ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

[Road to Holstwon]

"... Very well."

Noriaki offered a wing to Mila to help her walk.

Soten came along, also lending his strength if needed to anybody.

[Holstown]

Noriaki and the rest, battered from their encounter with L'Arachel, came in to view of those outside the inn.

[L'Arachel's Manor]

The fancy front doors of the manor swing open as L'Arachel flies in, announcing, "   My servants, I have returned.   "

Montresor was quick to come to the front.

"My lady! Are you unharmed?", he asked, sounding worried.

"   Spare me, Montresor, did you honestly think that vermin could possibly injure me?   ", she responded, brushing off her arms.

"N-No, my lady, I am simply concerned for your well being."

"   Hmhmhm... Too good to me as always   ", L'Arachel laughed out, "   I will admit I am a bit scratched up, but that is nothing that I cannot simply rest off by the end of the day.   "

Edited by Konkfan7 on Aug 7th 2018 at 9:37:47 AM

Dieter nods

"...Thanks. I've... got something else going on with the curse, but I wouldn't kill him. Or anyone. Just... I... I might have done something unkind, but I don't want to be alone again."

"...Yeah, I... yeah. I'll help with the investigation how I can. All I know is I didn't hear about this guy until Maran mentioned him, but I think Maran was there when we were eating."

Edited by CorvusAtrox on Aug 7th 2018 at 8:34:59 AM

Holstown

( Oh Dialga, oh Dialga! Not again!!) Oh my word! What happened this time?! ( I gasp. I see the others coming up not far behind. Oh no, so many of them are hurt!)

L'Arachump jumped us... ( Marsha says to me.)

( No...no...Dinah, stay calm, stay calm...!! Stay strong...stay strong...)

( I still find myself gripping my tail again, realizing that L'Arachel knows where and who we are now.) What do we need to do now? ( I ask.)

Blissparce (Inn)

(I find myself feeling sick to my stomach as I picture such a scene.) Ugh...not gonna get that mental image out of my head any time soon... (I groan.)

Hey, at least you didn't see it with your own eyes... (Mia says.)

Mis étoiles...he was killed zat brutally? (Sunny says.) Oh my...I certainly did not like him...I hated him, dare I say it, but I am uncertain that I would wish such a fate on even him...despite everything he did to me...oh me...

(Sunny sits there, a look on her face that seems to indicate conflicting emotions regarding this. Maran pats her on the back of her neck.)

What else did ye find out? Anythin'? (Rich asks, still keeping an eye on the discussion between Dieter and Taylor B.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Aug 7th 2018 at 9:35:18 AM

I follow Mont to the front, where L'Arachel seems to be returning.    "Oh, you left? I was too busy doing something, so I didn't notice… Where'd you go, anyways?"   

Autumn is just about to head off, as she sees the others approach.

"... Oh my goodness..."

She looks over everyone hurt, rushing to one, after the other, after the other, after the other...

"Is everyone okay?! How badly did they hurt you?! Why?!"

Somewhere

I carefully walk on over, evidently still pained.

She..just came out of nowhere..attacked all of us..like she knew what we did when we faced her henchmen yesterday. I’m fine, but, y’know, I’ve been getting fucked over during battles way too much now..

As for what we should do...

We need to rest, regroup, and figure out how we can end her reign of terror.

Blissparce

Not that I can think of...but...what we found doesn't exactly do anything for or against you, Maran. We want to think that the killer is someone that's not you, but I dunno at this point.

Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 8th 2018 at 8:30:47 AM

Holstown

(I looked at the group waiting for us at the inn, my eyes still showing sorrow behind my glasses. They all can do whatever they like for all I care, I just wanted to sleep. I entered the inn and headed straight for my room, ignoring all the looks I would have got from the wounds on my body.)

Holstown

Mila takes up the offered help, moving along as quickly as she can while not putting pressure on her right ankle. Once she reaches the town, hearing Autumn's voice reminds her of her obligations towards her and the rest of her family, immediately bringing her through a wringer of self-chastisement and concern. When she can see Autumn, she calls out to her, hoping she won't be upset.

"We went out to protect a city, but we were ambushed by L'arachel. Please, help the others, they're worse off than me."

Because running is what you're good at, Mila. Running from it all.

[Holstown]

"We were assaulted by L'Arachel", Noriaki explained to Autumn, "Judging by what she said, it seems that our actions today angered her and she came to give us a thrashing herself to alleviate some stress. She did not even seem worried at the thought of us beating her, she was that comfortable in her confidence of her power. And she was right..."

Noriaki put a wing over his abdominal wound and continued, "We hardly even fought her off, after Soten managed to get a clean hit on her she said the whole thing "was becoming more trouble than it's worth" and left like someone leaving a party..."

