The Island Mystery

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The cool lake breeze brushed past the purpled-haired monkey as he shouldered his custom-made napsack composed of leaves, twigs and grass. He'd set out half a day ago to make his way to this peculiar island following a curious summons addressed directly to his tree dwelling in Pecha forest. It still wasn't clear who sent it or why, but the letter requested his help and he couldn't help but be drawn to the adventure. Of course, danger and excitement wasn't really his thing, but life in Pecha had grown stagnant and a change of scenery was exactly what he needed. The only problem was... He'd reached the last branch before the edge of the lake.

Cracker stared down at the forest floor where it transitioned from tall grass to a thin bar of sand leading into the water. It had been a while since he'd last set foot on solid ground, and he wasn't particularly looking forward to it. Safety was in the trees for him, and he just couldn't get over the texture of grass and dirt, with all those little twigs and bugs to snap and squish underfoot. Still though, the Aipom had come this far, it wouldn't make sense to give up and turn back now.

Wrapping his tail around the branch he stood on, Cracker closed his eyes tight and dove off backwards, swinging in a short arch before letting go and landing firmly on his feet. Immediately the prickly sensation of the grassy ground shot up his legs, making him dance uncomfortably. "Ooooh, why does it have to be so pointy!" he whined, shifting from one foot to the next as he quickly raced towards the shore. The sand was moderately better underfoot, but the way it squished between his toes made him shudder nonetheless.

With his tail hand, the Aipom reached into his pack and pulled out the little letter he'd gotten, perusing it once more. The neatly written words said: Please, help me. You're my only hope. Fallen Leaf Copse. That was it, no details beyond where to go. It was kind of exciting, actually. Like a mystery.

As he stood on the small beach, Cracker's feet sank into the squishy sand, the occasional wave of water helping to bury them. He could see the pathway leading to the island nearby, but the Aipom was considering an alternative means of transportation. One that would get him off his feet in particular. Shaking the sand off his feet, the monkey began scavenging pieces of driftwood scattered across the shore with the intent of constructing a boat. As he worked, Cracker started humming a terribly out of tune song.

((Energy 12))

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine," the Gallade responded as he rested. He chuckled at the Aipom's joke about the Ursaring. "Yep, definitely not the brightest Pokemon around." When Cracker asked Akuroma why he'd decided to become an outlaw, or more specifically what drove him to that decision, the Gallade thought. He shrugged as he continued to think, "Dunno, to be quite honest. Maybe Mirage and some other outlaws I've met just kinda rubbed off on me. Maybe Mirage was right about types affecting your personality and this new Fighting type of mine drove me to be more outlawish. Or maybe I was just in the right place at the wrong time. Who knows? Could be Arceus' will, could just be how the universe wants me to be. Maybe one day I'll figure it out, but for now, I'm just gonna enjoy the perks and be cautious of the danger." The Gallade groaned as he stood back up, finished with his explanation. He stretched, his body popping as it was moved this way and that, beginning to recover from the battle it was just put though. "Either way, we better get moving, the center of this island shouldn't be too far off, and the longer we stay in one place, the more likely explorers will find us."

[29 energy]

As the pair of Pokemon headed back into the woods, away from the shrine, Cracker spoke his grievances over their 'loss'. Of course, he hadn't really expected anything to happen in the first place, so he was of the mind it was a waste right from the beginning. And now Akuroma wanted to go looking for more leaves, determined to discovery the mystery of the shrine. Which the Aipom wouldn't have had qualms with, but he was feeling quite tired after such an extensive bout through the forest.

"I knew we shouldn't have burned those leaves," the Aipom complained, swinging from branches overhead. "So what're we gonna do, find more so you can burn those too?" He was just a mite tiffed over the whole ordeal, but it was likely due to his exhaustion. He tended to get cranky. "I feel like I'm gonna drop dead any second. This better be worth it. I don't wanna keep coming back here all day. So how did you say that puzzle's supposed to go?"

((Energy: 4 +2(new pages)= 6))

Akuroma rolled his eyes as they walked. The Aipom had been complaining like this ever since the leaves they burned did nothing. "I told you already, I didn't quite understand the colors and numbers and now I do, so we'll be fine." The Gallade took out a pair of berries, tossing one of them up to the Aipom. "There's an oran berry, now be quiet and eat. You know there's probably dozens of explorers on this island, meaning there's dozen of people who'd like to capture me," Akuroma said. He himself was a bit frustrated at his oversight of the riddle. Perhaps he was a bit quick to burn the leaves before thinking over the riddle more. At least this time they'll have time to think of all solutions while searching for more leaves.

He sighed, munching on the oran berry in his hand as he walked. He hoped they'd get the leaves quickly, solve the riddle, and be on there way. He especially hoped it'd happen before any explorers found them or the shrine.

