OK, if I'm posting this chapter, that must mean I have enough characters to go on for now! Remember, the offer for OC submission is still wide open, so feel free to swamp me with character ideas.
For now, though, read on!
Ins4ne Gam3r: You hit the nail smack-dab on the head! I indeed got it from Guardians of Ga'Hoole.
-.-.-.-.-.
Seaside Village – well, it wasn't a village per se, it was more of a town. A bustling port town, that is, situated along the coast as it was. Despite the proximity to the open, salty ocean, it was inhabited by all kinds of Pokemon, not just Water-types.
Why it was called a village, no one really knew. The most popular theory was that it was called such when it was first founded as a community, and when it grew, the name stayed behind. No one minded, though, that they were calling their small town a village.
The more popular shops were located near the market square, where Pokemon of all kinds wandered about buying, bartering, and haggling over the price of a fresh Magikarp or a de-shelled Shellder. In the center was a statue of Seaside Village's chosen Legendary – Lugia.
This place was part of the Water Faction, and each faction had a Legendary Pokemon to lead them. Thus, in times of trouble, the people of the afflicted faction would plead for the help of their Legendary guardian, and their prayers would be answered. However, times were tough these days, with natural disasters striking almost at their own will, and the Legendaries weren't answering their Factions' cries for help. Were they asleep? Imprisoned? Or did they just not care?
Anyways, the market square was always busy and full of chatter. One Pokemon, however, who disliked the noise, walked straight past the market square and towards the shops on the other end of the town. The shop he was aiming for wasn't one of the most popular, but he liked its inhabitants very much and always made time during his visits to Seaside Village to visit and maybe buy a trinket or two.
This particular shop was relatively new, having only been here for a few months. It looked just like all other Pokemon-made shops – a small, round building with a gap on one end, blocked off by a large counter, and several little "pouches" branching off the main body of the shop. These pouches were mainly for storage, although the shop was so small that the entire thing was pretty much one big warehouse.
Within the shop – it was called "Team Fossil's Sunken Treasures" – the three Pokemon that ran it were in as cheery a mood as ever. There was the diver, Tortuga the Tirtouga, who dove into the ocean in search for treasures to sell. There was the manager, Wyvern the Archeops, and finally his little brother Pteryx. The three were prehistoric Pokemon – lost relics from a world trapped in the past, relics that have, along with the rest of their species, only found their way into the modern world relatively recently. As a result, hardly anyone liked them or enjoyed their company, seeing them as freaks or monsters that shouldn't exist.
Of course, they were far from monsters. Wyvern was as nice as any Pokemon could be, full of cheer and witty jokes. Pteryx was energetic and very friendly, so much that it was hard not to like him if you got to know him. Tortuga was easy-going and mellow, not letting anything bother him whatsoever. They were a great team, and together they made up Team Fossil.
"Pteryx!" Wyvern called in his smooth voice. "Ya get that latest batch of dried coral from Tortuga yet?" From one of the storage pockets, there came a cheery, squawky voice, so unlike Wyvern's. "Yeah, I got 'em! Whaddaya want with 'em, brother?"
"Put them in the display case with the rest of 'em, if ya please! You know the one!" the Archeops called back, grinning despite himself. His brother's voice could uplift any spirit – it was just so jaunty and full of good will.
Unfortunately, the little Archen himself was a bit more of a pain. He came running on his stubby little legs with the box of coral pieces held in his claws, only to trip over a stray tool and tumble to the ground with a loud shriek. Most of the coral fell out of the box, shattering into fragile little pieces.
Wyvern facepalmed and stepped to the back of the shop, where Pteryx was picking himself up. "Here, let me help ya clean this up," he sighed, exasperated at his brother's clumsiness. But Pteryx hissed indignantly and swatted his claw away. "No! I can do it, ya scurvy scallywag! Ya think this here joint cleans itself up?" he squawked, adjusting the black bandana on his head and already picking up the coral.
"Hey, this ain't so bad," he remarked as he examined the dead colony. "We could still sell these, Wyvern. Maybe at half price." Leave it to Pteryx to find the good in everything. Wyvern smiled and nodded his approval. "Smashing," he said, then chuckled at his pun.
A grin split Pteryx's beaky face in two as he replied, "Nice one, boss! I sea what ya did there!" The two of them laughed again, then calmed down. "Get those pieces into the display case, then," the Archeops instructed, and Pteryx hopped to it with a salute. "Aye aye, cap'n!"
