They weren't supposed to be here. That notion nagged at the back of Makoto's mind, with each step they took on Dewford soil. They weren't supposed to be here - not when howard slayte had told them to stay away, not when hell had frozen over before it spilled out into the coastal town. It was dangerous. There was the possibility of being scolded or chewed out for this...

... But, Howard was a friend first and foremost to them. And they weren't about to abandon one of the few friends they had.

They disguised themself well, to avoid notice from Rocket and League alike, as they skulked through the town - trying to look for some sign of him. At their side, Tsukiko - her more distinctive features hidden by Kuro's Illusion - treaded close, ready to act at a moment's notice.

Which, it seemed that the need for it would come quickly; for a Nihilego would soon descend upon them. And amidst the storm of rampant Dynergy left and right, it would Dynamax in what would likely be a deadly swan song.

Tsukiko is already prepared, however. Snow Warning in tandem with Snow Cloak is plenty defensive - but an added Aurora Veil is sure to keep the worst of any incoming damage at bay.

Makoto, meanwhile, steps back - not keen on getting between the two pokemon. Their hand drifts along the pokeballs, trying to debate what the best approach here would be.

TLDR: Tsukiko sets up Snow Warning - which in turn activates Snow Cloak, and allows her to use Aurora Veil.

howard slayte

Bathed in the radiation of the Dynergy, Makoto feels as though they are in the RKS simulation again, alongside ameena abadi . As though they are once again before the Wishing Star, having been presented with the vision of an alien against a skeletal old god. They are more aware than they've ever been of the way their heart beats in their chest much the same way Eternatus' does, almost as though it were a call and response.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The whispers are indistinct at first; it takes Makoto a second for them to realize that the sounds they hear is not the howling wind summoned by Tsukiko's snowstorm, but figmented voices. Voices they recognize, even if unable to make out the words in that moment.

They aren't sure whether they'd rather being able to understand the words, or not. An attempt is made to filter out the sounds - but the distant murmurs, like gossip from outside one's bedroom, persist all the same.

It almost distracts them from the fight, as a Max Ooze bursts outward; but Makoto reacts as quickly as they can, in an attempt to protect Tsukiko. Pulling out their Tera Orb, they Terastalize the fox - adapting her further to the cold that dominates the town, as she embraces her Ice-typing fully.

It, of course, doesn't save her from being swamped by the corrosive poison; but between the snowfall, Aurora Veil, and discarded Fairy typing, Tsukiko is able to shake off the worst of it. She yelps as the wave knocks her over, burns at her luminous fur, before shaking herself off as she pushes herself back up to her feet.

Eager to go on the offensive, the already howling winds shriek as she lets loose a Blizzard upon the Nihilego, keen on bringing the titanous creature down!

Makoto, meanwhile, is met with strange apparitions out of the corner of their eyes. Seeing a figure, they are prepared to tell whoever the stranger may be to get out of here, to run for it! But as soon as they can glance over, they are briefly shocked at the sight given. Of what almost looked like an aunt (for as much as the word feels like venom on their tongue) of theirs, being drowned and broken down to nil by the poison.

It is deserved, a small part of their mind suggests. Is it? questions another.

All the same, they can't stop here; and against such a massive foe, they aren't sure if Tsukiko alone will cut it. So, they bring out Haguru - the Klinklang hovering ominously, as their eyes immediately fixate upon the Nihilego. "Flash Cannon!"

At Makoto's command, Haguru charges and lets loose a burst of silvery energy; the Plus and Minus polarities of the different gears working in tandem to power up the shot.

TLDR: Dynergy spooky! Makoto terastallizes Tsukiko into pure Ice-Type to reduce damage from Max Ooze. Tsukiko uses Blizzard, Makoto questions whether or not their 'family' would deserve to be melted by jellyfish ooze, and Haguru joins the battle to use a Plus/Minus boosted Flash Cannon.

howard slayte

Discarded their family? There's something in the notion that makes their heart twist with venom. Their family discarded them. If their family simply had accepted them for who they were... Accepted their mother's choices...

... They wouldn't have had to be so lonely, for so long. To steep to so many different lows, the wayward child that they were - perhaps, still are - simply to live.

And there is something to be said, in being surrounded by people, yet feel that loneliness all the same. They feel each gaze burning upon them, and they need not look to know they are being judged. Scrutinized, to a standard that no child should have to worry about. That no grieving child should have to worry about.

They are home, in the worst of ways - a home as cold as it always had been. Blood-crimson is splattered across the snow like nightblooms, spider lilies, and falling autumn leaves, as the Nihilego resorts to other forms of combat; and though Tsukiko's fleet feet with Dig and Makoto's distance both allow them to avoid being struck by the massive projectile, Haguru does not have either benefit...

