"WAAAGH ATHY WHAT ARE THOSE??"

Kaleo's yell prompts her to look to the incoming threat but as she lays her eyes on those strange abominations... She realises doesn't have an answer for this one, since she doesn't even know it herself. And they're quick to attack, sweeping through the players in waves and chunking out bits and pieces of their health.

But they have to hold strong, especially as the light of a god born anew begins to shine upon them. And for once, it feels like her prayers have been answered, the appearance of a Moltres stunning her into silence as she beholds its majestic presence.

It's warm, burning with a bitter desire for conflict.

"Athy wha-!"

To fight against the odds... she wonders how one could ever live for the thrill of a fight...

"We aren't going down here."

"Don't think that was ever part of tha plan, Athy!!" Kaleo grins back, shrugging off his injuries and beginning to prepare his Vine Whips. When hit by a well-aimed G.A.Y Beam, Cael leads the charge with a series of Quick Attacks, falling back as soon as he ends his combo and finding respite from a rather strange but calming healing from Cora.

REACT IN FEAR/AWE TO THE APPEARANCE OF MOLTRES +10
SAY A ONE-LINER +10

SPOILER: Click to show

{BREAKDOWN}
BULBASAUR (215/300) Active
Damaged by (KEGGLINGS) for (65 HP)
Damaged by (charge attack) for (10 HP)
Other

GOTHITA (112/200) Active
Damaged by (KEGGLINGS) for (33 HP) - Halved by (guard) from Laguna's Onix
Damaged by (healing) for (30 HP)


MORPEKO (125/200) Active
Damaged by (KEGGLINGS) for (65 HP)
Damaged by (fast attack) for (20 HP)
Healed by Gothita for (30 HP)

THE GAY BEAM HAS EXPLODED!

After 5 critical rolls, the machine has overloaded with powerful G.A.Y. transformative energy and EXPLODED in a burst of rainbow-colored light, restoring all previously Corrupted Pokémon to normal.

Details:
- Pokemon corrupted in the R2DTWO dungeon are also restored.
- If your Pokemon is restored in this way, you may post again to use it, to a max of 3 Pokemon used this round.
- Corrupted Pokemon return with half of their maximum HP.
- Sacrificed Pokémon are not restored.
- The G.A.Y Beam is no longer usable.

BONUS RAID POINT PROMPT:

NEW! REALIZE YOU ARE NOT ALONE +10

Somewhere in the battlefield that is this dilapidated greenhouse, the G.A.Y Beam starts to smoke, drawing the mismatched gaze of one belligerent cat towards none other than Vincent. "Dude, you might wanna drop that…"

Too little, too late.

Like a disco ball, the G.A.Y Beam explodes into every single shade and hue of the visible light spectrum… by literally exploding. Colours are unleashed upon the grounds of Bronstanton manor, creating what for a single second looks like the equivalent of a pride parade in the middle of November. And just like during a pride parade, everything is suddenly so much better. It’s not just that everything is more colourful, no. This is no rose-coloured glasses sort of situation. Pokémon are healed by the explosion, leaving upon them a passing iridescent sheen and no signs of the corruption that had once threatened to consume them.

Does that mean…

”Holy shit, Vincent. I could hug you, but that’d be fuckin' weird." "Since you're probably some loser who lives in his mom's basement and I don't wanna give you any ideas." She thinks. "Anyway... nice work, man!”

She almost offers him a fist bump, but then, as if remembering something, her hand moves up to her lips – thumb and index finger being used to whistle as loudly as her petite catgirl lungs will allow.

Response comes in the form of a neigh from somewhere within the manor.

She sees them: the Dragonair’s elegant body undulating in the sky, the Rapidash that gallops with ever-burning flames, and the Cryogonal with an iridescent sheen still marking his ice.

Forget about Moltres.

Forget about everyone else here.

”MY BOYS!” Tuesday exclaims with the most radiant smile in existence.

