Chapter 4

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <B>Dark Reflection (Beginning):</B>  <A HREF="dr_pro.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prologue"><U>Prologue</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 1"><U>Chapter 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 2"><U>Chapter 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 3"><U>Chapter 3</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter 4</B>   |   <A HREF="dr5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 5"><U>Chapter 5</U></A></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making:  </B><A HREF="mim18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 18"><U>Chapter 18</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 19"><U>Chapter 19</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 20"><U>Chapter 20</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 21"><U>Chapter 21</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 22"><U>Chapter 22</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 23"><U>Chapter 23</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 24"><U>Chapter 24</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id734.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 25"><U>Chapter 25</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 26"><U>Chapter 26</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection:  </B><A HREF="dr6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 6"><U>Chapter 6</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 7"><U>Chapter 7</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 8"><U>Chapter 8</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 9"><U>Chapter 9</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 10"><U>Chapter 10</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 11"><U>Chapter 11</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 12"><U>Chapter 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 13"><U>Chapter 13</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 14"><U>Chapter 14</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection (Finale): </B><A HREF="dr15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 15"><U>Chapter 15</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 16"><U>Chapter 16</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr_epi.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Epilogue"><U>Epilogue</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/oldnews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Old News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrfic/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanfics</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrart/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/a-j/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors A-J</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/k-z/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors K-Z</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/art/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Fanart List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/ffsubmit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit a Fanfic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/fanart_submit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb"><U><B>Message Board</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Chapter 4</I></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection: Chapter 4: The Orb of the Sea</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div>     "Well, isn't this a familiar sight." Zeth muttered, as the three travelers landed by the remains of the Rocket's Crystal Island base.  "Looks like the Dragons really did a good job wrecking it."  Zeth remembered how he and Mike, the ferryman, had seen a huge explosion as they were rushing to escape the island.  Now, he could see the full extent of the damage.  Somehow, the entrance was still there, but as he peered in, he could see that a few meters down the first hallway, everything had collapsed.  Burn marks were everywhere, as expected, and there was a huge pit on top of the base, where the ceiling had collapsed into the rooms below.  As he turned away, he tripped over some wreckage, knocking a pokéball across the scorched ground.  Picking it up, he could see that it was a Friend Ball, in remarkable shape despite its proximity to the explosion.  It did not look like it had as good of craftsmanship as one of the custom balls that the legendary pokéball maker Kurt would make, but it should still work nicely.</div> <bR> <div>     He handed the ball to Destiny.  "Here, why don't you take this.  I still have six pokéballs and an Ultra Ball, so I don't really need it.  Catch yourself a nice friendly pokémon sometime."  Sani stared at the ball, then reached over and poked it cautiously.  Zeth laughed, "Don't worry Sani, No one's going to try to put you in there...  It would take a more powerful pokéball than I've ever heard of to hold a pokémon as strong as you!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Oh, I wasn't scared that it was going to hurt me or anything," Sani remarked.  "I just don't know how those things work and I didn't want to set it off."</div> <bR> <div>     "Of course, Sani," Destiny commented, winking at Zeth.  "Thanks for the pokéball, though I'm not sure if I'll ever use it.  I'm not really training to be a pokémon master."</div> <bR> <div>     "Remember what we said earlier about pokémon research?" Sani asked.  "Well, a pokémon of your own could really help you with something like that.  Anyway, you might want some good strong pokémon if we have to go back to the alternate world.  After all, it seems kinda dangerous over there."</div> <bR> <div>     "Point taken.  Now let's find that temple."</div> <bR> <div>     The three of them did not know exactly where the temple ruins were, so they split up to find them faster.  As usual, it was the flight-capable Sani who found them first.  She led the two humans to the stone wreckage by the shore, pointing to some of the half-standing walls.  "That's all eroded and all, but I think it says something about the Orb of the Sea.  I'm not sure what we do now, though.  This whole place is a real mess."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny walked over to a heap of smashed marble, frowning down at it.  Shoving some of the smaller pieces aside, she uncovered a piece that a round circular depression, just like the pedestal back at the mountain temple.  "Well, I think I found where the Orb used to be, but it's not here anymore."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth walked along the broken-down walls of the ruins, passing by the one remaining pillar at the far corner.  He stared at it for a few moments, trying to think of why it seemed vaguely familiar, then examined the waist-high wall that remained standing beside it.  Carved on the wall was the wing of some kind of bird, but the rest of the picture had fallen down long ago.  Looking to the other corner of the wall, he could see the tip of another wing.</div> <bR> <div>     Sani noticed his interest in the picture, so she came over for a closer look.  "Spot something?" she asked, running a hand across the carvings.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "Nah, not a thing.  What about you?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sani smiled,  "I found what we're looking for, if that's what you mean.  Look here!"  She pointed to the top of the broken wall, in the very center.  Where she pointer, Zeth noticed a round indentation with a flower shape inscribed in it.  "It looks like the piece of pendant that you found would fit right here, if you turned it upside-down.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth grinned,  "That's it, Sani!  Hey, Destiny!  Come over here!"  Destiny ran over quickly, and Zeth showed her the carving.  "We'll need just the bottom half of the pendant.  I don't think the top part will work if it's on there."  Destiny nodded and twisted the amulet apart, handing Zeth his piece.  Now that Zeth had it again, he noticed that it had two holes near the top, where he could string a piece of cord through.  That was not especially important to him at the moment, though.  Right now, he wanted to see what would happen when he put the pendant into place.</div> <bR> <div>     The moment he placed it in the depression, it suddenly shined with a golden light.  The glow grew brighter, then slowly faded, the medallion dropping out of the depression.  Zeth picked it up, disappointed that nothing more happened.  He was about to complain when Destiny suddenly pointed toward the sea, which was spinning like a whirlpool.  The water suddenly shot up into the air and fell back down revealing a pokémon that Zeth had only seen in books of fantasy and legends, the legendary and unmistakable Lugia.</div> <bR> <div>     "So, the three Seekers have finally come," the huge sea monster said, in a deep but gentle psychic voice.  "For centuries, my ancestors guarded this temple and the Orb of the Sea, never knowing if the legend would come true or not.  I never suspected that I would be the one to have the honor of aiding you in your quest."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth tried to make his mouth form words, but failed.  Sani, on the other hand, seemed mostly unfazed, probably not realizing how rare of a sight this was.  "Yes, we've come for the Orb of the Sea.  Do you have it?"</div> <bR> <div>     The giant bird nodded, "Yes, and I will deliver it to you in a moment.  I must warn you, though.  I give you the first Orb freely because I know that you are the true Seekers, and I can sense the goodness in your hearts.  But to obtain the remaining Orbs, you will have to battle their guardians, and they will not be defeated easily.  There will be many hardships along your path, but do not be dismayed.  You will triumph if you never give up."  Lugia suddenly glowed for a moment, as a purple glass ball rose out of the water, hovering over to them and landing in Zeth's hand, where it lit up like a beacon.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth examined the Orb, remembering a familiar item from his past.  "This looks like one of those three treasures from the Fire, Ice, and Lightning Islands back in the Orange Archipelago."</div> <bR> <div>     Lugia softly landed beside the temple, looking at the broken walls.  "You are quite observant, young one.  Yes, it is quite similar to the three treasures, and you did quite a good job four years ago when you were the one chosen to collect the treasures and bring them to the shrine.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth looked up in surprise.  "How did you know about that?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Lugia smiled gently, "I was not there, but my cousin, who guards those islands, was.  He showed me your progress through telepathy.  We always like to watch events like that, just as you humans enjoy watching Pokémon League games."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "I guess I can understand that, but did you just say you had a cousin?  I've always heard that there's only one Lugia in the world, as well as only one Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres."</div> <bR> <div>     The Lugia laughed, "Hardly... Humans just like to make illogical rumors about the things that they know nothing about.  If I was the only Lugia in the world and I became injured and unable to hunt for food, then I would die, and there would never be another Lugia.  Or do humans say that we are immortal and invincible too?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shrugged, "I only hear the rumors, I don't make them up."</div> <bR> <div>     "A wise answer.  While it is true that some of the legendary pokémon have been chosen for special tasks, such as guarding this temple, or the ones in the Orange Islands, they are not unique.  There really are more of them out there, but you would have to look very, very hard to find them.  Actually, that will not be so very different from your task on this journey, as you will see.  