[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"]

Cass takes Hideo's counter as a moment to both gather courage and determination, as well as work on getting the Woopers slightly further away. There's a memory surfacing as he calls for Hatterene, before she has to close her eyes with its Dazzling Gleam.

Effie lets out a screech as the battle erupts, not joining herself yet as she does the most careful of Tailwinds to boost the team's morale, allow them to hopefully act faster than their opponents in this battle. If they could just make it quick ... however, this means that she doesn't react in time as the Hydro Pump comes charging at them, aimed directly at Cass' vaguely retreating figure.

Her mind's racing, and she has no idea in the face of the gigantic water beam, as Hanna boldly moves in. The water pushes against her- but she doesn't falter as she uses Gravity to increase her weight, staying firmly rooted on the ground that is so very familiar-unfamiliar to her. "Hanna-!" Cass tries to shout, but her throat is dry with dread as the moment stretches in time.

Even as this immediate attack is over, her Sigilyph is unmoving.

"Hanna-" she croaks, but there's just no time. "Jon, Martin ..." She fumbles to get the Woopers safe while also trying to figure out her Sigilyph's pokéball. Jon boldly steps forward, throwing a Sludge Bomb at the Dondozo, trying to poison it, while Martin hesitates for a moment, before leaping at the Dondozo as well with Trailblaze.

None of them notice that something might be amiss.

Hideo Kino Eris Halla
MP +10 + K.O. (Hanna) > 960

The Dazzling Gleam did its job well, giving the kids a chance to get their Pokemon out and on the offensive. Hideo's Zoroark was able to get close enough, launching its attack at the Bewear, and Cass joined in with her own Pokemon.

But that's where the battle stopped going their way, as the Rockets were quick to retaliate. The Extrasensory reached the Bewear, but a Mirror Coat sent a reflection of the attack right back at the Zoroark. It put its arms up, but the reflection hit hard.

Not good. His Zoroark only had the kinds of attacks a Mirror Coat could reflect - at least, ones that could harm a Bewear. And going by what his Beheeyem told him, his Zoroark could not take another attack like that.

"Vibes!" Hideo shouted, "focus on the Bewear! Zorro, go for-"

His Beheeyem urged him to move, just as the Arcanine rushed straight for him. He took a step back, just in time to get hit by the edge of the attack. The Reflect his Beheeyem applied earlier helped soften the impact, but he was still knocked down.

Said Beheeyem, unfortunately, took a more direct hit. He was knocked down, rolling from the impact - but landing on his feet by the end of it. He was tough enough to take more than one strike.

But now Hideo was separated from him. Which was not good.

Both his Hatterene and Zoroark took notice, and both were ready to rush to his side. But that distraction was all that was needed for the Bewear to grab the Zoroark. And as powerful as the Hatterene was - even without a Mega Evolution - she was a slow Pokemon.

Hideo's Beheeyem Telepathically reiterated Hideo's order - the Hatterene grumbling as it aimed a Psychic attack for the Bewear. The Beheeyem, meanwhile, tore rocks out of the ground, a Rock Tomb tossed at the Arcanine - both to draw its attention away from Hideo, and to restrict its movements.

All the while, directing Hideo where to go to get out of the way. Get up, move to the side, and ████████████████████████.

And just like that - nothing. It was as if a sense had suddenly shut down, as if he'd suddenly gone deaf, or his whole body went numb. "Elga!?" Hideo asked aloud, unsure if something had happened to his Beheeyem. And it was clear to anyone with eyes that his Beheeyem was still awake - and just as confused by its Telepathy shutting off.

Unaware that its Telepathy had actually been taken by something waiting in the woods, out of sight of everyone.

Eris Halla , Cassandra Kubrick

             

[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"]

Jon and Martin's tag team is successful, until the fairy takes the brunt of all the attacks. Martin's hit by the Order Up as well as Soaked. Dropping wet, his flowers make the saddest impression now that seems to only fuel his anger. With a roar surprising from this little creature, he- lends Jon a Helping Hand, and Jon immediately understands. He takes a deep breath, the interior of his trash bag self seems to rumble and he shoots a vicious Gunk Shot at the Dondozo.

