Here we go again... (Blake)

[AlexKun]

'Did I win?' was the first thought Blake had as he was regaining consciousness. His head was pounding and he felt awful. 'What did I do last night? Did I go out to celebrate another victory?' The now Sneasel began opening his eyes and looked around. 'What is going on with my hands? Something doesn't feel right...' His vision was so blurred that he could barely make out his hands in front of his face. From what he could see it looked like there were now two claws where his hands were supposed to be.

'Yeah, I am definitely losing it.' He wasn't familiar at all with where he was. 'Is this the palace garden? No, it can't be...the palace is far too extravagant to have such weeds growing around. But where am I?' Blake soon became panicked and began calling out "Where am I? Is anybody there? Please...Servants? Father? Anybody?"

[Blahsadfeguie]

Not too far behind Blake, in fact, a Ledyba hovered in front of an artist's canvass, carrying varying types of brushes in each of his hands and a palette in one. The back side of the painting was visible from where Blake was standing. Ledyba stroked the painting gently, brushing in details only an artist's eye could detect. As the artist looked beyond his canvass to refresh his view of the landscape, he angered at the sight of a Pokemon in his way.

"'Ey!" shouted the Ledyba to Blake in a strange accent. "Vhat ahr you doing een my view? Can't you zee I ahm painting here? Now shoo!" He looked purely frustrated. It seemed as though he would attack without a moment's notice if Blake did not comply.

[AlexKun]

After a bit longer Blake was able to pull himself together. For the most part that is... Upon hearing the Ledyba's voice he turned around and began to speak. "Ah, you must be my fathers painter, it's nice to meet..." as he got closer he noticed that he was talking to a giant painting lady bug. 'I really must be going crazy' he thought, 'Eh, I might as well go with it.'

"Are you wearing a costume of any sort?" he inquired of the Ledyba, "because I'm pretty sure you are a giant lady bug." Blake failed to notice that the Ledyba was slightly annoyed because where he had come from there were constantly people annoyed at him and he had learned to ignore it. While waiting for the Ledyba's response he continued toward the canvas so he could see the painting close up.

[Blahsadfeguie]

The Ledyba blinked angrily a couple of times. His father's painter? Costume? How dare he talk to him this way? As Blake approached the easel, Ledyba came out from behind and stood directly in his way, staring him straight in the eyes with the look of an upset artist.

"Lizzen here, rodent," Ledyba threatened slowly, "If you do not go avay right zis instant, I vill Mach Paunch you into next veek!" He was very serious in his threats, but he didn't look all that strong. However, seeing as Sneasel is a Dark- and Ice-type, a Fighting-type move would be devastating nonetheless. Whether Ledyba realized this or was just too overconfident would forever remain a mystery.

[AlexKun]

Blake stared at the Ledyba with wide eyes. "How dare you! I..." He didn't know what to say. He had never been in a situation where he was insulted and the person who insulted him wasn't immediately punished by the kingdom. He didn't want to get into any trouble just yet, considering he didn't know exactly where he was or how he got there. 'Maybe If I am nice and I do what he asks I may be able to get some answers out of him.'

So, Blake stepped out of the Ledyba's view and sat down. It turns out he was still a bit dizzy. He of course growled under his breath "Rodent...I'll show you who the rodent is...once I get back I will..." He waited to see whether the Ledyba would go back to painting or if he would be willing to talk with him.

[Blahsadfeguie]

The Ledyba watched, satisfied, as Blake gave in and sat on the side. Ledyba returned to his painting. After a few moments, however, of Blake still within his proximity, he began to get uncomfortable. From the former prince's angle, Ledyba's painting was clearly visible - a beautiful rendition of the Meadow. To be so talented and aggressively confident must have meant that he was a renowned artist. And spoiled too, no doubt. He turned around and shot Blake an offensive glare.

"Sneazal," he snapped in his harsh accent, "I cannot vork vith you peeking over my shoulder like zat! Go find some oza, less famous person to bother!"

((For my own record, the color code for Ledyba's speech is FF3366. *facepalm*))

[AlexKun]

By the time the Ledyba spoke once more Blake had begun staring at his hands again. 'What the heck...I need some answers...' After the Ledyba was done speaking Blake was surprised. "Famous? You are famous? But you are only a pokemon. But it appears I am as well." Blake took a moment to think over what he was going to say. He didn't want to come off rude as he usually did because he was no longer in any position of power.

"I would love to get out of your way and to stop annoying you. You see, the problem is I don't know exactly where I am and I would like to find some way to get home." Blake didn't bother going into too many details because he didn't want to bore the Ledyba or make him more upset.

[Blahsadfeguie]

Ledyba was outraged as what Blake was telling him. Not only wouldn't he leave, but he was also rambling on as if he knew nothing about the dimension. "It...'appeers' zat you ahr a Pokemon?" Ledyba prompted. "You 'don't know' vhere you ahr? Vhat nonsense! Of course you're a Pokemon! You ahr in ze Gatevay Meadow, ze central point in all ze dimension!" He spread his arms wildly, indicating the surrounding area as 'ze dimension'. "Now, vhy don't you get lost in ze Imposing Mountains or somezing."

[AlexKun]

At this point, Blake was becoming tired of the Ledyba's attitude and he decided maybe he could make it on his own. Or at least meet someone else nice than him. "Fine! I'm leaving. Sorry to disturb you." he began mumbling under his breath and wandering in a random direction.

