Chapter 28 – Mount Moon (Part 3)
Chapter 28 – Mount Moon (Part 3)
Both girls only had made it a few steps into the new area, completely ignoring the calls from the other side of the rubble, when they froze and stared. Even 2B’s previous focus on finding the other members of the expedition faltered for long moments in face of what they were seeing. The description Doctor Anning had given had been technically accurate, but had utterly failed to prepare them for what they were seeing.
The woman had seriously undersold what had been found.
For one thing, ‘at least a kilometer’ was virtually certain to be a massive understatement. Just from a quick eyeball estimate, the space had to be at least three times that. Probably more, given that there was a massive lake to the north of the area, partially hidden by the only green visible. The Doctor must not have come far enough forward to see it, or recognized it for what it was, as its presence was obvious.
Of course, given how much else there was to see, not spotting it was perhaps understandable. After all, in addition to the size of the cavern laid out before them was the height. The ceiling was easily three hundred meters above them, more in some places, and covered in patches of some sort of glowing stone. Add in a frozen landscape of what looked suspiciously like rainforest and, closer to the lake, what looked like a plethora of berry bushes?
The entire place was breathtaking.
“H-how the heck is this possible?!”
Zoey managed to get the question out, somehow, and it broke 2B out of her own shock.
“Likely not entirely naturally. Mt. Moon is close to ninety kilometers thick at the base, with the Route through it cutting through only a very shallow section of it to get people from Pewter to Cerulean. The size is such that large caverns like this are possible, yet for such a large hollow to be carved inside it, with an entire living Biome that belongs elsewhere? Most likely a powerful pokémon, possibly even a Legendary, created this space. Hopefully it is not still here. Be on guard.”
That statement was like a bucket of ice water dumped straight down Zoey’s spine. While some Legendries could be quite friendly to humans, it was never a certain thing. Meddling with them or their habitats was a good way to end up dead, if you weren’t an absolute top tier trainer with a Champion Tier team. Which, notably, neither of them were.
“There are footprints still. We should follow them, find the researchers, and retreat until proper authorities can arrange a full expedition into this place.”
2B was pointing and, sure enough, there were obvious boot prints in the snow. Notably, far larger pokémon tracks had wiped many of them out. Probably, from the large claws, the Tyrantrum that had caused the second collapse. Still, the human and pokémon tracks leading into the ‘frozen rainforest’ weren’t completely gone, and the tracks got clearer as Zoey followed 2B and Vulpix toward it. As she did, she shivered and paused.
“Wait, 2B.”
2B paused, turning, and Zoey fumbled with her new storage bracer. She hadn’t fully organized everything in it, so it took her an embarrassing half minute to find what she was looking for, popping out a coat. It was fucking cold here.
“Do you have a coat? I have others, I think…”
She’d moved a lot of stuff from her PC storage into the bracer, and probably had another traveling coat. Thankfully, since she wasn’t sure where in the mess of stuff it was, 2B nodded her head…and much more smoothly produced a slightly lighter coat of her own.
“A good thought. I was foolish to rush. Even if the hu-…other expedition members, might be in trouble.”
Zoey frowned, curious what 2B had almost said instead of ‘expedition members.’ Shaking the thought off after a moment, she triggered Purugly’s pokéball, having returned her starter to get through the rubble passage more easily. Her starter made a disgruntled noise at the cold, but she ignored it. He had plenty of thick fur and could easily handle the weather, he just wasn’t a huge fan of it. Properly prepared this time, Zoey followed 2B into the tree line…
… … …
The footprints became less reliable as they went, mostly due to them being disrupted at several points by what looked like pokémon battles having happened. Thankfully for their ability to follow the trail, there were disgruntled and disheveled looking pokémon at each of those locations, showing all the signs of having lost those fights. 2B being able to properly communicate with them, as well as having plentiful berries for bribes, resulted in directions on which direction the members of the expedition had gone.
Yet, the oddest thing to Zoey was that they’d seen no signs of captures having happened, despite having run into several pokémon that would be considered rare in Kanto. Glalie, Cryogonal, and Delibird weren’t exactly rare as a whole, but they weren’t common in Kanto for certain. When she finally commented on it to 2B, she was surprised by the answer.