<'My liege.'> The Cryogonal responds solemnly in turn.

<'What are you so excited about?'> Says the Dragonair, sounding more bored than ever.

<'Damn, you’re so fucking loud.'> The Rapidash exclaims, snickering with mockery.

For once, Tuesday doesn’t mind any of it.

They're here, that's what matters. She understands at that moment. In this game, in this reality of theirs, she needs them here with her. They're the weapons and she's the one who controls them. Now that her Pokémon are back, the real party can get started.

Just as she had told the voice of the Precipice, Tuesday has promises to fulfill, oaths to keep, and being as stubborn as can be, she never ever goes back on her word – come hell or high water.

Sleeves are rolled up, she stands her ground, and looking directly at the Briar Beast, the Level 10 Threat gives her command:

”Ancile, on your guard. Orm, give us some heals. Rocinante… Stab that fucker where it hurts.”

All the pieces are in place.

The plan is set in motion.

The Dragonair circles overhead, restorative toxins dripping off his every scale. The Rapidash rears with a neigh that rings through the manor’s grounds and at that second, he breaks into a gallop, headed straight for the Briar Beast with the Cryogonal as his guard. To Tuesday's surprise, it's Bergamot Gristleborg's pokémon also buff the Rapidash as he darts forward (maybe she's not an enemy after all? T.B.D)

The equine swerves, avoiding orioncayge, and lowering his head, his sharp horn is pointed towards for corrupt being that had had the audacity of making an enemy out of both him and his trainer.

The sentiment is shared by Tuesday herself.

It’s she who speaks to the Beast then, staring directly at it – small yet unshakable despite everything.

”I told you I’d show you a threat.”

As previously stated, Tuesday never breaks a promise.

Realize you’re not alone +10

SPOILER: Click to show

{BREAKDOWN}
CRYOGONAL (283/500) Active
Damaged by GUARD for -20 HP
Healed by DRAGONAIR for +53 HP
Other

DRAGONAIR (125/200) Active
Damaged by RECOIL for -30 HP
Healed by DRAGONAIR for +55 HP
Other

RAPIDASH (118/200) Active
Damaged by RECOIL for -40 HP GUARDED
Healed by DRAGONAIR for +58 HP
Other

Twin arcs of fire wheeled through the air above as Moltres, divine, gracefully carved up the sky. Heat radiated from its wings in a shifting, multicolored aura, like oil on water. It was majestic. It was awe-inspiring.

“It’s G.A.Y!” she cried, shielding her cerulean eyes from the rainbow magnificence. “So G.A.Y!”

She wasn’t wrong, but more important was the fact it was coming in for a landing. “Back, you heathens!” Morgana exclaimed, clattering away through the crowd of other trainers as the gigantic bird made a pass overhead, shearing foliage from the Briar Beast like a swan-shaped hedge trimmer. She spun around, narrowing her eyes at the reborn phoenix. “This is our chance! Guillotine, Starface— attack!”

<Attack who? Moltres?> The Glaceon let out a yip of dismay. <I’ll melt!>

<This must be more of your villainy,> Guillotine said dryly. <I doubt we can even reach it in time. Look, it’s already flying away.>

Morgana stomped her foot. “You’re both water-types,” she emphasized. The duo looked down, as if only just realizing they were both floating slightly above the ground— the “Swimmer” effect. “Just fly after it. Look at how weak it is! It’s the perfect time. This could be my shining moment! We’d go down in infamy.”

They were the words of a selfish child, but her eyes glittered cold, glittered cruel.

She had no love for an omnipotent gods, who scorned the lives of those they ruled and played with human lives like fiction. The chance to go for the kill—even here, in a game— was too tempting.

It was weak. Plagued by parasites. Screaming in the sky, blinded to the gathering storm clouds above.

…It would die soon anyway. Wouldn’t it? Between a bird and a cat, who would the victor be?

