[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

[quote pid='61411' dateline='1555878601']
Nathan chuckles at first, before his expression turns thoughful again.  "Calam's also really good with young pokemon, believe it or not...I think...there was definitely a little bias in the initial observations since he was primarily interacting with a younger version of himself...he also wasn't a Fairy at the time when he was around his younger self...he's never really had any issues with any of my younger pokemon, though, which is another thing to consider...hmmm...not really going to know how the Zorua interact with Calam until they meet, to be honest.  Could honestly go either way...maybe we should consider letting Calam in on this and see what he thinks?"
[/quote]

Again, his friend's ponderings send him into some of his own, this time with eyebrows drawn tight, before he let out a small *Sigh* and nodded.

"Okay. Don't want too many Pokemon knowing plan, but Calam good at keeping secrets, and smart like you. Would be good to....get his input, as noble Dark type."

Well, looks like Nathan's idea has the go ahead! Let the doom bringer out, and see what he has to say about this radical idea of his!

[Iron]

She laughs, a beautiful laugh like a tinkling bell.

"That's a feather from a Pokemon I don't use in gym battles! One of my oldest friends. A rare evolution of a Dunsparce, if you'll believe it. Tanuki and I worked out the theory behind it together, and my pretty pink Dunsparce evolved into the beautiful, angelic, pink Dunseraph! That's one of her feathers. I'll show her to you... if you win."

"I think that feather probably fell from Dunseraph when she brought me to that Gloom. I fight them because they're good against Fairy types, you see."

[Dragonstrike]

Again, his friend's ponderings send him into some of his own, this time with eyebrows drawn tight, before he let out a small *Sigh* and nodded.

"Okay. Don't want too many Pokemon knowing plan, but Calam good at keeping secrets, and smart like you. Would be good to....get his input, as noble Dark type."

Well, looks like Nathan's idea has the go ahead! Let the doom bringer out, and see what he has to say about this radical idea of his!

...and that's a reaction I think I'll have to leave to @Iron.  (sorry about the delay only to end up posting this.  Was finishing something else up that needed to get done because it had been put off long enough).

To keep things brief, though, it can probably be assumed that the previous discussion points are all explained to Calam, obviously. Nathan would probably also make it a point to say to Calam that these two Zorua are apparently capable of being as quick and stealthy as he is (if not even more so), so mentoring them further could be beneficial regardless of the outcome of this plan.

[Iron]

Calam looks very dubious. His doom senses aren't going off, which is a plus, but he doesn't seem very confident in your plan.
However, he is willing to try!

[Dragonstrike]

Calam looks very dubious. His doom senses aren't going off, which is a plus, but he doesn't seem very confident in your plan.
However, he is willing to try!

"Never said it would be easy.  Or intuitive.  But hey, if a wild Zoroark can do the 'wrong' thing for the 'right' reasons...well, you were there, after all, so you know what happened.  Thanks for being willing to give it a shot, buddy.  We've done some morally ambiguous stuff for the 'right' reasons already, so I do think it has a chance of being able to work.  What's considered 'evil' can potentially be considered a matter of perspective, after all."

Terra's driving this conversation right now, so Nathan nods to the big, possibly more clever than most would expect man to indicate they're ready.  Gallade stands back so as to hopefully avoid making the little pups uncomfortable since he's a big, strong Fighting type.  Calam, meanwhile, simply lays down and waits, likely at least interested in seeing if these pups are really as light on their feet as Nathan said they were...very few are able to match his speed, after all, so meeting another individual or two who might be able to do so could potentially be interesting for him...

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

"Never said it would be easy.  Or intuitive.  But hey, if a wild Zoroark can do the 'wrong' thing for the 'right' reasons...well, you were there, after all, so you know what happened.  Thanks for being willing to give it a shot, buddy.  We've done some morally ambiguous stuff for the 'right' reasons already, so I do think it has a chance of being able to work.  What's considered 'evil' can potentially be considered a matter of perspective, after all."

Terra's driving this conversation right now, so Nathan nods to the big, possibly more clever than most would expect man to indicate they're ready.  Gallade stands back so as to hopefully avoid making the little pups uncomfortable since he's a big, strong Fighting type.  Calam, meanwhile, simply lays down and waits, likely at least interested in seeing if these pups are really as light on their feet as Nathan said they were...very few are able to match his speed, after all, so meeting another individual or two who might be able to do so could potentially be interesting for him...

