Crystalline Encounters 2

“Wait up, Para! Two heads are better than one, and many paws make light work- couldn’t I come along too? I can hold my own!”

Paradoxid’s paw rested on the doorframe as he looked back to Dev, who’s thick brows were upturned in a pleading face that could almost crack his stony heart.
…Just not on this issue.

“…Sorry, kid. I know you’re plenty capable in a fight, but still… It’s easier to sneak by quietly if there’s only one person disturbing the beasts.”

“Please? Bones rattle, noise is as inevitable as death. Surely another set of careful steps won’t be too loud?”

Paradoxid sighed, his antennae drooping. “No. I’ll be getting the bones on my own and that’s that. I don’t want to worry about anyone while I’m in those beast’s dens.”

“Oh come on, I-“ Dev’s voice cracked as he begged to go” “An archeologist’s place is amongst the beasts and bones! How am I to become one if I’m sat here collecting dust amongst the statues? You can’t just preserve me like an artefact!”

They flung their arms wide gesturing around the pair’s dwelling, filled with wooden figurines and stone statuettes carved by the Raichu. It was practically a museum, all it needed was for his art to be relegated to history.

“Dev. No.” Paradoxid growled, his expression hardening for a split second and his claws digging into the doorframe before he could school his annoyance. The hurt clear in Dev’s watery eyes had him trying to calm himself instantly. 

“Look… I know it’s… boring sitting around here. Why don’t you go out and try rustling up some wood for me?”

Dev cocked their head, blinking some of the moisture away. “Wood? It’s rarer than diamonds out here, but worth less than litter from the beast’s meals… How come?”

Paradoxid nodded. “That’s true… it’s not common ‘round here, so you’ll need to explore a bit for it. I know the clan isn’t asking for it right now, but it’s been a while since I got to carve, so… I’d owe you a favour.”

Busywork. 
It seems like the sort of meaningless fetch quest one would give a child to get some peace and quiet, but Dev couldn’t protest when they saw the earnest look on Paradoxid’s scarred face. He knew that it wouldn’t really satisfy them, but it was the best he could think to offer, and as much as adventure called Dev’s name… the guilt of stressing out their Raichu companion more would weigh too heavily on them to properly enjoy the bone gathering.

Dev mustered the brightest smile they could, though they failed to hide their tail drooping. “Will do! I’ll find you a whole forest, Para!”

Paradoxid’s eyes softened as Dev waved him off, raising his hand as a small goodbye as he headed out. As their friend faded from view the pikachu gathered up their old leather bag, preparing for their own unimportant quest.

Where to start?
Rolling dunes of sand, bright white in the sun, offered little direction and even less hope of finding plant life out here. The Pikachu’s splotch marked ears drooped as they stepped out into the desert heat, resolving to wander around until something or someone gave them a hint towards what to do.

As they trudged through the sun clan settlement it became quickly apparent that something was worth investigating, regardless of if it would help them find wood; pokémon huddled around gossiping even more than usual, and many were setting off in small groups heading in the same direction. What could be going on? They couldn’t all be gathering bones like Paradoxid; it would be too inefficient for them to swarm the one area… In fact, anything for the sake of the sun clan would be unlikely, Solari would have made sure there were as many hands on deck as possible.

Ducking behind a wall, Dev pricked their ears attempting to make out the chattering of a nearby friend group. Sure, they could have just asked, but… Where’s the fun in that? This was investigative work! There’s no guarantee these pokémon would tell them the truth anyways - what if they were after treasure? Or worse, plotting something!?!

The pikachu was focusing so hard to make out the whispering of the group as their mind raced with excuses for eavesdropping that their surroundings practically melted away.

They didn’t notice as shade fell across them, alleviating the strain on their squinting eyes. 

Nor did they notice how the air itself grew cooler, hanging as heavy as a funeral shroud.

Dev gasped as a cold clawed hand came to rest on their shoulder, having to clamp their own hands over their mouth to suppress a small squeal.

“Ah, the little archaeologist, just who I was hoping to see… Without your guard dog? How unusual. Does he know you’re out spying on your own?”

