In Trails one of the Field Exercises takes place in the Capital (Heimdallr), the problem here is that the Capital is also our homebase, so do we still have a Field Exercise here? Or is there just gonna be a sudden plot explosion of "Mesagoza is under attack!" aha.
Well, when you go to the schedule in the informational threadmarks, there are technically 9 Field Exercises, so they can't all be gym spots… but Field Exercise V is listed twice, once at the beginning of December and once at the beginning of January? And then the ones after are listed VI through VIII? Is that a typo? @ArvisPresley
Well, when you go to the schedule in the informational threadmarks, there are technically 9 Field Exercises, so they can't all be gym spots… but Field Exercise V is listed twice, once at the beginning of December and once at the beginning of January? And then the ones after are listed VI through VIII? Is that a typo? @ArvisPresley
Mary loses to Erika, who then loses to Nemona. Conclusion: Mary is even more behind Nemona than she thought (stfu don't ask how or why that makes sense), time to train even more.
In Trails one of the Field Exercises takes place in the Capital (Heimdallr), the problem here is that the Capital is also our homebase, so do we still have a Field Exercise here? Or is there just gonna be a sudden plot explosion of "Mesagoza is under attack!" aha.
My theory is that Heimdallr is going to be replaced plotwise by Medali, whether it's still the fourth FE or not. It's where Jacinto (Machias) and his VIP civil government dad are from, it's the "bureaucratic capital", and it's historically significant, even if it's closer to Saint-Arkh than Heimdallr in the very loosely approximated timeline.
Of course it might be that we're going to have one FE in a non-gym town and double up Glaseado and Montenevera gyms near the end of the year. It's either that or one of those gets bundled into the Highlands FE I'm hoping to have third or so.
...May I join the proofreading crew somehow? If only just by posting all the incorrect tenses in the thread? Past and present keep being mixed up and hurting my ability to focus on the text ._.
I am engaging in psychic warfare on the astral plane to bring the update (I asked Arvis about it and it's nearly done).
Also I think I've burnt myself out on deep dives but I did notice something important while I was going back over some material to try and mentally parse out what happened two years ago in Trails in the Sword...something I skimmed over the first time I read the last loredump post.
Galar. Another thing where she isn't privy to the full details, but from what Clarice told her, Rose and Oleana had been in contact with someone. Said someone provided them archeological and logistical support in the search for a Legendary Pokemon. Who that someone is remains unknown because despite the cooperativeness of the two to Interpol, they do not remember. Psychic analysis shows that their memories had been surgically tampered with to a masterful and frightening degree.
2020. Following the Darkest Day, international mega conglomerate Macro Cosmos was nationalized under order of Her Majesty Queen Alicia II of Galar. Chairman Rose would willingly turn themselves in to Interpol. While the specifics are unknown, Orbal-based electronics and devices all throughout Galar and Northern Kalos suddenly shut down during the Darkest Day.
That means that we don't quite line up with the events of Trails in the Sky, where the representatives of The Conspiracy got quite a bit more dramatic and obvious during the second game and by the end of it pretty much every state and international law enforcement agency was aware that a "secret" organization called Ouroboros was responsible for the Orbal Shutdown Phenomenon and the giant floating city that wound up dunked in Lake Valleria. I suspect that most of the dramatic arc of Trails in the Sky SC just didn't happen, except the parts where (I'm just going to spitball here) Gloria and Marnie had a heartrending gay confession scene on a beach, and instead we got a more condensed version of the story that lines up more with the beats of Sword and Shield, at least for the endgame. And maybe everyone in the adventuring party had to deal with some kind of historic or thematic rival working for Xanadu I don't know.
The point is that whoever was standing in for Georg Weissman didn't get confronted or killed, even though presumably Eternatus was successfully put back to bed. And for the life of me, I can't figure out who it is. I did get some clues in conversation, but mostly Arvis shooting down my guesses - it's not an OC, and it's not Sabrina. Apparently she just abandoned Team Rocket instead of bailing to Xanadu as Surge did so good for her. My best guess is Sird since we don't now what she was doing between Platinum and now, but she seems to be handling the non-clown parts of Campanella's role, so I'm iffy. Faba is at large and part of Xanadu, but psychic surgery doesn't fit his MO. Nor does, frankly, not grandstanding all over the place in a giant airship with an organ on it. Raifort wasn't in the right place at the right time, and that's it for confirmed Poke-world Xanadu agents, so other that Sird/Temperance as a maybe I'm out of ideas.
