Once again Priya stepped up to her side of the battlefield. However, this gym was entirely different from the first. Priya had entered a large building and proceeded to the roof. It was there that she found the battle area. There were available stands but no cheering crowd; apparently the Gym Leader, Falkner, preferred to keep his matches just a TV spectacle. As the busiest Leader in Johto he had the right to make that call.
Tobius was still at the Pokémon Center. After a long night of training he had over slept. Priya chose to let him sleep, he'd need it. Off to the side sat Ferno with the bright eyed Artemis between his giant paws. Priya had decided to go with her Pokémon that hadn't had a chance to really shine in a Gym Battle yet.
"So, this is your second badge?" Falkner asked from his side of the battle field. "Interesting choice. Though, I can guarantee you I won't be taken out easily. My Flying-types control the skies!"
"I'm not all that worried," Priya replied simply.
"This will be an official Gym battle between the Violet City Gym Leader, Falkner, and the challenger from Pyre Island, Priya," the referee called. "Both will use three Pokémon each, only the challenger will be permitted to substitute her Pokémon. When I say so, both sides will release their first Pokémon and the battle will begin. And GO!"
"Blaze up, Atria!" Priya called as she threw her Vulpix's Pokéball to the field. With a burst of white light the spinning Atria appeared. As always she made a perfect landing on the field.
"You're up, Pidgey!" Falkner called. From his own Pokéball came a Pidgey. The bird screamed out its battle cry as it flapped higher into the air.
"Don't let it get away, Flamethrower!" Priya ordered.
"Vul," the Vulpix called as it released a stream of bright flames from its mouth.
"Dodge," Falkner commanded. With a swift flap the Pidgey easily climbed out of the Flamethrower's reach. "Alright, now show us your speed. Quick Attack!"
"Imprison!" Priya called. She knew it wouldn't be fast enough.
The Pidgey did a back flip before it dived at Atria with brilliant speed. Atria's eyes glowed blue as the attack hit. Atria flew backwards but jumped back to her feet and sang out a long, high pitched note.
"Gey," the Pidgey said with a shiver as the move took effect.
"Flamethrower, before it gains too much height again!" Priya called. Once again the flames shot at the Pidgey.
"Agility!" Falkner ordered.
"Pii," the avian Pokémon called as it easily sped out of the attack's way.
"Curses," Priya said under her breath. "Alright, catch up with Quick Attack!"
Atria did just that and was able to finally get a blow in. Unfortunately, while the Pidgey did feel it, the attack wasn't enough to ground the bird.
"Flamethrower!"
"Gust!"
Atria blasted her strongest Flamethrower yet. Unfortunately the Gust overpowered it. The Pidgey beat the air powerfully to create winds that were strong enough to capture and throw back all the flames. Atria tried to crouch low to the ground but the winds mixed with flames picked her up and sent her flying.
Luckily the combo also worked in Atria's favour. The winds did damage but there was enough fire in them to trigger the Vulpix's Flash Fire. As Atria hit the ground her body and eyes glowed bright red and the air around her visibly heated up.
"Alright, that's what I like to see. Fire Spin!" Priya shouted as she punched the air.
"Agility!" Falkner ordered.
The Pidgey closed its eyes in concentration for a moment before it zoomed out of the attack's way. Priya gritted her teeth in annoyance.
"Now, the Mud Slap – dodge combo!" Falkner said with a smug look on his face.
"Pii," the bird cooed before it all but disappeared with its accumulated speed.
Atria visibly tensed before she was struck in the side by the attack. Before she had time to react the Pidgey flew above her and clear out of her reach. It immediately came down again, this time right in her face, and used the same attack before flying upwards.
"Flamethrower!" Priya cried.
Atria's flames were nearly white hot with the Flash Fire's power behind them but the Vulpix missed by several feet. The Pidgey's movement were to quick and erratic for her mud clouded eyes. Her misdirected attack also offered an opening for the Pidgey to land a third Mud Slap.
"You can't hit my Pidgey now," Falkner taunted. "You might as well give up."
A fourth and fifth Mud Slap hit.
"Then we'll just have to rely on Faint Attack," Priya said with a slight smile.
Atria had to concentrate, she wasn't the most successful with Faint Attack. Her eyes closed and her ears twitched. The Pidgey appeared right beside her just as her body blackened and disappeared. The Pidgey's expression was almost comical as its target vanished before its eyes. Atria reappeared above the bird and slammed it to the ground; trapping it with her body.
