Encounters - Rei

"Considering Gryz just evolved, it might be a while. Thank you for the offer though, I will certainly seek you out."

They make the long way out as Rei takes in just 'how' deep they got. She didn't make it as much as she thought but fighting over and over and over and staying alive is certainly something to be proud of. They get back and she eats up to help gain her strength back, and falls promptly asleep without thinking on much. She's just a bit too tired for that.

After talking to Clay, Rei headed back to the room. Holly was still fast asleep, so Rei sat down and began some of her work. She had been reading her new books, and alongside being able to harvest berries better, she knows how to do a few new tricks. Including something just in case she has to defend herself in the future. Using Nasi and Raido, she prepares a cloth satchel to actually 'harvest' spores and seed attacks from them. Worry Seed and Poison/Sleep powders are pretty easy. Literally just harvest them and then throw a bit of them from the bag and they do the same thing. Leech seed is a bit... strange though. Raido has to charge up the attack like he's about to fire, and then Rei has to take it and connect it with her own life aura by keeping the leeching roots in, holding it together with all her might for enough that it stops trying to grow. It takes her a bit (And a second try), but she has leech seeds now attuned to her. She may not be able to defend her team anymore, but at least she's not 'just' a bystander in this situation.



After prepping everything, she decides to start acting on her plan. She'll head nearby and train, she needs the winnings. Lots of winnings. She actually turns in the note that D'mara gave her in the beginning. She had planned to do something with it like throwing it at her feet and saying she didn't need her charity, but that was after she kidnapped Holly the first time. With Holly at her side, and Holly not seeming too affected by the experience, she decides to do it. She needs all the cash she can get. She heads out, but finds herself outside despite not meaning to. She'll know with how Holly is acting, she'd be yelled at for getting to far. But... she doesn't remember coming here.

Before she knows what's going on, Laurel steps out. She looks a bit distant, and Rei's first look doesn't look closely.

"Oh umm, hi Laurel! You look upset, I hope you aren't mad about that battle we had?"

But then the knife is taken out, and a huge whale takes it's battle position. Rei suddenly looks a bit shocked. What's happening? Piesc steps forward, and to her surprise, extends his aura talking powers to her. But not with good news, as he states that Laurel's 'Aura' is gone. A cold shiver of worry runs down her spine, but she'll have to win to truely figure things out. She recalls Piesc and sends out Alligapod to take on the big whale.

One thing is for sure as Rei stands to the side. 'Something' is wrong with Laurel now. And judging what she assumes is Zbic's evolved form, something is wrong with them as well.

Rei is blasted as the battle begins, but she notes that Laurel seems to be conflicted. At least in part. She must be being controlled to do this! Rei runs around and pulls out her new seed bag and tries hitting Laurel with some sleep powder. She doesn't want to hurt her and if she can keep her out of the fight, maybe whatever's controlling her could be severed?

Meanwhile, Alligapod backs up and charges full force into Zbic, lances forward in a pincer move for one HUGE strike!




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Rei is wracked by the first attack, falls unconscious, but is quickly woken by a knife in her side. She screams out as the pain wakes her back up, but she looks into Laurel's eyes and see's some form of recognition. As Laruel cries out for help, Rei realizes her hunch was right. She gets up and back.

"Laurel you have to help me fight it!"

She winces, but feels a surge of power from her snacks. It's only so much though, as Laurel's attacks are quickly taking her down. She 'has' to take Laurel out of this fight. Or else she'll fall. Whatever is controlling her is clearly making Rei herself a target. She gulps and tries to steel herself for the battle. She pulls the connected Leech seed out and throws it at Laurels feet. Hopefully it will take out Laurel pretty harmlessly while keeping herself up.

Alliagpod is unhappy they are focusing in on Rei instead of him. He backs up and charges again, now closer to Rei in case he has to run over there. She's taken many attacks for her, she might need to return the favor.

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Alligapod becomes trapped in the watery vortex, but slowly tries to keep moving toward it's target. Rei's healing effects manage to keep her going past the swipe.

"Laurel please! Keep fighting it! Just get hit with this and let it take you to sleep, then you can't harm me! I'll help you I promise!"

She throws more of her powder at Laurel hoping that putting her to sleep will calm whatever control that mark has.


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Alligapod manages to make it down to the big dark blue whale and stabs forward again, although the vortex is slowing her down. Rei breathes a sigh of relief. Maybe she won't have to hurt Laurel and the leech seed will do just enough to down her before she wakes up again. Then maybe she can disconnect whatever power is over her. She's pretty sure she at this point knows who it is, but she doesn't have the luxury of thinking on it now. It's save Laurel time. If she can get her pokemon to stop, then maybe she can work without much more fighting. Although... this whale is supposed to be water and is clearly using dark moves. Are they operating under the same power? And wouldn't Laurel's pokemon KNOW if something was wrong with their trainer? She might have to fight them all. Let's take this Wailord out first and hope. She joins in with Alligapod and throws poisonous powder all over the huge target.




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As Alligapod is taken out, Rei switches her for Piesc again. She hates to take this risk, but has to while she can. She tells him to stand by for now and holds up her hands to Zbic

"Wait Zbic wait! You and I have fought before, I don't want to hurt you! If you are still you, your trainer Laurel isn't herself! She doesn't want this! I dont' want this! I put her to sleep but I can't help her if you are attacking me! PLEASE! Please let me help her!"

She hopes that maybe Piesc can convey some of her worries somehow, but she's pleading to the Wailord at this point.

Rei's heart sinks. So if she wins and Laurel fails to kill her, then Laurel loses her soul to the Usu- No. To D'mara. It's very clear to her now. But the only way to save Laurel is to fail this fight, and thus die. That would mean breaking Holly and Clay, it would mean not being one of the chosen, and it would mean the world fails. For now, she doesn't know. If she wins knowing this, she's letting Laurel, AN INNOCENT IN ALL OF THIS, die. She's killing her. Even if it's D'mara doing the deed, it's now her known choice. To condemn her to death. She just keeps fighting. She will have to stop all her pokemon before the end. Then maybe she can save her. But if D'mara has the power of a god, then who could protect her? Rei wouldn't be able to remove that sort of power from her in what little time she has. She could bring her back to the guild but who could keep her safe? None of the branch leaders have the pow-

Damnit!

She has to ask them for help, doesn't she? ...No. She's not asking. If she's being forced to be a chosen, then she gets to make the demands now.

"Cresslia, Darkrai, if one of you are listening... GET SOMEONE DOWN HERE NOW."

While she (hopefully) waits for an answer, she goes to continue the fight. Piesc hits a strong uppercut onto Zbic while Rei waits back and watches Laurel. She applies a revive to Alligapod's ball, as she may need him before this is over

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