ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

"You…" I'm grinding my teeth. Saying what I feel right now won't do. I want him to feel it. All of my frustration. All of my indignation. All of my hate. "Apologies aren't necessary." Allowing my fire and emotions to work in tandem, I release a large circular wave of flames and whatever dirt it kicks up that expands around me.

PJ's reaction just makes it worse. However, Finley recognizes how incredibly distressed the two are. And now Nori is joining in...

Last night...

Did they think she...?

"Hey, it's okay, it's okay..." She says, trying to rub their backs.

"Everything's alright. I'm alright. Just calm down and explain, okay? I'll listen..."

[Before I can fire off another Ember, I get swept off my feet by a wall of water, and before I know it, I'm shoved into the creek, face down in the water. Coughing, the creek water steaming around me, I look up and laugh at Marsha.]

"Y'know, I never thought you'd end up helpin' out there, bu'that was good!"

[Picking myself up out of the creek, I start walking over towards the others when I notice one of the little...oh, it's a little throwing star, that's clever. Kinda crazy that Marlon thought do to do that... I pick it up, examining it, then continue back towards the gaggle of Pokémon that seems to be gathering...]

edited 19th Oct '17 3:31:03 PM by BlackMageAnolis

PJ: "You... the- the note... I thought something was- well no, I just wanted to apolo-"

*I can hardly gather my thoughts well enough to communicate the point I wish to make. I pause, taking a few more quivering breaths before I explain.*

PJ: "I ca- I came into the room and you were like... I saw you hanging from a r- room, there was a fucking rope and you were hung and it was like, fucking... hah, but you're okay, you've been okay this whole time and fucking... I feel like an idiot, but I'm just so glad you're safe..."

That's...pretty much what I saw too... *Jani's tears dry up, though she gets a somewhat puzzled look* ...wait, you really didn't see anything?

*suddenly shifting to trying to rationalize it, she says (at a lower volume, but by no means inaudibly)* How did that even happen? Was it one of the High Oracle's assistants, maybe?

Those in the drawing room might hear a quiet sobbing from outside, as Mila is lying crumpled in a heap right outside the main entrance. She's just gotten back from dropping off David at the manor, having gotten him to go to sleep early so she could rejoin the others for a moment. As she walked in, she'd caught PJ's initial outburst and couldn't bear to go any further inside. As far as her thoughts are concerned, the worst must have happened. And naturally, it's all because of the mess with David.

Wiping his sparse tears a bit, Noriaki tries to explain, "Th-there appears to have been a disturbing illusion in place here, madam. It was the image of you haven taken your own life."

Andy dives down to the ground, trying to avoid the flames. I don't want to fight you, Nyquil. Please. Leave it alone. We don't need to do this.

"Oh... oh no..." She begins to stutter. "N-No, I'd... never try to..."

That's not true. She'd been like this for a while, it's just now starting to come out is all.

"... You don't have to worry about me, okay? I'll be okay. I'll be absolutely fine..."

Then she hears Mila outside sobbing.

"... what do we do?"

*Lilly shouts to the battlers* That was amazin'! I hope some day I could be half as cool as you guys! *and while Lilly's being all gushy gushy, Tilly can't help but notice the commotion out of the corner of her eye...she can just barely spot Dore and Niles battling, and she alerts the Goo Crew*

I think that Honedge is about to fight Niles...or the other way around. *Tilly states bluntly* Maybe we should check it out. *and then heads over by the two, Lilly starts to follow*

(I see Eliot come back with the throwing star:)

Heh, you think you could possibly use your fire-type attacks to make throwing stars?

(I say. I nod at Lilly:)

Thanks. You can be just as good as us, with practice.

(I look back at Dinah and the Riolu. I ask Dinah:)

Who's she?

(I see that Dore and...Niles? Are about to fight. I motion to the others to not get involved, and stay near the creek. I stay put as well.)

I wish you the best of luck in your romantic endeavor, Benji.

(Lucille nods to Benji, offering a wing to shake.)

edited 19th Oct '17 3:41:58 PM by Team42Larson

(Dinah looks over to Lucy, who is still not looking up.)

Her name is Lucy... (Dinah says.) She lost her parents when Dore attacked the Bedsheets.

(Lucy lets out a small whimper.)

Oh man... (I say.) So he did do it...and not only that...

(I walk over to Lucy and give her a Goodra hug.) I'm sorry that happened...this must be really tough for you...

Yeah... (Lucy says, hugging me back.)

Dang, I knew that guy shouldn't 'a dealt with those fellas like that... (Marsha says, taking Marlon's hand and shaking her head.)

It's awful... (Delilah says, hanging her head.)

(Benji eagerly shakes her wing.) Yeah! Thanks! (He takes Niles' sandwich and cheerily heads out the door.) See ya later! (He calls to Lucille.)

edited 19th Oct '17 3:42:58 PM by kablammin45

The things that such a small body can do is both impressive and annoying. "You might not need to do this, but I'm not you." I use the same move as before (which I believe to be Lava Plume), but aiming it lower this time so that it sweeps across the ground. I have a clear desire to attack him. I fully intend on harming him.

