Kymera

Rise of the Guardians

Light. Shadow. One cannot exist without the other. They were once the greatest gods of Mankind. Noble, benevolent, powerful. It was their influence that turned the fledgling tribes of Man into the great nations of the world. It was their hand that guided Men, like nurturing parents, until we were at last ready to stand strong on our own. They stepped away to let us grow, and they slipped from memory.
This was Man's sin. We forgot our gods, and watched as they were reborn as demons.

Light was content to be forgotten to Time, but Shadow was not his brother. Without the praise and worship that kept him strong, he turned to the fears of Man to feed his strength. Hate, sorrow, greed, despair. These are the things he took into himself. He gorged upon the darker side of Men and found a new kind of power there. If Men would not worship him, they would fear him. He would take from them all he'd helped them to build and leave them to ruin.

With one hand, he stayed the rain. Under the sun, the ground blistered and cracked. Crops and animals alike withered and died. A starving belly became a catalyst for war. Men fought amongst themselves for scraps, believing their neighbors all had more than they. With his other hand, Shadow let loose a pestilence. Sickness spread like wildfire, claiming any and all in its path. They could only watch as disease stole life after life, and do nothing but mourn the dead. And Shadow fed.

With the power he took from Man, he stepped into our world again. He took his form from our very nightmares, great hordes of creatures ripped from the darkest corners of our imaginations, and a single general as a vessel for his very essence. A fiend, cloaked in the very darkness he was born from, emerged into this world with no name until Men gave one to him. Sharakkor. The Black General.

Weakened by war and death, Men could offer no force to stand against Shadow's Incarnate. The demon swept through what force could be mustered against him, his hordes ravaging the land at every turn. Great nations were reduced to naught but smoldering memories, with only bones to mark the place where life was once so vibrant. He would send Men to oblivion, just as they had tried to send him.

All that remained of Men rallied against him, a last stand against their own demise in the face of such overwhelming power. They fought with abandon, knowing death waited no matter the outcome. In the face of annihilation, they fought back as those who still remembered prayed to the last forgotten god of old.

Man received no great army for their prayers. No tireless soldiers to push back the hordes that swept more and more of them away with each passing moment. No. For Light had been content to slumber. He had grown weaker while Shadow flourished. But he was far from powerless. He could not match the endless horde of his brother that spread across the land. But in his haste to wipe Men from the world, in his hubris to make an army unlike any other before it, Shadow had spread himself thin. And so, Light did not send an army. He split himself into seven champions to stand between Mankind and Shadow's wrath.

Danek, the Strong. Jarten, the Quick. Latsu, the Clever. Tenaei, the Kind. Reysena, the Bold. Semato, the Silent. Kyron, the Healer.

These were the names Men gave to their saviors in song and praise as the hordes of Shadow broke against their might like water on the shore. These great beings pushed back. They took back the world from Shadow's terrible general, inch by inch.

But even without his armies, Sharakkor was not weak. He had fed from Men far longer than these newborn protectors. He clashed against the Seven with all the power he could call to him, and found they could not stand against his strength. They did not fall, but neither could they fell the Black General as they had his hordes. For Light cannot exist without Shadow, and they could not destroy a part of themselves. But neither could they allow Shadow's wrath to continue to spread.

And so, a stone was plucked from the earth, so the strength of the Seven could become one again. Together, they scoured Shadow from the world and sealed him in a domain of his own where his influence might not touch Mankind again. Such magics did not come without a price, and the Seven sacrificed their physical forms to create the Barrier that now kept Shadow at bay. The stone used to create the seal shattered, with their very spirits bound to the shards. It was to the greatest heroes of Men that these stones were entrusted, so that they may forever hold vigil over the Barrier and the Seven. They became the Watchers. Keepers...

Guardians.

The World

The Guardians

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Lore

The Guardians
The great protectors of the realm, often referred to a "Kings without Kingdoms" due to their demigod-like status. They often act as ambassadors between kingdoms, mediating disputes to settle grievances without bloodshed. Their primary duty, however, lies in exterminating the lingering vestiges of Sharakkor's army that hide in the dark corners of the world. Despite the songs and tales regaling the victory of the Seven, the Barrier did not seal the entirety of the horde.

