Noelle: So I don't get it. Who are we supposed to be rescuing?

Fortis: I dunno!

-they turn a corner and run into Fortis' older siblings-

Fortis: Oh my gosh hi Piano!

Pianis: Hey.

Mezzo: Well, you two seem to be okay.

Fortis: Uh huh! Oh my gosh what happened to your arm though?

Pianis: Ask her.

Noelle: Oh, I know. You're Snow, right? So this is the part where he starts turning into a Cie'th.

Pianis: A what?

Mezzo: Crystal zombie thing. I told you this stuff.

Noelle: Hm... maybe you're the one we're supposed to rescue! Let me try something.

-Noelle raises her crystal, and it shines brightly...-

-she holds it up for a few moments, then brings it back down-

Noelle: How do you feel?

Pianis: Uh, not great◊.

Fortis: Oh my gosh!

Noelle: Uh, whoops. I think I might have advanced it a stage.

Pianis: Joy.

Mezzo: Relax, you'll be fine. If nothing else we can kill you after you turn.

Pianis: That's not exactly comforting.

Mezzo: Also put your shirt back on.

Pianis: -looking at his side- ...How??

After having swiftly rushed through the shadows, cutting and blasting through any of the ones directly in the way, Halis has reached... a warehouse? That's where it seems to have been, anyway, and it's not like anyone else is remotely close to them.

Halis: "Time to put an end to this... I'm already tired of it, to be honest."

Noting no real resistance to be seen, they head inside, sighing.

Halis: "Hello? Anyone to fight in here or what?"

Cipher Chateau

-Rakash sighs and tunes on Navigator Comms-

Yeah uh... The proper Palace owner that I forgot the codename of is still somewhere inside the Palace racking up the security rating.

-He almost says the words 'they're probably awakening their Persona properly' but can't figure out why his voice catches as he follows Paula back inside-

Mementos

-Shift really doesn't know what to do as he just sits there behind the Protect-

Shift: <Woo, go team? Kick that Demon's ass. If it has one I guess.>

Interspace

-Pent marvels at the sprawling tangle of branches below-

The Entralink is where the True Entree spears upwards through reality. The very tips of the branches pushing into each world and interpreted as the whole tree.

Wrong Lumiose, Monopeko's 'Heroes'

-With little fanfare, Lucian wanders out into the battle with Monopeko on his shoulder. Immediately it kinda feels like the tide of enemies is starting to fade, but also Lumiose is an inland city yeah? Why is there a great big sailing ship with sickly green lanterns hanging from the rigging and railings starting to drift across the path onwards?-

Lucian: What the?

Monopeko: Aw great, these assholes.

Wrong Lumiose, The Lone Mysterious Hero

-As Halis emerges back into 'conventional' reality as she walks through the door of the warehouse there's some immediate things to be noted; Pent's bag lays against the wall near the door. There is some kind of large, intricate circlework drawn on the concrete floor in chalk. In the center of those circles behind a vague ethereal barrier which does not impede vision is Pent laying unconscious on the floor and another figure: Human, tall, blonde hair in pigtails, facing away from Halis, some strange three-part symbol that looks like a sword on the palm of one hand-

Mystery Figure: He asked three questions yaknow. Three questions and the last one was me. Ask me what they were.

Halis: "W-what the... Pent!?"

They seem angry, looking at the Unknown Figure, their sword pointed in the same direction.

Halis: "Alright, whatever you're doing, drop it now and start explaining or I'm just going to start fighting you. I'm feeling really impatient right now..."

True to their word, it seems like they're already prepared to act on instinct and nothing else.

Chateau d'Avarice

Paula: Yeah, yeah, we know! Some shit happened, and they don't like me existing!

-In the darkness, it's very difficult to tell where Rose may have gone. There's a faint smell of paint fumes, but it's not easy to tell if it's from the room they just defaced.-

-However, a loud popping sound provides a slightly better indicator, especially considering the feeling of oppressive security awareness intensifies immediately after.-

Mementoes

Des gritted his teeth.

"Alright, enough of this."

He summons P!Arthur, the mighty animated armour brandishing its Aegislash.

"Give them a Shadow Ball!"

P!Arthur charged up some Obscuric energy into his blade, then thrust it forward and shot a Shadow Ball at the Gallade/Gardevoir hybrid, Legend of Zelda style.

"I am the hero's shadow..."

Pippy: <...>

<That sounds terrifying> .^.

