M-E-W: Defiance (It begins!)

[Kuro Espeon]

I guess I'll post....someone has too....


Crystal:
~~~~~
As Arctic and I flew around the dark corridors searching for my sister, Jewel, I couldn't help but notice that he was uncomfortable. It didn't take me long to figure out why...this was because it was something that had been bothering me as well...and I could tell that we were both in an akward position concerning Byakko...our future daughter.
I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, and he happened to look at me at the same time. I blushed and looked away quickly, though I couldn't see if he did the same.... But I could tell we were both thinking about the same thing. I sighed. I decided...we were going to have to face this fact sometime and now was as good a time as any.
"Umm...Hey Arctic...I was thinking...about Byakko..." I said timidly. I saw Arctic flinch slightly as his cheeks torned rosy red. "Well...err...I was thinking that...you know......" I hesitated. I wasn't quite sure of how to phrase this. I wanted to make him feel better while convincing myself at the same time. Then I decided on what to say...hoping that it would work.
"Look Arc-kun!" I said with a small smile. "I don't think we should worry about it! I mean...it'll happen when it happens, right? Byakko never told us how old she was, so we really don't have to plan it out or anything! We should just let things happen naturally, just like it would have if Byakko hadn't come back here! If we don't think and worry about it, nature will just run it's course!" I flicked my tail slightly and looked into his eyes. "I don't we should feel strange about this if we truely love each other right?"
Arctic stared at me, a strange look in his big blue eyes, one that even I couldn't identify.
"So..." I continued, averting my eyes the blush returning to my face. "Please cheer up, Arc..."

I'll AA do a Tornado post before continuing with Farlander & Co. ^^() I'm kinda at a loss....

[Bulbasaur4]

OMG OMG OMG! *comes rushing in with a bunch of angry dogs behind her*
EEEEK!!! Back I say! BACK!

I am SO SO SO SO sorry I haven't posted in like FOREVER!!! *cries as Repturroc tries to kill her*
EEEEEEK!!!! THanks Kuro for PMing me!!!!!! ^^;; I am like... sososososososososososososo sooooorrry!!!! I make goodie post! Yesh! Goodie posty with plot-twisty! Right right? Yesh.




Seiko - M - Mew
***


Seiko sighed, flying about the castle with nothing to do. He felt really useless... and Byakko was gone, where was Byakko? Why did she fly off so fast... and... with out his help? He wanted to help her, he didn't want her to get hurt... not against that horrible human monster. No... but of course, he didn't go after her. He listened to Crystal and stayed... but... was that a mistake? What if some thing horrible happened... he would never forgive himself... never... but..

What does all this mean? I came from that strange place under the sea... and Repturroc called me... what was it again? Some thing important... that they needed me. BUt if they truely need me, then why ... why am I doing nothing?!
Angry, Seiko lashed out at a wall of one of the many tower of Mew Castle. Instantly his tail hit the wall and made a large dent in the hard slab-like rock, and many pebbles fell to the steps as he hoovered there... sighing, his eyes filling with slight glowing tears of magenta- matching his swirling eyes and the moon symbol upon his forehead. Sighing bitterly, he fought the tears away and found that only one streamed down his cheek... and then landed like a moondrop upon the stairs- still glowing his some-what trademark color. He quickly took a small paw and wiped it away, but he hoovered higher up the tower. As he assended up the stairs... floating higher and higher... he came to the end of it. There was a door, and it was closed. Using his paws he tried to open it... but found it was locked.

He heard muffled noises in the other room however... and it intrigued him. Who was in there? And why were they in there with the door locked?

Is anyone in there? Hello?
No one answered... t he noises grew silent. Seiko was greatly interested now... who was behind the door and why did they not answer his cries? Closing his e yes for a brief moment, he consentrated past the door... Seiko wanted to be past that door. Soon his body released a great flash of purple through the air and he found his body disappear from what it used to be... and then appear upon the other side. Seiko then opened his swirling eyes... and let them get used to the dim light which was only shown through a candle's flame.

There Seiko saw..... Jewel. It scared him slightly, for he never had much contact with her. He remembered that one night... when in his furry, Seiko had released his attack which created a ghost-like form of a mew, which Crystal and Arctic had said reminded them of the mew named Jewel. The only difference between his attack and this Jewel... was Seiko's attack's form had beautiful, icy blue eyes filled with sadness... and... her eyes were blank, empty.

But now... now she clutched a blood-red crimson stone which seemed to be in the shape of a feather. She just floated in the middle of a room filled with tons of dusty books and a small table with a candle. She stared at it... and her blank, gray eyes seemed to flicker with an inner red rage. Seiko was startled by the sight... as he watched, but remained silent.

Jewel... what are you doing in here?

She didn't move at all... she still hoovered there, staring at that stone. She did speak however... her voice filled with some deep, mysterious power which some how suddenly seemed filled with rage.... and a darkness.
Go away stupid little Mew. Go away.
The voice... it didn't even sound like her babble-like voice which she used these days. It was cold... and seemed like a Male voice, filled with hate and evil.... it wasn't Jewel's voice, it... it just couldn't be. This voice gave him shivers... gave Seiko a cold feeling.

But... what..
Suddenly Jewel turned her head to gaze at Seiko, her eyes glowing a fantastical, neon-like red which glowed with a sense of horrible evil. Seiko was frozen with fear... he had never seen such an evil look before, and it seemed to him that indeed, this wasn't really Jewel... as if some thing, soemone had taken her over. She clutched that red jewel... as that eerie, powerful voice filled the room again.

The end of Mew Castle is near!!!!!! I will NOT be defeated!!! NOt by any of you pathetic mews or your friends!! Death will come to you all... and no one will stop. This jewel... or perhaps THESE Jewels will help me. This stone... I did not know what it did when I saw it, but now I understand it gives power. And Jewel can unlock it's power... but her mind is lost, easily over-taken, which I have done. Now I have yet another weapon... and the END if of Mew Castle is near!! It will be to me!!!

Then... t he worst sight happened. A smile spread across Jewel's face... but it was not her own. A horrible grin... deathly, evil... just... it shocked Seiko with such a fear as he never in his little life felt before. At that moment he wished some one was here right now... some one to make JEwel go away. Or whoever controlled her...
You can't stop me. I should dispose of you.... now

Seiko suddenly felt the urge to run away... before he was hurt. HE had to tell Crystal, Arctic... anyone!! Some one before-
SEiko tried to consentrate to teleport...teleport far away, but he found his mind some how hit a wall- as if some one was blocking him.
Not this time..
That deathly voice filled his mind... it echoed in his mind and spread through out his body!!
NO! GET OUT OF MY MIND!
Seiko cried, the pain of having those words stab through his body was like a burning knife... cutting through his soul and his heart, but the voice spoke again from inside... and the pain was unbearable.
Yes... hurts doesn't it? Now go away... I have plans.

Seiko had tears fill his eyes and stream down his cheeks as he managed to open his eyes and see a bright crimson ball forming in front of Jewel's paws. She gazed at him with a blank gaze... still burning with a glowing crimson. Seiko collapsed to the ground, as he cried out in pain..
Jewel no!

But she was controlled... lost more than ever, as suddenly the crimson ball which glowed between her paws was flung straight at Seiko. It met his forehead... and an explosion of such a violent force echoed through out the castle. Jewel disappeared... whatever controlling her using her superior teleporting abilities to make her seemingly disappear. Rocks and pieces of stone slabs were crumbled all around Seiko.. books tattered and ripped to shreds from the explosion. Seiko himself was lying on the floor, cuts upon his body as he bled. His mind still burned painfully... and he shook all over. That voice... it reminded him of some one who... who Byakko said was a threat to this castle...

He couldn't remember fully however, he still was shaken up from the experience. Opening his eyes half-way... dust swirled around him, as his small limp body seemed to be burried in rubble from the explosion. His head hurt like every thing... and his body didn't seemt o really work... he couldn't float.

He heard a voice... two voices... maybe there were more? He couldn't tell... the world around him was swirling... and as his eyes began to close and blackness filled his ever-aching mind, the voice of some one filled his head... a memory..

[ Welcome Seer of the Lost. Seiko. ]
....
[Thus, I trapped your soul with in the Temple of Times... keeping you safe until you were needed again. Now you are young one... you are desperatly needed- your friends are outnumbered in power. If they fail... I am afraid-]

The world had faded into the blackness...





(Hope that was interesting. ^^ Ooooo... now evil's got another minion! Woo! )

[Arctic A]

Nice to have you back B4.....



Arctic
--------------------------------
We heard a tremondous crashing sound a few rooms away. Crystal and I shot are heads up to look at eachother.
<<< What the hell -hey! Wait up!>>> I said, as Crystal dashed off towards the source of the noise. I followed as quickly as I could. We turned a corner and ran down one of the great corridors. At the end was an arch leading into one of the large chambers. That was Ramses' old chamber.... I grimaced, hoping nothing too serious had happened. Crystal was a few feet ahead of me, already in the room. I skidded to a halt just inside the arch.
<<< Whoa boy..>>>
Large chunks of the ceiling had caved in, dust was still falling from up above. The pieces lay on the floor in a messy pile. My heart suddenly jumped into my mouth as i saw blood on the floor around.
"Oh my god...." Crystal looked shocked. I snarled, and brung my full psychic powers to bear as i flung the peices of brick and rock up into the air, and threw them aside with my mind. I took ina large gulp of air to help recover from the job, and lay eyes upon the area I had just cleared.... [/i]


Tornado
-----------------------------------------------
It was a pretty grim mood inside the cage. We still hadn't figured a way to get out. While Farlander has recovered from his rage, he remained sulky. Eclipse and Arnen were pacing around, thinking quietly. I sighed, and took a look at our surroundings. Outside the cage, I could hardly see anything. I could make out that we were in a large room, judging from the barely visible wall we were near and how my voice echoed throughout the area. I growled, and bashed my tail of one of the bars in anger. I grimaced as a sharp pain coursed throughout my body. Damnit... I said to myself.
There was suddenly a burst of light. I quickly sheilded my eyes so i could adjust better. Farlander quickly raised himself onto his hind legs, ready in a battle sort of pose. Eclipse, Disaren and Arnen stood still, glancing around. As i dropped my hand, I realised that the lights had simply come on in the room. I quickly realised that the cage was the the focus of the room: Several machines pointed towards it, and wires and cables hung from the cieling drooped onto it's roof. There was a sound of a door swooshing open - i looked over towards the source, and saw several humans walking into the area. They were all scientists by the looks of them. The one in front, a small little man with a grey beard motioned to the other three, who all quickly took up positions at differerent machines. The man walked down some steps that took him down to out level.
"Fascinating......." He mused at us.
"I'll give you bloody fascinating!" I growled, swinging my arms in a threatening way.
"Incredible! They can understand us and communicate..."
"I think there's been a misunderstanding - humans are the stupid folk around here," Eclipse growled. The scientist simply laughed at him.
"Frisky little one, eh? No matter, you'll soon learn some respect." The man turned away from us, and calledf out - "Dr. Brian, prepare the A51 Chopper crew to recieve Specimin 1. "
He looked back at us.
"We'll take the young Lugia. Dr. Walters...release the drug."
Farlander snarled. "I'll be damned if you're going to touch herr..herr........herr......" Farlander stuttered, his eyes drooping quickly. I was about to say something, when I realised the same was happening to me.
"Wha.....wha?" I said, before collapsing to the ground. Breathing was getting slower. Everything seemed to be slowing down...
"It's amazing, isn't it Stej? Masterful Psychic Pokemon, and yet they can't ward off some simple chemicals?" I heard, before passing out.

...
...
...
...
...

My eyes slowly drifted open.
"Tornado! Tornado! Wake up!" I heard a voice calling. I recognised it as Arnen. "We're out! We're out!"
"Quiet....lemme get up..." I groaned, as i managed to haul myself up. We were all on a large hilltop, overlooking the sea. Farlander stood on the peak of the cliff. Eclipse was still knocked out.
"Huh? They let us go?"
"But Disaren...they took her....." Farlander said slowly. I could easily pick up the anger and sorrow in his voice. "And they didn't truely let us go..."
"What do you mean?"
"Look below your wing, Dragonite...."
I lifted them up, and glanced at the skin. There was a small red mark, but nothing major.
"What?"
"Underneath....search with your mind."
I complied. Looking inside myself, I felt something unnatural - a small thing that shouldn't be there.
"Huh? What the heck is it?"

Farlander slowly turned around, and looked me in the eye. I saw a resigned look in his face.
"It's a Killswitch. I can feel it...it's tied to all of the major arteries and organs inside out bodys. All they need to do is flip a switch....and we'll be dead."
"But we can remove them! Psychic powers could easily.."
"Don't bother....i've tried. Xiaso must have been working with them - they've been shielded somehow."
"But the Human transmission range is limited...they couldn't use it if we were far away...."
"If they've worked with Xiaso to shield them they'll have overcome that problem too...." Farlander sighed.

I truely felt fear now. So simple yet so disturbing - one flick of a metal switch, and all four of our lives could be ended.
"You know......I kinda have a bad feeling about thi-" Arnen started, but I raised a wing and smacked her in the face before she could finish the line. She staggered back, but didn't retaliate. I looked around at the group. Farlander was back at the clifftop, looking up into the night sky. Arnen was walking over to Eclipse, who had just woken, to break all the news. I, too, decided to look up into the sky.





Mmmmm....Interesting.

[EDIT: An unholy amount of typos. O_o There's probably more in there....eeekk....]

[Mew Trainer Rose]

Eclipse
~~~~~~


