ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

At the conversation about the fighting training, I think for a moment. Castaway, if his words are anything to go by, will probably be going with the tentatively classified Training Group. Increased combat capabilities would be beneficial. Back in the Forest, my attacks were mostly based on standardised attack patterns coded into my systems. Conclusion: Accompany Training Group, if possible.

"Request: If possible, may I join?"

At the request about allergies, I speak once again.

"Response: None, as far as I am aware of."

Castle Halls, waiting to go in to banquet

My reaffirmation that Marsha wouldn't ever leave my side is upended by Dinah suddenly...suggesting that she wants to be able to get better at fighting? And Castaway and Vass wanting to join?

Well, there really isn't one here, Dinah...trust me, we tried. And I don't think we really want to bother trying to go back and do more fighting, hell, anything else for tonight, after what we just did, guys.

And with that I continue following the king and queen, awaiting our food.

edited 4th Jun '18 10:45:48 AM by Team42Larson

Foxfell

Well, welcome aboard, fellas! (Benji says to the Digletts.) I'd be glad to give ya a lift back there!

(Hearing Vassago and Marlon, Dinah quickly clarifies.) Oh yes! I never meant that I wanted to train now...you are all exhausted...we can do it tomorrow, I can wait.

Good! I think I'm just gonna crash afta dis, anyway. (Marsha says.)

Huh, ya gonna stay here with Marlon and the others, then? (Benji says.)

(Dinah is surprised to hear what Benji said.) You're...you're leaving?

Heh, yeah. Me, Goobert, Del, Lucy, and some of the others are gonna go ahead and start headin' towards Whisperin' Pines and pick up Del's mom along the way. (Benji explains.) You're welcome to stay behind and train if ya want, though, just sayin'! Maybe it'll help ya in the long run!

(Dinah looks a bit disconcerted, but she really wants to get better at defending herself and others (like Lucy) so she can actually put up a fight if she gets involved in any battles and not end up like...)

Well...will you all be fine? You never know what could happen out there. (Dinah asks Benji.)

Yeah! (Benji says.) We've got a decent party goin'. Somethin' comes up, we'll be able to deal with it, I bet! Not that I think anythin' will, though. Just a straightforward little side trip to Gleamscape and then to Whisperin' Pines and Danjor Island, just sayin'. And you'll have everyone else stayin' here, too. Just chill, Dinah, we'll all have a good time!

All right... (Dinah sighs. She looks down at Lucy and puts her claws on her shoulders.) Lucy, be careful. The last thing we want is for you to get hurt like you could have been today...

Uh huh! (Lucy says.) Hey! How about...

(Lucy slips off one of her bracelets and gives it to Dinah.) Now we'll remember each other while we're both away from each other!

(Dinah figures that they'd remember each other anyway, but nevertheless smiles and slips the bracelet on. It's a good thing she has such skinny wrists so she can actually wear the small bracelet.)

A few moments ago

Upon reaching the castle Snaptooth sees a handwritten note addressed to him and Jack pinned on the entrance wall. Snaptooth takes it and holds on to it as he and Jack follow the others.

Present time

In the hallways on the way to the banquet hall, Snaptooth wonders aloud.

Snaptooth:   I hope they have some crunchy food here...   

(error post; that’s life!)

edited 4th Jun '18 11:43:21 AM by TheCastawayPariah

(Trai… ning…) I shake my head. (No, no, I gotta do this first.) I take time to pull myself together, then I approach the Queen. I take the stick out of my mouth and hold it under my good paw. "Excuse me, ma'am?"

"Pomeg, Magost, nuts... understood. Please, give me a moment." The Queen leaves the party, entering the banquet hall. The door closes behind her, but distinct screaming and shouting can be heard.

"My dear... sweet as can be, but you must not wrong her." The King adds.

Autumn doesn't look back to Eliot as she just stares at the door, rather blankly.

"You probably won't like what my plans are after we're set to leave, then."

edited 4th Jun '18 1:08:00 PM by Beverly

Was… was I ignored? On both accounts? (… I dunno why I try.) I pick the stick back up in my mouth and walk back towards the others.

“Nice job with the stick,” I complimented Niles, who had a stick in his mouth.

edited 4th Jun '18 1:08:56 PM by TheCastawayPariah

Outside Banquet Hall

*Tilly nods to Benji and says* You have my gratitude. I will cover any expenses that our inclusion entails. *though she notices the Quilava with a stick behind the Ditto, and simply raises an eyebrow*

*Lilly looks over to Lucy briefly but doesn't really know what to say. Having been stuck in her own headspace for what seems like forever has made it difficult for her to really speak up to anyone*

Castle Halls, outside banquet

After hearing out the whole spiel I'm left with own things to say.

Just make sure you write something back to us every so often. Okay?

I ask Goobert.

And sir?

I ask The King..

Niles wanted to ask your wife something.

Foxfell (Castle)

Well, thanks, Tilly! (Benji says to Tilly.)

(Lucy notices Lilly looking sad and walks over.) You okay, Lilly? (She asks.)

(I flinch as a bunch of racket comes from the other side of the door where the Queen just went, and then turn to Marlon.) Oh yeah, we definitely will. (I nod. I turn to Delilah.) Hey, Del, can you remind me to do that if I forget?

Of course! (Delilah laughs.)

(June has been uncharacteristically silent as she geeks out over being so close to the king and queen. She whispers to one of the guards as we wait to head into the banquet hall.) Think the king or queen'll let me shake paws with 'em?

(Marsha happens to hear what Autumn said somewhat.) Come again, Foxy?

edited 4th Jun '18 7:10:21 PM by kablammin45

The guard June whispered her question to, a rather short male Braixen, just chuckles before responding in a voice that confirms his age, having an almost fatherly tone in it even when speaking to the adult June.

