And, with his sickle keen

Midday on route 36. The sun stood directly overhead so that not a sliver of shadow extended beyond its unmarked boundaries, every shadow held tightly to its body. A nincada made its way through the teeming sea of pokémon, some looking to battle, most enjoying a nap.

The nincada quivered nervously, not knowing that the battle-seekers deemed her 'too weak' to be any sort of challenge. She was looking for a friend, any sort of familiar face that could offer protection. It was a terrifying world up on the surface. She wished she'd never come up here: there were all sorts of monsters up here.

"Jane!" a familiar voice barked. A growlithe came bounding up to her, tail wagging with gusto. Jane was shaking so hard that she couldn't even speak. "Here, let's go somewhere private," said Laura as she scooped the nincada up.

"So…" Laura began, setting the nincada down next to a tree, "how did it go? He seems to like you a lot." "H-how c-could you lie t-to me?" Jane asked. Laura took a step back, "huh? I thought that it went- " "- You said h-he would be nice," squeaked Jane. Laura cocked her head in confusion. "Charles is nice," she replied.

"It w-was a monster!" Jane yelled. Her anger scared her a little. "I don't understand," whimpered Laura, "Charles said he saved you from something." Jane went silent as she remembered the night. "…Y-yeah but –" " – but what? He saved you didn't he," Laura barked enthusiastically. Jane pondered her words.

"But he ate another bug pokémon," Jane whispered. "I eat other pokémon," Laura declared. Jane stared at her friend with disgust and fear. "B-but those aren't bug-pokémon,I mean you wouldn't eat me right?" Jane asked nervously. "Nah, you've been caught by Miss Angry. Uncle Bla- I mean Blackjack would be mad at me if I tried to eat you, since he belongs to Miss Angry too," explained Laura. Jane seemed to loosen up, if only a little.

"Why don't you go talk to him," suggested Laura. Jane shuddered.

"Oh, I'll go with you if you're that scared."

"Th-Thank you Laura."


"I talked to the boss," the ranger whispered, "he said it would be alright since nobody else is around."

"If nobody else is around, then why are you whispering?" asked Paul. The question would have sounded like mocking coming from anybody else, but coming from Paul it sounded genuinely curious. The ranger looked at him with bewildered eyes before carrying on, "You'll have to make it quick, sunset's due in about two hours."

Janet sauntered up to the ranger with her 'attack' face on. "I bet that's what you tell everyone," she said in her sing-song voice. "Thanks for everything," said Marcus. He tossed a pokéball up and down as they left the station.

The Cliffs of Joy National Park was a beautiful place; however it was relatively unknown thanks to unfortunate circumstance. For one, it was out of the way on a route that was fairly unpopular, meaning less potential tourists to come and visit. For another, they refused to advertise, Janet had only heard of it from her one of her schoolmates. And, first and foremost, they did not allow trainers to bring pokémon into the park. Pokémon battles had been deemed far too destructive to the environment and the temptation to battle far to alluring for the average trainer.

But Marcus, Tracy, Paul and Janet were not average trainers.

"Well you're in charge Janet," said Tracy as she stretched her back again, she had drawn the short straw when it came to carrying a pack for the flashlights, much to her chagrin. "We have to pick up the pace if we want to make it," said Janet. Janet's face contorted into a wicked smile, "You know it's a shame that ranger was gay, they say you're supposed kiss someone at sunset." Janet nudged Tracy in the ribs with her elbow.

"Wait, if that guy was gay, then why were you –" " –Mark, I've always wanted to see if I could, you know, convert one," Janet said coyly.

"You can't say things like that," Tracy told her as she rubbed her tender ribs, "that's super-offensive Janet." "Come on Mark, I'll race you there!" shouted Janet. She ran off ahead, giggling madly. "Hey, no fair," said Marcus as he sped up to catch her.


