The Tale of Seven: Kidnapped Hope

[Reno]

"I...well..." Aqua hesitated, before she attempted to explain what had just happened to her.
"You smell familiar... do you happen to know Ronan Umi?" She heard the voice echoing in her head, the tenor deep but gentle.
"Yes... he was my father." She answered, shock striking through her at the mention of her dad's name.
"Ah! Excellent. How is he?"
She hesitated, swallowing the sudden dryness in her throat as she delivered the bad news. "He died in an accident when I was about nine."
"...I see...." The dog paused before looking at her. "I believe then he never passed the knowledge of me to you?" She did not have to answer, it was as if he could read the answer from her mind. "Then it could not hurt to tell you."

Suddenly her vision was swept up in blue... and her eyes widened more when it cleared she could see a new area altogether. Feelings were flowing through her; those of panic and fury as she saw a short scene of what appeared to be a Pokemon battle in a forest. She could see Suicune, a small green fairy being backed away by several Pokemon. She was able to identify some readily, like Arcanine, Houndoom, Infernape, Electabuzz, Luxio and Magnezone. They all seemed to be cornering the dog and the fairy - Celebi she recognized with a start.

Something was wrong with the small time traveler though, her eyes dim and her body seeming to struggle to stay in the air. The antennae on her head even seemed withered and dry. suddenly she fell, drawing the dog to her side. Suicune looked just as bad, limping on one paw and a dim look in his eyes.
"Poachers had come to steal Celebi's power. Poisoned fruits of the forest so strongly any normal Pokemon or human would of died instantly from tasting it. We were unlucky to try some, and it weakened her so greatly she could not fight let alone leave this time. I was trying to protect her but she could not escape and eventually I had to take damage so she could survive."
"CUUUUNE!!!!" Came a loud cry, and Aqua saw what Suicune was iterating, seeing as the dog was forced to jump in front of the small creature as flame flew. He was able to fight most of it off with water and wind at first... but then electricity flew and the dog gave a mighty cry. The attacks ceased but Suicune still stubbornly stood, his eyes narrowed as he growled.
"I was sure it would be all over... and then your father came." "FERALGATOR, HYDRO PUMP!" She heard the voice that even after all these years... still remembered though it sounded ages younger. The scene was starting to fade just as she saw a shadowy figure emerging from the trees but something drew her attention towards the line of Pokemon, seeing the water had knocked one of them down and the mask she was wearing had flown off.
Aqua's heart stopped.

The sight was gone and she was looking at Suicune again on the open sea.
"He was merely passing through, looking for some Pokemon to catch. Yet he found us, and was able to fight off the poachers and their Pokemon." The dog told her. "He was kind and careful, and stayed to see us revived and back on her feet while clearing the forest of the poisoned fruit. Though he asked for nothing in return, I still owe him our lives."
Aqua stared silently for a few moments, her heart stuttering a bit as mixed feelings both her own and not were felt. Her dad... her dad had...? "I-I... Thank you... I...I never knew."
"You are welcome. I have always known you humans were not all bad... it is the story I often remember during times like these."

She had known nothing at all. Because... not only had her father been at that story.
So had her mother.

Aqua rubbed the back of her neck as she finished off the short story, knowing there was probably a lot more to it then what Suicune could say. She wondered how old he had been or how he had won a fight against those odds. How her mom had ended up as a poacher and how they got together. Was that why she was inclined both towards the good and the bad...?
She looked towards Suicune. Something she did know for sure was Axel was wrong. Celebi was not just a friend to Suicune. She had felt it, had seen it. Suicune loved her and he would have gladly sacrificed himself for her that day.

Hardly any of them had time to respond to the story though when a commotion ahead drew their attention and they saw Ho-Oh... flying backwards?!
"CUNE!" The dog called in worry, abandoning his given task for the moment. "Are you alright?!"

[Rikugurl]

Axel's eyes widened as he heard that... her mother was in the story as well. Not just alone but... she was a poacher!? How... how could she...? He frowned, looking away. He already didn't like her one bit and he still hadn't the honors of meeting her. His eyes closed, wondering what Aqua's dad had seen in her but... he sighed and he realized that people fall in love... opposites attract. He could see that in Volken and Diliza. Then again... even in this group. He was the calmest person when it came to arguments and Roxas really knew how to blow his own top. Ven and Terra seemed to be from entirely different worlds, though both revolving around planet Argument. Then there was the very introverted Riku... and the extroverted Sora.

Even Aqua and Fuu had their polar differences.

Maybe... that was what was in the formula for a long lasting relationship.
At least he hopped. However, he shook his head and looked where everyone else was, seeing Ho-oh take another shot down at the volcano entrance only for a large explosion to go off again, making him fly back once more.
"What's going on?" Fuu frowned, crossing her arms as she watched.

Sooner or later though, as the smoke cleared from the attack, the large bird flew around the rim.
"I'm fine... but my powers will not work..."
Finally he landed on the rib, trying to look through the darkness but even his sharp eyes couldn't make anything out. His feathers fluffed before he reached a wing down but he pulled it back quickly as a purple shock hit him.
His long neck turned to look down at the bottom where Suicune waited.
"Seems like there is a power barrier of some sort. No powerful creature can get pass..."

