[Pokémon] Beyond the Mountains

"Oh, Ver? Here for exploration goodies? Aren't you too young for it?" He smirked at me from his stall, while his 'friends' nodded in agreement. He was a Cacnea. Jerome, as he was named. He grew larger spikes than most, but had a tiny body that matched his ugliness and made him dwarf-like.

"I have already learned my third power," I said, and spat a seed at his stall. The seed bounced, hoping that I hit him, but it missed his face by an inch. That was required by any citizen venturing out. Three different powers. I knew how to throw a punch, heal myself, and spit seeds. Not a very impressive arsenal. Jerome attempted to make his face look threatening in reply, but all he did was make himself look stupid. His face has a dumb sort of look to it, and he's the only one in his family with it. Actually, he's the only Cacnea that has it.

"I'm here to do business," I said, and opened my pouch. I withdrew five silver coins.
He grunted, "Fine. But the most five silver will get you are a bunch of berries or thorns for throwing."
"That's all that I need. Berries."

We made the exchange. It had a few Persims, Rawst, Cheris, Pechas, and Leppas in it. He snickered, and I knew he had another remark incoming.

"You know, berries aren't enough to get you through the dungeons. There's all sorts of dangers out there. Big, scary Pokemons that aren't afraid to kill. Boulders that fall from the roofs of caves. Traps that spring out knives under your feet."

I mouthed every word as he said them. It was his favorite story, and perhaps the only story he knew. How many times has he repeated it? A dozen? I decided it was time to point it out.

"Right, same tale, every day. I wonder, Jerome, do you even venture to any other dungeons?" Well, it worked. In his dumb eyes, I saw a flash of anger, but he calmed himself down quickly. Oh, how he loves battling with words.
"Don't be so arrogant, Ver. I bet you'll be crying for your papa five minutes into the dungeon as you step into a trap."
"Says the Pokemon who stepped into a trap and got himself a splinter in the arm. I still have a part of the gauze I nicked from you, and I'm sure those three remember how you were shivering at the slightest breeze because of the infection."

Suddenly, his 'friends' seemed to taken a great interest in their surroundings and scanned the area, avoiding Jerome's eye at all costs. He said nothing in return, so I left, not bothering to give him a tip. It's a custom here in Valer Community. We tip people, usually two or three copper, if they have been polite or pleasant to work with. It is where most of the merchants' profit come from. Of course, Jerome's business wasn't faring well. I overheard him one day selling a basket of thorns for the price of five silver and five copper to an explorer who happened to pass by.

There was a towering couple of poplar that marked the entrance of the market. Valer Community was situated on a massive clearing, with a large chain of mountains to the east, and the Valer Woods surrounding us at the rest. Our town was divided into four areas: The Market, the Elders' Yard, the Residence, and the Gate. Each area is a mere few minutes of walk away from each other.

Morgan came running to me with a smile and a face that expected news. Morgan was an Oddish with green eyes, legs that don't seem to tire, and leaves that grew shaggy. He always loved the stories the explorers told in the pub. But mention the idea of him becoming an explorer himself, and he'll run faster than a frightened Jerome and never speak to you until you give him a berry or two.

"I've got the berries," I said and held up the basket.
"Amazing! Be sure to come back safely! And avoid the firebreathing Deerlings if you can!"

I laughed. No such power exists, or at least, not in this part of the world. The only gifts we receive here are those by the nature. There are some gifted with flight, and even poison, but never something as bizarre as fire. But the explorers, who keep claiming they come from faraway lands, tell stories of Pokemons that breathe fire, have steel for skin, or just plain strange. Somehow, I don't feel like meeting any of those Pokemons.

"Come on, Morgan. It's just Valer Woods. And I'll make sure to return with your favorite Valer apples, if I find any."

Like him, I've only heard stories of the certain apple trees that only grow in the woods. But I'll go there to fetch Sitrus for my father, not to explore or to to sightsee. He was getting too old, and I already had my third power.

Morgan skipped joyfully to the market as we parted ways. I made for our home, which was a simple treehouse a few minutes into the residence area if you came from the market. Papa used to live at the top, and me at the bottom, but now we have reversed. Papa was sitting on his bed, reading one of his journals with a happy reminiscing mood plastered on his face. Like me, he was a Treecko. Unlike me, he was already having wrinkles and his walking pace had already become slow. I embraced him and let him check the basket.

"It's almost complete. Except for the Rawst. You only have one," he said.
"Papa, there are no firebreathers in Valer Woods. Even Morgan insisted. And I won't take too long."
He patted my head, "Better safe than sorry, son."

Explorers loved that motto. But I was no explorer. I'm simply running an errand. I put all the berries in the bag my father once used, and slung it over my shoulder. Valer Woods was my destination. Morgan was yelling farewell at me from the market fence, as if I'll be gone for a long time.

The first thing I saw on the Gates were Guardsmen Pansage and Shroomish. They stood vigilant, eyeing every passers-by and greeting people they knew with enthusiasm. Well, only Pansage.

"Hey, Ver!" Pansage waved. "Take care out there!"

I nodded and said thanks. Shroomish nodded his approval silently. He was the type of Pokemon that kept to himself. He rarely spoke, only when pointing something out or when asked a serious question. But I like him for some reason; he doesn't annoy me at all, unlike Jerome.

There was a signpost that pointed to Valer Woods. It was easy to follow and the road was clear enough. Three minutes into the woods, I was searching for a Sitrus tree. They were either softwood or Orans. I climbed some Orans and plucked a handful of the healthy-looking ones, but no more than that.

The canopy grew thicker, and I knew I had truly entered the woods. Sunlight was struggling to make its way to the ground, filtered by the leaves. The road looked like a badly done mosaic. Valer Woods was silent, save for the song of the wind and the leaves' rustles. I was getting impatient, fifteen minutes into the woods. I wondered if Sitrus really did grew here.

