So far, so good. Johanna didn’t get any weird vibes from this woman. “Oh, surely not too special.” Johanna replied. Though she feared that was exactly the case based on the wording Madd used.

Johanna’s eyes followed Madd as the woman fetched three bottles of water. The first given to Obstagoon whose snickering Happiny ignored. The other bottles were offered to Johanna.

“Thank you! Yeah black has always been my favorite color.” Johanna replied immediately. “And the hair is not too bad to keep.” Though Johanna thoughtlessly forgot that her Happiny often spent hours grooming it whenever the two of them chilled together.

Johanna eyed the water bottles. But it wouldn’t be Johanna that would reach for them first. Happiny was quick to jump onto Johanna’s lap and from there grab the bottles. She began to check them out, to spot any tampering, she even sniffed at them. They seemed safe enough. But one could never be too certain.

“Acacia, I am sure they are fine.” Johanna reassured her Happiny.

But that didn’t halt the Pokémon.

Live and learn indeed.

Surprise crossed her, evidently in her eyes, as Martin asked for her opinion on the operations location.

She looked toward the summit, thoughtful in her contemplation. She had to admit she might not have been the best one to ask. “I think… that they will definitely be in an advantageous position.” She pushed away her worries. He had asked for her opinion, and she would give it to him as trainer.

Her mind analyzed her view from there. Rocky formations and elevation would prove the League’s greatest assets. “They will have the high ground.” She muttered, with all the implications that it carried along with it. “Some part of me fears it might be nigh impossible battle for us to win if they decide to use their heavy hitters here.” She halted…

“Assuming of course that we intent to win.” She was reminded of the meeting at Sootopolis and how there was something peculiar at Littleroot. But she admittedly could not remember which of the two objectives were going to be the diversion.

Meanwhile

A childish Phantump floated into the Forum of ghosts and living alike. A lot of the discussed topics flew right over its head. But it noticed something neat having been sculpted by the Golett. And so decided to appreciate the sculpture while letting the adults do all the talking. They had clearly been too preoccupied by their discussion to notice it joining the group.




OOC: Trying to catch Phantump
LOCATION: MT. PYRE.

Living was surprisingly painful.

Each scrape, each cut, punctured blood vein, and torn muscle. They all screamed for the attention of the spirit. Even the brief moment of death had sent her body spiraling into emergency mode.

But when her spirit returned, it promptly began to ignore the screaming cells in favor of turning her worry to Megan.

Though she should not be moving as she did. She quickly scrambled over to her friend, even if her body would not let her stand, she crawled, dragged herself even, unfortunately making a pretty convincing display of living death.

Unfortunately, she was all a jumbled mess of scrambled movements and emotions. But she did her best, trying to check if Megan was all right.

Even as the whole event reached its climatic conclusion. None of it mattered, but Megan’s safety.

She would not leave Megan’s side, even as Dragapult rejoined their little group, joy, and surprise shining in its eyes as it saw its trainer no longer dead. And as Team Rocket escaped... She would stay behind consequences be damned.

But Perhaps Megan would save Johanna from such folly and force her to teleport away with her Claydol?




MASK: Smiley Mask
LOCATION: MT. Pyre
TLDR:

It seemed she lost the ghoul, or perhaps the Ghoul grew tired of hunting her. Either way, Johanna kept moving forward. Fear slowly subsided into a simmer, as fatigue was catching onto her.

Alas, when she walked into what would become her last corridor. She looked around. Finding naught but the usual decorations, and a door at the far end with a huge bold label screaming EXIT right in her face.

For a moment she pondered if it was some elaborate trap from the Ghoul, but then what baser level of her wanted this finished, wanted this over with, wanted to get out and no longer have to fear being jump scared by ghouls, spirits, and choking loneliness. Forced her to throw away such logical thoughts and attempt to move through the exit. Just in time to hear the manic cackle behind her.

TLDR:
- Time to try and escape


tix1jhkn

RESOLVE: 50 - 30 = 20 (No winning rolls)
LOCATION: MAUVILE CITY -> OSCAR'S HAUNTED HOUSE

paxton concordas fern delaney jayden cross oscar clayton

Johanna felt the lactic acids tightening their grip on her muscles. She couldn’t keep running. But the Ghoul continued its hunt.

For a brief moment, she pondered the option of simply giving up, to let the ghoul take her and whisk her away into an uncertain future. But by now she was convinced that this place had fallen to some eldritch magic, its seemingly space-defying amount of corridors only adding weight to such belief.

She entered yet another such corridor. But for a brief moment, she did not hear the ghoul. Instead, a door opened by her side. She looked inside, daring to see if another ghoul would appear. But it did not. Instead, corpses of prior partygoers began to grab for her, inviting her to join them.

She did not. She kept running. And as she did, she heard the slamming of a door.

Had the Ghoul returned to its hunt?


TLDR:
- Ghoul hunt continues.
- Johanna does not join the Corpse Party.


