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Post by LuciferIX on Jul 1, 2008 19:20:04 GMT 12
Well I will say that you are posting them at a good pace lately. Don't get too discouraged, as they've said not all that many people review on these threads. I would review here more often if it wasn't for the fact that I place my reviews on ff.net. I would place them here as well but it always seems pointless to do two reviews for one chapter.
Well I'm off to read/review this. Good luck and keep at it CJ.
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Post by XAOTL on Jul 2, 2008 0:41:27 GMT 12
Storywise things have taken an... interesting twist. It seems as if everythings on its head now.
Ash has his freinds killed, locked in a dungeon. With two thives that had found out he was part dragon, capturing him, only to take the rather... daft princess instead. Seriously. She let them out. WTH. If only Ash had bothered to tell her, that they were dangerous.
Besides what is Norman doing, locking a kid, who is a captive of two criminals, inside of a prison.
Altough with Ash as a dragon... half- drake (whatever the 'technical' term is) he should be touching a little more into his 'inner demon' so to speak. But I'm just hoping Teepo isn't dead. he was the only one that made me smile. ;D
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Post by Nina_Lumos on Jul 2, 2008 3:28:48 GMT 12
I hinted in May's introduction chapter that she lives her whole life, up until now, inside the castle. In-game, Nina is in the same exact disposition. That contributes to their naiveness (word?). Plus, Balio and Sunder's criminal career is not widely known in Wyndia, and the only person who knew then was captured with them.
Funny, isn't it? A dragon, of all creatures, going to save a princess? Then again, the dragons (Ryu specifically) are the main protagonists of Breath of Fire, hence the title.
Part 12: The Princess and the Dragon The dungeon is a long, straight Z-shaped hallway. Jail cells line the walls on both sides of the hall. It was in the northwest branch where May came from, and the southeast branch was where the criminals fled with the princess. Ash's cell and the horsemen's cell were situated nearest the former exit. Ash raced through the long corridor of the dungeon. As he passed jail cell after jail cell, Ash was able to remember everything. He remembered that he woke up inside a mine; that he massacred countless people in the same mine. Most of all he remembered that he was a dragon. But all that doesn't matter to Ash right now. What matters is that the same criminals who took away Ash's family is now taking off with his new friend, and Ash isn't about to let them. He quickened his pace to find his quarry.The dungeon is vast, and Ash found a stairway leading to the lower level at the far end of the hallway he was in. Fortunately, May was able to wake up and stir trouble for Balio and Sunder. Because of this, Ash managed to catch on to them, at the entrance to the dungeon's second level. "Let me go! Let me go!" May was shouting. Sunder was holding her at bay. "Sorry, princess... No can do! We've got to get our ransom money first!" Sunder said. Balio suddenly realized that they were not alone. "You again!" he shouted at the sight of Ash at the foot of the stairs. Sunder groaned. "Oh no, not him again! I've had it about up to here with him!" he said through gritted teeth. Balio nodded, clenching his fists. "Me too! Enough is enough! This time we kill him for sure!" Sunder had a sudden thought. "But...Bro... What if he turns into a dragon again...?" "We've got the Princess! He won't try anything stupid while she's with us!" He kicked May to one side, and she hit the wall on her back, knocking her out again. Ash was angered at the treatment May was having. His latent power is slowly taking over him like fire takes over paper. But, Balio was right about one thing; May might get hurt if he transforms... Knowing he has no other choice, Ash took out his sword. surprisingly, it hasn't worn from over three days of unuse... Sunder was able to srpint towards Ash in a split second. Another flurry of kicks were sent his way, knocking the breath out of Ash. Sunder then kicked his prey towards Balio, ready to deliver his own attacks upon contact. Ash, thanks to surprising endurance, managed to recover from the initial blow, in time to bloack Balio's left kick with his arms. Balio shifted his weight, trying to increase the power of his attack, but Ash wouldn't budge. Sunder tried coming from behind for another attack, but Ash was able to sense it. Then, like fire spreading through a forest, Ash inevitably transformed. Balio and Sunder were taken aback. They were nearly twice the size of the Whelp, but they're smart enough to know that they won't be a match even for a small dragon. Whelp Ash, with surprising reflexes, ducked underneath Sunder's blow, appearing from behind the latter. Ash took a deep breath, and used his Flamethrower on the two brothers. May was out of harm, thanks to the control Ash has on his attack, directed completely at Balio and Sunder. Unfortunately, the attack didn't kill the two of them. "Yow! Ow-ow-ow-OW! That burns!!" Sunder, with the posterior of his slacks, the closest in proximity to the Flamethrower, on fire, danced hysterically around the hallyway. he was trying to put it out, but with no success. "Darn!" Balio said. He, too, was suffering some burns, although less severe than his brother's. "Come on, Sunder, let's get out of here!" "But, bro, what about the princess?" "Forget her!" Balio turned to Ash, still in Whelp form. His nose was flaring angrily. "You'll really regret causing trouble for us, whelp!" Exhausted, Ash fell to his knees. The last thing he saw were the two horsemen fleeing the scene; he could at least see that they don't have the princess with them, before collapsing once again... "Are you all right?" Ash's eyes flickered open, and the first thing he saw were May's. May, on the other hand, heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good... The healing magic worked." May straightened herself up. Earlier, she was in a kneeling position next to Ash. "You were able to drive them off. That was amazing." May turned red a little. "Thank you again, um, I never got your name last time... Ash, right? Thank you, Ash..." The princess brushed dust off herself as she stood up. Ash also stood. "Come on, let's get out of here. We should be able to get to the city this way," she said, pointing further into the dungeon instead of up. May walked ahead of him, but stopped halfway. She turned around to face Ash once more. "You are a dragon; I saw you as such before you turned back to yourself. But- I know what everyone kept saying about dragons long ago, but I know that you're not a bad dragon, Ash... "If you were, you couldn't have saved me, right?" Ash turned red, not unlike the color of his alter-ego. But this color has nothing to do with dragons at all... To Be Continued
In the game, this battle with Balio and Sunder is unique, because either win or lose (although the latter is much easier), the story will continue without any penalty to the gameplay other than not getting EXP from the battle.
Interestingly, when Ash/Ryu transforms, there is no trace of clothing on him. And when he reverts, his clothes are intact.
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Post by Nina_Lumos on Jul 2, 2008 16:24:12 GMT 12
From this point onward, May and Ash will never leave each other's side, except for... Well, you'll see when the story goes on.
There is a reference to alcoholism here, and from one who will soon be a Master like Samson, of all people. I wonder if I have to raise the rating of my fic...
