ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

Holstown, Inigo's Inn

"Out from Silversand? I'm actually from there myself...small world, huh? Who was it who..."

Woodruff's protective instincts start flaring up once he hears Grigori beating himself up. "Well," he says to reassure the Decidueye, "it ain't a bad plan on its own, it's more that...it ain't all that good here."

Holstown, Bathhouse

[I continue to wash myself off in the bath, feeling truly clean for the first time in ages. Frankly, I don't know why I didn't use the bathing facilities back at the castle, or even here last night...I should try to find these every night, I can't imagine how bad I've smelled all this time.]

[...this feels kinda weird. I guess I'm kinda used to having fur around 99% of the time at this point, so washing my currently smooth skin is pretty surreal, even if it's less fleshy and more rigid than what it would be back when I was human. I sit back down in the bath, simply sitting in the steaming water...I let my head fall back, resting itself on the wet stone as I take in a deep breath of the steam...]

Blissparce, At the Inn

"Alrighty then!" Taylor A excitedly points her finger into the air, spinning around on a single leg while extending her other leg for a future stride. "Let's go!" With that, Taylor A leads the charge towards the police station. Taylor B, meanwhile, sticks being Dieter, facing forward though occasionally glancing over at them.

Edited by BlackMageAnolis on Aug 14th 2018 at 1:20:48 PM

"Uh it was some Aggron guy. Travis I think? As for affording it well I did some blasting jobs for a mining company. In an economy backed by a gold standard you can get stacks quickly if you're willing to blow yourself up a bunch of times."

Holstown (Inn)

Isn't dat da guy Deets met in Slak Rock? (Marsha comments.) Reckon he moved ta Silvasand afta da situation dair got worse.

( I really can't confirm this.) I guess...?

Blissparce

Well, vamos, everybody! (Mia says, heading out after the Taylors.)

Well...hope we get some answers. (I say as we get up and prepare to follow the Taylors and the siblings.)

You 'n me both, matey... (Rich agrees.)

(We head out and towards the station.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Aug 15th 2018 at 10:21:30 AM

Inn

Kevin comments.

Yeah..I know him, him and I are actually pretty good friends. He opened another shop up pretty close to my dad’s home.

—————————

Woodruff is right, Grigs, that’s still not an inherently bad idea but it’s far from a good one. Know what I say? Why not go with Soten’s idea, isolate one of her associates and tail them...though we’re gonna need to find some way to keep our movements concealed...trying to fight the isolated member and restrain them could also work, but that’d take more out of us.

Blissparce

Tiff follows.

[Inigo's Inn]

"I mean, all things considered, it's not exactly a bad plan, generally speaking", said Nephenee, "But it just doesn't work for our current situation and isn't worth the risk."

Soten scratched the back of his head and added, "Besides, the way you lot are lookin' right now, I think it's in ya best interest to just take it easy for a while. Yeah, I know it's hard to "take it easy" given the situation, but what I mean is the best idea for right here, right now is to rest up and prepare yourselves."

[L'Arachel's Manor, Halls]

"Anytime, my comrade", said Montresor, "Just know that you serve a goddess made flesh, and she will be out ascension to greatness and Paradise."

Montresor left the halls to rejoin his liege in the foyer.

[Foyer]

"Ah, there you are Montresor", said Notte, "There was an intruder."

"What...? Who could..."

"T'was Anastasia, the same one from the swarm's report", the Bisharp explained, adjusting his jacket's cuffs, "Despite her condescending attitude, mockery, and childish demeanor, she did give a fair warning to our liege that the group we are going against is no laughing matter, as they are the same one that felled her not too long ago."

Montresor furrowed his brow as he took in the information, saying, "For anyone to disrespect our liege like that... Disgraceful. Today has simply been nothing but stress for her, it would seem. Still, the warning is rather disheartening..."

"At the very least, Lady L'Arachel seems to have calmed down compared to earlier, and she seems intent on taking this ragtag group more seriously. She has made mention of the miasma essentially being close to completion, adding more non-swarm fighters to our ranks, and making use of the artifacts we have earned from pillage and tribute."

"Oho...", Montresor laughed, his eye's widening a bit at the last note, "Perhaps that ominous crown may finally see some use... Although a proper wielder is much harder found... I know I certainly would not want to be the one in charge of it."

L'Arachel has already left he foyer, going deeper in to the manor on her lonesome. Well, the Combee are all still around, actually.

