ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

"Oh! Ah, of course, Autumn. That would make me more than happy."

Mila is more than a bit flustered by this, despite their previous discussions over the topic. Partially perhaps due to a third party in the room leaving her unsure of how to proceed. Still, the idea of it is something she can't deny longing for, and she's mire than happy to accept. After a moment of confusion on how to proceed, however, she looks over towards Noriaki.

"I guess we'll have to tell everyone later, then. Except you already know, but could you please keep quiet about it until we're ready? Not that I really have a plan, but you know."

Noriaki can't help but stifle a bit of a smile at the display of love between his two companions for each other. It does make him a bit melancholic from nostalgia of similar feelings, on top of...

Noriaki snaps back in to reality outside his thoughts and answers Mila, "Oh, of course. I will not say a word on this matter until you have decided the time is right to speak of it with the others yourselves."

"Also, I would like to say that I am happy for you both."

My claws dig into the ground, slowing me to a halt amidst a spray of upflung soil and small scraps of vegetation. My ocular sensors swiftly begin scanning for the attacker, turning up blank for a few moments, before outright screaming at me as a reading comes up - incoming from the right side. I lash out to the side with a Metal Claw, and strike. Whatever it is, it didn't seem that affected - no cry of pain or exertion, just a feeling like dragging a hand across a thick carpet.

A second blow hits, and my receptors scream at the feeling of a Crunch striking. A blindly swung limb returns an impact, a semi-inaudible grunt, a cessation of the attacker's teeth grip. I lurch backwards, flaring my psychic power as I go, feeling out blindly for the attacker's mind. The response comes. Painfully. I cut the psychic search's power, forcibly suppress the pain.

The attacker has no mind that can be sensed. A Dark-type. Likely Fighting as well, considering the Arm Thrust that hit me. One of the less than ideal combinations, type-wise. Particularly strong, if the pain from that failed mental scan is any indication. Another flash on the sensors. A greyish-white blur, whipping between the trees. Whatever this attacker is, they're fast and strong, and already have me at a disadvantage. I ready a pair of Hammer Arms. The foe comes howling out of the trees, straight towards me, roaring at the top of its lungs, any attempt of subtlety abandoned.

I swing my legs up to meet it, and connect.

The past...Gleamscape

An Alolan Geodude is asleep on the beach when he's suddenly awoken by his Rhyperior grandfather bringing a young-looking Gorebyss up to him.

Stellan? Wake up, boy!

The startled Geodude wakes up and looks to his grandfather.

Granddad, who's this?

She's-

The Gorebyss energetically hops her way over to Stellan.

An energetic child. She's the granddaughter of my close friend.

Hiyahiyahiya!!!! I'm Phoebe! What's your name?

Um, Stellan.

OOH...! Whaddya like to do, Stellan?

She notices the sandcastle that he was attempting to build

Sandcastles? I loooove sandcastles! I think we'll be great friends!

And so, Stellan and Phoebe hatched a friendship...

Autumn, for the first time in a long long while, gives a huge, happy grin! "Fantastic! I'll ask my father tomorrow!! Ahhhh, I can't wait!' Without waiting for Noriaki to leave, she quickly grabs Mila, practically flying into bed.

"Whooaaa—!"

Mila is caught unaware by Autumn's tackle and ends up landing on the bed with a heavy thwump, though she does appear to be smiling once she's processed what has just happened. However, on feeling the softness of the sheets she's quickly pulled into the grip of sleep, having been tired out from all of the days events and worries, not even having a chance to say good night.

Noriaki is visibly surprised by Autumn's sudden dragging of Mila in to the bed, but he simply chuckles and says, "I suppose I'll take my leave now. Goodnight, you two."

The Dartrix stands up and walks out the door that he promptly shuts before making his way to the barracks.

Those two seem quite happy together, he thought to himself, It almost reminds me... No, they're nothing like we were, do not even compare... Although the parallels of reliance Mila and I share are a bit worrying, unlike myself she is showing signs of trying to better herself. There is also the fact that Autumn seems to be a genuinely kindhearted woman...

In his thinking, Noriaki nearly misses the door to the barracks, but corrects himself and heads in before making his way to the empty bed saved for him near Grigori.

Already asleep? Well, understandable, it is late and it has been a long day.

Noriaki crawls in to bed and stares at the ceiling for a while before drifting off to sleep...

Noriaki once again recalls his past, seeing himself as a human and somewhat younger than he is currently. He visibly has recently wiped away tears from his eyes, but is fully dressed in his usual uniform and looks ready to work. Making his way down the white halls of the rather large mansion, he spots someone walking opposite in direction to him; a coworker, another butler with somewhat long brown hair and a sweater-vest over his shirt as opposed to a jacket. Noriaki was hoping he wouldn't run in to them today, but it seems unavoidable. He tries to bypass them without making eye contact, only to have them suddenly grab his arm as they are about to pass each other.