The cries of battle resonated in her ears, barely audible over the rapid pumping of her heart. Her skirts and hair rippled as there was a wave from the exploding G.A.Y Beam, washing the battlefield in rainbow light for a moment like a flash bang. Stars burst before her eyes, like a shock wave, like a seizure. Soundlessly, her lips shaped the word perish again.

She couldn’t stop.

“Guillotine. Prepare for trouble.”

Something in her voice had changed. The penguin gave her a look, but as ever, the bird was faithful. Steadfast. The starter she’d been given—one who would support her even when the orders she gave were self-destructive, one who would be her ‘evil minion’ wearily, warily, without complaint.

<Make it double,> the Piplup said grimly, then launched herself into the air.

<Are you crazy?> stressed Starface, backing away from Morgana with water dripping from his chin and whiskers. <It’s on our side! I’m going back to the battle! Come on, Rainbow!> The Glaceon turned and raced back towards the Briar Beast, wrapped in a tornado of swirling Swift. Gyarados shot past them both, passing a buff to Tuesday before ascending after Guillotine to do damage control on Moltres.

“I won’t apologize,” Morgana said, gazing up unflinchingly into the stormy sky. Her eyes streamed cold tears from the Moltres’ sunlight. “This is something I have to do.”

Lips drew back from teeth, not a smile, not a grimace. Something terrible. Something tangible.

“Something we have to do.”

Her and Guillotine against the world. Against the raid. Against God himself— whatever form he might take.

REACT IN FEAR/AWE TO THE APPEARANCE OF MOLTRES +10
SAY A ONE-LINER +10
REALIZE YOU ARE NOT ALONE +10

SPOILER: Click to show

{BREAKDOWN}
GYARADOS (129/250 HP) Active
Damaged by (Kegglings) for (-65 HP)
Damaged by (Heal x5) for (-50 HP)
Other: Buff (+10) Healed 17 by butterfly

PIPLUP (120/250 HP) Active
Damaged by (Kegglings) for (-130 HP)
Damaged by (Fast Atk x5) for (-50 HP)
Other:

GLACEON (216/250 HP) Active
Damaged by (Kegglings) for (-130 HP)
Damaged by (Fast Atk x5) for (-50 HP)
Other: Healed 146 by Yggy Br00ks

"Wow, Monsieur Cygnus! GAY looks good on you!"

Who doesn't love an old man draped in rainbows? GILF energy, perhaps? Although it's not just him. Honestly, everyone looks more flattering in the prims of light that emanate from their newly risen savior.

Bunny gapes in awe up at the Moltres, and feels a little warm glimmer of pride as the beast rises. She'd helped save this creature, in her own small way. And how cool is that?!

She's AFK for a minute, yelling for her roommate to come see. By the time she comes back online everyone else is running and shouting again and Bunny follows them, a living tutorial on how raiding should work. She thinks she's doing things right, but at this point it's still hard to say.

Admittedly, Bunny feels a little bad for not taking this game as seriously as everyone else seems to. The way they're acting, it seems as though this situation truly is life and death. And perhaps that'd make it an object of derision to an outsider, but Bunny finds their passion so endearing.

And it's easy to see why everyone is so enthralled with this game. The NPC's are really cute. The lore is really compelling! There's a compulsion to try and dive deeper, to spend her entire night silhouetted in the blue glow of her PC, forgoing sleep until her fingers cramp.

But first, they've got to get through this battle!

As Bunny runs towards the greenhouse, the GAY beam explodes behind her in a brilliant corona of light. Cool guys don't look at explosions, but Bunny is lame and she stops to gawk anyways, until she's shoulder checked by another raider and quickly stumbles back towards the fight.

Everyone's working together— no one is alone. And that means she has to do her part too, as best as she can! Bunny's eyes fall again on Alice! , still fighting along wit them. Her first friend request. Her chest warms as she smiles and leaps into the fray, her cutie Pokemon at her side.

