[ti]worldevent[/ti]HEARTEATER PT. 2 (RAID)

[tangent= ZONE 1: HIBERNACULUM Three things are inevitable in life: death, taxes, and the relentless onward march of Hearteater's clown army. The slither of confetti-clad feet fills Zone 1. No man, woman, or child-sized pokemon can stand in the way of the advancing troops. The threat of exploding balloon animals pushes all remaining players into Zone 2.]ZONE 1: HIBERNACULUM[/tangent]

[tangent= ZONE 2: MIST In Zone 2, the entrance of players into the pit has only agitated the mist. the red tendrils coalesce into grasping red claws that snatch at players, attempting to drag them down into zone 3.]ZONE 2: MIST[/tangent] [tangent= These Ultra Beasts bear an offering of loot for Hearteater. To attempt to bond with an Ultra Beast: (1) Make physical contact (2) Share a Memory (3) Roll 1d6 (success on 6). Attempting to bond with an Ultra Beast is a free narrative action. If applicable, multiple Ultra Beasts may be recruited by different players. ]GUZZLORD, BUZZWOLE, CELESTEELA[/tangent]

SPOILER: Click to show {Unclaimed Player Pokemon} [tangent=100/100 HP. 30 damage per dice used. Weak to Flying, Rock, Electric]STATS[/tangent] Buzzster Hooperham [tangent=68/100 HP. 30 damage per dice used. Weak to Fire, Ground]STATS[/tangent] Buzzster Hooperham [tangent=85/100 HP. 30 damage per dice used. Weak to Water, Rock, Steel]STATS[/tangent] Buzzster Hooperham [tangent=250/250 HP. 50 damage per dice used. Weak to Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Psychic, Fairy]STATS[/tangent] Torino SPOILER: Click to show {CORRUPTION CHAMBER} POKEMON CORRUPTION Within Zone 2, there is a chamber with a high concentration of Corruption. Players (OOC) may choose to have this Corruption spread to one of their character's Pokemon, altering one of its type or a specific move. This can be described as either an IC decision, or as an accidental result of moving through the Corruption. Players may pick one of the following changes: The Pokemon's [tangent=Changes Primary Type, the Pokemon can no longer be hit supereffectively *in most situations. There may be a slight cosmetic change in your Pokemon's appearance.]Primary Type[/tangent] changes to The Pokemon's [tangent=Changes Secondary Type, the Pokemon can no longer be hit supereffectively *in most situations. There may be a slight cosmetic change in your Pokemon's appearance.]Secondary Type[/tangent] changes to One of the Pokemon's [tangent=This move will no longer inflict Strain on the user. The move may be described looking significantly different than usual.]moves[/tangent] (specify) changes to type This change takes a full mechanical action to complete, and may be selected multiple times per character. The Corruption effect may be purged in-character at any time post-Raid by visiting a Shrine. SPOILER: Click to show {RETRIEVING LOOT} LEGACY LOOT GRAB Characters in Zone 2 may seize a single piece of loot before it rolls into the pit. Whatever item they grab will be unlocked for purchase by other characters in the post-event Raid Shop. SPOILER: Click to show {LOOT LIST} A glittering vial of water A chunk of crystal that gleams with brilliant light Armor crafted to mimic the form of a mighty insect A human femur ✔ An eye that burns with summer fire ✔ A key A seal shining with the promise of gold ✔ A clanking pair of metallic boots ✔ An ancient chunk of tree sap A cracked mirror A gargantuan fish fillet, now covered in red sand A bottle of alcohol, still full A brilliant white egg A lascivious red egg An egg glowing with disco rainbow lights The remains of a delicious sandwich A pearl filled with unnatural light A jewel-encrusted goblet A heart coated in thick winter frost A clockwork flower playing a faint tune ✔ A seal that shines with starlight A chunk of bright pottery A metallic capsule ✔ A propeller from an old aircraft A hedge trimmer A pink crystal An eight-ball with something pickled inside A gorgeous carpet, rolled tight and secured with rope Picking up an item takes one of your two mechanical actions. Each character may save one item total. There is only one of each item. You may not grab an item that was already picked up.

orioncayge Bergamot Gristleborg Respiro Torino Lucille Buzzster Hooperham Josh Devlin Nero Morpheus Wolf Aero Alkaid Altair Big Bee Shalin Nariya Kyukon All New Players

[tangent= ZONE 3: HEARTEATER ]ZONE 3: HEARTEATER[/tangent] WORLD EVENT BOSS: HEARTEATER is currently in mist form (incorporeal) and is not possible to target. To force Hearteater to materialize, players need one of two things: Solgaleo's SOLARBEAM (Solgaleo) or the SOLARBLADE CRUCIFIX (possessed by Sarah Lee, currently held hostage). SPOILER: Click to show {FOR SOLAGLEO'S SOLARBEAM} 1. RESTORING SOLGALEO Solgaleo is currently colorless and possessed by Hearteater. The following 10 types must be hit to free him and restore his consciousness: 700/700 HP, Retaliation 60 DMG 2. CHARGING SOLARBEAM After all types have been hit and he has regained color, Solgaleo will begin charging his SolarBeam. While charging, each consecutive HIT on Solgaleo will add to his charge, adding 1d100 to his DMG. Heals will not charge Solgaleo: however, they will still heal him normally. If Solgaleo is KO'ed while charging, he will lose all previous charge and must be Revived before he can fire his SolarBeam. SPOILER: Click to show {FOR SOLARBLADE CRUCIFIX} 1. DEFEATING XURKITREE The Giant Xurkitree miniboss from the Abandoned Lab is guarding Sarah Lee's prison. It has attacked all players in Zone 3 for 49 DMG (Power Whip) and is now charging an electric-type AOE. This AoE will hit all active Pokemon (ground-types immune) in Zone 3 at the start of next cycle unless Disrupted or Xurkitree is Defeated. 4,000 HP, Immune to -Type Moves Weak to Ground (+20) Currently charging: 10d100 Electric AoE (Can be Disrupted) Optional: May be bonded with after defeat. 2. FREEING SARAH LEE Sarah Lee is trapped inside the Giant Stakataka from the Dune District. Stakataka is not actively hostile, but it is still under Hearteater's control. At least one player must BOND with Stakataka to convince it to release its prisoner. Touch Stakataka (cannot approach until after Xurkitree has been defeated) Share a Memory Roll 1d6 (success on 6) If successfully freed, Sarah Lee's RPer may make one bonus post with Sarah this cycle (please post your Signup). If the user does not want to post, the SOLARBLADE CRUCIFIX may be taken and used by a different player during the Flavor Round.

