This Time We've Seen [Open]

Phoebe pulled a jacket from her backpack as cold wind rushed over the peak of Victory Road. She always liked it up here. It was just so pretty sometimes, and it was really easy to go unnoticed. The only thing she could ever find to complain about was the chill. As another cold gust went by she zipped up the teal-colored wind-breaker.

It wasn't the most comfortable thing and she wasn't completely into its appearance but she knew that its purpose was to keep her warm. So she dealt with it. As she walked along the rounded mountain top she heard the sound of a familiar voice. Gruff with age but warm with a kind hum. It was comforting. It reminded her of home and her Grandparents. Without much hesitation she approached the source of Drake's voice.

She listened, standing a few feet away, as he spoke to his Slamence. The Dragon was so powerful but she always got an aura of caring from it, probably inherited from its master. Since she had become a member of the Elite Four the Dragon- Master had served as a mentor and guardian of sorts. He had helped her adjust and she was eternally grateful.

It was really too bad he sided with Lux. But, there was nothing she could. It had been his decision. Who was she to intrude on another's natural cycle? Someone else's experiences between life and the comforting embrace of death. When she heard her thoughts cut off and the aged man's voice stop she looked up and walked to the pair on soft-treading feet.

"Hey Drake, how's it going?" She asked kindly, taking a seat next to the man, crossing her legs and resting her arms on her knees. As she awaited a response she looked out at the sunset. Oh, how she missed the days when she could look out like this and feel nothing but calmness and a rightness with the world.

That strong look that was always in Drake's eyes, Phoebe remembered when it used to frighten her. It wasn't the kind of fear that came from the narrowed eyes of a glare, or a sadistic smile, it was more an overbearing feeling of strength. On and off the battlefield Drake always carried it with him. Of course, given some time the look stopped making her uneasy and became a comforting thing.

On top of that, who could be frightened when he had that sweet smile of his as well. It was another thing she hadn't noticed instantly but had learned to catch with some practice. There was a slight crinkle around his eyes and the slightest dimpling that made sure the moustache couldn't hide his grins completely.

"Oh yes. The ever-going cycle. All those experiences we can see. I sometimes miss how easy it used to be." Phoebe spoke with a warm smile of her own, though she herself noticed how her voice nearly grumbled the last sentence, "Me? Oh, ya know. Doing my job, usually. I've had a lot of fun around the towns lately, getting my enjoyment out of life the best I can."

As she spoke Phoebe extended a hand to gently rub Themis's muzzle. The rough skin of the dragon's hide scratched against her hand and Phoebe let out a slight laugh. It was so nice to have this sense of normality. Only those close to her could produce it so easily. Sadly, it wouldn't last for long.

"Guess I better make the best of it then." She mumbled softly under her breath.

Drake heard a low sound comparable to an affectionate growl come from his Dragon Pokemon’s throat, and he placed a hand lightly on her shoulder as Themis pressed her nose gently into Phoebe’s hand. She’d watched the girl grow up as Drake had, watching as she changed under the guidance of her trainer. She glanced back at Drake before closing her eyes and relaxing a bit resting her chin more on Phoebe’s shoulder, the young woman’s joint sort of like a pillow for the Salamence’s chin.

Drake smiled a little as he looked between his dragon and former co-worker. The expression faded slightly with her mumbled words, though he nodded a bit in understanding. He wished the trials of war didn’t take such a toll on the younger generation as they had, and he particularly didn’t want to see a member of it as close to him as Phoebe was affected. However, that was inevitable, no matter how hard he wished for the opposite. ”You should make the best of it…otherwise there may not be any time or possibility to in the near future…” Drake told her, his words taking on a less-than-cheery edge. ”Depending on how much more this war spreads – even just in Hoenn – we may not be able to go where we please depending on who is in power and which of the Region’s Cities and Towns.

Whatever we still have from the old days…” the ‘old days’ here being before two years ago when the war broke out, ”We must take to heart and seize whatever opportunity we can.” He gave her a smile and looked back over the water. ”Time passes someone like me by and I see the changes that have taken place from when I was your age to now. An experience like this is totally different for you than it is me.”

He gazed unblinkingly over the water until a new voice made its presence and he straightened a bit in surprise, looking over his shoulder. Themis, too, snapped her attention to the newcomer, bending her body into a U-shape as she looked at who it was, a low, warning growl sounding from her throat.