Violet missed her calling as an oracle. [break][break]

Ameena turned into a side street to find her Unown floating before a collection of smaller Unown... which her held in a psychic beam from some snot-nosed kid's Slowbro. Ameena's own shiny Unown was caught in its beam, too, suspended above them. "Poaching is a dangerous business, kid." [break][break]

She tossed a pokeball at the teenager's face, though his reflexes let him duck out of the way. The pokeball crashed into the ground behind him and released the tall and imposing Xurkitree, who loomed over him and Slowbro both. "How much of a lesson should we aim to teach, here?" She looked to Violet, offering the woman the right to choose after offering assistance in today's endeavor.

TAGS – Violet Fairbanks [break]

NOTES – bond bridge - unown[break][break]

Ameena had intended for them to back up slowly, non-threateningly, and make their way back down the stairs. They'd have to wait it out as there was no other way up the tower. [break][break]

Instead, Gwen jumped into action. She handled the Blacephalon in a way that demonstrated clear training. Then, she kicked the head away to give them more time to flee. Ameena followed the Ranger with vigor. What a little leader she was turning out to be, she thought with elation. Gwen could be a commander herself if she kept at it - showing promise not just as a researcher but as a solider, though Ameena would never put her through the things she herself had experienced in the military. [break][break]

Gwen deserved better. [break][break]

They made it to the fire exit. "Let Lucario clear a path," she offered. Lucario rushed down the steps and burst through the crowd below where Megalopolans were waiting for them, using extreme speed to clear the mob. "The pressure of the spatial rift is giving me a headache. We should hurry before ultra space claims two new victims." There was a reason people didn't consider lengthier stays without a Sygna suit.

TAGS – Gwendolyn Conway [break]

NOTES – [break][break]

Ah, Lulu posits an interesting theory. It tracks: Yuina seems to hold some prowess over space-time all on her own as Celebi isn't around and doing it. But Yuina rejects the Avatarship claim. "A shadow?" She laughs, an unhinged sound clawing its way out of her throat. "Are you lacking in substance, my dear?" And then the gun's tossed, she's lunging, but she's not weighed Melody's influence as a variable - she's struck with the tip of the blade, her left eye screwed tight as a lick of blood follows the blade. [break][break]

Ameena's still carrying through with the movement, the soldier's instinct to continue in the face of adversity - but it's that tunnel vision that keeps her unaware of the spears heading her back (unaware of Lucario's desperate dash to save her, always the loyal companion, always so unlike Gardevoir in how he serves her above his own needs) - and then Yuina stops it. [break][break]

It's a familiar sensation. Nausea's flame is renewed in her gut. Vertigo fills her vision and the momentum of her lunge is brought to the ground as space-time flickers, holds. [break][break]

By the grace of Yuina's prowess, Ameena earns an opportunity to catch her breath. One hand braces her against the ground as the other cups her eye. The pain grounds her. The gun has fallen to the wayside. Her hair drapes over her shoulder and spills onto the earth alongside a few drops of blood that slip past her fingers. She owes her success as a soldier and a scholar to her obsessive personality and her ability to sacrifice everything for a sole goal... but she owes this failure to it, too. [break][break]

She turns to see the spears cradled by Yuina's willpower, then back to the Leaguer. She sees Yuina, for once, as she really is, no longer blurred by Gardevoir's malicious influence nor the veil of her own obsession. She sees herself, too, and her lip curls before she can control the expression. "I will remember this." The tone is absent of the emotionality of her prior statements but all the heavier, too. She rises to her feet and staggers backwards, still holding her injured eye as her working one flickers between Yuina's expression and the tinge of blood on her seamitar tip. [break][break]

She must step far enough to be accessible to Lucario again, for he follows through on his original intent and uses extreme speed to grab her and flee.

