I was wiping the last traces of my tears away, managing a quick ‘Sure.’ Without warning, Morgan yanked my arm in a rush, dragging me along to who knows where. Pan effortlessly leaps onto her trainer’s shoulders, her cries of excitement following along.

  She dragged me across the dirt roads of Twinleaf, around the many fields and pastures of the farm town. Morgan’s laughter rang out, as if she was free flying, despite the barks of a chasing Herdier, it must’ve thought we were after the livestock Pokémon it was guarding. Pan was keeping pace, running along the ranch fences. I was running on fumes when Morgan had finally stopped, it was my first good run since graduating from Trainer School. I was catching my breath when I realized we were at Twinleaf’s entrance, beyond us Route 201 looked quite intimidating in the darkness of night. The forest had looked endless.

  “You really let yourself go, Tristan.” Morgan teases, as Pan mimics a laugh. “Come on! We’re nearly there.” I groan, dragging my feet forward despite the fatigue.

  Thankfully, the walk was short. Still, they led me off the main road, which was a little unnerving. Wild Pokémon could be roaming around. Hoothoot were especially common on this route at night. Morgan and I had to squeeze through a narrow opening between the trees, and just beyond it was the most mesmerizing lake I had ever seen.

  The water remained serene, even with the full moon overhead and countless Pokémon gliding beneath its surface. It held a faint pink glow, and with the stars reflecting off it, the lake looked like a sky of its own. At its center sat a small, isolated island. A quiet resting place, untouched and still. I stood there, mesmerized, staring for what felt like hours, until Morgan finally broke the silence.

  “This right here is Lake Verity.” She announced cheerfully, spreading her arms out wide, startling the wild Pokémon nearby. Strangely, none of them went to attack. On the shoreline, Pan was already frolicking with a group of Psyduck and Bidoof, as if he belonged there all along. “It’s Twinleaf’s own hidden marvel,” she added, her tone playful. “But knowing you, I bet this is your first time seeing it.” I nodded, unable to look away from the lake’s shimmering surface.

  My fear of leaving everything behind had rooted me from venturing out of my quaint hometown, from witnessing this gem. “Never could I have imagined such a place existing, let alone being so close to home.” I speak softly, careful not to disturb the calm. The wild Pokémon around us seem to accept our presence for now, and I don’t want to give them a reason to change their minds.

  “My Nana says there are two more, just like this one.” Morgan murmured. My eyes widened. The thought of two more lakes just as stunning was shocking. “She used to tell me stories when I was about knee-high.” She continued, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “It’s been my dream to see all of ‘em.”

  I couldn’t help but smile at Morgan’s quiet declaration. “Well, for what it’s worth, you have my full belief that you will.” She smiled a genuine, grateful smile.

  “There’s one more thing I have to show you.” She said eagerly, clasping my hand, she dragged me along gently, unlike before. Morgan had called out to Pan. She perked up from her playful scuffle with a Bidoof, and scurried over to us.

  The walk took only a few moments, but it felt longer in the best way. She led me to an opening in a small hill, hidden away by hanging moss and vines. I hesitated, but Morgan gave me a playful push. And, for the second time today, I was left breathless at the site before me.

  A breathtaking, hidden grotto, bathed by moonlight that filtered through slender cracks from its ceiling. At its heart lay a shallow circular pool, where a smooth boulder lay, embedded with a short scarlet sword, a long sash of red cloth tied at the edge of its handle holding an intricately designed sheath, completed with a golden guard adorned by a purple gem.

  The blade shone, reflecting moonlight across the grotto, illuminating a series of ancient cave drawings depicting a small fairy-like Pokémon with two tails, engraved with a red gems.

  “Morgan… what exactly is this place?” I asked, a little unnerved by the way the mural’s eyes seemed to follow us, as if it were alive. We jumped up onto the boulder, my gaze fixed on the sword jutting from atop it.

  Morgan shrugs, sitting down and letting her feet hang from the large rock’s side. “Haven’t got a clue. Some people think it was an old king’s chamber” She starts listing the many stories she had heard. “Others think it was the site of a knight’s final stand.” All I could do was shake my head at that.

  “My favorite one?” she said with a grin. “An old wizard stuck this sword ‘ere, and one day a chosen hero’s supposed to pull it out.” She laughed at how ridiculous it sounded, and I couldn’t help but laugh with her.

  We weren’t laughing for long. The rustle of the hanging moss and vines from the entrance being disturbed, pulled us from our joy. Something, No. Someone had entered the grotto. The air grew cold, as faint footsteps are heard nearing us. From the far end walked an unfamiliar face. I looked at Morgan to ask if she knew who this man was, but the look on her face stopped me cold. She did not know who this was either. Pan stood alert. Whoever this man was, Pan had decided he couldn’t be trusted.

  He walked calmly, slowly, calculated. I watched every step as if my life depended on it. And it probably did. He didn’t spare us a glance as he moved into the grotto. Without a word, he came to a stop just below the mural. Morgan’s ‘Who are you? How did you find this place?’ had been ignored.

  I couldn’t help but engrave his being into memory. He stood tall, had sharp angular features. He wore a high collared coat, with black sleeves, and black pants. Minimal, but sophisticated. A golden stylized ‘G’ stitched just above where his heart should be. But, most striking were his eyes. They weren’t angry, or cold. They were empty, like he was a statue, brought to life. I waited with bated breath, as he observed the ancient art piece.

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  A dozen more footsteps echo into the grotto, breaking the uncomfortable silence. One-by-one, similarly uniformed men and women emerged from the shadows. Bizarrely, all of them had the same blue short, rounded hairstyle. Some flanked the man. Others turned towards us, eyes calculated, as if measuring our threat level.