"And here I thought I requested you to leave this place...", the other butler had said to him in a hushed but annoyed tone, "If you continue to disgrace me and above all my lady with your presence, I will kill you."

Noriaki seems shocked by this threat, but he grimaces and only manages to utter out, "... Let go of me, Montresor."

"Say you'll leave."

"No."

Montresor raised his hand as if preparing to strike his coworker, but Noriaki reacted quickly, in a combination of frustration and instinct and delivered a punch straight to his chest with his free hand. Montresor lost his composure as the wind was knocked right out of him, and in his daze let go of Noriaki. This resulted in him taking a punch directly to his nose and getting knocked down by a sweep to his feet. The brunette butler growled in anger as he jumped from the ground and began dragging down Noriaki in an attempt to topple him. Noriaki managed to pry him off and push him aside. Montresor stood back up from there, breathing heavily, the hate overflowing in his eyes. The two butlers rushed at each other and began exchanging punches, slaps, and headbutts. Eventually, Montresor shoved Noriaki to the wall and prepared to knock him out with one last punch, but a strong hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Montresor's angry face suddenly vanished to one full of fear as he slowly turned to see a tall, beautiful noblewoman glaring down at him. Under any other circumstance he would be overjoyed to see her, but the soul-piercing glare she was giving told him this was not one of those times.

"M-my lady, what is it that-"

"You will both stop right now.", she said in a commanding voice, "You are irritating me greatly and turning these halls in to a battlefield full of malice. Both of you STOP."

The noblewoman placed her other hand on Noriaki's chest and ripped the two of them apart, throwing Montresor to the other wall and letting Noriaki slide to the floor. She scoffed and sauntered out of sight.

Noriaki, exhausted and beaten, looked over to his fellow butler who looked just as exhausted yet slightly more beaten than him due to their liege's intervention.

"Damn you, you wretch...!", Montresor gurgled out, trying to pick himself up and grimacing in pain, "This is... All your fault...! Y... You made her hate me...! You ruined...!"

"Oh, of course you continue to blame me and only me", said Noriaki, rolling his eyes with a sigh, "Is this the first time Lady L'Arachel has spoken to you with such aggression and annoyance? I would advise you get used to it if you wish to remain by her side."

Montresor's face twisted in anger and, and it looked like he wanted to yell "SHUT UP" or something similar, but he began violently coughing and simply picked himself off the floor, cleared his throat, and walked away.

The beaten butler left on the floor simply sighed to himself and picked himself off the floor as he muttered, "He has no one else to blame for what in reality is his goddess's doing. His troubled mind has casted me as the villain of his life story..."

Noriaki began walking again, "When the true villain is a noble only in name."

He found his way to a kitchen area, where a familiar maid was hard at work before noticing Noriaki's beaten appearance.

"Oh my...!", she said, her eyes widening with worry and rushing over to him, "Noriaki! What happened? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, honestly, but thank you for your concern", he said.

The maid stared at Noriaki with some doubt before nodding and suddenly hugging him. Noriaki was surprised, but slowly reciprocated with his own hug, wrapping his arms around her. His hand near the back of the maid's shoulder visibly gained tension as he suddenly was gripping the cloth of her blouse in that area somewhat tightly. Tears were very obviously flowing from his beady eyes as he teeth were tightly clamped shut, but bared in pain. Only a few whimpers managed to escape his throat as his friend embraced him.

This dream did not jolt Noriaki awake like previous nights, but only made him stir a bit in his sleep.

edited 18th Jun '18 1:24:03 PM by Konkfan7

Barracks, Next morning

Let's hope this next one doesn't go for four months, eh? Timeskip. Day 22.

Morning. Is it really? Yesterday had so many things go wrong. From the big scare with the egg, to having to climb the mountain, fighting the "Vector of Vectors", hearing that Goobert is leaving us, again..what could go wrong today? Really, what could? I attempt to nudge Marsha awake.

Night came and went. The morning came quicker then I would have expected. I looked around. "Morning, everyone!"

Noriaki yawned as he rose from bed.

"Good morning", he said, wiping his face with his wing.

Barracks (morning)

(Marsha stirs a bit.) Stop stealin' my ice cream ya psycho... (Then her eyes suddenly open.) Uh...nobody else heard dat, right...?

(Delilah and I got cleaned up and eventually made it back to bed. I hear movement and stir awake. Man, that was a good long nap. I look over to Delilah and begin shaking her.) Hey, Del, it's morning finally.

