Pokémon: Life Finds a Way

Chapter 19: Chapter 19 : The Myth of Verdant Veil



I couldn't take my eyes off the map. The swirling patterns, the faint outlines of islands, and that one solitary name—Verdantis. It all seemed like something pulled out of a fairy tale. But the weight in Grandpa John's voice as he spoke told me this wasn't just an idle story.

"Verdant Veil," he repeated, his voice low and thoughtful. He leaned back in his chair, gazing into the firelight as though it might hold the answers to some long-lost question. "There's a story about this place. A myth, really. One that stretches back thousands of years."

The room seemed to grow quieter as he spoke, the crackling fire providing the only sound. I leaned forward, clutching the ancient map in my hands, completely drawn in.

"A long time ago," John began, his voice taking on the cadence of a storyteller, "this world was on the brink of destruction. A massive storm of meteors rained down from the heavens, threatening to tear the planet apart. At the heart of the chaos was Arceus, the Alpha Pokémon. It is said to be the creator of entire worlds, the being from which all life stems. Arceus used its power to shield the planet from the meteors, but in doing so, it nearly met its end."

I swallowed, already picturing the scene in my mind. "What happened to it?"

John's eyes flicked to me, sharp and piercing. "It lost its Life Plates—seventeen fragments that contain its power, each representing one of the elemental types that make up our world. Without them, it was as vulnerable as any mortal creature. It fell to the wasteland town of Michina, where a man named Damos found it. Arceus was on the verge of death."

"Damos," I murmured, turning the name over in my mind.

"Yes. Damos. He returned the plates to Arceus, saving its life. Out of gratitude—and pity for the wasteland town that had saved it—Arceus created the Jewel of Life."

I frowned, trying to recall anything I'd ever heard about the Jewel of Life. "That's the thing that made the land fertile, right?"

John nodded, his gaze far away. "Exactly. Arceus fused five of its plates into the jewel, transforming the barren wasteland into a paradise where life could flourish. But what most don't know is that creating the jewel wasn't a simple task. Arceus needed to ensure its power wouldn't harm humans or Pokémon, so it traveled to the middle of the ocean—a place untouched by life—to create it."

He leaned forward then, his voice dropping. "And that's where the Verdant Veil comes into the story. It's said that while Arceus worked to create the Jewel of Life, fragments of its plates fell into the ocean, along with remnants of its own power. These fragments gave birth to the Verdant Veil—a vast chain of islands filled with energy so potent, it reshaped the very fabric of the land."

I stared at the map, my heart pounding. "Energy from Arceus itself…"

John nodded gravely. "Each island in the chain is said to be infused with the energy of a specific type—fire, water, grass, electric, you name it. The islands became so vibrant, so brimming with life, that they turned into something unnatural. Flora flourished, yes, but the energy was so intense that humans and Pokémon alike couldn't endure it. The islands became a no-living-being zone, a place untouched by civilization."

He paused, tapping the map lightly. "And here's the truly astonishing part. The entire Verdant Veil chain, taken together, is said to be larger than two of our regions combined."

My breath hitched. "Larger than two regions?"

"Easily," John confirmed, his gaze steady. "These aren't just a scattering of islands, Owen. We're talking about a vast expanse of land—massive islands, each of them brimming with their own unique type of energy. But no one's been able to explore them, not at all. The energy didn't stop at making the islands inhospitable—it created a barrier around them."

"A barrier?"

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he continued.

"Hurricanes, storms, violent seas—they're said to constantly rage around the Verdant Veil, making it unreachable. The only exception is Verdantis, the central island. For some reason, it remains calm, accessible, as though it were the eye of the storm."

I couldn't stop myself. "Do people know why? Why Verdantis is different?"

John shook his head, a shadow passing over his face. "No one knows for sure. But there are rumors. Some say it's because Verdantis is the farthest of the chain, the place where Arceus's power was least concentrated. Others believe there's a Legendary Pokémon living there, one that controls the storms and protects the chain from intruders. Whatever the truth is, no one's been able to reach the other islands. Verdantis is the only piece of the Verdant Veil that anyone's ever set foot on—and even then, only rarely."

The weight of his words settled over me like a heavy blanket. I stared at the map, my eyes tracing the faint outlines of the islands. Each one seemed like a mystery waiting to be uncovered, and for reasons I couldn't explain, I felt a pull toward them.

"You said no one can survive there," I said, my voice quieter now. "But what if—"

"No." John cut me off, his voice firm. "Owen, I know what you're thinking, and I can't allow it. The Verdant Veil is dangerous, more than you can possibly imagine. Those storms… they're not natural. Whatever's out there doesn't want us to go poking around. And I don't want you risking your life chasing a myth."

"But what if it's not a myth?" I pressed, my voice rising. "What if there's something there—something that could help us? Think about it, Grandpa. If those islands really are infused with energy from Arceus, they could hold answers to questions we haven't even thought to ask yet."

John sighed, his expression softening as he looked at me. "Owen, I understand your curiosity. Truly, I do. But this… this is different. If you want to build your lab, I'll help you find a safe, secure location. Somewhere remote, like you asked, but not there."

I hesitated, torn between his words and the inexplicable draw I felt toward the Verdant Veil. I couldn't explain it, but something about those islands called to me. It wasn't just curiosity—it was a sense of purpose, as though this place was meant to be part of my journey.

"I know it's dangerous," I said finally, my voice steady. "But I can't ignore this. Verdant Veil feels… important. I don't know why, but I feel like everything I'm meant to do, everything Ingen is supposed to become, starts there."

John's expression tightened, concern etched into his features. "Owen…"

"Please," I said, meeting his gaze. "At least let me try. I'll be careful. I won't take any unnecessary risks. But I need to see it for myself."

He studied me for a long moment, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. Finally, he sighed, leaning back in his chair. "We'll see," he said, his tone reluctant. "But if you're determined to pursue this, you'll need to be prepared for what you might find—or what you might not find."

I nodded, my resolve hardening. Whatever lay in the Verdant Veil, I was going to uncover it.

Turning back to the map, I noticed something I hadn't seen before—a faint marking in the corner of the parchment. It was an ancient symbol, almost completely faded, but it looked like a cross-like wheel in a lustrous gold color with four prominent, evenly spaced spikes extending outward. Each spike was adorned with a green jewel at its base, adding to its ornate appearance.


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