A Ballad for Icarus - A Historical Pokemon Quest
- Thread starter Elpis
- Start date
Update 3 - Dangerous Woods
Elpis
Ostensibly Hope
- Location
- Berlin
AN: Thank you to @Magery and @Skippy for checking over this update. It was mostly written by the time the votes closed so surprise! Fast update!!
Winning Vote:
[X] You used to be a maid for a family. Their son was not of good character, and when the rumors of his behavior toward servants grew so did your desire to run.
[X] … not really your cup of tea. Your second hand is for a shield. The other wields a short blade that makes up for its lack in range with speed and dexterity. Capella was carrying these back when you traveled together to the Caer.
###
You whisper a lie. You think. You hope. Your words leave you so easily and your voice dies in your throat.
You remember—
A dark forest. A heavy rain. You remember his hand pushing you out of the way and your body rolling down a cliffside. You remember waking up and your leg not obeying.
You remember the longsword he used to have by his side at all times next to you, and using it as a crutch to get away.
Your name echoes across the valley and you do not respond. It is no longer your name. It was left in that ditch, with your faith, drowned in that blood.
"Run and never turn back."
You did.
###
Capella is not there when you wake up in the morning. Instead, you find yourself with a small bag on the bed and a note from her. It reads 'For Skiddle'.
You open it and find the Murkrow feather delicately wrapped around a small bracelet. It's made from strong yet supple leather with a beautifully worked pewter buckle and several notches , perfect to fit even a growing Skiddo whose horns might snap a normal ring.
Whether this means that the argument you had is now over or not, you can't say. It pains you that Capella isn't here to see you off, that you will not see her for two weeks or longer depending on the situation in the village.
Maybe she needs a partner to keep her grounded when nobody else is around. You will speak to Drake about it. She deserves it, she's stronger than you in so many ways.
You grab the Pokeball from your waist and hold it up. Skiddle comes out, happily walking around the room in search of food. You whistle low, making her pay attention. Her eyes start shining in excitement when she sees the horn ring in your hand.
She walks up to you and stops moving, though her short leaf tail shakes up and down. You bend down, pressing the opening of the ring against her horn and pushing it on.
"There," you say. The ring fits perfectly, of course. The feather shines slightly, creating a stark contrast even against the already dark horns of your caprine companion. You feel your bond growing closer. "Here."
You look around in Capella's drawer and find a simple polished bronze mirror. You don't own one, of course, there's no need for someone like you to keep up appearances. After all, no one expects anything of you and you don't expect anything from anyone.
Skiddle, however, looks absolutely delighted. Seeing herself in the mirror with the accessory sparks such a moment of joy in her, it makes you feel all warm inside too. You think about getting her more accessories. Maybe it's better not to spoil her too much.
Skiddle bites into your trousers.
###
It smells cold.
More so than the Caer's woods. The trees here have frost on them, and there are no clouds so the sun shines through with such a clarity that you can see reflections of it in every drop of ice that sits on those blue and green leaves.
It reminds you of home, but then again, everything does lately.
"I get it," Lissy says. "Since we started training, we've never been further than a day or two of foot travel from the Caer."
You nod. "It's been a while, yes."
Gildera's geography makes for a strange kingdom. In between pockets of civilization, of which there are many ranging from villages all the way to cities, everything off-road is covered in green, yellow and white. Between the mountains where the rain is trapped, nature takes its natural course, letting Gildera cultivate all manner of crops and rice. While the king had many ancestors who cared little about the world, in a lot of ways this is also a defense mechanism.
Armies would have to travel through all of it to reach a fight, traps between trees, forces that surround them as they fail to pay attention. Not to mention the wild Pokémon of the forests themselves, who did not take kindly to armies interloping in their domain, and had long since crushed the ambitions of more than a few over-ambitious princes. It was not just the border that was uniquely situated to stop an invasion, the entire country was a cage.
It kept Gilderans in, and it kept the unwanted people out.
Fortunately carriages of the Glastrier knights are drawn by a Musdale. Not only could they handle the roughest terrain, they're also quite capable of moving at impressive speeds on the main roads allowing you to take a trip that might take a week on foot in a mere three days stopping only to give you rest.
"What's the name of the village again?" Lissy asks. Ruby shuts their book, face scrunching up in thought.
"I think it was Cerulean? Or something like that?"
"Caroleo," you say. Ruby thinks again, then nods. "It's near a steep cliff and valley, you don't need to travel through it on the way to the Caer so it's not well known."
"How'd you know it then?" Lissy asks.
"I study geography as a hobby," you say, shrugging. Lissy makes a disgusted noise, as if the mere idea of memorization is already enough of a struggle. Ruby takes your words at face value, at least. "Drake usually has a story about any village or town he's ever visited, and he's visited every town and village."
"Yeah, he's old," Lissy says. "Of course he's visited everything. I heard he used to be captain of the royal guard."
"A long time ago," you say. More than twenty, if you remember right. He stopped and moved on to the Duke's Order after the first princess got married. "He doesn't talk much about those days, the one thing I remember clearly is how much he hated court politics."
"A man after my own heart." Lissy crosses her arms, leaning back against her seat. "Wake me up when we're there, I'll take a na-urgh!"
Her attempt to sleep ends quickly as the carriage stops suddenly, sending her off the seat and forehead first toward you. Fortunately for you, you can just move out of the way. Unfortunately for her, the seats in the carriage are not made for comfort in mind. Her head bangs against the wooden wall, and you can see a small cut on her forehead start to bleed.
"We're there," you say, trying and failing to keep your voice even. What little humor is in the situation at least makes Ruby laugh first, allowing you to join in while Lissy nurses the world's largest bruised ego.
You step out first, leaving Ruby to apply some first aid to the future legend. Your eyes take a moment to take it all in. It's not quite as small of a village as one would expect from the descriptor. It is indeed built close to a cliffside, letting you see the treetops in the valley from where your camp is likely going to be set up.
Dozens of houses stand here and there, the order likely set at random rather than planned meticulously. There's a windmill, there's a large farm, there's some domesticated Pokemon that look happy enough though somewhat stressed out.
You take a deep breath, the air is colder here. The wind is stronger. You can hear a song on the lips of every plant as the air travels through the valley, calming your heart.
Raymond, your carriage driver and a sergeant of the Order of some thirty year's service, is fussing over Bertrand, the hulking Mudsdale who has pulled your carriage along for three days as if it were no more than a tinker's cart. Betrand is snorting happily at the attention, his breath steaming in the chill air, and from his expression he seems to think that carrots and oats should be in the near future.
Captain Silvia does not seem too bothered. She's dressed in the usual uniform, though her sleeves carry the sign of the captains. The woman who you know as the 'Lightning Blade' leans against her sword at her side, hair that sits somewhere between yellow and green formed into bolts across her back and face. Her eyes are of the same color, though one brighter than the other.
On her shoulder sits Bolt, her Raichu, the fur on its face and belly much darker than the usual specimen, fading from a bright brown into a bark-like complexion.
Standing at attention behind her is Atlas, the Mudsdale she has been riding the past few days and an experienced war mount. He is currently engaged in a staring contest with Bolt. You do not know who's winning, but you can absolutely say you would not.
It takes a bit for Lissy and Ruby to come out. You don't know where Ruby managed to get first aid equipment from while sitting inside the carriage, but Lissy's forehead is covered in bandages. You know that she could have just bound it and been done with it, but now she stands here wearing the bandages like a headband.
The leftover bits are tied behind her head and flow in the wind, making her look absolutely ridiculous. You breathe out of your nose. Maybe you're wrong. Maybe there is such a thing as a bad pick. Closing your eyes, you count to ten.
"Listen up," Silvia says, her eyes focusing on Lissy, "I need you to remember that this is an exception. One that will not be made again if you don't manage to keep yourselves out of trouble."
"Ma'am," Ruby says, leaning forward. "Isn't trouble the reason we're here?"
Three days in enclosed spaces do wonders for new friendships. You're certain if it wasn't for Ruby's disposition you and Lissy would have become enemies instead.
It also helps Ruby to speak with Captain Silvia, who's been your guide and superior on this mission. They only stutter once every twenty sentences or so.
"No, the reason you're here is because we don't have enough manpower to cover each other due to the seniors being summoned." Silvia crosses her arms, smiling. "Of course, this doesn't mean you're expected to sit around and do nothing. Avoid trouble where you can, but if there's a situation that requires your assistance, I demand you help them whether you have two stripes on your arm or a single one."
You nod, as does Ruby. Lissy looks ready to run away from the speech, but restrains herself. The fact that she's forced to actually wear sleeves likely adds to her discomfort. You can see the threads struggle to stay in place as she reaches for her now very real Skarmory-steel sword on her back. She hates drawing it from there, but even with her size there's no proper other way for her to carry it.
You look down to your waist, finding your own weapon there. On your back, the shield that you've received gives you comfort. Capella's hand presses against it in spirit, you know that no matter where you are, and what kind of argument you've had, you can count on her support.
"I know you've been briefed on the situation here, so I'll keep it short," she says. "A few weeks ago, wild Pokemon began moving away from their usual nests and closer to the village. Soon after, they started to attack. This is unusual, of course."
She holds up a map. It depicts the village in abstract, no buildings are displayed but the entrances are marked around the edges.
"The junior knights are currently in the forests trying to find the source of the disturbance," she continues. "So you need to stay in the village and keep an eye out. Anything suspicious and you call for help, anyone out of place, you call for help."
She points her longsword at Lissy.
"And if there's any trouble at all," Silvia says. "Then you come and find me, I'll assist the junior knights in their search. Bolt here—" she wiggles her arm, flopping the lazy Raichu around. "Will be able to find me immediately, so just tell him to look for me."
Bolt jumps down, saying hello with a salute that can't quite reach his forehead. "Chu!"
"Why does she have it out for you?" you whisper. Lissy shrugs.
"She's my mentor," Lissy says, her voice not even close to low enough to avoid being overheard. "She knows I'm trouble."
"Damn right," Silvia says, stabbing her sword back into the ground. "So don't get dragged along with her nonsense, this isn't the time for fun and games. This is not some test or minor task, this is a mission to keep the Duke's subjects safe.This includes you. If there's anything dangerous you can't handle, you find the closest building and hide inside, barring the doors."
"Yes, ma'am!" You shout as a group. Lissy is stubborn and impulsive, but once given a task you know she will fulfill it with the grace and dignity of a knight.
"Can we set up camp now, I'm starving," Lissy says. You wince. You are certain she will fulfill it with the grace and dignity of a knight. "Come on Silvia."
"Captain Silvia," the woman in front of you insists. You clench your fists. It is likely Lissy will fulfill it with—
You can't take it anymore. You reach out and grab Lissy by the arm, dragging her away to grab the supplies from the carriage and find a barn or something to set up your camp. Ruby follows, and Silvia gives you an appreciative nod.
