(ACE) The HEARTHOME Team

After a rest that included an unknown amount of days, Xerneas awoke to another call, this one very nearby. Elegantly gliding out of his throne of trees just outside of the strange field he'd just visited, he stepped into a ruined city, onto cobblestone and concrete. He started down in disdain as his pointed hooves met not soft, rich earth or sand or water, but an unforgiving amalgamation that littered the land before him. Glaring at the stubborn structures that scarred his world, he reluctantly followed the call further and further in. Blood and bodies that should have already been swallowed back into the Earth were still lying about, cut off and lingering in his domain. It was an insult to see such a horrendous sight, to see the eternal cycle cut off so easily by humans who weren't even there. But despite himself, he continued on, following the call.

He soon found himself before one of the largest structures he had ever set eyes upon. It was not impressive or daunting, even as its arches loomed over his grand rack of antlers. It was pathetic. Pitiful. Xerneas could tell this place was once very favored, by the bright dyes and colors that adorned the structure that wasn't missing or bloodstained. But now, in humanity's absence, it was nothing but a waste of effort. Of supplies, of his very land. It was a simpleton's joke.

Disgusting.

His hooves clacked against the floor within, the orange light from outside filtering in enough to guide him through the maze of debris. Still, the soothing blue of his antlers and body markings allowed more light. The stench of decay, along with the urgency of the call kept him moving further and further in, causing some irritation in the old legend. Rock and gravel disrupted his stride, caused his feet to falter. It would have been embarrassing if he were capable of such a lesser emotion. Still, he ventured onward until he came across the sad corpse of another cream vulpine. It seemed this particular species was common in this land.

Standing over the corpse, his antlers once again shone in their brilliant hues, illuminating the entire room in nothing but rainbow. His eyes closed as he allowed more of his power thrum and pulsate, radiating outward into the body beneath him, but something was amiss. His powerful frame sheltered the body as Xerneas slowly turned his attention from the creature's resurrection to the horrid, confining structure that muffled his power. It stifled him. Muted him. And he would not allow such an insult to continue.

Giving an aggressive snort, he shifted his weight before unleashing a powerful Gravity, bringing the entire structure down in a single moment, crushed beneath the psychic attack. There had been no real sound; only a strange, vacuous, percussive hit managed to escape the building as its death rattle. A protective sphere surrounded Xerneas and his patient, keeping them safe from the demolition. The Life Bringer closed his eyes as the sky above them welcomed him back, the wind caressed him and his augur. His power flowed correctly once more, and he was able to continue properly.

Once the rite was completed, he strode easily away, back to the forest. Though he was not one to boast of his work, he felt a swelling of pride to know that while the pokemon had died disconnected from the world, entombed by humanity's hubris, he would awaken greeted by the infinite sky and the soft kiss of the wind. It may have only been one death reversed, but it felt like a victory.

"That's all we can really ask for at this point, kid."

Michael flinches, then hangs his head, face burning with embarrassment. His unevolved form seems so insignificant in comparison to the Arcanine and the two dragons. He'd chosen to stay like this, but that was only because, because-he had never wanted...did they really see him as a child?
Suddenly, his shame retreats, replaced by something that presses down against his skull, tightening in his chest. His eyes move from Halloween to Drago, and he wonders which will speak first. He hears a tiny voice goading him in his head; it speaks of things Michael cannot imagine himself doing.

"...ave those capable scrounge up something to eat. There has to be berry bushes if nothing else. Are you up for it?"

"Yeah. I'm good to go," Michael responds with little enthusiasm, ignoring whatever parts of the conversation he has missed. Scavenging, it was nothing new to him, just the same tedious thing he'd been doing for years.

"Um, I'll go w-with you too," says a timid-looking Eevee, one Michael has almost forgotten about. The tiny thing is quiet, and looks rather...unwell. Was it sick? The last thing he wants is to be around someone with an illness, especially if they were going to be around the rest of the group's food.

"I can go with you. Drago and Bee would probably be better suited for keeping this place protected while we are out. Watching from the air at least-"

Halloween is interrupted by the arrival of a new Pokemon, one named "Fran." Michael takes note of how the newcomer and Rocket know each other-perhaps there had been a different group before, probably split up if it had even existed. He watches the two, a hollow feeling residing in his chest. Fran's arrival brings nothing but disinterest to him, and so Michael turns his attention away from her. He has other things to worry about.

(OoC: skipping Connor this post, except for that dialogue.)

