[X] My Assistant

[Master Houndoom]

Jaima had long since stopped running. Mercury was quiet, and, though Grondir and Fang were both confused, they seemed to understand the implications. Fang bounced around, eager to do something to find Ember, and could only content himself with pointless action. Grondir, on the other hand, kept a steady pace, watching each corner and alleyway with suspicion.

"Mercury," Jaima said, his voice catching. He'd known this would happen. He'd known that if he left Darryn and his pokémon, he'd never catch up with the person who'd taken Ember from him. The choice had seemed so easy at the time, and now seemed like it was the biggest mistake of his life.

I can't find her, Mercury finally admitted, her voice so quiet and full of grief that Jaima nearly broke into tears right then and there. I haven't been able to track her since the explosion. The thief isn't anywhere nearby, either.

"H-how can you tell," Jaima asked in a raspy voice. Mercury didn't look at him.

Darryn is three blocks away, and angry. Lady is angry as well, at Darryn. All of Darryn's Pokémon feel hurt and confused, and are in their pokéballs. There is a woman in an apartment feeling depressed and in despair. She's going to sleep now. She paused, then, when her voice came back, it was stronger, angrier. You blame yourself for this. If I can feel all that, I'd find the thief. Because he'd be scared, or he'd be happy, or I could find SOMETHING to make him PAY!

Jaima stopped. Mercury was right. He blamed himself. "So do you," he said gently, and Mercury whirled.

I'm a pokémon! I should have been faster or... or stronger somehow!

"And I'm your trainer. I never should have put her in that kind of danger to begin with." Jaima sighed. The face of Mercury's self-loathing had the unexpected yet welcome effect of keeping him from sinking into his own. He looked at her, unable to smile, but told her the truth as it was on his heart. "I'm proud of you, and Shadow. You fought hard and managed to face down real danger from evolved pokémon."

Mercury sniffed, and turned away. Jaima sighed again. "Grondir, Fang... stay close. I didn't bring your pokéballs with me. Fang, on your spot."

Both pokémon dropped visibly, and Fang had to be lifted to Jaima's shoulders. He gave a low, keening mewl and was silent.

This way, Trainer Jaima, Mercury said, drifting toward Darryn's spot. He found his friend standing numbly on a street corner. He looked dazed, ashamed, and lost in thought.

"Let's go back, Darryn," Jaima said. "There's nothing more we can do. I'll... I'll leave it to the Jennys."

* * * * *

As it turned out, when they returned to the pokémon center, an Officer Jenny was there, speaking with a hand-wringing teen Nurse Joy. She stood as he entered, and the Joy flushed and looked away.

"Joy asked me to come by," she said, looking at him with an expression that was not unkind. "She said you lost a pokémon..?"

"She was stolen," he said, amazed that he could get the words out. Jenny's eyes softened. She was an older Jenny, in contrast to the young Joy, and seemed tired. She actually appeared to slump when he mentioned Ember'd been stolen.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kuonji. No one cares about Lenoilia, so people get away with things... it's not chronic enough to justify a task force, but pokémon get stolen pretty often here."

Jaima did not look up, but nodded, staring at the ground. He answered Jenny's questions automatically, with Mercury helping him fill in the details. Jenny was impressed at both Darryn and Jaima's pokémon, and if she wanted to admonish them for trying to find the man on their own, she refrained.

"We'll do what we can, Mr. Kuonji." She squeezed his arm softly and walked out the door. No one needed to hear the "but there's not much we can do," part of her statement.

"Thank you, Joy," Jaima said, bowing, politely but woodenly. Joy sniffed.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kuonji. I wish I could do something."

Jaima looked her in the eye, and she bit her lip. "I wish I could, too. May I use your phone?"

Joy pointed to the corner, where a seldom used, worn down phone station sat. The screen seemed to have escaped any vandalism. Jaima considered not activating it anyway.

Before he could turn it off, a face appeared, light green hair framing it, eyes lighting up when she saw who it was. "Jaima! Are you all right? The Pokégear system is down, and Mr. Postman tells me you're in a place he's not-- Jaima?"

Jaima stared at his mother's image, fervently wishing that he was home. He'd only felt worse than this once, and then he'd forced himself to be strong. He was finding it nearly impossible to be strong now.

"Mom," he said, his voice cracking with the strain of keeping it steady. "Mom, some-- someone..."

"Jaima, it's OK. Just take it slow..."

"Someone took Ember."

The words hung in the air, and then tears were dropping from Jaima's face, blurring the stricken look on his mother's image, blurring the walls, and the phone, and the world. He put his head on the table and bawled.

[Living Arrow]

Darryn couldn't bear to watch Jaima cry as it threatened to draw tears from his own eyes with the contagion of sorrow so he moved back to the admissions desk to leave his Pokemon for recovery. Lady protested at first but rather than kick up too much of a fuss she merely waited to be put back in her ball and passed to Nurse Joy. He breathed a sigh of exhaustion and moved to sit on his own at the general waiting area, calmly focusing on his breathing. His father had always taught him that a man should save up his tears for when he was alone before he let them out and when he did that it should be short-lived and completely controlled. As such, Darryn merely sat and thought, waiting for a time to release his emotions more amicably to his surroundings.

*I really did think Jaima would blame me but he's being so understanding about this... I hope he isn't blaming himself - it was my fault, after all... He's going to need loads more support now... Did he say Ember was his very first Pokemon? Oh, why don't I pay more attention?!*

"Mister Kellor?" The nurse called from the desk, waving him to come over. Jaima's plight had affected the woman, too. Her eyes were red from where she had been rubbing away tears but at least she was keeping busy to quell her sympathy. "I was running some scans and I have to say well done."

"Wha-?" Darryn frowned, looking over the short report that the Nurse handed to him.

"Preliminary readings show that when your three Pokemon evolved, their health improved rather substantially. Your Pidgeotto is now its optimum weight and its feathers are firmer and do not fall out like they did before. I measured the ideal wing shape to determine how it should be raised from now and I'm very pleased to say that this Pokemon can utilise both speed-based attacks and distance-based attacks. In other words, it is extremely versatile.

Now, your Butterfree has undergone a major change. It has evolved twice in one week and so I would normally expect it to be in a bad way considering the pressures that go on inside a Pokemon's body when it evolves. Instead, your Butterfree is in a wonderful condition. I have noted, however, that its breathing has become strained since you came in with her in her Metapod stage. I fear Lenoilia's pollution may have caused it... Even so, some fresh air should clean her right up!

And your Jolteon is also doing well. His hips are now perfectly aligned so his agility no longer has any hinderances. One odd thing I did notice about him though is his peculiar electrical field. It seems to have a life of its own, controlled by how he is feeling. If you see his fur soften and become flat to his body, that just means he is calm and not generating any excess static charge, so don't worry about that.

Now, I've listed some changes that theyve gone through and how you can manage certain things about their health and appearance in the coming weeks to get them to their top form for you to read while I finish their treatment. I hope that's alright?"

Darryn's wide-eyed thanks silently gaped from his mouth which was doing a very neat impression of a Magikarp. "I, er... thanks!" The Nurse bobbed a curtsey and went back to the operating theatre to tend Darryn's Pokemon while he completed reading the report.
According to the data given to him, Darryn could now see that his Pokemon had not only become healthier but also stronger. Each one had new attacks that seemed to have developed from their previous equivalent moves. Pidgey's Gust was now Pidgeotto's Whirlwind and his Tackle had become a Quick Attack. Butterfree's movepool had exploded into a variety of new techniques and Jolteon had picked up the all important electric attacks courtesy of the Thunder Stone...