(Delilah lets out a low growl and groggily sits up. She sits there with her eyes just barely open.)

Uh...Del? Are you awake...?

(Delilah slowly leans forward until she suddenly falls flat on her face off the front of the bed, she sits up.) AHH! Oh...oh... (She seems a bit embarrassed.) Um...morning, everyone...

(I can't help but chuckle a bit as I go to help her up.)

(The racket from Delilah falling out of bed startles Dinah awake; she bolts up and looks around in confusion for a bit before turning to look at Benji sasleep and in the form of Marjorie still.)

Um..Marjo-Benji...um...are you awake? (Dinah asks Benji.)

(Benji sits up and shifts through several sloppy-looking forms before coalescing into his default Swampert form.) Mornin', fellas! Ready ta get goin'?

(Dinah sees Lucy still asleep in her own bed and remembers that she and Benji still have to talk to her.)

(June has not yet woken up. She is laying on bed with one leg hanging off of it and unknowingly has an arm wrapped around Castaway like a teddy bear.)

A nearby inn

HEY YOU KNUCKLEHEADS, ARE WE GETTIN' GOIN' OR WHAT? (Cortez shouts at Maran and the others for the umpteenth time.)

(Rich grumbles and tries to shove Cortez away...without his gloves on.)

AHH! NO! WHY DON'T YA HAVE YOUR GLOVES ON, MATEY?! (Cortez cries.)

(That wakes everyone up. Rich looks up at Richardized!Cortez and at his ungloved claws.) Argh...me gloves slipped off...Sorry, Cortez.

(Sunny stretches and yawns.) Ooh...bonjour, mon amies...are we...um...are we ready to leave...? (She starts to trail off upon seeing the second Rich.)

I guess so, bzz. (Maran says.) We just need to find the Ditto with the boat again...which meanzzz we have to go back to the castle!

Well, let's hurry up! (Liesl says.) We need to eat, pack our things up, and Rich needs to put his gloves back on before he accidentally touches one of us again.

Way ahead of ye, lass... (Rich says, slipping his gloves on.)

Well, let's git a move on! This guy is itchin' t' head out! (The second Rich says, heading for the door.)

(Oh, hey... the others are waking up.) I look outside to see the rising sun until it hits me. (... Oh, shit, the others are waking up.) I didn't get a wink of sleep last night. The entire night, my brain would not shut up... All of those weird scenarios that popped up in my head... I even got hungry and ate all of my leftovers after reheating them. I sigh. (Today's already starting out dandy...)

The Barracks

(I felt awful when I woke up, not sick, but just not ready to get up just yet. I just wanted to sleep again so I can dream about her without that thing breathing down my neck. Yet, deep inside, I know it's always there. Deep in my mind, waiting to break free and using everything it has to get me to break. I haven't forgotten about the question either. When the Dartrix woke up, I asked him.) Hey, do you think we can meet in private?

The Hotel

(Outside of her room, Eliza walked down the hall for breakfast. She knows she can't spend forever here, not without her sisters free from his filthy claws, but she thinks she has some extra time to kill before they come and pick her up. She figured she could find help around this town, but she can't pick people at random.)

The Port

(A small ship approaches the port of Foxfell, its course slowing down to dock to an unoccupied section. The crew on the deck consisted of an aged Dragalge with a slightly younger Golduck at the wheel. The Golduck talked to the Dragalge in a rather jovial manner.) Looks like the dogs know how to roll a red carpet, eh 'Sene?

(The Dragalge replied, his voice equally matching his age.) It definitely looks clean, I'll give you that. Let's just hope she doesn't do anything stupid. (The ship weighs anchor near a large ship called the S.S. Endless)

Hey, don't be like that! She's not like the boss' kids.

And that's what concerns me the most. (The two aquatic Pokemon move to the port and walk towards the town. The Golduck attempted to say something but the Dragalge cut him off.) No, you're not gonna hit on her, Bruno.

Aw, you're no fun!

Just saying it ahead of time before either of you start getting ideas.

Eh, fair enough.

"... I don't see any reason why not", said Noriaki, getting out of his bed and making it quickly, "There is something you wish to speak with me about?"

Barracks

I'm puzzled.

Have another dream or something? Well regardless, good morning.

I say, leaning over and planting a small kiss to Marsha's cheek.

The Barracks

(I nod as I get out of my bed as well.) It's a little... personal. (I can't really say why I'm saying this to almost a perfect stranger, but I just feel like getting it out of my chest.) Should we talk here or move somewhere else?

James was wearing a tuxedo while on the phone. "Oh, thank you," he murmured. "Yeah, thanks a lot."

"Oh hai Castaway!" he greeted, putting the phone down when I walked in, also donning a tux. I was holding a football. "Nice tux, you look great!"

