[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

[attr="class","eris100"][break]

[attr="class","eris109"]While the Glimmora is graceful, Ako approaches with the feralness of slighted cat. As soon as the Scream Tail is launched right into the air by the Mortal Spin, she reaches out with her claw, grabbing ahold of their leg and swinging them downwards at full force.[break][break]

Then she raises them up to the sky, and slams them down once more. Again and again, much like a rabid fan of whack-a-mole. So much so that at some point, the Scream Tail's screech-singing becomes genuine screeches of agony. And oh, does Eris pale at the very sight.[break][break]

"AKO?!" The screams grow weaker. "LET GO!" The crunching begins to make itself known. "PUT IT DOWN!"[break][break]

And she will, just not in the kindest of ways. With one final scream of her own, the witch swings the limp Scream tail round and round over her head, then pitches it like a terrifying fastball deeper into the simulated jungle.

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[attr="class","nikki99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

[attr="class","nikki100"][break]

[attr="class","nikki109"]Unlike a dive into the deep, the descent is quick and rips the air from her lungs without the slightest warning. But in doing so, forces her to make a snap decision, grabbing onto Hideo Kino and Lucia Aldrete as she pulls them close. Better her than them, the fall doesn't shatter bones but it sure will weigh on her movements as they make that scuffed landing.[break][break]

An inhale so sharp she feels her lungs being pierced, a hiss as she quickly attempts to look around and gain her bearings. "C'mon." A quick look over the two, then a prompt tugging of their hands as she tries to lead the way. "Look out for your pokemon, Lucia. We'll come back for them."[break][break]

As for hers and Hideo's, she'll do her best to pick out the rough figures as they rush on by. Her heart skips a beat when she spies a familiar tuft of black and starry tail, and she nearly stops in her tracks in wishing to break him out right this moment. And yet, the call is there. Ever present. Waiting.[break][break]

She'll be back for him. That is a promise that she'll never break.[break][break]

"Where are they? Where are they..."[break][break]

Time is running out as she continues to run on through the lanes. The call grows ever stronger as she runs closer and closer, until finally -[break][break]

"The lake -" Her breath hitches, the breaths she'd been failing to take this entire time as she ran. Tripping down by the side and falling to her knees, it's a wonder how she doesn't simply keel over. Like the other two pixies, Azelf still harbours that broken gem, makes her worry whether they'll truly have the power to change all this -[break][break]

"Azelf!" But she reaches.[break][break]

"Azelf please!" She cries out.[break][break]

"Wake up!"[break][break]

Her fists slam against the tube, just like a recurring dream that would prove fruitless. But this time, there is more to it that just the looming sense of dread for when she has to wake up. Emblazoned on her arm, through webs of scars, that mark she could never scrub with effort or time. Looking back towards Hideo, she spies it too, his mark all too conspicuous without those long-sleeved sweaters to save him.[break][break]

A voice. Their voice, echoing in her head.[break][break]

[break]

Never would she have thought herself happy to hear Kyurem's words.[break][break]

Hope is a beautiful thing, nourished by will and allowed room to grow as the toxic weeds are plucked. Off come the chains, the poison begins to fade with the purple tinges on her skin. But with it, invites a new weight saddled upon her.[break][break]

"Brrii!!"[break][break]

Distress.[break][break]

She looks up and sees the end of it all, the fade of light as Azelf begins to fall. And her body moves before her thoughts are processed, her arms stretched out as she dives to catch them.[break][break]

"Az-"[break][break]

She doesn't even need to look over Azelf to know what state they must be in.[break][break]

"Chloris? Chloris!"[break][break]

They need rest. They need healing. She scrambles to her feet, tries to look around, desperate for a glimpse of colourful flowers but only finding an endless sea of green. Her eye darts towards Hideo, then Lucia, then Cassandra Kubrick, her heart pounding loud in her ears as she cradles the limp pixie in her arms.[break][break]

"Heal - We need to heal them -"[break][break]

Where are her pokemon? How do they -[break][break]

Slender hands rest upon her arms, a touch that beckons the mind to still. And as she looks down, she sees a familiar shade of pink, gently taking ahold of Azelf's own hands as they too close their eyes. After all this time separated, a Wish blossoms - To be truly reunited, all in good health.[break][break]

x|ZmAEW|

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]When faced by a strikingly large, living bamboo alien, one might think that backing up and fleeing is the correct option. And she really would've taken it if not for way that Mesprit adamantly holds onto her arm and chirps. Even the Kartana seems to jitter, flapping erratically against the sudden winds before it folds itself, carefully slipping into one of the many grooves that the Celesteela possesses.[break][break]

The winds grow ever stronger. What was once a light breeze brushing across her skin now rakes at her clothes, its pull growing stronger by the second as a distant howl becomes more and more prominent. Finally, she dares to look at the beast that lurks behind them, only to blink and whip her head right back around.[break][break]

"It's probably better if we go with it." She's most definitely picked up what Mesprit's putting down and she rushes up to the Celesteela, holding onto it for dear life as its engines begin to light up. "C'mon! Hurry!"[break][break]

Of course, the pixie isn't cruel enough to leave their source of Yeggo waffles precious, fragile friend behind. Zipping over to him, Mesprit grabs onto his hand and tugs him along with a psychic pull.

