Age of Magic - Chapter Two (Pokemon Fan Fiction)

The pair made good time as they trudged their way through the forest. The trees began to grow thinner and the sunlight spilt through the leaves in a green hue that illuminated the woodland floor. Ingus and Raichu didn’t get far before they found what was left of a giant archway. Possessive vines smothered the tired, dark coloured stone arch which, over the many years of isolation, was now completely covered in moss. It was so abundant that it transformed the archway to seem like part of the forest itself, as if it had been nurtured by the woodland and grown out of the soil like the nearby trees. Ingus could tell that the arch was ancient, but he wasn’t surprised to find something like this so far into the forest.

“Is it me, or is that voice getting more and more familiar as we get closer to it?” Said Raichu, stopping at the entrance of the arch.

“No, I’ve been thinking that since I first head it.” Replied Ingus.

“Well, whatever, the song is coming from somewhere on the other side of this archway.”

“Let’s not stop now then, but let’s also be careful. We don’t really know who’s singing after all.”

Moving under the arch, the pair entered an equally ancient village which was all but swallowed up entirely by the forest. Remnants of the partially intact homes still existed amongst the ruined relics of forgotten people who once lived here. What was left of the houses were consumed by a blue blanket of plant life and dotted with a rainbow of different mushrooms and flowers. Ingus almost considered this place to be enchanting, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, like a haunting shadow that nipped at his heals as he moved through the empty homes.

“If my ears are right, our singer is in this next clearing.” Said Raichu, pointing the way with his paw.

The pair kept their heads low as they edged closer, both of them crawling just to keep out of sight. Using his hands to make a gap in the bushes where he and Raichu were hiding, they found a woman standing atop a marble stage placed at the heart of the village. Rays of gold shone down through the trees like spotlights, lighting up the platform where her performance took place. Her slim and delicate figure flowed in time of the words of her song, and caressing her pale skin was a purple Grecian dress that fluttered in the wake of her steps along with her sleek raven black hair. The joyful smile fixed on her face as she tiptoed her way across the stage almost made Ingus jump to his feet and rush over to join her.

“It’s Princess Luna” whispered Ingus, instantly recognizing her and forgetting that he could speak using his mind. “Imagine that the first person that we bump into on the way home would be her, I can’t believe our luck.”

Ingus went to stand but stopped when he felt Raichu’s paw on his leg. He could feel the anxiety rising from within his friend through their link and watched as he scanned the trees above, ears twitching.

“What is it Raichu, what can you see?”

“I don’t know, but I’m getting the feeling it’s not friendly.”

Ingus rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. “Stay alert, we mustn’t let anything happen to the princess.”

There was a pause. Luna finished her song and the forest was still, like a graveyard the trees became silent with the absence of her voice.

“Watch out” cried Raichu as fangs descended from the treetop and pined Ingus to the floor.

A red eyed Pokémon held him in place, it towered over him with short blue and black fur, its vice like teeth inches away from his face held back by his sword. The Pokémon stared at Ingus with pure hatred before it ripped the blade from his grasp and tossed it aside with ease. It gazed down at Ingus, exposing its fangs in a grin before looking for a way to finish him off, but Raichu burst into action and head-butted the Pokémon right between the eyes. It staggered backwards, roaring in pain and Ingus used the moment to escape from under its body.

Now on his feet, Ingus called on his magic and summoned orbs of electric which ignited in his hands. Raichu by his side, the very air around them was alight with static. Ingus pulled his hand back ready to launch the orb at the wild Pokémon, but before he could the princess jumped in between them.

“Please stop.”

“Princess be careful, that Luxrays wild.”

“I can assure you she is no wild Pokémon Sir wizard, and her actions are my responsibility, but I will not tolerate this fighting a second longer. Stand down now, please.” Commanded Luna.

Ingus released the orbs from his hands and let them fall to the floor where they evaporated into the ground. He also pick up his sword, which luckily hadn’t gone far, and placed it back into its sheath.

“I will not stand idle and let my friends be harmed, but you would understand that better than anyone.” Stated Luna, folding her arms with a faint smile that played on the edge of her lips. “It has been too long since we last laid eyes on each other has it not, Ingus?”

“About four months, give or take a few days.” He said, failing to hide his own smile.

“I would like to introduce a dear friend of mine, Luxray. She’s also fond of the name Lux.” Smiled Luna, gesturing towards the Pokémon by her side.

Ingus stepped up towards the Luxray and bowed. “Sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, I hope you can forgive us.”

Lux answered by exposing her teeth and by letting shards of static to form around her front paws. 

“Come now Lux there is no need for this aggression, you are making a poor first impression. Ingus and Raichu are dear friends of mine. You can give them your trust.” Said Luna, but the Luxray didn’t seem to think so. Lux turned her nose at the pair and stalked away, leaving behind a trail of static as she patrolled the area.

“I am deeply sorry” said Luna. “She is extremely protective over me.”

“That’s ok. No one got hurt, so no harm done.”

“Tell that to my brain” said Raichu, rubbing his head. “It was like head butting a rock.”

The wind picked up slightly and the leaves rustled in song as the uplifting breeze sailed pasted them. The clouds overhead shifted they position and their shadow covered the forest, turning it cold. Ingus noticed that Luna’s already pale skin had turned whiter still in the absence of the sun’s heat, so he took his cloak from his shoulders and held it out to the princess.

“That dress does nothing against this weather princess, and you’ll catch a cold if you’re not careful.”

Luna gazed at the floor as her hands played with the front of her dress. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too, but it’s not like I was gone all that long.”

“To me, four mouths is a long time.”

