[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]It's a cascade of events that no one could predict. The immobilisation of a war machine. The rampage of an uncontrollable amalgamation. The deflection of the Techno Beam. The yelp of the Arcanine as the Type:Null's blade pierces its side. The burning of Petalburg as the cottage too finally falls prey to the fires.[break][break]

"Fuck this!"[break][break]

As the Dondozo is recalled in a beam of light, the Tatsugiri that is ousted in the process fires the Hyper Beam it had been charging right at Cass. But a mystical pink barrier envelops her in a gentle warmth, a subtle hint of anxiety lingering in the air as a Wooper disappears from her arms. And when he sees that their final gambit has failed, the Rocket grunt begins to turn tail -[break][break]

"We need to go!"[break][break]

Still, the remaining Genesect continues on, the sole command to shoot them firmly ingrained in its mind. Even as it watches the Arcanine get carved up, it isn't deterred, charging yet another Techno Beam to take the threat out.[break][break]

---

[break]

It all happens within an instant.[break][break]

A bright light piercing through the room.[break][break]

Blood splattering through the air.[break][break]

A Luxray toppling over.[break][break]

"Reiner...?"[break][break]

A gaping hole right through his chest.[break][break]

This can't be right.[break][break]

Yet he stumbles, catches his balance. Refuses to fall before her very eyes, before he's kept his vow.[break][break]

This can't be happening -[break][break]

The room drowns in a sea of red, a Springtide Storm of petals that wilt and ignite with the growing heat. It scorches the man with a fiery vengeance, pries his fingers right off her throat and throws him back into the wall. And as Eris falls to the ground, freed from his grasp, so too does the Luxray, heaving for every last breath.[break][break]

"Reiner -" She crawls to his side, and in her own chest is a gaping hole just like his.[break][break]

"Get up..."[break][break]

Growing ever bigger as she helplessly shakes him.[break][break]

"Get up!"[break][break]

His eyes flutter open, gaze unfocused as they flit around the room. The fires that slowly chew the carcasses of rotting memories, the smoke that gradually obscures the security this place was meant to have, her broken pleas that surely drown out the laughter that once filled the halls. They soon settle on her: Wide-eyed fawn lost in a blazing forest, her teary eyes hardly enough to extinguish any of the flames around.[break][break]

He must get up, or everything will be lost.[break][break]

His body shakes with tremendous effort, one paw firmly placed against the ground before he pushes himself to place another and regain his footing. His blood stains the floor, smeared with every inch he drags himself across.[break][break]

"Reiner -"[break][break]

But still he stands, his tail curling around her arm as he breathlessly beckons for her to gather her equipment and stand.[break][break]

"You're -"[break][break]

He snarls, before an unsightly descent into hacking coughs. She wastes time that they simply don't have.[break][break]

Scrambling to her feet, she quite nearly falls over from the sudden wave of dizziness that washes over her. But he will not let her fall, holding tight and pulling her close as he begins to lead the way out.[break][break]

"DON'T LET HER GET AWAY!"[break][break]

Vines and shadows whip towards them, the Roselia and Banette fully intent on skewering Eris. Without the slightest hint of hesitation, Reiner tugs her backwards and jumps in front of her. But their attacks never meet their mark, blood red chains coiling tight around their necks and forcing them to their knees.[break][break]

_{"Don't touch him."}[break][break]

She does not bleed like Reiner does. Wrath, venom drips from her tongue as she turns her attention to the stunned Rockets.[break][break]

"You've destroyed my home. You've hurt me, just like you wanted to."[break][break]

They are next, powerless against the chain that bind them to the spot. Like a finely-tied noose, the chain hangs around their neck, tightening as she slowly curls her fingers.[break][break]

"You've already taken so much from me."[break][break]

Her family. Her old home. Her region. Her life. Bit by bit, Rocket has stolen and hollowed her out, allowing that gap in her chest to grow and grow. Even now, they attempt to steal Reiner right before her very eyes.[break][break]

Her most precious treasure.[break][break]

Her one and only family left.[break][break]

Recalling Reiner into his pokeball, she keeps him close to her chest. The fires peer into the room from the corridors, inquisitive little flickers grazing her skin.[break][break]

"No more."[break][break]

Her fingers brush against her palm, slowly but surely clenching tighter into a fist.[break][break]

