Pokimono Q4 SC Ro's Gift

Ro's Gift

"Wake up little one…" A soft voice cooed, almost like a sigh. "Come now, you have so much to do, and yet so little time…wake my little one…" Bright pink eyes slowly blinked open and looked about in the darkness. "….ugh…" A soft groan escaped the pink person's lips and Ro slowly moved a hand to his head. "What….where…" He slowly began to sit up only to grimace from the pain he felt from doing so. His eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness around him. 'I'm still in the cave…but…oh…that's right…' He turned slightly to look at the large pile of rocks that were behind him. He blinked. Then blinked again. The others…had he pushed them in time?! Oh Kami! Please! He looked up and begged whoever was still listening to them. "Please let them be alright…" Ro blinked away tears and as he went to rub them away, he realized his mask was missing. Looking about quickly, he found it snapped in two not far away from him. Crawling slowly towards it he picked up the two pieces and then gave a great sigh. "Well…this is the second mask I've had broke within the past few days…." He gave a small smile at the thought of Zen stepping on his other one not that long ago. "Maybe Kouki was right…maybe it is a sign…" But the thought of a crazy Lord and a forced kiss sent a shiver down Ro's back. He still had the bruises on his neck. Quickly pulling his knees to his chest, Ro looked about the darkness. The sound of rocks falling wasn't so much now and the ground only rumbled once in a while.

He wasn't sure how long he sat like this. He wasn't even sure how long he had been out. How many hours have gone by? Days? Years? Ro had no idea. He looked at his hands, scratched up from his fall from the rocks. He remembered as he was talking to the others, he happened to look up and saw the rocks falling. They had made no sound as they broke from the cave's ceiling and Ro had barely enough time to react as he did the only thing he could think of. "But wait…" Ro looked back at the piled of rock. "Shouldn't….shouldn't I be…" He gulped at the thought. 'I should be buried under them shouldn't I?' He could remember feeling them fall on him. But….he looked at his hands again, scratched yes, bruised, yes. But broken? No…He looked at the rest of his body for any wounds. Just more bruises and scratches. He blinked his pink eyes. He didn't understand…how had he survived? Wait! Maybe someone had buried him out of the rocks? Yes! That must be it! He looked about quickly and stood up on wobbly legs. "Hello!? HELLO!?! Is anyone nearby!??! HELLO!?" His voice echoed throughout the cave. For a long moment, no sound came. Then a loud rumble. And that was it. Blinking into the darkness, he had no idea what to do. Was no one nearby then? Was he truly alone now? He swallowed and hugged himself. Ro was use to being alone. But there were always people nearby. Even if they pushed him away, or pretended he wasn't there and ignored him. People were always nearby. A tremble ran through Ro's body that had nothing to do with the cave around him. "I'm…Alone…"

He wasn't sure when he began to walk, or even where he was going, but at some point Ro had begun moving down the tunnel. It was so very dark and with each step, he would bump or stumble into ruins of the home he once knew. Where was he to go now? What was even home? How was he even suppose to get out? The last he had heard was that all the tunnels had caved in. And if that was true, then there couldn't be a way out…or a way in. Unless one dug and that wasn't a very good idea as of right now. And some of the rocks seemed far to heavy to be moved. Just then the tunnel he had been traveling down opened up to a large dome. Oddly, there was just enough light in the large area that Ro could see where he was. Or at least, what it once was anyway. He couldn't help but cry. Steel Cave Village….this was where it all once was before. The homes, the stores, benches were people sat and talked. Over there had been a wonderful bakery. Right there was another blacksmith's shop. He knew a family that use to live right there. Gone. It was all gone now. Nothing but broken buildings.  Broken hearts. Broken dreams. He walked deeper into the cavern. There  wasn't much left of their home now. Looking about, he noticed a few bodies and quickly turned to look away. He closed his eyes and prayed for them. After a moment, he moved on.

He wasn't far from where the majestic garden and the pretty pond once was. Having no idea where to go, he followed the stone path leading up to it. Oddly, as he traveled higher up, it seemed there was less damage. Stepping into the garden he blinked in surprise. "It's still here…" Walking deeper into the garden, he looked about. This holy place…of course it was still here…The Kamis would not harm it…not like they would with everything else…and with that, Ro closed his eyes and fell to his knees. Tears silently fell from his closed eyes. He leaned forward, letting his forehead touch the ground as if bowing or praying. But he was not praying. He wept. He wept for his lost home and his lost friends. He wept for the lives he could not save or even help. He wept for a world that was being destroyed and he wept for all who had to suffer because of it. The grass was so soft under his head and he suddenly felt tired. So very tired and weary. 'Sleep my little one. Sleep and dream.' Ro's eyes felt heavy and somewhere in the back of his mind a soft humming seemed to start. Rolling over to his side, his eyes widen to see a bright  light floating near him. He slowly blinked as it moved closer and hovered by his hand. "Oh….hello there…are you lost little Wisp?" The lone will o' wisp turned white to a soft blue and Ro gave a nod. "I know how you feel little Wisp…why don't you stay…here …with me…" And sleep over too Ro.

