Forums · Blind Spot
Hi, guys. I've been wanting to write a story for a while, and, after asking the chat for some inspiration, I've finally gotten something out. This story is based on the pokedex descriptions of the pokemon I used. The characters are not exactly "pokemon animals" but humans with pokemon characteristics. I'll try not to spoil too much of the story, but I figured this explanation was necessary to avoid some confusion. Kudos to anyone who gets some of the references I use. Anyway, enjoy. :3
=======
“Tell me what you see, Xatu...”
Narrowing her eyes to deadly slits, she glared at him. Not a word escaped her mouth as she stood rigid, challenging the authority he tried to impose on her. He could tell her heart was racing despite her efforts to conceal any sign of trepidation. Displeased with her insistent reluctance, he tightened his hand’s grip on her wrists, forcing them firmly above her head. With her arms immobile against the wall, he lowered his lips to her ears, whispering smoothly once more.
“Xatu, come to reason... I know you have a gift, but I want you to know...that I have it as well. You can’t escape from me. That much I have already Foreseen. ”
Her expression emulated that of a composed, if not haughty, demeanor as she smirked. Her capturer knit his elongated eyebrows in confusion, tilting his head slightly. He couldn’t fathom how she could continue such a bizarre display of audacity; however, his wandering thoughts soon vanished as she remarked listlessly, “You’re wrong, you know. As much as you’d like to believe you have my curse, you cannot grasp the true nature of it.”
Immediately, Xatu’s eyes exuded a faint, aquamarine glow. She spoke once more before her body dissipated quickly, starting from the soles of her feet and ending at the top of her scalp, effectively completing her Teleportation. Nothing more remained of her body except the faint smile, which was imprinted on his mind. Her words echoed silently in his head.
“You’re nothing like me, Noctowl.”
===
Nine months lapsed since her encounter with Noctowl, yet Xatu still felt uneasy about committing her next heist despite the detailed consideration she gave for each condition and situation. Running some fingers through her jade hair, she soughed softly to herself, trying to reestablish her confidence by dismissing the notion of possible failure – or another confrontation.
As the sunset finished its course, she broke her glance away from the darkening horizon. Rising from the stone porch, she dusted herself clean and returned to the sanctuary of her home. She walked casually toward her room, entering it, and then closing the door behind her, locking it securely. Taking a brief moment, she stared at her reflection in the mirror located on the back of her door. She wore her usual attire – a charcoal chemise, covered by a green dress, which was embroidered with two golden lines near the bottom, and a white shawl tipped with red and black threads. Though she tried to avoid most jewelry, she had grown quite attached to the pair of ruby brooches she had obtained from her last larceny, which was the reasoning for donning them on her chest.
While she was not stealing from the noticeably wealthy, Xatu had carefully maintained the façade of widowed house maker. She purposefully chose a residence distant from the village but close enough to still be included in the community’s business. The last thing she needed was to draw suspicion concerning her life for seeming like an aloof hermit.
For a moment, she lost herself in a random memory, gazing into the mirror image of her own chocolate eyes.
Thirteen years ago, she first noticed she held powers no other person had. It was a simple question, a simple task. Yet, no matter how she tried, Xatu couldn’t perform it unaided.
“Xatu! Can you do this?”
Xatu arched an eyebrow, unsure what was being asked. “Do what, Skitty?”
“This~!” her peer returned, using both index fingers to point to her eyes, one of which was opening and closing halfway in an erratic manner.
“Why would I want to?”
Skitty scoffed, still demonstrating her mastery of the technique, as she replied, “Don’t you know? This is how you’re going to get boys! It’s called winking. I hear if you do it fast enough, you’ll grab a guy’s attention for sure!”
Xatu suppressed a laugh, jesting, “Sure you will. He’ll be wondering if he should send you to the nurse or not.”
Her pink haired friend crinkled her nose. “Nah uh! He’ll be falling in love with me because of my Cute Charm! Anyway, can you do it or not?” she retorted, trying to defend her newfound talent.
“Well, why couldn’t I?” Xatu questioned, crossing her arms in defiance. She soon discovered, much to her discontentment, that she indeed could not close one eye without the other joining as well.
Skitty tossed her head in annoyance, continuing without fail her repeated opening and closing eyelid action, “Well...?” Xatu was without words, surprised with her lack of ability to control such movements. Skitty resumed the broken silence, “Maybe you just need some help,” as she gently placed two fingers on Xatu’s right eyelid, pressing it gently downward.
Within that moment, Xatu’s vision lost all perception of diverse colors, identifying objects only in varying degrees of sepia hues. However, what she saw was not present. She was witnessing the events Skitty went through yesterday – cheating on the math exam by copying Croconaw’s answers, playing soccer after school, and eating a slice of cake after dinner. The spectacle dumbfounded the jade haired child more than anything else. So much, in fact, she murmured in a disjointed speech, “You...ate cake last...night...?”
Skitty removed her fingers from Xatu’s eyelid, her rapid winking now at a halt. “Wha-how did you know that?”
Xatu abruptly regained sight of the present time, all colors flowing back into recognition. “Er, a lucky guess? I mean, your little brother Meowth told me!”
“Why, that punk! I’ll show him something when I get home!”
From that time, Xatu started experimenting with closing one eye with the assistance of her hand. In that same week, she realized that she could see the past as well as the future; however, her vision was limited to a very short distance in time. As years continued, she progressed in reaching farther and farther into future happenings as well as past occurrences. It seemed there was a direct correlation with the number of years she had been alive to the number of years her vision could travel between times. The older she was, the further she could access in time. Eventually, she had even accomplished that earlier request of winking at will.
The peculiar skill proved invaluable to her as she grew older. Originally, she had used it as a way to entertain her friends, convincing them she knew a magic trick that could guess the history behind any object presented. Tricks soon transformed into assets of a less innocuous past time.
Thievery.
She didn’t recall exactly when she turned to such a hobby, but she enjoyed the challenge; stealing granted a way for her to refine her Foreseeing aptitude, providing her the drive to predict time with precision, pressing her to accept nothing less than success.
Still, the last mission had almost been botched. Xatu was normally well-informed about most of the major felons in the nearby city – knowing who targeted which item and when. She made sure not to exclude any decisive factors that might jeopardize her objective or conflict with another’s; however, this Noctowl person certainly proved problematic to her. She could not waive the impression of his figure from her mind. He wore a simple dark brown overcoat, from which a necklace stringed with three obsidian arrowheads poked out. His short, chestnut hair complemented the tan complexion of his skin. Thick almost flaxen eye brows rest motionlessly above his eyes, contrasting starkly with his overall color scheme. The crimson hue of his irises glowed faintly in the darkness; they were fixed sharply upon her own. Unwavering. Cold. Defined.
A knock on the door broke her musings. It took Xatu a moment to recollect herself completely. Upon opening it, Xatu discovered a close colleague of hers. Albeit the person who stood in front was considerably short, her reputation preceded her immensely. Her ebony hair was styled as a long plait, which almost touched the ground, two shorter bangs drooping on either side of her forehead, barely coming into contact with her marigold dress. Her arms were crossed, both forearms covered by a pair of lengthy black gloves. She was infamous for her method of assassination – one that earned her the nickname “Cheshire.” She would lure victims close to her with a pleasant smile and then deal a fatal blow with an unknown weapon. Only Xatu knew her friend concealed several petite daggers within her braid, which could easily be wrapped around the victim’s neck and cause a deep laceration with enough force given.
“Mawile.”
“Xatu.”
With their usual exchange of greetings out of the way, Xatu cut to the point. “What brings you to my humble abode?”
Mawile laughed and soon touched the brooches Xatu displayed, “Humble my ass. Anyway, I have a favor to ask of you, my dear.”
Likewise, Xatu returned a smirk; however, it was short lived as she began questioning again, “What is it?”
“It seems one of my minions thinks I’m not fit for my position. I have need of your-”
Immediately Xatu frowned and began to walk toward her kitchen, pulling up a chair and sitting down soon afterward. Mawile followed her, propping herself against the countertop. “I told you I want nothing to do with your business, Mawile.”
Despite Xatu’s rejection, Mawile still maintained her friendly demeanor, “I know. I figured you’d react this way. How about a trade then?”
The jade haired woman scoffed, “What could you possibly offer me that I can’t get by myself?”
“Peace of mind, perhaps.” Xatu's visage held no expression. She stared apathetically at her friend’s scarlet eyes. A mistake she knew better than to make. “Maybe I should make it more apparent. I have information on Noctowl. I know you can’t focus when you’re unable calculate every move in advance. I’ll inform you on everything I know about him if you agree to a small favor. Think about it, will you?”
