Phantomness juggles plotbunnies and bananas and pineapples because she feels elated that the block died, at least for a chapter…
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 6
“I don’t really like the look of this, but I suppose we have to go in.”
Lance nodded, her eyes calculating as she scrutinized the door. Then, with a shrug, she focused her magic and inner strength in one hand and punched forwards. The locks all cracked and broke off.
“Why did you do that? I could have picked the lock!”
“You mean you didn’t see?”
“I didn’t see what?”
“The knob was a different color from the rest of the adornment. Poison, Red.”
“Oh….” Poison was not an obvious trap, and thus, he had missed it. He flushed guiltily. “Sorry. I mean…”
“I know… I do not... that is; I am not trying to imply that your skills count for nothing, Red. Indeed, your swordsmanship is excellent.”
Red flushed at the praise and than the y pushed the doors open. Inside, nothing was immediately visible except a large, black cauldron some ten feet across in diameter. Both of them stared at the monstrosity for long moments.
Finally, Red decided to take a peek inside. He recoiled almost instantly.
“Distasteful?”
“Leeches! Leeches and worms and all manner of insects are inside1”
“Well, this is not our goal then.”
Laughter echoed around them.
Red gripped his sword tightly with sweaty hands. “Who is it?”
“Why I am hurt! And here I thought you had come to the town to visit me…”
“Morty?” Lance asked, keeping a firm hand on her archery equipment. “What do you want? Show yourself!”
“As you wish…”
The colors in the air in front of them began to run with muted flesh tones. Blue and purple were also present, before finally, a young blonde man with streaks of white in his hair stood before them. He carried no weapon, and his robes were of neutral tint, but even so, they did not let down their guard.
“So you’re the two that are supposed to save this land… well, you’re not exactly what I was expecting, but you’ll have to do.”
Red started forwards, but Lance gripped his arm. “Something is wrong. You’re not… human…”
Morty grinned. “You’re sharp one, lass. I’m a ghost now, restless spirit, call me what you will.”
“You’re dead?” Red gaped.
“Well, call it what you will. I am most certainly no longer among the living. My experiments into the field of death went a little too well…”
“You must have a strong will to stay corporeal, though.” Lance injected.
“My will is as strong as ever, and death really does little effect upon my magic. I shall give you what you desire, but I warn you, this road you walk is not an easy one. Others have failed in the attempt…”
“Others may have failed, but we won’t!” Red grinned. “We won’t fail!”
“Our bones will not lie among the fallen…”
“Hmm. Your spirits are true. Take this.” A small, tiny chip of obsidian dropped into Red’s hands. He stared at it in wonder for a moment, before shaking himself from reverie.
“Thank you, Necromancer.”
“Just call me Morty. I’m sure we’ll be on those friendly terms soon enough!”
With that, Morty vanished back into misty nothingness.
“What did he mean by that?”
Lance grinned. “Either we shall become heroes valiant enough to spark legends, and even kings and emperors will know our names and begrudge us not their stuffy formalities, or we will soon fail and wind up dead, in which case formalities – who cares?”
“I much prefer the first statement!”
“I do the former as well, but we must not let carelessness dull our senses. True, we are almost as far as the last team has gotten, but carelessness costs many a life in this world.”
“I know, I know. You don’t have to keep lecturing me.” Red griped.
She smiled. “I just…”
“It’s just the way you are, and I wouldn’t change you…”
“Where to now? I do think we had best take a breather though. Climbing all those stirs left me a bit winded.”
“Well, I’m not complaining.” Red smiled. The two of them set up a quick camp, lighting a fire and making do with some dried food they still had. Red began to polish his sword while Lance fletched a few more arrows, just in case. Her supply had dwindled considerably when they had fought the possessed warthogs a while back.
That night, they slept in the ruined tower… well, not ruined, but it had a bit of a creepy aura still, even with Morty gone, perhaps to the other side. It mattered little. Their mission was still forefront in their minds and they would not e deterred with croaking prophecies of doom…
The next day, bright and early, they set off for Saffron, the obsidian chip joining the other treasures in the box.
“What do you think Lady Sabrina is like?”
“I was under the impression that you knew her. Isn’t she your cousin?”
Red frowned. “I had forgotten about that. You’re right, she is.”
“Well then, perchance she will be more favorably inclined to give up whatever she guards so zealously.”
“Maybe.” Red agreed doubtfully. “I don’t know much about her.”
“Call it a family visit then.”
“I don’t think my family disowned her…” Red said after careful consideration. “Maybe she’s just a hermit?”
“I do not begin to understand what you’re speaking about.”
“Hmm, going to play that way, ne?” Red laughed. “Let’s go. Saffron isn’t far from here. There’s an underground tunnel…”
“Oh, I am so not looking forwards to that…”
End Chapter
Completed 1/17/06
Phantomness: *Yawn*
Red: I’m related to Sabrina?
Phantomness: Why not? ^^