Music
The place: A small rented hall on Seafoam Island, decorated with three long tables, a podium at the one end of the room, and multitude of bright colors, streamers, and posters of the Caterpie through Butterfree evolution line. The time: Mid-morning. The weather outside: Grey and cool; not so cold that a jacket would be needed, as with the rest of Greater Pokemon Island, but definitely nowhere near the heat of summer. It's mild and fairly pleasant, just the same though. Inside the hall are a number of white-coated researchers, mingling about the room with even more people of all shapes and sizes, some accompanied by small, indoors-friendly pokemon. Friendly chatter drifts about the place and ever several minutes the double doors leading in swing open, admitting another person or or two.
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The weather isn't the best today. The chilly, damp mist clouds vision and makes the entire world seem more pale and dull. Still, Rick isn't one to be conscious of the weather, especially not today. The teenaged trainer is among the newest arrivals to the hall, and he glances around eagerly. The boy isn't alone, however. With him are two of the pokemon that are nearly always present when Rick is around, a Machop and a Scyther. The Scyther isn't yet big enough to cause an obstruction indoors, being only an adolescent of his species. Rick doesn't yet know what todays agenda will involve, but he is brimming with anticipation. What could it be? Fay had just invited him on 'a trip', not giving anything specific away. <Woah! Men in white coats! Fay must've learned more about you than I thought!> chuckles the Machop, giving a small, friendly punch to the trainer's leg. "Shh you! Just keep an eye open for Fay, will you? You too, Dagger!" Rick grins, looking about himself, trying to spot the girl who invited him here.
Everything is grey, veiled by mist. It's chilly and the air feels damp. There is no wind. In the forest, only the nearest tree branches, half-bereft of leaves, show their full color; more distant trees and branches are colorless and indistinct in the pallid grey fog, looking ghostly and not quite real. While at the coast, the sea is sluggish and grey as fog lays on its surface like a thick wet blanket.
Sure, the weather is a bit chilly, but who can possibly think about the temperature outside when there's an adventure to be had? Surely not Fay! Then again, the trainer is so excited about what's going to happen today, that it's a miracle she can see straight, let alone think about anything else besides Butterfree. The doors to the rented hall swish open wide as a pipsqueak teenager practically explodes through them, arms extended forward and hands held out in front of her. Unlike Rick who currently knows nothing about what's going to happen, Fay has a much clearer idea, (or at least she thinks she does), and this helps to fuel her excitement, which on a normal day is energetic, whereas today she's simply hyperactive, almost to the point where she's twitchy with anticipation. Perched on the girl's shoulder is a Caterpie, though to anyone that's seen the bug-pokemon before, he's certainly a strange specimen indeed. Instead of being greens and yellows, the caterpillar pokemon's body is mottled with autumn colors, oranges, reds and yellows. "Rick!" Fay calls joyously, raising a hand into the air as she waves to him, her whole body becoming fluidly animated as she does. Well, so much for her attempt at making a mature, toned down entrance.
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Minutes after the two trainers arrive, the room begins to quiet down and people start drifting to seats at the three long tables set up. At each place is a light brunch, consisting of a single scrambled egg, a slice of buttered toast, two strips of bacon, and a glass of orange juice. Despite there being quite a number of people in the room, there's plenty of seats and likely to be several left over. Finding a place shouldn't be a very hard task at all. Another minute or two passes and from one of the end tables someone stands, making their way to the podium. Said person is a small woman; she looks young, somewhere in her mid-twenties, though there's a stern and businesslike attitude about her. Her white jacket is crisp and clean, her mousy brown hair pulled into a tight bun at the back of her neck, and the little glasses that rest on the end of her nose are more the kind an old lady would wear. She clears her throat once she's behind the podium, and looks around the room. "Excuse me?" comes her voice, mid-range and strong. "Will everyone please quiet down?"
Caterpie are certainly no strangers to Rick, although he doesn't own any himself. They are so common in the Viridian Forest area that one cannot pass through there without seeing at least one. "Fay! Heya!" he calls, waving back. It seems that the girl's enthusiasm is contagious, as Rick struggles to keep himself under control. Zack, the Machop by the boy's side just gives a smart salute in greeting, a cheeky grin on his face that matches his trainer's. Dagger seems to have the same enthusiasm as Fay, as he literally jumps for joy, his wings fluttering to keep him briefly aloft as he waves one blade in a friendly greeting. Rick is about to ask for more details about this gathering when he notices the people slowly make their way towards the tables. "Ooh, looks like we were just in time... Let's grab ourselves a seat, shall we?" he suggests, nodding in the direction of the tables. The boy quickly locates some spare seats not too far away, and he pulls two adjacent chairs back to allow room to sit down and then seats himself in one. The pokemon have to be left behind, as neither is really suitable for a human chair, the Machop because of his atrocious table manners and the Scyther because of his oversized body and lack of fingers.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
While Caterpie might not be strangers to Rick, if he hangs around Fay much longer, he's soon going to become good friends with them, whether he plans on doing so or not. Fidgeting in place, hardly able to keep a lid on her excitement for a second longer, the blue haired girl smiles brightly to the Scyther, apparently delighted at the sight of the young bladed pokemon. Landis, Fay's Caterpie, doesn't seem to share the same sentiments about Dagger, and instead of returning the wave, the tiny insect shrinks back in fear, huddling underneath the girl's bluish locks. "Oh, don't be afraid! He won't hurt you." Shyly, the Caterpie peeks his head out from his hiding place, blinking fearfully at the much larger Scyther. Even though Dagger may just be a juvenile of his species, he still serves as quite the intimidator to the much smaller, and more fragile Caterpie. Following after Rick, Fay is quick to situate herself in one of the seats next to the boy, eyes gluing themselves to the older woman standing at the podium. "Ooooh," she murmurs, quickly snatching up the glass of orange juice, gulping down the tangy liquid with greedy gusto.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
"Quiet down, quiet down," the woman continues, pushing her glasses up on her nose and shuffling through the papers on the podium. "Thank you." The room falls silent, though she gives it a moment before speaking again. "Now, I'm very glad you all could come. We'll be starting out in just a moment, right after we enjoy the--" "Hey!" a shout from the back of one table cuts her off and she looks up sharply, frowning at the man who stands from his seat. "I thought this was going to be led by the famous Leland Rudder himself. Who're you?" At this the woman's frown deepens. "Dr. Rudder's taken ill today, I'm afraid," she explains briskly, "I'm taking over for him. My name is Marilyn Aurther. Doctor Aurther, if you please. Now, if there's no more questions..." Here she pauses, looking around the room expectantly.
