Shadow Fire

Silver felt like he'd been shocked by a Zapdos. As if he already wasn't confused enough, the smaller Totodile called him Snappy. Staring up at Ethan worriedly, he forced a smile. "We'll figure this out..." he assured, absently snapping his jaws. "In the meantime, maybe we should go find 'the great mystic kitty'."

Ilia narrowed her eyes and glared at Kaze. "Kaze!" she scolded, her tone harsh. "How could you! You were pushing Epona too hard again! I bet you hurt her leg jumping fences, didn't you!" Surprised, Bo put his hands out, trying to calm down his daughter. "Now, now, Ilia..." he said. "There's no need to get so hot with her..." "FATHER!" the girl interrupted, angrily. "How can you be so easy on her? You're the MAYOR! You should start acting like one!" Turning to the horse, Ilia began leading her away. "You poor thing..." she cooed. "It'll be all right, Epona. I'll take you to the forest spring right now. Once we soothe you in the spirit's spring, you'll feel better in no time!" Bo called out after his daughter, in a futile effort to stop her. "W-Wait! Ilia!!!" he cried. "Why, without Epona... The gift won't get delivered in time! Oh, this won't do..."

And another one. :3 Wetter and BetterF5C3-0000-0174-C31A Engine: New Super Mario Bros. Level Type: Water Level Time: 500 A revisit of 3-1 from Super Mario Bros. 3, with more enemies and traps. This level, while not too difficult, tests your swimming expertise.

Noticing her, Ilia called out for her father, who came out to greet Kaze. Everything seemed to be going along just fine, until... "Wait... What's this?" the girl said, inspecting Epona's leg. "What's happened? She's injured, isn't she?"

Pushing the walls back to the way they were, Link noticed that the hallway leading to a massive door was accessible. Glancing at his childhood friend, he nodded and began walking towards it. Taking out the large key they had found, he inserted it into the lock, watching with awe as the lock and chains vanished, the door granting them access. I have a bad feeling about this...

"You're the best big brother ever!" the small Totodile said. "Ever since our mother... left... you've taken care of me." Silver glanced over at Ethan. I wonder what this means. I want to return to being human, so I can stay with Ethan, but... if I'm this Totodile's big brother... The smaller Totodile pet Silver on the back. "It's okay though." he continued. "Just like you took care of me, I'll take care of you... Snappy-niichan."

Hearing a cage open, but not able to see it, Link gave the wall a push, this time on purpose. He watched as the room rotated again, revealing two sections. One of them had a switch. I guess I better press this.

As they arrived in the lower chamber, Link gasped at what he saw. The entire chamber itself seemed to be sealed off. Was there something we forgot? Taking a breath, he rested against one of the walls, only to cry out in surprise as it suddenly moved, exposing a different section, with a switch.

Rusl pondered for a moment, before smiling again. "Anyway, Kaze..." he continued. "Tomorrow is finally the day. You will be departing for Hyrule. I think it is a good thing I have given this task to you... Good luck! And return safely! If you are lucky, you may even get to meet Princess Zelda! Ah ha ha!" With those words, he made his way back to the village.

The little Totodile nodded. "Yep!" he said, excitedly. "I'm sure he will be able to help!" Silver stared at the smaller Totodile. "So..." he began. "I'm your big brother, huh?" A cheery nod was his answer.

Rusl approached, smiling down at the young girl. "My son told me Talo disappeared into the woods and had not returned..." he explained. "I came as soon as I heard... But it looks like you have brought him home already... I apologize. Such a task should not fall to you." Glancing around, his smile faded, a look of concern appearing on his face. "Tell me, have you noticed how strange this wood seems lately?" he asked. "I feel... uneasy about what may lie in wait..."

The green-clad male merely stuck his tongue out in response, giving a teasing grin. Approaching the elevator, he clambered up on it, waiting for Kaze to join him.

The smaller Totodile broke away from Cynder, and looked up at Ethan and Silver. "Um..." he began. "Don't be sad..." Oddly enough, it seemed as if his words were able to be deciphered by the human. Clambering up onto the bed, he placed a paw on both Ethan and Silver, giving an adorable smile, snapping his jaws as he did. "I heard a legend..." he continued. "If we go see the great mystic kitty, we may have a happy ending for you and my big brother!" Silver froze in shock. Big... brother?

