Post by Te-em on Jul 30, 2008 11:09:37 GMT -5
An Unpleasant Surprise
He woke up and felt that his head was hurting. He wondered where his backpack was, since he always had the mysterious stone with him, but soon he also wondered where he himself was. This was not where he and his friends had camped. This place was dark and damp. Where was he? Suddenly Satoshi began to remember . . . The strange house, the black crow, the attack of the hyena . . . his friend dying. No!
“Pachirisu!”
“No need to cry out like that, Pikachuu.”
Who was that? The headache made his vision blurry. Who called him Pikachuu . . . and why?
“Pikachuu is a Pokémon . . . ” he mumbled as he remembered the name. “A yellow mouse with a tail shaped as a lightning. It has red spots on its cheeks where it generates electricity. Ran told me that . . . ” When explaining the electric mouse Pokémon he realised that was similar the explanation of Pachirisu. The memory of his friend brought tears to his eyes.
“Where am I?” he said at last.
“You’re in a cage, can’t you see that,” the voice said.
Yes, he was sitting in a cage. Outside the cage there were others cages, with Pokémon in them. Where had the voice come from?
“Where are you? I can’t see you?”
“I’m right here, Pika. The cage right to the one in front of yours.”
Satoshi looked that way and saw an old, little rat sitting behind the bars. Its tail was curled at the end, and it was covered by purple fur as the rest of the rat's body.
“A Koratta . . . ” Satoshi said, familiar with the common Pokémon that lived almost everywhere.
“Yes, that’s right, that’s me.”
“But then you’re a Pokémon. Why can you talk?”
“I do not think he realise his situation,” another voice, more female, said. It seemed to come from a Pokémon almost identical to the one he had failed to catch when in the forest with Shigeru.
Satoshi was confused. What was happening around him? Was he dreaming? O, he felt so strange!
“You are a Pokémon, haven’t you realised that yet?” the Koratta said.
“I am not a Pokémon!” a loud and furious voice came from a cage containing a Pokémon similar to Shigeru’s Hikozaru. The difference was that this one was larger and had a purple forehead. The rest of its body was pink, not brown like the other fire monkey. “I’m not a Pokémon!” he went on, the fire on its tail blazing.
“Oh, he is worse than an Okorizaru . . . “ someone sighed.
Satoshi ignored the mad monkey and looked at the Koratta. “What do you mean?”
“You are a Pikachuu. Take a look at yourself.”
Not only did the confusion all around him make his mind feel strange. His body felt strange, too. He looked at himself and realised he looked different. He felt fur on his chest. His face felt different and he had two pointy, black-tipped ears that gave him a much better sense of hearing.
“What’s happened to me?!”
“The old witch transformed you into a Pokémon, that’s what has happened,” Koratta said.
“Don’t listen to them!” the monkey yelled. “They are only evil Pocket Monsters that tries to brainwash you!”
“Some does not take this situation very lightly . . . “ Koratta went on referring to the fire monkey.
“I am Zidane! I’m a tough guy in black leather clothes! I have a driving machine from the other continent!”
“Why don’t you ever shut up,” the female Pokémon said. “Don’t look that sad.” She looked at Satoshi. “We’ll find away out of this mess.”
“It’s not just that . . . “ he said. “My friend . . . I lost my friend here.”
“Was it a Pachirisu?”
Satoshi looked up.
“It is sleeping in the cage below yours. The poor Pokémon is hurt, but is still alive.”
Satoshi tried to look down, excited, happy and relieved, but he could not see his friend from this position. “Pachirisu?” He hoped it would hear him.
“It’s sleeping,” Koratta said. “It looks very cute from here. I think it will be okay. Don’t worry. It’s a real Pokémon isn’t it, or is it another transformed human?”
“It’s a real Pokémon.” Satoshi wished he could see his little friend.
“What is your name, Koratta?”
“It’s Rei.”
“I am Cho,” the female Pokémon with the long furry body said.
“I’m Masato,” a blue, fat, little Pokémon with pointy ears said. “It’s very hungry to be a Gonbe. This Pokémon’s always hungry. You got some cookies with you, . . . eh . . .”
“Satoshi, my name’s Satoshi.”
“So, Satoshi . . . know any way out of here . . .?” a pidgeon Pokémon said. “Or am I to remain a Poppo . . . Yeah I thought so . . . I will rot in here.”
“Wii!” a little, blue ball with two feet and its head covered in large leaves said happily.
“Who’s that?” Satoshi wondered, looking at the plant Pokémon.
“Don’t know,” Rei replied. “The only thing she says is ‘wii’.”
“At least not everyone here has a bad day,” Masato, the Gonbe, said.
“There must be a way out of here,” Satoshi said, clutching the bars of his cage.
“The key is the way out,” Cho said, pointing toward a dark corner of the room.
There was something black lying on the floor. Satoshi could make it out as the hyena that attacked him and his friend before. A key hang around the neck of the sleeping Pokémon.
“I cannot reach it from here,” Satoshi said, disappointed.
“None of us can,” Rei explained. “We may be trapped here as Pokémon for ever.”
“I’m not a Pokémon!” Zidane shouted, acting like a mad monkey in a cage, but everyone ignored him.
“What is the witch going to do to us?” another, very young, Koratta said anxiously.
“Don’t worry Mia,” Cho, in the next cage, said calmly. “We will find a way out.”
“If there only was a way to reach the keys . . . and without the enemy awaking,” Satoshi said, thinking of a plan. “No one here can be of any help? Any Pokémon with long vines or anything?”
There was a murmur of ‘no’ among the others.
“I have already asked everyone,” Rei said. “Except him there.” He pointed at a cage on the floor. Behind the bars sat a Pokémon like the Esper/Psychic Satoshi had seen in the forest with Junichi. It’s narrow eyes were closed. “But he’s been sleeping all the time. No one has got a chance to talk to him.”
“Maybe we can wake him up,” Satoshi said.
“Yeah, try that,” another transformed human said. “That Pokémon sleeps 18 hours a day.”
“But we have to try . . . You, Zidane, why not try to breathe fire at it. That would wake it.”
“What, do you think I look like a flamethrower or somethin’.”
“It’ll be too risky anyway,” Rei warned. “That Pokémon is a Cayce and they teleport away at any sign of danger. We don’t want him to leave us behind, do we?”
“No . . .” Satoshi sighed.
They sat in their cages for some time, thinking of a way to get out. The Cayce never seemed to wake up and they wanted to get out of here as soon a possible. No one knew what that witch had in plan for them. The hyena woke up once and then went to sleep again.
Matsu went out to look for Satoshi. First Rinda, now Satoshi. What is happening? The mist began to clear, but he saw no trace of them anyway. He went back to his friends.