"Whereabouts should we stable the Mudsdales, and who might be we asking about fodder, ma'am? The lads have been pulling these three days and I fancy they could use a bit of a rest and a meal." Raymond asks, speaking up for the first time.
You look at Captain Silvia, and she simply smiles and looks back at you. Oh right, training exercise.
Bertrand snorts again, and Atlas joins in this time, before both looking at you, expectantly..
Skiddle bah's in the Pokeball.
You count to ten again. Then to a hundred.
Your bond with Skiddle has improved. She is the best of you, and you notice just how much it helps to have her around. She keeps you from getting lost in your thoughts and ignoring the world around you.
Wisdom [Student] has become Wisdom [Competent]. While not every improvement will come with a trait, the first one always does:
[ ] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
[ ] Dexterity. There's a lot to learn from Skiddle. Basic biology aside, there is nothing stopping you from learning techniques that come so natural to her and add them to your repertoire.
[ ] Faith. The gods walk the earth. The Skywrath Sovereign, the Solar Lion, even the stories of the old Dark King have more truth than fiction. Knowledge is power, and you know a lot.
###
The village is loud. Though the situation in the forests and fields has been dangerous for weeks, the villagers do not seem to mind, or perhaps the presence of the Order has given them more confidence to walk with their heads held high.
You and Lissy find yourself not in a tent, but in the home of the village elder, Louis. At least you think he is, the village doesn't seem to have that much of a hierarchy but the man in front of you looks twice as old as Drake, who is already halfway to becoming a fossil.
"The attacks usually happen at dusk," Louis says. "They started small, a fence smashed, a shed broken, but recently they have become bolder. The palisade has been broken in three places, and half of our beehives smashed."
The old man fingers his white beard.
"So far they have not entered the village. So on the morrow we repair the damages of the night before, and continue our work as usual."
"You've got a lot of domesticated Pokemon out there," Lissy says. She's sitting cross-legged against the wall near the door, her sword next to her. Perseus is outside, 'patrolling'. He makes shouts whenever he turns around, walking the same path in front of the house while getting cheered on by Opal and Skiddle. "Why not fight back?"
"They work hard for us, and we take care of them," he says, smiling softly. "Not every Pokemon likes to fight. As you would not send a farmer to do a soldier's job, how are we to expect our gentle Wooloo to fight against a fierce Fearow? A hungry Migthyena?"
"Fighting back would solve only one problem," Ruby says from the kitchen. They're helping to prepare a meal. "If the Pokemon moved so close to the village because of some external factor, they'll not stop. There's more of them than there's of us, too."
You don't know the exact numbers, but you suppose there's no need. Pokemon always outnumber humans. They breed faster, they grow up faster, and even if they didn't, the average person has no chance to fight back without help against all but the weakest Pokemon.
The best way to deal with an attacking Pokemon is to retreat or scare it away. If you can't— well, as Commander Drake loved to drill into the aspirants, even an armed and armored knight can be brought down by three Rattata if they're determined enough
"I guess that makes sense," Lissy says. The fact that she's capable of accepting that some people aren't out there to test their prowess is already a massive improvement from the past few days. Half the talks in the carriage were about either legendary figures from the past or legendary figures of the present she's gonna defeat one day.
You can't help but laugh remembering it. Lissy turns to you, as if sensing your thoughts. There's just no way she's going to defeat Drake.
"Your captain," the village elder says, "she's already out in the woods, right?"
You nod. Bolt sits at the table with the man, chewing on some berries. The Raichu's face never changes its expression, his eyes always open. Lissy told you that Silvia is half blind on her right eye, electrocuted by the smaller-than-average Raichu when it was just a freshly hatched Pichu.
You mutter a thank you that Skiddle knows how to apply pressure with her horns without breaking any skin. If you earn any more scars, they'll be from fighting a proper fight, not mishandling a goat.
"To think they would send aspirants." He shakes his head. "I suppose times have changed. Drake is commander, the king is too old, and the crown prince too young. I will never understand what made the second princess abdicate as heir."
"There's some theories." You can't help it, somehow it feels like class again. "Though I wasn't born yet, so maybe there's something the books won't tell us."
He smiles, his thin fingers tracing a line over the table. "Too many theories, and not enough confirmation, isn't that right? Considering she's nowadays Marchioness Reichert, and quite alive, her silence as to why she married the Border Marquess remains intact."
You nod. That much is true. One theory is that the second princess was heartbroken by her sister leaving, marrying at the border to stay as close to the Empire as possible. Another says that she wishes to sit in that castle waiting for someone. None are confirmed, none seem too far fetched.
Lissy, with all the tact of a lumbering Slaking, gives off an exaggerated yawn. You turn to her, your expression showing your annoyance.
"I'm gonna fall asleep if I just sit here," Lissy says, standing up. "I'll go outside and train some. Just call me back when the food's done."
"Sure thing," Ruby says. "Just don't break anything while you're outside."
"Well I never," Lissy says, putting a hand over her chest as if struck. You take one of the berries from Bolt's plate and flick it at her. "Surely you don't believe I could be capable of— ow, okay, I'm going!"
"Sorry about that," you say. Elder Louis laughs it off, clearly happy about the excitement in the village. You have noticed that despite how small it is here, most people are either older or very, very young. Most young adults must have left for the larger cities. "I'll go keep an eye on her, thank you for having us, sir."
"Don't mention it," he says, also stealing a berry from Bolt. The Raichu turns his head slowly toward him. His expression does not change, but his ears twitch and the eyes… "My wife rarely has an opportunity to prepare dinner for a group."
You stand up, following after Lissy after waving to Ruby. They give you a nod. It's still quite bright outside, and likely will be for another few hours.
The tents are set up in an outlying barn not in use for the winter, which you have fashioned into something of a proper guardpost, even if you've been invited to stay at the homes of the villagers. You've set up a proper watch rotation, and even found an old wooden post that you and Skiddle spent a profitable morning driving into the ground to use as a training pell. Lissy hasn't wasted any time, already swinging her sword, clearly happy that she has the proper weight in her hand now. You'd love to spar again, using your own weapon of choice this time, but you can't treat this trip like she does. You have a job to do, and every day brings new problems.
You hear howls in the distance. Poochyena. Skiddle runs up to you, Opal on her back. She bah's, then meh's some. You nod along.
"Do you actually understand her?"
Lissy comes up to you as well, sword in hand. You shrug.
"Sometimes," you say. "If I don't, she usually finds a way to make me."
"Right," she says, pointing at Perseus with her thumb. "That one's really bad at it. I can never really understand him."
"Maybe that's something to work on, then. You clearly don't need help in the combat department."
Lissy grins, and you know she's going to take that as praise. Before she can boast, though, you notice something strange. Something— that smells weird?
Skiddle turns her head toward the barn where you've set up your tents. Smoke rises up from the building, and Lissy is already running there before you have any time to react.
"Fire!" you shout, and the door of the elder's house slams open, with Ruby holding a bucket of water as they step out. The small bit of smoke becomes a massive blaze in seconds. It's not just a normal fire, there's purpose in it.
The villagers all come together, a line forms at the well transporting water forward towards the blazing thatch and wooden rafters of the barn.
You think if you had been sleeping in the tents as was planned, you might not have been able to escape. The fear tries to grip your heart, but your feet are already in motion. Someone set that fire, it's a cold and bright day outside so—
Skiddle bah's. Opal jumps off her before she follows after you. You're not good with names, you know that, but you're fairly okay with faces. And there's one face in that group of villagers that are surrounding the burning tents with buckets of water that you haven't seen at all today.
He notices your quick steps, and makes like a tree.
Unfortunately for him, there's not much opportunity to escape from there. Between him and his freedom, there's Aria and Skiddle. On the other side, a steep cliff.
"In the name of the Glastrier Order," you shout, pointing at him. You can see Lissy to the right, cutting the man off further. "Stand down and you will not be hurt!"
Somehow you don't like the look on his face as he shoves his arm into a bag he grabbed from his back. Out comes… a rope? With all the practice of a criminal, he slams an iron spike into the ground and jumps off the cliff. You can't have him die, you need him alive for interrogation, so when Lissy swings her sword toward the rope, you raise your hand and tell her to stop.
You look down the cliff. The man's already deep into the valley, but he's not going to have an easy time escaping there.
"Lissy," you say. "Get Bolt, find the captain."
"And let that man escape?"
"She'll likely have seen the smoke rising," you say. "Right now the lives of the villagers and the—"
The ground under you shakes. A loud roar echoes from the valley. Skiddle tries to bite into your clothes, Lissy's hand reaches out and misses yours by mere millimeters. The damage is already done.
You barely manage to grab the rope as you take a tumble down. When you close your eyes, it feels so familiar.
But this time you're not a frightened child. Your hands burn as you use the rope to slow your descent. Lissy grabs it from above and tries to pull you up, but the shaking ground makes it hard for her to keep her own balance.
"Skiddle!" you shout. She bah's, concerned and frightened. "I'll be fine, go get Bolt!"
"You're going to be in so much trouble," Lissy shouts, "so don't you fucking die from a fall!"
You smile at her. The earthquake breaks the nail out of the ground.
The rest of the descent is not too bad. The cliff doesn't let you rest, so you try to switch hands as often as you can and make a mental note to purchase gloves. You don't like them much, but in case you ever have to make a daring escape with a rope you'll be better prepared.
You land on your feet, landing wrong. You wince, grabbing your foot as pain shoots up your leg. Unfortunately, the man is nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, you find yourself with an opportunity to collect your thoughts.
Either the man really hates the Glastrier knights, or his attempt to kill you was just opportunism. Considering the situation, the latter makes more sense. The smoke will draw anyone in the woods out and toward the village, meaning he can do what he wants without being caught.
Meaning he is likely the source of the disturbance in the woods. Though considering the scale of the Pokemon movement, there's no doubt in your mind that he works with others. An earthquake like this also isn't usual for Gildera, meaning it must have been triggered by something big and angry.
You really hope you don't meet big and angry today.
Taking a deep breath, you look around. The woods are not kind and easy to navigate, knights are taught to use symbols and colors to mark paths they've taken. You can't see any, so the enemies are not knights.
Just staying here and waiting for rescue is an option. The man might have escaped by then, but you're not in trouble, right? Sure falling off a cliff isn't great but what girl hasn't taken a tumble over one before? Considering it's your second time you feel like you might be able to do the third without any injury!
A cry in the woods ruins that plan immediately. Sword in hand, you take the shield off your back and make your way deeper into the valley. The cries get louder, guiding your path. It's not the man who escaped, but someone else that you stumble upon. The way they're dressed is quite similar, but this one pisses you off even more.
Tied to a tree by a net that looks enhanced by electric stones is a Tediursa. The net digs into its fur, electrocuting it whenever it tries to struggle against it. There's specks of blood on it from cuts that you know a human weapon must have inflicted.
"Hold it," you say. "What do you think you're doing?"
Poachers.
