Strange Apparition

[ The Mystic Seer of the Future ] Closed RP blog for Gym Leader Morty

[doomedgod]

Dreamlight ✰ Moros & Morty {Event}

[fogbadge-blog]

doomedgod‌:

The hand on his arm wrenched him back, and as he stumbled Moros watched a rock smash into the ground only feet away from where he was standing. The impact sent broken stones scattering across the ground. He stared at it in shock before turning to the stranger who had stopped him.

“This is where we need to be.”

The man’s pale purple eyes were calm, despite the world falling down around them. But it… didn’t sound crazy. Moros wanted it to. He wanted to get out of this cave, find his family. It wouldn’t matter if they were real or not, because this felt real, so they would, too, wouldn’t they? 

He closed his eyes, shaking his head. That was madness. Not the… seemingly literal voice of reason standing before him. Moros didn’t know what would have happened if he’d been crushed by the rubble, but the fear he felt at the possibility told him that he didn’t want to know.

“What makes you so sure?” he asked, voice nearly lost to the rumble around them. He looked at the stranger, taking in the details of his appearance. If he was really someone Moros had never met before, what was the alternative? Sharing a dream with a Pokémon wasn’t such an odd concept, but as they noted before there wasn’t a single one in sight. Dreaming with another person—someone who had apparently been just as clueless about the reality of their situation as he was—was something much more foreign. “Who are you

"It's just… instinct, I guess?" Morty frowned at his own answer, knowing it wasn’t going to be good enough for the other man. Just how exactly was he supposed to convince someone that barely knew him to have faith in his instinct? His mouth opened with the intention of answering the second question, but he struggled to say anything. Instead, he stood silently with a pensive look on his face as the caves trembled around them.

“I am… somebody with an uncertain future.” His voice could barely match the crashing sounds of rocks falling to the ground. 

“My whole life, my sights were set on a single goal. In the end, it was an unattainable one,” He was surprised by how easily the words came out of his mouth. “I blindly relied too much on a false hope. I was foolish to let it consume me.” 

Morty tightly hugged his torso as he continued to speak, trying to quell an anxious feeling that stirred inside of him. He wanted to remain composed in front of his companion. One of them had to remain calm in this situation, but his face showed a rather forlorn look in his eyes.

“I had already accepted that it wasn’t a path for me to take, but… I just don’t know what lies in my future now. Nothing is clear to me. I can’t see anything.” He expelled a deep sigh, feeling somewhat exhausted from his speech just now.

“What about you?” Morty lifted his gaze back up to the stranger, asking with a bit of hopefulness in his morose demeanor. “Who are you?”

[mrmssa]

[uija-deactivated20200104]

phoenix — [ open ]

[fogbadge-blog]

uija‌:

She’d already begun to motion her Fire Pokemon closer, although the Lampent still sensed Kana’s moment of hesitation. It wasn’t for the thought of setting fire to her Grandmother’s tchotchkes, but for Morty’s question. Fortunately, she had an easy answer. “Oh, not at all. I’m keeping items of hers that are important to us, of course. A lot of her jewelry, some voodoo dolls. But these …”

Kana momentarily reached into the box, fingers tugging on the first thing they could find. It was a paperweight, and encased inside appeared to be some pressed flowers. Just seeing the object made her laugh, but she explained, “She loved owning some of these things, but the feeling of having personal attachment to them doesn’t always transfer. We don’t uh … bury our family with such things, either. And, in a way, we’re giving these personal items back to her, through the flames. I’m glad you find it interesting.”

Honestly though, she was pretty sure most people would be completely weirded out by the very concept. Morty understood, at least. Her side of the family might’ve been the strangest in Johto, what with their bizarre traditions and uncanny abilities, but at least Ecruteak could welcome them home. That’s part of the reason why she felt the need to come back before her grandmother had passed.

Leslie Ann loomed beside her, and Kana gave her Pokemon a quick nod; after setting the paperweight back into the box, her Lampent blew a few wisps of flame toward the cardboard box, effectively allowing it to catch fire after a few moments. The fire began to lick at the outer surface of the box, and Kana glanced to Morty to gauge his reaction. “I have a question … a request, actually. May I?”

“I think it’s a nice way to honor her memory.” So long as anything being burned was not harmful, he wanted to add, but Morty knew better than to doubt her common sense.