“The expedition members are professionals. A random Trainer stumbling on this area would be forgiven for catching something. Someone who knows better would be in trouble with the League.”
Blinking and waiting for a moment to see if 2B would elaborate, Zoey frowned when she didn’t.
“Why?”
2B, whose original comment seemed to have been automatic, looked at her and blinked for a moment. Seeming to process the question after a small hesitation, her expression shifted.
“Ah. It is because this is a new, undiscovered, biome. Finds like this are rare, but not unheard of, and are often related to some powerful pokémon or other. Having someone capture pokémon willy-nilly, only to discover they did so in a sanctuary protected by a Legendary…”
Zoey winced as 2B trailed off. Yeah, that would be…bad. Potentially catastrophic, depending on the temperament of the Legendary.
“This area will not likely be opened to the public for some time. Certainly not until the Rangers and a proper expedition to study it conclude it is safe for humans to be here.”
Nodding, Zoey accepted the answer as 2B went back to examining the tracks, only for her girlfriend to abruptly stop. Blinking, she looked where 2B was looking…and swore softly. The trail of tracks had vanished again, in a wide clearing this time, which looked like it had been hit by a Blizzard move. A powerful one. Worse, there were no confused or sullen looking pokémon in the vicinity this time. 2B pursed her lips, then split left, circling the clearing. Realizing immediately what she was doing, Zoey split right, keeping an eye out for human or pokémon tracks. They met on the other side of the clearing, with Zoey shaking her head.
“No signs on that side, none on yours?”
2B silently shook her head, then looked up. After a few moments she pointed.
“Broken branches.”
Zoey squinted against the false-sunlight, taking a moment to spot what 2B had seen. Once she did, she cursed. It wasn’t one or two broken branches, but a large number of them.
“The Blizzard came from above. But there is no one here and no sign everyone ran. You think the pokémon carried an entire team off?”
2B nodded grimly and Zoey suddenly felt very out of her depth.
“Perhaps we need to wait for the Rangers? The sort of pokémon that could do that…it’s a little out of our weight class. Or a lot, more likely.”
She, sadly, expected her girlfriend’s instant negative headshake.
“No. Those taken may not have the time. I’m the best option for diplomacy anyway.”
2B frowned, looking back toward where they’d come from.
“You should go back. If you meet the Rangers, you can show them to this place.”
Zoey snorted at the tone in 2B’s voice. She wasn’t exactly good at hiding her emotions, once you had a decent read on how to spot them. Her girlfriend was afraid this wouldn’t end well and was trying to keep Zoey out of it.
“Not a chance. I’m the senior Trainer present, with the most powerful pokémon. If you’re going to attempt to find them, I’m coming with you…though I’m not sure how you intend to find them if they flew away.”
2B looked like she wanted to argue for a moment, before deciding it was wiser course of action to not. Good, she had at least a basic understanding of Zoey, under her lack of common sense. Not that either of their decisions had anything to do with common sense.
“I suspect we follow her.”
Zoey blinked as 2B pointed behind her, spinning slowly…to see that one of the Absol from the camp had followed them. Given how well it blended in, Zoey was firmly marking down 2B having known it was there as ‘aura fuckery.’ Though, given that it wasn’t exactly hiding now, a part of her brain insisted that she was probably just that bad at noticing she was being followed…
“Ab-Abs, Absol.”
With that mysterious statement, which Zoey supposed was less mysterious if you were 2B, the Absol turned to the south and began trotting off. 2B cocked her head, nodded…and then Zoey found herself scooped up in a bridal carry and sweeping after the pokémon. The Absol picked up speed, seeming to know 2B could keep up with it, and Zoey decided she was just fine with this.
At least if they died horribly, some of her last memoires would be staring at her girlfriend’s bouncing titties…
… … …
“Well, this is…ominous?”
Zoey tested the word, finding it didn’t quite fit, but that she didn’t have a better one. The Absol had led them clear to the southern wall of the massive cave, then indicated a sizable hole in said wall a good fifty meters up. Not a tunnel, but a secondary cave entrance. Zoey had gotten a hell of a shock when 2B had barely paused, leaping up via a series of seemingly-impossible jumps off bits of rock. Her heart was still hammering from the unexpected adrenaline rush of being carried along for the ride, even as she took in the cave entrance.
