Treading old ground [Draco]

[cynthia]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 450px][atrb=style,background-color: #292929;] [STYLE=margin-top: 10px; font: 32px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -3px; text-transform: lowercase; width: 450px; line-height: 40px;][STYLE=background-color: #ECBD10; color: #292929; text-align: right; display: inline; width: 320px; float: left; padding-right: 5px;]We’re part of a[/style] [STYLE=color: #ECBD10; text-align: justify; display: inline; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 6px;]story[/style][/style] [STYLE=float: right; color: #555555; font: 11px times new roman; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: justify; line-height: 9px; margin-right: 25px; margin-left: 5px; width: 310px; margin-top: -10px;]{ Armies have conquered, and fallen in the end. Kingdoms have risen, been buried by sand. The Earth is our mother, she gives and she takes, she puts us to sleep and in her light we'll awake. We'll all be forgotten, there's no endless fame. But everything we do is never in vain. We’re part of a story, part of a tale. We're all on this journey, no one is to stay. Wherever it's going, what is the way?}[/style] [STYLE=float: left; background: url(http://i.imgur.com/lkGTL.png); width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius: 100px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: -10px;] [/style] [STYLE=margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 25px; background-color: #333333; color: #888888; font: 9px verdana; line-height: 11px; text-align: justify; padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 0px;] The soft scratching of a worn, chewed pencil scraping across paper whispered through the chamber as Cynthia continued her work, the sound occasionally breaking off as she looked up from her work to study the walls to frown in confusion or smile and nod to herself in understanding, before resuming her annotation. The air was stale and musty, with the scent of uncountable years of dust and debris, kicked up by Cynthia as she brushed at the walls, her face barely an inch away from the fine mortar; close enough that she could almost see the individual grains that made up the aging brick, a flashlight on the floor, forgotten about as she ran a hand over the inscriptions, almost forgetting to breathe, so absorbed was she in her work. Lips moving soundlessly, she mouthed the inscription to herself, one that she knew almost by heart, having read several papers and seen photographs shown to her by her grandmother: OUR WORDS SHALL REMAIN HERE FOR THE AGES Would it please those who had carved these words, Cynthia wondered, to know that their legacy had not been forgotten? What had been running through their minds when they had constructed these ruins; what had their original purpose been? Many believe they were a shrine to Ho-Oh, others to the Unown. At times, the echo of a haunting melody could be heard playing through the halls, so faint that one might think they had imagined it, and always, there was the feeling of being watched by hundreds of small, tiny eyes. More than one thought the place was cursed. But Cynthia, she was simply intrigued, and unperturbed by the rumours surrounding the ruins; superstitious nonsense distorting the facts, her grandmother would say. Many of the secrets of the Ruins of Alph had been unearthed by scientists, but there were many others yet to be unearthed – the experts were absolutely positive that, should Ho-Oh be brought here, another chamber would reveal itself – and, for an archaeologist like Cynthia, there was a simple pleasure to be found in examining these things herself; experiencing, first hand, this piece of history. These ruins were by no means undisturbed, yet each time they seemed as though they had been for centuries, as though the dust, once kicked up, simply settled again. It added to the timeless aura of the place, which only made it all the more charming. Cynthia was an infrequent visitor to Johto, and crouching here, in the Ruins of Alph, she silently promised herself that this was something that she was going to rectify: she did not visit Johto anywhere near as much as she should. Whilst circumstances did not often permit her to travel outside of Sinnoh, much of the time she elected to go to Unova, to relax in Undella Town, or to explore the Relic Castle, which was still being excavated, given that it was frequently buried by sandstorms again. Chambers much like those in Hoenn that were devoted to the Legendary Golems had been recently discovered, and she had been anxious to explore them. But there was value to be found in retracing old ground, and she believed that there was more she could yet learn from these ruins…not only that, but this was relaxing, in its own way. Few people entered the ruins anymore, leaving her to explore by herself. It was almost like being back in the wild again, training Pokémon. A particle of dust reached her nose, and she sneezed, the sound echoing throughout the hollow chamber. Smiling ruefully, she resumed her work, hoping that she hadn’t disturbed anything that slumbered, but finding it highly unlikely. She had been here for hours, so surely, if whatever dwelt here was going to take exception to her being here, it would have done so already, and she would find herself floating in some nameless dimension…which, no doubt, would be a fascinating experience. Putting such thoughts from her mind, she continued to scratch furiously at the paper, unmindful of her surroundings. [STYLE=margin-left: 50px; opacity: 0.7; -moz-opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font: 9px arial;]TAGS ?! Draco WORDS ?! 0670 LYRICS ?! Neverending Story, Within Temptation NOTES ?! Sorry, it's a teeny bit short [/style] [/style]

[STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: times new roman; line-height: 98%; text-align: center; margin-top: -10px;]template by darkee @ back to neverland.[/style]

[pauleverett]

Violet City should have been a nice place this time of year. People were rebuilding, but even Sprout Tower had been levelled, and that had once been the city's pride and joy. That and, of course, the Ruins of Alph, which, Draco noticed, Beast was heading toward behind his back. Draco turned around to look at the Aggron with a raised eyebrow. Beast wasn't much taller than Draco, but he still had to look up to the creature. "Where are you going?"

Beast looked back to Draco, pointing toward the Ruins of Alph with an almost insistant look in his eyes. Draco shrugged, following his friend as he went toward the ruins. He trusted his Pokèmon, as they were his family. He was as much of a steel-type as any of them. That thought, of course, made him look down at his right arm, which was covered by his trenchcoat. As soon as he was out of the city and out of the view of people, he took off his coat, stretching out his right arm, the steel shining in the light of the afternoon sun.

As he approached the ruins, he saw Beast practically trembling with anticipation. Something, or someone, was here. Draco dropped his trenchcoat on a nearby boulder, certain that there was nobody around to steal it. He stepped up beside Beast and pat his friend's shoulder with his steel hand, the spike on the back of his hand standing straight up as usual. He smiled, a rare occasion, as he thought back to when he welded the spike on his hand to make him more like Zero, his Lucario. Beast suddenly burst out into a run straight into the mouth of the nearest cave entrance. He definitely wanted to see whatever was in there badly.

As Draco ran in after Beast, he heard a sneeze echo through the halls of the ruins. So there was somebody here... He caught up to his friend only to see him approaching a woman; a familiar-looking woman with blonde hair. Beast was an Aggron of standard size, towering over the woman at nearly seven feet tall. Aron weren't native to Johto, so a full grown Aggron charging through a hall toward someone was sure to be a surprise, to say the least. Draco's steel arm was the most visible part of him in the dim light the woman's flashlight gave off. He was sure it would catch her attention, but it didn't matter. He finally recognized the woman as Cynthia, the Sinnoh region Champion, and his eyes, if she could see them, showed it.

