Holstown (Inn)

Dunno. Sounded Electric though. Think it mighta been Squeaky? (Marsha asks Marlon and Eliot. She heads out as well.)

---

(I leave the inn just in time to see the results of Mila's attack. I feel myself growing uncomfortable, mostly because it reminds me of everything that happened last night. I try not to show it, however. (But I realize too late that I have begun nervously gripping my tail again.))

(It's then that I hear Marlon ask what's going on. I turn to see he and Marsha arriving.) Oh...Mila is practicing using the move she used l-last night... (I explain.)

Dang, dat was Squeaky? (Marsha definitely seems surprised. I feel she and Marlon probably wouldn't if they knew the full extent of what happened last night...)

---

---

Gleamscape

Alright. (Liesl says.) Welcome to our group. As I said before, we'll rejoin the rest of the cursed Pokémon soon.

'Til then, ya get t' hang out with us! (June says.)

(Delilah pulls her swimsuit back on and says nothing else yet.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Sep 9th 2018 at 9:55:47 AM

"Lucian, don’t be afraid, we’ll make it through this."

Holstown, Inigo's Inn

[I jump a little when I hear a shock of lightning strike outside. What the hell was...oh, that was Mila?]

[...that reminds me...I really need to get back to my normal form...I don't know what would've happened if I got struck by one of her errant bolts last night. I move out of Marlon and Marsha's room with them, then diverge at the entrance to the hallway, heading down towards the bathhouse...]

---

Woodruff jumps a little upon Mila striking the dummy.

"...oh." Right, they would need to fight these guys if they wanted to get, well, everyone (and everything) back...he goes a little pale at the thought, shuffling over towards Achilles. He wonders if he could mostly just stick to the sidelines as before, but what if he get thrown into the fray anyway? He's prepared enough, he supposes, but that doesn't mean he's automatically up to fight...

To everyone else, Woodruff is just silently fretting to himself behind Achilles.

---

Blissparce, Mortician's Office

The group approaches a taller building that looks nothing like the architecture of the rest of Blissparce. The bricking's a dark gray, tall spires on each corner of the structure, an arched portico held up with columns over the similarly tall doorway. The view through the windows is blocked by blood-red curtains, and the windows themselves are made of a darker stone. Everything looks immaculate...there's no mold on the bricks, the greenery, all a deep, dark shade of green to match the gloominess of the locale, doesn't grow much at all outside its allotted space.

Taylor B beckons the group to a smaller house to the right of it. "R-right by th-that big old h-house..."

Training Ground

(As I left the inn with that old sea horse, a thundering sound shakes the air. When we found where the sound came from, there stood a Raichu with a nearly-disintegrated dummy nearby. I guess that proves the "adrenaline rush" idea wrong.)

(Arsene can't say for certain what this scene means, but he knows who caused it. That mouse has potential, he thought, but she looks too nervous. Still, she just needs a little push in the right direction.)

---

Holstown Inn

(As she was thinking, a loud burst of thunder roared throughout the building. If that won't wake a mon up, what will, she thought. Oh well, if something like that happens again, I'll take a look. She waited for her breakfast while she schemed.)

"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, Mythra

Holstown Inn

That came from her? I didn't-couldn't ever really think that would have come from her..

I emerge outside (now realizing that Eliot split back off to probably change form again) and then ask anyone a question since...yeah, I missed the plan of action discussed.

So..what are we going to do today after this?

---

Kevin heads over toward Woodruff.

You okay, man?

Blissparce

Well...guess we can only keep going from here, eh?

Gleamscape

Melani follows the group.

Edited by Team42Larson on Sep 9th 2018 at 10:02:54 AM

Tell....everyone....

Holstown Inn, Outside

Mila

It takes Mila nearly a minute to find words to put to the maelstrom of thoughts that are ripping through her mind, screaming at her for her incompetence and refusal to accept her responsibility and power, tearing down her defenses, her claims that she'd been helpless. Even then, she can barely speak loud enough for others to hear, though her actions make the sentiment obvious as she darts off into the nearby forest just seconds after she mutters something out.

"I'm so sorry, I should have done more, I shouldn't have pretended to be helpless..."

Mila can't quite be sure why she's running just yet, but she knows that she has to run, she has to keep herself away from the others. She'd done so much to harm them, to deceive them and pretend like she needed their help when it was now suddenly clear that she was a liability. She had the power to hurt things bad, and she'd already lost control over it last night. Why would any of them even want her around any more? At least the forest would keep her hidden away for now, as she continues deeper into the woods, looking for somewhere to hide away with her thoughts.