[X] Plan: Eyes on the Prize, Week 1
-[X] Purchasing Power
-[X] East Mesagoza Little Cup
-[X] Phantasmal Feline END
-[X] Renne
-[X] Theodora
Renne groggily awakes from her dream, its events rapidly fading into the deep recesses of her memory. With short rapid breaths, she looks around and to her twin disappointment and relief, she finds neither the familiar trees and caves of the grove she called home nor the sterile painfully bright white halls of the humans in white coats.
"Welcome back to the waking world, witch." A familiar voice greets her from below. Her mind is still groggy, caught between being half asleep and half awake to truly process where she is.
"That's not nice, Roland! Renne, are you okay? You looked like you were having a nightmare." That name and that voice, now she remembers. Renne's vision clears and slowly the haze over her mind fades.
Looking around her she finds a veritable forest of bright gaudy stands and aisles selling all sorts of bizarre human items. From strange black and white discs to countless mysterious color coded liquids and even a ludicrous amount of Pokeballs stacked and organized in neat rows and columns.
Renne adjusts herself from the prone resting position she'd woken up in, finding that she's laying on some strange surface. Is this hair?
"Oh you're awake, Renne. Sorry that I had to move you to my head, when you started falling asleep I was worried you'd fall off my arm." It all comes rushing back to her. Mariana, Roland and Ruby.
"So this is Lady Renne, the one you called a Witch, Ser Roland?" Okay, that one she didn't recognize.
Adjusting herself to be able to properly see anything other than Mariana's skull, Renne peeks over to see her trainer in conversation with someone. From the fact that they're wearing the same uniform, color and all, it's probably one of her classmates. One of the five Mariana hadn't spent any time with during the past week.
'I am fine. Woke up of my accord. If it's a burden to you, I shall depart from your head.' Mother used to warn Renne about carrying things on her head, she'd said that it would prevent her from growing bigger if she continued. Since her height was one of the things that separated her from her siblings, Renne was always quick to follow Mother's words.
Before Mariana can respond, Renne is already floating down towards Mariana's arm to once more cling off of it. Roland remains wrapped around his mistress like some sort of brooch, while Ruby apparently had vacated herself from her spot in Mariana's arms, now waddling behind her to pull on Mariana's shorts.
Tsk, she stole the spot from her and she won't even use it?
"I think this is the first time I've seen that Pokemon, Mariana. In person, at least." Renne's attention turns to the other human with Mariana, a foppish boy with light green hair. His arms are laden with bags filled with what seemed to be various medicines with labels of Pokemon on them.
Wrapped around the boy student's arm via its tail is a blue Pokemon with an elongated snout, a Pokemon Renne's never seen before. Whatever it is, it stinks of Wyrm.
"Well, we really haven't spent much time together as classmates. I apologize for that, I understand if you think it's a dereliction of my duties as Class President." Mariana apologizes to the boy for some reason Renne can't wrap her head around. She's far too groggy to interpret the jumbled emotions emanating from her trainer anyways.
"No, it's fine. Honestly, if there's anyone you should be paying attention to as Class President, it's Laureano. And Erika, but you should spend more time in general with Erika anyways." Renne lets her human and the boy continue their conversation in the background, devoting more of her attention to Roland and the boy's blue Wyrm.
"Does Lady Ganzorig do that often?" says the Horsea named Gawain, pointing their snout at Mariana still trying to apologize. Renne had to ask Ruby for that info, it's embarrassing having to ask that to the person you're talking to.
"Yes, what of it, Gawain? What are you implying of my trainer?" Roland hisses almost defensively of his human. Gawain looks askance to the sudden hostility from the Dreepy. Oh, Roland…
"I'm surprised you aren't using a title for him like how you called me, what was it? Witch?" Renne decides to divert Roland's attention away from the other Wyrm. From how the Dreepy swivels his neck to glare at her, it worked. Though his gaze contains nowhere near as much heat as it used to.
"It's a neutral term!" Roland grumbles in an embarrassed manner, causing Ruby to snicker at him.
The ease with which Renne falls to the rhythm of conversation and banter with Ruby and Roland surprises her. A strange but not unwelcome feeling settles in her chest. Despite the nightmare she had mere minutes ago, she feels…okay.
