Intermission 5 - A Ghostly Recovery

Days had passed since the war with Gilgamarsh and everyone in the Guilds had finally returned home victorious.

Word spread of a victory celebration to be held this day, to give all who fought, healed, protected, and bled in order to stop the marsh witch once and for all a time of rest, relaxation, and have fun after a harsh battle.

At least to some, it was a chance to have fun and celebrate, but not to everyone.

Yang shifts in her bed, waking up slowly as a soft knock resounds at the door to the room they’re staying in at the Inn. She blinks sleepily, rubbing her eyes that are slightly red from lack of sleep but also crying.

She looks over at the other bed where her teammate is sleeping, or so she thinks she is. The Sylveon has her back to her and hasn’t moved an inch, not even as another knock sounds again at their door.

Yang looks down, worried since she knows ever since they returned to town after the war, Sonya hasn’t been herself. Neither has she, since they lost Nox.

The Mienfoo slides out of bed walking to the door, opening it softly and peaks out. She sees the taller form of their dear friend Reef, the Lucario waving softly with a kind smile on his face.

“Hi Yang.” He says, a small cough coming out. Yang can tell he too is still recovering from the war.

She opens the door a bit more to see him fully, trying to smile back even if she figures she looks just as bad as she feels. “H-Hello Reef.” She replies back, her voice tired and a little hoarse.

She hugs herself stepping out of the room slightly and looks at him concerned, “H-How are you feeling? A-Any better yet?”

Yang also heard how he too took a good blow from the witch and his poison, so despite her still recovering over the loss of their friend she still worries for the well being of their young friend.

Reef smiles at the fact the ever kind Mienfoo is trying to be her usual self and worry for others. He rubs his neck nervously trying to keep a positive feeling.

“I’m alright. Not a hundred percent yet but I’ll live.” He says grinning.

Yang smiles in reassurance, finding it relaxing that their young friend is trying to be his usual cheerful self.

He looks hesitant for a second then says, “How’s Sonya?”

Yang looks over her shoulder back to the room, the form of her teammate still not moved yet. She assumes the Sylveon is awake though, ever since they came back neither has been able to sleep very well.

Yang plagued by a few nightmares and Sonya restless that it makes Yang restless too.

“S-She’s, hurt.” Yang says to Reef, the Lucario nodding in understanding that she means it’s not just physical.

Yang sighs while rubbing her eye, “I-It hasn’t been easy since we came back. S-She refuses to talk to me on what happened; her feelings are so jumbled I don’t know if she’s angry, sad, or lost. I-I think it’s all of it.”

Reef nods again. “I wouldn’t be surprise if it’s all of that too. If I can ask Yang, was it just her who saw what happened?”

Yang shakes her head. “T-There was this mysterious Frogadier that brought her unconscious. I-I didn’t recognize them and they left as soon as they came.” Her eyes narrow, trying to figure out if she’s seen that Frogadier before but has no recollection at all.

“Z-Zack came back after and saw, but he only told me of what remained of Nox after the spell he casted. I-I think there was something else, s-something only Sonya saw. S-She won’t tell me what though.” Yang sighs again, feeling a few more tears come back at the thought of what Zack described remained of her first close friend in Tabira.

Reef kneels down and puts a paw on her shoulder, wanting to hug the sad Mienfoo but doesn’t wish to cause her discomfort since she’s still distraught.

Yang sighs shakily, calming down and wipes her eyes. “W-We’ll be ok. A-At least, I hope.” She says, knowing she can’t speak for her teammate on if they’ll actually recover completely or not.

Reef nods again, knowing only time can help these two recover completely. He rubs his neck again trying to smile, “Well, as you know the celebration on beating Gilgamarsh is today. I wasn’t sure if you both were ready yet, but I wanted to see if you two would like to come out and join me later tonight at the Reflecting Pools.”

Yang looks confused then surprised. “O-Oh yes, the celebration events are today aren’t they.”

“Yes, I thought sitting around a nice fire and telling some spooky stories together, or just tales of past adventures, would be a fun thing to do to relax together.” Reef nods still looking uncertain but gives Yang a look that shows he’s not pressuring her. “You both don’t have to. I would understand of course if you refused, but I thought I’d ask at least so you both can enjoy some good company after everything that happened.”

