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May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
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Post by Raven on May 30, 2018 20:28:03 GMT
Clay may or may not notice that Holly is lurking nearby as well, eyeing the strangers who run the shop suspiciously. Both she and Rei look like their packed for a trip of some kind. Her scary, crimson blade is probably more than enough on its own to give even the excitable Smith pause, even if he looks like he would very much like to get a closer look. Thankfully for him, his wife is the sensible sort and keeps him busy so as not to bother people.
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Nov 23, 2023 19:11:09 GMT
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Post by lichlord on May 30, 2018 21:12:12 GMT
She waved back at Fan as she entered, although she didn't look like herself. Rei looks packed and ready to leave, exhausted, determined, distraught, and beat up. All at the same time! She sighs when Clay asks if she's alright.
"Not in here."
She waits till Clay goes outside with her, and she hushes her voice, hoping that the hustle and bustle of the marketplace of Saffron will keep eavesdropper out.
"Clay, I have to leave. The Usurper just made their first move. And I'm almost sure it's D'mara. Because one of her own Dark Branch was used as a puppet. If you remember our fight from a while ago, the more sensible one I knew previously. Laurel Regal. She wasn't bad in any way, just felt like the Dark Branch intensity was her way. So I guess D'mara must have confronted her, because Laurel was being controlled by a mark on her arm. And if she lost the fight with me, basically failing to KILL me, then her soul was forfiet. Which is why all her pokemon had to comply. I won in the end, and... something intervened and saved her at the last minute. Some sort of life-giving energy. She's teleported away, and I don't know where."
Rei looks off.
"So it seems I've been made a target now. I've told Anya at the psychic branch everything. But I'm never going to feel even close to safe here anymore. Not until she's stopped. I'm taking Holly and all my pokemon and heading north for Cerulean. For your sake I'm leaving all but the few I can carry there to protect the Mayor. I'm getting the feeling I can't leave them here undefended here at the guild. So if I bring them up north I'll feel better about it.
Rei closes her eyes.
"I may have been the first target but it's probably safe to say all four of us are in danger as well. Clay, I can't make you come with us. Especially if you can't convince Tiki to move yet. But I want you to come if you can. Otherwise I will be headed to Celedon in a couple days after some rest and... a lot of thinking. We still need to do research. I need to find a way to stop her."
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Post by carnackiArdent on May 30, 2018 23:35:50 GMT
Clay says goodby to Smith and his wife and follows Rei outside cautiously. His eyes widen when she starts to describe the attempt on her life. "Holy Mankey crap. Yeah, that's... Okay. I should tell you what I found out yesterday then." He beckons Holly over so she can hear too.
"I've told Instructor Mason and Ming-Na, the head of the Fighting Branch, most of what's happened, except for what you just told me. And Ming-Na told me something but it is dead secret. Nobody but the four of us can ever find out, okay? Because if the Usurper hears about this we're in serious trouble."
He sends a channeled thought to Fan to try and make sure people stay away, out of listening range. She's not exactly a spectacular loomer, but an Infernape is still reasonably intimidating. Then he takes a deep breath and lowers his voice even more, barely audible over the noise of the crowd. "I've got a lead on Xerneas. There's some sort of ancient magic tree waaaay off beyond the Indigo Mountains. Its guardian might be a servant of Xerneas, or something on the same level so they might know something anyway. There's another tree near Mt. Moon and some sort of weird magic shortcut - the guardian of that tree is a friend of Ming-Na's. Maybe Xerneas is what protected Laurel?"
He bites his lip, running a hand through his hair. "I'll probably go up to Cerulean soon. My staff's gonna be ready in a couple of days, and I wanna see Kalani anyway. I don't know if I'll stay for a long time. I'll try to talk to Tiki again, I dunno if she's gonna want to talk to me but I'll try." He shakes his head. "I gotta talk to Instructor Mason. Or at least get Anya to tell him, or something like that. I dunno if I'll stay at the guild or in Cerulean or come with you to Celadon or what, but you're right, it's obvious we can't stay if this stuff is gonna keep happening. And I want to visit Master Nob... this is such a mess."
He gives Rei a weak smile. "I guess you were right about getting this thing with the staff done before something else happened, huh?"
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Post by lichlord on May 30, 2018 23:53:27 GMT
Rei just nods and listens to the secret and her eyes widen. Maybe then Xerneas did protect Laurel. Xerneas is the opposite of what now powers the Usurper, afterall. But getting to Xerneas is one way to get protection against at least something. It doesn't feel like 'enough' to help circumvent Yveltal's power but it's a start at least. (She would certainly breathe a sigh of relief if she knew where Laurel was.)
"That's... certainly something we'll all need to go and do."