Mawile’s lips curled playfully, warmth reflecting in her eyes. Xatu couldn’t help but chuckle at the smile Mawile gave her. “It’s no wonder they call you Cheshire. Eh... I still have a few hours to spare. What did you want again...?”
=======
“Tell me what you see, Xatu...”
Narrowing her eyes to deadly slits, she glared at him. Not a word escaped her mouth as she stood rigid, challenging the authority he tried to impose on her. He could tell her heart was racing despite her efforts to conceal any sign of trepidation. Displeased with her insistent reluctance, he tightened his hand’s grip on her wrists, forcing them firmly above her head. With her arms immobile against the wall, he lowered his lips to her ears, whispering smoothly once more.
“Xatu, come to reason... I know you have a gift, but I want you to know...that I have it as well. You can’t escape from me. That much I have already Foreseen. ”
Her expression emulated that of a composed, if not haughty, demeanor as she smirked. Her capturer knit his elongated eyebrows in confusion, tilting his head slightly. He couldn’t fathom how she could continue such a bizarre display of audacity; however, his wandering thoughts soon vanished as she remarked listlessly, “You’re wrong, you know. As much as you’d like to believe you have my curse, you cannot grasp the true nature of it.”
Immediately, Xatu’s eyes exuded a faint, aquamarine glow. She spoke once more before her body dissipated quickly, starting from the soles of her feet and ending at the top of her scalp, effectively completing her Teleportation. Nothing more remained of her body except the faint smile, which was imprinted on his mind. Her words echoed silently in his head.
“You’re nothing like me, Noctowl.”
===
Nine months lapsed since her encounter with Noctowl, yet Xatu still felt uneasy about committing her next heist despite the detailed consideration she gave for each condition and situation. Running some fingers through her jade hair, she soughed softly to herself, trying to reestablish her confidence by dismissing the notion of possible failure – or another confrontation.
As the sunset finished its course, she broke her glance away from the darkening horizon. Rising from the stone porch, she dusted herself clean and returned to the sanctuary of her home. She walked casually toward her room, entering it, and then closing the door behind her, locking it securely. Taking a brief moment, she stared at her reflection in the mirror located on the back of her door. She wore her usual attire – a charcoal chemise, covered by a green dress, which was embroidered with two golden lines near the bottom, and a white shawl tipped with red and black threads. Though she tried to avoid most jewelry, she had grown quite attached to the pair of ruby brooches she had obtained from her last larceny, which was the reasoning for donning them on her chest.
While she was not stealing from the noticeably wealthy, Xatu had carefully maintained the façade of widowed house maker. She purposefully chose a residence distant from the village but close enough to still be included in the community’s business. The last thing she needed was to draw suspicion concerning her life for seeming like an aloof hermit.
For a moment, she lost herself in a random memory, gazing into the mirror image of her own chocolate eyes.
Thirteen years ago, she first noticed she held powers no other person had. It was a simple question, a simple task. Yet, no matter how she tried, Xatu couldn’t perform it unaided.
“Xatu! Can you do this?”
Xatu arched an eyebrow, unsure what was being asked. “Do what, Skitty?”
“This~!” her peer returned, using both index fingers to point to her eyes, one of which was opening and closing halfway in an erratic manner.
“Why would I want to?”
Skitty scoffed, still demonstrating her mastery of the technique, as she replied, “Don’t you know? This is how you’re going to get boys! It’s called winking. I hear if you do it fast enough, you’ll grab a guy’s attention for sure!”
Xatu suppressed a laugh, jesting, “Sure you will. He’ll be wondering if he should send you to the nurse or not.”
Her pink haired friend crinkled her nose. “Nah uh! He’ll be falling in love with me because of my Cute Charm! Anyway, can you do it or not?” she retorted, trying to defend her newfound talent.
“Well, why couldn’t I?” Xatu questioned, crossing her arms in defiance. She soon discovered, much to her discontentment, that she indeed could not close one eye without the other joining as well.
Skitty tossed her head in annoyance, continuing without fail her repeated opening and closing eyelid action, “Well...?” Xatu was without words, surprised with her lack of ability to control such movements. Skitty resumed the broken silence, “Maybe you just need some help,” as she gently placed two fingers on Xatu’s right eyelid, pressing it gently downward.
Within that moment, Xatu’s vision lost all perception of diverse colors, identifying objects only in varying degrees of sepia hues. However, what she saw was not present. She was witnessing the events Skitty went through yesterday – cheating on the math exam by copying Croconaw’s answers, playing soccer after school, and eating a slice of cake after dinner. The spectacle dumbfounded the jade haired child more than anything else. So much, in fact, she murmured in a disjointed speech, “You...ate cake last...night...?”
Skitty removed her fingers from Xatu’s eyelid, her rapid winking now at a halt. “Wha-how did you know that?”
Xatu abruptly regained sight of the present time, all colors flowing back into recognition. “Er, a lucky guess? I mean, your little brother Meowth told me!”
“Why, that punk! I’ll show him something when I get home!”
From that time, Xatu started experimenting with closing one eye with the assistance of her hand. In that same week, she realized that she could see the past as well as the future; however, her vision was limited to a very short distance in time. As years continued, she progressed in reaching farther and farther into future happenings as well as past occurrences. It seemed there was a direct correlation with the number of years she had been alive to the number of years her vision could travel between times. The older she was, the further she could access in time. Eventually, she had even accomplished that earlier request of winking at will.
The peculiar skill proved invaluable to her as she grew older. Originally, she had used it as a way to entertain her friends, convincing them she knew a magic trick that could guess the history behind any object presented. Tricks soon transformed into assets of a less innocuous past time.
Thievery.
She didn’t recall exactly when she turned to such a hobby, but she enjoyed the challenge; stealing granted a way for her to refine her Foreseeing aptitude, providing her the drive to predict time with precision, pressing her to accept nothing less than success.
Still, the last mission had almost been botched. Xatu was normally well-informed about most of the major felons in the nearby city – knowing who targeted which item and when. She made sure not to exclude any decisive factors that might jeopardize her objective or conflict with another’s; however, this Noctowl person certainly proved problematic to her. She could not waive the impression of his figure from her mind. He wore a simple dark brown overcoat, from which a necklace stringed with three obsidian arrowheads poked out. His short, chestnut hair complemented the tan complexion of his skin. Thick almost flaxen eye brows rest motionlessly above his eyes, contrasting starkly with his overall color scheme. The crimson hue of his irises glowed faintly in the darkness; they were fixed sharply upon her own. Unwavering. Cold. Defined.
A knock on the door broke her musings. It took Xatu a moment to recollect herself completely. Upon opening it, Xatu discovered a close colleague of hers. Albeit the person who stood in front was considerably short, her reputation preceded her immensely. Her ebony hair was styled as a long plait, which almost touched the ground, two shorter bangs drooping on either side of her forehead, barely coming into contact with her marigold dress. Her arms were crossed, both forearms covered by a pair of lengthy black gloves. She was infamous for her method of assassination – one that earned her the nickname “Cheshire.” She would lure victims close to her with a pleasant smile and then deal a fatal blow with an unknown weapon. Only Xatu knew her friend concealed several petite daggers within her braid, which could easily be wrapped around the victim’s neck and cause a deep laceration with enough force given.
“Mawile.”
“Xatu.”
With their usual exchange of greetings out of the way, Xatu cut to the point. “What brings you to my humble abode?”
Mawile laughed and soon touched the brooches Xatu displayed, “Humble my ass. Anyway, I have a favor to ask of you, my dear.”
Likewise, Xatu returned a smirk; however, it was short lived as she began questioning again, “What is it?”
“It seems one of my minions thinks I’m not fit for my position. I have need of your-”
Immediately Xatu frowned and began to walk toward her kitchen, pulling up a chair and sitting down soon afterward. Mawile followed her, propping herself against the countertop. “I told you I want nothing to do with your business, Mawile.”
Despite Xatu’s rejection, Mawile still maintained her friendly demeanor, “I know. I figured you’d react this way. How about a trade then?”
The jade haired woman scoffed, “What could you possibly offer me that I can’t get by myself?”
“Peace of mind, perhaps.” Xatu's visage held no expression. She stared apathetically at her friend’s scarlet eyes. A mistake she knew better than to make. “Maybe I should make it more apparent. I have information on Noctowl. I know you can’t focus when you’re unable calculate every move in advance. I’ll inform you on everything I know about him if you agree to a small favor. Think about it, will you?”
Mawile’s lips curled playfully, warmth reflecting in her eyes. Xatu couldn’t help but chuckle at the smile Mawile gave her. “It’s no wonder they call you Cheshire. Eh... I still have a few hours to spare. What did you want again...?”
Thanks, Truthiness. I'm glad someone likes it enough to want more.
