Wolfram Town - High Noon
-there's a part of Percy's brain telling her that this is a trick-
-it's the part that learned that sleeping in Pokemon Centers is dangerous, and staying in the woods is better when you don't have money-
-it's the part that rotted away in the Snowpoint permafrost, and was replaced with the shades of the dead-
-the other part is that her first friend is crying in front of her-
-not her best friend, not her closest. Someone who, until about an hour ago, she would have confidently claimed to despise-
-just the first person she didn't fight-
Percy: ...I'm glad nobody did, though.
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.Wolfram Town — High Noon
-Heather is not a person who is proud to cry. This is a person for whom crying is a sign of weakness.-
-Every cell in her body is fighting not to let her composure crumble completely. A fool's errand, but she can't surrender to it.-
-Things like what you just said, Percy, make this very hard.-
Heather: ...
-Instead of letting her see tears streaming from her eyes, she turns to look at her own team and makes an effort to change the subject, and ignore the tremor in her voice.-
Heather: One of Molybdenum's thralls paralyzed Grieve. This town was abandoned long before modern Pokemon Centers, and there's not exactly any medical supplies around that haven't long since expired. He's gradually recovering through rest, but we can't afford to linger here until he's better. Do you have any supplies that can assist him?
Wolfram Town - High Noon
Percy: Um— yeah. One sec.
-she sends out Memento-
Percy: You've got Natural Cure, right?
Memento: <Uh. Yeah? Why are we surrounded by large predators.
Percy: Can you Entrainment that Noivern?
Memento: <...Do I have to?>
Percy: Yes.
Memento: <...>
-he turns to Grieve-
Memento: <...Have Natural Cure now.>
Wolfram Town — High Noon
-The details of Entrainment don't really matter. What matters is, Grieve is technically already out of battle, and therefore the Natural Cure works its magic.-
-He stretches, already looking better than moments ago.-
Grieve: <Thank you. And no, I'm not eating you today.>
-He doesn't particularly linger on the implications of "today"-
Heather: ...I... appreciate... the help.
-Heather says these words like she's not 100% certain if that's a normal thing to say in this situation, because she's never had to.-
Heather: ...Tell me something. How did the J-Team gain your trust?
A Small Cave, North of the Eterna Woods - May 2025
-Thalia cautiously follows Kyra into the cave. lingering near the outside where there's still some moonlight spilling in. Kyra motions with her forelimb, and Thalia reluctantly follows her further in.-
Kyra: ~Your eyes will adjust. We'll shelter here, just out of sight from the entrance.~
-Thalia drops the bag to the ground, then sits down herself, leaning against the cold stone wall. It's calming, the chill muffled by her hoodie. She stares at Kyra, not emoting.-
Thalia: Okay.
Kyra: ~When you are ready, would you tell me what happened? All I've gleaned is that some accident befell the others.~
Thalia: The - they…
-She shakes her head, tears running down her face again. Instead her mind reaches out for Kyra's, and she goes slack while the Gabite inspects her memories of the last hour via Telepathy. She steps back, turning back to face the entrance.-
Kyra: ~Well, you remember what you were taught. Why don't you go through that bag while I leave a sign for Firebrand?~
Thalia: ~O-okay. I will.~
-She takes a few deep breaths, pulling the drawstrings of her hoodie tight to bundle her hair up. Pink energy coalesces around her head, and to an outsider she might appear slightly desaturated - but this cave seems to be abandoned.-
-She calmly crawls to the duffel bag and unzips it. Several packs of nutrient paste, as well as some larger, brown packets she doesn't recognize, stamped "MRE". Multiple bottles of water, a basic first-aid kit, a thermal blanket, clean socks, and a second Poké Ball. She pulls it out and experimentally clicks the release, and out pops a light blue Riolu, with what steel they should have instead replaced with material similar to an Ice Stone.-
Kallinikos: ~Thallium? Where's Mercury?~
Thalia: He died. We're on the run.