Letting herself settle into a comfortable enough spot on Mariana's shoulder she lets the presence and words of her teammates flow through her.
"...Tera Energy as a concept had long been known and conceptualized by academics worldwide, but it was the Orbal Revolution and more recently the works of twin Professors Sado and Turo that would see the push for the classification of Tera Energy as a more complete understanding of the archaic Type Energy..."
It's just barely been a week since you last had a regular class but with how long the Field Exercise lasted, your brain almost thinks it's been months.
Looking over your notebook, aside from some rudimentary notes, you really haven't jotted down enough of Professor Yashima's lecture. It's not that she's a bad teacher, it's just that she's prone to going on tangents about her time as an apprentice to Professor Sado. You're sure it's interesting, from how raptly Erika is paying attention and writing notes, it has to be.
There's also the fact that your mind is preoccupied with other things. Pulling out a piece of paper shoved between the leaves of your notebook, you take a closer look at your shopping list. Written within are all the expenses you've accrued from yesterday's purchases compared with a written down number representing the cash you have with you on hand.
It's a habit that you picked up from Mom over the years and with so much more cash on you than you've ever seen in your life, it's probably prudent to get back into the habit of doing something like this.
Items
Description
Effect
Cost
Feline Pokemon Bed
A popular bed for some kinds of small Pokemon
Next Bonding Event with Renne will Greatly Increase Bond/Restocks Next Month
10000
Small Gem Snacks
A pack of artificial gems that act as Pokemon Junk Food
Next Bonding Event with Ruby will Greatly Increase Bond/Restocks Next Month
10000
Scale Polish
For that elegant class of drake.
Next Bonding Event with Roland will Greatly Increase Bond/Restocks Next Month
10000
Lightweight Laptop
Inteleon Inc. has a back to school Student Discount Week! Still pricy though
Re-roll a failed KNOW Roll once a month. +50 to KNOW gain earned via AP
75000
Kofu Coupon
A Coupon for Kofu's Dojo, won through a raffle
Next Bonding Event with Erika OR Ostia will Greatly Increase Bond/Restocks Next Month
7500
Wooden Blade
A basic training blade for various Blade Martial Arts
Next Bonding Event with Manuel OR Elise will Greatly Increase Bond/Restocks Next Month
7500
Colored Pencils
For the artistic soul.
Next Bonding Event with Atticus OR Theodora will Greatly Increase Bond/Restocks Next Month
7500
Battling Magazine Aug-2021 Edition
For those treading water or those who want to reach the very top.
Next Bonding Event with Jacinto OR Nemona will Greatly Increase Bond/Restocks Next Month
7500
TR Simple Catalogue
A dispensiary of common TR Attacking Moves of all Types
Provide a TR of a Simple Move of a Chosen Type
10000
TM Simple Catalogue
A dispensiary of common TM Attacking Moves of all Types
Provide a TR of a Simple Move of a Chosen Type
20000
TR Advanced Catalogue
A dispensiary of uncommon TR Attacking Moves of all Types
Provide a TR of an Advanced Move of a Chosen Type
15000
TM Advanced Catalogue
A dispensiary of uncommon TM Attacking Moves of all Types
Provide a TR of an Advanced Move of a Chosen Type
30000
Weekly Special! TR Protect
A non reuseable disc containing the move Protect (Price will rise as Circuit advances)
Advanced Move. Take No Damage from Moves that Turn. Limited Number of Uses in Battle
20000
Weekly Special! TM Protect
A reuseable disc containing the move Protect (Price will rise as Circuit advances)
Advanced Move. Take No Damage from Moves that Turn. Limited Number of Uses in Battle
40000
Potion Pack
A baker's dozen of Potions for use by Trainers
Heals 1 Wound. Does not Work on Pokemon with 3 Wounds or More. Will Last for 5 Major and Minor Battles
3000
Super Potion Pack
A baker's dozen of Super Potions for use by Veteran Trainers
Heals 2 Wounds. Does not Work on Pokemon with 4 Wounds or More. Will Last for 5 Major and Minor Battles
8000
Full Heal Pack
An assortment of Antidotes, Awakenings and other Healing Items
Heals All Status Ailments. Will Last for 5 MAJOR and Minor Battles
10000
Basic Pokemon Food (Minerals)
The basic set of vitamins, feeds and other meals for any aspiring Ground, Rock or Steel-Type Trainer
Training gives additional +50 to POKE XP Gain to Ground, Rock and Steel Types for a Month, Adds 1 to Drilburs Evo Counter (Current: 0/?)