There's nothing stopping people from capturing Pokemon, Pokeballs are a luxury good but not completely out of reach for people who truly want to buy one. There are, of course, people who simply befriend one and that's that.
But some species of Pokemon are rare or difficult to obtain due to other reasons, and that's where scum like this make their appearance.
"I was just helping out," the man lies. "Someone must have left that poor thing in the net."
You glance at the sword-like weapon on the man's waist.
"I like kids, so it hurts my heart when someone does something to harm them," he says. You glance to the right, the injured Tediursa inside the net crying. Anger grips your heart.
"Tediursa are never without their parents," you say, your voice tight. Now you know what's big and angry. "The danger that a sleuth of angry Ursaring poses is too large, so capturing them requires explicit permission from the authority of these lands. You do not look like the kind of character that Duke van Kesteren keeps in his employ."
"Yeah?" he asks, grinning wide. "What are you gonna do about it, champ?"
You close your eyes, taking a deep breath. When there is injustice in front of you, you must never close your heart. When there are people in need of help, your hand must reach out to aid them.
When you hear someone in pain, take heart and grant them mercy.
"I will fulfill my duty," you whisper. Your fist clenches over your heart. You draw your sword, pointing at the poacher. "You are under arrest. Please, do not resist."
The poacher's grin widens even further. He grabs his own weapon, a large sickle-like knife of a design you've not seen before. It looks like it was made to hack away at wood and plants, but the dried blood on the blade tells a different story.
You attack first. In three steps, the distance between you is barely enough for your sword's tip to reach his shoulder as you lunge. The man reacts with a short gasp, not expecting you to go all out from the beginning. He reacts fast despite the surprise, his own blade coming down and knocking yours out of the trajectory. Your arms hurt as your sword instead stabs into the ground between his feet. He attacks this time, but you roll away and stop the followup with your shield.
He's strong, but you are trained. You open your mouth, shouting as you drive the edge of your shield into his forearm. His arm goes wide, so you continue by bashing your shield against his chest, sending him reeling backwards.
You can't stop or hesitate. Your sword swings again, diagonally from the ground and up towards his hand. If he loses his weapon, he'll be easy picking. Unfortunately he's quick to recover, once again blocking your blade with his.
"I take it back, kid," he says, the wide smile from earlier replaced by a somewhat annoyed scowl, "I really fucking hate you."
"The feeling's mutual," you respond. You attempt another bash with your shield, but this time his hand catches it before you can swing at him. You're too close to him for a good swing of his sword, so he does the next best thing. He leans back, suddenly snapping his entire body forward. His forehead crashes into your nose, and your vision blurs as you find yourself staggering backwards. The taste of metal in your mouth announces blood.
He's not done though. His grip on your arm tightens and he pulls you back, letting go only to throw his leg up and kick you in the stomach. The force knocks all the air out of you. You cough, specks of red hitting the ground.
Then his fist hits you. You try to raise the shield, but you aren't ready for the attack in the slightest. You're pushed back, and in an attempt to create some distance you go with the flow and roll onto the ground. You are lucky, in some ways, he clearly doesn't want the trouble that comes with killing a Glastrier knight. And he's lucky in the same ways— you don't want to kill a man today.
Your eyes open but you can't see shit. They burn; dirt and debris sitting in your eyelashes. You hear him whistle.
"Fucking Gilderan trees," he says, "nearly broke my fucking hand."
Good. You want to shout it at him, but you can't seem to find the oxygen for it. You turn around, pushing against the ground and forcing yourself up. You stagger for just a moment, taking a deep breath to gather yourself.
Your hand comes up to your face, baptized in fresh blood from your nose and cuts on your lips. Silvia is going to be furious. You're never going to go on another outing again until your promotion. Maybe everyone will doubt if you were even ready to receive your partner.
"Just stay the fuck down, kid," he says, clearly angry. "Enough blood's been spilled today."
But right now, you can't let this man get away. Your fist clenches in front of your chest. You glare up, your blurry vision recovering. The man looks like he's ready to let you walk away, on his way to the captured Tediursa again. But you can't just leave.
If your hear someone in pain—
If you hear someone in pain—
If you hear someone in—
You roar, your stance low. The poacher turns around, clearly annoyed.
"Look, champ," he says. "You want to live, there's no shame in running away."
You don't respond, still crouched as you shoot forward. The man is ready to attack again, but you're not here to fight fair or honorable. You throw your sword, and the moment where he swats it out of the way is enough for you to make your move. The shield bashes against his groin, and for once it is him that screams in pain.
Of course, you can't stop now. You repay him by bashing the shield against his face, breaking his nose with a sickening crunch. He doesn't know what to defend, so he lashes out, and his sword is met with the steel-hard wooden shield that carries the Glastrier emblem.
You cock your fist back, growling with gritted teeth. A knight is never truly unarmed. With the force of an arm that carried bags of fodder for years, your fist hits him square in the chin. The grip on his weapon loosens as he falls backward. He hits the ground with a heavy thud.
There's no way to calm your breathing. Your ears are ringing, and you're certain that your nose is bleeding far more than is healthy. You grab his weapon, throwing it far into the woods and away from him before stumbling over to your sword, picking it up and turning to the poacher once more. He's coughing, his own face now bloodied and bruised. He's down, but not out, and you're not certain you can continue to fight like you have.
"Hey, champ," you say, finally finding your voice between the animalistic noises that your throat is producing. "There's no shame in running away."
He doesn't find it nearly as funny as you. His lumbering form approaches, but he's unarmed and suddenly you are… on your knees. The sprain from your earlier landing starts hurting way worse, strained beyond the limits of your pain tolerance.
Your legs have given out, it takes the sword stabbed into the ground to keep you on your knees rather than your back. You lack stamina, you've been kicked in the solar plexus, and no amount of courage in the face of an adversary will make up for your body. You growl again, slapping your legs. Move, you want to say. Don't fail me again.
He reaches out to wrap his hands around your throat and something inside of you snaps.
If your legs won't do it then your hands will. You stab the sword into his leg, it's all you can reach. The pain makes him cry out. He's off-balance. He's easy picking.
You knock him over, straddling him and raising your fists. You punch down, knuckles meeting flesh. You punch again, and again, and again. Your arms start to tire and you slow down when the man stops crying out in pain. He's… not dead, you're certain. He's still breathing, though most of the air he takes in comes with a solid bit of blood that is running down his face, causing him to cough.
Your fists are black and blue. Your shield is red with blood. Your vision is still blurred and turning dark around the edges.
Yet another fight you can claim victory on, but it comes with none of the joy and elation. Is this the kind of fights that knights get into? Is this the—
Bile rises up in your throat. It burns in your nostrils and forces its way out of your mouth despite all your attempts to keep it in. You turn your head to throw up next to the man, trying to grant him what little dignity someone like him deserves.
You can hear your friends in the distance shouting your name. You can't answer, your chest burns as you try to speak. Raising your head, you roar, speaking in a language that requires no voice.
The Elysian realms are not calling for you today, but the Sleeping Dwarf is.
You pass out, catching a glimpse of lightning.
###
The Ursaring are not happy.
If only everyone cared for their children like they do.
Everything you've done today was an experience you've had before. As your mind wanders off into nightmares, you remember a time when you didn't wear blue. When your emblem was not a hoof. When the partner that is worrying over you had much sharper teeth.
[ ] Dream of broken legs.
Rain pours down from above, washing away who you were.
[ ] Dream of bloodied fists.
You wash those hands gently. He does not cry, so you make up for it.
[ ] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
Winning Vote:
[X] You used to be a maid for a family. Their son was not of good character, and when the rumors of his behavior toward servants grew so did your desire to run.
[X] … not really your cup of tea. Your second hand is for a shield. The other wields a short blade that makes up for its lack in range with speed and dexterity. Capella was carrying these back when you traveled together to the Caer.
###
You whisper a lie. You think. You hope. Your words leave you so easily and your voice dies in your throat.
You remember—
A dark forest. A heavy rain. You remember his hand pushing you out of the way and your body rolling down a cliffside. You remember waking up and your leg not obeying.
You remember the longsword he used to have by his side at all times next to you, and using it as a crutch to get away.
Your name echoes across the valley and you do not respond. It is no longer your name. It was left in that ditch, with your faith, drowned in that blood.
"Run and never turn back."
You did.
###
Capella is not there when you wake up in the morning. Instead, you find yourself with a small bag on the bed and a note from her. It reads 'For Skiddle'.
You open it and find the Murkrow feather delicately wrapped around a small bracelet. It's made from strong yet supple leather with a beautifully worked pewter buckle and several notches , perfect to fit even a growing Skiddo whose horns might snap a normal ring.
Whether this means that the argument you had is now over or not, you can't say. It pains you that Capella isn't here to see you off, that you will not see her for two weeks or longer depending on the situation in the village.
Maybe she needs a partner to keep her grounded when nobody else is around. You will speak to Drake about it. She deserves it, she's stronger than you in so many ways.
You grab the Pokeball from your waist and hold it up. Skiddle comes out, happily walking around the room in search of food. You whistle low, making her pay attention. Her eyes start shining in excitement when she sees the horn ring in your hand.
She walks up to you and stops moving, though her short leaf tail shakes up and down. You bend down, pressing the opening of the ring against her horn and pushing it on.
"There," you say. The ring fits perfectly, of course. The feather shines slightly, creating a stark contrast even against the already dark horns of your caprine companion. You feel your bond growing closer. "Here."
You look around in Capella's drawer and find a simple polished bronze mirror. You don't own one, of course, there's no need for someone like you to keep up appearances. After all, no one expects anything of you and you don't expect anything from anyone.
Skiddle, however, looks absolutely delighted. Seeing herself in the mirror with the accessory sparks such a moment of joy in her, it makes you feel all warm inside too. You think about getting her more accessories. Maybe it's better not to spoil her too much.
Skiddle bites into your trousers.
###
It smells cold.
More so than the Caer's woods. The trees here have frost on them, and there are no clouds so the sun shines through with such a clarity that you can see reflections of it in every drop of ice that sits on those blue and green leaves.
It reminds you of home, but then again, everything does lately.
"I get it," Lissy says. "Since we started training, we've never been further than a day or two of foot travel from the Caer."
You nod. "It's been a while, yes."
Gildera's geography makes for a strange kingdom. In between pockets of civilization, of which there are many ranging from villages all the way to cities, everything off-road is covered in green, yellow and white. Between the mountains where the rain is trapped, nature takes its natural course, letting Gildera cultivate all manner of crops and rice. While the king had many ancestors who cared little about the world, in a lot of ways this is also a defense mechanism.
Armies would have to travel through all of it to reach a fight, traps between trees, forces that surround them as they fail to pay attention. Not to mention the wild Pokémon of the forests themselves, who did not take kindly to armies interloping in their domain, and had long since crushed the ambitions of more than a few over-ambitious princes. It was not just the border that was uniquely situated to stop an invasion, the entire country was a cage.
It kept Gilderans in, and it kept the unwanted people out.