“Since I do not like Pokémon battles . . .” Koji was sitting and talking to the others as Matsu returned and asked:
“Where’s Satoshi?”
“He has been gone a long time, hasn’t he?” Sami said and looked at the others.
“I’m worried he is lost.”
“I think we should look for him and Rinda,” said Max. “Rokon can be of help.”
They packed their things and went on along the lake. Junichi found steps in the high grass and they followed them.
“Look,” Sami said.
There was a house by the lake.
“Let’s ask if they know anything,” Matsu proposed.
“No, wait,” Junichi said, sensing that something was not right. “We do not know who lives in there. Let’s be careful.”
“But—“
“I saw something!”
“What, Max?” Junichi asked curiously.
“In the water.”
“Kon,” Rokon said and looked into the still lake.
“Let’s see what we’ll find in that strange house,” Matsu said and
went on carefully, his hand clutching a Monster Ball in his pocket.
No one came to open as they knocked on the door of the old house.
“Then let’s go on,” Sami said, not wanting to enter.
A crow croaked somewhere. Then silence. They listened for it to sound again and as the croaking resumed something black came towards them.
“Go, Spear!” Matsu sent out his giant bee Pokémon.
A battle broke out between the bee and the black crow that had attacked them. Soon the crow realised that Matsu’s well-trained Pocket Monster was too strong and it had too flee. It snatched Matsu’s hat and flew away toward the house. As Matsu cursed it, the crow disappeared through a window.
“No Spear,” he said as his bug friend was going to follow the enemy. “You can return to your ball.” Then he turned to his human friends. “Let’s walk in.”
The door was unlocked and inside the house they were welcomed by a foul smell. Matsu found his hat and grabbed the soft cloth and looked around for the crow before putting it on his head again.
“What is this place,” Sami asked curiously.
“I don’t know, but don’t touch anything,” Matsu said and looked at all the bottles with colourful liquids and pouches with strange powders. He saw no one here in this room but found a staircase leading up. No one there either. The crow, too, was gone.
“Rokon found this,” Max said holding something in his hand.
“It’s a Monster Ball,” said Sami.
“Look, there is a door here,” Koji said, standing at the end of the room of the first floor where everyone stood gathered. The others approached him as he opened the door. There was another staircase, leading down.
“Shall we go down?” Sami asked his friends.
“I think there is a Pokémon inside.” Max said and looked at the ball still in his hand.
The others turned his way as he opened ball to release whatever creature was trapped within.
It was useless even to try to wake up the Cayce; not even Zidane’s shouting affected it. The psychic Pokémon seemed to be totally oblivious.
“I got some yummy candy here in my pocket,” Masato said to the sleeping creature. “And I got some for you!”
“It’s not working,” Cho said. “Try something else.”
“Get me out of here!” Zidane yelled, jumping up and down, making his hanging cage shake violently.
“Be still or you’ll make the whole place crumble apart upon us,” Rei complained.
Zidane did not listen, but shouted louder and swung the cage back and forth. “I’m not listening to you, Pokémon! I am a human! I don’t understand you!”
“Stop shouting, you’ll wake the hyena,” Rei said, not wanting the black canine to growl and hit the cages with its claws.
“I’m not listening!” The cage shook and swayed even more violently now and the hyena growled in its sleep. “I have just smoked too much, this is not real! I am dreaming!” Suddenly the cage hit another cage that fell off the cage it had been standing on. It fell down in front of Cayce and it was the young Koratta lying still and afraid within it. The barred door had swung open and the little rat could see the way between the imprisoned Pokémon and the large wooden door. The hyena lay there, moving when disturbed by the noise, but going quickly back to sleep.
“This’ your chance,” Masato said. “Go get the keys.”
The young Pokémon was afraid, but knew she had to help the others, so she carefully approached the black, sleeping monster. As a rat she moved very quietly and no one could hear her steps on the old floor.
“Now, take the keys,” Masato said as the hesitating Koratta was in reach of them.
Every one was quite, even the pink monkey made no sound, as the purple rat with the white paws reached for the golden key.
Suddenly a red eye opened and stared directly at her. Stunned by fear, she never reached the keys, but as the hyena got up she managed to run toward her cage. There was a lot of shouting around the room as the hyena hunted the little rat between the cages. Koratta reached her cage and closed the door to be safe from harm. The enemy growled at her and she hid her face in her hands, but soon the black, furry creature went away to sleep again.
“Don’t try that again,” Rei said. “No knowing when the hyena sleeps or when it’s awake. It’s too risky.”
“Mean dog,” the smaller rat said. She turned and saw the sleeping psychic sit in his cage close to her. She could reach him. The Koratta reached out and clutched one of his two toes with her little paw and prayed he would not teleport away. He did not. Instead his eyes opened and there was a red glow within them. Afraid she backed away. The Cayce’s eyes stopped glowing and turned darker, but were still looking at her.
“He’s awake,” Cho said.
“Can you help us?” Satoshi asked.
“Where are we?” the Cayce wondered, looking around.
“We’re trapped and have been turned into Pokémon,” Rei said and ignored Zidane’s loud protest that followed.
“Yeah . . . A Pokémon?” He seemed to be calm, but a little confused. “Who are you transformed people? I am Cayce.”
“Yes, we see that you’re a Cayce . . .”
“No my name’s Cayce.”
“Oh, so that’s it . . . but you also are a Cayce.”
“Oh . . . yes, now I see, he he. How do we get out of here?”
“The keys . . . “ Rei pointed at the hyena.
“Oh . . . that should not be too hard . . . since I’m a Cayce I mean. I just have to use my telekinetic powers.”
“Yes, and hurry up,” Masato said. “I’m sick of being stuck in here.”
“Patience . . . “ Cayce said as he got up and made himself ready. He concentrated on the keys and at first nothing happened. The monkey began to complain again, but Cho hushed him. Suddenly the keys began to move slightly. Satoshi was fascinated. Cayce carefully made them leave the hyena’s neck and had them hover in the air, but he lost the concentration and they fell onto the floor. The hyena woke up of the sound and growled at everyone.
After a while it went to rest again, oblivious of the keys.
“I just have to try again,” Cayce said.
“Be more careful this time,” Cho whispered.
This time he got the keys, opened his cage and went to release the others. Most Pokémon fled through holes and tunnels in the walls.
Satoshi stayed close to his friend to see if it was all right. Pachirisu seemed happy to be with its Trainer again.
“You’re not forgetting me are you,” the monkey said anxiously.
“But we’re evil Pocket Monsters, aren’t we?” Cho said, irritated.
“I was just joking with you! Did you take that seriously? It was a joke! Help me!”
