Suzume

The castle was a beautiful one.

Not many could say they had seen something like it; it was perched upon a hill, overlooking the broad expanse of vibrant-colored land that spread out beneath it. The exterior was a glimmering white so bright that one may even say it was made of smooth ivory stones or scales. Watchtowers rose up around it, stretching towards the skies, their roofs appearing as if it was piercing the sea of azure above them. The interior of the castle was made of the same material as the outside-- curved entrances to rooms added a graceful twist to the stronghold and a variety of plants rested in pots in several corners. One might say that the fort was a bit too pale-colored, if it weren't for the banners that lined the walls.

Russet banners hung from the ceilings and walls, gracefully tumbling down towards the floor. In the middle of some of the silk banners was a golden silhouette of a crested bird Pokemon with its wings spread and talons outstretched. The marble flooring reflected the bright hues of the standards. It was a splash of color, although delicate, that brought the castle to life.

The mess hall, however, was ten times as decorated as the rest of the stronghold. The large room was lined with tables as always, but five large ensigns hung from the ceiling; one was colored white, with a lithe-looking light blue Pokemon sprinting across the field; another's field was silver with a winged, ivory-colored bird Pokemon curling inwards with its wings outstretched; one banner was colored gold, with a red, rearing maned Pokemon silhouette whose mouth was gaping and fangs were exposed; another was like the other banners lining the castle, crimson with the golden shadow of a bird Pokemon.

Many people and their smaller, well-behaved Pokemon were in the mess hall, where the campaign was being held. A great variety of food lined the table-- most of which was based of Phoenician foods. Different types of raw fish, especially sushi and many types of seaweed, rested on several tables. Roasted Octillery and Tentacruel were cut up into pieces of different sizes, their poisons properly removed before they were served. Qwilfish were also presented on shiny, decorated platters. Rice made up a majority of the meals laid out before the volunteers. There were potatoes, radishes, yams, and other foodstuffs that looked absolutely scrumptious, especially to the Argentians and Phoencians. Along with the more oriental food, there was also meals that delighted the others; seared Stunfisk and roasted Slowpoketail, roasted Bouffalant, Miltank and Tauros tails and feet, roasted Grumpig, and more.

Many Pokemon had died just to feed them for one night.

The blonde-haired woman chomped on a rather crunchy sushi roll which was filled with tender Krabby meat before downing it with sake. That had been the best sushi Suzume had ever tasted... which was expected of royal chefs. She had stayed more to the Phoenician side of the mess hall, although several of the soldiers had begun to mingle and mix. Some were rather friendly towards another, mumbling greetings and exchanging smiles. Others simply went over to the other side of the hall to peer at the foreign food, the adventurous ones picking at the meals they had never tasted before. Her earthy brown eyes simply watched them, staying to herself and only offering frowns and wary glances. She didn't trust anyone that wasn't on her side. Even though they were going to work together, they could still turn on each other.

"Bre."

Suzume looked up to see a pair of violet eyes gazing at her expectantly. Her Umbreon, Mauve, had rested his paws on the table to get a better look of his surroundings. And of course... to ask her for food. A crooked smile came onto her lips as she held up another piece of sushi, this one filled with Crawdaunt meat and leeks. The Dark-type quickly devoured it and licked his chops, his tail swaying in a content manner. She quietly waited for the emperor to make his announcement about the plans he had for this "campaign". Honestly, she didn't expect everything to go according to his plans.

---

Wyeth

A laugh escaped Wyeth's lips as Ciel tore into his plate, scarfing down more than half of a seared Grumpig in less than a moment. The laugh was a weary one; he couldn't really tell his Luxray to stop. Not to mention that he deserved a good meal before they set out on this journey. He wanted the memories in the Phoenician castle to be happy and fond ones, not one full of stress as he tried to control the black-maned beast. The Luxray growled in pleasure as the man stroked his thick fur, his crimson and gold eyes flicking up to him for a moment before his ear twitched and he tucked back into his meal. Wyeth's violet eyes wavered as he looked at the other food that was presented. The thought of eating raw fish made him feel sick to his stomach, but the Argentians and Phoenicians appeared to love it.

"I guess that's why they smell so bad," he whispered to Ciel, who simply lashed his yellow-tufted tail. Wyeth was never one to insult or be rude, but he felt like a dark joke or two at times would lighten the Fulmi's mood. He wasn't sure what the relationship was between Fulmion and Phoenicis, but judging from the looks he got, he didn't think that they were on good terms. Jeez... I wouldn't have come if I had known that the others would have daggers for eyes.