With her roommate at her side, giving her hints and explaining type matchups, Bunny and her team make their move. It's far from impressive— definitely baby's first raid energy. But even beginners have a chance to shine, don't they?

As Allotta Bambooga digs into the beast itself to pull out the cat inside, Bunny and Sunkist prepare a final blow. "Watch out!" Bunny shouts at the woman, "We're going in!"

Bunny stares down the Briar Beast, adopting a pose not unlike the sailor senshis she used to watch as a child. She feels silly, but if everyone else is pouring their heart and soul into this event, why shouldn't she give it a try? "H-hey, you wicked beast! The Knights of Mythstar are here to stop you! It's not nice to ruin Chadwick's house! In the name of...i-in the name of Moltres, I'll punish you!"

Her Torchic leaps in to deliver the final blow. Under the lingering effects of the GAY explosion, the undersides of her little wings also seem to trail with Moltres' resplendent flame. She cries out, digging her talons into the greenhouse soil and flinging it with all her might. It's far more than just pocket sand— whipped into a frenzy, the miniature sandstorm invades the briars like a swarm of insects, gritty sand and muck attempting to tear the thorns apart from the inside. Faster and faster it blows, until Bunny can see bits of briar and twigs snapping off and crumbling. She can only hope that Allotta Bambooga and the kitten inside will be all right.

Her Snubbull bites into the remaining thorns as well, diverting the lighting strike from their aurulent god above. And Ducklett, bless her heart, strikes at the kegglings as best she can, her wing attack blasting them back from whence they came.

REACT IN FEAR/AWE TO THE APPEARANCE OF MOLTRES +10
SAY A ONE-LINER +10
INTERACT WITH ANOTHER PLAYER +10
NEW! REALIZE YOU ARE NOT ALONE +10

SPOILER: Click to show

{BREAKDOWN}Torchic (100/150) Active
Damaged by (opponent) for (x HP)
Damaged by (FAST ATTACK) for (50 HP)
Other

Ducklett (130/200) Active
Damaged by (opponent) for (x HP)
Damaged by (HEALING) for (60 HP)
Damaged by (BASIC ATTACK) for (10 HP)
Other

Snubbull (280/300) Active
Damaged by (opponent) for (x HP)
Damaged by (CHARGE ATTACK) for (20 HP)
Other

A slight blush scatters across Butterfly's pale face at Domino 's compliment of the tail and her assist, the other limb of her avatar moving to cover it as she manages to get out a "T-Thank you..."
Seeing Moon Bunny get in the final blow against the Beast, with a small sandstorm and another attack landing the final blow, the teen would excitedly cheer and her tail would move away from her face, wagging back and forth excitedly as she couldn't help by try and say another one-liner, corny as it may be. "That was AWESOME! You really showed those weeds who's boss! Now we got some bugs to squash!"
Her attention turned to the Kegglings, weird shinx-scorpions preparing to attack. And her eyes narrowed. Turning to her Pokemon, she quickly yelled out:
"Caesar! Elizabeth! Think you can hit a few of these things? Washington, you up for healing?"
"Lass, I don't think I can focus on healing the team and myself at the same time,"
The Timburr would begin, focusing the energy he has left to heal the fatigue obtained from helping the Meowstic. A smirk formed on his face as he turned the best he could to face the rest of the team.
"But give it hell for me, won't you?"


The Tank and other Support nodded as they went to work, Caesar cloaking himself in flames and sweeping towards the scorpions, attempting to light a few of them on fire - Elizabeth focusing her mind on the Kegglings, shocking a few with psychic energy before turning to her trainer. a happy smile on her face. "Your battle prowess is quite astounding! I admire that in you."
And with that statement, Butterfly realized something.
This is what friendship was supposed to feel like.
Interacting with other people she hadn't seen before, shouting praise, helping others, and feeling a bit more confident as a result of it.
She's not in the mansion anymore, not with its gilded exterior and lonely interior.
She's around people. She's with people.
She isn't alone. Not anymore.