The plume hits him. OW! You piece of shit!

He flies toward Nyquil, and tries to slice straight into his midsection.

edited 19th Oct '17 3:48:31 PM by TacoBadger

*releasing her dirt-hug, Jani looks up to Finley and says* ...maybe we should comfort...her? Is that who I think it is? *though readying to follow, she looks to Finley* ...you're still not off the hook, you know. I don't know who made that illusion but it damn well came from somewhere...

—-

*arriving at the Dore vs. Niles fight, Tilly can only sigh...this isn't going to help Agarthan-Orichalcan relations to say the least. Lilly, on the other hand, bluntly states* Uh, which of them should we be rooting for?

"Eheheheh, maybe?" [I look over at our new arrivals, Benji, Dinah...and a new face, too, a Riolu, a kid at that. I catch that the Riolu's name is Lucy, but I don't see she's here with...]

"...oh...oh, god..." [...he killed them. Dore killed her parents...her parents...]

[...I can feel myself shaking. I should've kicked him out when I had the chance, I knew I should've just taken him by that fucking cloth thing and chucked that fucking I-beam out. Why did I let him go, before, why didn't I stop him?]

[...he didn't even have the gall to see it be done. He just...he just pushed the magic button and...]

[I look down at Lucy...I gulp, then look over to where Niles and Dore are fighting...]

I don't move, allowing him to approach me. When I thought the distance was short enough, I go in to counter with an Aerial Ace, the first slash to block, the second to retaliate.

edited 19th Oct '17 4:10:14 PM by shrubBird

(Lucy looks up from me and towards Niles and Dore. Her eyes narrow.)

I know that guy! He was there! he was the one who told me what happened! (Lucy says.) He's the one who told me how the roof collapsed.

Did he tell yas that he was the one who did it? (Marsha mutters to herself.)

Marsha! (Delilah hisses at Marsha.)

(Unfortunately, it's quiet enough over where we are that Lucy picked up on it.)

He did it? (Lucy says.)

Oh fudge... (Marsha says, facepalming.)

HE KILLED MY MAMA AND DADDY! HE LIED TO ME! I'M GONNA BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF HIM! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!! (Lucy shrieks, trying to squirm out of my grasp.)

LUCY! Stop! Don't try to fight him! You'll get hurt! (I say, trying to keep my grip on her.)

I DON'T CARE! I WANT TO MAKE HIM SORRY! (Lucy yells, tears streaming down her face.) LET ME GO! LET ME GO!!!

(I can barely keep my grip on the squirming Riolu.)

edited 19th Oct '17 4:18:16 PM by kablammin45

*Tilly can't help but notice Lucy freaking out, but can't really get herself involved...she knows about the vengeance aspect, but what she doesn't know is how precisely Dore has been lying*

*Lilly, on the other hand, takes it as a cue to root for Niles on the sidelines* You can do it, Niles! Show that killer who's boss!

(I lightly rub Marsha's head fins and then back with my free hand to soothe her:)

It's okay, my love, it's okay, it okay....for every mistake yas make I'll still love yas..

(Before I plant her another kiss on the cheek.)

(I look back over at Niles and Dore are fighting...and then back at the kid...do we really get involved? I look back at the kid. I try to reason with her...but she's a little kid, what can you really do with kids?)

edited 19th Oct '17 4:50:19 PM by Team42Larson

Noticing the crowd, Andy retakes his Southern accent. As the Aerial Ace successfully blocks and retaliates, knocking Dore about, before he stood his ground by placing his point into the ground.

I don't want to fight you! Leave me alone!

[Yea, let her—wait, no, no! Before she can escape Goobert's grasp, I move in and hold onto her as well, trying to wrap my arm around her in a bear hug and keep her from going off towards the fight. I may be mad as shit about it, but I'm not gonna have her throw herself into that, she could've been...]

"Lucy? Lucy," [I say to her,] "yer gonna, yer gonna need t'calm down, yer gonna need to..." [I...I don't know what to say...that damned useless feeling returns to me...]

LET! ME! GO! (Lucy wails, now struggling against both me and Eliot.)

Lucy, I'm sorry, you'll get hurt if you try to get involved. (I say.)

(Finally, Lucy stops struggling and simply hangs her head. She buries her face into my chest and begins sobbing again.)

He...he killed my mama and daddy...and he lied to me about it...he's awful... (She whimpers.)

Poor Lucy... (Delilah sighs. Dinah hangs her head sadly. Marsha leans against Marlon.)

(Benji, meanwhile, is happy walking on his way back to the mansion, whistling to himself and cycling through several of his favorite forms as he does so, excited to be able to tell Dinah the good news.)

edited 19th Oct '17 4:41:12 PM by kablammin45

"That's too bad" (because I can't WAIT to kill you!) One of my paws begins to glow as I accelerate towards Dore/Andy. Reaching an adequate speed, I leap towards him and drop the Brick Break down like a hammer.

Seeing Nyquil come down, Andy, defending himself, floats out of the way of the Brick Break, but leaves his blade pointed upward, toward Nyquil.