100th moon [video]

[paladinlost]

[The video starts with stones. Stones upon stones, stones that form floors and low walls until they give way to the sky. Someway, somehow, the Pokégear has found its way to the top of a tower.

The image turns east, towards taller walls and taller towers, before dipping to show a dark grey yard. A castle, it seems. One so solid it could withstand any army, with strong oak doors to match. As the video keeps moving more walls and outdoor passageways come into view, decorated with lit torches and banners of red and gold. It pauses for a few moments at the castle gate, left open to show the surrounding waterways and a few brave and curious locals who do not quite dare to enter.

Finally, the video moves towards the central courtyard, where dozens of Pokémon can be seen milling about curiously. Their looks of wonder as they explore are too far to be seen but still undeniably present, just like the smile of their trainer behind the camera.

What words could Cecil possibly use, to convey all the feelings that this slight slice of home awakens within himself?]

My Greninja has decided to play hide and seek in the castle. Help.

[...Baron's greatest public speaker, ladies and gentlemen.]

Comments

[paladinlost]

...Please tell me they've not managed to acquire a properly armed ship.

[While it would surely be a sight to behold, the sea routes are unsafe enough as it is.]

The only proof I have that she involves herself in team matters is her participation in a previous breeding spree. It's more than a little alarming.

[islandshore]

Nah. Best they've got are some toy boats and squirt guns.

[He says that knowing that sooner or later, they may get bigger ideas. He'll just have to stay on guard.]

...See, now I'm just picturing a trail of eggs. Is she one of those flirtatious types or something?

[paladinlost]

That almost sounds harmless.

[Almost. He's sure either of those objects would be quite painful if they were thrown with sufficient force, after all.]

Not particularly, but she's interested enough to lay two or three eggs once in a while. Perhaps the prospect of children with a handful of egg moves was too good to pass up.

[islandshore]

I'm sure they've got plans to up the ante at some point. Just let me know if they try breaking into your house-- or castle now, I guess.

[...]

I'm right outside, by the way. Kinda amazed it even fit out here.

[It's a big city, sure, but... castle. It must've demolisehd at least some buildings!]

[paladinlost]

Quite surprising, is it not?

[...He'll be very sorry about the store when he finds out, promise.]

You can come in and explore, you know. And so can they; looking for treasure in other people's castles is a long and proud tradition, though I doubt they'll manage to find weapons.

[islandshore]

Do you really want a crazy lobster running around with a sword, though?

[SIGH. Well, he might as well slip inside. His own Greninja just so happens to be scouting the area for shiny objects at the time, while his Charizard chills on the roof of the TC.

They'll of course be joining him.]

[paladinlost]

...If a lobster can somehow propery wield a sword, I'm more than willing to pay to see this. With a bonus for any non-Aegislash weapon, of course.

[A whistle sounds from the top of the highest tower, barely audible. With a sigh, Cecil's Volcarona stops exploring to fly up there.]

[islandshore]

...Okay, you know what? I'm gonna have to go get him just to see if that's possible.

[So give him a second. He's gotta run back to the Training Center for science!

A short while later, he'll return, riding on Flare's back up to that tower because, hey. Curiosity, man. He has it.]

[paladinlost]

[By the time Riku comes back, Cecil and Ceo are surrounded by... slightly charred, somewhat sword-shaped sticks?]

Are you certain that's all Rosie could find? You'd think they'd have left the ornamental weapons. Heirlooms should be treated with the respect they deserve.

[The moth just sighs and shakes his head. Poor Rosie couldn't even find kitchen knives!]

[islandshore]

[Both Riku and Flare stare at those poor, pathetic sticks. They do this while still hovering above the floor, too flabbergasted to land.

When the shock wears off, Riku runs his fingers through his hair and sighs.]

Man, so there's nothing even remotely sharp left?

[paladinlost]

Not even the spears and the daggers. The barracks have been emptied of all weapons, and my own personal blades are gone. There might be one of Rosa's staves in the east tower's hidden treasury, but Rosie is too short to activate the door.

