Mt. Pyre—this is a volcanic island situated out in the ocean. However, Mt. Pyre is now an extinct volcano, which is why a large cemetery has been constructed on its summit.
At present, it is considered the largest cemetery in the entire Hoenn region.
When Edward arrived, Mt. Pyre was shrouded in a thick mist. He stood silently aboard the yacht, gazing off into the distance at the looming volcano without saying a word.
This time, he hadn't brought Zoroark along. He had chosen to come alone. The reason he was so quiet was simple—because the atmosphere on the yacht was anything but lively.
In fact, it could be said that the air aboard was suffused with a heavy, dead silence. No one spoke. Everyone looked dispirited, some even quietly wiping tears from their eyes. In such a solemn and sorrowful atmosphere, Edward didn't feel it was appropriate to say anything either.
This yacht was specifically chartered to transport people who had come to mourn and pay respects to the dead. So, naturally, those on board were mostly individuals who had lost their family members or their Pokémon companions.
"The Red and Blue Orbs… According to the information provided by Grandpa Robert, these artifacts have been passed down from ancient times. They've always been revered as sacred relics used to suppress the ocean and soothe restless spirits, and have been enshrined here at Mt. Pyre," Edward murmured as he glanced down at the documents he had brought along in his pocket.
Within the documents were the results of Grandpa Robert's research. In the current Hoenn region, the Red and Blue Orbs were primarily viewed as sacred objects. However, the Pokémon League was also well aware of the legends surrounding them—how they were supposedly connected to the ancient Pokémon that once reigned over Hoenn. As such, the League had assigned personnel to guard them.
In fact, there were even two retired Gym Leaders specifically stationed to watch over the Orbs, as well as an entire unit of Officer Jennies. With that kind of security, it wasn't surprising that in the games, both Team Magma and Team Aqua had to join forces to seize them.
The yacht slowly docked, and Edward disembarked with the rest of the silent crowd. As he stood before the towering volcano, an inexplicable weight settled over his heart.
It felt as though the entire mountain had been buried under a thick shroud of sorrow.
Silence. Stillness. That was Edward's first impression of Mt. Pyre. The air was filled with the faint whooshing of pinwheels and the soft tinkling of wind chimes—but even the sound of the chimes seemed steeped in deep, overwhelming sadness.
Edward stepped into the cemetery that occupied the volcano. The graves here were divided into two main sections. One was exclusively for Pokémon—where people buried their Pokémon companions. The cost of burial here was a bit higher than in other Pokémon cemeteries. Farther up the slope lay the human cemetery, where the cost of burial was similarly a bit higher than other locations.
As soon as he entered, Edward saw several Officer Jennies patrolling in teams. They were dressed in special uniforms—black and solemn—and carried specialized equipment. Edward knew those were tools used to detect Ghost-type Pokémon.
After all, this was a graveyard, and it was an area where Ghost-types easily manifested. But the League couldn't just allow Ghost-type Pokémon to wander freely among the graves. After all, people came here to pay respects to their deceased loved ones and fallen Pokémon. If they had to break into a Pokémon battle in the middle of mourning, that would be far too ironic.
And given the unique methods by which Ghost-type Pokémon are created, it could lead to haunting thoughts. People might start wondering—Could this Pokémon I'm battling be my own family member who has passed on? That line of thinking bordered on nightmarish.
So, unlike the games where Mt. Pyre was sparsely guarded and teeming with Ghost-types roaming about freely, the Mt. Pyre of this world had dedicated Officer Jennies patrolling regularly. They would take away newly formed Ghost Pokémon. Only those Ghost-types who had been deemed completely peaceful and non-aggressive, ones who enjoyed harmonious coexistence with humans, were allowed to remain.
Edward was now in the Pokémon grave area. There were many people present. Many of them squatted in front of tombstones, murmuring softly as they placed offerings in front of the graves. Some people stood silently, stroking the headstones while their eyes reddened with tears.
Edward quickened his pace. Seeing these emotional scenes weighed heavily on his heart, so he moved faster and ascended to the second floor.
The second floor was also a section of the Pokémon graveyard, and it, too, was crowded. Edward took a deep breath and continued moving forward.
Without stopping, he climbed further—up to the human cemetery. By now, he had moved from within the mountain to its outer slopes, and he could feel the sea breeze brushing against his face.
"Flame, how about we choose this spot for your grave, hmm?" an elderly voice called out. Edward looked ahead and saw an old man grinning as he pointed at a gravestone. Standing beside him was an aged Charizard.
It was a Charizard well past its prime. Even Edward could clearly see the creature's frailty. Its body bore many scars—so many, in fact, that it was almost jarring to look at.
"Charr…" The Charizard let out a weak growl, then lowered its head and affectionately rubbed its snout against the old man's cheek.
"Don't worry. When I pass, I'll be buried right next to you." The old man chuckled heartily as he stroked Charizard's head.
Edward stood in place. The corridor was narrow, and the Charizard's presence fully blocked the path. But Edward didn't urge them to move. He simply waited in respectful silence.
"Ah! Young man, sorry to block your way," the old man finally noticed Edward and apologized. Then, he retrieved Charizard back into its Poké Ball. Edward opened his mouth slightly.
This Charizard… Had it grown so old that it could no longer even fly?
Pokémon could die too. They had lifespans just like humans. Bug-type Pokémon typically had shorter lifespans. Dragon-types lived longer. The longest-lived, however, were Ghost-type Pokémon.
Ghost-types were practically immortal through natural causes.
As for Charizard—being both Fire and Flying-type—its lifespan was about average.
"Thank you," Edward said politely, offering his thanks before walking past the old man. As he passed, his gaze fell upon the badge pinned to the old man's chest, and his pupils contracted.
He recognized that badge.
It was an official medal issued by the Pokémon League, awarded only to investigators who had made exceptional contributions—equivalent to a First-Class Merit Medal in his previous world.
Edward moved forward. The old man then released his Charizard again, softly mumbling about the future.
Edward didn't hurry. As he walked, he listened to the old man ramble about how his old partner couldn't even fly anymore, reminiscing about how fierce and valiant it once was, and sharing their past adventures together.
Here at Mt. Pyre, people buried their companions, their fellow travelers—and in doing so, they buried a part of themselves too.
(End of Chapter)