A sound drifted up from nearby. Specifically, it was two separate noises, both similar with a  difference in tone. Shifting his eyes, Tantalus saw a bell, ringing a bell. Head pounding, he really did not need this sort of thing. It would  have been a questionable sight at any point in time, but with his vision swimming, it was even worse. The sound, however, was soothing. He slowly began to calm down, becoming able to think clearer. Xerneas was  still well and truly on the warpath, but as his heart-rate slowed,  Tantalus realised he wasn't in immediate danger, anymore. This was good. Time was a valuable thing, and he had been bought a reprieve by the friendly, if strange, bell pokemon.

Thoughts and deductions were clicking through Rebeca’s mind. If what she was thinking was correct, and right now she had every reason to think that it was, then apparently this Tantalus guy didn’t quite have himself under control, and someone else, probably that Xerneas thing he kept talking about, was trying to get out. Which she could sympathize with; she wouldn’t want to be stuck in this guy’s head either, not with the impressions she kept getting from him. 

Unfortunately, even she could tell that tantrums like this would be a bad idea, especially in a place like this. Which meant that something had to be done, either to suppress or deal with it, preferably without leveling half the city. 

She paused. [i][color=crimson]Unless…[/color][/i] It would be a gamble, and a spectacularly bad idea if it didn’t work. Then again, what else was there [u]to[/u] do?

[i][color=e25822]You’re insane.[/color][/i]

[i][color=crimson]Tell me something I don’t already know.[/color][/i]

[i][color=e25822]Okay. Pay attention to the Mawile.[/color][/i]

She whipped around, catching sight of the Deceiver Pokemon tugging at Alain’s leg. [i][color=crimson]Why is she…[/color][/i] Again, connections clicked in her head. [i][color=crimson]Oh. That would help.[/color][/i] Rushing over, she seized Alain by the wrist and dragged him over, clamping his hand onto Tantalus’s forehead. “[color=crimson]Drain. Now.[/color]”

Alain blushed bright pink as Rebecca grabbed his wrist, dragging him to the person he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable around. As in, more uncomfortable than usual.

“Wha...but i drain people, and they get hurt, and if Exo…”

He was interrupted as she dragged him closer, placing him in front of the man. Alain gulped, and looked around. 
“I really don’t think this is a go...oh...you are just going to make me do it anyway, aren’t you?”
He sighed, and grabbed the man’s throat.

“R...relax. It works faster if you are relaxed.”

Jingle, despite frantically ringing the Soothe Bell, was going higher on the panic-o-meter with each passing second. Staring at the two parties in horror, she rang harder, but nothing was getting anyone’s attention. Where on earth was Kaze?

A dark power had seized Tantalus, tearing at his very being. The feeling was indescribable, somewhere between being burned by scorching flame, and choked by acid. Xerneas felt it too, but he had faced this power on many occasions in the past. 


“[color=crimson]Good. Don’t let go.[/color]” Rebeca turned and glared straight into Tantalus’s eyes. “[color=crimson]Now, listen up. I don’t actually care what your problem is. I really don’t. But I’ve had a rough night. I’m tired, been messed with, and now you, whoever you are, are throwing a tantrum. You’ve also picked a really shitty place to do this. Now, I don’t start fights anymore, but I’m perfectly willing to end them. So,[/color]” a harsh glow illuminated Rebeca’s eyes, and she bared her teeth, “[color=crimson][b]tell me how this ends.[/b][/color]”

Tantalus could feel himself slipping from consciousness. He paid no heed to Rebeca’s words, but then, they hadn’t been meant for him, truly. A good meal and some reputable company was all he’d really wanted tonight, even if the information gathered had been scarce, he’d have settled for that. This outcome certainly hadn’t been expected. Alain’s power ripped at him. We’d soon see if the gamble would pay off. The glow of his power cut out, abruptly. Darkness claimed him, and Tantalus passed out. 

And with that, the glow returned, but not a mirage of dancing light, as it had been. It was a much brighter, angrier pink. The power of Fairy Aura spilled forth, as his eyes reopened.

[b][color=00aeef]How this ends? [/color][/b] Xerneas spat the words out into the night. [b][color=00aeef]It ends with my boot crushing your throat. It ends with this city bathed  with rivers of blood, as I scour these pathetic maggots from existence. My dominion is that over life itself. [/color][/b] A harsh laugh cut through the night. [b][color=00aeef]And I deem you all [i]unworthy[/i] of it. It will not be this night, thanks to my insufferable host, but he will be unable to hold me for long. Never forget these words, and when the day comes for me to be truly free... [/color][/b] Eyes blazing with unbridled fury, he stared directly at Rebeca. 

[b][color=00aeef]You will learn just what happens to those who threaten me, bitch. [/color][/b]

Tantalus became completely limp within Alain’s grasp, completely inert.

Even after Xerneas ceased possessing Tantalus, and the Avatar became as limp as Rebeca’s pasta, Alain still held on. Looking at the Avatar of Death, Jingle noticed that he didn’t appear himself at all. His gaze appeared empty and dark. It was almost as if he had also come under the control of his Legend. Seeing that Alain’s grip appeared only strong enough to keep Tantalus from collapsing completely to the ground, Jingle used Confusion to lift the Avatar of Xerneas from his counterpart’s grip and deposit him gently a few meters away. There didn’t need to be more damage done than necessary.

