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 Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:00 am
It was early in the morning. The sun had just risen over the dancing waves of the ocean, reaching out withs its rays to touch the endless waters. A lone dragonair slithered slowly through the cloudless sky. No clouds meant no cover. There would be no hiding today. It was lucky there didn't seem to be any trainers so far out to sea, because after flying all night, the dragon-type wasn't sure he had the strength to battle or even evade attacks.
Well, it certainly is sunny out today...good thing, too. If it was stormy there's no way could fly through it...and I doubt I have enough energy left to manipulate the day's forecast...
Skylar flicked his tail absently. Was it just him, or was he getting heavier? With the amount he'd eaten since he last spotted food, the thought seemed impossible. However, as time passed, it was getting more and more difficult to stay aloft. Every now and then he'd decend to pick off a piece of floating seaweed that might have happened to float by, but not once did he touch down upon the water.
Why? By now, he was having trouble remembering his own reasons. He was as excellent a swimmer as he was a flier, especially with all the time he spent in the water as a dratini. And without a doubt it took a lot less effort to swim than to remain airborne, considering how difficult it was to gain lift without a thermal and how much lighter it was when the water was there helping to support his weight. Even now, Skylar did not dare dart down even when he spotted delicious-looking pieces of seaweed for fear he would never have the strength to ascend back up again. And it was essential he spend his journey in the air.
The thing was, swimming provided a lot more problems than it solved. For one, it contained an infinite amount more pokemon than the sky usually did, and while for the most part wild pokemon left Skylar to himself, some pretty aggressive water-types dominated the seas. Flying-types didn't usually claim pieces of the sky to themselves; they normally used it as a means of getting around, and so they had nothing against Skylar. But he could not afford to battle and lose to one of the larger sea monsters of the deep. He was weak enough as it was, and nothing in sight that might cure his fatigue. There wasn't even a scrap of land on which he could rest - only the endless blue horizon.
What was more was the thought that if the girl - his girl - was down there somewhere, the best chance he had of spotting her or her spotting him was if he was flying overhead. Underwater, submerged, she would see nothing of him, and therefore not be able to recognize her devoted dragonair friend. After all, it was her he had left his peaceful mountain lake for. Her he had set out to find after she had stopped her daily visits.
And without a word of goodbye, Skylar noted as he flew on, trying to get his mind off his weariness. How unlike her. She was always so emotional...
Then, as if out of a dream, an island appeared ahead, floating steadily atop the rough waves. You couldn't have pictured a more isolated piece of earth, so vastly alone in the blue abyss. So it startled the dragonair considerably, when, upon his joyful dive toward what he sincerely hoped was not a mirage, a large, white, square obstruction could be viewed above the trees. It could only mean one thing.
Humans, he realized as he pulled up short. He nearly had been about to collide with the building, too. What're they doing here? I've heard of remote getaways, but this is ridiculous! And that isn't any summer resort, either...at least, it doesn't seem like one...
His curiosity soon captured him. Skylar was lulled into an absent-minded state of wonder as he flowed through the air to investigate the alien structure. Restless days of exahustion, worry, and fatigue were forgotten. Even the girl he sought was temporarily lost within his bewilderment. Of all the human structures he had seen in his travels, none had compared to this white, plain box that was much bigger than it looked from the air. The thing stood out so sharply against the tropical trees and natural beauty of the isle. What made it all the more intruiging was its peculiar location which Skylar decided was possibly as far from human civilization as a human could go.
He flew around it several times, the thought never quite occurring to him that humans might actually inhabit it, nor that they might have been inside at that very moment. He discovered there was far more to it than just a simple box - it was very angular, but the building was larger than he realized and a lot less plain when he noted the details. Like the funny swerving black devices with blinking red lights that followed your movements. Or the dark, reflective surfaces inset in the walls.
Skylar paused for a long time before one of these, making faces at hims reflection and twisting his serpantine body into absurd shapes. After a time, he was about to fly off in search of food when something that seemed like movement caught his eye behind the dark surface.
What? There're things in there? he pondered. I never thought it might be hollow...yoo hoo! Humans? Floating up to the surface, Skylar peered at it hard and tapped on the glass. You in there? Hey, think you could get me some fruits or something? Maybe water? I'm starved. Oh, and that resting thing I've heard you have at your pokemon centers sounds like a good idea. Only...I've always wondered, are pokeballs absolutely necessary for that sort of treatment?
