ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

"...?" Whitney looks to everyone else, hyping up this weird manor as some incredibly dangerous place. But...

"Dude, whatever! It's just a house! Let's just get in there so we can beat her up and leave already!" Without waiting on anyone else's mark, she begins trotting forward. Although she does feel the need to how back to Nyquil. Weird...

On the front step, she sees someone standing there. Or something.

"Hey, guy!"

Edited by Beverly on Jan 3rd 2019 at 4:50:03 AM

Approaching the Manor

(Look at that fucking abomination. Only fitting that some that hideous creature like herself would make such an eyesore. No use critiquing her remodeling techniques, we've got a mission to do. And then, the Quilava just screamed bloody murder. I looked at the group and responded.) Guess that's our cue, like it or not. (I motioned the Furret to follow me to the side. The old Dragalge moved as well, keeping his distance as to take out any potential interceptors.)

(Eliza, Claude, and Zelda soon approached from the front and stood their ground, despite the howl of the brainwashed Quilava. They eyed the figure at the door and tensed themselves. The time to act was dawning ever so slightly.)

The Manor

Here it is...right in front of us. Before I can even think again Niles pretty much decided that he was content to just fuck us over from the word go...

No, not even the word go.

The hell did he just do???

I stand my ground, looking to one side, then the other, and prepare to move with the side group.

Okay, get into the groups we drew out..back, front, side, Niles, air. If any of you didn't get into one just get in to any one.

Edited by Team42Larson on Jan 3rd 2019 at 5:54:42 AM

The Manor

Dana yelps and looks around, expecting an enemy or something. But no it's just Niles. She panics a little and her brain somehow comes to the conclusion that the best way to resolve this is to put a snowball in Niles' mouth to stop the noise.

So she does that! A snowball forms in midair and flies in Niles' mouth.

This.. may or may not be a good course of action.

Becchel

(I just manage to keep myself from yelping in fright at Nyquil unexpectedly shrieking (the disturbing figure up front, who I can only assume is L'Arachel) is not helping at all).)

Ms. Martinez? (Gene motions for me to join he and the others in the side group. I, in turn, motion for Nero to follow us.)

Well, here goes nothing... (Cole says nervously as he looks to the front.)

You fellas be careful, arright? (Marsha tells the others as she moves next to Cole.)

(Dodie nudges Kevin slightly.) Ready to git going whenever you are, mate.

Nyquil is silenced by a sudden snowball in his mouth. However, his job has already been done… and now, he has a free drink. He starts to slowly melt it by heating up his mouth little by little. He really should drink water more often…

L'Arachel's Manor

As Woodruff approaches the manor with the others, Nyquil Howling out almost makes him topple over in fright. Though that reminds him of part of the idea Marlon had before. He tries to beckon Mila and Autumn, and anyone else wanting to escort Nyquil, over towards him, then says to Grigori, "Uhh, could ya get us into...in with(?) Phantom Force, you or Noriaki." He's still unsure how exactly it would work.

"Yea, get'm in before Niles can fuck with our plan even more." We really should've expected this. I continue with Grigori, "I guess I'll stick with you...though I guess it doesn't matter a whole lot." I tighten the strap on my bag...run my fingers against my palm...

...I wonder if it would have worked, Sketching that guard before, when I'd forgotten what form I currently was. The normally pink streaks running across my body are still blue, though they still have that molten quality to them. Maybe...

...I start drawing a rather crude Feraligatr on my thigh...it's hard from memory, but I think I can manage it.

Blissparce, The Police Station

"M-maybe you sh-should stay here. I d-don't know how s-stressful c-confronting will b-be for you."

"What are you talking about," Taylor A shouts at her partner. "Of course we gotta take her! We gotta make sure we get the right guy!"

"W-what?!" The Hitmonlee looks back and forth between Amaranth and Izabel. "Th-that's...that's...that's—" "Crazy, I know, but we gotta be sure, and she was killed by him!" Taylor B grimaces...she could have just a little more tact about all of this.

