Well, after long, long, long last the next chapter is up. Sorry for the wait, and I'm afraid there'll be another long one while I'm on a two week holiday to Portugal, so no writing for a while. Enjoy!
Chapter 14
Regice
The tunnel seemed to go on forever, an endless seam of darkness in the rock. Edward's hands were placed on the walls at all times, keeping him steady whenever he kicked Nuria in the back of the leg or stood on her heel, and therefore all the times she kicked back.
They walked for what could have been miles in complete silence, Edward consumed by thoughts of dread and trying to keep his breathing under control. He didn't feel as scared as before: maybe it was the fact that Nuria was with him, perhaps because he knew that it couldn't get any worse, or maybe he was in some form of shock, like a car-crash survivor.
After maybe half an hour, Edward found his arms wrapped around his chest:
Why's it so cold?
Then it struck him:
Oh, Regice
! How did I not realise that before? He found himself thinking back to anything he might have seen or heard that would help him visualize Regice. He bit his lip. Why couldn't he remember? Had he not had stories of legends read to him by his parents as a bed-time story when he was but a boy? Hadn't he read those books himself as he matured? He knew Regice was a guardian of... something, but apart from that, nothing. Was there no picture of Regice?
Then again, if Regice had been down here all this time, how would a picture get taken? the rational part of his mind responded.
After perhaps another half an hour, Edward's teeth were chattering loudly, his arms folded up his shirt to conserve heat. He could hear Nuria breathing shakily in front of him, and judging by her dimly lit outline-
Edward suddenly jolted when he realised he could just about see Nuria and the walls of the cave, dimly illuminated by a light blue. His eyes must have become accustomed so slowly that he hadn't noticed it. Craning his head over Nuria's shoulder, he could see a far-off pin-prick of pale blue light.
“N-N-Nuria,” he stammered through chattering teeth, “Wh-h-h-h-hat is that?”
There was a long pause.
“Nu-Nuria?” he asked again, and once again there was no answer. Edward just shut up and kept on walking.
After another long silence, marred only by the rough scraping of shoes, Nuria finally spoke.
“How d-do we f-f-f-fight it?” Nuria said, teeth chattering. Too cold to speak, Edward just shrugged. Then he realised that must have been what Nuria had done earlier. Clearing his throat, he spoke up:
“I dunno... Zubat
could confuse it.”
Another silence.
“D-d-do you really th-think that'll work?” she asked sceptically.
“I... dunno...” Edward repeated, his mind working. If a fight were to start, what could his Pokemon do? Not even Ralts could do anything in the presence of Latios. So... against Regice? Ice type moves would knock out both Nincada and Zubat... kill, even...
Edward stopped moving.
What am I doing? He and his Pokemon could easily die... even though Latias said that they went easy on Pokemon... but humans? How would they be able to escape an attack if Regice wasn't too friendly?
“N-Nuria, will Ralts save us if,” he struggled for the right words, “ if things go wrong?”
Another silence, albeit much heavier.
“Depends,” she said monotonously, “i-if Regice l-l-l-lets her.”
Edward nodded shakily. He knew Regice might just freeze her or something, but hoped for at least some guarantee that something could be done.
As they continued Edward consciously made out the change in light intensity; soon the tube he and Nuria were in was illuminated brightly by an icy blue, and the air was unbelievably freezing. Both he and Nuria were shivering violently; they now each had an arm around each other in an attempt to conserve body heat. What had once been a whitey -blue speck was now a large, sharp pale blue beacon, emanating pure chill.
“Th-th-th-th-this i-i-is s-s-s-s-s-stup-p-p-id,” Nuria chattered. “Ed-d-d-dy, send out Mudki-i-i-ip.” With a numb, shivering arm he sent out Mudkip, too cold to argue. Mukip materialised and was it was instantly obvious that the cold didn't affect him much. There was something else too, he had his head cocked to the side, as though listening to some far-off voice.
“M-m-mudki-i-i-ip, use a g-g-gentle Wat-t-t-er G-gun on us,” Nuria said, her teeth clacking. In his distracted state, Mudkip didn't even recognise the command as Nuria, but opened fired water all the same.
