ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

(It seems that she didn't even notice me, however we must end this quickly. And what's with the flock of Wingull and Pelliper?)

I follow Marlon's example and unleash a Hyper Beam of my own from my steel mouth towards Phoebe.

Danjor Island (Vs Phoebe)

Marlon! Be careful! (Georgés shouts as he realizes that Marlon is starting to give out from the sheer force of the Hyper Beam. He ends up slipping out of Marlon's scarf again.)

Marly! (Marsha quickly runs over in Marlon and Georgés' direction.)

(One of the Pelippers' beak pops open, revealing a bunch of Wishiwashi inside.) We're here to help the Wishiwashi who's in here! (One says to Noriaki.) We've been following their signal!

(The rest of the Pelippers and Wingulls not talking to Noriaki fly to where the Marduo and Georgés are and begin depositing their Wishiwashi around Georgés.)

Uh, what's goin' on? (Marsha wonders out loud as she tries to keep Marlon steady.)

What the-? Who are all of you? Can you not SEE what is going on around here? (Georgés shouts at them.)

Oh, we can, yeah, but we saw you give off a distress call and came to help! (One Wishiwashi says, glistening his eye to show Georgés what he means.)

I...did that? And you saw it??

Yeah! We can spot a Wishiwashi from miles away! So now we're gonna help you! (The Wishiwashi begin gathering around Georgés.)

How is this supposed to help me, if I may ask? (Georgés asks.)

Hey, don't you know how Schooling works?

Well, no, I have only been one of you for about two hours.

Well, just you wait and see! This is gonna be awesome!

Whatever you say... (Georgés says.)

(Nori, Marlon, and Daniel's attacks alone do quite a number on Phoebe, and a Dragon Pulse from Delilah and another Boomburst from Benji do so as well. In desperation, she puts up an Aqua Ring, healing herself significantly.)

She's healing herself?! (Cortez shouts as he wrestles with a Clamperl clamped down onto his tail.)

Oh no... (Shelley mutters.)

Well, we will have to make sure that we wear her out faster than she can heal herself, just saying! (Benji says. He briefly looks in Marlon and Daniel's direction, anticipating that neither of them will be able to attack for a bit due to the Hyper Beams (and wondering where all of these Wishiwashi are coming from) before looking back to everyone else.) Keep going!

(Over the edge, Renata manages to reach her wheelchair after about a minute of climbing. She soon finds that the Garchompite is still in it. She sighs in relief. She feels that if it hadn't been there, she and the Huntail would have been done for, especially since nobody seems to have even noticed that Phoebe swept them over the edge yet.)

How's that gonna get us back up? (Gomer(?) asks.)

I'm...not sure it will, but it's worth a shot. (Renata says. She takes the stone. She briefly looks down at her legs, unsure of what Mega Evolving with them in the state that they're in will do, but at this point it's now or never. She begins drawing energy from the stone.)

Hold on tight, Doug! (Renata tells Gomer(?) as she begins to glow.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Nov 9th 2019 at 2:43:09 PM

The cave

After letting go of the beam I collapse right into Marsha's arms and pass out on the spot. Subconsciously I send a message to her.

Exhausted...pain...

Stellan shirks back in shock as Phoebe heals herself with the Aqua Ring, enough to where he indeed spots Renata and "Douglas" attempting their climb back up. He realizes that not only did he not realize they were swept off, but that this is becoming a lost cause. Phoebe is likely going to die here. His friend, who viewed him as her only friend in life. He realizes that he must begin to accept this reality. He looks over the ledge where Renata and the Huntail are, and while offering his assistance he fires another shock wave downwind towards Phoebe.

Addie, through the frantic movements of everything around her, listens on the Wishiwashi plan to school up. She tries to offer assistance.

Igni 'n I can get yeh a clear path if yeh need it. Jus' say it 'n we'll do it.

She lunges over and barks, sending a Snarl into Phoebe's midsection, before looking back for the Wishiwashi group to ready up.