[cynthia]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 450px][atrb=style,background-color: #292929;] [STYLE=margin-top: 10px; font: 32px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -3px; text-transform: lowercase; width: 450px; line-height: 40px;][STYLE=background-color: #ECBD10; color: #292929; text-align: right; display: inline; width: 320px; float: left; padding-right: 5px;]We’re part of a[/style] [STYLE=color: #ECBD10; text-align: justify; display: inline; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 6px;]story[/style][/style] [STYLE=float: right; color: #555555; font: 11px times new roman; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: justify; line-height: 9px; margin-right: 25px; margin-left: 5px; width: 310px; margin-top: -10px;]{ Armies have conquered, and fallen in the end. Kingdoms have risen, been buried by sand. The Earth is our mother, she gives and she takes, she puts us to sleep and in her light we'll awake. We'll all be forgotten, there's no endless fame. But everything we do is never in vain. We’re part of a story, part of a tale. We're all on this journey, no one is to stay. Wherever it's going, what is the way?}[/style] [STYLE=float: left; background: url(http://i.imgur.com/lkGTL.png); width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius: 100px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: -10px;] [/style] [STYLE=margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 25px; background-color: #333333; color: #888888; font: 9px verdana; line-height: 11px; text-align: justify; padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 0px;] Under most circumstances, Cynthia was oblivious to her surroundings as she worked; her work became her entire world. But then, there were limits to what one could block out, and footsteps so thunderous that they dislodged additional brick dust from the ceiling and sent small jolts through her bones were beyond even Cynthia’s ability to ignore. A massive, dark shape ambled up behind her, towering over her in the gloom, all the more so given her crouched position. The fractional raise of an eyebrow was her only reaction as she took in the sight, squinting in the gloom, then blinking once as burnished steel plates caught the light of her flashlight. An Aggron? Those weren’t native to Johto, were they? Standing up, absently brushing off her coat – somehow it had gathered dust, meaning she had either been here for longer than she thought or it really was that dusty in here – she took in the sight of the titanic behemoth before her. Even in the dim lighting, she could easily tell what it was…there were few other steel Pokémon that stood this tall, and the glittering plates “Hello. What are you doing here, I wonder? Are you lost? I don’t think the Ruins of Alph were designed for Pokémon as large and magnificent as yourself…at least, not this part of them.” she smiled, taking a step forward so that she could better take in the sight. She had no fear for her safety: if this Aggron had intended to attack her, it would have done so by now, and her natural ease around Pokémon tended to put them at ease, as well. Still, she did not touch it; that would have been impolite. It was at that point that a second flash of refracted light, to the Aggron’s side, caught her eye, and she noticed something – no, someone – much smaller, standing at its side. Well, that explained this one’s presence in the ruins. It appeared that she had company down here after all. She could not fully make out the stranger in the gloom, but made no move to pick up her discarded flashlight: she’d had one directed onto her face more than once, and it had not been a pleasant experience at all. It was good enough for her to shift her gaze to the other figure’s shaded face, so that she was looking him at around eye level, so it was good enough. “Oh. Excuse me, but the lighting is rather poor in here; I didn’t see you for a moment. Can I assume this Aggron is your partner?” [STYLE=margin-left: 50px; opacity: 0.7; -moz-opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font: 9px arial;]TAGS ?! Draco WORDS ?! 0431 LYRICS ?! Neverending Story, Within Temptation NOTES ?! n/a[/style] [/style]

[STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: times new roman; line-height: 98%; text-align: center; margin-top: -10px;]template by darkee @ back to neverland.[/style]

[pauleverett]

Draco finally stepped up beside Beast and put his steel hand on the Aggron's shoulder. "He is. I'm sorry if he startled you, ma'am." He doubted that last part, but it was worth a shot anyway to be polite. "May I ask what you are doing around here, Champion?" He didn't feel right calling her by her name. The title was the most polite way he could think of to refer to her. Beast, having no problems with being forward, plopped down next to Cynthia and grazed her cheek with one of his horns in a friendly manner.

Draco shook his head slowly, sighing at the display of affection toward Cynthia. This was going to be an awkward encounter with the Sinnoh Champion if Beast stayed out. Since he was here with her, he was going to want to ask her more questions, but he knew he had to break the ice first. It was dark in the hall, even with the flashlight on, so he knew it would be hard for Cynthia to see all of him. He only hoped that his steel arm wouldn't disturb her too much; not that he was shy about telling the story behind it.

As he waited for her reply, and her reaction to Beast's affection, he couldn't help but look at the markings on the wall. These ruins were for the Unown, he was told. He could feel the eyes on him, and they weren't only the eyes of Cynthia. It was slightly disturbing to him, but he stayed focused on the present company for now.

