Into The Belly Of The Beast

Night had fallen and it was time to get moving. Ian got out of bed and grabbed his bag. It was filled with recovery items, wands and orbs that he had picked up from dungeons. He was just about to leave for the door when he stopped dead in his tracks.
Idiot, what was I thinking?! Nuzleaf was in the next room!
The mudfish Pokemon peeked out of the room, and saw Nuzleaf, snoring soundly in his sleep. If he'd went out the front door he was guaranteed to be caught. He wouldn't want that to happen. He looked around his room to see if there was another way to leave the house.
The window? I could try that, but it's grilled.
Ian approached the window and inspected it. The grill seemed fragile from the looks of it. Perhaps he could remove it...
Sorry Nuzleaf, no hard feelings.
He pulled the grill with all his might and it immediately came of. Causing him to almost lose his balance. He placed the grill below the window, reminding himself to put it back when he returned, and climbed through the window. He felt a sudden cold breeze when he got out of the house, making him shiver. Suddenly a loud thunder flashed in the sky, causing a loud bang to be heard.
Not the best kind of weather to go ghost hunting. Right, now to go find Patience.
Ian went around the house to the front door, and saw Patience, already waiting for him.
"Did you really think I was going to leave through the front door?" Ian asked.
"No, I just figured you'll wait here." The fire fox Pokemon replied.
Just then, a flash of lightning flashed in the distance. Soon after a distant thunder roared.
"Come on, time to move." Ian said.
"Wait up Ian!" Patience called.
"What?"
"Could you... Let me stick closer to you?"
"Come again?"
"I feel a lot more safer, especially if it's you." Patience said.
Ian sighed. Knowing he couldn't say no.
"Fine."
"Thanks Ian..."
Patience inched closer to the mudfish Pokemon. Ian could feel the heat of the fire fox Pokemon radiating from her body.
"Let's go." He said.
The two made their way towards the plaza, which is now nothing more than an empty courtyard, with everyone in their homes sound asleep. Ian actually found kind of peaceful, despite the dreadful weather.
Hmm?
Ian could have sworn he heard something. He stopped in his tracks.
"What's the matter Ian?" Patience asked.
"I heard something." Ian said. Scanning the area to see if his assumptions were true. Just then, out of the corner of his eyes, a shadow dashed past him. He turned, and saw a bush rustling, as if someone had just entered it.
"Alright, show yourself!" He yelled. Half expecting the stranger to reply.
"I'm impressed."
The lone figure got out of the bush, and it was a familiar but confusing sight.
"Gadget?" He said.
"What are you doing here?" Patience asked.
"I should be asking you the same thing." The gleam eyes Pokemon said. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"
Ian and Patience looked at each other, they somehow felt like they could communicate without even talking.
What are we supposed to tell her? That we are hunting ghosts? We'll be sent back to our homes and pops ain't going to be happy about it.
Don't worry, I got an idea.
"We're going to hunt for ghosts, wanna come?"
Patience dragged Ian over to the side, shocked as to what he just said.
"What the hell Ian?!" Patience whispered. "When I said to tell we are hunting ghosts, I didn't actually mean it!"
"You did?" Ian said. "I thought you were just making weird faces at me."
Patience face palmed so hard, Gadget looked over to see what was wrong.
"Look, I think we can manage." Ian said. "Remember that Gadget said she wanted to solve this ghost mystery right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"So, we tell her that we might have a lead and it's coming from the school. That way she wouldn't send us back home because she would be too distracted."
Patience wondered for a few seconds and finally understood what he meant.
"But wait, what are the others going to say? An adult coming along with us would seem pretty suspicious."
"Bah, Gadget can explain it herself, she wants to solve this mystery just as much as Pancham."
"Fair enough."
Ian and Patience returned to Gadget, who was still confused as to what they were doing here.
"Ahem, Gadget, we are trying to solve the mystery of the ghosts." Ian said.
"Is that so?"
"Y-yeah, the rest of the children of Serene Village are in on this as well." Patience said.
"You serious?" Gadget said. "Don't you think this is a little dangerous for you kids?"
Ian and Patience looked at each other, unsure as to what to say next.
"Listen Gadget, we can make a compromise here." Ian said. "We want to solve this mystery, you want to solve this mystery. So how about we work together, not tell our parents about this, and solve this mystery before breakfast. What do you say?"
Gadget pondered the offer for a few moments.
"Fine." Gadget agreed. "But don't expect me to babysit you two."
"I'm glad we could work this out." Ian said.
Gadget walked off in the direction of the school. Ian and Patience causally followed behind.
"Well done, Ian." Patience praised.
"What can I say? I have a silver tongue."
----"What took you guys so long?!" Pancham exclaimed. "We've been waiting for almost an-"
He stopped himself when he noticed a third Pokemon with them, towering over everyone else, and donned a hood.
"Pancham, Gadget." Ian said. "Gadget, Pancham."
"Greetings." She said.