Soten speaks up, namely to Dinah and Marlon, "Well, first and foremost what we're gonna do is regroup here so you lot can heal up and get rested. OY, ANA!"

From inside the inn, a Comfey comes out. She looks sleepy.

"Ye- SWEET ARCEUS!", she exclaimed, seeming to fully wake up as she floated over to the group.

"You all sure need a lot of attention", she grumbled as she spun around and spawned growing vegetation in a circle around herself and the wounded, "Grassy Terrain! I know it's not as efficient, but I can't use Floral Healing so much in a short timespan, just show me who needs healing the most severely."

Ana looked over to Dana, "I'm guessing it's her."

The grassy terrain slowly but surely regenerates everyone in it. Not as well a Floral Healing, but good enough.

[L'Arachel's Manor]

"   Oh, I was simply blowing off some steam by paying Noriaki and his horrid new companions a visit so I could treat them to a good thrashing for their insolence   ", L'Arachel explained, looking at her nails(?), "   That girl you fought alongside him earlier was also there.   "

   (A girl… does she mean Dana?)    I quickly dismiss that thought and address her response as a whole.    "Oh, is that so? How well did they hold up? I hope they're all still alive. I wasn't done playing with them yet."   

Holstown (inn)

( Oh, thank goodness the Comfey was still here. I notice Marsha waving at Ana.) Thanks, pal. Yas are a life saver.

We should go inside once everyone is ready, yes. ( I agree. I'm still a bit shaken up by the fact that L'Arachel knows where to find us and will definitely beat us within an inch of our lives. I sit down, still gripping my tail, as everyone is healed up.)

Blissparce (Inn)

Sim... (Mia agrees with Tiff.) You seem like a nice guy, Maran. I'd kinda hate if it were you.

Thanks, bzzz...I would very much like to be able to put this behind us fast... (Maran says.)

Hear, hear... (I agree.)

"It's okay to fold them, guys. Start running away when you have to..." She looks the party over. "Who's most hurt?"

... Then to Soten and the Comfey.

"And who are you two?"

The Inn

The Grassy Terrain begins to take hold and I couldn’t be more relieved that...that I’m a Pokémon now, and there are actually ways to heal injuries far faster than medical science ever could back home-even though said science was advancing quite rapidly.

Them? The Armaldo is Soten, one of the mercenaries that’s been helping us...and the Comfey is the on-site nurse here...I think? Anyway, I’m ready to do some Rn R a bit.

I turn and start continuing on to the inn, wanting to rest, though wanting to stay in the Terrain for as long as I can.

Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 8th 2018 at 4:53:01 AM

Holstown

Dana's wounds stop bleeding at least, but she's still out cold.

Holstown

Mila decides to sit down and rest her feet in the grassy terrain, enjoying the aid its providing to her sprain. Still, her mind is clouded with thoughts, worries edging out fears edging out a sense of usefulness edging out worry, and so on for what feels like forever. In her daze, however, she mumbles to nobody in particular, though likely of interest to some:

"We couldn't find Niles, she said he wanted to be away from us."

Holstown, Outside the Inn

[I gently lay down Dana, jostling her a little to see if she's finally conscious.] "Eliot." [Woodruff walks over, examining Dana.] "Let her rest...she needs it."

"...alright." [I stand up, finally back on my own two feet and feeling my own minor injuries healing in the Grassy Terrain.]

[I put my hands on my head, let out a long deep sigh...] "...I...I, I can't believe it...she just...totally outclassed us. And we had a hard enough time fightin' Hector, and then she shows up, with fucking...whip-swords, and I couldn't even get a hit in before I had to get Dana outta there, and she didn't even move and she got slashed right there 'cross the s, stomach, cuz, cuz—" "Whoa, whoa..." [Woodruff puts his hands on my shoulders...I'm hyperventilating, I realize that now.]

"Just...take it easy, man...we'll figure somethin' out." Wishful thinking on Woodruff's part: it would be a wonder if they all got out of this alive. But Eliot needs a brave face now.

It doesn't seem to register...the not-Smeargle continues to stare out, a hollow look in his eye. "...will we?" Woodruff can't answer...he just continues to silently console Eliot, the not-Smeargle's dread slowly coming over him as well...

Blissparce, At the Inn

"Wellllll," Taylor A admits sheepishly, "there's not really a whole lot else we can go off of." She thinks for a moment...if it wasn't this Maran fellow or Sunny, then maybe it was someone else Harvey knew, someone else Harvey was with. ...maybe...

"WAIT!" Light-bulb! "Ooooooh, I know what we can go off of!"

