Chapter 26 - Meadow

Meadow had been exhausted after her recent adventures and was more than happy to get to sleep this morning. She and Delphine didn't talk too much after she returned from being found out near the river. Delphine's camp was about a hundred feet away from the river which allowed easy access to the river but kept them safe from any Pokemon that lived in it. Meadow didn't truly believe it when she was told that water Pokemon or Pokemon who lived in the river liked to mess with land Pokemon. There was nothing bold enough or big enough, she believed that could do that.

But that was beside the point.

No after her adventure she went straight to bed, or at least she would have but Delphine insisted that Meadow wash up, eat and then go to bed. Meadow did as she was told, she was too tired to fight back, and after doing all of those things and then some she was allowed to pass out. And the sleep was amazing.

Or at least that was what she was hoping for.

As soon as Meadow closed her eyes in her tent for a bit of slumber, she re-awoke to find herself laying not in the camp but laying outside near the waterfall. She didn't realize where she was at first, all she saw was that she was outside near the falls, and the sound of rushing water tickled her senses. The smell of fresh water, wet rocks, and...something odd though... familiar. She didn't know what the smell was at first but as she got up to start exploring the aroma returned to her. It was the scent of the Garcida. Yes, there was no mistaking it. The smell of her homeland's flower was here though where was the question?

All around the Meadow was water, rocks, and maybe a tree or two. There was no spot where the flower could be but it was close.

"This place, why am I here?" Meadow wondered as she looked around. She began walking toward the waterfall itself as if something was guiding her toward it. As she neared it she saw something appear from behind the waterfall. A large green deer-like Pokemon greeted her. The name of this Pokemon returned to her as soon as she got close enough to see it.

"Virizion?"

The deer Pokemon bows his head before her.

"Meadow it's a pleasure to see you once again."

Meadow returns the gesture.

"Thank you," Meadow says. "Might I ask why you are here?"

"It is my duty to patrol the various forest and meadows. My duty is to you my lady so you may focus your attention on more important task." Virizion says. "It brings me great pleasure to see you once again, how have you been?"

"Not so well." Meadow admits. "But where am I?"

"You are near the entrance to the Meadow Plate's temple. The Grass Temple is much easier to say." Virizion smiles. "Shall we go inside and check on your prized plate?"

"How did I get here?" Meadow asked.

"This is but a dream, your dream. Though do not take it lightly for dreams are no more than another place where your soul might go. If you are dreaming about this place that means that you are needed here whether in the physical world or the spiritual."

"And you?"

"I am but a guide my lady. Charged with protecting you and your interests. I am made it my sworn duty to protect this plate until you return." Virizion steps back behind the falls and Meadow soon follows him. She became a bit wet from the falling water but it wasn't anything she couldn't easily shake away. Behind the falls was a passage with at the end a large stone door with the grass symbol on it. Virizion stood by Meadow and together they began walking down the long passage. The aroma of flowers met Meadow's nose making her sneeze.

"It smells great." Meadow wiggles her nose. "Wasn't ready for it to smell so good back here."

"You always did enjoy the aroma of fresh flowers. Nothing can grow back here but I took the liberty to find a way to make it smell good for your return."

"You knew I was coming?"

"I am your guardian Meadow, granted I have spent more time roaming the lands I always keep a spiritual tab on your location," Virizion says. Meadow becomes slightly upset when she hears that, her little paws tremble.

"You didn't come when I needed you most." Meadow stops walking as they near the entrance. Her necklace starts glowing.

"Excuse me?"

"I was so lonely..." Meadow sighs. "I needed...I needed a friend and you...you weren't here for me. I barely remember much of my past anymore; the memories are slowly fading away."

"Yes, that tends to happen should your soul remain in your body for too long," Virizion says as he looks at the door. "My lady, shall we go inside and check on your plate?"

"Why the rush?" Meadow asked. "If this is my dream then I have plenty of time."

"True." Virizion bows his head. "As for my why I did not appear to help you well...you were safe. I will admit that I keep myself busy."

"Too busy to give me company?" Meadow asked.

Virizion looks confused, the smile he had been keeping since they first met was fading away. He nods his head. "My lady as a guardian its my duty to watch over what is yours. I can't spend all my time babysitting you."

"Sure..." Meadow rolls her eyes. "So why here, why are we here for all places? The plate is safe as long as I do not open the door, right? What is there to worry about-- "

"Plenty my lady. The fact that you and I are here means that the plate could be in danger. Even now there are forces within this forest who wish to steal its power and use it for ill. We should seek to move it to another place. Maybe place it with the other plates."