"Flamethrower, blast it!" Priya ordered.
The Pidgey tried to crawl away, its limbs still moving at unnatural speed, but Atria knew how to trap her prey. She gave a sly smile before torching the bird. The flames consumed both creatures but didn't affect the Vulpix. Priya knew it was over when the oddly high pitched screaming stopped. When the flames went out and Atria jumped back the fainted and blackened Pidgey was completely still.
Priya wondered if her Vulpix had gone a little to far. She was about to scold her Pokémon when she got distracted by how unsteady Atria was looking. The Vulpix was taking deep breaths and struggling to get the dirt out of her eyes. Priya could tell those Mud Slaps had done significant damage by the sluggish way Atria was carrying her ears and tails.
"Arrruuuuu!" Ferno howled from the stands. Artemis seemed to be doing some sort of wobbly dance.
"Time for you to take the air. Go, Nightwing!" Falkner called as he tossed a Pokéball.
From the white light came the form of a Noctowl. It flapped the air once and Priya was startled by how silently it flew. She also was intimidated by its size; it could easily carry Atria off in its claws. As it glided its full attention focused on Atria. Its head even turned at awkward angles to watch the smaller Pokémon.
"One Take Down should do it, Wing," Falkner said as he flicked his bangs.
With a hoot the bird tilted its body and beat its wings once to launch itself. It was much slower then the Pidgey, but seemed like a tank in comparison.
"Return, Atria!" Priya called as she lifted her Vulpix's Pokéball. The familiar red beam shot out of the capsule and withdrew Atria just in time. The Noctowl easily caught itself and climbed back into the air.
"A wise choice," Falkner complimented with a nod.
Priya bit her inner cheek. This Noctowl was no pushover. Thunder Fang would have been particularly helpful here.
"Oh well," Priya sighed. "Alright. Deimos, blaze up!"
From the thrown Pokéball materialized the Houndour. It growled deeply up at the Noctowl whose attention was focused once more.
"Ember!"
"Air Slash!"
Deimos' attack didn't stand a chance. The Houndour launched its small balls of fire at the same time as the Noctowl hurled its ball of spiralling wind currents. As both attacks met the flames were absorbed and extinguished by the Flying-type move. The attack was a direct hit and Deimos yelped in pain as he hit the ground.
"No, Deimos," Priya cried, her voice shaking as if she felt her Pokémon's pain. "Get up! You've gotta get moving!"
"Take Down!" Falkner ordered.
The Noctowl again dove at its opponent.
"Counter!" Priya said. This was what she'd been waiting for.
"Abort!" Falkner said shortly.
Deimos glowed with Fighting-type energy as the Noctowl descended. Then, at the last possible moment, the bird adjusted its wings and simply flew passed the hound. Deimos growled in frustration as Priya stared, completely silenced. Never had she seen a Pokémon so easily stop its attack once it started. It was all the harder when coming from above and going as fast as possible.
"Mud Slap!"
"Move it!" Priya called.
Luckily Deimos was great at dodging and jumped clear out of the attack's way.
"Leer," Priya called.
"Uproar Nightwing," Falkner commanded.
Priya saw the Noctowl quiver a bit as Leer took effect but that didn't hinder its attack in the slightest. It started screaming as loud as it possibly could. Priya had to clap her hands over her ears as she winced. She saw the faint Normal-type induced sound waves hitting Deimos, who was grinding his teeth and backing up. Canine Pokémon usually had particularly sensitive ears. On the other side of the field Falkner had pulled out ear muffs and was smiling.
"Bite!" Priya screamed at the top of her lungs but Deimos either couldn't hear or was too troubled by the Noctowl's attack. Not wanting to take her hands down Priya started dancing on the spot, trying to get her Houndour's attention.
Out of the corner of her eye Priya saw Ferno gritting his own teeth and trying to stay still. Confused, Priya allowed herself a second of distraction to look over at the large Pokémon. Where was Artemis? She figured her little Torchic must be under Ferno's paws. Priya smiled sadly, by protecting the youngster Ferno was sacrificing his own ears.
Finally Deimos looked back at his trainer. Both his ears and tail were down and he looked more pathetic then he'd ever been. Not bothering with trying to shout, Priya opened her mouth as wide as possible and made a very theatrical biting motion.
