The Cathedrel. A great tower that looms over the land, jutting from the Earth like a jagged, black tooth. From within Dakrai waits surveying over all that he has conquered. From the Tormax Sea in the East stretching all the way to the Volidor Mountain Range in the west. Darkrai smiled as he gazed out from his balcony, "Dusknoir."
A black figure moved from the shadows and stepped into the pale moonlight.
He looked about twenty with dark scruffy hair and a halo around his head. Though Dusknoir was about as far from angelic as you could possibly get.
"Yes my Lord," Dusknoir growled, bowing low.
"I think it's about time we expanded the empire. Take a contingent over the Volidor Mountains. You shouldn't face much resistance. It is little more than a conglomoration of backwater villages. The people will pose no threat."
"As you wish my Lord," said Dusknoir dutifully as he dissolved back into the shadows.
Darkrai licked his lips in anticipation. Soon all of Renovia will be under my control... and then what?
Darkrai silently hoped there would be some fight in the people west of the mountains. The rest of Renovia had crumbled like a house of cards before him and he almost wished that it hadn't been so easy. Not even King Arceus had been a challenge and now he was shut up in the bowels of the cathedral.
"Mismagius. Keep an eye on Dusknoir. Make sure he does a good job," Darkrai whispered.
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/059/b/b/Gijinka_Pokemon_429_Mismagius_by_saurodinus.jpg
A beautiful purple haired woman materialised beside Darkrai. She glided over the balcony and hung there in midair, her long purple robes rustling gently in the wind.
"It'll be my pleasure, my Lord," said Mismagius. Darkrai eyed her hungrily as she faded from view and grinned. Although beautiful he knew Mismagius was a snake in the grass. No more so than Dusknoir however. Dusknoir and Mismagius had had a long standing rivalry and Darkrai was interested in seeing how they would 'get along'.
That should provide some entertaninment, I should hope...

Meanwhile on the other side of Renovia, Claris Town was just beginning to awaken and start it's Saturday morning traditions. The sun shone down and cast a merry glow upon the peaceful people. Children awoke excitedly as they had the whole weekend to look forward to with no school.

Riolu
Riolu awoke just as the suns rays peeked over the horizon. He always got up early so that he had time to train. His morning activities consisted of a quick shower, a bowl full of porridge before heading off to a secluded meadow in which to train. His uncles were never awake at this time, not that they would have minded his little excursions. Riolu knew how to look after himself.
Riolu strapped on his rollerblades, his hair still dripping from the shower. He sprung up and began to make his way down the street energetically. He passed Miltank who was delivering the morning milk but that was all. Everyone else seemed to still be asleep or at least lying in bed contemplating getting up. Within ten minutes Riolu came to his usual spot and skidded to a halt.
Without ceremony he took off his blades and sat cross legged on a tree stump beginning his morning ritual of meditation.

Kirlia
Kirlia's alarm buzzed and she automatically hit snooze. She was not in the mood to do anything but her parents told her that she needed to go and see Xatu. Kirlia had been neglecting her psychic training and hadn't been to see Xatu for a proper session in several weeks. The shaman although nice seemed rather strange. Indeed the only reason Kirlia paid any attention to him at all was because he was attractive. Although she knew nothing would ever happen as he was way older than her she could still appreciate his beauty.
Kirlia grumbled to herself as she slipped into a simple white dress, did her hair in a ponytail and swilled her mouth with mouthwash. She planned to visit the shaman spend no more than 30 minutes with him, head home and go back to sleep. Usually she would spend at least half an hour getting herself dolled up but she doubted she was going to see anyone who cares this early in the day.
Kirlia grabbed a poffin before slipping out the door and beginning her tiresome walk. She munched thoughtfully as she walked contemplating her days activities when she suddenly saw a blur of blue. It was Riolu. Kirlia didn't know the fifteen year old very well nor did she care to know. He was two years younger than her and a loner. Kirlia shrugged her shoulders and continued on her way.

