Chapter 52: Infiltrating Gloria Falls.

Revival Falls Arc.

Ramon grabs the side of the building, eyeing the gated entrance to Gloria Falls. Just when he's about to step out, he stops. The Infernape grimaces, his illusion dissolving into his Zoroark self.

Hmm? Nomar says, wishing to blink if he was in his physical form. Why did you stop?

I… Ramon eyes a wall ahead of him. I don't know if I should do this. His head shakes. It all feels too sudden since I barely relaxed.

But you rested yesterday! I feel like that counts, brother! And besides, things will go well while you're under your disguise.

Ramon lowers his ears. But what if it doesn't? Like what happened at the Lake of Purity: What if someone caught onto my disguise without me knowing about it? Heck, those guards would definitely ask why I'd appear out of the blue. He looks at the stationary guards. I won't even have a valid reason for it.

Nomar groans. I don't know, just tell them you were using the restroom.

What if there's restrooms at the falls? Ramon squints, spotting some buildings behind the Infernapes. There's even buildings inside! There's no way they'll accept my restroom excuse!

Look: It'll be alright. Just tell them you weren't a fan of the restrooms at the falls. Boom, simple as that!

Ramon blinks. Wait, really? I can just…tell them I'm not a fan of their restrooms?

Nomar will shrug if he can. I mean, I assume so? Since they're letting these two Infernapes be outside of Gloria. Don't see why they wouldn't let them use different restrooms, too.

Hmm…

As the two continue, a Glaceon drags towards the Zoroark, pain surging throughout. "Gl-Gla—" she gasps, falling down.

Ramon's ears perk up. "Hmm?" He turns around, the unconscious blue quadruped lying before him. The fox gasps. "Oh no!" He rushes over, tapping her. "Are you okay!?" No response: Just a small, weighted breather here and there.

The Zoroark eyes her up: From the bruises littering throughout her batten body to the scar mark imprinting on her left eye, a black collar ringing around her neck. Ramon strokes his head, gritting his teeth. "Shoot, I should take her to the Pokémon Center right now."

No.

Ramon's brow lifts. No?

Yes. Take her to the guards instead.

Why?

Nomar sighs. Ramon: This is the perfect opportunity to use her as a means to enter the falls. It's a valid reason for the guards to accept without question, he suggests.

But… Ramon eyes the bruised creature. This…doesn't feel right.

Nomar sighs once more. I'm aware, but we have no choice. Whimpers. Please, Ramon. Before we'll never see each other ever again.

The Zoroark eyes down the Glaceon: The chill breaths momentarily freezing the ground, her eyes closing, twitching at random. Ramon sighs, casting his Infernape illusion again. Alright then. He picks up the canid, taking a deep breath. Jolting from behind the building, he dashes to the guards.

"Hey! I got something urgent here!" he says, his tone low.

The two Infernapes eye the disguised one, one of them twirling his spear. "Yeah?" the first guard says, eyeing the knocked out Glaceon.

"I found this Glaceon near the alley. She's in need of medical care, fast!"

Stolen novel; please report.

The second guard nods, stopping his twirls. "Sure thing. The PC is far from here, anyways." He points the spear behind him. "Go ahead and take her to the medic center."

"Thank you." The two guards move out of the way, allowing the illusion ape to enter. His tail lowers. I'm sorry for using you. He looks at the black collar, uttering the exact word from it in his mind: Elizabeth…

Ramon gazes around: Many gray buildings and guards of different species being littered everywhere, multiple waterfalls sprinkling afar, including the largest one of them all by the top right. The guards either carry the same spears the Infernapes have or weapons as they roam from place to place.

The Infernape walks along a straight path, eyeing the barrier to the left that shields Gloria Falls. Trees sprout on either side, even being by the buildings. His blue eyes widen, Ramon aweing with amazement. Whoa…

The Infernape bumps into an Orbeetle, the ladybug glaring at him. "Watch where ye goin'!" they exclaim, their tone light.

Ramon laughs nervously. "M-My apologies there!" He continues onward, blinking. I just realized: I don't know where the medic center is!

Yeeaaah…You should definitely ask someone here about that.

Ramon soon notices a Shiinotic wearing a vest while walking by, clearing his throat. "Excuse me." The mushroom Pokémon stops, eyeing the Infernape. "Hi, uh: Do you know where the medic center is? This place is huge so I keep getting lost here, haha." The ape shrugs. "I'm a newbie to all of this."

