[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

As Shiva is on her way back, she feels a tangible glimmer of hope amid her worries. It almost stands out in her vision, inside the wall of the cave. So she veers aside and picks away at a stone in the wall. When it comes free, a gentle light plays through it, orange and pale blue and shining gold. Her best guess? A Dawn stone.

Hope was a precious thing, the rainbow on a day of a downpour of negativity, it was something that Shiva keeps fairylocked deep within her even if sometimes when she's at her worst or weakest it looks like she doesn't and hope has gone with the wind. But that's when those she cares for, friends, family and her dear Pokemon, would catch her up and show her that rainbow again.

This....'visible' glimmer certainly caught her attention, even if it didn't shine in all the colors of the rainbow. Doesn't matter, now that she found it and caught her attention, she wants to have that stone that gives her such a warm feeling. ...Having fred it from the wall and now turning it in her hand to examinate it from all sides, it had everything that a... That's can't be, can it? What is happening here, why has fate decided to bring HER to something that has all the qualities she'd give to a...Dawn Stone?!

She didn't knew many Pokemon that evolve via Dawn Stone. Actually, there were only two.
Hehehe... Oh boy. A smile formed at her expression as she, as carefully as possible, packed that precious stone away at her person.


When she has rejoined with the others, nothing of that smile was present anymore, and as soon as there was an opportunity, she approached Nathan after Ventus has expressed being okay (will edit this later if needed)- carefully, as she has never seen him...that afraid actually. Of what, she cannot tell. She's frowning and wondering though.

Ralts has probably alerted him of her approach or does so as soon as she playfully hits his shoulder to catch his attention, but she does so with a somewhat worried expression. "Uhm... Nathan, you're actually okay? Some minutes earlier, so were so cheerful and exited like ever, but now... A-anyway, I've found something that'll certainly cheer you up. Want to know what?"

[Dragonstrike]

When she has rejoined with the others, nothing of that smile was present anymore, and as soon as there was an opportunity, she approached Nathan after Ventus has expressed being okay (will edit this later if needed)- carefully, as she has never seen him...that afraid actually. Of what, she cannot tell. She's frowning and wondering though.

Ralts has probably alerted him of her approach or does so as soon as she playfully hits his shoulder to catch his attention, but she does so with a somewhat worried expression. "Uhm... Nathan, you're actually okay? Some minutes earlier, so were so cheerful and exited like ever, but now... A-anyway, I've found something that'll certainly cheer you up. Want to know what?"

This time, Nathan's alert enough to notice Shiva himself. The last thing he wants right now is to get ambushed...

"...no.  Not okay.  Definitely not okay.  We need to get out of here.  Now.  Save it for when we're back on Route 05, please."

Quite the rush of scared, hasty urgency.  Nathan just wants to get away from the Ruins Path and the Candelabra and everything else in this northern area immediately.  Everything else can wait.  He doesn't want to run into whatever produced that brief surge of hopelessness and wrath...knowing the Skull Ruins, it was probably some kind of powerful, vengeful spirit reborn as an incredibly dangerous Ghost pokemon...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"...no.  Not okay.  Definitely not okay.  We need to get out of here.  Now.  Save it for when we're back on Route 05, please."

That actually caused her to frown even more. Yes, she saw that Chandelure, but she highly doubted he did and even if, it was the cause of his change in mood...

But it also gives her some time to think over the words to say, so win-win? Also, she drew that Guidebook to check the drawn map in it - Route 5, was this the path through Mount Sentry? ...Oh, it was, she must have missed the signpost as they all left Stair City.

Anyway, as soon as they're back on the main path, Lilith comes out of her Premierball again to acompany Shiva, Marill can stay out and sit on her (Shiva's) shoulder as well, wagging tail back and forth while humming a joyful tune.

[Dragonstrike]

Anyway, as soon as they're back on the main path, Lilith comes out of her Premierball again to acompany Shiva, Marill can stay out and sit on her (Shiva's) shoulder as well, wagging tail back and forth while humming a joyful tune.

Ah, there's the signpost, right next to the entrance to the path to Cress City!

Route 05
The Path Between Past and Future

Nathan and Ralts both calm down considerably once the group is on the actual Route.  Phew...no ghosts here...none that are particularly dangerous, anyways...

He IS a little out of breath though.  He REALLY hustled on out of there (though he still made sure he didn't leave anyone behind, obviously).

"...so...what was it...*huff*...that you wanted...to show me...*huff*...Shiva...?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Oh... Looks like Shiva has completely missed that signpost, too excited to evolve her shortly-hatched Magnemite and then too distracted by listening to what the others spoke about the Scimitars and Almanac and Co., followed by visiting a stony candelabra then fleeing from a spectral candelabra.

Now that Nathan has stopped running and seems to feel better - or at least well enough to talk to her and come back to her words - her wondering increased, but it seems to be okay now, so she didn't feel too inclined to ask questions here. But she pats him on the shoulder as soon as he spoke up and showed willingness to find out what she hinted upon. "My, my... Take it a bit more slowly now, okay? And drink something maybe, that helps too."

