2024-01-05: Moving Worlds

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<Pose Tracker> Professor Oak has posed.

For a short time, now, people from Filgaia and Lunar have been on Energy Nede.

The government's response to them has been slow and inconsistent. No police ever came to arrest them. No one quite seemed to know what to do with them -- even the fact they were (mostly) visibly not Nedian drew confused glances and disbelief. After all, this is a world that sealed itself away.

But then word came.

The Mayor of Celadon City, the person closest to a leader of the Kanto Region, would like to meet with them. His name is Nall. (No relation.) And the invitation came from a person whose trust that the Drifters earned: Professor Samuel Oak, whose laboratory was attacked.

They provided the coordinates -- and, as necessary, transportation.

It isn't... anywhere, exactly. It's on a hill in the Kanto Region's rolling plains, a little outside of Viridian City, next to a large white weather tower. Both men are there, waiting.

Samuel Oak is a Nedian with a square jaw, silver hair, and a lab coat. Nall is a Nedian with long blonde hair, combed backward, and a violet robe with golden trim. It is the sort of ornamental garb one might expect of a judge or another honorary station.

"Ah!" Oak says, as soon as the first people come. "Welcome, welcome--ah, thank you so much for coming!"

<Pose Tracker> Magilou has posed.

    No police came to arrest them, but Magilou does have some delightful Wanted Posters hanging up around Viridian City, now.

    "What's a... Teem Roh-khet?" She wondered, when she laid eyes on one. "And why are they claiming I'm one of them? Clearly these people don't understand evil sorcery."

    "I think those are the bad guys around here, Miss Magilou," Bienfu said, adjusting his very fine hat.

    "But I just got here!"

    Anyway, they're fine. They even managed to get over here without setting any cats on fire!

    Nall's invited them over, and thank Gods, someone she knows. It's this exact line of thinking that has her marching up the Boss of All Energy Nede (citation needed), pointing her witchy finger right in Mayor Nall's face.

    "Youuuu knockoff!!!"

    She -- she probably doesn't speak for them, right? This weird jester-woman with a skirt made of books??? (There are now Pokeballs on the skirt. This is fine.)

    "I can't believe more than one person in the universe is named Nall!" Magilou says, throwing up her hands. "This is an outrage! I am outraged! Now what are we supposed to do?! Just listen to this -- this Counterfeit Nall?!"

    She points, now, to the Professor. "And you! I bet you're Imposter Oak, aren't you?!"

    No one played the card game, Magilou. No one is going to get that.

<Pose Tracker> Mariel has posed.

Energy Nede unsettles Mariel.

It shouldn't, but it does. It feels wrong; unnatural in a way that she does not like, though she could not really explain what feels wrong and why to someone who asked. Certainly the Kanto Region seems healthy enough...

...but it all feels artificial, like a wax fruit. Or a real fruit dipped in wax to preserve it, maybe; there's a bit of actual fruit there, but if you bit it, you'd be sorry. She doesn't like how it feels like it's made, controlled, sculpted. It doesn't feel like a planet; it feels like a park.

Also, it's the furthest she has ever been from Filgaia and she doesn't like *that*, either. At least from Lunar she can still feel it. Admittedly, she can't do more than feel it's there, but she can't even do that from Energy Nede.

She's been wandering more than anything else, and she hasn't exactly come to any mischief; Energy Nede is not perfectly safe but it is much safer than wandering through the wilderness on Filgaia and she does that.

Also, Mariel has spent part of her time very carefully convincing a surprising number of Grass-type Pokemon to stop following her around, because she seems to pick them up completely by accident. A couple of them were pretty rare, not that she knew.

But right now she's here. She looks nervous, not that she ever doesn't when she's meeting new people like this; a little uncertain, a little concerned. She has at least managed to find time and space to clean and sew her robe from her travels, so the sturdy outfit is good as new.

"Hello," she says. They have less reason to trust her; she's not one of those who helped Oak's lab, as she had been travelling away from Pallet at that time. "Thank you for your invitation." She glances from Oak to Nall, having to look up at both. 

<Pose Tracker> Mariel has posed.

Energy Nede unsettles Mariel.

It shouldn't, but it does. It feels wrong; unnatural in a way that she does not like, though she could not really explain what feels wrong and why to someone who asked. Certainly the Kanto Region seems healthy enough...

...but it all feels artificial, like a wax fruit. Or a real fruit dipped in wax to preserve it, maybe; there's a bit of actual fruit there, but if you bit it, you'd be sorry. She doesn't like how it feels like it's made, controlled, sculpted. It doesn't feel like a planet; it feels like a park.

Also, it's the furthest she has ever been from Filgaia and she doesn't like *that*, either. At least from Lunar she can still feel it. Admittedly, she can't do more than feel it's there, but she can't even do that from Energy Nede. It's an uncomfortable feeling. It makes her feel even more adrift than being thrown ??? hundreds of thousands of miles away from her destination normally would, and she feels constantly off-balance.

She's been wandering more than anything else, and she hasn't exactly come to any mischief; Energy Nede is not perfectly safe but it is much safer than wandering through the wilderness on Filgaia and she does that.

Also, Mariel has spent part of her time very carefully convincing a surprising number of Grass-type Pokemon to stop following her around, because she seems to pick them up completely by accident. A couple of them were pretty rare, not that she knew.

But right now she's here. She looks nervous, not that she ever doesn't when she's meeting new people like this; a little uncertain, a little concerned. She has at least managed to find time and space to clean and sew her robe from her travels, so the sturdy outfit is good as new.

"Hello," she says. They have less reason to trust her; she's not one of those who helped Oak's lab, as she had been travelling away from Pallet at that time. "Thank you for your invitation." She glances from Oak to Nall, having to look up at both. 

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

There are a number of people who would like to talk to Mayor Nall, but today, one of them is Claude C. Kenny. He arrives with a single pokeball on his belt and a sword on the other side, his Phase Gun holstered. But transportation wasn't too necessary for him, since he's good at gtting around. And he's been hanging out near Pallet and Viridian in the first place.

So Claude walks up, looking over both. And then he pauses, to look at Magilou, open his mouth, and close it.

"Uh," Claude says.

"Thanks for the welcome!" he says a moment later, and he was there to help Oak's lab. "She's..."

Pause. Sigh. "Well, she's definitely with us," he says. "But anyway. My name is Claude C. Kenny. I'm honored to meet you both." He looks to Mariel as she greets them, and smiles because she's not being horrible. 

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

After the attack on Professor Oak's lab, Chase has been circling back to Pallet Town after every small excurison out. It's not what he thought he'd do. He thought, once his journey came, he'd be out like a shot and barely be seen home again. But there's an unease that came with so much happening at once, and Chase would rather know what's going on than not.

So he waits until Professor Oak and the Mayor of Celadon agree to meet with everyone, and he tries to approach from the far side of it to eavesdrop on the whole scenario without having to be caught up in any pleasantries.

His head barely peaks out of the tall grasses from the distance. Pikachu's ears follow up beside his, her eyes just above the vegetation. "Chuuuuu..." They are joined by the wild Ponyta Chase rode in on, popping its head all the way up with a lot less reservation.

Eyes still intently focused on the Happenings, Chase absently feeds that fire horse an apple for its troubles.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius has been mostly living along the Kanto Plains Route as a hiker and backpacker, occasionally traveling to and fro across the various cities to try and keep tabs with what the displaced are doing. (He has also occasionally been up to mischief in order to secure FOL to help with those who had trouble adjusting to their circumstances, as by his station he does feel responsible for the well-being of individuals affected by adverse elements of more further-developed civilizations such as... this one!)
 
     It's been a little unnerving how accommodating everyone has been of their presence, for the most part. Ethius has three Pokeballs attached to his belt by the time someone conveying a message from Professor Samuel Oak requests his presence, and Ethius in turn tries to inform the others along the way. He doesn't have the finger on the pulse of nature like Mariel does, but his sentiment wouldn't be far from hers if spoken about.
 
     He's one of the first to appear along the hill at the specified coordinates, quietly wondering on the inside if this must be the right place.
 
     "Miss Magilou," he speaks up, "you would be surprised how many, shall we say, speed limit criminals have gone by the name 'A.' There are only so many permutations of letters and syllables across all the known languages of the universe."
 
     This doesn't answer why 'A' is so popular.
 
     He turns to face the Mayor and the Professor alike.
 
     "I appreciate the summons," he says, with a vocabulary in stark contrast with his more rough appearance. "I understand what has transpired has been a transformative experience with no precedent for any party involved."
 
     If they didn't know better, one could imagine he came from Armslock with his somewhat wooden delivery. 

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    Sitting on a small foldable camp chair without a back near Professor Oak is one brown haired, young looking teenager with an Eevee! Elaine and Veevee are here too! Veevee currently has claimed a small colorful ball which it is patting back and forth while playing. Elaine on the other hand is focused on the Pokedex in her hands and a angry looking, but small, Mankey infront of her that she's feeding what looks like various candies.

    As others approach, the Mankey makes screeching noises at them, and every time Elaine sighs and says "Kukyo, no. We'll find a fight later." as the Mankey stomps and flails for several seconds challenging everyone before turning its attention back to the candy. 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    Gwen is in the back, taking off pieces of a pokemon puff in her hand and studiously holding it in front of Voltie, who perches on her shoulder. Immediately startled, Voltie begins to raise his mandibles up, but it quickly stopped with a gentle command from Gwen. "Nah-uh-uh, nice Voltie." Voltie then extends its mandibles instead, and is rewarded with a part of the Pokemon puff, which it contentedly nibbles on. "Good Voltie."

    She then pops a crumb in her mouth, experimentally, then makes a bleh face. "Why do they make these look like cupcakes if they ain't for people, anyway?"

    There was the question in Gwen's mind of leaving Voltie behind; the world of Filgaia is a far tougher place to be than the manicured plane of Energy Nede. However, this was quickly answered by a Pokeball; while it could mean that Voltie could be stolen, the thought of leaving Voltie to vend for himself after he refused to stray from her all this time seemed to answer Gwen's question.

    Gwen picks up another piece of the Pokemon Puff and holds it in front of Voltie, who accepts it. Raising her voice, Gwen says, "... Let's try t'keep this as much of a secret as we can, for as long as we can. Not only for the people here, but for the people that are stayin' here too. They're nice enough to let us leave n' all, so we gotta do right by them."

    Of course, Gwen has no clue that not everyone on Nede will want to stay put either. 

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

 
Venetia Vuong required no transportation.

Now that she's gotten her feet under her and gotten through the culture shock of the environment of the area, with all of its *green open spaces* and its *nature* and its *plants* and its *living things* and it's almost zero quantity of *oppressive industrial districts* which are *venetia's native habitat* -- Well, she can hang loose.

She is followed by a determined caterpillar. She has done her best to disregard the creature, but has found herself feeding it plate scraps here and there.

Venetia approaches the group; she came up more or less with Mariel, perhaps for moral support. Though they may be terribly different, Venetia can feel a certain kinship with the old girl.

"You're quite welcome," Venetia answers Professor Oak with a slightly mordant smile. "I'm something of an academic myself, and so I could hardly resist. Though --" Her eyes turn round. "This is a peculiar place to meet! Out here in the open like this."

(Margaret, who has been able to BATHE and put on MAKEUP, skulked in more or less with Magilou, but is remaining in the background, possibly from lingering spiritual exhaustion. She may chime in later.) 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline has had some time to get settled in on Energy Nede - figuring out what things are like, learning how things work around here. It's comfortable - but almost too comfortable. ...And more importantly, with so much already taken care of for its people, she's had a hard time figuring out what she can offer as a commodity.

Life is hard for a merchant on a new world!

Still, something soon arrives that is too interesting to overlook. An invitation from Professor Oak to meet with the Mayor of Celadon City. Her interest was piqued immediately, of course - and so, she's one of those who arrive to meet with Professor Oak and Mayor Nall.

"You're quite welcome. And thank you for the invitation. I-" Jacqueline starts -

And then Magilou happens.

She pauses, train of thought crashed - and it only picks up again once the introductions commence, offering Professor Oak a smile.

"It's a good to see you again, Professor. How're things back at the lab? Is everything alright now?" Jacqueline asks. She remembers things got pretty... chaotic, back at the end, there. She turns her attention, then, to the man accompanying him. "And you must be... Mayor Nall. I'm impressed you elected to meet us in person. Thank you for showing that trust."

She rests a hand over her heart.

"I'm Jacqueline Barber. It's nice to meet you - both of you." She introduces herself. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    For all its mysterious artifice, its too-manicured "wilderness", and its eerily-complacent citizenry, Energy Nede has been... something of a vacation for Ida, in ways she couldn't predict. Work at the Aomori Lab has been enlightening and stimulating, she has both a steady income and a supply of food tokens, she has a roof over her head and a new animal friend...

    But there's still the manner of what brought them all here. The Ten Wise Men are still out there.

    The woman who hikes up to Oak's lab is the same woman who got into a fistfight in a Pokemon battle on its lawn, but... well-disguised. Ida wears a zip-up navy-blue hoodie, jeans, and her usual hiking boots; a messenger bag of Nedian make is slung over her right shoulder. A single, miniaturized Pokeball rests on her belt loop.

    "I'm glad the positive reinforcement seems to be working," Ida says, turning to Gwen with a smile. "Maybe Sal would like to play with him when he's feeling up to it." Her brow furrows as Gwen eats a bite of Pokemon food. A pause. "What does it taste like?"

    There's some legitimate curiosity, come on. Cats eat fish, people eat fish. Not all pet food is unsuitable for people!!

    "Professor," Ida says, approaching Oak with a charming smile. "It's good to finally meet you under less... chaotic circumstances." She turns to Venetia, and nods. "Ida Everstead-Rey, Natural Sciences, Eastbridge University of Guild Galad."

<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.

    Joy's been waiting for this moment. The moment someone of authority in Nede would finally respond to the presence of these Visitors. She's been on the lookout for where it'll happen; the lab? Somewhere else? One way or another, given that the location isn't the shyest of places, and the modes of transportation not terribly discreet...

    So, she's here. She's dressed in her usual dark turtleneck and skinny jeans combo, along with her nice shoes and sleeveless gloves. She's, at least, opted to remove her Team Rocket trenchcoat.

    There's a look towards Professor Oak. It's been quite a while since she's worked with him, but there's still respect there. On the other hand, she's far more removed from Mayor Nall, who's just an authority figure to her. But...

