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[img]https://i.imgur.com/ziR5Pse.png[/img]
[b][color=Aquamarine]wordcount:[/color][/b] 3846 (+4 (+2 rapport with Sakura each)) 
[b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 15 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color](229/150)
[b][color=Aqua]Rika: Level 10 [/color][/b] EXP:  [color=Aqua]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color](275/100)
Feat Sakura
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The koopa kids, Bowser Junior and his sister (as of about a week and a bit ago) Rika, where, to likely no one’s surprise, last to get their butts out of bed and to turn off their alarm. It was pretty common, especially now that they lacked proper parental supervision. Sometimes it was late night gaming that kept them up, or eating sugar too late. Other times Rika would have nightmares about her many (short) past lives or Jr would have ones where his dad died (grimm's arrival had been an unbeknownst to them godsend in this department). This time however the two had been trying to figure out how Jr could have won the last pokemon battle, and also thinking about what kind of pokemon team Rika could/should make, resulting in lots of team building thought experiments and looking up pokemon tips and tricks on the internet.

While they were groggy coming out the gate, and late to breakfast, youthful energy soon revoke in them after they got some food in them (and topped it off with treats from their rapidly dwindling supply of sugary snacks) and so they were wide awake once they rolled up to the hanger, just barley making up the time they’d wasted to arrive right as thing where starting to be explained.   

After having been given the rundown on their mission and their new team members the seekers had been presented with free gifts, and it was perhaps to no surprise that the kids among them had been the least reserved about receiving them, the pair nipping to the front of the crowd to fetch them before finding a spot to actually set about storing them.

Madkits both went into a pokeball themed duffle bag belonging to Bowser Jr, and that wasn’t the only poke-apparel the kid was wearing today. On his head he sported a [url=https://i.imgur.com/fYsno6s.png]pokemon ranger cap[/url] (along with a tulip hairstick that had belonged to the fallen Omari), while his chest sported a bandolier that was home to 3 pokeballs. This itself was over the top of a light sleeveless jacket of a [url=https://i.imgur.com/jW8HDPA.png]pokemon ranger[/url], and tucked under a metal pauldron sat above the exposed arm, around which the focus sash was wrapped, intertwined with an existing white ribbon, both now floating supernaturally above the 

Other than said arm, which was oddly human, off-hue, and covered with a spider web of runic metal tattoo work, the prince mostly looked the same as he ever had. Well except for the cat tail.

By contrast his Rika was very different from how she’d started out. For one she had an entirely natural human skin tone rather than being deathly pale, and for another, she was shorter than she had been, making her look even like the child she functionally was.

She had been casually wearing a [url=https://i.imgur.com/rjIgJ2Z.jpeg]three piece[/url] outfit that had probably been cool somewhere or other, but it was in the middle of being covered up with metal. Hull soled boots had already been slipped on, as had her claw and cannon equipped rigging, while Jr was in the middle of helping her don her gauntlets, gauntlets that now sported oversized but fully functional hands rather than maw-containing cannons.

Still to go on was a spartan helmet, one that sported both cat ears and a three pronged tiara that coincidentally aligned with her now royal position, which she had tucked under her arm. 

Really, if it wasn’t from the way her eyes still bled a ghostly green aura and the presence of her brother, she might well have been enteral unidentifiable compared to the last time Sakura had seen her.

The same could not be said for the woman in question, to whom the shipgirl gave her a (somewhat awkward given she was trying to avoid dropping the helmet at the same time) wave upon spotting her.

Sakura, pretty much unchanged except for the new digs, recognized Rika after a moment and waved back eagerly. Then she sped over with a few bounding skips. [color=f49ac2]”Rika-chan! Junior-kun!”[/color] She set her hands atop both of their heads with aggressive kindness.

[color=f49ac2]”It’s so good to see you! Where ya headed? Where’s your old man?”[/color]  She asked. 

