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"Hello again, Your Majesty. Time for another story already?" Sol pulled his multicolored hair back, fussing with it awkwardly, "Today's story is pretty important to me. It's about me!"
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He taps his finger to his chin pointedly, "Where to begin?"
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"Oh! Right. Sorry, I told myself I'd be more on the mark for this one but I guess the nerves just," He mimed throwing his thoughts out of his head. "Let's see, when I was a little boy, like really little, like six or so I used to sit at the foot of my parents' bed. I used to make them read me story after story after story."
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"I think it used to get on their nerves, but when I got sick, when I lost all of my energy I think they were really happy to see me asking over and over again. Even full of needles and tubes, I never stopped asking after my stories." Sol has recounted this story a few times, mostly to himself, but it never failed to bother him, "I was insatiable. And I still am! Those stories were all about myths and legends and fairy tales - like the one I told you last time."
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"We used to say they were the only things that kept me going. And in a way that might have been true. But it's definitely true now."
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Sol cannot bring himself to look the king in the eyes, "I have dreams now, something to drive me. I had almost given up, once upon a time...but then Hoenn fell into my lap and with all of its phenomena it felt like the next right step."
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"You see, in Kalos, I had hit every dead end one could think of. Every single Kalosian legend had led me nowhere. Which sucked because I tried REALLY hard to make them happen. It was what I wanted to do with my litge and it had all crumpled apart at my feet. I had prayed to every effigy and diety I could think of. And I can think of a lot - it's like my whole schtick. I had nothing. No drive, no passion, no proof that was I was doing was worth my life."
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"Then I came here, one of the few regions I had never been to, after continued reports of mystical happenings. I packed my bags, kissed Kalos behind, and bought a plane ticket. It was hard...but I had a life to live. And dreams to fulfill. I mean, you, Your Majesty, are quite literally the fruition of my childhood dream! You're mysterious and mystical and your appearance here proves I'm doing what I'm supposed to. Isn't that just...magical?"

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"Thank you...all healed up." Sol gave a tight-lipped smile as he raised his elbow to show his healed elbow. He didn't make a snide comment about how his hair had gotten wet, no need to make himself totally unlikeable at first. He did indeed have a clue as to who was before him, ever since his run-in with a certain league member, Sol decided to do a bit of research.

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"So, a Zeraora, huh?" Sol peered with intent at the Pokemon. He truly had never seen anything like it, never read about it either. "Very impressive to say the least, I wonder..." Sol gave the Pokemon a once over, noting the various features and markings of the Zeraora.

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"My name is Solstice, Solstice Arylide," He stood offering out a hand, "You're John or something to that effect, yeah?"

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"Yeah, I'm fine." Sol said, propping himself up on one arm, "Just a little scrape." He inspected his right elbow, the skin had shredded and a few tiny beads of blood had broken through to the surface.


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Rose came to his side, helping him stand back up. He raked his fingers through his hair trying to get any of the excess debris out of it. He winced each time he moved his elbow. Anyone with eyes could see it was very superficial, there was no need for his theatrics. "Just one sec," Sol held up his right pointer finger to pause their conversation, it was very impolite - something his parents always got onto him for as a child.


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He gave himself another once over, knocking off any dirt. As he did so, he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye. Two quadrupedal figures were watching him (maybe even both trainers, but Sol was too self-absorbed to think about that). He tested the arc of his throwing arm subtly before grabbing an empty Pokeball and committing to a capture. He whirled with his throw, watching as the Pokeball sailed at the Dachsbun.


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Sol put his finger down and returned his attention to Josh, "Okay, you've my attention again."


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He cocked his head at the trainer's mount, whatever he had intended to say was now lost to him, "What kind of Pokemon is that? I've, literally, never seen anything like it before."

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So it seemed the King requested another story and Sol was more than happy to oblige again. He had a field day hypothesizing about the Pokémon's biology and the extent of its power - even going so far as to spamming Michael Navidson with texts upon essays about the potential credibility of these theories. He would shortly apologize once his moment of excitement had passed, always with the addendum that it would happen again.