25000
Rookie Pokemon Food
The minimum essentials meals, diets and vitamins for anyone wanting to become a Professional Trainer
Training gives +50 to POKE XP Gain for a Month. Effective up to Badge Level 4
35000
Basic Outdoors Cooking Supplies
A crucial component of any self sufficient Trainers inventory
Optional Tasks will not cost AP during the next Field Exercise. Usable for 2 Days during it (Accessible due to Cooking Club)
40000
But beyond the expenses from your shopping haul, there's also the matter of tonight.
Renne wants to talk. Just the two of you.
It'll probably be the first time the two of you spend time alone together. Every other occasion had Missy waiting in your shadow, which probably weighed on Renne's mind every single time.
Well luckily Instructor Leaf has been out since yesterday and she didn't leave Wiggly or Missy behind. So you're back to playing dorm manager until she gets back.
Putting tonight out of your mind, you go back to jotting down notes for class, any ideas of what to say or ask to Renne brushed aside. She asked you to talk, all you'll have to do is listen.
"Come on! You two are acting like Slowpokes, I want to see what Mother and the other oldies found!" Renne shouts at her younger sisters. The two brats pestered her into letting them tag along to her consternation. Thankfully her brothers are staying behind like the good little Espurr's they are.
Ugh, what a bother.
"Not all of us can float, Renne!" Teta cries out as she waddles on her two short stubby legs alongside Jade. The duo are twins, nearly indistinguishable from one another if not for how Jade actively scruffles her fur to make herself stand out from the rest of the litter.
Renne's normally placid face breaks as a smug grin forces its way through her expression. As a result, her control over the Well slips as some of its power leaks from her ears.
Doing as Mother taught her, Renne stamps down on the leakage, shutting her ears tight. Weaving the raw psychic energy into something controllable, something manageable. She wraps it all around her body as Renne wills herself to levitate, floating in the air and doing the basic maneuvers like the Fletching do to practice their wings.
"Stop bragging!" It's Jade's turn to complain as her twin helps her up a small ridge. Renne impatiently taps her foot at how slow her sisters are being. Closing her eyes, she feels the traces of mom's presence to recheck where they needed to go.
Reopening them to check up on her sibling, she sees Teta successfully pull Jade up the ridge. Unfortunately for the two of them, they're only halfway up to the hillside Renne is waiting on.
"This will be easier if you float us up!" Teta shouts at Renne from below, the twins pouting at their older sister. Renne sighs as she squeezes her eyes shut again, landing on the soft dirt herself to devote her full attention in levitating the brats upwards towards her.
She pictures it in her mind like how Mother taught her. From the earth beneath her paws, to the ridge itself with the rocks the two could've used to climb if they weren't lazy, and finally Teta and Jade themselves. Two fluffy blobs the shape and size of her siblings, both of which shone a faint yellow light. Joy, according to what Mother taught her.
Renne weaves the same power she used to levitate herself and wraps it around the two giggling blobs. Once she's brought them close enough, Renne slowly opens her eyes to admire her handiwork. There, her two siblings are levitating in the air, spinning as if floating on water, slowly being reeled in towards her.
Days of secret practice levitating multiple objects coming to fruition. If Mother sees this, she'll definitely be proud, Renne's sure of it!
"You two will have to learn at some point, can't rely on me forever." Renne scolds the twins who merely stick their tongue out at her. "Maybe you two should pay attention to Mother's lessons more to levitate like I do?"
"We do pay attention, Watch! Sister Psybeam!" Jade all but shouts and as if on cue, the two twins jointly unleash a beam of pink light right at her. Renne barely dodges out of the way as the attack goes wide, leaving a burnt smoking trail in the trees and stone surrounding them.
Staring up from where she landed, having thrown herself out of the attack's way, Renne finds her sisters laughing uproariously. The smell of burnt dirt and still burning leaves waft through the air. Not even the fact that she's managed to maintain the two's levitation despite what happened can soothe her rising anger.
That's it, she's had enough.
Cutting off the flow of Psychic energy, the glow surrounding the two levitating Espurr vanishes, causing the twins to fall onto the dirt with a pair of panicked meows.
Renne waddles up to where sisters landed, the two looking up at her with affronted faces.