The walk became a nice leisurely stroll after Janet and Marcus had grown too tired to continue their race. The forest leading up to the Cliffs was a quiet forest – the thick woody smell was almost an uncaring presence that sat upon the body and invaded every part of it. It was an unsettling kind of quiet, eerie like every forest in Johto. Eventually the woody smell left the center stage for the earthy smell of salty spray and coarse shoals that leapt its way up the massive Cliffs.

"Woah," was all Marcus could say as he looked out over the Cliffs. The sun's life was nearing its end, but in that last hour of life it cast spectacular reds and oranges across the churning sea. "Janet… this is, Arceus, this is something," Tracy said in awe. They could only imagine how beautiful the Cliffs would be when the sun reached its deathbed at sunset. Marcus checked for other people before releasing his ariados.

Charles had waited his whole life to see the sea. Ever since that day so long ago, it had been his life's goal. For some reason, he didn't feel happy. His heart ached for Jane, this would have been such a perfect moment if Jane was here. Charles closed his eyes and took in the salty smell. He would have to remember everything for her, tell her all about it. The future would hold many challenges for the ariados and the nincada. Jane was getting close to evolution and she was thinking about children: what kind of father would he be? The question clung to the back of his mind as he watched the waves crash against the rocks below.

"Paul you're missing the view!" Janet shouted from the edge of the Cliffs. Paul stood a good distance away from the edge and shook his head, "That's okay… I can see from here!" Janet ran up to him and started tugging on his arm. "Come on Paul, live a little," she said, "This is one of the most romantic places on earth; you think I'm going to let you miss it?"

"…Romantic?" Paul repeated.

"The sunset, the sounds of the ocean, the gentle breeze," Janet said, "That's the stuff romance is made of."

Paul said nothing.

"Look how lonely Tracy looks," Janet said slowly, "You know, I think you two would be great together. Why don't you ask her out?" Janet smiled at her friend, who gave her a weak smile back. He tried not to make eye contact. "Good, then it's settled then," Janet said, "Hey Tracy, Paul wants to talk to you!"

Tracy jogged over, her pack bouncing up and down uncomfortably on her back. "What is it Paul?" Tracy asked. Janet stomped on his toes. "Would you like me to hold that pack?" asked Paul. "I'm going to go make sure Mark doesn't do something stupid again, you two have fun!" Janet told them, throwing a little wink to Paul.

Tracy set her pack down and sighed. That girl was insane sometimes. "Um… your hair looks pretty," Paul said. "Okay, thanks I guess," Tracy said suspiciously. She glanced over to where Janet was standing. Janet quickly looked the other way. "Can I, uh, hold your hand?" Even when he was nervous, Paul's voice was still serene. Tracy made sure she had her back to Janet, then promptly kicked him in the shins.

"No! You cannot hold my hand! You're such an asshole!" Tracy told him sternly. Paul stood there in stunned silence. "Don't look at me like you're so innocent! How long would you have pretended to like me?" Tracy growled, "Arceus Paul, I know you like her!" Paul looked ashamed. "I'm sorry Tracy," Paul mumbled in embarrassment. "You of all people should know how that shit feels," Tracy said softly, the indignation fading away. "I'm really sorry Tracy, I wasn't thinking. I'm really, really sorry," Paul said. "I forgive you, just don't do it again," Tracy said.

They looked out over the dying sun. It was even more spectacular than it was earlier. "Just go for it Paul, now's the perfect time," Tracy told him. Paul glanced at Janet apprehensively. She smiled a waved at him. "I don't know," Paul said. "Come on Paul, most girls like it when the guy is forward," said Tracy.

"I just… Janet and I have been friends for a long time, I don't think she's, you know, the kind of girl who could settle down," Paul said. "Yeah, she's a slut," Tracy paraphrased, " but that doesn't mean she can't settle down." "I don't think it'd be fair with all the – " " – Paul, I know you've seen her out there: she needs someone to help her save her from herself. You can help her as a friend or you can help her as something more," Tracy told him quietly.

Paul looked over at Janet again, he hated seeing her in pain. This was it, he was going to do it. He nodded nervously at Tracy. She gave him a reassuring smile back and picked up the pack. "Arceus finally! I swear if I had to go on anoth