Disclaimer: Again thanks mario72486 for Leo Vertua, Moonymonster for Marysa, Moon Blade the Shadow Demon for Chaos, Magma Wolf Haephestus for Avin, Silent Sigh for Akito, Dragoness for Kanzellia, WarSerebii for Isaac, and Kerrigan, Darksortie (my brother) for Selene Gladius and Medigo, Sergeant Pepper for Jean-Paul Harrison, Chronic Seifer for Ryan, Cli Nola for Sakara Ookido, Kissdarkness for Destiny, Dave and Meka, JP for Illusia, Lord Blackwolf the Ulterion for Galador, Temporal Bouncer for Jev Tempesta, Draco the Spirit Dragon for Draco, Phoenix Feather for Aryce May, Sora May, and Julian May, Lie Minamino for Lie Minorix and Hieica for Veronika Misakori. I don't own pokémon and I never will. (Well, maybe...)
To the reviewers:
Dragoness: Well Jenny didn't completely foil our space age chums. But expect trouble from that particular Jenny.
Magma Wolf Haephestus: Sure you can! E-mail me for details all right?
Temporal Bouncer: Again, I'm glad you're free, and this part is better because of it. So tell me what you think of the whole thing!
A/N: It's been awhile, but this part is so late for two reasons, one: this part, when it reached page twenty, was accidentally deleted, forcing me to re-type it. Secondly, exams came up, and I had less time to work. But now its done, and I can rest! Note after Monday I'll be free to type until next semester.
Thanks goes to my Beta readers: Temporal Bouncer and mario72486 who made this work more grammatically correct.
Also, I beg you to forgive me and review! I'll give you cookies!
The Scattered
Perspective one chapter four: The awakening spirits
The afternoon sun beat down on the path as the travelers drew closer to their destination. At the head of the group was a glasses wearing teen dressed in black. Behind him were two girls; one a young child, the other a teen like himself. At the rear the were two other teens. The changelings and their new friend were just outside of Ecruteak's city limits and Michael was still brooding about the Mt. Mortar encounter.
AC, concerned about the sneasel changeling, ran ahead to see if she could cheer her older friend up. As she reached his side, the older boy stopped and stared at something ahead of him. "What is it?" she asked as she turned her head to see what was there. Ahead of them, down a slight hill and sitting on a rock next to the path was a raichu. The electric type was larger then the average specimen, and was also more lean and muscular. The raichu gazed back evenly at the two standing on the rise. AC stiffened as she meet the pokémon's eyes; they were two different colors. One eye was dark red/brown and the other was violet/blue. "Da?" AC asked questioning her senses.
"That's your father?" Michael inquired, but the young girl already run down the hill, changing forms as she went.
*Daaaaaaa! * The pichu squeaked as she rushed the pokémon who rose to greet her. The tiny mouse pokémon leapt into her father's waiting arms. As the others crested the hill they beheld the sight of the two nuzzling each other.
"What's going on?" Marysa queried as she saw the touching scene.
"That raichu over there is AC's father. What he's doing here I don't know," Michael answered. The two electric pokémon had disengaged from their affectionate greeting and wandered over toward the four on the hill. As they came, the both switched back into human form. AC's father was a tall man, about six feet three inches tall, and had the same eyes as his daughter. His skin was dark brown, his hair a darker gold then his child's, and he wore a white short sleeve shirt with a collar and cream jeans. He was muscular, but is was a more athletic build and was smiling cheerful at them.
"My name's Joseph Ray Crystalline, and I guess I should thank you for bringing back my little'n to me," He said as he stopped in front of the group.
"No problem Mr. Crystalline," Leo answered, instantly liking the tall man.
"Yes, it was an experience traveling with her," Marysa jokingly quipped.
"Well, let me reward you all for helping my little Alicia out," he said. "How would you kids like to stay the night at a five star hotel, on me?"
"Oh no sir, we couldn't impose," Avin commented.
"Nonsense. You brought me back one of the most valuable things in life safe and sound, so a little hotel stay is no trouble to me. Besides, I'll bet it will be more comfortable then a pokémon center," He said.
"One of? What else could be as important?" AC asked curiously.
"Your mother," he answer evenly while gathering a bit of electrical energy in his left hand. He gently tossed the small sphere in the air and watched as it burst. After a second during which everyone looked at him, a car's engine could be heard approaching. In short order a black limo slowed to a stop before the surprised group of travelers. AC looked questioningly up at her dad, who winked back. The driver's window rolled down, and they could see her face.
The mew changeling wore a white vest with gold buttons, and a white chauffeur's cap with gold trim over her normal outfit. "Lisa? Is this where you got to?" Michael said in shocked surprise.
"Actually I just arrived a few hour's ago. Oh, hi AC! I see that you have gotten a little stronger. I hope you didn't bump into Saber again," She responded.
"Saber? You meet Saber, huh?" He said looking down at his daughter, who nodded sheepishly. "Well... I suppose it can't be helped." He opened the rear door, and AC climbed in.
By this time the other's had recover a bit from their surprise and Avin asked the question that was on all of their minds, "Just how much money do you have?"
"Oh I only make a good amount, most of it's inherited," the raichu changeling said. "So when I have the occasion, I can splurge a little. So are you coming?" He asked with a smirk. Leo, Marysa and Avin entered the car with no more hesitation, but Michael stopped to say something to Joseph.
"When we get to where going, you'd better tell me more. I know you have more answers then AC and I don't like being left in the light," He whispered as he passed.
"Don't worry, I'll explain as much as I can at dinner. By the way, you can trust me you know," Joseph promised.
"Perhaps," Michael said getting in the car. Joseph softly sighed, the followed. The car did a three-point turn, and they were on their way. The limo drove on the outskirts of Ecruteak then hit a highway traveling northwest of the town.
Fifteen minutes and one exit later, they pulled off the highway and entered a small walled community. It was too big to be called a village, and too small to be a city, but it was slightly larger then a town. The gates on the wall swung open as the car approached, and closed after the vehicle pasted through. The group looked out of the windows at the suburban community. There were changelings, pokémon, and a scattering of humans living there. This town, named Perseverance, was home to the second largest changeling population in the Kanto/Johto area.
The limo pulled up in front of a large hotel and thepassengers disembarked. Everyone except Joseph looked up in awe at the eighteen-story, multi-wing glass faced hotel. This was the Crystal Bell, one of the best hotels in the entire world, yet only those in the changeling population knew about its luxuries. As Lisa parked the car, the others entered into an impressive marble foyer. Emormous marble columns, painfully embroidered with intricate gold and silver designs reached to an gracefully arched ceiling. The red orange-light from the sun spilled out over the hectic lobby. There were changelings, pokémon, and humans all doing different things all over the room. The sextet approached the massive oak check in desk. Joseph took the lead and reached it first. Behind the desk was a pretty blond haired woman.
Flashing the women a sunny smile Joseph spoke, "Hello, I'm back, and I brought the rest of my party with me."
The receptionist smiled and said, "Yes, you're right on time. Here are the keys to the rooms you reserved." She handed him four sets of keys. He gave her a salute and stepped away from the counter and back amidst the others. "See, it's no problem." He told the four teens as he handed out the keys to the rooms.
"Question: how did you know to reserve four rooms?" Michael asked.
"Hey, I'm one of Crystalline's descendents, so I have a few abilities that a regular raichu changeling wouldn't have," he answered shrugging.
"You didn't answer my question," Michael commented suspiciously.
"Da will tell you more at dinner Michael," AC piped up, becoming annoyed at the dark/ice type's behavior. "So there's no need to pester him."
"Oh, I don't mind sweetie," Her father gently said. "He has a right to be curious. But Michael... understand this: there are some things that are not for you to know, at least not right now. And if you ask me a question on those topics before I'm ready to tell you, I won't answer. I have never lied to anyone in my entire life, and I don't aim to start now." Michael looked challengingly into Mr. Crystalline's eyes while he said this, and saw something hard and unyielding. He realized that underneath the cheerful and amiable exterior was something very dangerous, fundamentally good but still dangerous.
He nodded and followed the older man as he head past the reception desk and deeper into the hotel. After walking down a large hall, they came to a crossroads. The hall branched off three ways, but the raichu changeling kept straight. "All of the suites we are in are this way. I thought it'd be best if we stuck together." As he said this, they came to the end of the arched hallway. The four teens stopped in surprise yet again.
Before them was a large room lit by a massive skylight and florescent lights. The area was a large rectangle, with the far side indented toward them slightly. Several suites aligned the far, the right, and the left sides of the entry hall. Each had its own private balcony over looking the center of the room. The largest suits were located along the far wall, and these had balconies that reached from wall to wall. These rooms could be accessed by several elevators, each leading to a hall which a guest could get to the front doors of the rooms. The first hall was to the immediate left of the entryway, and another was straight across from them, and the last was to the upper right. The entry way opened at the lower left corner of the room, with the largest suites acting as the top of the wing. The whole wing was five stories tall, but the center was higher due to the skylight.
There was a large double sized Olympic swimming pool in the middle of the room and a raised terrace around it. White lawn tables and chairs had been placed along the terrace, which was covered in grey carpeting. Each table had an umbrella in its center and was separated from the others by ferns and other potted plant life. The upper half of the pool had a large slide and had several flotation devices in it.
On the wall closest to the entry hall, was a large multi-story dinning room. It had tinted glass walls on the second, third and fourth floor which allowed the patrons to look out over the pool. The fifth floor was open on the side closest to the poolroom and reached back to an open roof area. The first floor was closed off except for a pair of double doors. The rooms the groups were using meant they had to skirt the pool. On this autumn afternoon, the room was filled with guests.
"Ok everyone, dinner will be over in the poolside dinning hall. It will be at eight o'clock, and you can come as you are. See you then!" Joseph said as he and his daughter moved off. The rest of the group split up and headed to their rooms, which were on the fifth floor, on the left side.
Michael entered his room yawning. "Humph, its too fancy," He grumbled as he dropped his backpack and coat at the foot of the bed. He looked around and took stock of his surroundings. The room he was roughly cube shaped. There was a smaller square indent where the door was located; this was almost in the lower left hand corner. Immediately across from the door was a sliding glass door, which led to the balcony. This was covered by a set of thick blinds. To the right of the glass door was a large king sized bed. There was a small nightstand to the right of the bed with a small crystal lamp on it, and to the left was a small mini fridge.
On the right wall even with the middle of the bed was the door to a bathroom with a shower and a hot tub. Outside of the bathroom and on the wall to the right of the door stood a large dresser. To the left there was an oak panel that could be folded down and which contained an ironing board. Right next to the dresser on that wall there was a closet. On the wall with the indent, and off center with the foot of the bed was a large vanity with a mirror. Even with the foot bed and to the right of the vanity was a large screen T.V. with a satellite box, DVD player/VCR, with surround sound. In a half circle in front of the T.V. were two recliners with a sofa in-between them. Michael sighed and entered the bathroom to get ready to go to bed.
Avin's room was identical to Michael, but he had a different reaction to it. The teen released his pokémon the minute he entered the room. "Hello Peloc," He greeted as his sandslash turned from his inspection of the room. "What do you think about it? It's better then normal, huh?" He asked as sat down on the bed.
*It'll do. I mean we deserve to be pampered once in a while, * the ground type answered as he entered the bathroom. *Hey Avin! Take a look at this! * He exclaimed. The bug/steel changeling got up and followed his pokémon to see what all the fuss was about. The pokémon was pointing at the taps in the hot tub. Apparently there were several different taps; one for hot water, one for cold, one for fine sand, and the last was for hot oil. There was a temperature gauge to tell the user the temperature of water.
"This place is far from normal," Avin said shaking his head. While those two were checking things out, Marysa was relaxing with her pokémon. Like Avin she threw out all of her pokémon when she entered the room. A kadabra, quilava, raichu, xatu, blissey, and surprisingly a mew appeared in a flash in a half circle in front of the suicune changeling.
"Hey everyone! We get to have fun for a while!" She cheerfully exclaimed.
*I call first dibs on the TV! * Her mew Kiya yelled rushing to the entertainment center.
*Hey! I want to watch it too! * Ricky exclaimed. The raichu raced the psychic type to the remote control.
*Children, no fighting! You both can have a turn, * the blissey, named Ayuda said reasonably. She followed the other two pokémon. The xatu, known as Henry vanished and appeared perched on the balcony, to get a good view of the poolroom.
"Well it looks like it's just you and me Osiris," Marysa said to her kadabra who was the only pokémon to stay by her side, or at least she thought he was. When she looked over at where the psychic type was standing, he had already run into the bathroom to use the hot tub first. "Sigh, why me..." she mumbled. Leo's crew was doing a bit better because their trainer was not there, but not by much. Shelia the jolteon was trying to take a nap on the bed, but the TV was a bit too loud.
*Could you please keep it down? I'm trying to sleep! * she exclaimed.
*Opps! Sorry dear, * said her mate Hunter. The espeon was sitting on one of the recliners with a houndoom in the other chair and a blastoise leaning back against the sofa between them. Perched above them on the back of the sofa was a young articuno. It was she who spoke next.
*We'll be quieter, * she said in a soft musical voice.
*Thanks Hunter, Crystal, * the electric type responded.
*Humph. It must be nice to have that kind of respect, * the houndoom said.
*Are we jealous, Sparky? * The blastoise asked jokingly.
*Nope, just wondering how she stands you all, Striker, * the dark/fire type answered.
*With long suffering patience, * a deep grumbling voice cut in. Leo's steelix, Steele, was curled up where the vanity once was. The rooms were reinforced and large enough to handle a pokémon of his size, but he still couldn't stretch out to his max height. Shelia shook her head as she half listened to her friends and loved ones playfully argue. Leo softly reentered the room from having the vanity moved, and smiled at how all of his pokémon were getting along. He quietly joined them in their friendly debate.
Now the Crystalline's suite was in the center and away from everyone else's. The rooms were larger then the others. The front room was similar to the other rooms, but were the king sized bed was there was a small depression with a fireplace in it. Surrounding a woolen rug in front of the heath, were four overstuffed chairs. Directly in front of the fireplace there was a large sofa. On the right wall there was a fully stocked bar. The bathroom could be reached through a door on that wall. On the left wall were two doors leading to other rooms. The one closest to the entry way was a large bedroom with a king sized waterbed in it, and the other room had two twin beds in it. When AC entered the room, a voice called out to her.
"You made it! I've been waiting all day for you!" a little girl's voice exclaimed.
"Katrina?" AC asked. Her best friend stood up from her set to the side of the fireplace. She was a somewhat pudgy but petite girl with curly sliver blond hair that was done into afro puffs. She was wearing a white sundress with light lavender on the bottom edge of it and white socks. She had on peach mittens, matching sneakers, and a pair of sparkling blue eyes.
"Katrina, I thought you would still be at home! I'm glad to see you!" She exclaimed as she ran over and hugged her best friend.
"Nope, I came with your parents to meet you," she said quietly, shyly returning her friend's affection.
"You mean mom is here too?" she asked following her friend inside.
"Yes I'm here too," a female voice said.