I couldn't "not" have Mawile in my story. She's just too cool to exclude. XD; Usually, most of the pokemon who aren't used much in today's metagame have the most interesting pokedex descriptions. It's fun to build off those.
I couldn't "not" have Mawile in my story. She's just too cool to exclude. XD; Usually, most of the pokemon who aren't used much in today's metagame have the most interesting pokedex descriptions. It's fun to build off those.
This is very nice. A story about pokemon occuping "jobs" other than being humans toys that battle each other till one of the two faints. Very original. Not to mention the personalities you give to them, just wonderful :)
I also think your way of storytelling is amazing; I am amazed by the vocabulary you seem to handle so well (but that's probably just because I'm not a native American/Englishman/Canadian/Australian or any other country which has English as its first language), which makes it really pleasant to read.
I'm looking forward to more!
I also think your way of storytelling is amazing; I am amazed by the vocabulary you seem to handle so well (but that's probably just because I'm not a native American/Englishman/Canadian/Australian or any other country which has English as its first language), which makes it really pleasant to read.
I'm looking forward to more!
Xatu rose from her seat and poured herself a cup of water, offering to do likewise for her friend who politely declined by waving her hand gently in the air. Mawile sat quietly until Xatu returned to her seat,allowing jade haired woman to prompt once more. “So, what’s going on in ‘Mawile’s little Mafia,’ hm?”
“Please, darling. Although I enjoy the alliteration, ‘mafia’ is too harsh and unrefined a word for my line of business.” Xatu rolled her eyes and smirked at Mawile’s reaction, shortly afterward gesturing the ebony haired woman to continue. “As you know, I’ve worked with Aggron very closely from the beginning of the Steel Syndicate. Despite the initially intimate ties in this field, she and I have been disagreeing on a lot of issues lately. I assumed it was to be just another simple quarrel, but my Intel informs me otherwise. Apparently, she’s been amassing members within my organization to rebel against me. In order to ensure the prosperity of my business, as well as the smooth transactions I have between other similar associations, I need to quell this vexing…gnat’s buzz if you will.”
Though Xatu only met Aggron once in person,she could easily recognize Mawile’s former partner. Aggron resembled a behemoth in terms of stature. Reaching a height just short of seven feet, she towered over most of the members in the Steel Syndicate,often having to look down from her elongated and narrow nose in order to see them. She also maintained lengthy hair like Mawile, letting it touch just the top of her waistline; however, she had layered her platinum hair as well as decided to pin up some of the tresses with silver hair sticks. Consequently, the hair ornaments gave her the semblance of two horns resting atop her head. Icy slate eyes further complemented the already cold ambience she carried with her wherever she went.
Yet, again like Mawile, Aggron had earned herself a reputation worth boasting also. Where Mawile had a slender physique and allure to catch her prey off guard, the medium-built Aggron opted for a less subtle approach.
Monstrous resistance.
The platinum haired woman was renowned for her seemingly impenetrable defense. While most people would consider her thick iron bracelets -one located at each wrist and each ankle - to be a cheap display of jewelry, those who were intimately connected with Aggron knew of their use. Despite her lack of an athletic form, Aggron had mastered defensive techniques to counter an opponent’s charge. In the process of deflecting an assault, she would launch an attack of her own, resorting either to snapping limbs or finishing a battle with her signature move. Xatu had never witnessed the latter option, but Mawile had once confided in the jade haired woman that Aggron’s method relied on thrusting her hair sticks, which were sharpened near the tips, into the victim’s nape. Aggron had designed this skill in order to break the victim’s spinal cord and consequently induce paralysis. Depending on how much force she exerted, Aggron could also choose whether or not to puncture the esophagus and cause suffocation.
Dismissing the recollection of Aggron’s infamy, Xatu returned to the conversation at hand. She had a decent assumption of what Mawile was going to request,but she decided to play along anyway and asked once more, “Well, that’s a rather fine situation you’re in. What do you want me to do about it?”
Mawile, who had been fiddling with her dagger-filled braid, revealed one of the daggers by pushing it carefully outside the braid, replying flatly, “I need you to obtain information about her future plans by-“
“-by reading Aggron’s mind. Am I right?” Mawile nodded in confirmation, sheathing her dagger once more. Xatu lifted her head, focusing her attention away from Mawile’s gaze, speaking once more, “And I suspect that you want me to do so by direct contact with her.”
“You were always the smart one, my dear. Do I have your acceptance of this task?”
Looking from the corner of her eyes, Xatu met Mawile’s scarlet stare directly. “Not until I have the information on Noctowl. It had better be good too because I can assure you I do not appreciate a waste of my time.”
“Likewise, darling. I know you’re on a strict schedule with your heist tonight. So, I’ll keep my information concise. He is a fairly new recruit to the Steel Syndicate. Being such, I haven’t really met with him as much as I do with my other minions. However, I do know Aggron, who at the time was on good terms with me, convinced me that the boy would be a great asset due to his ability to foresee thefuture. Much like your power, actually. The only difference is that he isn’t nearly as skilled at it as you are-“
Xatu interrupted,annoyed with the lack of new information being provided. “What happened to being concise? I already figured out that much on my first encounter with him. You’re not putting up a compelling enough reason for me to accept your offer.”
“You’re right. Forgive me. As I was aboutto get to, the most vital part of the information is this. Noctowl can do everything you can do without the drawback of eye sight.”
Hesitation lurked in jade haired woman. Yet, she decided to confirm herfear, “Meaning he doesn’t have to rely on what he can or can’t see?”
“Correct. On the other hand, he has weak stamina, which reflects his inexperience. So, while he is able to perform most if not all of your techniques, he can’t do so for very long. Try to exploit that if you come across him again. Now, about my offer.”
Xatu narrowed her eyes, pausing briefly before undertaking her friend’s request.Similarly, Mawile returned the solemn expression, anticipating a positive response. “I’ll accept, but I still expect more information if you’re able to give me a heads up in advance about his movements and what not. I want to avoid another possible blunder like my last heist.”
“Fair enough. Well, I suppose it’s time for me to leave. I’m glad we’ve reached an agreement, Xatu.” Mawile removed herself from the countertop, straightening the folds in her clothes as she prepared for her departure. “Although, make more of an effort to keep in touch with my syndicate, yes?”
“No. I already told you a dozen times before; I want nothing to do with your work. This contract is the only exception I’ll make for a long while.” Xatu furrowed her brow again,becoming agitated with her friend’s insistence to recruit her despite numerous rejections. Mawile simply shrugged the refusal off, shaking her head slightly with a small smile.
“As I expected. Anyway,arrange a time that best suits you to deliver your part of the bargainto me once you’ve obtained the information. I will expect it fairly soon though, darling. Coup d’états are annoying to deal with but evenmore so when I don’t have the necessary parts to guarantee a checkmate.” Mawile made another gesture with her hand as if she were manipulating a game piece between her gloved fingers. She made her wayto the door, her back toward Xatu.
“I hope you don’t consider me a Pawn in all this mess, Mawile.”
Mawile cast Xatu a glance behind her shoulder, smiling as her hand connected with the doorknob. “Not at all, my dear. If anything, you’re the Queen. And, now, I must bid you adieu.”
===
Within the more solitary part of the nearby city Landecour, stood amansion fully surrounded by an eight foot tall rod iron fence. The building itself was constructed from boulders and stones that had been imported from a quarry in the southern half of the Mylurian nation,granting the edifice an aura of exceptional rank. White marble floors and columns decorated the interior along with golden framed paintings,rosewood furniture, and blood red carpets. Immense windows frequented every wall, providing arches of light wherever the moon or sun shone through. Despite the ornate and presumably open access, the building remained heavily secured – patrol units pacing within the corridors alongside security cameras that hovered within the most secluded nooks and crannies possible to record any disturbances while going undetected by unsuspecting “visitors.”
The ostentatious structure belonged to the well-known aristocrat Gabite G., who accumulated fortunes from his monopoly on telephone corporations. He normally did not associate with outsiders as he labeled them, preferring to bask in his riches alone; however, he had changed his mind for one night.
Atop Gabite’s mansion, two individuals remained on lookout. Though, they were not the aristocrat’s typical patrolmen.
“The air is calm. You shouldn’t worry,” a young voice stated. It was soon met by a deeper one.
“I can’t fail this again, Esp. It’s bad enough she got away the first time – practically taunting the hell out of me. I can’t let that happena second.” Noctowl turned to his attention toward his friend, his crimson eyes flickering slightly from agitation.
The lavender haired man spoke softly, almost as if he was speaking to himself. His cerulean eyes met Noctowl’s. “That was then, and this is now. I bet the air was disturbed back then too. The situation probably wasn’t in your favor. Besides, there are two of us. She can’t possibly keep up with both of us.”
