Chapter 12: The Dawn Trial At Twilight Volcano

Owen, Eli, Tristan, Pawmo, Charcadet, Grimsnarl, and Barnaby hiked up a giant mountain. The air was hot, and most of them were suffering from the climb.

(Tristan) "Who...would want to live...in a volcano?!?"

(Pawmo) "Apparently Lunala."

(Owen) "It makes sense to live up here. Lunala protects the Dawn Wings. If they have the power to cure the darkness, they can't fall into the wrong hands."

(Eli) "This is worse than the desert."

(Owen) "Oh relax. Hopefully we wont be here long. We just need to get the wings, and head to our next destination."

(Charcadet) "At least this place seems to not be corrupted by the darkness. That has to be a good sign."

(Owen) "It is reassuring that there's no darkness here. Still, we can't afford to let our guard down. We don't know where the Shadow King will strike next."

The group reached the top of the volcano. Eli peered down into the volcano. It was blazing at the top. Even Owen and Charcadet were starting to sweat.

(Owen) "Okay. I'm starting to see what you guys are talking about."

(Barnaby) "Where's Lunala?"

(Owen) "I have no clue. Oranguru said she'd be here."

Suddenly, a wormhole opened up in the sky over the volcano. A blood red Lunala flew out from the wormhole, and it closed behind her. Everyone watched the event unfold in shock.

(Pawmo) "I think that's our Lunala."

Lunala flew over to the group.

(Bloodmoon) "Hello folks. Welcome to the Twilight Volcano. A bit cold up here, isn't it?"

(Grimsnarl) "Cold?!? Are you nuts?"

(Bloodmoon) "Teehee! Anyways, what bring you folks here today?"

(Owen) "Well...Ms Lunala."

(Bloodmoon) "Call me Bloodmoon!"

(Owen) "Okay. Bloodmoon...we have a problem. A few days ago we discovered the Crimson Canyon was corrupted by this darkness. Yesterday, our town got corrupted. Our friend Tristan here also had his town corrupted. We want to fix this, and save everyone corrupted. We need the Dawn Wings to cure the darkness. Please!"

(Bloodmoon) "Hmm. Well, I cannot just give you the Dawn Wings. The Dawn Wings have such a great power, and I don't feel comfortable just giving them away to Pokémon I just met. In order to obtain the Dawn Wings, you must pass my trial. I call it the Dawn Trial!"

(Tristan) "Okay. So what do we have to do?"

(Bloodmoon) "First off, my trial requires only 1 take it on. The rest of you will watch from the big screen. So...who will take on the Dawn Trial?"

(Owen) "I guess I will."

(Bloodmoon) "Perfect! Then into the volcano you go!"

(Owen) "Wait what?"

Bloodmoon pushed Owen into the volcano. Everyone ran to the edge to watch.

(Eli) "Owen?!?"

(Charcadet) "What was that for?!?"

Owen fell into the volcano. Suddenly, a wormhole opened up beneath him. He fell through the wormhole, and it closed behind him.

A wormhole opened up, and Owen fell through. It closed behind him. Owen landed on a bunch of cussions just behind a starting line. From outside, a giant screen appeared and the others saw Owen on the screen. Bloodmoon flew out from a wormhole inside the volcano.

(Bloodmoon) "Welcome to the Dawn Trial! What is you name?"

(Owen) "Owen."

(Bloodmoon) "Well then, welcome Owen. Your trial is simple. You will run the race track ahead of you. Its a simple loop where you'll start and finish at the same place. You will have 3 minutes to finish the race. Win, and you will get the Dawn Wings."

Owen looked ahead at the track. It was suspended over a giant void. It wasn't too big. He could easily complete it in 2 minutes, let alone 3.

(Owen) "Hmm. This seems too easy. What's the catch?"

(Bloodmoon) "Can't get anything past you huh? Okay then. Here's your catch."

Giant towers emerged from the void around the racetrack. A Spidops was on each tower.

(Bloodmoon) "These Spidops will be using Sticky Web towards you. Get caught by one of those attacks, and you'll be slowed down significantly. So, are you up to the challenge?"

(Owen) "Bring it!"

Owen walked up to the starting line.

(Bloodmoon) "Great! Then your Dawn Trial starts...now!"

Owen raced down the track. On screen, a timer appeared. Owen could see a timer on the finish line.

(Owen) "3 minutes...this will be easy."

The Spidops launched Sticky Web attacks at Owen. Owen dodged to the side, jumped over the attacks, and powered through. He turned the first corner as the timer hit 0:30.

(Pawmo) "It took him only 30 seconds to get to the first corner? He's definitely got this!"

(Eli) "Go Owen!"

Owen continued down the track. Sticky Web after Sticky Web attack got launced towards him. Owen expertly dodged the attacks. As he turned the second corner with only a minute on the clock, he started to get a bit cocky. This allowed the Spidops to blindside him. One of the Spidops launched a Sticky Web attack at the ground just in front of Owen. Owen was focused on dodging the attacks coming right towards him, that he didn't see this coming. He ran straight into the web, and was stuck to the ground.

(Owen) "What the?"

(Bloodmoon) "Ooh! Owen has been caught in a Sticky Web! That'll definitely slow him down!"

Meanwhile, the others watched from outside the volcano. The timer ticked past 1:30 as Owen was still stuck.

(Grimsnarl) "He's running out of time."

(Barnaby) "Get out of there Owen!"

Owen tried using Scratch to scratch away the webs. It wasn't working quick enough.

