[Game] Lord Windos' PokeRole Adventure: Celadon City Vandel

[Spiritmon]

(No problem at all Windos. Well this all I can help. Hope everything turning out good Reiner, good luck! Even I thinking you dont need. Oh, and one last thing my boy: Follow the spiders. They know the way. Farewell!)

[Dragonstrike]

'Arrrgggghhh...there's ANOTHER one? What the heck is going on here?!  And where the heck are you stupid voices coming from?!'

*A string of draconic curses I don't dare repeat follows*

'Bah, whatever.  I can ask Mew about this later.  And I already know about the 'life for a life' trade off! Why do you think I didn't order Lethal force against Beautifly and Shedinja in the first place?!  Just...just walk me through this process.  I don't want to screw this up, and I doubt YOU want to see me screw up either!  Or am I wrong?'

(Oh dear...you seem to have pushed a button, Windos...best help him do what he needs to do...)

[Spiritmon]

(Heya my friend! I would sugest to calm down! And I thinking Arial was the suicidal one. Its not a good idea to press the buttons with someone who can transform you in dust with a blink of eye)

[Lord Windos]

'Arrrgggghhh...there's ANOTHER one? What the heck is going on here?!  And where the heck are you stupid voices coming from?!'

*A string of draconic curses. I don't dare repeat follows*

'Bah, whatever.  I can ask Mew about this later.  And I already know about the 'life for a life' trade off! Why do you think I didn't order Lethal force against Beautifly and Shedinja in the first place?!  Just...just walk me through this process.  I don't want to screw this up, and I doubt YOU want to see me screw up either!  Or am I wrong?'

(Oh dear...you seem to have pushed a button, Windos...best help him do what he needs to do...)

(Ohohohohoho, don't get too riled up now! Being overemotional is just as bad for the ritual as having a panic attack, though I highly doubt you don't already know this on some level. We are just trying to lend aid to you, however dubious and erratic it may appear. Ah, but you are mistaken about my intentions, dear Reiner....)

(See, I don't care, per say, that Mina lives or dies. She was fated to perish by the hands of The Vampire, to be the catalyst for your rightous outrage and give you ample motivation to track down and pay evil unto evil, and the artist has admirably served her role. Well, not precisely. Her fate was multi-fold until this very night, but the details are superflorous at best. Fact is, Mina Mab was supposed to die and stay dead, but the possibility of her resurrection was also on the table too given the right circumstance and some protest from my peers.)

(Thing is, Mew herself were supposed to conduct the ritual in that eventuality, not you. Quite honestly, if it were not for outside intervention on the part of....well, I won't spoil, but if it were not for their aid, their is the good chance that you would have ended up a smear on the road, or half digested in Buzzwole's 'gut'. Seeing as you are now Mew the Creator herself- for however long that will remain true, I haven't a clue yet!- now, though, that changes the given plot quite a bit, and creates oh so many interesting possibilities for everyone to explore, and ever more complications for you! Delightful, really, though I imagine you strongly disagree with me on this point, Ohohohoho!)

(.....Now then, when I said I wanted Beautifly, I didn't want them to be used in the resurrection process per say. No, I want them myself, in exchange for the knowledge and aid in reviving Mina with another Pokémon that is not The Vampire's. I consider myself a helpful being, but I am by no means particularly very kind or generous unless its suits my fancy, so when I saw your intention with that deadly butterfly, why, I simply had to put my foot down! A sacrifice isn't a sacrifice if the person making it doesn't stand to lose or suffer greatly for giving said thing or being up for something in exchange, whether it be equivicol or not. Allowing you to simply kill off Beautifly like so would only serve to benefit you and Mina, since the Pokémon has no value or personal meaning to you beside being the minion of The Vampire, which you want dead or captured anyway. Such a revival would only cheapen the whole process in my eyes, really.)