“Come on, before the enemy wakes up,” Cho said. “There is a way big enough for us.”
“Should we just leave him like that,” Satoshi wondered. “I mean even if he—“
“All right, go and save the pink monkey.”
Cayce handed over the keys to the Pikachuu. Satoshi was surprised that Zidane had not argued when he was called pink monkey, but he was going to be released now after all. There was no ‘thank you’ when he let the monkey out, but Satoshi forgave him.
Masato, Rei, Cayce, Satoshi and Pachirisu went the way through the hole Cho had found in the wall. Satoshi helped his confused friend. After them came Zidane, followed by an annoying “Wii”, the plant Pokémon. The tunnel was dark and damp and it was very quite here. Luckily the hyena was too large to hunt them here, but what other enemies were there?
“Are you afraid, Satoshi?” A little cute and kind voice said.
Satoshi looked at his Pokémon, which shared his size. “I can understand you?” he said happily. He had never thought of that; as a Pokémon he can understand other Pokémon, even those that has always been Pokémon.
“It is very dark in here . . .” Pachirisu said, since only the fire from Zidane spread much light. There was also a blue aura around Pachirisu, because of charged electricity.
Satoshi wondered if he also had that blue light around himself. “We will be all right, Pachirisu,” he said. “Soon we will be out of here.”
“I’m hungry,” Masato said, rubbing his belly.
“You cannot think of food now,” Zidane said.
“Wii!” the plant said happily.
“Stop following me!” the pink monkey said harshly, but Wii was still as happy as before and went after him.
The tunnel went on and on and the company of Pokémon friends felt lost and worried. Pachirisu was tired and had to rest. Satoshi waited for his friend and the others stayed, too.
The Pikachuu and Pachirisu sat against a rock wall leaning on each others. Zidane sat alone; luckily for him his fire prevented Wii from coming near him.
“I’m no pink monkey . . .” he mumbled to himself. “What are they thinking . . .” He looked at himself. “I feel different though . . . What has happened to me?” He hugged himself, since he felt lonely and far from his home. He knew what had happened to his friends and wondered how he himself could be alive. Why did he make it if not the others did it? Sometimes he wished he had died, too. He could not return home anyway and he had no friends on this continent. No people he wanted to befriend anyway. He was alone and would always be alone . . .
An owl with a round, brown body popped out of the Monster Ball.
“Hou-hou!” it said.
“Is . . . is that a Houhou?” Max said looking at the Pokémon.
Its red eyes looked thankfully up at the human who had released it.
“Whose is it?” Matsu wondered.
“No idea . . .”
“Hey, look!” Sami said, suddenly noticing something. “There is a ribbon on its leg.”
“Huh . . . Yes, that’s right.” Matsu noticed it, too.
“But that’s Cho’s Houhou!”
“Who’s Cho, Sami,” Max wondered.
“A friend from Aoiro . . .” The townspeople were gone, yes . . . and his friends, too. Would he ever see Cho again?
“We’ll find the Aoiro people, if we keep looking,” Matsu said. “Maybe they have vanished the same way as Rinda and Satoshi.”
“Houhou may know—“
“Hey!”
They turned at Koji’s call and realised a black canine was coming through the basement door. Matsu had no time to summon his Pokémon before the Guraena struck him to the floor and tried to bite him. Instead, Sami was the first one to send out his Pocket Monsters.
“Moukazaru, Monkey! Help Matsu!”
A brown-orange monkey with a blue forehead and a burning tail appeared, followed by a smaller, pale-brown monkey. The two monkeys attacked the Guraena with kicks and punches. The enemy crunched Monkey with its sharp teeth.
“Moukazaru, Flame Wheel!”
The fire monkey released a fire attack and the enemy turned tail and disappeared through the house’s front door.
Sami went quickly to his smaller Pokémon to see if it was badly hurt. It was not very serious, but Monkey had to stay out of any other battles until it was healed.
Houhou looked a little sadly at the hurt Pokémon.
“Where is your Trainer, Houhou?” Sami asked as he sat beside his monkey friend.
“Houhou,” it said and flapped its tiny wings.
Sami recalled his Pokémon and together with is friends he followed the owl as it went off through the door they had found.
In the basement it was a little dark, but they could see a lot of cages there. They were empty, but Houhou found some holes in the stone wall.
“They are too small for us to follow, Houhou,” Matsu said. “Maybe that one there would be large enough, but we would have to crawl and who knows how far it leads?”
“Let’s take another way,” Koji proposed.
The others agreed and together with their new Pokémon friend they left the house and went on across the Hiroinohara field.
The mist cleared and they could see almost the entire lake. As they left the Laplace Lake and the strange house they came upon a flock of horses, their manes and tails burning fires. Fascinating, the Trainers thought.
“I would like to have one of those,” Max said.
“Ko,” his little friend said.
“I don’t know if we have time with that now, Max,” Matsu told him. “We have to find our lost friends.
“But if we had a horse we could travel much faster,” Koji explained.
“Ok, let’s capture one each, then we’ll go on.”
The flock of fire horses backed away a little as they approached. The leader seemed to be the big one with the horn growing from its forehead.
“I distract the strong one, while you catch the small ones,” Matsu told the others and summoned one of his Pokémon, a small creature with fire blazing from its back. “Fight it, Firestorm!”
The little fire Pokémon was not strong enough to defeat the large horse, but could keep it away form the other Trainer’s Pokémon.
Rokon watched as Max sent out Sando, a ground dwelling rodent. Koji chose his Ralts; the Pokémon had a white body, looked like it was wearing a dress and its head and eyes were covered by a green helmet with a red fin on the front and one on the back. Next came Sami’s Wanrikii, a small but very strong Pokémon with a grey human-like body and a little tail.
The horses were scared by the appearance of the Pokémon and scattered. Sando ran after one of them, but was not fast enough. Wanrikii managed a low-aimed kick and the target fell to the ground. Neither Ralts nor its Trainer had much battle experience, but the small Pokémon succeeded in hypnotising one of the wild Pocket Monsters, thus putting it to sleep.
The largest horse tried to stomp Matsu’s Pokémon, but Firestorm avoided the attack. Meanwhile, the strong Wanrikii, whose body was made of strong muscles, had defeated one of the wild Pokémon.
Suddenly the fire horses seemed to turn and attack instead of escaping. One threw flames at Wanrikii, as Sami tossed a Monster Ball at the one that had fainted from Wanrikii’s attack before. Wanrikii struck back at the attacker with a karate chop. The enemy trampled back, but got another karate chop and a Monster Ball.