While all gifted warriors in their own right, the Spirit Stone in their possession grants them incredible abilities unique to each stone, as well as lasting youth from the moment they possess the stone. Their extended youth is not only to ensure each Guardian can perform their duties, but because each generation of Guardians are chosen in unison by each stone. Once the first Initiate is chosen, each Guardian seeks out the next who will bear the stone. Because all seven must be found before the stones can be passed on, there can be a hundred years or more between each generation.

Guardians and Initates call the Guardian Enclave home. A large island situated between the island nation of Altaria and Orzel, the location ensures no one nation can lay claim to the Guardians. Additionally, it allows these warriors to continue to hone their exceptional and extraordinary skills without fear of harming any others.

Altaria

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Lore

An island nation, Altaria is the smallest of the three major kingdoms. As such, they have developed one of the most advanced militaries that enable them to stand on equal footing without having to bow to one nation or the other. Some of the most renown heroes are of Altaran heritage, which in turn has led to a high demand for Altarans as caravan guards, mercenaries, and personal protection. Though many towns rely on the sea for their living, the capital city of Avalele is the largest trading hub for both the Horyn Empire and Orzel. It's often said that all the coin in the world passes through Avalele at one point, and the opulence of the city is not shy about reflecting it. The unique blend of cultures here makes it easily the most diverse in the world.

Horyn Empire

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Lore

Often referred to as the Realm of Metal, the Empire was founded thanks to the rich ore fields that span the entire breadth of it's lands. Towns are founded thanks to mines and quarries, eventually building into the open walls of stone left behind from pulling the precious minerals out of the earth. Even the capital city of Cor Beraoth was built into the upper levels of the Empire's deepest mine. The lands to the north of the Empire are fertile farmlands that supply food for the rest of it's people, though most of the Empire is defined by rugged terrain and steep mountainous regions. Thanks to the geography, airships are the easiest for travel around the Empire, maintained by the small army of gifted blacksmiths, engineers the region is known for.

Unique to the Horyn Empire is a caste system, defined by the number of syllables in one's name. Those condemned to the deepest mines have names resembling nothing more than a grunt, while the Emperor has several trained servants who's job is only to flawlessly speak his name on behalf of any foreign dignitaries.

Orzel

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Lore

Out of all the kingdoms, the least is known about Orzel. Isolated by the Fossam Sea and Selmac Desert, the people of the desert nation are said to possess magics stolen from Shadow's own domain. As such, their reputation, and lack of urgency to dispute it, has led to tensions with the Horyn Empire. Though the largest nation in sheer size, it doesn't possess the population to match. Its people are clustered around the coastal areas of the nation, or around desert citadels like the capital of Ghamet.

The most powerful mages and their students dwell in the citadels, learning from generations of accumulated knowledge modeled after the Guardians themselves. Some of the most brilliant scholars live within the boundaries of Orzel, and rumors exist that in the sandstone of the desert hills, generations of mages and scholars have etched a history of the world.

Other Locations

Other Locations

Selmac Desert

The last battlefield of the Seven and Sharakkor. Their struggle stripped the land of it's vitality, leaving nothing but barren plateaus and sand. The heat of the day makes travel across it nearly impossible, making guides utterly essential to prevent from becoming lost among the shifting sands. Those who have found themselves lost and spat back out by the desert claim there is a group of nomads who have managed to tame the desert enough to call it home.

Edoai

A tiny island in the Ventus Sea. Populated by the descendants of Altarans fleeing persecution after a failed coup, these people live side by side with a clan of dragons that sought refuge after the end of the Shadow Wars.

Petram Archipelago

No one sets foot on these cursed lands without a death wish. Its said these islands are the breeding grounds for the nightmarish creatures left behind after their general was banished. Ships sailing too close have suddenly run aground, and their crews spirited away. Numerous attempts have been made by the nations and every generation of Guardians to penetrate the miasma that surrounds these islands, but with little success.

Creatures

Creatures

Dragons

Once Sharakkor's own elite force, a sect broke away from their general's failing influence to join the Seven. Their example prompted a number of other creatures to follow, sparing them from the sealing that barred Sharakkor and the rest of his army from the world. However, due to their history as some of the most feared beasts in the Black General's army, they were hunted and forced to flee the mainlands. One group resides on the isle of Edoai, while another is said to have found refuge in the Petram Archipelago.