-hearing Pent- <...ooooooh.>

-everyone else stands, entranced by the sight before them-

-the black-and-white boughs of possibility, spiraling through bubbles of shimmering spacetime hanging like immortal Leppa, expanding forever by their local [Hubble] parameters-

-budding and blooming by the vicissitudes of choice and chance, truth and ideals embodied in all their pluralities-

-Megan pulls out her phone and takes a picture of the resplendent cosmos-

-...-

-then does the same with her PEFEdex, trying to scan as much as she can-

Logan: -to Megan, still staring- Hm, do you think we can make a map out of those pictures?

Megan: -panning- Dunno. Hold on.

Pippy: <Ooh, take a selfie.>

Megan: -still panning- In a bit. Science.

Addie: -scamper up the wall- <Hey, do you think we could take a group picture?>

Eric: <Ooh, like, "Hurrah! We survived, and what we have to show for it is this neat t-shirt"?>

Addie: <More like, "we're in your base", or however it goes.>

Logan: -snicker- Send a copy to Mobius in a card? Thanks for taking us out, we had a nice time, see them soon?

Addie: -expansively- <"Hey, we survived, dipshits! Happy holidays!">

-a dragon-proud Tropius lands beside Lucian-

Sapinda the Tropius: <Who is this ship, and why is it sailing through my territory?>

Fate!Logan: Costume powers?

I probably should've asked Megan what this character can—

-pause- ...

-middle-distance stare- ...can I do math?

Yuuno!Addie: -likewise- <...uh?>

Fate!Logan: -wince, pupils huge- I mean, I'm no slouch at integrals or anything, but this seems like a couple dozen more variables than anyone's used to.

Yuuno!Addie: <I thought these characters were spellcasters? Where does math come into it?>

Fate!Logan: ...anyways, J-holidays seem fraught.

Yuuno!Addie: -blink- <What locket is this?>

-they arrive and find a table, Logan having had what seems like passing conversations with most of the mons they came across on the way-

Logan: -having ordered a cup of coffee, waits for Locke to order something, if he likes- I'll pick up the tab.

-Caterpie slink through the rafters, munching on the plants growing in pots there-

-looking around, smile- This one's nice and quiet, battles have to happen outside...weird name, but it is reassuring.

-a peaceful air drifts over the whole scene-

-pointing- There's a little sign we can flip if we like our table as it is, or if we're okay with someone sitting down with us. Whenever you're ready.

Megan: Alternate timel—?

-wide-eyed- !

Pollen: -sulking-

Megan: -changing the subject to something happier, surely- U-um. Who's—who's Julius?

Cubone!Byleth: -hears "timelines"- <...>

Macraulloween

-Kai and Skye kinda blink at each other at the character power exchange.-

Kai: Okay, so, the locket. An Orange Locket, so named because it's turned completely reddish-orange from rust. It's cursed so that if a Fighting-type Aura user gets their hands on it, it gives them a healing factor in exchange for it feeding off of them and driving them crazy. Which is mildly okay for Cayenne, if she's anything she's a Ghost Obscurist — mom's side of the family and all — but I can't do anything about it because I am a Fighting Auric.

Skye: And a vampire who has a bad habit of Aura-starving themself, at that. Seriously, Kai, take better care of yourself.

Kai: It's nauseating! On top of the moral issues I'm facing because of it!

Skye: It wouldn't be nauseating if you got used to it!

Kai: Nyeeeeh!

Skye: Nyeeeeeeeeh.

Dew: <By Jones, I wish I was still dreaming of pirates trying to kill me.>

-For the record, they have been radiating the slightest bit of multicolored Aura the entire time. It's not much, but it's noticeable in the relatively poorly-lit environment. Like a glowstick.-

Interspace

Laura: Me and bro have been there!

Rod: It felt kind of... funky.

Macraul Party

-Jackie and Genesis are still wrapping things in chains and attacking them-

-Archer and Sigurd are slicing and dicing, occasionally Pepping Up and unleashing combo attacks-

-Julius is just hopping around breathing fire on the things to collect the gems they drop, Ishtar also devouring dropped Beautifly-

-Neon is trying to convince Cavendish and Dakota to build him a mecha-

-Alli sings a lullaby that repeatedly drops a giant winged Wailord on the monsters-

-Alex is... oh. Oh my. She's certainly going to town with that axe. Tone down the maniacal laughter will ya?-

-Medea is blasting the monsters with magic and stabbing them with her Rule Breaker dagger before draining them completely-

Cafe That Definitely Exists

Locke: I'm good, thanks.

