Mystin was a little confused as to why she would want him to do
this-how would this create a diversion? And, didn't Riko want them
to stay together? "Alright, but, can I ask why? I don't really
understand how that creates a-" Mystin stopped himself as he put
two and two together, or at least he hoped he had. He thought that
he understood Riko, but their minds worked completley differently,
who knew what she was planning? Still, it wouldn't do to ask
questions. "Nevermind, just tell me where."
Riko pointed to her left. "I'm planning to keep weaving in that
direction, it should get us back to the plate faster." She flicked
a wrist at Tidal. "Go in the other direction, and put some frost on
the ground. It might not hold him back for long, but it might give
us enough time to regroup and escape."
"Is it necessary to split up?" she asked softly, rubbing her neck
with her unbroken hand. She still remembered her experience in
Cerulean Cave, and feared that worse would happen to one of the
others.
"Yes, but not far. Besides, we don't have time to discuss." She
began weaving through the trees again, yet with a brisk pace, as if
trying to speed this process up
Mystin gave a small mock salute. "Don'tcha worry about it, Tidal! I
can handle this," he assured her. He stopped at the edge of the
path, gave a little wave, and headed down a little before stopping
again, this time kneeling. He closed his eyes, inhaled, and opened
his eyes as he exhaled, sending a freezing Ice Beam against the
path. The ice grew and grew before stopping at the base of a tree.
He could hear footsteps, so Mystin hurried down the path that he
had seen the others take.
Xaiver had been heading up the path when he felt his feet slide out
from under him. He landed hard on his back, but was unhurt with
nothing more than a bruised pride and the wind knocked out of him.
He got back on his feet, and tried again to go up the path. This
time, he only got up about halfway up the path before he slid all
the way to the tree at the base of the path. Trying to control his
anger, he got up again. This was going to take some thinking. And
he was most definetly going to destroy that bird once he got a hold
of him.
Riko began to see light at the edge of the trees, as well as two
figures tossing something back and forth between themselves. "I
think we're almost there." she murmured
Walking behind Riko, the Lugia breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank
goodness." She heard a faint rustling from one of the trees to her
left, and as she looked up, a little Pidgey swooped down from the
branches, coming to a rest on Tidal's head. Despite herself and her
condition, she grinned up at it.
Spectral awkwardly weaved through the crowd in Ecruteak City. He
wad glad that his unusually Ho-Oh-esque clothing didn't seem to be
turning any heads; the citizens of Ecruteak had definitely seen
weirder. The Rainbow Pokemon planned to navigate to a location
outside of the city before using Fly and charting a course for the
Whirl Islands. As he continued on, he fidgeted with his gloves and
jacket. While he was glad for the relief from the pressing sense of
evil, he still couldn't wait to not have to function in this
weakened, human state. He quickened his pace, focusing on not
tripping over his own shoes.
After a long, long while of trying and failing, Xaiver somehow
managed to make it over the icy path. He had lost the pull of the
tablet, but he could hear the faint sound of footsteps. Grinning a
little, he followed the sound, being careful not to attract any
noise to his presence. He had a good feeling about this tablet, and
was determined to take it from them.
They made it out of the woods. It took a while for Kate and Meka to
notice them, as they were busy tossing a thing back and forth,
running to catch it as they did. The plate was floating midair
within sight of them
"Oh, thank goodness," the Lugia grimaced, holding a hand over her
chest as they emerged from the woods. The poison wasn't worsening,
per se; she was just weakening. She just hoped they could get back
to safety before Xavier caught them.
Xaiver could hear the footsteps getting fainter-they were getting
out of the woods?! Without even thinking of stealth or any of the
things that had crossed his mind before, he took off running. No.
Not when it was this close. He would take back that plate, and take
the rest. He just had to catch up to them. Were the voices getting
louder, or was it just his imagination? Good. That meant that he
was getting closer.
Though her senses were dulled, Tidal almost thought she heard the
faint sound of branches snapping. "Er, Riko..." she began, wanting
the Zacian's opinion but unsure of herself.
Riko raised her sword. "Get to the others, fast!" She flicked her
blade at Meka and Kate. "I'll hold him off if he catches up, but
get their attention." She was about tired of this dragon's BS. Her
tail flaring menacingly, she faced the forest with fiery yellow
eyes
Tidal knew she would be nothing close to capable of so much as
looking Xavier in the eye at this point, and therefore took off
running towards Kate and Meka. She was still barefoot from loosing
her first flat in the swamp and kicking the other off sometime
during her flight, and therefore when she stepped on a pointed,
thorn covered twig, the sole of her left foot was pierced. "Agh!"
she cried, stumbling but continuing on. As she reached the other
two Pokemon, she gasped, "Xavier's coming!"
The two psychics stopped in their tracks, noticing the others had
returned. Kate tossed the thing, which turned out to be Meka's
plushie, back to the Mew, who placed it on her shoulder, hugging
the plate again.
Riko was still glaring intensely into the woods. She was about
tired of this guy stalking them...it was about time she punished
him...especially since he no doubt had the plates they'd gotten
before now.
Mystin held up a finger. "I am here as well, and I am here to
help!" He stood his ground. "It'll be quicker two against one,
y'know."
Xaiver could hear commotion-but that wasn't important. What was
important was that he got closer. Disgreguarding the branches that
was were slapping him in the face, he kept going. He just knew he
was getting closer to the plate, he could feel it. He skittered to
a stop when he saw Riko and Mystin. "You honestly think you're
going to stop me?"
Nearly collapsing, the Lugia was barely able to stay on her feet.
Nevertheless, she spun around and tried to create wings behind her
with Fly, and although the energy projection was patchy at first,
she eventually managed it. She waved at the Pidgey, and it
reluctantly left her head for Meka's. All that mattered to Tidal at
that moment was protecting the plate and the two, now three,
Pokemon behind her.
Meka was about to go forward, to protect the plate, before noticing
Tidal trying to defend against Xavier herself. She hardly payed any
notice to the pidgey that landed on her. "Whoa whoa whoa. Tidal,
aren't you dealing with that poison?"
Riko glowered at the Zekrom. "Try us. You aren't getting to that
tablet." Zacian was known for fighting against dragons, the
powerful blade strong enough to pierce their tough scales. It was
time for her to live up to that legacy. If this Zekrom dared
underestimate her, she'd punish him terribly.