|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 13, 2011 1:48:11 GMT -5
Journal: I met up with Jans, Zero, and Faye. They met Officer Jenny's second in command, Austin Chase, who told them about a hostage situation on board the cruise ship White Lady. The group successfully snuk aboard the ship, but Jans blew our cover. After a large battle, I threatened him for being too rash. We met up with Zero and Faye and tried to make it to the third deck to rescue the hostages. Oni had set a trap for us and we were overwhelmed. I tired to hold them off, but Faye and I were killed.
I awoke alone in a vast desert, where I wandered by myself for what seemed like years. Eventually I encountered my dead grandmother, who had some stern words for me. She told me how to find the gate back to the world above. After that I found Faye. Together we sought out our lost pokemon. After finding our party, we located the gate keeper. That gate keeper was a horrible black thing. He forced me to reveal my secrets to him, and then demanded the life of one of my pokemon as payment for safe passage to the gate. After a tearful farewell, Ninja released Gilgamesh into the waste. After the price was payed, Faye and I were led to the gate. Here we discovered a sort of paradise. We sat and talked and enjoyed the peacefulness of that place for who knows how long until Sean managed to open the gate from the other side.
We stepped through the gate together and found Sean, Zero, and Jans waiting on the other side in the Viridian Forest. I didn't want anything to do with Jans and told him so. I talked to Zero on the walk back. Telling him a little bit about my experience and the decisions I made there. I don't think he was too happy. Sean suggested that we all go to Cerulean City, where we competed in a fishing contest. Sean got second. I didn't place, but caught a Remoraid and Magikarp. I gave the Magikarp to Faye, since she didn't catch anything.
After the contest we decided to go to Lanvander Town. I wanted to buy a memorial stone for Gilgamesh. We got the stone and defeated the grave robbers. Finally, I went to get Chance back from Sally with Faye. After that I headed to the Fuchsia city PC to rest. |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 14, 2011 5:02:23 GMT -5
Journal: Slept in today, then visited the beach with Whisper. After dinner I met up with Zero and Faye, and another guy named Mike. I don't know if I'm ready to deal with new people just yet, still getting used to being alive and working to salvage the few real relationships I have left. Still, he seemed alright. We went into the Fuchsia woods where we found a couple of Primeape beating up a bunch of Pikachu. We fought them off. Zero's Mismagius killed the one we were fighting. and Mike and Faye took out the other. After the fight, the Pikachu studied us. Faye and I got their approval, and we each decided to take one of them with us. I named mine Mango and was very impressed to see he knew how to surf. We made it back to the PC, where Mike, Faye, and I decided to stay as Zero headed to Cinnabar alone.
I lay awake even now. Trying to think about what I'm supposed to do next. My head is so clouded, but I think the mist is finally starting to clear. I have an idea, but I need to think it over... |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 15, 2011 3:42:40 GMT -5
Journal: Today. What can I say about today? So many mixed emotions. I feel terribly sad for Zero, but at the same time I'm furious at him. What a stupid decision, to be blessed with someone as great as Rochelle, and throw it all away for a chance at a power he could never hope to control. If it were me, I would have died before I let someone I love get hurt like that. I can't even imagine being the one to hold the knife. The things I saw in his head...as if I didn't have enough nightmare fuel already. I feel lost but have somehow become the leader of a master scheme that has almost no chance of ever succeeding. Still, it was the only way I could save Zero, and maybe the only way I can find to live with myself. It may be foolish, but even facing impossible odds, I feel hopeful. I feel like maybe now my life has a purpose greater than myself. On top of it all I'm exhausted, but know that the underworld awaits me when I dream. The endless desert, the gate keeper, Gilgamesh, the mist. Why can't I ever dream of the meadow? Always the mist and never the meadow. No matter, there's no course of action except to face it again and rise tomorrow to push on. Does this plan have any possibility of working? Should I seek divine intervention? Would God even hear my if I did? So many possibilities, and so many ways it could all go wrong. One thing's for sure, I felt something today for the the first time since I've died (or maybe the first time ever): alive. |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 15, 2011 22:39:58 GMT -5
Journal: Today I had fun for the first time since I've been back. I met up Zero, Faye, and Jans. We got coffee together, but I didn't like being around so many people, so I headed out the door as soon as I had finished. If I was a loner before, it's even worse since I've been back. The whole world still seems too crowded after the vast emptiness I walked for so long. After we ate, Jans found us a job. Apparently some wannbe was dressing up in a costume and trying to prevent crime. He burned down some crazy man's house trying to help, and the guy wanted him dealt with. Whisper was able to smell out his cave so we followed him there. I decided to have some fun with the guy, so we all made up superhero names. I was VOLTROS THE UNFAILABLE. We convinced the guy to cut it out, but Zero was in stitches the whole time. It was good to see him happy again again, even if it doesn't last. Faye took off the bandages from her arms too. I had no idea how badly she was burned escaping the forest. All the more reason to make sure Kitsune pays....in time. For now I need to plan. And face the mist once again in my dreams... |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 17, 2011 2:54:01 GMT -5
Journal:
Today Zero and I defeated Fudo to attain the Red Badge. The match was over pretty quickly as we were able to overwhelm him with our multiple fire type advantages. I always feel confident of a win with Zero battling beside me. After the match we headed back to the mainland. I wanted to pick up a new weapon, but they were out of stock. I'll have to check back tomorrow.
I saw Faye as I was exiting the shop, and we decided to get some coffee. While the three of us were at the Coffee shop Jans showed up. I ignored him at first as Zero pulled him aside while I caught up with Faye. She mentioned that she had been having trouble sleeping. She looked tired. I hope she's ok...I wanted to talk more, but unfortunately I was forced to deal with Jans. He was bragging about trying to catch Giratina, even after Zero told him not to. I can't believe how thick he is. He has no idea what's he's in for. Maybe he'll die and I won't have to bother with him anymore. He shot his mouth off at me but, like normal, couldn't back it up. He backed off when I challenged him to a battle. This is about the point where Sean showed up. Figuring his knowledge of legendary pokemon might be useful, I pulled him aside to fill him in on the plan. Jans was leaving as we rejoined the group, still determined to seek the dark power of Giratina. If he succeeds he may throw a wrench into my plans. I decided to speed things up, and our little group of four headed to Cinnabar to speak with Fudo. The old man filled us in on Giratina's history and told us what our next step should be. We all decided to rest for the night. I bid farewell to Sean and Faye, but Zero wanted to talk. He asked me if I thought there was any way doing what we're setting out to do could get Rochelle back. I was honest with him, I didn't know. I want to trust Zero, but he's already given in to temptation once, I hope he's strong enough to resist this time. Everything could fail without him.
