[Castelia City is a grand, magnificent city by the harbor, an ever-changing metropolis where all kinds of people can be found. Here, the hustle and bustle of city life rule, and people charge past each other in a bid to win the rat race.

There is, however, a moment of peace today in the Central Plaza, something rarely seen in such a place as Castelia. Whitlea is taking advantage of this, and thus has invited over a few of her friends and family from Nuvema, and from across Unova. It's easy to do when you're the Champion, but what was harder was finding enough free time to get there. She's managed to clear a spot in her busy schedule just for today, though, and is looking forward to meeting them again.

...of course, not even the Champion can get to Casteliacone fast enough to avoid the long lines.

But she's finally managed to buy it! And right now, she's running up to the person she hasn't seen in a while: you. Perhaps you're sitting on a park bench waiting patiently for her, perhaps you've wandered off in search for her, perhaps you've grown bored and decided to leave just before she came over. Well, here she is now, bearing two ice cream cones.]

Sorry I'm late! I couldn't get to Casteliacone fast enough. Had to wait for hours, but trust me, it's worth it.

The forest is quiet, and green. A cloaked man heads towards an altar in a clearing, already laid out with candles and, crosswise, his sword in its sheath. He takes a deep, cleansing breath, and picks it up.

"Kunzite!"

The voice interrupts him. He fires a swift, angry look in its direction, unwilling to let the blue-haired girl hurrying towards the clearing from the forest's edge interfere in this. Under his glower, the ground shakes violently and a chasm opens between them, stopping her short as she scrambles to keep her balance and can go no further. She shouts something else, but her voice is useless and the sound is stillborn. Her mouth works uselessly, frantically, as she tries to make herself heard, to no avail.

Kunzite frees the weapon from its rest, and throws the sheath carelessly on the ground. His hands are steady as he deals his own death blow and gives a great, wordless cry. Mercury can only watch, face tight with conflicting emotions and dark eyes forcibly dry.

--

There's nothing to explain how the forest has suddenly changed, but Mercury is still there. The chasm is gone. The altar has been replaced by a memorial tablet. Glimmering flowers, closed buds made of living ice, grow throughout the entire clearing; it doesn't take counting to know there are one thousand and ninety-four.

Mercury tends the grave site, as she has done regularly for three years now, as she will do tomorrow when she awakens. If the passing of time has helped to alleviate the impact, it has not lessened the importance. As she pours the water over the stone, her face becomes almost calm in repose as she sinks into reflection.

She could use a sympathetic presence.

[Unova Route 17 is, simply put, a route through the sea.

Sure, there are shallow patches of water every now and then, but otherwise, there's a lot of water, and currents that should best be avoided. And you know what that means to a Trainer?

A lot of water Pokemon to catch.

How Whitlea has managed to get here without a Pokemon that knows Surf is a mystery that is best explained by dream logic. What matters now is that she is pacing around one of said patches of shallow water, her shoes squeaking with every step. With every step, her excitement, nervousness and anticipation grows. With every squeak, she inhales and exhales.

She's an old hat at this, of course, but the excitement of battling a wild Pokemon never quite goes away. Even now, when this is only going to be a demonstration for somebody, she's feeling far, far too excited to stay still.

She turns around for the final time, then grins.]

You're late, Ami.

[The Celestial Tower. A graveyard for Pokemon.

Then again, that's already rather obvious, from the faceless people laying flowers on gravestones, the solemn atmosphere that permeates the air and the gravestones themselves, marked with names and dates and decorated with flowers. Every so often, you might get a feeling that you're being watched, though it always disappears.

Once you reach the topmost floor, though, you may behold a most unusual sight: Whitlea, standing over a simple grave with a bouquet of flowers in hand. She looks older, yet unlike her usual self, always bursting with optimistic cheer, she now looks weary, tired. Bright, innocent eyes have given way to hardened, exhausted ones, now brimming with tears, like she has seen the worst humanity has to offer and has suffered for it.

She kneels, and for the first time since this dream began she smiles, somewhat. It's sad, though, unlike her usual wide grins.]

Hey, Samurott. It's been a while. Sorry I can't swing by as much as I'd like, but I haven't had much time. Not since I became the Champion.

[She chuckles, bitterly.]

