Candice hummed a tune to herself, the wind running through her hair and blowing against her whole form. She sat on the large blue body, legs dangling precariously out from either sides of her Mantine. However, the young female didn't seem the slightest bit fazed by the fact, as they flew over the region of Kanto, towards their destination located in one far corner, near the sea. Passing by Cinnabar Island, the girl knew that she was drawing nearer and nearer to her goal. Hands gripping tightly onto the neck of her faithful Iara. The Flying type yawned loudly, blinking her eyes as she focused on the approaching town in the distance. Small, blurry shapes planted to the grassy ground represented the tiny buildings located in Pallet. The biggest block of all, being that of Professor Willow's large lab. Upon seeing the wondrous sight of such a simple town with no large skyscrapers and comforting greenery, Candice couldn't resist the urge to squeal loudly from atop her Pokemon. Releasing her hands and waving them franticly in the air as the duo began their descent to the lab. The Mantine croaked in a worried voice, an anxious look upon her face.

"Mantine! Man!"

"Haha, I won't fall, don't worry so much, Iara!" Candice chuckled lightly, incredibly tempted to stand up on the Water type's back. She decided against this, rooting her hands back onto the Mantine as they gracefully descended somewhere near Professor Willow's lab. The girl leaped off Iara, immediately recalling her back into her respective Pokeball in a scarlet flash of light, accepting the fact that the Flying Pokemon really did deserve a decent rest. She quickly summoned another companion to accompany her into the lab, her choice being a bubbly, tiny creature with two large lights growing from her blue head. The Chinchou blinked her yellow eyes, gazing curiously up to her trainer. Candice gestured for the young Pokemon to jump into her embrace, and that was what Orah did, releasing a delighted "CHIN~!" as she did so.

Upon entering the area where all the other selected trainers had gathered, she saw one woman of tall stature, clad in a white lab coat, her long, shiny hair pulled back and tied. The beautiful lady opened the door of the lab, welcoming Candice into the sheltered room.

"You're Professor Willow, ya?" Candice inquired, a blank look on her face.

The older female nodded, a soft smile upon her features. The girl flashed a toothy grin in reply, skipping merrily into the room and waving one hand high over her head, as if to announce her arrival. Already, many people had reached the lab before her, the sixteen-year old counted silently in her mind - Five boys, and three girls, as well as their respective Pokemon. Most of them were deep in conversation; one particular boy looked as if he was sobbing to himself in one tiny corner of the lab. Candice smiled sheepishly, hugging her Chinchou in her arms as she waited for someone to approach her. The girl found that it would seem easier for a person to confront her, rather than the other way around.



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"... Green," Scarlet whispered faintly under her breath, a poignant feeling overwhelming her the moment she stepped through the gates of the National Park, her eyes darting this way and that, a clenched fist resting on her chest. She took in every inch of the greenery that surrounded her, slowly making her way into the park, admiring the immense variety of plant life around her. Here, nature went undisturbed, except for the periodic tending by gardeners.

Stepping further into the beautiful garden of life, the girl spotted white benches positioned not too far from the entrance of the National Park. She sluggishly wandered over to them, gripping her sling bag tightly within her two hands, placing her posterior on the seat. She inhaled a deep breath of clean air, sinking further into the bench, her eyelids slowing closing themselves.

It had been a week since Scarlet had seen that entrancing light within the night sky. She had been sitting on the thick branch of a tree located within the outer boundaries of Ilex forest, curling up to a nice book with a torchlight shining light upon its delicate pages. The girl had gotten no farther than twenty pages when a dazzling light pierced the blanket of black, blinding her and causing her to nearly topple off the safety of the branch she had settled on. When the enchanting light finally died down, Scarlet had to blink a few times before recovering her vision. The light was unordinary, frightening, bizarre, yet, strangely it was calling out to her. Somehow, the female felt drawn towards the tower of light that had decorated the sky just a few moments ago. She slowly slid off the branch of the tree and climbed down the tall plant.

By the time her feet landed firmly on the forest floor, Scarlet had decided to go after that fascinating light.She starting packed her bag the next day, got side-tracked when an emergency occurred at the Pokemon Center, and finally completed her duties by the end of the third day. She left Azalea on the afternoon of the fourth day, bidding farewell to Kurt and his granddaughter, politely bowing to both of them and thanking them for their hospitality.

