This fissure in space holds a rather dark presence. It’s different from the Mechanical Kingdom, and even The Borders. It feels more sinister. Even Eva hesitates before stepping through the portal and into LESSER MEGALOPOLIS. Her SYGNA SUIT holds any strange magic at bay, but it does little to ease her conscience as she stares into the darkness that greets them.

“Let’s stay close together,” she swallows back any trepidation and catches the quiver in her voice from reaching her words. A brief flash of crimson extends forward to produce a Mr. Mime from the sphere. The ILLUMINA pokemon’s glow pulsed like a beacon amongst the dark, “Hm, do you think that will attract trouble or drive it away?” she regard the shimmering pokemon and breaths like to her concerns for the others to chime in.

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Hideo Kino & CIAN MAHER

PROMPT 2: Use an ILLUMINA pokemon to light the way or to distract/attract threats

It was a double edged sword: light or no light. As the shimmering Mr. Mime and Joltik led the way, the feeling of uneasy dread only became heavier. The bitter silence was unnerving and already had the adrenaline tickling her nerves. It was like the darkness heightened her other senses, including her intuition.

CIAN MAHER’s warning stopped her dead in her tracks. Theri shuffling footsteps faded into the darkness. An unknown presence prompted the Mr. Mime to throw up a REFLECT in anticipation.

Their silence is broken by the soft shuffle of footsteps. Before they could even see the source, it was clear by the pattern that it was a limp. An injured pokemon perhaps?

What crept into the light of the Mr. Miime and Joltik sent a jolt of fear through her spine. It was a woman, pale blue skin, sharp eyes, and even sharper teeth. Her lips were peeled back into a half smile somewhere between a pleasant greeting and relief.

“Well, it’s not every day you find humans here.”

Never, in fact. Her finger raised to lips to hush their surprise.

“Careful now, you’ll wake the hive.”

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Hideo Kino & CIAN MAHER

PROMPT 9: encounter a friendly megalopolan that has not gone mad yet. this megalopolan has not known a life outside of this ruined megalopolis, having been born while or after the city was reduced to ruins.

Eva doesn’t know whether to be more cautious of the Megalopolan in front of them, or more scared of the symphony of hoarse groans and cracked cries that seemed to be crescendoing with each passing moment.

The Megalopolan smile, toothy and unsettling, but unmistakably tired. With a bit of hesitation, Eva too falls into step extending a small thread of trust to the stranger, especially when she starts to see the shifting silhouette of figures growing closer through the shadows, “Alright, alright, come on come on,” The strangers limp left them slow, so Eva threw on of their arms over her shoulder for support and helped them limp along at a faster pace.

“That way.”

They point towards a couple story building on the edge of the city. It resembles an abandoned police station but it’s still quite a ways away so they quietly duck behind a building to avoid the attention of the encroaching horde and HIDE.

‘They’re attracted to your light.’

Eva glances between the Illumina pokemon then around the corner of the building. They’re still coming, slow but surely.

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Hideo Kino & CIAN MAHER

PROMPT 03: encounter hostile zombie-like MEGALOPOLANS that have been driven mad by the darkness. you may encounter any amount from a single one to a large swarm.

They find sanctuary in the Megalopolan’s hide out. She leads them to a well-fortified building she calls home. It keeps her safe and sane . . . for now.

’Thank you’

The stranger slowly punches in the code to unlock the gates.

’You are welcome any time.’

A kind gesture, but Eva is uncertain this would be the best place to set up a more permanent camp for their explorations. Perhaps this alien had a map of the region or advice on where they could find a suitable place. Regardless, the pressure and paranoia of this fissure is starting to become unbearable. Even in her SYGNA SUIT, Eva finds her mind beginning to drift.

“I’ll take care of the horde, make sure they’re ok,” once they had a clear path back home, she hoped they would agree that it would be time to take it and regroup in their own world.

The light that remains around them flickers out as the illumina Mr. Mime is traded for a Gardevoir. They TELEPORT to a viewable rooftop with a better vantage point.

TABULA RASA: psychic energy creates a black hole that draws creatures in an concentrated area, dealing great damage to those affected. targets may briefly be stunned.

The murmur of the horde turns frantic, moans crescendoing into an angry roar. Flashes of magenta psychic energy swirl through the darkness. The expanding black hole sucks the zombie-like creatures in, effectively incapacitating them for a brief period of time.

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Hideo Kino & CIAN MAHER

Gardevoir uses Z-MOVE: TABULA RASA to incapacitate the horde.

Eva wrinkled her nose at the concerning sight of the horde as she looked upon them from the rooftop. She couldn’t help but wonder what could have happened here. There’s no way just darkness drove these zombie-like Megalopolans towards insanity - if it could even be called that.

The friendly Megalopolan blinks at CIAN MAHER, her lips curling into the faintest of smiles.

’My kind? I am the last of my kind. The rest have been driven mad by the darkness.’

She waves a hand towards the where the horde once was.

It’s hard to discern what she means by that. Was she referring to literal darkness? Or was there a looming shadow threatening to engulf them all?

“We should get back,” Eva’s voice suddenly appears from behind CIAN MAHER, the Gardevoir at her side, “The horde won’t be occupied forever,” once they get back to safety, they could strategize better for a safer return trip. This place was heavy with an unexplainable darkness, but the intrigue was impossible to ignore.Eva would certainly be returning.

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Hideo Kino & CIAN MAHER


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