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Destiny Village ~ Rocky Road

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Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Zinc frowned at that, looking over at Mellow as she carried the next batch of supplies where Mellow had asked to set them. "He's bring practical," she said. "He didn't like saying it. But he told us the same thing. It's awful, really..."
 

Disco

Ace Trainer
Pronouns
They/Them
It was a relief to hear her say that. At least he was honest with them... "It is...", she said with a sigh, and began putting things that would be easiest to carry in towards the front of the pile. "We've been searching for any clues on who the spies might be but we haven't gotten anywhere. I'm not sure we'll find anything..."
 

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
"I wish I could help more," Zinc admitted, arms crossed. "But I'm just the medic. I guess all I can say is that Silver seemed to be... a little strange, but amnesia can do that to you. I never really god much out of him. He didn't seem to like talking about himself. Oh, and your leader, Diyem, er... well. He's..." She was clearly looking for something positive to say. "Quick to recover. Oh, but Red..." Zinc hesitated, then blushed a little, her cheeks looking a little darker. "Where does Red live, anyway?"
 

Disco

Ace Trainer
Pronouns
They/Them
Mellow listened to Zinc talk, and went over the Pokémon she listed. Nothing stood out to her as strange... The Charmeleon blinked when Zinc asked about Red. She had no idea. Wait- was she blushing...?

"Sorry, I'm not sure which house he's staying in. I wasn't around when he picked...", she answered, then laughed a little. "I don't really know who's in the house I'm moving in too, either."
 
[R12] - The Beast Reawakens (Cynthian, Icetales and Petram)

Cresselia92

Gym Leader
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Partners
  1. ho-oh
  2. sneasel-nyula
  3. rayquaza-cress
  4. celebi-shiny
Everything was black. Pitch black darkness.

A stuffy void with red skeletal figures in the distance. Cackling, hissing threats, glowering with burning eyes.

And Tenth was all alone, forced to run for his life in that eternal emptiness. Claw and bite marks were all over his body, while the vital blue fluid ran down them. They stung like hell, but he couldn’t afford to tend his wounds. Those monsters were persistent… and ravenous.

How did he end up there? Was that a nightmare? If it was, then why couldn’t he wake up?

Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

But his pleas were absorbed by the darkness.

A clawed tendril struck him from his side, making Tenth shout in pain. He stumbled and rolled down an invisible hill, feeling thorns embedding themselves into his pelt and skin. Burning ache spread in his entire body, making him feel dizzy and sick.

Then, he hit the bottom of the hill, shuddering violently as his body felt like an incandescent charcoal.

“…Did thou really think thou could run forever, foolish lad?”

Tenth winced and lifted his head, fighting hard to hold back his tears and a scared shout. Something similar to a vine wrapped around his neck, making him gasp in shock and thrash around wildly, trying to slip out of that bind. However, all that accomplished was to make the coil tighten further, to the point that he felt like suffocating.

“Thou art mine now.”

Tenth moaned in distress, still trying to get away before it was too late. Before… before he could finish what he started years ago.

“It is pointless to resist. Thou knew this was meant to happen.”

A maniacal laughter resonated inside Tenth’s skull, who winced and redoubled his efforts in trying to free himself.

“Hmph. How pathetic. There is a reason I never saw thee as my son.”

There was another laughter, more demented and hysterical, and Tenth could feel that his father was smirking. He didn’t dare look into those eyes, lest his willpower abandon him completely.

“Well! At least thou hast some ‘friends’ that could keep thee company.”

Tenth shivered. Something about the way in which his shadowy father said those words made his blood chill instantly. Soon enough, he knew why.

There were swords embedded in the distance, covered by snow and cinder. Tenth’s eyes widened as he realized where he was…

Clawed paws. Thorny vines. Burning metal. And then, shadows emerged from the graves, with their eyes glowing with a dark light and their bodies flickering with dust and static. They all glared at Tenth and shuffled forward.

“Curse!”

“Plague!”

“Monster!”

“This is all your fault!”


Tenth began crying, holding his paws on the tendril around his neck.

“It is your fault that we died!”

He couldn’t handle it anymore! With a strength he didn’t know he possessed, Tenth yanked himself free and bolted toward the darkness.

I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry—

But his run was cut short as something wrapped around his paws, making him fall with a loud thump. Tenth grunted and tried to get himself free, when the coil wrapped around his muzzle.

It was… a red soul chain. And it was dragging him toward a hole. Toward his own grave.

He began screaming in anguish and terror, imploring for his comrades’ forgiveness. But his words ended in deaf ears, drowned by the cackles around him.

Soon, he was no more, buried into the dark earth…

———​

Icetales bolted awake, screaming his lungs out. He thrashed in the bathtub, unable to stand up as the entire bathroom was covered in thick ice. After seconds of fruitless efforts, he decided to just lie inside the tub and take a few deep breaths to recover. He was shaking! He was shaking so much!

The Ninetales rubbed his face with his tails… except that there was something different with his tails.

They were gone, replaced by some blue haze.

…Haze?!

His heart skipped a few beats and his breathing became even more shaky.

