El smiles with empathetic amusement, nodding when Tempest Quinn mentions the cold. Having grown up in Lavaridge, they weren't any better - in fact, they were probably among those least acclimated to the cold that nipped at one's skin out here. Rocket or League - in a situation like this, factions and allegiances were probably the last thing that anyone should be worrying about.

Akero did well in keeping the duo warm as she waddled along though, continuing to happily whistle. It seemed that the trip up to the mysterious building would be a smooth one...

... At least, that was until Julia Davis showed up. Initially, they open their mouth as if to greet her - but when she calls for El to get back, the ranger blinks owlishly in response. But before they can try to reason with their fellow ranger, Temp is already speaking.

El is only further distracted - and perhaps a bit bewildered by the situation - when they're clapped on the back; they end up stumbling from it, until Temp suddenly pulls them closer! It'd likely be clear to see that they were more or less going with the flow - albeit less on purpose, and more just simply because they had no clue what to make of the situation otherwise.

If they had a nickel for every random Rocket they have had positive interactions with, they'd have three nickels - technically maybe four, not that they knew that. Which, something told them that that number was only going to grow, whether they liked it or not.

But, soon explosions would rock the building further up the slope - clear signs of fighting of some form. And with it, Temp began moving - handing a scrap of paper to them in the process.

As the rocket begins walking up the path though, El glanced to Julia. "Sorry - I... think we're safe, at least for now, though." They spoke in a soft and hushed tone, adding "I'm not sure what's going on up ahead, but... There's no point in us fighting, when we don't know what's even going on here... Right?"

With that though, Akero would whistle and continue to waddle along - gesturing with a wing for Julia to come over! If she obliged, she'd end up being treated like a penguin chick as well - being ushered against the togekiss' warm fluff next to El, and ferried along.

As Temp introduced himself though, and asked about the note, the ranger's attention turned back to the front. "Oh - my name's El. And the note..." Their gaze drifts down to it - taking a moment to read it. "It looks like it might be from a diary? I think it reads... 'There is no rest for the black knight. We do not know if it really is cousin or foe. Every battle with the skeleton does more harm than good'."

But that raised a question - who was the black knight? Who - or what - was this skeleton?

Their thoughts would be cut off by Temp's excited gesturing towards Lugia - and though he might find the sight a comforting one... El can't help but blanche a little at the sight - feeling a certain pressure to the presence of so many gods in one place.

And yet, it was where others appeared to be gathering - so when Temp runs on ahead, Akero is not far behind - even if the togekiss makes a somewhat unsettled coo.

But once the togekiss arrives, El is met with the sight of a pair of pokemon. One - Glastrier - they recognize (albeit not by name) from when they had played through an otome route with Shalin Nariya , a few months ago. The pokemon on its back is far less familiar, however - and it doesn't take a genius for them to notice that the Calyrex was suffering, much to their chagrin.. That, and in a state of wavering lucidity - Glacial Lances flying every which way..!

El is quick to bring out Midas - having the gholdengo use Protect to try and weather any attacks that fly their way. But as they do, a question escapes their lips. "This note -- it mentions a black knight, and a skeleton. Where did the note come from - and what is it talking about?" They call to the psychic-type, hoping for answers of some form.

When the time comes for Calyrex to be put out of their misery though, they look away -unable to bear watching the poor king's decline any further, even if this is ultimately a mercy.

TLDR / NOTES :
- El apologizes to Julia Davis - but emphasizes that Tempest Quinn doesn't seem to mean any harm right now, and that there's no point in fighting each other right now.
- They introduce themself to Tempest Quinn , and reads the note out loud (with less ye olde english) to the both of them.
- Togekiss invites Julia to snuggle with her for warmth while she keeps waddling.
- El and Togekiss are a bit spooked by Lugia - but they keep moving, cause the others are probably in the building.
- El recognizes Glastrier's species (albeit not by name), not so much Calyrex.
- Gholdengo comes out and uses Protect in hopes of weathering the lances. Will be the yote-ee if roll doesn't cooperate.
- Tells Calyrex about the note - and that it mentions a black knight + skeleton. Asks it where the note came from + what the note is talking about.
- When execution time comes, El looks away - unable to bear watching the psychic-type suffer any further, or its death, even if they recognize it as a mercy.
HLuxSxB0

Oliver Shrakes laid out a pair of possibilities, both outright stating they had been sent to a different region. "Between those two…if this has anything to do with Zanzameta, then we're probably in Galar." For a moment, there was the slight hope that Andy Blackadder might show up here; it'd been so long since they'd talked.