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:20 pm
The young researcher behind the glass could only stare in disbelief. Was that...a Pokemon? And a Dragonair at that, if she wasn't mistaken! What in the world was such a rare Pokemon doing here? Hovering around the CRONUS main lab?
And why hadn't the security guards seen it and responded by now?
Discretely pressing a tiny button beneath her desk, she continued to stare in disbelief at the creature outside her window. "Security? We have a guest outside the window of research lab #3-F. Yes. 3-F." Closing the connection, she went against her better judgment and approached the window cautiously. With no idea why she was doing so, she unlatched the window and began sliding it open slowly. "Are you lost, friend?" she asked softly, frowning. She remembered long ago when she had had a Pokemon of her own. Of course, that was a tiny Marill, not a Dragonair...but for her, the connection was the same. And yet, she had a job to do.
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Spliced - Cronus Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:24 pm
Well, hello there! The dragonair blinked at the astonished face that stared back at him. Do you live here? I'm sorry to trespass, but I've come a long way, and I just thought I'd rest up a bit. That alright with you?
The woman amused him. Why was she still staring? Not that he minded being admired, but it just seemed a little rude after a while. And for some reason, Skylar had the strangest sensation; one he had never felt before. It was only for the briefest instant, but as the lady's lips moved behind the glass and her hand went to something under her desk, perhaps to retrieve or replace something from a drawer, a flash of suspicion crossed the pokemon's mind.
However, being as optimistic as he was, and considerably cheered up by the evidence of intelligent life out here in the middle of no where, the dragonair quickly brushed the strange, foreign thought aside. He was always one to give others the benefit of the doubt; especially humans, who, with the exception of trainers, had always been good to him. Too bad he hadn't met too many prior. Maybe now's my chance. I wonder if she's got any friends in there? Skylar pondered.
To his delight, the woman finally begun to move toward the glass and - what was this? Move it aside?! The pokemon marveled at the wondrous technology. Who knew you could move the dark surfaces to turn into entrances? The latching device seemed only manageable by dexterous human fingers, and only from the inside. The curious dragonair loved to observe details.
Humans always ended up surprising him in the wildest ways. Really, he couldn't understand why wild pokemon seemed to resent them so much. Well, other than the fact that trainers were always out trying to capture them, but this woman didn't appear to be a trainer at all. He regarded her inquisitively as he flew down close to the entrance she had created.
Lost? Um, not quite, sweetie, but I've never been this far from home before. Thanks for your concern, though. He offered her his best winning smile. I'm looking for someone's who lost, see? Wow, you're not my girl, but you sure are cute. I guess it wouldn't hurt to come in for a bit... Skylar stuck his head inside and marveled at the darkened room in which the entrance led to. It had a lot of interesting objects laying about...most of them unfamiliar to him. He continued to chat on distractedly as he studied the human environment, only half aware that she probably couldn't understand his words.
Have you seen a little girl around by any chance? About half your height? Dark hair, bright eyes? Just then, Skylar's eyes traveled up to the ceiling of the room and his heart skipped a beat. He literally stopped breathing, and very nearly fell out of the air.
Suddenly the human's dark habitat didn't seem so inviting. The ceiling was so low, he wasn't certain how anyone, not even humans could stand it. Then again, all ceilings were too low for the dragonair's tastes. There hadn't been one invented yet that would have been able to satisfy the needs of a wild pokemon who had known only vast mountain ranges, clear limitless blue skies, endless ocean waters, and a whole lake to himself all his life. Claustrophobia wracked Skylar's slender body as he pulled away from the window, trembling slightly.
S-Sorry, lady, but - but um, I-I just remembered there was something I had to go look for...and, I doubt it'd be in there...um, but thanks for everything anyway... He hated to leave the woman so suddenly, especially with the way she had so sweetly tried to coax him to join her indoors. She seemed almost as lonely as he was, standing there talking softly, that he had nearly forgotten his own fears.
Never before had he been tempted to enter a human's abode. The only way he had previously experienced claustrophobia was when he had learned of how captured pokemon were kept in poke balls. Even then, that was only his imagination, so he had no idea whatsoever that he might have had a fear of all cramped, small spaces. Having seldom encountered humans in their natural habitat, but instead more often walking outdoors on a training journey, he had never even suspected they lived in such terrifying conditions. They were like caves - dark, with a limited supply of air and oxygen. No way was he going in there.