[cynthia]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 450px][atrb=style,background-color: #292929;] [STYLE=margin-top: 10px; font: 32px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -3px; text-transform: lowercase; width: 450px; line-height: 40px;][STYLE=background-color: #ECBD10; color: #292929; text-align: right; display: inline; width: 320px; float: left; padding-right: 5px;]We’re part of a[/style] [STYLE=color: #ECBD10; text-align: justify; display: inline; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 6px;]story[/style][/style] [STYLE=float: right; color: #555555; font: 11px times new roman; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: justify; line-height: 9px; margin-right: 25px; margin-left: 5px; width: 310px; margin-top: -10px;]{ Armies have conquered, and fallen in the end. Kingdoms have risen, been buried by sand. The Earth is our mother, she gives and she takes, she puts us to sleep and in her light we'll awake. We'll all be forgotten, there's no endless fame. But everything we do is never in vain. We’re part of a story, part of a tale. We're all on this journey, no one is to stay. Wherever it's going, what is the way?}[/style] [STYLE=float: left; background: url(http://i.imgur.com/lkGTL.png); width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius: 100px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: -10px;] [/style] [STYLE=margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 25px; background-color: #333333; color: #888888; font: 9px verdana; line-height: 11px; text-align: justify; padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 0px;] “Not at all.” Cynthia waved away the apology, “In fact, he might have done me a favour: I’ve been down here for several hours now, and should probably take a break from staring at walls. I often lose track of time when I am working; there is so much to figure out, and, it seems, precious little time in which to do it.” she pattered the Aggron’s horn as it sat down beside her – sending a small jolt through her body as its weight settled – and reached out to her, a slight smile curling her lips at the smooth feel of the metal beneath her fingers. Despite its bulk, and the sharpness of those horns, the trainer’s Aggron was surprisingly dexterous and gentle; it just went to show that you that even the biggest, more “clumsy” Pokémon could be gentle when they wanted to be. Cynthia managed to keep a grimace off her face at the way the young man addressed her, but it was a very close thing, and she was momentarily thankful for the dim lighting. Whilst she did not resent her title, or shun formality, there was a time and place for it, and this was neither the time nor the place. “Call me Cynthia, please; there is no need to be so formal, Mr…?” she trailed off when she realized she didn’t know the young man’s name. Introductions always seemed to come later, rather than sooner, for her…perhaps that was why people were often so formal with her. Well, it was something she would have to work on. She was surprised by his question, however. “Why, I’m here to study the ruins, of course. The Ruins of Alph are an important historical site in the Johto region; they still house many secrets despite being combed from top to bottom by other researchers. Some believe they were once a shrine to Ho-Oh, yet Ho-Oh was known to reside within the original Tin Tower, before it was burned down…and the Sinjoh Ruins, which are clearly a shrine to Arceus and the three deities born from it, is not so far away that they may not house some significance. Curious, wouldn’t you say? Yes, much remains to be discovered about these ruins…might I ask what you are doing down here, if not for the same purpose? Few enter the Ruins of Alph these days…” She trailed off, an unvoiced sigh at the end of that sentence. It was indeed a pity that more did not appreciate the legacy these ruins had to offer, but then, she could do little but ensure that the legacy was kept alive in some form. It would be a shame if the message left behind by their ancestors was forgotten...and only a slightly lesser shame if it was never comprehended in its entirety. [STYLE=margin-left: 50px; opacity: 0.7; -moz-opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font: 9px arial;]TAGS ?! Draco WORDS ?! 0469 LYRICS ?! Neverending Story, Within Temptation NOTES ?! <3[/style] [/style]

[STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: times new roman; line-height: 98%; text-align: center; margin-top: -10px;]template by darkee @ back to neverland.[/style]

[pauleverett]

"Draco. Draco Exar." He felt stupid for not introducing himself to Cynthia first. Everyone knew who she was, but few people knew him. It was a good thing to remain unknown, at least to criminals, when you were one who pursued justice at all times. He still wasn't sure about calling her by name, but if that was what she wanted, he would go with it. He watched the interaction between her and Beast as she told him about the ruins. "I'm not sure, really. I was in Violet City when Beast insisted we come here. Perhaps he knew you were here." He shrugged lightly, then folded his arms across his chest, his steel arm reflecting more light now. One of his Pokèballs started shaking; a black ball on a strap that hung on his black muscle shirt along with all his other Pokèballs. He knew which of his friends it was that wanted to come out before he even looked down at the ball.

"It seems Beast isn't the only one that wanted to see you..." He shook his head as he looked back to Cynthia. "Since I'm here, would you mind if I asked you a few questions? It's not everyday a man's Pokèmon leads him straight to..." He paused, remembering not to call her by her title again. "Cynthia. My skills have always been in mechanics and fighting. I'm nowhere near as accomplished in lore as you." He looked away quickly after that. He respected Cynthia as a phenomenal trainer and he knew she knew a lot about legends and myths of all the regions. There was also the fact that she was a Champion, so she would know about how one would go about joining the Elite Four. That would be one of his last questions though. He didn't want her to think she was only useful to him as potential work information.

