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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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How funny that those muffled words are what come to mind as the world falls under a spell of frost. If he saw her in this very moment, would he dare to falter? If he knew she would stand in the way of his grand ambition, would he still be able to repeat that very promise?[break][break]

[break]

Because he promised to always be her friend. Because he spoke with such certainty of the world he envisioned. Because he had at least attempted to fix his mistakes back in Dewford. Because he would move continents to ensure a better future for the children.[break][break]

The beam that fires is the same shade at that which had nearly obliterated her back in the forest, something that confirms all that she had been desperately praying against. A feverish pink surrounds her, scalds her with a wave of sorrow that tells her of the end. There is nothing left to be reasoned with, for in his pursuit of giving creations a heart, he had lost his very own.[break][break]

And she weeps.[break][break]

[break]

^"Howard."[break][break]

He will never hear her in the throes of battle, nor over the screams of his own mind. He is lost and she has no way of reaching him, nor pulling him out.[break][break]

"Momma, watch over me."[break][break]

She is no longer the child she once was. That kid that had everything ripped away from her and been unable to fight back as they took even more. That girl who had watched as they continued to reap the world and remained silent as they stole from others too.[break][break]

"Give me strength. Because there is a friend I must stop."[break][break]

A small, tentative step. Another that sets her heart on course. The sand will not blind her, the cracks of the earth will not trip her up. She is moving, faster and faster towards the titan that towers above all. Anger burns in the pit of her belly, guilt churns and wriggles in the back of her throat -[break][break]

You shouldn't be here.

This isn't your fight.

You don't belong.

[break]

And her love is surely sick, leaking and bleeding as she reaches for weathered stone. How else will she make this worse? What else will she lose in her stubbornness? She hears the voices that surround her, but none of them are as loud as the words that howard slayte speaks; Knives in her body, twisting till she hurts.[break][break]

It was a mistake to help him. It was a mistake to think he could... no, would stop this pointless battle. It was a mistake to let him slip right through her fingers. And even now, she dares to make another mistake, her heart infected by needless sentiment as it forges a chain to restrain Regirock instead of him.[break][break]

ZrIa4x7m

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Though it's small, to be praised for her suggestion makes her heart flutter just that tiny bit. And she waits for Montgomery to determine the best way forwards, idly offering her hand for Nessie to nibble on.[break][break]

"So... what exactly are we looking for?" It's not that she hadn't been paying attention. She'd been told about the search operation, but not so much what the objects they were searching for looked like. "Is it big?"

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Mmm." Half the job's done. There really isn't anything else she has to say. With Chloris summoned from her pokeball, working through this is a cinch. The Comfey triages, then begins to help those in worse conditions, leaving those who simply need a little bit of first aid to her.[break][break]

Whilst she busies herself with that, the other pokemon remain hard at work clearing the corridor. Only ever stopping to ask her where to place certain things or to check up on her and the Horsea. A few of them definitely need proper medical treatment, and she drops Raziel Beckett a message to let him know about the situation at hand. Sure enough, there will be other rangers swinging by to take those Horsea in for a checkup.[break][break]

"Almost done then?"[break][break]

She barely has the chance to spare a backwards glance when Reiner bumps against her back, nearly knocking her over with a smirk on his face.[break][break]

"Yeah, yeah. Don't get all cocky just yet. We're still gonna be helping out for a few more hours."

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Shouldn't be here. Shouldn't stick around. There are probably a ton of things she shouldn't be doing, but what about him?[break][break]

"You did this."[break][break]

These words that catch in her throat, hooking deep with the reality that she cannot afford to look away from. Even through the memories of kindness, of observed silence as she wept in his presence, of anger that flared at his inability to change, of love that had grown as he watched over her.[break][break]

"You -"[break][break]

Her eyes turn to the titan that shakes the earth. Those who would be atop it in search of power. Those who would pursue it for the wish to create a better world.[break][break]

"All of you -"[break][break]

Those lives lost in skirmishes. Many more buried beneath rubble and sand. The cottage reduced to smoldering fragments. The weight that sat behind Isaac's gaze. Her fists clench as she looks to the pixie hovering above.[break][break]