Still, out of pity for the woman, who had shown him such kind reception, he suggested an alternative action. Say, lady? Why don't you come through the window into my home; my home being out here. It's a lot more pleasant, I assure you - trees, fresh air, a beautiful view of the sea...come on! It'll be fun! He made elegant gestures with his tail, beckoning the lady to come join him outside. Excitedly, he flew back and forth between the window and the beautiful landscape of tropical trees.
We could head to the beach! Or maybe find some fruit and have lunch in the jungle! I smell some nice, juicy ripe berries already...it could be like a picnic. You look like you could do with a break. Have you been in there all day? He offered her a sideways glance with a distinct smirk, creating an interestingly scolding sort of expression.
You've been missing all this lovely weather, darling. It'll do wonders for that delicate, smooth skin of yours. Hate to say it, but you're looking rather pale. Flying up to her, Skylar hovered just inches away, so they were face to face. He peered into her eyes deeply with his own, large dark ones. Won't you give it a try? For me? He pleaded, wondering if he still had any of his former adorable dratini charm left in him. Without warning, he leaned forward and nuzzled her nose playfully.
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:07 pm
Even if the poor woman could have understood what the Dragonair was saying, she probably still couldn't have answered. How in the world was she to know what had happened to a particular little girl? She had other things to worry about anyway. Like her job.
She was hesitant as the Pokemon started to enter the room, but the instant panic in his eyes shot straight to her heart. Frowning, she followed him back to the window and watched his flying antics outside. The joy and grace that he displayed while looping through the air made her feel like a little girl again inside. She couldn't fight the smile that crossed her face as she watched his show. What she wouldn't give to feel free like that...
Her eyes widened in surprise as he nuzzled her nose suddenly. Too shocked to do anything at first, her delayed reaction was to step back away from the window, shaking. The feelings of unease and worry were strong, striking her without warning. 'My God...what have I done?' The look of horror on her face was likely to be misinterpreted by the Pokemon, but she didn't have time to worry about that now. The guards could be here at any second.
"You have to go!" She rushed towards the window again, hoping and praying that by some miracle, the Dragonair could understand her. "You have to leave now! They'll be here any minute and you have to be gone before then! I figure out something to say...just go!" Shoving the Pokemon away from the window, she panicked as she realized exactly what it was she had done.
Maybe it was her job. She had no misconceptions about what went on here at CRONUS. But something inside her had just snapped. She would not be responsible for the capture and restraint of such a beautiful, free creature. No matter what happened to her, she had to correct this wrong she had committed before things went too far. Literally shaking with fear and panic, she struggled to get the Pokemon to leave by any means possible.
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Spliced - Cronus Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 7:20 pm
Skylar laughed mirthfully as he was allowed a glimpse of the woman's reluctant smile. There, now, you're even prettier like that! What've you got against the world keeping that beautiful smile hidden away? I'm only glad I was able to lure it out!
As the dragonair ended his antics with an affectionate gesture, he tilted his head, puzzled, as the woman backed away, her fragile-looking form shaking visibly. What's the matter? He inquired gently. Was it something I said? You have a boyfriend? I really meant nothing by it, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you...
As her apparent astonishment quickly transitioned into a look of horror, Skylar began to frown. If only he could understand human's better. She didn't seem to be bothered by him too much, at least up till then.
I have to what? The serpentine pokemon blinked in confusion at the lady's order. Do you really hate me that much? In her next few words, however, much was revealed whether it was her intent or not. Skylar took a second to process the information as she shoved at him insistently. They? Who, more humans? Trainers? He wasn't so wise in the intentions of humans, but even Skylar knew when he had been set up. It didn't seem possible that the woman could know about the approaching threat unless she had contacted them herself.
Yet even as he floated there, nearly motionless but for the slow, fluid motions of his tail and wings, the dragonair held his trust in the woman. For some reason or the other, she had changed her mind. She wanted him to get away, be free. There was only one problem.
Skylar, having lived his whole life a free pokemon, had always taken his freedom for granted. Never once had he thought about imprisonment or capture. Young and lively as he was, he was one of those ignorant souls who believed they were invincible; indeed, it was probably that confidence that had gotten him this far. But now - weakened and worn, he begun to realize just how helpless he truly could be, and the threat of capture loomed nearer and closer than ever.