Part 13: Search and Capture Again Ash found that the end of the second level dungeon was not entirely a dead end. It was quite apparent that this was the same route that the horse brothers used in their escape. The lower levels lead them to the Wyndian catacombs, full of gravestones. There were also furnaces here and there, probably used to heat the castle interior above. May and Ash made their way out of the catacombs easily. Upon reaching the exit, they found themselves at the very northwestern corner of Wyndia, at that very portion of the city walls. "Well, we made it," May said, peering to the east. She recognized the walls of her castle home in that direction. "Now all we have to do is get back inside to the palace before they find us. "Huh? You're looking for someone? Here in Wyndia? Rei and Teepo? I'm sorry-- I've never heard of them being here... But I'll help you look for them! No, it's all right... As a member of the royal family, it's my job to help people in trouble... Let's go, Ash." Wyndia is a very large city. Ash can tell that by crossing the wall that's surrounding it. May directed him to some stairs leading down the wall, and to the city's resident hotel close by. From down a set of stairs from the hotel, is an open-air cafe. There are tourists of all sorts around here, sitting in coffee tables and talking animatedly with each other. However, Ash couldn't see any sign of his brothers among them. Down another set of stairs, Ash and May found themselves in the combined residential and industrial section of the city. Shops and houses alternate the streets around them. Ash spent a little time, and some Zenny Samson lent him, trying to replenish his supplies, which was confiscated when he was arrested with balio and Sunder. May's presence does help, however, in that the shopkeepers gave him a discount, considering he's accompanied by the princess. Far to the south of the industrial section, is the city park. A quartet of children are running around, playing here. Next to the park is the city hospital. What Ash doesn't know, is that this is where Samson should have taken him earlier, if Wyndia weren't so far. May asked around the clinic for Rei and Teepo, using Ash's description, but there were no results. Ash, meanwhile, stayed outside, watching the kids his age play tag. If his life with his brothers are normal, they would be just like them. Instead, Ash clenched his fists at the realization of what he really is. A monster, and part of a race that has supposedly tried to destroy the world centuries ago. May came out minutes later, to tell Ash she hasn't learned anything. "Is there something wrong, Ash?" May asked, a little worried. "You look a little pale..." At that moment, the four kids playing ran up to them. The one who seems to be the oldest, asked, "We heard you were looking for someone. I know what that is!" The little girl to his right blurted out, "You're playing Hide-and-Seek, right? OK, you're it!! You have to try and find us!" "But wait," May started, "we-" Too late, all four kids are gone. May sweatdropped and turned to Ash. "...Let's go look for them," May suggested, which caused Ash to sweatdrop as well. "You're looking for Teepo, right, Ash? And he's a kid too, right? So maybe these kids will know something about him, right?" More sweatdrops from Ash's temple. However, he agreed, and the two of them split up to find the four kids hiding in the city. Ash was quickly able to find the first one. He, the youngest of the four, Lang, was found behind some trash cans in the alleyway beside the hospital. He wasn't hard to find, as he wasn't exerting much effort in hiding. "Whoops! Ha ha ha! You got me!" The second, and also the second youngest, a girl named Wynn, was in another alleyway. Only, this was back in the residential district, in a nice little niche behind one of the houses. She was found courtesy of May. "I never thought anyone could find me here..." Lang, the second oldest and the oldest girl, was found underneath a coffee table. "I didn't wanna be found...Now I have to be it! Wahhhh..." And finally, it came down to Bais, the oldest of the four, and the one who challenged the game. His hiding place is furthest from the park. Past the hotel are another set of stairs, leading into a bakery, and finally the palace. Bais is found behind a conveyor belt in the former. "I never thought anyone could find me here..." With all four kids found, they gathered back at the park. "Now maybe you can help us," May said. "We're looking for some friends of ours... Have you seen them?" Bais thought for a moment. "Hmmm... Well, a little while ago, a robber broke into that house over there." He pointed to the house near where Wynn hid. And that robber was a kid about our size..." Ash and May got exited, thinking this a lead. "And... what happened to that kid?" "What happened?" Lang sshrugged. "He got beat up by the owner of the house and took off... I think maybe he went down the road." "What do you think, Ash? Could it be Teepo?" Ash nodded vigoruously. May turned back to Bais and the others. "...Thanks--we'll try looking there... Come on, Ash!" Ash, however, was reluctant to let May out of the city. Balio and Sunder are still at large, after all. "Don't worry about me. I'm sure they wouldn't try something in the open. Besides, I know that you won't let them get near me, right, Ash?" The latter sweatdropped. However, he did give in to May's request. Upon exiting Wyndia, Ash consulted the map Samson gave him, with May looking over his shoulder. Surprisingly, it wasn't confiscated along with all his other equipment. There are three portions of Wyndia, North, South, and East. These three are separated by a vast network of water called the Maekyss River. They are currently in North Wyndia, the largest of the three. A little south of their location is a T-junction not unlike the Yraal Road, Egnock Road. West of Egnock Road is Mt. Myrneg, and east leads to a bridge that crosses over to East Wyndia. "Look, Ash," May said, pointing to a small building, a windmill, in Egnock Road. It's not far from their location. "There might be some people there. We can ask them about your friends." Ash agreed, and pretty soon they caught sight of the windmill. It wasn't hard to miss, it was standing tall above all the trees surrounding it. No sooner had Ash entered the building, finding an old couple inside, did he hear May's scream from outside. He sprinted back out, only to find May tied and bound, by Balio and Sunder! "Ash! I'm so sorry..." May said, but Sunder silenced her. Ash reached for his sword, but Balio already planned ahead. "Don't try anything, my little lizard friend," he threatened, nodding to Sunder. The latter inched a sword dangerously close to May's neck. Scowling, Ash knew he has no other choice. He let his guard down, as May watched helplessly. "Good move--you see, there's no use resisting, punk... We don't really care about you anyway... But things would get messy if you ratted on us, see? We can't chance that." "But it'd be even messier if we try to kill you here and you turned into a dragon again," Sunder added. "Don't worry... We've got it all figured out, see? Enough talk! Say good night!" Cacthing Ash off-guard, Balio kicked him in the gut, knocking the wind out of Ash. "Ash!" May exclaimed, just as her friend was knocked unconscious again. ===== The scene cuts to south Wyndia, to the Genmel colliseum. Once a year a fighting tournament is held here, the Contest of Champions. And even though it's just a few days before the contest, the place was already bustling with activity. Balio and Sunder carried their two captives into Genmel's pub, which is owned by the drunkard Fahl. At first glance, people might think he's a horseman like Balio and Sunder thanks to similar horse head features. However, in reality he's a Shell Clan member, descended from armadillos. This is apparent with Fahl's bulkier size underneath his clothes, which would be his shell. Ash and May were both tied up (Ash still knocked out) and taken into the back room of the pub. "OK, Fahl, they're all yours," Balio was saying. "I just gotta keep an eye on 'em, right?" Fahl asked, before slugging a whole bottle of liquor. "Yeah, just keep your eyes on them," Sunder added, "and your hands off the bottle, OK? We've got better things to do than worry about a couple of kids..." Balio started walking out. Over his shoulder, he said, "Thanks a lot, Fahl. OK, brats... You'll get yours once the Contest is over... For now just stay here and behave yourselves, OK?" As Balio walked out, Sunder turned to the only other person inside the pub. If Fahl was a giant, this one is even larger. Orange-brown in skin, he has stern dragon-like face, and bat-like wings on his back. His muscles contribute to his size, all fitting under his monk attire: a red open vest plus a bead necklace, and bandages covering his hands and legs. "You'd better take it easy too, Garland," Sunder said. "The Contest's coming up, you know." Sunder left after his brother, without even waiting for Garland's reply. Although, the latter wasn't even speaking the whole time, and only spoke once the two were gone. "Fahl, tell me," he said, in a low voice fitting for his physique, "why would people like Balio and Sunder be interested in a couple of kids?" "... HIC! How's I supposed to know? Those two -HIC- never open up to -HIC- anybody! HIC..." Fahl opened up another liquor bottle right after finishing the first. "Hmmm..." Garland put a hand to his chin, lost in thought. "I wonder..." In the back room, Ash, whose head was resting on May's shoulder this whole time, finally woke up. "Ash... Are you all right?" May asked, relieved to see him awake. "I'm so sorry; I shouldn't have let my guard down, then we wouldn't have been captured..." Ash shook his head, trying to convince May it's not her fault. May brightened up a little, but turned grim again at the situation they're in. "...Now, if only we could get out of these ropes... What? Chew through them? I don't think so... They're too thick." Ash massaged his jaw, then dived for May's bonds. Before she could react, Ash chew through the rope, untying his friend in mere seconds! May soon found her hands sore from the bond, but free. "Wow! How did you do that!! You bit all the way through them! That's amazing, Ash! Now maybe we can get out of here!" After untying Ash, May crept to the door, and sneaked a peak at the bar right in front of them. Fahl has his back to them, and looks like he is on his third bottle already. Next to him are Ash's things. Fahl, meanwhile, was already red in the face from all that drinking... May didn't see Garland, however, from the angle of her point of view. "Looks like they're gone... That guy named Fahl's here, but it looks like he's had too much to drink...If we're quiet, he might not notice us. We'll be OK as long as we're careful... Let's go!"
