OOC: I’m sorry if this appears too close to Trey’s story but I had similar ideas when I first looked at the scenario. Also, the battles are short for a reason. And Amy still needs to rate my RBG
<My POV>
After a long hiatus, we were back on another mission, this time to White Mountain located in southern Ellyrion. We had traveled in that direction once before, to the border of the Shadowlands for the Unicorn Games. However, this journey wasn’t one of leisure but of mystery and danger. Apparently, a large green dragon named Yssera was using the mountain as means of collecting an army of Pokemon and humans to do her bidding. She somehow persuaded them to join with promises of what they yearned most but only desperate fools would fall for something that stupid.
Nightshade teleported me to the base of the mountain and from there, I recalled him and released Blade, Aries and Lyra. For some reason, wild Pokemon liked to attack either alone or in a pair and since it had been a while since the three had seen battle time, I decided they were my top three choices. If we were going to engage in battle, and that always seemed to be the case, then Blade would definitely battle. After that, it was a toss up. Aries hadn’t battled since the Forest of Fear incident so technically, he was due for a battle but I also wanted to train Lyra up as well so it was a tough decision. Hopefully once it came time to it, it wouldn’t be a hard choice to make.
I looked around the base and unsurprisingly found no one around, although footprints claimed that people and Pokemon were here at one point or another. I had heard that there was a briefing for Dragon Tamer members somewhere along the baseline but I was something of a reclusive member. I knew some members and got information from Gabi concerning missions but aside from that, I pretty much kept to myself and focused on my studies and Pokemon training. If given the chance, I would team up with someone if they asked but for now, I was alone.
“Are we going to move or will you just continue to stand there looking pensive and thoughtful?” Blade grumbled.
I shot him my patented ‘look’, which in return apparently warranted a not-too-kind gesture involving both of his arms. I would have slapped him, but you couldn’t do anything with a Scizor except fry him on a spit and Blade wasn’t quite there yet.
We decided to head west along the base and curve upwards, sort of like a wide spiral. Since we weren’t traveling on a clear path, Blade did the work for us and knocked down brush that happened to be in our way. We continued on like this for a few hours, but oddly enough we didn’t come upon any wild Pokemon. It was strangely quiet and the air had a thick, suffocating feel to it.
“You’d think we would come upon some kind of forest Pokemon right now,” Lyra remarked while fiddling with her Everstone.
“I know what you mean,” Aries replied. “I guess what they said about Yssera was true.”
“I think we’ll continue on for a few more hours and then maybe stop for the night,” I said.
I wasn’t comfortable with spending the night outdoors, especially on a freaky mountain. However, I was determined to find Yssera, or at least try to free some Pokemon from her mind control.
As the sun passed over our heads and eventually fled behind the mountain, we were no closer to finding Yssera or any of her minions. A few times we thought we saw something flee into the bushes or hide behind some trees but nothing was there upon closer inspection. We decided to halt for the night and make camp, which was easy since we stopped in a nice clearing. I released the rest of the team and sent Drake for wood and Shade and Blade with canteens to fill water. Soon enough, we had a crackling fire and enough water to go around. Unfortunately, there were nine members on the team and only one backpack so the food rations were limited. Everyone, including me, would get just enough to fill their stomachs but I wouldn’t be surprised if we were suddenly craving something in the middle of the night.
The rest of the evening passed uneventfully and I recalled everyone except Lyra, Aries, and Blade back into their Pokeballs. I rolled out my sleeping bag and tried to make myself comfortable but again, camping outside wasn’t my forte. Aries positioned himself next to me while Blade went into the trees and Lyra retracted into her shell. It took a while, but I finally managed to fall asleep, hoping nighttime would pass as uneventful as the rest of the day did.
<3rd Person>
Able to sleep almost anywhere, Lyra was out like a light, exhausted from the day’s hiking. Her smaller legs made it hard going but she refused to complain and continued to walk despite aches and pain. As she slumbered, her mind started to cloud. She thought she was going into a dream, but this one was different.
“I have been waiting for you,” a feminine voice whispered, soft and melodic as an Altaria.
Lyra looked around and found herself surrounded by white. The ground felt firm but it was as if she was floating in nothing. For some reason, it looked exactly like something from The Matrix.