Zelgius is just outside on the balcony upstairs.

Edited by Konkfan7 on Aug 15th 2018 at 3:16:41 PM

Holstown, Inn

"Woah.. Some heavy stuff happened while I was out, huh?" Jinu awkwardly pipes up. "I'm a little confused so I think I'll just ask later.. In the meantime, where's Dana?"

Holstown

Think Sparky took her to her inn room. (Marsha tells Jinu.) Hope she's doin' okay.

( I certainly know I'm going to be needing to rest up, especially since I never ended up taking my nap earlier.) That sounds like a good idea, Soten. ( I say.)

After Montresor left, I started mumbling, trying to reassure myself. "That's right… she's the one that left us first… why should I care about what happens to her?" I begin to wander around the manor, maybe get familiar with the area as a whole. (Montresor and Notte are talking over there, that guy… Zelgius, I think… is standing out there…) After thinking a bit, I go out to talk to Zelgius. "… Hey."

Holstown, Inn

"Wait, you hope? Did somethin' happen?"

Holstown

Well, she got all beat up when L'Arachump jumped us as we were comin' back heres. (Marsha explains to Jinu.) She's doin' a bit betta now dat she's been healed up a bit, but I reckon she's still asleep.

Holstown Inn

Yeah, I should've known better. I'll stick to waiting them out. (And I fucked up in front of her... again. Maybe I really shouldn't get my hopes up about her. But I'll be damned if I didn't try. Maybe tomorrow I can try again, but if she doesn't want me, at least I let her know. In regards to the Armaldo, I responded.) Don’t look like there’s many options here. (He’s right. I shouldn’t push my luck any further than I already did.)

(Eliza nodded along with the Furret and the Gallade. There’s a time where infiltration like this is appropriate and when it isn’t and it clearly looks like the latter. She hoped that the owl will know better next time. She spoke to the group before she made her way back to her room.) If anyone needs me, just let me know.

Holstown, Inn

Jinu's face becomes wracked with worry.

"Oh no.. I..!"

Without so much of a word more, Jinu runs off towards Dana's room.

[Inigo's Inn]

"Yeah, we should be headin' in to rest for now too. I know it's a bit early, stay up and chat or whatever if ya feel the need to, just make sure you rest up", said Soten, still scratching the back of his head before turning around and heading for his room, Nephenee following.

Noriaki nods and says, "I would like to take a bath, but I suppose I could head back to my room for now as well."

[L'Arachel's Manor]

The Aerodactyl turns around and sees Nyquil.

"Oh, heya... Niles was it?", said Zelgius, "I was just thinking to myself here. Sorry for never introducing myself, I know you just recently joined us. I'm Zelgius, if you don't remember."

Edited by Konkfan7 on Aug 15th 2018 at 4:58:35 AM

(Oh, good, I did remember his name right. However, I oughta make it easier to remember anyways.) "Yeah. Hey, so..." I quickly come up with a shortened name. "Zel... what's your reason for joining L'Arachel? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

Holstown, Inigo's Inn

Woodruff looks worried as Jinu rushes off...he just hopes nothing else has happened with Dana. She should be all well and good, or as well and good as she can be right now, but...the thought of something having gone wrong, any complications...he doesn't want to think about it.

Somewhat heeding Soten's advice, he decides to "take it easy", making his way over towards Philly to examine the contraption he's seated in. "That's quite somethin'...I haven't seen this Travis a whole lot, but I think I know who you two are talkin' about." He then looks at Philly himself. "So ya worked in the mines? Had a couple friends whose fathers worked in the mines..."

Holstown, Inn Bathhouse

[I continue to lay there and relax...I can't say I've felt this relaxed since we've got here, in this world in general, or even before then. Even with all the bullshit surrounding this, I finally feel a sense of restfulness, a sense of peace...this overbearing tranquility that sinks into me...less...solid...like I'm a part of the water, or another kind of fluid nestled within it...]

[...I find myself at an intersection...not a splintering or a fracturing, but a crossing, a converging of many different roads...I have come down a road wider than most the others, all except one right in front of me which is even wider. I move towards this larger road, curious as to what it may hold...]

