[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Valder will come along for a bit. He's thinking hard.

[Lord Windos]

After Shiva leaves, Nathan quietly shakes his head in response to what she said and mutters something incomprehensible under his breath.  Shiva broke his trust a little too, and she's by no means completely off the hook.  Trust is a two way street, ya know.

Nathan looks at Valder, Ventus, and Heart.  "...well, let's get this started, you three.  We're gonna have to go find a large space to do this.  Gonna have to find a quiet place outdoors to have enough room.  Celebi Park will probably suffice (there's nothing inherently 'magical' about the location, and it's peaceful and not super populated with humans).  If any of your pokemon in particular want to watch (I'm fairly certain Malphena does), then you should grab them now."

It's fairly apparent why Nathan wanted a large space once they arrive.  With Calam, Swiftfire, Zippy, Princess, and Juliet (currently disguised as Kirlia), that's a lot of room that's needed to accommodate for them.  Mostly because of Swiftfire.

Alright, so who from Ventus and Hearts' pokemon might want to watch this evolution?  I'm assuming Valder is both present and has Theo out (partially because I'd like to do something with the two of them soon after the evolution is done.  Making that assumption is fine, right?)

Ven quietly nods his head, before heading to the PC to arrange his party back into the arrangement he had when entering Mt. Sentry, IE: Rapahel, Apsis, Michael, Malphena, Lucifer, and Abaddon. All those Pokémon will be watching Kirlia's Evolution , and afterwards Apsis will offer her own good byes to Nathan by bumping her snout against his chest and letting them pet her head. Despite how irritating they could be at times, she'll miss the boy, and hopes he grow into a strong adult someday without her or her master's guidance.

Raphael and Lucifer offer hugs to the boy/his Pokémon as their form of farewell, he former letting out a sad but encouranging chirp and letting out a soothing aura, and the latter with even more sorrow but an equal portion of cheer with it too, as if to not make this totally negative for the both of them. Malphena doesn't really interact with Nathan at all, since her opinion of him is rather....low, but she pays complete attention to Kirlia before and after Evolution, and send them off with a warm smile and, surpringly enough, a quick kiss on his forehead before darting off, giggling like the michevious ghost she is! Abaddon is mostly curious and excited about the Evolution , and when its time to say good bye they give Nathan and co a firm salute and loud warble, trying to give them some of its fortitude to tough at this turn of events.

(Yeap, that should be all the reactions for now! Probably won't post anymore unless Nathan ropes Ventus into doing something, so assume after the Evolution he'll recall all his Pokémon once they said their farewells and leave to his room with Shiva!)

[Spiritmon]

Heart swap his party. The pokemons who gonna watch the evolution gonna be Rose, Gustav, Viktor, Koa, Percival and Patrat. They have come that journey, and they gonna witness the final evolution of a fellow member.

[Dragonstrike]

Well then...let's get started!  Nathan stands in front of the shrine to Celebi, holding the Dawn Stone in front of him, facing the small crowd of pokemon and trainers.  Kirlia is standing with Nathan's pokemon.

"Thank you all for joining us here today.  And for everything before.  Today is a...special day.  The day a Kirlia evolves at long last.  But you knew that already."

"...I'm going to be honest with you.  I didn't think this day would come so soon.  I didn't think it would be this...difficult.  He and I...we've been through a lot together in the little over a year that I've known him.  Near death experiences, threats from people who don't understand how to properly raise the Ralts line and earn their trust naturally, trips to many wonderful and unexpected places I never thought I'd get to visit, several gym battles, meeting many new people...it's been something else, I tell you..."

"It's not just me that went on this journey with him, though.  It was all of us.  And before he evolves, I'd like everyone to give something a try: one final dance.  It's an old custom, one that many knights of the realm used to do with their own Kirlia before they evolved into a Gallade.  Not all Gallade keep their passion for dance.  Some Trainers do this to encourage their partner to retain that passion, others as one last chance to experience it before that passion is lost. Personally, I'm in the first category.  There's also usually a long winded speech, but I'm not super great at them.  I'm more of a summarizing kind of guy.  Most of the expression is in the dances themselves, though, so I'm not too worried about that.  So, here's what I'd like everyone to do: I'd like everyone to think of one moment that you enjoyed with Kirlia.  Think of it, focus on it...and then focus on expressing it through the performance.  Kirlia will join each of you one by one, both human and pokemon, helping you to express it.  This is going to be a dance to celebrate, a dance to remember, a dance that tells a story...and Kirlia receiving the Dawn Stone from me will be the finale.  I have the utmost confidence that everyone will be able to think of something, even if it's just a simple moment where not much really happened.  It can be a happy time, a sad time...anything you think will be suitable.  Can I count on everyone to contribute?"

