Raven kneels, extending her hand and gently stroking the ghostly form of the Misdreavus. Its energy feels softer now, less jagged, more like a comforting hum than a discordant shriek. The wilted flowers at the edge of the clearing seem to perk up slightly, their colors becoming a touch more vibrant. The air, though still holding a trace of unease, feels lighter, as if a heavy weight has been lifted. Sunlight filters weakly through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
"I don't know much about… Pokémon," she admits, her voice a low murmur. "But if you need help finding something, I can try."
The Misdreavus shimmers, its form wavering slightly as it considers her words. It hovers closer, its red eyes locking onto Raven's. A series of faint images flash through Raven's mind: a sparkling gem, a body of water, a feeling of intense longing.
"Miss… Misdreavus…" the Misdreavus whispers, its voice barely audible.
It gestures with a spectral hand, pointing vaguely towards the west. The general direction of the lake.
Raven frowns. "Near water?" she asks, trying to clarify. "The gem is near water?"
The Misdreavus nods eagerly, its red pearls jingling softly. It repeats the words, its voice gaining a touch more clarity. "Gem. Water."
Raven studies the Misdreavus, its name rings a bell in Raven's head, though the name is not quite right. "Misdreavus?" Raven asks. "Is that your name?"
It seems to understand, nodding. "Misdreavus…"
"Okay, Misdreavus," Raven says, rising to her feet. "Let's find this gem."
With a determined nod, Raven begins to walk west, the Misdreavus floating alongside her. The forest path twists and turns, but Raven follows her instincts, guided by the faint pull of the Misdreavus's lingering sorrow. The search begins.
The lake shimmers before them, a vast expanse of cerulean reflecting the cloudless sky. Three Golduck, each a picture of refined elegance, are in the midst of a synchronized swimming routine. They glide through the water, their beaks held high, occasionally diving to retrieve something from the lakebed before resurfacing to display it. Distantly, a pack of Houndour watches from the forest's edge, their fiery eyes narrowed with what might be curiosity or disdain.
Misdreavus zips towards the water, a low trill of excitement escaping its spectral form. "Misdreavus! Misdreavus!" it cries, circling just above the surface, the red orbs around its neck glowing brighter.
Raven sighs, placing a hand gently on the Misdreavus's head, attempting to quell its enthusiasm. "Easy," she murmurs, her voice barely audible above the gentle lapping of the waves. "We need to focus. A gem isn't going to magically appear just because you're excited."
She approaches the Golduck, offering a polite nod. "Excuse me," she begins, her tone measured and calm. "We are looking for something lost, a gem. Have any of you seen it?"
The Golduck pause their routine, turning their sleek heads towards Raven. They exchange a series of quacks, seemingly debating amongst themselves before one of them dives back into the water. It resurfaces moments later, holding a shimmering pebble in its beak.
It swims closer to Raven, presenting the pebble with a proud flourish. Another Golduck follows suit, displaying a slightly larger, equally unremarkable stone. The third Golduck, not to be outdone, produces a handful of glittering sand.
Raven stares at the pebbles, a flicker of something akin to amusement crossing her usually stoic face. "Those are… shiny," she says, choosing her words carefully. "But we are looking for a gem. A precious stone. More… valuable."
The Golduck seem unfazed, continuing to preen and display their paltry treasures. One of them even nudges a pebble closer to Raven's hand, as if offering it as a gift.
"This is going to be more difficult than I thought," Raven mutters under her breath. "Of course, it is. It's always something."
Raven closes her eyes, reaching out with her empathic abilities. She concentrates, trying to glean some kind of clue from the environment, some echo of the lost gem. A faint sensation washes over her, a fleeting image of… "Rustling leaves," she murmurs, her brow furrowing. "And… old wood?"
"Those are hardly descriptive," Raven complains. "This isn't helpful."
The Misdreavus tugs on Raven's cloak, its spectral form becoming more agitated. "Misdreavus!" it cries, pointing insistently towards a cluster of trees near the far end of the lake.
The trees conceal a small, dilapidated shed. The structure is barely visible beneath a thick blanket of vines and overgrown vegetation. The wood is weathered and cracked, the roof sagging precariously.
"The shed?" Raven asks, raising an eyebrow. "You think the gem is there?"
Misdreavus floats towards the shed, stopping every few feet to look back at Raven. "Misdreavus! Misdreavus!" it urges.
Raven sighs, adjusting her cloak. "Alright, alright," she concedes. "Let's check the shed."
The path to the shed is overgrown and treacherous. Thorny bushes snag at Raven's cloak, and fallen branches litter the forest floor.
"This is delightful," Raven deadpans. "If the gem is in that shed, it had better be worth it."
The shed door groans open, the sound echoing in the dimly lit space. Dust motes dance in the faint rays of sunlight filtering through cracks in the walls. The air is thick with the scent of damp wood and decay. Cobwebs cling to everything, draping like ghostly shrouds over forgotten tools and discarded items.
