Mischevious Meetings

Aahhh Shadowhue forest. She had been many-a-time and each time was just as calming for her and her brethren as the last. Avoiding the areas where the savage, brutal pokemon had set their homes deep within the undergrowth, preying on unfortunate-enough explorers and adventurers to wander within to attack and steal from, it was rather serene. The gentle light protruding from between the leaves up above, casting its reflective light onto the dirt-ridden leafy floor below, the lights constantly dancing and shimmering with each sway of a branch in the slight breeze. The towering trees which rose up from within the earth itself, and there were many, providing a lovely shelter against the possibility of nasty, unfortunate weather such as rain, hail, possibly snow. Night was just settling in and the dancing sunlight was coming to a close, in replacement with the glorious moon to cast its own shimmering moonlight upon the forest.

As darkness wove its black blanket around the trees and the sky, bright emerald eyes calmly wavered through the forest. Said eyes belonged to a spiritomb, a pokemon which was, in fact, a collection of one-hundred and eight spirits lodged and forced together for their terrible crimes and misdeeds upon the land, locked and bound to a mysterious, odd keystone which its purple, ethereal body was attached to. Upon that misty purple body was a jagged green grin, matching to those green, swirling eyes, and how that sly curl of the metaphorical lips hardly ever wavered from her face. For she moved with great confidence through the dirt path, turning her (assumed) head to and fro every now and again to ensure no-one was, in fact, following her or preparing to attack.

Inside of a small hole under a boulder by a large tree that finding was similar to finding a needle in a haystack in this large dark forest, was a small fox like creature that had dug up some other pokemon's home within, and taken over it. This was where she slept, where she lived, but NOT where she kept her things. The tricky fox was an outlaw, a thief, a breaker of the law-a nuisance.

The small fox awoke, for she had been sleeping, to the sound of utter silence. The trees did not whisper, the bushes did not shake, and no sounds of pokemon chattering away in the trees. It was almost too quiet, but such a thing was natural to the Zorua, and what she supposed should have been bliss, but the Zorua still could not help but achieve a creepy feeling from her surroundings. The Zorua blinked and pulled her way out of her hole she called her home. Today was going to be another day full of mischief, she hoped. She had no plans at the moment, and she only hoped that boredom would not kick in.

The zorua perked her ears and began to listen for any sign of another pokemon, perhaps one she could mess with. Her thoughts turned to Kuro, the sneasel that had managed to befriend her. Maybe there were others out there, willing to be friends with someone that had a bounty on her head. She wondered if messing with friends was as fun as messing with complete strangers...

The spiritomb was in deep thought as she silently wandered the forest with that faint moon-glow across her ethereal purple body. Thought of many things, collections of ideas, plots, plans, anything delightfully devious. It all buzzed and swarmed inside her multiple minds like a shaken hive of combees, just tempting her ever so much to act upon them. But there was but one plan, one terrifyingly mouth-watering plan which she needed of the utmost importance. One which almost made their body shake and shudder in rage that they could not act upon it.

To shatter the keystone.

And how it taunted them. How it locked them to this realm, together, constantly and forever hearing the thundering roar of one hundred other voices deep inside their individual minds. How it forced them to become one, to think like one, to become a hive of thought. Working together, thinking together, bound by no choice, by one motivation - to be set free. Their leader, their dominant voice; Ko. She was the one to speak to the simpletons, to the goody-two-shoe'd morons who plagued this land with their adventuring and exploration and ever so boring daily grinds. Some pitied her for socializing with these fools. Others fought and desired to take her place. But their individual thoughts were always drowned out, shattered and removed to become One once more.

In time would they get their revenge upon the land. In time would they be set free to cause delightful chaos once more.

But for now, the spiritomb simply wandered. For now she wished for a nightly stroll upon the earth, with the gentle moonlight basking upon her, and the little breeze causing a slight sway in her swirling body. There was, however, an irritating silence in the air. No cried for help. No screams or arguments. Just a gentle, relaxing silence. And it made her twitch. For silence, tranquility and a serene environment was not what she wanted, no. To shatter this silence, she began to talk to herself. She doubted others would be listening in anyway.