*They did this all for me?* Darryn mused as he sat back down to wait for Mindy's return and Jaima's emotional phonecall to end.

[Master Houndoom]

Jaima felt as if his heart had shattered into tiny shards and leaked out his eyes. However, once he was finally able to control his thoughts again, he could feel that, yes, it had broken, but only some of the anger and self-loathing inside it was gone.

He still blamed himself. How could he not? But there was room in it now to possibly forgive himself.

"Jaima-chan? Ogenki desu?"

Jaima blinked, seeing blurred table beneath his eyes. That was his mother's voice, and she was speaking softly... Oh, right! He'd called her!

"Bmomb?" He sniffed, raising his head and wiping his eyes roughly, more to clear them than out of anger. "You're still on the phonde?"

"Of course I'm still on the phone, Jaima! What kind of mother hangs up when their child is weeping?"

"Um... one on a budget?"

Midori Kuonji smiled. "You called me, dear."

"Crud," Jaima replied, thinking of how much he was going to owe for the call. Midori's smile widened slightly.

"Jaima, I know you're hurting, but please don't blame yourself."

Jaima took in a shuddering breath. He smiled, or tried to, and nodded. "OK, mom."

"Young man," Midori snapped, firmly. Jaima straightened on instinct alone. "That act never works. Promise me you'll try not to blame yourself!"

"Yes'm!" Jaima swallowed, then smiled sheepishly. "Thanks, Mom."

"Tsk. You're my son. Of course I'm here for you." His mother smiled. "Anytime."

The connection closed with parting "I love you"s, and Jaima walked to the nurse's station. Joy was busying herself, and it had only then struck him that he must have made a scene. When she turned, her eyes were rimmed with red. Jaima's heart sank.

"I'm, um, sorry you had to see that," he muttered. "Hard day."

Joy reached out and touched his hand. "It's understandable, Mr. Kuonji." She attempted to look more cheerful, and, actually, succeeded, but seemed self conscious about that. "How may I help you?"

"Is Shadow OK? My riolu?"

"Oh! Yes, he's mended up just fine. It was a sprain, and I've got him in a potion bath to speed healing. May I have a look at your kirlia?"

Mercury floated over to her, and Joy checked her vitals, stroking her blue crest lightly. "She's an alarming specimen, if neither of you mind me saying so. I've never seen one with a blue crest before." Joy handed her a mint, and Mercury took it, popping it into her mouth.

If I told you to stop blaming yourself, would you?

I'll answer you as honestly as you answered your mother...

Touché... at least try, OK?

I will... I have to talk to Shadow.

"She'd like to speak with Shadow. Can you let her rest in the back?"

Joy smiled. "Certainly." She took Mercury by the hand and lead her to the back room. When she came back, Jaima smiled, shakily.

"My party and I will need rooms for the night. Do you have openings?" Even he, in his addled, grieving state, knew it was a dumb question."

"Yes, sir," Joy said, biting her lower lip. Jaima smiled a little more firmly.

"Thank goodness, I thought we'd have to sleep outside."

Joy's eyes widened, and she barked a laugh, then covered her mouth. Jaima looked at his hands. If he could joke, maybe this wasn't the end of the world.

So why did he feel guilty.

"I'll let my companions decide how to room up, but I'd like to have a room to myself... so as many as four, please."

"Certainly, Mr. Kuonji."

"Call me Jaima."

Joy smiled, a genuine happy smile, and bowed slightly. "All right. Jaima."

She passed a key to Jaima. He tapped it lightly against the counter and walked to Darryn.

"Sorry about that." He didn't look at Darryn, and didn't give him a chance to speak, because he was starting to feel bad again. And he wanted a shower.

"I've taken a room alone tonight. I... I just need some time." He moved to leave, then stopped. "I've been saying this to everyone, but Mercury told me something while we were still out. Don't blame yourself. I mean... had three opponents, and... anyway. Merc said you were really mad. Your team did a good job. Thank 'em for me."

He was starting to tear up again, so he walked away, hoping to apologize for his rudeness later.

When he got to his room, He found a surprise. "Oh! ... wait a minute, Mr. Postman?"

The green Swellow was on his bed, holding a single letter in his beak. "What are you doing here? Mom said you didn't want to come here."

The swellow dropped his letter, indicated it, and gave a soft "swell."

"Thanks. Um... you can roost here if you'd like. I have the room to myself."

Mr. Postman ducked his head, indicating the letter, then hopped to the other bed. "Swell."

Jaima took it and sat at the desk, unfolding it. It hadn't been in an envelope, and looked like it might have fallen off of a postal pokémon's package purse.

... Why am I thinking in alliteration?

* * * * *

Mr. Postman, stop teasing him!

* * * * *

Jaima shrugged and read the letter.

Hey, big brother! How are things on the home front? The open road is actually not as open as I had thought it would be.

Okay, okay, I admit it - I'm not quite to the open road, yet. I'm stuck in some horrid city called Petropolis. Oh, wait, it gets better! I am COMPLETELY lost.

I wandered around for about an hour, I think (though I broke my watch again, so I don't really know how long it was - it felt like DAYS), and I figured that if I was going to die a lonely death of either starvation or, more than likely, smog-poisoning, I ought to write you a letter and tell you a few things.

1) You still owe me five bucks for that bet we had. My first pokémon WAS a fire-type, so pay up, bud! Or, in the case that I actually DO die, buy Anika a muzzle.

2) That headband you've been looking everywhere for? Anika has it. Or, specifically, her Riolu is wearing it. I was sworn to secrecy (or, actually, THREATENED), but considering that I'm wayyy over here and she's still in Johto, I feel safe.

3) I KNOW you cheated on that one game of Chess, so just between you and me, you are NOT the undefeated champion of the household. :P Deal with it, buddy. I am not as thick as Dad, and I have to wonder how many times you've cheated to beat him. Don't worry. My lips are sealed. Just remember - I have dirt on you.

Well, now that that's over, we can get down to more important business. For instance, are Mom and Dad still freaking that I've left? Did you see the fit Mom threw when I told her I was going to start my odyssey (If you laugh at me for that again, I'm going to have Dante kick you in the head)? The meanieheaded beanstalk we call a sister started her journey when she was 10! I waited two years, so what's the problem?

It's not because you couldn't go on your journey, is it? You said you were okay with that, but you weren't lying, were you, Brone? I'll come home if you want me to...

Okay... are you having Kadabra send me a mind-lecture, or do I just know you that well? I'm just saying, Bro.

Oh! You won't BELIEVE what I saw on the way here! Being the lucky stunky that I am, I don't get seasick like you and Mom, so I stayed on deck on the boat and was watching when we passed the eastern part of Furoh on our way here. I saw SO MANY pokémon! I forgot my pocket telescope at home (could you maybe send it to me?), so I couldn't see all of them, but I still got a really good look at some of them. There was an ENTIRE herd of Ponyta (I think I saw a few Rapidash, but they were really far away, so I don't know), a Staraptor (it was blue, though, which is really weird), and the best of them all: a Houndoom! I heard him before I saw him, standing on the top of this rock cliff and howling. There was a whole pack of Houndour, too! It was AWESOME! I can't get the picture out of my head, either. I spent the rest of the ride drawing it, and I'm sending it with this letter. Don't let Cindy near this one, though, okay? I was really disappointed when she burnt up my picture of the Charizard that Professor Oak was taking care of, even if it wasn't that good.

