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victory_road2019-04-23 05:44 pm
indigo_league) wrote in victory_road2019-04-23 05:44 pm
As the clouds clear...
It's been a tough Sunday night for the S.S. Aqua.
For every whirlpool tamed and patch of fog dissipated, there were one (or more) passengers eagerly flinging themselves overboard to swim directly at the problem. And while this outcome probably should have been expected, given the renowned unquenchable enthusiasm for adventure possessed by your average Pokemon trainer, that didn't make it any less heart-attack inducing for the crew and captain every single time they spotted a new Wailord or Lapras bearing intrepid but foolish trainers out through the waves and whirls.
Captain Aqua is so tired, you guys.
But truth be told, as the hours passed and the inclement weather raged on, it just might have been an even tougher night for Lugia.
As those brave (or dumb) enough to head directly towards the rattled ocean god would come to discover, Lugia's reactions to the tiny humans and their Pokemon traveled a broad range, starting with incredulous, proceeding to exasperated, and finally ending at what could only be described as resigned.
Humans... ridiculous humans.
Although perhaps not in the manner (and certainly not for the reasons) that those plunging overboard intended, their efforts actually did achieve something. As helpers on board were staunchly coordinating their Pokemons' storm-busting efforts, the great silvery beast circling through the water was reluctantly doing some of its own, hastily easing whirlpools that were in the process of drawing in swimmers wherever it noticed them, and (after the first few individuals unceremoniously launched back onto the S.S. Aqua via tail-catapult) redirecting currents to push them back boatwards.
Whatever Lugia was doing out here, causing actual harm was clearly not the intent.
But what, then, was the intent?
It isn't until night starts to recede into morning that those watching-- whether they're plastered to the cruise ship's windows, staring out from the deck, or determinedly paddling through the water-- get something like an answer.
Too distracted to keep up the efforts of simultaneously summoning the storm while also making sure it doesn't drown anybody, Lugia's concentration finally wears out and a break appears in the clouds, casting no-doubt-welcome rays of sunlight down onto the calming waters as Lugia drifts near the surface for a moment, looking exhausted.
And, behind it, the craggy rocks of a small island finally come into view after being cloaked in fog the whole night long.
Back on the S.S. Aqua, the loudspeakers sound again with another announcement. It's the first mate again, and he sounds tired but also very excited.
It doesn't take long for the decks to line with hordes of passengers all whipping their PokeGears out to take photos of the rocky crag where, yes, a shimmering blue bird at the very top, the rocks around it dusted with glittering snow, is now visible in the sunlight.
The great bird tilts its gaze down towards Lugia, seeming to very deliberately ignore the ship full of people who can now see it. The high, unearthly cry that it lets out is beautiful and melodic, but clearly questioning. Lugia lifts its own head from the surface of the water, responding back with a tired but reassuring bellow.
The excited murmuring of the crowd almost drowns out the continued announcements from the First Mate, which explain that while it this is a rare and breath-taking sight, that the ship will continue straight on its route rather than get any closer, so as not to upset the two Legendary Pokemon any further as they converse.
Although it seems that one of the two of them has other plans. The boat is nearly past the islands when Lugia gracefully slides back below the surface... for a few minutes. Until that long white neck rises back out of the water directly beside the boat, the legendary peering over the railing to a chorus of gasps. Lugia doesn’t stay long, only long enough to sweep a stern gaze over the passengers, especially those it remembers were in the water.
The look just screams 'You guys better stay on your boat and be more careful, Lugia’s got his eyes on you.' The captain doesn’t even have time to announce what’s happening before Lugia turns and descends back down, the boat rocking slightly in the waves sent up by the departure.
Within minutes, the island is once more cloaked in fog and out of sight, leaving everyone with just memories and whatever photos they were able to snap.
What a way to end the trip!
But... hm.
On closer inspection, something seems a little unusual about those photos...
[AND THIS CONCLUDES 2019's PROM EVENT! Thank you to everyone who participated, and we hope you all continue to have a good time threading out both party shenanigans and Mystery Encounter adventures! For information about the aftermath, including prizes, check out the most recently-posted section of the Prom Infopost!]
