---

Dr. Delta Salen & Scara

[Art by Haychel]

The city of Kairo was not unlike any place Ali had ever seen. Not to say it was merely ordinary; the palm trees certainly stood out, rather than typical deciduous vegetation, and the crowds were thick and ever-churning like the far-off Nile. Still, at its heart it was but a city, no fantastical desert paradise, and perhaps he preferred it that way.

Ali considered it in his best interest to explore this renowned capital while the chance was still opportune rather than reflect on the night before. To start a day anew with complaints was to sacrifice one's good-being, as they said. Not to imply that his health hadn't been diminished during his stay at the "inn"--if Ali could be so generous as to address it as such. Sandy, grimy and near-sleepless, he'd promptly refused his breakfast and strode out as soon as time would allow. The first to check-out, the Espeon and soon-to-be explorer was forced into the morning crowds of Kairo. Again, this place was surely no Arabian Nights fairy tale.

Poor Ali followed the crowd like a a leaf on the river at first, but it was quick to fade. Clearly activity bustled more about the eateries. He saw the musing faces of Pokemon reflected in the windows of stores, the line trailing out the door of a particularly popular restaurant where, from another window, Ali spied upon the activities of the Emboar chef, toasting berries in a pan with particular finesse. Eastwards of this shopping centre appeared a hearty marketplace, entrance decorated with streamers and characters Ali identified as Arabian greetings; his dictionary was doing wonders for him and he'd studied it in order to distract himself from the brown-tinted walls and rock-solid mattress all last night. But enough of then.

Immediately, the first thing to intrigue him in the market once his curiosity bested him was the color. There were vibrant hues of greens, reds, blues and yellows from the trays of open berries. Ali considered himself a berry connoisseur as they played a major role in his diet, but these berries were all so foreign to him. Enigma, Maranga, Kuo, Custap and Drash... They were so ambiguous to him! And around him, the area danced with street performers. A pair of Cinccino, draped in traditional garb of silk and tassels, twirled to the tune of an Aipom on strings. They appeared to attract the most attention compared to others. Most street performers were species with less opportunities, and they may resort to trickery and even pickpocketing if they were desperate for income. It was then Ali remembered to check his satchel, held off the ground by his forked tail, to see if anyone had resorted to those measures yet.

Someone was right behind him! A stout, smiling little Drowzee, face painted and head covered by some form of shawl. "Aye, foreigner!" He spoke as if it were not conspicuous of him to stand right behind Ali, discomfortingly close to his possessions. "You see berries, yes? You have money for berries?"

Do you have money in-exchange for whatever you plan on pocketing? The Espeon held his tongue from saying such accusatory words so soon, no matter if he could manage to word them subtly. Drowzee and their evolvatory partners, Hypno, were the lowest denominator of Psychics, known for their slyness, manipulative nature and perturbing habits. Yet, they were not stupid. Stupidly easy to read, perhaps, though that applied to many Pokemon for an Espeon, who were able to track and watch with stunning alertness. Ali gave a simpler, yet dry answer to this Drowzee's inquiry: "Not this region's accepted form of currency, no. And you ask for...?"

Even with eyes gleaming the Drowzee still broadened their smile. Ali assumed it was for another underlying intention of theirs, though other possibilities existed. "Can help you, foreigner, is why I ask. Have Yegypt currency. Can exchange for your land's money." Three-fingered hand extended, they gripped a well-polished golden coin, easily recognizable as Yegpytian money. The money did not trouble Ali in the slightest as it was obviously legitimate, but the Drowzee's position did. They held the coin closely to his own muzzle, the Hynosis Pokemon titled subtly towards him. The near-invisible string tied 'round their middle finger was the last indication that this coin doubled as a pendulum.

