iSystem.Dataset {
↳ Pokémon Equivalent = "Lucario and the Mystery of Mew"
↳ THIS is public for ∀ "Mystery of the Mew Aqua" Episodes
}
New Scene()
QST.camera shows an overhead view of Ash, May, Max, Brock, Benjy, and Ciri (Ash and company) walking through the forest. As they walk, Ciri picks up a branch and uses it as a walking stick, occasionally trying to use it as a divining rod.
Ash: Wait Ciri, what are you doing?
Max: Yeah Ciri, it’s not a divining rod.
Ciri: And how else do you suppose we test for Mew aqua?
May: You’re supposed to sense it with your body.
Max: But you’ve got a stick…
Ciri: Because we’re dealing with anima. There’s anima in everything organic.
Benjy: While I don’t expect it to work, I wouldn’t be surprised if something happens, given what we’re looking for…
Ciri sighs as she stares at a bush, pointing moving the stick at it slowly.
Ash: Brock, why are you being so sullen? Your’e usually all over these things.
Brock: Because mister I-need-your-help threatened to rip my ear off.
Ash: He was kidding.
Brock: One doesn’t kid about things like that.
Narrator: Now with a powerful reason, our allies begin an investigation. And it’s because if one thing rings true, the more you search for answers, the more they search for you. And I’ve got to stop rhyming.
QST::Theme_Song()
Max: So about the Mew Aqua, who told you exactly?
Ciri: You remember Bridget, don’t you?
May: It was her?
The millennium gameboy advance shines softly.
Yami Benjy: I recall you mentioned her name yesterday.
Ciri: Maybe… Did I?
May: Maybe when we were talking about disasters… Did we mention her home-made firework?
QST.camera now shifts past May and Ciri to where Brock is sulking behind them.
Brock: If I left now, would they even notice?
QST.camera now returns to the rest of the group, as Ash calls out to Brock. Hearing Ash, Brock hesitantly begins to catch up to the group.
Ciri: It doesn’t really surprise me that she’d be the one to go after something big like this, but…
QST.camera shifts to an overhead view for a few seconds as Ash and company turn a corner in the path, then shifts back. Ciri taps on the palm of her left hand with her right hand, as if trying to find the right words.
Ciri: I just get the feeling like something’s rotten…
Ash: Because she left you out? I mean…
Ciri doesn’t seem to get upset at Ash’s comment.
Ciri: More like her reason for doing so.
Ash looks over at Ciri curiously.
Ciri: My concern isn’t based on how I feel. I mean, it is, but it’s not based on emotion. It’s like looking at a juicy apple. It looks harmless on the surface, but as soon as you bite into it, you find it’s full of worms.
Ash: Are you sure she isn’t just…
Ciri: I’ve looked at it from every angle I can think of, but something always feels wrong…
Yami Benjy: So you’re going with your feelings?
Ciri shoots Yami Benjy a dirty glance. The millennium gameboy advance shines softly shortly after this. Cir stares at Benjy speechless, searching for the right words.
Benjy: Well we have a precedent now.
Ciri: M?
Ciri: His voice just changed.
Ash: What do you mean?
Benjy: We now have a reason to investigate.
Ash: You mean with that assassin guy?
Benjy: That, and the pieces are coming together slowly. Still, this is a shot in the dark.
Brock: We might be more likely to find something if we split up.
Benjy: And if another assassin was sent to investigate…?
Brock swallows hard.
Brock: I’d make a comeback, but he has a point. We could be picked off one by one…
At this point, Ash and company come to the edge of a long wooden bridge, about eight feet wide, with large wood guardrails on the sides. Walking onto the bridge, Ash and company take a moment to stare at the canyon that lies before them, with the castle in the distance, slightly less than a mile from where they are.
May: Wow…
Max: That’s amazing!
Benjy carefully looks around while everyone else enjoys the view. May then calls to him to alert him that they’re moving again. Something then falls from the sky right next to Ciri and lands with a *splat* on the bridge, making everyone uneasy.
Ciri: Eek!
Ash and Brock turn around.
Max: Huh?
Brock: Just a Wingull.
Brock points out a Wingull in the sky as it flies towards the castle, and out of the sight of Ash and company. This Wingull now lands on the castle roof, and suddenly turns into a Treecko, which begins to scale the wall of the castle. (This transformation is outside the view of Ash and company)
QST.camera now refocuses on Ash and company as they cross the bridge and start walking down the path towards the castle. A crystal catches Ciri’s attention, and she points the stick at it, but the stick fails to move on it’s own.
Ash: Not working?
Ciri says nothing as she studies the crystal closely.
Max: Is it working?
Ciri: Not detecting anything here…
Ciri: But just to be sure…
Ciri stares at the crystal as everyone else walks on. Ciri shakes nervously, and the stick moves, but Ciri is well aware of this and closes her eyes to calm her nerves, and the shaking stops.
Ciri: I shouldn’t expect it to shake.
Ciri opens her eyes holding the stick out at the crystal, but there’s no response. Ciri now looks up to see everyone gone, save for Benjy standing a few feet away from her.
Ciri: Um…
Benjy: They’re–
Max calls out from a ways down the path.
Max: Ciri over here!
Ciri turns and looks down the path at a huge crystal next to Max, towering above Ash, May, him, and Brock at eight to nine feet high.
Ciri: Bloody (bleep) Max! Wait!