"And that certainly is a plus," Joseph commented closing the door behind him. He took two steps into the room and greeted Lisa who teleported right next to him. All of the changelings present moved to sit around the fire. When they came around the sofa they could see Mrs. Crystalline. She had brown eyes with long yellow hair reaching down to the middle of her back. She was wearing a forest green blouse and a black skirt and she had light brown skin. She wore a forest green low-heeled shoes and a green hair band.
"You're just saying that because you married me," She responded to her husband's comment.
"Well... that maybe true, but does that really matter Estelle darling?" Joseph said sitting on the couch next to her.
"If your two start kissing, I'm going into the back room," AC said making a face. She and Katrina sat on the chairs to the left of her parents. Lisa sat opposite the kids.
"So kiddo, what happen when I left you?" The mew changeling asked.
"Well... if you told my parents what happened up to that point then," she said. She started explaining everything that happened. As his daughter talked, Joseph listened to her every word with a serious and focused expression on his face. And so the afternoon passed as the appointed hour drew near.
Around eight o'clock that evening everyone, except the Crystalline family, meet in front of the dinning hall. The group, with all of their pokémon out, entered the through the double doors. The stopped in front of the maitre d' and waited as the persian changeling greeted their party.
"Hello sirs and madams. May I have the name of your party?" he asked in a cultured voice.
"We're here to dine with a Mr. Crystalline," Leo responded. The tuxedoed changeling nodded and softly motioned for a waiter to show them to their seats. The passed and found themselves in a high ceilinged, chandeliered, ballroom. Large white clothed circular tables were set around the room with fancily dressed patrons sitting at them. An orchestra played near a pair of glass elevators leading to the upper floors. Everyone looked around with very expressions, varying from awe to disgust at the rich surroundings. They were quickly led to one of elevators. When they got close they noticed that the device was large enough for even Steele. Getting in one of the ornamented lifts, they were carried to the top floor. The waiter led them to the moonlit terrace at the back of the fifth floor. Their table was in a private corner with large potted plants shielding them from the other tables. Reclining on a large chair and talking to his wife, Joseph was waiting for them. The group noticed AC, Katrina and Lisa were also waiting for them as well. The older man stood up and greeted them all cordially. After everyone had sat down, or perched in some of their cases, he addressed them all.
"Now I now that you're all wondering why I asked you to come here. I feel that there are a few things I need to explain. But before I do, I have somethings to give to you all," he said. He nodded to Estelle and she pulled out a sliver briefcase from under the table and handed it to him.
"Here you go," she cheerful said.
"Thanks dear," he responded, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. He quickly unlocked the case and opened it. "Now for you Marysa. My little'n here tells me you lost something, so here is something that will help you find what was taken from you. He handed her something that looked like a compass, but under the glass face were several blue runes set in a circle around on a brown stone backing. There wasn't a typical needle however. It was in a smaller glass sphere, allowing the needle to point in any direction. "This is the artifact, named Tracer. It can find lost artifacts for its owner. However it has cannot find any artifact you haven't previously owned."
"Hey thanks! Now I can find that girl and get my pin back!" Marysa exclaimed.
"Now for you, Avin. I hear you have a special talent, so I thought your pokémon could use a new attack, one that hasn't been seen in thousands of years," The raichu changeling said handing Peloc a small grey cube shaped stone. The rock shined a faint sliver color. When the ground type held in his claws, curious to wait it did, it discharged an incredible sliver flash. Peloc blinked, and then realized he had a new attack. "That was a steel elemental stone containing the move called Flare Crusher. Use it to limit your enemies movements."
*I can't wait to test this thing out! * Peloc exclaimed flexing his claws.
"And for you Leo, a elemental stone for Steele," he said as dug out a small, round, circular, flat, brown colored stone. He handed the stone to Leo as the large steel/ground type was out of his reach. But as the stone touched his hand, it discharged with a tan flash. Everyone blinked in surprise. "Well I didn't see that coming."
"What? how?" Leo asked confused. He shakily handed Joseph back the stone and he replaced in the case.
"I don't know. Only pokémon and changelings can use the elemental stones. Perhaps you should try to find out more about you history?" Estelle answered to his question. Leo nodded quietly, lost in thought.
"That was the stone for the attack called Gaia Crusher, a powerful direct ground type attack. And for you, Michael," Joseph said, but was interrupted by the sneasel changeling.
"I don't need anything. I can handle myself," he looking at him guardedly.
"Not even this?" He asked pulling out a stone table, covered in blue runes.
"Is that?" The teen in black breathed out in awe.
"If you mean a copy of a page form The Monocompass, then yes," Joseph commented calmly. "Take a look, I think you will learn more then you know now." Michael numbly took it and reverently studied it. "Now that is out of the way, it's story time. I won't go into Michael's families recent past, as that is his business to tell you. I can tell you why Saber hates me so badly..."
-Perspective five Spirit: Remembrance, twenty three years ago, a turning point in history-
A cheerful voice rang through the sunlight afternoon in the woods northeast of New Bark Town. The bushes next to a dirt path parted and two figures stepped out. The one who was talking was a pikachu changeling. He was wearing a white short sleeve shirt, a faded yellow backpack, and travel worn blue jeans. He had black nose, red spots on his cheeks, and a yellow lighting bolt shaped tail, and yellow fur covering his face. He was tall, over six feet in height and had an athletic build. A pair of yellow, pointed, black tipped ears stood out from his dark gold hair, and a pair of two-tone eyes glanced over to his friend.
"See, I told you I knew of a shortcut, William!" The electric type exclaimed to an umbreon changeling. William was wearing a black shirt with kayak jeans, and a grey backpack. He had dark black colored fur, and had black umbreon ears sticking out of his hair, plus he had gold rings on his forehead, around his black tail, and on his elbows and knees. He had short umbreon muzzle with a black nose, with five-fingered hands, and umbreon paws for feet. There was hole cut out for his tail and his black eyes with red whites held a sense of peace behind his sliver framed glasses. Currently he had a neutral expression on his face.
"Joseph, I've learned not to doubt you instincts. But that 'shortcut' of yours may having gotten us here two days earlier, but we almost got killed crossing the mountains," William calmly retorted.
"Well... I guess when we go back we can used a more established route. But this means that we can have some fun before we have to report to the museum," Joseph responded walking down the path.
"Alright," William agreed evenly.
"Your not supposed to agree with me that quickly. One of these days I'm going to get an argument out of you," Joseph bantered. William just calmly shrugged. "Hey look at that," The electric changeling had spotted the town and its welcome sign. Now Remembrance, which was the town's name, was smaller then Perseverance. It was almost small enough to be called a village, but still large enough to be called a town.
"Well we'll be able to have hot water tonight, if we're smart," Joseph said with a wink. He took a few quick steps forward, but a hand on his shoulder checked him.
"Before we find sleeping quarters, I suggest we take a look around first. This may not be a place we want to stay," William said. His best friend sighed then nodded at his friend's wisdom. They entered the town and looked around. Joseph was the first to notice that the streets were somewhat empty for a settlement of this size. Stopping a passing ampharos changeling, he inquired about the lack of people. The woman told him that there was a tournament going on, and that the last round was being held on a clearing near the center of the town. Joseph thanked her and strolled over to William who was watching the quick conversation. The two changelings followed the woman's directions and ended up at the back of a large crowd. The townspeople and their two new visitors were looking at a huge stage that was rectangular in shape. The stage was painted lake a standard pokémon battle arena, a white rectangle, with a line halving it. The line split around the center of the rectangle and formed a circle before continuing to the other side of the arena. Facing each other was a pikachu changeling and a growlithe changeling.
"Give up Estelle. I don't want to mar that pretty face of yours," the growlithe morph said. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, with a white T-shirt underneath, and black jeans. His round orange ears stood out from his white hair and his black eyes held a look of cruelty in them.
"Oh please, like you could really beat me, Saber," the pikachu said. She was wearing a forest green short sleeve shirt with black shorts, and had a green hair band in her short yellow hair. Estelle had a small frame, but under the yellow fur on her arms and legs there was hidden strength. As the two faced each other down, Joseph turned to his friend and tapped his shoulder to get his attention.
"I have an idea how we can get free room and board. Just be prepared to back me up," he said before changing into his pokémon form.
"Wait!" William shouted as his friend slipped under the crowd's legs. "I know this is going to get us into trouble... but that's why I follow the guy..." Sighing, he changed and followed the electric type. By the time the made their way to the stage the battle had begun. The fire type was trying to land a hit on Estelle, but the speedy pikachu morph was dodging or blocking every one of the fire type's punches and kicks. Getting frustrated, Saber broke off his attack. With a flash of speed and agility he did a couple of hand springs back. Estelle raised an eyebrow at the flashy display, and certainly wasn't impressed. However she became concerned by the rapid-fire ember attacks that the fire type sent her way. Her side of the arena was quickly engulfed in flames and explosions. Saber waited for a moment searching for his opponent. When she didn't come out from the firestorm, he shrugged.
"I guess I win... pity, I thought she was cute. Oh well I can always come back for her when she heals," Saber said preparing to announce his victory. Suddenly a blast of electricity shot out of the smoke and flashed into him. He writhed in agony for a moment then was blasted off his feet. He almost slid out of bounds. Estelle dashed out from the smoke, fur and clothing singed, but otherwise fine. Saber leapt on his feet as she reached him, but he wasn't as good as she was at repulsing assault. So she pounded him with punches and kicks so fast that the audience couldn't see most of the blows. With a cry she sent a charge of electrical energy into her tail and slammed it into the side of his head sending out of bounds and out of consciousness. Spinning around, she rebalanced herself from the slam attack. The judge, a noctowl changeling, walked over and with a smile announced her as the winner. After she was presented the first place medal she bowed to the crowd. As she did she didn't notice Saber getting back up. The fire type pulled out a switchblade from his coat, and quietly rushed her. The audience was slow to react and it looked like she was going to get stabbed in the back. But just as she noticed the crowd's sudden shock and was turning, Saber was hit by a thunder wave attack, paralyzing him on the spot.
Estelle turned from the twitching Saber to the direction that the electric attack came from. Joseph was standing on the stage, a smug smirk on his face. "You really should watch your back better," he said.
"Thanks," Estelle said warily. "Can I help you?"
"Well... since you've proven yourself such a good fighter, I would like to challenge you to a short sparing match, tournament rules of course," Joseph asked.
"And what do I get if I win?" Estelle asked, an equally smug expression on her face. "Just because you helped me out doesn't mean I have to accept your challenge."
"You get this," He said taking off a gold band around his neck. Holding up in one hand, he showed it to Estelle. It was made of solid gold with seventeen differently colored stones evenly spaced on it. A small diamond shaped pendent hung from the middle with a smooth cross-shaped stone surround by glowing blue runes in the middle. The stone on the pendent seemed to shift to all colors of the rainbow, but the predominate color was white. "And if I win, you have to put me and one friend up for the night."
"Hold your ponyta for one moment! Hey Becky, I need you help here!" She exclaimed. A murmuring traveled through the crowd as the waited for the one called Becky to arrive. A moment passed, then someone emerged from the audience. Rebecca was a sneasel changeling. She was wearing a violet short sleeve shirt with a dark purple skirt. She had brown/black eyes, and had black hair that reached down to her mid back. It was tied into a French braid. She calmly vaulted on to the stage, and walked next to her friend.
"You bellowed?" She asked playfully.
"Could you check out that necklace and tell me if it is what I think it is?" she asked giving Joseph a suspicious glance. Rebecca shrugged then gently took the band from him. She examined it carefully, and then a shocked expression flowed across her face. She nervously handed it back to him then scampered over to the confused pikachu morph.
"That thing is the most powerful artifact that I ever have seen. I think that might a prime artifact, but it's weird. You might not want to accept his challenge," she whispered in her best friend's ear. Estelle frowned, and then she slowly shook her head.
"Ok bucko, I accept. My friend tells me that is the real deal, and you might have saved my life, so be prepared to give me your best shot," the electric type said to him.
"My friend will hold this so that it doesn't get broken," Joseph said handing both the band and his backpack to William who was standing next to the stage. Rebecca jumped down next to her fellow dark type and they both stopped to watch as the two sized each other up. After ten minutes of waiting for Joseph to attack, Estelle got impatient and struck first. She flashed forward in a thunder punch, but Joseph seemed to dematerialize and avoid the blow. Rotating and crossing her arms over her chest, her cheeks started to spark. She uncrossed her arms and released the thunderbolt just as Joseph reappeared across the stage. But he blocked it with one hand, directing the charge across his body and grounding it with his tail. "Not bad.... you're very fast."
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet," she said dropping in to a defensive stance. Joseph smiled and beckoned her on. Batting her hand in his direction she released a swift attack. Joseph smiled and blocked the speeding star shaped projectiles. As the flashes from the normal attack died down, he blocked the windmill kid, with his right arm. Estelle attacked relentlessly and those watching couldn't even see her punches and kicks. But somehow Joseph blocked every strike with ease. Just as she was going in for a jab to the face, he grabbed her outstretched arm and with a twist threw her. She twisted in mid-air and landed on her feet.
"Ha! You'll have to do more then that to win!" she shouted, preparing to attack again.
"I think not, seeing as you are out of bounds," he said smiling. Estelle looked at her feet with a shocked expression and noticed she was standing just outside of the painted ring.
"0You... you... I'll get you back for this!" She shouted as he stepped down.
"Probably, but could we discuss that later?" He asked. She gave him a poisonous glare but motioned he should follow her. The four changelings left, but as they walked away, Saber's eyes followed them. It turned out that both Rebecca and Estelle were roommates and had their own apartment. So there was plenty of room for the both of them. Joseph and William introduced themselves. Rebecca was finishing her training to be a historian and Estelle was working on her master's as a computer technician.
"That reminds me, we're here to speak with the head of the museum. Joseph over there wants to him to help figure out how to work that artifact of his," William said. "Do you think the master historian can help?"
"Probably... after all this town has the largest population of historians. If she can't she will know someone who can," Rebecca answered. "So that explains what Joe is doing here, but why are you traveling?"
"Well, I'm training to be a ranger, and I have to have some travel time. So when Joseph had to come all this way, I tagged along," William answered.
"And here I though you just enjoyed my company," Joseph joked.
"That too," William commented dryly.
"Why do I try?" Joseph asked rhetorically. Shaking his head he stood up. "Anyhow, I'm going to take a look around town," He headed to the door, but before he could leave, Estelle spoke up.
"I'm coming with you. I still want a explanation on how you did that earlier," she said getting up.
"The more the merrier," he responded.
"Before you go, would you please let me see that artifact again? I'm not sure about the impression I got from it," Rebecca said. The pikachu changeling shrugged and handed her the band. Then he followed Estelle who had left for the front door in a hurry.
"She won't stop till she one ups him," Rebecca stated examining the runes of the band in her hand.
"Then I guess she is going to go on forever because he was holding almost everything back that last battle," William said.
"Not all things are solved through battle," Rebecca said leaving the living room and heading toward her own to get a magnifying glass. William thought for a moment, and then laughed the hardest he had ever laughed in his life.
