Summer, upon arriving in Fortree City, began to suffer from nightmares. So much so that she was losing sleep and causing her last Gym preparations to falter. After getting a long rest upon Weldon's advice, the Hoennese was able to stay awake long enough to defeat the Fortree City Gym Leader, Winona. The nightmares, however, continued, and Summer is at her wit's end. Now that they are finally leaving the forested city, will Summer be able to escape the nightly torment?
Chapter 40- A Foreshadowing Nightmare
"I can believe she won't join us! What kind of friend is she?"
"Come on… I'm sure she has to help her family out."
"Scoff… They can do without her. I need her brain for the upcoming test!"
"…You can't rely on her forever…"
"Of course not. I'll cut her loose when she is no longer of use."
I gritted my teeth, not wanting to listen to the conversation anymore. H-How could they say that about me?! I really thought…no, I can't believe this is what happened. Th-There has to be an explanation, right? Otherwise, I-I don't know how much more I can take…
In the darkness, I saw a faraway light. I ran towards it, but the emptiness refused to let me get closer. No, I don't want to be in this nightmare anymore!
I jumped towards the light, and, to my surprise, hit something soft. I opened my eyes and saw Lightning sprawled on the bed, grabbing her forehead. Then, I realized what happened and felt the pain on my forehead.
As I rubbed it, I said, "Sorry, Lightning. Did I startle you?"
"That's an understatement," she retorted before showing her worried expression. "Did you have another nightmare?"
"Yeah… That's the fourth day in a row. Ever since we arrived in Fortree City, it's been constant nightmares. I don't know what's going on with me…"
The Raichu gently held my hand. "Don't worry, Summer. We're all here for you, including Weldon."
"Thanks, Lightning. Speaking of which, where is Weldon?"
"Oh. He went to buy some more supplies before we leave."
"Right. We're supposed to head to Route 121 for the Ranger festival, then to Lilycove City." I stretched, feeling a little better. "Okay, I better get ready. What time is it?" I looked at my Pokégear. "It's 9am?! Man, these nightmares are really messing up my sleep schedule."
The Electric type grinned. "Hopefully we'll get to take a nap on the way there."
Chuckling, I packed my remaining things. Then, we checked out and waited for Weldon in the Pokémon Center lobby.
My coach exited the video phone booth room and when he saw us, he smiled. "How are you feeling, Summer?"
"Eh, okay. I had another nightmare; I just don't know why I've been having them so frequently."
He sat next to me. "Do you want to talk about them? It may help."
I bit my lip. I wish I could, but…it's about them. I don't know if he wants to hear about that; I should deal with it myself for now. "N-Not right now."
Nodding, he replied, "I understand. I'll be here when you're ready."
I cracked a smile. "Thanks. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah. Just made a last-minute videophone call. Let's hurry before it starts raining again."
"Sure thing."
The three of us went east to Route 120, known for its thick grass, dense forests, and a cave placed in the middle of a large lake. As we walked south, I noticed Weldon was staring at the forest on a hill.
"Do you see something there, Weldon?" I asked.
"Yeah, I feel something is pulling me towards that area. It's the same sensation I felt before on Route 106 and the desert on Route 111."
Without warning, Weldon ran towards the hill, forcing Lightning and I to follow close behind. The Kantonian stopped in front of a large gray temple with steel pillars. On top of the entryway was a pattern of dots that formed a hexagon with a dot in the middle.
"Wh-What is this place?" I asked.
"The Ancient Tomb, also known as the sealed chamber for Registeel, the titan of steel."
I looked up and saw Trinity sitting on top of the building. Her Togepi, Loki, happily waved at us.
"You finally made it, Summer!"
"Uh, thanks, I guess, Loki."
Weldon snapped out of his trance and looked at the strange pair. "Wh-Who are you two?"
Trinity jumped down, her Togepi floating down with his psychic abilities. She looked at the wary pre-teen and replied, "I'm Trinity, and this is my partner, Loki."
