Chapter 324: Second Encounter
Chapter 324: Second Encounter
"We're here. This is the place where the three Companion Pokemon are buried."
The two had been walking along the small path through Apple Orchard, and now they arrived at a spacious clearing.
The circular clearing was fenced with wooden railings, and park benches were placed along the edges, where some townspeople rested with their Pokemon.
At the center of the clearing stood a small shrine, housing statues of three different Pokemon.
Naoki looked at them, and it was clear that these were the Companion Pokemon the mayor had mentioned.
"It's all thanks to them that the town was protected from the Gengar and the townspeople were saved," the mayor said gratefully.
Naoki, intrigued, asked, "Are their remains buried beneath here?"
"Yes," the mayor nodded, noticing a stain on the shrine. He walked over and cleaned it.
Just then, a villager came running from behind, shouting, "Manager, bad news! The truck transporting apples fell into the ditch!"
"What?" The mayor was taken aback and quickly said to Naoki, "Let's end today's exchange here. Feel free to wander around the area, and I'll go check on the situation."
"Do you need my help?" Naoki asked.
The mayor thanked him and smiled, shaking his head. "Thank you, but we have staff in the town specialized in handling such matters, so you don't have to worry."
Naoki didn't press further. He watched as the mayor hurried off, then turned his attention back to the shrine that housed the three Companion Pokemon.
The shrine held three tiny statues, which didn't give away the original appearances of the Companions.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind.
Naoki turned to see Helian running excitedly into the clearing. "Naoki? You're here to see the graves of the three Companion Pokemon too?"
"Huh?" Naoki was surprised. "I thought you had already left Northwind Town and returned to the Sinnoh region."
"No hurry," Helian replied. "My training for this trip is over, so I plan to stay here and enjoy the rural scenery."
"I see."
Naoki nodded and looked at the shrine with Helian.
On the right side of the shrine stood a stone tablet, recording the heroic deeds of the three Companion Pokemon.
'"Companion Statue"—Brave Pokemon who guarded Greenwood Town long ago. To defeat the Gengar attacking the village, they fought bravely but unfortunately sacrificed themselves.
Their remains were buried beneath the statue and solemnly commemorated.'
Helian read it aloud.
Naoki listened quietly, deep in thought.
So, was the green Pokemon he saw on the back mountain yesterday a Gengar?
But that didn't seem likely! That Pokemon seemed so timid; how could it cause the havoc in town and defeat three Companion Pokemon?
Naoki's mind was filled with questions.
After a moment's thought, he decided to go back and take a look.
With that in mind, Naoki bade farewell to Helian and turned to share his plan with Godras.
"Agas!"
Hearing this, Godras immediately walked over to Naoki, allowing him to mount.
Once Naoki was settled, Godras leaped into the air, its double wings spreading wide as it flew towards the Ghost Mountain, shrouded in a terrifying aura.
A few minutes later, Naoki arrived at the entrance of Ghost Tooth Cave once again.
Going further, past the narrow cliff path, was the mysterious Pokemon's cave from yesterday.
Recalling the previous day's events, Naoki felt that the Pokemon had likely fled in fear due to Godras' presence.
After all, Godras, summoned from ancient times, looked incredibly ferocious.
To modern Pokemon, it was like a dinosaur from the Jurassic period living among modern chickens.
"Wait here for me. I'll go and check it out alone," Naoki instructed Godras, settling him in a large bush.
Godras obediently agreed and crouched behind the bush, peeking out with only half of his head, looking pitifully at Naoki's retreating back.
Satisfied that Godras wouldn't be noticed, Naoki walked towards the cave.
As he approached, he saw the mysterious Pokemon from the day before.
Seeming to sense his presence, the Pokemon looked at him anxiously.
The next second, their gazes met in the air.
Naoki tried to convey his friendly intentions. "Hello, do you remember me? I came here yesterday."
However, as soon as he finished speaking, the Pokemon's face turned anxious, and it quickly pulled out the last bit of the Grass Mask from under its outerwear and put it on.
With the mask on, all the Pokemon's emotions were hidden.
Naoki was surprised by this turn of events, as the mask seemed peculiarly suited to the Pokemon! Based on his experience, a guess quickly formed in his mind— "Could this mask be like the Adamant Orb of Dialga, a unique item for this Pokemon?
