((OOC: Lawride, I'll just go ahead and get us to the guild. We're tired as it is lul))
Layne didn't know how long he had been walking. But it had been long enough. They had exited the dying forest a while back, now to find themselves in a plain, which also looked on the verge of dying. "So much for radiance and beauty..." Layne thought to himself, remembering how pokemon described it as such. Now, it just looked like it was rotting from the inside. Though that could have easily just been the corruption.
Chunk had barely said anything since their attack, and the aftermath of that fight. But Layne unfortunately couldn't say the same for the electric discharges, which continued to stream through both of their bodies. As if on cue, another shot through Chunk, which transfered down into Layne. Layne dropped to a knee, breathing heavily. His body wouldn't be able to take much more of this. Layne was pushing himself too hard. The weight of Chunk on his battered body, and the numerous discharges of electricity, would soon break his will, which was stronger than Layne ever thought it would be.
Layne tried to stand up again, but his knees shook and he dropped again. He felt light-headed, weak, tired, and almost out of body. His spirit felt even worse now. Almost as if he had failed. Failed himself, failed his new partner, failed Autumn....
Stars began to dance in Layne's vision. He felt weaker... Was he perhaps.....dying?
He didn't want to. There were too many questions he needed answered about life, and it's meaning.
One of those questions was who had created the world as he knew. He heard many tales of Arceus creating all they knew, but Layne didn't believe it. He heard Arceus created everything, but he also heard of other pokemon in certain areas contributing tocertain things, and pokemon like Mew being the ancestor to all pokemon, and Arceus was a pokemon...which meant Mew was around before Arceus, and so many other pokemon, but no legend spoke of Mew creating anything. The whole thing just seemed broken to Layne. And he wondered why he was here......
Those thoughts drifted away, and Layne returned to his reality. He looked up. Off in the distance was a building. As if by magic, Layne felt his strength return, and he stood up. Another electric discharged stopped him momentarily, and he coped again, or tried to. But as soon as it stopped, he took more steps.
"Hang on Chunk we're just about there." Layne said through gritted teeth to his unconscious friend. Layne continued walking. The building loomed closer. It had to be the guild! It just had to! It was!
A pokemon was in sight, and when it caught sight of Layne, it ran inside, and returned with three other pokemon. A Dewott, cubone, and Tyrogue came out, and ran to Layne.
Layne, never thought he'd be so happy to see complete strangers. They came over, and noticed the shape of both pokemon, and the Tyrogue asked, "Are you guys all right?"
Layne managed a small smile and said, "We're fine, we just got the wind knocked out of us..."
Cubone saw the shinx, and said, "We should take him to a room!"
The Dewott shook his head, "They probably came from the forest. They might be corrupt-"
Tyrogue looked at the Dewott, "They're hurt! It's our duty to help them!"
"And risk corruption to the guild? You-"
"Osha, you may be Bruno's top student, but you're still-"
Layne didn't want to listen to this, he finally managed a shout, "Guys! Look, we just escaped three corrupt ariados. Both of us have been to hell and back, and have the scars to prove it. Now if you're gonna help, then please, help, or throw us back to the dogs."
There was a silence, and the Dewott sighed, bring him in. Layne removed Chunk from his shoulders, and let the three other pokemon carry him to the guild, as he followed slowly behind. Upon reaching the guild, he leaned, restingly on one of the entrances pillars. They took Chunk out of sight. Layne remained outside. He strangely felt horrible right there. It was probably all the energy he had been forced to retain finally paying the full price. Layne vomited once and spat.
After a few minutes, the Tyrogue came out and spoke. "Your friend should be fine. You're both pretty lucky to have made it out of there."
Layne nodded slowly, "Tell me about it..."
"You must be tired, sir. Out back there's a hot spring, you can relax in."
Layne looked at the Tyrogue. "Aren't you worried, it might be corrupt?"
Tyrogue shook his head. "Guildmaster Hirotaro makes sure corruption doesn't come on guild grounds"
Layne sighed. "I guess a little relaxation won't hurt...." Layne said, following the Tyrogue...