He kept a respectful distance from the medium as she began her ritual, both watching with curiosity and keeping an eye on the playful Gengar to make sure he didn’t overstep any boundaries. He didn’t seem to have much to worry about, as he was looking on with as much interest as Morty was. 

A thin cloud of smoke began to rise from the fire, lifting itself upwards into the air through the wide opening above them. Ever the pensive one, he began to reflect on the Brass Tower that stood here centuries ago and how its demise was met. He wasn’t terribly worried about the past repeating itself here, though the thought did cross his mind once. The fire was as small as the box Kana carried and wouldn’t last very long unless she were to continue fueling it. 

“What is it?” Morty took his eyes off the flames when she spoke, uncertain of what she may ask of him but still opening himself to aid her.

[gildinglillies]

Ghostly Impressions | Lillie & Morty

[fogbadge-blog]

gildinglillies‌:

Lillie jumped as Gengar’s toothy smile emerged from the shadows, but it appeared more interested in interacting with Specter than with her. The Gastly was just as intrigued, zipping around the other Pokemon without any signs of fear.

The trainer standing next to him must be the Gym Leader, Morty. His outfit looked a bit different from what she had expected, but then again, the travel guides at the library hadn’t been the most up to date. She supposed that even in Ecruteak, some things changed with the times.

“Oh! Hello, my name is Lillie. I was hoping you might be able to help me with a delivery I received a little while ago.”

She reached into her bag and pulled out the note to show it to him.

This egg should hatch in a few days. Enjoy your new Pokemon! -Morty

“I got this from a Delibird, along with an egg that hatched into Specter… I mean, Gastly,” she explained, pointing to the hovering Pokemon. He seemed to be engaged in some sort of staring contest with the Gengar. “I thought there may have been a mistake, and since you’re a Ghost-type specialist named Morty, I figured that you’d be the best person to ask.”

“Ah, of course.” Morty sighed defeatedly with a subtle roll of his eyes. It figures that his gift meant for someone else would get mixed up for the second year in a row. He was wrong for trusting the Delibird express hired by DJ Ben. He was wrong for giving DJ Ben the benefit of the doubt this year. It was no wonder he never received any words of thanks from the intended recipient. He nearly thought of them to be rude for not saying anything to him.

“Yes, this is quite the mistake. This Gastly was supposed to be a gift for another trainer, actually.” He explained to the trainer as he eyed the two ghosts, observing the Gastly’s interactions with his Gengar, who was determined to make the younger ghost blink or look away with his silly expressions.

Thankfully it appeared that the Gastly had ended up in the right hands. Things certainly could have turned out far worse. 

“I apologize for the mix up. I appreciate you bringing it back. I hope you didn’t have to travel too far to come here.” 

Morty stepped back through the threshold of the gym entrance, offering enough space for the girl to walk through. 

“Lillie, was it? Come inside.”

[hydrophilics]

@fogbadge​.

     ecruteak city seemed… nice. peaceful. almost like home, but not on the water.      he’d heard the stories about the city– more specifically the bell tower that had earned the name of ‘ burnt tower ‘. fitting, given that was it… well, toast.      tuck glances up at the massive building, a hand coming up to shield his eyes from the sun as he admires what’s survived from the fire.      skipper runs circles around him as he takes everything in, the little mudkip not having much interest in the architecture or anything like that. if the water-type could have his way, he’d much rather he and his trainer turn back the way they came and go back to the beach ! that had been much more fun than this place !      ❝ hey– relax little dude, we’ll be back at the beach in no time ! we’ve just gotta get there first, and dad always said to enjoy the journey instead of focusing on the destination. ❞      the mudkip makes a noise before pawing at tucker’s leg, a hint that he wanted to be carried.      ❝ let’s get some lunch and keep exploring, we’ll stay here for the night and keep moving come tomorrow. maybe there’s a river where you and the others could swim in nearby. ❞      but first, food, as the surfer’s stomach gives a loud growl. oof. where was a local when he needed one ? oh– wait !      ❝ hey there uh. dude with the sick scarf ! do you live around here ? i’m uh, trying to find a place that me and my pokemon can get a good, hearty meal… any suggestions ? ❞

[fogbadge-blog]

Sick? 