Effie in the meanwhile remains by Cass' side as she finally recalled Sigilyph, just to also have a clearer view of the battle field. And it's ... not good. Her eyes immediately fix on Hideo, before wandering- but wait, Hideo. "Hideo?" she asks, unsure what just happened - but his expression seemed confused.

"Effie, be quick-!" she then tells her Fletchinder, telling her to get into the mix with a Quick Attack. She should be fine- she should be fine for a moment. Effie seems unsure about this, but relents, spreading her wings and charging onwards with immense speed, trying to prevent the Arcanine from crashing into Elga by tackling it aside.

Eris Halla Hideo Kino
MP +10 > 970

It was the worst possible time for that information to get cut off. Most trainers would struggle to direct more than one Pokemon at a time, and Hideo had 3 out at once, all battling their own opponent. His Pokemons' Telepathy was the only way he could monitor the situation and direct them. Without that, he was…

Blind.

He tried to focus on the sounds, but there were so many, too many: crackling trees as the fires raged around them, attacks thrown left and right, his Hatterene screaming in frustration, someone calling out to him, a commotion inside the house. Too many things at once, too much to focus on, too hard to tell what was more important.

And his Beheeyem knows it's been cut off - and that it had to rectify the situation as quickly as possible. It could get to him, use a Z-move to let Hideo see through its eyes - but the Arcanine stood in its way.

The incoming Crunch got in the way of things, the Arcanine biting down hard on Elga. The Reflect the Beheeyem laid down earlier helped weaken some of the impact, but it was still a painful bite, one the Beheeyem was stuck in.

It could do little but desperately try to force the Arcanine to let go with a Psychic attack to its mouth - and hope Cass's Fletchinder could help provide encouragement as well.

The Zoroark could do little but try to struggle its way out of the Bewear's hold - and fail miserably. It was fortunate the Bewear didn't finish the job, merely knocked out as it was tossed at the ornery Mega Hatterene, who neatly caught the Zoroark with one of her tentacles - then not-so-neatly dropped it to the ground, retaliating against the Bewear with another Psychic attack meant to toss it up in the air.

The Zoroark's Pokeball activated its emergency recall, calling back the Zoroark - the only way Hideo knew it had been knocked out.

As the situation grew worse, a singular thought entered his head: it was subtle, inserted so that it was impossible to tell apart from his own thoughts, even though it truly came from outside.

He needed to use his Type:Null.

But Hideo shook the thought off; he knew what might happen if he did. He didn't want to use it but if he didn't, his friends could die. Could he really bear to have his inaction be responsible for their deaths?

Eris Halla , Cassandra Kubrick

    

[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"]

Cass' fingers prickle.

This could be easier.

She stares as Martin, now without his fairy advantage, is taken aback by the Dragon Pulse, as well as Jon being hit by the attacks - he manages an Endure to stay up. He's determined as ever, even if he's probably one hit away from losing the battle. He won't give up until it happened - and even then, she imagines he might find a way to stand up again.

Martin similiarly notices the true enemy in their midst now - not sure if the Dondozo would give up once the Tatsugiri is defeated, but it's worth a try. The Comfey lays on the ground, using Grassy Terrain to revive parts of the scorched Earth, and then Trailblazes out of the grass he just made, leaping forward with a vengeance at the Tatsugiri. Jon needs some more time to ready himself, as the innards of his trash bag rumble and roar, before he Belches a wave of poison, larger than one would expect from his small body.

Effie's Quick Attack finally manages to dislodge the Beeheeyem, but she knows she can't let things just sit idly. It's been hard enough hitting the Arcanine hard enough to free the psychic type, and now- there's a familiar crackling that is so utterly lacking. They need to be faster, faster still- Her wings gather wind in another Tailwind to refreshen the spirits, but she also does gather flame - flame that she keeps directing towards herself as much as possible, her fiery plumage now partially literally on fire.

And through the crackle, a Bewear falls.

The world seems to slow down for the Fletchinder, her quick reflexes already making her dive towards Cass- but she's so little. She-

Cass looks terrified as the Earth starts shaking, and she's more uncertain than before. There's no way she could escape in time - the two "Woopers" are held tightly in her arms. The prickle of red persists, but the world is shaking.

