Beyond the Adventure - A Pokémon Story

Chapter 2: First Steps pt5

        Jaws and I stare into the gaping darkness before us.  A chilling silence befalls the chamber, creating an ominous ambience.  Cole’s eyes are as wide as dinner plates.  His bearded mouth moves silently, as he tries to form words.  Finally, he speaks.

        “Incredible…” he whispers.

        I step towards the opening and peer inside.  There appears to be a path to the left of the opening, lined with statues.  It is difficult to make them out in the low light.  I turn back, grab a torch from the wall, and head into the opening.  Cole follows suit.

        The flickering light of the torch illuminates the walls, revealing new designs.  The murals depict never-before-seen Pokémon alongside humans.  As we walk further down the hallway, I observe the statues.  They depict some kind of four-legged creature, almost divine-looking, with a great ring around its body.  I have never seen or heard of such a creature.

        “Fascinating…” Cole whispers.  “Just… fascinating!  What do you think these statues represent?”

        “I don’t know, sir,” I say honestly.  “But if you ask me, it must have been some creature the builders of these ruins worshipped.”

        Cole gently touches one of the statues.  “You think so?”

        I shrug.  “It’s a thought,” I say.  “Why go through all the trouble of making all these statues?”

        “Hmm…”  Cole strokes his beard.  “You make a good point.  You know, you’d make a fine archaeologist.  Care to join my team?”

        “We’ll see, sir,” I say.  “I still have things I want to do before I settle down.  Um… where’s Jaws??”

        I look around, but do not see him anywhere.  “Hey, buddy, where’d you go?” I call out.

        I suddenly see movement out of the corner of my eye.  I turn around and see a shadow down the hallway.  I move toward it and the shadow moves away.  I start walking towards it.  The shadow moves further away.  I then start running down the hallway, chasing after the shadow.  “Hey, wait!” I shout.

        “Whoa, wait for me!” Cole calls out.

        I run faster.  I know the shadow does not belong to Jaws; it is hovering.  Despite this, I continue to chase it.  I do not understand, but something inside me needs to know what it is.  These ruins have kind of gotten to me, struck a nerve in some way.  The murals, the written language, the statues; all of it speaks to me in a way I never knew possible.  Something has drawn me to these ruins and I intend on discovering what.

        Suddenly, the shadow disappears into a wall.  I slide to a halt and trip over Jaws.  “Whoa!”  I fall to the floor, right on top of him.  “Ow…”  I roll off of Jaws.  “Hey, buddy, sorry about that.  Why did you wander off?”

        Jaws picks himself off the floor, glaring daggers at me.  He brushes himself off, then points at the wall.  I look up and see more words.  I get up slowly, not taking my eyes off the wall.  As I read it, my heart races.

        Cole catches up to us, huffing and puffing.  “Ooooh,” he groans, cracking his back.  “I’m not as young as you, my boy.  Take it easy on such an old…”  He stops, noticing the wall.  “…fascinating…”

        I step back, taking in the entire wall.  The letters are large, engraved deep into the stone.  An overwhelming sense of awe fills my soul.

        “Well, boy,” Cole whispers.  “What does it say?”

        I take a deep breath and read slowly.  “It says ‘Our… words… shall… remain… here… for… the… ages?’” I say.  I am confused.  “It’s a question?”