He dreamt. He dreamt of friends, old and new, ones from days long since been gone to ones he met not that long ago. They were smiling at him. "Don't give up!" They cheered for him. "Keep going! We are here! We love you! We always will!" Ro moved through them and they parted like the wind parted tall grass. They kept cheering for him as he walked down a path. The path started from Steel Cave, what it once was. He felt a pull on his sleeve and he turned to see someone holding a small gray-ish stone out to him. "Take this with you Ro." He couldn't see who gave it to him, but he knew it was someone dear. He nodded his thanks, took the stone and moved on. The stone path he walked on slowly turned to dry dirt until it reminded him of the path he use to take to go to Firefield. And it too looked like it did before the lavas burnt everything. His friends were still cheering him on and even now the lone will o' wisp was following him. It shown bright and pink and he felt happy. He felt someone tap his shoulder and he turned to look at a person who seemed so familiar and yet somehow he couldn't quite tell who it was. They held out an orange red stone to him. "Take it, kid. It'll help you I think." Ro nodded, not realizing he was crying, but took the stone and walked one.

Once more the path changed but this time the ground was hard and rough and Ro knew it was the road that lead to Thunder Mountain. He couldn't hear the rumbling of landslides but he could feel the crisp air around him. It too was like it once was. As he moved deeper into the mountain, someone stepped in front of him. He looked at the tall female who held out a greenish stone. Looking at it, he could see it had a bit of yellow in it. "I know it will come of use to you. Use it wisely Pinky…" Ro looked up at the woman, she too was so familiar but why couldn't he remember her? "Go on! You got a lot to do before it's all over." "Go on Ro, come on!" Someone called out. He turned and followed the path down the mountain, where it slowly began to turn lush and green. Soon tall dark trees appeared around him and knew at once he was in Dark Forest Village. For once, the dark and creepy forest did not scare him and it seemed that even though the spirits were near, watching him walk, they did not swarm around him but they followed, like all of his friends. A small child stepped out from a tree, they too were holding a stone. This one was a pure green one. "You will make everyone happy, please take this." They bowed and held out the stone. Ro blinked and bowed back before taking the stone. "Thank you." He looked at the stone and then up, the forest was suddenly  much darker now, and he realized he was in the middle of the Village itself. A tall male moved towards him, a long black scarf covering his face. "Before you go, you will need this one as well." And he pulled out a purplish stone from his sleeve. Ro took it the stone as well and looked up at the man to thank him, but he was now gone.

Ro looked back down at his hands and placed the stones inside his sleeve. "You need to hurry Ro! Let's go!" The voices around him called out. He nodded and moved on. Soon the forest began to change, turning and twisting into crashing waves. Ro looked in awe as the forest quickly turned into water and he saw Crystal Lake in all of it's beautiful glory. A soft voice called out to him, "Ro, over here Ro. I have a gift for you." Ro looked to his left and saw a old woman sitting. She was holding out a blue stone for him. He walked over to her and gave her a bow. She laughed. "Oh don't be so formal with me my dear. Please take this. I know the Kamis would like you to have it." He took the stone from her warm hand and held it close to him. "Now off you go. Hurry along now. Not to many left now." Ro looked at her wanting to ask what she meant but the water around him began to harden. Suddenly Ro realized it was turning into ice. He spun around as the world turn to ice and snow and Ro saw he was indeed in Ice Bay. "This way! This way Ro!" He saw a young man laugh and wave at him. Ro didn't know why but he hurried as fast as he could to him. "My wife wanted you to have this! She said you would like it!" The man placed a clear looking stone in Ro's hand. It was so shiny and there was something yellow in the middle. "I know she will be happy that you have it now!" The man laughed , then turned to go and Ro tried to follow him but he slipped on the ice. However he did not fall on hard ground but on soft grass. Looking up he found he was in the middle of Sky Village. "Oh…oh!! I made it! I made it to Sky Village! But...but where is everyone?" Looking about, the village was empty expect for those who had followed Ro on his odd journey. The will o' wisp floated about his head turning white and then fluttered away. Ro found himself following it and was soon standing in front of a large shrine. A man dressed like a priest walked towards him. Holding out a sky blue stone, Ro could see that it looked like a star was in the middle. "With this Ro, the Villages have given you all you need. Now it is up to you to finish it." "It? What's it?" The man only smiled and placed a hand on Ro's shoulders. All of Ro's friends, all who followed him were suddenly surrounding him and placing a hand on his shoulders. He could feel their love, their hope and something else. "Go Ro. You have work to do." And with that they all pushed him away.