Deimos' expression seemed to plead for a moment before he obeyed. Priya figured he didn't want to get any closer to the sound's source. Again a blast of the attack hit him but he still charged at the Noctowl with teeth blackened with Dark-type energy. The Noctowl was to focused on its attack to get out of the way and Deimos clamped his fangs around the bird's neck.
Finally, silence.
Both fell to the ground but, with a few beats of its large wings, the taller Noctowl was able to get out of Deimos' grasp.
"Ember!"
"Mud Slap!"
As the large bird hopped away from the Houndour it used its wing to hurl the Ground-type attack at its opponent. Deimos' attack was smothered and the dirt again went right into his eyes. As he pawed at his face the Noctowl flapped upwards.
"Smog!" Priya ordered.
Priya couldn't tell how the slightly blinded dog could see but the smoke hit the Noctowl directly. The bird stubbled in the air and coughed.
"Use your ears to find it and Ember!" Priya said. Thing were working out.
"Air Slash!"
With eyes now closed Deimos' ears shot forward and he spit his flames at the bird. The Noctowl couldn't respond in time and the Ember made a direct hit. The creature was loosing altitude.
"Almost there, another Ember!"
"Not quite. Roost!"
The Noctowl finally caught itself and flapped out of the attack's way. It sailed clear over the Houndour, just gliding on its wings. Deimos strained its ears to hear anything but the Noctowl was a silent flyer. The Houndour had to force his grime filled eyes open.
As Deimos scanned his surroundings the Noctowl landed on the ground and its body started to glow. Previously singed feathers regained their colour and it seemed to stand up straighter.
"Quickly, behind you! Bite!" Priya yelled, all her efforts for nothing.
"Take Down," Falkner said flatly.
Deimos turned on his heels and ran at the bird, his mouth wide open. The Noctowl also ran at Deimos, though it moved much slower on the ground. Just as the two were a few feet apart, the Noctowl flapped its wings and threw its body at its opponent. The unexpected movement caught Deimos off guard, or maybe he'd have missed anyways. Either way, the Bite missed and the Take Down caught its target right in the shoulder. Noctowl fell upon Houndour, only the Flying-type got up again.
"Return, Deimos," Priya said sadly as the red light absorbed her fallen fighter. Atria was too weak to fight. So it was Spyne against two, and Priya had no idea what was last. Sure he was strong but...
"Blaze up, Spyne," Priya said flatly as she threw the Pokéball.
"Vul!" came the confused cry of Atria.
Atria? What? The Vulpix tilter her head at her trainer. Priya had mixed up Pokéballs. That had never happened before.
"Vulllllll!" Atria suddenly cried out in pain.
The shriek brought Priya back to the battle. She hadn't heard the attack called, but Atria's body spasmed before she fell to the ground. Knocked out.
"But... what?" Priya gaped at her fallen Pokémon. "That was a cheep shot!" She yelled at the Gym Leader.
"Should have been paying more attention, kid," Falkner said with a shrug. "Never let yourself get distracted during a battle. That's just common sense."
"Return, Atria," Priya growled, still glaring daggers at Falkner.
"As a Gym Leader it's my job to teach. Now you know to watch for silly mistakes," Falkner said smugly as he flicked his bangs.
This guy was going down.
"Blaze up, Spyne!" Priya yelled.
This time the appropriate Pokémon emerged from the white light. The Cyndaquil snorted as it landed on the field.
"Tear this jerk's Pokémon limb from limb, Spyne," Priya hissed coldly.
Spyne looked at his trainer for a moment. He'd never seen her so furious. Spyne then nodded with a snort and ignited his back, absolutely electrified by this new vexed Priya. His paws briefly glowed with Normal-type energy but, once again, he wasn't able to hold on to it.
"One last squirt, Nightwing," Falkner said smugly. "Confusion."
"Extrasensory!" Priya said angrily. "Show that thing a real Psychic attack!"
Both Pokémon focused and launched their almost invisible attacks. Spyne cringed slightly but the Noctowl the visibly damaged.
"Hypnosis!" Falkner called. By his expression Priya could tell he no longer underestimated the Cyndaquil's power.
"Lava Plume!" Priya said.