    "They determined Pokemon like that shape, quite a while ago, when they created the Poffins," Joy explains to Gwen.

    She looks to Oak again in turn.

    "I'm here because I want to fight the Ten Wise Men, just like these Visitors. And..." She's quiet for a moment, then says:

    "The citizens of Nede have a right to know what's going on between our leadership and the Visitors too." 

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.

Rena had been vaguely following a sense they should go 'this way' for some time, she hardly knew what it meant. The people of Nede themselves looked at her strangely, one of them, yet clothed so differently, and asking questions about things which seem basic to them. Their culture isn't exactly what she expected either-! At first noting how peaceful it is here, not long ago she learned how Nede has its own troubles.
 
But, she's also noticed how ill-equipped it seems to deal with the Ten Wise Men.
 
There are police, officials - but no standing military she's seen, no heavy weaponry. The only defense seems to be the ever-shimmering field overhead. She hasn't seen many dedicated fighters either, and although Pokemon are powerful - could they really beat those ten, with their goal of Universal Domination?
 
Most of the trip to the coordinates, she's let Shorty stay out of his ball, as the Pokemon Ashound seems to enjoy running around chasing his tails. Or capering about, enjoying his time playing with Barry, or just hanging out in the Kakukarrier which has been repurposed following Barry's evolution.
 
Rena herself seems pretty nervous, like she's not certain what to expect. Claude and Dias can almost certainly feel it. Like this is very high stakes for her, beyond simply the developments with the Ten Wise Men. When they reach the hill, and the Professor welcomes them, Rena tells them, with a smile, "Thank you for inviting us. I admit, we're not really used to life here, so we're eager to learn more of this place. And to discuss... the Ten Wise Men." And, Rena is wondering why her feeling was drawing her towards this pair.
 
MAGILOU happens though, and while Claude indicates she's with them, Rena looks towards Magilou, confirming but also admonishing, "She might be, but she doesn't have to be so rude." Is Rena's simple admonishment, deciding that it's best perhaps, to just hope she quiets down. This might be a vain hope! Even as she gives Ethius a strange look as she mouths 'Speed limit'? and looks to Claude for answers.
 
Then to Dias after Claude because, it's worth a shot?

<Pose Tracker> Peace Kishinami has posed.

    Also greeting the Filgaians is another of the people who attacked said lab.

    Maybe 'attacked' is too strong a term for someone who seemed quietly put out at Team Rocket's antics, who isn't even wearing the trademark red R, whose contribution was essentially being rather passive as she held off several Drifters and even gave them advice and Pokemon-- but still someone who confessed to being with Team Rocket as part of their attack.

    Maybe 'greeting' is too strong a term, too. Certainly, the rather plain-looking young woman is a labcoat is sorting an array of Pokeballs and preparing refreshments in equal measure, moving around Professor Oak's lab with the speed and efficiency of someone who knows where everything is stored and clicking her tongue under her breath when it turns out that Oak has moved something. But there's also a hint of emotion on her mostly passive face that suggests she's not super thrilled with herself for acting this way at a time like this.

    The answer is ultimately that old habits die hard. Peace may be on Team Rocket's payroll when it comes to accepting research grants, but at her core her goal is still that basic written tenet of the Pokemon League - teach and support newcomers, make the journey fairer for all. The only way she's strayed from that is in changing her outlook on who exactly needs the most support.

    (And part of her still feels bad. Robbing Oak really is like kicking a small puppy.)

    Meeting so many offworlders has clearly left an impression on her; some of that quiet sleepiness has been wicked away by her thoughts on what this could mean for Pokemon science. Will they bring new training methods with them? New expectations? New evolutions? New types? The possibilities are endless, so from beneath her fringe she watches each of them carefully, and takes quiet notes on their choices so far.

    The number of people here prompts a glance in Joy's direction, but she seemes to be maintaining her focus. Magilou gets a long look when she calls the Professor an impostor - but clearly decides that battle would be too tiring to fight. "... I am qualified to provide any offworlders with assistance in learning how to utilize their Pokemon," she finally speaks. This is technically a lie - she never truly got her Professor credentials - but she delivers the line with complete surety.

    There is quiet self-satisfaction that she slipped that in there before Oak could. 

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    In the time since Avril's been there and back again (in a manner of speaking, when taking the road from Pallet to Viridian into account... and then the return journey), she has made some new friends. One of them is currently being Poke-sat by her friends, which is to say, getting pampered by Rebecca and Dean slightly elsewhere in the crowd. Avril, for her part, is busily comparing Pokepuffs with Gwen (and debating the merits of one or the other ) while Nina the Rattata twines expectantly at her legs.

    As if it were a pet cat and not, well, a large purple rat.

    "Perhaps they appreciate the colors and appearance?" she proposes to her friend. "Or, they may have a taste that Pokemon can detect that we cannot?" But Joy provides something of an answer, perhaps partially confirming what Avril had supposed. "Ah, I see!"

    Hers is a plain one. It is green in color. Eventually she kneels to present the puff to Nina, who takes it eagerly. Rising to her feet as Professor Oak greets them at last, she inclines her head formally.

    "It is the least we can do, after the hospitality we have been shown." Her gaze may, slightly, track towards Magilou. "We are grateful, as unexpected guests." 

<Pose Tracker> Holly has posed.

Holly is loose and on her own to the detriment of many who have had to deal with her either trying to read, question or ramble at anything she can. (The latter of which isn't as bad. She's out of her element enough she's back in student mode in a lot of ways! Turns out you can slip into old habits.)
 
 She finds herself a seat nearby, eyes scanning the crowd. Spotting the usual familiar faces and idly wondering if it's not some kind of fate after all. Then dashes that idea because it's not actually a pleasant thought with her own circumstances.
 
 She's released her Pancham and both are seated in a way that at least Holly can see over the crowd on the pokemon's shoulders. She's also (Surprisingly quietly) relaying what she sees since she's figured out they fully understand speech. 

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    Dias definitely doesn't have his finger on the pulse of nature like Mariel does, but he fully agrees with her take--or would if they'd ever discussed it. That being said, he's been honest about that opinion when asked, too, but otherwise he hasn't advertised it. This is the planet where Rena was born; he's not going to be disrespectful, especially with her jangling with nerves right now.
    
    Similarly, when the call goes out for Drifters to gather on a hill near Viridian City, Dias accompanies Rena and Claude there, where many other Drifters are already gathering. He casts a stoic gaze down one side into the tall grasses, right where Chase is hiding with his Poke-companions, but only for a moment. Without pointing them out to the others, he focuses back on Nall and Oak.
    
    Whom that weird jester woman is accusing of being fakes, seemingly solely because she knows someone else with the name Nall. Given her dress, Dias is assuming it's a bit and ignores her accordingly.
    
    Claude may introduce himself, but Dias simply gives Nall and Oak a curt nod of greeting. With so many other people here, enough is said that he really doesn't have to chime in. He *does* side-eye Joy and Peace a moment later--but it seems like the two Rocketeers aren't here to cause trouble, aren't even wearing Rocket garb, but rather because they too want to fight the Ten Wise Men (in Joy's case) and help the Drifters do so (in Peace's).
    
    Rena looks at Dias. Dias can only shrug.
    
    (Dean meanwhile is *absolutely* pampering Avril's new ice fox. So cute!) 

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

No police came after them, but Hannah's done her best to be respectful of the local laws. Mainly, keeping her rifle under wraps in cities. And also not using her (apparently) unlicensed magic. (Which suited her just fine, as she'd been having some troubles with it.)

She's kind of been a bit of a recluse lately, to be honest, due to a combintion of working in Doctor Aomori's lab, trying to learn more about Nede, getting used to some of the culture shock, and quietly ruminating on various troubling things that have happened to her of late.

(Magilou is one of those troubling things.)

But word got out for the Drifters to assemble and so she does! Zephyr is riding on her shoulder, and she's dressed moartly local garb (skirt, vest, and skirt), while keeping some of her old trusty favorites (good hiking boots and her leather satchel).

She has a warm smile and a 'Howdy' for those there that she knows, though she looks a little distracted. She nods to Oak and Nall. "Thanks for havin' us." And she is doing her absolute best to ignore anything Magilou is doing. (It's fine, Zephyr is keeping an eye on her.) 

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia has been... coasting by, in this strange new world. Having immediately gotten off on the wrong foot with a native by unknowingly interfering with their Pokemon journey, she became hesitant to act in the way she normally would. After all, if punching a giant bee menacing a little girl isn't the correct response under any given circumstances, you have effectively shattered Xantia's worldview. Up could now be down, for all she knows.

Regardless of how it happened, it at least caused her to not stand out as too much of an anomaly. Here, she's just "that woman with the huge appetite who sleeps on rooftops, dresses like she's Lance's biggest fan and steals glances at Pokemon like she wants to eat them". ...Well, she doesn't stand out as much as she could have, anyway. Probably not too surprising that unlike many of her fellow off-worlders, she hasn't made any friends among the local wildlife, either.

She just... doesn't really get this world at all. Her feelings on it are closest to that of Mariel. It's unsettling, in a way she can't quite put her finger on. Life here just isn't anything like what she's used to. People have very different priorities. Is this what long-term peace does to a society? That might explain why she feels so unnerved. In a world like this, she's not sure if she could feel like she had any purpose. And besides... she can't be here. Her number one priority is, as always when stranded in a different locale, to secure a way back to Filgaia.

She looks a lot calmer than she actually is, approaching the designated spot for the meeting, greeting those present with a wave and a small smile. "Hi there! I'm Xantia, for those who didn't know already. I uh, I have a lot of questions, but I guess maybe what you're about to say might already answer a bunch of them, so... I'm listening!"

She looks at one of the unfamiliar locals - Joy - when she says she wants to fight the Ten Wise Man. "If nothing else, I'm on board with that. If there's anything that needs fighting, with uh... other abilities than Pokemon have, I'm ready any time!" 

<Pose Tracker> Professor Oak has posed.

"Ex... cuse me?" Mayor Nall asks, wide-eyed, as Magilou points her finger in his face. He steps backward. "It--it is a name that has run in my family. And a few others, besides, ah--"

Professor Oak looks at her, before he frowns. "I certainly hope I'm not. Now--" He sighs, looking at Mariel. He decides to focus on the more 'normal' situation. "You're welcome! And--yes, thank you for coming."

Mayor Nall looks at Claude for a moment -- and then he smiles, if nervously. "Well... I understand, Mr. Kenny. Given what's happened, all of you must be a a little out of sorts." Then, he looks back to Ethius. "That's quite true. Unprecedented."

Professor Oak looks at Elaine, for a moment, and smiles -- then gives her a thumbs-up, as if to say, 'everything is good here.' Then, he looks at Jacqueline Barber, and then at Venetia. "The lab's mostly cleaned up," he says. "Really, I must thank you again. And... ah, yes. The reason we're out here is academically interesting. But cosmologically worrying, I'm afraid."

Nall glances, once, at Peace. Then, Oak looks at her -- and he nods. "She is," he affirms. "And, ah." This is a little awkward, after everything that happened before. "Thank you."

Nall smiles at Hannah and nods; there is a glance up at Zephyr, but just a glance.

Then, he looks at Xantia, and smiles. "It's nice to meet you," he says. "Though I regret the circumstances. We'll try to answer them."

Oak looks, finally, at Joy. He hesitates for a moment, before he nods. "Well... I won't turn you away," he says. "As much as I disagree with your company. People do have a right to know."

"Indeed," Nall says. "I won't turn you away. So..." He looks at Rena, and his eyes widen -- just a fraction. A Nedian, but--with the visitors. He glances to Dias, too; a bodyguard, perhaps? "...I'm Mayor Nall," he says to Rena, but all of them too. "Could I have your name, miss?"

Then, Nall clears his throat. "And... as you mentioned, we should discuss the Ten Wise Men. I'm afraid they've come here to claim Energy Nede as their own."

He frowns, then he looks down. "And for that, I must apologize. We've come here to ask for your help. The Kanto government and the Pokemon League agree we can't do this on our own."

Professor Oak adds: "We think they mean ill for your worlds, as well. I'll show you what I mean, in a moment," he says. "But... I didn't want to start on a false pretext. We're asking for help."

The grass next to Chase rustles. Then, after a moment, there's suddenly another boy there -- well, no, a man. He is a little older; perhaps about twenty. With a sharp eye, light brown hair, and a dark blue shirt...

He looks perfectly ordinary. He looks Chase over for a moment, before he smiles.

"Don't quite trust the visitors yet, huh?" he says, keeping his voice down.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius asides to Claude.
 
     "...It involves specific spatial theories regarding universal dimensions and... actions and movements that logically cannot be split in half, but most for calculations to work, it--"
 
     He looks like he has six heads and he recognizes this as he stares blearily. "Let's say tool-assisted speed crimes are a complex matter indeed, and leave it at that."
 
     A VERY LONG TIME AGO IN CHAPTER 1
 
     Yarobeleedt's essence lingers between seams in reality traveling through the plot holes in which he has somehow tried to set up traps and ambushes before he ever could logically reach them alongside others.
 
     BACK IN THE PRESENT
 
     "...I should introduce myself, pardon." Ethius stands up straighter, arms behind his back. "Ethius Hesiod." How should he introduce his line of work? Simple. He doesn't. He takes notice of the young man approaching at a safe distance, if out of caution or distrust.
 
     "...I do have a vested interest in seeing to the well-being of the worlds in question, Professor, Mayor." And how!! "But I must profess curiosity. In what context do you see us able to render assistance? The Symbol depth of the Symbology deployed by the Ten Wise Men is... by my understanding," and virtually every Symbologist's in the Pangalactic Federation, but he's the most skilled non-Nedian Symbologist present, "far beyond comprehension and capability to replicate. To say nothing of the underlying technological means either powered by, or otherwise assisted by, their grasp of Symbols."
 
     A moment passes, as Ethius brings a hand up to his forehead.
 
     "This is not a denial of your request for aid. I... must ask for clarity." 

<Pose Tracker> Mariel has posed.

Mariel feels a momentary surge of... panic? Second-hand embarrassment? about Magilou. "We know someone of that name, is all," she explains. "Honestly, I would think that she of all people would know that names repeat, especially if you wait long enough..." Yes, Magilou, she's calling you old. (Well, as old as herself, anyway.)