[39 energy]

Dracorexion carried out 5 launched of one Fallen Leaf Copse :

, , , ,

The Aipom was prepared to continue his whiny tirade when an Oran Berry was thrown his way. Catching it mid-air, he landed on the next branch and crouched over his prize before nibbling away at it's juicy body. It didn't really take much to shut him up; the berry was more than enough to satisfy him. He finished off the tasty fruit, feeling much more energized again. His frown shifted into a grin and just like that he was his happy-go-lucky self again.

"That was delicious," he commented, "Thanks!" Taking off again, he swung down lower, keeping pace with the Gallade's head as they made their way back. "Anyway, what are the chances we'll run into another team? Those other guys were probably a fluke. And this island's pretty big, right? I mean they were probably the only--Eeeee!" The Aipom's shrill cry rang loudly as he sprang ahead of Akuroma and dug around in the leaves on the ground.

"Look, look!" he squealed in delight, holding aloft a white leaf. "Another leaf! This is gonna be eas--" The ground suddenly erupted under Cracker, the trap sprung. A large net, too large for Cracker, swooped up into the tree, holding the monkey aloft as two large Ursaring emerged from the bushes, looking intent on causing harm when they suddenly realized they had the wrong quarry in their net. One of the bears, looking rather bruised, quickly spotted Akuroma and jabbed a claw in his direction.

"That's the one! That stupid monkey got in the way!"

((Energy: 6 + 10(Oran Berry)= 16))

Akuroma's eyes narrowed as he saw the Aipom become caught and the two Ursaring again. "You again? Do I need to bet you senseless again?" the Gallade asked, finishing off his oran berry before he looked back at the pair of Ursaring. "Ah-ha! So you remember the terror that I, Butch from team Fairy Stalkers brought you!" the bruised Ursaring said, looking proud of himself. "Actually no, but I get the feeling that you changed your team's name," Akuroma said, an unimpressed expression across his face. The Ursaring growled, looking like he was about to attack until his twin stopped him.

"Hey now, no need for rude words. Come quietly and we'll release your little monkey friend," the new Ursaring said. The Gallade smirked, disappearing in a flash of light before reappearing, Aipom and explorer bag in hand back where he stood originally. "What? This one? Oh no need, I've got him myself, oh and I'll help myself to anything in your bag since you were so gracious as to give us a white leaf." With that, the Gallade popped an orange gummi into his mouth, eating it in front of its previous owners while he transferred a Light box into his own bag, tossing the now useless Exploration bag into a nearby creek.

The two bears watched in shock at the audacity of the Gallade. Sure he had defeated one of them, but not without sustaining injuries of his own. Certainly he didn't believe he could take on both of them at the same time?

[24 energy]

As Akuroma insulted the two Ursaring, Cracker squirreled around in the net, trying to gnaw his way out. He didn't have long to struggle though. One instant he was biting the rope, the next he was under the Gallade's arm, facing the bears as the psychic-type Pokemon continued his taunts, even going to far as to rob them of their belongings. Then he tossed the bag into the water as further insult. Whatever Akuroma was up to with his actions, Cracker was all for it.

These Ursaring weren't acting like proper Guild members at all. They were rude, cruel and absolutely shameful. If a battle was what they wanted, the monkey was eager to help his friend. "Awesome!" the Aipom cried. "I'll take the ugly one, what d'ya say? Tag team!" Still hanging at the Gallade's side, Cracker waggled his arms and legs, striking poses that left much to the imagination in his current position. "C'mon, let me at 'em! I'll take 'em apart! You give the Guild a bad name!" he cried.

Akuroma looked at the Aipom and promptly flicked his nose. "First off, even injured I'm sure an Ursaring could beat you. You'll need to train more before you can attempt to take them on. Also, whether or not they give the guilds a bad name or not matters little to me. Also, I've no interest to fight. First off, your little twin there. Eh, what's his name? Bob, I think, did quite a number on me and taking you on while injured is not a good idea. Secondly, you're gonna have to get out of your own trap first," the Gallade said before he began to walk off. The Ursaring, seemingly confused about what Akuroma had said, looked at each other. The injured one tried to take a step forward, only to find himself and his ally suddenly in the air in their own net. "Never underestimate a Psychic type, boys, even if its secondary type is Fighting!" the Gallade said as he continued on his merry way.

[27 energy]

Although Cracker didn't appreciate being flicked in the nose, he didn't have much choice in the matter of battle as Akuroma clearly had no intention of engaging in combat. Instead, he put them into their own trap and carried the Aipom away into the jungle. "Wow, that was really amazing," he said eventually, squirming in the Gallade's hold until he let him go. "But I could'a taken 'im. Did you see his face? All swollen and gross. Heehee!"