"Uuug..."I groaned as I slowly woke up, feeling more than a little dizzy and disoriented.
"Oh good, you're waking up." I heard a voice say. I lifted my head and looked at the blurry figure floating above me.
"What happened?" I said, feeling like my mouth was slightly numb.
"We were drugged, remember?" said the voice. After blinking a couple times, I got the speaker into focus, and recognized it as Arnen. "They scientists let us go, but they took Disaran, and they've implanted a device called a Killswitch in each of us. A human could flip a switch at any time that would trigger the Killswitch, which would kill us."
I vaguely remembered the scene: the cage, the lab, the scientists, and i think some sort of gas. But not very well. I shook my head, trying to get rid of the fuzzy feeling that persisted. I tried standing up, and almost got to my feet before they gave out and I fell back down.
"Are you alright?" Arnen asked, concern in her voice.
"I'm not sure...I still feel half-drugged..." I replied, trying in vain to stand up again. I shook my head agin, which did no good. "Maybe they gave me too strong a dose..." I mummbled before passing out.

[Arnen]

~--Arnen~F~Mew--~

"Uh-oh," I said quickly as Eclipse fainted again. I used telekinises to keep her from hitting the ground, and floated over to Farlander and Arctic. "I don't think Eclipse is doing to well," I informed them, gesturing towards the passed-out Pochena.

[Arctic A]

Note to all: Pochena's English name was recently annouced....Poochyena. -_-;; I'm going to hunt down whoever names these things and hang them. I'm still going to use Pochena. *Hits head off wall*. Anyway..


Tornado
-------------------------------------
I glanced at Arnen.
"None of us are doing to well, damnit." I sighed. "Sorry about hitting you before...i was angry. I still am..."
"I know. It's ok." She said. She floated there, loooking at me for a while. I sighed, and looked over at Eclipse.
"So what do we do?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" Arnen replied.
"I mean....what now? We wait for them to flip the switch?"

[Arnen]

OoC: *tries to pronounce "Poochyena" and fails* It's... Easier to pronounce... In Japan. That's new -_-' I say Pochena as well.

~--Arnen~F~Mew--~

"Of course not..." I said, pondering. "I think we should maybe go find those f***ing humans and get back at them. Maybe we could destroy whateve sets these things off..." Tornado looked at me like I was insane. "What?! It was just an idea... -_- "

[Kuro Espeon]

Byakko:
~~~~~
I suddenly snapped to a strange alert. A strange, cold feeling had just spread throughout my entire body, all of my senses tingling at once as if some internal alarm had just gone off. Something inside of me was telling me that something had just happened. Something terrible....
Seiko!
His name instantly popped into my mind. Seiko? Had something happened to Seiko? Where was he?! I began to look around me frantically. Ina cold panic I made a mad dash for the castle, weaving through the many dark, labyrinth-like hallways and passages. I then found myself stopping in front of a large decorated arch, the door slightly ajar. I remembered Arctic telling me that this was Ramses, the first Guardian of Mew Castle's, old chamber. With a foreboding chill in the pit of my stomache I gulped and entered the room.
I saw mother first, a look of surprise and horror on her face. I followed her line of vision down to the ground where I saw father, kneeling over something on the floor, surrounded by the rubble and debris from the collapsed roof. I moved slightly to the left and was able to see exactly what it was that father was leaning over. I gasped as horror and disbelief grabbed hold of me.
**"SEIKO!!"** I cried. Mother and father looked at me with surprise. They had obvious not seen me enter.
"B..Byakko?" Crystal said softly. I zoomed down to the ground and landed next to father. My fears deepened as I saw Seiko's body, limp and covered with blood. I felt warm tears forming in my eyes as my vision began to blur.
**"Se...Seiko...who DID this to you?"**

[Arctic A]

Tornado
-------------------------------------------
I thought about what Arnen had said. Yes...it'd probably be the only way to save us. But it'd be impossible. Infiltrating Xiaso's stronghold, without being seen once? I shook my head.
"It'd never work...we'd be seen. Once sighting, one alarm, then we're dead."
"T'was just an idea..." Arnen said. I sighed.
"Though i suppose it's our best one so far. Anyone else?"
I noticed that Eclipse was just coming round again.
"Whoa..." She said, staggering to her feet. "I just had the most strange dream...i was captured...got some killswitch thing....yiiee..." She collapsed again.
"Again? Perhaps something about being a Dark-type makes this thing have a different effect on her...." I mused....



[EDIT: Sorry 'bout the gender mix-up!]

[Mew Trainer Rose]

hey, Eclipse is a girl.
I suddenly have an urge to do something odd...

Eclipse
~~~~~
Strange dreams i was having...I think there was something about capture and possible death at any moment in the last one. Or was that a dream? Hard to tell, it felt real....Then again, so did the one about giant blue Meowths with red eyes chasing me.
I found myself in a thicket of bushes, similar to the one I used to play in as a pup. I looked around, thinking for a moment that I was in the middle of a game of hide-and-seek or something, but I didn't see any of my friends. Then I remembered they had all grown to old for hide-and-seek already, as had I. Wondering why I was here, I moved to take a step and look around.
'Stay right where you are!' a stern voice growled. Startled, I put my paw back down and hunched low to the ground, feeling like I had been caughtrunning off when I was supposed to be in the den. A Mightyena stepped out from behind a clump of bushes that i would have thought would not have hid it. It walked over to me, and I recognized her as my aunt, who had often taken care of me and my cousins while our parents were out hunting.
'Look at the mess you've gotten yourself into now.' She said, nudging my right side with her nose. A small foreign object under my skin jabbed into my side. 'Even if you tried to bite that out, it'd no doubt go off automatically.'
'What--?' I started asking but she interrupted, saying 'I've told you before, speak only when spoken to!' I laid my ears back submisively. She always was one for extreme discipline.
'And your friend already told you what it is anyway. A killswitch, remeber?' I guess that wasn't a dream after all. I wonder if the thing with the Meowths was...
'You're going to have to get rid of that soon, they don't plan on letting you live long. You're going to have to sneak back in there and break the computer controling it before you can get it out. Understand?'
'Yes, but..."
'You want to know how to get in there unseen? Go back to your mom's den and ask about invisibility. she'll tell you.' The scene around me faded away, as i felt myself returning to conciousness. Just before i woke, up, i remembered that Aunt had died a couple months ago.