"Okay…"
Seeing he was still apprehensive, she added, "I'm a member of the Tairiku Hogo-sha, or the Continent Guardians. I've been watching you to see-"
"Wait, are you the person who's been spying on us?!"
I tilted my head. "Weldon, what are you talking about?"
He sighed. "Since we left Mauville City, I could tell someone was keeping an eye on us. I don't know what your intentions are, but I won't let you hurt us!"
So Weldon has been sensing it too. But I know Trinity's intentions, so she can't be the one who was giving off a dangerous vibe. Unless…
I took a deep breath and touched his arm. "Weldon, Trinity has been watching us, but-"
He froze. "S-Summer…you know this woman? Wh-Why didn't you tell me?"
I backed away a little, hurt by the anger and pain in his voice. "I-I…"
Trinity clasped my shoulder. "It's not Summer's fault, Weldon. I was the one who told her to keep my presence a secret."
"I-I see… Sorry, Summer." After taking a deep breath, Weldon asked Trinity, "So, why have you been watching me? You…aren't like him, are you?"
The woman smiled. "If you're referring to that fate-interferer, then no, I'm not. My goal is the opposite of his: to see if you're worthy of being the next Guardian of the Regis."
"You mean…" He looked at my necklace. "Like how Summer's the Guardian of the Legendary Beasts?"
"Precisely."
Weldon scoffed, "That can't be right. How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"
"I had a feeling you'd said that. You have the cufflinks in your bag, the accessory of this particular Guardian."
His face turned pale. "How did you-?"
"I was the one who gave them to Summer in the first place. They feel heavy to those that are not worthy; only the chosen one can carry them as if they were normal cufflinks."
Weldon pulled out that said item, and it began to glow red. To our surprise, the runes on the temple's entryway glowed and pulsated in unison with the cufflinks.
"N-No way… These things hold that kind of power?"
Trinity nodded. "Yes. They are but one part to reawakening the slumbering titans."
"But why do you want to wake them up?" he asked.
She looked at the cloudy sky. "Another calamity will befall Hoenn in the near future, one that rivals the events that occurred almost 1,000 years ago. And just like before, the three original Regis were, and will be, the key to stopping it."
But Weldon was hesitant. "I…I don't know. I'm not special; I have no connection to any of the world's legends, and my family don't have ties to any of them either, like Summer's."
Trinity crossed her arms. "I had a feeling you'd say that. But, you know, your-"
"I believe you've said enough, Trinity."
We looked up and saw Hamsetrin standing on top of Ancient Tomb.
The female warrior became on edge but hid it with a smile. "Hamsetrin! You always seem to come at the best times."
He chuckled. "That's because I'm the main attraction." He stared at the glowing cufflinks. "Hand them over to me."
Weldon clenched them tightly. "Why do you want these cufflinks so badly?!"
"That's none of your concern."
Suddenly, I got hit with a powerful wave of exhaustion. Then, I realized why I've been having sleeping issues recently. No, I have to stay awake!
My vision started to become hazy, but my hearing was still sharp.
I felt a familiar presence surrounding me. "Summer! Are you all right?!"
"Release your control on her, Hamestrin!"
"I'll stop if you hand me those cufflinks!"
"D-Don't, Weldon! Please!"
But before I could hear Weldon's response, I returned to the black nightmarish dream world.
No! I have to wake myself up! But how?
The sinister voices from my nightmares rang in my ears.
"There she goes, acting all high and mighty for winning this year's Pokémon battling tournament. Arceus, is she annoying!"
"Yeah. It's all because of the teachers giving her the better Pokémon to use!"
I grimaced. "Th-That's not true at all… I won because of my training and studying. Why would they think that about me?"
Then I saw the bald man I've seen in the dark space before, but this time, I would face him head on.
"Craig Alaric."
He snickered. "I'm surprised to see you so brave. I thought our previous encounters would've made you fear me."
"Cut the act. Are you the one who sent Hamsetrin after us?"
"Oh, please. You're not the person I want, you're just the key to get that Leland boy to force his hand. But you've been getting in my way far more than I would like. It's a shame Hamsetrin hasn't been able to take you out yet. Even with all this noise. How do you live with this?"