Edward opened his mouth to protest, but got a mouth full of body-temperature water for all his troubles. He felt the water blast pounding all over him, instantly warming him up slightly– he was still cold, but not as much.
“Good one,” Edward said, no longer shivering. “Thanks, Mudkip,” he said to his Pokemon, but the mud-fish didn't reply, still as though deep in thought.
Well, at least he isn't depressed any more, he thought as he recalled Mudkip. The next moment Nuria had carried on walking, Edward following behind, dripping wet. Every now and then the cold would return and nearly freeze their clothes, but each time Edward would simply ask an increasingly distracted Mudkip to use a Water Gun attack, drenching both of the humans and warming them up slightly.
As the light became more intense, so did the air pressure; several times Edward felt his ears pop. He'd been around enough Legendaries to know he was approaching one.
“What do we say to it?” Edward asked suddenly, cocking his head to the side. Of course, he'd been thinking about how to battle, but wouldn't he have to convince the ice monster using words as well?
“How about the truth?” Nuria suggested, not looking up or looking vaguely interested. Edward shrugged, thinking of how the truth would be delivered exactly.
Hello, Mr. Ice monster, we sort of need you to become part of a suicidal mission to kill something that has destroyed countless planets like this thousands of times over. Are you fine with that?
Somehow, he didn't think words could cut it.
As they approached the end of the tunnel, it became apparent that the shining was not an exit, but merely a transition of tunnels. Freezing cold, even though he'd been watered mere seconds ago, Edward could see the sudden transition from shiny grey to clear, dazzling white crystal. No, not crystal, he realized, ice.
He and Nuria stood, side by side, on the threshold of the ice tunnel, each unsure if it would be safe to go further. Edward's shivers were so powerful he had to lean against the rock for support to stand up, and he'd brought the sodden scruff of his shirt up to his neck to warm him slightly – to no avail. The water that had previously kept him warmer now froze to his clothing, causing his skin to burn from the sheer absence of heat.
Wordlessly, Nuria was the first to step forward, and the second she did her limbs fell to her side; she whirled around, her features happier than Edward could have thought possible, and said:
“Eddy, come on – it's
warm”
Edward narrowed his eyes. Was this the final stage of hypothermia - delusion?
“M-m-m-mayb-b-be w-w-we shhhhhhould come back with w-w-warmer c-c-clothes?” he stuttered, his teeth clattering together so violently he barely managed to string together a coherent sentence. In response, Nuria simply rolled her eyes and suddenly pulled Edward over to her, across the boundary of the rock.
The second he stumbled in, he saw what Nuria meant. The cold was gone, replaced by... he couldn't say if it was hot or not, just... normal. The air felt as though it carried no temperature, nothing to heat or cool the teens. As well has this, he realised he was completely steady, as though the ice was simply not slippery.
Edward found himself grinning, in spite of the scenario. He felt...
comfortable, more comfortable than he thought was possible at this time. Even his nerves had settled. Which led him to wonder,
why?
Was it possible that, now they were in its domain, Regice could shield them from the cold?
But that would mean it knows we're here, Edward realised, turning suddenly to see how far the ice-tunnel went on for. He couldn't see an end.
“So, what do we do?” Nuria asked, perked up considerably, as she began to walk forward, Edward following. Edward, pondering on his last thought, shrugged. “So, when we meet Regice, we, what, explain what's going on first? Will we have to challenge it to prove our worth? Or will it just attack us on sight?”
“No,” Edward said carefully in response to the last question, “I think we'd be dead if it wanted us dead. I mean, this is basically its territory, right?”
“Yeah, I suppose so,” Nuria mumbled. She folded her arms behind her head. “So, if we have to fight, what tactics do we use?”
Edward blinked:
what could be effective? Would his Pokemon's attacks actually do anything? Suddenly he jumped:
My Pokemon!
What about Mudkip, Zubat and Nincada? Wouldn't it be fair to know what's going on? After all, there was always a chance...
No, don't think that! Latias had said that Legendaries went easy on other Pokemon...But it is a Legendary after all... what if it forgets to be weak?
But should they know?
That would be the nice thing... even sensible in case they freeze up during battle.
“Hey, Nuria, do you reckon we should tell our Pokemon about... you know?” Edward asked.