"Wh-why's an adult here?" Deerling asked.
"It does seem rather odd." Espurr commented.
"Gadget wants to solve this ghost mystery as well." Patience explained.
"Would you say no to this face?" Gadget said. Looking Pancham in the eye. All the panda Pokemon saw were cold, intimidating eyes that looked like she could rip him in half in seconds.
"Um... No. Y-you can go on ahead!" Pancham said.
"Thank you."
Everyone went to their usual seats like any other school day, as well Gadget, who went to the only empty seat that wasn't occupied.
"So... What now?" Ian asked.
"We wait."
"That's it?"
"Well, what were you expecting? I go and call out to the ghosts demanding them to show themselves? Please, I know better. If there really were ghosts, they should be coming right about-"
"So hot..."
"-now..."
"Um, who said that...?!" Goomy nervously asked.
"It wasn't me." Deerling said.
"Not me." Shelmet said.
"Nope." Ian said.
"Same here." Patience said.
"Not me either." Espurr said.
"If it wasn't any of us, that could only mean that-"
"I WAS THE ONE WHO SAID IT!"
Everyone jolted in terror when they heard an unfamiliar voice booming. Just then, purple flames appeared, surrounding them.
"WHY HAVE YOU INTRUDE ON SACRED GROUNDS?!" The voice said.
No one knew how to respond, all they could do was remain quiet. Ian looked over at Patience, he noticed the fire fox Pokemon shivering, her legs shaking. She was scared.
So was he.
"TRESPASSERS WILL BE PUNISHED FOR SUCH TREACHERY! MY MINIONS, ATTACK!"
"Oh sh-" Just before Ian could finish his sentence, a sudden sharp pain hit him in the head, falling to the ground, his vision was blurry. But he could still hear what was going on.
"Deerling! Look out!" Pancham yelled, Deerling screaming shortly afterwards.
"I never asked for this!" Shelmet said.
"Have at you!" Gadget shouted. Explosions being heard shortly afterwards.
Just then, Ian heard something that he could never forget. Something that would forever scar him.
Patience's blood curdling scream.
----"Ian! Ian! Wake up!"
Ian slowly regained his vision, seeing two figures squatting next to him.
It was Goomy and Deerling, both looking rather messed up.
"Ugh... Wh-what happened...?" Ian asked, still trying to get a beating as he stood up.
"You got hit in the head by a projectile." Goomy said. "Instantly knocked you out cold!"
"What happened to others...?"
"Pancham, Shelmet, Espurr and Gadget are all missing! It's just the four of us."
Four of us...
"Patience!" He suddenly remembered. "What happened to Patience?!"
Goomy and Deerling looked at each other and suddenly frowned, which worried Ian.
"I... I think it's best you see for yourself..." Deerling said.
Scared, Ian immediately got up and pushed past Goomy and Deerling, and what he saw made him sick, his heart starting beating faster.
It was Patience, laying motionless on the ground, her entire body covered in scratches and bruises.
"No no no no no no! Patience!" He yelled, rushing towards the injured fire fox Pokemon. He placed his hands over her nose. He felt a whiff of air exiting her nose.
Thank goodness...
He breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn't relax just yet. Patience is in bad condition. He was going to have to treat her wounds.
It was his responsibly as leader of The Hydroflames.
"Goomy, Deerling." He said, now more calm.
"What is it?" Deerling asked.
"See if there's any medical supplies in Ms Audino's office. Particularly bandages."
"Got it!" Goomy said, as the two rushed off. Leaving Ian alone with Patience.
Stay calm Ian, stay calm... You can do this...
Ian only now noticed that raindrops started falling from the sky. It was starting to rain. Not making his job any easier. He place his bag on the ground and swung it open, taking a few Oran Berries out. He tried placing it in Patience mouth to see if she was to able to eat the berry, healing some of her wounds.
No such luck, just as he'd feared. But he knew what he had to do.
He remembered Nuzleaf teaching him of a traditional method Pokemon still use today to heal themselves in the event they are unable to eat. The steps were to get some bandages, squeeze the Oran Berry's juice onto the wound, and then wrapping it around the injured area.
It was simple, Ian hoped.
Deerling and Goomy came back rushing, panting as the deer Pokemon held out a roll of bandage to Ian.
"H-here you go Ian!" Deerling said, panting heavily.
The mudfish Pokemon took the roll of bandage and immediately went to work. He took a few Oran Berries and slowly squeezed it over Patience's wounds, from her legs, her cheeks, and then her body. After that he started wrapping parts of Patience's body that was injured with the bandage, making doubly sure he didn't place too much pressure on the wound, which would otherwise hurt her.
Done.
Ian breathed a sigh of relief when he finally finished. The fire fox Pokemon looked more like a walking fox mummy more than anything, but it was the only thing he could do.
"Good job, Ian." Deerling said, placing her hand on the mudfish Pokemon's shoulder.
"Yeah... Gotta thank ol' Nuzleaf for this." He said. "So now what?"
