<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/dvcE2nO.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Daniel Lebeau<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Arcaia League Starting Festival<br/><strong>With:</strong>Graham, Althea<br/><strong>Notes:</strong>It’s starting!<br/><strong>Pokémon:</strong>Mudkip, Ralts, Magikarp<br/><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/qhaKUWB.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/qhaKUWB.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/qhaKUWB.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/RAXtL82.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/WV3qYrg.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/k9DVs0l.jpg)</div><br/><hr/><hr/><hr/><br/><br/><br/>Daniel giggled as Graham made his little fuss about getting work done before playing. Where was the fun in that? They’d get there eventually, it wasn’t like the keys were going to sprout legs and walk off or anything. This festival was a once in a lifetime experience, the beginning of a new pokémon league. Daniel intended to enjoy it to the fullest. As their diminutive blonde friend began yawning and mentioning coffee the gray haired girl remembered a stall they had passed not too long ago.<strong>”Ooh, I remember we passed by somewhere that looked really neat! And they had coffee!”</strong>she would announce to her companions. As before instead of waiting for a response the excitable girl grabbed her friends by the arms and pulled them along through the busy crowd. They passed a handful of stall before coming to stop before a particularly interesting one. The man running the stand had dark skin and flowing clothes on, from somewhere Daniel had never seen before. With him behind the counter were two very large pokémon. A Hippowdon rested lazily on the ground, beginning to burry itself in the sand that poured from its body. Beside it stood a Camerupt that had two large metal bowls sitting on top of its humps. The bowls were filled with sand from the Hippowdon for reasons Daniel did not know. But the signs around the stall said they sold coffee so they were in the right place. With a smile the man set to work when Daniel ordered a drink. Taking a metal pitcher with a long handle he drug the pitcher through the hot sand and the liquid inside boiled before everyone’s eyes. Doing this a few more times the man was finally satisfied with the drink and poured it for Daniel who happily paid for it. With a smile she threw two straws into it and offered some to Althea.<strong>”Tadaa!! That has got to be the coolest cup of coffee I’ve ever seen!”</strong>Waiting for her friend to take her drink Daniel then took a sip herself. Passers by might see the two sharing a drink and think them a couple. It seemed to be a common occurrence at these festivities. However the cute scene would not last. As the bitter liquid hit Daniel’s tastebuds her eyes would shoot open in shock. As tears formed in the corners of her eyes the girl would turn a slight shade of green as she made herself swallow the drink rather than spit it out.<strong>”Blech!! It’s so... bitter!”</strong>She had not been prepared for the taste. Hoping maybe it had just caught her off guard the girl braved another sip. Sadly the result was the same as the first. Shivering as she managed to force another gulp down Daniel handed the cup over to Althea as she tried to wash the taste out of her mouth with a big mouthful of cotton candy.<br/><br/>As the festivities went on a fan fair suddenly erupted from speakers all throughout the area.<strong>”The commencement ceremony for the Arcaian pokémon league are about to begin. Please make your way towards the stage in front of Pokkén Tower.”</strong>a voice called out from the speakers. The message repeated as folks made their way towards the main event. Set up in front of the Pokkén Tower sky scraper was a large raised stage. At the back were large monitors and huge collections of speakers to ensure all at the event could see and hear what was happening on stage. Lights were rigged up over the top of the stage, and in the back were many seats for guests asked to appear for the event. In the center of the stage stood a single lectern with the pokémon association symbol on the front, a simple pokéball logo. As the crowd gathered Daniel pulled Althea and Graham along yet again to the stage. Pushing and weaving her way through the crowd the girl managed to squeeze her group all the way up to the front of the stage so they could see all of the action. A final fanfare sounded and the lights and screens on the stage came to life. With a burst of light a man stood at the podium. He was rather short with glasses, a mustache, and a tuft of curly hair on top of his head stood before the lectern with his hands raised.<strong>”People of Arcaia! Pokémon trainers from around the world, I would like to welcome you all to the opening ceremony of the Arcaian Pokémon League!!”</strong>He words were met with thunderous applause as the crowd began to grow excited.<strong>”As the chairman of the pokémon association it is my great pleasure to welcome you all here today for this historic occasion. To first opening of the Arcaian league! This in credible region is still very much a mystery to us. Why so many Pokémon live together here we do not know. But we do know we would like to learn more about it. And so what better way to understand this region and it’s incredible pokémon, than by inviting you all, trainers, breeders, researchers, and Pokémon enthusiasts of all kinds, to come here and explore the wilds of Arcaia. For many of you this is your first Pokémon journey, let me be the first to wish you all luck in your adventures. And some of you have been on your journey of discovery for quite some time. But whether you are a bright eyed newcomer or a seasoned veteran, I can assure you that you have never experienced anything quite like this beautiful region!”</strong>The chairman paused a moment for the loud cheers that erupted before pressing on.<strong>”And speaking of the region let us not forget the people of Arcaia. It is you who have braved these lands long before the rest of us dared venture out here. You who carved out these great cities and deep culture that make Arcaia so unique. Nowhere else in the world will you find a people more connected with nature and the Pokémon of their region than here in Arcaia. And speaking of the people of Arcaia, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, eight individuals who were hand picked by the Pokémon association to be your regions Pokémon gym leaders! Let’s have a rousing round of applause as I introduce to you, your Arcaia League Gym lea...”</strong>Before the chairman could finish his sentence his words were drowned out by the sound of a huge explosion. Behind the stage, where the Pokkén Tower stood, a huge fireball enveloped the front entrance and plumes of black smoke rushed out. Debris and smoke blasted out into the gathered crowd, enciting a panic in the mass of people. As the echoes of the explosion died down a small group could be seen emerging from the destroyed entrance. At the front was a woman, tall and blonde with a confident air about her. Following behind her were four men, all wearing red vests, black pants, and silver headphones that wrapped around the back of their bald heads. On their shirts was an emblem, a purple fist holding a pokéball.<br/><br/>Daniel covered her face as the smoke blew in it. Ralts and Mudkip clung tightly to her to avoid being blown away. As the smoke began to clear she audibly gasped. What the hell was going on? As the figures emerged from the smoke Daniel instinctively got in a fighting stance. Her pokémon picked up on the change in their partner and hopped down in front of her. Ralts raised her arms in front of her and Mudkip crouched low, both ready for a fight.<strong>”This is not good...”</strong>