Mischevious Meetings

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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.

Mirage huffed, quoting the spiritomb "'How cowardly for you to hide.' is what you said. I was not hiding," she leered at the spiritomb, though her eyes lacked the powerful aura that made it an actual move. She still sought no conflict with the spiritomb, as it would be a waste of her time, but she still was curious about the creature.
"As for the others calling me a coward, not necessarily," She no longer continued to speak. She did not want to reveal much as she was now cautious of the being after the incident. The Zorua's tail flicked back and forth like a feline's agitatedly.

((I am at a serious block, I AM SO SORRY ;A;))

As per usual, and as to be expected, her smile never twitched nor faltered from her face, nor did those eyes ever move or drift gently away from the tricky fox pokemon. It could have been completely stationary, if not for the droll rotating of the emerald orbs, and the swirling mass for a body. For a few, brief seconds, she simply stared and observed. Silence. Yet shattering the silence seconds before Mr Uncomfortable pulled up a chair, she spoke again with that ever-whispering voice of hers: "Aahh, if yoou saay sooo~" Ko chuckled, and how a cocky, smug grin would have spread across those lips if one were not already there, "But whaat if thaat waas whaat they weere thiiinking? Dooes that noot troouuble yoou - that yoou are a cooward in the eeyes of oothers?"

"But I do not seee yoou as suuch, noooo. Why, us daark-types muust stick togeether, nooo? So maany fooolish, seslfish pokemon who aare so teerribly judgeemental of usss," the spiritomb hissed, gently hovering closer and closer towards the fox, until she was face-to-face, less than a nose apart. She noted Illiad's appearance, her mannerisms, the slight twitches of the tail, the defensive gestures and the sudden anger upon prodding certain subjects. It was intriguing. Ko had never studied a zorua before, "They haate for the ruumoours they themselves spread of usss."

The zorua felt the need to back away as her personal space was invaded to her annoyance, but remained where she was keeping her face at its annoyed pose.
"But I do not seee yoou as suuch, noooo. Why, us daark-types muust stick togeether, nooo? So maany fooolish, seslfish pokemon who aare so teerribly judgeemental of usss," Ko has said. Mirage was slightly surprised to hear that the pokemon was also of the dark and harshly judged typing that was the same as her. She had suspected the being to be a ghost with its creepy aura and mention of spirits, or perhaps a poison type with its purple and green color. From what the spiritomb spoke of, and seemed to imply, it too has known judgement, but did it know judgement of her level of experience? Did it know the pain of being driven to steal so she would not starve?

The zorua remained seated where she was, unmoving, not of fear but more of just not wanting to move. She watched the spiritomb's swirling eye and dancing purple body that swirled with the many spirits of many evil-doers. She knew only as much as the Ko had told her of spiritomb though, so she did not fear this pokemon like most probably would. She felt as if she could beat it if it came to a fight, so fear was non-existent in her eyes. Instead she seemed only slightly bored with a hint of interest hidden behind the dull look.

"Dark type? You too have experienced judgement? how so?"

No fear, no flinching. The spiritomb was marginally disappointed from the outcome of face-against-face. What surprised her was that the zoroa stared back, not a single ounce of terror in those little eyes of hers. It was impressive, Ko would have to give her that. The black fox didn't even shift her eyes away, or take a step back from her closeness. Illiad must, and she noted this in her many-a-minds, have been through quite a lot. Fearless are not born without fear and with courage. It is earned through life. Ko did want to know the illusion pokemon's story, if for the simple answer of this reaction. How she dreadfully hated unanswered questions and, oh dear, she had quite a few questions in her mind. But it was bothersome, as many of those questions had to wait.

So those cloud-like purple wisps of hers flowing off her body caressed the fox's face as she asked her own question, eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth, most likely. Satisfying curiosity for both, as it should be with introductions. Ask and be asked, reply and be replied to. Back and forth this conversation had been from start to finish, and Ko wondered if at some point she would gain the upper hand in knowing things; learning about Illiad than Illiad knew about Ko. That was usually case, and it was almost an obsession to remain that way. But first? A reply.