Slowly his eyes moved from his 'son' towards the humans on the whale that was getting closer.

[Reno]

The ripples on the water calmed as the creature running atop it stopped moving, the being watching with concern as his master attacked again only for a similar result. He whined softly, not understanding what was going on – a mirror coat attack, maybe? His head inclined when his master sat on the rim of the town that was encircled securely by tall mountains worn away over thousands of years of erosion and carved from the inhabitants crazy enough to live there. He had been to Soot only once before, years ago when he was a much younger pup. He remembered it was some sort of silly race Raikou had started – saying something about how traveling through the clouds by lightning was years faster than going by lava or water. Well, naturally their pride couldn’t take that taunt, and soon enough the race had started, a contest to see who could circle the world the fastest. They never did finish, Ho-Oh giving them hell for their immaturity and chastising them for not respecting the boundaries or their fellow legendaries.

Soot, however, was the first human town he had really come in contact with. From the outside, it had looked like only a mountain and feeling a little brave (and believing he was winning) he jumped off course to test his skills and scale it. What he found, rather than just the top of the mountain, was a glorious little city, chipped out into a stair-like pattern. Each stair was carved in a complete circle around the inside of the mountain and at the bottom was a large lake that was the centerpiece of the town. Now while he wasn’t always very fond of humans, they certainly had a way of creating things and back in that time they tended to appreciate their resources more, using them without wasting or polluting them – especially the water. And this had a pond that glittered in the sun, reminding him of the rivers back home. He would have stayed, maybe greeted some of the locals, but he had a competition to win. In the end, no one won though.

However, he certainly knew, without a doubt, there had been no barrier that kept him out then and there should not be now. ”So… Pokemon.” Suicune clarified his master’s words with a frown, also glancing back at the humans as they approached. Something was suspicious of this… why would humans create a barrier to keep strong Pokemon out if they did not have something to hide? He did not like depending on them anymore than his master did; had been chased down and forced into battles more times than he could count on account of their greed… but he also had been saved by one before.

Maybe…

The dog suddenly took off at a run, circling the town’s rocky exterior, coming to the first entrance laden with large metal doors that controlled the passage of ships. From first glance he could already see marks and burns in the metal were the seams of the doors should be, welding them together. He opened his mouth, shooting a n aurora beam at the door – but like in the rim tops there was an explosion, making him skitter across the water. The second entrance yielded the same results. He returned to where Ho-Oh was, shaking his head in negative. ”There is no way in from down here either. The doors have been welded and are protected as well.”

That left them with no other option. The humans would have to go in… alone.

”I… suppose I will inform them.” Suicune stated, and turned, crossing the distance over to the whale and sea dragon. The two stopped at his presence but this time (much to Porcha’s relief) he didn’t decide to jump on her again. It was the red-head who called down to him in worry, asking what was happening. Axel started to glow, hearing the answer. ”We are unable to pass through. There is a barrier that prevents Pokemon passage. The doors are sealed and protected as well. The only possible way may be you eight entering from the top; it is possible you can pass without trouble.”

The dog listened as Axel related this news to the other, Gary lowering his head so Riku and Sora could hear as well.
“Well, if that ain’t fucking suspicious.” Terra was saying, but there was a grin on his face. Maybe they were closer to finishing this impossible mission then he thought.

[Rikugurl]

"We have to go up there alone?" Fuu asked herself, already knowing the answer as her red eyes scanned the mountain side, seeing the treacherous climb they would have to make. Well... at least there was a good indication that they were right... and that they were here... and on time.

"Of course we have to go in alone, why would they want to make it easy for us?" Ven sighed, crossing his arms as he closed his eyes, thinking about the best why they could get up there. If the Charizards and Dragonite was still with them, it would of been a piece of cake.
His eyes opened and he turned to both Roxas, Axel and Terra. "Well, you two LIVED on a mountain and had to climb the Jagged Path every now and then," He started before turning to Terra, "and you're such a hard head that I'm sure you have some ideas yourself."

The whole team came up with some ideas... like Axel stating that Rapidash can scale up the side and they could all wrap ropes around each other. That was ruled out easily since if they all fell, so did the horse.
Aqua suggested something about having Porcha blowing them all up there from her blow hole but many refused that one as well.
Terra suggested that they just dig through but they didn't have enough rock pokemon to do it.

"How about Ho-oh can help lift us all up there?" Riku suggested, making them all look up at the bird glaring down at them.
"I don't think he wants to give us that much leeway..." Axel gulped but suddenly, Ven snapped his fingers.
"I got it! How about Moana fly the heaviest of the team up there and we can use the ropes to help the lighter ones up. "So Riku, Terra and Axel can be brought up first and we can climb the rest of the way."

"Wait a minute!" Axel cried, flailing some, "I'm not heavy!"
"Yea but you're a fucking klutz! We'd never get up there if you decided to climb!" Ven snapped back.

[Reno]

Sora cracked a grin and started to laugh as Ven teased Axel about his clumsiness - it was so true! Even Roxas had a hard time being offended about that, rubbing the back of his neck and when Axel looked at him imploringly to support him he blushed a little. "Well.... You DID trip on your face when I offered sex... multiple times."

