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Pokémon Story
A Grotto Frozen in Time – Chapter 3
By J.C. Solis
The entrance of Mammoth Cave was now before the team, and they trekked into the depths slowly and methodically. The group of nine was heading deeper into the cave, well past the entrance where they faced the Runerigus and its terrible might. There was hope that the other guardians of the tomb wouldn’t be quite as fierce, though Ophelia assured that the following guardians weren’t going to be quite as tough as the first one. It was a dangerous endeavor, one which could lead all of them to demise.
Kendra was especially worried as she delved deeper into the haunting abyss. She clutched close to Chopper, who wrapped an arm around her as a form of comfort. He wasn’t about to allow any sort of malevolent creature to get close to Kendra, and he was not about to allow any of his friends to be assaulted by the malevolent creatures who made the crypt their home. There was plenty of spelunking to do, and the two got close to their friends, the four holy men, and their Kangaskhan guide as they delved deeper and deeper into the unknown. They didn’t know what awaited them or where they’d end up, but the party remained stalwart with their resolve. And Chopper was perhaps the most stalwart out of them all, being that he was the strongest member by far.
The cave grew danker and dimmer the further the party went along within the depths. There seemed to be a thick aura of darkness, one which wouldn’t allow for the light from their torches to travel far. It was a perplexing place, one which proved even more sinister than the last time the team entered the cave. There were winding tunnels where a lost person could lose themselves further down. And it only grew darker as they headed towards where the Alistra Tomb was located. The darkness didn’t allow for a single moment of bliss, instead causing the pokémon to feel despair in their hearts. It was as though they were treading into the very heart of Evil itself. It was a scene that played time and time again, of adventurers seeking a grand mission and hoping to conquer it. There was much that was unknown to them, and Ophelia was the only one with the maps.
The team entered the back antechamber, where Frost Grotto was located. The team was thankful for having reached this point in their adventure. All the while, the ghosts looked on at the entrance of the crypt with hesitation. They knew full well that they were all about to enter into dangerous territory, and it remained to be seen what horrors awaited them. Ophelia only had so much knowledge, but not even she knew what was waiting for them. There was a lot to gather, and it was something she needed to ponder over as she held the map up in front of her.
“This seems to be the entrance to the tomb, alright,” noted Ophelia.
“I can sense an evil presence within those halls,” remarked Pastor Joseph the Dusknoir.
“We all do,” said Wendy the Froslass. “It’s enough to make one quake in one’s boots.”
“Do you think we gotta watch out for any traps or the sort, Miss Ophelia?” asked Minx.
“Well, I reckon there ought a be some traps inside. I have the map with me, as well as some keys to help disarm those things. But bear in mind this place has been sealed for over a thousand years. Even I’ve never been inside here. How Arthur will manage to avoid the traps will surprise me,” stated Ophelia. “But whatever the case, it seems the Shiftry found some way to walk past them. We’ll need to keep our wits about us if we want to enter the burial chamber.”
The team looked on with worry, hoping that nothing too sinister and vile would await them deeper into the crypt. The hallway looked dark and imposing, and not even their torches could pierce deeply into the blight. It was as though they were about to enter into a world unknown to them. A place where many dark deeds had taken fold. But there was also no need to worry so long as they followed the instructions of the Descendant of Alistra. Ophelia would do her best to make sure nothing foul would creep up on them. And the pastors were there to sanctify whatever was inside.
“What do you think we’ll find in there?” asked Jax to his team.
“Hopefully gold, hehe,” snickered Chopper.
“Get serious for a minute, you oaf,” chastised Minx. “We’re about to enter an exceedingly dangerous place. Must you not think like an archeologist for a minute.”
“Whatever is in there, I hope that we don’t find out the hard way,” said Kendra worriedly.
It was then that Pastors Phineas and Calomar walked up to them.
“There is nothing to fear, my dear Kendra,” swayed Pastor Phineas the Chandelure. “We have a long road ahead of us, and plenty of time to prepare.”
“Whatever evils are in there to greet us, we can rest assured that Father Arceus will be by our side,” noted Pastor Calomar the Banette.
The team walked up to Ophelia, who had been digging through her documents and was analyzing her scriptures. Once she was done, she turned around to face the team, and she did so with a grim look.
“We are about to enter the Hallway of Desecration,” she announced. “It’s going to be our first trap, and one which we’ll need to go through as quickly as we can.”
“With a name like that, no wonder it’s a trap,” noted Chopper.
“What is this hallway, Miss Ophelia? Care to explain to us?” asked Pastor Joseph.
Ophelia grimaced. What she was about to say was something she knew the team was not going to like. But it was also unavoidable.
“This is a hallway that is filled with spirits; evil spirits that’ll wanna take over your mind and body. The longer someone remains in there, the more they’ll go insane.”
“Good grief!” cried out Chopper.
“Is this truly unavoidable?” asked Kendra.
“Unfortunately, Kendra child,” noted Ophelia. “We’ll need to head through there as quickly as we can. The longer we remain in the hallway, the more spirits will come after us.” She then turned around and looked down the hall. “We gotta hold each other’s hands in one line and run as fast as we can. Don’t even think about letting go. We stand a better chance of making it through if we hold on to each other tight. I don’t want any of us to get lost in there.”
