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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"This place is... actually pretty neat! If you ignore the sand."[break][break]

It's hard to ignore the sand, but nothing will stop Eris from trying anyways. Even when she can feel those individual grains skitter and slide around in her boots.[break][break]

"And the sun."[break][break]

It's hard to ignore the sun, but nothing will stop Eris from treading onwards, her gloves gently bracing the brim of her hat.[break][break]

"Say Hideo," She looks over to Reiner, wondering if his bare paws must burn from touching the ground. Probably not, considering how at ease he seems with his strides. Though, she can't help but note that he keeps attempting to shake sand from between his toes with every little step. And Mesprit leans over his head, waving a hand as psychic forces help to pull finer grains from his fur.[break][break]

"It's not just sand here, right?"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Forget castle. This structure is nothing short of a fortress and an impenetrable one at that, if she's done everything correctly.[break][break]

"How's it looking, Einar?"[break][break]

A chirp rings from overhead, and a pair of Woopers slip past her on a skateboard with a sandbucket in tow. A bit deeper into the fort comes a gentle glow, brought about by beautiful spiralling patterns that illuminate the dark. And the light Mayday provides helps Kevin see where to lay down his Mud Bombs to solidify the walls.[break][break]

Hearing the voice trail across the waves, Eris leans out of her creation, briefly meeting Yuina's gaze.[break][break]

"Uh..." Her eyes flit around, as if searching for something. Then light up, as they land on an approaching Luxray with an empty bucket hooked upon his tail. "Hurry up, Reiner!"[break][break]

He sighs, but still proceeds to pick up his pace. And when she gestures wildly to the bucket, he takes a deep breath and sighs even louder, begrudgingly turning the bucket upside down and placing it on his head. It can only really get worse when she picks up her shovel, sand still falling from it as she raises to point it at Yuina.[break][break]

"Now we are! Bring it on!"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]She stares real hard at the gear, pursing her lips before finally reaching a conclusion.[break][break]

"Your poke treats." A hand outstretched and she will receive her prize (much to Reiner's amusement). After all, the topmost priority is not gearing herself up, but gearing her pokemon on the sidelines to prevent potential mishaps.[break][break]

"You're in charge."[break][break]

The order is passed onto Captain Einar, who nods all too solemnly as he receives the treats from her. And he is flanked by Lieutenant Nessie and Socks as they gasp in awe at the precious package.[break][break]

"You guys know the drill. Reiner and I won't be too long!"[break][break]

No need for sygna suits. She doubts that most of the cadets would possess such gear. Though Reiner has a proper z-move, this would probably be a good time to test their natural limits and see how far they've come.[break][break]

Oh, one last question before she steps onto the field. Turning back to Razz, she feels Reiner tug at her hand and gently grasps back.[break][break]

"Are you gonna time us?"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Ctholly... Ctholly?"[break][break]

The last she'd heard of her Wooper was a panicked 'whoop' as she turned around, only to spy the calm waves washing over the shore. And of course, she too, panicked.[break][break]

Thankfully, she's got her ears to the ground, keeping up to date on the many, many tales that surround this one location. The main being that ghostly happenings and strange disappearances occur in this area.[break][break]

Of course, it's always ghosts. Or psychics. Ghosts or psychics.[break][break]

"Ctholly! Where are you?" Her voice echoes in this rusted wreck, drowning quietly with the drip drip dripping of water from the roof. "Give me a sign!"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]The darkness of night does not bring the tranquility she so hoped. It had started with the strange air, giving life to an uneasy feeling within her chest.[break][break]

Something's wrong.[break][break]

That prickly sensation doesn't go away, even when she tries to warm her arms thinking that it's simply the night breeze playing tricks.[break][break]

No way.[break][break]

She moves through the streets, uncertain in her direction as she falters between heading back towards the gym and going to disturb howard slayte in the ungodly hours of night.[break][break]

At least, till the sirens begin to howl. Like a pack of wolves hungry for those lost upon the streets, they strike fear quick into her heart. howard slayte. Where is he? Is he alright?[break][break]

Her pace grow quicker, driven by the anxiety that begins to nip at her heels until she finally breaks into a run. Faster, so she can get to him faster and be sure that he's safe.

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","nikki109"][player]https://file.garden/ZejXkWIVb22iuWuT/God_Please.mp3[/player][break]

The imagination is as limitless as it is terrifying, a wellspring of hope that could overturn the darkest of days. But in the end, there is a limit as to how much one can possibly daydream.[break][break]

And in the end, the hope that Azelf may open their eyes once more will have to be put to rest, that brief flicker of hope melting into a simple bitterness upon her tongue.[break][break]

[break]

Screeches of conflict, the howling sirens, a blinding light. The ship accelerates and she curls around Azelf as best she can, but she will not hit the ground as painfully as she'd imagined, a warmth brushing against her side and pulling her in.[break][break]

Hope blossoms anew. In the aftermath, she is spared but a few seconds to drink in his presence, her free arm thrown around his shoulders as she sinks into the Luxray's fur.[break][break]

"You're here."[break][break]

Bristly is his mane as he leans over to nudge her, bringing forth a calm that she'd never thought she'd find in this hell. He growls, eyes darting to the pixie overhead, then flicks to Eris as she finally pulls away to look him in the eyes.[break][break]