Fortunately carriages of the Glastrier knights are drawn by a Musdale. Not only could they handle the roughest terrain, they're also quite capable of moving at impressive speeds on the main roads allowing you to take a trip that might take a week on foot in a mere three days stopping only to give you rest.
"What's the name of the village again?" Lissy asks. Ruby shuts their book, face scrunching up in thought.
"I think it was Cerulean? Or something like that?"
"Caroleo," you say. Ruby thinks again, then nods. "It's near a steep cliff and valley, you don't need to travel through it on the way to the Caer so it's not well known."
"How'd you know it then?" Lissy asks.
"I study geography as a hobby," you say, shrugging. Lissy makes a disgusted noise, as if the mere idea of memorization is already enough of a struggle. Ruby takes your words at face value, at least. "Drake usually has a story about any village or town he's ever visited, and he's visited every town and village."
"Yeah, he's old," Lissy says. "Of course he's visited everything. I heard he used to be captain of the royal guard."
"A long time ago," you say. More than twenty, if you remember right. He stopped and moved on to the Duke's Order after the first princess got married. "He doesn't talk much about those days, the one thing I remember clearly is how much he hated court politics."
"A man after my own heart." Lissy crosses her arms, leaning back against her seat. "Wake me up when we're there, I'll take a na-urgh!"
Her attempt to sleep ends quickly as the carriage stops suddenly, sending her off the seat and forehead first toward you. Fortunately for you, you can just move out of the way. Unfortunately for her, the seats in the carriage are not made for comfort in mind. Her head bangs against the wooden wall, and you can see a small cut on her forehead start to bleed.
"We're there," you say, trying and failing to keep your voice even. What little humor is in the situation at least makes Ruby laugh first, allowing you to join in while Lissy nurses the world's largest bruised ego.
You step out first, leaving Ruby to apply some first aid to the future legend. Your eyes take a moment to take it all in. It's not quite as small of a village as one would expect from the descriptor. It is indeed built close to a cliffside, letting you see the treetops in the valley from where your camp is likely going to be set up.
Dozens of houses stand here and there, the order likely set at random rather than planned meticulously. There's a windmill, there's a large farm, there's some domesticated Pokemon that look happy enough though somewhat stressed out.
You take a deep breath, the air is colder here. The wind is stronger. You can hear a song on the lips of every plant as the air travels through the valley, calming your heart.
Raymond, your carriage driver and a sergeant of the Order of some thirty year's service, is fussing over Bertrand, the hulking Mudsdale who has pulled your carriage along for three days as if it were no more than a tinker's cart. Betrand is snorting happily at the attention, his breath steaming in the chill air, and from his expression he seems to think that carrots and oats should be in the near future.
Captain Silvia does not seem too bothered. She's dressed in the usual uniform, though her sleeves carry the sign of the captains. The woman who you know as the 'Lightning Blade' leans against her sword at her side, hair that sits somewhere between yellow and green formed into bolts across her back and face. Her eyes are of the same color, though one brighter than the other.
On her shoulder sits Bolt, her Raichu, the fur on its face and belly much darker than the usual specimen, fading from a bright brown into a bark-like complexion.
Standing at attention behind her is Atlas, the Mudsdale she has been riding the past few days and an experienced war mount. He is currently engaged in a staring contest with Bolt. You do not know who's winning, but you can absolutely say you would not.
It takes a bit for Lissy and Ruby to come out. You don't know where Ruby managed to get first aid equipment from while sitting inside the carriage, but Lissy's forehead is covered in bandages. You know that she could have just bound it and been done with it, but now she stands here wearing the bandages like a headband.
The leftover bits are tied behind her head and flow in the wind, making her look absolutely ridiculous. You breathe out of your nose. Maybe you're wrong. Maybe there is such a thing as a bad pick. Closing your eyes, you count to ten.
"Listen up," Silvia says, her eyes focusing on Lissy, "I need you to remember that this is an exception. One that will not be made again if you don't manage to keep yourselves out of trouble."
"Ma'am," Ruby says, leaning forward. "Isn't trouble the reason we're here?"
Three days in enclosed spaces do wonders for new friendships. You're certain if it wasn't for Ruby's disposition you and Lissy would have become enemies instead.
It also helps Ruby to speak with Captain Silvia, who's been your guide and superior on this mission. They only stutter once every twenty sentences or so.
"No, the reason you're here is because we don't have enough manpower to cover each other due to the seniors being summoned." Silvia crosses her arms, smiling. "Of course, this doesn't mean you're expected to sit around and do nothing. Avoid trouble where you can, but if there's a situation that requires your assistance, I demand you help them whether you have two stripes on your arm or a single one."
You nod, as does Ruby. Lissy looks ready to run away from the speech, but restrains herself. The fact that she's forced to actually wear sleeves likely adds to her discomfort. You can see the threads struggle to stay in place as she reaches for her now very real Skarmory-steel sword on her back. She hates drawing it from there, but even with her size there's no proper other way for her to carry it.
You look down to your waist, finding your own weapon there. On your back, the shield that you've received gives you comfort. Capella's hand presses against it in spirit, you know that no matter where you are, and what kind of argument you've had, you can count on her support.
"I know you've been briefed on the situation here, so I'll keep it short," she says. "A few weeks ago, wild Pokemon began moving away from their usual nests and closer to the village. Soon after, they started to attack. This is unusual, of course."
She holds up a map. It depicts the village in abstract, no buildings are displayed but the entrances are marked around the edges.
"The junior knights are currently in the forests trying to find the source of the disturbance," she continues. "So you need to stay in the village and keep an eye out. Anything suspicious and you call for help, anyone out of place, you call for help."
She points her longsword at Lissy.
"And if there's any trouble at all," Silvia says. "Then you come and find me, I'll assist the junior knights in their search. Bolt here—" she wiggles her arm, flopping the lazy Raichu around. "Will be able to find me immediately, so just tell him to look for me."
Bolt jumps down, saying hello with a salute that can't quite reach his forehead. "Chu!"
"Why does she have it out for you?" you whisper. Lissy shrugs.
"She's my mentor," Lissy says, her voice not even close to low enough to avoid being overheard. "She knows I'm trouble."
"Damn right," Silvia says, stabbing her sword back into the ground. "So don't get dragged along with her nonsense, this isn't the time for fun and games. This is not some test or minor task, this is a mission to keep the Duke's subjects safe.This includes you. If there's anything dangerous you can't handle, you find the closest building and hide inside, barring the doors."
"Yes, ma'am!" You shout as a group. Lissy is stubborn and impulsive, but once given a task you know she will fulfill it with the grace and dignity of a knight.
"Can we set up camp now, I'm starving," Lissy says. You wince. You are certain she will fulfill it with the grace and dignity of a knight. "Come on Silvia."
"Captain Silvia," the woman in front of you insists. You clench your fists. It is likely Lissy will fulfill it with—
You can't take it anymore. You reach out and grab Lissy by the arm, dragging her away to grab the supplies from the carriage and find a barn or something to set up your camp. Ruby follows, and Silvia gives you an appreciative nod.
"Whereabouts should we stable the Mudsdales, and who might be we asking about fodder, ma'am? The lads have been pulling these three days and I fancy they could use a bit of a rest and a meal." Raymond asks, speaking up for the first time.
You look at Captain Silvia, and she simply smiles and looks back at you. Oh right, training exercise.
Bertrand snorts again, and Atlas joins in this time, before both looking at you, expectantly..
Skiddle bah's in the Pokeball.
You count to ten again. Then to a hundred.
Your bond with Skiddle has improved. She is the best of you, and you notice just how much it helps to have her around. She keeps you from getting lost in your thoughts and ignoring the world around you.
Wisdom [Student] has become Wisdom [Competent]. While not every improvement will come with a trait, the first one always does:
[ ] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
[ ] Dexterity. There's a lot to learn from Skiddle. Basic biology aside, there is nothing stopping you from learning techniques that come so natural to her and add them to your repertoire.
[ ] Faith. The gods walk the earth. The Skywrath Sovereign, the Solar Lion, even the stories of the old Dark King have more truth than fiction. Knowledge is power, and you know a lot.
###
The village is loud. Though the situation in the forests and fields has been dangerous for weeks, the villagers do not seem to mind, or perhaps the presence of the Order has given them more confidence to walk with their heads held high.
You and Lissy find yourself not in a tent, but in the home of the village elder, Louis. At least you think he is, the village doesn't seem to have that much of a hierarchy but the man in front of you looks twice as old as Drake, who is already halfway to becoming a fossil.
"The attacks usually happen at dusk," Louis says. "They started small, a fence smashed, a shed broken, but recently they have become bolder. The palisade has been broken in three places, and half of our beehives smashed."
The old man fingers his white beard.
"So far they have not entered the village. So on the morrow we repair the damages of the night before, and continue our work as usual."
"You've got a lot of domesticated Pokemon out there," Lissy says. She's sitting cross-legged against the wall near the door, her sword next to her. Perseus is outside, 'patrolling'. He makes shouts whenever he turns around, walking the same path in front of the house while getting cheered on by Opal and Skiddle. "Why not fight back?"
"They work hard for us, and we take care of them," he says, smiling softly. "Not every Pokemon likes to fight. As you would not send a farmer to do a soldier's job, how are we to expect our gentle Wooloo to fight against a fierce Fearow? A hungry Migthyena?"
"Fighting back would solve only one problem," Ruby says from the kitchen. They're helping to prepare a meal. "If the Pokemon moved so close to the village because of some external factor, they'll not stop. There's more of them than there's of us, too."
You don't know the exact numbers, but you suppose there's no need. Pokemon always outnumber humans. They breed faster, they grow up faster, and even if they didn't, the average person has no chance to fight back without help against all but the weakest Pokemon.
The best way to deal with an attacking Pokemon is to retreat or scare it away. If you can't— well, as Commander Drake loved to drill into the aspirants, even an armed and armored knight can be brought down by three Rattata if they're determined enough
"I guess that makes sense," Lissy says. The fact that she's capable of accepting that some people aren't out there to test their prowess is already a massive improvement from the past few days. Half the talks in the carriage were about either legendary figures from the past or legendary figures of the present she's gonna defeat one day.
You can't help but laugh remembering it. Lissy turns to you, as if sensing your thoughts. There's just no way she's going to defeat Drake.
"Your captain," the village elder says, "she's already out in the woods, right?"
You nod. Bolt sits at the table with the man, chewing on some berries. The Raichu's face never changes its expression, his eyes always open. Lissy told you that Silvia is half blind on her right eye, electrocuted by the smaller-than-average Raichu when it was just a freshly hatched Pichu.
You mutter a thank you that Skiddle knows how to apply pressure with her horns without breaking any skin. If you earn any more scars, they'll be from fighting a proper fight, not mishandling a goat.
"To think they would send aspirants." He shakes his head. "I suppose times have changed. Drake is commander, the king is too old, and the crown prince too young. I will never understand what made the second princess abdicate as heir."