Drago nodded his head at Halloween's concern for food. Anything that would help the remaining group members heal up would greatly improve their chances of surviving out here. Following the hound's eyes, he turned his head outside. The sun was setting- God, how late was it already? They would have to get moving if they wanted any hope of returning before nightfall.

Halloween's plan seemed sound enough, but looking at the dog's injuries, Drago had to voice his concerns. "Are you sure you're alright to go? Those injuries look bad enough to make a Legend cry." If the large dog ended up downed collecting food, the small little pups- try as they might, wouldn't likely be able to bring him back.

Drago's thoughts were interrupted by another voice, however. A female voice, raised near to the point of yelling. Rocket? He thought, brow furrled. What does she mea- oh. Judging by the blue Dragon's reaction, it was probably his name. Drago chose to be silent while Rocket questioned the newcomer, Fran. Someone he had known before, probably one of an older group. Maybe someone he had thought dead, based on how he was acting. For now, Drago was just glad to have another larger force on their side. He was find keeping the kids around for their safety, but if it came to another fight later on, they would need all the help they could get.

"I'm fine. I think I should be asking that question to you," Francesca replied, casting her gaze over his beaten body anxiously. Before he could think of anything to say, she continued, "I ended up trying to look for the Chimecho, got worried after she vanished so suddenly. Got lost. Fucking stupid of me, I know, sorry."

Rocket found himself wanting to hug her, to weep into her shoulder. He quickly halted his arms as they rose to grab her, and shook his head. "Don't be sorry, I..." He trailed off, swallowing the hard lump forming in his throat. "I'm just happy to see you," he admitted, his voice a strained croak as he tried not to burst into tears.

"I take you know her? Is she willing to help us get some supplies before dusk?" Halloween grunted from the other side of the room.
"Yes, of course. I was around the outskirts just a few moments ago and did spot a couple berry bushes, which I am more than willing to find again for the group." Rocket backed himself back into the wall as they conversed, quite happy to be as inconspicuous as possible for the time being. Perhaps it was just his nerves, but he could've sworn that the ground shivered under his feet for just a brief moment. What was that...?

"Plus there is a Poffin house and a contest hall in this city. Bound to be something to scavenge in 'em."
"We -- we went there," Rocket found himself saying, holding his claw up to his swollen eye again. "The Poffin House, I mean. It ... didn't go too well." He sighed, figuring that she was back for at least enough time for her to have a right to know the danger they were in. "There's another group of survivors here. They attacked us. We were doing well at first," he gestured downwards at his newly evolved body, "but then their leader came along and ... he was something else. We didn't stand a chance." He clamped his jaw together, praying that no one would mention his mistake.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they were still after us," he said, pushing himself upright and looking towards the door. "They seemed pretty pissed off about us being here. I reckon we ought to rest here for a bit and then see how we can get out of the city." His amber eyes reignited with a light they hadn't had since before the fight. Maybe it was because Fran was there, and the fact that he actually now had a friend here that was rekindling his courage. Either that, or he wasn't sure if he could face that Swampert again if he turned up and wanted to leave before that happened. "We should try and be out before it starts going dark."

(yep. skip me.)

((Skip please, nothing else has really happened to effect Drago directly since my last post :3))

The legend jerked herself awake, hand flying to the side of her head. She was... she had... What just... I... was that all... She had been tired, so very tired since her leaving of the SS Anne, what felt like an eternity ago. The psychic rose, her small body lifting slowly into the air. A tree. She had found herself in... a tree. As the memories came back, her face flushed warm with embarrassment. Did I... fall out of the sky? I knew I was tired, but... The legend glanced around, before speeding westward again.


The legend flew over the city, circling it from above... trying to take in stock of the situation. The largest building in the town had crumpled, and recently at that judging from the dry patches on it's interior, untouched by the recent downpour. Something... terrible had happened, or was still happening, here in this city. As the legend descended, drawing closer, a light flashed before her, a burst of brilliant green that left traces of darkness in her vision. Raucous laughter echoed from below as the legend flinched back, followed by another sizzling verdant sphere. Silence then, a moment of apparent concentration, before the sky around her was ablaze from the barrage of Hidden Power, viridian traces blinding the psychic as she struggled to dodge. And then... an explosion. One, two, three and four passed in the blink of an eye as the legend was buffeted backwards by the stinging blows. She dove, half flying, half tumbling as she sought to escape the artillery of grass type attacks. A building rose before her, looming out of the fog of her half blinded eyes as she sped through the city. Arms rose, a barrier was half formed, and the legend cannoned herself through the window, bouncing loudly off the far wall of the room. The cat sunk to the floor, dazed, half-registering the group she had just (literally) blasted into the center of.