“Why worry them?” she replied, not breaking stride.
“But, shouldn't they be mentally prepared?”
Nuria snorted: “Eddy, you do things your way, and I'll do things my way. Shellder will just flop around, Ralts will go all quiet and Bayleef won't talk to me. I think it's best we focus on what to say and how we should battle, personally.”
Edward shook his head. How could she think that?
“Well, how about you wait while I talk to
my Pokemon,
okay?” he suggested. Nuria stopped, sighing.
“Sure,” she moaned. Edward smiled as he drew three filled Pokeballs from his pocket: a few seconds later, Mudkip and Nincada stood before him, all looking in wonder at the glacial tube around them, Zubat flapping around nervously, oblivious to his surroundings.
“Um, guys, I have an announcement,” Edward said, his voice solemn and heavy with guilt.
If something happens... He shook his head. They'd be fine. Before he continued, however, he noticed a sudden change come over his Pokemon, each of their faces changing as some sort of understanding dawned on them.
Nincada stood stock-still, shivering erratically, despite the absence of cold. Zubat suddenly shrieked, beating his wings furiously, as he darted around the air, shouting: “Retreat, retreat, retreat!”, all the whilst Mudkip's eyes lit up as though possessed by wonder.
Edward wasn't sure which freaked him out the most.
Zubat suddenly flew an inch in front of Edward's face, breathing heavily.
“Master, we must flee now! There is a monster in yonder cavern – it would kill us for sure! We must run, flee, retreat, fly!”
“Zubat,” Edward said quickly as the Zubat finally drew breath, “relax, do not panic. I'll explain what's going on.”
Slowly but steadily, the Zubat's wings began to calm, though the bat had begun to hyperventilate.
I'd better be quick, Edward thought.
“Well, in short, there's a... murderer,”
Let's leave it at that, “which is killing Legendary Pokemon,” (each of the Pokemon gasped), “so Latias and...Latios have chosen us to help by convincing each Legendary to make a stand.”
Mudkip and Nincada's eyes bulged. If Zubat had any, Edward was sure they would have too.
“I knew I sensed something! Will we battle them?” Mudkip asked, excitement shaking his voice.
Okay, not the reaction I was expecting.
“Well, yes, probably,” Edward said. Instantly Zubat was airborne, screaming obscenities about how bad an idea this was, Nincada's eyes screamed of pure horror and Mudkip began to jump slightly, grinning maniacally.
“Zubat, stop!” Edward shouted over the screeches of the erratic bat. “Latias told us that you would all be safe, that Legendary Pokemon do not seriously harm regular Pokemon. So I'm just telling you that you'll be safe, no matter what, okay? Even if push comes to shove, Nuria's Ralts will save us. I just wanted to make sure that you're aware of what's going on in case we need to battle Regice. Is everyone okay with that?”
Edward suddenly noticed that Mudkip's eyes were glued shut, his body bouncing slightly as though he was trying his best to control his energy. Suddenly he shot his eyes open, excitement and determination like a flare in his face:
“I can't wait!” he barked happily, almost giddy. “I'll beat that Regice all by myself! It might even be impressed! I might even evolve! Then I'll be the most powerful Pokemon EVER!”
Edward smiled weakly at the mud fish as Nuria began to laugh. Leaving Mudkip to his dreams of awesomeness, Edward turned to Nincada. It didn't move.
“Nincada?” Edward asked, concern in his voice. “Are you all right?”
“The cold,” the insect rasped is hoarse whisper, “the ice. It burns me. Please, master, go back, don't make me go to the frozen place.”
Edward took a second to process what Nincada was saying. Then it dawned on him. When the Ice Punch landed on Nincada... when he became encased in the ice... Nincada's look of horror... Nincada wasn't just weak to ice types, Edward realised, ice itself scared him witless.
Before he could speak, Nuria interjected: “Wait, so just because you're afraid of a little frozen water you're going to wuss out altogether?”
Edward did his best to shoot daggers at Nuria, but she just shrugged. Turning to his insect Pokemon, he kneeled down and placed a hand on his head.
“Nincada, if you really don't want to come, I won't make you, but it will be a lot harder without your Digging, do you understand?”