"... Thanks." was all she could manage, a thick red blush forming on her cheeks. One could easily see even though her face was naturally rosy in shade. "Aye', no problem. If you find any apricots, give 'em to me and I'll make them into pokeballs!" Kurt laughed heartily, mock-saluting the person he had taken under his wing for the past two weeks. It felt a tad sad that she was leaving so soon, but, afterall, he would have less trouble looking after his peppy young grandchild without an extra mouth around to feed. Scarlet managed a weak smile at his words, bowing curtly once more before giving their family's Slowpoke a soft pat on the head as well. The pink coloured Water Type yawned in respones, wagging his tail ever so slowly in a good-bye.The sixteen year old youth set out towards Ilex forest without anymore interruptions, determined to get through the behemoth trees and shrubs before the day was over. She succeeded in doing so and travelled on to Goldenrod City in a time of two days. Though amazed with the towering buildings located in the large city, the radio tower in particular, she carried on, avoiding unwanted distractions.

Today, she had reached the National Park."I... deserve a rest." Scarlet informed nobody in particular, her eyes already shut as she tried to catch a short nap. She had been tuckered out by all that constant travelling for the last three days, some extra shut-eye couldn't hurt now, could it?




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“The first thing you have to accomplish is to come to terms with your new role,” Judo told his new pupil, slowly ambling through the large field of overgrown grass as he did so, balancing very expertly on his trusty, sturdy walking stick. Behind him, Deidara followed obediently, fanny sack attached at her hip, a partially perplexed expression upon her face. Even though she was doing this to help the old man, she was finding it quite dubious, she found it hard to believe that she had a task to accomplish in such a desolate place.

Though the greenery did gladden her ever so much, she hadn’t the faintest idea what could be done. There was no sight of human life anywhere in the surroundings, she and Judo had rode here on a cab and walked the rest of the way for at least half an hour before coming to such a place, protected from the evil claws of industry and growth of the outside world.“What’s that so-called task you said we had to do here, aye’?” she finally asked her mentor when he came to a halt, her brain still fogged up with the phrases ‘coming to terms’ and ‘new role’. A soft smile came upon Judo’s face as he turned around to face his young ox, gesturing to her small carrier. “Remove the avatar that I have given you.


“What? You mean this?” Deidara asked, unzipping her pack and taking out the bronze bell from deep within its confines. She tried to ring it once more, shaking it as hard as she could, but still, no resounding chime could be heard.“Patience, young ox, patience,” Judo said, taking the bell into his hands.He then proceeded to sit her down, politely asking her to cross and legs and close her eyes. Dara did not argue with such movement, liking the calm and quiet environment that encircled her. Nature was a wondrous thing, the sounds and the smell of the air, each one of them had their own short story of life, of growth, to tell to a listening ear. She inhaled and exhaled, as according to Judo’s wishes, concentrating on nothing in particular.

“Just listen to my voice, listen and absorb, as I tell you of your role, your duty,” Judo sat down in front of her, speaking in an enchanting and soothing voice.The old man told her of alien invaders, dastardly foes that took possession of someone’s body, sucking their life force, changing their appearance, how they would soon destroy the world if they were not stopped. He then spoke of courageous, valiant heroes, the do-gooders who would change wrongs into rights, who would fight off the enemy with powers so vast and strong, it simply astounded the girl.

“What does this…” she started to speak.

“Hush,” Judo interrupted, continuing on, explaining how every decade, a new Zodiac would be chosen to repel the aliens.

“What does this..?” Dara still wasn’t entirely sure.“You are the ox,” Judo replied sharply.“M-Me?” the female said in an desperate tone, opening her eyes.“Close your eyes.” Judo urged her, and when she did so, he posed her a question.“Will you take on your duty?”Deidara felt hopelessly lost in a world of darkness. She was unsure, uncertain of what would become of her. Her family, her friends, did she really want to leave them and go on a hare-raising quest that didn’t even seem the slightest bit believable? But… if she didn’t, they would have the risk of getting attacked by the Zuck-lings, or whatever they were called, and that wouldn’t be a very pretty picture.She inhaled and exhaled, concentrating on nothing in particular.“Clear your mind. Your thoughts, mould them into a ball, put all your feelings of love, trust and the will to fight into that small ball with your thoughts,” Judo instructed.

Deidara followed his instructions, emptying her mind, deciding that, if it was her duty, she would give it her all, defeat the enemy and save her loved ones. She was the Ox of the Zodiac."I.. am the Ox,"The soil on the ground located in front of Dara shifted slightly, bits and pieces of the Earth started to levitate, and slowly, the floating soil shaped itself into a new form. Judo asked Dara to open her eyes, and a smile erupted on her face as she saw the object in front of her.

Though it did not have a flawless rounded texture, and nearly looked like a misshapen egg, it was a circle made of earth.