As the sunny sky gave way to clouds rolling in, the sound of loud, terrifying buzzing echoed from the south. If Mage were to look at the sky above, he would sight something equally scary, yet intriguing: a Shiny Beedrill of impressive size. What may have been more impressive was a young, green-haired Ranger seated on the giant insect's back. Though they were flying at a good clip, they did not seem to be aggressive, buzzing and bumbling above Lake Pyre, ready to land near its northern shore.

Paying no heed to Mage as she landed, Shalin remained seated on the Beedrill's back as the bug-type's deafening wings came to a stop. She waited for the overwhelming tingling sensation to leave her body before attempting to slide off her unusual ride. Without her Sygna Suit on, flying on her insect Pokémon was a lot more intense!

A low, dull hum crept around the edges of Mage's meditation, and then intensified into a full-on buzz. It sounded like the very air was being chopped apart! On alert, Mage put his feet down from his rock, his eyes scanning the sky above him. Soon, the culprit emerged - a Beedrill, but thankfully not one here to impale him. A young woman waited on its back before disembarking, perhaps waiting to centre herself and let the buzzing wear off.

What a way to make an entrance!

"Feeling alright?" Mage called out, keeping a distance from the Beedrill's stingers. "Maybe pick a ride with less turbulence next time?" He said with a nervous laugh. He didn't have this problem - he mainly just floated on his Haunter's back.

Shalin Nariya

Queen Zing was perhaps the friendliest Beedrill in Hoenn, making every effort she could to look cordial. "I'm okay!" Shalin responded, the tingling feeling subsiding. "I'm used to it! It's a lot of fun up there!" She was certainly an eccentric one. What wore out the bodies of many and shook them to the bone, Shalin enjoyed. She watched the wasp silently flutter her wings just beneath the threshold of human hearing.

Once the giant bug's wings were still, Shalin slid off her Beedrill, giving Mage a good look at the saddle and bridle on the wasp. What an unusual way to travel! She peered skyward as a shadow was cast over their surroundings. "Didn't think it was supposed to rain today," she sighed. "Hopefully it's just cloud cover."

Despite Mage's earlier reservations about Beedrill, this particular specimen seemed fine. In fact, she seemed unusually friendly. Was she trying to wave with that spear-tipped limb? The more she buzzed, the more Mage thought her vibrations sounded almost song-like.

Slowly, Mage warmed up to the Beedrill and her trainer. Honestly, who was Mage to fault someone else for their unconventional choice of steed? At least bees are living things. Mage rode on shades of the undead.

"Oh, this is fun too. Let me show you."

Spencer, Mage's Haunter, oozed out from his Pokeball, clouding over the dimming sunlight with its huge jagged form. Speak about cloud cover - check out this ghost canopy. Mage leaped up onto Spencer's back and climbed onto the soft landing between his two main horns. He rested his head on his hands and sank his elbows into that deep purple spectre.

"We're not as fast as a Beedrill, but it's a comfy ride." Spencer waved back at the Beedrill.

Shalin Nariya