***************

Warmth. Gobrianna was finally warm. In her dream, the warmth was a visible thing, a golden cloud that gently encased her, swirling slowly. But outside that cloud, she could sense a battle raging full-strength. It whirled around her as if she were in the center of a tornado. She tried peering out through the golden haze, but her view was obscured. However, one thing seemed to be getting in. Voices.

These voices alternately strengthened and faded away, overlapping so she had difficulty understanding. They hurled insults and compliments, threats and encouragement, hatred and love. They were the voices of everyone she had ever met in her lifetime. Gileman shouted in fury. Her mother promised her love forever. The member of Team Rocket she had met years ago laughed cruelly. Charizard roared in defiance. A wild Nidorina that had almost killed her on her Pokemon journey howled furiously. The voice of her father, dead twelve of her sixteen years, told her to be strong. One of the black-cloaked followers. Professor Skokie. Sable. Daniel. Rodin. Blu. A thousand others. And under them all, the deadly whispering voice of the Darkness and the intense multi-voice of the Eight argued and fought. And suddenly every voice was yelling, "Wake up!"

Gobrianna caught her breath as she cracked open an eye. It was dark, and for a moment she thought she was back in Gileman’s basement. Before the panic could take hold she realized that she was blissfully warm. Between the storm, the cellar and the cold ocean water, Gobrianna never wanted to be cold again. She realized she was in bed, under a pile of comfy blankets and quilts, with several sweatshirts over her T-shirt. Where was she?

The room wasn’t totally dark; a dim yellow light glowed somewhere off to the right. As her eyes adjusted she made out two figures sitting at a table in the center of the room. They sat across from each other, their faces turned downward, concentrating on something on the table. As she watched the one on the left stretched an arm across the table, picked something up, moved it, and set it back down. Then the arm retracted and they again stared down at the table. She blinked, tried it again, but still couldn’t make out anything else. Was she still dreaming?

When the girl tried to turn her head she discovered just how much pain she was in. Her brain exploded with the movement, temples throbbing in time with her heartbeat. Aches and bruises made themselves known. A groan escaped her lips.

Sounds of movement. The Pokemon trainer froze, ignoring her protesting muscles. The yellow light slowly brightened until the room was well lit. At the same time a giant head came into her line of sight, leaning over her. She gulped as dark green eyes scrutinized her. It was a Dragonite!

"Eh, back off now, Nite," a creaking voice spoke up from across the room. "Give ‘er some room to breathe."

The Dragonite obediently took a step back, but continued to gaze at her curiously. It was joined a moment later by an old man with a stooped back, walking with the aid of a cane. He was clean-shaven, his face a mass of deep wrinkles, with wiry white hair covering his head and half-circle spectacles. These he adjusted on his rather long nose, blinking owlishly. "Well now, seems yer awake."

Gobrianna winced. "Yes, sir. Though I kinda wish I wasn’t," she muttered as her headache increased. "How did I get here?"

"Hold yer Ponytas, missy. First things first. How do you feel?"

Doing her best to push the pain away, the girl gradually made it to an upright position. She looked around, seeing that her bed was tucked into the corner of a room slightly larger than a bedroom. The yellow light came from a shaded lamp sitting on a desk against the opposite wall. Upon the table, she now saw, sat a chessboard in the middle of a game. One chair—from its position, someone had been sitting and recently vacated it—accompanied the table. Nite took up most of the remaining room.

The old man made a tsk-ing sound as she observed her surroundings, handing her a mirror. The girl gazing back at Gobrianna was in sorry shape. Her limp copper hair was a disaster, her face pale and unsmiling. A nasty shiner circled her left eye. She sighed as the man handed her a glass of water and two white pills. "Aspirin," he answered her unspoken question. She gulped them down gratefully.

"I’ll live," she said. "Nothing broken. But please, how did I end up here? Who are you?"

"Ah, that’s quite a tale, missy." The old man pulled up the chair and sank into it. "I was all set to head out ice fishin’ yesterday mornin’, had just stepped out the door you see, when this great white shape comes a-‘urdlin’ up out of the sea. It’s a Dewgong, so it is. And what be on its back but a ‘uman girl, ‘alf-drowned and unconscious. Sose I take the girl and dry ‘er off and tuck ‘er into bed and she sleeps the whole day and night away, she does. Not ‘til noon the next day and she opens those eyes of ‘ers, and ‘ere you are!"

The aspirin was already taking effect. As her head cleared she nodded slowly. The man continued, "I’m Jason Winterfield, and this ‘ere be Nite—" The Dragonite wiggled its feelers like a person might wave hello. "—And yer on one of the Seafoam Islands, you are."

Gobrianna jumped, and instantly regretted it. "The Seafoam Islands! Then Dewgong did make it!" A smile finally lit her bruised face.