The rich voice taunting them sent a shiver down Dev’s spine, seeming to reverberate through their ears, chased by a ghostly echo. It had a strangely intimate quality to it, as if his words were all Dev’s secrets being spilled - just as overly personal as the webbed fingers wrapped around their shoulder, and the inky black hair spilling around the pair like a veil of shadow. 
Dwarfed by the alolan Raichu addressing them, Dev has to strain their neck to return Hai Rong’s iridescent gaze. Paired with his slit pupils and posture bent like a mandibuzz leering over a wailing cubone, the herald’s sharp smile felt truly predatory.

“I-I’m not spying! I’m only… It’s… T-truth reveals itself easier t-to open ears than to open mouths… It’s not like I’m doing anything behind Paradoxid’s back!” Dev stammered, eliciting a chuckle from Hai Rong. He lowered himself into a squat with the utmost grace, perching on his single complete leg so elegantly one might forget about his missing calf, to meet their eyes more easily.
It wouldn’t do if they snapped their neck just to make eye contact, after all. He was still taller than the pikachu when crouched regardless.

“Is that so?” Hai Rong tilted his head, continuing in a tone that toed the line between mockery and intrigue, “Unfortunately that’s not quite true. I’m surprised, with your inquiring mind, that you hadn’t bothered asking anyone what’s gotten the clan abuzz. Then you’d have already been aware that a cave overflowing with valuable crystals, and even more mystery, is what’s had researchers and treasure hunters swarming as of late.”

Treasure? Adventure? Dev’s ears and tail pricked up, their curiosity bringing some joy into their face that was previously filled with incredibly poorly hidden fright.

“…Mysterious crystals? I’ve heard some myths about those before, gems that can give Pokémon powers they’d never be able to harness otherwise through proximity alone!”

“Perhaps, little one… It would be a valuable opportunity for any explorer hoping to learn more about those tales, wouldn’t it?” Hai Rong practically purred the words, his suggestion clear. Even though they knew they ought to be gathering carving materials, Dev wasn’t exactly opposed to being convinced to explore… The only question was what the herald stood to gain from it.

“It would be quite fascinating... Does like call to like? That cave isn’t the only holder of powerful gems.”

“Are you wondering why I’d care? While it’s true the interests of common Pokémon are often below that of a higher being, I’ll admit… I’m also a bit curious about that cave. Don’t you wish to see what’s inside?”

“Well, I mean… Yes, of course, but… I’m just a common Pokémon. Why would a legend’s incarnation care what I wanted?”

“I’ll cut to the chase; you have something I want. An ability I’ve scarcely seen anyone capable of harnessing - certainly not anyone else in this clan. Won’t you accompany me on this adventure, Dev?”

Hearing Hai Rong speak their name was like the herald grasping their heart in his palm, which was outstretched in invitation toward the pikachu. It made their heart begin to race, it’s hammering against their rib cage a welcome reminder that it was not, infact, in the Herald's possession. 

“I… Well, um… I-it’s… I-I have to go, though… P-Paradoxid needs me to go g-get him some wood…”

“Oh come now, anything you need I can easily get for you. We’ll be back before you, or he, knows it. Don’t you wish for more than eavesdropping behind your keeper’s back? To have your name grace the history books you hold so dear? You have a being of legend asking you to journey with him; you’ll never get a greater call to adventure than this.”

“B-but what if we’re not? He’d be… I wouldn’t want to worry him…”

Hai Rong’s expression shifted in an instant, his coaxing smile replaced with a cold sneer as his open palm snapped shut. He looked down at Dev as if they were a twitching rellor in its death throes, a repulsive bug he’d just crushed beneath his heel, as he rose back up to his full imposing height. The Pikachu’s head didn’t even reach the gleaming soul gem at the herald’s navel as he snarled.

“Well, if a pathetic life clinging to Paradoxid’s tail is all you want, then go ahead. It seems I was wrong about you, there’s no point in potential if it never comes to fruition, is there? I won’t let the prospect of independence, of adventure, of greatness, interrupt your childish mediocrity again.”

The herald turned his back on Dev, his finned tail flicking in irritation as he began to leave. Dev’s eyes rapidly shifted between Hai Rong and the clan’s settlement as their breathing grew quicker and quicker.

“W-Wait!” Dev exclaimed, reaching for the Raichu. “I-I’ll come!”

