Setting
At the very bottom, a lost city is rumored to await, treasure abound and secret lore galore.
- 39 posts here • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
'Don't find me.' He thought as he shoved the flaming tip of his tail into his mouth to hide the glow, smoke curling easily from his nose, the super hot flame barely registered to him. He was used to it. To fire and ash, the smell of sulfur, and burning flesh. He'd lived with those smells since the day he was born. They were comforting to him.
Shifting shadows moved near his hiding spot, the vengeful spirit moved close to his hiding spot. Heat danced in his vision, shimmering off stone, he could practically taste it, hear it calling to him, begging to be released onto the wraith that sought him, but he couldn't face it, not then and there. So he hid. Tail shielded by his jaws, claws digging into the earth in worry, two bloodshot eyes searching for the specter.
There was movement then, in his peripheral vision, a quick, jerky movement, above him! It was just enough of a warning to save his life. He rolled, tail whipping out behind him, as he opened his maw letting black smoke spew forth in a wave, blades of shadow ripped apart his previous resting spot.
His mind was a blur of thought, plans and idea passing through his mind, and being disposed of just as quickly, the whole time he ran, the burning cloud of smoke and cinders he'd left behind his only cover. In a place like this, where magma runs like water, at best it bought him a few seconds, a fleeting moment to run.
He heard it behind him then, a low whoosh, as the air changed where it moved, got cold in a place that is nothing but fire and death. The cold grip of fear, and frost were obvious to anyone who lived passed there first run in with the human ghost. The first time he'd been a Charmander, it was in that confrontation that he'd evolved to his current form, and that encounter where he'd lost the ability to ever reach the pinnacle of his species, and where his dreams to sore through the open skies had been dashed, by a simple piece of stone.
So he'd ran, even when his blood sang for battle, resonated with a need to turn and fight so strong he'd wanted to roar at the unfairness of an opponent he could not harm with tooth, flame, or claw.
He easily vaulted a magma vent, his nose telling him it was not a moment too soon, it erupted behind him, buying a few more precious seconds to find a safe place. Through well traveled tunnels, past skeletal remains of those too proud, hot-blooded, or foolish to run like he had. He was an odd example of his species though. Able to fight off the all encompassing rage, and hot arrogance that plagued many of his kind. He'd seen what those things got you, an agonizing death, and a shallow grave, your bones picked clean by scavengers.
His pursuer was not amused, he could tell in the way the air grew colder, the dread in his hearth built then to a level he could almost taste. He was sure then that he would perish in a sulfurous tunnel, no one to mourn his death.
It was not to be however. His salvation came then in an unexpected form, four stony arms spread to the Graveler's sides, blocking His path, a leer upon it's rocky face, and words of scorn on it's grey lip's.
“Where do you think your going whelp?” He sounded confident, foolishly confident. 'newly evolved.' the thought passed through his mind in an instant, and a feral grin pulled at Charmeleon's lips. The Graveler lost it's confidence then, became cautious, but, by then it was already to late. Claws shrouded in steel, he set to work quickly, slamming in to the rock type, he used the momentum to spin it around, exposing his vulnerable legs, he ripped into the joints, channeling all his fear, and fury from the long day into a brutal dance that left the rock type screaming on the cave floor.
Some time later, an amount not even enough for him to catch his breath the screaming began anew, it had faded as he'd gotten further away from Graveler, He roared in triumph then. That night as he settled in to his burrow he reveled in the knowledge he would live another day, glorified in his own cunning, and feasted on a victory hard won.
-
Some time later, he awoke with a start. Something in the air had changed. There was a lightness to the air then, A chill slithered up his spine then. He thought for a terrified moment that one of the wraiths had found him.
A horrifying moment passed uneventfully. No hellish beings were in his burrow, he was safe. That however begged the question: What was happening in his little slice of hell?
He was out of his burrow in the next instant. Curiosity, and the fire blood of his kind finally overriding the unusual wariness he had adopted to survive. He ran, navigating by smell and taste, following the strange air current to its source, not realizing he was slowly but surely heading up, until finally, he found it.
A hole in the cavern roof, Pokemon of all kinds gathered around, looking up out into a grey sky, ash pouring into the hole. Was the over world burning as well? He thought then. Was he doomed to live in ash, and flames forever?
Just as he had decided to give up on reaching the surface, these fools were likely going to collapse the hole anyway, the clouds of choking ash parted for an instant. Allowing him a brief, but ultimately important look at the blue sky above, and the sun resting in that sky.
