I just went to go see Pacific Rim in theaters. My God on toast, that movie was awesome. The popcorn was excellent, too.
From Flubby48:
"Dear Lavender (Lola),
Before all of this happened, what could you say you liked and disliked most about living like royalty. How was your life like before you managed to escape with your life?"
Lavender: Well, I always hated not having any Bug-types my age to play with… And it was easy to get lost in the castle too. But whenever my Mum got a break during her duties as queen, she'd always be willing to spend a little time with me… *Sniff* I miss Mum…
Nice going, buddy. You just made a little girl cry.
-.-.-.-.-.
The Glacier of Absence was one place most Pokemon didn't want to visit at the best of times. It was cold, empty, unforgiving… basically everything you could imagine from a huge mass of ice rising up out of the ocean in the middle of nowhere. Even Ice-types – who liked the cold – and Ghost-types – who were technically undead – stayed away from the Glacier, claiming it to be too inhospitable. Nevertheless, it was part of the Winter Faction, being relatively close to their main territory as it was. Plus, no other Factions really wanted the Glacier of Absence anyway.
However, this also made it the perfect place to discuss matters in secret. Especially if the matters in question weren't legal.
A perfectly circular, purplish-red portal suddenly sprung into existence just above the eternally frozen ground, and four Pokemon tumbled out of it and right onto their backsides. "Owowowow…" Sylvester muttered as he got up painfully off his rump. "Why'd we have to travel by Abra?" he complained.
Said Abra only gave him a gentle snore in response as its head bobbed forward onto its chest, deeply asleep. "Because it was better than swimming," Rudy replied. He shuddered, starting to get up but then slipping on the ice. Niwri helped him back onto his feet like any good father would.
"A better question would be," the Krookodile growled, "why'd we have to go to this darned glacier to have our meeting? I want to get back to the nice warm Dunedust Desert." He shivered from the cold for a moment, but then decided to endure it. After all, it wouldn't do to show weakness in front of his allies.
"When're they gonna show up?" Rudy demanded, shivering as well. "I'm freezin' my tail off here."
Sylvester suddenly sneezed and rubbed his nose bitterly. "For once, something the two of us can agree on," he muttered, sneezing again. "I could have sworn I just felt some frost form on my tail a second ago…" The Liepard thrashed his tail as if to shake off any forming ice before it started.
But just then, the three Life Stealers jumped and stood at attention as another portal suddenly appeared a short distance in front of them. From it, three very unpleasant figures arrived, plus an Abra. The three Pokemon gave the Life Stealers icy glares – appropriate, considering that this trio was part of the elusive Frozen Marauders gang.
The Frozen Marauders were made up of, you guessed it, Ice-type Pokemon. They had their fort dug into one of the Cold North Mountains on the mainland. They hardly ever came into contact with the other criminal gangs, only venturing down from their chilly alpine lair to plunder whatever unfortunates they could find. And once they were done, they slipped back into the mountains without a trace.
The one in front was Glacy the Froslass. With her subzero aura and general vibe circulating around her, she put everyone around her on edge. Despite that, she was actually quite attractive for an Ice-and-Ghost-type. Not that Niwri was interested – he'd probably get himself flash-frozen for even hinting that to her.
Glacy's allies were Lanche the Glalie, and the Vanilluxe twins Helios and Selene. The former's ability to freeze his prey solid in blocks of ice and the latter's power to create terribly ferocious blizzards had earned them positions directly under Glacy, who was the leader of the Frozen Marauders.
"So we are not the first ones here was we predicted," Lanche commented, with a voice like fracturing ice. "We, personally, never thought the Life Stealers would beat us to the Glacier," Helios and Selene added, speaking in unison as they always did – or at least Niwri assumed they always did.
"Agreed," Lanche responded. "Any reason for your uncharacteristically good timing?" he added to the three Dark-types. Rudy stepped forward and growled, "We've always got good timing! That's because the place where we live doesn't have six months of daylight!"