The team looked at each other with worry. This seemed to be the first trial of their adventure. But it was not for the faint of heart. Doing as she commanded, everyone held onto each other so that they wouldn’t go through it alone. Ophelia would take the point, guiding them to where they needed to go. Yet as they steeled their mind for what lay ahead, nobody was certain as to the spooks they’d come across. They wouldn’t know for certain until they reached the end.
The team took the first furtive steps into the crypt, with Pastor Phineas lighting the way forward with his chandelier light while Ophelia would be in front of him. He dimmed the flames on his arms to not burn anyone and accidentally drain their life force. From here on, everyone would be counting on each other to hold tight to each other’s hands. It was something that had to be done.
Ophelia walked into the tomb, as did everyone else. They took the first steps into the crypt hallway, and they soon realized what this first trap did to people who were foolish enough to enter.
The sounds of several voices were heard coming from the wall, some of them even coming from the hieroglyphs that were to the side of the wall. It was something out of a schizophrenic’s worst nightmare, hearing disembodied voices throughout the whole trip. But the team forced themselves through, with Ophelia guiding them down and Pastor Phineas lighting the way. There was not much else they could do but hurry as fast as they could through the corridors.
The voices were haunting and pervasive, this fact leaving poor Kendra so distraught and afraid. But she was holding onto the clawed hand of Chopper behind her and Minx in front of her. She was indeed having a bad time, hearing the disorientating and disembodied voices from all over as though she had gone insane. The other members of the team did their best to not be bothered by the cacophony of the damned, a feeling of dread filling everyone’s hearts. Ophelia tried her best to lead her team straight, hoping to reach the end of the hallway soon.
Soon, the team came across a large room, one with urns on pedestals, and it was here where the voices finally ceased their incessant banter. The team was exhausted, both physically and mentally, after charging forwards through the horrendous hallway filled with the voices of the dead and damned, and it was here in this room where they finally caught a break. The team, at last, let go of each other’s hands, finally catching a break and making sure to rest up before tackling whatever lay further ahead. There was simply too much they had to overcome.
*pant* “Are we through?” asked Kendra wearily.
“For now we are,” said Ophelia, who too was also tired out from the long charge. “That was a bit more intense than I thought it would be.”
“Good mercy, that was horrendous,” noted Minx. “I felt like a woman gone mad, hearing all those voices coming from nowhere at all.”
“It was a harrowing experience,” noted Wendy. “I just hope we won’t have to do that again when we leave this place.”
The team walked around the room, looking at all of the valuable artifacts that were present. There were plenty of treasures about, which struck the archeology students with a hint of giddiness. They were within a historic sight, somewhere that held a lot of historical importance. There was something to be said about all of the treasures that were present. But as much as they’d like got explore more of the crypt and its many treasures, they were reminded of their mission when they looked at Ophelia, who was once again looking at her map.
“We still have a bit a ways to go,” noted Ophelia. “There don’t appear to be any more nasty corridors filled with spooks that got to watch out for, though I won’t be holding my breath just yet.”
“Are we closer to the burial chamber?” wondered Pastor Joseph.
“We are,” confirmed Ophelia. “It’s just down this corridor here.”
“I’m seeing so many side corridors, Miss Ophelia,” noted Kendra. “Where do those lead?”
“To your death,” said the Kangaskhan bluntly. “Those corridors are meant to confuse tomb robbers and get them killed. They’re loaded with traps like spike pits and crushing ceilings that will be sure to make you regret getting curious. The path we gotta head down is also filled with dangerous traps, but I know how to defeat them.”
The team looked down the seemingly innocuous corridor, and Chopper grabbed a small rock and chucked it into the path. It was then that a swinging blade came out of the wall, slicing the small stone in two before returning to its original position for the next thing to activate it.
Kendra gulped as she saw what happened. She hope that her neck wouldn’t be the next thing to get sliced. And the rest of the team were rather anxious as well, wondering how on earth they’d be able to get across with being sliced up.
Ophelia went to the side of the corridor, where there appeared to be small holes in the wall. She dug out some keys that would disarm the traps. She turned the keys over, and when she did the sound of a locking mechanism behind the wall could be heard.
“That should do it,” sighed Ophelia. “Chuck smother rock and see that it’s no longer working.”
Chopper did as he was told. He picked up a rock and flung it across the corridor. This time no blades came out to attack it, and the little rock fell harmlessly to the floor. It seemed that the trap had been successfully disarmed, though the team still wasn’t sure. Ophelia stepped up to prove that everything was now alright, and when she began walking down the corridor without any blades coming for her, she turned around and called everyone else to follow her.
The team walked down the corridor with a hint of apprehension. Though the ghost pastors had nothing to fear since they could phase through the traps without any issue, the more mortal team members would have to be extra careful not to set anything off. Kendra especially walked down the corridor with a bit of fear. She didn’t want the traps to suddenly go off and find herself cut into ribbons, as well as the rest of her teammates. But the confidence that Ophelia displayed was enough to say her and placate her nerves. The team walked down the trap filled with a bit of haste, not knowing if the traps would come for them. But seeing the Kangaskhan do by without any issue brought them all at ease. There wasn’t much to fear with Ophelia being around to warn them of traps.
At the end of the corridor was a large metal door. It appeared to be locked, but once again Ophelia got out another key and twisted it into the keyhole. The mechanism behind the door began to move around, and it was then that it opened inward. A bright, golden light shone on the team, something brilliant and majestic being in front of them. They stepped forwards into the bright room, blinded by the light that lay before them. When they looked inside, they were amazed by what they saw.