Morty glances down at the clothing for a moment with a puzzled expression before turning back to the tourist. Other people have such a unique way with words, he often forgets what they’re intending to say. It’s thanks to the diversity of younger trainers that pass through his gym that he is able to keep up with the lingo. If he had to guess, they were probably visiting from Hoenn, judging by the Mudkip playfully scampering alongside him, but his dialect suggested otherwise.

“A good place to eat…” He pauses for a moment, thinking of the few choices that were scattered about the district. This part of the city wasn’t exactly known for its cuisine, unlike the busier districts.

“There is a ramen bar down the street that is tucked inside an inn.” That was usually his go-to suggestion for trainers running on an empty stomach. The food was delicious and decently priced without taking advantage of the tourist tax like the more high-end restaurants in the area. One of those hole-in-the-wall establishments that remained a well kept secret, with signage that was easy to miss. 

“I highly recommend the miso ramen. I’m going in that direction if you need help getting there.”

[crimscned-a]

a shared past || red & morty

fogbadge

❄ “Guess you’re still following me, huh…”

❄ Ever since Red had quietly returned home from Mt. Silver, a Pokémon-shaped apparition had been following them around. Actually, she was a Misdreavus, a Pokémon Red had befriended while somehow living in the mountain cave’s icy-cold conditions. She’d been naturally drawn to the former champion, someone who could understand the inner voices of Pokémon. But ultimately, she was still wild, and Red didn’t expect her to follow them all this way. When they’d tried to ask her why, all she could give was mysterious, vague answers; it was clear that a Ghost-type specialist was needed.

❄ “Piii… pikapikachu…” Pikachu whispered, resting on Red’s shoulder and keeping a watchful eye. He’d always been a little creeped out by Misdreavus while living on Mt. Silver, a wariness which extended to most Ghost-types. Red placed a gentle hand on Pikachu’s head, petting his fluffy fur to relax him. “Don’t worry. We’re going to figure this out… probably,” Red tried to assure him. After hearing that Agatha had retired from the Pokémon League, there was only one person Red knew who could possibly solve this mystery- Gym Leader Morty of Ecruteak City, known for his clairvoyance.

❄ “Misdreaaaavus!” the little Ghost-type Pokémon chirped playfully as Red made their way to the Gym Leader’s door. Giving a firm knock, Red stood quietly, Misdreavus hovering over their shoulder, keeping all of her secrets hidden away.

[fogbadge-blog]

There isn’t a sound that comes through the other side. No signs of a gym leader, a trainer or even a gym guide, despite it being normal operating hours. The door remains locked without any notice of closure. 

It’s a much needed day of rest for Morty, and so the gym is closed for the day. And still, he can’t shake the feeling that he should make an appearance there anyway. Perhaps he had left something important behind, though he can’t think of what it might be. He trusts that he will know what it is by the time he’ll arrive. 

His intuition is right, sort of. The sight of a trainer standing alone at the front of the gym forces a low long-winded sigh from his lips. He didn’t like to turn away challengers who traveled across the region to battle him, but for the sake of his Pokemon, he would have to gently let them down. Ecruteak City had plenty of sightseeing opportunities to offer to occupy them until them.

“The gym is closed for today.” Morty dryly states to the trainer and their partner, approaching them from behind. “If you can wait another day, I am accepting challengers tomorrow.”

[10domu08]

[doomedgod]

Dreamlight ✰ Moros & Morty {Event}

[fogbadge-blog]

doomedgod‌:

Moros darted through the winding pathways, trying to navigate them on memory but finding such a thing nearly impossible. When the cave split into two paths, Moros turned to the stranger. He’d lead the way to the shrine before; even if he wasn’t real, he might be able to lead them out. The man hesitated, glancing back and forth between their options, before choosing one and pulling on Moros’s arm as he ran by.

Moros hurried to keep pace as they ran through the tunnel, avoiding falling rocks and crystals until the pair was abruptly forced to a halt. The pathway before them was solid rock—a dead end. Moros stared, feeling his throat constrict with dread. 

He held the crystal in his hand tighter, driving its pointed edges into his palm. He’d been wrong to trust the stranger, and now… Moros had had dreams where he died, before. They weren’t common—sometimes it was Ghetsis’s Hydreigon, or Kyurem, or even his brothers—but they all ended with him waking up, haunted by what he’d seen.

