Niky needed a break. The holidays had been stressful to say the least. Between the multitude of karens and his sister giving him hell...he was ready to just get out and relax a bit. At least his parents scolded his sis for her attitude. The blonde stepped out of Rustboro to the north to take advantage of the cliffs and the small beach. With him was his guitar and his over protective Larvesta, Sol. He set up a beach umbrella on a cliff overlooking the small beach, and took out a collapsable chair to sit down on. Taking out his guitar, he started strumming the instrument. It was starting to rain too. Good thing he had a hoodie on, and had Sol there to keep him warm.

The former idol soon started to bust out a song. One of his singles that he personally liked. Even when it was during a troublesome time of his life, it was something more people need to hear. Young men particularly. His sales and digital downloads on the song made Niky think other people wanted to know or hear it too. It got pretty popular at the time. But it was also something he liked to sing when he was feeling down. Perhaps to keep him from thinking that he shouldn't. Unbeknownst to him, the former idol had an audience beyond just Sol.

Spoiler has the song that he's singing.

Emerson has piped up before him, blurting out the source of the inspiration. Yep, that checks out. Then the lights were out and back on again. Niky shook his head at the guy. "Not always. Encouraging stragglers to skedaddle with the lights going off. Some people are that oblivious and will still stick around. Workers also get anxious when it gets this late, so while I don't approve turning them off partially, I do understand why." He also responded to Yuina while he was at it. Thankfully he hadn't had someone try to stay late on his dime. Sol made sure of that. But he had heard stories of other retailers having to deal with that. Emerson did help out with the whole lighting situation. This was when things really got scary. Spike's growling had not been in vain. That "cutout" gotten closer and lunged at Kazimir. The big man was able to hold it off...for now. And three others showed up. All the characters from the movie they just watched.

The blonde had to jump away a little...it was more of a stumble back. Yuina, even in her confusion, jumped into action against Kazimir's opponent. But the other three was not stopping. "Spike, get in there and use Discharge!" The barking Jolteon lunged to meet the three and zapped all three of them. And the lights above them, blowing out that section. It seemed to have stopped them, for now. The Jolteon then used Swift, blasting the joints of Teddy with stars, making them bend and hopefully giving Yuina and Kazimir the leverage to push the robot back and over. That was all the opportunity that they needed. "Run!" He may have a bum knee, but he could book it when needed. Cane in hand, he followed whoever led, or if it was him, he just ran, not even paying attention as to where they were going really.


emerson whitlock Yuina Higashi Kazimir Wynter

He wasn't the only one that was unerved by the movie. The long haired red head was as well. Only the large man that came with the lady seemed like he enjoyed it. He even said he wanted to see it again. Crazy fool. It was an interesting movie though. The lady enquired how someone could come up with stuff like that. As an artist, even a musical one, Niky had an answer. "Artists of all kinds find inspiration in all kinds of things. From other movies, to manga, to simply seeing an interaction between a couple of Pokemon, to a nature scene. Filmakers and screen writers are artists much like painters, photographers, and musicians." The only difference being the medium that they worked with.

Seemed he wasn't the only one that found it odd that there wasn't a clean up crew right away. The blonde would have thought the closing crew would want to get out of there as soon as possible. Lights flickered as the big man tried to say something about his missing Ninetales. Niky scowled at the lady though. "You've never worked retail, have you? After a long day, who would? Anyways, anyone else want to join me in finding an employee? I'm sure they'll help us find the missing Pokemon." Niky walked towards the Usaring shaped shadow, where the exit into the lobby was close to. Spike, his Jolteon suddenly darted in front of him and started to growl at the shadow, ears peeled back and fur all spiked up and sparking with electricity. Niky stopped as well. "That's just a cardboard cutout, calme down, Spike." That didn't seem to help. The Jolteon yipped at it, still very much in combat mode.

Yuina Higashi Kazimir Wynter emerson whitlock

Niky walked out of the theater with wobbly legs. Normally, he wasn't much of a horror movie fan, but this was an interesting premise. Spike, his Jolteon, had slept through most of it, though. Armed with his cane, he unsteadily stood up. His nerves was rattled from the movie, and its many jump scares. And the very unnerving animatronics. They were so terrifying...they really didn't need the jump scares at all. The lady in front of him asked the rest of them what they all thought of it. "Terrifying. And unnerving. Definitely a horror movie." He walked with everyone left. Which wasn't very many of them.

In fact, they were the only ones there. Surely the closing workers were around too...right? Spike sniffed the air and scrunched its face. Something was off. But he didn't know how off. It was almost midnight, and things seemed creepy already, even with all the lights still on. Or he was just imagining things.


