[center][h3]Tora and Poppi[/h3]
[b]Location:[/b] Sandswept Sky - Al Mamoon
Level 9 Tora (90/90) Level 9 Poppi (90/90) Level 5 Big Band (29/50)
Midna’s [@DracoLunaris], Fox’s [@Dawnrider], Jesse’s [@Zoey Boey], Sectonia’s [@Archmage MC], Primrose’s [@Yankee], Yoshitsune and Sora’’s [@Rockin Strings], Mao’s [@Potemking], Raz’s [@TruthHurts22]
[b]Word Count:[/b] 1467[/center]

Remembering the high-calorie feeding frenzy her Masterpon so happily partook in the night before made Poppi’s unblinking stare at Tora’s platter of pancakes all the more condemnatory. Such was its severity that, try as he might to shut her out, the Nopon quickly wilted under her gaze. “...Meeeh?!” he moaned, lowering his eagerly-raised fork and knife. “Stop looking at Tora like that! Poppi make it really hard to enjoy meal, meh!”

“Is Masterpon really going to eat all that, after giant junk food dinner last night?” the artificial blade questioned, the sheer incredulousness writ on her features as she watched the maple syrup flow down the flapjack stack in rivulets making Tora feel awfully judged.

Uneasy, Tora scratched at his face with a wing. “W-well, that Tora plan, but now all of sudden Tora not so sure…”

Poppi interlaced her fingers, her elbows on the red-white checkers of the tablecloth. “Poppi know that as Nopon, Tora love food and want make most of Gold Pass before leave, but surely this still too much?”

“Meh, Tora is growing boy! Need keep strength up!” the engineer defended himself.

“If not be careful, only growing Tora do is sideways.”

Tora’s brow furrowed, an annoyed look on his face. “That enough! Listen, Tora know that it part of Poppi job to take care of Masterpon, keep Tora under control, but maybe Poppi not realize how much strain it put on Tora to run around all day, every day, meh, meh, meh! Since start adventure with Rex-Rex and friends, it nonstop exercise, and if not eat well, Tora can’t function. We fight big bossypon today too, so need every bit of energy Tora can get!”

After hearing her creator out with her eye closed in reflection, his companion gave him a sagacious nod of acceptance. “Poppi understand better. Not realize Masterpon thought it out so much, and am sorry for jump gun. As long as Masterpon aware, have as many as…” she trailed off as she opened her eyes, finding Tora already a full pancake in, his cheeks stuffed like a hamster’s. He stared at her sideways as if she’d caught him with his hand in the cookie jar, but Poppi merely shrugged and turned her attention elsewhere.

Though she got the impression that this tidy little diner would ordinarily be bustling with activity thanks to its proximity to the train station, it was a slower business morning for Al Mamoon on account of a certain high-profile public event, and this place was no exception. Realizing that many citizens would be out attending Validar’s grand press release, and not really interested in it himself, Tora had made the strategic move to go hunting for breakfast rather than witness the official end of the Resistance. As such, while Sectonia and Raz busied themselves with demonstrations of the former members’ innocence, and Midna helped distribute the stolen goods, the Nopon found himself nice and cozy in the near-total privacy of [url=https://i.imgur.com/zu3eAjl.png]Bear and Breakfast[/url], his hearty meal delivered by none other than the owner himself, the affable [url=https://i.imgur.com/X19Z0hI.png]Hank[/url]. In Al Mamoon, any establishments that didn’t fit the city’s sandstone aesthetic tended to catch the eye, and after relishing his pancakes Tora certainly didn’t regret this diner catching his.

Still, all good things had to come to an end, and Tora did not plan to shirk his duties. Though the Gold Pass paid for his breakfast, he and Poppi made sure to tip Hank for his mighty fine efforts by providing as much water and ice as he could want, courtesy of Poppi’s ether conversion. Then they set off, headed right down the road toward the well-traveled train station that would see them on their way. There they found the Railway Gun just where they left it, stupendous as it was terrifying, visible in all its majesty in the morning sun, primed and ready to roll. Eager to make up for the lost opportunity to survey it last night, Tora swept across the machine like a hurricane under the Conductor’s watchful eye(?), while Poppi waited out front.

