Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Lucas and Sabrina are trapped underground, and Lucas encounters another Legendary Pokemon.
Chapter 55
Lucas lay on the ground, conscious but unable to move his body. He could not see anything in his immediate surroundings but sensed an aggressive presence nearby. He tried to move, becoming increasingly desperate as the sense of danger grew to the point where he knew an attack was coming.
A rustling noise drew his attention, prompting him to turn his head in anticipation of an approaching figure, only to be met with the sounds of conflict beyond his field of vision.
The commotion subsided, and Lucas closed his eyes, feeling the urge to sleep. A damp nose touched his cheek, startling him. Looking up, he locked eyes with a dog whose gaze held an otherworldly quality—its eyes were a piercing, startling white. Before he could utter a word, the mysterious creature disappeared into thin air, leaving Lucas to question whether the encounter had truly occurred or was merely a trick of his mind. Frustratingly, his curiosity went unanswered as sleep quickly overtook him once again.
Lucas awoke with a persistent ache in his side, causing him to groan in pain. He was surrounded by pitch blackness, and the ground beneath him felt solid at first but shifted when he moved. He realised he was lying on a huge pile of loose sand. The thought of him colliding with the ground made him wince. But it also reminded him that he wasn't the only one who had fallen.
Fear shot through him. "Sabrina!"
Lucas attempted to sit up, but his body was extremely stiff and refused to cooperate. Sinking to the ground, he decided to give his body time to recover before attempting to move again. Meanwhile, he activated his aura vision, which revealed that he was in a cavernous room with rock walls on all sides and a layer of sand on the bottom.
Sabrina lay motionless several feet away. Lucas called her name, but she was unresponsive. He clenched his jaw and pushed his hand into the sand, using it as leverage to tilt himself onto his stomach. The effort sent waves of dizziness through him, but he bit his tongue, the pain keeping him conscious. Lucas began the difficult task of inching his way across the sand. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he arrived at Sabrina's side, exhausted but relieved that Jae had completed the task.
"Are you okay, Sabrina?" Lucas asked as he gently patted her face. When she did not respond, panic set in, and he used more force, slapping her cheek.
Groaning, Sabrina's eyelids fluttered open. "Lucas? Why did you turn off the lights?"
Sabrina must still be disorientated, but at least she was awake. Relieved, Lucas reached into his inventory and pulled out a torch. As he switched it on, the light illuminated Sabrina's face, causing her to flinch and look away.
"Sorry," Lucas apologised, setting the torch down. He examined her face, noting her dazed expression. "You look okay, but I can't be sure there aren't any hidden injuries."
She winced as she attempted to sit up, but he stopped her. "Take it easy. You took quite a fall."
Sabrina laid her head back on the ground. "Where are we?"
"It looks like an underground cavern. A vortex drew us down into it. I'm not sure if it was a natural occurrence or if a Pokemon was involved."
"How long have we been down here? My mouth feels parched," Sabrina rasped, moistening her lips.
Lucas pulled a water bottle from his inventory, unconcerned that he did not have an explanation for it. He raised her head and offered her a drink to quench her thirst. She was still too disoriented to question where the water came from. He drank some water after she had finished her fill.
"You do not look much better than me," Sabrina remarked, the water revitalising her.
"I hit the ground pretty hard." Lucas groaned as he realised something. "I should have put up a barrier to protect myself from the fall."
"It happened so quickly," Sabrina reminded him. "Don't be too hard on yourself."
Lucas' focus was diverted when Icarus' voice echoed in his head. "Lucas, can you hear me?"
"Icarus, I'm here. Is everyone up there okay?" Lucas asked.
"We're fine, besides being worried about you. The hole closed up, and we couldn't reach you. Diggersby tried to dig through, but there was a barrier in the way, and not even Sabrina's Pokemon couldn't break it."
Why was there a barrier here? Lucas looked up, believing he saw faint shimmers from an energy barrier far above him. If it wasn't for his aura sight, he wouldn't have been able to see it. Did a Pokemon make the barrier?
