Route 217, Zemmalise Fight

Brie: See, Zemm? Told you...yesterday, I guess? No such thing as a perf—

-something breaks-

-whether it's in Brie, Skyfire, or the arm is rather unclear, but all three stop at once. The false summer fades, and snow begins to fall. Skyfire slides sideways, tailflame barely an ember. The arm gives one brief hiss, the etchings around the Key Stone all flare, and it blasts itself out of Brie's hand in a fit of sheer cussedness. Brie wobbles, coughs sharply (yeah that's like 80% blood), and collapses-

Kai: Brie!

-They kneel down, maintaining the Aura connection so Brie doesn't completely die (although considering how weak she is at the moment, it's noticeably straining them).-

Kai: C'mon, hang in there, just a bit longer…

Brie: (in a voice that sounds like she's speaking through nails) Ever's...gonna kill me…

Zemmalise: Oh, for goodness' sake. I'm going to kill you.

-they, very abruptly, vacate any semblance of a human form, into their big spiky tree monster mode-

Zemmalise: Stop trying. It's so annoying. So painful. And you know perfectly well you won't accomplish anything with it. Your creatures give off so much light...but still not enough. I'll kill them, kill all of you, and drain the light out of you….

Brie: Hey. Hey Kai. I need... to get close.

-Kai exhales. It might be a sigh of relief, but they do a decent enough job of making it not sound like they're relieved by anything in particular.-

-They gently and carefully scoop Brie up into their arms — keeping a slow, subtle Aura Transfer stream in the process. They slowly trudge forward, toward Kaius and all the various combatants (and, in the process, toward Zemmalise)-

Kai: ...So. Why her, specifically? What do you gain out of her dying? Honestly, what do you gain out of anyone dying? Seriously, I'm just as much in the dark here as anyone, pardon the wordplay, I know like... nothing about you. What's your deal?

Zemmalise: ...Defender. Human of the Aurora.

Brie: Stop...calling…

Zemmalise: Have you told this person nothing?

-Brie just sort of makes a noise-

Zemmalise: (to Kai) My name is Zemmalise. I am of the Krawl, and I am here to devour this planet and its light. Your burden claims that this planet is defended, which sets us at odds. So I will kill her, I will kill you, and I will spread. Do you understand?

-Kai stares at Zemmalise, a somewhat quizzical look on their face.-

Kai: ...Huh. Why didn't you just become Necrozma when you showed up here?

Kaius: Is that particularly relevant...

Kai: I mean, there's the fucked up Charizard that still, like, became a Charizard.

Brie: It's a...Ditto.

Kai: Aha. Now that's a hell of a curious case. I can't say I've ever seen a Ditto with Obscura abilities beyond the usual Ditto repertoire. Seriously, this is some Annoski level shit, and that's more unnerving than the actual murdery-ness. And I still don't get why a Ditto, rather than something that actually relies on light to survive. Again, see Necrozma. I don't actually know if that's a "to survive" deal either, I'm just spitballing here—

Zemmalise: Stop.

-whether Kai feels like listening or not, the fact is that there is now what is effectively a large, ambulatory, and very spiny tree charging them. A few paltry attacks from Brie and Kai's mons are shrugged off without slowing-

Zemmalise: Give me the defender. I'll make your death quick.

-Kai starts to make a quip, but quickly elects to cut it off and dive out of the way of the attack. Which is good, because they barely manage to avoid the brunt of it. The raging tree clips their leg, twisting their foot in a direction it ought not be twisted in, and they stagger and topple to the ground. They spend the roughly 1 second of falling attempting to make sure Brie doesn't hit the ground too hard.-

Kai: Urk... not quick enough…

Zemmalise: Mmm.

-as Kai falls, vines sprout up around them, penning them in and separating them from Brie, who rolls a couple feet in what at this point is a fairly light covering of snow before more vines appear around her-

-and then one of Zemmalise's feet goes through her good arm-

Route 217, Zemmalise fight

Zemmalise: Well, this has been a fun couple days, hasn't it?

-Kai scowls.-

Kai: I thought you said my death would be quick. And yet I'm still alive. Hurry it up, will you? I'm right here, nothing's stopping you from killing me right now. So come on. Hit me.

Brie: Kai…

Zemmalise: Why would I ever do that?

-Kai briefly notices that Brie is, ever so slowly, moving her arms in a motion which Kai has probably seen once or twice before-

Kai: Because I'm annoying? Because I talk too much? I mean, I assume you're not the sort who likes it when I say words. And come on, I'm sure if either of us is going to be more satisfying to use as a captive audience while you kill the other, it'll be the one you already have a massive grudge against. It's common sense, honestly, haven't you ever been to villain school? Besides, the sooner you kill me, the sooner I stop distracting you.