Ali reacted most reasonably by sweeping the big-nosed creature's stocky legs from underneath it, sending them crashing onto the paved concrete. Cursing in Arabian, they scrabbled helplessly as the Espeon stifled a laugh in-return for a scathing reply: "Just because you haven't become a Hypno yet does not mean I'll fall for such a blatant trick. And I highly doubt you have the proficiency to ever reach any higher state." He had more to say but Ali had already drawn the eyes of many towards the embarrassment of such a cretin, as he defined them, and found enough satisfaction in that. He swept up the makeshift pendulum in his tail, and it was enough to pay for a handful of Enigmas.


The berries had a crunch to them. Their outer shells were difficult for him to work his fangs around, but he had managed to reach the fruit inside, which taste could hardly be described. It was a completely new flavor of sorts, not like easily-identifiable Oran and Pecha. The Watchog selling the berries (Ali was surprised such an voracious Pokemon hadn't eaten all of them yet) had compared them in his native language to the night sky, sama' alllayl. In a way, it did fit them. Overall, a rewarding breakfast, if not a light one.

Ali had positioned himself now far from the marketplace scene. Settling on a bench a farther distance from most of Kario's action, he had his notebook sprawled out in front of him, pencil writing madly over the pages, seemingly by its own accord. It was the red glare in the Espeon's orb that indicated he was the owner of this rapid-moving pencil. Though eventually his pace began to slow, the pencil's dance moving at a pace similar to that of a nearby Kricketune's elegant instrumentation. To the sound of their violin mastery, Ali felt at ease as he noted down everything he'd experienced: a nightmarish evening at an inn, a satisfactory interaction at the market stands, the minor events he'd viewed as he extended his walk about Kairo.

He had translated everything into words now, certain the result of all the recording would be worth the effort spent, if his past two writings were any sign. Dismounting from the bench, the Espeon organized their possessions and decided it was near time he attend the stables meeting. He nearly left the Kricketune playing alone without company to hear their artistry, surprisingly good. Bug types were commonly regarded as vermin throughout but Ali saw the Kricetune as the most sophisticated and well-mannered of the bunch. He did not have money worth any to give, but he at least left a few Chartis so that they would at least have something to eat in a small dish at their feet. The duo shared a meaningful glance before Ali departed in direction of...

...the stables. Smelling sourly of smoking mane, hay and the other mixed scents of his fellow explorers, Ali felt a desire to cover his sensitive nose-- too late. He sneezed, making clear his presence to all present before he'd even fully entered through the adobe's side. This embarrassed him relatively as he was quite aware of being the last to arrive, probably having held the group up. Still, he showed no sense of doubting as he moved smoothly into position, next to--surprisingly--another Espeon. Immediately he felt a sense of kinship. He'd never seen another Pokemon like himself back home, but their differences were apparent too. Her fur had not the green tint of his own and she appeared to wear jewelry, which Ali always found insignificant, a cover for genuine beauty. Though she was and sturdier than he appeared to be, so of course he was to stand taller, arching his head and neck back and elongating his spine with a sense of aloofness in his violent eyes.

Ali gave only a wave of his tail to the others. No words were spoken on his part.

​

Dr. Delta Salen & Scara

[Art by Haychel]

Dr. Delta Salen & Scara

[Art by Haychel]

There was an atmosphere of anxiety to the room that Ali appeared immune towards. While the barn came alive with shining eyes and brightened faces, the Espeon appeared a statue amongst them, utterly still in expression. If his tail did not waver rhythmically behind him, if his glowing-white pupils did not shift ever-so-subtly, it would be difficult to concern him from lilac-colored stone.

Perhaps Ali would be more accommodating in providing any excitement if the crunch of straw underfoot--he doubted it was hay now--were less discomforting. If the signature smoldering Fire-type stench did not linger disdainfully in the air, if the barn allowed for more space than just the bare minimum for a handful of Rapidash, a Lucario, two short scaly fellows, a feminine version of himself and a pouch-bearing behemoth. But perhaps Ali's greatest worry could be indicated in the vague rippling of his pelt, the occasional dim flash of the orb upon his forehead. Through deduction, one could suggest he was sensing something, and this was certainly true.