(My old friend, you may have outsmarted yourself this time!) He thought, highly amused at the irony. Outside Estelle was showing Joseph around. The two electric types had started to enjoy each other's company, as the tour progressed. She showed him the museum and several other noteworthy landmarks. As the walked through the woods near the town that evening, toward a waterfall she wanted to show him, a sly smile stole across her face. She slowly changed her direction, and subtlety walked closer to Joseph. She noticed he his guard was not up, and her smile widened. When she got close enough she hooked her arm through his, which got his attention. He looked down at her quizzically.
"May I ask how you got the better of me in that little exhibition match?" she softly asked. Joseph, in a display of nativity, answered calmly and a little bit confused.
"Well, you see you attack very quickly, but predictably. All I had to do was to wait till you repeated yourself and I was close enough. Until then I just danced around the edge. I figured that since I was being an upstart, you would be angry and unfocused," he explained. He then noticed that she had moved in front of him, and that she was pressing against his chest. "Um... what are you doing?" he nervously asked.
"So I'm predictable right?" she said asked in a soft, sensual voice. Joseph opened his mouth to answer but his responce got lost in her chocolate brown eyes. "And I don't think ahead?" She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer. "I'm also easy to trick?" This last question was said as she pulled his head down to meet hers.
At this point part of Joseph's brain went into meltdown, and what was left went on a vacation. He was blushing beat red and complete confused. "Estelle.... I... I..." was all he could stuttered. She leaned forward, and his heart rate sped up. As her lips approached, he closed his eyes. Suddenly he felt like he was flying. The ground dispelled that feeling, and as he was lying on his back, she walked into his vision.
"I told you I would get you back for that throw," she said giggling. He blinked owlishly at her, and then an impish smile of his own grew on his face. He swept her off her feet and as she fell he caught her by the arms, so that she was lying on top of him.
"That was a nice trick, darling. But you shouldn't get so close afterwards," he said staring at her with a twinkle in his eyes. She blinked back at him in shock, then annoyance. He let her go, and she rolled off to the side in a huff. After they both had lain there for a moment, they both started to laugh. By the time their merriment ceased they were friends. Suddenly a noise came to their attention and they both leapt to their feet.
"Did we interrupt you two love birds? I'm so sorry!" A familiar voice sarcastically said. Both of the pikachu changelings quickly stood back to back, as several growlithe changelings emerged from the woods surround them. And at the head of the pack was Saber. The fire type grinned insolently at them.
"What do you want? Was one butt whooping not enough for you today?" Estelle asked, looking over her shoulder at him.
"Estelle, I'm getting tired of your mouth. Today was the last straw. So if you don't resist, I promise we won't kill you," Saber said leering at her.
"Oh, and what about me? Am I supposed to just stand around and watch?" Joseph quipped. "If so, will there be popcorn?" He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, which had gone cold.
"Well, since you insisted on interfering earlier today, you have to go too. And for a special treat, we won't make it to slow," The fire type responded.
"Hear that Estelle? He's going to be kind," he said, his cheeks sparkling dangerously.
"Then maybe we should be too," she responded calling her own electricity.
"Get them!" he ordered. The fire types rushed forward, and just before the first of them reached the two electric types, they both grabbed the other's hand. And with a war cry in unison, the unleashed a massive thunder attack. The path was lit up like day. Out of the light, rushed two blurs. Saber gaped in shock as his whole gang was taken apart in seconds. Both pikachu soundly thrashed the few who weren't fried by the electric attack. They knocked the last one senseless with a double backhand to the face. Saber managed to shut his jaw when both Estelle and Joseph glared at him. "Um... bye!" he exclaimed and half-turned to run. But Estelle rushed him. She hit him in quick succession with a right cross to the jaw, a left to the gut, a knee to his right side, a left palm strike to the side of the head, a right wheel kick to the side, and for the finish, a thunder punch to straight to the nose. He slammed back into a tree, and as he staggered forward Joseph caught the collar of his shirt.
"Let this be a lesson on why you should never anger a lady," He said smirking at him. Saber blinked, then Joseph head butted him, and then shoulder threw him. While he was in the air Joseph send a thunderbolt in his direction. There was a crack of thunder and a flash of light, then his charred, unconscious body landed right in the middle of what was left of his gang. Joseph dusted his hands. Then offered his left to Estelle who was smiling smugly. "Now, wasn't Madam showing me around? I would like to continue such a fascinating tour..."
It was two days after the battle in the woods. After that scuffle, Estelle had called the police and Saber had gone to trial. All four of the changelings had been present when they judge pasted sentence. It did not help that the fire type had previous infractions, and that this latest one was against the mayor's daughter. The judge felt he had no choice but to banish the fire type. He was branded an outcast, never able to enter a changeling village ever again. As he was being dragged out of town, he glance over toward Estelle and the others with murderous rage.
"Even if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I'll kill you all for this!" He screamed. Rebecca looked nervously away, William impassively meet his gaze, Estelle angrily glared back, and Joseph meet it coolly and with out fear.
"The future isn't written. We'll see if we ever meet again," Joseph said in a voice of ice. Saber smirked, and then was pulled away from the frowning electric type. Joseph watched as he was taken out of sight, and then sighed. "Let's go Will. We need to see the head of the museum."
"Sure let's go. Ladies," The calm dark type excused himself with a bow. They left and Estelle and Rebecca watched them go as well.
"Do those two strike you of being some what cold?" Rebecca asked as she looked at their retreating forms.
"They're both warriors, so they don't let things easily upset them... I hope they stick around long enough as I would like to travel with them," Estelle said to her best friend.
"Does some one have a crush? Perhaps on a certain electric type?" Rebecca teased her friend.
"I have no idea what you are implying. We just meet. All I was saying is that I need to get better as a fighter. And I have a feeling I can improve by traveling with those two," She said blushing. "Besides, what did you and that umbreon talk about last night?"
"Humph! For you information, I spent the whole night in my room, studying Joseph's artifact. "Which reminds me... that thing is strange," she said musingly.
"And what is so strange about it. It's just some jewelry," Estelle said shrugging.
"No... it's not. It is an artifact, but it also has elemental stones imbedded in it, Strong ones. I don't know how he got it, but it has a lot of power," Rebecca said concerned. "Promise me something. Promise me that if you do follow the warrior's path, that you will take care of yourself."
"Oh don't be such a worry wart. I promise to take of myself... but I don't see the problem. After all, it isn't like something is going to happen," Estelle answered.
- The present: The crystal bell hotel -
"And then... well you'll have to wait for breakfast. The hour draws late.," Joseph said. He glanced over to his daughter and her friend who had both nodded off. Everyone else was listening intently as Joseph was a natural storyteller.
*Aw! And it was just getting good! * Natalie said finishing her bowl of ice cream. Everyone had eaten except a few, who were finishing dessert.
"It's just as well. I have somewhere I need to be," Michael said standing up and stretching.
Joseph singled a waiter for the bill, as everyone got ready to leave. "Tomorrow at breakfast you'll learn the rest" It will be at nine o'clock," Estelle said. "Don't be late, or the others will eat all of the food."
"I know I won't!" Lisa exclaimed. A short time later, Michael stepped out of the doors of the hotel, with a smirk on his face.
(I can a last do what I want!) He thought. He took two steps away from the front doors, when someone hailed him. He turned as Leo ran up to him.
"Wait up. I want to go with you," The mysterious trainer said.
"Look I appreciate the concern, but I can take care of myself," Michael said evenly.
"What concern? I'm just curious. So that's why I'm coming," he said jokily.
"Fine, do what makes you happy," he said shrugging. After that he set out at a quick pace through the night. Leo followed with no effort. After a minute of silence, Leo asked a question that was bugging him.
"Michael, do you trust Mr. Crystalline?" He asked. "You seem to be a little off since this afternoon,"
After a pause, in which Leo thought he wasn't going to get an answer, Michael spoke. "Not completely. There is something bigger then all of us going on, and I'm not sure if I want to be a further part of it..." As he was finishing his statement, someone ran from out of an alley and ran into him, knocking them both down. Leo helped both Michael and the stranger up.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there!" The teenaged girl exclaimed. She had long straight black hair that reached back to her lower back, which was down. She was wearing a gold short-sleeved shirt with tan shorts. She had red-feathered wings on her arms, golden eyes, a fiery red, streamer like tail and had clawed feet. She was wearing a simple silver necklace with a ruby in the center and edged with pearls. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Aryce May."
The two boys introduced themselves as well and asked her what her hurry was. "Well I was trying to meet a pokémon of mine, a skarmory. She has mail from my parents and I don't want to be late. So I'm sorry again and bye-bye!" She said running off again.
"That... was different," Michael commented. Leo shrugged and then they were on their way. The convention hall was a large marble building. The two teens entered up a wide set of marble stairs. But in the polished foyer, a startling sight awaited them. There were humans, changelings and pokémon slouched everywhere. Both Leo and Michael exchanged a long glance, and then Leo moved to check on the people, while Michael went further inside. Michael looked around the trashed show floor in awe. It looked like everyone went at each other in a fury. (What could have caused this?) He thought. (Was it chemically induced? Or was it...) his thoughts broke off when something crashed into the back of his head knocking him out. At that moment Leo caught up to his friend to find a strange woman standing over him with a metal piece of railing.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" He exclaimed. The women turned around and in the broken florescent lighting, and Leo was able to get a good look at her. She was about five feet, four inches tall. She had light blue hair that was neck length in back and purple colored hair coming from behind her ears and down her face. Her left eye was forest green on the top and light blue on the bottom, and her right eye was purple. She was wearing a light blue gown and light brown suede shoes that stop at the ankle. She had a fair complexion and a solemn look graced her face.
"The dark ones must die... the end is near," she said in response. Suddenly from under a nearby pile of boards a vaporeon darted out to stand in-between both of the humans.
"So it's a pokémon battle you want? Find. But may ask what is you name?" Leo asked pulling out a pokéball of his own.
"I... I... I was called Illusia," she stated looking vaguely troubled.
"Ok, Striker, this one is yours!" he exclaimed sending out his blastoise.
*This should be short, * the large turtle exclaimed when he saw small blue finned pokémon. The opposing water type hissed then fired a massive hydro pump attack. The large condensed pillar of water cut the air and both Leo and Striker barely dodged it. *Or maybe not... *
"Counter with Mega punch!" Leo shouted. The large water turtle moved surprisingly fast for a creature of his bulk. He cocked back a clawed hand, and thrusted it at the stationery pokémon. But at the last second the vaporeon dodged to the right in a blur of speed. Striker punched a hole in the ground, but did no other damage. The water pokémon reappeared to his side and quick attacked him there. He skid back several feet, but remained on his feet.
*Well you certainly pack a punch, * he said shaking off the hit. *But I pack a bigger one! * Two cannon's shot out of his shell, right over his shoulders. The water eeveevolution fired a rainbow colored aurora beam in his direction. This time he easly dodged it while charging the other water type.
"All is in vain. He will consume all," Illusia murmured, staring vacantly. Her pokémon darted to the side as soon as Striker got in to melee range, but the blastoise and his partner were ready.
"Shake the ground, Earthquake!" Leo shouted. The hefty turtle launched himself in the air and stomped the ground with both feet. The ground buckled and rippled away from him in a circular wave. This time the vaporeon was sent flying. "Finish it, Hyper beam!" White energy gathered in a ball in front of Striker's open mouth and a after a second a powerful golden yellow beam of psychical force lanced out toward the falling water type. It was direct hit, and sent the smaller pokémon further through the air toward the center of the convention area. There was a moderate size explosion as the beam hit the upper wall. "Alright lady, now you are going to answer some questions." (I hope that little pokémon is all right, maybe I should have held back…) But Illusia didn't seem to be concerned about her pokémon.
"Can you hear it? It's getting stronger…" she ranted. Striker exchanged a look with his trainer, and each thought that she was a couple a cards short of a deck. Suddenly a hyper beam hit the side of this blastoise flying into a wall. There was a massive explosion. As the dust died down, he found Striker had fainted, and that Illusia's vaporeon was perfectly fine, like it hadn't even been in battle.
(What level is that thing? All right time to bring out the big guns!) "Come out, Crystal!" He said recalling his first pokémon and sending out another. In a glory of sparkling snow the legendary ice raptor appeared. "Steel wing!"
*Roger! * She sang out in her sweet voice. Grey light surround her wings as she dove down and attacked the water type who was hissed at Leo again. The vaporeon was sent air born again. Crystal pulled up and hovered as she watched the smaller pokémon stand up. It glared at her then fired a massive ice beam. She countered with one of her own and the two attacks stopped half way in between both of them. Each pokémon poured on the power, creating an expanding sphere of blue-white energy. The arctic energy built up, and then reached critical mass. The explosion blew both pokémon back and forced crystal to land.
(Crystal is one of the most powerful pokémon I have… if she falls…) Leo thought as he watched her breathing heavily.
(Leo's counting on me… I won't fail,) the ice bird thought as she watched her enemy rise on the other side of a large frozen section of the room.
"Crystal, reflect!" Leo ordered when he noticed the water pokémon was going to rush her. His good eyes paid off as the water type bounced off of the semi-transparent barrier of psychic force. "Now, mind reader!" Leo shouted. Her red eyes started to glow an intense pink color as she focused her mind to read her opponent's next move. She jumped back in surprise at what she found.
*Leo, that vaporeon isn't real! It's a projected mental image! * She exclaimed. *Take out the trainer! *
"What?" He said staggered by the information. (That explains why it survived the hyper beam and is able to keep fighting Crystal, but how do I reach her? She's across the field of battle and if I did get close, how am I going to get pass her mental powers? Wait that's it!) "Your going down, Gaia Crusher!" Tan energy surrounded his left fist as he raised it above his head. He punched the ground sending a line of broken earth and concrete toward Illusia. The vaporeon sensing danger, jumped in the path of the attack. The forming earthen wall split and surrounded the water type forming a circle around it. The walls suddenly fell in with crushing force, burying it. "Crystal now! Gust!" The ice/flying type surprised at what he did hesitated, and then did as he bid. She generated a small tornado of wind, which sent in Illusia's direction. Suddenly the vaporeon was there to counter it with a blizzard attack. The more powerful ice type attack canceled the gust and hit Crystal dead on, staggering her. (There is just no way I can get past that one bymyself.)
Just as all seemed hopeless, a voice shouted out banzai and something collided with Illusia. Aryce May's wing attack knocked Illusia senseless. She stood over the prone women for a moment then turned a smiled at Leo. "It looked like you could use the help," she said.
"Nice timing and thanks for the assist, but what are you doing here?" Leo asked as Crystal landed next to him.
"Well… Dad want me to pick something up from a old friend you see, and he was here so…" She said rubbing the back of her head. Leo laughed as he rubbed Crystal's head. Recalling her after congratulating her on a job well done, He and Aryce headed over to check on Michael. When they reached the spot where he was laid out, they found he was gone!
