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Thunder continues to crack, echoing across the sky as individuals take shelter from the cruel rain. Clouds obscure the moon and the stars up above. The village has swiftly become dark, with no sources of natural light to speak of. It's an oppressive darkness, shadows that seem to stretch out like reaching, grasping hands attempting to steal away what does not belong.

One will need a source of light if they intend to stay longer.

The village feels different at night. The emptiness speaks so loud, it practically overpowers the waves crashing against the docks. Louder than the heavens splitting apart and more intense than the strikes of lightning that briefly illuminate the sky.

The Empty speaks of Intruders. It speaks of walls being torn asunder, revelations discovered. It speaks of those who know too much already, even as they know so little.

Even as the oppressive droplets pierce the skin and soak the bones, the village remains ever as it always was. Empty. Your presence is but a temporary change, and perhaps you too will become like this place if you stay long enough.

Empty.

And yet, beyond the haunting silence, it seems even more has yet to be explained. Upon Finding a second note, things become visible in the darkness that were glossed over before. Writing on the walls in spaces you've already seen, but did not recognize before. Symbols of eyes are carved and painted almost everywhere one looks, always visible somewhere, somehow.

Carved into the pillars of the dock, the floor as you walk, the walls. Painted upon rooftops and within tomes, these eyes seem to stare. Their presence unnerving, unknown and unnatural. For none of them were there mere moments ago. Or perhaps they truly were, and you are only now beginning to see the truth?

For those who had discovered the warnings, it is unnatural, but the eyes appear to watch your every step. They seem alive out of the corners of your eye. They should not be.

Regardless of the truth, the village clutches to its secrets like a corpse might to its dearest possessions. It shall not give them up so easily.

Maybe that's a good thing.

OOC Notes:
Players must follow these guidelines for the next reply.
- Find A Source Of Light
- Find An Eye Everywhere You Look
- Find Third Note

Optional Guidelines:
- Find Her Eyes ? ? ?

Optional Mood Music

Deadline is July 13th, 11:59 PM EST

Mimiqueue Cypress Josh Devlin Altair Celeste Cardinal Glace

Laguna's anger carries her forwards, the moment that she would accept the loss is the moment that she would break. And yet, stepping inside the alien realm, Laguna slowly began to melt. Emotions wash over her very soul in a way that feels oddly familiar. She can feel the positive emotions bubbling within her heart, but that doesn't stop the tears beginning to spill down her cheeks as she listens to both Ash and the Nihilego communicate.

It should be such a joyous occasion for Ash to finally connect with a Pokémon. So why did it feel like they were moments from losing her for good?

She struggled to control her thoughts and emotions, dwelling over her words as Verai spoke about fear. About fighting together to make the world better for all, working together. She listened to orioncayge speak of defeating the Voice, whatever was controlling the Ultra Beasts, and how they needed Professor Ash to make that happen.

It was all too much. The tears of joy and sadness mixed together, and finally she felt like she had to speak up. She had to share her peace. She might not get the chance to again.

"We are Plasma," Laguna spoke with a shaky voice. Not to Ash, her eyes were locked onto the Pokémon itself. "We are a group dedicated to making the world, The New World, a better one. None of us come from The New World, and yet each of us are here because we believe in what it could be."

She takes one step forwards, hands resting over her heart as she struggles to force her words free. "I'm sorry that you have suffered so, and we would never dream of forcing you to act against your will. Consent, Communication, Agency. These are three of our founding principles. If- If both you, and Ash, wish to stay here, then we won't fight you. We can't."

Her heart is pounding out of her chest, threatening to overwhelm her. Her Brionne slowly manages to float over, visibly still injured themselves, and just presses up against her Trainer's side to silently encourage her to keep going.

"B-but!" She stumbles forwards another step. "Professor Ash, she is the one who put together this group. She reached out to us, pulled us together, showed us what kindness in this world really means. Search her heart, I'm sure you can. See that genuine thoughtfulness inside her. She cares so much about every single living being."

"... And that is exactly why we need her. I trust nobody else to guide us, to keep us going."

