Hacks awoke and stretched no problem, Silas however grumbled and got up, <Whhhhhhhhhhy...>
<Woulda figured a astronaut would get up on a timely manner,> Hacks commented.
<I'm not on the clock, I can sleep in if I want to. Piss off.>
<So Vantachicken, care to explain what's up?> Snakeye asked.
Dunsparce Cloud
-Ever has retrieved his arm and joined the others outside, where they have already come across PEFE!Every, who was losing a game of checkers to a wild Electrike and glad for the distraction-
Ever: Huh, PEFE!Every's out here? There goes my theory.
Amanita: It was a terrible theory.
Ever: But it had to be disproven before we could fully discount it.
Amanita: No. Not really.
Ever: And yet the experiment was conducted.
Amanita: It emphatically was not.
Ever: Hmph. So, what's the deal?
Amanita: This is what happens when you're late to briefings, you know.
Ever: You were out there for a minute.before I got here. And most of that was probably saying hi to PEFE!Every.
-...-
Amanita: Okay, yeah, it's not like I know much anyway. I was out in the forest gathering mushrooms—
-both Brie and PEFE!Every raise their hands-
Amanita: ...Questions at the end, please.
-Brie lowers her hand. PEFE!Every doesn't, and Ever does it for her-
Amanita: Anyway, I felt like I was being watched, and in an unfriendly sort of way.
Ever: Manectric.
Amanita: No.
Brie: Swellow!
Amanita: No. The whole point of this is to find out what it is.
Ever: Meaningless paranoia?
PEFE!Every: Paranoia is rarely meaningless.
Ever; -sweatdrops-
Amanita: Come on, everyone.
Electrike: <Hey! You can't leave just because you're losing!>
PEFE!Every: Quickly, please.
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
The Wanderer
Verdanturf
-To Channah-
Trust me, I've dealt with far worse surprises over the years.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
like christ, but with more nails
Channah: Sure, but. Even now he's still excruciating. And I used to look up to that guy, bleh.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.
Meet The New Boss
-The group comes across a clearing with multiple Rabbids decorated with electric stripes and mohawks-
-They, notably, are hiding behind various brick blocks and trees as cover and weilding energy blasters-
Beep-O: <Well this is a predicament...>
-buzzes-
<Wait! I got an e-mail!>
-The floating figure yelps and darts into the portal-
Contact Me!
RNP
-Meanwhile, the Alexes have figured out MOBILIZED DOG PETTING-
Bona-Fide Mastah
The Winding Stair
-Windlance blinks-
Windlance:<Rude...though I suppose given the situation, it is warranted.>
-He tries to enter, but gets bounced back by some kind of barrier-
<...And it seems I'm not welcome here...well...I got who I needed to here, so I have done my part. Fair luck to you all!>
-He nyooms off-
Skybreak
-The inside of the portal is...staggeringly warmer than it was outside.-
-Before the party assembled lies more of Jason's Aura markers, leading deeper into the depths-
-As stated before, there's no turning back now...-
-There seem to be...what look like bubbles floating far in the distance-
-What they exactly are is not clear yet-
-Follow the path?-
Leo: Huh... *grabs scarf in pocket, just in case*
Cerbeau: <Are they supposed to look like that?>
[insert something relating to myself here]
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Daydre grabs her Rabbid counterpart by the scruff of the.. body.. (Whismur don't exactly have necks do they?) and walks off with the others.
"Something tells me those ones aren't as friendly as these.."
off the shits
-the Blaziken... or what appears to be a 2D Blaziken-shaped hole of darkness, anyways... waves an arm and shakes her head-
Cemani: <Hey, why is everybody looking at me like you expect me to fight you? After all...>
Cemani: <...but seriously, yolks, if Anish Kapoor has a problem with me, then>
-she makes a gesture that, as it happens, nobody can see from a head-on vantage point due to the pure-black-on-pure-black composition-
Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?
The Wanderer
Verdanturf
-Confused-
Used to?
edited 17th Feb '18 7:56:46 PM by rmctagg09
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Dunsparce Cloud
Amanita: Ever, shouldn't you have out more than just your baby Litwick?
Glimmer: <I'm not a baby.>
Ever: I think I'm appropriately prepared. PEFE!Every doesn't even have a Pokemon out.
PEFE!Every: I have a mister full of neurotoxins in my coat.
Brie: ...Why?
PEFE!Every: -shrugs-
Brie: ...That's kind of more worrying than whatever it is we're looking for.
Ever: It would almost have to be.
Amanita: Hush, you.
Halcyon: <One moment.>
Musket: <You smell that?>
Halcyon: <...I sense it.>
Musket: <Sense, smell, same difference.>
Halcyon: <One is a little broader.>
Musket: <A little vaguer, maybe.>
-she perks up her nose, sniffing the air-
<Right...>
Halcyon: <There.>
-he gestures with a wing-
-Amanita and Brie take a step back behind their Pokemon. Amanita grabs Emperor's ball, moving slightly forward, while Brie takes a step back and reaches for Ramphyros's, on the theory that the Noivern will have the best odds at navigating the forest. Ever, while he still looks kind of bored, casually steps off to one side, to where someone approaching from the indicated direction could easily overlook him, and shields Glimmer with a leg, the Litwick peeking out curiously. PEFE!Every just hides behind a tree-
-and a young man comes through the trees. He's between Brie and the Faemitos in height, with pale skin, an angular face and build, and oddly red eyes-
Red-Eyed Man: ...Um, can you help me? I think I'm lost.