Almost instantly after he had finished speaking, the window suddenly exploded. Rocket cursed loudly as something small and pink crashed straight through it, hitting the opposite wall and then finally landing on the floor with a bump. It was a very weird ... cat-like thing, with a long tail and small ears. Rocket had never seen anything like it.

Whatever it was, it had scared the fuck out of him. Rocket's heart hammered in his ribcage as he took a deep breath to calm the shock. The little Pokemon looked up at them dizzily, only half-conscious.

"What the fuck was that?!" he raged, not appreciating the fact that this little pink thing had made him literally shriek in terror. Hopefully no one else had noticed. "You trying to give me a heart attack? What the fuck are you doing?!"

Halloween was grateful for the concern from the shiny Dragonite, but he promptly shrugged them off. "Been through worse. I'll get a good rest when I'm dead, but for now, we need to get shit together and working before nighttime." It was no secret that the undead were everywhere, but the dark cover of dusk was when the smarter ones would plan ambushes and traps. The Arcanine's green eyes narrowed, emerald and bowenite orbs darkening. The fortunate part was that the Krookodile was much more compliant and friendly than her species had the rep for not being. She showed no issue with team work and Halloween would have appreciated that more had Rocket not stepped up and started chatting it up. The injured canine's tail twitched, but he bit down a harsh retort. I would like to get moving today, he silently urged them to finish their reunion another time. His gaze flickered to the children, or at least the not fully evolved members of the group. Connor, Micheal, and Bee.

The Fletchinder had flown down from her perch on the chair. Her eyes flickered from Halloween to Connor, and the tiny fire bird found herself gravitating towards the former. Hopping next to Connor, Beatrice opened her wings briefly, announcing her presence to the skiddish fox. "We'll only be gone a few minutes. Drago and I will make sure no uglies sneak up on you, okay?" she added with a confident toss of her head. She truly did not feel that up to snuff, but the way Connor had looked at her was burned into her mind. The Fletchinder would not show her fear while there was someone looking up to her!! As she turned to flicker her eyes up at the Dragonite, she felt intimidated. Such a high strength Pokemon, and she was expected to keep up with him as guard? The prospect was daunting, a vice on her little chest, but Bee puffed out her body and stood tall as she hopped over to Drago. "Ready when you are, sir!" she chirped to the dragon. Her chipper attitude was a facade, but for the time she did not entirely mind it.

The Arcanine pulled himself to a sitting position, his expression much less hostile as he looked to Connor and Mike. "Alright, you guy ready? We'll have to be quick, but with Bee and Drago watching--" He was interrupted by the sound of a crash. The Legendary Pokemon tensed, his instincts on fire as the creature shot through the window, nothing short of a small pink rocket. Halloween reacted instantly, his hind legs kicking up to push his body off the wall, his thoughts screaming of Bee and Connor. He had protected both of them in the fight, he would not stop just because he was injured. Using his body as a living shield, the Arcanine landed directly in front of the three, but his legs were still in bad shape. With a sharp bark of pain, he could not support the momentum of his own body and he slammed into the ground in front of the Eevee, Fletchinder, and Growlithe. As it was, he still provided a cover for them, but he was completely exposed and had the intruder actually proved hostile, he would have been gutted without any energy to retaliate.

As Rocket gave a scream and immediately turned defensive, angerly yelling, Bee jumped back out of shock. The window broke upon impact and not a second later, Halloween had dove in front of her and the two boys. "Arcanine-- I mean, Halloween?! Are you okay?" she squawked, the worry evident in her voice as she stepped forward to examine his state. But the Arcanine grunted in response, slowly turning to pull himself to his stomach with a grimace of pain across his face. "Am fine," he panted. "You all okay?" Bee only nodded in response, her mind stunned by the actions of this guy. He had saved her, saved Connor, taken on the Swampert, started planning the night, then, on top of EVERYTHING, he literally threw himself in front of them as protection. While her views of Rocket had not dropped even further, she felt her respect growing for the gruff canine.

"The... fuck are you?" Halloween growled, pulling himself to his legs as he stared at the Pokemon that had intruded with a bang. His massive legs shook, barely able to hold his body up, one of them refusing to even touch the ground, but he did not falter. The pain grew, sticking it's nasty fingers deeper and deeper into his muscles, but the children needed to be protected. The threat of losing consciousness swam behind his eyes, but he did not show it, the stubborn fool staring down the pink cat.

