[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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

[attr="class","eris109"]As Ogerpon rushes for the Iron Crown, a fiery red aura emboldens the paradox, allowing the metallic beast to tank the physical hit and parry the cudgel with a retaliatory Sacred Sword.[break][break]

Whilst the young ogress has its attention, Eris takes her chance, vanishing in a glimmer of pink as the Ralts giggles and claps.[break][break]

"Where's that fu-"[break][break]

"Right here."[break][break]

From behind them, a girl reappears in a flutter of red, one blade dripping shadows as the other burns incandescent. A duet of Night Slash and Sacred Sword, striking in a perfect X against the back of the first of two Rockets. But before she can step and turn her aggression onto the other, blood red claws swipe in an attempt to catch and crush her beneath.[break][break]

"Damn mutt!"[break][break]

Whistle.[break][break]

A Springtide Storm sweeps in like a raging tide, crashing against the Gouging Fire's flank and pushing it off balance such that she gains the opportunity to duck and slip away.[break][break]

On the other hand, Jalapeño and Andrea are far from escaping the tangling shadows, green and yellow flames flickering and dancing all around them. Two pairs of sunset orbs watch gleefully, Punches being thrown from the Shadows whilst the woman still has yet to recover.

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]With the power of pokemon by their sides, children are just as capable as adults. That is the lesson that has been imbued upon her time and time again by those who surround her, each carrying a fragment of faith that she will become stronger than ever and live to see the happier future that they sought to create. And with each step she wishes to take to become that little bit more certain of herself, they are there to watch over whatever little progress she makes.[break][break]

"As soon as possible." Spoken with the confidence of someone who has always been indulged in the stupidest of ideas. To have a companion that knows of the potential dangers to accompany those ideas means that they can be doubly prepared. "I picked on its trail not too long ago. So the sooner we go find it, the better."

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]When he reaches for her hands, her palm is cold yet her fingers are simultaneously burning with a fervent heat. The fragments of the chain still within her hands crumble at his touch, emanate a sickening pulse that simply doesn't belong to one that is meant to be at ease with her decisions.[break][break]

"I can't keep letting them ruin me." She whispers, taking ahold of his hands and pulling them close enough for her to rest her forehead upon them. "I can't keep sitting by and lie to myself they're going to change. I can't lie to myself that I can make them change for the better."[break][break]

Her heart aches. It aches for every bond she had nurtured out of fear, out of a poisoned love for those who shared what she wanted most. And it aches that she can no longer reach them, see them nor hear their voices as she once had.[break][break]

"Please... just let me do this. I want to do it. I've gotta find myself before I lose everything."

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Then why don't you act more like one?" Sharp tongue that threatens to lacerate her own mouth. "Why don't you ever raise a hand against me? Back when I fought you in Sotoopolis. And in Petalburg."[break][break]

The way he had pleaded with her to give up on her home and retreat. It haunts her even now, clearer than ever as the memories of that day overlap with his presence before her right now.[break][break]

"Why do you pretend to be a human around me?"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"No."[break][break]

When asked a questions involving the topics of 'coincidence' and 'Hoenn', the answer is more likely than not a resounding no.[break][break]

"Two major events. The emergence of a Dynamaxed Regirock and the Kyogre's rampage." The tablet is solid. Perhaps a little cold, even through the layers of her bandages. "The prison wardens are also back apparently."[break][break]

That was a topic more up Hideo Kino's alley, and one that she seems a little uncomfortable with bringing up around Yuina.[break][break]

"The original one referring to the creator of creations, Arceus. Of which the Triad has been trying to not let us get perceived by." She sighs, putting the plate back onto the table before rummaging through her bag once more. "Do you remember that swarm of Smeargle that were tossing legendary attacks around?"

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"There's a Regirock that wanders the Ultra Desert." She appreciates his lack of an attempt to push against her involvement, takes the flow of the conversation and attempts to forge a new path. Dredging a memories that sparks bitterness anew.[break][break]

"It probably doesn't have the same dynamaxing abilities that his had. But it's still a Regirock."

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"No, no. Not like... actual cuts and bruises kinda pain."[break][break]

It sounds like a rather rough time for Oscar. And though she pities him, the fact that he doesn't piece it together makes her worried for the Silvally's future.[break][break]

When asked for what she would do, she is silent for a moment, contemplating whether she should say anything at all. If it remains a free one, then in a sense, all is well. If it returns to Oscar's side, there is a part of her that worries it'll be forced to go through such horrors again.[break][break]

"Well..."[break][break]

And the other simply doesn't want to see such a powerful pokemon fall back into the hands of a Rocket.

