The ILEX Team

**relocated**


Nightfall near Ilex Forest. The twilight hour was always the worst. Plague curled up into a hollow, high up in an ancient oak tree; He knew he had to hide his glowing rings from sight. It was much too dangerous to move at night- his rings attracted too much attention. Once hidden away from the moons' rays, his rings faded to a pulsating glow, invisible to anything outside of the hollow.

Plague could feel his rage start to boil within him as he heard the wretched howls of the undead rising up from the forest. Sunlight seemed to make the monsters sluggish; perhaps the cause of this was the heat, or their failing eyesight. But as the sun fell, all he could do was hide and wait for the sun to rise and give him another day. He quietly assured himself that he would kill them all off...every single one. He didn't care how long it took, or what got in his way- he swore on it the night he watched his only friends drown, lost to the merciless depths.

Those monsters took the only kindness he'd ever known and ripped it asunder. Those giant blue water dragons, they were just like the Murkrow...soulless eyes, stinking, rotting flesh and an endless pit of hunger.
Those terrifying dragons, with their gaping mouth, their roars reverberating through every bone in his body...he could still feel the rancid water engulfing him as the Gyrados-induced tsunami hit the beach with full force. He could still hear Cyndaquils' choking screams fade off into the distance...

Plague started to shiver as memories of that terrible night followed him into a fitful slumber...

**relocated**


Nighttime in IIex Forest. Food; that was on Arnie's mind. Not the undead, not his mother, food. Just food. He was so hungry. Like many times before, he felt guilty that food seemed to always be the number one thing on his mind instead of his mother. He promised her for her revenge on that blasted bird, but he needed food. Food gave him energy, energy needed to kill that beast once he found it.

Arnie hadn't eaten for days, and the hunger drove him to the point to scavenge food at night. Night was the worst time. He seemed to attract the infected wherever he went, and even though he unconsciously hoped one of them were his mother's killer, one brought two; two brought three more; before he knew it, he was running from a flock of Murkrow and Honchkrows. The lack of energy made it harder and harder to fight each battle. He was dying; both physically and emotionally. He thought of heading back to his old home and digging a hole for himself.

Arnie, you stupid wretch! Don't think these thoughts. Mother would be ashamed of you! She raised you tougher than that! Arnie now felt like crying, but the tears just didn't come out. He wanted to cry; crying seemed to give him motivation to keep going, but they didn't come tonight.

No, he would rage. Yes, rage.

If that monster didn't kill Mother, you would find food easily. She would have taught you all the skills you need to survive. It not only took the only one you loved and cherished, it also took years of training for your skills. He clutched the femur bone tightly. He looked down at it. The raging fire in him calmed down as he looked at what was a remain of his mom. I wish you were here, he whispered.

**relocated**

"You warm enough, dear?" Hope whispered to a nearby baby Slowpoke that had just been born a few days ago, he yawned softly, and smiled sleepily at the Blissey before nodding and settling his head down. "Okay, have a good sleep! Hopefully those Murkrows won't find us." she sighed before patting the egg in her pouch. "Socket? Are you cold? Go huddle with the Slowpoke, you'll freeze." she then made her way towards a Pichu, the Pichu helped her light campfires so she could cook her eggs for lunch sometimes. "Yes, thank you." Socket smiled her sunny smiled before hopping towards the baby Slowpoke and settling down beside it. Hope relaxed, and climbed slowly, also a little clumsily, out of the well before scampering into Ilex Forest. "Ah... Our berries are short." she said absent-mindedly.

The Blissey hurriedly gathered a few Orans growing in a bush nearby, and some Cheris while she was there, before looking around for some pretty flowers. She needed them to pay respects to Nurse Joy, her previous owner, died because of stress after a wave of the deadly virus. Hope's eyes became moist, she tugged at the frills on her 'skirt' before snatching up a bunch of pink flowers. Pink was always the colour of welcome, of Happiny, Chansey, and Blissey. Also of Nurse Joy's hair. It was the colour of reassurance and health.

Heading back to the well, Hope stopped at the grave nearby, she placed the flowers beneath the headstone and closed her eyes in respect. A minute passed, and she crept down the well again, piling the berries in a corner (already filled with numerous berries) and huddled together near the center of the group before heaving a breath. She slept.