Ice glistened everywhere. Not just ice, but dense ice. The kind that spoke more of permafrost than regular ice. The sort of ice you looked for if you were trying to find Never-Melt Ice or an Ice Stone. Something Zoey only knew how to identify due to being from Snowpoint City originally. Her home was exactly the sort of place treasure hunters came, looking to score exactly those sorts of finds.
The problem, of course, was that such permafrost being here in such density screamed that an incredibly powerful Ice-type pokémon likely lived here. The cave was deep, bending out of sight, and even just the entrance was far colder than the rest of the biome. Worse, at least to Zoey’s mind, was that looking back out over the massive cavern ‘outside?’ It was obvious that the intense cold came from the cave they were in. The farther the land was away from this cave, the warmer it looked. To the point that the lake they’d seen to the north not only wasn’t frozen-over, but was surrounded by greenery.
“I suspect there may be an Articuno here. An extremely old one.”
Zoey gulped at that calm statement by 2B…and cringed when the Absol, which had just caught up to them, nodded.
“Absol, ab, sol.”
2B nodded along with whatever the pokémon was saying...then brought out Vulpix. Zoey almost missed having unexpectedly half-understood the Absol. As for Vulpix, 2B had recalled the pokémon just before picking up Zoey, and Zoey blinked at her bringing her ‘starter’ back out now. Her own hand moved to Purugly’s ball, her companion having recalled himself so he didn’t have to run after them. 2B was quick to raise her hand and shake her head.
“No. We can’t fight it. But Absol said it has a soft spot for young Ice-type pokémon. That it likely grabbed the expedition because they were fighting with the local Ice-types in the Forest.”
Ah. So Vulpix being happy and healthy with 2B might keep it from just turning them instantly into popsicles. That…sort of made sense. She turned to the Absol and directed a question at it.
“Absol? Does this Articuno have any history with humans?”
The pokémon considered her for a moment, then spoke.
“’Sol, Absol, Ab-bso, Absol, Ab-sol. Absol, absol!”
Zoey was caught by surprise again when she actually caught the gist of that.
“It knew humans a long time ago? But not since the land was changed?”
2B and the Absol both looked at her in surprise. The Absol nodded after a moment. Zoey frowned and turned her attention to her girlfriend.
“Has this area changed recently, at all?”
Unfortunately, her girlfriend confirmed her thought by instantly shaking her head.
“No. Mt. Moon has been more or less the same since Pewter and Cerulean first settled. Whatever humans it has interacted with, it was likely thousands of years ago. Which could be either very good or very bad.”
Strangely enough, Zoey didn’t have to ask. She’d met the Champion of her home region just twice, ever…and had still somehow ended up subjected to Cynthia’s obsession with ancient history. While the mini-lecture she’d gotten back then had been informative, it certainly hadn’t been what Zoey was expecting at the time. Still, Cynthia made an impression, as the details of the lecture had stuck with her as a result. Specifically, about how some ancient cultures had worshiped legendries, striking a balance of sorts with them. While others had outright warred with the powerful pokémon.
Usually to the detriment of the humans.
Seeming surprised Zoey didn’t ask, 2B still only hesitated for a brief few moments before gesturing Vulpix forward, following a few steps behind her pokémon. The Absol, curiously, waited for Zoey to psyche herself up, and then walked just a few paces in front of Zoey. Perhaps acting as an Ice-type escort for her, too? If that was the case, she reminded herself to generously reward this particular Absol for its help if they made it out of this more or less intact…
… … …
2B wasn’t a fan of the fact that Zoey had been determined to come with her. At first, she’d thought it was a remaining instinct to protect humans. Now, as she marched into a Legendary’s nest, she was certain that such was not the case. No, she very specifically, was more worried about Zoey than about the other humans she was here to rescue. To the point she’d been a bit slow and indecisive at the entrance.
It was…odd. Something she hadn’t considered before.
The goal had always before been to protect humanity as a whole, but now she found her feelings torn. Between protecting the unknown humans she’d never met, and protecting Zoey, she was abruptly uncertain which was more important. Was this another reason that YoRHa had concluded that feelings were dangerous? Promising herself she would consider it in depth later, she pushed it aside for now. She could feel the power of the Legendary they were approaching, and now was not the time to be distracted.