"There's some theories." You can't help it, somehow it feels like class again. "Though I wasn't born yet, so maybe there's something the books won't tell us."
He smiles, his thin fingers tracing a line over the table. "Too many theories, and not enough confirmation, isn't that right? Considering she's nowadays Marchioness Reichert, and quite alive, her silence as to why she married the Border Marquess remains intact."
You nod. That much is true. One theory is that the second princess was heartbroken by her sister leaving, marrying at the border to stay as close to the Empire as possible. Another says that she wishes to sit in that castle waiting for someone. None are confirmed, none seem too far fetched.
Lissy, with all the tact of a lumbering Slaking, gives off an exaggerated yawn. You turn to her, your expression showing your annoyance.
"I'm gonna fall asleep if I just sit here," Lissy says, standing up. "I'll go outside and train some. Just call me back when the food's done."
"Sure thing," Ruby says. "Just don't break anything while you're outside."
"Well I never," Lissy says, putting a hand over her chest as if struck. You take one of the berries from Bolt's plate and flick it at her. "Surely you don't believe I could be capable of— ow, okay, I'm going!"
"Sorry about that," you say. Elder Louis laughs it off, clearly happy about the excitement in the village. You have noticed that despite how small it is here, most people are either older or very, very young. Most young adults must have left for the larger cities. "I'll go keep an eye on her, thank you for having us, sir."
"Don't mention it," he says, also stealing a berry from Bolt. The Raichu turns his head slowly toward him. His expression does not change, but his ears twitch and the eyes… "My wife rarely has an opportunity to prepare dinner for a group."
You stand up, following after Lissy after waving to Ruby. They give you a nod. It's still quite bright outside, and likely will be for another few hours.
The tents are set up in an outlying barn not in use for the winter, which you have fashioned into something of a proper guardpost, even if you've been invited to stay at the homes of the villagers. You've set up a proper watch rotation, and even found an old wooden post that you and Skiddle spent a profitable morning driving into the ground to use as a training pell. Lissy hasn't wasted any time, already swinging her sword, clearly happy that she has the proper weight in her hand now. You'd love to spar again, using your own weapon of choice this time, but you can't treat this trip like she does. You have a job to do, and every day brings new problems.
You hear howls in the distance. Poochyena. Skiddle runs up to you, Opal on her back. She bah's, then meh's some. You nod along.
"Do you actually understand her?"
Lissy comes up to you as well, sword in hand. You shrug.
"Sometimes," you say. "If I don't, she usually finds a way to make me."
"Right," she says, pointing at Perseus with her thumb. "That one's really bad at it. I can never really understand him."
"Maybe that's something to work on, then. You clearly don't need help in the combat department."
Lissy grins, and you know she's going to take that as praise. Before she can boast, though, you notice something strange. Something— that smells weird?
Skiddle turns her head toward the barn where you've set up your tents. Smoke rises up from the building, and Lissy is already running there before you have any time to react.
"Fire!" you shout, and the door of the elder's house slams open, with Ruby holding a bucket of water as they step out. The small bit of smoke becomes a massive blaze in seconds. It's not just a normal fire, there's purpose in it.
The villagers all come together, a line forms at the well transporting water forward towards the blazing thatch and wooden rafters of the barn.
You think if you had been sleeping in the tents as was planned, you might not have been able to escape. The fear tries to grip your heart, but your feet are already in motion. Someone set that fire, it's a cold and bright day outside so—
Skiddle bah's. Opal jumps off her before she follows after you. You're not good with names, you know that, but you're fairly okay with faces. And there's one face in that group of villagers that are surrounding the burning tents with buckets of water that you haven't seen at all today.
He notices your quick steps, and makes like a tree.
Unfortunately for him, there's not much opportunity to escape from there. Between him and his freedom, there's Aria and Skiddle. On the other side, a steep cliff.
"In the name of the Glastrier Order," you shout, pointing at him. You can see Lissy to the right, cutting the man off further. "Stand down and you will not be hurt!"
Somehow you don't like the look on his face as he shoves his arm into a bag he grabbed from his back. Out comes… a rope? With all the practice of a criminal, he slams an iron spike into the ground and jumps off the cliff. You can't have him die, you need him alive for interrogation, so when Lissy swings her sword toward the rope, you raise your hand and tell her to stop.
You look down the cliff. The man's already deep into the valley, but he's not going to have an easy time escaping there.
"Lissy," you say. "Get Bolt, find the captain."
"And let that man escape?"
"She'll likely have seen the smoke rising," you say. "Right now the lives of the villagers and the—"
The ground under you shakes. A loud roar echoes from the valley. Skiddle tries to bite into your clothes, Lissy's hand reaches out and misses yours by mere millimeters. The damage is already done.
You barely manage to grab the rope as you take a tumble down. When you close your eyes, it feels so familiar.
But this time you're not a frightened child. Your hands burn as you use the rope to slow your descent. Lissy grabs it from above and tries to pull you up, but the shaking ground makes it hard for her to keep her own balance.
"Skiddle!" you shout. She bah's, concerned and frightened. "I'll be fine, go get Bolt!"
"You're going to be in so much trouble," Lissy shouts, "so don't you fucking die from a fall!"
You smile at her. The earthquake breaks the nail out of the ground.
The rest of the descent is not too bad. The cliff doesn't let you rest, so you try to switch hands as often as you can and make a mental note to purchase gloves. You don't like them much, but in case you ever have to make a daring escape with a rope you'll be better prepared.
You land on your feet, landing wrong. You wince, grabbing your foot as pain shoots up your leg. Unfortunately, the man is nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, you find yourself with an opportunity to collect your thoughts.
Either the man really hates the Glastrier knights, or his attempt to kill you was just opportunism. Considering the situation, the latter makes more sense. The smoke will draw anyone in the woods out and toward the village, meaning he can do what he wants without being caught.
Meaning he is likely the source of the disturbance in the woods. Though considering the scale of the Pokemon movement, there's no doubt in your mind that he works with others. An earthquake like this also isn't usual for Gildera, meaning it must have been triggered by something big and angry.
You really hope you don't meet big and angry today.
Taking a deep breath, you look around. The woods are not kind and easy to navigate, knights are taught to use symbols and colors to mark paths they've taken. You can't see any, so the enemies are not knights.
Just staying here and waiting for rescue is an option. The man might have escaped by then, but you're not in trouble, right? Sure falling off a cliff isn't great but what girl hasn't taken a tumble over one before? Considering it's your second time you feel like you might be able to do the third without any injury!
A cry in the woods ruins that plan immediately. Sword in hand, you take the shield off your back and make your way deeper into the valley. The cries get louder, guiding your path. It's not the man who escaped, but someone else that you stumble upon. The way they're dressed is quite similar, but this one pisses you off even more.
Tied to a tree by a net that looks enhanced by electric stones is a Tediursa. The net digs into its fur, electrocuting it whenever it tries to struggle against it. There's specks of blood on it from cuts that you know a human weapon must have inflicted.
"Hold it," you say. "What do you think you're doing?"
Poachers.
There's nothing stopping people from capturing Pokemon, Pokeballs are a luxury good but not completely out of reach for people who truly want to buy one. There are, of course, people who simply befriend one and that's that.
But some species of Pokemon are rare or difficult to obtain due to other reasons, and that's where scum like this make their appearance.
"I was just helping out," the man lies. "Someone must have left that poor thing in the net."
You glance at the sword-like weapon on the man's waist.
"I like kids, so it hurts my heart when someone does something to harm them," he says. You glance to the right, the injured Tediursa inside the net crying. Anger grips your heart.
"Tediursa are never without their parents," you say, your voice tight. Now you know what's big and angry. "The danger that a sleuth of angry Ursaring poses is too large, so capturing them requires explicit permission from the authority of these lands. You do not look like the kind of character that Duke van Kesteren keeps in his employ."
"Yeah?" he asks, grinning wide. "What are you gonna do about it, champ?"
You close your eyes, taking a deep breath. When there is injustice in front of you, you must never close your heart. When there are people in need of help, your hand must reach out to aid them.
When you hear someone in pain, take heart and grant them mercy.
"I will fulfill my duty," you whisper. Your fist clenches over your heart. You draw your sword, pointing at the poacher. "You are under arrest. Please, do not resist."
The poacher's grin widens even further. He grabs his own weapon, a large sickle-like knife of a design you've not seen before. It looks like it was made to hack away at wood and plants, but the dried blood on the blade tells a different story.
You attack first. In three steps, the distance between you is barely enough for your sword's tip to reach his shoulder as you lunge. The man reacts with a short gasp, not expecting you to go all out from the beginning. He reacts fast despite the surprise, his own blade coming down and knocking yours out of the trajectory. Your arms hurt as your sword instead stabs into the ground between his feet. He attacks this time, but you roll away and stop the followup with your shield.
He's strong, but you are trained. You open your mouth, shouting as you drive the edge of your shield into his forearm. His arm goes wide, so you continue by bashing your shield against his chest, sending him reeling backwards.
You can't stop or hesitate. Your sword swings again, diagonally from the ground and up towards his hand. If he loses his weapon, he'll be easy picking. Unfortunately he's quick to recover, once again blocking your blade with his.
"I take it back, kid," he says, the wide smile from earlier replaced by a somewhat annoyed scowl, "I really fucking hate you."
"The feeling's mutual," you respond. You attempt another bash with your shield, but this time his hand catches it before you can swing at him. You're too close to him for a good swing of his sword, so he does the next best thing. He leans back, suddenly snapping his entire body forward. His forehead crashes into your nose, and your vision blurs as you find yourself staggering backwards. The taste of metal in your mouth announces blood.
He's not done though. His grip on your arm tightens and he pulls you back, letting go only to throw his leg up and kick you in the stomach. The force knocks all the air out of you. You cough, specks of red hitting the ground.
Then his fist hits you. You try to raise the shield, but you aren't ready for the attack in the slightest. You're pushed back, and in an attempt to create some distance you go with the flow and roll onto the ground. You are lucky, in some ways, he clearly doesn't want the trouble that comes with killing a Glastrier knight. And he's lucky in the same ways— you don't want to kill a man today.
Your eyes open but you can't see shit. They burn; dirt and debris sitting in your eyelashes. You hear him whistle.
"Fucking Gilderan trees," he says, "nearly broke my fucking hand."
Good. You want to shout it at him, but you can't seem to find the oxygen for it. You turn around, pushing against the ground and forcing yourself up. You stagger for just a moment, taking a deep breath to gather yourself.
Your hand comes up to your face, baptized in fresh blood from your nose and cuts on your lips. Silvia is going to be furious. You're never going to go on another outing again until your promotion. Maybe everyone will doubt if you were even ready to receive your partner.
"Just stay the fuck down, kid," he says, clearly angry. "Enough blood's been spilled today."
But right now, you can't let this man get away. Your fist clenches in front of your chest. You glare up, your blurry vision recovering. The man looks like he's ready to let you walk away, on his way to the captured Tediursa again. But you can't just leave.
