|
6,666 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Mar 28, 2024 21:17:21 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Mar 8, 2018 3:11:10 GMT
Mica felt heavy. More than her body, it was her spirit that she couldn't heft. Esthia had done what the Bonsly needed. Words were wasted now, and the actions taken couldn't be undone. She couldn't look at Donovan. Memories and emotions roiled behind her sad expression as she followed the grass Pokemon from the garden.
|
|
|
8,796 posts
|
16 likes
|
Mar 28, 2024 23:47:03 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Mar 8, 2018 3:31:33 GMT
The dais that the plate is on is too high for Donovan's small size to reach or jump up to, but Esthia picks it up off the pedestal, looking mournfully at it, as the fire spreads up her trunk. "You should not be sorry. It was all me. My fault. Not everyone here will feel the sun. He deserved to. I no longer do." She closes her eye. "I cannot recall the names or faces of my family. My partner. I am lost. I do not deserve to even rest in the earth." Opening her eye, she lowers the plate down to Donovan. "Fear not for the others. This is soulfire. When I am snuffed out... so too will the flames."When Donovan touches the plate, as with before, the place begins to fade, the last things he sees and feels are the flames racing up Esthia, her face composed in acceptance. Mica makes her way out of the room with the Grass types, the children a mix of nervous energy at getting out of the blazing room and solemnity at the past events. She doesn't get very far, though, before she feels the place fading away, and finding herself outside, next to a Donovan who clutches a green plate in his hands. Like with the Psychic plate before, the tablet glows with light, before it erupts in a shower that arcs off through the sky. Gain 1 Milestone each.
|
|
Member
|
Post by Breakthelevee on Mar 8, 2018 4:58:06 GMT
Instead of standing triumphant, Plate in hand, ready to take on the world like after the last Temple, Donovan was curled up on the ground, clutching the plate to his chest and sobbing. Gone was the rage, gone was the fire in his heart. His chest was heaving as he struggled to breath through the tears. After a moment he sat up and wiped away the snot that had started forming from his nose, his eyes affixed to the ground but unblinking "Mica. Mica did he have to die or did he only die cause we went in there?"
Tears began streaming down his face as he looked at his friend "Why is it that almost every time I go into one of these Temples, someone dies. I just want to help them. And I can't stop. I can't go back home and just be done with it, and stop risking my life and all of their lives too. Cause if I did that then everyone in here and the other two Temples would die too"
He shook for a moment, his whole body shuddering as he held back more tears "When I didn't listen to Enya, we lost the Gym battle and it was frustrating but we could just get stronger and try again. But when I didn't listen to Oronis he died. And now he never gets to see the sun." He went silent for a moment, looking at the Plate in his hands "We're barely more than children, but we're bringing nothing but pain to these places. Do you think we'll eventually be able to save them? To make it worth it?"
|
|
|
6,666 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Mar 28, 2024 21:17:21 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Mar 8, 2018 23:07:17 GMT
Mica felt all twisted up inside too, but it was easier to show a flat mask. She was holding on to too much anger herself to really want to talk, but Donovan needed something. Anything. She gathered him up in her arms, and plodded slowly onward. A step at a time was all they needed, all they could manage together. Even if only one of them could keep their feet.
"You did what was asked of you, and had it been Axiom instead of us... Esthia and Oronis would still be gone. Esthia without finding herself again." Another step, and another, Mica's eyes fixated on Donovan's. "One way or another, the plates will come out of the temples. If our best isn't good enough, we have to do better."
|
|
Member
|
Post by Breakthelevee on Mar 9, 2018 7:28:19 GMT
After a few moments of Mica carrying him, Donovan moved himself out of her arms and wiped away the tears "You're right and I know you're right. I'm just....I'm tired of failing them."