-needs to become stronger. As she dives towards Cass, she's surrounded by a desperately bright blue light that lets her emerge taller - even faster, even stronger. Effie manages to swoop Cass up, letting her land safely on singed and partially still burning feathers, but it's a heat that's comfortable. Reassuring. "Effie!" she says, surprised, her voice coming out as a croak as the Talonflame rises into the air.

Eris Halla Hideo Kino
MP +10 > 980

The alien thought left Hideo even further disoriented, unable to act when his Pokemon needed him most.

Until he heard that noise. A noise he knew only his Beheeyem could make, when it so rarely made any noise, but that cry told him all he needed to know - that the Arcanine was trying to kill Elga.

"N-no! Stop! Stop hurting him!"

He could hear his Beheeyem hit the ground, landing near him. He reached out to Elga, pulling it close to him. He felt around for where it had been bitten - and knew he found it the moment he felt his hand burning.

He let go only when the pain was too much, his own hand burnt.

He could hear the low hum of a Recover from his Beheeyem, but it was quieter, unsteady. It was enough to seal the wound, to ensure Elga would at least survive - but the moment it ended, Elga was recalled into his Pokeball.

And Hideo knew he was next, the Arcanine and its trainer coming for him next.

He had to use it.

He had a Pokeball in his hand. It wasn't Uxie's Pokeball. It wasn't the Genesect's. It wasn't his Beheeyem's, or his Zoroark's. It was his Hatterene's or his Alakazam's.

He didn't want to use it but if he didn't, he'd die.

He knew what could happen and what they would do to him and the others if he hesitated.

He didn't want to kill anyone even if they lacked the same hesitation for him.

He remembered how Eris reacted at the future where he was taken by Rocket.

He didn't want Cass's family to lose their daughter.

He didn't want to leave his Pokemon to die.

He was scared.

He tapped the button on the ball, the Type:Null emerging.

There was no hesitation from the Type:Null: it saw the Arcanine and its trainer charging towards it, and its head was immediately aglow - a swiping Iron Head aimed to knock both of them back.

It followed through with a raised, bright-red claw, a Crush Claw aimed for what it deemed to be the weaker target, the easier prey to take down before it moved onto the actual challenge:

It aimed for the Rocket, going straight for the skull.

Before Hideo could process anything, he felt a hand on his shoulder - his Shadow Alakazam's hand. A moment later, he felt himself floating in the air, the Alakazam having Teleport up to get out of the Arcanine's range - as well as out of range of the incoming Earthquake.

His Hatterene was too caught-up in her current fight to help Hideo; the Earthquake unbalanced her, but didn't stop her from rushing over towards the Bewear, the tips of her tentacles glowing purple as she aimed many Psycho Cuts for the bear.

Hideo could do little but remain in hid Alakazam's grasp, processing what was about to happen.

He could feel deep down in his gut that he'd done

something awful | what he should've done earlier.

Eris Halla , Cassandra Kubrick

[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"]

There's not much room for enthusiasm that Effie has reached her final evolution. There's no room for the additional height, the alleged feeling of freedom above in the sky when everything on the ground is burning. Her hands holding Mesprit and Nessie are shaking as she looks over the battlefield, over the house, over the forest fire.

A scream.

It echoes in her mind, a mind that's been set ablaze by the raging inferno around her - but she can't let it go like this. She can't allow all the parts in her mind to fall to dark and white ash, she needs to- Her breaths are shaky as her eyes take in what has happened. A Type:Null. It's attacking the Rockets so-

Blood.

Suddenly, everything becomes coated in ice flowers. She wishes time to slow down so it matches the pace of her mind, but she's only reactive now - this battle is beyond them, she thinks, but that's no excuse. That doesn't mean they can just opt out - war is here, and it'll claim them dead or alive. Hideo's next to her in the skies now, too, and she swallows dry spit as she sees him. "Hideo what is happening? Are you- are you- how are you?" she asks, but she isn't sure if her voice could even be heard over the crackling flames.

She feels an additional touch by her side as she hears the command. SHOOT THEM. Effie raises her wings to prepare to dart out of the way. But there would just be more. More blasts to knock them out of the sky, and no. She can't run forever.

Even if it means that they would know - they would see. This ability means nothing if she's dead.