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"The soil report we got out of that bunker!" She nods to herself. "I was trying to decipher it on my own. Get a feel for the alphabet, you know?"[break][break]

The other connotations of his questions are completely lost on her.[break][break]

At the very mention of storm, Eris stops to sniff the air too. It doesn't quite smell like that good old ozone that comes before, but she has to assume that this planet doesn't operate in the same way that their world does. Looking up to the skies, she can only spy that endless yellow without a single cloud marring its sight.[break][break]

But then, a black chunk falls from the heavens, piercing through the bamboo thicket with an audible 'CRACK' before landing in the earth with a thud. Mesprit is by her side in an instant, eyes narrowing as the ground beneath them begins to rumble. The bamboo begin to sway, nervously bowing down as a strange shoot emerges from the earth. And it only grows taller and taller, slowly but steadily rising to tower above them all.

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"And you wouldn't believe it, but the report actually had one of these buddies in it."[break][break]

Up ahead, said 'buddy' leads the way with fluttery movements, almost as if pushed along by a passing breeze. Its body looks so fragile, bending and flopping about. But as soon as it comes into contact with the bamboo that surrounds them, the group is subjected to a viewing of just how fast those bamboo stalks can fall.[break][break]

"I'm honestly kinda surprised that it didn't cut through the paper." Her backpack, she can understand given how Mesprit would've beaten it into submission for disturbing their nap. "And the way it's just... chilling. I thought it'd be best to reunite it with its family or something."[break][break]

If Ultra Beasts had such notions to begin with. And if she ignored the other glaring problem that she'd have no idea where said family would be. Well, Mesprit seems to be rather at ease around the Kartana despite the havoc it seems to wreak upon the ecosystem. And they even gesture towards the Ultra Beast, grinning as they zip over to give Howard a brief tug.[break][break]

"Maybe we'll find those other craters with inscriptions on the way, y'know?"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Well, I don't know for sure, but can't hurt to try, right?" Sometimes, the littlest of hopes could spark something in their future. But for now, she must settle upon the present. Which is to say -[break][break]

"I am happy." Grabbing ahold of his hand, she grins. "Well, I mean things could definitely be a lot better in this region. But right now, exploring this place with you makes me happy. Living with Isaac and having so many other people looking out for me... even hanging out with Mesprit, even if they just eat all the food."[break][break]

From her backpack, a sharp snort is soon consumed by gentle snoring.[break][break]

Taking ahold of the soil reports once more, she folds them up and tucks them neatly into her bag. For a moment, she swears that she feels the pages resist her. Perhaps, the passage of time has hardened its surface?[break][break]

"For future references. When we get to learning the language, yeah? For now, grab your soil and let's get outta here!"

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"A fossil, huh?" She stares at the beast for a while, then reaches into her pocket to pull out her phone. A quick snap preserves this sight for future reference, allowing her to think on the possibilities with this window to the past.[break][break]

When he begins rifling through the soil, she joins him in getting her hands straight into it. It's a rather pleasant sensation, evokes many memories of tending to her gardens back home. And for a moment, she wonders if using the soil in her own gardens would help her plants grow.[break][break]

At least, until Howard breaks the atmosphere of moving dirt and tumbling pebbles that loosen from the chunks.[break][break]

"I mean... It'd be nice to understand them. And maybe someday, that'd help us with talking to them? Let us get along with each other?"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Wonder if I could learn it too... teach me sometime?" Even in dark times and horribly lit corridors, her smile shines bright for Howard. Anything in the pursuit of knowledge.[break][break]

Oh, what she would've given for her mother to be here exploring all these things with her.[break][break]

As the door opens, she wonders just what happened here. The Celesteela corpse, the abundance of life? For better or for worse, the grimness of the situation is buried under the weight of discovery.[break][break]

"I guess their research paid off, huh..." Her eyes flit over the flora, then turn to the Donphan in the room. "Is that..."[break][break]

Creeping closer, she dares to prod, and in turn is rewarded with the confirmation that it is in fact, dead. Much to Reiner's relief as he gently tugs her away from the body.[break][break]

"How long has this been down here...?" It had to have been long enough for the fusing to occur. "How did it even get down here in the first place?"

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]One after another, they all head into the bunker and leave Reiner with no options but to follow along. With bristling fur and scrunched nose, it's clear that he doesn't quite enjoy the staleness of air. But between having to endure the smell and the thought of being left alone outside of this room, he's willing to take his chances.[break][break]

Eris, on the other hand, stares up at Howard in wonder.[break][break]

"They?" Their own world? A lightless land? "You mean these were written by Megalopolans?"[break][break]

That's the only logical conclusion she can make after having been there once. And well, putting two and two together about his phrasing.[break][break]

"If we follow that line of reasoning, they must've had a way back..." Like a spaceship, perhaps. Though, she's really had enough of spaceships and Megalopolan run-ins for a lifetime. Carefully handing the papers over to Howard, she begins to make her way towards the stairs. This time, with Reiner oh so stubbornly taking point.[break][break]

At this point, they've all seemed to have gotten used to the fact that Howard would probably never let himself go first lest there's danger. Picking up a few loose pieces of debris, Eris tosses them down the stairwell and listens close. The stairs creak with each clunk the chunks make, then softly crunch against what sounds like solid rock.[break][break]

For now, it seems safe to walk. Though in the worst case scenario, she's certain that the Pichu napping within her backpack would sooner tear this place apart than let her fall to her death.[break][break]

"Anyways, what exactly does the soil report say? Do you think we could take that soil for your own farm too?"

[break]