He wasn’t expecting mass mayhem to break out the moment everyone within his line of sight started deploying their respective Pokémon and tried to either keep their shit together or… well, was he the only one who tried to attack another elevator? What was with everyone being so… so… self-sacrificing?

Turning away from where Cait was collectively losing her bananas, he tuned out everything else and turned his attention back to his three Pokérmon that had somehow materialized outside the elevator… and for some reason he feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He doesn’t know why, though.

At least, he doesn’t realize that he can feel the fear when he looks down through the ‘see-through’ floor of the elevator cab that he’s stuck in and sees superheated flames roaring up from below. Before he even has time to blink and recall his three fighters outside the elevator, the flames surge upwards, turning everything in its path into literal flames.

He doesn’t know if he can hear the screaming. The way his Altaria is shrieking, the way his Gallade is trying to Teleport away from the flames but there’s nowhere to run, and the Metagross. Oh, fuck, Ro.

As the all-consuming flames eat way at all the Pokémon outside, he feels something suddenly snap—and right then and there, he witnesses the death of all three of his companions. While Gareth and Nami crumble to dust, Ro takes much longer, and all he can do is look on helplessly, before he hears a piercing, grating noise and even the Metagross is literally vaporized.

Little does Lars know he would end up dying in the same way, but that’s neither here nor there.

All that’s there at the moment is the connection between himself and Ro disintegrates, and for a few seconds, he’s left reeling. Not until does he take a deep breath to force himself to calm down does he realize that everything was for nothing as all the ‘elevators’ come to a halt and slide open quietly, letting all their occupants out.

Like they were mocking everyone who’d deployed Pokémon for doing something so stupid.

Now that he’s left with three useless Pokéballs, he stares at them for a few moments, before shrinking them all down and pocketing them. He practically blanks out and lets his feet move him on autopilot, dead to the world as he slams a fist to the ‘wall’ of the ‘elevator’ and exits the space.

He thought he heard a howl coming from somewhere. Nonchalantly, he looks up and tries to gain bearings for his surroundings. Everything… doesn’t seem to make sense at all. When he sees the people coming out of the most-crowded elevator he can only spare them a withering glare before turning away and looking at the macabre environs quietly.

---

• well shit we all fucked
• so everyone starts going nuts, basically. And they want everyone in the jock elevator DEAD
• he's not gonna stand for this. The flames have other plans, though
• funeral pyre for Gareth, Nami, and Ro (Gallade, Altaria, Mega-Metagross)
• the heady connection between owner and Pokémon in Mega-Evolved state abruptly snaps at the moment Ro dies
• has a sick, twisted thought that everyone else's Pokémon who tried to attack their elevator is also dead in this mess
• he knows Lynette (his Gardevoir) will kill him when Gareth (Gallade) doesn't return. So basically out of his 4 original starters Lars is now down to one. And it's his Lucario
• basically dead to the world now, catatonically staring at three now-empty Pokéballs before pocketing them and curling up his fist in silent rage. Doesn't know he's clenching his fist too hard. Just keeps his anger to himself instead of lashing outward.
• upon arrival at the next destination, just basically heads out ahead of everyone in their 'elevator' and looks up at the floating bluish limbs. What new horrors will these bring? Ignores pretty much everyone at this point now
• hears the muffled howl. Wonders what it is. Doesn't say anything else after that. Just silently observes everyone. Glaring mostly at the people coming out of the 'nerd' elevator but turns away and continues to examine the area quietly

[attr="class","rdwne"]

PHARAOH LEAP CREATES

[attr="class","spiral"]Remorse is an emotion for those who lack conviction. Whether they were correct or not does not matter, only that they gave the best possible answer with the limited information given. That's why Fernando feels nothing when he watches his Pokemon wither away, screaming in agony as they fall victim to their pain. His frown is steep and the sorrow is shown but in retrospect, Pokemon are nothing more than tools used to ensure his own safety. It extends beyond this, evident by the virgin and jock elevators, ultimately leading that all life, regardless of species, can be valued as detrimental if it means forfeiting his own. Rise, persevere, survive against all odds. Any semblance of sympathy or concern was lost long ago, devoured along with bits of his flesh back on Mount Silver.

"Tch."

Although Fernando does not falter like those around him that doesn't mean he's immune to an emotional reaction. Mounting frustration stems from being both incorrect and being toyed with. The longer he spends in his dream the more it points toward being anything but. His spectre hints at something more behind a cryptic message and Fernando ignores Balder Schwartz's conjecture. To derive such an exposition off a single sentence is foolhardy. Although the Alolan is right, there is not enough proof to reach that point without lying or performing some sort of mental gymnastics. If they're lucky, the theory will prove true and they'll wake up perfectly fine. But without further evidence, that's not a gamble Fernando is willing to take. He approaches the final destination primed and composed, holding onto his last two trump cards until his own life becomes endangered.