"Don't worry, I mean no harm, and I won't hurt you," Naoki said softly, trying to reassure the Pokemon while also keeping his voice low so as not to startle it. He continued observing the mask, noticing its worn appearance with several cracks, as if it had been created a long time ago.
As Naoki studied the mysterious Pokemon, he realized that it was also quietly observing him. However, with its face completely hidden behind the mask, he couldn't discern its emotions.
Naoki averted his gaze to the stone table, noticing that some of the berries placed on it were missing, clearly eaten by the Pokemon.
The Pokemon, aware of what he was looking at, became noticeably flustered and even more cautious.
Naoki, sharp as ever, noticed this and shook his head. "No need to be nervous. Those were gifts from me and Babidoo. You remember Babidoo, right? The pink Pokemon from yesterday."
The mysterious Pokemon hesitated for a moment before nodding gently.
"Good," Naoki said, a smile forming on his face, though his mind was racing with thoughts.
Was this the masked ghost described in the town's legend? he wondered.
Naoki remained silent, and the atmosphere in the air grew quiet. Suddenly, he remembered the stone bed and table in the cave and asked, "Have you been living here alone all this time?"
However, he never expected that his question would cause the mysterious Pokemon to suddenly emanate a strong sense of sadness.
Naoki was taken aback for a moment, his mind racing with various thoughts.
Could it be that there was someone or another Pokemon living here with this Pokemon before? he wondered. But sensing that this topic seemed to sadden the Pokemon, Naoki decided not to probe further.
Having achieved his purpose for this visit, he stood up abruptly. The Pokemon before him visibly tensed up, its eyes, visible through the mask, fixed on him.
Naoki paused, realizing his abrupt movement might have startled it, and quickly explained, "Don't worry, I just need to head back, so I won't stay here and disturb you any longer."
He took off his backpack, placed a bottle of ranch-made milk and a few Pokeblocks on the stone table, and said, "These are for you. Goodbye!"
With that, Naoki turned and left the hidden cave.
He found Godras hiding behind the bush, patted its head, and said, "Let's go."
Godras glanced in the direction Naoki had been facing, then carried him away from Ghost Tooth Cave, back to Greenwood Town.
Unknowingly, it was already midday.
The more Naoki thought about it, the more he felt that something was amiss with the town's legend. However, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Helpless, he decided to put the matter aside for now and have lunch first.
Today's lunch at the civic center was particularly sumptuous, and Naoki felt like he was experiencing a hearty farmhouse meal.
Both the food and the surroundings exuded the charm of rural life.
After lunch, Naoki planned to take a nap with his Pokemon. However, just as he returned to his room and released them from their Poke Balls to feed them some Pokeblocks, there was a knock on the door.
When he opened it, he was surprised to see an elderly woman with white hair standing outside, her expression complex.
"Snow?" Naoki asked, recognizing her.
Snow nodded and cut straight to the chase. "You entered Ghost Tooth Cave yesterday and saw the ghost, didn't you?"
Naoki was taken aback. "How did you know about that?"
Snow replied, "The whole town is talking about it! You two are quite brave to venture into that place!"
Naoki was speechless. Indeed, it was challenging to keep secrets in small towns like this.
Naoki had thought that Snow, like the mayor, was there to advise him against returning to Ghost Tooth Cave, but her next words surprised him.
"Did you see the ghost with your own eyes? What was it like?" she asked, her face a mixture of emotions.
Naoki's intuition told him that something was off. "I did, but it seemed a bit different from the one described in the legend..."
"Ah, I see," Snow sighed. "Come with me. My husband has something he wants to tell you."
Naoki paused for a moment, then quickly followed her.
He and Godras trailed behind Snow, leaving the civic center and arriving at a house on the outskirts of town.
Under the eaves of the house stood an elderly man with a stooped back, wrinkles all over his face, and a combed-back hairstyle.
"Let's talk inside," the old man said.
Naoki nodded and, along with Godras, stepped into the living room.
The four of them sat on the sofa, and the old man stared at Naoki and Godras for a while before asking, "Did you see the ghost in the cave?"
