Welcome to Gaia! ::

As you approach the grasslands, you find that you are not the only one who heard the rumors and decided to take a look for yourself. That, or there is a badass party you were not invited to - hopefully it's just the rumor, because it'd be real messed up if you weren't invited to the party of the decade.

Nearing the conglomeration of people and pokemon, you hear scattered talk. "What pokemon grants immortality, anyways? I've never heard of something like that!" "Do you think it's a hoax?" "No way, why would anyone bother with that?" "Maybe it's someone's birthday, and they're very lonely." "Shut up, Smith." "Yeah, shut up."

So, apparently it's not a party. Probably, anyway. That Smith dude might be on to something, after all. Regardless of whether it's a hunt for the immortality granter or some lonely person's birthday party, lots of people have turned out for it. It probably wouldn't hurt to talk to your fellow hunters / party-goers.

This was just the adventure the fourteen year old was looking for! Something shrouded in mystery, but bounding with rumors that could only mean one thing: legendary Pokemon. So, when the time came, Magnolia promptly joined the starting group to help seek out the illustrious creature that would grant immortal life to those who happened to grace its presence. She didn't desire the wish for herself — she'd seen how longevity was more of a curse than a blessing during her time with Altais — but her interests won out and, instead, she had a few questions she'd like to ask to the legendary she may meet.

Why gift immortality? Where did they draw the power from? What has it seen during its long-lived life? What came first: the Torchic or the egg?

James was reluctant to go. "Illia, it's just rumors. Surely you know that! You're just wasting your time!"

His reply to her when she let him know soured her and they got into a small quarrel, resulting in her ignoring him despite his constant apologies. "You've made your choice and I've made mine," she snapped at him. "So stay, I'm going by myself."

Magnolia felt guilty about it later — owing her attitude to her anger at that moment — but at the same time, she couldn't care less of what James or Rho, who also expressed distaste in going, decided to do with their time. They could be the boring two together for all she cared, she was going to have her fun, no matter what. Unfortunately, she took along with her the worst company.

"Wah, Magnolia, there is so many people! Magnolia, you didn't say there was going to be so many people! Surely you could have left me known—"

The traveler grimaced at the Psychic-type atop her sun hat flicking her green eyes about excitedly. "Asphodel..."

"Oho, are we going to meet a lot of people? Do you know anyone here already? Oh, do introduce me to them! I would love to meet them! Do you think they know about me? Have you told them about me? Have you told anyone about me? What did you say? I hope you didn't say bad things! I wouldn't want them to think wrong of me! You didn't say bad things, right?"

"Asphodel..."

"Oho, and this Pokemon? What type do you think it is going to be? I hope it is a Psychic-type! Then we could talk and you could talk and we could have a big conversation! I know you have a number of questions you want to ask it! I hope you get your answers! Oh, Magnolia, this is going to be so much fun! We're going to have so much fun, I can't wait!"

Quietening the Ralts came to no avail, so the fourteen year old slipped a hand about the strap of her messenger bag and let out a sigh. I'm going to have to deal with this the entire trip, huh...? she thought before mentally rebuking herself for fear Asphodel heard her. It seemed she didn't, as the Psychic-type was more preoccupied with her babbling, so Magnolia sighed again to express her displeasure and stood idly off to the side a bit of a ways from the group to hopefully lessen the annoyance coming from the Ralts on her head.

{ Please quote me if you're interacting with Mako or his Pokemon, otherwise I'll have no idea you are. }

Mako had come to the grasslands, where the rumored immortality granting Pokemon was apparently stationed, purely out of curiosity. The chatter about it had been going on in the bakery, and on the streets for so long that he couldn't really help himself... though he would never admit it. And so here he was, in the open area, where others had gathered to as well.

The petite trainer stood stock still, off to himself, arms crossed over his little chest. Flua was kept balled for the time being, considering his size was impressive, and it may draw unwanted attention towards Mako himself. His pretty white hair held up in a high ponytail danced gently when a breeze would roll by, the large bow atop his head bobbing as well, a small hand untucking from the overly long sleeves to push back stray tresses that got caught behind his large glasses. A tiny booted foot tapped impatiently as he stood there, looking around for some sort of sign of this grand Pokemon. Really, if this had been some sort of prank or something, he was going to be so pissed...

Smoothing back his heavy bangs, to adjust his glasses more comfortably along the bridge of his nose, Mako flirted with the idea of calling his dear Milotic out. He hated that the poor thing had to keep cooped up far more than his other companions, given the leviathan's massive size. Even the house wasn't a place he could roam about in! He'd probably destroy everything, unintentionally...