She frowns heavily, her legs stumbling as she trips on the alien landscape, falling to her knees. "You... You tell us to get away while we can. But we won't, and we can't. It would go against everything we believe in, if we do not help every single one of you free themselves from this Voice. Now that we know, we have to. We would all perish before we can even think of giving up."

Her eyes would finally lock onto the human beneath the jellyfish exterior. "Professor Ash... we have to help. You know we do. We can't do it without you."

"I won't ask you to abandon each other. I wouldn't dream of condemning you back to the Voice, either." Still on her knees, Laguna does the only thing she can think. She slowly pulls the Golden Pokéball off her hip, showcasing the broken seal in front of her as her gaze drifts back to the Nihilego. "I don't know if you know what this is, this is a Pokéball. Pokémon, like you, are able to go inside of it, and with the seal broken you can leave whenever you wish. To never be controlled against your will, ever again."

"I-" She chokes up, once again her Brionne moving up to hug her chest and Laguna immediately hugged her back too. "Professor Ash... She has one on her. You can continue to stay with her, even when you're not as one. Please, I beg of you in the moments you can understand us. Come with us, let us prove we can help. Join her as we fight to make the world a better place with every last breath we have. Please... have Hope. Don't run away, we need you too."

Silence falls over her, and in the end Laguna just closes her eyes and lets out a long, shaky breath as she fights to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"... And if the two of you decide to leave, to come back here, we won't stop you. We're just asking for a chance. We've fought gods and saved them too, defeated a being that tried to remove everything from existence itself, but this is different. If we're going to figure out how to stop The Voice... we need you, Nihilego, too."

Laguna was not prepared for how slow the journey was going to be. She had hoped, at least, that safety would find them at the end of the light, but it seemed fate had something else in mind for them.

It was like the world itself was moving in slow motion as the tentacles began to rise up from the depths. Her own breath caught in her chest, terrified to make a single, sudden move less they strike. But it was too late. They were after them, and like a moth to a flame the Nihilego had wrapped one of its tentacles around her Brionne, Marina.

All the seal was able to get out was a squeal of pain before the toxins worked its effect and she began to grow limp.

"Marina!" Laguna immediately cried out, her heart breaking as she stretched a hand out. Her first Pokémon, her first friend in this world. If something happened to her again, she would never be able to live with herself.

There were worse fates than being consigned to the Everworld.

"Don't give up! Don't you dare give up!" Ice began to form at the tips of her fingers, but it seemed like the Nihilego, playful as ever, waved her own Pokemon around. There was no clear shot, there was nothing she could do without putting her at risk.

There was nothing she could do.

She was struggling not to give up.

"How dare you take her!" A voice suddenly called out, causing Laguna's head to whip around as she noticed Sheldon her Squirtle, long more of an athlete than a battler, appear beside her. "You can't take away Coach like that!"

"I agree," said another appearing Pokemon. Hoppy the Froakie appeared from her Pokeball, resting atop the Squirtle's shell. For once, the two Pokemon were actually fully cooperating. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"

"Stop talking, let's do this fool."

"You're the fool." The Froakie responded, but there was a softness to their smile as the two of them immediately leaped into action as they swam forwards.

All the while, Professor Ash was suddenly grabbed and pulled down. The cry of her Runerigus snapped Laguna out of her stupor, fear gripping at her heart but inspiring her to act. She had to protect Ash, everything relied on her. All that woman ever wanted to do is the right thing, she could not abandon her.

A glance was spared to her Pokémon, watching as Sheldon tucked his head and legs were sucked into his shell, propelled with a powerful Water Gun from Hoppy. He shot forwards like a missle, a Rapid Spin swirling the water around him as he'd slam his shell straight into the bulbous glass-head of the Nihilego holding onto Marina.

An inhuman cry was let out from the beast as the three began to combat, and Laguna could only put her faith in them as she suddenly swam down.

She couldn't do anything else. The pain of failure, eating away at her like a knife twisting deeper into her chest.