Plusle and Minun
Minun awoke first as per usual and bounded from the double bed that he shared with his twin sister Plusle. She slept on dreaming of candy and rainbows no doubt. Minun dumped all his toys out on the floor and began to play, waiting for his sister to wake up before they headed downstairs for breakfast.

Peony sat up from her tree perch, annoyed someone had woken her up with their moving around. Seeing it was that Riolu kid, she merely sighed, in relief and annoyance and relaxed against the warm bark, watching the leaves.. She knew this is where he always was but just chose this spot to roost. It was late and she wasn't sleeping on the ground. The little bells she wore tinkled quietly as she shifted a bit. She winced, hoping the kid didn't get mad at the noise. She didn't know the kid well enough but she'd seen people get mad at the smallest things. She didn't want to interrupt the kid by leaving or moving off the tree, which was an awesome resting place, so she merely got comfortable, as quietly as possible, and closed her eyes, remembering the battles she's been in. Her fingers moved over the blade, slicking her fingers with the oil she used to keep the thing shiny and new looking. Her mouth lifted into a small, almost unseen, smile as she listened to the silence the forest, the wind on her face. She opened her eyes to see the flowers in the trees blooming. "Beautiful..." She whispered to herself, forgetting the meditating Riolu near her.

Riolu
Riole froze and opened one eye searching for the source of his disturbance. He could have sworn he had heard bells tinkling. He gazed around subtly but the only sound was the whistle of the wind.
"Beautiful..." Riolu's ears flicked towards the noise and in a flash he was on his feet. He aimed an aura sphere at the tree where the voice had come from. He took aim and released the glowing blue ball. Instead of sending the tree up in smoke it self destructed and ended up blasting Riolu head over heels into a bush. He flailed his legs wildly, the only part of him that wasn't stuck.
This is so embarassing he thought.

Luxray
The irritable being was awoken from his nap at the sound of... failure. That was the only word to describe it. To him, anyways. Luxray remained in the same curled-up position on the branch of the high tree. Using his x-ray vision, he saw through the mass of leaves and saw none other than Riolu, stuffed in a bush. How embarrassing, he thought with a faint, amused smile. His tail swished back and forth below the branch, and he frowned. No point in going back to sleep, as much as he wanted to. He rolled off the high branch, free-falling for a good two seconds before landing soundly on his feet. He stretched, his tail lashing about momentarily. Luxray leaned against the tree silently, still internally laughing at Riolu. 

Haunter
He materialized behind the distressed figure of Riolu, struggling in a bush. He'd watched the scene from his previous perch in a tree. Despite the fact that it was quite humorous, Haunter took it upon himself to help the lad out. 

"If you don't mind me saying," he began, helping Riolu out of the bush in the most comfortable way possible. "You might want to work on that move of yours." His smile at the moment was one of amusement and friendliness. 

Peony was startled out of her beauty induced stupor by the blast and lost balance on the branch. "What the crap!" was all she said before she crashed down on her left side, narrowly avoiding her wings. That would have hurt more. She lay there, catching her breath and waiting for the world to quit spinning, before rolling on her stomach, face looking at the roots of a tree. "Oww... Anyone else feel like they kissed a vacuum..? No, just me..?" she joked, thinking she was alone with the kid in the bush. Her hearing was just starting to come back. "Well, I guess I was my fault..." She muttered, standing up. She brushed the dirt off her clothes but it was a lost cause. They were caked in a fine layer of dust from the travel and her work. Looking for her sword, she found it still in the tree, sitting innocently. She hopped up onto the branch again, taking care to stay in the tree, and plucked it from the tree along with her bag of supplies. She floated back down, bells chiming as she descended.

Right before she went to leave, to a deeper part of the forest, her stomach growled loudly. Glaring at the flat plane on her body, she sighed inaudibly. She hadn't eaten anything for two days now and it was starting to wear down on her, physically and mentally. she hoped she'd find something soon.