Noctowl smirked at Espeon’s statement, fixating his gaze among the stars as he laid upon some boxes on the rooftop,letting his head dangle off the edge. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
“I see you’ve also found a new meditation position,” Espeon remarked,referring to Noctowl’s drooping head. He knew Noctowl’s sulking wouldonly damage the operation’s success. A slight diversion was required to rectify the situation.
“Oh, this? It helps me focus. Consequently, I can channel my powers more efficiently.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Espeon’s confirmation settled some of Noctowl’sfrayed nerves. The chestnut haired man trusted his companion greatly,especially due to Espeon’s mastery of manipulating objects through telekinesis as well as detecting presences based on the air currents.Espeon’s abilities went unparalleled by many other users of psychic energies despite being much younger than other masters of the technique. Noctowl sometimes harbored envy toward his friend, feeling that he should be more proficient in those faculties as he was older byfive years; however, the sentiment never hindered their amicable relationship. “By the way, when are we expecting her arrival?”
The older of them shrugged, “Can’t say, really. I’ve asked Gabite about how secure his vault is. All he told me was that nobody could get inside since the whole place is guarded 24/7. The only reason he’s even agreed to let us up here was because he got a clue that his jewels were targeted.”
Espeon raised his eyebrows in surprise, voicing his disbelief, “Oh, this Xatu delivers calling cards in advance too?”
“Not that I know of. I want to think it was Aggron who set this whole thing up. You know, getting the info and then convincing Gabite of its legitimacy. But if what Gabite claims is true, then I think I have a really good idea of how Xatu’s planning to get in.”
“The same way she eluded you, I presume?” Espeon asked from curiosity.
Noctowl turned his head toward Espeon’s direction, sitting up. “Exactly. Think you’ll still be able to track her?”
His friend smirked, forming a fist and then striking his chest twice.“But of course. Even the slightest disruption in the air will prove fatal to her.”
“Heh. Good to hear. Though, I suspect she’ll becoming soon enough. We should go inside.” Noctowl rose from the wooden crates and pat the dust from his clothes. Again, he looked at the lavender haired man and saw him stand deathly still. From the moonlight, the younger man’s dark indigo overcoat shimmered. A violet hue glowed dimly as the two belts around his waist levitated with a gentle wavelength. He opened his eyes and met Noctowl’s stare, speaking softly once more.
“She’s here.”
“Please, darling. Although I enjoy the alliteration, ‘mafia’ is too harsh and unrefined a word for my line of business.” Xatu rolled her eyes and smirked at Mawile’s reaction, shortly afterward gesturing the ebony haired woman to continue. “As you know, I’ve worked with Aggron very closely from the beginning of the Steel Syndicate. Despite the initially intimate ties in this field, she and I have been disagreeing on a lot of issues lately. I assumed it was to be just another simple quarrel, but my Intel informs me otherwise. Apparently, she’s been amassing members within my organization to rebel against me. In order to ensure the prosperity of my business, as well as the smooth transactions I have between other similar associations, I need to quell this vexing…gnat’s buzz if you will.”
Though Xatu only met Aggron once in person,she could easily recognize Mawile’s former partner. Aggron resembled a behemoth in terms of stature. Reaching a height just short of seven feet, she towered over most of the members in the Steel Syndicate,often having to look down from her elongated and narrow nose in order to see them. She also maintained lengthy hair like Mawile, letting it touch just the top of her waistline; however, she had layered her platinum hair as well as decided to pin up some of the tresses with silver hair sticks. Consequently, the hair ornaments gave her the semblance of two horns resting atop her head. Icy slate eyes further complemented the already cold ambience she carried with her wherever she went.
Yet, again like Mawile, Aggron had earned herself a reputation worth boasting also. Where Mawile had a slender physique and allure to catch her prey off guard, the medium-built Aggron opted for a less subtle approach.
Monstrous resistance.
The platinum haired woman was renowned for her seemingly impenetrable defense. While most people would consider her thick iron bracelets -one located at each wrist and each ankle - to be a cheap display of jewelry, those who were intimately connected with Aggron knew of their use. Despite her lack of an athletic form, Aggron had mastered defensive techniques to counter an opponent’s charge. In the process of deflecting an assault, she would launch an attack of her own, resorting either to snapping limbs or finishing a battle with her signature move. Xatu had never witnessed the latter option, but Mawile had once confided in the jade haired woman that Aggron’s method relied on thrusting her hair sticks, which were sharpened near the tips, into the victim’s nape. Aggron had designed this skill in order to break the victim’s spinal cord and consequently induce paralysis. Depending on how much force she exerted, Aggron could also choose whether or not to puncture the esophagus and cause suffocation.
Dismissing the recollection of Aggron’s infamy, Xatu returned to the conversation at hand. She had a decent assumption of what Mawile was going to request,but she decided to play along anyway and asked once more, “Well, that’s a rather fine situation you’re in. What do you want me to do about it?”
Mawile, who had been fiddling with her dagger-filled braid, revealed one of the daggers by pushing it carefully outside the braid, replying flatly, “I need you to obtain information about her future plans by-“
“-by reading Aggron’s mind. Am I right?” Mawile nodded in confirmation, sheathing her dagger once more. Xatu lifted her head, focusing her attention away from Mawile’s gaze, speaking once more, “And I suspect that you want me to do so by direct contact with her.”
“You were always the smart one, my dear. Do I have your acceptance of this task?”
Looking from the corner of her eyes, Xatu met Mawile’s scarlet stare directly. “Not until I have the information on Noctowl. It had better be good too because I can assure you I do not appreciate a waste of my time.”
“Likewise, darling. I know you’re on a strict schedule with your heist tonight. So, I’ll keep my information concise. He is a fairly new recruit to the Steel Syndicate. Being such, I haven’t really met with him as much as I do with my other minions. However, I do know Aggron, who at the time was on good terms with me, convinced me that the boy would be a great asset due to his ability to foresee thefuture. Much like your power, actually. The only difference is that he isn’t nearly as skilled at it as you are-“
Xatu interrupted,annoyed with the lack of new information being provided. “What happened to being concise? I already figured out that much on my first encounter with him. You’re not putting up a compelling enough reason for me to accept your offer.”
“You’re right. Forgive me. As I was aboutto get to, the most vital part of the information is this. Noctowl can do everything you can do without the drawback of eye sight.”
Hesitation lurked in jade haired woman. Yet, she decided to confirm herfear, “Meaning he doesn’t have to rely on what he can or can’t see?”
“Correct. On the other hand, he has weak stamina, which reflects his inexperience. So, while he is able to perform most if not all of your techniques, he can’t do so for very long. Try to exploit that if you come across him again. Now, about my offer.”
Xatu narrowed her eyes, pausing briefly before undertaking her friend’s request.Similarly, Mawile returned the solemn expression, anticipating a positive response. “I’ll accept, but I still expect more information if you’re able to give me a heads up in advance about his movements and what not. I want to avoid another possible blunder like my last heist.”
“Fair enough. Well, I suppose it’s time for me to leave. I’m glad we’ve reached an agreement, Xatu.” Mawile removed herself from the countertop, straightening the folds in her clothes as she prepared for her departure. “Although, make more of an effort to keep in touch with my syndicate, yes?”
“No. I already told you a dozen times before; I want nothing to do with your work. This contract is the only exception I’ll make for a long while.” Xatu furrowed her brow again,becoming agitated with her friend’s insistence to recruit her despite numerous rejections. Mawile simply shrugged the refusal off, shaking her head slightly with a small smile.
“As I expected. Anyway,arrange a time that best suits you to deliver your part of the bargainto me once you’ve obtained the information. I will expect it fairly soon though, darling. Coup d’états are annoying to deal with but evenmore so when I don’t have the necessary parts to guarantee a checkmate.” Mawile made another gesture with her hand as if she were manipulating a game piece between her gloved fingers. She made her wayto the door, her back toward Xatu.
“I hope you don’t consider me a Pawn in all this mess, Mawile.”
Mawile cast Xatu a glance behind her shoulder, smiling as her hand connected with the doorknob. “Not at all, my dear. If anything, you’re the Queen. And, now, I must bid you adieu.”
===
Within the more solitary part of the nearby city Landecour, stood amansion fully surrounded by an eight foot tall rod iron fence. The building itself was constructed from boulders and stones that had been imported from a quarry in the southern half of the Mylurian nation,granting the edifice an aura of exceptional rank. White marble floors and columns decorated the interior along with golden framed paintings,rosewood furniture, and blood red carpets. Immense windows frequented every wall, providing arches of light wherever the moon or sun shone through. Despite the ornate and presumably open access, the building remained heavily secured – patrol units pacing within the corridors alongside security cameras that hovered within the most secluded nooks and crannies possible to record any disturbances while going undetected by unsuspecting “visitors.”
