She stands in place without a Protect, being ripped up by the Silver Wind in Mila's place.
"Ow..." She recovers and stands up again. "PJ... what are you even doing?"
I'm Huney B now. Okay?"Stop this, PJ! You have a choice! You're not a slave!"
Mila looks momentarily over to Bella as PJ talks to her, but on realizing that she's too far to make an accurate attack, Mila turns back to PJ and sends another Thunder Wave his way while bracing against the silvery particles. It stings, but it just might give her the edge she needs, as her electricity can more easily follow its path to her target, bouncing from particle to particle. Oh, how a rudimentary knowledge of physics has come in handy here. However, on seeing Finley take the brunt of the attack, Mila crouches down next to her and tries to help her up.
"Finley! Don't hurt yourself like this, please!"
edited 13th Sep '17 5:34:37 PM by Cabe_Bedlam
I need to update these things more often
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
. Fixed the post you requested, Cali...doesn't change his motivation. Power still out, elec company lied. Feel like I'm constantly screwed with over here. Fuck this fucking shit.
*Digda tanks a portion of the gleam pretty well, then yells out to Jani* Stop crying on the sidelines and FIGHT, kiddo! It's time for you to pick a side...your friend's life depends on it!
*Jani is going through a bit of an internal struggle as she kind of believed a lot of what she was saying...she knows this isn't going to end today...or anytime soon. Is she going to live out her days as a leper? Can't everyone just learn to live with it...her thoughts weaving in and out of the "presence" all the while*
*Voxno has been keeping tabs on Jani's thoughts, and decides to ping her for reassurance* (Do not betray the mission, Jani. No matter how long it takes, a cure WILL be found. Giving in will only lead to ruin.)
No killing, alright?! *Jani shouts out to Digda* He's probably already gone over his limit....like I did. Cripple him until he sinks from exhaustion!
*Digda gets the message and the two get on either side of PJ, yelling together* SAND ATTACK! *launching said attacks and hoping to get sand in his eyes regardless of where he looks*
(fuck too fast)
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.*Meanwhile, outside the Merchants' Councilhouse...*
As part of Operation: Dragon Install, the Pawniarmy had set up a number of defensive perimeters around the city, marked by the highly stratified courses taken by the small fleet of Magnezones, mirrored on the ground by their Aggron and Metagross counterparts, and connected by largely stationary clusters of troops in strategic locations. As the entire containment zone patrol outside had been called in, the number of troops in the city had almost doubled, something immediately noticeable to even a casual observer.
Naturally, a particularly strong blockade was in place in front of the councilhouse. The personnel present could definitely hear the sounds of a commotion going on inside, but had received explicit orders not to intervene. They had their own duties.
Bystanders walking by would occasionally stop and murmur at each other, but none of them dared question them directly. Meanwhile, two of the troopers faced away from the entrance, murmuring to each other.
"So... let me guess, it's your last day before retirement?" one of them, a female, asked, noticing her comrades' slightly unconcerned demeanour.
The comrade in question dropped it soon afterwards. "Wh-what? N...n-no, I'm way too- I only just came in from training!"
"Y'know that's almost as bad, right? Whatever... what's with the smug look, then?"
"Smug? I don't... I'm just chilled out, that's all."
"...You have no idea why we're here, do ya?"
"Sure I do! We're here to-"
Before they could finish their back-and-forth, however, the ground began to shake beneath them as a series of much louder sounds emerged from inside the councilhouse. Sounds almost like explosions. The windows shattered, bystanders sent yelling and fleeing as shards flew all over the place, followed by clouds of smoke and fire jumping out.
The front door soon burst open, revealing the Kapitani and Ripley. "Troopers, get clear! This building is about to collapse!" she ordered, and soon enough they and everyone else milling about in front of the councilhouse got well clear of the increasingly-unstable structure.
The building began to visibly rock, as small bits of brick and roof-tiling trickled down the side... followed by chunks of wall, followed by even more explosions, and soon the building began to deform and crumble inwards unto itself, completely collapsing into a vast cloud of dust, leaving nothing but fiery rubble in its wake.
