Chapter 17

THE MOUNTAIN

Have I just become a monolith

Somewhere in between gallant and grotesque?

Well, I could never find peace in emptiness

With these drums of war pounding in my chest

Pounding in my chest

We're not concerned, just mad

- Of Mice & Men

I

For the next week, the group embarked on a serene and pleasant journey, tracing the river's course. They followed the water's meandering path with the sunlight glinting off its surface, creating a calming and rhythmic backdrop to their travels.

As they moved eastward, the river eventually reached a fork, merging into another watercourse that flowed northward. The transition was seamless, with the tranquility of the journey remaining undisturbed. The murmur of the river and the occasional calls of pokémon filled the air as they continued upstream along the new branch of the river.

The landscape shifted gradually as they ventured upwards while moving south. Snow-capped mountains loomed, their majestic peaks an awe-inspiring sight. The weather gradually warmed uncharacteristically from the Kanto winters, causing the snow to melt slowly and unveil the earth beneath. During their trip, the group found moments of respite to train and spar. Amidst the beauty of nature, they honed their skills and deepened their bonds. In between bouts of training, they took time to admire the scenery, appreciating the natural wonders surrounding them.

II

As the path ascended towards the towering mountains, a remarkable sight gradually unfolded before them. A colossal edifice, unlike anything Seth had ever laid eyes upon, came into view. It stood boldly, commanding attention with its sheer size and distinct design. The structure was a symphony of industrial innovation and architectural marvel. Its grandeur was unrivaled, featuring an expansive construction with four immense towers rising from its core. These towers pierced the sky, forming an imposing silhouette against the horizon.

Erin's curious voice broke through the awe-filled silence, seeking understanding from his father. "Dad, what is that?"

"It's a power plant," he responded, addressing not only Erin but everyone present.

Emily stared curiously at the out of place structure. "I don't see any smoke coming from it. Perhaps there's someone there who can assist us in crossing the river. Look, over there, between those two mountain peaks. That's the gap the lady at the hotel mentioned." The mountains flanking the structure's expansive view formed a gateway, offering a visible passage to the other side. The path beneath the peaks was unmistakable, a beckoning invitation leading to new horizons.

Acknowledging the potential, Seth took a proactive step. "Let's release one Pokémon each. We need to be prepared for anything." His request was met with compliance as Ampharos and Lairon emerged, ready.

"Have you ever seen a power plant like that?" Emily's curiosity sparked a conversation as they neared the impressive structure.

Seth shook his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the monumental edifice ahead. "No, I've seen smaller ones, like Cerulean's. But nothing on this scale. When Team Rocket took control, they cut off power outside the city, so we relied on generators and electric Pokémon to get by."

"That's pretty rough," Brian commented, adding his perspective. "I never really thought about life outside the city. I always had access to power."

Their footsteps carried them closer to the power plant, revealing its sheer size in even greater detail. The panorama surrounding the structure gradually unveiled itself. As they ascended the hill leading to the power plant, a vast lake nestled between the mountains encircling it came into view. Winter's snowmelt filled the lake, and the resulting flow powered the plant as it eventually merged with the river they had been following. Encircling the structure, a collection of wind turbines, numbering between ten and twenty, stood like silent sentinels. Yet, it was unmistakable that this building had been abandoned for quite some time. Ivy climbed against its eastern side, the lawn was incredibly unkempt with nature overtaking the walkways and not a single person was seen.

“Should we go in?” Seth asked the group. When suddenly a shrill sound, akin to a large Pokémon's cry, echoed out of the building, sending shivers down their spines.

"That's a no from me man." Brian responded.

Emily, however, caught sight of something else. She pointed towards a smaller structure by the water. "Look down there. Could that be a boathouse?"

Seth's skepticism was evident. "Do you really think we'd be that lucky, finding a boat ready for use?"

Erin's optimism shone through as he chimed in, "Maybe!" He settled on a stair, absorbing the serene beauty of the lake and the towering peaks.

Emily shook her head in playful disbelief. "Well, if not, we'll have to take the long route around the lake, which could eat up an entire day. But I love your optimism, Erin. Let's check it out!" She extended her hand to help him up, the prospect of adventure gleaming in her eyes.

Ampharos gazed longingly into the building, as if it yearned for something within. Its red tail gem glowed with an intensity that seemed almost urgent. Brian called out to it three times, its name ringing through the air like a beckoning call. After what felt like an eternity, Ampharos broke free from its trance, finally tearing its gaze away and descending the stairs to join them on the front lawn. On the other side of the doors, unbeknownst to them, lay the grim sight of three human skeletons and a Spinda's skeletal remains, frozen in their final moments of reaching out for a safety that had forever eluded them.