Back at the hotel, AC woke up from a nightmare. Sleepily leaving the room where her best friend was snoring softly, she shuffled in to the main room. She found her parents curled up together on the couch, looking at the fireplace. They were both in their pokémorph forms. There was two small wine glasses on a small table next to them. Estelle was wearing a pale green nightgown, and Joseph was wearing a pair of white long sleeve pajamas. Joseph in this form had the same gold fur with a white underbelly as his pokémon form. He has the same bright gold/yellow spots on his cheeks, the same dark brown ears coming out of his dark gold hair, and long tail with the lighting bolt tip. He had raichu paws for feet. AC wandered into her parents view fairly quick, as they both turned to face her when she got in to the room. AC also was in morph form.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Estelle asked concerned. She disengaged from Joseph and moved over to her sleepy daughter.
"Had a nightmare. Leo n' Michael were in trouble," she murmured as her mother lead back over to the couch.
"Don't worry, sweetie. That's why I asked Leo to go with William's boy. He'll hold out till help arrives. Plus as a bonus he will learn something about himself," Joseph said as made room for his daughter. Both she and her mother sat on one side of the couch with AC in-between both parents. The pichu girl leaned into her mother's embrace, and the latter stroked her head comfortingly.
"Da, does it every get easier? Does the knowledge of the future become easier to bear as you get older?" AC asked.
"I have never lied to you kiddo, so I'll answer you honest. No, I'm afraid it doesn't. Sure you understand the reasons why certain things have to happen, but it doesn't make the waiting easier…" he said with sigh.
"Sometimes, I wish I wasn't born with these abilities…" his daughter mumbled. Her mother heard her and almost cried.
"Don't say that sweetie. If you weren't here I won't know what to do with myself," she said. "Would you be happier if you had someone your own age you could relate to?"
"Katrina is like my sister, but she can't understand what it is to be a Crystalline," AC answered. "So there isn't anyone…"
"Oh I know you and Kat are close, but what you mother is trying to say is that you're going to have a little brother or sister soon," Joseph said hugging his daughter too.
"I am? A brother or sister?" She asked them hopefully.
"We're sure. We found out just after you left on your impromptu trap," Estelle said.
"That's great…" she yawned. She blinked sleepily. "Sorry, I guess I'm tired…"
"Well, you can reflect on it in the morning," Joseph said gently picking her up. She snuggled closer to him as he took her back to her own bed. Estelle smiled softly when she saw that AC had fallen asleep in her father's arms. She fingered the gold band around her neck, the same one Joseph had waged against her all those years ago.
(I never believed I would be here back then… but I won't change a thing for the world.) She thought.
Aryce, Leo and Hunter were following Michael's trail. They found him in a back office, slumped over a desk. It appears he had telephoned the police, before falling unconscious again.
"Boy, he seems to get hit on the head quite often," Leo said.
"This has happened before?" Aryce asked.
"When I first meet him…" Leo started to say, but was interrupted when Hunter was nailed by a hydro pump. Both Aryce and Leo turned to find Illusia and her vaporeon standing in the door of the room.
"The end comes," she said staggering into the room.
"I am sick of this!" Leo shouted in anger. He gave the telepath a cold look as he recalled his dazed psychic type. His anger built as the illusionary vaporeon rushed him in a tackle attack. Something loose snapped inside of teen and he screamed as white light poured over him. His shape changed, growing larger and longer. The water type kept coming jumping in the air to catch him in the chest. But that isn't what happened. Instead it ran full speed into the belly of a steelix, knocking itself silly. Leo's new tail slammed into it in an iron tail attack. Sending it rolling back to Illusia's feet. The teen roared blowing both the telepath and her pokémon away in a tornado of wind and power. Illusia flew across the entire hall and slammed into the far wall, taking her out of consciousness. Aryce stared at him, as he looked around confused.
*Um… Aryce am I a steelix? * He asked looking at his body. She nodded. *Do you know how I can change back? I would like my clothing back, * he said.
"Um… you destroyed them all. The only thing that is somewhat intact is you poké belt, which broke off," She said picking up said belt. "Is this the first time you changed?"
*Now that I think about it, I don't know… * he rumbled.
"Well you had better practice, if you want to learn how to change your clothing with you… otherwise you're going to go through a whole lot of them," Michael said sitting up. Leo sighed, and then nodded.
*Well can you two help me find my room key? I need for one of you to get me some clothing from my room, * He asked.
"I'll help you when my head stops ringing. The convention's a bust anyway," Michael said. All three of them could hear approaching sirens. "This is going to be a long night…"
That morning Leo was the last one to show up for breakfast. He invited Aryce to breakfast last night. Leo wasn't surprised that there was an extra, customized seat for Aryce, or the fact that Michael wasn't there. He had found out, with Michael's help, how to turn from his pokémon form and back. But for some reason he couldn't hold a morph form. Michael speculated since he wasn't born in that form or his mother didn't change to that form when carrying him, then his body didn't consider that his natural shape. Therefore he couldn't hold the energy necessary to keep such a large complicated form stable. Of course this was just one among many theories. That speculation and the battle took up most of the night, and with Michael's nocturnal rhythm off, he would need the whole day to sleep.
"I'll tell him later," Joseph answered his unspoken question as walked up. Leo released his pokémon and they ordered what they would have to eat. When everyone was settled and grace said Joseph began again.
"Now that you are all here, there is something I need to tell you. As most of you have seen, someone is looking for the artifacts and elemental stones. There is a group of us, called Spirit, who have been watching these ancient power sources. For a while now we suspect that they are trying to restart the ancient war between pokémon and humans, for their own gain. I would like to ask you a favor. Could you go to the shrine in Ilex Forest? An informant placed some value information at that drop site, and the enemy knows all of our agents in that area. Plus to complicate matters, there are a significant amount of rockets gathering in that area. I think that all of you have a better chance at getting to the shrine and retrieving the information," Joseph asked.
"I don't know. I'm followed Michael this far because I was looking for that girl," Marysa said. Natalie nodded in agreement.
"And we're still training to be the strongest I can be," Avin answered.
"Heck, I was more concerned with AC over there," Leo said pointing at the little girl. "Now that she's safe at home, I was going to go on my way…"
"And I just meet you guys," Aryce said. "I'm also here for the free eats!"
"All of that won't matter if the world comes to an end," Michael's tired voice said. Everyone face the new arrival. The nocturnal teen looked a bit rumpled, and his eyes were bloodshot, but he still looked focused nevertheless. "That page of The Monocomposs had the location of a elemental stone of such power, that it could split the planet in two. And three guess as to where it is buried."
*The shrine in Ilex? * Osiris asked. Michael nodded.
"I'm willing to bet you weren't going to tell us of that little fact, huh?" Michael asked.
"Nope, because you did it for me. The elemental stone, containing the psychic attack, Spiritual Light was buried there years ago. I wasn't lying when I asked you to go retrieve the info. The stone is fine where it is. We just needed to know if it was still unknown to the enemy. Unfortunately, if we send anyone of our agents there, the enemy will just follow them to the stone… While they can't unlock its power with out a Crystalline present, we can't lose it," Joseph said.
"A elemental stone of such magnitude is more in tune with the Spirit Focus and can be used as a homing devise. If we lose the Focus, we will have no hope at all of preventing the end of the world," Estelle said.
"And what will stop them for knowing that you asked as to go?" Marysa asked.
"Simple, All of you will have reasons to be in that area. Avin, the pokémon league grand master will be there. I'm sure he can help you to become stronger. Marysa, if you go, I assure you that you will find whom you seek. Leo, part of the answer to how you can shift will be there, and Michael, the agent we have closest to that area, is your father, William. Aryce, you can go if you wish, as I believe you were going that way to meet your parents?" Joseph stated.
"How did you know? How do you know any of that?" Aryce asked confused.
"It's because Da, and me to a lesser extent, can see the future," AC answered between bites of a pancake.
"So why all the secrecy? Why not come right out and tell us everything," Leo asked frowning.
"Simply because at this point, everything must be by you five's free will. If I tell you some of the things I know, some of you will want to proceed because, of honor, a sense of duty, or because you care… and that will most certainly get you killed. You have to find some things out with a free mind, unclouded with prior judgments. That way you can choose what destiny is right for you. The path I follow might not be your path," Joseph said.
"So your willing to allow us to become your enemies?" Avin asked.
"If you so choose. I promise you, if you go you'll find out everything related to this matter. But I must warn you. This will be your only chance to get out of this circle. If you head to Ilex, the only real choice you will have is what side you want to be on in the oncoming conflict. If you want, you can leave the hotel today. I took the liberty of giving you all enough funds, to reach anywhere in Kanto/Johto, or anywhere beyond. So if you want, you can go wherever you want. Just remember, every choice has its price, good or bad," Joseph said.
*Question, will we still accomplish our goals if we don't go? * Peloc asked.
"Yes… eventually. I have told you as much as I safely can. It's up to you if you want to go to the forest. If you decide yes, then I suggest you leave this afternoon. If not, feel free to stay as long as you like. I still would like to thank you for helping AC, and all of you listen to my stories so well," The raichu changeling said laughing.
"Give us some time to think about it…" Michael said. Joseph nodded. The rest of the meal was finished in silence. The day passed quickly. That afternoon on the front steps, Avin stepped out of the hotel. He adjusted the travel worn backpack he was wearing; made sure he had his pokéball, and walked down the steps. When he reached the bottom he noticed Leo leaning against a tree planted near the door. No words were spoken, and the two headed toward the entrance to town. As the walked the streets, a shadow flew over them, and Aryce landed in front of them. She smiled and quietly joined them both. As the reached the gates, they found Marysa waiting on a bench nearby, watching Ayuda eat an ice cream cone. She and her normal type join the group after a short pause. As all four of them left the front gates, someone watched from the top of the hotel.
"Well it's starting, and from this point on, it can go either way…" Joseph said. "Oh well, at least we made some new friends, right sweetie?"
"Sure Da. Goodbye you guys!" AC yelled. The other four couldn't hear her, but someone else got the message. Michael turned from the gate, where he was trailing behind everyone, and looked in the direction of the hotel.
"Goodbye kid," he whispered. His form shifted, and the sneasel was off.
Forbidden attacks and Artifacts to date:
Artifact: Tracer Range: worldwide, unless blocked Description: a compass like object with a glass face over several blue runes set in a circle around a glass sphere on a brown stone backing. There is a needle in the sphere. Effect: Tracks any artifact that the user has/does own.
A/N: thank you Magma Wolf Haephestus for this one:
Attack: Flare Crusher Type: (steel) At: 15 Ar: 80% It encloses the opponent in a steel box which continually grows hotter. Traps opponents and starts out at a low damage level but doubles itself each time.
A/N: and thank you mario72486 for this move:
Attack: Gaia Crusher Type: (ground) At: 250 Ar: 90% the earth around the attacker is forced up by a powerful strike. The raised earth surrounds and traps the opponent, then caves in with incredible force. It's like a combination of Earthquake and Fissure.
Attack: Spiritual Light Type: (psychic) At: ?? Ar: ?? This moves full effects and powers are unknown. All that is known is that it can potential destroy a planet.
Character profiles:
Given to me by Draco the Spirit Dragon
Name: Draco
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Species: human
Affiliation: neutral
Physical description: He wears black jeans with a matching shirt. He wears black sneakers and has black hair with brown eyes.
Mental description: he is a loner, preferring to travel with just his pokémon. He is intelligent but mostly keeps his own council.
History: His enter home town was destroyed by an attack of a strange flying creature. He is currently following Maestro, as she was present on that day. He is a powerful trainer.
Special powers: He has a power he is unaware of yet.
Pokémon: Gorkamorka, male (Nidoking) Lv. 97. Gorkamorka has many more moves than normal including several unique attacks.
Given to me by: Warserbii
Name: Isaac
Age: 17
Gender: M
Species: Human
Affiliation: Trainer
Physical description: He has black hair, his left eye is scarred with three slash marks and is basically destroyed, and he usually has some of his hair covering it. Due to his enhanced Psychic powers, his right eye is red, and has a star shape in it that changes colors like sparkles do when light hits it. He wears a dark blue jacket with light blue sleeves and basic blue jeans. Also he wears white sneakers and a blue backpack.
Mental description: Brave and refuses to back down if he thinks he can help someone.
History: He is from the Orange Islands and he lost his left eye in a battle.
Special powers: He is a powerful telekinetic and he is telepathic, but do to him not using it to much it does put a drain on him.
Pokémon: Nina lv. 100 F (Ninetales), Eva lv. 30 F (Opaleon), Undine lv. 88 F (Vaporeon), Celebi lv. 26 M (Celebi), V2 lv. 90 M (Porygon2), Star Ocean lv. 92 F (Suicune), Noble lv. 92 M (Entei), Thunder Claws lv. 92 (Raikou)
Given to me by: Dan, who now is Silent Sigh
Name: Akito
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Species: pokémon
Affiliation: Wild, with sympathies for scattered, but mistrust and anger towards trainers and Rockets.
Physical Description: Pretty much shaped like the average Chikorita, but with an Aquamarine body and blue-grey eyes.
Mental Description: Random, can swing from dazed to hyper to relaxed to cynical depending on situation and mood. A very closed book, not into sharing secrets with those he doesn't know and trust, but incredibly loyal and true to those he does. Can be catty and start pointless arguments for the sake of a bit of stress release, but may not know when to stop. He has a deep dislike for humans in general.
History: Born around Johto, a unique color and surprising power in the family caused all four sisters and one brother to be captured in the first ten years of life. This, combined with seeing his father set on by TR growlithe when refusing capture and being perpetually hounded by trainers has produced a very bad picture of humans. The sight of a Pokéball is enough to make him get very, very angry. Very envious of those who have close families, but hides the sadness behind anger and cynicism. Due to living in deep forests around the base of the mountains in Kanto, has little experience of any other environments, and like with anything else new or uncertain is not quick to accept change. The one memento he has is a crystalline stone, which he keeps in his home, the only reminder of his family.
Special powers: Unusually powerful and he has one power not yet realized.
Pokémon: Himself, Level 37, but unevolved due to stubbornness. He currently knows Body slam, Razor leaf, Vine whip, Bind, Sunny day, Tackle, and is currently working on a one-shot (non-charging) Solar beam.
Given to me by: mario72486
Name: Leo Vertua
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Species: Changeling (can transform into a Steelix)
Affiliation: Scattered
Physical description: In human form, Leo is five feet, nine inches with black hair and green eyes. He wears blue or black shirts, with a black leather jacket over them, blue jeans, and white shoes.
In Pokémon form he is 30 feet long, a grayish-silver color, and has dark red eyes.
Mental description: Leo is a regular teenager who can speak his mind. He is normally a kind and gentle person, especially around close friends and family. He acts cold and distant at times when he is around people he doesn't like. He can be a hothead, and if he gets pissed off he'll explode in anger. If that happens, he should be left alone so he can cool off. Leo is a smart thinker who can make quick decisions. In Pokémon battles, he uses strategies such as type advantage, power, and speed to win.
History: Leo comes from Cobalt City, an area in northwestern Kanto that borders Johto. He began his Pokémon journey with an Squirtle when he was 11. 6 years of training has paid off: he earned 12 badges (all at different times), won 3 semifinal titles at the Indigo League, and has captured 80 different kinds of Pokémon! Currently he is unsure of how he can change…
Special powers: He can transform into a steelix, and pokémon powers in all forms.
