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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2020 18:29:45 GMT
"It has been... enjoyable, I think." The Genesect says. "That is, I believe, the approximate feeling. Warnings and precautions are understood, however. This unit is adaptable, though."
"You ready to head back now, Bea?" Rainbow asks. "And... have you figured out what you'll say? Or are you just going to write something?"
"Good luck," Chrys says, giving each of the pair a light hug. "Stay safe."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Oct 14, 2020 19:46:55 GMT
"Promise, you look after yourselves now. I can't ride in on my shining metal bug to save the day whenever something goes wrong.". Bee grinned.
"Yeah Rainbow... I'm ready to go, but I think I am going to just improvise what I say to Mom and them. A letter just seems too impersonal after the number of times I almost didn't come home."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2020 20:28:14 GMT
"That's understandable," Rainbow replies, with a nod and a smile. "You never seem to have the words until you're right in front of them."
The pair return to the depths of the mountain, where, as promised, aetherstone awaits, glinting with promise. Rainbow puts some in a backpack, before grabbing a chunk and holding out a hand for Bea's. "And so we go."
One tight clasp later, the time stream is once again before them, silently ringing, glowing nothingness. It's a bit lonelier this time without Yellow, but the sights speed on quickly, and it seems like no time at all before they're passing the Dark Times.
Suddenly, something lashes out, smashing into Rainbow and Beatrice. A chain of gems, a tendril of crystal. One, two, four, many, emerging from the hazy clouds of the Dark Times. One wraps around Rainbow's waist, and pulls her. Towards the darkness. Away from Bea. The lovers' grasp is lost, but Rainbow reaches out. Before she's pulled in and swallowed by the haze. The rest of the crystalline appendages vanish, leaving Bea alone. Floating in the empty void.
An endless moment, a brief eternity, she finds herself adrift. The loneliness echoes forever.
Until it doesn't. Amidst the timelessness, she hears a gentle, ringing cry. It's hard to tell where it originates, before she blinks and it's right in front of her. A small green fairy. Just like she'd pulled up on her PokéDex so long ago.
The Celebi blinks slowly, before reaching for her hand. There's a reassuring trill, before the tiny thing manages to swing her and start her floating towards the darkness herself, after Rainbow. Another short cry of farewell... and then Bea finds herself in the middle of a forest.
It's dark. Not because of the time of day, or shadows... the sky itself is filled with dark clouds that crackle purple, a thin haze enveloping everything. The air is filled with oppression and anxiety. And the sounds of fighting, as Bea gets her bearings once more. It doesn't sound like it's coming from too far away.
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Oct 14, 2020 21:24:20 GMT
"....". Beatrice hung suspended in time, heartbroken until the little sprite drew her along after Rainbow. She'd had no way of knowing Julia in the past could reach into the time stream, but she had mentioned noting their passage forward. With the knowledge of their intended goals, it would have been a short and easy jump of logic that they had succeeded. Eyes burning, she mounted her tail and rode it towards the sounds of combat.
Yellows protections of her Pokemon were gone. She had Genesect, and herself. The Celebi seemed a gentle soul, and she was thankful for its interference. Home was ever another battle away, or so it felt. "Rainbow? Can you hear me?!". She called into the din.
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2020 21:32:11 GMT
"I'm not a rainbow," a familiar voice comes calling back, as the sounds of combat cease, "but I can definitely hear you. As can probably everything else nearby, so I'd probably keep it down."
Clearing some brush, Beatrice finds the source of said voice. Alissa stands irritated over the corpse of some prehistoric-looking bird, cleaning off her blade. "Fancy seeing another soul out here this far into the woods." She looks down. "Stupid bird."
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Oct 14, 2020 21:53:28 GMT
"I'd be mad but you went numb to the years and it hadn't technically happened yet. It's good to see you, Alissa.". Bee pinched the bridge of her nose with a gauntlet.
"The time traveller you met me with, before the world came apart... I have to find her." There was a hint of desperation in her voice. "We won... But something snatched her from me on the way back..."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2020 22:04:06 GMT
"I... what? Who?" She shakes her head, confused. "You seem to know me, but I have no idea who you are. But... well, you know a name that I haven't used since nearly beyond my memory." She sighs. "You say you travel through time... I suppose that would be explanation enough. I cannot conceive of anything else that would make sense."
"Very well, I'll help you look for her. It's better than forging my way to the Falls again and getting carried out once more." It seems like she still might not entirely believe Bea, but is happy to have an excuse to do something different. "I've got some anger to blow off, so taking it out on something that I can actually hurt will be cathartic."
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Oct 14, 2020 22:21:17 GMT
"She could be at the falls... That would make sense.". Beatrice chewed on the inside of a cheek... Wait are we on the western stretch of the island right now? Somewhere between Rustboro and the northwestern edge of the island?". There was an edge of fear to her voice as she stared at the surrounding foliage. "Is this place called the Deadlands?"
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2020 22:39:10 GMT
"Not here," Alissa shakes her head. "That's further north. We're a little bit south of Rustboro and Verdanturf. Probably closer to Rustboro, but I was too busy stabbing the bird and trying to get it to drop me to notice. That was a sight to behold when it happened, though. When the Deadlands were made. Never thought I'd see the day when Groudon and Kyogre went at it. Granted," she says, dryly, "that was thinking from before apparently eternal life."
