Chapter 16 - Ember Spa

Celeste first noticed the warmth.

The heat was not oppressive, nor did it burn. It was cosy, comforting, like the hug of a loved one. She could’ve stayed there forever, floating in the safety of the warm and dark emptiness.

Then, a star flickered to life in the darkness. It wasn’t flashy, just a quiet pulse in the emptiness.

She contemplated going after it. Then she giggled. There was nothing to contemplate. Curiosity always got the best of her. Why even waste time pondering?

She straightened herself up, even though she wasn’t sure where up was, and pushed herself toward the star.

As she swam through the void, the dark began to dissolve into a palette of deep blues and purples. What she’d thought was a void now teemed with life. Dim, twinkling lights waltzed around her, sketching out patterns she could not comprehend.

Then the starlight grew stronger. Like in sunrise, more colour flooded into the world—night became dawn. With the new reds and oranges, Pokémon appeared. Diglett tunnelled beneath the surface, Beautifly twirled through the air and a fiery trail marked the path of a galloping Rapidash as a Hatenna bounced alongside her.

She blinked again, and the scene shifted.

No longer adrift in darkness, Celeste found herself soaring among fluffy, orange-red clouds. The once distant star now glowed like a sun. She’d moved somewhere new, but the warmth, still tender on her skin, felt ever present.

Curiosity captured her gaze everywhere in this strange, bright realm. Until something tugged at her hand. Turning to see it, she smiled.

“Back in my dreams, Geodude?” she whispered, but he never answered, only flapped his stone arms, pretending they were wings. She chuckled at that. “Are we dancing today?”

He shook his head, pointing instead to a looming green cloud that clashed to the early morning pallet they were in. She didn’t really know what to make of it, but smiled anyway.

“When I was a little kid, I thought clouds tasted like cotton candy. Think this one is minty?” Without waiting, she darted towards the green mass. Aria would be a better partner for this particular kind of adventure. She opened her mouth as wide as her Eevee would.

But it tasted of nothing.

Pity.

The inside of the cloud was empty, green and boring, but from somewhere, she heard a sound. Had Geodude come in too?

“This is your plan?” a sharp, silvery voice cut through the air. “It’s worse than I thought. I can’t do—”

“Calm down,” another voice countered. A woman’s voice, even more familiar than the first one. “You can trust me. It’ll work. There were complications, yeah, but I’ve been planning it for a long time. I’m good with this sort of thing.”

“Good at making a mess?” The owner of the high-pitched voice huffed. “Or at messing with forces you don’t understand and consequences be damned.”

The woman snorted. “I’m good at plans, silly. And, really, who better to know about consequences than me?” she said, and then after a brief pause, she continued. “Look, we just have to do our best and hope it’ll be enough.”

Celeste tried to move towards the sound of those voices. That female one… she really knew it. If she could just—

With a jolt, something yanked her out of the cloud.

“Geodude?” she spun around. No sign of him. Instead, all around her blazed a ferocious light.

She blinked at it.

So blinding.

That’s when she realised she had reached the star. Also, that it wasn’t a star, not even the Sun.

Before her soared a magnificent creature, its golden feathers barely visible under the cascades of fire wrapping around its form.

Wild might be how one describes a fire. Celeste thought it was a fitting word.

What was Moltres, after all, but wildfire itself?

The bird of the flame gazed into her very soul, and, with a deafening screech, pushed her away.

Celeste’s eyes snapped open, and she gasped. She found herself floating in a warm pool, deep within a cave. The waters so tender and comforting, she almost felt like going back to sleep.

Would she still have those strange dreams if she did so?

“Feeling any better, kid?” someone asked.

She blinked up at an old man was staring uncomfortably at her.

Then she blinked again.

—*——*—

Earlier…

“What’s happening?” Delia raced over, Shelly already on her side. The Hoothoot’s Echoing Voice was bad enough, but now the ground was shaking too.

Luan whipped his head around, eyes locked on the bird he was after. Delia tried to hurry him along—they couldn’t stand much more noise or the increasingly worrying tremors. But just as he moved, the Hoothoot fell silent.

Things moved fast from there.

The owl Pokémon glanced to the sides and then darted toward Luan, seeking refuge behind his legs. Before Delia could even blink, an Onix burst from the earth. It wasn’t particularly large or intimidating, but it roared ferociously at the Hoothoot—and by extension, at them. Luan shuffled on his feet, clearly thrown off, but after some seconds at a loss, he turned to the bird and caught it.

Simple as that.

Perhaps now the Onix would calm down?

Not really.