"Quil," Spyne called as it blasted scarlet flames upwards that erupted outwards it all directions. Fire and smoke concealed the smaller Pokémon and made the Hypnosis useless. The attack consumed the Noctowl who was unable to fly away in time.
"Take Down," Falkner ordered as the flames and smoke started to clear.
"Hitch a ride," Priya said.
Falkner looked at Priya with a confused expression. The Pokémon were still hidden among the smoke. There was a hoot and a grunt before both Pokémon shot out of the fumes; Spyne riding Nightwing like it was a Ponyta.
Another trainer wouldn't have noticed but Priya saw Spyne trying to summon Normal-type energy in its paws. They glowed faintly but there was still no Crush Claw.
"Get that rat off your back, Nightwing!" Falkner ordered.
"Swift!" Priya ordered.
The Noctowl tried to buck the Cyndaquil off but Spyne had no intention of letting go. With a snort he shot star-shaped rays at the back of the Noctowl's head.
"Uproar!" Falkner ordered.
"Flare Blitz, quick!" Priya yelled. She didn't like asking Spyne to use an attack that did so much recoil damage, but this bird had to go down before it could recover again.
As the Noctowl opened its mouth Spyne screamed and encompassed itself in flames. No attack came from the bird's beak. Instead, it bellowed in pain as the flames swallowed it up as well. The flames continued to increase in size and grew blighter as they got hotter.
It was hard to make out the forms in the flames. The Noctowl tried to buck Spyne off one more time, but the Cyndaquil moved with the motion. Spyne jumped upwards, scorching flames still cloaked his body, and came down upon the bird. There was a cry of pain from the Noctowl as both crashed into the ground. Flames spread outwardly like a mystical blazing flower with so much heat that Priya could feel it on her face.
"Nightwing!" Falkner called.
As the flames cleared a triumphant Spyne stood atop the unconscious Noctowl's head. The small Fire Pokémon looked at Falkner, snorted with a puff of black smoke, then stomped over to stand by Priya.
"Great job," Prya complimented. As usual, Spyne didn't respond but just watched for his next opponent..
"Alright then, looks like things are all tied up, huh?" Falkner said and he flipped his hair. "Go, Witherwing!"
"Fearow!"
From the Pokéball's white light came the rather frightening brown bird Pokémon. This bird was the largest yet; even the average Fearow could easily support a person.
Priya smiled to herself as the Fearow brought back memories of the Safari Zone.
"You ready?" Priya asked.
Spyne stomped the ground and ignited his back flames again.
"Don't let that thing's size fool you, Witherwing. Agility!"
"Lava Plume!"
The Fearow took off with its gigantic wings. It concentrated for a moment then flapped again, gaining a surprising amount of speed for its size. The scarlet and smoke explosion took up most of the field but the bird was able to get high enough to avoid the attack.
"Faster," Falkner insisted. "Agility, again!"
"Fearowwww," Witherwing cried out as it concentrated and gained speed once more.
"You have to be patient, Spyne. It's moving too fast," Priya called to the very agitated Cyndaquil. "Use Defence Curl."
Spyne glared at Priya. He despised defensive moves, which was why he'd let himself forget Leer and Smokescreen. He also looked down upon weaker moves, Priya could barely keep him practising Quick Attack, Flame Wheel, and Swift. Still, Spyne complied. He rolled himself into a ball and faintly glowed.
"Alright then, Swift!" Priya said.
"More speed," Falkner pushed.
The Fearow's speed increased again; it might as well have been a Pidgeot at this point. The grounded Spyne shot its ray of Normal-type stars. This had been why Priya had pushed him to keep the move, the stars were like little heat seekers. They moved with the Fearow and picked up enough speed to strike it. Unfortunately, they didn't faze it much.
"Assurance, and trap it," Falkner said with a flip of his bangs. His smug look was back.
Neither Priya nor Spyne had time to react. Suddenly the Fearow was on top of the little Cyndaquil, forcing Spyne into the ground. Witherwing had him snared down perfectly; with a single foot it held the Cyndaquil so his back was to the ground and his head arched at an awkward angle so his mouth was aimed off to the side. Unless Spyne could roll to the side he couldn't ignite his back flame, meaning he couldn't use Fire attacks.
"Extrasensory," Priya called.
"Fury Attack, don't let him concentrate," Falkner ordered.
