Jason suddenly turned, staring at Gast. "You're sure?"
"I-I'm sure." His seriousness startled her; she even stammered. "The voice was really faint—choppy—like she was talking to someone… I was too scared to get close."
His mind spun up. According to Iono's intel, East Area Three had been marked hazardous by the League because of the Armarouge–Ceruledge clan war; residents and Trainers alike had been warned off. Not even strong wilds wanted to be here—Orthworm had been ready to flee.
How could there be a human in a place even powerful Pokémon avoided—let alone a lone girl?
There was only one explanation.
Like Gast, she'd stumbled in and gotten lost. But unlike a Ghost type, she couldn't phase out.
Decision made: check it out. If someone was in danger, rescue them. Once human, always soft for it—if it was within his power, why not? And he could grab that Herba Mystica while he was at it.
He looked toward Cynthia and Garchomp locked with Iron Boulder. At that level, he'd just be in the way. Better to go save a lost girl.
"Gast," he said, voice steadying, "can you find where you heard it?"
"I—I think so." She sobered at his tone, trying to recall. "I heard it from inside the wall of the cavern where the white flower was."
"Good." He nodded. "Take me there."
He wasn't about to ghost without a word. He went to Cynthia and Iono.
"Sis, Iono—Gast heard a girl's voice in the caves. I think someone got lost and trapped. I'm going with her to check."
His eyes slid briefly to Iron Boulder.
Cynthia didn't look away from it, just turned her face a fraction—golden hair tracing a graceful arc. "Go. I've got this. With luck, by the time you're back, I'll be done."
That calm. That confidence. The Champion's way. She didn't even ask why—pure trust.
"I believe in sis's Garchomp." He turned to call Gast—
"Eh?"
Iono stepped forward, those color-sparkling eyes on him, hairclips bobbing. "How about… I go with you?"
Her face showed worry and warmth; a Gym Leader's responsibility flared at the thought of civilians in danger. And, quietly, she did the math: sending two "ghosts" to rescue someone? Her mind conjured the scene—lost girl, dark cavern—two grinning Gastly float out of the wall… Rescue or horror show? With a cheerful, friendly human girl along, surely the victim would be calmer.
Yes. Definitely that!
Jason popped her bubble with a single sigh. "We can phase through walls. Can you?"
"Eh?"
She blinked; the gears stopped. She glanced between Jason and Gast, then down at herself. Gast, for emphasis, zipped into the rock and poked her head back out with a teasing face.
"…"
Right. Gastly—Ghost type. Ditto—can be a Gastly. In a labyrinth like this, phasing was the fastest way.
She, on the other hand, would just complicate things—and might get lost herself.
Her enthusiasm fizzled like a doused sparkler. She puffed her cheeks and muttered, "Okay."
Seeing the cute pout, Jason smiled and didn't pile on. He followed Gast and dove into the wall. The two ghosts vanished from sight. Iono stared at the rock face, tapped it. Thunk—solid. She pulled her hand back, eyes full of envy.
Being a Pokémon had its perks. This in-and-out freedom—too convenient.
Moving through the rock felt uncanny. No light, no sound, no air. He could feel motion, but his body felt nothing, like two drops of water in the sea.
"This way, this way!" Gast led. "I remember—this direction! The shiny cave!"
He took a few turns in the chaos of substrate under her guidance. After half a minute, the matter ahead changed—faint light leaked.
"Here!"
She popped out first; Jason followed.
He emerged into a high-domed natural cavern. Fist-sized crystals studded the walls—not glowing themselves, but seemingly absorbing some unknown energy and releasing a soft white light that lit the space like daylight. The air smelled clean—earth and stone.
"There, Jason—the spot." Gast pointed. On a raised rock shelf, a strange plant bloomed—palm-sized, pure white, like a closed snow lotus, petals etched with salt-crystal patterns and a soft halo. A rich salty aroma poured from it.
Salty Herba Mystica. Found it.
He drifted over, carefully plucked it from its seam; its glow folded away, the scent grew stronger. He opened his "mouth," tucked it into himself with the Wide Lens and Twisted Spoon. Done. He patted his belly—never knew when you'd need it.
"What's it for? Did you eat it?" Gast buzzed around him.
"Stored. It's a salty seasoning—makes great food. Also, when eaten, helps us jump higher."
"Ooh—" Her interest died quickly. She liked sweet berries, and she could float—what was jumping to a Gastly?
With Gast quiet, Jason scanned the chamber—just crystals and the Herba. "The voice…?"
"Oh, right!" She pointed at a wall. "Here. That's where I heard the human girl. But now it's gone."
As if on cue, a concerned girl's voice wafted through the stone: "Ceruledge, are you tired? Want to sit and rest a bit?"
Light, gentle—but crystal-clear in the quiet cave.
A second voice snapped back: "Kasha! Don't bother me!"
Impatience, raw and sharp. Gast jolted and tucked behind Jason, peeking out. "Jason—did you hear? That's it! That's the voice!"
He heard. A human girl. And a Ceruledge beside her. From the tone, not her Pokémon. Why together? The clans were in a brutal turf war—humans, even other Pokémon, were attacked if they crossed the border.
Yet here was a girl—unharmed—and concerned for a Ceruledge.
"Let's see." Jason didn't hesitate. They phased through again and, in a heartbeat, felt chill air wash over them. They didn't fully reveal, keeping to the rock like two embedded security cameras.
A smaller stone chamber—a dead-end cul-de-sac with a single sloped exit. In one corner: gnawed berry cores and an empty canteen—someone had camped here.
In the center, a girl sat quietly on the cold floor. In front of her, a Ceruledge. This one was a shade sturdier than the ones outside; its purple spirit flames burned denser. The flame swords on its arms were not dismissed; one blade pointed at the girl at a threatening angle. The flicker of purple stretched her shadow long, limning a face tired but very calm.
Sixteen or seventeen, in light-blue activewear now scuffed with dust. Shoulder-length hair split half black, half blue; a leaf-shaped green barrette clipped to the left. Clear eyes staring unblinking at the Ceruledge.
It looked like she was a captive—but she didn't act like one. She regarded Ceruledge with curiosity—and kept asking it to sit and rest if it was tired. The blade-wreathed knight snapped back: "Kasha! I told you—don't bother me!"
She didn't understand; she could only give a helpless, apologetic little smile and stop.
Silence settled.
In the wall, Jason's mind blanked the moment he saw her face. He almost slipped out of the stone.
No mistaking it— hairstyle, barrette, a face too serene for her years, that unique gentle love for Pokémon…
The girl was none other than Liko, the heroine of Pokémon Horizons.
Of course—sweet Liko. Kidnapped and still worrying if her guard was tired. Adorable.
~~~
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