A large sarcophagus was in the middle of the room, with a giant statue of a new praying above or. Above the stone coffin was something floating, looking almost like a golden key of sorts. Not only that but there were loads more treasures in the room, ranging from gold and jewels to even artifacts from the time the late patriarch had passed away. It was a literal gold mine for archeologists and treasure hunters alike, and it was a sight that would bring tears to anyone, discovering that they stumbled across a vast hoard of great monetary and historical worth.
But the team was not blinded by the gold and priceless artifacts that we were within. Besides, all of this gold belonged to Ophelia since she was the direct descendant of Mathias Alistra. What enticed the group was the fact that there was a golden key floating in the air. This was what they had all been trekking to discover, and perhaps even destroy. This was the great son of the Alistra family, an artifact so powerful that its mere presence seemed to reverberate through the air itself. This item couldn’t be allowed to keep existing. It was the reason behind the corruption of the tomb guardians and their terrible power. This was the source of all this evil.
“That’s the Dimensional Key?” asked Kendra.
“It is,” confirmed Ophelia. “This is the item my ancestor feared would fall into the wrong hands. It’s time to destroy it once and for all.”
“Not so fast, my dear Ophelia,” said a voice behind the team.
It was then that a powder filled the area, causing everyone’s bodies to spasm and collapse to the ground. It was a Stun Spore move that worked to great effect, which was even strong enough to paralyze the ghosts. And after that, in came a tall Shiftry with two Weavile next to him.
“You honestly think I’ll let you lot destroy the key to releasing Giratina?” asked the Shiftry as he walked forwards. He had a wide smile on his face, feeling content with having stunned everyone. Though Jax tried his best to power through, he didn’t know if he could take on all three of them in his weakened state. It was then that a Weavile came up to him and stomped on him down to the ground. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for the longest time. I’ve been searching for the key high and low within Frost Grotto and the surrounding cave. I even hid within the cave and followed you, thinking that you’d open the doors and disarm the traps for me. And now that it’s within my grasp, I’ll do my best to keep it safe.”
“Arthur, you moron!” cried out Ophelia. “Nothing good will come from contacting Giratina. Besides, the key isn’t strong enough to open his prison, even if you want him freed.”
“But having his great influence is all that I need,” smirked Arthur. “I will spread his influence across the width and breadth of this land. I will bring the great word of my master to all!”
“You cretin!” yelled out Pastor Joseph from the floor. “I will not allow it!”
The Dusknoir tried his best to stand up, doing his utmost to try and fight against the toxins. But one of the Weavile then used Shadow Claw on him, inciting him to yell in terrible pain.
“Can Arceus save you now, my dear pastor?” taunted Arthur. “Arceus himself would have to appear to save you now.”
Kendra looked over at Chopper, who was right next to her. The Garchomp had a pained expression on his face, hoping that he’d be able to get up and fight back. But though he tried his best he could not fight against the toxins.
“Kendra…” said Chopper as he reach for something in his pouch. “Save yourself.”
He then handed her a red Cherri Berry, one which would remove the toxins from her.
“You’re stronger than me, Chopper,” noted Kendra. “You fight them.”
“Just eat it and run,” said Chopper. “Get help from outside. Only you can save the others.”
Kendra reached out to Chopper and grabbed his hand, hoping to not simply abandon him and the others. But Chopper pushed the berry right into her mouth. She soon felt the effect wearing off upon eating the berry, and Chopper once again told her to run.
“Get help, Kendra. If not, then fight if you can,” said Chopper weakly.
“I won’t abandon you, Chopper baby. Not now, not ever,” said Kendra adamantly.
It was then that a great light surrounded Kendra’s body. The rogues who had paralyzed her noted this and were looking on as the Braixen began to morph. She stood upright as her body began to change right before everyone’s eyes. The Braixen soon stopped morphing, and when she stood up adamantly she had now become a powerful Delphox.
“I won’t abandon my friends,” said the female fox in a more mature voice. “I’ll make you pay for stunning us like this.”
Kendra raised her wand, and she launched the move Flamethrower at the three rogues. They got out of the way, knocking over some priceless artifacts and causing them to fall to the ground. But Kendra soon launched another one, and it hit the Weavile to the right in a column of fire. The Weavile, one thoroughly cooked, collapsed to the ground completely KO’d. The other two rogues did their best to fight back, with the Weavile launching Ice Shard at her while the Shifty shot out Razor Leaf. But Kendra used Mystical Fire to burn the moves before they could even reach her.
Kendra proved to be a powerhouse in this form, and she was more than willing to put up a good fight. When Arthur launched another Stun Spore move at her she quickly dodged out of the way. She then dug into her satchel and chucked some Cherri berries at her compatriots, who quickly at them up. The others quickly recovered after eating their berries. The team was now hearty and healthy, standing up and now having fully recovered from their paralysis. All the while, Arthur and his Weavile snarled as the nine of them glared at them and what they would intend to do to them.
“The game’s up, Arthur,” stated Ophelia. “Hand over the key.”
Arthur growled as he still clutched the key. But he was not going to surrender just yet.
“Never!” he yelled out defiantly before putting the key into what was then pure air.
The key remained stuck in the air as a portal began to open. A heavy feeling of ominous might crept up from the opening, with two red eyes appearing before them all. It was clear what Arthur was intending to do, and he would not allow himself to surrender just yet.
“Face the wrath of my master!” yelled out Arthur.