Lucas hissed, feeling a sharp pain in his head. He was struck by a memory of an alien-looking dog standing over him, which could only be a Pokemon. So there were Pokemon down here, but why didn't it attack? He couldn't recall ever seeing such a Pokemon, and it was memorable enough that he wouldn't forget it easily.
"Are you okay, Lucas?" Icarus sounded agitated.
"I'm fine," Lucas assured Icarus. "What about Nero? Can he find a way around the barrier?"
"Nero is with you, remember?"
How could he have forgotten this? Nero had been in his pokeball when the incident occurred. The rest of Lucas's Pokemon and Sabrina's were above ground. As he looked at Sabrina, he noticed she was concentrating on something, probably communicating with her Pokemon. A sense of unease struck him when he realised they were left in a precarious position, with only the uncooperative Nero for protection.
Lucas had a thought, which prompted him to consider their options. Purchasing a tent kit would shelter and protect them against wild Pokemon.
Alternatively, he considered creating a new Secret Base underground. It would completely hide them from wild Pokemon and other threats. However, he hesitated, wary of spending unnecessary funds. Taking a moment to weigh his options, Lucas decided to survey the surroundings further before making a choice. It was important to remain calm and not succumb to panic because of an unexpected occurrence.
"Don't worry about us," Lucas said. "I have plenty of supplies, so we aren't helpless. Just keep trying to find another way around the barrier."
"Understood." Icarus' presence vanished from his mind.
"Were you speaking to your Pokemon?" Sabrina asked. "My team told me about the barrier. What the hell is going on?"
"I don't think we're alone down here," Lucas said.
Sabrina sighed in frustration. "My Pokemon can't teleport without seeing the location first. If only they could see through my eyes."
Lucas nodded in agreement. "That would be incredibly useful."
He gradually worked the stiffness out of his body over the next few minutes, until he felt good enough to stand up. He got to his feet and walked around on wobbly legs until he could walk properly.
"That looks like too much effort," Sabrina said, sitting up with a wince.
Lucas began to explore the cavern. To his surprise, he discovered a narrow opening in the rock wall that he hadn't noticed before. The path led down for about twenty feet before curving out of sight. If they were going to find a way out of here, he needed to see where it led.
He summoned Nero from his pokeball, watching as he inspected his surroundings.
"Sand!" Nero's gaze focused on Lucas' legs.
"Don't even think about it," Lucas warned. "I'll turn your hide into a nice pair of leather shoes."
Nero snapped his jaw and turned away. When he saw Sabrina, he ran over to her and climbed into her lap, nudging her hand with his head to get her attention. Sabrina obliged, scratching his head, and he groaned with pleasure.
Lucas gave him a hard stare. "What a little traitor. Where's the love for me?"
Sabrina chuckled. "Maybe he only likes females. If you put on a dress—"
"Do not even say it," Lucas interrupted her, grabbing Zero. "Hey, Romeo. I am going to need your help exploring the area. You can play with Sabrina later."
"Are you going alone?" Sabrina asked, surprised. "Give me a moment to recover, and I will come with you."
He could tell from her scared expression that she didn't want to be left alone. But she was in no condition to move around. Despite her attempts to put on a brave face, Lucas could see her pain and discomfort.
"Don't worry," Lucas reassured her. "I will make sure you are safe."
He accessed his menu and purchased another tent kit. Sabrina jumped as the massive pack appeared out of nowhere and landed on the ground with a thud. "What in the world? Lucas, how did you do that?"
Lucas rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "It's a long story. I promise to tell you about it later. However, you should be aware that the tent has a repellent effect that will keep Pokemon below level sixty away."
Sabrina stared at him with an unreadable expression on her face. "I have a feeling this explanation will be extremely interesting."
Lucas set up the tent and prepared some supplies for Sabrina in case he was gone for an extended period of time. After making sure she was comfortable, Lucas prepared to leave. Before he left, Sabrina gave him a map she had been studying, which showed the Kalos mountain region, complete with locations and significant landmarks.