She understands enough about Ethius' commentary to assume he is making a joke, and that she got it because she does know what a driver's license is. She smiles, just faintly, as Venetia steps up herself. It's good to see that so many of them are here, though she's not quite sure what to make about the sudden surge in pets and familiars. Are they THAT popular?

Yes.

Mariel introduces herself a moment later: "Please excuse my rudeness... My name is Mariel," as if she doesn't have any titles to add to it. Because she doesn't! At least, not any relevant ones and she doesn't want to be bragging.

"I'm certain they mean ill for our worlds, as they've already shown that they will attack wherever and whatever to get what they want," Mariel says. "That they have only attacked smaller towns is only because that's where the item they wanted is... they certainly got more aggressive when we came after them."

A pause, then: "Are they not from here? They seemed to be returning home, rather than invading somewhere new. I don't know very much about Energy Nede yet," UNDERSTATEMENT, "but... I know that you are an old civilization. Older than mine." Which is older than just about everyone else from Filgaia and Lunar here.

She's seen some of the developments on Nede; the things they can build, the sorcery they can commit, the alterations they've made to the biosphere. Is this what all the 'old peoples' do? she thinks to herself. Are WE like that?

Mariel has been thinking about that a lot, lately. 

<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.

    There's quite a lot of Drifters here. She doesn't know all of them by name -- only Avril, and the mysterious man with the Arcmene, as well as Gwen the courier, Ida and that Zed -- but... they certainly do seem storied, all of them. Then, Ethius introduces himself. "Ethius Hesiod..."

    Her glance is towards Peace for a moment as she offers her help in turn. There's a quiet smile towards her, though she lets her friend provide her own reason. Still, to be around so many seasoned warriors is definitely a different kind of enthralling to her. The long-haired man with the sword, and his companions besides... why was that Nedian with them?

    Xantia addresses her and says she's onboard with that. "Do you fight, as well...?" she asks. Xantia certainly bears the presence of a seasoned warrior, someone who's seen her fair share of battles. "My name is Arisugawa Joy."

    Oak addresses her, telling her he disagrees with her present company.

    "No one I spoke to helped me, Professor," Joy expresses. "They tell me I'm only a child, that I should leave it to the police, to those responsible. I'm with my present company because I want to fight the Ten Wise Men. They're the only ones working on a solution."

    She glances towards Nall as he admits that the government and the Pokemon League can't do this on their own.

    "My Pokemon and I want to defend Nede and the people important to us." Chartreuse's words ring in her head for a moment. "If that means doing something people don't agree with, then that's what I'll do." 

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

While Chase does not notice being spotted, Pikachu's ear wiggles. "Pika pi..." she whispers, and Chase glances over her head to one blue haired swordsman. He slowly pushes Pikachu's ears down, despite that it is too late. That guy...

Wild Ponyta has an apple. Munch.

Spotting Joy, Chase is staring again. She's here? And the things she's saying... She has a point, but she was also helping steal Pokemon from the lab last week. And now it's getting into 'cosmologically worrying' subject matter. With the outsiders. For their help. Chase's brow is furrowed with his thoughts when a wild Trainer appears.

...What! This was not on the encounter table for this route!

Chase flinches, suddenly hugging onto Pikachu, who raises her paw in a wave and a whispered, "Pika!" because this is still a stealth mission. But quick to recover, Chase droops with a nod.

<Pose Tracker> Magilou has posed.

    Magilou looks Claude dead in the eyes, and gives him a wink and double-finger-guns. "Magikazam!"

    This explains nothing.

    "What's rude," Magilou huffs, to Rena "is letting ten supercriminals out into our worlds." Which isn't wrong, technically speaking.

    "Bah, statistics," she waves Ethius off, with an animated hand. "Statisticians are a bunch of liars, is what they are! -- a-HA!" She whirls, and points at Ethius, now. "I figured it out, Hesiod! You're an intergalactic statistician! I knew we couldn't trust you!!"

    That isn't what happened.

    "And don't you worry," she wags a finger at Peace, "I already got the talk from a Professor! Anne Aomori, heard of her? She gave me this cutie! Come on out, Tuxedo Mask!" Magilou throws a ball, and releases... an adorable green kitten!

    Sprigatito immediately runs over to Avril and Gwen to try and steal one of those Pokepuffs. He's a crime cat.

    Thankfully for Hannah, at least, Magilou is distracted from her by the point. "I have never once seen a name repeat, ever," Magilou lies to Mariel's face, and thankfully, Eleanor isn't here to call her on it. "But all right, Counterfeit, you're right about one thing. You need help. And lucky for you --"

    She wags a finger, and grins. "I'm here to announce that the Lord of Calamity is going to consume the Ten Wise Men. Strap in for your new age of terror!"

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

"Speed limit criminals...?" Claude tilts his head at Ethius, and shrugs at Rena. He knows what a speed limit is, probably, but the rest just reminds him of that girl who tried to join his party back on Filgaia and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. ...Ethius's explanation gets a dubious look. "I didn't study that at officer's school..."

Joy and Peace are a surprise, though. Claude starts to say something, but when Oak doesn't turn them away, he doesn't say it. It does confirm that it is who he thinks they are, though.

Claude sticks close to Rena, especially given how anxious she's been about that.

'Magikazam!' It... "What?" Claude wonders. He has no idea what to make of her.

"...You say you need our help," Claude says, "But we'd be going after them regardless. You're right, we are kind of out of sorts--but the Ten Wise Men are a threat to everybody. We're obviously willing to at least hear you out if that's what you need help with."

...Ethius, though...

"Uhhh." He looks at Magilou again, and then shakes his head. "...Anyway, Mister Hesiod has a point, but that doesn't mean we can give up." 

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

 
"Ah, cosmology," Venetia exhales. "The *real* dismal science.*"

Her eyebrows raise slightly. THey're being appealed to by the government and the Pokemon League. Venetia glances back at her Caterpie; the horrifying image occurs to her briefly of a sort of Pokemon Government, perhaps with an upper and lower chamber. Perhaps there is a King Pokemon, somewhere. Dreadful! Horrifying.

But perhaps.

Mariel hits the beats. The key facts, anyway. Venetia glances to Ida and rests a hand on her hip. "Just so," she says. "I have to say that I admire what you've built here; it's hopeful if everything that I've picked up about how long you've dwelt in balance has shown us. I don't know if you've been able to watch, but we've had our share of cataclysms on Filgaia. And don't get me started about the other world."

Magilou announces the impending reign of the Lord of Calamity. Venetia looks at her, then looks back to Professor Oak as if to say: You see what I have to deal with. ("Venetia, by the way. I'm in mineralogy and Crest Sorcery.") After this Venetia stands quiet; Ethius probably put it with more authority than she could. 

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.

Neither Claude nor Dias know - indeed, speed limits remain a mystery to them all, just like Ethius himself.

Rena upon being asked her name, clears her throat, and steps forward, giving a small informal curtsey. "My name is Rena Lanford, Sir. I grew up on Arlia, on Filgaia, but we were sent to investigate the Sorcery Globe with Claude here after we witnessed a friend of mine - change, and become a monster."
 
Her eyes do dart over to Dias briefly because well, she'd never actually shared the details of that particular story before, but then return forward. "I've known for some time that I was adopted, and set out to search for where I came from. The Ten Wise Men were what we found trying to control the Sorcery Globe, though they called it the 'Quadratic Sphere', and they told me I was a Nedian, from my magic... before we were brought here by a spell they cast."
 
Hesitation, before she reaches under her blouse, to bring forth a pendant, "This pendant. It was, the only thing I had left of my time before coming to Arlia, for some reason I've always felt it was a gift from my birth Mother." Another pause, it's easy enough to imagine what she says next going badly, indeed it's brought numerous insecurities but - she needs to share everything with them, if it might help defeat the Ten Wise Men, she can hold nothing back, "They called it a 'Quadratic Key'. I don't know how, but they told me that - it being on Filgaia, or me bringing it near them - I'm not certain, sped up their plans by almost a hundred years."
 
There's a time spent, as if to assess the response of the crowd, as she just understands how that could go badly, admitting this. Indeed her eyes look to Magilou in that moment, given her response. Honestly she has no excuse.
 
"We're here to help. I don't know if what they said about me is true, but I feel - a connection with this place, and the last thing I want is any of the Ten Wise Men to bring harm to anyone else. Especially since they said their goal is to conquer the universe."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline recognizes both Joy and Peace from the encounter at the lab... but, they're not here to fight, so she, personally, doesn't have any issue with their presence as long as Professor Oak and Nall don't.

"It's good to see you again, Professor." Jacqueline offers to Peace, before turning her attention back to Oak and Nall.

"Good, I'm glad." Jacqueline replies with a smile - and then, a shake of her head. "It's quite alright. I couldn't turn a blind eye."

Academically interesting... but, cosmologically worrying.

"I feel like there hasn't been any shortage of that, lately." She comments with a chuckle. "Still, you have my curiosity."

Questions are asked, and introductions are made... and, eventually, it's time to discuss why they're here. The Ten Wise Men... their goals aren't unexpected. And as such, they've come to ask for their help.

"...That doesn't surprise me." Jacqueline notes, as Oak comments that they mean ill for their worlds, too. "They're driven to conquer, it seems - I don't think they'd forget about us just because they've found their way here. So... they're not people we can just leave alone."

She shakes her head.

"...Of course, even if were were unaffected, now that I'm here I can hardly leave you to them. I'd be glad to help in any way I can." She comments... then pauses, glancing toward Ethius. "...My friend is correct, however. We've barely been able to hold our own in our encounters against them."

She frowns, thinking back.

"I've been watching them carefully in our fights with them... but there's still a lot of gaps in our data. If there's anything you can offer - advice, information..." She trails off, leaving things at that for now. 

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    At some point Kukyo has stopped paying attention to the candy is stomping around to each of the persons here and sniffing at them aggressive, giving them the stink eye as if he could take them in a fight an win. Elaine simply looks depressed and when Professor Oak gives her a thumbs up, her head drops and she can be heard sighing heavily as Veevee pats her knee with a paw before running to escort the Mankey around and keep it from fighting.

    She sits back up, folding the Pokedex and her hands in her lap as she surveys the people around the area and keeping an eye on her Mankey as she listens to the discussion starting. 

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    Someone else approaches the hill from the spot where Chase lurks. Dias doesn't look directly that way again--he doesn't fault anyone who'd rather approach a situation with a lot of unknown variables with caution--but he *does* certainly give it a side-eye. Chase seems startled, but not in trouble. Dias leaves it be.
    
    Instead, he regards Ethius, who asks a very good question that had been on Dias's mind too. (Once again: being part of a crowd has its advantages.) That's thus a question he doesn't need to ask--even if Claude is right and they'll be going after them anyway.
    
    What he *does* need to ask is about what Joy says, that her 'present company' is working on a solution to the Ten Wise Men. "Is that so," he says, looking directly at her. "So then who's this 'boss' you all seem so confident in?" (He's not sure Joy will *tell* him, but who knows? She seems like a straightforward woman. Maybe she will.)
    
    Rena mentions a 'friend of hers' having turned into a monster, and Dias glances at her in time to catch her own look his way. A friend of hers, huh... And her investigation started because of that. He has his guesses on that, but that's not a discussion for right now. She's still explaining matters.
    
    "Dias Flac," he does state to Nall and Oak after Rena introduces herself. He gives Jacqueline a considering look when she says she's been watching the Ten Wise Men, but could still use more information. She continues to seem like a sensible person... unlike some of the others in the crowd.
    
    (He still thinks Magilou's doing a bit. And is he wrong?) 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    "Tastes like bleh," Gwen says helpfully to Ida, as Joy explains the reason for the shape. "Huh, is that so?" She turns the puff over in her hand, then grins at Ida. "It ain't too new t'me, really. I had to train Gulliver, n' lemme tell ya, a horse is much harder t'train than a Joltik. I don't need to have Voltie here tug a wagon around, after all. Just need t'make him understand I'm his friend. Or, what a Joltik would think a 'friend' is, from their point of view. Hey, Avril, how's yours likin' that color?"

    Gwen offers Xantia a sympathetic smile as she spots her out of the corner of her eye; Joy is making her way to her, so maybe the two will bond a little. Joy's not a bad person, in Gwen's book. Just someone looking for answers.

    Sprigatito, in that moment, tries to steal a pokepuff-- Voltie instantly goes on the offensive, trying to protectively shock the poor Pokemon away. "Whoah, whoah whoah! Oh hey! You're Magilou's friend, ain't ya?" Gwen grins wide, offering the Sprigatito the remaining half of her puff, as she confirms the existence of the other in her satchel. "For that time she had t'haul my heavy ass out of Kasim City."

    Turning to Oak now, Gwen frowns. "Yeah, they've made that pretty clear. The Twin Wisemen wanna rule over us, n' I don't necessarily care for their attitude on alla that. We got enough troublemakers t'deal with as it is, n' it's possible they could convince some of those t'join up with them. We can't control that, but we can control people's awareness." 

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Zephyr looks to Mayor Nall and meets his gaze, then gives him a curious chirp. This level of intelligence, for Nede's wildlife, is perhaps not unusual. Zephyr himself is, however. He doesn't look like any known pokemon, after all. (Which possibly makes sense since the person he's riding the shoulder of is, herself, not a Nedian.)

"Well shoot. Helpin' with things is kinda what most of us do, after a fashion," she says to Nall. And she nods to Oak. "They sure weren't takin' care when they cast their teleportation spell to begin with. Don't think any of us wants any harm befallin' any of our worlds."

She pulls out her notebook and starts taking notes. Though she does take a subtle step back, to place the much taller Ida between her and Magilou's line of sight. Just in case. 

<Pose Tracker> Peace Kishinami has posed.

    Peace looks back towards Nall, and at first meets silence with silence. After a moment she tilts her head ever so slightly, and says to the Mayor: "I'm here for the 'academically interesting' part," and then to the Professor with a hint of reproach: "I distinctly remember documenting a new filing system designed to prevent unexplained Tornados from hitting your laboratory."

    This is possibly a tacit acceptance of his thanks, in her language.

    She straightens up a little as Joy talks. Never the most communicative person except when she's sparked her own interest in something, there's something significant in the way she briefly diverts her entire attention in Joy's direction as the other Team Rocket member recounts the problems she had in getting allies and help.