Alicia Westfield Ruby Laguna eddiecayge

ZONE TWO > ESCAPE TO ZONE THREE

The mist thickened, it spread, it blossomed. Much like what Arthur had been able to do with his own hand, the red fog began to take shape and solidify before reaching, searching, pulling; a predator in search of prey, and screams soon accompanied the rising panic amongst the players in the same area. Buru's complaining felt like miles away even if she was standing beside her, whining that the itchiness was getting worse and she desperately wanted to hit something, anything.

[tangent=My dear Heartspawn]"⋔⊬ ⎅⟒⏃⍀ ⊑⟒⏃⍀⏁⌇⌿⏃⍙⋏"[/tangent]

He could feel it, something snaking into him, seizing the space in his chest where his heart should be.

[tangent=Come join us]"☊⍜⋔⟒ ⟊⍜⟟⋏ ⎍⌇"[/tangent]

Deep, deep laughter, a ringing that freezes him, trembling, stuttering, he raises his right arm, mimicking, ensnares a buzzing wing and something pierces--

There is nothing for him here. He is trapped in a glass box, a doll to be picked up, strung up by other hands, dragged across a floor; a puppet with invisible strings. Once again, he is an eyepiece in a dazzling suit, holding a thin cup of wine, and he watches like a statue, a pet, only to move once told by a ghost of a flowing dress, silver and gleaming. Like the moon, she said, she wanted to be radiant, do you not think so, Ã̷̱̖̘͕r̶̥̮̈͝t̵̖́̾̎ͅḧ̸̘̪͔̌͌̀͒͜ų̷̺̝̉͠ŕ̵͚̂ ?

Yes, mother, he says, before thinking of something different, impulsively horrid.

He is stopped by a ř̷̻̖̣̎͛͗̚e̷̺̟͍͍͇͗̑̒͌͠͝ͅd̶̩͎̬̈́̓̋͘͝hand t̷͖̉̒ͅẹ̴̟̺̰͉̦͊͆̽n̶̨̡͕̲͕̓̅̈́͠ț̸̥̌̅̃́à̴̯̺̠͓̦̚͝c̵̭̆̈́̄̅̚͝l̶̢̯̜̬̖̥͊͠ḙ̵̭̮̮̎̑̉̚͝ m̵̡̧̰̲̣͚͒̋͊͘i̵̭̗̿̇̄s̵̗͐̉̾͗̕ţ̷̨͘

She tuts. She is smiling, but features are missing. It's just white. It's bright--

The next thing Arthur knew, he was in the air, carried by the Buzzwole that he tried to lasso down but instead left it screeching; its incoherent noise joining a chorus of cacophony. The mist rope he had made slackened, dispersed, and he found himself falling--

<Kyukon!>

A miracle that Banko was able to leap close enough for the trainer to get his arms around the horse, with Buru riding on him and Anta close behind. The three of them would descend through the deepest part of the pit, into and through. Banko used the wall to slow the fall before his hooves managed to find a hold that made it feel like he was galloping horizontally. This gave Arthur enough time to get on the Mudsdale's back.

<What happened to you back there?!> the Granbull scolded.

Arthur didn't know how to reply. The mist only got thicker the further they went, and it was hard to breathe.

<Don't freeze up on us now!>

And then he got a slap on the cheek, which sent a jolt all over his body, shocking his senses. ❝What the fuck?❞

The Granbull's paws were covered in a pitch black aura that seemed to pixel and glitch in random places. In his UI, it said that apparently, one of her moves got corrupted while moving through the zones. Corrupted...like the situation in Mistra?! ❝Buru, how--❞

<I was saying I was itchy a while ago and you weren't listening! But it's kind of gone now, or maybe 'cuz there's something worse here.>

The pit opened its mouth, revealing a mist so thick that it might as well be a sea. It was as if his hand disappeared entirely, but even if everything was scattered, he felt something watching him, brushing up to him.

[tangent=Where is the rest of your heart?]"⍙⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⟟⌇ ⏁⊑⟒ ⍀⟒⌇⏁ ⍜⎎ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⊑⟒⏃⍀⏁?"[/tangent]

He gritted his teeth, spitting, ❝It's not for you.❞

[tangent=A shame. You would have been such a pretty plaything]"⏃ ⌇⊑⏃⋔⟒. ⊬⍜⎍ ⍙⍜⎍⌰⎅ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏚⟒⟒⋏ ⌇⎍☊⊑ ⏃ ⌿⍀⟒⏁⏁⊬ ⌿⌰⏃⊬⏁⊑⟟⋏☌"[/tangent]

<Kyukon, just letting you know that we're still falling!>

Accursed mist! It was straining to think, to inhale. For a moment he wanted to stop struggling, to yield, but if he did that, if he did that...then why did he fight so hard to prove people wrong?

In his hand, smoke pooled, coalescing, birthing something new. Right before they hit the ground, what Arthur was able to control turned into a slope, allowing Banko to safely slide down onto the ground without suffering any damage.

[tangent=What did you do?!]"⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⎅⟟⎅ ⊬⍜⎍ ⎅⍜?!"[/tangent]

There was a roar in his mind yet he couldn't help but smile. Of course, of course. The game shall bend to its players.

