Corivana Espada & Kyo (interaction with Claire, John, Sindri, and Zavier)
Path to Nona Nursery - Ayero
Corivana had to stop herself from rubber-necking to look at the small army of armored men who now clambered on the road behind herself, Kyo, and the rest of their merry band of adventurers. Her eye flicked back subtly to check their numbers, and she had been wrong: they numbered more than just a mere forty. Near two hundred strong, and all marching in perfect synchronization with the well oiled discipline that proper military training enforced on it's troops. She could faintly make out pokemon running along side each of them, mere silhouettes.
She tugged on Kyo's harness to get her pokemon to speed up, and bit her lip. She really couldn't afford to be found out here. Her identity was top secret. Even talking to the Lady Claire was going to be frowned upon when she wrote it in her report upon arriving at the capital.
"It do be on this path comin' up, mateys." Corivana said suddenly, pointing to a well worn road that forked off from the main one, and wound it's way through the forest on their right. A high canopy of trees and vines made a whimsical arched ceiling over the road, giving the path a pleasant shade. She didn't look back to see if any of her companions followed her to the path. She would leave even the Lady Claire in the dust if it meant retreating away from the overwhelming anxiety she felt about any one of the pawns in that army even suspecting who she was.
Nona Nursery had once been the home of the legendary nurse, Nona, who was known for her abundant generosity and kindness, as well as for her immeasurable skills at healing people and pokemon alike. Now, however, it is known for producing many young medics who go to aid the King's Guard with their skills to heal. The village sits next to the great river that the Espada barges travel down to deliver produce to the capital. Because of this, the Nursery gets fresh produce without having to grow their own, but they have rare berries being maintained by the local pokemon to help supplement their economy. The entire village sits beneath the welcoming shade of the forest it's located in, and only streams of sunlight pierce the foliage high overhead. The Nursery is a paradise for fairy, water, bug, and normal type pokemon.
'And it wont be much longer before we arrive.' Corivana gripped the harness tightly, causing her knuckles to go white. The current Elder Nurse,
Adelheit, was an old waraxe. The lady was the black sheep of the rest of the village, atleast personality-wise, yet they looked up to her and welcomed the difference.
"She also do be an infuriating old coot!" Corivana said outloud, and mostly to herself. Adelheit could prove to be a challenge to deal with, she was sharp and witty, even at such an old age - and she had always given Corivana a hard time. Corivana wasn't sure if it was because Adelheit enjoyed torturing her, or if the old lady was just senile, but coming here had been something she was intending to avoid.
Meanwhile, Kyo spoke with Zavier.
"It seems like she named you, little one. She calls me Kyo, so let's play sometime since you're our friend now, Fate!" The Kyogre practically beamed with happiness, but it wasn't just because Zavier was part of their duo-now-trio. She knew this road, and what lay on the other end.
"You'll like the Nursery, Fate. All of the houses have plants growing out of their roof, and they feed you good food. Maybe you can try to break your collar here? Adelheit has a sharp claw that might work!"
As Kyo followed the bend of the path, Nona Nursery came to life before them, unfurling in an array of plant life, pokemon, and people all scurrying about their tasks. Children laughed as they played games with eachother and their pokemon, while teenagers flocked together on the wood and stone porches of houses, or ran across the village square with a bundle of plants in their arms, obviously on a chore.
No guards stood at the entrances, but instead about two dozen archers archers with their pokemon settled atop the roof of their homes and kept casual watch over the town. Not much crime happened here, so the archers took their job about as seriously as the children playing in the square below.
"We do be here, mateys. Nona Nursery. Ye should find the Elder Nurse Adelheit if ye do be wantin' yer haxxorus treated, John." Corivana announced as she swung down off of Kyo. A feeling of nostalgia bubbled in her belly as she glanced over the small town. She had flirted with many women here, back when she and they were teenagers, but they had almost all left to go to aid the King's Guard with their skills. Nostalgia went quickly to something more bittersweet, but she shrugged it away with a casual shrug of her shoulders.
"I do be off to find meself some grub, good luck with Adelheit. If ye do wish to accompany Kyo and meself further to the capital, we do be leavin' before the hour chimes." She gestured to a clock sitting in the middle of the town, just next to the pokemon center.
Just barely ten minutes into the hour. Corivana swaggered into the village, Kyo floating serenely behind her.
Sophia Skyheart & Neva (interaction with Korrigan, Milly, and Zaegar)
Nouvelle - Lugere
Sophia could feel Neva shaking with rage from where her hand lay on him, but he remained oddly silent through Shade's criticism - which was very unlike her articuno to do. But even Sophia was taken aback when Korrigan pushed his luck and came to
pet Neva. Sophia turned her eyes to Neva and gave him a look that spoke volumes.
Don't do it. The articuno ruffled his feathers out and began to vigorously clean himself where Korrigan had touched them. Neva didn't dislike Korrigan, but it would be safe to say that the legendary pokemon has his feathers in a bunch.
Sophia managed to renew her smile when Milly spoke. A tinge of jealousy crept into her as she watched her old-now-new friend diffuse the situation as if it were as simple as breathing.
'I could never do that.' She had learned from books, but practical, hands-on... that was beyond her.
'For now... I'll learn to get better. Coming here was the right choice. I'll learn a lot from Milly.'
She waited until Korrigan finished asking who Milly was before looping a dainty arm through Milly's own.
"Thank you Milly, I would enjoy that. I'm sure she can answer your questions on the walk there, Korrey, I'd love to get out of this chill and have a delicious Nouvelle-style breakfast. Come Neva, and behave!" Sophia's leg and arm were throbbing indeed, and she'd kill to be sitting in front of a fire and eating whatever delicacies this wondrous town has to offer. The articuno pranced closely behind her and Milly, a protective force of nature.
"I apologize for my behavior in your territory, Lady Mel." Neva said to Mel, his imperious sounding voice taking on a slightly humble cadence.
"That Morph basically begged to have his throat ripped out for offending us with it's presence, and for trying to hurt my Sophia." There was nothing humble about his voice as he finished. His eyes gleamed with a predatory light as he glanced back at where the Morph was.