This was supposed to be out a week ago, but life, liberty, and sleepless night with a side-dish of procrastination happened. In the previous chapter, I had mentioned that it was shorter than my liking. Way too short... _
SO! You now have part 2, which includes not only more of the shenanigans between James the Demirayquaza and Tyson-Veracity the Aura-wielding Chimera (not the mythological one), but also we have a small bit of another one of our main characters! Those who have played one of the three PMD2 games should recognize him. I have big plans for him and his delusional Alter Ego, Seeker the Sceptile (based off of Seymore the Scientist early in the first season of the anime in the episode with the clefary and Mt. Moon). Yes, I know he's a Chatot and not a Sceptile. That won't stop him from trying to find Faldo the "Arceusforsaken Floatzel!"
One last thing before we start: I read somewhere (about Santa Claus' origins oddly enough) that Mana was originally considered a fluid with life-giving properties. It was a brief mention of it, but it got my head thinking about Aura and it's linkage to Lifeforce. Aura behaves in a flame-like nature in it's natural state, so I've taken the liberty of making Mana a totally different method of utilizing Lifeforce- one of a fluid rather than a flame. I already have all of the details about it and how it's association with magic (as well as the concept and creation of magic as a whole) came to be, but you guys won't find out more about it until next chapter! *Shot*
I do not own the Pokemon franchise, nor the people, places, and things that are exclusive to the franchise. I only own this story, the plot and ideas within it, and the characters for who they are but not what they are.
I think I need a typhlosional explosional hug...
7/7/13 Update: Mainly just fixed a couplr things, specifically placing borders where there should've been.
"You don't understand how hard this is, James!" Tyson-Veracity sobbed, voice fluctuating between masculine and feminine as the two halves grieved. "We're the same, but we're not! We're different, but we aren't! We're not a zweilous, for Arceus' sake!" The demilegend of a Rayquaza was there for Tyson-Veracity like he had been for his other ancestors, ever since the first of them had done the same for James. The amount of loving support the single demilegend had given Tyson-Veracity and the Talon ancestry as a whole was something that was impossible for anyone outside of their family to comprehend. If one word could be used to describe it, Tyson-Veracity's heart knew the answer.
Sacred.
The skarmory's sobs eventually died down to a sniffling with the sweet nothings that were whispered. "Feeling a little better?"
"A little." Vera muttered. "Thanks."
"Anytime." The warm smile given was one that was used for a millennia, genuine and unrequited. As they broke their embrace, Veracity, who once more in control, sniffled as James opened the door of the room they were currently in. "Come on, this snowstorm's supposed to last a while. And while Medicity happens to be entirely indoors, we still need to find a place to stay in the meantime." Veracity nodded followed the demirayquaza out of the room, giving a greteful nod to the nurse it was requested from when James did the same.
Walking out of the hospital into Medicity Square, Veracity recalled that Medicity was named in much of the same manner as Clock Castle had been. The Amiable Archipelago had been a spot of spiritual importance to those seeking a healthy balance in their lives in all shapes and sizes of beings. Despite the nobility of the pilgrimage the archipelago for those seeking enlightenment, one individual ran a study on the lives of those after their voyages home to discover the impact of it on the pilgrims' health. Veracity couldn't quite recall the details as the skarmory trailed after James on autopilot, but the pokemon in mind had eventually established a series of outposts leading to an indoor medical camp.
Sneezing broke Veracity's train of thought, as well as laughter. "I see zat ve are in Lala Land today, Mister Talon." Veracity's face flushed, thankful that being a steel-type hid the amount of blood rushing sky high. "It is nozzing to vorry about." The innkeeper, Beartic, assured. "Nozzing like a good spitshine, eh?"
"Easy for you to say." James grimaced from the snot covering his face, further deepening the skarmory's embarrassment.
The innkeeper laughed heartily, handing the miniature rayquaza a washcloth. "Now, now your Majesty, I am merely poking fun." She motioned down a hallway to Vera's left while James cleaned himself up. "Vhy don't you two get worshed up? Ze room you shall be staying in vill be ze fourth on ze right, and zen up ze ladder. I know neither of you need it but I got to clean somehow." Beartic shrugged. "Try not to disturb ze ones below you. Wiz zat in mind, I hope you enjoy your stay!"