    Oh. Right. Introductions. She kind of forgot that part, both before during the attack and now, and blinks a bit as she mentally changes gears. "... I am Peace Kishinami, evolutionary scientist and researcher. And member of the Team Rocket Youths."

    She tilts her head towards Jay's greeting with a nod. Protocol suggests that she's supposed to fight the alchemist to see how far her team has come, but Peace has never exactly understood that rule and the guidelines do say to wait a minimum of two weeks, so she leaves that thought for later.

    A bit lost for what else to add, she is somewhat saved by an Eevee peeking up out of one of her labcoat pockets, which sparks a sudden thought. Suddenly she's much quicker, her eyes much sharper and awake as she turns on Ethius and Ida as the people who have spoken most scientifically so far. "If you have rocks or stones from your world, I would appreciate their donation for the sake of furthering efforts against the Wise Men. If you have not washed your boots since arriving here we may also be able to get some seed and soil samples too," she notes with relish.

    ... oh no! The Drifters didn't come through customs! They're bringing over prohibited organisms! 

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia is asked if she fights. Xantia. She can't help but laugh. "Sure do! Just not the way the people here seem to usually do. I just use my hands." Plus a little bit more, which she demonstrates by making a fist, and having electricity briefly coursing across it. Then she uses that same hand to rub the back of her neck, evidently having left no static behind judging from how this doesn't affect her hair back there. "That is, if I'm allowed to. I gather this world has rules about how you're supposed to fight? Sorry in advance if I mess up, I only know how to fight the one way. ...Anyway, nice to meet you, Joy!" It just makes sense to default to the part of the name that's easier to say.

She sure would have no qualms teaming up with someone so young. She's got the right attitude, that's what really matters. Nodding, she adds to the Professor and Mayor, "Well, like I said, if it's fighting you need, and you don't mind me doing it with own hands, then count me in! Those Wise Man guys are way powerful, teaming up to beat them just makes sense. I've seen enough to know that they're the kind who like to be in control of things, so I have no doubt they won't leave my world alone either."

She glances to Ethius, who's using a lot of big words, but she thinks she's gotten the gist of it. "...I rarely understand everything Ethius says, but what he said about their Symbology is true, that's a big problem. I can do a lot of damage, but they heal so fast. We need to be able to do something about that if we're gonna win."

Looking to Peace upon her introduction and request, she will most definitely not be showing anybody her piece of quartz crystal. Nobody can have that, it's important. But this does bring to mind another question. "So... can someone explain what Team Rocket's all about, anyway? I'm not sure anymore, it seems complicated." 

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "I think she likes it," she says, glancing up at Gwen. "Though, I wonder what about it she likes? Is it the flavor or the color that she finds appealing?" Avril, busy with Nina, does not see the Sprigatito when it trots on over and fishes a paw into her Poke Puff bag.

    >System: Sprigatito received--

    >System: Theft in progress detected!

    Courtesy of Gwen's Voltie, that is. Turning her head, Avril herself notices the intruder at last and her eyes widen. "Oh--"

    "How cute!"

    Avril Vent Fleur, terrible ancient queen of yore (if the legends are true (ask Yue: they are)), and complete sucker for cute animals. "Would you like one, too?"

    >System: Sprigatito received x1 Deluxe Poke Puff!

    "Truly? Then I am glad to hear it," Avril says, when hearing that the lab has been cleaned up. "Yet... I do not think it is a question, for us. I do not think their ambitions end with Nede, or that they have decided to turn their gaze away from our own worlds," she says to Professor Oak and Nall. "I expect that this is only the beginning. ...Of course you have our aid." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    "'Bleh,'" Ida says, looking down at the puff. Why is it so colorful, then? Is it a gimmick? But there's someone a bit more worrying here, and that's Joy. Oak... seems to be letting her presence in the attack slide, and Ida is... okay with that. She steps closer. "Arisagawa Joy," she says, with a simple nod of acknowledgment--one warrior to another. Ida keeps Oak in her periphery, taking in the basics, but then--

    "--Awww," Ida says, out loud, as Peace's Eevee pops out, because she still hasn't gotten used to that. But she clears her throat. "Possibly," Ida says, to Peace. "But I'd prefer all such things take place over the table, as it were." She glances down at Eevee. "What's their name?"

<Pose Tracker> Professor Oak has posed.

Professor Oak looks at Joy, for a moment. His expression grows softer, after she explains, and he nods. "Well... if that's where your journey leads you... then I can respect that," he says. "If you want to help, we won't turn you away."

Mayor Nall's eyes widen a little at the finger wagging in his face -- and then at Magilou, properly. He hesitates for a moment, before he nods. "I--I see," he says. "Very good. The... ah. The Lord of Calamity."

Professor Oak raises an eyebrow. "Calamity sounds... not ideal?" he says. "Also, I... am unsure... of the edibility... of the Ten Wise Men, but if your friend needs dietary assistance, I'm sure I could assist in developing a meal plan?"

He makes it a question, somehow. He looks at Venetia, and nods. "Y... yes," he says. "Professor Samuel Oak. I study Pokemon."

Then, the Professor looks at Jacqueline. He nods. "I don't think so, no," he says. "I think they're going to make certain they're a problem."

He looks at Avril, then; he smiles a bit, because he did just see her gushing over Pokemon. He always likes that. "Thank you," he says.
"I'm glad to hear that," Mayor Nall says to Ethius. "And that's... a very good question. As you say, the Ten Wise Men command terrific power -- both Symbology and technology. And, yes," he says, looking at Mariel. "They are from Nede."

Professor Oak looks at him for a moment. This is something that Nall knows more about; he has the information on the matter. "They came from Nede before we were... reduced to our current state. A very long time ago -- thirty-seven thousand years, by the calendars used by the Pangalactic Federation -- Nede was at the heart of an interstellar nation. A war with the Ten Wise Men left what you've seen of our planet -- and we sealed ourselves away from the entire universe, to protect our knowledge. And what is left of our homeworld."

Mayor Nall looks, then, at Claude. He nods, once, to him. "We can't give up," he says. Then, he smiles briefly at Dias, and nods. He looks to Rena, then, and he hesitates. "You're Nedian -- and I suspect..."

He looks at her pendant. "Ah. A Quadratic Key," he says. "That has a connection to a Quadratic Sphere -- a huge source of energy. You're... I can confirm that you're Nedian, Miss Lanford. But..."

But?

"...I think you're in a unique position," he says. "As are all of you from other worlds. We sealed away our power -- and in the course of millennia, we've lost most of the knowledge of Symbology, of weapons, of the like. We don't want it to be used by others, or to tempt ourselves, to use it for ill. Many of us have lost the 'spark' to fight. But you have that." He looks at Dias, then at Xantia, when he says that. "We'll take however you'd like to fight them -- and we'll be very grateful."

He hesitates. "We can help you, if you'll fight them. And it will take some work -- they seized the fortress of Phynal, in the northeast, and created a powerful barrier. But we hae some ideas."

Nall looks back to Rena. "So... if you'll help -- if all of you will -- we're in your debt. As is all of Energy Nede."

"Hey," the brown-haired young man says to Pikachu, before he lifts a hand in a wave. Then, he looks at Chase. He spots that nod -- and he returns it, as he looks back at the gaggle of Drifters, witches, potential Team Rocket members, and more.

"I don't blame you," he says. "Even if I'm curious why. Me..."

He trails off. "...I'd like to see us handle our own problems," he says. "But... granddad trusts them." His eyes glance sideways at Chase. "That seems worth something."

He looks up, then, as Oak glances in both of their directions.

"Blue," Professor Oak says. "Can you show us?"

"Sure," Blue says -- and he stands up, rising. He shifts his belt; it has a few Pokeballs on it, and some are the blue-and-white Super Balls used by veteran trainers.

"I'm Blue," he says to the assembled. "If everyone will follow me, please..."

He looks at Elaine, then at Chase. "You two, follow along too. You'll want to see this."

He starts walking. As the group begins to move, Oak glances at Jay. "This is the 'cosmologically worrying' part," he says, following after his grandson. "Hopefully not too common."

<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.

    Joy's eyes glance towards Chase for a moment, perhaps from some hunch that's beyond just her five regular senses; that was the boy Professor Oak had as an assistant right now, wasn't it? And, the girl as well... a Pikachu and Ponyta, by his side, and an Eevee and Mankey by hers.

    The bombastic magician, Magilou, is certainly hard to ignore. The Lord of Calamity?

    Dias asks who the boss is. "The Boss is someone who taught me something very important I was missing, in how I was relating to my Pokemon. I wouldn't be the Trainer I am today if it weren't for what he taught me."

    It's not really a straightforward answer, but... it's clear that she has a lot of respect for this Boss, right after saying that the adults around her were of no help.

    Dias Flac... she'll remember that name.

    Rena's explanation of her story has her with widened eyes too. So she's a Nedian from beyond Nede? Just how did something like that happen? And the 'Sorcery Glove' was a 'Quadratic Sphere', and she bears a key...

    "Mm," she nods to Gwen. "Pokemon Breeders and other scientists did a lot of research in making foods that would be enjoyed by all kinds of Pokemon -- which isn't a simple task, given how many there were. The Poffin was one of their successes."

    A pause.

    "Is a Horse a kind of Pokemon?" she asks Gwen.

    Uh oh, we're gonna go in circles.

    Xantia laughs at the question, but explains that she usually fights with her hands. The burst of electricity coursing through her fist has Joy surprised, as she glances to Ida as she speaks up to her too. "Most people here prefer to resolve disputes nonlethally, or with Pokemon, but..."

    Her eyes narrow again.

    "I know the Ten Wise Men don't care about such rules. So I'm learning such martial forms too, fighting with my Pokemon."

    Peace's comments about gathering foreign soil or seed samples has her looking intrigued. She knew she was the one who was most interested in evolutionary theory, but what if Pokemon were evolved to an environment other than Nede...?

    The tale of the Ten Wise Men's origins is explained -- it's something she's learnt in school, about how their world came to be; of the struggle between the Ten Wise Men and Nede's past. What is offered in school, anyway.

    It hurts her, as Nall explains how most of Nede have lost the 'spark' to fight. How could you say such a thing, when you shun those that do have that same 'spark'? Oak tells her that if that's where her journey takes her... then he can respect it. She looks sorrowful, even depresses for a moment.

    "This isn't where my journey took me, Professor, Mayor. This is where Nede forced me, as someone with that 'spark' you spoke of."

    Blue introduces himself, but Joy doesn't need the introduction. "Champion-rank Trainer, Blue Oak..." she whispers. Blue expresses that he'd like to see them handle their own problems. 

<Pose Tracker> Magilou has posed.

    Magilou meets Rena's eyes, and grins, sly.%r "So, which Wise Woman are you, sweetheart? I'm going to guess, sight unseen... lucky number four!"%r Magilou knows very well that four is an unlucky number in many places.%r Sprigatito gets his little nose ZAPPED by a tiny tick for his troubles. (Crime. His crime troubles.) "Spriii!!!" He yowls, rubbing his nose. But before he can start a fight in the middle of the lab, his green ruff glowing brightly --%r -- Gwen offers him a peace offering, and his Leafage fails as he perks his ears up and goes nibble nibble nibble. "Spri!" He meows, licking her fingers, before he bounds up to Avril to steal her Deluxe Pokepuff. "Spriga!" He mews, hopping up to lick Avril's cheek -- oh no his little pawsie is tangled in her hair now and he spends the next five seconds going "Gati, gati?!" and flailing around trying to fix it.%r Once he's free, he scrambles back to Magilou, who catches him as he springs up into her arms. She pops him on her head, and he drapes there, accessorising her two-pronged hat by nesting between them. The two of them listen to the explanation, and Magilou puts a hand on her hip, as she grins.%r "You've lost the spark, huh? That's why your people were crying out for me! A spark to light a wildfire, Lunar's foremost evil sorceress, Magilou! Now I've taken my place as the Lord of Calamity's herald, all worlds shall tremble! Oh, and fun fact--" She holds up her hand, stage-whispering to Oak, "you're going to find her diet plan either devastatingly easy or distressingly difficult!"%r It really depends on how much he gets sad about very funny things.%r "Sprigatito!" Tuxedo Mask chirps, as Magilou finishes her speech, because of course he does. She's a horrible woman, but he seems happy.%r And, lo -- "Oooh, secrets!" Magilou titters, as she bustles off behind Blue.% 

<Pose Tracker> Magilou has posed.

    Magilou meets Rena's eyes, and grins, sly.%r "So, which Wise Woman are you, sweetheart? I'm going to guess, sight unseen... lucky number four!"%r Magilou knows very well that four is an unlucky number in many places.%r Sprigatito gets his little nose ZAPPED by a tiny tick for his troubles. (Crime. His crime troubles.) "Spriii!!!" He yowls, rubbing his nose. But before he can start a fight in the middle of the lab, his green ruff glowing brightly --%r -- Gwen offers him a peace offering, and his Leafage fails as he perks his ears up and goes nibble nibble nibble. "Spri!" He meows, licking her fingers, before he bounds up to Avril to steal her Deluxe Pokepuff. "Spriga!" He mews, hopping up to lick Avril's cheek -- oh no his little pawsie is tangled in her hair now and he spends the next five seconds going "Gati, gati?!" and flailing around trying to fix it.%r Once he's free, he scrambles back to Magilou, who catches him as he springs up into her arms. She pops him on her head, and he drapes there, accessorising her two-pronged hat by nesting between them. The two of them listen to the explanation, and Magilou puts a hand on her hip, as she grins.%r "You've lost the spark, huh? That's why your people were crying out for me! A spark to light a wildfire, Lunar's foremost evil sorceress, Magilou! Now I've taken my place as the Lord of Calamity's herald, all worlds shall tremble! Oh, and fun fact--" She holds up her hand, stage-whispering to Oak, "you're going to find her diet plan either devastatingly easy or distressingly difficult!"%r It really depends on how much he gets sad about very funny things.%r "Sprigatito!" Tuxedo Mask chirps, as Magilou finishes her speech, because of course he does. She's a horrible woman, but he seems happy.%r And, lo -- "Oooh, secrets!" Magilou titters, as she bustles off behind Blue.% 

<Pose Tracker> Magilou has posed.