-Emi eyes the Caterpie-

Viridian

Robin: Er, Julius. Yes. He's my... Apprentice.

Gaius: Really? How come I haven't met him yet?

Robin: Well, it's kind of... a... loose apprenticeship... me and... Morgan... keep an eye on him so that... he doesn't... get... into... trouble.

Gaius: ...Really.

-Robin sweats-

Robin: Look there's certain things about this world he can't find out about like I did.

Gaius: Like what?

-Robin sweats further-

Edited by Umbramatic on Oct 28th 2019 at 2:01:47 PM

Wrong Lumiose

With the waves beginning to clear out, Helmsman and Colton seem visibly disappointed, but shrugged as they reconvened.

"Now what?" They chorused as Sunny, Sylveon, Roy and Ammy joined back up.

"I'm having fun," Roy shrugged, looking around at the party, who all shrugged as if to say "if the circumstances weren't so dire..."

Interspace

-Channah's team helped out during the fight I guess-

Hale: -keeps half an eye on the tree while he revives his trainer-

Channah: -coming to- <Ergh...>

Macraulloween

-Ludovic is at a loss for what to do, so he follows Cayenne out of there-

Luxor: <...who the fuck would make something like that?>

-Eric, with a medically-trained semiprofessional's eye, zeroes in on the decidedly larger-than-average points of Kai's canines-

ParamEric: -stare- <...t e e t h>

-or Kainines-

Fate!Logan: -almost laughing at the familiarity, if it weren't so serious- Oh, that's no good. Vampires need to eat, or it doesn't go well, health-wise. Or otherwise.

Yuuno!Addie: -perch, peer- <We have a sample size of one, but it's a very big one.>

<Also, you seem to be leaking? It's a pretty neat look, but it doesn't seem good for the self.>

-rethinking- <...unless it's part of the costume.>

Luxor: -to Dew- <Right? You'd think talking'd be more bearable than almost dying all the time, but here we are.>

Logan: Aha.

-sipping their drink- So, whenever you feel up to it.

-smile- I actually don't think I got your name. Or, well, anything you'd like to share about the deacclimatization.

Adventurer troubles?

Various Caterpie: -scooch along the beams, headed for leaf-munch-

Megan: ..."something"...

-blink- ...oh. oh heck.

-half-flailing, for attention- Um! Stuff like...

-grin, awkward- ...did you know there's something called "Pokémon" in this world? It sure surprised me, ha ha ha!

-she makes a gesture of enthusiasm, thinking wisely- Dialga let me punch myself from two seconds ago in the face and not say a word—

Pollen: -stares at Robin-

-squints at something...thin, and out of sight-

<...hrm.>

Cubone!Byleth: -not expecting to be heard, idly- <I'd like to learn as well.>

Edited by Asterisk395 on Oct 28th 2019 at 3:29:56 PM

Macraulloween

-Ian turns around and sees the ship with sickly green lanterns illuminating it-

Me: Waitaminute, Monopeko... You know these people?

Interspace, On the Way Home

Me: -calmly- It's beautiful... I've never been to the Entralink, mostly because I don't know how to get there... I wish I could go someday... Maybe when the threat of the Mobius Society is no longer looming over our heads...

Macraulloween

Kai: I'm fine. This is just a feature of, y'know, being a vamp.

-They grin a pointy vamp-toothy grin.-

Skye: There's no getting through their stubbornness, trust me.

Dew: <Can we go already?>

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Oct 28th 2019 at 4:19:55 AM

Chateau d'Avarice

".. That can't be good." Daydre's breath catches in her mouth as the security level rises once again. With a little more hesitance than before, she starts heading towards the popping noise.

Macraulloween

Ama: "What do you know, you did end up letting your guard down eventually."

Daydre: "Was it really too much to hope you'd just go home or something?"

Ama: "Yes."

Ama reaches down and cuts the belt holding Daydre's pokeballs off with an Obscura claw, flinging it off somewhere behind her.

Daydre: "What the hell was that for?!"

Ama: "They interrupted last time. I won't let that happen again. Now..." She readies her Obscura claw and slashes downwards.

In the span of a few fractions of a second, Daydre comes to three realizations:

1. Oh shit if that hits me I really am going to die

2. Hey she's not trying to choke me this time what's up with that

and

3. Oh yeah, I have costume powers this time.

With empowered.. muscles I guess? I dunno mons are just generally stronger than humans- Daydre wrenches Ama's foot off her long enough to roll to the side. Thrown off balance, Ama's claw attack completely misses. Daydre hastily gets to her feet and dashes away.

