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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 3, 2018 9:24:05 GMT
"We did it as a team." Mica replied quietly, moving up to give the button a press. If it seems to signify the end of the challenge, she wordlessly turns on a heel and heads back into the complex. She hadn't liked this challenge, it had pushed all of her wrong buttons. She'd had to deliberately leave her friends behind, despite being hurt or incapable of keeping up with her. Leave them at the mercy of a trailing danger. Sure, the only true danger was losing, but it was just another subtle reminder that they might lose still more people important to them going forward.
That they might have to walk away, to achieve their goals. Her burns ached. Her eyes burned. She wanted to yell at the gym leader, but they'd already dragged enough baggage here. Mica recalls Apex, and gives Dusty a long hug, taking to her knees with his head in her lap.
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 3, 2018 19:26:42 GMT
"You, uh, probably want to wait until your friend there pushes the button," Macyn says, not moving from her spot against the wall as Mica bursts through, besides to incline her head towards Donovan. "Challenge isn't over 'till that's done. I'll shut everything down and letcha go recall everyone before giving out Badges."True to her word, as soon as Donovan makes it through the door, and hits the button, the sound can be heard of everything powering down in the Gym. Macyn walks out wordlessly with Mica in order to retrieve her own fallen Pokémon. After letting the two gather their Pokémon and everything else needed, she reaches into her pockets, and pulls out a pair of badges. They're in the shape of a heart, a metallic grey, with a flame, icicle and a lightning bolt on them. "This is the Ironheart badge. It showcases your determination to win, even in the face of adversity. And even when it was a hard thing to do. Congratulations."You each gain a badge (Grants Sturdy as its active effect), as well as 1 Milestone, and 350 Pokémon EXP (able to be distributed to any 'mon).
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 3, 2018 22:23:10 GMT
"Thank you for being patient with us." Mica offered solemnly, without her usual exuberance or flippancy. She turned Apex's Pokeball over slowly in her hands. She herself was covered in metal flake, char, and her hair was a mess from all the abuse. Despite it all her injuries were fairly minor. It felt like a hollow victory, genuinely, because it hadn't been managed with all of her Pokemon by her side. She'd have to tell them about how great they did, and how they won as a team... when Apex was thawed and woke. The idea of story time did bring a small smile to her face though.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 4, 2018 0:45:01 GMT
Donovan breathes heavily as he reaches the end "Than...Thanks" He manages to say between gasping for breathes "Sorry, I'm not used to running that much"
He smiled over at Mica after collecting Larkspur and the badge "Thanks for helping me keep moving. I really appreciate it. And all the hard work your Pokemon put in"
He rolled Roses ball in his hands, still feeling bad that his first battle after evolving ended in a single move..He would have to make it up to the Roselia somehow.
"Well, thanks for the battle Macyn. I learned a lot about what I need to work on" Donovan says, still clearly out of breath
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 4, 2018 1:11:54 GMT
Mica nods her agreement (to Donovan's thanks of Macyn) and loops an arm through one of Donovan's, gently guiding him towards the exit at a walking pace. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she felt a little sick from it all. A walk, that's what they'd do. She was tired of running. "If you don't cool down after an exercise you'll cramp really bad and have a hard time tomorrow." She offered softly, lacing her fingers through his and giving his hand a squeeze. They walked for several moments before she spoke again. "Sorry I got upset at you."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 5, 2018 1:01:39 GMT
Donovan was silent, swinging the hand that held Mica's back and forth, before speaking "It's fine. I should really think before I speak more" He was quiet again for a little while as they walked before sheepishly asking a question "Mica. Do you think we can save everyone in the Temples? Like....even if we gather everything together...well if we can break them free...I don't know how well we can integrate them into the region. Like they're from a totally different society than we have today. I'm worried that people won't accept them"
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 5, 2018 11:54:31 GMT
"That won't end up being up to us in the end, Donovan." Mica replied in the same soft tone she'd been using, a strong foil to her usual near-shouting levels of exuberance. "If we see everything through, the clan leaders will decide what is best for their people. The important people out here will decide what's important. Or the universe will just correct everything like it was always that way. We don't know how powerful these plates are we're gathering, only what they should be able to do when we have all of them."