(No, if you want my help in bringing back that fae artist into the game, you'll have to find some other sacrifice I'm afraid. I have some suggestions, mind you, but they are without meaning until you give me your answer on this: do you desire my aid and the stipulations there of, or would you rather do it by yourself and tell me to fuck off? Their are consequences for either choice, but that is the devil in the deal. All thing have a price in this world, and my help is a luxury that you can 'happily' do without, so what will it be Reiner?)

[Dragonstrike]

'Grrr....so you're the one behind all my bad luck recently, is that it?  You're lucky Zen State hasn't worn off yet...

'Fine.  Take her.  What are your suggestions for substitutes?  This better be good...I have qoutas I need to keep to, you know.'

[Lord Windos]

'Grrr....so you're the one behind all my bad luck recently, is that it?  You're lucky Zen State hasn't worn off yet...

'Fine.  Take her.  What are your suggestions for substitutes?  This better be good...I have qoutas I need to keep to, you know.'

In an instant, the world just froze. Everything took on a gray scale tone. The air went stile, sterile, and antiseptic. The lights of the city and the starlight of the night sky dimmed, until only shadows wrethed the land. Noise became a myth.

All was silent.

All was still.

Except you, of course. You were just floating over Mina, wondering what the hell just happened, when I spoke to you again.

(Ohohohoho, indeed I am, though I am just one part in the grand scheme of things in all honestly. I'm more than happy to take all the blame, however, as I am the 'DM' of this delightful game you find yourself the star in, and I do so enjoy being villainized, a right bastard, and just being a gadfly/troll in general. Where do you think Mew inherited her mischevious and playful nature from? )

The world then went utterly pitch black. Turned into naught but the Void itself, with only you floating within it.

(For a world to have meaning, there must be Good and Bad within it. Peace and Conflict. Life or Death. Choice, and perhaps a little Fate thrown in. Otherwise, things would not exist as you precieve them. As I precieve them. Know that your hardships and suffering have meaning, Reiner Arendse. One day, perhaps, you'll see the meaning behind my actions this week in Celadon City, and appreciate them for what they are. One does not truelly evolve without diversity, nor grow without incentive. Or maybe I am wrong? Who knows, really?)

(Even so, I would suggest practicing being civil to higher powers or people in higher positions. I don't mind being sassed myself, but others...)

Several Legendary Pokémon, Mythical Beings, and people you know (Giovanni, Petrel, Mitchell and Valarie Malcolm , Proton, Ariana, etc.) and don't know (some are wielding Cursed Arms, other with legions of followers [Blue Hair and Cold Eyes, Shadows and Negativity, A Coucil of Elders seeking what was lost to Them], and a two brothers: one with a white shining blue with hammer and anvil in hand, and the other with eyes of black and gold, who let out a throaty laugh and gave you a friendly wave) appeared.
"Ah, so we meet at last, Reiner Arendse! Though, I do believe this meeting will be brief. We'll have a chance to talk to each other at length, so until then...."
(.....Well, they wouldn't appreciate the comments. Or would make things more difficult for you, at any rate. While I doubt that any would have the powers that I demonstrated, they have several ways to make your life interesting in the most un-delightful of ways. Do you understand? Goody!)

The world reappear, and all was well with it as before. Everything had returned to normal.

Well, except for one thing: Beautifly was missing, and nobody seemed too alarmed or even care about its disappearance.

Except you, of course. Strange, isn't it?

Ohohohohohoho!

(As for your quota, don't you plan on sticking a knife in your boss' back at some point, If I recall correctly? Its not like you need to please him in that event, unless you wish to stay the course of becoming an Executive? Ah, but I digress. The simplest solution to revive Mina is rather obvious: you have her Pokémon, don't you? An Alola Ninetales, and a Shiny Luxelong. More than enough life force in them to fully revive them, and each of them share a strong bond with the trainer, which would greatly help in pulling of a resurrection successfully, even without my aid! With it....well, Mina is certainly going to come out better for this than if Mew herself did the process, I can promise you that much!)