Meadow closes her eyes and images of Virizion appear before her. She did remember him. Yes, Virizion had been her guardian long ago, he was given to her because of his graceful nature and connection to the natural world. He protected her during the Great War against Necromza and helped her defend the Meadow Plate from falling into his grasp. After the war together they sealed the plate within this very chamber they now stand before. He had been one of her best friends and after they were done, he transformed into a Deerling swearing that he'd always be there for her.

They made love before parting ways. Virizion had been the one who gave her this necklace, he did it both as a parting gift and a means to help protect this chamber. He sealed a part of her memory away as a means to help protect the chamber should something ever happen, and he told her something. Meadow was struggling to remember what it was but...it involved him doing something special something that only did together.

Meadow looks at Virizion and with a smile, she nods her head. "All right Virizion let's go inside."

"Very well."

Meadow felt that she needed to keep an eye on this Pokemon. But for now, she might as well go along with them and see for herself why they were here. Raising a paw, she mutters a few words.

"Seal of the Grass Temple...obey my orders. Unseal yourself and reveal to me your secrets."

The door glows brightly, the passage begins to shake and before their eyes, the door began rising into the ceiling.

"Very good my lady," Virizion says as he walks past Meadow once the door had risen high enough. "Shall we proceed?"

"Yes, my love..."

"Excuse me?" Virizion asked as he stopped walking.

"Nothing," Meadow says. "I was um... daydreaming."

"A dream within a dream my lady?" Virizion asked after a light chuckle. "That's nearly impossible."

"True," Meadow says as she passes by her guardian and begins walking into the temple. "Let us not waste any more time."

"Excellent idea."

Inside the temple, Meadow saw markings all over the wall, most were so hold that she couldn't begin to translate them. They were not written by her but by an old tribe of Pokemon who no longer walked this world. As she walked through she did begin to remember moments from her past, a past that she liked and disliked. The aroma of flowers vanished and was replaced by the scent of musk. This place was a bit stinky but it might be from the fact that it hasn't been open in such a long time. She did, however, begin to remember the last time she was here. The last time she walked these passages with Virizion and...a Pikachu.

"This place is more amazing than I thought it would be."

"How so?" Meadow asked as they walked by a statue of Shaymin. Upon looking close enough Meadow realized that the statue was of her. Around her neck was the same necklace that she has kept on her person all this time. But it wasn't the only thing there, no there was another charm around her neck. This one was a small rectangle with a grass marking on it.

"It just is."

"Does anything look familiar?" Meadow asked as she put a paw on the rectangle item. She felt an odd connection to it a moment later it began...glowing. There was a feeling of warmth that overtook her.

Was this...was the plate?

"My lady, are you all, right?" Virizion asked.

The warmth faded. Meadow looked back at Virizion as he seemed ready to keep walking. At that moment Meadow felt like she might remember...

No! She remembered everything. This was the plate; it had been hidden here just in case someone did break into this temple and try to steal the plate. What better spot to hide it than in plain sight? It had been Virizion who told her to do this. He then hid that information from everyone including her by sealing that knowledge within her. He did so while they made love. She remembered a funny thing he used to call her a fun little nickname. She remembered him saying it to her as he was deep inside of her, his seed becoming one with her.

He was such a cute Deerling, he did it so they could mate together. He always appeared before her in that form after Tabitha discord a means to transform Pokemon. He remained as a Deerling so he could be with her and...when they parted ways, he promised that the next time they met they'll...he'll...

Meadow puts on her best smile.

"We're almost there Virizion. Come on just a bit further."

"Perfect."

Meadow takes Virizion to the next passage, the old temple was large, but she knew her way around. The memories of this place felt as fresh within her as the feeling of Virizion's love. Meadow couldn't believe that she didn't remember before now but that was maybe a good thing. It would have been a bit painful to remember why they parted ways.

The final chamber of the Grass Temple...it was large, far larger than Meadow remembered. The chamber itself rose high up, there was an altar in the middle of it with a statue standing guard near the center. That statue...

"There is a statue of me here?" Virizion gasped as they entered the chamber.

"Yes, it had been made shortly before the temple was sealed off. Meadow says as she walks towards the statue. There was a smaller statue near it, it was in the shape of a Deerling. Beside that was a statue of a Venasaur, Turtwig, and a Chestnaught. They were worshiping the Virizion statue.

