[center][h2][u][b]Mt. Pyre[/b][/u][/h2][/center]
[quote]A place of sorrow, mourning, absorbs these energies. These energies are powerful, genuine, forever. Regions have their own cemeteries. They always hold an air so much different than elsewhere. They do not hold the excitement of adventure or the thrills of battles. They do not hold the bustle of cities or the enthrallment of Contest. Their purpose is pointed, singular. 
	The waters in the Pyre Bay are glass, stained with clouds of gray, grief sinking into the waters. They still, turn silent, forever respecting the need for uninterupted sobs, unmolested wails. They are formless and opaque, rinkeled in ageless death.
	The air pushes against them as if embracing for comfort, consoling. It's heavy, pushes against the chest. It makes one's conscious of their breating. Each breath is a blessing and should be cherished, understood as temporary and sometimes fleeting. It feels like one's heart tugs down into the waters to be cleansed, baptized, claimed for their own. It gasps, pulling at them like strings, pulling the hearts they've claimed.
	There is no current. Foam does not form against the base of the slate cone at their center. The mountain ripples, the air fossilizing the tears shed, burying the cries and wails released here. It commands reverence. It demands silence. Echoes fall into the slate, taking the life of voice to sustain itself. It saps the breath away, attracts the gaze of all, and houses the restless spirits until they are ready to release the corporeal. Mt. Pyre is the center of a realm beyond this. It is a portal to the beyond for those who belong there. It is the end to the beginning.
	The cavernous entrance constantly released a warm, heavy breath, always exhaling the last gasp. The gray slate covered the inside as well as out. However, the air, itself, was dead, unmoving. Pacing through the oppression, depression, with improper intent felt offensive. The atmosphere demanded the acknowledgement of each tomb and grave. Individuals froze before the memory of those past. Simply seeing a name, an engraving, etched in their minds the fact that the experience of life was over. The expressions of love, fear, and excitement would never again be shared with them.
	Light dulled in their memory. Light exposes distractions. The need for proper mourning, even nature understood. Illumination is life. It was gray and haze required for the somber and sorrow siging from the living that was necessary for such an atmosphere.
	Still, he smiled. The darkness, the depression, was certainly justified. But the life that was lived, however briefly, must be celebrated. Those experiences of love, fear, and excitement is what life is about. In death, rebirth occurs. It is the end of what was finished. A soul completed its meaning in this life and must be recreated for a new purpose. And this is what made him smile. Well, that and Sableye and Banette guiding new spirits to the realm where they belonged, after a good ribbing, of course.
	"Mr. Gutermuth," a whispered through the shadows. "You have a challenger."[/quote]

[center][h2][u][b]Slateport City[/b][/u][/h2][/center]
[quote]A small group of girls huddled around - something. Fawning, or laughing at - something. They were no older than 12 and a Skitty and Zigzagoon passively interacted with them. They nuzzled their heads into their calves, resulting in a subconscious scratch of their heads as the girls looked down and admired - whatever it was that commanded their attentions. One of the girls, almost taller than the rest, but certainly rounder, looked the most excited. Her round face was soft, supple. The yellow curls that framed her cheeks somehow gave her prominent cheekbones. Her rich, brown eyes shone gold in the purity of the sun. The ruffled sundress creased around her angled joints in the color of the post-storm sky above. "Look! Look!"
	White sharded out between them. It was encouraged by the others but seemed to occur on its own. They shifted slightly, though it seemed the brightness before them did not harm their eyes. Their hands did not raise to shield them, they did not squint to filter less of the light into their pupils. It was brightness, pure and harmless. They "oo-ed" as the illumination dulled and finally ceased. "Yay!" the golden sky girl called out to her crowd as if they weren't there to witness it themselves. "Silcoon!"
	The Skitty approached and pawed at the evolved Wurmple. The girls "aw-ed" in response. Their crying increased when Zigzagoon licked its silk shell. "He was right! I'm going to have a Beautifly!"
	The other girls nodded and "ah-ed," looking at each other, validating the girl's apparent efforts to manipulate the evolution of the creature. "And I'll have a stronger connection with her since I didn't catch her as a Silcoon," she explained, reciting what was explained to her about the process she utilized for the event. "Silcoon, once she evolves, and I are going to be the Top Coordinators one day!" she promised, seemingly more to herself than to the other girls around her.
	"Olivia!" another girl named the golden sky. "Let's get practicing now and learn what Silcoon can do!" Her excited fingertips rubbed Zigzagoon's head.
	This girl looked much more mature than Olivia, though couldn't have been any older. She had hair of obsidian in waves cascading to her mid-back. The front was pulled back and braided. Her face was elegantly angled. Her eyes were a bright, almost sparkling as emeralds, green that complimented her pale olive skin. She wore jeans, proper yet fitted, with a light white blouse and undershirt. She dressed smart for someone so young.
	"I don't see the point, Ezma," Olivia said, naming the smart-dresser. She held up an orb wrapped in a blue paper. "I'm just going to evolve her now." 
	"You know," Ezma began tentatively. Her face showed sadness, a sympathy for the Silcoon. "You really shouldn't do that. What's the point trying to build a relationship if you're not going to put in the effort?"
	"What do you know, Ezmarelda?" Olivia snapped back with condescension and dropped three of the candies to the ground so that the Silcoon could eat them without much effort.[/quote]