❝In case you've forgotten, you also gave me a part of you.❞ the mist around him thinned, swirling around his arm, like a cloak that he wore on his sleeve, dripping to the floor. ❝You are not the only one who can control the mist.❞

A cry, a rally to action - the [tangent=Alicia Westfield ]Iron Lady[/tangent] gave the command to strike. It was here Arthur finally tried to get a grasp of the situation in front of him: another Ultra Beast was towering over them, but once again he knew that damage was not the reason why he put his team together. He would not be of much help there. But on the other side, there was a familiar face, a snarl, a spiteful glare.

❝The sun.❞

WARNING: You are currently cursed! You will receive damage if you are nearby when a SUN or SOLAR move is used. T̷̜͛h̵̰́è̴̙ ̴̺̚s̸̬̽ụ̵͑n̶̦͘ ̴̥̑w̷͑ͅi̵̖̐l̸͎͐l̶̝̽ ̶͉͘k̷̭̒i̴̘̅l̶̜͝l̸͈̅ ̷͈́y̶̖̋ŏ̶̝u̵͉͝

He swiped away the box. Kill? Hah! The Solgaleo was their ticket to this fucking boss, curse be damned!

❝Buru! We have one more colorless Pokemon to revive! We need a double Bite, Lick, and Thunder Fang!❞

<Feh! I want a nice long vacation after this!> she let out a howl before charging forth. The Solgaleo roared and swiped with its sharpened claws, but the Granbull dodged it effortlessly. With the sloppy heal she was given earlier, she was in top form, ready to chomp down and get those colors back. She was first able to sink her teeth onto one of the lion's hind legs with a Bite, bringing the color to the tips of its paws back. It then gave a good kick, which pushed her back, but she was not done yet!

Another direct clash would give her a chance to leap onto the back of the lion and bite on the steel mane, bringing color back to the visor. She also gave it a quick Lick before getting flung off, which restored the accents on Solgaleo's body. Finally, with Arthur coming in to help distract the mind-controlled beast and break its focus, she was able to land a Thunder Fang on its front paw, making it howl in pain as gold accents erupted from its pale body.

❝We're letting the light in, Lunala. You are but a dated relic, destined to return to dust.❞

Granbull - Sweeper - 110/250 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: Dodge
Action: Used Bite x2, Lick, and Thunder Fang on SOLGALEO
Battle Log:
- Outrage has been corrupted
- Took 20 DMG from Strain (halved by Dodge)
- Took 120 DMG from Retaliation (halved by Dodge)

Mudsdale - Sweeper - 180/250 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: N/A
Action: No Action
Battle Log: N/A

Mantyke - Support - 213/250 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: Escape
Action: No Action
Battle Log: N/A

Kyukon - Support - 250/250 HP

ZONE 2 > MOVING TO ZONE 3

Each area of this dungeon was worse than the last - which in itself was probably a compliment to the game designers that had put it together. The sense of dread climbed with each step that Nero descended, and possibly for the first time since he'd begun playing this game, he felt truly thankful for the Pokemon traveling by his side. They were chunks of data, graphics in a video game, not real companions by any stretch of the imagination, and yet their presence still brought him comfort. More so than the actual real life players running around him for some reason, though perhaps that wasn't a surprise. Real people were intimidating now, but the fact that his Pokemon were just game models who couldn't and wouldn't abandon him made him feel a lot safer with them...

These tight tunnels really were grim though, with Nero sticking as close to the centre as he could manage even as he was jostled by other descending players. He was trying his best to not look around him, to focus on the descent and not the endless corruption around him that brought with it echos of Tyke's growls and barks in his ears with every glimpse... What would have happened if he'd brought his Electrike here, when he was already inflicted with whatever curse this substance could bring? Were his other Pokemon in danger now too? Would they all end up like Tyke, broken and aggressive and locked away from society until Nero could figure out what to do with them? He doubted returning them to their Pokeball would do them much good now though - if they'd been affected, it would be too late to change anything - so instead he just picked up his pace and rushed further along the tunnel.

By now, Nero was entirely lost on what was actually happening. The colourless Pokemon had entirely vanished - perhaps they'd cured them all? - and there were Ultra Beasts everywhere that some people seemed to be talking to. There was still a lot of movement and action even without any obvious targets - though as another Kartana came floating up to him to heal his Yanmega of her most recent damage, the motive behind that became clearer. Players were supporting each other, healing each other, before they faced off with the final boss that must be getting close now. Maybe that was something Nero could do too then? But there were so many people around him, how was he supposed to know who needed healing?

The pressure was mounting again, his head throbbing as a panic started to build but no, stop. This was just a game, remember? He'd made a deal with himself when he'd entered this dungeon that he'd treat this like the fun game that it was. No stress, no pressure, no horrible haunting mistakes - it was a game, and he was just a player.

So, same logic as last time then. He looked around, trying to spy any health bars around him that looked a little low, so that he could direct Yanmega towards them. The girl with the nametag 'Shalin Nariya ' that Nero had met at the prep party wasn't too far away, and several of her Pokemon seemed weakened. Alright, perfect, that kept it simple then. With the same blasts of slicing air from before, Yanmega fired off her heals towards the other players' Pokemon before following Nero deeper into the spiraling tunnels.

The tunnel suddenly widened, and though the mist was getting thicker, Nero was able to peer through it to see a large pit in the centre of the cavern, with Ultra Beasts milling around and throwing an assortment of items into the centre of. Players all around him were humping into the pit, clearly confident that this was the only way forwards, and some of them were even snatching up some of the items as they went. Okay, well if they were sure that this was the way forwards...

With a quick gesture to ensure his two Pokemon were following him, Nero moved forwards and clambered a little ungravefully into the pit, not quit brave enough to dive in headfirst like the others. He managed to scramble around in the sand and grab a strange glowing eggs with all sorts of colours coming from it, and was just about able to push it into his bag before the pit dragged him deeper and he descended into Zone 3.