Well, they do. They bore a different fruit, pale yellow and fat. It was easy to spot because of it. Sitrus is the most common prescription of our doctors because of its wonderful healing ability.

Climbing it up was also an easy task, but by this point of the woods, some trees were already tall. I couldn't just jump off and land, lest I'll be the one needing the Sitrus berries. After dropping a few to my bag, I started climbing down. I thought everything was going well, but one branch decided it won't be anymore, and broke, ending my fortune and sending me down to the ground faster than I wanted.

Well, at least I didn't land on the bag. But my elbow hit something solid and everything between it and my fingertips felt a jolt of lightning. I fought the urge to yelp, for Jerome might be out there listening. I don't plan on giving him the satisfaction of thinking he got back at me. When I lifted my elbows, the little thing seemed to have sticked on it. I took it off. It looked like an explorers badge, but it was made of bronze and had a symbol engraved on it.

"What the hell is this?" I pondered aloud.

"Amazing! This looks so amazing!" Oddish' eyes glimmered with excitement. It was just a badge. A lost badge, probably, yet it fascinated him so much. I knew how he would react, so I brought the badge with me. The symbol was very foreign. It looked like the wings of a bird Pokemon, but they don't look like feathers. They looked more like blades to me.

"Keep it, Ver!" He said. But I knew deep inside him, he wanted to keep it for himself.
"You can have it," I insisted. He shook his head(or body), the leaves shaking like disturbed grass, and rambled on how I found it and that I should keep it. It took me a dozen of 'Okays' to get him to shut up.

He then asked me - for the fourth time - about Valer Woods. I kept on telling him that it looked like any normal woods, and that I never encountered any firebreathing Deerlings or rock Oddishes, which he tells me are called Geodudes.

The sky was mixed dark and orange. The half moon was already very visible. Soon, it'll be the most brilliant object in the sky, amongst the twinkling of countless stars.

"It's getting dark. We should head for the Elders' Halls soon."

The Elders' Halls was where most of the leaders of the community resided. It was also where we go every last night of the week for news from the Elders themselves. The back of the Elders' Halls faced the mountains, while the entrance faced the market. It had gates and fences, like the entrance to the town. Tonight, there weren't a lot of citizens. I guess they were either uninterested, or busy. I suspect the former.

Sir Harry, the head Elder, was the largest amongst us Valer citizens. He was a rare Pokemon - a Tropius. Only bird Pokemons fly, but Sir Harry has wings to prove that wrong. He had no feathers, yet he could soar above those mountains if he wanted.

Which reminded me of the badge. Are there other Pokemons that don't have feathers, but have wings?

"We are here again, gathered at the last night of the week, and it is my pleasure to bring you the latest news..." Sir Harry began. The rest of the Elders left the Halls and lined up.

There was an old Bulbasaur by the name of Thomas, whose eyes contained as much wisdom as his face contained wrinkles. Beside him was a young Buizel. She was a recent Elder, only ascending a few months back. Before that, she was a very disciplined, law-abiding citizen that only very few loved. To the Buizel's left was Sir Harry, and to Sir Harry's left was a Carnivine. He, too, was a rare Pokemon, and known to most of us as Roman. There were rumors amongst Pokemons that Roman once scared a criminal Pokemon to insanity by opening his mouth. I have always dreaded to know what was inside the mouth. The last Elder was very unnoticable. He was a Lotad, and not very popular despite being as old as Thomas. I wondered if it's because of his size.

Sir Harry droned about same old news: about who had their birthdays, about ongoing projects, about the amount of businesses, about the explorers, about new citizens, if any, and so on. Papa told me that it was an obligation to attend the weekly gathering. He said that even if I am the only one, I should still attend. Morgan only comes because he enjoys my company. I do, as well, especially since every gathering is boring.

"And, a special announcement to everyone," Sir Harry's tone changed. His voice was now brimming with authority. This caught the attention of everyone.
"We are establishing a new rule. Please be aware that aside from Valer, the communities that reside in near the Highpeak Mountains will also have a similar rule applied to villagers. And to every explorers," he put an emphasis on the word 'every'.
"It will be forbidden to cross the mountains, or to even climb it. Anyone found guilty of breaking this new rule shall be banished from the community."

There were gasps everywhere. I never noticed it before, but the way Sir Harry's wings spread behind his colleagues made the Elders look commanding. It was as if...they were looking down on us. The citizens of Valer were never to complain. They get shocked, sometimes frustrated, but they never speak out or oppose authority. Until now.

"Why?" I found myself asking without knowing. I had hoped the commotion would drown my voice, but rather, it stood out and reverberated for some reason. I felt the eyes of the Elders scrutinizing me. Then the eyes of the community. Morgan, who was beside me, cowered behind. Only Roman, I barely noticed, was looking at me in a strange way.

"A good question, Verderon." Sir Harry often replies that way. Except that this time, there was a slight sharpness in the way he said it. He paused for so long that I almost thought he'd never reply. I was too nervous to move or to speak.

"We believe there is something on the other side of the mountain."

I think that was a wrong choice of words. It would tempt the explorers to break the rule. Of course, there was no way I'll say that out loud.

"Wicked Pokemons that detest the concept of a peaceful community. Conquerors. Merciless conquerors." Now, there were interested, albeit fearful murmurs.
"They are very much unknown to us, and we fear the danger they might bring. Who knows what would happen if they discover that there are communities living on the other side."

The people agreed in chorus. I had to join them, even if I doubt.

"Are there any more questions?" Sir Harry's voice boomed over the commotion. Everyone shook their heads. A Bellsprout, one of the servants of the Elder's Hall brought a torch and lit the beautiful lamps that illuminated the Halls from outside. My father said Treeckos like us worked the exterior. It fills me with warm pride whenever I admire its beauty.

