(ACE) The HEARTHOME Team

Sweet Arceus, it was already morning! Helena felt like she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep, but her energy would probably return sooner or later. That always happened. Helena Beat quickly stretched her legs before heading out of the small house she inhabited for now. Glory, it was a perfect morning for a PARTY. Maybe today was the day Helena found some peeps to hang with. All of her okd friends were either missing or just plain crazy! Dwelling on these thoughts, the eccentric Espeon continued to walk through the quiet streets, abandoning all caution along the way. Why would Helena need caution? She was young, strong, and not malnourished. The world was her Clamperl, zombies be damned! There weren't any of them here right now, and Helena began to hum a cheerful tune while enjoying a slight morning breeze. When Helena Beat looked up again, she spotted two large creatures, one blue and the other purple, near a PokeCenter. There was also a slender black dog, but the Espeon disregarded their appearances. She was ECSTATIC. Here was a whole group of Pokemon that weren't hungry for meat. And they might be party animals, too! Oh, what joy!
“Yo!“ Helena called out to the strangers, while at the same time increasing the pace of her walk. Then the black dog cried out in alarm. Judging by the direction the Zoroark was facing, Helena Beat looked to the sky. There was a giant frickin' dragon up there, messing up this potential party.

The Espeon went up to the other Pokemon, whipping her tail (and the chain attached.) “Need some help?“ she asked with a grin. “I'm a fighter, after all, no?“ Obviously they wouldn't be able to answer that question, but Helena didn't really care.

(OoC: Hello! I'm happy to be part of this team!)

((Skip me, to tired to post. Just say Pidove hid deeper in Zoro's main that he couldn't be seen very well anymore.))

Quinn cawed in surprise as Arthur lumbered outside of the Pokemon Center, the dinosaur tilting his head upward to see the Hydreigon in the near distance. Judging by how fast it's coming, it'll be here in just a few more minutes... at a crashing rate. The Wingull fluttered off of the Nidoking's head, instead, floating just above their group and watching the dragon intensely.

The Seagull Pokemon knew that he would not be able to help much against this battle - seeing the obvious girth difference - but Quinn knew he had to try. While the others plotted out a strategy, the Wingull prepped himself up mentally. We can defeat this thing together!

Quinn set up an Aqua Ring around himself, a blob of water in mid-air. After that... The fight will play itself out.

[ooc: sorry for the shortness, I'm really rushing here orz]

Molly refused to leave until Pidove was successfully out of harm’s way, walking back to the zoroark to wait until the little bird was ready to emerge. Poor thing was probably oblivious to the massive dragon circling above. She smiled weakly, growing paranoid that the pidove might be fearful of her appearance. She hated that. Just cause she was larger and more muscular than most pokémon, she wasn’t about to rip anybody’s head off.
“Pidove, sweetheart? Come on, we need to get you inside,” She sighed, eager to protect the youngster but not wanting to rush him out of his hiding place. He looked so comfortable in Zorro’s mane. Instead, she waited, blue eyes flicking between the child and the nearing infected.

“Need some help? I'm a fighter, after all, no?“

The voice startled the nidoking, and he looked down to see a newcomer, some sort of eevee evolution offering his assistance. He smiled softly, wanting to introduce himself, but knowing that it would have to wait. The hydreigon had spotted the group.
“Any help would be great,” Arthur muttered, focusing on the dragon. It had picked up speed, and now Quinn had moved to use a water attack to improve their defences. He seemed quite a strategic little bird. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as it looked. The monster was outnumbered, and the majority of the group seemed fairly strong. Inspired, Arthur emitted a bellowing roar, his tail beginning to glow silver in preparation for the hydreigon’s landing. Molly had frowned at Arthur’s roar; she hoped he wasn’t going to hurt himself by trying to act like one of the youngsters. Knowing his luck, he’d probably kill the hydregion then go and sprain his ankle whilst walking away.