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As Sol approached the great tree and knelt before the King, he took time to meet the gallant one's eyes. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts he hadn't paid personal attention to it. He had not noticed the unique shape of its pupils till now.


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"Hello again, Your Majesty. You're having a nice day, I hope," Sol said, rising.


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"The story I wanted to tell you today is an old legend we have in my home region of Kalos. I used to have my parents read me it all the time, although they only told me the kid version." Sol smiled at the memory. Oh, how he missed those days. "The story has many names, but I always liked the title: The Jewel of Life.


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"It tells the story of a doomed kingdom and the princess who saved it. I, uh, brought the picture book version if you wanted to look," He smiles at Calreyx, producing the fairy tale, "I don't know your familiarity with Kalos, but it was once ruled by a King, much like yourself...but that's neither here nor there."


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The story was always told as though it was about humans, but little Sol had always wondered if the Princess could perhaps be a Pokémon instead. Sometimes his parents would humor him and tell it that way, allowing him to fill in the blanks... Sol rubbed the wetness from his eyes, no need to be sad, right? Having an audience with a king was a very big deal!


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"I suppose I should just start the story, ahem," Sol cleared his throat and opened to the first page, "Once upon a time, there was a kingdom of great beauty and prosperity. Every building and street glittered with gems and jewels, but there was no stone in all the kingdom prettier or more perfect than the so-called crown jewel. This gemstone was called the Jewel of Life and was created with magic once a generation by the reigning King and Queen."


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Sol showed Calyrex the picture, a simplistic castle painted in water color. A large pink gem shaped like a heart sat at the top of the castle's northern-most tower.


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"The Jewel of Life was named so for it gave their kingdom the very thing - life! Their crops flourished, their water was pure, and their people lived long and healthy lives free of disease or illness." Sol turned the page again, showing the image of the prosperous kingdom to the majestic Pokemon, "The King and Queen of the kingdom were charged with the creation and care of the Jewel and raised their daughter to take care of it too. Unfortunately, she was very hedonistic and carefree and never listened to her parents, thusly never learning how to properly take care of or even create a gem of such power."


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He turned the page again, revealing the gem to be cracked and dull. It's pink hue had become muddled, almost gray.


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"Then one day," Sol's voice took a somber tone, "The Jewel of Life cracked, its life-giving aura had become corrupted, resulting in the devastation of the kingdom. Crops withered to ash, the water became sludge, and a plague spread claiming many lives - including the King and Queen.


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"This left the Princess as the only one capable of taking care of the Kingdom. Unable to make a new Jewel of Life on her own, the Princess had no choice but to consult her advisors in hopes they would have the solution. One advisor told her to give up and take all of the healthy people and crops somewhere new. Another advisor suggested they abandon all hope of making a new jewel and try and fix their problems without magic or die trying. Her final advisor suggested the Princess venture into the Enchanted Forest on the very edge of their kingdom to find the creature that had bestowed the royal family with their magic."


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Sol turned the page again revealing a decaying landscape painted in dull browns and grays, the sky filled with ash. On the very edge of the landscape was a verdant forest untouched by the destruction.


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"The Princess chose hope and set off to head into the forest. Before leaving, channeling the magic inherited by her family, she created a flawed jewel in hopes that the beast could bless it." Sol cleared his throat once more as he turned the page and revealed the Princess wearing a white dress holding a jewel at the edge of a magical forest, "She disappeared into the lush forest where even the very air teemed with life. Flowers bloomed but never died, moss clung to every surface, mushrooms illuminated even the darkest night. It was truly enchanting."


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"The Princess walked for what could have been days or years, possibly even seconds. Time felt unreal to her. When she had walked her lifespan several times over, she fell to her knees and looked towards the canopy of leaves and pleaded. She pleaded with Gods and demons, with good and evil. She pleaded for an answer, a solution for her people. When she had cried and screamed and begged to her very last, finally an answer came."


