Erik Aegean
Team Trainer
Ambrette Town, Kalos -> cliffside on route 8
Affected RPers: None

Erik's face was illuminated by the dazzling blue light that shone from the water. A small Seaking was gliding by through the water; unaware of the outside world, simply minding itself, swimming peacefully... Erik put his hand up as if to touch the Seaking, but instead his hand touched glass. He stood there on the other side of the case, barefoot. He brought his hand back to his side and stretched his toes; he truly loved having legs.

A soft and deep rumble took Erik out of his trance and he turned. Carthage, his large Pyroar was standing next to him, greeting Erik's azure eyes with dark solemn ones. Carthage's eyes seemed to say so much and ask many questions, but simultaneously they said nothing and were aloof. Their eyes locked momentarily until Carthage broke it by fixating his gaze over Erik and growing attentive.

“There you are,” said a soft, yet sharp voice. “I've been looking for you.” Erik turned to see his sister, Lana, tall and prominent standing down the hall of the aquarium. She had a beautiful white gown that ended with red, purple, and blue frills. Her dark red hair was pinned back with gold and emerald pins. With her head raised slightly, enough to look down her long and sharp nose, she asked,

“Why are you here? Don't you get enough sea life under the waters?”

“I was showing Carthage what it's like underwater.” Erik responded. He turned back toward his majestic lion Pokemon and brushed his head with his hand. “He'll never be able to experience it, never know what my room looks like, or the city, at least, not in real life. So I took him here with me to show him life underwater.” He smiled as Carthage cocked his head while Erik scratched behind his ear. Lana walked toward Erik; her bare feet slapping the lamented floor lightly in her grace.

“You know, you have to come back to the city for business.” Her voice became hushed, setting a sensitive, but serious tone that chilled over Erik's body. “It's not safe up here in the land cities, it's much more violent. At least underwater there aren't any Mechari, so little to no riots.”

“I know...” Erik said, avoiding eye contact with his sister; instead his sight drifted in the wafting waters of the aquarium. Lana waited a moment, then said abruptly, yet softly to not startle Erik,

“I heard you joined Team Trainer.”

“I have.” Erik responded factually, now turning to look up at her.

“Usually the head of the family does that, which is why none of us have done so yet.”

“Lana, we have no idea who's suppose to be head of the family. It's not suppose to be a girl and no one knows which twin was born first. And it's not okay, for some reason, to have two heads of the house, and-”

“This is why you need to come back to the city and discuss it with the rest of us, Erik!” Lana interrupted. Her voice carried and echoed in the empty hallway of the aquarium. The water Pokemon around them swam incandescently; in their own worlds beyond the glass they glided freely. Lana took a deep breath and said,

“I know it was hard when mom and dad died, deciding who was head of the house was something we could put off for a while, but now? Since the Night of Bloodfall? And since uncle Krakenus and aunt Lorelei went into hiding? We have more on our shoulders now than ever and we need to discuss who will be head of the house. The family is at our place. I'll see you there, Erik.” Her tone was light, but commanding, closing off any furthur discussion. She turned and walked out of the aquarium as Erik watched her part.

He looked down a the floor in thought while still scratching Carthage's ear, but Carthage was not longer reacting to it like before. The lion Pokemon looked at Erik; watching him and waiting for him to make a decision. Erik felt like Carthage knew what he was going to do and was just being patient. After a while he looked up into those solemn eyes and said,

“Okay Carthage... let's go to the cliffside.” Erik walked over to Carthage's side and leapt up to straddle him. With Erik holding on, Carthage took off down the hall and out through the large doors to Ambrette Town.

The town was mainly deserted, even though it was midday. Cars were overturned, piles of debris were smoldering, and in the distance Erik could hear some people's voices, although inaudible.

“Come on, let's go.” Erik whispered to Carthage as they strolled down the stairs. Carthage gathered his surroundings and headed off along the wooded side of the route to make it to the cliffs that were in between Ambrette Town and Cyllage City. Erik held on, resting low on Carthage's back; his mane nestled Erik's head as he drifted into his thoughts.