Kekki

Winged desert lizards native to the Selmac Desert and Orzel. For those unable to travel by air, Kekki are the preferred method for desert crossings. Unable to fly, they are able to glide for short distances, facilitating crossing some of the more treacherous terrain, and their scales allow them to withstand the scorching heat of the desert sands. They are typically used as riding and pack animals.

Others

If you have suggestions, or think of something as the RP progresses, we will add it here!

Ok, so this RP is going to start at the end of the Sixth Generation of Guardians. At least one Initiate has already been identified. Which means depending on what sort of characters people want to play, we may be looking for the remaining ones, or dealing with some other... more sinister stuff I have in mind.

This is obviously an advanced roleplay, so I will be expecting posts that fill that requirement. Do your best to check grammar (Mine's not the best, but I do try), spelling, and make sure you offer something to help the plot move forward. Additional rules are:

Rules

-Violence is fine, if it's going to be excessive talk to me and we may move it to a PM to avoid forum issues.
-No controlling other characters. Pretty sure this is inscribed in gold on the wall of every RP forum, but occasionally it's hard not to do. Like during combat for example.
-Speaking of combat, don't be afraid to let your character get hurt. Don't be afraid to lose. Character death is a serious thing and shouldn't happen unless both parties agree to it, so don't be afraid of that. On the flip side, your character, even a Guardian, is not infallible. Not every attack of theirs is going to work or connect. They aren't going to be destined to win just because of who they are. If I see that, I'll be administering justice. Even heroes fail. It makes for a great character arc.
-Romance. By all means. I'm even going to encourage it. But have it develop. There can be some already present feelings, but don’t just jump straight to this undying passion. Also, if you're going to have some sexy times with another character, put it in a PM, but leave enough in your post prior to that where your character isn't in some love dimension for the duration. Stuff happens, you may be interrupted. Let me know and I'll try to give you a heads up though.

While I'll be prodding the plot with a sharp stick to keep things moving and interesting, I tend to look at roleplay as a chance for people to write an incredible story together. So that’s what we will be doing.

People can play any number of characters they'd like, however, I will limit it to one Guardian/Initiate pair (aka: One stone's lineage) for the time being. If you want to play one of the remnants of the Shadow Horde? Go for it (evil characters are fun). You want to play a corrupted Guardian? Do it! Want to be an airship pilot, a sorceress, a career soldier- Ok, so you get the picture. The world is big enough that while the Guardians are regarded as the pinnacle of combat prowess, there are still plenty of niches to make some pretty neat characters.

I think that covers everything. Obviously this is an interest check, so if it sounds at all like it could be fun, you have ideas to add, need to point out things I missed or need to clarify, please let me know below!

Character Sheet

Character Sheet

Name: (Duh)
Age: (Duh. No children though please. Late teens through mid twenties. You can make a case if you feel strongly against it.)
Appearance: (Pictures help, but aren't required. No matter what, BE DETAILED. And keep in mind, you aren’t going to have some willowy alabaster maiden come out of a desert region like Orzel.)
Nationality: (Altaria, Horyn, Orzel, or Shadow. If you have another idea, let me know and we can discuss.)
Profession: (I hope this is explanatory)
Alignment: (Boiled down, are you making a good or evil character?)
Spirit Stone: (If you are a Guardian or Initiate, Which Spirit's stone will you possess?)
Ability: (Guardians only. For an example, The Guardian in Possession of Semato's stone may possess Invisibility. Make it relate to the Spirit somehow. This ability will pass to the initiate.)
Skills: (Any special skills your character has?)
Flaw or Weakness: (YOU AREN'T PERFECT! What could potentially be your downfall?)
Background: (Again, hope this is self-explanatory. You don't have to write a book, but give us enough so we know how you fit into the world.)