Ophelius keeps it coming, expelling a Dragon Pulse and expecting Miller and Daniels to repeat with the same, simultaneous, Dragon Pulse.

Edited by Team42Larson on Nov 9th 2019 at 2:53:06 PM

(I quickly follow Addie's lead on the matter.)

Yeah, we'll cover you, but make sure you're ready because we're probably only going to get one chance at this.

(With that being said, I remember the attack from earlier I felt like trying, and I suddenly seem to catch on fire, ramming into Phoebe before bouncing back to Addie's side, self-extinguishing as soon as I land.)

Ok, uhh... I didn't mean to do that, but I like it already.

Vs. Phoebe

(After striking her, I felt my shoulder flaring up in pain. Yeah, definitely risky. As soon as that tail came to me, I nosedived out of the way. When I heard that she's starting to patch herself up, I knew it was time. I pulled out my blades and made one more charge at her, aiming directly at her face.)

(Keeping up with his boss, Miller fired off another Dragon Pulse.)

Noriaki could only nod in acknowledgement to the Wishiwashi as they moved away before h turned his attention to Phoebe.

"Aqua Ring..." Noriaki muttered to himself, "It is a method of self-care but an impractical one, especially in her situation."

The Decidueye soared past and above Phoebe, dropping another salvo of Razor Leaf.

Back on the ground, Hikari took not of Marlon's state and rolled over to where he and Marsha were.

"Used too much of his energy?" the Aromatisse asked, "I cannot heal that, but I can at least offer to help guard him while he's vulnerable. We should bring him as far from Phoebe as we can, first thing."

Danjor Island (Vs. Phoebe)

Yeahs! (Marsha says to Hikari, taking one side of Marlon in anticipation that Hikari will take the other.)

(Meanwhile, the Wishiwashi have all gathered around Georgés but nothing is happening.)

Why isn't it working? Do we have everyone?

We must have left someone behind by mistake! We just need one more!

Oh, ya do? (Marsha says. She turns around and whistles to get Benji's attention.) Yo! Benji! Give these guys a hand! They need to school!

Oh, of course! (Benji runs over and dives into the Wishiwashi pile, turning into a Wishiwashi himself as he does so. The pile now begins to glow and take the shape of what looks like a much larger fish.)

   OWWW!    (Phoebe shrieks as Grigori collides with her. Her face is now visibly full of gashes and one eye is swollen shut. Maran slams into the other side of her face with a Dragon Claw; adding more gashes. The Dragon Pulses, Razor Leaves, and electric and fire attacks do a number on her as well, coating her in injuries that her Aqua Ring don't seem to be healing fast enough. She gets driven back almost to the edge of the cliff.)

   LET ME HAVE THI-!!    (Suddenly, a geyser of water hits her and sends her rolling along the edge of the cliff. I look over and WHAT IS THAT GIANT FISH THING?!)

   STAY DOWN!    (What sounds like a thousand voices come from it, but Georgés' voice seems the loudest.)    YOU WILL NOT DESTROY THIS ISLAND, PHOEBE! I WILL NOT LET YOU!   

Georgés? (Sunny mutters from Maran's back.)

   Oh no?    (Phoebe sets herself back upright, away from the cliff's edge, and her dorsal fin begins to glow pink, just like mine did when I used Psychic, but her one good eye is glowing pink, too. But instead of any of us being affected by the attack, the ground begins to shake as she reaches over with her tail to pull that Golem over to herself. Is...is this what she was planning to do to destroy the island? Is...this the end?)

Fellas, what's HAPPENING? WHAT DO WE DO?! (Marsha shouts.)

Are we about to die? ARE WE ABOUT TO DIE?! (Cortez shouts, running around in circles.)

(The flock of birds that brought the Wishiwashi in begin to flee. Maran and Sunny flounder about in mid-air, unsure of what to do.)

Emergency Exit...Emergency Exit... (Shelley mutters, in apparent hope that the ability will activate, but nothing happens. She stands in place in horror.)