“Who are you?” she asked. “Are you my conscience?”
“No, my child. I am someone who is capable of giving you everything that you desire and more.”
“Yssera!” Lyra gasped. “But there is nothing I desire. My team has fulfilled my wishes.”
“That is where you lie,” she said simply. “I know you want something that not even Rebecca can give you.”
“And what is that?” Lyra asked, although she clearly knew the answer.
“A child, my dear. You crave a partner and child so badly that it consumes your being. Your interest in teaching Zale how to swim was not done just because you decided to do it from the kindness of your heart. Your desire to mother someone and show them how to do something clearly came through. It became even more evident after Angel was born. You wanted to be near her as often as you could but through discretion. Your yearning to become a mother is palpable, but you’ve been unable to succeed. Your relationship with Danny’s Wartortle Hydro was short-lived and hardly romantic. Few Squirtles have graced the Eevee House, but none of them were your offspring. You’re desperate to have kids.”
Lyra didn’t know how Yssera knew this but it struck a nerve. “Fine, you’re right. I want kids but I can’t,” Lyra cried out, tiredness and frustration causing her to tear up. “Rebecca doesn’t want another member on the team and fewer people go to the Breeding Center these days, much less to request water Pokemon.”
She stared at her Everstone, fiddling with it whenever she was pensive. She spoke again, her voice a whisper.
“I’ve always wanted a child, ever since Drake had Elwing. I suppose I want one just as bad as Blade wants a mate but I’m not as vocal about it. Each day I hope luck will turn its head towards me but it hasn’t happened so far.”
“Today is your lucky day then, my dear,” the voice replied. “I can give you what you desire – a mate, a child, anything that you would ever need.”
“But why me?” Lyra almost whined. “Blade needs more help than I do.”
“I’m afraid Blade is beyond my help. Why? I cannot say but your dreams can come true if you come with me.”
Lyra was at a loss. She loved her team but would she sacrifice them for a child? As she pondered her situation, big crystal blue eyes appeared in front of her. She couldn’t help but look at them and as she did, they start to glow red. As Lyra continued to look into the eyes, she could feel the last reservations over leaving her team fade away.
“I’ll go with you,” she said stiffly and then her vision started to blur.
The next thing Lyra knew, she was awake and standing on her feet. It was almost dawn and the rest of the team was sleeping peacefully or as peacefully as you could in the woods. A large Alakazam stood in front of Lyra and beckoned her to hold his hand. As she did, the Alakazam could hear a voice speak to him telepathically. He nodded at no one and teleported off with Yssera’s latest capture.
<My POV>
“Rebecca…Rebecca, wake up!”
I screwed my eyes shut tighter as Blade shook the sleeping bag. I didn’t know what time it was but I felt too lazy to open my eyes and check.
“Rebecca, Lyra is gone!”
I didn’t immediately react as I knew Lyra was a responsible Pokemon and not prone to leaving without a reason.
“Maybe she’s at the nearest watering hole,” I said, my eyes now fluttering open.
“No, I checked within a mile radius. She’s not here.”
This time my body shot straight up, which sent Aries rolling off the sleeping bag. I quickly got out and put everything away before resting the backpack on my shoulders. Before we could even take a step, an Alakazam teleported into view. It was off putting in that this one looked wiser than a normal Alakazam, meaning it was at a very high level but it was even odder that he was even here, considering that few Alakazams lived in the wild. His presence had meaning.
“Do you know where Lyra is?” I asked hopefully.
He nodded sagely and held out a hand. I hesitated in taking it but without his help, it could take us ages to find her alone. I motioned for Aries and Blade to latch on to me and then I took the Alakazam’s hand. He nodded and we all teleported to where I hope Lyra was located.
We reappeared in the middle of a copse of trees. Our transporter let go and pointed straight ahead in the distance before he teleported off again. I nodded at the other two and set off in the direction in which he pointed at.
Ten minutes later, we entered a clearing and came upon Lyra, who was being guarded by a Shelgon and Meganium with the Alakazam behind her. It didn’t look like she was hurt but she had a blank look in her eyes.
“Lyra, are you ok?” I called out.