"Okay, I'll admit that was impressive. What's gonna be even more impressive is Mother's face when I tell her all about it." While Mother likes encouraging Renne and the others in her kit to learn and grow, she's also obsessed with safety. Once she finds out, the twins might as well say goodbye to any sort of playtime.
"Please don't tell her! We wanted it to be a surprise!" It's Teta that responds first, Jade being too busy sticking a tongue out at Renne.
"I don't know…If I can't find out what Mother and the others have been talking about then I might just…" Renne thinks it's a little mean but the two brats have wasted enough of her time with their messing around. If she's ever gonna be a grown-up like Mother, she needs to know these sorts of things.
Teta turns to her twin with a pleading look, a conversation in an unspoken language only the two of them know. Renne's always been slightly jealous of how close the two are, for all they annoy her.
"...Fine, but you're gonna have to levitate us there." Jade grumbles, her ears drooping down in a tantrum.
Renne sighs. This is probably the best she's gonna get out of the two. At least she knows that she can carry them now. It'll be good practice at least.
But still, what a bother.
Taking a deep breath, Renne lifts up both her siblings with psychic power and continues following Mother's trail; further and further away from the cave her kit calls home.
Mother and the other oldies say the forest and the human road right down the middle of it is called by the humans as the Palais. Mother's trail leads away from the deeper wilds where the stronger Pokemon hunt and live, so she's not worried about getting attacked on the way there.
Though it is oddly quiet, usually there are more Bugs around even here.
She doesn't dislike the quiet though, it makes concentration easier.
Even though it only takes under an hour for Renne and her sisters to finally reach where Mother and the oldies are, the two brats had already fallen asleep. She's impressed that the two of them could somehow manage to doze while floating in mid air. At least her control's gotten better, even if she is breathing heavily from exertion, sometimes having to shake her paws to throw sweat off of them.
As Renne approaches the end of Mother's trail, she contemplates on whether she should "accidentally" levitate her sisters into one of the many branches of the trees above. They do still owe her for that Psybeam from earlier.
Looking up at the twins, she sees their adorable sleeping faces and decides against it. Wouldn't do good to alert Mother and the other adults that she and her sisters are here after all. Getting scolded by Mother would be no fun at all, disappointing her would feel even worse.
Speaking of, she can see the faint murky outlines of the adults in the distance, all gathered together in a clearing in one of the creeks she used to play in with her siblings.
Carefully floating her sisters down, Renne prepares to wake them up.
Grabbing a sturdy looking enough stick, she starts poking the twins repeatedly, schooling her expression into the calm placid stare Mother taught her. It takes a bit for first Jade, then Teta to wake up but when they do, Renne immediately tells them to shush. To which thankfully, her younger sisters listen to.
Carefully and sneakily waddling their way to a nearby bush to listen in on what the adults are talking, Renne can barely contain her own excitement. Peeking past the bush to see them is too risky, so she'll simply have to content herself with just listening in for now.
"...we've destroyed it before and nothing happened. Nothing is stopping us from destroying it again." She remembers this shrill, nasally voice. It's Mister Shiftry. Renne's surprised he's here, him and Mother don't get along at all.
"While we're now certain that it's not one of those machines the humans place in along their roads, the fact that it's been replaced thrice now is concerning." That's Mister Kecleon, he's sometimes nice but a bit grouchy towards her and her siblings.
"As I said before, the humans wouldn't place something like that here, so far from any pre-existing infrastructure and in the middle of the Palais. And it definitely wouldn't be left in its lonesome without accompanying construction or guard." That's Mother! Of course she'd know what the adults are arguing about, she always knows everything.
"We get it, you were trained by humans. You already waste so much of our time yapping about it. Giving your children human names…" Renne's decided that she doesn't particularly like Shiftry now, even as she has to shush her sisters from crying out in Mother's defense.
"Why you—!" That's right Mother, show him what for!
"ENOUGH." A large booming voice echoed across the clearing, one so loud that it made Renne's teeth rattle. Any urge to peak out is thoroughly gone now. Renne is starting to suspect that she's way in over her head.
"YOUR POSTURING IS ILL APPRECIATED, SHIFTRY. MEOWSTIC, PLEASE ATTEND TO YOUR CHILDREN BEFORE WE CONTINUE." Before Renne can process what the deep chittering voice had said out loud, the bush she and her sisters were hiding in, melts all around them.