The Servine runs out of the police station with the others. "Come on, Taylor, we got a guy to catch!" "I-I-I'm coming, I just...oh-oooooooooohh..." Taylor B looks nervously at Izabel, wondering what she'll do.

Edited by BlackMageAnolis on Jan 3rd 2019 at 6:11:17 AM

Whitney just sits about, ready whenever the others are, before looking up at the silhouette again.

"... Wait, maybe that's not a guy at all... Looks more like a statue actually." She turns back to the others, shouting. "Hey guys! I think it's just a big statue!!" Then she turns around, getting closer...

Edited by Beverly on Jan 3rd 2019 at 6:51:08 AM

L'arachel's Manor

Now that they're here, Mila realizes that she never discussed with Koss or Autumn what they'd do. It makes sense for her and the Braixen to both stick with Niles, but she knows things as still strained between the two of them. As for Koss... well she'll let him go where he chooses.

"If we need to get in safely, we do need to avoid fights. They'll just draw more attention, and in there... I don't want to think about what might happen if the combee start harassing us."

Autumn stares over at Niles, shuddering to see how he's being restrained. She has to remind herself that this is L'arachel's fault that all this has happened, that they're trying to make things better. It hardly helps, though. And what about Mila? Will she be able to work together with her in this? Would it be any better for them to be apart?

"Well, let's get this going then. I didn't exactly enjoy my stint in... wherever Phantom Force takes you last time, so we should be quick."

Koss watches as some of the mons go ahead to face the threat in front of the manor's door, and looks back to where Woodruff and some others are conversing about their plan. He's not sure where to go, as there seem to be enough over with them already, but he honestly can't find it within himself to just watch the Furret go without his supervision. If something were to happen like so much had already happened to other mons... Koss shakes those thoughts clear as he steps forwards.

"Fer the Combee... I ain't exactly good at fightin' but ah can use Psychic ta make some barriers an' slow 'em down if necessary."

"... If yer willin' ta have me along."

"...Shouldn't we go check out what he is? He would already have heard us from that howl, If he's guarding the entrance."

Of course, I'd be the last in line to do that, but might as well speak out.

Edited by Boku on Jan 3rd 2019 at 4:07:15 AM

The Manor's Side

(Phantom Force? I don't think I've ever tried that move out. If I concentrate on phasing through the wall, it could work, but who knows what'll happen. Without looking at the Furret, I replied.) I'll give it a try. (If that fails, then we might try breaching a hole inside. Just have to hope that wall is thin enough. Facing the wall, I waited for the bees to focus on the front lines.)

[L'Arachel's Abode: Front]

The above Combee swarm began buzzing loudly and made more violent movements, roused by the sudden loud howl, yet still remained above the building.

The tall figure's eyes light up. They're yellow.

They reach out a hand that sends forth a massive, shadowy hands that pulses forward swiftly and grabs Niles, being gentle not to squeeze him aggressively but would be painful for the others to try and stop.

The hand pulls him back to the statuesque Pokemon, far out of the range of the shackles placed on him, before the larger mon lifts up the Quilava to where they can climb the manor's roof to enter elsewhere.

Noriaki groans, "Consarn it... This must be that "Arthur" the Pokemon of Old Eluant were speaking of..."

Arthur's(?) voice boomed out like a giant, "I will not attack from here. Approach and confront me directly."

Noriaki looked to his comrades and gestured to Arthur with his head and moved forward, but not before he gestured for the other groups to still try and go for their designated points.

Gerome nodded and moved far to the side to avoid being spotted in his journey to the back, Nephenee scurrying behind.

Achilles and Hector nodded to Rainmaker and began their own roundabout path to the other side to sneak from the air.

Whitney would be able to see, up close, that it is in fact a Golurk looking down at her now.

"... You rushed ahead without your allies. Reckless. If I had been any of the others, you would be buried already."