Everything is grey, veiled by mist. It's chilly and the air feels damp. There is no wind. In the forest, only the nearest tree branches, half-bereft of leaves, show their full color; more distant trees and branches are colorless and indistinct in the pallid grey fog, looking ghostly and not quite real. While at the coast, the sea is sluggish and grey as fog lays on its surface like a thick wet blanket.
While Dagger's natural appearance may be intimidating, his very visible personality suggests otherwise. Despite an older Scyther's efforts at training him to be an efficient fighter, he seems to be a more playful specimen than usual. He seems used to the reaction of the Caterpie, but he doesn't seem bothered by it. As the two trainers abandon the two pokemon, they seem to begin a conversation of their own, apparently finding the human's interests boring. Rick begins to tuck into the light meal provided for everyone, his manners not perfect, but passable. As the researcher makes the announcement, Rick looks up in surprise, hastily swallowing a mouthful. "Erm, Leland Rudder, is that the same one who...?" Rick whispers to Fay, curious. He has of course heard part of Fay's tale, but knows little about his work. Rick seems to be paying attention now, more interested now he knows the subject of the meeting.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
Fay begins to pick at the meal in front of her, though not with her usual appetite. Slowly she nibbles on the buttered piece of toast, taking small thoughtful bites. Marilyn's response to the man's sudden question catches Fay off guard, and the girl drops her half eaten piece of toast back onto her plate. Her former happy face is replaced by one of disappointment as her soft blue eyes look to the table and the plate with the remainder of her brunch sitting on it. "Ah," she starts to complain then stops herself, chewing on her bottom lip to keep from blurting anything that might be considered rude and get her kicked out of here. Even still, a whispered "Shucks," escapes her parted lips, and she hangs her head briefly, simply unable to completely cast aside this huge letdown. Fay nods to Rick when he begins to question about the famous researcher, a glint of eager excitement flashing in her eyes at the thought of the expedition. Hmmm, seems even in the disappointing situations, Fay can't stay sad for very long. Especially, when there's so much fun up ahead! Appetite returning, the girl starts in on the bacon, chewing on it hungrily, still completely riveted with Dr. Aurther.
The young woman seems satisfied after waiting a handful of minutes, and she finally nods, moving right along. "Very good," she says, glassing sliding to the end of her nose as she moves her head. A hand reaches up to push them back. "Now, as you all know each year the Butterfree of Greater Pokemon Island migrate to find a mate and lay their eggs. For a long time our goal has been to find this island and observe these magnificant pokemon in their natural habitat. Only recently, however, has this island been found... by Dr. Rudder and myself." A look of accomplishment crosses Dr. Aurther's face and she smiles briefly before catching herself and going businesslike once more. "For the first time ever we're allowing breeders interested in seeing the Butterfree to visit the island. That's why we're here today. So," she concludes finally, "We'll be off! Just take a few minutes to finish your meals, then we'll head on out to the docks for our boat. Thank you." With that she steps down from the podium and takes her seat, while the chatter of the room picks up once again.
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Finally, the purpose of this outing is revealed, and what a purpose! Rick can barely contain his excitement, much the same as Fay earlier. He turns to the girl next to him, the gleeful sparkle in his eyes ever more visible now. "Wow! You... We... Wow!" is all he can say, mostly lost for words. The mere idea of the trip seems incredible, as Rick has never seen -one- of the beautiful bugs before, at least not up close. Now, the idea of seeing hundreds, perhaps -thousands- of Butterfree up close is intoxicating. If he knew Fay better, he would give her a hug, but he's not that well aquainted yet. "Butterfree! Wow! I've never seen -one- before!" he exclaims, stating the fact that Fay already knows. Dagger seems to pick up on his trainer's excitement, rushing towards the table to investigate the commotion.