-Zemmalise just stares at Kai-

-for a while-

Zemmalise: ...No. You know what they say about birds in the hand.

Brie: Hey.

Zemmalise: What now?

Brie: Don't ever call me a bird again.

Picado Supersónico.

-an Ultra Ball on Brie's belt snaps open-

-there's a brief silence-

-and then a noise like a point-blank thunderclap as a hole just appears in Zemmalise, clean through their chest and their core, blasting their essence in every direction as the vines around them start to dissolve-

Ramphyros: <Hey everyone! What's going on?>

-she looks around, reads the room a little, and blinks-

<Uh, Brie, what's up?>

-...-

Ramphyros: <Brie?>

-Kai sorta just crawls (thankfully not Krawls) over to Brie's side, once again doing their best to keep her in stable condition.-

Kai: We could really use some help getting back to Snowpoint. Preferably a hospital. Good job with the Z-Move.

-Brie opens her mouth to respond, but nothing comes out except a vague sighing noise and a bubble of blood-

-Kaius trudges back toward the group, letting Holly's Mega Evolution drop.-

Kaius: We do have a teleporter, don't forget.

Kai: ...Right. Yeah. That works.

Atlantis: <Right. Let me just get everyone recalled…>

-which she does, finishing with herself-

Kai: All right. Take us away.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Nov 30th 2018 at 5:34:33 AM

Snowpoint, a hospital presumably

-once again, all the electronics near Kai go off-

-including a heart monitor for another patient, though that's hopefully a coincidence-

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Nov 30th 2018 at 3:00:46 AM

-Kai fumbles for their phone.-

-they read the message, then find the "I lived, bitch" meme to screenshot and send to Ever.-

Snowpoint Hospital

-there's a sound of a door opening nearby, followed by the sound of someone saying "Wait how the fuck did you get in there—" followed by the sound of a doctor being sidestepped, followed by-

Ever: —fuck? What happened?

-Kai waves as Ever arrives.-

Kai: Thirty-six hours of Brie fighting Zemmalise happened, apparently. Y'all Memitos make bad decisions. It's really attractive.

-It is legitimately impossible to determine the amount of sarcasm Kai is using.-

Falconan - Ship Wreck

Shaun: "I've had one good vacation in the last year. Gods."

-He marches over to the cabinet and selects that gun◊.-

-Ace selects a revolver◊, appropriately.-

-Tsunami just grabs a nice, simple auto pistol.-

-Lyra grabs her shotgun and contructs an axe-like bayonet on it, her heel-guns subtly clicking as Psychic aura surrounds the trigger.-

Tsunami: "I've never shot a gun."

-An Obscura chain coils around Shaun's arm.-

Shaun: "Do Nerf guns count?"

Snowpoint Hospital

Ever: (deadpan) Thanks; I'm at my hottest on death's door.

-they sigh-

Thirty-six...have you shouted at her yet, or is that my job here?

-Kai grimaces.-

Kai: Ideally, nobody shouts at anybody, but... I would like to be the one to talk to her. Zemm interrupted us when I tried earlier, so now it's just an unresolved plot point I'd like to resolve.

Snowpoint Hospital

Ever: Well, if you insist. Just remind her that I sort of need that arm she broke.

-they sigh, and plop themselves into a chair next to Kai, engrossing themself in what seems to be a phone game about convincing people to hydrate-

Falconan Crash Site

-From the wreckage, something shambles towards the group. Heavily damaged, clutching a banged-up pistol... And then it waves it's singular arm and tries to force sound through cracked systems-

/Duck/: I̵ ̸l̴i̴v̶e̷d̵ ̸b̸i̸t̸c̴h̵

Falconan, Mall.

burst fire pistol

Mordred, meanwhile, grabs the biggest revolver she can find◊.

Oh, and outfits:

Artoria's wearing a long, black coat over her usual suit.

Mordred's wearing a dark red bomber jacket over a crop top, with tight jeans.

Mordred slaps an also black wide-brimmed hat onto Artoria.

Mordred: "There, now you look like a proper inquisitor."

Artoria: "... Where did you get that?"

Mordred: "I bought it!"

Artoria: "... No, more immediately."

Mordred just grins.

Artoria: "Mordred!"

Sinnoh Route 215

-At the foot of one of the hills, a whirling blue portal opens for just long enough to dump a strangely-dressed figure into a muddy puddle before disappearing just as suddenly. The figure glances around for a moment, then takes off at a run towards Veilstone.-

Sinnoh, Lucius's Secret Base

-Far beneath the region, Lucius is busy trying to restore his Secret Base to a liveable condition, rifling through old boxes with the assistance of a handful of his mons.-

Falchion: <Wow. For someone who's lived most of their life on the road, you sure have a lot of crap.>

Lucius: I hang on to things, okay? Call me sentimental, but you never know when some of it might come in handy.