Ro watched the world around him swirl and twist and change until he was on a cliff he had never seen before. The sun was setting and the weather was warm and beautiful.  He had never seen anything like it before. "Hello Ro." He turned to look at a woman he had never seen before. And though he knew he had never seen her before, he felt as if he was looking at someone who loved him very much. Her hair was long and white, but pull up in a high pony tail. A odd gold crown rested on her forehead. The odd green markings on her face brought out her lovely eyes. On her back were golden rings that Ro couldn't quite tell if they were part of her outfit, or a part of her. She smiled at him and he couldn't control the way his heart began to beat. "Ro, I have one last gift to give you." Her voice was soft and so familiar. She opened her hands and a stone that was bright like the sun rested there. "Ro, do you have all the stones with you?" He blinked and reached into his sleeve and pulled out the eight stones, laying them on the ground before him. They were lovely. The woman giggled and placed the bright stone next to them. "Oh I do think you're missing one Ro." He looked up at her and couldn't help but be confused. She smiled gently at him and tugged a little on one of his sleeves. "Do you still have the Moon Stone you found many moons ago?" He blinked and then remembered, he did! He did have that stone. Reaching into his sleeve he pulled out the rare Moon stone. Those around him had told him he should sell it. It would have sold at a good price but Ro never did. He never knew why but he knew he had to hold on to this one. "That's right Ro, this one is a bit special." He blinked up at the woman. She had somehow knew his thoughts, but he wasn't to surprised by this.

"Now listen closely Ro, you don't have much time. You are a blacksmith and you must use your skill to shape these rocks into something special for me. For everyone." "Everyone?" He asked in awe. She nodded and touched his cheek. He blushed. "You are so kind Ro. I know your heart is pure and your will is strong. You can do this. Make it. Make it and it shall ring into the hearts of all. Let it's smooth, joyful sound fill those with hope, and calm the minds of others.  With this, let a new land be born." She smiled and it filled Ro with warmth. It was at this moment Ro noticed the small will o' wisp floating about them. The woman reached out and touched it slightly. It turned a pretty pink and then floated towards Ro. He watched it swirl about his head and then disappeared somewhere behind him. The woman took a step closer to Ro, bending over she kissed his other cheek. He blushed more. "Wh…what should I make with them?" She smiled at him as she slowly began to move away. "The very thing you like to make and give to all of your friends Ro." He watched her for a moment and then smiled. "What I like…Oh!" He looked up to her but she only smiled once more. "Good. Now Wake."

"Wah!!" Ro sat up with a start. What a odd dream! But…but it was also so very wonderful. He couldn't help but wipe a few tears away from his eye as he thought about the friends he saw. He blinked when he noticed the wisp was still floating about him. He smiled at it. "Hello little friend. Did you dream with me?" It turned a light purple and then white once more. Ro watched it float about when suddenly he realized something. He was no longer in the garden. Nor was he even in Steel Caves. He looked about in a panic. Where was he? How did he get there? Looking about quickly, he discovered he was on the land where the new shrine for the Kami trio was being built. It looked as if it was close to being done. Everyone was hoping that with the new shrine, the gods would forgive them and stop their attacks. Ro stood up quickly only to trip over something in front of him. "Gaaaaww!"

Looking at his feet, he saw what appeared to be a pretty bell. It was a bit smaller than a person's head but Ro knew it would ring loud and clear. Odd symbols and designs were carved into it and Ro could clearly see different colored stones were scattered about in it. Bending over to get a better look at it, Ro knew, though he had no idea how, he had made this. There was his Moon stone. And here was the pretty blue stone he got from Crystal Lake in his dream. Each stone from his dream was here, and right in the middle was a symbol for the god, Arceus. Looking the bell over, Ro began to realize that each symbol was one for each god of their world, and even a few he did not know about. His heart raced. Standing up quickly, he picked the bell up and looked at the shrine. He gave it a bow. "Please great Kamis…please stop hurting everyone. Please! PLEASE!" Looking up at the shrine and held out the pretty bell. "Let us all be friends again! Let us be at peace! Look! I have made a bell for the Shrine! This is to show you how much we care! Every time that someone rings this bell, all will be happy! Please! Listen!!" And with that, Ro swung with all his might so the bell could ring. And he could only hope that the sound would please the gods. He could only hope. Because in the end, that was Ro's true gift to the gods. His hope.