I stare out at the green rolling expanse that is Route 1. It's a long winding dirt path that cuts through various hills and small wooded areas as far as the eye can see. A faint view of Viridian City's skyscrapers can be seen on the far horizon. I estimate it might take me a day or two to get there, depending on how far I want to push it. Lucas had dropped me off on the least traveled path of Route 1, so I wouldn't have to come across anyone. I had questioned why he wanted me to stay anonymous; he just shrugged and said it was better for everyone if I did it, then proceeded to transfer five thousand Pokedollars to my account to keep me quiet. It bought my silence but created a list of questions.
Why does it feel like I’m being kept secret? Why am I given all of these benefits from the beginning? I highly doubt it's simply to play catch up with the other trainers, and I also doubt it's out of the gracious heart of the League for what they did to me at the hospital. Whatever it might be for, there's nothing I can do about it until I get more badges or get more of my memory back. I'm a nobody at the moment, and a nobody can be easily taken out of the picture, especially if I were to become too much of a nuisance. Even though it is a beautifully pleasant and warm day, I could feel chills running down my spine.
I touch the eyepatch on the left side of my face and let out a tired sigh. I can see fine on the right side of the path, but it will take some time to adjust to using just my ears to detect threats on the left. I release Champ, who immediately starts his stretching routine. I raise an eyebrow at him, which he simply ignores and continues.
"Right, um, so we're going to be traveling down Route One, and I'm going to need you to be my eyes on my left side," I explain to Champ.
Champ gives a nod and takes his position on my left side, tapping me lightly to indicate he's ready. I take a deep breath and gaze out at the dirt road ahead, then begin moving forward.
The journey has been relatively uneventful so far, even on this less-traveled path. We've encountered a few Pokémon like Rattata and Sentret, but nothing particularly challenging or remarkable. The road itself is level, composed of a mix of cobblestone and dirt, reminiscent of a time when there used to be more activity here. Fragments of ruined stone litter the sides of the path as we continue our trek.
Passing through a forest, we encounter some Caterpie and Metapods living among the remains of broken-down houses near the entrance. It's a peculiar feeling, knowing that people used to inhabit this place, an offshoot of Pallet City. Yet, now it seems utterly deserted. There are no memorials, tokens, or flowers, apart from the wildflowers that thrive here and the occasional Bellsprout that tends to them. As I walk through, I'm accompanied by a gentle breeze carrying the sounds of Pokémon chatter and the warmth of sunlight filtering through the forest canopy. The Pokémon keep their distance, which suits me fine, but Champ appears restless and keeps shifting on my shoulder.
Continuing along the main road, we stumble upon a small offshoot path that leads deeper into the forest. I glance at Champ, who looks back at me with a quizzical expression before shrugging and nodding in agreement. With a broad smile, I set off into the depths of the forest, Champ accompanying me.
The path becomes so overgrown with trees and foliage that hardly any light penetrates. I have to rely on my Rotom phone to illuminate our way. The breeze has ceased, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. There's no movement or stirring; it's as though we've entered a separate, detached world where time behaves differently. At one point, Champ tugs at my pants, signaling a desire to turn back, but I manage to convince him to press onward.
After an hour of venturing through the enveloping darkness, we finally arrive at a breathtaking clearing. Before us, the remnants of a shrine reveal themselves, constructed from weathered stones and wooden pillars that are heavily entwined with flowering vines. In the center of this ancient shrine stands a magnificent marble statue of a Ninetales, its nine tails gracefully fanning out behind it. An altar made of wood sits before the statue, adorned with various offerings that are somewhat difficult to discern from this distance.
Amongst the offerings, the statue is the sole element of the shrine that remains untouched by the relentless grasp of nature. The rest of the structure appears to be slowly reclaimed by the encroaching forest. As I survey the surroundings, there are no visible sheds or other buildings nearby. Tall grass has overgrown the area, reaching up to my waist, prompting Champ to climb onto my left shoulder with an irritated huff.
The prevailing sensation here is one of serenity. The profound quietness wraps around me like a warm, comforting embrace. I can't resist the urge to move closer; my body seems to carry me forward step by step until I am standing right in front of the shrine.
