Chapter 45- The Grand Gate Mystery

A/N: This is an original Pokémon Fan Game, made by Amethyst. if you wish to check it out and play the game download it at Reborn Evolved. search for it on your web browser if you want to get to the website.

Time: 13:40

Location: Route 1

Previously, Percival and Lucille had made it to Vanhanen Castle. Where the two had met Radomus the proprietor of the castle and Gym Leader, Reborn's famous Gossip Gardevoir, and finally a young woman named Luna. Luna had proclaimed Lucille to be her sister, which was quite the surprise. After some talk with Radomus, it was clear that the situation around Luna was complex, calling Lucille, Radomus, Serra (Ice-type Gym Leader), and Nero her family. most due to not having a good one.

Within the next few minutes, Lucille and Percival met back up with Cain. Where Percival and Cain had a battle, during which Gardevoir was kidnaped. After a small discussion of what to do, Luna and Lucille were to stay behind as Percival, Cain, and Radomus chase after the kidnapper. In a small discussion of where the kidnapper may go, it was most likely that they would head to the Grand Gates. Assuming pursuit Cain, Percival, and Radomus mounted Tauros to chase after them.

During the ride, Percival felt it was best to give Cain a rundown of certain events he missed. Such as the significance of Heather's Ruby Ring and Anna's Amethyst Pendant. Where Charlotte, Anna, Noel, Shelly, and Marie are now. Finally, how Lucille is the twin brother of Nero.

"Geeez…" Cain gave an exasperated sigh as Percival finished the tale. "Here I thought it was between you and me for the complex family situation…"

"Your right in that regard…" Percival's head still spun at the thought.

"Wait… then that Grave Stone at Beryl Cemetery… Isn't that Lucy's?" Cain asked wondering how that got to be.

"…" Percival remembering that stone in Beryl Cemetery. "…I would believe so. This is just very complicated and confusing."

"You're telling me." Cain just could deal with it. "Not to mention Lucy's Family. you're telling me that these pieces of Jewelry are keys to something that Meteor wants open. I feel like I skipped over the world of logic to a world of Fantasy… Maybe I can build a Harem then."

"Pfft…" Percival bit his tongue to hold his laughter at Cain's final remark.

"Enough jokes the two of you!" Radomus called over to Percival and Cain. The trio managed to make it to the Grand Gates. No issue. "I presume we've cornered the Culprit."

"Cornered?" Percival asked, looking at the gates.

"Yeah, like fifteen years ago the Gates just up and closed. Never to open again." Cain answered, Percival's confusion. "He shouldn't have anywhere to go now."

"Then let's go!" Percival said jumping off the Tauros that he and Cain shared. The three of them entered seeing cracks, in the black brick walls of the gates, a small opening on the side towards Route 1. But another set of giant doors on the other side that were shut tight. As they entered a man with white hair and yellow robes, ran off to a side corridor. It only took a glimpse for Percival to recognize the man as El. "He's trying to run."

"Follow him!" Cain shouted as he and Percival chased El into a corridor.

The corridor had several large cracks in the walls and floor, with unmoving gears scattered around. As Cain and Percival entered the immediately saw that El was nowhere to be see. "Wait, what? Where did he go?"

"I don't know?!" Cain exclaimed as he was particularly confused as well. since the gates should have nowhere for a person to escape to. "Did he have an Escape rope?"

"Now who's being silly?" Radomus who was just a few steps behind, said to Cain. Then pointing at one large vertical Gear. "There, I believe there is just enough space for someone to pass through that gear."

"I'll go first." Percival said, moving through the giant gear with little problem. Upon reaching the other side, there seemed to be a hole in the ground. One that probably lead to where El was. "hm…"

"Easy~" As Percival was thinking, Cain squeezed through the Gear without any Trouble as well.

"this may be more challenging for an adult." Radomus realized as he looked at the small gap once more. Radomus then continued to try and push through, though getting stuck in the gear. "Hrm…"

"Are you really stuck?" Cain said in disbelief, as Radomus was now stuck.

"Hmm…" Percival thought about helping choosing to try and push the gear to make it move. Though the effort failed to move the gear. "Ugh… The hell? why doesn't this budge at all?"

