Journey Through Kanto | ✅

Chapter 18: Spirit of the Maiden of the Peak

Currently, Zia and her Pokemon are still on the ferry. Coming from the not so resort Porta Vista and heading to shore.

"I see Maiden's Peak!" Emmy yells excitedly as she gestures to the upcoming shoreline. "Finally." Sky mutters, tired of all the water lately. As the ship pulls up to port, an announcement is made. "Welcome all passengers from Porta Vista. We encourage everyone to visit our annual festival, now in progress."

"A festival?" Zia questions. "Sounds fun!" Emmy says as she smiles cheerfully. "How do you have so much energy?" Sky asks her while sighing. Emmy shrugs and they head off the boat, looking around the area. Emmy looks at the next boardwalk over and sees a woman standing there. She tilts her head in confusion until the girl seemingly disappears.

"W-w-what was t-that?!" She asks to herself as she stares at the spot where the woman was. She turned around and ran back to Zia, not wanting to be alone now. A bit later, the group walks through the festival, eating caramel apples and watching dancers, parades, and other small acts.

They were laughing at a comedian when a small old woman came up behind them. "Hey you there!" She shouted while pointing at Zia and her group. "Me?" She asked while looking around and pointing at herself. "Yes you, beware the beautiful woman, not some old beauty like me." She said as she walked away. Zia was utterly confused as Emmy had a small idea but said nothing.

They continued walking around until they came to a little shrine with an equally little man at the front speaking. "Here we show the treasure of the maiden. For 2,000 years, this painting has hung in the shrine of the maiden. Every year, at the festival, it is removed and showed to the public. Gaze upon this painting with reverence." The man announces as he lifts off the covering showing a monochrome picture of the woman Emmy saw at the dock.

Emmy's eyes widened as she gazed upon it but still didn't mention anything, she didn't think it was that important. After all, it could've been a look-a-like or a cosplayer. The shrine keeper went on explaining the story about the woman. "She was in love with a brave and handsome man that went to fight in a war. The woman waited for a very long time, never moving. Not even when he never returned. She waited so long to the point where her body turned to stone, just as the cliff where she stood. Even till this day, she waited for her true love to return. You can see the statue up on Maiden's Rock." He told as he pointed in the direction where the monument laid.

Zia thought it wouldn't hurt to go see the statue so she and her Pokemon went over to it. To say it was beautiful would be an understatement, Zia had never seen a statue as gorgeous as this. Sky thought so as well, she saw the story as a tragic but sweet love. The statue just seemed to embody all those feelings. Emmy however, felt something off.

"Well, come on guys, let's go back to the Pokemon center. It's getting late." Zia said as she turned to walk away, that is until she noticed Emmy wasn't following. "Emmy, what's wrong?" She asked her. Emmy continued to stare at the statue strangely. "I'm going to stay here a bit longer. I'll make it back before curfew, don't worry about me." She said as she sat down on the grass. Zia looked at Sky and shrugged, resuming her walk back.

Zia and Sky waited in the lobby of the Pokemon center until 11, which was curfew. She noticed the doors were sealing shut and Emmy still had not come back. She stood up, going to go back out to look for her when Nurse Joy spoke up behind her. "Where are you going? It's curfew time and staying up to late is bad for your health and skin, now go to bed." She stated as she prevented Zia from finding her Sevine.

Zia huffed and thought about how Nurse Joy became her mother sarcastically. She didn't particularly like being told what to do and she wanted to go find Emmy. Though, Nurse Joy can be one of the most stubborn people when it comes to someone's health.