The offerings on the altar are a diverse assortment, ranging from small, meticulously carved Vulpix dolls to T.M cartridges and fresh food. However, my attention is drawn to a few ornate and gilded pots placed in the corners of the shrine, next to the Ninetales statue. These pots send unsettling shivers down my spine. I can't quite put my finger on it, but Champ, too, seems uneasy as he persistently nudges my cheek, urging us to depart. There's an eerie darkness that seems to cling to these pots, a stark contrast to the sunlight streaming down in this open space.
Despite the growing sense of disquiet, I find myself strangely captivated, unable to avert my gaze. Whispers, almost inaudible, echo softly around me, imploring me to stay. They beseech me to submit to the majesty of the Ninetales' lineage, to bring her offerings, and to prostrate myself before her. I extend my hand, cautiously touching one of the statue's tails, and...
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He stands there in the clearing as a brilliant dome of light takes hold, severing the grove from the rest of the world. This is her dominion, and she wants it to be known as she manifests from the statue, a woman wearing a beautiful black and gold fox mask dressed in a white robe embroidered with orange flames, her nine white tails fanned out behind her. Several rows of faceless spirits, numbering in the hundreds, materialize around both Erembour and his Tyrogue, and the spirits around them quiet down.
"Who enters my domain unannounced and without gifts?" the fox-masked woman speaks in a deep yet lyrical voice as her gaze falls upon Erembour and his Tyrogue. The spirits around them quiet down.
"I mean no harm, oh great Ninetales. I came upon your domicile by mistake," Erembour says softly, his body tensing as he lowers himself into a short bow. He isn’t sure why he knows what she is, but he had to be nudged quietly in some form. The Dark Passenger inside watches the scene unfold, making sure to be ready to step in at any given moment.
The Ninetales walks down and approaches Erembour, sniffing the air around him. A small growl escapes from her as the hairs on her tails stand on end.
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“You reek of something foul. There is a darkness in you that does not allow me to see you, child. That wrongness. It does not belong in this world, and I will not suffer it to live.”
Immediately the air around them increases in heat as the spirits around them come alive in wailing agony. Tyrogue jumps off of Erembour’s shoulder to attack the Ninetales spirit, only to be cleaved in half by her mighty claws. Gone is the illusion of her humanoid form as she stands in full regal splendor, her true form a six-foot-tall silver-furred fox with a black face and golden eyes, her orange tails flickering behind her.
Erembour scrambles backward, trying to get away from the terrifying Pokémon as the air itself ignites. He struggles to breathe as the world around him catches fire, turning into a nightmarish landscape of black and purple flames. The tears that stream down his face turn to steam as his lungs catch fire.
The Dark Passenger within him lets out a frustrated sigh as it does what it needs to do in order to survive.
“You may escape this time, abomination. But I will find you and cleanse this world of your filthy existence!”
Is the last thing Erembour hears as a dark veil forms around him.
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A loud, piercing ringing shatters the trance that had held me in its grip. I blink rapidly, disoriented by the sudden return to reality, realizing I had almost reached out to touch one of the tails on the statue. A sharp pain throbs on the left side of my face, where Champ had apparently delivered a swift, but necessary, punch to snap me out of the stupor. His huffs and complaints still linger in the air.
"No need to tell me twice, Champ. We're getting out of here," I assure him, pivoting on my foot and making a hasty retreat. It feels as though the whispers in the air beg me to return, their voices shifting into discordant disarray. Some are tearful, while others bristle with anger, yet all share a relentless desire for me to yield to the shrine's allure.
Back on the path, the eerie whispers cease their haunting. Panting and drenched in sweat, I extract my Rotom phone and mark the shrine's location on my map. There's a ranger report button within the map app, and I hesitantly hover my finger over it, grappling with the decision to file a complaint. One last glance at the captivating shrine in the clearing and its enduring beauty bathed in sunlight steels my resolve. I shake my head and close the app, activating the flashlight as I briskly walk away. It's nestled far enough from the main path that it's unlikely anyone will venture here, or so I reassure myself. No need to report it, a persistent thought in the depths of my mind insists.
