ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

Respite Inn

(By now, both of the Clamperls look scared out of their minds. After a moment, Eponine growls in frustration and sheds some angry tears.)

...Grr, okay, guys, you win! This whole thing is friggin’ stupid! (She cries.) But that BS spell is messing with my head! It’s like I can’t do anything but agree with....her!

Eaaaagh... (Javert concurs.)

Eponine, you and Javert must fight off ze spell! (Sunny calls to them.) Fight like Georgés’ character in The Seige Of Alistar City!

No...arms... (Javert grunts.)

They aren’t going to be completely rid of Phoebe’s spell until they get to the spring, are they? (I ask.)

Prooobably not. (Says Judith.)

Respite Inn

"Oh..." says Rex, feeling shocked. He is now a bit worried that his earlier words were too harsh. These Clamperls were also victims in all this, after all.

"Sorry," he says quietly. "We've got to get you two to the spring. That should bring you back to normal..."

Edited by Bluethorn on Sep 27th 2019 at 9:37:52 AM

Respite Inn

It's working. Oh my god, we are fighting our way through to who they really are. Could this be our secondary weapon to break individuals we find? I nod back to Grigs once again before I continue.

Where is she right now? Eponine, Javert...we will keep you two safe with us until we get you to the spring but you gotta keep fighting this and tell us where she is, you hear? Your real families, I can assure you, want to see you come home. Sunny wants to see you two return to normal. But first, we need to know. Where is she in this moment?

Trust me, I feel a litt'l bit lost meself. But these guys 'r really gettin' through to 'em. If only they were my cousin an' her boyfriend...

Addie heaves an exasperated, and also sad, sigh. Wherever they are she seriously hopes they're okay...

However else she does it doesn't matter. Once we—

Sir, we need to escort these two to the spring. They're breaking back through and we need to prioritize them first.

Ngh...

Despite his insistence on calling all targets hostile Ophelius has to relent. But he needs more information. In the meantime, he sends in another order to the lackeys.

Miller, Daniels. Fetch me a map, will you? Once these two give that Gorebyss's location we are drawing up battle plans, and a secondary set of plans to get these two to the spring.

Respite Inn

She's about an hour ahead of us. (Eponine says.) Everyone's probably still in the jungle.

Or James... (Shelley says to Addie.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Sep 27th 2019 at 10:21:30 AM

...I...

(I try to say something, but nothing comes out. I'm nearly choking on my own words by this point, and the tension is clearly getting to me. I'm scared of the possiblities more than anything else.)

Respite Inn

(I lighten up, knowing the two are more willing to talk. I'm not exactly holding my breath for another solution, but as long as those two won't give us problems, that's fine with me. As for the information...) She likely brought many Clamperl to spot for anyone sneaking up on her. Unless there's some shortcuts, we have to just haul ass to reach her.

(Miller retrieved a map from nearby and passed it to his boss.) Here you go.

Respite Village, Still Outside

Letting the others move ahead and handle... whatever they're planning to do, Mila eyes the Jumpluff and considers what she's telling her. Nothing seems to be off, and she may as well take the message to see what's inside. Some fears still remain, and she does want to see if there's any news well or ill from back in the city.

"I see, thank you. Do you plan to remain here for now? I don't exactly have a message written just yet..."

Tina nods, giving Mila the envelope. "If you don't mind, then I choose to stay with you! After all, it'd be better than going all the way back empty handed!"

Respite Inn

An hour from here...gimme a sec?

I whip myself around to see Ophelius and his lackeys having grabbed a map. Just what we needed.

hey! You guys with the map! Do you see the jungle on that map? How much distance do we need to cover to get there?

Ophelius thanks Daniels for obtaining the map. Upon hearing my request, he immediately begins to use what I could only suppose is years of experience attempting to draw up maps for battle plans. After careful examining, and making sure with his men that he's absolutely right, he looks back over at me.

According to this, we are talking a distance of about 10-15 miles, maybe 20 at max, to catch up to her. Unless we could commandeer any other form of transport, like a carriage, we have to set out by foot, and do it really soon here.

After hearing that number I look around in the room in an attempt to figure out if we could in fact get any form of transportation.

Do you all have anything like that?

Igni, don't cry...we'll get 'em back. We'll get 'em all back, actually. You just gotta stay with me. You too, Wreck. A'know I sound like I repeat meself a lot but yeh really gotta watch yerselves.

Edited by Team42Larson on Sep 28th 2019 at 7:29:51 AM

Respite Inn

It's not THAT long of a walk, Phil. (Judy informs Ophelius.) It's at least half that long.

No carriage here, bub. (The Incineroar says.) If we ever have anyone go over to check up on the spring and check in with Volcy, we just send a Charizard like Patty or Linus to fly over there.

Ugh, I guess we ARE going to have to walk, then... (I groan.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Sep 28th 2019 at 8:21:24 AM

Respite Inn

...Oh. Well, age must be catching up to me a bit because I don't know how else I could've read that map wrong. Okay then...Miller, Daniels. We need to prepare to get moving. We don't have much ground to cover to get there but we need to do it fast before she slips through our fingers.

Ophelius moves to the door to the inn, ready to advance outward and onward, but not before waiting for the others.

How do we carry the two of them, then?

I ask, referencing Epinone and Javert. Marsha moves to grab one of the two while I ask this.

(Seems like we're getting some where now.)

"I can try to make us move swifter, so we can get where we need to faster. However it'll take a bit to set up..." I offer loud enough for everyone to hear.