A collective gasp ran through the assorted Pokemon then. They were all frozen by the majesty of their first glimpse of the sky. All of them save one.
Abandoning all notion of calm, Charmeleon charged, bellowing a challenge as he went, claws, fangs and flame deterring into any fool enough to impede his progress. He climbed, using bodies as spring boards he threw himself ever higher, and finally, with the blood of many different species coating him he grasped ash caked grass and soil. He had made it just outside of Lavaridge town.
Since then there has been talk of a monster. People exploring the magma catacombs said they saw a great beast sleeping in a huge cavern deep within the catacombs. They told of a beast they initially mistook for a large rock until they heard a deep rumble. The rumble was steady, and then they realized the rumble was coming from the rock. It was at that point that they realized the rock wasn't a rock, and it was breathing. They ran and told the story of the monster deep in the catacombs...
-Present Day-
A Heatmor picked it's way through the Magma Catacombs. It had been looking for tasty Durants on the surface, but when it came across this cavern it thought it could find a Slugma to eat. Every Slugma it came across melted away into pools of magma. The Heatmor finally found a Slugma no where near a pool of Magma, it was on top of a rock in the middle cavern. The Heatmor scampered up the rock and caught the pokemon. Then the ground rumbled, once, twice, three times. The Heatmor realized it was standing on a pokemon, it quickly fled to the edge of the cavern and watched the sleeping pokemon, more curious than scared.
"Hey, you know that man said -not- to go in there right? Deadly heat, burns, toxic air? Are any of those registering in that pretty little head of yours?" Shu asked his partner, the skirt to whose shadow he bound himself. Valorie just sort of turned her gaze upon Shu and gave him a look that said she understood, declining to comment. She knew by now that he was only being rude because he wanted to grab her attention, and in that sense his efforts backfired. Shu wasn't having any of it.
The ghost moved in front of Valorie, getting rather up in her face and causing her to stop abruptly. "Hey--You remember how you said I should have more of a say in what we do and where we go? Well here's my request: Let's -not- go in there!" he remarked. The request stung like a betrayal, but once again a part of Valorie knew better. The short woman locked eyes with Shu and a shudder seemed to run through the ghost pokemon as her magically glowing eyes pacified him.
Holding an argument with her was difficult without the assistance of a blindfold. It was so easy to just... stop caring about even the most serious of topics when one looked into those eyes. Her irises swam with the appearance of an aurora, a hint of the power that dwelled beneath them.
"...I could go alone, I suppose." Valorie replied thoughtfully. She knew Shu wasn't protesting for his own sake.
Valorie smiled at Shu and reached out to gently yet firmly grasp the temporarily pacified pokemon's mask; it was the only part of him she could reliably handle. Pulling the mask into a hug, she displayed her best carefree smile. "Uh--" Shu started, pulling away slightly. He did not get far however before he had to stop and consider the implications of what his partner had said.
"What I'd really like though is if we could go together; I need you." she assured the other in a mildly affectionate tone. A moment of silence would pass where Shu did his best to avoid having his judgement clouded by those supernatural eyes of hers be before...
"Fine." Shu relented, not entirely convinced. Valorie hadn't given him a great deal of options. The short woman released Shu's mask and nodded at him in silent thanks before making her way onwards.
...The sight of a translucent wavering in the air was her first clue she'd found the right place. With mild caution Valorie approached the fissure that was the entrance to Magma Catacombs. As she leaned over the opening her face was immediately assaulted with a foul smell and her eyes forced shut by the sudden blast of heat that wafted past her. She pulled back and began coughing, her body not appreciating the toxic fumes.
After a moment's recovery she looked up to find Shu watching her quietly and beckoned him with her eyes. Valorie reached out and the two of them drifted together, Shu's mask finding it's place upon her face. For a moment she was overcome by symbiosis; a flood of new information, sensory and emotional, threatened to tear the bond apart before it even began. The strain upon her mind was enough to cause her to lose her balance momentarily. The moment passed however; understanding, respect, acceptance, focus and a little bit of compromise all went into stabilizing their bond. A rush of relief passed through Valorie as the two of their souls joined together like two pieces of a puzzle and reacted powerfully, filling her with strength and millenniums worth of wisdom.
