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Post by DataNinja on Feb 8, 2020 4:09:08 GMT
"It all depends," the Hybrid replies. "Some are just really, really strong. I'll... admit that I don't really pay much attention to that kind of stuff," Rainbow says, a little embarrassed, "because, well, I can just fly on my own."
"I... don't really know what I can say that might help. Because, well, if you fall or anything, it's not like you can just... fly to stop yourself. Just... relax, I guess? Feel the wind in your face?" She looks uncertain. "I don't really know. You aren't scared of heights, right? If so, that might be an issue..."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 8, 2020 4:22:39 GMT
"I have no idea!" She declares bright eyed and bold-facedly. "I could be! Thankfully I have a skilled rider, and an experienced flyer with me if I get nervous." What -was- she afraid of? There was Gulpin until she was six, then it was the dark and Gulpin until she was eight, and understood that darkness was just an absence of agitated photons within a given space along a certain light frequency.
Still Gulpin, definitely. Catching whatever Sableye had, Dark Aether exposure. Losing Rainbow to spanning, her mission, the dark times, or her own failures. Her parents or peers not understanding her research practiced. Okay so there were a few things.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 8, 2020 4:52:21 GMT
"That's, the, uh... spirit?" Rainbow says, chuckling, seemingly not quite sure how to take Bea's confidence. Or possible lack thereof.
They find themselves at the flight place, which is really just a little stall with an old man with grey hair sitting there, relaxed. "So, looking to go up to the top of the volcano? Do a little sky tour? It's a nice day for it. Okay, if it's just the two of you... Shiva'll get you there safe and sound." He tosses out a Pokéball, and a proud blue-and-white dragon emerges, flaring red wings in an impressive display, fangs grinning.
Though, almost immediately, the façade of toughness is broken, as it leans down to let the old man rub its neck. "She can carry the both of you no problem. And if you face any problems, just pat her firmly three times on the left side of the neck to land, or three times on the right to come back here."
Rainbow looks very much taken aback at the Pokémon that is going to carry them. "Uh... you're... you're sure she's friendly?"
"Yeah, real sweetheart," the man says, as Shiva extends her neck out to nuzzle up to Bylli, who gives a few little pats on the dragon's muzzle. "Was a bit of a rough n' tumble fighter in her youth, but we're both retired now. As long as you're polite, you'll get along just fine." Rainbow still seems to be uncertain as the dragon looks her up and down with a steely gaze, lingering on the parts of her that aren't quite human.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 8, 2020 10:26:39 GMT
"Dragon type Pokemon are known for being proud, difficult to train, fiercely loyal, powerful and reclusive. Just think of Shiva like Maddie." Bee reassured Rainbow gently, reaching up to rub under the Salamence's chin. "She's beautiful, and I'm sure we're in good hands. We were just looking to go to the summit after a pass over the mountain."
Gently, she took Rainbow's hand in one of hers. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to, but you can hold onto me if you need. This isn't that time, I promise I'll be okay."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 8, 2020 17:50:23 GMT
"I... I think I can manage," Rainbow says, taking a deep breath, though a little uneasily.
"That's the spirit!" the man says. "Don't worry. A lot of people are super nervous their first time. But I almost always hear that they really enjoyed it by the end. ...a few people do discover they don't exactly like flying, though. But, just remember the safety pats, and you'll be good!"
It takes a little bit to get everyone settled comfortably on Shiva, but Bea ends up situated behind the dragon's neck, while Rainbow's clinging onto her waist behind her. And Bylli's still on Bea's shoulder.
With a flap of its wings, the dragon climbs into the air, going higher and higher, circling the town first to gain some height, as the sprawl of buildings beneath them recedes to the size of models. From there, she lazily begins a glide towards the volcano.
The forest is the biggest thing over the land, but there's a very clear gradient shifting from green to ashen as the trees approach the peak of the volcano, which is releasing ash that mostly blows towards Fallarbor. There's also some bird Pokémon below, though none of them seem to want to even come close to messing with a Salamence.
"Whoa," Rainbow says. "I've never been up this high before. Never seemed worth the effort. I can barely see people there..."
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Post by Robot on Feb 8, 2020 19:15:17 GMT
Bee's answer, instead of her usual pontification is a stiffness in her posture, her skin looking pallid, pink skirt and the faux wings attached to her too fluttering madly. Had she answered it was too quiet to carry over the tear of the wind. Her grip on their ride is deathly tight as they climb higher and higher, only loosening as the downward pull of inertia and gravity begin to lessen. "I... I think... I like the ground." She called back to her friend.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 8, 2020 19:26:44 GMT
"Are you, uh, are you wanting to go back, and... just walk up the mountain," Rainbow asks, concerned. "Because we can do that, if you don't want to keep doing this..."
In the meantime, the Salamance continues to glide towards the massive volcano, occasionally giving a powerful flap of its wings.