... But does it really need it?

It is hard to say whether Haguru sees the same things that Makoto does - or if it sees anything amiss at all. But all the same, it cares naught about whether there are people in its crosshairs. It simply retaliates - even without Makoto's call - charging up and releasing a powerful Hydro Cannon in an attempt to obliterate the projectile, and in an attempt to pierce through it to the Nihilego behind it!

All the whilst though, Makoto tries to not look at the mess being made around them. Tries to avoid meeting the gazes in the windows of buildings still intact. All that leaves, however, is gazing upwards - to the moon that hangs above. Its light is just able to break through the snow and fog, a silent watcher to the chaos below. An old friend, a constant amidst lonely times such as this one.

Oh, it is going to be a long night... No matter what logic may dictate, dawn feels so, so, far away...

TLDR: Makoto has bitter venomous feelings about their family, about being 'home' - even if they are trying their damnedest to ignore the visions. Tsukiko burrows with Dig to avoid the house, and Haguru attempts to obliterate/pierce through it with an empowered Hydro Cannon.

howard slayte

Makoto flinches, forced to bring their arms up to protect their face as splinters and plaster are sent flying. There is a moment of alarm, in seeing the pile of rubble that now stands where Haguru floated but a second ago...

... But, Tsukiko surfaces, as she Digs Haguru out. The steel-type's solid sturdiness and the Aurora Veil both save them from any serious damage; but they are dazed from the strike, and recharging from the Hydro Cannon. It's not likely that either are in a position to immediately go on the offensive again.

It does not help, when the Nihilego refuses to let up. The heavens are raining down upon them, the buildings around them being smote with boulders of equaling size. Tsukiko's fleet feet and Snow Cloak allows them to dance out of danger - and though Haguru is left hurting as the chunks of a broken boulder are sent flying its way, it is able to hang on.

If Makoto knew how bad things were in Granite Cave, perhaps there could have been similarities drawn there, an alternate reading of them being what remains. They were a brood of one, but the remainder all the same, in their mother's absence.

A remainder, as family - false family in so many ways, yet family all the same - is crushed into nil. Makoto - even if spared that fate - still has to cover their face, as the ground shakes from the impacts around them and debris is thrown up. But even as there are no longer windows for Makoto to be witnessed from, they still feel it. Those gazes. The judgement. It makes them want to claw at themself.

Oh Makoto, you are such a hopeless child - wayward and lost. Look at where your attempts to be a person has gotten you.

They feel so bitter. They want to say something - but it isn't as though their family would listen. They'd simply be scolded for losing their composure again.

You're a thief. A criminal. A terrorist. Don't try to justify that old blood on your hands, either. They might not know what you did once upon a time, but that's okay. We will make sure you don't forget.

They are feeling sick. Is it the dynergy, or did they simply swallow up too many of their own feelings? They feel as though something wants to come up, all the same.

But really, that's not what's important to you, is it? The better question is: What would your mother think, seeing you now? Knowing what you've steeped to, putting a price on yourself?

They grip tight at their own arms, in an attempt to ground themself. Their chest felt ready to burst - something inside wanted out. "KURO!" They call - their voice coming out sharper and rougher than they had intended. They almost fail to realize how much they've been gritting their teeth.

Kuro emerged from Makoto's shadow. It is unused to being called upon for battle - and yet, its loyalty means it does not hesitate. The sooner that they are all able to leave here, the better, it recognizes.

So - as if to reflect the raw feelings that were being dredged up - Kuro looses a Bitter Malice at the Nihilego. Ghostly flames are sent forth, dancing in tandem with the Aurora Veil and leaving the fallen leaves (or perhaps 'leaves',) frostbitten as they crackle against the Ultra Beast's barrier.

TLDR: Tsukiko uses Dig to unbury Haguru from underneath the rubble - but between the projectile house and the subsequent Max Rockfall, they are hurting. Tsukiko avoids harm with Snow Cloak, but is unable to do much else. Makoto is snapping a little under the pressure - prompting Kuro to come out and use Bitter Malice.

howard slayte

The Nihilego shrivels, as Dynamaxing claims its due. Its cries of bliss as it reaches its destined and beloved end are a chilling swan song, that leaves even the pokemon shuddering a little.

One must imagine it happy. It seemed as though it had fulfilled its one desire in life, after all.

But, even as the danger passes, even as the weight lifts that littlest bit... Makoto knows they can't relax entirely, for as much as there's a part of them that wants to turn tail. Howard was still out there, somewhere, wasn't he? Their friend was still...

