(ACE) The ANISTAR Team

Sun shone through the damaged roof of what was once the Anistar city Pokemon Center, rousing the two inhabitants, a young Zoroark and an ageing Espurr. The dark type groaned in disdain for the bright light disturbing her and attempted to roll over and find sleep in the shadows but her companion would not allow this. Sten padded over to the grumbling youth and nudged her with his forepaws. Hissing a vulgar complaint Tiana slowly rose from her makeshift bed and sighed. "Good afternoon miss grumpy pants." Sten teased the neon colored Zoroark. Tiana mumbled a good morning back and pulled some berries from her scarf-pouch, tossing a few to the tiny cat line Pokemon before wolfing down her own. After finishing the food, a large smile crossed Tiana's face. "Better." She confirmed without really being asked. Her long standing friendship with Sten left them both answering questions the other intended to ask without really asking it. Which was useful considering how little Sten talked to others, though this was mostly due to him carrying his Evolite in his mouth. 

After finishing up his own breakfast, Sten and Tiana spent several minutes staring at each other in silence, thinking. Tiana was the first to speak and break the comforting silence. "What are we going to do today?" She asked, her neon green eyes staring directly into Sten's soft, amber orbs. Sten thought for a bit longer, breaking the gaze to survey the dimly lit area around them. "How are we for food? Sten finally responded. Tiana shrugged lightly and checked her pouch with a slight frown.There was about two, maybe three days worth left in berries and kibble. "Not a whole lot, maybe three days if we ration carefully." Tiana noted, putting a little bit too much emphasis on 'if'. Silence reigned again as the two started to get ready to go outside, they would need to forage again. What with Tiana's voracious appetite, three days of food was likely to be two or less. Once ready, the two removed the blockade from the door and headed out.

The midday sunlight was harsh, temporarily blinding the pair of living. There was one upside to the harsh sun, the undead were less likely to be out hunting, so they had until dusk. After recovering the pair split up, Tiana staying in the town, and Sten taking the route to the south.

Sten sighed heavily as he walked through the decrepit, desolate south gate. He would have much preferred if they had stuck together but he knew it would be faster this way. It was not as if Tiana couldn't defend herself, Sten just felt more comfortable keeping watch over her, like an over protective brother. Route 18 looked pretty barren at first glance, the grass was no longer a soft, crisp green, but a wilted, dead sandy brown. The trees and bushes seemed to fair no better, but the closer you got to Terminus cave, the healthier things seemed to be. Sten managed to find one tree still in decent shape, a berry tree. Few berries lay scattered on the ground where he could reach, but just to be safe he used his psionic abilities to pick a few more from the tree. However to his disdain he would need to carry these back to Anistar which meant he would need to walk on his hind legs. A low groan of hatred escaped the Espurr as he collected the berries he began his trek back to Anistar on two feet.

All alone, Tiana began to go through the various houses, looking for kibble or other foods. She disliked being alone, it made her remember what happened three, or was it four years ago. Her search was quick, but not fruitless, she found two bags of pokechow and some pokepuffs and when her conscious deemed she could be alone no longer, Tiana rushed back to the Pokemon Center and awaited Sten's return impatiently.

"And so, I looked at her. Get this, Gideon, you listening? I looked at her, right when she turned around, and this Persian was so ugly!"
".....Okay."
"She was UGLY! The pretty sparkly jewel on her face was gone, all ripped out. Made me want to just laugh and tell her "Hey! You're ugly!' "
"You are just so charming sometimes."
"Man oh man was her face priceless when she realised I was going to--"
"Wait."

The loud, unattractive chortling escaping the twoNinetales reseeded to a low chuckle, but at the interruption of the story by his companion, Honest Jon flashed a bright grin showing many dirty teeth. I didn't even get to the best part! I-" Cut off with an abrupt hiss, the Persian snapped, "Shut your fool trap, Jon."

The blind cat whipped his tail behind him, finding relief in the rare silence that finally held itself around the annoying Ninetales. The pair had traveled on their own for some time, having not seen uninfected in too long. Gideon was forced to follow the fox's lead, unable to make it on his own with decision making due to his lack of sight. Honest Jon assured him for hours that he knew where they were, but the Persian was no fool. And as he was able to take in a deep breathe of air, the scent glands in the roof of his mouth sang with different scents.

"Something is nearby," he growled softly. "Gee, Giddy boy. You made it sound like there was something bad coming our way!" Why couldn't I have be deaf instead? "Keep your damn eyes peeled," Gideon muttered, following the stomping footsteps of his companion as they started walking again. "Gideon, I am offended. Have I ever steered us wrong before? ... Don't answer that."