[Arctic A]

Tornado
------------------------------------------
I noticed Eclipse staggering to her feet again.
"Hey! You ok there?" I asked. She blinked a few times, as if her eyes were adjusting to something.
"Yeah....yeah, i'm ok...."
"You don't sound ok..."
"I think I might be able to get us out of this mess..." She said. That piqued Farlander's interest - he turned around to face us.
"Oh?" He said, not sounding very convinced.




Arctic
----------------------------------------
<<< Oh my god....>>>
I was almost speechless. Byakko looked although she was about to start crying, but she kept it in. She was a strong girl, and I was proud of that. I stared at Seiko's limp form, totally shocked. Byakko flew down to his side and put her paw on his face.
**He's out...totally out...**
<<< Racalexand...it has to have been him...>>>

[No....no, it wasn't.]

I was suprised as i heard Xiaro's voice behind me, and i quickly turned. The large red dragon-bird floated past me, up to Seiko. He closed his eyes for a moment, touching Seiko with his arm. All was silent as we watched him.
"Then..who was it? Can you help him? Can we?" Crystal asked. Xiaro's face was a serious picture as he turned to look at us.
[No...no, we can't help him now. The Temple of Times cannot be disturbed....]
<<<What?>>>
[It dosn't matter. There is nothing anyone can do...] Xiaro sighed. [I am sorry. These bad things have all been happening since my brother and I arrived...i believe that i am responsible.]
"No! That's not true.."
<<< Crys is right. It's Xiaso!>>>
[Ahh...I see....you are beginning to catch onto my Brother's ways. He will use any method nessecary to win the Shi - Cathor and rule this place....but....]
**But?**
[...but this was not his doing. I can sense it...I see the ceiling caved in. Look up there. That pattern used, the psychic marker left....your friend Seiko was attacked by another Mew.]

[Mew Trainer Rose]

