(ACE) The AMITY Team

[OOC: Please skip, sorry! I just don't have a lot for Molly to do until near the very end of the plot. ;v; ]

My posting code so I don't need to backtrack 2 pages to get it:

As the words left his mouth Oliver wondered if that was really the best thing to do, and the feeling intensified when Caine stared at him like he'd been hit with a fastball using a brick instead of a baseball. The vulpine's thought process visibly crashed and it took a few minutes to reboot, though when it did the look changed from blank shock to... desperation? Fear? Confusion?

Well, I guess if I had all but told someone I wanted to straight up kill myself with them, I'd be pretty freaked too. He wasn't sure what was with his state of mind but somehow Caine's incredulity seemed just so unbearably funny; even through the grief, the deeply misplaced humor made Oliver crack a smile, though small and bitter.

The emotions dancing across the other's face soon vanished, replaced by a despairing kind of resignation. Standing, the Ninetails nuzzled his face into his chest in the four legged equivalent of a hug. He whispered quietly, and the chimp's sensitive ears easily caught the apology.

Why are you sorry? You did nothing wrong. If anything you'll be there to make sure I don't die alone; that's more than I ever thought I'd have.

For a moment Oliver considered wrapping his arms around him and returning the gesture but Caine drew back before the thought could become action. He glanced behind him and Oliver shuffled slightly to one side to peer around the older boy, spotting what looked like a pond behind him.

He turned, making a motion with one of his tails for Oliver to follow him. "...There is... There is a pool of water..." The little chimp struggled not to crack another smile as he followed Caine, strangely amused once more; this time by Captain Obvious. Perhaps that was rather unfair though; the other wasn't in a very good state of mind and was struggling for words to fill the silence. Oliver himself had a habit of nervous babble when he tried to do that.

"...Are you really sure about this.... Oliver?"

"Yes." This time there was no hesitation even in his thoughts. "I'm sure at least my birth mother is alive, but she hates me, even if I did find her. My father thinks I'm a disappointment. My siblings either don't really care or also don't like me. That l-little girl and h-her father..." He swallowed, willing himself not to cry this time. "They were my real family... but they're gone now. It's over. There's no point anymore. And I don't want to die alone..."

The babbling kicked in again. "I know they're waiting for me, though. In the afterlife. Why keep them waiting? Maybe you can meet them too... They'd like you, I'm sure. Annie's so nice; she likes everyone. Except jerks. But you're not a jerk. I hope we wind up in the same place in the afterlife so you can meet them..."

(( Skip. We can’t really do anything until Ciana and Star finish their plan. ))

With an ungodly scream Ickbarr conveys his hatred for the sun. That bright, shining, horrible, hot, dry, bright, thing in the sky that burned his dark skin and gemstone eyes. It had been a while since he was last in his home, the glorious cool, beautiful, dark, caverns of Mt.Coronet. He couldn't stand the light from outside what was his world for so long, and found himself hiding underground in quickly dug dens during the day. Just the small amount of light that barely shone into the hole he had dug stung his eyes, frustrating him as he tried to sleep and get away from the light of day.
"AM I NOT WORTHY TO LIVE IN MY OWN HOME? IS THAT WHY I WAS TAKEN TO THIS HELL!!??!!??!!" He yells half to himself, and half to the world.
((I'm so glad to be on the team! And no rush to notice Ick, I don't want to mess up anything you guys might have planned ^-^))

(OOC: Skip me as well.)

((Once again can't do much other than have Sofia watch the pair in the distance with a worried look so I need to skip. If this keeps up I will need to report the stagnation to the Admins, we need to try and wrap it up guys. When I had to take over as lead you asked for me to allow the plot with your characters to finish and I don't want to feel taken advantage of so please, try not to stall the team any longer))

Have to find them... huff huff... have to find them.... huff... have to... catch.... huff huff... up...
Poor Colton was having no luck at all. Gradually shedding everything else to do with the group, he only cared bout the horror struck looks in the eyes of Caine and Oliver. He was worried, he was scared, really.
Hopping through the forest floor, the small Pidgey was really suffering as his chest compressed more and more. It was a God send when he finally reached the edge of the trees.
Fi....nally... where are... huff huff... they?...
But by the time he found them, it was too late.

