The Shadow Rout Airship

(Kim’s excitement fades instantly, and she clears her throat before speaking again.)

Kim: (apologetic) “Oh, yes... sorry about that... my sincerest apologies- what I was saying was, do you teach Monese or know anyone who does?”

Shadow Rout

Alex: This may be the wrong airship for that. This one's new!

Cogsworth: <I am Cogsworth, Alexa's primary assistant.>

Viridian

Archer: We got lost and he thinks he knows the directions better than I do.

Buford: <Because I do!>

Stormchaser, Tagg

Sqirps: I am not sure he can be cured, but it could potentially do something. The N-Solarizrer is obvious there, just in case; you can have the N-Lunarizer too, since the J-Team has Lunala allies.

-Starts rummaging again-

There is something else I want to give you...

Mobile Base, Past

-Mahina gives a thumbs down-

-Beat-

Mahina: Whoops, wrong one!

-gives a thumbs up instead-

Ersatz Alliance, Past

Jared: Go ahead! Try one on!

Stormchaser, with Flamel and Halis

Des cocked an eyebrow and looked at Lita.

Des: "You don't mind, do you? This is 'confidential'."

Lita blinked then looked to Halis.

Lita: "...Sure thing. You take care, Halis."

Des followed Halis and Flamel to their room.

???

Des slowly opened his eyes. He was in Goldenrod, at night. The buildings about him were dark, their occupants having gone to bed. A chilly breeze blew from behind him, carrying brown dried leaves. It was Fall. Wait, of course it's fall. Why was it special to know that it is currently fall? More importantly, why was he here?

Des: "Uh...hello?"

There came no answer. Off in the distance, down some other street, he heard a commotion. It sounded like a battle. Instinctively reaching for his belt he found none of his Pokeballs there or any of his weapons or equipment. He broke out into a run, moving towards the sounds of battle. Cutting through an alley he saw an orange glow in the next street. Thick, heavy smoke rose high up above the buildings, telltale signs of a fire.

Des: "No sirens? Someone needs to call the fire department."

Emerging from the alley he spotted Dune, Deziree and a few other J-Teamers on the ground, injured. Around them the buildings were set ablaze and at the epicenter of the carnage was a headless rider, covered in flames. Despite his lack of a head he was cackling maniacally. Des remembered this. This was around Halloween time a few years back. Wait, that didn't make any sense. How could he remember something that was happening right now?

He drew his gladius that he remembered he had. One of the gladii he used to own. No, that he currently owned. He leapt up into the air as he remembered doing. No wait, he was on Jovi. Why would he question what he was doing when he was doing it right now? He had been atop Jovi the whole time.

Horsemon and rider sailed through the air. The dullahan took the bait and fired a fiery projectile up at the pair. Jovi absorbed the hit and fell back down to the ground, mostly unharmed. Her rider was not with her. Looking up, the dullahan did not have much time to react as Des came down upon him, stabbing his sword through his neckhole. Des could feel the accursed obscura flowing into the blade, a blade he would later give to...someone. He knew he was going to give it to someone. How did he know that?

Des: "Tonight, I am the Rider!"

Was that what he had said? He was just guessing at this point.

The world around him started to crumble away until he was left in a pitch black void.

Des: "...H-hello?"

It was cold. He could see his breath. He was suddenly on a clifftop, overlooking a dark and raging sea. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted something. A girl, with hair as black as his, standing precariously close to the edge, her back to the sea as she was dwarfed by a large, shadowy figure. A prophecy, already told but yet to be heard rang out in his ears.

''Courtiers of a far-off place divined your fate long ago, fox-white-as-snow. Your future walks the present, as it does every era. In a place of darkness and trees, while fleeing a future that may not pass, you will find death denied to you.''

He absentmindedly took a step back and fell off the cliff. He braced himself as a hit the frigid waves below, the ice cold water feeling like a thousand knives puncturing his skin. He sank down and down, until he landed on the seafloor. He couldn't breath, couldn't move. The sand around him turned over and replaced itself with snow. Seaweed around him warped and grew into tall, dark pines. He was no longer underwater, but he still couldn't breath, still couldn't move. He was there in the place of darkness and trees, and something was making making its way towards him.