"So it did, so it did," Jason agreed. "It’s outside now, it is. Couldn’t fit in the ‘ouse, you know."

Relief washed over her. Those followers . . . she had been afraid she would never see her Pokemon again. "Good," she breathed, testing her body as she pushed herself upright. It ached, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle, she decided. "Oh, excuse me, sir. My name is Gobrianna."

Jason looked at her with one bushy eyebrow raised, but she dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. "I look worse than I feel," she assured him. "Please don’t let me interrupt your game."

Nite apparently agreed, because it turned back to the table as soon as the words left her mouth. Jason was less quick to concede. He stared at her for a moment, then gripped his cane and shuffled out of the room. The Dragonite looked up from the board in surprise, turning to Gobrianna. When she shrugged it snorted in reply. She couldn’t guess what the noise was supposed to express. Then Nite sat down on its own tail as if it were a chair, turning to the board and studying it.

Jason was soon back, which was good because she was beginning to feel uncomfortable. The man had a plate of something steaming in one hand.

"Food!" the trainer exclaimed, blushing at her outburst but not caring. She was starving! She couldn’t even remember the last time she had had a meal.

As she took the plate (a bit of ham, mashed potatoes and a soft dinner roll she noticed before she began shoveling) Jason sank into his chair. "Yer turn, Nite," he reminded his Pokemon companion.

Nite made an "I already knew that" noise, reaching toward one of the pieces. Deciding that she was well enough to move off the bed, Gobrianna stood up and made her way unhurriedly to the table. When Jason pointed to the stool tucked under the desk she pulled it out with one hand and took a seat.

The chessboard was interesting; she had never seen one quite like. It was hand-made she realized, when she saw the roughly carved and painted chess pieces. The sixty-four squares were alternately black and pale blue, the thirty-two pieces spread throughout the board telling her they’d been at it awhile. She watched as Nite’s brown Pidgey, which seemed to be a pawn, attacked diagonally and took Jason’s light green Weedle. She smiled at the inappropriate coloring, but figured it was just so they could identify what the piece was. The Weedle appeared to also be a pawn. Nite also had light green Caterpie, and Jason had brown Spearows. From their number she decided there were two different kinds of pawns for each side.

Ah, now she was getting it. Color did distinguish between the different types. And with the exception of the two kings and queens, which were all purple Nidokings and Nidoqueens, each side had different Pokemon of the same type for each type of piece. She watched Jason counter with a dark green Victreebel, moving three spaces diagonally, and guessed it must be the bishop. Which meant Nite’s dark green Venusaur must be a bishop as well.

She watched for a while, soon figuring it out. Jason’s knights were the two red Rapidashs, while Nite’s were red Charizards. And the rooks were blue Blastoise for Nite and Golducks for Jason. Not having played chess since she was little, Gobrianna couldn’t really remember more than the names of the pieces and where they went, but the more she watched the more it came back to her. The two players reminded her of old men playing in a park. They poured all their attention into their game, seeming to forget she even existed. And to her surprise, Nite was in the lead. She would have thought the Pokemon couldn’t keep the complex rules in its mind long enough to successfully play such a game, but it seemed to be doing well.

An indiscernible time later Nite sat back on its tail and triumphantly hooted. Jason sighed. The Dragonite’s Rapidash and Nidoqueen had cornered the human player’s Nidoking. Checkmate.

Gobrianna had long since set aside the empty plate. She stretched her stiff muscles carefully, as the two players woke up from the hypnotic attention of the game. "Oh, well now, that was quite a match, it was," murmured Jason, somewhat regretfully. "I’ll ‘ave to beat you next time, Nite." Ignoring the Pokemon’s look that clearly said, "Yeah right," the old man turned to the girl as if just remembering her. "G’brianna now, wasn’t it? I see yer done. Still ‘ungry?"

Before Gobrianna could reply, the pattering of little feet approached and the only door in the room was thrown open as a small figure ran into the room. "Oh, she’s awake! Who is she, Grandpa? What happened?"

It was a little girl, eight or nine Gobrianna guessed. She had hair slightly longer than shoulder-length, a light spring green in color, with ice-blue eyes and a sweet round face. "This ‘ere be G’brianna, ‘Olly. I dun rightly know what ‘appened to ‘er. Perhaps you could enlighten us?"

It took a moment for Gobrianna to realize Jason was talking to her. "Oh, I’m sorry. I was on a ship bound to the Seafoam Islands, but I was washed overboard by a freak storm. Thankfully I had my Pokemon with me, and we eventually made it."

She made no mention of the dark island of followers, of course. She knew that if she did either no one would be able to find it, or those who did would be seriously hurt. The Darkness played for keeps.

