
Originally Posted by
Empoleon-Dynamite
Mystic Forest
Arc Angel: The flares grew ever closer, leaving your time scarce and a decision outstanding. Despite all instinct pointing away from the path, you had no choice but to follow it. The blazing bushfire was growing from all directions, making quick work of the treefort lumber and enveloping the path you came from. There was, no less, another alleyway. This path which was neatly trimmed by icy breath seemed to lead to a trail just as smoke ridden. You begin to cough as the thick ambiance becomes almost insufferable. Slouching your body to nip under the thick smog, you trail down the chilly path with the infant ape snuggled in your griddling arms. The three beasts promptly tailed your lead, Koffing shuddering to keep its volatile substances away from the flaring shrubbery. Reaper on the other hand remained as detached as always, tugging the fractious toad along like a ragdoll with no regard of his comfort. Upping your pace into a steady jog as you tightly meander through the thick of the undergrowth, you feel somewhat assured you can still hear the trio closely in tow. All the while, Jericho and Reaper bob through the trails of liana and buttress roots, Croagunk unable to reach his feet as he is socked by the various objects. After a breakneck escape from the daunting bonfire, you find yourself with a snoozing Aipom who’s mother you’d yet to uncover, coupled with a traiterious amphibian who could have very well lead you to your death. You stare forthwith, squinting as you find yourself before what appears to be a tattered ruin. Several Aztek-esque trinkets and brickwork litter themselves across the half-destroyed crypt, nothing but the occasional pillar remaining. Rubbing the pain off his bruised backside, the devious frog rushes to his feet and croaks you toward a small cavity nestled about the ruins before hopping into it along with the keystone spirit. Slowly mooching toward it, you perceive with keen interest a great golden sundial, shadowing a symbol of an orange sun. Other illustrations included a blue-ish raincloud, an auburn windstorm and an icy-blue torrent. Although fascinated by the relic, time was of the essence and you hesitatingly follow Reaper’s lead and plunge down the brick-strewn cavity. Despite objective to the escapade, Jericho snorts and barely squeezes through the pitch-black crevice. Screaming as you plunge through a thick of cobwebs, you soon feel the slabbed flooring beneath your feet, welcomed by a room uncannily similar to the vault in Memory Lane. The room was perfectly circular, sporting a emerald hue as the walls and floors riddled with damp moss. At the focal point of the rounded tomb sat a gaping pedestal.
“Hellooo...” a feminine voice calmly echoes, causing shivers to tingle down your spine, “I am a wisp and the protector of these hallowed halls”. Suddenly forming before you, a slender, hourglass silhouette gently sways from the frayed platform. The undersized ghostly figure had no facial features, no fingers, no eyes, just a round pallid visage and a trailing carcass. Her dazzling white her draped in all directions, white spurs of pure light causing you to squint in its sheer brilliance. Although at a loss of pupils, you could feel she was staring you and your ragtag line-up down, almost as if she was gazing into your souls. With the wisp paying particular attention to the noxious toad, he hastily counters with an uneasy gulp as sweat droplets trickle down his bald noggin. Reaper senses this and snarls rather heatedly.
“There’s one-hundred-and-twelve of you? Quite a turnout”, she comments before turning to the noxious amphibian, “and it’s not been long since I saw your face, purple one. Is the weather as you expected?” The three of you fall back on the sleazy toad, which whistles innocently and offhandedly averts your gaze. Reaper simply elevates his noose, the gagging shudders of the ominous frog providing him with ample amusement. Although somewhat engrossed yourself, you feel an ominous force tug your attention. Averting your gaze, your face is met by the mystifying wisp yet again.
“What is your business here, woman?”