She let out a slow, shaky breath. "I don't want to leave my friends behind." There were tears in her voice, and she turned on him, wrapping her arms around his midsection and burying her face in his shoulder. She repeats this several times, softer and softer, clinging to the floral smelling boy with great need.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 6, 2018 1:04:04 GMT
Donovan placed his hand on the back of Micas head and just held for her a minute, before pushing back a little and cupping her chin in his hand, looking in her eyes with a little smile on his face, though his eyes seemed sad "If I know anything, it's that even if you left someone behind, you would go back for them as soon as you could. And I'll do everything in my power to make it so you never have to leave anyone behind again. I'll be with you as long as it takes until we make it through this."
He took a tentative step back "Speaking of your friends, let's get back to the Pokemon Center so you can get them fixed right up. I'm sure you want to congratulate Apex and Dusty for all their hard work!"
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 6, 2018 1:32:27 GMT
"MMhmm!" She scrubbed her forearm across her eyes and nodded vigorously, heartened by the idea of being with her two oldest friends again. They do so much for her, giving and giving, and all she can offer in turns is endless thanks, tongue pets and fur grooming. They never ask for much... She can't help but wonder if they could talk, what they'd say about who she was.
(Good to return to the center/progress to the next story point.)
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 6, 2018 4:20:05 GMT
Thankfully, the trip back to the Pokémon Center is uneventful, if quiet - the various non-human denizens of the city seeming to leave them alone. Donovan gets some more good news, too, as their 'mon are set to healing. It seems to be a message from the Lab.
"Re: Polaris. There really isn't too much on her, besides that she's a nuisance. She first started showing up to incite things a couple years ago, and soon grew to be a popular figure for the Separatists. Not in the least because despite drawing so much attention to herself, she's thus far managed to elude authorities at every opportunity. She does seem to possess some twisted sense of honour, though, not usually killing. Though she isn't beyond giving grievous injuries, so you should probably do your best to not mix up with her."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 7, 2018 1:02:42 GMT
Hmmm so she had been doing this for years but didn't kill people. Donovan winced as he felt his various wounds and shook his head. She may not kill people but she really was a fan of maiming it seemed. But it was too late to not get mixed up with her. For some reason they seemed to be like bait for strange women with weird powers and fancy suits. Maybe that's what they needed to actually handle these things, fancy suits.
Pushing his daydreaming aside, Donovan decided to go do some more research into the Temples, leaving Mica time to be with her Pokemon. Once they left town, he wasn't sure how long it would be until they reached the next one and so he wanted to find out as much as he could. Research papers were dry, and they really didn't tell him anything he didn't already know, in fact they knew a lot less. But he stuck with it, hoping to maybe find something that could help in all of the information.
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 7, 2018 1:13:44 GMT
When Mica's Pokemon are healed and returned, she spends an exorbitant amount of time in Apex's arms, praising him for being so strong and brave, holding Dusty against her chest and just... being there with her partners for a few minutes. There was a distant nagging sensation that when this moment ended, they should begin for the next temple. Part of her was decidedly nervous about that. Each one brought new reflections and new fears to light. Any minute now they could encounter Axiom and their whole adventure would be turned on it's head. In a place where she didn't have this strength or comfort. Where it was just her and Donovan. She watched him over Apex's shoulder when she thought he wasn't looking.