"You look really handsome," I remarked, at which James chuckled. "Your wedding picture’s gonna look great."

"Ah, thanks," he remarked.

The doorbell rang. I opened the door and in came Noriaki, also donning a tux. "Hey Nori! Come on in."

"Greetings," he said politely.

"Oh hey Nori," James greeted.

"You look good too," I complimented.

"Sit down," James invited him, gesturing to the couch. Nori did so.

The doorbell rang again. I opened it... and we all stood back and wowed with amazement. In came June, tux and all... with a new haircut.

"Hey guys!" she greeted. "Ya like it?"

”Yeah!" I said.

"It looks pleasant," added Nori.

"You look great! You look... illusionally beautiful," remarked James.

”You guys wanna play some football?" I suggested happily.

"In tuxedos?" asked Nori. "No. That suggestion sounds far too much like some kind of joke."

"June?"

"I’m up for it!"

"James?"

"Ask Nori."

"Come on, Nori!"

"No, I think not."

"Pleeeaaase?" I begged.

"No."

"Come on!" I continued.

"No."

It looked like Nori needed some convincing. We all did it together, arm movements and everything. "Cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep!"

And with that, we were soon running outside, cheering and whooping wildly. "Catch, James!" I tossed the ball to James, and he caught it. "Nice snag!" James threw it to Nori, who caught it. "Alright Nori!" Nori threw it back to me, and I threw it to June. "Here we go, June!" She threw it back to me impressively, at which we all cheered. "Catch, June!" I returned the favor by throwing it back.

June was about to throw it to Nori, who started to head in the direction June would throw it in.

"Go, go!" cheered June.

"Go deep!" I yelled. But then Nori tripped and fell over, looking kind of downbeat.

We ran over to him. "Gee Nori, you’re clumsy!" I told him, grinning.

He groaned. "That is the end of it. My football-playing session is over. Splendid idea, Castaway," he grunted as we all helped him up, before we walked off.

And then Nori disappeared from the plot, later to be replaced by some new character with all his lines.

———

I woke up from my dream. It was morning, and my first night as a Pokémon had passed. I felt that June had an arm wrapped around me. Her warm embrace was pleasant, and I smiled cutely.

Edited by TheCastawayPariah on Jul 4th 2018 at 6:16:20 PM

Barracks (Morning)

I dreamed dat da crazy chick was stealin' my ice cream...uh...heh, mornin', Marly... (Marsha says. She looks at the rest of us. Including Niles.) You fellas recovered?

I'm feeling pretty good right now. (I say.) And pretty hungry, too. (I guess the fact that I have a very empty stomach right now is helping with that.)

(I notice Delilah stealing a look inside our bed...I guess just in case. Fortunately, it's empty. She turns to Benji.) Well, I guess we need to get ready to go, right?

Yeahs, just as soon as everyone's awake and had breakfast, just sayin'! (Benji nods.)

(Dinah goes over and gently wakes Lucy. Lucy sleepily wakes up.) Lucy, wake up, you and Benji are leaving soon.

(Lucy yawns and sits up.) Already...?

Heh, we're not leavin' right this second! (Benji laughs.) We still hafta eat and pack up first, just sayin'.

Oh, okay... (Lucy nods, rubbing her eyes.) Where's Eliot and Lilly?

Lilly's still here. Eliot...you know what? I haven't seen him since we got done eating last night. (Dinah says.)

I'm sure he'll turn up and we'll see him before we leave! (Benji says.) C'mon, let's get ready, huh?

(Lucy climbs out of bed and sleepily joins the rest of us.)

Where do we go from here? (I ask.)

(June finally wakes up and stretches and yawns. She realizes she had her arm wrapped around Castaway and pulls it away with an embarrassed smile.) Heh heh...sorry about that... (She looks up, addressing both Castaway and Jack.) Well, g'mornin'! How are you guys?

"I suppose if it is that personal, we could find somewhere more private", said Noriaki.

”Hi June!” I was smiling sweetly and goofily. ”Pretty good, you?”

"... mffnnn..."

The Barracks

(I head outside the room and make my way out to the hallway. I moved a considerable distance away from the door and hoped no one was around to listen in. When Noriaki gets there, I clear my throat and asked him.) Have you ever fallen in love before?

Barracks

Hmm, long night, huh? (Marsha says to Niles.)

Haha, great! (June says to Castaway, grinning widely.) Man, I can't wait t' see what we do today...

I yawn. "… You could say that…" I mumble.

"...!"

Upon following Grigori, Noriaki is met with an unexpected question.

Oh, the weight that question bears in Noriaki's mind. The Dartrix calmly answered, "... Yes, I have. Why do you ask?"