Welcome to Gaia! ::

Andarien was so happy he couldn't even voice it, and he hugged Lin as tightly as he possibly could.

Corazin chuckled softly. "Then it's now just a question of where he'll be staying."

"They're staying at our house," Lily told her brother.

"Your house?" he repeated, blinking at his sister in surprise. "But there are only two rooms - two beds ... surely ... surely these two are too old to be sharing a bed? Especially with ..."

He trailed off, looking at Miyuki's many tails. How would the two of them fit? He shook his head. "If it's all right with you," he said, looking at Lin seriously, "I do have a room here that was built specifically for my apprentice. Quite comfortable."

Corazin tilted his head curiously. "Pets?" he asked curiously.

Andarien was nodding like mad. Yes, he wanted to stay with Corazin!

"My Pokemon!" he said brightly. He lifted the bottom of his vest and showed the man the two balls that were attached to his belt. "They're in here for now, but I'd like to let them out soon. There's not really room for Ponydash in here, but Eon's kind of little - can I let him out? I promise he won't break anything!"

Corazin nodded, just so that he could see what these mysterious creatures were. And really, how big could they be if they were kept in such tiny balls?

Andarien grinned and took out the dark ball with the crescent moon on it. In his hand, the ball expanded, and he pressed the button. There was the now-familiar flash of red light, and then the Umbreon was standing just in front of Andarien, its blue rings pulsating softly on its body.

Corazin and Lily were speechless.

Corazin and Lily exchanged a glance, and then both of them looked again at Lin and Miyuki.

"Where exactly are you from?" Lily asked slowly, her brow furrowing. "Valeria? Laurëfalas?"

She looked as though she wanted to suggest some other places as well, but something prevented her from doing so.

Earendil was more curious in the places that Lily had mentioned.

"What is Valeria?" he asked. He knew of Laurëfalas, of course, but he had never heard of this other place. "Somewhere on your continent?"

Lily blinked. "Valeria, in Arkandia? Goodness, no." She shook her head. "No. No, Valeria is a land far distant ... to the extreme south and west, I believe. But Gaia - another ... world?"

"It's ... complicated," Earendil chuckled. "At any rate, is it fine that Andarien has some pets?"

Corazin looked back at Eon, who was now sitting at Andarien's feet and eying the two strangers suspiciously. "I have no problem with this one," he agreed, "but of course I have not yet seen the other."

Corazin nodded. He had no problem with leaving his shop unmanned for a short while - he had done that just that morning after all, and it was a very safe place to live and work. He made his way quickly to the door and held it open for the others.

Eon followed Andarien out, keeping close behind him, and Earendil waited behind to let the girls go first.

The streets indeed were very wide, though travelers on horseback were few and far between.

Earendil followed the others outside, and Corazin stepped out last of all. They stood in a small group, and Andarien stepped forward. He held up the red and white Pokeball and pressed the button: there was another flash of red light, and Ponydash appeared in the street. It neighed and reared with delight at being let out of its ball, and turned to face towards Andarien.

Corazin and Lily stared, wide-eyed, as Andarien grinned and reached out to pet the pony's fiery mane.

"It's not hot unless he wants it to be," Andarien told them, turning to grin at them. "And he's really good about not making it hot, too, unless he thinks I'm in danger."

Ponydash snorted and pawed at the cobblestone street.

"Well," Corazin said slowly after thinking for a moment, "I ... can't imagine where the horse would stay ... the black one is welcome inside, but ... and the stables would not take ... so much fire ..."

"It's okay," Andarien assured Corazin cheerfully. "Ponydash is used to staying in his Pokeball overnight! So I'll just let him out when we're outside and training and stuff, and when we go inside and go to bed and stuff, I'll put him back in his Pokeball!"

Corazin looked rather relieved at that, and Lily smiled.

"Then you're very welcome, and your pets," he assured Andarien.

Andarien beamed at his parents.

Andarien beamed up at Lin.

Corazin looked at his sister. "First?" he asked.

Lily smiled. "We were on our way to the ship so that they could get their things," she explained. "And if we're going to get them all settled by lunch, we'd best press on, I think. Mother will be expecting us."

"Oh yeah, I need my chest!" Andarien remembered suddenly. He looked up at Corazin. "Is it okay if I bring it in a bit?"

Corazin couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course. Whenever."