Then...that smile from earlier came back. Whether it expressed more joy or more of a weird bittersweet feeling he couldn't tell, and Ralts wouldn't know either. But it was an honest smile that didn't mean any mischief. "I said I found something that I have the strong feeling will make you forget your worry and need to catch up on breath in an instant. Or, at worst, it'll cause you to catch up even more breath. Ahaha... Well, take a look at it." With that said, Shiva carefully, even more carefully and simply for the dramatic effect in a slow movement, drew a particular stone from her a side pocket of backpack... She keeps her hand over it to only reveal the gently light playing through it when she has fully retrived it from her stuff.


"...I guess I don't have to tell you what this is, do I?~ I only know of two Pokemon that evolve via it."

Though when Nathan or his Pokemon make any movement, Shiva throws her hand holding that Dawn Stone back, bringing it out of their range in a swift graceful movement. She doesn't mean ill... she's just playfully mischievous.~☆

"Oh, nonono, not that fast!~ You CAN have it from me, yes. You WILL get it from me, yes on that as well. But please hear me out first." As soon as he agreed to do because why shouldn't he, she brought the Dawn Stone back within Nathan's range, but keeps it in her hand and begins again to turn it into her hand, admirering the light it gives off and the hope it made her feel. She's soaking up that feeling like a dry sponge would soak up water when being thrown into a puddle of rain on a citystreet. Her voice and her emotional response grew a little more serious and calm when she began to speak up. "...You know... Bravery and fortitude are precious traits. Traits I definitely see in a Gallade. Traits I'm not seeing within myself, but want to see. I'm not much of a person who's wearing their heart on their sleeve - I'm not that...'strong' as you others are, I don't know if I ever will be. Can you imagine how it feels to be a quiet person in a loud and fast surrounding?"

"You can have this Dawn Stone from me, sure. But in return, please promise me to give others - or me - a chance, okay? Don't rush into things. Let others handle things. Give them a chance to stand out and feel like a hero themselves. Try to trust in others. Let me speak up towards Tanuki when we approach her concerning the Secret Library, for example. You call me a 'friend of yours', do you? I won't turn away from you unless you make me." Orthros came to her mind, but she surpresses that sentiment right now. It gives her a cold chill to think of that though. "I listened to what you said and when you poured your heart to me. But you never cared too much to get to know the person, who evolved your Ralts and would now gift you the Stone needed to evolve him further if you hadn't devolved him, a little better."

Once having spoken out all of that, Shiva actually croached down and allows Ralts to touch the Dawn Stone if he wants. 'Touch', not 'take it from her'. Of course it won't have any effect, but she'll warm herself on the feelings/reaction from the small Pokemon, smiling faintly.

[Iron]

@Nylon If you're not interested in any of the encounters, you could do a training session or drop a horde of Patrat. Or something else of your choice.

If you are interested in one of 'em, let us know so we can bid/diplomacize.

edit: Useful Item is up for grabs

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan is more polite than that.  He's not grabbing for the stone or anything since Shiva hasn't said he can have it, yet (despite implying it was for him earlier).

He just stares in disbelief at first.

"...that's...where did you...?"

...

...Shiva's additional comments give him pause...

...

...he's still not quite sure what to say.

...

...when Ralts gives him a questioning glance, he says, "...it's a Dawn Stone, Ralts...the key to eventually evolving you into a Gallade...after it's used, you...won't have to be so afraid of Steel and..."

Ralts stares at the evolutionary stone in wonder.  He does reach out to touch it when Shiva offers.  He can FEEL the power emanating from the stone...the ability to unlock the hidden potential in the right kinds of pokemon, a power no other species besides a female Snorunt can feel...

...and suddenly, Nathan's hugging Shiva, and shedding silent, partially happy tears.  And Ralts is getting teary eyed too, partially because of Nathan, partially because he'll finally, finally be able to fulfill one of his and Nathans' long term goals...well, once he evolves again, that is...

This isn't a kindness Nathan thinks he deserves.  Nor is it one he thinks he can ever repay fully.

...but it doesn't mean he won't try to.

He just can't put it into words right now.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Awwww. While that sudden movement to break the touch barrier came somewhat unexpected (or did it?~), it does not mean at all that Shiva appreciates it. GREATLY actually, so she lets Nathan hug her as looong as he wants without getting uncomfortable or awkward, silently smiling to herself. These were moments she was enjoying, filled with innocent delight, raw happiness and all the warm feelings that can't even be named, sweetening things regardless how many moments they actually last.

Though since she's keeping the Dawn Stone in one hand, she can return the hug with only one arm, which she does with gusto. "I simply found that stone along the way, or it found me. Maybe the stars have guided me to it... And what would you expect, that I'd go and NOT let you have it, despite everything? Ahaha, nope, that'd be plain mean."

"Can I...carry that Stone though until the time to use it has arrived? It gives me a feeling of hope...And I'd rejoice to witness it when your best friend becomes a Gallade. You can carry it around by yourself too if you want and simply let me know when you'll use it, that'd work too. What do you prefer? ...Oh, and certainly you can touch it again, Ralts~" *holds it down for him once again*

[Dragonstrike]

"...it carries more hope than anything else I could possibly think of, Shiva."

Nathan breaks the hug, wipes away the tears.

Looks down at his best friend.

"...what do you think, Ralts?  It's your stone at the end of the day, so it's your decision."

[Iron]

Ralts likes Shiva and trusts her, so he's fine with her carrying the stone.