[ ooc: Changed Bee's text colour since it was really difficult to tell apart from Hallow, hope no one minds. Also sorry for late response, I was waiting for the dual to be approved so I could make Bee more interactive again ^^; ]

Connor followed the conversation between the dragon Rocket and his friend, but he didn't understand everything they said. Chimecho? What was a "contest hall" anyways? He tried to recall if Penelope ever mentioned contests before, but that den was empty. His poor heart was sent into an anxious flutter when the crocodile suggested going into the city: didn't she know how dangerous it was there? That water beast had tried to kill them! Rocket may have been a huge, scary dragon but his idea to simply leave the city agreed with Connor a lot more.

Connor's ears perked up a little bit as Bee flew down next to him, taking his mind off the Pokemon that had attacked them. Her presence was way more reassuring than that of the dragons, or Fran, or that one new Growlithe. It was like being around Penelope again...well, almost.
"We'll only be gone a few minutes. Drago and I will make sure no uglies sneak up on you, okay?" Her easy confidence only made Connor think more of his sister, wherever she was, and that made him uncertain of how to feel. Eevees can't turn into birds, can they? For a moment, Connor dwelled on the horrifying revelation, before realizing Penelope would have definitely told him it was her. His sister didn't keep secrets like that.
"Um, t-thanks!" he says in reply, voice still barely anything more than a tiny squeak.

Out of nowhere, something crashed through the window and into the room. Connor shrieked and jumped back, staring at the pink thing as it lay there on the floor, eyes wide. Trembling with fear, he looked from one Pokemon to the other-surely someone would know what to do, right?

Blah, blah, blah. That is all Michael hears as Rocket and Fran converse about this and that and so-and-so. The group has accepted him, for now at least; he does not expect it to last very long. The two child Pokemon interact as well, but that too is of little interest to Michael. Blah, blah, blah. His mind drifts away to other things, and he picks up on Halloween's voice with a dull recognition, barely paying attention to anyone.

The shattering of glass and sound of a miniature explosion drags him back to the situation at hand; some pink cat has crashed right into the building. The "arrival" startles Michael at first, but it takes little time for that to melt away into sharp curiosity. The dragon and the Eevee both shriek in fear but he only wants to find out exactly what this new Pokemon is.
Halloween's sudden decision to become a living shield puts into perspective just how majorly injured the guy is; the Arcanine's heroism is admirable but he was simply not well enough to be pulling it off now. Still, Michael knows he will be seeing Halloween in a different light from now on-he was someone worthy of respect.
Now things get interesting.

"Arcanine-- I mean, Halloween?! Are you okay?" The Fletchinder's cry easily reflects her concern towards the Arcanine, who in turn pulls himself up from the ground.
"Am fine," the Arcanine says, which cannot be further from the truth. Michael knows that even a blind Pokemon could not miss the extent of his wounds, which probably did not benefit from his hard fall.
"You all okay?" His selflessness apparently had no limits. Michael has not seen such a trait in a long time, not since...oh, why did he try? There was no sense going back to that. It was only unnecessary pain he didn't need, not now.
You're finally getting the hang of it.

"You're definitely not fine," Michael states firmly, going up to Halloween. "You look halfway to dead, actually. We need to find some way to fix you up."  The Growlithe glances at the Pokemon that had crashed-it is obviously dazed, likely barely even conscious. Michael does not miss its injuries, but at the moment, Halloween was far worse off.

"Ready when you are, sir!"

Drago's face was split by a grin at Bee's upbeat attitude. After everything that had happened, at least someone was trying to lighten the mood a little. Halloween was right, however, the group needed to get moving soon. It was dangerous enough with the big dog being in his condition and being forced to use the underevolved kids as well without waiting for it to get dark on them.

"Alright, you guy ready? We'll have to be quick, but with Bee and Drago watching--"

Halloween was interrupted by the sound of breaking glass. Something had smashed through the window of the building. Has that goddamn Swampert found us? No, if it was that monster more than just the window would've been destroyed. Before Drago could even react, Halloween had jumped in front of the two pups. He was impressed by his willingness to protect them, but Drago's eyes still darted around searching for any sort of threat. Nothing. What had broken that windo-

Oh.

Oh no.