Bouncing up onto his tail to match Akuroma's height, the Aipom hopped along beside him. "I know you said you don't care, but I really think you have it in for bullies. Which is good, especially if they're in the Guild. No place for rotten scum like that! Oh--not that I'm calling you scum or anything. But they really were awful. And by comparison, I guess that makes you good? Oh, but you're still bad. But... towards bad Pokemon? Which makes you good. Wow, that's really confusing. So you're like... a good kind of bad. Or maybe a bad kind of good."

"I would have stolen from them if they were goody-two-shoes guild members too. Guild members act differently towards outlaws than they do normal Pokemon most of the time. It's not to be mean or ugly, it's because they expect outlaws to be inherently mean or ugly. How could someone who's well mannered steal from Pokemon and beat them to a pulp? That's what they think."

The Gallade continued to walk, becoming silent as he scanned the trees and ground for any of the odd colored leaves or Pokemon who may want to attack them. There was still the chance that a herd of Sawsbuck was out in this forest, ready to attack them on sight. Plus the Ursaring would probably escape from their own trap soon, which'll mean they'll have that exploration team to look out for as well.

Still bouncing along, the Aipom responded with gusto. "Ooooh, I get it! You just don't see eye-to-eye with the Guild because of how they treat Outlaws. Well, that makes perfect sense! I'd never see you as a bad Pokemon, though. Heehee! I know you better than they do. So do you steal to survive, or do you just enjoy stealing? Personally, I just like to play pranks. I generally give back what I take. Unless it's a yummy berry and I just can't resist! Ooooh, I feel so bad when I do that! But at the same time it's so fun!"

"Is that what it's like for you? I hope you at least get a little joy out of it, or what would be the point? Things aren't worth doing if you can't have at least a little fun doing it. That's what I think," the Aipom continued to ramble, not really waiting on answers to any of his questions, but expecting them all the same.

"Sometimes, Cracker, you run away with subjects. To me it doesn't matter if I need something someone has or if I enjoy doing it. I steal simply because I want to steal. Sure sometimes I find items I like, such as useful berries or items, but other times I might just find items that are a gamble, like boxes. Not to mention it's hard as hell to get into the guild to have the boxes opened. I might see if I can get Izumi to open the boxes outside of the guild. No doubt even my cloak won't help in disguising me. It might even give me away since a good few Pokemon now know what it looks like."

The Gallade groaned as he began to think of a way to get the boxes to Izumi to be opened. Surely she wouldn't deny him service simply because he doesn't have the best reputation nowadays. Dandy didn't seem to concerned about dying him. Though then again, Dandy may have not known at the time that Akuroma had stolen from others. Same with Violet, since he's gone in and out of her dojo to pick berries.

"Heehee, I run away with a lot of things!" the Aipom giggled, still keeping pace with the Gallade. "But if you steal because you want to then you must enjoy it at least a little, right? I mean nobody steals because they have to. That would be an awful way to live, really. You gotta at least enjoy what you do, good or bad, or what's the point!" To stress the point, Cracker promptly backflipped into the air.

"But you know, if you're having so much trouble getting those boxes opened, I could always do it for you! I've never been to the town before, let alone the guild, but it couldn't hurt. I'm getting a lot more used to moving around on the ground. If you really need help, I'm here for yah!" Jumping up into the air, he gave Akuroma a pat on the back and bounced his way ahead of the Gallade before dropping to the ground to begin searching for leaves it earnest.

"Its no trouble at all. Anyways, let's focus on the here and now. Our priority is finding more leaves, which'll allow us to try and solve that riddle once more. The Gallade began to look around more, stopping every now and then whenever he'd notice something on the ground. More often than not, it just happened to be nothing. Worse, yet, he wasn't even finding any items, let alone the oddly colored leaves. The Gallade sighed as he watched the leaves of the forest fall. "Gah, we were finding them so easily before we reached the shrine. I hope those leaves aren't being picked off by other groups of Pokemon looking for them."

"Have a little faith!" the Aipom called from his spot further down the path. Despite his dislike for the texture of crunching leaves, he was busily throwing them left and right in search of any leaf that possessed one of those special colours. Of course so far he wasn't having any luck either, but he continued his search in earnest. "This place is full of leaves. How hard can it be to find just a couple special ones?" Cracker dug through piles of leaves, running from one side of the path to the other, really getting into the spirit of his search. He was determined to find something. Anything.

Lumin carried out 3 launched of one Fallen Leaf Copse :

, ,

Akuroma was silent as he searched, soon finding a leaf. Though, it had a Sentret attached to it. Grabbing the small Pokemon by the tail, the Gallade lifted him up into the air. "Leaf, now," the larger Pokemon said, glaring at the Sentret. The smaller Pokemon complied, giving the Gallade the leaf before being released onto the ground. The Gallade then continued to walk down the path they had chosen, pocketing the leaf as well.