The pair led their way closer to the city, the remnants of Anistar coming up before them quickly. In the autumn air were leaves, gold and orange, blown over the pair as they approached. The Persian flicked his whiskers in irritation, sneezing as one stray leaf landed on his nose. "There, you see! I have saved us again! This is the city Sparkle Rock!" The Ninetales crowed, his eyes already gleaming as they studied the massive peach crystal in the distance. "You're a moron." "Wait! Wait, I see someone Giddy!" Without pausing, the Ninetales bounded forward, only to stop immediately. Ahhhh... shit... not so fast, old boy... The sharp, throbbing pain in his lower back forced the fox to walk forward slowly, Gideon silently keeping pace behind him, as the pair approached a small bipedal feline. "Hey buddy!" Honest Jon called to the Espurr. "Ya looost?"

Sten padded along on his hind legs, constantly surveying the area around him. His ears perked up as he heard voices, he couldn't quite make out what they were saying but he could tell they were both male. Cautiously the oddly colored feline shifted his arms to hide the berries he was carrying as he moved closer to the voices, and the city gate.

"Hey buddy!" A voice called, "Ya looost?"

Looking around, Sten quickly located the source of the voice, a Ninetales with only a tail and a half. A shady looking character to say the least. "No. I am not lost." Sten replied with a careful tone. "I don't have time to chat either. Follow me if you'd like but I need to get back to the Pokemon Center." Sten then headed into the ruined gate and worked his way over the debris and back into Anistar.


Beams of sun lit up the otherwise dark Pokemon Center, breathing a bit of life into the once bustling building. Tiana paced, wishing Sten would hurry up and come back. She was so focused on trying not to lose it that she didn't notice the approching entity until it spoke.

"Pretty! Pretty!" An excited voice echoed slightly in the dingy building.

"Who's there?" Tiana asked, turning around to see the young Ghastly."Pretty...? Who? Me? She wondered, confused about the childs words. No one had called her pretty in a long time. It reminded her of better days when the world was simpler and you didn't have to worry about fighting for your life. 

"Tiana? Are you all right?" Sten called, scrambling to enter the Pokemon Center with the berries in his arms. Tiana sighed with relief, hearing her friends familiar voice. "I'm fine Sten, what took so long? She responed, looking past the Ghost type to see her friends sihlohette in the doorway. "Walking on two feet.Who's the shiny Ghastly?" Sten sighed, weaving around broken floor tiles and pieces of the roof. "Not sure." Tiana repsonded, her attention split between the child and her friend. Upon reaching the spot where Tiana stood, Sten carefully placed the berries he gathered into Tiana's scarf pouch before dropping to all fours. "Watch the door, there may be strangers coming." Sten whispered to his youthful companion.

Gideon followed his traveling companion less enthusiastically, flattening his ears with a scowl on his face. "Yeah. Don't make a fool out of yourself or anything," he muttered under his breath, but the Ninetales was alread up upon the Espur. The Persian hung back, listening closely to the sound of the newcomer's voice. "No. I am not lost." The voice was male, and reserved. He is cautious. Not that I blame him, only natural, the feline thought to himself, frowning and keeping his distance. We look like criminals. I don't have to have sight to know that. Merely staying the fox's shadow, the boisterous chuckle that escaped the Ninetales was not out of character, but it grated on Gideon's sensitive ears, causing him to flatten them as a response while the loud vulpine retorted heartily. "Aw, little guy thinks he's big enough to be on his own. Don't worry shorty, we'll protect ya!" The Persian groaned, rolling his sightless eyes. Moron.

Honest Jon pulled his lips back, showing his teeth in a wide, sleazy smile. I am being a friendly, helpful citizen! But the Espurr shot him down immediately, the feline responding curtly, "I don't have time to chat either." The Ninetales' expression fell, his ears drooping. "Rude. Gideon, he's being mean to me," he whined. Behind him, Gideon let out a scoff. "Follow me if you'd like but I need to get back to the Pokemon Center." This cheered him up immediately the Ninetales perking up. "The Poke Center? Whatcha holing up there?" His question remained unanswered, the Espurr walking away then, but as he turned Honest Jon caught sight of colour and his eyes gleamed with lust. Berries! He must have more. "What do you have back there, friend?" he thought out loud, turning slowly to watch the retreating figure.

Only then did Gideon slink forward, glaring at the space where the voice was coming from as the Ninetales announced, "Giddy boy, we are going looting!" The feline's coined glare of disappointment deepened, furrowing his brow as milky white irises turn coldly to the vicinity of his companion. "Is that truly necessary?" he demanded, deadpan. The air around them held the mysterious shine of psychic, but with the hint of the cool night air. Either this was an odd psychic/dark dual type he had never heard of, or the psychic was not alone. "But Giddy! It is what we do-- our duty!!" The Persian rolled his eyes. "Come on then! Follow the sooooound of my voooooice!" "I hate you," Gideon reminded the other, but did use the sound to follow his location, even if he would never admit needing to.