Chances were it was even one of the islands that made up the Seafoam chain. There were quite a number of the tiny islands spread out over fifty miles of open ocean. Their climates ranged from the ice-covered wasteland she was currently on to sunny paradises fit for dream vacations. Mostly wild ice and water Pokemon inhabited these islands, but if a small group of people wanted to disappear this would be one of the best places in the world to do it. The police could search for years and never find the exact island the black-clad followers lived on. And that was only if she could get them to believe her.

Holly was gaping at her in open admiration. "Wow!" the little girl gushed. "You’re so brave!"

Jason was less enthusiastic. One of his bushy white eyebrows lifted inquisitively. "Must ‘ave been some storm, missy, to rough you up so badly."

Gobrianna avoided eye contact with the man. "Yeah, quite a storm," she agreed quietly. Then there was silence, until the old man shuffled out of the room. Nite followed.

Holly, not noticing the uncomfortable exchange, plopped into her grandfather’s empty chair. "Were you scared?" she asked breathlessly.

Gobrianna turned to her. "Yeah." She realized that she was now alone with the girl.

"I would be, too," admitted Holly, upon reflection. "And your Dewgong rescued you right out of the water?"

"Yup," she answered distractedly. The Pokemon trainer was busy wondering how she could tell Jason that she had to leave, that she had somewhere important to be right now.

"Lucky you," the little girl muttered. Gobrianna blinked and she focused on her, surprised at her sudden change of tone. Holly was perched on the edge of the chair, legs pulled up to her chest, staring down at her knees.

"What’s wrong?" the copper-haired teenager asked gently.

Holly glanced at her through her curtain of emerald hair. "It’s not fair." She spoke quietly, talking to her knees. "I wish something exciting happened to me. I wish I could have Pokemon, but no one will let me. ‘You’re too young,’ they say."

Gobrianna shook her head, suppressing a smile that wouldn’t make the girl feel any better. "You don’t want that kind of excitement, trust me. And you’ll be old enough soon."

"Soon isn’t good enough!" pouted Holly. "I can’t even see Pokemon. The wild ones are too shy, and all the trainers tell me to go away. It’s not fair! By the time I’m old enough to go there won’t be anything interesting left to find." She tried to hide the hand that rubbed across her face, but Gobrianna saw anyway. This was something serious to the young girl.

A thought occurred to Gobrianna. "Well then, you’ll just have to believe," she said simply.

Holly’s head picked up. She stared at the older girl inquisitively. "Believe in what?"

"Believe in mystery, fantasy, the unexplained. Believe that somewhere out there there’s something that nobody’s seen before, and that you will find."

Now she was staring at her as if she was insane, and Gobrianna grinned, realizing she probably sounded foolish. "It sounds stupid maybe, but it’s true. Nobody believes anymore, and that’s why nothing new and interesting has been found. You have to believe, to see."

Holly’s eyes unfocused, her thoughts far away. Gobrianna waited with infinite patient. This was a test, to her. There weren’t enough believers of fantasy, the Eight had always told her. If she could get this one girl to open up and at least consider her words, maybe she could turn others around too. Maybe she was on the right track.

In a few moments she had her answer. Holly gave her a small, cautious grin. "I thought the expression was, ‘Seeing is believing.’"

A corresponding grin spread across Gobrianna’s face. Success! Even if the girl wasn’t totally convinced, she had still managed to bring her out of her gloom for a little while. "Whoever made up that had it backwards."

"Have you ever seen something unexplainable?" countered the green-haired girl, still smiling.

"You bet. There are fantastic things happening every day, all around us."

"Will you tell me about some of them?"

"Of course! Why, some of the basic laws of the Pokemon are unexplainable. How does a Magnemite float, for example? And why—" The sound of someone clearing his throat interrupted her.

Gobrianna looked up, surprised. Jason and Nite stood in the doorway. The old man and the Dragonite were smiling, and she wondered just how long they had been standing there.

"I thought you might like a ‘ot shower, missy," Jason told her, offering a fluffy white towel and a thick robe. "After that water and all, I suspect you must be pretty chilly. Ocean’s no place fer swimmin’ this time of year."

"No, sir," she agreed gratefully. She stood, the cold floorboards making her wince. (Where were her shoes? Nah, ask later.) Taking the offered things from the old man, she detached the belt with her six Pokeballs from her waist. The trainer held it out to him. "My Pokemon have been through a lot lately," she said, her face serious. "If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you bring them to the nearest Pokemon Center?"

Jason nodded graciously and accepted the belt. "I’ll send Nite to the Center on the edge of town," he assured her. The Dragonite likewise nodded, eagerly swishing its tail.

She felt much better as Jason pointed the way and she headed for the bathroom. She heard Holly call out, happy once again, that she would go get Dewgong. Gobrianna shut the door. Turning the knobs of the tub produced a jet of water from the showerhead, icy at first. But soon steam was clouding the mirror above the little sink. She slipped into the hot water with a shuddering sigh and allowed the fierce pressure to pound the dark memories out of her.