Koji tossed a ball at the sleeping horse and it went in. He told Matsu they were ready and the other Trainer let his Firestorm attack the strongest enemy with a fire attack and then Matsu recalled his Pokémon, too. Sami tossed a ball to Matsu and then he and Koji sent out their new-caught Pocket Monsters to escape with them. Firestorm’s Trainer send out the fire horse from the ball, Sami had given him, and followed the others.
“Where’s Max?” Sami wondered.
As they looked around they could see Max farther away. Together with Sando and Rokon he was chasing one of the wild Pokémon.
“We got to help him,” Matsu said and rode with his horse that way. The others followed him.
Max’s Pokémon managed to attack the running target a little, but soon the Trainer was close enough to grab the horse. He threw himself on its back, but was burned by the flames and fell off. His Pokémon waited for him to get up and thus the fire horse escaped. There was no need to throw a ball after it; it would only break free when it was this healthy. Instead he checked if his Pokémon friends were okay and then he noticed the other Trainers approaching.
“You missed your Pokémon,” Sami said.
Max looked toward the distant flock of the horses that remained and wondered if he should try another one. The wild fire Pokémon seemed oblivious about them now and was eating of the grass in peace.
“You can ride with me,” Sami said. “I got a quite strong and big one. Just watch out for its flames.”
Koji bent forward and hugged his horse. That he was not burned by the flames was a sign of the horse liking him. They could be good friends.
“Then let’s hurry on,” Matsu said. “And we may find Satoshi and Rinda.”
In the light of Zidane’s fire they could see that the tunnel split in two different paths.
“Which way?” Cho wondered.
Pachirisu grabbed Satoshi and stayed close to him. The little Pokémon would like to turn back but knew that was too dangerous. The black hyena was sleeping there.
“I sense the smell of yummy food this way,” Gonbe’s voice echoed. The fat, blue Pokémon sniffed to the left.
“Shall we split?” Rei said uncertainly.
“Shall we go Gonbe’s way?” Satoshi asked his friend.
Zidane had already begun walking, to the right, and Wii was following him.
“We better follow the angry monkey,” Pachirisu said. “It’s much brighter where he is.”
Satoshi and Pachirisu followed Wii and Zidane as Gonbe and Cayce went to the left.
Rei and Cho lingered for a while, then Rei went to the right and Cho to the left.
Satoshi and Pachirisu followed Wii and Zidane. Rei soon caught up with them and together the walked through the underground tunnel toward an unknown place.
“Chii . . .” the electric squirrel said anxiously.
“What is it, Pachirisu?” Satoshi whispered to his friend.
No answer was needed, for suddenly he could hear something crumble in the stone wall. Was there something behind it? They hurried on a little since the Koratta was now ahead of them.
They walked for a long while and they wanted to rest, but then the crumbling started again and everyone heard it now. It grew louder and it seemed something was coming their way through the tunnel.
Zidane and Wii began to run and then the others followed.
“There is light here,” Rei said. “There must be a way out.” The little rat found a hole and crept though it.
Zidane pulled the stones around the hole to make it larger. Wii jumped in followed by the pink monkey. Satoshi followed Pachirisu through.
“It’s coming,” Satoshi said as the crumbling sound approached. He tried to follow his friends via the narrow path and at last he came to the surface of the ground. The sunlight blinded him for a moment, then he saw the others lying resting there in the green grass. He felt relief for a short while until the ground began to shake and something much bigger came through the hole in the ground.
Every one scattered as a large rhino-like creature appeared from the hole. The mighty Pokémon walked on its hind legs and swayed its great tail about. Satoshi thought that it would attack, but instead it charged a mountain with its drill-like horn.
Satoshi looked up at the silvern mountain next to them and found its top was shrouded in white clouds. He wondered how tall it was. The stone was gleaming almost like a mirror in the light of sun.
“Look, Pokémon!”
He turned as two humans ran toward them; a boy and a girl. The boy had a strange, grey Monsterball in his hand. Out of it came . . .
“Wanrikii, go!”
“Take them, Poppo!”
A little creature with arms and legs full of muscles came to attack, followed by the girl's tiny pigeon Pokémon.
“Looks like we got trouble here,” Rei said.
“Should we fight them?” Satoshi asked, wanting a quick reply, since the Trainers' Pokémon were soon upon them.
“Hey!” Zidane called and rushed forward.
“Stop him!” Rei said, but the monkey was out of reach.
“Help!” he shouted. “Release me from these Pokémon!” The Trainers didn't understand him, of course, and the Wanrikii struck him with a karate chop.
There was no escaping now, Satoshi thought. They had to fight. The Pikachuu released an electric shock at the Wanrikii, before Zidane was attacked again. The Poppo received a jolt of electricity from Pachirisu, the attack causing the little bird to faint.
“Attack the Pikachuu!” the Trainer boy called and Wanrikii attacked Satoshi.
Pachirisu looked anxious his friend's way and was going to strike the enemy, but Rei used its lightning speed on the Trainer's Pokémon, saving Satoshi from any other attacks. Rei was struck back, though, by a another chop and fell into the grass.
“No, not the Koratta!” the Trainer yelled. “It's a weak Pokémon! Attack the others!”
It had no time to attack before Satoshi and Pachirisu both released their electric energy at it.
“No!” the boy said as he recalled his fainted Wanrikii.
“Let's run!” Satoshi said, not wanting to fight these Trainers. “Help Rei, Zidane.”
“What? me?”
“You're the strongest Po . . . you're strongest of us.”
The fire monkey picked up the rat and followed the Pikachuu and the Pachirisu.
The Trainer girl held her hurt Poppo friend in her arms and wanted to leave, but the boy was stubborn.
“I have one more Pokémon!” he said. “Go, Lizardo!”
“But it never listens to you,” the girl said, worried.
“This time he'll do! Attack the shiny Pokémon!” he pointed at Zidane.
The red lizard followed the fleeing Pokémon, the Trainers coming behind. It went to attack, but clawed at the great rhino instead.
“What's that Pokémon?” the boy looked somewhat afraid at the big creature. “Lizardo, leave it alone!”
The lizard did not seem to care if its opponent was larger than itself. It did not follow its Trainer's order either, but started to breathe fire at the raging rhino. The enemy swung its great tail, but missed.
The boy was worried. He did not want his Pokémon to get hurt.
“Back to you ball, Lizardo!”
“Let's go,” the girl said, pulling his arm.
Lizardo attacked once again with its fire breathing, but the attack seemed to be less effective at this kind of Pokémon. The wild Pocket Monster swung its front paws, striking the fire lizard.
“Lizardo!”