The Fearow started jabbing its prey repeatedly with its beak. Spyne squealed in frustration; Psychic-type moves required a lot of concentration to use, all the more when the user wasn't a Psychic-type them self.
"Swift then," Priya commanded desperately.
Spyne opened his mouth and shot the ray of stars which redirected themselves and targeted the Fearow, but Witherwing barely noticed. The Fearow simply used one of its wings as a shield and otherwise ignored the attack.
"Keep it up, Witherwing."
"Spyne, you've gotta either get out of there or use Extrasensory, which will it be?" Priya asked, sounding stronger then she felt.
Spyne flailed his short limbs briefly before he went still. He let the beak peck away at him as he tried to concentrate. Then, with a cry of anger, he managed an Extrasensory.
The attack was almost completely invisible but Priya could tell it was both weaker then usual and not a direct hit. Witherwing flinched a little but was still able to maintain his hold on Spyne. Still, for time the bird look considerably flustered.
"Mirror Move," Falkner said with a grin.
Witherwing closed its eyes in concentration then opened them, eyes glowing with Flying-type energy. Spyne cried out in pain as his mimicked attack struck him, however he took to directly. Priya's Cyndaquil stopped moving.
"Fury Attack," Falkner said flatly.
Once again the Fearow continued to beat on the trapped Cyndaquil.
"Spyne, please, you have to use Crush Claw," Priya said, choking a little with desperation. She couldn't stand watching her Pokémon be helpless and beaten.
Spyne flexed his paws which glowed faintly before they returned to normal. The Fearow stopped its attack when it saw this. It paused for a moment, then both it and trainer started laughing in unison.
"Fearow, fear. Fear fearow!" the large bird cawed.
"You're little squirt can't even use all its attacks?" Falkner laughed. "Pathetic."
Priya flushed with embarrassment but forced herself to ignore the pair. Spyne's lack on movement meant he'd accepted what he thought inevitable.
"Are you really going to take that?" Priya asked. "You're supposed to be the strongest member of our team. You should even be able to take out Ferno, who's like a hundred times your size!"
There was an indignant snort from the stands.
"If this is the best you've got, then fine. Let yourself me knocked out by that buzzard," Priya continued in her hard tone of voice. "But, if you are the Cyndaquil that I know you are, you will use Crush Claw."
Spyne remained motionless for a moment more. Then, he lifted his small paws and forced then to glow white. The attack failed once again.
"Do it!" Priya shouted.
"Quilllll," Spyne cried as he tried to summon the power again. It lasted a couple seconds longer but still went out.
"Fury Attack, put that thing out of its misery," Falkner ordered.
Witherwing stopped laughing and started repeatedly jabbing Spyne again.
"You are better then this," Priya shouted. "Crush Claw, NOW!"
"Quillllll!" Spyne cried out as he continued to get beaten upon.
Then something unexpected happened. Instead of his paws glowing his body started shaking. No, not shaking, more like vibrating. Like a tremor throughout his whole form. Witherwing stopped his attack in surprise.
Then Spyne's paws started to glow, along with his whole body. The Fearow stood its ground and kept hold but the form that was replacing the Cyndaquil was much longer and larger.
"What?" both Priya and Falkner said in unison, though in totally different tones.
"Quilava!" the newly shaped Spyne roared as the glow faded away. It was still trapped under the claw, but not like before.
"Fear?" Witherwing cawed before it dove its beak back at its prey.
But it wasn't fast enough. The Fearow had aimed the attack for the ribcage but Spyne caught the beak between his paws. His glowing paws and claws.
"Y-you did it," was all Priya could utter.
Sure enough, Spyne's new paws glowed with Normal-type energy. Crush claw nails about 2 inches long had also appeared. They held the beak firmly in place. The Fearow tried to push its beak, but was unable to get it any closer to the newly evolved Pokémon. It then tried to pull away but Spyne wasn't letting it go anywhere.
"Barbecue that bird," Priya said, unable to hold back a smirk of her own.
Spyne made his own smirk as he ignited his no longer smothered flames. With another roar he blasted the Fearow, right in the chest.
Witherwing cried out and had to remove itself from the Fire-type. It still had its speed increase so it was able to get back in the air, but it wasn't looking so lively anymore.
"Roost," Falkner ordered.
"Quick Attack!" Priya called. This bird couldn't be allowed to land and recover.
