ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

Danjor Island (Volcano Base)

(I look at the Gorebyss ahead of us. For some reason, I kind of have a hunch that they might be Phoebe, too. Did we ever find out what Phoebe looked like? I don't think we did. I look back at the Huntail who sits up in a daze.) Well, regardless, maybe we can at least get some answers from them. I have a hunch that we aren't going to get much out of the Huntail. Let's do it. (Maybe they'll know which one of these Clamperls is Goobert.)

(I lift up off the ground so I can simply fly over to the Gorebyss.) Marsha, get on my back. Noriaki and I can get Marlon over there together.

The battle

Awlrighty...

Marsha climbs aboard Delilah's back and settles down, ready to crack the mystery of this odd Gorebyss. Sure, they could be Phoebe, but what if they in fact are not? Then what?

This question is also on my mind as I nod in agreement to Delilah's plan, readying myself to get picked up and heading over to see what's the deal.

All I ask is you pick me up carefully. Once we get there we might need to restrain them....making sure they don't have that serum on them.

Stellan keeps fending off Clamperls, looking back at Miller and Daniels for their assistance.

Alright, its simple! Howl helps in this situation. Rush up t'someone and scratch 'em! Like this!

She rushes up to a Clamperl and scratches at them.

Edited by Team42Larson on Oct 17th 2019 at 6:03:35 AM

Alright, here goes nothing.

(I run up to one of the Clamperl, following her lead and letting loose a Scratch. It definitely seems more effective than just spitting Embers at them, at least, but I soon find myself having to avoid another attack in the form of a Water Gun.)

This is... a bit fun, but still scary given what we're dealing with. Also I think I'm just making them mad now...

Vs. Phoebe's Raiders II

(Nori does raise a good point. Why would someone like L'Arachel entrust a magic serum to someone who panics that easily? With that in mind, I threw a few more leaves at the approaching crowd of Clamperl, while glancing at the Gorebyss.)

(Miller let loose a Thunderbolt to send the Clamperl away from Stellan.)

Noriaki nods and flutters into the air, carefully picking up Marlong with his talons before carrying him forward on Delilah's lead.

I get a strong feeling that Phoebe isn't the Gorebyss in front of us. I cause sharply pointed stones to levitate around the battlefield to prevent any ambushes from Pheobe or her ilk.

(Well, its time to fight the second time today. I do need to watch my strength however, as she could still about.)

Danjor Island (Volcano Base)

(Once Noriaki is ready, I begin flying Marlon over to interrogate the Gorebyss. They inch away from us as we land.)

Oh, there's no way this is Phoebe. (I say when I see the Gorebyss backing away from us, shaking my head.) I'm not guessing that she would be looking this panicked or backing away from us as we got here.

(I notice that their beak is dripping with that serum she used to change Goobert and everyone else who crossed her. Is she trying to force some of her minions to use the serum now?)

(Meanwhile, the tussle with the Clamperls continues to be in full swing. Luckily, Hikari's Light Screen is preventing everyone from getting beat up too badly. Benji (still in Noivern form) repeatedly uses Boomburst in an attempt to keep any Clamperls from getting closer, though some still do get past.)

(By now, Cortez is getting quickly overwhelmed.) NO! (wheeze) GET OUTTA HERE! (wheeze) Oh, I wish I was my normal self for this...!! (He mumbles as he throws rock after rock and uses the various moves he learned from Judy. Still, the thought of saving Whispering Pines is keeping him going.)

(About three Clamperls gather around Polly. One tries to use Bubble, only to violently sneeze and roll himself backwards.) Ack! Help! (He says in a very congested-sounding voice.)

(Polly's eyes go wide. That was her younger brother's voice! This Clamperl must actually be him! Where is Cree, though? She quickly scoops up the Clamperl she suspects to be Radar and tries listening for Cree among the Clamperls as she staves off attacks from the other Clamperls who tried to rush her.)

(Georgés finally manages to wriggle loose from the Clamperls covering him, but many are still latched onto him with closed up shells. He jumps around as he tries to shake them off, narrowly avoiding knocking over Dieter and just missing bumping into Hikari as he does so.)

(Gomer, meanwhile, seems very out of it and just sits where he landed, still puzzled. He looks back at Renata, who is gearing up to use Stone Edge again. He finally realizes why the Garchomp looks so familiar to him.) I got it! She looks like the cloud dragon from that dream I ha- (He mutters before the Stone Edge sends him flying.)

The battle

We are given the necessary lift to make it on over to this lone Gorebyss and—yes, of course they have the serum. However it's dipping from their beak, and I cannot exactly make out any hint of a beaker...or something like that. Nonetheless, we've got to get answers from them. Once landed and listening to what Delilah has to say, I prepare my salvo.