As they made their way deeper into the cave, they finally saw both the rest of the expedition…and the Articuno at the same time.
Despite wanting to check on the humans, who at least seemed mostly well, the piercing stare of the Legendary demanded 2B’s attention first. There was a massive weight of pressure about the Articuno, its aura so overwhelming that even 2B’s was smothered under the metaphysical weight. Just as she was about to move forward to speak to it, a sharp yap came from Vulpix. 2B was certain she was not the only one to twist and stare at her official starter as it marched forward and…started lecturing the Legendary? The Articuno’s aura abruptly shifted from angry and judging to befuddled as 2B caught the edges of a complex lecture about ‘appropriate aura pressure to use around human’s without being rude.’
It had all the tones of a child repeating a lecture that it had heard from a parent, and 2B was abruptly far more curious about Vulpix’s parents. She’d seen from their files that both were powerful Ninetales, but the Alolan mother was significantly older than the local Kanto Ninetales. Did Vulpix’s mother regularly lecture her father about reigning his aura in around the caretakers?
Well, whatever the case, the Legendary seemed very off balance, so perhaps it was time to speak up. 2B stepped forward and knelt, rubbing Vulpix behind the ears, causing her lecture to lose steam as her brain blissed out. Carefully directing her eyes just to the side of the Legendary’s so it wouldn’t be construed as a challenge, 2B spoke in the soft-but-firm way that Daisy had taught her was best.
“Please forgive Vulpix, she is still quite young, and has never met a Legendary before.”
A feeling of bemusement, mixed with surprise as 2B had projected her intent with aura as well as speech, came back from the Legendary. It cocked its head in her direction and spoke…but not out loud. Instead, its psychic voice reached out to them, causing 2B’s eyes to widen. Articuno weren’t exactly known for Psychic power, after all.
‘It’s okay! The little one is ultra cute! Like, much cuter than the stompy humans that were causing lots of noise while I was trying to sleep! I’d, like, just gotten to rest properly a decade ago, and being woken so soon was, like, super rude! Well, at least without news that the sky is open again! Like, what do I care if more tunnels into the stupid rock are open.”
Oh. This Articuno was an airhead.
“Um, did you not want to be in here? We can arrange a way out of the mountain for you, if you promise you’re not going to cause trouble or something.”
‘Of course not, stupid! I’m a bird! I’m supposed to fly! But those stupid idiots fighting caused the whole island I was resting on to shift! It was all I could do to shield some of the lesser kin that provided me with things. Stupid, idiot, moronic brutes!”
There was a very vague impression that came along with ‘brutes’ of blue and red pokémon of immense power. Were those…Groudon and Kyogre?!
‘By the time big snakey dude got off his ass and spanked them, the mountain had formed around the ice shell I was protecting the island with! Stupid jerks! I haven’t seen the sky in far too long. If I see either of those idiots again, I’m going to grab them and drag them up so high, when I drop them they’ll splat like coconuts!’
S…Snakey dude?! Was it…talking about Rayquaza?! There hadn’t exactly been any modern sightings of any of them, but 2B fed an impression of the tribal art she’d seen of all three to the Legendaries. She couldn’t help her curiosity, and the reaction was immediate.
‘Yes! Those three dimwits! The dummiest of the dummies! If I see any of those dummies, I’m going do properly peck them to death! They got me stuck here, unable to just blast my way out unless I’m willing to hurt all the pokémon I made the effort to protect in the first place! Ohhhh, thinking about it still makes me so mad!’
2B hastily backed off that train of conversation, able to feel that anger and knowing the pulses of aura were liking terrifying the other humans.
“Ah! Like I said, Articuno, we can help you out of here! The tunnels that opened have a route out of Mt. Moon…err, what the humans have named this mountain.”
‘You renamed the island? Why ever do that. Like, Utakbuko was a perfectly good name for an island! I was even consulted on it by that tribe that kept leaving me berries!’
Mouth working soundlessly for a moment, 2B tried to figure out how to put what she needed to say, before just blurting it out.
“Mt. Moon isn’t an island any longer, it’s part of an entire mountain range on the eastern side of a fairly larger continent. I suspect any landmarks you were familiar with are gone.”
Rather than being upset, the Legendary focused on her with a feeling of curiosity.
