The RAGE Team

The world was so dark, a darkness so deep that it seemed to swallow all light that came its way, even sound was sucked into the oblivion. It was horrible, not knowing what was ahead, not even knowing where he even was, yet it gave him a type of relief. He had no way of knowing what would happen, and it put him at ease, because as long as he did not know ‘who’ or ‘how’, the ‘what’ was all the more tolerable, he wouldn’t have to suffer the overwhelming guilt that would come later on. But all of that could be easily take away if Olle chose to open his eyes. But he didn’t see himself doing that any time soon, not until he knew for certain the coast was clear.

So there he was, feeling his legs move through the rushing sand as he kept his eyes sealed shut. He kept bumping into, most likely random structures, or large pieces of rubble. But that didn’t stop the vine whips from coming down on whatever it bumped into to destroy it, Olle was leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

Then…..then he heard it.

He bumped into something yet again, only this something made a noise, barely audible over the sand rushing past. But he didn’t need to hear who it was to know that whoever it was, was not going to get off so easily from him……He couldn’t even tell if the victim had a chance to even register what was happening, because Olle’s vines flew out immediately, circling around the first part of the prey that it got a hold of. He could feel his vines lifting the pokemon off the ground, could feel the other struggle against the hold, yet Olle still refused to open his eyes. Blood was going to be spilled, that was for certain, the only thing he could do was spare himself the pain of having to see the face of whoever it was.

Yet try as he might, he could not completely cut off all of his senses. It was the smell that did it, the smell of a garden in bloom during the middle spring, a smell so sweet that it could belong to no other pokemon. It was only then that he was unable to ignore the muffled noises she was making. And against his better judgement, Olle opened his eyes only to regret it the moment he did.

It was blurry, the sand didn't help, but her shape was unmistakable. And the longer he stared the clearer it all got, her terrified look, her face losing color, and lastly the large vines wrapped around her neck in a vice like grip, crushing it and keeping any air from getting to her brain. If she had said anything to plead for her life, Olle had blocked it out before opening his eyes, meaning her last words where lost to him. He could do nothing as the last bit of life escaped from her, and in unison, the silent tears escaped from Olle.

I’m….I’m sorry…

She didn’t deserve this; to die from her friend’s hands….She was always the nice one who was always trying her best for others. She didn’t even have any actual attacks, everything she had was for helping others…. If anything, out of the whole group, he cared for her the most, and now… he killed her…There was no denying it, even after he let go, the amount of damage he had done to her neck alone meant that she would not be able to breathe on her own if she was still alive.

It hit him harder than it did when he killed Echo…Yes, that was painful, but he felt bad to even admit it, but he barely even talked to the little guy, it didn’t affect him as much as Magnolia’s death.

Even worse was when Olle’s head bent down to her and opened his mouth. He knew what was going to come next, the same thing that had happened to echo….he could already imagine the sick and twisted taste that would drench his tongue. And he would have enjoyed every last bite too, and hated himself for enjoying it. But…..knowing it was her…..putting a face he really cared about to the meal was just about to eat was too much. He wouldn’t be able to stand it if he was the one to kill her AND the one to eat her.

He wasn’t quiet sure how he did it, nor did that matter, he just knew that it was killing his head just to do it. Giving him a headache worse than any he had before just forcing himself to not eat her. Defying every urge in his body and commanding his brain, to command his body, to command his legs to move, to move and to not stop until he lost her in the sandstorm. By the end of it he could have sworn his skull had been split open, but it was worth it to know that Magnolia might still have a chance at a proper burial if the others found her first.

But he was tired now…..so tired.

((hoped to post this earlier, but it got long |D Please do not mess with Magnolia's body unless you have permission from Lulu .n.))

She struggled against the sandy winds as she trudged onwards. She would find someway to help her friends--she had to! She never wanted to be a burden, not when that young boy chose her as his starter, not when he gave up on her...her job had always been to help her teammates through thick and thin, and that's what she needed to do now. Bumping into a figure, the collision snaps her out of her thoughts, eyes wide as she tried to make out what she had walked into. Her eyes widened and a smile grew on her lips. "Oll-!"