And that thought makes her laugh a little in joy.

SAY A ONE-LINER +10
INTERACT WITH ANOTHER PLAYER +10
REALIZE YOU ARE NOT ALONE +10

SPOILER: Click to show

{BREAKDOWN}CAESAR - CHIMCHAR (380/400) Active
Damaged by (opponent) for (x HP)
Damaged by (Recoil - Charge Attack) for (-10 HP)
Other

WASHINGTON - TIMBURR (116/150) Active
Damaged by (opponent) for (x HP)
Damaged by (recoil - heal x3) for (-30 HP)
Other

ELIZABETH - GOTHITA (110/150) Active
Damaged by (opponent) for (x HP)
Damaged by (Recoil - Basic Attack) for (-10 HP)
Other

It was going well. Actually, it was going better than well. The players were actually winning; had technically already won. There was a warmth in Felicia’s chest that she couldn’t even pretend was heartburn. She was proud of them and proud of her team for actually setting it all up. She wasn’t even all that upset about having to buy everyone lunch. Besides, she was going to use the company card for that anyway. Nikoli probably wouldn’t mind.

There was a collective cheer and high spirits in the office with the big bad taken out. And from looking at the stats, most everything else was going well. There were still some kegglings running around, but in the grand scheme of things, that wasn’t too shabby.

“You guys got it from here?” At a few thumbs ups and nods Felicia left her perch of staring over a developer’s shoulder. He let out a loud sigh at her moving away. “Cool. I’m gonna pop in, clean up a few more of those kegglings to give them a fighting chance against them, and then poke around in the code for a while, see if there’s any screen tearing with everything going on.”

Felicia left the dev and QA team behind with a smile and made her way to her office. Yeah, okay, fine, as much as it drove her crazy, she did like this job, especially for moments like this. To see all their work come together and let the players be the heroes; to tell their stories. It was a good feeling. They really came together as a team to pull this off. From the devs to QA, and even those losers in PR and legal. It really was a team effort and none of them were alone in pulling off this raid. But she didn’t have time to reflect on that for long, that was for her to do when she finally got home from the day and took a bath with a glass of wine. Right now, she needed to hop into the tail end of the fight.

Olga spawned into the Greenhouse and took a moment to really appreciate seeing everything ‘in person.’ She really did need to give it to the designers. That was an impressive model of Moltres. Intimidating, impressive, awe inspiring. Damn, she was going to have to be nice to them too for a little while. Everyone doing a good job was really cramping her style. But that was a Felicia problem, she need to deal with an Olga problem now. Mainly the kegglings.

“Puny bugs. Olga not impressed." She cracked her knuckles and gave a smirk. "Olga crush between thighs!” She dashed forward and grabbed the nearest two kegglings. One was placed between her legs and indeed crushed. The other she hefted up like an oversized football and threw it at a different keggling, taking both of them out. She was really on a roll. Another keggling was grabbed and crushed between her powerful thighs, another was simply punched in what she thought was its face. Olga finally figured out how to enjoy fighting in the game, she just had to be the one doing the fighting. She was a terror, kegglings ran from her visage (and her mighty thighs).

“Olga destroy all!” she screamed as her reign of carnage continued. She tore a path through some kegglings and found herself near the player that committed the final blow against the Briar Beast. “Olga impressed. Moon Bunny very strong. Fight good.” She gave a thumbs up before picking up another Keggling and literally ripping it in half with her bare hands. Oh yeah. This was her kind of combat.

REACT IN FEAR/AWE TO THE APPEARANCE OF MOLTRES +10
SAY A ONE-LINER +10
INTERACT WITH ANOTHER PLAYER +10
REALIZE YOU ARE NOT ALONE +10

SPOILER: Click to show

{BREAKDOWN}Olga 200/250 Active
Damaged by Fast Attack for 50 HP