The ostentatious structure belonged to the well-known aristocrat Gabite G., who accumulated fortunes from his monopoly on telephone corporations. He normally did not associate with outsiders as he labeled them, preferring to bask in his riches alone; however, he had changed his mind for one night.
Atop Gabite’s mansion, two individuals remained on lookout. Though, they were not the aristocrat’s typical patrolmen.
“The air is calm. You shouldn’t worry,” a young voice stated. It was soon met by a deeper one.
“I can’t fail this again, Esp. It’s bad enough she got away the first time – practically taunting the hell out of me. I can’t let that happena second.” Noctowl turned to his attention toward his friend, his crimson eyes flickering slightly from agitation.
The lavender haired man spoke softly, almost as if he was speaking to himself. His cerulean eyes met Noctowl’s. “That was then, and this is now. I bet the air was disturbed back then too. The situation probably wasn’t in your favor. Besides, there are two of us. She can’t possibly keep up with both of us.”
Noctowl smirked at Espeon’s statement, fixating his gaze among the stars as he laid upon some boxes on the rooftop,letting his head dangle off the edge. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
“I see you’ve also found a new meditation position,” Espeon remarked,referring to Noctowl’s drooping head. He knew Noctowl’s sulking wouldonly damage the operation’s success. A slight diversion was required to rectify the situation.
“Oh, this? It helps me focus. Consequently, I can channel my powers more efficiently.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Espeon’s confirmation settled some of Noctowl’sfrayed nerves. The chestnut haired man trusted his companion greatly,especially due to Espeon’s mastery of manipulating objects through telekinesis as well as detecting presences based on the air currents.Espeon’s abilities went unparalleled by many other users of psychic energies despite being much younger than other masters of the technique. Noctowl sometimes harbored envy toward his friend, feeling that he should be more proficient in those faculties as he was older byfive years; however, the sentiment never hindered their amicable relationship. “By the way, when are we expecting her arrival?”
The older of them shrugged, “Can’t say, really. I’ve asked Gabite about how secure his vault is. All he told me was that nobody could get inside since the whole place is guarded 24/7. The only reason he’s even agreed to let us up here was because he got a clue that his jewels were targeted.”
Espeon raised his eyebrows in surprise, voicing his disbelief, “Oh, this Xatu delivers calling cards in advance too?”
“Not that I know of. I want to think it was Aggron who set this whole thing up. You know, getting the info and then convincing Gabite of its legitimacy. But if what Gabite claims is true, then I think I have a really good idea of how Xatu’s planning to get in.”
“The same way she eluded you, I presume?” Espeon asked from curiosity.
Noctowl turned his head toward Espeon’s direction, sitting up. “Exactly. Think you’ll still be able to track her?”
His friend smirked, forming a fist and then striking his chest twice.“But of course. Even the slightest disruption in the air will prove fatal to her.”
“Heh. Good to hear. Though, I suspect she’ll becoming soon enough. We should go inside.” Noctowl rose from the wooden crates and pat the dust from his clothes. Again, he looked at the lavender haired man and saw him stand deathly still. From the moonlight, the younger man’s dark indigo overcoat shimmered. A violet hue glowed dimly as the two belts around his waist levitated with a gentle wavelength. He opened his eyes and met Noctowl’s stare, speaking softly once more.
“She’s here.”
[QUOTE USER="Ominous Doom" TIME="1217470333"]Heh, nice. I guess the Writing section isn't dead after all.
Be sure to include a Dragonite in there. :D[/QUOTE]
Hm...I hadn't considered Dragonite before. I'll see what I can do if her pokedex description gives me something to work with.
I just noticed my copypasta seems to have been a bit nasty as in some of the spacing between words have simply disappeared. Sorry for the inconvenience if that threw any of the readers off.
Be sure to include a Dragonite in there. :D[/QUOTE]
Hm...I hadn't considered Dragonite before. I'll see what I can do if her pokedex description gives me something to work with.
I just noticed my copypasta seems to have been a bit nasty as in some of the spacing between words have simply disappeared. Sorry for the inconvenience if that threw any of the readers off.
[QUOTE USER="Esotu" TIME="1217628588"][QUOTE USER="Ominous Doom" TIME="1217470333"]Heh, nice. I guess the Writing section isn't dead after all.
Be sure to include a Dragonite in there. :D[/QUOTE]
Hm...I hadn't considered Dragonite before. I'll see what I can do if her pokedex description gives me something to work with.
I just noticed my copypasta seems to have been a bit nasty as in some of the spacing between words have simply disappeared. Sorry for the inconvenience if that threw any of the readers off.
[/QUOTE]
HER????????? *picks up sledgehammer*
And the PokéDex description will give you something to work.
Be sure to include a Dragonite in there. :D[/QUOTE]
Hm...I hadn't considered Dragonite before. I'll see what I can do if her pokedex description gives me something to work with.
I just noticed my copypasta seems to have been a bit nasty as in some of the spacing between words have simply disappeared. Sorry for the inconvenience if that threw any of the readers off.
[/QUOTE]
HER????????? *picks up sledgehammer*
And the PokéDex description will give you something to work.
[QUOTE USER="Ominous Doom" TIME="1217629030"][QUOTE USER="Esotu" TIME="1217628588"][QUOTE USER="Ominous Doom" TIME="1217470333"]Heh, nice. I guess the Writing section isn't dead after all.
Be sure to include a Dragonite in there. :D[/QUOTE]
Hm...I hadn't considered Dragonite before. I'll see what I can do if her pokedex description gives me something to work with.
I just noticed my copypasta seems to have been a bit nasty as in some of the spacing between words have simply disappeared. Sorry for the inconvenience if that threw any of the readers off.
[/QUOTE]
HER????????? *picks up sledgehammer*
And the PokéDex description will give you something to work.
[/QUOTE]
Older users like TPX know me for recognizing most pokemon as female unless they're obviously male. Just a habit I picked up when talking about the subject. *puts the sledgehammer down*
I have a vague idea of how I could incoprorate Dragonite. Just needs a bit of time to work up to that point though.
Be sure to include a Dragonite in there. :D[/QUOTE]
Hm...I hadn't considered Dragonite before. I'll see what I can do if her pokedex description gives me something to work with.
I just noticed my copypasta seems to have been a bit nasty as in some of the spacing between words have simply disappeared. Sorry for the inconvenience if that threw any of the readers off.
[/QUOTE]
HER????????? *picks up sledgehammer*
And the PokéDex description will give you something to work.
[/QUOTE]
Older users like TPX know me for recognizing most pokemon as female unless they're obviously male. Just a habit I picked up when talking about the subject. *puts the sledgehammer down*
I have a vague idea of how I could incoprorate Dragonite. Just needs a bit of time to work up to that point though.
I remember reading the first part way back when you posted it. Glad to see a new section.This is a cool story, especially loving the visual descriptions you're giving each Pokemon. Hopefully there won't be a six month wait for the next part as well??
[QUOTE USER="CKY_Tribal" TIME="1217636834"]I remember reading the first part way back when you posted it. Glad to see a new section.This is a cool story, especially loving the visual descriptions you're giving each Pokemon. Hopefully there won't be a six month wait for the next part as well??
[/QUOTE]
Sorry about that, CKY. The delay initially started because I was so wrapped up in getting everything to sound correct. Then I slowly forgot about posting it up as I continued writing more of the following chapters. The next installment should be up shortly.
[/QUOTE]
Sorry about that, CKY. The delay initially started because I was so wrapped up in getting everything to sound correct. Then I slowly forgot about posting it up as I continued writing more of the following chapters. The next installment should be up shortly.
Sorry for the wait again, everyone. I've been trying to copy/paste my story into the forums but it seems the format gets totally screwed up, even more so than the odd spacing from the last post. I'm trying to figure out a way to paste my story without having to completely retype everything in here. If anyone has a better idea of how to copy/paste large amounts of text, I'd appreciate the help. Thanks!
Thanks, that did the trick for me.
Xatu crept silently about the mansion’s periphery. She placed two fingers on the gate to Gabite’s home, feeling the cool, rough contours of the weathered iron rod. Taking a deep breath, she closed her left eye and trailed her fingertips along the metallic barrier. Xatu foresaw the security for tonight. Tight as every night. At least a dozen guards on the ground alone – blue haired, yellow haired, but mostly black haired individuals. She saw them through an azure-tinted lens, monitoring the movements they would pursue in just a few hours time. As always, the guards marched back and forth, pacing almost. Two would patrol the garden, two more on each side of the building, and the remaining would interchange positions at various points outside. Xatu focused her energies toward the inside of the building, touching the stones embedded on the fence’s bottom. She recognized the pattern the interior guards executed as well. Not a single misstep in form – bodies scouting in upright, firm positions; eyes wavering from side to side, scrutinizing every inch within the large mansion; grim expressions that somewhat begged for action, long ago becoming comfortable with knowing there wouldn’t be an intruder. At least, not on any other night.
