Sky's the limit

Chapter 15

The steam from the cave had plastered down Gina's fur, making it cling to her body. Soren tried his best not to laugh at how silly she looked, much to her annoyance. By the time they had arrived at the midway point of Steam Cave, they were both panting heavily, and not just because of the long trek in the cave. It seemed much harder to breathe in the humid air.

"It's so hot in here," Gina remarked, her eyes weary. "And this steam isn't helping at all. Look at me! I look so stupid!"

"We've already come a long way in," Soren said, wiping away sweat from his face with the back of his hand. "It won't be much farther. Besides, it's a lot cooler in here, isn't it?"

Gina's tail twitched. "You're right. Maybe we should just stay here and wait for everyone else to come, huh?"

Soren shook his head. "That might not be the best idea. Everyone wants to get to Fogbound Lake first, so if they come and we're not ready to go, they won't be waiting for us."

Gina shrugged. "I guess. Can we just wait until my fur dries off first, though? It's really starting to weigh me down."

"Can't you just shake it out?"

"I didn't think of that! I'll give it a try." Gina planted her paws firmly on the ground, and shook her fur vigorously, spraying water all around her. When she felt she was finished, she turned her head to get a good look at her fur. "Look at that! It really did work! Look, Soren-" She stopped when she noticed her partner glaring at her. He had gotten the worst of the spray, his fur clinging to his thin shape.

"Thank you, Gina. I definitely needed that mixture of water and sweat directed at my face. You're so generous," he quipped flatly.

Gina gave a sincere smile. "Anytime, partner!" She looked towards the long corridor off to the side. "I think we can get going now. My fur is dry enough, I think."

"Good. Let's get a move on."

They began to make their way forward, when a roar echoed faintly in the chamber. Gina had to strain her ears to be sure she actually heard it. "Wh-what was..."

"I don't know," Soren murmured. "But it definitely didn't sound good."

"What if there's a really tough Pokemon up ahead?" she said. "What if Chimecho's story was right all along and there really is a Uxie that wants to erase our memories?" While she felt frightened by the thought, Gina had to admit she was excited to find out whether Uxie lived here or not.

"If it is a Pokemon, we'd better be ready." Soren opened up the Treasure Bag and rifled through its contents. "Oran Berries, Apples, a bunch of seeds... It looks like we're ready for action!" With a good-natured smirk, he added, "And I wouldn't worry about memory loss for you. It would be foolish to steal the memories of someone who's going through amnesia already!"

Gina laughed, for once amused by a joke aimed at herself. Then she gasped. That's right! I wanted to ask Uxie if he met me before and took my memories! I have to tell this to Soren.

"Something wrong, Gina?" he asked.

Gina jolted out of her thoughts with an embarrassed smile. "No, it's just that..." She took a deep breath. She hoped Soren would understand what she was suggesting. "I thought that if Uxie has the power to erase someone's memories, then maybe I came here once for some reason, and he erased my memory! Then he turned me into a Pokemon or something, and I ended up on Treasure Beach...somehow." As she rambled, she realized how silly she probably sounded to him.

Soren bit his lip thoughtfully. "Well, I admit the whole turning you into a Pokemon and you ending up on the beach seems a little far-fetched, but Uxie erasing your memory does sound possible. My question is, why do you personally think that you came here in the first place? Why didn't any other place come to mind?"