Drago recognized the pink cat slumped against the floor, but the last time he had seen her she was in much better shape. "Mew..." He whispered, unable to believe his eyes. Dashing to her side, Drago started to move to help her up, then thought better of it. She had crashed pretty hard, if she had any broken bones lifting her would only make them worse. He was vaguely aware of Rocket shouting behind him, but his words didn't register. Drago was far more concerned with the legend who had smashed into their base of operations.

"Mew, are you... Are you alright?" Drago was unsure if she would recognize him, after all, she had only been on Cinnabar a short time with him. What could possibly have caused her to crash land like this?

"There's another group of survivors here. They attacked us. We were doing well at first, but then their leader came along and ... he was something else. We didn't stand a chance." Ah...that explains things. Once again she overlooks the Garchomp, giving him a slow nod of acknowledgement to his words. Well...what's done is done, she supposes, gaze staring absentmindedly at the ground in thought. "We should try and be out before it starts going dark."

As soon as Francesca opens her mouth to reply, the window explodes with massive impact. Instead of coherent words, a string of almost unending, vulgar profanities utter from her throat, escalating into an half-screech in shock as she stumbles backwards and a few steps out of the building. It took her a few moments to gether herself, peeking back inside following Rocket's loud cursing.

The floor has shards of glass littered all over it, a consequence of the impact. On one side the Arcanine is protectively looming over three figures--the Fletchinder, Growlithe, and Eevee--and some...pink thing in the center. A feline? The oddly-coloured Dragonite immediately rushes to it's side, muttering a name..."Mew, are you... Are you alright?"

What?

"...Mew?" Francesca asks in confusion, tentatively taking a step inside again. She looks down at the dazed fetus cat thing and...well, it does fit the general description of the Legendary Mew but...was this really the Mew?

[OOC- My first post! Sorry if it sucks! ^-^;]

Chaos erupted around the dazed legend, a few moments of frantic activity: "You trying to give me a heart attack? What the fuck are you doing?!" "The... fuck are you?" "...Mew?" And then... a voice she recognized. "Mew...?"

The legends eyes flickered up, the world coming back to bright focus. "D....Drago? Is that really you....?" The legend leaned forward, battered body floating off the ground as she slowly approached the Dragon's face. "Mew, are you... Are you alright?" Mew nodded slowly in response, tears springing to her eyes as she reached out, tiny paw touching the Shiny's nose as she forgot about the rest of the room, forgot about what had shot her down, forgot about her own injuries for a moment. "Oh gods... It's been... so long. I thought something terrible would have happened by now..." The legend descended, keeping a hand against her old friend as she looked around, taking in the panic and distrust the rest of the room was displaying towards her. She turned, looking up at the Krookodile that had adressed her by name, giving the dark-type a slow nod. "Y-yeah. I'm Mew, you're right." She turned her head, nodding at the destroyed window and the darkening town beyond it. "I'm... sorry about my scaring you all. There's.... someone out in the city isn't very friendly, to say the least. Shot me out of the sky like I was a clay pigeon."

The psychic stepped away from the dragon, eyes scanning the group as she continued. "I don't have any business here, but I can help where I can. I am a legend... I'm not trying to boast, merely state a fact. I can offer some not insignificant help" As if to punctuate her point, her eyes landed on the Arcanine, struggling to even stand. She moved towards him, body glowing brightly as she used Transform, form twisting into the body of a pink medical pokemon, an Audino. "Oh god, you're... not well at all. Here, hold still. she commanded, hand pressing into his side. She inhaled deeply, a slow pulse of healing energy flowing from the legend, to the Legend as she exhaled.

The cat was in the process of standing as the door burst open, a Tauros charging in, horns lowered at the legend. She flinched back, breath hitching as she raised a paw, enveloping the bull in psychic energy. "I swear to Arceus if you try anything, I will impale you with my horns and wear your limp, bleeding body as a trophy." It threatened, tri-tails thrashing behind it. The legend sighed, still holding the creature. "Please don't threaten me. It makes me want to think you're... unwell, soon to turn. I would hate to have to kill you, and trust me, I have the capability to do so."

Heart still pounding from the shock of the pink thing's appearance, Rocket frowned as Drago appeared to recognise her, calling her 'Mew'. She floated up from the ground towards the dragon's face and wrapped her tiny arms around his snout. "Oh gods... It's been... so long. I thought something terrible would have happened by now..." Not sure what she was on about, Rocket kept his position by the bookshelf and scoffed at the small Pokemon; she looked as though she'd snap in half like a twig if he even poked her. Rocket growled as he stared at a shard of glass next to his foot - as far as he was concerned, she was another body to drag around.