I left Zero to head to the beach and think. I was exhausted, but I wasn't ready to face my dreams yet. I sat on the beach with Whisper for hours, watching the waves and the moonlight shine off his fur. I tried to figure out what I'm supposed to do with my life. I feel sure that I'm doing what's right for now, but once we've completed our mission... Then what? How do I keep from lapsing back into the old me? Problems for another day I suppose. Today has enough worries of it's own, the foremost of which is sleep. Faye mentioned that she had been using Demi to hypnotize herself to sleep. I sent out Lament, but then returned him. It's probably not a very healthy way to sleep, and I also feel like bearing these dreams is part of my burden. I was the one who couldn't survive. I was the one who chose to leave Gilgamesh. I deserve these dreams, and so I'll face them, for as long as it takes.
|
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 19, 2011 5:40:42 GMT -5
Journal: What a day. I spent most of it on Cinnabar, just relaxing with Whisper. I didn’t sleep well again last night, but that’s a given now. At least I didn’t look as bad off as Faye (but more on that later). As I was walking on the beach, I met up with Zero and Faye talking together. We decided it was time to start hunting for the help of the Children of Acreus. Since the Sea Foam Islands were so close, we decided to go after Palkia first. The three of us traveled to the island chains where Hate found the entrance to an underwater cave. We had do dive down into the freezing cold water, which is not something I’m in a hurry to do again. We emerged in an underground cavern deep beneath the sea. There we faced a series of tests. Once we made our way past the puzzles, we found Palkia’s shrine. I answered a riddle in order to activate it. Plakia emerged and we were able to convince him to help us, even though he was kind of a douche. His portal opened into the vastness of space and I saw things there that I could never have imagined existed. The swirl of colors and shapes filled my thoughts for hours afterward. Palkia himself glowed with cosmic power. I’ll be able to call for his assistance for one battle only, so I have to make it count.
Once he agreed to help us, he teleported us out of the cave. We flew back to Cinnabar, where Zero left to turn in some project he had been working on. Faye and I sat on the beach and talked. Neither of us was ready to face our dreams yet. Faye looked awful. She told me that she hadn’t slept at all the night before, and that she had been hallucinating. Seeing the mist even when she was awake. I don’t know what would cause that to happen. I haven’t seen anything like that. Maybe she’s still trying to fight what happened. Still refusing to accept what we did. I told her as much and she seemed to consider it. I hope she can sleep tonight. She’s a nice girl, but sometimes I worry she’s too soft, that she cares too much. She asked me how I was doing and I answered with a joke. I've found it's better lately if I don't think too much about that particular question. I'm fine because I have to be, end of story. Now I’m sitting in my room, getting ready to face the long night ahead, alone in the mist… |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 20, 2011 4:20:55 GMT -5
Journal: As I sit here on the beach writing this with the sand between my toes, I can barely believe everything that's happened in the last 24 hours. I woke up this morning with Whisper curled up beside me. I must have been tossing and turning in my sleep. I'm not surprised. The dreams persist, night after night. Zero was already up when I got up, but Faye was still passed out. I woke her up, but it took a little effort. I'm glad she slept. Together the three of us went to Fuchsia and then got on the train to Saffron.
And then everything went to hell. I don't even remember how it started, but Zero seemed determined to try and get Dialga on his team. I told him I didn't think that was a very good idea, but he insisted he could do it. Somehow things escalated and then Faye was screaming. She stormed out and then Zero and I got into it. The train arrived before we could finish our argument and we all stormed off in separate directions. I picked up a TM and new weapon and then met up with Faye. We talked for a bit and I was getting more angry at Zero by the minute. When he came back, I layed into him. I called him selfish, arrogant, and foolish. At this point Faye lost it and really let him have it. She called him out over everything that's happened. Blamed him for Rochelle death. Called him weak. A lot of it was true, but still, she went way too far. Zero was ready to attack her and for a minute I thought we were going to lose him. He's barely hanging on as it is, and that kind of abuse could push him over the edge. He sent out Shadow and was ready to attack Faye. I stepped in between them. Zero and I almost fought, but I sent Faye away and was able to calm myself down. Zero and I had a very tense discussion, but in the end he agreed not to do anything rash. Looking back on it, I was probably a little harsh, but I standby what I said. Zero's my friend, and sometimes being a friend means you have to tell the hard truth. Things were still tense on the Train. Faye tired to apologize, but Zero wouldn't hear it.
And so this was how we went to meet Dialga, angry and suspicious of one another. Dialga's trials involved battling. We each faced a tough battle and were only allowed to proceed when we won. Zero summoned Dialga forth, and we saw all of history take place before our eyes inside of his portal. I was awestruck once again, and couldn't speak for several minutes after witnessing the miracle in the portal. Dialga was less of an ass than Palkia, but still showed us plenty of contempt. We were able to convince him to test us, however Zero used a tactic that displeased him. He allowed Zero to make up for his mistake by battling him one on one. It was a close fight, but Zero emerged victorious. Dialga agreed to help us, and then promptly kicked us out of his shrine. The battle did a good job of getting us all back on the same team, and we were all friends again by the time we got back to Viridian. I ended the day by winning my sixth badge in Saffron City.
Two down, one to go. I left the others and came back to Cinnabar to think by myself. The sounds of the waves crashing on the shore is soothing. As I dig my toes into the sand I'm reminded of the meadow in the underworld, and the perfect beach I created there. Sometimes I'd give anything to be back there. To have peace. No peace inside of me. Nothing is sure. A thousand questions hidden in the shadows waiting to attack me if I let my guard down for even a second. The end of our task is drawing near, and after that....I don't know what I'm supposed to do... |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 23, 2011 3:01:52 GMT -5
Headed to final showdown at Celadon Tree (Whisper 164hp).
|
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 24, 2011 5:19:34 GMT -5
Journal: So close. We're so close to the end I can almost taste it. I've barely slept in days, and not for the normal reasons. I've been up every night going over the plan again and again in my mind. Examining each piece meticulously and looking for weaknesses.
I've spent most of the week planning, so I've barely seen anyone. I heard about the attack in Viridan, but only after the fact. I finally saw Zero again last night, and we decided to check up on the new city tree in Celadon. On the way, Zero told me about what happened with Faye and the Oni on the mountain, but I didn't have a whole lot of time to think about it then. I suspected Oni would be after the tree again soon. We left Victor and Nite to guard the tree while we staked out the train station and caught a couple of them getting off the train. They were ridiculously easy to defeat. We caught a few more running for the tree. One of them had a lit Molitov in his hand, which I used my telekinesis to explode. Lucky for him he survived, but he'll think twice about playing with fire again. The wolves were holding the last man off at the tree. He was a strong trainer, but no match for Zero and I. We questioned him quickly before the KDF arrived and learned where Oni General Valian is. He might make a good stepping stone for getting to the Oni leader, whoever that is. Zero and I turned in after the fight.