Yuina Higashi Kazimir Wynter emerson whitlock

With Niky being carried by Lee, Ozzy was able to focus on covering the retreat with Icee. The sheer pain of the vision had actually knocked out the blonde. They were able to escape without much more incidents, with Moody using Rock Slide a few more times just to make sure whatever decided to follow would have to waste time tunneling to catch up. They never did. Reaching daylight, Niky's three Pokemon panted. Oddly, the singer had managed to kept hold of his cane, not that it mattered much since he kept several. Despite the two having antagonized each other, Niky's three were still appreciative of the cover, all of them nodding at Ozzy. Niky didn't wake up though...but he was also safe...for now.

total rks: 250

Ozni Adebayo

Workaholic. Being productive was good, but...not at the expense of family. Jade really did get the short end of the stick. Although...sounded like he had the right idea. "He's not wrong. Sounds like he took it too far though. He's not completely right either. I'd say the rich and super rich tend to get pretty far without doing a whole lot." Riding on the coattails of earlier generations of success. Once in a while, the heir might be just as good or better than the previous one, but not usually.

Things weren't all bad. Jade rewarded Niky with a small smile, and stated that he had made friends everywhere he's been. "That's great! Well, my knee is feeling better, so I'm ready to get up and get going. Shall we?" Handing the ice pack to an assistant, he stood up and started to walk towards the exit. He was ready to just walk and stretch. Hopefully with some company beyond his own Pokemon.


jade rivers

Niky had to raise an eyebrow at that. Poor guy...he would have to agree about the kids of a parents' business partners shouldn't count. "I agree. Often times, parents just hope their kids get along with their business partners just so they can continue running the business. Instead of, you know, letting the kids be kids and go after their own hopes and dreams." Niky seemed to have had all the luck in the world. Particularly maybe to Jade. He had supportive parents, a good manager at the time, and jerk-off that stopped his career short was even tossed into jail. Support, and more. Jade...seemed to have nothing. Just literally worked his way up.

"That said, it sounded like you literally had nothing good out of your childhood, let alone any kind of support to help you get here. And now look at you, closer to your dream than ever before. Kind of makes me wonder if anyone will appreciate how much you've worked to get here..." Beyond just him and maybe a few others. Perhaps just his drive would be the one to carry the lad up all the way. But it would be disappointing to not have anyone to brag about it to or celebrate the accomplishments with, too. Despite being a mostly individual artist, he often celebrated and collabbed and stuff with his family. It always felt good to celebrate with others. Alone time was great and all...but there was only so much one could take.


jade rivers

There was almost a deafening amount of understanding. Ozzy seemed to be apologetic, not knowing that it was that bad. Almost. Then came the next bit. "If it could be fixed, it would have long ago. It's as fixed as it's going to get, and prosthetics are not an option. I'll manage...somehow..." He growled out. He figured Ozzy would be dense, but good grief! Prosthetics?! "Oh my Arceus, I'm not chopping off a leg just because it causes issues from time to time. Drop it, it is what it is." He was getting real close to smacking a bitch. He did snort at the drive drunk part. Ozzy better not.

"No kidding. Poor baby." Niky sort of mocked the poor fusion. Icee added on to the creature's misery. Well, all of them. But more kept coming. It was now or never! "Well, time to wrap up your mining and take what you can. Moody, use Rock Slide, Snoot, Leaf Storm!" With a barrage of rocks and leaves, Niky turned and started to run towards what looked like the exit. He didn't lean on the cane, he just ran with it in his hand, surprisingly just being a few steps behind Ozzy. But something nagged at him. His vision blurred purple, a new land, planet, flashed in his mind. As he started to to wobble and go down, he reached for the Tera Shards to lessen Ozzy's load. "Just keep going!" Long as there wasn't any split paths, he should be able to find his way out. His two Pokemon were too small to pick him up, so they just tried to barricade the tunnel. Then Lee the Lucario came out, quickly assessed the situation, then picked up the downed blonde and tried to follow the other man. Due to the size difference, there'd be no way to safely use Extreme Speed with his owner in tow.

~

Lessens the load to escape?

RKS: 250

Ozni Adebayo

The Arctizolt seemed disappointed, and sneezed at him. Whatever, this wasn't the time for playing. With punctuating clunks and clings, Ozzy reiterated that he could carry them by himself, he just needed someone to mine them. Even with the defense in full force, and the much appreciated warning from Ozzy being just in time for Snoot to wiggle around the splash, Niky glowered at the man. With ice and rocks pummeling the mutated and fuzed Pokemon, Niky made things very clear. "What part of I can't did you not understand? I stress my knee, it hurts. Walking for too long, it hurts. You get it? No, I suppose you won't. Instead you'd be the same drunken scum that'll T-bone another vehicle and cause permanent injury or worse. The way that I'm useful in this situation is via battling. Get over it." The blonde snapped at the guy with the hope that maybe that'll get through his thick skull. If not...well, the cane was used for more than just to help him walk.