(The now-Mega Evolved Renata launches herself and Gomer over onto solid ground, landing by Delilah and the others.)

(OH MY GOSH, Mother Mega Evolved! I quickly run over toward her and hug her.) Oh, Mama, you Mega Evolved! What happened? I'm so sorry, I should have helped!

Shh...it's all right, Della. We pulled through. (She tells me.)

(I look up at Phoebe as the ground shakes and I feel Goobert steeling himself as I still hold him.) ...Did we?

Phoebe! WAIT! (Gomer shouts. She doesn't seem interested in listening.)

The Cave

What are you...

Stellan feels himself getting pulled into Phoebe. She's...going to do it! She's going to allow all of these innocent Pokémon to die.

No. I won't let this happen.

He starts to push against the tail pulling him forward. There is no more time to think about this.

I cannot believe you're letting this happen, Phoebe! All of these Pokémon, and you've proven it to me: you don't care about any of them! This was why you never gained any other friends! You were nothing but selfish, you're still nothing but selfish, and I don't know why I tried to save you. You've ruined hundreds of lives, and you expect me to just come with you? No. And you know what that means? WE. ARE. THROUGH!

He winds up and plunges his claws right into her, and with assistance from the Rain Dance, sends in a wicked thunderbolt (thunder) from above, straight into the Gorebyss.

Addie backpedals again. She realizes that they might be out of time and rethinks things. She looks around and realizes some of the others are bracing. Not her, though. She has to see this through. She beckons both the Wishiwashi and Igni to move again.

Okay. Go! Go again, now! Get her!

She lunges in with Crunch, biting down and not letting go.

Sir, are we gonna die?!?

No, Clay! We have this under control! One more time!

He unleashes once again with Dragon Pulse, expecting Miller and Daniels to do the same.

I'm still unconscious but allow for Marsha and Hikari to grab me.

Edited by Team42Larson on Nov 11th 2019 at 2:56:05 PM

...

(I stare in terror for a moment before shaking my head.)

If there's one thing I know, it's that this is not the end, not because I said so, but because we won't let it happen. All of us! Even me!

(I reignite myself and ram into her once more, full force, before kicking back off and landing next to Addie.)

I swear I'm really gonna need to relax after all this, though...

(I honestly do believe we can win this still, but it is exhausting. I'm surprised I've even lasted this long, honestly.)

Danjor Island (VS. Phoebe)

(For a brief moment, the tremors begin to subside and Phoebe lets out an audible gasp before Stellan shocks her with Thunder and Igni and Ophelius' attacks land. She immediately collapses (mostly from the Thunder) and the ground stops shaking. She isn't dead or unconscious, but she still lays there at the edge of the cliff, staring at Stellan with sad eyes, no longer attacking. She looks as though she is about to say something to Stellan when:)

   AUGH!   

(She suddenly convulses and coils up incredibly tightly.)    ...no...no no NO NO NO NO!!    (She cries, sounding as though she is in pain. For once she doesn't sound smug or sure of herself and actually sounds...scared.)

....What's going on? (I wonder out loud, finally looking out again.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Nov 11th 2019 at 3:37:16 PM

The cave

Stellan's serious demeanor shrinks by a sizable amount as he finally comes back to his senses. What...what did he just do? His old friend...beaten within an inch of her life. Is..he no better than she? He doesn't want to let her go, not this soon. If she doesn't make it, he will never forgive himself. He sighs and motions for everyone else to stop.

Stop your attacks. Let me finish this.

He kneels down and tries to explain his rationale.

Phoebe, do you see what's happening? You've pushed this to such an extreme that I can't stand behind what you wanted to do with me. I would've never forgiven myself for just leaving these poor pokemon to die, and you were moments from making that happen! For the five years after that incident at the University I let myself believe a lie that you did something to my old man...but now I know that was a clear lie perpetuated to drive me away from you when you needed me most. And I'm sorry. I know I just said that I can't be your friend anymore but...please, surrender yourself now and let these guys go free. I'll be waiting for the day we can start over. Believe me, I want to see you get well. Forgive me, my friend..