TAGS – Yuina Higashi Lulu Flint Melody Miro [break]

NOTES – [break]
50 MP have your character "hit rock bottom" (their lowest point).[break]
50 MP showcase a meaningful moment between your character and their Pokemon.[break]
25 MP include a theme song or visual involving your character meaningfully in your post.[break]
50 MP have an antagonistic exchange of dialogue between your character and another writer's character or NPC.[break]
50 MP showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully.[break]
(885)[break]

The skarmory's wing-slap knocked Lucario in the face, but his punch landed true, fainting the illumina specimen. She could tell it was powerful, but it fell victim to the perfect type match-up. Admittedly, she was interested in seeing it while they fought on the same side, but such an opportunity seemed impossible any time soon. [break][break]

Runerigus suited him, in an odd way. It's earthquake was unexpected. Ameena lost her footing as the earth cracked around her, stepping into a jagged crevice. Her back straightened as she stepped wrong, her ankle shouting in pain and a grimace finding her face. Still, she bit back a hurt noise. Lucario danced across the rocking earth in what was building to be an extreme speed -- except it would go through Runerigus, and put Lucario on the path to strike Montgomery instead. [break][break]

"Return." She barked her order in that tone that had Lucario skid to a stop after building speed. Despite the cracking earth and jagged edges that made its way to his paws, he returned to her side and, sensing the odd way she stood, offered a heal pulse for her ankle. Ameena hoped Montgomery didn't notice how desperately she'd dragged Lucario back from striking him through Runerigus' form. [break][break]

Instead, she struck up conversation again. "New pokemon? I thought you preferred more physical fighters."

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – 50 MP have your character "hit rock bottom" (their lowest point).[break]
50 MP showcase a meaningful moment between your character and their Pokemon.[break][1060][break]

It's fascinating to review the dream coming together in real time. It's mostly accurate, the mind relying on memory - likely guided by Howard in this respect. His psyche had been more aggressive in their study, had seemed to react initially to all stimuli before June's mind followed. [break][break]

She cares not for Matchstick or Rocket allegiance or apologies. [break][break]

"How much of this are you remembering, now?" Her head dips from the simultaneous tiredness she experiences in the halfway state, and she leans on her fist, leg crossed in the appearance of leisure despite the alertness of her expression. She wonders what it feels like to fill in the blanks to something you're experiencing for the first time. She's never experienced amnesia or even a forgotten dream. She's cursed to remember all of them, blessed to perfectly recall so many encounters in the dream realm. [break][break]

What must it be like to be unable to trust your own mind? Or that of someone you trusted?

TAGS – howard slayte june sleigh [break]

NOTES – [break]

Good behavior, huh? [break][break]

He could play coy, but she would be sure to interrogate him when they met to lick their wounds. Illumina was not as fascinating as toxic chain or shadow pokemon, but all of the unusual forms held interest. She didn't have the pure heart to garner the trust of one. She suspected she didn't have the compassion to bring out such a trait in her own, either.[break][break]

The bird was oppressive and fierce. It tackled Slowbro, who launched a completely ineffective side shell arm at it. The thrashing only enabled the Skarmory to batter him further, and he fainted. "Well, I guess we need to stress test your new friend." She returned Slowbro to his painted pokebal and sent out Lucario instead, the loyal fighter raring to go. "Keep it close." Lucario hmph'd in acknowledgement and charged at the Skarmory with close combat.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – 50 MP involve the pokeballs of your pokemon in a meaningful way (e.g. type of pokeball described to reflect the pokemon or character, damaging them, seizing them).[break]50 MP showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully.[break]
50 MP have your character attempt to or successfully take revenge in some way.[break][950][break]

'Get me something good.' Howard could use some tea, then. Something non-caffeinated to soothe him. [break][break]

Of all of the people to acknowledge her clear nerves, Temp's probably the best choice. She doesn't laugh at herself, but it's a close thing. "I have little recourse if things go south. This is a totally different beast than any fight in Hoenn." She had few pokemon that could get her out of the trouble they were heading into. [break][break]

As Cillian joins them, she finds comfort in them both being unfamiliar. She gestures to the odd machine. "Please, teach us." She examines the pouch in her hand for another moment, amusement pulling on her lips. "Something about Galarians being taught to make tea..."[break][break]

More seriously, she considers how Temp is more familiar with this endeavor than her in a few ways. "You have done this before. Any tips?" Space travel, moon travel, Cresselia. He had her beat in all aspects but that of dreams themselves.

TAGS – Tempest Quinn Cillian Quinn [break]

NOTES – eyepatch on left eye [break]
goal: bring howard non-caffeinated tea[break]
opts to LEARN the space machine ways from tempest [break][break]

Anxiety doesn't begin to cover it. [break][break]

Nothing about this is her idea of a good time. The only salve against the weeping wound of her nervousness is the reality that Lulu is in charge. She's beyond competent, so Ameena only needs to trust that this rocket will do as it is intended to. Space is a frontier she'd rather observe from afar, especially as minior assault the ship, but her pale-knuckled grip on her seat eases by degrees as they enter weightlessness. [break][break]

When it becomes easier to move because of gravity, she hesitates to move from her seat. But the bulky suits are uncomfortable, and she will not feel any safer because of the buckle around her chest. Her inability to peripherally see out the window because of her eyepatch makes her feel worse. "I need a cuppa," she expresses with only a tinge of breathlessness from her racing heart. [break][break]

She rises from her seat and beelines for the lower bay kitchen.