Rika blinked once at this head hold, clearly confused, before bobbing her head back and forth and looking amused. As she did this she replied [color=Aqua]”We’re gonna go to that ‘forbidden kingdom’ place. Mostly that city with the Guardian in it, but we're also gonna check in on Shin-ju-ku”[/color] she replied, a little hesitant in her memory of the city’s name.

[color=SpringGreen]”Supposed to like cassette tapes over there, n we’ve got a lot out of using these ones to transform and fight so gonna see if we can power up by checking it out”[/color] Jr replied, having by contrast not noticed the head hold due to both his hat and the way he was focused on his work attaching Rika’s gauntlets.

[color=Aqua]”Mmm. That. Also Papa went to go look after P, n Kamek went to keep an eye on him, so just us for this one”[/color] Rika then replied to the second question, before tossing her helmet up and catching it in a now gauntleted hand while Jr stepped to her other side to start putting on the second of his sister’s armaments.

[color=SpringGreen]”After Peach”[/color] the boy added for clarity.

[color=f49ac2]”Oh, right. Sorry.”[/color] Sakura rubbed her own forehead. [color=f49ac2]”So you two are comin’ with us to Esaka, huh? Exciting! That’s where I’m going, too. They have tag team tourneys I’m pretty sure.”[/color] Sakura said. 

[color=Aqua]”Neat”[/color] Rika replied succinctly if cheerfully to all that information, while Jr finished up locking her other gauntlet in place. As soon as he was done, the girl lifted it up flexed her fingers, and then set about putting on her [url=https://i.imgur.com/9NhwvRS.png]armor[/url] via alternate costume powerup, leaving her fully good to go. 

[color=SpringGreen]”Hi, sorry, wanted to get that done”[/color] Jr apologized as he finally turned to face her, and then adding that it was [color=SpringGreen]”Good to see ya”[/color] 

[color=Aqua]”Mmm. It is. I’ve .. missed you?”[/color] Rika added, seemingly having to think that last over before she nodded and confirmed [color=Aqua]”Yeah”[/color] she had.

[color=f49ac2]”I missed you guys, too!”[/color] Sakura nodded. 

[color=SpringGreen]”So yeah, we were kinda thinking it’d be all tournament stuff, but we kinda don’t really work that great in small brawls. I’ve got my pokemon. Rika all her drones. We do battles not fights”[/color] Jr explained their situation, before adding more detail to why they were thinking of doing a side thing [color=SpringGreen]”Buuuut during the Under trip we got these cool tapes that let us turn into monsters, and then in the Guardian fight we, like, fused together into one even bigger super strong monster! Somehow. So we were thinking if we can figure out how that works properly, then we can, like, totally use that to take on anyone and everyone 1 vs 1. Got a tip from the weirdo spirit eating demon in the spirit chamber that Shinjuku might be the place for that. So we’ll be doing a little side mission and then come back bigger and better than ever!”[/color] 

Sakura’s eyes widened.  [color=f49ac2]”That’s amazing!”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”That’d be something to see. Like a fusion!”[/color] Sakura widened her stance and leaned all the way to the side, lifting her hands ‘up’ and pointing her index fingers. She held that pose for a moment before she blinked and went back to normal.

[color=f49ac2]”There’s all sorts of fighting styles, though, so you could probably do good even on your own. But yeah that sounds totally awesome! You should name it something bada- I mean, something cool.”[/color] Sakura said.  

The pair glanced at each other, both correctly guessing that Sakura had just dodged pulling a Geralt, before Rika asked [color=Aqua]”What was that pose you did a reference to?”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]”Yeah, do you know stuff about fusing people like that?”[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”E-eh? Oh, it’s just from a comic-”[/color] Sakura said, with a dismissive wave of her hand, blushing slightly. [color=f49ac2]”Nothing real. I- I think.”[/color] Sakura said, though now she slightly doubted it given the circumstances. 