"Yes. I'm sure at least my birth mother is alive, but she hates me, even if I did find her. My father thinks I'm a disappointment. My siblings either don't really care or also don't like me. That l-little girl and h-her father..."
Caine's paws fell like stones upon the ground, nothing but hollow thumps as he led the way slowly. He listened to the small one's words. "They were my real family... but they're gone now. It's over. There's no point anymore. And I don't want to die alone..."
He sounded so broken.
The Fire type almost felt grateful... grateful that at least neither of them would go alone.
It sounded like they had both been very alone. If only we could have met in another time, another life.
His eyes dulled.
Then maybe I wouldn't be taking a child out with me.
Oliver continued, his voice becoming rushed as he seemingly lost the ability to control the words falling out. "I know they're waiting for me, though. In the afterlife."
Yeah... I know my own mother is, too... She will be there to take me home.
"Why keep them waiting? Maybe you can meet them too... They'd like you, I'm sure."
Caine remained silent, even as the turn of the conversation was dangerous. "Annie's so nice; she likes everyone. Except jerks. But you're not a jerk."
The Ninetales' heart broke all over again.
"I hope we wind up in the same place in the afterlife so you can meet them..."
It shattered within his chest as he halted, his paws before the sickly water.

"...I would..." Caine's voice was hoarse, dead inside as he tried to speak the final words. "I would like that...very much, Oliver."

His eyes turned, violet slowly meeting chocolate as the Chimchar and him shared one last moment. It was only then that the tears started, at first only a single line through his filthy and blood stained fur.
Caine wanted to say something.
Say anything. But nothing came to him.
No words could describe how not right it all was-- why should they be born into the world, the one so cruel it was a daily fight just to stay alive? Why should there be any place that existed only to scar and destroy you?
Life was beautiful. Full of colour and feeling and real; Caine himself had never gotten the chance to experience any of it.
He turned to face the water again. As he leaned forward, one tail gently wrapped around Oliver's middle.
Yes... life was beautiful- is beautiful. Nothing would ever change that.
As his eyes screwed shut, he could remember all too well, being just a pup curled against his mother's soft underbelly. Life was full of wonder.
One last squeeze around Oliver's wrist... then he pulled back his tail, stepping back.
Life was something he had never gotten to experience. Something he could never say he understood; things as simple as happiness was what he couldn't even accept, couldn't stand.
Lifting his head, he darted forward... pushing his hind paws against the ledge of the pool. In the air, everything seemed to freeze. Caine's eyes snapped wide open, his main wild around his vision as he flew for the last time. Staring up, he saw the sky. He saw the trees. He saw clouds.
The water wrapped around him before he even knew he was falling.

Colton screamed, a feral sound ripping through the air despite his compressed lungs. He could only watch, seeing as both Fire types jumped at the same time, their bodied hitting the water before he could blink.
"C-CAINE! OL-IVER!" His cries were too young, too youthful to be able to know such horror.
What should he do? What could he do!?
The two had a death wish before his eyes-- why in their right minds would they jump into water? When they can't even swim, at that! The small avian couldn't conceive the thought of suicide, especially so close to him. Instead the Tiny Bird Pokemon spun around and took to the air.
It took effort, but he reached the other group before long.
Tears welling in his eyes, he coughed out- "O- Oliver, Caine! Need help, drowning! Th...th-that way!" Pointing with his wing the way he had just come, he looked up to Nokes with desperate eyes before taking back to the air.
Adrenalin kept him functioning, darting through the forest fast as he could. They had to... They had to...
They would alright!

Sinking into the water burned like nothing he had ever experienced.
He had fallen into streams before, but this... the water had infection rampant in it. The colour was wrong, the pool itself almost seeming to be thick with unheld horrors. Finding his body moving slowly, dropping downward without him telling it to, he was able to see Oliver. The Chimchar had followed him.
He had actually done it. Oliver was giving his life just the same.
The instant horror and regret that shot through Caine's chest forced his mouth full of air to escape.
Then he was being filled.
Water was everywhere, the fire of the infected water combining with his natural weakness wrapped horrors on his throat as it clawed it's way inside. The Ninetales screamed, his jaws pulling back underwater as he immediately kicked and flailed, but already the light was fading.
He could not swim his way back up in time.
No!
NO!
I DON'T WANT TO!
I change my mind... I CHANGE MY MIND!!
I WANT TO FUCKING LIVE! Be of course it was only natural instinct. Nothing but the code embedded in every created with a pulse. Life. YOu wanted it. You needed it. Even those who threw their's away wanted it to some degree.
"I FUCKING WANT IT!" Caine roared, but the water was suffocating him. He was already drowning. The pressure on his chest grew and grew by the second, stealing his life as he had wanted- as he had always wanted.
But even as his flailing became weaker, Caine cried. Closing his eyes, he spasmed and coughed underwater as he suffocated, his mind growing black.
He was losing.
He was going to lose.
He had forsaken himself.