Instead of calming, the ground’s shaking intensified, and the Onix’s roars grew louder. It slammed its tail, flinging chunks of rock their way.

Delia could barely make out Cee through the chaos—not that she had the time to worry about her friend.

Quickly, she turned to her Shellder and clutched her with both arms, asking for some protection. A barrier sprang up just in time to deflect another flying rock, which shattered on impact. But the ground’s violent tremors were something else entirely. She lost her footing before she felt the drop.

A fissure had opened right beneath her feet.

Luan shouted something, and as the ground collapsed, she felt a strange tug all over her body. Psychic energy enveloped both of them. For a moment, they hovered, suspended by the combined efforts of his Lunatone and Munna.

Relief washed over Delia as her feet hit solid ground again.

“Hypnosis,” she heard Luan say.

Delia knew she had to contribute as well. “Can you do a Water Gun?” she asked her Shellder, and was satisfied with the good call. Even together, Munna and Lunatone were having a lot of trouble to subdue the thrashing Onix. Cee, who should be helping by commanding her Slowpoke to Yawn, was strangely quiet. So in the end, Shelly’s cover was all they had in terms of support.

A jet of water struck the Onix square in the face, providing the much needed distraction. Lunatone and Munna flanked it, finally delivering a double Hypnosis. The Onix’s eyelids dropped, and with a half-hearted roar, it burrowed back underground.

As calm returned, Delia steadied herself, noting her trembling hand on Shelly’s shell. These last few weeks had been so… intense. She was not used to this particular kind of stress. Not that she was complaining. One Island, much like Cinnabar, felt like a breath of fresh air. Yes, she could do without this chaotic type of danger, but she welcomed the adventure, despite everything. Especially if it gave her these extra few days of not being trapped at Pallet Town.

She glanced at Luan, who had both hands on his knees and was panting like he’d run a marathon. Relief washed all over his face. Good for him, even though this had been entirely his fault.

She then turned to Cee, who… was nowhere to be found.

No sign of her across the newly formed fissure and no sign of her among the scattered rocks. All was quiet, save for the faint drizzle patting down the rocks.

“Where is she?” Delia’s voice cut sharply through the silence, her gaze fixed on the large gap on the ground. Cee didn’t have a Psychic-Type to pull her away, and she didn’t have anyone who could do barriers. Could she have? She stepped cautiously to the fissure’s edge. Luan reached out to steady her, then quickly pulled back.

He blushed. “Sorry. It’s just… It might still collapse.”

Delia bristled. Always be polite, her mother used to tell her when she worked at the restaurant. But politeness was a struggle now. “This is your fault,” she said, way more bluntly than she should.

Luan averted his eyes. “H-hey, no worries. We can find your friend,” he answered, staring into the abyss. “I’ve been exploring this place with my cousin. There’s a cave system below, loads of lava tubes connecting everything. Easy exits. She can’t be too far.”

“Lava tubes, huh?” Delia crossed her arms. Cee had a knack for trouble, and for all they knew, she could be hurt. Climbing down seemed risky, but Luan seemed to have another idea.

He picked up the Pokéball with his newest Pokémon and released the Hoothoot. As it materialised, it looked around with worry, but relaxed when it saw no Onix was around. Delia kept watching as it opened its beak for another screech, but Luan crouched by it, trying to soothe it with a potion on its injured wing. A little unsure, the Hoothoot tested the wing by carefully lifting itself up in the air. Then, reassured, it immediately began to peck at Luan.

“Dude… Hey! Stop… uh, stop that. I’m your trainer now,” he wavered as the Hoothoot flapped erratically. It was the Munna who swooped in, using its psychic grip to restrain the agitated bird. “Seriously, I need your help,” he insisted.

The Hoothoot responded with an indignant hoot, eyeing Munna with open defiance. To Delia, that seemed like a lost cause, but to each their own.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Luan shifted nervously, raising up a hand. He said nothing with words, but with the way he stared at his psychics, she had no doubt he was talking to them. Munna let go of the Hoothoot, and the trainer stuttered on. “H-hey… you chose to be my Pokémon instead of facing that Onix.” He grimaced, then failed miserably at being more firm. “I need you to act like it.”

Instead of compliance, the Hoothoot landed a quick peck on Luan’s forehead. Before another one, the Lunatone put itself on the way. It was a lot less gentle than the Munna. The Rock-Type shone its red eyes and began gathering psychic energy.

“We really don’t have time for this,” Delia muttered, wearily. Cee could be hurt right now. She took a deep breath and approached the bird herself.