We eventually make our way back to the main path without any further incident, emerging from the forest's embrace. From my current vantage point, I can see that the remainder of our journey will involve a lengthy traverse through flower-strewn meadows and patches of tall grass before we reach a distant hill. This hill seems tall enough to serve as an advantageous vantage point, affording me a sweeping view of the surrounding landscape. With Champ perched on my shoulder, we press forward, driven by the impending sunset that begins to paint the sky in warm hues of orange.
"Damn it..." I mutter under my breath, a sentiment echoed by Champ as he too discerns the ominous change in our surroundings. With grim determination, I urge Champ to hold on as I break into a sprint. Time is of the essence; I must reach the hill's summit before the sun fully sets, for the coming night heralds the emergence of more dangerous Pokémon known as prowlers. Regardless of the measures taken by rangers to safeguard the routes, these creatures persist.
"Champ, if you spot anything heading our way, unleash a Rock Slide without hesitation!" I instruct him, my voice resolute, and he responds with a resounding agreement.
As I continue my mad dash through the meadow, I do my best to steer clear of the treacherous patches of tall grass. To my left, the grass rustles ominously, and with a swift throw of a boulder, Champ shatters the silence, revealing an angered Rattata.
I press on, my heart pounding in my throat, my body straining to maintain pace as I nearly stumble over a fallen log. Frustration and irritation simmer within me.
"Damn this infuriating handicap," I growl, swiftly regaining my balance and forging ahead. We're halfway through the meadow, the hill growing tantalizingly closer with each step. Another boulder hurtles into the grass to my right, and a startled Houndour scampers out of hiding, fleeing in fear.
Then, from behind me, a peculiar sound pierces the air, the delicate tinkling of childish giggles. Champ responds with a barrage of Rock Slides, each boulder sending out a crescendo of pain and anger rather than laughter. I increase my pace, ignoring the burning pain in my legs and the stitch forming in my side. My breaths come in ragged gasps, and the prospect of continuing feels nearly impossible. But with each thundering crash of boulders, the eerie pursuit falters, cries of agony replacing the giggles. Almost there, I tell myself, I have to keep going.
Finally reaching the main dirt path that leads up the hill, I muster the last remnants of my energy and break into a sprint. The sun is on the brink of disappearing beyond the horizon, casting a canvas of orange and purple hues in the darkening sky, soon to be replaced by the shimmering tapestry of stars.
As we ascend the hill, the eerie giggling and cries have faded into silence, and Champ has ceased using Rock Slide, a clear sign that we've likely eluded our enigmatic pursuers. Collapsing to the ground, I sit, gasping for breath.
"That was too close for comfort, huh?" I remark to Champ, my voice catching between breaths. He leaps off my shoulder, surveying our surroundings with a watchful eye. It appears that he's none the worse for wear. I take a few minutes to allow my racing heart to steady and my breathing to normalize before mustering the strength to set up camp.
The tent, a sturdy black structure purchased from the Poké Mart, is designed to withstand most Pokémon attacks. Following a spate of trainer casualties in the past, manufacturers redoubled their efforts to create Pokémon-resistant gear, with tents being a crucial item for all travelers.
With the camp established, I kindle a small fire, both for cooking and for illumination. I arrange food for Champ and, upon her release, for Beca as well.
Beca blinks, her eyes darting around before fixing on the food. She regards me with a wary gaze before settling down to partake in her meal.
"I hope you're not holding a grudge about earlier," I address her. "If I'd known it was your home, I would've been more cautious. That said, we're embarking on a journey across Kanto. I could use your strength, if you're willing to join us. I'll help you grow stronger, and we'll find you a new place to call home. There are countless beautiful spots out there where you can make your nest."
Beca continues munching her meal with what can only be described as adorable enthusiasm.
Champ regards her for a moment and then seems to engage in some sort of conversation with her. She pauses in her eating to listen, responding with a series of clicks and strange noises before returning to her meal.
Champ, seemingly satisfied with the exchange, scratches the side of his head, sighs, and then gives me an affirmative thumbs-up.
"So, she's coming with us?" I inquire, seeking confirmation. Champ hesitates briefly before nodding.
I can't help but grin, though I refrain from letting out a cheer. Instead, I simply smile as we finish our meal.
With our food consumed and the fire extinguished, it's time to retreat into the safety of the tent. We'll rest and await the return of daylight.