With this Ciri takes off running towards the giant crystal, Benjy right behind her. After a few seconds they reach the rest of the group, where Ciri takes a couple of deep breaths, then pulls out the stick and points it at the giant crystal, but the stick doesn’t move.
May: Everyone smile!
The rest of the group turns around to where May snaps a picture of everyone in front of the crystal. May now attempts to take a goofy picture; Ash, Max, and Brock make funny faces while Benjy turns around to examine the crystal. May then snaps the picture. Ciri’s "goofy face" is of her hand outstretched as if to tell May to not take the picture. May is now approached by a pair of girls in renaissance outfits, whom ask May to take a picture of them with the crystal. Brock immediately volunteers whilst Ash and company dive out of the way so that the pair of ladies can have their picture taken with the crystal.
May: Be careful with that!
Brock: I got it.
Brock: I can’t screw this up…
Nervously, Brock takes the picture, and the camera prints it. Brock then hands it to the ladies, who thank him, and continue on their way as he hands the camera back to May. As this happens a larger group passes Ash and company, all wearing renaissance outfits.
Ash and company now follow this group down the trail towards (the trail slopes downwards gradually) the castle towards another bridge right over the water (about 2 feet from the surface of the lake to the bottom of the bridge) (The decent is about a total of 20 feet over the length of the trail)
As they set out onto this second bridge, more people pass them and the group they are following (as these people are walking faster); also in renaissance outfits.
May: Is it just me or are we under-dressed?
Another group (walking faster) passes Ash and company, also dressed in renaissance outfits. Brock scans the crowd.
Brock: Eh, maybe.
Benjy: I don’t mind. There are a few people up there who are dressed normally also. Up there.
Max: But just a few.
A splashing sound causes May, Max, and Brock to turn around to see that Ciri has dropped her stick over the side of the bridge and into the lake.
New Scene()
With a bridge behind them, Ash and company see a large 3-story warehouse of costumes, from which some people emerge, in costume.
Ciri: So that’s where they’re getting them…
Ash: So what are we waiting for?
Ash and company now rush towards the building, save for Benjy, who starts running after them.
Benjy: Wait! We don’t know if–
Before Benjy can catch up to the group, May, Max, Ash, Brock, and Ciri have disappeared inside the building. Slightly nervous, Benjy follows them inside and looks around. Here, a sign on the wall catches his attention. Benjy approaches this sign.
Benjy: So they’re rentals… Um…
Benjy’s eyes dart around the sign as he reads the fine print.
New Scene()
Upstairs, Pikachu watches as Ash, May, Max, Brock, and Ciri search for costumes. A Treecko comes in through the window, and then transforms into a Pichu before anyone notices, where it then approaches Pikachu.
Pichu: Pichu?
Pikachu: Pika. Pikachu.
Pichu: Chu?
Pikachu: Pika-pichu.
Pikachu is distracted quickly as May emerges from the clothing racks in a large dress (nearly identical to her dress from the pokémon equivalent, except that the dress is light blue) Pikachu tilts it’s head to acknowledge May, as she spins around.
Max and Brock now step out of the clothing racks, dressed as a merchant and a monk respectively. They acknowledge each other's costumes, and turn towards the costume racks expectantly to wait for Ash and Ciri. Pikachu uses this opportunity to check for Pichu, whom has disappeared.
Ash now emerges from the costume racks, but turns around as he hears a clunk. Ash and May go back into the costume racks as Ciri groans, and a few seconds later help her from between the racks, guiding the wings on her costume so that she won’t trip and fall from her wings catching on the hanging costumes. Ciri is dressed as a valkyrie with a headband that looks as if it came from a Disney movie. She wears a cape resembling Runescape’s cape of legends, but more narrow, and carries a bow that looks like a cross between [Yu-Gi-Oh!]::Artifact_Failnaught and Madoka’s bow from Madoka Magica™. Pikachu jumps up onto the windowsill to get a better look.
May: Now we just need to find Benjy.
Benjy: I’m here.
Everyone looks across the area by the window to see Benjy on the other side.
Ash: You didn’t find a costume?
Benjy: You guys are fast.
Ash: I’ll find you something!
Benjy: Ash, wait! I can–
Ash darts into the clothing racks before Benjy can finish his sentence. Giggling, May and Ciri now walk towards Pikachu, which gets a look of horror on it’s face, before suddenly leaping from the windowsill down to the floor and running towards Benjy. May and Ciri both turn and are shown to be holding renaissance clothes for Pikachu.
Before Benjy realizes what’s going on, Pikachu jumps into the pocket of Benjy’s sweatshirt. From inside the clothing racks, Ash announces that he found something for Benjy, and everyone turns briefly, just long enough for Benjy to disappear into the racks of costumes. As soon as Ash emerges, everyone turns back (Ciri almost catching the wing of her costume on a rack) to see that Benjy has disappeared)
New Scene()
Hidden in the clothing racks, Benjy watches the rest of Ash and company look for him.
Benjy: If you can’t spot amateurs like Team Rocket in their bad disguises, then you have no chance of spotting a professional like me.
New Scene()
Ash and company exit the costume room in renaissance outfits (minus Yami Benjy)
May: I guess Pikachu’s not really into cosplay.
Ash: Neither Benjy for that matter…
Brock: We’ll find them eventually.
Ash: But the event might be over by then…
Max: That’s probably what they’re waiting for.
May: I’m sure they’ll show up eventually.
Max: Well duh. It’s with Benjy and not Team Rocket.
Ciri: Do you think this thing really fires?
Ash and Brock turn their attention to Ciri as she examines her bow.