Rei looks immediately worried when Clay says he's not leaving right away or at least not sounding like he's gonna stray far from the guild.
"Clay just... please be careful. I wish I could just stay and stand my ground, but if I'm getting attacked in broad daylight like this... I can never feel safe here again. I'd never get anymore sleep and just waste away ages before the final fight..."
Rei looks down at the mention of Tiki.
"...Maybe I should try talking to her one more time." Rei glances back at Holly for a second. "Despite how everything has gone, I don't wish harm on her. And now that the Usurper has gotten more brazen, any of us could be a target. And she's a chosen, and from our conversations with Darkrai's and Cresslia's representatives, it sounds like it can't change again, and we are the last line of defense."
Rei forces a sad chuckle at his last comment.
"Maybe I tested the universe saying something like that..."
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Post by carnackiArdent on May 31, 2018 0:33:02 GMT
"Yeah, you're right, the Guild isn't an absolute safe place. But if it is D'mara, the Fighting Branch is probably like the safest place in the Guild. Instructor Mason at least, and some of the other guys, can read Aura like Piesc, and I know Dark-types don't like Fighting attacks." Clay wonders whether he should try and find a Pokémon that can do that. "I dunno, maybe I'd feel different if it was me they'd gone after. But if everywhere is dangerous, the only thing that makes the Guild worse is them knowing where we're going to be... and I'm going to be surrounded by the most dangerous people in the Guild for D'mara to tangle with."
He glances back at Fan. "I've had Sis out to keep an eye out for me anyway. I'll make sure I've got somebody to be a spare pair of eyes... and I'll keep Peng with me, too, and he'll go to you if I'm in trouble. I'm gonna try not to be stupid about it, but... I'm gonna stay around a little while longer, at least. I promise, if things get really bad, I'll leave. But I got stuff to wrap up here before I go, and I wanna make sure somebody's here to look out for Tiki."
Speaking of which... "Just... don't try to make her come with you right away, okay? I feel like trying to pull her directly back into this whole thing is gonna make her push back. We just gotta let her know she's in danger and make sure she's safe."
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Post by lichlord on May 31, 2018 1:02:38 GMT
"Ok. I suppose you have everything in the way in your branch. I don't have that luxury and I'm staring AT the Dark Branch. Just stay safe. I don't want to lose you. Although you may need to find me up there for your lessons I suppose... Like I said I'll be there for a couple of days of rest. I made a promise to the healers here that I would."
Rei sighs.
"And I don't think I can force her to do anything at this point. Just warn her and inform her."
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Post by oddeyes on May 31, 2018 2:04:20 GMT
Tiki finishes packing away most of her things. The thoughts of leaving, and her friends make her feel melancholy. This room had been her life since she arrived at the guild, and seeing it so barren was kind of sad. She needs to head by Jojo's. Perhaps they were already done, but giving her another day should be best. Jojo needs time to work, and Tiki wasn't in a huge hurry to leave. She sighed as she sat down on her bed. Star, and Aeon lay at her sides.
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Post by carnackiArdent on May 31, 2018 2:08:47 GMT
"Don't worry, I'll be okay." Clay reaches over and squeezes her shoulder. "Lemme know if you need anything, okay? I'll at least come up to see you soon." It looks like he's not going to get that rematch with Ashley for a while, sadly, even though he thinks he's closing in on his team being strong enough to have a shot.
"You wanna walk back with me, then? If you're gonna talk to her? I can come, too, if you want."
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Post by lichlord on May 31, 2018 2:51:45 GMT
"I will let you know. You can do the same, too."
Rei gives him a hug before he mentions coming with.
"Yeah you should come too. Maybe it'll soften the blow?"
With that, Rei leads the three of them to Tiki's door. She gives a quick rap on the door.
"Tiki, are you in there? It's Rei. I... something happened to me today, and it's made me worried for your safety. All of our safetey..."
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Post by oddeyes on May 31, 2018 2:57:15 GMT
Tiki is petting her pokes when the knock at her door makes her jump. Who could it-...Oh....Why would Rei be here? Talking about something happening, and safety did make Tiki curious. She slowly made her way to the door, and opened it. "Huh?....What is it?"
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Post by lichlord on May 31, 2018 3:56:24 GMT
Rei is surprised when Tiki actually opens the door and seems curious. Rei steps back, and looks defensive. She looks down, not wishing to anger Tiki further.
"Tiki... I got attacked today. The Usurper possessed Laurel from the Dark Branch and used her like a puppet to try to... well to try to kill me. And using Laurel's life as leverage to get her pokemon to try and stop me. I think Xerneas managed to save her at the last second but I'm not sure."
She hushes her voice a little.