It was then that a ball of dragon energy shot up into the air, exploding near the ceiling and pelting the Shiftry with dragon fury. Chopper launched Draco Meteor, which proved opening enough for Kendra to extend her wand and shoot Fire Blast at the key. The five-fingered fire move hit the key and exploded, the key fracturing into pieces. The doorway that was opened then closed, with a final sound of the creature that was beyond it drifting off into space.
“NO!!!” cried out Arthur as he slumped to the floor, unable to bear seeing his plan fail.
The Weavile looked at the nine angry adventurers, got down on his knees, and held his arms up in the air as to surrender. He would be no match against all of them, and neither was the Shiftry. Ophelia walked up to Arthur with a look of contempt on her face.
“This is the end, Arthur. What Mathias Alistra should’ve done in the first place.”
Ophelia then turned around and faced the statue of the mew. She bowed her head at her ancestor while the three rogues were rounded up and bound. She wondered as to what intentions her ancestor had with keeping this key around. Perhaps he figured that someone with a good heart would want to get closer to the Great Ones and use it for prayer as he did when he was still alive. But this item was always destined to be misused, and there were people like Arthur who’d be willing to abuse its powers.
The gang got ready to leave the Alistra Tomb, with Kendra and Chopper next to each other in solidarity with one another. They had just survived an attempt by a mad pokémon to summon evil into the world. There was nothing good to come from this. But Kendra had been the one mostly responsible for saving the day once she had fully evolved. And with an entire tomb filled with treasures and artifacts to explore, they would now be busier than ever with exploring and documenting everything that was inside.
Jax and Minx noted the two of them getting close together. They decided it’d be best to allow the two lovebirds to have their little moment, as did the pastors. It was then that a now taller Kendra kissed Chopper long and hard, their lips connecting as they now forged an even stronger bond with one another. They were hopeful about the future together, and it was hoped this bond would only grow further.
“Thank you for saving the day, Kendra,” said Chopper. “Did anyone tell you how beautiful you look as fully evolved pokémon?”
“No need to worry, Chopper honey. And thank you for helping me evolve into someone stronger,” replied Kendra.
The team followed the exit out of the Alistra tomb, with the shards of the Dimensional Key in Jax’s hands. The Hallway of Desecration was no longer haunted, and though there were still traps the team made sure not to trigger them. They would need to contact the Pokémon University and have the Headmaster send an expedition of people to help check the tomb out – as well as send back the shard of the Dimensional Key for further study, with Ophelia permitting that was. There was much to do with exploring the rest of the still dangerous tomb, with many secrets abound.
For now, the team of pastors and archeologists went through Mammoth Cave and down the mountain towards Kelsgrove with their tow of rogues, with a large fanfare of people cheering them on as they walked into the town triumphant. Many people felt the malevolent presence coming from the crypt even as far away as the town was from the tomb, and they knew that a major catastrophe had just been adverted. It was clear that there would need to be even more people to watch over the tomb as the town pitched in to place Mammoth Cave under protection.
To celebrate their victory, Ophelia decided to cook up delicious pancakes for everyone to eat. And it was a victory that would surely be well received by a certain Garchomp. Even Kendra found herself having a much bigger appetite after evolving, but then again that came with changing form into a much larger and stronger pokémon.
Kendra and Chopper were now even closer together than ever before, with the two of them sitting down in the foyer and front of the fireplace. They were happy to be in each other’s arms, and the two shared a moment as they sipped from their mugs of hot cocoa as while basking in the warmth of the fire. It was rather curious to see a couple like this, and it’d be even more peculiar to see if they would ever have any children together. But though the birds and bees were a topic for a different day, it was clear that their bond was forged in the fires of conflict, and they wanted to spend the rest of their time in the sleepy town in each other’s arms.
It was because of Kendra that Chopper was able to evolve first, and it was because of him that she could later evolve as well. The two owed their evolution to one another, and they were so happy to be in each other’s arms while they basked in the warmth of the firepit. There was nothing that would ever come between them, and their bond was something they both wanted to nurture. All the while, Jax and Minx would smile at seeing their two friends get so close to one another. They had been through a lot together, and they were sure to weather even more storms in time.
So far, the evening was set to be a magical one. They had just conquered a Grotto Frozen in Time, a place where evil existed and was thoroughly purged. There was a lot to say about the event that’s taken fold, and Ophelia for one was thankful to all of the adventurers taking part for helping fix the mistake created by her long-dead ancestor. She would do her best to help the archeologists investigate the tomb and document all of the valuables inside of it, as well as spread some of the valuables to help fund the town into even more prosperity.
So everyone could hope. It was a long, tiring journey, and there was a need for rest. Tomorrow would be another long day, and another morning meant another breakfast of thick pancakes. And Kendra and Chopper, for one, could not wait to tuck into their meals together…
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Pokémon Story
A Grotto Frozen in Time – Chapter 3
By J.C. Solis
The entrance of Mammoth Cave was now before the team, and they trekked into the depths slowly and methodically. The group of nine was heading deeper into the cave, well past the entrance where they faced the Runerigus and its terrible might. There was hope that the other guardians of the tomb wouldn’t be quite as fierce, though Ophelia assured that the following guardians weren’t going to be quite as tough as the first one. It was a dangerous endeavor, one which could lead all of them to demise.