-Falchion smirks as he leafs through a battered notebook.-

Falchion: <Guess that explains why you decided to hang on to your teenage attempts at poetry, then.>

Lucius: Wha- give that back!

Lumiose City, Boutique Couture

-On the second floor of the boutique, Shun is trying on a new suit and looking himself over in one of the mirrors, while Tara watches disinterestedly.-

Shun: Hmm... what do you think? Too dressy?

Tara: I dunno what to tell you, dude. You always look too dressy.

-Shun huffs and adjusts his collar.-

Shun: If I am going to ask Beauremont on a date, I want to look my best. I won't apologise for that.

Tara: Fair 'nuff.

-She gives a lazy smile.-

Tara: Gotta say, it's nice to see you obsessing about something other than some Interpol case for once.

Shun: Honestly, there isn't much to obsess about at this moment in time. The Avenger abduction is a matter of some concern, but there is little point trying to track down interdimensional kidnappers with no leads available. My only active investigation is into the ongoing supervillain activity in the city, and Whiptail's gone to ground. Sensible, really. We'll be ready for her whenever she chooses to re-emerge - and she will. She enjoys the limelight too much not to.

-He turns to Tara.-

Shun: So, green or orange for the bowtie?

-Tara sighs.-

Lumiose City, Kahlia's Apartment

-Elsewhere in the city, the costumed caperer herself is pacing up and down her apartment, talking animatedly into her phone.-

Kahlia: C'mon, man! Are you really gonna leave me to try and set up a heist like this all on my lonesome? There's no way in hell they're expecting us to pull the same trick twice! We'll be in and out with no trouble!

Amelia: I dunno...

Kahlia: Seriously? Where's the Aeroraptor who lived for chaos like this, huh? It's been months since our names have been in the news! You should wanna get out here and change that more than anyone!

Amelia: Listen, I... I should go. I'm sorry, K...

Kahlia: Wait, don't you dare hang up on m-

-The line goes dead.-

Kahlia: ...Fuck.

-She looks down at her phone, only to see that she received a text during the call.-

-Her knuckles whiten, and she shoves the phone into her pocket.-

Edited by Herbert40k on Nov 30th 2018 at 1:28:29 PM

Kai: Yeah, she was dreading your reaction from the moment it broke.

-They sigh.-

Kai: ...At least this is a change of pace, I guess. It's nice to feel like I'm actually doing something right, rather than, like... robbing a museum. Hypothetically, I'm sure you know.

Snowpoint Hospital

Ever: Hypothetically, sure. Yeah, I'd say saving your girlfriend's life is probably pretty morally upstanding. Ooh high score

Don't beat yourself up so much, Amarin. You're a pretty decent person, all things considered.

Falconan Crash Site

With the announcement of the game plan, Colton and Helmsman nodded, rushing to the supply locker.

The two of them both found hand cannons, although Helmsman was a little disappointed he didn't get anything massive. But he couldn't really complain.

Colton looked at his new gun in his paw hands with fascination. He put the gun into an illusory floating paw while unsheathing Night Slash Claws from his knuckles.

Helmsman's gun wasn't on stun, however.

"Shall we dance?" Colton asked, wearing an almost psychotic smirk coupled with glowing red eyes.

Helmsman merely smiled and twirled his gun around his finger once before catching it.

-Kai's face falls-

Kai: ...Can you not "Amarin" me? Even beyond it being really uncharacteristic, I chose this name for a reason.

Snowpoint Hospital

Ever: ...Right. Sorry.

-they let out a quiet breath-

Not really 100% right now. Not that I imagine you're doing any better.

Are you alright?

Kai: Oh, you know. I could stand to be better, if my foot wasn't broken. But, really, I'm not the one to worry about.

Alolan Condo

*Knockknockknock*

Doomsday: ... <Uh.>

Ludmilla: Coming!

Doomsday: <No you're not, we're supposed to be hiding!>

Ludmilla: Would a Templar have knocked?

Doomsday: <One with a sick sense of humor would!>

Ludmilla: Then I would have felt her coming a mile away, she's too proud to try something sneaky.

Doomsday: <Knocking on your front door is the actual opposite of being sneaky!>

-Ludmilla opens the door, and an old woman, with crow's feet and greying hair, is there at the door.-

Vagrant: ... Hey, kid. You, uh, got any parents around?

Ludmilla: No.

-There's an awkward moment.-

Vagrant: Got any booze?

Ludmilla: No.

Vagrant: Got a smoke?

Ludmilla: Is that really a question that you couldn't extrapolate the answer to from the first two questions?

Vagrant: ... You're sassy.

Ludmilla: Been on edge.