“N-no… No!”

Icetales dragged himself out of the bathtub with his claws — when did they become so sharp and long?! — and crawled toward the mirror.

A charred fox with purple pelt, a burning mane on his head and icy eyes…

Icetales howled in terror and smashed his paw into the mirror, shattering it in countless of silver shards.

“It is not happening! I-it is not—”

“Oh, but it is…”

Icetales froze.

No. No. No.

“This is what thou art, after all. It just took a while to reveal thy nature again…”

No! No! No!

“…A beast.”

A dark smoke seemed from underneath the holes of the door, accompanied by the rattling of chains.

There was a chilly howl that pierced the night, and then nothing. Only darkness.

———
“…So, even that didn’t work at all, huh.”

Petram was walking by himself, looking at some of his notes. Many lines were covering entire paragraphs, which were filled with activities that a “grown-up” was supposed to do. He crossed the last line: listen to vintage music.

“Man, that was sooo boring! I wonder what people find so good about that pain for the ears…”

In his wandering, Petram had reached the beach, which he realized only once his paws sank in the sand. He blinked and looked around the place, bewildered.

“Oh, wow! That stroll took me quite far from home, huh?” He took a few glances around the place. “Well, while I’m here, I may as well take a look around…”

And so he did, looking for some familiar (or even not familiar) face.
 
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Adamhuarts

Mew specialist
Partners
  1. mew-adam
  2. celebi-shiny
  3. roserade-adam
"What are we even doing here?" Cynthian's shadow asked, having fully emerged for the first time since the void lands. She stood on the shores, watching the waves make her legs dissipate each time they crashed into her.

Cynthian meanwhile was sat on the sand, arms wrapped around her legs and face despondent. "I don't know. I just..."

"Why did we end up like this?"

"I didn't want this either, you know," Cynthian muttered, gazing wistfully at the slowly drifting clouds.

"She'd have been so disappointed. That must be why she doesn't want to see me."

"We-I don't know that. Maybe it's just..." At that moment she spotted Petram at the beach, and for once she had something else to distract her briefly. She didn't call out to the vulpix and only watched him idly, though she wondered whether she imagined it or if he'd gained a few new tails.
 

Cresselia92

Gym Leader
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Partners
  1. ho-oh
  2. sneasel-nyula
  3. rayquaza-cress
  4. celebi-shiny
A jolly whistle and a joyful trot. Yes, nothing brought more joy than spending some time under the sun. Something that he inherited from Firetales, most likely, and for which he was grateful.

With an excited leap, he dove into the sea and laughed happily, spraying the saltwater around and making the water glow with a pale purple light. A fleeting gaze and he finally registered who was around the place. Staring at him, but saying nothing.

“Oh! Hey, Cynthian! It’s been a while!” greeted the Vulpix loudly, before breaking into a wild swim. Papers and notes scattered everywhere and were carried away by the waves, but he didn’t seem to mind much. Once he got close enough, he grinned at Cynthian, letting the water ooze through his spectral body.

“I’m surprised to see you here! Felt in the mood of some beach time, hm?” He turned to the sun and wagged his tails, while the flame inside his chest seemed to glow brighter. “It’s such a beautiful day with a shining sun! Perfect for some picnic! Though,” he laughed sheepishly, “I didn’t bring my basket with me today, ha ha! Silly me!”

The Vulpix kicked some sand with his paw, then stared at the Roserade. “But yeah, it’s been a few days since I’ve seen you around. Been busy?”
 

Adamhuarts

Mew specialist
Partners
  1. mew-adam
  2. celebi-shiny
  3. roserade-adam
"Tired. Lost. Meaningless. That is how I feel," Her shadow replied, smoky mists pouring out of the hole in her chest as she spoke.

Cynthian didn't even bother to deny those words, and she barely had the drive to speak. Still, she didn't want to appear too unwelcoming to Ivy's friend, so she forced a smile.

"Yeah, you could say I've been busy. The beach is nice though." Cynthian sighed and stretched her legs a bit. "Don't mind me though. You can do your thing. Plenty of room to go around."
 

Cresselia92

Gym Leader
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Partners
  1. ho-oh
  2. sneasel-nyula
  3. rayquaza-cress
  4. celebi-shiny
“Huh… Thing is that I’ve done all my things for today. As you can…”

Petram tried to show his notes… which weren’t in his tails anymore. He blinked and looked at the sea, noticing the scraps of paper being destroyed by the salty waters.

“…not see, I’m pretty much done.”

He huffed and looked at the horizon, his dark tails quivering and spreading some heatless flames. “…Why is is so hard to find your vocation in life? While I enjoy baking, I’ve been trying countless to broaden my horizons, but,” he sighed, “so far no luck. I’ve been away for a couple of days, too, to check other towns and stuff. Nothing.”

Tired to check the sea, he turned back to Cynthian. “I didn’t even check on Daddy. In fact… I didn’t even see him in his usual places.” He tilted his head. “You hang out with him pretty often. How has he been while I was away?”
 