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Fwomph
Pinwheel Forest
Hm... Those lot like they're preparing for a fight. I'm just gonna guess against us, prepare yourselves.
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Some Rando
Pinwheel Forest
<Bwuh?> Kazuma grunted, the Whismur approaching Beep-O with a paw(?) outstretched to poke him to find a way to open the e-mail.
<I'm with him,> Roy admitted. <What is an "e-mail"?> He asked as his chest began emitting controlled but powerful fires, the Blaze Pokemon staring down the apparent threat.
"What does it say, actually?" Colt asked as he drew his Night Slash Claws and Foul Play Arm to combat the potentially hostile newcomers.
edited 17th Feb '18 8:08:25 PM by AbsentCoder
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]
like christ, but with more nails
Channah: -sits down on the ground- Well sure, he was an actual genius and multiple-time Hall of Famer, so of course I did. And then he ruined everything. -shrugs- I dunno. Point is he's not a good person, I'm sorry you met him, and you should try to avoid him if you can.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.
Mallow: Great, you're back! Now that you've got the ingredients for the Mallow Special, we just need...
-the Wela Volcano Park's Trial Captain dashes in, two Marowak and a Meowsic sitting on his shoulders-
Kiawe: -pant, pant- Hey Mallow, Tangent.
Tang: Welcome back Fuego, Ephemera! Did you have a good time with your uncle?
Fuego: -leaping down- <Yeah! And got some good practice in!>
<You mind if I fight in this battle? I know I fought the first Totem and all, but...>
Tang: Of course I'm not going to deny you a chance to battle while your family's here!
Iwikuamo'o: -crosses his arms, with a subtle smile-
Mallow: Hmmmm, where's Lana? She's usually here by now!
Tang: Wrangling the Nihilego for the next trial-taker?
Mallow and Kiawe: ..... o_O
Kiawe: I haven't heard of a...
Mallow: Ah well! We'll just have to subject the Mallow Special to a little improvisation!
Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?
Dunsparce Cloud
-Ephemera takes the spot vacated by Fuego. She is a cat, after all-
Ephemera: -Kadabra, Slowking, Popplio Lana N Liepard...-
-Amanita relaxes slightly. Brie doesn't-
Brie: I'm Brie!
Red-eyed Man: Oh...uh, I'm Eric.
Brie: Alright, Eric. Do you know what region this is?
Eric: It's Mauville, right?
Brie: Right.
Eric: But...I don't think it's my Mauville?
Brie: ...Oh no.
-she sighs-
Eric: You know the holes in the sky? I'm pretty sure I fell through one.
Brie: Right...I can get you back up there. Follow us, we can get out of the woods and I can fly you up.
Eric: Oh, there's a clearing I just passed, actually. ^_^;;
Brie: That works too.
-Eric turns around to lead the group to the clearing-
-his hair is cut fairly short, and as he turns, he reveals a small, thin scar at the base of his skull, covering a small lump-
-at which point PEFE!Every steps out from behind her tree, levels the mister at him, and sprays-
edited 17th Feb '18 8:19:16 PM by memyselfandI2
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
The Wanderer
Verdanturf
Didn't sense much malice from his Aura though, still...
-To Channah-
I won't pry if you don't want to go more into that.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
No voice to cry suffering
Megan: -tiny, still-nervous smile- ...heh.
Human!Thespi: -small relieved sigh- That's a relief, I must admit. So, why are you here, then?
Megan: That...looks like a fight waiting to happen.
Vee: -on top of Pippy, on top of Rabbid!Megan- <Mmm, maybe try sending one of our guys to talk to 'em?>
Human!Pippy: -on top of Rabbid!Megan- What does the email say?
Rabbid!Megan: -how are her arms not tired of carrying by now- Bwaaah.
edited 17th Feb '18 9:03:58 PM by Asterisk395
No mind to think. No will to break.
like christ, but with more nails
Channah: I mean. He's not, like, malevolent, just selfish and mercurial. Montanari used to belong to him, and... Eh, whatever. I'm done.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.
RNP
-Phoenix takes out a carton of eggs. He tosses one in the air and catches it.-
Phoenix: Had these since kindergarten.
Cemani: <I'm here to make sure we're left out of whatever drama you have with that Lucario. Otherwise...>
Mallow: Good, Kiawe, sauté it like that, annnd...Tangent! Grab the Thick Club and the Rare Bone and pound it all to a pulp!
Kiawe: But we just fried it so carefully, why beat it now..?
Mallow: I'm the chef here, Kiawe!
...