"Shadoowhuuee foressst. Knoown for itss poowerful pookemoon. Uuusually feeaared by maany aadveeentureers and toold to steeer cleeaar unless with coompaany. Whaaat fooools," she hissed beneath her breath, her emerald grin twitching with each whispered word spoken, equally green eyes observing the barks of the tree, the stars up above, anything to pass the time, "Coowaards. Thaat's what theey are. Aall of theem - theey juust don't wish to acceept the baalance of this woorld should be swaayed. Oorder is so... mmm... irritating. Booring. It requires, ah, a toouuch of chaaoos~" A small, almost inaudible cackle left her lips at the mention of that final word. To be fair, it was a very beautiful word. One of her favourites.

The small dark fox's ears perked when the silence was suddenly dispersed by a cackling and mumbling voice. She paid close attention as she focused on her ears, swinging them from side to side in attempt to find the location of the voice. It was surely another pokemon! Who else would be out in the middle of the night like this? Who else would be out at all if pokemon were not here! The Zorua hopped on top of her large rock and balanced her legs out as she made a leap for the tree nearby. The trees were an excellent cover, and a nice get away. If she were to be chased she could easily just leap on to another tree and quickly make her way down when she was out of sight. The pursuer would have thought she was still in the trees most likely.

The zorua followed the sound of the voice, having been quiet a ways away from the cackling and rather interesting tone and accent. She had never heard a pokemon's speech sound this way, characters and vowels seemed to drag on every now and then. It reminded her of a ekan'd accent, though she had only been told of the ekans' accent and heard imitations of it. The tricky fox halted to find a strange looking pokemon moving along by itself below her.

The pokemon was a large, swirling, purple mist with strange green orbs and a glowing green face with a glowing green grin. Connected to the beast a strange brown stone with an odd pattern on it that looked like a lightning bolt with two orbs near it from what she could make of it from this far.

Mirage took a seat on the branch, making sure the branch moved to announce her presence, "Hello," she spoke monotonously. She stared down at the creature with her tail wrapped around her like her Joy Ribbon, concealed by the foliage's shadows that kept the moon from touching her fur and illuminating her.

There was a scuffling in the trees. More specifically, in the branches where they swayed from side to side, yet she suspected it was simply the wind which whispered sweet nothings into unsuspecting ears. The wind was a crafty devil; always changing tides of battle, always deceiving many with its twists and turns. At times, the wind was ruthless - causing havoc and destruction whenever she felt peckish to. Ko liked the wind for that reason. She was not so fickle on the lies it spread of company, nor the great howling of threats in the distance. For the wind lied, and this spiritomb found a great similarity with her.

Yet the wind was not the cause for such scuffling as a voice, a single greeting word, was heard which rung in her metaphorical ears, causing the ghost-type to whip her body around, keystone scraping against the dirt as it swerved against the abandoned leaves. Yet, as her bright green eyes looked over the area, she saw nothing but shadows. Nay, the branches in the trees rustled and shook ever so lightly, but chances were that the handsome shadows concealed the mysterious stranger within. She saw nothing, and thus did the spiritomb address nothing.

"Goood eeeveniiing," she replied, her voice a hushed union of many deep within its depths, lightly echoing her words like the wind echoed the calls for battle, "Whaat is oone dooiing oout so laate at niight? It coould be aawfully..." she paused, a sly smirk twitching its way to the sides of her mouth, "....daaangerous~"

Mirage wondered if the strange beast was hinting that it was dangerous with the pause. She laughed at the thought and spoke, "Yes, quite so. I should be asking the same thing myself. Outlaws roam the night you know? The usual dark types, perhaps a ghost here and there. Even the rare psychic type that was corrupted with its own power. Dangerous woods these are indeed."

