The Tale of Seven: The Summon of Sorrow

[Rikugurl]

"Welp," Gunnar struggled, picking up one of Namine's bags. What was SHE lugging around!? He pulled it over his shoulder, knowing he would be getting hell from his back at a later date, trying to carry five bags at the same time. Still, he wobbled around the room and when it was clear, they walked towards the door. "From what we saw, it seems like if one is for it, the other one is. Maybe we just need to convince one it's a good idea and the other will follow." He always made things sound a lot easier than they really were.
They left the room and caught up with Tensai and Bonnie, all taking the elevator again and this time, had a quieter trip down.

The four headed towards the lobby, instantly seeing the rest of the group and silverettes waiting patiently for them. Upon seeing the four, the owners took their own bags, getting ready and set up for another day of travel. Only problem was, there was a gym here that they needed a badge for and two stray teens they had to deal with. Yazoo still look uncomfortable and they weren't sure if his coughs were just to clear the air or if they were real.
"Are you two nice and full?" Bonnie asked, handing a bag over to his girlfriend.
Kadaj was quick to answer as Tensai transferred the spider over, making Gunnar shiver and look away.

"Great, we'd like to keep it that way..." She began, pulling her back over her shoulder. "Because we wanna see you stay healthy, we came up with an alternative placement for now. It's nothing permanent so no need to think you'll get stuck." She pointed back to the Almasy kids before continuing. "Our friends here talked with their folks and they would be glad to house you until Yazoo is back to his full strength. Whaddya say?"

[Reno]

"Yes, it was... a very full breakfast, thank you." Kadaj said hesitantly, smiling some as Loz climbed up his arm and cuddling up on his shoulder. However, it dropped quickly when he heard what Bonnie was proposing and he looked at his brother, who seemed baffled.

"No." It was as simple as that. "We aren't a charity case. We can take care of it from here."
"It's not supposed to be like that Kadaj - we just want to-"
Green eyes narrowed at Tensai, making him flinch, "Want to what?! What gives any of you the right to plan our lives like this?!"
"That's not what we meant to do!" Lucina said, a bit desperate. "Come on Kadaj, think about it logically!"
"Think about it?! You did all the thinking for me!"
"Hey, she was just trying to help!" It was, surprisingly, Roxanne who snapped and came to the other blonde's rescue.
"Help!? if you want to help, then just stay out of our business! We don't need anyone but each other!" He growled, standing in front of his brother almost protectively. But they all started to talk at once, trying to argue with him but it was doing nothing but getting him a headache.
"But Kadaj-"
"He's sick and-"
"If he doesn't have shelter-"
"-dies-"
He grit his teeth. "Will all of you... just... SHUT UP!" He screamed, stomping his foot.

And as if a higher power were trying to emphasize his words, above the lights above them blew out, making some of them yell in fright. The lobby became instantly dark, and if not for the windows streaming in light from outside, it would of been pitch black.
"Nii-san..."
Kadaj's eyes opened and he stared at the group. Some of them, like that red-head boy and the blonde nurse, had gripped onto the nearest person for safety. The others were around as if they could discover why their was a sudden outage. But he, the one he took his wallet from, was staring right back at him. And he saw his eyes widen some as he stared into his glowing eyes. He blinked a few times, before turning away, gripping his sibling's wrist, "Let's go Yazoo."

[Rikugurl]

Roxel was clinging onto his sister and Namine of course had her arms wrapped around Sanyi, who was totally not minding, probably not realizing the sudden occurrence that had just happened. Gunner became a bit uneasy, the story of how the silverette got their glowing eyes still fresh in his mind. That light blowing out was no coincidence... Bonnie moved a bit closer to Roxanne and her brother, becoming instantly protective herself. Sure she was a Beauty Coordinator but she was no pansy. She was born with a brutish side and her daddy Terra raised her to be a strong trainer.

Yazoo stood there motionless, the whole thing not seeming to phase him at all.
until his wrist was grabbed.
For the first time since the group met the two, Yazoo showed some strength as he pulled his wrist away from his brother's grasp. "No Nii-san... I can't go out there again."
Kadaj of course argued, telling him he shouldn't be so gullible and that people who didn't even know them were making choices for them, just like bef---
"No Nii-san... You're being foolish. Didn't you learn anything from kaa-san? If something doesn't work, don't do it again. Try another route."