Kabutops - Sweeper - 195/250 HP

Core Ability: None
Action: No Action
Battle Log:
- Healed 49 HP by Laguna 's Mr Mime
- Nero looted an egg glowing with disco rainbow lights from the pit

Yanmega - Support - 187/250 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: Buff
Action: Heal on Ponyta, Pheromosa, and Liepard with Air Slash
Battle Log:
- Healed 47 HP by Bergamot Gristleborg 's Kartana
- Took 30 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain

ZONE 2 > MOVING TO ZONE 3

Aero was gasping in exhaustion again. She was getting tired of running between zones now and that's saying something from a girl who liked walking and running. It was so bad that her Skeledirge was starting to catch up to her before looking at her in concern. "I-I'm...fine..." She gasped. "But I'm not happy at the part of "not having Escape" like the others." The young girl in armor groaned. "But that won't stop me from joining the fight! I won't be beaten by tiredness or my lack of foresight!" It wasn't until she collapsed on her knees after a few miles into the second zone. "Although I need... A few minutes..." She gasped again. "I can't give up...now..."

Before she knew it, Aero was now on the ground, trying to catch her breath while unaware of the red mist coming towards her. "Geez... And I thought running in VRMMO games wouldn't give me exhaustion after a while. I can't go on like this. Are there any shortcuts around here?" Aero looked around until she noticed a cave filled with red mist almost covering it. "What about there? We might be able to get to the boss's room much faster." But upon staring at the entrance, her Skeledirge and Snom flinched, causing the latter to jump out of his trainer's shoulder in fear and shake his head along with Coco's. "Oh, come on! Can't you guys take a little risk for once? There's a raid boss below and we have to kick their butt before it tries to attack Asper or worse!" Despite this, her Pokemon stood their ground away from the tunnel. "Okay, okay. I get it. If you guys think it's that bad, then maybe I'll go in for a test run."

She equipped herself with a helmet and mask and started moving towards the cave, much to her Pokemon's horror. They quickly cried to their trainer to turn away, worried at what was inside along with the mysterious mist. Yet their pleas were ignored as she stepped into the cave with a smile on her face. "See? There's nothing scary about t- ACK!"

Before Aero could react, Coco and Crystal cried in horror to see their trainer's armor begin to change color. What was once a shiny violet was starting to turn into a rustic black and crimson red. It first spread from her boots and legs and up towards her torso. She tried to move her legs to get away from whatever changing her armor. But she couldn't even move her arms, let alone her whole body. "O-Okay... Maybe that's my fault... Somebody help me!"

Despite her pleas, her Pokemon couldn't bear to approach their trainer. If they did, they might end up like her and they couldn't risk it. But when it fully changed her armor and was about to spread through her neck, a large red Pokemon suddenly bumped into her, pushing her away from the tunnel in the process. "Ow... I can move again, but ow..." She groaned. "But what hit me?" Aero slowly looked up and her eyes widened to see the Pokemon closely. It had huge muscles resembling those of heavy lifters she watched on TV with legs from a spider or ant. Just those details were enough to realize what Pokemon it was. "A Buzzwole?! Seriously?! I thought we already had one of them back then, but they're also here next to the boss's room?!"

Aero slowly backed away from the Ultra Beast as the Skeledirge and Snom jumped in front of their trainer in their attempt to protect her. If it tried to attack them before the boss, then it would be all over for all of them. She would try to raise her sword in an attempt to stop the Buzzwole. But then, she heard a man's voice echoing from the chamber.

It seemed to come from a player named Morpheus called out to everyone in the zone that they needed to bond with the Ultra Beasts to increase their chance of defeating the raid boss. "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?!" But her question remained unanswered as she watched in her shock that the man was flying away on a Celesteela, another Ultra Beast she didn't expect to see. Yet his words seemed to give her some thought. Befriend the Ultra Beast through memories? She did recall having that strange flashback scene when she tried to yank the Blacephalon away from Josh earlier. She doubted she could tame it without battling the Ultra Beast. But with how strong the Buzzwole looked, what choice did she have?

"Back away, guys. This guy's mine."

Both Pokemon were shocked at her order. Yet they couldn't help but follow it. If she might able to calm this beast down, With them slowly backing away, Aero stepped forward and stared at the Buzzwole. "This better work or I'm going to get a backache from this."

Taking a deep breath, she touched the Ultra Beast's abs and closed her eyes. The Buzzwole flinched as it saw an image. A memory of a young brunette girl being carried by her father. The beginning was a bit sad as she found herself facing against a wall when trying to look at the pretty butterflies above her. She cried, unable to see what everyone saw. Yet her father didn't want her to see her sad. He lifted her up away from the wall and let her see the butterflies in the sky.

Once the memory ended, Aero slowly backed away, fearful of how the Buzzwole would react. There was still the corrupted armor she needed to worry about as she feared something would happen if she touched her Pokemon while wearing it. However, it didn't seem like it affected Buzzwole when she touched it to share her memory. Maybe she might be over her head and...

"GRAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!"

Aero flinched as the Bug/Fighting-type roared. "Oh, man... I knew it didn't w-" All of a sudden, she was suddenly picked up by the Buzzwole, carrying her by its muscled shoulder, much to Coco and Crystal's shock. "Hey, what are you doing?" The Ultra Beast responded by staring at her. Looking at her position, she noticed it was replicating how her father carried her during the butterfly show she shared. "Are you...going to join us? You're gonna help us fight the Hearteater?"

To Aero and the Pokemon's shock, the musclebound Ultra Beast nodded its head. Before she knew it, the Buzzwole started running through the zone with Aero still on its shoulders as the panicked Skeledirge chased them with Crystal riding on his back. "H-Hey! Slow down! There's a thing called speed limit, you know!"

Despite this, Aero knew she was heading into uncharted territory. There was no going back for her, Coco, and Crystal once they jumped into the hole below them.

It's time for them to face the monster itself.

Aero - Sweeper - 250/250 HP

No Roll
Core Ability: None
Action: Corruption to :: primary type
Battle Log:
- Aero obtains(?) :: primary type.
- Aero successfully befriends a Buzzwole.