“I knew you’d make the right decision.” Hai Rong smiled over his shoulder, corralling Dev to his side with his tail. “Come along then, little one. We’ve got much to see.”

Dev couldn’t tell if the cold crawling feeling they were getting was from the fins caressing them as he pushed them along or from Hai Rong’s slit pupils, dilated like a Liepard on the hunt, burning into the top of their head. Were they trembling from the cold, or was it the nagging fear in the back of their mind as they took the herald’s hand?

Either way, it was too late to back out as the pair strolled out of the clan settlement.

Every second dragged as they were pushed on, heading further and further from their home, but eventually they arrived at the gaping maw of the cave. Jagged crystals formed countless rows of Sharpedo teeth stretching far into the darkness, glowing with every colour of the rainbow. The entire place seemed alive, thrumming with power that practically raised Dev’s fur, and ready to swallow the pikachu whole. 

“Fascinating, isn’t it?”
Hai Rong hummed as Dev’s footsteps came to a sudden halt. Their knees almost buckled pushing against the herald’s tail that circled around their back, pushing them in his wake. He glanced back at the shivering Pikachu.

“Hm? Don’t tell me you’ve lost your nerve now, little explorer. It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think?”

“N-no, it’s not… It’s not too… R-refusal of the c-call is an integral p-part of the hero’s journey!”

Dev winced as Hai Rong’s pointed nails dug into their back in a mockery of a reassuring hand on their shoulder, forcing them towards the cave’s mouth. 

“Come now,” he growled, “We passed that stage long ago. You’ve got your mentor guiding you, now’s the time to pass the threshold.”

“W-wait-!”

Pink light flashed, a prosthetic made of psychic energy appearing briefly as the herald stepped forth, pushing the pikachu into the abyssal cave ahead of them.

The gemstones all around them glittered like a sea of stars in the night sky, taking Dev’s shallow breath away. The urge to run back the way they came and the urge to run deeper, drinking in the sights and learning all they could about the shining stones, battled with the ferocity of a Zangoose and a Seviper. The decision was made for them though, the embrace of Hai Rong’s tail barred the exit.

The herald’s spectral voice turned smiling as they walked deeper and deeper, his companion’s head spinning like a baltoy to take in every inch of the cave. At least, the parts they could see.

“See, it’s not so bad, is it?”

“It’s… Wow… An Emperor’s treasury set in stone… If only the setting was as bright as the gems, maybe then I would know where I was stepping…”

Dev’s voice barely managed to compete with the patter of their cautious steps and the rhythmic buzzing of the cavern, growing ever louder as they ventured further. Another noise was growing too, something rumbling… Was there a storm outside? It was almost like thunder resounding through the cave.

“Ah! Forgive me, little one, it slipped my mind that you lack my… affinity for the dark.”

Hai Rong held out a hand, causing a bright purple flame to spring up in his palm, throwing off no heat. Finally, a constant source of light! It certainly beat waiting for Hai Rong to use his injured leg for Dev to get a flash of the path.

“Thank you! The treacherous maze becomes a simple path with that!”

Dev’s pace sped up, but still they lagged at the alolan Raichu’s side. The static energy radiating from the crystals around them kept their urge to flit around exploring in check, seemingly warning the pikachu to keep their wits about them.

As the pair wound through echoing passageways littered with gems, surely all valuable, the smaller of the two piped up.

“With all the treasure around us… May I ask why none of it has taken your fancy?”

“Hm? Why haven’t I pried any crystals off the wall? Well, as beautiful as they are, what I want is a bit deeper in. Why, are you hoping for a souvenir?”

“U-um… No… Yes… Well, I’m not sure to be honest. Something that hums is something that lives, and I don’t much want to see if the cave lives too… I was more wondering if you brought me along to do so? My typing has a bit of an advantage for shifting the ground we’re beneath and breaking it apart, after all…” Dev shifted uncomfortably, doing a very poor job of hiding their trepidation at the idea of actually touching the gems. Or collapsing the cave in the hopes of grabbing one, for that matter.

“No, child, no need to fret. I won’t be asking you to claw anything out of the stone for me. We’re almost there, keep up now.”

Hai Rong’s cold smile almost looked paternal as he glanced down at the pikachu. Perhaps the light was playing tricks? Or maybe it was just prolonged proximity helping Dev to ignore the calculating undercurrent to their companion’s stare. Either way, they had no choice but to place their trust in the herald as the thunderous growling noise steadily grew.