    Magilou meets Rena's eyes, and grins, sly.%r "So, which Wise Woman are you, sweetheart? I'm going to guess, sight unseen... lucky number four!"%r Magilou knows very well that four is an unlucky number in many places.%r Sprigatito gets his little nose ZAPPED by a tiny tick for his troubles. (Crime. His crime troubles.) "Spriii!!!" He yowls, rubbing his nose. But before he can start a fight in the middle of the lab, his green ruff glowing brightly --%r -- Gwen offers him a peace offering, and his Leafage fails as he perks his ears up and goes nibble nibble nibble. "Spri!" He meows, licking her fingers, before he bounds up to Avril to steal her Deluxe Pokepuff. "Spriga!" He mews, hopping up to lick Avril's cheek -- oh no his little pawsie is tangled in her hair now and he spends the next five seconds going "Gati, gati?!" and flailing around trying to fix it.%r Once he's free, he scrambles back to Magilou, who catches him as he springs up into her arms. She pops him on her head, and he drapes there, accessorising her two-pronged hat by nesting between them. The two of them listen to the explanation, and Magilou puts a hand on her hip, as she grins.%r "You've lost the spark, huh? That's why your people were crying out for me! A spark to light a wildfire, Lunar's foremost evil sorceress, Magilou! Now I've taken my place as the Lord of Calamity's herald, all worlds shall tremble! Oh, and fun fact--" She holds up her hand, stage-whispering to Oak, "you're going to find her diet plan either devastatingly easy or distressingly difficult!"%r It really depends on how much he gets sad about very funny things.%r "Sprigatito!" Tuxedo Mask chirps, as Magilou finishes her speech, because of course he does. She's a horrible woman, but he seems happy.%r And, lo -- "Oooh, secrets!" Magilou titters, as she bustles off behind Blue.% 

<Pose Tracker> Magilou has posed.

    Magilou meets Rena's eyes, and grins, sly.
    "So, which Wise Woman are you, sweetheart? I'm going to guess, sight unseen... lucky number four!"
    Magilou knows very well that four is an unlucky number in many places.
    Sprigatito gets his little nose ZAPPED by a tiny tick for his troubles. (Crime. His crime troubles.) "Spriii!!!" He yowls, rubbing his nose. But before he can start a fight in the middle of the lab, his green ruff glowing brightly --
    -- Gwen offers him a peace offering, and his Leafage fails as he perks his ears up and goes nibble nibble nibble. "Spri!" He meows, licking her fingers, before he bounds up to Avril to steal her Deluxe Pokepuff. "Spriga!" He mews, hopping up to lick Avril's cheek -- oh no his little pawsie is tangled in her hair now and he spends the next five seconds going "Gati, gati?!" and flailing around trying to fix it.
    Once he's free, he scrambles back to Magilou, who catches him as he springs up into her arms. She pops him on her head, and he drapes there, accessorising her two-pronged hat by nesting between them. The two of them listen to the explanation, and Magilou puts a hand on her hip, as she grins.
    "You've lost the spark, huh? That's why your people were crying out for me! A spark to light a wildfire, Lunar's foremost evil sorceress, Magilou! Now I've taken my place as the Lord of Calamity's herald, all worlds shall tremble! Oh, and fun fact--" She holds up her hand, stage-whispering to Oak, "you're going to find her diet plan either devastatingly easy or distressingly difficult!"
    It really depends on how much he gets sad about very funny things.
    "Sprigatito!" Tuxedo Mask chirps, as Magilou finishes her speech, because of course he does. She's a horrible woman, but he seems happy.
    And, lo -- "Oooh, secrets!" Magilou titters, as she bustles off behind Blue.% 

[OOC] Claude C. Kenny says, "we'll fix it in post"

<Pose Tracker> Mariel has posed.

Though at first she's focused on Magilou, who is making her uncomfortable again (but not so much she can object to it), Mariel's attention is grabbed by Peace for two reasons.

One, she's speaking a language Mariel understands, though she's not quite sure what good *rocks* will do. She immediately wants to talk to her about plants, though.

Except for number two...

"Aren't Team Rocket criminals?" she asks, a little uncomfortable by the request. "And I was very careful not to leave anything that could cause a problem in the biosphere. I can't feel this one like I can Filgaia's... not the same way, so I can't always tell... it feels so small and cramped I must be missing something."

Nobody has told Mariel about Lost Johto.

"But with the amount of bioengineering that must have gone into it, I can't imagine that you don't know how to handle invasive species, anyway. Especially given the wildlife!"

She does hike her satchel a little closer, though. You know, the one embroidered with a little white flower, and contains (variously) Mariel's herbalism packets, various tinctures and tonics and other herbal medicine she's created, flowers, seeds, and whatever else she thought was useful at the time. She does not want it stolen! (Fortunately, she is not a trainer and is immune to meeting people's gaze. No battles are started today.)

And she listens to Oak, and Nall. 'What you've seen of our planet', 'What's left of our homeworld'...

"Oh," she says, distraught as she realizes *why* she can only feel a small part of it. As for the rest of it: "...I'm sorry. I don't..." 'Lost the spark to fight...'

Mariel lets out a breath. "I can't make that promise. I am an Elw," she says. "The first people of Filgaia. Humans came later... I don't fight, either. I don't hurt living beings," she says, firmly. "I have promises to keep, too. But I can help in other ways. I'm sure many of the other Drifters will fight, though, and I'm not going to oppose them; I am not so sheltered that I don't know that some things need to be stood against... but..."

She can't, at least not violently. Or won't. It amounts to the same thing.

Mariel lets out a breath. Handling their own problems... she feels for Blue. "Sometimes... you have to ask for help," Mariel says, quietly. "Even if it's hard. ...I know this." But she follows along, anyway.

She's still got one hand on her satchel. Just in case. 

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Chase frowns as Rena relays her story of the Ten Wise Men and the Quadratic Key. So that's the why and how of it... Despite Chase's distrust and Rena's concerns, a sense of blame isn't something he so much as has to wrestle with. The Ten Wise Men have made a parade of problems, and these 'Drifters' are collaterol damage.

But it sits uneasy in his chest how easily Mayor Nall and Oak are asking for help, and how easily the visitors from other worlds are giving it. What should be a good thing on paper ignites restlessness. He does not feel sparkless.

Maybe he has more in common with the likes of Joy and Peace than he would initially have been inclined to expect. But only so much.

Blue puts it to words easier. Yet when he points out Oak's trust, Chase has to sigh, resigned. He points to the Drifters who have found companions with Pokemon. Pokemon they treat with compassion, already adoring their new partners as they feed and tend to them.

That's worth something, too.

(There is a Sprigatito committing minor crime, but crime can be a love language. Especially among felines.)

Bid to follow, Chase lifts Pikachu up onto his shoulder and comes without further hesitation. Pikachu flicks her ears, and realizing the time for sneaking has ended, waves excitedly to the visitors. "Piii Pikachu!"

And without a change to her bright eyed, happy face, she points to her eyes, then points to Joy and Peace.

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Venetia looks upon an Eevee.

Ugh, she thinks: it's adorable!!!

After the introduction, they learn more things.

Venetia frowns in thought. This place -- thirty-seven thousand years?

Her brow furrows. "-- that time..." But the topic has shifted to this talk of a Quadratic Key and its connection to a Quadratic Sphere.

"I suppose we do have that," Venetia remarks about the Will to Fight. She tosses her hair back. "Normally we loathe it about ourselves if we stop to think about it, but I suppose if it's something with the potential for a good use, well, all the better. Rare, isn't it," Venetia comments to Ida with a faint smile, "to have lines drawn rather clearly."

As they begin to stroll after the younger man, Venetia regards Joy. Back to frowning. Her arms come up to fold in front of her as she contemplates the implications of those words.

Venetia remarks to Peace, "You know, it's funny your set is called Team Rocket, considering how we ourselves mostly arrived here." She says mostly because Venetia is not ruling out that someone or other might have hung on on the outside, or possibly jumped very good from Filgaia's surface.

Mariel says they're criminals. Venetia, who was NOT at the criminal activity and may not have heard of it due to a sudden in-depth Geodude analysis, which is probably just as well given her habits. Peace gets a longer, more thoughtful look.

"If we help you, we help ourselves," Venetia comments. "And these 'Wise' Men don't mean anything good for Filgaia, which, at my last inspection, resides within the universe. Nor for Lunar. And besides, we'll all come out ahead if we cooperate." 

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Hannah glances at Peace and gives her an odd look. "... You ain't had visitors in 40,000 years... do you even have a customs?"

But more details emerge--Rena is Nedian, and she has a Quadratic Key... She raises her voice to ask Oak and Nall, "Can you tell us, in general terms, what the Quadratic Sphere is an' why the Ten Wise Men wanted it so badly?"

But she follows along as Blue leads them somewhere. Quietly, to Zephyr, she mutters, "Wonder if this is more or less cosmologically worryin' than havin' both Lunar and Filgaia destroyed..."

Zephyr makes a riffling motion of his wing feathers that might be interpreted as a shrug. 

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

Claude doesn't try to get Dias talking; he trusts his eyes where they are. Instead, he looks to Rena, and what she says. "Rena..."

He's concerned. But still...

"Wait," Claude says. "So you guys know about the Federation?" Claude asks Nall and Oak both. "You're familiar with it? I thought you'd been sealed away. Does that mean you're still observing the rest of the galaxy?"

He doesn't know how edible the Ten Wise Men are either, but, "Lord of Calamity... isn't that that woman who helped us out?" he wonders. "With the claw."

Rena is indeed Nedian...

"Well, if you can help us..." A unique position. "Hm. Well, if you guys can help arm us so that we have a better shot, then yeah. Rena's right. We can't just let them do whatver they want."

The brown-haired young man speaks up. Claude looks to him. "...I respect that," he says. "Wanting to handle your own problems. But they're our problem, too. Not just Nede's. The whole galaxy--the whole universe--is part of this."

"But uh, cosmologically worrying is concerning..." He'll follow. He looks to Mariel, as they walk. She ssaid it out loud, about being the first people of Filgaia.

"Did you realize something, Miss Mariel?" he wonders, as they do. The way she suddenly became so distraught... Well, as he goes, he stops by Holly, too. "At least some of us made friends," he says, as if trying to bring up a bright side. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    There is some addressing, and some reinforcement about how they cannot give up. Ethius nods along with that, though at one point someone he almost doesn't notice addressing him manages to get in the periphery of his vision, and then...
 
     "Given the circumstances leading up to our... visitation," Ethius chooses the word carefully along with the vernacular, "it is unlikely we have... viable samples." He clears his throat and steps aside.
 
     There are cute creatures going on around them. Ethius would like for them to stay happy, cute, and free to not have to be taken in by the dire threats that encompass everything with the Ten Wise Men.
 
     That the Pangalactic Federation's calendar is being used is interesting, but then again... they use metric here. It manages to be less interesting than the timeline given about their origin and the events that transpired.
 
     The Ten Wise Men did speak of a similar timeline of just how many tens of thousands of years it predates the Federation to begin with.
 
     "You sealed yourselves away," he murmurs, "and yet... Miss Rena is with us." Are any other elves on Filgaia possible Nedian exiles? Then again, she's the only one he's witnessed using previously impossible Symbology. Who, or what else, might have escaped Nedian exile? (There's one thing he did see but will not be able to attribute to that possibility, yet.)
 
     "Nonetheless... I see. Your means and methods for combatting such a threat has fallen into disuse." And yet, the Ten Wise Men were previously imprisoned, by some means. Were the means that forgotten, then? It would explain why the environment is so peaceful, and how so very few Nedians seem poised to use martial skill at all. (This would explain how the intensity of Joy over there is so stand-out in comparison!)
 
     Ethius doesn't speak further musing out loud as he follows suit. 

<Pose Tracker> Peace Kishinami has posed.

    Peace breaks out of her research trance to frown across at Xantia's comment. "... they aren't rules," she's quick to note. "They're just expectations. If subverting those expectations helps you win, then do that." Maybe this is why she's part of Team Rocket, as that in particular feels like a rather un-Professorly thing to say. She doesn't even mention the Ten Wise Men in specific; it seems to just be her outlook in general.

    She has never exactly been the best person at describing Team Rocket's moral compass, and it's something she would rather leave up to Joy given the other girl's investment in their fight with the Ten Wise Men. But she does pause as a frown flickers across her face. Mariel mentions criminals, and can't help but feel it's a little reductive.

    "As a whole, Team Rocket is simply an organization. Its primary goal is accumulating wealth and power, and sometimes it chooses rather overbearing methods, but it also does a lot to assist its members with support. ... I joined for assistance with research funding, and am allowed to make my research publicly available."

    That last part is said completely without inflection. That plain sincerity holds as she looks towards Ida with an almost confused expression. Several seconds later, she and the Eevee in her pocket both tilt their heads in unison. "I am an accredited scientist with several whitepapers published in major journals. I can assure you that any samples would be well-used. ... her name is Eve."

    Ah. Eve the Eevee. Of course. And she called her Sylveon 'Syl'. And being given offworld artifacts could just be any other day. Maybe Peace just has a few blindspots in her self-awareness. Her eyes follow the talk of the Quadratic Sphere, and light on the pendant. And, okay, maybe she's lacking a lot of self-awareness, because for a moment she pauses to imagine what a Tenwiseon might look like, her legs moving automatically to follow the group.

    She clearly doesn't quite understand some of the questions, because a culture gap of 40,000 years is a lot to overcome. Mariel's good intentions aside, the idea of 'invasive species' may not even exist here. "We have too many customs," she says back to Hannah, suddenly frowning but leaving it at that. Ethius and Mariel also turn her down; there is a tiny moment of sulk, but she doesn't seem inclined to push it. 

<Pose Tracker> Holly has posed.

Holly has been dutifully taking notes and aside from murmuring what she's seeing to her partner in crime, hasn't actually been too intrusive. It's a miracle of sorts! Though it's not the first time she's gotten enough to keep her mind occupied and hints of an older self pop out.
 
 She uh, does quite noticably perk up at the mention that they've lost a lot of the art of symbology though. "I can help with some of that!" She calls out. Not even remotely aware if she's loud enough (Probably) or visible (Probably not.) It's an effort though! She does know a decent amount about the stuff and while they might have it more controlled, they did admit they've lost a lot and that means.. excuses to get into trouble. The fairly's smiling now. That's probably not great.
 
