ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

 Room 

-To Amanita-

Ursaring, northwestern Sinnoh.

-Beat-

That would be, like, six years ago by now.

Amanita: (defensively) Well, it made an impression.

-she sighs-

Glad you're back. What happened to you? I went into that hole and nobody else came after me; I sort of figured you'd all left or something else weird happened.

Guy: -grabs his gun and straightens himself out, looking a bit wild- If you knew what happens next, you'd... -stares at the Houndoom - only two more "organ" spots are left-

Vincent: -has recovered from the disoriented state and flaps his wings; able to examine the situation a bit better now, he takes on a cautious tone- <...Athan - >

Athan: Vinny, don't fuck me up here, okay?

Vincent: <I mean... Maybe.... There is a way out of this? I mean, she's just a kid... Sort of. She has no idea what's going on here. We can find another sacrifice instead - >

Athan: Yeah, and keep waiting here in this creepy place for who knows how long? No fuckin way. -to Hae-Won- Just stick the toy where the heart should be, if you're so keen on me not dying.

Vincent: -hesitates, then speaks quickly to Akravator- <Wait. Don't.>

Athan: What the fuck, man? You were just trying to kill them a minute ago!

Vincent: <Y-Yeah, but I'm suddenly feeling like a more fleshed-out character! It happens! Don't judge!>

-they're kind of squabbling-

-as Pent gets closer to the source of the noise, candles start showing up next to the walls, lining the hallway. They have a soft soothing glow. Finally, it ends in a dead-end with a pit. Inside the pit lies a dangerous-looking, corroded version of the transmitter in the normal Rocket HQ. Lewis has landed on it, and lies at an awkward angle across the top of the machine. A sharp implement on the machine is sticking out of his arm, which was punctured in the fall-

Lewis: -eyes unfocused, clouding over- He was here... I met him...

Arkady: -sways in fear-

Odessa: -her body language goes stiff and closed-off at his question, but then she sighs and relaxes somewhat, rolling her eyes- Yes. From an apocalypse cult. That paper I showed you earlier? I knew the author. -sits down on a fallen Cloyster, perching perfectly despite the weird angle- And now I think I know who's doing this.

Vernal Avenue Genetics Lab

Mew: -to Pefery- ~Oh. Whoops.~

-she signs Pefery's notebook with a rainbow double-helix-

Hae-won is about to get out the squeaky toy and put it in when Akravator hears the thing and waves at her to stop. She does so.

Akravator: <Wait, what?>

<And she's 25! She's just... short.>

Yunwa decides to follow along and see whatever this 'airship' is.

edited 12th May '18 7:31:38 PM by CorvusAtrox

Basement World

That thing's liable spark up at any moment buddy. If you're not too far gone on the Sacraments I'd advise you get up and stop treating me like a bad guy, if you are then... Well I'm probably likely to carve entirely the wrong number onto ya once the sparks go off.

-Pent shrugs and steps back from the pit a step and tries to carefully place some of the candles on the rim of the pit-

Just know that it's not gonna work out like you wish. He's gonna end up at least two short if I've got any say in the matter.

edited 12th May '18 7:37:25 PM by Pentigan

Jimmy stood up and checked his sidearm, clicking the safety on and stowing it, "Alright. Next step. Find them then."

There's a loud pop of confetti as Zatara appears, Dracula in tow, Zatara disappears in another bright flash with more stage effect smoke as Dracula looks at Hazard.

<Oooooh, a new young one of the night, tell me, have you had your first drink?>

Hazard just looks on at Zatara coming in and out in dramatic fashion, then turns to Dracula.

Hazard: <...I have, yes, but I'd prefer not to again with how freaked out everyone got.>

Dracula circled Hazard, <Tell me. How did it feel? How did it taste?>

<Do you really want to undo this?>

Vincent: <A kid from our perspective... Whoever doesn't add the last organ and finish the ritual will die a horrible death, basically.>

Athan: You're forgetting I'm the one with the shotgun. -points it at the others- Put it the fuck in!

Vincent: <...>

-the candles burn brighter, and melt faster the closer they are to Lewis-

Lewis: -starts blinking rapidly, tears gathering in his eyes as they start to clear- You're wrong... The Mob... No, he said I have to be the one... I'm the source...

-the transmitter starts to flicker to life-

Arkady: We deserve it. We killed those people.

Odessa: ...It's too late. Let's get out of here, those bags reek.

-she leaves the house - it's now nighttime, and the moon shines above the Lake of Rage-

Odessa: -sounding thoroughly fed up- One of us is going to die and I don't know which, because the theme of this sacrifice is "Chaos". ...Unless one kills the other, possibly.

 Room 

-To Amanita-

Ended up in a demented Pokémon Center, did messed up puzzles, got this candle, ended up back here. I'd assume something similar has happened to the others. Was told that the one I needed to stop was her brother, and to make sure I killed "both" of him. Had a choice between this candle and a choker, picked the candle and ended up back here.

-Pacing-

21 Sacraments... before I got booted back here 15 were completed, but are we on the path to the "good" ending or the "true" ending I wonder?

Basement World

-Pent keeps rearranging those candles, letting himself be calmed by the light and hoping just slightly that it helps the sorry sap in the pit-

If you're the Source and only the Source then you should reject that Watchful, formless Chaos Void that you call the Mob, that screams Temptation into your ear. Step out of the Darkness and Gloom and let only the machine you lay upon die in your stead. If it settles your mind I'll chuck down a pen and you can write the seventeen-twenty-one on it yourself.