Skeledirge - Tank - 290/300 HP

No Roll
Core Ability: None
Action: None
Battle Log:
- No action

Zone 2> ESCAPING TO Zone 3

“Eddie?”

Orion’s voice echoed through the tunnels as he made his way back deeper into the fight, still perched atop Gilgamesh’s chitinous shoulders. Poseidon was currently being fishandled in Gill's tiny extra set of griblly grabbers, and Adze and Morpheus were far ahead. He’d left his cousin here not but moments ago, or at least it felt like it hadn’t been that long, but then again just about everyone and their dog had blitzed ahead and he was starting to feel a bit behind.

He could feel the final showdown brewing below, the tension sparking, the howl of fury as sweepers laid into something hitherto unknown to him or his companions. Was it the boss? Or some sort of intermediary? He had now way of knowing.

“Double time it Gil.” Orion barked between grit teeth. Eddie being MIA and Laguna being out of sight made his nerves stand on edge.

“On it.” Gil quipped back, redoubling his speed to beeline it through the tunnel. As they blitzed through the treasure vortex Orion paused for a moment, he’d had little luck turning any of the Beasts astray from their master thus far but…

But sometimes touchdowns were determined in inches, and a field goal could tip the balance of the game.

“Keep going you guys, I’m gonna try and recruit another bro.” The fighter commanded, rising to his feet and balancing himself along the silvery plates of Gilgamesh’s back. With a careful leap, he jumped from one goliath to another, landing on the back of a Guzzlord who immediately took GREAT exception to his presence and began to thrash about. Gripping onto one of his spikes tightly, Orion braced himself and opened his heart to the creature.

…

“Nonna, why don’t we eat dinner like this every day?” A very young Orion, his feet kicking idly as his legs were too short to reach the floor from his seat. To his left was his grandmother who he strictly only knew as “Nonna” a kindly old Itallian woman who was in the twilight of her life. She was say in a wheelchair and had a myriad of tubes shoved and stabbed into various parts of her body to take care of various functions her failing body had given up the ghost on.

“Well…” the woman wheezed. “Today is special.” Her kindly old eyes meandered from her hardly touched plate of turkey and stuffing and made its way to her grandson. “It’s thanksgiving.”

“I know that!” The child protested between mouthfuls of mash and gravy. “But why aren’t we thankful every day? Why do we need a special day to get everyone together and eat like this?” His protests earned him a warning look from Uncle Joe from across the table, but his withering stare was countered by a glare from the old woman.

“Because then moments like these wouldn’t be special little one.” Nonna wheezed, raising a shaky hand to ruffle her grandson’s hair. “A good meal is made better if you’re hungry before eating, water tastes better when you’re thirsty, and lights seem brighter after you’ve been in the dark. Not every day can be special, otherwise none of them would be.”

“I don’t get it.” Orion fussed, a pout forming on his lips.
“You will when you are older, I promise.” The old woman tittered breathlessly, “Now eat your dinner so you can go play games with your cousins.”
“Hrrrm…okay.” The child turned back to his plate and dug in. “I love you Nonna.”
“Love you too little hunter.”
…

Orion never got to tell her how much he’d come to understand her words, later that night Nonna went to bed and never woke back up. It was a bittersweet memory, and apparently his makeshift mount had had a different memory meal in mind as he continued to thrash and crash around the tunnel.

“God damn yall are a tough crowd today holy fuck.” Orion hissed between grit teeth as he tried not to get thrown off. He held on for dear life till the thrashing mon had lined up his shot perfectly. Riding the momentum of the bucking beast, Orion shot through the air like a bullet, landing with a tumble alongside Gil and gang at the precipice of no return.

“No dice?” Poseidon asked with a gurgle.
“No dice.” Orion grunted as he flung himself over the precipice. “But what we’ve got is enough, I'm sure of it.”
“You sure?” Gil asked, a shred of his old timid nature creeping through.
“I believe in us, and I believe in the team waiting on us.” Orion affirmed, and down they went.

At this point Orion had abandoned the idea of knowing what was going to be coming next, his “foresight” had cost him time doubling back to find Gil, and had kept him from being a part of the opening act, but now…well it was pretty plain to see what was going on. Sarah was locked up in a castle of brick and mortar, the mighty Xurkitree of massive proportions wrapped and wreathed around the prison like a mighty dragon of sparks and steel.

Solgaleo was here too, something he’d heard rumbling of, but he hadn’t thought to see it drained of its color. Just how powerful was this hearteater that it had managed to eclipse its own celestial twin? And what had pushed things to this level? He didn’t have time to find out, he simply hit the ground running.

“Adze! With me!” Orion shouted. “Gil, Morpheus, Poseidon, go color in a god!”

“ON IT!” The trio barked in unison.

“Y-es.” a gravelly voice chimed in. Orion turned in shock to Adze who was shooting him a thumbs up. “L-ets get him, B-boss.” The bulksquito was struggling to put the words together, but he was in fact putting them together.

“Together.” Orion clapped the bugs shoulder.
“Together.” Adze parroted, mirroring his motion.

The two surged forward with all the fury and might they could muster given their hasty entrance. For the first time since their arrival, Adze donned the chrome knuckle dusters his master had smelted out of the frame of a Ford Wrangler. Orion clutched his chrome shield aloft in one hand, leading with it out to parry and deflect any incoming attacks whilst the other was in a gauntleted fist ready to throw the first punch he could.

Xurkitree’s sparking vine like appendages flailed wildly, through the air and around the chamber, demarking his space as his and any intruders who ventured into it were liable for the asswhooping they would receive in turn. Orion learned very quickly it was better to dodge these blows than to block them, one strike across the gut had left him flying through the air and landing winded. Adze took to the skies on his fluttering wings, darting between the weaving strikes as well as he could, doing his best to keep the strikes to glancing blows but was not impervious to taking a hit or two. Instead he wreathed his body again in flames as his muscles hardened, if the beast wanted to slug it out he would make each successful strike against him hurt just as much for his foe as it did him.