To Be Continued
And there he is; the man who will make a real impact on the lives of Ash and his friends, but only later.
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Post by XAOTL on Jul 2, 2008 23:53:34 GMT 12
Well when they think all's right with the world. Everything comes crashing down once more.
Altough seeing as Ash is half dragon, it shouldn't have taken him all that long to cut through the ropes. But still the two seem to be coming into some intense situations, now have to walk past the drunk. It shouldn't be too hard? Shouldn't it?
Bt then again. the 'dragons destroyed the world' and the massacre in the mine should bring up a darker side for Ash. Maybe?
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Post by Nina_Lumos on Jul 3, 2008 16:11:51 GMT 12
Ash/Ryu is not a half-dragon. In Breath of Fire, dragons have the ability to shapeshift into different forms, especially human.
Part 14: Lots of Detour
Ash quickly ducked beneath Fahl to retrieve his things. The bar owner was so immersed in his drinking that he doesn't even realize that one of his captives was just inches from his hand, which was reaching for another liquor bottle underneath the bar. Meanwhile, May circled the bar; it was only then that she saw the hulking figure of Garland leaning against the pub wall, and she froze. However, Garland seems not to notice her, and his eyes are squinted, so it's hard to tell if he's asleep or not. The princess sighed in relief when it was apparent that Garland didn't notice her; it must mean he's asleep. "Come on, Ash," she whispered back in the direction of the bar. Ash and May tiptoed toward the front door. Fahl, meanwhile, was now having a hangover, with his head lolling up and down. However, before May could even take a step out, he suddenly blurted out, "Hey! -HIC- Where d'you think -HIC- you're going?" Thinking that they failed, both kids slowly turned around, facing Fahl. May tried thinking of a quick answer. "Uhhh... Nowhere! We're not going anywhere!" Ash sweatdropped. "Nowhere," Fahl repeated. "...HIC!" With that last hiccup, Fahl fell headfirst onto his bar, asleep. "That's right," May said, also sweatdropping. "We'll be seeing you." The two quickly leave the pub. Upon reaching outside, May sighed in relief. "...We made it, Ash! I knew we could do it! OK... Let's get out of here before he wakes up!" Genmel is an enclosed settlement like Wyndia. But, in contrast to Wyndia's stone-white walls, Genmel's walls are a deep shade of dark blue, giving it a shoddy atmosphere. The pub, where Ash and May came from, was facing away from the main building of the area, which is the coliseum. Like the walls surrounding it, the colliseum's hue makes anyone looking at it feel unwelcome. South of the pub is a large tent acting as the market, where the proprietors are mostly Manillo, the race of fish merchants. There's also a Manillo outside, handing out flyers and discounts(although the discount rate is not much). The entrance to the whole area has a worn stone walkway leading straight up into the Coliseum, like a road. Exactly opposite of the pub, across the road is an "adult-entertainment" tent and south of that is an inn. Ash and May quickly headed out of Genmel. Once they were a safe distance, Ash consulted his map. Genmel, which is in South Wyndia, is flanked by Mt. Boumore to the east, and the Maekyss Gorge to the north. Beyond the latter is North Wyndia, and the two decide to head there. However, it wasn't as easy as that. Maekyss Gorge is a canyon with a large wooden bridge that crosses the vast river, with a seemingly-bottomless body of water beneath it. Inconveniently, on the North Wyndian end of the bridge, was a large motor caravan that broke down. "Sorry," the leader of the caravan said to Ash and May upon inquiry. "M'cargo's fallen off y'see... Won't be able to get through here 'till help comes... "If you're headed to North Wyndia... Well, 'tis a long way 'round, but... you could always try goin' 'round Mt. Boumore. It cuts to East Wyndia, and North Wyndia is just another bridge cross from there." Dismayed, Ash and May went back in the direction of Genmel, which is on the way to Mt. Boumore. "We have to hurry, Ash," May said nervously. "I'm sure Balio and Sunder have learned that we escaped by now..." Mt. Boumore is more ragged and rockier than either Mt. Glaus or Mt. Myrneg. In fact, in contrast to the previous mountains' brown color, Mt. Boumore is gray reflecting its rocky surface. There are barely any plant life, and even less animal life. It was also harder to hike, but the two kids were able to make it. At the top of the mountain, is a mine. There are no caves, however, since the mountain surface itself is a good source of chrysm deposits. Exhausted, Ash and May barely made it to the mine's only building. The foreman, a stout, mustached man, immediately saw them and rushed to their aid. Minutes later, the two kids are being served warm meals by the foreman and his only subordinate, inside the shack they saw earlier. May was recounting their experiences to their saviors. "... ... ...So, we're trying to get away from the bad men chasing us..." "Hmmm... Who exactly is it that's chasing you now, little girl?" the foreman, introducing himself as Mr. Mason, asked. "Ummm... ... ... Someone named...Balio and...Sunder, yeah, that's it." Mr. Mason and his worker looked at each other in shock. "Do you know them?" Mason quickly shook his head."I wouldn't worry about them... Whoever they are, they won't come this far, now will they? Tomorrow... We'll use the lift in the other room and take you where you'll be safe... You should get some sleep now... You can use the room over there." He pointed to a door behind him. "Thank you very much, Mr. Mason..." The next room was completely bare, except for a pair of cots where the men sleep in. The room with the lift is just a door away. "We're lucky we found some nice people, huh Ash?" Ash nodded in agreement. "OK then, let's get some sleep." ===== Next morning, Ash found May looming over beside him from her own borrowed cot. "Are you awake?" May got up, and walked to the door, only to find it locked. "That's funny... I wonder what's going on..." May knocked lightly on the door. "Mr. Mason... Please open the door." In the next room, Mason was pretending not to hear the knocks or May's call. His worker appeared from the outside. ".. ... ...I got them..." "Mr. Mason?" May asked, this time a little louder. Sunder appears right after the man. "You got them? Excellent." May recognized Sunder's voice immediately. She turned to Ash. "Oh, no! Ash! The bad men who are after us are here! We've got to get out of here! We've got to get the lift to work!" The two of them scattered into the next room. The lift is like the ones used in ski resorts, only instead of going up and/or down, it will take whoever's on it to the far side of the mountain. The control panel of the lift is opposite the door the two came in from, accessible by a wooden platform circling the lift. May quickly examined the control panel. "The lift panel," she muttered. "It looks like it uses chrysm energy for power... I think we can get it to work... Ash. Get in the lift!" Ash hesitated. He's not about to leave her behind with Sunder. But May insisted on him getting on. "Hurry!! Don't worry! It'll be alright... ...I think..." Meanwhile, Sunder was questioning Mason. "...so... where are they?" The foreman closed his eyes as he pointed to the door. "Heh heh heh... You'll live a long happy life..." As Sunder left, Mason opened his eyes. "I'm sorry, children," he said sadly. "I just don't want any trouble..." Back to the lift room... May, standing next to the control panel, was explaining her plan to Ash, on the lift. "Chrysm energy is like magic... So if I hit this with my magic..." She took out a white wand. "When it starts to move, I'll jump in!" Ash sweatdropped. It's not that the distance between them is far. However, in between them is approximately hundred feet of air. Just then, Sunder appeared. "There you are, you pipsqueaks!" Sunder smirked at May, who he thinks is stranded. "Ah, princess, there you are... You're first..." Sunder made his way to May. But Ash quickly jumped in his way and slashed at Sunder with his sword. "Ouuuuuucchhhhhh!! You little... Now I'm really angry...!" Having bought more time, as Ash continued to struggle with Sunder, May started casting chrysm onto the panel. "It has to move... It'll move... M O V E !" She kept casting at it multiple times, until the motor finally roared to life. "Quick, Ash, get on!" Ash broke free of Sunder and jumped into the lift just as it leaves the base. May, however, was still at the panel, and distance between it and the lift is slowly increasing. "Uh-oh!" Sunder groaned. "It's moving! If I can just get the princess..." May stood shakily on the panel. And just as Sunder was about to grab her, she jumped, much to the surprise of everyone. Ash and