Talo breathed a sigh of relief, while the monkey scurried off to do monkey things. The boy stared after it, before turning to his rescuer. "If you hadn't come, Kaze..." he murmured. "Gee, me and that monkey would've gotten eaten, probably! She's actually a pretty nice gal, that monkey... She tried to protect me, so we got captured together." Glancing away guiltily, he suddenly ran in front of the girl and clasped his hands together in pleading. "Um, Kaze..." he continued. "You're not gonna mention this to my dad, are you? He's always telling me to never, EVER go into the forest, 'cause he says it's dangerous... So you really can't tell him! Really! You have to promise!"

Eyes widening, Silver let his own tears fall, and he buried his face into Ethan's chest. "I'm sorry!" he sobbed. "I was so excited to return to you after I defeated Lance, but... something happened. I woke up like this..." Suddenly, a dreadful thought passed through his mind. "Nobody we knew remembers me..." he continued. "...do they?"

Clearing his throat, Link opened his mouth, and said one soft word. "Down..."

Eyes closing as Ethan kissed him, which in itself was strange, considering the two were now completely different species, he pressed back briefly, before letting the kiss come to an end. Feeling somewhat tingly all over, the Totodile opened his eyes and stared away, still smiling his wistful smile. I missed your kisses... but more importantly, I've missed you, so much. Realizing he was still a Totodile, he gave a soft sigh and stared back at Ethan, sadly. "I'm sorry..." he mumbled. "I was hoping it would work too, but I guess it was just a stupid fairy tale." Nothing could prepare him for what was going to happen next.

Trapped in a cage, Talo and the monkey were being circled by monsters, which were preparing to put an end to their lives.

A few more rounds of this was all it took for Meg to finally shriek in defeat, releasing her captive flame to whence it belonged. With all four torches lit, the elevator rumbled to a start and rose up, allowing the two entry to the lower level. That was a spirited battle...

Eyes locked on to Ethan's, the former human gave a small smile. It was a smile similar to the ones he had given Ethan as a human, the same smile he had given when he'd defeated Lance on his own. "As impossible as it seems..." he murmured, although it sounded like Pokemon language to the human. "...for whatever reason, this is what happened to me." A paw was reached up, gently touching the human's cheek. "Ethan..." Once again, his eyes briefly flashed to their original colour.

Beth and Malo were encountered along the way, unable to keep up with Talo. A nearby man selling lantern oil called out to her. "Whoa! An Ordonian!" he said. "Hey, miss! I saw this boy chasing after a monkey. I know you must be trying to find him, but I'm not sure you should be wandering around the woods without a lantern. Just because it's daylight doesn't mean it's safe." Looking over at a nearby cave, he nodded towards it. "There are a ton of caves and dank spots around here that get pretty dark even in the middle of the day..." he said, picking up a lantern and handing it to her. "Here! Go on, miss. Take this! See, I sell lantern oil here... I'm trying to drum up sales by giving away free lanterns! It's a business tactic, it is! See, as long as you've got oil to fuel your lantern, you can light your way and set fire to stuff. They're the best! But I'd be careful, if I were you. The cave is dark inside, and filled with all sorts of nasties."

Silver's eyes opened, and he glanced up at his beloved. Taking in his surroundings, a slight pink came to his face as he remembered the Pokemon Center in the past. "Ethan?"

Link looked at the four phantoms circling around him. He suddenly noticed that one of them gave an additional twirl, and fired an arrow at it. The other three vanished immediately as the ghost reeled in pain, before vanishing, only to reappear mere moments later, already split into four. I see... the others don't mimic her moves exactly.

Silver kept still, and the smaller Totodile scampered after Ethan, following him to wherever he was going. Casting a glance at Cynder, he tilted his head to the side. "What's happening?" he asked. "Where are we going?"

As the two raced down to attack her, the ghost turned and stared angrily at them. Suddenly, she gave a malicious laugh, and created copies, circling around the two friends.