"Thank you kindly, Beartic." James bowed, promptly handing back the washcloth to the chuckling innkeeper.
"No, zhank you! You are very humble, your Majesty, and even zhough I know zat ze title bozzers you, you are vhat you are. And you are alvays welcomed here."
James smiled mareepishly, but thankful nonetheless. "I appreciate your hospitality." He motioned Veracity to follow. "Come on, lets check out our room."
Veracity gladly did so. When they were out of earshot, Veracity spoke. "Well that was...unexpected." James suddenly stopped. "James?"
"Um..."
"Is something wrong?"
"I think so?"
Growing a little annoyed, Veracity inquired, "Well, what is it?"
"I...'ve...is..."
Talons clenched the ground dangerously as Vera mustered up the clarity of thought through the rapidly building frustration. "I can't hear with you mumbling and your tail in my face."
"Well..." James turned around, radiating a cheerful and carefree expression while rubbing the back of his neck. "I just forgot where our room was! Ah-ha-ha!" Veracity crashed. "Ha-ha..."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FORGOT!?" The skarmory roared, eyes glaring like blazing gold and crimson daggers at the cowering demilegend. "Skarrr! We didn't even leave like a whole minute ago!" James squeaked pathetically, balled in a corner. Sighing to vent some frustration and express irritation, Vera grumbled, "Just be glad I'm sick!" Without another word, Veracity stormed in the correct direction and into the upper room like they were told. Not bothering to even check the room out, Veracity took to the nearest bed and faced the wall to try and calm down.
Ever since Tyson's discovery with his aura, Veracity had started out very much like Tyson. They were still the same body, but they were not the same. Overtime Veracity became more conscious and self-aware, and Tyson had ended up becoming known as Tyson-Veracity once it became apparent that Veracity could temporarily take control of him. The process required Vera's use of Aura, because their body had barely more of Tyson's DNA than Veracity's in it in addition to being its original owner. The moment of discovery had only been a twenty-minute period, but it was more than enough to gain so many answers, and a seemingly infinitesimal amount more of questions.
Veracity was real.
Veracity's voice was feminine.
Veracity was starving for more.
Yet Veracity was not a she, nor was Veracity a he. Veracity just...was.
It was infuriating.
Vera wanted to scream, to cry, to be more than what was right then, but was unable to because Tyson had taken back control. Though it was only the first of many such events, it had sparked the will to survive.
The will and craving desire to be more.
The times in control were spent making an identity under the name of Veracity, for Veracity was the honest, undeniable truth to the world that tried to deny Vera's existence.
And Vera knew it would not have been possible without Tyson.
The skarmory that was Tyson-Veracity had eventually calmed down and began feeling a little regretful towards James. "I went overboard, didn't I?"
Maybe. Vera perked, listening to Tyson's Aura. But I can tell he did that on purpose.
There was a silence.
And like the quiet before the storm, Vera deadpanned. "What."
How else would he have gotten a surprise for you behind our back?
If Vera's stunned moment said something about the situation, the gobsmacked speechless one upon whirling around said everything.
"Happy Hatch...Aura...something...uh-" The demirayquaza named James faltered before he shook his head. "Look, let's just call it Hatchday for now." Veracity speechlessly stared, beak gaping like a fish. Thankfully, James had expected this. "What? I got his permission! Don't look at me like that." Although, not necessarily for the right reasons.
Either way, Vera couldn't care at the sight of four of Kyurem's truffles on a silver platter, quite literally. The skarmory gave James a dumbfounded look. "Beartic insisted upon it...much to my dismay." The clear dislike for a Demilegend being considered a position of royalty subtly portrayed in his tone. "Although I'm glad it was just the silver platter."
"But four months!" Vera squeaked. "It's only been four months!"
"Hey, it's your special day. Don't ruin it." James told Veracity, but not unkindly. "It was Tyson's idea."
You have no idea how we managed to do that. I'll tell you later, enjoy your moment!
"But...how?" Vera stammered, unable to comprehend. "I... You... What?"
"Just because I can't utilize Aura at all compared to Mana doesn't mean I can't communicate with you two individually." James chuckled.