"Look here," Sabrina pointed to a location off Route 18 to the northwest. "This is the Terminus Cave. It used to be a coal mine but was abandoned decades ago. Do you think this cavern could be connected to it? The mines were extensive and not fully explored."
He raised an eyebrow. "Somebody's been doing some research."
"I was thinking about exploring it before we return to Kanto," Sabrina admitted.
Lucas considered the distance between the two locations. "It's unlikely. The Terminus Cave must be at least a dozen miles away from here. Why was it abandoned?"
"The aftermath of the war was a major factor," Sabrina explained, "but there were also rumours that a legendary Pokemon was seen there."
"Which of the legendary Pokemon was rumoured to be there? I'm not familiar with this region's legendaries."
"Zygarde," Sabrina replied. "There is not much known about it, other than that it's known as the guardian of the ecosystem. Some scientists believe it played a significant role in the legendaries deciding to eliminate the human's reliance on fossil fuels and heavy industry."
"He's an eco-warrior," Lucas said, laughing. "Not the worst thing to be known for."
Coming from a world where human actions caused massive environmental damage due to overpopulation, pollution, the use of fossil fuels, and deforestation, Lucas could not fault Zygarde's actions of protecting the environment.
Some scientific studies seemed to suggest that pollution harmed the world's essence. This mystical energy, the life force that flows through all living beings, including Pokemon, connects them and their surroundings. The Pokemon's power came from the world's essence, which would explain why the legendaries were so wary of anything that could harm it.
"I shouldn't be long," Lucas said, kissing her. "I have Nero to protect me, isn't that right, Nero?"
"Dile!"
Lucas squeezed through the narrow passage with Nero leading the way. A minute later, they emerged into an even bigger cavern, which stretched endlessly in either direction.
Even though they were natural rock formations, it felt like someone had carved them by hand, making the tunnel more uniform. He suspected a Pokemon did it, as he saw a similar scene in the mines where the Gravellers and Golems were evacuating the evolution stones.
Lucas pulled out his torch and cancelled his aura vision. Although the skill wasn't too taxing, he wanted to save his aura reserves for when he really needed them. If he encountered danger, then he could conjure a barrier.
He opened his menu to consult his map. It didn't help him decide which way to go, but it did give him a sense of direction. The tunnel ran northwest to southeast, but since he could see only a slice of it, he didn't know how far it extended.
"Northwest," Lucas mused. "Maybe Sabrina was onto something."
Lucas headed in the southeast direction. If the cavern connected to the Terminus Cave, he didn't want to head that way first. He wanted to find a way out of here but didn't want to travel several miles. It would be used as a last resort.
He walked for the next ten minutes, not encountering any wild Pokemon. He paused when the beam from his torch illuminated something up ahead. It was a large recess that broke up the uniformity of the tunnel. When he got closer, he saw a small pond, with some plants surrounding it. He hadn't even seen them before. Curious, he activated Green Thumb to check out their effects. One in particular caught his attention, a mushroom with a red cap, which showed a new property he hadn't seen before. Reset Effort Values.
Lucas immediately pulled some gloves out and started harvesting the strange mushroom. Nero sniffed at them curiously but didn't touch them. There must have been several dozen of them, and he considered every last one of them precious. He had studied a lot of ingredients in the past, so it was surprising to come across a completely new ingredient property.
Before he left, he harvested all of the other ingredients as well but made sure to leave some behind so they could continue to propagate.
"I think it hit the jackpot," Lucas told Nero. "Imagine if I could create a concoction that can reset effort values. Sabrina would certainly be interested in it."
Nero perked up at the sound of Sabrina's name. Lucas was starting to cotton on to the fact that he could use her name to get Nero to cooperate.
Sabrina's Pokemon had inconsistent effort values that did not match their strengths or Sabrina's tactics. But this was true for every trainer's Pokemon he had examined. If he could create a potion or pill that could reset effort values, it would cause a stir. Effort Values would gain more traction in the future, but it only benefited Pokemon that had never battled before, leaving the higher-level Pokemon out of luck. He imagined people would pay a lot of pokedollars for a solution to the problem.