Yang smiles happily, first real smile she’s had since they returned to town. She’s thankful to Reef for his consideration in trying to cheer them up.

She glances back to Sonya’s form unsure, then back to Reef. “I-I’ll talk to Sonya.”

Reef nods smiling, a cough coming out again before he speaks, “No pressure. I’ll be heading to the Reflecting Pools after the fireworks so if I don’t see you both there then I’ll understand. Rest is important after all.”

Yang nods in thanks, yet Reef clears his throat with a small wink to Yang and leans over her form to say in to the room, “And if Sonya doesn’t come, I’ll understand. She’d probably be too chicken to handle the scary stories I’ll tell anyway.”

Sonya’s ear twitches at what Reef said, the only movement noticeable from the Sylveon whose form is mostly covered by her blanket.

Yang looks confused at what Reef just did, but the Lucario only smiles as a means to say to trust him. He brings Yang in to a quick hug then waves walking. “I hope to see you both there.”

Yang wave’s back then shuts their door softly. The Mienfoo walks to their shared dresser and sighs glancing in the mirror. She jumps and looks horrified at the few bags under her eyes and her hair a mess.

She groans and tries to fix herself up a bit, glancing to her teammate once more. “S-Sonya?” She calls her name softly.

No response for a second, before soon a light sigh reaches Yang’s ears and she sees Sonya’s form rise from the bed, her back still facing Yang.

Yang readjusts her bangs in her gem hair bands, watching Sonya’s form slide around on her bed in the mirror. The Sylveon’s face is lowered so it’s hard to see her expression from Yang’s point of view, but Yang can tell she looks just as tired and wore down as she is.

Once fixed, Yang turns to look at her teammate fully, slowly walking to her bed as the Sylveon lowers her legs so her feet touch the ground. Yang looks uncertain with her paw to her chest, then speaks softly, “M-Morning.”

“Hm.” Is the only response Yang gets from her teammate. Sonya groaning with a paw to her face and furiously rubs her eyes.

“I feel gross.” Sonya says bluntly and goes to stand facing the direction of their bathroom.

Yang opens her mouth to speak, but hesitates to ask. No matter how much she wants to know about what happened, about what Sonya saw or did, the feel of her friend’s aura tells her it’s not the right time. Yang knows if she asks now, it’ll only break her teammate more.

Instead, she shakes her head and looks hopeful saying, “R-Reef stopped by. H-He invited us to the Reflecting Pools.”

Sonya raises her head and a frown is evident on her face. Despite the dark bags under her eyes, her annoyed face slightly draws the attention away.

“So I heard.” She says and stands up.

Yang looks surprised then nervous. “O-Oh you did. S-So then….” Yang trails off hopeful.

Sonya groans then heads to the bathroom while saying, “No way am I letting that comment slide.”

Sonya shuts the door to the bathroom as Yang smiles in relief, seeing a little of her teammate coming back. Leave it to their dear friend Reef to play on Sonya’s competitive side and taunt her in to going to try to get her out of her slump. Even she can feel her mood lighten just a bit after hearing Sonya be her old self since they came back.

She still has questions, that’s for sure, but for now she’ll look forward to being with close friends to help recover. She only hopes tonight it’ll be the same for Sonya too.

Later that night

Despite a few looks other teams gave them, Sonya and Yang make their way to where Reef mentioned he’d be waiting. Yang a little self conscious since she knows she and Sonya don’t exactly look well rested, yet Sonya just continues to walk forward with a frown on.

She’ll occasionally give a small glare to any who stare too long, which they abruptly look away or face the wrath of a sleep deprived fairy type. Yang merely apologizes for her teammate as they walk quickly to their destination.

They soon come up to the location Reef said he’d be and both perk up seeing the blue form of their young friend sitting by a fire already. The two look relieved seeing it’s just him and it’s somewhat secluded away from other teams.

Both grateful to the Lucario at his deep consideration for the two, knowing they’d like to keep to themselves then be surrounded by others offering their condolences at the loss of Nox or trying to force them to cheer up.