"We look for the others I guess..." Goomy said. "But the problem now is where?"
"I may know where they went."
The three turned their heads to where the voice was coming from and saw Espurr.
"Espurr!" Deerling exclaimed. "Where have you been?!"
"Me and Gadget were chasing after the ghosts that attacked us." She said. "They had kidnapped Pancham and Shelmet."
"What?!" Ian, Goomy and Deerling exclaimed.
"They took them to the Ancient Barrow." Espurr continued.
"A-Ancient Barrow...?!" Deerling muttered, suddenly shaking uncontrollably.
"This is NOT good at all!" Goomy said.
Ian, confused as to what was going on, had to ask.
"What's this "Ancient Barrow"?"
"You haven't heard? It's Serene Village's darkest secret, one that no one should ever speak of." Goomy said. "Long ago, when the original founders of Serene Village settled here, they were constantly harassed by a demon that resides by the tree you see today by the big hill. Constantly hurting others, and stealing food and money from the village. So the villagers devised a plan, they built a door in the centre of the lake, in the shape of a tree stump."
Ian vaguely recalled seeing a rather odd purplish tree stump in the middle of the lake, but didn't really think much of it.
"Upon completion, the villagers called upon the demon, and told it that there was an abundance of treasure that laid underground, they were willing to share it on one condition, leave them alone. To which the demon agreed to. When the demon entered the door, the villagers immediately shut it and sealed the door with an enchanted seal, never to be opened by again."
"Until now..." Deerling continued. "If the seal is broken, then that means-!"
"Calm down!" Ian ordered. "It's nothing more than a folklore." After what had just happened, he honestly didn't know WHAT to believe now. "Even if there really was a demon, we have ghosts that took our friends to worry about."
The rest remained silent.
"Anyway, Espurr, you said you were with Gadget right? Where is she now?"
"She went on ahead into the Ancient Barrow without me. She asked me to check on you guys."
Everyone gulped nervously, they knew what they had to do. It was the only to save Pancham and Shelmet, but also solve this mystery once and for all.
They're going to have to dive headfirst into the belly of the beast.
----"This is the place." Espurr said. Pointing towards the purplish tree stump.
Deerling and Goomy followed behind, still nervous of the thought of entering the "demon's den". Ian arrived shortly afterwards, carrying the unconscious Patience on his back. He was glad that she was extremely light for her size. Otherwise he would been having a bad time.
Rain continued pouring down on the village, it was a heavy downpour, with loud thunderstorms echoing the night sky. The children approached the tree stump and noticed that the doors were open. Sending chills down Goomy and Deerling's spine.
"Well that's not good." Ian said. Gently placing Patience on the ground. Making her lean on the tree stump.
"What are we going to do...?!" Goomy asked. "Should we tell the adults about this?"
"No!" Deerling stood in. "If we tell any of the adults about this we're dead! Who's to say they will believe us? Especially with such a taboo this place holds, we can get ourselves in big trouble for this!"
"I guess we're on our own then..."
"Guys!"
The three turned around to see Espurr, who was checking on Patience, calling out to them.
"Patience is regaining consciousness!"
As soon as he heard that, Ian immediately dashed to Patience side. He saw the fire fox Pokemon slowly opening her eyes. To Ian's relief.
"U-ugh... Ian...? Where am I? How did I-argh!" Patience tried getting up, but the pain from her injuries still lingered, causing her to fall, Ian immediately catching her.
"Easy there... Patience." He said. "There's a lot you need to know first, so just try to relax."
The fire fox Pokemon nodded and sat back down. Ian started explaining everything that has just occurred, the situation they're currently in, and what they needed to do.
"I see... Thanks for patching me up." Patience said.
"I'm just glad you're okay"
"If I may interrupt." Espurr said. "We better hurry up and find out where Gadget and the others went. We got at least a couple of hours before sunrise."
"Right, we should get moving, and fast." Ian said. "Patience, you stay here and wait for us."
"No...! I'm coming with you guys!" She pleaded. Getting up once more. This time being able to stand on her own.
"Not with those bad injuries of yours! You'll only be putting yourself in even more danger!"
"Ian's right Patience." Deerling said. "I think it's best you wait for us here, even if it is a little scary..."
"Yeah. It's for the best." Goomy said.
Ian reached out to Patience and placed his hands over her shoulder, he felt a very heavy weight on him when he felt her soft fur. Patience was her responsibility right now, no Carracosta, no Nuzleaf.
Just him.
"Please... Don't put yourself into anymore danger, don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I promise."
Patience looked down towards the soaked floor beneath her, pondering. She felt let out a long sigh and accepted.
"Fine..."
"Thank you..."
Letting go of the fire fox Pokemon, Ian nodded at the rest, and entered the Ancient Barrow. Looking back at Patience one more time, before disappearing into the darkness. Leaving the fire fox Pokemon all alone.
"Don't make a girl a promise, if you know you can't keep it." She whispered.