After a few hours of sleep, I woke up and went for a walk to clear the mist from my head. I found Faye and Sean heading back from Celadon. Zero was nowhere to be seen, but we decided not to delay the search for Mew. As we headed to the police station literally looking to commit a random act of kindness (at which point I realized I was completely in over my head), we were stopped by a fat guy who said someone had stolen his pokemon. I have to admit, I felt kind of bad for the guy. As screwed up as my moral compass is, even I know picking on a fat guy is low. We headed down the road to Saffron and Faye spotted a trail leading into a small wood between the paths. There we found a bunch of punk kids beating on some helpless pokemon. I organized a sneak attack and we took them down pretty quickly. I released the captive pokemon while Sean healed them and Faye tended to a Spinda that had been badly injured. She carried it in her arms back to Celadon while Sean hauled one of the boys. I told Hate to take the other two back.
Jenny gave us a small reward, but more importantly we were able to return the man's Spinda. He paid us...with lunch! Best. Reward. Ever. After lunch things got...interesting. It turns out our portly new friend was not what he seemed. He stared at us without speaking, like he was waiting for something. Finally, we introduced ourselves and Faye asked who the man was. The moment she asked the question his demeanor changed completely. His eyes sparkled and his voice changed as he answered her. As he talked he basically replayed Faye's life before her, right before revealing himself to be Mew. Mew had been watching Faye her whole life, taking care of her, protecting her. My mind was completely blown. To see that kind of....love. I guess that's the best word to describe Mew: love. Not loving or lovely just love. Love incarnate. It was so full of goodness. I spent most of the conversation staring at the floor. I can't...I can't even...I didn't belong in that house. Not with something so unfailingly good. I CAN'T stop thinking about it. I already know I won't sleep tonight, so I'm heading back to Cinnabar with Whisper. Maybe the waves can wash away my doubts. |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 25, 2011 20:53:00 GMT -5
Journal: I haven't slept in so long I can't even remember the last time I've written here. At some point in the last two days I met up with Zero, Mike, and Nathan. We got recruited to help with some research. We went to the bottom of the sea in a metallic death-trap the researcher called a 'submarine.' Somehow it managed not to break and kill us all. We helped with the research and were paid handsomely.
Then we did some shopping? I can't even remember. I tired to sleep then, but couldn't. Too much on my mind. I heard the others talking, so I gave up sleep and went back outside to meet them. Faye and Sean had joined them, and together we traveled to Lavender town. There was an eerie blue flame burning in the gate to the graveyard. We investigated, all but Nathan, who wasn't allowed to enter. Once we passed through the gate, we couldn't turn back. We made our way through 13 of the gates. The graveyard was unnerving and filled with mist. I had to constantly remind myself that this wasn't the underworld, and that the gatekeeper was far removed. Zero and I encountered the Dusknoir we had defeated at the Uboshita house, but it had lost much of it's power. Victor and Nite took care of it, though it swore revenge. When we walked through the final gate we became separated from each other. It was here that I realized something was off. I was confronted with a 'dark' version of myself, but I wasn't impressed. I know that part of myself more intimately than any outside force ever could. It called me a killer. And it was right. I know what I am and I didn't pretend to be anything else. After the shadow babbled for awhile longer it made something that looked like Whisper attack me. I knew it couldn't be the real Whisper. In the underworld Whisper told me exactly what he thought of me. He would never betray me. So my choice was easy. I leapt into battle and defeated the abomination. Once it was done, I awoke to find Sean in the graveyard. The whole thing had been a trick by a self-righteous Spirtomb. It blamed us for all bad things trainer do to their pokemon. I wouldn't hear it. That thing tired to hurt my friends, it's fate was sealed. Zero and I proved what a real team can do, and I ordered Whisper to kill it afterward. It was so determined to make sure I knew I was a killer? Well I let it know I got the message loud and clear.
I headed back to the PC shortly thereafter, but not before having a talk with Faye. I've had a lot of things on my mind over the last few days. I couldn't get the image of her dying alone on that mountain out of my head. Then when she failed to fight the shadow Black in her dream.... She's been too soft. She already knew what I was going to say before I said it. She promised to be more careful in the future. I just hope she is. I can't be there all the time to protect her, and shudder to think of what I might become without her influence.
I talked briefly with Sean as well. He seems down. Every time I bring up death he gets sullen. I'm extremely grateful for what he did, but I can't pretend that everything's okay. Even before I died... I've never known what my place in life has been. Death, Mew, everything that's happened over the last weeks has only added to the questions. My head in swimming in them, with no answers in sight. For once the mist in my dreams seems like the preferable option to facing the waking world. So for now I sleep.... |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 26, 2011 6:54:15 GMT -5
Journal: Nothing will ever be the same again. It is finished. Everything. Faye woke me this afternoon after I collapsed in the Lavender PC from exhaustion. Everyone was together and it was time to make our final stand against Giratina. After picking up some supplies, I led everyone to the Cafe. There we had our picture taken. Our group of four, along with our pokemon.
And then we chose the battlefield. We spotted a small open island from the air. One in the Sea Foam chain. We landed there in the field and began preparations for battle. We summoned the children of Arceus, Giratina was dragged from his shadowy realm, and the battled began. Giratina was unrelenting, punishing us at every step. Zero and I took the lead, while Faye and Sean stayed back for support. I relied on Whisper. He held his ground against a monster at least a dozen times his size. We pounded away at Giratina for what seemed like hours, slowly whittling it down. And then our moment was at hand. Zero sent Shadow in for a final attack. Sparky and Black made sure he made it and Whisper gave him an opening. Shadow cut Giratina open, spilling his vile blood across the ground. As he thrashed in agony Plakia and Dialga held him in place, and then Mew made an end of it. Giratina died helpless, he didn't even get a chance to curse us before the final blow was struck.
When it was over we stood stupidly around the island in shock. Palkia and Dialga left quickly, but Mew stayed with us. The portal to the distortion world remained opened as well. They started to come through it: the spirits of all of those who were trapped in Giratina's Realm. It started as a trickle that soon grew to a flood. Thousands of spirits freed from their torment. And among them was Rochelle. She came to Zero, to say goodbye, for now. She thanked Faye and I for our part in helping him, but she only had eyes for Zero. She made him promise to carry on when she was gone, and then hugged him until she was carried away with the wind. I watched it all as tears streamed down my face.
Zero fell to ground as his anguish overwhelmed him. I knelt down beside him and tried to comfort him as best I could. And then Mew was there. It took pity on Zero, never once judging his actions, only encouraging him to live. Mew addressed each of us in turn, and gave us all what we needed. Strength for Zero. Encouragement for Faye. Confirmation for Sean. And hope for me. Hope that I can harness the darkness within myself. As Mew said, "Protecting the lambs and hunting the wolves."