HHRCmRKI

RESOLVE: 50 (Unaffected due to Hunt)
LOCATION: MAUVILE CITY -> OSCAR'S HAUNTED HOUSE

paxton concordas fern delaney jayden cross oscar clayton

The Dragapult began to prove just how special it was. Light pulsed in manners befitting communication. Unfortunately, Johanna hadn’t been prepared so she had been looking right into the blinding light for a second too long before she averted her gaze.

She found herself getting dizzy as the flash blinded her. It took a moment before her vision returned, weird spots temporarily covering her vision as her eyes tried to adjust. But when it did, she found that the Drakloak in her arms looked almost worriedly at her. She beamed it a reassuring smile.

It had adjusted surprisingly quickly.

“That’s quite the light it can produce…” Johanna noted returning her gaze towards Martin.

Meanwhile, the Ghost forum was growing to a size where it wouldn’t only be ghosts that were attracted. This time a Medicham approached the forum. Having caught stray thoughts from all the ghosts gathered it approached with caution.

For once the debate halted, as a living creature joined them. Not counting the Mushroom that started it all.

But it didn’t take long before it was posed the same question as everyone else. What is art to you?

To this, it would contemplate the answer. Searching deep within it for a suitable reply. “Art is experience.” The Medicham gave the ghosts a moment to ponder before it continued. “Art is the culmination of all things in life, your choices, your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Together it all makes up the concept we know as art.”

Some ghosts agreed others did not. But it mattered not, having joined the debate Medicham was now a part of the forum equal to everyone else.



OOC: Trying to catch Dusknoir
LOCATION: MT. PYRE.

Sometimes you make some shady decisions, like renting an apartment alone in a shady neighborhood. Johanna had learned this lesson the hard way sure she had Pokémon, but so did everyone else. Not much of a deterrent.

Johanna had decided to do something about that. Finding a better apartment with a roomie was her answer. And so the search had begun. It didn’t take long before she had secured an interview with a prospective person who already had a place that fit the criteria.

Johanna walked with nervous steps towards the entrance to the place. Clad modestly in clothes of black, the only hint of other color was the bright purple TERAVOLT logo branded upon the front of her Black T-shirt, almost hidden by the thin black jacket she wore. Black pants and average black shoes finished her attire, a style that all but spoke of a punk that had mellowed out.

By her side, a Happiny walked.

Reaching the door, she gave it a few light knocks announcing her arrival to anyone inside. She then waited patiently until the door was opened. She greeted the woman with a warm smile as she was invited inside. She gave a quick nod as she did exactly as requested, taking off her shoes and placing them on the welcome mat before continuing inside.

The Happiny took a moment to correct the position of the shoes, as it bothered her that one of them was slightly not parallel.

Johanna took a seat on the chair, making sure to move the two twin braids of her long well-kept natural blue hair over her right shoulder so she wouldn’t accidentally lean on it. By then Madd had begun on the introductions. Johanna gave the Obstagoon a polite wave, not wanting to disturb it too much since it seemed rather occupied.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Johanna and this is Acacia,” The Bluenette gestured towards the Happiny. It had taken a standing position by her side like a maid awaiting command. It gave a small bow in the Direction of Obstagoon and then Madd. Though the table might be blocking the latter’s view.

On and on Johanna ran. At this point, she was considering just giving up. Letting the ghoul catch her seemed almost a compelling prospect compared to the eternal maze of doors.

But then she heard its angry slams, the almost thunderous foot steps which it ran with. And something in her told her no, she had to continue. She had to keep running. No good would come from letting the Ghoul get its disgusting freakish hands on her.

And so the chase continued doors were opened and closed as quickly as possible. Hoping that perhaps she would run into someone that could save her soon!

TLDR:
- Ghoul hunt continues.


kh5antJ2

RESOLVE: 50 (Unaffected due to Hunt)
LOCATION: MAUVILE CITY -> OSCAR'S HAUNTED HOUSE

paxton concordas fern delaney jayden cross oscar clayton

Megan Whitmore seemed intent on following her into whatever choice she made. Her eyes shot wide as Megan picked heads as well. She wanted to refute it but knew the call had already been made. There was nothing she could do about it.

And like so many of Johanna’s choices throughout her life, this had been yet another wrong choice. For a short second she felt despair wash over her as she came to realize that she had lost and even worse, Megan had lost because of her. She quickly turned to take one last gaze at Megan, if she were to die she wanted the last thing she saw in this world to be something pleasant.

And then Spatial Rend stole away her life as it brutalized her body, killing her.

Dragapult finished performing its Z-move, though it was seemingly woefully ineffective. But in its exhaustion, it turned to its trainer expecting and hoping for more orders. But all it saw was Johanna’s lifeless body lying on the ground.

