"I-I'm okay," El half-wheezes through the pain in their arm; it was an obvious lie, and yet they were still conscious and alive - so that was something, right? But in glancing to her, some form of sorrow crosses El's expression as they murmur back "You... You're hurting yourself, though..."

But with the valiant's appearance and protection, it was a chance for patching up. A gardevoir comes out, and the life dew that washes over El's arm makes them visibly relax, sighing in relief. "Thank you," They breathe to the psychic-type, watching as the blood is washed away, and the throbbing pain is eased. They'd still need to get this bite wound looked at - but some bandaging, once the gardevoir was done, would suffice until then.

Which, Bibidi was happy to help out in that - taking the time to wrap up El's arm, once the fellow psychic is done using Life Dew.

"Could you... Take a look at your trainer, too?" El asks the gardevoir as Bibidi works - with their empathy, it pained them to see Cygne in such bad shape. "Akero's frozen - so I can't... Can't ask him, to heal her..."

Meanwhile though, a knight and a dragon were in a tense standoff. The jugulis hissed low, agitated at the sudden appearance of a rival pokemon. Its wings and the illuminated frills around each of its heads opened wide in some form of threat display, paired with a low and bellowing electronic roar; yet, the valiant did not flinch in the face of the not-hydreigon's expressed rage, instead simply taking on a readied stance with the spear.

Initially, the jugulis charges in, intending to Crunch the valiant; but the knight responds with another Spirit Break, its spear flashing with light as it jabs outwards - allowing the raging beast to charge into it and impale itself on the weapon!

In response, the jugulis shrieks in pain once more - reaching out with its auxiliary heads to Crunch at the knight's armor, as the main body thrashes with building rage!

ana fell

Bibidi lets out a gentle sigh, as her wounds are mended - the Alakazam finding similar relief in Kanaya's care. Her mind reaches out to the fellow psychic-type's, extending an expression of gratitude much like the thanks El offered before.

But Kanaya's refusal to tend to Cygne puts a frown on El's face - and glancing to the older woman, their expression shifts into something of stubborn determination. "Hold still," They direct Cygne - taking the first aid kit, so that they could shuffle over in a knelt position (not ready to test their cane arm, to see if it'll hurt to stand with their cane or not.) Once close, they'd take out some gauze to press to Cygne's lip, to staunch where it's been split.

"I... I'm not giving up on you." They speak - brows furrowing in concentration, even past the sounds of combat. "We'll get you patched up and mended, and then you're getting to a doctor, okay?"

The fight soon draws Cygne's attention, though - and the mention of Sima, which... As El's gaze pans to the remains of the hydreigon that they had found Cyg in, they can't help but ask "Sima - is that...?" They trail off - worried about being insensitive... Not that they'd have much chance to finish their question anyways, before Cygne is asking Kanaya for help up onto her feet.

El and Bibidi share a glance; knowing what they wanted to ask of her, the Alakazam sighs, but decides to help Kanaya steady Cyg - using Telekinesis to keep the rocket woman from doing any further needless damage to her ankle, by keeping weight off of it.

The valiant turns its head to briefly gaze at Cygne as she approaches - but she would be met with a roadblock, if she wished to go past the knight. It extends an arm to the side to stop her from getting any closer, the opposite hand keeping the spear readied and pointed at the jugulis.

Meanwhile El can't help but blink a little owlishly at the nickname given. Little flying purple... people eater? ... ... They were sure that it wasn't literal, right?

As the false dragon begins to roar and snap though, the valiant steps forward, gripping the spear with both hands again. The spear takes on a glow once more, preparing a Spirit Break in the event that the dragon charges again.

ana fell

"If I don't got this... uh, El, tell your brother I said you can have my comic books, a'ite?"

That wasn't concerning at all! Not that El could do much from where they were, as Cygne began hopping her way closer and closer to the jugulis.

The valiant, on the other hand, would initially keep its arm outrstretched - quietly studying Cygne's face, as if looking for... Something. Not that it was easy to tell what, the mechanical knight's expression neutral and lacking in any particular tells. But whatever it finds seems to satisfy it, as it eventually lowers its arm to allow Cygne to step forward.

The spear - glowing with fairy-type energy - remains poised though, just in case.

Bibidi, meanwhile, would continue using Telekinesis to help keep the rocket woman steady, and to keep weight off the broken ankle. Her eyes stared warily at the jugulis - clearly not eager to get too close to the hydra, and but not wanting to just leave Cygne hanging, either.

And yet, as Cyg nears the false dragon, it doesn't lash out. It doesn't even so much as roar, instead appearing to purr. And as it presses against her outstretched palm, it was almost as if... It recognizes her.

El's and Bibidi's expressions soften - and the valiant, seeming to deem the threat as no more, finally lowers its spear.

ana fell

So the body really was Sima, then. Something in El's expression flickered - sympathy, empathy - and yet, as Cygne muses over whether or not the jugulis really was Sima reborn, well... "I... I don't think it's impossible," They murmur, as they slowly - carefully - push themself up onto their feet, and steady themself with their cane. Much as they expected, their cane arm throbs a bit at having to support some of their weight - but it wasn't as bad as they worried it'd be.

They approach the jugulis to better look it over - and as they do, they add "The mist, it... I think it takes a lot from our heads, when it makes this stuff. So maybe if, uhm, you were thinking hard about Sima... Maybe the mist took that, and built off of those thoughts, memories, and feelings?" Much like how the mist may have taken from El's own thoughts and memories, to form parts of the valiant.

