ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

I focus a beam of lightning towards this 'Phoebe' from my steel jaw.

(If it isn't her, then where is she. Nevertheless we must figure this mystery out swiftly.)

Noriaki scoffs a bit and still holds on to his charged Spirit Shackle, instead opting to back away a little and survey the area around what hi sallies have deemed to be a False Phoebe.

Danjor Island (Volcano Base)

(The false Phoebe tanks the first several hits aimed at her, leaving large gashes exposing pink cotton stuffing.) Oh, you figured it out! Well done! (She says.) Well, if you want to catch up with me, then you'd better hurry! I'm almost to where I'll complete the final part of my spell!

(I'm so stunned that I can't even act at first. I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE WASTED SO MUCH OF OUR TIME! Once I've regained my senses, I unleash the Dragon Pulse I've been holding inside of myself for so long.)

(Delilah's Dragon Pulse blasts the Substitute into the rocky wall behind it, ripping it into pink and purple cottony shreds as a result.)

(Gomer(?) turns to look.) Yeah! That's he-OH MY GOOOOOOSH!!!! (He suddenly screams in shock as Phoebe seems to be completely obliterated by the others.)

(Renata, Benji, and Shelley look up.) Um...I think that was a Substitute... (Shelley points out.)

Oh...oh yeah, forgot she could do that... (Gomer(?) says, a bit sheepishly. He's still trying to catch his breath, though.)

Yikes, that means she's gotta be further ahead than we thought if that's what they've all been talkin' to this whole time! (Benji says.) C'mon, fellas, let's go! (He shifts back into Noivern form and flies ahead. Shelley and Renata quickly follow.)

I'm really sorry, guys, if I had known she was going to do that, I would have said something as soon as possible. (I say to everyone, unable to help feeling a little responsible for this little setback.)

Danjor Island (Caverns)

(A ways into the cave, Phoebe seems to have lost a bit of her resolve upon seeing that her old friend Stellan is among the party coming to stop her.)

Et tu, Stellan...? (She mutters.) ...No, if I take only one Pokémon away from the island once I destroy it, it will be him. Perhaps then he'll be alright with me...

(She looks at the serums she still has with her, including the one that she will use on herself to complete her plans. She looks up ahead at the glow coming up the path she is following, nods, and continues forward.)

The volcano

That just isn't surprising. My suspicions are wholesale confirmed, and the substitute she laid down gets pretty much annihilated. And all that time gone down the drain. We need to move, and fast. Goobert comes clean and pretty much admits that he didn't know this would've happened. Fair.

I don't blame you, man. She's clearly that unpredictable and you couldn't have known otherwise that she would've done this. Now...

I look up at the looming volcano knowing now that we're on a clock at this point.

We've got no choice here. We need to get our asses in gear.

I take hold of my crutches again and fall in line as Benji, Renata, and Shelley begin to move, doing so msyelf.

Stellan looks on in disbelief as she did indeed lay a substitute down to stall them out just that much more. He is about ready to give up out of anger but the drive to now try and get her to stand down instead of forcing something out of her that she simply didn't have is driving him to keep at it. Before he too begin the climb he looks around at all of us, and the lackeys as well.

When we...get up there and face her, can you all show some form of restraint? If I could find a way to break through to her, I can get her to stand down.

Addie sighs and follows along, keeping Igni and the Clamperls of Brady and Suzy close.

Dear Arceus...she's somethin' else by this point...

And how...if we really are the two you claim us to be, can you please fix us soon?

Yes...I'll do what I can.

I'm worried... but, then again, I'm always worried, so I guess that's nothing new. I just hope it doesn't come down to me should something happen...

(Even if I am getting better at fighting, I still feel inept compared to a lot of the others. I... oh, nevermind, I'm just going to ask about it even if I sound dumb for it.)

Uh... Addie, is there some way of getting stronger other than just learning new attacks? I know, dumb question, feel free to ignore me...

Volcano Base

(So she really did send in a substitute. The voice had gone quiet and all the rage had dissipated. I'm not really sure if anyone caught that, and quite frankly, I'm not gonna stick around to find out. For the Golem's request, I can't really say that I can spare her given the sight of her nearly made me go berserk. I made my statement as I pressed forward.) We'll worry about it when we get to her. Right now, we've got to go.

Yeah, let's go ahead and do that, shall we? (It was quite clear in Miller's tone that he's not exactly enthusiastic about all of this. It is also clear that he hoped his boss's group would meet up soon to hopefully make the scene a little less awkward.

I focus more on keeping up with the 'herd' of Pokemon that I'm travelling with.

"I can try, but I won't give out promises that I can't keep." My second mouth replies to Stellan's request.

"Damn...!"

Noriaki simply dropped the arrow, sighing in annoyance.

"We must make haste, then."