[color=Aqua]”Oh? Oh well”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]”I mean we didn’t have to do any kind of silly pose to fuse. Just nearly get eaten by a big toothy Yoshi while using the cassettes. That, and beat up a bunch beforehand too?”[/color] Jr said, before speculating [color=SpringGreen]”Least I think it's getting beaten up that let us do it? Kinda why we wanna find someone who knows this stuff, ya know? Like a teacher I guess”[/color] 

[color=f49ac2]”...It’s not that silly-”[/color] Sakura started, before shaking her head, trying to discard the subject. [color=f49ac2]”Nevermind. Finding a master is a great idea. On first blush, I also get more powerful when I get beat up, but it’s just, um, kind of a coincidence. I can’t just sit here and punch myself in the face until I get a power up. It’s all about the intensity of the fight and the focus of my spirit. It might be the same for you two!”[/color] Sakura said. 

[color=Aqua]”I mean we haven't tried punching ourselves in the face yet”[/color] 

Sakura suppressed a snicker. 

[color=SpringGreen]”Eh, I mean, even if it's not you getting punched but the monster, maybe let’s not do that”[/color] Jr said, well aware that Rika already was probably way to used to getting hurt for a gain given her whale summoning and symbol of avarice hat wearing for the koopas both involved such things [color=SpringGreen]”Besides, yeah, that whole focusing spirit thing sounds right. It feels right anyway. Like, just, uh, um, how do I-?”[/color]

[color=Aqua]”I just kinda refused to die and it worked”[/color] Rika said, picking up from where her brother was failing to put the feeling they’d both had into words.

[color=f49ac2]”Sounds like you two were in a real pinch.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”Adrenaline pumping, life on the line. Prime situation for unlocking a new transformation.”[/color] She crossed her arms and nodded sagely.

Then she squared her legs and extended out her palms. [color=f49ac2]”In a fight like that, it’s practically zen. Your mind is empty of everything except your objective. That’s when the real good stuff becomes possible.”[/color] Sakura smiled. [color=f49ac2]”It’s like, totally awesome.”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]”Kinda? Be more awesome when we get how to do it and can use it before being in that pintch”[/color] Jr said, downplaying how bad said pinch had been, only for Rika to rather flatly state how bad it had been with [color=Aqua]”Doing it without needing to be squashed as a bug’d be nice, yup”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]”Uh. It’s ‘like a bug’”[/color] Jr pointed out after a moment of awkwardness, only for Rika to herself point out that [color=Aqua]”I was a bug at the time though”[/color] helpfully.

[color=SpringGreen]”Annnyway. Yeah”[/color] Jr said after another awkward moment, before asking [color=SpringGreen]”wanna see em? The monsters I mean?”[/color] 

If there was any awkwardness, Sakura didn’t seem to notice or care. She just nodded sympathetically at the plight of not wanting to be squashed like a pug. At the offer though, she perked up. [color=f49ac2]”Uh— could I?”[/color] She asked. [color=f49ac2]”Is that okay? Here?”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]”Yup!”[/color] Jr replied, before thinking and then correcting [color=SpringGreen]”Maybe just Undyne. Not really space for the Beast”[/color] to which his sister agreed, with a side bob of the head.

[color=SpringGreen]”Alright! Let me just set it up aaaand”[/color] Jr said, as she fumbled around in his duffle bag, pulled out a pair of plastic earphones and popped them over his head, before plugging them into a cassette player, loading it up, and pressing play.

As he did, static, like that found on a channel-less CRT, spread across his body, before it changed in shape beneath that fuzzy vail. When the static fell away, it revealed an armored figure of [url=https://imgur.com/M4UUWKr]Undyne[/url] (former) head guard of the Home of Tears.

[color=SpringGreen]”So?! What do ya think?!”[/color] the prince asked with the loud bombastic voice of his new form, forming a watery spear and spinning it around, before slamming its butt to the ground and declaring that it was [color=SpringGreen]”Pretty cool, huh!”[/color] 

Sakura didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t that. [color=f49ac2]”W-woah!”[/color] She said. She reached out and gingerly poked Jr in the cheek, to confirm it wasn’t an illusion. [color=f49ac2]”You turned into a totally different person! And strong, too, I can tell!”[/color] Sakura exclaimed. 