Twenty minutes later, the girl shut off the hairdryer and glanced in the mirror one last time. Her bruises were just as pronounced as ever—she had noticed they ran up and down her arms and legs as if she had been sparring with a Geodude—but at least she felt somewhat normal. Her hair was in order, her skin a healthy pink, and her mind clear. As soon as Charizard and the others had finished their rest, she would set out and find the person the Eight had told her about. She had some time, but had better not delay any longer than she had too. When the followers of the Darkness figured out where she went, they’d waste no time coming after her.

Gobrianna eased open the bathroom door and padded in stocking feet down the hall, back toward the room she had woken up in. She was about to announce her presence when she heard the low murmur of conversation coming from the room across the hall, and identified Jason’s creaking voice. Not wanting to interrupt, the girl quietly stood in the doorway without a word.

The old man sat with his back to her, speaking into a view screen with a telephone in one hand. On the screen a person garbed in white was talking.

"—The symptoms you describe, I’d say something traumatic occurred which she has blocked from her conscious memory. It may be serious. I’m going to have to ask that you hold the girl there until I can send someone to retrieve her. We’ll give her a thorough examination, and in the meanwhile we’ll contact the authorities. They can get in touch with her family. Thank you Mr. Winterfield, and—"

Gobrianna, stunned, didn’t hear anything more. She backed away from the doorway until Jason wouldn’t be able to spot her if he turned around, then just stood there as her mind kicked into overdrive. The man in white must be from a hospital. There weren’t any on this Island, which meant that they would have to cross over by boat or plane, probably from one of the other Islands, or Cinnabar or Fuchsia City. That gave her a little time, but not much. She’d have to leave now, or Jason would keep her from going. And by the time she got out of the hospital and from under her mother’s eye the Darkness would be done battling and be free to come after her. She didn’t even have time to stop at the Pokemon Center for her Pokemon—

Move. Now. Gobrianna sprinted down the hall as silently as she could, quickly spotting the front door. It wasn’t a large house. Hanging from several pegs and hooks by the door was various snow gear, which she grabbed without hesitation. A fleece-lined parka went on over the two sweatshirts, snow-pants pulled over her jeans, heavy rubber boots, thick gloves and a hat to cover her ears. All of it was too big for her, but she didn’t care. She didn’t have time to care!

Thinking she heard movement coming from one of the rooms, the girl fumbled for the doorknob and yanked. Immediately frigid air swirled around the little foyer space. She was afraid somebody would notice, so she stumbled outside and pulled the door closed. She had to get out of sight, and quick.

Gobrianna scanned the landscape as she picked a direction and started to jog. As it was all year round, this Island was encased in the freezing cold of snow. A blanket of white covered the ground and the roofs of the dozen or so small homes in sight. She wasn’t sure how large the town was but she could pretty much bet that by the time she made it to the Pokemon Center, Jason would have discovered her escape and called to warn them. So that was out. There was no sign of Dewgong, so Holly must have already taken it over.

The snow sank up to her ankles as she headed deeper inland. This wasn’t the only town on the Island, but all of them were clustered around the shore, near seaports. If she wanted to hide she had better head for the long mountain range that ran along the center of the island. Besides, whatever was hiding here that she had to find wouldn’t hang around the populated areas.

So Gobrianna continued to stride through the powder, kicking up the soft whiteness in front of her with each step. Plumes of her breath floated on the still air, only to disappear in a moment. Her steps and her breath made the only sounds in the stillness. The scenery was so different from what she was used to, and her mind so occupied by her thoughts, that at first she hardly noticed the cold. She glanced back every couple of steps, waiting to see if anyone came looking for her, but the small town was lost in the landscape before any movement caught her eye. Now it was whiteness behind her and whiteness before, and the only reason she could tell she was making headway was the beginning of a gentle incline under her feet.

This land wasn’t just a flat, barren wasteland, she soon discovered. It rolled with hummocks and hollows, all covered with the glistening blanket of snow. Scraggly pines with few needles clung to life every now and then, more often when there was some form of protection from the cold wind. The ground was hard and solid under her feet, as if she walked on rock, and even though she slipped more than once, the going wasn’t too bad.

At first Gobrianna thought about the being that the Eight told her to find. Was he truly here, somewhere? Charizard had seemed so sure that that was what the silver beings had said. This Island. But where? And whom did they mean? A human? A Pokemon? Something else entirely? How would she know where to go? How would she know this being when she saw him? So many questions. All she knew for sure was that there was somebody she had to find on this Island, and then he would bring fantasy back to the world.