(Though, there is one more option available, if you don't wish to deprieve the artist one of her best friends in all but the spiritual sense. It won't be pleasant for you, though. Not by the most generous definition of the terms. Do you want to hear it, or just use one of Mina's Pokémon as base material instead?)

[Dragonstrike]

Just Before the World Fades Back into Existence

He'd heard that other voice...it felt like he shouldn't have...but he did...there was no time to respond, though...and something about it felt...off...but he was more concerned right now with the fact that he was potentially some pawn in the grand scheme of things...

'I don't know what kind of 'game' you're playing, but I'm not going to sit idly by and...(That's ENOUGH, Reiner.  No more from you concerning this topic.)

All of a sudden, Reiner's speech is just halted in its tracks.  Try as he might, he can't seem to continue his argument.

(...*sigh*...now you've gone and done it, Windos.  Now I've had to get directly involved...I was hoping to avoid this, you know.)

(Ah, where are my manners?  I didn't introduce myself.  You may call me 'Dragonstrike,' Reiner.  Or 'Dragon,' if you prefer.  'Strike' is also acceptable.  And before you say anything, I'm the last person you want to anger.  This isn't a battle you can win.  Yes, I know you despise most strong authority figures, but there are some you can't and shouldn't fight.  Windos might seem uncaring, but he does his best to be fair.  I highly recommend you follow his advice in this instance.)

'Grrr...no battle is unwinnable.'

(No normal battle is, Reiner.  This is not a normal battle.  And despite appearances, we really are trying to help you.  You are not the only one who cares about what happens to you and your friends.  Disregarding my entrance, I am merely an observer at the end of the day.  I watch to see what decisions you make, and what the consequences of those decisions are.  You are one of the few in this world with the freedom of choice, Child of Dragons.  It is a power that can change the course of history and 'fate' itself.  You are nobody's pawn.)

'And what if I don't believe you?'

(If you start doubting that your decisions are your own, you will never achieve what you wish to.  Pawns rarely amount to much.  Mina was one such pawn, but reviving her will remove those shackles, at least temporarily.)

'What the heck do you mean by that?!'

(I'm saying your choices have the power to affect the world around you.  Now, I have to go, as I'm sure Windos would love to move on with the story that's unfolding, seeing as he apparently doesn't have total control over it any more.  But I'll leave you with two pieces of my own advice: Talk to Mew later if you want to learn more about what's going on here [though I know you're going to do that anyways], and pick up an Eevee when you can.  All will become clear with time.  You have more important things to focus on right now, seeing as a very important life is on the line.  Ta ta for now, and I look forward to our next chat...)

And then the world fades back in to existence...

Beneath the Hollow Moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbh9TuxV0QA

Who were these people?  What did they want with 'Mew'?  Gaaaahhh...this wasn't making any sense...if Zen State weren't somehow still active, 'she' might be having a nervous breakdown right now...

Windos's comments brings 'Mew' back to attention.  No, no time for this.  Must...stay...strong...Emily needed 'her' now, more than ever...

Choice...was 'she' really willing to sacrifice one of Mina's own pokemon to bring her back?  Maybe...there was apparently an alternative, but 'she' wouldn't like it...'she' wondered if 'her' choice here really would be 'her' own...would it really matter that much?

'Her' gaze drifts over Emily...the little girl that Reiner had been fighting so hard to try and keep happy...why was he doing it?  

...because she reminded him of himself...that's what he believed, right?

He...he couldn't give up on trying to help her...not now...not after everything he'd been through...if he didn't help her...

...who would?

The realization hits him like a bullet train.  

No.  No.  He wasn't going to let this happen.  He didn't care about 'fate,' consequences, the power of choices...all that matters right now is doing what HE had set out to do.

And he was going to do this his way.

'Ugh...fine.  If one of Mina's pokemon will produce the best possible outcome with your help, so be it.'

'Mew' retrieves the pokeballs containing A-Ninetales and Luxelong from the still unconscious 'Reiner,' and then goes back to Mina.

And then 'she' summons the both of them.