Having a rather firm but not upfront sense of right or wrong, the thought of doing anything along the lines of 'bad for good' was a discomforting from a mild to severe degree, but despite that he still nodded along with his friend point. From his many years living in the wilds and meeting with people of myraid backgrounds and beliefs across two regions, he had learnt their was no such thing as absolute 'good' or 'evil' , or one set and well defined right that everyone could follow. No, the truth was that morality was a world grey and undefined. It was up to the individual to make and find their own meaning and way within it, for better or worse, for good or ill.

Of course, just because that was the case didn't mean couldn't try to be a example for others to do good, or encourage other what he felt/thought to be the right thing to do. You didn't have to be a paragon of virtue to teach good, no rigidly adhere to one or few perspectives narrow and broad. You just have to be willing to do it, and suffer the consequence thereof, no matter how hard it may be. That was all, really.

Such was the case with his and Nathan's Zorua. So far as he divined, nobody had attempted what he planned to do with the trickster foxes and succeeded. Or bothered to report they had at least. It was a daunting task to try and teach a particular set of Good and Evil to someone, especially to children, double especially to a Dark type lineage that normally grew off of 'regular' Evil, and triple especially given he was no way well versed in matters of the heart or mind. 

But still, he would try. Try his best to raise his Zorua into a 'Good Evil' Zoroark, and to love and take responsibly for her, regardless of the outcome. Simple as that. Besides, with Nathan, Gallade, and Calam helping him out, he felt confident that whatever the outcome of the plan, it would do some good. 

What kind? Well, who knows? And right now, the only thing he wanted to get to know right now was his dear little fox.

First things first, though, he releases Inabi (S. Diggersby) and Melly by his side, and tells them that he going to be introducing himself to a new partner he just got today along with Nathan's, and wants them to be with him as he does so for their natural friendliness (For he certainly doesn't exude approachable airs!). He does order them to be on their best behavior around her, but to otherwise act naturally and be welcoming. Melly would naturally be all to eager and happy to meet another sister to play play play and have fun fun fun with, while Inabi looked quite open to making more buddies like his boss!

Alright, without further ado, its time to introduce our characters to our Zorua!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

She laughs, a beautiful laugh like a tinkling bell.

"That's a feather from a Pokemon I don't use in gym battles! One of my oldest friends. A rare evolution of a Dunsparce, if you'll believe it. Tanuki and I worked out the theory behind it together, and my pretty pink Dunsparce evolved into the beautiful, angelic, pink Dunseraph! That's one of her feathers. I'll show her to you... if you win."

"I think that feather probably fell from Dunseraph when she brought me to that Gloom. I fight them because they're good against Fairy types, you see."

Shiva's pretty confused as Angela laughs as an initiate reaction, but upon hearing where that Feather comes from, she becomes very excited. "Ohhhh! Yesyesyes, I heard of a Pokemon called 'Dunseraph', of it being a very special evolution of Dunsparce! I'd looove to meet your pink exemplar please, yes!" Shiva's will to give everything she's got against Angela increases by 100%. There's so much more on stake than simply a Gym Badge! ( ÒωÓ)و☆ She's also glad that she doesn't have to fight that bulky dragon.

"I see! I, eh, haven't had much of an opportunity to fight poisonous Pokemon myself with my Grass- and Fairy Types, but I'm on it!" Then Shiva figuratively rolls up her sleeves and takes a 'ready to get it on!-stance. "What are the conditions for a battle 'gainst you then? Let us do that first and then handle out everythingelse, okay? Like that crafting I promised you, and the young Pokemon I wanted to show you!~"

[Mikaruge108]

Heart could only witness the exchange of blows between Toya and Atlas. Punch versus Punch. Will vs Will. When the last punch was deliver Heart then talk again. "Huh, this is indeed a noble fight between two strong ghosts. Atlas may be small, but his power is able to hit more bigger Pokemon like yours. Do you wish to continue? Because me and Atlas are more than ready to continue."

"Oh yeah, in fact, I think it's about time I finished this."

[Mikaruge108]

Original post

(lemme just set the mood for what he's about to say)
When Spira recieves the text from Shiva, he heads to the appointed location and opens up what he needs to say with:
"When I battled Howl, he used a Spiritomb, and that brought forth all sorts of bittersweet and sad memories, and I needed someone to confide in, lest my increased emotional state compromise our exploration of the Skull Ruins." He then recounts the bottled-up memories:
"I never knew my mom; she died shortly after I was born, and my father worked in Canalave, so I didn't see him much. I was mostly raised by my paternal grandparents, they were retired breeders. Their influence was the impetus that inspired me to be a breeder. Besides them, there was only one other person I cared about back in Sinnoh; you remember that girl I mentioned? The one that over-estimated a Spiritomb? Her name was Leigh, and we were... pretty close, well as close as we were allowed to be, being co-workers and all. For someone as young as she was, she had very big dreams; she wanted to be the first female champion of Sinnoh, (keep in mind the events he's reminiscing on took place a good 90 or so years before Cynthia became champion) but, before she could even turn 18, when we had our tests to become gym trainers, she had gotten it in her mind that she wanted to use a Spiritomb for the training. I had tried to warn her of the danger, but she just smiled and said 'I'll be fine, I'm gonna be one of the first people to fully harness the powers of a Spiritomb.' That was the last time anyone saw her smile again, to put it nicely." Spira isn't sure why, but there is something about Shiva that makes him feel comfortable talking about things he normally wouldn't say. For a moment, she can tell that he seems to be holding back tears...