Naoki was perplexed. "Well, it didn't exactly appear before me willingly. If it weren't for Godras' alertness in discovering it, I probably wouldn't know anything about it!"
"Have you heard the legend about the ghost that has been passed down in this town?" The elder inquired.
Naoki nodded. "Yes, I have."
"And what is your take on that legend?" The elder asked further.
Naoki hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"I suspect that the masked Pokemon I encountered might not be the ghost after all," he said. "Or perhaps the ghost has a dual personality, one that is timid and fearful, and the other violent and ruthless."
"Like Long Kui from Chinese Paladin," he added, referencing a popular fantasy novel and game franchise.
However, the elder shook his head in disagreement. "No, it is indeed the ghost, and the incident in the legend did occur. But the records differ, and the true history is the opposite of what is commonly believed!"
"Opposite...? What do you mean?" Naoki asked, intrigued.
"Since you have already encountered the ghost... No, I should address it with its proper name, E Guipeng. Let me tell you the true history that has been passed down in our family from generation to generation!" The elder's face turned solemn as he began his tale.
"This story was told to me by my father, and it is an authentic account. You must promise not to reveal it to anyone else in the village. If the ghost hadn't chosen to appear before you, I... Well, this must remain a secret between us!"
Seeing the elder's serious expression, Naoki nodded in agreement. "I promise."
Helian, Motuo, and Babidoo, who had accompanied him, also nodded earnestly.
The sunlight streamed through the window cracks, casting dappled shadows on the living room floor. Dust particles danced in the beams, and the elder's voice, heavy with the weight of history, filled the air as he began to unravel the ancient tale.
"A long, long time ago, a man from a foreign land and a ghost arrived in Beishang Village after getting lost."
"The villagers were afraid of their unusual appearances and did not allow them to come near the village."
"The man and the ghost were saddened by the villagers' rejection, but they found solace in each other's company."
"So, they left the village and made a humble home in a cave in the back mountain."
"Only the mask craftsman in the village pitied them and crafted several masks for the man and the ghost."
"The masks were adorned with jewels the man and the ghost had brought from their homeland, making them dazzling and exquisite."
"With the masks, they could hide their faces and interact amicably with the villagers. The man and the ghost were deeply grateful to the craftsman for his kindness."
"From then on, the man and the ghost would wear the masks and secretly participate in the village festivities."
"However, the craftsmanship of the masks was so remarkable that news of their splendor spread far and wide to many distant lands."
"Perhaps attracted by the rumors of these extraordinary masks, several greedy Pokemon made their way to Beishang Village..."
"They sneaked into the man and the ghost's dwelling, intending to steal the meticulously kept masks. The man happened to be there and managed to protect one of the masks."
"But he was no match for them, and the rest of the masks were taken. The man was also severely injured and lost his life."
"Several hours later, when the ghost returned to the cave, it witnessed the tragic scene..."
"In the end, it donned the remaining green mask and descended the mountain toward the village. There, it confronted the Pokemon who were reveling in their possession of the sparkling masks and eliminated them all."
"The villagers, unaware of the full story, were bewildered by the events that unfolded before them. All they saw was the ghost's wrath and feared it greatly."
"They believed that the three Pokemon had sacrificed themselves to protect the village from the ghost, and so they affectionately named them 'Companion Pokemon' and gave them a proper burial."
"The injured ghost, consumed by grief, returned alone to the cave in the back mountain."
"Our ancestor, the mask craftsman, tried to tell the villagers the truth, but no one listened. Instead, he was shunned and persecuted as a heretic."
Naoki fell silent, absorbing the tragic tale. "How could such a thing have happened..." he murmured.
Helian and Motuo lowered their heads, overcome with sorrow.
Babidoo clenched its small hammer, its face contorting with anger as it recalled the Pokemon from the day before.
Even Zhenyi Fa, floating in the air, bared its tiny fangs and let out an angry growl.
The elder observed their reactions and continued:
"Since E Guipeng has chosen to reveal itself to you, it indicates that it has taken a liking to you. That is why I hope you will take E Guipeng away from here and live elsewhere."
"Rather than staying in Beishang Village and enduring the hatred and aversion of its people."
(End of Chapter)
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