Maybe that's why Autumn left, she couldn't bear to be around me any more. Of course she couldn't, if this is what I can do and I can't even control it. I never even tried to control it. I'm worthless— no, I'm dangerous. It would have been fine if I couldn't do anything, but it's clear that I can do one thing too well: hurt people.

Autumn

Autumn can only barely see what's going on from her position away from the inn, but when she catches sight of Mila she can see the Raichu immediately break out into a run into the forest. She can't tell what was said, but she gets a knot in her gut as she guesses that it might have been caused by her appearance. Was Mila trying to practice in secret? Had she been the cause for this? Had she always been trying to hide this from her for the sake of their relationship? It was enough to make Autumn want to puke, but her intestinal strength maintains itself for now as she tries to get back over to the others and learn about what just happened.

I need to update these things more often

[Holstown]

"We are going to go and see Nephenee over by where Soten was buried", Noriaki explained to Marlon before looking over to where Mila ran, "Mila, wait-"

Achilles said and said, "I'll go and try to get her. You all just go ahead and see how Neph is. I was close to Soten too, but I'll have time to pay my respects. I'll stay here with Mila and be sure she's safe."

Noriaki nodded, before looking to Autumn.

Reading her face well, Noriaki explained, "Mila had no memory of what she had done last night and did not believe our account. She just unleashed a similar power on a training dummy and realized that we were not lying."

---

[L'Arachel's Manor]

"... Very well", said Notte, approaching, "Try and guide my strikes away from you, then."

The Bisharp did periodic strikes towards the Quilava, putting a respectful amount of force in to them but timing them well enough to allow simple parries.

Holstown

Dana watches Mila go, but finds herself unable to follow. She wanted to help, but.. Was there any guarantee she wouldn't make things worse? She'd tried to help last night but they all knew how that ended..

Jyut, meanwhile, has no such qualms and goes after the Raichu. Being a Zoroark she's pretty speedy, so she might actually catch up if Mila doesn't try to evade her. Sure she was only marginally part of the group, but that didn't mean she had to ignore when someone was upset.

Edited by Daydre on Sep 9th 2018 at 11:17:45 AM

off the shits

   (Here it comes.)    Taking a deep breath, Nyquil steps towards Notte and begins deflecting his attacks. His movements start off a little sloppy, some of Notte's blows even landing on him, but gradually begin becoming faster and more precise. However, he doesn't get out of it unscathed and is on the receiving end of a couple nicks and light bruises.

If I don't clash, I don't change. The world ends at my borders, and the best moments slip away.

Holstown (Inn)

(W-What?) W-Wait, Mila! Where are you going? Come back! (I call after Mila, but it doesn't look like she heard me. I feel the urge to run after her myself, but nevertheless, I silently nod at Achilles and prepare to move on to where Nephenee is.)

Uh, dang...apparently Squeaky wasn't real pleased about dat or somethin'... (I hear Marsha say. She looks over to Marlon at the mention of Soten.)

---

---

Blissparce

(Oh good, to be honest I'm a bit thankful that that big creepy building wasn't where we were going.) O-Oh, okay. (I say, sheepishly chuckling as I walk that way.)

Don't sweat it, Goobert, lots of visitors are surprised when they see this building, too. Been here ages... (I hear Mia whisper to me.)

Gotcha... (I say, nodding.)

(We get up to the house. I swallow nervously and pull on my antennae, knowing that I'm probably going to have to look at the dead body.)

If yeh jest wanna be me for this again, matey, just say th' word. (Rich says to me. He must have seen how nervous I am. But I honestly have no desire to be a second Rich again.)

Nah, I'm just going to grin and bear it at this point. Thanks anyway. (I tell Rich.)

Arright. (Rich nods.)

"Lucian, don’t be afraid, we’ll make it through this."

Old Warmth

Blik Hiney arrives at the restaurant, which is run completely by Spinda. The strong smell of syrup drifts through the air. Mounted above the entrance is a sign depicting a Spinda holding a plate of pancakes and pouring syrup on it, with the word below it reading "Old Warmth: Begin Your Day With A Smile!".

The Parasect gets in line.

Blik Hiney: Wow, nice place this is!

Then her controlling mushroom wakes.

Mushroom:   Yes... this would be so nice to see it burn!   

Blik Hiney: Noo... bad mushroom!