Orion staggered to his feet and resumed his charge, seeking to get closer to the body. It was a fools errand, but it allowed him to draw more fire away from his fellow raiders, using his shield to slam into each snaking strike to beat the blows back. Each collision jolting through his bones and joints, sending flashes of red across his UI as he grew dangerously close to the red, threading a needle between life and death. A panicky, adrenaline filled tone flashed through his ear, an ever present alert once one hit beneath twenty five percent health.

That was just Orion’s theme music.

He would break every bone in his body and then some to ensure the safety of his fellow players. He would bleed an ocean of blood to bring a fraction of the joy this game brought to him back to the world. He would die a thousand simulated deaths just so that this game could stay alive. A warcry escaped his lips, wordless and primal, his warriors aura wreathed in the flame of his indignity and rage, it held but one message.

COME AND FUCKING GET IT.

His body would be the shield for those behind him, his rage their spear. He howled for the loss that every trainer had felt in being separated from their cherished pokemon. The indignity suffered by those Hearteater had sought to prey upon. For the freedom stripped from every ultrabeast still beneath the bats yoke. Adze joined in, a cacophonous harmony of rage and indignation as their twin assaults found a ravenous rhythm. Never again would either of them be victims of such wanton cruelty, never again would their be ANY victims of this creatures wanton cruelty. If Solgaleo would not bring back the light, the fury of his flames would stoke a bonfire that would rival the sun and melt the steel titan before him, allowing them to steal back their stolen sister.

Meanwhile, Gil and Poseidon found Solgaleo first, perhaps it was their previous incarceration under this colorless curse that urged them forward, perhaps it was a sense of urgency brought on by shared memories of heated brawls being tipped in the eleventh hour. Whatever it was, they both crashed into Solgaleo with incredible force. Poseidon was focusing all of his energy into a fiery aura that wreathed around him, turning his rough flesh into a fiery flail to be wielded by his partner. Gilgamesh had begun a mighty war dance, sharpening his spirit like a sword that sliced away at the macabre marionette, swinging Poseidon around like a mighty flail, each strike beating upon the lion like a war drum.  Slowly a different crimson took hold of Solgaleo, the burning bright rays of a new day dawning upon this battle as the bid the sun to rise once again.

Morpheus was more apprehensive as he approached, the homunculus approaching the mighty beast with a sense of trepidation. How mighty a mon Solgaleo was, even in his diminished state. It invoked an almost sense of jealousy from the Type Null, a deep rooted genetic envy that roiled in his blood. How mighty was Hearteater to have lain its twin low like this, and how mighty were they both that even in their diminished state they were leagues outside of Morpheus’ own.

He was born to be great like them, engineered and designed to be a stand in for God himself, and yet all he was a withered imitation. Even now the stings of the battle weighed heavy on his frame as he trudged forward. The weight of all of this adrenaline, fear, and hurt clung to him like a wet weighted blanket. But even with all the dread in his heart, all the jealousy and fear, he continued onwards for he had one missions.

Save the day.

Solgaleo, of course, was not going to let any of this happen sitting down. He was, as of this moment, playing for the other team. With wide sweeping swipes did he rain down his retribution on Gilgamesh and Poseidon, batting them about like a cat would a tiny mouse. It was as this happened did Morpheus strike, did he put his master plan to work.

Leaping forward, he found himself face to face with Solgaleo, gaze drawn to him by the sudden motion. The homunculus slammed his forehead into the god and shared with him a memory.
…
Claxons boomed through metal halls as explosions shook the land itself. Ahead of him, three figures were making their escape towards a closing hatch. The first to arrive, an Emboar by the name of Ares, skidded to a stop and raised his arms up to halt the encroaching door as it tried to shut. Next to arrive was Achilles the Incineroar who two joined his brother in arms in their makeshift pillar plan. Thirdly, Orion slide through the opening and into the open air of the day, turning around to call out.

“Come on! Morpheus!”

The chimera forced itself to hobble forward, bones breaking with every flailing step, muscles and skin shredding indiscriminately as the mad science that had fused him together failed to hold on. His head flopped back, neck on longer capable of supporting itself upright.

He was going to die staring at a metal ceiling.

“MORPHEUS!”

Orion dashed back, grabbing the slumping sack of stitches and hefting it into his arms with a level of ease that was foreign to such a large potato sack of a creature. Palms sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy the fighter sucked in ragged breaths as he muscled himself and mutant mon through the threshold, Achilles and Ares dropping the door as they all dashed for as much distance as they could put between them and the science lab. Booms rumbled through the island like thunder as the secret Psi Island laboratory self-destructed, taking it and its secrets into a ruinous grave.

Morpheus didn’t find any of this at all scary, however.

Any other time he would have been losing his mind with fear, or adrenaline, or some mix thereof. But the sky above was this brilliant burning orange, and he wasn’t quite sure what he was looking at. This was, after all, his first time ever in the open air. The very notion of a sky was but a genetic memory to him, a piece of knowledge inherited from one of his myriad genetic donors. He’d never seen it before.

And what a first impression it was making.

It didn’t matter that every breath felt like a thousand needles filling his flooded lungs, or that each step his master took sent searing pain skidding across every name like a stick of butter on a scorching hot pan.

He was dying, but this was one hell of a sight to die to.

He could feel it, each and every stitch from his Mimikyu mother unwinding, grinding away as he slumped further and further into himself. Unraveling bit by bit, dying breath by breath, his moments were measured no longer in hours, but by the minutes as his minute life was coming to an end.

God, if this is how beautiful the sun was when setting, he would give anything to see it rise.
…

And give everything to see it rise he did, the homunculus hound unraveling at the seams, streams of golden orange light wrapping around the lion.

“The night has been too long…” The hound whimpered, a whisper in the lions ear as he faced the weight of his own decision. “But no matter how long the night, how deep the fog, how obstinate the moon is, the sun ALWAYS rises. So please.”

The light ensnared the lion in a golden embrace, a golden hug.