The Lucario turns when they get close enough and smiles standing up to greet them. “There you are. I was about to think you chickened out Sonya.” He remarks with a smirk.

Sonya scoffs, a tired but challenging look in her eyes at the Lucario, “Yeah right. I’ll tell you a tale that’ll knock your cape right off your back.”

Reef smirks back at her challenge but also feels relief seeing some of the old Sonya he’s grown to know coming back. He motions for them to take a seat around the fire, the two going to sit down as Reef retakes his own.

Yang sighs, relaxing at the lightened mood of her teammate as they get comfortable. The warmth of the fire helping them deal with the coolness of the night air. What the three don’t notice however in the shadows surrounding them, a presence watches and waits.

Sonya lays on the ground while Yang sits on her kneels comfortably. The Sylveon smirks to the Lucario, “Well. I’m waiting. You invited us here so you might as well go first.”

Reef clears his throat chuckling lightly. "Kinda putting me on the spot here, but I think I might remember a few. Believe it or not, Ghost stories about pirates are pretty common. For obvious reasons, you know?"

Crossing his legs, Reef started to scratch his cheek fur, wondering what sort of tale he could tell to really get everyone freaked out.

"How's about 'The Armada of The Damned'," he said, remembering the story vividly in his imagination.

Yang looks a bit uneasy but listens curiously to Reef first. Sonya smiling to him and ‘readies’ herself.

"There's no shortage of hearing stories of sailors and pirates meeting their untimely demise at sea. It can be rather rough out there, you know," Reef started the tale, setting the mood as best he could.
"But The Armada is a tale passed down from one generation of sailors to another, even pirates as well."

"The Armada of the Damned, dubbed by those who have claimed to laid eyes upon it themselves. They say that it has no captain, no commander. No one who directs the Brigs and Galleons. They sail across the seas on tattered sails, the wind stands still whenever a ship of the armada draws near," Reef leaned forward, his face looking especially menacing due to the lighting cast upon it.

"The air turns ice cold, the ship that is caught within range of the ghostly fog emitted by the armada becomes frost bitten. Everything freezes. And the rigging snaps. Leaving the crew stranded and to be taken by the damned."

Yang looks frightened now, leaning close to Sonya. Even if it's just a story, the fact they're out in the cold night almost makes her feel like she can feel the bitter cold air Reef described. Sonya not scared but looking curiously interested.

The Lucario coughs and leans backwards, "Pirates and Sailors alike, rotten flesh and dried up bones of the Pokemon they once were. Figures so repulsive that anyone lesser then a fearless fool would quake at the sight of," he described the members of the armada in grotesque detail, going over every maggot that infested their bodies and every piece of meat left unaccounted for. Each a sign of the sins they had committed, and serving as proof of the torment they themselves experience.

Yang starts to look sick at the description Reef provides. Even Sonya appearing a bit grossed out at the image.

"No one knows what they want. No one knows why The Armada does what it does, taking anyone and dragging them into their living hell. But...," he paused for effect, "They know one thing for certain. The spirits are driven to continue to grow, like a infection, they continue to make their numbers multiply," Reef dropped his tone, low and ominous.

"Each and every one of them, with no sense of self, continue. Mindlessly growing their armada, until the day the dead can march on the living. Until the day the Ghosts will have us all join them...In The Armada of The Damned."

Yang looks close to tears while holding her stomach, a shiver of fear going through her. Reef notices how freaked out she is and smiles to her apologetically, “Sorry Yang. You doing ok?”

Yang takes a shaky breath and nods smiling nervously. "I-I'm ok. I-I'm just fine."

Sonya smiles to her reassuringly, "Don't worry Yang." She then smirks to Reef. "You'll know this story so no surprise scares from me.”

She sits up and looks right at Reef. "Alright, I have one story. This one is about the tale of the Whispering Stone." She says in a soft, hush but suspenseful voice.

"Perfect....." A soft voice whispers from the darkness still watching the four, a grin appearing with a soft giggle before it slinks in to the darkness again.

Suddenly something catches Yang's attention making her look slightly surprised. She glances behind them to the darkness, seeing a lone leaf fall to the ground a distance from them. She blinks confused.