Edited by Konkfan7 on Jan 3rd 2019 at 7:31:59 AM

The Quilava is freed and set down at the top.    ”You have my gratitude!”    He calls to Arthur before slipping away and out of sight.

"... Oh, you aren't a statue. Alright." Whitney seems a bit spooked by his response, backing down the steps a bit. "Right, I uh, I hear you."

She pauses, seeing the others in the front group... prepare for an attack? "Hey, wait. Wouldn't it be smart to just find a way around him? I know I'm stupid, but this seems kinda weird."

Edited by Beverly on Jan 3rd 2019 at 7:37:58 AM

Showdown at the manor! (Front)

Oh, dang, Niles!! (Marsha shouts, grappling for the Quilava to no avail. She grunts as Niles slips away. She looks up at the Golurk in front of them. She sighs. Picking up on Whitney's suggestion, she turns to face her.) How are we supposed ta do dat? Dis guy's da size of a buildin' and dair's Combees everywhere!

( Cole steals a nervous look at Gene and Dodie.)

Don't die or become a Combee, 'kay? (Dodie whispers to Cole before following after Gerome and Nephenee.)

I'll try not to... (Cole says, cringing a bit and turning to face Arthur.)

Marlon? Our first course of action? (I hear Gene whisper to Marlon.)

(I once again motion for Nero to come with us. Anywhere else and he could get seriously hurt.)

Blissparce

(Mia grumbles and freezes upon hearing Tiff.)

(Izabel sits there looking back and forth between everyone for a moment, trying to think.)

M-Maybe I should go? (She muses.) Maybe if I see him in person, then I can confirm that it really was him. My memories are so scatter-shot that Mother and I could be pointing at the wrong person...?

Izabel, are you absolutely sure? (Pancho says.)

I don't want them to needlessly frighten an innocent mon because I gave them bad information, Father. (Izzy says, standing up.) Perhaps I won't claim to be Izabel Dos Santos until we know for sure...and perhaps I can leave before he sees me?

Whatever you do, just be careful, dear. (Maria says.) I know we are talking about your own murderer, but you don't want to cause him to die of fright!

Yes, Mother... (Izabel nods. She comes out and joins us.)

(The elder Dos Santoses exchange nervous glances.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Jan 3rd 2019 at 7:41:39 AM

"Well yeah, but is it really smart to fight someone we just established as a serious threat? I don't know what it is, but surely there's something we can do." She pauses.

"Right?"

Seeing what I assume to be one of the main leaders gesturing me to follow, I come closer go the group and the statue-like being.

Arthur is a surprisingly normal name. One would expect such a strong-looking person to have a more chocking name, but maybe the fact that everyone is a pokemon is making me see this situation wrong.

Edited by Boku on Jan 3rd 2019 at 4:59:03 AM

Manor's Exterior

_{Damn it.} (The hand went faster than I thought or reacted. So much for escorting the little guy.)

(Arsene moved towards the back to meet up with the group of mostly-Poison types.)

(Claude moved out, trusting his allies to back him up, maintaining a cordial tone.)    My apologies, sir. We have business with your mistress.    (Zelda kept her distance in case the Golurk or the legion of Combees decided to attack.)

(Eliza replied to the Growlithe, but not without some speculation on her end.) I believe that we're here to distract the bulk of the forces. (She turned her eyes back to the Golurk guardian, bending her legs to prepare herself.)

The Manor (Front to Side)

Oh. Oh. Well, there goes any hope for us trying to just walk right in the front door, eh? Not only that, there is where Arthur was this whole time. Another damned victim of that witch.

Simple, we go around and try to sneak past him or find another entrance. Everyone, move!

I motion for our small number to push to the side, with me assuming the point. I place two fingers on the psychic "arrow" and move, where upon making it around to a side of the manor we would see...

The Manor (Front to Back)

Kevin quickly runs to the front of his group.

Okay, guys, remember, I also need to find that Teddiursa kid...or what might be left of him.