"Snoot, get back here and use Growth! Moody, Hydro Pump that Onix and Yamask thing!" The Snivy darted around the chaos to get back to the firing line, glowing green as she increased her attack and special attack. Just as the fusion Pokemon reared up to strike at the grass type, Moody fired a torrent of water that blasted the creature clear to the other side of the room. Snoot then used Slam just to knock the Lopunny thing off balance for Ozzy to take advantage of. Niky could only hope that whatever Ozzy was doing here, he'd make it quick so they can get the heck out.

~

Battle a Fusion Pokemon

RKS: 150

Ozni Adebayo

One of his pokeballs released a Pokemon. Snoot the Snivy used Leaf Blade to draw a literal line in the ground between them and the rushing Arctozolt. The man called him blondie...did he really forget his name? Well, that was rude...but also kind of refreshing. Then again, idol music didn't seem like it would jive well with Ozzie's tastes. With small nudge at the back of Snoot's head, the grassy serpeant stepped back as the man answered his question in a humorous way. How the hell did he manage to stay goofy in this situation was beyond him. The Ultra Sea? How the hell did he end up here?! He took a cursery glance at the organ...tera shards, and that thing stopping him?


There was still that lingering feeling that Ozzy was lying to him. A pickaxe came sliding his way. A thin blonde eyebrow rose at that. "You serious? Bad knee...I'll have a hard enough time getting out here on my own two feet, let alone carrying a bunch of tera shards around." He still really wanted to shove his cane down Ozzy's throat. But they had other problems. Mutated Pokemon and others started to show up. Not good! "Why don't you focus on mining, and I'll focus on defense." With that, he released another Pokeball, revealing Moody the Mudkip. "Moody, use Rock Slide. Snoot, Leaf Blade those walls...see if we can make that thing bleed." A bit bloodthirsty perhaps, but if it'll make the trip out of here easier, the better. Moody sent a bunch of rocks at the invading ultra beasts and mutated 'mons while Snoot's Leaf Blade collides with the fleshy walls. Even as he feared for his life...

~

Focus on Defense.

RKS points: 100 total

Ozni Adebayo

The man let out a chuckle. Or his version of one. He's heard much the same, but the former idol disagreed with that line of thinking. "Instinct or not, sometimes you need to actually sit down and teach. I was considered a natural in dancing and singing, but I still had to sit down and listen to coordinators and instructors. I think your Pokemon will end up a lot better if you did that." Maybe a little rude, since every trainer has their own style. And maybe butting in when it wasn't needed. The guy was trying to attract more to his circus. Except...this wasn't the route for it?

At least he was pretty sure it wasn't. Rustling in the bushes attracted his attention again. A wild Skuntank came out. And it looked pissed. Raising a leg at them, Niky's eyes widened as he started to run as fast as he could away from it. If the other two were smart, they'd do the same as the Skuntank let off a Poison Gas attack towards them. Not cool at all! Lucario wouldn't be effected by it since he was a steel type, but everyone else would be!


Ambrose Hendrix

Niky found himself in a pit. Luckily his cane was nearby, but he was sore and hurt. Not badly, but still enough to feel a good bit of paranoia and fear. Looking around, he saw someone familiar. Ozzy? What was he doing here? Just where was "here"? Around him were crystals, and in the center of the room that they were in was a pulsating organ looking thing. Something didn't feel right, and pain erupted in his chest. With straining breaths, he tried to overcome whatever this was. His lungs burned. But he wasn't alone bearing this energy's properties.

His head still hurt, and he felt an innate sense of distrust towards Ozzy. But he got up, hobbled over to his cane, then walked over to him. "Hey, Ozzy, are you okay? Do you know where we are?" He still had a sense of dread, and that he was being watched. Then again, for all he knew, Ozzy drugged him and tossed him in here. Oddly, he still had six pokeballs on him, he just didn't know who he had. The blonde kept a small distance between them for now.

~
They both take the brunt equally?

RKS: 50 points


Ozni Adebayo

Lee and Niky heard the small commotion, soon discovering the source. A man was teaching his Mime Jr. how to...dance? Either way, they were noticed pretty quickly. "It is. Plus really needed to stretch my legs." Even if he had a bad knee. Either way, he just observed for a moment. "Trying to teach him how to dance or...something else?" He was mildly amused. The little guy was just spinning in place. It was cute, but definitely not his preferance.

They were soon joined by two other Pokemon. While he didn't quite see what the first one was, the second was a Gulpin that lazily looked at the Mime Jr., then moved away slowly into some bushes. Like it wanted to disappear. Not that he blamed it. Poison types didn't do well against psychic types. Even if said Psychic type was a baby.


Ambrose Hendrix