"Theey haate uss. Feeaar uss. Maany know of our paast and want uss, ah... goone, more soo than a ghosst. Deeaad, if it were posssible. All of uss, we weere feared for the lies maany spoke, eeach of oour lives governed by fear of oothers aaround us. Would theey strike? Woouuld they not? And even noow! A simple strooll into toown is a paranoid one indeeed, for all we do iss maake eneemies! Why? Beecause theey judge uss for the thingss books say we haave doone! We aare noot only boouund to this keeystoone, but boouund to a life of misseery and juudging!" Ah the lies some spoke. In honesty, not many pokemon had spoke of their past. Why, there had been just one occurrence of it. But there was no harm in stretching the truth to manipulate another, no? Let's play the pity game, and this is the first round.

Mirage listened as the spiritomb rambled about books saying what things one has done. She kind of wanted to laugh, a pokemon being judged by a BOOK? What kind of pokemon would do that!? What she found even more funny was that the spiritomb seemed to be angry about it.
"Judged off a book? That's a new one. At least a book is more accurate than lies grown and weaved through rumors! Really though, who would judge another off of a book? It just seems so silly, especially when its so easy for a book to lie since it has no facial expressions to give it away and voice to stutter and trip over itself as it attempts to weave a story it does not know all of." Mirage simply HAD to know what kind of pokemon would think of such a thing.

In Mirage's opinion, books were much easier to lie in. There would be no hesitation, no sweating, no darting of the eyes, nothing to give away the lie. All one had to do was simply write down a believable tale claim it non-fiction, and even the wisest of elders would believe it to be true!

"The quueestion is noot if a book caan liiee, as indeeed it can, but if peeoople believe the woords it speews. And if, saaaay... it infoormed oothers of thiss faalse infoormaation, and thuss tuurned aallies against you. Oh I haave atteempted to maake allies, and I haave attempted to maake a teeaam, and I haave attempted to beefriend, yet what haappens? Well, consiideriing I am aloone, and I haave yeet to creeaate an exploration team, that shoouuld be seelf-explaanatory. Theey feeaar, theey do noot waant to aassociate with I, and theey are all seelfish, dissgussting fooolss," the spiritomb hissed softly, finally leaning her ghostly head back to give the zorua some room. Partially. Rather than staring, her gaze shifted, examining the bark of the trees against the pale glow of the moonlight, the glass gently swaying side to side with the soft breeze echoing through the air, the ever-beautiful darkness cloaking the great sky above with the faint, white stars quietly glimmering to illuminate that piercing blackness. A serene scene, not to mention silent bar the whispering of the trees and their own voices. Honestly, she couldn't decide what she liked more. The chaos of an argument and the brutality of a fight, or this environment where she was able to think. Where they were able to think.

"Aaand whaat of yoour oown stoory, Illiaaad?" she asked, arching a brow if she were able to, the ghost listening in to the environment. Hearing for any signs of rustling, of footsteps crunching against broken leaves upon the dirt-ridden path. Was this far enough from the dangers within? She assumed as such - nothing had bothered them, and nothing had made a noise. It was awfully suspicious, all things considering.

"My story? Its just a tale of rumors and outlaws is all it is," Mirage spoke, not really wanting to speak about her tale as something she spotted in the corner of her eye distracted her. She was always on the look out for items, whether pokemon wielded them or not. Items were an outlaw of her level's friend, since there constantly existed pokemon higher than her level, and the items would prove useful in escaping or fighting. All she had was a mere reviver seed, which she had kept in her den only for emergency use. She had not taken it with her because she had not expected to battle anything particularly strong that day. The zorua's tail flicked just before she pounced gracefully for the item, claiming it before the spiritomb could see it.

This dice is not existing.

((Many Apologies for short post ;A;))

As the black fox bounded away, her attention having drifted off to something which had caught her eye in the undergrowth of this mighty forest, the spiritomb was left to contemplate her thoughts under this moonlight night, with that silver glow which broke through the gaps of the leaves caressing her ethereal body. Her lies were not truly lies, per say. Merely stretched truths. Oh, she did have a few turn against her for a few minutes when a little pest decided to raise their voice, yet it was nothing which caused her grievous harm. And no, she had not an exploration team to adventure with, but she did dearly hope that would change soon. Perhaps Illiad would like to form one? The idea amused her. Very much so. Would the two trust? Or would they attempt to stab each other in the back when it were possible? As the zorua had once stated, it was a game. A game which, well, she knew she could win. Gain trust and crush it between her... hands... yes. Though speaking of hands...