The lamps being lit meant that the gathering was over. I watched the Elders retreat to the Halls and the citizens go back to their business. Morgan was already leaving with everyone else. I looked back once more to admire the beauty of the Halls, but I almost ran for my life.

Roman was still there. He never took his eyes off me. Mixed with the shadow, Roman was a frightening Carnivine to look at. I couldn't tell what was going on in his mind, the way he looked at me. But he doesn't seem to be angry. Rather... he seemed curious. He turned and stalked to the Halls with his tentacles. I almost screamed and followed Roman to the Halls when something brushed my arms.

"Hey, Ver, you're not going home?" It was Morgan. His leaves poked me.
I whispered angrily, "Arceus, Morgan! You almost scared me to insanity!"
"Sorry, but you seemed to be spacing out."

I guess I was. It wasn't polite to just stand at the entrance of the Halls. I made for home as quickly as I could to get some sleep.

But that night, the image of Roman's stare haunted me.

Chapter 3 - The Badge​

"Ugh," I complained, shoving the last of the boxes in the wagon. That was ten boxes of Highlands merchandise, mostly rare books and metalware.
"This is all your fault, Ver," Jerome complained beside me.
"Good, now I can leave. And next time you do that, the Elders will hear about it," said the wealthy Wooper. She told her men to carry the wagon, and sat on top of it.

So, what just happened? Half an hour ago, I was supposed to get some fruits in the market for our meal. I ran into Morgan, who was running from Jerome and his companions. He was shaking nervously behind me, and I knew they did something.

"He's afraid of the word explorer!" Jerome said. Poor Morgan replied by shaking his head. The leaves tickled me. Of course, I told Jerome to stop. My requests fell on deaf ears. He began to recite the story of Pokemons, boulders, and traps to Morgan, and I knew he went too far.

I shoved him to distance him from Morgan. His friends disappeared right away, and Jerome wasn't pleased about that. He attempted to tackle me, but I dodged. Then again. And again. And again. Until he charged too far and hit the Wooper's stall, bending a precious piece of metalwork in the crash. Wooper gave us an earful, and Morgan was gone.

And despite the fact that it was mostly his fault, I did most of the work. Morgan was waiting for me back at my house. He brought a basket of Orans, Pechas, and some cherries.

"Sorry about a while ago. You got into a fight because of me," he apologized, bowing so low that I could only see his leaves.
"Hey, no harm done. He didn't get me. Jerome was too slow. Cheer up." I lifted his head. I invited him to our house. Of course, he'd want to, Papa used to be an explorer, and he had all sorts of stories to share. His journals say that he originated from the Highlands, but during his explorations, he found a home here in Valer Woods.

"...and finally, he was able to fly once again," he ended his story about a Spearrow he encountered that had an injured wing.
"Amazing, it must feel great to fly!" Morgan's eyes were staring into the distance.
"Where did he say he was heading to?" I asked.
"Well, he mentioned it was over the mountains..." Papa trailed off, leaving us in silence. Last night's announcement went back to us. I told him about it. I now wonder for the safety of that Spearrow.

Papa's words came ringing to me. "The unknown shouldn't be feared. They should be explored." Those were his words as an explorer then. It was also written in his last exploration journal. He did have ideas of exploring what's on the other side of the mountain, only that he didn't have the means of doing so. The chain of mountains were steep, and food was said to be scarce. But now, with this new rule implemented, I doubt the possibility of finding out about the other side.

Morgan suddenly broke the silence, "Hey, Ver, the badge you found! Does your father know about it?"

Oh, right. He was an explorer. Maybe he'd recognize the badge. I went outside to climb the top room and took it from the chest.

"Here it is," I handed the badge to Papa. He eyed it curiously, then smiled in a way that tells us that he recognized the badge.
"I haven't seen this symbol for a while."

Morgan inched closer, his face filled with excitement. I bet he's squealing inside right now. The prospect of finding out something new to him always gets him in an excited mood.

"Amazing! What does it mean?"
"This badge belonged to Glimmer. He was somewhat popular back then, the bird's wings were made of metal."
"Amazing! Like...how Sir Harry's are made of leaves?"
"Something like that. Birds are rare here, and Skarmories like him are even rarer. But where Glimmer is now, however, I don't know."
"That's strange. How come I stumbled upon it in Valer Woods?"

Papa could not answer that.

"You should find out!" Morgan piped.
"Haha, you're starting to pique my interest in exploring once more. Unfortunately, my body isn't capable of exploring anymore."

Sadly, it was true. But Morgan looked sad. It's the Oddish' attitude. He doesn't like not knowing something. It was clear in his eyes that he was eager to find out why I just happened to come across the badge. Morgan soon said goodbyes and I followed him to walk with him home. I wanted to say something along the way, but he got ahead of me.

"Hey, Ver, what do you think happened to Glimmer?"
"Hmm?"
"Glimmer couldn't have just dropped it, right?"

True. An explorer's badge is like his own identity, more especially if it's someone popular like him. To lose it is like a wound to their pride.

"I wish I could find out," was the best reply I could come up with.
"Then find out! Please!"
"Morgan," I started, "Papa won't have to take care of him." I wished I had a mother for that. But I never got to know her. I first opened my eyes to Papa. So who was there to take care of him when he's old?

Of course, he volunteered for the job. I knew there was no way out of this. Morgan often helped me prepare his medicine, and the boy can cook...well...amazingly.

"But I don't even know where to begin," I protested. I knew it was a weak attempt.
"The Elders might know. If he was popular in your father's time, he should be known to the Elders. You should investigate!"

I wanted to say how he'd make a good explorer. But I wouldn't want a fleeing Oddish, especially since that Oddish is my best friend.

"Right, the Elders then."


The Elders' Halls entrance was guarded by a Bellsprout. The same Pokemon that lit the lamps after a gathering and during busy nights.

"Hello, Verderon," he greeted casually. The gates were closed to anyone without his approval.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Bellsprout. I'd, uh, like to inquire the Elders about something," I started.