Kendra was especially worried as she delved deeper into the haunting abyss. She clutched close to Chopper, who wrapped an arm around her as a form of comfort. He wasn’t about to allow any sort of malevolent creature to get close to Kendra, and he was not about to allow any of his friends to be assaulted by the malevolent creatures who made the crypt their home. There was plenty of spelunking to do, and the two got close to their friends, the four holy men, and their Kangaskhan guide as they delved deeper and deeper into the unknown. They didn’t know what awaited them or where they’d end up, but the party remained stalwart with their resolve. And Chopper was perhaps the most stalwart out of them all, being that he was the strongest member by far.
The cave grew danker and dimmer the further the party went along within the depths. There seemed to be a thick aura of darkness, one which wouldn’t allow for the light from their torches to travel far. It was a perplexing place, one which proved even more sinister than the last time the team entered the cave. There were winding tunnels where a lost person could lose themselves further down. And it only grew darker as they headed towards where the Alistra Tomb was located. The darkness didn’t allow for a single moment of bliss, instead causing the pokémon to feel despair in their hearts. It was as though they were treading into the very heart of Evil itself. It was a scene that played time and time again, of adventurers seeking a grand mission and hoping to conquer it. There was much that was unknown to them, and Ophelia was the only one with the maps.
The team entered the back antechamber, where Frost Grotto was located. The team was thankful for having reached this point in their adventure. All the while, the ghosts looked on at the entrance of the crypt with hesitation. They knew full well that they were all about to enter into dangerous territory, and it remained to be seen what horrors awaited them. Ophelia only had so much knowledge, but not even she knew what was waiting for them. There was a lot to gather, and it was something she needed to ponder over as she held the map up in front of her.
“This seems to be the entrance to the tomb, alright,” noted Ophelia.
“I can sense an evil presence within those halls,” remarked Pastor Joseph the Dusknoir.
“We all do,” said Wendy the Froslass. “It’s enough to make one quake in one’s boots.”
“Do you think we gotta watch out for any traps or the sort, Miss Ophelia?” asked Minx.
“Well, I reckon there ought a be some traps inside. I have the map with me, as well as some keys to help disarm those things. But bear in mind this place has been sealed for over a thousand years. Even I’ve never been inside here. How Arthur will manage to avoid the traps will surprise me,” stated Ophelia. “But whatever the case, it seems the Shiftry found some way to walk past them. We’ll need to keep our wits about us if we want to enter the burial chamber.”
The team looked on with worry, hoping that nothing too sinister and vile would await them deeper into the crypt. The hallway looked dark and imposing, and not even their torches could pierce deeply into the blight. It was as though they were about to enter into a world unknown to them. A place where many dark deeds had taken fold. But there was also no need to worry so long as they followed the instructions of the Descendant of Alistra. Ophelia would do her best to make sure nothing foul would creep up on them. And the pastors were there to sanctify whatever was inside.
“What do you think we’ll find in there?” asked Jax to his team.
“Hopefully gold, hehe,” snickered Chopper.
“Get serious for a minute, you oaf,” chastised Minx. “We’re about to enter an exceedingly dangerous place. Must you not think like an archeologist for a minute.”
“Whatever is in there, I hope that we don’t find out the hard way,” said Kendra worriedly.
It was then that Pastors Phineas and Calomar walked up to them.
“There is nothing to fear, my dear Kendra,” swayed Pastor Phineas the Chandelure. “We have a long road ahead of us, and plenty of time to prepare.”
“Whatever evils are in there to greet us, we can rest assured that Father Arceus will be by our side,” noted Pastor Calomar the Banette.
The team walked up to Ophelia, who had been digging through her documents and was analyzing her scriptures. Once she was done, she turned around to face the team, and she did so with a grim look.
“We are about to enter the Hallway of Desecration,” she announced. “It’s going to be our first trap, and one which we’ll need to go through as quickly as we can.”
“With a name like that, no wonder it’s a trap,” noted Chopper.
“What is this hallway, Miss Ophelia? Care to explain to us?” asked Pastor Joseph.
Ophelia grimaced. What she was about to say was something she knew the team was not going to like. But it was also unavoidable.
“This is a hallway that is filled with spirits; evil spirits that’ll wanna take over your mind and body. The longer someone remains in there, the more they’ll go insane.”
“Good grief!” cried out Chopper.
“Is this truly unavoidable?” asked Kendra.
“Unfortunately, Kendra child,” noted Ophelia. “We’ll need to head through there as quickly as we can. The longer we remain in the hallway, the more spirits will come after us.” She then turned around and looked down the hall. “We gotta hold each other’s hands in one line and run as fast as we can. Don’t even think about letting go. We stand a better chance of making it through if we hold on to each other tight. I don’t want any of us to get lost in there.”
The team looked at each other with worry. This seemed to be the first trial of their adventure. But it was not for the faint of heart. Doing as she commanded, everyone held onto each other so that they wouldn’t go through it alone. Ophelia would take the point, guiding them to where they needed to go. Yet as they steeled their mind for what lay ahead, nobody was certain as to the spooks they’d come across. They wouldn’t know for certain until they reached the end.
The team took the first furtive steps into the crypt, with Pastor Phineas lighting the way forward with his chandelier light while Ophelia would be in front of him. He dimmed the flames on his arms to not burn anyone and accidentally drain their life force. From here on, everyone would be counting on each other to hold tight to each other’s hands. It was something that had to be done.
Ophelia walked into the tomb, as did everyone else. They took the first steps into the crypt hallway, and they soon realized what this first trap did to people who were foolish enough to enter.