Meanwhile on the other side of the restaurant and out of view of Blik Hiney, Von Gold arrives at the place at the other entrance. He sniffs the air and exhales with contentment as he gets in line.

Von Gold: Ah...so far this place is up to my expectations.

---

Obsidian Castle - Dining Room

The Tyrantrum prince is lead to a large rectangular room on the second floor. In the center of the room was a long wooden table topped with all sorts of breakfast dishes. The room was empty of people save for Spade, who was already eating at the far end of the table. The Aggron butler speaks up.

Xavice: Feel free to sit wherever you want, prince and dig in as we wait for the others to arrive.

The prince sits down at the near end of the table, which his Bastiodon guards taking the seats next to him. He then takes some scrambled eggs and chows down. Awkward silence falls over the room as several moments pass as they wait for the others to arrive.

Edited by TheGamechanger on Sep 10th 2018 at 3:09:35 PM

The League of Heroes

Holstown Inn

I watch as Mila darts off after her attack, showing that evidently they in fact were not lying to her at all when they said she did that, though perhaps I can never learn the true extent of what had occured.

Oh, we are? Uh....great....lets just get it over with.

Evidently, the emotions I felt just a few minutes earlier creep back in but on a smaller scale, enough for me to keep calm. I wait for Nori to start to guide us to where Nephenee is.

Blissparce

Well I'm not waiting any longer, let's get inside.

Tiff starts knocking on the door.

Old warmth

Madame? Are you quite alright? What is zat thing?

Edited by Team42Larson on Sep 10th 2018 at 6:32:12 AM

Tell....everyone....

Holstown, Outside the Inn

Seeing Mila freak out and run, Woodruff is inclined to go after her, and follows his inclinations. He charges into the woods, using his natural speed to easily gain ground on her.

---

Blissparce, The Mortician's Office

Taylor B waits beside Tiff for the mortician to arrive...

Blissparce

(There's a small crash inside the building after Tiff knocks, and after a moment, the door opens to reveal a Gourgeist. I notice that they seem to have gloves at the end of their "hair" and round almost Harry Potter-like glasses. They also seem to be one of the super-sized varieties because they come up to the base of my neck.)

Pardon me! (He says.) Just trying to get the low-down on one of my latest patrons! How may I help you all? Are you with Tiago and the Girafarig who dropped off said patron?

Yeah, Wendy. Anything you can tell us? (Mia asks.)

Yes! Of course! just come right in and I'll show you all what I've found... (Wendy says, floating back into the building. I swallow nervously and walk inside after him.)

Hoy, lass, is Wendy short for Wendell or somethin'? (I hear Rich whispering to Mia.)

Yeah, his name is Wendell. Wendell Fuller. He's always gone by Wendy. (Mia replies.)

(The inside of the room isn't nearly as dark and gloomy as I was expecting. The usual tools and items a mortician would use, like embalming fluid and the like, line the walls. Bright candles hang from the ceiling. And in the middle of the room is a table with a cloth covering what I can only assume must be Harvey's corpse. The idea of being in the room with a murder victim is still making me sick to my stomach. Okay, Goobert, just...keep telling yourself you're in PokéPsych or something, this is an exciting thing...I also notice that Dieter and Tiago are still here.)

Ola, guys. (Mia says, waving to the two.)

"Lucian, don’t be afraid, we’ll make it through this."

Blissparce, Mortician

Tiago gives a wave in return. "Ola."

Dieter nodded but didn't say anything.

"life is just a series of increasingly canon-eluding ao3 tags" ~ everydunsparce "Keep your hellfruit away from me, tempter" ~ also Every

Forest Outside Holstown

Mila can hear the footsteps behind her, but she doesn't turn around to take the time to figure out who they are. Instead, a burst of Agility carries her even deeper into the woods, aided by her natural speed which allows her to set a good amount of distance between herself and those who would pursue her. For all her adrenaline and fear, however, she can tell that she won't be able to keep up the pace much longer, and decides to find some place to hide out. They'd be able to follow her footsteps fairly easily, considering her speed would make her leave clear imprints in the ground, but now that she has some sort of a lead she slows down to look for some place to hide. After a few moments of deliberation, as well as walking in random directions to hope to confuse her followers, Mila slips under a dense bush and curls up into a ball, her eyes just barely poking out from underneath to observe the path she'd taken to get here.

She barely has time to think anymore, not even rationalizing her actions. Why is she running from them? Why is she hiding? Isn't this more dangerous? Even if it doesn't matter how dangerous it is for her, isn't this going to threaten those who are coming for her? Why are they even doing this? No matter what happens, it'll just put everyone in even more danger. All of this is her fault.