"I can't be fully sure, but I'm assuming it's D'mara. Whatever possessed Laurel was using abilities similar to hers. And it's not a coincidence that Laruel was the one nice one of the dark branch..."
Rei looks off.
"But I've informed Anya of everything I could and wrapped up everything here. If I'm a target, then that means we all are. So I just came by to inform you and warn you. I'm leaving for Cerulean for now. I don't feel safe here anymore. So I just wanted to let you know that you need to be safe, no matter what you decide to do. Honestly I would say if you could, leave for Celadon as soon as you can. Or always keep your pokemon out to help watch."
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Post by carnackiArdent on May 31, 2018 4:03:21 GMT
Clay, standing behind her, puts in, "That last one's what I'm doing. I'm gonna stick around, at least for a little while. Not sure if I'm gonna leave permanently yet, and I'm definitely still gonna be here for a couple of days. So, y'know... if you need any help you can find me, or send one of your Pokémon to, or something."
Clay is keenly aware that most of Tiki's Pokémon don't like him that much at this point, but still. Better somebody they don't like than Tiki being in serious danger.
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Post by oddeyes on May 31, 2018 4:09:37 GMT
Tiki gives Rei a weary look, but her eyes get big when she brings up almost getting killed. She was attacked alone...again...and again she wasn't-...No wait. She shoots Holly a nasty look. Good job watching out for her... Tiki sighs, and rubs her face. This just wouldn't stop. It kept on getting worse, and worse. She didn't see how getting away from guild would increase safety. Having all the branch leaders nearby should be safe enough, but she was set on leaving anyways. "D'mara huh?...Dark branch...." They were always trouble, and it didn't surprise too much. Tiki looked back to Rei. "Ok then. If my order is done tomorrow, I'll already be taking off to Celadon."
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Post by lichlord on May 31, 2018 4:20:42 GMT
"O...ok then. You two keep each other safe then. I guess I'm leaving now."
Rei gives Tiki a pained look before turning to Clay and giving him another small hug and turns to leave with Holly.
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Post by Raven on May 31, 2018 4:33:22 GMT
Holly did not see Tiki's glare, as she was busy 'keeping watch' so nobody sneaks up on Rei ever again. Honedge happens to catch Tiki's eye for a moment, and its blank stare seems to pierce into her soul, as if silently judging her. Of course, not even Clay could talk to it, so who cares what that dumb sword thinks!
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Post by oddeyes on May 31, 2018 4:46:29 GMT
Tiki sighs, and looks away. "...Bye..." She gives a small wave to Clay, and shuts the door. She walks back to her bed, and flops onto it. Seems like leaving the guild was inevitable. Staying together as a group was probably a lot safer, but being near Rei or Holly would surly lead to more problems. They would all be in Celadon eventually, so might as well be there. Leaving Celadon...Who knows...Tiki stares up at the ceiling as she thinks about what might happen. She was much more invested in her own things, but no matter how much she blocked out this stupid Usurper stuff, it would just come back with something new. Why couldn't everything just go away, and leave her alone? How was this impossible task even be solved? Ignoring for now was the best answer. She had a gig to prepare for anyways.
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Post by lichlord on May 31, 2018 5:43:10 GMT
Rei gave her the warning. With Holly and Tiki potentially being at each other's throats, she can't really stay around for too long without something happening. She really wishes she had a way through to Tiki, but it feels like that cart has passed. She heads to the guild pokemon waiting areas, and gathers up 'all' her pokemon to head on the trip. Kopi also takes point on Rei's head as a lookout. Some of the pokemon (that can) help Rei and Holly with their bags as they make their trek out of the guild.
Rei first stops at Jojo's and drops off all her damaged Kimonos hoping that Jojo or some of the workers can do some good repair work. She admits to them she has no idea when she'll be able to get them back and says for them to feel free to take their time on it.
Then after, with a last look to Saffron, Rei and Holly trek to Cerulean.
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Post by Raven on May 31, 2018 6:13:00 GMT
It takes the usual few hours plus a little extra to get to Cerulean, due to having to wrangle extra Pokemon that may be helping Rei with her various bags of stuff. Holly has everything she can carry in a single knapsack. It's maybe around dusk by the time the pair of girls and their entourage arrive.
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Post by lichlord on May 31, 2018 6:15:01 GMT
At this point Kalani may be back home for the day. Rei decides to try there first.
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Post by Raven on May 31, 2018 7:19:28 GMT
A short while after knocking on the door, it opens and Rei is swarmed by Totodile that seem to have remembered her from last time she was around. They either tackle and/or nip excitedly at her. Kalani merely chuckles.
"Hi hi! What brings you around so late, Rei?"
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