This only made Sora laugh even harder, having to hold his sides - but then Ven just HAD to say that there was nothing for him to laugh about because he was a klutz too!
"What?! No I'm not!!" The brunette cried. Roxas and Ven glanced at each other and Riku rose an eyebrow, all of them opening their mouths to refute that with a little story but Sora raised his hands, "Don't you dare!"

There were some more chuckles, but Aqua spoke up, "You know I don't see why we don't just have her fly us UP, without the ropes at all."
"Because flying vertically is more of a strain on the Pokemon then is flying straight since they have to fight air currents instead of glinding on them. And with the weight it could be impossible for her." Terra explained. "Draonites and Charizards don't have a problem because there wings and bodies are structured differently and less hollowly, but Flygon and Salamences and most bird and insect Pokemon have wings for gliding not climbing."
"Mmm... where the hell you learn all this anyways?"
"Books. You should try picking one up." Terra teased lightly.
"Tch, who reads except losers?"

Sora shook his head. There they go again. "You two have such a loving relationship." He glanced around, then stated, "Well, even still, two of us should go up there first so Moana doesn't lose all of her strength and make sure we can get in from up there. Who knows if that barrier really will let us pass... and if we tire out Moana and waste her energy getting us all up there... then we're really screwed if we need to get back down." It was a good point... but who?

[Rikugurl]

Ven nodded when he heard Sora's suggestion and looked up at the top. "I say Terra and Riku go. They're not stupid and won't call down into the place before the rest of us can go."
"HEY! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Axel cried again before crossing his arms, letting out a loud huff.

Riku sighed but nodded, easily asking Gary to lower his head and he jumped onto Porcha, hearing her grunt a bit before excusing himself.
There was a shine of energy before a light green flygon swooped around them, her wings singing as if she was rather happy. Slowly she landed on the pokemon, making her whine again before singing them a hello song.
"Wow, Moana... you seem really happy today." Ven blinked before frowning. "You're not pregnant again, are you!?"
"FLLY!!" The pokemon shook her head but pointed at the sky, the sun shining down on her.

Ropes were pulled from their bags, being handed to both Terra and Riku before they mounted on the large bug.
"Now, just go to the top of that opening and let them off, ok?" The blonde explained to his loyal friend before she looked up, swallowing when she saw the eyes of Ho-oh glaring down at her.
"Don't mind him any... now go!"
"GOOOOOOON!" She called before her wings started to go and she lifted off, making Porcha sigh in relief.

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!" She called as her eyes closed, the weight on her back heavier than she ever carried before but she slowly climbed up the mountain, relieved when she caught gusts of wind thanks to Suicune and was able to zip up all the way. Her tail wagged nervously as she passed Ho-oh who watched her every move before she landed twenty feet away from him.

[Reno]

The others watched as Moana left, Terra leading her with ease. It seemed the brunette's fear of heights had left him a long time ago, as he didn't even flinch at the idea of having to go up so high. The others all glanced at one another and sighed. Well it was a good thing they were going up first. Terra was pretty book smart - if anyone was going to find a way in it was him. And Riku was fairly practical about things.

"Good job girl." Terra praised as they reached the top, noticing how Flygon drew her tail around her feet nervously, trying not to glance towards where Ho-Oh stood. He pet her muzzle gently. "Don't mind him he won't hurt you." He left her side, walking over to the rim of the open mountain carefully, looking down with a bit of inhibition in his eyes.

He rose an eyebrow though, noticing the dark, purple-colored shield that seemed to cover the entire diameter of the area, obscuring the sight of the town beneath. "The hell...?" Riku stepped up beside him, also looking down. "Hmm..." The brunette glanced around before picking up a loose rock, tossing it down towards the barrier to see what would happen.

[Rikugurl]

Riku wasn't all that happy with wrapping his arms around another male... let alone another person besides Sora... but he was silent about it, just enjoying the ride up before she landed. He gave her a reassuring smile as he got off, watching Terra praise her as his own unnerving eyes glanced at the large bird who seemed to pierce right through him. If he ever needed a body piercing, he knew where to go. Ho-oh fluffed up his feathers as he watched the humans like a... hawk, seeing them look over the edge.

"Wow... I've never seen anything quite like that before." Riku voiced, frowning as he looked down at where the city and lake was suppose to be. There was nothing but a black fog and purple looking electricity sparks here and there. It didn't look like something he wanted to step into.
"Huh?" His eyebrow rose as he watched Terra pick up a rock and flung it over, watching as it passed the blackness and... seemed to hit rocks down below, sounding like what a rock should sound like when thrown off the side of a cliff.

Seemed like it went through.
The men glanced at each other for a moment before Riku looked around, suddenly pointing. "There, it's the begin of the path down." He was pointing to an old staircase that they used before opening the ship ports and the air ways. They both walked to it carefully, minding their steps and not realizing that those below were watching intensely to make sure they were alright.

When they got to the stairs, Riku glanced back at Terra before smiling. "I'll try it..." He said, seeing Terra looking a little confused, as if he was battling with himself. He knew he was scared... but was too macho not to admit it... but he knew the tanned man was grateful.
Slowly, Riku carefully walked down the old steps, making sure his balance was right as he made his way down towards the black mist.