Rapidly disintegrating from a purple liquid emanating for a single deep black needle. Despite herself and her fascination about it, Renne avoids the urge to touch the strange poison. A single droplet of it lands on her fur and yet nothing happens. No pain nor debilitating injury as the purple liquid slides off her fur then falls to the ground sizzling, instantly disintegrating the grass around her.
That's amazing—
"Enjoying yourself, Renne?" The sound of Mother's voice interrupts Renne's thoughts and causes her to freeze up like whenever Mother catches the brothers rough-housing. Or whenever the twins try to sneak off. Or in situations where Renne herself disobeys her after being told not to do something.
She's in big trouble, isn't she?
Looking down at her with a very disappointed face, is Mother. Her paws are on her waist as she gives Renne and the twins an expression all but asking for an explanation.
"It was her idea!" Teta and Jade, her treacherous siblings immediately betray Renne, even actively pointing their paws at her. Sure it's true but—
"Is this true, Renne?" Her Mother asks, staring directly at her. Try as she might to maintain direct eye-contact with her, she's simply too embarrassed and ashamed to keep it up. Especially seeing the worry clear in Mother's eyes.
"...Yes, I'm sorry, Mother." She wanted to help her and prove that she's mature to be trusted with things like this. But from how Shiftry and the Nuzleaf with him are snickering, all she did is embarrass and shame her.
"Oh, Renne. I'll never be ashamed of you." She feels Mother's familiar Psychic grip picks her and her sisters up. Mother's more than twice as big as Renne is, but that doesn't stop the former from giving her and her siblings a big tight hug. She feels the tears forming in the corner of her eyes dry up as the soothing warmth of Mother's collar fur caresses her, Teta and Jade; causing the latter two to laugh and giggle.
"Don't I bring you to my hunts these days? Believe me, those are far more important than listening to Shiftry complain and posture." Believing her and her siblings sufficiently comforted, Mother sets Renne and her sisters back down.
"Now, I don't want you to do something like this again, alright?" She and her sisters nod at Mother's words, causing the Meowstic to smile.
"But, while you kids are here, I might as well introduce you three to Lord Scolipede. It's rare for him to venture out this far, after all. Honestly, the gall of Shiftry to drag him all the way here." Mother mutters that last part under her breath, not that Renne would notice it, since she's still shocked from what Mother just said.
She and her sisters barely resist as Mother levitates all three siblings with her towards the small gathering of Pokemon. Beyond just the voices of Shiftry and Mister Kecleon she heard earlier, there's also a pair of Honedge, Miss Audino and Miss Gloom. Most striking among them though is a massive Scolipede towering over everyone, flanked by Venipedes on each side. The sounds of the flowing stream is the only thing that can be heard as Renne's entire attention is taken by the Bug-Type.
Each of them is accompanied by one or two Pokemon of the same species or pre-evolution. Is Mother the only one who went by herself?
But at the center of the gathering, likely the topic of discussion Renne had heard earlier, is a strangle bulky machine.
"GREETING LITTLE ONES." So Lord Scolipede is the one that talked to Mother earlier? For as intimidating as he appears, there's a gentleness to how he looks over all of the Pokemon gathered. Even without focusing, Renne can see a light pink color emanating from him.
"Go on, say hello." At Mother's prodding, Renne and her siblings blurt out greetings to the massive Pokemon, causing Lord Scolipede to mirthfully chuckle.
"WE HOPE THAT YOU WEREN'T TOO HARSH IN YOUR REPRIMAND, MEOWSTIC. THE INDISCRETIONS OF YOUTH IS FINE NOW AND THEN. BUT FIRST, BACK TO THE MATTER OF DISCUSSION." As if on cue, the various Pokemon of the gathering take turns talking and arguing over topics Renne could barely understand.
But beyond just the shock and the strange sight of seeing all the adults argue, Renne is slowly finding herself to be…bored. Already Teta and Jade are starting to doze off, and Renne feels she might follow suit soon enough.
'Not quite what you expected, huh?' Mother pats her on the head as she teases Renne telepathically. Not being confident enough to respond in kind and wanting to interrupt Miss Audino by speaking aloud, Renne merely nods.
Mother chuckles at Renne's, causing her to pout. She thought adulting like Mother does would be more exciting!
'Worry not, I'll take you hunting with me for some Mausholds if it'll cheer you up—'
Click
A strange sound comes from the equally strange machine as parts of it begin to glow. Said noise causes every single Pokemon's attention to turn towards it, interrupting the ongoing discussion and even waking the twins up.