I think I saw another pokémon, too, but I'm not sure. The sun was setting, so it could have been a trick of the light, but it looked kind of like those pictures of Lugia, only there was more blue, and it had a firmer body. It moved really fast, though, so it was probably just a reflection off of the water or something. Still, it looked cool.

I wanted to ask you, but don't get mad, okay? I know you don't like being put in the middle, but is Anika being nice to her pokémon? You know I'll happily take any of the ones she thinks are inferior. None of them should have to suffer like Dante did. That was just cruel of her. I know you think we should forgive and forget, but I can't. Not knowing what she did, and how Dante still wakes me up when he has nightmares, or gets all concerned when he thinks I don't think he's strong enough.

Sorry, I'm rambling. I've calmed down a lot, though, and it looks like there's a lull in the crowd. I'm going to see if I can't find my way through this place. Hey, maybe I should let Dante out! If his namesake make it through Purgatory, this place should be a piece of cake!

I know, I know. Bad joke.

Tell me what you think of the picture, okay, and frame it for me, will you? Give Mom and Dad a hug for me (I know, you're too old for kisses. Boys! You're so weird!), and if you decide to come over to the Dark Side, give Anika a good kick in the butt for being a sycophantic prat!

:P Get the dictionary if you want to know what that word means, too. I just learned it, and I'm not telling you. Do you some good to get out of the house, even if it's just to the library.

I know, I know, before you say anything, I'll keep looking for you. I promise, I'll catch you a pokémon. Have patience, young grasshopper! :P

Love you lots, Big Brother!

~ Tuesday, the Silent One

Jaima blinked. "Hey! This isn't for me! It's for some guy named Brone!"

"Swell," Mr. Postman said sleepily. Jaima sighed. He still had an urge to answer it. Besides, he wouldn't SEND it...

Hello, Tuesday.

I'm sorry if this is unexpected. My postal pokémon must have found your letter and sent it to me by mistake. I had it halfway read before I realized it wasn't from my sisters (you're a lot like them, but a little better read... don't blame them, they're ten, and... well... not fond of books.) Still, I shouldn't have read it.

Sometimes my postal pokémon's smarter than people think he is. He's here in a place called Lenoilia, which is a real stinkhole (you might not even wish your sister here. But then, you might. You don't seem to like her much). If you ever find your way here, pass through as fast as possible and head to Arasam or Gigarte. Gigarte is awesome, but there're two nurses there. One's kind of... mean. She doesn't like trainers much. But the city itself is really neat! (avoid the Pokéking, though. The food is... well, ew.)

Forgive me my indiscretions, I've had a bad day. I don't even think I'll send you this. It's just nice to write things down. I've had the worst day since...

My dad died six years ago, and somehow today was almost worse.

I kind of don't want to go into detail. I don't know why. Maybe it's because it'll make it more real if I do.

Good luck in your travels.

Jaima Kuonji.

P.S. I thought the joke about Dante was kind of funny, actually.

He folded the letter and put it on top of the first. He'd have Mr. Postman take the letter to it's proper owner. If Jaima was right about the Swellow, he'd be able to tell just by touching it.

He went to the shower and took a long, hot one. When he came back, Mr. Postman and the letters - both of them - were gone.

"Aw, man!"

This post has been edited by Jaima: Apr 14 2009, 05:06 PM

[The Rose Crusade...]

The poisoned Roselias all huddled around another, observing one sitting above the rest. She was separated from the rest of the colony for a reason; she looked nothing like them. Above the others she sat on a throne of junk, empty oil tankers and broken down cars. But unlike the others, this Roselia was, for lack of a better word, pure. Instead of the poisoned appearance of her friends, this Roselia's coloring was beautiful shades of red and blue, just like the ones back in Floaroma Town. Pure. Melinda dubbed her Rose, to keep her separated from the rest of the pack. As Mindy looked harder, she noticed that all of the other Roselia's around her were males. She had learned how to differentiate their genders from the Poképedia: males have shorter skirts than females. Melinda observed as each male Roselia tried to impress Rose. They showed off impressive arrays of moves, strut their stuff, or even tried singing to her. Rose sat still, unimpressed by what they had to offer her. As the rejected Roselia's left the line and retreated to the back, slowly creeping forward again, their motive became very clear.

It only took her a moment, but then, Mindy gasped.

"What's wrong Melinda?" Darck asked inquisitively. Like her, Darck had been paying close attention to the ritual, but he couldn't make heads or tails of it. "Are you okay?"

Melinda was breathing heavily, but she would be fine. "Yeh-Yes...Ih-I'm fine." she sputtered out. "It's just...astounding" Melinda said with amazement in her voice.

“What's so amazing? Their just courting and al-"

"No, no Darck, it's much more than that," Mindy announced, her eyes never steering away from a depressed looking Rose.

There was a long silence before either of them spoke again. Melinda continued to observe the 'dance'. One by one, the miserable looking Rose rejected the Roselia. Melinda picked herself up, fully recovering from the initial shock and spoke:

"She's just like me."

[The Rose Crusade...]

“Leave me alone!” Melinda cried as she ran through the fields. The sky had darkened upon Floaroma town, and Mindy felt a slight drizzle on her face. Flowers and plants below were crushed as stomping feet mowed over them. Melinda’s pursuers would not cease, however, and continued after the girl. With Combee gone, the only hope Mindy had was the Flower Shop, but she had been picking berries and was far away from her safe haven. Suddenly Melinda tripped on a big vine. She yelped in pain as she fell to the wet earth. Her face head smacked the ground, her face covered in moistened soil. As she struggled to get up, her arm was grabbed. Melinda whipped her head around to face a grinning boy her own age. Melinda’s screams were stifled as the boy dragged her away from the well-worn path, and into the darkness.

~

The memories still haunt Melinda today. This was how it began: the flirting, the courting. Mindy just wasn’t interested; she could do so much more than just a housewife! And she knew it to! She rejected everything they offered her, no matter how wonderful it all seemed. Of course, that depends on how you define wonderful. Mindy’s take on the word wonderful was nothing like theirs. The open road, exciting adventures, new and mysterious places! That was Mindy’s idea of wonderful. The things her potential suitors presented to her were nothing like that, the exact opposite of what she really wanted from life.

So Melinda rejected it. Everything. And just look what happened to her?

~

The relentless procession of Roselia’s continued to stupefy Rose. The perfect, pure, specimen of her species, Rose was the apple of all the Roselia’s eyes. All that they offered to her was wonderful by their standards, but Rose wanted more. Much more from life. The open road, exciting adventures, new and mysterious places! Not the provincial shithole of Lenoilia! As she unfocused her brain, she noticed two creatures observing the procession, one much more intently than the other. Eventually, the two made eye contact. It was then that...

~

...something sparked within Melinda. A long lost sister? An identical twin? These two eyes that met reflected like a mirror into two undifferentiated souls.

It was at that moment that the two diamonds in the rough sparkled like they never had before. A connection, a link, had been created. It was nothing like...

~

...Rose had ever experienced before. All she knew, the accepted, the ordinary, the status quo, went away. Instead, there was something new. Something that surely was not there before, and Rose was sure that it would never leave.