[...something stirs me awake, out of whatever delta state I was in. I pull myself up, stretch my arms...wait, my arms, they're...furry again. I look down...I'm a Smeargle again...and I don't feel tired or winded, in fact, I feel good as new. Standing up, I spin around, my tail trailing along...hot damn, this is...this is awesome. I really need to do this more often...and well...also to clean myself to, that's necessary.]

Holstown

( I notice Jinu run off. I certainly hope Dana is alright as well. She's been through too much today alone...)

I think I may head to my room myself. ( I inform everyone.)

Well, if we don't see yas again tonight, night, Bookworm. ( Marsha says.)

( I nod and begin to head that way.)

Inn

Now..

As I watch Dinah and some others begin to heed the words of Soten, I turn to Marsha and anyone else in the room (perhaps Noriaki.)

Do you see me as a hero?

Kevin moves over to sit with Woodruff and Phil, examining the metal ball as well.

Yeah, steel worker guy...his apprentice apparently got turned into the copy of a Tyranitar once. Freaky stuff, huh, Mr. Woodruff?

Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 15th 2018 at 7:34:54 AM

Holstown, Inn

Jinu bursts into Dana's room to find Dana awake, and sitting up. Jinu awkwardly closes the door softly behind her with a mumbled apology, but Dana doesn't seem to register her presence.

"Hey, uh.. Sorry for barging in like that. How you feeling?"

As Jinu approaches, the words feel sour in her mouth. Dana's wounds have closed, but her fur is caked with dried blood and her gaze is empty. She stares at the opposite wall, still not acknowledging Jinu.

Gah, stupid me. Of course she's not feeling well... Jinu reaches out a hand. "Hey-"

Dana jolts to attention as Jinu's hand reaches her shoulder. "Oh, hey Jinu... I'm feeling fine. Don't worry."

"Are you sure? You-"

"I said I'm fine."

Jinu flinches. Not because Dana was especially loud, but because of just how.. Empty her voice was. Dana looks down, and only now seems to notice that she's covered in blood.

"Oh yeah, I was... I'm gonna go take a bath..." She gingerly gets off the bed and starts making her way towards the door.

"Hey, don't push yourself!"

"I'll be fine, it doesn't hurt that much anymore..."

Holstown Bath

Dana steps into the room, and climbs into the bath.

"Oh, hey Eliot.."

"Probably never met him, I worked in gold and other precious metals."

"But yeah this thing is was a collaborative effort between him and I. Really had to get the weight ratio perfect. Also the gyroscope effect was hard to engineer."

[Inigo's Inn]

"A hero...?", Noriaki thought deeply on what Marlon asked, especially reminiscent on the word "hero" and what it means to him, "... I suppose in some regards, yes. You at the very least try to be and have the spirit for it, so that in my eyes is at least the making of a decent or rising hero. Why do you ask?"

[L'Arachel's Manor]

"My reason? Heh, well, understandable you'd be curious about that. You could probably tell right away I'm not the same as those butlers or any of these Combee buzzing all over the place...", said Zelgius, chuckling a bit in a friendly manner, "Well, see... I was a soldier fighting in a war far from this here land. ever heard of Peace Island? Let me tell you: I don't know how this place was before, but as it is now, it sure as hell isn't what I'd name "Peace Island". A kingdom of forests and Grass, a kingdom of marshlands and Water, and a kingdom of volcanoes, born from the earth and forged in it's Fire and Steel. Of course the mountain border separating these three had some Rock-type civilizations in it. We didn't really have any sort of established leaders or generally agreed views on politics, we mostly did our own thing, overglorified mercenaries at best."

Zelgius looks out to the sky, admiring it somewhat before continuing, "That kingdom of the earth and it's fire and steel, Kriemhild... They got some kind of vendetta against everyone else. Apparently the very presence of the other two kingdoms is an insult on to their land or something... But I've heard that's all hogwash and they just think anyone that isn't them is inferior. The kingdom down by the marshlands and seaside are all buddy-buddy with the one in the forest, so it's more of a two-sided conflict. Of course, my people at the borders got recruited on all sides. I don't even remember who I was fighting for, just that some of my buddies got slaughtered and I got utterly beaten on the battlefield one day. Honestly, I thought I was dead, but somehow I ended up washing ashore near this very manor. And L'Arachel just happened to be outside taking in the view of the night sky."

Zelgius can't help but grin as he describes his luck.