Helios and Selene's faces, usually stuck in permanent grins, suddenly twisted into ferocious scowls. They were strangely quick to anger for their species – which only made them all the more deadly. "Let's see if you still have good enough timing to make it to the afterlife within the hour," they said threateningly, shaking with fury and already expelling huge snow clouds from their tube (or as Rudy referred to it, their "straw").
"Enough fighting," Glacy hissed, and everyone present involuntarily shivered at the sound of her voice – it was high-pitched, cold, and whispery, putting even the most bitter winter wind to shame. Even the Abras tensed in their sleep as the temperature seemed to drop from the very sound.
Everyone was so unnerved that no one spoke from there on out. The only sounds were the quiet snores of the Abra and the soft moan of the wind. The Vanilluxe twins had mellowed out and now had their characteristic grins back on.
Then, the silence was finally broken by the sound of another portal opening a short distance away. Only two Pokemon, plus the accompanying Abra, tumbled down from the portal – Mara and Iron Talon, the two commanders of the Darkfeather gang.
"How're you all doing?" the Honchkrow asked in greeting, shaking her tail feathers to get some of the falling snow off. "We've been better," Sylvester said warily. "Is there a reason for your good mood?"
Mara shrugged and Iron Talon idly scraped his metallic claws on the ice. "Not really," Mara replied nonchalantly – although everyone present was an experienced enough liar to know that she wasn't telling the truth. She continued innocently, "I'm just glad to finally see my old friends again and that they're faring well." The Dark-and-Flying-type fluffed up her feathers to repel the cold.
But there was one cold that could never be repelled. "Oh, really?" inquired Glacy, the mere sound of her creepy voice enough to cause Mara to freeze in place. "Y-yes, really," she stammered back. "Well… no, not really… but you'll see when everyone's arrived." The Froslass scoffed quietly but said nothing more (Thank Arceus, thought Rudy with a shiver).
"We're not faring well, thank you very much," Helios and Selene muttered with a scowl, commenting on Mara's earlier statement. "Us Marauders are no closer to finding that Shard than last time. We are feeling rather frustrated." Glacy shut them up with a glare, and they closed their mouths until they were nothing more than upward-turning lines.
Mara and Iron Talon, however, looked extremely smug. Oh no, they didn't, Niwri realized, and he could tell that Glacy was thinking the same thing. She was eyeing the two birds with something like distaste.
Finally, the tense mood was broken by the sound of another portal coming into existence. And then, the tension was reformed again, stronger than before, as three Water-types fell through onto the ground.
"Ooh, I should have grabbed a thicker coat," Lady Sapphire complained, drawing her frilly shawl more tightly around her and sniffling. General Fang's mouth shut firmly, his only response to the climate. El Nino seemed unresponsive as well, although he did coil up a little tighter.
"So, us criminales are all here," the Gyarados said with a grin, nodding to each of the other three groups. "It is a pleasure to see you all again, mis amigos." Rudy gave them a resentful look and muttered loudly, "Trust me, the pleasure's all yours."
Helios and Selene rolled all four of their eyes. "We do not like to agree with someone from the Dunedust Desert boonies, but we do in this case," they said together. Sapphire pouted and replied, "Is it too much to ask for a kind greeting once in a while? This poor girl's beginning to feel that she's not wanted here." Then when El Nino wasn't looking, she winked and hissed, "And you don't want her to think that, now would you?"
The four groups glared at each other, holding themselves back and trying not to instigate a four-way brawl. Rudy and Sylvester looked pleadingly at Niwri, begging him to let them go back home. But the Krookodile shook his head and gestured for them to stay put. It'll be over soon, he thought, willing the thought to somehow enter their heads. He didn't want to stay here either, but their host still hadn't arrived.
Or had he?
"You've stopped, finally," a smooth voice came from the shadows. "I was beginning to think I'd have to wade into the middle of you."
The four groups turned toward the huge icy projection that stuck out from the ground like a dagger, just in time to see two figures emerge from behind it. One was a dull grey, small Pokemon that floated in the air through electromagnetism, and the other was a repulsive, monstrous entity with ribbon-like tentacles sprouting from its head.