"...Donovan, we could go to the next temple..." Mica offered tiredly.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 7, 2018 1:41:54 GMT
Donovan looked up from the screen as Mica talked "We might be able to get their before dark. Lemme go grab a quick shower and then we can go" His eyes were red but he smiled for his friend. Standing up he walked towards the exit, no hesitation at the mention of the Temple. Deep down he knew thats where they needed to be. He places a hand on Micas shoulder as he went past her and looked into her eyes for a moment "I'm gonna be stronger this time. I promise"
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 7, 2018 2:01:29 GMT
After showering, getting food, and the last of their Pokémon getting healed, the pair once more head out into the wilderness, with a glowing sunset hanging in the air, tinging the sky wondrous colours. Well... kinda the wilderness. The temple's close enough to the city that there's actually a decent path towards it - not paved or anything, but more than just having been worn down by a few pairs of feet. There's still not much activity along it, though, probably due more to the small population than anything else. A couple hours after leaving Hawi, the two of them reach the temple, as the sun begins to dip down below the horizon. The area is still, silent, and serene. There's not really even a breeze blowing. It's as if Mica and Donovan are alone in the world. ŰƑƟƜƕƠƑŌƠƔƑŌƣƞƕƚƓƕƚƓŌƕƚŌŹƕƏƍœƟŌƟƠƛƙƍƏƔŘŌƖơƟƠŌƎƑƕƚƓŌƍƞƛơƚƐŌƔƑƞƑŌƕƟŌƟƛƙƑƣƔƍƠŌƟƛƛƠƔƕƚƓŚØ
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 7, 2018 2:10:40 GMT
Mica closes her eyes and clasps her hands in front of her, taking several long, slow breaths the way her sensei had taught her. Focus. Relaxation and focus. Internalize the things that you take strength from, and let the rest of it leave the body with your breathing. She could feel the stillness, the rigidity of the silence that settled heavily over the clearing. These were people they were going to go see. People that were stuck as Pokemon. Had been, for generations. Kindred spirits possessed of a thing she had wanted since her earliest memories. A self that she only had realized through the trials she now faced. When Mica opened her eyes again, they were bright, and full of the whimsy Donovan had grown to expect of her.
"I'm ready." She declared, more relaxed then she'd been in half a week or more.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 7, 2018 7:15:00 GMT
His stomach hurt. That was the first thing Donovan realized. He was nervous. Scared that they would enter the Temple and find it victim to Axiom already. He wondered to himself if that would be worse than if they somehow were there at the same time as her. At least then he could try and fight. He thought back to the first time he entered a Temple, and the slumped over corpse of a Pokemon. That was the moment his innocence was gone, though he didn't realize it at the time. That was the moment that this became something more than a trip around the region to find out who he was inside. He knew who he needed to be now.
There was no hesitation this time. No words. Silently, Donovan took Mica by the hand and gently squeezed, before walking directly through the shimmer.
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 7, 2018 13:22:11 GMT
"Don...?" Mica began as he disappeared through the wall of light. He'd seemed so grim and determined. More and more of late it felt like the two of them were pushing themselves beyond their comfort zone, and further from the enjoyable journey they'd set out on at first. Maybe she'd have to take him on retreat after this. Just go enjoy nature together for awhile. She followed him after a brief hesitation.
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Post by DataNinja on Sept 7, 2018 17:34:25 GMT
Once more, through the ripples. Once more, the familiar feeling. Once more... into the temples. It's as still inside as it was outside, though lit by the strange omnipresent glow rather than the sun. Rather than smooth surfaces, the place here seems much craggier, though the ground is still mostly flat, with only rough spikes of white jutting up in places, matching similar ones on the ceiling in various places. There are four exits from this room, and there don't seem to be any noises coming from any, at leasty not that you can hear from here. Two seem to lead downwards, while the others stay mostly level, at least from what can be seen from where the pair is now. There's no real indication of which way to go, where anything leads.
It's just... still.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Sept 7, 2018 22:15:38 GMT
His arms were gone once more. That was always the first thing Donovan noticed. Especially since he had just been holding Micas hand. He waddled forward a few steps and looked around. Closing his eyes, he tried to get a feel for which direction to go in, before shaking his head and turning to Mica
"I'm not sure where to go, I can't hear anything down any of the paths....I feel like we should go down, like the Plate would be deeper in....right?" His confidence was wavering, as was his voice, but he tried to steel himself.
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Sept 8, 2018 0:30:41 GMT
"Then we'll have to be the ones to make noise this time." The bonsly bounced foot to foot and inhaled deeply as if to call out before thinking better of it. She liked the stillness and the quiet. It reminded her of those times she was practicing her focus. This place seemed so powerfully stoic. She paused, and gave Donovan a small nod before following one of the downward paths. "Every place has been different. I wonder what kind of people we'll meet here? I bet they're nice."
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