 The pancham does stop fidgeting as Claude appears before the two. It reaches up, pokes Holly, then waves to him! "I've made lots of friends since I got out! But I think you mean Pyanfar here and she's been a lot of fun." Paired with a scratch behind the panda's ears. They haven't terrorized anyone yet aside from that pokemon fight at least. And maybe a pidgey. And a salaryman...
 
 Still, she did consider her previous notes on the wise men too. A thought she'd been forming interrupted by Peace trying to describe the organization. She gets beaten to the suggestion by her Pancham just poking her again. Met with a huff, "Fine." 

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.

Rena listens to the exchange between Joy and Dias, mouthing 'The Boss'? It sure sounded familiar from that day...
 
Before she looks at Magilou, raising an eyebrow, but doesn't question. She certainly remembers that woman bounding around threatening to eat people. Also the weirdest sibling relationship she's ever seen.
 
Yet Magilou's grin causes her to bristle, at her tone of calling her a Wise Woman, "I don't have any titles like that! I'm not some 'Wise Woman' at all! I'm just someone on a journey to find out - where they came from."
 
Professor Oak explains the Ten Wise Men, and Rena listens intently, not too surprised they know of the Federation perhaps, given that somehow the Ten Wise Men did despite their imprisonment yet Claude's question still elicits a curious look, as it's a good one, but upon them saying more of their history, of the Ten Wise Men. "That's terrible! You're saying they destroyed that much of Nede?" It gives her more context to the barrier, and the obstacle the Ten Wise Men were trying to bypass. "I can't imagine how difficult a choice that must have been, to isolate themselves away."
 
As he outright tells her that she's Nedian, it feels like confirmation, at last in a sense, but-
 
"A unique position?" Rena's gives him a surprised look but his explanation makes sense, as to why she hasn't seen so many things - a military for example, weapons, "... We definitely don't lack in that 'spark'. So many of us, it feels like we've spent the last six years of our lives fighting." And in that moment she looks towards Dias, and- "Some of us... longer than that."
 
She suspects it's 'We'll' but she doesn't want to speak up.
 
And as she hears that they seized the Fortress of Phynal, Rena looks a touch nonplussed, "I hope it's not like the barrier they had to bypass to get here. We don't have a... Sorcery-Quadratic Sphere, to do it." She leaves the explanation of one that to Oak and Nall at Hannah's question, "But... no matter how difficult it might be, I'll fight them. I feel a responsibility to fight them."
 
If her people don't have that 'spark' then it's something she can give to the place where she came from. Professor Oak asks Blue to show them, and- "It's nice to meet you, Blue." As she then agrees with Claude deciding to try and appeal to him too, "I respect what you're saying, but I'm a Nedian too." A rather bold claim for something she only just got confirmation for just NOW, "And I think that Claude is right, this isn't just a Nedian problem. So I hope, you'll come to feel in time that we're all in this together."
 
She can only hope the fact that she was raised on Filgaia will bring some around in time, for now, she follows the others.

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    As Kukyo stomps and flails and attempts to challenge anyone and everyone to a fight while Veevee follows behind him shaking her head, Elaine is listening to to the visitors, Oak, and Nall. She looks troubled listening to talks about the Ten Wise Men, and strange things and stuff from outside of Nede. Then, suddenly a surprise visit by Blue Oak! Much like Joy, Elaine knows who he is without any introduction. She might also be a bit of a fan girl as those may well be stars in her eyes at his appearance. But she quickly recovers as he address Chase and herself.

    Nodding, Elaine simply says "Okay..." when Kukyo suddenly charges between Elaine and Blue trying to both intimidate Blue and get Elaines attention! "Kukyo, stop causing trouble! Return." the teen cause out in a flustered voice, using a pokeball to recall the riotious pig monkey pokemon. Veevee sighs in relief, moving to walk beside Elaine as she follows the group. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

It's a good thing Peace doesn't try to test her on the spot. So far, the most she's been able to accomplish so far is getting her Spearow to listen to her regularly.

This was quite the feat, it turns out.

"That sounds like them..." Jacqueline replies with a nod toward Oak. She listens intently, then, as Mayor Nall speaks of history.

...What is left- Shock crosses Jacqueline's face, and for a moment, she's left speechless.

"That's... a lot to take in." She notes. It's hard to fathom, but... it explains a lot. ...But... the people of Nede have lost the 'spark'. In a way, she can't blame them - but those here still possess it.

"...I see." She murmurs. "I can't speak for everyone, but I'll do what I can - for everyone's sakes."

Professor Oak calls out to someone - Blue - and Jacqueline looks his way. Show them what...?

...The cosmologically worrying part, apparently.

Jacqueline follows along, returning Oak's look.

"...I see." She says - and with a slightly nostalgic smile, adds, "Well... it's been quite the journey for all of us. We've experienced quite the number of unusual phenomena."

...Of course, given the variety, that doesn't mean she has any idea what to expect, here. 

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    Joy's answer *isn't* a straightforward one, but in some key ways it's more valuable than being given a name. Jessie and James were even bigger clowns than the jester woman over there (though if this 'Lord of Calamity' had been that woman with the black claw, maybe it's worth taking Magilou seriously after all (even if she's still obnoxious)), so their word alone wouldn't mean anything, but between the Guado pair who'd have Filgaian sensibilities and this woman who is Nedian but chose to fight directly anyway, it seems like this 'Boss' may well be worthy of his interest.
    
    "Hm," is all Dias says--but the sharpness in his red eyes conveys more, anyway. When Rena mouths 'The Boss?' at him, Dias leans in to murmur, "Several of those Team Rocket members we fought the other day mentioned a boss. Seems they've got a lot of respect for them."
    
    Nall mentions the spark to fight and looks his way. Dias meets that look steadily before following it to Xantia. Rena looks up at him and makes her own remark, and he shrugs as he briefly shuts his eyes. "Filgaia's a wild world," he points out.
    
    More important is the explanation, though. There is a *lot* to unpack there, from the thirty-seven years ago to most of the planet being destroyed to the Nedians sealing themselves away to them apparently still being able to see out to the fact that Nall glosses over just how the Ten Wise Men were defeated if they were strong enough to wipe out nearly their entire homeworld, and more--including how Rena could have ended up on Filgaia if Nede had been sealed up until now.
    
    His eyebrows furrow, but he returns to letting the others do the talking. Claude and Ethius get right on a couple of the most pertinent questions right away, even. Similarly, when Xantia asks about what Team Rocket's deal is, Dias glances at Peace for the answer. "So, they're criminals," he states, reductively.
    
    When Blue stands and approaches the group, though, Dias takes him in in silence. Cosmologically worrying, huh... Dias likewise can respect wanting to handle one's own problems, but as Claude says, the Ten Wise Men have made themselves *everyone's* problem by now.
    
    "It doesn't matter if he does or not," Dias remarks to Rena, of hoping Blue will come to feel like they're all in this together, as they all follow the Champion. "We're all going to fight our own battles regardless of what anyone else thinks." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    "'What you've seen of our planet,'" Ida says, her attention suddenly gripped by Oak's words. "Is... Ah." The weight of the question she's about to ask settles like lead in her gut. "Is this all that's left of Nede?" Her voice is tiny, but it carries tremendous import. She looks down at Eve the Eevee, then at Peace, her face twisting.

    She doesn't know what to say. As a naturalist, one of the reasons Ida didn't want to pursue a career in botany in the long term was that it felt that every single year, things got worse. The deserts spread.

    Blue bids them follow.

    *pop*

    "Piii~!" The Pokeball at Ida's waist snaps open. A chubby green Pokemon resolves from the beam of blue: a perfectly normal Caterpie that nuzzles her ankle and starts climbing her pants leg.

    "Sal," Ida says, wearily, before bending down to pick her up. Oak bids them follow, and Ida cradles her in her arms. "I don't fault you for wanting to support yourselves," Ida says, to Peace. "Or for wanting to survive. But your Team made a very bad impression when they showed up to steal animals."

    Speaking of!

    "Caterpie!" says Sal, eyes bright. It's... directed to Chase's Pikachu?

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    "... Oh, so that lady from the sphere is travelin' with you, Magilou?" Gwen laughs. "Man, we'll have to introduce her t'Hiro and the gang. My memories are pretty foggy but she did seem like a lit firecracker of a lady, hehe."

    Gwen's gigglling is spurred on by Sprigatito's enthusiastic licking, as Voltie retreats to Gwen's head, almost seeming... jealous? Do Joltik's get jealous? No matter, the Sprigatito now has gotten himself trapped in Avril's hair. "Oh, uh, don't move Avril, he's-- goddamn it, Avril, you need to tell me your hair care routine. Is Gwen..... jealous? Do Gwens get jealous? No matter!

    Mariel brings up the topic of invasives, and Gwen now turns her attention towards her. "... Mariel, hey. It's okay. I'll fight enough for ten people if it means ten of you get to follow your creed. Losin' the spark t'fight... that's a little different from what you do." She shakes her head. "It was because of people like you that I'm even alive. You fight in different ways, but it's comin' from the same place a lot of us fight from." She pats the space over her heart. ".... Sorry for the lecture, there. ... It's probably been tough on ya bein' separated from Filgaia."

    Now, for the cosmologically worrying part. Gwen's smile looks a little thin. ".... I mean, we took a rocket to blast through that space between Filgaia n' the place thingy the Ten Wisemen were, so I ain't sure how much more crazy this'll be."

     Wait. What did Oak mean by 'what you've seen of our planet'? ".... I admit I haven't found any edges yet to the map here," Gwen admits, itching under her hat, "but what d'ya mean?" 

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia waves away any possibly concern with a hand gesture when Joy clarifies how fights tend to go in this world. "Well don't worry, I don't kill anybody if I don't have to!" Not on purpose, anyway. To her and Mayor Nall alike, she affirms, "But if it's a lot of physical strength you need, that's what I'm there for. Don't mind whether it's fighting or carrying stuff, I just like to help where I can! Kind of curious how I'd do fighting some of these Pokemon, to be honest... but, uh, last time I tried that people got upset." In a way, this is worse than fighting the Wise Men, she feels so out of her depth on how she should act around here.

Peace explains it's okay to ignore the rules if it helps you win, and Xantia nods in understanding, that helps. Now it feels more okay to just start punching things when it seems appropriate. This could be a disaster waiting to happen.

As for Team Rocket... that doesn't sound any less complicated than it did before, but it seems kind of like an army mentality. She still finds it a bit hard to judge on the moral spectrum with what little she knows. Ultimately, perhaps it's best to keep the earlier advice in mind as a general guideline: punch when it feels appropriate. That's easy, that's just the same as always. Dias knows what's up.

Xantia would be lying if she claimed that the plight of other planets concerned her as much as Filgaia's. Doesn't mean she won't help out, but... she won't be disingenuous by faking a strong reaction to learning what's happened on Nede. She mostly just kind of boggles at the large numbers. How does anyone even remember history from that long ago?

She catches Joy's words in regards to Blue, not quite knowing what it means to be a Champion, but the gist seems obvious enough with that wording. Walking along readily with her arms behind her head, she wonders aloud, "I hope this isn't as complicated as it sounds. Like I said, here to help, but if I can't punch it I'm probably not gonna have a lot of ideas about it." She knows what she's about. 

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    Nina is pretty easygoing, generally speaking. But if looks could kill, that Sprigatito would be dead five times over. Even if no one else has realized, she realizes what he's about! "Ta," grumbles Nina, rising up onto her haunches.

    All is well for about a moment or two, despite Sprigatito being a thieving thief who thieves, because if nothing else, he's got a cute face. And when it comes to crime, sometimes charisma counts for a lot...?

    It all goes well until he gets one of his little pawsies tangled in Avril's hair, that is. "Ah-- oh no--! You--"

    Even someone like Avril might struggle for a moment or two, trying her best to get his paw free while he does the same and Gwen tries to help (and for a couple seconds this goes nowhere for any of them). But ultimately, and without harm to either party, the cat goes free!

    "My... haircare? Well, I do spend some time brushing it," she tells Gwen, trying to smooth out her silvery locks where they've gotten tangled even so. If Gwen is jealous, Avril has not noticed...?

    But here comes the cosmologically worrying part, according to the Professor.

    "...Then, let us see," Avril answers, stolid, falling in with the rest of the group as they move to witness what it is that Professor Oak has to show them. 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

     Belatedly, Gwen grins at Joy. "Well, yes n' no. They're animals, like Pokemon're animals, n' they look similar to some of them here! We just can't catch 'em in Pokeballs or anythin'. But yeah, horses are great! Really intelligent, can pull wagons, like to eat hay... they look real similar to that horse right there." She's pointing to the ponyta. "Ours get bigger, though, but there's also ponies, which can be small, n' donkeys n' mules!" 

<Pose Tracker> Professor Oak has posed.

Joy points out that she is learning to fight with her Pokemon -- with martial arts -- and Oak frowns a little. "That it should come to this..." He shakes his head once. Then, he sighs. "...I still wish you didn't feel you had to do this."

Mayor Nall himself frowns for a moment. He hesitates -- and then he looks at Magilou, and is maybe grateful for her as a distraction. "I--I see." He looks at the others. Is she really evil?

"I--er--I will... have to consider how to make a meal plan, then," Oak says to her, with a sigh.

"We do carefully relegate the environment," he says to Mariel. Then, he looks at Ida and Gwen, and nods. "I'm afraid it's as Miss Everstead-Rey said. Given that only a fragment of a continent survived of the original Nede... it's necessary to preserve life."

He quiets, then, and he nods. "I understand, when you can't fight," he says. "It's something many Nedians also decided."

Nall then looks to Claude, and he nods. "Yes," he says. "We've stayed abreast of what happens outside of Nede. We sealed ourselves off, but it would be foolish to be completely blind to the rest of the universe."

He looks at Ethius, and he is quiet for a moment. "I'm unsure about... the specifics of how Miss Lanford left," he says. "I'm sorry."

Then, he looks to that very same Miss Lanford. Nall considers for a moment, before he nods. "It's a similar barrier," he says. "We're... working on it. The Pokemon League is helping."

Oak looks at Jacqueline, then, and nods. "It's... quite the history," he says. "It's why we try to preserve Pokemon -- and everything that's left of Nede. It's our charge, after we lost so much of it. To make sure we save it, for the future."