The Shiinotic quirks her brow. "What's wit' the Glaceon?"

"Oh her? I found her lying outside injured." Ramon whimpers. "It's why I wanted to know where the medic center is: It's really urgent."

"Shoot, that explai' it then." The Shiinotic points to her side. "Just keep goin' straight and you should reach it, hun."

Ramon nods. "Thank you." He rushes ahead, keeping the Glaceon close to him.

. . .

"HIIIIIYAH!"

Courtney and Sylock kick two Sorcerous away, their opponents rolling around the field. The two Pokémon backflip to the ground, the Sorcerous groaning while being knocked out. "Annnnd the winner is Courtney and Sylock!"

The crowd erupts: Some screaming with joy while drinking their own beverage! X jumps off his seat, stepping on his fallen popcorns and hovering his paws over his snout.

"WOOO! LET'S GOOOO, YOU TWO!"

Zenith twirls their long hair, smiling. "ALRIGHTY, EVERYONE!" Their fist slams on the desk. "The next match will decide who these two's opponents will be in Round 3!" As soon as they say that, static images display themselves on the hologram: Containing an Espeon and a Beedrill glaring at two Pokémon Trainers and their Pokémon, Gurdurr and Coalossal.

Everyone awes the competitors as Sylock's eyes enlarge, gluing towards the Espeon. Many inconsistent images spawn in his mind, left and right. All having one thing in common: A crying, weeping Torchic.

Sylock gasps, stroking his head: Trembling. One of the images even has the same Torchic looking up at…something? He can't tell, but whatever it was: It casts a shadow over the small bird.

"Sy?"

The Blaziken returns from his daze, his shoulder touched by Courtney.

"Is somethin' wrong?"

The avian blinks, looking at the rabbit. His head shakes. "No. I'm fine," he signs. "Was just feeling light-headed for a moment, that's all."

"Are you sure? You were shaking a lot." Sylock stares at her for a moment before simply nodding, smiling. Courtney sighs, patting his back. "Alright then. If somethin's off, just let me know bud." She winks, lifting her thumb while smiling.

Sylock moves his hands. "Understood."

. . .

Ramon sits on a chair inside of the medic center, tapping his fingers together. The center is a large gray tent with about five to ten beds spreading in a row, counters and medical equipment being at the very end of the center. Quite a few people are resting on the bed: Some of them chatting in bandages while others simply relax as their wound heals, some medics tending to them.

The Glaceon rests on the first bed beside Ramon, three medics treating her wounds, with one of them being an Intellicate Clefable. Ramon's tail droops, the ape eyeing the canid.

I… Sighs. I wish there was a better way to enter Gloria…

Relax, brother. As much as it pained me to use that Glaceon as bait, it's…the only way. Nomar whimpers. The wild is filled with many situations like this. It's how we survive, as cruel as it may sound.

Ramon's lips remain sealed, keeping his eyes on the injured Glaceon. …I suppose.

Another medic walks towards the disguised Infernape, wearing nothing but a white outfit as they caress their clipboard. "The Glaceon will be okay: Having a couple of bruises here and there." Smiles. "You don't have to worry about her dying since these injuries can be taken care of effectively."

Ramon sighs in relief. That's good to know, at least. "Thanks." The disguised ape stands up, walking out of the tent. He eyes around the falls, turning left.

Guards on his left are chatting with one another, even erupting into laughter while the ones on the right are wrestling each other, cheers erupting. Ramon keeps going, squinting at the many waterfalls ahead.

This place is so MASSIVE. He sighs. How will I ever find the Revival Spell here? His ears then flicker to a familiar voice nearby. Hmm? Curious, he moves ahead.

"And then RAM, that's how I've caught the culprit—" Ramon sees a group of guards gazing at Nered in front of a huge waterfall entrance, the Roserade spawning vines from her red petal. "With swift le mouvement!"

A Chansey gasps, her hand on her lips. "Ooo, intriguing!"

Ramon perks up, eyeing the Roserade. Hey, it's Nered! The Roserade from yesterday!

Go talk to her. See if you can get some info here, Nomar suggests.

Ramon nods. Now THAT'S an idea I agree with.

Whatever you say, brother.

Not saying anything else, Ramon moves forward.