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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]It is not the already existing sense of unease that rocks her but rather, the sudden recalling of both Isolde and Eyja. Those who attempt to open the doors granted the realisation that there is no escaping through the same way that they entered. As her attention flits between Chu-e's failed attempts to remove his mask and the eerie messages, there are two sides to her that begin to argue.[break][break]

She's utterly screwed. Or she's about to have the time of her life figuring what the hell is happening in this manor.[break][break]

Thankfully, Chu-e Choi's presence makes her lean towards the latter opinion.[break][break]

Paint, not blood. He confirms with a touch and a glance, though she does wonder whether touching it was really such a good idea. It puts her mind at ease for the moment, allows her the time to gather her thoughts and observe her surroundings. Down the hallways are countless rooms, each filled with rocks and notebooks for her to rifle through.[break][break]

Ah well, some might say that them being unable to remove their masks stops the duo from attempting to lick those funny rocks. Not that she particularly wishes to after learning that her actions indeed do have consequences.[break][break]

"How many pokemon do they need to fill one book...?"[break][break]

And why are all these books here? Her lips drawn thin, she tries to read through the field notes with care for any details that stand out.

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]The anger that surges is a potent mix, one that poisons her every breath and seeps through her veins. It is a red as bright as the blood that runs through her veins, fragments of a crimson tether that crackles and crystallises around her.[break][break]

"Is that higher purpose to serve Rocket? To kill the people they were created to protect?"[break][break]

She knows of their stories, has etched it into her memories and sworn to carry it onto the future. The only question that remains is how much of the story will be altered by this man's hands? Will the final chapter have him painted as that same hero who had signed that contract? Or as the monster that had ruined all?[break][break]

"What does giving them a heart do?"[break][break]

Except hammer in the weight of the duty they carry upon their shoulders? In the silence that her question commands, it dulls. Corrupted by a hint of purple that waits warmly for her return.[break][break]

"What will you do when those hearts betray you?"

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]It is a fool's gamble. One that she will not win. Even if the body were to be repaired, leaving not a trace of wear and ruin, the heart and soul still carry wounds that rot one from the inside out. Those eyes that gaze upon her, an indescribable tangle of emotions swirling within. They are dark, haunted by the time that has all but passed them by.[break][break]

Just like hers, in the rare instances she finds her soul lost within a hazy dream.[break][break]

"I'm sorry." Her voice cracks. "I thought it would help."[break][break]

Her fingers grow white with how tightly she grips the ocarina. One step taken towards Volcanion as she places herself square between him and Rex.[break][break]

"We have to keep looking for the princess."[break][break]

This will not end until they find her.

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]She would take a seat, had it not been for the tablet that Yuina just pulled from her drawer. Ever the curious one, Eris leans in over the table, one hand subconsciously reaching for the plate as she tries to read it upsidedown.[break][break]

"Petalburg." She answers, still running the line through her head. "Was yours from Sootopolis?"

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Not many kids just up and join the frontlines like us, Hideo." Up till now, they've been doing as they please, following their hearts into every bit of danger. Sure, there probably were teens their age that were fighting as rangers. And yet, they were the exceptions, not the rule.[break][break]

"They will figure you out, if you're the only one running around masked. Have some of your pokemon take on my appearance, I'll provide
a few more of my own. They've seen me use the red chain before so it'll probably throw them off your scent."[break][break]

The longer she can keep the heat off him, the better. All she needs is a disguise similar to his.[break][break]

"The red chains don't last forever. Even if you bind them, they'll eventually escape unless you take them down and arrest them. I'll help you as much as I can. With running a distraction, with..." She hesitates for a minute. "I don't really know if I want to deal with those three... But I'll still help wherever I can, don't get me wrong!"[break][break]

She falls quiet, begins to fidget with her hands. In the way she usually does whenever she's about to say something stupid. And for once, Mesprit is drawn away from their quibble with Uxie, a heavy silence intermingling with the fading smell of cheese.[break][break]

"I just don't think I can do it for much longer."

