LuckyBlackCat

The Zephyr Extinct

"Huh...?" Rose frowned, the battered side of her face twinging. "Nah, the Nox didn't, but if you meant the Ravel..." She forced a shaky laugh, more panicked than anything else to her own ears, as she thought back to the symbol on the wall. "Look, I'm a Ze. It's my job to deal with those wackos. We're gonna get out of here."

Her trembling voice didn't sound as reassuring as the words themselves. Something was off... well, yes, Nox survivors regaining their minds wasn't an everyday occurrence, but there was something else besides the obvious. It took Rose a moment to realise what it was. When she did, her blood seemed to freeze.

She couldn't hear the others.

"Uh... Listener? Cedar?" No reply. She removed the earpiece, checked it, and put it back in. "Iris? Fluke?" Well, this explained Archer's apparent lack of reaction. "Archer? C'mon, say something, shouldn't you be yelling at me?"

She jumped at sudden voices, but not those of her teammates. A chorus of inhuman hisses filled the air, their message cryptic, although not lost on her. "Don't you dare hurt him! Or anyone else!" she yelled, brandishing Thorn as she edged towards the doorway the voices had come from, and peered inside. She gasped. On the dust-coated floor lay the still form of a bird, its eyes fading from black to white. There was a Nox in here... Not a surprise, but the undeniable proof turned the situation all the more fraught. She stared around the room and hallway for any sign of it.

"Shit. Nox alert," she called, hurrying back to the hidden door and ramming her good shoulder against it. Flakes of paint fluttered down, but the door held fast. "No, no it isn't your fault." She shoved it again and again. Surely the door had to be old and rotten enough to break eventually. "Please, tell me, how did you end up here? We'll find a way out." All the while, she kept alert for a glimpse of the Nox, head whipping from side to side to make up for the narrowed field of vision.

A yell from the floor above made her reel back. Arm raised against the shower of drywall, Rose craned her neck. There was no mistaking that fervor. "Ruski? But... The medics, they came for you just now..."

It was clear she wasn't talking to Jay and Ruskali as she'd known them. Nox were soul snatchers, but what if those souls weren't destroyed? Everything had to go somewhere, right? But why here of all places?

Pokemon: Chronicles

@vaguely

As Mellona's Gust successfully stopped the attack, Antoinetta smirked. "Heh. Easy." In truth, her heart was thrumming like a Yanma's wings - blocking a move as fast as Quick Attack was no easy feat. If Emmy tried that again, could she and Mel pull that off a second time?

And, of course, it didn't shut up Nicholas' jeers any. Netty folded her arms, hoping he didn't notice her grin waver. Common and weak? Surely someone with a Normal type, equally overlooked but with a great deal of potential, should know better than to judge undervalued Pokemon. How would he feel if people said the same about his Sentret?

"May I remind you I have a name. Did you not listen to the announcements, or do you just have the worst memory?" she mocked back. Before she could continue, to tell him how much he'd regret underestimating bugs, he called Emmy's next move - Scratch.

No time to answer. "Mel! Resist with Struggle Bug!" A red glow surrounded Mellona, brightening as if the resolve she mustered against Nicholas' trash-talk were visible. Right as Emmy lashed at her, the Combee spun, her glow flaring outwards in a burst of energy. Not a regular blast of raw power, but a swirling wave that sparked like a firework.

"Do you call this weak?" Netty taunted. Struggle Bug lowered special attack power, not physical, but with any luck it could block the Scratch. At the very least, it'd deal a little more damage than Gust.

Notes

PP

12

Pokemon Team:

• Combee (Mellona), lv10
  Current moves: Sweet Scent, Gust, Struggle Bug, Bug Bite

Pokemon in PC

Items

General

Medicines

Pokeballs

• Pokeball x5

Berries

• Oran Berry x5
• Cheri Berry x1
• Pecha Berry x1
• Rawst Berry x1
• Chesto Berry x1
• Aspear Berry x1
• Persim Berry x1
• Leppa Berry x1

TMs

• Hidden Power

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Wincing, Jess closed her eyes. This case was likely legitimate, yet she could pick up on sinister intentions behind the mens' concern, like a faint whiff of rot. Her ribs clenched at the reminder that Reginald almost certainly needed her help not for these kinds of issues, but rather less lawful purposes. And, by extension, Roxy would be dragged back into it all.

Not that she could back out. Trying to hadn't helped anyone so far. Not Roxy, not her. Instead of a pitiful attempt at lying, she looked at the men again and gave another half truth.

"It's... It's not very clear." It was unclear - because of what she had sensed, not because of what she hadn't. "The question, it was meant for you..." She kept her eyes on the employees, in particular the one who'd panicked. "Because it's difficult to tell. Like you're confused about it too, or..." She shrugged and shook her head as if puzzled herself.

The Zephyr Extinct

Uuuugh been super busy and tired, but England has just gone into lockdown so I'll be off work for a while. Post will be up soon!