Which was a bad way to start, by the way, since last night's incident. Bellsprout eyed me inquisitively and said, "You can ask me."

I showed him the badge, "Do you recognize this?" He shook his head. "How about the name Glimmer?"
And with that, he entered the Halls while saying, "Alright, I'll check with the Elders."

Suddenly, I felt like I didn't want to meet the Elders. The door swung open, and I knew I should have waited until the gathering to ask about the badge.

Because it was Roman who came out.

"M-morgan?" My voice stammered. Even though I knew it wasn't Morgan, I still clung on to what little hope I had. All I knew was it was looking at me, and it didn't seem so happy. It was hidden deep in the woods that only its eyes reflected the light from my headgear.

"Turn back," it said. It was a male's voice and whoever he was, he tried hard to distort it. He didn't want to be recognized.
"I can't," I whimpered back at it.

I thought he'd warn me and say something like I had five seconds to run. But he didn't. Instead, he disappeared. It was my cue to run in panic and wherever my subconscious wants to take me.

Damnit, damnit, damnit damnit damnitdamnitdamnitdamnit!

My headgear bobbled uncomfortably. The path of the light shook wildy, and the road before me flashed in dark, then bright, then dark again. I went slightly off track. Branches slapped me, as if a reminder that I was straying far from the road. But at that point, I couldn't care less where I was heading to. My legs itched to run, and at the same time, screamed at me to stop for a rest. I thought of climbing a tree, but he might be capable of climbing as well. I spat seeds at random directions and mostly behind me. Who knew if he was there? But they simply bounced off tree trunks or rustle their leaves.

Finally, when my legs could no longer push me forward, I took to a tall softwood. It was there where I sat on a sturdy branch and let my breath catch up. I gasped and panted and winced as I clutched my legs. They'll be stones by the next day, I bet. I allowed myself to rest for a minute, until my breathing slowed a little. I took out an Oran and chewed on it, hoping that it would alleviate tomorrow's cramps. When the Oran was all but skins and seeds, I jumped down. I looked up, but it was a blanket of dark-green. What little color I saw, it was made possible by my headgear. I'll forever be grateful to the guardsmen for it.

There was no sound except for the nervous treading of my feet on the soil. All I could see were trees. Anything could jump out, and I'd be scared to death. It smelled heavily of the soil and berries. My stomach grumbled upon reaching what seems to be the trunk of a Pecha tree, but there was no time to eat. I had to find Morgan, or save myself.

And then it just came. A sweet odor, like...like an apple. But much more delicious. It was Valer apples. Before I could lift my head up to see where the tree was, something brushed my back and my first instinct was to kick backwards and bolt off to the nearest tree.

"Owwww...."

Morgan!

"Arceus, Morgan! What are you- why- where....I mean, sorry! But what the hell, Morgan- you-" My thoughts were flooded with what to say, that I just said them without thinking. Morgan was sitting on the ground with a helpless look on his face. I felt really bad now.

"You could've just climbed the tree and, not kick me," he whined. I caressed the part I kicked him and gave him an Oran berry.
"I'm full," he replied.

"Don't kid me. You ran away, and didn't even return. Here, Oran heals and fills you up."

"No, really, I'm full. I found an apple tree," he said and pointed to the tree behind us. It was where the smell of Valer apples was coming from. I guess you could call it a large bush instead; it didn't look like a tree at all. But its fruits were definitely apples. And they drove my stomach crazy.

"I must have one!" I blurted out, picking two and sinking my teeth into them. The sweetness was overwhelming at first, but addicting. But that wasn't all, it felt like I was eating a miracle fruit. My senses heightened slightly, and I began to notice Morgan's breathing. It was dark, but I could see small details. And euphoria filled my heart, like I could simply do anything at all.

No, they weren't Valer apples. They are something else. Perhaps my father would want a taste. I plucked some and stored them in my bag.

"Well, what do we do now? We're lost," I said.
"That's not important. I found something. Look under the tree," he instructed, and I did.

There was a piece of woodwork sticking out behind the roots of the 'tree'. It looked like a handle of some sort, so I tried to pull it up. There was too much resistance from it being buried. I asked Morgan to help me dig, and he began doing so with so much effort. In so little time, we were able to figure out what it was.

"Amazing! A chest!" He exclaimed.

This time, when I pulled it out, I was able to lift it with ease. Which was sad for me, because it meant that the chest contained very little. I didn't even hear any rattle of coins inside. But there was something within. Morgan was still excited, giddily jumping up and down. He was chanting "Open it!" again and again. Fortunately, there was no lock, just a latch. It didn't look old. I opened the latch and Morgan was the first to peer inside.

"Amazing! It looks like a book! Or a journal!" He exclaimed. Unlike the chest, the book looked weathered. Its cover was torn and felt rough to the touch. The pages were aged, they crinkled when I opened them. The first page looked like a map.
"Wow, what do you think this is?" I asked him. There was a single mark on it, it was marked deep in what seems to be Valer Woods. 'TO BE HIDDEN HERE', it said.
"Valer Woods, most likely. Do you see that? It's the Gates!" He pointed with his leaf.

Pokemon made maps, but they were never able to make maps of Valer Woods. It was usually a blackened spot on their maps, or they simply omit it. But this journal had a complete map.

"Who...how did the owner make this map?" I pondered aloud.
"Well, it's easy to get lost in the woods, right? Which means this map was made with the help of a bird," he replied. And I was surprised. His theory made sense. But I had another theory as well.

I closed the journal and put it close to my headgear. It was just a trace - barely noticeable by age - but I felt for it. Inscribed on the cover was the same symbol that we saw on the badge.

"This journal might have belonged to Glimmer," I said. Even in the darkness, I could clearly see Morgan's excitement building up. I bet he wanted to snatch the journal from my hands and begin taking in all the information he could. But before we could turn one more page, Pansage came calling at us.