Maybe this was the path to waking up. But as he stared at the wall of rock before him, Moros thought about what it would be like. This dream was nothing like those others, or his real life. It had given him everything he ever wanted, everything he’d never had. 

He turned around to face the way they’d come, then looked down at the crystal. How could he ever let this go? He didn’t want this dream to haunt him. Even if it wasn’t real… he didn’t want to wake up.

“This is wrong. We need to go the other way, quickly,” he said, starting toward the still-collapsing tunnel.

It wasn’t the first time his intuition failed him. A dead end was the last thing he wanted to run into in a scenario where he was fleeing potential death. He felt it too, the dread coming off of the stranger upon seeing their fate. His mind went blank.

Many times he dreamed of death, whether it was a wilting flower or a something set ablaze, but those dreams were consistently ambiguous. He always had to search his mind for the right meaning whenever he could remember them. Her dreams of death were never straightforward, like being crushed by debris or drowning. There had to be something else that this particular one was trying to tell him, but he didn’t have much of a chance to think on it when the stranger understandably began to flee in the other direction.

“Wait, stop!” Morty cried out, grabbing the other by the arm before he could take off too far from where they were standing. Was it mere coincidence that he prevented him from being crushed by a rock falling several feet away from them in that direction?

“I know this sounds crazy but hear me out! This feels right to me...” Despite trying to remain calm and collected for the stranger, his voice was just the slightest bit shaky, though he felt confident in his realization. “This is where we need to be.”

Morty locked eyes with the stranger, a sincere look upon his face while he attempted to channel his feelings to get him to understand what he was trying to convey. He was certain that the man was not just a figment of his imagination. It wasn’t unusual for him to have visions of people he never met before. For all he knew, this man could be serving as an augury of something yet to happen in real life. 

“There has to be a reason for this. For why we met... why we ended up here, right?”

[uija-deactivated20200104]

phoenix — [ open ]

[fogbadge-blog]

uija‌:

Kana’s Lampent, tempted to blow smoke at Morty’s Gengar, was quickly swatted at before she could bring any unnecessary squabbles. Remember what we’re here for.

“Oh, no,” Kana assured him. “Quite the opposite, actually. The ritual is usually meant to have more than one person be in attendance. With my mother so busy though …” The young woman trailed off, but looked back to Morty with a small smile. “It isn’t something family-rooted anyway. Best to do with … good friends. Shall we?”

The young woman carried her grandmother’s things along, bringing them toward the center of the ashen room. Leslie Ann at her shoulder, Kana knelt down before the box, and encouraged Morty to do the same. 

“It’s probably the simplest tradition in our family … we burn what material possessions remain of our loved ones, those which hold no sentiment. The smoke releases the burdens of belongings left behind. Make sense?”

“It does.” He nodded in response after he knelt across from her, looking to the box with a contemplative look as he takes in her words. He had a bit of an idea of the items that will be burned to nothing; small knick knacks, clothing or everyday items that were well loved solely by the individual. It made perfect sense to him that they wouldn't want to hold onto things that have outlived their use.

“It’s a bit fascinating, actually.” He said in a spur of the moment, recalling a point in time when his own grandmother had some difficulty letting go of material possessions of departed loved ones.

Even if it wasn't his own family's tradition, the thought of his grandmother's miscellaneous possessions came to mind. It wasn't something he cared to think about often, but lately he found it difficult to shake the thought out of his mind. Of course, he knows it's an inevitable part of life. She’s asserted many times before that she doesn't fear death and Morty can confidently say the same thing in regards to himself. When it comes down to a loved one, the feeling is quite different. Complicated, even. There are quite a few of her belongings that he doesn't necessarily want to keep after she's long gone, but the thought of just disposing them doesn’t sit well with him.

“Is it difficult to part with any of this?” He asked curiously, directing a solemn look to Kana. He couldn’t help but wonder if she felt okay with going through with it herself.

[irxnmaiden]

in the garden of good & evil

[fogbadge-blog]

irxnmaiden‌:

A light breeze kicks up, swirling multi-colored petals around the garden, and Jasmine lets out a relieved sigh. As content as she is traveling alone, with the company of her Pokémon of course, seeing a familiar face in such an unfamiliar land is always a comforting feeling. 

