[color=darkorange][h2][center]✰ Jason Ackerman ✰[/center][/h2][/color]
[color=darkorange][h3][center]Location: Stillwater[/center][/h3][/color]

[hider=The previous night...]
[hider=Extradimensional battle][youtube]https://youtu.be/rn5AI4_mfbc[/youtube][/hider]
[b][color=darkorange]"What's the matter?"[/color][/b] Jason's illusory double sneered at him. [b][color=darkorange]"Talk the talk, but don't walk the walk?"[/color][/b] The Golurk and Aegislash loomed over their smaller counterparts. [b][color=darkorange]"Amyntas, Phantom Force."[/color][/b]

As the hulking automaton disappeared from view, Jason saw an opportunity. [color=darkorange]"Hit while the Golurk's distracted! Agni, Night Slash! Amyntas, Shadow Punch!"[/color]

The trainer before him sneered, and Jason instantly knew he'd made a mistake. [b][color=darkorange]"King's Shield,"[/color][/b] his opponent calmly commanded. Both the Golett and the Doublade bounced off the glowing blue wall that appeared in front of the Aegislash. The next moment, the Golurk emerged from the shadows in a rush, sending its unevolved double flying.

Rooted to the spot in panic, Jason shook his head. There was no way he'd get out like this, and if all his Pokemon fainted, there'd be no escape at all. [color=darkorange]"Amyntas... Agni... Come back."[/color] He recalled both of them, head drooping. [color=darkorange]"Look... You win, ok? Maybe I'll never be you. It doesn't matter. But there's this kid, he needs help... I promised I'd help, and I've got to hold on to any chance of keeping that promise."[/color]

To his surprise, his counterpart's formerly arrogant smile softened. [b][color=darkorange]"Actually,"[/color][/b] he said as he called back his Pokemon, [b][color=darkorange]"I think you'll find you just won."[/color][/b]

Jason's eyes widened. [color=darkorange]"Huh?"[/color]

[b][color=darkorange]"You realised what's important,"[/color][/b] his older self continued. [b][color=darkorange]"Not power, not admiration, but helping others and sticking to what you believe in. I'll say that's growth as a trainer. Of course, I know you believed that deep down. I'm you, after all. You just needed to acknowledge it."[/color][/b]

The surrounding forest scene blurred and distorted as the Unowns slowed, seeming to calm down. [b][color=darkorange]"Now,"[/color][/b] the illusory man said, his voice sounding distant, his body becoming transparent, [b][color=darkorange]"go do what you've got to do."[/color][/b]

The next thing Jason knew, he stood once again in a cavern, alone. [color=darkorange]"What...?"[/color] It felt as if he'd woken up from a dream. He stared from the symbols carved into the stone wall to the familiar sea lapping outside, moonlight reflecting and rippling on the inky surface. Was this real? Had he truly just managed to escape?

If he had, he couldn't risk letting anything like it happen again. He ran from the cave, towards the town, past another group of Elgyems who'd gathered on the empty beach. They ignored him, just as before, but his pace sped up anyway. He didn't want to add getting dragged into some alien dimension, or getting mind-controlled, to his list of experiences. He kept running until he reached the only lit building, the Pokemon centre.[/hider]
[hider=Jason's theme][youtube]https://youtu.be/6LYe5Yp1XM8?list=PL9793A30C55CED7F6[/youtube][/hider]
Sitting on a log bench near the walkway, Jason sighed as he scrolled through the messages on his Pokedex. Over a week. It had only felt like a few hours, but he'd been gone over a week.

[color=darkorange]"Ohh geez, what am I going to tell them?"[/color] he muttered to the three Pokemon by his side - Iliana and Velius, who rolled around play-fighting, and Tibert, who paid them no notice as he cast his neutral gaze around the area every few moments. He knew what an idiot and weakling he'd look like if he told the truth. If he didn't, though, he'd be breaking his own rules. All confirmed folklore about Pokemon, legendary or not, was to be reported back - and if he kept his ordeal with the Unowns to himself, someone else could stumble into the same trap without warning.

For now, he sent some rather nebulous messages - something had come up, but it was all sorted now and the quest was nearly wrapped up. When he got back, though, he'd have to tell the whole story, as well as make an important decision on something the guild had brought to his attention. The thought didn't help his stress headache any - although at least getting tired was a reminder that time was flowing normally again.

[color=darkorange]"Well,"[/color] he said, putting away his Pokedex as lights started to flicker in the distance, [color=darkorange]"here they are. Let's hope this search goes a little more smoothly than the last one."[/color] He made his way to the darkening seafront, his Pokemon close by his side for protection, in the hopefully unlikely event that he'd need it. As he walked, he thought back to his earlier conversation with one of the Stillwater residents.

[i][b]"Lunala?"[/b] Overhearing Jason talking to the medic in the Pokemon centre, the man had turned to face him. [b]"Ah, yer mark my words, she'll be back in no time. Yer seen them Elgyems that turn up at night? They got some kind o' connection with her. When they gather round to signal her, it ain't long till folks be gettin' good dreams. It seems to be takin' a while this time, but she's gotta listen to 'em sooner or later."[/b]

Jason listened. So that explained the Elgyems' behaviour. The key to finding Lunala might have been right in front of him all this time. [color=darkorange]"Those Elgyems... they don't cause any trouble, do they?"[/color] he asked. [color=darkorange]"I-I mean, it's nothing I wouldn't be able to deal with! Got a Dark type here, after all. It just doesn't hurt to be sure."[/color]

The man chuckled. [b]"They be harmin' no-one round here, unless yer provoke 'em. I study 'em myself, been doin' so for years. A pretty friendly and helpful bunch. Yer know, they tend to have a big role in solvin' the mysteries round these parts. They'd likely be more 'n glad to help ya... though it's Lunala you'll want to be careful of. She don't seem at her happiest."[/b][/i]

As the sky dimmed, the moon brightened, along with the multicoloured pinpoints of light shining from the beach. [i]Here goes nothing,[/i] Jason thought as he headed in their direction. He'd already seen the Elgyems and their benign demeanours once, but given the recent Darkrai fiasco, would Lunala react well to anyone bothering her?

[hider=Jason]
[b]TP:[/b] +5 (42)
[b]Pokemon Party:[/b]
[list][*]Vulpix (Iliana), female, lv22 (+3)
[*]Doublade (Agne), male, lv38 (+3)
[*]Golett (Amyntas), lv32 (+3)
[*]Espurr (Tibert), male, lv17 (+3)
[*]Fraxure (Fraener), male, lv41 (+3)
[*]Zorua (Velius), male, Black Glasses, lv10 (+3)[/list]
[b]Pokemon Reserves:[/b]
[list][*]Snorunt (Eira), female, lv19[/list]
[b]Inventory:[/b]
[list][*]Pokeball x1[/list]
[b]Rank:[/b] Skilled
[b]Organisation:[/b] Legendwatch (founder and leader)[/hider]
[hr]
[hider=CP]+1 (54)[/hider]