Try Paradise (open OR mod)

[Sam]

Isabella watched Spinark without emotion. She was tired now. She didn't really care about proving herself better. She didn't care about what happened to her. She just wanted to rest for a long time. Her wound still burned, but it was dulling now and no longer did she feel blood seeping down her leg, as Spinark had bandaged it up. She looked at the Pokemon and murmured a barely audible thanks. She laid her head back down and waited for Mika to arrive.

When she did, she immediately turned back into morph form. When Mika asked she just muttered, "It hurts, but not badly. My wings are tired." She wanted Mika to know that the chase was over, that she had won. She didn't want it to sound like she was going to fly off in a second and try to get away again. She just wanted it to be over. She didn't want Mika, but she didn't want to fly. So there was nothing left for her to do but wait.

[shades]

Mika's brow furrowed. Her antidotes you usally had some initial affect.Maybe it was different on pokemorphs. No matter, it would have ts main healing affect eventually. She then brought both her pokemon into her pokeballs. She took out her book, with her many special pokeballs, all unused. She contemplated them. She'd never been in a pokeball before. She knew they worked on humans, she'd use them on humans who have gotten in the way before. And she also knew her pokemon didnt mind it too much. But she asked Isabella first.

"You can get in the pokeball, but i will not force you. But you'll heal faster. If not, wear this." She held out a wire, which could probably be worn as a braclet. "It will track you if we get separated."
Mika knew life was about to get crazy. She kinda just went through an entire town on Serpior, and some one was bound to Miss Isabella. Plus she could see so much life in the girl. She'd be bound to attract attention, and was smart enough to use it against her. Either way, something would work. But then again what now?

"Is there any place you want to go? A sight you want to see? Something you want to do? Cause that is where we will head."

[Wolfe]

Far out in the distance, in the heart of town, stood Marc, on the steps of the city hall. He stood there, looking around with a hex-tech binoculars that he had confiscated from one of the labs in Fitzgem. It wasn't the nicest thing to do, but what had to be done had to be done. At any rate, he was here for...well, a vacation. Chasing down the corrupt and making crooked officials disappear was pretty taxing. Anyway, he wasn't here to cause trouble. Just...to relax. Well, that miserably failed, as his senses were on edge, just from being surrounded by people. He was different...Marc would never fit in to mainstream society.

Looking into the goggles, he glanced to his left, toward the beach, before twitching back to the right, hearing the sound of chaos and mayhem. Upward, there was a Flygon, who had been caught by the vines from the ground. Blood was seeping from its leg. It didn't look good. Down on the beach, there was a Serperior launching a web of vines, with a woman on its back. Marc's blood boiled. He hated those people. Those who hunt others for their own fortune deserve to be put down. To die. Jumping onto his motorcycle, he revved it up, without another look, and sped toward the beach, scattering all that were in his path.

Back at the scene, Mika had withdrawn her Pokemon to their respective places and now offered a wired device to the Pokemon, who was still in Flygon form. Marc had guessed that it was a Pokemorph, just like him. He managed a grim smile. Perhaps they weren't extinct.

Distracted, Marc barely noticed the scene until they were both in front of him, and he stepped on the brakes, sand rushing everywhere. Removing his helmet, he looked at both of them. He ended up snatching the wire from Mika's outstretched hand, and crushed it in his fist. Looking resentfully at her, he held a fist. "Stop, please."

[Sam]

Isabella hung her head. Well, this sucked. When Mika had taken out the Pokeball, Isabella hadn't seemed too angry. She was just upset. To be put in a Pokeball like an everyday Pokemon and just wait for the trainer, or in this case, hunter, to let them out? No. She would refuse it with every nerve, bone, and drop of blood in her body. The wire, however, wasn't that bad of an idea. She could fly and walk and be free...well, free to an extent, as she wanted. She could just feel her wings regaining strength and her leg healing. She sighed with relief. It was feeling a lot better.

She decided that it was safe to go back into morph form, like she wanted. The cut stung more, but not as much as it would have a minute ago. She hauled herself up and looked at Mika, reaching for the wire. She was smart enough to know that, if she ran, she'd just injure herself some more.

Then a revving noise averted her attention and she whipped around. There was a boy grabbing the wire away from her and crushing it. But...that meant the Pokeball. She sniffed with anger and, when she did, the boy's scent caught in her nose. He didn't smell like Mika. Not at all. Mika smelled like forest and human. The boy, he smelled like city and human...and Pokemon. She gasped. This guy was a Pokemorph, just like her!

