From: YCBY \(Chet Weaver\) (nichirasu@hotmail.com) Subject: [PW!] A Fond Farewell ( was Re: [PW!] The Darkness Comes! (concluded)) Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2003-09-25 23:36:07 PST Wanna hear a secret? I was reading newsgroup messages when "Adrian Tymes" <wingcat@pacbell.net> wrote in message news:cvacb.2689$rZ5.1618@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com... > > It was only then that Aerie paid attention to the part of herself to > which she had given motor control and the task of getting her close to > Kitsu, which part had taken the most direct route available, shorter > even than a straight line. She knew in an instant that she had been > broadcasting her thoughts. "H-how much did you hear...?" > > Kitsu looked Aerie in the eyes. "You really would have tried to kill > yourself if you had gone further?" > > Aerie tried to look away, but could not. "I...might have..." Until > another burst of fear gave her the willpower to do so. "I want to make > you happy, in every way. But I realize those ways conflict, some even > at the same time. I am not the one for you." > > Jordan moved to be in Aerie's line of sight. "Aerie, I might not know > you well, but-" > > "But you have little time." Aerie motioned to the portal. "Time > portals rarely last long, and I doubt this is any different. It is your > way home, is it not?" She sighed. "Then all I can do is to say > goodbye. I have unfinished business here, and before I can finish, your > world will be separated from mine forever." She looked at Jordan. #I > have but one request.# > "A requ...?" Jordan started. "Separated would be an understatement," a soft voice echoed from the portal. A feminine creature stepped out of the tear, its ivory skin as white as the flowing vestments it wore. Severe, green hair fell over emerald sleeves, out of which a snow-white hand held a modest druid's staff. "Greyjean!" Jordan, Keaton and Kitsu exclaimed in unison. They shifted into their hybrid forms, those being more familiar to the otherworldly visitor. "Greyjean?" Aerie noted. "Who is she?" "*He* is one of my father's most trusted and powerful court magicians," Kitsu explained. "A Gardevoir. They say he can manipulate time itself!" "O, Great Greyjean," Jordan greeted. "To what do we owe the pleasure?" "I arrive with orders from King Nidon himself," Greyjean replied. "Father!?" Keaton exclaimed. "He survived the attack?" Kitsu added. "Indeed," Greyjean answered. "As have most of the royal family, albeit scattered across dimension." Kitsu, Keaton and Jordan made various joyful exclamations. Kitsu embraced Jordan, but then saw that Aerie wasn't as delighted as they were. "Great Greyjean," Kitsu said. "Have you arrived to escort us home?" "I am afraid that there is no home, at the moment," Greyjean replied. "I'm afraid our country, our entire world for that matter, did not fair as well as its people did. Lo, it became another casuality of our war. I bore witness to the devastation and ruins myself. The planet itself is but mere space dust and debris." Jordan, Kitsu and Keaton were stunned. They had been at the site where the initial blast hit, but gravity of the concept had been alleviated at least partially by denial. They knew the world was gone, but hearing it from the great wizard was more illuminating than they could grasp. The truth was blinding, as if the curtains of ignorance had been thrown back to allow the brilliant light of reality to wash over the blissful sleepers. The confirmation of the fact left marks on their metaphorical retinas, causing them to blink and rub their eyes in irritation. "But can't you, the great master of the mystic arts, turn back time and prevent the destruction?" Keaton demanded. "I'm afraid it is beyond my authority to do so," Greyjean lamented. "I made great haste to return to world we call home, but, alas, I was not swift enough to return before the restrictions on my temporal skills will inacted." "But what of our kingdoms?" Jordan asked. "What will become of them?" "The industrious King Nidon has taken upon himself the quest to discover new territories in which we may reside," Greyjean answered. "He is optimistic that our homeland can be replaced. In the meantime, I, among others, have been appointed the task of finding and recruiting our wayward kinsmen." "Recruiting?" Kitsu inquired. "To aid in the investigation," Greyjean elaborated. "Scouring one universe is daunting enough, but the spheres of hyperspace are just as vast and varied, if not more so. But the work load lightens as the the search party grows, and the methodology we have enacted allows the party to grow exponentially. Indeed, the party becomes a revelry! Perhaps even a festival! Possibly even grander still! A gala! And once all the invitations have been delivered, the guests will gather and the gala will begin upon the fields of New Aenaria! What a celebration it will be! "But digress. Nay, I ramble. I daresay I have rallied your support long