"It froze when the Grand Gates did." Radomus answered. Still trying to push through the gears. "These mechanisms are presumably linked to the doors themselves. Many have tried to get them to operate again, but to no avail."

"Well, whatever." Cain shrugged. "Even if it's tight, just force your way in~"

"…" as Cain said that, Percival gave him a judgmental stare, for the timing of this joke.

"Uh… I mean. I don't normally say that to boys, but this is different." Cain clarified, trying to be serious.

"*sigh*" Percival struggled not to smile at Cain.

"I'm going to pretend that I didn't understand that remark." Radomus sighed, as he prepared to force his way through. "All right, here we go—"

Radomus forced his way through knocking into Cain. Which caused Cain to fall into a giant Crack. "A-aah!"

"Cain!" Percival exclaimed as his friend fell into the hole.

"Ah… Well, now I've done it." Radomus said over the unfortunate circumstance. Then peering over the edge of the hole. "Though, it would appear that the drop isn't too far. It seems to lead into some kind of cave. Percival would you happen to have a rope?"

"I wasn't planning on going spelunking. But life is full of unexpected events." Percival pulled out a rope from his bag, as he hoped for Cain's safety.

Radomus took the rope and tied it to an old yet firm safety rail. "Then down the rabbit hole we go!"

"Down we go…" Percival sighed started to slide down the rope. Down into the cave, it was dark for a second. Though it quickly became bright as the crystals of the cavern came into view. Looking about, all the reflecting lights looked beautiful, though it was missing a certain purple haired boy.

"Well, no sign of our friend." Radomus said as he got to the cave. "Perhaps he wandered off in search of an exit already."

"…" Percival was silent. Cain walking off that fast after he just fell… that didn't seem right to Percival. "He might have caught a glimpse of El, and decided to chase after him."

"Either way, it looks like it's our move." Radomus said, looking into the single direction of the cave. "Let us be off."

Percival and Radomus wandered through the cave. As they travel onward, the cave twisted and turned. Seemingly staying on one level the whole time. Soon the cave seemed to end and start to change into a more manmade structure. As Percival and Radomus got to what looked to be another entrance. Percival felt a shake in one of his pokeballs.

"Hm?" Percival stopped, looking at his Pokémon. Noticing that his Gardevoir, Artemis was acting oddly excited. "Artemis?" Percival was surprised, this type of behavior was something Artemis rarely shown. Though with the current situation at hand. "Artemis, I don't know what's wrong. But I need you to be focused. We could be going into a dangerous battle; I need you with me right now." With his request, Artemis had stopped shaking. Percival looked and saw that Radomus had continued on a head without him. Seeing he was a lone, Percival headed forward hopefully to find Cain.

Continuing through the tunnel, there was a bright light at the end of it. Though from the distance Percival could hear voices coming from the end of it. Percival recognized two as Cain and Radomus, but there was also a third. One that Percival didn't know. With hearing that, Percival hurried through finding a cave opening with a lush green floor of grass and flowers, a miraculous spectacle for a place that held no sunlight. But what was more interesting to Percival was the Giant Tower that was before him, four side towers, several support struts, the color of the tower was a jade. Percival knew that Radomus and Cain were dealing with someone, but before Percival could look over to their direction.

"Erza? Is that you? Why are you?…" Percival froze as he heard the name, Percival looked over to the person who said it. It was a person who seemed to be in their mid-twenties, their hair was long, with whiteish-blue color, with blue eyes. The Person wore a white coat, with a light blue crop top that revealed their stomach, with black pants and boots as well. "I thought—"

Percival was stunned at what the person said for a second, before finally interrupting them. "I'm sorry… but my name is Percival not Erza."

"My apologies," The person said, "I just was not expecting to see someone who looked… Never mind. As I was saying before…" The person turned to face Radomus. "I was told how you kidnapped his daughter, and brainwashed her into thinking that she was your own. And so, he got a hold of your Gardevoir—And God, what have you done to this poor thing? —so that you might releaser his daughter."

Radomus looked at the person, curious to what they meant. "I beg your pardon?"

"Your Gardevoir doesn't seem to care for you as a Trainer at all." The Person said to Radomus, before turning and calling out. "Isn't that right?"