Eclipse
~~~~~

I blinked a couple times more. Was that dream I had really enough to go on? Then again, we didn't have any othere ideas.
"I think my aunt was talking to me in my dream...she said teh scientists don't plan on letting us live long, and we have to destroy the computer that controlls them. she told me to go talk to my mom." I looked up at them. If my dream was true, my mom should be able to tell me how to become invisibile."
The statemant was met with silence a moment. Finally, Arnen said, "You think you can really find out how to be invisible?"
I shrugged. "Hopefully, but i'm not positive that the dream can be trusted. still, it's better than sitting here." I looked around to figure out where we were, then started walking. I didn't look back to see if they were following, and i supposed it didn't matter if they did or not.
After a little while, I came to the clump of pine trees near my home. I pushed my way past a bush, and poked my head into my family's den.
"Hey, mom? Are you here?" I called. The reply came from outside, "Yeah, I'm over here."
I turned and followed the sound of her voice, and found her finishing a meal. She took one look at me and said "Something must be up. I can tell by just looking at you. What is it?"
"I think my aunt talked to me in a dream. She said to ask you about invisibility." I replied, and told her a breif sketch of recent events.
She started a moment. "Are you serious?" seeing that i was, she went on. "Invisibility is a tricky business, and easily missused. She discovered it, but told me not to tell you unless absolutely necessary." She explained it, and although the explanation was complicated, it turned out to be pretty much based on a modified Faint Attack. Like the move, invisibility could not be maintained for too long a period of time. Initially, about 10 minuted was the maximum, or possibly up to 15 if the user strained, although the time could be extended as the user had more practice with it.
As practice, i turned invisible and walked around. To my surprise, she followed me easily with here eyes.
"How did you still know where I was?" I asked, reappearing.
"I could stilll track you by sound and scent, as well as your footprints on the ground." She told me. "You're only hidden from sight, but anything looking for you by other means still can. But if you stay perfectly silent and walk on hard surfaces, you'll have a much batter chance of getting around in there."
I nodded and thanked her, then went to tell Tornado, Farlander and Arnen what I'd just learned.

[Bulbasaur4]

^^ I luv this RPG.



Seiko - M- Mew
***

Churning... churning... the sky, it was dark and churning like as if it were in a pot of bubbling green goo. Lightening sparked from teh sky, as the heavens seemed to cry with their ice-hard tears of heaven. It was so dark... dark... and in the distance, there was a dark, looming figure.

It floated there... floated, but yet it had wings. A black, small form... with glowing, bewitching eyes which sparkled with crimson- deadly, yet michevious and almost friendly in an unforgiving way. Upon the head, was a marking of one moon and two stars both glowing a deep crimson. Slash-like markings, as if tiger stripes also dotted against the black skin of the figure with a blood-red tone...

[ Are you afraid? ]

The voice echoed through the sky, inside my head... all about the earth it seemed. Those eyes... they stared at me, and some how I knew them, but yet... I did not. It was as if...deja vu was occuring.

I... I do not know why I... SHOULD be afraid...

I simply replied, and to this the figure nodded and seemed to smile uncanny-like. Flying towards me closer, suddenly the figure became clear. Repturroc.... but... why was she here?
[Wise. Very wise, Seer of the Lost. Do you know why you are here?]
I shook my head slowly... my eyes saddening... I couldn't really remember...
[ You should not know. You were supposed to have lost your memory. But I shan't let that happen, no... they will not win yet. My calling is to not interfere, but with these matters being of out-most importance towards the future... which the future even holds greater deeds, I must intervene. Seiko... REMEMBER!!! The binds of the Temple of Times have their bondadges around you... you can only stray a little, with out cutting yourself. You seem weak, but you are not! You are the son of a great mew! You cannot lose! Though you may not awaken until the spell is released... which I will look to try to make it unbound by finding another whom can help, but you can tell them... tell them! REMEMBER!]

But I..
[Remember.....]

Suddenly a crack of lightening split across the sky, and all went dark and Repturroc seemed to disappear into thin air. I felt even more confused... but then more lightening crashed against the sky... then... images..
Jewel...
Glowing eyes of red...
Plans..
Some one inside of her..
Mustn't let me know...
I'd get in the way..
No one can stop..
A blast...
The red jewel..


As everyone floated around Seiko's body, which was lost to the darkness and unable to return. The blast was of an unknown type... psychic mew blast it was, but the destination of what it was to create was indeed unknown. Seiko's mind was lost... he was never meant to journey to the past, and the blow was utterly harsh upon him. Repturroc however, did indeed promise to eventually get him back before the major battles would arise where he would be needed like all others. But she knew that he had to give them a sign...

And even though no one knew Repturroc was behind this sign, it happened none the less.

**Seiko! Seiko...*** Byakko's soft cries still were heard in the little room, as Xiaro looked onward with Arctic. A mew blast... and once that comment was made, Seiko's body began to glow an eerie red. It pulsated and cast multiple rays of white light from his moon-like jewel upon his head... and as that light escaped his head... Crystal staggered back.
**... that... this... it looks like one of Seiko's attacks! The one... he did long ago...**

Then the white light billowed around them, although Seiko's body still glowed. Then the light white swirled, until it began to form ever so slowly into a small, white, mew-like shape, slightly edged into a violet tone. Then it was shown... the mew looked like the ghastly form of ... no one other than Jewel. Exactly like Seiko had done several years ago...

**It's... It's...** Byakko stuttered, until Arctic finished.
It's Jewel...

Then as swift as teh name was spoken, the white light gazed at them with their beautiful, crystal-blue e ys... the way Jewel was supposed to be, and then it vanished. Seiko's body went back to it's normal, dark violet color and his motionless state continued..

Softly the wind blew...
[ ... which the future even holds greater deeds, I must intervene. ]

[Da'An]

***** Poseidon *****

A loud thundering crash was heard several rooms away. Arctic and Crystal flew off to investigate. I flew to Oceanus and Atlantis. Something was bad...something really bad had just happened and I could somehow sense the presence of Alex. I shudder to think what had happened if he were in Mew Castle again.

My consorts and I flew in the direction of the Mews. We turned a corner and saw a huge arch, leading to the one known as Ramses's chambers. We dashed forward and gazed at the wreck which lay before us. Arctic, Crystal, Byakko, and to my surprise, Xiaro were already there. I could not believe my eyes. The ceiling had caved in and apparently crashed upon Seiko. His body was limp and motionless. Whoever did this to Seiko fatally injured him, but did not kill him. I felt a surge of rage and sadness as I saw Byakko silently weeping Seiko's name.

We flew into the room and I approached Seiko's body.

"Just after the crash, I sensed Alex's presence," I told them. "It's not here anymore, but it couldn't have been him who did this to Seiko. He wouldn't dare to enter the castle just yet, not after our last encounter."

"You are right," agreed Arctic. "Xiaro just informed us that it was another Mew who did this to Seiko."

"A Mew did this?" I asked.

"I know it's hard to believe Poseidon," said Crystal. "But it's true. Look at the ceiling. There is a mark left from the attack. It's a psychic signature only authentic to Mews."

"No Mew in this castle would dare to injure another of its kind," I roared.

"We know," said Arctic.

"Whoever did this must have been under Alex's control," I retorted. "Is there anyone you know who has been aloof lately?"

"Well, before you arrived, Seiko's mind gave us an image," answered Crystal. "It was actually a mirage of one of Seiko's rarest attacks he uses. It formed the body of..." She paused with a look of great sadness in her beautiful eyes. Tears began to drip from her blue crystalline eyes.

"It's Jewel," added Byakko. "Seiko gave us the image of Jewel."

"The one who rarely speaks..." I muttered to myself. "But what about his brother, Xiaso. He wants to win the Shi-Cathor and take over Mew Castle. Isn't that right Xiaro ?"

"Yes," answered the dragon-bird. "He is plotting something for sure, but I know that he did not injure this Mew."

"Not directly, no," I agreed. "But he has sent his minions to execute his biddings and for that, he is as much responsible as Jewel and Alex."

Xiaro glared angrily at me. Not willing to bow down, I returned the spiteful glare straight back at him.

"Hold on boys," Crystal said. "We are all on the same side here. If we fight amongst ourselves, we will surely lose. We must stick together to protect our beloved Mew Castle. We can't let it fall into the hands of evil...we just can't."

"I understand," said Xiaro as he mockingly glanced at me. "But this "Sea Prince" is accusing my brother of mutilating this humble Mew, something I know even he would not do."

"Understand this dragon-bird,” I reiterated. “During times when the balance of power is at stake, certain elements will stoop to any level to gain power. I don't know that your brother did this, but I am sure that he is fully capable of it. He wants the powers of the place...as do YOU Xiaro. Whose to say that you don't have plots to destroy your enemies so that you'll win the Shi-Cathor?"

Xiaro raced over to me and we stood face and face. We angrily stared at each other for a few moments, than Xiaro flew off.

"I apologize Mews," I said. "But we have to understand that in a few shorts days, things might become really different around here. The Shi-Cathor is imminent and we don't know their real motives. So what if one of them is the lesser of two evils. They could be plotting together you know."

"I understand," said Crystal. "But we trust Xiaro more than Xiaso and although we aren't supposed to take sides, we are more eager to see Xiaro win."

"At least we know that if he wins, he won't destroy us," added Arctic. "Besides, let's try to get Seiko back before we do anything else."

"Agreed," I answered. "Whoever did this was just testing their powers, or else they would have killed Seiko. He is fatally injured. Although his mind is somewhere else, I will heal his body."

I concentrated and using the healing powers of my trident, seared energy towards the bloody body of Seiko and healed him. The Mews floated around us, pondering...pondering how they were going to reach Seiko in the Temple of Times.

"My friends," I said. "I fear that I may have to summon help. Xiaso's forces are growing stronger everyday. Alex is growing in power and whomever he just recruited will as well. The presence of evil is on the rampage around here and we will without doubt be badly defeated. I shall return in a day. Remember Mews, although you are ordained not to choose sides, I believe that you will have to soon. Choose wisely. In times of war, there are no taboos. Heed my warning and farewell."

With that, Oceanus, Atlantis, and I flew off and exited Mew Castle.

"Whom are you going to summon sire?" asked Atlantis.

"Surely not anyone from the Seas," added Oceanus.

"No, no," I answered. "I am going to summon help from above. A great and powerful entity who watches over us that has not been down here for the past few millennia. Only he can stop Alex and the other sinister forces around here, allowing the Shi-Cathor to occur as it was meant to...by the battle of pure wills."

"Who could that be?" asked Oceanus.

"The ruler of the skies, Uranus,” I replied. “Only he could help to stop the miserable and bleak future from becoming a reality.”

“But isn’t he just a legend?” Atlantis asked.

“Yes, but so are the others,” I replied. “He has helped my father once. I don’t see why he wouldn’t help us this time around. We are going to go up there and find him.”

I darted upwards as fast as I could, with Oceanus and Atlantis trailing me. I hurried and flew into the clouds. My consorts have never been this high before, but I knew that they would be okay. The atmosphere up here takes time to get used to. We exited the lower atmosphere and entered the ozone layer.

[Kuro Espeon]

Just to let you all know, I may be out of town from Thursday till Sunday (it's not definete but it's possible) in New York with my school choir group. (We still don't know wether or not we're going and it's the night before the trip....*sigh*) But if if we do go, I'll be gone for a few days. Just thought I'd let you guys know so you wouldn't wonder where I was...

[Arctic A]

That's fine Kuro, thanks for the heads up.




Tornado
--------------------------------------------------
"So?" I asked Eclipse as she walked up towards us.
"I..I think i can get us out of this mess."
"How?"
"Inivisibility...."
Eclipse told us about her newfound ability and her mother.
"That's handy..." Arnen remarked. Farlander looked sceptical about it.
"A juiced up Faint attack? You'll never be able to hold it for long enough..." He grunted.
"Hey, at least she has an idea that could work!" Arnen quipped, glaring at Farlander. He didn't reply.
"I guess there's nothing any of us can do then?" I said. Eclipse shook her head.
"I don't think so..."
"Then it's all up to you," Farlander replied, stretching his wings.




[EDIT: 10th page! *Does a happy dance*]

[Kuro Espeon]

*cries* Waaaaaai......gomen everyone....just giving you all another update on my *ahem* current situation.
We didn't end up going to New York (damn school board...), but I have another excuse...erm...reason for not being here. Our school musical (in which I am in a pretty substantial role) is in the middle of production week (aka: Hell Week), and opening night is Friday. I haven't been home alot lately as you may have guessed and I won't be till this is over. I may have a chance to post on Friday if I can get the chance. But I'm extremely tired right now....so I'm going to bed. *falls asleeP* Zzzzzz....*snort snooore* Zzzzzzzz...

WILL POST SOOOOOON! I PROMIIIIIIIISE!!

[Mew Trainer Rose]

Eclipse
~~~~~

I turned away and was about to head back to the cave, when i realized i didn't know where it was from here. Or, for that matter, how to get back in once i found it.
"Actually, come to think of it," I said, turning back to the others, "there is a way you can help me." They all looked at me. "Help me find the cave again. I can't get in if i don't know where it is, can I?"
Aren flew over to me. "I dunno about you guys, but I will. I'm gonna look over there." She said, pointing over to a nearby hill before flying off.
"I'll be nearby if you find anything." I said before heading off to another area to start sniffing around for an entrance to the cave.

[Kuro Espeon]

Alright! Time for a post! It won't be long most likely....but I'll do what I can in 5 minutes.


