Work Text:
The bottom floor of Brine Cave has been silent for as long as Omanyte can remember. It’s rare that anyone disturbs them here, in their damp, dark home. Kabutops tells them about them having a job to do – but not Omanyte, not yet. His brother, Omastar helps him, sometimes, but Kabutops likes to work alone.
He sits on the ceiling, claws embedded into the rock, for hours every day. Omastar is getting better at getting up there too, but Omanyte has no chance of making it up the sharp rocks on the walls. So he sits on the floor instead, watching the other two as they do whatever they call their job. He can join them, Kabutops says, when he evolves. He’s always behind his brother, young enough to need to be looked after by this family.
Occasionally another Pokémon will wander to the bottom of the cave – a Gastrodon maybe, sometimes a Walrein. Kabutops attacks on sight, Omastar quick to follow. Omanyte has no interest in fighting, so he slips away, through to the very back of the cave, where the sea laps in.
The salt air is comforting, the breeze welcome after hours in the humid cave. The pattern on the wall is Omantye’s favourite. He traces it with his tentacles. Kabutops says this is important. It’s why they’re here. He has to wonder if that’s true, or if it’s just something Kabutops made up. He never comes to look at the mural. Kabutops seems just to like fighting. Omastar believes him, though, and Omanyte can do nothing but agree.
Sometimes, as the sun is setting, Omastar can look out to the ocean, and see a grand Pokémon swimming across the horizon line. Dark against the setting sun and the streaky orange sky, the Pokémon looks so regal, so important. Omanyte waves every time, but the Pokémon never seems to see him.
This evening is different, however. Something catches the Pokémon’s eye – a glint on the water, perhaps, or Omanyte’s shell shining more than usual. Slowly, the Pokémon comes into the cave, appearing before Omanyte, blue and tall and dazzling. It stares down at him, eyes wide with curiosity.
“You are one of the keepers,” it says, voice low, slow.
“Of what?” Omanyte asks.
“The Hidden Land.”
“The what?”
The Pokémon nods towards the pattern on the wall.
“The Hidden Land,” it says again.
“I don’t know what that is. Or if I am a keeper.”
“You are. You and your family. It is nice to meet you at last, Omanyte.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Lapras.”
“And how do you know about me?”
“I watch this cave. I too, am a keeper. There are many of us, scattered all across the world.”
“What is in the Hidden Land?”
“Time.”
This makes no sense to Omanyte, but Lapras doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense either. So he nods, and lets Lapras continue.
“It will be a long time before you need to perform your duties as a keeper. You and your family will be able to defeat any Pokémon that shouldn’t be here. With ease, might I add. But those who will make it to the Hidden Land will defeat you, and your family, and you will let them through. That is your duty. That is your destiny.”
“Me? And Omastar, and Kabutops?”
“It is important, little one. It is important that you carry out your role. I trust that you will do this?”
“Do Omastar and Kabutops know about this?”
“I have spoken to them before, yes. They know they are keepers, as are you, as am I. One day, you will play an important part in saving the world.”
“How do you know this?”
“I have been told this by Time itself. One day, we will need to help the heroes to save Time.”
“What will they look like?”
“That, I do not know. But you will, when you see them.”
Omanyte stares up at Lapras. Lapras stares back. He retracts into his shell.
“Please keep waving,” Lapras says. “I see you. Not every day, but many days. I pass by here on my way to and fro. When you wave, know that I see you.”
“Will you wave back?”
“I cannot. But I will nod my head to you, Omanyte. And hopefully I will see you again, when you are older, and ready to take on your duties as a keeper. But for now, I must go, and leave you to your cave.”
Lapras turns, and swims back out to sea. Omanyte watches until Lapras is just a silhouette once more, dark and striking against a purple sky.