She had been about to end her side of the dialogue there when she realized that she had not answered the pokemon's question, "As for why I am out alone tonight, I am simply wandering about on my business. I could not sleep anymore and waiting for the crack of dawn is a bore. As much as the day is beneficial, I see more ways to make games outside of my den than inside where there's nothing but dirt and a stone over my head."

A shame that Ko's hinting had not intimidated the hidden mystery deep within the shelter of the trees. Yet perhaps that was best than be attacked by a foe she could not see. While the Forbidden pokemon preferred to fight in darkness, she most certainly would rather not be assaulted by the shelter from which she was usually consumed by. Rather, the voice continued the conversation. From this, even a fool could come to the conclusion that the pokemon was no threat to her as of yet. Ko liked conversations such as this. You found a lot about someone from a little discussion, and perhaps her 'sweet cooing' could lure this unknown acquaintance to unravel that blessed blanket of darkness.

"Mmmm... a creeaatuure of daaarknessss, I see! Yoouu and I aare both thee saame in that reegaard, it appeeaars. Niight iis aalwaays suuch a woonderful mistresss to uss aall," the spiritomb chuckled in that slight feminine tone, her many green orbs swirling, evergoing, everlasting. Some say those orbs represent the many spirits which are locked within the keystone. Others say that each orb is a binding or key which keeps the spiritomb together, or else it shall collapse and the keystone will shatter. The truth? Mystery. Not even she herself knew, but that was one question which, in time, she dearly hoped would be answered. "Yoouu speeaak of gaaames," Ko questioned with narrowed, crescent eyes, "yet how do you meeaan? I am noot oone for peetty hide-aand-seeeek."

"Games. Exactly what I said. Fun, amusement, something to pass the time. I usually favor ones that I gain a benefit from." She had been speaking of the game of "stealing", where one needed to be quick and powerful. Without speed and power, a thief would not last long in the world without being tossed into a prison. The prisons were always guarded by electric pokemon, usually magnemites, since they could paralyze the rebels and easily drag them away. At least this was what Mirage had heard of, since she had never been to the prison herself. She was a quick and clever soul(most of the time as other times she tended to over look things) that was blessed with the ability to change her appearance to the eyes of others.

Her illusion ability was a force to be reckoned with, since it changed her appearance. Though it could not change her true shape. If she were a bigger pokemon, and the foe aimed for the head and hit the illusion, the illusion would only break and Mirage would be revealed to be unharmed because of the missed attack. She could throw up her ability many times, but she was always unable to control what she wanted to turn into. Though it seemed like it would be fun, it was annoying since she did not know just how to act.

Mirage lay down on the branch, causing it to sway ever so slightly, yet still conceal herself in the shadows. In fact, she did not think about whether or not the Spiritomb could see her or not. When she heard the spiritomb speak of hide and seek she spoke up once more, "Hide and Seek? Now you're just spouting nonsense, there is no game right now, as you wield no game yourself." Mirage had spoken of how the spiritomb had only items of little value, since it had nothing to hold things with and a keystone that may have been worth something if it had not been attached to the pokemon.

The shadow-cloaked stranger spoke of games less for a bonding session between friends, and more for profit and benefit. A 'game' could be taken in various meanings, yet in the spiritomb's view she heard that of dominance in battle. To slay a pokemon would grant power, as would training. There was only benefit, with the constant risk of defeat, or, in other terms, 'losing'. A thirst for power was corrupting thing which taints the inner roots of the mind with terribly inconsistent thoughts and lies, which warps views and transforms pokemon into terrifying individuals if done to an extreme extent. Ko could not help but think that this hidden speaker was preparing to battle. Yet, she 'wielded no game'? Was she assumed weak? Pathetic? Perhaps taking that route of thought was wise to figure out just what this pokemon meant and, more importantly, wanted: "Indeeeed, I buut waaander this foorest for a looveely stroll, aand noothing mooore."