Not me, he thought frantically, even now. They'll never get me. I'd never let them. Even as he told himself this, his large, dark eyes fixed on the woman, trembling in the shadows of what now Skylar recognized as a prison. A prison for humans - and who knew what else. She was scared clearly, but of what? Whoever was coming? Must be pretty terrifying if she's afraid and she's not even the one they're after, he thought in grim amusement to himself. It was then he made a decision.
Gently, cautiously, so as not to upset her any more than she already was, Skylar leaned into the window against his better judgment. It took all his nerve to ignore the solid walls that seemed to close in on all sides, but he managed it by keeping his gaze on the woman and the woman alone. He rose up in front of her, tall and proud, the whole of his body finally in the room. It was his way of showing her he trusted her. He forgave her. He was willing to brave his own fears if she would brave hers.
Listen, lady. I may be naive, but it's pretty obvious you're not as free as you'd like to be in this box on this island in the middle of nowhere. Now what would that make me if I were to leave you here, as alone and isolated as you were to begin with, while I was out there, enjoying life by myself, but still lonely as ever? He couldn't stand seeing her in such a state. She was still shaking as hard as ever.
He wound slowly about her as he spoke, almost like a person would circle another. I'd never be free of the guilt, and even while you might be rid of yours, you'd certainly be suffering for it. I can't imagine those others you mentioned must make very good companions by the way you talk about them. As his eyes darted toward what he recognized as a proper door into the room, he cocked an earwing, listening for the intruders to be expected.
Come away, he spoke suddenly into her ear. Come away with me. You can ride, can't you? If not, I can always teach you. As long as you're not afraid of heights, we'll be out of here in no time! He extended his lengthy, rippling, muscular body as an invitation for her to get on him. You don't deserve to be cooped up in here. No one does. It was a crazy idea, but then juvenile pokemon, similar to juvenile human beings, tended to be quite daring and leapt before they looked.
Skylar never looked. Not once did the thought cross his mind that he would be too weak to carry a human through the window and far enough away so others could not follow. It did not occur to him that by entering the building, he had put himself in more danger than necessary, and in doing so, had put the woman's desperate attempts to save him to waste. Good intentions though he had, the young dragonair still had much to learn about the difference between possibility and reality.
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Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 1:23 pm
Near tears, the poor woman only watched as the Dragonair ignored her efforts to help him escape and instead entered the room himself. She could tell that something about the building terrified him, and yet here he was coming inside anyway. Why? Her mind raced, trying to figure out what the Pokemon was thinking. His actions and something in his eyes soon made it clear to her. She wasn't sure how she knew, but somehow she could tell what he wanted.
Even as he coiled gently around her, she continued shaking with fear. Not a fear of the beautiful Pokemon before her, but of those she herself had summoned. 'What have I done?' she thought again and not for the last time. "I wish I could understand you," she murmured, reaching up to lightly stroke what would be the equivalent of the Dragonair's cheek. "I can only hope you understand me. I wish you would have listened to me and left when you had the chance. I'm sure they're on their way and will be here any minute now."
Sighing softly, she wrapped her arms around his neck with eyes closed. "I wish I could go with you, but you'll be lucky to get out of here alone at this point. At least if I stay, I can try and stall them...hold them off for a while so you can get away." She leaned back, smiling sadly. She couldn't help but sneak another glance over her shoulder at the door. Any minute now, if she knew the guards.
"Now go. There's not much time, young one. You've got to get far away from here as fast as you can," she nodded, about to continue when the door practically exploded open, guards flooding the room like a well-trained S.W.A.T. team.
"FREEZE!"
"Oh God, we're too late," the woman whispered, shaking again. Turning, she shoved Skylar away, desperation in her eyes. She placed herself between the guards and the Dragonair, but judging by the number of men in the squad, she wouldn't prove much of a hindrance. She was grabbed roughly by a pair of guards and dragged kicking and screaming back out of the room. As her shouts faded and echoed in the hallway, the remaining guards circled and closed in on the Pokemon, blocking his escape route to the window as quickly at possible. Armed with both Pokemon and weapons, hands quickly went to Pokeballs, intending to take the Dragonair without harming him if possible. Well...at least not too seriously.