Wyeth sighed, already exasperated with the situation. He wouldn't be surprised if a fight broke out before the end of the meal. His long fingered plucked a leg from the seared corpse of a Combusken. As he sank his teeth into it, he realized that the meat had been cooked to perfection. He expected the Pokemon to be tough and wiry due to being a Fighting-type, and on his farm, the meat was always dry and flavorless. But this was different. What he wouldn't give to live in a castle like this...

Eric

As Eric and his Pokemon neared the castle's entrance, thoughts ran rampant through his mind. [color=ADD8E6[i]Why are we here?[/i][/color] he thought. What do they want from us? He had never seen any land or building outside of Aurios, so this entire experience was new. The elegant, and decorative fortress in front of him stretched far into the sea of blue above. He could feel the fear and anxiousness emanating from his Pokemon. They didn't seem happy to be here either. However, the emperor assured everyone that this issue was important, and he needed volunteers to help. Eric knew he needed to go see what was wrong - as uneasy as the whole thing made him feel.

As they finally reached the castle's entrance, a decorative door halted their progress. Kyo and Eric shared a hesitant glance before moving to push the door open. It opened slowly, revealing an entire dining hall filled with various types of people. It was clear that everyone here wanted to offer their services to the emperor. Eric quickly scanned the room, found the table designated for the Aurios natives, and moved to take his seat. He found a free spot, towards the back of the table, and sat down near the roasted Charmander legs and chunky Squirtel soup.

Kyo sat down, very human-like, to Eric's right, and Sei sat to his left. Separately, Saber wormed her way under Eric's legs and laid there, nervous and frightened. Eric began to pet his Mightyena while he looked around. He could feel the glares coming from different areas around the room. He wasn't a soldier, that's for sure, but he knew how to fight. He trained with his village elders every weekend, and on his own during breaks at work. He was different from most of the people at his table, and maybe, that's why some individuals in the crowd had their eyes locked on him. That wasn't important now though, he and his companions were starving!

There were miles of food in each direction, as far as the eye could see. It all looked delicious...until he realized what most of this food was. Cooked Pokemon?? A little bit of bile spilled into his mouth. With a painful and difficult swallow, he returned the discharge back to its original resting place. How could they eat these beautiful creatures? The thought made him want to vomit again, and Eric could tell his Pokemon felt the same. He took care of Pokemon for a living...and here they were...killing them for their dinner. It was a horrible sight...the only left to do was wait for the emperor to tell everyone why they were there.

Jin

The banner of Lugia flowed gently under the breeze that whispered through the open windows. It's ripples were memorising and soothing to those who actually took the time and effort to admire the artisanship. A carefully woven fabric that glowed under the light; a statement of pride for the people that it represented. The room had a soothing atmosphere that was interrupted by the sounds of belching and slurps. People from the different nations gathered here under invitation from the Emperor of Phoenicis all filling their bellies with the various creatures of the land. Each one prepared in a different manner with varying taste, spices, and berry sauce seasoning.

Under the flowing banner sat a younger female, but considering the average age of the group she was surrounded by she felt as if she was part of the older demographic. She sat there and stared down at her meal, poking it with a fork and trying to work out how an ekans steak turned out to be bright green considering the pokemon was naturally purple.

"It's gotta be a shiny," Jin grimaced as she poked it again and listened to the farting noise that it make with every touch. It was her choice to try something exotic, but for a meal this just didn't seem to appeal to her appetite.

"Not interested in the python?" a man from opposite the table called out to her.

"I dunno, eating green meat just doesn't excite me," she spoke with disappointment as she let her arm drop onto the seat next to her and she began to rub her Staryu for comfort. "I might stick to the mareep cutlets. I usually have them back at home."

"That's understandable," he replied, leaning over to pull the plate away her and towards his side of the table. He then proceeded to serve up a fresh dish of cutlets and poured some Leppa sauce over the top, letting the hot sauce ooze it's way over the meat before calmly placing the dish before the girl. "There's no need to try exotic foods here. No one is going to judge your skills based on your dietary preferences. I already saw you give a funny look to the seafood..."

"It's not the seafood," Jin interrupted coldly, "it's just the tempura starmie." She looked down at her Staryu noticing the gem was cold and black, indicating that 'he' was asleep. His arms waved back and forth ever so slightly giving the impression that he was swimming in the ocean.