He could still feel the eyes on him, but when he looked around, he saw nothing. The Unown were enigmatic at best. He had never really encountered them before. He was always too busy trying to save the world when he was adventuring before to look for them. Until now, he hadn't even given them much thought. It made you rethink your decision when you knew they were watching you. He put those thoughts aside as he returned his attention to Cynthia.

[cynthia]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 450px][atrb=style,background-color: #292929;] [STYLE=margin-top: 10px; font: 32px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -3px; text-transform: lowercase; width: 450px; line-height: 40px;][STYLE=background-color: #ECBD10; color: #292929; text-align: right; display: inline; width: 320px; float: left; padding-right: 5px;]We’re part of a[/style] [STYLE=color: #ECBD10; text-align: justify; display: inline; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 6px;]story[/style][/style] [STYLE=float: right; color: #555555; font: 11px times new roman; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: justify; line-height: 9px; margin-right: 25px; margin-left: 5px; width: 310px; margin-top: -10px;]{ Armies have conquered, and fallen in the end. Kingdoms have risen, been buried by sand. The Earth is our mother, she gives and she takes, she puts us to sleep and in her light we'll awake. We'll all be forgotten, there's no endless fame. But everything we do is never in vain. We’re part of a story, part of a tale. We're all on this journey, no one is to stay. Wherever it's going, what is the way?}[/style] [STYLE=float: left; background: url(http://i.imgur.com/lkGTL.png); width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius: 100px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: -10px;] [/style] [STYLE=margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 25px; background-color: #333333; color: #888888; font: 9px verdana; line-height: 11px; text-align: justify; padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 0px;] “A pleasure to meet you, then, Mr Exar, and you as well, Beast” she nodded politely to the trainer, and patted the Aggron again by way of greeting. “Perhaps…or perhaps he was drawn here by something else, something far beyond our understanding. Surely you have felt the eyes of the Unown upon you since you entered here, or perhaps heard the haunting cry of a Pokémon, or a distant melody? Perhaps they are responsible for your presence down here.” she offered. She was not entirely sure that she liked the idea that he had come down here for the sole purpose of seeking her out, and found it highly improbable that this was the case: despite her fairly inconspicuous appearance, she was not well-known outside of the research community in Johto…at least, not to the point that people would give her the same attention that they might in Sinnoh, or even in Unova. She was a stranger to this land, Champion or not. Cynthia chuckled lightly at the compliment…or perhaps it was flattery? Either way, it was amusing. “Compared to my grandmother, I am but a student of lore, and always will be…a fact that she will likely never let me forget.” she said wryly. She could practically hear the old woman’s comment in her ears: if Cynthia were considered an expert, the youth of today was more ignorant than she thought, and the civilizations of ages past would be dead and forgotten about before she was at this rate. She was suddenly visited by a strange homesickness; she had definitely been down here for too long. He was still nervous, she could tell, even if she could not make out his facial features properly in this half-light; it was in his voice. Still, at least he was using her name now, rather than just calling her ‘Champion’ instead, as though the title itself defined her. Cynthia knew that, to most people, it did – dehumanization was inevitable when one was in the public spotlight – but she liked to show that she was just like anyone else outside of that; what use being the Champion if people were too awed by you to relax and be themselves? Well, if questions would help this young man put his concerns at being in her presence to rest, she had no problem obliging. “Of course; if I can satisfy your curiosity, then I shall answer any question you have. But might I suggest taking this discussion to one of the lighter chambers, or even outside? It would be better if we could see one another fully and talk face-to-face. I can continue my studies another time.” she snapped her notebook shut, bending to pick up her flashlight, careful to keep it directed at the floor, and motioned for him to lead the way…it would be a little difficult for her to squeeze past that Aggron, at any rate. It was of about average size for its species, maybe slightly bigger – a male, then – but that did not make its size inconsiderable. [STYLE=margin-left: 50px; opacity: 0.7; -moz-opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font: 9px arial;]TAGS ?! Draco WORDS ?! 0507 LYRICS ?! Neverending Story, Within Temptation NOTES ?! <3[/style] [/style]

[STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: times new roman; line-height: 98%; text-align: center; margin-top: -10px;]template by darkee @ back to neverland.[/style]

[pauleverett]

Draco nodded at the prospect of Beast being drawn here by the Unown or some other power. "That would not be at all impossible..." He reached out and patted Beasts head, his steel hand grazing Cynthia's hand. "I can feel them watching me, but when I look for them, they disappear... Frustrating, their enigmatic nature is..." He shook his head and looked around a little bit before nodding in response to her request to go outside. "That'd be a fine idea. Beast, let's go back outside."