It hurled itself over her body in grief, tears welling up as it and all the tiny spectral Dreepy joined it in grieving their beloved trainer’s death. But tears quickly turned to anger, to rage. Dragapult turned its glaring eyes toward Johanna’s killer. Now caught by chains of red and seemingly attempting to escape. Dragapult would have none of that, it would have justice for Johanna! It released a menacing roar before It quickly zoomed toward the Palkia. Blue draconic energies covered its body like a menacing aura as he aimed a DRAGON RUSH at the Red Chains now binding Palkia, hoping to pierce both the Item and the deity.

But death would not be the respite that Johanna deserved. No, the world was not done with her, or perhaps she still held regrets that bound her to the realm of mortality. Even from the border between life and death she saw how Dragapult grieved her before being consumed by anger, and knew the rest of her Pokémon would do so equally. She could not leave them in this cruel world alone. She had to return.

She pushed herself through the rift that had appeared. Her spirit finally found the strength of will to stand up for herself as she pushed past other deceased humans and Pokémon alike. Making her way back to her body. For a moment wondering if the body would take to her spirit, given she didn’t know whether it was damaged or some spatial anomaly that had killed her.

Well, she dived in all the same trying to revive as best she could. Her heart began to pump once more, her lungs heaved for air in a quick burst, and warmth returned to her skin. And then pain, oh the pain. For a brief blissful moment she had forgotten how painful existence was, but no more. The pain of all her collected wounds was back. But though pain tried to take her attention she rushed into a sitting position before she looked around wildly. She needed to know that Megan was safe.


Q273ixFr



MASK: Smiley Mask
LOCATION: MT. Pyre
TLDR:
- Takes one last look at Megan Whitmore
- Johanna.exe has stopped working
- Dragapult has sadge then angry.
- Dragapult charges at the RED CHAIN and PALKIA hoping to pierce both with DRAGON RUSH
- Johanna.exe has been restarted.

@rocketganggang

Though they tried to find their way away from the fights, the primal points, and the danger. The fog gave way letting Johanna gaze upon the monster that had appeared. A moment’s silence gave way for the words of a villainous monologue, perhaps carried to all by some ethereal microphone. Johanna certainly heard it even if the pair was at the edge of it all.

Through the haze of fatigue and pain did she finally begin to understand. Understand that no matter what they all did they were lost. While she wasn’t religious, she knew Palkia as a deity to be revered.

Would our powers combined even be enough? The inkling of fear asked her logic. And to that, it would reply no.

But there was a glimmer of hope. This Father Winter had offered them a chance. A chance to survive. But she knew Megan would not like her idea, she had said as much not long ago. Heroic sacrifices were all well and good for stories. But they hurt all the same for the loved ones of the heroes.

She pushed herself onto her legs and away from Megan’s support. Though they were wobbly and tired, she mustered the strength in her voice to answer Father Winter’s little game! “FINE, I WILL PLAY YOUR GAME, BUT NOT FOR MY OWN SAFETY FOR MEGAN’S!” She gestured toward Megan Whitmore by her side. Had the prospect of the future been any less grim, she might’ve felt awkward. But not now. “I CALL HEADS!”

Perhaps she should not play along with the villain of this show. But now she had.

But as she saw person after person attacking the villain a familiar fear arose. A fear that begging for Megan’s life wouldn’t be enough and so she retrieved her Claydol and summoned her Dragapult. For a moment she glanced toward Megan, a hint of shame in what she had just done.

But then a voice in her mind spoke out. A faint memory, a light of hope. She recognized the voice and the words of Isaac Merlo.

"Good. Strength isn't forgetting how to feel. Nobody's meant for that, and it never ends well. No, real strength's the ability to face those feelings and do what you gotta do anyway. You can't have courage if you don't know fear, y'know?"

Right, fear isn’t a chain to hold me down. It is an opportunity to find courage for myself AND for Megan!

Something snapped within her. As if a dam had just broken, letting a flood of energy wash from her to her Dragapult, or was it perhaps the other way around? Schematics aside, her eyes turned to the Palkia. If that was Father Winter’s weapon, then she just had to destroy it, right?

Dragapult jumped forward placing itself between Johanna, Megan, and the Palkia. Purple energy began to radiate from Dragapult. It growled in anger as the fury of his dragon lineage welled within him. Dragapult placed itself firmly on the ground on all four as the visage of a superior dragon formed of energy manifested around it. It trashed for a moment as Dragapult aimed the attack toward the Palkia.



And then Dragapult allowed the Z-move DEVASTATING DRAKE to fly. The energy basked its wings forming itself into a more coherent dragon form as it would fly straight toward the target. Hoping to bathe the Palkia in its fury.



1QDMejoW



MASK: Smiley Mask
LOCATION: MT. Pyre
TLDR:
- Johanna is still stuck with Megan
- Hears "Father Winter" and accepts his game on the condition of sparing Megan instead of herself.
- Calls Heads!
- Realizes it might not be a good idea to simply play along (Flashback to a good Isaac Merlo quote)
- Fires the Z-Moves DEVASTATING DRAKE at Palkia using her Dragapult.

@rocketganggang