...I'm sorry....



[ooc: had permission to control olliver at certain times, star was fine with it
alright guys, this is when they are found by the group. next post, caine comes back and Snitch, you know what to do. and then i'll be outta your guys' hair :u]

Ciane kept walking as he babbled on, and somewhere deep down Oliver was afraid that he wasn't having any reaction because he simply didn't care.  And why should he, logically?  They hadn't met very long ago; it was totally understandable if he-

But then finally, as the Chimchar stopped talking and a short pause had passed, the vulpine spoke.  "I would like that...very much, Oliver."

The little monkey stared at him, half surprised and half relieved and one hundred percent ready to start crying because of an emotion he couldn't quite name.  The two stared at each other a moment, and Caine began to silently cry.

Say something.

For once he obeyed the instant it crossed his mind.  "I wish it didn't have to come to this.  We... we didn't deserve this."  It was a hard thing to force out, not because he felt Caine did, but because it had been drilled into his head since childhood that he, Oliver, deserved nothing better.  But he did, he did, and that little voice of self loathing be damned, he was finally going to say it aloud, and he did, and somehow it felt so good to say it.  But it did, and since it did, I'm glad that... at least I'm not alone.  And I'm even gladder that you're here.  Even though I wish it hadn't come to this for you, either."

Time to wrap this up; parting words were supposed to be short.  "Wherever we end up, I won't ever forget you.  Thank you."

The vulpine's tail wrapped around his middle in a sort of hug, and Oliver smiled at him.  

He was ready.

And just as Caine moved to leap in, so did he.  He gasped at the water, a soundless scream; hot water was one thing.  He liked hot water as long as it was away from his tail.  But that was clean water, and it was away from his tail; it was the water Anne bathed him in when he got too dirty to clean himself.  This was cold, so cold, and worse than that it was dark and dirty and something truly tainted lurked in this.  Something that went beyond mere dirt or regular pollution.  The peace from before was gone and now all that was left was a crippling terror that left him nearly paralyzed.

And as he sank down, he partially balled up, slowly letting the air out--no point in trying to hold his breath, that'd just be prolonging what probably wasn't going to be a fun experience--and he stared up, at the sky.  Life was beauty and hope and evil and despair, and he found a quiet moment of peace again, one that let him appreciate that he'd at least been allowed to experience some good thing in his life.

And that maybe he'd be allowed to return to it, after this was done.

But then that quiet moment of peace was gone and replaced by the fear again as his body automatically tried to breathe and got nothing but water.  His limbs uncurled from the ball and began to reach for the surface, clawing desperately for it, screaming for the light and warmth that was missing from this hellish pond.

But the pond swallowed his screams, and within just moments his kicking and clawing limbs stopped reaching.  The movements grew sluggish, and he made a quiet noise of resignation as instead his arms found something soft, and he wrapped all of his limbs around it, that one speck of comfort in this.

One of Caine's tails.

He buried his face into it with his last moment of movement.  Thoughts were shutting down; he'd have only a minute or two longer.

A memory of Anne flitted through his mind one last time, like a broken recording.  That thing she used to sing every night before going to bed...

Day is done, gone the sun
Rest now safely, everyone

G'night, Caine.

((skip me plz there isn't much for Ick to do at the moment >.<))

Azelf remained sitting on the ground and holding Prince in his arms, unsure of what exactly was going on but not able to bring himself to leave the ailing boy's side to go find out.  Prince needed him, and he wasn't going to abandon the younger one.  Not with a risk of him succumbing to a panic attack brought on by the poisonous atmosphere.