Pokemon: Chronicles

@vaguely

The lecture mostly consisted of things Antoinetta already knew, such as rules and schedules. Throughout classes, those comments kept taunting her in her head. Show us your contest stuff if you're so good, then. She'd show them alright, as soon as she got the chance...

That chance came up sooner than expected. She looked up in surprise at Caprea. The tournament was today? Right now? A jolt of panic ran through her, but she quickly composed herself, at least on the surface. As Caprea produced a TM, Netty leaned forward, eyes on the prize alongside the rest of the class. Mellona currently couldn't learn many TMs, but that would change once she evolved, and if nothing else it'd be something to show for a victory. Netty would need proof, after all, to back up her words.

Heading out with the others as Mel fluttered by her side, she stood tall. Such was easier since she'd changed her shoes at lunch time. What wasn't any easier was the thought of the challenge looming ahead, sooner than expected. Not that she'd let any doubts or fears show. "This is gonna be no problem," she said, a grin hiding all uncertainty.

A short walk led the class to the battle facility, an ultra-modern tower, in contrast with the ornate castle that was PMA's main building. She followed the others inside, her step faltering when she noticed who was at the desk. Having lived in Balamla for a year, she recognised the woman from photos - Electric type gym leader Tessa Nichols. The small, scruffy-haired engineer wasn't all that intimidating, especially with those tired eyes like she'd pulled an all nighter, but the thought of the extra scrutiny made Netty want to shrink back. Imperceptibly, she bit the inside of her lip. Great. As if an official match on the first day wasn't daunting enough, a gym leader was going to help judge it. There was no way she could afford to screw this up.

For all that effort to appear confident, Mellona could clearly tell she wasn't. If the Combee was nervous herself, she hid it better than her trainer did, nuzzling Netty's shoulder with her third, main head. Netty gave a strained smile - it was a comforting gesture for sure, but if anyone else picked up on how anxious she was, it wouldn't help their chances. "We can do this, ok?" she told Mel.

Striding into the reserved room, she took her place. She resisted clenching her fists as her opponent approached, a smug, smirking boy by the name of Nicholas, who took the opportunity right away to mock 'trainers like her'. Why did people view bug catchers as little more than annoyances? Some woodland grubs could give painful stings, but typically only when threatened, and well-trained ones usually behaved themselves, so why was her Pokemon type a problem? "Oh please." She straightened her back. "I'm not just any bug catcher, as you're about to find out."

Nicholas' Pokemon, a Sentret, made a wild dash forward. By the look of it, not even the sudden burst of speed could match Mellona's, or at least Netty hoped. Still, she had to think quickly. "Mel, sweep it back with Gust!" Mellona braced herself, buzzing louder as she whipped up a much stronger stream of wind than the earlier ones.

Notes

PP

11

Pokemon Team:

• Combee (Mellona), lv10
  Current moves: Sweet Scent, Gust, Struggle Bug, Bug Bite

Pokemon in PC

Items

General

Medicines

Pokeballs

• Pokeball x5

Berries

• Oran Berry x5
• Cheri Berry x1
• Pecha Berry x1
• Rawst Berry x1
• Chesto Berry x1
• Aspear Berry x1
• Persim Berry x1
• Leppa Berry x1

TMs

• Hidden Power

Escaping The Faewoods - A Survival Horror RP

Everything ok @alexfangtalon?

Pokemon Spiral

Amber Pine

Mesalon Gym -> Mesalon Town

@Typical @Zanavy @OtomostheCrazy

Amber had just been about to lead Aedre and Ty out, when an unusually quiet Alexis made up her mind to take on the challenge. Watching the battle unfold as Tacita hopped onto her shoulder to observe along with her, Amber stayed where she was. Yes, Sophia and Oscar probably were waiting, but the thought of walking out on Alexis during a crucial moment didn't sit well with her. They were all supposed to stick together.

As it turned out, Alexis had the skill to back up her bragging, securing the badge and TM in a matter of minutes. "You did great!" Amber called. "Fighting types, huh? So it's true they can learn all sorts of moves..." Her eyebrows furrowed as, without a word, Alexis left.

"Ok, yeah." With an inward wince, Amber glanced from the door to Aedre, then to Ty. "Looks like a good time to head out for real."

Which they should have done earlier, she chided herself as she hurried outside, Tacita fluttering close by. All they could do now was try to group up and check on everyone. "Alexis!" she called down the street. "You ok?"

Notes

Pokemon Party: Kabuto "Chalcedony" lv11, Yanma "Aeshna" lv9, Rockruff "Kyra" lv13, Rowlet "Tacita" lv11, Anorith "Larimar" lv13, Sableye "Almandine" lv12
Pokemon in PC:
Inventory: Pokeball x1, Potion x2, Dusk Ball x1

Be my Sanctuary

Ugh, sorry about the wait. Been ill (thankfully it turned out to just be flu rather than Covid), but slowly getting better and catching up with RPs.