May managed to reach for each other, and the former hoisted her to safety on the lift. "I can't believe it! Not again!" Sunder shrieked. Back on the lift, Ash and May were out of breath, thanks to the adrenaline of their experience. "Haa...haa...haa, " May gasped. "Looks like we got away, huh, Ash... Whew... See? I told you it would work... right?" May quickly saw that Ash was pouting. "Were you worried about me? I, I'm sorry... But... I know that even if something went wrong... You'd do something to protect me, Ash!" Ash sweatdropped. At least they got away... Minutes later, the lift stops at the other side. The building here is exactly similar to the one they came from, but this one's deserted. I don't know exactly where we are... But we should be OK once we get off the mountain..." The two made their way out. The exit off the mountain is just a few feet away, but its gate is boarded up. There's another path, leading further upwards, and they took it, thinking it an alternate route out. However, it was a dead end, with the mountain now so narrow that the sides are mere feet towards each other. "...It's no use," May said. "We can't get down either way..." "Bingo!" Sunder suddenly appears from behind them, trapping them! "Give it up! There's nowhere left to run! Forget it, boy... I've got my men blocking all the trails down... There's no way out! You can try and run but we always get our way in the end... Face it, kids, that's life--get used to it!" "Oh, yeah? That's what you think!" May turned to Ash. "Come on, Ash... Let's jump..." Both Sunder and Ash had their mouths open. "W, what!?" the former stuttered. "Oh, no you don't!! If the princess dies, my brother'll kill me!" May quickly wrapped her hands around Ash's neck, and Ash had one arm around her waist. At the count of three, the two of them jumped, and slid downwards the mountainside. When they were about to lose control, Ash quickly transformed, and the slide ended at the bottom of the mountain, with May on Ash's back. The two of them were knocked out for a few seconds. "Mmmm... mmmm," May moaned. When she opened her eyes, Ash, still in Whelp form, was limp. "Ash! ...Ash?" May got off of him, and started tearing up. "What should I do...? If it meant being caught again, I would rather jump... But now look what's happened to Ash..." May started using all her best healing magic to rejuvenate her friend. When all hope seemed lost,and May exhausted, the Whelp started moving. A bright light shone again, and Ash reverted into human form. "Ash...? Ash... Are you all right!?" May, overjoyed, quickly flung her arms around him again. Ash looked like he was suffocating, or probably just even more embarrassed. May realized what she was doing, and let go, to wipe her tears; she was red in the face. "Thank goodness... I thought... I thought you'd... "Me...? I'm OK, thanks... Because you turned into a dragon and broke my fall... Thank you, Ash. I don't know how, but someday I'll repay you... Let's go! We don't want them to catch us again now that we've gotten this far... right?" To Be Continued
In-game, Ryu is supposed to be the healer, but here I make Nina the healer of the party.
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Post by XAOTL on Jul 3, 2008 22:30:18 GMT 12
So Ash is 100% Dragon, and May has healing abilities.
Altough things did tend to get rather confusing the moment May would answer a question that wasn't asked. Like in the last chapter.
But other than that, the two seem to be making some progress to wherever it is they're going. Regardless of the persistance of Sunder, and the other guy.
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Post by Nina_Lumos on Jul 4, 2008 2:26:53 GMT 12
In the game, there are special items that enhance Ash's powers. they are called Genes. 6 are obtained in the main storyline, while 12 are optional to collect. "Current" Genes:-Flame- one of Ash's two dormant Genes; re-activated after being attacked by Balio and Sunder. -Defender- second dormant Gene; automatically awakened when Ash and May jumped off the cliff. -Reverse- will be obtained here during this chapter. Part 15: Eccentric Engineer Ash felt like his head scraped the entire mountain, which probably did happen. Otherwise, he's okay, much to May's relief, who still feels guilty for always having to count on Ash to protect her. The two checked the map. East Wyndia is a complete countryside, in contrast to North's metropolis. North is a very thick forest, and far to the east is a checkpoint that is impossible to go through unless they have a permission from the King, May's father. South near the checkpoint is a coffee shop, for travellers on their way in or out of Wyndia. West of the coffee shop is a power plant of sorts, and to the south, closest to their position, is a tower. If they guessed right, they are in between the corners of South and East Wyndia. From their location, it's a completely roundabout route back to North Wyndia. They have to pass a machine tower on the way. Before heading out of Boumore's area, Ash sensed something in the southwestern corner area of the mountain. Like in a trance, he went that way, with a confused May following. In a patch of land, surrounded by a clump of trees, the two found a crystal approximately their size. It was dark-blue in color, and started shining when Ash approached. "What is it, Ash?" May asked. "Is it chrysm? I've never seen one like that before..." Ash shrugged, and then touched the chrysm. The chrysm vanished upon contact, and Ash suddenly felt a weird sensation course through his body. May, meanwhile, only saw the chrysm vanish, which left her even baffled. "What just happened, Ash?" The answer, however, was a complete mystery to Ash, as well. Without any more time to ponder, the two continued on their way. As predicted, they passed the tower on their way north. May marvelled at the size of the building, which is well over five stories tall. "It's a pretty big house, isn't it... Maybe we can stay here? We need to ask someone how to get back to Wyndia too, right?" At the foot of the tower, in front of a fountain decorated with carved chrysm, they found a Manillo merchant. "There's a strange woman living here," he said, while Ash resupplied from his stock. "A bookworm, yeah? And she's got all sorts of traps laid all over..." Entering the tower is quite risky, which is what the Manillo didn't tell the kids. Robot-like machines linger about, and May can guess that they're not exactly friendly... Ash and May, as stealthily as they could to avoid the machines, managed to reach the second floor of the tower. It was a narrow corrridor. Proceeding onward, they saw a small, yellow-colored robot, about a third of May's size, march out of the first room in the corridor. The tiny machine stopped in front of Ash and May, and looked like it covered its ears. BOOM!! The whole tower rocked from the explosion that came from the room the robot came from. Seconds later, the whole corridor is filled with smoke. "What... what was that!?" May exclaimed, coughing from the smoke. "Eddy!" she shouted, using a wind spell to clear the air. Ash and May rushed inside the room. Inside, it was a complete mess, thanks to the explosion. Books off the bookcases on the walls, and the bookcases themselves were leaning against each other. Glass littered the floor as well, and black is everywhere. In the middle of it all, was a young woman, older than Ash and May. She wears blue cover-alls, has pink hair underneath a blue mortarboard, and small round eyeglasses. All that, however, was covered by black soot caused by being in the middle of the explosion. "Hmmm... I guess the key lies in somehow stabilizing the pure chrysm," she was saying, through coughing noises. She was acting like nothing's even happened around her. "That's it! If the gassification pressure is kept down... Huh?" The young woman was so immersed in her thoughts that she doesn't notice the yellow robot tugging at her dress at first. When she did, she spoke in a very, very loud voice. " What!? You!?" she turned to Ash and May at the doorway. " You're friends of Honey? Nice to meet you! I'm Momo." Ash and May sweatdropped. "Ah, um... yes, it's nice to meet you too... Um, but you see..." " What?" Momo asked, a hand to her ear. "I was trying to say," May began, sounding a little louder, "that we're not really friends, we're trying to find the road to Wyndia..." " What? I'm sorry. My ears are still ringing after that explosion..." May finally decided to shout out as well. " Hello! Can you please show us the road to Wyndia?" " What?" Momo repeated. Again, Ash and May sweatdropped. A few minutes later, Momo's hearing was clear again. At this point her guests introduced themselves. "I'm sorry," Momo said, while picking her ear with her gloved finger. "My ears are better now. So, you want to go to Wyndia? No problem! I'll take you to Wyndia myself!" "Thank you. I'll be sure to make it up to