OOC: Time to get this RPG moving again!
Got-a-Plan-B: I almost forgot to answer your previous question. Panther's 24, so she's not too old for Isaac. X^)
K9S8: Thunderpunching your own Corphish?!? What cruelty! Lol, just kidding. E:3
IC:
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Viridian City
Just when Danny finished his question, he saw a birdlike creature flying towards the Pokemon Centre, silhouetted against the moon. As it got closer, cloudlike wings came into view... and then it landed outside. It was an Altaria.
"Chirrut, chirrut," came the muffled chirps of the Altaria through the window. This Altaria sounded like it was trying to get Danny and Jacob's attention. What's more, it had a note in its beak...
Lavender Town
The portal closed after Candice, Warren, Isaac, Panther, and all their Pokemon were inside their Pokeballs. The group was no longer in that strange city with all the green buildings and talking Pokemon--instead they were in a small flat somewhere. They had left the hustle and bustle of the city and entered a silent and relaxing space, where the uplifting scent of incense lingered all around. On their left was a wall covered with book-laden shelves, books whose titles occasionally sported words like "legendary" or "mystical" or "magical aspects" or "book of shadows". Nearby it was a small round table covered in a purple cloth with a rune pattern, and a crystal ball sitting atop it. The rest of the flat looked like your typical bedroom--except there was a round pet bed with a purple cat thing sitting in it...
Isaac broke the ice. "Who in the hell are the Black Cat Bandits?" he asked Panther as he took in the surroundings.
"Oh, they're Warren's little gang," Panther answered with a giggle.
Warren frowned and piped in.
"We're only THE BEST little gang out there. That's because we do wrong right, none of the stupid violent stuff you might expect. Not to mention we consist of only the best mechanic, the most mystical wiseman, the most skilled thief, and... the funniest little rabbit?"
Warren blushed, rubbed the back of his head, and laughed sheepishly. Panther shrugged, as if she were admitting what Warren said to be true.
"Fiii!" The cat thing turned out to be an Espeon. The Espeon sprang up onto the bed and sat still, the gem on his forehead glowing. Sleeping next to him was an Umbreon with blue rings on her ears, rather than the typical gold ones.
Seconds later, Peppermint's head emerged from the stairway on the far side of the flat.
"La tee!"
"Medi medi cham?" Nimerta questioned. She felt relieved to no longer be talking like a human.
The mini-Latias came into view, taking a young man by the hand as she emerged. He was positively striking, what with the long purple coat lined with pink satin, the ponytailed black hair (mildly reminiscent of Professor Willow), the rune-inscribed rings on his right hand, the green eyeshadow, and the fact that he was a little on the short side.
"Well now, this is rather unusual," he commented. "Usually I greet people in the front doorway. And usually I do not get a combination of new and familiar faces."
Warren jumped up and stood next to the new arrival--or should I say the resident of this place.
"Oh, this is my friend Merlin by the way, hehheh," he introduced, with a grin on his boyish face.
Merlin nodded and placed his hand on Warren's shoulder.
"By the way Warren, that was a nice little introduction to the Black Cat Bandits you gave. 'The most mystical wiseman', eh? And the rabbit part suits you well. Just be sure not to give us away so easily next time."
"It was you who just admitted to being one of us," Warren remarked.
Merlin bit his lip, then snickered and shook his head.
"Why don't we all go downstairs," he invited to everyone, "and let the two newcomers introduce themselves?"
Merlin led the group downstairs, into a room that was much more spacious than the flat above it. It looked like it used to be a bar some years ago, except the room was empty and the countertop was barren. The cabinets behind the counter contained more books, some jars containing various teas and herbs, and--there we go, two dusty wine bottles stuffed into a corner. Next to the front door was a window through which the Pokemon Tower could be seen, and the room itself was illuminated both by the moonlight from the front window and the dim golden lamplight coming from lamps on the ceiling, which looked sort of like the night sky. Next to the hallway was a large picture with a teal frame--one consisting of a cute little black cat holding a smiling yellow star. Surrounding the cat were the symbols of a sword, a crystal ball, a rabbit, and a wolf. Underneath the picture was a message: "Funded by crystal, wolf, sword, and rabbit... and the latest act of our worst habit".