But upon pursuing the Espurr's recent trail, Honest Jon's nose sniffed, twitching in the air. "No creepy crawlies around, either! It's our lucky day, Gideon!" SIlent, the Persian did not agree. The Ninetales easily located the Pokemon Center after a few minutes, humming to himself in a jolly nature. "Oh, ho! Here we are, here we are! Where the tiny baby kitten lead us to, led us yes he did!"
"Your voice is shredding my ears worse than my nails on a chalkboard.
"But it is such a beaaaaautiful day!"
"Shut up."
Upon reaching the building, the Ninetales trotted joyously to the front door, finding himself looking at not one, not two, but four Pokemon. Oooooh, oh ho! Look at all of them! "Hello there new friends! I am Honest Jon, at your service." The vulpine bowed his head, the jewels around his neck tapping against his chest fur as he raised his head back up with a wide grin.

"Strangers? Not zombies right?" Tiana replied softly, hoping the young ghost pokemon would not hear her. "No, but they don't look trust worthy." Sten muttered in response. Tiana was about to open her mouth to ask another question, but an unfamiliar voice chimmed in and stopped the brightly colored Zoroark."Hello there new friends! I am Honest Jon, at your service." A raggedy looking Ninetales introduced himself, his head bowing slightly. Tiana felt sorry for the creatures state but Sten was right, she could feel in her gut that something wasn't right about this fox. "Nice to meet you...I'm Tiana." She offered cautiously, keeping an eye on the ghost child who had lost intrest in her and Sten and had moved on to the newcomer. "Likewise, my name is Sten." The elder male offered with a hint of distrust in his voice. 

Tiana sat down, hiding her scarf's pouch descretly beneath her mane. She wasn't prepared to share their supplies with strangers just yet. Sten nodded silently in agreement, he did not trust the Ninetales at all, he seemed like the sort of fellow to abandon when the going got tough. Or try to steal extra rations for himself when the others weren't looking. Of course, Sten had reason to be judgemental considering his past with humans and even other pokemon, and he held a special disdain for fire types. "So...what brings you here?" Tiana asked, trying to break the ice, and atleast attempt a friendship. Of course she was easier trusting than Sten but she had her doubts. Especially because Sten distrusted them and he was far more experienced than she was when it came to reading people. Sten simply observed, watching with judgemental eyes. He would not invite them to be part of their troupe until he could trust them, regardless of Tiana's choice. 

"We ended up here after travelling through Johto in search of survivors like yourselves. Tiana and I have been working to try and assist the living wherever we go.' Sten explained in a nonchalant tone. He was beginning to get very aggitated around the fire fox pokemon. Too many things about him, such as his arrogant look, reminded him of his father, and the pain he endured in the past. Yet his eyes betrayed no emotion, only that he remained observant of the others actions.

A sudden voice startled Tiana and Sten slightly."Don't touch them! Don't you dare harm them!" a Musharna demanded, obviously referring to the Ghastly. Tiana was awestruck at the sudden demand but Sten was relaxed. "Ma'am, if I may. We are not going to hurt anyone. I only attack when provoked and I would never harm a child, and Tiana here adores children, you have no reason to fear." Sten offered, hoping to comfort the obviously distressed Psychic type.

"How can I trust you? What proof do you have to back up your words?" The Musharna asked."Neither of you follow the standard colouration of your species, not even the standard for shinies, how do I know that you are not undead? With a Zoroark on your side I'm sure it's easy to mask up any obvious indicators--"

After the string of questions from the concerned Psychic type, Tiana decided to speak up. "I understand your concern due to my species, but we are not infected. If we were, no matter how strong the illusion you would still be able to smell the stench of decay." The young illusion fox pokemon offered. She hoped her explination would distill any further conflict about them. Especially after the young ghost types observation. If anyone in their midst should have questions directed at them it should be the Ninetales and Persian. Sten would not be so apprehensive about people he thought might be friendlies. 

"Besides ma'am, Tiana is young. While she is strong, she has not had ideal training to hone her illusory skills, at best she could cloak only one of us from detection and even then it would be sloppy." Sten confirmed, displacing the last of the Musharna's doubtful questions. He would not stand around and let anyone compare himself and his friend to those undead scum. Sten would fight tooth and claw to protect them both and prove their innocence. However he hoped it would not come down to a battle as they needed to keep their strength up for when night falls, they would have true undead to worry about. Especially because of that blasted sundial and it's glow.