Pokémon: He has six, Sheila (Jolteon) f lv 70, Hunter (Espeon) m lv 70, Crystal (Articuno) f lv 70, Sparky (Houndoom) m lv 70, Steele (Steelix) m lv 75, Striker (Blastoise) m lv 75.
To the reviewers:
Dragoness: Well Jenny didn't completely foil our space age chums. But expect trouble from that particular Jenny.
Magma Wolf Haephestus: Sure you can! E-mail me for details all right?
Temporal Bouncer: Again, I'm glad you're free, and this part is better because of it. So tell me what you think of the whole thing!
A/N: It's been awhile, but this part is so late for two reasons, one: this part, when it reached page twenty, was accidentally deleted, forcing me to re-type it. Secondly, exams came up, and I had less time to work. But now its done, and I can rest! Note after Monday I'll be free to type until next semester.
Thanks goes to my Beta readers: Temporal Bouncer and mario72486 who made this work more grammatically correct.
Also, I beg you to forgive me and review! I'll give you cookies!
The Scattered
Perspective one chapter four: The awakening spirits
The afternoon sun beat down on the path as the travelers drew closer to their destination. At the head of the group was a glasses wearing teen dressed in black. Behind him were two girls; one a young child, the other a teen like himself. At the rear the were two other teens. The changelings and their new friend were just outside of Ecruteak's city limits and Michael was still brooding about the Mt. Mortar encounter.
AC, concerned about the sneasel changeling, ran ahead to see if she could cheer her older friend up. As she reached his side, the older boy stopped and stared at something ahead of him. "What is it?" she asked as she turned her head to see what was there. Ahead of them, down a slight hill and sitting on a rock next to the path was a raichu. The electric type was larger then the average specimen, and was also more lean and muscular. The raichu gazed back evenly at the two standing on the rise. AC stiffened as she meet the pokémon's eyes; they were two different colors. One eye was dark red/brown and the other was violet/blue. "Da?" AC asked questioning her senses.
"That's your father?" Michael inquired, but the young girl already run down the hill, changing forms as she went.
*Daaaaaaa! * The pichu squeaked as she rushed the pokémon who rose to greet her. The tiny mouse pokémon leapt into her father's waiting arms. As the others crested the hill they beheld the sight of the two nuzzling each other.
"What's going on?" Marysa queried as she saw the touching scene.
"That raichu over there is AC's father. What he's doing here I don't know," Michael answered. The two electric pokémon had disengaged from their affectionate greeting and wandered over toward the four on the hill. As they came, the both switched back into human form. AC's father was a tall man, about six feet three inches tall, and had the same eyes as his daughter. His skin was dark brown, his hair a darker gold then his child's, and he wore a white short sleeve shirt with a collar and cream jeans. He was muscular, but is was a more athletic build and was smiling cheerful at them.
"My name's Joseph Ray Crystalline, and I guess I should thank you for bringing back my little'n to me," He said as he stopped in front of the group.
"No problem Mr. Crystalline," Leo answered, instantly liking the tall man.
"Yes, it was an experience traveling with her," Marysa jokingly quipped.
"Well, let me reward you all for helping my little Alicia out," he said. "How would you kids like to stay the night at a five star hotel, on me?"
"Oh no sir, we couldn't impose," Avin commented.
"Nonsense. You brought me back one of the most valuable things in life safe and sound, so a little hotel stay is no trouble to me. Besides, I'll bet it will be more comfortable then a pokémon center," He said.
"One of? What else could be as important?" AC asked curiously.
"Your mother," he answer evenly while gathering a bit of electrical energy in his left hand. He gently tossed the small sphere in the air and watched as it burst. After a second during which everyone looked at him, a car's engine could be heard approaching. In short order a black limo slowed to a stop before the surprised group of travelers. AC looked questioningly up at her dad, who winked back. The driver's window rolled down, and they could see her face.
The mew changeling wore a white vest with gold buttons, and a white chauffeur's cap with gold trim over her normal outfit. "Lisa? Is this where you got to?" Michael said in shocked surprise.
"Actually I just arrived a few hour's ago. Oh, hi AC! I see that you have gotten a little stronger. I hope you didn't bump into Saber again," She responded.
"Saber? You meet Saber, huh?" He said looking down at his daughter, who nodded sheepishly. "Well... I suppose it can't be helped." He opened the rear door, and AC climbed in.
By this time the other's had recover a bit from their surprise and Avin asked the question that was on all of their minds, "Just how much money do you have?"
"Oh I only make a good amount, most of it's inherited," the raichu changeling said. "So when I have the occasion, I can splurge a little. So are you coming?" He asked with a smirk. Leo, Marysa and Avin entered the car with no more hesitation, but Michael stopped to say something to Joseph.
"When we get to where going, you'd better tell me more. I know you have more answers then AC and I don't like being left in the light," He whispered as he passed.
"Don't worry, I'll explain as much as I can at dinner. By the way, you can trust me you know," Joseph promised.
"Perhaps," Michael said getting in the car. Joseph softly sighed, the followed. The car did a three-point turn, and they were on their way. The limo drove on the outskirts of Ecruteak then hit a highway traveling northwest of the town.
Fifteen minutes and one exit later, they pulled off the highway and entered a small walled community. It was too big to be called a village, and too small to be a city, but it was slightly larger then a town. The gates on the wall swung open as the car approached, and closed after the vehicle pasted through. The group looked out of the windows at the suburban community. There were changelings, pokémon, and a scattering of humans living there. This town, named Perseverance, was home to the second largest changeling population in the Kanto/Johto area.
The limo pulled up in front of a large hotel and thepassengers disembarked. Everyone except Joseph looked up in awe at the eighteen-story, multi-wing glass faced hotel. This was the Crystal Bell, one of the best hotels in the entire world, yet only those in the changeling population knew about its luxuries. As Lisa parked the car, the others entered into an impressive marble foyer. Emormous marble columns, painfully embroidered with intricate gold and silver designs reached to an gracefully arched ceiling. The red orange-light from the sun spilled out over the hectic lobby. There were changelings, pokémon, and humans all doing different things all over the room. The sextet approached the massive oak check in desk. Joseph took the lead and reached it first. Behind the desk was a pretty blond haired woman.
Flashing the women a sunny smile Joseph spoke, "Hello, I'm back, and I brought the rest of my party with me."
The receptionist smiled and said, "Yes, you're right on time. Here are the keys to the rooms you reserved." She handed him four sets of keys. He gave her a salute and stepped away from the counter and back amidst the others. "See, it's no problem." He told the four teens as he handed out the keys to the rooms.
"Question: how did you know to reserve four rooms?" Michael asked.
"Hey, I'm one of Crystalline's descendents, so I have a few abilities that a regular raichu changeling wouldn't have," he answered shrugging.
"You didn't answer my question," Michael commented suspiciously.
"Da will tell you more at dinner Michael," AC piped up, becoming annoyed at the dark/ice type's behavior. "So there's no need to pester him."
"Oh, I don't mind sweetie," Her father gently said. "He has a right to be curious. But Michael... understand this: there are some things that are not for you to know, at least not right now. And if you ask me a question on those topics before I'm ready to tell you, I won't answer. I have never lied to anyone in my entire life, and I don't aim to start now." Michael looked challengingly into Mr. Crystalline's eyes while he said this, and saw something hard and unyielding. He realized that underneath the cheerful and amiable exterior was something very dangerous, fundamentally good but still dangerous.
He nodded and followed the older man as he head past the reception desk and deeper into the hotel. After walking down a large hall, they came to a crossroads. The hall branched off three ways, but the raichu changeling kept straight. "All of the suites we are in are this way. I thought it'd be best if we stuck together." As he said this, they came to the end of the arched hallway. The four teens stopped in surprise yet again.
Before them was a large room lit by a massive skylight and florescent lights. The area was a large rectangle, with the far side indented toward them slightly. Several suites aligned the far, the right, and the left sides of the entry hall. Each had its own private balcony over looking the center of the room. The largest suits were located along the far wall, and these had balconies that reached from wall to wall. These rooms could be accessed by several elevators, each leading to a hall which a guest could get to the front doors of the rooms. The first hall was to the immediate left of the entryway, and another was straight across from them, and the last was to the upper right. The entry way opened at the lower left corner of the room, with the largest suites acting as the top of the wing. The whole wing was five stories tall, but the center was higher due to the skylight.
There was a large double sized Olympic swimming pool in the middle of the room and a raised terrace around it. White lawn tables and chairs had been placed along the terrace, which was covered in grey carpeting. Each table had an umbrella in its center and was separated from the others by ferns and other potted plant life. The upper half of the pool had a large slide and had several flotation devices in it.
On the wall closest to the entry hall, was a large multi-story dinning room. It had tinted glass walls on the second, third and fourth floor which allowed the patrons to look out over the pool. The fifth floor was open on the side closest to the poolroom and reached back to an open roof area. The first floor was closed off except for a pair of double doors. The rooms the groups were using meant they had to skirt the pool. On this autumn afternoon, the room was filled with guests.
"Ok everyone, dinner will be over in the poolside dinning hall. It will be at eight o'clock, and you can come as you are. See you then!" Joseph said as he and his daughter moved off. The rest of the group split up and headed to their rooms, which were on the fifth floor, on the left side.
Michael entered his room yawning. "Humph, its too fancy," He grumbled as he dropped his backpack and coat at the foot of the bed. He looked around and took stock of his surroundings. The room he was roughly cube shaped. There was a smaller square indent where the door was located; this was almost in the lower left hand corner. Immediately across from the door was a sliding glass door, which led to the balcony. This was covered by a set of thick blinds. To the right of the glass door was a large king sized bed. There was a small nightstand to the right of the bed with a small crystal lamp on it, and to the left was a small mini fridge.
On the right wall even with the middle of the bed was the door to a bathroom with a shower and a hot tub. Outside of the bathroom and on the wall to the right of the door stood a large dresser. To the left there was an oak panel that could be folded down and which contained an ironing board. Right next to the dresser on that wall there was a closet. On the wall with the indent, and off center with the foot of the bed was a large vanity with a mirror. Even with the foot bed and to the right of the vanity was a large screen T.V. with a satellite box, DVD player/VCR, with surround sound. In a half circle in front of the T.V. were two recliners with a sofa in-between them. Michael sighed and entered the bathroom to get ready to go to bed.
Avin's room was identical to Michael, but he had a different reaction to it. The teen released his pokémon the minute he entered the room. "Hello Peloc," He greeted as his sandslash turned from his inspection of the room. "What do you think about it? It's better then normal, huh?" He asked as sat down on the bed.
*It'll do. I mean we deserve to be pampered once in a while, * the ground type answered as he entered the bathroom. *Hey Avin! Take a look at this! * He exclaimed. The bug/steel changeling got up and followed his pokémon to see what all the fuss was about. The pokémon was pointing at the taps in the hot tub. Apparently there were several different taps; one for hot water, one for cold, one for fine sand, and the last was for hot oil. There was a temperature gauge to tell the user the temperature of water.
"This place is far from normal," Avin said shaking his head. While those two were checking things out, Marysa was relaxing with her pokémon. Like Avin she threw out all of her pokémon when she entered the room. A kadabra, quilava, raichu, xatu, blissey, and surprisingly a mew appeared in a flash in a half circle in front of the suicune changeling.
"Hey everyone! We get to have fun for a while!" She cheerfully exclaimed.
*I call first dibs on the TV! * Her mew Kiya yelled rushing to the entertainment center.
*Hey! I want to watch it too! * Ricky exclaimed. The raichu raced the psychic type to the remote control.
*Children, no fighting! You both can have a turn, * the blissey, named Ayuda said reasonably. She followed the other two pokémon. The xatu, known as Henry vanished and appeared perched on the balcony, to get a good view of the poolroom.
"Well it looks like it's just you and me Osiris," Marysa said to her kadabra who was the only pokémon to stay by her side, or at least she thought he was. When she looked over at where the psychic type was standing, he had already run into the bathroom to use the hot tub first. "Sigh, why me..." she mumbled. Leo's crew was doing a bit better because their trainer was not there, but not by much. Shelia the jolteon was trying to take a nap on the bed, but the TV was a bit too loud.
*Could you please keep it down? I'm trying to sleep! * she exclaimed.
*Opps! Sorry dear, * said her mate Hunter. The espeon was sitting on one of the recliners with a houndoom in the other chair and a blastoise leaning back against the sofa between them. Perched above them on the back of the sofa was a young articuno. It was she who spoke next.
*We'll be quieter, * she said in a soft musical voice.
*Thanks Hunter, Crystal, * the electric type responded.
*Humph. It must be nice to have that kind of respect, * the houndoom said.
*Are we jealous, Sparky? * The blastoise asked jokingly.
*Nope, just wondering how she stands you all, Striker, * the dark/fire type answered.
*With long suffering patience, * a deep grumbling voice cut in. Leo's steelix, Steele, was curled up where the vanity once was. The rooms were reinforced and large enough to handle a pokémon of his size, but he still couldn't stretch out to his max height. Shelia shook her head as she half listened to her friends and loved ones playfully argue. Leo softly reentered the room from having the vanity moved, and smiled at how all of his pokémon were getting along. He quietly joined them in their friendly debate.
Now the Crystalline's suite was in the center and away from everyone else's. The rooms were larger then the others. The front room was similar to the other rooms, but were the king sized bed was there was a small depression with a fireplace in it. Surrounding a woolen rug in front of the heath, were four overstuffed chairs. Directly in front of the fireplace there was a large sofa. On the right wall there was a fully stocked bar. The bathroom could be reached through a door on that wall. On the left wall were two doors leading to other rooms. The one closest to the entry way was a large bedroom with a king sized waterbed in it, and the other room had two twin beds in it. When AC entered the room, a voice called out to her.
"You made it! I've been waiting all day for you!" a little girl's voice exclaimed.
"Katrina?" AC asked. Her best friend stood up from her set to the side of the fireplace. She was a somewhat pudgy but petite girl with curly sliver blond hair that was done into afro puffs. She was wearing a white sundress with light lavender on the bottom edge of it and white socks. She had on peach mittens, matching sneakers, and a pair of sparkling blue eyes.
"Katrina, I thought you would still be at home! I'm glad to see you!" She exclaimed as she ran over and hugged her best friend.
"Nope, I came with your parents to meet you," she said quietly, shyly returning her friend's affection.
"You mean mom is here too?" she asked following her friend inside.
"Yes I'm here too," a female voice said.
"And that certainly is a plus," Joseph commented closing the door behind him. He took two steps into the room and greeted Lisa who teleported right next to him. All of the changelings present moved to sit around the fire. When they came around the sofa they could see Mrs. Crystalline. She had brown eyes with long yellow hair reaching down to the middle of her back. She was wearing a forest green blouse and a black skirt and she had light brown skin. She wore a forest green low-heeled shoes and a green hair band.
"You're just saying that because you married me," She responded to her husband's comment.