She looked at us and that was when I noticed that her eyes were actually cloudy, as if she was blind.
“Leave me be,” she said emptily. “Yssera promised me everything that I desired and I agreed. I’m here of my own free will.”
“Her promises are lies!” Blade shouted. “You of all people should know that her words are empty, her promises just…fluff.”
“You’re just jealous she can’t help you,” she lashed back. “You’ve failed so long at finding a girlfriend that it’s laughable. You’re beyond hopeless.”
Blade held his ground but I could tell he was visibly shaken. That was low, and it hurt that much more coming from Lyra.
“Let’s make a deal then,” I said, realizing the severity of the situation. “If Aries and Blade can beat the Shelgon and Meganium, you will come back to us. If they can’t…I’ll let you stay here with her.”
Aries and Blade looked at me as if I was crazy and maybe I was a little bit, but I had confidence in them.
“If this is the way to prove my loyalty to my mistress, then so be it. Once they are defeated, I will finally receive what I crave most.”
It was clear Lyra was delusional but underneath Yssera’s deceit revealed a goal that Lyra would do anything to achieve. I wanted her to succeed as much as anyone but this was not the right way to do it.
“Aries, go forth,” I ordered.
The Alakazam almost moved forward to stop the battle but he heard her voice intrude again.
<Let them battle. If they win, you can let her go. One Pokemon isn’t worth it if it means more interfering with my plans.>
Aries (Lv. 32 Male Umbreon) vs. Locke (Lv. 35 Male Shelgon)
<Aries’s POV>
“With the power of the Mistress flowing through my body, I shall defeat you!” Locke cried out.
I stifled a chuckle as I dodged the tackle of the Shelgon. His words sounded almost valiant but he was psychotic. Dragons were powerful, but not genies.
“They’re just words,” I countered and shot out an ethereal ball of energy.
It hit Locke dead on but barely moved him from his spot. He retaliated with a jet of flames, which I half dodged and cringed as the fire singed my back. Frustrated, I used a paw to hurl sand at dirt at Locke’s eyes. Closing them shut, he was distracted enough for me to tackle him hard but it was like a Pichu trying to knock down a tree.
“Mistress gives me the stability of a Snorlax,” Locke laughed maniacally and spewed out more water than I’d ever seen Lyra release.
It slammed into me hard and pushed me back into a tree. As it continued to pin me to the tree and ravish my body, I volleyed back and forth between what attacks I could use. Well, there was actually only one I could use but it would be a strain on my body but if it meant saving Lyra, it was worth it.
Trying to ignore the pressurized water, I concentrated on Locke and tried to lift him up. I could only manage a little more than a foot, but it was enough to stop him from attacking and looking around in wonderment.
“I can fly! I can fly! I evolved…” he whooped happily without realizing he was still a Shelgon.
As I collapsed to the ground, so did he but mine was more dramatic. I looked and felt like a wet rat and that wasn’t a pleasant image. I slowly got up and shook my fur dry while Locke glared at me.
“Hey, you did that to me!” he whined. “I was deceived!”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” I muttered.
More perturbed than a stupid Pokemon should be, Locke charged again, this time with his eyes glowing red. I dodged away and as a result, he rammed into the tree. Unfortunately, it didn’t slow him down and he went at me again, more angry than ever. The problem was, the more I dodged, the more tired I would become and the angrier he would get, making the blow that much worse if he actually hit me.
Even still, I continued to leap away and unfortunately, Locke now had the bright idea of including releasing Flamethrower as he tried to knock me down. So now, it was charging flames. As expected, I was getting tired of the whole charade and decided to stop it right there and make my final stand. It was going to be tricky to pull off, but if it went well, I would win the battle. Concentrating, I used my limited psychic powers to stop Locke in his tracks.
Limited…what a crappy word.