"Ohhh...." He heard the large bird from behind, realizing that he was watching as well. Hopefully... he would save him if something bad happened.
"Moana, do you think you could try to clear this fog with a wind attack?"
The pokemon blinked before nodding, her wings glowing as she pulled them back then flapped them forward, using Twister towards the black mist but... it did nothing but bounce off.

With that, he gave a sigh before moving down more and stuck his foot out. Closing his eyes, he reached his leg down further and further until it couldn't stretch anymore before opening his eyes... realizing that his foot had disappeared under the mist. He pulled it back up to see that it was still there before looking up at Terra, shrugging. "I don't feel anything..."

[Reno]

Sora and Ven waited nervously back on the whale, not knowing the silverette was testing fate. Sora sighed, looking off towards the ocean, shifting on his feet nervously. If he had known exactly what the silverette was up to, he wouldn't of let him go at all.

"You know what'll we do if we can't get in from up there?" Roxas asked with a frown.
"One problem at a time Roxas." Sora mumbled, tapping his foot agitatedly. Porcha complained and he stopped, "Err sorry..."

Terra watched Riku as he went down the rest of the way, looking away and shutting his eyes as he saw the silverette about to plunge his foot right in unsure of exactly how he would tell Sora that he would need to buy lots of flowers for the next funeral. When he didn't hear any accompanying screams, however, his eyes opened and he looked down, seeing Riku pulling his foot out. When he called back to him, Terra tilted his head before walking down the rest of the steps to stand beside Riku, glad they were broad and well-looked after. They had very few cracks in them to worry of tripping over.

The brunette crouched down, looking down at where the mist was curling tantalizingly up against the vertical side of the stone before rolling back on into itself. Ever so often a flash of electricity sparked over it, but never burnt anything it hit.
He hesitated... then slowly placed his hand through the mist, feeling how it was slightly humid. When he saw a spark of electricity sparking for him he almost pulled back - but it was faster then him. He expected it to hurt... then gaped as it split around his hand and hit the stone... in the exact same spot it had the time before. He stood next to Riku a peculiar look on his face. "Of course... some sort of generator effect. Probably run on turbines and only meant to react against elements. If they need to leave for any reason, they wouldn't want to turn this protection off and have Ho-Oh and the others find it. We should be able to pass safely... but just in case."

Riku watched him curiously as he reached at his belt and there was a flash of light, Leafeon appearing between him and the silverette. He lent down again, holding the Pokeball carefully before he slowly lowered it through the mist. When it didn't automatically shock him he wasn't surprised, though the technology still had Leafeon's signature inside of it and had become somewhat elemental to hold him in there. But what worried him more was... "Leafeon I need to try something."
"Lee?" The fox asked gently, ears twitching.
"I need to see how the barrier will react to your elemental power when your inside the pokeball... but if it reacts it could hurt you."
Leafeon tilted his head before smiling bravely. "Eon!"
"Are you sure...?"
"Le!" The fox nodded and Terra sighed, before recalling him... and shut his eyes as he thrusted the pokeball through the black.

... no reaction.

Terra sighed before standing. "Good job boy." He told the ball before replacing it on his belt. "It's probably not a sufficient amount of power to register..." He told Riku before glancing at him. "...I suppose we should get the others up here..."

[Rikugurl]

Riku swallowed as he watched Terra put the pokeball through, letting out a deep sigh of relief when nothing seemed to happen. This was probably just a field were powerful creatures, such as legendaries. Maybe it was even for regular Pokemon... but inside a pokeball, their powers were contained.
Whatever this thing was, he was glad that they found a way around it. With a nod, he helped his fellow comrade back up and yelled over the side that they could get in from up here... and it was time to start climbing.


There was a nice tune of complaints all around as the rest from below started to climb up. At least Gary helped but stretching his neck out to help them get some leeway. Fuu, oddly enough, was the best climber out of them all as she hiked up the sides using a rope. When questioned, she just stated: "Boot-camp" and left it at that.
Unfortunately for Ven, him and Axel were in the back; Axel having a hard time scaling due to his clumsiness and Ven due to his... not so strong muscles.

Sora made a game out of it as Aqua complained that she was going to kill all of them by the time they reached the top. Fuu was the first who was helped up by strong arms, Aqua next, than Sora and Roxas. Axel just scrambled up like some Mankey when he got close enough, making tons of pebbles fall down, hitting Ven in the head. "HEY! JACKAAAAAAH!" A larger rock was pushed from it's holding, smacking Ven right in his pie hole.

It hit him so hard that he lost his balance and his hands slipped from the rope.
"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" He cried as he fell back towards the ocean, both Gary and Porcha looking worried.
There was a cry from above as Moana was about to lift off to catch her master but--- a large shadow came over her and swooped down so fast, one could hardly see what happened when all of a sudden---

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" A joyous cry filled the air as the blonde was caught by a large bird, hanging from his talons under his armpits. "AWESOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME!" He laughed as the wind whipped through his hair as Ho-oh flew around the volcano opening before gliding down so that Ven could land with the rest of his party. He was dropped into Terra's arms, tears coming from his eyes as Ho-oh flew away. "HO-OH SAVED ME! I HAVE TO GO TELL----" His eyes widened as he blinked, the laughter stopping immediately when he realized the person he wanted to tell... was no longer alive...

