Ruins made from Granite

"You sure this is it?" Kenzo pondered aloud, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. He and Blue stood before a ruin that seemed forgotten by time, nestled against the side of a shallow hill. The structure appeared ancient, as though it had clawed its way out from the earth, seeking refuge in the middle of nowhere.

 Faded markings encircled the cramped entrance, carved deep into the stone and littered with Unowns that danced in and out of the decayed text

. Even parts of these markings had eroded, softened by centuries of weather, yet they still glowed faintly—an ethereal cyan light that mirrored the soft, pastel hues of the Pokémon sky stretching overhead.

The wind gusted violently, sweeping through the overgrown grass that enveloped the ruin. The long blades swayed, creating a symphony of whispers as though the land itself was breathing life into the forgotten structure.

 A thick layer of mystery clung to the air, both oppressive and inviting.

Blue's gaze was intense, eyes scanning every inch of the ruin's façade as though he could unlock its secrets just by looking hard enough.

 His hand cupped his chin, his thumb repeatedly tapping against his jaw in rhythmic thought, as though there was something just out of reach—something he couldn't quite put into words.

"It has to be," he muttered, his voice laced with certainty and frustration. His eyes flicked to the horizon briefly before returning to the ruin, searching for any further clue.

Kenzo shifted uneasily beside him. "Why don't we just head to Granite Island? Isn't that where everything is already?" His Oshawott mirrored the motion, lifting its shell with a determined nod of agreement.

Blue shook his head, his gaze never leaving the ruin. "That won't work. Sure, some of the people there have been revived, but there's no guarantee they know their origins.

 What if they're as clueless as the rest of us?" His eyes flicked to Kenzo, narrowing slightly. "You don't remember much either, do you?"

Kenzo rubbed the side of his head as if trying to massage the memories to the surface, Oshawott copying him with a faint pout. Both came up empty-handed, their expressions slipping into shared disappointment.

"I thought so." Blue chuckled softly, though his tone was laced with frustration. He knelt beside the ruin, his hand brushing the weathered stone, fingers tracing the grooves of the Unown's text with a kind of reverence. "Besides, we need to figure out why this place was even brought back."

His voice lowered, filled with contemplation. "Could it be Dialga… or Celebi? Then again, Celebi's only been recorded traveling back in time… but what if we've been missing something all along? What if it's capable of so much more than we ever realized?"

A crooked smile tugged at Blue's lips as he glanced at Kenzo and Oshawott. "These are the kinds of questions I want answers to."

Kenzo, catching Blue's enthusiasm, crouched near the entrance as well. "So, do we head inside now?"

"That's the thing…" Blue straightened, his brow furrowed. "I'm not sure. Ruins like this are crawling with wild Pokémon. If it's dark, I wouldn't be surprised if we ran into Zubats or even Gravelers. We need a way out—just in case."

"Right!" Kenzo nodded firmly, and Oshawott followed suit, the two already getting into action. "Let's get the shovel, buddy!"

Oshawott raised its shell high, a battle cry in its own way, and with that, the digging began. The duo worked carefully, mindful of the fragile structure. 

Each movement was deliberate, the sound of the shovel biting into the earth mixing with the hum of the wind.

"Blastoise, water gun!" Blue commanded. His Pokémon emerged in a flash of light, unleashing a powerful stream of water from its mouth, washing away layers of dirt and revealing what appeared to be an existing path. 

The earth gave way easily, as if it had been waiting to be uncovered.

The three stared down the newly revealed passage, the sun sinking lower in the sky and casting a fiery orange glow over the world around them.

 Shadows stretched long and dark across the ruin's entrance.

"It's big enough," Kenzo murmured, eyeing the passage warily. "But that's almost… too easy."

Blue gave a short nod, recalling Blastoise before stepping forward. "After you?" Kenzo gestured, more out of nerves than politeness.

Without hesitation, Blue ventured inside, his hand instinctively trailing along the cool, crumbling walls as Kenzo followed. The air inside was stale, heavy with the weight of centuries of silence. The narrow corridor stretched ahead, the light at the far end a pulsing, ghostly blue. It beckoned them forward.

"H-Hey! Wait up!" Kenzo called as Blue quickened his pace, the soft glow reflecting in his wide eyes. His curiosity had won over his caution.

As they reached the end, the corridor opened into a vast chamber, its grandeur marred by time. Arches of weathered stone loomed high above them, with towering pillars stretching toward the ceiling like skeletal arms. Dust clung to every surface, the scent of decay thick in the air. 

It was a place that had once known glory, now forgotten.

"Woah…" Kenzo's voice barely broke the silence, his eyes wide in awe. Dim blue light seeped from the ancient text etched into the pillars, casting everything in a haunting glow.

Blue's gaze fixed on the words carved into the stone, reading them aloud, his voice echoing through the hollow chamber.

 "A land where Pokémon and humans coexist as equals… A utopia where strength is measured by their bond alone."

A shiver crawled up Kenzo's spine, an eerie sense of déjà vu settling over him. The words felt familiar, like something long forgotten that now tugged at the edges of his consciousness. 

He glanced at Blue, who seemed equally entranced and puzzled.

Suddenly, the lights brightened, a blinding flash of blue washing over the room, illuminating everything in stark detail. A tattered red rug stretched between the arches, leading toward a shadowed corner where something glittered faintly in the darkness.

 Gold shimmered from the shadows, hinting at something grand yet sinister.

They approached cautiously, Blue pulling out his phone, his breath hitching in excitement. He shone the light toward the throne, the beam falling upon a skeletal figure draped in tattered robes. 

The sight of the throne—of the lifeless remains—was both eerie and captivating.

Before either could react, Unown began to descend from the ceiling like falling leaves, encircling the two in a rhythmic, spiraling dance.

 Their bodies flickered, some flashing bright blue every time they crossed Kenzo's gaze, as if reacting to his presence.

Oshawott raised its shell, ready for a fight, while Kenzo and Blue stood back to back, Blue's fingers twitching toward his Pokéball. 

The Unown continued their frantic motion, faster now, more deliberate, the air around them crackling with unseen energy.

A voice, soft but commanding, whispered through the chaos, weaving its way through the chamber's stale air.

"Welcome back, hero."