Once his glasses were situated to a content position on his face, a little hand lowered to reach for the hidden pocket in his shorts, which were covered by his overly large shirt. Feeling the smooth ball against his finger tips, he was poised to withdraw it, only to pause as a voice chimed up nearby. At first he thought it must be surely for someone else... he didn't know any of these strangers here, and didn't care to. And so it was a bit delayed that he slowly glanced over his shoulder to some sort of person who was indeed prompting him with a greeting.

Naturally, he frowned slightly at the other, as if trying to figure out their game, even glancing around to see if there might be someone or something else that was piquing her interest. Brow crooked, he stared back at her, with an unimpressed expression... only to contort to confused drawn brows at the odd formality. Nice to meet him...? Snorting, he let his hand pull the shrunken Poke Ball from its confines, and crossed his arms again, lips pursing in an unamused fashion as he turned himself to face the girl.

"Hey.." he replied back hesitantly. It wasn't often someone approached him so head-on like this, so it was a bit puzzling. "Not sure if 'very nice' is the right term to use when just meeting a complete stranger, though." he commented, letting his golden glazed eyes slide upwards to the Pokemon perched atop her head. Hm... he hadn't seen one of those in awhile.

Magnolia was so distracted shifting her attention in and out of her clearly one-sided conversation with the Ralts, piquing up every once in a while to her when Asphodel shot her a question to nod or smile, that when the Mew teleported in front of her, she came close to fainting in fright. After collecting the shambles of her surprised psyche, the lavender-haired girl's mouth dropped open and she gawked at the clearly playful Psychic-type before her.

"I-it's a... It's a..."

"It's a... I don't know what it is!" Asphodel said. "Magnolia, what is that and why is it near you? Is it yours? Did you catch a new Pokemon? Does it want to be caught by you—"

"It's a Mew, Asphodel!" Magnolia cried. "A legendary! Rare Pokemon!" The girl gawked for a second before adding, "I-I don't know why it is here, I mean, there's nothing interesting—"

"Look, a friend of yours is coming!"

"Friend?" Magnolia glided eyes from the Mew to the sight of a redhead hustling to catch up with it. "Oh, oh my. It seems that might be its trainer..."

Renekai

Urthemiel merely continued to smile as she brushed a stray lock of strawberry blonde hair out of her face. "Mother Frieda always said, 'Strangers are merely friends you haven't met yet'. So, in the interest of not being strangers any more, my name is Urthemiel. What's yours?" Her eyes locked onto the man's, as if doing so would allow her to gleam the answer faster.

Atop the teen's head, Elaine shifted in her sleep.

"Kumiko!" Ai fumed when she finally caught up to the mew. The legendary pokemon stuck his tongue out happily, drifting upside down and stretching a paw toward Asphodel.

"Kumiko!" Ai scolded again. "Get back here!" She was tempted to whip out his pokeball and to force him to return, but she knew that he would teleport elsewhere the moment he spotted her reaching for it. She almost wished that her parents hadn't gotten her a legendary pokemon... a purrloin or eevee would have been much easier to discipline.

The mew glanced back at his trainer at the sound of his name and seemed to notice her anger for the first time. He gave a tiny peep of feigned fright and hid behind Magnolia's shoulder.

Ai sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. "I am very sorry," she said to Magnolia. She looked the girl up and down, and for once her first impression judged the stranger favorably. Magnolia appeared to be well-bred, and judging by the state of her dress, she came from money as well. Even her pokemon looked more distinguished than the common types that surrounded them.

Ai folded her arms across her chest and placed her weight on one leg, causing her hip to jut out. "I'm Ai Bennett," she introduced herself, though her eyes were still on her mew. "And that, as I'm sure you heard, is Kumiko, my mew." Despite her standoffish appearance, the introduction was downright courteous, coming from Ai.

"Now, get back over here," she hissed, but the mew refused to budge except to tangle a paw in Magnolia's lavender hair. Ai's rage simmered just below the surface, and she began tapping her foot.

His features dowsed to a rather dulled and blank expression when the clearly cherished saying was repeated to him. It even made his eyes roll in disbelief, a headshake to follow. "Sounds pretty naive and careless, to me." he muttered with disapproval. But he let his train of thought stop there, with the introduction that was presented afterwards.

Pursing his lips slightly, shifting them to the side, he remained still and unenthused, "Mako." he replied shortly, keeping his attention on the Cleffa. How was that thing balancing on her head like that? even if it was small, sleeping like that, without holding onto something at the same time?... he was almost nervous it might fall off. His head tipped in gesture to the little fluff ball, "Who's that then?"