The hydreigon landed clumsily, practically crashing to the ground somewhat alike to a meteor. It was bigger than usual, obviously having been infected for a good while. It was also hideous. Reeking of death, gory flesh exposed and sluggish in its heavy footfalls, the creature was a prime example of what the virus was capable of creating. Arthur’s lip curled back in disgust, glaring at the monster as it manoeuvred itself to face its potential meals, each head more hideous than the last. Shaking away the fear its image provoked, Arthur rushed towards the hydreigon, tail swinging around to hit the beast with an iron tail. The hydreigon had used a body slam, the two attacks colliding to send both attackers flying back on impact. Arthur landed on his feet a few feet away, skidding backwards, slightly winded and trying to catch his breath. For an old timer, Arthur had taken the attack fairly well, just as fazed by the collision as the hydreigon – not much. Grumbling under his breath, Arthur looked to the others. All his attacks were physical or at least close ranged, and he wasn’t about to go charging back into trouble. He would wait till it came to him.

A low and dull humming echoed throughout the city streets, just as dawn was breaking. The terrible drone grew louder as its source shrieked in agony.
"WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!?" the Scizor roared, as he gazed down at the beautiful Espeon below him.
Such beauty...he thought bitterly, a dark and terrible rage overflowing from him. His last kill had been frightened of him...and it was also beautiful.
Everyone had always been frightened of him.

How could they do this to me!? All I want is for them to see how beautiful they are! Well, they're the monsters! They won't scream at me again!
"NEVER AGAAAAAIN!" He howled, diving towards the slender feline, using an X-scissor right as he flew over her, and in a split second, his pincer sliced through the delicate bones of her neck.
He landed not far away, turning just in time to see her head fall and roll towards him, a lock of pure shock still on her maw.

He stared in enraged silence as he slowly walked over to the severed skull now draining blood, and turned his gaze to the others around her, his eyes empty and hollow.
"...Never again..." He whispered, as he brought his mighty pincer down on the head with a sickening crunch.
No more beauty....
No more...
He thought grimly, and strangely satisfied.
He lifted his claw, only glancing down at the mess of brain matter, blood and fur that he had left, before rocketing off into the brightening sky, with a forlorn and broken hum.

((Skip me again, once agan to tired to post -.- Will have Pidove do something my next turn. Just say he started to cry from seeing a new friend die.))

"...Never again..." No... The Aqua Ring still surrounding Quinn, he looked at the Espeon that had joyously come up to them just... die. The Wingull shivered, witnessing first hand for the first time what an unnatural death looked like - and it wasn’t something he found himself fancying too much. He floated above the bloody mess of the animal he never knew, a little hesitant but nonetheless sympathetic for the Espeon. Quinn closed his eyes momentarily to pay his respects, but soon dived into battle to help out Arthur.

The Scizor... No. The bird cawed in concern and with a gaze full of hurt. “May your road to Arceus’ abode be safe, Espeon.” Quinn whispered, folding his wings to maximize his speed as he darted in and out of the feud between the Nidoking and Hydreigon, attempting to find an opening. The Seagull Pokemon had a great burst of a Water Pulse readied, the liquid accumulating in his bill, but if he targeted wrong and hit Arthur, it could very well be a fatal mistake. Not that his feeble attack would truly hurt the ground type (despite type advantages), but it could catch the attention of the great dinosaur the moment when his attention should be elsewhere.

The Hydreigon was now simply a mass of muscle, not much else Quinn found out. The infected dragon was controlled simply by instinct out for blood. It caused its mind to go haywire, loosing its sense, and running on pure strength instead. As long as we can outsmart it and avoid the overwhelming attacks, we can slowly chip off its strength until it’s as easy as remembering the first 200 digits of pi! The Wingull ruffled his feathers, dispersing his Aqua Ring to suck in more water, and releasing a full out Water Pulse towards the Hydreigon’s back.

The murderous killing of the Espeon lurked at the back of Quinn’s mind, however, persisting that the death be thought about. It was a nagging feeling that he was missing something about that Scizor, why it mercilessly killed while crying out loud, and how it left without a glance towards the other prey. ... odd. The Wingull tensed the muscles in his wings, stretching them outward as he sped to the Hydreigon with a Wing Attack, aimed towards the back of its neck. There’s time to think about these later. What mattered now was what was happening right then and there.

