Bestia: an ancient energy that allows Pokémon to use their powers. Lucca Aska is a plucky Brionne raised as a hero in a world devoid of Bestia, where Pokémon must use weapons and armour to survive. Destiny has chosen Lucca and five other outcasts to...
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Crystal's group had found themselves lost in a similar setting to the area Ruby and the others were in. Damp, square halls decorated with luminous orbs for lighting, walls lined with hieroglyphs, and corridors of water passed through vents above, below, and along the walls in this humid structure.
Crystal appreciated the group's silence. It enabled her to think about Ruby clearly while they walked. She would never admit it, but the Cyndaquil had qualities that she needed in life. Now that Ruby wasn't here, and had the potential to never be here ever again, she felt an empty hole left behind.
No. I mustn't think like that. Sis is alive. She's too strong to die like that, she told herself. She stopped to clutch her amulet, relieved it was as firm and solid as before.
"You really are worried about her..." Shelly said. She looked up to see Shelly and Azu's concerned looks.
"It's fine. We need to take our time with this," Azu assured.
"Urf. Thanks," Crystal mumbled.
"What is Ruby like? You seem really close to her," Shelly wondered. They resumed their walk, letting Azu lead the way.
"Ruby is... don't tell her this, but Ruby's like a big sister to me. A big brute for sure. I guess she came off as having a one track mind, but I promise you she's so much more," Crystal said. She slowly looked away. "She's just careful with who she makes friends with."
"She seemed to adapt well to travel. I definitely got the vibes of someone who was well prepared for all of this," Azu praised with a hand on her hip.
"Well, not really. Lillistep Village got attacked by knights, and we had to run away. We had to leave our Mum behind. Then we got attacked by the Monster of Misgeriom Woods and... oh, so much is happening at once!" Crystal cried into the air. "I can't stop worrying about it all, and I know she's worrying, too. But she's still able to keep cool and focused and just fight what we need to fight. And she knows I don't like fighting, so she was pushing herself really hard to cover for me. She always does that kind of thing."
"She's one of the strongest Pokémon I've ever seen," Shelly remarked.
"Really? She'd be really happy to hear that, you know. She loves a good opportunity to boast," Crystal commented. She looked up as memories came flooding back to her. Good memories of silly times and cool moments. "Ehee hee. She's got a unique way of showing she loves others. I think so, anyway. I can count on her to have my back because she knows I'm always pointing her in the right direction, but she'll never, ever, tell me that."
"And speak of the devil, but we might need that guidance," Azu announced.
Crystal blinked. A staircase they were on descended onto the balcony of a massive room filled with waterways and barred walls. The room below looked like a maze, but they had a good view of everything from above like this.