Teleporting in was a green and white Pokémon, floating in the air, with a red crystal-like material through her chest. Standing before everyone was Gardevoir. She looked at Radomus with disgust and fear. "…Yes. I—I had been too afraid of Radomus to say anything about it, but… you'll protect me from him, won't you, Adrienn?"

While Percival and Cain looked at Gardevoir with confused faces, Radomus only laughed. "Oh-ho, so that's how it is. Interesting."

As Radomus laughed, Gardevoir looked at him disgusted. "I've always hated being with him!"

Cain perplexed, had to say. "But back at the castle, you seemed perfectly happy."

"It was all a show!" Gardevoir cried. "I'm expected to be in perfect harmony with my Trainer—But how can I, with someone like that?! All the horrible things he's done… He's neglectful and lies all the time…" Gardevoir wept, "I was even there when he brainwashed Luna! The truth is, I was glad when El stole me away."

"There you have it." The person, Adrienn announced. "I can't forgive someone for being so cruel to such a sweet Pokémon as Gardevoir. So, I will definitely protect her! I will help him get his daughter, and his stolen property."

"Stolen property too?" Cain said, now exasperated. For him it's been just one surprising thing after another today. "What are you talking about now?"

"Percival must know." Gardevoir glared at Percival. "After all, he has them."

Percival whose head was still wrapped around the fact he was called another name started to come back to reality. "I stole something?"

"This!" Gardevoir's eyes turned blue as The Amethyst Pendant Flew away from Percival. "And…"

Percival's eyes went wide as the Pendant flew away, knowing what item would be targeted next Percival made sure to have a tight Grip on the Ruby Ring. "…This may not be mine… But this certainly isn't El's!"

"What?!" Cain was surprised as Gardevoir stole the Amethyst Pendant. "No! That Amethyst Pendant is Anna's! Get off of Percival!" Cain shouted as he pushed Gardevoir away."

Gardevoir who was pushed away lost her effect on the Ruby Ring. "But there's still the Ruby Ring. These items rightfully belong to El."

"If they belong to him, then why do I know two girls who would say otherwise!" Percival shouted at Gardevoir annoyed.

"Sorry," Radomus broke the dynamic looking at Cain and Percival. "Did you say 'Amethyst Pendant'?"

"I guess it'll have to do…" Gardevoir looked at the Pendant that she stole, "Only one key is necessary to reach the aerie. Though I was supposed to get both of them."

Adrienn put their hand on Gardevoir's back and said. "Thieves and Liars seldom relinquish things that easily. Come on, Gardevoir, let's go. We'll get the other one later."

"Right." Gardevoir nodded and left toward the tower.

Adrienn stayed behind looking at Radomus and Percival, eyes full of wary and anger. "Radomus and… Percival, right? I'll remember it. But please don't try to stop us id you have no intention of releasing Luna." As Adrienn proclaimed that, they turned to the tower and headed toward it.

As Adrienn walked away, Cain turned to Radomus. "That was strange… I would have never guessed Gardevoir felt that way. But Radomus, did you really brainwash Luna?"

Radomus looked back at Cain with a hurt look. "And exactly how would I do such a thing? That's a foolish idea."

Cain sighed, wondering if he should believe Radomus. "Well, anyway, we should chase them before they get too far ahead!" Cain then gave chase to Adrienn and Gardevoir following them to the tower.

"Perhaps this will be an interesting game after all." Radomus had a small smile on his face, as the new player, Adrienn has entered this game. Radomus followed after Cain.

"…" Percival shook his head at the recent events… thinking once more back to the name Adrienn called him. Erza, it was a name Percival had heard before. Or rather a name Percival couldn't forget. Erza, the name of his mother. Percival immediately thought to the excitement Artemis had a few moments ago. With a cold pit of worry in his chest, Percival took out his Pokedex looking over Artemis' information. There were several other features the Pokedex had other than naming the Pokémon, it's abilities, moves, and facts about it. Though the feature Percival was looking at, was original trainer names. The moment Percival got the Pokedex he looked at Artemis, seeing that Artemis wasn't originally his mother's. but someone else's entirely… Percival checked over the name once more, seeing the name Adrienn as Artemis' Original Trainer.