"Mmmm~ I eenvy yoou, little Illiaaad. Yoou caan stoore items. Hoold them aand uuse theem. Aaah, buut I cannoot, foor I haave no liimbs to uuse. Whaat a shaame indeeed," Ko chuckled, carefully and slowly following the illusion pokemon's direction, that brown and cracked keystone brushing against the blades of grass against its path, forcefully being dragged along to the bound pokemon's movements. "Whaat did you coome acrooss?"

Mirage examined the strange berry she had come across. It was a bright red berry with a strange vine still attached to it. The vine curved slightly and allowed for easier pick up without damaging the actual berry with her teeth. She picked up the berry and placed it in her make-shift sack made of Joy ribbon. She had never seen this berry in Shadowhue Forest before, then again she rarely ever came across items that weren't already held by another pokemon. The fox remembered of the time when she battled a Snivy that had caused a paralysis condition on her, she could have used this then. She knew of the berry's effects, but not that it could be found here in shadow hue. She smirked slightly, as when the Snivy came around again, it's glaring attack would be utterly useless as she could simply eat this before the paralysis would take effect. She could only imagine the look on that Snivy's face!!

Her ears perked up when the spiritomb began to speak once more, asking her what she had found and speaking of how envious she was of the Zorua, "Yes, although I can only use my mouth to pick things like these up. It can get quite distasteful, but once I get stronger, I could be able to stand on two legs and my fore paws would be free. It's quite troublesome to capture the game with no hands or fingers to carefully swipe things."

Mirage kept herself from saying she was an outlaw outright, for the spiritomb could have been a part of a rescue team. For all she knew, this strange and ominous pokemon could be fooling her, or at least attempting to fool her now that she realized what the pokemon could be up to. Mirage turned back to the spiritomb and spoke, "Say, out of curiosity, who do you work or plan to work for if anyone at all?"

Ko noted that the fox did not, in fact, state what it was. Though perhaps that was due to the shining red berry between her teeth which she quickly placed into that makeshift bag. She had eyes, albeit rather terrifying eyes in the darkest of nights but still, and the ghost suspected that flashing the berry in front of her was enough to answer her question. Though speaking of, that was an... oran berry, correct? That healed minor wounds and removed fatigue when nibbled? Thinking about it, berries were rather incredible. Devouring a small thing like that could succeed in so much. Remove poison from the system, heal wounds, cure harsh burns upon the body, even thaw a pokemon! It was amazing, and she had none of them. How annoying.

Evolution. Ko knew she had none, but the zorua did. It would transform her body, make her stronger, more powerful. Her abilities would escalate and, rumour has it, zoroark's could illusion up entire plain and areas as well as mask themselves! What a wonderfully tricky and manipulative pokemon it was! How she envied those abilities, and this ghost could work wonders if she were able to get hold of it! She would be green with envy if she were not already partially green.

"I woork aloone," she replied with a small nod, "Yeet I wiish to foorm an exploraation teeaam at soome pooint. Usuaally thaat is aa steep oone muust taake if theey wish to groow moore poowerfuul..." Yet before she could ask the same question in return, her mouth not even being able to utter the first syllable, there began a rustling in the bushes beside the zorua, specifically not far from where that berry once was. Rustle rustle whispered the bushes as they swayed from side to side, growing more frantic the more it got near, until finally...

They had company. Grand.

The member 'Ultimate Tank' has done the following action : Dices Roll

#1 'encounter rarity' : 5

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#2 'encounter rarity' : 8

A large grey beast exploded from the bushes, snarling at the duo, on the other side of the two stood a smaller beast that was similar to the first but not the same, more like a younger version. Mirage was stunned by the surprise attack as the larger beast's, who was a mightyena, muzzle snapped shut only inches from her tail as she darted forward, nearer to the spiritomb. The other canine creature was a poochyena, who snarled and seemed to threaten to chase after them or block their path if they tried to flee.

Mirage growled as well, but her growl faded as her eyes began to water. Her face took what would be considered irresistibly adorable form as tears leaked from her eyes. Her ears flattened and the zorua looked at the mightyena, who seemed to become slightly uneasy at the sight of her tears. Mirage had been using a move she had learned only just recently, Fake Tears. The poochyena only continued to growl, though it was quite useless since the two pokemon barely even had strong Physical Type attacks...