Farlander:
~~~~~~~
Invisibilty....the whole thing seemed rather silly to me...
With all of the advanced technology and human resources that Xiaso was connected with, it wouldn't surprise me if he could detect us by some sort of device, plus the killswitches that had been embedded into us were probably equipped with some sort of tracking device as well. Not to mention...with all of Xiaso's power, he would probably sense us without the aid of any kind of human machine....
I sighed.
Disaran....
I had failed her. My sister...I hadn't been able to save her! And I might have even made her situation worse. Who knew what they were doing to her! I was still unsure of what importance Disaran was to them (besides a bargining chip anyway...), but I was pretty sure that it wasn't good.
I jumped into a low glide and flew slowly over, landing next to Tornado.
"So Dragonite....what is your opinion on this whole thing? Do you really think we can trust this dream of hers? Do you really think this'll work?"
Tornado shrugged. "Who knows? But...it's worth a shot, right? It's better than just sitting around, waiting for them to kill us off. Besides....you want to save your sister, don't you?"
I turned my head with a sharp snap and looked at Tornado. The look on his face was one I had never seen him give to me. It was one not of hatred (which I had been used too), nor one of sarcasm...but one of sympathy. I was unsure of what to make of it. I guess I just wasn't used to the Dragonite actually being nice to me. And...he was right. It was if he had read my thoughts. Or...was I really that transparent?
But It was true...To protect my sister...I would do anything. And if this...new invisibility technique was our only option then...I would give it a shot.
"I have failed Disaran once...and I will not do it again." I replied. Heading off towards the nearby woods, with Tornado behind me.

[Arnen]

~--Arnen~F~Mew--~

"Hey!" I cried, flying after them, "You forgot about me!" I said cheerfully, being overly-hyper on purpose.

"Lalalalila..." I sang, flying around high above the forest floor. Farlander gave me a glare that said, "Quit fooling around!" but I pretended to ignore him. I flew ahead a bit in hopes of finding the edge of the forest, but it seemed to go on forever. Pouting, I flew back to the others. First time out on my own, and look at the mess I've gotten myself into!

[Arctic A]

Urk. Sorry, i'm really busy with a wackload of Tests at the moment. As soon as the Easter Holidays start i promise an update from good ol' Arctic A. Sorry bout this.

[Arctic A]

Arctic
--------------------------------
I watched Poseidon and his consorts speed away from the castle. They soon dissapeared from sight.
<<< Well....what now?>>>
[Hmmmm....] Xiaro pondered aloud.
{Problems, brother?} A Mocking tone rang down the corridors of the castle. Xiaso. I growled as he slowly appeared round the corner. He was smiling, which made me even more angry. Byakko snarled, and leapt up in front of him.
*Listen you! I KNOW you had something to do with this! You'd better-*
{Ho ho ho ho.....Fiesty little one. Quick to jump the gun, it would seem. } Xiaso roared, directing his vision to Seiko's body. {Oh dear. Problem?} The sarcasm in his voice was evident. I saw Crystal boiling with anger beside me - i raised my arm and called telepathically for her to stand down. Byakko hovered above us, growling angrily.
[Seiko has been attacked.] Xiaro said.
{I hadn't noticed.} Xiaso replied.
[You do not amuse me, Brother.]
{Nor do you.}
[If we were not bound be the rules of the Shi - Cathor Ra'ando, i would not be so forgiving.]
<<< Shi - Cathor what? >>> I asked, confused.
Xiaso turned towards me, smiling.
{The Ra'abdo states that in the run up to the Shi - Cathor, there may be no conflict between the opposing sides.} He said.
[You will-]
{I grow tired of this. Why don't we just do it now? The Shi - Cathor! Why don't we finish our little squabble now, brother?} Xiaso said, his voice full of brutalness.
[No. We must wait the 2 weeks.]
{Very well. I suppose you'll need them to get anywhere near my level of strength...} Xiaso taunted, then turned his back and floated out of the room. Xiaro snorted, and followed, leaving Crystal, Byakko, Seiko and I in Ramses's chamber. Byakko once again floated down to Seiko.
*Is there anything we can do?*
"We'll take him to Flashwing." Crystal replied. I nodded in agreement. I gathered my psyche around me and cast it into a sort of floating platform. Byakko and Crystal lifted Seiko up onto it gently. I instructed the platfrom to head to the Library, where Flashwing usually spent most of his time when he was here. We silently followed it, thinking to ourselves. We came thorugh several corridors and eventually reached the library. Sure enough, Flashwing stood in the center, pearched on the Pedastal where the 'Book of the Mew' has been before Racalexand destroyed it, with his feathery back turned to us

"I forsaw that this would happen...." He said, not even turning around to face us.
<<< You WHAT? You KNEW?>>>
"You forget, Arctic, that i know alot of things..."
"You could have stopped this!" Crystal shouted out.
"Maybe. But i can't interfere with things..."
*Why not?* Byakko asked, angrily.
"You, my dear, should know. Time. Time is a truely strange thing. No-one fully understands it, but me. After you killed me all that time ago, I found, in death, the key. Now I master time. I AM time."
<<< You're confusing me, Flashwing.>>> I said, quite truthfully. He laughed.
"Don't worry - all will become clear later on. But I am afraid that i cannot help Seiko. His body may be here, but his mind is elsewhere."
Byakko growled at this. *Try!*
"I cannot...."
*PLEASE!* She said. I could sense the anger and upset inside her.
"I cannot." Flashwing repeated. "All will become clear."

[Kuro Espeon]

Byakko:
~~~~~
Flashwing. He was a creature of time...just like me. I wasn't always one, but ever since I came back here I've gone through tons of changes. I wondered....was I going to turn out to be like Flashwing? Would I be able to predict the future like him? I had already had several visions but Flashwing had told me that those was only because I had changed the future and as the future changed, so did my memories. But...could it possibly turn into something bigger? Something more extensive? More powerful?
But Flashwing was right. I, more than anyone, should understand how tampering with time messes things up. After I changed my future world by helping my parents fight Kalidor, everything else in the stream of time was thrown all out of whack. Who knows what would have happened if Flashwing tried to stop something that was fated to happen.
But...I hoped that fate...was not against Seiko....
*"Please Seiko..."* I thought, somewhat trying to reach out to him mentally. *"Please live..."*

I hadn't done a post for Byakko in a while, so i figured it was about time that I did one. even though it's really short and crappy. Sorry, I'm really tired. But I'm also happy! Our Spring Break is finally here! I can finally catch up on my precious sleep!!! Yipeeee! ^_^

[Arctic A]

Tornado
-------------------------------------------------------------------
We all now searched for the cave that we had entered the lair through. Farlander seemed alot more sure of himself now, taking up the lead of our search. I followed behind him, with Eclipse behind me. Arnen flew above us, seeming very happy about the whole damn thing. How she managed it was quite beyond me. I scanned the surrounding area for anything familiar, but nothing showed up. Nobody else seemed to be having much luck either.
"Hmmm..."
Farlander suddenly stopped dead in his tracks behind a bush, and lowered himself down to the ground. He motioned with his wings for us to do the same, and we did.
"What? What is it?" I whispered.
"Come take a look..." he replied. I crawled up alongside him, and peered through the bush. Beyond it stood three of the creatures that had attacked us when we first came across the cavern. The three stood together in a circle, muttering amongst themselves. They didn't seem too much of a threat.
"We can take them quickly. Leave 'em paralysed." I suggested. Farlander pondered for a moment.
"Ok. Take the one that's closest to us. I'll take down the other two. Arnen, Eclipse, stay down." The two grunted softly, but didn't resist Farlander's orders.
"On three. One. Two."
"THWEEE!" A Sharp, piercing voice camd from beside us. Another one of the creatures had been listning, and sprung up. It then proceeded to turn and run like hell. The other three heard this, and quickly scattered off into all directions.
"GAH! Quick, everyone tail one and bring 'em down! They can't be allowed to send off a message!" I yelled, springing up and chraging after the one that had suprised us. Out of the corner of my eye i saw Farlander and Arnen take flight after their targets - Eclipse leapt up after hers. I grunted, and started going faster.

[Kuro Espeon]

You know...I'll post in here if no one else does but I'd rather someone esle take a turn....
PLEASE DON'T LET THIS DIE!!!!!!

[Bulbasaur4]

Repturroc
**


[ Do not fear Byakko. ]

Repturroc simply appeared out of no where. She hovered in the middle of them, her eyes uncanny as she gazed at all of them.
[ Do not speak of the times when you do not know what they are fully capable of. It's disapproving.]
They turned to gaze at her... as she gazed contently at Byakko.
[ Enough though. Byakko, Seiko is currently lost- but do not fear. He shall return when he is ready... but first, you all must ready yourselves.]
For what?! Arctic asked, as Repturroc gazed at the large bird who had joined them. With a sparkle in her eye, she replied.
[ For the evils.]
They were ocnfused... but Repturroc understod why. They did not know the dangers.

[ You have many friends... but with that, you have many enemies. An old enemy from long ago who was once you friend, will stumble down the wrong path and join forces with the one you have been trying to defeat. If those two are allowed to become one with the greatest enemy you have yet to face of all... then you could lose Mew Castle forever- along with all hopes of regaining Seiko.... ]
Repturroc gazed to Crystal.
[... and your sister. Along with a secret. There is a secret... about Seiko, which you all must learn - but in due time. For time has it's secrets and it's lies... it's truth... and those it despises. So hurry!]


(bleh! G2g!)

[Arctic A]

Arctic
--------------------------------------
<<< Why do you always have to speak in riddles? >>> I asked, glaring at Repturroc. She seemed to ignore me, instead looking across at Flashwing, who didn't seem to be paying much attention.
"You'd be wise to listen to her, Arctic. All of you would." He said, stretching his wings, and admiring his shiny feathers.
<<< I don't get it. Why can't you just tell us what's going on and what we have to do? >>>
Flashwing sighed, and looked me in the eye.
"You know the answer."
<<< I do? >>>
"You do." He replied. and with that, turned around and exited the room. I was tempted to follow him, but i knew i'd never get anything out of him. I turned to Repturroc.
<<< So why exactally must we hurry? >>>
"For soon evil could gain great power..."
<<< You mean Xiaso and the Shi - Cathor? >>>
"Xiaso is only one of many evils..."