**relocated**


Flynn laid down near a dead tree, exhausted from all the walking he had done that day. He had several wounds, not severe but painful, from all of those vicious Pokemon he had encountered that day and was barely able to escape from. Flynn was hollow with both sadness and a growing hunger. He hadn't been able to find food anywhere he went, except for a few rotting berries. The little Riolu was very young, and his mother had not gotten the chance to teach him how to survive on his own. For now, all Flynn could do was run, and search for his missing mother. She had saved him from becoming prey for the undead, but Flynn had no idea now if she was dead or alive.
"She might still be alive," Flynn constantly reminded himself. It was what kept him going at times like this.

You're almost at Goldenrod! You can keep going. Flynn told himself, and managed to get back on his feet, though it did strain his muscles because of how long he had been running. Taking steady steps, Flynn managed to move forward a couple of feet before he heard the cawing of a Murkrow. Without thinking, the Riolu jumped into the shadows. That's when he heard some sort of growling noise-what was it? Flynn didn't care to find out-he just ran like never before in the direction of the nearby Goldenrod. He heard another caw of a Murkrow and knew that thing was close as well. The growling Pokemon (which was also undead) was right at his heels, snapping at Flynn's legs.


(I found the perfect song for this roleplay.)

**relocated**

The water was freezing, malicious…black.
Plague couldn’t see which way was up- the waves kept pushing him further and further down into the depths. His lungs were on fire and his legs started to give out as he fought to get to the surface. I can’t let them get her! He fought harder at the thought of her in the jaws of one of those dragons. Just as he was about to break the shattered surface of water, he realized in horror that the water started to turn red. Tullie! He screamed in his head. TULLIE!
He was too late.
He felt a sharp and agonizing pain in his back just as he saw the flash of jagged teeth and giant scales. He was wrenched back down into the pitch black depths further and further as he heard the crunch of his own bones breaking inside the giant creatures’ jaws…
“Aaaahh!” Plague woke in a cold sweat, quivering and panting heavily. His screams sounded like they had come from deep inside him, somewhere vulnerable and hidden from the light.
Damn nightmares…will they never end? He thought in despair, as he sat up and gasped desperately for air. …How long have I been asleep? Plague peeked out wearily into the darkness and jumped up startled. There were infected Zubat in the air and a slew of infected bug pokemon crawling the giant tree he had sheltered himself in. He could smell the overpowering stench of rotting flesh.
Shit! They found me! Plague cursed himself for being so careless-falling that deeply into sleep almost guarantees death.
It wouldn’t be long before they reached the hollow; he had no other choice but to fight…
And a fight was something he was ready for.
Alright, you want me? Plague extended his claws with a bitter grin and dug them into the soft interior of the tree. Fine.
His eyes glowing a fiery red and rings pulling in every bit of energy he could, he charged a shadow ball, ready to be released the moment they showed their ugly heads through that hole.

(Ooc- great song, I've always loved it. Lol, very fitting)

**relocated**

Sniffing a bush, Arnie peeked inside of it. His search for food and water wasn't over just yet. His dark eyes scanned inside the bush and landed on a plastic bottle. He pulled it out and sniffed it. The object smelled just like water!

My lucky day! He exclaimed in his mind. Arnie sniffed it again to make sure it wasn't a dream, but he found another smell he didn't find before: Death. Something dead was nearby, and rotting. He knew he had to find out how to open this thing before the infected thing came out for him. First, he examined it; it must've came from those 'hairless two-legs', his nickname for humans. He knew very little about them, but figured it had to have come from them.

He twisted the cap off with his mouth and took a huge gulp. The water was warm, as if it was left out in the sun, but hey, it was still water.

The drink satisfied him. Even the hunger died a little. "I should save the rest," he said out loud. He sat it down and looked through the bush once again, but as he searched for something else, he heard a twig snap in the distance. Arnie had enough experience to know that something was stalking him. He turned around, picked up the plastic thing in his left arm, and held out his club. He scanned the forest.

Nothing. Nothing was there, at least he hoped.