He got an earful from his lover, though none of it computed as he sighed, feeling the ground on his feet as Terra put him down. He easily heard Roxas yelling at Axel, telling him he was more of a hazard than Lugia herself which made Ho-oh squawk and they all realized that then needed to get moving before he pushed them ALL down the mountain.

"So you said it was safe?" Fuu asked as Riku led the way towards the stairs, Sora right behind him. "Yea, me and Terra tested it out." He almost lost his footing when Sora suddenly yelled at him but he only sighed, a sweatdrop running down his head. "Well it's not like I'd tell you... but yea, it's safe."

[Reno]

Terra watched the others climb up the mountainside, finding it rather boring for himself, though he was surprised at how easily and effortlessly Fuu seemed to be able to do it - and in heeled shoes too. It made him wonder if she had ever trained at the police academy.

Soon the other six had made it near enough he and Riku could start hauling them up beside them. Aqua groaned a bit as Terra let her go, rubbing her back. "That was a pain in the neck?"
"Really?" Sora laughed as Riku pulled him up beside her. "I thought it was fun! We should rock climb some time Ri!"
Roxas just shook his head, smiling gratefully at Terra's helping hand sighing as he heard Axel whining but glanced back seeing him... trying to race up the mountainside, seeing how his actions were knocking rocks loose and hitting the one below him. "Axel, stop that!" He warned, watching as Riku and him clasped hands just as another rock was kicked loose... and hit Ven square in the face.

...And then knocked him off the mountain. "VEN!!"
"Oh fuck! Ven!!" Terra called. "Moana!!"
Before the Flygon could react or not something much larger swooped past her and... eyes widened as Ho-Oh caught Ven instead! His jaw dropped open a little, hearing the boy call in surprise. Well... at least he was saved... by his favorite legendary, right? How many people could say that happened to them?

He reached out, catching the blonde with ease as Ho-Oh dropped him, sighing and shaking his head as the other laughed and spoke before strangely trialing off when he almost mentioned... his mother. Terra rose an eyebrow but huffed. "Damn it Ven you already ahd your fucking near death experience! Your gonna have to dig MY grave from all the fucking stress your putting me under." The blonde didn;t respond to him or even acted like he heard, almost not even noticing as he was placed on his own two feet.
Roxas of course gave Axel hell about it, but Terra didn't mind them at all, not even really noticing as Riku started to lead them down into Sootopolis.

"You did WHAT!?" Sora cried, whirling on Riku as the other admitted he had 'tested it out'. "Why would you do something so crazy!?" He huffed as the other gave him some lame excuse and shook his head. "Ugh, Ri!" He crossed his arms and pouted, stomping after the silverette unhappily. They stepped into the blackness, little hesitance in their pace. Riku was swallowed up first start with with his ankles to his knees then to his waist, upper chest,shoulder then his head until he was unseen. Sora followed right behind, vanishing out of site quicker because he was smaller. Aqua and Fuujin then Axel and Roxas followed.

It was hard to see was under the mist, and lightning unnervingly continued to dance around them in a predictable pattern, always hitting the small spot on either end of the circles, creating hexagons around them when they stood in their way. It was their only indication of light as they headed down stair step after step. But of course they had no problem hearing. And Sora certainly had a lot to say.
"I can't believe you'd do anything like that Ri! I mean jeez didn't you just say no more near death experiences?! And another thing I-" He trialed off as light suddenly hit his eyes and suddenly he could see the town laid out before him. He blinked away the brightness stepping down a few more steps before coming up beside Riku, seeing the town laid out before him.

His eyes went wide.


"Ven..." Terra grabbed onto the blonde's hand before he took off after them, knowing immediately what was bothering him. "Listen... I know losing her was hard... and it still will be for awhile, but don't let her passing stop you from being happy alright?" He ran a hand through Ven's hair gently. "Bryna was a great mother and I'm sure all she ever wished for you... was to be happy."

Blue eyes looked back at him, his eyes full of conflicting emotions but just when he was about to respond or snap at him or maybe just to glare at him... they heard Sora screaming.

There eyes widened, looking down at the mist. And then Ven was gone from his side, calling for his brother.
"SHIT!" Terra cursed violently but didn't hesitate to follow after, his steps a little unsure as he saw nothing but black around him, but it only latest about seven steps or so before he emerged into the town, the mist like a ceiling above his head.

The others were all standing around just a few steps ahead. Sora was being held in Riku's arms, the brunette's head buried into his chest as he sobbed. "Oh god... Oh god..."
Aqua was looking slowly along the entire town, her eyes wide and full of horror. "Holy fuck..." He heard her whisper, her hands reaching out to catch Fuu who seemed to be swaying.
"I...I think I'm going to be sick..." Roxas said, stumbling a little and catching himself on the wall, a hand going over his mouth.
Terra looked at them... then beyond them. His jaw dropped some as he saw a terrible sight. "Arceus..." He breathed, shaking his head some. This... this couldn't be real.