"I'm... sorry about my scaring you all. There's.... someone out in the city isn't very friendly, to say the least. Shot me out of the sky like I was a clay pigeon." That caught Rocket's attention. He looked up at her, his amber eyes narrowing. "What was it?" he asked, trying not to sound as alarmed as he felt. "Did you see it?" No doubt it was one of the bastards that tried to kill them, perhaps even the Swampert himself. Rocket's tongue felt along the cut in his mouth where the beast had punched him.

He stopped listening to the conversation then, his gaze staring fixedly out of the window. Someone else had arrived; a Tauros by the look of its reflection, and he actually threatened to attack Mew. Rocket snorted loudly, watching the bull get stopped in his tracks by psychic energy - the guy had balls to challenge a 'legend', or so Mew had called herself.

A flicker of movement on one of the nearby rooftops sparked Rocket's anxiety and he stood up to his full height. "All right, enough of the bullshit. I'm sick of this fucking city, so I'm getting out of here, and I'm doing it now." As he approached the door, he turned back to everyone. "You should all come ... I'm not making the same mistake as last time, all right? We go together ... this place isn't safe," he added to Mew and the Tauros. "There's another group of survivors here and our mere presence here is pissing them off - they want us dead. If we stick together and don't draw attention, we may be able to get out without those assholes noticing us." He winced as he touched his swollen eye again, noticing Halloween's healed injuries with a wounded look - why hadn't Mew healed him as well? He'd done just as much fighting as he had.

"You all ready to go?" he said, looking out and up at the sky at the slowly sinking sun - they needed to be quick.

As Drago stepped forward, reaching towards the pink thing that came from the window, Michael snaps at him, not uncaring, "You're definitely not fine," Halloween allowed a dry smile to come across his features, a rare gesture from the stoic canine. He admired the other pup's guts to call him out. "You look halfway to dead, actually. We need to find some way to fix you up," Michael insisted stubbornly. Halloween still stands tall on his paws, more outright defiant to his injuries. His hind leg stung like a mother, and his jaw was throbbing from a deeply rooted tear, but he did not stutter as he responded, "I have been through worse, this won't take me down." His words were blunt but held no pride. He was not bragging, merely stating a fact. And not an entirely true one, but he would not admit that either. The Arcanine had never had a kind, easy life. "Maybe you should sit down, Halloween..." Beatrice adds in, standing next to the Growlithe. Her eyes were worried, anxious, though she was awkward about sounding so informal with a stranger who risked his life for their's. As it was, Halloween turned his head away from them, only then taking in the conversation going on.

He finally caught a name. Mew...? The creature before them was definitely different than anyone Halloween had ever met. She was clearly feline in origin, a small cat with large ears and eyes. Her fur was a soft lilac, but far from healthy. Mew's pelt was downright filthy, showing either illness and reluctance to care for her appearance, or no spare energy to use on her looks. Both cases seemed possible, given the exhausted, dull sheen to the cat's cerulean eyes. Halloween was willing to bet his right leg it was a mixture of both that kept the Legend in such poor health as his emerald eyes flickered over her tail. There was no way to gauge how long it was naturally, the appendage ending in such a mess that hinted at a battle wound, or worse. Bone showed through muscle and dried blood. The Arcanine could only wonder how long the wound had been there; she acted as it was not new, and the fact that the blood was so darkened told that it was old. ... What is the state of the world if a legend such as Kanto's Mother had so far fallen?

"Y-yeah. I'm Mew, you're right." Halloween allowed himself to relax as she nodded, responding to the group after a touching... reunion with Drago? He sighed in tired relief. Mew was no threat. "Sorry for coming off so brash. My name is Halloween." The psychic seemed to finally focus on him in particular, the Legend's eyes widened as she took in his state. "Oh god, you're... not well at all," she commented quietly. The fire dog tensed as she suddenly moved closer to him. "It's nothing," he grunted, but Mew was already moving. Her body morphed, growing into a pudgy bunny-like creature. "Here, hold still." Halloween could only obey as the powerful creature pressed one paw to his foreleg. Instinctively, he flinched away. Not used to being touched so delicately, the legendary pokemon resisted the urge to duck away, but suddenly her limb pulsed with a soft violet. Mew took in a deep breathe, exhaling softly as something happened to the Arcanine's body. His fur seemed to react, the skin on his hindquarters magically healing itself of the blisters. Within moments, he was able to rest his leg on the ground again, tentatively. Halloween gasped, his breathing hitching as he choked out, "F- fuck..." New found energy had seemingly wrapped itself around his very core, a warmth flowing through every hair, every cell in his body.