Riolu
"You might want to work on that move of yours," said Haunter gently. Riolu growled, he was frustrated. Frustrated that he still hadn't gotten a hang of aura sphere and annoyed that he needed help climbing out of a bush.
"I've been working on it for months," he grumbled. Riolu went straight back to his tree stump glared at the tree where he spotted the the tell tale gleam of Peony's sword and folded his arms. There was no way he was going to get back into the zone now but he'd fake it in the hopes Haunter would grow bored and leave him alone. Peony fell out of her tree and said something about vacuums but Riolu chose to ignore her.
That's karma bitch he thought to himself.

Plusle & Minun
Plusle awoke with a start. She could have sworn she'd heard an explosion.
"Oh did the explosion wake you?" said Minun gleefully. Plusle frowned, "What was that?"
Minun shrugged, "I don't know?" Picking up a wigglytuff doll Minun began to bound downstairs. Plusle wearily followed after him. Her hair was extremely poufy due to the build up of static electricity during the night and she quickly released a few sparks.
"That's better," she smiled as her hair deflated. By the time she reached the kitchen Minun had already set out a two bowls and was wolfing down cereal.
"Are we going to pick berries today?" asked Plusle. Minun nodded and mumbled something about pie through a mouth full of food. Plusle rolled her eyes and poured out some cereal for herself.
"I think baking a pie sounds like a great idea," she said.

Xatu sat as the sun rose he smiled but then felt a strong pain and a vision came to mind. He saw the town being overtaken by darkness. He saw Darkrai floating over courpses as some of the cizitens. He saw himself and a few other shamans from other towns all with dark and purple replacing their vivid colors. All of them had a haunted, possessed look in their eyes. He saw a few last survivors as the fell to the ground dead. Darkrai laughed as Xatu left the visoin and he hunched over gasping. He was about to be sick.

"I must warn the others. " he rushed down the side of the mountain. He was fearing for the citizens, if his teachings had taught him anything then that would not be a pleasent time. He wasn't sure how long it would take but it wouldn't be long. He rushed and got the the bottom, out of breath. He clutched his chest and started panting. He bated going down the moutakn quickly the reason he rarley flew down.He continued to the path as he fell from exhaustion. He crawled to a nearby tree and leaned on the trunk and started breathing heavily again.

Kirlia
Kirlia used her psychic powers, something she rarely did, and tried to sense Xatu's whereabouts. His position suddenly became known.
"Are you frikkin' kidding me!" She cried. "Why the hell is he up a mountain?" Kirlia didn't feel like walking all the way up a mountain but she had little choice in the matter. Her parents had threatened to ground her and cut off her allowance if she didn't attend. Half walking, half teleporting she made her way towards Xatu. There was a large explosion from somewhere on the outskirts of town but Kirlia chose to ignore it.
Thankfully, she sensed Xatu was heading back towards the town which meant that she wouldn't have to go mountain climbing at all. It wasn't too long before she found him leaning against a tree and panting heavily.
"Hey," she said without ceremony. "So can we get this lesson over with as quickly as possible. I have places to be, people to see." Kirlia completely failed to notice the look of panic on Xatu's face choosing instead to gaze at her fingernails.

Haunter
Hearing Riolu’s peeved grumble, his smile widened a fraction and he blinked his crimson eyes. He hovered over to where the boy sat, sulking on a tree stump. Unhappy people were Haunter’s second favorite kind. His first being the intelligent kind. But the unhappy kind were more amusing. Much more amusing to mess with talk to.

So, he hovered behind Riolu and smiled some more. “Months? That’s not too bad. I’ve met worse.” This was, in fact a lie. Well, he wasn’t sure. He might have met worse… before he lost his memory. So he wasn’t sure if he was lying or not. Could’ve been a lie. Maybe not. Whatever.

Xatu peered up at Kirlia and tried to get up one of his lesser students but he didn't have quite anything to teach her at the moment he was to exhausted. He stood himself up. "I cant teach you to today I have to warn the village. " he grabbed his chest then collapsed again blacked out.

Another vision was made this time two people one dressed in a long dress and the other with a halo. He distantly recognized the one with the dress. She was the infamous Mismagmius she had once been a great shamans but she was banished for her working for Darkrai. He did and still has a crush on her but he told no one. He saw her and the other trying to overtake the village. He saw the villagers falling left and right as the cackled. Xatu stood slightly frozen in horror.