~

Melinda got up from her crouched position, completely compromising the couple’s stealth-like state. Darck reached out, but was unable to stop Melinda. All of the Roselia stopped as Mindy walked herself over to the back of the line of Roselia. Melinda would make sure that this situation would not end up like hers did.

[Living Arrow]

Please read Darryn's RP Contest 2 entry to fill in the time between Jaima's departure to bed and Mindy's return to the Pokemon Center.

(Not yet posted)

"Sorry Nurse Joy," Darryn shrugged across the counter, "I don't mean to make your job harder or anything like that but can you see my Pokemon one more time this evening?"

The Nurse quirked an eyebrow and tutted, accepting Darryn's tray of Pokeballs for the third time that day and took them to the back room for healing. Her Chansey darted after her obediently but not before shaking an annoyed fist... stump at Darryn with a curt "Chan!" to tell him not to expected treatment a fourth time that day. Darryn had absolutely no probelm with that setup. In fact, he hadn't even really wanted to battle Kat but she had kinda forced him into it which had, luckily for him, resulted in another victory for Team Kellor.

Kicking back in one of the Waiting Area armchairs, Darryn flipped the channels on the TV to try and find something to pass the time until Mindy's return. He wondered if Darck would still be with her whe she came back. If so, at least Darryn could have something nice to look at before he went to bed. For comfort's sake, he had signed up for himself and Mindy to share a room so he could fill her in on the details that had transpired that evening and see what she had been up to in the meantime.

With a relaxed sigh, Darryn rested his head and tried to quell thoughts of guilt as The Poké Make-Over Show Began...

This post has been edited by Living Arrow: Apr 18 2009, 05:32 PM

[The Rose Crusade...]

The line grew shorter as Melinda made her way to the front of the line. Rose's demeanor stayed the same: unimpressed, bored, wanting something more. Melinda knew that she could give her just hat.

More.

As there was only one group of Roselia stood in front of Mindy, something unexpected happened. The group of Roselia suddenly leaped from their positions towards Rose! "Not again! Not ever again!" Melinda thought loudly. She was ready though, and she would make sure it wouldn't happen again. Melinda threw out her pokeball quickly and Swellow appeared out of a white explosion towards the attacking Roselia. "Stop them!" Melinda cried. Swellow swooped into the fray faster than the Roselia could jump and swiped all of them away with a wing. A cringing Rose shuddered and opened her eyes after realizing the danger was gone.

But it wasn't.

The Roselia's that had been behind Mindy suddenly sprung forward, all wanting Rose. Needing Rose. It was then that Melinda jumped into the fray, shocking all of the Roselia.

"STOP IT, STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" She cried, putting herself between hordes of Roselia and Rose. "Don't you all get it? Rose can't be with you, she just can't. She is pure, you are all tainted; each and every one of you! Why can't you all just understand that she was made for more than this provincial life!" Mindy pleaded. But the Roselia would not listen. They were not even conscious, in a trance created by Rose's beauty. Melinda looked behind to find Rose curled up and crying in the corner.

No. Not again.

Melinda's eyes turned red. Her hair shot out into spikes. Two red eyes appeared beside her, and her mouth grimacing. Her nails grew feet in length and she began to froth at the mouth. Electricity sparkled from one hand while fire burned on the other. "Melinda started cackling, howling at her aggressors. It was not an earthly screech, but something far beyond the mental capacity of a mere human. The demonic presence was evidence as her emotions completely took over Melinda. The clouds darkened and thunder and lightning crashed in front of Melinda, inches away from the horde of Roselia. As she reached out to them with her burning hand and her hand cackling with electricity, they all ran away. Scared shitless, they all retreated. Every one of them. The lightning strikes followed them, however, so they ran faster, yelping and jumping with fear.

Then, everything disappeared. Melinda started laughing, hysterically even. Swellow joined in to, as did a Misdreavus who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She was breathing heavily, that saintly little ghost, but she had done great. As soon as Melinda had calmed herself down, she noticed Darck with a suspicious look on his face. "It's alright Darck, it was just Misdreavus!" With a sigh of relief the boy gave her an okay, but preferred to keep his distance.

Melinda turned to Roselia, who had started chuckling with her. The two locked into each other's gazes as Melinda opened her mouth to speak: "Rose, would you like to come with us?" Mindy asked. Swellow stood proudly beside Melinda and Misdreavus perched on her shoulder, both smiling happily. The pokemon gave Melinda a good hard look. "We can travel to far off places, distant lands! We can battle together, you and me! And Swellow, and Misdreavus, and maybe even ole' Feebas," Mindy announced, releasing Feebas from her pokeball for a split second to see the fish flop around, smiling before returning it. The group chuckled again as Melinda outstretched her hand to the pokemon. After a moment of thought, Roselia joined Melinda's hand with hers. It was perfect. Melinda had finally captured a Roselia. "A diamond in the rough". It was all serene, perfect, nothing could get bet-

!BOOM!

A large explosion echoed throughout the junkyard and probably for a half a mile or so, followed by the cries and shrieks of many pokemon. “Oh no,” Melinda thought out loud.

“Mindy, let’s go, now!” Darck yelled at her. Melinda started running, all of her pokemon following right beside her. Roselia had perched herself right on top of Swellow, as she couldn’t keep up with the running because of her stubby legs. Melinda soon caught op with Darck, who had sent all of his pokemon out. It did not take the group long for them to reach the site of the explosion.

An enormous robot had planted itself right in the middle of the junkyard. It was at least two buildings tall in length and was made completely out of old rubber tires that could be found around the junkyard. An enormous net was swung over the mecha's shoulder as it noticed Melinda and Darck. That net held hundreds of Roselia's, all crying and weeping, trying to escape their bonds.

"We've got to help them!" Melinda announced.

"No shit," answered Darck. The two sent their pokemon out to try and free the horde of Roselia, but were stopped as the enormous mecha attacked them with its free hand. Darck's Absol managed to evade the frenzied hand of the mecha and ran up its rubber arm. It carefully moved about the monster's body until it reached the glass eyes of the beast, and then sliced its way through them wit ha faint attack. The robot went crazy, giving Swellow and Roselia the time to fight back. Swellow flew Roselia up to the net and let her unleash a barrage of poison stings all over the net, but it didn’t work. Frustrated, Roselia started glowing white and actually getting larger. She repeated the process until she was so big Swellow couldn't hold her for much longer. Roselia tried again as much larger spikes of poison were shot at the net, and it snapped to perfection! All of the Roselia jumped out jubilantly. Suddenly, Absol jumped out of the mecha, something in its mouth, as the robot began to explode. Absol must have caused quite a lot of damage, as the giant was very formidable. Nonetheless, The head of the mecha suddenly ejected itself from the rest of the tires as the tires exploded, causing quite the “fireworks display”.

As soon as all of the Roselia saw Melinda, then all sprinted the heck out of there. Melinda returned all of her pokemon to their pokeballs, as did Darck after inspecting his Absol. Melinda picked a pokeball out of her bag and outstretched her arm once again to Roselia. “You comin’?” Roselia nodded and touched Mindy’s pokeball.

One.

Two.

Three.

PING!

Melinda clutched her new pokemon in her hand took a minute to enjoy the moment.

A diamond in the rough.