[color=SpringGreen]”Yeah!”[/color] Jr replied, flexing one of Undyne’s arms which bulged with muscles.

[color=Aqua]”The other good one we’ve recorded is a really big bug with lots of legs, and together they were this twelve foot tall and super angry armored warrior that punched things super hard and got stronger whenever it did. It was exhausting to be that mad the whole time, but during we were just thrashing A’s Mobius form”[/color] Rika told Sakura, before looking off to the side and saying [color=Aqua]”Wasn’t fast enough to stop him getting goldlewis though”[/color] before putting her helmet on to hid her expression.

[color=SpringGreen]”Mmm”[/color] Jr grunted in agreement, before ending the transformation and saying that [color=SpringGreen]”We’ve just gotta get even stronger, is all”[/color] 

Sakura looked off to the side. [color=f49ac2]”We can all get stronger together.”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”To that end…lemme know if you ever wanna run some fights with me! Either of you. To practice with any of your forms or whatever. ”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”We’re gonna have lots of time to do it in Esaka.”[/color] She said this eagerly. She had been really itching to take on more Seekers ever since she first joined up. 

[color=SpringGreen]”Um, could do?”[/color] Junior replied, not anywhere near the kind of fighting enthusiast that Sakura was. Not against it, by any means, but he wasn’t exactly someone who’d trained before all this, mostly out of spoiled laziness and natural talent/advantage. It was all about fighting inorder to get or achieve something, be it impressing his papa or self aggrandizement, rather than because of the thrill or love of the art.

Rika was somewhat similar, and indeed, if she thought about it, probably didn't want fighting to be her thing. She’d been created as a disposable weapon, and if she had her say, would want to dedicate her life to something else, if for no other reason than to spite her creators. That said, she had enjoyed training to use her new red baron drones with her brother over their break, and the pokemon battle had been fun, so maybe sparring would be fun too? Plus, she liked Sakura, so maybe she should try and spend more time with her? 

[color=Aqua]”If that’d help? Then yeah. Yeah we could do that”[/color] Rika replied, voice now muffled by her helmet. She hadn’t ultimately, just put it on to smother her feelings the funeral had left her with, but also because it was getting close to their time to drop.

Sakura could feel the lack of enthusiasm radiating off them. [color=f49ac2]”...You don’t have to.”[/color] She said. Objectively she knew she was going to get a lot of fighting done in Esaka, but fighting with friends was a special kind of fun! It was like training and fighting at the same time. 

[color=f49ac2]”Do they have any video games on here?”[/color] She asked. 

[color=Aqua]”I wanna try it at least”[/color] Rika retorted, upset that she’d upset Sakura, before pouncing on what might be a way to cheer her up by nodding with agreement to her question and saying that [color=Aqua]”We do at least, if you wanna play some some time”[/color] 

She then rummaged around in a little pouch by her side and with two very careful fingers pulled out a chunky handheld console with some conveniently big buttons and presented it to Sakura to see. Something about the design made it reek of being a knockoff, from the cheap plastic and the tacky branding, but Rika still seemed very happy to have it. She was also happy as she she said that [color=Aqua]”We stole a whole load of toys and stuff from one of the Consuls, and even if papa gave away a bunch to kids in the home of tears, we still got a bunch”[/color] 

[color=f49ac2]”That was sweet of him.”[/color] Sakura said with a smile, before looking, amused, over the game controller. [color=f49ac2]”Um.”[/color] She looked the machine over in her hands. [color=f49ac2]”This is really cool, Rika-chan.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”I feel like I haven’t played any video games in ages. I’d love to, maybe if we get some downtime while we’re down there. Or once it’s all over.”[/color] Sakura said. Then she tried turning this one on to see what it even was. 