If your hear someone in pain—
If you hear someone in pain—
If you hear someone in—
You roar, your stance low. The poacher turns around, clearly annoyed.
"Look, champ," he says. "You want to live, there's no shame in running away."
You don't respond, still crouched as you shoot forward. The man is ready to attack again, but you're not here to fight fair or honorable. You throw your sword, and the moment where he swats it out of the way is enough for you to make your move. The shield bashes against his groin, and for once it is him that screams in pain.
Of course, you can't stop now. You repay him by bashing the shield against his face, breaking his nose with a sickening crunch. He doesn't know what to defend, so he lashes out, and his sword is met with the steel-hard wooden shield that carries the Glastrier emblem.
You cock your fist back, growling with gritted teeth. A knight is never truly unarmed. With the force of an arm that carried bags of fodder for years, your fist hits him square in the chin. The grip on his weapon loosens as he falls backward. He hits the ground with a heavy thud.
There's no way to calm your breathing. Your ears are ringing, and you're certain that your nose is bleeding far more than is healthy. You grab his weapon, throwing it far into the woods and away from him before stumbling over to your sword, picking it up and turning to the poacher once more. He's coughing, his own face now bloodied and bruised. He's down, but not out, and you're not certain you can continue to fight like you have.
"Hey, champ," you say, finally finding your voice between the animalistic noises that your throat is producing. "There's no shame in running away."
He doesn't find it nearly as funny as you. His lumbering form approaches, but he's unarmed and suddenly you are… on your knees. The sprain from your earlier landing starts hurting way worse, strained beyond the limits of your pain tolerance.
Your legs have given out, it takes the sword stabbed into the ground to keep you on your knees rather than your back. You lack stamina, you've been kicked in the solar plexus, and no amount of courage in the face of an adversary will make up for your body. You growl again, slapping your legs. Move, you want to say. Don't fail me again.
He reaches out to wrap his hands around your throat and something inside of you snaps.
If your legs won't do it then your hands will. You stab the sword into his leg, it's all you can reach. The pain makes him cry out. He's off-balance. He's easy picking.
You knock him over, straddling him and raising your fists. You punch down, knuckles meeting flesh. You punch again, and again, and again. Your arms start to tire and you slow down when the man stops crying out in pain. He's… not dead, you're certain. He's still breathing, though most of the air he takes in comes with a solid bit of blood that is running down his face, causing him to cough.
Your fists are black and blue. Your shield is red with blood. Your vision is still blurred and turning dark around the edges.
Yet another fight you can claim victory on, but it comes with none of the joy and elation. Is this the kind of fights that knights get into? Is this the—
Bile rises up in your throat. It burns in your nostrils and forces its way out of your mouth despite all your attempts to keep it in. You turn your head to throw up next to the man, trying to grant him what little dignity someone like him deserves.
You can hear your friends in the distance shouting your name. You can't answer, your chest burns as you try to speak. Raising your head, you roar, speaking in a language that requires no voice.
The Elysian realms are not calling for you today, but the Sleeping Dwarf is.
You pass out, catching a glimpse of lightning.
###
The Ursaring are not happy.
If only everyone cared for their children like they do.
Everything you've done today was an experience you've had before. As your mind wanders off into nightmares, you remember a time when you didn't wear blue. When your emblem was not a hoof. When the partner that is worrying over you had much sharper teeth.
[ ] Dream of broken legs.
Rain pours down from above, washing away who you were.
[ ] Dream of bloodied fists.
You wash those hands gently. He does not cry, so you make up for it.
[ ] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
- Location
- France
[X] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
[X] Dream of broken legs.
[X] Dream of broken legs.
- Location
- ORCA HQ
[X] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
[X] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
A bit of awareness would do us good if our last conversation with Capella is anything to go by. Though to be fair there wasn't really any good answers there.
[X] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
A bit of awareness would do us good if our last conversation with Capella is anything to go by. Though to be fair there wasn't really any good answers there.
[X] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
[X] Dream of bloodied fists.
[X] Dream of bloodied fists.
SeekerofDreams
Aspiring Farmer
- Location
- Selphia
[X] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
[X] Dream of bruised skin.
[X] Dream of bruised skin.
Man, updates land fast after votes close; here we are! "Dangerous Woods", I wonder if Aria could be in any more hot water than having a perfectly normal conversation with her best friend?
Oh, lol, you literally said as much, hysterical.
This is very...I said it before, the lie Aria picks would have to, by its own nature, point to a semblance of the truth for it to be important to pick.
But more than that...
...I suppose not one of these weapons wasn't a symbol of someone else in Aria's memories.
Who fucking LION KING'D HER tho?
Their relationship is complicated.
Still made Skiddle's gift...
Girl's got bliiiiiiiiiing.
Capella hearing the Social Link Rank Up Theme from whatever dark corner she's lurking: It should have been ME.
TRAGIC. Your social braincell can tell you aren't feeding her newfound addiction for Shiny and is using the insight to eat your pants.
Incredible how Aria is literally endless recursive PTSD.
Love the way this entire country is Icy Blue-Green, you get a description in ABfI and it's literally always that, and it slaps every time.
I don't know why this is so funny to me, but it's like Lissy could directly perceive and respond to Aria's inner monologue, but she didn't care enough to acknowledge the blatant traumatic flashback going on in the background.
. Hm.
Interesting framing of that homie!
Simply letting the pokemon around you do whatever the fuck they want is a surprisingly useful international blockade, though, uh, given Aria and the gang is heading out specifically because wild pokemon are starting shit, well.
...Wait, I had a completely unrelated thought, but I have to save that until later.
Ride Pokemon are fucking goated, if you'll allow me the ill-fitting pun.
CERULEAN CITY MENTIONED.
Imagine I went to the effort of editing this in your heads.
Love that Aria is either misdirecting that she has Trauma Based On Geographical Knowledge, just wanted to know about places herdad mentor visited, or really is a fucking nerd.
Probably all three.
Lissy is APPALLED in any case.
"Man I can't wait until I'm old and wrinkly and can tell courtiers to fucking suck it."
"Don't you already?"
"Yeah but I want my voice to be gravely when I do."
Man what was up with Isabel, how many people have some kinda complex about her.
OWNED.
People hating, refusing to chivalirize, laughing at your ass for being a Looney Tunes gag.
This triad is already incredible.
Loooove this location feel—What the fuck do you MEAN Asphodel in Mourning has updated a minute ago.
This is horseshit. I literally. The SAME time. The SAME time. The SAME "I didn't expect to have to make this time" time.
...I am going to keep going lest I lose my mind. So.
I like how Aria is Ice/Grass.
Love this horsegirl and his undying engine of a mule.
Incredible to me how this grounded political drama just has Fire Emblem characters. Because it's Pokemon.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN "BRIGHTER" THOUGH. IS THIS MORE OF THE HORSESHIT BEING A GLASTRIER KNIGHT DOES.
Anyway this is a really good design (with the crinkly hair especially) and I love how fucked up her Raichu looks. That's what it means to make a name for yourself in a Pikachu's game.
Literally having a pissing contest with a Ground-Type pffffft.
KARMA FOR LETTING A SEIGI NO MIKATA GET A BOOBOO. NOW YOUR ASS IS IN HER HOTBLOODED TRAINING ARC.
Ruby I love that you have the power to be sassy, you are the only one keeping this Tres Amigos going.
Silvia is fun already, straightforward, knows this is an anime and expects the kids to do YA Protagonist shit once everything implodes.
SKARMORY-STEEL SWORD is just such a sick mental image.
You forced the gun show into sleeves, that's why Lissy needs to channel her overwhelming Bancho Energies into the headband, it's enrichment.
Okay gayass (I do think it's funny that we won't have any idea if this meaningfully helped mitigate Capella's Villainess Arc until 30 hours of JRPG later).
So here's our mission! I am curious as to whether this is deliberate sabotage at the hands of the Empire of Sol or not.
AMAZING. Just says it right in front of her. "Silvia hates me because I'm annoying." "YES. YES YOU ARE ANNOYING." "Lol."
Bolt is magical to me.
I do wonder if this is a normal "He's skilled enough to track me down" or if this is still whatever witchcraft involves all these bitches sharing the same eye color.
You must understand. This is charming.
CRINGE TEAM. CRINGE RAGECOMICS TEAM.
Silvia immediately deciding she has a favorite because Aria is Also Pissed Off.
Aria has proven she's a Delight To Have In Class and that means everything is her problem. Forever.
Aria about her literal goat:
Oh, we got a level up! Neat.
...OHHHHHHH, BECAUSE SKIDDLE GOT THE MURKROW FEATHER, I GET IT.
Makes me wonder what the mechanical effects of the other choices would have been...
...The Solar Lion and Dark King. Hm.
Like, natural implication for who the former is, which is, getting more scifi than I expected of this fic, but I do love lore bites.
[X] Dexterity. There's a lot to learn from Skiddle. Basic biology aside, there is nothing stopping you from learning techniques that come so natural to her and add them to your repertoire.
I'm not too hung up on which wins, they're all fun, but I love when people's fighting styles take after significant relationships, this was still an incredible highlight of the story:
So making it a standard element of Aria's toolkit? Yes please.
And so the first quest begins. Love that we're getting Old Man Power Levels.
It's interesting, they're not really roughing up villagers, just the surrounding structures.
Also...Beehives? Soft-Confirmation normal animals exist in this 'verse, or just that they're not clarifying "Oh these are for Combee."
Love that Lissy's just "You could kick their ass, though?" and Louis very gently correct this young woman on how not everyone is a shredded super chad who eats feral wolves for lunch.
Also Perseus I LOVE you. Love that the pokemon are getting along.
Ah yes every Soulsborne rat ever, We Been Knew.
I just really appreciate the whole, range of this talkshop? Of course Ruby would be the one to point this out, they're from a hodunk village too, you have to be Very aware of the ways pokemon can start acting up and how easily the direct approach can backfire.
Aria becoming a such a hater with Lissy becauseshe incorporated Capella's brain taking up her weapons of all the times they've been repeating "My buff arms could beat up your dad" "No they can't" "Yes they can" "No they can't" is fucking hysterical.
. Wow.
Wait is BOLT half-blind in that eye too now? Why are you talking about Silvia's eyes when you look at her pokemon's eyes you bastard, tell us the lore if you already know!!!
Anyway this establishes that Silvia's power level is less than Ash Ketchum's.
(That boy has eaten so much lightning. SO much)
This is the power of picking the Wisdom Stat Partner.
...Wait. Is that literally something that could've happened if the Power Stat Partner had been picked???
Getting into a loredump with an old man because she's a NERRRRRRRRRD.
I wonder why this is relevant now, though given the concerns about the border specifically...
I love how annoying everyone is to each other, forever.
I like Louis. Fun old guy who just wants to chat with the youngins.
Ominous Mouse.
