Apocalyptic Dawn V2: OOC

The mouth of the cave gaped ominously before her. Breathing raggedly, Liana reached for Aleigha's claw. The Sandshrew held it gently. This human was strange; she was weaker than all the other ones she had previously met. How could such a human complete a journey like this?

Liana glanced down at Aleigha, suddenly having doubts. Would her first Pokemon be too weak to protect her inside this cave? But she couldn't think about that now; it was too late. With a huge breath to steady herself, Liana wobbled towards the cave, Aleigha bobbing close by to try to keep her propped up. <Do you need more medicine?> the Pokemon asked as the yawning mouth of the cave engulfed them.

"No," Liana rasped. She carried a small metal box of liquid with her. It was an invention from Silph Co---when she needed it, a small needle poked out of it and inserted the right amount of liquid into her bloodstream. After six years of using it, Liana was quite the expert with it. It was in a special protective drawstring pouch in her Poke Ball-shaped backpack. While the medicine couldn't cure whatever disease she seemed to have, it did boost her strength and ease her pain.

Aleigha wasn't so sure, but she dropped the issue. She walked beside her limping Trainer, watching her closely. No Pokemon seemed to come out to bother them. While this was convenient, it wasn't natural, and Aleigha kept herself on her guard.

After a little while of limping slowly into the cave, Liana stopped and bent over, clutching her knees and coughing. Aleigha unzipped the backpack on her back and pulled out the little drawstring pouch. Her trainer was having an attack.

Liana's disease was a strange one---she was very weak all the time and would often be wracked with pain. She would cough up blood, though the doctors assured her that she wasn't bleeding internally. Her attacks were crippling.

"No," said a voice as Aleigha pulled out the drawstring pouch containing the medicinal liquid-dispensing object. She looked around, searching for the source.

An old man stood on a pillar, an aged-looking Alakazam at his side. He had a shock of thin white hair atop his wrinkly head, and he wore strange robes that hung off his body and trailed behind him. It didn't look as if he could walk in them. Apparently, though, the man didn't walk---this was evident when he suddenly levitated off his pillar and floated down to where they stood, Alakazam following in the same manner.

"Kazaiah, please take the girl. I will concentrate on Aleigha."

Aleigha started and looked at the old man; he reached out and touched her claw. "Do not be afraid," he said gently; and suddenly, they were in a different place. A huge, smooth cavern surrounded them, with a small wooden hut in the middle. Torches lined the walls, and two of them stood in front of the steps of the hut's porch. The Alakazam---or Kazaiah, Aleigha presumed---had already started towards the steps, his toes barely brushing the ground and a writhing Liana levitating before him. She didn't appear to know where she was or what was going on; this attack was strong. Aleigha could see the sweat on her forehead from here.

Suddenly, Aleigha felt herself being lifted into the air; the man was beside her, his robes dragging gently along the ground as they glided smoothly toward the hut. "I foresaw your coming," the man told them. "My presence here is naught but legend, and how it carried to this girl's mother's ears is...impressive, to say the least. I certainly am glad that she came here."

<No other doctors have been able to cure her,> Aleigha said as she was levitated inside, landing gently beside a small cot that seemed to be made especially for Liana. Kazaiah carefully placed Liana's twisting form there. <What makes you think you can?>

"Of course no other doctors have been able to cure her," the old man replied, taking a wet rag from a basin and ringing it out. He knelt carefully by Liana and pressed the rag to her forehead. "They went to normal, everyday doctors. This is no normal, everyday disease. Today's doctors don't understand the spiritual diseases. Kazaiah, I'll need you for this part."

The Alakazam levitated over and knelt across from the old man, on the other side of Liana's bed. He held his hands out over Liana's legs, and the old man held his out over the girl's torso.

"Okay, Kaziah, just like always...concentrate. This one is a toughie."

Aleigha watched in amazement as the two closed their eyes. A purple aura started from their hands and spread out over Liana.

Suddenly, a black aura plowed out from Liana's body, and the girl lay still. Her eyes opened and began to glow with an eerie gray light.

"Mm," the old man said thoughtfully. "Push!"

The purple aura glowed brighter and pressed against the black; in response, the black pulsed, trying to combat the purple. Kazaiah muttered something and leaned closer.

Slowly, the purple aura surrounded the black and began to suck it out of Liana. A faint voice could be heard, screaming as the black was pulled away from its home, rising up inside a little purple ball of light.

Liana's eyes closed as the black thing was lifted away from her. It twisted in the middle of the purple ball of light, pulsing and trying to break away. Sweat beaded onto the old man's forehead, and the purple light pulsed once, twice, three times---and the black thing disappeared, leaving nothing but a bright purple ball, which slowly descended into Liana's chest and spread over her, emanating a gentle, comforting light.

The old man breathed out heavily and fell backwards. The purple aura soaked into Liana's skin and she opened her eyes, looking around. "Wh-where am I?" she demanded, scooting backwards. "Who are you?"

<It's okay,> Aleigha said, speaking through her shock and stepping close to Liana. The girl looked over at her Pokemon and scooped her up, hugging her.

"I feel so much better," she said. She looked up at the old man and Kazaiah. "I feel like you helped me."

"We did," the old man panted. "You...are quite an extraordinary young girl."

"Thank you," Liana said, confused. She tipped her head to the side. "Where are we?"

"I'm afraid you must go home now, Miss Liana Kokiri." The old man smiled, and suddenly he was gone. Actually, to be more accurate, Liana was gone---she was sitting on her bed in her room, clutching Aleigha to her chest and wondering if she had just dreamed the entire encounter.