Kirlia
Kirlia frowned at Xatu. It was as though he was a clockwork toy that needed winding. He stared out into space with a expression of terror on his face. Kirlia rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers in front of his face a couple of times.
"Warn the village about what?" said Kirlia bored. She doubted it was anything too important but still the decent thing to do would be to carry him to the town. Unfortunately, Kirlia was not very decent and couldn't be bothered to help Xatu in the slightest. Instead she sat down on a rock and shoved a wad of bubblegum in her mouth.
"You better wake up in the next five minutes or seriously I'm leaving," she said to the frozen man.

Riolu
“Months? That’s not too bad. I’ve met worse,” said Haunter emphatically. Riolu grimaced, he was really keen to be by himself but the bloody spirit showed no signs of moving.
If he wasn't a ghost type I would totally kick his ass thought Riolu. Unfortunately for Riolu, he had not branched out any further than fighting type moves and although he was very skilled in that respect it would no effect on the likes of this Haunter.
"Really? Tell me about them," said Riolu. Not that he really cared but he could do with hearing about pokepeople who were worse than he.

Although Peony should have taken this time to leave, she stayed anyways, moving closer to lean on a tree even. Maybe one would have food for her. Or even give her shelter! She doubted it but stranger things have happened.

“Months? That’s not too bad. I’ve met worse,”

"Worse? Did it take years then? Who spends that long on one move... I suppose one might..." She muttered. She shrugged and let the two talk. She noticed a Luxray and tensed some. She had a slight fear of Electric types, stemming from her hatching day, when there was a horrid thunderstorm. The lightning stuck near her and shocked her nearly dead. She shuddered at the memory before she fingered her blade. Her fear would not be shown, not if she could help it!

Xatu awoke from his trance his breath had returned and his shaking had left. He stood up and pulled the hood off his head and he brushed his bangs from his eyes. "Kirlia " he walked over to her on the rock " your lesson will have to wait my dear there are bigger problems ahead of us then you ignoring me for a few hours." he turned towards the horizon and remembered the two coming near. He shuddered and turned back to the girl. " There is a battle coming bigger than anyone could imagine , a battle against the dark lord." he shuddered at the thought of him. "We need to get to town as fast as possible you know teleport don't you."

Haunter
"Are you sure? Well, I'll tell you about one. You might actually laugh at this; I did." His smile slowly crept into a toothy grin. He floated cross-legged next to Riolu and clasped his hands together. "A long time ago, I knew a little Abra. Mind you, he was rather clumsy." Haunter looked up, as though truly reminiscing when he was making the entire thing up. He was good at fabricating stories. "Ah yes. Rather dim too. One day, he decided he wanted to learn Confusion." He turned his gaze back to Riolu here. "And I'm no Psychic type, but I'm pretty sure Confusion isn't exactly the toughest move. Anyways, he tried and tried for the longest time-- I'm not sure the definite amount but surely must be longer than a few months-- but he always ended up confusing himself instead. It was sad, really. He stopped practicing the move shortly before I left, having given up. I pitied the boy." His grin softened back to a smile. "You see, he was much worse off, because he stopped trying all together. You've still got it."

Kirlia
"Dark Lord? I feel like I've heard that somewhere? Whatever..." Kirlia heard exactly what Xatu said but figured he was exaggerating. A battle; nothing like that ever affected Claris Town. It was protected by it's little bubble of dullness and everyone interesting stayed a million miles away.
"We need to get to town fast as possible you know teleport don't you," said Xatu. Kirlia raised an eyebrow, "If you honestly think I'm teleporting the two of us all the way back to town you've got another thing coming. I have a ton of things to do today and I need to keep up my energy." With that Kirlia turned around and started the slow march back ot town. She could teleport the two of them of course but she'd probably faint from the sheer amount of power that would take. Kirlia didn't want that and being the selfish brat she was decided not to help Xatu.
What is he going to do? Tell my parents? Please... she thought.