The boy's Pokémon quickly recovered from the strong attack and was still willing to fight; its claws shining and the fire on its tail blazing. The lizard went to attack, slashing with its razor-like claws, but was countered by the large tail of the enemy. Lizardo landed in the grass and tried to rise again, but did not recover so fast this time. The Trainer boy did not know what to do as the large creature approached his friend. He had no more Pokémon to send out.
Meanwhile, not far away, Satoshi tried to see if Rei was all right. The older Pokémon had been uncouncious for a moment, but needed only to rest now. Pachirisu heard the commotion behind them and looked that way, grabbing the Pikachuu's fur gently.
“Should we help them, Satoshi?”
The tranformed boy was unsure, but maybe the other boy and the girl were in great danger. They had been attacked by the large creature, he and the others themsleves had encountered before. “Stay here with Rei, Pachirisu. Come on, Zidane! I need your help.”
Zidane followed, not knowing how he could be of any help, while Wii had buried itself in the ground to protect its body from strong sunlight.
The Lizardo couldn't move as the enemy approached. None of the two Trainers had any other Pokémon. The boy couldn't see his Pokémon getting hurt, even if it did not like him.
“Move, Lizardo! Get away from there!” he called, but his Pokémon had not strength enough. “No!” The Trainer knew no other away to save his friend, so he ran to the defeated fire Pokémon, trying to protect it.
“No, Jon!” his Trainer companion called.
The boy hoped that the attacking Pokémon would be satisfied with their defeat and leave them alone, but the furious creature came faster at them now, its drill horn spinning.
Satoshi attacked with an electric shock, hoping that at least the enemy would turn his way, but the attack had no effect at all.
“You have to take it, Zidane,” he said. “Fire attacks are better than nothing.”
“What do want me to do?” Zidane sounded nervous, but he was probably worried about the Trainers.
”Breathe fire at it!”
”What?! You still think I'm a flamethrower?!”
”You have to, or else the Trainers will die or get hurt!”
Zidane looked toward his target. He knew it all depended on him now.
”Where's Junichi?” Matsu looked around as he rode across the Hara field on his fire horse.
”Suppose he is minding his own things or trying to find Satoshi and Rinda alone,” Sami said. ”He does not seem to be the type who usually works in a team.”
”You're probably right, let's head on.”
Max said very little during the way to Hari. Matsu missed his cheerful jokes. Koji was always silent, but that was his personality.
”I can see Mt. Kouseki now!” Matsu said as a silvern mountain appeared in the horizon. ”Where soon there!”
Zidane usually did not care about others' problems, but he did not want the boy or the girl to get hurt. The boy sat in front of his Pokémon, protecting it from the wild rhino creature even if he risked his own life by doing that. Zidane wondered if he would have done that for his Pokémon, then he also wondered where they were. Someone had stolen his Pocket Monsters! He had fought day and night to make them tough and strong. It was not time to think about that now, any way. The Trainers' lives lay in his hands now.
He couldn't breathe fire or anything, or at least he did not know how, so he released his fury and attacked the rhino Pokémon with a mighty punch. He suddenly found out that he was stronger than he had thought.
Satoshi could see that the wild Pokémon was going to crush the poor Trainer, but Zidane's attack stopped its move. A mighty blow of the back of its front paw struck the fire monkey though, and he fell into the grass. There was still a strong fighting spirit in Zidane, who rose to meet his enemy. He dodged the strike of the tail and another swinging front paw, then struck another punch at the Pokémon's chest. The young boy looked in wonder at the fighting monkey who was saving his life. Satoshi was glad that Zidane had been of great help on their journey, even though he had seemed to be someone that would cause nothing but trouble.
At last the wild Pokémon fell on its back. The boy had a chance to escape. His Pokémon trusted its Trainer and returned to its Monster Ball and the boy aimed a grateful glance toward the monkey Pokémon before he and the girl left, running the way they had come from.
”Now, away from here!” Satoshi said, anxious that the large Pokémon would rise again.
He and Zidane joined Rei, Wii and Pachirisu. Rei rested in the grass and the only sign of Wii was some strange leaves above the ground. The electric squirrel seemed pleased to see that Satoshi was all right and hugged him friendly. Zidane was silent and did not look happy.
”Are you okay?” Satoshi asked him.
”Of course I am. Did you not realise how strong I am? I could have beaten it more if I wanted.”
”Anyway . . . thanks.”
”Nothing to thank me of. I just liked punching that fat idiot.”
”Okay . . . now, we should move away from here.”
They went a little further away, to feel safer. They rested in a soft area of green, high grass, hidden by some silvern rocks.
”That is Mt. Kouseki,” Rei said, looking up at the shimmering mountain.
”Where do you live?” Satoshi asked, laying in the grass, aslo looking up.
”A town called Hari. I bet the Trainers we saw come from there, too.”
”I come from Orchid Village. It lies deep into the forest of Hanana.”
”To the west? I see . . .”
”What will we do now, Satoshi?” Pachirisu asked, sounding a littel tired.
”I don't know, friend,” the Trainer replied. ”We can rest a little. So much has happened . . .”
”Will you ever be human again?”
The Pikachuu looked at the other Pokémon. ”I don't now, Pachirisu.”
The squirrel could hear that its friend sounded sad, but said: ”Will you still be happy even if you're a Pokémon, because I am one?”
”As long as you are my friend, Pachirisu.” He looked back up at the mountain and could see that pigeons had made their nest up there. He could hear their distant poppoppo as he was quiet and listened. He almost fell asleep and then he remembered his crystal stone. It was lost now, but he was glad he had not lost Pachirisu. The others had lost their Pokémon; probably becasue they were kept in their Monster Balls. Still he wondered if he would ever see that crystal again. Would he ever reach the distant land of Regendia. What troubled him most was: would he ever return home . . . as a human. In his thoughts he could see himself returning home, his mother welcoming him with open arms . . . Ran laughing and Zigzaguma playing . . . Shigeru teasing him . . .
Where was Shigeru now? Probably becoming a strong Trainer somewhere, catching a lot of Pokémon. Satoshi had still not caught any and would he ever be able to do that? After all he was a Pokémon himself now. Just like Pachirisu. Just like his friend . . .
When they at last arrived in Hari, they looked for an inn where they could eat and rest. It was getting darker and a little colder as Matsu and his friends tiredly walked into town. They found a Pokémon Center, where people could let their Pokémon rest and heal, and it had rooms for humans, too. They even had a stable for horse Pokémon. Houhou sat on Sami's shoulder and looked around, but there was no Cho here.
There was a lot of people at the Pokémon Center. As the friends found a table to sit by they also noticed Junichi. How had he gotten here so quickly? Probably found a really fast Pokémon to take him here. As they ordered something to eat, Matsu said:
”Tomorrow we'll go on looking for our lost friends.”