Caught @ lv. 18

This post has been edited by The Rose Crusader: Apr 19 2009, 04:52 PM

[Master Houndoom]

Jaima dreamt. It was a tired dream, one he'd had every time he was upset since his father died (there, he thought it, out loud, and without flinching or feeling like he was walking into a church covered in mud). Even as the dream played out, he recognized that his mind was dwelling on sadness that should have been long past.

It was the funeral for his father. Professor Elm was there, looking solemn and dressed in a dark suit, which was odd since he was usually seen, on TV, in his white smock. Two of his assistants were there as well, along with three Nurse Joys, one of which was weeping openly into a handkerchief. His Mother was staring at the casket as if it would open suddenly and his father would pop out, alive and whole, and laughing at the trick he'd played. His sisters, one on either side of her, hugged her thighs and tried to cry silently.

No one glared at them. Some weren't as discreet as the two four year old girls.

This is where the dream changes. The thought was idle, even sarcastic. If he was afraid, the dream would change to the casket bursting open and a decrepit, shambling form looking disturbingly like his father would come out, reaching for him and his sisters. He wasn't afraid, though, so it didn't happen. It faded as the minister's voice droned on about what a great man his father was, speaking of his achievements and kindness to others in ways that anyone could have said about anyone else and nothing of how he would comfort you when you were sad or laughed loudly at silly puns or kissed his mother on the cheek every morning whether she was in a good mood or not.

The minister didn't mention that his pokémon died with him. He didn't mention that he had strong hands and arms and played airplane with Mariko, Natsume, and Jaima (and sometimes, if he was feeling playful, with Mommy, too). He didn't mention that he liked to sing even though he wasn't very good at it.

For some reason, this all made Jaima angry this time. He's not talking about Kei Kuonji, he's talking like anyone could be in that box.

In his dream, he began to grow. He was 12 now. Working to make extra money after school.

Now he was 14. Quitting school to work full time at the lab, taking off early to walk the girls, now 8, home from school and have dinner ready.

Then 16. Kissing his sisters goodbye as he left for another island and they left for their journey. Kissing his mother goodbye as she was left alone.

Your father would be proud of you...

It was an off handed statement, and as soon as he reacted mentally, the presence that made it fell away, with the slight hint of a blush in its makeup. Jaima mentally rolled his eyes and didn't wake.

The dream, however, changed. While he'd grown, he had been at the funeral still, and everyone else had stayed the same around him. His sisters were still tiny and clinging to his mother's thighs. His mother was still staring desperately at the casket. Nurse Joy #3 still wept into her handkerchief.

But now, the dream changed. It was the day after the funeral, and Jaima was in his room, looking forlornly at the pokéball he'd received the day before. He was 10 again, and he was so numb he couldn't even think of what to do with anything. He was tired, he knew. He hadn't slept well in the last few nights. But he had a pokéball in his hands, and he had to do something with it.

Professor Elm wouldn't even let him give it back.

His finger slipped and pressed the button. Or maybe he'd pressed it on purpose. It was hard to remember.

Out popped a tiny grey and tan mouse looking creature, with squinty eyes and a long tapered snout. She was cute.

It was the first thing he remembered getting through the litany of "my father's dead" that had started since the funeral.

She looked up at him, quivering, and Jaima looked back, numb. She squeaked, her shaking slowing, and he blinked at her.

Something dropped on his arm. He looked at it, a tiny splash of water soaking into his shirt, then looked up. A leak? Who'd fix it now?

Was it raining out? Wasn't it supposed to rain for days after someone died?

He looked down at the Cyndaquil and sighed. She was looking at him quite a lot like his sisters did now, as if he could and would make it better. He didn't even know what this little thing needed making better. Maybe she was hungry.

He reached for his bag and found a berry, which had softened with age. It looked like it was still good. He sniffed it. It smelled like it was still OK. Just soft.

He held it out to the cyndaquil, and she took it, hesitantly. Soon her hunger had gotten the better of her, and she began to eat in earnest.

"You've been in that ball for a week, haven't you. I'm sorry." His voice didn't sound sorry, but it didn't sound like he'd meant to either. Maybe he was sorry.

"C'mon, let's go to the kitchen." He stood and opened his door. He didn't look back, but he heard the pitter patter of cyndaquil feet and knew she was following.

He looked through the cupboards, and found some berry mush. It was usually used to top toast, but it should do for now. He spread some on some bread and put it in front of the cyndaquil. She lapped at it, her behind wiggling happily.

He almost smiled.

"Jaima... hun'ry, Jaima."

Jaima looked at the doorway and saw his sisters peeking in, looking sad and forlorn and watching the cyndaquil eat shyly. Mariko was glancing between him and Natsume, her lips pressed together like their mother's did when she was annoyed.

"When was the last time you two ate..?" He couldn't remember.

"Yesterday," whispered Mariko, as if she would get into trouble for saying so.

"At the fun'rel," whispered Natsume, looking as if she might cry.

"Well... what time is it?" His stomach told him it was time to eat, and neither of the girls could tell time yet. Not on the Miltank clock on the wall. Let's see, the short fat hand is near the one and the long thin hand was on the nine...

It was too late to not have eaten.

"Where's Mom?"

"Mommy's sleepin'," said Natsume, swallowing thickly. Jaima sighed.

"Well, come in here. I'll make sandwiches."

The two girls walked in and sat on the floor, near the cyndaquil. They watched her, interests peaked, but still subdued. Finally Mariko looked up.

"Can I pet it?"

"Her," Jaima said automatically. "Professor Elm said she was a she." Mariko wrinkled her nose, and Jaima nodded. "Let her sniff your hand, then if she lets you, you can."

Mariko put out her hand and let the cyndaquil smell it. When she didn't get bit, she put her hand out and stroked her back, stopping before the flames.

"Her fur is soft."

The Cyndaquil's flames shortened, then went out. Natsume put her hand out, too, and was allowed to pet as well.

Jaima put plates out, one for each of them, and watched his sisters stand and grab their sandwiches hungrily. He wanted to tell them to slow down, but he was just as hungry and his mouth was too full of sandwich to stop them.

He watched them eat, and even though they were both loud and both annoying and always got into his stuff, he knew he'd have to take care of them. Mom was too sad. He was too sad, too, but someone had to do it, and he already had a pokémon to take care of.

But he'd do it.

Someone had to.

"What's'r name," Mariko asked around a mouthful of sandwich. Jay swallowed his, looked at the cyndaquil, which had hopped by his leg, and said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Ember."

Jaima woke up. It wasn't a gasping, sit up in the bed, crying out in the night wake up, it was just opening his eyes.

There was water in his ears, so he HAD been crying. But he felt better than he had since the fight at the "shop". Even better than he had after the emotional display during his phone call with his mother.

Mercury was sitting on the table next to his bed, kicking her legs.

Sorry... I couldn't resist.

"No harm done," he said, voice raspy, and looked at her. "Did Shadow forgive you?"

She nodded, and smiled faintly, then looked at him. Did you forgive you?

"I'm starting to, I think. I just..." He couldn't help the sudden rush of anger. It'd happened about a week after his dad's funeral, too. He lashed out and punched, meaning to hit his pillow but missing, hitting the wall. He stayed like that, breathing heavily, until the rage left him.

Mercury looked at him with alarm and fear in her eyes. Trainer Jaima..?

"I... I think I broke my hand."