The consol played a merry little 8 bit jingle before a brief intro played, during which numerous creatures vaguely reminiscent of marsupials battling it out where displayed, before ending on a tidal screen proudly proclaiming the game to be called ‘Pouch Monsters’ 

[color=Aqua]”It’s not the best one but it is one of the only ones that I can use while wearing my gauntlets”[/color] she explained, before adding that [color=Aqua]”Jr’s got some for when we aren't in any danger with him too”[/color] to which the Prince gave a nod, unzipping his duffle bag and revealing that a not inconsiderable amount of his supplies for the mission consisted of a cartridge loading home console.

[color=Aqua]”and yeah, we for sure should play. It’d be fun”[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”Puh-”[/color] Sakura suppressed a laugh. [color=f49ac2]”Pouch Monsters! Cute!”[/color] She said. It looked like a Pokemon rip off, but she wasn’t going to rain on their parade. [color=f49ac2]”A strategy game. Surprise surprise, I’m mostly into fighting games, but I could destroy you guys in this too, if we ever find the time.”[/color] She said casually. 

[color=SpringGreen]”Wha! No way! I am, like, the best ever at video games!”[/color] Jr insisted, entirely unaware that everyone he’d played against (apart from Rika) had been taking it easy on him due to his royal status/his tendency to tantrum/them being his dad.

[color=f49ac2]”You are?”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”Should be a match, then!”[/color] Her eyes gleamed with the spirit of competition. She would not go easy on him. 

Rika herself meanwhile (who had just over a week’s experience with them) simply said that [color=Aqua]”I’ve been getting better”[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”No way to get better than to practice! That’s just true with everything in life. And one way of practice is learning from me by how I destroy you.”[/color] She made a few quick karate chop motions with the game controller, turning her voice mystical at the end, before she giggled and handed the game back to Rika. 

Rika took it back with her oversized hand, flicked off the power, and put it back in her pouch while saying [color=Aqua]”I mean, I’m pretty sure I’m better at fighting than games, so maybe when we do that you’d learn something instead?”[/color] finding she had maybe just a little bit of pride for her prowess after all.

Sakura grinned, punching her fist into her palm. That was what she liked to hear! [color=f49ac2]”Heh!! Only one way to find out. Man, I’m all pumped up.”[/color] Sakura said, shaking out her hands and hopping up and down.

[color=f49ac2]”I’m ready! You ready?!”[/color] Sakura shook her fists. 

Rika raised a hand up, flexing the fingers while, grinned back beneath her helmet, Sakura’s infectious enthusiasm getting to her, only for their hyping up for a match to be interrupted by the call to get ready to drop.

[color=Aqua]”Aw”[/color] 

[color=SpringGreen]”Gonna be a buncha dummies to punch down there for sure, so you can practice punching each other by beating them up instead”[/color] Jr joked, before hopping into a pod.

[color=Aqua]”See you down there!”[/color] Rika said with a wave, before following him. Into the same pod, which was not at all standard issue and only worked because they were both shorties.

Sakura stepped left, and then right, punching the air as she did. [color=f49ac2]”Yeah! Let’s go!”[/color] With that, she threw herself feet first into the nearest pod. [color=f49ac2]”Uh, so, how does this thing work?”[/color] She could be heard saying as the doors slid shut over head.

[color=SpringGreen]”Just hit the…”[/color] Jr began to call out before riesling it was pointless and shrugging. [color=SpringGreen]”Eh. She’ll be fine”[/color]

He was, mostly, correct, although their friend did have to take a moment to recover before launching into her explanation of how the tournament worked. They’d heard the brief of it of course, but the full thing was fairly interesting too. 

Jr actually got a little upset that they’d be missing out on it, or at least be playing catchup after their own little detour, but for Rika there was a nagging question that she put out after Juri started guessing that there was something sinister going on beneath Sakura’s optimistic painting of the whole situation.

[color=Aqua]”So… what’s doing all the dying to keep their flame clock full if this tournament thing doesn't have any deaths in it?”[/color] she asked, that state of affairs often on her mind given she had been one of the things doing/causing that dying in the past, before guessing/suggesting [color=Aqua]”Is it attacked from outside a bunch?”[/color]