He reaches down to pull his friend into a hug, knowing that no matter what happens this might be the last time he can do this for a long, long time.

Edited by Team42Larson on Nov 11th 2019 at 4:05:51 AM

Hikari nodded to Marsha and tried her best to hoist the other side of Marlon in the effort to relocate him.

Noriaki panicked as Phoebe started channeling Psychic energy into the earth.

I have barely tried to learn Brave Bird he thought to himself, But I will have to learn now, I can't hesitate even fo-

The Arrow Quill Pokemon's thoughts were disrupted as Stellan's Thunder roared through. Noriaki fluttered back and rolled back down to the ground near the others, clutching his hat to his head.

As he watched Phoebe fall to the ground from shock, he began pulling an arrow from his wings.

... But as he saw Stellan approach and ask everyone held back for now, he slowly put it away.

Noriaki watched Stellan talking down to his old friend with a solemn gaze.

Wait, what? Is that it?

(I'm confused by her suddenly giving in like that... but then, I see Stellan hugging the enemy?)

...Uhh...

(So, wait, is this really what it's all been leading up to?)

I mean... ehh...

(I'm feeling conflicted here. On one hand, forgiveness and redemption are nice things, but on the other, she tore countless families apart and terrorized so many innocents that I can't help but feel that it's almost beyond her by this point...)

...

(...Maybe it's better to let the others decide on this. I'm just not sure how to feel about it.)

Vs. Phoebe

(I moved away from her to plan out the next attack before the bolt of lightning had knocked her down. Perfect. Just as I was about to make another pass directly at the back of her neck, a voice from below told me to stop. What is he doing? I know he wants her alive, but she's trying to kill us all! The voice returns, tempting me to just go ahead and kill her now.)

   Fuck what that idiot says, just go after her! Go down and tear her throat out! Kill her!   

(Looking back at the Gorebyss, seeing how vulnerable she is despite her size, I fought back against the voice. I'm not letting it control me this time! Lowering myself to the ground, I did all I can to resist the urges. With every step I took, I made another to resist it. I sheathed my blades to stop myself from attacking. Then, the voice stopped after so much pressure. Perhaps it knew what I was doing, or may be it's acting out of self-preservation after realizing what would happen if I did attack. Whatever the reason, I might not know, but I do know one thing: she's not dying here.)

What's he doing? (Before Miller can continue the attack, he looked at his boss, concerned for Stellan's actions. The tense feeling is back again, the adrenaline starting to plateau.)

All the choas and the energy backlash from my Hyper Beam caused me to remain silent and unmoving. I recharge my energy while waiting to see what happens next, from a crouching/kneeling position.

Danjor Island (Vs. Phoebe)

What the hell are you doing?! (Cortez shouts at Stellan.) Don't you know she-

Boss! Shh! Hold on! (Maran says as he lands. Sunny runs over to Georgés, who similarly seems very skeptical of giving Phoebe any kind of mercy. He looks over toward her, but says nothing for now.)

(Phoebe looks around and the many faces (some still angry like Georgés, Polly, and others); some belonging to the many Pokémon she forcibly turned into her minions) staring at her as she still lies bunched up in pain. It seems as though that, as she lay there frightened that she may be dying and her life flashing before her eyes, it's finally occurred to her the immense hurt she has inflicted on so many since as far back as her days at Spivey University; like a light bulb finally came on inside of her mind and she just realized what she has been doing all of these years. Tears begin streaming down her face.)

   I'm...I'm sorry...Stellan...I-...I lost control of myself for...so long...and now...I'm on the verge of...of...—AAGH!   

(Phoebe recoils in pain again.)    ...I cannot start over...I cannot leave...there are too many Pokémon who will hate me and won't forgive me for what I have done if I leave here...I wanted to be as well known as my grandfather...and now I've gotten my wish...I will simply be the Pokémon who tried to...to blow up a volcano and spread a serum she invented throughout the world...forced Pokémon to help me against their will to do that...just to prove herself right to Pokémon she thought were wrong about her...   