[The more Cecil speaks, the more annoyed he sounds. He knows weapons are hardly necessary in this world, of course, but he'd still hoped to see them once more.]

[islandshore]

Uugh. And here I thought there'd be some kinda loophole. The guys in charge here really need to lighten up.

[Though for all of Riku's exasperation, his Charizard starts snickering. This is kinda a no-brainer, but Riku still sends him a flat look.]

Yeah, laugh it up, but you've got claws.

[paladinlost]

Perhaps this is a test, and we need to prove ourselves worthy of an exception to that law.

[But then again, surely they've proven that a thousand times over, after so many years? Cecil shoots Flare a quick look when the snickering starts.]

...Or perhaps we are expected to grow claws of our own.

[islandshore]

Well, there was that one time we got hit with those weird mutations. Maybe we just need to trigger it again.

[He flexes his fingers, picturing this.]

Or I guess we could just make weapons. Not exactly legal, but I've gotten by using a blunt object.

[paladinlost]

Were they truly so useful? I was not affected at the time, and from what I understand there were side effects.

[Which is all too often the case with powers acquired suddenly, but that doesn't mean he likes them.]

I've found that frying pans are both practical in daily life and useful weapons in a pinch. But it's still not quite the same.

[islandshore]

Freaky mutations, sure, but the tradeoff was that we could use elemental attacks. It actually let us fight for a change.

[Which was awesome, and he still kinda misses it.]

Yeah, I'd still prefer a sword. Been trying to convince my Aegislash to let me wield him, but it's been slow going.

[paladinlost]

Slow going is still more than I've managed. Lightbringer and Ragnarok are not interested, while Deathbringer cries if she so much as knocks a Pidgey unconscious.

[That particular name turned out to be more ironic than was planned.]

[islandshore]

...Wait, how many of them do you have again?

[He's got two, but somehow he forgot just how many of those swords Cecil had scooped up during the swarms.

He's now giving Cecil a puzzled stare, while Flare simply shrugs. Some Pokémon just can't handle hurting humans.]

[paladinlost]

Only three; I gave the others away to worthy trainers. A low number, I know, but between party limitations and the few opportunities to give them different roles in battles I felt it would be unfair to catch too many.

[He sounds terribly disappointed about it, too. Ceo flaps his wings in what is probably meant to be a sympathetic gesture.]

[islandshore]

[His brows quirk, and he leans forward, spreading his arms to emphasize his next point.]

You call that low? Most people don't even have two of the same species.

[Yet as he says this, Flare snorts and points at himself. Three Charizards. That is all.

Riku opts not to comment.]

I've only got two, but one of them's shiny. Honestly, I kinda wish the shiny look was the default, because it's way more intimidating.

[paladinlost]

In that case, my team is a great exception. I have two trios and five pairs, though the Aegislashes are the only ones I've all caught myself.

[Of course, that's because most of the other doubles lost their trainers and found his way to him.]

Is that so? I've never seen a shiny Honedge; what is their color scheme?

[islandshore]

Well, the Honedge and Doublade look like they've been dipped in blood.

[He flips through his 'Gear, pulling up an image of each.]

Deep, dark red, a blue, later gold eye. Then there's Aegislash.

[He flips to the next picture, in all its dark glory. Black and red, gold trim? Heck yeah.]

[paladinlost]

[Cecil looks at the pictures attentively, his eyes sliding to the tips of the blades.]

...I've seen enough bloody swords to find their regular colors refreshing, but they do look quite impressive. I can only hope yours does not have the bloodthirsty personality to match.

[islandshore]

Heh. Well, my normal Aegislash-- Ultima? He's all about fighting. Practically obsessed with brawling, so if any of them's the bloodthirsty type, it's him.

[He eyes the pictures with a fond smile, while his free hand drops to his hip.]

Soul Eater's... quiet. Still not sure what to make of her, but she's a lot calmer than he is. Seems to prefer special attacks, too.

[paladinlost]

Near opposites in personality, then? Do they prefer to train and play together, or do their differences lead them to seek out other friends?

[He's seen it go either way often enough that he's long stopped trying to predict if two Pokémon will get along, same species or not.]