She couldn't protect Ash, She couldn't protect her Pokemon, she couldn't change the world. That pain continued to dig away, only making her mad. Furious. Her first instinct was to give up, but her second instinct, the true feelings, was of raw, violent fury.

The feeling of getting angry at things that seemed like she couldn't change was not a new feeling, but at least here she knew for a fact there was always something she could do.

She couldn't change the world, not on her own. But Ash could, and did, many times. They needed everyone they could get. Her and Orion couldn't do this alone. She pulled up her UI mid-swim, typing the smallest message she could as Ash continued to descend. Hoping that somehow, wherever Verai was, they'd be able to come help.

Laguna said:

Ash is in trouble.

As she desperately swam, heat began to pour off of her in waves, nearly boiling the water around her. It was all Laguna could do to watch as Ash was puppeted down to the Doortals once again as her anger poured.

"NO!!!"

Laguna cried out as loud as she could, a sudden Sunsteel Strike carrying her down at a blinding speed, hoping to slam straight into the Nihilego that had captured the professor. Only to be just a second too late. Light blinds her as the Doortal activates and she slams straight into the ground beside it.

Her fists clench together at her side, slamming into the ground as she looks up at her Pokémon and Orion still battling. She failed, but she couldn't dwell on it. She could only hope everyone would forgive her.

"Ash is taken!!" She'd shout loudly, "We need to follow! Now!"

Up above, Laguna's own Pokémon had seemingly made up their mind. Their eyes would flick to the barely moving Brionne before back at each other, barely dodging the Nihilego tentacles in the water. Neither of them were combatants, they didn't have the experience, nor the energy to keep going much longer. But Marina had plenty of combat experience, Laguna needed her.

Laguna needed Marina, Professor Ash needed them too.

A silent agreement was made, spoken solely through the eyes of two individuals who knew each other so well, months and months of rivalry had led them to this single moment. "It's time," Hoppy said, and the two of them nodded even as tears began to spill and join the salty ocean waters around them.

"Tell Laguna, we tried our best Coach."

Suddenly, a Pound and Tackle would both slam the two Pokémon directly into the tentacle that was restraining Marina, causing it to loosen up around the Brionne who was dropped unceremoniously down below.

"N-no-" Marina spoke weakly as she was released. "Y-you fools, I'm not worth this." She was trying her best to swiftly regain control of her bodily functions to protect them, but it was too late. The Nihilego was seemingly content gaining two for the price of one, and with multiple tentacles suddenly wrapping around them, it would shoot upwards as fast as it could.

Meanwhile, all Laguna could do is watch from all the way on the ocean floor, even more tears dripping from her face. She couldn't control her emotions, crying and furious pounding on the door at the same time. She couldn't even make the choice to rescue them, they had made the choice for her.

"God Damn it- Orion!!! We gotta go! Now! Ash can't wait!"

And even as her trainer cried, Marina was crying all the way as she furiously swam to the bottom with every ounce of energy she still had left, despite her stiffness. She had died before, she had went out sacrificing herself so that others could live. But this... The pain stung worse than the tentacles did.

They wouldn't have needed to sacrifice themselves if she had just been a little bit more aware, a little bit more... better.

But just like everything else, it was too late.

"What do you mean you got no plan! Think on the fly, Cayge!" Laguna would bob and weave through the crowd, attempting to dodge attacks left, right and center. A powerful Bolt Beak from a spellbook slamming into a group, and a Taurus slammed through a group of foes. When a hand was offered to pull her up, Laguna denied it for now. She had her own idea that would resolve in less people being hurt.

"This is getting nowhere, fast! Sir Hail!" She called out, and suddenly the Cryogonal appeared at her side, her loyal knight as always. "I need you to cut through the wall! Rapin Spin!"

"There is no glory to be found in this combat." The Cryogonal replied, already beginning to spin up. "We shall escape, post-haste!" Suddenly like a buzzsaw, the snowflake began carving straight through the stone wall of the prison building, but it was going to take a few seconds.

