As Aqua and I walked towards the market to stock up on some supplies for our upcoming trip, after departing from Mr. K's cottage, I couldn't help but think about what had transpired a few moments ago.
I couldn't understand anything, no matter how hard I worked my brain. What was that violet marble? And why was Aqua so attracted to it? What was that Golden Parchment? And why did Mr. K entrust me with it? Heck, I didn't even know that man well enough, perhaps having talked to him twice in my entire life, apart from exchanging pleasantries in the passing.
And Magic. The Magic. Was Magic real? If not, then what did I experience in the confines of that room? And if yes, did others know about it? Did people outside the island partake in magicraft? Was it that common?
I knew that the answer to this question was a resounding NO. I may have never left the island in my life, but I wasn't ignorant about it. Magic belonged in fairy tales, in stories, not in a world of science and reality. It didn't make sense. It didn't belong here. Could it've been a Psychic Pokémon? But nobody had seen Mr. K. with a Pokémon before, and besides, could even a Pokémon conjure relics out of thin air?
"What are you thinking about so hard, little Syl?" An aged voice reached out to me, breaking me out of my trance, making me aware of my surroundings.
I had already reached the market in my trance, Aqua in my trail. The market was deserted, a fresh aroma wafting through the air, sinking into the soil, courtesy of the rain, which had stopped mere moments ago.
Store Owners could be seen hanging up signs in front of their respective stores and stalls, placing trinkets and bright decorations over them, a parlour trick to attract customers, but hidden during the onslaught of the rain to prevent them from getting wet.
A droplet of pure rainy water fell upon Aqua's head, from a blade of leaf above us, belonging to an old oak shielding us from the cloud, prompting Aqua to thrash around in undisguised rage and disgust. He was thrashing around so wildly that for a moment, I wondered if this was an effective method to teach this little dragon the move Dragon Rage, a move his species generally wasn't privy to.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Hilbert. I was just thinking about the weather, it has been quite gloomy the past few days with the frequent spells of rain. How is Mr. Chonks?" I asked the old woman as I looked over her stall, filled with shiny goodies and Pokémon cosmetics.
A jewellery store for Pokémon, if you will, immensely popular amongst the island's fairer citizens and a personal favourite of my mother. It's owned by the old woman in front of me, an amiable woman with warmth only a grandmother could radiate.
I spent a lot of time in my childhood with her, hanging around her stall, helping her sell her goods. A simpler time, bygone.
For the record, Mr. Chonks isn't her husband; that's Mr. Coal, the local town appraiser who conducted his business in the Pokémon Centre. Mr. Chonks is her beloved Purugly, a powerhouse of a Pokémon, but I must say, the day it evolved from a Glameow into a Purugly, it was a day of mourning for the island. I swear I saw no less than a dozen souls shed a tear.
"It's been a rainy couple of weeks, Syl, but let's not talk about that. What are you doing here, Syl? Trotting around the market?"
"I am just stocking up on some supplies, Mrs. Hilbert, my ferry to The Academy is bound in a few hours," I said as a look of understanding washed over her.
"My my, you grew up so fast. Already leaving for The Academy. I still remember when you were a little boy, half my size, scurrying across the market faster than a Meowth." She said as she wiped a mock tear from her eyes, half a smile adorning her face.
"But now that the time has come, let me give you something to remember me by."
"Unfortunately, I don't have any trainer items on me, as I don't like the wretched design on those, but you can have this, Syl. I have been saving it for you," Mrs. Hilbert said as she handed me a violet piece of cloth, dotted with cosmic patterns and a spherical depression in its midst.
"This is for Aqua. The material used to weave this cloth is believed to have come from the Mythical White Dragon of Purity & Truth, one of the three original dragons, Reshiram. My husband came across this a few decades ago, and I have been holding onto it since. Although I doubt this came from Reshiram, you never know, right?" She said with a mischievous wink, as she placed the cloth in my hands, patting it slightly.
"Thank You, Mrs. Hilbert! I will cherish it," I said with emotion in my voice. Although I didn't believe the bit about Reshiram, it's the thought that counts.
As I closely examined the cloth, the silky feeling of its texture, the minor grooves in its cosmic velvets, the depression in the middle of it caught my eye. It was covered in golden shimmer, the rim, a cascading black. Like a socket for a circular key.
A sudden flash of realisation crossed my mind as I hurriedly looked into my pocket, scrambling for the violet marble Mr. K had given me moments ago. Something told me, whispered into my ears, that this is where it was supposed to go, this is what it had been waiting for.
As I finally found the violet marble in my pockets, I took it out and prepared to push it into the socket, my hands trembling with unknown excitement.
"Where did you get that, little Syl?" Mrs. Hilbert asked me as she clenched my hand, holding onto the violet marble, with such strength, I was willing to bet on her against a Machamp. Her eyes intense, emotions swirling in those black orbs.
'How is she so strong?!' I thought as I winced from the pain, seeing which Mrs. Hilbert loosened her grip, surprise evident in her face, though she still didn't let go.
"Mr. K gave it to me," I said as I gasped, confused.
'What's happening?'
"Ah," was all she said as she let go of my hand, her gaze distant, contemplating.
"I am sorry about that, Syl, I don't know what came over me," She said with a sigh, as she flashed a tired smile at me before continuing.
"That marble is a very precious item, Little Syl. Precious enough that nations would be willing to wage war over it," Mrs. Hilbert said seriously as my hand holding the marble trembled.
'What is this thing?!' I screamed in my mind, thinking that the day couldn't get any more ridiculous.
"But, if it has been entrusted to you, I hope that you will take care of it, Syl. It will help Aqua become much stronger than its species is capable of. Granting it access to the realm of mythics and legends. But that shall only be so when you've become a much stronger trainer. Much, much stronger than you are now."
"The cloth I gave you would allow you to properly harness the power of the marble, but only when the time comes. Until then, I would advise you to expose Aqua to the marble periodically, but only when you are alone."
"Under no circumstances are you to let another soul learn about the existence of the marble in your possession, is that clear, Syl?" Mrs. Hilbert said, gazing straight into my eyes, looking at me seriously.
Gone was the kind grandma I was familiar with, she was now someone I couldn't recognise, a face I had never seen.
"I understand," I managed to blurt out, calming my heart, trying not to think about anything.
"You should, Syl, you should. Now off you go, I have somewhere to be," She said as she started packing up her wares, preparing to close her store, even though she had just opened it mere moments ago, before walking towards the Pokémon Centre, her face determined.
"What did we get ourselves into, Aqua? War over this little marble? I don't even want to think about it anymore," I said as I slipped the marble into my pockets, planning to keep it hidden and in secrecy. I may not understand what was going on, but I wasn't dumb enough to ignore warnings and go around inviting trouble.
*Sigh*, I sighed indignantly as I walked around the market, quickly buying whatever supplies I needed, potions, antidotes, full heals, pokeballs and other trainer essentials.
Not wanting to stay at the market for a moment longer than necessary, I finished my business as fast as humanly possible.
"What a start to my day, and to think I haven't even boarded the ferry yet, save me, Arceus," I said as I slung the plastic containing all the supplies over my shoulder and picked up Aqua with both of my hands, not wanting this chonky waddler to slow down my journey back home.
.
.
.
.
.
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea, Ash could carry around Pikachu (tm) on his shoulder, so I thought I could do the same for you.....But I forgot that you are thrice his weight."
"Save Me, Arceus."
"Gib-Gible!"