"The plate is passed here." Meadow says as takes a moment to look at the Deerling statue. She gives it a kiss and then heads up the stairs leading to the top of the altar where the Meadow Plate was sitting. She feels Virizion's presence as the large deer-like Pokemon moves in to get a closer look. Meadow chuckles.

"We did it, my lady, we found the plate. Now we can take it back and protect it."

"How?" Meadow asked.

"Well, we'll return to the real world, meet up and come here for real."

"I figured you'd say that." Meadow admits.

"Why is that?"

"Oh, no reason. I mean you need me more than I need you." Meadow looks up at the Pokemon, her face went from one of amusement to one of anger. "Who are you really?"

"I am your-- "

"Guardian?" Meadow pushes up against the stag who stumbles back. The Pokemon shakes his head.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Cut the crap. The real Virizion...the Pokemon I know would not need me to help him get here. He's already here guarding the plate..." Meadow looks towards the Deerling statue. "So cut the crap and reveal who you really are and why you brought me here."

"Very well..." Darkness engulfs "Virizion" and a moment later the shadow vanishes leaving behind not Virizion but the Alakazam Ommni. The old-looking psychic type chuckles.

"Ommni!"

"In the...shadow." Ommni chuckles. "Invading dreams is something I've gotten good at. You can thank Darkria and Cresselia for that help. It's wonderful what you can learn by finding the right Pokemon and forcing them to teach you, their ways. Your legendries believe that by hiding your forms you can escape those like myself. You just make it easy. My, my, whatever shall we do now? Here we are stuck in this old temple deep within the spiritual world. And soon the door shall truly open in the real world and I shall walk through it and obtain what is mine."

"Never!" Meadow prepares herself for a battle, she couldn't let him get his hands on the plate.

"You want to fight me?" Ommni laughs. "Perish the thought. I've already won."

"As if." Meadow throws a ball of energy at Ommni who smacks it away, his hands glow red. "But how?"

"In this world, I'm all mighty. I've long spent time learning how to master the spiritual world and use its power to my advantage. I could go into how I gained this power, but it'll do you no good. IF you truly wish to stop me then come to this very chamber and stop me. I shall be here soon." Ommni rubs his beard.

"You can't do anything if I don't open it," Meadow says.

"Oh really..." Ommni smiles. "I found you in this world, stole you away, and made you give me the very thing you wish to protect. What makes you think I can't do more than I already have? This was but a light task for me." Ommni raises a hand, and a dark orb appears in it. Moments later the image of a Zorua appeared in the orb. Meadow feels choked up.

"Chip..."

"You allowed yourself to become attached to someone else I see. I've been to see this young fox; I've walked in his dreams and planted myself there just as I've done to you. If you don't come, then I'll rip his very spirit out of his body and destroy it before you. He'll never see the light again when I'm done with him."

"No..."

"I'll give you a day. Tomorrow, the first light comes to the waterfall entrance. There my Templars will meet you and you shall open the door and guide me and my Templars to this very chamber. If you do not appear then I'll break this boy and anyone else connected to him and you." Ommni crushes the orb and Meadow hears a scream.

"CHIP!!" Meadow feels like a part of herself had been shattered just now.

"Yes, does it hurt...that orb was just a few of your memories of him that live within you. Memories that I can turn to dust right before your little eyes." Ommni laughs. "Don't worry, I've made sure that it wouldn't hurt you forever, at least not this time. I like those I torture to feel that pain over, and over again. No fun in making anything permanent if you do so then you can't torture them again."

Meadow held onto her chest, it was still in pain.

"You...you won't get away with this."

"Blind courage, I like it." Ommni picks up Meadow by her neck lifting the shaymin off the ground. Try as she might the little Pokemon was unable to escape. Ommni peers into her eyes.

"Resist me...please. Give me a reason to remind you of the lesson I just gave you."

Meadow glares at Ommni not giving in to his sick actions. When she didn't speak the Alakazam throws her down the steps making sure she hits a few on the way down to the bottom. Meadow hit the bottom after a short bit, her body was in pain. For a dream, this felt more real than even reality.

"Tomorrow morning or else it will be Chip. And don't worry...I'll make sure you're there to watch." Ommni points a finger at Meadow. A beam of fires at Meadow...

"AAAAHHHHHH" Meadow awakens back in the tent, her sheets were soaked and wet. Looking at herself she realized quickly that she had wet herself. Her body was in pain and...her throat...

"Was...was it real? No." Meadow gulps.

"Chip..."