I frowned. He and Hamestrin know a lot more about me than I originally thought. I need to find a way to make him spill more information and turn the tables on him. "What's so special about those cufflinks?"
He sneered. "You really don't know, o Guardian? They-" His face darkened. "Wait…you're trying to get me to reveal my motives. Nice try, but I've seen that too many times in my lifetime. Looks like I have to finish you myself!"
Suddenly, I felt bound by an invisible force. Craig marched forward, his hands outstretched.
Dang it! Now what do I do?! Knowing I couldn't escape, I remembered my necklace. Wait…if they've appeared in the dream world before, I'm sure they can come here too. I know I haven't tried this spell yet, but I have no other choice.
I took a deep breath and, forcing my arm past the hidden restraints, touched all three stones at once. I uttered, "Sandā, Kazan, and Kitakaze, Beasts of Thunder, Volcanoes, and the North Wind. I call upon your dexterity, power, and wisdom!"
At first, nothing happened. But a few seconds later, the stones glowed their respective yellow, red, and blue colors.
"N-No!" Craig gasped. "Y-You shouldn't have enough mental energy to summon them!"
Chuckling, I replied, "Just like Weldon, you really shouldn't underestimate me."
The Raikou, Entei, and Suicune materialized in front of me, growling.
The Unovan clenched his fists. "It looks like I have to retreat. You will crumble under my feet, Summer Scorcher! Mark my words!"
He disappeared, allowing me to finally catch my breath. "He's finally gone."
Are you all right, Summer? Kazan asked as the darkness brightened to reveal the normal white dreamscape.
I petted his shaggy mane. "Yeah, thanks to all of you."
After Sandā let me pet him as well, I looked at Kitakaze, who was staring angrily at me.
How could you let those men take control of your mind, Summer?! You know how vulnerable you are because of your Guardian abilities!
"K-Kitakaze, I-"
The Entei guarded me. Kitakaze. You know that is not fair to Summer. She has not received the proper training yet.
After calming herself, she replied before turning away, I-I know… Th-That was inappropriate of me, Summer. I apologize.
I felt a deep pain coming from the Suicune's heart, and I smiled. "No need, Kitakaze. I'm still getting used to all of this."
The Fire type nudged me. Summer, we also need to discuss something else with you.
"Oh, what is it?"
I am sure you are aware of this, but a great danger is approaching your home region. You must prepare yourself to ensure its safety.
"I'm surprised you're all worried about Hoenn since you originally came from Johto."
Sandā laughed. We may have originated from another region, but we, as Legendary Pokémon, have a duty to protect the entire world. Besides, we-
Do not utter those words yet, Sandā, Kitakaze cautioned. She needs to be given the proper training.
The Raikou pouted. Bossy as always…
The Water type continued, To help prevent the disaster, you must travel to Mt. Pyre and meet with the caretakers there. They will have some information that will be most beneficial to you.
I bit my lip. Of all the places to go in Hoenn, why'd it have to be that one?!
Noticing my hesitation, she reassured me with her ribbons. You will need to conquer your past in order to fulfill your duties. I know you can do it.
We all do, Kazan added.
I touched my necklace and smiled. "All right. I'll go there as soon as I can."
We will be with you, Sandā said. Remember that, Summer.
The three beasts disappeared, and I heard Weldon's voice call out to me.
I opened my eyes and saw my coach and Lightning watching me helplessly.
"S-Summer! Are you okay?" he asked.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." I sat up and Lightning curled up next to me.
"We were so worried! I thought you would never wake up!"
I stroked the sad Pokémon. "Thanks for worrying about me." I turned to Weldon. "What happened after I fell asleep?"
He showed me an injured Trinity. "Trinity and I pushed Hamsetrin back with our Pokémon. He tried to attack me, but Trinity shielded me and hurt her arm."
She chuckled. "It's just a sprain, nothing to worry about."
Feeling my strength was returning, I got up and looked at her right arm. "It looks much worse than a sprain. We should get you to the Pokémon Center."