Ripley and the Kapitani shielded their eyes from the dust, and as they attempted to clear it and enable better vision, they began to cough. Ripley in particular ignored the Kapitani's pleas - by gesture - to stay put, desperately trying to focus. Did they really do it? Was Merqury really gone? It couldn't be, not with that sort of strength... the pair of them were the only survivors once he started actually fighting them. Not even the Aggron stood much of a chance...
The Noivern only momentarily caught a silhouetted figure emerging from the rubble, holding... something. Something big and shiny and...
"HIT THE DIRT!!" she yelled as she dived down, prompting Khmalidze and those troops who were paying attention to do the same. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to save a few of them, who found themselves victim to one of Merqury's copper statues, hurled from within the crowd at great velocity and smacking into them with a loud 'CLANG'.
Soon, Merqury himself, slightly blackened from the destruction of his councilhouse but still as red-eyed and furious as ever, walked calmly out of the dust. He stopped to firmly plant his feet into the ground, hurled his hands to his sides and screamed in a Noble Roar.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH, RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY!!!!!"
With his yell, the dark aura emerging from him seemed to spread all far beyond him, creating a thin mist that reached into the Bazaar and beyond, in a manner not unlike what Khmalidze and Ripley understood happened in Silversand...
"Get ready, troopers... the Aggression is here."
edited 13th Sep '17 5:44:16 PM by PresidentStalkeyes
Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!After taking the brunt of the Silver Wind, Noriaki simply shook his head and murmured, "It saddens me to see you in such a sorry state, my old friend. And I'm sure everyone else here feels the same. But for now..."
He swings his body and tosses out a flurry of Razor Leaves that move in arches towards both sides of PJ's general area, and quickly tosses a few quills straight forward.
"I will try my best to release you from the spell that binds you."
[I sit there, grunting, bearing whatever is left of the Silver Winds with little resistance. The others are all unleashing their attacks upon PJ...I try and pull myself up from off the steps, hanging once again on one of the seats. I stop and think for a moment: while the others are focusing on PJ, I...fuck, I can barely see her...either of them, my vision's spinning a little...]
[...this is too much...I never wanted this...I wanted things to be discreet, and now everyone's evacuating and and everyone else is screaming and attacking and everything just hurts...]
[I look down at Goobert for a moment, watch him fire off a...something, then retreat back behind cover. ...that actually gives me an idea: I make my way down the steps towards him, kinda brushing beside him, then laying down behind the barrier. I haven't had too much use with Octozooka, but it can't be that hard, can it?]
*I take the Sludge Wave surprisingly well. Given the strange tint to my vision, I have to wonder if this is due to my Viral Aggression or something... Man, it really is a blessing in disguise in this case.*
PJ: "What am I doing? What am I doing? I'm keeping my girlfriend safe! You people... You piss me off! All of you! I thought you were my friends!"
(They still are, aren't they?)
PJ: "I guess I was wrong! You assholes see someone happy and stalwart in the face of hardship and you want to crush her lively spirit! I hate it! I hate you! I hate all of you!"
(No... No I don't...)
*In the midst of my ranting, I feel a sudden shock as my muscles start to lock up. A Thunder Wave? Whatever it is, I know how to deal with it. A sweet scent emits from my scarf, and my muscles quickly relax. Unfortunately, I have little time to react as I'm hit with sand, flame, and leaves in quick succession. It hurts all over, but I can't let the pain distract me. In the corner of my eye, I see Yalta moving towards Bella again. I make a sweeping motion at them with my hand, shooting out a Stun Spore-laced Fairy Wind at them.*
PJ: "Bella! Are we ready yet?"
Belladonna: "Most certainly! Ladies, gentlemen, and others, I hope you're all prepared to bear witness Hoard's rebirth! The old, rotten, corrupt Hoard that's been here for far too long shall soon see its demise, and be born again like the mighty Ho-Oh! All who wish to accompany me and my king in bringing this city to its knees shall be welcomed under the reign that follows! Those who oppose us shall meet with a most brutal execution! Let last dance begin!"