“Need some help? I'm a fighter, after all, no?“ Zoroark frowned slightly at the newcomer, an Espeon. The last thing he really wanted was to have others get hurt during the fight, especially someone as delicate looking as the Espeon. He did not have time to awnser her, though, as Molly was still trying to coax Pidove from his mane. Zoro was not much help with this, honestly, and was forced to watch as the Hydreigon made it's move. The dark type's ears flicked back and he growled lightly in alarm as the dragon landed clumsily, stumbling slightly, and roaring loudly with what was left of it's heads. This must have frightened Pidove, Zoroark realized all too late, as he gave a squeak and hid farther in the red fur. Molly would probably not be able to get him out now.

"We don't have that kimd of time," he spoke to no one in particular. Turning to the Nidoqueen, "I have to help. Don't worry- I will protect him with my life." And with that the great canine jumped into the fray. He watched just as Arthur and the Hydreigon slammed into eachother, such force throwing both of them several feet back. With a feirce growl deep within his throat, Zoroark began to change. Suddenly he was taller, feeling his limbs stretch and clentch even when they did not exist. The newly formed Tyranitar roared, saliva flying from his jaws, as he charged. He was all too awear of the small bird with him in the feirce illusion and made an effort not to jostle his head too much as he smashed into the undead. Zoro slammed the dragon with his tail, only managing to knock it back slightly since it did not exist, and lumdged forward with an attack of his own. His right clawed hand glowed with a dark energy as he tore at the middle head with a Night Slash. He would have landed a blow to slice it clean off, but the right arm of the Hydreigon smashed into him, intercepting the attack. As a result, that head was cut clean off but Zoro was slammed right in the chest. His Tyranitar illusion vanished as the air was knocked from him. The beast roared with pain and triumph as it prepared to strike again. Zoroark's eyes widened as the other head was slammed down to land a devestating blow, but out of no where the Wingull saved his life. He had zoomed forward with a Wing Attack, earning Zoro just enough time to recover.

As the Hydreigon was distracted by the bird's interfereance, Zoro saw his chance. With a silent plea to Arceus that Pidove was still within his mane, he struk again, landing the blow this time. His clawed hand shot out with another charged Night Slash, striking right at the throat of the beast. It roared in fury, trying to dislodge the attack with a roar that became nothing but a strangled scream. Zoro pulled his paw back, staring with discust at both the vile sludge left there and the undead before him. It stumbled back a few feet before collapsing on the concrete with a wet splat. Zoro swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. He needed to wash his hand. Now.

The Zoroark managed to put a triumphant grin on his face as he turned to regaurd the others. The threat was defeated, his friends saved. "Thank you for the assistance, dear Wingull. I would be gone of not for you." He showed his thanks by motioning for the duel type to perch upon him if he liked. But once the adrenalin passed, it was clear that something was wrong. The atmosphere had changed, even more with the Hydreigon. "Wh...what hap-" Zoroark started to ask, but then froze. He had to blink several times and simply stare to make sure what he saw was real. He went numb, his eyes wide and his jaws open with horror. His lips moved as if he were speaking but no words came out. It was the Espeon. Or...what was left of her. Her decapitated body was lying there, simply lifeless, just where she had been when speaking to Zoroark himself a minute ago. A few meters away was a mangled, bloodied mess that must have been her head. "No," was the only coheirant word that the Zoroark could form. He stared at Molly and Arthur, his face just questioning, as if they could explain what had happened. The Altaria was gone, too. 

"Wh- what happened?" he whispered. "Did it get the Altaria, too?" Zoroark's voice sounded hallow even to him.

The battle with the hydregion was well underway, both the wingull and zoroark leaping into battle to demonstrate their immense strength against the dragon. Arthur couldn’t help but feel a little... old, in comparison to the pair. He’d already managed to click his hip, and the duo were quickly wearing the infected down without him. He watched on from a distance, pleased with the survivor’s teamwork and annoyed with himself that he couldn’t offer his own assistance. Nevertheless, he’d tried.

