T:DaH ;; Hoenn ;; Lance

[KANE]

Taming: DRAGONS and HEARTS
Route 105

---

---

Alyssa stood with her back facing the early afternoon sun that was high in the sky. Her feet were planted firmly in the sands of the island on which she was standing. She had arrived in Dewford earlier that morning, having Surfed from Slateport around nine o’clock that morning after waking up. Seeing as she didn’t feel like getting wet by riding upon Weavile’s back while he carried her through the water – being strong for his size, as all Weaviles were – she had used Swampert just like years ago. The Mud Fish pokemon had enjoyed ferrying his trainer at high speed across the water in just over an hour. Giving her pokemon time to rest as well as getting herself some breakfast, she had sheltered in the Pokemon Center until about twelve-thirty, when she exchanged a pokemon in her PC before surfing northward to the heart of the island cluster just above Dewford on Route 105.

Nobody else was on the islands. It didn’t surprise her at all. Before the war started, the islands were not all too popular to begin with, seen as only landmarks and pleasing to the eye save for the occasional trainer coming to train pokemon or a Ruin Maniac scouring the islands for the rumored Legendary Golem Regice’s domain. Although they were ruin maniacs, something told Alyssa that they were not familiar with the Golem’s Legend, only the location of each Golem. The white-haired Veteran closed her eyes and let the feeling of the sea breeze channel around her body as she recalled the legend.

Before seeking out the embodiments of rock, ice, and steel, one must first have a Wailord to Dive, a Relicanth to Dig, and a translation of the ancient scripts rumored to be written upon stones so one may unlock the powers scattered across the land.

Hoenn’s Leader opened her cerulean eyes to lock with the sea before her at the nudge of her beloved Espeon against her knee. The violet-eyed pokemon looked up at her trainer questioningly. Without needing to hear Daybreak’s Psychic powers within her mind, Alyssa knew she was wondering if her trainer was alright, having suddenly closed her eyes and looked rather serious. She smiled some and nodded comfortingly at her companion. ”I’m alright, Daybreak, just thinking while I wait.”

She was a bit early, but that didn’t stop her from anticipating Lance’s arrival. It had been six weeks since she last saw him, but after that time she had contacted him with a request. At long last she had realized her dream and captured the elusive pokemon Bagon within Meteor Falls and dedicated six weeks to rigorous, almost unforgiving training that all of her pokemon had, at some point, endured...maybe even more than once. In that time, it had soon evolved into a Shelgon, and only a week and a half ago into a Salamence.

Upon Salamence’s evolution, the experienced trainer could tell immediately that the Dragon-type pokemon was more than it had been as a Bagon. She could see in its eyes and sense that it knew her power and skill as a trainer, and acknowledged her for it, but it did not respect her...nor obeyed her save for flying from place to place. She could see how much Salamence enjoyed flying, but that was all he would stay a ‘safe’ pokemon for. Otherwise, he would behave wildly and erratically, in an arrogant and dangerous manner, taking to harming and even destroying the area around it in a vicious rampage that seemed to be for no other reason than to show its power.

This had been enough to force Alyssa to bend her pride and ask Lance for his help. Upon contacting him, she had left out any details that would let him know her exact situation save for one thing – ’I promise you’ll find it interesting, maybe even enjoy it’. Upon his arrival, he would soon find out that he had been sought out to do what a Dragon Master such as himself did best – tame a Dragon.

The violent, vicious nature of a Salamence was dangerous, and if her pokemon refused to listen to her, there was no telling what a legitimate, angered rampage could do to the surrounding area. Alyssa had given Lance incredibly specific details as to where they could meet safely, so he would be able to find the tiny island cluster above Dewford – the Westmost point in Hoenn – easily.

Now, though, she could only wait.

[KANE]

Dec 25, 2011 16:51:06 GMT -5 @drago said:

[style=position:relative; left:-200px; bottom:-60px; -moz-border-radius:100%; -webkit-border-radius:100%; width:100px; height:100px; border-width:5px; border-style:solid; border-color:#3E3435; background-image: url(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z285/Leophoenix/lance73.png); margin-top: -60px;] [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=CellPadding,4,true][atrb=CellSpacing,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style,width: 310px; padding: 10px; color: 7F00FF; text-align: center; background-color: 2C2024; border: 5px solid #3E3435;][style=margin-top: 30px; font-family: Arial Black; font-size: 36px; letter-spacing: -4px; line-height: 90%; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; color: 3E3435;]IN SEARCH[/style][style=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 24px; color: 3E3435; line-height: 90%; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; text-align: center; margin-top: -4px;]IN SEARCH OF THE SKY[/style][style=font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; color: #7F00FF; letter-spacing: 6px; margin-top: -2px;]JUST FLYING HIGH[/style] [style=width: 300px; border-left: 1px dotted #7F00FF; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding-left: 10px; margin-left: 22px; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: justify;]The usual black cape of a certain dragon master whipped around violently in the grasp of a wave of air that rushed past the male. Lance’s eyes were narrowed slightly in an effort to shield his eyes from the torrent of wind that came smashing against his form due to the incredible speeds that he was flying at, high above the oceans of Hoenn. Just like Unova, Lance wasn’t all too familiar with Hoenn, having spent most of his life in Kanto and Johto, even more so since the start of the war. It was only due to Alyssa’s specific directions, a lot of luck and D’s own incredible intuition that he managed to make it his far into Hoenn. Soaring over the ocean that stretched across Hoenn on D’s back, Lance took an opportunity to soak in the view that Hoenn had to offer. Lance enjoyed flying high above the world. The tranquillity from his seat upon D’s back was magnificent and something he truly loved, coming only second to his love for battle. Looking below, Lance noted the numerous small islands that came into view, a few dozen of them lay scattered across the ocean. Normally it would’ve taken him hours to find the specific island that was his destination but thankfully Alyssa’s note was very descriptive and informative, giving him specific directions to the very island that she was on. He was already running late for his meeting with the veteran trainer, forcing him to utilize D for transport, being the fastest pokemon in his repertoire. Then again dragonites in general were well known for their incredible speeds, being able to cross the globe in sixteen hours, being faster than most aircrafts. Lance didn’t particular want to use D for flight transport; he stood out too well on D and was easily recognizable on the pokemon. D didn’t actually care whether people recognized him or not, he just enjoyed the opportunity to soar through the sky once again. Something similar akin to a smile appeared on D’s face. Seeing this caused Lance to reciprocate his pokemon. ”You having fun as usual aren’t you D.” Lance mused to his dragon pokemon. Now that he thought about it, Alyssa had been very vague about the reason for their rendezvous. ’I promise you’ll find it interesting, maybe even enjoy it’. Those were the words that she left for him and it was those words that peeked his interest enough for him to travel to Hoenn. It had been six weeks since he last saw her and he had to admit he wondered what she had been up too since then. She had relatively disappeared from the Nox radar and it was a little concerning for him. It was a relief to hear her voice when she eventually called him up, much to his surprise. D let out a slight roar to catch Lance’s attention. Following the claw that D pointed towards one of the islands, Lance's red eyes managed to spot the familiar white hair of Hoenn’s Regional Leader, Alyssa Akiyama, standing alone on a small island. Tapping D’s neck, the dragon pokemon began his descent as he circled around the small island. The circles grew smaller and smaller the closer he came to the ground with eventually D coming to a sliding stop in the sand. Lance gracefully demounted D, his cape being manipulated to his command with a single hand. Stepping forward confidently towards the female, he graced her with a brimming smile as he approached her. ”Well, well, if it isn’t Alyssa Akiyama. It’s really been a while. I must say I was pleasantly surprised when you called me up, though it’s good to see you again.” [/style] [style=font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;]TAGS, Alyssa NOTES, Flying high CODED BY TSU DOLL OF LOVE STAMP.[/style]

[KANE]

The chilling sea breeze raced over the ocean around her, churning the tops of the waves into white foam, disrupting the uniform, deep blue they usually were. Okay, so, an island in the middle of Hoenn’s oceans in Wintertime wasn’t the ideal place for anybody to be thanks to the increase in wind during the season, but due to Hoenn’s climate being tropical year-round, the Winters remained relatively warm, no colder than perhaps requiring a hooded sweatshirt to accompany one outside. Alyssa remained unphazed by the gust, but the same could not be said for her loyal companion crouched by her legs. The slender legs of the Espeon were pulled beneath her body, and her tail was pulled in close beside her, the forked tip flipping against one of her large ears, which were pulled back as well to buffet the wind. Espeons had fine, velvety coats that werent necessarily built for keeping warm.

”Daybreak...you don’t have to stay out here, you know...” Alyssa told her pokemon, looking down at the violet-furred Sun pokemon next to her. Daybreak did no more than look up at her trainer, blinking once at Alyssa with her large, deep violet eyes that were seemingly practically endless depths of intelligence. ”It wouldn’t be so bad if the wind wasn’t blowing, right?” she asked. Daybreak’s fluffy whiskers quivered when she nodded before looking back down, closing her eyes. Alyssa smiled a little. The loyalty the Sun pokemon showed her was unwavering, that nothing could shatter. It was truly a gift, she had decided only a few years ago, when Daybreak first contacted her trainer telepathically.