Brock: Probably not, it’s just a prop.
Ash examines the bow.
Ash: Well, maybe… It looks like it might.
Ciri: Hm.
Ciri pulls back the drawstring to test the bow.
May: Ciri careful!
May’s comment startles Ciri into letting go of the drawstring, causing the arrow to fire right over her head and embed itself into the trunk a tree across the path.
Brock: I guess it does fire…
Max: Well, it did…
Ciri: Zark…
Ciri stares at the tree
Ciri: Hold on…
Max: Ciri, don’t!
Ciri: I’m not doing *that*, Max.
Ciri stares at the tree, and begins to concentrate.
Ciri: Tesserum expectyx syra mellow a-one. A-one crysis-oh extesserum. A-one chysis-im extesseret. Tesseration a-one denna. Vix pret.
At this point in Ciri’s incantation, the arrow starts to wiggle in the tree trunk, as if Ciri is pulling on it with an invisible string.
Ciri: Leptras Pret. Pret… Pret…
The force now starts to get stronger, as if incrementing every time Ciri says "pret", and Ash, Brock, May, and Max start to back away from Ciri.
New Scene()
Still in the costume room, Benjy and Pikachu flinch as a loud cracking noise comes in through the window. This is followed by a pop and a soft crash. This prompts Benjy to get up and carefully descend the staircase to the ground floor, as Pikachu leaps from his sweatshirt pocket and climbs to his shoulder.
Benjy now reaches the door of the building and opens it, to discover the tree that Ciri shot her arrow into destroyed, both the trunk and top fallen over, cracked approximately where Ciri shot into the tree’s trunk.
Benjy: I really hope we didn’t do that…
Pikachu: Pi-kachu!
Yami Benjy: Great minds may not think alike, but its a comfort to know that they share the same concerns.
Shift QST.Camera(90tº)
Given that Benjy is facing back the way they came (west), QST.camera turns southward, towards the main castle and ceremony 90º, and then shifts to follow Ash and company as they run towards the main event.
Ash: Why did no one tell us there was going to be a tournament!
Brock: To be fair, we did just get here…
Max: Um Ash, aren’t you forgetting someone?
Ash: Huh?
Max: I’m talking about Pikachu!
May: I think Pikachu’s pretty pissed at us right now, Max.
Brock: Yeah, and if we don’t hurry we’re not going to be able to enter, period!
Ciri: What do you suppose the chance is that Benjy will enter with Pikachu in his team?
May: I don’t know…
Max: That’s the kind of thing that *you* would do.
From ahead of everyone, Brock calls out:
Brock: You guys, hurry!
Realizing that they’ve slowed down considerably, Ash, May, Max, and Ciri rush after Brock.
Max: To answer your question, Ciri: it’s zero unless he’s faster than we are!
New Scene()
Now entering the building for registration, Ash and company (minus Benjy) finally make their way to where the sign ups are. Seeing that there’s no line, Ash wonders if they’re too late, but the receptionist informs them that he can still sign up since it’s still during the first round. Ash quickly puts his name down, and Max encourages May to do the same, but she declines, much to his disappointment. Ash now rushes past into the waiting area.
Ciri: You can sign me up Max, I’ll be right back!
Brock: Where’s she going?
May: Probably the restroom, but it’s not really polite to ask.
As May finishes talking, a roar of applause goes up from the stands.
Max: I’m not signing her up.
Brock: Why not?
May: Ciri’s not good with crowds…
Brock: How not good?
Max: Again, that’s kind of personal…
New Scene()
With Pikachu still in his sweatshirt pocket, Yami Benjy walks out into the stands above the arena. Bayleef follows at his heels like a dog, and as Yami Benjy looks for a seat, when a young couple sitting behind them closes their eyes to kiss, Bayleef sticks her head into a bag of popcorn that the lady of the couple is holding, grabbing a mouthful of popcorn before Benjy, Yami Benjy, Pikachu, or the young couple can notice, and then resumes following Benjy one he starts walking again. Two rows above them, two elderly women take their seats, and then kiss.
About 20 seats later, Yami Benjy finds an open seat and sits down to watch the battle unfold below them. Bayleef sits on the ground by his feet, and meows a couple of times before lying down. QST.camera now shifts focus to the arena below where a Prinplup knocks out a Magcargo with bubblebeam. As Magcargo is recalled, it leaves a large scorch-mark on the field.
Revert Scene()
Down below in the arena, Ash takes the spot of the trainer with the Magcargo. The announcers announce Ash and the other trainer, before the other trainer sends out a Breloom. Ash calls on Taillow, and Breloom scores a quick almost-knockout on Taillow with mach punch. Taillow, despite having taken heavy damage, flies out of the way of Breloom’s next attacks, zipping around the mushroom pokémon’s head and firing off gusts, moving with Ash’s directions.
QST.camera quickly shifts up to show Yami Benjy grab Pikachu to prevent him from falling over the edge of the railing. QST.camera shifts down again as Breloom repeatedly tries to strike Taillow, but never lands a blow. As Taillow increases it’s speed and range from Breloom, Breloom’s trainer has it launch a sky uppercut. This attack also misses at first, and with a follow-up mach punch, Breloom also fails to strike Taillow, instead hitting itself upside the head and knocking itself out.
As the other trainer recalls Breloom, Ash and Taillow try to get world to stop spinning. Also dizzy, the other trainer sends out a Pelipper, which is not dizzy, and thus is able to knock out Taillow with icy wind before Ash and Taillow can respond. Ash recalls Taillow and quickly goes over his options.