Odd. I thought i sensed an aura nearby. She thinks but then is startled out of her thoughts as Sonya begins her story.

"There's this tale you see, of a strange stone they call the Whispering Stone. Now there are different tales concerning this phenomenon. Some may tell you that it's an artifact or item that when touched, can grant you an accurate prediction of any wish you want. You ask it if you'll be wealthy, it'll show a prediction of how to obtain that wish. Ask it how to get stronger, it'll tell you where and how exactly." Sonya starts with a simple tone.

"Others say its actually just a scam and not true, that it’s just another pokemon hiding in a rock, like a dwebble, playing tricks on others by pretending to be a stone that can actually whisper the future to you. The real story," Her tone now turns dark. "Is actually much more sinister."

"Now the stone is real. Or so our 'source' told us." Sonya says giving Yang a look.

Yang giggling softly at who she's referring to as she continues, "And it really can grant your wish. It appears to those who have a wish and they have the will to have it granted more than anything. It starts with a whisper at first, calling the wisher to it."

As Sonya continues the wind starts to pick up softly. Yang loos up curiously then back to Sonya, Reef listening quite intently to her tale.

"The closer the wisher gets the louder the whispers can be heard, until they finally find it. The stone is definitely unique and actually smaller than you think. It has a crack down the middle with two holes at the sides. It promises whispers of granting any wish desired. All the wisher has to do is speak their wish as they touch it. Then it shows them an image of what to do to obtain that wish."

Sonya smirks softly with a shrug. "After that the wisher sets off on the path the Whisper Stone showed them. Some give up halfway through, but those who persist will eventually get their wish as the stone showed. Yet, their happiness was short lived because some will tell you every wish granted, comes with a price."

Sonya smirk turns kind of dark. "Those who claimed their wish was granted, slowly became paranoid and crazy. Claiming that the stone was possessed and following them, before they disappeared all together. They said that the day after their wish was granted, the stone appears. And it whispers to them a number."

"And from that number, it counts down to zero day by day. Whether it is ten, five, twenty, it will appear at random every day whispering to the wisher a countdown until it hits one."

Yang looks a bit uneasy. Already knowing the story but it still creeps her out. And for some reason she feels uneasy for another reason. Reef himself invested that he doesn’t quite notice Yang’s unease, yet he does feel like the atmosphere is changing slightly.

Almost like, someone is watching them as Sonya tells her story.

"The wisher is said to almost become crazy. Claiming loudly that the stone was alive and following them. Doing all they could to get rid of the stone, hiding, throwing it away, anything, but each day of the countdown the stone appeared. Then, on the stroke of midnight, the day the countdown reaches zero, the stone comes to life in the form of a spirit." Sonya's tone turns dark and sinister.

"The spirit appears and claims that it's time for payment. The wisher is confused and asks what payment. The spirit only says, 'Everything comes with a price.' And before anything else can be said, it rips the very soul from the wisher.”

Sonya pauses for her own dramatic effect, then continues. “They say it's the most painful thing in the world, for a soul to be ripped from its body. And a body can't exit without a soul, so the body quickly turns to dust once the spirit takes its soul, leaving nothing of the wisher behind. Once payment is received, the Whisper Stone then disappears and waits until its next victim seeks it out to grant their wish."

Suddenly as Sonya’s story comes to an end, soft giggling can be heard in the distance. Sonya's ear twitches at barely catching the sound, but she knows she heard it. She was about to ignore it, figuring it was the distant laughter of the other groups gathered in the area telling their stories or having fun.

Yet, an all too familiar sensation makes her stand up suddenly making Reef and Yang look to her alarmed.

"S-Sonya?" Yang asks concerned.

Sonya narrows her eyes to the darkness around them, her huntress instincts making her alert and on edge. "I sensed something. It was brief but I know this feeling. A witch’s magic."

Reef stands up alert like Sonya as Yang looks around alarmed with her paws to her chest. “I-I did sense another’s aura nearby, but it was brief so I didn’t pay attention.” Yang says a bit afraid but more curious.

A voice, whispering softly seems to surround them; making Reef and Yang jump in surprise and Sonya grow tense. The voice was hard to make out since it seems to be flowing and traveling all around them like a whisper in the wind.