Ingus stepped up towards her. When he was close enough he draped the cloak around her shoulders and tied it up at the front. Only then did she look up into his eyes to give him her thanks, but they returned back to the grass beneath her feet. There was an awkward pause before Ingus dug his hand into one of the pouches on his belt and pulled out a small packet wrapped in brown cloth.

“A little birdy came and told me that your birthday wasn’t too far away. So we went out of our way to get you something special.” He held out the packet. “Happy eighteenth birthday princess.”

Her eyes began to fill up and her lips stated to tremble slightly. “Oh Ingus, you remembered.”

“But of course, why wouldn’t I? It was the main reason we came back today.”

Raichu jumped into Ingus’s shoulder. “Open it, open the present we got you.” He said, which Ingus then translated for her.

She untied the string holding the cloth together and opened it up to reveal a ring. The ring itself was made from fine sliver, delicately encrusted with ancient writing that even Ingus couldn’t understand, but it was the gem on the ring that truly stood out. The abnormal glowing jewel pulsed with a soft blue hew as it sat in the palm of her hand. Flowing inside was a sluggish liquid that moved in a spiral motion which also appeared to be the source of the stones unusual aura. If anyone ever tried to explain what the physical form of magic would look like, that stone would be what they’d would describe.

“It’s beautiful” said Luna, her eyes alight with its glow. “But where did you obtain such a find?”

“There’s a tower to the west of here called Crescent summit. Me and Raichu heard about a legendary ring locked within, so we went to check it out for ourselves. That place has been abandoned for so long that we didn’t think anyone would mind if we just took it.”

“The tower was supposed to be haunted but we didn’t see any ghosts, or any Pokémon for that matter.” Added Raichu, which Ingus repeated. 

“That is all well and good, but what if someone requires this ring more then I and you have just stolen it.” Said Luna. “And furthermore, what would you have done if the legend was false, for I myself have not heard of such a place?”

Ingus scratched his chin. “It’s a really old legend so I’m not surprised that you’ve never heard of it, and if there was someone that needed that ring, they would have stopped us from taking it. We were searching for some time before we finally found it. I also had backup plans, just in case the ring turned out to be a dud.”

“If I remember correctly your backup plan to the make something for her, using things you would find on the way back home, right?” sniggered Raichu, but Ingus neglected it translate that part to Luna.

“Your adventures sound like so much fun. I would give anything to accompany you on one of them.” Said Luna.

“I would like that too.” Ingus had always wanted Luna to come with him, but unfortunately being the princess had its short comings. Besides that fact that she was chained to her kingdom by her bloodline, she also had to deal with a protective father.

Luna slipped the ring onto her middle finger and admired her birthday present. “So tell me Ingus, of what new wonders did you discover on your travels to the Crescent summit? Did you find any new Pokémon that I should hear about?”

Ingus grinned and pulled out his notebook. They ended up sitting on the stage in the center of the old village and spent the next hour speaking about every Pokémon inside Ingus’s book, even ones that Luna had seen before. She listened to each word, just as fascinated as he was as he explained all that he learnt about them. The Luxray had given up her sulking and she joined the rest of the group. She lay down beside the princess in silence, not even glancing at Ingus or Raichu.

“My, how time flies.” Said Luna after Ingus had just finished explaining about his latest entry. “I need to return to the castle or father is surely to send out a patrol to come looking for me.

“Would the princess like an escort back to home?” Asked Ingus, jumping off the stage.

“Why yes, that would be a fine idea. The day does leave us so. Come, let us make hast.”

With that the group left the ancient, flower covered village behind and made their way east towards the city of Endure. They found a wood cutters path that seemed to still be in use and easy to walk on, free of all the stray branches and rock that littered the rest of the floor. Though it was the same forest that Ingus had spent the last few weeks in, now that it was shrouded in shadow it didn’t feel as friendly as he remembered. It was like he had entered a different forest entirely, even Raichu stayed close to him, not being as plucky as he usually when leading the party. Luna had tighten up her cloak to completely surround her now and she kept very close to Ingus, even going as far as to wrap her arm around his, which he didn’t mind one bit. Unfortunately his time with Luna didn’t last long. It seemed that Lux had other ideas and shoved herself between them, braking their contact like some bitter old lover.

“What’s wrong with Lux?” Ingus asked Raichu. “It’s like she doesn’t what me anywhere near the princess.”

“What gave that away?” He replayed sarcastically.

“Can you ask her for me? Why she doesn't like me that is.”

“From my experience with Pokémon like Lux, its best to wait for the right time and the place before you start asking questions like that.”

“Ok, I will leave this to your better judgment then.”

By midday the group stepped out from under the canopy of the forest, having come to the threshold that divided the closely knitted trees from the clear rolling countryside. A calm breeze brushed past them with it the scent of wet grass in open air. They stood on the brim of a steep hill overlooking the uniform rows of numerous fields and small thickets which were accompanied by neat pockets of bare grassland. The sun escaped from behind the looming clouds and rays of brilliant gold light scattered across the land, enfolding it in its warm embrace. Straight ahead of them stood the vast city of Endue, situated on an island in the middle of the Vaprick River that echoed out in a continuous roar as it tore its way through the landscape. The city itself was clearly visible in the distance with its strong, dependable dark stone walls and castle. Even further in the distance towered the lone mountain of Ashborn which was the only mounting that could challenge the very havens with its heights and though it was nothing but a hazy outline in the distance, there was no mistaking its magnitude.

Luna beamed with joy as she observed Ingus soaked up every little detail of his home. The happiness practically radiated off the princess as she turned to him with a big smile.

“Welcome home, Ingus.”