Mana?
So much for keeping that part a surprise...
"I shouldn't really tell anyone about Mana, but you're both not exactly one in the proper sense of the word. Just know that it works off of lifeforce just like Aura does, just in the form of a fluid rather than a flame." He then added, "I'll explain later."
Vera opened Tyson's beak to ask but thought better of it, knowing that it would end up as babbled nonsense. Instead, Vera looked at the oversized chocolate truffles and asked (after calming down enough to speak coherently), "How did you get away with it?"
James blinked. "Eh?"
"How were you able to do this without a scratch or a care?"
The demirayquaza grinned mereepishly. "Well..."
"How did you break it?!"
"I don't know, but it was amazing!"
James and Kyurem were dying from laughter at the fact that James had accidentally found a gamebreaking glitch in an educational math game. James had died on the menu screen by jumping through a corner in Krunky Kong Jr. Math, on an ancient console of some sort. The game kept loading level data, enemies, and platforms over the main menu, and the player sprite in a corner perpetually dying in an endless loop.
Why were they playing an old math game on a console seemingly older than Dialga? They were bored.
"I owe you one for that idea!" Kyurem told James once their laughter died down to breathable levels. "I seriously do!"
"I'll hold you to it!"
"And that was two-hundred years ago!" James chirped, beaming without a thought in the world.
Vera keeled over.
"What? We were serious. It was that good!"
"I don't even..." Vera sighed. Picking the shared body of Tyson back onto it's feet, Vera looked at the truffles. "So what makes these so good that you had to blackmail your uncle for them?"
"Truthfully, I don't know." James admitted with a frown, choosing not to correct the skarmory about it being a favor rather than blackmail. "I asked him to take a couple of these for both of us," The demirayquaza grinned deviously, "but I don't think he realized that I meant it literally."
Vera couldn't help but laugh. "I never knew you had it in you!"
"I have my moments."
"Well whatever the case, I say we try these out!"
And as the two began to zealously eat the truffles formerly owned by Kyurem, the said Legendary wept tears of joy. "That Krunky Kong Jr. was so worth it."
Meanwhile in the far south well away from the Arctic Circle's Amiable Archipelago, a certain individual was restlessly checking over a list attached to a clipboard. Irrational fear had made it's way into the individual, and his grip on the clipboard grew shaky. "So there's really nothing left for today…?" It was a rather extraordinary circumstance when it was barely an hour after the start of the day and finding oneself with literally nothing to that needs to be done. To say he was glad for not having to do anything more for a long while would be a lie.
A lie of the highest caliber.
It was becoming unbearable. He couldn't do anything more, and the realization hit him like an avalanche, much like the sound from the drop of the clipboard onto the hard floor. "I...heheh... Eheheh..." He could feel himself starting to lose it and immediately decided he had to step out before he actually did lose it.
But first, he had to endure telling the Guildmaster.
Steeling his nerves for the worst, the individual opened the door a crack and hesitated. "G-Guildmaster? I have-"
"Chatot." He cringed, fearful and dreading what he was about to do. "Please come in and tell me."
Knowing there was no way around it, Chatot stepped in and faced the door behind him as he closed it. His wing never left the handle, as did the direction he faced while he fought to remember what his original reason for being there was. "I can't..." He hardly noticed himself shaking as he spoke. "I ha...haha..."
"Chatot," His voice caught in his throat at that tone, "what is this about?"
I don't know... His grip tightened on the handle as his mind's eye shifted to a painfully familiar face. What do I...
"Chatot?" He heard the Guildmaster drop something.
I need... Fear shot through his heart upon hearing footsteps draw closer to him. I need...
"Chatot..."
It was all too much for him. The Guildmaster's worry shattered his composure to dust. "I need something to do!" He was rather thankful that everyone was out and about at this time of day to see him collapse into a heap of tears, feathers, and heartbreak. "I can't stand not doing anything! I have to be doing something! Something, anything, everything to...to-" He wailed at the memory- the nightmare- of losing her.