"SALUTATIONS," the Magnemite intoned, its voice riddled with static. "I BRING YOU KIND GREETINGS FROM THE MISTRESS."
All of the present Pokemon eyed the Electric-and-Steel-type with barely contained irritation. "We don't care about your 'mistress'," Gladys whispered. "What do you want with us and the Shards we seek?"
The other Pokemon, a Malamar, slithered forward. "I believe Bolt and I have met you before?" he inquired, looking around at the four gangs. Niwri nodded and replied, "Yes, I think. It's Nigel, right?"
The Malamar's beaky mouth grinned. "Indeed it is," he said. "It is nice to see you again, Niwri. And to you as well, Glacy, El Nino, and Mara. I trust the search for the Shards is going well for the four of you?"
Mara crossed her wings and said harshly, "Alright, fess up. Why for the sake of the Distortion World do you want our Shards?" After a moment of consideration, El Nino piled on, "Yes, you have called us here to this solitario place because you want what we seek. Our search for the Fragmentos has caused us great pain."
Nigel nodded understandably. "Yes, I know," he admitted, "and I am truly sorry to hear that. However, Bolt and I are willing to offer you a deal – give us the Shards, and you will get a share in the unlimited power that comes with them."
The four leaders exchanged glances. Niwri stroked his muzzle and mused, "Hmm. That does sound like a good deal, but I didn't become leader of the Life Stealers by bein' stupid. What if this is some kinda trap, or what if yer plannin' to betray us once you've acquired what ya want?"
Glacy blew a short breath of mist into the air. "For once, I am inclined to agree with Niwri," she hissed. "We do not trust others easily – if we trust others at all, that is." The other two nodded their agreement. All of the other Pokemon had faded into the background, watching the exchange between the five.
"You are a smart woman, Glacy," Nigel said respectfully. "Indeed, why should you trust us? And for the life of me, I cannot think of a reason, to tell you the honest truth. All I can say is that I am a Pokemon that is willing to stick by my deals. I respect the four of you, to be sure, and I am willing to – as stupid as this sounds – trust you just enough to ask for your help without any complications. Does that seem fair to you four?"
Once more, the four gang leaders exchanged glances. The first to speak up was El Nino. "You say that our recompensa for giving you these Shards is a share of their power?" he asked, partially skeptical and interested. Nigel nodded, but didn't say anything.
"The entire reason I wanted the Shards was so no one else could have them," Glacy objected. "And now you say I have to throw that away in exchange for a stronger alliance with these three idiots?"
Bolt hovered forward and droned, "WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MADAM, AN ALLIANCE WITH THOSE THREE AS WELL AS US WOULD MAKE YOU A MUCH STRONGER POKEMON." The Malamar waved his tentacles and piled on, "Think about it, Glacy. Your realm would not be restricted to just the mountains, but a fifth of the entire world of Pokemon."
The Froslass shook her head. "I am comfortable in my mountains," she said indignantly. But then she sighed quietly and admitted, "But I will give your proposition some thought, I suppose."
Nigel bowed his head and replied, "Thank you. I'm glad you're willing to at least give the idea a chance. I assume it is the same for the rest of you?" he added, sweeping a tentacle to indicate the other three. El Nino, Niwri, and Mara all nodded.
"Excellent," Nigel said, clapping two of his tentacles together in a satisfied manner. "Now, can I expect you here again in about a week? Will that be enough time for you to give your answers?"
Mara answered, "Yes, I believe so. You'll be seeing me again next week." With a short wave goodbye, she and Iron Talon flew back into their portal with the Abra they had arrived with, and the portal winked out an instant later.
"This meeting seems to be over, then," Nigel said unconcernedly. "Please, fellow Pokemon – think this over and be prepared to give me a final answer next week." El Nino waved his tail and replied, "Us Raiders Abisales will be there for certain."
The three Abyssal Raiders collected their Abra and vanished into the portal in from which they had come, with Lady Sapphire giving the other Pokemon a dainty wave farewell before disappearing as well.