But that also might mean they'd encounter Necrozma. Not a fun occasion.

Just as he turned his thoughts away from that monster, the sound of battle rang through the frigid air. Whatever was happening, they had to get there quickly - and unfortunately, Hideo hadn't brought any fast Pokemon with him. "Yeah, I think I'll hitch a ride with you," he said, turning around and walking over towards the Dragonite.

Though as he walked, his foot met with an odd bump. Out of curiosity, he knelt down, picking up the half-eaten carrot. He'd thought to just discard it, but Uxie rushed him along, the boy instinctively holding onto it as he climbed up the Dragonite.

It wouldn't take them long to get there, but it seemed like things were getting messy by a massive statue - that a bunch of people just destroyed. Though the Pokemon that came out was difficult to hear from atop a speeding Dragonite, Uxie was able to keep Hideo aware of the idea of what it was saying: it was poisoned, the statue was the only thing staving off the poison, and it now wanted to die.

"Fucking Rocket," Hideo muttered. They would be the only ones he'd expect would try destroying a statue for no reason - and getting an innocent Pokemon killed in the process.

He could hear clearly as they landed - just as the Pokemon told them to ask any questions before killing it. Hideo rushed off the Dragonite, carrot still in hand, past absalom steel and Josh Devlin . He couldn't shake the sinking feeling, knowing the Pokemon asked for death because of what Rocket did, and he had no intention of harming it - and no way to stop anyone from doing so.

He wanted to ask if Azelf was here, but couldn't speak it amongst so many Rockets, not without revealing he was involved with them.

He felt a small pat on the head from Uxie - it would handle it, asking the question into the Calyrex's mind - as well as Hideo's so he'd know what was asked.

WHERE IS AZELF? ARE THEY HERE?

Finds a half-eaten carrot. Holds onto it out of instinct.

Hitches a ride with Oliver Shrakes 's Dragonite.

Believes Rockets were the only ones attacking the statue (and effectively killing Calyrex)

Won't attack Calyrex, but unsure how to ask a question without outing his involvement with Lake Trio

Uxie asks for him (mentally), asking Where Azelf Is.

 

Carrot x1

Salac x1

mTrHUacw
Taking the 4 (It's as good as it gets :sadge:)

Two become many. Others caught in this freezing memory emerge and gather around the beacon that is Cillian Quinn . Hitoshi’s old amber eyes stay on the taller blonde. He’s grave, grim, wishing he had the words to convey the depths of his emotions.[break]

“What if Clean Wash said to put the cat over Brownie, Blondie?” He doesn’t pretend to know this man, but he knows love. Simple, unconditional love. The love that blossoms when someone accepts you for who you are. Love that comes from the hand you are meant for finally gripping you. Using you as you were always meant to be used.[break]

“I know who I’d pick.” The right blade can parry the world itself. He prays there will never come a day where the hand that holds him and the hand that holds that hand should come to clash.[break]

But there’s a world of other concerns before they reach that point. They’re blessed with a reunion. Despite the severity of his words, he smiles a boy’s smile when he sees the husbands brought back together. Love can warm anyone’s heart.[break]

Xenon Antheil ’s voice addresses him. He looks at her, eyes cool as the snow beneath them. Hand on his katana, he looks the part of an old samurai as he humors her request. Closing those eyes, he shakes his head.[break]

“No can do, Four-Eyes. You want my advice, stick with us. We’re stronger together.” Whether she chooses to listen or not doesn’t matter. The explosion draws their attention. Hitoshi runs off with the underboss’s host. Once more unto the breach. Another face in the conflict. He thinks to don his straw hat once again.[break]

Frankly, he doesn’t understand the scene before him. A frozen northern wind blows snow onto the edges of his hakama, coating his dark clothes white. Ceruledge’s flames melt the snow. Were it not for the ghostly knight, Hitoshi would be freezing.[break]

A dog stands before a king and the gathered champions of the realm. They ask questions. They beg for answers. They all chomp at the bits to be the one to end his li—[break]

Why does he care? Death is just one of those things. His trade. A business, like any other. Yet, as he sees the way six people trip over themselves to end this creature…[break]

He finds he does care. Very much so.[break]

A dog trots forward. His brief moment on the stage. A moment to yap and bark before a being far beyond him.[break]