**relocated**


John woke up from a strange dream and started to burrow in deeper in the cave. His brothers have disappeared after some incident and he was lonely in a cave filled with Ice and Rocks. His only company was the Golbats, and Delibirds. However they have both gone crazy. He had dreamed that a strange darkness was after everyone and he was next. Bronzor floated outside slowly hoping not to be heard and stumbled from the sound of a twig snapping and fell down the ledges. He fell into New Bark Town creating a small crater next to a small Hoothoot.

The Hoothoot was however brave and started screeching attracting the dead wild Pokemon. Bronzor quickly looked up and saw three Hoothoot, rotten and torn, after him. Bronzor, not knowing what to do, bolted all the way towards Cherrygrove City, attracting more dead, flying Pokemon after him. Almost there! The only thing that can go wrong is- John was suddenly grabbed by a Noctowl, followed by others and was thrown down in front of the lake.

**relocated**


Flynn was completely terrified, and had no energy to run any faster. He could feel the hot breath of the undead Pokemon as it chased him, focused on nothing more than tearing the tiny Riolu apart. Flynn's mind raced as he tried to figure out a way to escape his attacker, but he could not find a way out of this, and he was starting to run slower and slower by the minute. At any time, the Pokemon would-

The attacking Pokemon-which was a young Houndoom-lunged forward and snapped down on Flynn's leg with razor-sharp teeth, causing him to cry out from the mind-numbing pain that followed. I'm dead! The Houndoom howled, an eerie evil howl, wanting everyone to know he had captured his prey.

It was right then Flynn had a ridiculous idea, but it had to work or else he was dead. Flynn gathered the little strength he had into his right hand, and then used Force Palm right into the left eye of the Houndoom. It didn't do much damage, but rather temporarily stunned the beastly canine. Flynn wasted no time in attempting an escape into Goldenrod.

**relocated**


KABOOM!
A ghostly violet light flooded the forest and the ground shook from the explosion.
Splinters and gore flew everywhere as the giant purple Shadow Ball was launched directly into the faces of the undead. The top portion of the tree toppled back from the destruction, leaving Plague at what was now the top of the tree.
That takes care of more of those bastards...He snorted in the direction of the piles of meat. The sound echoed through the beak of his skull mask. He made his way down.
Panting in exhaustion, he realized how much that attack took out of him. Plague scanned the darkness with a feigned ferocious stare and sniffed the air for further danger. He had to find another place soon-he didn't scare them off for long....and he really couldn't do that again.
He didn't want to go into the human territory...that's where the stronger 'trained' infected usually were...those pokemon that stayed with their trainers and human friends during the first attacks...
His ears fell slightly in sadness. Plague turned away from the entrance to Azalea and ran towards the dark and intimidating Ilex Forest.
Yes, it was home to infected bug pokemon, but it had many hiding places, Plague recalled, and a better source of food and water than the town.
Whatever was in the forest would be worth braving for a warm and safe place to hide...and maybe some food. Plague cringed as his stomach screamed in response to his thoughts of sustenance.

As he passed what Toluca had called 'the shrine,' Plague caught the scent of another living creature. He froze. He quickly drew his nose closer to the ground and found a stronger patch of the scent.
Yes, that was certainly another breathing creature!
He was shocked beyond belief; he hadn't seen anything or anyone alive ever since the Gyarados attack!
Hmm, strange...unknown smell...
Plague decided to go forward with caution, in case this newfound pokemon wasn't as friendly as he hoped for.
He put his nose to work and trotted into the underbrush, tail high in the air, in the hopes of finding something alive in this land of the dead.

(OoC-nice bg of flynn, btw. that's really cool!)

**relocated**


Arnie blinked. He thought he heard an explosion, but shook his head. The skull he wore rattled. "I must be going crazy," He muttered. "Hunger's gettin' to me. I better get out of here soon." He hadn't seen an infected all day, but they popped out randomly as if they vanished in the air and reappeared when there was even slight evidence of a non-infected. Arnie set the water down, and scavenged through the bush.

He knew with his tail in the air that anything could pounce on him, but he thought if there were water here, something else edible had to also be here. It was a risk he felt he had to take, as if someone or something pushed him to.

His eyesight caught something; a bag. He pulled it out and examined it like he did with the thing that held water. Pictures of colorful berries were on it with words he couldn't understand. He ripped it open with his teeth and pulled out what was inside. It looked like a berry, but it was shriveled up like an old hairless two-leg. He sniffed it and popped it in his mouth. Sweetness consumed his mouth, wonderful good sweetness. He munched happily; tears formed in his eyes. Not sad or angry tears, but happy ones.