For every whirlpool tamed and patch of fog dissipated, there were one (or more) passengers eagerly flinging themselves overboard to swim directly at the problem. And while this outcome probably should have been expected, given the renowned unquenchable enthusiasm for adventure possessed by your average Pokemon trainer, that didn't make it any less heart-attack inducing for the crew and captain every single time they spotted a new Wailord or Lapras bearing intrepid but foolish trainers out through the waves and whirls.
Captain Aqua is so tired, you guys.
But truth be told, as the hours passed and the inclement weather raged on, it just might have been an even tougher night for Lugia.
As those brave (or dumb) enough to head directly towards the rattled ocean god would come to discover, Lugia's reactions to the tiny humans and their Pokemon traveled a broad range, starting with incredulous, proceeding to exasperated, and finally ending at what could only be described as resigned.
Humans... ridiculous humans.
Although perhaps not in the manner (and certainly not for the reasons) that those plunging overboard intended, their efforts actually did achieve something. As helpers on board were staunchly coordinating their Pokemons' storm-busting efforts, the great silvery beast circling through the water was reluctantly doing some of its own, hastily easing whirlpools that were in the process of drawing in swimmers wherever it noticed them, and (after the first few individuals unceremoniously launched back onto the S.S. Aqua via tail-catapult) redirecting currents to push them back boatwards.
Whatever Lugia was doing out here, causing actual harm was clearly not the intent.
But what, then, was the intent?
It isn't until night starts to recede into morning that those watching-- whether they're plastered to the cruise ship's windows, staring out from the deck, or determinedly paddling through the water-- get something like an answer.
Too distracted to keep up the efforts of simultaneously summoning the storm while also making sure it doesn't drown anybody, Lugia's concentration finally wears out and a break appears in the clouds, casting no-doubt-welcome rays of sunlight down onto the calming waters as Lugia drifts near the surface for a moment, looking exhausted.
And, behind it, the craggy rocks of a small island finally come into view after being cloaked in fog the whole night long.
Back on the S.S. Aqua, the loudspeakers sound again with another announcement. It's the first mate again, and he sounds tired but also very excited.
"Ahoy, this is the First Mate speaking-- sorry to bother everyone at this early hour, especially after such a long night, but--! Something truly incredible is now visible on our starboard side that I don't think any of you would want to miss! For what might be the first time ever in the Johto region, it would seem that Articuno is currently roosting on a small island! I repeat, Articuno is currently visible off the starboard bow!"
It doesn't take long for the decks to line with hordes of passengers all whipping their PokeGears out to take photos of the rocky crag where, yes, a shimmering blue bird at the very top, the rocks around it dusted with glittering snow, is now visible in the sunlight.
The great bird tilts its gaze down towards Lugia, seeming to very deliberately ignore the ship full of people who can now see it. The high, unearthly cry that it lets out is beautiful and melodic, but clearly questioning. Lugia lifts its own head from the surface of the water, responding back with a tired but reassuring bellow.
The excited murmuring of the crowd almost drowns out the continued announcements from the First Mate, which explain that while it this is a rare and breath-taking sight, that the ship will continue straight on its route rather than get any closer, so as not to upset the two Legendary Pokemon any further as they converse.
Although it seems that one of the two of them has other plans. The boat is nearly past the islands when Lugia gracefully slides back below the surface... for a few minutes. Until that long white neck rises back out of the water directly beside the boat, the legendary peering over the railing to a chorus of gasps. Lugia doesn’t stay long, only long enough to sweep a stern gaze over the passengers, especially those it remembers were in the water.
The look just screams 'You guys better stay on your boat and be more careful, Lugia’s got his eyes on you.' The captain doesn’t even have time to announce what’s happening before Lugia turns and descends back down, the boat rocking slightly in the waves sent up by the departure.
Within minutes, the island is once more cloaked in fog and out of sight, leaving everyone with just memories and whatever photos they were able to snap.
What a way to end the trip!
But... hm.
On closer inspection, something seems a little unusual about those photos...
[AND THIS CONCLUDES 2019's PROM EVENT! Thank you to everyone who participated, and we hope you all continue to have a good time threading out both party shenanigans and Mystery Encounter adventures! For information about the aftermath, including prizes, check out the most recently-posted section of the Prom Infopost!]