Pokemon Ranger: Savior

Chapter Eleven: Jungle Relic Challenges

     Lunick and I made our way through the Olive Jungle to the same worn steps that I climbed before. We trekked to the top and stepped inside the chamber.

     "This is actually pretty cool. I'm honestly excited to see what lies within. What do you think these challenges are supposed to be, Serena?"

     "Hopefully something that's actually challenging and not super easy, like chasing our Plusle and Minun off that poor Snorlax."

     "Ha! That was fun, and I still feel bad for getting angry with them."

     "Don't worry, they were only trying to help. Let's push the switch and get this show on the road!" I walk forward and examine the stone slab. I couldn't see anything that looked like a switch, but there was a small circular piece that was sticking out a bit. I pushed it in and heard a click.

     The slab began to rumble and separate down the middle in an odd shape. Slowly it revealed an entrance-way into a darkened cavern beyond.

     Lunick looked astonished when I turned back to him. "Super cool." He started forward and together we went inside.

     Once within and our eyes adjusted to the lighting, we saw we were inside a towering chamber with a spiraling staircase going down into the hillside. Following it all the way down, we saw light at the bottom and proceeded through a threshold. There was a slight breeze coming out of it. Lunick and I remained speechless as we entered a cavernous place and were floored with awe.

     We were inside what looked like a shrine of sorts with many caverns branching off in relatively incremental distances, in different directions. At the very center of it all was a pathway flanked by four pairs of unlit torches leading up to a wondrous statue of the legendary Pokemon Entei. It was so intricately carved and detailed, it almost looked real. 

     "Who would've guessed there'd be something like this? I mean, under the ground and in the jungle?" 

     "You're right, Lunick. This place is simply amazing! I can't wait to explore the deepest recesses of it all! What's the coolest place or ruins you've been to?" We started walking further in and realized that a lot of the pathways were broken or completely gone in places, and surrounding the floors and filling the gaps in the pathways was shallow water. It was certainly very old, and extremely intriguing to me.

     "To be honest, I haven't been to many. On a field trip when I was younger, we got to see the outside entrance to the Chroma Ruins back in Almia for a bit, but we didn't go inside. How about you?" 

     "I've explored so many old and ruined places it's unbelievable. There was the Solaceon Ruins in Sinnoh where I got to find and catch a lot of cool ancient Pokemon called Unown. Then there's a plethora of different tombs in Hoenn, and quite a few outstanding encounters in them that gave me so many great memories. I loved the Ruins of Alph..." I trailed off here as I remembered coming to the quiet ruins to reflect and relax in between battles or events. I also came here after my recent defeats, hoping to resolve and prepare myself mentally for the next attempt, and prevent the inevitable decline into depression that followed when I did not win.

     "Serena? Your face changed. Are you ok? What happened at the Ruins of Alph?" I must accept now that my face will always be easily read like a book left open on the table.

     "Oh, nothing happened, I just...It was in Johto and I was there a lot for reflection." I thought I would have a hard time opening up about this particular part of my life to anyone, let alone a somewhat strange boy I only just met that I crushed on for two hours. The crush seems to no longer be there, but I've come to value his friendship more anyway, and I'm surprised to find I'm not uncomfortable speaking about this. I'm not tripping over my words like I do when I'm nervous or unsure.