Amphy bleats welcomingly, as his trainer searches for the words to justify her somewhat-aimless visit to Alola. It’s true, she has yet to venture far into the region; it being the tropical location it is, one would think she’d have made the time eons ago. But, there’s a certain satisfaction she finds in occupying her hometown these days, that rarely does she even consider traveling without the proper stirring.

In this case, and perhaps uncharacteristically so, the stirring being that inkling to finally mark something off her bucket list. That, and an unexpected bout of restlessness. Both marvelous reasons to substantiate this excursion.

“I’ve never really gotten around to exploring Alola, honestly,” she confides, eyes still soaking in the warmth radiating from the high noon sun and the garden’s colorful ambiance. A few strange, spider-like Pokémon commune besides the pond’s banks, stealing the attention of Amphy, who’s curious to inspect closer the exotic species native to this land. “What with challengers becoming less and less frequent — and Amphy’s offspring maintaining the lighthouse in our absence — we thought, why not take the opportunity.”

Tucking a stray brunette lock behind her ear, she blinks perplexingly. It isn’t often she encounters Morty, not even when out and about in Johto. She’s always considered the Ghost-specialist enigmatic, and even after all these years, she knows so little of his day to day. But, she cannot say she’s surprised to find him here, in a garden so delicately inspired by his very own Ecruteak. 

“And, yourself? What’s brought you all the way out to Ula’Ula?”

“I'm technically on a vacation myself.” The look on his face shows more indifference in him than excitement. “You see, I won a grand prize in a lottery back home; an all expense paid trip to Alola. I wasn’t planning to use it and wanted to offer it to someone else but…”

As he speaks, a Gengar, adorned with a pink Hibiscus atop his head appears out of thin air front of both of the gym leaders, wearing a cheerful grin that clashed with Morty's cool disposition. 

“...It was heavily insisted that I take some time off for myself.”

It was too bad that he didn't have any say in his destination. A trip to Sinnoh would have been perfect for him. But according to a few other naysayers, opportunities to visit Alola for free didn't come by often and he would be absolutely crazy to pass it up!

All he really wanted in the lottery was the third place prize. Instead he found himself outside of his comfort zone. Alola was significantly warmer than his home region and within mere minutes of arriving, he had to ditch his normal attire, exchanging it for the least flashy ensemble the local shops had to offer. His well-worn scarf just barely managed to make the cut due to Morty’s fear of getting sunburned on his rarely exposed neck.

Jasmine’s presence is unexpectedly helpful in unloading his discomfort, however. Perhaps it’s because he’s trying to be conscious of rubbing his own anxieties onto her. Nothing worse than sour company on what’s meant to be a relaxing vacation, he thinks.

“I've managed to have a good time so far though.” He turns his head to the flourishing greenery surrounding them, met with a gentle breeze that smells distinctly of salt. “This garden is quite impressive. I almost feel right at home here.” 

A quick roll of the eyes can be seen from the Gengar, who seemed to have a different agenda for the trip than his trainer and wanted to venture outside of Malie City. But Morty can’t help but smile a little when he catches the sight of a Goldeen jumping up from the pond, making a splash back into the water. It’s not quite Ecruteak City, without the perpetual autumn colors, but it’s a fair substitute.

[fogbadge-blog]

False Alarm | Morty & Chroma

[fogbadge-blog]

themagicalhex‌:

As she approached the exit, she turned to his question.

“I’ve been trying to find the right piece of citrine to make myself a new necklace. I gave away the other one I had.”

Chroma couldn’t remember who she had given the jewelry to, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she felt the need to give it to another, and for her, that was enough. It was always enough. Generosity, kindness, sincerity – that’s what mattered.

She thought for a moment at his name.

“Are you named after that Gym Leader? I’ve never met him.. I’m not from this region..”

“Actually, that would be me...”

The blonde couldn’t help but give an airy laugh at her question, guessing that she might have imagined Ecruteak’s gym leader to be at least forty years older than himself. It wasn’t an uncommon assumption, something he was more or less used to hearing from non-locals.

“Citrine though? I’m not sure where you could find that around Johto. I can’t say it’s native to— hm? What is it?” He was interrupted by a soft, but eager tug of his cuffs by the Sableye at his feet, who made small movements with his hands when the seer laid eyes on him. A small game of charades began with Morty guessing the gestures his Pokemon was making.

“You know where to find it? Is that what you're saying?” The Sableye nodded excitedly in return, baring it's pointed teeth in a huge grin.