Molly had let the zoroark run off into battle with the upmost concern, her eyes wide with fear for the little bird resting in the canine’s mane. If anything happened to Pidove, she would have difficulty controlling her rage against the zoroark. Shaking away the thought of the worst case scenario, she watched the battle for a moment before a hideous scream came to her attention. She spun around, terrified and repulsed at the sight before her. A strange, undead creature stood triumphantly over the newcomer’s now severed head, her body sprawled a short distance away. Molly’s eyes widened, a shiver running down her spine as the scizor crushed the espeon’s head in one quick movement. The power was almost effortless, and for a moment, the nidoqueen feared for her life.
“Arthur...” She called, trying to control her fear as her eyes lay firmly on the undead. It had whispered something and now, she almost felt its stare burning into her very being. “ARTHUR!” She screamed as the bug took off, leaving only the gory remains of the espeon they’d never known. In an instant, she felt the nidoking’s reassuring claw on her shoulder.
“What is it?” His concern was evident, but he’d been fortunate enough to have missed the murderer. Instead, the creature just stared down at the pile of brain and bone that once resembled a head. Molly emitted a combination of a whine and shriek, burying her face in her partner’s shoulder as she wrapped her arms about his form. This had shaken her. Of course, she’d seen infected attacks before, but never so abrupt, so cold-hearted and in such close proximity. Her emotions ran wild, her body trembling in fear as she took deep breaths to steady herself, refusing to leave the safety of Arthur’s protective arms.

"Wh- what happened? Did it get the Altaria, too?"

Molly couldn’t speak, quiet sobbing getting the better of her.
“I- I don’t know,” Arthur spoke for her, holding the terrified female to him as he looked over his shoulder to address Zoro. “I haven’t seen the altaria. Maybe she got away?” It was hopeful, there were no traces of altaria remains on the ground and the scizor’s attack must’ve been hideous to have such a profound effect on Molly, perhaps it had just scared the bird off. Molly shifted slightly, sucking up her emotion and adopting a mask to greet the others with. Their voices were close, so the battle must be done. Pulling away from Arthur, she met his gaze a moment, her eyes slightly moist as she ushered a weak smile. At least he was okay. It was a selfish thought, but Arthur was her everything. The nidoking returned the smile, wiping away a tear on his mate as she turned her attention to Zoro, Pidove and Quinn.
“Are you boys all okay?” Whatever emotional outburst had previously engulfed the nidoqueen had disappeared into her normal, chatty self. Her voice was somewhat fragile, but she smiled broadly, putting on a brave face to focus on the health of the living.

Electrial pom-poms were held in the figure's red hands, making whip-like crackles as she batted off an Undead Buneary in the front of Hearthome City, not only did the figure threw a harsh Swift at the Bunny-like Pokemon. The figure that looked shockingly much like a Pichu and Minun, was a Plusle, who went by the name of Mois. Mois gave a huge funny grin as she defeated the Buneary, didn't kill it, but did knock it out for quite some time. The Plusle's smile wasn't insane, but rather, looked as if she was having fun. It was a fun battle afterall, despite it being a fight over life and death.

She gave a loud haumph, in triumph, "We'll have another battle sometime later alright?" The Positive Pokemon asked the knocked out Buneary, already leaving her to enter the city, her electrical pom-poms coming to a fade as she did. Dark, grey clouds rolled in as quickly as the Plusle entered, leaving the area to darken quickly, she gave a smile at the clouds nonetheless, it seemed natural that an Electric-Type like her would attract such things after using so much Electricity on her pom-poms.

The Plusle nearly squeaked in happiness as she saw figures in the distance. Mois gave a gleeful grin, going into a nearby alleyway to hide. As she peeked out the corner, her smile turned into sadness as she noticed how sad everyone was. They were mourning for a friend, she could tell seeing how many were glancing at the corspe in front of them. The Plusle sighed, but then immediately narrowed her eyes, clenching her paws, 'I'll have them smile!' Mois hopped up onto a nearby garbage can in the alleyway, making a loud clanging sound. She had her paw over her mouth in embarrassment, but nonetheless climbed up onto a roof, using the little openings in the buildings as support (must be a really old building to have it not be repaired!). Mois awaited at the top of the roof, glancing down at the figures down on the street, giving a giggle - she hasn't played hide-and-go-seek in a while!

(Ooc: Assumed everyone is currently down on ground level xP If not, tell me please lol)

Pidove kept himself hidden in the Zoroarks main till things started to get ruff, making Pidove feel sick from all his crying, he shot out of the Zoroarks hair and began to fly back to the pokemon center where he went and hid behind the counter, crying, tears streamed down his face like a waterfall.

