are they out there wondering where I had gone?
These thoughts quickly became too much for me to handle.
"Hey, Ruffles, are you okay?" I heard come from the doorway.
It was Udon. He looked concerned.
"Yeah," I sniffled. I didn't realize it, but I had started crying.
"You sure?" he asked, "What is that?"
I looked over at the music player. "Oh, nothing, just something I picked up," I answered. "I remember liking this song."
Udon walked over and sat on the bed across from mine.
"Yeah, it sounds good," he said.
"You know, I get worried sometimes," I said, after a minute or so. "You know, about our situation. What if we never make it back home? What if we're stuck as these things our whole lives?"
Udon paused. I guess the question might've been a little too much to take in.
"I guess I just choose to believe that someday we'll make it back," he answered. "I know right now it kinda seems impossible, but if we try hard enough, we can get there."
I wiped my eyes. "Thanks," I said.
Just then, Udon's eyes drifted towards beside me on the bed, and his expression looked surprised.
"Woah. Where'd you get that?" he asked, pointing at the map.
"Oh, this?" I asked. "I got it somewhere in the market. It was kinda expensive though."
Udon stood up in shock. Maybe this was worth a little more to him than I realized.
"Wait," He said. "You're telling me that you actually found a map?"
"Yeah, why?" I asked.
He grabbed the map from the bed and started looking through it.
"This is exactly what we need to get out of here!" he said, excitedly.
My ears perked up. I knew this thing would be useful, but not like this.
"I guess I forgot to tell you," he continued. "There's a legend out there that Amp told me about. The mythical Pokémon, Mew. Apparently, if you have a map to get to it, it can grant you any wish."
I shot up. "And this map can get us there?" I asked.
"I think so," he answered.
Just then, another voice came from the door. "What is going on in here? I'm trying to sleep," it said.
It was Amp. He was rubbing his eyes, like we had just woken him up.
"Amp. You're not gonna believe this!" Udon said. "Ruffles found a map!"
"What the…?" Amp said with a shocked expression on his face. "How did you manage to do that?"
"I honestly just got it 'cause I thought it would be good to have." I answered.
Amp rushed over and started looking at the map.
"Wow!" he stated. "Now we actually have a way to find Mew! Look, there's where we need to go, right there."
He pointed at a large mountain on the map. It looked kinda far from the city, but it, most likely, wouldn't take us more than a day or two to get to.
"Wait, so Mew's on that mountain?" I asked. I didn't know the whole story.
"Well, actually, Mew's inside the mountain," Amp corrected. "In a cave somewhere."
"So, soon we'll head out," Udon said. "We're gonna need some supplies though, so I think a few more days in the city to prepare should be good."
Amp's expression turned slightly sour. "Well, I guess that makes sense," he said. "Even though I wanna get there as soon as possible."
"Now, I think it would be best to keep this map a secret from everyone. So, Ruffles, keep it in your pocket," Udon said. "If this ever got out, we could be in trouble."
"Got it," I said, beginning to fold the map back to fit it in.
"Never thought that shirt would be useful," Amp said. "Now, I'm about to pass out, so I gotta get some sleep."
Amp walked out of the room, and Udon and I got settled in our beds.
"Hey, Ruffles," Udon said. "We're gonna get home. No matter what."
"Yeah," I said, turning out the light. "Good night."
As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about getting home. Now that we had the map, we could make it back.
Back to our old lives.
-Hassel-
Standing in the Great One's lair, I knelt in front of my master.
"We must do something about the anomalies," I said. "There's no telling what could happen if we let them live."
The Great One shook his head. Something was making me think that he didn't want to have to do this.
But at this point, there was no choice.
The anomalies had started showing up more and more. It seemed like there was some kind of tear in space and time, taking things from other worlds into ours.
"We already have Lars on surveillance," The Great One said. "When he gets more information, we will…"
All of a sudden, a large grayish-brown bird flew in through the entrance of the lair. It was Lars, right on cue.
"Oh, Great One," he said, bowing. "I have found one of the anomalies."
My eyes went wide. Was he telling the truth?
The Great One sat up in his throne. "Really?" He asked.
"Of course," Lars answered. "It's a Lycanroc. A midnight form. I saw him purchase a map in the Talardi markets."
This was worse than I had initially thought. If an anomaly had a map, they could find the Mountain of Mew, and who knows what would happen then.
But for some reason, the Great One didn't seem too distraught by this.
"I see," The Great One said. "Was he alone?"
Lars shook his head. "He met up with a Dragonite and an Ampharos afterwards," he explained.
I was starting to get worried now. A Lycanroc and an Ampharos were fine enough. We could take them out easily. But a Dragonite? Dragonite are said to be 'sea incarnate'.
I tried not to let my fears get the best of me, however. I wouldn't want to let the Great One know I was afraid.
"How can you tell the Lycanroc was an anomaly?" I asked.
"Anomalies have a certain stench to them," Lars responded. "The Lycanroc had it, and so did the others."
I paused. The Dragonite and the Ampharos were from another world too?
"We must make sure they do not find Mew," the Great One said. "Hassel, I'm trusting you to finish them off. Tomorrow at dawn, make your way to Talardi."
"Yes, Great One," I said back, bowing once more. "I will get the job done."
I walked out of the lair, Lars beside me. Something in his expression told me he was scared.
As we got out of the Great One's sight, I turned to face Lars.
"I'll make sure they don't find Mew," I said, assuringly.
"You'd better," he said back. "Or I don't know what could happen."
After that, we went our separate ways. But I couldn't stop thinking of the situation we were in.
Could this really mean the end? Or could we somehow change our fate?
Only time would tell.