Upon hearing the doctor's words, Fay breaks into the biggest and brightest smile ever. Chuckling at Rick's sudden change in demeanor, the girl spots an apple sitting in a bowl of fruit in the center of the table, reaches for it and takes the red piece of fruit into one of her tiny hands. Cutting a slice of the apple's ruby flesh with a butter knife, Fay hands a piece of the sweet fruit to the shy Caterpie that's still perched on her shoulder. "There you go!" With a squeal shrill of happiness, the oddly pigmented bug gets into a "sitting" position, and takes the fruit between two of his front sucker feet. If it's at all possible, Fay looks even happier now, just tickled that Rick seems to be just as excited as she is about the trip. "I know!" she crows, waving a fork in the air, "It's going to be great! Well," she pauses here, looking devious then contemplative, "Well, you'll see some today! Lots, and lots of Butterfree!" She then goes back to eating. You can't go on an expedition on an empty stomach!
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
Everything is grey, veiled by mist. It's chilly and the air feels damp. There is no wind. In the forest, only the nearest tree branches, half-bereft of leaves, show their full color; more distant trees and branches are colorless and indistinct in the pallid grey fog, looking ghostly and not quite real. While at the coast, the sea is sluggish and grey as fog lays on its surface like a thick wet blanket.
Slowly people begin to finish their meals, pushing back from their chairs and heading towards the double doors as they continue to chatter away. It's not hard to see where they're going; once outside there's a short walk down road to the docks, where a small boat (not unlike the one used to go to Habari) is docked. The breeders cross the ramp leading to the deck, some remaining outside while others duck into the boat's covered interior, taking one of the multiple seats alongside large windows. As the hall begins to empty, Dr. Aurther herself heads for the door, passing by Fay and Rick. She pauses, however, to eye the two. Fay in particular. "Excuse me," she murmurs, looking the girl over, "You look a bit young to be a breeder. Might I ask what you're doing here?"
Rick seems to have lost his appetite and gained a Charizard's, as he quickly finishes the rest of his meal without seemingly taking a breath. He seems eager both to go on the trip as soon as possible and to avoid keeping anyone else waiting. The young Scyther quickly catches the trainer's attention, and his wordless enquiry is met with a smile as the trainer moves to follow the rest of the group, waiting for Fay, of course. "We're going on a trip, Dagger. Now, you promise to be good and not mess with anything you're not supposed to mess with, okay?" he commands, showing a warning finger to the bladed bug. Dagger's only response is a quick nod, but this seems to suffice for a promise. As Dr. Aurthur approaches, the trainer draws himself up to appear more mature, but this is perhaps an overdone effort. As a result, it is clear he is trying to make an impression, and the Machop just shakes his head and closes his eyes. <Oh dear...> he murmers.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
A bite of bacon here, a nibble of toast there, and a sip of orange juice in-between. It's just too bad she can't have breakfast like this everyday! It sure is a welcome change from cheese sandwiches and grape lollipops. And it's certainly without a doubt a healthier alternative to her meals. After all, without a parent around to keep watch over what she's eating, there's no one to tell her she can't have cookies for breakfast. (Coooookie Crisp!) When the doctor passes her and comments on her age, the young girl's grin falters a bit, though it's quickly regained. "I'm fourteen!" she begins, holding out her hands, only to look a little dismayed when she realizes she can't show the doctor how old she is with her fingers. Drats. Instead of becoming nervous of apprehensive in the presence of the adult, Fay becomes the exact opposite, exuding confidence and energy. "Oooh, Leland said I could come! I want to breed Butterfree when I grow up!" Promptly getting out of her seat, she delves a hand into her front overall pocket and produces a plain white envelope that has Leland's signature scribbled on the front. "He wrote me a letter, saying I could come!" A smile. "He's so cool!" She pauses. "I didn't know you helped find that island too! That's so great! I wish I could have helped do that."
Aurther eyes the young breeder wannabe, looking as though she only partially believes the girl about her age. "Oh, really?" she inquires softly, eyebrows lifting. The envelope gets a squint-eyed and careful lookover before she shrugs a bit a nods. "Well, it looks real enough... how did you--" Her words are cut off by someone else striding up alongside, a long-haired man with a scraggly beard, who grins faintly at the two trainers and then looks over towards the female doctor. "Heya, Doc? 'Bout ready to head out?" A blink, then a curt nod from the woman. "Ah, right. Let's go." Fay and Rick get the woman's attention once more, briefly, "You two coming?" Then she turns and heads out the door towards the boat.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
Rick just nods in agreement, just looking at the official-looking envelope in the girl's hands. He would add in his own comments, but Fay seems to have taken care of the situation adequately enough. "Sure! C'mon, let's go get ourselves some good seats!" he beckons Fay along, following the researcher out of the door and towards the moored boat. "Breeding sounds cool... I might try to be one someday. Did I tell you about the Eevee I left at the Breeding Center? The kits have arrived! I went to visit them, and they're -so- cute! I left mine there though, as he's... well, I can't seperate the daddy from his kids, can I?" Rick chatters as he walks, eager to make conversation. When he reaches the boat, he will climb aboard, helping Fay if necessary.