“Shine once again lord sun, and chase away this monster. Take my light, make it yours.”

Morpheus used Sacrifice, all that remained of him a glowing wreath of light wrapped tightly around the lion in a hug, the sun setting on the Homunculus, but rising bright like a shining dawn for the rekindled god.  Mirroring the sunset of Morpheus, the powers that be aligned to spell the end of Xurkitree as the sparking lightshow dimmed and tumbled down, the threat now neutralized as the creature spasmed on the ground.  Orion's momentum didn't halt as he continued to charge forward, no longer at the chrome combatant, but the towering titan of ancient bricks that held their trapped compatriot.  Sarah was his honor roll homie, his guilded gal, his alliterated ally.  Their entombment infuriated him to end, and as he reached to the beast he felt the familiar feeling of washing back through the Sands of Time well up within him.  

...

Speaking of sand, growing up on the edge of a desert is kinda weird.  There's not like, woods you can scamper along and do kids on bicycle shit like in E.T or stranger things.  Hell, if an alien landed in his backyard Area 51 would be on their Ayy lmao ass like shit on stink.  Instead you had like, dunes, which were hot during the day and cold as shit during the night.  But they did occasionally conceal some dope shit, like the junkyard.

Alex had been the first to find it, ever exploring, ever addicted to his long sojourns through the sands in search of something nobody thought he'd ever find.  Even at the ripe age of eight he'd been restless, though perhaps he just knew his untimely demise was awaiting him and his midlife crisis was kicking in early.  Whatever the reason, he'd guided his clan to the field of forsaken scrap like motherfucking Moses guiding them to the promised playground.

It was anything a kid could ask for, unstable scrap heaps to monkey around in, burnt out cars that were likely dumped from crimes, and mattresses that could probably pass you an STD if it hadn't been seared sterile from the blazing summer sun.  But to them?  It was a wonderful stage for all sorts of plays, both mundane and magical as the Cayge Clan clamored about.  But their magnum opus had been their castle, forged from hours of the older kids hauling and manipulating materials far beyond their measure.  Mankind reduced to its most primal of building techniques as these children reforged the wheel, manipulated fulcrums and levers, and even jury rigged a pulley or two.  Anyone who said aliens built the pyramids had clearly never seen this castle, it was a testimate to what mankind could make with enough gumption and tetanus shots.  

Yet the peace that had brought such a wonder was quickly threatened as the issue of naming the motherfucker had come about.  Whilst the cousins were all comrades in construction, their egos were all equally as tall as the mighty twisted tower they'd designed.  Nobody was going to budge on their ideas as everyone bandied their own about.  Orion however, was at a bit of an impasse.  His idea of fort kickass had been stolen, something he'd mentioned in passing to a trusted confidant, pilfered and plagiarized by a poser.  He was indignant at the mere thought of it being branded by that title now, but he had nothing better to use.  As the cousins continued to quarrel he spied Eddie kicking his foot idly in the sand, eyes downcast as he muttered something.

Jericho.

Oh that was slick, it had great mouthfeel, they'd just learned about it in Sunday school, and it was snappy.  Plus Eddie had lived up to his namesake when it came to engineering the god damn thing, and whenever they'd gotten stuck it'd been him to spend his Saturdays sequestered at the library instead of running around playing freeze tag.  If anyone deserved to name this thing, it was him.

"Eddie says we should name it Jericho."  Orion offered, and the rest was history.  

...

Unfortunately, Orion's attempt to climb mount big motherfucker would never go down in history, unless it was the history of dumbfucks who thought they could climb with a shield in one hand and a fucking GAUNTLET in the other hand.  He slipped and tumbled down, only catching a glimpse of red hair as he plummeted to the ground.  

Of course that asshole picked now of all times to stunt.

Orion the Human - Sweeper - 277/400 HP

Link to Roll

Core Ability: Escape

Action:
67+(15x6)+(20x6)+(5x6)+(5x6)+(5x6)== 367 damage against Xurk


Battle Log:

- Took 60 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain

- Other (Healing, Buffs, etc)

Morpheus the Type Null - Support - -9999/400 HP

Link to Roll

Core Ability: Sacrifice

Action: Protecting Solgaleo from the forces of Hearteater this turn

Battle Log:

Adze The Buzzswole - Sweeper - 200/400 HP

Link to Roll

Core Ability: None

Action: 
40+(15x6)+(5x6)+(5x6)+(5x6) = 220 damage

Battle Log:

- Took 60 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain

- Other (Healing, Buffs, etc)

Poseidon the Carvanha- Feesh - 40/100 HP

Link to Roll

Core Ability: None

Action: 
9+5+5+5= 24 Damage, 10 strain, 50 retal

Battle Log:

- Took 10 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain

- Other (Healing, Buffs, etc)

Gilgamesh the Golisopod - Tank - 416/500 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: None
Action:

3+10+20+5+5= 43 damage, ten strain, 50 retal

Battle Log:
- Took 10 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain
- Other (Healing, Buffs, etc)

ZONE 2 > ESCAPING TO ZONE 3

Kath Ulu entered Hearteater's Lair in a panic.
"Sorry we're late!" Kath yelled. "Grookey was taking a shit!"
"A big one, baby!" Grookey cried out, tapping his stick against his rear. "Ever see a diglet trio?"
"Dugtrio," said Treeko. "And please, stop talking about your stool!"
"I can't believe I evolved for this, man," said Bulby, who had recently EVOLVED into a VENUSAUR, "only for Grookey to shit us out of half of it."
Kath, Grookey and Treeko were riding atop Bulby's flower (who is now a Venusaur), brandishing their weapons of choice.
Grookey: A stick
Treeko: A stolen pokeball
Kath: One of Venusaur's vines, which he tolerated because he's a big softie.
"Your evolution was so cool though!" Kath said. She leant down and gave him head an affectionate pat on the head.
The newly evolved Bulby looked up at her like this ^_^ and nodded. The nod almost threw the little Grookey off, but he held on for dear life and stayed on board.
"That's right," said Treeko, "You trained so hard for this evolution, I'm glad you get to use it even if we are late."
"Yeah!" Grookey said. "Let's not play the blame game! Let's enjoy our late arrival for what it is! Grookey to the rescue, baby!"
"Ah, man," said Bulby. "I trained… day in, and day out…"