It must have been a good dream.

Sumiko

Sumiko had never seen such grandeur, the enormity of the castel was staggering. And she would be lying if she said she didn't feel somewhat out of place. Years of being a nomad had made her yearn for the soft serenity that nature provided rather than for such a spectacular palace. Her face kept up its indifferent mask despite her discomfort as she made her way into the grand hall. Hopefully not all the food had been devoured and her Pokemon could get something to eat before the Emperor made his announcement.

She had been surprised to hear all people were welcomed at the gathering, and hoped against hope that they could make it through the evening without any bloodshed.

"Dile!" Jerked out of her thoughts by the squirming body she held in her arms, Sumiko looked in amusement as Kai tried desperately to reach the huge buffet in front of him.

Softly brushing the spikes on his back, she attempted to calm him down as she held out a sushi roll with kingler meat inside to him.

The baby big jawed Pokmeon never hesitated as it inhaled the roll, and nearly the chopsticks as well, excitedly squirming as it demanded more.

A long green arm moved to grab a piece of roasted Octillery as Tadashi quietly eat beside her. The Gallade didn't show it, but she knew he would eat as much of the roasted delicacy as he could. A small smile softened her features as she alternated between feeding herself and Kai.

"I don't suppose there's any berries here? Princess doesn't eat meat or fish... or rice, or vegetables. And especially not other Pokemon."

Sumiko turned her attention to the man with an Espeon perched on the top of his chair. It seemed the psychic type wasn't pleased with the many meats spread across the room or the vegetables either for that matter. She placed her chopsticks down as she passed Kai off to Tadashi for a moment, allowing to open her small satchel. Inside was a mix of Oran, Pecha, and Cheri berries. "I hope it has a taste for sweet or spicy berries." She thought as she held the bag out to him.

"She can have these if they are to her liking."

Malachi, Solomon, and Cleo were in an area desiganated for Argentians with bird pokemon. Cleo was atop a perch above where Malachi sat and Solomon sat beside him on the floor. Around them were fellow Argentians merry making and gossiping. Some from his company back in the capital and many many others from the surrounding cities. Malachi and his pokemon arrived early so they were in no hurry to eat. They mixed and mingled, but mostly people watched. Malachi looked around giving hopeful smiles to the inexperianced and uncofortable, and dissapointed frowns to the judgemental and overzealous. He was just glad to get the chance to make a change. Atlas needed it, bad. Malachi was eager to hear what the Emporor had to say and prayed to Lugia everyone here agreed.

Just as that thought finished itself Malachi's stomach grumbled. "Guess I'm hungry afterall" He mumbled to himself with a chuckle. He looked around him on the table to see what there was offered. The sushi and tempura looked good, and the exotic delicacies intrigued him, but what caught his eye was the whole roasted stuffed alomomola. It was a specialty from his home village and he hadn't had it in years. With a salivating mouth he stood and walked to the platter. Thankfully it hadn't been touched yet. "Good. More for me and the gang." He said under his breath as he picked up the platter and utensils. He took back to his seat and made plates of the vegetable and berry stuffed fish for his partners. All three of them happily ate as they waited for the Emporor's announement.

The sun was shining bright and the commons beneath the castle were bustling as usual. Mana walked alongside her grandfather, who decided to accompany her to run a few of his own errands, through the streets of the Phoenician city. Her eyes were set on the castle in the distance that grew in appearance with every step. She's only ever been able to admire it from outside the walls. Just the thought of what it must look like inside put a wide grin on her face. Mana's grandfather noticed her excited expression and couldn't help but smile as well. After a few stops and a little while more of walking, they finally reached the steps leading to the castle entrance.

"Well, this is as far as I'll go. Will you be fine by yourself?" Mana's grandfather showed concern through his expression. She was a bit hesitant to answer and gave a slight nod.

"I'll be okay, I'm not a child anymore," Mana gave a reassuring smile and turned back toward the castle. I'll be okay, I'll be okay. I'm an adult now... Her thoughts followed a nervous laugh. She gripped her hands and began climbing up to the castle entrance. The eye-catching beauty of the castle proved to be a good distraction from any Pokemon headed to the same place as her. Mana fought the urge to wander around upon entering. This is incredible! Her eyes sparkled with admiration as they scanned the area. ... Wait, no. This is not why I'm here! Keep it together! She gave a pat to her cheeks and got her priorities straight.