Landis watches the older woman warily, eyes wide and expression suspicious. Eventually though, once the Caterpie is sure that the doctor means him no harm, he goes back to eating the apple, gripping onto it tightly with his sticky feet. Fay looks a little disappointed that the woman isn't seemingly as friendly as Leland had been with her, but perhaps that's just because the doctor is busy getting everything together and running smoothly. Eventually she just shrugs it off, and nods to her when she asks if they want to come. "Oh, yeah! Sure do!" With an energetic leap she's off, hurrying after Rick, acting more as if they're running a race than boarding a boat to go on a breeding expedition. "Wow! You have an Eevee? And," she opens her eyes wide with disbelief, "It had babies? Cool! How many did it have?" With a little help from Rick, Fay manages to get onto the boat with little trouble, only slipping once.
The boat doesn't disembark for some time, bobbing on the water as the last of the hall's occupants empty out and climb aboard. Aurther vanishes somewhere amidst the other white-coated people that wander about, and after some time things finally get underway. Those still on deck are warned to hang on, and the little craft carefully makes its way from the dock, heading out towards the ocean. It goes at a fairly neat clip, splashing over the swells and cutting speedily through the water. A few of the breeders apparently aren't very good on the water... there's one or two that look rather ill from all the bouncing. But for the most part the trip is uneventful, people forming small groups and chattering away.
Everything is grey, veiled by mist. It's chilly and the air feels damp. There is no wind. In the forest, only the nearest tree branches, half-bereft of leaves, show their full color; more distant trees and branches are colorless and indistinct in the pallid grey fog, looking ghostly and not quite real. While at the coast, the sea is sluggish and grey as fog lays on its surface like a thick wet blanket.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
"I didn't tell you? How could I not have told you! Well, you know me and Sophia won the tournament? We chose the Eevee as our prizes, and they've been in the Breeding Center since... May? There's three kits, so we'll each get one. The breeder, Sophia, and me, that is. They are -so- cute! When we're allowed to pick them up, I'll have to show you mine... The daddy, Prince, is mine..." Rick explains on the boat as he finds himself a seat quickly. The trainer seems to be used to the water, although it is a good job he has recalled his pokemon. Zack definitely doesn't take to boats well, and Dagger would just get in the way. "That's why I'm considering trying for a breeder's license... I think I'm old enough..." Rick continues. Conversation is a way to pass the time, at least...
Once on the water, Fay's personality does a weird sort of split. And she acts as if she hardly hears Rick while he talks on about his Eevee in the background. On one hand she's so excited she can hardly breathe, and then there's the other hand...The normally easy going trainer is gripping onto the boat's railing so tightly her palms have become moist with nervous perspiration, and her knuckles are beginning to turn a sickly shade of whitish gray. She's clutching the railing so fiercely in fact that the wood is starting to leave speckled markings on her sweating palms. The weird thing one might notice is, despite Fay's rather strange change in behavior, she doesn't look like she's suffering from any sort of seasickness. Rather, she looks to be gripped by some kind of fear that's so intense, it's left her practically unable to speak or do anything. They're coming for me. Her mind shouts to her, though she remains eerily silent. Nervously, the young teen glances at the water, her adrenaline pumping.
The trip's a relatively short one, perhaps an hour or two at most, and decidedly uneventful. Near the end of the trip the weather improves greatly, things warming up and the sky getting much clearer. While it's nowhere near as hot as Habari, things are still pleasantly mild, even warm. As they get closer to their destination the boat's moter begins to slow, the small craft drifting forward bit by bit. Apparently this palce isn't as valuable or carefully protected as Habari is; there's a dock built here, and this is where the boat is motered to, then tied. And Dr. Aurther steps forward to the prow, clearing her throat and speaking loudly so people can hear. "Alright! Everyone off, but stick close please!" With that she marches over to the bridge and steps off the boat, continuing down the dock to the sandy shore nearby and waiting for the rest of the group.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
Fay's odd change of demeanor puzzles Rick, and he seems unsettled by it. It isn't seasickness, or not the usual kind of seasickness at least. He seems to want to comfort her somehow, but without knowing what's wrong, there's nothing he can do. At a loss, he just places a hand on Fay's shoulder; that seemed to do the trick last time. When the boat arrives at its destination, Rick takes his time to view his surroundings. This seems like a quiet enough place, the sort of place the trainer can imagine as a migration destination. "You okay?" Rick asks his companion, remaining with her on the boat until he is convinced she is. Rick will follow Fay when she disembarks from the boat. After all, it's -her- trip, -she- was the one who invited -him-, not the other way around.
When Rick places a hand on her shoulder, Fay leaps about a foot into the air, letting out a high pitched yelp of mixed fear and surprise. "Ayeeee!" the tiny trainer cries, whirling around and taking a step back from Rick with her arms held protectively over her head, as if she expects the other teen to strike her. "Oh," she blinks; letting out a sigh of relief when she finds it's only her friend Rick, and not some hideous beast with tentacles come to get her. "Y-y-y-yeah." Stuttering a bit, Fay manages to muster a small smile, though for a moment the expression looks a little forced. "I don't like the deep water," she pauses a bit, looking around as if she's afraid someone is stalking her. "The Tentacruel, they scare me." She explains, though her words will probably be more confusing than enlightening. The doctor's order snaps her out of her state, and slowly moves to get back onto the beach. Step by step, she half expects some tentacles to wrap around her ankles and drag her into the water. Stumbling once, she suddenly takes off in a mad dash and makes a break for the sand. "Coming!"