"Split up!" Laguna called out to her fellow Plasma members. "They can't chase us all if we're not toget-"

Suddenly, a massive poison needle fired by a guard's bug Pokemon began flying straight towards her face, and everything seemed to happen in slow motion for just a second. The needle so laced with poison it was obviously dripping even as it flew through the air. Laguna's immediate instincts were to swiftly duck, but the Trick Room had her almost frozen in place.

"Laguna!" Her Brionne immediately cried, directly putting herself in between Laguna and the needle as she swam through the air and intercepted the attack. The powerful needle immediately digging into them.

"Marina!" Laguna immediately called out, fear in her voice. "Are you okay?"

"I'm- I'm okay." The Brionne replied through a strangled breath. Suddenly, all the concrete dust in the air from the Vital Throw earlier and the wall being carved away was swiftly sucked up and absorbed by the Pokemon. Their obvious wounds healed as they Shore'd Up their health, taking in the sand into their body. "N-never better, hah. Let's get out of here."

She had never been more thankful for nearly drowning in a river than she was right now.

Finally, the Cryogonal had carved a large enough hole in the wall that concrete fell in a massive chunk, giving her a way out with her fairly small Pokemon. Laguna swiftly crawled through the hole as she continued to shout. "I'll meet you all at the meeting place! Let's get going!"

Slipping outside, her Crygonal and Brionne flew and swam right by her side before she turned around. With a furious exhale, Laguna would swiftly cover her exit hole in ice to prevent her from being followed.

It felt terrible leaving Verai and orioncayge insde. But they were capable, they could make it. They had to. What... other choice did they have, if they wanted to evade capture and prevent being followed to the Junkyard, other than splitting up?

"Might I suggest-"

"Running? Yes, absolutely."

Her Pokemon suddenly vanished into her Pokeball as Laguna began to run as fast as she could. Pulling up her UI, she swiftly replaced Swimmer with Bolter temporarily, only to be immediately carried forwards almost as if she was running on a bolt of lightning, sprintng incredibly fast. Paired with her Trailblazer Kicks, fire, snowflakes, and electric sparks were all left in her wake as she sprinted, slid, and zoomed as fast as she possibly could to a safe zone. The wind was even on her side, as her magic Wand of the Winds and a powerful ice-cold Tailwind carried her through.

In the end, Laguna would find her way to the Junkyard after weaving and ice-skating through alley after alley to get anyone who was following her to lose her trail. No doubt confusing many NPCs and Players alike. But here she sat atop an old washing machine trying to catch her breath, shaking and shuddering.

At least Professor Ash escaped unharmed. She had to remind herself to thank Bergamot Gristleborg for being just a bad enough villain that people thanked her for not being evil, but not so evil that the cops even remotely cared about her.

"Ash..." Laguna would start to speak, only to need to take another deep breath. "They knew where we were heading. Someone set us up. C.L.A.W. was there, she knew the Code Word. She wanted power, she claimed to want in, but-" She sighed heavily, attempting to calm her nerves. They still had the most dangerous part ahead.

"If they knew what route we were taking, someone probably knows where we are going. We shouldn't linger too long. The others should be here soon... I hope."

Used an Everworld Move +5
Total: 37

When Laguna finally began to stir, hearing the voice of the detective in the room, a deep frown immediately spread across her face. What kind of monsters had become in power? Maybe there was no laws protecting the rights of people in Briarbane under police abuse, but attempting to psychically dig into her head to give up answers?

That went far too far. It was a breach on her human rights! They weren't even treating People like People anymore if they decided they were the enemy.

[Tangent="Holy Fuck!"]"Saint ciboire!"[/Tangent] She cried out in French with righteous fury in her voice. [Tangent="The noodles are not all in the soup! Are you not ashamed! Use a rake in the soup, I won't find one!"]"Les nouilles ne sont pas toutes dans la soupe. N’avez-vous pas honte! Utilisez un râteau dans la soupe, je n’en trouverai pas!"[/Tangent]

Before she could continue to berate the man or attempt to escape on her own, C.L.A.W. stepped into the room, and everything slowly began to make sense. They were set up. She wanted to get them into a situation where she was in control, make them feel forced to work with her. It was nothing more than just another power game, and it had her fuming in anger. Heat began to radiate off of her body, pouring off of her like one was looking at the sun.