Example

Name: Katon
Age: 22
Appearance:
Not pictured: stands at roughly 6'1", with a spartan build. Blue eyes and a deep tan from years of island sun, but still fairer in complexion compared to the desert dwellers.
Nationality: Altaran
Profession: Initiate
Alignment: Good
Spirit Stone: Kyron, the Healer
Ability: Healing. He cannot reattach or regrow limbs, or counteract the effects of poison. Wounds heal in a matter of seconds, but the greater the wound/closer to death, the greater strain it puts on his own body. Can heal both himself and others.
Skills: He had talent with a sword, but is not exactly a savant. His reflexes are easily his greatest asset.
Flaws/Weaknesses: In addition to the after effects of his Guardian ability, Katon is reckless and has no real grasp of his own mortality. He's yet to see a world where good doesn't triumph over evil.
Background: Katon is natively Altaran, though his home lies on the isle of Edoai. Both parents were killed during a particularly vicious typhoon that struck the region while Katon was rather young. As such, he was communally raised by the island's inhabitants, dragons included, which led to him forming a strong bond with a young drake near to his own age. The dragon, Kyadreon, he considers his brother and closer family than most human inhabitants of the island.
His relatively easy life was upheaved when a slaver ship landed and kidnapped the majority of the island's population before they were driven off by the dragons. Katon was among those taken and brought to the Altaran mainland where he was thrown to the slave pens to be sold at auction. It was here he was discovered by the Guardian Carnac, holder of Kyron's stone. The Spirit Stone resonated with Katon, marking him as the Spirit's chosen initiate and earning him his freedom from the slave pens.
While saved from his captors, Katon didn't view his new status as anything different than more slavery. He had no desire to become a Guardian, and only wanted to find his people and return to his home. It was only reluctantly Carnac agreed to assist Katon with his goal of returning his people safely home, if only so he could have more time to convince the young man of his destiny.

Remember, it doens't have to be a novel. There will be things that come up in the course of roleplaying and characters can grow and change!

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

For some reason, couldn't find that earlier. Thank you!

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

Stupid question here:

How long are we estimating route 110 to be? On the map, it's a pretty good distance, however since it's supposed to be a suspended biking road over what is essentially a hiking trail, would it be unrealistic to trek that in a day on foot?

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

Apologies for my sluggishness. I was back in Wisconsin this last week and the Internet is still a mythical thing there.

@Phoenix Also, if I'm dumb and don't get hints you're dropping me, you can always give me a kick and I'll fix a post XD.

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

@c3p-0h In my defense, I did beg forgiveness when I posted. But the evil part of me is cackling like mad that the infection has spread...

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

I'm just gonna ask for forgiveness now, because I've had that song stuck in my head for over a week now. XD

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

Slateport City

Music was the only good thing to come out of Johto.

There really wasn’t much about home Rai missed, but music was certainly one thing he often found himself wishing for. Not that synthesized junk that played everywhere, or those awful remixes of pokemon cries that assaulted him every time he opened the radio app in his Dex. No, he missed REAL music, the kind where lyrics weren’t some nonsencical sentence repeated ad nauseum and the instruments took some real talent to play. The kind that inspired a good mood even on the worst kind of days.

The Radio Tower in Johto was fond of that crap too, but there were a few holdouts in that monolithic place that clung to the ideology that the secret to good music lay in the past. Mary always had music playing in the kitchen on the tiny little radio, humming along and stooping over to pull Rai and Sam into an impromptu dance while the tunes carried on around them. It had taken months for Rai to scrape together the money to afford the upgrade for his Dex after the day that had taken them away. Months of sneaking around and changing the station on the ancient radio that played in the musty warehouse that became both prison and home. Surly, angry brutes screaming and starting fights over who had interrupted their constant stream of ear splitting noise in the moments they’d passed out from whatever vice they’d been indulging in that day.

It had been worth it in the end. Rai bought the best one he could, one he could pick up the Radio Tower’s stations, and even record some of his favorites to listen to later. The precious moments in time he was able to steal for himself, tweaking and fiddling with the stations to find just the right one and being rewarded with the sounds of singers who made music their passion streaming from the device in his hands? Those were the few bright spots in the days he wanted nothing more than to put behind him.

Rai sat perched on the back of a bench, working his lower lip between his teeth as he patiently searched each and every setting in the app for one that would reward him with the sounds he missed so much. The sun felt good on his back, and for all the aches and pains of the day before, Kye was happily splashing around in some of the more shallow puddles –being careful not to get his tail wet- and swatting at his watery reflection. Dicky might have given them a task, but the man hadn’t exactly given him any kind of a deadline. So he was determined to make the most out of the beautiful day ahead of them. That involved finding some decent music and giving his still sore muscles a chance to warm up in the sun.