Sootopolis looked like it had become some sort of horror flick. The walls and the streets were flecked and discolored with a brown copper color - the color of blood when it dried. The only reason he was certain of that... was because the dead were everywhere. Pokemon and people alike littered the town. He could see a flock of pidgey from here on a rooftop there wings bent and broken and their feathers colored with blood like they had been a game of some mismatched shooting practice. Beyond that he could see a mother with her arms wrapped around a boy, her son, laying curled up on the ground with burns covering her entire backside.

Terra turned his eyes away, unable to look at anymore, feeling sick to his stomach as well. How... how could anyone... do this?

[Rikugurl]

"Sora, there was no other way that I could of seen if it was possible---" He paused as they finally cleared the odd field that was blocking Pokemon from entering but it was the scream beside him that really made him open his eyes, taking in just the mother and child before he looked away, eyes wide as he pulled Sora close. His eyes shifted to the stairs, that were also covered in the copper liquid. W-what had he just seen...!?

Fuu came down next to Aqua but her eyes opened wide when she heard a scream right in front of her. "Sora!" She called as her lover and herself walked down the extra steps to see... a living nightmare. The lake that was once beautiful and blue was a murky color with floating, bloated bodies of humans and pokemon alike. Her own hand went to her mouth as sudden tears started to fall from her eyes, her legs becoming shaky and if it wasn't for Aqua, she would of fallen to her knees.

Axel was the next one to open his mouth, gasping in the putrid air of the once lively city. Green eyes stared down and around at everything. Men lay in the streets, knives and bullet holes in their back as a child's decapitated body lay against a copper stained wall next to them.
Water Pokemon laid on the shore, their bellies gutted as organs hung out, some half eaten.
The redhead started to hyperventilate as he tried to run back up, away from this horrible place but all he could do was trip on the step and fall on his butt.


Ven looked up at Terra, sighing when he felt loving hands through his hair. His mouth opened but before he could thank the man, his brother's scream filled his heart with fear. "SORA!" He cried before rushing pass Terra, running down the stairs with no problem at all. He wasn't called Ventus for a reason!
He rushed out of the cloud only to stop dead as a horrible smell hit his nose and....
"OH ARCEUS!" He called as his big blue eyes took in the horror around him before leaning over to the side, puking up whatever his stomach had left.

He felt a hand grip his back but he couldn't stop, tears falling down his face as he kept puking, even if it was nothing but vile.

Before anyone could follow suit, there was a sudden ringing before....

BANG[/size]

A huge flare came towards them and everyone was able to jump out of the way before a huge hole was burned into the stairs, a mark that some of the buildings around them had.
The team winced as they all hit the ground hard, some skidding on the copper liquid before all eyes looked to see where the attack came from.
They were shocked to see... a young teenager with pink hair walk up from an alley on the other side of the city.
Her clothes were ripped and falling off her shoulder as her body was covered in the copper that had now painted the town.

However... she didn't seem to be suffering as a large gun was hanging in her hand and a rock in her other.
She seemed to look at them, her eyes seeming to match her hair.
"I see we have new guests,
they can be added to the rest!"
She grinned before the gun was pointed at them again before it started to buzz once more.[/color]

[Reno]

Sora shook against Riku fingers curling into his clothes desperately, finding he couldn't stop crying. He knew just to the left, laying across three steps of a staircase was a man. You could see his spine...
And underneath him, drawing some sort of sled piled with rocks, had been a few dog like Pokemon all sprawled out on the ground, there bodies marred and cut through over and over and even some of there limbs missing.

Aqua tugged Fuujin closer to her and like Riku held her close as if she could protect her from the sight, but her eyes couldn't turn away from the massacre before her. She had caught the same sight as her wife - the water. It was murky brown and red, like sludge. The bodies of human and animal alike floated, their skin tinges blue and horrible black marks on some of their bodies as if they were bruised and forced under the water... until they drowned...

At the sound of his brother behind him Roxas couldn't help it. His legs shook weakly as he fell to his knees, fingers scraping on the wall as he tried to hold himself up and failed. He retched horribly the meager snack of the morning and the small dinner last night quickly hitting the floor messily. The smell of it reached his nose, and combined with the awful rot of the dead around them he couldn't help but vomit again. It his mind, burned their forever, was the first sight he had seen sight of some teenager girl, her body bent limply as she laid, impaled through her middle on a pole.

Terra felt his body shaking some, almost uncontrollably, and when he heard Ven beside him he immediately fell to his side, hoping assisting him would distract him from what he had just seen. He reached out, trembling hands laying on the blonde's back curling in his shirt some and he hardly noticed the tears filled his own eyes - but he looked up, hearing a noise that shouldn't of been there and -

"SHIT!!" He called hearing the bang like the ringing of the gun but instead it was like a blast of fire being flung at them. His grip became tighter and he YANKED Ven away as the stairs exploded. There were screams some of them not even having to move, but the force threw them into the ground or against the rock wall lining the broad side of the stairs.