A large, leafy Pokémon, a Shiftry, is nestled in a corner, snoring softly. Its expression is perpetually grumpy, its leafy fans drooping like a wilted bouquet.
The floorboards creak ominously as Raven takes a step inside. "Great," she mutters. "This place looks like it's about to collapse."
Misdreavus, heedless of the potential dangers, zips excitedly around the shed. "Misdreavus! Misdreavus!" she cries, her spectral form bumping against a rusty shovel, sending it clattering to the floor.
The Shiftry stirs, its eyes snapping open. It lets out a low, guttural grumble, its leafy fans rustling in annoyance. "Shiftry!" it groans, glaring at Raven and Misdreavus.
"Quiet," Raven hisses, glaring at Misdreavus before turning to the Shiftry. "We didn't mean to wake you. We're just looking for something."
Misdreavus tries to explain, but her words come out in a flurry of excited squeaks and trills, lost in the echoing space. She flits around the Shiftry, accidentally knocking over a stack of old paint cans. They tumble to the floor with a resounding crash, splattering the walls with vibrant colors.
The Shiftry roars, rising to its full height. It towers over Raven, its expression now furious. "SHIFTRY!" it bellows, stomping its foot, causing the shed to tremble.
"Okay, okay, calm down," Raven says, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "We just need to find a gem. It's very important to Misdreavus."
She points to Misdreavus, who shrinks back nervously under the Shiftry's angry gaze. The Shiftry's gaze follows Raven's finger to Misdreavus, before settling on a small, wooden box tucked away beneath a pile of old rags.
The Shiftry rushes toward the box, grabbing it possessively. "Shif!" it snarls, clutching the box to its chest.
"That's it!" Misdreavus cries, her eyes widening with excitement. She darts towards the Shiftry, attempting to snatch the box.
The Shiftry spins away, dodging Misdreavus's grasp. "TRY!" it shouts, its leafy fans flailing wildly.
Raven sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Of course it has to be difficult," she says. "I swear, this shed is going to fall apart before we get out of here."
The Shiftry continues to evade Misdreavus, the chase escalating into a chaotic dance around the shed. Tools are knocked over, cobwebs are torn, and the shed creaks and groans under the strain.
Enough. Raven raises her hands, and shadows begin to coalesce around the Shiftry, gently restraining its movements. The shadows coil around its limbs, holding it in place without causing harm.
"Listen," Raven says, her voice firm but calm. "That gem is very important to Misdreavus. It's a part of her past, something she lost a long time ago. Please, just let her have it back."
Raven closes her eyes, focusing her empathic abilities. She reaches out to the Shiftry, attempting to convey the depth of Misdreavus's longing. The forest grows quieter.
A series of images flood Shiftry's mind: a young Misdreavus playing in a field of wildflowers, a sudden darkness engulfing the gem, the Misdreavus's heartbreaking sorrow. Shiftry sees the desperation and loss. The loss of a gem. He understands.
Shiftry's expression softens, the anger fading from its eyes. It sighs, its leafy fans drooping slightly.
Raven sees and understands. She allows the shadows to dissipate, releasing the Shiftry from their gentle grasp.
The sunlight streams through a crack in the roof, illuminating the small, wooden box in Shiftry's hands. He gently places the box on the floor in front of Misdreavus.
Raven kneels beside the box, carefully opening it. Inside, nestled on a bed of faded velvet, is a Ghost Gem. It emits a soft, ethereal glow, casting a faint light on Raven's face.
Misdreavus gasps, her spectral form radiating pure joy. She embraces the gem, her body trembling with happiness. A chorus of soft cheers erupts from the Pokémon outside the shed, sensing the positive change.
"You found it," Raven says, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "You finally found it."
"Misdreavus!" she squeals happily, nuzzling the gem with her cheek.
Shiftry nods, offering a slight bow of its head as a gesture of acceptance and apology.
Outside the shed, the sun begins to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Raven and Misdreavus emerge from the shed, the Ghost Gem radiating a soft, comforting light.
Misdreavus nuzzles Raven affectionately, expressing her gratitude and happiness. "Dreavus!" she cries, her voice filled with affection.
Raven looks thoughtfully at Misdreavus, considering the possibility of a partnership. It is a strange idea. A weird idea.
Misdreavus offers a small, glowing berry as a sign of friendship, extending it towards Raven with a hopeful expression. Her eyes communicate her soul.
"I… I don't know," Raven says, her voice hesitant. "I've never had a… partner before. Especially not a pokemon."
Misdreavus continues to offer the berry, her eyes pleading.
Raven hesitates for a moment, then reaches out and takes the berry. "Okay," she says, a sense of openness washing over her. "Okay, Misdreavus. Let's do this. I'll learn."
Misdreavus squeals with delight, circling Raven and radiating pure joy. They walk towards the setting sun, ready to begin their new journey together.
***
Give power stones to support this book.
Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.