Announcer: So now what the blue corner do?
QST.camera shifts across to the lower stands to where May, Max, and Brock are watching.
Max: I knew it was a bad idea going without Pikachu.
Brock: Yeah, we all did…
QST.camera shifts back to Ash.
Ash: So it knows ice moves… And it’s a water type, which means my best bet is Croconaw… or Corphish…
Announcer: Is the blue corner out of Pokémon already? Don’t tell me–
Pikachu: PIKA!
Ash: Pikachu?
Ash looks up just in time for Pikachu to leap from Satolite’s backside to Ash’s shoulder.
Ash: Alright Pikachu–
Announcer: And what an entrance!
Ash: Thunderbolt!
Trainer: Protect!
Pelipper creates a shield just in time as Pikachu shoots a giant thunderbolt in it’s direction.
Announcer: Talk about an eleventh-hour recovery!
Ash: Eleventh-hour?
Announcer: Don’t tell me that’s what the blue corner was planning all along!
Trainer: Pelipper, hydro pump!
Ash: Thunder!
Pikachu emits a giant electric charge just in time to cancel the water coming Ash’s way, and the attacks detonate in a mid-air explosion that sounds like a miniature thunderclap and sends warm water through the arena, where it falls onto the stands. Up in the stands, Ciri emerges next to May, Max, and Brock.
Ciri: So many people…
Brock: Looks like renaissance fairs are really popular in Hoenn.
Ciri: But you’d never guess from all the advertising they have to do just to get people to show up at Magicon.
Following this comment, the air crackles with electricity.
Announcer: I can actually hear the excitement!
Narrator: That was way funnier in your head, trust me.
QST.camera now shifts upwards across the arena to where Satolite clings to Benjy’s back, shivering. Benjy pulls a towel out of his backpack and begins to dry it. QST.camera now shifts back, to where Ciri excuses herself from watching the battles below.
New Scene()
Walking through the castle (which is attached to the stadium), Ciri opens the door to one of the rooms which is full of books, and begins looking around. Flygon pops out of it’s pokéball and stares at Ciri’s wings in disgust while she searches. Irked, Flygon walks up behind Ciri and gently tugs on Ciri’s costume’s wing, startling Ciri, until she turns around to see Flygon.
Flygon: Gon.
Ciri: It’s just a costume!
Flygon: Fly-Gon-Fly-Gon!
Ciri: No, they’re not real!
Flygon still doesn’t look too happy about this, and it flaps its wings threatening to blow books off of the shelves.
Ciri: These not even functional! They’re just decoration!
Still upset, Flygon jumps onto Ciri’s back, and it’s weight pulls the unsuspecting 12-year-old down on top of it. Flygon squawks as Ciri quickly scrambles to her feet, the prior eyeing a bag left in the room.
Revert Scene()
Back in the arena, Ash’s Treecko knocks out a Spheal with a bullet seed followed by an absorb move.
Announcer: The blue corner is on fire!
Startled by this announcement, Ash looks around for the fire.
Announcer: No, I didn’t mean it like that!
Ash: Then how did he mean it? (Whisper to Pikachu)
Pikachu: Pika…
Ash backs up now as the next match is called (between two other trainers), one of these trainers is wearing a mechanical suit, and takes the blue corner. The match begins with the red corner sending out a Meditite and the blue corner sending out a Weavile. Meditite starts to attack Weavile, it darts away faster than Meditite can follow.
Revert Scene()
Ciri chases after Flygon rushing down the hallway and around a corner. Ahead of them is a window, and a computer terminal in the corner by a couple of plants. Flygon zips around the corner, and failing to notice the window, crashes into it headlong. Ciri then arrives and helps Flygon to the ground, before approaching the computer terminal.
Ciri: Log in, lets see… It wants a password
Ciri: Flygon?
Flygon pulls out a small flash drive and inserts it into the machine, which causes the machine’s fan to whirr, and the machine then suddenly accepts a password (without Ciri having to enter one), and boots into root. Flygon stretches out on the ground as Ciri stares at the computer in confusion.
Ciri: Nothing here I can make sense of.
Flygon: Fli?
Ciri quickly pulls the drive from the machine, causing the monitor’s display to turn red with what looks like a core dump. Ciri doesn’t notice this as she walks back towards the room with books, Flygon walking at her heels, mirroring her steps, still uneasy about the wings on her costume.
Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen! This is the battle you don’t want to miss! The final battle that will determine the Aura Guardian!
Ciri: Aura Guardian?
Flygon: Fly?
Ciri: While everyone’s distracted, we might be able to find a book on it somewhere.
Ciri throws two apricorn poké balls, calling on Zumi (her Azumarill) and a Parcit.
Announcer: So lets begin, the final of the Aura Guardian tournament of F-Two-Fourty… Six!
Zumi: Azu?
Ciri: We’re looking for something, anything that will tell us the purpose of this tournament or anything about aura even…
Ciri and her animon now take to the shelves and search
New Scene()
Benjy now joins Brock, May, and Max in the stands right above the red corner as Ash prepares to battle the trainer in a mecha suit.
Ash: Go Pikachu!
(Blue_Corner_Trainer): Let’s go! Weavile!
Weavile darts at Pikachu, then around trying to strike at Pikachu’s side. Pikachu is too quick to allow this strategy to succeed, and it darts out of the way. This happens a couple of times, each time ending up closer to Weavile then before.
Ash: Pikachu thunder!