After Mew left, we all sat together and talked for awhile longer, but eventually we had to do something. Faye's Spinda had been hurt in the battle, so she took it to Cinnabar and Sean and I followed. Spinda was okay, and we were exhausted. We each turned in. I'm sitting in my room right now, thinking about everything that happened. I want to laugh and cry at the same time. This whole emotion thing is new to me, and I guess I'm not very good at it. Whisper is sitting beside me and I can't stop hugging him I've never been more proud of him, and maybe just maybe, tonight I can sleep free of dreams... |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Feb 27, 2011 6:41:32 GMT -5
Journal: Well my new found peace didn't last very long. Last night was amazing, I didn't dream at all. I slept well for the first time in weeks. I woke up feeling better than ever. Literally better than ever. I met Faye in the PC and together we went to check on Zero. He was still sitting on the island, staring blankly ahead. We tried to help him, but he didn't want it. Finally I got fed up and left him there to mope. I told him we'd be on Cinnabar if he changed his mind. We went back to Cinnabar and woke Sean. The three of us headed to the lab on the island. It had a hole blown through it. I read the minds of one of the scientist and discovered that they had been conducting experiments on psychic type pokemon...until their experiment broke lose and killed a bunch of them. Faye managed to track the renegade to a cave in the nearby volcano. There we fought a couple of beefed up psychic pokemon which fell easily to our plethora of dark types. Then a Metagross showed up with an army of fire types from the volcano. Mango took out the fire types and I caught the Metagross! We returned to the lab for our reward.
After that I watched Mike and Faye both fight a gym match. Mike lost in one turn. Faye won hers. Soon after Sean suggested going to Viridian. We flew there, and then everything went black.
I woke up tied to a wall. There was a man there who wanted to torture me, but instead I made him my mind slave. He was working for Kitsune. They kidnapped me to either force me to rejoin them or kill me. He let me go, and together we recovered most of my pokemon. Everyone but Whisper and my new Metagross, Ares. By this time, the others had tracked my trail and followed me. They had rescued Ares, which left only Whisper. Together we all approached the boss' room. I went in alone to check it out, but there were too many people to face alone, so I called for back-up. Everyone came to my aid, except Zero. He just stood in the corner pouting, even though both Faye and I begged him to help. We defeated the grunts, but the leader had a Darkrai. When Zero saw the Darkrai he decided he wanted to fight after all. We defeated the Darkrai, I found Whisper, and then we tried interrogating Oiken, the Kitsune boss. He didn't want to talk though, and eventually passed out. Zero interrogated one of the other guards, but they didn't know anything important. With nothing else to learn, I told the others to leave. Then I killed Oiken and everyone else in the room. I made sure Oiken felt it. He wanted to hurt something I loved, and he payed the price. I leveled the facility before we left for good measure.
When we made it back to Viridian, Zero confronted me because of what I had done to the Kitsune in the mountain. He called me a monster and compared me to Giratina, while willfully ignoring what he had done to Rochelle. He killed her in cold blood for power. He killed someone he loved. For himself. I would die a thousand times before I ever let that happen. I've never once judged him for it, but I take care of a few lowlife thugs and suddenly I'm the monster. I tried to make him understand why I was upset, but he just blamed me and then kept saying I didn't have a right to be mad because he helped in the end. When HE decided we needed it. Not when we asked. At that point I couldn't listen to any more. I left him to go get my pokemon healed, and he flew away before I got back.
When I came back I asked Faye what she thought. She agreed that Zero was being unreasonable. We sat on the grass and talked for a long time. It was almost like being back in the meadow, except with more problems. We talked about Zero, about what I had done, and about our plans for the future. Faye had an idea that I liked a lot. A goal to look forward to...after all this is over. Talking to Faye helped calm me down a lot. She's the only person I can can really be me around (not that Zero is changed). I told her everything about the monster inside of me, and she understood. She didn't like it, but she stayed beside me, even through that.
Faye decided to camp out, and I headed to Cinnabar to sit on the beach and write this. I miss Zero. The real Zero. Not the one who sacrificed his girlfriend to Giratina or this new self-righteous wuss. The one who's battled by my side time after time. The one who's drive and determination always lead him to victory. I want him back. For now though....it's time to sleep. I didn't dream last night, but I have a feeling I won't be so lucky tonight. It's time to don my mental armor and once more go into the mist... |
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Mar 1, 2011 3:56:09 GMT -5
Journal:
If I could somehow write an audible sigh into this book I think that would suffice for today's entry. It's been a long, confusing, emotional roller coaster of a day. Also, I got shot, so there's that. I guess it all started last night with the dream. The wolf dream. My dream stared out with the usual fair, the mist, Gil, the gate keeper standing beside my shadow self. I ran from them. Just kept running and running....and then I was running on all fours. I was surrounded by tall dark trees, but I wasn't frightened. This was was my forest. I ran on and on, my wet nose low to the ground. I could smell the blood and fear of my prey. Closer. Closer. Ever closer on the trail. My brother was beside me. We hunted. Passed between the trees like ghost. We flew along the hidden trails of the forest. Our trails. The end was close. We could smell our prey. And then my brother was gone. I raised my nose to sniff the air for his sent, but he was gone. I gave up the pursuit, letting the prey escape. I sniffed the air again and then gave a howl at the high lonely moon. Calling....but there was no answer. And then my brother lunged at me from the forest. He tackled me and we rolled across the ground, claws biting and teeth snapping. He bit into my shoulder, covering my dark fur in blood, but as he tore away I rolled him over onto his back, exposing his throat. I tore it out. I could taste his warm warm blood. I could smell it on my nose and breathe it in my lungs. I looked at the moon again, and let out a howl of anguish....and then awoke in a cold sweat in the Cinnabar PC.
After I dressed and readied, I made a trip to Lavender to pay my respects to Gil. Faye and Zero were already there when I arrived. I said hi to Faye, but I didn't know how to approach Zero, so I made my way outside to wait for the other two. They seemed to be taking a long time though, so I worked up my courage and went to see what was going on. Faye and Zero were deep in conversation. Zero was still struggling. He wanted to let his darkness ease his pain. Faye and I both tried to help him, but he got angry again and started yelling, then he broke down into tears. I tried to maintain my composure, but it was hard.
Honestly, as bad as I feel for Zero, he brought this on himself. He had everything, and HE chose to throw it all away. He talks about feeling dead inside....but I've felt that way my whole life. Since my very first memory, I’ve never felt….anything. I remember going to school. My mom told me to ‘make friends’ but when I met the other kids at school, I could only stare at them. Some of them talked to me, and I replied with whatever I thought I was supposed to say. I played this role for years. I studied the other children, learned how I was supposed to act and what I was say. I fit in perfectly, but I knew I was never one of them. When my psychic abilities started to manifest, I would use them to get what I wanted from other children without a second thought. They meant nothing to me, just objects to be used. Sometimes I wanted to hurt them, even though I knew I shouldn't. I would imagine how easy it would be to turn them against each other and watch them all die. Part of me would long for it. I was enticed by the monster inside calling to me. Biding me to come and see death face to face. My first glimpse of death was in primary school; I was playing with a boy named Aki. We were playing on the bank of a small river. Aki slipped and fell in. Neither of us could swim. I just stood there watching while he struggled in the water. He called for help, and only then did I turn around to go find one of the teachers. By the time she arrived though, it was too late. Aki had drowned. They pulled his blue lifeless body from the water right in front of me. I looked into his cold dead face and felt nothing…. Not sadness or fear or disgust, nothing. But the monster was hungry then, it had had a taste of something it wanted more of. In secondary school I had a girlfriend named Mona. Some of the other boys at school told me she liked me and that I was supposed to ask her out. So I did, because that’s what I was supposed to do. Everyone thought we were great together, but I was just playing the part and she knew it. She grew distant and sad. One day she told me she had been cheating on me. She cursed at me and called me names and hit me. She begged me to tell her how a felt. To yell or cry or hit her back, but I just nodded my head and walked out of the house. She killed herself the next night. My friends all asked if I was okay. I was fine. I didn’t miss her at all; she never meant anything to me, not really. About a year later I left home for good. I don’t even remember why. Just decided I didn’t want to be there anymore. I left in the middle of the night without saying goodbye to anyone, not even my parents. And I never looked back. I made my first kill shortly afterward. I try SO HARD to resist it, but ever since I got that first taste of death, I've always been hungry for more. I've never killed an innocent, but that's due only to sheer force of will, not because I cared. Not because I felt anything.