Taylor B catches Dieter's comment about "doing something unkind", but for now, he chooses to ignore it, or at least follow up on it later when they're all not busy with this. He directs them back to the others, just in time to hear Amaranth's outburst.

[Holstown]

Ana approaches Dana and charges up flower-shaped bursts of energy that she sends in to her, greatly healing her wounds and speeding up her recovery processes.

"That should be good", said Ana, "I'd suggest you take her in and let her rest for a bit. The rest of you all should go in too, your wounds should be more or less scratches by now, and whatever's left shouldn't be too much for some berries."

"Ana, you're a lifesaver", said Soten before looking to Finley, "Ah, the name's Soten. I'm a mercenary from around these parts. Your pals here were takin' care of someone me and my comrades had a bit of a grudge match with, so we tagged along. Figured I might as well stay to help with what's coming next, too."

Noriaki followed the others heading for the inn as well.

[L'Arachel's Manner]

"   Oh, it was a fun little activity for me to let off some steam, but it began being more trouble than it's worth and I decided to take my leave   ", L'Arachel explained, "   They seem to be still alive for the most part, but I get the feeling they have learned to fear me, at least more than before. Oh but that Vulpix girl... It seems I may have hit her too hard. I would not be surprised if you never had to deal with her again after today.   "

L'Arachel laughed. Montresor's face had a hint of... Subtle admiration?

"Absolutely stunning..."

There's a sharp twinge somewhere in my chest. My almost constant smirk falters a little. I scramble to recompose myself, hiding any effect her response had on me.    "What, are you saying you killed her or something?"   

Holstown (Inn)

I wouldn't stand a chance against her if I faced her all by myself... ( I remark.) How do we stand a chance against her if she's evenly matched with all of you at once? ( I ask.)

( I begin to head into the inn. Marsha inspects Marlon for a moment before getting up and preparing to do so herself.)

Blissparce (Inn)

What? What is it? (I ask.)

Yeah, I wanna know. (Mia adds.)

Main Group [inn]

How?

I think about that. Here, we got basically manhandled by L’Arachel, and we were a nearly 10-man squadron going up against one Vespiquen. I move indoors, waiting for Dinah and Marsha (and others who definitely would want to listen.)

We would have to break her down in battle, bit by bit, until we can just finish her off with one last shot...or we should all start learning Rock-Type moves, given how she’s part Bug and Flying type.

As soon as I make it a bit indoors, though, I ask another question.

Does this place got a shower?

Blissparce

Tiff looks on confusedly.

Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 8th 2018 at 8:47:13 AM

Autumn stops, staring at Mila.

"... What was that?"

Clearly, she misheard. Niles is a strong boy, he doesn't fold so easily, right?

Good lord, if she heard right, she doesn't care what that lady has, she's dead as hell.

Holstown

Dana stirs, and her chest rises and falls. So hey, at least she's alive. She still doesn't wake, though.

Returning to Holstown

After a long trip in which he failed to catch up with the group at least partly due to my missing chances at a good time to have him meet them again, Lane finally glides down to land in front of the inn...near those that are outside it. (FINALLY I found someone! Finally...didn't see anyone on the road that whole way, was hoping I'd catch up to them, guess they headed back too soon for that...) He has plenty of time as he approaches to wonder, (Wait, why are people outside there anyway...some of them look...was there ANOTHER fight? Seriously!? Is this, is this normal, with them getting into situations like that so often?)

He then lands and slides to a stop near those still outside the inn.

Okay, on the one hand, good to find someone I know...on the other...what even happened?

Holstown

"She... she said that he'd left because we— I— some of us— I don't know, probably me, I hurt him. She told me that he wanted to go with her... whether she's lying or not, we couldn't find him. I'm sorry, Autumn."

Mila stammers through her explanation, clearly not happy going back through the day's events, especially given her failure to do the one thing she'd set out for. Not being able to fight was one thing, but getting nowhere with finding Niles hurt on a different level, one she could only hope wouldn't alienate Autumn as well.

Holstown, Moving Inn

"M, Marlon," [I stammer out,] "I, I don't know if type advantage's gonna help us too much..."

"It may be worth a shot." Woodruff shrugs. [Looking back over, I walk over and pick Dana back up, then carry her inside...I can hear Woodruff following in close behind me.]

"Hey, anyone know where Dana's room is?"

Blissparce, At the Inn

"One of the murders in the past week was one of Harvey's old girlfriends! Well, one of the stabby murders, not the choppy one that Harvey got, but yea, I remember that now!"

Taylor B's eyes light up...it's not the most solid of leads, but it is something. The Hitmonlee turns to the Dos Santos siblings. "D-did Harvey ever...try to...a-accost your sister?"