Eyes locked onto the branch which wavered ever so slightly. It was no wind which caused that movement, as no such breeze had ruffled her purple wisps. The swirling green depths remained targeted, just staring a tad higher than the branch itself. To blend so well into the darkness, was it a ghost type? Dark type? It spoke of battle like a game, so dark was more so. She suspected a murkrow, for their fondness of shiny objects. Thieves of the night, so to say. Yet they were not one for battle, were they? A sneasel, perhaps... So many questions, so much time to lure this little chameleon out of hiding.

"Aand yeet here yoouu remaaiin, talking to thisss oold ghoosst. Yoouu haave little uuse for mee, yet yoouu coontinue to taalk. Whaat oother reeaason is theere?" Ko inquired. One does not talk so openly after all. Especially on such subjects. Many could perceive it as a threat, yet if so it had not been acted upon. It intrigued her greatly, and amused her that this little glide through the forest had led to such an interesting discussion with a mysterious individual.

"Your presence, the forest is silent at night and your cackling drew me near to seek out game. Though you have none, I stayed because you interest me. You are walking alone in the woods of Shadowhue forest, known for strong and outlawish pokemon, and yet you seem to fear nothing. I know you are not natural to this forest as I have seen most of the pokemon that reside here, and yet I have never seen one of your species. What is your name?"

Mirage spoke simply as if it were obvious. She still did not know that the ghostly pokemon knew nothing of who she was, and ignored the fact that she had just asked someone else their name without introducing themselves, which was often considered rude. The zorua did not have the best of manners, considering she was an outlaw and saw no point in being polite other than to fool others into thinking she was a good little pokemon.
((Sorry for short))

Similar to what the zorua thought of the spiritomb, Ko found this little stranger intriguing. They seemed not a threat to her well-being, and their voice lightly hinted that of experience with the world. But experience with what? Battling? Exploration? She was uncertain if they had left the forest at all throughout their life. They spoke of the forest as it was known - dangerous. If so, would this individual also label themselves as such? Too many questions which buzzed and buzzed, yet only few could be answered as of yet. Keep the conversation simple, gain a new ally, all will be well in the world of plots and plans. What is what she hoped and, as of now, planned to achieve.

"Naame? We goo by maany. Buut foor myseelf? Ko. Yoouu maay caall mee Ko," she answered, "Aand yourseeelf? Oone caannot haave giveen a naame withoouut knoowing the oother." At this point, the ghost-type was certain her eyes were correctly placed for the pokemon's location. Their voice, the slight movements not cause by the wind, it gave it away. Yet the darkness cloaked around them, smartly hidden away from the moon's glow, rather amused her. If she were not such game, why did they feel the need to hide themselves from her? Perhaps they were the coward which spoke lies to raise themselves to a higher platform within their own thoughts.

"Illiad," she spoke without hesitation, lying about her name. She was quite infamous around these parts of Shadowhue, more specifically for an embarrassing wanted add that some perverted Ludicolo wanted her for...who KNOWS what...Which was one of the reasons she concealed her name. She wondered if this strange being would call her out on her bluff, even though she was usually good with deception, other than times where she had forgotten to actually think things through.

"We huh? Who is this 'we' you speak of? I only see one of you, perhaps you have a friend in hiding?" She had noticed the Spritomb refer to herself, she assumed it was a her judging from the voice, and questioned it. The Zorua's tail briefly flicked off of the branch and hung below her into the Spiritomb's vision, before being quickly whisked away as she flicked it to the other side.

((Sorry for crap post, my electricity could go out any time and i'm rushing posting))

"Illiaad..." she repeated seconds after, her lips testing the name on her nonexistent tongue, swiping over her not-teeth with each little syllable. Not the most unusual names, she would give them that. There had been worse, those unfortunate souls. But this name? She would not forget. Then again, Ko always remembered names and little details. Always. Nothing could escape her desire for information on pokemon, not even this little mystery which was just hanging slightly out of reach of her grasp. Such an interesting individual, so delightfully devious and teasing.

