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]

Wait a tick, rightfully? I doubt that. Does it want you here?

[azumods]

Did it want you here?

[...Well, at least this one seems slightly better than the others on the responding front; she doesn't seem quite as docile as the others did.]

[niceoppai]

Someone did. And that's why we're here to fix all the stuff you guys wrecked.

[azumods]

That someone isn't the Guardian, though, is it?

[Don't move the goalposts, Chelsea, that isn't nice.]

[discutio]

[Ignis winced at the shrieking noise, pressing a hand to his ear and struggling to focus on the actual human voice for a second or two.]

We're here to speak with Lake Valor's guardian, and we are not leaving until we've done so.

None of us are here to fight you. And frankly, if it comes to that you're going to lose. Think about what you're doing--is it really worth it? Do you truly like this world in the stagnant state it's in?

[anythingforyou]

[...You know, Camilla's not entirely sure what she expected at this point, but this? This probably should've been exactly that. Oh boy.]

Darling, I'm afraid you're preaching to a choir here. One that doesn't seem to be all that fond of your like, you know.

[Yeah, even if she's a smaller girl, Camilla is...well, she's all talked out at this point, though it's clear she's not exactly in a mood for inciting a riot, either. But being rude? That's pretty much exactly on the agenda for today.

...also yes, a choir can totally be made of over a thousand sealed souls of the damned, totally.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ Only one...? It's a surprise to be sure and her hair does stand on end (and her legs are like... wet... because she did kneel in the water there at the end doing the praying thing) . But uh... she can't speak for everyone but she'll say, ]

I refuse. I want to have an audience with it. [ Her Beldum sort of floats near her, not sure if it's backing her up or not ]

[azumods]

What we do is for the betterment of all - people and Pokémon alike. If you think it's stagnant, that's because you don't understand the larger picture yet.

[Seems it's a common party line.]

[azumods]

[...Okay, so? She'll look at Camilla for a moment, but she doesn't really...care...about smartass remarks, so.]

[azumods]

What you want isn't really important.

[Well, okay.]

[eudaimonikos]

Wow, did they just ditch you in a pitch-black cave? Really feeling the betterment of the people, man!

[Just saying]

[semistableman]

No can do. I promised this one I'd help.

[He motions at the Spiritomb nearest him.]

[greydients]

[Despite the...chorus of screaming souls of the damned around them, Rey is strangely calm; things actually seem to be proceeding well. They've made progress, and if this is Team Galactic's idea of a rear guard...they might actually be in luck.]

There's a lot more of us than there are of you.

[That statement isn't delivered as a threat; more an observation, and Rey carefully watches the grunt to see how she intends to respond.

...

...it's also nice to actually be on the side that does have the higher numbers, for once.]

[discutio]

I am in fact of the opposing viewpoint--that it is you and Team Galactic who fail to understand the larger picture. This need not be our home world for us to understand none should be left languishing in such a state.

Surely there must even be those in Galactic's ranks still possessing heart enough to harbor doubts. What of yourself? Can you truly say there is so little of worth in this world that it deserves to be laid to this blank ruin under the guise of good intent?

[azumods]

No. I came back to verify something, as I was asked.

[thunderwolf]

You have more than just us try to force out of here, you know.

[Eustace is going to point that out too, considering all they had to do to get past the Spiritombs. The ones currently screaming again, much to his aggravation. One more reason to put this grunt on his shitlist.

Can one grunt overpower not only their group, but those as well...? Something's off about that.]

[azumods]

You're going to have to break that promise, then.

[She doesn't make the rules, man.]

[azumods]

I wouldn't be here if my superior thought I couldn't handle it.

[So there's that.]

[azumods]

I've noticed.

[The chorus of the damned was a little hard to miss?]

[hyruglyphics]

[ I mean, yeah. ]

Perhaps not, but it is a selfish request I would like to see through. If these ones could be convinced, maybe we could go together.

[semistableman]

That's not something I do.

[Sorry, he doesn't care about your rules.]

[greydients]

[And that is interesting.]

So your superior thinks you can fight all of us, at once? They must have a lot of faith in you.

[Again, cautious; either this woman's supervisor has set her up to fail miserably, or she's telling the truth and they could have a serious battle on their hands.

But surely, one Grunt alone couldn't....?]

[radiantflame]

[Nothing here can ever be simple, can it? Morag looks at the angry Spiritomb, then back at the Galactic grunt.]

You are not wanted here. Leave.

[azumods]

Those that doubt Cyrus' vision are made to understand.

[There's no reverence to it like there was with Saturn - there's no title, he's not "Master" Cyrus; it's just a statement, and there's not much (if anything at all) behind it.]

[azumods]

The Lake Guardian is to be brought back with me, should I find it. Since I have, that's what's going to happen.