Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Thirty-Six: "Behind A Broken Smile"

Sean shivered from the rain and cold, looking around at the sudden tension that filled the cave. Something had clearly happened, and they had missed it. Noticing that Zoey was trying to comfort a crying Mark, Sean dashed over. He had only just reached him though, when the local tribesmen began to state aloud. "Articuno's jewel! Why do they have it?!" A tribesman started to rush in to snatch it, causing Zoey to growl, but the Shaman rushed in to wave the man back by bellowing out. "Stay back!" Immediately, the tribesman bowed his head to her and stepped back. The Shaman then waved her hands to shoo Zoey away. Zoey was reluctant but made room to let her closer to Mark. The old shaman woman kneeled down then, placing a hand on Mark's shoulder as she asked him curiously. "What did you see?" Sean looked from Mark to the Shaman with a lost expression. Sniffling, Mark told her a bit shakily. "I didn't see much of anything... I just... I heard... My dad." Mark's fragile eyes turned to her, asking in a hopeful voice. "But that's not possible, right? He's been dead for years..."

The Shaman rubbed Mark's shoulders to comfort him as she gently told him. "If he's dead. Then he can anywhere he wants to be. What did he say to you?" Mark shrugged, replying in a strained voice. "Something about looking deeper than the surface. That great wisdom comes from looking into the eyes of another. Why?" The Shaman locked eyes with his for a long moment like she was trying to see something in them. When she finally looked away and slowly stood up, she told her tribesmen. "The prophecy has come around once again. Only this time... for curious reasons... we were not picked to be the chosen ones." A young tribe woman stepped forward to ask with worry. "Why? Have we angered them by allowing the Teams their place here?!" An older tribe man moved forward then to ask aloud. "No outsider has EVER been one of the Chosen! Why now? You see things, Shaman... What does your vision see? Should we fear this change?" Sean shuffled his feet uncomfortably. Looking to Pryce, he saw the tribe warriors drag in the prisoner from out of the rain in order to hear better.

The old woman raised her hands to calm the tribe, then kneeled again to let her hands hover over the jewel. The dim blue jewel began to pulse softly, seeming to send energy or warning to her. Moving her hands, she took ahold of Mark's wrists and told him in a calm voice. "Do not be afraid." She moved Mark's hands on either side of the jewel, before telling him coolly. "Clear your mind and open your heart. Become like water. Let the memories flow through you. Let Articuno show you what he wants you to see. Take him inside... but don't hold onto him. As a Ranger... you know how dangerous bonding with him can be... but you are chosen. So, remember your training... and let him guide you." Mark took a deep breath, then nodded to her. The Shaman nodded back, then pushed his hands against the jewel. Sean gasped loudly with the onlooking tribesmen as the jewel began to glow like a star. Mark's eyes rolled back and began to glow with a bright blue light. The Shaman began to hum a beautiful song in a kind of chant. Otherwise, only her song with the sound of the heavy rain and the crackling fire could be heard.

Mark sat every still, but he was clearing watching things pass rapidly before him that no one else could see or hear. Mark's arms soon started shaking and from Mark's mouth puffs of his icy cold breath started to show. When frost started to appear over Mark's fingers from clutching the jewel, the shaman stopped humming and began to say with worry. "Mark...? What's happening?" Mark began to shake more violently and began to groan in pain. The Shaman laid Mark back across the bed, cupping his face as she commanded in a powerful voice. "Mark! Can you hear me?! ARTICUNO LET HIM GO!" Sean moved closer but felt helpless to do anything. Mark looked like he was starting to freeze to death. Then without warning, Mark arched his back and let out a scream that was anything except human! It was a mix between Articuno's screech before turning deeper into a more powerful scream. The Shaman released Mark's face with tears spilling from her eyes, seconds before the same deep scream echoed loudly from outside.