"Hello? Is that you, Ver?"
"Yes!" I yelled back.

I slept well that night, knowing that my friend was safe.

Chapter 7 - The Temple​

I thought that when Morgan said exploration, he meant journeying with me to far away places and coming back full of treasure or answers. Never did I know that it would mean an hour of cajoling and persuasion to get ME to do the exploring for him. Perhaps the effects of the miracle fruit have run out?

I was at the entrance of the mouth of a cave. It looked like it wanted to swallow me, or any passers by. No fear, I told myself. I had a lantern - a special one from Highlands - and a bagful of berries. I am alone, but it doesn't mean I'm at a disadvantage. I am ready.

So how did it come to this?


Dawn was making way for morning. I rose up to prepare oatmeal for Papa, but he was determined to prove that he can care for himself alone, and is capable of more. He made the oatmeal with a few Pechas mixed in for flavor. He even made his own morning medicine!

"You're so stubborn, Papa," I greeted him.
"And you as well," he replied back with an appreciative smile. "I heard you became a hit with the Basic students. The Market is bustling about the Fire Treecko in the school."

We both laughed at that.

"Thanks to your show, this generation's Valer explorers will never have to deal with unpalatable grub. Our secret, though, is no longer a secret," he added sadly. He took pride in the flint and steel technique.
"Don't worry, Papa, I taught them the other method," and by that, I was referring to using pieces of wood and friction. Papa was somewhat relieved by that.
"Still, I am proud of you. You'd make a good explorer."

Morgan knocked at our door. He often visits early in the morning, but not often this early. We let him in and offered oatmeal, which he gladly accepted.

"Ms. Wingull said that you could take the Basics test and, if you pass, start studying Advanced!" He announced.
"That's great! But that means that I'll be ahead of you. Are you okay with that?"
Morgan let the oatmeal sit on his mouth as he thought. He swallowed and said, "I have a fan club, and I want to progress with them."

I'm not the type to laugh at Morgan suddenly, but this time, I couldn't stifle it. I was shaking and going red as I tried hard to stifle my laughter.

"I'm serious, Ver!" He whined, voice shaky with laughter as well.
"A fan club? But it's your first day at school!"
"I told them about Glimmer's journal."
"But it's an unsolved mystery."

My mind went back to how we even had it. And then to Roman's warning. It was like being hit with icy water. He told me not to mention Glimmer. What if news reach him fast? I wanted to tell Morgan about it, but the thought of ruining his day stopped me.

I finished breakfast and said goodbye to Papa. Morgan was eager to see if I'll pass the Basics test. I was confident that I would, even though I haven't read any books yet.

The school already had its students by the time we arrived. It was a group of Basics, little Pokemons that greeted Morgan as soon as we stepped in. I pointed at them as if to say, "Your fan club?" And he replied with a nod. Ms. Wingull was, as usual, perched on her desk.

"I am here to take the test," I said, earning 'Oooh's from Morgan's fan club. She handed me a bunch of papers. It was easy. They contained simple questions, such as the effects of a Berry, what dungeons are, and little bits of Valer history.

"I'd have your final test to build a campfire, but you're already skilled at that. So I'll say: You passed! You should start reading Advanced books now, but don't neglect the Basics as well."

It was not mandatory to pass the test; it was only a guide on how much we were progressing as explorers. Still, it felt great to know that I am ready for more difficult lessons. I wanted to tell Papa that I passed, even though it was expected, so I headed home.

And met Jerome, alone, on the schoolyard.

"Oh look, you've passed Basics. I thought you'd linger for a while," he greeted me with the usual mocking.
"Good morning to you as well, Jerome," I returned.
"You still can't compare to me. I'm an Expert," A self proclaimed Expert, "and I can prove it to you."
"By running away from fire?" I mocked him.
"By having an exploration race."

He announced it like I even knew what it was.

"Another one of your farce, Jerome?"
He ignored me. "We will open a map and pick dungeons we agree to explore. The one who comes back with the most treasures - obviously me - shall win."

We marched in the schoolyard and plucked the atlas and turned it to the map page. It showed Valer Community at the southwest edge of the map, and the Highlands at the east. In little letters were the names of dungeons.

"I will go with Summer Woods," he declared, pointing at a thick green patch north of Valer Woods.
"Fine, I will go with... Loudred Cave?"

He snapped the map close. "It's settled, then. Bring your own exploration team and come back two days later with your spoils, if you even manage to return."

Jerome exited the school. I turned around to see Morgan with an anxious expression. I came to him and told him about what happened.

"He's terrible," Morgan said after my story.
"Karma'll get him someday. I need help, by the way. Want to explore Loudred Cave with me?"


Thinking back, it didn't go so well.

I summoned up a reckless courage, muttered my new words as an explorer, "Whatever," and sprinted towards the cave. The lantern swung wildly as I brought it, but the light never went out. It warded off darkness and let me see a few feet in front of me. When I felt the familiar tug on my legs that told me to stop, I stopped.

There wasn't anything special about the Loudred Cave. It was just a greyish brown wherever the light reached. I kept walking, hoping to see anything interesting at all. But nothing was appearing at all. I was ready to accept defeat. And that's when I heard the rumblings.

I was a fool to be uplifted, because the next moment, I was running for my life. The sound came from the entrance of the cave, and whatever it was, it could crush me. I couldn't tell if it was a rush of boulders or a stampede of beastly Pokemons. All I knew was that running would save me.

The cave narrowed and took hard turns. If the sound were boulders, they'd stop. But they didn't, which means they were something else. I looked back, but there's only so much light my lantern could let me see. I did the foolish thing of spitting seeds as I ran, which almost made me run into a wall.

Focus on running, I told myself. My feet were sore and bleeding from the rough terrain, but adrenaline forced me forward. I saw the ceiling slowly coming down on me.

The ceiling, Arceus help me!