Before anyone could speak or react an utterly deafening cacophony emanates from the machine. It's so loud that she has to focus her entire attention on squeezing her ears shut, unable to even listen to her own thoughts.
What's going on!?
Even the sound of something slamming into the machine's metallic surface doesn't put a stop to the noise. All of her senses, physical or psychic, are being overwhelmed; none of Mother's cries nor her sisters being unable to reach.
her head hurts!
Renne feels her power leaking out of her ears dripping down the side of her throbbing, pained skull as the cacophony somehow gets even worse. The sounds of battles and attacks blending in with the noise make her headache even worse.
HER HEAD HURTS!
"Momma! Help me! My Head hurts!" Renne desperately tries to cry out, but her own voice is drowned out by first the deafening noise and then by the agonized screech of what seems like Lord Scolipede in pain. What's happening?!
HER HEAD HURTS!She feelsHER HEAD HURTS!herselfHER HEAD HURTS!slippingHER HEAD HURTS!
The last ounce of control she has slips and
the well breaks
You stay silent as Renne finishes her story, the Espurr rubbing the tears from her eyes that had accumulated during it. Her breathing's shallow as if remembering just that part alone exhausts her not just emotionally but physically as well.
You wait for Reene to recover, only pushing forward a glass of water for the Psychic-Type to drink, which she does wholeheartedly. It's pretty late in the night with most of your classmates either asleep or holed up in their rooms doing who knows what. As such the only sounds in the room and the hall outside are your breathing and Renne's drinking.
The two of you remain silent for a good while as Renne slowly regains her composure. By the time Renne is ready once more to speak to you telepathically, you sit at rapt attention.
'I...will speak of what happened after another time. But you deserve to know of its results.' With that Renne holds out a paw as Type Energy coalesces into a familiar shape. The hexagon floats in the air in front of you, the light emanating from it bathing the room in an otherworldly glow.
'I was the most successful one in my batch, the men in white coats had said. Capable of manifesting the full spectrum. Treated and tested as a weapon. Munna and Natu called it the gift of the Star Child. It's no gift.' The image in the hexagons flickers as Renne speaks to you telepathically, from a flame to a dragon's skull to something resembling the shape of a cloud.
Each apparently symbolizes a different type, letting Renne harness the powers of which as if she was born a Water or a Ghost-Type or what else herself. Staring at the crystalline surface of the hexagon is almost hypnotic, but the thought of what Renne was forced to go through replaces that feeling with revulsion instead.
Renne turns to you as the hexagon dissolves into tiny motes of crystal fading as if it was never there. She nods indicating it's your turn to speak.
"Is that why you don't like battling or training? Don't worry, I promise I'll never force you to—" Renne interrupts you by shaking her head, a far off look on her face as she stares off to some unknown place.
'The gesture is kind but the world we exist within isn't. That battle with Vigoroth reminded me of that. There is no escaping what has been done to me. Not while it may still happen to others.' Renne turns to face you once more, an utterly serious expression on her. Yet it seems almost…vulnerable. Like she's on the verge of breaking down in tears.
'I need strength, Mariana. I don't know if I can fight in your trainer battles yet, but Vigoroth only fell by the combined might of so many of your class and even then it was a near run thing.' You involuntarily touch the spot the blood splatter had landed during the battle, its memory still fresh and vivid despite your best efforts to put it out of your mind with routine and normalcy.
'I could only hope that what happened there was an anomaly, but the skeins of the world do not operate in such a manner. I'm scared, Mariana.' Renne's always been a small Pokemon, but she seems to shrink in on herself as she admits this to you. Like she's hoping that if she squeezes in on herself enough, she'll vanish.
'I am certain now that it was a machine like that which stole me from my home. I fear what its presence at the hands of the reprobates might mean. But…I need your help, Mariana.' Finally she looks up at you pleading, the desperation clear even in the monotone mental sounds of the telepathic communication.
You can guess at what Renne means. The story of her Mother and of her capture. The Gigaremos and those Shadow Pokemon. It's connected in a way you can only guess at. The implication is clear but Renne is too terrified to say it. That outright mentioning the possibility might make it inevitable.
Your own memories are hazy, but a part of you understands in an intimate way the desperation behind Renne's request.
Could you have responded in any other way?
"Of course, Renne. I'll help you no matter what, and so will Roland and Ruby."