Snap!

There was definitely something out there. "Dammit," he said under his breath. He picked up the water bottle and berry bag in his left arm, and picked up his club in right hand. The berry and water gave him some energy. He was ready for a battle now.

"Show your face you heartless bastard." He said out loud.

**relocated**


Flynn raced into the entrance of Goldenrod City, hoping that the Houndoom had not followed him into the city. Flynn relaxed for a moment and decided to take a rest for thirty seconds. He really needed to regain his energy from all the running he had done, but more than that, Flynn needed some food and water, even if it was just a little. Maybe Goldenrod would have something left in it that he could find without running in to those creatures.

The teeny Riolu nervously went a bit farther in the city, and was met by dead silence. Flynn had an overwhelming sense of loneliness....if only he could find some uninfected Pokemon! Flynn had not seen one in quite a while. Maybe there were some hiding out in Goldenrod.....?!

Suddenly Flynn heard footsteps, and he dove into the musty shadows, hoping whatever was there couldn't find him by scent or by acute hearing.

**relocated**



John was pinned down to the ground by the undead, John started to use confuse ray making the Pokemon hit each other making them look more dead. John quickly rolled towards the city until bumping into a Kakuna. John quickly closed his eyes, please don't be dead, please don't be dead, please don't be dead. John opened his eyes, it was living and calm. The Kakuna rolled towards a small hole and urged him to go in. "Oh, um thanks," John said, the Kakuna made no answer but nodded.

The hole was apparently had lots of space and had a light source a small Charmander sleeping. John stood far away from everyone in the hole and stayed in a corner. The Kakuna closed the hole with a rock and fell asleep. John stayed in the corner, looked at the Kakuna and Charmander, I guess I can trust these guys, John thought before going to sleep.

The mysterious dream came again and he woke up, it was still dark but he had to get out. Something was calling him to the Ilex Forest. He knew it was suicide, but he had the urge to go.

*relocated**




The scent was growing stronger. Plague quickened his pace, anxious to see something alive and breathing. He followed the scent down a small path along the brush. He saw small patches of light up ahead. There must be some sort of clearing.
Plague crept closer, trying to peek through the bushes.

"Show your face you heartless bastard."
Plague practically jumped in surprise- how did...?
Plague growled in response and pushed his rings to start glowing in a show of intimidation.
He hoped that whoever he found would be friendly, but this one sounded like it wanted a fight.
Plague slowly stepped out of the bushes in a defensive stance. He was damned tired but he couldn't give up now.
The owner of the voice was a small brown creature, with a skull mask much like his own. Plague had never seen one like this before. It was carrying something in one hand, which it hid behind itself, while pointing a giant bone in Plagues' direction.
Certainly alive, and he's alone, by the smell of it.
Plague slowly circled around the small creature.
"You're clearly not one of them; how did you survive the hordes?"
Plague asked guardedly.

**relocated**


The creature he heard had stepped out from the dark trees. It wasn't bipedal like Arnie; it stood on four legs. The fur was dark as night, but the purple rings on each ear, hind legs, and tail glowed in the same fashion as the moon. What was strange that it had a bone mask on an animal on it's face. He could have sworn he saw something like this before, but couldn't wrap his finger around it.

No scent of death or rotting flesh was detected. It was alive and normal, like him. But he couldn't trust it. Memories of a younger him battling against a Pikachu in the past over a handful of berries flashed in his eyes. He found the berries first, but the creature pretended she was innocent, and ambushed him in the last second. Their blood was shed until he gave up and ran. The scars on Arnie's back from her claws ached.

"You're clearly not one of them; how did you survive the hordes?"

"What, no intro? Whatever. Anyways, I survived with battles, and keeping a low profile. Seeing my size, it isn't a hard thing to do." Arnie kept his food and water behind his back, but the bag with dried berries tiled sideways. Some began to fall out of the bag.

Shit! Stupid berries! Arnie thought hastily. He couldn't pick them up, otherwise the creature could kill him to steal his food.