Stormchaser, Now

Des suddenly bolted out of bed, sweating and gasping for breath.

Des: "Huff...hah...only a dream..."

He brought his knees up to his chest and held back his frightened tears.

Shadow Rout

Kim: (confused): “This might be the wrong airship for... what, exactly, Vogel?”

(Meanwhile, Paul brightens.)

Paul: <Oh...! Cogsworth!> (he turns to the Klinklang) <I was wondering what your name was!>

Kim: (counting) “...12.” (writes it down, then looks back up at the person in white) “Anyways... you are?”

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Nov 9th 2019 at 12:30:06 PM

Halis waits patiently for the two as they make their choices.

Halis opens the door to their room, flopping onto the bed but sitting upright after a minute, waiting for the two to come inside before the door shuts behind them.

Halis: "Like my room? I made sure it's as comfortable as possible. Feel free to have a seat."

Viridian City

Alexa pulled out her pocket phone from her bag. "Where do you want to go? I think I have the map of the city."

Edited by RAlexa21th on Nov 9th 2019 at 9:38:56 AM

???

I think you're wise enough not to betray me.

not— not here, you can't be here, we can't talk here—

Are you okay? Who's she?

I'm not safe here. I'm not... safe anywhere.

and now I've told everyone

You're just one of... oh, it must be hundreds of thousands at this point~

Let go of them you MISERABLE LEECH

Perhaps you'd like to be next, fox?

cARmilla!

You must think you're clever.

I will make you suffer. And I will make your sister suffer as well, and your pretty girlfriend, and these ridiculous costumed super-friends you're hiding behind, and any others I think will make you hurt. And then I will kill them, and I will kill you.

no

no

no

n^o_no^o_oⁿⁿn_nⁿonn_nno_oⁿ_nn_o^oo^o_onoⁿno^o

Kai's Apartment — Around 2:30 AM

-There's a flurry of movement, and the shattering of glass.-

-And a sharp, searing pain in Kai's hand.-

Kai: ...

-The haze of Kai's night terror clears, and they find themself kneeling over their pillow, right hand gripping the shattered shards of what used to be the glass of water on their nightstand, held in a downward stabbing motion.-

-Kai takes a moment to process reality.-

-They give a trembling sigh, release the glass shards in their hand, and get up to get rid of the mess. They clean out the lacerations in their hand and bandage it up, shake the broken glass out of their sheets, throw a towel down to soak up the spilled water, and relocate to their couch.-

-They don't fall asleep again.-

-After a long moment of sitting and staring blankly out into space, they fumble for their phone.-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Nov 9th 2019 at 1:12:41 PM

Shadow Rout

Gabrielle: "I'm afraid I can't help you learn Monese. I took the easy route, back when I worked for Mobius."

Hia Valley

-Misaki shivers as she climbs off of Fenrir, wishing she had changed into pants.-

Marie: "Alright, you're close. Take a look around."

Shadow Rout

(Kim slightly sinks.)

Kim: “A shame... is there anyone on this ship who can help? As in, teach me the language without giving me a translator?”

(Beat.)

Kim: “Which is what I assume happened to you?”

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Nov 9th 2019 at 1:40:10 PM

Stormchaser

Ever: Go to bed. You need more sleep than you've been getting.

Brie: You're awake.

Ever: Yes.

Brie: You're easily the worst Ever.

-she picks up her phone-

Kai's Apartment

Stormchaser

Ever: Don't invite them over. I'm busy.

Brie: With what?

Ever: -stare-

Brie: We'll find another room, you jackass.

Ever: Mhm.

Stormchaser

-Some time later, Kai trudges through the airship halls, making their way to Brie's door and knocking.-

Stormchaser, Brie's Room

-the door is opened by Brie, who looks worried-

Brie: Hey. What's going on?