Reaching into her satchel the newly masked Valorie produced a second pokeball, priming it and tossing it to the ground without concern. From it emerged a doublade whose hilts Valorie immediately reached out to grasp. It felt as if she'd just stuck her finger in an electric socket, a rather sharp pain shooting up into her chest as the two blade's seemingly decorative clothes suddenly reached up and wrapped her arms. The cursed blade's grip tightened and for a moment Valorie felt the tug of it's presence upon her soul, attempting to devour her very essence. This was however quickly blocked by Shu, decidedly unwilling. This was normal. Doublade's species generally didn't like being handled and had developed this predatory reaction to take advantage of those who would try. It was certainly one of the harder pokemon to symbiosis with, or perhaps yamask were simply one of the easiest; perhaps both were true!
As Valorie regained her sense of stability and self she moved over to the fissure again and began to lower herself into the catacombs.
The fumes and heat no longer threatened her.
....
A young man appeared at the mouth of the cave mere seconds after the young girl went in and performed the symbiosis with the Doublade and Yamask. His arms were crossed as he walked into the cave behind her, his footsteps not even making a sound as he moved.
This young man showed a sign of displeasure about being here, and even more displeasure when he heard the rumbling from deep within the catacombs. He followed Valorie for a while, hoping she would notice his presence, however, when she did not, he decided to speak. "You know, this is one of the last places I'd think my delicate little trainer would go by herself." he said with a small, playful smirk on his face, showing that A: he meant no harm, and B: He was joking with her. This young man, known to Valorie as Nathan, knew that she was simply more than a young girl. No.... she was something else entirely...in a good way.
Deep in the catacombs the giant pokemon let out another roar, this one shaking the whole of the catacombs. The legends were true, there was indeed a monster deep in the Magma Catacombs, and it was awake. The creature looked around it knew there was another legend present, and this particular legend had previously met the creature int the catacombs.
"To better myself I'm finding new ways to push myself and my pokemon. At the same time I'm trying to 'become one' with them--Er, with you..." she explained, debating the plausibility of becoming 'one' with Nathan. Nothing immediately came to mind; some pokemon were harder than others to achieve symbiosis with. She gestured deeper into the tomb, where the heatmor had come from.
"Will you watch my back..?" she asked searchingly, not entirely oblivious to how dangerous what she was doing was. The short girl turned said back and began marching deeper. "I shouldn't stay down here too long. If we get tired I could die." she explained, seemingly referring to herself and the two pokemon bonded to her body.
"To better myself I'm finding new ways to push myself and my pokemon. At the same time I'm trying to 'become one' with them--Er, with you..." she explained, debating the plausibility of becoming 'one' with Nathan. Nothing immediately came to mind; some pokemon were harder than others to achieve symbiosis with. She gestured deeper into the tomb, where the heatmor had come from.
"Will you watch my back..?" she asked searchingly, not entirely oblivious to how dangerous what she was doing was. The short girl turned said back and began marching deeper. "I shouldn't stay down here too long. If we get tired I could die." she explained, seemingly referring to herself and the two pokemon bonded to her body.
As his trainer continued to talk, he turned and walked towards her. "I...am glad you want to become one with your pokemon, and even happier to see you with some sort of purpose in life." he said, his hands going out to his sides with the palms up to show his gratitude.
She then spoke again and his mouth hung open, he was almost at a loss for words at the moment. As she turned and continued to march forward into the cavern, he spoke again, following her as asked. "I don't want to sound like I'm babying you, but....is this the place you truly wish to push yourself in? You know what is in the center of this cavern, right? You know who is in the center of this cavern?" he asked.
The roar rumbled the catacombs and Nathan's arms moved out to keep his balance before he ran in front of Valorie to stop her. "Please, Valorie." he said. "Groudon awaits us if we go further! Are you prepared to face him if he attacks you?" He asked her. He could hear the rumbling of Groudon's breathing, and he looked back behind him, around the corner was Groudon, he knew it, he felt it in his very soul. He then looked back to Valorie, awaiting her answer.
"Rayquaza!" Groudon roared through the cavern, "Why have you come here!?" Groudon then punctuated his question with another ground shaking roar.
"...People never talk about the negative aspects of immortality. Shu and I understand, though; we know eternal life to be more of an eternal half-life, a state of undeath." the small girl began explaining. "We feel it... It's not true immortality like the kind you read about in books; while most of us stays the same, we can feel a part of us withering away." Valorie explained in a sad tone.
"It's... our humanity." she added after a moment, hesitating a moment to let that sink in.
