[ti]location[/ti] NOONLIGHT SHRINE

This time around, King did not have to tell Sobek to focus on anything else. The reason why was simple, considering the Totodile was unconscious in his arms.

While the peacefulness of the pristine glade was undeniable, King much preferred the violence of a fight here in this game. He himself eyed the Moltres only briefly.

If they were ever going to consider fighting Moltres, they would have to defeat the Basculin first. It might take a few tries, but he was determined.

King pressed his hands against the bark of the tree.

Sobek is yet again unconscious, but it is merely the process of winning that has brought the two here yet again. One will fall and fall again, but in the end they will rise victorious.

King glances with amusement at Moltres at a though, since it is rather like a phoenix, actually, if phoenixes were made of water not fire.

He presses his hands to the bark of the tree.

For once, Fairytale does not go to the Precipice Shrine. Instead, they go to the Noonlight Shrine. Memories of another time they had thought they had lost Padma, but that had not affected them as severely as this are attached to it as they stare up at the Ascended Moltres. The raid feels like a lifetime ago.

As they had walked here through the Birchwild Grove, they had kept expecting the corruption of Mistra to creep into the scenery as it had in the false image. And, it was false, they knew now. Padma was still her. They had lost her, but they still had good memories to cling to. And that was what she would have preferred them do, wasn't it?

That's what they usually told themself, at least. It was only beginning to feel like a statement they could accept as they approached the shrine.

As their hands pressed against the bark, intent on healing their pokemon, they were surprised that the undercurrent of pain they had simply accepted faded as well. When they glanced down at themself, they saw that their cuts had vanished.

Finally, they felt as if they were at last approaching being themself again.

“I think I’m getting the hang of it,” Saint says, quite pleased as he reclines on the stone propping up the shrine. “We’ve gotten a lot of fish, but I don’t think we’ve seen any of the rare ones yet. Do you want to try finding all the fish with me?” He’s taking it easy, but it’s nice to have little challenges.

Gumball grins wide, and in lieu of a verbal response, he smacks his flippers hard against the two palms Saint has outstretched. It’s enough that his trainer flinches.

“Ah, you’re getting pretty tough, aren’t you?” Saint sighs. Gumball’s strength has improved quite a bit from fending off their catches. Maybe he’ll evolve soon. “Okay, tough guy, how’s about holding back a bit while we’re playing patty-cake?”

Gumball nods vigorously, raising his flippers and having no intention of holding back. The patty-cake champion takes no prisoners.

For once, Kaede was wide awake as they walked into the shrine. Mizumi still cradled her against his chest, softly kissing the top of her head. "Isn't this place beautiful?" His voice was soft as he brought her to the tree, sitting down with the little one in his lap. She chirped happily and started to wander toward the tree in hope of leaves to chew on, but was quickly swept back up with a playful boop to the nose. []"Behave, let's just relax and heal.. then we can get you more snacks, okay?"

Sitting at the base of the tree, Mizumi held Kaede in his lap, letting her sleep. He stroked her head slowly and started to gently hum. A soft tune that his sister used to sing when he was having a bad day. Of course, his singing wasn't nearly as good as hers.. but Kaede didn't seem to mind, nuzzling into Mizumi's thigh. His smile softened and he looked up at the large, beautiful tree. He wanted to climb the tree and look out from within the branches like he did as a child, but he pushed the thought aside - too disrespectful. "Sleep well, Kaede. I'll be here."

Noonlight was special to him.

The first shrine he visited, one where he bonded with Kitten. One where he had seen Tama relax, finally. A rich crimson field of helping Kitten learn how to hunt, aiding other trainers, and making new friends.

Shrines could be defiled by man, but not by nature. Fallen leaves atop rock gave home and life to insects and fungi, who in turn gave life to the plants they had been born from. A cycle, one he wished not to inturrupt.

But trainers walked a similar path, each time. And grass gave way to dirt, anything that could hope to grow trampled away. Verai didn't know too much about gardening, and looking it up online hadn't helped.

Get fertilizer. Put down sod. All things he... didn't much have access to here. But, hours and hours of searching later, he found his way to the Birchwild. He gathered stray leaves as he walked, mindful to not take too many from any one location.

There, before the shrine, he finally stopped, setting down his gathered supplies. "Ya'ath." Despite hearing no sound, and feeling no movement, he knew the swords to be there. "Fury cutter."

In a breath, leaves gave way to shreds, green-gold-red confetti, which Verai began meticulously laying down over the worn path, the dirt that stood out amongst the grasses.

With any luck, from them, grass could grow anew, and the cycle restart once more.