Pidove had seen lots of dead pokemon, but he had never seen a dead pokemon kill a living one, so seeing that Espeon die at the claws of the Scizor, really brought Pidove down the normally chiri Pidoves spirit. "Mama..." He said, wishing he could be in the wings of his Mandabuzz mother right there. Why was she never around when he needed her most.

"Wh- what happened?" The battle ended almost as soon as it began, and Quinn breathed a sigh of relief that there would be no more deaths today. And the day had just begun too... Dampening his spirit, he floated above Zoro’s head as he asked the question, confusion and fear welling up in his voice. The Wingull tweeted three short notes, with each note going higher in the scale - it was something his trainer had taught him; the first low note was to symbolize our childhood, the second note was to symbolize growth and learning, and the last one was the ending realization of how short life was. Not that the others knew it, but... For the sentimentality of the moment.

“Are you boys all okay?” Molly spoke with a calm voice, soothing to his unnerved soul after a fellow living was killed right in front of him. But with a glance at her eyes, Quinn caught how the death had distilled the Nidoqueen also; she was simply trying to be strong for all of us. Touched by how the motherly Pokemon took hold of the situation, the bird nodded to himself. He would try to be like her and to mourn for the death, but not weep for the past.

Clang! Quinn started at the noise, glancing around with great caution. Was the Scizor back for another gruesome murder? Was another of this group going to fall prey to that blasted bug? The Wingull flew into the Pokemon Center and settled next to the little Pidove behind the counter. The poor thing was crying! “Oh no, it’s going to be okay, all okay now.” He cooed at the other bird, wrapping his wings around the smaller one. He eyed the Zoroark from afar - the dark type seemed better suited to comfort the young one - and fluttered out of the Pokemon Center once again.

“What do you think that noise was?” He swooped around and about both the Nido’s heads, eyeing the direction in which the sound emitted. “Should we go check it out?”

“Are you boys all okay?” Zoroark heard the voice of the Nidoqueen, but he just couldn't make himself respond. He had only said one thing to the Espeon before that had happened and it was to basically go away... He had been fighting to protect the others while she had been brutally brought down. He could have saved her-he should - have saved her. A sob chocked from his throat and he fought to push it down. It was just like with his own partner... N... Zoroark had been unable to protect him, too, and he had paid with his young life.

His bright blue eyes were dry as he rose his head to survay the others. Everyone was shaken up, but no one else appeared hurt. The Wingull had fluttered over to the Pokemon center and a jolt of terror ran through him. Where was Pidove?! Zoro cautiously felt his mane with one hand and sucked in a breathe through his teeth. He could not feel him.  He began to look left and right franticly, his ears flat in anxiety. His gaze then swept to where the duel type had flown and Zoroark released a breath of repeif as he saw the two small birds together. Beneath the sharp tang of blood and death from both the nameless Espeon amd the dragon that they had taken down, was the weak scent of salt. His eyes softwned in sympathy and he met the Wingull's eyes as he fluttered back out of the building. 

The canine understood and it was convayed through his eyes as he wordlessly began to walk in the direction of the center. As he came close to Arthur and Molly he leaned close to the latter and murmurred in her ear, "We should probably bury the body. We don't want it attracting any attention." He met her eyes and his gaze said what he had left unspoken. He had respect for the dead and would not leave them if he could. A sharp metalic sound came from behind and he visibly jumped, whipping around to see a flash of yellow and red. Zoroark flicked an ear. Earlier he would have jumped at the chance to investigate but now he was so emotionally exhausted hat he simply turned his back,leaving Molly unofficially in charage.

Zoroark smiled as he saw the Pidove upon the counter, the scent of tears stronger now that he was closer to the source. Without a word he moved to the counter the bird was perched upon. He gently wrapped his arms around his small body, barely brushing against the infant in a protective way. The dark type leaned his head forward and gently breathed onto Pidove, letting him know that he was safe and not alone. He would never be is Zoroark could help it.