This wasn't 'her' choice alone.

'Sorry to disturb you two, but, uh...something terrible has happened...'

[Lord Windos]

(....Well, everything will work out in the end, won't it my friend? Through our will, the aid of Reiner and Arial, and determined effort on all our parts, this game we play....no, the game that plays us, will end with, if not with a happy ending, then one we all can look back on and be content with. I promise you all this. Now.....)

(Let's move on the next scene, shall we?)
Our will be DONE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And then the world fade back into existence.....

I waited until 'Mew' had found her equilibrium once more, watching silently and lending my aid by reinforcing 'her' Zen State of mind to last them the rest of the night. Despite what I said, I recognize the boundries that other individuals have, and known when to press past or leave well enough alone. I'm not a cruel person, even if the world I made seems to imply otherwise.

It helps that I have friends to point out my many faults, when I so often overlook them.

(Very well then. I'll leave you deliberate who amoung Mina's Pokémon sacrifices themselves to save their trainer's life, and will return only when you are ready to initiate the ritual, or if you have need to call upon me to weigh in on one matter or another.)

(...Like I said earlier, I wouldn't worry yourself to the point of having an existial crisis over these revelations. At the end of the day, reality is what we all make of it, and since its defined by our own perspectives and that of others, who is to saw what is true or not? You are real, and so are your choices. I, and the rest of my peer out 'here', are on your side, and will be with you every step of the way. Or not, if you prefer to do things on your own.)

(.......Since I've been too hard on you, and my peers have seen fit to bestow a boon of knowledge upon you, so will I. I have three things to say unto, and I will only say them once more and never again, so listen carefully, and commit them to memory.)

(First, let it be known that there are two more Cursed Arms in the City that you did not know of, and one that will come forth when your cousin Clair arrives. One is held by someone you know, and the other lay where the fallout of man is most apparent.)

(Second, let it be known that your ally Arial is unharmed...at the moment. Whether or not that remains true is ultimately up to him. I desperately hope he has enough sense in his shattered mind not to do anything asinine with them...)

(Third.....)

(.....)

(.....Your parent still love you very much, and do not scorn nor blame you what happened on that faithful day with Kingdra. They miss you dearly, and wish to know if you are alright or not. ....If you desire, I can set up the opportunity for you to meet with one of them soon. I'll give you time to think this over, among other things.)

As you retrieved and summoned the last of Mina's Pokémon that remained on her person (To put it generously), you had the chance to briefly glance over to where your Dragon types were working over their pent up frustrations on Buzzwole. To both your simultaneous surprise and annoyance, it appears that despite both of them hammering the otherworldly bug with all their might, it was more or less in....well, you wouldn't call it perfect condition, but they were still in the same state as when they fainted. At the very least, your Pokémon are keeping it permenantly unconscious for the moment, and gain the valuable opportunity to test their skill/power against a target that doesn't break, no matter what! Both Kingdra and Yang gain an addition 7 XP, and the appropreiate amount of Happiness!

With Angelica and Emily, they were currently treating over the injuries of the fainted/less rowdy creatures while 'you' where were conducting your own nebulous business with the artist and her auntriogue and Kingdra/Yang where futily trying to pound the downed red menace into mulch. The police officer was methodically going through 'Looker's' supplies, and they already set out three Max Revives and 6 Full Restores that were on their person, as well what appears to be a vial of PP Up, a standard issue Hand Gun issued to Internal Police Agents with what looked to be PLENTY of .500 Rounds, his Pokeballs, his cellphone, and a couple of Rare Candies + TMs of undiscernible quality/type. Wow, when Petrel said he would prepare for his fight against the Vampire/Buzzwole, he was not playing around here!

Emily, meanwhile, was helping dig Kyubi out of the business front of an abandoned store, mummuring comforting assurances as they lift up HUGE (Compare to her pint size) chucks of masonry and tossing them to the side like it was Styrofoam! Damn!