(She looks up skyward to out of the volcano, where the Wingulls and Pelippers are circling overhead.)    ...There is no future for me out there...not anymore...it would be better if you and your friends just...just left me here, Stellan...there are plenty of new friends out there you can m-make...ones who will surely not make the same mistakes I have made...let me go...   

(I guess Phoebe was Stellan's old friend, so it would make sense why he would want to try to get through to her when she's vulnerable like this. Still though...she stole my father away from Mother and I, and Goobert away from all of us (not just me), and we almost never saw either of them again. I still can't help but feel some sort of resentment toward her nor bring myself to go any closer to her.)

(I notice the Huntail starting to move toward her, however. I gently lift Mother up (while moving Goobert to my shoulder) and (reluctantly) follow him.)

The cave

Stellan falters just a tad. It's honestly like the first day he met her, keeping her away from those bullies...except now she might not make it.

I...I can't. I won't. I refuse to leave you to die here, Phoebe. Ever hear of a certain thing called starting a new leaf? Please, I will be with you every step of the way until you have that chance to improve your image, to—start again. Don't give up on life because you couldn't do what your granddad did, put yourself on the same pedestal as he. You can make your own path, Phoebe. But it has to start now. Give this up, and let the proper pokemon help you. I won't give up on you, when it seems like the world has. I can't easily forgive this, no, but I want this to be all behind us.

He sheds a tear as he pulls out a shell from his pocket. But of course, this isn't any shell...but rather one from the very first time the two of them ever built a sandcastle together. Seventeen years, and he hasn't let go of the one memory he cherishes the most between himself and Phoebe. He places it before her before turning his head just a tad to look around at the others.

I...I need secure medical transport for her to get out of this and start getting the proper help. How soon can I have it?

He looks back at Phoebe to see what response this illictis.

Addie looks on with a feeling of resentment, knowing that just like everyone else here she's had a little something taken from Phoebe. But it's in this moment she can sympathize with Stellan, just the fact of having a friendship on the brink. She relents.

Aye...jus' let her live. She'll be locked up somewhere and we'll never hafta see her 'gain anyway. I know it ain't easy, considerin' what she took from us but...why else did he come with us? He wanted t'make sure his friend lived to have a chance...even if she never sees the outside world again.

Ophelius and Clay quickly reconvene with the lackeys.

Are you two alright? I...I'll talk to him later.

I...we really should let her live. I can tell he isn't happy with us but let him have this..

I audibly gasp as I finally regain consciousness. We...did we get her? Still feeling weak as hell right now...

Did..did we win?

Edited by Team42Larson on Nov 12th 2019 at 10:39:17 AM

I... don't really feel qualified to comment on this, so I'll just go with whatever makes people happier, honestly.

(Indeed, after thinking about it for a bit, I realize that even though for a fair while it was a part of my own concerns, the ultimate fate of someone else shouldn't be influenced by me when I'm still learning about my surroundings.)

Dieter watches as this happens. Hmm, this is... unexpected. They admit that they're not the most... sympathetic to Phoebe after the stuff she did, but, they suppose they have their own person they want to see improve. Granted he was part of the Wishiwashi school now and That was pretty impressive... They... they'll see what happens. They're glad she wants to change but doesn't trust her yet.

"Yeah, I'm fine, boss. I'm not gonna get involved in... whatever's going on with this. Situation seems to be handled, though." Daniels says.

"[... I would say so" Hikari said to Marlon, "Don't strain yourself. You need to rest and recover still."

"The school of Wishiwashi could probably carry her" Noriaki suggested.

He just gazed at the two old friends that stood against each other, having talked about what could possibly be left for one. He couldn't help but think back to what had just happened a few days ago, which made him pull his hat's rim over his eyes.

Cavern

(Going back to that talk with the Aerodactyl back at that castle, I wondered if even a Pokémon like her deserves redemption. It's not that I forget it, I'm just wondering if there's a line to cross before redemption's no longer possible. I looked at her, trying not make myself a threat, but I'm not sure if she's going to be convinced.)