It was loud enough to resound in Dev’s chest as the pair rounded a corner, coming across an arena of stone which gave the impression of a clearing in a crystalline forest. Sleeping beneath a treeline of multicolour gems was a heaving orange mass, gleaming with the same geometric shine as the precious stones around it.

“There.”

Hai Rong hissed, breathless with the closest thing he could feel to awe.

The rumbling paused, replaced with a great huffing noise as the masses stretched out. As the cyan underside came to light, it dawned on the Pikachu that those gigantic things dwarfing even Hai Rong were wings.

They rose higher and higher as the gleaming beast unfurled.

Its twitching snout turned to face them, the huffing noise ceasing.

Slit eyes snapped to attention.

Its maw began to open.

Dev’s eardrums nearly burst as the Charizard let out a deafening roar, shaking the ground as if an earthquake gripped the earth. They squealed, scrambling back as the dragon’s claws slammed into the ground before them, cracking it.

Hai Rong just stood before it, a terrible grin growing to split his face. His eyes glinted with a thief’s greed as he looked down to the terrified young pikachu he dragged along.

“Incredible, isn’t it? This is nothing compared to the treasure it’s guarding!”

Dev barely registered what Hai Rong was saying, instead baulking at the rows of razor sharp teeth bearing down on the herald.

“L-LOOK OUT!”

An enthused look remained on his face, never showing even the slightest reaction to the danger he was in, as the Charizard’s vicious fangs surrounded him. A bright flash of pink light appeared just as its mouth slammed shut, and Hai Rong reappeared plunging down from the air above the beast.

 With a speed Dev could scarcely comprehend, Hai Rong slashed down on the raging beast with claws cloaked in pure night.

“W-WHY IN ARCEUS’ NAME D-DID YOU BRING ME INTO THIS!?! THAT’S… THAT’S A CH-CHARIZARD! I’M GROUND AND FIGHTING TYPE! OH ARCEUS, OH MEW, I’M THE W-WORST POKÉMON TO BRING TO THIS! WE’LL DIE!” Dev screamed, but they were barely audible over the sound of the Charizard’s pained roar as Hai Rong‘s Toxic Chain left it’s mark.

“Oh, calm down, child. Your typing is perfectly fine here.”

The herald took the opportunity to sigh and roll his eyes at the pikachu before tearing into the dragon’s crystalline hide with his Psychic Fangs.

“W-WHAT DO YOU MEAN FINE!?! A HIGH FLYING BEAST SUCH AS THIS NEEDS NOT TOUCH THE GROUND TO SCORCH IT! AND FISTS DO LITTLE TO IT TOO!” The pikachu was focused entirely on fleeing from the thrashing dragon, leaving Hai Rong to attack it alone. He teleported around the room, flitting like a will o’ the wisp as he darted in to unleash dark and psychic type moves one after the other.

“Don’t be ridiculous, we’re not facing a flying type at all. I know I brought you here to play the role of the damsel, but honestly, you’re far too committed to it - your caterwauling is likely making it angrier, you know.”

 Dev’s head was spinning, body and mind both going a mile a minute as they scrambled away from the Charizard’s crashing claws and tail. “B-BUT IT’S A CHARIZARD!?! THE FIRE AND FLYING TYPE?”

“Not this one, child. I thought you were supposed to know all about the legends of Tera crystals, weren’t you? It’s taken on the dragon typing that matches its looks. Now hurry up and start using some moves, I don’t want to stall this beast all on my own.”

“M-MY MOVES WILL BE USELESS!”

“Oh for Arceus’ sake, are you even listening? It’s a dragon type. You know electric type moves, just try one if you refuse to believe me.”

Hai Rong’s exasperation laced his words as he snapped his fingers, ordering the pikachu as he continued to fight. A brilliant beam of light burst forth from the Charizard, singeing Dev’s tail and hiding the herald’s scowl.
There was no time for thinking, Dev could only charge up a Volt Switch and fling themself at the beast. The Charizard barely reacted to it, the electric charge failing to leave even the smallest scuff on its crystalline scales as it spewed pillars of flames toward the luminarians darting around it. 