The Fearow sped as far away from the Quilava as it could get and landed, but Spyne was there to meet it. It hit the Fearow at a blinding speed with enough force to prevent its landing.
"Flamethrower!"
"Aerial Ace!"
Spyne sent another blast of flames at the bird but it seemed to as good as disappear with a flick of its wings. Then, moving so fast Priya could barely see it, Witherwing struck Spyne from behind.
"Lava Plume!"
"Keep it up!"
The Fearow struck Spyne again but the Quilava was still able to create his fire-smoke explosion. Unfortunately the Fearow was able to fly out of the way once more.
"Bloody flyers," Priya cursed.
Unable to see the Fearow beyond his attack, Spyne retreated closer to Priya. Priya could tell by his awkward movements that he wasn't yet used to his new body shape.
"You okay?" Priya asked.
"Quil," Spyne barked as he turned his head to make eye contact and nod.
"Wow," Priya said. His eyes were... beautiful.
Priya had never seen anything like it. She knew all about Quilava, even as a child she'd hoped she would one day have a Cyndaquil/Quilava/Typhlosion. Before she started her journey she thoroughly researched all the Fire-types native to the Orange Islands, Kanto, and Johto. After Spyne joined her team she did as much online research as she could as well. As such, she knew a lot about the species. In every example their eyes were brown or red, even amber on rare occasions. But there Spyne stood, with beautiful azure blue eyes that briefly acknowledged Priya before they returned to scanning the air.
"Take it out, Aerial Ace!"
"How about another Crush Claw?" Priya asked with a conversational tone.
Spyne smiled as his paws glowed white and grew the claws. But this time he did something else new, too. With a battle cry his flames doubled in size and his little claws grew to a length about two thirds of his body. Something else Priya didn't think possible.
Then Spyne jumped into the slowly clearing smoke, having seen that which Priya had missed. Speeding at the Fire-type was Witherwing. Time seemed to slow as the Pokémon collided. Crush Claw met Aerial Ace and both Pokémon dove into the ground. The force was enough to send up a small cloud of dirt and sand, concealing both fighters. Only their silhouettes were visible.
"Witherwing, get up!" Falkner shouted.
"You okay, Spyne?" Priya called at the same time.
The Pokémon pile was motionless for a moment. Then, the large feathered form started getting up.
"Yes!" cried Falkner.
"No!" said Priya.
The movements were awkward for a Fearow, even a severely injured one. Then the dirt cloud cleared enough to see through.
"Quilllll," Spyne cried out as pushed the knock out bird off himself. He stumbled and returned to standing on all fours, but at least he was standing.
Everything was absolutely still for a moment.
"Falkner's last Pokémon, Fearow is knocked out," the referee shouted. "And the winner is-"
The rest of what he said was unheard over the howling and shouting of Artemis and Ferno. With a chick in mouth, Ferno bounded over and nuzzled Priya while barking at her with intangible Pokémon speak. Artemis hopped onto Priya's shoulder, then head, then other shoulder, then head, and continued as such while still shouting as loud as it could.
Falkner came up to her and tried to say something, but the celebrating Pokémon wouldn't let him speak. He shrugged and motioned fro Priya to follow him. She held up her hand and mouthed 'one second' before she ran over to Spyne. The Quilava was now on his hind legs and silently observing the empty field. He was never one for hugs and celebrations.
As Priya leaned down beside Spyne, Artemis jumped off Priya's shoulder and started running circles, still screaming out happily. Priya smiled at her two cheerful Pokémon and patted Spyne on his back.
"You did awesome, Spyne," Priya said in a normal voice, though she figured he'd be unable to hear her.
"Quil," he barked in response, still staring at nothing.
"Oh, come here you little fire starter," Priya said as she pulled him into a tight hug. Something they'd never done before.
Spyne flinched at the sudden contact but, for the first time, he didn't try to push her away. He didn't return the physical affection, but didn't force it away either. He simply closed his eyes and let his trainer do as she wished.
Spyne couldn't hold back the faintest grin upon his face.
.
..
...
..
.
Author's Note
About time. I feel like I haven't updated in forever. This felt good. Plus, now I can get back to Feather Head. Woot. Yay! Hope there's not too many errors, I only felt like skiming it once.
Thanks to Stonekipsta for the writing inspiration : ) You are the most awesome of the awesome!