I’ve been dead inside my whole life. Never understood what it was to care about another person or receive love. I’ve spent my whole life on the outside looking in, wondering what the hell was wrong with me. To see Zero attain everything I wanted but could never have, and then throw it all away so carelessly is almost more than I can bear. I….I would do ANYTHING to protect the people I care about. They're all I have, and the only thing the quiets the monster inside. Zero has no idea how lucky he is, no matter what he thinks. Rochelle is waiting for him out there....even now, and one day he'll see her again.
Anyhow….Faye and I finally helped Zero come to terms with his situation, at least for now. He pulled himself together and then we met Mike outside the tower. He was taunting Drago, or something. Drago was pretty angry at him though, and Zero called him off in the nick of time. While we were talking we noticed some oddly dressed people in robes pass by. Faye followed them and discovered a communal house where a bunch of these people all lived together. I was able to detect psychic energy all over the place, so I volunteered to investigate further. I was welcomed into the house as a fellow psychic and learned a lot about the group. They were a cult that was trying to summon Jirachi. The leaders were very careful to keep me away the basement, which meant I knew exactly where we needed to look. I let the others in that night and we headed to the basement. There we interrupted a ritual in progress, defeated the cult leaders, and saved a Gardevoir, who decided to join Mike’s team. I killed two of the cult leaders (one on accident and one to protect the others) and we turned the other two in to Austin Chase at the police office. After a few questions we were free to go.
Once we got paid, Zero and I decided it was time to find out what Valian was up to in Cinnabar. We quickly explained the situation to the others and then headed to Cinnabar. Jenny was there and she told us what was going on. We needed to track down a ship that Valian had choked full of weapons. She wanted us to bring him in alive. We took off north as fast as we could, but it wasn’t long before we found Oni waiting for us. There were riflemen and sea mines set up at choke points. I sped through the first two relatively unscathed, but Faye took two bullets, one to the arm and another to the leg. She was in bad shape, and when I saw the next choke point approaching I knew what I had to do. I sent Zero a quick mental shout to make sure he was with me…..and then I dove headfirst into the trap drawing all of the fire. I got hit twice in the upper chest and arm and Hate took a shot to the body as well. The impact of the bullets knocked me into the water, but luckily Zero and Mike were able to take care of the gunmen before they could finish me off. Kraken pulled me from the water and after a quick heal, I hopped on Hate and continued pursuing the boat. When we got close they opened fire on us with the stolen gatling guns. I think Zero took the worst of it, but Faye managed to hit the gunner with a sleep dart, and I slipped in after safely. We worked our way down to the bottom of the boat where we found Valian. He was in his office, waiting for us. There were two other guards plus another galtling gun inside. Valian told us frankly that he was going to kill us all, but challenged Zero and me to a battle first. Sensing this might be our only chance to make something happen, I accepted.
The battle was tough, but together Zero and I were able to beat him. As soon as his last pokemon fell, I enacted my plan. We attacked as one. Mike was knocked unconscious, and Faye missed her shot at the gunner, meaning that we all took another round of fire in addition to being attacked by Valian and his guards. I took one of the guards over and sent him after the gunner, but the damage was done. Valian nearly cut down Zero and I took a nasty chest wound trying to attack him. Faye almost lost her head going after him too, and he cut down several of our pokemon. Finally Zero was able to land a shot in his shoulder which gave me the opportunity I needed to attack. After a brief but intense sword fight, I bested and disarmed him.
We questioned him….and Faye learned some disturbing news. Valian told her that Kitsune burned her forest down as a distraction. They were really after a cache of rare dragon eggs in Balckthorn…including Shadow’s egg. Faye seemed shocked. She just stared while Valian tried one last time to convince her to join Oni in its mission to punish the sins of the country. He told us who the Ogre was as well. His name is Akio Masumara, and he knows we’re after him. Zero killed Valian shortly after, even though Faye wanted to turn him in to Jenny. I would have liked to take him alive as well, but I wasn’t about to say anything to Zero after what I did to those Kitsune in Viridian. Faye stumbled up to the top deck, where she started to withdraw into herself. I sat beside her and convinced her to think about it after we got finished our mission. Jenny wasn’t happy with us….but she was glad we survived and offered us some payment for the guns we recovered.
We all retired to the Cinnabar beach where we sat quietly and built a sand castle together. Zero was reluctant to help at first, choosing instead to sit by himself and watch, but Faye convinced him to come sit with us. After everything that happened….there wasn’t a whole lot to be said. It seemed more fitting to just devote our efforts to the castle and enjoy the little bit of peace we had earned. It seems like there’s always some new threat to our little group, and sometimes I wonder how long it’s going to be before something breaks for good. Zero’s current mental state, added to the fact that we’re (or at least I am) being hunted by both Kitsune AND Oni, it feels like it’s only a matter of time. We sat quietly and looked at the stars for a while before heading to the PC to get our wounds cleaned and dressed. This sword cut is going to leave a nasty scar. I’m so exhausted I could almost believe I won’t dream tonight…but I know that’s not true.
|
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Mar 7, 2011 17:41:20 GMT -5
I'm posting in two parts because it's so long. A gold star to anyone who actually reads the whole thing. Journal: Part 1
Journal:
Today we killed Akio Masumara, and I believe Japan is poorer for it. He was an honorable man, and nothing like I expected.
The day started when Mike, Faye, Zero, and I all met up on Cinnabar Island. We learned from Jenny that Oni had been spotted off the coast in a submarine. Obviously they were up to no good, so we went to check them out. They were nothing compared to Valian’s guards. Mike almost died, but the rest of us took them out. They were trying to steal a Manaphy egg. Once we secured it, Mespirit appeared and thanked us for our help. It gave us some items and returned the eggs to the underground temple where it belonged. I took one of the Oni over, and commanded him to lead us to Akio’s hideout in Celadon. On the way we met up with Sean, who reluctantly agreed to join us. He was worried about a loss of life…and I had no comfort to offer him. Still, in the end, he decided to join us, possibly just to keep Zero and me in check.