-The vagrant looks around at the balmy 25 Celsius evening, with a cool breeze coming off the ocean.-

Vagrant: ... Here?

-Ludmilla begins to look slightly irked.-

Ludmilla: Uh huh.

-The vagrant sniffs something, as if trying to catch scent of a barbecue.-

Vagrant: Where are your parents?

Ludmilla: Orre. But I do know how to-

-The vagrant starts sniffing again, following the scent right up to Ludmilla's face. For a brief moment, Ludmilla can feel a familiar glow, and the waft of a certain scent.-

Vagrant: Orre. Orre! That's where- Hrm.

-The vagrant turns away for a second, tapping her chin as Doomsday tries crowding Ludmilla out of the doorway. Ludmilla pucks up the Blissey and fluffs her like a pillow before throwing her across the room.-

Vagrant: You. Kid. You been to Mt. Battle?

-Ludmilla nods slowly.-

Vagrant: You meet anyone there?

-Ludmilla nods increasingly more deliberate and slowly.-

Vagrant: Did that stupid grandson of mine finally pull his overemotional head out of his ass after a millennia?

-Ludmilla stops nodding and looks ridiculously confused for a moment before a rush of memories from her last visit to Alola come rushing back.-

Ludmilla: OH MY GOD YOU'RE PE-

-The vagrant has her hand around Ludmilla's mouth in a second.-

VagrantPele: Keep it down kid I want to keep using this disguise for the rest of this generation at least!

-Doomsday rushes from across the room to tackle the "vagrant" off of Ludmilla before she "trips" over a "rock" on the floor that has "been there" "this whole time".-

Snowpoint Hospital

-Ever, again uncharacteristically, doesn't register the pun at all-

Ever: Right. Long as it'll heal, then...

-their stump twitches slightly, in what might have been a nervous motion, and they roll their eyes when it doesn't correspond to anything-

Hm. There's no nice way to say "I'm out of introvert energy and I'm worried about my cousin, go check on Brie", is there?

Kai: Probably easier to figure out when you're not out of introvert energy. But, uh, yeah, I'm not stopping you from going to check up on her. Think you could let me know how she's doing?

Snowpoint Hospital

Ever: Alright. Sorry I'm not better company.

-they stand up, and are halfway gone by the time both feet are on the ground-

Brie's Room

Ever: 'Sup.

-this doesn't get a response from Brie, who is in bed, hooked up to a number of machines that Ever doesn't have the medical knowledge to read-

~Hello, Ever.~

Ever: (inclining their head) Halcyon. How are you holding up?

~I've been worse. I have also been significantly better, clearly.~

-Ever looks around the room for a bit, before finding the Sigilyph propped up against a wall. He's cracked in a couple places, but seems generally alright-

Ever: Well, that's...good to hear.

-they eye Brie-

~She's awake, but she can't speak. Would you like me to relay her responses?~

Ever: It'd be nice.

~She's in stable condition, don't worry.~

Ever: Wish you wouldn't read my mind while we talk.

~My apologies. Patching you in.~

~...Hi.~

Ever: Evening.

~Sorry about your arm.~

-Ever goes on another brief scavenger hunt, before finding it on the bedstand. It's burnt and cracked along the sigils where the Key Stone is embedded, pink sparks are drifting out of it, and it appears to be locked into a middle finger-

-Ever sighs-

Ever: It's not my immediate concern, I guess.

...You know, I was going to come in and chew you out for risking your life, but I'm not really sure what I could say that would make an impact beyond...you know, whatever you already did to yourself. Is your team alright?

~Mostly just the usual scratches, bruises, exhaustion. Not that I don't feel bad enough.~

Ever: Hm. I don't think any of them could make the argument you put them through anything you wouldn't go through yourself.

~...~

Ever: Which I understand is not the point. I'm glad they're doing okay.

But you did say most? Kai said Skyfire broke a wing, is she alright?

~...She might not fly again.~

Ever: Oh.

~It's not just the injury itself. It's the strain...there's a lot of deeper damage. I don't know, exactly, I was sort of drifting in and out of consciousness while the doctors were explaining.~

Ever: She'll live, at least?

~Yeah.~

Ever: ...That's something. And you?

~...~

Ever: ...Ah.

~We're not sure.~

Ever: Well.

~Leaving aside the actual injuries sustained during the fight, maintaining Mega Evolution for 36 hours, along with multiple Z-moves, is a drain on everything. The only reason she's alive at all is Kai's intervention and steady Heal Pulsing, and we're not sure if that's going to hold firm, nor what long-term consequences may result.~

-Ever nods-

Ever: Aha. And if I got PEFE!Every? For her or Skyfire?

~That's a very good question.~

Ever: ...I see.

~...~

Ever: ?

~...I'm scared.~

Ever: I think that's eminently reasonable.

Snowpoint Hospital