Pokemon Moonlight Silver (COMPLETE!!!)

[EmeraldSky]

@Scytherwolf;

Episode 5: A Land of Illusion

"You'd think we could do something besides look around the roadside..." Ash sighed as the group trudged down the road. It had been a few days since they had met the aspiring Pokethlete Casey, and they were nowhere near Violet City, much less civilization. There was also catching up to the red haired delinquent Kamon and demanding for him to tell them why he had snatched Ethan's Totodile despite being told he was not to leave on a journey, and an explanation into why he had accused Ash of cheating.

"Hate to break it to you, but the map says the nearest town is two days away." Brock replied, making Ash and Misty groan at the prospect of more walking. "But if you're bored, we could sing a song!"

With that, he belted out I liked to play my old guitar
And place it on my knee,
But then the strings got all broken
And it was no good to me.

So I took it to the music shop
To see what they could do
And now my strings are good as new
and I can play for you-oh!

I liked to play my old guitar
And place it on my knee,
But then the strings got all broken
And it was no good to me.... Misty and Ash joined in.

So I took it to the music shop
To see what they could do
And now my strings are good as new
and I can play for you-oh!

The song continued with gusto for several miles, with Brock beginning another rendition as soon as the previous one ended. But after a few repetitions, the song was beginning to grate on Misty's nerves. "Okay, can we sing about something other than old guitars?" she asked.

"Sure!" Brock then sang When I went down to the western port to buy an old chemise
The first thing I picked up in my hand I found it full of fleas...

Laughter and "ew"s rang through the air as Brock continued How much do you want for that old thing, Eighteen coins says she
Eighteen coins for that old thing, do you think I am a fool-oh?

Kitty pallalla pallalla pall-lie, kitty pallalla pall-lie-lo
Kitty pallalla pallalla pall-lie, me whack follol le nai-do...

He eagerly started the second verse, but stopped when he spotted a signpost in the distance. So I took it home...and... I washed it out, and hung it...up..to...dry...

"What's the matter?" Misty asked as she and Ash caught up to Brock. "I wanted to hear more about that rotted old chemise!"

Brock studied the signpost for a moment. "Warning, Forest of Illusion ahead. It's dangerous to go alone."

"Someone's been playing too many video games!" Ash declared. "How dangerous could one forest be?"

"Plenty--there's bugs, and wild Pokemon, and huge tree roots to trip over..." Misty replied, counting the hazards on her fingers.

"Not to mention will-o-wisps, old witches that eat people, and giants." Brock added, but trailed off when he saw Ash running on ahead. "Too late..."

"Ash, wait for us!" Misty called as she and Brock hurried to catch up to Ash.

---------

"Strange...we've been walking around in circles for the last hour..." Brock sighed as the group returned to where they had started for the sixth time that afternoon. "Maybe whoever wrote that sign wasn't kidding when they said this place was called the Forest of Illusion..."

"Haven't you guys ever played Super Mario World?" Ash grinned. "All we have to do is find a secret exit, and we'll be out of here in no time flat!"

"We'll be spending the night here in no time flat at this rate!" Misty grumbled as she followed Ash down another forest path.

Just then a howl got Misty's attention. "That wasn't a were-Mightyena, was it?"

"It's not even nighttime, Misty." Brock assured his jittery companion. "It's not even a full m--WAUGH!' he yelped when he appeared to see a spooky face on a tree!

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!" Misty screeched as she saw another spooky face on a tree near her. "The forest is alive!"

"RUN!" Ash called, motioning for the group to follow him as they tried to escape the spooky trees, only to find more spooky faced trees, rocks, and plants at every turn.

Just as they rounded the corner to regroup, a red aura flashed through the forest, making everything return to normal. "Everyone okay?" Brock asked as the group collected their bearings.

"I wanna know what that flash was..." Ash replied as he brushed some dust from his shirt and picked some burrs stuck to his vest.

"That was a Foresight attack, Ash." a familiar voice replied. "There is a reason why this place is called the Forest of Illusion--that howl and all those spooky faces? All illusions."

Ash's sense of relief turned to annoyance when he saw who had spoken emerge from a bush--Gary! Piqued, he took out Dexter to read up on the small brown owl Pokemon at Gary's side:

"Hoothoot, the owl Pokémon. It stands on one leg, but uses both its powerful eyes to see clearly even through the darkest night. Dexter explained.

"That includes seeing through what is an illusion." Gary went on. "The sign at the forest entrance wasn't kidding when it said it was dangerous to go alone--so what made you think you could?"

"And here you were saying it was just a video game..." Misty smirked, making Ash sweatdrop with embarrassment.

"At any rate, you're gonna need a Hoothoot to get out of here in one piece and chase after that red haired punk you're chasing." Gary smiled. "Last I checked, he was stuck in this forest too."

"Okay, Mr. Know it all, where can we find a Hoothoot?" Ash challenged.

Gary pointed down a path to the south. "Just follow that path due south, and you'll find the house of the old hag that rents'em out. Once you make it out, they find their way back to her."

"Thanks, we think..." Ash stammered--this was the first time in a long time that he remembered Gary being nice to him.

"Anytime--even rivals have to look out for each other." Gary grinned. "Until then, smell ya later!" With that, he departed with his Hoothoot in tow.

Brock sighed. "Come on, guys...let's head south."

TO BE CONTINUED...