He felt himself twist feeling Ven smack into him before he fell, white exploding in his eyes as his head rung with the sound of his skull smacking into the ground. When he came to again, he heard the faint murmurs of some girl speaking though it was hard to tell her words from the ringing in his ears. He groaned, struggling to sit up, a hand going to his head and feeling blood staining his fingers, warmth tricking down the side of his face. His eyes slowly focused, seeing the gun being aimed at them again but his mind was sluggish to react.

Aqua coughed, some dust falling over them, her back screaming at her since she hit the stairs on her spine. She rolled over some, slowly sitting up, tears springing to her eyes from the pain. "Ah... fuck..." Her eyes snapped open however when she heard the voice and she saw the pink-haired... teenager!? She looked like a mess... but from the threat in her hands she knew she any survivor... she was the killer.

Roxas yelled in surprise as he was shoved into the wall, the air being pushed out of his lungs and his rips seemed to snap together from the force. He grunted, weakly sprawling out on the floor and struggling to gain his breath. He shook his head, quickly recovering and glanced to Axel to make sure he was still breathing before his eyes darted downwards... seeing something he never expected as a small female walked out of the ally, a malicious grin on her face.

Sora called in surprise as he felt Riku tug him forward and then a blast from behind sent him falling into the other, both of them hitting the bottom of the stairs and skittering along the flat surface of the bottom, blood that hadn't yet dried soaking into their clothes. He winced his left shoulder screaming at him from where he hit it. He dazedly looked up, hearing the words of some girl, seeing as she emerged from the darkness. But the gun in her hands made his heart stop and his mind shut down. Even as the gun was aimed and charged... he couldn't convince himself to run... to get out of the way.
"No! No stop it!"
BANG!
Jolteon yelped in fright, bark splintering and hitting him, the bullet meant for him missing him by bare inches. The fox turned around and ran, in a total panic.
"STOP IT!" Sora called, panicking himself when a red beam fell over his chest - but then a movement to the side in the tall weeds not far from the shooter drew the beam away and into the brush.
BANG!
There was a pause... then a little Furret weakly crawled from the brush and fell onto the dirt. And didn't move again.
"ROSA!!!"

However, before the trigger could be pulled, possibly ending more than one life with that shot, a voice like their saving grace came to them.
"Wait sister, please desist!
I believe there is something you have missed!"
At least... they thought it was their grace until another young teenager appeared. His hair was a shock of red, brighter than Axel's and flared up strangely with a curling end. He too had clothes caked in blood and torn strangely. At one side swung a metal whip, most of it also stained in red. Held delicately in his other hand was a sword, uncleaned as well.

He glanced at his sister before he started to walk across the area towards them, sidestepping the dead as if he didn't even notice them. All of them were too shell-shocked to move, though there were some gasps as he stopped right in front of Sora.
Sora stared up at him with wide eyes, his breath coming in shallow gasps that grew panicked as he felt the cold, wet metal of the blade under his chin, knowing that if he used enough pressure it would go straight through his trachea. He heard someone call his name... but it didn't really register.
The boy tilted his head, looking at him pecuilarily... and then he grinned sadistically. "I know you.
You had the Raichu."
Rai...chu?

Sora's eyes went wide.
"Axel..." Sora whispered, seeing the terrible sight of the Swablu being hurt.

"What is that?
Some weak rat?
This will be a zip!
Ivysuar use vine whip!"
Dark brown eyes glared at the boy, easily disregarding his master's attacks as he volt tackled the pokemon right out the hole in the wall. And then he turned on the boy... and shocked him too.

"Tell me...
Where might he be?" The teen said as he crouched down, the blade slowly running down Sora's body, leaving a trial of blood behind though it did not cut. It nestled against his gut, it's danger still near. He pointed to a pokeball on Sora's belt, straight at Star's.
"Is this him here?
If I call it, will he appear?" When the brunette did not answer, the boy scoffed.
"It would be wise to tell no lies.
Or I will go through each one and you will watch their demise." The brunette still could not find his voice. The boy laughed and shrugged reaching for his belt.

Sora's heart beat quicker, watching as the hand reached for his Star's pokeball, "NO!!" He screamed desperately, afraid to move but more terrified for his friends' lives. He... he wouldn't let anyone hurt them. Not again.
His call made the boy pause. "D...D-don't you dare..." Sora took a breath then hissed, fury in his voice "Don't you dare... touch them... fucker..."

The teen rose an eyebrow and chuckled.
"You have more spunk then I thought.
But reliaze it is you who are caught." The sharp point of the blade dug a little into the brunette's stomach, making him wince as some of his actual blood started to seep into his clothes and trickle down his skin.
"Tell me now... is it bright?
Acting like the knight?"

[Rikugurl]

Sharper canines clenched as pink eyes narrowed, the trigger on the gun squeezing before---
"Wait sister, please desist!
I believe there is something you have missed!"
Her eyes widened as she lowered the gun down to her waist, his mouth gaping as she saw her brother show himself. She blinked but a few times before watching what he was doing, seeming to be interested in one of the new people.

Riku's eyes widened as well, his arms clenching onto Sora as the teen came closer. He too had some blood coming from his forehead and some from his cut lip as his wild silver hair was a mess around him. His eyes stuck to the teen though, watching his every move and listened to his every word. Did.... Sora know this guy?
He swallowed when the redhead asked a question, Sora not answering it but his eyes didn't stray as a pokeball was pointed out.