Weavile leaps out of the way of the attack.
Ash: Now discharge!
Pikachu sparks, letting out a pulse of electricity.
(Blue_Corner_Trainer): Shadow ball!
Pikachu leaps out of the way of shadow ball, and it appears that shadow ball protected Weavile from discharge. Weavile now uses quick attack, striking Pikachu and sending it rolling a little ways. The other trainer has Weavile attempt another quick attack, but Weavile flinches. Ash takes advantage of this by having Pikachu thunderbolt Weavile. As soon as the attack finishes, Weavile rushes towards Pikachu. Ash tells Pikachu to use thunder, which gives Weavile enough of a zap to knock it out, as well as kicking up a huge plume of dust.
As Weavile crashes to the ground the referee signals a victory for the red corner. Ash looks around for the next trainer that he’s going to be facing.
Announcer: And that concludes the Aura Guardian tournament for F246!
Ash: Huh?
Pikachu: Pi-Pikachu!
QST.camera now shifts up to the stands.
May: Ash won!?
Yami Benjy: I’m not surprised…
Benjy looks up to see an Aipom run onto the field and start playing with Pikachu. The trainer from the blue corner now takes off her helmet, revealing her face.
Brock: And I bet that girl’s the prize!
Max: Wait!
Benjy, May: Brock, NO!
QST.camera shifts down to the arena as Brock runs onto it, and rushes up to this trainer, taking her hand in his.
Brock: Hi, my name is Brock and–
Brock is cut off as Satolite pulls him into the sky with it’s tractor beam.
Brock: W-what’s going on? H-Help me!
Ash looks at the trainer, and apologizes, giggling nervously.
Blue_Corner_Trainer: It’s alright. He’s not the first one.
Ash: He’s not?
Ash looks past the trainer to where Max is standing.
Max: Satolite got him before I could.
Blue_Corner_Trainer: Ahaha. So he’s with your group.
Brock: Help me!
Blue_Corner_Trainer: My name’s Kidd, it’s nice to meet you.
Ash: Nice to meet you too, my name’s Ash.
Pikachu: Pi-Pika-Pika-Pika-chu!
Ash: And this is Max.
Blue_Corner_Trainer → Kidd: I see. I haven’t had a battle like this in a while.
New Scene(@Temporal = Night)
QST.camera zooms in on the castle from the distance, and into the ball room. Here, Ash stands on the stage with the castle’s princess and matron. Brock, May, Max, and Yami Benjy stand in the audience.
The castle’s princess now steps forward.
Castle’s Princess: Hello and a very good evening to you all. My name is Eileen, and it is my pleasure to welcome you to this year’s ball and banquet in honor of the Aura Guardian.
Yami Benjy: I think we might be under-dressed…
Eileen now presents the staff to Ash, explaining that the winner of the tournament earlier has the honor of having the role of the Aura Guardian, and presents Ash with a wooden staff with a metal holder holding a lacryma at the top.
Ash: What is this?
Castle’s Matron: It’s the ceremonial staff of the Aura Guardian.
Castle’s Princess → Eileen: It’s yours for tonight.
With this, Ash takes the staff from the matron, and he and Pikachu stare at it, impressed.
Eileen: And now, let the ball begin!
At this moment, the music starts to play, and May and Brock look around for dance partners. Ash starts to walk down off the stage to join the party, but Eileen stops him, explaining that she has a special seat picked out for him. Benjy looks around for something to do, and winds up following Max towards the tables of food.
Benjy: Max, have you seen Ciri?
Max: Not since she left at the tournament…
Benjy: It’s a bit worrisome…
Max: She’ll be fine.
With this, Max has reached the food and starts filling his plate full, while Benjy gazes up the stairs into the castle, and while Max is busy eating, darts off.
Max: Hey Benjy, these things are delicious!
Max turns to face Benjy, only to find himself talking to Bayleef, which, seeing the opportunity, gulps down a bit of Max’s plate before he can pull away backwards. As Max pulls away, Bayleef approaches him from the front, causing Max to fall over backwards, and his plate of food goes flying all over someone’s pants behind him.
Max: S-sorry!
Max backs up and jumps to his feet to see Black✭Star also (quickly) filling his plate, somewhat oblivious at this incident. Bayleef quickly gulps down the food on the floor and then whines at Black✭Star, while Max watches nervously.
Jirachi.telepathy: Are you okay?
Max.telepathy-recall: Yeah, I’m fine.
With this, Jirachi teleports out of Max’s backpack whilst Bayleef starts to rub up against Black✭Star’s leg. This gets Black✭Star’s attention.
Black✭Star: Hey, you want some food?
Bayleef: Bay!
Black✭Star: Alright, here we go.
Much to Max’s amusement and Bayleef’s delight, Black✭Star picks Bayleef up so that Bayleef has clear access too the table. Bayleef uses her head to direct Black✭Star to what dish she wants, as Max scrambles to get another plate of food together before Bayleef can reach it. Bayleef is meanwhile devouring dish after dish of food.
Refresh Scene()
On the dance floor, May has found a dance partner and they are slow dancing. The boy May’s dancing with appears to be Brock’s age and puts his hand further around May’s backside, causing May to blush nervously, and pull away slightly, which causes the boy to relax his grip a little
Boy: There’s nothing to be scared of.
May’s face turns bright red, making the boy’s fact turn red too. Across the room, Brock is dancing with Kidd, who is amused by Brock’s infatuation with her. Pikachu is dancing with Aipom on the floor, and Ash is sitting in his chair observing it all, looking rather bored.