The Guildmaster, Wigglytuff, and his best friend he could ever possibly deserve all in one, said nothing, simply giving the heartbroken pokemon a supporting arm. He knew all too well what was going on within the musical bird's heart, and how he had it bottled up inside throughout the entire Time Gear incident. Chatot fainted when Wes and Anita were dragged into the future by Dusknoir, only to wake up into uncontrolled hysterics in his room. Thankfully the only witnesses were Wigglytuff himself, Chimeco, and Croagunk (who was not supposed to be there at the time in the first place), but it went without saying that he was only hurting himself by keeping it in. This was why Wigglytuff decided to give him the week off, to come to terms with it so he wasn't holding it in anymore. It hurt to have to do this- very much so, but he had to do it for Chatot's mental health. Yet, it would seem that...
"It wasn't just her that day." Wigglytuff perked at the unexpected confession. "We had an egg, with another on the way. They-" He took a shaky breath, unaware and uncaring of the reactions of his friend right beside him. "They were caught in the birth of a mystery dungeon.
"I was running an errand at the time." Chatot recalled, not really noticing anything around him. "I got sidetracked by a conversation with Chansey over family." He chuckled dryly. "How ironic that it was during that conversation that someone ran all the way to town in exhaustion and collapsed practically in front of us about their demise and that of our home away from home.
"I don't remember how long I stood there at the sight or how I even got there." His voice was devoid of emotion as he spoke. "But I know that crying won't bring them back, even if it hurts so much." Chatot took a moment to steel himself. "I made a vow that day, Will..." Chatot pushed himself to his feet, with the help of his friend. "I know we rarely use our given names, but I don't know what I would do if you hadn't been there for me." Taking a breath or two, Chatot turned towards the other with gratitude. "Really, I appreciate it."
Wigglytuff smiled. "Everyone needs a shoulder to lean on, Richard. But..." He frowned a little. "What sort of vow did you make, if you don't mind sharing?"
Nodding, Chatot answered, "I remembered her research on trying to discover the missing history right after the...Cataclysm." The sound of Croagunk's pot cracking a floor below and away them could be heard through solid rock, follow by cringing silence. "You know we both were intellectuals, but that's a story for another time. She got as far back as...I believe two hundred and fourty-two years Post-Cata? No easy feat considering reliable records only dated to around 300 PC."
"You'll have to show me sometime."
Chatot nodded. "I vowed that I would finish what she started that day once I had recovered from her loss, but then the whole Time Gear situation happened." Sighing, he started wringing his wings. "Which is partially why I came in here to see you."
"I gave you the whole week off."
"I need-" Chatot was stunned, unsure if he had heard correctly. "W-what?"
"I gave you the whole week off."
"S-squawk! Why did you-"
"It's simple." Wigglytuff went over to his desk and fished out a folder before handing it to him. "You did a week extra's worth of work in only two days." He stared at Chatot with a look of seriousness that was so not Wigglytuff that it, frankly, scared him speechless. "Were you aware that you were up- and still are- for two nights in a row?"
Chatot stared at the barely contained folder simply named "Finished Work", not trusting his words upon seeing the sheer amount of contents within the folder that had been done. That he had done. Truthfully, he never noticed how much time passed by him without his notice. Was he merely running on adrenaline alone?
"Not to mention you discovered that fragment in Beach Cave when you thought you were Seeker the Sceptile. Either way, I gave you the week off Richard." Chatot stood for a moment to digest the information (and grow embarrassed at the Seeker comment) before numbly nodding and turned to leave. "Hold up, I'm not done." Wigglytuff's words ground him to a halt. "I need to know something, Richard."
The musical bird could swear had heard the Guildmaster's voice crack. "Yes...Will?"
Wigglytuff never dropped his serious demeanor, but the tears in his eyes were unmistakable. "Have you looked in a mirror recently?" Chatot was too stunned to comment. "Let me show you." He ushered him over to the mirror he had in one of the corners for his personal grooming. (After all, there's nothing better than freshening up after a long expedition.) "I'll take that back." Chatot didn't object as the folder was taken back, not that he was in any position to do so. With a pained look, Wigglytuff said, "Please Richard, you need to see what your grief is doing to yourself."