Spoiler

(Ohhh, Stein's Gate <3)

Shiva would welcome him kindly in her dorm illuminated by various colorful candles, despite it's rather late in the evening and the moon's already up high. (I'll just assume that all happens after her last Encounter). She's wearing comfy clothing and all her Pokemon are scattered around the room, either eating a midnight snack or already sleeping.

"Take a seat wherever you want", she'll offer, she herself will do so opposite of Spira and face him with a gentle and soft expression. She's actually tired, but that's pushed aside, for now she's patiently waiting for him to set the pace. It still flatters her that out of all people, he decided to speak up towards her.



She appears VERY startled over the reason why he was raised by his grandparents, and immediately her compassion towards the spectral breeder visibly raises by 100%. "Yes. I do remember that you once mentioned a girl you trained alongside in the same breath as you mentioned an exemplar of those dark ghosts." She's mindful to maybe not call it by its species name.

'Pretty close' already says almost all to Shiva, but she's confused about something: ".....Wait a moment. Spira, since when are...Gym Acolytes not allowed to date one another? That's a stupid and unfair rule. Especially if the feelings are mutual." *energetic headshake*

Once Spira has eventually spoken his mind to her, Shiva would simply gaze at him with an expression that displays both sadness and empathy, by now her winged Mightyena has also approached to carefully lick over his hand in an attempt to comfort him. She's not quite sure what to respond, but as she realizes he is holding back tears, Shiva wordlessly hands a leafy-green handkerchief. It's her silent sign that he is allowed to cry in front of her if he wishes to, there is no need to feel ashamed or such. Shiva is close to weeping herself. "....I'm sorry. I'm just.... so sorry for what you had to and still have to endure... My sympathy won't bring Leigh back, I know, such a brave, BRAVE young girl. I bet she's happy that you're keeping her in mind, that you're keeping her alive that way..." Shiva also feels that she can understand why someone would fall for her.

"But.... Spira, tell me, what will you do now? How do you think this bittersweet memory will influence you down the Ruins?" Her voice becomes still soft and gentle, but a hint of seriousness and fear dwells between the lines now. "What if....excuse me if I accidentally trigger you, what if one of these rare and brutal ghosts of darkness decides to block our path? Fairies are the only thing they're vulnerable to, do you want me to... stay close to you, just in case...?"

What a bold question.

Spira takes the handkerchief and wipes the corners of his eyes, and answers her questions;
Ruins Question:
"Negative emotions, even when bittersweet, are like a magnet to most Ghost-type Pokemon, and considering how dangerous the Ghosts of Skull Ruins are said to be, the last thing we need is them swarming us."
Dating Question:
*clears throat* "It was a common practice, especially when starting out, its main intention was to make it so that the, as you called them, acolytes, could better focus on their studies, but because of how many people disagreed with the practice, I heard through the grapevine that it was discontinued maybe a year or so after I left the gym to start my journey."
the 'bold' question:
"That's a very kind offer, very well, if one of these incarnations of temptation should stand in our way, I know I can count on someone."
After Spira's emotional baggage has been unloaded, his countenance visibly changes for the better, "Thank you for lending an ear to what I had to say."

[Lord Windos]

(Since I have the time and nothing is going at the time of this post, I'm going to type out Terra's 'A Whale of a Story' right now, and say it happens after our characters have introduced and returned our Zorua)

"....Ah! Almost forgot. You wanted to hear story about Wailord, yes? *Gets confirmation, and nods himself* Okay. It is not very long or epic, but hope it is interesting. *Closes eyes, his mind going back in time* Hm.....was in Lilycove, after long time time in the wilds. Low on medicine and Pokeballs, so needed to restock on both....."

A Whale of a Story 

Didn't have lots of Poke either, so couldn't do that. Hadn't fought many trainers then, or found any treasure to sell. Was almost broke. Tried to find temp job. Work for awhile to save up cash, and take break from living in my home's wilds.