”Where shall we start looking?” Sami asked.
”They have probably tried to get here if possible. I'm not sure if Satoshi and Rinda has gone through the holes we saw in the basement though. It is most unlikely . . . ”
”What about the townspeople?” Koji said.
”So many people cannot just dissappear into nothing,” Sami said, thinking. ”What if they had to flee. Maybe they are hiding somewhere. We should ask the people here, before leaving.”
”You're right,” Matsu said. ”They may know something.”
”I have asked a few people I know, but they know very little,” Junichi said, having listened to their conversation. ”There is a wise man atop Mt. Kouseki though. People says he is mostly helpful.”
”Then we'll visit him tomorrow.”
Satoshi, Pachirisu, Rei, Zidane and Wii followed a path on the mountain. Pachirisu was eager to see the view from Mt. Kouseki.
”Maybe we see our home from here, Satoshi.”
They went on, but the wind was cold and they took shelter in a little cave where they fell asleep.
Satoshi and Pachirisu were the first to wake up as the day approached again. The little squirrel found something to eat. There was some vegetation on the mountain and Satoshi's friend had found som berries and edible leaves. When the two friends had eaten the others began to wake up.
”Shall we go on along this trail or head down again?” Rei asked after yawning tiredly. Soon he was alert, though, and went to look for something to eat.
Pachirisu and Satoshi wanted to go on, and Zidane did not mind. Wii did not seem to care either; anything was fun to the little plant Pokémon.
When everyone was awake and having had their breakfast they followed the path upwards. Soon they could see a town below.
That must be Hari, Rei's home and the place where my other friends are heading for, Satoshi thought. Maybe Matsu and the others were there now. Maybe they had found Rinda . . . or had she, too, been transformed into a Pocket Monster? No, then she would have seen him in the basement. He was a Satoshi with a Pachirisu. At least she would have asked if it was him.
They continued. The top of the mountain was still high up amongst a mist of clouds. Pigeons flew around Mt. Kouseki, looking at the travellers.
”Not seen your kind here before, poppo,” one of them said.
”We're not from here,” Rei explained.
”I come from Hanana, along with my Pachirisu friend,” Satoshi told them.
”Yes, forest Pokémon you are, poppo. Are you here to visit the old wizard?”
”The old wizard . . . Where does he live?” Satoshi asked.
”Atop the mountain, poppo.”
”Could you show the way?” Rei asked the bird.
”This way, poppo,” the pigeon said and flew beside the path leading up to the top.
”Thanks.” Rei followed along with the others.
It was getting colder and misty as they climbed further. The brown and white, little bird was still leading the way.
”Are we there soon, Poppo?” Pachirisu asked the pigeon Pokémon.
”Not far at all, poppo!”
They soon came upon a house. It was all alone there atop Mt. Kouseki and a strange one it was. Almost like the witch's house, yet this one looked more welcoming. Poppo landed on one of the pointed roof tops and looked down at the other Pokémon as they could rest at last.
”Here it is!” the bird said and flapped its wings. ”Wizard lives here, poppo!”
”Let's see if he's at home,” Rei said and approached the door. He pounded it with his small paws, hoping someone would hear him.
Satoshi looked around. The two storey house was painted in green, red and blue. The Poppo had left the roof and flown away. No other Pokémon was around.
”There is a hole here,” Rei said. ”I can get through.”
”No one at home?” Satoshi asked. ”Let Zidane try to knock or open the door.”
The monkey could not get the door open, but almost broke it by kicking it with his foot.
”Be careful,” Rei told him.
”Maybe there are people trying to capture us again,” Pachirisu sounded anxious.
Maybe Pachirisu was right. They should be careful if possible. There was a hole in the wall, just beside the door, and if Rei could get through maybe he could open the door from the inside.
The little rat entered the house through the hole in the wall. The room he came to was dark and full of old furniture. There were some dusty sofas and tables and a lot of bookshelves along the walls. A lamp with unlit candles hang in the ceiling. Quitely, Rei looked around. He did not want any one to notice him, at least not before he got the others inside. Whatever awatied them here it was best if they dealed with it together. It would be easiest that way.
He was very curious though and wanted to look around more, but first he had to get the door open. He jumped and grabbed the door knob, but couldn't turn it. He had to think of another way. He jumped up onto a table by a window, but he couldn't open the door from there either. The others were waiting anxiously outside. He felt a little stressed and quickly examined his surroundings. Could he open the window? It must be easier than opening the door from here, but then he heard approaching steps somewhere in the house.
After a good rest and a good breakfast at the Pokémon Center, Matsu and his friends went through town. The buildings of Hari were mostly made of stone, different from Aoiro's wooden houses. The people here seemed to be somewhat physically stronger than those of Matsu's town, probably because of working in the mines of Mt. Kouseki. In Hari they sold many kinds of crystals and minerals found in the mountain.
”Can we take a look at the mines?” Sami asked, being here for the first time.
”But our friends might need us now,” Matsu explained.
”Yeah, you're right,” Sami agreed, but sounded a little dissapointed.
”But . . . we can ask the workers if they have seen them.”
There was a tunnel leading into Mt. Kouseki. Out of it came some Wanrikiis and some of the more evolved form, Gourikii, carrying stones.
”They are digging deeper into the mountain,” Junichi said.
Some humans appeared from the tunnel, dragging a barrow of rocks. Matsu looked up at the enormous mountain; it was gleaming almost like a mirror.
They decided to enter the tunnel where they found both humans and Pokémon digging. Some crystals lay in a pile and they did gleam like mirrors.
”Excuse me,” Matsu said to an older man, who sat resting against the rocky mountain wall. ”Have you seen any other strangers around here?”
”Haven't seen any other than you here,” he replied. ”Rest is old Hari people.” He seemed to think for a short while, then added: ”Unless you count in that young boy who passed though here.”
”What young boy?” Matsu had to ask.
”Satoshi?” Junichi said curiously.
”Don't know his name, but . . . he had a spiky hair and a confident look upon his face,” the man explained. ”He let his Pokémon beat up other people's Pokémon around here. I wonder if that boy has ever lost to another Trainer before . . .”
It was not Satoshi; Matsu was sure. It still sounded familiar to him. Shigeru! Satoshi's rival . . .
The people in the mines could not help them. They went on through the tunnel, but found no answers. There was only one thing left to do right now. Ask the wise man atop the mountain.
”Watch out!”
As someone shouted the warning a flock of bats flattered about. Their screeching noises echoed in the tunnel.
”They're Zubats!” Junichi told the others.
Matsu already knew that. The blue bats was everywhere around them now, probably defending their home here. He send out Firestorm, his Hinoarashi, and told it to attack the the wild Pokémon.