"Such a rough battle you all went through. I could help you all from your pain, if you wish it of course~"

The voice continues to whisper softly, Yang growing tense next to Sonya, a soft shiver going through her. She's sure of it now, she can feel an aura now disappearing and appearing, coming close and then far away.

"I-I can feel another aura. B-But it keeps moving around I can't pinpoint or sense it correctly."

Reef nods with her. "Same. I can sense it too but it keeps going all around."

Sonya's eyes narrow at what Yang said, "So whoever this is knows Yang and Reef can sense their aura so they're moving to avoid detection."

The giggling starts again making them all look around. The soft whispering continuing, "Perhaps~ Though if your wish is to see me then that can be granted as well. Simple enough wish right? Or, is there any other wish either of you want instead?"

Suddenly from the darkness two hands reach out and grab both Yang and Reef’s tail at the same time before quickly disappearing. Yang yelps and jumps in fear to her feet as Reef swipes behind him looking ready to fight.

"Yang?!"

Yang looks back to Sonya scared. "S-Something grabbed my tail."

“Mine too!” Reef says glaring around. “Whoever you are come out now and stop hiding like a coward!”

The giggling turns to laughter and a voice speaks clearer now making Yang jump in slight fear and Sonya glare.

"Oh my such hostility~ I'm only playing a small game of tag~"

"Well we don't wanna play!" Sonya says annoyed as Reef stays close to her side incase the ghost or witch tries something else.

"Oh? Are you sure?"

The voice continues and sounds clearer and clearer each time it speaks. Sonya narrowing her eyes, she feels on edge due to sensing the witch’s magic so close.

Yet, something's off. She's not on edge like she usually is around unknown witches.

And despite them moving around to avoid detection, she doesn't feel malice like other evil witches have when close by.

Could this be just a playful ghost type trying to spook them?

Giggling snaps her thoughts back to attention. "Careful runt~ Don't think too hard or you'll overwork that simple brain of yours."

Sonya growls about to say something about the remark, but a look of realization dawns on her face.

"'Runt'?" She repeats with a thoughtful expression. "Did they just call me 'runt'?"

Reef looks to her confused and nods, "Yeah they did. Why does that matter?"

Yang can tell Sonya is on to something. She's scared but also looks thoughtful. Then seemingly at the same time they both perk up in realization.

"I-It can't be." Yang says in disbelief. She and Sonya looking to each other surprised.

Reef looks to them back and forth confused. "What? Did you figure out who is playing a trick on us?"

Sonya groans and glares around. "I think so. Only one calls me that name and its--"

Just as Sonya is about to say, clawed hands reach out from a portal that appears behind her suddenly and grab her. Sonya's cry in surprise muffled as one claw covers her mouth and the other grabs her shoulder.

The figure giggles then suddenly pulls the Sylveon back, appearing with the intent to take her into the dark hole they were leaning out from. Sonya in her surprise didn't have time to react or fight back.

Reef looks alarmed and reached out for her. "Sonya!"

Just as Reef is about to grab her, Sonya is suddenly pushed forward instead by the unknown figure and slams in to Reef. The two tumble together as she lands on top of Reef.

Yang she rushes to her friend’s side to check on them as the two groan out in pain.

The giggling much clearer now as Sonya and Yang look upward.

Floating above them is a Banette.

A lone green eye watching them amused, though because of how dark it is it’s hard to make out the rest of them at the moment. Yet the lone eye color and familiarity of their aura and presence tells the two immediately who the Banette is.

“Mentor?!” Sonya cries in shock moving off a groaning Reef as Yang looks just as shocked.

The Banette grins in the darkness and waves while a dark portal appears again, “I win this game~ See you two at home~” She says then disappears in the portal before they can say anything else.

The two girls look to each other surprised. Then they look over to their friend who stands up rubbing his head confused. “Who was that?!” He asks.

Sonya groans as Yang smiles to him apologetically. "S-Sorry Reef, s-seems she wanted to join this competition between you and Sonya."

“Sheesh what a pain." Sonya groans with a sigh. "That’s our teacher, the one we talked about before. The old hag finally caught up to us.”