  “Lord Cyrus.” A man, one of the one’s flanking the now named Cyrus, blurted. He remained unmoved. “There are children, Sir.” Like before, Cyrus made no move, no gesture, no glance to show he even noticed us.

  I hear barely audible whispers from my side. Morgan was discretely issuing commands to Pan, preparing for a battle. They were unafraid, even when faced with certain doom. The water monkey gave a small nod, before she slipped into a low, defensive stance. A cold sweat runs down my face, as the uniformed men were to decide our fate, with their leader's focus being occupied.

  “I say, we get rid of ‘em.” The furthest one back suggests. “We’re in a forest. They won’t be found.” Admittedly, a fool-proof plan. A person without a Pokémon is exposed to the elements, and wild Pokémon will inevitably prey on them. What more can two cadavers do?

  “We can’t just kill them.” That was shocking. One of them, a woman, had a heart. “They’re only children.” She argued boldly.

  “Well, you got any better ideas?” The man from before asked, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

  The tension in my body was unbearable. My eyes gliding back and forth between Morgan and Pan, and the strange, but dangerous group before us. I was sweating profusely, my arms were trembling. The one thing I feared most - dying without my family ever knowing, was no longer a distant thought at the back of my mind. This was real, this was happening right here and now. Morgan had tried to calm me down, whispering comforting words, clasping my hand with hers. It was to no avail. We were helpless. At the mercy of these people.

  My heart was pounding. I was seconds away from a desperate run, to try and escape, or buy Morgan and Pan a little bit more time. Then, I froze. As if a sudden clarity had washed over me. I was still shaking, I was still afraid. But, it wasn’t about escaping anymore. My gaze fixed on the sword embedded in the boulder.

  I shot Morgan a shaky smile, before gripping the hilt of the blade. I gave it a pull. Before the blade even budge, the sash suddenly encased my arm, circling it from hand to elbow. I shouted in surprise, alerting everyone, but Cyrus. That’s when I stumbled, nearly dropping to my knees. I was losing strength, as if the sword was feeding on me.

  A silence settled onto the grotto. Every gaze shift towards me, then with a sudden jolt, the sword frees itself from the boulder. The sound of stone grinding against metal echoes loudly, scaring the Pokémon outside. The moonlight no longer littered the walls, as the blade reflecting the moonlight was removed.

  A chill ran through my spine, Cyrus was looking at me now.

  But, all the other’s attention was towards the sword. It hovered in the air, weightless. As if an unseen force was keeping it suspended. A few moments later, the crimson sash unravels from my arm. My skin from where it clung now a ghastly pale, worlds away from my normally sun-kissed tone. It circled me, and I found myself immersed by the purple gemstone. Then, the black in its center shifted, as if blinking. It was alive, and looking straight at me.

  It was a Pokémon, all along. The sword, Morgan and I joked around with hyperbolic legends, was a Pokémon I had never seen before. But before I could lose myself in the questions of the who’s and the what’s, I forced my thoughts to steady. We were still in danger. Cyrus was watching me intently, unblinking. Not with surprise, or annoyance, not with any other emotion. He stared at me with Expectation, for a performance for our lives.

  I looked back at the floating sword Pokémon. It met my eyes with silent curiosity. “... Sword, I know I woke you, and you’re most likely confused. But, I beg of you. Please.” I pleaded, desperation obvious in my tone, my heart was pounding. “Help us.”

  It stared at me, and for a moment I thought we were done for. Then, suddenly, it tilts itself, as if mimicking a nod. A dignified ‘Swing’ like a blade gliding through wind, it cries out. It drifted next to Pan.

  ‘Pan.’ she gave the sword a courteous nod as if to acknowledge its act.

  I stared down the danger ahead. A dozen or so men and women were palming their Poké balls, ready to release their own partners. But, before they could, Cyrus raises a closed fist, a silent command to stand down.

  “Boy.” I flinched, his voice was deep, authoritative, absolute. “What’s your name?” Goosebumps prickled from my arms. It wasn’t a question. It was a demand.

  “Tristan.” I answered, surprised I wasn’t trembling. “Tristan Bey.” Cyrus nods, and shifts his gaze to Morgan. I instinctively raise a protective arm in front of her, and Pan was growling an attempt at intimidation. The sword remained still, at the ready for an attack.

  “And you?” Morgan flinches too, as if Cyrus’ voice had an adverse effect onto others.

  “Morgan. Morgan Drury.” She answers. Everyone remained frozen, the surroundings had become quiet, as if the world itself was waiting for his verdict. Cyrus closed his eyes, sinking into thought, then slowly gliding them open.

  “I’ll remember you two.” He spoke softly before turning towards the entrance of the hidden grotto. “Let’s go. We’re done here.” And, just like that, Cyrus walks away. The men with him look at each other, exchanging stunned glances, before following their leader.

  We waited in silence until every single one of them had left the grotto. Morgan let out a shaky sigh of relief, Pan had relaxed herself of her battle ready stance, and the sword Pokémon hovered around me again. Its gemstone eye looked like it was smiling, it was proud to have protected us.

  I realized I was still panting, my vision blurred, and my legs unsteady. Adrenaline had been the only thing keeping me up. I collapsed, all the tension releases from my body all at once. Somewhere in my haze, I could hear Morgan shouting ‘Tristan!’ and Pan’s anxious yelps.

  The last thing I saw before the darkness took over was the sword Pokémon, gliding frantically above me, its eye wide with alarm.