"I don't know what would be left in it's place, but I don't think I want to find out. Pushing ourselves might be the only way to avoid that fate. Maybe this state of being is just a plateau; all I need to do is try hard enough and I'll eventually rise above it." she mused aloud, turning deeper into the catacombs and beginning to head forward towards destiny. She stopped and turned her head. "And if it isn't enough, maybe someone will remember me for being strong enough to try anyway. Maybe I'll provide inspiration to others. That's how I'd like to be remembered." she added, flashing a optimistic, ever so slightly cocky grin.
With a twist she turned and began heading further into the catacombs, the roar causing her to flinch briefly. "...You said you know this guy?" she asked, completely oblivious to what a groudon was or why Rayquaza was so concerned. Regardless, she did not stop on her trip towards the core.
He jogged up behind Valorie as she passed him and put a hand on her shoulder gently. "I...want you to know that I'm here to support you, every step of your way. After all, who better to get you over a plateau than the pokemon who controls the skies, right?" he smiled, patting her shoulder and following her deeper into the catacombs.
Nathan growled as Groudon called his name in a roar With a swift motion, his hands went to Valorie's ears to protect them from he was going to do next. "Why I am here is none of your concern, Groudon!" he roared back, his voice amplified from his throat to sound as if he hadn't transformed into a human form. With that, he removed his hands from Valorie's ears. "Yes, I know him all too well." he said quietly, a small hint of displeasure in his voice.
He then cleared his throat as he continued to follow Valorie to the core of the catacombs. "Prepare yourself, you're almost at the core." he said.
That was when Groudon sensed the other presence, a more soothing one. The presence of another legend, one that was foreign to the Hoenn region, but not one unfamiliar to Groudon. Groudon just could't place the aura. The strange thing was that it came from the form of a human. Groudon could excuse Rayquaza's trespassing if Rayquaza was accompanying another, more peaceful legend.
Groudon waited in relative silence until the human and Rayquaza arrived.
"Thanks..." she murmured, quietly resolving to let him know how she really felt another time. "I appreciate that."
With a little twirl she moved to continue further into the catacombs. She could feel the heat, the toxic smoke brushing over her bare skin. A part of her was nervous; if she separated from Shu for but a moment she could die! Shu' voice reassured her however. He wasn't going to let that happen. If he couldn't outlast a little girl, what good was he?
Valorie couldn't help but find herself amused with Shu's teasing. He was getting better at not being creepy when he made jokes, even if they were at her expense. It was a sign of hope for him, for her.
Finally, Valorie emerged into the central chamber. In both hands she carried her doublade, but it likely wouldn't be too difficult to figure out that she couldn't let go, judging by the almost dangerously tight cloth wrapped around her entire forearm. She made a move to slowly approach the entirely unfamiliar pokemon...
As they rounded the corner and faced Groudon, Nathan naturally shifted his form out of habit, going from that of a young man to that of the legendary sky pokemon within seconds. He stayed behind Valorie, floating above the ground and constantly coiling around himself to make it look like he was always moving while not at the same time not moving from where he floated behind the young girl.
For now, he only stared at Groudon.
Then came something unexpected from a Pokemon with such a violent reputation, words. "Hello," began Groudon, "I would like to welcome you to my domain, well at least one of you." Groudon shot Rayquaza another glance, "I was sleeping but your presences here awoke me. One enraging legendary presence, and one calming legendary presence. Before any further words are exchanged, I must know one thing. Why have you come here?"
Valorie promptly performed a curtsey in an attempt to humor groudon's politeness, earning herself some mild indignation from Shu. "I... Thanks." she replied, her tiny voice hardly anything before the colossal pokemon. "I have come seeking enlightenment through trial. I've met a terrible fate, and if I don't challenge my limits it will consume me." she explained softly.
"I've been seeking out the most dangerous places in our world in hopes of saving and bettering myself. I didn't." she added after a moment, peering at Groudon straight through her solid gold mask. "Can you help me?" she asked, seemingly offering herself to the other's whim.
Once in his human form again, he glanced at Valorie, a somewhat worried look on his face. Enlightenment through trial in one of the most dangerous places in the world? He could understand the need for the trials, but why the most dangerous places on earth? Couldn't she have chosen to read a book about enlightenment and try the methods in that? Or perhaps she could visit some monks that live on the tallest mountain in the region?
This girl...His trainer...She confused him as much as she calmed him with her mere presence. On one hand, he wanted her to grow stronger in every way she could, but on the other hand, his own love for her made him want to prevent her from doing the things she wanted to do in order to get stronger; he was torn at the moment between letting his beloved Trainer continue in her quest, and knocking out Groudon and taking Valorie away to where she'd be safe.