She'd politely remain quiet herself, only finally speaking once her hand was on her Pokeball. Already her Brionne popped out, just in time for the Trick Room. A smirk immediately spread across her face, perfect. "Tell you what. When you break the seal on your own Pokeballs, find true power, then we'll have something to talk about. Until then?"

Laguna didn't wait to finish her sentence, the heat pouring off of her in waves as she began to slide across the room. Intending to move slowly as the Trick Room carried her further and faster. Within moments, her fist would slam straight into the nearest Guard's Pokemon as they attempted to summon it to combat the powerful Trainers. A Sunsteel Strike, a move typically only useable by a Legendary Pokémon, in her hands.

"Marina! Do your thing!" Laguna called out, as suddenly waves of freezing cold air would surround her instead.

"On it! They're being awfully rude! Everyone, take a break!" Suddenly, the Brionne would let out the most adorable sound, echoing down the halls as a Disarming Voice. Laguna would watch as a few of the guards would stumble, the emotional damage hurting far worse than anything physical. The will to fight was drained from them.

She'd attempt to kick past, attempting to dodge and weave through Pokémon blasts and strikes, powering through despite any pain out of sheer stubborn energy. If there was one thing she was good at, it was being stubborn. A claw slash down her leg, an acidic burn to her shoulder, but it was fine. She could take it. Even as the fight raged on, a chill went up her spine.

The memory of rescuing Marina from the depths of the Everworld, nearly drowning and freezing to death washed over her. Breaking her nose and scratching her arms and legs to hell and back to rescue Glacia the first time. The memory of how her legs burned on the desert sands as she chased down the sun. She could take the virtual pain, it wasn't real. But these Pokemon, these people, were. Even through it all, attempting to abduct them, she couldn't bring herself to hate them.

They didn't know the truth.

Joining orioncayge down the hall after sliding beneath the legs of an unsuspecting guard. "Hope you got a plan to get us out of here! Or are we gonna start punching the walls?" She'd then glance back, hoping to see Verai close behind.

Evidence is dropped within the fridge at 345 Dreadstone Alley, Apartment B at different parts of the day. Everyone would find it empty whenever it was opened, regardless if they just put something inside of it. Effectively making theft from the BFC rather unlikely.

And yet after that, feathers, both debatably 'real' and obviously faked, eyewitness accounts, audio tracks, and photos of many different kinds are loaded up within the drop off. A total mess of evidence and information given, seemingly vanished and within the Bird Finder Club's clutches.

After that, silence.

The next meeting of the BFC goes by, and no immediate reply seems to be forthcoming. No contact, no rewards, nothing. For all intents and purposes, players might be likely to presume that they were duped. Months go by and there's no sign of anything. Even the address where players gained their original tasks was empty, whoever lived there seemingly moved out quickly.

And yet, one day, players who had last logged out in Briarbane, or the next time they arrived, would suddenly find themselves in the presence of a particularly focused Pidove. The pigeon Pokémon staring dead straight at the Trainers, only to turn and reveal it had been carrying a small package like a delivery pigeon the whole time.

Inside, one would find a small note handwritten note clearly written over the scraps of old newspaper, which made it kind of hard to read, and an even smaller box within.

SPOILER: Click to show

{BigBee}Thank you for your submissions. The first photo is hard to make out, but it is beyond clear to me that the bird has made its presence known. Yanma are a perfect snack.

The next had us scratching our heads at the meeting. We discovered many individuals wear black and red, as if they too seek to imitate the great gift-giving bird of legend. We are fairly sure we have located them within the image, however. 55% sure.

But the last image you sent is undeniable! That silhouette is unmistakable! There's no denying that is the bird that we sought! I'm jealous you got such a close encounter!

Inside this package you'll find a gift that we believe should compensate you nicely. From us at BFC, we'll send another Pidove should we need your services.

SPOILER: Click to show

{CaygeMatch}Your first piece of evidence was practically undeniable to many of our members. For so many Yanma to be tucked within a cooling appliance, we have come to the conclusion that the famed Bird was storing them for consumption later!