The mess hall stood only a few meters away from Mana. Various smells seeped from the room, causing her mouth to water. She slowly inched toward it, following behind other volunteers who were entering. The sight that stood in front of her was the most surprising. Individuals from all nations gathered in one room, some even mingling. After seeing and having treated many of the wounded from previous battles, it's always been a dream to see the nations unite and end war. Although, in this situation, it wasn't a battle against humans. However this isn't what she's concerned with at the moment.

"All this food!" Mana exclaimed to herself and laughed cheerfully. The assortments held a large variety of meat. She eyed the roasted Bouffalant and licked her lips. Just as she was about to make her way over, a bunch of random humans and their Pokemon raided the table. Immediately she turned back and sighed. No... My roasted Bouffalant... Her stomach filled with despair. She placed one hand against the wall and looked down in depression.

Gentry

Clink. Clink. Clink.

Scizor followed Gentry with steel feet clamoring through the mess hall like a body guard, close behind and assessing any threats. The people here were from all other countries after all, countries that had been at war with Leonias in the past. Countries that Gentry and Scizor fought against together side by side. Scizor was going to have a hard time trusting any of these people, and Gentry was the same.

"Easy, scizor." He reassured his companion, though Gentry was a bit on edge. He wasn't used to only having one of his pokemon at his side, but Salamence was much to large to be indoors, and Absol stayed out so that Salamence would have some company (and probably also to avoid the big crowd). The two of them were probably curled up in the courtyard soaking in the sun. Still the man carried himself with a soldier's stature, standing tall with his shoulders back, showing no signs of discomfort.

Gentry had seen castles before. Being one of the elite warriors of his nation he had accompanied emissaries to several other nation's capitals as a guard. This time was different though, as he wasn't used to such a warm reception. The occasion was typically preceded by an outbreak of bloody battles and followed by a peace treaty that never seemed to last. The fact that there none of the nations were officially at war at this time was a miracle in itself. To Gentry that was enough to show how dire the situation was, but a gathering of warriors called to band together and fight the darkness? That was more confirmation than anyone would need. The nations were clearly desperate.

Gentry scanned the room, observing all those that he would soon be working with. Some looked rather strong, and there was a wide variety of Pokemon with them, but they didn't all look like warriors. He recognized none of them, which he decided was for the better. If he recognized someone it would likely have meant they had crossed swords at one point. He noticed Scizor eyeing a certain plate of Ekans that a woman seemed to be displeased with. He sighed, looked at the Steel type and nodded, giving him the 'go ahead' and followed him over.

"Please, don't throw out the dish. Scizor here loves eating the poison types. I think it's an ego thing, he's proud of his immunity." Scizor removed the snake from the plate and took a large bite, juices flowing out as he ripped the meat apart. Gentry turned to the girl at the table with the Staryu and gave a small respectful bow. "I'm Gentry, of Leonias, and this is my partner Scizor. I suppose you are here in response to the Emperor's call as well?"

@nuttsnbolts

Eric

Eric and his Pokemon sat quietly at the Aurios table; watching people from all over Atlas eating and socializing with one another. It was odd seeing the inhabitants of each country together like this. Life experience told Eric that when residents of different regions got together, violence was a practical guarantee. It had genuinely surprised him that a fight hadn't broken out yet. With so many different beliefs piled together in one room, the situation was very dangerous. Whatever this problem was, it must have been very important for the emperor to risk the safety of his citizens.

It seemed that the last of the volunteers were flocking into the dining hall now, and many of the ones already seated appeared to be finishing up their meal. Soon enough, Eric found himself watching the castle entrance as more people entered. So many strange characters were coming in now. However, none of them really stood out more than the others. You had your common soldier plodding in with their beefy Pokemon. Then, you had the shy girls sneaking in with their more bashful Pokemon. The tables were filling up quicker and quicker with each second that passed. Eric was about to turn back towards the table, when a small girl, just entering, caught his eye.

She was fit, with green hair and light blue eyes. She was very beautiful, but it wasn't her appearance that stood out. It was her lack of companionship. She didn't enter with a single Pokemon. Did she not have any? Or, perhaps, were they too big to fit inside? Whatever the reason, it grabbed Eric's attention and caused him to watch her for a bit. She seemed rather excited for the roasted Bouffalant on the table in front of her, but after being rudely cut in front of, her expression changed and became very mournful and sullen. She walked over to the south wall, rested against it, and looked down at the floor in depression.