The grinding of stone against stone mingled with the sound chasing me. My feet felt the ground turn cold and smooth, but I couldn't stop to observe or inspect it. I leapt at the last moment, throwing my body forward as the ceiling crashed onto the ground. It quaked slightly, and the rumblings stopped.

My breathing was audible enough for me to notice it. My legs and feet felt like they were exposed to hell. My chest ached, heaving up and down, as I tried to control my breathing. Tears from pain, fear, and confusion blurred my eyes. I wiped them away. The lantern was still firm in my grip. I sat up and held up my light source. Aside from the ground, which looked like it was made from black smooth stone, I couldn't tell where I was or what the place was made of. Only that it felt cold to the touch, and surprisingly tile-smooth.

I yelled, "Hello?" Which was a stupid thing, because no one would be here. Or if there was, I just intruded, and they'd think I was after their treasures or their territory. When in fact, I was only after my life...my survival.

The shout echoed, which means I was in an enclosed room. I estimated it to be as large as the whole Elders' Hall, but it could be bigger. I walked in no direction in particular, but I had to get somewhere. The lamplight met a wall and I was awed.

The walls were painted. I waved the lantern up and saw figures drawn in black. They depicted a story, it seemed, but I was absorbed in the beauty of it. I walked around the wall, basking in the magic and wonder of my discovery. I almost fell when the floor descended to stairs. I sticked to the walls as I descended.

When I took my eyes of the wall, the faint glow of something in the center of the room attracted my attention. I moved to it to find out that it was a lectern carved from blackened willow, with a musty-smelling piece of cloth covering the top. I removed the cloth, making a cloud of dust burst. There was a single candle on it.

Curious, I took out a match and lit the candle. My lantern was powered by something else, not fire. But the candle didn't burn. I lit the match again and held it to the wick. The wick looked flammable, but it didn't burn. Frustrated, I lit the match again and did the same. I never noticed that the room brightened.

Brightened, by the roof. Which was very strange. It glowed, lighting up the whole room just enough to see details. The black floor made it look like I was standing on abyss. When I turned back, I saw a mural, glowing like the roof. It depicted a peaceful green scenery, bordered by an ominous black that seemed to claw at it.

"Amazing," I muttered.

"The shadows are nothing to be amazed of."

I jerked as I whipped back. Roman was at the opposite side of the lectern, staring at me warily.

Chapter 8 - The Sect of Shadows​

Roman stalked around the lectern, never taking his eyes of me. What was he thinking? Was he planning on attacking me? He seemed very tense.

"What's the reason you're here, Verderon?" He asked me.
My voice shook as I tried to reply, "An exploration challenge by Jerome."

Of course. I had to include that ba***** if I was going to get in trouble. I almost died because of his petty challenge. And thanks to him, I encountered Roman.

"Tell me more," said Roman.
"We agreed to choose a location and explore it. The one who takes back the most treasure wins."

He went silent for a while. I was beginning to think that it was a habit of the Elders; to let you sit in silence. Perhaps to add impact to what they'll say next? It didn't work for me. I tried my best to stand upright, but my wounded feet and weighted bag made it hard for me to do so. He creeped to me and ooked at me straight in the eyes. I felt as if he was staring at my very soul; that I was naked and had no body to conceal it. I would've been shaking with fright, but I had nothing to hide.

Nothing...

"Hmph, I see. Not realizing that this cave leads to the temple of The Sect of Shadow, do you?"

He quickly walked to the walls, caressing the painted stories and murals.

"The Sect of Shadows?" I asked.
"We used exist."

He stepped on air. He stepped on air! I was utterly confused. He was climbing at the air. It was as if there was a large spiraling staircase to the ceiling. He had his eyes closed as we walked, and tottered once when his foot seemed to misstep. But he walked to the highest part of the temple. I heard him hiss something in a rough language, and the lights dimmed.

"Do you see it?" He asked me.
"See what?"
"Focus on where I was on the ground a while ago."

I did. I went over to the spot where he climbed the air. There was just the mural on the wall and the black floor. Nothing. But there was a strange unevenness to the floor. Something square on it. I stepped on the darker spot, and found it to be raised up.

"Black does not mean dark. It is a mistake made by most explorers." He said.

I followed the trail of the dark squares. Each step took me up, and it spiraled. Once, the step went too high and my arms danced wildly trying to balance. Roman scolded me. "One step at a time, Verderon. Do not skip." I tottered more than one, and those moments made me want to spring at the walls so I could hold onto them with my grabby hands. Roman noted my panic, but was patient with me. When I reached the spot beside Roman, he nodded in approval and gestured at the walls.

"That should answer your question."

From this angle, the walls told a story. Roman leapt from the air and chanted a similar phrase when he landed on the lectern. The room brightened back. I read the murals with more comfort.

They depicted a main Pokemon drawn as a stick with a round head. At the first picture, he was surrounded by Pokemons. Then, he was being followed by them. The left part showed how the main figure gathered up a community of Pokemons. It ended with the scene of everyone living a happy life.

The middle part was dominated by the large plain in the middle that was bordered by black. From above, it looked like the black fiercely clawed at the plain. The next few pictures showed how the black consumed the plain. Then, suddenly the figure appeared. He seemed to be warding the black off, but the last picture showed that he perished, leaving behind the other Pokemons.

The right part was more packed with illustrations than the previous. It showed three prominent Pokemons. One was a bird, one was an ape, the other was something that stood upright and was enveloped by a black aura. The next pictures depicted them arguing against each other. Then suddenly, the ape pointed at the black aura Pokemon. The ape left, leaving the bird dismayed. The bird flew off. The last picture showed the black aura to be gathering Pokemon like it.

"That is sad," I commented. I knew what the black referred to.
"We were often shunned by people. But it is better to be that way. That was how we operated." He smiled sadly. It sent chills up my spine. I tried not to shiver. He continued, "What a shame, you've nothing to bring back with you aside from stories. And I'm certain stories won't win you Jerome's challenge."