Lurantis: <Ah, the Mallow Special. Not the best food, but the best any human's ever managed, alas.>
Mallow: Oh! It looks like the smell has attracted the Totem! ^_^
Lurantis: <And what's this? An overconfident Marowak for me to teach some humility?>
Fuego: <I dunno, I think I have a pretty balanced self-image these days.>
Tang: Battle's all yours, Fuego!
Battle! Fuego VS Totem Lurantis!
Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?
Dunsparce Cloud
Ephemera: -Masquerain Mimikyu Malamar!-
-the mist freezes in midair-
Eric: -sighs-
PEFE!Every: He's not what he seems.
Eric: Is anyone?
PEFE!Every: You are especially not.
-she turns to Brie and Amanita-
Brie, I've told you about these guys. From Pokefutures.
Brie:Wait, so—
-she trails off-
-...-
-a lot of things happen, very quickly. Eric's hand flashes up, light building around it...and it meets Brie's foot. The Power Gem goes wide, searing a hole in a tree, and Eric rotates, his feet actually leaving the ground as one leg swings up and over, coming down towards Brie-
-she dives past the kick, coming up behind Eric and catching his outstretched arm, twisting it behind his back-
Eric: Wish I could say I was impressed.
-he just steps away, several unpleasant pops coming from the held arm, and turns around, his other hand coming up. Brie ducks, and Halcyon fires a Psybeam-
-which Eric intercepts with one of his own-
-Brie lets go of his arm and drops to the ground, sweeping his legs out. Eric goes into another spin-
-and his outstretched leg is bathed in ghostly flames-
-Eric lands on the burned leg, and yelps, as Ever steps out from behind the tree-
Glimmer: <...He's in pain now.>
Ever: Okay, you've got a somethingated arm and a nicely toasted leg. Can we take a break from the fighting to settle our differences?
Eric: Do we have differences?
PEFE!Every: Yes.
Ever: Maybe! That's part of what I'd like to settle.
Amanita: ...Does someone want to explain to me what's going on?
PEFE!Every: This parasite is using a device that allows him to mimic the abilities of a Pokemon. In this case, given the Power Gem, Psybeam, and Rapid Spin, I would guess a Starmie.
Eric: Harsh words.
PEFE!Every: I'm speaking scientifically. Is there something else you'd prefer to be identified as?
Eric: I bike on weekends.
-he flashes PEFE!Every a grin, which she doesn't return-
Amanita: Um. I'm not seeing how that's so bad, unless—
PEFE!Every: Tell her how it's powered, parasite.
Eric: Oh, you take a Pokemon—
-he pronounces it with two syllables. Brie and Amanita visibly wince. Ever raises his eyebrows. PEFE!Every sprays him again, though he just waves a hand to stop the spray-
—and you, well, it's a little complicated.
PEFE!Every: They ran out of Pokemon, which is unfortunate, because that's how they power everything back home. So rather than dying like a proper parasite who can't maintain its host. they've started preying on other universes.
-Amanita wrinkles her nose-
Brie: Imperialism demands expansion.
-she takes Ramphyros's ball from her belt-
So, multiversal invader, huh? That's unfortunate for you.
Eric: I feel confident.
-he yawns, stretches...-
-and his arm realigns. As he relaxes, he sets his weight comfortably down on what no longer seems to be a burned foot-
Ever: Starmie. Right.
Brie: You should do a headcount. It's four of us and one of you, and we all have actual Pokemon.
Eric: Odds I like. Keep in mind, we have the recovered data from the last foray we sent into your universe.
PEFE!Every: Heh. That song was catchy.
-for the first time, an expression other than mild cheeriness passes over Eric's face, and he glares at PEFE!Every-
Eric: You killed some of my friends, you know.
PEFE!Every: Yeah. My only regret is that I couldn't get them to take their helmets off, so I couldn't see the looks on their faces...
Ever: Okay, you two, let's bring it off.
-Eric, with some effort, turns back to the others-
Eric: My point is, Miss Spray-and-Pray isn't worth her weight in a fight, which is saying something. So it's three against one. I don't count your pets, so that's—
Ever: Aight, Diesel, Throat Chop.
Diesel: <It's very much time for you to stop talking.>
-he lunges forward, blades extended-
-and a tall woman, heavily built and with very little expression on her face, stops him cold-
Eric: Anyway, you also got the "against one" part wrong, so there's that.
edited 17th Feb '18 9:59:11 PM by memyselfandI2
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
You're shivering. Are you afraid?
-Fortis and Noelle are playing volleyball with Astral as the ball-
Forte: Uh, are you sure that's safe?
Fortis: Uh huh! We used to do this with Airy and she loved it!
Airy: <That's right!>
Noelle: Yeah, and Astral is way lighter.
-Noelle throws Astral over the net, and Fortis bops it with her arms-
Astral: <Pew!>
Airy: <See, she's having lots of fun!>
Do not fear power... fear those who wield it.
Pinwheel Forest
(A long-haired figure dismounts from her Latios ride, bounding into the portal without a second thought or so much as a brief glance back to thank her mount.)
Tastes better on the way back down.