As the fire Pokémon went into battle, Sami summoned his Wanrikii and Koji his Ralts. Max did not send out any of his Pokémon, but grabbed Rokon to protect it.
”Sparks!” Matsu yelled and his Pokémon shot small flames.
Sami's Wanrikii tried to kick the target, but missed.
”No,” its Trainer said. ”Use your fists!”
”Ralts! Will Power!”
”Fire Storm! Lightning Speed!”
Soon the remaining Zubats fled.
”Sami! Return your Pokémon!” Koji said. ”It's attacking my Ralts!”
”It's not its fault,” the other boy said as he recalled his Wanrikii. ”The ultra sonic waves of the Zubats confused it.”
”Thank you, young Trainers,” a man in the mine said. ”I hope those creatures will not attack again.”
”Nothing to thank us for,” Matsu said, then he turned to find Junichi. The older traveller was standing not far behind, watching them. ”Why didn't you help us?”
”You made it well on your own, didn't you?” he replied.
”Yeah . . . but . . .” Junichi was right, but Matsu still felt that it was a little selfish not to even send out his Pokémon. He had one hadn't he? There was no need to waste energy on this now; Junichi had his reasons.
”Look what I found,” the man in the mine said happily. He held a rock of silver in his hands. ”Let's take it out in the sun and see it sparkle.” He went off and the Trainers were left alone.
”Shall we head out of here?” Matsu asked the others.
”And visit the wise man,” Sami agreed.
”What's this?” Junichi said and went past them. ”He must have missed noticing it.”
”What?” Matsu sounded very curious.
”There is a large hole here.”
Now, the others also could see there was a dark, smaller tunnel leading deeper into the silvern mountain.
”Where does it go . . .?” Matsu wondered.
”The man forgot his lantern here. Let's find out!” Sami was about to rush off into the hole, but Junichi stopped him.
”Don't be so eager,” he told Sami. ”If we're going in, we'll go to together, don't we?”
”But the wise man we had to ask?” Matsu reminded them. ”We cannot just go off on adventures like this, without Satoshi and Rinda.”
Suddenly the little fox ran into the darkness.
”No, Rokon!” Max said and followed.
”Hey, wait for me!” Sami called as he went after them.
Matsu, Koji and Junichi had no other choice but to follow.
”Take it easy down here,” the older Trainer said as they was walking together through the tunnel. ”We don't know if it is safe to walk this way.”
”This tunnel seems old,” Sami said and used the lantern to look around. ”Do you see Rokon, Max?”
”I think she's down here . . . not far away.”
”Be careful,” Junichi said, but Max tripped and fell on the stony path. He was not hurt much though and the others helped him up.
”Kon . . .”
”Rokon!” Max said and started to run as soon as he got up, following the sounds of his little friend. He found the little fox waiting for him. ”You're okay?” he said and hugged his friend.
”Now, let's go back,” Matsu said. ”The lantern's burning faintly, so let's hurry.”
”What's that?” Sami wandered curiously somewhat further down the tunnel.
”What now?” Matsu sounded inpatient, but he felt uneasy down here. He looked Sami's way though to see what had drawn the other Trainer's attention.
Koji followed Sami as he slowly went on. It seemed that the tunnel widened into a larger area within the mountain.There were a lot of strange rocks, great ones and smaller ones. But they were not rocks . . .
”They're houses,” Sami said amazed.
”Who would build houses here?” Matsu tried again to see what it was, but in the faint light it looked like an ancient city.
Junichi watched, amazement all over his face. Max sat and held Rokon in his arms, so that his Pokémon friend would not run lost.
”What is this?” Matsu said surprisingly.
”The city must have been here for ages,” Junichi said. ”It looks deserted. There are no lights . . . no sounds . . .”
Matsu found a path leading down amongst the stone buildings. As he followed it he could see . . . yes, they were houses. Holes that used to be windows and doors, patterns carefullly carved into the rock, the paths looking like small roads where people used to run and walk. He could see no people though. The only thing that moved was his shadow on a wall.
”Shouldn't we head back?” Junichi carefully called down to Matsu.
”I'm curious,” Sami said, wanting to follow his friend.
Matsu suddenly stopped as he heard something.
”What was that?” Koji asked, having noticed it, too.
”It's just a wild Pokémon,” Junichi said and the others also spotted the small, dark shape moving away.
Sami went into the ancient city to join the other Trainer.
”You want to see what's there, too, Rokon?” Max asked his friend.
”Kon.”
Max carried Rokon as he and Junichi began to walk. Koji quickly followed, not to be left behind.
”Here, Sami, there is something here,” Matsu said as he came to a larger house. The door way was shaped as an arch, its outlines carved with other beautiful patterns and symbols.
Sami let the lantern spread its light as Matsu went on through the ancient door way. There was a corridor on the other side, with painted walls, but the paintings were too old to reveal what they were supposed to represent. Still, Matsu thought he saw a strange Pokémon on the wall; like a white dragon-type rising up from an ocean. He wondered if Sami saw it, too, but said nothing. It could just be his fantasy and not what the painting used to be. It was like looking at clouds. It was impossible to tell what the ancient drawings was.
At the end of the corridor there was a large door. It was two doors, together shaped as the arch they had walked through before. As he wondered if he should open it and go on, his friends had soon gathered behind him.
”Open it, Matsu,” Sami said.
Matsu looked at the symbols on the doors, but it was nothing he recognised. He pushed and the doors slowly opened, dust raining down onto the floor around him.
There was nothing special in the room they entered, except at the centre. A few number of stairs lead the way up to a rock-like object resting atop a grey pedestal.
Suddenly something reflected the light Sami braught into the room.
”It's another silver stone!” Sami said happily.
”Yes, look,” Max said.
Matsu approach to take it.
”Wait,” Junichi said.
”For what?” Matsu asked. ”The people who owned it has not been here for hundreds of years, and the mountain is full of these rocks.”
”Just be careful.”
”I will.” Matsu picked it up. ”It's a big one. Wonder if the people of Hari ever got their hands on one like this.”
”What are you going to do with it?” Max wondered.
”I don't don't know. If no one wants it we can sell it, or just leave it here.”
”Can I have it?”
”You want it Max? Okay, take good care of it, my friend.” He gave the silvern stone to the other Trainer. ”Sure it'll come to use one day.”
”Thanks, Matsu.”
The steps drew nearer and nearer, but soon the little Koratta managed to open the window. Before he had time to say anything, the pink fire monkey jumped inside followed by the mysterious grass Pokémon.
”Be careful!” the Koratta called quietly after them as the Pikachuu and Pachirisu climbed inside the house. ”Someone is coming.”