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"He told me about it. Like how he does with a lot of other stuff, 'cos we're close friends." The answer is as simple as that, even if it sounds weird upon her tongue. After all, they've known each other for a few years now, even been roped into the same strange circumstances against their own will.[break][break]

"Just be careful not to mention that around Rockets. We've been keeping it under wraps for quite a while now."[break][break]

Even if they are to take different paths, the least she can do is keep him safe.[break][break]

"It's better if I do it alone." To avoid the stares and rumours. To remain blissful unaware of the accusations against her character. Though she sounds certain, Eris can't help but wonder if that truly is the case. Whatever goes through Andrea's mind isn't readable in the moment, not when a rowdy voice cuts right into their chance meeting.[break][break]

"Ey, ain't that one -"[break][break]

One starts, and another seems to click with the words left unspoken. Familiarity flickers through their eyes like the flash of a lightbulb, a crooked smile tugging at the ends of their lips.[break][break]

"Little hound."[break][break]

Their voice oozes a sickly sweet. And Eris tenses, one hand reaching into her jacket pocket.[break][break]

"You've grown."

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]A lovely waltz for two. A little clumsy at times, her footsteps narrowly missing his foot but always following his lead. Though surrounded by countless people, her world and her time in this very moment exists solely for them two.[break][break]

It's almost like a scene from the fairytales, his quiet hum melding with the lively melody. And it's almost picture perfect, until a scream disrupts the festivities, a joyous dance crept upon by uncertainty and dread. After all, what is a haunted mansion without a murder or two? It only took about... several times of wandering through and stumbling upon bodies to put all that together.[break][break]

Tilting her head up to meet his gaze, the spirit of the fox dances through her eyes.[break][break]

"Always."[break][break]

With a quiet squeeze of Chu-e Choi's hand, she whistles for Eyja to return to her side. And the loyal dog does her best, even escorting the clockwork princess across the dance floor. As the crowd moves, they gently tug him along, not wishing to be left alone for even a single second.[break][break]

Green berries decorate the tables, the endless array of food calling out to her like how a pack of candies tempts a child. Except, all of these foods will probably have a bitter aftertaste to them. Ah well, they might just find more use in target practice. With eyes scouring the room looking for any oddities, she finally spies the beastly bread bulldozer.[break][break]

"Only one way to find out?"

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Uxie cleans its portion, but Mesprit is just that step quicker, psychic hold already wrapping the last few pieces as they playfully blow a raspberry.[break][break]

Eris understands his reasoning. Had she been a little younger, a little more oblivious to the ways of Kanto, she might just have shared the same eagerness to act for Hoenn as he did. The targets she'd be willing to paint on her back just to save another...[break][break]

Now, she finds it best to take a step back and patch the holes in the plans that are hastily pieced together.[break][break]

"What are you capable of, with the chain?"

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Sorry... habit." There's no meeting Andrea's eyes, not when she can see the discomfort that flickers in that familiar face. "He's okay. I just have to keep him out of fights."[break][break]

Reiner isn't in the best of health as evidenced by his actions, but he has surely been through worse. Just not as of late. It's often hard for her to remember this fact, for each time he is injured, her stomach churns and her mind is simply twisted into knots.[break][break]

"Ever since Petalburg?" That is the last point in time where she'd known them to be present. "Has Hideo talked to you about them?"[break][break]

Despite the series of events that had gone down in the city, she knows how Hideo Kino can get when he sets his mind to things. She just wishes it wasn't something as ominous and uncharted as this.[break][break]

"I'm just scouting the area. In case any Rockets are trying to slip by."

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Cerulean strays from the writing on the wall, curiosity drawing a chirrup from the young Skarmory.[break][break]

Footsteps. Soft, muffled by the grains of sand that rain still into this cavern. Instincts draw her fingers around the fledgling, pulling Arkyn closer to her chest as attempts to hide his glow.[break][break]

And as the light begins to wane, she waits with bated breath for the mysterious figure to make their appearance.

[break]