Luan was clearly not too good of a trainer, but his head was in the right place.

“Please,” Delia said, infusing her voice with as much warmth and respect as she could muster. “Our friend might be hurt, and we can’t find her without you.” She gestured towards the fissure. “I know today’s been rough for you, getting bothered and caught, but you know this area better than any of us. Can you help?”

The Hoothoot paused and turned to Delia with some hesitation. She could see the cogs in its head—in her head—turning as she considered what to do. Eventually, with a low chirp, she nodded.

Delia made sure her smile held. “Thank you, Hoothoot.”

“Menace,” Luan blurted out, then flushed with embarrassment.

“She was a menace, but now she’s going to help.” Delia strained to keep her politeness… Calling people—or Pokémon—names wasn’t the way to earn their trust. This was basic.

Luan took a deep breath and turned back to the bird. “I mean, that could be her name. Menace. What do you think?” he asked his other Pokémon as much as Delia and the Hoothoot. With no verbal response from anyone, he let out a low, squeaky laugh. “Because she’s fierce, and I’ll make sure she becomes a true menace in battles,” he added, trying to justify his choice.

Surprisingly, the Hoothoot—Menace—hooted in what seemed like agreement. She pecked her new trainer’s head again, but then flew up towards the woods, with a very unsure Munna lagging behind.

“Maybe that might just work,” Luan smiled.

Delia just sighed. “Maybe it will…”

—*——*—

Celeste floundered in the water until she managed to stand.

She remembered sliding and falling and she remembered dreaming. How the hell didn’t she drown…? Or got hurt? Lifting a hand, she noticed there were no blisters there. Maybe the fall wasn’t that bad? She felt surprisingly good. Better than she had in days.

Her eyes turned to the man watching her from the edge of the water. Greying hair and age on his eyes, but not a wrinkle on his face. Not even around his grin, large as a Meowth’s—the kind she found back home.

“Where am I?” Celeste asked, scanning her surroundings. Geometrically perfect rocks surrounded the pool, too precise to be made from erosion alone, and scorch marks blackened the cave walls. She turned back to the man. “This is a lava tube, isn’t it?”

He nodded, offering her a hand. “Used to be. Now it’s just another cave,” he said casually, gesturing around. “The volcano’s sleeping these days.”

Celeste eyed the scorch marks again, then absentmindedly reached out with her cast hand. Those seemed fresh, so the volcano didn’t seem entirely inactive to her. When she looked back at him, he was studying her broken hand, not helping her up.

“Don’t you want to stay in the water a bit longer?” he suggested, tilting his head. “Might be good for your healing.” His grin widened—which honestly seemed impossible. “On the house.”

Celeste, still half-submerged, didn’t fully catch what he was saying. Her mind went elsewhere. Scorch marks on the walls, warm waters, and her weird dreams. All pointed to… well, nothing really, but she thought of One Island’s favourite bird.

Urgh.

She sounded like her parents. What was it her mother used to tell her? Critical thinking. You can make anything into a pattern, but extraordinary conclusions need even more extraordinary evidence.

Again. Urgh.

“So… is this a hot spring?” She pushed aside fanciful thoughts as she refocused on the man. He seemed uninterested in helping her out of the water, so Celeste just stood there, floating and staring at him and those scorched walls. Yes, she could make some link to Moltres if she wanted, but honestly, there must have been plenty of Fire-Types in the volcano who could’ve done that. Like the local Magcargo she’d met the other day.

“We call it Ember Spa,” he revealed. “Old family secret, this place.”

She blinked at him, his earlier words finally sinking in. Did he say the waters helped with healing? More specifically, did he imply this could heal her broken hand?

Her scepticism must have shown because he chuckled and nodded toward the water. “Would you believe these waters have unique healing minerals?”

Celeste could believe the water was soothing. She could believe hot springs were good for health and some level of healing. Beyond that, she’d say the extraordinary evidence was lacking.

“Uh… sure…” she responded, pushing herself towards the pool’s edge

The man caught on. “That was quite a fall you took,” he said, softening his smile and pointing to an opening high up in the cave walls.

Celeste swallowed dry.

Had she landed on the ground instead of the water, she’d certainly have a lot more than a broken wrist. But she hadn’t hit hard rock—she’d landed on nice, soothing, potentially magical water. Not magical because it was healing, of course, but because it was there and thus, she was still alive.

She touched the pool’s edge, feeling the rough stone beneath her skin. Her smooth, blisterless skin.

Nope. She was not considering it.

If there was such a thing as magical healing waters, wouldn’t this place be swarmed with visitors? This’d be a medical revolution, not some family secret.