[Kuro Espeon]

Crystal:
~~~~~
My head had begun to spin again...

All this talk of evils coming our way....it made me feel sick to me stomache. Like we didn't have enough evil on our hands already!! What with Xiaso and the Shi-Cathor already staring us in the face, it was going to be hard enough! Now the riddle-loving Repturroc tells us that that we have even more enemies to deal with and wouldn't even tell us who or why!
Normally I tried not to bare hatred toward any non-aggressor...but all this speaking in riddles and concealing the truth was beginning to irritate me. When I looked at Repturroc, knowing that she knew something and wasn't telling us, some vital information, I couldn't help but feel a strange burning deep inside me. A burning...a burning that I didn't feel too often. Something deep inside of me just wanted to smack the grin right off of Repturroc's face. I wanted to scream...I wanted to cry...I wanted to demand an explanation of her and ask her why! Why?! Why did she insist on playing games instead of telling us what we needed to know! And Flashwing too! If they would only tells us then maybe...we could get right to it and stop the evils before we are consumed by them! And many lives would be spared! Every minute we just sit here is another minute for Xiaso and his mysterious future consort to accomplish thier goals!

We didn't have time for riddles...We didn't have time for games...We didn't have time for any of that.
Especially with the lives of Seiko and Jewel, and all the ones that I cared about, at risk. We had to act, and we had to do it now! Or else Mew Castle, our home, would be gone forever.

But I didn't say any of this, at least not out loud. I knew it wouldn't make a differance. We would never get anything out of them. No...I remained silent, like I always was. I simply lowered my head slightly and clasped my mother's blue crsytallic pendent inbetween my paws, it's warmth helping to soothe me, even if it was only a little.
"Arctic..." I finally said, "You don't suppose...that Xaiso would try anything before the Shi-Cathor would he?"
I knew it was a strange question, but I just a strange feeling inside me. A feeling of foreboading...

Somethig bad was going to happen...and it was gonig to happen soon....

[Arctic A]

Tornado
-------------------------------------------------
I continued my pursuit of the strange creature. We'd now eneted the woods on the side of the mountain. The thing suprised me - It was pretty fast for it's small size, and i was starting to strain to keep at it's pace. It was only a few meters in front of me now - with a well placed hyper-beam, i could probably knock it down. However, if i missed, it'd drain me of my energy and the thing would be able to get away. I did fancy myself as quite a good shot, but not enough to bet my life on it. I tried to quicken my pace, but i didn't have enough energy in me to do it.
I'll never catch it at this rate...I guess there's only one thing to do.
I skidded to a halt on the forest floor, kicking up dust and foliage. I quickly focused my mind and started brewing up a beam of pure energy in my mouth. The thing glanced over what i think was it's shoulder, and yelped as it saw what i was doing.
One shot...
I released the energy. It flung itself out of my mouth in an arc of white, and struck the creature in the back.
...one kill.
I quickly ran down to it to make sure it was out. I took a look at the burning hole in it's back.
"That's gotta hurt..." I said to myself. I raised me head up high to see if i could see any of the others. I saw nothing, but did hear some faint sounds that seemed like a large object crashing through the forest. Farlander, probably. I quickly set off to help him with his opponent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry 'bout my lack of updates, i'm pretty busy ATM. I got a half term break next week, so i'll be able to make some decent posts then. Hopefully.

[Arnen]

~--Arnen~F~Mew--~

I shot after my target, grinning ruefully. Finally, some fun. The gem on my tail was blinking furiously. I halted in midair, then blinked sharply. The creature -- whatever it was -- froze in mid-leap, then hovered a few feet off the ground. My eyes flashed pale green for a moment, and the creature had its energy drained. I floated a bit closer now, this time casting Psychic. The thing squealed with sheer pain as I attacked its feeble little mind. It slumped over, still floating, when I released it. It fell to the ground with a thud. I flew over and kicked at it, but it didn't move.

"Well, then," I said, cheerful again, "Now that's done with..." I flew off into the trees, looking for Eclipse in case she needed help.

[Mew Trainer Rose]

Eclipse
~~~~~~~~

I leaped after the creature, pumping my legs as hard as I could, but it was much faster. Sometimes I hate being so small. It also dodged back and forth, trying to shake me off, but I had a good eye and was able to follow it. From time to time it would glance back, see that it still hadn't lost me yet, and conyinue on at beakneck speed.
Getting an idea, I quickly concentrated on invisibility, then faded from view. I tired to run as lightly as possible and leave no footprints. The next time the creature glanced behind it, it suddenly slowed to a walk when he didn't see me. I had lagged behind so much that i was also able to slow down far before I would have crashed into it, even it it had stood still. It looked around a while, making sure that I was nowhere in sight. It then switched direction and speeded up again, although it didn't run as fast as it did before, so I was able to keep up. Now it didn't bother to run all over the place, and mabe a beeline for it's destination. Instead of attacking it as soon as I got close, I followed it to see where it was going.
A little while later, it run into a tangle of bushes and fallen branches before it stopped. As I watched from within lunging distance, it loosened a couple branches, pulled back a seemingly solid mass of bramble to reveal the entrance to another cave. Before it could go inside, I pounced on it and bit down hard on its neck. The creature screamed and tried to hit its invisible assailant, but only managed to land a couple blows. It grew steadily weaker as I increated the pressure on it's windpipe. When it's struggles slowed, I stopped being invisible, since I needed the energy to attack the creature. Thwen I savagely tore at it's neck, causing it to let out weak cries of pain.
Arnen flew up just as I finished ripping a large chunk out of it's jungular vein. After spitting the foul-tasting flesh off to one side. I made sure the thing was well and truly dead before I turned to Arnen.
"Not only did this thing not get a message to anyone, but I let it lead me to another entrance to the cave. Look." I told Arnen, then pushed aside the branches, which had fallen back into place.

[Arctic A]

Tornado
---------------------------------------------------
I burst through a clump of trees, into a small clearing to be greeted with a strange sight. In the center was a large tree - and one of the strange creatures was tied to it with a length of rope. Farlander sat in front of it, covered in dirt and foliage, staring at it angrily. I raised my eyebrow, and slowly walked over to him.
"Uhhh....."
"Quiet. I'm interrogating it." He said, not moving his gaze from the creature.
"By staring at it?" I snorted.
"Yes." He replied.
"I see."
"It'll crack eventually. Then it will tell us another way into the mountain." Farlander seemed pretty sure of himself. I would almost say he was desperate. I shrugged, and sat alongside Farlander. The creature had long since stopped struggling, and was simply staring back at Farlander, hissing every now and again.
This won't get anywhere... I thought to myself. I was about to say something along those lines to Farlander, when Eclipse and Arnen burst in through the trees behind us.
"Hey guys...I found us another way in!" Eclipse yelled, bounding over beside us. The happy expression cleared from her face when she noticed what Farlander was doing.
"Uh...Farlander? What are you doing?" Arnen asked, floating over in front of him, breaking his line of sight to the creature. Farlander closed his eyes, and then slowly raised himself to his feet.
"Nothing anymore. This entrance, where is it?"
"Back this way. C'mon, i'll show you!" Eclipse said, turning around and running back into the forest.
“Wait a sec…we can’t just leave that thing tied to a tree. It could escape.” I said, glancing back at the thing. Arnen and Eclipse turned to regard it as well. It was shaking furiously, trying to break the ropes. Farlander turned towards it, and closed his eyes. They glowed a dark purple color, emitting a powerful energy. The Tree suddenly uprooted from the ground, and hovered in the air, with the screaming creature still attached. Farlander quickly jerked his head backwards, and the tree was flung far up into the air. He then threw his head forwards – and the tree was catapulted far into the distance.
“That will take it far, far away…”
“Nice work,” I commented. Eclipse and Arnen nodded in agreement. Eclipse then proceeded to turn back around and continue into the forest once again.
Arnen and I quickly followed. Farlander sighed heavily.
"I'm getting to old for this..." He said, before following us back into the forest.

[Kuro Espeon]