Eric deduced she was upset from being denied a plate of the Bouffalant, and there happened to be a little bit left at his section of the table. He scooped whatever was left of it onto his plate, stood up, and walked over toward the young girl in the corner; his Lucario, Zoroark, and Mightyena following close behind. Soon enough, he reached the young girl. For a moment, he rested against the wall next to her. After he planned his words out, he spoke loud enough for her to hear.[/color]

"Hey," he said, trying to get her attention.

@illusion

Jack of Aurios

Easy now, the people in this place will want to gut you and your Pokemon. Jack thought to himself as he entered through the ornate large doors, running a hand along the designs. He stopped momentarily in the doorway to truly gaze upon the grand palace, he had only been to a place similar like this and it was for his brother's funeral. Seeing such bright colors and architecture made him think back to his first time walking in for his brother's funeral, Jack's legs nearly failed him and he perspired like melting snow...it wasn't any different this time around.

"Move along!" One of the guards grumbled loudly to Jack, who had apparently been blocking quite a few people from entering the palace as he just did. Jack smiled sheepishly and trudged forward, legs made of lead but shaking like a tornado, as he replied, "Sorry! Which way to the meeting area?"

The guard lazily pointed towards Jacks' destination, "Just follow the crowd."

Very helpful, I can tell this is going to be a blast already. The Auriosian hunter thought to himself, he passed several painting, portraits, and decorations as he moved with the small, thin crowd. It was then that he was able to truly see how everyone else looked. Some were expressionless, probably hoping to hide their anger or fear, others were giddy with joy while most had furrowed brows. Their clothes were something to marvel, compared to Jack at least. Fancy clothes, shining armor and jewels, and the finest of weapons made Jack feel like he was walking the streets naked while everyone else was clothed. Their Pokemon were magnificent, he saw almost every type and could tell how close they were to their respective 'owners'. Jack felt Garuda, his Spearow, shift on his left shoulder; no doubt feeling the same way or comforting him in what little manner she could. His eyes went down to Vulcan, his Chimchar, but all they met were the shining floors of the castle.

"Wh-what? Vulcan!" Jack half-yelled, drawing strange looks from passersby as he frantically began his search for his trouble making Chimchar of his recent brother's.

"Chim-Chimchar!" Was all he heard, spinning around in search of that flaming Pokemon. Eventually he found Vulcan, standing atop one of the small tables inspecting a vase as it threatened to tip over. Gasping, not having the mind to yell, Jack's previously lead legs became springs as he tried to stop Vulcan from ruining their adventure before it even began. Alas, he wasn't fast enough as the vase began to fall to the beautiful floors of the castle, Jack dove with hands outstretched in hopes of catching it as Garuda flew forwards to grab a hold of Vulcan; she flew high above with anger in her eyes. Time seemed to slow as Jack saw the vase fall roughly into his hands, with a sigh he stood and placed it back on the small table.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack! We're here to help out everyone and represent Aurios well and you're just....going to ruin it!" Jack scolded Vulcan as Garuda placed him on the floor, flying atop to Jack's left shoulder once more. The Chimchar's flaming tail shrunk in shame as it stared at the floor, Jack trying to burn two holes through it with his eyes. Garuda tightened her grip on Jack's shoulder, who gulped and with a sigh he stretched out his hand, "Come on, we don't want to be any more late than we already are."

Vulcan's tail erupted as it smiled, climbing and grabbing hold of Jack's right arm to climb into his pack; his small head peeking over Jack's right shoulder. Jack continued towards the meeting, passing a mirror to get a full look at himself and his two companions. Jack wore a large back pack with enough room for Chimchar to climb into, his snow white cloak trimmed in ice blue, brown winter clothes underneath, and thick boots on his feet. His dark black hair unruly as ever and his sky blue eyes piercing through the reflection, he had developed a bit of a shadow on his face and planned to shave it off soon. His weapons, the bow, daggers, shortsword, and quiver, were back at a nearby inn along with his other supplies he normally kept in his back pack. He hoped he wouldn't need them and he figured if he showed up weaponless, maybe peace would come quicker. Garuda squinted at the mirror while Vulcan grinned happily, waving at himself.

"You remember to put out your flame, Vulcan?" Jack asked, looking back slightly at his companion. Sniffing, he smelt the hint of smoke as Vulcan made a small noise, "You're gonna burn my pack again!" Jack half-yelled once more at Vulcan as the small flame Pokemon struggled to put out it's flaming tail.