As the cold began to seep past her winter clothing, Gobrianna’s mind turned to the fact that she had no food or shelter in this unforgiving environment. If she didn’t find who she was looking for in a couple of hours, she was going to be in serious trouble. She couldn’t go back to the town. Of course, she could always get her Pokemon to ask the local—drat! She had forgotten they were still at the Pokemon Center. A bit of anxiety settled in the pit of the girl’s stomach. A Pokemon trainer without his or her Pokemon was like a fish out of water, uncomfortable and at a serious disadvantage.

Now the cold was starting to get to her, and she wrapped her arms around her body to hold in as much warmth as she could. That hot shower was a distant memory now. Icy crystals of snow had crept into the oversized boots, and a small wind had kicked up. It blasted her face and seemed to cut right through her protective clothing to the bone. Her ears, fingers and toes stung with the cold.

Pausing and glancing around for some form of cover, Gobrianna could only find more white-covered ground below and blue sky above. The wind blew harder. She swallowed nervously. This wasn’t turning out exactly as she had planned. Not that she had really planned this.

"And I was hoping to never be cold again, t-too," she muttered, worried when she heard her teeth chattering on the last word. She looked up, saw that the weak afternoon sunlight was not going to be strong enough to keep her from freezing, and resolutely began to walk again. If nothing, the exertion would keep her a little warmer.

She was just entering the base of the mountains now, and the ground was beginning to grow steeper. Gobrianna bit her lip as something inside her whispered to be brave. Somehow she knew she was heading in the right direction. Now if she could only get there before she froze.

* * *

Cold. So cold. So cold the world was nothing but ice and snow and sleet and white and endless, endless frigid apathy. Desperation was a constant companion to the lone, motionless figure on the mountain. Never in all her life had Gobrianna ever felt so alone. The Eight couldn’t help her, nor the OPL. All her Pokemon were too far away and her mother didn’t know where she was, if she even knew she was alive. And she was cold. So, so cold as she lay in the deep white powder on the ground. So cold her teeth were beyond chattering. She wasn’t even shivering anymore. She just felt very tired, very sleepy. . . .

Snap out of it! she snarled in her mind, because her lips weren’t responding. She sent a curt command to her legs to pull her up out of the cold snow and stagger on. Soon she would find something. A family of Psyducks maybe. Yeah, they could take her deep into the mountain, to a secret hot spring that had never before been discovered. Or a Slowpoke would come meet her, and use its psychic powers to keep her from freezing. Maybe a Zubat flying overhead would see her and get someone. A Shellder could poke up out of the snow. Or a giant Kingler! It could warm her . . . somehow. There had to be something out here other than the endless, endless white. . . .

Gobrianna didn’t know how long it took her to figure out she wasn’t going anywhere, but it seemed like forever. Apparently her legs were being just as unresponsive as her mouth. She was in deep trouble. Fear coursed through the girl, but the sensation seemed to come from far away, as if it was happening to some other Pokemon trainer caught in the freezing snow on an unknown mountain alone on one of the Seafoam Islands without her Pokemon—

Stop it! she mentally screamed. Get up and move or you’re going to freeze to death! Wait, why was she here again? Her mind felt kind of fuzzy. Was she . . . looking for something? Some . . . one? Maybe, but why . . . .

Her spacey thoughts made a few feeble connections, sparking at the memory of eight silver beings surrounding her. She was . . . was . . . the Chosen of the Eight!

A soft silver illumination entered her vision, and without looking down she knew it was her necklace, glowing and giving her strength. Somehow she forced her appendages to obey and shove her upright, the snow clinging to her face and body. It didn’t hurt to move; as a matter of fact, she couldn’t really feel anything, like she was encased in a rubber suit that blocked all tactile sensation except for that cold-that-was-beyond-all-cold. . . .

The next thing she knew she was moving, albeit very slowly. Her thoughts were still hazy, but the silver necklace shone true, its light pointing straight ahead. Gobrianna shuffled on, as she had been doing for hours, following the direction the necklace told her to go. By now she was horribly lost in the mountain chain that ran through the center of the Island. Horribly lost . . . never to see Charizard or Vaporeon or the Eight or Blu or her mother ever again. Her mother. . . .

As if sensing her plunging courage, the silver glow around her neck faded, and with it her brief strength. Gobrianna sank to knees in the soft powder. A wind swirled a few freshly falling flakes into her long copper hair, and if she had the strength the Pokemon trainer would have cried. She had made it so far, but she didn’t think she could last much longer. . . .

A faint sound interrupted her silent lament. It was the ringing of crystal on crystal, of wind chimes on a breezy day, or someone striking the triangle at the end of the symphony. Gobrianna struggled to raise her heavy head. Her turquoise eyes took in the view, the icy crags rising in front of her, the wide gaps in the gray stone where the strong wind was getting to her. She titled her head up, noticing the low clouds that the snow was just beginning to fall from. All this she saw, before she finally realized where the crystalline sound was coming from. With the dregs of her energy her eyes widened in amazement. A cave?