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess fought back a sigh. She wasn't going to win against Reginald, but wouldn't give him the satisfaction of confirming he had the upper hand. She and Roxy would have to get through it for now, but maybe once the bond grew stronger, once it worked over longer distances, the anchor wouldn't have to be so involved.

Then again, that left two issues. One, Reginald would do his utmost to keep his daughter involved. Two, Roxy would keep trying to protect her. No matter what her father said, the anchor was anything but selfish.

Resigned to the task at hand, Jess listened. So the leak was a legitimate concern that did need to be dealt with, and she had a pretty good idea which of the men was behind it. Judging by the confusion, though, there had to be more to the story. She wasn't about to go condemning people on limited evidence. With a deep breath, she looked directly at the older man. Reginald and Maxwell would already know he was the culprit, because of how her attention had shifted to him a moment ago, but she had another question.

"How exactly did it happen?"

Pokemon: Chronicles

Tournaments. The word stuck in the back of Antoinetta's mind. She tried not to squirm in her seat - the other students would have way more experience. That and, although Mellona could pull off some impressive combos, the little bee was more of a dancer than a battler. Wafting Sweet Scent around with Gust while doing a figure-of-eight dance wouldn't help in a fight. For all the school's various programs, was there a bias towards battle here?

Before Netty could dwell on it, the teacher spoke up, introducing herself and her Pokemon. Netty leaned forward. The Bronzong, she'd have recognised even if not for Caprea's announcement. A few trainers in Eterna had Bronzongs, since wild Bronzors could be found outside the city. The Tropius, though... She looked up in fascination at the huge, winged, fruit-bearing Grass type she hadn't seen before. Despite her love of Bug types, her curiosity wasn't limited to them.

When Caprea allowed the class to let out their own Pokemon, Netty opened Mellona's Pokeball right away. The Combee flitted around the room, then to the play area. "There you go, just try not to buzz too loud," Netty said, following her, positioning two small cushions on the floor. "If it causes issues, how's this for a rest spot?" Mellona lowered herself into the gap, her upper heads' undersides resting against the cushions, her three smiles giving Netty the answer. The buzzing wasn't likely to cause problems anyway; Mel slowly rose to look around and play, the soft hum of her wings no louder than Rocky's scampering paws. Even so, best for her to have that option.

Netty returned to her seat, nerves tightening at the mention of the ice breaker. Speaking in public seemed to be her natural strength, but only because she made it appear that way, to hide what a wreck it turned her into every time. She could relate to Tim as he stammered his statements, barely able to look at the class. Student after student went up, and Netty wanted to guess the lies, but the words wouldn't leave her throat. Some of these people had so many achievements under their belts already. How could she possibly compete?

Troy turned out to be one such trainer. Something about the way he issued his matter-of-fact yet witty statements seemed like a combat strategy set in motion. For all his inscrutability, he gave the impression of having more fun toying with the class than he let on. This assignment, after all, was meant to be fun, although Netty found it nothing but nerve-wracking.

Her stomach flip-flopped when Caprea called her name. For a second, she sat frozen in place. Fake it till you make it, she urged herself, standing and sashaying forward. Wasn't that the point of this exercise anyway? She shouldn't be worried. Putting up an act, pretending to be more glamorous and interesting than she was... That was what she did best.

She stood tall in front of the crowd, just like Fantina or her other favourite coordinators would. "Hey everyone, my name is Antoinetta," she announced, smiling as if for a video camera. "First of all, I took a vacation in Kalos once, Hotel Richissime in Lumiose City no less. Second, I got into PMA by showcasing a contest move. And third, I was president of the theater club in middle school. So, can you tell the facts from the fiction?"

Ok, she hadn't stuck to the prompt exactly. Of her three statements, two were lies. As the crowd guessed the one about the famous hotel, however, that made it look like she had indeed led the theater club, when in truth she'd never even joined it. She'd been much too withdrawn and insecure, and no way had she wanted to be around her bullying classmates longer than necessary, but this class would now think she was born for the stage.

"Correct, I haven't visited Lumiose yet, although I plan to some day!" She headed back to her seat, with a discreet sigh of relief. It was done, and that little tall tale could help kick-start her coordinator career.

As long as nobody asked any awkward questions, that was.

Notes

PP

10

Pokemon Team:

• Combee (Mellona), lv10
  Current moves: Sweet Scent, Gust, Struggle Bug, Bug Bite

Pokemon in PC

Items

General

Medicines

Pokeballs

• Pokeball x5

Berries

• Oran Berry x5
• Cheri Berry x1
• Pecha Berry x1
• Rawst Berry x1
• Chesto Berry x1
• Aspear Berry x1
• Persim Berry x1
• Leppa Berry x1

TMs

• Hidden Power