Suddenly, the both of them froze at the sound of the little bell dangling from the entrance jingling. They both turned to see their best customer with his hand grasping the string, grinning at them from the other side of the counter. "Heya, guys!" he squealed, grabbing the bell and swinging from it – upside down.
"Arrrr-chen!" Pteryx cawed. "It's Luke! How ya doin', lad?" The little Victini giggled and backflipped off his swing, landing on his feet on top of the counter and striking a victory pose. "I'm doing great! Greater than great! I'm doing spectacular!"
Wyvern chuckled. "Nice to see ya again, Luke. Tell me, what can we help you with?" Luke ran up the side of the wall before kicking off and doing another backflip. "I wanted to see how you guys are doing! You always look so lonely if I don't come and visit!"
Just then, a blue-and-grey Pokemon crawled into view. "Hey, partners," he said with a lazy smile. "Found some more stuff down by the bay. Some really pretty" – Tortuga was suddenly cut off by Luke, who had hopped down from the counter and into the shop.
"What's that, Tortuga? What's that?" he asked excitedly, running circles around the poor Prototurtle Pokemon, who looked flustered. Luke grabbed the basket he had perched on his shell, holding it above his head victoriously.
"Luke, ya irresponsible barnacle! Give that back ta Tortuga or I'll skin ya 'live!" Pteryx squawked angrily as he dashed after the Victini. Luke giggled hysterically as he floated around the shop, teasing the flightless Flying-type by hovering just out of reach.
Sighing, Wyvern stepped over Tortuga and plucked Luke out of the air. "We don't want a repeat of the Bubble Incident, buddy-boy," he chuckled, and Tortuga and Pteryx both winced at the painful memory. Luke blushed madly and hastily set the basket down on Tortuga's shell again.
"Thanks," Tortuga said simply, crawling off to one of the storage rooms.
A Shiny Stone in a display case caught Luke's eye, and he ran off to admire it. But before he could say anything, a scream split the air! Everyone in the shop ran to the entrance (or in Tortuga's case, shuffled) in order to possibly get a look at what was going on.
An adult Gardevoir was running towards the shop, tears streaming from her eyes and calling for help. Pteryx squawked in alarm and vaulted over the counter. Wyvern jumped over as well and ran to help the Psychic-type, who collapsed on the ground in fear and exhaustion.
"Whatsa matter, ma'am?" Pteryx asked worriedly, and the Gardevoir stood up shakily with his help. Luke floated over to her level and handed her a tissue. She blew her nose and subsequently began to cry.
Wyvern's voice was no longer jaunty. Instead, it was hushed and serious. "Tell us what happened. Maybe we can help."
The Gardevoir nodded frantically, hope and fear clashing in her eyes. "Two bullies grabbed my daughter!" she wailed, burying her face in her hands. Wyvern's eyes flashed dangerously. "Where can we find them?" She pointed wordlessly toward the town square.
"Awright! Let's show them bullies not ta mess around with little kids!" Pteryx said angrily, and dashed off, followed by Wyvern and (cautiously) Luke.
Just as they left, Tortuga appeared from around the back of the shop. "Guys?" he called. "Wait for me, please!" But they paid him absolutely no heed. There was a rescue to be made.
-.-.-.-.-.
Seaside Village's square was packed. But not with busy Pokemon going about their day – no, it was filled with Pokemon fearfully watching on the sidelines, too scared to do anything as two big Pokemon beat up a little one.
The teenaged Kirlia went flying from another blow, but didn't scream. Instead, she got up shakily and glared at her two foes. One, a Krokorok with an eye patch and a missing tooth, was amused. The other, a battle-scarred, cloaked Fearow, was not.
"The silent type, eh?" the big bird growled, not easy for a bird Pokemon to do. "Well, if you can't talk, I'll bet you can scream." He sent the Kirlia flying again with a blow from his wing, then added with a sadistic grin, "and what sweet music that would be, even if it's too short a tune."
The Krokorok picked her up by the neck and held her up for the Fearow. "Now, for the last time, give us the Shard! I know you have it!"
Wincing from the Desert Croc Pokemon's claws digging into her skin, the Kirlia defiantly hurled a Focus Blast at the Fearow, which was smartly dodged. "That does it," he hissed, readying his beak to strike a fatal blow.
"Wing Attack!"
Something small and feathery launched itself at the Fearow, slamming its glowing arm into his chest with a wheeze. Winded, the bird picked himself up and dusted off his feathers. A small Archen glared back at him. "Whaddaya think yer doin', ya big lug?" he squawked. "Gangin' up on a little one ain't smart!"
From the Krokorok's claws, the Kirlia watched him silently. Who is this? she wondered.