you when we get to the castle..." "...Castle?" Momo repeated. Then the realization hit her. "Wait a minute! When you say May... Do you mean... Princess May!?" she exclaimed. Momo started bowing excitedly and uncontrollably in front of May. "Y-y-y-your highness! Please forgive me! I had no idea..." May, however, was embarrassed. "I...it's all right... You're helping us, after all... Please call me May." Momo stopped bowing at once, sighing in relief. "Oh, really? OK, May, shall we get going? I have to get some things ready, so why don't you rest here while I get them? "C'mon, Honey... We're going now." Momo knelt down to pick Honey up, and left the room. "Ash, what do you think? Can we trust her?" Ash shrugged. Minutes later, however, Momo returned. "... Say," she said upon returning. "You two aren't being followed by some scruffy-looking guys, are you?" Ash and May looked at each other before any of them could reply. What should they tell her? "That's funny," Momo continued, not waiting for their answer. "When I went outside to buy something from the merchant... I saw these real rough-looking characters there..." ===== That very moment, two men are now trying to get some answers from the Manillo merchant. One was tall, and clad in a gray overcoat. The smaller of the two men has long arms, and was so hairy that his sideburns miss by an inch beneath his jaw. He was showing a sketch of Ash and May to the merchant. "Hey, you there... We're in a hurry... Did you see a couple of kids 'round here?" Luckily, the Manillo saw this as a chance to trick some money off the strangers. "Hmmmm... Y'see, I be a humble merchant, yes? So if ye be wantin' to knows about the kids... It'll be costing ye, see?" ===== "Hey," Momo said cheerfully. "There's no need to be afraid... I mean, inside this tower... I've been doing experiments... on chrysm... "So there's lots of chrysm machine soldiers around here... Traps to protect me from them... And all sorts of other things! Don't worry--they won't get up here so easily!" "...But Momo," May said, "we were able to get this far..." "Oh! I guess you're right! How did you get up here, anyway?" Ash and May sweatdropped again. Both began to wonder if they can rely on Momo... "Let's not worry about that now! We have to get out of here!" May said, in a hurried voice. "R... right...Since we can't get out by going down... Let's go up!" Her two new friends were flabbergasted, which Momo was quick to notice, for once. "Don't worry! There's a way out!" Before leaving, however, Momo went to a side cabinet that looked like it survived the blast. She took two items out of it: one is a large, leather-bound book which she managed to fit in her robes. But its size is nothing compared to the other object: a blue cylindrical, metallic object that is nearly twice the size of May and Ash! "Uh, Momo?" May asked, curious. "What exactly is that thing?" "Oh, this? This is my bazooka, a weapon that my father, Repsol, designed years ago to fend off monsters. It runs on chrysm, and uses the very same material as ammunition." Momo swung the bazooka onto her shoulder like it was just as light as a feather. "C'mon, let's go!" To Be Continued
Momo's italicized speech here is described as shouting...
Edit: I changed the mistakes Xaotl pointed out, and am just on my way to fix them in ff.net. Thank you...
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Post by XAOTL on Jul 4, 2008 3:38:31 GMT 12
so she has a bazooka. She'd be a force to recon in the introduction threads, whenever TDF and NN claim their coolness But still, you've managed to put in May's actual name, Nina twice, as your username says. Then they're bieing chased by those two... still. Altough a dragon and princess are pretty big prizes to chase. So I can't really blame their persistance.
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Post by Nina_Lumos on Jul 5, 2008 3:01:58 GMT 12
Momo's leather-bound book will be another Pokemon allusion. I won't tell what exactly, but you'll see what it would be later, unless you already figured it out.
Part 16: The Great Escape
Momo led the way out of her room and back into the corridor. "Over here," she said, pointing to the end of the corridor opposite where Ash and May came from. Following the path, passing some empty rooms, they reach another set of stairs, leading up. The third floor of Momo's Tower also presents the first of the traps she has set up. There are four rotating cubes set up in a straight line together, with a fifth across the floor from the rest. All cubes have a different color on each of its six sides. "The floor between these four cubes and the last is a trick floor," Momo explained. "If anyone steps on it, they will fall to the previous floor." "How do we get across then?" "Hmm, let me think for a second. I kind of forogt, not having inspected it for a long time..." Ash and May sweatdropped again. Momo, meanwhile, kept going back and forth the line of cubes. A few minutes later, she remembered. "Ah, yes! Now I remember! "Two of the cubes are identical to each other. Press the switch on both of them, and a real platform will replace the trick floor, allowing us to pass through." Momo then sounded business-like. "Alright, you two, make your eyes sharp. We have to press the right switches in order for us to get through." "What happens if we press the wrong switches?" "Huh, I never thought of that before..." May suddenly wished she didn't ask that question. Meanwhile, Ash, however, followed Momo's instruction without question. Momo then realized the solution: the fifth cube rotates in the same motion as one of the cubes in the line-up. That is one of the cubes they were looking for, she was able to remember. The second one is not hard to find from the rest of them. After pressing the switches on the two cubes, a hydraulic sound could be heard on the walls around them, indicating the platform is now in place. Once crossing it, the platform returned to the walls, reseting the puzzle. The trio proceeded onward, and not far from the puzzle was the stairs to the fourth floor. In the fourth floor, was another corridor of rooms. Momo suddenly remembered something. "Hmm, I'm sure that I can't count on those hoodlums leaving my father's possesions alone, so we have to take all that we can with us. Are you two okay with that? I'm sure they would be spending some time with the cube puzzle anyway..." "Okay, Momo. But what do we have to get?" Momo pondered that thought for a second. "Just some of the necessities for travel. There's some camping gear in the first room on the left, I guess we should take that. And, father will not forgive me if I leave behind his fishing gear. By the way, any of you two fish?" Ash raised a hand. "Splendid," Momo said, beaming at him. "I'm sure Father will like it if his gear will be given to a friend of mine instead of falling into the hands of criminals." Momo pointed to the room opposite the one where the camping gear is stored. Ash hurried to that room to pick up the bait and tackle that once belonged to Momo's father, putting them in his rucksack. May and Momo, meanwhile, gathered all the camping gear in the other room: a tent, some fresh rations, a chrysm-powered lamp, a few sleeping bags, and a folding table. "Got everything?" Momo asked Ash as the three gathered in the corridor again. She was carrying a large sack containing the gear, while May held on, barely, to her bazooka. Once again, Momo's friends marvelled at her strength, seeing as how she can carry something so heavy. "Okay, then, let's go, we don't have far to go now..." Finally, they reach the fifth, and top, floor of Momo's Tower. The three stumbled upon another machine trap: energy fences across the hallway that shoot out different status effects on anyone attempting to cross them. Momo managed to remember the trick to this trap immediately. "Princess- I mean, May, see that block over there? " Momo asked, pointing to a carbon-black, diamond-shaped block at the center of the hallway. "I saw your magic wand, and I presume that you can shoot chrysm out of it. Use it to activate that block, which acts like a switch. "Pressing the block resets some of the fences, but activates others in an alternating manner. We have to be careful, okay?" "Okay." With May's careful aiming, it didn't take long for the three of them to find the pattern of the fences. This allowed them passage to, what Momo says, the second-to-last trick of the tower. At the end of the long corridor, is a library. There are so many bookshelves, two each propped against one another, everywhere, and at the far end is a sophisticated worktable and bench. "This room is where my father used to work," Momo explained. "And you mean there's a hidden exit in here?" May asked. "Wow..." "You bet!" Momo agreed proudly. "My dad was really something! He was the greatest engineer in the whole world! And before he died, he told me he'd made an escape device... and had