'There has got to be someone around here...' he thought almost desperately. 'I know that I am in another dimension now...and I am in a place called Gateway Meadow... But where can I go?'

[Blahsadfeguie]

Ledyba scoffed smugly, watching Blake take his final leave. However he couldn't help but think in the back of his mind that he might return for whatever reason, and so he was still in somewhat of a bad mood. He returned to his painting, brushing frivolously some minor details of the Meadow.

There were four paths from the Meadow that Blake could see, each one leading in a different cardinal direction. To the north, a cloudy sky overlooked a lush forest of trees and foliage. The sun hung over the east, where the mouth of a cave stood like the growling mouth of a massive beat. A distance to the west, there was a vast ocean, and to the south was a barren wasteland.

[AlexKun]

Blake continued searching but didn't find anybody around. "Bloody hell," he whipered under his breath, "what the heck is this place?" He inspected his surroundings and the four different paths that he could take. 'Hmm, ocean? Can't swim long distance. Barren wasteland? Not so appealing. Angry looking cave? No thanks.' It looked like he would be heading to the north. Even though it looked like a fairly simple forest, he didn't want to go in alone. 'Who knows what I could find in there, it could be dangerous...'

So, against his better judgement he began heading back in the direction of the Ledyba. 'If I don't find anyone else I will simply have to deal with that cranky bug.' he thought, 'But maybe if he decides to help me I can at least learn more about this place.'

[Blahsadfeguie]

Just when Ledyba had finally calmed down enough to stop trying to stab his painting with his brush, he saw out of the corner of his eye Blake coming back to him. He furiously slammed his brush down on the grass and buzzed right in front of the Sneasel's face. "Vat more do you vant?!" he shouted, waving all six of his arms wildly. "Is it too much to ask for a little privacy out here?"

His volume was already starting to upset nearby Pokemon even from North Road. Coupled with his accent, this might annoy anybody to the point of aggression. If Ledyba doesn't stop shouting, there's a good chance that he might get into more trouble than it's worth...

[AlexKun]

Blake sighed as the Ledyba continued to yell loudly and wave his arms around. "Look" he mumbled quietly, "I didn't want to come back here or bother you or anything like that." His words became more and more quiet as he reached the end of what he was saying. "It's just that...I...need your...help."

He cringed at the thought of being reduced to begging for help. 'Look at me, what a disgrace. But I just can't do this alone.' He braced for more yelling and waving as he waited for the Ledyba's response.

[Blahsadfeguie]

Ledyba hovered just a little higher over Blake's head, to intimidate him further. He was really feeling the control now, and as Blake's voice faded, he knew that he would be rid of him soon. However, he didn't expect him to be asking for help. What his action ended up doing was making the Sneasel more entertaining rather than annoying. Gradually, the Bug-type's scowl transitioned into a smile, followed by a hysterical laugh.

"Hah hah hah!" laughed Ledyba oppressively. "I knew you needed help, but from me? Hah hah. You ahr so pathetic, you don't deserve to be een ze same meadow as me." He thought he was so tough, he had no idea of Blake's royal status in his own dimension. Not like it mattered much here... Every human, whetever their age or skill, emerged in the dimension exactly the same.

[AlexKun]

Blake made every attempt to hold his temper as he stared straight through the Ledyba. "Okay I'll ask again, are you going to help me or not? I need some help going into that there forest, and if you don't intend to help me I should be on my way." Despite the Ledyba's smile he still couldn't stand the fact that he looked inferior. 'Look what I have been reduced to, a filthy beggar.'

Blake then began to stare at the ground to distract his fuming mind from lashing out against the Ledyba's insults. 'Just endure it, he will stop eventually.' Or so he hoped.

[Blahsadfeguie]

Ledyba stopped chuckling to himself, and returned to solemnity. He returned Blake's straight stare and got back down to business. "Let me tell you," he started, "Zis dimension vill chew you up and spit you right back out vith your attitude." He paused for a while, forming some mental images. He figured he could afford to take a break if it meant watching this 'eediot' fail at trying to survive in this world. "Zat is vhy you need me. I'm coming vith you, vhether you like it or not!" He quickly went over to his canvass and painting materials and packed them efficiently into a medium-sized suitcase, then hovered back to Blake. The malignity of his plan shone only slightly through his expression.

[AlexKun]

'Well, that was a quick change of heart.' Blake thought suspiciously, 'I can't complain though, I need all of the help I can possibly get.' Blake picked his head back up and his mood lightened slightly. He was glad that the Ledyba had stopped with the insults and finally decided to be useful to him. He watched intently as the bug packed up all of his things. As soon as the Ledyba was done he was ready to go. "All right, lets get a move on, I want to get out of this place as soon as possible." 'Maybe somewhere along this road theres a nice hotel or a palace or something. Although, that might be a little much to ask.'

Blake went off in the direction of the North Road thinking that the Ledyba would follow him. Suddenly, something dawned on him. He spoke back over his shoulder, "Hey, by the way, I never did catch your name."

[Blahsadfeguie]

The Ledyba smirked once Blake turned around to go to North Road; he couldn't wait to see what kind of torture he would be facing along the way. He wanted nothing more than to prove his own point, and to be around when it happened.

"Édouard Gaston Leveque IV," he responded proudly after being asked his name, "after a long line of famous Dimensional painters. But you can call me Eddy."

**You may now move on to North Road.**