Molly watched fearfully as Pidove finally emerged from the zoroark’s mane, diving into the abandoned building, shortly followed by Quinn. Her heart ached for the youngster. Having to witness such foul, horrific sights at such a young age was bound to be a damaging experience. She looked away, shaking her head in disgust at the world. At least the child had friends to rely on. Hopefully that would be enough to save his innocence. Arthur placed a paw on Molly’s shoulder, noticing the acute movements of her expression that told him she was struggling. She was such a strong woman; Arthur often felt that he didn’t deserve her. Whilst he did everything to keep her safe, Molly was the boss – she could take care of herself, she remained positive through the worst; she was, to him, perfect.

"We should probably bury the body. We don't want it attracting any attention,”

The nidoqueen nodded in agreement with Zoroark, hurt that a creature so young was to be buried by complete strangers. They hadn’t even known the poor girl’s name. Arthur overhead Zoro’s words and obediently trotted towards an area of foliage, plunging his great claws into the earth to dig a suitable grave. Molly watched the canine disappear into the pokémon centre, before turning away to assist her mate. In a joint effort, the couple had dug a sufficient grave in a matter of minutes. The pair looked down at the whole in silence, neither particularly willing to see a body fill it.

“What do you think that noise was? Should we go check it out?”

Arthur raised his head to the wingull swooping above them, obviously having noticed something the ageing hadn’t been aware of. He glanced to Molly, glad that he wasn’t the only one going deaf.
“I didn’t hear anything...” Molly spoke softly, squinting at the direction in which the sound presumably came from. She gave a quick, light laugh. “But I’m sure that’s just us ol’ fogies though,”
“I’ll sort the body out. Go see what you can find,” Arthur smiled softly, bracing himself for the pungent smell of death that awaited him. Nodding her head, the nidoqueen walked away from her mate, touching his paw lightly as she passed. “Be careful,” He whispered. The nidoking had every faith in his partner, but after seeing such a violent attack on the espeon, he was naturally a little concerned.
“So, where to, m’love?” The nidoqueen addressed Quinn, a smile playing on her lips. She followed the bird obediently, for once having very little to say.

Arthur returned his attention to the espeon. The body would be easy enough to carry, but that head... well, whatever was left of it, would prove a problem. Whilst he held the upmost respect for the dead, the nidoking didn’t particularly fancy the idea of scraping the espeon’s brains off the ground. He’d just have to make do. With a few heavy steps, Arthur stooped down to almost cradle the espeon’s decapitated corpse, making sure to avoid looking at it as the blood seeped down his large arms. He wasted no time in laying it in the grave before reluctantly returning to the creature’s head. By the time he’d transported what he could of the pokémon to the makeshift grave, all traces of her death were gone except for the bloodstained ground where’d she fallen. His arms were stained red, the nidoking feeling somewhat sick at the gory appearance the deed had forced him to adopt.
“It’ll wash off...” He muttered to himself in a bid of reassurance. Glancing over his shoulder to the pokémon centre and where he’d last seen the wingull and his mate, Arthur let out a sigh, remaining alert for any signs of trouble. Returning his attention back to the now inhabited hole, he steadily began to fill the grave in.

Mois giggled, most of the Pokemon had paid no attention to the clang in the alleyway! She was a bit annoyed, but she didn't let that get the best of her, afterall, a little Wingull noticed! It must be because he was a native to her region, and maybe he had magical powers? Nonetheless, he perked up “What do you think that noise was? Should we go check it out?” The question seemed directed at the huge Purple and Blue Pokemon, a matching pair!

The Plusle couldn't help, but clap with her electric pom-poms forming, already giving away her position, not that she noticed that of course. "A matching pair! I wish I had my partner here! It would be like a convention for twins!" She giggled. Mois could never hold in her happiness, even if it was just a little, it always over exaggerates itself. "Ohhhhh, maybe I should just go down their and introduce myself?" The positive Electric-type asked herself, but loud enough for the others on ground level to hear. Despite her question being on accident.

[Ooc: Excuse my short post ~_______~ Really tired today]

Pidove felt so alone as he sat there on the counter, tears forever streaming down his face. If Mandibuzz was here, she would think of a way to make him stop, cause she said that the crying could attract undead, but Pidove just needed to cry right now, he couldn't help it.

"Oh no, it’s going to be okay, all okay now." The Wingull said as he tried to comfort the little Pidove, but Pidove just kept crying. What he needed now was his mother, her soft wings wrapping around him as he cried, telling him there was nothing to worry about, that it was all over. But she wasn't here right now, just these strangers that Pidove had just befriended. And now one of them was dead, sure, he had just met her, but she was dead.