The trio entered the dinning hall, gazing at the display of food and even more people sitting at tables for each nation. No one seemed to be mixing as far as he could tell. Jack found his way to the edge of the room and observed for a moment, studying the people of the room before making his way to the table closest to the Aurios one. If trouble reared it's head from him sitting down and conversing with another nation, he wanted to be close to his home table.

Shu

Shu had never dreamed she'd step inside the emperor's palace. Splendor and luxury lined the walls like a coat of paint, making everything shine in Phoenician sun. She'd come in her finest clothes for the occasion – though fine for her meant a plain green and white hanfu made of cotton that had only one small hole in the sleeve. In the face of such grandeur, she felt… inadequate. Dirty. (Then again, these were constant states of being for her, so perhaps it wasn't the castle after all.) But underneath all the royal extravagance was a tension that made her itch for her sword. People from the different kingdoms had come together for this occasion, but the peace was a tenuous one and felt like it could break at any time.

Wu the Gallade stood beside her, a steady presence in the cacophony of noise and activity. The many smells wafting through the hall were almost as overwhelming as the crowds, saturated with conflicting elements. The emperor had gone the extra mile to put the foreigners at ease with their own foods, it seemed. As one, Shu and Wu stepped forward, navigating through the crowds like they would through a battlefield. The distrustful looks from the occidental countries were to be expected, but it was the Phoenicians and Argentians who made her want to flinch away. Most of them seemed downright insulted to see a misplaced foreigner daring to wear their cultural garb. But it was nothing Shu hadn't experienced before, and she marched on like the good soldier she was.

The Phoenician table was loaded with familiar foods and scents, though it was all much more extravagant than the versions she was used to. She doubted she'd be able to stomach such rich foods when every hair was on end, so she elected for a simple bowl of broth and noodles. Picking up a pair of chopsticks she began placing garnishes on her bowl, aware of the stares of her fellow countrymen. All the while, Wu was beside her, a quiet sentry. The Gallade moved away from the table and Shu followed, glad to escape her "brothers."

The two stood off to the side, out of the way but also unapologetic for their presence. They were here because they had been called, and they were skilled warriors. The other volunteers didn't have to like them… but potential enemies on all sides would certainly make this more unpleasant.

Wu shifted next to her and Shu wordlessly handed the bowl over to him. The noodles were almost all gone, but the Gallade lifted the bowl to his mouth and drank what was left of the broth.

As she scanned the grand room, her eyes fell on an emblem she's seen many times before: Leonias. A wistful thought fluttered through her mind – she just as easily could have carried that banner instead of Phoenicis' had her mother raised her instead. But the thought died when she remembered that she likely would've been just as hated there as she was here. But still, the foreign food that might've been familiar in a different life called to her. How different would she be if she grew up there instead?

On an impulse, Shu stepped forward, approaching the Leonias table. People watched her all the same, but she was careful to mask her uncertainty with a cool expression, her head held high. Exotic meats and vegetables were laid out before her, and she took a few tentative sniffs. She piled bits and pieces of everything on her plate, quietly eager to sample them. Wu eyed a few berries but otherwise remained still at her side. With her plate full, the foreigners' stares grew heavier on her skin, and she was more than ready to retreat back to her spot against the wall.

"I'm Gentry, of Leonias, and this is my partner Scizor."

The voice cut through her thoughts, stilling her. She knew that voice. Granted, she was used to hearing it shout rather than speak, but she recognized it all the same. Gallade glanced at the voice's owner and gave a small nod to her. So it was him. The Leonias soldier. Most faces merged together in the sea of battle, but Shu had encountered this face enough that it pissed her off whenever she saw it. Leonias and Phoenicis were almost always having one battle or another, and Shu had encountered this man more often than she cared for. She had a grudging respect for his ability to live this long and he was a decent fighter. But that was about it. Apparently his name was Gentry.

Like hell she was going to run away from the table now. Wu gave a small huff at her childishness, but stayed with her nonetheless. Shu raised her chin and stubbornly pulled out a chair and took a seat, determined to eat her dinner at the enemy table.
@chexmix

"Hey."

Before Mana even turned toward the direction of the voice, the scent of roasted Bouffalant close by caught her attention. Still a bit down from her recent experience, she glanced to the source slowly. To her surprise, a young man, both tall and handsome, rested against the wall next to her. Not only that, but he was holding a plate of roasted Bouffalant. Mana blinked a few times and wiped her eyes with her wrists. Eh? This looks like something straight out of a dream! But before her expectations exploded, her eyes wandered down. There was not one Pokemon, but three. Her expression went blank as she subconsciously took steps back.