The fivesome sat down at a table in the centre of the room; the Pokemon gathered around it.
"Well," Merlin announced, "it appears that we have three Guardians in this room, along with two eager helpers."
First he turned to Isaac.
"And who might you be? Your aura... I have a friend with one very similar to yours. And I detect that you have a strikingly similar past. I don't suppose the criminal life grabs you as well, fellow creature of the night?"
Then he turned to Candice.
"Well, don't you look simply dashing. Don't try to hide that energetic and daring heart of yours, now. I can see it perfectly well. And--what's this--an affinity for both fire and water? What name might accompany such an exciting individual as this?"
At that time, a Gallade walked into the room, carrying a tea tray. He placed the tray on the table and nodded to the group. Meanwhile, the Umbreon from before walked up to Isaac and sniffed his leg, frowning and cocking her head to the side.
"Ah," Merlin noted, "I notice you have all met Arthur, Felicio, and... Alice." Here he indicated the Gallade, Espeon, and Umbreon, respectively--though he couldn't see Alice behind Isaac at first.
"Ah," Warren mocked, "I notice you both have witnessed Merlin's clairvoyance. Yes, he does that sometimes. But don't worry--he's not completely psychic, and you won't see him pulling off anything telekinetic."
Merlin scowled at this remark.
"So what brings you here?" he asked the group.
Viridian Contest Hall
Just as Kazu was training his Pokemon, a woman walked into the otherwise empty room.
"Kazu?" she called. "It's time for you to... Oh! What in the world are you doing to that poor Corphish?"
She noticed Brawler frozen mid-punch, electricity surrounding his little fist.
The woman shook her head.
"Never mind. But you better hurry backstage, for the contest is about to start! Return your Pokemon to their Pokeballs and follow me."
The woman led Kazu through the crowds, past eager spectators and well-pampered Pokemon, past vendors selling berry smoothies and Pikachu-shaped cookies, past the line of ticket-takers and program-handers in the stadium entrance, past rows of seats surrounding the empty indoor battlefield. Kazu noticed that pictures of Mewtwo lined the walls of the stadium--perhaps this was a dedication to the Mew clone being held captive here by the Rocket boss Giovanni a few years ago. Mewtwo was long since gone from this stadium, but the memory of the mutated feline would live on forever here...
A door opened to the backstage, where Adrian and a couple of other trainers stood. The rest of the room resembled a locker room. The black-collared Buizel from before sat on one of the benches, sticking his tongue out at Kazu as he entered.
"You may heal your Pokemon at that machine over there," the woman commented, pointing to a healing machine at the far end of the room. The assistant over there will let you know when it's time for you to go on."
With that she left the room.
"Good luck, boy," Adrian teased, winking at Kazu and gesturing for his Buizel to follow as he went to go on stage. As Kazu looked that direction, he could see the aforementioned assistant patting Adrian on the back. The assistant happened to be a hot-looking young lady, and those sapphire eyes of hers were ever-so-captivating.
Several rounds of applause and muffled announcements passed, and at one point Adrian returned to the room and sat down, but ignored Kazu completely.
Then, after a few minutes, after the crowd cheered wildly at someone's Misdreavus, the assistant beckoned Kazu over to the stage entrance.
"Kazu! Time for you to go on! Have your precious little Pokemon do its appeal!"
The audience beyond the stage door was awaiting Kazu's appearance, and of course his Pokemon's performance of visually appealing moves.
En Route to Indigo Plateau (in the air)
Gon squinted and cupped his hand around his ear, trying to see what was going on with Regigigas and Dialga and the Arcanine, and to hear what one of the people was saying. But it was to no avail; Rayquaza was flying too high, and the wind was whooshing past so loudly that Gon couldn't hear too well. Plus it was growing darker by the minute. What Gon did see on the western horizon was a brilliant red sun, and a trio of towers silhouetted against it.
That must be the Sprout, Burned, and Tin Towers of Ecruteak City, Gon surmised. Hmm, come to think of it, I think that girl riding on the Arcanine is the Guardian of Ho-oh, who used to reside atop the Tin Tower. And although Rayquaza could have killed me by lifting me so jerkily atop its back, this is a really nice ride. It's unlike anything I've experienced before! And I've NEVER ridden atop something that broke the sound barrier before!