Farlander:
~~~~~~~
As we followed Eclipse through the twists and turns of the dark forest as she led us to this new enterance of her's, I hung back slightly, a shot distance away from everyone else. I was in a state of deep thought, which I found myself in a lot these days, all the events of the past few weeks running through my mind. And after reviewing all of it I realized something...and what I realized disturbed me....
Of all the things that I had been doing, all of the missions I had set out to do and all of the tasks I was to accomplish, and all of the battles I had fought....I had done none of it alone. Throughout all of it I had some form assistence. This bothered me to no end. Why should the great Farlander need help? Why couldn't I do all of this alone anymore? Not too long ago I was powerful enough to to do anything I chose and do it by myself! Ad why shouldn't I do it NOW? Why did I stoop to accept help from lower life forms?
Why couldn't I?....Why...did I have to? Was it possible? Was I really....getting old?

*Begin Flashback*
"Farlander....this is a serious matter. Why are you just brushing it aside? At least think about it!" Flashwing said to me, a serious expression on his face. I narrowed my eyes and gave him a sideways glance as we flew along the long corridor of the Creator's castle.
"Why should I think about it, Flashwing? It's not going to happen! At least not anytime soon! You worry way too much..." I huffed.
"Who are you trying to kid, old friend? You know as well as I do that we, no matter how powerful we are, are not immortals. Eventually Farlander...you will die."
I jerked my head sharply in his direction. "Hold your tongue, Ho-oh! I am perfectly aware of that fact! But...you, of all of us, must realize that with our great powers we have also aquired an incredible longevity! We shall not die out easily!"
"That is still no reason to not be prepared, Lugia." He replied, stressing the term just as I had, "What if you were to die in battle? What would happen then?"
This caused me to laugh out loud, my booming voice echoing down the empty corridor.
"What was that? Die in battle?! Hardly possible, Flashwing! The great Farlander, Creator of Justice of the 5 Pokemon Sages, does not lose to anyone! With my amazing prowess, there is no opponent in the world who stands a chance against me! Even by myself I am invinclible! Believe me, if the day ever comes when I ever accept help from anyone, it will be the day denounce my name!"
Flashwing paused, regarding me with the same stern face as he seemingly always possesed.
"I'm afraid that arrogance of yours will one day be your undoing, Farlander."
I just snorted turned away from him. "And I suppose you already have everything planned out, do you? All ready for death, aren't you? How morbid you are..."
"As a matter of fact, I have. I have already chosen my successor, the one who will follow me after my time on Earth is finished. He will inherit my powers and my position from the moment of my death until his. And I still strongly suggest that you do the same...old friend..."
With that Flashwing disappeared, teleporting away to some other part of the castle. I was glad to see him go. His idiotic babble had begun to annoy me. Who was he to tell me how I should run my life? And who was he tell me when it would end? He had NO place!
No successor would be named for me! Not yet! The reign of Farlander would not end until I was ready to give it up!!
*End Flashback*

I looked up in front of me and the large form of Tornado, the Dragonite. His actions confused me, and I still didn't understand why he was still here. He was helping me, his former enemy, in a mission that did not benefit him at all. And still....he followed. Why was going on inside the mind of this Pokemon....I was determined to find out.

Arctic is the only one who will notice the referance in that flashback. There is somethign in there that hints to what I'm planing for the next sequel of this RPG. Look closely! see if you can figure it out! (I doubt it...teehee)

[Arctic A]

Arctic
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Arctic...You don't suppose...that Xaiso would try anything before the Shi-Cathor would he?" Crystal asked. I think she already knew the answer, but i responded anyway.
<<< Yes. >>>
Crystal dropped her head, and I instantly wished that i hadn't said anything. She closed her eyes and grasped her crsytallic pendent again.
<<< Crys....>>>
"It...it's ok, Arc."
<<< No, it's not. >>> I turned to look at Byakko. She looked back at me, with a hopeful gaze in her eyes. I sighed.
<<< Byakko...could you please give us a moment?>>> I asked quietly, putting my arm around Crystal. Byakko was about to protest, but managed to keep it in before turning around and slowly floating out of the room. I then turned to Repturroc, who was still hovering around us, inspecting us with a strange gaze.
<<< Repturroc. Go. Now. Please.>>>
"Four words. Such meaning!" She smiled, and slowly began to fade from sight. I waited until she had totally dissapeared before talking with Crystal.
<<< Crys, we need to talk. >>>
She opened her eyes, and turned her head to face me. I looked into her eyes - they seemed so big, so full of emotion that i was almost lost inside them. I blinked, snapping myself out of it.
"Arctic...I..."
She broke her eyes away from me, and looked back at her pendant. She stroked it carefully, making it's magnificant shine even brighter in my eyes.
<<< It's beautiful, Crystal. Like you. >>>
Crystal didn't reply.
<<< Sod it... I was never very good at chatting with girls...>>>
Crystal let out a short laugh, which made me feel better inside. She turned to look at me again.
"Arc, I know what you're trying to do....and i'm glad you're doing it, but it's not going to change anything..." She said quietly. "Do you remember those old times? Those days when we were little, innocent children? When Ramses was here to guard over us, when we were care-free? Can you remember?"
I closed my eyes, and leant by head backwards.
<<< Yeah. I can.>>>
"Why did it have to end?"
<<< Because we all grow up, I guess...>>>
"I wish we could be back then. I wish this had never happened."
<<< We can't change anything, Crystal. We've gotta be brave and face this evil.>>>
"I can face it, Arctic. But i'm still afraid..i'm afraid for you."
That comment caught me off guard. I opened my eyes and quickly snapped my view towards Crystal.
<<< Me?>>>
"Arc, when you were fighting Racalexand in that arena, i thought you were going...going to die. Seeing you in pain like that really hurt me, Arc, and i don't ever want to see a thing like that again.." Crystal said quietly, and i noticed a tear rolling down her face.
<<< You won't have to, Crystal. I promise. >>>
She suddenly glared at me, and intense stare that seemed to paralyse my body.
"Can you really promise me that? Can you say that you'll never die? Can you say that you'll feel no pain ever again?"
<<< Well, No...>>>
"You see?" She sighed, lowering her head once more.
<<< Crystal...without bad, there cannot be good. >>>
She didn't respond, simply fingering her pendant again.
<<< Look at me, Crys.>>>
She slowly raised her head to look at me.
<<< I love you Crystal. >>>
"As I love you, Arctic." She managed a smile. I smiled back, and we embraced eachother. She wrapped her arms tightly around me.
"Don't ever leave me, Arc."
<<< I won't. Not again. >>>
I lost count of the time as I held onto Crystal. I didn't want to let go.


"So what do we do now?" Crystal asked. "Do we move against Xiaso?" Her voice sounded renewed, full of courage and power. She was ready for what was about to come. I felt like I was as well.
<<< I suppose we need to act before the Shi-Cathor. The moment Xiaso wins that battle, the power becomes his. We can't let that happen. We should talk with Xiaro.>>>



-----------------------------------------------------------

[Kuro Espeon]

I think it's time to get this going again!!


Crystal:
~~~~~
<<"I suppose we need to act before the Shi-Cathor. The moment Xiaso wins that battle, the power becomes his. We can't let that happen. We should talk with Xiaro.">>
I nodded slowly. Consulting Xiaro would be the best option. He knew his brother better than anyone and would most likely be able to predict his course of action. And when we had a better idea about what Xiaso was going to do, we would have a better idea on how to stop it.
As went started off to find Xiaro, my mind suddenly flashed back to a memory...one of my very few happy memories...
(OOC: I seem to be in a Flashback mode lately....I guess it's better than a Flashwing mode! Heehee...)

*Start Flashback*
<<"Hey Crys!! Try to catch me! *giggle* Come and get me if you can!!">>
"Arc! Slow down! That's not fair!"
<<"But if I slowed down you'd catch me, and that wouldn't be any fun!">>

I only saw the flicking of Arctic's icy blue tail as he flew ahead of me through the thick green forest. The small form laughed mischeiviously and did a series of spins and somersaults in mid-air as he flew. But then, Arctic suddenly skidded to halt and instantly shot up into the branches above, hiding himself amoungthe vast sea of leaves.
<<"Come and get me! Come and get me!">> he taunted. As I looked above me I saw the one part of him he had failed to conceal, as he pale blue tail swished lazily back and forth from one of the branches. I giggled and, with a small *pop*, teleported up into the tree and appeared behind him, tackling him from behind playfully.
"Heehee! I got ya, Arc!"
<<"Hey! Teleportation's not fair!!">>
"Aww, yer just jealous 'cause YOU can't do it!" I chuckled flicking my tail in his face.
<<" I can TOO!">>
"Nuh-uh!"
<<"Ya-huh!">>
"Can not!"
<<"Can TOO">>
"Cannooooot!"
A split second later Arctic and I were on the ground, him looking back over his shoulder at the baffled look on my face with a smug grin of his own.
<<"Can too.">> He said definitely, as if ending the arguement once and for all. I shook my head and moved back, doing my own playful flip in the air. Just then I heard a female voice ring out through the trees. My small pink ears twitched slightly at the sound.
"Crystal! Cryyyystal! Come on back now!"
"Oops...that must be Mom..." I said, letting out a disappionted sigh. Before I turned to go and looked back at Arctic who was still sitting on the ground. "Same time tomorrow, Arc?"
He nodded and floated up into the air.
<<"Crystal...?">>
"Hmmm?"
<<"Will we...always be together?">> He asked, tilting his head slightly to the side in a really cute way.
"Of course! Friends always stay together!" I replied accompanied by another giggle, "You're so silly, Arc!"
<<"I mean...not just here and now, but forever! And wherever we go we'll go together! No matter what happens, we stick together to the end! You and me! And your sister and Ramses too! Forever friends, alright?">>
I blinked at him. Every now and then Arctic would get very serious and I never understood why. I didn't quite understand why he had to ask me this. Why would we ever be apart? Why was he worrying about it? Would life...always be like this? Happy and free...
I finally smiled at him, perking up my ears. "Ok, Arctic! Forever! We'll never be alone, K?"
<<"Tail Trust?">> he said, holding out his tail. (OOC: 'Tail Trust' is similar to 'Pinky Promise' ) I brought my tail around and twisted it together with his, and we shook on it. Now it was signed and sealed. And with that done I waved goodbye to my dear friend and sped pff towards home.
*End Flashback*

I smiled up at Arctic, though he wasn't looking at me at the moment. For the most part...he had kept his promise, and I had managed to keep my promise to him as well. Even when we weren't together physically, we were always together by spirit; by a special link that had formed between us that would never sever.
Maybe...maybe things weren't so bad after all...

[Bulbasaur4]

Repturroc
***


[ Seiko cannot be awakened... ]
Repturroc thought slowly, sitting on the highest tower of the castle. She was deep in thought... and for being a thing of time, it was some thing she rarely did.
[ ... they need him.]
She was debating in her mind of what to do. Sighing, she was unsure. She didn't want to upset time... if she did that, destruction of some frame or point was easily evident.
[ They cannot win unless Seiko is alive and with Byakko. but they cannot reach Seiko if his soul has been taken away...]

Then Repturroc understood.

[ If they can help Jewel... reach her... then she can give back Seiko's soul.]