hidden it in the tower! "Come on, let's look around for a switch." May and Momo busied themselves inspecting the worktable and bench. Ash, meanwhile, looked at the books in the bookshelves. There weren't any pictures, but the inscriptions on all the books he checked were: "Not for sale to minors..." and, alternately, "XXX: for age 21 and above only!" Luckily, May got Ash's attention first before his curiousity might make him do something he'll regret. "Ash, come over here, I think we found the switch!" Momo reached for something behind the table. The very bookshelf Ash was inspecting, was moving! However, the bookshelf, standing against another, were moving uniformly instead of random. The two shelves moved ten feet apart from each other, to reveal a circular hatch underneath them. The hatch opened up, and the tower shook violently again. Throughout the vibration, a large contraption emerged from the hatch. It has a red cone at the top, like a tower, and handlebars on each side. Momo, excited, nearly bowled over Ash to inspect the device. She looked like her birthday just came ten months early. "Wow! Only my dad could've made something like this...! " she said excitedly. "It's a rocket!" "...But why did he build something to get away like this?" May asked. Momo shrugged. "Just because, I guess... My dad loved machines. Come on, take a closer look at it!" Ash and May joined Momo in circling around the machine. Moments later, however, they heard some bangings at the door they came in. "Oh, no, Momo, they caught up to us!" May exclaimed. Momo wasn't listening, again. She was fingering a small keypad on her side of the rocket. "Let's see, we ignite it here... I wonder what it does... Oh, gee, I'm so excited! Oh boy! Everyone, get on, we're out of here!" Ash and May have no choice; the bangings on the door are becoming louder. They stowed their bags in a small compartment close to Momo, then she motioned for each one of them to grab hold to one of the handlebars on the rocket. "OK everyone ready?" Momo asked. "Here we go... 3... 2... 1... We have blast off!" The rocket's engines down below roared to life, loud as thunder. Slowly, it rose from its position, straight upwards. It crashed through the roof of the tower just as the library door swung open and two thugs lumbered in. Fragments of the roof fell to the floor upon the hit, and the thugs had to shield themselves from the debris. "Huh? What the-" A twig on the mouth of the coated thug fell at the sight of the rocket lifting off. Crashing through a roof didn't deter the rocket's course, or so its passengers thought. The rocket soared upwards, only to fall back down, and crash headfirst into a grass plain a hundred yards north of Momo's Tower. All three passengers of the rocket were dazed and knocked out. Momo was the first to recover. "Ah... ...ah... ...ouch," Momo flinched. "...looks like the landings... need a little work... ...What's this?" Her two friends woke up at that very moment that Momo found a small red book. It's apparent that it was hanging onto the control board earlier, that Momo didn't notice. "It's the instruction manual...Let's see... "Whoops! It says there's only supposed to be one passenger!" "What?!" May exclaimed, standing upright at what Momo said. Ash, who just got his head up, facefaulted at the announcement. "It also says," Momo continued, grinning sheepishly, "to make sure to open the roof hatch before take-off..." Ash and May sweatdropped again. "Well, aside from that it worked, didn't it? I mean, it worked... pretty good, right?" Before either Ash or May could reply, Momo stood up vigorously. "All right... Come on! If we stand around like this they'll catch up with us!" To Be Continued
Repsol and Momo's history as engineers will be explained in later chapters. But please, still review!
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Post by XAOTL on Jul 6, 2008 2:01:25 GMT 12
Well, a rocket. who woulda thought? Still a bunch of nice challenges that the trio had to get through, as well as the thugs. Altough they're still on the run, altough I don't see why they havn't used the bazook ayet.
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Post by Nina_Lumos on Jul 7, 2008 2:20:04 GMT 12
A portion of Momo's history will be explained here, as promised...Gene #4: Thorn Part 17: Problems Cropping Up The three are still a little dazed from the rocket's crash. However, Momo, although still feeling a little guilty about the crash, urged them to hurry or their pursuers will catch up to them. Ash suddenly felt something, not unlike what he felt when he and May first left Mt. Boumore. Looking around, he found another chrysm close by, hidden behind a tree. He quickly neared it, like he was in a trance again, which caught his companions' attention. "What is it, Ash? Another chrysm?" Ash didn't answer, and instead touched the crystal. Once again, it vanishes, and another sort of sensation filled his whole body. May was again confused at Ash's interaction with chrysm. Momo, however, was quite curious, that she quickly shot several questions at Ash in rapid succession. "What happened to the chrysm? How did you do that?" Momo asked these questions so fast that Ash couldn't even get an answer to just even one of them. Momo managed to carry both the sack and her bazooka, all by herself, with one on each shoulder. She led an exhausted Ash and May out of the clearing and onto the main dirt road again. Ten minutes into the hike, they found the road rising into a hill. "Look, everyone," May said, pointing to the top. "There's a coffee shop... Why don't we stop for a drink?" Her companions agreed. They climbed the road up to the coffee shop on top of the hill. Like Wyndia's, the coffee shop is open-aired, with wooden tables for four surrounding the shop's building. The shop in itself is quite busy that day, as there is a good number of customers. The group had to wait for a waitress to direct them to a vacant table, which took some time. The luggage Momo was carrying wasn't even giving them a second glance from the patrons. Their table is just a few feet away from one being used by an elderly man wearing a lab coat. When a waitress finally catered to them, she asked, "Hello! Are you stuck here too? "No? I asked because there's some strange fellows checking everyone on the Road and no one can get through to Wyndia. 'Course, that means we get more customers..." After getting their orders, the waitress returned inside the shop. "It must be the men who are after you," Momo whispered. May and Ash looked at each other worriedly. "Don't worry, we'll find a way around them, I hope..." The old man at the other table, upon hearing Momo's voice, rose from his seat and approached them. "Excuse me, but... are you Momo?" he asked politely. "Long time no see! It's me...Palet!" Momo turned to him, a quizzical expression on her face. "Yes, I'm Momo... But I don't know who you are!" Palet took a white handkerchief off his lab coat, and wiped his brow. "It... it's me... I'm the director of the plant your father, Repsol, built..." "It may have been my father who came up with the idea of using chrysm ore to breed stronger crops... But he died before the plant was finished being built..." "Yes, exactly!" Palet said. For some reason, he still looked a bit nervous. "Ever since your father passed away, we've been having nothing but trouble with the machines at the plant..." "I'll bet!" Momo frowned a little. "Only my father would be able to make and use a machine like that, one that uses chrysm to make crops grow faster!" "I won't... I can't deny that... That's why I wonder if you, Momo, could help us? You're familiar with all your father's work, aren't you?" "I'd be glad to help... So...I can have access to the machines then?" "Yes, of course! Oh, thank you so much, Momo! I'll see you at the plant, then. Oh, and, as a sign of gratefulness, anything you ordered here will be on me, just tell the waitress." Palet called for a nearby waitress, and requested for the bill for both his and the kids' meal. After that, he left. As soon as Palet left, did their orders of coffee(for Momo), light drinks(for Ash and May), and french bread, arrived. May, who was being quiet the whole time Palet and Momo were speaking, finally spoke. "Excuse me, Momo? I'm not sure if I understood all of that..." "Well, you see... There's this plant where they use chrysm to grow plants, see... And my father helped build it... And since they're my father's machines, well, I thought maybe I'd help them out a little bit... I mean, it's not like we'll be getting anywhere on the road for a while, right?" The three finished their snacks. After a few more minutes of rest, they headed on their way. If memory serves Ash right, the plant Momo mentioned is not far from their location. A few minutes down the road, passing a forest with perpetual darkness along the way, the three made their way into the Plant. It is an enclosed