Nincada didn't reply, although its shaking began to calm slightly. Nuria tutted behind him, but Edward simply ignored her.
He then turned to Zubat, who was lying on his stomach, his twin tails too frail to allow him to stand.
“Master, if it is thine wish, I would be honoured to do it. Prithee, however, I have two questions: how are we to fight such a great creature, and what will happen when - if - we fail our endeavour?”
After a few seconds of thinking, Edward replied:
“We'll improvise when battling and I've already got some idea, but what do you mean with the other question?”
“I mean, if we were to lose the battle, what would be done?”
“As I said, Ralts would Teleport us all out of there, okay?” he said, smiling with all the courage he could muster.
As long as she doesn't get knocked out first or Regice doesn't let us leave, he said internally, fear gripping his heart yet again. He found himself beginning to panic again.
It could kill us, it could kill us.
From behind him, Edward felt Nuria place a comforting hand on his shoulder. He relaxed only slightly, his breathing still very quick.
This will be the only chance we have to survive. I shouldn't fear death any more. But the fear was impossible to eradicate; he only suppressed it. Standing, he recalled Zubat and Mudkip and went over to the paralysed Nincada. Holding him gently, Edward picked up the insect and carried him over to the rock a few metres away.
“Are you sure you can't come?” Edward asked tentatively. Nincada didn't reply, but started to burrow into the rock, then covered itself with the pebbles. Edward sighed, rose, and walked back over to Nuria.
“Done yet? That was a waste of time – now we just have one Pokemon down.”
Edward ground his teeth.
“Nuria, you do things your way, and I'll do things my way,
okay?” he said venomously. Nuria shrugged and began to walk.
After a few minutes Edward found himself strategising absent-mindedly: there were no type advantages against Regice between him and Nuria... would Zubat's Supersonic work? Between them there were two type disadvantages... speaking of which...
“Will Bayleef fight for us?” Edward asked over to Nuria. She wavered her hand, unsure. “What?” Edward asked.
“Probably,” she said optimistically. Edward sighed.
“Well, what moves does your Shellder know?” he asked.
“Tackle, Withdraw, Supersonic, Icicle Spear, Protect, Leer and Clamp,” she said slowly. Edward's eyebrows shot up.
“Whoa. What level is this thing, again?”
“Only level nine – I guess both his parents were high-ish level Shellders. You know how that works, right?”
Edward realised he
did know, except he'd just learned about it so long ago that he'd forgotten. It was that if a Pokemon's parents had the same moves that the offspring could learn, the child could learn it upon birth.
Therefore, both of Shellders parents were strong enough to learn all the moves it knows now. He guessed that he'd forgotten this just because...
because none of my Pokemon have any special moves... The thought annoyed him more than it should have, leading him to wonder why this was. Well, he knew starters were bred specifically so they did not have over-powered moves, but apart from Mudkip and Bayleef, he had no idea; he stored the question in his mind for further enquiry later, right next to the question about how Pokemon even learn moves in the first place.
“Yeah, I suppose,” he said, his mind beginning to strategise without his permission again. Shellder could take an attack or two with Protect and Withdraw, and Leer could weaken
it somewhat... but once again, would
that even work? Would scary eyes weaken such a powerful being?
The air pressure was still building, he realised it was a matter of time before they would encounter it. His heart began race; he felt as though he was about to throw up. He felt so unsure, so worried, so panicked.
And suddenly they were there.
Edward's gaze shot upwards when he suddenly realised he was in a giant cavern of white, so similar in colour to the tunnel he simply hadn't noticed the transition. Huge, needle-sharp stalactites pointed down on the humans. Even though he knew they must have been there for thousands of years, Edward had a feeling they could fall and skewer him and his friend in a second if Regice so chose.
Edward's head snapped forward at the thought, searching for the Legendary Pokemon. But before his eyes he could only make out the beautiful, glittering dome-like cavern; the wall sparkling like an uncut diamond and had the same-shaped irregular formations of various shades of light blue and white. The floor twinkled as though layered with a fine sheet of snow. But he could make out no visible Pokemon, Legendary or otherwise.