Apate took off like a rocket to Tantalus’s side, attempting to wake him. He was still breathing, but it was ragged and strained. Add that to the fact he was unconscious in the middle of the street, after just threatening everyone present, she really didn’t have any idea of how to respond. That definitely wasn’t Tantalus, but knowing who it wasn’t didn’t help in the slightest.  Checking his pulse, the Mawile found solace in the fact his heart rate seemed normal, although was extremely annoyed at being unable to convey any of this information to anyone nearby.

For a moment, Rebeca stood there, blinking. [i][color=crimson]Ah, fuck.[/color]

[color=e25822]Congratulations, sister. I think you just doomed us all.[/color][/i]

She nearly cracked a grin at Mihkail’s comment. [i][color=crimson]Yeah.[/color][/i] She had to admit that he was probably right. On the one hand, things hadn’t gotten completely out of hand. As near a she could tell, everyone was more or less fine. Nothing was broken. 

On the other hand, nothing about it had gone the way she had wanted or expected, and she had a sneaking suspicion that she had just made herself a lot of trouble later. 

Taking a few steps back, Rebeca slumped down against the wall, taking deep breaths. Faint heat waves were rippling off her body, but they would disperse shortly. Mihkail lumbered over to her and gently nudged her arm with his nose. [i][color=e25822]Hey, take it easy. You couldn’t know that that was going to happen.[/color][/i]

Rebeca drew her knees up to her chest, resting her head on them as she wrapped her arms around her legs. [i][color=crimson]No, but I sure as hell didn’t help things.[/color][/i]

Kaze ran up to the scene once more, seeing the unconscious Tantalus a few meters away. He gestured at his fellow healer and explained to the paramedic he had pulled along with him, “He’s the guy who needs help.”

The emergency worker almost let an audible “D’aww” when he saw the slumbering Avatar. However, he managed to suppress his instincts and instead approached with a stethoscope, checking the man’s pulse and breathing. Finding everything to be normal, he turned to Kaze and the others and told them with a slightly annoyed tone, “He seems just fine to me. There doesn’t appear to be any bruises or abrasions, and his vitals are fine. Just appears sleepy. And if he [i]is[/i] an Avatar, he’s likely got access to the hotels he needs. Just find him a bed to sleep in is my only advice. Now if you’ll excuse me,” he said, going on his way.

A few moments passed, and a coughing could be heard from the crumpled form of Tantalus. Rolling over onto his back, the light from the nearby street lamps flared an ungodly pain in the man’s forehead. “Owwwww.” Grumbling, Tantalus raised his hand to shield his eyes. Thoughts floated across his mind. That was a street lamp, and he was lying down. On the [i]stree…[/i]

Oh, yea. You went mad and threatened to kill most of the city, Tantalus thought to himself, remembering what he had done in the short space of time between feeling a pain and exploding in a fit of captive rage. 

Struggling to his feet was hard. Between the dizziness from pain and exhaustion, and the pain itself, he was in a bad way. 

Kaze watched nervously as Tantalus rose to his feet, obviously still suffering from a headache and very unsteady. Then Kaze realized he still held tight to his one piece of Kalos toast. In fact, despite all the running he had done, it looked like it may still be good to eat, albeit perhaps a little cold. Though he was hungry, he knew Tantalus may be more in need than himself, so reaching out, he offered, “Here. It might be cold, but I’m sure it still tastes good. Maybe it’ll help.”

Looking at Kaze’s outstretched hand, Tantalus really wanted to decline the offer. However, a hunger stirred within him, and rather embarrassingly, his stomach rumbled. An unfortunate side effect of using his power. 

“Thank you, Kaze, and allow me to apologise. It appears I have caused quite the upset here, tonight.” Reaching out, he took the toast, and managed to prevent himself from wolfing it down in a single bite long enough to continue. “If your little Pokemon hadn’t been here, I might not have pulled through.” Punctuating that sentence, he shot a dark glare towards Alain. “I am in your debt, and if you find yourself in need of help, please, let me know.” Smiling at the boy, he began walking towards Rebeca. “For now, however, I need to sleep. Farewell!” 

On the short walk between the two Avatars, Tantalus greedily ate the toast Kaze had provided. This might not be the best idea. If Rebeca got the wrong idea, and thought Xerneas was still in control, then he might very well die tonight. On the other hand, leaving things as they were is also not an option. “Rebeca. Let me apologise for the proceedings here, and thank you for your intervention. Without it, I, and potentially many more people besides, would have perished.” 


For a moment, Rebeca was silent. Then she slowly got up, a somewhat distant look on her face. “[color=crimson]I think I’m going to go. I’ve done enough for one night.[/color]” With that, she turned and wandered off, until she was out of sight.

Tantalus allowed Rebeca to pass, staying silent of of respect. Bumping into his leg, Apate made a rather harsh stop as she ran to catch up, not noticed he had moved. The man turned to her.

[color=00aeef]Let’s get off. I’ve had enough hysteria for one night.[/color] Beginning to walk forward, he stumbled, falling against the wall and using it to prop himself up. 

[color=fff200]Are you sure you are alright? You need to go to a hospital, get yourself checked over. [/color]

Tantalus winced. [color=00aeef]No way.  What I need is to get out of here. To sleep, and take stock of exactly what is happening to me. I can guarantee you a hospital isn’t going to be able to help. I’m fine. Really. Now let’s [i]go[/i].[/color] The little Mawile knew not to push anymore. He was right, of course. People still didn’t know nearly enough about Avatars to be able to diagnose the problem, let alone treat it. 

So the two wandered into the distance, more slowly than they had arrived, in the direction of the Ruby Arc Resort, where Tantalus planned to get some much needed R&R.