"... Hello," Mana finally greeted after her back hit the wall on the other side of the corner, leaving a good ten feet between her and the young man. She now felt extremely uncomfortable at the thought his Pokemon may approach closer. Her fear of Pokemon wasn't classified off of experience. In fact, Mana only remembers the destruction of her village as a faded memory from her childhood. Her true fear was actually built off of inexperience, and a few scary stories told by townsfolk.

Mana unintentionally stared at the Lucario who seemed to be the closest to the young man. Once realizing she may have stared for too long, she turned her head to find something else to focus her eyes on. Unfortunately, it was a bit impossible for her. It wasn't even a second before she turned to look at the roasted Bouffalant again. "Could that, um... Possibly be for me?" Mana asked on the chances he actually did bring it for her. Perhaps someone actually witnessed those cruel people steal the precious roasted Bouffalant from this helpless young lady and decided to help. Mana suddenly bit her tongue. What if it's not for me? Oh gosh, this is so embarrassing! She faked a nervous cough and planned a way to redeem her manners.

@RestlessComfort

Eric

Eric watched the young lady with a friendly smile. She acted quite odd, and nothing like he had previously anticipated. The beautiful girl, stood in front of him, seemed nervous and apprehensive towards a new face. However, her hesitant and tentative movements were actually quite endearing, and he looked forward to giving her the plate. She didn't seem very experienced around people, or Pokemon for that matter. Overall, she just looked out of place and a little surprised that Eric was speaking to her. Perhaps, he had frightened her? Yes, that was it.

She was probably anxious because he was too brash to begin with. She seemed a bit troubled with him, but he did have her attention. Maybe it was due to his Pokemon? Or maybe it was the mouth-watering treat behind his back? Either way, she was speaking with him and he was locked into an interaction with a new person.

"Could that, um...possibly be for me?" Her voice was smooth and soft. It was very calming, and he could sense it made his Pokemon less on edge, for the moment. Before he would answer, he decided he should apologize and introduce himself.[/color]

"Oh," he began with a concerned expression in his eyes. "I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you there!" His concern turned into a light chuckle."Let me introduce myself, my name is Eric! I saw those brutes take all of the Bouffalant from your table, so I thought I'd offer you mine." He gave her a sweet and charming smile before handing her the plate.

@illusion

The Ronin Tachibana gracefully used his chopsticks to pick and consume his meals. It was quite a spread - Malamar sushi, fried Skrelp, diced Binacle, you name it, it was probably there. He proceeds to put a sliced Eelektross in his mouth after dipping it in some special sauce.

But... where were his Pokemon? Why didn't he give them food? Well, the short answer was - he didn't bring any Pokemon along. He was a lone ranger with no allies. As he begins to crack a large egg to reveal orange-hued caviar, he turned to an odd individual beside him. He was a little awkward in interaction, but hey, he had to make allies.

"Good evening. Are you enjoying this feast?"

Paro

Two weeks of travel had caught Paro utterly unprepared. He had packed enough food, if only just -- his stomach was a cruel master and asked far too much of him. More pressing: the walk did nothing but make him realize how out of shape he was.

...Perhaps 'nothing' was too harsh; the exercise thickened the muscles in his once-loose boots to the point where the shield hanging from his belt chafed and bruised his calf with every step. He'd struggled in vain to adjust the strap, but urgency kept him from spending too long at it. When he last took off his boots three days ago, he'd found the insides caked in viscous blood. The soles of his socks were nowhere to be found, so he'd thrown them out. His young joints ached and his blistered skin was numb from friction. His lungs protested in his chest and his neck, just below his short, golden hair, was dyed blood-red by the sun.

Yet as he gazed up at the highest spires of the Phoenician castle, he could only smile, starstruck.

I made it. The thought echoed in his mind. His chapped lips cracked in every sense of the word -- from a smile into a full, toothy grin. "I made it!" he panted, this time aloud. "Right on time...!" He straightened his back, aligning his armored left shoulder with its lighter companion. The creak of the restraints broadened his grin. Armor just made life feel right.