Ah, that question. A common question for her, and she would answer all the same to Illiad's confused words. Though she did pause in her speaking before doing so, as a black fox tail swayed against the branch below for a few seconds, flicking itself back up into position moments later. An error. Foolish of them for allowing such a thing. That narrowed down her options of what this stranger, 'Illiad, could be. In time would those theories be answered. For now, she was asked a question, and she would gladly reply. "A spiiritoomb is a biinding of oone-huundreed-aand-eeight spiirits, loocked toogether by thiss liittle broown keeystone yoouu seee beeloow me. I aam buut oone of the sspirits; the leeaader which guuidess my brethreen to victoory, Ko. We aare aas one, aand shaall aalwayss be as oone." Of course, those last words she spoke of lies. For that was an issue she hoped, nay, needed to conquer soon. It was like an itch which just refused to go away.

But now it was this old ghosts's turn to ask questions - this one had been asking so many it was almost unfair. And if they were one for games, surely having such a large advantage was against any rules. It needed to be evened out. Balance must be swayed in her favour, "Aand yoouu - yoou aare up aboove thoose braanches, aand loooking up is aalways such irritaation. Will yoou noot come doown here and speeaak faace to faace? How coowardly for yoou to hiide. I caan still reeaach yoouu~" Ko teased in her many-voices, hoping that little jab would lure them out of hiding for a few mere seconds, "Not to meention, whaat do yoouu do with yoouurseelf? Preey on weeak foools to paass by? Adveenture? Or do yoou keep to yourself? For if thaat was the caase, we would noot be haaving this coonversaation, woould we?"

((Oh damn, that suuucks... Sorry to hear!))

"Hide? I am not hiding!" Mirage snapped irritably as the spiritomb called out a cowardice that was not present. The zorua stood up on the branch and leaped her way down, revealing herself without ever knowing she wasn't visible in the first place, "How can being up in a tree hiding hmm? Is it because i'm a dark type that you think I "hide" in "fear" of you?" Mirage was always touchy on the prejudice of her type. Dark types were ALWAYS assumed to be evil from her knowledge. She remembered the times of her parent's, unable to find jobs because of her mother's dark typing, and she had nearly starved. So since the other pokemon had "wanted" an evil dark type, she gave them one.

The zorua glared at the spiritomb, now in the moonlight and seated upon a rock. She did not seem at all happy, but she did wonder if the spiritomb was blind since she though she had been in plain sight. The zorua's tail waved as she awaited a reply from the ghastly ghost and dark type pokemon, a pokemon with no weaknesses, a pokemon of hundreds of spirits combined to make one "malicious" being that would haunt the world with a keystone. She did not fear this pokemon, for she had never heard nor seen this pokemon before, and only did not think the spiritomb's claim to be true as there was no evidence provided before her very eyes.

A zorua. Of course. She had heard little about these illusion-cloaked foxes and, honestly, she was rather surprised the little black fox had not shielded their true self. Ko didn't exactly know how the illusion ability of their worked. Honestly the ghost-type just assumed they were able to do it at will, similar to how a ditto is able to transform. But the fact that she was facing one of these ticky little mistresses was a grand experience. Aah, the things she could do if she were to have the ability of illusion! So much manipulation, with her pulling the strings. It would be fantastic.

But this little trickster seemed defensive about words she did not speak. Rather, it appeared that they were sensitive about their feelings. About being called a coward. Afraid. To terrified to show themselves. This illusionary dark-type was afraid of being afraid. Ah, the things you heard about pokemon. "Did I staaate yoou weere afraaid? I did noot. Of coouurse, with suuch deefeensivenesss, foools muust have taauunted yoou with suuch in the paast, nooo?" the spiritomb questioned with that grin still plastered upon that ethereal face, "Pleeaase do noot teell me yoou let them go freee after uttering such liiees to yoou. For if yoou haave not puunished thoose who deefy you, peerhaps... hm... they are truuths to thoose woords theey utteer."