Long ago, Rocket had lit a spark, expecting nothing but a tiny flame that would soon flicker out. And yet, that tiny flame persisted, fuelled by the kindlers who wished to tame her spirit. They'd once succeeded, caging her in a beautiful lantern they called familial bonds. But now that everything had been shattered and she was exposed to the bitter winds, this tiny flame was growing and would only keep growing until it swallowed them all.[break][break]

Until it is all but extinguished, a calm settling over her as she takes a breath.[break][break]

"Are you going to take from me too?"[break][break]

Golden eyes gaze right at her, silent as the red chains begin to crack and crumble. Released from their shackles, the Rockets keel over, clutching at their throats and gasping for air. Their pokemon fall flat on the ground, but are soon recalled to the safety of their pokeballs.[break][break]

"Everything they've done and you won't even let me have this."[break][break]

Everything is burning. Just like it once had all those years back. Even as the searing heat flays her limbs and the smallest pieces of wood begin raining down around her, she is still.[break][break]

"Traitor."[break][break]

The ceiling cracks.[break][break]

And the cottage begins to collapse.

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]Wooper may not have arms, but the Wooper of the Lake is enlightened beyond the comprehension of this world.[break][break]

As the Dynamax Band reacts, when the power begins to surge, Nessie begins to feel it in her very bones.[break][break]

Power. Limitless power.[break][break]

The ocean begins to tremble, the Wingulls crying words of warning. But they are far too late. The waters rumble, bubbling furiously as they are rallied by a singular war cry.[break][break]

If Woopers can engage in Close Combat without arms, so too can they defy the gods without opposable thumbs.[break][break]

[break]

R6xmn9QX

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]Stubbornness is a trait she wears with ease. Much like attempting to punch a god or teaching Raziel Beckett how to cook, she will do it or die trying.[break][break]

If she could just remember that sensation. The calm in her heart and the rhythm of the sea. There's no need to rush this. She still has a bunch of time to get this in the bag.[break][break]

Back again, climbing the wave to its very crest.[break][break]

[break]

|m09yP4h

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]All creatures need salt to survive. But in this case, she isn't certain whether what she's seeing is more a necessity or a desire.[break][break]

With living salt comes a horde of salt lickers, all attempting to trail after the migrating Garganacl. But perhaps, they aren't the only ones around. She's certain that if she looks hard enough, some people might be scurrying around attempting to collect themselves a nice jar of salt for their cabbages and pasta water to come. howard slayte[break][break]

"Let's just go take a peek." Nudging the Luxray by her side, she can almost hear the internal groans echoing in his head as he forces himself to keep walking down this salt path.[break][break]

How expensive was pasta anyways?[break][break]

R6xmn9QX

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]"It's only a bad time if you let me drown." She rolls her eyes, her arms crossed over the front of her lifejacket. Of all the times he doubts her, it's in a time like this?[break][break]

"This is nothing compared to Dialga. Or Necrozma. Or Groudon. Or Yveltal."[break][break]

Hell, probably even that trio of toxic chained assholes.[break][break]

"Unless you're telling me that we're gonna get blasted by Kyogre out of nowhere."

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]Third time's the charm. Third time has to be the charm.[break][break]

Out on the beach, she can hear the many gasps and cheers of a gathering crowd as someone seems to land a Magikarp Splash for the second time in a row. They must be some sort of Mantine Surfing genius![break][break]

Ah, but people are not born equal. She is but a lowly casual just attempting to mimic the sick tricks she's seen others do.[break][break]

But is that so wrong? Does that truly stop her from chasing after her dreams?[break][break]

No. She must keep going, chasing the light that awaits them at the top of this wave.[break][break]

[break]

3efYZTLM

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]"You don't think she's lost, do you?"[break][break]

Her Woopers? Lost? Reiner scoffs.[break][break]

"You're right. They sure do work in mysterious ways."[break][break]

Or maybe he's just scoffing at the way she keeps digging through the sand.[break][break]

MEANWHILE...[break][break]

Nessie is on a grand mission to -[break][break]

To...[break][break]

Huh? She can't quite remember what she was planning to do. Oh well, it probably wasn't that important then.[break][break]

Born a Wooper but gifted the mind of a Meowth, Nessie's attention dips from the pokeball to the next treasure that screams upon the waves.[break][break]

A Dynamax Band.[break][break]

And her mouth opens wide to chomp down on it.[break][break]

dSH5haz5

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]There is nothing that he might read from her expressions as she approaches, stopping a comfortable distance from the man and his pokemon. And she waits in silence, waiting for just when he might be finished with his little break.[break][break]

No matter if he doesn't plan on moving from that spot. With her pokemon by her side, she could probably still set out and get the job done all on her own. In fact, Reiner is especially keen to get to work without him, his nose scrunching and his tail flicking sharply. One paw reaching for Eris' sash, he looks to her when she rests her palm against it, one ear flicking before he directs his attention back to Josh.