[fogbadge-blog]

Secret Tunnel | Morty & Zinnia

@hoennslorekeeper

Morty had his ways of finding himself in unlikely places, a trait he carried from a young child that was only made worse as his friendship with Eusine grew. By now, he knew the Brass Tower like the back of his hand as well as every nook and cranny that made certain areas more accessible in Ecruteak City.

Even outside of his hometown, he somehow would end up in places he shouldn’t be in the first place. Though most of them were secrets, well-kept to himself.

He just so happened to be in the area when he caught wind of a foreign trainer attempting to gain access into the Dragon’s Den, but to no avail. Without a proper invitation from an elder or any member of the clan, she was out of luck and convincing them to allow her into the den was a trial on its own.

Ordinarily, Morty would have stayed out of the matter. It was hardly his business to interfere with the clan, but another rumor about the girl caught his interest…

“Your determination is admirable,” He says, approaching her outside of the Blackthorn Gym after witnessing her failed attempt to speak to the leader. “But I’m afraid that going about it the proper way won’t get you very far around here.” 

[hoennslorekeeper]

Zinnia has spoken anyone and everyone about gaining access for the dragon’s den, on the basis of research. She was starting to get extremely frustrated, and the hot day wouldn’t help her. Even Clair, the gym leader of Blackthorn wouldn’t let her in on research basis. Zinnia wondered if she was even in the right Dragon’s Den to begin with. She started to wonder if there was another one. “Maybe in Unova, they have that dragon spiral tower”, she tough to herself. “This appears to be a wild goose chase. I don’t know where to go next Aster. No one will let us in, let alone get close to the entrance. They say its, ‘sacred’ and I need to obtain other gym badges. What is this gym system? So different from Hoenn. But we need to find where he ran off to. He is the lead we have left that isn’t a dead person.”

Suddenly, as she was walking to a quite space to gather her things for a flight, she heard a voice. Almost ghostly, but a distinct voice calling to her.

As she was slowly walking, defeated, towards an opening to fly back to goldenrod. Suddenly, she heard a voice,. A faint and ghostly voice. It appears to be calling out to her.

“Your determination is admirable, but i’m afraid that going about it the proper way won’t get you very far around here.”

“Who, who are you?” She replied, seeing the stranger standing behind some rocks, as the stranger walked forward. He appear to be wearing purple clothing, something out of the ordinary.

[fogbadge-blog]

“I’m just a wayfaring stranger, passing through the area.” He answers, caring not to reveal his identity just yet, though he knows there are certain details about his appearance that would give him away if word were to get out about this.

“I couldn’t help but hear about your predicament with the Gym Leader’s clan. The Dragon’s Den is as sacred as it is heavily guarded.” He looks to the entrance across the lake, eyeing a clan member in the distance standing in front of the entrance. “It’s no surprise that they won’t let just anyone enter. However…”

His voice lowers when he bends down to the girl’s level.

“There is another way to gain access without gym badges.”

He offers the girl a trusting smile, unperturbed by the consequences his actions would have on him if they were to backfire on them both.

[doomedgod]

Dreamlight ✰ Moros & Morty {Event}

[fogbadge-blog]

doomedgod‌:

Moros kept his eyes tightly shut, trying not to think about the memories the dream had given him and instead focusing on what was real. He couldn’t stop fiddling with the crystal, though, running his thumb over the glossy smooth surface and pointed edges over and over. 

It would’ve been so perfect. He was so pleased with himself for finding it, and imagining N’s reaction made him happy. Truly happy. His breath hitched in his chest. That was all he wanted. All he’d ever wanted, even when he was trying so hard to convince himself that things were fine the way they were.

The contact on his shoulder didn’t immediately rouse him. It was a dream, and he wanted to wake up. The stranger his mind had conjured wasn’t going to help him anymore. But the more the voice called out to him the more difficult it became to ignore. Moros opened his eyes to look up at the man again.

And strangely enough, even with all his true memories returned to him, he still didn’t recognize this person in the slightest. That wasn’t possible, was it? A brain couldn’t create new faces—he’d read that somewhere before. What he had immediately dismissed as a figment of his imagination was still here, even in light of his realization.