(Miller responded to Ophelius.) Yeah. Let's hope this goes well...

(It seems the battle is over... Thank Arceus that I didn't sully my hand with the blood of another 'Mon then those whose lives I've ended...)

I lift myself off the ground, still tired from a mixture of fights, rugged terrian and the heat. My stomach growls loudly, though I'm in no position to comment on the scene that's unfolding before my eyes.

Danjor Island (Volcano)

Chillax, Marly, everythin's fine now...I think... (Marsha says, still staring at Stellan and Phoebe with uncertainty.)

   Well, when we leave this form, we will not be able to move very well, much less carry her.    (Georgés says. He looks up at the Wingulls and Pelippers who got the Wishiwashi in here in the first place perched on the rocks overhead.)    But perhaps they could carry her? There is quite a number of them, anyway.   

Douglas...Douglas Langley...I don't expect you to forgive me for stealing you away from your family. (Phoebe tells my father. She seems to tense up a little, but I can't tell if it's because of the pain she's experiencing or because of the look Grigori is giving her.)

Well...uh...I still barely know what's going on... (He says.)

Just go to the spring...get your life and your memories that I stole from you back...all of you do. (She says.) You too, Rudy...I...(hrkk)...wish I knew what your real name was.

It's Goobert.

Yes..."Goo...bert"...? (Her face seems to wrinkle in confusion.)

(I mean, I'm glad she apparently still has enough of a conscience to renege on these terrible things she has done and let us go on to the spring, but still...I just still cannot help but still feel just so ANGRY with her....)

(It's then that Phoebe notices the sea shell Stellan is holding. Her already weary face wells up with tears and she breaks down into sobs.)

Well, if nothing else, at least she's regretting how she acted and coming quietly, eh? (Judy remarks to her brother.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Nov 12th 2019 at 9:55:23 AM

The cave

That's an idea...

Stellan looks up above at the still-encircling Pelipper and Wingull and tries to acquire their attention.

Hello up there! Can you...carry her to any form of medical help? Or at least back to Whispering Pines? She really needs it.

He grabs hold of her dorsal fin and one of her back fins as if to heft her up, carefully, assuming they come down to help. He then notices the reaction to the shell.

See, Phoebe? Seventeen years ago, when we first met, I took this one shell home with me, because eight year old me knew we had a friendship in the making. This shell I never let go of. It was too special. Just like the times we shared. I want those times to come back, you know.

Oh, well...that's fine and all but...I feel like I need to down at least a few glasses of ice water before I can feel normal again. This cave's heat really got to me..I feel like I'm gonna get sick if I don't get outta here soon.

If Marsha or Hikari places a hand upon any of the pressure points they'd feel my pulse being more rapid than usual...in other words, a sign of heat exhaustion.

Addie turns to head to the spring, Brady and Suzy not far away, but not before asking for directions.

Where's th'spring? What pathway did yeh hafta take t'get here, Judy? Did it cut through 'ere?

Perhaps so, Judes...as long as he stays with her at least she has a chance to get to fixing herself up. Stellan—

I know about the lie, Phil. But...she's gonna make it through. That's all I really needed from this. You're a son of a bitch, yes, but I just wanted her to live through this. And I'm gonna get my chance to patch up years of lost time.

I don't appreciate the tone but...I'm sorry. When we get back to Whispering Pines we'll discuss further.

Stellan can only nod in agreement.

Clay approaches Grigs.

Stand down, man. She's not gonna try anything else. Assuming what I think will happen you'll never have to see her for a long while if not ever again.

Edited by Team42Larson on Nov 12th 2019 at 9:59:12 AM

(I sigh once more, the battle having seemingly ended.)

Hopefully that's the last big fight we do for a while... Even though I am improving I still stand by not being much of a combatant to begin with.

(With that in mind, I resume following Addie's lead, intent on seeing the much-promised goal that this group has been looking for.)