Lucas continued down the tunnel for the next hour, coming across more of the red mushrooms. He was becoming increasingly uneasy by the lack of Pokemon but didn't let it stop him from continuing forward. Just as he thought the tunnel would continue forever, the tunnel turned sharply to the north. When he turned the corner, he saw a huge chamber up ahead, which was illuminated by dozens of torches set into the walls.
"Get ready," Lucas whispered.
Nero snapped his jaws in acknowledgement.
Lucas entered the chamber, looking around cautiously. He paused when he noticed the etchings on the walls, which depicted three different Pokemon. One looked like a dog, which looked eerily similar to the one he had seen before. The other Pokemon looked just as alien.
One of them was a snake, and its eyes were made of four green hexagons, similar to an insect with compound eyes. Across the back of its neck is a large frill made of five long, flat protrusions. The other one was much bigger, with a humanoid shape that looked kind of like a Transformer.
Up ahead was a platform, with a single stone slab in the centre. Surrounding the platform was a small moat and an explosion of greenery; trees and colourful plants that transformed the dreary chamber into something more welcoming.
"Do you sense anything?" Lucas asked.
Nero shook his head.
He approached the platform and crossed the small bridge spanning the moat. When he reached the slab, his eyes widened in amazement.
There were several Mega Stones on the slab, each one a different variety. Above each one, there was a Pokemon etched into the stone's surface. The Pokemon were Blastoise, Alakazam, Scizor, Aggron, Banette, and a Venasaur.
Lucas reached out to them but then paused. He looked around nervously, feeling as if he was being lured into a trap. Who would leave such valuable Mega Stones lying around? Would something happen when he took them?
There was also some writing on the surface, but before he could read it, he was interrupted.
"Sand!" Nero turned his head as a rustling sound came from the bushes.
Lucas watched as the dog Pokemon emerged from the bushes surrounding the moat. It didn't approach further but stared at him with its strange white eyes. Lucas eyed it cautiously, but he wasn't too afraid. He knew the Pokemon had been close to him before, and didn't do anything to him.
Nero, on the other hand, was growling softly, his body shivering with fear. But he refused to back down and bravely stood his ground.
"What is it, Nero?"
Curious, he used Insight on the Pokemon watching them and instantly understood the source of Nero's fear.
Species: Zygarde; Order Pokemon
Gender: Neutral
Status: Wild
Favourability: (Arceus) Neutral: 670/1000
Favourite Food: Nothing
Condition: Perfect
Level: 125
Next: [13%]
Exp Cache: [0]
Stats obtained from EV's [100/100]
Current Level Potential Met: Yes
Special Ability: Aura Break; Power Construct
Attack: 362
Special Attack: 280
Defence: 290
Special Defence: 324
Speed: 403
Luck: 225
Moves
Crunch: 100%
Bulldoze: 100%
Core Enforcer: 100%
Dragon Breath: 100%
Thousand Arrows: 100%
Thousand Waves: 100%
Haze: 100%
Safeguard: 100%
Dig: 100%
Land's Wrath: 100%
Coil: 100%
Outrage: 100%
Earthquake: 100%
Description: (10% Forme) - Zygarde's form shifts based on the percentage of Zygarde Cores and Zygarde Cells it has assembled. The separate Cores and Cells lack individual battle prowess and must unite as Zygarde to engage in combat. Zygarde assumes the role of protecting the planet's delicate ecosystem and often prefers to remain unseen. Harnessing the earth's energy, Zygarde can concentrate it on adversaries, causing considerable damage.
Hidden Stats
Intelligence: 15
Endurance: 10
Energy: 13
Aptitude: 13
Affinities
Dragon: 100%
Ground: 100%
Dark: 100%
Normal: 100%
Ice: 100%
Poison: 100%
Traits
Inherent (Can be passed onto offspring)
Dragon-type Aptitude (Master) - Increases dragon-affinity training by forty percent.
Dragon Elemental (Master) - Massively increases the power and effectiveness of dragon-type moves.