Just as Xatu was about to regain sight of the present, she caught a glimpse of two individuals on the roof top. She had already begun to sever her connection with the azure-washed foresight, destroying her ability to obtain a more detailed profile of the strange anomalies. Gabite never placed people on the roof top - never had a need to as there was no way for a regular person to reach that height. Maybe he was just taking extra precautions starting this night. He was quite the paranoid schmuck who would do anything to keep his stash safe.
She waived the newcomers from her mind. They would never be able to reach her in time as she planned to appear in the lowest basement floor where the real goodies lay in waiting. Xatu breathed deeply once more, placing her palm on the cement ground, taking one last inventory of every person’s presence. She didn’t doubt Gabite would have the same four guards standing in front of the sealed vault. They were burly brutes, reaching heights that completely loomed over her frame. She didn’t pay them any heed, very well assured that they wouldn’t see her or even suspect her manifesting in the room behind the locked passage. Again, she broke her connection with her azure-coated world, returning to the dark night surrounding her.
Xatu stood up from her crouched posture, opening both her eyes this time. She envisioned the jewelry and gold ingots, glittering among dim lights. And then she was gone.
===
“She’s here. Now, Noctowl. I can feel her presence in the floors beneath us. I have to admit, she’s fast but not subtle enough,” Espeon spoke. The lavender haired man returned to his normal appearance; the blue hues dissipating slowly around, haloing his figure in a soft glow. He started once more, “We can’t walk there. She’ll definitely be out by the time we reach the lower level, not to mention the guards would probably make a ruckus.”
Noctowl smirked, eyes sharpened with anticipation. “Who said we’d walk?”
With that, Noctowl held out his hand and grasped Espeon’s firmly in a blood brothers’ fashion. He placed his newly enhanced concentration toward the inner vault, his crimson eyes flaring. Noctowl imagined the darkest, most unnoticeable corner within the room and focused his attention toward appearing as one of the shadows. Espeon was vaguely familiar with this method of transportation. He had only experienced it a few times prior to this incident, but he placed his trust in his friend despite his initial worriment of attracting Xatu’s suspicions.
Then they too were gone.
===
Xatu’s body manifested carefully within the center of the vault. The aquamarine luminosity dimmed to a halt, being replaced by the jewelry and ingots’ radiance. The ruby, sapphire, golden, and even platinum rarities glimmered nicely across her figure, highlighting her features with a beautiful shine. She looked about her, trying to find the most precious item among the stash. It was her nature to select only the finest object, leaving the rest as rubble.
She walked quietly within the room. Gabite certainly wasn’t humble with his interior decorating. The floors and walls were paved with silver, glinting with small diamonds to further heighten the sparkles whenever light graced the room with its presence. Gorgeous hand-woven tapestries draped along the walls, depicting the creation of life. An ivory haired, omniscient being at the center; her hands outspread as if welcoming or gently exuding benevolence among the plants, water, and earth beneath her. Gold threads were stringed nicely around the revered woman, creating an ambience of warmth and acceptance. Her smile was kind, her eyes lowered in a way that made her appear nonaggressive and devoid of malicious intent.
The jade haired woman touched the delicate piece, slowly reveling in its exquisiteness. She had once contemplated choosing between the star sapphires and platinum ingots, but she now made a decision without hesitation on what she would pilfer from this haughty aristocrat. Again, she stroked the fabric deftly, reaching her hand toward the top of the tapestry and moving downward. She then unhooked the woven goddess from her imprisonment, rolling the piece cautiously and placing it in her satchel with great care. She sighed once before looking at the now empty space on the wall. She wondered how Gabite would feel once he discovered his ivory beauty was far from his reach.
Probably infuriated. How perfect.
During her contemplation, a body shadowed her small frame. She saw the blackness taint the wall, swallowing hers completely. A voice breathed upon the nape of her neck as two arms caged her against the wall. “You’re too predictable, Xatu.”
Xatu immediately turned around, chocolate eyes clashing with crimson. Noctowl stood within inches of her, keeping her from moving from him by any physical means. He watched her narrow her eyes just as she did during their first encounter. The same defiant look. He could get to like that in a woman. Pushovers weren’t nearly as fun as those who liked to play roughly.
Though she displayed anger, he could feel her fear welling up once again. She spoke so casually, he would have believed otherwise if he didn’t know any better. She cocked her head to the side as she reminded him of his failure. “I thought you learned your lesson the last time.”
Noctowl returned her scowl tenfold, almost on the verge of snarling his response, “I won’t be taken lightly again, Xatu.”
She smiled pleasantly at him, evocatively really. Within a second, her eyes flashed aquamarine, and she teleported away from his reach, manifesting behind another set of gold ingots. Simple evasive maneuvers worked perfectly for Jumping to a nearby patch of land, but she required much more time and concentration for a full bound leap to the outside. The jade haired woman remained with eyes opened in her new position, knowing Noctowl wouldn’t find her in time as she completed her next Jump; however, she didn’t expect her hands to be forcibly struck on either side of her body. On reflex, her concentration broke while her eyes met the gaze of cerulean pools of a lavender haired individual. They shimmered enchantingly, mesmerizing the woman with a compulsion to remain where she stood. Yet the lavender haired man’s eyebrows furrowed, transforming the enticing gaze into a Mean Look.
Though she was frozen, she still managed to mouth out a silent curse. Espeon maintained his harsh glance, keeping jade haired woman confined by his lock on her wrists. He spoke nonchalantly to her, buying time for Noctowl to take advantage of his support. “Noctowl may not have learned from before, but you have yet to teach me anything, Miss Xatu.”
Xatu attempted to shut her eyes from the ones in front of her, hoping to shatter his psychic hold on her, but to no avail. She needed not only her sight but also the command over her concentration to complete the teleportation. Whatever he had done to her was causing her body to instinctively return the same gaze back as well as smashing whatever trickling of focus she tried to muster. This was definitely the worst case scenario possible for her hit and run tonight. Running into Noctowl proved troubling enough, but getting caught by a cohort? Truly unsettling. Despite all her uncertainties and anxiousness, she still kept the same demeanor she would have given Noctowl.
Espeon was no rookie to his profession. As a hunter, he had trained extensively to hone his abilities and body to retain the utmost control in any situation. And as he suspected, this situation was neatly in his party’s favor. Noctowl rejoined him a few minutes after and nodded his approval of the lavender haired man’s catch.
The woman couldn’t break eye contact with the cerulean orbs, but her ears functioned just as properly as ever when she heard Noctowl’s deeper voice follow his partner’s jibe. “Xatu…as I’ve said to you before, come to reason. You really don’t stand a chance alone now.” He saw her seething behind those chocolate eyes. Even though her sight wasn’t engaged with his own, Noctowl could sense her hatred focused full force on him. He continued smoothly, “I have a proposition for you, Xatu. It’d be wise of you to accept it. There’s no guarantee there will be a next time for mercy.”
<<He’s right. There won’t be a next time for mercy.>>
Xatu’s mind flashed with a renewed sense of self preservation. She couldn’t quite believe it, but she was not about to question any source of relief in her predicament.
Her enthralling captor’s eyes twitched slightly, the belts around his waist hovering just a bit. Albeit he had been distracted by the new presence, he remained resolute in holding Xatu in place, refusing to break his concentration to observe the possible threat to the operation. He spoke quietly to Noctowl, “Someone else…is here. Whoever he is, he doesn’t feel like one of the guards. Be careful, friend.”
The chestnut haired man nodded again, deciding to press Xatu harder for compliance. “Join us now, or else. We won’t let you get away this time.” He placed his hand on the side of her face, tenderly brushing it with the pad of his thumb. Noctowl spoke more softly this time, coaxing the jade haired woman to accept his demand, “Xatu…I promise it’ll be worth it…”
Xatu still fumed at the men in front of her, making note of the cheap tactics she’d be sure to avoid if there ever was another encounter. She growled under her breath as she felt Noctowl’s caress. She, however, wasn’t going to be harassed without getting something out of them. She diverted her rage toward gaining control of her right eye, closing it and effectively shaping her world in sepian hues of Noctowl’s past.
The jade haired woman dug quickly around his memories for anything that might prove useful for her own records – powers, training, connections. She watched as Noctowl and Aggron had a conversation, only picking up bits of the words as she felt Noctowl’s cold palm remove itself from her face. Too late. He somehow recognized she was probing his mind for information and decided to sever the connection before she got far. She shifted her hindsight to Espeon. Maybe she could convince him to let go of her for a brief second to close her eyes and Jump away just as she had done previously before. Xatu met with complete rejection as her investigation was put at a halt from the massive psychic barriers Espeon constructed to keep her out. She heard his voice despite having no vision in her current state.