On hands and knees, the girl painstakingly struggled toward it as a man struggles through the desert toward a distant oasis. That cave was her sanctuary, her salvation. The snow began to fall in earnest as she crept closer and closer. Now the temperature dropped a degree or two as the shadow of the rocky crag fell over her. Now the wind was cut off as the mouth of the cave towered over her. Now Gobrianna collapsed on the ice floor, breathing heavy but a frozen smile cracking her lips. She had made it!

The crystal sound came again, like an icicle striking a chain-link fence. In the small space it was much louder, echoing off the frozen walls until it overlapped and sounded like a concert of chimes. Not having the strength to pick up her head, she turned her face toward the back of the cave.

There was nothing there. A solid sheet of ice was the back wall of the cave, about ten feet back. It appeared as if the cave was really nothing more than a crack in the rocks, the walls closing in as they rose until they met at the ceiling, forming the roof. No other tunnels or cracks large enough to get through presented themselves to the tired girl. It was just an empty space, but Gobrianna was very happy to be there.

After several more minutes of resting, she felt her energy had returned enough to push herself upright, which she did. It wasn’t exactly warm in here, but it was a lot better than being out there in the wind and snow. She had heard somewhere that it was the wind-chill that actually froze a person. She found no reason to doubt it. With slow movements the sixteen-year-old brushed the snow from her hat and shoulders, working her way down her body until she was satisfied with the results. The short activity exhausted her, and she slumped against the wall to watch the snow fall outside the cave in a silent veil of white.

Gobrianna wasn’t wearing a watch, but she was sure at least half an hour passed as she sat there and rested, conserving her strength. The snow continued to fall with its whispery quietness. It piled up at the entrance, but the cave was deep enough for her to remain untouched. She watched the heavy clouds creep across the blue sky. It wasn’t a snowstorm, thank goodness. It was just a clump of snow-laden clouds passing by. Happened all the time on this Island, even in July. That was why ice Pokemon found it such a great haven.

Maybe when it stops I’ll start out again, she thought bleakly. The notion sent a shiver of horror down her spine. She didn’t want to go back out there for anything, but she didn’t have any food or things to make a fire with either. If she didn’t leave eventually she’d die. Still, maybe it’d be better to wait until morning. The sun would be setting in a few hours she guessed, and it was doubtful she could find any other shelter before it got so cold her trek so far would seem like a jaunt.

"I guess I’m going to be here for a while," she sighed.

The crystalline sound came again, just after the words left her lips, and she was sure it came from the back of the cave. Gobrianna whipped her head around—

—and her jaw hit the floor.

The creature stood there, although no being of such size could have possibly entered without her notice, and completely stole the Pokemon trainer’s breath away. It was so full of majestic beauty, such awe-inspiring elegance, that she simply stared silently.

It stood on the ice floor of the cave, gazing at her calmly with crimson eyes full of intelligence, barely ten feet away. Because she was sitting it towered over her, but she could tell they were about the same height. Gleaming blue feathers shimmered in the fading sunlight that leaked into the cave. Glossy wings—its wingspan was wider than she was tall—were folded at its sides. It long, luxurious tail fell behind it like a radiant stream of bright blue water, and three feathers formed a crest on the top of its head. It was instantly recognizable, but Gobrianna still couldn’t believe her eyes. No one had reported ever seeing this creature since before she had even been born.

Her mouth worked up and down a few times, but no sound emerged. The sapphire bird cocked its head curiously. She didn’t know how long time was suspended as they stared at one another like this. It was a beautiful, magical experience. Her mind had totally ceased to function. She had no thoughts as she looked upon the creature, only held the magic of their encounter in her heart. It warmed her more than the shelter and protective clothing did. A fantasy story come to life.

Even when it took a step toward her, Gobrianna didn’t move. Still transfixed with wonder, she could only continue to stare as the legendary bird known as Articuno slowly came closer and closer. When it was a single step away—so close she could have reached out and touched the shining feathers—it stopped and opened its gray beak. The crystalline sound emerged, echoing off the icy walls.

The girl jumped. Unconsciously, her hand darted to her neck and drew out her silver necklace. She clutched it for comfort. As always, it reassured her.

It also got an unexpected reaction from the bird. It jerked its head around to better see the gleaming thing in her grip, its red eyes focusing uncannily. Then it shuffled back a few feet, fluffed its bright feathers and opened its beak again. "So, you’re the one the Eight sent."

If Gobrianna was shocked before, she was dumfounded now.

Articuno’s voice was like the chiming of crystal bells, and it was so beautiful part of her ached to hear it again. "Well, are you or aren’t you?" it demanded. "Answer me."

