Sky's the limit

Chapter 2

As promised, the second chapter. Enjoy!

"So this is it?" Gina asked.

They had finally made their way up a surprisingly large staircase, and now stood in front of a tent that looked very much like a Wigglytuff.

"Yep, this is the place," Riolu replied, looking around him. Wooden spears tied together to form large Xs lead the way up to the tent. Two torches situated beside either side of the building burned brightly and stood out against the quickly darkening sky.

"We'll train to be explorers here," Riolu said. Then he shuddered. "Still, I can't help but notice that this place is really weird..."

"Yeah," Gina said. "I mean, do they ever put out those flames? And why have all these spears?"

Riolu frowned. "That's not what I meant. I mean, they have this!" He pointed towards a large hole in the ground, covered by a grate. "Wouldn't it be easier to just have guards outside or something?"

Gina shrugged. "Let's just go in already!"

Riolu gulped, and stepped towards the grate. He let out a nervous chuckle. "I can't do this." He was about to head back down the stairs, when Gina darted in front of him.

"Yes, you can," Gina urged. "Don't be so nervous! Besides, that was one big set of stairs, and I'm not about to go back down there only to come right back up again after you eventually come to your senses and try again! We're here now, so we're going to get this done, now!"

Her dark eyes bore into his for a long moment, when finally he nodded. "You're right." Riolu took a deep breath. "I have Gina with me now," he whispered to himself.

He stepped onto the grate, and jumped when someone shouted up at him once again.

"Pokemon detected! Pokemon detected!"

"Whose footprint? Whose footprint?"

"The footprint is Riolu's! The footprint is Riolu's!"

Riolu flinched, and he clutched instinctively at his necklace. "N-no... I have to be strong..."

It wasn't long before the voice shouted again. "You may ENTER!" The voice paused for a moment. "There's someone with you! So get off and tell them to stand up here!"

How do they know there's two of us? Gina wondered.

Riolu did as instructed, and he looked at Gina. "I think they mean you. They want you to get up on the grate."

"I heard," Gina said. She stepped forward, examining at the hole. "I guess it's safe. It is made so no one can fall through after all."

"Just get on the GRATE!" the voice shouted.

Gina rolled her eyes. Just quit being so dang pushy. She stepped on the grate, and the usual shouting ensued. Even though she was expecting it, she still flinched slightly when it happened.

"Pokemon detected! Pokemon detected!"

"Whose footprint? Whose footprint?"

However, the first voice paused for a moment.

"The footprint is... the footprint is... um..."

"What's wrong? Sentry Diglett? What's going on?!"

The first voice, apparently Diglett, stammered nervously.

"Umm... The footprint is... maybe Eevee's! Maybe Eevee's!"

"MAYBE?! Are you kidding me?!"

"I'm sorry... it isn't a footprint you normally see around here..."