[h3][color=39b54a]Lily[/color][/h3]

...Was this a dream? She looked around her, she seemed to be floating in some kind of space. This... this had to be a dream, but... it seemed so real... she saw something in the distance flying towards her. It was Shaymin! It came up to her and seemed to investigate her, looking her over, until finally perching on her shoulder. [color=39b54a]"Shaymin... so, is it true? Are we... partners?"[/color] Shaymin looked very unsure about the situation itself, it seemed they both were searching for an answer.

[i][b][color=aba000]"It is indeed truth, you have been chosen as a a Guardian."[/color][/b][/i] The voice echoed and boomed around them. It was near impossible to tell where it was coming from. Soon, another form materialized in front of her, a massive Pokemon, a bright white color with a seemingly golden ring around it's midsection. [color=39b54a]"Are you..."[/color] Lily began, but the creature before her answered for her. [i][b][color=aba000]"Yes, I am Arceus, the very creator of this world. You, Lily Meadows, and you, Shaymin, have been chosen to protect this world. Your compassion, your feelings, you hearts, they are what chose you to become Guardians."[/color][/b][/i] Lily looked up in awe, this was the very Pokemon that created, well, everything! [color=39b54a]"Why choose a kid to do something that you could do without even a thought?"[/color] She asked the deity.

[i][b][color=aba000]"Well, I may have created this world, but I also created everything that exists on it. I will not upset the balance by taking matters into my own hands. That is why the Legendary Pokemon exist, why people such as yourself are chosen for these tasks. I can merely give it a push in the right direction, so to speak."[/color][/b][/i] Lily still couldn't understand, but she was starting to. It felt exciting, something only she, and probably a few others, could do! A chance to save the world! [color=39b54a]"I kind of get it, but so there will be more of these... Guardians?"[/color]

[i][b][color=aba000]"Originally there were ten guardians chosen to defend this world, and as such, ten will be chosen again. You are the first of this group, but yes, there will be more to come. But keep this in mind, even I cannot predict the course this world will take. Destiny is a fickle thing, you know. Trust in yourself, and in your Pokemon, and you will always prevail..."[/color][/b][/i] Arceus proceeded to disappear in a flash, leaving Lily and Shaymin in their dream together.

[hr]

[h3][color=f7941d]Brent[/color] and [color=0072bc]Brooks[/color][/h3]

[color=0072bc]"You're a really down to earth kid, and I can understand where you come from. Viore is practically built on ancient legends, ruins, and the sorts, you can't deny that something like that isn't plausible."[/color] Brent had been talking with Brooks about the so-called "Legend of the Guardians", he still didn't know what to believe, if anything about it. [color=f7941d]"There has to be more proof, though. I just can't see it happening without solid undeniable..."[/color] Brooks interrupted him mid-sentence. [color=0072bc]"What about the mark that appeared on Lily's hand? You saw it, how is that undeniable? I know by the time you were there the sun was down, so it couldn't have been a trick of the light."[/color]

Brooks had a point about that... He'd tried to pass it off as if it were a sudden gleam from the setting sun, but the sun was below the treeline when it happened. Plus, what kind of sunlight gives off a green glow? [color=f7941d]"Okay, so let's say the legend is true..."[/color] [color=0072bc]"Which it is..."[/color] [color=f7941d]"What does it mean? Some kind of, I don't know, Apocalypse is coming, and she's one of the only ones who can stop it?"[/color] Brooks stopped for a moment, looking Brent in the eyes. [color=0072bc]"It most likely could be that severe... and if you're wondering why Lily may have been chosen..."[/color] [color=f7941d]"Actually I was wondering that..."[/color] [color=0072bc]"Her heart, mind, and spirit. Those are basically the qualifications to be one. Experience doesn't matter, heck the Viore Region Champion is probably one of the most experienced trainers you could find, but he only has a chance to become a Guardian."[/color]

Brent thought on this for a bit, heart, mind, spirit, that's what decided who would be a Legendary Guardian... If the legend was true... could it be, he saw the mark with his own eyes... but it hadn't returned since it first showed itself... were there only certain situations it would appear... this was making Brent's head spin, too much information that he was trying to process. [color=f7941d]"You know, you make a compelling case. I'll agree that it's plausible, but I'm still not one hundred percent certain yet."[/color] Brooks chuckled a bit, getting up from the cafeteria table the two were seated at in the kind of commons area of the Pokemon Center. [color=0072bc]"At least it's a start, you'll learn what I have through my travels soon enough. I gotta go check on my Pokemon, they're probably hungry."[/color] Brooks stood up and headed out into the backyard of the Pokemon Center, grabbing some Pokemon food and food bowls from his bag.

[hr]

[h3][color=ed1c24]Ranger Union[/color][/h3]

The helicopter dropped down onto the open area just outside of Riviera Town. The two Top Rangers jumped out, with their Partner Pokemon right behind them. After that the chopper took off back into the skies, headed back towards New Amber Town's airport. [color=00746b]"Quiet place, isn't it?"[/color] Said Aiden as they made their way into the city center. [color=a187be]"Peaceful, for now... who knows when those Royal Skies guys might make an unwanted visit."[/color] Replied Lola, as they continued past the center fountain to the local Police Station, where they were greeted by Riviera Town's Officer Jenny and escorted inside.

Officer Jenny quickly brought the two rangers up to speed on the situation in the Viore Triangle. [color=0072bc]"Team Royal Skies has been attacking trainers and people in Dorado, Riviera, and Lilac, but have never had a confrontation in the cities themselves. We just can't seem to figure out their motives."[/color] Aiden sat and thought for a bit, looking at the map of the area. There was no common factor linking the three towns for common attacks like that... wait, he had it! [color=00746b]"Would that lake there have anything to do with it?"[/color] Jenny looked over to the map. [color=0072bc]"Lake Northwind? There's nothing too special about that, except... there haven't been any attacks there... strange... you know, there is a Legend about the Legendary Pokemon Suicune connected to that lake."[/color]

[color=a187be]"Suicune? How so?"[/color] Asked Lola. [color=0072bc]"It's said that Suicune lives at Lake Northwind, and is the guardian of the area. It's never been fully proven, though."[/color] The two rangers looked at each other for a moment, and nodded their heads to each other. [color=00746b]"Officer, we're going to check out the lake ourselves. In our line of work, Legends tend to be more than just, well, legends. Come on Storm."[/color] Said Aiden, as he stood up and headed towards the door with the Sandslash next to him right behind him now. [color=a187be]"Good idea, let's go Ark. We'll be back as soon as we can, Officer."[/color] Said Lola, following Aiden's lead, with her Arcanine following hers.

[hr]

[h3][color=gray]Team Royal Skies[/color][/h3]

Galahad stepped out of their All Terrain Transport and inspected the area around them. This seemed isolated enough for a base camp for the mission at hand. [color=gray]"All right, start setting up the tracking gear, we've got a hunt to begin!"[/color] He ordered in a loud, booming voice. Immediately a group of grunts began setting up lots of complicated equipment along the water's edge. Soon everything was in place, whatever it was. [color=gray]"Sir, equipment is up and running, fully operational."[/color] Galahad turned to the grunt for a moment, then turned back to the lake. [color=gray]"Good, begin sweeping the lakeside, see if you can find any sign of the target."[/color] The grunt saluted, and rushed off to tell the other grunts. In moments there were Royal Skies grunts scanning the lakeside for any trace of their "Target".