“I’m afraid that won’t work, Miss Xatu.”
<<But this will…>>
Her eye opened at once, just in time to witness a bolt of electricity strike her captor. Espeon’s body felt small shocks vibrate within, throwing him off guard and effectively destroying his binding over Xatu. He recoiled from surprise but quickly recovered his wits as he searched the room with psychic waves, intent on locating the interference. Xatu reaped the benefits of his distraction and finished another Jump away from the two men. She manifested across the room from them, crouching behind the many gold ingots to hide herself. Noctowl’s curse traveled about the room, echoing off the expensive walls. She ignored his frustration and shifted her attention to escaping; however, Noctowl was a step ahead, already teleporting in front of her and seizing her wrist ruthlessly.
He sneered at her, an obvious disapproval. Looking behind his shoulder, he teemed with annoyance, “Sneaky bastard. Who’d you call?”
She scoffed at the stupid question and teleported away once more. Yet, this manifestation carried both their bodies to her astonishment. She hid her surprise well despite his facial jeer at her evasive attempt. She’d wipe that smirk off his face once she figured out the best way to do so. In the corner of her eye, she saw her other captor’s figure, limping.
Noctowl squeezed Xatu’s wrist harder, as he yelled out to his friend, “Esp! Are you all right?”
<<He won’t be for long if you don’t release the girl.>>
The chestnut haired man glowered at the remark, unsure but mostly confused where the message had come from. He knew for certain that his hearing didn’t sense that threat. Was it a telepathic comment? Whatever it was, only he seemed to notice it as Xatu held a brief quizzical expression.
“Show yourself!”
<<My pleasure.>>
With that, Noctowl felt heat searing through his chest, electrical pulses pounding at his flesh. His grip on Xatu loosened as he was thrown backward from the blast, a loud crash accompanying his fall to the floor. With her hand now free, Xatu Jumped behind Espeon and the one holding the lavender haired individual. Noctowl was still on the ground, using one arm to prop his body up while the other clutched at his chest, unable to stop the pain that formed there. In front of him, he saw a man about his height casting an unwelcoming glance at him.
The man had obsidian hair, styled with spikes and thick side burns that curled upward at the tips. He wore a navy blue leather jacket with three golden rings on each sleeve. His black denim jeans hung snugly against his structure. A small cell phone trinket peeked outside his pants pocket; it resembled a tiny, yellow star hanging on a black thread. He was dark complexioned in the face, but his eyes smoldered a color similar to the gold ingots’ glaze.
Noctowl snarled an animalistic sound as he watched the dark shape inelegantly toss his friend next to him. Espeon was knocked out cold, completely unaware of his and Noctowl’s conditions. The older of them hissed under his breath, “Bastard…”
The dark figure flicked his fingers once in an outward display; bolts of electricity arced from his fingertips and into both the men on the floor, crippling them further as an insult. He disregarded the chestnut haired man’s curse and telegraphed in a voice that matched Espeon’s tone.
<<You’ll do best to leave her be.>>
Noctowl was too injured to retort with a quip of his own, but the dark man knew what he were thinking to ask. He gave the chestnut haired man a sinister smile, arms folded across his chest in triumph.
<<Name’s Luxio. Got it memorized? Good.>>
Luxio remained staring unsympathetically at the two, ascertaining they were too damaged to bother with a counterassault as he and Xatu fled. He held out his hand to Xatu, gently closing it around her smaller fingers once she placed them in his palm. Luxio made a slight inflection with his head. Xatu understood and prepared to teleport them to the outside of Gabite’s Mansion. Her eyes glowed aquamarine. The color washed over Luxio’s own golden orbs, transforming them into aquamarine ones to match Xatu’s. As their bodies dissipated from Noctowl’s view, the chestnut haired man managed one last look at Luxio through squinted eyes.
He was given a one fingered salute.
Xatu crept silently about the mansion’s periphery. She placed two fingers on the gate to Gabite’s home, feeling the cool, rough contours of the weathered iron rod. Taking a deep breath, she closed her left eye and trailed her fingertips along the metallic barrier. Xatu foresaw the security for tonight. Tight as every night. At least a dozen guards on the ground alone – blue haired, yellow haired, but mostly black haired individuals. She saw them through an azure-tinted lens, monitoring the movements they would pursue in just a few hours time. As always, the guards marched back and forth, pacing almost. Two would patrol the garden, two more on each side of the building, and the remaining would interchange positions at various points outside. Xatu focused her energies toward the inside of the building, touching the stones embedded on the fence’s bottom. She recognized the pattern the interior guards executed as well. Not a single misstep in form – bodies scouting in upright, firm positions; eyes wavering from side to side, scrutinizing every inch within the large mansion; grim expressions that somewhat begged for action, long ago becoming comfortable with knowing there wouldn’t be an intruder. At least, not on any other night.
Just as Xatu was about to regain sight of the present, she caught a glimpse of two individuals on the roof top. She had already begun to sever her connection with the azure-washed foresight, destroying her ability to obtain a more detailed profile of the strange anomalies. Gabite never placed people on the roof top - never had a need to as there was no way for a regular person to reach that height. Maybe he was just taking extra precautions starting this night. He was quite the paranoid schmuck who would do anything to keep his stash safe.
She waived the newcomers from her mind. They would never be able to reach her in time as she planned to appear in the lowest basement floor where the real goodies lay in waiting. Xatu breathed deeply once more, placing her palm on the cement ground, taking one last inventory of every person’s presence. She didn’t doubt Gabite would have the same four guards standing in front of the sealed vault. They were burly brutes, reaching heights that completely loomed over her frame. She didn’t pay them any heed, very well assured that they wouldn’t see her or even suspect her manifesting in the room behind the locked passage. Again, she broke her connection with her azure-coated world, returning to the dark night surrounding her.
Xatu stood up from her crouched posture, opening both her eyes this time. She envisioned the jewelry and gold ingots, glittering among dim lights. And then she was gone.
===
“She’s here. Now, Noctowl. I can feel her presence in the floors beneath us. I have to admit, she’s fast but not subtle enough,” Espeon spoke. The lavender haired man returned to his normal appearance; the blue hues dissipating slowly around, haloing his figure in a soft glow. He started once more, “We can’t walk there. She’ll definitely be out by the time we reach the lower level, not to mention the guards would probably make a ruckus.”
Noctowl smirked, eyes sharpened with anticipation. “Who said we’d walk?”
With that, Noctowl held out his hand and grasped Espeon’s firmly in a blood brothers’ fashion. He placed his newly enhanced concentration toward the inner vault, his crimson eyes flaring. Noctowl imagined the darkest, most unnoticeable corner within the room and focused his attention toward appearing as one of the shadows. Espeon was vaguely familiar with this method of transportation. He had only experienced it a few times prior to this incident, but he placed his trust in his friend despite his initial worriment of attracting Xatu’s suspicions.
Then they too were gone.
===
Xatu’s body manifested carefully within the center of the vault. The aquamarine luminosity dimmed to a halt, being replaced by the jewelry and ingots’ radiance. The ruby, sapphire, golden, and even platinum rarities glimmered nicely across her figure, highlighting her features with a beautiful shine. She looked about her, trying to find the most precious item among the stash. It was her nature to select only the finest object, leaving the rest as rubble.
She walked quietly within the room. Gabite certainly wasn’t humble with his interior decorating. The floors and walls were paved with silver, glinting with small diamonds to further heighten the sparkles whenever light graced the room with its presence. Gorgeous hand-woven tapestries draped along the walls, depicting the creation of life. An ivory haired, omniscient being at the center; her hands outspread as if welcoming or gently exuding benevolence among the plants, water, and earth beneath her. Gold threads were stringed nicely around the revered woman, creating an ambience of warmth and acceptance. Her smile was kind, her eyes lowered in a way that made her appear nonaggressive and devoid of malicious intent.
The jade haired woman touched the delicate piece, slowly reveling in its exquisiteness. She had once contemplated choosing between the star sapphires and platinum ingots, but she now made a decision without hesitation on what she would pilfer from this haughty aristocrat. Again, she stroked the fabric deftly, reaching her hand toward the top of the tapestry and moving downward. She then unhooked the woven goddess from her imprisonment, rolling the piece cautiously and placing it in her satchel with great care. She sighed once before looking at the now empty space on the wall. She wondered how Gabite would feel once he discovered his ivory beauty was far from his reach.
Probably infuriated. How perfect.