I nodded to agree.

"Rainbow Nectars Clearing, then. North of here, not too far. The patch of Dreamweeds. Dig at the center. That's all I'll give you." He instructed and leapt out so suddenly that I lost sight of him.

What's with Roman leaving me dumbfounded and with more questions than answers?


The temple had an exit that I quickly ascended to the surface. I was slightly far from the road, so I went back to it. There was a crossroad and a signpost that pointed where north, east, west, and south were. I followed Roman's instructions. This part of the road was more rugged with pebbles, and I resisted the urge to drop and rest. My feet made the walk feel like the road was hot coal. It was well past the afternoon already. One could look up at the sky and not hurt their eyes.

It was evening when I arrived. Rainbow Nectars Clearing was a beautiful plain of mostly verdant grasses and flowerbeds. It smelled strongly of nectar and pollen, and insect Pokemons were teeming here. Colorful Beautiflies were scanning the beds of rainbow, white and purple Butterfrees fluttered about in search for the sweetest honey. One Butterfree that looked like jewels had emerald for eyes and rubies for wings soared up the sky, showering the field with magical glittering powder. A gaggle of Dustox added to the powder show. A mighty Heracross sparring with a Pinsear near a single, lone tree that was oozing with sap. Combees mingling with the rest of the honey collectors.

The least populous spot was the Dreamweed patch. It was small and hard to notice amidst the throng of colors. The Dreamweeds made a chest-high carpet of pinkish purple grass. They tickled me when I entered them, and I felt their sedative effects invade my system as soon as I inhaled their lavender-like aroma. There were some sleeping Venomoths on the patch, and I had to be careful not to step on them rudely. I also wouldn't want to wake them up when I dig.

My right foot's little toe hit something hard and at that moment, I just wanted to scream and cry in pain. But it was a good sign. My foot hit a buried shovel. Carefully, I pulled it off the ground. It upheaved the soil beneath it. No roots grew on that part of the soil, so I dug with as much silence as I could. My eyes were heavy, but the activity kept me awake.

The glint was the first thing I saw before anything else. I could have been Morgan at that very moment, jumping at excitement. My digging pace didn't get any faster, though, as the sedative was strong. When I dug the item up, it was a sizable chest, something that would be popular as a house decoration. It was gilded with gold. When I unlatched it, the chest slowly opened by itself. It revealed a heap of the same fruit that I saw back at Valer Woods, and a note.

I read it in a groggy whisper, "Tell no one of our encounter." I never noticed how the ink swallowed the paper into complete blackness. My fingers were already wet with the miracle fruit's juice when I was done reading.

_*_*_*_

"Liar," retorted Jerome. His previous exploration, it seemed to me, was a disaster. In place of loots, he brought back a bruise on the cheeks that made him uglier, and a cast on the right arm. I was trying to peek at the injury from the arm, but he moved it away.

"Here, have a taste of my loot, then." I handed him one. It was the smallest I could find. Morgan had already eaten some, and more than half went to Papa. Jerome took the fruit with his healthy arm and eyed me suspiciously.

"You must've poisoned it," he said.
"Go on. Sniff it, if you want. We'll see if your little stomach wouldn't complain."

He put his head close to the fruit. I heard the low growl of a hungry tummy, and he blushed. He quickly sank his teeth on the fruit and devoured it in no time. Then, he left wordlessly. I smiled at Morgan, who was reading an Advanced book while watching me. He passed the test while I was gone, and his whole fan club along with it.

We won that day.

Chapter 9 - The Last Flight​

It was dawn. The sun peeked at the mountains, casting a dark gloomy atmosphere. I shouldn't be awake this early. But something tugged at me in my sleep - something urgent. Apparently, everyone in the Community felt it as well. Lamps were lit; some Pokemon were slowly marching to the Market.

I descended just in time to see Roman bow courteously to Papa, who looked as groggy as I was. He then left, noticing me but not looking at all. His face betrayed no emotion or expression. Roman left Papa looking grim.

"There will be an execution." That was all he said. I knew what it meant, but I have never seen one for myself. The thought of it happening here at Valer Community made my stomach turn. There are no violations or crimes that would result in such harsh punishment. Like me, Papa was anxious.

"The Elders made the attendance mandatory. Sir Harry expects everyone, excluding the disabled, to attend."

I wore a simple black handkerchief that was wrapped around my arms. We wear them on mourning days. Papa came out of his room wearing the same. "You're attending?" I asked.
"I can, so I must."
"No one knows that you've recovered except for Morgan."
"Not that, son."

I see. You meant that you wanted to know why.

We met up with Morgan on the way to the market. His mother wore a black piece of cloth that kept her leaves back neatly, while Morgan had his wrapped on his feet. The twin poplar at the entrance of the market were being climbed by a few agile Pokemons. Several wore black cloth as well, but not many. There was a soft, anxious clammor at the front, which was an unorganized crowd. Meanwhile, those at the back tried to stand on their tiptoes to get a better view. Some jumped, and when they were too short, they tried to climb the poplars.

Sir Harry's wings were the only thing visible to me. The convicted was where I'd assumed to be the most crowded area. Sir Harry loomed around that area, guarding it every now and then while he raised his head to scan the rest of the market. Everyone seems to have attended. Papa discreetly climbed the poplar. I was tempted to follow him, but I wanted to get Morgan a nice view. Or rather, a proper view. There is nothing nice about the way this day started.

We waded through the crowd, with me gently pushing people aside. Morgan whispered polite 'Excuse me's, while his mother kept up with our pace. There came a point when the crowd had difficulty in budging, so I stood on my tiptoes to see how far we are. The size of Sir Harry's wings was a good reference. We tried circling around the crowd, which worked, and went in deeper. It was when Sir Harry spoke that we were able to get a proper view.

