PokèDruids [PkmnWattys2016]

Summit and Repose

The Lucario and Riolus stopped their conflicts and stared intently at Eros. The Lucario spoke, "You understand me? And what do you mean you aren't going to go fight any gym leaders?"

Eros ignored the first question and answered the second, "Well, I mean, maybe we'll fight a few. I'm just following Cerci's orders. Actually, Cerci, what ARE we going to do? We're altogether now, and-"

Cerci interrupted, "We can discuss that later. Right now it seems as if you have the opportunity to catch a new ally."

Eros looked again at the bratty Riolus, who gave a dirty look back. The last Pokemon he wanted to train was them. Eros said artificially, "Oh, what a shame. It seems as if I don't have any pokeballs. I'll have to come back another day, I suppose." It was obvious that this was a lie, but it would be improper to call this out.

The Lucario panicked at this, "What? No, you don't need any pokeballs! Just walk home and get a pokeball later, please!"

But, to the Lucario's disappointment, Eros was already headed out. From this, Hank followed, along with Cerci, Pikachu, Sicily and Duskull. Xerxes looked back on the place, looking her dreams of training here right in the eyes and somehow lost that wanderlust. She spoke to the Lucario before departing, "I should go."

The Lucario gave a sad nod before being teased by the annoying little Riolus. What had he ever done to deserve this?

The party made their way back down the mountain slowly, upset that the journey did not yield anything of particular value. Everyone felt disappointed after this event, sadness present in everyone's faces. The sight off the mountain was none the less beautiful, revealing an ever-reaching snowy landscape. There was little discussion between anyone, besides coordinating themselves down the steps.

On the way, at about the first clearing down, the one with the phantom, Eros noticed that the cracked gem remained in the spot where it was before. Eros thought to himself, 'This could be valuable.' Luckily, the gem shattered in a way that let it be withdrawn from its hole in the ground. Eros was in the back of the party at this time, so he managed to take it without anyone noticing. A few fragments of a gem wasn't as valuable as the uncut sum, but as an uncut stone it might not have been able to be removed. Eros snuck this quickly into his bag, also to find a heart scale removed from it. Xerxes returned this later.

It was not long before the party was back in the storm, noontime sun hidden in the snowy weather. The trip back was not as dull as it was before, and everyone forgot their worries in the shortest time. As they made it back into the deep forest where the snow was lighter, Eros felt a sudden surge of power. This ecstatic force existed magically- almost as if he'd been suddenly filled with magic. He almost felt like that he would explode if he let it swell any more, growing stronger and stronger by the second. He had no idea what was happening and why it was happening now. He didn't even know if this was good or bad- Maybe Cerci would understand?

"Hey, Cerci, I feel really funny."

"Maybe it's because you ate a few bad berries."

"No, I mean, like, magically speaking. Like I'm going to explode."

"Oh! This is it! I knew you weren't a complete disappointment! This is the moment you've been training for! The day you become a true Druid in the art!"

"What is it? What is it?" Eros felt more fear than excitement at this ambiguity.

"Eros, hold in that energy! APPLYING it to yourself! This is your big moment!"

Eros did as Cerci said, holding all of the energy in as it sprung forth, filling his body and then some. "What is it?"

"Eros, for the first time you are TRANSFORMING! And on your own!"