TAGS – [break]

NOTES – eyepatch on left eye [break]
Feels SICK (space travel evil)[break]
Heads to lower bay kitchen for a cup of tea idk probably can't heat it so we'll settle for iced tea [break][break]

Her eyebrows shoot up as he takes her hand. What if they were seen? [break][break]

Still, she loves a discovery and there's some natural giddiness that comes from the feeling of sneaking around... She doesn't correct him for the touch, and stays close to his side as they enter the cave. [break][break]

It looks normal. She turns her Rotom phone's light on and sets it to record video as they walk through. There's weird, runic writing on the wall. "I wish I could read their language. I wonder what they wrote about."

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – [break][break]

"We are in agreement. I think they are powerful tools. Handy in ruins, too, though I do not find myself exploring those often."[break][break]

Her Unown set off ahead of them, forcing a brisk pace from its human companions. "I suspect it has an inkling of where to find its kin. This should not be a long endeavor." The promise of finding more Unown, though, is a benefit that outweighs the cost of this little adventure. She expects to find a few, given their propensity to swarm, and that means they both can enjoy the spoils. [break][break]

The city is filled with people. Before long, Ameena finds herself struggling to keep up with the Unown against the sea of citizens and the maze of alleys.

TAGS – Violet Fairbanks [break]

NOTES – bond bridge - unown[break][break]

Pipsqueak. [break][break]

She'll have to tease him about it later. For now, she wants to see what it can actually do. [break][break]

She'll always play for an advantage. He'll always push forward despite a lack of them. Slowbro launches another psychic to take advantage of the psychic terrain, blasting at the bird with a mental surge of energy. Ameena would much rather show off its poison prowess, but Montgomery's made a smart choice with the Skarmory, which is immune to such tricks. "How did you get your hands on an ilumina pokemon?" She had no explanation for her own toxic chain Slowbro except for finding it that way and poaching it for herself. She finds the illumina Skarmory to be a testament to Montgomery's own ideals. Weren't those kinds of pokemon attracted to people of pure heart, or was that just a running joke?

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – 50 MP have your character directly or indirectly spotlight another writer's character's strengths.[break][790][break]

The hurricane knocks the abrading sand out of Cora's sightline. It only benefits her, and she's unhindered by the stealth rocks that now litter the ground like a minefield. With the giant Toxtricity there to keep Zacian busy, Cora's only gambit now is to use tailwind, improving her speed as she dive bombs at Navy himself. [break][break]

The whipping winds make it difficult to antagonize, and she finds herself prioritizing distance from the huge Toxtricity -- she has no interest in being an accidental casualty -- instead of engaging in trash talk. She has a gun, but with the hurricane active, it'd be a worthless endeavor to try and shoot the Elite Four. [break][break]

Raziel has a Toxtricity to control, but she finds solace in stepping carefully to Priam's side of things (mindful of the rocks) to ask: "What strategy now? I think we should try and bury the dog, but I lack the means." She didn't bring any pokemon with strong command of the ground.

TAGS – Navy priam conrad Raziel Beckett [break]

NOTES – Cora uses tailwind (boosts speed for self and allies) and throws herself at Navy[break]
erm if there's MP to be had, imma edit in later (420)[break]

For his involvement in large, headline events - namely, those pertaining to Groudon - she doesn't believe he's never experienced the Interdream Zone. She imagines he's been drafted into various expeditions by the League to test his strength and other skills, and perhaps his connection to the world or other deities. She expects, then, that this is a test of her honesty. [break][break]

"The mist that only appears in Hoenn, unexpectedly. It's pink, and - by my theory - shifts you to an alternate reality or a plane between realities. The paradox pokemon, allegedly, come from this interdream zone." She's going to have the longest report ahead of her after this meeting. Matias has left her many interesting tidbits to follow up on later. "You never encountered it?"

TAGS – MATIAS SILPH [break]

NOTES – [break][break]