She backed away a little, not from Mika, from the boy. She was scared of him, scared of what he would do, how he would morph, and if he would morph. She narrowed her eyes, also slightly angry at him. She was in control of this. But he was a Pokemorph! "You...why...wha...what are you?" she stuttered. "And what the hell was that?" Her voice grew a bit stronger with her rage.

[shades]

Mika stepped up infront isabella in very defensive manner. She Kept her ever calm manner as she stood in front of the new boy. She looked at him with a very keen eye. This boy seemed lawless. A lawless hero. She hated them. Heros were easy. They didnt do anything wrong, they were easy to avoid cause they always obeye the wall. But lawless made them presistent. They followed where otherse couldnt. It was annoying.

Anything you would like to say? Mika asked. His whole biker gig, his cool scene. It was irritating. She watched him closley. He really seemed like the heroic type. So hopefully he'd be easy to predict. She pulled out her book. She'd let her pokemon rest. She skimmed through it. Still empty, but messing with it made her feel confident in her desicoins.

She planned on striking a deal up with this boy. Maybe poor Isabella wouldnt have to deal with the travel and the very threating men who would attack them. But it depended on where it got Mika. We all control our destiny. If this new regoin was the answer to finnaly living sucsesfully, this boy might give her a start. Time was tiking, giving Mika more time to think. She waited for the Boy's answer.

[Wolfe]

Marc looked down scornfully at Mika, then back at Isabella, without emotion. The rage roared in his ears. How dare this imprudent hunter to capture humans and Pokemon alike. Disgusting. He looked back at Mika, who was rummaging through her book. "You...need to let her go." That wasn't enough. People like these weren't so easily convinced. Staring deeply into her eyes, Marc smiled, wickedly. "Oh, and since I'm such a nice person, I've decided that you can live if you agree to my terms. After all, I'm not exactly your average hero. Dying at the hands of the Aeronian Mafia wouldn't be so pleasant, eh?"

Tossing his helmet back onto his bike, he continued his pleasant demeanor. "All you have to do is let her.." Brendan gestured towards Isabella before continuing, "free." Now his expression soured. "And if you decide not to, well, let's just say that they are things worse than death." He looked at Mika, smirking.

[Sam]

Isabella started shaking with anger, flapping her wings a bit with aggression. What was with this guy? Didn't he see she was perfectly capable of protecting herself? And what was he even doing here? Barging in and taking her responsability...and dignity away. She stalked up to him, ignoring the threats he made to her captor and shoved him away. "Who the hell are you anyway?!"

In her anger, her wings spread out longer and her body morphed into a Flygon, rage turning her out of morph form. The cut on her leg no longer stung. She was getting used to ignoring it now. She stomped back to Mika, torn between pride and freedom. If she went with Mika then she'd just be sold to some jerk that kept her locked up 24/7, but she'd be able to still, at least, look strong. If she went Marc, she'd be free and prehaps be able to meet with other Pokemorphs, but she'd have no dignity left. She'd have to be rescued like every other little girl.

[shades]

Mika listened to the two pokemorphs, and also watched them. She thought she'd gain nothing but assuarnce of a battle with two pokemorphs, and quite a struggle for her. But instead, she recivied many wonderful surprises, with out having to offer something up for any of them. This boy Certainly was giving her a start.

Isabella coming back to Mika. It was smart, but not as wise as going with the other morph. This girl had some kind of confliction or plan that needed her to stay. Either way, it would make dealing with the boy easier. Another thing was Isabella's change of morph. Her anger. Isabella was not fully controlling her morph. It was triggered by emotion. That gave Isabella a great but unpredictable power. Many admired that.

But the best words she heard was Aeroian mafia. The big guys. The ones who always love a good deal. She could make a fortune off them. Good guys can trade too. And mika didn't mistreat pokemon. She fed them well, she often let them exersize under a close eye. She never locked them up or harmed them. yes she was intimidating and mean. But she was also humane and merciful. She grew up with pokemon. Never would she imagine one being yelled at, trapped, or hurt. Even if the was a good reson. Never.