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Spliced - Cronus Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:27 pm
Skylar could see it in the lady's eyes. She understood him. And yet, that didn't seem to be enough. She still hesitated. What else could there have been to prevent their escape now? Something was obviously troubling her, but it was something the dragonair wouldn't have been able to comprehend. The concept of regret was unfamiliar to him.
But...why would you wish such a thing? He asked, more to himself than to the woman as she stroked his face. I could never abandon a friend. Especially after you've been so kind to me.
As she embraced him, he felt suddenly as if she were a child; helpless and small. Skylar nuzzled her consolingly, wishing he could carry her off right now. It wasn't the hopelessness in her words that prevented him; as far as he was concerned, he could do anything with enough willpower. It was the sadness in her smile that hindered their departure. It told him what he had guessed at previously, but been to stubborn to heed.
If she could have left, she would have done so long ago. But for some reason or the other, she was tied to this place. Escaping the building, or even the island wouldn't change that. Human freedom seemed far more complicated than it was for pokemon. And unfortunately, Skylar had realized this too late to help anyone. Before he could do anything to stop them, humans poured into the already cramped room, taking up space and sweeping away the poor young female researcher like an overwhelming river current.
In the blink of an eye, Skylar found himself in the worst situation he had ever encountered. Weak with fatigue from his travels, he was in no shape to fight. However, a carefully surpressed fear soon overpowered the dragonair, and with the guards taking up what little space had been free to him, he paniced. The sight of them reaching for pokeballs only increased his anguish.
Yearning for altitudue, he few up into a corner of a ceiling and coiled up as small as he could make himself, hoping it would make the room seem bigger, but to little avail. The guards were still in easy reach, and their crowding him only made matters worse.
The desperate pokemon's large, dark eyes glanced this way and that, frantically searching for an exit, hardly able to think. They came to rest on the open window across the room; the one that he had come in through. To get to it, however, he would have to fly northwest through the mass of human bodies. There was no way to avoid them; with the ceiling so low, they would be able to touch him easily enough, and the taller ones could probably even catch him with their bare hands.
How would he cross this river and get to the other side? The answer came to him in the most curious of ways. Freeze? he pondered, surveying the men from his vantage point in the upper southeast corner of the room. If you insist... To cross a river you could fly over or swim through, there was only one thing to do.
Opening his mouth, Skylar prayed the trick would work. He was a little rusty with it, having not used it since the last time he wanted to show it off to the girl who taught it to him. Even if it worked, there was the high probablity that due to his weakened state, it wouldn't be enough. But desperation and fear as Skylar had never known had filled him with a new energy, and he unleashed it full blast upon the surrounding guards with a dynamic Ice Beam.
It wasn't a very concentrated beam, but then Skylar had never intended to hurt the men or their pokemon. He just wanted out. NOW. Unconciously, his mind had aimed the attack toward the pokeballs the men had been reaching for. If they were frozen, he figured they wouldn't open.
They aren't capturing this dragonair, he thought wildly, already diving toward the window they forgot to close. He hoped the ice beam had provided a distraction, and with luck, perhaps temporarily blinded some with its brilliance. NEVER. They'll never keep me in one of those stupid balls...outside...gotta get outside...
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:01 pm
While the Ice Beam easily incapacitated many of the guards that were pressed closest to the cornered Dragonair, Skylar didn't get them all. In the back, shielded by their comrades, a few managed to call out their Pokemon and bark out general orders to stop the rogue's escape. A Flareon leapt onto a table, scattering lab equipment everywhere as he launched a Flamethrower into the air, aiming for the escaping Dragonair.
Joined quickly by a Raichu tossing very precise Thunderbolts, it was obvious that the squad had come prepared with well-trained Pokemon. Some of the best CRONUS had to offer, actually. If anyone could take this Pokemon down quickly in an enclosed space, this squad could. A Charmeleon scrambled across the floor, quickly and carefully defrosting frozen guards and Pokeballs so that more could join the fray. Already, a Scyther had leapt into the air and zipped after the Dragonair.
It was getting seriously crowded in the room and if this kept up, there would be no way to keep others from getting in the way and getting hurt. The squad leader barked out for half the group to retreat to the hallway, the rest staying to fight and order their Pokemon in battle. Nearest to the window, one guard rushed, desperate to beat the dragon to the window and shut it before he could escape.
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Spliced - Cronus Vice Captain
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