No.
QUEST UNLOCKED:
Mother and Daughter I: Natu claimed that with the changes done to him he could see the future in greater clarity than any of his kind. The night before Renne saw him last, he claimed that Renne will have to go through one last tribulation before she'd be free. Foolishly, she thought it was about losing Natu and Munna, her fellow escapees. When Renne had come under the care of Mariana, she allowed herself to relax, thinking Natu's prophecy over.
She now realizes how foolish she is. The threads of the universe lead to a place in the south of Paldea. A city of the world in miniature, an international skyport of festivals and artisans, and a hub of science, wonderful and terrible alike.
In Alfornada, a reunion awaits Renne. Will you help her?
Objective: Have Renne be 5th Badge Strength by the end of Field Exercise 3: Future Sight, for a Massive Bond Increase (If Renne is 5th Badge and Bond 3 by the end of FE3, she will automatically be put at Bond 4 and evolve during a Decisive Confrontation.)
Sorry this took so long
Thanks to Nemastrea for proofreading and Tempera for vibe-checking
Include what Type of Move your looking for in the TM Catalogue if you're voting for it (TM Simple Catalogue: Fire)
Vote will be by plan and there will be a moratorium for 12 Hours
Ok, so:
1) We have 100k.
2) We need to take the Minerals. That leaves 75k.
3) Presumably, we want all three pokemon SL boosting options. That would leave 45k.
4) That gives just enough for the 40k option which allows us to save a lot of AP.
5) We have 5k at the end, once again poor as hell.
Ok, so:
1) We have 100k.
2) We need to take the Minerals. That leaves 75k.
3) Presumably, we want all three pokemon SL boosting options. That would leave 45k.
4) That gives just enough for the 40k option which allows us to save a lot of AP.
5) We have 5k at the end, once again poor as hell.
-The bonds with Roland and Renne are the most critical. I'm sorry Ruby, but you'll get your spotlight soon. Besides, not like the minerals will disappear from day to night, right?
- Let me reiterate: almost all Pokémon learn Protect. Even if it's limited in number of uses, being able to no-sell some moves is fantastic for regaining tempo. And we can also invest it by teaching our future mons this move too, so it's also a fantastic investment at long term.
-And of course, we have the most powerful technique of all, time management improvement. Yes, this is like, essential.
A new chapter! Aaaaand just looking at this list makes my wallet hurt. Ok... gems, amd cat bed are obvious choices.... oh god they have a peotect TM! Focus, Solar, Focus. Eye on the price aaaaaand... I am now sad. Poor Renne... Welp time to train so much NEMONA will think we need to chill. Lets make these 3 OP!
before everyone makes plans, please know how required kofu coupon is. Do you know how funny it would be to take Erika out to dinner and not realize that its totally a date. it'd be fucking gold everybody. Manuel is already playing wingman for erika imagine how much worse it would get
The cooking supplies are probably the least useful thing on the list, in my opinion.
They free up a couple of AP during the next Field Exercise at an extremely significant opportunity cost now. Freeing up AP sounds really useful, but one has to consider what that AP would actually be used for instead, and I don't think there's much that's incredibly necessary to do during a Field Exercise beyond the Gym Battle and the optional tasks. There's enough spare AP to do the other couple of things that leap out at us, usually.
I would also advocate for not buying the cat bed, but that's a doomed battle, I won't bother spilling words on that.
Probably the most necessary thing on the list is Ruby's minerals. It's less the xp gain and more the fact that it ticks her evolution counter up- although I don't think we need her evolved by FE3, I think it's better to start the process sooner than later. If it turns out to be a four-month ordeal, not buying them this month would mean not having her evolve until FE6, for instance.
Aside from that; people should really look at those bonding items with the actual humans around Mary. Those are her sources of social interactions and the primary means by which Mary actually feels good and bad about herself.
I talked just recently about how Theodora and Elise are doing badly. Consider backing up the intent of binding with them with buying something to enhance those actions. Erika is worried about Mary; buy them a ticket for a dinner date so Erika can try and worm her way into taking care of Mary. Ostia is still in Raifort's care, get them out of there for a night and let them remember how much Mary cares about them.
There's 75k left after buying the minerals for Ruby. That's enough to buy the cat bed for Renne, the reusable Protect TM, and still be able to buy either three items for bonding with other people or an item for bonding with one of Mary's Pokémon and two other people.