"Why do you ask?"
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Oct 14, 2020 23:08:43 GMT
"I was worried that we landed before those two woke and scarred the land. Not something I want to have to deal with. Had enough fighting for one lifetime. Now I know how you felt a few thousand years from now.". Beatrice visually checked the immediate clearing. "Genuinely surprised you already forgot our encounter in Dewford, but maybe death is just like that. Ready to smash some crystals?"
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2020 23:32:53 GMT
"...already?" Alissa asks, narrowing her eyes. "Girl, it's been long enough that I've forgotten most things. I've lost track of how many lifetimes I've lived. ...people aren't meant to deal with this. All these memories. Everything. Do you know how hard it is? I yearn for death. I've thrown myself into the volcano. It hurt like hell, but it didn't finish me off." She shakes her head. "I can barely remember my name some days. But I hold onto that. So at the very least, I know I wasn't always like this. But... I guess I know I'll endure for a lot, lot longer."
"...I was hoping it would lead to somewhere else other than her," Alissa sighs. "But, yes, sure. I'm ready. She's been mostly quiet recently. Gathering power for... something. I can feel it thrumming whenever I make it back there. Might that have something to do with your friend?"
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Oct 14, 2020 23:37:58 GMT
"I should hope not. If Rainbow's understanding of time is correct then whatever Julia does now won't change the outcome.". Bee winced at the anger she stirred in Alissa. "Sorry for sounding so flippant, your life to the end of its timelessness passed for me in a matter of a week. You will be free someday, take that to heart. Yes though, if Julia is active now, she will be there."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 14, 2020 23:47:15 GMT
"Well, some of us have to take the slow road..." Alissa sighs. "Or, well, just me, I guess. It's a long, lonely road. I've lost most of my people skills. Most of my talking is just yelling at Julia. I'm glad it comes to an end eventually, though. That gives me... a little hope, at least. But it is not for a long, long time..."
"Why would she want you friend, do you think?" Alissa asks. "She's never sought out people before. If someone ventures in to try and kill her, she'll experiment on them like she did to me so long ago, infuse them with enough crystals to break their minds, and they just become berserk killers. But... that's always felt like a diversion to her. Entertainment." She spits the word out in disgust. "She sees the people of this world as toys. I've stopped going into town, in hopes that tales of my quest die down. That they forget she's in there. Because nobody else survives. I don't want to see more people die because of her."
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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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Post by Robot on Oct 14, 2020 23:56:02 GMT
"Well, Rainbow expressed previously that time is flexible on small matters but immutable when it comes to large events. We purged Julia completely in our time, so either she is attempting to reverse that particular event, or intends to use Rainbow to relocate herself so far in the past it completely shifts the timeline. Regardless, whatever it is, is not good. Whether I grasp it or not is irrelevant. I won't have her hurting Rainbow."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 15, 2020 0:03:00 GMT
"Well, uh… oh," she seems rather speechless. "Yeah, that's something that she can't be allowed to do. I'll do what I can, anyways. I sure hope you're apt with that cannon of yours," she says, gesturing. "Since she's gotten pretty good of kicking me out of her domain."
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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 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Oct 15, 2020 0:13:08 GMT
"Me and six friends were enough at the height of her power, but we also had a weapon made of purified aetherstone you had carried with you for centuries then. Could not have stopped her without it honestly.". Beatrice's tail lashed side to side agitatedly. "I'll figure something out. I don't have to beat her here, I just have to get Rainbow away from her."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 15, 2020 0:17:07 GMT
"That's fair enough," Alissa admits. "Would be nice to kill the bitch, though. I don't suppose," she asks, dryly, "that you happened to bring along six friends with you? That're all just hiding?"
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Oct 15, 2020 0:29:04 GMT
"Sure do, but I don't know if we can beat her now if she gets beaten in the future... I'm not going to think about it too much. Though... This might explain where Tris and Chrys came from...". She mused for a moment before tossing her head. "I am getting caught up in my head... We need to get moving. I will answer anymore questions you have on the way. Rainbow is the love of my life and if anything happens to her... I will not be able to inflict enough violence on Julia."
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Post by DataNinja on Oct 15, 2020 0:40:49 GMT
"...you do?" Alissa asks, incredulously. "Oh, I was just... joking. Well, the more the merrier. As long as they all accept the risks of getting stabbed and/or dissected."
"Ah, love," the girl says, as they begin to walk along. "That's something I've never really been able to experience. I've been... too disconnected from humanity, for too long. It's not fair to anyone involved. But... I know it's important. So I will do what I can."
"Do you need to stop at Rustboro?" she asks. "I've gotten my bearings, and we should be going fairly close. I know that regular people need... food and stuff."
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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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Post by Robot on Oct 15, 2020 0:52:22 GMT
"I need very limited food, water, and sleep, and don't have to breathe. Unless there is anything beyond rations there that might help us, I would rather just get right to the thick of things.". She played over the last iteration of their encounter in her head. "Not sure that there is much I can do differently this time."
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