The Decidueye looked at the now approaching Aromatisse that gave him a quizzical look. He nodded his head in the direction they were moving before he began moving himself.

He took a moment to look at Stellan. Parts of his face clouded up, as if contemplating something both in the situation at hand and in his own memories.

"... Aye, I understand it must be difficult for you to fully convince yourself she's an irredeemable monster, regardless of how much cruelty she shows" said Noriaki, nodding, "... I will try. I am not fond of killing to begin with, regardless."

"It's fine, she doesn't seem like she trusted you all that much anyway, just... let's hurry."

I check to make sure Marlon's still got ahold of the Wishiwashi friend and just... dash, dash to see if we can get to Phoebe before she can get further with her plan.

"Uh... if you're sure, okay. Just... be ready if it isn't easy, Stellan."

Daniels follows along, a little more willing to humor Stellan but... still unsure.

Edited by CorvusAtrox on Oct 25th 2019 at 10:16:55 AM

Danjor Island (Volcano Base)

(I look over at Goobert, Polly and the two Clamperls she's carrying (I don't know who they are but they must be people she knows), and Georgés in Marlon's scarf. She's hurt so many lives...including mine.)

I...I can't make any promises that I won't hurt her... (I say to Stellan.)

(It's then that I realize that my mother is approaching us and she's carrying the Huntail that was always with Phoebe.) Mom, what is he doing here?

(She looks up at me, and I notice that she's been...crying.) Della, this Huntail is your father.

No kiddin'?! (I barely hear Marsha say in disbelief.)

(I stop DEAD in my tracks.) M-Mother....a-are you joking me? HE'S...D-...?! (This can't be real...I'm just so stunned that I almost can't even bring myself to keep moving forward. She...she had Dad all this time? I thought he had left for a while when he and Mother had that big fight. How long has HE been Phoebe's minion?! H-he could have been one for as long as TEN YEARS!!)

(That does it. THAT. FREAKING. DOES IT. SHE IS GOING DOWN.)

Gomer, you're her dad?? (I ask Gomer (if I should even keep calling him that).)

Yeah, uh, I think so...wow, the real me is so hazy, Rudy! Maybe I'll remember better soon... (He says to me.)

(Man, I knew Gomer had to be someone else beforehand, but I wasn't expecting this....)

The climb

He was...Renata's husband? Dear lord. Damnit. How much worse does this need to get? She's swept up my best friend, Delilah's father, Georges, and several....thousand innocents by this point. If my leg wasn't still so fucked as it is I would've slammed it down in frustration, too.

Oh, no fucking way...

Each step of the crutches I take from this moment clank just a bit louder with the extra applied force I'm putting into my steps with extra resolve. Careful resolve, but still resolve.

Well, you know what we do in response to this? We take this fight right to her and show her no mercy. Easy as that. We all need to play a part in taking her down. Do I make myself clear?

I—I'm ready for that. I just wish that I could've convinced her much sooner. If she dies, then well....I wouldn't blame any one of you for it. All I want is to get through to her and help her understand. Understand that from the very moment she explained to me what she wanted to do all those years ago it would've never worked without this happening. I was the only mon that became a friend of hers that she didn't need to manufacture.

The Golem exhales a groan and kicks up some dust in frustration as he then realizes, again, that Phoebe's oldest partner in the clan was in fact someone's husband. If this lie that Ophelius perpetuated for the better part of five years ends with his old friend dead, he truthfully wouldn't know what to do with himself. His dad? Dead. His best friend in life? Could also end up dead. Closure? Haha, what's that?

There's def'nitely many ways for yeh to get stronger, Igni, that don't involve needin' t'battle so often...but for right now...

She looks back at the Dragonite seemingly being ready for war.

We don't have much a choice.

She looks to her side and confirms that her cousin and Brady are keeping close.

Edited by Team42Larson on Oct 26th 2019 at 8:01:16 AM

(I sigh once more.)

I didn't really expect to have a choice by this point. I just worry that I'm not going to be useful after the fact either...

(Maybe venting my frustrations out where others can hear it is a bad idea, but I can't help it. There's nowhere safe or quiet to do so, and there hasn't been for a good while.)

(She had one our member's husband for ten frickin' years!? If Stel can't reach her, this family terrorist will be put down, even I have to become a murderer myself. hop....)

"Darn, She could have scooped up milady." I wind up voicing my thoughts for all to hear. I climb with a strengthened resolve.

Danjor Island Volcano

(Benji notes Igni's worries and questions about getting stronger and turns to the Fennekin.) If it make you feel better, there are two other much stronger forms that you can evolve into. Remember that other fox Pokémon we saw in the village that was interrogatin' Sunny's friends? (To make sure Igni knows what he's talking about, he takes the form of the Delphox in question.) You can eventually become that, just sayin'. And before that... (He morphs into a Braixen that strongly resembles Autumn.)