If this truly isn't her, then we've got to find out who it is first or what their motive is, besides the most obvious. Let me start.

As the Gorebyss inches away from us I issue out a warning in a commanding, but reasonable tone. If they charge at us I do have the crutches as some form of immediate defense.

Drop whatever you have in your mouth. We don't want to hurt you. Hell, we would preferably want to help you more than anything.

While in the middle of the fray, Stellan does get bailed out by Miller and Daniels. Breathing a sigh of relief, he backs up to the Dragalgae pair as he then notices Cortez struggling. He looks back at the the two before launching back into the fray to try and help the Tyrunt.

Cover me!

He calls back. He launches another Thunderbolt to help Cortez.

Addie meanwhile, takes this opportunity to try and help Renata fend off this Huntail. Before rushing in with a Flamethrower she looks back at Igni.

C'mon, how about yeh try a bigger target?

Bigger target? If you say so.

(Since it seems like we're focus-firing a single enemy, I try to contribute with an Ember of my own against the Huntail before trying to close the gap. I'm still not entirely sure why this one in particular needs to go down, but if that's what we're doing, that's what we're doing.)

As they approached, Noriaki noticed the serum dripping from the scared Gorebyss's beak.

Being cautious, the Decidueye pulled out a rapier-like Leaf Blade, holding the thing blade parallel to himself.

Marlon seemed to be taking care of negotiation, so Noriaki opted to watch the Gorebyss's movements closely.

"Do not think you can slip anything by us", he said briskly, before nodding towards Marlon, "Listen to him."

Hikari nearly lost her footing as Georgés ran by. She observed the fact that he was covered in Clamperls and wanted to try helping, but she was afraid of hurting him too with Dazzling Gleam.

"Hm..."

She instead opted to use Sweet Scent to try and throw the Clamperl off so the Machoke could shake them off easier.

Vs. Phoebe's Raiders II

(With Nori and the others trying to get the Gorebyss to stand down, I turned my attention to the Huntail. A part of me wanted to negotiate, but there are more pressing matters at hand. I drew another arrow and fired it directly at his shadow, hoping to at least slow him down.)

(Miller sets his eyes on the Tyrunt and fires a thunderbolt at the Clamperl surrounding him.)

Danjor Island (Volcano Base (By "Rudy"))

(Why do all of these Pokémon seem so familiar? Wait, the Dragonite was the Pokémon Phoebe said she was trying to save me from. But I don't even know what to believe anymore after all I've seen Phoebe do these past few days.)

(And spit out the serum? (Or I guess it would be wiping it off?) If I do that, then I'm history.) I-I can't...Phoebe'll hurt me if I do...

(The minute the Gorebyss speaks, I feel like my heart has stopped and I feel myself dropping to my knees. Is this Gorebyss...?)

Oh my gosh...Goobert...?? (I gasp, reaching out to him.)

Goobert...?? (He repeats, sounding confused.)

Danjor Island (Volcano Base (Clamperls))

(Luckily, Hikari's Sweet Scent gets most of the Clamperls off of him. Or at least enough to where he can easily get any stragglers clamped onto him off of him. He notices the others interrogating "Rudy" and wonders what's going on, but doesn't have long before other Clamperls begin trying to swarm him.)

Ugh! Get away! (Georgés shouts. In desperation he punches the ground in front of him, sending off a shockwave that scatters the Clamperls directly him. He looks in the others' direction, visibly surprised at what he just did.)

Yipe! (Cortez hits the dirt as the Thunderbolt incapacitates the Clamperls surrounding him. He looks up and waves at Miller.) Hey, uh, thanks!

Why did we agree to this...? (One of the Clamperls groans. Polly quickly recognizes the Clamperl's voice as that of Cree's and quickly scoops her up.)

Oh, yeh two knuckleheads, I was so worried I'd lost yeh. (Polly says to her two Clamperlized siblings.) Don't worry, we'll get yeh 'n everyone else back t' normal in a jiff!

Uh...whadt ever you say... (Radar says.)

Like literally who are you again? (Cree asks.) I mean, I feel like I know you from somewhere, but...

(The Shadow Strike successfully pins Gomer's shadow, leaving him stuck. Benji, Renata, and Shelley approach him.) Anything you'd like to tell us? (Benji asks, pressing his (her?) wings together.)

Uh...I, uh... (Gomer stammers. He still seems distracted by Renata in particular.) I accidentally swallowed a ruby yesterday, I'm allergic to Nutpea Berries, and I-...uhh...