"I-I am," stuttered Gobrianna, her voice squeaking, "the Chosen of the E-eight." Being in the presence of such radiance made her words awkward and clumsy.

Articuno nodded. "Thought so. The gift gives you away. Then again, that was the idea I suppose." This said, it began to preen the snowy feathers on its breast, keeping an eye on her warily. She returned the cautious stare as all the legends she had ever heard about the bird surfaced in her mind. They said Articuno only appeared to people doomed on mountaintops, about to die of overexposure. Was she really that bad off? Was this the last sight granted to her before she sunk into the oblivious cold for good?

Articuno finished its task and straightened. As if reading her thoughts, it grumbled, "I usually don’t appear to humans. You’re a very annoying species. As a matter of fact, I was about to chase you out my cave when I recognized your gift. Lucky you. I suppose you’ll want to stay until morning."

Gobrianna nodded dumbly, wondering how it knew about the Eight. The bird heaved a sigh and turned as if to leave—although there was no exit at the back of the cave. "Fine. But at first light I want you gone. And keep your mouth shut about seeing me. The last thing I need is tourists."

Despite its attitude, she felt she had to be polite to this wonder as she found her voice. She couldn’t let this miracle leave her! "Wait, please. I have lots of questions. Why can you talk?"

Heaving another irritated sigh, Articuno turned back. "Why can you?" it snapped.

"I’m human."

"And I’m Articuno." By its tone, this was suppose to be the end of the conversation, but Gobrianna wasn’t done yet.

"You’re also a Pokemon," she pointed out.

Articuno’s crested head rose proudly. "Not just any Pokemon, human. I am the legendary bird of ice.

"But there’s no legends about a talking Pokemon."

"That’s because I chose to keep some things out of the legends. They’re about me, I have the right to."

The Pokemon trainer shrugged. She supposed the bird was right, but did it have to be so obnoxious about it?

"Is that all, your majesty? May this humble servant leave your presence?" Crystal voice dripping with sarcasm, the ice Pokemon made a mock bow and extended its beautiful wings. The tips brushed against either side of the icy walls.

Gobrianna didn’t want it to leave. She asked what she had been wondering. "How do you know about the Eight?"

Articuno rolled its red eyes. "I am a Pokemon, human. As I’m sure you know, all Pokemon have an element of fantasy in them. It is one of the prime things that link the Eight to this world. I am one of the stronger links. Because of this, I have certain skills that other Pokemon do not. My speech is one of them. My knowledge is another. And I have others—but I’m not going to explain them to the likes of you, human."

Gobrianna continued to ignore its snide tone. Her ears perked up. "Knowledge? Then you must know!" Excitement entered her voice. "The Eight sent me to find someone. He’s somewhere here on this Island, but I don’t know where else to look. He’s important, he can bring fantasy back to the world. And I have to find him before the followers of the Darkness get here and find me . . . what is it?"

Articuno was almost doubled over, trembling as if it was terrified with eyes tightly shut. At first Gobrianna was concerned, but as the tinkling of little bells broke in the cold air she realized that the Pokemon was laughing! "Stupid human!" the ice being chortled. "Don’t you get it? I’m the one the Eight sent you to find!"

Gobrianna blinked. Blinked again. "Oh." This hadn’t occurred to her. The blue bird continued to chuckle as she struggled to piece everything together. "You mean . . . you’re the one who can bring fantasy back?"

Articuno’s laughter faded and it shrugged its wings in an uncaring manner. "Of course. Who’s more fantastic than I am? Well, the other legends are just as wondrous, I suppose."

"Then why did the Eight send me to find you?"

"How should I know?" snapped the Pokemon. "None of my business, any of it. As a matter of fact, I don’t want anything to do with this. I don’t owe the Eight any favors. So if you’ll excuse me, human, I grow tired of sitting here looking at you. I’m leaving."

"Wait!" Gobrianna struggled to her feet, leaning against the icy wall of the cave for support. She didn’t exactly know how the ice Pokemon was going to leave, but she had no doubt it could if it wanted to. She had to convince it to stay and listen to her! "You have to help the Eight!"

"And why is that?" Articuno sounded amused.

"Because if the Darkness wins the Eight will be destroyed, and all Pokemon will die too!"

"The Darkness isn’t going to win. The Eight aren’t going to win. They all have held their own against each other as long as they’ve existed. It’s a balance. I wouldn’t expect you to understand, human." Suddenly it glared at her furiously. "And I am sick of listening to you prattle! Now be quiet and let me leave!" The Pokemon began to stalk by her, opening its magnificent wings as if to take off.

Taken aback, the Pokemon trainer was shocked into silence. But she couldn’t let the bird leave. As it was about to pass her she pushed herself away from the wall and stood in front of it, blocking the entrance of the cave. Seeing the sharp gray beak was inches from her throat, she swallowed hard and quickly announced, "You’re the one who doesn’t understand, Articuno. You don’t know what I’ve been through to get here, and you don’t know the things that I do. I know what the world is like these days. I know everything the Eight have told me is true. I know, and you don’t."