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]It's just like a game of whack-a-mole. Just as Martin pounces right at the Tatsugiri, it yelps, diving right back into the open maws of the Dondozo. And though its already on its last legs with the poison muddling its mind, the Dondozo tanks the consecutives attacks and falls, loyal to its commander till the very end.[break][break]

Met with a Hatterene right up in its face, the Bewear braces itself and Endures, protecting its vital points with its arms. And in a brief lull between cuts, it dares to reach out, attempting to Split its Pain with the raging goddess.[break][break]

As for the Arcanine and its trainer, there is no return.[break][break]

There is nothing louder than the scream of the poor soul caught within that claw.[break][break]

"Leila!"[break][break]

Nothing quieter than the fate that befalls her. The squelch and crack of flesh and bone as finality settles upon the scene like Murkrows that have come to roost.[break][break]

"Shoot -"[break][break]

Drowning in the sight of a creature oh so brazenly standing over the corpse of the one it'd once called its trainer, the Arcanine charges right at the Type:Null in a blind Outrage.[break][break]

"SHOOT THEM!"[break][break]

Two Genesects take aim, locking onto the Talonflame and Alakazam. And the low hum of energy begins to rise, a spark gathering at the tip of their cannons as they fire a relentless barrage of Techno Beams.[break][break]

---

[break]

The scream is abruptly silenced. And yet, echoes and screeches in her ears like a broken recorder. Her eyes flick towards the window.[break][break]

"What did you do to them?"[break][break]

A brief moment goes unanswered.[break][break]

"Hey -"[break][break]

Leaves a crevice that grows.[break][break]

"Answer me!"[break][break]

A deep, bottomless chasm of the unknown.[break][break]

Voices rising and falling beyond these walls.[break][break]

"ANSWER ME!"[break][break]

The croon of lasers drowning out her screams.[break][break]

No way out. No way of telling what's going on outside. The details that refuse to fill in the gaps leave an insurmountable wave of nausea that promises to knock her off balance. Her hand reaches towards her belt. Reiner sees it and immediately grabs it with his tail, shaking his head as he snarls.[break][break]

"I surrender -"[break][break]

And yet, she refuses to let him dissuade her. Twisting and pulling her arm until she wrenches herself free. Her sygna suit deactivates. Her tera orb, her z-ring, Chloris' pokeball after she's been recalled; All of them clatter against the floor with dull 'thunk's.[break][break]

"Please, I surrender!"[break][break]

She can't even move to recall Reiner as the door is finally opened, the furniture smashed up by the Banette and tossed to the side. The Rockets waste no time in barging right in, the Roselia paralysing Reiner as one of the grunts shove her right to the ground.[break][break]

"Please -"[break][break]

There's no escaping this one. One hand is all he needs to grab her by the neck, lifting her up to eye level as her feet haplessly kick at air.[break][break]

"Call... them off..."[break][break]

Her nails dig into her own skin, attempting to dig under and pry those fingers away to no avail.[break][break]

"Don't... hurt... them..."

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]Ah yes, the wonders of Metronome are almost comparable to the Seven Great Wonders of Hoenn. One of which includes the grand question of how does howard slayte survive a month on a single dollar.[break][break]

As the three Sealeo and their posse of hungry Woopers follow, she is all smiles at the sight of their goofy little smiles. And the way they each pick themselves up and shake the confusion away... Oh, there are times where she just wishes she could steal all of them away.[break][break]

"Nice job, lil buddy!" If only the Togepi were an official ranger pokemon... Sighing, Eris beckons to the group of lost pokemon and starts moving for the door.[break][break]

"Now c'mon, you greedy rascals. I'm sure you've had enough of wandering these dark, rusty halls."[break][break]

Unlike a certain guy, who isn't even waiting for her behind those doors. Darn slackers.[break][break]

"I'm so reporting him to Razz."

[break]