The long haired silverette looked away, the silence not bothering him much. "We lost Loz, Kadaj... and you'll lose me too if we go back to that place. You might even.... lose your own life if you have to continue to take care of me... then I'd lose you. I don't like strange places either, Nii-san... but a warmer, healthier strange place is better than that other strange place. Kaa-san.... would be very sad to see us living there...."
Slowly, Yazoo looked back, the brothers eyes meeting in some understanding. "Please... we both need some help."

[Reno]

"But... But brother..." Kadaj tried to argue, but he seemed at a loss for words, his mouth opening and closing a few more times before he finally sighed and looked away, turmoil welling up inside of him.

"And see, these two are siblings." Macy the caretaker said, though the two young boys were doing their best to ignore the common occurrence as they tried to play with the toy cars.
The woman, who would pretend to be one of these poor saps mothers, said "Oh! Oh my, aren't they... his sons?"
"I heard the Johnson family took them in and they brought them back not a week later. Said they were very odd. Could do weird things." The supposed to be father said, his voice scathing.
"Well, not every family clicks the right way is all." The caretaker brushed off.
"Well, I sure wouldn't want to be - hey!" The man said, looking down when something bumped into his foot. It was a car - one of the ones the boys had been playing with. Slowly, it backed up and started to circle around the couples feet.
"OH Arceus! It's just like Mary said! He's possessed!"
"Now now calm down, I'm sure he has to remote somewhere!" Macy was saying but it was too late the two prospective parents were off and running for the door, the car chasing after.
"I don't know what kind of place your running around here, but until you get rid of that child, no one is going to come here!"
There was a satisfying slam of the door.
There was an impatient sigh, before the woman looked at the two guardingly. Yazoo seemed to smile as he lifted up a toy remote and waved it. "Oh you two are not funny. How are you ever going to find a home if you keep acting like this?"
"We don't need a home. We just need each other."
Macy just sighed shaking your head. "You think that's all you need but when you grow up, you're going to find out that just isn't the truth." She turned walking out of the playroom.
Yazoo smiled to his sibling, tossing away the remote. It toppled and fell on it's face, revealing a wide gaping hole in the back... where batteries would go.

Macy has been right though. They - no, Yazoo - needed much more than just him. He needed a home. He needed food and water. The younger looked at his sibling, his smile sad. If it wasn't for me, you could have everything you ever wanted.
"You're right... but there's no one in the world who can help me Nii-san."

[Rikugurl]

That's not true and you know it...

Yazoo's eyes closed and there was suddenly light again. "Whaa?" Namine looked up at the light that had gone out, now seeing it flickering back on and off again as if it had been restored but weakly.
Yea, not a coincidence.
"W-well... how about this?" Roxel actually felt his testes drop for once, nearly squeaking when the two suddenly moved their glowing eyes to look at him as if he had interrupted something of great importance. "Uuuh.....uuuuh......ummmmm...... T-Tensai and G-gunnar have to go to the g-gym today so... y-you guys have plenty of time to talk this out, ok? We're not trying to tell you want to do.... true me, we all remember what it's like... and though your situation may have been different, and our outcomes may be different, we're still the same in a way. We just want to help, and if you don't want it, then we understand. Just... think it over, ok? Come on guys..."

He took his own sister's hand and walked her around the two, their eyes still hooked together until they were completely behind them and out the door of the hotel. The rest of the group was a bit hesitant at first but it was Gunnar who took Lucina's hand, pulling her outside as well. Bonnie, Sanyi, Namine and Tensai all followed quickly after, understanding why the Xipils and Almasy had done that. They were siblings too and they wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that bond.

Once they were outside and the afternoon sun hit their skin, they were instantly warmed and their muscles relaxed. "Alright Tensai, let's get training. Gardenia is of course a grass-type trainer and from my studies, she has a cherubi, turtwig and roserade. She is infatuated with grass type so much that she ogles over them more than the battle. This will distracted her. Another good tip is that she's petrified of ghost pokemon."
"YIKES!" Namine cried, jumping behind Sanyi for protection.
Gunnar rose an eyebrow and grinned. "Are you just scared of the word g-h-o...." He slowly came to a halt, seeing a shadow slowly creep over him. He even felt the tempature drop around him.