Upon being released and you alluding to their master's conditons, they took one good look at her corpse before they practically bowled you over to crowd them,both look EXTREMELY distressed at the horrible sight they were witnessing. The Alola Ninetales, once she nosed their master's still form, hoping against all hope that this was not as it appears, lifted their head up and let out the most mournful howl you ever heard in your life. The Luxelong, though, was not one to simply let a little something like 'Death' get between their master, as they glowed with a pink powered as they Wished, nay, DEMANDED that whatever divine forces that may exist, that they revive their beloved master PRONTO!

Way ahead of you there, lucky dragon. Way ahead of you....

[Messages in Brackets Can Only Be Seen by Players: I'll let you react to what has happened/been said, before we move on any further, alright?]

[Dragonstrike]

[Good system.  We need some sort of defense from someone inexperienced in the ways of the 4th Wall, so I think that will do just fine.  Brackets make a much more solid wall than parentheses, that's for sure.]

Two more cursed arms...one of which was in the Fallout zone and one held by someone he knows...oh dear...Clair having Megido's Revelation, one of the most feared ones, was bad enough...

Arial was fine...heh.  He'd have to do without Reiner for a little bit.  He wasn't exactly in the mood to save his 'bodyguard' again.  Nor was he in any condition to try fighting the Vampire directly, really...

...and...

...his parents...

...

...he...he could see one of them again?  It'd probably be his mom...but what he wouldn't give to see her once more...particularly if they still...

...

...this wasn't the time for this.

He wasn't the only one who had a reason to be sad right now.

'Ninetales, Luxelong, your wish will be granted.  Give me a moment, and then I'll explain.  I need to take care of something very, very, VERY dangerous first: the thing that killed your trainer.  I need to make sure it doesn't wake up.'

A quick note for Angelica: 'Whew, Looker really did come prepared, didn't he?  Hold off on using that PP Up on him and the Max Revive on Reiner for a moment.  I need to handle my business first.  We'll figure out what to do with Looker's supplies after I'm finished.'

'Mew' then retrieves Rhyxemplar's pokeball and summons him as well!

'Rhyxemplar, you see this bug?  This bug tried to KILL us.  It KOed Reiner, Kyubi, and Arbok, lethally damaged Yang, has heavily wounded me...and the dragons are barely able to scratch it as they attempt to finish it off once and for all.  I know the move has become a little...distasteful for you, but I think it's our best shot at making sure this menace doesn't stand back up.  If you would please, please, PLEASE use Horn Drill to finish it off, we would ALL be grateful.  And it's pretty hard to miss a stationary target, right?  Plus, if you still somehow miss, what's to stop you from trying again and venting your frustration a little?'

Back to the Future!

'Alright, well, now that that's taken care of...as I was saying, your wish will be granted.  However...there's a price.  I am Mew the Creator, but I am not as powerful as I once was due to some unfortunate circumstances.  If I could simply revive her, I would.  That does not mean I can't, but...there's a price attached until I regain my full power: a life for a life.  And we have to act fast as well.  I cannot revive her if we wait too long and her soul leaves her decomposing body.

'And so, I must ask the two of you...are either of you willing to give up your life to save hers?  I can tell you two are very, very close to her, and that may allow me to revive her with minimal drawbacks.  The past two times I tried reviving a Pokemon with a human soul and vice versa...well, it worked, but the results were...mixed.  The life was saved, but they were changed for one reason or another, being half pokemon, half human.  Favoring the human side just slightly, even.  I've been assured by a higher power that a little guidance from him combined with a sacrifice from one of you two would have the best case results, though.  I'm not going to allow any errors if I can help it.  But it wouldn't be fair to you both if I didn't ask if you were willing to go through with it first...either of you would work, though.  But again, you need to decide quickly.  We don't have a lot of time, and the revival process takes some time itself.'

[Lord Windos]

[Well, we have to have SOME safeguard for 4th wall breakers if we need to plot in Game Thread for some odd reason! With the rate things are going, Spirimon will likely try to tap into Arial's insanity and complete their transformation into an Deadpool expy!]