(She has such a way with words...)
(Execution? Oh god, she doesn't actually plan to kill anyone, does she? Oh shit, that blood's gonna be on my hands too... My friends and so many innocent people... This is because of me..)
*I put my hand to my head as I strain to hold back my inner doubts and fears. This is what we've been working for all this time, this is our endgame. Why am I so afraid of it now? I don't have much time to ponder it as Bella's wings beat strongly and elegantly and the dust begins to scatter through the air, spreading through the arena and beyond. Soon enough, this should awaken the demons within the people of Hoard. As her initial display concludes, Bella takes a bow and surveys the arena.*
Yalta: "Damn it... we lost..."
Belladonna: "Well, there we are, Paddy. Should only be a matter of time now. Need me to help disposing of these rat bastards now?"
PJ: "Yeah... You remember your promise though, right? Promise not to kill any of them?"
Belladonna: "Well, I'll try, but at this stage I can promise you nothing. I'm sorry about that, Paddy."
(No no no no no no no no no no...)
PJ: "Yeah, you know, that's... whatever, I can make it work, let's just get this over with."
(NO! NO! NO, I CAN'T LET HER DO THIS, I CAN'T LET MY FRIENDS OR ANYONE ELSE DIE!)
(Are they even still my friends at this point? They're closer to obstacles, in all honesty.)
(No, they're not obstacles, dammit! I need to stop this! I need to stop Bella!)
*I clutch my head in frustration and confusion, prompting Bella to place her hand on my shoulder.*
Belladonna: "Paddy? Are you alright?"
PJ: "Yeah, I... Let's just get this over with."
Belladonna: "If you say so, darling!"
Are you ready? Go live!"What the fuck...? WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Finley is completely thoughtless. She can't think of anything. She's completely still.
She didn't think this would ever happen, not in a million years... what the hell, what the hell, what the hell...
She's completely still.
Elsewhere
"... What the hell?" Quinn says, walking through the streets of Hoard. He starts noticing an odd dust, and those around him starting to act... strange.
Without needing to be told, he darts to the closest shelter he can find in the dojo.
A Delcatty is also seen walking the streets of Hoard. He too notices this strange occurance, but doesn't give a very loud reaction at all.
"Time and time again with this... very well." He continues walking, as if nothing is happening.
Finally, a Greninja is relaxing in the dojo sees Quinn run in.
"Is something wrong?"
"I dunno... I DUNNO! Some weird dust shit appeared in the sky and now everyone is acting weird!!"
"I see... stay in here for now."
edited 13th Sep '17 6:56:31 PM by Beverly
I'm Huney B now. Okay?(Now she's joining? Fan-fucking-tastic… I might need to come up with something here) I eye the two potential targets. (As fun as it'd be to knock PJ out a second time…) I use Leer on Belladonna. (I have higher priorities.)
If I don't clash, I don't change. The world ends at my borders, and the best moments slip away.(My jaw drops and my heart sinks as I watch this happen. Are...are we screwed...? Marsha, Delilah, and Benji run up to us as this happens.)
Not again... (Marsha moans.) You guys have any ideas?
I...I dunno! Marlon? (I turn to my friend, but he is busy attacking again. At this point, I have no idea what to do except fire a stronger Sludge Wave in Bella and PJ's direction again.)
edited 13th Sep '17 6:50:03 PM by kablammin45
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."[I try to peer over the edge, get a good look at my targets, though my vision's still a little fuzzy. In the meantime, as I try and get my bearings, I hear Bella's speech...]
"...wh...what?" [...so...this is her game? Hoard? Not revenge, not...whatever, just...Hoard. What...what does she have against this town? Does she have anything against this town? God, maybe it was from what I said, but...oh, what the fuck am I thinking, she was the one who talked about the whole king and queen thing!]