(Owen) "Grr! I've gotta win this! For Citrine Town!"

The 2 yellow stems on Owen's head began to glow. Owen could feel a slight heat inside of himself.

(Owen) "What the?"

As soon as Owen spoke, an Ember attack launched from his mouth. It hit the ground, and burned away the webs beneath him.

(Charcadet) "Owen learned Ember!"

Owen jumped up in down in excitement not only at learning a new move, but getting free from the Sticky Web. However, when the clock hit 2 minutes, Owen was jolted back into the reality of the situation.

(Bloodmoon) "Owen only has 1 minute to finish the 2nd half of the race. Can he do it?"

(Pawmo) "Run Owen!"

Owen started back up, and bolted down the track. He quickly turned around the 3rd corner, and then soon after turned the last corner. Along the way, his strategy changed. Instead of dodging the Sticky Webs, he would destroy any he saw coming at or near him with Ember. Owen's strategy brought him to a straigh-shot run towards the finish line with 30 seconds to spare.

(Tristan) "He's definitely got this! Go Owen!"

Owen bolted towards the finish line. However, about halfway down the track...

(Spidops) "HELP!"

Owen slid to a halt. He turned around. One of the Spidops had fallen off their tower, and was dangling above the void holding onto the race track. The timer ticked down to 20 seconds left. Owen was so close to the finish line. He looked at the finish line, and then back at the Spidops.

(Barnaby) "What's he doing?"

(Grimsnarl) "He's gonna lose!"

Owen took a deep breath. He quickly ran back down the track towards the Spidops. He grabbed Spidops's arms, are started to drag him back to safety.

(Owen) "Don't worry! I'm here to help!"

Owen slowly dragged Spidops to safety as everyone watched in suspense. Owen managed to drag Spidops out from above the void.

(Owen) "Phew. That was close. You okay Spidops?"

(Spidops) "*deep breaths* Yes. Thank you."

The timer on the finish line clocked to 0. A siren blared as everyone outside the volcano watched with sadness.

(Pawmo) "Oh no. He lost."

(Eli) "At least he saved the Spidops. But now what do we do about the Dawn Wings?"

Back in the volcano, Bloodmoon flew over to Owen.

(Bloodmoon) "Ahem. Owen, you have lost the race."

(Owen) "I know. Am I allowed to take the trial again?"

(Bloodmoon) "No. I'm sorry, but the Dawn Trial can only be attempted once."

Owen hung his head in sadness.

(Bloodmoon) "However, you don't need to attempt the trial again. For you...have passed!"

Owen's eyes widdened.

(Owen) "What?!? But I lost the race!"

(Bloodmoon) "Yes you did. However, the race wasn't the true trial. The real trial was whether or not you'd rescue Spidops despite the fact that it'd cost you the race."

(Owen) "Hold on. So Spidops fell on purpose?"

(Spidops) "Yep! And don't worry. I was never in any actual danger!"

(Bloodmoon) "If I werw to give the Dawn Wings to just anyone, they could wind up in the wrong hands, and used for nefarious purposes. So the true purpose of the trial was to see if you had the heart to put saving someone over winning a race you perceived as important to win. You rescued Spidops, despite losing the race in the process. You have a true heart of gold. The Dawn Wings are yours."

Bloodmoon opened up a wormhole above Owen. A set of red wings that looked like a smaller version of Bloodmoon's wings slowly fell from the wormhole. They attatched themselves to Owen's back.

(Bloodmoon) "The Dawn Wings are yours. Use them to save the world."

(Owen) "Really?!? Woohoo! We got the Dawn Wings!"

Outside the volcano, everyone cheered.

(Eli) "Owen did it! He got the Dawn Wings!"

(Tristan) "We're 33% of the way to defeating the darkness!"

A wormhole opened beneath Owen, and he fell through. Another wormhole opened up beside everyone outside the volcano. Owen jumped out of the wormhole, and it closed behind him. Eli, Tristan, Pawmo, and Charcadet immediately raced over, and hugged Owen.

(Pawmo) "You did it! We're so proud of you!"

(Owen) "Thanks. I know the raced seemed important, but I wasn't about to let that Spidops fall to his doom. I guess in the end, it all worked out! And look at these wings! They're so cool!"

(Charcadet) "We should probably let Oranguru and Toucannon know that we have the Dawn Wings."

(Owen) "Good idea."

Owen took out the walkie-talkie, and turned it on.

(Owen) "Oranguru! Toucannon!"

(Toucannon) "*over walkie-talkie* What is it Owen?"

(Owen) "We have acquired the Dawn Wings!"

(Toucannon) "*over walkie-talkie* That's amazing!"

(Eli) "Any news on the whereabouts of the Dusk Mane?"

(Oranguru) "*over walkie-talkie* Not yet. Me and Toucannon have been triple scanning every book, journal, and scrap of paper we have in the hideout. We're not giving up on the search. Until then, it's too far of a journey to return back to the hideout for the night. It'd be best for y'all to find some shelter nearby for the night."

(Tristan) "I know a place we can hole up. It's one of the hideaways I used while alone the past few weeks. I can take everyone there!"

(Oranguru) "*over walkie-talkie* Perfect. You get some rest. Hopefully we'll have news by tomorrow morning. Good night!"

(Owen) "Over and out!"

Owen turned off the walkie-talkie.

(Owen) "Okay. Looks like we're done for the day. Tristan, lead us to your hideaway!"

(Tristan) "With pleasure. Follow me!"

The group followed Tristan as he led them to his hideaway.

End Of Chapter 12!