**relocated**


Flynn's heart was beating fast and loud, which was not good considering the situation he was in. Flynn went farther away from where he had heard the footsteps, and eventually they faded away. Flynn took that chance to come out of hiding and go deeper into the city, trying his best to ignore the corpses of Pokemon and people scattered throughout the streets. He could sense the terrible aura of the undead Pokemon and knew they had to be wandering the whole city, probably in both the buildings and streets.

The Riolu caught view of a nearby Pidgeot, which was just like the Houndoom he had encountered before, pecking at the remains of those dead but not risen. Flynn tried to sneak past the Pidgeot as quietly as he could, to escape both the Pidgeot and its feeding.

**relocated**




John ran through the forest dodging every possible thing. Is this faith? Or Doom?! John thought in his mind, he continued not even stopping until he was in a large open circle. Okay, now what? Is something suppose to happen? John thought, he suddenly shot a Confuse Ray at his north. a dead Beedrill came out hitting his head on a rock. This is faith! John thought shooting a Confuse Ray at his South hitting an incoming undead Weedle. Which started attacking the Beedrill. John sent them away with a Confusion attack and launched them away.

John quickly started to get ready for the next wave but then saw that he was as worn out as ever and slid on a rock which made a large screech. Oops, he thought before just resting on the ground not noticing the Charmander had followed and watched him.

**relocated**



The little creatures’ eyes grew wide as a bunch of old berries fell from behind him. His eyes shot at the floor and then quickly back to Plague, as if taking his gaze off of him for a second would mean death.
Now Plague understood.
He sighed with relief as he stepped back and released the aura energy. His rings returned to normal, faintly pulsating from the small patches of moonlight.
He bowed his head slightly in apology.
“Forgive me for being…forward. Formalities haven't been of much use since all this started. My name is Plague…and it’s certainly good to meet someone who isn’t trying to eat me.”
Plague couldn’t help but smile a bit underneath his mask; the simple act of talking to another being drove the darkness inside of him away that the nightmares had tainted him with.
“What’s your name?”
He said, as he tilted his head inquisitively.

**relocated**


Arnie thought, This is weird. He's not... attacking me, or showing other hostility signs... but I still cannot trust him. He's a stranger. He coughed to compose himself.

"I'm Arnie," He said flatly. Although it wasn't intentional to sound that way, he didn't really care. Manners weren't exactly the number one thing important on his list. "Same with me. With the finding something who isn't trying to devour you, that is. I haven't seen anyone alive for months. Where've you come from? I'm from what humans call the 'Safari Zone'. Quite far from here, I must say." He made sure he didn't say anything to personal.

Snap.

Crap. It wasn't Plague who made those sounds. It was something else, something big. He didn't want to stay here now. Food and water was all he wanted. Quickly, he picked up the fallen berries and tossed them in the bag. Dirt covered them now. He figured he should clean them off later. Right now would obviously be a risk.

"I'm gonna leave right now. An infected has been following me all night," He eyed Plague more carefully. He looked pretty beat up, and another fight looked like it would be his last in his opinion.

"I advise you to do the same."

**relocated**


Being disturbed by distance sounds in the nearby forest, Hope turned her whole chubby body around because she didn't have a neck. She looked up at the well, and out towards the starry skies, hoping that one of the infected wouldn't swoop in suddenly and start hurting the poor Slowpoke. She hated going outside, the horrendous corpses were not what she wanted to see, that's why she kept near Pokémon at all times, they give her a sense of security. Sure, Slowpoke can't do much, but when they huddle, it's comforting. Hope looked over at all the pink shapes, some with their tails whipping back and forth, others with their jaws agape. A small yellow and black shape mixed among them, Socket the Pichu. The Blissey sighed. "Of course, everything would be perfect if the virus wasn't here... What had caused it?" she frowned in an upset way, and patted the oval egg in her pouch. "Ah... Best to worry later, I'll block the entrance to the well first."

She climbed up to the surface, and found the small, flat and circular stone near the well. Dragging it along, Hope hopped down the well again, and positioned the cap carefully over the well. She was strong enough to push it aside in the morning. Hope used the 'lid', as she referred to it, when she was feeling insecure, it was also used in steaming hot summers and freezing cold winters. She settled back down again, prayed to Cresselia for a good snooze, and fell asleep.