[I try to take aim once more, focusing on what looks like PJ, I think it's PJ, there's a part of my head that's...buzzing, I guess, not ringing, but... Anyway, I try and look, I see...him...craddling his head...is he fighting it?! Oh, shit, shit, is he fighting it!?]
[I shoot up, forgetting the pain in my leg and in my ribs and in the back of my head, screaming at the top of my lungs,] "COME ON, PJ! FIGHT IT, FIGHT IT! YOU can...YOU CAN DO IT!"
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
. Guess I need to explain my issues here. My phone is old, battery is dying, probably damaged, gives under an hour of charge. Overheats like crazy. I get like one check on the forums before I gotta run out to my phone to charge and use it the next time. That's why all the errors (and pissy frustration), sorry. (oh, plus the in-browser editor sucks/can't type brackets and my note app has spacing issues)
*Jani wastes no time heading over to Digda, remarking* This will not end well... *to which Digda responds* Something you may not know about our kind, kiddo, is that we've learned to value community. There's strength in numbers. Remember which attack was most effective against them before? *to which Jani nods*
But DO NOT target PJ, only Bella. Got it? *to which Digda nods and remarks* Way ahead of you, kiddo. Ready? *to which Jani nods*
*the ground beneath the two of them sinks at an angle, compressing, their bodies getting ready to launch like the ammo of a slingshot. Together, sharing one clump of dirt, they launch high into the air, soaring rapidly together with dirt-claws aiming for Bella and Bella alone on the descent*
TWIN AERIAL ACE!
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.(Marsha nods and makes a mad dash out of the arena and towards the inn.)
Be careful, Marsha! (I call after her.)
(Marsha runs out into Hoard. She sees an increase in the amount of Pawniarmy in the area, and that same dark mist that everyone saw in Silversand during the Dusknoir incident, this time coming from two different directions.)
No...oh no! Heck, this really can't be happening again...! (Marsha is actually getting scared.)
(Nevertheless she treks on to the Board in Hoard. She runs into the building, nearly bowling over Wendy, and runs in Marlon's room. She opens a drawer, snatches the remedies and begins making her way back.)
(Marsha rushes back in and throws the remedies to us.) Here ya are, Arms!
edited 13th Sep '17 7:04:31 PM by kablammin45
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."

*I perform a flying equivalent of a sidestep as Niles pounces at me, dodging Mila's Thunder Wave as well.*
PJ: "Niles, are you gonna help me or what?"
*I then feel a migraine come on as Marlon's Psychic strikes me. It isn't too strong, given Gallade's lackluster Special Attack, but it still hurts.*
(I can still stop this, it's not too late. Bella hasn't put our plan into motion yet, has she?)
(No, I gotta stop thinking like this. We're too far into our game anyways, she's gonna get it started and we're gonna bring this town to its knees.)
(But what am I doing to my friends? Hell, I've known Eliot since even before I got here, why am I trying to kill him?)
(No, I'm not fighting to kill, I'm fighting to incapacitate, now I just need to actually fucking focus on the fight instead of letting my doubts inhibit me like some weakling!)
*Even I'm against myself now, jesus christ. As the migraine subsides, I see Yalta slash at the air, sending some kind of blade of air towards me. I manage to avoid it and call upon a Silver Wind to blast my adversaries.*
PJ: "Bella! Tell me we're ready to roll already!"
Belladonna: "I need another moment, Paddy! Think you can tough it out a little longer?"
*I look up to the highest point of the arena, from atop which Bella stands proudly. She's giving off large amounts of some sort of dust from her scarf. Good, we're just about ready. I nod to her with a wide grin.*
PJ: "With pleasure, sweetheart!"
*Yalta seems to have noticed Bella as well, as when I look back to my foes, they've started for her. I fire off a Dazzling Gleam to deter them, scoring a direct hit to the helmet. While they're dazed, I redirect my attention to the others and follow up my Silver Wind with yet another one.*
Are you ready? Go live!