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was looking at
something... he simply felt drawn to looking into a certain space in the middle of the chamber, the space that pure chill seemed to emanate from.
“Greetings,” said a voice pleasantly. Its tone was completely at odds with its cold, dry voice which one would associate with a serial killer. Edward's eyes widened as he tried to place the source of the noise, but still saw glittering white. He saw Nuria searching by him, but to no avail.
“Do not panic,” said the voice again, calm and steady, and still from nowhere, “I stand before you, merely camouflaged into my surroundings. Can you see me now?”
Edward caught a small moving crystal, and instantly his eyes latched onto the bigger creature.
Its pale, bluey-white, pointed, elongated hexagonal arm ended in three miniature, hexagonal crystals, similar to the arm itself. The body was simply a longer, thicker crystal, otherwise identical to the arm. Behind the Pokemon's body were four more crystals in two rows, extended pointedly like short, spindly wings. Looking closer, Edward could roughly make out a plus sign on the body made out of yellow circles – three up, five across – on the edge on the two central crystal faces. It stood completely still, its finely-pointed legs balancing the creature perfectly. Edward was under the impression that the Legendary hadn't ever moved.
He also couldn't help think how... lacklustre the Pokemon's appearance was. There was no doubt in his mind that this was in fact Regice, but he had expected so much more. There were none of Latios' menace, none of Latias' brilliant red feathers... just ice.
That wasn't to say he couldn't feel its power; it was simply a different power to that of the dragons. This legend felt far more... durable. He had the impression that it would still be standing even if a nuclear bomb detonated right next to it. Still standing, looking forward into some far-off distance that only it could see...
“So, you have something to ask of me,” it said politely. It paused, expectancy ripe in the air.
Edward exchanged a confused glance with Nuria:
this isn't going the way I pictured it. His muscles were tense, ready for battle at any second. Slowly and cautiously, Nuria spread her hands.
“Well, um,
Sir, well, Latios sent us to, uh, ask you to, um...” Nuria trailed off, looking back to Edward for help.
“Do not panic, I know of what you are to ask, and who sent you,” Regice said placidly. “I merely wanted to hear your version of what you are to ask me,” it paused again, evidently waiting for some sort of answer. Nuria nudged Edward forward; after a brief icy stare at his friend, Edward turned to the ice-sculpure.
“Well, there's a murderer killing Legendary Pokemon,” he said as slowly and calmly as possible, “and...we thought that... you'd help us...try to, uh, kill it, in a stand with the other Legendary Pokemon...” As soon as he stopped talking he realised he was blushing violently, his face hot. He just found what he said too...honest – he didn't sugar-coat it enough, it just sounded too much. Sparing a brief glance behind, Nuria must have felt the same way; her face was buried in her palm.
I've screwed this up, Edward knew, his hand reaching into his pocket and closing around a Pokeball. He could feel Nuria doing the same.
Maybe if she sends Ralts out we can flee before-
“Very good. You have been truthful. I will help,” Regice said simply, deflating the pressure. Edward froze for a second, unsure.
“Sorry?” he asked abruptly.
“I said I will help when the need arises,” the ice creature summarised, staring blankly at the perplexed humans. “Is that not what you want?”
There was a strained silence.
“But,” Nuria started, pausing to choose the right words, “don't you want to battle or...something?”
“What would that accomplish? I am assured of your good nature in your honesty. We are short enough on time as it is, why waste more?”
There was another silence.
It's got a point, Edward had to concede.
“So... we can go now?” Nuria asked tentatively. Almost immediately, the Legendary replied:
“Of course. I think you would also like to know that my siblings inhabit the Hoenn desert and on a hill in the Route 120. They will await your arrival. Now, leave.”
Even though it was a command, Edward felt himself free to make the choice, as though Regice wasn't really
forcing him. Even so, he and Nuria turned, deeply disorientated, and started to shuffle back toward the tunnel.
“Oh, and if I may,” Regice's gravely yet cheery voice called, “before you find my siblings, train hard with your Pokemon. They are in no way half as welcoming as I.”
“Thank-you,” Edward said quietly as he followed Nuria out of the hall, already beginning to dread his next encounter with a Legendary Pokemon.
Either way, it's a good introduction, and I look forward to continuing on!