Ash: I guess the only alternative to this is dancing…
Mysterious_Voice: Why have you betrayed me?!
Ash stares at the staff, and then asks Eileen if she heard something. When Eileen says that she doesn’t, Ash sits back.
Ash: I must have just imagined it. Unless… Wait a minute!
Ash’s gaze now shifts to the table of food and Black✭Star holding Bayleef. As Ash watches, Black✭Star gets distracted and drops Bayleef onto the table, which miraculously doesn’t break under the weight of the 80-pound pokémon, whom is now free to eat whatever she likes, and approaches a fountain of juice. Tsubaki now emerges from a multi-gender restroom along the edge of the table just in time to see Black✭Star drop Bayleef onto the table.
Tsubaki: Black✭Star!
Black✭Star: Wut? (in between a mouthful of food)
Bayleef’s walking on the table has now caused a few dishes to fall onto the floor.
Tsubaki: What did you do?!
Tsubaki points at Bayleef.
Black✭Star: He looked hungry!
Tsubaki: This, is why we can’t get a dog.
Tsubaki quickly bows in apology to Max and the waiter, and then drags Black✭Star away, plate and all. Before Tsubaki can exit the ballroom, the table Bayleef is walking on collapses under her (Bayleef’s) weight, causing the fountain of juice and food to get everywhere. This makes a spectacle for a few seconds, but most of the dancers go back to dancing a few seconds later as the maintenance arrive to clean up the mess. At this point, the boy that May is dancing with touches somewhere that makes May uneasy and pull away from him, bright red and stumbling backwards.
Boy: Wait–
May doesn’t give the boy much time to explain himself as she starts to run towards the stairs, where Benjy and Ciri are now descending.
Boy: Can I please explain…
May: Um…
Boy: That’s what this song–
Ciri: May!
Boy: ?
May: Ciri!
Ciri now comes running over to where May and the boy are, with Benjy at her heels.
May: Where have you been?
Benjy: Sleeping.
Ciri: Where’s everyone?
May: Ash is over there–
May points.
May: And they want him to stay there for the dance. Max is getting food… And I can’t find Brock.
The boy that May was dancing with appears to have found someone new and leaves.
Ciri: What’s Ash got there?
May: It’s a staff they gave him.
Ciri: I’ve got to check that out, you guys go dance.
Ciri now starts to make her way through the crowd towards Ash, while May stares at Benjy, and both start to turn red.
May: Um…
Benjy: I can’t dance… Where’s the guy you were with?
After making this comment, Benjy and May scan the crowd for a couple seconds, then quickly find the boy dancing with another, older, more well-endowed girl. May looks a bit jealous and a bit relieved at the same time.
May: W-what g-guy?
Benjy: I thought you were, oh never-mind.
New Scene()
Ash watches the dancing, looking bored.
Ciri: Ash?
Ash looks up hearing Ciri’s voice.
Ash: Ciri, where’ve you been?
Ciri climbs up on the stage in front of Ash, Flygon right behind her.
Ciri: Just up on the next floor, what’s that?
Ash: This?
Ash holds the staff up for Ciri to see.
Ciri: Is that the staff?
Ash nods.
Ciri: They gave you a staff? Oy, I knew something was fishy…
Ciri stares straight into the lacryma on the staff.
Ash: It’s just for the night. They said it’s a ceremonial staff–you think it’s more than that?
Ciri continues to gaze at the staff.
Ciri: Well I can’t tell, to be honest.
>>@Temporal: It starts to get dark now.
Castle’s Matron: Can I help you, miss?
Ciri and Ash both look up to see the Matron and Eileen looking over at them. The Matron has been approaching, and is nearly next to them. Seeing this causes Ciri to jump back.
Castle’s Matron: Is there a problem?
Ciri: What is this?
Ciri takes the staff from Ash’s hands and shows it to the Matron, who takes it from her.
Castle’s Matron: It’s the staff of Sir Aaron.
The Matron hands the staff back to Ash.
Castle’s Matron: Do you know about the history of this castle.
Ciri ponders this for a few seconds
Ciri: Something about a battle?
Ciri: That’s all I was able to glean from those poems.
The castle’s Matron’s eyes sparkle.
Castle’s Matron: Not just any battle, but a key battle during a pivotal time in our god-wars. But Eileen–
The Matron turns towards Eileen.
Castle’s Matron: It’s really your story to tell…
Eileen glances nervously at Ciri, who sees the nervousness in Eileen’s eye and turns her attention back to the Matron.
Ciri: Actually, I was hoping that you could tell me.
Castle’s Matron: But it’s really–
Ciri: Please?
The Matron’s eyes sparkle as she looks at Ciri.
Castle’s Matron: Oh all right, it happened nearly five hundred years ago, when the great god-wars were just beginning. This very castle stood at the crossroads of what was about to be one of the largest clashes yet.
New Scene(@Reenactment) {
QST.camera opens with a picture of a misty valley from the air, with the castle visible at the very edge of the screen. QST.camera moves downwards the ground, allowing an army of pokémon and people, dressed in robes of vibrant crimson to become visible as they march towards the castle. QST.camera moves in further yet, to where the army’s solider’s become visible:
Several Steelix haul carts carrying various ammunition, while Houndoom walk by the side of mages adorned in crimson robes, holding magical staves topped with the symbol of Zamorak. Several hundred imps also follow the army, some holding chains attached to the collar of an angry-looking Typhlosion. One, three-headed Houndoom turns and snarls at the imps, threatening to bar-b-que them, but one of the mages hits it with a water spell, and it yelps and resumes marching.