A sound carried on the wind, making Alyssa blink. It wasn’t the fading sound of the wind that receeded, but instead it was a rumble, as though it were far off, and it came from above. Alyssa looked upwards, unluckily for her, into a particularly waxy leaf from one of the large trees beside her that was reflecting the sunlight about as easily as a mirror would. Squinting, Alyssa looked back down, shaking her head as she struggled to get her eyes adjusted to less light again. I always hated the trees around Dewford for that... she griped silently.

Opening her eyes after about thirty seconds and saw a flash of orange leave just out of her peripheral vision, before quickly coming back around. She smiled some, the expression almost cracking into a grin as she recognized the pokemon immediately. A Dragonite. Whenever she saw, or heard mention of, the pokemon, there was only one person she thought of – Lance. Thank Arceus he didn’t get lost... she thought, moving forward as the Dragon pokemon slid to a halt in the fine sand. If he had, she would most definitely feel guitly for that, seeing as she knew Hoenn like the back of her hand when he didn’t.

The Dragon Master easily dismounted his fine Dragon pokemon and stepped forward as well, moving towards her as she neared him. He flashed her a smile, a rather charming one in her opinion, when she stopped, no more than five feet from him.

”Well, well, if it isn’t Alyssa Akiyama. It’s really been a while. I must say I was pleasantly surprised when you called me up, though, it’s good to see you again.”

She smiled some and nodded in agreement. The past six weeks had been spent in practically solitary isolation with her pokemon save for the occasional necessary meeting with another person. Aside from finishing her duties as Hoenn’s Leader, she had refrained from missions so she could spend every spare second she had training. In a time of war, training time was scarce unless you knew where to go. Even then, you would be hard-pressed to accomplish anything significant unless you really knew what you were doing. Luckily, Alyssa’s sixteen years of experience proved to be a well-received skill while she trained her newest dragon, now a Salamence. She had arrived in Dewford and been met with a few surprised faces. Seeing as she had practically vanished off the radar (or rather, camped out in her Secret Base) for more than a month, it wasn’t totally a surprise when somebody half-seriously joked that they thought she’d died or been captured.

”It’s good to see you again, too, Lance...” she said, looking up into his crimson eyes, her own betraying the happiness she felt to see him again. Though they had only encountered each other twice before, those two encounters had been significant. ”...definitely...”

She looked at him for a moment and felt Daybreak brush against her legs, signifying her arrival with her trainer.

”~Espee!~”

Alyssa smiled some, uncrossing her arms and letting them fall by her side. ”Daybreak says hello as well, she agrees that it’s good to see you again.” she informed him with a smile, repeating the brief flash of her pokemon’s voice within her mind out loud for the crimson-eyed man to hear. With a light laugh after a moment, she added, ”Maybe I should give you a tour of Hoenn at some point in the future...” raising her hand to rub the back of her neck. ”...I feel kind of bad for asking you to come into what I assume is practically unknown territory for you.” she admitted sheepishly, comforted slightly by Daybreak’s tail wound lightly around her leg.

She let that sit in the air for a moment before continuing. ”I suppose I shouldn’t keep you waiting with bated breath anymore...you’re probably wondering why I called you out here anyway...” she paused, chewing the inside of her lip slightly as she prepared herself to do something she hadnt done in a long while – ask for help.

”I could think of no better person than you to contact with my little plight. I know I basically...vanished off the face of earth for a little more than a month, and reason for that is I caught a new pokemon and have been training it practically every reasonable second in that time. However...now I have a feeling there’s a phase of training it beyond even my experience, which now falls into what I believe to be your area of expertise.” she informed him. She would not simply ask for help leaving him blind to any other detail. She sighed silently and could have sworn she felt a piece of her pride as a trainer break off when she admitted there was something beyond even her experience.

”Thing is, I need your help, Lance...” she told him, watching him carefully for a reaction. ”I need your help taming a Dragon.”