(The entrance to a cavern leading into the volcano soon ominously looms in front of the party. A damp trail suggests that Phoebe and the few Clamperls she has left went this way.)

The climb

There...we're getting close.

I say, spotting out the wet trail in front of us. The entrance looms just in front of us, too.

Whatever light you've got, now's the time to use it. This place might not let you see more than 20 feet in front of you.

My eyes glow into the pink hue once again as I look ahead into the cave entrance and hobble on ahead.

Y'see, Igni? Many ways to get there.

(...Ahhhh. Now I get it, I think. Now I feel reassured to some degree that I'm nowhere near as powerful as I could be, that it will get better.)

...Thank you for the vote of confidence. I mean that honestly, thank you. I'll keep supporting you all in any way I can.

(Now more than ever, it's clear that this is a group that values me even as I am, so I'll just have to keep helping them. I'm sure now that if I do, I'll get what I want eventually.)

More darkness? Hm... I don't really think we have another stick laying around somewhere, not this far up at least. Maybe I can light some cave moss on fire or something...?

Edited by MetamorphicHalis on Oct 26th 2019 at 5:58:39 AM

"Here we are, then..." said Noriaki, gazing into the dark entrance. He looked to Hikari.

"If you are going to try and make a light source, then be sure to stay close to me and be aware of your surroundings, you'll likely be an easier target should there be a surprise assault in wait."

"I'm no simpleton, Noriaki, but I appreciate your concern" the Aromatisse responded, forming a small sphere of light between her claws, looking like a small Moonblast. She walked in with Noriaki after Marlon.

Cavern

(Another call for a light source. An idea did stick out to me, but I'm not entirely sure how effective it would be. I look at the available Fire-types: a Houndoom, a Fenniken, a Charizard, and perhaps a few more that could learn to light something up. I took out an arrow and presented it to them.) I could make a flare out of one of my arrows. I'm gonna need a Fire-type attack to light the tip and I'll fire it ahead of us. Any objections?

(Miller shrugged to the Gallade.) We have Thunderbolt, but that would cause a lot of noise.

(I concentrate a bit, firing an Ember right at the tip to try and light it perfectly.)

Cave moss, arrowtip, same thing...

Danjor Island (Cavern Entrance)

Good on yeh! (Polly tells Igni. She turns to Grigori.) If it gits too dark, I'll jest light my tail up as bright as I can ge' it. (She briefly flares the flame on the end of her tail.)

Could be some cave moss somewhere in there like Igni was talkin' about that we could light up, too, just sayin'. (Benji says. He turns back into Noivern form, realizing that it suddenly looks like Autumn just spontaneously appeared on Danjor Island.)

(I take a few deep breaths...calm yourself, Del...she may have destroyed your father's life and nearly destroyed your best friend's life but you have...to stay...calm....)

If we're ready to head in there after her, then let's get going... (I say.)

(Delilah's tone sounds calm, but it's clearly dripping in anger. Marsha pats the Dragonite's back before preparing to move ahead.) We'll show her, Del!

Please be in here, James... (Shelley mutters as she looks ahead at the cavern.)

Cave entry

I didn't exactly expect the two lackeys to have the ability to make a light source without making noise, but I guess it was still worth something to suggest the idea. Nevertheless....

Okay...let's move, then. We've got the light but they've got the numbers. Keep that light going on that arrow if it diminishes. They'll probably expect us so if they show up while we're still in here...be ready.

I hobble onward, leading our group inside. I switch crutches, using one to feel along the walls, the other to help keep my balance as I walk, each step growing increasingly painful.

Shit. Not this again...

Stellan marches onward, slowly, to make sure the two lackeys keep pace. He manages to find a way to use the pillars on his head to spark, without making much if any noise.

He's right. If she jumps out before we get out of here we gotta be ready.

Nice job, Igni! If yeh need any extra help in keepin' that lit I'll be at yer service.

(A Cave...)

"I can assist with keeping the flames burning, but I don't need any light source. My 'species' tend to be found in caves, anyways. I can use my 'natural sense to help navigate the interior, if any need it." I say, trying to be helpful.

Cavern

(With the arrow lit, I fired it straight into the darkness. Hopefully it won't just immediately burn up when we get to it.)

Noriaki and Hikari followed Marlon's lead.

"Is your leg bothering you again, Marlon?" Noriaki asked, shifting his eyes around to make sure there are no ambushes.

Hikari's sphere of light created a sort of visible circle of light, almost like someone holding a single light bulb.

It's one thing to fight them, but another in the dark... and I'm already not too great at fighting when there's light, so I'll just concentrate on what I am good at.

(My job done for the time being, I quietly resume following, keeping an eye on one of our main light sources and making sure it continues being lit up.)