"Hau hau hauuuunter~"

[Reno]

In the silence left behind by the departure of the teens, Kadaj sighed before tilting his head up to look at the flickering lights as if he asking them why they had shut off like that. But he knew why. So perhaps, maybe, he was looking beyond those lights to the sky and a place beyond, asking Arceus why he has bestowed such a curse upon them.

"Nii-san I know you need to get better and I promise I'll do anything to make that happen but... I'm afraid... it won't take them long to find out... that is if they don't react to our eyes first. We'll be in a strange place - and if they treat us like that family had, then what? We will be out on our own and in a place we do not know." He looked to Yazoo, who despite his sickness and their turmoil, never lost control. He depended on that; but to Yazoo, he felt like his crutch. "It was my fault then and it'll be my fault again. You know I am terrible with my temper..."


Luckily, outside, the trainers were finding reason to forget their scare inside... because they were getting one outside now!
At least, a couple of them were - mainly poor Namine and Gunnar who gave a yelp as he turned around to face the ghost that seemed to magically appear as he thought it!
Heh, if that were the case, Sanyi might just ask him to imagine a Rayquaza - now wouldn't that be awesome.

But Tensai grew a huge smile, "It's a Haunter! Don't worry, they just like to play pranks~"

[Rikugurl]

A small smile appeared on Yazoo's face as he closed his eyes again. He was by far, much more mellow and relaxed than his brother. It didn't seem like it was just the illness making him so calm. "Kadaj...." He reached out and even though his eyes were closer, his fingers didn't fumble as they ran through the now cleaner sliver hair. "Maybe we should try another approach. People are not scared unless they know that truth. We're different... and no matter how much we try to be normal, we just aren't. Until we realize and accept that, people can begin to accept us. I know this now..."

His glowing eyes opened again, looking at his thoughtful brother. "Maybe... if I get better, you can stop blaming yourself, Nii-san."


"JUST A HAUNTER!?" Gunnar blinked, seeing Tensai walk right up to it. His mom and dad told him and his sister to steer clear of ghost when they could. They were nasty, rotten things that took the lives of innocent pokemon and sometimes even humans.
"It might not be just any haunter." Bonnie put lamely, reaching through her purse to find something. When she found what she was looking for, she too walked up to the haunter and presented the item. It was a photo of her uncle's Jolteon.
"HAUN HAU HAU!" Instantly, it's eyes turned into hearts when it saw the photo and began clapping it's detached claws.

"So I guessed, this is my DAD'S haunter." Tensai knew him pretty well too and the cousins were familiar with him. He was a wanderer, a pokemon captured when his dad was a Rocket member. Oh, and of course, it was in love with Sora's Jolteon.
"What are you doing here? Did dad send you to check up on us?" She asked, seeing him nod his body. "Hau hau~"
"Well, we're fine... we're kinda busy though so maybe you should go check up on Jolteon, huh?"
The poor pokemon seemed to deflate, his usual upward mouth turning upside down. "Hauuuuuuunter...."

That was another thing. He was usually always brushed aside.

"Hey, if you know him, maybe he can help us with the gym badge.... not like I need to come up with tricks as I can win this battle for myself but..." Gunnar paused, about to tease Tensai but bit his tongue. "It could be funny to see her freak out."
"HAUNTER! HAU HAU!" The ghost began to laugh, liking the idea too.

[Reno]

"Isn't that kind of... I dunno... mean?" Tensai asked with a bit of a frown. Not to mention taking advantage of a poor gym leader.
"Haunt, haunt, haunt!" The purple ghost was shaking his head vehemently.
"Well of course you don't think so!" Tensai said. Despite being Ven's Pokemon, it could be argued the black-haired boy had probably spent more time with this particular Pokemon than even Bonnie did.

Sometimes he still wondered how Jolteon loved Haunter - not because he was a boy fox in love with a boy ghost, or even because they weren't in the same egg group and couldn't mate, but more so Jolteon was so serious and Haunter was so... not.