Ama: "..."

"You're not getting off that easily."

Daydre: "Oooof course I'm not."

Cafe That Definitely Exists

Locke: Hi I'm Locke. You know Umbra and Lina? I'm their son from an alternate timeline. I got half-retconned into this one by their friend Arika's weird Xerneas-Lunala magic and still need to get the memories of my old timeline back. I went full cryptid for like a year because Umbra and Lina didn't think they could do the family reunion I always wanted, and when my girlfriend Jackie found out about all this we got into a fight and broke up.

Emi: <We spent all that year trying to find him.>

Locke: But I'm getting therapy now. I'm trying to move on and find a better way, and have a life not defined by finding my family aside from getting those memories back. But I... I gotta re-learn how to people.

Viridian

Robin: ...Okay okay I admit it! The worlds where some sort of Fire Emblem exist? They're works of fiction here! Video games! Granted, they get some things wrong like putting Pokemon in place of monsters and animals and such and calling the Fire Emblem the Blazing Sigil but-

Gaius: What the hell is a video game?

Robin: Oh, uh. It's a story where you control a character or characters like a puppet to do things. They're played on special devices. It's quite fascinating.

Gaius: ...And you and your daughter have been going to extraordinary lengths to prevent this Julius from finding this out.

Robin: L-Look, he's the Child Of Darkness Julius! I mean, Loptyr's been exorcised from him for now but I need to protect him otherwise he might end up like me!

Gaius: ...

...Bubbles. I'm going to be honest with you. That's creepy.

-Something inside Robin breaks-

Robin: ...Oh.

-He just kind of. Slides onto the ground.-

Gaius looks at Megan and her mons and gives them this◊ expression and gesture-

Interspace

-To Channah-

Oh, you're waking up.

Wanderer: We should be reaching your world soon.

-To Henry-

When we're done sending the J-Team back, I can get you back to your home universe.

Henry: <No, I want to see this through to the end. Then I can go back.>

Sparkers vs. Fuka

Wesson is knocked back and hits the ground hard.

"Good fight, Wesson."

Sparkers returns him, but doesn't send out another mon right away. He just smirks at Fuka and reaches for his wrist.

Sparkers vs Fuka

Lucy lets out a disappointed hiss as Goosey wins his battle. Goosey strikes a victory pose.

Fuka, assuming Sparkers is gesturing towards a wristwatch, tilts her head

Fuka: Is it time to take a break or have a snack or...?

Vs. Fuka

Sparkers just smirked as he took an armband off. A pillar of flame shot up around him and quickly dispersed, revealing an Arcanine.

Sparkers: <You opponent is now me!>

Stormchaser

Lita is wandering the halls, bored.

Des is in the Post-Raid room, baking.

C is reading poetry out loud.

Sparkers is brooooooding.

Stormchaser

-There is a Sandyghast with heterochromia wandering around near C-

Stormchaser

C notices the Sandyghast.

"Oh. Hello. Have you come to be amazed by my oratory skills."

The Murkrow on his shoulder piped up.

Griffon: "No I think they're wondering where all the racket is coming from."

Stormchaser

Odin: <Oh, um, neither actually.>

-Realizing this person won't recognize him, he shifts to human-

Odin: Have you seen anyone who was on that raid a while back? I heard... worrying things.

Mememntoes

-Undine goes down to the Shadow Ball-

-Gnome switches to a Thunder Punch at the Double Team clones-

-Sylph fires off rapid-fire Moonblasts-

-Salamander goes for Dragon Pulses-

-Parcelus lunges at the knight with a Night Slash-

Stormchaser

C gives a little 'huh?' as Odin transforms in front of him.

"Oh, neat trick. Um, I assume you mean the mobile base raid? I saw a few people milling about. I think most are just trying to rest up for the final push. Who are you?"

Griffon: "Nice contacts, by the way. I love that 'desu desu' look."

"Griffon be nice."

Mementoes (the fresh maker)

P!Arthur reeled back as Parcelus Night Slash glanced against his armour.

"Don't you dare lose ground! Hit 'em again."

Parthur gathered ghost fire around his bladed and leapt into the air, bringing his sword down and aiming a helmsplitter at Parcelus. If it hit the Ghost fire would burst and hit Parcelus' allies.

Stormchaser

Odin: No, uh, my eyes, they actually look like that. Anyway! Did they mention something about a Cheri OS?