"Well... that maybe true, but does that really matter Estelle darling?" Joseph said sitting on the couch next to her.
"If your two start kissing, I'm going into the back room," AC said making a face. She and Katrina sat on the chairs to the left of her parents. Lisa sat opposite the kids.
"So kiddo, what happen when I left you?" The mew changeling asked.
"Well... if you told my parents what happened up to that point then," she said. She started explaining everything that happened. As his daughter talked, Joseph listened to her every word with a serious and focused expression on his face. And so the afternoon passed as the appointed hour drew near.
Around eight o'clock that evening everyone, except the Crystalline family, meet in front of the dinning hall. The group, with all of their pokémon out, entered the through the double doors. The stopped in front of the maitre d' and waited as the persian changeling greeted their party.
"Hello sirs and madams. May I have the name of your party?" he asked in a cultured voice.
"We're here to dine with a Mr. Crystalline," Leo responded. The tuxedoed changeling nodded and softly motioned for a waiter to show them to their seats. The passed and found themselves in a high ceilinged, chandeliered, ballroom. Large white clothed circular tables were set around the room with fancily dressed patrons sitting at them. An orchestra played near a pair of glass elevators leading to the upper floors. Everyone looked around with very expressions, varying from awe to disgust at the rich surroundings. They were quickly led to one of elevators. When they got close they noticed that the device was large enough for even Steele. Getting in one of the ornamented lifts, they were carried to the top floor. The waiter led them to the moonlit terrace at the back of the fifth floor. Their table was in a private corner with large potted plants shielding them from the other tables. Reclining on a large chair and talking to his wife, Joseph was waiting for them. The group noticed AC, Katrina and Lisa were also waiting for them as well. The older man stood up and greeted them all cordially. After everyone had sat down, or perched in some of their cases, he addressed them all.
"Now I now that you're all wondering why I asked you to come here. I feel that there are a few things I need to explain. But before I do, I have somethings to give to you all," he said. He nodded to Estelle and she pulled out a sliver briefcase from under the table and handed it to him.
"Here you go," she cheerful said.
"Thanks dear," he responded, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. He quickly unlocked the case and opened it. "Now for you Marysa. My little'n here tells me you lost something, so here is something that will help you find what was taken from you. He handed her something that looked like a compass, but under the glass face were several blue runes set in a circle around on a brown stone backing. There wasn't a typical needle however. It was in a smaller glass sphere, allowing the needle to point in any direction. "This is the artifact, named Tracer. It can find lost artifacts for its owner. However it has cannot find any artifact you haven't previously owned."
"Hey thanks! Now I can find that girl and get my pin back!" Marysa exclaimed.
"Now for you, Avin. I hear you have a special talent, so I thought your pokémon could use a new attack, one that hasn't been seen in thousands of years," The raichu changeling said handing Peloc a small grey cube shaped stone. The rock shined a faint sliver color. When the ground type held in his claws, curious to wait it did, it discharged an incredible sliver flash. Peloc blinked, and then realized he had a new attack. "That was a steel elemental stone containing the move called Flare Crusher. Use it to limit your enemies movements."
*I can't wait to test this thing out! * Peloc exclaimed flexing his claws.
"And for you Leo, a elemental stone for Steele," he said as dug out a small, round, circular, flat, brown colored stone. He handed the stone to Leo as the large steel/ground type was out of his reach. But as the stone touched his hand, it discharged with a tan flash. Everyone blinked in surprise. "Well I didn't see that coming."
"What? how?" Leo asked confused. He shakily handed Joseph back the stone and he replaced in the case.
"I don't know. Only pokémon and changelings can use the elemental stones. Perhaps you should try to find out more about you history?" Estelle answered to his question. Leo nodded quietly, lost in thought.
"That was the stone for the attack called Gaia Crusher, a powerful direct ground type attack. And for you, Michael," Joseph said, but was interrupted by the sneasel changeling.
"I don't need anything. I can handle myself," he looking at him guardedly.
"Not even this?" He asked pulling out a stone table, covered in blue runes.
"Is that?" The teen in black breathed out in awe.
"If you mean a copy of a page form The Monocompass, then yes," Joseph commented calmly. "Take a look, I think you will learn more then you know now." Michael numbly took it and reverently studied it. "Now that is out of the way, it's story time. I won't go into Michael's families recent past, as that is his business to tell you. I can tell you why Saber hates me so badly..."
-Perspective five Spirit: Remembrance, twenty three years ago, a turning point in history-
A cheerful voice rang through the sunlight afternoon in the woods northeast of New Bark Town. The bushes next to a dirt path parted and two figures stepped out. The one who was talking was a pikachu changeling. He was wearing a white short sleeve shirt, a faded yellow backpack, and travel worn blue jeans. He had black nose, red spots on his cheeks, and a yellow lighting bolt shaped tail, and yellow fur covering his face. He was tall, over six feet in height and had an athletic build. A pair of yellow, pointed, black tipped ears stood out from his dark gold hair, and a pair of two-tone eyes glanced over to his friend.
"See, I told you I knew of a shortcut, William!" The electric type exclaimed to an umbreon changeling. William was wearing a black shirt with kayak jeans, and a grey backpack. He had dark black colored fur, and had black umbreon ears sticking out of his hair, plus he had gold rings on his forehead, around his black tail, and on his elbows and knees. He had short umbreon muzzle with a black nose, with five-fingered hands, and umbreon paws for feet. There was hole cut out for his tail and his black eyes with red whites held a sense of peace behind his sliver framed glasses. Currently he had a neutral expression on his face.
"Joseph, I've learned not to doubt you instincts. But that 'shortcut' of yours may having gotten us here two days earlier, but we almost got killed crossing the mountains," William calmly retorted.
"Well... I guess when we go back we can used a more established route. But this means that we can have some fun before we have to report to the museum," Joseph responded walking down the path.
"Alright," William agreed evenly.
"Your not supposed to agree with me that quickly. One of these days I'm going to get an argument out of you," Joseph bantered. William just calmly shrugged. "Hey look at that," The electric changeling had spotted the town and its welcome sign. Now Remembrance, which was the town's name, was smaller then Perseverance. It was almost small enough to be called a village, but still large enough to be called a town.
"Well we'll be able to have hot water tonight, if we're smart," Joseph said with a wink. He took a few quick steps forward, but a hand on his shoulder checked him.
"Before we find sleeping quarters, I suggest we take a look around first. This may not be a place we want to stay," William said. His best friend sighed then nodded at his friend's wisdom. They entered the town and looked around. Joseph was the first to notice that the streets were somewhat empty for a settlement of this size. Stopping a passing ampharos changeling, he inquired about the lack of people. The woman told him that there was a tournament going on, and that the last round was being held on a clearing near the center of the town. Joseph thanked her and strolled over to William who was watching the quick conversation. The two changelings followed the woman's directions and ended up at the back of a large crowd. The townspeople and their two new visitors were looking at a huge stage that was rectangular in shape. The stage was painted lake a standard pokémon battle arena, a white rectangle, with a line halving it. The line split around the center of the rectangle and formed a circle before continuing to the other side of the arena. Facing each other was a pikachu changeling and a growlithe changeling.
"Give up Estelle. I don't want to mar that pretty face of yours," the growlithe morph said. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, with a white T-shirt underneath, and black jeans. His round orange ears stood out from his white hair and his black eyes held a look of cruelty in them.
"Oh please, like you could really beat me, Saber," the pikachu said. She was wearing a forest green short sleeve shirt with black shorts, and had a green hair band in her short yellow hair. Estelle had a small frame, but under the yellow fur on her arms and legs there was hidden strength. As the two faced each other down, Joseph turned to his friend and tapped his shoulder to get his attention.
"I have an idea how we can get free room and board. Just be prepared to back me up," he said before changing into his pokémon form.
"Wait!" William shouted as his friend slipped under the crowd's legs. "I know this is going to get us into trouble... but that's why I follow the guy..." Sighing, he changed and followed the electric type. By the time the made their way to the stage the battle had begun. The fire type was trying to land a hit on Estelle, but the speedy pikachu morph was dodging or blocking every one of the fire type's punches and kicks. Getting frustrated, Saber broke off his attack. With a flash of speed and agility he did a couple of hand springs back. Estelle raised an eyebrow at the flashy display, and certainly wasn't impressed. However she became concerned by the rapid-fire ember attacks that the fire type sent her way. Her side of the arena was quickly engulfed in flames and explosions. Saber waited for a moment searching for his opponent. When she didn't come out from the firestorm, he shrugged.
"I guess I win... pity, I thought she was cute. Oh well I can always come back for her when she heals," Saber said preparing to announce his victory. Suddenly a blast of electricity shot out of the smoke and flashed into him. He writhed in agony for a moment then was blasted off his feet. He almost slid out of bounds. Estelle dashed out from the smoke, fur and clothing singed, but otherwise fine. Saber leapt on his feet as she reached him, but he wasn't as good as she was at repulsing assault. So she pounded him with punches and kicks so fast that the audience couldn't see most of the blows. With a cry she sent a charge of electrical energy into her tail and slammed it into the side of his head sending out of bounds and out of consciousness. Spinning around, she rebalanced herself from the slam attack. The judge, a noctowl changeling, walked over and with a smile announced her as the winner. After she was presented the first place medal she bowed to the crowd. As she did she didn't notice Saber getting back up. The fire type pulled out a switchblade from his coat, and quietly rushed her. The audience was slow to react and it looked like she was going to get stabbed in the back. But just as she noticed the crowd's sudden shock and was turning, Saber was hit by a thunder wave attack, paralyzing him on the spot.
Estelle turned from the twitching Saber to the direction that the electric attack came from. Joseph was standing on the stage, a smug smirk on his face. "You really should watch your back better," he said.
"Thanks," Estelle said warily. "Can I help you?"
"Well... since you've proven yourself such a good fighter, I would like to challenge you to a short sparing match, tournament rules of course," Joseph asked.
"And what do I get if I win?" Estelle asked, an equally smug expression on her face. "Just because you helped me out doesn't mean I have to accept your challenge."
"You get this," He said taking off a gold band around his neck. Holding up in one hand, he showed it to Estelle. It was made of solid gold with seventeen differently colored stones evenly spaced on it. A small diamond shaped pendent hung from the middle with a smooth cross-shaped stone surround by glowing blue runes in the middle. The stone on the pendent seemed to shift to all colors of the rainbow, but the predominate color was white. "And if I win, you have to put me and one friend up for the night."
"Hold your ponyta for one moment! Hey Becky, I need you help here!" She exclaimed. A murmuring traveled through the crowd as the waited for the one called Becky to arrive. A moment passed, then someone emerged from the audience. Rebecca was a sneasel changeling. She was wearing a violet short sleeve shirt with a dark purple skirt. She had brown/black eyes, and had black hair that reached down to her mid back. It was tied into a French braid. She calmly vaulted on to the stage, and walked next to her friend.
"You bellowed?" She asked playfully.
"Could you check out that necklace and tell me if it is what I think it is?" she asked giving Joseph a suspicious glance. Rebecca shrugged then gently took the band from him. She examined it carefully, and then a shocked expression flowed across her face. She nervously handed it back to him then scampered over to the confused pikachu morph.
"That thing is the most powerful artifact that I ever have seen. I think that might a prime artifact, but it's weird. You might not want to accept his challenge," she whispered in her best friend's ear. Estelle frowned, and then she slowly shook her head.
"Ok bucko, I accept. My friend tells me that is the real deal, and you might have saved my life, so be prepared to give me your best shot," the electric type said to him.
"My friend will hold this so that it doesn't get broken," Joseph said handing both the band and his backpack to William who was standing next to the stage. Rebecca jumped down next to her fellow dark type and they both stopped to watch as the two sized each other up. After ten minutes of waiting for Joseph to attack, Estelle got impatient and struck first. She flashed forward in a thunder punch, but Joseph seemed to dematerialize and avoid the blow. Rotating and crossing her arms over her chest, her cheeks started to spark. She uncrossed her arms and released the thunderbolt just as Joseph reappeared across the stage. But he blocked it with one hand, directing the charge across his body and grounding it with his tail. "Not bad.... you're very fast."
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet," she said dropping in to a defensive stance. Joseph smiled and beckoned her on. Batting her hand in his direction she released a swift attack. Joseph smiled and blocked the speeding star shaped projectiles. As the flashes from the normal attack died down, he blocked the windmill kid, with his right arm. Estelle attacked relentlessly and those watching couldn't even see her punches and kicks. But somehow Joseph blocked every strike with ease. Just as she was going in for a jab to the face, he grabbed her outstretched arm and with a twist threw her. She twisted in mid-air and landed on her feet.
"Ha! You'll have to do more then that to win!" she shouted, preparing to attack again.
"I think not, seeing as you are out of bounds," he said smiling. Estelle looked at her feet with a shocked expression and noticed she was standing just outside of the painted ring.
"0You... you... I'll get you back for this!" She shouted as he stepped down.
"Probably, but could we discuss that later?" He asked. She gave him a poisonous glare but motioned he should follow her. The four changelings left, but as they walked away, Saber's eyes followed them. It turned out that both Rebecca and Estelle were roommates and had their own apartment. So there was plenty of room for the both of them. Joseph and William introduced themselves. Rebecca was finishing her training to be a historian and Estelle was working on her master's as a computer technician.
"That reminds me, we're here to speak with the head of the museum. Joseph over there wants to him to help figure out how to work that artifact of his," William said. "Do you think the master historian can help?"
"Probably... after all this town has the largest population of historians. If she can't she will know someone who can," Rebecca answered. "So that explains what Joe is doing here, but why are you traveling?"
"Well, I'm training to be a ranger, and I have to have some travel time. So when Joseph had to come all this way, I tagged along," William answered.
"And here I though you just enjoyed my company," Joseph joked.
"That too," William commented dryly.
"Why do I try?" Joseph asked rhetorically. Shaking his head he stood up. "Anyhow, I'm going to take a look around town," He headed to the door, but before he could leave, Estelle spoke up.
"I'm coming with you. I still want a explanation on how you did that earlier," she said getting up.
"The more the merrier," he responded.
"Before you go, would you please let me see that artifact again? I'm not sure about the impression I got from it," Rebecca said. The pikachu changeling shrugged and handed her the band. Then he followed Estelle who had left for the front door in a hurry.
"She won't stop till she one ups him," Rebecca stated examining the runes of the band in her hand.
"Then I guess she is going to go on forever because he was holding almost everything back that last battle," William said.
"Not all things are solved through battle," Rebecca said leaving the living room and heading toward her own to get a magnifying glass. William thought for a moment, and then laughed the hardest he had ever laughed in his life.
(My old friend, you may have outsmarted yourself this time!) He thought, highly amused at the irony. Outside Estelle was showing Joseph around. The two electric types had started to enjoy each other's company, as the tour progressed. She showed him the museum and several other noteworthy landmarks. As the walked through the woods near the town that evening, toward a waterfall she wanted to show him, a sly smile stole across her face. She slowly changed her direction, and subtlety walked closer to Joseph. She noticed he his guard was not up, and her smile widened. When she got close enough she hooked her arm through his, which got his attention. He looked down at her quizzically.