* * * * *

"No, it's not broken, Mr. Kuonji." Joy had her hands on his, soft and gentle fingers pressing the bone, feeling for cracks. "You probably bruised the bone a little bit." She looked at him, flushed but stern, lips pressed together. "I'm not a people doctor, so you should probably have it checked when you get to a city with a hospital." She sighed. "What possessed you to attack my wall, Mr. Kuonji?"

Jaima, too, was flushed, but because he was embarrassed. "Would you believe it seemed the thing to do at the time?"

Joy fought off a smile with some success. "So you're feeling better..?"

"My hand or losing Ember..?"

Joy's mouth opened to apologize, but Jaima waved his good one. "I'm dealing with it. I'm just upset that I let it happen, and I really want her back... I think I'm done crying over it for now. I'll probably prove myself wrong when Mindy gets back."

Joy nodded, swallowing, then looked at him. "She's... um..." She sighed, and closed her eyes. "I don't usually see cyndaquil with people our age."

"I didn't do well by her when I got her. I didn't really do well by her on this trip. She's so timid..."

Joy patted his hand and offered a sad smile. "When did you get her..?"

"I was ten," he started, looking far away. "The day it happened, I found out my dad died. I was so numb I didn't take her out of the ball for a week." When Joy looked like she couldn't believe that, he shrugged. "I fed her right away when I finally did. She helped me realize I had responsibilities." He ducked his head. "I still do, which is why I can't let this stop me, but..."

"But..?" Joy looked almost hopeful, though Jaima never saw it, as he was looking out the window.

"But I'm wondering if I should stay for a while, in case she gets loose... comes back somehow."

Joy said nothing, but looked down. Jaima sighed again.

"I know I'm probably not good company, but would you like to join me for dinner? I wanted to be alone a while back, but... right now I don't."

Joy looked up, surprised, then smiled. "I... I'd love to, Mr. Kuonji..!"

"OK," Jaima started, smiling a little. "Two rules. No worrying about how I feel about Ember... if it comes up, it comes up."

"And the other?"

"My name is Jaima. Please use it..?"

Joy smiled again, more brightly. "I'd love to... Jaima."

[The Rose Crusade...]

"Well that was fun," Darck joked. Melinda laughed with him as the couple walked out of the junkyard and back onto the streets. The cooing of Noctowls and Hoothoots echoed through the misty streets as the two made their way back to the Pokemon Center. It was far too late for them to do anything else, and Melinda was pooped. The long, agonizing journey to the freaking shithole of Lenoilia had killed Melinda, even in her peak physical condition. It was very late; so late in fact that Melinda didn't even want to look at her watch to realize how long she had been up. Like before, the dark night sky was still pitch black, only lighted by the glimmer of the stars and the full moon.

Darck had had his hand s in his pockets for quite the while, his head down, thinking heavily. It had taken Melinda awhile to finally notice the perplexity on his expression, and as they were reaching the end of their journey back to the Pokemon Center Melinda stopped. Darck followed suit, his mind still in a daze. He awoke from his trance and looked over at Mindy with a troubled look.

"What's wrong Darck?"

"Noh-Nothing. Nothing's wrong, Mindy. It's... it's... well, see for yourself." Darck reached into his black jacket and pulled out an unfamiliar, strange looking device.

"Wh-...Where did you get that?"

"When Absol attacked the machine, he must have attacked the robot's controllers. After the mecha exploded and the head part left, Absol came up to me and handed me this thing," Darck spoke ,motioning towards the device. "While you were with Rose, I took a look at it, and it seems like it fits around your hea-" Darck said again, placing the machine on his head, covering one of his eyes with the clear material. "It doesn't have any switches to turn it on or anything," he kept going, Mindy listening to him. "I think it’s broken".

Darck took off the eyepiece and handed it to Melinda. "No, it's alright, you keep it," Mindy told him. "Whoever those people were that wanted all the Roselia, they're obviously not good." Then Melinda noticed something on the machine. it was small, and could go unnoticed easily, but on the red square that connected the two parts was the black outlining of an insignia. The letter "C" was clearly visible, with some other lines to make the insignia complete. Mindy had no idea what it stood for, but pointed it out to Darck, who didn't know either.

“Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. But...let’s not tell Darryn and Jaima, okay?”

“Uh-okay Darck, if you say so,” Melinda complied. She didn’t see the logic in not telling them, but it was his possession and his decision. Darck and Mindy continued on the final stretch to the center and were relieved when they finally walked through the automatic sliding doors. The warmth, light, and protection of the pokemon Center greatly calmed Melinda, who had been on wits end ever since leaving it before. After spotting Darryn on the couch watching The Poké Make-Over Show, she motioned to Darryn and jumped right on the couch next to him, suddenly filled with vigor.

“Darryn!” Melinda squeezed. “You won’t believe what happened tonight!” Darryn had been quite surprised, he didn’t quite know what to believe of all this. With a click of the wrist, Melinda released a pokeball from her waist. In a dazzling display of bright white lights, Rose appeared with as divine a look as she could have.

To Mindy’s dismay, however, Darryn didn’t seem as enthralled by the stunning pokemon as Melinda had hoped. “Are you okay Darryn? What’s wrong?”

[Living Arrow]

“Are you okay Darryn? What’s wrong?”

Darryn took a long, deep breath and switched off the tv before slowly and methodically going through the events of the night. Going to the shop in Denizen Alley. The weird guy that had been there. The way he and Jaima had been ambushed and how Ember had been stolen. He told of the way that Jaima had returned to the Pokemon Center with Shadow and how he had searched for Ember with his own Pokemon but had no luck in the process.

As the story grew, Mindy's face grew heavier and heavier - she clearly felt bad, too but there was nothing that she could have done which Darryn made sure to make clear to her. He rounded off his version of events with Jaima's understanding attitude and how their friend had managed so well thus far.

"Really terrible, huh?" Darryn moped to his friend, absently rubbing the thorns on her new Pokemon's head between his fingers. The Roselia seemed to enjoy it and smiled sweetly while twisting her head this way and that. "But if Jaima can focus on looking ahead rather than dweeling on it then I think we should support him.... On a lighter note, I just won a Pokemon Battle with an old friend and my Pidgey, Metapod and Eevee all evolved! They're being seen to by Joy's Chansey right now but I'll introduce you to them again later... what else... Oh yeah. Joy got us a room to share - she and Jaima walked past earlier towards the food court but they seemed like they wanted some privacy."

Darryn grinned down at the rose Pokemon. "And, Mindy? She's beautiful!"

[The Rose Crusade...]

"Poor Jaima..." was all Melinda could think. Mindy remembered Jaima explaining all of his team members on the lonely trip to Gigarte from Barley, and she couldn't forget the story of his innocent, timid Cyndaquil. The poor thing, to have been stolen form such a loyal trainer into... well, who knows what. Melinda wouldn't know what to do if their roles were reversed; if she had lost any of her precious pokemon. Heck, she'd even be sad if poor lil' Feebas was taken away. But Mindy couldn't go on being depressed about the situation, not when everyone else would be. So she decided to stay positive about the whole thing, and to boost other's morale to. Like a cheerleader... almost, but not really.

Mindy smiled when Darryn mentioned how all of his pokemon had evolved, congratulating him on a job well done. But by the time Darryn had said he had one a battle against an old rival, Melinda's smile wasn't so genuine anymore. "Uh-oh, he might become a threat now...," thought the ever carefully planning Melinda, "better watch out."