Holstown Inn, Outside

"I... see. I don't think I'd be able to find her right now, I just hope they can."

Autumn tries to keep an even tone as she responds to Noriaki, but it's difficult. She can't betray how complex the situation is for her right now, she's sure that they'd hate her for it. After all, how could this not have been her fault, at least in part? If she hadn't disappeared, if she'd just stayed by Mila's side last night, maybe she could have stopped this from happening. But instead she decided to avoid that conversation. For what? So that she could drive Mila away? Even now, as much as she wants to go after Mila, to try to help her somehow, she knows that she won't be able to. She doesn't have the words, the mental fortitude necessary to help Mila right now, and she has to give the girl time so that she won't make things even worse.

At least she hopes that's the right decision.

Edited by Cabe_Bedlam on Sep 10th 2018 at 3:47:45 AM

I need to update these things more often

[Holstown]

"Well... Let us be off, then", said Noriaki before leading everyone to the path he remembers leading to that seaside glade.

Achilles nodded before he began running to the forest behind everyone else following Mila.

[Soten's Grave]

Upon arriving, everyone would see a tombstone already set on the ground. There is a small group of various Pokemon standing, sitting, or kneeling in front of the grave. Among them is Nephenee Who is now evolved in to a Scolipede, something that those who weren't present for last night's event will take note of.

In front of them, a male Unfezant in white robes is reading from some sort of book with arch-shaped symbols on the cover, "... And in his final hour, he displayed that selflessness that made him a warrior among warriors. He knew that his time was growing short and chose to use the last of his own life to protect those that he had shared it with. It is through that lasting impression that although he is gone physically, in spirit he truly will never leave, as his actions and legacy will carry on in The Original One's world and bless those that he had left it to. Amen."

All of the mercenaries bowed respectfully.

Noriaki's wing twitched. He seemed a bit frustrated thinking about what had happened.

---

[L'Arachel's Manor]

"Impressive, I see you improving already", said Notte, still barraging Nyquil, "I must wonder how long you can keep this up, though."

He scoffs as he continues to parry and deflect. As much as he wouldn't want to admit it, he's actually starting to feel fatigued.

If I don't clash, I don't change. The world ends at my borders, and the best moments slip away.

Seaside Glade

(Upon getting there, one of the things I immediately notice is Nephenee, who has evolved into a Scolipede. Did she do that last night after I bailed out on everyone? Now I feel even worse about leaving, I missed this crucial moment for her.)

(Watching everyone bow in respect for Soten, I feel compelled to bow myself and do so. I certainly had a lot of respect for him, brief as the time I knew him was...)

---

Dang, he really went out in a blaze of glory... (Marsha quietly remarks. She looks over to Marlon in concern, knowing how upset he was earlier. She takes his hand in hers.)

"Lucian, don’t be afraid, we’ll make it through this."

Soten's grave

What a brave man...taken by a vapid bitch's magic...

I blink, keeping back tears, laying my head on Marsha's shoulder.

Neph?

Blissparce

Ola, guys. What do we've got now?

Tell....everyone....

Zeb's here, still mourning the death of a guy like that, still... disbelieving that that Quilava did it.

"life is just a series of increasingly canon-eluding ao3 tags" ~ everydunsparce "Keep your hellfruit away from me, tempter" ~ also Every

Old Warmth

Blik Hiney: It's the mushroom on my back Armin. We Parasect gain the mushroom when upon evolving, but for most of us the mushroom takes over their body. Luckily mine was of a weaker strain. It whispers evil stuff to me. I thought Hickory informed you of this while he was showing you the ropes when I hired you?

---

Obsidian Castle - Dining Room

Another awkward moment of silence passes while the others have yet to show up. Finally Spade breaks the silence.

Spade:   So what's yer name?   

The prince looks up, his thoughts interrupted.

Prince ???: Huh?

Spade:   Your name, spill it.   

One of the Bastiodon guards speaks up.

Bastiodon A: Hey! Mind your manners! That's no way to speak to royalty!

The prince briefly turns to the guard on his left.

Prince ???: Settle down Fremont, it's ok.

He then looks back at Spade.

Prince ???: My name is Prince Trestan. How about you?

Spade sighs.

Spade:   My name is Victor, but I'd like to be called Spade if you don't mind. The name reminds of fights I lost...   

Prince Trestan: Ah.