Adamhuarts

Mew specialist
Partners
  1. mew-adam
  2. celebi-shiny
  3. roserade-adam
"I haven't... seen him," Cynthian said as she looked away. Her cheeks burned just thinking about him. Cynthian wanted to see him, but she avoided him since she went to Sunny's because...

"I didn't want anyone's comfort. I've done nothing to deserve it, and I don't to forget this empty feeling eating away at me."

"You're not going to shut up even if I ask you to, are you?" Cynthian asked her shadow.

The shadow stared back. "No."
 

Cresselia92

Gym Leader
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Partners
  1. ho-oh
  2. sneasel-nyula
  3. rayquaza-cress
  4. celebi-shiny
Petram stared at Cynthian for a good minute. Did something happen between her and Daddy that he didn’t know about? Also, she seemed to be arguing with her… shadow? That was her shadow, right?

“Um… Is there some wedge between you two?” he asked, even though it was unclear whether he was referring to Cynthian and her shadow, or Cynthian and Daddy. The Vulpix narrowed his eyes as he let the Roserade sort through her thoughts for a while, pondering about what to do.

‘I’ll see to reach out for Daddy. Maybe he can tell something more…’

As such, Petram focused on the telepathic link that connected him to Icetales. However, he scrunched his muzzle when he felt that something was… off about it. There wasn’t the clear connection that he used to have with the Ninetales. Just… a thick haze.

‘Huh? W-what’s going on?’

Petram focused harder, trying to pierce through that foggy wall.

‘Daddy…?’

Then, he felt like being sucked into some kind of void, with his mind feeling like being flung by some powerful gust. Petram gasped and tried to pull away from that link, but he felt like something just clamped into his neck. Despite lacking lungs, the Vulpix began hyperventilating.

“W-what?!”

Petram gagged and coughed the oxygen and spit he didn’t have, and his paws went to his throat.

“C-can’t breathe…” he wheezed, feeling like suffocating despite his entire body being made of spectral matter. “A-a-ah…”

The flame in his chest seemed to darken for a few seconds, alongside the light in his eyes. Petram was shaking, unable to grasp whatever sensation was assaulting his mind. He felt so sick, so very sick.

“Daddy! W-what’s wrong, Daddy?!” he cried out loud, unable to send the telepathic message.

The illusion of red eyes and sharp fangs appeared inside Petram’s mind, smirking maliciously at him. He was petrified, unable to move or react. And then, the illusion lunged…

“AAAAAH!!”

Petram covered his eyes in terror, while his body started sizzling and melting. The Vulpix shuddered violently and took breaths he didn’t need, trying to control his raging emotions.

What the hell was that?!
 
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Adamhuarts

Mew specialist
Partners
  1. mew-adam
  2. celebi-shiny
  3. roserade-adam
"Petram?" Cynthian asked, quirking a brow. Her eyes widened in alert when he started hyperventilating. She sprang up to her feet at once, but stood in place without knowing what to do.

“Daddy! W-what’s wrong, Daddy?!” he cried out loud, unable to send the telepathic message.

"Petram! What's wrong?" Cynthian slowly walked up to him and gulped. Petram struggling on the ground like that and calling for Icetales... did something happen to him since they'd last seen each other.

Petram's scream dragged her out of her thoughts. She furrowed her eyes and tenderly patted him on the back while sitting next to him. All the while, Cynthian's shadow watched quietly.

"Are you okay? Tell me what happened."
 

Cresselia92

Gym Leader
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Partners
  1. ho-oh
  2. sneasel-nyula
  3. rayquaza-cress
  4. celebi-shiny
Petram kept shaking and melting, stammering incomprehensible words and the light on his chest reduced to a faint flicker. His eyes were still tightly shut and his ears drooped, refusing to open them out of fear of seeing those eyes again.

The Vulpix drew a squeaky breath, which was just enough to mumble the first words. “…I-I-I dunno…”

Sharp whimpers echoed inside of the shade, who started crying ghostly tears.

“B-but it was… h-h-horrible! Like a n-nightmare, but—”

Petram choked on his words, unable to fully register what he had just experienced nor express it with words. What did that mean? Why were those eyes… staring at him?

…What happened to Daddy? Where was he?

“A-gah…”

Why did he feel like that? Was that… how Daddy was feeling?

“I h-have a very bad f-feeling, Cynthian…” He sniffled and buried his face into the Roserade’s chest. The lower half of his body was reduced to a spectral soup with a few glimmers here and there. “What do I do?!”
 

Adamhuarts

Mew specialist
Partners
  1. mew-adam
  2. celebi-shiny
  3. roserade-adam
Cynthian hugged the crying fox in her arms while her mind raced. She had a bad feeling about what was going on, and her rising anxiety released a lemon scent from her flowers.

"Do you know where Icetales might be? We need to find him and make sure he's okay, Petram," Cynthian said with a frown while taking deep breaths to calm her nerves.

"I should be there for him," her shadow said with lowered eyes as her form grew hazier.

"It's going to be okay, Petram. Come on, Icetales wouldn't want you to be scared, right?" she said, her voice hushed while she helped wipe Petram's muzzle.
 
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