[attr="class","star1tsu2"]

[attr="class","star2tsu2"]Soft flesh fragile like glass begins to melt. The angel of Eternatus grows closer to her patron, and she revels amid the acid. The way she melts, the way she begins to fade, to become one with something larger than she could ever hope to be. It is intoxicating. More than that, it is addicting. She dances, carefree, as her body begins to bubble like blowing glass.[break][break]

She can never die, only become something more, a pirouette delivered for eternity and toward oblivion. [break][break]

This was the splendor of infinity.[break][break]

"We're..."[break][break]

Tsubaki stops and watches for a moment. The yellow acid outside, the bodies of disintegrating angels, so much larger than she's ever seen before. Though Manjushage is a mere hatchling, this is the result of more than just age. No mere history could turn these creatures into titans. [break][break]

She almost dreads to say it, but owing to the historian's own omission, she feels that she needs to. It doesn't feel real otherwise.[break][break]

"We're in His belly... He's gonna try and eat us."[break][break]

Or, He already has.[break][break]

It takes the tug of her teacup on her collar to break her attention away from the window. [break][break]

Of course. She's not a mere spectator to the end, but a participant. The pull of the sea taunts her, draws her near. Even now, she wonders what it must feel for Manju to become so close to becoming a part of Him. [break][break]

Her heart aches with envy, but she doesn't give in to that feeling. [break][break]

Not this time. Not yet.[break][break]

"Key word is try, right? Do what you gotta do, I need to get my girl."[break][break]

Baki whirls toward the hatch above them, running to the ladder and climbing as fast as she can. [break][break]

"Midori, use protect! I ain't waitin' for this egghead to surface first!"[break][break]

The teacup tips the whisk she wears like a hat accordingly, conjuring a bubble of green tea as Baki throws open the hatch. The sizzling of the sea and the stench of death is magnified tenfold, but Baki doesn't hesitate. She reaches out into the bubble that holds back the acid, beckoning her Ultra Beast home.[break][break]

"MANJU! C'mere! Hell if I don't know this is your calling, but it ain't time for you yet! Not here, not now! When it's time... I'll let you know!"[break][break]

She holds out her premier ball, and the parasite lets out a horrific squeal of delight as if welcoming Tsubaki for the first time. [break][break]

Its body bubbles, looking more malformed by the moment, but she remains fully cognizant, fully alive, if you could call her that in the first place. Biology is an afterthought. The destruction of her physical form does not faze her in the slightest.[break][break]

A flash of light, and she is stolen from the salvation she desires more than anything. [break][break]

"Good... good. Don't give in yet. Don't be so greedy. There's a time and a place... y'know?"[break][break]

The premier ball wiggles in response to those reassuring words, and her girl slips it into her pocket.[break][break]

Baki slams the hatch back shut, just as Midori's shield fades. She huffs as she returns to her seat, clicking her seatbelt and turning to the scientist at her side. [break][break]

"Alright, Slayte! Let's get outta here! Better not fuck up that plan of yours, or I'll find you in hell and kick your ass!"[break][break]

[attr="class","star3tsu2"][attr="class","rouxcredittsu2"]♠

[attr="class","star1tsu2"]

[attr="class","star2tsu2"]Tsubaki looks up in disbelief as Howard unbuckles himself and undoes her seatbelt, almost as soon as she straps herself back in. It's only as he sends out his Claydol that she starts to understand. Psychic types were her worst match-up, but she knew them well. Know your enemies and all that.[break][break]

"... H-Hey, don't call me--"[break][break]

Those are the last words she can get out before she's turned inside out, squeezed through the eye of a needle. It makes her dizzy. Everything feels wrong for a moment, like she was put back together incorrectly. [break][break]

"-- vomit girl!"[break][break]

She almost regrets saying the words, post-teleport nausea a known symptom of those not used to traveling by psychic-type pokemon. [break][break]

"Ughh... gonna be sick again..."[break][break]

Baki covers her mouth again. It's only her familiarity with interdimensional travel that spares Howard from about the worst fate possible. That, and Midori sprinkling life dew over the crumpled heap of humans and pokemon, relieving the worst of her symptoms.[break][break]

"I'll never get used to that. Worst way to travel, and I've walked through Sagisou's mouth more than once."[break][break]

She mentions her Gengar with reproach. She still has nightmares of the ghost's glee the few times she was backed into a corner and that was the only way out. That ghost seemed to love swallowing her a little too much... [break][break]

Looking around, she can't see the archaeologist anywhere.[break][break]

"Hey, Slayte... Where'd you go?"[break][break]

Only his groan from beneath her alerts her to his whereabouts, and she looks down and finally takes notice of what broke her fall.[break][break]

"Ah... right. Good plan. Gooood plan."[break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","star3tsu2"][attr="class","rouxcredittsu2"]♠