Pidove had seen plenty of dead bodies, but he had never seen a kill. Mandibuzz always covered his eyes whenever they flew past a killing, probably not wanting what he was doing now to happen. "Mama... Where you... go?" He said through breaths, trying to make himself stop, but they only seemed to get worse.

Pidove's eyes where shut tight when he felt something wrap its arms around him. Was it Mandibuzz? He wanted to believe it was. The warm breath was nice, and even though still crying, Pidove turned and hugged the soft neck fur of the Zoroark, making belief it was Mandibuzz, even though it wasn't.

“So, where to, m’love?” Quinn was slightly surprised at the kind terminology the Nidoqueen used to refer him by, as he never really knew how having a mother was like. All he ever had were his teammates, and his trainer, whom he felt was more of a brother-of-another-species than anything else. But being called 'love' so naturally and offhandedly... it really warmed his heart like nothing else had. The Wingull cawed in happiness, landing upon Molly's head in good nature.

"Over there, yes!" He said in excitement, pointing towards the building where the trash can lay beside. Despite knowing that what they heard might very well be a dangerous foe, he felt extremely joyed at the thought of adventure, as in the numerous books he had read. I wonder if any chemistry books have spoken of this infection that's raging the land. Quinn stared at the trash can in deep thought, never once imagining until now that his ability to read may help the situation. It could save millions if I found the solution simply by reading a dusty book!

"Ohhhhh, maybe I should just go down their and introduce myself?" The new voice interrupted his inner thoughts, and Quinn tore his glance from the trash can and upward to the rooftop, where a Plusle stood laughing to itself. Ah! So this is who had caused the ruckus just a while ago. Folding his wings together happily, knowing that he had found the answer to his question and knowing that the mysterious danger was but a figment of imagination, Quinn chirped in welcome to the electric type. Friendly or not, one small shock from the Plusle could hurt like the dickens if it was directed at him.

"You should come down!" He yelled up in response to her question, though it was probably more rhetorical than anything else.

((I am so sorry, but I am short on time. Skip me, just say that Zoroark hugged Pidove and stroked his feathers.))

"Over there, yes!"

Molly smiled up at the wingull now perched atop her head, obediently walking in the direction he’d specified. She slowed to a halt near the trash can, glancing about the vicinity for any minute signs of movement, not turning her head too much in consideration for Quinn’s own searching. There was a faint voice then, not loud enough for Molly’s hearing to make sense of, but it certainly wasn’t the wingull – too high, too feminine for the bird.

"You should come down!"

Now that was Quinn. Molly followed his gaze to the rooftops, blind to whatever lurked above. Moving forward, she stepped onto a fairly sturdy crate, rising to her tiptoes in the hope that they would have a chance at spotting the stranger at this new height. Using her thick tail to balance with, Molly strained to peer over the rooftop, her eyes only just visible as they eventually fell onto a small, rodent-like creature. The nidoqueen smiled softly, the happiness and relief sparkling in her large, brown orbs.
“Hello, poppet,” Molly cooed, struggling to keep her balance and forced to grasp onto the drainage pipes running about the building.

Arthur stood dusting his hands off, staring down at the now filled-in grave. It wasn’t the neatest job, the dirt creating a fairly significant mound in the area, but it would do for now. Sighing quietly to himself, the nidoking found himself totally alone. It was weird. He always had at least Molly by his side, and now, the silence was making him uneasy. Scanning the vicinity, Arthur was pleased of the lack of threats. Shrugging, he began to slowly trudge back towards the pokémon centre, hesitant about invading on the moment between Zoroark and Pidove. Hovering just outside the building, he simply rested his great mass against the wall, making the most of the peace and quiet.

"You should come down!" A voice called up to her, the Plusle stopped talking to herself, giving a curious glance toward the direction she came from earlier, a Wingull was peering over the roof! Mois clapped her hands, "I should huh!" She giggled, both paws attempting to cover her over huge smile, which seemed impossible, for her paws kept trembling with excitement.

