"I can't not worry," Maya replied. "There are so many things to do and think about... So many duties." She shrugged, gently stroking the dozing Togepi.
*Darkrai?* Bermuda questioned in interest. *What Pokemon is that? No there were no strange dreams... so somehow I don't think that was it...*
*Hey whats the matter with you? You deaf~?* Elly huffed in a trill. Maya was eyeing the chandelier Pokemon over her tea frowning. Elly tried drifting away from Sparky a bit, knowing that Maya could hear or at least understand what she was saying. She lowered her voice. *Can't you take a joke~?* (Btw its actually Giratina and the Distortion World)
Z chuckled, "I guess you're right about that. But things will get better eventually. It's always dark before dawn."
*Darkrai is a legendary pokemon that has the power to enter peoples dreams and cause horrific nightmares,* said Alloy, *it moves through the shadows and sneaks through the night. Its power is limited to the dream world, so I doubt that it was the cause of your problems.*
A vein throbbed on Sparky's head as she tried to ignore the chandelier pokemon. She knew fighting it would be pointless, as she didn't know any moves that would do some real damage against it, so she opted to ignore it and hope that it would get bored and leave her alone.
"You think?" Maya commented, offering a small smile. "Well that seems to be the way things go at least." She kept an eye on Elly who seemed to be pestering Z's Pokemon. "Could you tell me a little bit about where you come from?"
*Legendary Pokemon hmm... Sound terrifying,* Bermuda shuddered before bringing a tendril up to stroke his face. *Do you think I could learn to do that? Would I be more scary?*
*Seriously? Nothing~?* Elly was about let loose the bag of bright powder, potentially have it burst all over the room, when a sharp voice was heard.
"Elly," Maya said, putting her tea down. "So help me if you open that bag..." She trailed off, not exactly what kind of punishment she could do, or would want to do. It wasn't her that got Elly to freeze anyway. Dororo was now glaring at her from his reclined position by the door.
*Fine...* The Pokemon grumbled, drifting away.
"Good," Maya said with a cheery smile. She turned to Z. "Sorry Elly tends to be a troublemaker. I would like to say she doesn't mean any harm but..."
"It's alright," said Z, "I've had to deal with troublemakers in my team. And as for where I'm from, a small home in the Celosia kingdom where my parents lived. They were skilled Dragon-type trainers and coordinators and taught me a lot about how to connect with my team. On my 10th birthday, I received axew as my starter when he hatched from his egg. I traveled around a bit and eventually ended up in my relative's town, Starfort, where they surprised me by giving me ownership of the gym as a present."
*I do not think that you could become as terrifying as a Darkrai,* said Alloy, *it is the personification of fear and the bringer of nightmares.*
"Dragon types huh?" Maya mused. "I heard some of them can get rather big..." Flashes of thundering steps and crunch of homes flashed through her mind. Her grip tightened on the cup. Belatedly she realized that she was out of tea. "But thats wonderful it sounds like you have quite a big family. Dororo was my first Pokemon. I found him on a trip I once took with my parents. He was just a baby then." She stroked the sleeping Fable. "What kind of gym do you run. Dragon type?"
Bermuda at this point had settled on the floor slightly, big red eyes wider than normal. *Have you met this Pokemon?* He questioned.
"Its more of a multi-type gym," said Z, "it encourages trainers to think of strategies that aren't based solely on type match-ups. I also don't want to focus on a single type when I can be friends with all sorts of different pokemon. Also, dragon types do tend to get a bit large, but not so much that it becomes a problem to keep them around. Haxorus is one of my biggest pokemon and he isn't much trouble. in fact he uses his size to help out the miners back home by pulling the heavy minecarts filled with the stones they dig up."
*I have only heard rumors and stories of the pokemon,* said Alloy, *but I have heard accounts from trainers that pass through the town.*
"That sounds helpful," Maya agreed. She hesitated for a moment, rubbing her fingers across the smoothness of her tea cup. "Is it very far?" She had been in Yūrei no Machi for some time and though it wasn't her thing she thought maybe a trip would be nice. Aki had made travel infinitely easier for her since he evolved.
*How do you know he exists then? Many Pokemon are mere legends, never seen by Pokemon or human,* Bermuda spoke sagely, a tentacle stroking his giant beard. *What type is it? I think I would like to meet it...*
"It's actually a bit far," said Z, "the town is in the southeastern plains of Asemon. It's a bit of a walk unless you have a flying type to help you get around the land. I'm lucky that I have Rodan to carry me around, otherwise it would take me a long time to get back home from here."