"Oh, this is exciting!" "The weather's so nice here." "I wonder if this is the place my old Butterfree came..." "This should be fascinating, absolutely fascinating." Murmuring amongst themselves, the breeders gather on the shore and mingle, waiting. Once the group is fairly well together, Dr. Aurther steps forward and announces, "Alright! Here's what we're going to do. There's a trail that leads across the island; that's the route we're going to take. It's not a terribly long walk, only about five miles or so, and we should be able to see quite a bit. Everyone please stick together, keep your pokemon in their pokeballs, and we're off!" With that the young woman nods curtly and whirls on her heel, marching off. Some ways up on the beach the sand gives way to to seagrass, making the going firmer and easier. From here, walking up a dune, a sandy trail of uneven planks can be seen, disappearing into a wood of gnarled, stunted little trees.
Pokemon in their pokeballs? This sounds a familiar concept... Rick's companions will not be part of the sightseeing group today, but at least the trainer has the comfort of them being there if needed. That's one unsettling thing about the trips to Habari, none of the trainer's pokeballs are even allowed on the island, so the safety net that they provide is no longer there. Here it is understandable. If this is indeed the place where the mysterious annual flight of the Butterfree goes, then the worst thing to do would be to disturb them. Nodding affirmatively, Rick glances in Fay's direction and begins to follow the group, keeping his eyes open all the while, mainly aimed at the sky. How exciting!
Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty. In the forest, fiery red, gold, and orange leaves rustle and blow past you, swirling in the wind. While at the coast, the sea is a warm blue, reflecting the saved warmth from the summer, and the waves are gentle.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
Once she's safely back on the shore, Fay takes a few deep breaths, shutting her eyes a minute as she calms back down. That's right, the Tentacruel can't come and get her. Not while she's on dry land at least. She glances back to the boat and shudders. While her fear might be irrational, it doesn't come without its reasons. Dizzy, and a bit weak in the legs, Fay finally pushes her fear deep into the farther recesses of her mind. Momentarily, Fay considers asking the doctor if she can keep Landis out, so that he can see all the Butterfree. For a while she struggles with the question, as if she lacks the vocal chords necessary to say it. "Um," she pauses, "Can I keep my Caterpie out?" Joining the group, Fay hurries up and walks alongside Rick, eyes wide with growing curiosity. "This is going to be so much fun! Aren't you excited?"
Aurther pauses when Fay speaks up, glancing over her shoulder at the little blue-haired girl. She frowns for a moment, eyeing the Caterpie through her glasses, then sighs and shrugs slightly. "Oh, I suppose a Caterpie wouldn't hurt," comes the reply after a moment, then she addresses the other breeders,"Though I'd prefer if the rest of you kept your pokemon balled. Especially if they're not of the Caterpie line. Thank you!" A curt nod to the group and she starts off again, leading away. The place is rather pretty; while the weather back on Cinnabar was mild, this is even more pleasant. It's warmer, the sun's shining in a blue sky with fluffy white clouds, and there's a gentle breeze that rustles through the tangled trees, smelling of salt. Stunted and small as they might be, the trees are practically dripping with fruits of all shapes and sizes, probably one of the many reasons the Butterfree choose this place as their breeding grounds. The wooden path winds deeper into the trees, leading further and further from the shore.
"Yeah! I still don't know what to expect!" Rick replies to Fay's enthusiastic enquiry. Of course, the boy is almost as excited as the girl is likely to be, only he isn't showing it as much. While he is usually a loud and mischievous person, there is a time and a place for everything. Rick's pokemon are already in their balls, as a boat trip would have proved to be disagreeable with them both. Unfortunately, Caterpie are one of the many species that Rick doesn't yet own, and the only bugs he possesses are Scythers. Two such creatures reside within the red and white orbs on the trainer's belt, but releasing them would prove to be more disruptive than Dr Aurthur would likely allow. Rick just follows the rest of the group, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as they scan his surroundings.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
"Lots of Butterfree!" Fay pipes up, telling Rick exactly what he should be expecting. Though, deep deep down, even she doesn't know precisely what's going to happen, and when. Like the rest of the breeders that have come to the island with the doctor, Fay will just have to wait and see. Eying the stunted trees, their branches laden with loads of delicious looking fruit, Fay apparently seems to forget about the brunch she had before riding the boat here. Now her stomach rumbles in protest, and she's half tempted to shimmy up one of their trunks, and pluck some of the more brightly colored pieces of fruit. However, the trainer manages to keep her hunger in check, and continues along after the group, moving in a half jogging half skipping sort of gait, a smile on her face, her arms swinging in motion with her lolloping as she makes her way along the sandy trail. "Wow, maybe we'll even get to see Davet! Oh, I sure hope so! Maybe I should take notes?" With the thoughts of man-eating Tentacruel behind her, it looks as if Fay's bouncy attitude is back full throttle.
The deeper into the trees they go, the more scenic things become. While there's no pokemon to be seen as of yet, it's still absolutely beautiful. Calls can be heard, echoing from all directions faintly, the breeze is soft and warm, scented with fresh salt and sweet fruit. A small trickling off to one side of the path reveals itself to be a little creek, winding back and out of sight. Up ahead things begin to slope downwards in toward the island, and after a few more minutes Aurther pauses again. "Okay, here I'm going to need to ask that you all keep your voices down and talking to a minimum. Don't want to startle the Butterfree. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask, but it would be best if you tried to come forward to do so." She glances around at the group. "Any now, before we go on?"