The man finally assisted her out of the water, examining her closely with amusement in his gaze. “You’re an interesting one,” he said. “I’ll let you in on a secret. The minerals? They’re not from the volcano. They’re a gift from Moltres.”

Celeste sighed inwardly. Here we go.

Regaining her footing, she took a step back as he started his tale. “It is said that Moltres once sacrificed herself to save the islanders from our mighty volcano. She redirected the all-consuming inferno of Mt Ember to herself with such might that her own body turned to ash in the end. The people of the island wept, for that was the passing of fire herself—”

Celeste raised an eyebrow and allowed a half-smile. “But with the prayers of the faithful, the flames rekindled and from ashes, the bird of fire was born anew,” she completed the legend.

His grin widened ever so slightly. “You know the story?” he asked.

“It’s a famous one,” Celeste admitted, rubbing her neck. “My parents love this sort of stuff—legends, mysteries, gods…”

“Yet you think I’m crazy?” He put it plainly.

Celeste paused, then replied, “Are you?”

His response was nothing but a hearty laugh.

—*——*—

Luan and Delia had been searching for a while, but nor had they found Cee nor the Hoothoot had come back. Worse yet, Munna showed up alone. According to Luan’s translation, Menace had darted off into a dense part of the forest, and he’d lost track of her.

Delia glanced at Luan. He kept looking up, his gaze filled with concern. Unlike Delia, who was anxious about Cee, he seemed more worried about whether his Pokémon had decided to run away from him already.

“She’ll come back,” Delia offered, her voice softer than she felt. She wasn’t convinced, but she said what she thought Luan needed to hear.

His face brightened. “You think so?”

“Sure. She’s probably just… searching extra hard. Doesn’t want to let down her new trainer,” Delia said, managing a reassuring smile even as she turned her attention back to the path ahead.

Luan had proven useful with his knowledge of the area, guiding them through several caves already. They hadn’t found Cee yet, but Delia was grateful not to face her worries alone. She kept focusing on her steps as she wondered on why she was so worried. She’d only knew Cee for a few days, and yet they were incredibly close. Making friends this quickly was new to her.

To break the silence that was settling between them, Delia asked, “So, tell me about your Pokémon? Munna and Lunatone aren’t common around here.”

Luan’s smile returned, albeit strained. “I know, right? I’m hoping that’ll give me an edge in the Gyms. Maybe people in Kanto won’t know how to handle them well.”

Delia wanted to be nice, right?

She kept her eyes forward in hopes not to betray her thoughts. There were many people with uncommon Pokémon—Cee’s Vulpix, for one, was rarer than a Munna. She didn’t need to burst his bubble by pointing out the flaws in his strategy, however.

“So, how did you meet?” she asked. When she finally turned to him, she let out a more teasing smile. “Did you also bully them into joining you?”

“I didn’t bully Menace,” Luan replied quietly and defensively.

Delia couldn’t help but laugh. They paused at a crossroads, the large volcano dominating the landscape ahead, its presence even more imposing than the one in Cinnabar.

Luan pointed up in its direction. “We should search further down this road. There are more caves that way.”

As they resumed walking, Luan glanced at the Munna, who floated lazily beside him. “Rev was my starter,” he continued, a fond smile crossing his face as he looked at Delia. He quickly glanced away, clearing his throat. “My cousin gave him to me when I started working for her. And Lulu—I caught it a few months back, in a cave in Hoenn.”

“You go to a lot of caves with your cousin?” Delia kept the conversation flowing as they trekked.

Luan chuckled. “Yeah, Mia likes to find hidden gems wherever we go. Somehow, we keep ending up in caves.”

As they approached a steep incline, Delia reached for a rock to steady herself, accepting Luan’s offered hand. “You said you work for her?”

“As her assistant,” he confirmed, helping her up. “Mia believes in keeping it in the family—says it’s cheaper and more trustworthy.” He paused, standing a tad too close for comfort, and fell silent for a moment. “She had the coolest job…”

“Exploring strange caves?” Delia stepped forward, letting go of his hand now that she was stable.

Luan stumbled slightly, a flush creeping up his neck. “Uh, not exactly caves. She’s more about… climbing the corporate ladder. Ever heard of Razzo Cosmetics?”

Delia snorted. This was one of Kanto’s bigger corporations. Of course she heard of it.

“Right… yeah. Uh, they’re branching out to other markets and… stuff.” Luan rubbed the back of his neck and exchanged a quick glance with his Munna. “Mia… my cousin… she… uh… travels to other regions. Scouting for market trends, partners, competitors. That kind of thing.”