Aria is so uptight and committed to doing this Correctly that it makes it stand out a funnier amount that she genuinely does want to indulge in the same Violence Time she holds Lissy in > : ( for.
I love that we're getting into the "Hey can you actually speak goat?" in a way that's really like, Pokemon, yeah.
Lissy is a musclehead and her partner is a musclehead and they're just making it up as they go.
"You're stupid and all you do is punch people" "Why YES, thank you" is such a funny running gag.
These guys are Ready For It and Lissy specifically being on point when everyone's been telling her to get a grip is fun turnabout.
Ruby was ALSO prepped, damn. And we're finally confirming that there's blatantly sabotage at work!
MAKES LIKE A TREE.
Honey, that guy tried to kill you, why is that the natural time to make a pun, to you.
It's amazing how it's like, just the hospitality Aria barely knew how to put off that kept her team alive. I like it.
That this is a cliff, on this exact chapter...
ROPE MAN.
Always keep them guessing.
Lissy is so ready to end this, fun.
OKAY FULL ON DOING THAT.
Aria and Lissy, Haters and Homies for life.
Lovvvvve that Aria's PTSD isn't enough to stop her from pulling through as a real shit knight.
Okay but the timing of that roar and fucking earthquake sure uh. Puts the scale of the kinda bitch Aria might be dealing with it Perspective, and all without Skiddle...
Aria in the middle of a barely nonlethal fall: I really gotta be cooler about this next time.
Love love love that this is put together quick and flowingly and also Aria is perfectly aware that there are apex predators who can shift tectonic plates in her backyard.
Okay you're not gonna get to do the sensible "sit out on adventure" thing but also why is your MIND. Like this.
Oh there is some BULLSHIT going on here.
And. I really doubt these are people doing it to catch these pokemon, over uh.
Riling up the entire population.
I really appreciate when writers are like "What makes a poacher any different from other trainers who capture pokemon?" "Well you see, some people are rat bastards" and then it's blatantly the case.
You are like a Huge piece of shit and your ass is gonna get beat.
I halfway assume that it's very much on purpose that you're jonesing for a fight with a Glastrier Knight right in front of an injuried Tediursa, though.
Kesteren! We finally know the Duke's name!
Honestly "An army of bears will kill us all" is a more reasonable explanation than most for hunting territories.
Swag Swag Swag Swag Swag.
IMMEDIATELY started bitching when Aria almost folded his ass hahahahahahahahaha.
Sword and Board versus the Nefarious Sickle, this is interesting.
Fabulous the way they just hate and maul one another.
The fact Aria's acknowledging their mutual restraint from killing each other thooooo.
This is such an interesting interaction because even though this is a Piece Of Shit there's an obvious sense that he only gets so much out of petty sadism, love when bitchass crooks have a moment of "take a life lesson" which they actually mean even though it is, of course, bullshit.
Ariaaaaaaaaaa. You're such a narc (thinking about how you're be banned from Knight Study Time) and a hero (gonna KICK HIS ASS).
INSTANT FATALITY.
When you fucking throw the sword and start punching and shieldinggggggg.
Aria is such a HATER, I LOVE that for her.
Okay damn. Go girl. Fucking wreck shit.
Love when women actually beat someone to half death.
Just immediately sank to this guy's level because there is an Animal in there.
. Hm.
These are Capella's weapons.
Well okay then!
Tragically funny. She doesn't want to be like this and she really doesn't want to throw up on a guy she punch the lungs out of.
Sleeping Dwarf???
OH OKAY.
SO I SAID THAT ARIA'S ACTUAL STARTER WOULD PROBABLY BE SUPER IMPORTANT BUT I DIDN'T THINK WE'D GET INTO THAT SO SOON.
Much sharp teeth, but still worrying over her...
This is heartbreaking???
I.
Cannot decide the dream!
They're all good!
They're all bad!
Nicely done Elpis.
...Now what was that unrelated thought from earlier...It's not coming back to me...Well okay then.
Alright so I don't have as much time to respond to thread posts like I was planning, but I DO want to say this:
I'd like to seeeeeeeeeee him, you do really good art so I'm sure it'll be a delight!
Also love the the interlude forewarning.
Oh, lol, you literally said as much, hysterical.
This is very...I said it before, the lie Aria picks would have to, by its own nature, point to a semblance of the truth for it to be important to pick.
But more than that...
...I suppose not one of these weapons wasn't a symbol of someone else in Aria's memories.
Who fucking LION KING'D HER tho?
Their relationship is complicated.
Still made Skiddle's gift...
Girl's got bliiiiiiiiiing.
Capella hearing the Social Link Rank Up Theme from whatever dark corner she's lurking: It should have been ME.
TRAGIC. Your social braincell can tell you aren't feeding her newfound addiction for Shiny and is using the insight to eat your pants.
Incredible how Aria is literally endless recursive PTSD.
Love the way this entire country is Icy Blue-Green, you get a description in ABfI and it's literally always that, and it slaps every time.
I don't know why this is so funny to me, but it's like Lissy could directly perceive and respond to Aria's inner monologue, but she didn't care enough to acknowledge the blatant traumatic flashback going on in the background.
. Hm.
Interesting framing of that homie!
Simply letting the pokemon around you do whatever the fuck they want is a surprisingly useful international blockade, though, uh, given Aria and the gang is heading out specifically because wild pokemon are starting shit, well.
...Wait, I had a completely unrelated thought, but I have to save that until later.
Ride Pokemon are fucking goated, if you'll allow me the ill-fitting pun.
CERULEAN CITY MENTIONED.
Imagine I went to the effort of editing this in your heads.
Love that Aria is either misdirecting that she has Trauma Based On Geographical Knowledge, just wanted to know about places her
Probably all three.
Lissy is APPALLED in any case.
"Man I can't wait until I'm old and wrinkly and can tell courtiers to fucking suck it."
"Don't you already?"
"Yeah but I want my voice to be gravely when I do."
Man what was up with Isabel, how many people have some kinda complex about her.
OWNED.
People hating, refusing to chivalirize, laughing at your ass for being a Looney Tunes gag.
This triad is already incredible.
Loooove this location feel—What the fuck do you MEAN Asphodel in Mourning has updated a minute ago.
This is horseshit. I literally. The SAME time. The SAME time. The SAME "I didn't expect to have to make this time" time.
...I am going to keep going lest I lose my mind. So.
I like how Aria is Ice/Grass.
Love this horsegirl and his undying engine of a mule.
Captain Silvia does not seem too bothered. She's dressed in the usual uniform, though her sleeves carry the sign of the captains. The woman who you know as the 'Lightning Blade' leans against her sword at her side, hair that sits somewhere between yellow and green formed into bolts across her back and face. Her eyes are of the same color, though one brighter than the other.
On her shoulder sits Bolt, her Raichu, the fur on its face and belly much darker than the usual specimen, fading from a bright brown into a bark-like complexion.
Standing at attention behind her is Atlas, the Mudsdale she has been riding the past few days and an experienced war mount. He is currently engaged in a staring contest with Bolt. You do not know who's winning, but you can absolutely say you would not.
Incredible to me how this grounded political drama just has Fire Emblem characters. Because it's Pokemon.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN "BRIGHTER" THOUGH. IS THIS MORE OF THE HORSESHIT BEING A GLASTRIER KNIGHT DOES.
Anyway this is a really good design (with the crinkly hair especially) and I love how fucked up her Raichu looks. That's what it means to make a name for yourself in a Pikachu's game.
Literally having a pissing contest with a Ground-Type pffffft.
KARMA FOR LETTING A SEIGI NO MIKATA GET A BOOBOO. NOW YOUR ASS IS IN HER HOTBLOODED TRAINING ARC.
Ruby I love that you have the power to be sassy, you are the only one keeping this Tres Amigos going.
Silvia is fun already, straightforward, knows this is an anime and expects the kids to do YA Protagonist shit once everything implodes.
SKARMORY-STEEL SWORD is just such a sick mental image.
You forced the gun show into sleeves, that's why Lissy needs to channel her overwhelming Bancho Energies into the headband, it's enrichment.
Okay gayass (I do think it's funny that we won't have any idea if this meaningfully helped mitigate Capella's Villainess Arc until 30 hours of JRPG later).
So here's our mission! I am curious as to whether this is deliberate sabotage at the hands of the Empire of Sol or not.
AMAZING. Just says it right in front of her. "Silvia hates me because I'm annoying." "YES. YES YOU ARE ANNOYING." "Lol."
Bolt is magical to me.
I do wonder if this is a normal "He's skilled enough to track me down" or if this is still whatever witchcraft involves all these bitches sharing the same eye color.
You must understand. This is charming.
CRINGE TEAM. CRINGE RAGECOMICS TEAM.
Silvia immediately deciding she has a favorite because Aria is Also Pissed Off.
Aria has proven she's a Delight To Have In Class and that means everything is her problem. Forever.
Aria about her literal goat:
Oh, we got a level up! Neat.
...OHHHHHHH, BECAUSE SKIDDLE GOT THE MURKROW FEATHER, I GET IT.
Makes me wonder what the mechanical effects of the other choices would have been...
...The Solar Lion and Dark King. Hm.
Like, natural implication for who the former is, which is, getting more scifi than I expected of this fic, but I do love lore bites.
[X] Dexterity. There's a lot to learn from Skiddle. Basic biology aside, there is nothing stopping you from learning techniques that come so natural to her and add them to your repertoire.
I'm not too hung up on which wins, they're all fun, but I love when people's fighting styles take after significant relationships, this was still an incredible highlight of the story:
So making it a standard element of Aria's toolkit? Yes please.
And so the first quest begins. Love that we're getting Old Man Power Levels.
It's interesting, they're not really roughing up villagers, just the surrounding structures.
Also...Beehives? Soft-Confirmation normal animals exist in this 'verse, or just that they're not clarifying "Oh these are for Combee."
Love that Lissy's just "You could kick their ass, though?" and Louis very gently correct this young woman on how not everyone is a shredded super chad who eats feral wolves for lunch.
Also Perseus I LOVE you. Love that the pokemon are getting along.
Ah yes every Soulsborne rat ever, We Been Knew.
I just really appreciate the whole, range of this talkshop? Of course Ruby would be the one to point this out, they're from a hodunk village too, you have to be Very aware of the ways pokemon can start acting up and how easily the direct approach can backfire.
Aria becoming a such a hater with Lissy because
. Wow.
Wait is BOLT half-blind in that eye too now? Why are you talking about Silvia's eyes when you look at her pokemon's eyes you bastard, tell us the lore if you already know!!!
Anyway this establishes that Silvia's power level is less than Ash Ketchum's.
(That boy has eaten so much lightning. SO much)
This is the power of picking the Wisdom Stat Partner.
...Wait. Is that literally something that could've happened if the Power Stat Partner had been picked???
Getting into a loredump with an old man because she's a NERRRRRRRRRD.
I wonder why this is relevant now, though given the concerns about the border specifically...