space, like a valley circling an area, and on several land levels. For a power plant specializing in growing crops, the land seem to be barren. However, there are several greenhouses in the area, where the crops are fed chrysm in refined, gasseous form. Near the entrance is the main building. It serves as the laboratory, inn and shop for enhanced crops. Mechanical conveyor belts are used like escalators to make trekking around the Plant a little easier. Momo pointed to strange contraptions stationed on the top of each hill surrounding the area. There are chrysm sticking out of the top of each of them. "Chrysm reactors," Momo explained. "They store the energy in those devices, then they will be distributed to the greenhouses." At the very center of the valley is a large brown building. There are about five smokestacks on it, which Momo presumed to be the furnace. The little group made their way through a maze of conveyor belts to the furnace, where they found Dr. Palet. Palet was a little bit excited to see them. "We've been expecting you! I tell you, it was pure luck to have met you there, Momo! "As you know, I worked as your father's assistant when he built these reactors. Momo nodded, a bit dismissive. She seems a bit impatient. "Whatever...now, which machine needs fixing?" Palet wiped his brow again. "Heh heh heh... Well, I've been meaning to tell you... We managed to fix the machines ourselves. What I want your help with is... Well, take a look at that..." He pointed to a point near the corner of the furnace, and his guests followed his gaze. There is a green plant bulb. It looks ordinary enough, except for being nearly the same size as Ash and May! "How cute...What is it?" "C-c-c-cute!?" Palet stuttered. How can you say that? We can't sell things like that, so we take them to the disposal area..." Palet started sweating uncontrollably. "But several days ago... As we were collecting the crops to be processed and disposed of at the dump, well, um, how should I say it..." "You found a mutant like that one?" Momo deducted. "Exactly! A huge mutant... Everyone's afraid of it and won't go near the dump anymore." "It got mixed in with the chrysm gas that was building up there?" "Yes... so... We have no idea what we should do with it..." "All right... We'll take care of it. I mean, this wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for my father's reactors, right?" Palet rushed to shake all their hands. "Thank you so much, Momo! The disposal area is inside the mountain to the west of here... I'll make arrangements for your visit." The three rode another conveyor back to the entrance. "Momo, what about-" May started, but Momo got ahead of her. "We won't be able to get to Wyndia, May. The only way from here to there is a bridge connecting North and East. I'm pretty sure that the men who are after you are guarding that route, so we won't be getting anywhere." May looked crestfallen. But, Momo has something else that she hopes might cheer the younger girl up. "Look, the Plant takes deliveries from all over the world. I'm sure that they can help us, if we help them. so, what do you say? Please?" "I- I guess..." "Besides-" Momo looked very serious this time. "This is all my father's work. If there's something wrong, I feel that it's up to me to set things right." To Be Continued
A fourth party member is about to join in the next chapter; the weirdest character to grace any RPG...
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Post by XAOTL on Jul 7, 2008 3:03:34 GMT 12
So Momo sill dosn't know of Ash's heratage. and the workers. I have a bad feeling about them, they're probably working for what'shisname. other than that Ash has a new superpower, and May is gradually becoming more independent, I see.
Altough, I still wish that Ash would talk, or something. It's hard to see his character, especially with his low level of verbal interaction with others.
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Post by Nina_Lumos on Jul 10, 2008 17:04:29 GMT 12
A reviewer was right, I have to work on making more Pokemon tie-ins to this story. So, I will make the book's tie-in to Pokemon be revealed here.
Part 18: Dumped Upon just a few minutes of setting out to the Plant's dump, that night fell. The group decided to set up camp just outside the Plant. Momo, being the most experienced when it comes to camping, taught her friends the necessities, then set up chores for them. Ash was to gather wood and tinder for the campfire, while May would prepare their meals. Momo, meanwhile, set up their 10x10 dark-blue tent. After the latter chore, she also set three sleeping bags and the folding table inside, with the help of Honey. When Ash returned with the wood, Momo rummaged in her rucksack for Flame Chrysm used to light it up. With her back turned, Momo can only hear a Whooshing sound, then May saying, "Nice job, Ash." Momo turned around, chrysm in hand, to see the wood lit with a bright orange flame. "Now how'd you do that?" she asked. "With magic, May?" "Well-" May thought about whether or not to tell Momo about the truth that Ash was a dragon. Then again, she did help them get this far, so they owe something to her. "A dragon, huh?" Momo asked, surprisingly calm after the two told her. By this time, the three of them have eaten their rations and are now just relaxing around the campfire. "That's amazing." Momo took out the leather-bound book they saw earlier, then started leafing through its notes. May leaned closer to her, trying to see what Momo's looking for. "This is my father's travel journal, which he left in my care before he- Anyway, this is more of a monster book than a journal. See, aside from being an engineer, he's also a biologist." "I kind of figured that out when you said that he created the Plant," May said. Momo nodded. "This book has details on all the monsters my dad has encountered when he used to travel, right before settling down with Mom. I'm trying to find some information on dragons here, but there are none. "I'm not surprised, however, seeing as dragons are supposed to be extinct for 400 years." "Because of a war, right?" May asked. "Yes," Momo agreed, as she closed the book. "No one knows exactly what happened during that war, not even to those who live on the setting of the war, far to the east. Well, nothing is known except the outcome, of course. "Anyway, we'd better turn in. We've got a big day tomorrow, and I'm beat from all that walking and running." Momo retired to the tent, but Ash and May stayed behind for a few more seconds. "I think that even Momo believes that dragons are evil, Ash." May held herself closer to her legs, hiding her eyes from her friend. "But I still believe you're not like that, Ash..." Ash blushed, not realizing that May stood up and walked over to him. "Here," May said. Ash looked up at her, and saw she was holding out an enclosed hand to him. May opened her hand, revealing a thin blue cloth. "Remember that?" May asked, sitting back down, only this time closer to Ash. "It's the ribbon you, er, found when we first met... "I want you to have it, Ash. Go on, take it..." Ash took the ribbon in his hands, and wondered what he's going to do with it. Of course, he's not going to wear it, but what can he do not to disappoint May? But the latter was way ahead of him. "Guess wearing a ribbon would make you look silly. Here." May took the ribbon again, and tied it on Ash's right arm. "There. Now you can wear my ribbon without being ridiculed." May stood up, and went inside the tent. Ash, however, stayed outside, marvelling at the ribbon tied to his arm. ===== After a hearty breakfast, the group broke up camp, and headed west. The Plant dump is not far from the Plant itself, inside an unnamed dormant volcano. The dump's guards are there waiting for them. They're not regular guards, and instead are just Plant employees themselves. "We'd been expecting you," one guard said upon arrival. "Dr. Palet told us of all the arrangements. Be careful inside, you hear?" "We will," Momo replied. She swung her bazooka, with ease, over her shoulder again. "Come on, Ash, May, let's go in." Her companions nodded, and they went past the guards inside. When they were gone, one guard asked his companion, "What's the director thinking, entrusting a dangerous task to a bunch of kids?" "Beats me," the other guard replied. "There must be something about those three that the Director knows and we don't see..." Back inside, Momo led the way, using directions given to her by Dr. Palet. The Dump is now overgrown with moss and weeds even though they're in a dormant volcano. The pathways are quite narrow, flanked on both sides by years of moss. Momo examined a wall before continuing further. "There's no doubt about it," she told her companions, rubbing a sample between her fingers. "The moss here is grown with chrysm radiation." "Do you think it comes from the mutant Dr. Palet was telling us about?" May asked. "Could