“You mentioned she had the coolest job?”

They had reached a small ridge. Above the treeline, it overlooked a panoramic view of the coastline and scattered caves. Cee and the Hoothoot were still missing from the scene. Luan squinted towards the horizon, then back at Delia.

“Hmm,” his gaze met hers. “Oh, right… Mia. She recently got a promotion. So she’s going to stick around the main office in Kanto now. No more travelling…and probably no more need for an assistant.”

“I see…” Delia turned to the sun, getting low in the sky. How much longer could they keep searching before they got trapped in this strip of land? “Is that why you’re going to collect badges? Need a new job?”

Luan nodded, a little shy. “Mia thinks she can get me an internship at the company. I can be helpful… and they might hire me. But with the new branching out thing, they’ll be looking to sponsor trainers. That seemed like a better deal.”

As they stood there, the breeze rustled through the trees, the light fading by the minute. The gravity of the situation weighed on them; if Cee was injured, time was against them, and the same went for the Hoothoot. Luan’s worry was palpable—the longer they waited, the less likely his Pokémon would return.

Delia’s heart sank. Should they look for the local rangers?

“Wait. You hear that?” Luan suddenly turned, alerted by a distant sound.

“What you guys looking at?” Another voice asked, and this one made Delia turn. The teasing smile on Cee’s face made her tear up. Quick friends they might’ve been, but that didn’t lesser the bonds they forged under the stars and the waves.

Delia didn’t hesitate to hug her.

Cee stiffened, likely surprised by the display of affection, but soon laughed. She didn’t have even a scratch on her face. “Happy to see me, huh? I want you to remember this feeling, okay?”

Delia pulled back, a frown forming despite the relief. “What did you do?”

Cee waved a hand around. “Remember that money you lent me for the battles? I paid a dodgy old man to show me a way out of a cave. Pretty sure he was scamming me. Sorry.” Her laugh turned sheepish.

“It’s okay,” Delia shook her head. Cee was apologising for the one sane thing she did during the past few days. Figures. They’d sort out the finances later.

She glanced at Luan, who beamed despite having to fend off pecks from his Hoothoot

Cee noticed it as well. She patted the bird on her back. “Thanks to this cutie here, I didn’t have to pay for a guide back to town as well.” She smiled at Luan. “Thanks for sending Hoothoot after me.”

Luan nodded, letting out a breath he’d probably been holding. “It’s Menace,” he said, trying to reach out for his Pokémon. She never let him. “Dude! Come on!”

The girls couldn’t help but giggle.

“Yeah… I’m not calling her that,” Cee shrugged. Then, pausing as if to share something more but deciding against it, she smiled broadly. “I’m starving. Think those guys from Paldea can give more free sandwiches?”

—*——*—

The morning light filtered through the window, casting a soft glow across the examination room where Nurse Joy was inspecting an X-ray image. Her expression was thoughtful, but she turned to her patient with an encouraging smile. “Yes… all healed up. We can take that cast off for good. No more worries about it getting wet.”

Celeste offered a tentative smile in return. The news was excellent, yet somehow surprising. “I thought I’d have to wear it for longer, especially with… how careless I’ve been. And isn’t there usually some rehab time?”

Nurse Joy continued to scrutinise the X-ray a moment longer before setting it aside. She maintained that practised, reassuring demeanour common to seasoned medical professionals. “Everyone heals differently,” she said with a comforting smile.

The breeze rustled the curtains, and the warmth of the sun filled the room, hinting at the beautiful day ahead. Celeste flexed her fingers, relieved to find them pain-free. “A week ago when I came here last, I wasn’t this good.”

Joy stared at her hand. “And now you are. You’ve healed remarkably fast. It’s a sign of good health. Please, try not to worry.”

Celeste nodded. This was a good thing. To be healthy. Still… her thoughts drifted back to the strange pool in the cave and the weird man who had disappeared as soon as he’d shown her the way out.

The mystery of Ember Spa.

Maybe she could mention it to her parents? They’d be thrilled to investigate and—

She exhaled sharply, dismissing the thought. That was no longer her life. She hadn’t even told Delia about that place. It was probably best to let it go.

Flexing her fingers again, Celeste reached for a pokéball. There was no use getting lost in thoughts of magical water… right? The cool metal of the ball felt great in her newly cast-free hand. Her focus now had to be on her Pokémon and the upcoming battle.

After all, this was the day she had been preparing for.

Today, she needed to focus.

Because today, she had a battle to win.