These are the ones I received:
Victor Hunt (MellnTheMiddle)
Ulfsigr (Victor John Foxfire)
John Andy (CDW)
With these new characters, Zacian, Mew, and Victini are no longer available.
Now, let's start the new chapter! (-o-)
"Wake up. Please wake up. Come on, get up!"
Ray moaned and stirred, trying to figure out where he was. He seemed to be laying down on rough stone, which was strange until he remembered everything that had happened when he passed out.
He quickly sat up, startling the blue serpentine Pokemon that had been hovering above him. But then, beaming, she shouted, "Yay! You're alive!"
"Yeah, I'm alive.", Ray muttered, then froze. "Holy Arceus, I understood you!", he cried,
Winona replied, "You did!? That's amazing! Perhaps it has something to do with your new necklace?"
"My what?", asked Ray, raising a hand to his neck. Sure enough, there was a strand of emerald beads, shimmering with a chain of golden symbols.
"I think that marks you as Legendborn now.", stated Winona, "Not only that, it was Rayquaza who chose you! He looks so gorgeous..."
"Do you...have a crush on the Emerald Guardian?", asked Ray.
Winona froze. "What? No! Of course not! What would make you think that?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all.", Ray replied, standing up, "Where are we?"
A quick look around revealed that they were on a tall white cliff, with a vast green forest on one side and the glittering blue ocean on the other. On the cliff beside him was Clara, still passed out.
"Huh, this looks like we're on the Searager's Cliffs, near Verdania Forest. But that's, like, halfway across the region!", stated Ray.
Winona did her best attempt at a shrug, which wasn't easy for a Pokemon without arms. "At least it means the Darkness isn't likely to catch up to us."
"The Darkness! That's right, it got free! We have to figure out a way to stop it!", exclaimed Ray.
Winona replied, "Yes, we have to stop it, but that's not happening for a while. I don't even know what you can do as a Legendborn. We should try to find that out first."
Ray nodded. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Plus, Rayquaza told me to find and unite the other Legendborn, whoever they are."
Winona glanced at Clara. "Well, there is that one. I can wake her up for you."
"Uh oh.", Ray murmured, "I think I know what happens next..."
Winona did a little dance, and with a boom of thunder it began to rain, soaking everyone and startling Clara into consciousness.
"What? Where? Who?", she exclaimed, bolting upright.
Winona giggled, and Clara flashed a glare at her. Then she stood up and spotted Ray.
"Uh, hi there. I'm assuming this is your Dragonair?", she said.
"Yes, but believe me when I tell you that I did not ask for her to summon a rainstorm just to wake you up.", Ray replied.
Winona did a little twirl. "Impressive, wasn't it? Especially when I destroy a Fire-type with an Aqua Tail."
Clara's eyes widened. "I could understand you!"
"Well, duh, with the awakening of the Darkness of course your Legendborn abilities start to awaken too.", replied Winona, "Talking to and understanding Pokemon is just the beginning."
"How does that even work?", mused Clara, "Perhaps the magic forms a psychic connection between trainer and Pokemon? But I'm understanding someone else's Pokemon, so that can't be right...maybe it's something to do with Legendaries?"
"Could we just say it's magic and get on with it?", asked Ray.
"No, there has to be a scientific reason for it. Magic doesn't answer anything.", replied Clara.
"Arceus created the world from nothing.", stated Ray, "That means he did it with magic. So it IS a viable reason, and anyways, we need to find civilization and get to work preparing for the Darkness's first attack. Plus, Rayquaza told me to find the other Legendborn, which means we need to get started on that as soon as possible."
"Rayquaza!?", exclaimed Clara, "Let me guess: now you're a Legendborn too."
Ray nodded. "Yes."
Clara looked off the cliff, admiring the view. "Okay, so...any idea where we are?"
"I believe we are at the edge of the Searager's Cliffs, which means there's a city in that forest somewhere.", stated Ray, "Can you ride your Altaria?"
Clara replied, "Yeah, Nimbi loves taking me on rides."
"Good. I'll take out Checkmate and we'll fly around looking for the city.", declared Ray.
He glanced at Winona. "I'm going to return you to your Pokeball now."
"Aw, come on. I love hanging out with you!", complained Winona.
Ray replied, "Yes, so do I, but you remember what happened five years ago."
Winona frowned. "Fine. But I don't want to be in there too long."
Ray returned her, then sent out his Corviknight. Clara sent out her Altaria, and the two birds investigated each other curiously. Then they looked at their surroundings, and seemed confused about them.
"Okay, Checkmate, I'm assuming that you recognized what happened even in your Pokeball, much like Winona. We seem to have arrived at the Searager's Cliffs, and we need to fly over to Elderwood City.", stated Ray.
"Aye aye, Ray!", replied Checkmate.
"Yeah, um, what he said, Nimbi.", Clara said.
Nimbi replied, "Sounds good to me. So, you're a Legendborn now? I hope it doesn't put you into too much danger."
Ray leaped onto the back of his Pokemon, saying, "I wish I could hope so as well."
Clara climbed gently onto her Altaria, who spread her cotton wings and started hovering peacefully above the ground. Checkmate was not nearly as graceful, with loud frequent flaps and a metallic cry of excitement.
"It shouldn't be too hard to find, just follow my lead!", shouted Ray, as Checkmate started flying through the air.
Nimbi floated elegantly behind them, enjoying the warm sunlight. Clara had to make sure Nimbi didn't start singing and end up putting them all to sleep several times.
After a few minutes of scanning the area, Ray spotted a familiar-looking old tower, one that was a renowned landmark of the city. He steered Checkmate that way, and Clara followed close behind.
In just a few minutes, the two of them made it to the edges of the city. They landed and returned their Pokemon, then took a look around at the area.
Elderwood City was a rather traditional-looking town, consisting mainly of wood-and-thatch houses and cobblestone streets. At every house there was a tree trunk carved to resemble the Pokemon Trevenant, which Ray recognized as a ward against evil and which Clara found quite fascinating. At the center of town was the old ruined tower, which Ray started making his way to.
They quickly arrived at the town center, where they admired the ruin. It was large and made of stones that interlocked perfectly, with a few arrow slits across the walls and a large platform at the top. A banner hang above the barred doors, featuring an image of three crossed swords.
"The Tower of Justice.", stated Ray, "It was built as one of the many outposts across the region, and earned its fame after three Legendborn siblings successfully fought off one of the most powerful Darkness generals. It has also served as a court of justice, hence the name."
"Wow, I wonder if we can go inside?", asked Clara.
Suddenly, there came a shout, and the two of them looked over as two teens faced off, readying themselves for a Pokemon battle.
One kid was wearing an oversized blue and white jacket, the hood taken off to reveal carefully gelled and smoothed black hair. With a sharp toothy grin, he produced a Pokeball and shouted at his new opponent, "They say you cheated your way through the gyms, so I'd like to test my skills against you! We'll see who's trickier!"
The other kid had messy blond hair, a slightly tattered red shirt and jeans, as well as a ring with an orange V on it. He replied, "I didn't cheat, you wouldn't understand! But very well, I accept your challenge!"
Ray and Clara glanced at each other, shrugged, then walked over to watch the battle, not knowing what was going to happen next...(-o-)
AN: That's this chapter done! Next chapter, a battle between two of my new OC's, as well as the introduction of all the other submitted ones! Until next time!