Test 2.

[azumods]

WILLPOWER The chamber at the back of the cave is not unlike the one before it - it's large and oppressively dark, with shallow pools of water puddled on the floor. However, it isn't entirely impossible to see; off in a far corner of the cavern, there's a dim light shining pale blue, the soft glow pulsing steadily like it's keeping time, like a heartbeat. It's likely, however, that you're not going to get a good look at whatever is causing it before a voice rings out from the entrance behind you, immediately setting the Spiritombs off with loud, ringing shrieks that indicate over half a thousand souls aren't pleased with what seems to be happening here, and as the words register, you'll realize it's probably for good reason. "In the name of Team Galactic, I'm going to have to ask you all to leave. The Guardian is rightfully ours." It's immediately obvious that at the very least, the voice doesn't belong to Saturn - it's higher-pitched, belonging to a woman from the sound of it. Turning to face the source will reveal a woman in full Galactic grunt uniform; she seems young in the face and she's rather short, though she's built as though she's likely strong for her size. While she's clearly here to do a task, her eyes are noticeably just as devoid of spirit as the others that you've seen - she's just as heavily brainwashed as the rest. The Spiritombs you've encountered will do their jobs; they'll protect the Lake Guardian physically, promptly proceeding to get between it and...well, everyone else here. They aren't going to back down until the perceived threat is dealt with; they really, really don't like Team Galactic. What happens now is up to you.

Comments

[enjoymyatelier]

[...he just kind of tries to mutter out of the grunt's earshot, because holy shit, it's not going to be productive, but...]

God, I've had it with you all. I hope the Guardian smites you when it's feeling better.

[whew. okay. now that that's out of his system.]

Are we going to have to have some philosophical debate about how "perfection" is bad, actually, to get you to get out of our hair?

[azumods]

[...]

I'd rather not?

[enjoymyatelier]

Ah, my heart bleeds for you when it's inevitably going to happen.

Whatever. Let's just do this the way it was apparently supposed to go here. I'm tired of trying to talk you brainwashed lot down from your nonsense. Velasquez, let's see what she's made of.

[ah, the Frillish floats on over, then! TIME TO BE A DUMBFUCK.]

[discutio]

Kayneth, you do it and I will give you a black eye.

[hyruglyphics]

[ . . . I mean Rey was doing it too. Also you were being kinda pretentious. ]

[discutio]

[HE KNOWS, DAMMIT, CAN WE JUST FIGHT THE UNKNOWN THREAT LEVEL AS A LAST RESORT]

[greydients]

[okay to be fair at least she didn't just throw Golett at the woman, she does have some restraint

(the idea is tempting)]

[anythingforyou]

[you tell him, ignis

...camilla is literally the last person who wants to say this, all things considered, but yeah]

[enjoymyatelier]

It's the way disputes were apparently resolved before this mess. It was all about getting your feelings across and teamwork and all that.

I want to see if it works.

[discutio]

You really think it's strategically sound to challenge someone whose strength we've no way of measuring. Who was sent here, alone, without assistance, to capture a god.

You are an idiot, and if you don't back down I will force you to.

[azumods]

[...She's just kind of watching this, because this is...huh.]

No, he's right, and there's something to be learned from losing, too. If he wants to challenge me - genuinely, not because he's lacking in patience, but because he wants to test his strength against mine - then I accept his challenge.

[discutio]

[this is stupid and he hates it]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'd wager the lack of patience more likely.

[azumods]

[...]

He's at least being decent about it.

[enjoymyatelier]

Fine. You all can just try and talk her down and leave it as a last resort.

[semistableman]

Kayneth.

[He will tackle you to the ground and pin you with his one arm.]

[enjoymyatelier]

Come on, I'm not actually planning on actual violence.

[EVEN IF HE REALLY WANTS TO.]

It was a traditional accompaniment to debates before things went to hell here. I want to experience the good old fashioned Pokemon battle, with everyone playing by the old rules of engagement.

[semistableman]

Ignis is right; she was sent in here alone, and somehow managed to avoid pissing off the horde we have with us.

[thunderwolf]

Do we know for certain that she arrived before us, and didn't simply take advantage of our progress?

[It really is an odd situation. No matter what, she got through this undetected in some manner.]

[heritrix]

If she's from this world, she probably recognized those weren't any ordinary rocks and just snuck past them.

[greydients]

Eustace is right. If she did arrive before us, why didn't the Pokemon react the way they did with us?

[something isn't right here, guys!]

[heritrix]

[...you know, this is something she's been interested in herself, for more reasons than one. She thought about trying it out at like the next town though to see its effects, not against one of their enemies. But still?]

Depending on the strength difference between your pokemon and hers, it could be like sending a normal familiar up against a Berserker.

[This isn't scolding him like the others, more like asking him "u sure, man".]

[enjoymyatelier]

I'm well aware of that. Traditionally, however, serious injuries in battles were rare enough not to be a factor.

...I'd probably be more cautious about it if it was a normal familiar up against a Berserker, but a Berserker probably wouldn't hesitate to kill a familiar.

[heritrix]

[Ha. Rin chuckles a little at that, actually.] That's true, isn't it?

[Most everyone they've met seem to balk at that mentality, even now. Zelda just confirmed it. Rin nods, mind made up.]

Then really, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Go for it, Kayneth. If you and Zelda fail, I'll back you up.

[JUST. ADDING HER NAME TO THIS CRAZY TRAIN HERE I GUESS, SORRY TO PROVE YOU WRONG, IGNIS.]

[ventulus]

Good luck out there and kick some butt!

[ ... If he had like trained his Pokemon in combat more he'd definitely be out there too, but at least he can cheer them on. ]

[eudaimonikos]

Lord El-Melloi, please.

[oh good now he's picked that up from Rin]