Ground Elemental (Master) - Massively increases the power and effectiveness of ground-type moves.
Speed Aptitude (Master) - Massively increases speed stat training efficiency.
Special Defence Boost (Master) - Massively increases special defence stat potency.
Solar Power: Can harness the sun's energy to instantly restore its condition three times per day.
Perfect Conditioning - The energy and endurance stats massively improve the Pokemon's condition.
Form Shift - Removes all status conditions and stat reductions after switching forms.
Blessing of Arceus: Shares a bond with the God Pokemon, which improves its stats significantly.
Legendary Potential: Born with hidden stats surpassing ten.
Learned/Acquired/Unique
Legendary: Has broken through the threshold of level 100.
Energy Control: It's more efficient with its energy consumption, requiring less to execute a move.
Energy Assimilation: It can use elements from the natural world to boost the power of its attacks.
Energy Materisation: It can freely manipulate energy to execute flexible attacks outside of its move set.
Independence: The Cores can function independently and direct the movements of the Cells.
Zygarde Cores: The brains of the Zygarde.
Zygarde Cells: Make up the remainder of the Zygarde.
10% Forme: It can temporarily double its speed once a day.
Earthshaker: Can devastate an area with a massive earthquake.
Sacrifice: When it's in danger, it can massively increase its power by sacrificing some levels.
"I should have known I would meet another one," Lucas muttered.
Aside from Zygarde's incredible stats, the first thing Lucas noticed was its favourability was neutral with Arceus. Articuno, who he had scanned previously, had a much higher favourability in comparison. Had something happened between the two that made their relationship worse?
Zyagarde could transform into three different forms, which was extremely cool. This meant that the etchings on the walls were all the same Pokemon.
"I wasn't going to steal the Mega Stones," Lucas explained to Zygarde. "Honest. Why don't I just get out of your fur and leave you in peace?"
He attempted to leave, but Zygard vanished and reappeared on the bridge. It moved so quickly that he appeared to have teleported. It didn't attack him, but simply stood there, blocking his exit.
"What do you want from me?" Lucas asked, frustrated. "Does it have anything to do with the stone slab?"
Zygarde nodded.
Lucas turned around and was instantly drawn to the words etched into the stones.
I wish to make an exchange.
I can't leave this location for reasons I do not wish to discuss. This means I can't access my other two forms because the rest of my cores and cells are scattered around the world. If you find them and return them to me, I will reward you with more Mega Stones, as well as something even more valuable once all of them have been gathered. For the sake of our cooperation, you are welcome to take these Mega Stones for free.
"How am I supposed to locate these cores and cells?" Lucas inquired, turning around, only to be startled.
Zygarde stood in front of him. Before he could react, it reached out and pressed its snout against his leg.
Nero snapped its mouth as a warning, but Zygarde vanished again. Lucas looked around, but the Pokemon didn't reappear. When he returned to the stone slab, he noticed more writing on it.
I have left my energy signature on you. You will be able to sense my cores and cells once you are within several miles of them.
To leave this place, you need to follow the tunnel leading to the northwest. I have lowered the barrier, so you should be able to exit into the Terminus Cave.
So it was Zygardos who erected the barrier. Lucas was starting to understand what had happened. Another Pokemon caused Sabrina and himself to fall into the cavern, but Zygardos rescued them. Still, he wasn't sure how he felt about being forced to do its dirty work. But at least there was a reward at the end.
He would have to do a lot of exploring in the future if he wanted to find Zygarde's missing components, but that was something he would do anyway, so it wasn't a huge ask. Dante makes it simple to search a region quickly.
Lucas checked his status and discovered that he had another skill added, similar to the one he received from Mew. He was beginning to amass a strange collection of legendary Pokemon skills, and he wondered what he would receive next.
Lucas gathered the stones and stored them in his inventory. He would give Sabrina the Alakazam and Banette Mega Stones while keeping the rest for himself. Since he was considering getting a water or grass-type Pokemon next, it might be beneficial to get a Squirtle or Bulbasaur so he could gain access to another Mega Evolution.