He wasn't sure what he suspected, but it certainly wasn't Colton practically falling on them from the sky and screaming at the top of his lungs.

"O-Oliver, Caine! Need help, drowning! Th...th-that way!"

The little bird seemed partial to the angry, silent canine; thus it was of no surprise when the Pidgey stared desperately at Nokes before taking wing again.  Azelf remained deep in stunned silence for a moment before rising to his feet, hauling Prince up with him.  His voice was desperate and fast, his eyes fixed in the direction that Colton had pointed.  "Prince, you need to walk. Can you do that for me?"

Sofia looked on in horror as she observed the duo on the distance. At first it had seemed like they were just really sad and comforting one another but then....then they both walked into the shimmering purple water and the murk beneath took them down. It was infected water, she could tell that from here, and the small fire type couldn't help but cringe at the Ninetales's cries. She knew the pain of water, but infected water had to be so much worse. She could only imagine it being like dipped in acid and then left to melt in it. The Vulpix curled in on herself when she saw the sweet little monkey join the other fox and couldn't help but whimper, not wanting to see her savior do such a thing to himself.

It was terrible and it broke her little heart.

Allowing herself a small cry Sofia turned her head away, finally unable to bear the scene any more. She could hear the bird crying out for help but couldn't find the strength in her to move. Where those two went no fire type would be able to follow, at least not without suffering the same fate. She could only hope that the two found peace in the relief they had chosen, sad that she couldn't have gotten the chance to help them before they resorted to it.

__________________

"Prince, you need to walk. Can you do that for me?"

The horror and shock running through the group had the Ralts near in a trance, gazing off into the distance as the two disappeared beneath the water. He hadn't even heard Colton begging Azelf for help but the psychic Legend he did hear, anchored to the hidden power and allowing his thoughts to return. Nodding slowly Prince forced himself to his small feet, swaying slightly as he tried to get his bearings. Sadly, as terrible as the events were, two less tragic emotions filling the air actually made him a little stronger. It was a mortifying realization and the Ralts almost fell backward but managed to catch himself. He wasn't sure what he could do to help but if Azelf needed him he would do whatever he could.

[ooc; unfortunately I'll have to skip this round, as I need Nokes to continue. :c]

Calvin, of course, had taken to the skies with absolutely no intention of following Nokes’ commands. Keep an eye on the runaway duo? More like, give your wings a stretch and take a detour to your storage shack, eat a couple berries then think about heading back to cause further upset. He snickered to himself at his cunning. Who would know?

Wiping the juice from his chin, the angelic creature strolled out of his makeshift palace and commenced to take a deep inhale of the early evening air. Same old smells – rot, blood, misery. Oh, it was so tiresome for the pampered male; the novelty of the epidemic fast-wearing off as a frown descended over Calvin’s rolling eyes. But a terrible screaming, the shouting only somewhat quietened by the distance, pierced the silence. It was a welcome injection of flavour that awakened the Togeren’s taste buds.

A cruel grin slithered up the length of his face as he took into the air in pursuit of his latest slice of entertainment.

---

Nokes’ predatory gaze had seldom left the vulpine’s petite form throughout the duration of the duo’s absence and even as Colton burst onto the scene, screaming his small lungs out, the Manectric struggled to divert his attention from young Sofia.

"O- Oliver, Caine! Need help, drowning! Th...th-that way!"

The canine turned to catch sight of the fearful youth, making a note of direction, but otherwise showed no indication he had heard a single word uttered. He made no reaction, numb to the bird’s plight as his eye lazily rolled to the others to gauge their own response to the matter. He was met with restrained upset and panic. Nokes felt nothing, only the faintest desire to garner some sort of respect from the group. Many of them had seen him suffer beneath Xatu’s wrath, no doubt dismissing him as weak and foolish. This looked an opportunity to redeem himself. And that alone, provided the hound with the incentive to move.

He rushed to the scene, remaining eye immediately falling to the pool as the final bubbles dancing on the surface slipped into non-existence. The terrified bird had another thing coming if he thought he was going after them. Nokes detested water as much as any sane fire-type and felt no obligation to endanger himself for a pair of corpses. There was no doubt in his mind, Caine and Oliver were dead.
Looking to the avian, knowing that there was nothing to be done, Nokes gave a simple shake of his head. His voice emerged firm and monotonous, tenderness and regret a foreign land.