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The next image was of a majestic creature resembling a winged stag with horns standing over the princess. Veins of rainbow light ran across it and emanated from it as though it were an aura.


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"The Guardian of the Forest stood before her and although it did not speak, it communicated to her as the wind through the trees or the taste of fruit on her tongue. It heard her pleas and offered her a solution. The Princess looked up at the magical creature and sobbed as she thanked it. The Guardian imbued the gem with its power and sent the Princess on her way.


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"Although it had taken her forever to find The Guardian, it had only taken her mere minutes to leave the Enchanted Forest. She found that no time had passed at all since she entered, but she did not linger too long. She had a Kingdom to save!" Sol flipped the page to show the picture of the travel back and then to show the picture of her return, where the Princess was knelt down before the Jewel of Life as her citizens looked on. "She made her way back to the chamber where the damaged gem was held and bowed before it. All of the citizens looked on at her as she replaced the old gem with the new one. But nothing changed."


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"There was only one thing left for her to do, just as the Guardian had instructed. She looked on at her kingdom and smiled. In her heart she knew that this was for the greater good. She whispered an ancient spell and began glowing. Her entire being became crystal before it shattered, glowing with magical light that was absorbed by the new Jewel of Life. One that would last for eternity and would ensure that her Kingdom would never falter again."


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Sol showed Calyrex the final pages of the book before showing it the very last page, 'Fin.'


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He smiled at the King, "Sorry that was so long. I know most of that wasn't in the book, but I didn't want to give you the kiddie version. I know it's a bit outlandish, but I've always loved it. Anyways! I hope you enjoy the story your majesty."

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"Ohhh, it's actually missing? I thought the eyepatch was a style choice and at some point during this excursion was going to try and break it to you that it just wasn't working," Sol shrugged nonchalantly, "But never mind! So, like, is there just a presumably wet hole, or, like, did you get it sewn shut? Like what they do to Pokemon who have to have their eyes removed?"

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Sol followed diligently behind Howard as he spoke, as much fun as it was to poke at the man, he did need his direction lest he get lost in Granite Cave again. He doubted Navy would be there to save him again, but he was a very lucky boy. Who knows?

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"I'm a fairy-type enthusiast, trust me, I've studied hundreds of Carbink. Which felt like a step in the right direction, but it only ever led to a dead end. Which I won't let stop me." His mother owned a Carbink once, but he decided it was best to entrust it to someone else. Sol had tried his best not to think of Kalos, yet it always came up... "Yeah, I know all about Anistar and its sundial. I grew up there. Fun fact, the police do NOT like people trying to climb it or take samples."

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As Howard took his step, Sol took one back instinctively.

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"Huh? No. I just have weak ankles. I'm good." Which was the truth! He wasn't bleeding at all and his ankles did hurt...but it wasn't the full truth. No need to spill his guts to a stranger.

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Sol smiled kindly, "I appreciate the concern, but I can take care of myself. Honest." He also didn't need another stranger worried about his well-being. Arceus, sometimes Sol was so annoyed by how pathetic he was. He turned his attention cautiously to Shirley, overriding his first reaction (which was to jerk his head at a breakneck pace).

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"Should, uh, we be worried about that orrrrrr?"

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"We'll see," Sol smirked. Obviously, he would keep himself safe...in his downtime, but if there was an opportunity to get what he wanted, he would sacrifice life and limb to get it. Sol gets up when the sheriff does, thinking about how much time he'll likely end up spending with him. He thinks it will be odd to see the same person all the time. Especially, someone who is invested in his survival and his future.


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"Buried under paperwork is where I'm the happiest. Had my life turned out differently, I think I would've been content being some paper-pushing bureaucrat," Sol covered his smirk with his hand, "Well, maybe not. I have a soul - unlike most bureaucrats." Thoughts of frustrated phone calls and desperate pleading came to mind. He shook those thoughts away, blinking away his thousand-yard stare.