[KANE]

Jan 1, 2012 11:21:10 GMT -5 @drago said:

[style=position:relative; left:-200px; bottom:-60px; -moz-border-radius:100%; -webkit-border-radius:100%; width:100px; height:100px; border-width:5px; border-style:solid; border-color:#3E3435; background-image: url(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z285/Leophoenix/lance73.png); margin-top: -60px;] [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=CellPadding,4,true][atrb=CellSpacing,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style,width: 310px; padding: 10px; color: 7F00FF; text-align: center; background-color: 2C2024; border: 5px solid #3E3435;][style=margin-top: 30px; font-family: Arial Black; font-size: 36px; letter-spacing: -4px; line-height: 90%; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; color: 3E3435;]IN SEARCH[/style][style=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 24px; color: 3E3435; line-height: 90%; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; text-align: center; margin-top: -4px;]IN SEARCH OF THE SKY[/style][style=font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; color: #7F00FF; letter-spacing: 6px; margin-top: -2px;]JUST FLYING HIGH[/style] [style=width: 300px; border-left: 1px dotted #7F00FF; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding-left: 10px; margin-left: 22px; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: justify;] Lance continued to smile as Alyssa finished her pleasantries. It really was a pleasure seeing Alyssa once again. Their last meeting had been eventful to say the least and his respect for her had only increased after their magnificent battle under the evening sky of Sinnoh. ”It’s good to see you too Daybreak.” The Dragon Master replied to the espeon at Alyssa’s feet, before returning his attention back to Alyssa. ”Maybe next time you can make it up to me by giving me a private tour.” He said cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood a bit for the female trainer. He folded his arms as he listened to the veteran’s request. Silently and attentively listening, he couldn’t help but let his surprise show on his usually calm face. He never suspected someone as proud at the Hoenn Leader to ask for his help and what made the request even more shocking was the fact that she needed help with regards to taming a dragon. He let out a silent laugh and his lips curled into an amused grin. ”Something that will interest me, and I might even enjoy it, right? You certainly know how to peak my interest Alyssa…” he paused, letting the last bit of laughter escape him. Placing his hand underneath D’s chin, he gently rubbed the dragon gently and affectionately, most definitely a side of himself he didn’t show to the outside world. D closed his eyes in pure ecstasy as he lowered his head for Lance. ”…I will help you Alyssa. Taming a dragon is an honourable yet difficult task to achieve. For you to attempt such a feat should be most interesting.” He left D behind him and walked up to Alyssa, standing right up in front of her. Bending slightly so that his eyes looked directly into hers, his features sharpened as seriousness took hold of him. ”This could be dangerous, you know that right?...Even if that’s the case you’ll still release your dragon then?” He knew she wouldn’t back down, she wasn’t the type of person that did so, but he still needed to let her be aware of the dangers involved with dragons. [/style] [style=font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;]TAGS, Alyssa NOTES, Taming dragons FTW CODED BY TSU DOLL OF LOVE STAMP.[/style]

[KANE]

Alyssa felt her lips pull into a small smile after she got her initial bout of words out and actually gave her brain the time to register what the Dragon Master had said before she flooded him with her plight. Make it up to you by giving you a private tour, Lance? she mused silently, nodding slightly in agreement. That’s doable...I look forward to the occasion when I do. she made a mental note to talk about it in greater detail after their task for today was done. It would be my pleasure...

The white-haired young woman had not missed the surprise that lit up Lance’s expression, pulling the usually calm mask from his face. She could tell that she had definitely nabbed his attention with her statement, but she waited for him to respond before she did anything beside glance down at Daybreak, who was studying Lance inquisitively with her deep, violet eyes. A bit of surprise appeared on her face as well when she noticed his amusement from the grin that had grown from what she could only assume was silent laughter. Does he really take such a delight in the prospect? she wondered, suddenly feeling as though a deep-rooted hobby had been touched upon through her request.

”Something that will interest me, and I might even enjoy it, right?” she nodded. ”You certaintly know how to pique my interest, Alyssa...” She found her expression unable to be conrolled and she soon held a grin that matched his as he let out the last strains of his laughter. Her grin was spurred from amusement at Lance’s reaction as much as relief that she’d been correct in her assumptions. The red-haired trainer moved, raising his hand to place gently beneath his Dragonite’s chin, attracting the attention of both Alyssa and Daybreak.

The Veteran Trainer allowed herself to smile softly after her initial surprise at the reaction had passed. She had a feeling the gesture she witnessed now was something that few saw. Affection for pokemon...that was something she’d not seen very much of on her journey, and especially less so thanks to the war. So many trainers now thought of pokemon as no more than tools to be used for battle, or even weapons willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of the trainer. It was a pity, truly, how many people had become blinded to what pokemon truly were...living, breathing creatures with a heart that could develop feelings just like their trainers. They’re friends and companions...perhaps more deserving of respect and companionship than the people that train them..