Well, you know, it can't hurt to ask now can it? They are willing to go to this much effort for all of you, after all.

Foxfell Castle, Outside the Banquet Hall

[...did she not think I'd catch that? I narrow my eyes a little, fretting a little over what her angle is with that...then I remember that technically, she didn't really come into the world with us, nor did she come with us on our mission. And neither did Mila, as a matter of fact...I look worriedly towards the Raichu, wondering if she'll be inevitably caught up with Autumn's "plan"...]

[I stand over her, staring at the door just the same as her.] "If you have anything t'say, say it at dinner. Least give us some time..." [And with that, I separate from Autumn and simply stand by myself as I wait to enter the banquet hall, feeling my head droop a little in defeat. I think I'll really need that self-imposed scouting mission...at the very least, I can have some time to myself to just catch the wind and all that, should be therapeutic...]

Foxfell (Castle)

(June makes a giddy sounding squeak and carefully walks up to the King.) Can I...um...is it okay if I shake your paw, your highness? (She asks.)

The King processes the two requests. "I'll talk with her when she comes out." And afterward, he turns to June with a kind smile. "I don't see why not!" He cheers, extending his paw.

Autumn sighs. "No, no. If I say it then, I'll ruin the whole dinner. I'm going to rip the bandage off, here and now." She turns around, facing the group. "I can't keep doing this. I've already gotten you all into too much trouble. You wouldn't even have fought that Granbull if I weren't around. For everyone's own good, I won't be accompanying you all when you leave."

Foxfell Castle, Outside the Banquet Hall

[...ohhhhh, dear...I look away, nervously bring my hand up to shield my mouth. She didn't say anything about Mila...I don't know how that will go over...]

Outside the Banquet Hall

Mila takes a moment to process what Autumn just said, but from the look on her face it's clear that this comes as a shock to her as well. Admittedly, it was something she'd considered before, but like she did a few hours back she relies on her gut, which happens to be telling her that she can't just stay here and leave the group. Still, like Autumn said, it would ruin the night for everyone if she tried to convince Autumn right now, so once she can find the words, she walks over to her... fiancee? And puts both of her paws together, trying to entreaty her.

"Please, don't decide on something like that so fast. Can we talk through this more after the dinner?"

Castle

(June is so eagerly shaking the King's paw that she doesn't even hear Autumn revealing her new plans. The rest of us (sans Lucy, who is still waiting to see if Lilly responds to her) do, though.)

You aren't? (I say. Man, she's been with us how long since we got here? I have a feeling the general reaction is going to be completely different to when Delilah and I just announced when we were going with Benji. And I'm more that okay with this since I honestly dip in and out of the party all the time. There's no telling how long Autumn's talking. I look at Eliot. Oh yeah, big difference from how he reacted to me leaving again...I remain silent as Mila tries to reason with her. Delilah, Benji, and Dinah do so as well, with only Marsha speaking up after a moment.)

Well...dang, if ya aren't comin' with us, Autumn, then...we're gonna miss ya. (Marsha says.) We've been though a lot, haven't we?

edited 4th Jun '18 7:38:22 PM by kablammin45

"..."

She's staying here...?

Noriaki thought for a moment before speaking, "Autumn, I will respect your decision, but I do concur with Mila that perhaps it warrants more thought. There are potential downsides to you remaining in Foxfell away from our group as well. However, as I have said, whatever conclusion you come to is one I will respect."

Outside Banquet Hall

Oh! Uh...well I, err... *Lilly is caught off guard by Lucy's sudden attention and then gets further rattled by Autumn's big announcement*

*Tilly, on the other hand, is divided by the logic of royalty staying within their kingdom and an inexplicable feeling that there is more to this than meets the eye, and it might not be the best long-term choice*

*in any case, Lilly recovers from the shock and tells Lucy with a sigh* ...she ain't the only one leavin' the group. Me and sis're takin' the next boat to Gleamscape...

*she looks down to add* It's about that thing I mentioned earlier...

Castle (Lucy and Lilly)

(Lucy likely would have been happier to hear that Lilly and her sister were probably going to be travelling with us had it not been because of that reason. She sighs.) Where are you goin' to do then? (She asks Lilly.)

Outside Banquet Hall

Back home...we're kinda hopin' our folks can figure out somethin'...I dunno what, though. *Lilly sighs...she knows she has to simplify things with Lucy, but she's also resisting the urge to go on a tirade as the stages of grief march on* I guess y'could say, a pair of Digletts are incomplete. Mom's kinda hard to be around sometimes, but she's really amazin' with these sorts of things. *she cracks a semi-forced, semi-genuine smile of mixed optimism*

...and I guess we'll get to hang out again! What're ya gonna do in Gleamscape?

Castle Halls, Outside Banquet

Oooh...so that's what she meant by her "plan". In my opinion I don't think that it was her fault at all that we wound up in the position we did, considering what Anastasia already did prior to us coming here, but...she's back home, with her ruling family, maybe it would be for the best...y'know, back when I first woke up and found myself with a Gallade body, our group was so much different, same faces, yet different attitudes, almost like fresh-faced Military recruits. Now...it's almost like we've been through war together, all of us.

Well...if you really want to go through with this I'll respect your choice, given everything we've been through and are bound to go through.

I then look around, particularly at the King.

Well, sir, what would you say about this? Would you allow Autumn to keep traveling with us?

edited 5th Jun '18 6:12:26 AM by Team42Larson

"We'll miss you," I added sympathetically, nodding. "But I'm sure this is for the best if you're so insistent on it."