Ssso what your sssaying isss that your looking for human hissstory, when all we have to go on issss myth?" Jorgmundr inquires of the Torkoal, Landon.

That is correct. I heard that there was a key to unlocking the truth behind these mysteries nearby." The fire tortiose replies.

I know a guy who might be able to help, but I'll need sssome ssspaccce and time to locate him." Jorg tasted the leftover hostility in the air.

I'll give you that in which you need." Landon states rather passionately.

Respite Inn

(Without another word, Miller follows his boss outside, anticipating the inevitable conflict with trepidation.)

(Eying the two clams, I mused out loud.) I suppose we could carry them the old-fashioned way. I think some of us are built for it. But, there's a chance that they might struggle or fight back... I'm not sure myself.

(Wait, crying?)

...I-I'm not crying, I'm just... I feel so sad, thinking about all those people seperated like that...

(In spite of my statement, I am finding it hard to keep my tears in check... It's weird crying so suddenly like this, but I just can't help it. It's just like when I'd cry about a sad story or song of some kind back at home.)

Respite Inn

(Shelley empathetically puts a claw on Igni's shoulder.)

Uh, just so ya know, it's not gonna be a straight shot to the volcano. (Judy tells Daniel.) Even if we're somehow moving much faster, there's still a whole ton of crap we have to get past that we can't just merely walk around. Even more if we bump into any of Phoebe's other lackeys.

They do seem like they're at least more willing to cooperate with us now. (Renata points out to Grigori.)

(Javert does flinch when Marsha goes to pick him up, but otherwise doesn't seem to be showing much resistance. Eponine's eyes shift around at everyone.)

Respite Inn

Well, whatever we do, it's not gonna succeed while we stand around here. Let's go.

I say, following the Tyrantrum boss and his lackeys outside. Clay and Stellan (but first stopping to team up and carry Eponine) also begin to move, but Addie hangs back to make sure Igni and Wreck are okay.

C'mon, let's go. You two okay after all 'a that?

C'mon, I'm not gonna hurt yas. Just gotta getchas ta dat spring, awllright?

She asks Javert as she picks him up.

Edited by Team42Larson on Sep 29th 2019 at 8:03:29 AM

"Yessir!" Daniels replies and then accompanies his commander, he's pretty much ready.

"Well... walking isn't too bad, eh? Didn't figure it'd be too easy to get there, and makes sense there's not as much out here..."

"So long as at least one of us keeps an eye on them, we should be fine", said Noriaki, starting to follow the others moving out, "Whatever our approach may be, we should make haste."

Hikari looked to Daniel upon hearing his offer, saying, "If you can truly quicken us, then it would be appreciated. But it seems we are starting to move right now, so if you could perhaps walk as you are preparing whatever it is... If not, then perhaps it would be better to simply start moving normally and don't stop."

Edited by Konkfan7 on Sep 29th 2019 at 4:43:55 AM

(I cough a bit, attempting to recompose myself to some degree.)

I'm... fine, yes. We should hurry, for everyone's sake.

(With that said, I get ready to follow my companions once more, hoping that whatever may happen ends up being positive. I'm still a bit fearful, but I'd feel even worse if I did nothing to help.)

Respite Inn

No time like the present then. (I followed the others outside, not wanting to spend any more time standing around.)

Respite Village

(Going outside, I see those who didn't follow us in milling about. Mila is still talking to the Jumpluff from Foxfell, Rich and Polly are quietly talking in front of one of the market places...)

I hope everyone else is ready to get going...every minute we wait is a another minute Phoebe gets closer to winning. (I muse.) Which way do we actually need to go from here?

Well, if you're taking the path to the spring, you're gonna want to go that way. (Judy points to a narrow path leading north out of the village into the jungle.) Buuuuuut if we're following Phoebe, then I'm guessing we'll have to go whichever way they went.

If you ask me, the direction they went is probably where the grass has been matted down the most. (says Mother.)

Well, then let's get looking for that! (Judy says, putting her head close to the ground and lumbering forward. Shelly, Benji, Maran, and I do so as well.)

On the road

As soon as I break back outside I reassume the fullest possible grip on the crutches before advancing forward with the others. Behind me come Stellan, Clay, and Addie; Clay and Stellan are teaming up to carry Eponine and Addie is keeping her usual eye on Wreck and Igni. Marsha is keeping up the pace while carrying Javert but lagging somewhat thanks this slightly heavier weight.

Matted grass? Wouldn't the force of several hundred Clamperls hammering onto grass flatten the grass down to basically nothing? That would be the most obvious hint.

Despite keeping himself silent for the last while Stellan finally finds the resolve to speak.

I'm never more ready. I know her. I know that while I was her only friend in life she still caused my father to be assimilated into her ranks. Either she releases him...or it won't end well.

Clayton twinges in fear as he once again hears of Stellan's resolute in his intent to go after Phoebe. He looks upward at Ophelius, who motions for Miller and Daniels to get into position as planned.

If, and a' mean, if, we have to split, then who'd go to the spring, Judy? I'd think the ones with curses, no?

Edited by Team42Larson on Sep 30th 2019 at 2:27:06 PM

"Shouldn't we go to the spring first? We need to cure these two," Rex says, referring to the Clamperls.

Respite Village

Well, uh-

Hey, if we don't stop Phoebe first, there won't even BE a spring to cure them. (I point out.) She's already got a head-start, so we have to go after her before she destroys the spring and the island. We can't split up now or that'll be less help we have to stop her.

Respite Village

"Oh, okay," says Bailey. "Well, I'll do whatever you guys need to help stop her. This is gonna be a real adventure..."