She felt thick vines slithering and constricting her neck, the Meganium startled as she struggled for her freedom. The grass-type could feel herself being lifted, the air wheezing out from her delicate lungs as she coughed. "...!" she couldn't speak, her words only coming out as short sputters and whimpers. Magnolia couldn't stop the tears flooding from her eyes as her body shook. Olle, it's me, please... She couldn't move anymore. She couldn't feel her legs, she couldn't feel anything.

She felt her body grow cold, hanging limp from the Venusaur's grip. She couldn't fight back any longer--her mind was going blank. Her sight was darkening, shapes blurry midst the flying grains as she closed her eyes. She could feel her body dropping to the ground. The once-warm sands whipped against her form as life slowly slipped from her grasp. She didn't want to die...not like this. She had so many things to do--she was going to save them! She was going to find a cure for this disease, somehow, and everyone was going to be happy...happiness...that's all she had ever wanted. She longed for their smiling faces again... Her carcass laid still in a bed of pale gold, listless.

She twitched.

"Crusher!" Locke screamed, his voice ragged with emotion and exhaustion. "Crusher!"
His heavy claws thudded against the ground as he dashed towards the looming forest, his heart beating erratically.
I have to find him! He gasped wildly, his yellow eyes wide with fear. The dragon ran deeper into the forest, his breaths growing shallower and painful.
Locke whimpered, frantically stumbling through foliage.
"Crush...Crusher...!" He wheezed, "Come back!"
The Gabite coughed and gasped, falling to the ground as dark chunks of crimson splattered into the fallen leaves. Locke cried weakly, his large body convulsing as blood poured from his mouth and seeped from his eyes. Agonizing pain shot from his heart and through his entire body, leaving the young dragon shuddering in shock.

__________________________

The young Teasel bounded through the dark underbrush, his red tail a brilliant streak.
"Crusher! Crusher!" The dragons' voice echoed through the forest somewhere behind him. The Teasel skidded to a halt, his breath heavy as he strained his ears.
"Crush...Crusher!"
He sounds like he's in trouble...!

[[Skip, I need Phoe]]

((Sorry, going to have to skip, any post from me right now would be of very poor quality -.-))

Her neck was red and swollen, sting with the same amount of pain as it had moments ago when Olle strangled the life out of her. She shuddered, the whipping gales colliding against her skin and scraping her flesh as the Meganium laid, cold, on the flowing sands. When her memories flashed before her eyes she had prayed--prayed harder than she ever had before--to live again. Surely this couldn't be the end, could it? She had so much to do, so much to live for! She still had to cure her friends, she would help them get away from all those monsters, and they would live the happily ever afters they deserved...

Yes, that was exactly what she was going to do.

Slowly, she rose from her resting spot, movements rigid and stiff as she brought herself to her feet. Her eyes--a startling crimson--were opened wide and clear. She gagged and coughed, black liquid dribbling out from her throat as she took her first step forward, dangerously swaying to the sides. Her vines automatically came out, desperately grabbing at the sands around her in an attempt to balance herself. Magnolia opened her jaws, vomiting another large glob of bile before she screamed. A long, drawn-out wail that traveled along with the winds, feet churning the Earth as she stamped forward.

"CaaaaaAAaaiiiiiiIIiiiRooooOOOo?" she shouted, blurry vision scanning her surroundings. "OoooOOOllE?" she stumbled forward, voice growing desperate. Arceus had heard her prayer--she's alive again! She needed to cherish this life, she needed to use it for the better good...she had to save them. "LoooOOooocke?"

"Th-Thank you, Miss...W-Without you, I don't think I... Well... I don't think it would have ended as well..." The boy shifted and fidgeted nervously before the larger female, seemingly unsure of her assistance. "You can call me Phoebe. And it was no trouble-" she began but a loud squawk from Icarus cut into her reply. "The hell it wasn't!" Turning to glare at the child Phoebe lowered her wings and stared hard at the tiny Archen, hopping angrily up the rubble to her. "Pausing for these idiots nearly got you, and more importantly me, killed. Does that sound like 'no trouble' to you?" Phoebe sighed heavily knowing that trying to explain to Icarus why would only make the small bird angrier.