The sounds of several voices were heard coming from the wall, some of them even coming from the hieroglyphs that were to the side of the wall. It was something out of a schizophrenic’s worst nightmare, hearing disembodied voices throughout the whole trip. But the team forced themselves through, with Ophelia guiding them down and Pastor Phineas lighting the way. There was not much else they could do but hurry as fast as they could through the corridors.
The voices were haunting and pervasive, this fact leaving poor Kendra so distraught and afraid. But she was holding onto the clawed hand of Chopper behind her and Minx in front of her. She was indeed having a bad time, hearing the disorientating and disembodied voices from all over as though she had gone insane. The other members of the team did their best to not be bothered by the cacophony of the damned, a feeling of dread filling everyone’s hearts. Ophelia tried her best to lead her team straight, hoping to reach the end of the hallway soon.
Soon, the team came across a large room, one with urns on pedestals, and it was here where the voices finally ceased their incessant banter. The team was exhausted, both physically and mentally, after charging forwards through the horrendous hallway filled with the voices of the dead and damned, and it was here in this room where they finally caught a break. The team, at last, let go of each other’s hands, finally catching a break and making sure to rest up before tackling whatever lay further ahead. There was simply too much they had to overcome.
*pant* “Are we through?” asked Kendra wearily.
“For now we are,” said Ophelia, who too was also tired out from the long charge. “That was a bit more intense than I thought it would be.”
“Good mercy, that was horrendous,” noted Minx. “I felt like a woman gone mad, hearing all those voices coming from nowhere at all.”
“It was a harrowing experience,” noted Wendy. “I just hope we won’t have to do that again when we leave this place.”
The team walked around the room, looking at all of the valuable artifacts that were present. There were plenty of treasures about, which struck the archeology students with a hint of giddiness. They were within a historic sight, somewhere that held a lot of historical importance. There was something to be said about all of the treasures that were present. But as much as they’d like got explore more of the crypt and its many treasures, they were reminded of their mission when they looked at Ophelia, who was once again looking at her map.
“We still have a bit a ways to go,” noted Ophelia. “There don’t appear to be any more nasty corridors filled with spooks that got to watch out for, though I won’t be holding my breath just yet.”
“Are we closer to the burial chamber?” wondered Pastor Joseph.
“We are,” confirmed Ophelia. “It’s just down this corridor here.”
“I’m seeing so many side corridors, Miss Ophelia,” noted Kendra. “Where do those lead?”
“To your death,” said the Kangaskhan bluntly. “Those corridors are meant to confuse tomb robbers and get them killed. They’re loaded with traps like spike pits and crushing ceilings that will be sure to make you regret getting curious. The path we gotta head down is also filled with dangerous traps, but I know how to defeat them.”
The team looked down the seemingly innocuous corridor, and Chopper grabbed a small rock and chucked it into the path. It was then that a swinging blade came out of the wall, slicing the small stone in two before returning to its original position for the next thing to activate it.
Kendra gulped as she saw what happened. She hope that her neck wouldn’t be the next thing to get sliced. And the rest of the team were rather anxious as well, wondering how on earth they’d be able to get across with being sliced up.
Ophelia went to the side of the corridor, where there appeared to be small holes in the wall. She dug out some keys that would disarm the traps. She turned the keys over, and when she did the sound of a locking mechanism behind the wall could be heard.
“That should do it,” sighed Ophelia. “Chuck smother rock and see that it’s no longer working.”
Chopper did as he was told. He picked up a rock and flung it across the corridor. This time no blades came out to attack it, and the little rock fell harmlessly to the floor. It seemed that the trap had been successfully disarmed, though the team still wasn’t sure. Ophelia stepped up to prove that everything was now alright, and when she began walking down the corridor without any blades coming for her, she turned around and called everyone else to follow her.
The team walked down the corridor with a hint of apprehension. Though the ghost pastors had nothing to fear since they could phase through the traps without any issue, the more mortal team members would have to be extra careful not to set anything off. Kendra especially walked down the corridor with a bit of fear. She didn’t want the traps to suddenly go off and find herself cut into ribbons, as well as the rest of her teammates. But the confidence that Ophelia displayed was enough to say her and placate her nerves. The team walked down the trap filled with a bit of haste, not knowing if the traps would come for them. But seeing the Kangaskhan do by without any issue brought them all at ease. There wasn’t much to fear with Ophelia being around to warn them of traps.
At the end of the corridor was a large metal door. It appeared to be locked, but once again Ophelia got out another key and twisted it into the keyhole. The mechanism behind the door began to move around, and it was then that it opened inward. A bright, golden light shone on the team, something brilliant and majestic being in front of them. They stepped forwards into the bright room, blinded by the light that lay before them. When they looked inside, they were amazed by what they saw.
A large sarcophagus was in the middle of the room, with a giant statue of a new praying above or. Above the stone coffin was something floating, looking almost like a golden key of sorts. Not only that but there were loads more treasures in the room, ranging from gold and jewels to even artifacts from the time the late patriarch had passed away. It was a literal gold mine for archeologists and treasure hunters alike, and it was a sight that would bring tears to anyone, discovering that they stumbled across a vast hoard of great monetary and historical worth.
But the team was not blinded by the gold and priceless artifacts that we were within. Besides, all of this gold belonged to Ophelia since she was the direct descendant of Mathias Alistra. What enticed the group was the fact that there was a golden key floating in the air. This was what they had all been trekking to discover, and perhaps even destroy. This was the great son of the Alistra family, an artifact so powerful that its mere presence seemed to reverberate through the air itself. This item couldn’t be allowed to keep existing. It was the reason behind the corruption of the tomb guardians and their terrible power. This was the source of all this evil.