Plusle & Minun
Their faces were washed, their teeth brushed and their boots were on.
"Let's go get us some berries," Minun cried punching his little arm in the air. Plusle skipped after him carrying a little basket to put the berries in. Pachurisu was still in bed but he wouldn't mind them going out, they did it nearly every weekend. It did not take long for the twins to reach the edge of town and they both skipped merrily into the woods. Minun ran ahead of his sister shooting off sparks as he ran causing Plusle to giggle. On their own their electric attacks weren't very strong but together if they both used thunderbolt they could really pack a punch.
"Hey Plusle! I found some berries!" shouted Minun. Plusle ran towards Minun's voice and sure enough there was a bush covered in pecha berries. Near the bush stood a pokeperson that Plusle didn't know. Minun was too busy eating berries to notice her however.
The Skarmory was looking up at a tree and Plusle followed her gaze to wear Luxray lay. Plusle gave Luxray a friendly wave before turning to the Skarmory.
"Hi I'm Plusle and that's my twin brother Minun," she smiled sticking out her hand. "Oh and that guy in the tree is Luxray. Be careful he's a bit moody," she giggled.

Riolu
"You see, he was much worse off, because he stopped trying all together. You've still got it." Haunter grinned and although he was acting sweet Riolu didn't like him one bit. Riolu had always had a talent for sensing people's auras, it was something that just came with being a Riolu. And although he wasn't at the level where he could see them he could still sense when someone was bad news. Haunter=Untrustworthy
"Well as fascinating as your story is I have other things to do, see ya!" Along with the annoying ghost, the skarmory was still nearby along with the bunny twins and Luxray. As sweet as Plusle and Minun were he found them super annoying. He honestly had no idea how someone could be that cheerful all the time. They got excited about collecting fucking berries! What the hell is up with that. And it's the fact that they do it almost every weekend and they still find it exhilarating.
Riolu quickly strapped on his roller blades and hoped to god Haunter would leave him the hell alone.

Peony was startled by the little voice beside her, too wrapped up in her thoughts. "O-oh..! Sorry, little one..." she looked at the little Plusle and smiled softly before, carefully, shaking the little one's hand. She didn't want to be shocked, no matter how low the voltage. "I'm Peony, but you can call me Peo if you'd like, and that Luxray up there... He does seem to brood a bit, but maybe it's just mine point of view..." She sat down beside the bush and patted the ground. "Come sit. This Haunter weaves a nice tale or two, and that's coming from me, a very good storyteller myself." Here she grinned and looked back at the others. "Plus those berries look quite tasty..." she muttered the last part, clutching her stomach. Many years on the road and she still hasn't gotten used to the almost constant hunger. She saw no threat in the little twins, merely because they were so darn cute and innocent, despite the electricity thing. They reminded her of the kids her proxy family had, all 5 of them. The two younger ones were about the twins' age when she last saw them. How she missed the little guys...

Plusle smiled, Peo was really nice. She glanced at Minun who was still munching greedily.
"Minun!" she barked. Minun stood to attention immediately pink berry goop smeared all round his mouth. Minun's mouth quivered and he grinned. Minun was certainly not cut out to be a soldier. He practically leapt at Peo and landed at her feet.
"Hi I'm Minun! It's nice to meet you Peo. What are you doing here? Do you want some berries? What's your favourite flavour? I like rawst berries the bestest!" Plusle hastily put a hand across her brother's mouth and although he ketp chattering away it was muffled now.
"Here Peo have some pecha berries," Plusle said politely handing the basket of berries to her new friend.

Peony giggled silently at the twins, her shoulders shaking. They were too cute. She loved kids and these too were the sweetest things.

"Hi I'm Minun! It's nice to meet you Peo. What are you doing here? Do you want some berries? What's your favourite flavour? I like rawst berries the bestest!"

The barage of questions didn't phase her. "I live out here, all by myself. I would love some, and I love Pecha but Oran are good as well... I've only had one Rawst though..." she answered all his questions easily. Not that it was a bad thing he asked so many, the cute little thing was just so curious. she smiled more at the fact he hadn't stopped talking after his sister covered his mouth

"Here Peo have some pecha berries,"

"Why thank you, Plusle. I'm afraid I haven't gotten much food... Most is too hidden for me to find..." she faked a sniffle "but I'm glad you two are so kind, it's hard to find such nice cute children anymore..." she wiped an imaginary tear away before glancing at the twins, smiling slightly.