He forced a smile as Mica met his eyes, the tear stains still visible "I'm sorry for breaking down again. I keep failing everyone, even you. But you're right, we just have to do better than our best" He closed his eyes for a moment, and saw Esthia wreathed in flames and heard the sickening crunch of Oronis's final moment, but on the outside he kept his smile.
|
|
|
6,666 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Mar 28, 2024 21:17:21 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Mar 9, 2018 11:03:21 GMT
Mica's expression was a far away one in comparison to Donovan's. "None of the children died, which was what Oronis wanted more than anything. We did what we could." She was as much telling herself at this point as she was him. It was all a bitter pill to swallow.
"Whenever I asked Gram about Mom, she'd get really quiet for awhile, then have me sit on her lap with some cocoa or a sweet. She'd say 'Milly, when things get to be too much, if you keep walking it gets easier. One step at a time, until you put some distance between you and whatever's weighing you down." Mica shouldered her bag.
|
|
Member
|
Post by Breakthelevee on Mar 10, 2018 5:08:39 GMT
At the mention of her mother, Donovans fake smile went away. This had been his first experience with death, other than what they found at the Fighting Temple, but it seems like that wasn't true for Mica.
He opened his mouth a few times, with no words coming out, as he tried to gather his thoughts. Eventually, he shut his mouth and placed a hand on Micas shoulder, before taking a step forward "One step at a time, yeah?"
After a few more steps, he looked back at Mica "Milly? Is Mica not your real name?"
|
|
|
6,666 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Mar 28, 2024 21:17:21 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Mar 10, 2018 5:34:58 GMT
"One step at a time." She offered him a weak smile and kept pace with him, glancing skyward. "Alie, that leaf-tailed lizard I was talking to was really nice, and her buggy friend was brave for the other little sprout. I'm glad we saved them. Holding on to that feeling is important."
At his question she beamed. "Nope, Mica is a nickname I gave myself because Millicent Petra LaBrasta got me made fun of, and I hate bullies. Mica is a kind of rock, see? And it can be hard like a laminate cause it's layered, but also very fragile. I can be kinda flakey sometimes so it fit."
Scratching her head, she set spot stop her hair where the bug was accustomed. "I want to find someone to teach me how to fight. I want to be strong for you, maybe the next town will know something."
|
|
Member
|
Post by Breakthelevee on Mar 12, 2018 2:46:33 GMT
Donovan stayed quiet for a few moments. Millicent Petra LaBrasta, huh, he never would have guessed Mica was a self given nickname, though it didn't really surprise him.
"I don't think you're flakey. I do think you're already strong though." He finally speaks, barely above a whisper "I know we need to get stronger, not just you, but me as well. But don't think that you're not already strong. You were ready to face off against something ten times your size that you couldn't do anything to, and I was just running around crying and shouting and doing nothing. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met Mica LaBrasta"
"But if you want to learn how to fight, then that can be our next goal. Finding you someone to teach you that"
|
|
|
6,666 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Mar 28, 2024 21:17:21 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Mar 12, 2018 16:11:55 GMT
"Don't make it sound like I was fearless, I was terrified. I did as much crying, my Pokemon self is so good at it, I can use it as an attack." She laughed shyly. "Let's head for the next town and gym for now. We can ask about it there... and take a little break from the Temples for now."
|
|
|
8,796 posts
|
16 likes
|
Mar 28, 2024 23:47:03 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Mar 13, 2018 0:27:59 GMT
There's still a lot of light left in the day, so the pair is able to get a good distance north, despite all of the doubling back and following the trail.
The forest has begun to thin out, with much smaller and sparser trees, as the land starts to flatten out more. Even the shrubbery seems to be thinning out some. With the thinned brush, the pair are easily able to both hear the growing sound of playful-sounding Pokémon cries, and see flashes of pink running back and forth further in the bushes as they walk further up the path. The Pokémon seem to be staying away from the trail, though, so if you want to investigate, you'll have to get a bit closer.
|
|
|
6,666 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Mar 28, 2024 21:17:21 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Mar 13, 2018 21:16:34 GMT
"Oooh! A Pokemon!" Mica had been talking about the disquiet being in the most recent temple had caused her. The absolute saturation of something your body would crumble before, she explained that Donovan might understand when they reach the fire temple, but assured him that she would look after him just before sprinting off into the bushes. "I wanna play too!"
|
|
Member
|
Post by Breakthelevee on Mar 14, 2018 0:36:59 GMT
Donovan had been quietly listening to Mica, cursing himself for not realizing how uncomfortable she had been while he had felt perfectly at home. But like clockwork, the moment she notices a Pokemon she took off after it "Mica!" He calls out as she takes off "Don't just run off!"