During her contemplation, a body shadowed her small frame. She saw the blackness taint the wall, swallowing hers completely. A voice breathed upon the nape of her neck as two arms caged her against the wall. “You’re too predictable, Xatu.”
Xatu immediately turned around, chocolate eyes clashing with crimson. Noctowl stood within inches of her, keeping her from moving from him by any physical means. He watched her narrow her eyes just as she did during their first encounter. The same defiant look. He could get to like that in a woman. Pushovers weren’t nearly as fun as those who liked to play roughly.
Though she displayed anger, he could feel her fear welling up once again. She spoke so casually, he would have believed otherwise if he didn’t know any better. She cocked her head to the side as she reminded him of his failure. “I thought you learned your lesson the last time.”
Noctowl returned her scowl tenfold, almost on the verge of snarling his response, “I won’t be taken lightly again, Xatu.”
She smiled pleasantly at him, evocatively really. Within a second, her eyes flashed aquamarine, and she teleported away from his reach, manifesting behind another set of gold ingots. Simple evasive maneuvers worked perfectly for Jumping to a nearby patch of land, but she required much more time and concentration for a full bound leap to the outside. The jade haired woman remained with eyes opened in her new position, knowing Noctowl wouldn’t find her in time as she completed her next Jump; however, she didn’t expect her hands to be forcibly struck on either side of her body. On reflex, her concentration broke while her eyes met the gaze of cerulean pools of a lavender haired individual. They shimmered enchantingly, mesmerizing the woman with a compulsion to remain where she stood. Yet the lavender haired man’s eyebrows furrowed, transforming the enticing gaze into a Mean Look.
Though she was frozen, she still managed to mouth out a silent curse. Espeon maintained his harsh glance, keeping jade haired woman confined by his lock on her wrists. He spoke nonchalantly to her, buying time for Noctowl to take advantage of his support. “Noctowl may not have learned from before, but you have yet to teach me anything, Miss Xatu.”
Xatu attempted to shut her eyes from the ones in front of her, hoping to shatter his psychic hold on her, but to no avail. She needed not only her sight but also the command over her concentration to complete the teleportation. Whatever he had done to her was causing her body to instinctively return the same gaze back as well as smashing whatever trickling of focus she tried to muster. This was definitely the worst case scenario possible for her hit and run tonight. Running into Noctowl proved troubling enough, but getting caught by a cohort? Truly unsettling. Despite all her uncertainties and anxiousness, she still kept the same demeanor she would have given Noctowl.
Espeon was no rookie to his profession. As a hunter, he had trained extensively to hone his abilities and body to retain the utmost control in any situation. And as he suspected, this situation was neatly in his party’s favor. Noctowl rejoined him a few minutes after and nodded his approval of the lavender haired man’s catch.
The woman couldn’t break eye contact with the cerulean orbs, but her ears functioned just as properly as ever when she heard Noctowl’s deeper voice follow his partner’s jibe. “Xatu…as I’ve said to you before, come to reason. You really don’t stand a chance alone now.” He saw her seething behind those chocolate eyes. Even though her sight wasn’t engaged with his own, Noctowl could sense her hatred focused full force on him. He continued smoothly, “I have a proposition for you, Xatu. It’d be wise of you to accept it. There’s no guarantee there will be a next time for mercy.”
<<He’s right. There won’t be a next time for mercy.>>
Xatu’s mind flashed with a renewed sense of self preservation. She couldn’t quite believe it, but she was not about to question any source of relief in her predicament.
Her enthralling captor’s eyes twitched slightly, the belts around his waist hovering just a bit. Albeit he had been distracted by the new presence, he remained resolute in holding Xatu in place, refusing to break his concentration to observe the possible threat to the operation. He spoke quietly to Noctowl, “Someone else…is here. Whoever he is, he doesn’t feel like one of the guards. Be careful, friend.”
The chestnut haired man nodded again, deciding to press Xatu harder for compliance. “Join us now, or else. We won’t let you get away this time.” He placed his hand on the side of her face, tenderly brushing it with the pad of his thumb. Noctowl spoke more softly this time, coaxing the jade haired woman to accept his demand, “Xatu…I promise it’ll be worth it…”
Xatu still fumed at the men in front of her, making note of the cheap tactics she’d be sure to avoid if there ever was another encounter. She growled under her breath as she felt Noctowl’s caress. She, however, wasn’t going to be harassed without getting something out of them. She diverted her rage toward gaining control of her right eye, closing it and effectively shaping her world in sepian hues of Noctowl’s past.
The jade haired woman dug quickly around his memories for anything that might prove useful for her own records – powers, training, connections. She watched as Noctowl and Aggron had a conversation, only picking up bits of the words as she felt Noctowl’s cold palm remove itself from her face. Too late. He somehow recognized she was probing his mind for information and decided to sever the connection before she got far. She shifted her hindsight to Espeon. Maybe she could convince him to let go of her for a brief second to close her eyes and Jump away just as she had done previously before. Xatu met with complete rejection as her investigation was put at a halt from the massive psychic barriers Espeon constructed to keep her out. She heard his voice despite having no vision in her current state.
“I’m afraid that won’t work, Miss Xatu.”
<<But this will…>>
Her eye opened at once, just in time to witness a bolt of electricity strike her captor. Espeon’s body felt small shocks vibrate within, throwing him off guard and effectively destroying his binding over Xatu. He recoiled from surprise but quickly recovered his wits as he searched the room with psychic waves, intent on locating the interference. Xatu reaped the benefits of his distraction and finished another Jump away from the two men. She manifested across the room from them, crouching behind the many gold ingots to hide herself. Noctowl’s curse traveled about the room, echoing off the expensive walls. She ignored his frustration and shifted her attention to escaping; however, Noctowl was a step ahead, already teleporting in front of her and seizing her wrist ruthlessly.
He sneered at her, an obvious disapproval. Looking behind his shoulder, he teemed with annoyance, “Sneaky bastard. Who’d you call?”
She scoffed at the stupid question and teleported away once more. Yet, this manifestation carried both their bodies to her astonishment. She hid her surprise well despite his facial jeer at her evasive attempt. She’d wipe that smirk off his face once she figured out the best way to do so. In the corner of her eye, she saw her other captor’s figure, limping.
Noctowl squeezed Xatu’s wrist harder, as he yelled out to his friend, “Esp! Are you all right?”
<<He won’t be for long if you don’t release the girl.>>
The chestnut haired man glowered at the remark, unsure but mostly confused where the message had come from. He knew for certain that his hearing didn’t sense that threat. Was it a telepathic comment? Whatever it was, only he seemed to notice it as Xatu held a brief quizzical expression.
“Show yourself!”
<<My pleasure.>>
With that, Noctowl felt heat searing through his chest, electrical pulses pounding at his flesh. His grip on Xatu loosened as he was thrown backward from the blast, a loud crash accompanying his fall to the floor. With her hand now free, Xatu Jumped behind Espeon and the one holding the lavender haired individual. Noctowl was still on the ground, using one arm to prop his body up while the other clutched at his chest, unable to stop the pain that formed there. In front of him, he saw a man about his height casting an unwelcoming glance at him.
The man had obsidian hair, styled with spikes and thick side burns that curled upward at the tips. He wore a navy blue leather jacket with three golden rings on each sleeve. His black denim jeans hung snugly against his structure. A small cell phone trinket peeked outside his pants pocket; it resembled a tiny, yellow star hanging on a black thread. He was dark complexioned in the face, but his eyes smoldered a color similar to the gold ingots’ glaze.
Noctowl snarled an animalistic sound as he watched the dark shape inelegantly toss his friend next to him. Espeon was knocked out cold, completely unaware of his and Noctowl’s conditions. The older of them hissed under his breath, “Bastard…”
The dark figure flicked his fingers once in an outward display; bolts of electricity arced from his fingertips and into both the men on the floor, crippling them further as an insult. He disregarded the chestnut haired man’s curse and telegraphed in a voice that matched Espeon’s tone.
<<You’ll do best to leave her be.>>
Noctowl was too injured to retort with a quip of his own, but the dark man knew what he were thinking to ask. He gave the chestnut haired man a sinister smile, arms folded across his chest in triumph.
<<Name’s Luxio. Got it memorized? Good.>>
Luxio remained staring unsympathetically at the two, ascertaining they were too damaged to bother with a counterassault as he and Xatu fled. He held out his hand to Xatu, gently closing it around her smaller fingers once she placed them in his palm. Luxio made a slight inflection with his head. Xatu understood and prepared to teleport them to the outside of Gabite’s Mansion. Her eyes glowed aquamarine. The color washed over Luxio’s own golden orbs, transforming them into aquamarine ones to match Xatu’s. As their bodies dissipated from Noctowl’s view, the chestnut haired man managed one last look at Luxio through squinted eyes.
He was given a one fingered salute.