"May I ask how you got the better of me in that little exhibition match?" she softly asked. Joseph, in a display of nativity, answered calmly and a little bit confused.
"Well, you see you attack very quickly, but predictably. All I had to do was to wait till you repeated yourself and I was close enough. Until then I just danced around the edge. I figured that since I was being an upstart, you would be angry and unfocused," he explained. He then noticed that she had moved in front of him, and that she was pressing against his chest. "Um... what are you doing?" he nervously asked.
"So I'm predictable right?" she said asked in a soft, sensual voice. Joseph opened his mouth to answer but his responce got lost in her chocolate brown eyes. "And I don't think ahead?" She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer. "I'm also easy to trick?" This last question was said as she pulled his head down to meet hers.
At this point part of Joseph's brain went into meltdown, and what was left went on a vacation. He was blushing beat red and complete confused. "Estelle.... I... I..." was all he could stuttered. She leaned forward, and his heart rate sped up. As her lips approached, he closed his eyes. Suddenly he felt like he was flying. The ground dispelled that feeling, and as he was lying on his back, she walked into his vision.
"I told you I would get you back for that throw," she said giggling. He blinked owlishly at her, and then an impish smile of his own grew on his face. He swept her off her feet and as she fell he caught her by the arms, so that she was lying on top of him.
"That was a nice trick, darling. But you shouldn't get so close afterwards," he said staring at her with a twinkle in his eyes. She blinked back at him in shock, then annoyance. He let her go, and she rolled off to the side in a huff. After they both had lain there for a moment, they both started to laugh. By the time their merriment ceased they were friends. Suddenly a noise came to their attention and they both leapt to their feet.
"Did we interrupt you two love birds? I'm so sorry!" A familiar voice sarcastically said. Both of the pikachu changelings quickly stood back to back, as several growlithe changelings emerged from the woods surround them. And at the head of the pack was Saber. The fire type grinned insolently at them.
"What do you want? Was one butt whooping not enough for you today?" Estelle asked, looking over her shoulder at him.
"Estelle, I'm getting tired of your mouth. Today was the last straw. So if you don't resist, I promise we won't kill you," Saber said leering at her.
"Oh, and what about me? Am I supposed to just stand around and watch?" Joseph quipped. "If so, will there be popcorn?" He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, which had gone cold.
"Well, since you insisted on interfering earlier today, you have to go too. And for a special treat, we won't make it to slow," The fire type responded.
"Hear that Estelle? He's going to be kind," he said, his cheeks sparkling dangerously.
"Then maybe we should be too," she responded calling her own electricity.
"Get them!" he ordered. The fire types rushed forward, and just before the first of them reached the two electric types, they both grabbed the other's hand. And with a war cry in unison, the unleashed a massive thunder attack. The path was lit up like day. Out of the light, rushed two blurs. Saber gaped in shock as his whole gang was taken apart in seconds. Both pikachu soundly thrashed the few who weren't fried by the electric attack. They knocked the last one senseless with a double backhand to the face. Saber managed to shut his jaw when both Estelle and Joseph glared at him. "Um... bye!" he exclaimed and half-turned to run. But Estelle rushed him. She hit him in quick succession with a right cross to the jaw, a left to the gut, a knee to his right side, a left palm strike to the side of the head, a right wheel kick to the side, and for the finish, a thunder punch to straight to the nose. He slammed back into a tree, and as he staggered forward Joseph caught the collar of his shirt.
"Let this be a lesson on why you should never anger a lady," He said smirking at him. Saber blinked, then Joseph head butted him, and then shoulder threw him. While he was in the air Joseph send a thunderbolt in his direction. There was a crack of thunder and a flash of light, then his charred, unconscious body landed right in the middle of what was left of his gang. Joseph dusted his hands. Then offered his left to Estelle who was smiling smugly. "Now, wasn't Madam showing me around? I would like to continue such a fascinating tour..."
It was two days after the battle in the woods. After that scuffle, Estelle had called the police and Saber had gone to trial. All four of the changelings had been present when they judge pasted sentence. It did not help that the fire type had previous infractions, and that this latest one was against the mayor's daughter. The judge felt he had no choice but to banish the fire type. He was branded an outcast, never able to enter a changeling village ever again. As he was being dragged out of town, he glance over toward Estelle and the others with murderous rage.
"Even if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I'll kill you all for this!" He screamed. Rebecca looked nervously away, William impassively meet his gaze, Estelle angrily glared back, and Joseph meet it coolly and with out fear.
"The future isn't written. We'll see if we ever meet again," Joseph said in a voice of ice. Saber smirked, and then was pulled away from the frowning electric type. Joseph watched as he was taken out of sight, and then sighed. "Let's go Will. We need to see the head of the museum."
"Sure let's go. Ladies," The calm dark type excused himself with a bow. They left and Estelle and Rebecca watched them go as well.
"Do those two strike you of being some what cold?" Rebecca asked as she looked at their retreating forms.
"They're both warriors, so they don't let things easily upset them... I hope they stick around long enough as I would like to travel with them," Estelle said to her best friend.
"Does some one have a crush? Perhaps on a certain electric type?" Rebecca teased her friend.
"I have no idea what you are implying. We just meet. All I was saying is that I need to get better as a fighter. And I have a feeling I can improve by traveling with those two," She said blushing. "Besides, what did you and that umbreon talk about last night?"
"Humph! For you information, I spent the whole night in my room, studying Joseph's artifact. "Which reminds me... that thing is strange," she said musingly.
"And what is so strange about it. It's just some jewelry," Estelle said shrugging.
"No... it's not. It is an artifact, but it also has elemental stones imbedded in it, Strong ones. I don't know how he got it, but it has a lot of power," Rebecca said concerned. "Promise me something. Promise me that if you do follow the warrior's path, that you will take care of yourself."
"Oh don't be such a worry wart. I promise to take of myself... but I don't see the problem. After all, it isn't like something is going to happen," Estelle answered.
- The present: The crystal bell hotel -
"And then... well you'll have to wait for breakfast. The hour draws late.," Joseph said. He glanced over to his daughter and her friend who had both nodded off. Everyone else was listening intently as Joseph was a natural storyteller.
*Aw! And it was just getting good! * Natalie said finishing her bowl of ice cream. Everyone had eaten except a few, who were finishing dessert.
"It's just as well. I have somewhere I need to be," Michael said standing up and stretching.
Joseph singled a waiter for the bill, as everyone got ready to leave. "Tomorrow at breakfast you'll learn the rest" It will be at nine o'clock," Estelle said. "Don't be late, or the others will eat all of the food."
"I know I won't!" Lisa exclaimed. A short time later, Michael stepped out of the doors of the hotel, with a smirk on his face.
(I can a last do what I want!) He thought. He took two steps away from the front doors, when someone hailed him. He turned as Leo ran up to him.
"Wait up. I want to go with you," The mysterious trainer said.
"Look I appreciate the concern, but I can take care of myself," Michael said evenly.
"What concern? I'm just curious. So that's why I'm coming," he said jokily.
"Fine, do what makes you happy," he said shrugging. After that he set out at a quick pace through the night. Leo followed with no effort. After a minute of silence, Leo asked a question that was bugging him.
"Michael, do you trust Mr. Crystalline?" He asked. "You seem to be a little off since this afternoon,"
After a pause, in which Leo thought he wasn't going to get an answer, Michael spoke. "Not completely. There is something bigger then all of us going on, and I'm not sure if I want to be a further part of it..." As he was finishing his statement, someone ran from out of an alley and ran into him, knocking them both down. Leo helped both Michael and the stranger up.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there!" The teenaged girl exclaimed. She had long straight black hair that reached back to her lower back, which was down. She was wearing a gold short-sleeved shirt with tan shorts. She had red-feathered wings on her arms, golden eyes, a fiery red, streamer like tail and had clawed feet. She was wearing a simple silver necklace with a ruby in the center and edged with pearls. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Aryce May."
The two boys introduced themselves as well and asked her what her hurry was. "Well I was trying to meet a pokémon of mine, a skarmory. She has mail from my parents and I don't want to be late. So I'm sorry again and bye-bye!" She said running off again.
"That... was different," Michael commented. Leo shrugged and then they were on their way. The convention hall was a large marble building. The two teens entered up a wide set of marble stairs. But in the polished foyer, a startling sight awaited them. There were humans, changelings and pokémon slouched everywhere. Both Leo and Michael exchanged a long glance, and then Leo moved to check on the people, while Michael went further inside. Michael looked around the trashed show floor in awe. It looked like everyone went at each other in a fury. (What could have caused this?) He thought. (Was it chemically induced? Or was it...) his thoughts broke off when something crashed into the back of his head knocking him out. At that moment Leo caught up to his friend to find a strange woman standing over him with a metal piece of railing.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" He exclaimed. The women turned around and in the broken florescent lighting, and Leo was able to get a good look at her. She was about five feet, four inches tall. She had light blue hair that was neck length in back and purple colored hair coming from behind her ears and down her face. Her left eye was forest green on the top and light blue on the bottom, and her right eye was purple. She was wearing a light blue gown and light brown suede shoes that stop at the ankle. She had a fair complexion and a solemn look graced her face.
"The dark ones must die... the end is near," she said in response. Suddenly from under a nearby pile of boards a vaporeon darted out to stand in-between both of the humans.
"So it's a pokémon battle you want? Find. But may ask what is you name?" Leo asked pulling out a pokéball of his own.
"I... I... I was called Illusia," she stated looking vaguely troubled.
"Ok, Striker, this one is yours!" he exclaimed sending out his blastoise.
*This should be short, * the large turtle exclaimed when he saw small blue finned pokémon. The opposing water type hissed then fired a massive hydro pump attack. The large condensed pillar of water cut the air and both Leo and Striker barely dodged it. *Or maybe not... *
"Counter with Mega punch!" Leo shouted. The large water turtle moved surprisingly fast for a creature of his bulk. He cocked back a clawed hand, and thrusted it at the stationery pokémon. But at the last second the vaporeon dodged to the right in a blur of speed. Striker punched a hole in the ground, but did no other damage. The water pokémon reappeared to his side and quick attacked him there. He skid back several feet, but remained on his feet.
*Well you certainly pack a punch, * he said shaking off the hit. *But I pack a bigger one! * Two cannon's shot out of his shell, right over his shoulders. The water eeveevolution fired a rainbow colored aurora beam in his direction. This time he easly dodged it while charging the other water type.
"All is in vain. He will consume all," Illusia murmured, staring vacantly. Her pokémon darted to the side as soon as Striker got in to melee range, but the blastoise and his partner were ready.
"Shake the ground, Earthquake!" Leo shouted. The hefty turtle launched himself in the air and stomped the ground with both feet. The ground buckled and rippled away from him in a circular wave. This time the vaporeon was sent flying. "Finish it, Hyper beam!" White energy gathered in a ball in front of Striker's open mouth and a after a second a powerful golden yellow beam of psychical force lanced out toward the falling water type. It was direct hit, and sent the smaller pokémon further through the air toward the center of the convention area. There was a moderate size explosion as the beam hit the upper wall. "Alright lady, now you are going to answer some questions." (I hope that little pokémon is all right, maybe I should have held back…) But Illusia didn't seem to be concerned about her pokémon.
"Can you hear it? It's getting stronger…" she ranted. Striker exchanged a look with his trainer, and each thought that she was a couple a cards short of a deck. Suddenly a hyper beam hit the side of this blastoise flying into a wall. There was a massive explosion. As the dust died down, he found Striker had fainted, and that Illusia's vaporeon was perfectly fine, like it hadn't even been in battle.
(What level is that thing? All right time to bring out the big guns!) "Come out, Crystal!" He said recalling his first pokémon and sending out another. In a glory of sparkling snow the legendary ice raptor appeared. "Steel wing!"
*Roger! * She sang out in her sweet voice. Grey light surround her wings as she dove down and attacked the water type who was hissed at Leo again. The vaporeon was sent air born again. Crystal pulled up and hovered as she watched the smaller pokémon stand up. It glared at her then fired a massive ice beam. She countered with one of her own and the two attacks stopped half way in between both of them. Each pokémon poured on the power, creating an expanding sphere of blue-white energy. The arctic energy built up, and then reached critical mass. The explosion blew both pokémon back and forced crystal to land.
(Crystal is one of the most powerful pokémon I have… if she falls…) Leo thought as he watched her breathing heavily.
(Leo's counting on me… I won't fail,) the ice bird thought as she watched her enemy rise on the other side of a large frozen section of the room.
"Crystal, reflect!" Leo ordered when he noticed the water pokémon was going to rush her. His good eyes paid off as the water type bounced off of the semi-transparent barrier of psychic force. "Now, mind reader!" Leo shouted. Her red eyes started to glow an intense pink color as she focused her mind to read her opponent's next move. She jumped back in surprise at what she found.
*Leo, that vaporeon isn't real! It's a projected mental image! * She exclaimed. *Take out the trainer! *
"What?" He said staggered by the information. (That explains why it survived the hyper beam and is able to keep fighting Crystal, but how do I reach her? She's across the field of battle and if I did get close, how am I going to get pass her mental powers? Wait that's it!) "Your going down, Gaia Crusher!" Tan energy surrounded his left fist as he raised it above his head. He punched the ground sending a line of broken earth and concrete toward Illusia. The vaporeon sensing danger, jumped in the path of the attack. The forming earthen wall split and surrounded the water type forming a circle around it. The walls suddenly fell in with crushing force, burying it. "Crystal now! Gust!" The ice/flying type surprised at what he did hesitated, and then did as he bid. She generated a small tornado of wind, which sent in Illusia's direction. Suddenly the vaporeon was there to counter it with a blizzard attack. The more powerful ice type attack canceled the gust and hit Crystal dead on, staggering her. (There is just no way I can get past that one bymyself.)
Just as all seemed hopeless, a voice shouted out banzai and something collided with Illusia. Aryce May's wing attack knocked Illusia senseless. She stood over the prone women for a moment then turned a smiled at Leo. "It looked like you could use the help," she said.
"Nice timing and thanks for the assist, but what are you doing here?" Leo asked as Crystal landed next to him.
"Well… Dad want me to pick something up from a old friend you see, and he was here so…" She said rubbing the back of her head. Leo laughed as he rubbed Crystal's head. Recalling her after congratulating her on a job well done, He and Aryce headed over to check on Michael. When they reached the spot where he was laid out, they found he was gone!
Back at the hotel, AC woke up from a nightmare. Sleepily leaving the room where her best friend was snoring softly, she shuffled in to the main room. She found her parents curled up together on the couch, looking at the fireplace. They were both in their pokémorph forms. There was two small wine glasses on a small table next to them. Estelle was wearing a pale green nightgown, and Joseph was wearing a pair of white long sleeve pajamas. Joseph in this form had the same gold fur with a white underbelly as his pokémon form. He has the same bright gold/yellow spots on his cheeks, the same dark brown ears coming out of his dark gold hair, and long tail with the lighting bolt tip. He had raichu paws for feet. AC wandered into her parents view fairly quick, as they both turned to face her when she got in to the room. AC also was in morph form.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Estelle asked concerned. She disengaged from Joseph and moved over to her sleepy daughter.