 *Shakes head* 

Nobody wanted to give me work, though. Was too......under-qualified and stupid for lots of jobs. Others didn't like or feared me. Not busy time of year too, so not lot of jobs in first place. Spent few days exploring city looking for work, and failing. About gave up and head to Foretree. People there didn't mind me as much, and lots of hard labor jobs there.

On last day I tried to search for work, got lucky. Went over to harbor, and found their was a big fishing boat, heading out to Route 129. Needed tough, strong Trainers to man ship, catch fish, and defeat dangerous wild Pokemon. Fit all requirements they had, so I got job after proving myself by lifting up my blood brother for them.

Took a few days to get to Route 129. Caught lots of Tentacool, Tentacruel, Carvanha, and fought of pod of Sharpedo with Melly - an Electrike at that time. Ended up overloading ship from being too eager and cost whole day fixing it, but better that than having torn up ship underwater, and everyone in sharks belly. Thought I saw some long blue eels with big green teeth, but they disappeared before I could get good look.

Spend about a week.....trawling Route's waters. Half of people used rods to catch their fish, others had Water Pokemon Surf or Dive for them and bring them back to ship. I used the big titanium and tungsten nets on ship with Genie - A Vibrava - to cast them out far, pull bunch of fish in with my blood brother, and have Melly zap them all. Not hard, but it was good work and practice.

Until I end up catching a Wailord. Then it was very hard work.

Happened early in morning. Was one of first ones up, and got early start on day's fishing. Had Genie scout out good throw to cast net, and found good patch of water with lots of fish. So we put net out there, and waited for boat to drift and catch them.

That did not happen. Only few minutes after casting net, the Wailord broke surface of water, mouth wide open to gobble up fish there. 

It was big, bright blue, and beautiful. Made ship I was on look small. Looked......grand and without flaw.

Until its face got caught in the net. Then it looked like bottom of a tennis shoe. That was not good a good look on it. Appeared very uncomfortable.

Wailord agreed with me. 

Wildly.

Started thrashing around, bellowing, and sending up great big Water Spouts. Made big waves that nearly capsized ship. Scared away all the fish too.

Crew started to panic. Badly. Those with Water Pokemon that knew Surf or Dive abandoned ship, and fled to Pacifidlog or Mossdeep quickly. Rest did best to keep ship floating. Some trainers with me tried to knock it out. Couldn't. Wailord too tough and bulky, and it kept healing itself with Aqua Ring. Only made it act more wildly. Started making  [i]big Whirlpools, tried to Bounce us off, and blast at boat with Hydro Pumps.[/i]

Finally, it looked like it had enough. Started to take deep breaths, and submerge in water.

 It was going to Dive. If it did that, would drag whole ship down with it. And everyone on it. 

That was not good. Not good at all. Something had to be done to stop that. 

So I did.

I had an idea. Stopped trying to Fight it, and rushed over to wear net was connect to boat. Got Shiranui and Genie to try tear and melt its connection to boat. It worked, but Wailord had tangled itself up in it by then. Ship would not be pulled down, but it might still get hit by Wailord Diving back up.

Then I had another idea. Decided to jump off ship, swim to Wailord, free them from net myself, and calm them down. 

It was not a good plan. But it was the only one I got. Was.....do or die? Yes....do or die.

So I did it. 

......And it worked. 

Wailord had tired itself when I acted out plan, so it was just floating in the water regaining its Strength when I swam over to it. Was able to get its attention, and told them to stay still and be calm while I got them out of net. They did, so I was able to free them after.......an hour of work. Had to be careful not to hurt them more and cause them to panic again, and had to take a break to rest myself, but I got them free without much problem. Did not expect that, but was grateful for it.

After that, I apologized to it for the accident, and promised it would not happened again. It forgave me, but only after I spent a few hours of giving its face a massage with Shiranui. Was pretty friendly after that. Called them Big Blue, and they seemed to like nickname.

I wished it well and good bye, and we both left each other. Went back to ship, and everyone was staring at me. Confused and made me worry, so I asked what was wrong. Then they started to laugh and cheer, and threw a big party. Made me guest of honor, and got big bonus for taking care of Big Blue. 

*Shrugs* Don't know why. Was responsible for mess in first place, and only fixed it.Tried to refuse money and praise, but they insisted, so I accepted. We then headed straight back to Lilycove. Got off boat, and vowed to never fish on open seas again with nets again, to honor promise to Big Blue. Was able to purchase a lot of supplies, and headed back out into the wild.

"*Opens eyes* ......And that is all. Not too big of story, as I said, but big thing happened in it. *Gives Nathan a curious look* Did you enjoy it?"

Well?