But then comes the next question - the question as to whether the pokemon could be taken out of the dream mist - and to that, they nod. "It seems that way, uhm... When Blackjack and I were fighting against a couple of these weird mecha pokemon, one that looked like a tyranitar had uhm, shown up to help us. And when the mist went away, she was still there - and even let Blackjack catch her, to take her with him." They explain - looking the mecha-Sima up and down. "So... you probably could catch, uhm, Sima here - and take her with you, too."

Glancing back to Cyg, El offered "If you don't have any empty pokeballs... I have a few spare." as they dug through their bag - pulling one out for her, if Cyg accepted the offer.

ana fell

All it takes is that half-aborted motion, of that moment of Cygne looking as though she were about to hug them, that El decides to hug her back with their one free arm - gentle, uncaring of the mess.

But then comes her concern - and they blink a bit. "I, uhm, don't really think this place is for anyone..." They agree with a shake of their head. "I just..." For a moment, they trail off, gathering their thoughts as to what to say, before shaking their head - as if to get rid of cobwebs. "Sit down - I know you re-opened something, moving like that earlier, so... Let me make sure you're not gonna bleed out, okay?"

The two of them will be fine lingering just a little longer, they think, with these pokemon on their sides.

But as they fuss over Cygne, their gaze briefly drifts back to Sima - the original, or first, Sima. "... Hey, uhm... When I leave... Maybe I could bury her, for you - Sima? Someplace where you think she'd like?" It felt wrong, just leaving the body of what was once a living, breathing, feeling creature in this alien land. "Set up a spot for her - Bibidi would be able to take you there afterwards, when this is over."

As long as the alakazam has been there before, her near-photographic memory was enough to bring her back to that same spot with a good Teleport.

MP Tally:
- Mission Participation (50 MP)
- Mission Completion (100 MP)
- Win (200 MP)
- x20 Posts (200 MP)
- Own Pokemon KO'd (50 MP)
- Realm Paranoia (10 MP)
- x3 Assisted (30 MP)
Total: 640 MP


ana fell

Akero hasn't thawed yet - so El makes sure to send out Sobek, their Fuecoco, to help in matters. Once the Togekiss is free and as chipper as ever though, she drifts on over to provide plenty of Life Dew to help patch Cygne back up.

Opened wounds are staunched, bandages replaced with fresh ones. And the ankle - El can't help but wince at it. It doesn't take a genius, for them to know that Cygne trying to run around like she had only served to make it worse. "I... don't have anything to make a splint or cast with," They murmur - continuing "But... I'm gonna wrap it up to add a bit of compression - it'll help with swelling and blood flow."

The question of how they'd go about transporting Sima arises though, as they carefully wrap Cygne's ankle - and though the ranger was quiet for a moment as they considered it... Sharing a brief glance with Bibidi, El spoke "Bibidi - she's willing to help carry Sima," They spoke gently - Telekinesis was helpful in a number of things, after all. "And we've been around Hoenn, so - if there's anyplace you think she'd like...?"

Glancing back at the remains though, El would even see that the valiant has wandered in that direction - and with a mix of psychic energy and carefully hooking it over its spear, it has taken to putting the fallen dragon back together as cleanly as possible. Perhaps to make transportation easier?

El doesn't let their stare linger on the dragon's corpse for long though - the sight still messes with their stomach a little - and instead glances back to Cygne. "You'll need to keep your weight off your ankle while it heals... I know this ain't perfect for it, but..."

Digging through their bag, they pull out what looks to be a foldable cane. It's not quite as nice as the cane they do use, but it makes for a backup - and is easy to transport - so they kept it around just in case. "Here, you can use this if you need to move at all." They speak, offering the folded cane to Cygne. "Hold it on your good side, so you can keep your weight on it and your good ankle."

ana fell

El nods as Petalburg Woods is mentioned - that is a pretty place. It might be tricky finding an open area that they can dig down at, to make room for Sima's burial, but... It could also be a place, for them to use the seeds that they'd been holding onto. It was one thing to have someone leave you flowers at your grave - but what about someone leaving flower seeds to grow around your grave?

El smiles when they see that their efforts in treating and aiding Cygne have been helping her though - happy to see that she had a smile on her face. "I'm just doing what's right," They respond modestly, chuckling.

But came the question of what next - and well, that was a good question! "I was going to take you to where Blackjack's got a camp set up... But I feel like you really need to see a doctor, first." El spoke gently. "There's only so much I can do for broken bones with basic first aid - and I don't feel like I can safely remove the bullet without making things worse." It took careful surgery, which they were in no way equipped for or trained in.

"Bibidi is going to share with Kanaya where the camp is, for when you're in at least somewhat better shape - and I'll let him know where you are and that you'll be okay, alright?" Offering Cygne a soft and sympathetic smile though, they'd conclude "And then I'll make sure Sima gets a burial somewhere nice, in Petalburg Woods."

Much like El spoke, Bibidi would communicate with Kanaya to share the location of Blackjack's camp - enough for the Gardevoir to Teleport there, when the time came. But glancing to the psychic type, El would offer her a hopeful smile, mentioning "I know you're tired, but... I'd appreciate it a lot, if you could get her to a doctor. Blackjack would probably appreciate it a bunch, too."

Hopefully, Cygne would be okay from here on...