"Had a nightmare. Leo n' Michael were in trouble," she murmured as her mother lead back over to the couch.
"Don't worry, sweetie. That's why I asked Leo to go with William's boy. He'll hold out till help arrives. Plus as a bonus he will learn something about himself," Joseph said as made room for his daughter. Both she and her mother sat on one side of the couch with AC in-between both parents. The pichu girl leaned into her mother's embrace, and the latter stroked her head comfortingly.
"Da, does it every get easier? Does the knowledge of the future become easier to bear as you get older?" AC asked.
"I have never lied to you kiddo, so I'll answer you honest. No, I'm afraid it doesn't. Sure you understand the reasons why certain things have to happen, but it doesn't make the waiting easier…" he said with sigh.
"Sometimes, I wish I wasn't born with these abilities…" his daughter mumbled. Her mother heard her and almost cried.
"Don't say that sweetie. If you weren't here I won't know what to do with myself," she said. "Would you be happier if you had someone your own age you could relate to?"
"Katrina is like my sister, but she can't understand what it is to be a Crystalline," AC answered. "So there isn't anyone…"
"Oh I know you and Kat are close, but what you mother is trying to say is that you're going to have a little brother or sister soon," Joseph said hugging his daughter too.
"I am? A brother or sister?" She asked them hopefully.
"We're sure. We found out just after you left on your impromptu trap," Estelle said.
"That's great…" she yawned. She blinked sleepily. "Sorry, I guess I'm tired…"
"Well, you can reflect on it in the morning," Joseph said gently picking her up. She snuggled closer to him as he took her back to her own bed. Estelle smiled softly when she saw that AC had fallen asleep in her father's arms. She fingered the gold band around her neck, the same one Joseph had waged against her all those years ago.
(I never believed I would be here back then… but I won't change a thing for the world.) She thought.
Aryce, Leo and Hunter were following Michael's trail. They found him in a back office, slumped over a desk. It appears he had telephoned the police, before falling unconscious again.
"Boy, he seems to get hit on the head quite often," Leo said.
"This has happened before?" Aryce asked.
"When I first meet him…" Leo started to say, but was interrupted when Hunter was nailed by a hydro pump. Both Aryce and Leo turned to find Illusia and her vaporeon standing in the door of the room.
"The end comes," she said staggering into the room.
"I am sick of this!" Leo shouted in anger. He gave the telepath a cold look as he recalled his dazed psychic type. His anger built as the illusionary vaporeon rushed him in a tackle attack. Something loose snapped inside of teen and he screamed as white light poured over him. His shape changed, growing larger and longer. The water type kept coming jumping in the air to catch him in the chest. But that isn't what happened. Instead it ran full speed into the belly of a steelix, knocking itself silly. Leo's new tail slammed into it in an iron tail attack. Sending it rolling back to Illusia's feet. The teen roared blowing both the telepath and her pokémon away in a tornado of wind and power. Illusia flew across the entire hall and slammed into the far wall, taking her out of consciousness. Aryce stared at him, as he looked around confused.
*Um… Aryce am I a steelix? * He asked looking at his body. She nodded. *Do you know how I can change back? I would like my clothing back, * he said.
"Um… you destroyed them all. The only thing that is somewhat intact is you poké belt, which broke off," She said picking up said belt. "Is this the first time you changed?"
*Now that I think about it, I don't know… * he rumbled.
"Well you had better practice, if you want to learn how to change your clothing with you… otherwise you're going to go through a whole lot of them," Michael said sitting up. Leo sighed, and then nodded.
*Well can you two help me find my room key? I need for one of you to get me some clothing from my room, * He asked.
"I'll help you when my head stops ringing. The convention's a bust anyway," Michael said. All three of them could hear approaching sirens. "This is going to be a long night…"
That morning Leo was the last one to show up for breakfast. He invited Aryce to breakfast last night. Leo wasn't surprised that there was an extra, customized seat for Aryce, or the fact that Michael wasn't there. He had found out, with Michael's help, how to turn from his pokémon form and back. But for some reason he couldn't hold a morph form. Michael speculated since he wasn't born in that form or his mother didn't change to that form when carrying him, then his body didn't consider that his natural shape. Therefore he couldn't hold the energy necessary to keep such a large complicated form stable. Of course this was just one among many theories. That speculation and the battle took up most of the night, and with Michael's nocturnal rhythm off, he would need the whole day to sleep.
"I'll tell him later," Joseph answered his unspoken question as walked up. Leo released his pokémon and they ordered what they would have to eat. When everyone was settled and grace said Joseph began again.
"Now that you are all here, there is something I need to tell you. As most of you have seen, someone is looking for the artifacts and elemental stones. There is a group of us, called Spirit, who have been watching these ancient power sources. For a while now we suspect that they are trying to restart the ancient war between pokémon and humans, for their own gain. I would like to ask you a favor. Could you go to the shrine in Ilex Forest? An informant placed some value information at that drop site, and the enemy knows all of our agents in that area. Plus to complicate matters, there are a significant amount of rockets gathering in that area. I think that all of you have a better chance at getting to the shrine and retrieving the information," Joseph asked.
"I don't know. I'm followed Michael this far because I was looking for that girl," Marysa said. Natalie nodded in agreement.
"And we're still training to be the strongest I can be," Avin answered.
"Heck, I was more concerned with AC over there," Leo said pointing at the little girl. "Now that she's safe at home, I was going to go on my way…"
"And I just meet you guys," Aryce said. "I'm also here for the free eats!"
"All of that won't matter if the world comes to an end," Michael's tired voice said. Everyone face the new arrival. The nocturnal teen looked a bit rumpled, and his eyes were bloodshot, but he still looked focused nevertheless. "That page of The Monocomposs had the location of a elemental stone of such power, that it could split the planet in two. And three guess as to where it is buried."
*The shrine in Ilex? * Osiris asked. Michael nodded.
"I'm willing to bet you weren't going to tell us of that little fact, huh?" Michael asked.
"Nope, because you did it for me. The elemental stone, containing the psychic attack, Spiritual Light was buried there years ago. I wasn't lying when I asked you to go retrieve the info. The stone is fine where it is. We just needed to know if it was still unknown to the enemy. Unfortunately, if we send anyone of our agents there, the enemy will just follow them to the stone… While they can't unlock its power with out a Crystalline present, we can't lose it," Joseph said.
"A elemental stone of such magnitude is more in tune with the Spirit Focus and can be used as a homing devise. If we lose the Focus, we will have no hope at all of preventing the end of the world," Estelle said.
"And what will stop them for knowing that you asked as to go?" Marysa asked.
"Simple, All of you will have reasons to be in that area. Avin, the pokémon league grand master will be there. I'm sure he can help you to become stronger. Marysa, if you go, I assure you that you will find whom you seek. Leo, part of the answer to how you can shift will be there, and Michael, the agent we have closest to that area, is your father, William. Aryce, you can go if you wish, as I believe you were going that way to meet your parents?" Joseph stated.
"How did you know? How do you know any of that?" Aryce asked confused.
"It's because Da, and me to a lesser extent, can see the future," AC answered between bites of a pancake.
"So why all the secrecy? Why not come right out and tell us everything," Leo asked frowning.
"Simply because at this point, everything must be by you five's free will. If I tell you some of the things I know, some of you will want to proceed because, of honor, a sense of duty, or because you care… and that will most certainly get you killed. You have to find some things out with a free mind, unclouded with prior judgments. That way you can choose what destiny is right for you. The path I follow might not be your path," Joseph said.
"So your willing to allow us to become your enemies?" Avin asked.
"If you so choose. I promise you, if you go you'll find out everything related to this matter. But I must warn you. This will be your only chance to get out of this circle. If you head to Ilex, the only real choice you will have is what side you want to be on in the oncoming conflict. If you want, you can leave the hotel today. I took the liberty of giving you all enough funds, to reach anywhere in Kanto/Johto, or anywhere beyond. So if you want, you can go wherever you want. Just remember, every choice has its price, good or bad," Joseph said.
*Question, will we still accomplish our goals if we don't go? * Peloc asked.
"Yes… eventually. I have told you as much as I safely can. It's up to you if you want to go to the forest. If you decide yes, then I suggest you leave this afternoon. If not, feel free to stay as long as you like. I still would like to thank you for helping AC, and all of you listen to my stories so well," The raichu changeling said laughing.
"Give us some time to think about it…" Michael said. Joseph nodded. The rest of the meal was finished in silence. The day passed quickly. That afternoon on the front steps, Avin stepped out of the hotel. He adjusted the travel worn backpack he was wearing; made sure he had his pokéball, and walked down the steps. When he reached the bottom he noticed Leo leaning against a tree planted near the door. No words were spoken, and the two headed toward the entrance to town. As the walked the streets, a shadow flew over them, and Aryce landed in front of them. She smiled and quietly joined them both. As the reached the gates, they found Marysa waiting on a bench nearby, watching Ayuda eat an ice cream cone. She and her normal type join the group after a short pause. As all four of them left the front gates, someone watched from the top of the hotel.
"Well it's starting, and from this point on, it can go either way…" Joseph said. "Oh well, at least we made some new friends, right sweetie?"
"Sure Da. Goodbye you guys!" AC yelled. The other four couldn't hear her, but someone else got the message. Michael turned from the gate, where he was trailing behind everyone, and looked in the direction of the hotel.
"Goodbye kid," he whispered. His form shifted, and the sneasel was off.
Forbidden attacks and Artifacts to date:
Artifact: Tracer Range: worldwide, unless blocked Description: a compass like object with a glass face over several blue runes set in a circle around a glass sphere on a brown stone backing. There is a needle in the sphere. Effect: Tracks any artifact that the user has/does own.
A/N: thank you Magma Wolf Haephestus for this one:
Attack: Flare Crusher Type: (steel) At: 15 Ar: 80% It encloses the opponent in a steel box which continually grows hotter. Traps opponents and starts out at a low damage level but doubles itself each time.
A/N: and thank you mario72486 for this move:
Attack: Gaia Crusher Type: (ground) At: 250 Ar: 90% the earth around the attacker is forced up by a powerful strike. The raised earth surrounds and traps the opponent, then caves in with incredible force. It's like a combination of Earthquake and Fissure.
Attack: Spiritual Light Type: (psychic) At: ?? Ar: ?? This moves full effects and powers are unknown. All that is known is that it can potential destroy a planet.
Character profiles:
Given to me by Draco the Spirit Dragon
Name: Draco
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Species: human
Affiliation: neutral
Physical description: He wears black jeans with a matching shirt. He wears black sneakers and has black hair with brown eyes.
Mental description: he is a loner, preferring to travel with just his pokémon. He is intelligent but mostly keeps his own council.
History: His enter home town was destroyed by an attack of a strange flying creature. He is currently following Maestro, as she was present on that day. He is a powerful trainer.
Special powers: He has a power he is unaware of yet.
Pokémon: Gorkamorka, male (Nidoking) Lv. 97. Gorkamorka has many more moves than normal including several unique attacks.
Given to me by: Warserbii
Name: Isaac
Age: 17
Gender: M
Species: Human
Affiliation: Trainer
Physical description: He has black hair, his left eye is scarred with three slash marks and is basically destroyed, and he usually has some of his hair covering it. Due to his enhanced Psychic powers, his right eye is red, and has a star shape in it that changes colors like sparkles do when light hits it. He wears a dark blue jacket with light blue sleeves and basic blue jeans. Also he wears white sneakers and a blue backpack.
Mental description: Brave and refuses to back down if he thinks he can help someone.
History: He is from the Orange Islands and he lost his left eye in a battle.
Special powers: He is a powerful telekinetic and he is telepathic, but do to him not using it to much it does put a drain on him.
Pokémon: Nina lv. 100 F (Ninetales), Eva lv. 30 F (Opaleon), Undine lv. 88 F (Vaporeon), Celebi lv. 26 M (Celebi), V2 lv. 90 M (Porygon2), Star Ocean lv. 92 F (Suicune), Noble lv. 92 M (Entei), Thunder Claws lv. 92 (Raikou)
Given to me by: Dan, who now is Silent Sigh
Name: Akito
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Species: pokémon
Affiliation: Wild, with sympathies for scattered, but mistrust and anger towards trainers and Rockets.
Physical Description: Pretty much shaped like the average Chikorita, but with an Aquamarine body and blue-grey eyes.
Mental Description: Random, can swing from dazed to hyper to relaxed to cynical depending on situation and mood. A very closed book, not into sharing secrets with those he doesn't know and trust, but incredibly loyal and true to those he does. Can be catty and start pointless arguments for the sake of a bit of stress release, but may not know when to stop. He has a deep dislike for humans in general.
History: Born around Johto, a unique color and surprising power in the family caused all four sisters and one brother to be captured in the first ten years of life. This, combined with seeing his father set on by TR growlithe when refusing capture and being perpetually hounded by trainers has produced a very bad picture of humans. The sight of a Pokéball is enough to make him get very, very angry. Very envious of those who have close families, but hides the sadness behind anger and cynicism. Due to living in deep forests around the base of the mountains in Kanto, has little experience of any other environments, and like with anything else new or uncertain is not quick to accept change. The one memento he has is a crystalline stone, which he keeps in his home, the only reminder of his family.
Special powers: Unusually powerful and he has one power not yet realized.
Pokémon: Himself, Level 37, but unevolved due to stubbornness. He currently knows Body slam, Razor leaf, Vine whip, Bind, Sunny day, Tackle, and is currently working on a one-shot (non-charging) Solar beam.
Given to me by: mario72486
Name: Leo Vertua
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Species: Changeling (can transform into a Steelix)
Affiliation: Scattered
Physical description: In human form, Leo is five feet, nine inches with black hair and green eyes. He wears blue or black shirts, with a black leather jacket over them, blue jeans, and white shoes.
In Pokémon form he is 30 feet long, a grayish-silver color, and has dark red eyes.
Mental description: Leo is a regular teenager who can speak his mind. He is normally a kind and gentle person, especially around close friends and family. He acts cold and distant at times when he is around people he doesn't like. He can be a hothead, and if he gets pissed off he'll explode in anger. If that happens, he should be left alone so he can cool off. Leo is a smart thinker who can make quick decisions. In Pokémon battles, he uses strategies such as type advantage, power, and speed to win.
History: Leo comes from Cobalt City, an area in northwestern Kanto that borders Johto. He began his Pokémon journey with an Squirtle when he was 11. 6 years of training has paid off: he earned 12 badges (all at different times), won 3 semifinal titles at the Indigo League, and has captured 80 different kinds of Pokémon! Currently he is unsure of how he can change…
Special powers: He can transform into a steelix, and pokémon powers in all forms.
Pokémon: He has six, Sheila (Jolteon) f lv 70, Hunter (Espeon) m lv 70, Crystal (Articuno) f lv 70, Sparky (Houndoom) m lv 70, Steele (Steelix) m lv 75, Striker (Blastoise) m lv 75.