‘Really?! Ohhh, that just makes me want to fly more, so I can explore! Wait, you said there’s a way out now?!’
“Ah…yes. A Tyrantum did cause a partial collapse, but the other humans from the expedition that these,” 2B gestured to the now befuddled-looking ground of humans that were huddled up for warmth, “humans were with are clearing a path again. So long as you don’t mean the humans any harm, we should be able to guide you out within an hour or so.”
Joy sang in the Legendary’s aura. Only to dim down a bit a moment later.
‘Will I be able to get back? Like, the pokémon here are all descendants of those I protected. I wouldn’t want harm to come to them, and the humans were fighting with them! The only reason I didn’t kill them for their affront was that they were healing them afterward. They shouldn’t beat up my minions!’
Oh…dear. The humans that the Legendary had grabbed were all looking more than a bit pale at that declaration. Still, it hadn’t just killed them outright, which meant there was something here that could be worked with.
“It would be hard to get back through the tunnels all the time, but I’m sure the Rangers, the humans who manage safe paths through the mountain range, would be willing to work with you. To open a way for you to come and go from here. Of course, you’d have to be willing to let the humans you took go. I promise, they were just trying to explore, not do harm.”
The Articuno narrowed its gaze at her, clearly not completely trusting. Yet it was nearly impossible to lie intentionally with aura, so it knew that 2B at least believed that to be the case.
‘Very well. I will let the humans go back with you. But, like, they will not leave this Mount Moon place until there is a way for me to come and go from my domain!’
That was fine. The League would need to sit on them a bit, but that was going to happen anyway with them being aware of the presence of this new biome with an active and ancient Legendary present. Still, she might be able to strike a bit of a compromise as well.
“They intended only to study this place. You have protected this place so well, that there are pokémon here that no longer survive in the rest of the world. If you allow them to study the pokémon here, they will have all the more reason to stay and help you.”
Zoey’s breath hitched and several of the expedition humans were looking at 2B incredulously. Yet, this might be the only leverage they would ever get to study this Legendary’s sanctuary. The Articuno studied her intently, then looked to where 2B was still gently stroking a blissed-out Vulpix. She had fully seated herself, pulling Vulpix into her lap, while they spoke, and Vulpix was a puddle of happy floof in her lap.
‘I will allow…a few. Like, maybe those the Absol choose to allow? They have been the only minions in my domain that have, like, gone out into the tunnels over the last eons, you know? They understand you weird human things best.’
2B nodded agreeably, noting down mentally that somehow the Absol seen before at Mt. Moon must have been part of the same pack that belonged to this sanctuary. They must have found some smaller passages that the larger pokémon couldn’t squeeze through.
“That is fine. If you find your way to the collapsed wall on the western side of the Sanctuary in a day, the wall should be cleared and I will help you speak to the Rangers. They will be the ones to help you find or create a reliable path in and out of the mountain, as they know its paths best.”
The Articuno merely nodded, then turned away and settled into its nest, clearly done with the conversation. 2B stood, bowed to it just to make sure it didn’t take offense, and then moved to where the humans the pokémon had captured were all huddled together along one wall.
“Is everyone alright? Are there any wounds that need to be seen to before we leave?”
Most of the expedition humans were just staring at her, but one of them managed to clear his throat and speak.
“Ah, no miss. We managed to patch up the few injuries we took, as the Articuno didn’t take our things. If you can lead us out, we would all like to return to camp now…”
Nodding and smiling at everyone, 2B gathered them up and chivvied them out of the cave. She’d have to carry most of them down, unless they had some Flight Pokémon. But that was a small thing. This had ended well! She hadn’t even needed to fight! Daisy would be proud of her, she was sure.
Particularly as she’d gotten quite thorough scans of the Legendary using her tactical visor while they spoke…
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A/N 1: I decided I'd already done most of the other main tropes for Pokémon, which meant it was time for an encounter with a Legendry. As for how I landed on this one being an airhead? Honestly, it was thinking about where you run into Articuno in the first set of games. WHY is a Bird Pokemon deep in a cave, of a VOLCANIC island chain?! Is that Articuno also a lost ditz?! Considering that idea at least made me think it would be amusing for this one to be something of an Airhead that had gotten stuck there. For good reasons, but still stuck...