Mayor Nall glances at Xantia -- then nods. "Well. Ah," he says. "We're working on finding ways to... punch the problem."

"I suppose," Blue says to Claude. He frowns. "But it's a problem from Energy Nede." He looks up at the heavens; at the shimmering barrier. "That's why it's Energy Nede, not Nede, you know. Because we sealed ourselves away... and that should include our problems."

Then, he looks to Rena. Blue hesitates, before he frowns. "...I suppose," he says. "I'll just have to keep an eye out. And see what you're capable of. Nedian or visitor."

He does pause, though, when Dias says that they'll fight their own battles -- regardless of what others think. "He's right," he says.

He falls quiet, as he walks.

There is a glance from Blue to the Pokemon here; the ones with Gwen, with Avril, with Ida. Even the Sprigatito with Magilou. The ones that Chase points out, and he has to stop and consider. He looks back at Chase, then he nods.

Good point.

Then, he looks at Elaine -- and, clueless to her fangirling, he waves once.

He leads the way, up to the top of the hill. "I found this, a little after we found out that the Ten Wise Men took over Phynal," Blue says. "I've had my Pokemon keeping an eye on it. And I went through--"

"You did WHAT," Oak says, nearly raising his voice.

"Yeah, you weren't gonna okay it, and there's only one way to be sure it's safe," Blue says. "Which it is is. Since I'm here."

They reach the top of the hill -- and they can see it. As Blue promised, Pokemon are standing guard. An Alakamzam, an Exeggutor, and a Charizard are at the bottom of a crater-like depression. Circling overhead is an Aerodactyl. And, at the center of the crater...

There is a tear in space.

Light blue energy, which rises upward into the air, about fifty feet up. There are Symbols all around the light; they flicker and float. They're like the advanced Symbology used by the Ten Wise Men. It is an arc, wider at the bottom, and tapering to a point at the top. And, mind-bendingly, from any side, there is a gap in space.

It lets one see through it. There is a battered, wartorn plain past that; cratered land, dusty and dry, with sparse grass. And there is a battered, broken ruin of a village in the distance.

Lahan Village, where it all begin.

Professor Oak speaks up, then. "I don't know where this leads," he says. There is another mighty glower in Blue's direction. "I do know that it is siphoning a rare form of energy associated with life itself. And it's sending it to Phynal."

<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.

    The evil sorceress, Magilou, and the Lord of Calamity. She's going to just take her at her word for now, because what these Drifters have shown so far is beyond her wildest imagination of what people can do.

    Pikachu makes a gesture to her eyes, then towards herself.

    "... I would expect no less of you," Joy responds directly to Chase's Pikachu. "When the time comes, hold nothing back. Take good care of your Trainer."

    Venetia mentions how they arrived on a Rocket, and Joy is gripped with some curiousity. "I have only heard of space travel as a historic curiousity in books..."

    Xantia expresses a desire to test herself against some Pokemon, and Joy offers: "I do have some Pokemon who have such martial inclinations." She doesn't seem to chide Xantia on that desire -- perhaps she's much more on her wavelength than the rest of Nede.

    Gwen explains horses, and she lowers her head in an attempt to understand.

    "A Ponyta is a... Horse? Or are Horses Ponytas?" She's going to die if she keeps thinking about this. "And many Pokemon aren't what I'd consider an animal, like my Honedge, which is a sword..."

    Blue brings them up a hill, and there -- there is a tear in space. Joy has not seen anything like this before. There's Symbology in place, and there is a wartorn plain the likes that doesn't resemble Lost Johto, or anything past the barrier. A broken ruin of a village...

    "A gateway to... another world...?"

    Blue says he's already gone through. So, it is safe... for relative matters of safe. And that the tear is siphoning an energy into Phynal.

    Peace explains Team Rocket to Mariel and Xantia both, since the latter was curious, but that explanation doesn't feel honest with her either.

    "Team Rocket does attempt to steal Pokemon, as you've seen a week ago," she clarifies bluntly for Ida. She's not even aware of the other crimes they do, yet...

    What about her, then? That seems like it'd contradict how she feels about the bonds of people and Pokemon directly. But they don't need to know her resolve on crimes isn't yet solid. What Dias speaks on fighting their own battles resonates in her heart.

    "I won't deny anything." Her expression levels as Oak wishes she didn't have to feel she had to do this.

    "If joining Team Rocket to defend Nede makes me a criminal... then I'm willing to bear that shame to defend our world."

    She looks a bit more longingly to the portal. Another world... she could scarce imagine something like this could happen. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    "I see," is all Ethius can offer to Oak's apologies of not being aware of how a Nedian managed to escape into the wider universe. All he knows from periphery - he hasn't been traveling directly with Rena, Claude, or Dias that long - was that Rena was looking for her 'real' mother, so the event must have been... recent, perhaps? He's had too much to keep tabs on to speculate over-much.
 
     Blue points up to why the place is called Energy Nede. "That would explain why the sky has such a strange appearance-- by, our familiarity with our own skies," Ethius catches himself, stepping back when the Professor raises his voice. The way they speak, Ethius never could have imagined the man shouting, so when he raises his voice by even a bit...
 
     ...
 
     They reach the top of the hill, and Ethius even jogs a short way ahead at the first sign of Symbols in thin air, raising one hand over his eyes to see what it is as the closest the group has to a Symbological expert on the non-Nedian side. (Rena and her mastery by birthright excluded.)
 
     Ethius does say a word that sounds like it should be a curse word. It's not a word familiar to anyone here. It's a word from his distant childhood and it encompasses just about everything he'd put into the use of a traditional, familiar curse.
 
     "...Professor Oak, I believe... we can elaborate on what we're seeing here," Ethius says, attempting to get ahead of others' inevitable exclamations. It's been some years, but it's remained a familiar sight for no small number among them. 

<Pose Tracker> Mariel has posed.

What Gwen says only makes Mariel feel worse. "It's not just me," she says, sounding more miserable than she means to. The other Elw don't fight either, she thinks. They ran away from Filgaia instead of even doing as much as she does, when she swore her oath. "...but thank you."

Mariel only had the reductive description given to her! This one's not her fault!

She listens, at least, rather than simply ignoring the explanation. Eventually, she comes to a decision: "...here," she says, reaching into her bag and pulling out a folded cloth, covering up -

A weed. Well, the top part of a plant, with a reddish stem, pale leaves, and a white center spike that is covered in tiny disc florets.

"This is white sulfaweed," Mariel says. "It grows in swamps. It can be used to make a medicinal ointment, to encourage healing of injuries... red sulfaweed is a ." This is her way of making a peace offering. "I'm a herbalist, or a florist... I have a lot of herbs with me."

'Because we've sealed ourselves away'...

Mariel has another moment of gloom, which she tries to keep off her face and succeeds maybe 40%. Is this what Elw Borea is going to be like, in ten thousand years? Twenty? Forty? Maybe even a hundred, given how long Elw live? A memory of Filgaia, as artificial as anything else preserved far beyond its lifespan?

Lost in her thoughts, Mariel almost misses it when things start to feel different. It's before the gap in space is visible; she feels a whisper of -

'You did WHAT,'

Mariel jumps in startlement. And then she *does* feel it -

That's Filgaia. A whisper of an echo, passing by, but she feels the energy of home on the breeze, faintly. Mariel speeds up suddenly, clambering to the top of the hill quickly despite her short legs, and then -

"Filgaia!"

Mariel's eyes are wide as she looks at the Symbological... gap. Distortion. "That's the world where I was born. That's Filgaia," Mariel says, pointing at it. She doesn't know where it is; she hasn't been to Lahan in something like twenty years and unfortunately twenty years is too many to recognize it. But she doesn't need to recognize it to know -

"They're pulling the - the Ley, the life of the world...!" Mariel is not a Symbological expert, but in *this*, feeling the life of Filgaia, she is the best expert on this world or any other.

"How could they - why would they...?" It's not even, considered completely dispassionately, a *good* plan. Other planets must have more, with the condition Filgaia is in. "Filgaia is hurt enough... and with this, it's bleeding...!"

In some ways it feels like when the Guardian Blade cut, but slower; a slow bleeding, rather than a single powerful blow. Mariel shivers, her ears standing up. 

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

As the group comes together, Chase seamlessly weaves where he needs to in order to walk next to Elaine. Peace explains Team Rocket to the strangers in as flattering terms as possible, of course, and Chase sighs audibly. He lifts his hands and makes finger quotes while she says 'overbearing methods'.

Pikachu mimes him, quick enough on the uptake that it appears simultaneous. Then there's Sal! "PiiiKA! she nearly cheers in greeting, both paws in the air with her excitement.

With Joy's response, Pikachu rubs her own cheeks in circles, gleeful of what she considers praise as she chirps her agreement.

But there's more dire matters afoot. Chase hurries his pace as he sees Blue's Pokemon, scurrying toward the sight just a few steps further than might be comfortable. He surveys their demeanor for a read on the situation before allowing his attention to be fully taken by reality torn asunder.

Village ruins, like it's been Hyper Beamed and then some. 'Filgaia?' Is this really... another world...? Whatever reservations Chase has had, it's impossible for the shine of wonder not to overtake his eyes. He taps the Poke Ball on his belt, releasing a Nidoran with a low whistle. It perks its large ears, just as eager to stare with Chase and Pikachu.

Professor Oak says 'siphoning' and Chase's attention snaps back up. He looks to Mariel as she gives voice to this distress, and then to the portal with more uncertainty.

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    Elaine looks a bit concerned as she listens in to the conversation. The girl seems uncomfortable with the thought of the amount of violence that's being casually suggested, through the questions of Ponyta's and Horse's does keep her attention too with a curious look. When Blue mentions the condition of Energy Nede, Elaine as comments in addition to it "It's true, according to our history. All we have here is but a fraction where we came... And we've already lost a third of that." sighing softly as she thinks of something to herself.

    They come to a stop at the crater, and within it is a portal to a world beyond it. At first glance it's desolate, battered, brown and more brown with grey. But there's some green. Some brown that's plants not dirt. The remains of a village unlike any in Nede.

    And a horizon without a barrier.

    "It looks so different. Whole and alive..." is all Elaine says in the moment looking at it as she stops beside Chase, maybe listening to others as she stares at the portal. 

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Venetia looks towards Gwen. "Tell them about Chocobos," she remarks.

"If you're willing to share your records," Venetia comments to Professor Oak, then, "it could... hm... I'm not certain how to put this in ways that don't sound greedy." A moment of thought. "Not everyone of Filgaia is going to be as pleasant and courageous as us. There are things it would be better for people of good-will to secure."

And then they come to the crater, and through the crater - guarded as it is by these exotic beasts, all of types that Venetia can scarcely credit - there is the Rift.

Venetia gazes down into it.

"Ah," she says. "Well, then."

To Venetia it holds no fear. She crouches a little to get a better angle. As she does this, Mariel speaks. Her expression grows three shades graver at what Mariel says.

Straightening up, she looks towards Blue. "What happened, when you went through? Just the ruins? Or was there anything present?"

Venetia's arms fold. "If we're fortunate that's southeast Celesti," Venetia states. "But it could be equatorial Elru or somewhere in the eastern parts of Aveh. If it is Celesti," Venetia continues, looking towards Ida in particular, "then we should fortify the site on the other side." 

<Pose Tracker> Magilou has posed.

    Magilou's Sprigatito, sensing the discomfort of Mariel and others, rubs his little pawsies together. It smells amazing. It's like a cup of chamomile tea, coming RIGHT from his little green paws. See??? He might be a criminal, but he's a good cat!

    "The Lord of Calamity herself!" Magilou confirms, to Gwen, with double-finger-guns and a wink, again. "Velvet Crowe, mistress of your nightmares, the debutante of darkness come to crush all which stands in her path!" That's right, Velvet: Magilou is speaking for you.

    "But if this place is so artificial, that explains how creepy it feels," Magilou says, sauntering onwards. "I used to know someone who'd love this place. Me, I can't wait to leave!" Beat: "I'm taking the cat."

    "Spri!" Sprigatito mews.

    And down to the crater... "You jumped right in, huh?" Magilou asides, to Blue, with a jagged grin. "Maybe you ought to follow us. It sounds as if you're travelling with the wrong crowd, daredevil!" Does she mean he ought to travel with the Drifters, or with Magilou's Evil Gang, specifically?

    "Oh, yes," she asides, to Mariel. "That's quite the problem for Filgaia. Really makes you wonder why they'd choose your rock and not mine, doesn't it? Then again, perhaps it makes complete sense. Predators always prey on the weak animals at the edge of the herd! Am I right, creepy dragon? Up top."

    Magilou proceeds to hold her hand up for Charizard to high five. Don't high five that, Charizard.

<Pose Tracker> Peace Kishinami has posed.

    "I don't have to agree with everything that Team Rocket does," Peace's comment back to Ida is blunt but not on the attack; she's simply not wasting words. "Just as I don't have to agree with everything the Pokemon League or the Professors do. This is my own 'spark' - finding us as many more options as we can get."

    ... it's not really a complete answer, and Peace does have her moments of second-guessing herself. But she keeps those to herself, and thinks about them on her own time. She chose this path, she chose the people she's working with, and it would be very difficult to say she had regrets. It shows in the way she glances over at Oak when he chides Joy; he might disapprove of her actions and way of fighting, but-- it's clear from Peace's face that she's waiting for the Professor to offer any other options, and isn't even slightly surprised when none come.

    Any other thoughts flee her mind when she sees the tear in space. The surprise behind her 'oh' is rather understating it; her eyes have gone wide, as her brain flares with possibility. Asking for samples is so passe, all of a sudden, when she can just go and get them herself. She nearly takes a couple of steps down towards it - even starts to reach for Joy to drag her along - before she manages to catch herself, giving the game away in the way she promises herself she'll check it out later.

    She's interrupted by Mariel offering her an apology; she blinks at it as the Elw unveils the herb, and her eyes immediately go up in surprise. "I..." she seems more lost for words than usual. "... thank you," she adds, her mouth making a movement that might be a small smile as she carefully folds the cloth back over, and extracts a small sealable bag from one pocket.

    Peace is certainly not qualified enough to comment on cosmological events, but she has to frown a little at Elaine's comment. Even to her, the place that can be sighted through the portal doesn't feel all that 'alive'. Larger in scope, certainly. Tantalizing, absolutely. ... it looks sadder than she expected from the spark the Drifters hold.