It was her way. It ensured her buisness with everyone. She looked at the boy. "Your words will not scare me. Do not even bother" Crushing will. Mika was still mean, despite her humane ways. "But I misunderstand one thing. Aeroian, what is it suppposed to mean?" Fresh meat in the region, Mika was at a loss on everything going on here.

[Wolfe]

Brendan rolled his eyes. He hated these people - those who thought they were untouchable. With time, he could bring them to their knees, and Mika was one such person. Her question surprised him. He answered, sarcastically, "We live in Aero, we're called...the Aeronians." He almost burst out laughing at that last word, because it seemed so funny to him that Mika didn't even know the people that inhabited the place. Before he could come up with a witty retort, Isabella tackled his legs, shoving his aside.He looked at her, quizzically. Well she was certainly...different. Maybe it was the ego. Brendan stared at her, with no expression, and spoke. "I am Marc Steele, patron of Aero." It was a bit dramatic, Marc thought, but inside he chuckled. Turning back to Mika, he spoke, quietly. "Don't take my words for granted. There's a gang, here in Valedsea, called The Iron Fist. I have...connections with them. I can honestly say that if they got their hands on you, you'd probably be begging them for death. So..if you would..reconsider, for your own sake?"

[Sam]

When Marc mentioned the Iron Fist, Isabella almost shrieked aloud. Well, it was official. This was not the path to choose. A boy with connections with that group of barbarians? No, definitely not. She'd choose life over death. And if both ended in death, she'd choose a quick one, not a drawn out one like the death the Iron First would give her. And if both ended in life, she'd rather live her life with either Mika or whoever she would be sold to the be pushed around by those bastards. And Marc, well, let's just say he would easily look like one of them. The sudden prospect of meeting other Pokemorphs while on his side seemed very unlikely now and she was liking Marc less and less.

She turned to Mika, trying to control her anger enough to shrink back into morph form at least. She managed to do so, but barely containing. She gritted her teeth as she looked from Marc to Mika, the choice of destiny now obvious in front of her. "Mika..." she hissed through her teeth. "Can I please attack him?" She didn't really know why she asked permission to attack, but realized a moment later that it was to intimidate the boy, to make him think that she was ready to strike any any given moment.

[shades]

Mika looked at the boy oddly. Why would the Aroians need a mafia? Definatley not to battle their own people. Something was going on in this region. Something big enough for a mafia to form on behalf of their population. This was just the perfect place for her to be. Fights on a large scale meant the need for strong pokemon. Se was right where she needed to be.And she was glad she ran into a member.

"I am Mika Noir, Of Unova. A top pokemon hunter. I more than willing to sell to the Iron fist, so yes, please let them know i am here. I also suggest to remove your stereo types. I am evil, oh yes. But I am not abusive."

She turned to Isabella at the girls question. She looked at her oddly.

"I do not own you. Do whatever you like."She then gave a small wink to Isabella. She was free to roam, to battle, just as long as she always returned to Mika.

[Wolfe]

Marc was smirking, if not only slightly. Okay, maybe Mika wasn't that bad. A person like that...well, she sure had guts for one. Most quivered with fear at the mere mention. Well, okay, maybe he was a bit quick to judge. Marc had always considered himself unconventional...but never abusive. Those who were deemed unfit to lead met with quick deaths. He breathed in slowly, trying to find the best way out of the situation. A win-win. Except for the girl, who was starting to get on his nerves. Maybe she should learn some respect. Whatever the case, he looked back at Mika, his expression calming.

"Ah. I suppose you could call me..evil, I guess. But I just, well, remove those from service who are crooked and corrupted. Morally impaired, as I would say." The waves in the distance continued their calm rhythm, and the people of Valedsea chattered merrily. Was he really going to sink so low, as to strike a deal with a Pokemon hunter? He shook the thoughts out of his head, then continued. "Well, I have a proposal. A win-win, as you would call it." He paused, and hesitated, and as he read her mind seemingly, he rambled on, "And yes, the Iron Fist do need Pokemon. We are not the ruffians many think of us to be. We simply guard our home, and our country. We do not abuse Pokemon, although for people, it's a different story." Marc laughed, a hollow sound that echoed solemnly. "But anyway, I've decided I won't kill you. Actually, I kind of like you. You got guts, Mika. Back to the topic, the bottom line is this: The Iron Fist gets their fighters. You get paid. Handsomely." He reached into one of the many pockets on his satchel, and pulled out a large wad of cash. Blackmail and extortion money. "And as a sign of goodwill, here's a start. Meet me within the city, two hours from now. The corner of 3rd and Seward Lane. As the girl, do what you like. I've decided to leave her fate in your hands."