He leads them around to the back where they'd find along the way...

Blissparce

Upon watching the clue group file out with Izzy in tow, Jeffrey looks toward his bosses, the Dos Santos, to understand what he needs to do now.

Norwood...he, I didn't think he could actually do this. Do I need to go with them and try to talk him into admitting what he did?

L'arachel's Manor

"Niles!"

Mila reaches out towards him, but she's well aware that there's nothing she can do to stop the events unfolding. Afterwards, her mind starts to race as she tries to figure out how to get back to him and how to ensure he doesn't get into more combat where she won't be able to stop him from getting hurt.

"What do we..."

"Let's just go inside anyways, like before. We can still find... Hikari, or whoever it was."

It doesn't take Koss reading Mila's mind to tell that she's not sure about this, but he shrugs and says nothing at the suggestion. He has no clue how to go about this, and for now his priority is still on ensuring that his friend remains unharmed.

L'Arachel's Manor

I continue to "decorate" my thigh (blue to red, blue to red...oh, my god, it worked) when—

"Oh, shit—" Woodruff tries to run for Niles and tackle him, but it's already too late. He's gone. I barely register that something's happened before I realize it's too late...well, doesn't that put a damper on things...

"...dammit." Woodruff grumbles to himself, hanging his head...there goes the wonderful chance for just one small victory...maybe they should've left him there in Becchel, or let him go if this was gonna happen regardless.

"...it's fine, Woodruff." He looks to me, still pretty upset. I look to Mila and Autumn. "Just find Hikari. We'll take care of him if we happen to cross paths with him..." He nods and moves towards them. I look ahead...oh, god, what the hell is Nero doing?

"NERO, COME WITH US!" I move along with Marlon, heading towards the side of the manor, hoping the front group will keep...oh, shit, I think that's that Arthur those guys were talking about. Are Golurks supposed to be that big? Oh, never mind...tan, tan belly for the crude thigh Feraligatr...

"Arright," Woodruff says to the others wanting to find Hikari. "Anyone got a clue about what our plan here is?" He sees the front group mounting towards the massive Golurk. "...what if we went in behind 'em, somethin' like if you're underwater and ya got pulled in by a wave, or like a smokescreen...and then once they break for that guy and dispere, we ride the chaos inside."

Outside L'arachel's

A pang of fear shoots through Mila as she sees Eliot go. She's noticed Koss seems to be sticking over with Woodruff and Grigori and she wants to stay with him to try to work on their other concerns, but she can't very well leave him either.

Autumn watches Mila carefully, wondering how the Raichu will react in this situation. It's tense, and it makes her sick that Niles is gone yet again. And what Eliot said that they'll "take care of him"... Autumn follows Mila's gaze over to the Smeargle, and takes a stab at what she's thinking.

"I'll go with him, actually. Stay safe, Mila, please."

"I will."

Mila nods, and watches as the Braixen rushes off to try to catch up with Eliot and the others. She'll have to trust Autumn, but maybe that's for the best. She hopes that this may be the start of reparations between them.

"Still usin' those same analogies, eh Woodruff? Sounds worth a shot, though."

"I-I'm Coming! What's that thing, anyways? A giant golem?"

Aah, I spaced out again. So much for being careful.

"Just how strong are you guys, anyways? Can you really take that thing on?"

Edited by Boku on Jan 3rd 2019 at 5:40:37 AM

[L'Arachel's Abode: Front]

"I am here to fulfill the role of the first line of defense", Arthur explained as he towered above the group, his eyes and chest-crack giving off a pulsing yellow glow, "You will pass when I fall. If I do not fall, none shall pass."

The Golurk's body seemed somewhat decrepit, like he has been around for a long time. He wore a ragged, worn mantle that seemed to hide something on his back.

Noriaki stared at the Golurk, seeming somewhat surprised by something, "You are not...?"