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Post by Robot on Feb 8, 2020 19:33:39 GMT
"I'll be okay now that we're gliding." She answered with a wan smile. "Shiva's been doing this her whole life, so have you and Bylii. I'm in good hands. N-never expected the world was so big. I can see my hometown from here." Gingerly she pointed out what landmarks she could recognize.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 8, 2020 20:13:31 GMT
"Alright, if you insist you're fine..." She does hold onto Bea a little bit tighter, though.
"That little bit from over the mountain?" Rainbow asks, "There on the other side? Huh. Doesn't it... scare you, to have lived so close to something as active as this? I mean, it didn't erupt or anything... but what if it did?"
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Post by Robot on Feb 8, 2020 20:29:00 GMT
"There would be telltale signs of increasing geothermal activity before then. Pokemon are often a good indicator of shifts in the environment. Your concern is valid, but you've seen how far the Deadlands extend, can you imagine leaving that large a swath without people or Pokemon just as a precaution? For thousands of years, no less. The chances of misfortune are so small, they aren't even considered. People uncomfortable with the idea simply don't live there."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 8, 2020 20:32:36 GMT
"I guess that makes sense..." Rainbow says. "It just seems... strange to me, that one would choose to live in a situation - that they have control over - that would increase the danger they're in by any amount. But, then again, here doesn't have the same day-to-day worries as back home."
"Oh, look!" she says, "You can see inside the crater a little. It's all red and glowing!"
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Post by Robot on Feb 8, 2020 21:34:27 GMT
Peering around the dragon's neck, she took in the sight. "That will be igneous rock in a liquid state at over a thousand degrees in temperature. Molten stone produced via friction and the planet's internal temperatures coming to the surface through breaks and channels in the earth. The mountain itself would have been formed of a similar substance a long time ago." She seemed more comfortable as long as she was kept talking. "I did not expect it to shed so much light honestly."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 8, 2020 21:41:57 GMT
"It's just, like... fire-rock, right?" Rainbow asks. "And fire spreads light, so it makes sense that fire-rock would shine brightly, too."
"I have... a bit of a complicated relationship with fire," she admits. "It's nice, and warm, and I appreciate it for giving life, and renewing things... but, man, does it scare me. It feels like I'll get consumed if I get too close, or take my eyes off it for even one second. I guess that might be one reason I feel so... apprehensive about though thought of living near a volcano."
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Post by Robot on Feb 8, 2020 22:08:24 GMT
Beatrice perked up curiously at that. "That would be the grass type in you, curious. Survival instincts are preserved, which suggests more mental nuances to your Pokemon side." She nodded thoughtfully. "I will have to benchmark that myself when the time comes. We should be landing soon, then we can picnic and look around."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 8, 2020 22:25:44 GMT
"I... guess, yeah, that's probably it," Rainbow says. "I mean, I'd like to think that I would have survival instincts," she chuckles nervously. "Would probably be a short life otherwise, with how dangerous it is."
The ride isn't quite as short as Bea probably would have hoped for, as the dragon meanders about, and even flies close to the caldera... that, with the ash, and the updraft, and everything, it very much induces a worrying amount of turbulence to the Salamence - but the dragon deftly handles it all. Rainbow and Bylli both hold ever tighter to Bea when it's happening, though.
But, at last, it's over. The vistas of across the land replaced by the approaching ground, as Shiva lands at the top of the mountain, next to where the cable cars are to head back down - or, if one prefers, a trail to head down the mountain. Or steps up to go near the caldera.
The dragon departs with a roar, swooping back down the mountain after her passengers depart. There're a few people around, looking like tourists, who look and take pictures of Shiva as she descends (and maybe one or two also catches Rainbow in the shot), but they don't really pay much heed.
Ash falls from the sky, coating everything around in a light dusting of tan. Bylli does her best to keep the dust off both her and Bea.
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 0:49:56 GMT
Bee is happy to have her feet on the ground again, with Bylii gently batting the flakes of ash away, she squints skywards after the dragon. "In hindsight, not my best choice for a picnic location. Do you want to see the caldera a little closer, and then we can head down into the trees to eat? I'll get some ash into the pouch they lent me while we're about."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 0:58:32 GMT
Rainbow gives some nervous laughter. "To, uh, to be perfectly honest, I would rather not. I know that it's not going to erupt or anything... but a giant pit of fire? That terrifies me. I know that it'd probably be figuratively cool, and I'll go if you want to see it, but... I really don't want to." She averts her gaze.
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 1:21:29 GMT
"Completely understandable. We can do without going over by the giant fire pit." Giving Rainbow a comforting squeeze on the shoulder, she started towards the path down the mountain. "Come on, that's enough fire and heights for one day." She giggles softly.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 9, 2020 1:23:58 GMT
"Are you sure?" Rainbow asks, with some concern. "Because, well, I don't want you to not do something that you really want to do on account of me… If you really want to see it, I'll go with you. You've done worse things for me, after all..."
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Post by Robot on Feb 9, 2020 2:16:35 GMT
Bee cast Bylii a sideways glance, staring into the fairy's bright eyes for a moment before smiling for Rainbow. "More than anything, yesterday and today were about spending time with a friend. I have seventy years to see a volcano, but today is only here for today. Come on, let's have an adventure together."
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