Azelf, having taken on the form of a Ralts once more after its Rest, guides her movements subtlely as a red chain emerges from her shaking hands. But the chain is steady as it curves in flight. Effie takes off, but no lasers follow - the Genesect aiming for her group is motionless as red chains firmly bind it for this temporary moment.

And further on the ground, Jon and Martin don't rest - but goddamn if they don't want to. The Dondozo is down, but they know that there's a Tatsugiri lingering still. Unbeknownst to them, there's also another pair of eyes watching them - but this pair is not hostile. One could almost call it concerned with how it observes them, readying one gun arm ...

Hideo Kino Eris Halla
MP +10
make a sacrifice: her ignorance of her red chain ability and her consciousness to Just Stay Out Of Things, as well as her "anonymity" in front of the remaining rockets
TOTAL: 1040

It's too difficult for him to understand what was happening. He was only certain of what he'd done - letting out his Type:Null - and that he was in his Alakazam's hold, floating above the ground. He hadn't moved far, but he still didn't know how high up he was floating.

But he could absolutely hear his Type:Null attacking, forcing back both.

And he could hear his Type:Null's claws as they glowed with power. Take down the Arcanine he wanted to shout, but words failed to leave his throat.

He heard it leap towards its target - not where the Arcanine was going.

He wanted to tap the Pokeball again, stop it from what he knew it was going to do and put everyone around him in danger.

He wanted to let this happen.

He didn't stop it.

That scream was something he'd never heard before. Sure, he'd heard tv actors screaming at their character's impending doom, but this just went so much further than that. He could feel it reverberate throughout his entire body.

Even as it was cut short, the wet squelching mixed with cracking bone kept the scream going through his head, his stomach, his heart.

He felt

disgusted | victorious

He'd done

something awful | what had to be done.

He'd

killed someone | stopped a threat.

If he'd recalled his Type: Null, he would've

stopped this from happening | gotten himself and the others killed.

This was

his fault | necessary.

A ringed buzzed through his ears, his focus waning as the thoughts in his head conflicted from what came from outside. He could hear a voice call out to him, maybe even speak his name, but he couldn't make out the words. Not while that scream lingered. Not after what he did.

He was a

murderer | hero

The Type:Null cared naught for what its trainer was going through: it saw the two threats, the Arcanine and the Genesect, and the Rocket whose head it crushed was no more than meat.

Its head glowed once more, an Iron Head at the ready. It would have merely chosen violence, had the Alakazam floating above not directed it; it once more made a wide swing, striking the incoming Techno Beam first. It made no discretion as to where it aimed the deflection - the beam flying straight towards the house.

With its remaining momentum, it aimed to intercept the Arcanine. Just another enemy.

Just another target.

Just more meat.

Eris Halla , Cassandra Kubrick

[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"]

Neither Cass nor Jon or Martin are prepared for the direction of the Hyper Beam - but she's protected from it, and it's belated that she notices the second Wooper missing. Definitely Mesprit, since she doesn't think a normal Wooper should be able to teleport away. The fight is almost over, but the Genesect still heed the calls from earlier.

However, a stray Techno Blast seems to hit the remaining one, a blast that seemingly came from the direction of the Woods. (A Genesect stands in the Woods, awkwardly, suddenly being able to follow its own directives.)

Too much is happening at once that she can barely process what just happened, and she can barely process anything of it. Azelf does seem to be fully recovered now, floating next to her on its own, so Cass focuses on the Wooper in her arms as she lands next to Martin and Jon. With the group retreating, the remaining Tatsugiri threat goes too, and Cass truly doesn't have it in her to pursue them.

"Hideo? Hideo, are you-" she calls from the ground, then her eyes flicker anxiously towards the Type:Null- it wouldn't hurt her- would it? "What is happening?"

And then the cottage collapses. Cass leaps one step towards the roaring flame, but Effie instantly holds her back, and in turn she holds Effie back from charging directly into the flames. It wouldn't be as fatal for her, but after seeing Saude and Hanna faint, she couldn't take another. She- for now, she needs to believe Mesprit got that covered.

Hideo Kino Eris Halla
MP +10
recurring theme + motif: will & willpower throughout most of cass' posts
TOTAL: 1100