I couldn’t stop him entirely but he did slow down exceptionally. But of course he could still use Flamethrower. I dodged his latest attempt and moved to his side, making it harder for him to come at me. As he struggled to turn in a new direction, I focused on quickly making the electric ball. The best way to describe it was ‘inconsistent’. If it connected, it was a saving grace. If not, then it was wasted energy. Either way, paralysis was the only way to stop Locke. I managed to create the ball a little smaller than usual and then taking a deep breath, I released my grip on Locke. He immediately ran towards me and using the psychic powers to control the lopsided sphere, I launched it at him. It wasn’t a graceful attack by any means but lucky for me, its aim was true and it struck him hard. He moaned and whined but more importantly, he was paralyzed. I capitalized on his momentary state of shock by launching some mental attacks on him as well as more ethereal balls. Locke managed to release some red and mint green flames but in the end, I managed to knock him out. Round one to us.
Aries wins the battle and grows to Level 34
<My POV>
Aries walked back to my side and with enough coaxing, I managed to get him back into the Pokeball for some rest. The Alakazam levitated Locke like he was a feather and placed him to the right of Lyra. She didn’t react at all to the fight but I could see some cloudiness lift away, as if she was being exposed to light after remaining in the dark for a long time. Blade was the next to fight and he stepped towards the middle of the clearing. The Meganium bounded in with the same enthusiasm Locke had and jabbered on about how she would avenge her comrade please Yssera.
Blade (Lv. 40 Male Scizor) vs. Maddie (Lv. 45 Female Meganium)
<Blade’s POV>
“This is for the Mistress,” Maddie shouted and slammed her vines into the ground.
As I watched the spectacle, I only wondered if the two Pokemon were possessed or just stupid. I was inclined to believe both but the more I watched the Shelgon battle and now her, the latter seemed more plausible. Her actions soon made sense through as roots sprouted and took a hold of Maddie’s legs. I realized she used Ingrain, a recovery attack with the downside of being unable to actually move.
I decided to take advantage of the situation by flying towards her with an outstretched glowing claw. Whacking her across the face, I could see her head snap to the left. She bayed angrily and brought her vines out to slap me across the armor. It was rather useless though as they just created noise, not pain. Frustrated with the lack of reaction on my part, she shook her flower and released tiny purple particles that rained upon my head. I just sighed in annoyance and let them drop, some falling to the ground and some sitting harmlessly on my armored skin.
“This is pathetic,” I said flatly. “Yssera probably looks for the stupid or gullible ones to recruit but I think she hit the jackpot when she found you.”
“How dare you decry Mistress’s recruiting ability!” she gasped. “You shall pay for your untruthful words.”
Baying again, Maddie released multiple sharp leaves that flew towards me at an unnatural speed. I grunted and swatted them away before going into the reliable Double Team + Agility combo. Darting around in circles with the multiple clones confusing Maddie, I managed to get in multiple slashes and Aerial Aces. Even with desperate attempts at using her vines to stop me and her rooting system to help her regain health, she was losing more than recovering.
“Mistress, help me!” she howled.
I stopped right in front of her and stared, my eyes boring into her mind.
“She won’t help you. You were duped into working for her and you won’t get anything in return. Don’t let your naivety be your cause of death.”
I cocked my head slightly before hitting her in the side of the head with a glowing gray claw. She blinked once before her eyes rolled up into the back of her head and slumped to the ground.
[color=plum]Blade wins and advances to Level 42
<Lyra’s POV>
After Aries defeated the Shelgon, I started to doubt Yssera and her promises. They were reinforced further after Blade defeated the Meganium with incredible ease. Where was their power Yssera had promised them? If their pleas during the battle were heard, she would have given them enough to defeat Aries and Blade. Or would she?
I watched the Alakazam levitate the Meganium next to him and held on to both Pokemon before teleporting off without so much as speaking to or looking at any of us. I finally realized with a sickening sigh that I had been deceived but I felt worse dragging the other two into battle and into potential danger.
“I’m so sorry,” I said quietly, moving up to Blade and Rebecca. “I’m sorry that I was so weak and let my needs get in the way of the team’s. And I really want to apologize to you, Blade. It might take us a little while longer than expected but we’ll achieve our dreams in the end.”
He waved it off like it was no big deal but I knew it made him feel better about everything. Rebecca recalled him then looked around and sighed.
“I think I’ll tell Gabi what went on around here. I think she needs to know.”
I looked at her imploringly and she nodded.
“Of course I won’t say who was brainwashed but she’ll hear everything else.”
I smiled as she released Nightshade to teleport us home.