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Well then...let's get started!  Nathan stands in front of the shrine to Celebi, holding the Dawn Stone in front of him, facing the small crowd of pokemon and trainers.  Kirlia is standing with Nathan's pokemon.

"Thank you all for joining us here today.  And for everything before.  Today is a...special day.  The day a Kirlia evolves at long last.  But you knew that already."

"...I'm going to be honest with you.  I didn't think this day would come so soon.  I didn't think it would be this...difficult.  He and I...we've been through a lot together in the little over a year that I've known him.  Near death experiences, threats from people who don't understand how to properly raise the Ralts line and earn their trust naturally, trips to many wonderful and unexpected places I never thought I'd get to visit, several gym battles, meeting many new people...it's been something else, I tell you..."

"It's not just me that went on this journey with him, though.  It was all of us.  And before he evolves, I'd like everyone to give something a try: one final dance.  It's an old custom, one that many knights of the realm used to do with their own Kirlia before they evolved into a Gallade.  Not all Gallade keep their passion for dance.  Some Trainers do this to encourage their partner to retain that passion, others as one last chance to experience it before that passion is lost.  Personally, I'm in the first category.  There's also usually a long winded speech, but I'm not super great at them.  I'm more of a summarizing kind of guy.  Most of the expression is in the dances themselves, though, so I'm not too worried about that.  So, here's what I'd like everyone to do: I'd like everyone to think of one moment that you enjoyed with Kirlia.  Think of it, focus on it...and then focus on expressing it through the performance.  Kirlia will join each of you one by one, both human and pokemon, helping you to express it.  This is going to be a dance to celebrate, a dance to remember, a dance that tells a story...and Kirlia receiving the Dawn Stone from me will be the finale.  I have the utmost confidence that everyone will be able to think of something, even if it's just a simple moment where not much really happened.  It can be a happy time, a sad time...anything you think will be suitable.  Can I count on everyone to contribute?"

Heart lift a positive finger. "Count me with that Warren. Lets go!"

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Well then...let's get started!  Nathan stands in front of the shrine to Celebi, holding the Dawn Stone in front of him, facing the small crowd of pokemon and trainers.  Kirlia is standing with Nathan's pokemon.

"Thank you all for joining us here today.  And for everything before.  Today is a...special day.  The day a Kirlia evolves at long last.  But you knew that already."

"...I'm going to be honest with you.  I didn't think this day would come so soon.  I didn't think it would be this...difficult.  He and I...we've been through a lot together in the little over a year that I've known him.  Near death experiences, threats from people who don't understand how to properly raise the Ralts line and earn their trust naturally, trips to many wonderful and unexpected places I never thought I'd get to visit, several gym battles, meeting many new people...it's been something else, I tell you..."

"It's not just me that went on this journey with him, though.  It was all of us.  And before he evolves, I'd like everyone to give something a try: one final dance.  It's an old custom, one that many knights of the realm used to do with their own Kirlia before they evolved into a Gallade.  Not all Gallade keep their passion for dance.  Some Trainers do this to encourage their partner to retain that passion, others as one last chance to experience it before that passion is lost.  Personally, I'm in the first category.  There's also usually a long winded speech, but I'm not super great at them.  I'm more of a summarizing kind of guy.  Most of the expression is in the dances themselves, though, so I'm not too worried about that.  So, here's what I'd like everyone to do: I'd like everyone to think of one moment that you enjoyed with Kirlia.  Think of it, focus on it...and then focus on expressing it through the performance.  Kirlia will join each of you one by one, both human and pokemon, helping you to express it.  This is going to be a dance to celebrate, a dance to remember, a dance that tells a story...and Kirlia receiving the Dawn Stone from me will be the finale.  I have the utmost confidence that everyone will be able to think of something, even if it's just a simple moment where not much really happened.  It can be a happy time, a sad time...anything you think will be suitable.  Can I count on everyone to contribute?"

The researcher couldn't help but blink as he heard the reason Nathan and Kirlia called them, as he never once even heard of such a ceremony, nor expected that the young scholar would WANT to include him on such a momentous occasion after....his announcement. 


Ventus could only stare at the boy looking completely taken aback at being given such an HONOR.....but never the less he slowly recovered and, after closing his eyes and taking a deep, calming breath, he looked upon them and solemnly nodded his head. If they wish him to take part in this old ceremony, then he would put his all into it to ensure that as a Gallade, the psychic knight would retain his passion for dance and pagentry. 

That....and reminisce on last time with everyone, before he heads off to speak with Shiva one last time, before he's gone.

His choosen memory for this ceremony.....it was the time they spent together in Arrowroot, waiting outside of Nathan's room all night and chatting with one another to pass the time, until the boy had recovered. While it was not a particularly happy moment in both their lives, he felt that he truly got to know and connect with the young dancer during that harrowing night, and he wanted them to know that despite all the....mixed blood between them and their partner, that he was always there for them both through thick and thin. If he were just more....tolerant and patient, and less fearful, perhaps he could have remained closer friend with Nathan. 

What could have been, what could have been....

The dance style he would use with Kirlia would be a ballroom waltz, a classical and formal dance that perfectly fitted the occasion. Truthfully, it was also one of the few dance styles he knew well besides figure skating, having been taught it by and old flame of his that has long since burned out and turned bitter as soot......someone he cherished above all else until they broke his heart and drove them away...….

Hopefully after today, the waltz will hold a better, happier meaning for the empath...

[Spiritmon]

Heart memory was the few moments Viktor and Kirlia share. As much Kirlia fear a ghost-type, he give enough trust with Viktor to let him be his friend. That show even a Ghost and a Psychic can be friends, despite the fear.

Heart choice of dance was a Jazz dance. He and some of his pokemon choose to copy his style, each one of his way to do that dance.

[Iron]

Rose is acrobatic enough to do a complex dance like the one Spirit linked. Koa does his Dragon Dance, of course. Patrat is a little too shy to do anything flashy. But Patrat gains 1 Happiness in watching.
Lairon and Clawitzer are too bulky to do more than sway or wave their limbs. Trevenant is dignified but he moves his roots to the same beat everyone else is using.

Raphael spins overhead, going vertical in airborne imitation of Kirlia. He shines like a beacon of knighthood. Apsis keeps the beat. Michael stomps the ground! Malphena dances much the same waltz as Ventus, ballroom style, even taking a turn with Kirlia in an uncharacteristically serious way (broken by Ventus' described kiss). Lucifer dances with all the rest or takes them for rides!
And Abaddon...he is very overstimulated, trying to do every dance at once and add his own shrieked tunes.

[Spiritmon]

Heart pokemons share some memories too together with their master: The battle against Muk Kirlia and Percival fight together when he was still a little Aron. The moments of friendship between Kirlia and Viktor (even it was little). And the healing Kirlia give to Gustav during the travel in Mt. Sentry after the battle against Crustle.

[Dragonstrike]

For Nathan's pokemon, the memories are thus:

Swiftfire: when Nathan was chasing her through the meadows of Route 01 and Ralts decided that was a good time to pop out of his pokeball to stop and smell the Deyo Flowers.  Ah, good times...she quite enjoyed that day...

Zippy and Princess: The Honey Party!  'Nuff said there, right?

Calam: His and Kirlias' duel at Vapor Falls

Juliet: When she and Kirlia first met in Mt. Sentry's Long Grass Biome (it even includes the dramatic reveal!)



And for Nathan himself...also when he and Kirlia first met, and the coming weeks where they first became friends...

No particular styles in mind for any of them, but hey, even just going with the flow can be fun!



...and now, their time together has finally achieved this.  Once Nathan's dance ends, Kirlia kneels in front of Nathan.  Nathan takes the Dawn Stone and essentially 'knights' Kirlia with it.  Just above one shoulder, then just above the other...then he kneels down in front of Kirlia and holds the Dawn Stone out in front of him.

Whenever Kirlia's ready, he can touch the Dawn Stone and evolve into Gallade at long, long last.

(This scene isn't quite over yet, though!  Still have just a little more to say after Iron types out the evolution scene)