Castle’s Matron: Narration: It was nearly five-hundred years ago, but I think I’ve said that already. Coming from the north-east, the Lord of Chaos had sent a small scouting group into Hoenn from their base far in the north-east.
As the castle’s matron talks, QST.camera changes its angle to show that the group stretches for a couple of miles. Skeletons walk with the living, bound by the mages’ magic, while archers sit in between the humps of Camerupt, all clad in red. As they walk, they trample the forest, leaving only a burnt wasteland behind them.
Castle’s Matron: Narration: Small, of course, is relative. Small for the god-wars, that is. Our princess knew they were coming, they were hard to miss given the smoke that followed them.
New Scene()
QST.camera shows a more quiet, but equally misty forest.
Castle’s Matron: Narration: But even more troubling, was the news of another army, far more mysterious in the forests to the south.
The ground shakes slightly.
Castle’s Matron: Narration: Our princess thought a new god had arrived, and sent Sir Aaron to investigate, but he had refused.
With a sudden and mighty crash, the trees along the forest break as a giant wooden machine rolls forwards, pulled by three rows of twelve Meganium each. On each side of this machine trees snap as more machines come into view, all resembling big boxy mobile castles, with the two on the sides having three cannons mounted on the front. These two mecha-castles are pulled by a large number of Venusaur and Meganium. Suddenly soldiers dressed in green and riding Meganium charge forwards, followed by a squad of Blastoise. Both human and pokémon are clad in silver-green armor that shines even in the mist.
Castle’s Matron: Narration: There the rumors of course.
A Regirock pops out of the ground and scans the area, before rushing after the soldiers on Meganium.
New Scene()
QST.camera zooms in on the castle as Sir Aaron walks away from the a princess, much resembling Eileen, but with a few distinct differences.
Castle’s Matron: Narration: Perhaps he saw the soldiers of chaos as a more pressing thread. Perhaps he saw futility in negotiations with them. Perhaps he knew for fact what historians are still struggling to confirm.
Cutscene() {
A green robed figure stands atop a giant cube-shaped tank, his or her face obscured by a long dark green hood.
Castle’s Matron: Narration: Mirazu, the Lord of Equilibrium himself, was there in person, standing atop his grand fortress.
As the cube-shaped stone tank rolls forwards, the camera zooms in to show that several Registeel are pushing the massive tank.
}
QST.camera now shows what the Castle’s Matron narrates:
Castle’s Matron: Narration: Aaron was never seen again, but as the armies drew nearer, suddenly there was a massive earthquake and giant beams of light shot out of the ground. It happened everywhere, and the Tree of the World’s Beginning shone with what was said to be the light of a thousand suns. Fenyra’s shimmer.
Castle’s Matron: Narration: The light blanketed the landscape, and the armies began to change directions due to the light, peacefully diverted away from the castle. As I said, Sir Aaron was never seen from again.
New Scene()
Sir Aaron stands on a hillside, holding his staff and talking to a Lucario.
Revert Scene()
Castle’s Matron: Narration: Moments before the light appeared, Sir Aaron’s Pidgeot flew over the castle, and dropped his scepter into the princess’s hands.
}
Ciri stares at the Castle’s Matron.
Castle’s Matron: That’s the same staff that the Aura Guardian holds during the anniversary of…
The Castle’s Matron looks around, to discover that Ash has disappeared while she was engrossed in her tale.
Castle’s Matron: Eileen! Where’d the Aura Guardian go?
Eileen: I don’t know! I got caught up in the tale too. I wasn’t keeping track either.
Ciri looks around and immediately spots Ash by the tables, getting food.
Ciri: He’s over there.
Ciri points.
Ciri: Just getting some food, he’ll be back.
Castle’s Matron: But the Aura Guardian–
Eileen: Relax grandma, please.
The Castle’s Matron takes a long, deep breath.
Castle’s Matron: Then can you child stand in for him until he gets back? You seem to have a great respect for history and tradition.
Ciri begins to nod slowly, and the Castle’s Matron looks over to the staff and Ciri begins to walk towards it.
Ciri: That must’ve been the Battle of Rootshock, which wound up being east of Petalburg. Mirazu was an unknown, but Zamorak’s scouts were overestimated by Mirazu’s forces, and wound up quickly being demolished.
Ciri now picks up the staff, feeling the shaft and eyeing the lacryma in the center, then goes to sit down in the chair reserved for the Aura Guardian, being careful not to crush the wings of her valkyrie costume.
Ciri: Ash thought he heard a voice from this…
Ciri: Lets see, this is going to be an expensive diagnostic. Tesser–
Ciri suddenly flinches.
Ciri: Can’t put it in my mind’s eye, okay then, time for the work-around. Quqo extesserum link…
Refresh Scene()
While Ash fills his plate, Ciri uses a series of pulses of light on the staff in the background, most of them are deflected however. On the dance floor, Kidd asks Brock to get her a drink, which he is more than happy to do. As he runs over to the table, he passes a disguised Jessie and James filling themselves from the buffet.
Max: Hey Ash!
Ash looks up to see Max (and Jirachi on Max’s head).
Max: Did you try those things?
Max points?
Ash: The cresants?
Max: Not sure what they’re called, but Jirachi loves them.
Ash: That gives me an idea.
Jirachi: Is it a yummy one?