Moros finally analyzed what the man had said, looking past him to see the state of the cave around them. It was in bad condition; chunks of rock and crystal fell from the ceiling, splashing into the water and crashing hard against the stone floor. This isn’t real. But the contact on his shoulder felt like it was. The shaking ground that was nearly enough to throw him off balance felt like it was. And the fear that he was going to be trapped in a cave-in won out over the rational knowledge that this was all inside his head.

He’d deal with his feelings later. For know, the mystery man was right.

“Yeah. Yeah, okay, let’s go,” he agreed, turning back the way they’d come. He took off at a run, still clutching the crystal tightly in his palm.

Through all the chaos, he found that he was going exceptionally faster than normal. Was he always able to run at this speed? His pace was just slightly under that of the stranger’s quick movements. Usually his dreams that involved running away from something terrifying ended with him unable to outrun it.

But the path they walked previously seemed different this time. They were met with multiple exits, each one crumbling into narrower paths as the cave shook harder. He looked at each one, searching for a sign of which exit to take; a light at the end or some other indicator. His eyes were briefly closed as he instinctively turned to his own intuition for some direction. But ultimately, they were running out of time and options as the cave began to fall around them. For once, he had to think on his feet and hope for the best outcome.

“This way!”

Morty sprinted towards one of the paths without hesitation to grab onto the stranger’s arm to follow. Somehow, this path seemed like the best one to take and he felt a little at ease once they entered through it, though he had no idea what may lie ahead of them. With any luck, he would wake up from this dream before he could find out.

[gildinglillies]

Ghostly Impressions | Lillie & Morty

Starter for @fogbadge

The traditional architecture of Ecruteak City looked as if it had jumped out of the pages of the travel guides that Lillie had paged through while planning her trip to Johto. She wished she could stop and admire the sights, but that would have to wait until she had found what she came here for.

Specter was pulling faces behind her back. She could tell by the confused reactions of the people they passed in the street, but every time she turned to scold him, he reverted to an innocent expression. She resorted to giving the Gastly a disapproving look, although that didn’t do much to discourage the behavior.

Following the directions from the nurse at the Pokemon Center, the gym was easy to find. The door opened smoothly, but the room inside was completely dark. Only the a few feet of floor in front of her were visible, and there were no trainers in sight. Was the gym closed? Or perhaps the darkness just part of the ghost-type theme.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” she called out tentatively. Specter floated near her shoulder, gazing curiously into the darkness.

[fogbadge-blog]

It was a common reaction to newcomers to the Ecruteak Gym; thinking it was closed or abandoned. Normally, he liked to see it as a test for trainers to test their courage, navigating the dark room on a series of floating platforms. Often times it was amusing to watch as long as he didn’t interfere with them.

But somehow, he had a feeling that this particular trainer wasn’t here for a badge today. Maybe it was the uncertainty he heard in her tone or perhaps it was just pure intuition. Either way, he figured he would save her the hassle of coming to him.

His Gengar had the same idea and floated across the gym to greet the newcomer with a cheery grin. Knowing this couldn’t possibly end well for anyone, Morty followed suit across the maze to meet with her before something went horribly wrong.

The darkness began to fade slowly in the gym, but not completely; just enough to make out the outlines of the gym trainers scattered along the maze. A tall outline came into view momentarily, revealing the gym leader as the dim light touched him. He set his sights on the blonde trainer standing at the doorway and the Gastly that floated by her side.

“Can I help you with something?” He asked, forgoing a proper introduction.

[fogbadge-blog]

False Alarm | Morty & Chroma

[fogbadge-blog]

themagicalhex‌:

“Oh… Someone complained.. about me… Sorry…”

Chroma felt sheepish. She hoped she wouldn’t be a bother, especially since how deserted this area was. She couldn’t imagine someone spotting her, but she guessed wrong.

“I’ve been trying to find a specific stone for what I was wanting to make, but I couldn’t find it. I’ve been here all day…” Her voice trailed off, realizing how dirty she was. She sighed before asking, “I don’t suppose you know where I can find raw citrine stone, do you?”

She finally noticed the ladder he was pointing to.

“Oh,by the way, I’m Chroma..”

“Well, I wouldn’t put it that way…” Although it was true to some extent.

He searched his brain to come up with a mental image of what she was looking for. Orange, was it? Admittedly, he wasn’t so practical with gemstones as he could be. But he knew for certain it wasn’t something she would be able to find here.