-behind her is Skyfire, who peers curiously over her shoulder-

Stormchaser — Brie's Room

Kai: Bad dreams. The kind you wake up violently from. I don't... want to end up hurting you or myself, so I think I should probably stay awake the rest of the night so it doesn't happen again.

-They smile.-

Kai: It's nice to see you, though.

KI-26

Ah, shit. Maybe we'll have to rely on nepotism after all.

Avenger: If it comes down to it, we have a contact from the League who might be able to get a bit more information, especially helped by what we have.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Nov 9th 2019 at 4:06:44 AM

Halis' Room

Flamel: <Right. So. I'm guessing from the fact that you know who they are means the Phantom Thieves have something to do with the J-Team... Would you know any good way of paying them back?>

Viridian

Man: You do? Great! He won't let me have my phone back.

Buford: <My phone now.>

Man: Shut up. But uhhh, it's this little restaurant by the outskirts. Pecha Delight. At least that's where I think we parked...

Shadow Rout

Alex: Most of the J-Team is out on the Stormchaser! The airship next to this one.

Cogsworth: <Well now you know.>

Edited by Umbramatic on Nov 9th 2019 at 5:44:39 AM

Correct Lumiose Warehouse

Veritas: Okay so in the order they came in, hm... I didn't summon something, he did. I'm grinning because I'm inside of a two-way barrier circle and you're not. My name is because I'm a truth that he cannot understand right now. The imperiled friend is yeah, obvious.

-She points over her shoulder at the unconscious Pent in the circle with her-

Veritas: As for what I'm gonna do...

-She holds up the hand with the three-part swordlike symbol-

Veritas: I'm gonna use two command seals and tell her to kill you.

-She laughs as two parts of the symbol slowly start to fade-

Stormchaser, past

-To Squirps-

That being?

Viridian City

"Ah yes, I forgot something. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting, you can come out now." Alexa pulled out three Pokeballs from her bag and pressed their buttons. Three Pokemon jumped out: Musubi the Emolga, Hotaru the Liligant, and Tsuki the Buneary. Musubi and Emolga hopped round excitedly, while Hotaru held on to Alexa's skirt helm.

Alexa activated the map app on her phone, and the map appeared. Musubi flew on her shoulder and looked at the map.

Alexa turned to the man and said. "Musubi is pretty good with direction. He will lead the way." Musubi nodded and flew ahead, with Tsuki following suit. Alexa held Hotaru's hand and walked with her. "Let's go!"

Correct Lumiose, Warehouse

Me: -gasp- Pent...

-Ian the Witch determinedly levitates three Poké Balls from his sash, and takes his hat off, preparing to pull his buddy from it-

Me: Bring it on, Veritas!

Somewhere

A certain trainer has set up camp in the forest, currently in the process of having a party with his team - the reason for said party being that said trainer has his B-Day today.

Halis: "Wh—"

They stop in place for a bit.

Halis: "..."

They hold their blade, looking at it for a bit, the glow and hum both warm in coloration and heat, before looking over at the group.

Halis: "I should have expected this. I'm sorry, but... that command was directed at me. It's something I can't disobey, not now at least. I hope you can defend yourselves..."

Though it's clear they don't want to, they're ready to start the fight, waiting for the group's first move.

Stormchaser, Brie's Room

-Brie smiles-

Brie: You could never hurt me.

Skyfire: (scowling) <For multiple reasons.>

Brie: Skyfire.

-she wraps Kai up in a hug-

It's good to see you too. Sit down; Ever made hot chocolate before they left. I'm pretty sure this version of them's some kind of evil, but they're a damn good cook.

Stormchaser, Halis Room

Des: "Paying them back?"

Oh, that gives me an idea...

Des: "Ugh, yes! I do know that the Phantom Thieves are rather close to the J-Team. I even know some of them, personally. How are looking to repay them?"

Stormchaser — Brie's Room

-Kai laughs quietly at Skyfire-

Kai: Heh. Glad to hear someone'll keep me in check if I end up going crazy.

-They sink into the hug.-

Kai: Hot chocolate sounds... really nice right now. Thank you.

-As offered, they come in and sit down.-