My slave led us directly to Akio’s lair and disabled many of the traps meant to keep us out. We spots some guards…and failed to take them all out before they raised an alarm. We had a very large fight on our hands. Faye, Mike, and Sean managed to take their guards out non-leathaly. Zero and I weren’t as merciful. I threw one onto Zero’s sword, and the other was killed during the fight. We restrained the rest of the guards, although killing them would have been safer. My slave led us to Akio’s room, it was protected like Valian’s had been, so we entered without the use of force.
Akio was kneeling before a small shrine. He appeared to be meditating. There were three big guards with him, but when he stood, Akio towered over them all. He greeted us surprisingly warmly, and wanted to talk before the inevitable battle. He told us his story and shared his motivations with us. Akio was the son of a samurai who had served the imperial family, until he was dismissed. The emperor no longer felt the samurai had any value. Akio’s family was left with nothing. He grew to resent the new government and its dependency on modernization. He felt he had no option but to destroy it, so he formed the Oni. Took all of the disillusioned and angry youth in the country and turned them loose. I could understand his anger. Being betrayed by someone you trusted is not a slight to be taken lightly. I think Faye understood even more than I did. The two were kindred spirits. They were both a part of the earth in a way the rest of us can’t quite comprehend.
Once the talk was done, it was time to fight. The guards attacked. Zero and I took one of them, as well as Akio, while the others took the remaining guards. Zero was knocked out early, leaving me to battle Akio’s pokemon on my own. Somehow I managed to win, and Zero regained himself and helped me finish off the last of Akio’s team. Sometime during the fight Mike was killed by one of the guards, but the others soon joined us to help defeat Akio. Sean was worthless damage wise though his healing probably saved several of us. Zero played defensively and Faye and I did the majority of the attacking, using our ranged weapons. The battle with Akio was long. He was an amazing fighter, dodging many of our attacks and countering the ones we landed with devastating force. Eventually, we brought him down. He admitted defeat, and fell to his knees. Faye picked up his blade, and he asked her for a final favor and gave her one last reminder. He told Faye it was up to her to deal with Kitsune, and then he asked Faye to kill him. He slowly took off his armor and drew his shorter sword. He inhaled deeply, and drove the blade into his gut, grunting in pain. As soon as he thrust, Faye swung her sword and took his head, laying him to rest. Zero smiled wickedly and seemed satisfied. Sean looked miserable. I felt nothing directly. Maybe a slight sense of loss, that such a remarkable man had met his end, but it wasn’t the dead that concerned me. There were numerous guards still alive, and the monster was hungry.
…but it wasn’t to be. Faye demanded that we leave the remaining guards alive. “No more killing,” she said. Sean backed her up. They both looked at me as my hand balled into a fist. I wanted this….needed it….but I couldn’t meet their eyes. Reluctantly I acquiesced. I called in my slave, told him to make a new life for himself, and sent him away. I didn’t trust myself to be near the other guards, so I left Sean and Faye to deal with them. I exited the compound and waited for the others. Zero was there. When the Oni guards exited, he tracked one of them down and spoke to him. I didn’t hear what he said, but I have a hunch. One that was confirmed when we got back to the PC. Once Faye and Sean emerged, we made our way to the PC to see how Mike was doing. Faye and Zero both needed stitched up, leaving Sean and I to wait alone together. Sean looked at me and asked me why I kill. What could I say? I respect Sean. He’s a good guy, but it’s for exactly that reason he’ll never be able to understand. I tried to brush him off, but he pushed for an answer, so I gave him the simplest one I could. “Because I need to.” He let the subject drop after that, just as I expected, he couldn’t understand. He seemed disappointed, but how could I make him see? How could I explain what lurked inside of me to anyone? Zero had seen it once, and it nearly cost me his friendship. I can’t risk that again. Luckily Faye and Zero returned and I was spared more questions for the time being, though I get the sense Sean’s not done with the subject. Together we waited to hear about Mike.
Finally Joy came out and let us know what had happened. Mike had died. Not surprising since the guy who killed him basically let his insides bleed all over the floor. And they let him live. Faye and Zero left the building. Sean said he needed to rest, and decided to stay inside. I found Faye crying under a tree. I sat down beside her and did my best to comfort her….and then Zero went off again. Faye seemed very upset by everything that had happened, but Zero decided this was the right time to try and provoke her. He urged her to continue killing. Said she had to toughen up. I didn’t understand why he wanted to turn her into a killer. I was furious with him. He said if she wanted to take down Kitsune she was going to have to be stronger. It was true enough, but the way he said it….was malicious. It was then that I thought about the Oni member he talked to before. I suspected that the man had been a member of Kitsune, and that Zero was playing his own game. Faye got fed up and stormed off, and Zero returned to the PC. I tried to help Faye, but she seemed distraught. She told me she was struggling with her inner demons. I convinced her to let me try and help. I linked my mind with hers and slowly pressed into her subconscious. Before I could get to the root of the problem though, Sean exited the PC and asked if we were ready to go after Mike. I withdrew for the time being, and got ready to venture into the forest.
Part 2
Sean led us down the path that he had taken to find Celebi the first time, and soon we arrived at her pool. Sean told us to swim down, no matter what. I dove into the water, and emerged in Celebi’s forest. It was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. The trees stood tall and golden, but when I touched one of them, its light dimmed, consumed by my shadow. In the forest we each faced a test. We had to face our fears. Faye and Sean both passed theirs, and then it was my turn. When I stepped forward to take my test, the world shifted out of focus. I awoke in Celebi's forest, surrounded by fire. And then I saw them. Faye and Sean. They were dead. Large gashes crossed their bodies. As I knelt to check them, another figure emerged from the flames. It was Zero. He had Shadow beside him. When I asked if he had done this he gladly admitted to it. He said that Sean and Faye had stood in our way. That they needed to be removed. I yelled at him, threatened him, but none of it mattered. Faye was already gone, I was too late. My veins flowed with empty, useless fury, eventually I attacked him. The battle was close. Shadow defeated Whisper, but I was able to poison him and then use his bulk and power to defeat Zero. Zero only smiled at me, and said we’d finish later. The world shifted again, and I was back in Celebi’s forest. I fell to my knees and immediately vomited onto the ground in front of me. I couldn’t get the image of what I had seen out of my head. Celebi appeared next and talked to each of us. She had little to say to me, only that I was not a friend of light and that I didn’t belong in her forest. I already knew this, and I barely heard it. I remained on my knees while Sean and Faye opened the gate for Mike. As soon as he stepped through, we were back in Viridian Forest. It took all of my strength just to stand up. I muttered something to Mike on my way past and then slowly made my way back to Viridian.