The crowds were certainly bigger than the day befoe, with some clamoring back toward the marketplace and it’s brightly colored goods and banners. There was another large swath of people all gathered near the harbor, all standing and gawking at the Rangers in their impecably maintained uniforms, while an charismatic, confident voice welcomed the gleaming new ship in the harbor to the Rangers’ fleet. From his seat, even the throngs of people couldn’t quite hide the sleek vessel bobbing gently out in the water. The whole affair left a bitter taste in Rai’s mouth. Mary used to be the one speaking to the eager masses, singing the praises of the Rangers, welcoming new recruits to their ranks… It sounded wrong to listen to someone else do it.

Rai scowled when the only other sound he had to drown out her voice was static, and he was getting sick of looking at the formal attire every wet-nosed recruit and their partner had decked themselves out in. It was a flashy show of presence that ultimately didn’t mean a damn thing. They made people feel safe, all the while hiding how utterly inept the whole Ranger system was. Rai could almost pick out which ones would shit themselves if they found out there was a Pit fighting ring damn near under their feet. If they couldn’t even stay on top of something like that, all a new boat was good for was a lot of showy excitement and giving those starry-eyes recruits a few moments of feeling like some noble heroes instead of the useless rent-a-cops they really were.

“Kye, come on.” Rai said, spitting in the direction of all the pomp and circumstance, “The circus is giving me a headache…”

“Char char char.” Kye cooed back happily as the fire-type splashed back through the puddles, as Rai slid off the bench and onto his feet.

“You are the weirdest pokemon, you know that?” Rai shook his head with a grin down at his friend, “You hate the rain, but you’ll play in puddles.”

Kye only gave him a pleased look that clearly said “But I’m your pokemon. So there.”

“Yeah yeah…” Rai rolled his eyes, stretchung his arms to the sky to work the last kinks out of his shoulders. He hated to admit it, but he was grateful Dicky had helped patch him up. Not all the aches and pains were gone, but he just felt as if he’d had a vigrous workout, rather than beat half to hell and back. “It’ll be a long walk, but I think Route 110 is a straight shot from here to Mauville.”

Truthfully, he was hoping the trip would give him some time to figure out what exactly it was Dicky was wanting him to do. “Chase Mauville Island” wasn’t exactly the clearest set of directions he’d ever gotten, after all. It certainly didn’t seem like instructions exactly, and if they were, he had no idea how to “chase” an island. No, more than likely it was a person he needed to find, or he hoped so anyway. Either way, he wasn’t going to find an answer sticking around Slateport. A light tug at his pants dropped his gaze back down to Kye, as the pokemon lightly pawed at his waist, looking at him with expectant eyes.

“Oh, no. I’m still sore, and you’re getting too big!” Rai scolded the fire-type, though it didn’t phase Kye one bit. The pokemon gave a little hop and continued to try and climb his trainer, all the while chittering merrily to himself. It was hard to say no to that, especially because Kye was likely every bit as sore as Rai was. “Oh fine…” Rai sighed, bending down to heave his partner up onto his shoulders. “Make me do all the walking, I get it. Enjoy it while you can, cause when you evolve, you’re carrying me!”

“Char!”

“Don’t you burn my jacket again, you you get to walk!” Rai reminded Kye as he adjusted his hold on his pokemon before starting off.

People riding pokemon was a common enough sight, and even people with petite pokemon in bags or perched daintily on their shoulders wasn’t a strange sight at all. Giving a pokemon a piggy-back ride like a small child through the middle of a crowded city was something of a different story altogther. There were certainly a number of kids that squealed at the sight, and Kye was quick to chirrup back in response as they worked their way through Slateport. He was a little shocked to see just how big it was without the misty veil of rain that had hung over it when they had arrived the day before. Rai fell in with a steady stream of people, actually enjoying the moment to take in his surroundings for a change. Every now and again, Kye would eagerly drum his claws on Rai’s head and sqwak at some building or new pokemon eagerly. It was hard to picture the exciteable pokemon as the same one who’s had a woman’s neck between his jaws less than a day before, but there was a part of him that was glad for the nearly split personality Kye seemed to have. For all the hell they’d been through, Kye at least still knew how to enjoy life when it presented the opportunity.