III

Nature had taken back all of the space in front of the Power Plant, with young trees gaining a foothold over the years of neglect. Amid the tall grass and shrubs, long passed decayed bodies of humans and Pokémon were scattered, their remnants not visible passed the foliage from the walkways. Yet, the group pressed forward, their gaze fixated on the beauty of the crystal blue lake reflecting the sunlight.

Brian's enthusiasm was evident as he said, "We're filling our waters up here. That water looks delicious," his face lighting up with a wide grin. Suddenly, a piercing shriek pierced the air, instantly erasing the mirth. All eyes turned back to the power plant, where the unsettling sound originated. "Seth, I'm really not liking this," Brian confessed, his demeanor shifting as one hand clutched his shoulder.

Seth shared Brian's discomfort, his words weighed with concern. "I don't either. Let's just hurry and cross the lake." The sky above transformed rapidly, storm clouds gathering between the mountain peaks over the power plant and spreading over the water with unnatural speed. Lightning forked the air, striking one of the middle venting towers. Thunder rumbled around them, and Erin sought refuge by burying his face in his father's chest, whispering pleas to make it stop. Emily quickly acted, recalling Lairon to her Pokéball, knowing the large Pokémon could become a lightning rod in this storm. The urgency in her movements was clear.

As a group, they sprinted towards the boat house, the situation escalating as they went. Ampharos struggled to keep up, lagging behind. With a series of deafening cracks, three more bolts of lightning struck the power plant, as if the storm was venting its fury upon it. A bolt of lightning struck Ampharos, causing Brian to call out in alarm. The gem on Ampharos's tail glowed brighter than ever, as if channeling the very essence of the storm. The Pokémon's speed surged, and it rapidly closed the distance, catching up to them in an instant.

The shrieks from the building continued as lightning struck it repeatedly, creating a constant deafening boom that drowned out any communication. Drawing closer to the building, they encountered six skeletal figures sprawled in front of the doors. Four of them were human, while two were Pokémon. Brian and Seth’s fingers clutched the door handle just as lightning ignited a nearby tree into flames. Seth and Brian joined forces, pushing against the doors with all their might, but they barely budged an inch. "Damn it, Emily, hold onto Erin," Seth instructed, quickly passing his son to her. He then released Primeape from his Pokéball. "Break down this door," he pleaded with the newly summoned Pokémon. Without hesitation, Primeape unleashed a series of powerful punches against the door. Each strike resulted in an inch of progress until finally, the door flung open, hurling the skeletons inside across the room. "Get in, go!" Seth shouted at his friends. Another bolt of lightning struck the building, and as Seth turned around after closing the door, he witnessed yellow wings emerging.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

As he turned the building's true nature became clear. A massive section on the far side of the structure, hanging over the lake, had been completely torn away. It seemed as though a colossal force had peeled the wall off, taking parts of the ceiling with it. They now stood on a concrete floor that descended to a wooden dock, where a lone boat was tied with its bow bobbing in the water, half submerged. The floor was strewn with bodies, some of which still had patches of dried skin clung to them. Their clothes draped over them were now far too large for their decayed forms. Among the grim scene were the skeletal remains of Pokémon, their identities impossible to discern amidst the cacophony of thunder, Erin’s crying and the shrieking of the newly emerged Pokémon.

"What should we do?" Brian yelled, straining his voice to be heard. A shadow cast itself through the gaping wall and the exposed water beyond, capturing their collective attention. Slowly, the shadow revealed its true form as it hovered over the lake. A Zapdos emerged, its yellow and black wings outstretched. Lightning struck its body, prompting a piercing shriek from its beak before releasing a torrent of electricity into the water within the boat house. The resulting flash of light temporarily blinded them, causing Emily to instinctively shield Erin from harm as the ground trembled beneath them.

Seth quickly rose to his feet and scooped Erin from Emily's arms just as another burst of lightning illuminated the boat house. "We need to find cover!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. As yet another bolt of lightning crackled into the water, a new sound pierced the air, something unlike anything Seth had ever heard. It was as if a melody and a roar were intertwined, originating from the water's depths, the sound engulfing everything around them. Zapdos momentarily shifted its focus away from the group, its beady eyes scanning the waters.

Frozen with fear, the group watched their assailant, powerless to take action as the ethereal song gradually enveloped them. Zapdos let out another ear-piercing shriek, its beak pointing skyward before diving down, channeling a colossal lightning bolt into the water. Just outside the impact zone, a massive white figure breached the surface. Over top of its white body, blue scales over its eyes and ran down its back. Its wings unfolding and propelling its head skyward as it catapulted into the air, crashing into Zapdos.

