mischiefbreeder | 33 [Action/Video]

[It was a fairly typical day in Luceti. The weather was starting to improve. Not by much yet, but it was improving. The snow had been starting to melt, it's steadily getting warmer...

...And people were starting to arrive in Luceti again. New faces, old faces, even long-forgotten faces. And on this particular day, it's the second of these that can be spotted passing through the village, as a boy with messy black hair in New Feather garb floats through the plaza seated atop... a strange flying white bird?]

Doesn't look like this place's changed a bit, huh, Togetaro? ...Oh, right, I guess you wouldn't know. Well, whatever! Come on, onward, in that direction! [He gives a forceful point in the direction of the shops. His memories were a bit fuzzy, but he thankfully remembered enough to know how to get back to the village and get his stuff.]

[Video]

[After retrieving his things, Gold decides to hit up the journal.]

So, how long was I gone from this place? And you guys better not've given away my room, you hear me?

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[Huh...normally he'd be a little more skeptical about such things because of how rare Arceus is, but considering where we are and our own previous encounters with legendary Pokemon, he's willing to have a suspension of disbelief.]

How did you meet Arceus, if you don't mind my asking?

Well, that's simple. It was the mission I was given.

Oh? Why were you tasked with a mission like that?

I'm the only who could be trusted with it, of course! [It's... partially true, at least.]

Ah, I see... [He'd question why Gold would be one of the few people trusted with that, but...well, Ash was trusted with things like this before too, maybe they both have something that makes them the ones for the job.]

But why did Arceus need to be "saved"? Who exactly was threatening it?

I'd say Arceus had to be saved from Team Rocket, who was tryin' to seize its power for themselves, but... that's not really true.

[Judging from the look that crosses Cilan's face momentarily, he doesn't seem surprised at the mention of Team Rocket--to be honest, it was a vague guess in mind considering how much of a nuisance they are in Unova, to hear that they'd go after Arceus too sounds like something they'd do...until that last part Gold says that keeps him from voicing his thoughts on them yet.]

Oh? And why's that?

Arceus wasn't happy with humanity to begin with. Team Rocket was just the final nail in the coffin. [His voice sounds serious, his tone grim.]

Ah... [There's a slight pause of thought before he speaks.] Well, people like Team Rocket can have that effect on many Pokemon, and other trainers too...but that's quite an unfortunate taste, to think that Arceus wasn't fond of humans... [Considering that, if Arceus made the world, that would mean it potentially made humans too?]

So, how did you manage to help Arceus?

[Arceus created everything, Cilan. Everything.]

By givin' Arceus a little heart-to-heart with the strength of me and my partners' bonds.

[Normally that sounds like something you'd hear from a children's cartoon, but...well, we are from a children's cartoon so that sounds like a reasonably logical thing to us.]

Hm, I see...the friendships people and Pokemon have with one another and among themselves certainly can give things a much more mellow taste. That's wonderful to hear that your bonds would be strong enough to guide the heart of a Pokemon like Arceus!

Of course! My Pokémon are like my family, so of course our bonds would be the ones that speak most loudly to Arceus! [Even though he almost failed.]

[Ssshh don't add that part then, it ruins the magic or something. Besides, that almost sounds like something Ash might have said, which makes Cilan smile a little wider.]

Well, I can't wait to see how much those bonds have grown since the last time you were here--come to think of it, I think I owed you a battle sometime, didn't I? [Not now, obviously, but when you've had time to settle back into Luceti, he means. ^^;;]

Yeah, you promised you'd taste me, so don't back out on me now.

[How he manages to say that with a straight face is one of the greatest mysteries of the universe.]

[Well considering how much Cilan says that stuff with a straight face, smiling even, all the time...either it takes a great deal of willpower or being happily oblivious to the phrasing of his own words...]

Of course--just let me know when is a convenient time for you once you've settled back in. I'll be looking forward to tasting the bonds of the trainer and Pokemon that were able to sway even the heart of a legendary Pokemon like Arceus! [Speaking of things one manages to say with a straight face...]

Yeah, sure, I'll let you know!

33 [Action/Video]

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