[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

[attr="class","eris100"][break]

[attr="class","eris109"]Their staring contest seems to be at the very climax when suddenly, the world goes dark.[break][break]

"Doug!" Even though she is blinded by the hat, there's no way that she misses the bark of laughter. And she fumes, one hand quickly reaching to right the cap while the other swings to punch the man lightly in the arm.[break][break]

As for Reiner, there is a moment where he turns his stare onto Doug. Not because the man has helped defeat one of his greatest enemies, but rather because of his request. In an instant, his snout wrinkles and his lips curl to reveal the tip of his canines, his tail sweeping across the edges of the bed in slow, methodical flicks.[break][break]

"Well, the injury is... you can't really see it through the bandages but it's kinda like..." A hand pointing to the right side of her chest, then the other pointing to the left. "The nurses told me they patched him up but he's not supposed to run around a lot or fight."

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

[attr="class","eris100"][break]

[attr="class","eris109"]"Not so much destruction being our salvation, or being power-hungry." Hideo's mad, and she can't fault him. Hell, she knows she'd like nothing more than to land a punch square in his face. "More like... sacrifices must be made for the sake of getting one over gods."[break][break]

But some part of her can't simply stand by when they have no understanding of the path he has chosen to take.[break][break]

"He hopes to use the Regis to defeat Eternatus. Or that, one way or another, for humans to kill the skeleton."[break][break]

Whether the duty fell to Howard, Navy or some other person down the road, it just had to be a person.[break][break]

"He..."[break][break]

Clenched fists, then it all slips through her fingers as she relaxes her grasp. And as the other two focus on dusting the obstacles in their way, she has yet another helping to clean the pieces they create. A dutiful little Wooper by the name of Pips, shifting everything aside and clearing a proper path for them with Frenzied Plants.[break][break]

"We just have to kick his ass if he tries anything."

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

[attr="class","eris100"][break]

[attr="class","eris109"]No? Not there...[break][break]

When she compares her chart to the actual ones they've got recorded, it seems she's got it upside down? Ah well, this is why she's never been good at charting it all by herself. If they were here, they surely would never have let her live it down.[break][break]

★Emtn[break]

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

[attr="class","eris100"][break]

[attr="class","eris109"]It is a realisation, one gained from listening to his yells as she reaches for her pokeball. As someone who has dealt with space-time anomalies, extradimensional threats, unnatural powers and fickle gods, one battle-crazed maniac certainly will not faze her.[break][break]

Pushing to her feet, her arms dip into a flash of red and draws a Doublade from its scabbard. With a step forward, she wastes no time in intercepting the strike, raising her swords as she braces herself for the blow.[break][break]

"I believe I've told you that he isn't feeling well."[break][break]

Mechanical clockwork clicks and sings, a dainty figure alighting upon the cracked concrete. Rigid and poised with eyes focused upon the man and his Gallade, her soul-heart burns lowly with a faint pink gleam.

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

[attr="class","eris100"][break]

[attr="class","eris109"]"He's crazy enough to say it's for the sake of proving humanity can win against gods. Probably has brain damage from all that dynamax poisoning he's suffered." She chimes into the conversation, bittersweetness turning to acidity upon her tongue. All this time away from him and the stench of her hurt still hasn't washed out.[break][break]

At the very least, the appearance of ruins serves as a good distractor. Alien ruins in an alien world, most likely filled with alien things. If they're (un)lucky, they might just run into ultra beasts and a surly god. The passage ahead is drenched in shadows and sand, but as the most seasoned and capable of explorers in this trio, Eris already has flashlights and lanterns prepared.[break][break]

"Stick close. Don't wanna set off any traps."[break][break]

All it takes is a little Ember from her Litten friend and the path is lit for them to continue onwards.