A nod is met with a nod. A solemn promise to focus up. If this is a parting gift that Azelf has left them, then there are things to be done.[break][break]

Murder is on many minds. An eye for an eye, a life for a life. Every bit of hurt must be paid back some cry, whilst others act upon their hidden agendas. She will pay no heed to any of it, the pounding beat of her heart drowning it all out.[break][break]

Hideo Kino takes the lead, a beautiful red chain snapped towards Pecharunt as he immediately starts pulling. Elaine Highland’s Metagross takes to the field and they fight despite all the odds. Shuwen runs for the center of a deadly storm, Navy's words roaring into her head.[break][break]

Her arm stretches out, shaky as the adrenaline crashes and thrums through her veins.[break][break]

You’re scared.[break][break]

Of course. Who the fuck in their right mind wouldn’t be?[break][break]

Why then? They are destined to fight, are they not?[break][break]

She doesn't know why, but it instinctively just feels right.[break][break]

Cut up upon crystals, beaten and kicked to near death by a suffering ogre, rocked to her very core by forces beyond her own reckoning. Healing wounds have been long torn open by the weight of her movement, the purpose in her strides, blood beading upon her skin as she opens her palms wide as if reaching for Pecharunt. An imaginary tether that binds the two of them.[break][break]

Then she grabs, fists clenching down upon pure energy as it begins to manifest. Dyed in her own colours; The chain that will be stronger than what she could imagine, a red chain that is guided by her will and her will alone.[break][break]

Snaked around Pecharunt and wrapped tight, she grabs her end of the chain and begins pulling. Pulling with her heels dug into the ground, pulling with all her weight put into it.[break][break]

"Take them!" A scream, an earnest plea. Psychic forces move beyond her sight, aimed at pushing Cyllora if even that inch closer to Cassandra Kubrick.[break][break]

Evil must be stopped, but being killed should not be what ends their streak.[break][break]

Turbulent as their own heart may be, there is nothing softer nor gentler than the hands that rest upon her palm. And in silence, Mesprit follows suit, psychic forces intertwining with her will as they too, begin to pull.[break][break]

l7Q5HyWZ

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Hmmm... Well, when you put it that way..." Crossing her arms, she nods to herself. "Yeahp, makes sense!"[break][break]

Does it really? Reiner begs to differ, but at this point, anyone who questions what normalcy is in Hoenn are the ones that are abnormal.[break][break]

Reaching up to the skies, Eris takes a moment to stretch and shake her legs out. "I can give it a go." Then as she taps her toe on the ground, she begins to zip up her jacket and tuck in all the loose straps. "No sygna or any special gear, right?"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]No, no she couldn't. That much is obvious the moment she watches Bella begin to fall. And before she can possibly react, the woman slams right into the ground.[break][break]

"I uh..." Worry coats her gaze, her eye flicking from the snoozing possible case of head trauma to the Absol in charge of their wellbeing. "Hospital's not too far into town. Might be good to get her check-up before you head home, yeah? Actually..."[break][break]

Looking down at her phone, she checks the time and -[break][break]

"I'll go with you."[break][break]

Yeah, she should probably stick around to make sure that they get there in one piece.

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Is that meant to be speed, or agility?" She squints, still trying to wrap her head around the whole layout of the field. "Is this meant to simulate a minefield?"[break][break]

It's meant as a joke but deep down, she does find herself balking at how easily those words slip off her tongue. Another look at the field. Yeahp, still angry Voltorb ready to explode.[break][break]

"Is this really considered normal training?"[break][break]

Do Rangers really need to be prepared for such a situation? Maybe it's meant to simulate the whole battle experience against powerful foes like Groudon and those Precipice Blades... but wouldn't you want to focus on how to neutralise such a threat? Kind of like how SPECTRA worked -[break][break]

She holds her tongue, words that would probably mean very little to most but could still land her in quite a fair bit of trouble.[break][break]

"Isn't it kinda weird to use me as a baseline for what cadets can or can't do?"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]At some point, she begins hearing voices in the wind, convinced that perhaps there is a god in the storm that is attempting to exterminate them for trespassing. Then she looks back to Howard, and realises that he is the one speaking the divine tongue and ascending this very moment.[break][break]

All it takes is one final sacrifice for him to transcend. It's almost like watching a giant pluck a bountiful harvest from the fields, except much less severe. Well, incredibly trivial compared to that analogy to be honest. But to Howard, it must feel that way. Despite his incredible material gains, this man would probably start eating dirt and or starve himself within days.[break][break]

Perhaps, he would need to invest in hiring an accountant himself.[break][break]

It is here that nature must be satisfied. After ripping the greatest bits of hope from one's life and filling their stomach, the winds decide to bear in a new direction, a slight deviation sparing them even as it continues to reap and wrecks its surroundings.[break][break]

"We aren't doomed." It feels so absurd having to tell him that. With the storm gradually passing and the winds dying down, they're more than likely able to find their way out of here and restock as needed.[break][break]

But Mesprit too begins to scream, wailing over the unimaginable loss of the lunchbox she'd packed.[break][break]

"Oh for f- WE AREN'T DOOMED!"

[break]