"Let's leave Jaima and Joy alone," Mindy smirked, "I do believe that she has a thing for him" she giggled.

"Alright guys, I'm gonna get going. See you tomorrow," Darck announced, heading down the sleeping quarter’s corridor and entering a vacant room.

When Darryn remarked to Melinda about her new pokemon, Roselia and Mindy both blushed a bright rosy red. "Thanks, she's a keeper, my lil' Rose," Melinda replied. "My diamond in the rough" Melinda spoke towards her new pokemon, stroking its naturally toxic head gently so as to not cause any poisonous effects.

The Pokemon Center was silent now as Darryn and Melinda sat on the couches next to the turned off television. After a slightly awkward silence, Melinda posed a question to her companion, "So Darryn... where to next?"

This post has been edited by The Rose Crusader: Apr 22 2009, 06:05 PM

[Living Arrow]

"Next? Well, I guess we go to bed?" Darryn shurgged, rewarding himself with an "oh-you-dumbass" expression from Mindy. He face-palmed, groaning to himself as he caught on to her real question.

"Right... er... well the nearest Gym is in Arasam which is north west of here. I took a look at the coach service around here and it seems pretty regular... only it's two vehicles per day... If we wanted to get to Arasam by tomorrow afternoon then I suggest we get the morning coach at 10am. It leaves from the Pokemon Center so we don't have to get across town or anything." Darryn frowned at the clock in the waiting room. The plastic Ambipom's tails were pointing at eleven and four. "It's pretty late but I'm going to have a pep-talk with my Pokemon before they sleep. We need to have a proper, er... conversation? They've been through a lot tonight and it's about time I thanked them for what they've done."

He lounged back and looked up at Mindy sleepily.

"You going to try and get your second Gym Badge, then?" He asked while yawning, his jaw stretching wide and slurring his words.

[Master Houndoom]

"So when my mom came home, there the three of us were, in the back yard, holding sticks over Ember's rump and roasting marshmallows." Jaima half smiled, tapping his chopsticks on the edge of his bowl idly. He had only gotten rice, but even that was only half gone.

Joy smiled and patted his hand. She seemed to have a wonderful grasp of when he was getting sad again. Perhaps it was the training. At the beginning of their meal, she had kept him listening with a description of all the things they had to learn, most of which dealt with pokémon, but, more and more in the recent years, involved getting a feel for the trainer as well. "To be able to read a trainer's mood is to be able to tell his pokémon's condition," she quoted, then explained that, originally, that meant to help with the immediate diagnosis. "Since coming here, though, we've found you can tell if a person is a proper match and make, subtly, of course, recommendations."

Now Jaima had lapsed into stories about his family and pokémon. He had winced at the lack of training they'd had before he came here, but if Joy was appalled at this behavior, she never showed it. In fact, she seemed quite pleased with the way he treated his pokémon in general.

They sat in companionable silence, Jaima doing his best to finish his rice, and Joy nibbling on the salad she'd taken. They spoke of the courier who came twice daily to replenish their stock, and of the immunity the pokécenter enjoyed to the thieves and thugs that seemed to take over Lenoilia when it had become polluted. Finally, Joy asked the inevitable question.

"What will you now?"

Jaima thought about it, then sighed. "I have an idea, but I have to talk to my kids." Joy blushed and grinned, but did not interrupt. "See... they know Ember, and they know how she'd react to what I'm planning, so..." He shrugged, looking up at her. "So I'll let you know in the morning."

"Jaima?" Joy's cheeks were bright red when he looked up, and she was staring at the table rather than him. "I... I know this is a bad time, but..." She took a breath, which hitched a bit. "You're the nicest person I've met, ever. Even before I came here. I was... I was wondering if..."

Jaima put his hand on Joy's, and she looked up, swallowing, looking as if she'd been caught with her hand in a cookie jar. Jaima smiled.

"You don't think I really asked you to eat with me just for the company, do you?"

Joy's smile was bright as Jaima left, and when she put her Chansey on watch duty, there was a decided spring in her step.

[The Rose Crusade...]

"Yeah, I suppose I'll try to get a second one," Mindy finished up. They both got up from the comfortable couch and headed towards their room. Melinda and Rose stretched and yawned down the corridor, eventually ending up at their room. Darryn lead the way, opening the door and getting settled. There wasn't much to settle, however, as they wouldn't exactly be staying long. Melinda plopped herself on the bed, not even bothering to undress, and just laid there for a moment. So many things to think about, to worry about. But she had to remember what was important, and not care about the little stuff. If she had cared about all of the little stuff, Mindy wouldn't get anywhere in life. After a small rest, Melinda smiled at Rose and told her how happy she was to have her on the team. Rose nodded, a mutual agreement. Soon the pokemon yawned again and hopped back into her pokeball to rest for the night.

Darryn was busy giving a pep talk to his pokemon when Mindy slipped into the bathroom to undress. When she came out in her underwear, Darryn was busy contemplating something with deep thought. She would have talked to him about it, but she was just to exhausted. Melinda was pleased however, for once, that he didn't look at her like she was an object. At least someone didn't. "Goodnight Darryn," she yawned again, plopping onto the bed and falling asleep.

[Master Houndoom]

They all sat in a circle on the bed, Mercury in the front, mirroring Jaima's cross legged posture, Shadow next to her, also mirroring the sitting style, but looking disgruntled. To Mercury's other side was Fang, with Grondir rounding out the crew. Being less human shaped, they sat on their haunches. Tsunami was near, but sleeping, still recovering from her three day poisoning. Her breathing was easier, but she was still sick, a little bit.

All eyes were closed, but a shimmering distortion flowed around Mercury's horns.

You didn't have to call me a runt! I know I'm small!

Mercury groaned in frustration. Shaaaadoooow, I told you, I'm sorry! I was upset and you were upset, I didn't mean anything by it!

I'm plenty strong, you know!

This isn't helping, guys, Grondir sighed, calmly. Our trainer asked for this to talk about our missing teammate, not to bicker.

I'm not a runt!

Of course not, Shadow, but Mercury agrees with you.

She does? Oh... sorry.

Thank you, Grondir.

I miss Ember-mama... The shinx's ears were back, and he was looking forlorn.

That's why we're here, Fang. Jaima did not look around. It was much harder to link a human to pokémon thoughts than it was to link pokémon thoughts together. Mercury's head was starting to hurt, but she was doing so valiantly, and Jaima, either recognizing it or simply trying to stay focused, kept his mind on the conversation.

You've already heard what I want to do. I told you before Mercury decided to connect us. I want to know what you all think.

I want Ember-mama back! Fang nodded vigourously, his tail switing from side to side in both the real world and the mental plane they were on.

You know how I feel, Trainer Jaima.

No one will stand in my way again. I will not fail you, Sensei Jaima.

Grondir was silent for a while. You know what Gentle Ember would think of this, don't you?

Jaima did not look, but Mercury felt his attention shift to Grondir and made it look as if he did in the mindscape. The images started to blur. I know. What do you think, Grondir?

I think we should do it anyway, of course.

Then we're agreed. I'll tell Mindy, Darryn and Darck in the morning.

Before they could do anything else, the connection broke, and the pokémon all blinked rapidly, as if suddenly waking to a bright light, save for Mercury, who daintily held her head in her hands. Jaima reached over and stroked her head crest, sending soothing thoughts.