Pteryx, for of course it was he, found himself being backed up by a stoic Wyvern and a terrified Luke. "Y-Yeah!" the Victini stammered, holding up his fists. "You're g-gonna have to g-go through us f-first!"
The Fearow would have laughed if he hadn't been so insulted. His beak twisted in a snarl as he instinctively moved to silence the impudent child. But Wyvern got in his way, the Archeops standing at least a foot taller than him.
"Clawface," he said calmly, readying for battle. "I never thought you'd have the nerve showing your beak in Seaside Village. The Guardians have a hefty bounty on your ugly head."
The Fearow, indeed the infamous murderer known as Clawface, bowed sarcastically. "Brilliant deduction, O Wise One," he sneered. "Why don't you take your preaching to someone who actually gives a Wingull's splat?"
Wyvern's frown deepened. "Tell me, what could a bloodthirsty killer get out of kicking around a little girl like this?" he asked, pointing a claw at the still-helpless Kirlia. "Why don't you leave the bullying to the wannabes and get your feathered rear outta here?"
Pteryx chimed in, "He's a murderer, ya say? Here I thought we'd only be drivin' off higher forms of life!" The Krokorok bellowed with laugher. "Ooh, the little songbird's got fangs!" he rasped. "I'm gonna have to see about pullin' them out one by one!"
The Archen didn't take kindly to being called a "songbird". "Shuddap, Rudy! Let's see what'll happen to ya when I pluck out yer other eye!"
In turn, Rudy didn't like being threatened by a Pokemon three times smaller than he was. "I'll show you! Brick Break!" He lunged, dropping the Kirlia as he prepared to strike.
Pteryx dodged and cried, "Wing Attack!" He spun twice to build momentum, then crashed his arm into Rudy's stomach, winding him.
"Let me show you how a real attack is done," Clawface said disdainfully to his fallen partner. "Aerial Ace!" He shot forward at Pteryx, surrounded by streaks of white energy, almost too fast to be seen.
"Dragon Tail!" Wyvern yelled, whipping his tail out of nowhere and swatting Clawface away. But Rudy got back up and rushed back into the battle, hitting Wyvern with a powerful Brick Break.
Pteryx was incensed at seeing his big brother being pushed around. "Take this, croc! Dragonbreath!" He spat a pinkish blast of energy at Rudy, which he dodged. The energy hit the ground behind him and exploded violently, causing the watching crowd to back up a few meters.
"Drill Peck!" Clawface shrieked. "Brick Break!" Rudy roared. Their two attacks came in unison. Pteryx avoided Clawface's spinning beak by the skin of his teeth and instantly whirled around to face him once more. "Rock Throw!" he cawed, conjuring a big rock out of nowhere and hurling it at the Fearow.
The rock smashed into Clawface's midsection and sent him into a building. Momentarily stunned, he slumped to the ground and fought to stay conscious. Wyvern met Rudy's Brick Break with a Dragon Tail attack, and the attacks canceled each other out.
Clawface got up shakily and joined the battle again against the two Fossil Pokemon, with Luke scurrying off to hide as soon as the bad guys came close.
The Fearow's good eye gleamed with hatred – his right eye had been scarred long ago to the point of blindness. But that didn't stop him from being an efficient and well-known murderer.
With a screech, he lunged once more at Team Fossil, going for the kill.
-.-.-.-.-.
As the battle grew more intense, Gaby the Kirlia picked herself up. She wasn't noticed by anyone, as all eyes were riveted on the fight. Spitting out blood, she noticed with a stab of pity the Victini hiding behind a building, looking frightened out of his wits.
I should help him – I mean, them, she thought, but I can't risk it. I'm too damaged to get into a fight, and the Shard could get lost, or worse. No, I have to get back to Mother.
After another moment of careful observation, Gaby fled into a gap in the crowd and was instantly gone, leaving Pteryx and Wyvern to fight the bullies alone.
-.-.-.-.-.
Wyvern belongs to Transmorphic Wyvern. Luke belongs to Victory Fire. Gaby belongs to Ins4ne Gam3r. Clawface belongs to Megadracosaurus. Pteryx, Rudy, and Tortuga belong to me.
Sorry if I didn't get their personalities exactly right – it's a challenge to do so.
Send me some more characters! Name, species, gender, personality (optional), past (optional), and clothes/accessories (optional) are needed!
And what about couples? Would you like to see one of the characters pair up with another?
Pteryx: "This story ain't goin' nowhere without reviews an' more OCs! So hop to it, ya lazy landlubbers!"