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
Rick nods as Fay suggests the one thing that would make the trip complete: finding her missing Butterfree. "That'd be awesome! My fingers are crossed!" he grins, showing both hands to prove it. Marvelling at the beautiful surroundings, Rick finds himself wishing for some way to show his parents what he has seen. "I should've brought a camera... But that might disturb them, so that's probably a bad idea..." Rick's voice seems to be lowering as they continue, so that by the time the female researcher suggests it, Rick is already whispering. He shakes his head to indicate that he has no questions. He has already assumed that throwing pokeballs would be a bad idea, so he surpresses his trainer instincts for now.
Following the group deeper into the trees, the trainer slows herself down so that she doesn't accidentally rush ahead of anyone. The mixed smell of salt and fruit is tantalizing to the senses, and Fay tilts her head upwards, taking a good whiff of the smells as they waft around her nose and lips. Maybe she should just pitch up a tent and become a permanent resident of the island, and live here with the Butterfree for the rest of her life. Now, that's an idea! Still clinging to the group, listening to the sound of the creek as the water trickles on its winding course, Fay glances from side to side now and then, looking for any signs of Butterfree, or any other pokemon for that matter. Who knows, maybe she'll discover some new unidentified species and become famous! Crossing her fingers too, Fay grins brightly, and pulls a pocket-sized notebook from her overalls, and removes a pen that's been tucked behind one of her ears. "Nope," Fay whispers, shaking her head.
Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty. In the forest, fiery red, gold, and orange leaves rustle and blow past you, swirling in the wind. While at the coast, the sea is a warm blue, reflecting the saved warmth from the summer, and the waves are gentle.
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
When no one volunteers a question, Dr. Aurther simply nods and turns on her heel once again, marching off down the board path. It continues to slope, the change in direction gradual at first, but getting steeper as it goes along. And then things open up suddenly, the gnarled trees giving way to an open field of rustling grasses and bright flowers. Though the flowers aren't the only bright things around here. There's also Buttefree -- lots of Butterfree -- as far as the eye can see. And for the most part they're in pairs, fluttering amidst the tall grass or between the thinned-out trees. "Freeee!" they chirp happily, going about their respective business and ignoring, for the most part, the new arrivals to the clearing.
This cocktail of scents, sights and sounds is indeed refreshing, almost as if the absence of human civilization promotes the best kind of natural environment imaginable. As the line of trees falls away, Rick's mouth drops open at the sight presented to the group, almost as if his eyes can't take it all in! "Wow..." he whispers, sounding more like a sigh than a word. So this is where all the Butterfree in the world migrate to... "There are certainly a lot of Butterfree in the world, aren't there?" he whispers, the fluttering shapes of the beautiful bugs seeming to have a calming effect on the trainer. "Can... Can you see yours?" he asks. Of course, Rick doesn't know what Davet looks like, nor if he would be able to pick him out from among hundreds, maybe -thousands- more of his kind.
If anyone is surprised by the sudden change of scenery, and the sheer numbers of the pairing Butterfree, it's Fay. Standing there on the steep slope, knee high in swaying grass, she lets her bottom jaw drop, as if the muscles that hold her mouth closed are no longer working properly. Moving her lips, Fay tries to say something, but she's so taken aback by the beautiful sight, that for a moment she is unable to do anything but stare, gape at the beauty that holds her completely motionless in its wonder. "They're so beautiful," the small girl whispers, in a soft voice that holds surprise and awe, and a bit of yearning. Rick's question seems to snap Fay out of her Butterfree-induced trance, and her eyes flutter open and shut, her attention refocusing itself on the boy standing next to her. "Uh," Fay is quiet while she scans the airborne ocean of insectoid pokemon flying in the sweet smelling breeze, her eyes flying back and forth while she scans the crowd for her starter pokemon. "I don't think I can---There!" she points, eyes widening and smile growing. "Look! Look! Ha! He's still wearing the scarf I gave him! He's that one!" Laughing and jumping up and down, Fay gestures wildly towards a Butterfree a distance off, a bright pink scarf wrapped around his neck. "See him? See him?"
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Near the front of the group is Dr. Aurther, chatting away quietly with several other breeders. All look about as enthralled by the insect pokemon as Fay, some standing in silent awe while other mumbled amidst themselves, pointing and speaking under their breaths. The young trainer's laughing, however, causes several people to look up and scowl at the girl and her noise. Aurther too looks up and frowls faintly, excusing herself from the little group and striding off to speak with her. "Excuse me," she half hisses, "Could you keep it down? We're trying -not- to disrupt the pokemon, if you please."
Rick's question seems to have caused a bit of trouble... Something he is known for, but this isn't exactly the right situation for it. As the researcher approaches, Rick seems to put on an incredibly guilty look. "Er... that was my fault... Sorry..." he smiles hesitantly, looking up at Dr Aurthur with his typical 'don't hate me' expression on. "I asked about her Butterfree, see, and..." he trails off, giving up making excuses. If he hasn't redeemed himself for Fay's disruptive show of joy yet, then he isn't going to manage it at all.