“I’m sorry,”

(( Sorry for the delay guys. Dx ))

The little Ralts suddenly pitched backwards, and Azelf felt a stab of panic even as Prince manage to keep from falling, catching himself and righting himself. What if it was just too much for him to handle?

On second thought, why should he expect anything more of Prince? It wasn't his fault that his species was so tuned to emotions. The way things were right now, it must feel like drowning. Very slowly drowning. It would be cruel to try to force him to exert any energy.

"... Never mind. I can't ask that of you. It wouldn't be fair..." The legendary bit his lip, staring back at where Colton and Nokes left. He didn't dare leave Prince, and yet, there was no other way to go investigate. What if they could use his help?

Did he choose Prince, or the other two boys?

... Wait a second; he was a psychic type.

"New plan; I'm carrying you with my psychic power." Guessing that some physical contact would probably help soothe him, Azelf reached down with his other arm and lifted the boy princess style into his arms, using his telekinetic abilities to make up for his poor physical strength.

Then he began the walk to where Colton had directed them to go.

(If that isn't all right, I'll edit, Phoenix.)

“I’m sorry.” The words did not register to the youth. He stared up with blank eyes to the large canine, he was sorry? "S-sorry?" Colton echoed back softly, not comprehending what he was saying. "B-but, we-" The small avian glanced back at the water. "We need to help..."

But looking at everyone's faces, he knew it was no use. Having had as much loss as the next Pokemon, the child slowly let his gaze touch the ground in sorrow. Turning away from Mr. Nokes, the Pidgey faced the water. Stepping close to the edge, he bowed his head as thick, innocent tears escaped his eyes. "I never even got to know them..."

But the peace was not meant to last.

Not a second later, suddenly the water came alive in a thrashing of waves and filthy liquid. Colton jumped backwards all too late, his eyes settling on nothing but ranking claws and jaws as his shriek ripped through the air.

The Ninetales was no longer his former self. The vulpine dragged the remainder of his slimy body from the water, his body already stained from the sludge. Lifting his head, the body of the once living Pidgey in his jaws fell to both sides of the reawakened undead, snapped clean in half. A deep throated gurgle escaped the Fire type, his slit pupiled crimson eyes focusing on the group. No longer capable of speech, blood poured from his throat, mixing with Colton's as he thrashed violently on his paws.

The new undead managed to keep himself up, though, before snapping around to take eye straight at Nokes. Die. Caine launched himself straight at the shiny, eyes only for his throat.

[ ooc: Finish it off, Snitchers. :] And that is a rap. ]

((skip me plz >.<))

(Skip me please.)

Prince nodded dumbly as Azelf gently lifted him, the psychic's aura surrounding the Ralts and giving off a soft warmth that instantly calmed the frightened youth. It had felt like an eternity since his mind was able to give off any kind of peace, the inner walls barraged by pain, death and chaos ever since stumbling into this group, but with the Legend it seemed like his will was steeling itself. He was becoming stronger, and with that strength he was determined to do something to help this troubled group. The Ralts refused to become a burden for anyone to carry, saddened enough that a Legend had to take pity on him just for him to stand, and silently he made the decision that he was going to become stronger.

Or die trying.

___________________________________

Sofia, however, was still in shock. She had watched the pair drowning themselves, had watched their pain and suffering first hand and the emptiness they left behind was an all encompassing void. A black hole of loneliness suffocating the living world and choking off the last shred of happiness left in it. Sofia couldn't stand it, her sobs turning into tears as her body curled in on itself and the small female mourning the passing of those she had barely even known. To her it didn't matter if you knew someone for minutes or years, anyone leaves an empty space in a heart when they leave and never come back and for her the pain was all too real. The sweet little monkey had even saved her amulet...

A gut wrenching scream caught the Vulpix's ears and she looked up in time to see Caine once again rising from the water and for a moment she was relieved, thinking he had changed his mind and fought to save himself, at least until she saw the Pidgey hanging from his mouth. She couldn't scream, her mouth hanging open and eyes wide in horror as she struggled to make a sound, but the air would not leave her lungs. Pupils dilating wildly she could only stand frozen in shock as the former living lunged for the black and gold wolf and threatened to tear the group apart.