"Don't mind him," she told the shiny. "He gets a little stressed when faced with danger. He will calm down soon." Another squawk and this time a rock thrown at the back of her head leaving the Flygon rubbing the now tender area. "Hopefully very soon." She reached out with her tail to grab Icarus and place him on her back, his usual perch, but the nimble appendage met nothing but empty air. "Icarus?" she questioned as she turned around only to find the younger one gone. "Where did he go?"

______

Annoyed and tired of arguing to no avail Icarus had decided to go off on his own, hoping over and around piles of debris scattered by the fight and general decay of the town since the Epidemic. He didn't even realize he had begun to head towards the large plant everyone had earlier seemed so eager to eat the dark Dratini. He paused when he heard a struggle and looked up to see the Venusaur strangling the life out of another grass type, ducking and hiding behind a rock as he witnessed her final breath. The thick vines released their hold and the monster began to lumber off and as the Archen's eyes fell to the female he realized he had seen her with that other Flygon before. He should know his friend had fallen, despite being an idiot she didn't deserve to lay out on the street and rot.

Rushing back as fast as he could Icarus found himself nearly to the two Flygons where they still conversed but as he opened his beak to call out to them a voice, a very female voice, drifted through the winds of the waning Sandstorm to his ears. "CaaaaaAAaaiiiiiiIIiiiRooooOOOo?" Pausing he turned back to see a vaguely familiar shape behind the veil of sand as another call rang out. "OoooOOOllE? LoooOOooocke?" Great Arceus she was still alive? After all that? Or...was she? Fear gripped at the small ancient bird and he practically ran the rest of the way back to Phoebe, darting behind one of her hind legs and staying there. "Icarus what's wrong?" Phoebe asked gently but all he could do was point to the wandering figure in the storm.

The Teasel bounded through the underbrush, backtracking as he went.
Where is he!?
Trees rushed by in a green blur as the small ice type ran by, finally skidding to a halt as he held his breath to listen.
Nothing.
Crusher whimpered, his breath coming out rapidly as trotted uselessly about in circles, calling out for the large dragon.
"Locke! Locke!"
This is so stupid! I'm going to die!

The small weasel searched for what felt like hours, his throat growing hoarse and his legs growing weak.
"Locke!" He brayed, his voice echoing through the darkening forest as he padded through.
Where could he have gone?! He has to be injured to not have answered for so long...
A sudden rustling in the darkness startled the young weasel out of his thoughts, making him leap back from the sound.
Crusher stared into the dark bushes, his eyes large, his ears flat and his tail puffed up high behind him.
"W-who's there!?" He rasped, growling as threateningly as he could.

"ROOOOOORRRW!" A sudden flash of dirty feathers launched itself at him, followed by an angry uproar of crowing and croaking. Sharp talons slashed at the child from the dark cloud of Kanto natives, making the Teasel stumble over himself into the thick bushes.
"Aaaah!" He shouted instinctively, scrambling madly to get away from the angry claws and loud raucous.

(Locke is MIA for now, and Crusher is running towards the town again, followed by a rather angry flock of undead Spearow. When Locke shows up again, be ready to fight my dear Sil, lol)

Cairo's face lit up slightly as the other flygon replied. "You can call me Phoebe. And it was no trouble-" A loud squawk interrupted her, earning a flinch from the shiny.

"The hell it wasn't!" Cairo stared along with Phoebe as the angry little bird made his way into the conversation. "Pausing for these idiots nearly got you, and more importantly me, killed. Does that sound like 'no trouble' to you?" The shiny frowned; he could tell very quickly what sort of person this bird would be...