Beast stood up, patting Cynthia's head softly before turning toward Draco. The two started walking toward the way they came in, Draco only turning to look back at Cynthia to make sure she was following. As they got outside, Draco squinted his eyes as they adjusted to the light. He reached up and pulled the black Pokèball from its slot and released the Pokèmon inside. A blue light burst forth from the ball and Zero, Draco's Lucario, appeared by his side. Draco walked over grabbing his trenchcoat from where he left it, but left it off. It felt nice being able to move his steel arm around without worrying about the spike ripping through his sleeve. He could also feel the wind on his other arm, and having that simple feeling was a great pleasure for him.

He turned back toward the ruins, watching for Cynthia with his coat under his left arm and his Pokèmon flanking him. It was a tactical formation that they took by habit. There was one other feeling that enjoyed outside. He no longer felt something watching him. There was freedom right outside the ruins. The Unown weren't watching you outside, and there weren't any people around to judge you. He would have to visit this place more often.

[cynthia]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 450px][atrb=style,background-color: #292929;] [STYLE=margin-top: 10px; font: 32px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -3px; text-transform: lowercase; width: 450px; line-height: 40px;][STYLE=background-color: #ECBD10; color: #292929; text-align: right; display: inline; width: 320px; float: left; padding-right: 5px;]We’re part of a[/style] [STYLE=color: #ECBD10; text-align: justify; display: inline; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 6px;]story[/style][/style] [STYLE=float: right; color: #555555; font: 11px times new roman; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: justify; line-height: 9px; margin-right: 25px; margin-left: 5px; width: 310px; margin-top: -10px;]{ Armies have conquered, and fallen in the end. Kingdoms have risen, been buried by sand. The Earth is our mother, she gives and she takes, she puts us to sleep and in her light we'll awake. We'll all be forgotten, there's no endless fame. But everything we do is never in vain. We’re part of a story, part of a tale. We're all on this journey, no one is to stay. Wherever it's going, what is the way?}[/style] [STYLE=float: left; background: url(http://i.imgur.com/lkGTL.png); width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius: 100px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: -10px;] [/style] [STYLE=margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 25px; background-color: #333333; color: #888888; font: 9px verdana; line-height: 11px; text-align: justify; padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 0px;] “Yes, it is frustrating,” Cynthia agreed with a laugh, “but that is what it makes so captivating, wouldn’t you say? The only thing more satisfying than solving a mystery is working to solve a mystery. Are they curious, or are they just teasing us? Perhaps they expect us to worship them, as our ancestors may have done? Or perhaps they’re not even here at all and we’re just imagining it.” she shrugged, as if to say that the answer didn’t really matter. She followed the duo outside, shielding her eyes against the sharp flash of light as he released a second Pokémon, a Lucario…and then wincing again as the sunlight hit her eyes, which had grown adjusted to the darkness. It was the middle of the afternoon, by the looks of it…it appeared that she’d skipped lunch. Her grandmother’s sharp voice cracked in her mind, silently berating her for her absent-mindedness, and half a dozen other things she had neglected to do. She would have chuckled, although that would have been quite strange in front of her companion, so she contented herself with a half-smile instead. Out in the light, she had a better opportunity to examine her companion…was that a steel arm? She thought it far too cold when he had brushed against her, but hadn’t suspected something like that. He’d been in the wars at some time or other, then…or perhaps he just had an affinity for steel-type Pokémon. His Aggron and Lucario suggested as much…although it could simply be coincidence. Aggron were tough and sturdy, and Lucario were highly versatile; either one would make a fine addition to a team of Pokémon for a trainer, which this young man obviously was. “So, Mr Exar. How can I help you?” she asked, sitting on the edge of a rock, stretching her legs out in front of her. Crouching for too long tended to make you stiff, and the afternoon breeze was pleasant after the close air of the ruins. Although the presence of the Unown had vanished when she stepped out of the ruins, and she found herself missing their company. Well, she could return to her studies at a later point. [STYLE=margin-left: 50px; opacity: 0.7; -moz-opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font: 9px arial;]TAGS ?! Draco WORDS ?! 0364 LYRICS ?! Neverending Story, Within Temptation NOTES ?! Sorry for the wait/shortness; my head has not been in the game today [/style] [/style]

[STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: times new roman; line-height: 98%; text-align: center; margin-top: -10px;]template by darkee @ back to neverland.[/style]

[pauleverett]

Draco smiled faintly and shook his head at the way Cynthia addressed him. "You can call me Draco, Cynthia." He looked around a bit after noticing that she had actually looked at his arm, looking to see if anyone else was around. He was surprised she didn't ask about his arm; most people did as soon as they saw it, hence why he kept it covered most of the time. In response to her question, he spoke rather plainly. "I was hoping you could tell me a bit about Cobalion. These times have been harsh, and while I don't yet know who is behind it, I will want to be ready for the worst. I know Cobalion has helped stop fighting between humans and Pokèmon in the past, but I'd like to know more. As a steel-type user, I could use his help. I think he could use mine, as well."

He looked down at the Pokèballs on his chest, each one a different color. Of course there were the solid black ball that belonged to Zero and the silver and black ball belonging to Beast, but there were also a red and black ball, a metallic grey ball, a light blue and silver ball, and a white and metallic grey ball. They each housed a prized member of his team, each one half steel-type. He found steel-type Pokèmon the most durable around, which made them excellent at taking down criminals. Steel-type Pokèmon had a few weaknesses, but they were still strong in defenses, so even strong Pokèmon with a type advantage had trouble against his team.

Cobalion was said to be Steel and Fighting, the same as Lucario, so Draco would have no trouble adjusting to him if he managed to track down and capture the legendary. Of course, he might not even have to capture Cobalion. He could just form an alliance, though that was unlikely. That also brought another question to his mind; if he caught Cobalion, which member of his team would he leave in storage? Zero and Blade, his Bisharp, had been with him since the beginning. He couldn't leave them out of the fighting and he doubted they would even let him. He couldn't leave Arial, his Skarmory, behind either. He would need her to fly him around and she was essential for battles against Fighting-types. That left Beast, Steele, his Steelix, and Knight, his Escavalier. Steele was huge. He used that as an advantage against bigger Pokèmon like Golurk and Wailord. He would likely need Steele's size if he ever got caught in one of those storms. So, would it be Beast or Knight? He wouldn't be able to decide unless he actually caught Cobalion...