enough. Please, present your weapons." Not quite knowing what to expect, Kitsu and Keaton drew their swords and Jordan produced his bow. With a wave of his staff, Greyjean produced a mist that coalesced about their armaments. They glew briefly and returned to normal. "Your weapons will now produce a iridescent glow when you are in the proximity of an Aenarian," Greyjean explained. He then produced a stamp and handed it to Keaton. "Use this to mark them. The ink is temporary, but the magic is indelible. Once the new homeworld is found, the magic will lead them to it. Be warned, however, that this will not be an easy task. Many of our people will be difficult to locate. Worse still, some that you do find may try to resist or test you. Not only that, but you may find competition from those who serve the Dark Lord Rossiter." "Rossiter is no more," Keaton revealed. "We have seen to it." "The Dark Lord knows many tricks, young one," Greyjean said. "And Darker Lords await to replace him. Rossiter may have been vanquished, but his influence remains." "We will persevere," Kitsu assured him. "You said you came with orders," Jordan pointed out. "What exactly are they?" "Ah, yes," Greyjean confirmed. He allowed his staff to rest against his body and he drew a scroll from his sleeve. "Let's see... Keaton, you are to find the remaining kinsmen on this world. Kitsu is to remain where she is, provided that she is safe... Hm, this place seems safe enough..." Keaton breathed a sigh of relief. Kitsu tried to contain her glee, but couldn't help but giggle when the jubilant Aerie leaped on her. Greyjean continued to say, "Jordan is to assist in the investigation of other worlds. You must leave immediately." The situation once again showed it's bipolar attitude. A tense, disappointed silence followed the proclamation, broken only by the cascading portal. Jordan and Kitsu gazed at each other, not wanting to have to look away. "Jordan," Kitsu said. "It took me so long to discover you again... I can't bear to lose you just when I've found you. Please, don't go." "I'm afraid I must," Jordan said. "It is my duty, even though it pains me so to be separated from you again so soon. Kitsu, my spirit, my love, and my soul will always be with you, even if the rest of me is several universes away." "You've given me the best parts of you," Kitsu replied. In jest, she added, "Well, most of them, anyway. And you will have the same of me. It is all I can offer you. Actually..." Kitsu bent down, tore a strip of cloth from the bottom of her robe, and tied it around one of Jordan's horns. "May this be your banner, should you have to ride into battle," She said. "I shall treasure this token always," Jordan said. He took his lady love into his arms and kissed her deeply on the lips. After an uncomfortable period of time for at least most of the on-lookers, the loving couple released each other. "Oh, I have something for you, too." Jordan reached into his pocket, pulled out a wallet, and handed it to Kitsu. "I was able to save a bit of money," Jordan explained. "I knew you and Keaton didn't have much, so I wanted to take you shopping to celebrate after getting you back to normal." Keaton made a whiplash sound in response. Kitsu glowered at him. Jordan then turned to Keaton and said, "I will miss you as well, Prince Keaton." "It's been a pleasure meeting you again, Sir Jordan," Keaton said. A moment later, he added, "Aw, to heck with it," and gave Jordan a great, big hug. "Keaton, you're crushing me," Jordan croaked out. "Oops, sorry," Keaton said, sheepishly letting the Houndoom hybrid go. "I guess I don't know my own strength." "I think I lost the feeling in my ribs," Jordan remarked. To Aerie, he said, "Thank you, Aerie. I don't think I could've saved Kitsu and Keaton without you. If you meet Smasher again, be sure to thank him for me, as well." Aerie nodded and said, "I will." Jordan approached the Great Wizard, turned back to his friends and said, "Again, goodbye and farewell. I sincerely hope we all meet again." That said, Jordan and Greyjean walked into the portal and disappeared. The portal soon collapsed in on itself and disappated. "Well, there he goes," Keaton said. "Yeah, there he goes," Kitsu said. Sinking into post-partem depression, she absently opened the wallet Jordan gave her and examined its contents. "So... wallowing in sorrow, or distraction by shopping?" "Well, I could use some new underwear," Keaton said. "Lord knows the last time I changed them." "That information I could've done without," Kitsu said. To be continued...? -- You Can't Beat YCBY AIM: PanGatomon MSN/E-mail: Nichirasu@hotmail.com Yahoo! Messenger: tech_weaver ICQ: 122744531 Webcomic: http://desperadocoyote.keenspace.com "A little disrespect and rudeness can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." -- Calvin, Calvin & Hobbes (August 8, 1992) "An evil, walking house could be funny if we weren't about to die." -- Taichi, Digimon Adventure (Tokyo-Pop's final volume)