You, Zeth, will have to find three more Orbs in this world; and you, Destiny and Sani, will have to find the four Orbs in the other world.  Both of you humans have a piece of the talisman that will unlock the secrets of your respective Orbs.  You simply need to find the right places to look."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny stepped forward, "But where should we look next?  Can you tell us where any more of the Orbs are?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Lugia shook his massive head, "No, child, I cannot.  It would be against the rules I have pledged myself to as a guardian of this temple.  However, Zeth knows where his second Orb is.  I'm sure he would be quite happy if you would take him to it."  </div> <bR> <div>     Destiny and Sani both stared over at Zeth.  "You know where an Orb is and you didn't tell us?!"  Destiny complained.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "But I don't know --"  Suddenly, he realized that he actually <B>did</B> know where the next Orb was.  "Wait a minute... Of course!!  Inside Mount Ruby!"  He turned to see the Lugia nodding an affirmative.  "Yeah, see, I first arrived in Obsidia by crash-landing a plane near Mount Ruby.  Later, after the gym leader of Ruby City beat me in a pokémon battle, I found a secret entrance to the volcano.  There was a huge temple inside, but I had just run into these two Team Rocket agents for the second time, so I was too busy battling them to check it out.  Actually, my Growlithe, Blaze, probably knows all about the temple, since he used to live in the volcano."</div> <bR> <div>     "You say that you crashed a plane by Ruby City?" Sani asked.  "When was that, about two months ago?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth nodded, "Yeah, but how did you know?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Mew pointed in the general direction of the Granite Mountains.  "My aunt said that she saved a human boy in a falling plane two months ago.  I guess that must have been you."</div> <bR> <div>     "Really?  You'll have to tell her that I send my greatest thanks."</div> <bR> <div>     "--  Children," the Lugia gently interrupted.  "It is starting to get late, and you have a long journey ahead of you.  Remember the legend's warning: choose the simple, shun the greed.  You will understand better when you reach the end of your quest.  Now, I must go, and I suggest that you do the same.  But first... My temple is badly in need of repair, so if you would just place the Orb of the Sea onto the remains of its platform before you leave, I would be quite grateful."  Zeth started to ask what he meant, but the great bird had already dove into the sea, leaving the three of them alone in the temple ruins.</div> <bR> <div>     "Don't worry, Zeth, I know what he meant by that."  Destiny took the Orb from Zeth's hands, and placed it on the broken pedestal she had found.  Instantly the temple began to fly back together, piece by piece, as the three of them watched in amazement.  The broken columns reformed and the carvings flashed with bright white light.  The walls before them suddenly came back together, as if they were watching a demolition in reverse.  Even the pedestal the Orb was resting on flew back together, somehow without dislodging the Orb.  Then, just as quickly as it began, it was over.  Destiny grabbed the Orb off of the now-whole pedestal, then handed it back to Zeth.  "Instant repair... I wish I could do that in my home..."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth looked around in awe at the rebuilt temple.  "Those researchers are going to go crazy when they find this place is in one piece again."</div> <bR> <div>     Sani lifted both Destiny and Zeth with her psychic grip, carrying all three of them out through the temple's open top.  "Come on, you two.  Like Lugia said, it's getting late.  We'd better get to Ruby City before nightfall so you two can find a place to stay."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     In their secret headquarters, Kat and Duke listened to the latest news brought by Loran.  "As for the Topaz City heist, it was partially successful.  Our primary objective was achieved, but three of our agents were caught in the process.  You'll never guess who was responsible for their capture."</div> <bR> <div>     Kat pounded her hand down on the desk, making papers jump.  "It was that Zeth kid, wasn't it!?"</div> <bR> <div>     Loran nodded, "Yes, he and a friend held those three agents long enough for the police to come and arrest them.  It is interesting to note that the mercenary ShadowWalker was also present.  Apparently, he has decided to track down Zeth Raltier for us, in hopes of a handsome bounty."</div> <bR> <div>     Duke waved for Loran to stop, "We already know about ShadowWalker.  We contacted him over two weeks ago.  From what we've heard, he has the superb reputation of never stopping until he completes his mission.  Now, continue with your report."</div> <bR> <div>     "Yes, sir.  It appears that ShadowWalker was almost successful, but at the last moment he was forced to retreat, when the police came to apprehend our agents.  On the good side, we managed to get all the items you wished."</div> <bR> <div>     Kat smiled wickedly.  "Ah, it's nice to see our operations working right, despite that pest's interference.  What about the Dragons?  How much trouble are they causing today?"</div> <bR> <div>    Loran glanced down his list, then shrugged.  "Apparently they've decided to give us a break.  There's no Dragon incidents on here today, unless you consider the rather nasty note that our agents received, directed to someone named Edward."</div> <bR> <div>     Duke growled at the mention of his real name, "That'd be Jag, trying his hardest to annoy me."</div> <bR> <div>     Kat patted his shoulder, "Well, <I>Edward</I>, I think you should just ignore him."</div> <bR> <div>     "Not you too," Duke muttered, glaring at his partner in crime.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>