Marc breathed heavily for a moment. He wasn't used to talking so much. Get things done first, then talk. And then he turned to Isabella, and spoke again. "You're really irritating me. If I had any less patient, I would've blasted you with some nasty Psychic Move. But then again, I don't pick on weaklings." He began to stride away, then turned back and said, "And if you attack me, well, I think the fact that I've got powerful connections says it all."

[Sam]

That hit a nerve.

Where they calling Isabella a Pokemon? She almost screamed out loud trying to hold in her anger. She was a Pokemorph! Not a Pokemon, she was half human too! They were treating her like some kind of mindless pet, or a slave forced to fight for another. So what, she was only ten? She'd probably experienced more than both of them. She'd murdered her own brother! The memory, though, brought pain and she forced herself to turn away from it. However, there was only Marc to listen to and this time, he'd gone too far.

Her hatred for this newcomer was about to reach its peak when he turned to her. She listened, her eyes widening every second. She knew she wasn't morphing, her whole body had froze up. Anyway, it would just cause her more pain to try and stop herself. He'd called her...a weakling...that he would blast her...like she couldn't defend herself.

Finally, her rage broke through. She gave out a roar and her body suddenly took the form of a Flygon. She flapped her wings with the strength of a dragon and caused dust to fly that hadn't been there before. Sandstorm raged, almost blinding because of her emotions coursing like liquid fire through her veins. She turned swiftly around, reached for Mika, and took flight into the air.

[shades]

Mika congradulated her self in her mind. Buisness deals always required new ways of thinking. Good guys like truth, and seeing the good. Bad guys like decitfulness, and hearing heartless words. How Mika could care less where her pokemon go, as long as she brings in the money. On the other hand, she tells the good guys, that while under her care, she does not harm them. both things true. But tell certain truths to certain people. Either way, quality, responsibility, and trust make abuisness. She limits the trust.

Her one rule of buisness is don't get cocky. You begin to think your too good for what you do. Your abillities decrease. Your clients dont care how much you tell them that you are good. They want to see it, and hear it from others. Cockyness increases laziness. No client likes a lazy buisness. So the Cocky coming from the boy reassured Mika she would be safe around the iron fist. Cocky meant she would be able to boost his ego, getting her more money.

But where Mika would let an insult slide through her brain without registering, it caused Isabella to snap. The powerful Flygon lifted her high into the air, and Spinarak, so quiet, scrambled onto Mika and gripped her with her eight legs so she wouldn't fall. Mika mused what a powerful pokemorph Isabella was. But she needed disipline. That would have to be Mika's responsibility if she wanted to sell isabella, though the idea of keeping her as an assistant was tossing in her head.

And fear was the last thing on Mika's mind. If Isabella dropped her, she had a client that needed her, and may try to save her. She also had serpior. She could let him loss on the ground, and make a netting out of vines to save her. So she watched as the town grew vastly beneath her as she rose, and wondered how dangerous Isabella really was. Another thought: If the girl was this powerful, why didn't she just escape for Mika? Or better yet, kill her off?

Miss Noir mulled this over a bit, ans spinarak paniced more. She had never been afraid of heights, but she had exhausted her webs. She had no more saftey net.

((Ooc: this is what happenes when you dont post for ahwhile. Your creative juices POUR out.))

[Wolfe]

Marc groaned wholeheartedly. He decided to show one act of kindness, and then the whole thing blew up in his face. Here he was, studying Mika's face, seemingly intent on taking advantage of him. Well that wasn't going to do. Marc put on a serious face, one that he used for threats. "And if you are even thinking about taking advantage of my offer, I wish you the best of luck in death." The words were laced with venom, and Marc meant it.

He had standards, anyway. Marc still had one trick up his sleeve, though. He could either call in the cavalry and have Mika killed, or well, use his influence to have something...arranged. Well, whatever. Then Isabella had to be such a sissy. Stupid, arrogant kids. Marc had decided, a long time ago, that kindness doesn't get you anywhere in life. It's true.

Anyway, there was a more pressing problem at hand. Isabella was about to attack him. Not huge, but he imagined she had some amount of power.

In response, Marc just sat there, calmly, and patiently. It wasn't time yet...not yet.