But it was too late, she was gone. With a little sigh, he follows her into the brush, hand on Dandelions Pokeball
|
|
|
8,796 posts
|
16 likes
|
Mar 28, 2024 23:47:03 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Mar 14, 2018 1:23:06 GMT
Crashing through the forest in the trees seems to send one brown Pokémon skittering further into the brush. But the two pink Pokémon running around seem to get distracted from whatever they were doing by the sudden noise and motion. Mica finds herself suddenly tackled by two pink furry blurs, that soon resolve themselves into feline-shaped creatures, waving almost-paw shaped tails around.
|
|
|
6,666 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Mar 28, 2024 21:17:21 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Mar 14, 2018 14:59:16 GMT
"Eeeeee! Kitties!" Mica squeals and kicks her feet in the air, rolling back and forth on the grass with her prizes in her arms. "You got me!" She butts her face against each of the Pokemon's in turn. "Get Donovan next, he's got noodley arms." She whispers into those big ears.
|
|
Member
|
Post by Breakthelevee on Mar 15, 2018 3:57:20 GMT
Donovan watched as the Pokemon knock Mica to the ground, his hands instinctively griping a Pokeball and reaching for his satchel of pollen from Rose before he realized that it didn't seem like the cats were doing any harm to Mica.
Walking over and plopping down on the ground next to the pile of cats and his companion, he leans back and looks up into the sky "Alright, maybe we can take a break here for a little while. Just a few minutes though, I really would like to keep on the road"
|
|
|
8,796 posts
|
16 likes
|
Mar 28, 2024 23:47:03 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Mar 15, 2018 4:12:28 GMT
The kitties don't seem to know what a 'Donovan' is, but they do look up as the new human comes. He isn't moving as much, though, and soon plops down, so they seem to lose interest. They do perk up once more, and jump off of Mica, when a green amphibian-looking creature hops from one tree to another, causing the pair to go running after it. That seems to probably have been what they were doing beforehand. It doesn't appear like they mind that it's out of reach, they just begin to chase it as it moves from tree to tree. Pokémon Edu and Perception, please.
|
|
Member
|
Post by Breakthelevee on Mar 15, 2018 6:30:21 GMT
Donovan watches as the Skitty leave Mica to go chase after a Pokemon that he's never seen before "Hmm, looks like your friends left you to chase...whatever that is. Do you want to keep playing with them, or do you want to go?"
Reaching down, Donovan pulled out his Pokedex and pointed it at the new Pokemon, feeling a bit curious, especially since it reminded him of a grass type
|
|
|
6,666 posts
|
92 likes
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
Mar 28, 2024 21:17:21 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Mar 15, 2018 12:30:50 GMT
"Course I want to play! When do we ever get a moment like this?!" Mica cried cheerfully, regaining her footing before pursuing the mewling balls of pink with their paw-like tails. Every moment is precious, the unknown looming just a minute or two into the future.
W2KmeuE64d6+6 Perception 2d6 Pokedu4d6+6·2d6
|
|
|
8,796 posts
|
16 likes
|
Mar 28, 2024 23:47:03 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Mar 15, 2018 15:21:26 GMT
As Mica joins the kitties in their pursuit of the frog, she notices, a small, almost rotund, brown Pokémon with a white ring on its belly. It's hiding in the brush, balancing on its tail and watching the proceedings. The cats don't seem to notice, though - they're too busy chasing the moving object, and briefly getting distracted by each others tail.
The frog doesn't seem to be trying too hard to get away, though. It always keeps just enough in sight to make sure the chase continues.
"Froakie: The Tree Frog Pokémon," reads Donovan's Dex, as it scans the frog. "While some variants have adapted to aquatic environments, many still live amongst their home in the trees."
|
|