Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity

Chapter 11

Chapter 11: A Goal in Sight

I dash towards Paradise, pleading that there is at least some evidence of where Espa could be. I swivel my head over my yellow shoulder, sighing with relief when I see Zoey still following. I push my tiny, pale legs further. Once I pass the brown arched sigh announcing the entrance to Paradise, I know that someone else is here, and just arrived by the looks of it! I slow to a jog, searching Pokemon Paradise for intruders when I trip over what feels like a soft tail. My face barrels into the gritty soil, my amber eyes squinting to avoid sand there. I get up, brush myself off, and turn around. The tail I had tripped over is silky and long white. What I see surprises me greatly. "What took you so long?" Stella says, laughter in her eyes. Zoey crashes into me, sending us both into the soil.

As Zoey pulls me up, Stella jumps out of her sitting position. "Where have you been?" The oshawott beside me questions.

She lightly shrugs. "It's a secret!" She exclaims. I let out a small sigh. It's irritating when she has a secret. When she does, it's usually about me!

"We can't find a Pokemon named Espa. She is cat-like with lavender fur and a red gem on her forehead. Have you possibly seen her?" I ask, worried for Espa's sake. Thankfully, Stella nods.

"I know that I saw an espeon with that description. Does she have soft purple eyes?" Zoey lets out a squeal.

"Yep! Totally yep! Yes!" The naïve girl screeches and starts running for the crossroads. I eye the young water type warily, then share a glance with Stella.

"She's in the Crags of Lament. I foresaw you needing the help, and a friend of mine confirmed it. Go tell your friends now..." Stella murmurs, then walks off into the shade of Scraggy's yellow tent.

Once I have left Stella, a certain oshawott and few other Pokémon are awaiting me. "So. Where are we going?" The wet mammal asks me suspiciously. I shyly walk towards the map to the side, conscious of the stares on me. My fingers trace the left edge of the map, further out to the left from Inflora Forest and Breezy Meadow. The trek will be through the pass between mountains, and a small forestry trail through the Mystery Dungeon forests. To the edge lies rickety rocks and unstable holds.

"The Crags of Lament," I whisper in a voice only Zoey recognizes and hears. She scratches her dark blue ear, nodding.

I nod, and the four of us walk towards the Crossroads. While we're running, I hear Zoey squeal beside me. "Hey guys!" She shouts. "We are an all-female team saving another female!" I turn my head to the side to see Virision loudly groan, her deep purple eyes closed. Zoey squeals.

"Zoey, your jokes never get old..." I murmur, too quiet for the oshawott to hear.

I sigh as my foot slides into another hole. Now that we're past the entrance to the Crags of Lament, many unseen holes trip us, slowing the pace to a slow walk. We scale higher into the clouds, my feet already tired from the craggy walkways and rocky pillars. I stare out into the horizon, seeing many more pillars of unstable rocks ahead of us. All of a sudden I hear a shriek, and turn my head to see Jenna slipping behind me. I immediately panic.

"Llana! Use your vine whip!" Zoey screeches, and I am snapped back into the present. I focus on the quickly falling blue blur and shoot two dark green vines out. They are sent flying after the bagon, quickly gaining on her. Soon the vines halt, a bigger weight with them. I pull, but my strength isn't enough to keep the weight up.

"She's slipping!" Virision yowls, fear spiking in her eyes. I keep trying, but Jenna is too heavy for a snivy as weak as me.

"I'm sorry..." I whisper. I gasp when my vines come back up: They're scorched and singed with burns. "No." My eyes snap shut. I shiver, wrapping my arms around myself. The tears slide out of my eyes.