It's not the same without you. I wish you'd been in my team when we found the Seven Sages, but I guess some things just...happen. I hope you're okay, wherever you are.

[She lays the flowers on top of the grave, then stands up to ring the bell. A haunting chime echoes throughout the tower, and it's here that she lets a tear make its way down her cheek.]

Miss you.

[Approach?]

((OOC: Okay, so. Bitter cynic!Whitlea is go. Basically, her Samurott was killed in the fight against Ghetsis, though Team Plasma had been cracking her idealistic viewpoint for months at that point. Her Samurott's death was the last straw, so she pretty much curb-stomped Ghetsis with the rest of her team and went off to bury her starter Pokemon. I love traumatizing my well-adjusted muses, apparently.))

Oh bother. Seems as if you've lost your way.

You've been meandering as 'whatever-you-are's tend to do quite often, if only because 'whatever-you-ares' are very good at meandering.

But perhaps it might have been better to do what 'whatever-you-are's do best some other time, since you are actually searching for a very specific somebody! They most certainly will help you today, you think. Help you find some hunny, or track down those dastardly heffalumps and woozles. Perhaps to help tend your garden, or build your house which will just fall over anyway. It always does. And maybe in the future, you'll need them to fetch you from that tree when you'll be blown into by a blustery wind on a blustery day!

Either way, you'll hear the pitter patter of footsteps approach from behind, perhaps a stranger, or perhaps a very good friend.

And when you turn, this maybe-friend-or-perhaps-stranger greets you!

Sora offers a hand. "There you are!" And a warm smile. "You ready?"




[ooc: Oh dear- you've been turned into a stuffed animal/person/creature in the Hundred Acre wood. But have no fear, whatever flight of fancy strikes you, Sora's here to help and protect! Action tags or prose, you can know you're dreaming or remain oblivious, have Sora take you on a misadventure, or take Sora on one of yours! Have fun and be as creative as you want - after all, it's what 'whatever-you-are's are best at. ]

[ Dreams can take different shapes and forms for different reasons. When it comes to the Doctor? They don't necessarily need to make sense. That is probably why you find yourself pushing open the doors to a dance hall, which is remarkably bigger on the inside. The dance floor is huge, with several tables spread around it for people to sit at, and a live band playing at the very back of the room. They are playing a variety of the music from the times, as well as a few modern songs that seem to fit the time period of the 1940s. There is even a bar tucked away in the corner.

Of course though, perhaps what the main attraction is, is the man leaning against a blue police box (sans the red banners), top hat and a cane all in one go. He turns and looks up at you as you walk in, a smile eventually gracing his face. ]

You're late.

It's a castle unlike anything mankind has seen. True -- castles of all different shapes and sizes have littered throughout civilizations. Grand palaces covered in gold and kingdoms forbidden to even the common folk of their glorious empire.

But what makes this kingdom so special? If you look up, it's not the normal sky. Instead, the backdrop is the black blue color of space and hovering above is a view of the Earth.



Welcome to the Mare Serenitatis, The Sea of Serenity., dear dreamer. In the center, protected by a large and magical bio dome is a large castle. The roof tops are reminiscent of from India but it's not the only predominant ancient Earth kingdom influences -- although looking through the castle one can see that this castle backdates anything that Mankind has ever known. Where you are now is in the courtyard. There's the main pathway lined in polished white stone and fountain plinths adorn the water surrounding the mini fields of flowers inside of the courtyard.

Standing in one of the many areas of flowers is a lone woman. Most who know her would recognize her as Usagi Tsukino: the young girl with blue eyes and that peculiar hairstyle. But, this lovely lady embodies something the young girl has not honed yet. She is graceful, quiet and wise. She wears a gown pearl in color with an opaque pink ribbon that almost looks like wings that span from the waist of her dress. Her hair is still up in that familiar style, but atop of her head is a small golden crown and gracing her forehead is an upturned golden crescent moon.

Mistress of this castle; she is the only one in the courtyard and her eyes are staring quietly at the Earth, unaware of any one who may have stumbled upon this spot.

(OOC: Will be responding with timelessmoon As with the other fast-forwarded time skip entries, feel free to assume CR if the situation calls for it I'm not too picky. Also IT'S USAGI'S BIRTHDAY TODAY! \o\;;;)