"Behold, citizens of Valer." He extended his wings with a loud flap, and that caught everyone's attention. But what caught my attention was the bloody carcass of a Pokemon. Or so I thought. It wasn't a carcass. It was still twitching. Its eyes held a glint of insanity and fury.

I had no breakfast yet, but I had the sudden urge to retch. The crowd behind went up in shocked gasps. I had a closer inspection at the convict. It looked like a bird Pokemon. The wings were bruised and blackened with dark crimson blood. Its beak was chipped - seemingly painfully - and had red marks in place of it. Its legs were bent in a lazy angle, as if they don't work anymore. Its feathers, which probably used to be brown, were stained to an even darker hue. But the worst sight was the iron ball. Its inscriptions and the fashion of the chains were Lowlands style. The Pokemon's wings were chained to the pair of iron balls. As if that wasn't enough, it reeked stale of urine, blood, and agony.

"This Pokemon is a harbinger. He was caught at the Lowlands flying from the mountains and made no effort to hide his crimes. Worst of all, he attempted to brainwash the appointed leader of the Lowlands, Sir Glenn."

He paused, probably hoping to get murmurs of agreement or gasps of surprise, but was replied with silence.

"Treason such as this must never be tolerated. They must be ended. After a short meeting and a trial, he was sentenced to death, and the execution to take place here at Valer Community."

Why here, I wanted to ask. As he spoke, Elders Lotad and Thomas the Bulbasaur dragged a recently constructed gallows-on-wheels. Like the iron balls, it seemed to have come from the Lowlands too. The way it was gilded with bronze showed its origins clearly. The rope was fashioned from cruel spinevine and looked like Jerome's arm.

The crowd was muttering to itself quietly in panic. I caught a few words. Unjust, harsh, cruel, murder, unreasonable, corrupt...amongst others that disagreed with the sentence. Morgan and his mother disappeared from my side. Papa's eyes were wide with shock and confusion as he held on to the poplar with his hands. I caught sight of Roman talking quickly with Guardsman Pansage, who was shaking his head and his eyes were brimming with fearful tears. Guardsman Shroomish was beside him, looking down at the ground. Sir Harry's voice boomed.

"He used to fly above the mountains. So, today shall be his last flight."

The panic escalated. I was pushed from behind, beside, and was washed away by the current of the crowd. All I could see were green and blue bodies. I was shoved, pushed around, someone stepped on my foot, my other foot's toes, and confusion reigned. I was fed up and shoved everything and anything within my vicinity and made for the poplars. Papa reached a helping hand, which I gladly took, and let my climbing feet and hands do the rest. Some of the Pokemons who were at the tree couldn't handle the violence and left.

"This shouldn't be. This is unreasonable!" Papa exclaimed.

Pansage was bowing his head low, shaking with tears. Roman stood at the gallows, holding the chains the convict was chained to. They have removed the iron balls. Sir Harry was also at the gallows, apparently trying to calm everyone down. I looked around and spotted Morgan and his mother making for home. The mass of green and blue was accompanied by a rioting uproar. Elder Buizel moved quickly to Sir Harry, but he simply sent her away.

"Fly then," was the last thing I heard before the uproar turn full volume. Roman reluctantly placed the barbed rope on the bird's neck. The convict did not even flinch or react drastically. He simply raised his head in a painfully slow manner. Sir Harry didn't notice this; the citizens were spitting insults and complaints at him and that got his full attention. Only Roman and us at the tree saw what happened. The bird opened his beak, said something that only Roman heard, and Roman closed his eyes.

Did I just see...his tears?

For a moment, I thought something fell from his eyes. But he quickly turned and approached the lever. Without hesitation, he pulled it. There was a snap and panel beneath the convict opened. The crowd gasped and descended to silence. I wish they hadn't. All I heard was a bloodcurdling choking sound that slowly morphed to a strangled breathing. He did not struggle, he simply died.

The crowd exploded. Many ran. Some went around wildly, some took cover at empty stalls, some made a beeline for the Residence area, a few went straight away for the Gates. The others who remained rioted at the gallows. Roman was silently stalking towards the Elders' Hall, using stalls as covers. Sir Harry was aided by Elder Buizel with the female elder using a strange protective power that surrounds them in a sphere of water.

"Let's get out of here," Papa suggested. We descended and joined the fleeing crowd in a brisk walking pace. He did not speak of anything until we got back home. He slammed the door shut as soon as we arrived. I have never seen him so angry before.

"Wrong. Just wrong. A public execution. No one has done that. Not in...many centuries, if the history accounts were accurate." He mumbled as he took a seat on his bed. Papa looked vexed.
"When was the last execution?" I asked him, curious.
"No one took the date, but it happened on the Lowlands. Harsh place. As harsh as their ugly bronze inscriptions and art."

Papa seldom talked about the Lowlands. The place intrigued me back then. He would describe it as a valley, hence the name. He said that mining was the most common occupation there, but had no other stories to tell, for he never ventured that way. It was rare to find an explorer who has seen Lowlands in the pub, and even rarer to find anyone giving details.

"I have to explore." He stated. I rised from my seat and started.
"No, son. I must explore. I must find out what's happening at the Lowlands. First, the Highpeak Mountains, and now the execution? This is very disturbing."
"Papa, please. The miracle fruit might have allowed you to walk, but it doesn't mean you can explore!"
"But who will explore?"
"I don't know. Someone brave? Someone who wants to know what really happened? Just...not you, Papa. I mean, what about me?"
"Don't be selfish, son," he retorted.
"But you're being selfish as well, Papa," I said back. He closed his eyes and sighed.

He looked pitiful. There was a lump in my throat and a tugging at me. It was different from the tug early dawn, and this one kept on tugging ever since I saw the poor Pokemon. I didn't want to notice it, but I had to, now. I swallowed and spoke up.

"Fine, I will explore, Papa." I said. "I will...find out the truth for you."