I love how annoying everyone is to each other, forever.
I like Louis. Fun old guy who just wants to chat with the youngins.
Ominous Mouse.
Aria is so uptight and committed to doing this Correctly that it makes it stand out a funnier amount that she genuinely does want to indulge in the same Violence Time she holds Lissy in > : ( for.
I love that we're getting into the "Hey can you actually speak goat?" in a way that's really like, Pokemon, yeah.
Lissy is a musclehead and her partner is a musclehead and they're just making it up as they go.
"You're stupid and all you do is punch people" "Why YES, thank you" is such a funny running gag.
These guys are Ready For It and Lissy specifically being on point when everyone's been telling her to get a grip is fun turnabout.
Ruby was ALSO prepped, damn. And we're finally confirming that there's blatantly sabotage at work!
MAKES LIKE A TREE.
Honey, that guy tried to kill you, why is that the natural time to make a pun, to you.
It's amazing how it's like, just the hospitality Aria barely knew how to put off that kept her team alive. I like it.
That this is a cliff, on this exact chapter...
ROPE MAN.
Always keep them guessing.
Lissy is so ready to end this, fun.
OKAY FULL ON DOING THAT.
Aria and Lissy, Haters and Homies for life.
Lovvvvve that Aria's PTSD isn't enough to stop her from pulling through as a real shit knight.
Okay but the timing of that roar and fucking earthquake sure uh. Puts the scale of the kinda bitch Aria might be dealing with it Perspective, and all without Skiddle...
Aria in the middle of a barely nonlethal fall: I really gotta be cooler about this next time.
Love love love that this is put together quick and flowingly and also Aria is perfectly aware that there are apex predators who can shift tectonic plates in her backyard.
Okay you're not gonna get to do the sensible "sit out on adventure" thing but also why is your MIND. Like this.
Oh there is some BULLSHIT going on here.
And. I really doubt these are people doing it to catch these pokemon, over uh.
Riling up the entire population.
I really appreciate when writers are like "What makes a poacher any different from other trainers who capture pokemon?" "Well you see, some people are rat bastards" and then it's blatantly the case.
You are like a Huge piece of shit and your ass is gonna get beat.
I halfway assume that it's very much on purpose that you're jonesing for a fight with a Glastrier Knight right in front of an injuried Tediursa, though.
Kesteren! We finally know the Duke's name!
Honestly "An army of bears will kill us all" is a more reasonable explanation than most for hunting territories.
Swag Swag Swag Swag Swag.
IMMEDIATELY started bitching when Aria almost folded his ass hahahahahahahahaha.
Sword and Board versus the Nefarious Sickle, this is interesting.
Fabulous the way they just hate and maul one another.
The fact Aria's acknowledging their mutual restraint from killing each other thooooo.
This is such an interesting interaction because even though this is a Piece Of Shit there's an obvious sense that he only gets so much out of petty sadism, love when bitchass crooks have a moment of "take a life lesson" which they actually mean even though it is, of course, bullshit.
Ariaaaaaaaaaa. You're such a narc (thinking about how you're be banned from Knight Study Time) and a hero (gonna KICK HIS ASS).
INSTANT FATALITY.
When you fucking throw the sword and start punching and shieldinggggggg.
Aria is such a HATER, I LOVE that for her.
Okay damn. Go girl. Fucking wreck shit.
Love when women actually beat someone to half death.
Just immediately sank to this guy's level because there is an Animal in there.
. Hm.
These are Capella's weapons.
Well okay then!
Tragically funny. She doesn't want to be like this and she really doesn't want to throw up on a guy she punch the lungs out of.
Sleeping Dwarf???
OH OKAY.
SO I SAID THAT ARIA'S ACTUAL STARTER WOULD PROBABLY BE SUPER IMPORTANT BUT I DIDN'T THINK WE'D GET INTO THAT SO SOON.
Much sharp teeth, but still worrying over her...
This is heartbreaking???
I.
Cannot decide the dream!
They're all good!
They're all bad!
Nicely done Elpis.
...Now what was that unrelated thought from earlier...It's not coming back to me...Well okay then.
Alright so I don't have as much time to respond to thread posts like I was planning, but I DO want to say this:
The character the first interlude focuses on. It's not a very long one, but I don't know where to insert it yet. Current plan is end of arc 1. I even have a sketch of him, but I don't usually draw men and it looks a bit sketchy
I'd like to seeeeeeeeeee him, you do really good art so I'm sure it'll be a delight!
Also love the the interlude forewarning.
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[x] Faith. The gods walk the earth. The Skywrath Sovereign, the Solar Lion, even the stories of the old Dark King have more truth than fiction. Knowledge is power, and you know a lot.
[x] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
Thought the Skywrath Sovereign was one of the Gen 5 Genies for a moment, though it now seems more obvious it's Rayquaza
[x] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
Thought the Skywrath Sovereign was one of the Gen 5 Genies for a moment, though it now seems more obvious it's Rayquaza
[X] Dexterity. There's a lot to learn from Skiddle. Basic biology aside, there is nothing stopping you from learning techniques that come so natural to her and add them to your repertoire.
[X] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
[X] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
- Location
- Somewhere!
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Dexterity. There's a lot to learn from Skiddle. Basic biology aside, there is nothing stopping you from learning techniques that come so natural to her and add them to your repertoire.
[X] Dream of bloodied fists
I wanna know who 'he' could be.
[X] Dream of bloodied fists
I wanna know who 'he' could be.
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] Dexterity. There's a lot to learn from Skiddle. Basic biology aside, there is nothing stopping you from learning techniques that come so natural to her and add them to your repertoire.
[X] Dream of bloodied fists
[X] Dream of bloodied fists
Elpis
Ostensibly Hope
- Location
- Berlin
I will post the sketch! I promise! Right now I'm working on a drawing for another character that will be in Update 4. Let me just say dresses are the worst thing to draw. Ever.
[X] Faith. The gods walk the earth. The Skywrath Sovereign, the Solar Lion, even the stories of the old Dark King have more truth than fiction. Knowledge is power, and you know a lot.
I think Legendaries are the coolest shit. Because they are.
[X] Dream of bloodied fists.
This just seems very cool.
I think Legendaries are the coolest shit. Because they are.
[X] Dream of bloodied fists.
This just seems very cool.
- Location
- France
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
[X] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
[X] Dream of bruised skin.
Again. Do it again, but properly this time. Pain will be your teacher.
[X] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
[X] Dream of broken legs.
[X] Dream of broken legs.
- Location
- the Cornfield
- Pronouns
- It/She
Aahhhhhhh the classic cold war ambigiously over but not really spat. The way you write the dynamic between Aria and Capella feels so so real and grounded. Underneath all the pokemon and mysterious backstories and knighthood this really is just what it's like when these two personalities are friends with each other.
Christ girlie, lighten up a little. That was a dark turn to suddenly happen.
Lol. Lmao even. I have had that happen to me though, so my sympathies for Lissy.
Huh, I wonder why they're stressed. Aside from, you know, the obvious. But it isn't like that's happening right now.
Oh my god she's so cool. She's SO cool. The Eyes???? The cape??? Absolutely incredible character design.Captain Silvia does not seem too bothered. She's dressed in the usual uniform, though her sleeves carry the sign of the captains. The woman who you know as the 'Lightning Blade' leans against her sword at her side, hair that sits somewhere between yellow and green formed into bolts across her back and face. Her eyes are of the same color, though one brighter than the other.
On her shoulder sits Bolt, her Raichu, the fur on its face and belly much darker than the usual specimen, fading from a bright brown into a bark-like complexion.
Standing at attention behind her is Atlas, the Mudsdale she has been riding the past few days and an experienced war mount. He is currently engaged in a staring contest with Bolt. You do not know who's winning, but you can absolutely say you would not.
sjhghgjhfs breathing out of her nose because she WILL burst out laughing otherwise and she cannot afford that.
This is just very cool and based. Being a knight means being a knight! Even at this stage you have to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Granted, 'requires your assistance' will definitely have a range of interpretations depending on the person.
Deeply fucking funny. This mentor-mentoree dynamic is just very. You managed to cram in the impression of an entire first third of a different quest fic that's about Lissy into the implications of just this little conversation between them. Really good stuff!
HJDFHJDHSJSGHJF the-
RAPID
degradation of expectations. Aria oh my god. Her internal monologue is so fucking funny.
[X] Awareness. The world that surrounds you is always moving. Whether they're fields of battle or people you don't understand well, you come to grasp them easier.
I am addicted to making observation-based skillchecks in any system.
hm hm hm so we get some details about the situation. And ramp up of escalation. Ruby is on point with their observation. Some kind of inciting factor.
LOVE that this fic is basically operating on heroic spirit rules for the knight/pokemon power dynamic, it unironically is just the best.
Huh, interesting. They're very close partners, but she was blinded by it. Wonder if that made things awkward.
sghjfjhgfs the fucking neutral death glare from the Raichu.
This is so so cute.
Aaaaah and here we see the external factor. Bandits? Poachers? Thieves? Something for sure. You know we had a lot of talk about how the most unregulated wilderness is part of the nation's defenses, but that's coming with some obvious drawbacks as well.
Hm! Backstory hints. Interesting.
Get his ass! I love that she just goes all out before the starter pistol is even fired. And yeah!!! Shield bashes! I know I literally voted for the two-hander but let it not be said I don't appreciate some good shield fighting.
Interesting interesting, but kinda makes sense yeah. Neither of them really want that escalation. Kind of a genie you can't put back in the bottle, or pokeball in this case.
The way she just spirals is so delicious. Like obviously this is very worrisome and yet another red flag on the small stack her mental health has already accrued but I cannot deny I am also cheering for the direction this rage is going. Decadent character suffering.
I LOVE ARIA SO MUCH! Get a knight who will absolutely sink to her prey's level just to be a hater. She absolutely did not need to say that and I'm so happy she did.
Ah, but things are catching up to her, undercutting her taunt immediately. I appreciate how much thought is being put into the accrued injuries in this battle. There's nothing fun or elegant about it like the Murkrow tussle. This is human violence, bloody and permanent. Of course, I fully expect the devastation wreaked by pokemon to compare, but you know what I mean.
This fight ends so raw, I love it. This is not knightly behavior, this is barely even survival instinct, this is just violent, resentful rage. He's easy picking. The fact that that was the direction her mind went is so fascinating to me. Very telling. Everything about this fight was very telling but that line especially.
[X] Dream of broken legs.
Rain pours down from above, washing away who you were.
I'm going to be honest, I'm voting because of the water themeing first and foremost, but also "broken legs" when we just had a lot of emphasis placed on her legs failing her also feels appropriate.
we have aria at home
Elpis
Ostensibly Hope
- Location
- Berlin
it's the most beautiful thing I have ever receivedHello, I made fan art of this quest! I know it's not much, but I hope you like it, Elpis!
thank you so much
Ooohh we got competition for the quest art.