"Don't mind him," Phoebe dismissed, turning back to Cairo, who seemed less convinced. "He gets a little stressed when faced with danger. He will calm down soon." The bird remained irate, even going as far as throwing a rock into the back of Phoebe's head. "Hopefully very soon." Cairo's frown deepened, and he crossed his arms. How rude!

But it seemed that the little bird was going to have no more of their conversation, as he looked to begin to scold the little cretin, there was nothing but air. Phoebe seemed to be as confused as he. "Icarus? Where did he go?" All the flygon could do was helplessly shrug his shoulders, his long neck extending so he could try and see their surroundings better. Fear began to grip his gut once more as he remembered Olle was still around here, putting the little bird in deep trouble. "I don't know, but we need to find him before Olle does...!"

However, they didn't need to look for long. Icarus -as Phoebe had called him- darted out of the still raging sandstorm, clinging to her leg. But as she tried consoling the little bird, Cairo stared, fearful, into the sands as a haunting call sounded from them. "CaaaaaAAaaiiiiiiIIiiiRooooOOOo? OoooOOOllE? LoooOOooocke?" Frozen in place, terror gripping his very soul, he could only stare, shivering, as Phoebe questioned Icarus.

"We need to get out of here," Cairo whispered, backing away slowly. "We need to leave, Phoebe..."

He could still imagine it, oh Arceaus how the taste was practically driving him crazy.

He managed to avoid eating a dear friend, but ever since then his brain was filled with one thought, and one thought only. What would she have tasted like? Would her bones have crunched? Would her flesh have been tender? Or would have it been rough? All these cryptic thoughts kept leaking into his mind, each wondering the same thing, would he have enjoyed eating Magnolia like he enjoyed eating Echo?

It was horrible to even think about it. But some very small recess of Olle’s mind was berating himself for forcing himself to stop from eating her. Because now he was not only deadly tired, and exhausted, but he was most likely going to continue thinking about what she tasted like for the rest of his life. But as much as he hated thinking about the temptations of flesh, he did do the right thing…. It would have been worse if he did in fact eat her. At least now there was something left to be buried, at least now there was no chance he could contaminate her body with his, his infection. At least now the other can at least have some closure with her.

“……AAaaiiiiiiIIiiiRooooOOOo?”

That voice!….it, it sounded like…..No couldn’t be, just my mind playing tricks on me, just trying to get me to open my eyes.

He didn’t fully believe that, but he was trying his hardest to force himself to believe it. Because otherwise….otherwise it meant a fate far worse than the death for his close friend. Living with the knowledge of that would drive Olle insane, he knew it. There would literally be nothing left to keep him fighting if he started believing that voice belonged to…well….her.

So he denied it, he kept his eyes shut with more force than ever before and denied the hell out of it.

Yet his mind kept thinking; ‘What if?’.

It was impossible to ignore that simple ‘What If?’, because the ramifications would be too much. He knew he didn’t do anything to her body, before or after she was alive. But IF that was her….that would mean he is even more lost within his own body than he once thought. It could only mean that there are periods of time where he has no recollection of his actions, meaning parts of his life completely blacked out from him. It made him question exactly how long he has been a hazard to himself and those around him….

No, he couldn’t accept it, he did not want to accept it.

"OoooOOOllE?

”….No….”


((think its about time for the sandstorm to die off again no? Will have Olle notice the flock if it does |D))

Magnolia stumbled along the filthy path, feet shaking as her neck stretched to spot any figures near her. She needed to find the others...she needed to help them. When no one answered her calls the Meganium frowned, claws digging into the soil in an attempt to steady herself. Why won't they answer her? Her red eyes narrowed as she bellowed. "OoooOOOolle?!" she screeched, voice escalating to a more vicious tone. Her vines protruding from the flower around her neck lashed out at her surroundings, slamming into old fence posts and brittle houses. Were the others hiding from her? Why would they hide from her? She wasn't going to hurt them...