“I-IT DIDN’T WORK!”

Dev wailed, covering their ears as the Charizard let out a deafening roar. The gleaming beast bathed itself in blinding light, lashing out at the pair with invigorated energy as it purged the poison from its body.

“Clearly. So it’s not a flying type after all, is it? Your other moves will work far better, give me a hand already, would you?”

The beast got little reprieve before Hai Rong launched himself up from the position Dev was once in and slashed at its neck with claws coated in night, afflicting it with his toxic chain once more.
The little pikachu rushed forth, summoning clubs made of glowing blue bone and chucking them repeatedly at the dragon with their eyes squeezed shut, barely able to check where they were aiming. Echoing roars and heavy slams made it clear the bone rush was hitting its mark, even if Dev couldn’t see it.
Their paws lit up with a similar light as they charged Aura Spheres to fling at it, pure energy battering the Charizard’s scales with a sizzling blast.

Dev allowed themself to crack their eyes open.
Just in time to see the world go dark.

CRASH.

The cold stone ground met Dev’s back with a force that sent them reeling, their lungs straining for breath as the Charizard’s gigantic talons pinned them to the ground. Tears stung their eyes as they struggled to choke out a scream.
It was almost impossible to hear over the ringing in their ears and the snarling of the beast, but they just barely caught Hai Rong muttering to himself “This is taking far too much time…”

From the blistering heat clinging to Dev’s skin, they could tell the flames being brought to life weren’t the Herald’s coming to save them. They writhed desperately, pounding their fists against the dragon’s claws as it deeply inhaled, the breath that would turn them to ash crawling on their skin.

They shrunk in on themselves, bracing for an impact they had no hope of withstanding.

Eyes squeezed shut once more.

Bright light scorched their shut eyes.

A guttural roar rang through the cave.

They didn’t expect to live long enough to hear the move that would take them out. They suddenly felt light, as if the Charizard weren’t pinning them to the ground at all. Strangely, it didn’t sound much like the ear shattering growls from before. It sounded… almost… like home. Like their name.

“DEV!!!”

The cave shone like the sun as Paradoxid, gleaming with the same ephemeral crystalline energy as the beast bearing down on them, unleashed a Tera Blast. The sheer force of it peeled the Charizard’s talons off of its prey, sending the dragon reeling.

Hai Rong’s predatory eyes widened with a cold, cruel excitement. 

“There’s our knight in shining armour.” He hissed, clapping his palms together. If his companions had any time to watch his face, they’d see no trace of surprise in his twisted smile.

“P-Para!”

Dev lurched forwards, scrambling toward their saviour and tackling him in a hug as if their limbs didn’t scream against the effort and the dragon laid slain at their feet.

“Dev… Kid…” Paradoxid breathed, his voice gravelly and low, strained with a bubbling mix of worry, relief, and sheer anger threatening to boil over. 

His arm and split tails encircled Dev like armour as energy welled up within him, summoning boulders burning with draconic energy hanging above them like chandeliers. 

The Charizard gathered flames in its throat, determined to meet the onslaught.
Draco meteors rained down on it as Paradoxid released his breath, smashing through the pillars of fire the Charizard sent to fend them off.
Screaming as the meteors hit their mark, the dragon crashed down onto the pair, sending them scattering across the cave. Dev summoned waves of scorching sand, emboldened by their protector, assailing the beast and blinding it with targeted attacks to its lowered eyes.
Its limbs, flailing wildly, did nothing to stop a barrage of Tera Blasts from the newly arrived Raichu, smashing through its gemlike armoured hide like it was a mimikyu’s disguise.
The pair dashed around the cave as if they were whirling through a well rehearsed dance, unleashing move after move and dodging desperate attacks as if they had memorised what was coming. 

A final, desperate cry burst forth from the Charizard as it swept around the cave, spewing a Tera Blast of its own into the jagged stone walls. The Pikachu’s legs buckled as the cavern shuddered, shards of precious stone bursting free from the wall under the weight of the violent energy assailing it. Paradoxid crashed into the floor, singeing his arm as he failed to avoid the brunt of the dragon’s swan song.

A thunderous boom shook the ground as the Charizard fell, fainted. The crystalline light fades from it’s scales, leaving a completely ordinary beast where the petrifying legend of old once was.