For now, however, all he did was stand there, hands behind his back.
"You come here seeking my help," began Groudon, "Help is not something I offer without cost. The cost depends on the type of help required. Do not worry, I am not unfair. I will not ask for anything that exceeds the value of my assistance. Now the real question is: Just what kind of help do you need?"
Groudon took a deep breath and awaited the response of the girl.
It probably wasn't enough to drown out the fact that Nathan likely knew she was as fragile as any normal human--Perhaps moreso, given the exceptional youth of her body.
"Are you insane?" he finally asked his beloved trainer. But then....he remembered that she had taken him down and captured him in a normal pokeball.....so anything was possible...right?
"I....Uh....ah....." he stuttered for words, only a foot or two away from Valorie, still struggling to get his words of protest out of his throat.
"I agree to do combat with you," said Groudon, "On the condition that you take me with you after this conflict and help me reach my Primal Form." Groudon was certain that this girl would accept his terms. She would take Groudon with her and together they would be able to bring Groudon to maximum power.
Groudon let out a loud roar and it seemed to get hotter and brighter in the cavern, almost as if the sunlight was suddenly able to extend through the earth to the cave.
Her gaze shifted to Nathan and she seemed to peer up at him. "...Please believe in me Nathan. It means so m-much to me that you've given me a chance..." she replied rather softly, stumbling over her words a little as she lost focus. The moment was ruining her synchronization with Shu and Doublade, neither of which really wanted to partake in it. It was a necessary aside. Sure it was kind of discouraging, having him call her insane, but it was hardly the first time she'd managed to provoke such a response from someone. "I have to do this--But I don't know if I can. If your heart isn't with me..." she went on, drifting off. She delayed only a rather long moment further to see how the other felt, not wishing to keep Groudon waiting.
She turned back to the legendary pokemon.
"Agreed." she replied softly with conviction. Perhaps after this battle she would understand; perhaps she would see what the other saw in her, that which she could only feel distantly in her gut. Well who was she to refuse? In all frankness the idea of getting a chance to hang out with another legendary pokemon was pretty awesome, even to someone as weathered as herself. Valorie steeled herself for the battle, making a hard dive to re-establish synchronization with the two pokemon. She would need it for the fight ahead. "Let us begin!" she announced. Underdog or not, failing to take care not to insult the legendary pokemon with a pre-emptive strike could potentially prove to be a fatal mistake.
The tiny girl began to shift and bounce on her feet, performing a sort of wild and primitive dance that could only be described as intense and a testimant to the value of the shorts hiding underneath her mini skirt. A fiery red aura began to burn about her being, flickering wildly like a flame. It was Swords Dance!
"Very well. As you wish, continue. I"ll be here to help you if you require my assistance." He said, giving her a small bow of respect before straightening his body and crossing his arms, sighing as he watched his trainer turn to face Groudon. So many things went through his mind at that moment. What if she couldn't win? What if she lost her sync with her other two pokemon? Would he be quick enough to stop the very air from killing her almost instantly? Would Groudon let him do that? What if Groudon kills her? What if he goes back on the deal?
So many questions left him worried, but he did not show it, and he closed his eyes, extending his heart out to Valorie in hopes that it would give her the strength to better herself. Extending his beliefs that she may use them to bolster herself for the coming battle. However as soon as she started the Swords Dance, he blinked his eyes open, and grew more serious; his faith in his trainer growing stronger now as a small smirk pulled at the ends of his lips.
"Valorie....you can do this." He said to her confidently, not even bothering to really acknowledge Groudon at this point. His focus was on her and her alone; and he wanted her to succeed in her task with all his being; but he still wanted her to be safe, too. But he also knew that in order for her to be successful, she must push herself beyond the boundary of safe, no matter how much he didn't like it. He could only hope that everything would be okay.
The Small girl preformed a Swords Dance, she would need it as Groudon was notoriously thick skinned. After she completed the quirky little dance she began to glow red. Groudon noticed the red aura looked somewhat like fire, and that sealed his choice of attack. Groudon's right hand started on fire. The flames grew more intense as the sun licked them. Groudon started to close the distance between Valorie and him. The flames fully engulfed Groudon's right arm, he was going for a Fire Punch!
Groudon swung his arm back and aimed it at Valorie, if it connected it would be devastating.
- 39 posts here • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2