When we made it back, Sean turned in and Mike stayed inside staring at nothing. I went out to sit under one of the large trees with Faye. After a few minutes we decided it was time to go back into her subconscious. I’ll relay what I can of both trips below:
After I pushed past her surface thoughts I found myself standing in a burned forest. There was a destroyed cabin in front of me. I walked in to find a young Faye lying on the floor. Black appeared soon after and moved in front of her to protect her from me. He challenged me, but I was able to convince him I was here to help. After I gained his trust, Black led me on a journey through Faye’s past. I watched her dragged from the woods after the fire by Kitsune agents. I saw the ‘training’ they put her through. Fights, beating, there was a whip. Black led me from one seen of horror to another. Throughout the whole process Faye shuffled around lifelessly. She had to be force fed. She never talked. Never made a sound except when they beat her. Finally he showed me her bunk, where she sat lifelessly staring ahead. As I looked, a shadowy form emerged from the wall behind her. The thing looked like the Faye I know now, or at least its shape did. Its color was black and night, with blood red eyes. The thing whispered something into Faye’s ear. Her expression hardened then. The life flicked back into her eyes and her brow furrowed with determination. It was then that the Shadow Faye looked directly at me. It taunted me, before disappearing into the dark. Black stood beside me. He told me that he could not follow me into the next part of Faye’s mind. It was up to me to go in alone. I bid him farewell, and continued deeper…
…and found myself once again back at the cabin, before it had burned. I walked inside to find Faye as a child scampering down the stairs. I was surprised that she could see me. Up until this point the other memories hadn’t been able to see or hear me (except for the Shadow Faye). When she asked why I was here I was taken off guard and stammered for an answer. She mentioned that her parents were sleeping…and had been for a long time. It was here that I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I told Faye to wait downstairs while I went to check on her parents. As I expected, I found them dead on the floor of their room, rotting. I knelt to examine the bodies and heard movement behind me. I was her. The Shadow Faye, I knew without even looking. I turned to meet her. I could see the hatred in her eyes. She held the young Faye by the arm, refusing to let her go. She told me Faye was hers, that she was what Faye needed. I laughed at this. This Shadow Faye fancied herself a dark avenger, a killer, but I knew better. I knew what a real killer looked like. Shadow Faye challenged me to prove it, and so I did.
She brought us both back to the forest. It was fully ablaze. Shadow Faye flung the young Faye into a tree, leaving her slumped on the ground. Then she transformed in front of me. Her fingers grew into long curved claws and her teeth grew sharp. She hoped to intimidate me I think, but I had my own monster to unleash. I let myself go, succumbed to the darkness within, and transformed, letting the monster take control. It turned my body in to a tall, starving abomination. My face became gaunt and my body lean with hunger. Shadow Faye charged and the game began. My monster easily side stepped her headlong rush and raked her across the back with its claws, drawing first blood. It paused to like the blood off each claw, savoring the taste. The two clashed again, and my monster tore a chunk of flesh from Shadow Faye’s shoulder. He laughed as he gobbled it down. Shadow Faye balked. Instead of attacking again she turned to flee into the forest. My monster followed her in, taunting, calling to her, hungry for another taste of her. Shadow Faye hurled flaming branches and spikes at it, but she was no match for my monster. A lifetime of killing had honed its skills. It easily repelled her attacks. Shadow Faye tried to run; she taunted it from the shadows. Finally, my monster grew tired of the game. He shifted the world, dispelling the forest and leaving instead a desert, with nowhere to hide. Shadow Faye leapt behind the Young Faye, using her as a shield. She tried to bargain with my monster. Offered to help it destroy me, but my monster knew that it couldn’t destroy me, not without destroying itself. It saw through her words. It knew the game was up. It used its psychic powers to rip the young Faye out of Shadow Faye’s arms. I told Faye not to worry, and set her aside. Then the monster finished the fight. It broke off one of Shadow Faye’s claws as she attacked. It threw her to the ground with disgust, and held her in place, while it went to work stabbing her repeatedly with her own claw. She questioned it as it went about its grizzly work, trying to understand the complicated rules of its existence. It the end, she asked only that it protect Faye. I obliged, and then the monster slowly forced the claw through Shadow Faye’s heart. It watched her eyes go wide in pain and surprise, listened as she inhaled quickly and then let her last breathe out slowly. It watched her die with glee and satisfaction.
Think it was over, I put the monster away and became myself once more. I walked back to the young Faye, only to have her once more morph into shadow and lunge from me. Just before she reached me, the real Faye appeared. She was dressed all in white. Broken chains hung from around her wrists. She pulled the Shadow Child away from me, preventing it from attacking. When it lunched for her I held it in place with my mind. Faye drew Akio’s sword and drove it through the heart of the beast, finally killing it for good.
After the battle Faye and I talked for a long time within the depths of her mind. She had seen the whole encounter. She had seen the horrible monster in side of me. Seen what it was capable of. It hadn’t just killed Shadow Faye, it had tortured her, cutting again and again, reveling in her pain. Faye’s response? “I saw, and I don’t care.” In that moment a great weight lifted from my shoulders. Never before has anyone accepted me for what I am. The REAL me, not the show I’m forced to put on every day. Even Zero was disgusted when he saw what the monster was capable of, but not Faye. She stood beside me. Faye turned the desert into a meadow and we sat and talked for a long time. In the end, we decided to spend the night there, wherever there really was. I awoke the next morning under the tree we had been sitting under the night before with Faye still slumped over beside me. I felt completely rested. No dreams, no mist, just peace and acceptance. I plan to spend the rest of the week in Viridian, preparing for Kitsune.
|
|
|
|
Post by NinjaDeathStrike on Mar 14, 2011 0:52:16 GMT -5
Journal #1: After some rest in Cinnabar, Faye decided it was time for our long awaited camping trip. Once it sunk in that this was actually going to happen I got nervous. Still I put a brave face on…after all it was only trees right? Faye and I raced our Gyarados to Viridian Forest. Hate won, because Hate is awesome. Joy stood no chance. After we arrived in the forest we headed down one of the numerous side trails. I chose to take one leading away from Celebi’s shrine. I was in no hurry to go back to that place again, not after the last visit.
Faye tried to find water, but couldn’t see any signs of it, so we just walked deeper into the forest together. Luckily, we stumbled across a small stream in the woods and decided to set up camp there. The whole time we were there I was switching between being one edge and at ease. I’d relax and have fun and then I’d look around and tense up again. I complained constantly, but that was more to bother Faye than because I wasn’t enjoying myself. As the afternoon passed, I became more and more comfortable in the woods. After we set up camp we decided it was time for food. Neither of us had thought far enough ahead to pack real food, so we went fishing. I managed to pull up a Poliwrath, but I would have felt weird eating something with a face, so I threw it back. Faye failed to catch anything…and decided that the best option was to dive into the river and catch something by hand. She caught a Crocanaw. Although caught is perhaps a little generous. Both of them exploded from the water, and she somehow managed to wrestle it to the shore, where I took over. I psychiced it into a tree so hard that the tree fell on top of it. I had whisper finish off quickly.
