Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Team Eve - Book One

Chapter 32: Evie

Descending the last flight of stairs, they reached the bottom of the dungeon. It should've been impossible, but it wasn't hot here. The heart of the dungeon was cool. The volcano's chimney led high into the air. A clear blue sky could be seen above. The place was spooky; nothing stirred. Everything was still.

"What now?" asked Evie.

The trio slowly began walking forwards. The closer they got to the centre the heavier the atmosphere became. Soon it felt like an incredible weight was bearing down upon their shoulders. Kin moved the very centre of the dungeon. An immense pressure pinned him down.

"Kin!" Evie cried as she ran to help him.

"Evie, don't!"

It was too late; Evie joined him in the centre, and they lay like two pancakes crushed under impossible weight. Soul quickly hurried back towards the edges of the room were the pressure was lesser.

"Don't worry, I've got you!" Called Soul.

Reaching her with her vines she grabbed Evie around the waist. The second Soul's vines touched Evie the weight disappeared. The burden was lessened by the help of another.

Placing Evie on the ground beside her Soul reached out for Kin but then a loud laughing echoed creepily throughout the crater. The laughter was evil and ecstatic; it was confused and loud and terrifyingly happy.

"Found you!"

A cloud of shadow appeared out of thin air. The darkness grew and expanded rapidly. Seconds later a massive Pokémon hovered before them. It didn't seem to feel the dungeon's pressure. It had a large light-blue body and was covered in thick purple hair.

Soul gasped and froze in fear. Evie too was still, but not for fear. Her head tilted. She took a slow step towards the Pokémon.

"H... Hoopa?"

Hoopa's massive jaws opened in a toothy grin and it chanted. "Friend! Friend!"

"Friend?" The word was foreign on Evie's tongue.

"Hoopa lost friend then Hoopa find friend!"

In the depths of Evie's subconscious lay a lock that was old and rusted. It had chained heavy doors closed but now, the lock snapped and fell to the floor. With the dull thud of the lock hitting the ground the gates opened and Evie's memory came flooding back. She screamed in pain.

"Evie!" Kin cried.

Evie wobbled unsteadily and stumbled around the crater before straightening up. A chill ran down her spine and she looked up with tears in her eyes. Hoopa's smile was unbound.

"Friend remembers! Friend remembers!"

Evie smiled sadly at him, a tear slid down her cheek. "That's right Hoopa... I remember."

"Friend play! We play!"

Evie shook her head. "I'm sorry Hoopa... I can't."

Hoopa's smile faded. "Friend?"

Evie's voice was racked with sobs. "I'm really sorry, but this world is in danger and I have to save it. Just like I did... all those years ago."

Evie's heart stung when she heard Kin's voice.

"Vee... what are you saying?"

Evie turned to him with a look that broke his heart.

"Kin... I'm the one. The girl from the tale... it's me."

Kin couldn't understand, he just stared at her, confused.

Hoopa roared in anger. "Friend comes with Hoopa!"