"Pff, yeah it is mean. And wrong!" Lucina punched Gunnar. "Ugh, I feel sorry for any girl who wants to date an uncultured, ungentlemanly oaf like you."

[Rikugurl]

"Well, you haven't disowned me yet~" Gunnar smirked, pushing her back. "But I guess you're right, it's not sportsmen like." He nodded, seeing a disappointed look on the haunter's face. "We should get training though because unlike other gyms, this one is only open when the sun is out." There was an agreement throughout the group and together, they headed to a more secluded, less populated area of the city. They found themselves by the Ancient Statue up on the hill, depicting Palkia. The slate that was below it had been ripped of decades ago.

Everyone except for Gunnar and Tensai. Roxy was asked to train but she didn't think she needed it...
Pokemon were picked and everyone watched a pretty fierce match.
Still, time was ticking and when they realized they only had three hours until sundown, Pokemon were brought to the Pokecenter to get refreshed while Namine spoke with the nurse joy there. Of course, she learned that many pokemon came back with poison in their blood. Gunnar took that as a fair warning and took three free Pecha berries from the small little stand by the counter. He would need these for the battle.

They then all headed to the gym, walking through the glass doors only for Bonnie to stop in her tracks, looking around. "Wow... this reminds me of my dad's greenhouse... It was absolutely beautiful! As they walked deeper inside, they could see women and a few men working around the gym, taking care of all the plants while some grass types lounged in the last bit of sun they had left. The all walked down a path and into a clearing, seeing some designs in the grass that mocked a gym floor. In the center, an elderly woman was watching a sunflora chasing a hoppip. When she heard the group walk in closer, she looked up and smiled at them. "Oh, good afternoon trainers." She greeted, her voice bright but frail. "I'm Gardenia. Are you looking for a match?"

"Yea. There's three of us that would like to try for a badge." Gunnar was the first to speak, realizing that not everyone stayed young, not even though with natural herbs! Many of the gym leaders he heard about growing up had retired but it seemed like this one didn't.
"Great! Who would like to go first?"

[Reno]

"I do!" It was a surprisingly eager voice that spoke up, making everyone look at the young blonde. Her eyes were gleaming with confidence. Gardenia nodded, accepted the challenge gracefully and they followed her deeper into the green-house, surprise when they discovered their battlefield was the a cleared grassy part of the green house.

"She seems pretty confidant." Lucina noted as they all settled on the far side of the field in the grass. But of course she was - she had three fire-types and one flying type to choose from for a type advantage. It couldn't be a better match up for her.

And they knew, from the way her eyes gleamed with confidence as she reached for a pokeball even before her opponent had chosen hers, that battle fright was one thing she didn't inherit from her daddy Roxas. She was always more reckless and proud in fighting - though who knew where she got it from because her daddy Axel didn't approve of battling at all.

They made their choices. Light shimmered as two Pokemon burst from their pokeballs. The choice Roxanne made was no real surprise.
"Quuuuil!!" Came a call as the Pokemon got down on it's four paws, the blue volcano Pokemon's back bursting into flames a moment later.

[Rikugurl]

"ROOOOOOOSE!" They all watched as Roxanne and Gardenia choose their pokemon. A stunning Roserade stood on the opposite end of the clearing from Roxy, and though it was up against a fire type, she didn't look worried at all. Probably because so many people picked a fire type to go against her, the strongest out of the gym leader's crew.
They all steered their head away from the match when a woman all dressed up in a beautiful green dress and short black hair walked in from the forest, standing on the sidelines right in the middle. It seemed like she was the announcer.. and rather hot one at that~ Gunnar rose his eyebrows at her when she looked over at the group but with a roll of her eyes, she looked at the battle about to play out.

"The Eterna City Gym battle between Roxanne, the challenger and Gardenia, the Gym leader, will now begin! Three Pokemon will be used and the challenge is over when all of one's side pokemon are unable to battle. Furthermore, only the challenger will be allowed to substitute pokemon during the battle. Alright, let the battle begin!"
Wow, and she had a cute voice too~
The gym leader looked across the field at Roxy and smiled. "Alright Roxanne, ready when you are!"