be." After further analysis, Momo concluded, "We must destroy the mutant at its core. We should follow the path where the moss grows the thickest, you guys..." Following the trail, the trio managed to make it through the large, maze-like cave. At the side of the cavern opposite the entrance, was a conveyor belt, older and more worn than the ones used in the Plant. Placed inconveniently on the belt are large metal crates, there to be disposed of. "Stand back, Ash, May." Momo propped her bazooka onto her shoulder, and slapped some chrysm into its chamber. Then, a laser sight was visible on it, right next to Momo's eyes. "I'm going to blow them up with my bazooka." The two heeded her words, but Momo added, "I'm a bit rusty with using this, so you'd better step back a little further..." Ash literally jumped back, and so did May. True, Momo looks like she hasn't used the bazooka in years, as she's being shaky with the large weapon. However, Momo's target is immobile, so it's not hard to miss. On shot, and the bazooka destroyed the crate, throwing debris all over. Once Momo got the adrenaline of using her wepon, there was no stopping her, and she blasted through the rest of the crates blocking their way, with ease. The second room was also a large cavern with a conveyor belt. The first conveyor belt from before, coming from the previous room, drops down to the second. Following the second belt through another small moss-grown maze, they find themselves standing in front of a lava pit. "So much for being dormant," May said, as she felt the heat from the lava rising up to them. Momo, meanwhile, was surveying the area around the pool. She found a new opening far to the left side, where plant vines and moss grew the thickest, at the mouth of the opening. "There. I'll bet all my father's research notes that the mutant is there," Momo declared. She led her friends through the overgrown weeds, and into the last room of the dump. Upon entering the room, a powerful stench met all their nostrils. The cave is completely covered, from foot to ceiling, with vine growths and large chunks of moss. And, at the center of it all, is a large plant stalk, at the top of which is a bulb twice the size of the bulb at the Plant. The bulb is reddish brown at the top, with green leaves surrounding its bulb body like a sash. There is a darkened opening where a face should be... "Wow! Look at that!" Momo said, fascinated, pointing to the stalk. She started moving toward it, when the stalk itself moved in place. "That...thing...is moving! "Who would have believed it... that chrysm energy could mutate a lifeform like this! If my father were here to see this, what would he say?" Momo turned to her friends, a somber expression on her face. "Too bad you never met him... "It's a shame to get rid of it, but...I guess we should chop it up... and throw it into the magma." From the darkened area of the bulb, two glowing dots appeared, like its eyes. "...Who's there?" "It talks?" May exclaimed. "That mutant plant can talk!?" "Mutant plant?" the bulb responded weakly. "Am I a mutant?" "No!" Momo lied. "Well...um, actually, some might call you that, but I think you're wonderful! It would be a shame to dispose of a specimen like you..." "'Dispose'... You mean you're going to kill me? Please...don't... please...stop..." The roots around them started to move violently. Back at the bulb, vines began sticking themselves to the sides, and forming into giant fists. "Uh, oh," Momo said, " I don't think it will give up easily..." Ash, may and Momo prepared their weapons: sword, wand and bazooka, respectively. The Mutant ordered the roots around them to attack, slapping the three around. Ash, standing in front of May, tried slashing through them, but they just grew right back. Momo, meanwhile, slapped a Flame chrysm into her bazooka's chamber. She tried aiming for the Mutant, but the roots kept distracting her. May used fire and wind magic to try and removing the vines out of their way, but it's no use; even after being burned, they grow right back. "Flare!" May shouted, pointing her wand high into the air. Fire arced up from the orb of her wand, and then raining down on the plants. The Mutant flinched, even though a mere ember hit it at the stalk. "That's it!" Momo declared. "May, direct your spells, not at the vines, but at the Mutant!" "Okay... Simoon!" May cast the fire-wind spell, directed at the Mutant. The Mutant flinched again, and the vines withered, although the latter effects only lasted for a second. using that very moment, Momo fired her bazooka, still loaded with Flame Chrysm, right at the Mutant. The creature flinched again, and Momo shouted to Ash, "Now, Ash, through the vines!" Ash nodded, and dashed forward, his sword flashing. He slashed straight through the Mutant, pssing it with his blade. The Mutant gave a loud roar of pain, and May finished it off with another Simoon. The Mutant now stopped its violent motions. It's vine-like hands willingly dissolved into flames right after the battle. "I'm sorry," the Mutant said, back in its weak, and exhausted, voice. "I couldn't stop myself from... attacking... you... My body just moved... on its own..." "No worries!" Momo said cheerfully. "Besides, a mutant that can talk and move around-- what an amazing discovery! If only my father could see this..." "...Discovery? No...You cannot tell them about me. Please, I have something to ask of you... Please tke me to the pool outside..." Wordlessly, the group followed the request. Ash cut off the Mutant from its stalk, and carried it himself to the conveyor belt, just inches from the lava pool. "Do we really have to do this?" Momo asked. "It's such a waste..." "You came here to 'dispose' of the 'mutant', didn't you?" The Mutant asked. "Well," Momo said uneasily, "yes, we did... But we didn't know you were alive..." "No...I should be destroyed I was never meant to be... I should never have been born... Please, turn the conveyor on..." Ash flipped the switch nearby, and the conveyor roared to life. The mutant is slowly being taken by the belt to the lava. "Thank you...and farewell." Momo tried pleading to the Mutant even even at the very last moment. "Wait! You don't have to do this! I promise I won't tell anyone about you... Just let me study you!" The very last moment before its drop, the Mutant replied, "The desire to know is not necessarily wrong, but... Remember that if you're...not... careful...one mistake ...and you'll create monsters...far worse than I..." With that last breath, the Mutant bulb fell into the hot magma, and was dissolved in seconds. The whole Dump was silent, except for the sound of plant life within it dissolving in a sizzling sound. Suddenly, a cry pierced the silence. "Pukyukyuuuuu!" "What?" From out of the lava, a baby Mutant jumped out. It's green, with weird growth markings on its head. Unlike the Mutant thrown into the pool, this Mutant has a face, that resembling that of a weird baby. Momo's sad expression changed to that of surprise. "It's a cute little..." "...onion," May finished. "Pukkyupkkyuuuu!" The onion, who bounces instead of walking, bounced over to Ash, and started pouncing on him, with its stubby red feet. It's like it's angry at Ash for something. Ash quickly drew his sword, only to be called off by Momo. "W... wait, Ash! The mutant entrusted this...baby...to us!" Momo knelt down to examine the baby better. "I think I understand... He left you to us as a reminder never to make another like him!" The onion then started looking sad. "Pukyu, kyu..." "He can't talk, can he, Momo?" May asked. "Looks that way," Momo said with a shrug, standing back up. But...I'd bet anything That the mutant wanted us to take him with us-- don't you think?" May, excited to have a new companion and friend, suggested, "Why don't we call him... Pecoros? I mean, he does look like an onion, right?" Momo nodded, but Ash sweatdropped; Pecoros was still looking apprehensively at him. To Be Continued
If one can imagine correctly, Pecoros' coloring, and the markings, is the same as Ash's Bulbasaur. At least, that's what I pictured...
I really am bad at writing battles, and Paul can't help me for the time being, that's why they're so short...
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Post by XAOTL on Jul 10, 2008 20:44:41 GMT 12
well... an onion man. Who wouldhave thought. An onion man...
Still it was a bit wierd for Ash to just give away his secret that makes him valuable to the rest of the group.
Altough it is rather strange for a reature to give another its son, to stop them from making a experiment. A surprise, but paired up with it bieing like an onion, it's strange.
Momo still dosn't seem to trust Ash, altough he hasn't really done much to help her. Destroying her home, her rocket. She only trusts the princss for clear reasons, rather than the evil dragon that nearly wiped out humanity.
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