She felt the warm happiness emenating from Daybreak through the connection with her trainer’s mind that the Psychic pokemon had established. Although she did not say anything, her feelings were clear enough through observing the two before them. The soft smile faded moments before Lance spoke again.

”...I will help you Alyssa.” The trainer sent silent thanks to Arceus for Lance’s willingness to help her in what she considered a ‘time of need’. ”Taming a dragon is an honourable yet difficult task to achievve. For you to attempt such a feat should be most interesting.” Alyssa almost laughed. She’d come nowhere close to succeeding or even giving what she considered a valid attempt. Her mental commentary added, Yeah...probably amusing too....seeing as I’ve been failing until now... That darkened her thoughts somewhat. I’ll probably make a fool of myself...

Lance crossed the distance between them swiftly, before Alyssa registered that he was moving and stopped just in front of her, leaving her staring at Lance’s chest for a short while, her eyes moving slowly across the chain that held his cape in place before she looked up at him, a faint blush adding some color to her usually pale face as her cerulean eyes came in contact with Lance’s striking red ones, seeing as the Indigo Champion had bent slightly to look at her, who was at least half a foot taller than her.

”This could be dangerous, you know that right? Even if that’s the case, you’ll still release your Dragon then?”

She found herself at a loss of words for a moment, the blush on her face affecting her speech as well, choking her words back before she managed to force them out, slowly at first. ”Y...yeah..of course.” she gave herself a mental shake before continuing more fluidly. ”I had a feeling that would be the case when I first tried after he evolved...but after managing to clear out a section of a small forest in a display of power I had a feeling I was dealing with more than I had expected.”

She managed to pull her gaze away from Lance’s after some mental coaxing as she looked down at her belt, clicking off a Cherish Ball and holding it in her hand. ”...for sixteen years I hunted for Bagon, the elusive Dragon that lives only in Meteor Falls just North of here. I finally found one.” she clicked the center of the crimson-colored pokeball to expand it in her hand, the black trim on it becoming clearer. ”He was easy enough to train as a Bagon and a Shelgon, but once he evolved a second time, something was...different. He acknowledges my experience and skill as a trainer, I know...I can see it in his eyes and sense it, but it’s as though he has no respect for me. Whenever I try working with him further he becomes disinterested and goes about his own will – which has resulted in destruction. The only time we cooperate as trainer and pokemon is when Flying.”

She paused, deciding to give Lance a small brief on Bagons, if he didn’t know about them already.

”Bagons are known to hurl themselves off cliffs in frustration at the fact they cannot fly. Their final form, a Salamence...” she raised the Cherish Ball a bit ”...is the result of a mutation to their cells through sheer willpower, if you can believe that.” she chuckled a bit, never had she known something like that in a pokemon to happen before she learned of Salamence years back. ”Salamence gain wings, and Flying is something I can tell pleases him to no end...other than that, I’ve been....” she bit her lip before grudgingly admitting, ”...unable to control him or train him further. His outbursts and habits have made it impossible. He’s generally fine until I decide to Fly or train...or unless he sees something he deems worthy of a challenge. Beyond that I can barely stop him. By nature, Salamence are violent and vicious pokemon, making them a challenge for any trainer. Generally, you’ll only find them in the hands of Dragon-type specialists like yourself.”

Looking between Lance and the Cherish Ball in her hand, she tossed it in the air. Here goes nothing... she thought, biting her lip as a red beam of energy shot from the pokeball to the ground, about ten feet from them, revealing the silhouette of the Dragon pokemon before the full form as the pokeball fell back to her open hand.

Salamence’s eyes were closed, and his head was slightly bent. He opened his red wings slightly and moved his tail against the sand. His claws shifted through the sand as he positioned himself better, his short, muscular body almost brushing against the sand beneath him. He stayed still for now. He could sense the presence of more than just the girl assuming herself to be her trainer there. Was he to fight? Was he to fly? He didn’t know, but until then he would remain as he was, almost perfectly still.

Turning to look at her Dragon, Alyssa returned the downsized pokeball to her belt and drew in a breath. ”Lance, I give you Salamence...one of Hoenn’s Dragons.” For now, the Dragon pokemon was remaining still and quiet, probably because he’d not yet received a direction. Calm before the storm.. she thought, cringing inwardly at the fear of a legitimate outrage for whatever reason from the pokemon before her.

[KANE]

KAI'S HIATUS TURNS INTO VANISH. A NEW LANCE COMES. NO THREADS WITH HIM YET