Gon gave Rayquaza an affectionate pat on the back.
After a while, Gon turned around to look back at the fading lights of Viridian City. Just then, something flashed in the corner of his eye--no, that was only the reflection of the half-full moon in the lake. But next to the lake, a girl was running, and a Duskull and a... Mew... were following her.
...Mew?
"Oh! That's Jemima!" Gon blurted. "HEY! I'M UP HERE! ON RAYQUAZA! FOLLOW MEEEEEEEE..."
"NAAAAAAATTTTT!"
"PUFFY? IS THAT YOU?" Gon shouted, trying to get the blue-eyed Venonat's attention.
"NAT!"
Puffy's eyes glowed, and she used her telekinetic powers to fling herself towards Gon. Gon caught the little furry bug in his arms when she got close enough.
"Puffy! Why don't you go with Jemima, and follow me to Indigo Plateau?" Gon asked. "We can't be separated after all!"
And besides, if I run next to her... what if I have the tendency to... erm, touch her in a place I'm not supposed to touch her...? And I don't want to give up this awesome ride on Rayquaza! Speaking of which...
Hardly believing what he'd forgotten, Gon let Kaiser, his sister's Piplup, out of his Pokeball.
"Plup?" Kaiser questioned, wondering where he was.
"This is Rayquaza," Gon introduced, "one of the Legendaries. Just like Regigigas. And this is le grande viste."
Gon's French was terrible, but the view he gestured widely at definitely wasn't. The red glow from the setting sun tinted the Piplup's feathers so that they looked purple, and the towers' silhouettes looked especially majestic against the radiant orb.
Gon then made to hold Kaiser close to him, so as to prevent him from falling off Rayquaza and falling to the ground below and being eaten by Spearows. But the bold little Piplup refused, saying something that suggested that he was "strong enough to take care of himself". He held on to a ridge of Rayquaza's scales, gazing ahead at the sun, which was not quite bright enough to burn his eyes. True, soon the sun would set and he would be in the darkness that he so quivered in, but for now the sun was up and beautiful. Little did Gon know that this sun was an epitome of the serenity of the situation with Virtualmon and Team Alpha...
En Route to Indigo Plateau (on the ground)
"REGGG! Regi GIGAS!" Regigigas' eyes flashed once more, and it started to run faster towards Rin and Lupin.
<"Can't you take that thing down with a Psychic or something?"> the Honchkrow suggested to Rin's Gardevoir. <"I'm not too tired, but I'm not a very fast flier!">
<"Yes, you SHOULD trust Lupin,"> Rigel (the Arcanine) barked at Regigigas. <"He is... after all... a... Guardian..."> He was panting mid-bark because of the running, despite how smooth the ride felt to Rin.
Regigigas faltered in its step, but kept on running.
<"LIAR!"> Regigigas screamed at Rigel. <"You are a thief and a liar! And what are you doing with the guardian of Ho-oh?!?">
Gee, those words must be music to Gardevoir's ears...
Regigigas started to gain on the Pokemon-riding duo--not even an Arcanine and a mini Dialga could run fast enough to lose it. Lupin, meanwhile, was still holding on to Azelf's Master Ball.
"Hey Rin," he called to Rin, "do you have any spare slots in your Pokevice?"
A pause in which Rin nodded and Lupin glanced back at the approaching Regigigas.
"Would you like to hold onto Azelf for a while then?" Lupin continued. "My Pokevice is full, and I have no room for a loose Pokeball in my pockets without it being easy to fall out."
With that, Lupin tossed the Master Ball to Rin. Then he turned to his Honchkrow.
"Yes Raven, as always. I don't think you'll doubt me."
As Regigigas got even closer, almost within arm's reach, Lupin spoke to Rin again.
"Do you happen to have a Pokemon that can take us to Indigo Plateau faster than Rigel and Kingmond can? Otherwise we'll have to resort to attacking this Regi..."
Lupin stopped mid-name, cause unknown. Kingmond even turned around and spoke to him, asking if he was okay. It got no reply.
"Lupin? Earth to Lupin!? It's not like you to be staring off into space like this..."