Fay calms down considerably when the doctor tells her to be quiet, cupping her hands over her mouth, stifling the giggles of excitement while she forces herself to regain control of her "mature" composure. Come on, she's a big girl; she can act grown up when she needs to! "Okay," Is all the girl can choke out, though her attention is back on her Butterfree again, now that she's caught sight of Davet she's easily able to pick him out from the group of Butterfree, especially with the help of the pink scarf wrapped around his neck. The bright colored material serves as a homing beacon, labeling the male Butterfree as Fay's. "Davet," she whispers, though this is a silly attempt at summoning her pokemon, what with all of the "Free's!" choking the air of its other sounds. By some stroke of luck however, (maybe it's the blue hair,) Davet spots his trainer and flies towards her, followed by another Butterfree. When he gets close enough he calls, "Freee!" <Fay, look at her. Isn't she pretty?> Davet asks proudly, hovering alongside a smaller version of himself, one whose wings are speckled with seemingly all the colors of the rainbow, (though this may just be an effect of the sunlight on the bug's spores).
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The doctor sighs and shakes her head when Fay doesn't quiet down entirely, though she drops it anyway and moves back toward the group she'd been chatting with. "Children," mutters the woman to herself, though the very faintest hint of a smile crosses her face when she spots the girl conversing with her own pokemon. "Well, well," she comments to a few of the others, pointing. "Would you look at that? What're the chances of running into the Butterfree that you trained yourself?" Another breeder, an older man, chuckles. "Interesting," he replies with a nod. "Let's see how they interact?" Aurther nods and pauses the group, watching as well.
Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty. In the forest, fiery red, gold, and orange leaves rustle and blow past you, swirling in the wind. While at the coast, the sea is a warm blue, reflecting the saved warmth from the summer, and the waves are gentle.
Rick doesn't spot Fay's Butterfree until he begins to fly towards Fay, getting closer to Rick at the same time. "Wow..." he says again, marvelling at the sight of the glistening pokemon before him. This is the closest Rick has ever been to one of the most graceful pokemon in existance, and the moment seems to catch him a little off guard. Not quite knowing what to say or what to do, Rick just takes a step backwards, allowing Fay to have the time with her pokemon that she deserves. Not knowing what the Butterfree is saying, there is no way for Rick to reply, although he would most certainly agree with him if he could. The smaller one next to him must be his mate, then... "Davet's got good taste..." the boy smiles, the words not directed at anyone in particular.
"Oh, she sure is! She's the prettiest Butterfree I've ever seen! You'll have beautiful babies!" At this Davet "frees!" proudly, for he is not able to pull his mouth into the smile that he wishes to produce. Still unable to overcome her shock with all of this, Fay unclips a pokeball from her belt, and holds it out to the bug-pokemon, simply beaming. "I'm so glad you came! Looks like you don't have to take the journey back! I can bring you home, and we can go visit Mom and Dad!" For a moment Davet is completely silent, and his expression of pride disappears behind one of insectoid gloom. Antennas drooping, the brightness in his pair of rubies fading, he murmurs <I want to stay. Live on the island. With Silverwing. I don't want to leave her.> Fay is so surprised by this revelation, that she's shocked into disbelieving silence. Her best friend...wants to stay? "I...uh..." the girl coughs, trying to choke back a whimper. <Please let him stay.> Silverwing coos, voice shrill as she pleads with the teenager.
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For the most part the group continues to watch the Butterfree, breeders discussing interesting traits among them, differences in coloring or size or various other things and the possible reasons for them. At the front of the group Dr. Aurther's small bunch keeps watching Fay, however, curious to see how the trainer and her Butterfree will work out the rather obvious problem that seems to have arisen. A few comment quietly to each other, but it's done softly so as not to be overheard, and mostly they just remain quiet.
Rick's involvement is also rather minimal right now. He is unable to understand either of the Butterfree but the change in Fay's demeanor is startlingly obvious. The boy steps forwards once again, next to the girl who seems to be having troubles. "Fay... What's up? What's wrong?" he asks, a concerned look on his face and a worried tone in his voice. What he doesn't know can't hurt him, but his ignorance is preventing any sort of consolation on his part. He -has- to find out what is wrong. It would be wrong not to. The teenager glances between the Butterfree and the female trainer, trying to figure out what was said that would silence Fay like that.