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"There could be a little ceremony. I wouldn't complain. Maybe play the trumpet a little? Or the bugle? Whatever brass instrument that's played at events - you know the one, right?" He mimed playing the horn tapping the imaginary buttons of the instrument.


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"No need to tell me twice! I am, literally, so excited about this!" Sol was all but jumping for joy as the pair departed, practically vaulting into the truck's passenger seat.

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Although his goal had been to add more Pokemon to the team, Solstice was taking the time before he set off to find a partner to just take it all in. He let the air fill his lungs, tasting it. The day was beautiful and he was enjoying the sights. The way the Pokemon milled about in their natural habitats, the more docile of these Pokemon fled once they noticed his peering eyes. He stretched his arm across his chest when he was all good and loose, then he'd get to it!
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His interest in nature and the world around him had left him ignorant of the fast, thundering approach of the cat and its rider. Where Sol had not noticed, Rose did. She turned with a ferocious grimace on her adorable face, lofting her mallet and pointing at the approaching beast threateningly. Her eyes narrowed, daring the beast to flatten her trainer.
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The sound of paws dragging to a halt alerted Sol, who swivel-turned on his heels to look at what was making all that racket. His eyes widened, and instinctively he flinched, throwing his hands up defensively. Thankfully, Rose had her attention on the fast approach of the Zeraora, and seeing as her threat would do nothing to stop it, used her mallet to knock Sol back as gently as she could.
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Sol fell back, the wind knocked out of him, gasping for air. "Damn," He gasped, "it..."

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There was something beyond reason that compelled him to visit the Dyna Tree. That something was obsession. It made his mouth water at the mystery and power that was the Dynamax phenomenon and somehow this tree was connected to it, yes? He had pontificated on the phenomenon many times in his hospital bed, pages upon pages comparing and hypothesizing on published research. It had all led him here, to the King.

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And the King requested stories. Stories were Sol's area of expertise! They were his very lifeblood. If the King wanted a story then he would get the story of a lifetime! An epic of grand proportions! Love and loss and princes and dragons! Oh, his story would have it all!

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That was the plan...until he laid eyes upon the King and his grand crown. Something strikes him deep in his core. Goosebumps run up his arms and legs, tears spring to his eyes watering them. Why?

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"I, um, Your Majesty," Sol gulps unconsciously, "I hear you request a tale?"

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Sol does not dwell on the Pokémon's reaction. He is too busy lost in his mind. He is trying to deal with the melting pot of emotions and memories that have overtaken him. Why? Why, why, why? Whatever! It's fine!

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Sol straightens up, a practiced pose overriding his formerly relaxed demeanor, "Then I shall tell you a tale. A tale of grandeur, and fate, with high stakes and dreadful lows! You will remember it for all of time! Even when fate cannot remember your name, this story will be part of your everlasting legacy!"

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Sol exhales, not because he is holding a breath but because he simply cannot do this. "I am sorry, Your Highness. I do not have the heart to tell you that story. Instead, I will tell you something real. No grand epic, but a tale of loss and new beginnings. A tale I hold very closely to my heart. One that may bore you, one that may move you. I don't know."

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"Once upon a time, there was a little boy. He was unremarkable in every way except one: this boy was very sick. He could not live life without needing other people to take care of him. Despite this condition, his family loved him very much. They sacrificed a great many things to make him as happy as they could.

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"For years and years, this little boy's condition only worsened, but he continued to hope as did his family. The boy wanted nothing more than to live and to play. He suffered through a great many pains and experiments in the hopes that he would live normally, but he had no such luck...Until one day, everything changed."

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Sorrow clogged Solstice's voice, it clouded his mind and pushed out the disbelief that he was spilling his guts just for some so-called King. He thought about this moment all the time. Why was he struggling to tell this story? He relived it every time he closed his eyes, it should be a piece of cake. He swallows at the lump in his throat.