IV

"It's Lugia!" Emily's voice carried the realization. Zapdos swiftly regained its composure, soaring back into the air, and unleashed another barrage of lightning at Lugia, causing the colossal creature to descend rapidly into the lake and vanish beneath the surface. Zapdos's cries echoed once more as bolts of lightning began incessantly bombarding the water's surface. A bright whitish-orange beam erupted from the water, clashing with Zapdos in a burst of energy. Water surged like a bowl, skillfully capturing the falling Zapdos. The Legendary Pokémon, Lugia, emerged from the lake on the opposite shore, positioning itself between Zapdos and the group. Its song roared loudly once again, while Zapdos thrashed within its aqueous prison, attempting to break free.

Lugia craned its head towards the sky, a radiant white-orange light materializing and growing until it released in a brilliant burst, directed at Zapdos. The beam flung Zapdos high into the air, sailing over the boat house and crashing into the power plant.

The tranquil hush enveloped the lake as Lugia spread its wings, holding itself aloft in anticipation of Zapdos's next move. Amid this calm, as the rain gently descended upon them, Lugia's melodic song resounded with power once more, and the creature gracefully submerged beneath the water's surface.

"What the actual fuck!" Emily exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of disbelief and shock, as all of them stared at the now placid water. At the point where the lake met the river below, Lugia resurfaced with a powerful breach, taking to the skies and flying eastward over the towering mountains.

"Where is it heading, Dad?" Erin inquired, still holding tightly onto his father.

"Home," Seth replied, his gaze fixed on the spot where Lugia vanished behind the peaks.

"Looks like we just used up a lifetime's worth of luck," Brian quipped in a lighthearted tone.

"I... I'm..." Emily trailed off, at a loss for words and struggling to process the surreal turn of events. "What the actual fuck!"

Finally, the four of them, accompanied by Vulpix and Ampharos, cautiously stepped out of the boat house. Their eyes fell upon Zapdos's prone form, collapsed atop the power plant structure, blood seeping from its wounds and staining its feathers.

"I still can't believe how fortunate we were," Brian mused, his hand running through his dark hair as he stared at Zapdos's unconscious form. A sudden noise from the rubble beneath the fallen Pokémon made him flinch, momentarily thinking the colossal creature was stirring.

"Fortunate?" Seth's puzzled gaze fixated on Brian, as if struggling to comprehend how he could use such a word.

"Yeah, fortunate. Lugia saved us back there," Brian replied, still not taking his eyes off Zapdos, who held his fascination.

"We were anything but fortunate. As usual, luck wasn't on our side," Seth countered, finally capturing Brian's attention. "Lugia didn't intervene for us, nor did we wake up Zapdos. Unfortunately, we just happened to be the first thing in sight as Lugia closed in on it." Seth's tone implied that this should be a glaringly obvious fact.

"What will happen to Zapdos?" Erin's voice piped up, positioning himself in front of his father, his gaze drawn to the crumbling power plant, Vulpix at his side.

"I don't know, but it's not our concern," Seth responded, his hand resting on his son's curly black hair.

V

As they began to leave the power plant's premises, the detritus beneath Zapdos continued to give way, the sound of bricks, plaster, metal, and rubble falling echoing in their ears. The group was heading around the lake, aiming to finally make their way toward Lavender Town. Erin found it difficult to tear his eyes from his shoulder, periodically glancing toward Zapdos, still inert on the deteriorating structure. The sounds of crumbling debris accompanied them as they moved away from the power plant.

Magicarp, Feebas, Goldeen, Remoraid, and other water Pokémon corpses floated to the lake's surface, drifting ashore next to them. The storm clouds that had amassed during the battle finally dissipated, allowing the sun's rays to grace the lake and the peaks above.

"It's strange," Emily observed. The others turned their heads, awaiting her continuation. "Normally, we'd hear or at least see Pokémon all around us, but now it's just eerily quiet."

Silence was the unanimous agreement, for witnessing a battle of that scale was something Seth hoped to avoid in the future. Despite secretly relishing the spectacle, the thought of both him and Erin being caught in the crossfire was disconcertingly close to home. Before they could reach the gap leading to the next area, the sun began its descent to the west, compelling them to set up camp alongside the lake. The power plant stood starkly across the water. The setting sun's light gently kissed the structure before vanishing behind the mountains. Suddenly, a piercing shriek reverberated through the lake, freezing everyone in their tracks. They stared, their senses heightened, as a form appeared small from their distance, roughly three miles away. With bated breath, they watched Zapdos stir, causing a tower to collapse with a deafening echo against the mountainous backdrop. Though Zapdos didn't take flight, its yellow and black silhouette vanished into the power plant.