Even with a big event going on, the station buzzed with activity. Those who couldn’t afford to spend a half hour or so attending Validar’s press release were either making their commutes or already hard at work. Normal-sized trains chugged in and out of the place, loading up or discharging cargo and passengers. Most notably, the Yellow Line was especially active, running with remarkable regularity through that impossible tunnel on the outer wall. It piqued Poppi’s curiosity, but she wasn’t about to take any brash action, especially without Tora. Instead, she just watched the people of Al Mamoon go by.

Soon enough, the artificial blade had company. An entire crowd of allies arrived at once, evidently having come all the way from the display in front of the Cowlipha’s palace. Big Band and Peacock moved as a unit, the detective taking the opportunity to explain the overall situation to his cartoon-watching charge, while the group from Lakeside followed along. The Scout, the Heavy, the Medic, and Blue Poison had fought together, deserted together, been lost together, and survived together, and even after their harrowing ordeal yesterday, none of them felt like calling it quits. Along with them came Goldlewis and Ram, with the girl’s black Organization coat packed away in favor of her own white mantle to beat the desert heat. Unlike Goldlewis, who would be headed back toward the northern metropolis as planned, Ram would be following along on the Seeker’s quest to slay this region’s boss. The sight of so many allies filled Poppi with courage. “Friends!” she called, waving her arms in greeting, and after Tora looked up at her shout he slid down the Railway Gun’s hull to join the others.

He bounced over to what was quickly becoming a sizable crowd just in time to hear Big Band say, “Naw, it all went down smooth as jazz. Most folks were just glad that Resistance, bein’ a thorn in the general side for a while an’ all, ain’t a problem no mo’. The rest were glad t’see the former members put to rights. A couple of ‘em like Earthquake, Cass, ‘n Maeve were criminals, but a couple were sorely missed. Havin’ proof of the ringleader there to take the fall squared everythin’ away nice ‘n tidy, and if anyone winds up feelin’ it’s a little too tidy, well…” He heaved his massive mechanical shoulders. “That ain’t our problem!”

“There are a great many mysteries here still,” Robin mused, peering through the arches of the train station toward the Palace. Ever in his shadow, Tharja followed his gaze, her sunken eyes staring out beneath a crown of bright blond hair. “Like what happened to Lowlah, how to restore her, and Validar’s true intentions. But for now, we must attend to more pressing matters.”

“Awrighty then, let’s blow this popsicle stand already!” Peacock declared. “I’m dyin’ to bag me that big mook flyin’ around the mountain!”

After glancing at Goldlewis over by the Railway Gun being mighty impressed, Band directed his attention to Tora. “How’s it lookin’, son?”

Nearly beside himself with excitement, Tora could scarcely keep still. “All systems go!” he announced.

“What’d I tell ya, lad?” the Conductor smirked, crossing his arms. “Gibberin’ ghouls or not, when it comes to trains, I know me business!”

A handful of shadows fell over the group, and when the gathered Seekers looked over they found six familiar shapes standing on the rooftop opposite the station, silhouetted against the rising sun. Having made their stylish entrance, the Phantom Thieves leaped down and ran into the station, further bolstering the ranks of the Railway Gun’s crew. Clean as a whistle in his black jacket, Joker -along with Skull, Panther, Fox, Mona, and Necronomicon- exchanged greetings with those already present.

“Well then, it looks like we’re just about ready to roll out,” Joker summarized.

“How’s everyone looking?” Necronomicon asked, trying to get a clear picture of the general status. “Any last-minute preparations?”

Holding up a rucksack, Panther announced, “We just finished shopping! Grabbed some cold-weather gear and supplies!” She neglected to mention that the Thieves had used the last of the cash they’d looted from Madarame’s Museum of Vanity yesterday to do it, on account of the eyebrows it might raise.

With Peacock already gone to get on the train Band could only hope she wasn’t getting into mischief, so he ran a quick headcount instead. “We’re still missin’ a few,” Band noticed. “Probably gearin’ up, like you said.”

The sixteen, split into small groups either on the platform or the train, continued to chat and make ready for the upcoming voyage as they waited.