Halloween immediately felt like he could run across the region and not be tired. Even the exhaustion from not eating and walking for a week straights had dulled to a merely unpleasant sensation. Grateful tears wrapped around his eyes, the canine dipping his head to the Legend. "...Thank you," he breathed. With a blink, the emotional response vanished, and he turned to grin cheekily at Bee and Connor. The Fletchinder returned the smile, but before either could comment, an intruder showed up. A Tauros, threatening the Legend. Mew had no hesitation in knocking the male back, threatening him in return. Halloween stepped forward immediately, his bulk towering over Mew as he took up a stance behind her. "She was doing no harm. I suggest you keep on moving, stranger," he growled.

"All right, enough of the bullshit. I'm sick of this fucking city, so I'm getting out of here, and I'm doing it now." The sudden words from none other than the Garchomp caught him off guard, the Arcanine snapping his head around to stare at him. 'Enough of this bullshit'? Was that a pun? Was he joking? They just had two intruders, one good, one hostile, and dealing with them was being called bullshit? Rocket reached the door and turned back to those inside. "You should all come ... I'm not making the same mistake as last time, all right? We go together ... this place isn't safe," he insisted, earning a snort from the canine. "That is what I've been trying to do."
"You all ready to go?"
Halloween glanced at Beatrice and Drago before settling his green eyes back on Rocket. "... We need to scout ahead first and have a plan of action on where we're going," he insisted. "If we leave the city, I am not leading three kids and a Legend to an open space where we get eaten during the night. Let the fliers find a direction to go first," he added, tossing his head at the Dragonite and Fletchinder. "They are all ready to go." Turning he dipped his head to Mew. There was a very apparent new found respect in his eyes as he regarded the Legend. "Will you be staying with us long term? If you are unable to walk, I am capable of carrying you. You too, Connor, Michael. We likely will need to be very quick once we set out."

I'm terribly sorry, please skip me. Feel free to use me as one would an NPC.

((Skip please.))

(skip. hallow narrowed his eyes at Whiskey and scoffed. "If you're a God, then I am you're fucking towel boy, dick wad." But then noticed Drago missing and his eyes went wide. "...Where is Drago?")

"Mew..."

...Mew...?

The name echoes in Michael's ears, and repeats itself over and over as if somehow that will dull his reaction. Michael is familiar with the Kanto legends, and the idea that there was actually one here, right now, with them-his heart starts to pound in a painful rhythm, every beat was thunder roaring and screaming to be released. Surely this was merely a dream, and something to be forgotten quickly. Maybe, maybe if he closes his eyes, Michael will be alone once more.
A goddess.
"A...a goddess..." Michael echoes the voice in a strangled whisper. Even though he kicks and screams, his mind drags him back to them, their face, their brilliant smiling face asking him a single question out of pure curiosity. The sun had been shining, the sky clear, as hopelessly idyllic as he has always wanted the scene to be.

"Do you believe in goddesses, Mikey?" they had asked that day; it had been an innocent question, and his answer was lost to him. His most beloved had asked something else-something important-but their words were drowned out by the sounds of crackling flames and the shouting of strangers. The heat, the smoke that choked the air, all of it had threatened to destroy him. That day, it might have been easy.

Then there was a voice. Furious, impatient, it...

"I swear to Arceus if you try anything, I will impale you with my horns and wear your limp, bleeding body as a trophy." Michael stares at the bull, at the complete stranger, an odd sensation lingering in his paws. He wants to see Mew crush the life out of it, to see it thrash and scream and-
And...no. No. That was not him. That was the other voice. Not him. Someone else was speaking now, somebody familiar, and all he has to do is focus.
Focus?
"Focus," Michael asserts, and for a moment he thinks he sees a shadow of a satisfied smile before it vanishes into the back of his scattered thoughts. The dragon named Rocket pipes up, saying stuff that has become obvious to everyone by now, and Halloween's response is almost enough to make Michael grin. Serves him right, he thinks. The Arcanine was much better leadership material, and Rocket's poor attempt to take charge wasn't going to change that fact. Michael half-listens to the rest of the exchange, already bored of the subject at hand. Leave now, leave later, plans, all of it was dull, dull, dull.