Trainer Jaima, can you try to teach them human speech, please? She was joking, mostly, and Jaima smiled.

"You did good, Mercury. Let's all get some sleep."

Rather than collect any of them into their pokéballs, he let them find places to sleep. While his pokémon did fall asleep, it took a while for him to follow suit.

* * * * *

He didn't rush. Despite the discussion of the night before, he still wasn't sure he wanted to follow this course. He'd grown close to Mindy, and Darryn in a short time. He still wasn't sure how he felt about Darck, but the guy was nice enough, and he had given of himself to help people he didn't even know.

But this was the right thing. Ember would want him to move on and get his badges and become a champion. To Jaima, all of that was secondary. Ember was strong inside, he knew, she could take care of herself in a pinch. But he'd be happier, and she'd be happier, if they were together again. So he'd have to make sure he found her.

He ignored the beeping of his pokégear, knowing it was either Mindy or Darryn, impatient to leave. He hadn't even known it was working again until he heard the beeping. Finally, with his team in tow, he set out to the front door.

Without his bag.

Mindy looked up, and Jaima smiled apologetically. Darryn smiled, but the smile faded slightly. Darck raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not going, guys." Jaima found he couldn't meet any of their eyes. "I'm not giving up or anything, but right now I need to try to find Ember. The guy will probably come back eventually, and maybe I can find something at the shop." He shrugged. "I can't just leave her behind. So... I'll miss you guys, but I have to stay for a while."

He finally looked up. "I'll catch up with you, though. And Mindy? When I do, we'll compare badges."

This post has been edited by Hungry Hungry Houndoom: Apr 24 2009, 03:31 PM

[Living Arrow]

He's staying?! Darryn chewed his lip and held back a gag as guilt poured over him - fresh and sticky like oil it weighed on his shoulders like boulders but still managed to seep all the way to his bones. If only I had done more... No... There was nothing I could have done and my Pokemon weren't to blame... I know that now.

Jaima's change of heart, however, could hardly be seen as unexpected. Darryn's talk with Lady and the other Pokemon the previous night had highlighted just how deep the trainer-trainee bond ran and for someone like Jaima, that would be a raging chasm compared to Darryn's growing trench.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Guys, I wanted to say I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier tonight." Darryn began, huddling on the edge of the bed with his four Pokemon staring up wide-eyed at him. Their unwavering obedience was as clear as day since their evolution. All of them carried an air of maturity now - especially Jolteon. It was most shocking <pardon the pun> coming from the lightning hound since he had been such a ditzy and troublesome Eevee but it was certainly welcome. In fact, it had turned out the Jolteon had become everything that Darryn had wanted him to be since he had forced evolution upon himself at that dismal shop.

We understand. Lady sent to him, nodding to the rest of the group who all bowed their heads with respect and squawked, buzzed or barked their agreement.

"OK," Darryn shifted uneasily, "but don't let me treat you like that again. I've been stupid to go on thinking of Pokemon the way I have without questioning what I was doing. You all know I'm kinda obsessed with the way you all look but from now on I'm going to make a big effort to make sure you feel good, too. The way you all came to protect me and Lady when we were hurt was amazing and I want you to know that I'm going to do all I can to repay you with everything I can offer. I'm so so proud of each of you and I would really like it if we can be friends like how Jaima and his partners are. Their feelings for each other make them stronger than just good health and strategy can compensate for... it's called empathy, apparently. And when we have empathy we can all reach our goals, I'm sure of it!"

The assembled Pokemon began to squawk, buzz and bark louder and with more conviction - their eyes lighting up happily.

"Now, what do you all want?" Darryn asked, leaning closer to them. "Tell me and I'll do my very best to make it happen!"

Pidgeotto flapped manically and bobbed his head. Butterfree's antennae swirled in loops as she sang her own wants and needs. Jolteon barked and his hair stood out on end, gatthering into hundreds of needle-like points.The screeching continued avidly for a few moments before Lady could translate.

Faster. Stronger. Even more beautiful.

"Then that's it!" Darryn clapped his hands together. "We start together tomorrow and I promise not to let you down again"

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"If you're sure, Jaima." Darryn smiled. Jaima had been a good friend since they had met in Gigarte. Their rocky start over Mindy hadn't seemed to have intruded upon their growing friendship and he was glad to have made a friend in the trainer. Jaima had taught him so much about how to feel what your Pokemon were feeling and how to satisfy their emotional needs as well as their physical ones.

"Ember is very lucky to have someone like you to look after her - she must be very proud to have you as a trainer. Just remember that we're proud to know you, too and if you ever need us to help with anything we're only a Gear-call away." Darryn shook Jaima's hand and drew him closer for a quick man-hug which involved much back-patting. But as Darryn got closer he lowered his voice to a whisper so that only Jaima could hear. "You'll be comparing badges with me next time, too. I'm going to catch up before you know it and when I do, I expect a proper match..."

He let go of Jaima and gave him a reassuring grin to try and spur his friend on to better things like those he himself was aiming for.

"I'll be seeing you soon, Jaima."

[The Rose Crusade...]

Melinda reached out and embraced her friend. That's all she really could do. No words needed to be said; the feeling of the moment said it all. "We understand Jaima," she whispered in his ear. "I know if our roles were reversed, I would do the same thing" she assured him. As the hug ended, Mindy returned to her spot between Darryn and Darck. "Make sure you find Ember, okay? We're gonna miss you, but we all understand, am I right?" Darryn and Darck both nodded their heads in agreement as Melinda embraced Jaima in her arms once again. "An hurry back to," she whispered, pecking him on the cheek. Mindy was sincerely going to miss Jaima while he was busy trying to find Ember. Ever since she had arrived in Furoh, Jaima had been there, always at her side. He was the only one who knew about one of her secrets, and she had found a certain solace in keeping him as a close friend because of that.

Yes, Mindy would truly miss Jaima.

But she knew he'd be coming back.

The gang comprised of Darck, Darryn and Melinda climbed into a car that would safely transport them out of Lenoilia. Darck leading the way in waving goodbye to Jaima, the threesome drove off into the dark streets of Lenoilia, leaving Jaima behind at the pokemon center. The three headed in the direction of Mt. Carello and the location of the next Pokemon Gym in Arasam City.

[Master Houndoom]

After hugs all around, and a manly nod to Darck (who he barely knew still), Jaima watched the transport take his friends to their next adventure. Part of him wished that he was with them now, but he simply couldn't imagine going on and winning badges without Ember on his team.

He sighed to himself, and turned to Joy, who smiled wanly at him. "Thanks for letting me stay a while, Joy," he said, and she merely nodded her head.

His friends were out there, and while he had a good reason to stay behind as they went on, he felt he had a good reason to catch up with them as soon as possible. Since he'd come to Furoh, almost to the moment the ship he'd been on landed, Mindy had been by his sisde, encouraging him, helping him, and showing him that determination can take one to lengths he hadn't dared imagine. When they arrived at Gigarte, Darryn joined them, and quickly became part of the team, showing them the importance of proper care and standing behind them. Darryn had even started a battle when he thought that someone was going to stop Mindy and Jaima from trying for their badges. Darck showed signs of also becoming part of the team, despite some initial nerve grating. They were all good friends, and he'd miss them.

Therefore, he'd have to join them again when he could.

This ends the teams adventures in Lenoilia. Please close this topic.