[cynthia]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 450px][atrb=style,background-color: #292929;] [STYLE=margin-top: 10px; font: 32px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -3px; text-transform: lowercase; width: 450px; line-height: 40px;][STYLE=background-color: #ECBD10; color: #292929; text-align: right; display: inline; width: 320px; float: left; padding-right: 5px;]We’re part of a[/style] [STYLE=color: #ECBD10; text-align: justify; display: inline; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 6px;]story[/style][/style] [STYLE=float: right; color: #555555; font: 11px times new roman; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: justify; line-height: 9px; margin-right: 25px; margin-left: 5px; width: 310px; margin-top: -10px;]{ Armies have conquered, and fallen in the end. Kingdoms have risen, been buried by sand. The Earth is our mother, she gives and she takes, she puts us to sleep and in her light we'll awake. We'll all be forgotten, there's no endless fame. But everything we do is never in vain. We’re part of a story, part of a tale. We're all on this journey, no one is to stay. Wherever it's going, what is the way?}[/style] [STYLE=float: left; background: url(http://i.imgur.com/lkGTL.png); width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius: 100px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: -10px;] [/style] [STYLE=margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 25px; background-color: #333333; color: #888888; font: 9px verdana; line-height: 11px; text-align: justify; padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 0px;] “Draco, then.” Cynthia smiled, pleased that they had both dispensed with formalities. She had no problem being polite, of course, but it was much easier to have a conversation with someone on a first-name basis. Still, permission had been needed, and it was appreciated. “Cobalion?” Cynthia raised an eyebrow. She was not surprised that a steel-type user would be interested in the Pokémon, although she was momentarily suspicious: with everything that had been going on recently, according to rumours – Cynthia never fully believed rumours, but she never discounted them, either; many a myth had likely been born from rumour, and there was always a grain to truth to them – someone asking about Legendary Pokémon was suspicious to say the least. But then, Draco’s Pokémon did not seem to be hardened sorts, and Draco himself lacked that edge, despite his vaguely sinister appearance. Not only that, but what was known of Cobalion, he could just as easily find out on his own, and it wouldn’t necessarily help him. What harm was there in telling him? “Well, there is actually little to tell, unfortunately. If records of that time still exist, they have yet to be discovered; it was, as you may know, a period of strife, and the last thing on anyone’s mind – other than the scholars, perhaps – during such periods is the keeping of records. What little we do know tells that, long after the creation of Unova, Civil War broke out by two unnamed groups. Perhaps the warring peoples united by the two brothers began to war again with their death, or perhaps this was something else entirely. Who can say?” that she couldn’t say bothered Cynthia; much as she liked a good mystery, it was an important piece of information to be missing. If the two factions had once again split after being united for many years, that had vast implications…and, if it was another group, that too could be important. But there was nothing to be done about it; the answer was out there somewhere, and they simply hadn’t found it yet. She would simply have to make do with what she knew. “Legends tell of a quartet Legendary Pokémon, collectively referred to as the Swords of Justice, who saw a group of trapped Pokémon to safety in a forest fire, and ultimately went on to end the war, although there are no specifics surrounding how they did it. They were Keldeo, Virizion, Terrakion and, of course, Cobalion, who is assumed to be their leader. I believe Cobalion was said to have retired to the Mistralton Cave after the war’s end, to await the day when it was needed again, although it may have become active in the world once again. Times are, as you say, turbulent. They call Cobalion the “Iron Heart” Pokémon, which speaks for its temperament as well as its type. It was said to be able to get any Pokémon, even those with the strongest of wills, to obey with it glare, although whether this is a legend born of the legend or not, I couldn’t say. Perhaps this was how it ended the Civil War, or maybe it’s a metaphor for the strength of its presence; ancient languages are rarely wholly clear in their meaning, and often…flowery.” she smiled wryly. Perhaps that was why she was so entranced by them: her own writing style was similar, after all. [STYLE=margin-left: 50px; opacity: 0.7; -moz-opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font: 9px arial;]TAGS ?! Draco WORDS ?! 0563 LYRICS ?! Neverending Story, Within Temptation NOTES ?! <3[/style] [/style]

[STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: times new roman; line-height: 98%; text-align: center; margin-top: -10px;]template by darkee @ back to neverland.[/style]

[pauleverett]

Draco nodded as Cynthia told the story about Cobalion and the other legendaries that were with him. "Swords of Justice..." He looked down at his steel arm, bringing his spiked hand up to eye level. "I've been titled similarly in the past. I'll be sure to live up to it again." It was no surprise to him that Cobalion was the leader of sorts for the four Swords of Justice. The Iron Heart bit was interesting enough in its own way. Yes, if Draco could find Cobalion, he was sure they would click. They were a perfect match in his eyes. He only hoped that Cobalion would feel the same way.

"Does anyone know where Cobalion is now? I heard rumors that the four had been out and about in the last Team Plasma uprising. If that's the case, Cobalion would no longer be in Mistralton Cave." He tapped his chin in thought with a steel finger. Where would Cobalion be? Did he go back to Mistralton Cave, or was he still wandering, waiting for somebody to find him and use him in the coming troubles? That brought another question to Draco's mind. Cobalion made his home in Mistralton Cave, so was it coincidence that Draco was from Mistralton City himself?



OOC Note: I'm sorry it's so short. There's only so much inner monologuing I can do here. Oh, and yes, it is coincidence that I made Draco from Mistralton City. I just love Skyla that much and it fit to make Draco a mechanic there. I wasn't even thinking about Cobalion when I first made Draco.