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

[niceoppai]

You guys sure don't act like it.

[heritrix]

Hey, that's too far. Would you say that to the people we've met in town? The ones who gave us the eggs?

[niceoppai]

Whoa, sorry! Just... fine. I just can't stand these guys thinking their way's the only way.

[hyruglyphics]

Rin's right, of course. We must always remember these the thought they have now... they are not truly their own.

[ So the trick, maybe, is to coax out their more genuine thoughts? ]

[heritrix]

I wouldn't even put it like that. The only thing that's not their own are Cyrus' ideals. Their thoughts are their own, they're just cut off from their emotions. Muted.

[She's adamant about this.] Everything else about them, though, that remains the same. They are who they are, through and through; all we're doing here is trying to find a way so that they can go back to living their normal lives again.

[niceoppai]

...yeah. The patterns they're following and stuff, that makes sense. Sorry, okay? I just want to make sure everyone gets through this.

[hyruglyphics]

[ Honestly, Rin's probably right. Patterns, things they recall. Thoughts of their own...? She nods, and he puts her hands in the prayer position, addressing Chelsea evenly. ]

It is understandable. You needn't apologize to us.

[heritrix]

[Mrrrr. After a moment Rin nods to Chelsea, a little more terse than Zelda, but otherwise relenting.]

Yeah. The only person here I'd say you should apologize to is our enemy at the moment, so don't worry about it for now. So long as you get it now, it's fine.

[Maybe after, though? Depending on how things go.]