"That lady... I was suspicious of her at first, because you know, total stranger, but damn! She immediately offered to give me housing and medical attention, and on top of that she sent out that Noctowl boy to go bring me this Aerodactylite as a gift to earn my trust. Lemme tell you, the gesture alone was enough for me", the Aerodactyl explained, "Also... Yeah, I gotta admit, that L'Arachel lady has more than enough charisma on top of that pretty face of hers that it's hard not to just go ahead and follow her. And well... After how much of a failure I was back at Peace Island as a soldier in that war, especially to my comrades... Nowhere else to go, right?"

"I see… I suppose it'd just be fair enough that I told you what my deal was." (Second time today, but whatever…) "I was travelling around with a bunch of people. We did a whole bunch of crap together… get into a lot of fights, run into all sorts of trouble, generally just stumbling around, wondering if we can go a day without things going wrong… The answer was 'no,' by the way… I got pretty close with a few of them. Had a crush on one, considered two others my family… But after a while… I started feeling more and more out of place. The girl I liked left us, my so-called 'family members' only cared about each other, and I realized that aside from the ones I mentioned… I didn't really talk to the rest of them. For the most part, they ignored me. To top it all off, some things happened that severely weakened me. I couldn't help the group in fights anymore. I felt like I wasn't good for anything… then I met L'Arachel. She welcomed me just like that and gave me the power I needed to feel… satisfied." Recollecting why I'm here gave me a sense of relief. I crack a smile. (I understand now.) "I still am. Satisfied, I mean. Well, I started to doubt myself when I found out that girl might've been killed, but now? It's like a weight's been lifted off me… Heh. Besides, I know she's tougher than that. I doubt she kicked the bucket already." I look up at the night sky, feeling as if things aren't as bad as I first thought.

Holstown

Yeahs, Mar, I'm legit curious. (Marsha agrees.)

( I reach my room, shed my blouse, and climb back into bed. I'm am absolutely unsure of what tomorrow may bring given all that has happened today...but I can only hope that no one gets seriously injured...or worse...)

( Oh, really, like that will happen. Why do I believe that tomorrow will go anything like that? I should have stopped always believing that anything would after I became an orphan and wandered around for years until I was lead to Agartha by...)

( ...that Haunter...my word, I knew I recognized that Haunter's voice from somewhere. Could she really have been...? And she's long gone now, too. The memories come flowing back...)

??? (Years Ago)

(An abandoned Sandile, only about five years old, with a small, tattered, purple bandanna around her neck wanders through a barren swamp on Denalsi. Having been alone for days after leaving the two friends she had made and stowing away on a merchant's ship, she is sadly roaming this island looking for something to eat. However, she hasn't found anything yet. Fearing that she may starve to death, she wanders into a hollow log and curls up in it. She cries.) (sniff) Mama...mama...

(Dinah sits there in tears for several minutes before something suddenly knocks on the top of the log. Dinah looks up to see that a leaf with a pile of fresh-looking Berries sitting on top of it is sitting just outside the log. Dinah almost runs out to scarf them down...only to freeze, fearing that this might be a trap set by a Pokémon intending to eat her the minute she steps out of the log. She sits there whimpering.)

C'mon, dumplin'. I won't hurt ya. Are ya lost? (A voice says to her.)

No! I don't wanna come out! You'll eat me! (Dinah cries.)

Eatcha? (The voice laughs.) Oh, sugar, I would never even think of it. Come out and eat these Berries, and I'll take ya somewhere nice. How about that?

No! (Dinah says, backing away into the log further.)

Maybe it'd help if ya saw me? (Dinah sees a light purple Meganium peer into the log. The flower around her neck looks shriveled up, her eyes are black with white irises, and a worn-looking red hat sits on her head. The shriveled up flower confuses Dinah, but nevertheless, she cautiously inches out of the log, ready to dig away just in case.)

Well, sugar? Why dontcha eat somethin'? (The Meganium says to Dinah.) Once yer done, I'll take ya to that place I was talkin' about.

(Dinah begins hungrily scarfing down the Berries. It doesn't take long for her to be done. Feeling her strength returning, Dinah looks up at the Meganium.) What is the place?

I'm goin' t' take ya to a place called Agartha. (The Meganium says.) There, I'll see if we can't find ya some help. Just climb on my back and we'll head there.

(The Meganium turns to let Dinah climb onto her back. Dinah hesitantly crawls onto the Meganium's back, and away they go.)