The instance of Blake Wright's plea toward the Pokemon that had helped them earlier is an interesting one. The mention of the master and the quip about torn limbs is still fresh in his mind but Fernando is too uncertain to claim a line between them. Even when Darkrai appears, he's unsure if the Pokemon is answering the call for help or showed up coincidentally. There's too many unknowns to factor and for now he let's it slip by, keeping it in mind in the mean time.

kyle lopez leads their initiative into a new setting and Fernando takes his position near the middle of the pack. Eventually, everyone spills out of the elevator and two particular individuals leave worse for wear. Fernando just barely recognizes illeana reyes but ignores her, leaving her in the arms of Blaine Jones's comfort. The other is @bryony, crumpled up on the floor and left in what he can only interpret as a gaze. Time is a ticking and Silph does not have the luxury of sparing her more than a hand on her shoulder.

"Surviving tragedy kills the spirit but only those who stand against all odds carry on the will of the fallen."

Not the most reassuring pep-talk but Fernando owes her nothing. He cannot dawdle because some stranger doesn't have the fortitude to stomach an unfortunate demise. The bonds between man and Pokemon create everlasting friendships but they also make them vulnerable. Those unable to cast aside their feeling are bound to be shackled by them. The dragon member serves as a perfect example to reinforce Fernando's own ideology and he follows after Kyle, reunited with cait alfric.

"That was foolish Alfric." Fernando puts not importance on the floating buildings or the way the room seems to ignore the laws of physics. "And I don't mean separating from me. I'm glad you're safe but you should not have revealed Celebii so carelessly." Eyes hover to the claw marks, then the loops, and finally the floating limbs. It doesn't take much to put one and one together. persephone amavi is the last thing he settles on and there's relief in her well being. For a figment of his imagination, it captures her beauty perfectly, but he cannot slip up on something that isn't real. She too comes second to himself.

He's ready to wake up but something tells him it won't happen until the dream plays out to the finale. A pink murkiness radiates from his body, pooling around his waist and slowly spilling down over his legs and onto the floor. The MISTY TERRAIN is reserved only for him and those in his immediate surroundings but he steadies himself, ready to embrace the entirety of his powers should it come to that.

"Battle routine set."

A mere whisper that slips between the tense fingers clutching tightly onto his Pokeball.


— has a sad expression on his face to show his sorrow but really has no remorse.
— ignores balder's hypothesis because there's not enough proof. same thing with anyone who builds off of it.
— places a hand on bryony's shoulder and says something silph-like to her before leaving.
— is glad cait is alive but disappointed she let celebii die so easily.
— glad that perse is safe but focuses on the limbs in front.
— starts to and barely makes a MISTY TERRAIN that only really extends to himself and a little bit around him.
— expects to fight whatever is creating the claw marks.

Despite their best efforts, the Jock Elevator still went down. Thomas felt his stomach lurch as he experienced the fall from within, his Pokemon in pursuit. Thankfully, the elevator was stopped by something catching it, and dragging them upward. Thomas would immediately attempt to recall his Pokemon, making multiple, useless attempts to recall them, as they desperately called out to him. Freke, seeing that his efforts were in vain, resigned himself to his fate.

Finally, seeing that he couldn't save his Pokemon, all Thomas could do was call out to them.

"Kalameet, Freke, Colt, I... I'm so proud of you three. You've done good by me, all of you have. I'm so sorry.. I'm sorry I failed you! I love you guys, and.. and if there's a next life, I hope you find someone better than me!", Thomas called out to the trio, in a frankly pitiful manner.

It was the last thing they heard, before the fires consumed them. Upon the flash subsiding, the last thing Thomas would see would be their charred remains falling down into the maw of the clown at the source of it. At this point, tears flowed down the face of the Gym Leader, before he pounded against the wall, and let out a scream directed towards the heavens, before briefly shutting down the rest of the ride up.

Once the elevator opened up, Thomas walked out, like a zombie, before spotting Cadis again, the man who spotlit the chain earlier. Thomas would shoot the man a glare, before looking around, to see one of the others in a bad state. Thomas rushed over to the girl, before kneeling down, to give her a hug with his one remaining arm.

"Miss, you have my condolences. I-I know it's hard to lose your beloved companions, but at this point, all we can do now is avenge our losses. What.. whatever did this to us... was unforgivable, and the best way to honor our lost loved ones is to not let their deaths go unavenged...", Thomas whispered to her, before letting go of her, and giving her some space, backing off.

Upon hearing the howl, Thomas looked towards its direction, a fire lit up in his eye suddenly. He would march towards the direction of the howl, ready to take on the source of their agony.

---

tags: cadis von klaussner @bryony
notes: Thomas desperately tries to recall his Pokemon to no avail
Tells his Pokemon he's proud of them, and that he loves them before they die
Has a brief moment where he screams into the air
Is able to snap out of it
Shoots a dirty look at Cadis
Sees Bryony's state, and goes over to try to comfort her, offering support and advice
Joins the group in pressing on towards the final boss

[attr="class","evantalk"]

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