“Oi. A king spends his life helping other people.” He states a far oversimplified version of things. “You’re wanting to help us by dying before you can hurt us. So…I just wanna ask. Besides killing you…” This place must be messing with his head, to make him want to ask this.[break]

“…is there anything I can do for you? Anything you want?”[break]

He asks before ruination and terrible energies fall upon this creature. Hitoshi turns to the woman that visits this ruination upon the creature. Elisabeth Fiorelli . He does not know this woman, but he knows she is another being far above him. If this wounded Pokemon is a king of light, then she is the queen of some dark place beyond his understanding. Wicked. Rotten.[break]

He grits the teeth at the sight of her, like a dog about to snarl at a threat. It would do about as much good as a dog barking. Hand hidden in the folds of his flowing robe, it goes for his katana. Drawing it and attacking her would do nothing but mark him as rabid. He would be killed. He would break his promise to Yumi.[break]

He backs up, hovers behind Cillian Quinn . Eying the woman with silent amber eyes, some beast caught between dog and wolf, hiding with his tail between his legs behind the leader of his pack. Observing her. Waiting for a moment of weakness so that he can take out her throat.[break]

He hates this woman. Hatred should not exist in a dog’s world. It is a decidedly human thing.

The harsh bite of cold surrounding Elaine could only have been kept away by the warm spectral flames of her current partner. Despite parts of her legs being exposed, the young woman was hardly shivering. Rather than focusing on the temperature, she was fully focused on the world around her.

Unfortunately, there was not much to be said about the tundra blanketed in snow. Despite any attempts to find anything else, she had been served with a whole lot of nothing. Beyond the occasional footprints on the mountainous path leading towards the location of the statue where everyone was conglomerating, there was little to write home about.

However, the dilapidated settlement on her other side was a different story. What should have been a lively settlement with cozy houses and a rows of crops was anything but. Snowed over so even weeds wouldn't grow. Wood of the homes eaten away by the elements or time. If she had the time, she would have loved to have gone and investigate the location.

"It's too far away." She muttered as she placed a palm over her eye and forehead.

Whatever was important was likely happening closer to the mountain top. For the time being, straying too far away from that would be more dangerous. As much as she wanted to head down there and investigate, she stifled the urge and placed the existence of the town on the backburner.

It was only then, as she was bringing her hand back down to her side and sighing that she saw someone. It wasn't much. She had hardly seen a full silhouette, but a flash of a white sleeve on a backdrop of white and a set of footprints made it obvious that someone was within the area. Moreover, the fact that they had made a point to hide rather than show themselves meant they were clearly...an enemy. Moreover, despite the events she had gone through with the league, she was hardly a famous figure who anyone would be aware of, meaning that the enemy knew her and was probably someone she had met before (though that hardly narrowed down the list to a manageable number of options, unfortunately).

However, unbeknownst to her, she was already a step behind. Violet Fairbanks had already seen her and had set up a trap for her. Yes, only one of them was truly aware of who the other was.

"SHOW YOUR--"

But before she could fully call out to the stranger, however, a deafening roar reverberated from the site of the statue. She would leave her back completely exposed to the hidden enemy as she saw the end result of the Precipice Blades as chunks of wood and stone flew everywhere. Even if it was a fellow League member who had taken the action, she could not help but stand aghast at the brazen display of what could have been called iconoclasm.

The visage of the dying and rotting king upon his grieving steed stuck in her. And as his steed began to go berserk, she could not help but think. Of his last dying request.

There's no way I could...

She was not a killer. Maybe her past self would have done that without hesitation. But even if it was hypocritical of her now, she could not bring herself to behead someone or something like that who had, to her knowledge, done nothing wrong--even if it would bring him some solace.

Besides, she was too far away to do so. Jeanne's blades would not reach from this far.

But she was not too far to ask a question. She held her hand behind her as she faced the king and his rampaging steed.

"What happened to the people who were here? What caused this entire area to become this desolate?"

He called the statue one of the King of Bountiful Harvests, so she could presume what the answer was. But even so it was still something that needed to be asked.

All the while, she kept the presence of the other person at the back of her mind, hoping they wouldn't take advantage of this opening she had left for them.

---

TL;DR:

• Elaine's outfit, not well suited to the cold but such are the casualties of fashion
• Elaine notices Violet Fairbanks but hasn't seen her full form yet
• Elaine leaves her back open to her and focuses on what's going on at the former statue
• Elaine unveils herself by asking a question as well
• Question: "What happened to the people who were here? What caused this entire area to become this desolate?"

MaFnp3U5