Chatot was a mess. Molted and matted feathers covered his once colorful body. His eyes were tired and bloodshot. Dirt, dried mud, and who-knows what else was everywhere. Now that he could notice it, his breathing was labored. His legs shaking. His heart beating hard yet tired. Chatot felt like he hadn't eaten in a while, and looked like Wes once he had been unceremoniously dumped back into existence over the Kecleon Brother's shop still sporting injuries from Dialga and those from breaking the shop counter. While the counter was replaced and apologies were given, Chatot needed rest much like Wes did, above all else.
"Oh..."
Wigglytuff nodded. "Why don't you get some rest? Maybe take a trip to wash up the hot spring afterwards. After all of that, you really deserve a break."
The next thing he knew, the feel of Chatot's bed at his feet was enough for him to fall asleep before he even touched the ground. As he slept, a nearby framed photograph depicted a younger Chatot, scowling with determined annoyance while chasing a laughing Archeops as she ran with one of his books. The particular memory of that day replayed in his mind's eye during his slumber.
"I thought you weren't into this kind of thing!" Her laugh rang through the air and only made him more frustrated. "I always thought you were a history-junkie, not a flora-fanatic!"
"Squawk! It's Geography! Plants are in it!" Chatot defended indignantly, still futilely trying to chase down the booknapper whose species was clearly made more for running rather than flying- the complete opposite of his own's.
"Oh hey!" She stopped suddenly, making Chatot run into her and twitter dizzily on the ground. "They have something on Starf berries!"
"On the edge of the world?" Chatot muttered, seeing in double-vision.
"More like you're never on the edge of my mind."
Chatot's face flushed as he snapped out of his dizziness and into her smirking pride. "I think I've been blinded by your doubled beauty and deafened by horrid flirting."
She rolled her eyes. "In that case, maybe I should learn Double Team just for you!"
Chatot smirked. "If you do, I'll do this to the real one!"
Chatot started tickling his friend, his love, and his future mate. The couple's joyous laughter sounding off into the distance as the two played in the evening light and the slumbering dreamer smiled and cried at the cherished memory of the one closest to his heart.
A/N: The reference to Donkey Kong Jr. Math actually happened to me once, for the exact same reason. Granted, it was on the Gamecube's Animal Crossing, and I was bored out of my mind (specifically that feeling where you're SOOO BORED on an insanely long, several hour car trip). The moment this happened to me was so amazing, so unexpected, and so well-timed that there is no way in Kyurem's truffles that I could ever forget it! Once in a lifetime experience of epic!
Some important info I shall be including at the bottom of every chapter, to be simplified overtime:
Every pokemon has three names. These are their personal names (given either from birth or personal preference), their generic (species) names, and their surnames (or last/family name). In most circumstances one would refer to another by their species name, unless requested by the individual being spoken to.
A personal name is normally reserved for close individuals, family, significant others, or, again, if the individual does not mind sharing and using their personal name for whatever reason. They are also used as a last-resort for identification purposes, after the use of a surname. To use an individual's personal name without falling into any of the previous categories is often considered accusative, warning, or fighting words depending on the context and the situation.
It goes from Generic - Surname - Personal.
Humans in this setting have not been an endangered species for quite some time, but they have long since lost the dominance factor they once held. They have congregated into certain communities within the pokemon world, with the pokemon. They have established the human dialect throughout the current world, making the original pokemon dialect a language that is considered "baby talk". Despite this, attributes of their previous language help to define the individuals within the setting.
Pokeballs are considered rare. They do not work since the Cataclysm had occurred. Instead, the pokeball technology has been converted and implemented into reusable bags and containers to act much like how they are in the games.
Nobody messes with Kyurem's truffles...except James with permission.
Idioms used within the story (Since I forgot to add this in the previous chapter):
A Joey (and his shorts) = Youngster Joey from Red/Green/Blue/Yellow and Firered/Leafgreen just north of Cerulean City has made it into the history books with his top percentage rattatas and his proclamations for the comfort of shorts! This fortunate (or unfortunate) individual has forever made it into the spoken language a thousand years in the future for flaunting, bragging, and showing off his shorts above all else! It's also sometimes used for referring to someone's "junk in the trunk"...
Bad Egg Substitute (and other variations of the wording) = At it's most basic, a scapegoat.