The woman sighed, revealing a grimace. "Y-You're probably right. But you don't have to come with me. I can manage."
After bracing her arm with a splint, Weldon asked, "Why did you save me? Like I said, I'm not-"
"Special?" Trinity laughed. "You're much more special than you think, Weldon. After all, you're the one who is the closest to fulfilling the prophecy."
"Prophecy? What prophecy?"
She winced. "This…isn't the best place for me to discuss." She sighed. "I shouldn't have forced you to take on the role if you didn't want to. I gave you all this pressure in my eagerness to fulfill the purpose of my clan. I'm…sorry, Weldon."
The Kantonian looked into her dark eyes. "I see. In that case…"
He fastened the cufflinks to his shirt sleeves. As soon as he did so, a golden light surrounded him. Weldon inhaled the power from the artifacts and, as the light faded, chuckled.
"So, you feel that way too, huh?"
Trinity was shocked. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "I can see you're telling me the truth. And if this will stop Hamsetrin, it's the only way."
The woman breathed a sigh of relief. "I appreciate you accepting this responsibility, Weldon. I will do everything I can to help you." She tried to take out her Pokégear, but she had difficulty due to her injured arm.
"Here, let me help you," I offered. I took her device and accidentally brushed her hand.
My surroundings then shifted to a dark room where Trinity was sitting in front of several unfurled scrolls. I couldn't make out most of the words due to the lighting, but the ones I could read on each parchment were, "The Legend Prophecy", and "The Creation of the Legendary Titans".
A sudden tap on my hand returned me to the present. Trinity smiled and whispered, "I had a feeling you saw my memories, Guardian of the Beasts. Don't worry, I'll explain it to Weldon the next time we meet."
"S-Sure." After I inputted my and Weldon's numbers into her Pokégear, I gave it to Loki.
Munin carried his Trainer, and the Togepi floated onto the Charizard's head.
"I will see you two soon, that I can assure you," Trinity said.
We nodded. "Thanks, Trinity," Weldon replied.
She grinned. "Call me Trin from now on. It's the least I can offer in our new friendship."
The group took off and headed to Fortree City.
"Ready to go?" I asked Weldon.
He looked at his cufflinks, then at the Ancient Tomb. "Yeah. I'll be back, ancient Pokémon. I promise."
We returned to the main route, not knowing our meeting with Trin would force us to divert again.
Summer's Pokémon:
Blaze (Blaziken, male): Brave Nature, Blaze Ability, moves: Fire Punch, Flamethrower, Blaze Kick, Sky Uppercut
Errol (Noctowl, male): Rash Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Psychic, Hypnosis, Air Slash, Heat Wave
Aurora (Dewgong, female): Calm Nature, Thick Fat Ability, moves: Water Pulse, Ice Beam, Aqua Tail, Signal Beam
Lightning (Raichu, female): Adamant Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Thunder Punch, Grass Knot
Rocky (Steelix, male): Lonely Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Stone Edge, Crunch, Dragonbreath, Iron Tail
Olive (Grovyle, female): Timid Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Fury Cutter, Double Team, Mega Drain, Quick Attack
Weldon's Pokémon:
Venusaur (male): Serious Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Razor Leaf, Earthquake, Sludge Bomb, Vine Whip; in rotation- Solarbeam, Body Slam
Fearow (male): Adamant Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Heat Wave, Steel Wing, Fury Attack, Aerial Ace; in rotation- Drill Peck
Golem (male): Bold Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Rock Slide, Earthquake, Rollout, Double Edge
Gyarados (male): Sassy Nature, Intimidate Ability, moves: Surf, Ice Fang, Payback, Waterfall
Arcanine (male): Naughty Nature, Flash Fire Ability, moves: Hyper Beam, Extremespeed, Flare Blitz, Fire Blast
Electabuzz (male): Rash Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunder, Mega Kick, Thunder Punch, Shock Wave
Questions for the Chapter:
What did you think of Summer and Weldon's encounter with Trinity?
What is the prophecy Trinity mentioned?
What will happen at the Ranger festival?