He traced his steps back to Sabrina, who slept in the tent. He sent a message to Icarus, asking him to meet them at the Terminus Cave entrance tomorrow. He curled up behind Sabrina, and she drew closer unconsciously in her sleep. Now that he knew he could get out of there, they could rest before leaving.
Lucas and Sabrina made their way down the tunnel the next morning, refreshed from their night's sleep. As they walked, he told her his entire story, including how he came to this world and gained the ability from Arceus. She was sceptical at first, but he managed to persuade her by demonstrating his abilities.
He finally convinced her when he activated his Itemfinder and dug up an item from the ground.
"Your ability is a cheat," Sabrina commented. "But I am glad you ended up with it. I shudder to imagine what would happen if a guy like Giovanni had this ability."
Lucas relaxed, realising she wasn't bothered or scared by his reality-bending abilities. He explained his interactions with the legendary Pokemon, which he could tell scared her.
"It sounds dangerous," Sabrina sighed. "What is the point of having this ability if you can be killed by a legendary Pokemon simply by sneezing on you?"
Lucas shrugged. "I don't know if I have a choice in the matter. At the very least, I get some good rewards from it."
They arrived at the end of the tunnel, which featured a series of spiralling stairs leading upwards. When they got to the top, they discovered a switch that, when pulled, revealed a new tunnel. As soon as they stepped outside, they realised they were in a coal mine because of some old scattered equipment, plus a mine track and cart.
"Let's get out of here quickly," Sabrina said. "In case this cave has become overrun with wild Pokemon."
They were relatively close to the entrance, so they escaped the mines unscathed. When they exited, they were greeted by their Pokemon, who had been patiently waiting for them since he sent the message. After reuniting with their Pokemon, they returned to town, eager to get away from the dig site for a while.
After showering, they headed for the dining room to get some food. As they were finishing up, they were interrupted by a tall man wearing an open white coat and dark shoulder-length hair.
"Hello," he said to them. "I'm Professor Sycamore. May I have a word with you?"
"The Pokemon Professor?" Lucas asked. He had heard Professor Oak mention the man's name before. "What do you want?"
"You're Lucas Walker, correct?" Sycamore sat down at their table. "I heard from a friend that you have your own Mega Pokemon. I'm doing some research on them, and I would appreciate the opportunity to study it."
"Who's your friend?" Lucas asked. "Don't tell me it's Siebold. That jerk should learn to keep his mouth shut."
"Yes, he's not a friend of mine either," Sycamore said,not hesitating to betray his friend.
"I don't mind showing you," Lucas said, then glanced at Sabrina. "But why don't you ask Sabrina? Her Pokemon's transformation will be a lot more exciting."
"You have a Mega Pokemon as well?" Sycamore bounced in his chair. "Could you tell me which Pokemon it is?"
Sabrina gave Lucas an annoyed look before responding to the professor's question. "It's Alakazam."
Given that the Mesa Stone for Alakazam had already been revealed, it didn't hurt to confirm its existence. Metagross was a different matter entirely.
Professor Sycamore opened his mouth to say something, but Lucas spoke first. "Wait a moment. We only just met you, so why should we bother listening to your request?"
"Hmm," Sycamore replied, nodding. "I suppose I came across a little strong. How about I offer you a trade in exchange for letting me see your Mega Pokemon?"
"What kind of trade?"
"What about a visit to the ruins?" Sycamore leaned forward in his chair. "The Kalos government has granted me special permission to visit them, and I can bring you along if I make you my assistants for the day."
"When are you going to visit the ruins?" Sabrina asked.
"Tomorrow," Sycamore answered. "I arrived a day early so I could meet you."
"Then it is a deal," Sabrina said. "I have heard the ruins have some interesting murals that haven't been shown to the public."
Professor Sycamore's eyes danced. "Believe me, you have not heard of even half of what the ruins have to offer."
So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Team Flare makes a move, and Lucas and Sabrina are caught up in it.
Patrons get access to advanced chapters for all of my stories. If you are interested, read my profile for information on how to join.
Thanks for reading.