****

[ Byakko.]
The small mew was hovering to herself... as if wondering what to do with herself. Smiling, Repturroc suddenly appeared before her... her deep, crimson-red blood eyes staring up at teh small mew.
*whah? * The mew said shocked, as Repturroc let a small, yet comforting smile.
[ You want to help Seiko, correct?]
She nodded... a bit unsure of this creature of time. Repturroc nodded, and smiled.
[ I know a way you can help Seiko. A way you can help everyone... Arctic and your mother. Would you like that?]
Another nod.
[Good. Listen carefully child... deep in the forest, is where the human who attacked Arctic earlier and Jewel are. Go there and you shall find them. If you can break the spell he has over Jewel, she can return Seiko's soul an dhe'll be back.]

Byakko's eyes gleamed suddenly, as Repturroc smiled.
[ Do not go alone little one.]

Then Repturroc vanished.

[Arctic A]

Arctic
------------------------------------------------
<<< Well...let's get going then.>>> I said, nodding towards the doorway.
"Yeah.." She seemed a bit distracted by something, but i didn't ask what. I just walked slowly out the room. I saw Byakko hovering in the corridor. She looked very hopeful about something. When she sensed us, she twirled around and bounded up to see us.
*D-*
<<< Not now Byakko, we've got something very important to do. >>>
*This IS important! It's about Seiko!*
My ears pricked up at this. I looked into Byakko's eyes - there was a real sense of hope inside them.
*Repturroc told me that Jewel and the human that attacked you are deep inside the castle forest! She says that if we can break the power he holds over Jewel, she'll be able to bring Seiko back!!* She spoke quickly and I found it hard to keep up with what she was saying. I frowned, and looked over to Crystal. I could tell that she was thinking deeply about this. "Arctic...we should go and take him down." There was a bit of anger in her voice.
<<< No, we can't. Not just us. If he managed to beat me, and he's got a very powerful Jewel, we can't hope to bring him down. We'll need reinforcements..>>>
*But we HAVE to get Seiko and Jewel back!*
<<< I know, i know! >>>

[Perhaps i can be of some...assisstance?]
The voice of Xiaro echoed down the corridor, making me jump a bit. I turned around and saw the red dragon-bird slowly floating his way down the corridor to meet us.
[I overhead everything the Repturroc creature had to say...and i believe that I must accompany you on your quest to free Seiko and Jewel. ]
Xiaro closed his deep red eyes for a moment.
[There's something very, very strange about the human who tried to kill you, my friends. His power is extreme, yet somehow...artificial...]
"Excuse me? How could anyone 'create' that sort of power?" Crystal asked.
[I don't know. But Xiaso does. I believe that this is his doing.]
<<< So do we. There's something sinister going on and we need to get this all solved. >>>
[Indeed.....but what of Farlander and Tornado? There has been no word, and they have been gone for a long time.]
<<< They'll be fine. Tornado can handle anything. >>> I sounded more confident than i actually was.

[Kuro Espeon]

Errrr.....I'm probably going to sound like a hypocrit (talk about the pot calling the kettle black...) but where IS everyone? I'll make a post if this doesn't get a reply in 2 days. Please keep this going!!!! *cry*

[Bulbasaur4]

^^; I was actually going to wait for you guys to start going,but I can post... hope you don't mind if I just say you headed there.

Far
*


*I wonder where in the forest they could be...* A small voice grew over the air, as another more elder voice answered.
[ I can sense many evils around... things that wish ill against us. They cannot be far... if Jewel and the others we are up against are here, we'll find them. ]

Crystal, Arctic, Xiaro, and Byakko fluttered along, actually flying in the middle of the forest rather than walk. Of course, they didn't get far before running into some thing. Not the thing they were looking for, and perhaps the oppisite.
Far.
How nice to see you... in my forest. Far sneered, his albino-white coat and his fierceful blue eyes glaring them down. Crystal was in no mood for his games however...
"Since when is this *your* forest? "
Since I was no longer accepted at Mew Castle. This is where I live Crystal... whether anyone likes it or not.
*Still, that doesn't mean you own it!* Byakko growled, as Far rolled his eyes and Xiaro looked rather annoyed.
<<<Shut up Far and jus tleave us alone. We're actually doing some thing important.>>> Arctic said exasperated, as Far shook his head.
I want to help.

With those words, eyes buldged out very anime-like as silence grew.
"W-what did you say?"
I said I wanted to help. I want ot help you take on that human and the new evil Jewel.
<<< How did YOU know about that?!>>>
Can't I have one secret? Bah, that psychotic-freak Repti- whatever her name is told me. She said that I could help or not help you- but she said tha tif I do not help, a horrible fate will burn me. As much as I do not believe her wild tales, the mere idea of taking out that annoying human who thinks he's so powerful will please me as my own reward.
nothing but glares gazed at Far... and Far simply shrugged.

[I do not trust him.] Xiaro simply stated, looking perturbed but then suddenly after a long, almost piercing gaze Byakko suddenlly spoke.
* Repturroc said we should get help... perhaps she meant him as well?*
" I don't trust him... but do we have a choice?"
<<<Well I->>>
Good, it's settled. Now I'll follow you, but I'll be upon t he ground.

With that, soon Far had transformed into his pure-black Houndoom form, his icy blue eyes gazing eeriely above.
Alright, let's-
But before he could answer, already Arctic and Crystal led the way, adn everyone began their journey deepe rinto the forest..

[Arctic A]

Uhh...i don't like posting twice in a row. :p

Arctic
----------------------------------------------
I certainly felt more uneasy now that Far was coming along with us. He'd no doubt be a powerful ally in the coming battle...but I really didn't trust him. Looking around at the other's expressions, I could tell that they didn't either. His story did perhaps make sense, but something seemed wrong about it. Still, I decided not to make a mess out of the situation and floated on through the forest. Xiaro suddenly stopped.
<<< What is it? >>>
[I sense something. Very, very near...]

"Oh, f*cking hell, not another damn overgrown chicken...why is there so many of them?" An all-to familiar voice rung out from the forest. We all instantly formed into a circle, so our views covered the whole area.
"I see you've come prepared. You even dragged along your Farfetch'd...oh, wait, sorry. That's Far, isn't it? It's hard to tell."
I noticed veins bulging on Far's face, but he just closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
"And you brung the little one! Really, Arctic, you and Crystal are rubbish parents. You shouldn't expose your child violence!" Byakko growled, and shouted:
*You're gonna pay!*
"Feisty little one, eh? I can see alot of Arctic in you. Not Crystal though. Byakko has much more guts."
Crystal was about to speak, but I got to it first:
<<< Crystal has ten times the guts you have, Racalexand. You won't even show yourself. >>>
"It's really not worth me bothering, dear Arctic. But if you insist..."
I suddenly heard a build up of energy behind me. I turned just in time to meet a small explosion in the face. It flung all of us apart and out of the circle. In the middle appeared Racalexand, and above him something else started to shimmer into exsistance..i could see that it was clutching onto an item.
"Jewel!" Crystal shouted, and i saw that she was right.
You should realise by now, fool, that the name 'Jewel' has little relevance. Jewel spoke with such a cold and evil voice that I took a step back.
"I'm afraid they don't catch on quickly, my friend.." Racalexand sighed. "How about it, Arc? You want another duel? I tell you what! We'll play for a prize!" He laughed, and clicked his fingers. A red mist shot out from underneath him, burning the forest away for about 200 meters in mere seconds. We were all flung just outside it. The ground was now a charred, black circle. He clicked his fingers again, and this time one of his energy barriers formed over the area, making a dome. In the center, another small dome appeared, crackling with red sparks.
"If you win......I won't have 'Jewel' kill Byakko."
<<< What the hell are yo->>>
Racalexand threw out his hands, as if pushing, towards Byakko. A blue beam of intense light shot out and slammed into her. She dissapeared.
<<< Bastard! >>> I was about to strike out, when i noticed Byakko reappearing in the center of the smaller dome.
"If you loose...Byakko dies. Hehe! So, who will fight for her?"
Racalexand jumped and backflipped backwards, landing on top of the the dome Byakko was in. She was deperately pounding at the barrier, trying to break out. Racalexand watched, and laughed.
"Fool. She'll probably kill herself."
Byakko was now looking at us with pleading eyes. Crystal glared at Racalexand with a fierce anger.
"I will!"
<<< No, Crystal, let me.>>>
"Remember what you promised me?"
<<< We both go. >>>
"Double team, eh? Fair enough, i can take you both." Racalexand laughed. Xiaro looked at me.
[Arctic...]
<<< No, Xiaro, We have to do this. >>>
Far looked at me in a way that i'd never have expected to see from him.
Good luck, you two. He said, struggling with the words. That meant alot coming from Far. I nodded to him, and took Crystal by the hand.
"How sweet!" Racalexand was very amused by it. "Please,please, enter my arena! Oh, and you other two? You'd better not try coming in to help. The energy shield will hurt. Alot. hehe."
Xiaro and Far both looked very uneasy about this. I glanced across at Crystal, who was wearing a face of courage. I didn't think I was.
"Maybe you arn't bad parents, willing to try and save her like this. Heh, since you'll loose i don't suppose it'll make any difference. Now, i think the whole Mew flying thing is a bit unfair..."
I felt that familiar sensation as my body morphed into that of a humans. I felt that Crystal's was doing the same.
"Duels are much more fun as humans, don't you agree? We can handle nice things like Katanas and Spears!" Racalexand spread his arms out, and an assortment of weapons appeared on the ground behind us.
"Choose wisely, you'll only get one each."
I glanced above Racalexand, where Jewel hovered, regarding us with a cold yet amused stare.