The Grass-type shuddered and coughed, erupting into a fit of hacks as she felt the bitter taste of blood in her mouth. A deep, menacing snarl was emitted, head thrashing wildly in rage as she collided her own body into the side of a house, effectively crushing the wall she had crashed into. The taste of her blood had been so sweet...she wanted more. No, she didn't want more--she needed more. "CaAAaIIIiirOooo!" Magnolia screamed, spotting faint figures in the distance. That must be them! Her eyes lit with joy as she began to race towards them, the taste of blood still fresh on her tongue.

A lightbulb immediately went off in the Meganium's head.

Blood! That was it! Magnolia grew even more excited by the minute. She figured out the cure! Infection runs through the body...through the blood...so surely the best way to rid of it was to drain all the bad blood out! The grass-type made an incomprehensible sound of delight, thrashing her tail like a dog. All she needed to do was to bite them and suck all the blood out...and of course, she would be fine--she had a run-in with her dear friend Olle yet she was still alive and running! That must mean she was immune, right? Ecstatically she sprinted towards Cairo, too busy with movement to form a coherent sentence. Instead, she only yelped a single word before her eyes narrowed and jaws hung open, ready to sink her maw into living flesh. "CURE!"

(Um...sorry, skip. I didn't realize it was my turn, like a derp. I kinda wanna have Crusher be seen relatively close to the forest, so we can get out of the town already lol.)

Still the voice rang through the winds, the message lost, but the meaning still there. Olle could not even deny it anymore. Magnolia was still alive; or rather…..she was not as dead as she was supposed to be. And to make matters worse, the innocent Magnolia was calling out for her friends, for Olle, the one who had strangled the life out of her and simply left her there to rot. The murderer was being summoned, by his own victim, and despite not wanting to see her in that state, a part of Olle somehow felt that she deserved this at least.

To face her killer and maybe even have her end Olle’s life. Justice finally being served….

But this wasn’t a calling for justice, or even vengeance, no, the innocent Magnolia was pleading to the world for companionship. The one thing Olle would not be able to give her right now…..

He could feel himself blindly searching for the location of the voice, to follow the sound and have it lead him to a source of food, to feast on the flesh of the prey that got away, but as long as the sandstorm raged, she was safe from him. Who knows how long that would last though…..this was an artificial sandstorm, created by Cairo to shield everyone from the multiple threats, but it would not last forever, and when it stopped, Olle just knew he’d go after Magnolia again, she was the loudest thing in this area….

He prayed that the sandstorm never ended.


But Arceaus was not on his side, the wind was starting to die out.

[[OOC: Skip, please. QuQ]]

"We need to get out of here. We need to leave, Phoebe..."

She wasn't sure what exactly had the smaller Flygon and Icarus so worried but nodded in agreement anyway that they should move. The dragon might very well find a way out of the pit she left him in and if those strange calls were what frightened the boy behind her then it was likely an Undead. "Then let's move. Hop on Icarus." Not needing to be told twice the Archen bit down softly onto her tail and pulled himself up onto it, hopping his way up her back until settling in his favorite spot in the soft dip at the base of her neck.

"CURE!"

Icarus nearly screamed at the sight of the Maganium bursting out of the whirling sands and heading right for them. "Oh shit! She's here!" Phoebe turned her head to witness the female and briefly recognized her as the one who had been with Cairo before. But how had she turned so quickly? She didn't seem to show any sign of infection the scant ten minutes it had been since she rescued Icarus. Beating her wings quickly she took to the air, looking down to summon her shiny counterpart. "Cairo come! Now is not the time nor is this the place to fight!" In truth she just didn't want the poor child to have to battle one of his allies, he seemed too sensitive to be forced into that. No, it was better he flee, if only for his own sanity.

Icarus pecked the back of Phoebe's neck for not getting the hell out of there. Why did she need to stop every few seconds and try to help someone? All it ever did was get them in trouble and him nearly killed. How he craved to achieve his evolution so that he could finally have use of his wings. Phoebe had her uses but this annoying 'knight in shining scales' act was going to get them both killed one day.

(I have to skip once more, because I can't plan shit out timely, apparently lol. I swear I'll post next round, even if little Crusher isn't seen)

[[Skip.]]