**relocated**


Flynn had made it outside of the ruined city and was extremely grateful he had managed to avoid any encounters with the undead. Flynn didn't want wounds to get in the way of his search, and now he could keep traveling. Outside of Goldenrod was very depressing however; bodies of dead Pokemon were all around, and Flynn saw a destroyed Daycare not to far from where he was. The Riolu didn't want to be stuck in this miserable place for long, so he began to speed up his pace.

"The Ilex Forest shouldn't be too far from here," Flynn told himself quietly, but he knew that even more undead would be infesting the dark forest. Oh, well. That was what he had to risk if Flynn were to find his mother. If she wasn't in any of the areas Flynn had yet to reach, which included the Ilex, Azalea Town, Violet City, or New Bark Town, Flynn would head back to Ecruteak and the places beyond there.

**relocated**



The Charmander stood and lit the are waking John up. John stared at the Charmander, "Why have you come? Its dangerous out here." John said, the Charmander sighed, "Shut up and follow me," He said,"How are you talking?" John said,"You look like you were just born!"

"I'll explain later, just follow me!" The Charmander said, gripping John and carrying him through the forest until they were by a bush. The Charmander's tail emmitted a light so bright, the undead had found them and were on their trail.

**relocated**


On full alert, Plague sniffed the breeze and strained his ears.
…Something was coming this way. Something bigger than the bug pokemon...
Arnie noticed as well.
"I'm gonna leave right now. An infected has been following me all night," pushing the berries into a bag hurriedly.
Plague started to glance nervously at the dark trees surrounding them.
"I advise you to do the same,” Arnie said, eyeing Plague.
A shadow of apprehension came over Plague’s face.
Whatever the thing was that was following Arnie, it was big. He knew he’d regret it if he parted ways with the only other living creature he’s seen, just to see him later as one of the infected, but he still wasn’t sure if the Cubone was trustworthy.
He decided it was worth the risk.
“Wait-“Plague whispered hastily towards the retreating pokemon.
“I’ve been through this forest before- I remember seeing a small den not far from here. We’ll have to cross a bit of water, but I think we can shake them...”
If the small pokemon was trustworthy remained to be seen, but at least they would both be alive to find out.
The sounds were getting closer, and Plague was fatigued.
“Are you coming?” He said, not concealing the tension in his voice.

**relocated**


“Are you coming?”

"Yes. Anywhere else is safer than here," Arnie quickly replied as he started to run closer to the Umbreon. At this point he didn't care if Plague were to attack him. Whatever had been following him were most likely to attack the both of them, and if they had to face it, it would be better to have two against one than one on one. And it helped to notice his distress.

The water in his hand swished around violently. The liquid dripped down his leg, but Arnie couldn't care less. He would ditch the food and water if he had to.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound came from a what was at least a quarter of a mile away hidden by the trees, yet it sounded like the creature was right behind him. It was getting closer. Fast. The ground started vibrating.

"Go!" Arnie shouted as he was at least 10 feet behind him. "C'mon, let's go!"

**relocated**


Flynn sighed with relief as he entered the Ilex Forest, even though it was very dark, as barely any sunlight was able to come through the canopy of thick trees. Flynn was always happy when he reached a new place-it meant he had managed to survive another day, and that was reason in itself.
"Hmmmmm...I wonder if there are any hollow trees around here?" Flynn asked himself, knowing he could not sleep on the ground, and the Riolu couldn't climb trees very well. That was when the ground started to vibrate hard.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

What the heck was making that noise? It sounded as if the thing was right beside him, but nobody was in sight. Flynn raced to find somewhere he could hide, if there was any such place. By the sound it was making, this creature was probably huge, and could crush just about anything. But Flynn refused to think such thoughts in fear that they would become reality.

Charmander continued running, the undead retreated back from the incoming sunlight and Charmander was getting tired. "This form isn't lasting...." Charmander said running slower. Charmander put John down behind in front of a bush,"Stay here and don't move, Plague will come soon and some of the other team, I hope," "But who are you!" John yelled. The Charmander started to walk away but then turned around. "My name shall be a secret, I will be in Kakuna's hole when your journey is done," Charmander walked away until disappearing into the darkness of the forest. John suddenly heard foot steps.