With this, Ash lets out Taillow, Treecko, Corphish, Torkoal, and Croconaw, inviting them to join the party. Benjy and May see this from the dance floor, where May is trying to teach Benjy how to dance. Benjy is reluctant to put his hand on May’s shoulder, or at least more than just his wrist. Both now decide to let out their pokémon to join the party too, and take a break long enough to send out Satolite, Celebi, Torchic, Beautifly, and Skitty. Benjy starts to call on Bayleef, but then sees that it’s already let itself out and has made a meal out of the food, and is now sleeping off a massive belly under the tables.
May: Shouldn’t you let out Shroomish too?
Benjy looks down at his belt.
Benjy: It can be a tad aggressive sometimes.
May: But being cooped up is probably just making it worse.
Benjy: I don’t think this is the right place though. You may not believe this, but it took a chunk out of my teacher’s hand back home.
May flinches slightly, and then grabs Benjy tighter, something that confuses him. The camera now swivels around to show Ash coming back to the Aura Guardian’s spot with a full plate of food, while Ciri is working with a spell on the Aura Guardian’s staff. As Ash returns to his spot, Ciri notices him and her spell fades.
Ciri: Either this thing is heavily enchanted, or I have no idea what I’m doing.
Ciri now stands up and kneeling, presents the staff to Ash, who plays along, placing his food down on the table and accepting it from her, then holding it outstretched in the air. People stop dancing and begin to take pictures, (including Benjy).
May: They’re so cute together…
As people start to go back to dancing, suddenly the lacryma in the Aura Guardian’s staff pulses with light, and QST.camera focuses in on Ash.
Mysterious Voice: Why have you betrayed me?
Ash stares at the glowing lacryma in confusion, while Ciri notices the light as well.
Mysterious Voice: Aaron!
Ash: Uh, Ciri. Did you hear a voice?
Ciri: A voice?!
The light pouring from the lacryma now intensifies, forcing Ash and Ciri to cover their eyes. From the dance floor, Benjy, May, Max, and Brock also see this light, and come running.
Mysterious Voice: Answer me Aaron!
Ash: I’m not…
Both Eileen and the castle’s matron are now staring at the light, while it appears that most of the dancers are thinking it’s part of the show. This is evidenced a split second later when a popping noise is heard from the lacryma, and people start to take pictures. Then, with a loud bang that sounds as if the lacryma is exploding, a large white sphere shoots out of the lacryma and arcs to the ground, transforming into the outline of a Lucario, while everyone watches.
Once materialized, Lucario leaps towards Ash, landing only a few inches from Ash’s face.
Lucario = (Mysterious Voice): Why Aaron?
Ash takes a step back in shock.
Ash: But I’m not–
Lucario: …
Lucario blinks as he stares at Ash, and then looks around at the people staring and snapping pictures of him.
Lucario: What’s going on? What is–
Lucario is temporarily blinded by a camera flash, and as soon as he can see again, rushes towards the door and out into the night, with everyone staring after him.
Ash: What was that?
Brock: And where’s Kid?
May: You can’t find her?
Ash now notices the two cups in Brock’s hands.
Ash: Looks like you fell for a bait-and-switch…
Brock doesn’t question Ash’s assumption, and instead starts to look peeved. All the while, the banquet table is restocked behind them, just in time for Team Rocket, in costume, to gorge themselves. Brock now returns to the dance floor, fearing that Ash was right, for one more hopeful attempt to find Kidd. The dancers clap as Eileen bows to apologize, and the noise drowns out her apology.
Refresh Scene()
Ash, May, Max, Benjy, and Ciri stand around the Aura Guardian’s staff with Eileen and the Castle’s Matron. The staff lies on the chair that Ash (and also Ciri) had been sitting on.
Eileen: Grandma, that couldn’t have been…
Benjy moves forward to examine the staff
Castle’s Matron: Don’t touch it please!
Benjy: Huh? Why?
Castle’s Matron: Just please wait for an expert.
Benjy: But I thought you were the expert?
The Castle’s Matron sighs, recognizing the truth in Benjy’s words.
Eileen: The question is though, why now?
Benjy shrugs, and Ciri shivers nervously. Eileen now turns to Ciri.
Eileen: Come to think of it, that happened right after you were done holding it. Did you do something to it.
Castle’s Matron: Yes child, did you…
The Castle’s Matron is now cut off as Ciri is shaking violently. Her eyes no longer able to focus on Eileen.
Max: Ciri!
May: CIRI!
Ciri starts to fall forwards, and QST.camera starts to show black.
Eileen: Grandma! She’s having a seizure!
QST.camera is now completely black, and a soft "thunk" is heard.
New Scene()
Ciri lies on a hospital-style bed, still in costume, while May and Max stand next to her. A Blissey checks Ciri’s vitals as figures move behind a curtain.
QST.camera now moves outside the curtain to where Ash and Benjy are talking to Eileen and The Castle’s Matron, as the later excuses herself to go watch over the ball. The room they are standing in is about 25 feet by 25 feet, not counting the two hospital-style beds on the side. Eileen nods to show that she understands.
With this, Ash, Benjy, and Eileen move back inside the curtain, with Eileen approaching Ciri between May and Max.
Eileen: Are you sure she’s okay?
Max: Yeah, it happens about once a week.
May sighs.
Ash: Once a week?
Eileen: That’s actually not bad for epilepsy.
Ash: Still…
Ciri suddenly turns in bed, and opens her eyes, quickly scanning the room.
Ciri: Not again…
…///To Be Continued///…