Fay watches her Butterfree, flying beside his mate, and takes in the beauty around her. Davet wants to stay. Fay stands there, breathless. Here is a place that's beauty stretches on for endless miles, that's safe from the prying hands of trainers, and Davet has the chance to live here safely with a mate of his very own. What Butterfree wouldn't want this? Would it be right for her to take it away from him? Looking up at Davet and his mate, she's overtaken by the magic of her deep and undying love for the Butterfree. A warm tingling glow courses through her, and she feels a great welling up of compassion for the insect she raised from a Caterpie. She could never take Davet away from something if it would cost his happiness. Though, just the thought of living without him brings the burning ache of tears to her eyes, and tightness in the back of her throat. Glancing to Rick, eyes shimmering, Fay sighs, "He wants to stay," Turning to Davet, "And if that's what he wants," she sniffles, "Then he'll stay." Fay chokes, "D-d-d-don't think you get to go without a hug though!" Fay chuckles, feigning a cheerful expression. Descending a bit, Davet lands in his trainer's arms, and the girl lets out a soft sob. "Be good, and don't eat too many kiwis!" The tears are streaming, though her cries are hardily audible. "I love you Davet!" "Freee," <I love you too.>
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While Dr. Auther's group seems more than satisfied with watching the scene, some of the other breeders are about ready to move on. And they begin to voice this to the good doctor, some already wandering off ahead. At last there's not a lot that can be done, and the young woman tears her gaze away from Fay and her pokemon, announcing a bit more loudly than before, "Alright everyone, I'm afraid we'll need to get moving now! Please keep together!" And she turns, glancing briefly back over her shoulder to make sure the group is following, before leading off once again.
The revelation that could break a heart just to keep one whole... This is perhaps one of the worst possible situations for a trainer to be in. Davet was Fay's first pokemon... Rick could not imagine living without his Machop, even if a parting like this would be unlikely. The sight of the weeping girl is enough to make Rick want to cry too, even if it would spoil his cheerful image. A hug is exactly what Fay needs, and that is exactly what Davet gives her. Silently, Rick does something he wouldn't even have considered a while ago: he puts his arm around the girl, a gentle yet reassuring arm, just enough to signify that Rick is there for comfort if he is needed. Of course, the likelihood that he will be needed is very high now. The rest of the group has been disregarded, and Rick will only move on when Fay does, never one to let a girl cry without trying to do something about it. "You look after her well, okay?" the boy says quietly to Davet, a slight smile coming to his face. The future may be bright on the island, but will Fay be able to cope on her own?
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Fay hears the doctor calling, but for the life of her the last thing she wants to do is follow her. Then she'll have to let go, and this dream will turn into a bittersweet reality she's not quite ready to face. Nevertheless, she knows what she has to do. Davet still snuggled up in Fay's loving embrace, the girl gently tosses the Butterfree into the air, and it's through this small motion that she makes her last, silent goodbye. In the air with Silverwing alongside of him, Davet croons his soft farewell. <Goodbye, Fay!> As if struck by a second thought the Butterfree adds, <I'll never forget!> "And, I'll always remember," Fay whispers to herself, trying to blink away the moisture in her eyes, and clear her vision. <Thank you.> the female Butterfree cries when she gets the chance, taking off after Davet. With Rick's arm around her, giving her just the hug she needs right now, the girl watches as Davet and his mate fly off into the distance. Wait, this is her last chance! "Have a good life! Be happy!" Raising her arm into the air, she waves as her Butterfree disappears from sight, his pink scarf becoming less and less visible. "Friends forever!" Fay calls out to her Butterfree, knowing that even if he doesn't hear her, he'll know it in his heart. Turning to Rick, she nudges him with an elbow, "Told /you/ I'd show you Butterfree!" Fay jokes with a laugh, this time her smile is genuine.
Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty. In the forest, fiery red, gold, and orange leaves rustle and blow past you, swirling in the wind. While at the coast, the sea is a warm blue, reflecting the saved warmth from the summer, and the waves are gentle.
The group troupes on ahead, following the plank path through the rest of the island after Dr. Aurther. They continue to admire the scenery, the pokemon, chat amongst themselves, and the like, fairly cheery. And why not? The place is beautiful, there's love in the air, it's pretty much a perfectly happy scene... except for, perhaps, poor Fay. But just the same, they don't stop and unless the two trainers hurry and catch up with the group they'll be left behind. Though it wouldn't really be difficult to find their way, thanks to the path.
A dramatic farewell, to be sure. Rick watches as the Butterfree float off into the distance, adding his own smaller wave to Fay's own. "Wow... You sure are lucky to have a friend like that..." he says, almost to himself. Friends forever. That's the kind of bond that every trainer wishes for. Rick's troupe sometimes just seems like they're tagging along for the ride, but in reality they are good friends. Rick pulls back his arm once he is satisfied that Fay is truly okay. As her demeanor changes back to its usual, bouncy self, Rick is left speechless in wonder and admiration. She has just said goodbye to her closest friend, and yet her mood goes from one of sorrow to one of cheerfulness. How does she do it? Rick can only wonder...
Trick or treat! Ash's mom drops a database into your goody bag! (Saving)
Just how does Fay bounce back from being a crying mess, to a happy cheerful everyday fourteen year old? Perhaps it's just all the candy and cookies she eats, that keep her smiling from ear to ear, even in the midst of bad situations. Or, maybe it's simply how the girl's personality works. Then again, it could be that in her heart she knows she'll always love, and be loved by one very special Butterfree. Of course, with that knowledge always in the depths of her soul, how can she possibly stay depressed about anything for very long? The thing is she can't, and while she'll most certainly grieve for her closest friend and partner, she can't stay sad forever. "Sure am!" Fay pipes up, though her watering eyes show that it'll definitely be a while before she's fully recovered, "Oh, we gotta hurry! I don't wanna haveta swim back!" Giving Rick's arm a little tug, Fay will hurry after the breeders and researchers, back towards home, her mind filled with memories of the past, and her heart overflowing with the love of a friend's that will stay with her forever.
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