"YOU HEAR THAT? I AM A GOD! YOU ARE FOOLS TO TRUST IN THIS...this..." the bull shouts suddenly, and Michael's ears perk at the word "god". This-this pathetic thing thought it was a god? As if an actual god would give such a shameful display, and throw a childish tantrum over one of its fellow deities. In his head, there are echoes of condescending laughter, which only grows louder with each passing second.
Did you hear him, Michael? Did you-
"I heard, you know I heard."
He thinks he's a god! A god!
Now Michael cannot ignore the sheer absurdity of the situation, and he too begins to laugh, and aims his laughter straight at the bull Pokemon that had forced his way into the situation and made an utter fool of himself. Though he can hear Halloween speak, Michael doesn't pay the words any attention.


Connor hung back from the other Pokemon, his ears pressed against the side of his head and his tail tucked firmly by his side. There was so many things being thrown around by the group, something about the newcomer being named Mew and then that strange cow thing had just shoved his way into their shelter-no, Connor couldn't handle it. He couldn't drown out any of the voices and, whimpering slightly, he decided to simply wait until the entire thing was solved without him. Connor was petrified to that spot, his heart thumping against his chest; if he tried to run, that pink cat would lift him up too and kill him, he knew she would in a second. The Eevee shut his eyes tightly, hoping that everybody he was scared of would just vanish, but it was hopeless. When he dared to look again, nothing had changed.

"All right, enough of the bullshit. I'm sick of this fucking city, so I'm getting out of here, and I'm doing it now." Rocket said, standing up and turning to leave. Connor stared at him with wide eyes; how was he supposed to move to follow? Rocket began talking to the two complete strangers, and Connor turned his attention to Halloween, Beatrice, and the one named Michael who had been mumbling to someone who was invisible. What were they going to do? Would they follow? Halloween said something about getting eaten and Connor immediately cowers again. He didn't want to be eaten, he didn't want to be scared and hurt, he wanted his sister here and she was nowhere to be found.

"Will you be staying with us long term? If you are unable to walk, I am capable of carrying you. You too, Connor, Michael. We likely will need to be very quick once we set out." At the thought of traveling, Connor's torn paws seem to burn with pain even worse, and he can't help but whimper once more, looking up at Halloween while his eyes water. He's about to give an answer when the cow-creature starts screaming at them, and Michael starts laughing like he's crazy-Connor's answer dies in his throat and he instinctively moves away from the two and closer to the entrance. When Halloween asked where Drago was, Connor finally realized that the dragon was missing-where had he gone? How did he leave without anybody seeing...what if...what if something had snatched him up?

"I...I just wanted to find my s-sister..." he says in a weak, shaky voice.

(ooc; rip i am so sorry but i...don't really know what to make francesca do since i don't have much to work with. sorry this is so late i was kicked out of the house for the whole day because realtors orz)

"If you're a God, then I'm your fucking towel boy, dickwad," insulted the Arcanine--or at least that's what he assumed the speaker was, but that was based heavily on deduction. Whiskey felt his eyes and ears gradually adjust to his...what was it? Quarantine? Prison? For the love of Arceus, could it be his cage? As if he were some disgrace of life, a primitive beast, a waste of space?!

A sensible thought, a rarity for Whiskey, crossed his mind--maybe he was the danger here. But when he heard uncontrollable barks of laughter, his eyes narrowed into angered slits.
They are fools. They are all fools. The irritated Tauros braced his head and bashed the interior of the psychic sphere with his horns, but this attempt to escape was in vain. The walls were far too rigid to burst through; the impact of ramming his horns into an unyielding barrier caused him to howl with pain.

For a few moments, he lingered there stunned while his head throbbed with a fusion of agony and anger. His breathing was rapid with a twinge of desperation. These fools need a leader. If they are too stupid to be cautious during the damn apocalypse, they need someone like me who knows what they are doing, he tilted his head in consideration. He had to gain their trust somehow, and obviously showing them his raw power had not helped his case in the slightest.

With a sigh, he forced himself to be submissive. He wordlessly hung his head. I am not letting them win or cast themselves over me. I will not be subordinate. But they need help. If it is true that this Mew is a Legend...well, well, I was brave, wasn't I? Going up against a Legend! They should see my bravery, see that I could be a hero here. I can help somebody, once they accept that I am always correct. I just have to gain their trust, stop trying to escape, so I, a God, can be released and take the place I rightfully deserve.

And, for once in his life, Whiskey stood still despite the ire pulsing through his veins.