The ghastly ghost had expected something small and timid to pop its head out of the waiting, rustling bushes, rather offended that perhaps their snack had been stolen by a greater foe, their cheeks puffed and eyes glaring for useless and failing intimidation. Yet a grey-furred beat with snarling, slobbering teeth and its child pup beyond furious for some reason, great eyes glimmering with anger, a low growl protruding the still air? It caught her off guard. And, as much as she hated to admit it, she was not prepared for a battle.

But while Illiad sniffled and sobbed at her foes for a distraction (that or the illusion pokemon was significantly weaker and more pathetic than she realised), Ko got to work. Her swirling emerald orbs within her mist-like body froze in place, their colours shifting and shaping to a bright yellow, glowing with a bright light. They shot forth from her body, exploding from their origin place, and latched onto the largest threat - the mightyena - like a parasitic sphere. Less than a second later, the orbs exploded in a less metaphorical meaning, shedding a violent bright light to surround and blind the dark-type's face.

Confuse ray.

Yet she did not anticipate the smaller of the two snarling at her, its little teeth bared due to the light assault on its mother. Those bared teeth became enveloped in a dark purple aura, its long tongue swiping across the tip of its canines in glee as it leapt forward on its sturdy back legs. Not later had the green orbs regenerated in her body, she and her brethren felt a sharp pain course through their system as those terrifying chompers bit into that ethereal body. One would expect that not to hurt. She herself also didn't expect it to do damage. Usually normal type moves couldn't phase her! But that aura was a special thing indeed - it transformed its attack into a dark type. Bite.

The mightyena was struck with the confuse ray, and began to wobble in her fighting stance. Mirage saw this as an opportunity, as the poochyena seemed to be attacking the spiritomb and the mightyena was still up and about, and began her attack. Her eyes were still wet from her false tears, but a strange black aura began to surround her, and seemed to take on a form similar to electricity and cackle around, striking the ground and striking her. Mirage concentrated as the "electricity" became so dense that one could have just called it an orb and been more specific. The orb of darkness surrounded the zorua before seeming to erupt into a ring of darkness shooting out from all sides parallel to the ground. The pulse shot towards the Mightyena and struck it right in the chest.

The mightyena howled in pain and tried to pull off its own bite attack but only ended up gnawing on its own foot, hitting itself in confusion, as it attempted to bring itself back to its senses through pain. Mirage repeated the rather long process and this times aimed for the poochyena that had attacked the spiritomb.

Ko gasped at the poochyena's teeth slowly digging themselves into her ethereal body, her entire head screaming from the sudden blow upon her. 'Act!' they screeched together, 'Remove the pest, kill it!'. Her body shimmered and shook, a black aura grasping ahold of the purple and green, the opponent stumbling forward as their teeth clunked together, paws falling forward and through her black, ghost-like body. Like vanishing into the wind, she inwardly evaporated into the pup's shadow, only to reform as a black mass seconds later the moment the 'thud' occurred of grey against grass.

There was a concerning 'crack' as, like a whip, the keystone which Ko was bound to slammed into the back of the poochyena's head, sending the poor thing skidding across the ground, letting out a loud 'yelp' in the process.

The best thing to do was to take out the minion, or the child in this case, so it is less of a bother when the greater threat attacks. As the Mother let out a great howl of pain from her clustered mind acting against her, Ko let out a low, malicious chuckle. How the great are reduced to nothing when their thoughts are violently disorganised, rendering them useless. Scum. Body back to its original state, the explosion of dark and eerie purple circles beside her made her turn her head in surprise, crescent eyes widening slightly at the zorua's powerful attack slamming itself against the Mother with spectacular force. She howled with pain, paws sliding back against the rustling grass below her, eyes wide from the Dark Pulse bombarding her body, each hit causing her large body to shake with agony. Ko was rather surprised she was still standing, honestly.

Of course, the child wasn't exactly happy with its mother being assaulted by darkness. Letting out a cry of defiance, he forced himself up with a whimper, bounded as hard as he could forward, head down and ears flat, to Tackle Illiad to the ground.