What is he talking about?? (Shelley says incredulously.)

The battle

I feel my blood run cold as soon as I hear them speak. This...this is Goobert. Oh my fucking lord. All of my fears of having to be pitted against my best friend, whether he was under that witch's spell or not, come rushing in at this moment.

No...this is a fucking nightmare...

If not for the crutches being there to secure me I likely would have also fallen to my knees in shock. I feel myself quivering in both fear and shock, unsure if I have the emotional fortitude to accept what has just occured. Yeah, I would've expected him to be a Clamperl of some kind but this...this takes it to another level. Another level that has me feeling even more pissed off than ever.

Marly, we gotta do somethin' and fast...!

That we do. He doesn't want to hurt us, but he is in fear of being hurt himself. And who else would be the one to deliver the pain than that bitch herself. I feel a tear run down my face. I....I don't know what to do. For being the de facto leader of our group this might be the one situation I don't know how to deal with. But rather than break down on the spot, I bite my tongue and get back to the point, a renewed vigor in my blood.

Goobert...Goobert! It's me, Marlon! I know you're in there, dude! She might've forced you to be one of her undying slaves but I know the real you is in there...please...remember me. Remember Del. Remember all of us.

Marsha goes over to comfort Delilah, laying a hand on one of her shoulders.

Stellan goes to help Cortez get out of the situation, picking up the Tyrunt and attempting to redirect him away before the incapacitated Clamperls (and others) reconvene on him, before managing to reconvene himself with Miller and Daniels as he chucks a Rock Blast at some other Clamperl. He glances over at the developing situation involving "Rudy" before looking back.

That isn't Phoebe...so then who is it?

Before Addie can convene with a Flamethrower aimed at Gomer Grigori's attack helps pin him down. She pads on over to the Huntail, but not before looking back to see if Igni and Wreck may be following. For extra restraint she lays her front right paw on his tail as this interrogation begins.

Y'aint makin' much sense, pal. And why are yeh lookin' over at Renata like that? She stole somethin' of yers or?

Dieter, having nearly been knocked over earlier, sighs with relief in the current situation as they're lured off Georges and then he does the Shockwave. They smile as they look at him but then shoot off a Psybeam to keep others from getting too close while the others try to get through to 'Rudy'.

Daniels looks around for anything suspicious.

"I'm not sure, but it means the real Phoebe has to be around here somewhere..."

Edited by CorvusAtrox on Oct 18th 2019 at 8:55:31 AM

(Oh... well, that was easier than expected. Not even really having to do much, I go over to Gomer, looking at them curiously.)

Hmm...

(I don't know who this is, but regardless I should try to help.)

Calm down, please. If you co-operate with us, we can help you in turn, and since we're looking to help as many as possible, you'd be helping them as well. Everyone wins in that situation.

(Fighting might not be one of my strong suits but I at least know my way around words.)

Vs. Phoebe's Raiders II

(While the others are keeping the Huntail busy, I made my approach to the Gorebyss. I'm not sure what I can say myself. Only one thing came to mind.) Listen to them.

(Miller nods at the little reptile. When the question reached him, he replied.) Apparently, someone they know. As for her, our best guess is further down.

(So that's Goobert, after that demonic fish got to him. I kinda know that feeling, but he didn't voluntarily betrayal his travelling group.)

"Is he one of -them-?" I whisper to Noriaki after reaching his position. I feeling rage bubbling beneath my wariness and curiousity.

"An old comrade of ours, taken by that villain Phoebe" Noriaki whispered back to Daniel.

"Goobert, we do not wish to harm you, and we do not wish to let you be harmed by that madwoman" Noriaki said calmly to the Gorebyss, "Come now, even if you don't remember, some part of your lingering will must still know this isn't you."

Danjor Island (Volcano Base ("Rudy"))

(At least these guys don't actually want to hurt me, but that's probably just because they think I'm this Goobert guy...)

Uh...uh...um...I mean...I've kinda had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right about me, but...I dunno... (He stammers.) I dunno what to believe anymore.

Goobert, surely you at least remember something! (I plead with him.)

(I look to the others.) We've got to keep jogging his memory. Mention anything he's specifically been through. Maybe we'll get through to him.

Danjor Island (Volcano Base (Clamperls; Around Gomer))

(The number of Clamperls in a state to fight back is gradually going down. With a clear path open now, Georgés seizes the opportunity to go over to the group surrounding Rudy to see what exactly they are doing with him.)

(Cortez looks visibly annoyed at being carried around under someone's arm.) Snarsszzzhaditwithbeingcarried...