“That’s the Dimensional Key?” asked Kendra.
“It is,” confirmed Ophelia. “This is the item my ancestor feared would fall into the wrong hands. It’s time to destroy it once and for all.”
“Not so fast, my dear Ophelia,” said a voice behind the team.
It was then that a powder filled the area, causing everyone’s bodies to spasm and collapse to the ground. It was a Stun Spore move that worked to great effect, which was even strong enough to paralyze the ghosts. And after that, in came a tall Shiftry with two Weavile next to him.
“You honestly think I’ll let you lot destroy the key to releasing Giratina?” asked the Shiftry as he walked forwards. He had a wide smile on his face, feeling content with having stunned everyone. Though Jax tried his best to power through, he didn’t know if he could take on all three of them in his weakened state. It was then that a Weavile came up to him and stomped on him down to the ground. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for the longest time. I’ve been searching for the key high and low within Frost Grotto and the surrounding cave. I even hid within the cave and followed you, thinking that you’d open the doors and disarm the traps for me. And now that it’s within my grasp, I’ll do my best to keep it safe.”
“Arthur, you moron!” cried out Ophelia. “Nothing good will come from contacting Giratina. Besides, the key isn’t strong enough to open his prison, even if you want him freed.”
“But having his great influence is all that I need,” smirked Arthur. “I will spread his influence across the width and breadth of this land. I will bring the great word of my master to all!”
“You cretin!” yelled out Pastor Joseph from the floor. “I will not allow it!”
The Dusknoir tried his best to stand up, doing his utmost to try and fight against the toxins. But one of the Weavile then used Shadow Claw on him, inciting him to yell in terrible pain.
“Can Arceus save you now, my dear pastor?” taunted Arthur. “Arceus himself would have to appear to save you now.”
Kendra looked over at Chopper, who was right next to her. The Garchomp had a pained expression on his face, hoping that he’d be able to get up and fight back. But though he tried his best he could not fight against the toxins.
“Kendra…” said Chopper as he reach for something in his pouch. “Save yourself.”
He then handed her a red Cherri Berry, one which would remove the toxins from her.
“You’re stronger than me, Chopper,” noted Kendra. “You fight them.”
“Just eat it and run,” said Chopper. “Get help from outside. Only you can save the others.”
Kendra reached out to Chopper and grabbed his hand, hoping to not simply abandon him and the others. But Chopper pushed the berry right into her mouth. She soon felt the effect wearing off upon eating the berry, and Chopper once again told her to run.
“Get help, Kendra. If not, then fight if you can,” said Chopper weakly.
“I won’t abandon you, Chopper baby. Not now, not ever,” said Kendra adamantly.
It was then that a great light surrounded Kendra’s body. The rogues who had paralyzed her noted this and were looking on as the Braixen began to morph. She stood upright as her body began to change right before everyone’s eyes. The Braixen soon stopped morphing, and when she stood up adamantly she had now become a powerful Delphox.
“I won’t abandon my friends,” said the female fox in a more mature voice. “I’ll make you pay for stunning us like this.”
Kendra raised her wand, and she launched the move Flamethrower at the three rogues. They got out of the way, knocking over some priceless artifacts and causing them to fall to the ground. But Kendra soon launched another one, and it hit the Weavile to the right in a column of fire. The Weavile, one thoroughly cooked, collapsed to the ground completely KO’d. The other two rogues did their best to fight back, with the Weavile launching Ice Shard at her while the Shifty shot out Razor Leaf. But Kendra used Mystical Fire to burn the moves before they could even reach her.
Kendra proved to be a powerhouse in this form, and she was more than willing to put up a good fight. When Arthur launched another Stun Spore move at her she quickly dodged out of the way. She then dug into her satchel and chucked some Cherri berries at her compatriots, who quickly at them up. The others quickly recovered after eating their berries. The team was now hearty and healthy, standing up and now having fully recovered from their paralysis. All the while, Arthur and his Weavile snarled as the nine of them glared at them and what they would intend to do to them.
“The game’s up, Arthur,” stated Ophelia. “Hand over the key.”
Arthur growled as he still clutched the key. But he was not going to surrender just yet.
“Never!” he yelled out defiantly before putting the key into what was then pure air.
The key remained stuck in the air as a portal began to open. A heavy feeling of ominous might crept up from the opening, with two red eyes appearing before them all. It was clear what Arthur was intending to do, and he would not allow himself to surrender just yet.
“Face the wrath of my master!” yelled out Arthur.
It was then that a ball of dragon energy shot up into the air, exploding near the ceiling and pelting the Shiftry with dragon fury. Chopper launched Draco Meteor, which proved opening enough for Kendra to extend her wand and shoot Fire Blast at the key. The five-fingered fire move hit the key and exploded, the key fracturing into pieces. The doorway that was opened then closed, with a final sound of the creature that was beyond it drifting off into space.
“NO!!!” cried out Arthur as he slumped to the floor, unable to bear seeing his plan fail.
The Weavile looked at the nine angry adventurers, got down on his knees, and held his arms up in the air as to surrender. He would be no match against all of them, and neither was the Shiftry. Ophelia walked up to Arthur with a look of contempt on her face.
“This is the end, Arthur. What Mathias Alistra should’ve done in the first place.”