Upon being released out into the world and being informed of the ongoing situation, the metal kaiju had a thoroughly disgruntled scowl on his face as they grunted in displeasure, before they jerked off their top horn and marched over to the fallen Buzzwole. His species were known for their intense and fanatical loyalty to those that they consider their Lord, and he was just about to demonstrate to the overgrown bug that no one gets away with harming Reiner. Reving it up to breakneck speed, they took careful and deliberate aim at the Ultra Beast's chest area, drawing back their reinforced arm for maximum effectivenss, before they thrust it straight through the monster's chest!

*RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!*

Judging by the copious amount of some sort of fluid you think is blood pouring forth from the wound, and by the violent jolt that the elderitch demon made before the went completely limp, Rhyxemplar has successfully blended their internal organs to perfection, violently killing them in the process!

.....Sorta.

Despite literally seeing the life drain away from Buzzwole's now stiffening and completely still form, you could detect that on some level that this thing was still ALIVE. Apparently, Ultra Beasts either can't die or properly STAY dead in universes/world that are not of their own, and/or possess such remarkable regenerative capabilities/Vitality that even when subjected to EXTREME PUNITIVE MEASURE, they don't die when they are killed. Lovecraft's was rather apt in describing these being lifeforce, or so it would appear! Of course, being 'killed' isn't something that even a terror from beyond can just walk off, so they were out action for quite awhile, until they fully regenerate their negative HP Points. [Base rate of 9 HP per day, which can be increased depending if a person expends time, care, and/or the right healing supplies. Then, it would take it quite a long time for it return to their full strength, power, and capabilities, as defying Death itself by sheer force of Will or Vitality is by no mean a non-intensive process!

Of course, since its dead but not 'dead', it would be easy for you to capture it in a Hacked Pokeball, and store/lock it away/detain it somewhere far out of reach of prying hands.....

Or you could try other methods to see if you couldn't completely obliterate the Ultra Beast's body, but since the Dragon's/Rhyxemplar's earlier efforts have only done so much......

Luxelong immediantly ceases their frenzied Wishing and jerked their head towards you direction as they processed what you just said and its implications, while A-Ninetales slowly raises they head of Mina's chest (They place it their shortly after their howling) and gives you a startled, hopeful, yet uncertain look of expectation, as if they were not sure if they wanted to believe you or not. They could have their master back, restore her life and enable them to continue doing what she loves doing most in the entire world....but one of them must die for them? Both of the artist Pokémon turned to looked at each other, and they both knew without a doubt in their hearts that they were willing to pay the ultimate price the instant their gaze meet. The question is, which would of them would it be? The lucky dragon's own immense Vitality and the snowy fox's bracing Dexterity would be a great boon to their master should they inherit it, as well as their myriad intrinsic abilities. However, those very same qualities are also of immense use in keeping her safe, sound, and pleased in the future, and neither of them really wanted her to be depreived of their own respectively comforting presence....nor the reverse.

Both of Mina's dear and loyal companions continued to silently stare at one another, silently communicating with one another and mulling over which would be the one, until a short while later they came to a decision. Turning their head away from the fae dragon, the A-Ninetales pulled itself of their beloved master's depated form, giving her one last sorrowful and tearful look, before tearing their sights away and padding over to stand in front of you. 'It will be I that will offer my life, in exchange for her own. Luxelong is better served remaining by my master, as their powers and Ability can better safeguard them in the living world, while  my powers would bestow upon her my fleetness and my artic protections. .....She also desired to experience the cold the same as I, enjoying it to the utmost instead of having to shy away. When she awakens from death, tell them I am grateful for all the wonderful times we have shared, and for her to remain strong and commited to her passion, and to remain as always has been: carefree, serene, and at peace with the world. Tell her not to mourn greatly for me, for I will always be a part of her forever more, providing for them what I could not as I am now.... "

"I am ready when you are, Mew..."