MEMORY:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r81AviZECUE
Bulby was on his back, under the bench press, in the gym. He was still an Ivysaur at the time, but he was determined to evolve.
He'd been in the gym every day this week, and he planned to be in the gym every day for the rest of the week too. He'd only ever skipped one day: Rest Day.
"Just one rep of this," Bulby strained. "And it's a new personal best."
He pushed the bar. Each end was 200kg weights, making the entire press 420kg (the bar is 20kg). "OH MAN, OH MAN," he yelled, comfortably because he was completely alone.
It was 4am, but he'd been up since 3 - which was 2 hours before his bedtime. It was best to start as early as possible, because starting early was half the battle. The rest of the battle was the actual battle, and arguably the hardest part (a real battle).
"Argh!" His elbows were still fully bent, and the bar was barely up.
Suddenly, he wished he had a spotter.
The 420kg bar bent upward in the middle, the weight of it pushing down toward Bulby's face.
Oh man, thought Bulby. I'm gonna die. I'm gonna fucking die in a gym at 4am.
"Don't worry, baby!" Came an annoying voice. "You can do more than 420kg!"
Grookey leapt onto one side of the bar.
"AH! GROOKEY! MAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"Making you stronger, baby, don't you worry!" Grookey grinned, straddling the weights. "Me and Kath followed you! To help!"
The bar bowed lower, and the metal touched Bulby's face.
"YOU'RE NOT HELPING, MAN!"
"Grookey!" Kath yelled from the other side of the room. "You're putting him off balance! Don't worry, Bulby."
Kath climbed onto the weights on the other side of the bar.
"ARGH!"
"I got your back," Kath winked.
"MY BACK IS GOING TO BREAK!"
That was 500kg. Bulby's eyes were bloodshot. He was about to die, in the gym, at 4am, surrounded by his friends.
But then, something happened. A sprout, a pop.
A magnificent purple flower BURST from beneath Bulby's back, elevating him off the bench and several meters off the ground. The scent of bloom filled the room. The unfurling flower curled out, and as it grew so did Bulby.
His muscles bulged as they grew twice as big. His limbs grew twice as long.
This was it: he'd finally evolved.
The Venusaur pushed the bar all the way to the ceiling.
"One," he said, and he smiled twice as wide.
END OF MEMORY

There was a BUZZWOLE next to them, and it suddenly snapped its attention to Bulby.
"Oh, sorry man, I stepped on your foot," Bulby said, but it was too late.
Buzzwole's eyes dilated as he soaked the memory in. This Venusaur was his friend. This Venusaur was his kin. This Venusaur was his GUY.
"Sup brah," said Buzzwole. "You drinkin' pre-workout today?"
"Only every day, man," Bulby replied with full confidence. "400mg caffeine minimum."
"Minimum? Nice."
"Yeah. No point going half-measure."
"You on gear?"
"Natty," Bulby smirked, "But I up my protein bi-weekly to keep up with the regime."
Kath turned to Grookey. "Can you believe this guys?" She laughed. "They think they're jocks but they're total nerds."
"Keep your voice down, baby," Grookey said, "they'll beat us up!"
"Could everyone PLEASE focus?" Treeko pointed down into Zone 3. "They need our help down there."
"Yep," Kath agreed. "You're right, as always. Do it."

TREEKO used ESCAPE to Zone 3!

They jumped down into the red mist.
Bulby the Venusaur landed with a resounding thud, sending out a shockwave through the red mist.
Around them, Kath saw her fellow trainers. Some had familiar faces, like Orion Cayge and Laguna! Others were less familiar, like this Bergamot character. Looked kinda familiar though.
"Hey, sorry I'm late everyo-ughhhhblurrerugughhh," Kath vomited the second she breathed in the thick red coagulate. "Oh, what the fluerrugughghg…"
"Oh you're vomiting on my back!"
"Better out than in, baby!"
"Is that Sarah Lee?" Treeko pointed.
All of their eyes snapped onto the figure, their friend, now possessed by the unmitigated evil of the Hearteater.
"Oh, fuck no," Kath wiped her mouth. "Who the hell do I have to kill to free Sarah?"
That's when they saw the XURKITREE.
It was massive, shining, and more powerful than any of them.
Kath gulped.
Treeko wiped the reddened sweat from her brow.
Bulby dug his feet into the ground.
Grookey grinned. Thankfully, he'd already pooed today.
"VENUSAUR," Kath shouted. "I CHOOSE YOU!"
Bulby flexed his flower, setting his friends down in the mist only because he would not risk taking them into the same danger he faced.
Then he chugged down his pre-workout.
VENUSAUR MEGA-EVOLVED!
"YEAH MAN, I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO TAKE THREE STEPS THE FUCK BACK," Bulby's booming voice rang out toward the Xurkitree, and he brandished his muscles. "CAUSE THIS PUMP'S GOT RECOIL."

VENUSAUR - Sweeper - 210/350 HP

Link to Roll (check rolling thread baby)
Core Ability: RECOIL
Action: MEGA-EVOLVE
Battle Log: 884 to Xurkitree!
- Took 140 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain

Treeko threw her pokeball.
"DRILLBUR! I RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE!"
Drillbur, having been UNIONISED by Treeko, leapt out of his pokeball and smacked the Xurkitree in the face!
Don't worry everyone! It's just flavour, and Treeko is actually attacking and taking all the damage and Drillbur isn't technically here! But isn't it cool?!

Treeko - Sweeper - 290/350 HP

Link to Roll (check the roll thread, man!)
Core Ability: ESCAPE
Action: ATTACK!
Battle Log: 180 to XURKITREE!
- Took 60 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain