[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

The popping is actually coming from the Earthpower contained within the glass. It's like a fizzle!

Still not a good idea for a human to eat much of it though!

"Our sunsets are legendary! The hardest part will be finding someplace that won't be crowded. If you go north toward the mines and higher ground, there are wild Pokemon. But if you go south just a few miles out of town, the Pokemon are calm, and you can see almost all the way to the sea! That's the best place to view the sunset if you have even a single young Pokemon protector with you."

This place is mostly treeless, aside from a few beautiful cherry trees here and there growing tall and straight with bushy foliage and a few remaining pink petals.

There's a weird image in my mind now of someone eating Gourmet Food with dusted shards like cereal. (￣、￣〃)
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Oh, that place sounds ideal! Shiva appears very delighted and eagerly thanks the person who gave her that hint before she rushes off fastly towards the south of town, past the mart, past the houses and past the Center.

As soon as she has reached the described place she gasps a bit for air, but as she has recovered from running a bit she gives the surroundings an approving. Yes, no other people around, she can't sense any hostility from wild Pokemon nearby, and these few cherry trees give it a very nice touch all over! They're obviously her favorite detail. She throws a gaze over to the seaside: Ah, the sun hasn't yet reached the water surface, but the sky around it has already taken a beautiful shade of reddish orange. Pretty much like this - she has made it in time. ( ÒωÓ)و☆

All of Shiva's current Pokemon are summoned from their various Balls to get a glimpse on this magic scene and soon have found themselves a proper place or activity: Yena yawns and lays down by the base of one of the cherry trees with the fihsbowl containing Tiny Finneon close to him for some welcome protection, Ophelia and Azu have soon lost track of time in their game of tag (kind as the fae rabbit is, she let the gentle unicorn catch her a few times) and Fuchsia has shyly joined Nightshade in her quest to find all remaining pink petals around. Cottonee however, Shiva could only display a sly smile as  the fluffball took a glance at the sinking sun and then to her sweet Master. Cottonee was quick to understand and immediately became super-excited and refused to move away a single inch from Shiva's side.  


With her current Stats the natural fae enthusiast should be able to climb one of the cherry trees, if needed Azu can always lend her a helping hand. The fluffball can simply float up there. together they'll find a branch thick and stable enough for Shiva to take a seat on from where she's having a good view at the ever-sinking sun. her Startermon was quick to place herself not on Shiva's head but in her lap this time, enjoying the hands stroking through her fluff - it's the last memory she'll have as a Cottonee. It needed little time for the pair to understand why the sunsets in Elanor are said to be legendary.

"Cottonee....", Shiva soon speaks up, "For how long have I - have you - waited for this time? I don't know. Since we've started out journey together perhaps? It feels like... Like ages, long enough definitely." She draws the Sunstone she has mined up from her stuff and holds it up in such a way that it reflects the last rays of sunshine. "Look how beautifully it shines, dear one - it marks my gift to you, perhaps the ulltimate gift I can give you apart from my love and affection. Love is said to be strongest force of our universe, and I have no doubt it is. Yet is so multifaceted. I once read a poem turned into a song that expresses that so well, let me... share it with you.... Hehe. ^//^"


(Music cue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxSTzSEiZ2c)

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless, aching need

"Like a river that ever flows even in winter, love has the potential to carry you away, steadily downstream - You may sink in that feeling, especially if it's romantic love. Like... I was almost drowning in those weird feelings I felt for a particular Pokemon sociologist despite I didn't even have a proper name for them." She chuckles in timid embarrassment. "Exactly those feelings, curiously enough, have the potential to hurt you deeply. Cottonee, you... You saw yourself how much I wept as he opened up about his leaving. It was painful, I felt something breaking within me. I needed time to get used to it, I am now I guess, but to say that I don't miss him every now and then -" She shakes her head, " - that'd be lying. Nothing but lying."


I say love, it is a flower,
And you it's only seed

At this point, Shiva wordlessly places a red rose Azu magic'd up for her previously into Cottonee's soft and white fluff.


It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance

"Cottone, my dearest one... I perhaps never told you, I told none of the others, but originally I didn't want to come here to Chreshire. I didn't even want to go on a journey like those aspiring Pokemon Trainers are so eager about...." Shiva looks down as some sadness washes over her. "'...But mum, dad'", I said, "'I don't want to be a Trainer. I'm not interested in facing Gym Leaders and all that,  I rather wish to be a Pokemon Breeder!' It was when they explained me how such a journey provides a great chance, how it is certain to bring those practical experiences with very own Pokemon I was lacking, and to prepare me to become a decent Breeder. 'Shiva, honey, most of those have started as Trainer. So did I! It wasn't until I met your mother that I settled down and really worked to lead my own daycare', dad told me. That got me thinking...! And now...", Shiva gently embraces her fluffball, "...now I'm glad I have taken that chance at last."


It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying
That never learns to live

"Thanks to you, Cottonee, thanks to you and all your companions I learnt efficiently what it means to be responsible for a batch of Pokemon... Whenever you and the others reciprocate the love I try to give them, may it be by giving everything they've got in a fight or by helping me out in a tricky situation we find ourselves along our travels, I know that this love and care I provide is never a wasted effort. I'm not brave, I'm not courageous, but thanks to you I can sometimes take that needed leap of faith..."


When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long

Shiva's voice starts to tremble a bit. "C.... Cottonee...... How did it feel for you when you were trapped in that whimsical Sideways Zone, when you were seperated from me? I know avidly how I felt: Without you and Azu, it felt like an important part of me is missing."


And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong

"How was it like for you when you saw so many of the others evolving, some of your companions on top of that, when they displayed their true power upon having reached the final stage of evolution, Cottonee? Did you think 'Those lucky ones!' sometimes? I don't blame you if you did, dear one... Still you never held it against me, you were patient until we'll find the stone you require, and this means a lot to me. Too much that I can properly explain to you in words."


Just remember, in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring, becomes the rose

"And tonight - ", Shiva dramatically holds the sunny stone up into the sunset once more, then presents it to her fluffball in her open palm, "Tonight your waiting time finally finds its end. The cold snow is melting to uncover a new rose that was asleep for more than two months!!! Touch the stone whenever you feel ready to do so, my dearest."


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*hint, hint* During Cottonee's evolution her mischievous nature will max out and result in her Ability turning into Prankster instead of Infiltrator, 12XP are spent for that on Whimsicott as agreed. @Iron, can you possibly try to work that in when describing the evolution? ^_^