(Still carrying her siblings, Polly dodges the remaining Clamperls and looks to Hikari.) Mind usin' that again? Maybe we can just wear th' rest of 'em out with yer Sweet Scent! And maybe th' Ditto could try usin' somethin' like that, too.

(Meanwhile, when asked about why he seems so distracted by Renata, Gomer suddenly looks extremely embarrassed.) I mean...uh, she just...I feel like I know her somehow!

(Renata looks a bit offended for a moment but keeps her cool.) ....Dear, I have never met you before in my life. How in the world could I know you? Unless you used to be someone I know before you were a Huntail.

(Gomer grins and shakes his head.) Oh no no no no. Mama Phoebe says I've always been a Huntail. Except when I was a Clamperl.

But if you're like everyone else with Phoebe, then you MUST have been someone else before she used the serum on you. (Renata says.) How do you know she hasn't been lying to you?

(Gomer's expression falters a bit.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Oct 18th 2019 at 9:35:29 AM

The Battle

No no no it's not working not working...we gotta break through. I start pulling into the reservoir of my thoughts to start throwing out things I can recall about our time with Goobert. Okay...we've got...first time we reunited in Hoard, the advice he gave me to go for it with Marsha...actually, the possibilities are endless. I immediately pull into my next verbal salvo.

Dude, come on. I'm your best friend. Don't you remember the first time we had to split off? I nearly cried tears of joy when we met back up. Don't you remember the time I mega evolved? How cool it all was? Remember when we saved Hoard from going down to Bella? That badass Outrage you did while we fought Merqury? When you gave me the push I needed to ask Marsha out? That worked well. What about the laughs we had along the way? You have to remember.

Marsha looks back at the fight as it slowly shows signs of winding down and tries to call for extra help.

Hey! Any of yas! We do need help up heres.

Stellan releases Cortez from his grip as he looks at the developing situation with Rudy then back at Miller and Daniels.

We gotta be ready for her when we see her. But for now...this fight's almost done. Let's time our Thunderbolts, yeah? Three, two, one!

Stellan unleashes a Thunderbolt into a crowd, expecting Miller and Daniels to follow.

Aw, c'mon. We know she's lyin' to yeh. You have t'have been someone else before yeh met her. That's how it works, she's been messin' with yeh and keepin' th'real you hidden away. Either yeh remember who you were and help us or this island goes down and we go down with it! D'yeh really think she'll bail yeh out then?

As Addie lays the truth of the matter a certain pair of Clamperls inch their way closer to the Houndoom, finding her rather familiar....

Dude, she looks so familiar.. but I dunno how?

I dunno, either, but..let's go talk to her, no?

They inch closer and closer, with Igni possibly the first to notice their approach.

"Goobert, we have experienced much together" said Noriaki, nodding, "We worked together to take down maniacs that threatened this world's peace like that Belladonna, we have shared a great few laughs and pleasantries... Do not forget your own passions either! Delilah is right here, the woman you met all the way back in Silversand and eventually realized you held such feelings for her that overpowered those of your partner at the time. Surely that passion is still in your heart at least to a minuscule degree?"

Noriaki was aware that he was reaching a bit and getting a bit corny. But all the same. perhaps that was just what his old comrade needed.

Hikari nodded to Polly.

"Very well."

The Aromatisse released another pungent Sweet Scent in the air surrounding the Clamperls, strong enough to throw them off a bit at least.

(Did my message get through? It's hard to tell, but as I shake my head, I notice two Clamperl trying to sneak up on us.)

H-hey, hold on, just stay right there, we'll get to you in a second. One at a time, please, but if you were going to fight us you had your chance already, so I'm going to assume you're friendly for now.

(Given that all this fighting seems to be accomplishing what amounts to nothing, I'd rather make friends than enemies if possible.)

Vs. Phoebe's Raiders II

(I kept my eyes on the Gorebyss, hoping this will work. Or at least prevent him from lunging out at one of us. From the looks of things, the latter's less and less likely.)

(Coordinating with Stellan, Miller lets loose another Thunderbolt, hopefully finishing this skirmish.)

(I see... Though what stake in this that isn't mine to fight, other than my promise to Her Highness. Still, Pheobe's reign of terror must end. Such monster whom willing tear apart friends and families must be allowed to roam free. Huh...)

My sense catch a whiff of something left behind or someone nearby, its kinda hard to separate these smells due to many other 'Mons close by.

The battle (Gomer)

Aw, come on! We just wanna talk to the Houndoom, just sayin'!

Yeah! We keep seeing her in dreams of ours...or something like that.

Addie's ears twitch while she's still helping with the interrogation of Gomer. Those voices...are those...?