... Ah.

Makoto blinks, as a familiar silhouette amidst the fog and clouds of ashen dust left behind by the Nihilego. Howard.

Somehow, he is the last person they expected to find next. The red eye that shines through the storm makes it all the more surprising - and it sets them ill at ease. Taking in a deep, shuddering, breath... They try to steel their nerves.

"For you!" They call back - stepping forward through the storm, despite the weight on their shoulders, to meet him. "Your eye - what happened to you..?!"

howard slayte

The figure says little, lounging on a seat carved vaguely from ice. That had not been there before the fall of the Dynamaxed Nihilego, but now it was, and it looked like it had stood there for eons and would stand there for eons more.

In the ice, red lines of Dynergy form veins that pump the blood of Eternatus through the construct. In the admin's hand is a Wishing Star fused to the flesh, connected by a latticework of red veins that make their way up the arm. The eye looked up at Makoto with a mixture of intrigue and apathy.

Its eye saw, and it hated.

"Dynergy. Eternatus. The might of the divine. My enemy. My hero. My god." In the distance, Regice gives a screech that shatters the ice off the half-buried houses. Howard smiled at that, hardly listening to its shrill screeches. "You betrayed my trust."

His face twisted into one marred by betrayal, red tear leaked from his cheeks.

"I trusted you to do one thing, and you wouldn't listen. No, perhaps you couldn't. Defective until the end." His eye glowed red as he stood. "No wonder your family tossed you aside like trash."

---

Makoto Kurumi

It had not been there before; but when Dynergy is concerned, does anyone care? The lines between reality and mindscape have already been blurring, what's a little more? Mix it all up, until it is all one and the same, the dreams of a slumbering Old One; an Old One who dreams of a city that similarly slumbers underneath the ice.

But then, what would happen if it wakes up?

A question for another time.

More important here, was Howard; and oh, what a sight he was. Makoto is horrified at what they see - at the corruptive effects of the Wishing Star, of Dynergy as a whole. This is wrong. This is not how things should be. What- What happened to him..?! Is this real? It can't be...

... But that doesn't make his words any less venomous, the stare any less added pressure. It stabbed deep, left them feeling like an animal wanting to curl its lips back. Though rather than snarl at their friend(?), Makoto's voice rose. "I-I was worried about you! And when I come here, and see the city frozen, do you expect me to just-- Not try to make sure you're okay??"

howard slayte

Their pleas fell on deaf ears. Howard closed his eye and took a deep breath. Dynergy swirled around, turning into claws that dug at his flesh.

"A lie." His eye burned bright, a red sun coalesced inside an eye socket. It raged indiscriminately, and soon, another light joined, thrumming under the admin's eyepatch where his missing eye was vacant. "It smells like a lie. Worried? You?"

He took a few steps forward. The distance between the two Nebula members closed, until the admin was a few meters away from them.

"Let me die. I'll be dead soon, anyway. The last throes of a human thrashing against impossibility before being crushed underfoot by a giant. You're not heartless enough, Makoto." His laugh sounded like distant glaciers cracking mixed with the roar of a dragon. "Maybe that's why Amor Rose..."

His lips curled up into a smile as he reached towards Makoto, his hand smoking with red energy as his body slowly began to collapse in front of them.

"LEFT YOU."

Distant laughter sounded.

---

Makoto Kurumi

Makoto's heart twisted. It wasn't a lie. They were worried for the one of the few friends they had. Yet, it did raise a question that whispered at the back of their mind, is that really all there is to it?

... Truthfully, they weren't sure.

They couldn't tear their gaze away from the baleful glow that was Howard's own, though. Everything else almost seemed to take a backseat to it all, as they stared into those twin lights. They were a deer in the headlights, as they were told to. Give up, essentially. That it was their fault that Amor Rose left.

It gives them pause, as their heart hurts once more. It wasn't as though they could have possibly chased Amor away, right..? Yet...

... It wasn't as though their presence was able to keep him here, either.

They watch as this Howard disintegrates to nothing, consumed by the Dynergy all the same as the Nihilego before. Is this what will happen, if they simply let things pass? No, no they - they couldn't... It'd be so easy to turn away, to clean their hands of all of this. But... What would it say of them, if they did?

Swallowing down the anxiety, fear, and reluctance that was building, they'd recall Haguru and call Tsukiko to their side. They had to find him. Call them selfish, but they had to. And the faster they manage something, then the faster they could leave with their friend.

So, they ran onwards - eager to leave behind the crimson nightblooms and ashen remains. Once more running away from a home they were no longer welcome in.

howard slayte