She didn’t know how she expected the creature to respond, but it certainly wasn’t with a small chuckle and a simple nod of its crested head. "Ah, so you do have a backbone, human. I was hoping the Eight hadn’t made a mistake and Chosen someone with no spirit. You’re right, of course. I don’t know. I chose to distance myself from the humans a long time ago, and because of that there are a few specific gaps in my extensive banks of knowledge. Why don’t you fill me in?"

A pleased and surprised smile broke over Gobrianna’s lips. She suddenly realized she had passed Articuno’s test without even knowing she was being tested! "My name’s Gobrianna."

Articuno nodded. "Tell me your story then, Gobrianna."

So she did. She started when her father died, and how she had decided to become a Pokemon trainer. How she had started her journey when she was ten, with Charmander, and finished it three years later with her faithful Charizard. She told of her first meeting with the Eight and all they had told her, and of every meeting she had had with them since. Finally she related the last encounter with the beings, the battle that she had seen begin, and her adventure to the Seafoam Islands, concluding with her trek into the mountains. Long before she was done she was sitting on the ice floor once again, but the fact that she had convinced the feathered Pokemon to listen to her warmed her enough to keep the chill away.

Articuno asked no questions and made no comments as she told her tale, still as a statue of ice. But she knew it was absorbing the information, learning how the world had developed without its presence. When she fell silent it fluffed its gorgeous feathers and trilled softly. "The world has become an inferior place without fantasy," it sighed.

"Why did you leave?" Gobrianna wanted to know. "You must have guessed something like this would happen."

Articuno shifted from one gray leg to another. It didn’t appear to be a nervous movement, as it was whenever Gobrianna did it, but more like something to do while thinking. "I was much younger then. Humans who saw me felt blessed, and Pokemon came to me from all over to ask advice on their most important matters. The humans tried to capture me, of course. I even allowed one to, long, long ago. A scientist who only wanted to gather information about me and then returned me to the wild. That is why there is data on the legendary Pokemon in your Pokedex, Gobrianna. We allowed ourselves to be studied because we wanted humans to remember what fantasy was and what it meant to them. Well, most of us anyway.

"But after a while the fantasy leaked out of the experience. More and more humans sought us out only to be captured, not to be admired. The Pokemon all but forgot our importance. And so, one by one, we left to find places where no one would bother us. I was the first. Humans meant the least to me; I had been betrayed by one once. And as we disappeared, the humans began to forget us. We truly became legends, rarely sighted and mostly doubted to ever have lived."

"That’s so awful," commented the Pokemon trainer softly. "And now that the fantasy is gone the Darkness is mounting the attack. If we don’t do something now, it will win. And we lose."

Articuno blinked its crimson eyes. "You are pretty wise Gobrianna, for a human anyway." It stretched its azure wings and fanned the air, stalking to the mouth of the cave. "Come. We must leave while we have the chance."

Gobrianna’s heart soared. Could it be? Was it truly happening? She stumbled to her feet as the great bird of ice, silhouetted against the setting sun, turned to her and bowed low. There was no mockery in its action now. "Before we go, you might want to turn around," it suggested with mirth in its crystal voice.

She obeyed and was surprised yet again. "What? But-but how?" There, in a neat row on the frozen ground, sat six gleaming Pokeballs. She picked them up and knew they were hers. Articuno chortled as she returned them to her belt.

"There are many things not known about me."

The human grinned. "You can say that again!" she exclaimed as she turned around, and found that Articuno was still bowed. She realized with a start that it wanted her to climb on. "Oh, but I shouldn’t!" she objected.

"Why not?" it inquired.

"I-it’s disrespectful, like talking in church."

A tinkling laugh made her blush. "Hurry, Gobrianna. I have felt something building these past few days, but haven’t cared until you came to me. We don’t have much time," the Pokemon urged.

That was enough to send the girl carefully climbing onto the back of the beautiful bird. Articuno, being larger than a full-grown Pidgeot, had no trouble with the weight of the Pokemon trainer. It glared up at the swirling snowflakes falling more heavily outside. "Can’t have this, makes for an annoying flight. Not for me, of course, but I know humans are more perceptible to the cold. Can’t have you falling off halfway there."

Then it pointed its gray beak up at the sky and let loose with a ringing cry that sounded like a giant silver bell. It was both the most heavenly and the most teeth-grinding thing she had ever heard. Caught between a smile and a wince, she almost did almost fall off as Articuno flapped its great wings and took off with a downward thrust. Only when they were spiraling high above the earth did she notice that the clouds that had produced the snow were now completely gone. Many things indeed!