The populace of the city seemed to share the sentiment, as it felt like every citizen from Slateport and the surrounding area had all turned out to enjoy the nice weather. The younger trainers seemed to be particularly invigorated by the sunny day. Pokemon battles were cropping up on every street corner it seemed, with several drawing small crowds to watch. The allure of pokemon battles was lost on Rai after spending so long in the Pits. The flashy displays of “skill” seemed tame compared to the fights he was used to witnessing. And it was all for fun. There were no stakes, save for some paltry exchange of money between trainers. No one was getting hurt, and at the end of it all, there were still smiles to go around.

Rai actually found himself joining in with a small band of people who stopped to watch two girls’ match, two beautifly flitting about one another in a dazzling show of color and attacks. It wasn’t difficult to pick out which of the two was more concerned with style than battling with any substance. It was almost funny to think about. Would he have been like those girls had life been any kinder? He certainly couldn’t see himself in any of those “Contests”, but just having pokemon battles for the fun of it? He hadn’t really socialized much with other trainers during his short stint as a legitimate trainer. He’d been far more interested in his own team. It was hard to remember what that was like; what life used to be like before it all came crashing down. Was it bad he just couldn’t piture what that would be like at all?

Rai let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding when the battle came to it’s logical conclusion and one of the fluttering pokemon reverted back into the pink amorphous blob of a ditto. It’s trainer scooped the formless pokemon up into her arms affectionately, and Rai felt the air around him suddenly become much too thin.

How many times had he watched Sam nuzzle Kye just like that? She should be out in the world like these girls; a trainer chasing after her dreams and enjoying every moment life had to offer. Would she have wanted to take part in contests? Or would she have had her sights set on the Elite Four, perhaps? Rai had to turn and walk with a bit more hustle in his step than he’d planned. That girl couldn’t have been much older than Sam was when she’d disapeared.

It didn’t matter. He’d made his choices. He was in Hoenn to bring an end to all those questions, and Dicky was going to help him do it, whether he knew it or not. Still, it took him at least a block before he managed to reign his thoughts back in and focus on the road ahead of them.

Rai pulled out his dex again, and tapped through the list of songs he’d managed to save to it’s internal memory. It wasn’t the same as getting a live station, but there was certainly enough music saved to pass the next few hours. Those girls all had some kind of bracer on them that looked like it served as a fairly useful trainer tool, and come to think of it, Karen had one on too. Though her’s had been modified so heavily Rai hadn’t realized what it’s original purpose was for. He’d have to look into getting one for himself if he was going to be in Hoenn for very long.

“Hey,” Rai poked Kye’s leg and held the device up to him, “You ride, you have to pick the music!”

“Char-Char!” Kye jabbed one claw at the screen, and Rai obligingly tapped and turned the volume up as high as it would go.

The upbeat keys of a piano riff sang out as they turned onto the entrance for Route 110 and left Slateport at their backs. He was nearly flat broke, off on some errand for a dangerous Pit Boss without a single solitary idea about what he was supposed to actually do, and at least two days from the closest thing he had to a clue about where he was supposed to be headed. It might have been enough to put him into a sour mood, had Kye not picked that moment to enthusiastically sing along despite being unable to carry the tune to save his life. It took Rai a good minute to stop laughing at his pokemon before he decided Kye certainly needed some accompanyment.

“Yoooou might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd. We ain’t too pretty, we ain’t too proud,” Rai joined in at the top of his lungs, ignoring every look they got from passerbys as his very pace changed to match the bouncing tempo of the song, “Awwww, but that never hurt no oooonnneee…. Darlin’ only the good die young!”

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

*Frantic sobbing* I'M STILL HERE!!! THIS IS MY THIRD 12 HOUR DAY IN A ROW! I'M ALMOST DONE WITH THINGS!

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

Sorry guys. I dropped with the flu.

Pokémon: Hoenn - Make a Wish

@Phoenix I'm still here. Work is just kicking my ass right now. I'll try to have a thing by the weekend!!