Ali was especially susceptible towards the future. He had no choice but to be, what with the fineness of his fur, his fragility making him especially sensitive to... "the shifts". That was Albus' preferred phraseology. The Man with the Spoon, as they addressed him back home. An expert forecaster, intellectual thinker... and manipulator. Though Albus had only wisdom to provide Ali, that and a Twisted Spoon in which to remember his guidance by. He was but a golden key--and these were again his words--that unlocked the future, allowing Ali full access to the events in which lay ahead. He and Aqil and Alvis, they all had this "third eye", the Future Sight. It was now Ali's turn in his group of close companions to adapt this ability of precognition. The ability was easy to grasp the concept of; Espeon were built to forecast. He was, at this moment, applying his mentor's teachings. Ironically, however, he saw nothing aside from the stables about him, but he felt it. This was just as Albus had intricately explained:

"You will not see the future ahead of you. You will see as you usually see. No, you will feel the future, and that is how you know you have successfully used Future Sight."

And Ali did feel a rush crawling rapidly down his spine, triggering a tremor, both brief and grand. The feeling he identified as fear, perhaps paranoia. Anxiety, and not in the positive way as his peers exemplified, clambering into saddles and a translucent carriage. Swiftly he realized this was an indicator of nothing else but impending danger. A universe moving faster than his, an hours-older Ali was shouting warnings from him from an unknown location.

The Espeon drew conclusion after conclusion. The unknown location: the ruins. Undoubtedly; nothing would tear him away from them, and he knew this. The danger must have come from instability of some sort. A collapse within the group, within the structure, that would lead to a domino effect. One thing wrong and the entire situation would come crashing down, and Ali received this impression from the emotions felt after his Future Sight. That paranoid feeling, it had arose from what was to come, not what had already happened. He was frightened of what the instability was bound to cause.

From just ahead of him, two unclaimed Rapidash conversed among the others. There was a sort of intensity in their speech. Though hushed were their voices, their sharp glances in Ali's directions were anything but subtle. It was at this moment his mind dropped from evaluating mode and he re-entered the present, where the wagon was pulling out of the barn steadily, Dr. Salen and his inch-high assistant having already trotted out of view. Immediately he straightened his bags and padded over to the towering male Rapidash who'd be speaking with his sturdy female peer, yellow brow furrowed irritably as he neighed down at him:

"N'ah, I see. You come over here last minute. What were you thinkin' 'bout over there, buddy? 'as it that important? Great 'gigas."

"Your only concern related to me should be delivering me to the site of the ruins." Ali's voice was cool but his violet eyes flared just as the Rapidash's mane did.

The equestrian clicked his tongue in reply. "Not likin' your attitude." He voiced no qualms when Ali scuffled onto his back, only stooped down and rolled his eyes as the Espeon took slow and careful movements. Fortunately, the female Rapidash was quick to nip his ear, otherwise Ali may have tried something himself.

"He's a client," she reminded gruffly, and it was all the explanation necessary. The male gave only a harrumph before setting out of the stables, much to Ali's relief. Heat invigorated him, especially the morning light of the sun, the greatest warmth he could ever imagine.

Surprisingly, the other Rapidash followed Ali's from the stables. Clearly she thought lowly of the prospect of being left in those conditions alone. Even with an empty saddle, she would be making a trip to the ruins alongside them all. "Would've made it anyway if my client had bothered to show up. Lousy Grass types, always ditchin' last minute."

Ali found himself nodding both in agreement and with somnolence as he was dowsed in soothing, warm light. The ice-cold paranoia couldn't but hold a candle to the sun as it melted it away, leaving a steamy cloud of wariness in Ali's mind. He remembered that nothing would tear him away from the ruins. He remembered, ever so faintly, that disaster was guaranteed.​