There is a part of her that knows that handing any fragment of power to Rocket is equivalent to equipping them with more ammunition to hurt others. And yet, her heart tells her that that man - The one who would tell the tale of those the world wished to forget. The one who had lost his way in the midst of chasing a world where children like her no longer needed to cry.[break][break]

"Steady him." She hates her voice, the words she dares to whisper. Why does she keep making that step towards where she isn't meant to go?[break][break]

"Make him see this through."[break][break]

For her sake. For those who had been lost and those who had yet to be lost. That man had to fulfill this promise at any cost, or die trying.[break][break]

It is a rosy pink the shade of the burns on her skin, a trail that darts off into the storm to seek that which her heart so desires. As Howard makes his descent, Mesprit is there, just like they had been on the day that he'd felled his own friend. And they reach to rest a palm upon his shoulder, tugging at the threads of his tumultuous emotions and begins to undo each one.[break][break]

All until he is left with nothing but calm in the beginning of the end.[break][break]

xpHp7JPf

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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There is nothing to greet Gaius in the darkness, only a frigid cold that sweeps through the corridor. Further ahead, something slithers upon the walls, movements crooked and unnatural as it slides around the corner.[break][break]

All around them, it watches from between the cracks of Stakataka bricks.[break][break]

Watching.[break][break]

Waiting.[break][break]

Wooping.[break][break]

8AHwCnS4

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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"Do you think we're trying too hard... is that why we keep missing the landing?"[break][break]

Hesitation clouds her judgement. The weight of failure is a heavy burden to carry. And yet, she can still see the many Mnatine surfers that dare to continue their pursuit of the highest joys in life. Clenching her fists, she takes a deep breath.[break][break]

"No, you're right. Running away from this just makes me a coward."[break][break]

She had nearly joined that 99% of people who quit before they hit the end.[break][break]

"Again."[break][break]

[break]

9rdKs|vk

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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Surprisingly, the halls of this Stakataka mecha are shown to be empty on the projected screens. A lonely darkness washes through the winding corridors. Perhaps, a promising sign of how Gemsly's ransacking fears may be unfounded?[break][break]

But then, beneath the group of Carbink and men, something clinks and clatters, then slithers back into the silence from whence it came from.[break][break]

WMMV|ZJ5

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]So close, yet so far. She can feel the warmth of El Sunderland 's palm as her fingers graze for a hint of comfort. She can hear Isaac Merlo 's emboldening words that grow loud enough to compete against the winds. She knows them to be by her side, that they would not sit by as danger went for the throat. And yet, she still feels so scared, unable to do anything but attempt to hold down the monster that yearns to hurt them, to keep it tied down so it can't possibly reach her.[break][break]

One way or another, it still does. It treats the red chain as nothing more than a nuisance, an impurity spreading from inside out as the brilliant red is consumed by a hungering purple. And within a pure cascade of fear, new emotions begin to infect her: Confusion. Denial. Despair.[break][break]

Within seconds, she will die. She will fail to break the chain that she created and she will find that vile rot begin to eat at her too. Like a parasite writhing beneath her skin, gleefully dancing in her pulse as she thrashes and struggles for another breath.[break][break]

It will not go quick. When she falls, she will have more than enough time to realise that she is not alone. Mere seconds of anguish dragging into infinity as she watches Munkidori torment the people around her. Psychic forces twisting limbs at unnatural angles, pulling joints from their sockets, smashing them against the ground till she hears nothing but the unending wet eruption of flesh.[break][break]

She falls. Pulled by the force of Isaac breaking her chain, she stumbles and falls to her knees, gasping for air as she resurfaces from the unending nightmare. Her heart sings, for it has forgotten its steady rhythm. Her body trembles as blood rushes through her veins to prepare her for an escape.[break][break]

we have to stop it.[break][break]

Numbness sets in without the slightest prompt from Mesprit and the world gets a little hazier. Her cheeks burn as she tries to blink the blurriness away.[break][break]

but how?[break][break]

Fight back.[break]



[break]