Ophelia then turned around and faced the statue of the mew. She bowed her head at her ancestor while the three rogues were rounded up and bound. She wondered as to what intentions her ancestor had with keeping this key around. Perhaps he figured that someone with a good heart would want to get closer to the Great Ones and use it for prayer as he did when he was still alive. But this item was always destined to be misused, and there were people like Arthur who’d be willing to abuse its powers.
The gang got ready to leave the Alistra Tomb, with Kendra and Chopper next to each other in solidarity with one another. They had just survived an attempt by a mad pokémon to summon evil into the world. There was nothing good to come from this. But Kendra had been the one mostly responsible for saving the day once she had fully evolved. And with an entire tomb filled with treasures and artifacts to explore, they would now be busier than ever with exploring and documenting everything that was inside.
Jax and Minx noted the two of them getting close together. They decided it’d be best to allow the two lovebirds to have their little moment, as did the pastors. It was then that a now taller Kendra kissed Chopper long and hard, their lips connecting as they now forged an even stronger bond with one another. They were hopeful about the future together, and it was hoped this bond would only grow further.
“Thank you for saving the day, Kendra,” said Chopper. “Did anyone tell you how beautiful you look as fully evolved pokémon?”
“No need to worry, Chopper honey. And thank you for helping me evolve into someone stronger,” replied Kendra.
The team followed the exit out of the Alistra tomb, with the shards of the Dimensional Key in Jax’s hands. The Hallway of Desecration was no longer haunted, and though there were still traps the team made sure not to trigger them. They would need to contact the Pokémon University and have the Headmaster send an expedition of people to help check the tomb out – as well as send back the shard of the Dimensional Key for further study, with Ophelia permitting that was. There was much to do with exploring the rest of the still dangerous tomb, with many secrets abound.
For now, the team of pastors and archeologists went through Mammoth Cave and down the mountain towards Kelsgrove with their tow of rogues, with a large fanfare of people cheering them on as they walked into the town triumphant. Many people felt the malevolent presence coming from the crypt even as far away as the town was from the tomb, and they knew that a major catastrophe had just been adverted. It was clear that there would need to be even more people to watch over the tomb as the town pitched in to place Mammoth Cave under protection.
To celebrate their victory, Ophelia decided to cook up delicious pancakes for everyone to eat. And it was a victory that would surely be well received by a certain Garchomp. Even Kendra found herself having a much bigger appetite after evolving, but then again that came with changing form into a much larger and stronger pokémon.
Kendra and Chopper were now even closer together than ever before, with the two of them sitting down in the foyer and front of the fireplace. They were happy to be in each other’s arms, and the two shared a moment as they sipped from their mugs of hot cocoa as while basking in the warmth of the fire. It was rather curious to see a couple like this, and it’d be even more peculiar to see if they would ever have any children together. But though the birds and bees were a topic for a different day, it was clear that their bond was forged in the fires of conflict, and they wanted to spend the rest of their time in the sleepy town in each other’s arms.
It was because of Kendra that Chopper was able to evolve first, and it was because of him that she could later evolve as well. The two owed their evolution to one another, and they were so happy to be in each other’s arms while they basked in the warmth of the firepit. There was nothing that would ever come between them, and their bond was something they both wanted to nurture. All the while, Jax and Minx would smile at seeing their two friends get so close to one another. They had been through a lot together, and they were sure to weather even more storms in time.
So far, the evening was set to be a magical one. They had just conquered a Grotto Frozen in Time, a place where evil existed and was thoroughly purged. There was a lot to say about the event that’s taken fold, and Ophelia for one was thankful to all of the adventurers taking part for helping fix the mistake created by her long-dead ancestor. She would do her best to help the archeologists investigate the tomb and document all of the valuables inside of it, as well as spread some of the valuables to help fund the town into even more prosperity.
So everyone could hope. It was a long, tiring journey, and there was a need for rest. Tomorrow would be another long day, and another morning meant another breakfast of thick pancakes. And Kendra and Chopper, for one, could not wait to tuck into their meals together…
Pokémon Story - A Grotto Frozen in Time Ch. 3 Final
The final chapter of "A Grotto Frozen in Time".
I hope you'll all enjoy it!
Kendra and pals are finally entering the tomb of the Alistra family, and their goal of finding the dimensional key is coming to an end.
Will they be able to reach it before the evil Alistra manages to reach it?
Why not read and find out?
Pokemon Story - A Grotto Frozen in Time Ch. 3 Final
By J.C. Solis
Pokemon is Copyright © of Game Freak and The Pokemon Company.
I do not intend to infringe on copyrights, and this story is purely fanfiction.
I hope you'll all enjoy it!
Kendra and pals are finally entering the tomb of the Alistra family, and their goal of finding the dimensional key is coming to an end.
Will they be able to reach it before the evil Alistra manages to reach it?
Why not read and find out?
Pokemon Story - A Grotto Frozen in Time Ch. 3 Final
By J.C. Solis
Pokemon is Copyright © of Game Freak and The Pokemon Company.
I do not intend to infringe on copyrights, and this story is purely fanfiction.
Category Story / Pokemon
Species Pokemon
Gender Multiple characters
Size 120 x 120px
Listed in Folders
Amazing conclusion, bro! And I can't wait to see more of Kendra and Chopper if you know what I mean...
LOL
LOL
Hehe, one day, buddy. 😉
I honestly would like to write one
I honestly would like to write one
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