“PARA!”

Dev scrambled to Paradoxid’s side, babbling apology after apology with tears streaming down their face. 

“…I’m right… Dev… Don’t worry ‘bout… What were you even doin’ here, kid? When I heard you'd run off with that slimy Arceus damned..."

Paradoxid tucked his arm, slick with green blood, up against himself as he pushed himself up.

“I-I’m so sorry, I’m so… Oh Arceus, P-Para, I… I didn’t mean to… I… I-I screwed up, Para, I j-just can’t help ch-chasing legends and I…”

“…Legends?”

Paradoxid’s good eye snapped to Hai Rong, calmly perched on a crystal. He was inspecting his claws, as if his greatest concern in the battle against the Charizard - the second half of which he was conspicuously missing from - was chipping his nails.

“What in Arceus’ name did you do."
He growled, straining to get to his feet. An accusatory claw pointed at the herald, who hopped down from his seat at a leisurely pace.

“WHY WOULD YOU BRING DEV HERE ON YOUR- YOUR PIDOVE-BRAINED ARCEUS DAMNED SUICIDE MISSION???”

“Why, they have a skill I needed, of course. As you did. The best dragon tamer in all the continent!”
Hai Rong rolled his eyes, clearly bored despite his almost chipper cadence. Dev tilted their head as Paradoxid sucked in a sharp breath, his tails flicking angrily.

“Dragon tamer??? THAT THING DIDN’T LOOK DAMN TAME TO ME! ARE YOU MAD? HOW DARE YOU DRAG THE KID INTO THIS!”

“Not that one. The one standing here in all his glimmering glory. You make quite the guard dog -or dragon, as it were.”
The herald chucked as the terastallized raichu’s antennae flared, his claws twitching as if the urge to show Hai Rong his dragon moves was growing harder and harder to fight.
A fresh wave of tears pricked Dev’s eyes. 
How could they have been so blind?
It wasn’t Dev that Hai Rong wanted.
It was Paradoxid.
Of course.
Paradoxid’s the actually capable one, the useful one, the one who’s needed. 
A pathetic whimper escaped their throat as they turned their gaze to the cold, unfeeling floor.

“How did you even?… It’s not like I advertise this… What did you even want?… You know what? Screw that. Get out of my sight before I get you out of it.”

Paradoxid spat, embracing the pikachu with his tail as he stepped forwards menacingly.
Hai Rong just chuckled. 
“…Well, this was fun, wasn’t it? I’ll have to return later, it seems like you two need some… privacy.”
Leering over the alpha Raichu, the herald stepped forth, seeming to accept his challenge. His long fangs flashed in a sickening smirk as he purred;

“Au revior!”

In a flash of burning purple light he was gone, leaving only a smouldering scorch mark smoking with wisps of shadow as evidence he was ever there at all. 
It felt like an unbearably suffocating weight was lifted from the pair, allowing them to breathe freely once more.
Paradoxid bent down, grasping a shard of crystal in his battered hand.

“Dev… What… Why’d you come here? I thought I told you to find wood. With him, of all Pokémon!…”

“I-I was… I-I tried to… I was- I was trying to! I swear! It’s…”

A sob broke from the Pikachu’s throat as they buried their face in their hands.

“…Let’s get home. Come on, Onie’ll be worrying about you.”

Transferring the shard to one of his tail end’s grasp, he offered Dev his paw with a sigh. Wiping the tears from their eyes, they accepted, walking hand in hand out of the jagged cavern’s depths.

The trudge home had all the solemn airs of a funeral procession, neither one of them able to break the awkward silence. Every time Dev went to speak up, guilt and shame wrapped their slimy hands around their throat, choking any possible words out of the pikachu.
All they managed to do was make Paradoxid even more worried.
All they did was put themselves and him in even more danger.

Upon arriving home, the pair entered their abode to find a pile of wood. All sorts of colours and sizes, spilling out across the floor.

“What the…”

Paradoxid muttered, bending down to inspect the heap; enough materials to spend months dedicated entirely to carving, with such an astounding amount of variety that it was clear the deliverer was spoilt for choice, but equally unclear on Paradoxid’s preferences.

Dev had no idea how, but they knew exactly where it came from.

A gnawing pit formed in their stomach.