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[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]That thump of his chest, it rings so hollow. Her eyes cloud as she traces this path of delusion seared into his own flesh, the names he had unwittingly carved onto the stone behind him.[break][break]

"But you aren't human. Not anymore."

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]The response is similarly terse and she can almost see the gears grinding in Cass's head as she tries to put things together. Most likely failing in the process, despite what she says. Those who have barely spent time with her often find it hard to comprehend just what she must mean with the first choice of words that she utters from her mind.[break][break]

And well, those who do know her, know that this answer isn't much of one at all.[break][break]

The next question catches her off-guard, shovels in a gap of silence that she can't quite cross. She stares for a moment, her tongue twisted into knots as all those walls she'd put up in preparation chip.[break][break]

"Red." Start, stop. "Dunno much about hairstyles. Whatever's comfortable, I guess."[break][break]

The mention of 'that' is very ominous. There are many 'that's that come to mind, all swirling in a viscous mess of grogginess and prickling uncertainty.[break][break]

"Depends what that is."

[break]

[attr="class","eris99"]

A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Ghost stories, both scary and exciting to hear about. Utterly terrifying when you actually get to experience it for yourself and realise that what you thought to be a prank or a trick of the eye might be something far worse.[break][break]

For this one in particular, there is something acutely familiar about the description of these doppelgangers. The mortal injury, the glitching and fading away. Even now, she remembers her voice, echoed at her by someone that just isn't her. Those whispers that promised she would take care of what she would leave behind if they simply swapped places.[break][break]

Even whilst dressed as warmly as she is, there's no stopping the shiver that runs down her spine. Though ghosts typically appear in the depths of night, she finds it far better to attempt to chase these apparitions in the wee hours before the sun rises. If only because she's still somewhat of a scaredy-cat and really wouldn't like to be chased around whilst unable to see her surroundings.[break][break]

With Reiner keeping pace by her side, a hidden companion always ready to take off at a moment's notice and dear little Arkyn flying ahead to light the way, she's a little bit more than prepared for the return of a living nightmare. The only things left to do is to keep searching for leads on her doppelganger's whereabouts.

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]Just when she thinks that they're out of the clear, a sudden wind and a screech from Arkyn draws her eyes back to the sky. Her hands move before she can even register it, reaching up towards that little songbird as he attempts to dive back down towards her.[break][break]

So close, yet still so far as she bears witness to the ferocious beast that attempts to hunt it down. Her heart screams as the limits of the body tether her to the ground. But in that panic, there is a spark of hope, a bitter red coalescing into solid chains that attempt to ensnare the Roaring Moon.

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]A deep breath as she takes a runner's position. Then she runs, straight towards that messy hell. The pokeball pulled from her pockets is tossed lightly towards the fray, just far and high enough for her to reach out and draw her Doublade from the scabbards that appear.[break][break]

Grip tight around the handle, years of fleet footwork across a chaotic battlefield gradually returned to her after months of rigorous training. A leap over a fallen Arbok, the back of her sword swung into the Crobat that tries to rush at her. Jack watches over her advance in place of the true knight that had pledged to keep her safe, allowing her to chase after the lesser grunts that attempt to retreat.[break][break]

"Oi, oi. Don't fucking let one ogre and a kid get the better of you."[break][break]

And yet, when surrounded by legends, one can often forget that they aren't the only ones that have access to higher powers. Amidst the flurry of petals and winds, there is a glow. A faint light encircling a pair of undiscernible figures as a Blazing Bulwark reduces a hateful pink into smoke and ashes. And through the smoke, a series of flashes slash right through, a Tachyon Cutter aimed straight for Eris.[break][break]

Before those blades can ever hope to scratch her, they slam right into a rosy wall of pink. A quiet coo ringing out beside her ear as a gentle weight alights upon her shoulder. Though time is short, she can at least afford the little Ralts the faintest ghost of a smile as she regains her balance and attempts to swing in Retaliation.[break][break]

Steel clashes against steel in a furious song, the burning glow of dawn competing against the cooling shades of dusk. While she is successful in pushing the Iron Crown's face away from hers, the difference in mass also sends Eris stumbling backwards. And she hops to catch herself, backing up even further before the paradox attempts to stomp on her.[break][break]

On the other hand, spectral hands shoot out from Ogerpon and Andrea's shadow, attempting to grab at their ankles and shackle them right to the ground.

[break]