Once we got it back to camp we realized that we needed a spit to cook it on. Black started the fire and Faye and Whisper went off to find a good stick for our spit. By now the sun was nearly down. Even though I had been fine for most of the afternoon, I started to get apprehensive without Faye close by, and she was taking much longer than she should have. Black started to whine and it became clear that something was wrong. I took a deep breath to steel myself and ventured into the forest. It didn’t want to go into the darkness alone, but with Whisper and Faye both out there, my own fears needed to be put behind me. I could be nervous and edgy once they were safe. The first thing Black and I saw was a few broken tree limbs, covered in blood. Not good. We went further and found an enraged Ursaring trying to eat Faye. I sent Black to help her and sent out Ares to deal with the threat. He took down the bear quickly and I ran to help Faye. She had a bad cut on her arm, but thankfully she was ok. Before we could make it back to camp we heard another commotion in the forest and were attacked by a Nidoking and Nidoqueen. They were tough, but we managed to beat them.
Faye flew some of our pokemon to the PC and I headed back to make sure the camp site was ok. When she got back her arm was still bleeding, but she hadn’t even thought to get it looked at. How Faye manages to get herself hurt regardless of what we do will never cease to amaze me. Faye…you have to be more careful, especially if we want to have a shot at taking down Kitsune. Killing the Fox would be meaningless if you don’t live to see it. Seeing her hurt during what was supposed to be a fun trip into the woods reinforced my realization that we don’t know how much time we have left, better make it count. I’ve just found Faye, I’m not in a hurry to lose her, so it’s up to me to make sure she stays safe. I cleaned and dressed the wound as best I could for her and we got back to dinner.
The roast was delicious and while we were eating two eevee wandered into our camp. They looked hungry, so we fed them. After they ate they curled up next to us and were soon dozing by the fire. Once we had our fill of gator, we made smores.
At the end of the night, I told Faye a story I heard once about the Squire and the Dream Lord. It’s one of my favorite stories, and Faye really seemed to like it. It’s long though, and by the time I finished it was late, so we decided to go to bed.
The dreams came that night, but at least this time I wasn’t alone. Maybe it was the story I told, or maybe it was our proximity to each other, but last night I could sense Faye in my dreams even though I couldn’t see her. Walking the mist was a little bit easier with her close by. I could stand to face the gate keeper. I had the strength to confront my monster in the river of mist. It was a troubled sleep, but much better than normal. Journal #2: Faye and I woke up the next morning on the stiff branch beds. My back hurt, but I had survived the woods at night. Quite an accomplishment. I was proud of myself at least. After breakfast we headed to Saffron so Faye could unload some of her arsenal. We ran into Zero at the weapons shop. He tried to hide his Kitsune mark, forgetting that 1) we couldn’t see it anyhow and 2) I already knew it was there. While Faye was shopping Zero caught me up on what was happening with Kitsune. I was happy that Zero decided to share with me. After everything that had happened over the last few weeks, I didn’t know exactly where we stood. Kitsune had given him a hit list. Amazingly Faye and I weren’t on it. I went through the list. Two of the people on it were innocents, so I wouldn’t help with those. However one was a leftover Oni boss and the others were things, which was fine with me. Faye was NOT happy though. I could see that the idea of helping Kitsune repulsed her, but this was the safest way to get close to the Fox. Faye probably would have preferred to hunt down Kitsune members one by one…but that would be way too risky. They’re organized and efficient. They’d come down on us before we ever got close. Zero and I both understood that we were going to have to play ball in order to stand a chance.
Our first target was a Japanese naval vessel called the S.S. Sun. We found it in Vermilion harbor. Faye and I were in charge of clearing the boat while Zero prepared to attack it. I commandeered a marine uniform and let myself on board. Once there, I helped Faye board and we found the captain’s cabin. After a battle, I convinced the captain to steer the boat into ground, causing it to be evacuated. Zero battered the boat with Kraken and eventually sunk it.
Next up was a green house in Celadon. Although it sounded easy, it was sitting in the middle of town. So, we had to be careful. My idea was to enlist some helpers to keep ourselves in the clear. I had Zero and Faye find a few young trainers with fire types. After they battled, I took control of the young trainers and lead them into town. There I forced them to battle and ‘accidentally’ set the green house ablaze. Jenny showed up to break them up, but by then the damage was done. The green house was destroyed and in flames. She scolded them and hulled them away to let their parents deal with them, and we were in the clear. By now Faye was REALLY unhappy. Zero didn’t even stick around to watch the culmination of my plan.
Our final target for the day was a Kitsune general in Fuchsia city. He was in hiding with the remains of his guard. Faye decided to dredge the underbelly of the city until we found some info on where he was. Faye’s plan was to wander the streets alone until she attracted some….attention. I was not a big fan of this plan, but she seemed determined. It didn’t take long for her to find some guys looking for trouble. Zero and I hurried to help, but Faye handled herself fine and we easily took down the thugs. One of them had been a member of Oni, and Faye questioned him. Zero had killed one of the others and licked his blood off the sword…I didn’t even want to know.
We followed the Oni’s instructions and found the General hiding out in a small farming community on the city outskirts. The city boys were easy to spot amongst the farmers. We snuck into the basement. Things were going well, until one of the men arrived home late. He gave us away and we had to fight. The men had shotguns. Faye and I were able to disarm our opponents, but Zero couldn’t. He took a barrel full of buck shot right to the chest. When he tried to attack his opponent, the man sidestepped and blasted Zero in the back, taking him down. While Zero bleed onto the floor, Faye and I were able to finish off the rest of the men and their pokemon. Whisper took down three opponents before the fight was over. I sent Faye to the PC with Zero while I stayed and dealt with the Oni General. I made sure not to kill him during the fight. I wanted to take my time. The monster needed to feed. Shadow Faye had been tasty…but insubstantial. I needed a real world kill. I levitated the shotgun over the man. I took out his toes. Then one of his hands. Then his knee. The blood sprayed everywhere as I pulled the trigger, filling the room with splashes of red and bits of bone. I reveled in it. I could see he was about to lose consciousness, so I knelt close. I wanted to be close when he went. I looked into his eyes while I summoned his knife and slowly drove it into his chest. His tear filled eyes flared with shock as the cold metal sunk into him. He let out one more whimper, and then the light slowly left his eyes. It was extremely satisfying. With that done, I left the house and made my way back to the PC.
Thankfully Zero survived, though he’s weakened. Faye looked like she was on the verge of collapse. She sat down and buried her head on the table. I know this whole day must have been extremely tough for her, but we didn’t have a whole lot of time to talk about it. Zero somehow managed to shamble into the lobby. We talked briefly, but the tension soon rose when Zero brought up his dark side. I don’t think Faye or I were in the mood to hear it after the day we had had. Luckily we avoided an argument. Zero and I turned in and Faye decided to stay up and collect her thoughts. I hope she’ll be alright…but it didn’t seem like the time to press the issue. I just hope we can all hold together for a little bit longer… |
|