The blue one from the matching pair also peered over the roof, “Hello, poppet,” she cooed. Mois wondered whether she had trouble getting up, the Plusle hopped over to the edge of the rooftop giving a huge toothy grin, "Hiya mommy!" A nickname already made for the huge Pokemon, "I call you mommy! I hope that's fine~" She said with a sing-song voice. Excitement made her smile wide enough to prove that she'd be optimist about pretty much everything!

[Ooc: Writer's block is a bitch OTL]

Pidove continued to cry as Zoro began to stroke the bird pokemon feathers. Pidove could feel himself beginning to drift off, his crying becoming no more then a whimper as his breathing slowed into that of sleep.

((Short post is short >.<))

"I should huh!" The Plusle giggled to herself, a smile plastered on her face. Quinn admitted that her happiness was just a tad contagious, despite the dank and dark horrors that was the epidemic. The Wingull flapped his wings as he rested on the Nidoqueen's head contentedly, watching the electric type going about on her own. Molly had begun to move forward until the top of her head just managed to be above the roof's line. Face to face with the smiling Plusle, the Seagull Pokemon waved a wing. Ah, to be happy in times of adversity! It was something he could never understand sadly.

It was wonderful enough that they had found a new companion, but the happiness only reminded the Wingull that much more of the murdered Espeon. Quinn had read in books so many times of the earliest days of the planet, when Arceus created everything. Eying the upbeat Plus Sign, Quinn remembered that in the text books, Arceus made sure that all that had died were in their rightful place - and thus, Quinn will believe that. Somewhere in the high heavens, the unnamed Espeon was safe from harm, and free to do as she fancied. "So what's your name? I'm Quinn!" Although the goodbye had broken his morale, a new hello had boosted his courage. I think they cancel each other out pretty nicely.

[ooc: can't think of much else to do xD;;]

((I suck and I know it, but I have absolutely nothing for him to do and I have no motivation. Sorry guys... ))

"Hiya mommy! I call you mommy! I hope that's fine~"

A sharp, almost painful pang hit the nidoqueen’s heart as the newcomer addressed her as ‘mommy’. Molly’s expression faltered slightly, the title catching her off guard and reminding her how desperate for children she truly was. Her eyes moistened slightly as she beamed back at the plusle, laughing sweetly and nodding her head in response. She was probably too old for an egg now, plus it seemed selfish to raise a child in such an unpredictable, violent world, so she would make do with the survivors, the orphans.
“That’s just great,” Molly replied, genuinely pleased to be seen in such a perspective. Arthur might not be thrilled by the name, but damn it she deserved at least a taste of true motherhood. Quinn soon introduced himself, the nidoqueen replying shortly after. “I’m Molly, but mommy is perfectly fine!”

The noise within the pokémon centre had drifted into silence, and for a moment, Arthur wondered whether the pair had slipped away when he’d been resting his eyes. Glancing about him, the nidoking poked his head around the corner of the door, his gaze eventually falling on Zoroark hugging the bird.
“Erm...” Arthur didn’t want to intrude on the moment, but he was finding isolation increasingly tiresome. It was a mystery to how some people could stand it for so long! Smiling weakly, the dragon continued. “Is everything okay?”

"So what's your name? I'm Quinn!" The Wingull asked as he perched on Mommy's head, she seemed sweet, yet a bit sad, but nonetheless introduced her real name, "I’m Molly, but mommy is perfectly fine!” The Plusle clapped her red hands together, tiny sparks fluttered about from them, disappearing before even reaching the rooftop floor. Mois hopped over to Quinn, tapping his beak as a few sparks came up once again, they shouldn't affect the bird one bit, but nonetheless, the Plus Pokemon didn't want to make him scared, "Mois is Mois!" She said, her face up his, the positive Pokemon hopped back, that way if the Wingull felt the need for space, she wouldn't offend him that much. She did hope that she didn't offend anyone soon.

It was obvious she couldn't hold in her excitement, hell she could never hold in her excitement, as she simply had her hands tied behind her back as she gave a sweet smile. Mois hopped a bit every now and then, but nonetheless asked Molly a question, "Mommy can I go meet Daddy? The others too? I'll come down from the roof if I have too." She chimed, innocent look she tried to give, puppy dog eyes too. Mois actually wondered how the Nidoqueen got up here, but didn't question one bit.