“I’m afraid the only stones you’ll find here are just rubble. Or an evolution stone dropped by a careless trainer.” The gym leader slowly shrugged, feeling pity for her time spent in vain. The Sableye shook his head to support his claim, appearing to be somewhat saddened by the fact.

“Morty.” He responded to her introduction. “What is it that you’re trying to make?”

[irxnmaiden]

in the garden of good & evil

starter for @fogbadge​

Wherever the sea sprawls, Jasmine typically can find herself. Although Alola remains largely unexplored by the Johto native, the nature of the region alone is enough to beckon Jasmine from her usual comfort zone of Olivine. There’s excitement, where her world remains uncharted.

Ula’ula Island’s Malie City proves to be quite bustling, upon first impressions. But from the moment she steps off her ferry, Jasmine feels right at home. The architecture, reminiscent of several prominent locations in Johto, strikes a familial chord within her; drawn, she is, into the ornate shops and establishments along the main stretch, that most of her daily funds evaporate rather quickly. 

“Looks like we’ll have to find some less expensive ways to pass the time,” she states matter-of-factly to Amphy, the electric-type trilling in response. She’s always loved bringing the Ampharos abroad, content with that fact that his offspring guard the Glitter Lighthouse as well as he, in his absence. 

During the heyday of Olivine’s Gym, when it was still a fairly new establishment, both he and his de facto trainer remained swamped with responsibilities. And although the waters of the port have quieted down enough to allow for the occasional sabbatical, they still take their titles there with the upmost seriousness and honor. 

But, such hard work is seldom appreciated when there isn’t a chance to decompress. She’s always valued a good balance, after all!

Keep reading

[fogbadge-blog]

A calm stubbornness resides in him whenever the topic of a vacation is brought up to Morty. He insists that he’s in no hurry to leave the region for a week or so. But when there’s a will, there’s a way, and he finds his bags lovingly packed by a few of his Pokemon who wish to see the Alola region. He isn’t a fan of the beach and the thought of him surfing on a Mantine is unsettling. Luckily for him, Alola has more to offer for tourists than maritime activities.

It isn’t the least bit surprising that he would choose to stay on Ula’ula Island for most of the trip. Malie City’s architecture was heavily influenced by his hometown, and he certainly feels right at home there. The scenery has a stark contrast to Ecruteak’s perpetual autumn vibe. Visiting Malie Garden is like stepping into a vibrant painting. If there is one thing his hometown lacked, it was a place like this; not that the neighboring National Park wasn’t scenic and gorgeous.

He’s impressed by the overall look and feel of the garden, noting the tall structure off to the side mimicking the Bell Tower back home. Marveled at its appearance, he fails to notice the bright yellow Pokemon approaching him from behind while accompanying a familiar face. He’s deep in thought when she speaks up to get his attention and it isn’t until the unseen motion of a light tap on his shoulder alerts him to her presence.

“Hm...? Jasmine?” Morty is taken aback by her sudden appearance. The idea of other gym leaders joining him here crossed his mind just then, half-expecting Whitney or Bugsy pop out of nowhere to surprise him. But it’s just Jasmine and the Ampharos of the lighthouse.

“What a coincidence... What are you doing all the way out here?”

[fogbadge-blog]

Golden Hour

@aerace

Dusk settles into Ecruteak with a cool gust of wind passing through as the sun begins to disappear into the skyline. The setting sun glows on the leaves of the trees before their golden color is consumed by the shadow of the tower’s remains. With his scarf wrapped loosely around his neck and the fading grin of a ghost trailing behind him, the gym leader takes his time to reach his destination, admiring the beauty of his hometown at the golden hour. After a full day of non-stop challengers at the gym, he decides to close up a little early today once things slow down and lose momentum. Watching the sun set into the horizon from the best view in Ecruteak was a perfect opportunity for Morty to unwind and reflect on recent events.

“Hold it!”

But he is stopped in his tracks before he can reach the barrier station leading to Bellchime Trail. He quietly turns to the person calling out to him, a little piqued by the hold up, but retains a neutral expression when they catch up.

He didn’t recognize him one bit, but could easily tell from his appearance that he was a trainer. Somehow this always seemed to happen whenever he decided to take off early.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not accepting anymore challengers today. Could you come back tomorrow?”