Your visit at the beach inspired us to revisit ourselves. We were so set on the concept of a colder climate being their preferred territory, we couldn't picture where they might migrate to! Once we can stomach the heat, we shall send off!

However, it's your final evidence that has many of us confused, excited, and worried all at once. The implications go far deeper than we could have expected! We'll be far more cautious in the future, less this information get into the wrong hands.

Inside this package you'll find a gift that we believe should compensate you nicely. From us at BFC, we'll send another Pidove should we need your services.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ozone}Your plan was genius! The gift-giver couldn't resist! Despite the quality of the tree, it seemingly does not matter as they still came regardless! We're immediately looking into seeing if we can recreate the same phenomenon.

Bird Seed is a remarkably simple plan, but we've also found that our storehouses of birdseed have been raided recently. It seems we have you to blame for the bird discovering the taste, but at the same time we thank you double! We're setting up some cage traps now.

Inside this package you'll find a gift that we believe should compensate you nicely. From us at BFC, we'll send another Pidove should we need your services.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Cypress}Your ability to convince people to tell you the truth about the Bird is a blessing. You would be considered braver than almost every member of the BFC! Talking to people is not our strongest suit.

We've taken all the information that you've managed to collect from the public and collected it all into one massive file. Technically, we've written down word-for-word exactly what was said, but you can't forget anything!

Once again, we thank you so much for your bravery. If you ever wish to join the BFC, please do not hesitate to call. We need people like you, unafraid to show their passion and love for Birds in the public eye.

Inside this package you'll find a gift that we believe should compensate you nicely. From us at BFC, we'll send another Pidove should we need your services.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kazuki}Unorthodox methods aside, they certainly proved effective in the end. An actual confrontation and fight with the bird! Our little birdies told us all about the different attempts to call it from hiding.

From the offering of the Orthworm (artistically done, might I add,) to the intense decorations scattered amidst town and the antique store (not so artisical.) We heard of many complaints of the Bird getting into trouble around town.

But the feathers were the pride and joy of your exploits, and all that matters to us! Thank you so much for your hard work, from all of us at BFC.

Inside this package you'll find a gift that we believe should compensate you nicely. From us at BFC, we'll send another Pidove should we need your services.

SPOILER: Click to show

{『Red Velvet』}We have to admit, we're impressed.

Not only have you found some incredible feathers. But you managed to collect a full image of the bird itself! We couldn't have asked for anything more! It is a little bit odd, however. Did they seem so thin in person too? Perhaps this one didn't eat enough.

What a horror.

We'll have to make sure we loose more bugs for them to eat. Another one is hoarding them inside fridges. We shall do whatever we can to protect them all, even the thin, weak, and oddly colored. You've opened our eyes to the protection efforts we need to commit to.

Inside this package you'll find a gift that we believe should compensate you nicely. From us at BFC, we'll send another Pidove should we need your services.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Laguna}We appreciate all the effort put into attempting to collect evidence of the elusive bird! While we can't find them within your first image, we have since learned that Yanma are perhaps a notable prey species for the Bird. That swarm must have been nasty.

However, the cry recording you managed to find for us excited many members of the BFC intensely! So many have never even heard the beast, let alone seen it! A blessing we shall take with us to our graves.

And the feathers collected from the Bird itself solidify everything! We'll be searching the Beta Island Beach pronto. Or at least, as soon as we can commit to sending some of our members out there. Most of us burn easily. Regardless, thank you for your efforts.

Inside this package you'll find a gift that we believe should compensate you nicely. From us at BFC, we'll send another Pidove should we need your services.

Some people might find useable gifts within the smaller boxes, others might find them suspiciously empty, or only filled with birdseed, feathers of some random bird, or even a heartfelt IOU letter. The resources of the BFC seem to be stretched thin. Perhaps they'd find a proper reward somehow in the end, anyways. And yet, the adventures of the BFC are never truly over. For those who participated, it seems any random bird Pokémon could be allied with them inside Briarbane.

You truly never know.