He gripped onto Sora tighter as he started to yell, feeling the hate and anger in his voice which made him worry for his life. It was his lover's wincing of pain that made Riku's eyes darken, his teeth clenched before he suddenly

grabbed the blade with his bare hand.

Sora was pushed down into the ground as Riku rose above him, moving the blade up into the air, not caring how deep the edge went into his skin. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

On another round of stairs, Axel was still having a hard time breathing as he watched everything but instead of looking at the boy, his eyes were on the girl. She and the boy... they looked...

She was holding a sword in her hand and glaring at the hanging light fixture. There was a little Swablu, cowering as high up as it could manage. It probably should of been flying around, would of been safer, but one look at its right wing told why it could not. It was definitely injured, it's white fluffy cloud-like feathers splattered with blood.

"Come on you stupid little bird,
You did the wrong attack, you must of misheard.
You better come here, get your punishment quick
Or my sword right here will give you a good---"

These were the ones that had Nimbus before Sora... These were the ones Sora rescued from.
His fear started to turn into anger but before he could do anything with it, there was a large energy coming from behind the redheaded by, forming into a large Pokemon.

"GROOOOOOOOOOSS!" The pokemon called, it's strong claws grabbing the boy's back and pulling him off the ground.
"Good, Metagross! NOW---"

BANG

A large beam came towards them once more but no one moved because they knew the dreaded destination it was headed. "NOOOOOOOOO!!" Fuu screamed but it hit... going right through the pokemon. Red eyes widened as a clean circle ripped through his stomach and body, going through and hitting a house nearby which made Ven grab Terra and pull him out of the way of falling rubble.
The claws let the boy go as sparks flew out of Metagross's injury, making him fall back... into the bloody water.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Riku cried, tears in his eyes as he watched his first pokemon fall into the water, the whole lake suddenly being electrified, making the dead bodies in there already shake.
"METAGROOOOOOOOOOSS!" Riku screamed again, not realizing that a sudden whirlpool started to form and in seconds, the pokemon's body was shot out of the water, smacking into another building and falling inside.
What took his place was a rather pissed off looking Gyarados. For a moment, there was hope running through some of them... but then they realized that the red color of it's scales weren't just from the bloody bodies.

It was a red Gyarados.

"DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS!" It roared in rage before his mouth started to glow, shooting blasts of Hydro Pump and Hyper Beam in all directions.

"To the gym, brother, we should go!
Or we too will be hit--- WHOA!"
The girl called as she dropped the gun and rushed to a large building in the center of the city, jumping out of the way of a beam as she tumbled but recovered quickly.

[Reno]

Blue eyes wavered as they met deep, cruel red, Sora breathing out in pain as he felt the blade slicing into him slowly. He paled a little hearing the boy's cruel laughter, wondering in the back of his mind how anyone, especially a child, could be like this! It just... it wasn't natural!
The blade stopped suddenly and he felt a hand pushing against his chest, gasping in surprise and slight pain as the blade was yanked from him. "Ah!" He hit the ground blinking back some black spots and looking up in aghast, seeing - "Riku!!" He cried in horror, seeing his lover grasping the blade in his hand.

No... no what was he doing?!

The next few events happened so fast the brunette could hardly keep up, his hand going around his middle where the pain was, eyes widening when the ground shook and a large Pokemon appeared behind the red-haired teen, throwing him down. But something beyond him caught his eye, a gleam of metal, and the sight of a beam and it's aim on - oh god no.
"RIKU!!!" He screamed desperately, tears gathering in his eyes but the silverette didn't see he couldn't see it! He heard the sound of the gun. "RIIIKU!"

Eyes full of terror and horror watched how effortlessly the beam struck through the steel type, burning through the metal and cutting through circuits so easily. Where the bullet had gone through was now large black hole, burnt around the edges. The ground shook as the Pokemon shaking backed up.... before falling off the platform.
"NOOOO!!!" Sora screamed, watching the large steel type hit the water below... and then electricity lit the entire lake. Just a little water and electricity had been damaging for the Pokemon... but now, with those large holes in his body, his interior was probably completely flooded...

The metallic body of the Pokemon suddenly shot out of the water though, his heavy weight throwing him down right through the roof of some random building. At first everyone thought it was Gary, maybe trying to save him, the fact that the Pokemon was still outside in the ocean around the mountain not quite computing until they noticed the red-color of the Pokemon was not blood...

And then he started to attack. That was definitely not Gary.
"Hahaha!" Came another faint laugh, the teen jumping to his feet and running off.
"He is just having fun!
Nothing will be undone!
Oh!"
He dodged some falling rubble, hurrying after the girl, leaving the team behind.

"GUYS!" Aqua yelled, knowing just how much danger a dragon on a rampage could go. "We need to get out of here!!" The others heard, hurrying to their feet. Riku and Sora though still seemed to be in state's of shock and horror, almost not noticing the danger. Ven grabbed his brother, YANKING him to his feet while a dazed Terra grabbed Riku's arm, tugging him. "Riku, come on!!"