He dropped the heel of one foot directly in front of his toes, walking as if on a tight-rope to compensate for his mismanaged equipment -- with an unrecognized air of pride. On the hip opposite his shield bounced a pair of swords: the first was some three and a half feet long, curved, with a pronounced crossguard and side ring. The second, simpler blade was a foot shorter, straight, with more subdued features save for the wide pommel.

Eerily, the sword on his back remained undisturbed by each step, gliding along behind him. Unlike the silver sheen of his other gear, this blade's golden hilt shone in the Phoenician sun. Four feet of brown scabbard swept and swerved with intricate knotwork that sprang out from the sides of the thin sheet.

The presence and motion of all these armaments felt like a friend's embrace after a long day's hike, a hand on his shoulder encouraging him deeper into the grand, foreign architecture of a diplomat's castle. His adrenaline-charged body felt justified and confident, and a new spring in his step carried him disarmingly quickly to the familiar scents of Leonian steaks. Cruel though his stomach may be, Paro felt suddenly proud to serve -- it, Leonias, and perhaps Entei Himself.

For once -- finally, for once -- somebody was willing to talk about this conflict. The people were finally coming together, airing their grievances, telling their stories, discussing solutions -- and it all made him want to stuff his gob and swallow hard in appreciation of good cooking and camaraderie.

His nose led him directly towards a home-town favorite: juicy, with a thick grain and a spice rub that came to life when served with the right berry sauce. He reached an over-eager hand past the shoulder of a black-haired girl in green and white, and only realized his rudeness at the point of no return.

"Uh, pardon," he offered sheepishly, serving himself a slice of meat that smelled so good, his nostrils flared. Too close to back off, he spied the same cut of meat on the girl's plate and flashed his patient teeth at her. "There's a dark purple sauce over there," he began, pointing at a small bowl with a ladle. "A bit of that with this steak and I promise, you'll be in a good mood for hours." Too awkward to commit to reaching past her or asking for her help, he just held her gaze as best he could.

@c3p-0h

As she sat there looking at the fresh cutlets that laid before her, the sound of pincers clicking caught her off guard. Jin looked up to see a Scizor standing over the meal she rejected, eyeing it off with both delight and an eagerness to devourer it as quickly as possible. Before she had a chance to know what was fully going on, the pokemon had begun to rip into the meat and consume it before her very eyes.

"Geez, you gotta be fast around here!" she thought to herself as she half heard the owner talking to her.

"I'm Gentry, of Leonias, and this is my partner Scizor. I suppose you are here in response to the Emperor's call as well?" @chexmix

"Huh, Gentry?" she spoke in surprise, turning towards the male, "Um, yeah..."

Carefully Jin pulled her hand away from Staryu and placed both arms on the table before her, crossing them at the wrists. It was an easy way to show that she ment no harm to the stranger as opposed to hiding one hand under the table with a knife firmly within it's grasps. She had done her part for relieving the tension in the room.

"Oh, by the way... I'm Jin," raising her hand up and giving a subtle wave and smile, "and that's my Staryu."

She motioned down to him and felt a wet pop on her fingertip as a couple of small bubbles floated their way up from where he was positioned. No doubt about it now, he was having a good dream.

"If you don't mind me asking, do you know any details about why are we here?"

"Oh. I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you there!"

Mana held a blank once again. She wouldn't have thought the young man's personality to be outgoing from his initial appearance. That, and along with his intimidating-looking Pokemon. It relieved her a bit to see that he was rather light-hearted. But before any other thoughts, the word "scare" caught her attention. Nonsense! I'm not scared! She thought to herself in denial. Wait just a second, he laughed! Is he making fun of me? Before speaking out, the young man proceeded to introduce himself.

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Eric! I saw those brutes take all of the Bouffalant from your table, so I thought I'd offer you mine."

He gave a rather dashing smile and held out the plate. Mana had the urge to deny the offer but it proved difficult. ... This is manipulation, I tell you! Despite her thoughts, she inched forward and grabbed the plate from a distance and stepped back once again.

"Ahem, thank you. I appreciate your generosity," Mana forced the words out after she let his earlier statement affect her pride. She was considering walking away as soon as she retrieved the plate to avoid being near the Pokemon any longer, but there was some unfinished business. She turned back toward Eric. "Just to let you know! I was not scared," she attempted to cover up her actions from before. I say that but... How am I supposed to justify that? It's not exactly the truth after all... Mana felt like slapping herself in the face for making a fool of herself.

"I-I'm Mana by the way," she struggled to introduce herself through all the awkwardness she created.

@RestlessComfort