Noise can then be heard in the hallways near the room.

Spade:   And it sounds like the others are finally here...   

Edited by TheGamechanger on Sep 10th 2018 at 10:33:04 AM

The League of Heroes

Blissparce

Well, fellows... (Wendy says, floating over to the table with Harvey's still-covered body on it.) I've been examining Mr. Cosby's remains very intently for the past several days.

Did you find anything? (I ask.)

Well, dirt, mostly. Lots and lots of dirt. (Wendy replies.) However, I've found this little beauty as well...

(He floats over to a table and returns with a mostly cleaned off (but still bloody) piece of...something. It's gray and smooth, looking like it's part of a claw.)

What is that? (I ask.)

That, I'm still working on. (Wendy answers.) Current story is that it's a claw, probably off the fellow who killed our victim here!

Hrm...doesn't look like a Flygon's claw, that's fer sure. (Rich muses as he looks closely.) Who's claw could it be though?

As I said, I'm still trying to figure this out. (Wendy says.)

"Lucian, don’t be afraid, we’ll make it through this."

Holstown, Inigo's Inn

[...I'm still a little damp...ah, well...at least I'm back to normal now. I shake the remaining water off myself...or I try to, and head...hang on, why's it so quiet?]

[I open the door...no one's out there...the charred remains of a training dummy is the only notable sight out here.]

[...I close the door behind me, going towards the healing lady.] "Uhh, hey, ma'am, did you happen t'see...did'ja happen t'see where they went?"

---

Holstown, The Forest

Wait, no, he supposed to be fast...he ends up tripping, eating dirt. Picking himself up and dusting himself off, he calls after Mila. He looks ahead, to his left and right...nothing. He sighs...but then he notices Mila's pawprints and proceeds to start following them...

Why'd she run anyway? Oh, no, was this because of last night, her incident...Soten's death? He understands if that's the case...or maybe her frying the dummy like that just...freaked her out. Maybe she's in the same boat he is about all this...

---

Blissparce, Wendy's Place

Taylor B's eyes go wide when Wendy reveals the piece of claw he'd gotten from the body. So there was something there after all...well, isn't he glad he went back there. If Amaranth had gotten her way, she would've just found the same thing he did and not go to get the body itself.

"Uhh," he half-heartedly says to Dieter, "th-thanks for getting the b-body..." Not even an apology to them, Barley? The thought didn't even cross his mind...he then looks back to Wendy.

"M-Mister Fuller? W-when do you think you can have th-the results of your testing b-back to us?"

[Soten's Grave]

Nephenee turns to see the group.

"Oh, it's you guys", the Scolipede said in a more mature-sounding voice than she had as a Whirlipede, "Glad you could make it. Just in time too, the service is just about done."

"Yes, I wish I could have shown up earlier", said Minato, "There was a bit of a... Situation with one of their ranks back at the inn. Achilles among some others had to stay behind for that reason..."

"Damn", Nephenee sighed, "It's fine though. Stuff like this comes up."

The gravestone is engraved with the name "Soten Vangarre", along with his lifespan and an engraving of an Armaldo. He was apparently in his thirties...

---

[Holstown]

Ana looks to Eliot and answers, "Oh, something came up with your Raichu friend. I was mostly inside so I didn't get much of it, but she's a lot more powerful than she thought and she ran off in to the woods. Achilles and some of your other pals went after her. The Zoroark and the Furret."

---

[L'Arachel's Manor]

"Hmph..."

Notte stood back as his barrage relented, but he then unleashed a single, strong, direct blow to see how Nyquil reacts to it. Best case scenario, he figures out Endure in the heat of the moment.

Seaside Glade

(I go up to Nephenee. Wow, she is so much bigger than she was before as a Scolipede, but then again, most of them are this big. I look at Soten's headstone for a moment. I desperately hope that we won't have to erect more of those over the course of this journey and be faced with more heartbreak. I turn back to Nephenee.) I'm very sorry...losing a close loved one...it's horrible to deal with...

---

---

Blissparce

Hm...probably by tomorrow morning? Of course, that's only if I focus all of my attention to figuring this out and don't get sucked into a good book. (Wendy says.)

But we need to find out as soon as we can! (Mia says.) Before somebody else gets killed...

Valid point. (Wendy nods.) Well, guess what happened when Sir Barnabas after he leapt off the cliff will have to wait. I'll get right on it!

Obrigado.... (Mia says.)

"Lucian, don’t be afraid, we’ll make it through this."