Lambency (Ingo x Reader)

49. The Ancient Mural

Thanks to Cyndaquil, your group manages to walk along the tunnel in which you are presently stuck in.

I must find Ingo as soon as possible and tell him to look for Melli... We must save him at all costs! Hopefully, it will not be too late... Adaman will never forgive us if something happened to his brother... I am sure Ingo will understand this sentiment as well...

Ingo... Emmet...

You shake your head and attempt to stay focussed on locating the nearest exit.

You come to a fork and are unsure of which way to turn. You come up with an idea.

"Big Boy! Please, draw a cross with your hooves in front of the first tunnel entrance! We'll be able to find our way back!"

The Pokémon grunts in agreement. You point at the area you want him to mark and gesture the symbol. He uses his hooves and horn to do as you instruct.

"Not bad! You're an artist!"

The ground is scratched irregularly but visibly, which is more than enough. Cyndaquil walks in circles around the mark and casts curious glances at you.

"Let's go!"

After walking for nearly fifteen minutes (though, you would be unable to assess how much time has actually passed), you arrive at the same fork you were previously at.

"Ah... So that's where it leads back to... It means that the third way must be the right one!"

Rhyhorn leaves another scratch to indicate the direction to follow.

"We're almost there!"

The three of you are relieved at the thought of leaving the cave and not having encountered any dweller...

Your moral plummets when you reach a dead-end.

"But... how?! Melli said it was a short-cut to Wayward Woods... We must have missed something..."

You retrace your steps to where the previous cave entrance slash exit used to be and observe your surroundings very carefully, letting your hands slide on the walls to search for an access.

"AH!", you exclaim after discovering another cavity. "Right under our nose! Come, team!"

You walk a little faster, but alas, you end up at a small pond.

"At least, we won't die of thirst..."

You fill in your gourd with some fresh water and let your Pokémon drink and rest. You sit next to them and Cyndaquil peeps pitifully, asking for a hug. The flames on her back stop burning and you pick her up.

"We'll be okay, little one! I promise we'll find a way out! I'm confident Ingo will come look for us..."

She utters a small whine and you hold her tighter.

"Aaw, don't be sad, Rhyhorn and I are here for you!"

You think about Sneasel and feel a twinge of sorrow. Where is he, right now? He may have become a wild Pokémon again after roaming around in the Highlands for days.

Ingo was right, you should have used a Poké Ball on Sneasel from the start...

Even though... There was no guarantee that Sneasel wanted to stay with you either...

After losing every single one of your partners to the space-time distortion, Sneasel brought back to you the joy of your early days as a Pokémon Trainer, building up a new bond of friendship.

Upon your return to the Diamond Settlement, Cyndaquil will head back to the ruins to be reunited with her mother and siblings. Hopefully, they will stick around to play.
At least, Rhyhorn will stay, whilst Ingo will go back to Jubilife Village.