Akravator: <Huh, guess that counts then. Though, wait, do you have the last o->

He has a realization and gives Hae-won some sort of signal.

Hae-won: "...Say, before that: You at all interested in a show?"

Hazard: <...Honestly, I won't deny it felt nice on some level, but the fact I just kind of did it without realizing was more than a bit worrying. On top of that, I am very much someone who needs to get stuff done during the day, so, yes, I would prefer to.>

edited 12th May '18 8:05:44 PM by CorvusAtrox

PEFE!Every: Oh my gosh

Cytosol: <Nerd.>

Amanita: Ugh. I can't say I care, as long as we can get everyone out of here alive. Ho-oh, that was the most fucked-up shit...

-she looks nervously at the door-

-the multitude of candles seem to be messing with Lewis' mind - his eyes track Pent only intermittently and disembodied voices are beginning to be heard shouting all kinds of commands at him, their cacophony bouncing off the walls. He has a hard time following Pent's speech, but seems to get the gist of it-

Lewis: -seeming a bit more lucid as he reaches up with his good arm- I... Alright... Stop, please... How do I -

Arkady: <We... Oh fuck...> -sounds like he's hyperventilating under the petals-

-suddenly, the machine is all-systems-go and the pit lights up like a noisy Christmas tree, the light issuing off it swallowing up that of the candles and bathing the area in blinding whiteness-

-the light recedes, and upon Lewis' scorched, barely visible forehead is written:-

Athan: ...What? Don't be stupid.

Vincent: <...Actually, I wouldn't mind.>

Athan: Seriously?!

Vincent: -nods at Akravator- <Why not. What does it hurt?>

 Room 

-To Amanita-

If we're not on the path to the "true" ending, then I'm not sure if everyone will be coming back with us alive. If nothing else, I hate having loose ends to deal with.

Basement World

Hmph, a little too late but good to see that the candles and some kind words can work on even the most far gone of the victims.

-He shrugs and starts trying to gather up what might remain of the candles-

Hey, at least you didn't have to sacrifice yourself to defend me. There's definitely still two that can really be saved no matter what. Heck I'm pretty sure that we have no option but to save the 21st...

Akravator nods to show interest.

Hae-won: "Well, let's do this!"

"Time for Dragon Tamer Hae-won's Improv Corner!"

She throws some glitter in the air, likely coming down on everyone present, including in the holes.

Hae-won: "Anyway... topics?"

Lumiose

Colt followed Silas to the Oblivion Wing. Lucario stayed out, getting a feel for this new form he had taken. He looked at his trainer, still human, and smiled devilishly.

Lucario’s Mindscape

“No.”

“You can’t stop me.”

“But common decency will.”

“I hate it when Sean’s right.”

Reality

Lucario saw Colt fiddling with the Blue Scarf, trailing into his hammerspace backpack. D.C. clawed at his mind harder, taunting him to ask.

Colt replaced the scarf and placed his Mega Headphones over his ears. The Superego stepped off, and Lucario could breathe again.

Arkady: -is catatonic-

-unfortunately, all of the candles disappear. However, two objects appear on the ground in front of Pent in their place - a silver icon depicting an S.S. Anne ticket and a vial of some dark liquid labeled "AGLAOPHOTIS"-

-Pent might have the strangest feeling that he can only take one-

Athan: -_- What the fuck... -is glittered-

Vincent: <Ooh. Do something with... sour cream! Or web startups! Or chronic illnesses!>

Basement World

And of course finished the boss fight, time to loot the room.

-He looks at the two items and strains to read the label on the bottle-

Okay yes I'm taking this. I am not gonna miss out on taking something with this sort of power.

-He pockets the vial, yes-

Akravator writes out the things in some way for Hae-won.

Hae-won: "Okay, let's start!"

She sits down and mimes like she's typing on a computer while Akravator mimes like he's carrying a huge box. He acts like he trips and falls over it.

Hae-won: "Hey, you okay there, Akravator?"

Akravator: <Yeah... yeah, I think so. Though, dang, wish we had some more help getting this online grocery store started up.>

Hae-won: "Well, hey, we've got an applicant who said he was gonna stop in at some point..."

-she looks, as if just noticing Athan- "...And I believe that's him! Welcome, sir, to the Headquarters of Dra Groceries!"

-Arkady remains staring at the pit while the hallway's warm colors swirl and change...-

-Pent will find himself standing in the kitchen area alone-

Athan: ... -has lost the plot already- ...

Vincent: <Well c'mon, don't keep them waiting!> -nudges Athan over to Hae-Won, slipping the shotgun out of his unresisting arms-

Athan: wat

Amanita: I guess we're shooting for 100% completion then? That's—

-Pent-

Amanita: Pentigan! Okay, that's three, just...uh...

...The two I've never met before today.

The Room

Oh hai mark

-Pent chuckles to himself before voices from the other room-

Oh hi guys! We on the same page with the whole Sacraments thing yeah?

-Pent immediately starts checking for visible hauntings. He's not gonna waste his loot item on them, but he wants to keep the room from being left haunted for long-

edited 12th May '18 9:39:34 PM by Pentigan