((Derp post is derp))

         "O- Oliver, Caine! Need help, drowning! Th...th-that way!"
    Those very words were all that was needed to make the child move, the normal-type hurriedly stumbling forward despite her injuries, losing balance on her own tail as she toppled forward. She gasped, crawling forward as she screeched. "NO!" she sobbed. "No no no no they can't...t-they can't..." she wailed, body shuddering. "S-Somebody help them! Pl-please...please they can't...they can't..." she pleaded, watching as Noke's paws sprinted him to the pool, but she could tell by the way he stopped and stood still that Caine and Oliver were gone. Her breath hitched, burying her face in the grass beneath her.
    The sudden howl and screech made Molly look up with hope, quickly shattered by a fox emerging from the water and it's jaws snapping into the tiny Pidgey. Her eyes widened, mouth open in fear as she stared at the sight. "No..." her voice was hushed, body frozen and unable to comprehend what was happening. The monster from the pool had a striking resemblance to the Ninetales but...but... "That...isn't Caine...it...can't be..."

Amazing, Prince seemed to be looking a little... better. Was it the sensation of being held, or was something else soothing him?

He could find out later. Right now, he was needed.

Unfortunately getting there took a few minutes, but upon arrival he wished he had just taken Prince and booked it in the opposite direction

No... please no...  

The undead in front of him could only be Caine. It could be no one else. Even though he desperately wanted otherwise.

Instinctively he moved to put himself between what was once a friend, and Prince and Molly. It did not matter how heartbroken he was, or how horrorstruck; if that thing moved to attack them, he would force himself to fight back.

((I'm sorry guys but I have nothing to really go on this round. Please skip. Sorry for holding it up I had no idea that round went so quick.))

[OOC: I don't have anything to work with, so I have to skip. :c sorry!!]

(skip plz >.<)

(OOC: I'm going to have to skip too; there's nothing for me to do. Does that conclude the final round? Or do we still have one more to go?)

Another call, another yearning guided him. Xerneas once more wandered through the deserts, forests and mountains to a new place, a new foreign setting. Days and nights of travel were blinks of the eye to the legend, the time it took to get to his destination irrelevant. All that mattered was that he had finally arrived. Emerging from the close trees, he stepped out into a frosted clearing. Strange human-made objects littered the field, but the cervine's heart alighted to see Nature overtaking much of the humans' filth. A quick glance to the other side spied where once a fire tore at the forest, but the trees were much on the way towards mending. Something terrible had happened here, in this barren, chilled clearing, that much was obvious.

Lithe, long legs took him further in closer toward the source of the guiding echoes. A pond sat nearby, its surface beginning to freeze with the dipping temperatures. Within it were two shapes-- two figures he instantly recognized as his augur. The soothing blue light glowing from his antlers soon blazed a brilliant rainbow of color, illuminating the partially frozen pond. His eyes fixated upon the two bodies, long forgotten by the world. Long roots gently reached down, down, down to the bodies, gingerly bringing the waterlogged corpses back toward the legend. Once they gingerly bubbled up to the surface, pushing the patches of ice aside, his eyes studied their form for a moment.

He did not recognize their species, but their bodies, thanks to the frigid temperature of their shared watery grave, were still mostly intact. The roots placed them upon the stiff grass in front of Xerneas, then retreated back into the earth. His power hummed and pulsed, his aura becoming that of an eternal heartbeat. For a moment, it was the only sound, the only sight, the only feeling. Blinding light. A heartbeat, that soon turned to three. His task completed, the light dimmed back to the rainbow of colors before they flowed into the neutral blue. The call was no more. His work was done.

Instead of immediately leaving, however, he stared a moment at the two. Something compelled him to stay, to watch the two awaken. They sputtered of course, their lungs ridding themselves of any stray amounts of water that had been stubborn enough to remain. But as they slowly slipped back into the realm of the living, his realm, the three stared at each other a moment, wordless. He did not know the circumstances of their death, but somehow felt that perhaps it had not been accidental. The thought caused his gaze to narrow slightly at the two, but still, no words were spoken. None needed to be. He turned, leaving the two in the bright starlight to themselves. And as quickly as he'd arrived, Xerneas disappeared into the dark of the forest.