"It has been a pleasure," growled Niwri, stomping back through his portal. Rudy and Sylvester hastily followed him through. Glacy, Lanche, and Helios and Selene were gone within moments of the Life Stealers' departure, leaving Nigel and Bolt alone.
"THERE ARE FIVE SHARDS TO BE FOUND," Bolt stated. "THERE ARE ONLY FOUR GROUPS TO DO THE SEARCHING." Nigel sighed and shook his head. "My good Bolt, we have to do our part as well if we wish for power over Xerneas and Yveltal. Now let us go – those Shards won't find themselves."
The Magnemite and Malamar then made their departure, leaving the forever lifeless Glacier of Absence behind.
-.-.-.-.-.
Back in their underwater fortress once more, the three Abyssal Raiders swam through one of the halls on their way to El Nino's chamber. They were in deep discussion with one another about what to do.
"I, for one, think this deal smells fishy," General Fang growled, fully aware of the unintended pun he had made and unwilling to elaborate on it. "That Nigel character is very suspicious."
El Nino gave what was as close to a shrug as he could get, lacking arms as he was. "Maybe, General, but we are suspicious Pokemon as well. And think of all the desastres naturales striking the oceans and giving us grief – don't you think it would be worth it to have control over them? To make others suffer for once?"
The Sharpedo said nothing, simply jetting along beside the Gyarados. His leader made an excellent point, even if he was unwilling to admit it just yet.
"I don't think this is a good idea," Lady Sapphire said abruptly. "Why is that Malamar doing this, offering us a piece of the power that comes with the Shards? Why doesn't he just take it all for himself?"
She glanced at the other two, who were staring at her. "That's what I think he's doing," the Frillish continued. "He's promising us this huge reward in return for all of our hard work, and then once the Shards are his, he'll destroy us all in one swoop! That's why I think we should hold onto our Shard and grab the others for ourselves."
After a moment of consideration, El Nino shook his head. "No, it is too arriesgado, my lady," he replied. "If we try to steal the other Shards from our aliados, they will most likely band together and wipe us out. But if we go with what Nigel has offered, then at least we will stay seguro for now." General Fang nodded slowly, still undecided. Both of them are making very good points, he thought slowly. But which is better?
Lady Sapphire looked at El Nino angrily. "Fine then," she said, trying to control her temper. "You decide what you think is best, and I'll go along with it." Her leader gave her an approving smile and nod.
She excused herself and drifted off down another corridor, deep in her thoughts. Sapphire definitely did not like where this was going. She didn't trust Nigel or his Magnemite assistant any further than she could throw them. The two of them are planning something with those Shards, she thought grimly. And I just know that they're only making false promises to motivate us to give them what they want…
The Frillish turned a corner and into another, quieter tunnel. "The Abyssal Raiders' time is running out," she said to herself. "And when I'm done with them, I'll have the Shard safely in my grasp."
A passing group of Goldeen shot off down the tunnel as quickly as their fins could carry them as Sapphire's evil laugher echoed after them.
-.-.-.-.-.
The members of the Frozen Marauders belong to me, although the idea for an Ice-type criminal gang was inspired by one of FinalPower's reviews, so a big thanks to you.
Nigel and Bolt are mine as well. Is it just me, or does Malamar's face remind anyone of the cockatoo from "Rio"?
So it seems that the aforementioned two are willing to bargain with the four criminal gangs for the Shards they seek! What do they want with them, and will we ever see more of Bolt and Nigel again? And what exactly is Lady Sapphire planning to do with the Abyssal Raiders' Shard?
Smatt will be taking off for his mission with Rudy and Sylvester soon, so this is the last opportunity to give him a letter to one of the characters! (There will be more in the future, don't worry.)
The next chapter of "Destined Explorers of Legend" will come soon!
Bolt: "THE MISTRESS WISHES FOR YOU TO REVIEW."
Chapter Question #17: What Pokemon do you want to see most in this fanfic that we haven't yet seen?