"Indeed. Any sort of "corruption" or "control" on behalf of L'Arachel? I have none", Arthur explained, "Indeed, I am Arthur of Old Eluant, and am here after a fateful encounter with Lady L'Arachel, who seeks to become this world's Empress. But I stand before you today by my own will."

"But... Why?", the Decidueye asked, "You were their guardian. All those lost souls in the ruins were worried about-"

"Spare me that drivel, archer...!", Arthur suddenly hissed before calming down once again, "... I had lived my life as a knight. And I intended to die as one."

The Golurk looked to the sky and continued, "... And the day came when I did."

"When I awoke once more, it was in a body unfamiliar to me, not that it mattered much, as I did not have my memories fully intact either. That was where I saw what I had only vaguely recognized as my home, and I had met Theodore. He acted a shepherd of sorts for those lost souls... I myself was included, and eventually came to be their "guardian". I had longed for my old memories, which Theodore had learned to read from one's very being, but he refused to share with me specifically. This did not help in halting my ever-growing apathy towards... Everything. But then I met L'Arachel."

"I had fought her, but she could feel that my heart was not entirely in it. She took interest in me. And my memories returned thanks to her effort", Arthur explained, looking back down to the party "... To live life under knighthood, hailed as a war hero, to die on the battlefield in one last passion-filled fight with someone who truly matched your power and prowess... Then to spend your afterlife as a knight, only in being the guardian of some backwater ruins of a culture long lost... Why must I even have continued? What would be the point in driving this further? L'Arachel intends to bring us in to a new age, and whether or not I agree with her goals and actions... She at least had the integrity to restore my memories, and my apathetic heart no longer holds interest in upholding the current existence or lives present in this world. Why should I bother... You will all end up like me regardless, in the end. Dead, apathetic to everything around you, and likely both."

"Willingly abandoning your people and duty..."

"Do not bother criticizing my actions, you have those among you have done the same...", said Arthur, glaring at Montresor and Notte.

"... Unlike you and L'Arachel, Arthur, we became aware that there is more to life and this world than the past", Notte beamed back at the Golurk.

"Enough of this banter", Arthur growled as he suddenly took and aggressive stance, one fist clenched with the other hand reaching outward, "Have at you! End me, or I will end you."

The Golurk launched a Shadow Punch at Noriaki, which Notte was quick to jump in front of and Protect against.

Noriaki sighed and readied himself.

[L'arachel's Abode: Side]

The walls seem to be well-built... But a potential opening is seen in a window that is rather high up.

Looking further down, there seems to be a visible amount of breakage and wear in the wall.

[L'Arachel's Abode: Back]

The group approaching from the back would see a regular-sized door that does not seem very sturdy at all. It is in fact locked, but not nearly as heavily as the large front door.

"Huh, looks like it won't be too hard getting it. But I'd still be careful", said Gerome, "There might be someone waiting right behind that door for us to break in."

Edited by Konkfan7 on Jan 3rd 2019 at 9:39:13 AM

Showdown! (Front group)

Yeesh, what a losah, flakin' out on everyone who cared 'bout him... (Marsha grumbles. She sighs, hoping it wasn't going to have to come to this.) Welp, whatevah ya say...

(Marsha fires a Water Gun at Arthur. Cole (who zoned out mind-way through the argument) comes to his senses and hurriedly throws a large rock after seeing Marsha attack.)

Showdown! (Side group)

I certainly couldn't... (I say to Nero.)

(As we go around the side of the stronghold, I see absolutely no openings in the wall whatsoever until I spot a window overhead...plus a worn part of the wall further down. Gene seemed to notice, too, because he promptly taps Marlon on the shoulder.)

Marlon, I believe I can see two possible points of entrance. (He points out the window and the wall.) Perhaps one of us could somehow make it up to that window, or we can see if we can get through that wall.

Showdown! (Back group)

(No sooner does Gerome finish talking than Dodie headbutts the door.) Let 'em come! (She says as she does so.)