*I have read many texts about pokemon from all over,* said Alloy, *some are fictional accounts of the myths that involve the legendaries, the creation trio and Arceus for example, but others are reliable texts that speak of veteran travelers that have encountered the various pokemon through their travels out of the continent. In a town in Sinnoh, there were stories about the Nightmare Pokemon Darkrai and accounts from the people that were affected by his power while the pokemon 'haunted' the town.*
"Oh that is rather far. I've been through that area before though. I must have somehow missed that town when I went through there..." She mused to herself. "Aki makes travel easier... if I have time would you be against a visitor?"
*Ohh I have never heard of these legends... sounds fascinating.... This Darkrai sounds like he knows how to really scare people... Do you think such a Pokemon would consider an apprentice?*Bermuda sounds very interested now, red eyes shining with promise and anticipation. His kind of Pokemon just sunk ships and drowned sailors and stuff. That wasn't his thing. He preferred to just scare the pants off people. Much more satisfying.
"It would be nice to see a familiar face around the town," said Z, "we offer lots of great items in our open market. Mostly things that the miners dig out of the earth like elemental stones, various ores and gems and stuff like that. It would be nice to have you in the town, though it can get a bit hot with the weather of the area. Luckily we don't usually have to worry about thunderstorms or floods. Just the occasional dust storm."
*I doubt it,* said Alloy, *the Darkrai seems to cause nightmares just by being in the presence of those that are sleeping. the closest a different pokemon could get is the move Nightmare.*
Maya made a face at the mention of heat. "Everything else sounds wonderful but I don't handle hot temperatures very well... But I think I can visit. I've been through the dessert here... There was a mining town similar to what you've explained in Sinnoh somewhere as well..." She glanced down at the teapot. There kettle was dry. "Oh, I'm sorry would you like more tea or... snacks or something?" Dororo had perked up slightly at the mention of snacks.
*Nightmare huh?* He wondered if he could learn that. He could try pestering Maya about it.
"It's alright," said Z, "but it would be nice to show you around the place. It's a nice place and we always like receiving guests. The grounds are filled with minerals, both precious and healthy, and the people farm their own food from the earth, using the new irrigation system to water their plants."
*The target has to be asleep before the move can be used,* said Alloy, *so it is hard to use, and it only works while the target is asleep. Good luck learning it.*
"Ah I see... We don't have a lot of minerals or things like that around here... but the ground is surprisingly fertile and there is a good amount of rain. I'm not sure from which direction you came but there are many rice paddies surrounding the the crumbled walls of the city. We are relatively self-sustaining." She said thinking of the various things she is responsible for. She quickly checked the sky. There was a pink tint she could discern through the wisteria trees. "Oh its late..." She said, somewhat surprised. "I didn't realize." She stood, her legs tingling from being in a kneeling position for so long. "I have evening duties to attend to. I'm so sorry. If you would like I can set up a room here for the night?" She gave a small smile.
*Ohhhhh I see... that makes sense.* Bermuda thought for a moment, considering how to scare this lump of Pokemon metal the next time they met.
"I wouldn't mind," said Z, "it is getting a bit late and I'd prefer to travel by daylight to be safer. I'm sorry for inconveniencing you, ma'am." He said this with a formal bow of respect while Sparky did the same at his side. Even Tsurara did a sort of curtsy with her dress like body.
*It isn't an easy move to learn and to my knowledge, there isn't a Technical Machine that can teach it to a pokemon,* said Alloy, *if you wish to learn it it will take blood sweat and tears combined with elbow grease and effort. Good things are worth working hard for after all.* (We're waiting for you on the Regi plot topic)
"Not an inconvenience at all," Maya replied, cradling snoozing Fable in her arms. "It was nice to see someone familiar and it is my duty after all."
As she slid open the door into the hallway the evening bell began to toll, right on schedule. There were only a few people who moved into the temple so she wasn't alone but they were hard working and punctual. At the bell Aki, gave a powerful whoosh of his wings and was gone. Dororo stood and then disappeared in a blur. Bo climbed her way in from the garden and bleated tiredly at Maya's side. Elly had gone and was lingering somewhere in the upper rooms. Wallace reappeared however at Maya's side, stiff ghostly/steel butler that he was.
Bermuda groaned, not one really accustomed to sweat or blood or elbows for that fact. But he nodded. *I see... Well its something to think about. If you'll excuse me its rather late and it is time for a dip for me. Bewaaaaaaaaaaaaaareeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~* He groaned, as he slowly faded away, heading towards the lake to get some soaking.