The campfire's warmth battled against the night's chill, and the scent of food, as plain as it was, mingled in the air as everyone and their Pokémon savored the meal.

"I believe we should take shifts for watch tonight," Seth suggested as they all dug into their food, as if it were the first sustenance in days.

"Seth, if that thing starts moving again, we'll hear it before it poses a threat. Let's just get some sleep before we head to Lavender tomorrow," Emily insisted.

"I suppose you're right," Seth conceded. "My adrenaline's still pumping from earlier."

"Tell me about it! Hate to admit it, but that was probably the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed," Brian exclaimed with youthful excitement.

VI

The night dwindled into its final moments. Despite Seth's desire for sleep, he found it elusive. Erin, completely passed out, had his foot stretched across Seth's face with the other digging into his rib, while Brian's snores filled the camp. Sleep seemed out of reach for him. The intense battle he had witnessed certainly played a role, but it was only a part of the reason. What was the true plan here? To hide in Lavender Town and hopefully scrape together enough to pay his taxes in six months? Sure, he could take on some gym leaders, but how could he ever make enough while also providing for Erin? Sarah's haunting words echoed through his mind, the relentless drumbeat of "You can't save him" repeating endlessly.

Vulpix began twitching in her sleep, and Erin's sleeping fists launched a miniature windmill of motion that finally pushed Seth out of the tent. He started walking silently along the calm, peaceful water of the lake, its surface reflecting the moon's image like a perfect mirror. He glanced up at the mountains and felt a pang of envy as he watched the monoliths standing steadfast in the cold winter gusts that relentlessly battered their sides. They remained unyielding, unmoved, uncaring by whatever was thrown at them. Two formidable creatures like Zapdos and Lugia notwithstanding could wreak havoc on the world, yet these mountains stood firm, unshaken, uncaring.

The tent and the faint glow of the dying embers seemed distant now, thanks to the distance Seth had walked. He couldn't even understand why he traveled this far and was unable to prevent the onslaught of emotions that followed. He finally allowed himself to release everything he had been holding inside, letting out loud, painful sobs. With each sob, he expelled the heavy baggage that had burdened him for so long. It began with the near miss he had experienced earlier in the day, the sense of powerlessness he felt when he couldn't shield his son from Zapdos' onslaught. Benjamin's betrayal weighed heavily on him, as did his loss to Misty and his inability to provide immediate relief for Erin. He felt guilt for failing to protect Erin from the Hypno incident. The death of Sarah haunted him, the feeling of responsibility for her passing, and the pain of watching his mother and mother-in-law waste away from illness, powerless to prevent their suffering. Seth's own father leaving added to his feelings of helplessness, as he was unable to stop any of the heartbreak that had unfolded.

Amid the snow-covered landscape, Seth's anguish found solace in the embrace of the wintry night. Sarah's haunting presence seemed to recede into the darkness, her disturbing chant finally silenced. For a fleeting moment, Seth's eyes deceived him, replacing Sarah's grotesque image with that of his true wife — her radiant skin, lush hair, and infectious smile that Erin seemed to have inherited. Gradually, his tears ceased their flow, and he was able to slow his breaths as the chill air brushed against his cheeks.

VII

"How long have you been awake?" Emily's voice cut through the stillness of the morning as she emerged from her tent. Seth merely shrugged in response, not providing an answer but offering a gentle smile as she settled down next to him. The sun bathed the camp in its warm glow, while the small waves of the lake contributed a soft, soothing rhythm to the quietude that surrounded them.

Seth's gratitude found a voice, his words simple yet sincere. "Thank you." He looked not at Emily, but at the tranquil expanse of crystal blue water and the ruins of the power plant in the distance.

"What the fuck brought this on?"

"Thank you," Seth repeated, his voice carrying the weight of his emotions. A tear slipped down his cheek, capturing a fleeting gleam of sunlight as it fell.

Emily paused, her gaze also fixed on the water. "Being with you and Erin, it's..." She hesitated, thinking of the sister she had lost. "These past six months have been the fucking happiest I've experienced in a very long time, despite all the challenges we've faced recently. I love you both."

Seth's hand found its place on Emily's arm, a wordless reassurance that their connection was as genuine as his words. Emily's heart was warmed by his touch, even though his eyes remained on the horizon. "These six months have been the worst time in my life, but despite all the hardships, you've made them bearable. I love you too." Their shared sentiment blossomed under the morning sun, illuminating their bond and brightening their friendship.