”Should we hide somewhere?” Pashirisu asked.
”We're strong enough to face whatever lives here,” Satoshi said, not wanting to run and be afraid.
Zidane also heard the steps.
”Help!” he shouted, hoping the stranger would hear him.
Into the room came an old man with a long, pointy hat. He was clad in a long, blue robe and and his white beard was curled at the end.
”Help me,” Zidane asked the old man, wether he would understand him or not. ”These Pokémon have captured me!”
”That's not true,” Satoshi said.
”They have turned me into one of their own!”
”Calm down, my little friend,” the old man said gently, not giving any sign of understanding the raging monkey. ”What is your problem?”
Satoshi wanted to say something, but knew that the human would not understand. Suddenly there was a strange, pixie-like creature appearing behind the man. It had two long tails and a red stone gleaming upon its forehead. Satoshi had never seen its kind before.
”Oh?” The man looked at his little companion with an expression of understanding. ”My friend here says you're under a spell,” he said as he turned back to Zidane.
”Yes, help me!”
”And I think I know who is behind this . . .” the old man mumbled on. ”Don't worry. I will help all of you. Just be patient.” He walked away, but Zidane followed.
”Let's go with the kind human, Satoshi,” Pachirisu said.
Satoshi nodded and followed.
”Where did I put the book of transformation spells, Yuxie?” the old man said as he searched among his books and papers.
Satoshi peeked into the room where the man had gone and found it filled with items from floor to ceiling. Papers, books, pencils, evolution stones, pouches, boxes, potions . . .
Pachirsu found some sweets.
”Don't touch anything, Pachirisu,” Satoshi said.
”Don't worry,” the old man said as he noticed the squirrel putting away the sweets. ”It's miracle candy, good for Pokémon.”
Zidane sat on a pile of books, waiting inpatiently as the old stranger searched for what he needed while being aided by the little Yuxie. ”What's all this mess good for anyway?” Zidane looked at all the things.
”Maybe it's going to help us all out of this situation,” Satoshi said, not pleased by the monkey's attitude.
Pachirisu hugged Satoshi anxiously.
”Are you well?” Satoshi asked his friend.
”I'm okay.”
It took two or three hours before the old man returned to them. At least Zidane had been quiet most of the time and they had been able to rest for awhile. The man carried a strange potion with him and the wise, but curious, Yuxie soared around him as usual.
”At last it's finished,” he said to the group of Pokémon. ”Just drink some of this and the spell will be broken.”
Zidane eagerly took the bottle of liquid that was handed out.
”I hope I did it right, so that you will not be turned to yet another Pocket Monster,” the man said, but Zidane had already begun drinking.
The monkey swallowed half of the potion, but there were still enough left for the others.
”Nothing's happening!” Zidane said inpatiently after having handed the bottle to Rei.
Satoshi found no suitable answer, but suddenly the monkey began to glow. The light became so intense it was impossible to see if something was happening to Zidane, but soon it faded and a teenage boy in black clothes lay on the floor.
It's working! Satoshi thought exited.
Rei drank of the potion. The same happened to him and a man with grey, short hair sat where the little rat had been.
”Now's your turn, Satoshi,” the grey-haired man said and handed the potion to the electric mouse.
Pahirisu looked anxiously at his friend who took the bottle. Satoshi looked back at the squirrel.
”Don't worry,” he said. But maybe Pachirisu doesn't want me to be human again . . . ”Will you be sad if I'm not a Pokémon any more?”
The Pocket Monster shook its head and managed to smile.
Satoshi smiled back before he drank of the mysterious potion. The strange glow surrounded him immediatley and soon he turned into the old Satoshi again. It went very quick, but still he felt ill.
”Hey, wake up,” Rei said and kicked Zidane carefully.
”Get off me!” the black-clad boy said harshly. He rose from the floor and adjusted his leather jacket. ”And I don't want you around me any more!” He tried to kick the little Wii, but missed.
”There is some left for you, too, Wii,” Satoshi said and reached out with the bottle.
Rei took it so that he could cure the naive plant.
”Thank you,” Satoshi said as he turned toward the old man.
”Nothing to thank me for, heh, heh,” he replied gladly. ”I like to help people that's under the witch's evil spells.”
”You know her?”
”Yes . . . and we have been enemies for a long time. All she do is making it difficult for other people.”
”Will you help the others she has transformed?” the Trainer asked hopefully.
”She has probably harmed many living beings and I cannot help them all, but if there are any other friends of yours that have meet the same fate as you and the rest here, let them have some of this.” He handed out another bottle of antidote.
”Thanks, again . . .”
”You can just call me the Wizard; that's how everyone else know me. My friend here is Yuxie, the only one keeping me company here atop the mountain, save the birds living in the area. It is seldom I see Pokémon Trainers coming all the way up here.
”It was nice having the chance to meet you anyway,” Rei said.
”Yes, but we have to go now,” Satoshi said. ”Or at least I have to.”
”I come with you. Must save the others you now.”
”Where are you going to?” the Wizard asked.
”Aoiro.”
”It is a long way. I'm sure my Pigeon can give you a ride.”
”Leave me alone!” Zidane again.
As Satoshi turned around he saw that the other boy was angry at a little girl in a pink dress. She was probably no more than five years and she had two pretty braids with pink ribbons.
”Where did she come from?”
”Oh, that's Wii,” Rei explained. ”Wonder what her real name is, though. Anyhow, we have to bring her back to her parents when in Aorio. I hope that's where they live.”
”Let's hurry then,” Satoshi said. ”Come on, Pachirisu.” His Pokémon hopped onto his shoulder.
”Please, come with me.” The Wizard led them through the house, to another door leading outside.
At the edge of a cliff a giant bird had its nest.
”That's Pigeon,” the wizard explained. ”Thanks to my special Pokémon food it has grown very large. Enough to carry you all to Aoiro.”
Satoshi approached the great bird. It cooed as he petted it. Wow, he thought. Pachirisu also tried to reach it, but the squirrels arms were to short. The Trainer climbed up on the bird's back and felt the soft feathers beneath him. The others got on, too, Zidane somewhat hesitantly though.
”Take these friends to the town of Aoiro, south of here,” the Wizard told the bird.
”Pigeo!” it replied, agreeing, and spread its wings.
Satoshi stomach began to tickle as Pigeon left the cliff. There was too much mist to see the ground from here. There were just clouds and sky. The Trainer lay his head upon the bird's neck and held its feathers tightly. His friends, except Pachirisu on his back, were sitting behind him. As the large, brown-white bird left Mt. Kouseki they were all met by a strong wind. Pigeon soared on though the clouds of mist and Satoshi wondered when they would reach the town.