(A couple of hours later, they are drawing close to the entrance to Agartha.) Hang in there, sugar, we're almost there...

What's gonna happen when we get there? (Dinah asks.)

We'll find someone who can look after ya. (The Meganium says.) 'Nless you want me t' look after ya.

Um-

(Suddenly, a group of Pokémon dressed in black clothes, one a Kadabra, one a Lucario, one a Torracat, and the last one an Arbok, who appear to be in their late teenage years jump out of the bushes in front of Dinah and the Meganium.)

Okay, mate, yeh have twenty seconds t' hand over your valuables, and we'll let ya go without hurtin' you or the kid. (The Kadabra says, threateningly aiming his palms in the two's direction. He seems visibly confused at how strange this Meganium looks.)

Sugar, I have no valuables, and I'm tryin' t' get this orphan Sandile somewhere safe. Let us pass. (The Meganium says. Dinah tries to hide behind the dinosaur-mon's neck.)

Hmm...lemme rephrase that. (The Kadabra suddenly grabs Dinah off the Meganium's back. Dinah immediately begins struggling and screaming in fright.) Give us your valuables and we won't hurt this squallin' child.

(Suddenly, before Dinah's eyes, the form of the Meganium dissolves. The red hat falls to the ground, revealing a pair of ghostly spectral hands. The form stabilizes into a horrific face that looks as though it came from the depths of Hell, hands raised, and lets out an unearthly screech at the bandits.)

(The four bandits scream bloody murder and run for their lives, leaving Dinah behind. Dinah looks up to see the horrifying monster shrink back down to her true form of a Shiny Haunter. Dinah is terrified that this Meganium she thought was her friend was a horrifying monster.)

(The Haunter sees the terror in Dinah's eyes.) Dumplin', I-

(But Dinah screams in terror and runs as fast as she can away from the Haunter into Agartha, never looking back, where she would eventually be taken in by one of the Agarthian librarians...)

Present

( ...If I had never met that Haunter, I never would have made it to this point in the first place. I'd never have met Benji or Lucy...instead I...I am almost positive I would have died as a five or six-year-old Sandile in the woods...I wonder if we'll ever see that Haunter and her Sableye confidant again? Of course, that's assuming that I escape this current situation alive or not transformed into a Combee slave...)

( I simply lay there on my bed, staring at the ceiling and deep in thought about this.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Aug 16th 2018 at 8:33:39 AM

Inn

Well, where do I begin..

Recently it seems that that very attribute of me has been really beginning to bite me on the ass, and then when I went to the bathhouse earlier I saw something.

I take a deep breath and start recalling what I saw.

A voice in my head started questioning if I really should go on with being the hero in face of everything that I've had to deal with in battle recently. You know, how I've been been getting beaten around and making pretty rash decisions...like the one that caused my stone to break. I would like to hope that eventually I can settle down and still have a body that hasn't been down to submission.

I sigh, ending the brief tangent and getting to the point.

Anyway...I then saw the mirror bend from my reflection to that of another Swampert-one that I've seen crop up in my dreams recently-and all the reflection said was...It can be a fresh start for every aspect of you. He faded away immediately. What I'm trying to say in the end is...

What do I do?

Holstown, Inn Bathhouse

"Oh, hey! Dana!" [I sit back down, still reeling with excitement.] "Okay, so, just now, or, I mean, like, you know how I always get tired after I Transform, right? Like, I gotta get food in me, or have some rest, or something like that, well, just now, like, I was, totally relaxed, and I just, slipped into this, I just relaxed myself back to a Smeargle, like, I felt nothin', like whoof! And, uhh, and...and..."

[...lord, what am I doing, she's hurt. I put my hands back in the water] "Are...are...are y'feeling better? I, I mean, you got some rest, so, uhh..." [I just kinda slump a little, stare into the water...]

Holstown, Inigo's Inn

Woodruff looks confusedly at Kevin. "Wait, what?" He racks his brain for what the culprit would be. "Wait, is this more...magic stuff, is he okay?" He's leaning over towards Kevin, clearly a little worried, especially with all this surrounding him.

Holstown, Inn

"Hm? Oh, that's great!..." Dana smiles, but it's very clear that her heart's not in it. She eases herself into the water with a deep sigh. The blood in her fur begins to dissolve in the water.

"Yeah, anything that makes your life easier is... Yeah, I'm feeling better. The wounds closed, at least."