[Reno]

"I hope these sorts of things don't bother you Miss Namine~" Sanyi was saying, making the others gag some. Now he was getting TOO sappy.
Tensai lent forward some, his eyes glimmering with excitement, just like his dad's always did when he got to watch a battle. He had to admit, they were quite exciting. But he knew better than to underestimate an opponent just because of a type advantage - he hoped Roxy had learned the same thing from Uncle Terra.

There was a cheeky grin on the girl's face as she nodded. "I'm always ready! Kegan, let's show her what you got! Flame wheel!"

"Quuil!" The Pokemon called, before dashing forward, the flames on it's back burning brighter than before, before it seemed to surround the slim Pokemon as he dashed forward straight for the Roserade.

[Rikugurl]

Xel too watched in excitement, seeing a move his dad had though them. Ty had really made it graceful looking though, unlike Torchic who only looked like a rolling nightmare when she first tried it. Kegan was doing an amazing job though, even if he hadn't really done anything yet.
"Huh? Oh well... a little." Namine answered, pulling her gaze from the battle to the boy that was pretty close; definitely in her bubble. "I don't mind but sometimes I do look away when I see something bad about to happen... I do try to avoid watching battles or even being in one if I can help it."
"TCH, you have no idea what you're missing~" The Almasy boy leaned back, his eyes intent on the battle. He knew this move pretty well, especially since Roxy used it on his pokemon a few times.

"Roserade, dodge that move and use Rain dance!" The leader called, making Roxel fall back in defeat. "REALLY!?" Now he started to wonder why he bothered spending so much time on his hair if he was only going to get it ruined EVERY day.
"Roserade!" The pokemon called, effortlessly jumping over the fire type as it came charging by. She did a graceful flipped and twirl and when she landed, rain began to fall from the sky.
"Wow..." Bonnie's eyes dilated, seeing the beautiful display. She would have to remember that! Of course, she would need a petit pokemon to pull that off...

"Quick, use Weather Ball!"
The bouquets that the pokemon's hands were made out of pulled together before a ball of light appeared. Once more, the small bouquet pokemon jumped into the air, the ball growing brighter, swirling within itself. "RoseRADE!" The attack shot out across the field at an amazing speed, the color of it changing to a bright blue when the rain poured down onto it.

[Reno]

"Tch!" Roxanne scoffed as she felt the rain pour down - again?! No wonder her dad told her teaching one of her Pokemon sunny day was an asset!

She felt more surprised than she should though - of course this gym leader was prepared. Every leader was prepared for trainers to come in with Pokemon against their element! Her eyes widened when she heard the next attack and, thanks to her Aunt Fuu, knew exactly what it did.
"Dodge it!"
"Quil!" The Pokemon cried, but the attack was fast and even though he tried, the attack hit his back sending him tumbling. The flames on his back spluttered before he shook himself and stood, facing the grass-type with fierce eyes.
Roxy's eyes narrowed before an idea hit her. "Come on! Smokescreen!"

Quilava breathed outwards, the black smoke started to cover the area thickly, and the Pokemon jumped in, getting hidden within. Roserade was looking around for her opponent in confusion, when Roxy gave her next call. "Ember!"
The stream of fire blew out from the smoke, from her left.

[Rikugurl]

"Rose. Rade? Rose...." The opponent looked around, confused by the smokescreen. "Brace yourself Roserade...." Gardenia warned and just as she thought, an attack was called. "RAAAAAADE!" The grass pokemon was hit on, making her fall over as the flame left some burn marks on her body. Burn marks?

BURN MARKS!?

"ALRIGHT!" Xel jumped up and started dancing. The Roserade was burned!
"Oh! How very lucky!" Gardenia smiled but her own eyes narrowed. "You can still do it Roserade! Use sludge bomb!"
The pokemon had to shake her head before whipping around to glare at the fire type. "ROOOOOOOSERAID!" An arm swung up, throwing a large glob of purple goo at Kegan before her other arm swung too, sending another. As Kegan dodged them, the Roserade continued to throw goo after goo ball at him, the speed picking up with every dodge.

"Come on, Roxy... you can do it...." Bonnie bit her lip, seeing Kegan begin to struggle as the area was quickly being saturated with poison. Her eyes widened when she saw it though, the Roserade wincing as the burn scorched her skin.