Lupin sat there, frozen, as if he was in shock.
A mysterious location
Melancholy voices echoed through the cave the saturnine teenage girl was curled up in. The voices epitomised the girl's pre-existing misery, but even if she did try her hardest to listen, she could not make out who the voices belonged to nor what they were saying. In fact, she assumed that all the voices, although each sounded somewhat different, came from her great-grandmother. Her great-grandmother, a cold old woman named Celia, who had cursed the very life this girl lived.
"Yamiko..." the voice seemed to call. "Yamiko..."
"The name's Kelsey, not Yamiko," the girl mumbled, her face nestled in between her knees.
"Your existence is cursed, your destiny doomed, your mind forever clouded, shadowed by the bleak purple mist hovering over your life..."
"Stop it..." the girl named Kelsey grumbled, though she was subconsciously wrapping the long purple sweater she was wearing more tightly around her as she spoke.
"Your only refuge is a quintet of mystical creatures who are turning miserable in themselves..."
"No, no, you can't be talking about..." Kelsey's voice trailed off.
"Your lover arises from the agonising depths of darkness itself, torn from your own dark touch..."
Kelsey stood up.
"That's only because YOU separated us--twice in fact!" she yelled. The words "twice in fact" echoed six times through the cave walls.
The voice seemed to laugh. A cold, emotionless laugh.
"Ahahahaha. It's amusing to see you hiding behind walls of passionate love and psychic connections."
"Hiding behind--what the...!"
Kelsey clenched her fist, and was on the verge of punching the reflective walls of the cave...
A different voice echoed through the cave--a cool yet haunting female voice.
"Ah, but breaking mirrors will give you more bad luck than you already have."
"Who...?" Kelsey glanced around, trying to see what the voice was coming from. She scampered around the mirrored cave for a while, until she came to an exit. A dark shape hovered in the cave opening.
"...Laverne?" Kelsey questioned.
"...is safe inside her Pokeball," the dark shape answered for her, in the same voice she had just heard. "I am an entity that is even darker than that little Mismagius could even hope to be."
Kelsey frowned. "How dark?"
"Darker than the spirit who whispers faintly inside the shell of a Shedinja. Darker than the Shadow Ball fired at you by she who is suspected a miser. Darker than the heart of he who howled at the full moon in hopes of comforting you--or should I say, dragging you down with him?"
The dark shape let out a soft chuckle, mirthless and chilling to the bone. It began to back up, revealing a head of white hair that was almost... angelic... but the rest of it was covered a tattered dress seeming to be made of darkness itself, and a collar red as blood, an even bloodier red than the hair upon Kelsey's head, a much blacker black than the soft-looking hat atop Kelsey's head. And it met Kelsey's sorrowful deep indigo eyes with its own blinding electric blue eyes.
"...Why, if it isn't..." Kelsey stammered, pointing at the dark entity.
"...Darkrai," the entity now identified as Darkrai finished for her. "Ohh, how your loved one adored me... but alas, he's seen in the eyes of the one residing seven isles counter-clockwise. As for you, you are special to me. Come, let me show you around this wonderful little island."
"...Is this really what New Moon Island looks like?" Kelsey inquired as Darkrai led her out of the cave and through the woods. The sky overhead was a desolate grey, the air around her dry and quite chilly.
"No no, this is not New Moon Island," Darkrai replied. "I was forced to evacuate that island on orders from the mighty god who happens to triumph over us all."
"...Arceus?" Kelsey guessed.
"Ah, we have one smart girl here, hee hee," Darkrai complimented, though... not sounding too nice. "Anyway, my relocation wasn't all bad. I led a relatively good life, got married to this wonderful gray sky, and had a child... but alas, little Astor has gone missing. I just went back inside this cave to look for it when... it was gone, just like that. I can't even sense its presence like I usually can."
Darkrai eventually led Kelsey to the beach, where the sand was a swirl of white and black, where the waves were weak and calm. This was far from the place for sunbathers and surfers, but Kelsey still felt contented--it was as if the soft gray clouds protected her from the harshness of the sun, even though that sun was going to set soon.
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OOC: Whoa, talk about a wide variety of post lengths... Hmm, can we wonder who Kelsey is...?