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]It comes as a somewhat welcome surprise, a familiar silhouette woven onto the endless night sky. Always finding ways to jab at her, no matter how far apart.[break][break]

"At least that means you'll be around..."[break][break]

Safe, not kidnapped like a certain sibling was. She waves a hand, brushing the thoughts aside before carefully adding to her chart. An emotive fairy, drawn with same goofy smile they'd always gift her.[break][break]

"I hope you stay happy, Mes."[break][break]

★Emtn[break]

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Another person that tells her she's still human really ought to be flipping the table on the whole idea that howard slayte has put into her head. But there is still a reluctance to let go of it, a first-hand experience that makes her stop to take the time and consider it.[break][break]

"I-" Start, stop. Deep breath. Hands pulling apart to rest on Reiner's flank. A low reassuring growl from the Luxray. Reset. "I'm afraid... of losing my emotions. Or losing control of them."[break][break]

She's said it. The biggest hill to climb out of the entire problem. One small step that smooths her tongue as she gradually gathers her next few thoughts into words.[break][break]

"Mes... protects me. They've helped me feel calm when I panic. They help me do things that I'd never think to do if they weren't there. But sometimes, they take away everything I'm feeling to make me focus. And sometimes, they fill me with so much... fear and worry, that I just... feel like I have to run." A heartbeat oh so slightly out of time, skipping even one note makes her feel dizzy in this very moment.[break][break]

"Sometimes, I don't really know if what I'm feeling is really... me."

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]For once, those words aren't directed to her. So she moves that slight bit, using Doug as a shield as she peeks out to blow a raspberry at the Luxray. And oh, it takes incredible effort for him not to attempt to jump her in response.[break][break]

Stink eye shot back, Reiner huffs and stalks over to the bed, settling down with a rather spiteful 'plop' and almost immediately regretting it, judging by his wince.[break][break]

"I told you."[break][break]

He snaps his teeth back in response.

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

[attr="class","eris100"][break]

[attr="class","eris109"]Mistakes... How big can a mistake be for people to still consider them mistakes?[break][break]

"You're still human if you have a heart."[break][break]

Or does it the extent of their regret for their actions that decides it? Even with a hand gently clenched against her chest, she can't quite grasp what it is that sets them apart.[break][break]

"I think you are."

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"What is the language this is written in? What exactly is this book on?" She can't say she's ever seen it in any mythology, history or religion section she's been in. Neither has she seen her mother write anything on this unknown language, despite having written some things down on Draconids and that examples of that ancient text Howard was working on. "So Hisui... is like an ancient region? An alternate timeline?"[break][break]

She knows of Hisuian pokemon, she just doesn't quite understand what the place they originate from is like.[break][break]

"Iunno if the plates ever did, but I've heard people are testing it in sygna suits to bond with pokemon they couldn't before."

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]In the back of her mind, there is perhaps, a hint of pity had for the man that accompanies her. After all, having to follow her here but not get to do much must bore him out of his mind. If the repeated bouncing of the ball doesn't prove it, then his yells most certainly do.[break][break]

Volcanion's wistfulness is marred by a distinct twitch of his lips, eyes losing that glaze as he raises a brow at the disruptive mess. On the other hand, Eris is tense, one hand on the ground as she and Reiner look to Rex.[break][break]

"Do you... wanna head out first to the clock tower? We're almost done, so Volcanion, Reiner and I can catch up with you later."

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Tracing stars are difficult. How had astrologists in the past even come to recognise each cluster of stars as some kind of pattern? As she notes the changes in the alignment of stars, there is many thoughts that cross her mind. Instead of Unown, there are creatures that spell ruination surrounding a new, unidentified pokemon. The prism constellation, which was once Necrozma, now taking on the form she had seen depicted in the remains of Lesser Megalopolis.[break][break]

Does that mean Zacian has to prepare to fight Necrozma once more? Bigger and stronger than before? What would happen to Navy then? Her fingers grow white as she clenches her pencil. If the stars can shift to reflect a change in their reality, surely there are ways to change it even further.[break][break]

But for now, she is not here to unweave the fates written in the stars. Right now, she just wishes to record what is there and leave the planning for the future to the her of tomorrow. Looking around, she spies one cluster of stars that she marks down on a piece of scrap paper, then attempts to trace a pattern out of it.[break][break]

Noble form, tired eyes, wisps of steam. The sketch of the knight doesn't quite fit, but the shape does give her hope that she's on the right track. Looking around for a little longer, she just hopes that his princess is somewhere in the skies too.[break][break]

★Stm[break]

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