Xatu growled angrily "fine suit yourself " he ran up the side of the mountain quickly then jumped off him being able to glide freely over the path. He hated flying but he didnt want Darkrai to take over. He went to the center of town then landed as a rilou sped past him. "Oi" he said as he jumped back trying to avoid the skater. He looked over a group of Pokemon gather around a haunter and a tree. He crept over and eavesdropped on their conversation for a minute then walk away trying to figure out the best way to tell everyone.

Haunter
The apparition suppressed a giggle as the Riolu left. Haunter loved messing with people. Unhappy people, namely. The best outcome was when they ended up happy. But, flustering them was almost as satisfying. 

He heard his name and floated over to the Skarmory, along with the twin electric types, Plusle and Minun. He laughed softly as Minun started hyperactively babbling and his sister tried to control him. They were quite a pair. It amused Haunter to see the contrasting personalities interact. Having only spoken to a handful of people as far as he could remember, Haunter was fascinated by the interactions of others. He remained silent, watching the seemingly friendly trio. 

Luxray
They boy frowned slightly. How disgusting. Those twins were annoying the living shit out of him. Why were they so happy? They were too happy. It sickened him. Reminded him of his brother. Cute, adorable, fantastic little Cyndaquil. He shook his head and his tail lashed about, agitated. People. It was people in general that pissed him off. He shut his eyes and curled up in the crook of a large branch, wondering and hoping that he could go back to sleep. 

Kira jumped at the sound of something exploding. Her tail fluffed out and automatically, she jumped to face the direction of the sound with bared fangs. When she saw it was a good distance away she sighed and stood straight up, trying to make the fur on her tail lay down. "Wonder what that was...." She thought out loud before heading in the that direction.
She had been sleeping under a tree, as she normally did despite her parent's wishes. The night was calming and she hoped to see the only thing the town had that fascinated her, a ghost type pokemon. She had never met one, but always dreamed of it.
As she continued to walk she noticed the twins, Minun and Plusle. "Yo" She greeted with a small wave of her hand before continuing to get the information she needed. "What blew up??" She asked, hoping they would know.
As she stood there, she noticed the Luxray, Skarmory, and Haunter. She gasped and her eyes grew wide as she was now fully awake. "Your a ghost type!" She announced the obvious, though her tone was extremely happy.

Plusle & Minun
Minun smiled at Haunter as he floated over to the growing group of pokepeople. Minun loved meeting new people and tiny sparks erupted from his body in excitement.
"Calm down Minun," Plusle scolded gently. "Sorry he's very excitable."
Suddenly Kira walked up asking about the explosion.
"We don't know what it was either I wonder if it was a meteorite!" exclaimed Minun. Plusle doubted it was a meteorite, "Do you know what the explosion was Peo?" asked Plusle sweetly.

Riolu
Riolu was grateful that the Haunter had left him alone and he sped through the town. He passed what look like Xatu who shouted at him but he ignored him and bladed onwards. Riolu stopped off at the library and headed inside. Riolu loved to read almost as much as he liked to train. It made his mind stronger which made up for his physical flaws. Nodding slightly to the Kecleon librarian he went to his usual quiet corner and cracked open a book on mythology. Although he had his doubts in the existence of the likes of Uxie, Lugia, Raikou etc. he still found the stories fascinating.

Kirlia
"Fine suit yourself," said Xatu angrily. He quickly flew away leaving Kirlia all by herself. Kirlia sighed, "Rude much." She was surprised how pissed off Xatu had been, he was usually very calm. Perhaps, he was being serious about this battle or whatever.
Guess I should back she thought. Her feet were already aching but she had little choice it was that or teleporting all the way and that would kill her, not literally but she'd be left dead on her feet probably unable to walk. And so the long, lonely walk began.