One hand sweeping Mesprit into her arms, she scrambles to her feet and turns tail. If this creature has the ability to corrupt the red chain, if those toxic chains have been able to infect Latias, there is a chance it could harm the pixie too. But where should she go? All that lies ahead is the hulking figure of a rampaging Regirock -[break][break]

Even through the endless storm that swallows the sky, she spots a dark spot growing larger by the second. A little closer, and she can just barely make out the shape of a person?[break][break]

"Mes!"[break][break]

They are already on it, flying from her grasp as they reach a hand out towards the figure. And they begin to channel their energy into a Ally switch that will place them gently upon the ground. Right next to Eris who, though still struggling to control her shaking self, is ready to render any kind of first aid or assistance required.[break][break]

Q32l7Jj0

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Oh, Volcanion?" With how long the rift's been open, it seems rather strange that the name hasn't gotten around by now. Then again, she is that kind of kid that doesn't think her being in such a place is strange at all. "He's a knight, not a prince. And he's..."[break][break]

The puddle under her boot ripples as she steps right into it, the water quietly sloshing as she continues with another step.[break][break]

"He's been making himself sick. Looking for a princess that's gone missing."[break][break]

Water continues to drip from the pipes above, a particularly cold droplet landing atop Eris' head. She flinches, then straightens up with a sigh, reaching up to swat the remaining water away.[break][break]

"Don't worry about us getting lost. I have these tunnels kinda mapped out." With a pen in one hand, a piece of parchment in another, she had spent entire days wandering these passages, counting her steps and noting down every little thing close to being called a landmark.[break][break]

"If we just turn this corner and then take the next right -" She begins to hurry, a little more pep in her step as she rounds the next corner. "Here we are!"[break][break]

Her hand rests upon a metal door, her weight pressing against it as she begins to push it open.[break][break]

"I found this abandoned engine room a while back. Produces steam that powers an engine above, which would kinda explain the leaking pipes around! When I went up to take a look to what it was powering, it looked like some sort of train station. Must help to power something there?"[break][break]

Hell if she knows anything about the locomotors here. She hasn't had a chance to jump on any moving trains as of yet, but she can sure imagine that they too would probably run off steam.[break][break]

"Point is, we can snag -"[break][break]

As the door creaks open, she can hear the soft rustle and clack of coal, an uncomfortable heat blasting through the crack. And she tenses, stopping her attempt to push the door any further.

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Even through the clanking of metal and crackle of wood fails to draw her attention away from the gentle splashing of water, her eyes flitting to the ocean's surface and catching sight of Josh's waving. Around him are several Horsea, which makes her instantly assume he's done something he shouldn't have.[break][break]

With Reiner's help, she manages to place roll yet another barrel against the wall, taking a moment to catch her breath. Then, with one hand on her hip, she raises a brow and finally addresses him.[break][break]

"What do you need?"

[break]

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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"We're going again."[break][break]

There is no fear that will stop her from attempting to land another. Not even the time limit that has been set on this event. After all, she has had quite a few good days. If Lady Luck just decides to favour her even once, she can have it all. Failure is no excuse to stop pursuing her dream, especially if she knows herself to be capable of reaching it.[break][break]

[break]

HJLl|xGc

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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There is no sweeter victory than one torn from the hands of the bullies. With a triumphant smile, Nessie sinks back into the ocean, letting out a gleeful "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" that resonates through Slateport Beach.[break][break]

All at once, something in the world shifts into place.[break][break]

[break]

Through the sands, a conga line of Woopers march, each waddling with purpose towards the fallen Stakataka mecha and climbing atop it. Then, with void-life eyes that all peer into the darkness, they each make their descent into the belly of their mortal enemy.[break][break]

DBLx2Mzq

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]What was that thing she'd read in those cool mystery novels about opening doors in water? Something about... pressure? Or that the weight of the ocean was too much to push or pull against? Did that apply here? No, perhaps the book had been talking about a sinking car.[break][break]

With Einar slowly pulling her towards the ranger, she signals for Socks to help freeze the door, frown drawing tight as she chews her bottom lip.[break][break]

"Try focusing on the hinges?"

[break]