-She projects her memories into the Riolu - these ones flatter, clinical observations of events - and then stumbles slightly, bringing a hand up to her head. She curls into a small ball onto the floor next to the bag, still rubbing her head. Kalli calmly drapes the thermal blanket over her, then drops to all fours to move to the cave's exit, where she finds Kyra carving a symbol into the stone.-
Kallinikos: <Is that wise?>
Kyra: <I am taking care to leave a marking only allies will recognize.>
Kallinikos: <I'm gonna miss that kid.>
Kyra: <It is unfortunate. What do you think of our last orders?>
Kallinikos: <I think Firebrand was a fool to defect. But I think we don't have a choice in what to do. The circumstances may have changed, but our roles have not.>
-Kyra pauses in her work for a moment, pondering Kalli.-
Kyra: <I suppose not. But you and I are not exactly experienced in wilderness survival, even with our training, and Thallium's health is going to suffer as is.>
Kallinikos: <We will make do.>
-Kyra nods, dragging her claw through one final groove to deepen it, then follows her companion back into the cave, to the slumbering Thalia.-
Edited by SwiftSeraph on Nov 7th 2025 at 7:29:30 AM
"Burnin' bright...Burnin' black. Burnin' up everything."

CW: Death, minor blood/gore
North of Eterna - May 2025
Fenrir: You're not going to save her by dying here.
-He blocks another Mystical Fire, Aura shimmering, and snaps his arm out with another Bullet Punch, clipping the Noivern's wing. Firebrand whirls towards him, flinging a handful of flaming daggers at him before manifesting twin blades in her hands and bringing them down in a cross-slash. Fenrir tanks the blow, his eyes going glassy as the heat cooks the skin of his flesh arm.-
Firebrand: You know, this is the first time I've ever chosen to do something for myself, and it feels good.
-She drives the blade in further, but is thrown off-balance as Fenrir drops his empty revolver and grapples her, ignoring the swords. She struggles, failing to resist his cybernetically-enhanced strength. Coupled with a telepathic shove, he sends her flying to the side, only to stumble as Firebrand's foreseen attack strikes, raw energy hitting him like a brick. Agi beats his wings, illusory copies of himself forming on either side, and they approach Fenrir, shuffling like a shell game.
-Fenrir calmly draws his other revolver, and his eye whirs as he Locks On to Agi.-
Firebrand: Agi! No!
-Fenrir fires the three shots off in rapid succession, each of them hitting true. Blood pools around Agi as he plummets from the air to the ground - he's not getting up. It's down to just the two Templars.-
-Firebrand glares at Fenrir, her eyes glowing with power.-
-So that's how it is. A single Templar would never be enough to take down the Iron-Heart, but she already knew that. It was just about buying the time.-
-Maybe she'd take his other arm along with her.-
-With a wordless scream, she charges him again, two swords in hand and a swarm of blades forming in the air above her, flinging towards Fenrir as soon as they form. He holds his ground with a combination of dodges and his psychic barrier, though blood is steadily dripping from his wounds. He raises his arms in preparation for another cross-slash, but she feints, dropping down to strike his legs with one of the swords. Fenrir grunts, and manages to catch her with a Brick Break, accompanied by the audible sound of ribs snapping.
Fenrir: Enough games, Firebrand. This ends.
Firebrand: This doesn't end until I say so!
-The very air around her starts to heat up, and even more blades surround her. From a distance it looks like the whole forest might be on fire, but it's just one woman, her flames hotter than ever before. She merges the twin blades into one greatsword again, the fierce fire licking against her flesh, dancing across her skin. It does not burn her, for she has learned to tame it. She is radiant, for if she is to only burn for a few more moments she will burn as bright as she can.-
-Fenrir remain impassive, the only emotion on his face a slight sadness. He gestures for Firebrand to approach, and she hesitates - then goes so, flinging all of her blades at him at once as they herald her advance. The smoke clears as she hefts her greatsword - Fenrir is battered and burnt, but remains focused on her, standing strong (if clearly out of breath). Firebrand slams the sword down, aiming for the metal plate embedded into Fenrir's head - and misses her mark, as he catches the blade in his metal hand, a horrific screech as her white-hot construct slices it off.-
-She only has a moment to realize she's failed before he's crushed her chest with another solid punch, and she staggers back, falling into the snow.-
-It's cold.-
-Fate remains unchanged. The final vision has come to pass.-
Good luck, Thalia…live for me…for all of them…
-She hears the sounds of Fenrir's footsteps crunching in the snow, then the sound of metal clinking against metal.-
Fenrir: Take pleasure in knowing you actually made me try.
Firebrand: See you in hell, Fenrir. I'll make sure they save you a spot.
-The last thing she sees is the night sky, full of stars. She smiles at the sight of Ursa Major and Minor.-
I've always been proud of you two.
-The final blow is dealt, the ball of lead whistling as it slings through the air.-
-The air grows still and silent.-
Edited by SwiftSeraph on Nov 7th 2025 at 4:50:18 AM
"Burnin' bright...Burnin' black. Burnin' up everything."