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"E-everything changed. A great tragedy had struck, my - his life was filled with fire and lightning, and the hope for a better future was obscured by ash. Then it all changed again, but he could not notice it. Even after the ash had cleared, his heart and mind were still mired with it. Even when his illness, his curse, was lifted he still thought about the flames that had consumed his life...

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"On the other side of the ash, he was free to live. But he was chained to the past even as the years flew by. He buried himself in the past, further and further, until he was beyond what he had lived. He looked towards the past to find his future, to find the answer, the solution to fix it all. Luck had brought him a new life, luck would give him another again...or so he hoped."

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Sol, who had been unable to look at the King, found the Pokémon's eyes. "The End, Your Highness."

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"That's...you've missed my point, I fear." Sol shrugged it off instead of explaining. Howard made a good point in his own right: what you did mattered. Doing something that mattered was the entire reason Sol had chosen to come to Hoenn. He was making the price of his life one worth paying, proving that what he had chosen to do with his life WAS worth it.

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He was worth it. He was.

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Sol, ever the purveyor of men, could tell his comment had embarrassed the older man. Had this been a different scenario, Sol might have continued teasing him, but his thoughts had drifted to home and he was no longer feeling the playful spirit.

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"That's nice, I suppose. It's always good to have someone strong in your corner. I fear his investment in me is only favorable on my end. But, that's not my problem." For now, it wasn't. But he wondered when or even if the guilt of taking more than he could return would catch up to him. Every time he made a terrible choice or paid a terrible price that resounding voice telling him to do the right thing got a little quieter. If glory meant selfishness then so be it.

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Sol braced himself for pain as he followed Howard's and jumped onto a rock. The impact carried the pain directly to his ankles, a dull agony that he tried not to let show on his face. "It'll sound stupid. It's an old Kalosian myth about a maiden and- ugh, this is embarrassing! Basically, I'm looking for a pink diamond of impeccable quality. Perfect, even in a natural environment."

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"Quid pro quo, indeed. If the League helps me, I'll help it. But I've gotten far on being selfish, I won't just do something for nothing, ya feel?" He wondered how Navy was able to speak like he knew there was something Sol was hiding. Did he know? 

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Sol was mid-scarf when Navy scolded him, leaving Sol no choice but to slowly shove the noodles into his mouth making a 'fwop, fwop, fwop' as he inhaled his food until the current chopstick-ful was devoured. "I already burnt it"

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Sol took a minute to breathe, using both hands to hold the complimentary glass of water he had been served as he chugged it to soothe his scalding throat. He exhaled, hard. "That's good."

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"Although I can hardly believe you'd make that assumption based on one interaction and my physical appearance." It was rather obvious that Sol was merely feigning his offense, evidenced markedly by the slight upward tilt at the corner of his lips, "Kidding! I do have a bad habit and a history of being a man-eater, perhaps unfortunately so."

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He shrugged off the thought, no point in thinking of the past, or of hypotheticals. He's wasted too much time on both. "People die every day...but I won't - if that's what you're implying. I'm lucky." Which was true. He was lucky! Insanely so. His luck always came with a price, though.
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"Oh, for sure. You'd have to lock me up to stop me and even then it probably wouldn't be an effective solution. Again, I'm really lucky." Sol raked his fingers through his hair, "Vortigern is a nice name. Very regal. Fitting of a Garchomp. I take it you favor dragons, then? I've always favored fairy types, myself."

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In truth, Sol favored psychic types for the longest. That's why Circe was his first. Plus, he liked the fact that Gothitelle could allegedly see the end of everything. As a Gothorita all she ever seemed to do was stare at things he could never seem to see, though.
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"After my run-in with Nihilego, I believe that's true. Hoenn will be the grand stage on which I make my mark...or I will fail horribly and everything will have been for nothing." His voice, which had grown grim, became chipper and sweet, practiced, "But! It won't! Because, again, I'm very lucky."

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