    (She's smart enough and quiet enough not to say that part out loud.) 

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

"I do," Claude answers Holly, and smiles once. "Let's all do our best, right?"

Barry...

But Rena... That 'spark'. Claude knows he has it. And he listens; they destroyed so much of nede that...

"Wait," Claude says. "You're capable of living on a fragment of a continent?" He looks up to the barrier. The scale of what Nede--Energy Nede--is dawns on him. It's... definitely something.

But Dias is right, too.

At the matter of Magilou Claude can only give Nall a shrug and a shake of his head. "She helped us?" he manages.

But...

"I see. So that means..." He considers. "You've been watching. I guess that means we have less to explain, at least."

Blue ays it's a problem from Energy Nede. "...That makes sense," Claude admits. "There are problems from the Federation that landed on Filgaia that I feel the same responsibility for."

But soon enough... Claude watches Elaine and her Mankey, and then looks to the top of the hill. A tear in space itself...

Ethius says they can elaborate. "That's Filgaia," Claude confirms. "That's the world most of us came from." Mariel knows even better than he does. She knows it far better than a visitor. and what she knows...

"Then we have to stop it," Claude says, walking up beside Mariel. "That's all there is to it. We won't let them bleed Filgaia dry!"

"Rena, Dias, Mister Hesiod..."

"I want to go through right now. But I feel like we need more information before we can actually do anything to help." He looks to Mayor Nall. "...So let me say it for sure."

"We're on this." 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Only a fragment of a continent... Jacqueline shudders. ...It's awful. Even Filgaia is a full world. ...But in a way, it's a grim mirror of what it could be. ...She hopes it never comes to that. She looks toward Professor Oak with a nod.

"...That's a noble goal." She replies. It's important, so important, to preserve what they can. She can imagine it would've been easy to give up hope... and yet, there are people dedicated to sending that hope into the future.

And soon enough, they arrive. They can see it from the top of the hill - and Jacqueline stares up, amazement and horror both crosses her face.

"...That's..." She gasps, recognition clear on her face. ...It's Filgaia. And Lahan Village, specifically.

...Jacqueline doesn't blame Oak for shouting at Blue. That was quite reckless... but it is useful information. And the 'life energy' it's siphoning...

...Jacqueline looks to Mariel. She's the expert here. Siphoning the planet's life... With a frown, Jacqueline adjusts her glasses.

"...Well. They've made it personal, now. I didn't expect such an indirect attack..." She murmurs with a frown, folding her arms in front of her. Even the knowledge that this leads to Ignas is cold comfort, at least for now. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Only a fraction of a continent. Undisguised horror lights up Ida's face as she turns to Elaine. She holds Sal tighter, and says nothing for a few long moments. The Caterpie lets out a soft, somber "Piiii," sensing her trainer's mood. Not even Pikachu's cheerful return wholly breaks through.

    "I'm sorry," Ida says, and for the second time since the fight, another someone stirs inside her. Familiar, distant despair seeps into the back of Ida's mind. A remnant of a people, desperately clinging to everything that's left of their home--

    In a way, it's more than what his people got.

    Ida presses a free hand to her temple, eyes scrunching up as if she's suddenly developed a headache. "Apologies, Peace, Joy--" she grates out.

    When she opens her eyes, the left one is a deep emerald-green. She stares into the swirling portal.

    "That's Filgaia," she says. "Lahan. I--" Steelly determination bubbles up, through the fear. Filgaia is her home. (Their home, now, her home, and his.) "We have to stop them. Break through that barrier, shut down their operation."

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    "The mistress of my nightmares, huh? Sounds like a real hoot!" Gwen laughs, adding, "I definitely gotta meet her sometime. She probably has a lotta mail that needs t'get delivered, right?" Gwen is always going to Gwen.

    'It's not just me.' Gwen gives Mariel a bewildered glance. "Wait, what d'ya mean? You were the one who--" She lets herself trail off, as Mariel moves to offer some suflaweed. Mariel was instrumental in getting those artifacts gathered a while ago, and how many times has Mariel put herself at risk for their sake?

    .... How can Mariel still feel this way?

    That's not the only thing Gwen fumbles up, however--

    ".... oh." Gwen bobs her head as Oak clarifies a little further; it's enough to make the matter's uncomfortable nature stick in Gwen's mind. "Gotcha." The thought of being sealed shut in a manicured world of your own making is stifling enough to make Gwen want to immediately switch topics to Joy's.

    "Oooh, so they're Ponytas? Hee, that's a cute name!" Gwen grins widely. "Then, I guess, the answer is a Ponyta is a Ponyta! A horse is a horse." The thought of sword pokemon makes Gwen briefly confused... until she realizes it's the perfect analogy. "Maybe it'd be better t'say there's swords, n' there's sword-shaped pokemon, but the latter ain't the former."

    As they near the top of the hill, Mariel runs up, and Gwen jogs up with the others, squinting at the portal. ".... Hm. I can't be sure, but judgin' by the landmarks... Lahan Village, maybe? It's the only village I know that's... uh... like that." She clears her throat, realizing this might be what Oak felt like earlier.

    She's about to make a comment on Oak's reaction to Blue's behavior, but is distracted by Mariel's shock. "Wait, who is? The Ten Wisemen? Is it this portal, or just in general?" 

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.

As Dias tells her of the Boss, "I wonder what kind of man he is, the rest of Team Rocket were like... puppy bullies." Which also belatedly, kinda answers Xantia's question doesn't it? "If he's this great man then shouldn't he tell them to 'stop it'?"

Rena's hopes rise at Ethius' question that perhaps Nall might know how she got here, but then are unfortunately dashed soon after, "I suppose it's a mystery even to them." Rena tells Ethius, trying her best to suppress a sigh, instead cheering up, "I guess now that we're here though, it makes my search that much easier."
 
Is Rena considering just, you know, going town to town asking if any parents mysteriously lost children to some mysterious event twentyish years ago? That might just be her plan.
 
Rena does wince, as they say it's a similar barrier even as she considers what Claude is saying, "Just a fragment? That- it sounds as if it will take some time to overcome." But as Blue answers Claude, Rena tries to wrap her head around this mindset. "Is that how Nedians think...?" Rena murmurs quietly, uncertain...
 
... it occurs to her perhaps, she really doesn't know anything about her own people, or where she came from. So instead, she nods, "Then we'll see how well we can rise to the challenge." Dias' response to her- "Dias?" She says in surprise.
 
Is Dias still fighting his own battle, even now? She thought... she thought that...
 
Her eyes stay on him for a time, even as Blue tells her that he's right. It's like she wants to say something, but she also isn't going to here, in front of a whole crowd of people.
 
The issue of what's keeping him on that path, is too personal to both of them.
 
And then Blue reveals what they found atop the field, Rena eyes it, and- asks- "Is that-?" 'Filgaia!' Mariel shouts. She looks to the others, and then back to Oak, "Are you saying the Ten Wise Men are siphoning energy from Filgaia? Oh, Oh no. That's really bad."
 
After all, all of them from Filgaia know by now, the wounded state of their world.
 
It is Claude who starts to rally to say they need to stop it. And Rena vows at his side, "We won't. We'll stop them together."
 
And at that moment, she steps up to Claude's side, as if in a show of solidarity, support for him and those he called upon. "Even if I'm Nedian, Filgaia is my home too. It took care of me almost my entire life- I won't let them harm Nede or Filgaia." She vows. And not just vows - but makes it her priority in this moment.
 
"We're on this." She echoes Claude, with that same 'spark' in her eyes to fight. "We'll find a way to protect both worlds."

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia's carefree body language changes instantly once she sees that tear. Or more accurately, what's beyond it. A mix of agitation and excitement overwhelms her, as everything else just ceased to matter entirely.

"That's Lahan!"

Of course she'd instantly recognize Fei's old home. The way she looks now, one would think it's a matter of life and death for her to get back to Filgaia. It's certainly of prime importance, and not just because of what she feels she must do. It's where she parted ways with most of the Black Wolves. She has to go back there, as soon as possible. This may be a long way off from where they left, but as long as they're on the same planet, they can surely manage to reunite.

Xantia frantically turns from Blue to Professor Oak, hoping either of them can confirm the only thing she needs to know now. "So we can pass through? We can go back there, right now?!" She is this close to grabbing someone by the collar to literally shake the okay out of them.

However, she doesn't miss the other important element. Even if she doesn't feel it in the same way Mariel does, she understands the urgency of it just as well. Siphoning life energy from Filgaia, in the condition it's in already... the Wise Men just shot up right to the top of the list of threats she feels she must deal with, managing the impossible task of surpassing even Solaris in her mind. She punches the palm of her hand forcefully.

"Damn them! How dare they do that to Filgaia! I don't care how - somebody find a way to get past that shield and I'm taking them all down!"

This is the frustration talking rather than something she could actually do on her own, of course, but it sums up the way she feels well enough. 

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "That's--"

    She knows that place for what it is on sight, as many others do: before them, through that tear in reality, lies what little remains of the village of Lahan.

    "It is," she answers Gwen, glancing her way the once before turning her stare back to that tear. "But... something isn't right. What is that I feel...?"

    Something's wrong. She can feel it twisting in her gut, cutting down so far to her roots that even the thing in the bright core of herself is unsettled.

    This isn't how it's meant to be -- no, far from it. With one wound, Filgaia will 'merely' struggle and suffer.

    But if there are more, then the planet will be undone.

    "...So this is their plan," she says, ignorant in the moment of the way that Nina has twined about her ankles agitatedly. "I had thought they were not finished with our world..." 

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    Dias's eyes widen when he sees the tear in space--and beyond it, the ruins of Lahan Village. A lot of the explanations he's heard so far have been a lot, but they're just words. To actually *see* something so impossible... it makes a far greater effect by comparison.
    
    Even moreso when Mariel shouts--that it's Filgaia, that the Wise Men are bleeding the leylines, underscoring Oak's explanation. Dias has been tangential at best to the greater problems of Filgaia, but he's heard the rumors... and seen for himself the spread of the deserts.
    
    His gaze rises to the strange sky as Blue points out the field that protects what remains of the planet. It's definitely true that if they'd sealed themselves away, the Ten Wise Men shouldn't have to be everyone else's problem, but such is life sometimes. He at least can respect that Blue had the courage to cross through himself.
    
    As for Team Rocket's Boss being a 'great man'-- "Just because they respect him doesn't make him a great man," Dias tells Rena bluntly. "He might simply have the strength to back up a might-makes-right ideology." It's a shame Nall doesn't know how Rena ended up on Filgaia--though something about his bearing makes Dias suspect he knows more than he's trying to suggest--but it *would* be too easy if he knew, wouldn't it. At least Rena isn't brought down for long.
    
    The way she looks at him a moment later, though... "That's true of everybody," he tells her. "You can't share every burden you've got with everyone. Some things you have to deal with on your own."
    
    ...So in other words, yes. But at least he won't be walking out on this fight. After all...
    
    Venetia suggests they fortify the other side. "Agreed," Dias says. He raises an eyebrow at Elaine, though. If *Filgaia* looks complete and alive by comparison, despite the barren plains and ruins beyond... just how bad off is Energy Nede under its manicured surface?
    
    Claude declares they have to stop it. It's a very Claude declaration to make--but that doesn't mean he's wrong. "It's definitely not something we can ignore," he remarks, as much to Jacqueline about the fight being personal now as to Claude and Rena. "This is a matter of life and death."
    
    ...after all, this is a battle none of them can abandon. 

<Pose Tracker> Professor Oak has posed.

"You... recognize it?" Oak says, looking at Ethius with genuine surprise on his face.

Then, his eyes widen, as Mariel explains; the Ley that it's draining. He runs a hand through his silver hair. "They're drawing it to... to power whatever they're doing in Phynal," he says, before he looks at Nall.

Nall frowns. "We've got people researching that and studying it," he says. "We'll need to get them this information. There's a second portal, but -- that one leads to a different world. It's in the Southvoid Hills, about a day out of Armlock City."

Oak looks at Jay, when she says the Ten Wise Men have made it personal, now. He looks sick. "I'm sorry," he says. "I had no idea it was your world. It's terrible, either way, but..." His expression is stricken, as he hears Xantia express her outrage. "We'll do as much as we can to help you."

"A tingly feeling," Blue says to Venetia. "But I was fine. The ruins are too far to really get close to without a hike. There were armed people in the distance, though, and I didn't want to chance it. So I left pretty fast."

Then, he cracks a smile at Magilou. "I'll consider it."

Blue glances at Chase. He caught the interested look at the portal. Of course, he also catches the way that Chase looks more ill-at-ease to consider the siphoning. Then, he looks at Elaine, and he hears that in her voice.

Whole and alive. He can't disagree. (This may say something about Nede and Filgaia both.)

"Be careful, if you go through," he says. "I saw locals carrying guns. Like... soldiers, from the histories. I left before I ran into them. And a couple of their Pokemon came through, too, but they left when they saw my Charizard."

Who is high-fiving Magilou, now. Blue's eyebrow twitches.

The Mayor looks at Claude -- there is a moment's pause, before he smiles, and he nods his head. "Thank you, Mister Kenny, Miss Lanford. I'm glad you're all willing to help," he says. "I know the circumstances are terrible, but... I'm glad you were brought to us, at least."

Even if, as Dias says, it's not a fight any of them can abandon. His smile fades, after a moment. They need to focus on what they can do.

He looks about, considering for a moment. "We're working on a plan to attack Phynal directly. It will take time to develop -- we're studying the barrier around it for any weaknesses," he says. "We also have ancient powers we sealed away."

Nall puts a hand to his chin. "There are four Symbologically-powered training grounds, which in the past were used by our warriors. When... we still had warriors. I'm having the archives searched for the keys to unlock them," Nall says. "They're called the Four Fields. We'll make them available to you as soon as we can."

He frowns. "Until then, I suggest you do two things. First, you'll want a way to fly -- they're in remote locations. One is airborne. A Pokemon called a Psynard could help--we have cloning facilities that can make some. One is in Fuchsia City, at the Safari Zone."

Oak frowns at the mention of cloning Psynards. But, he never liked that project, even if Psynards are rare.

"The other is to scout the two rifts," Nall says. "Maybe we'll learn something. And... perhaps I should get the police to look into fortifying these rifts."

"And the League," Blue adds. "They'll help. I'll put in a call to the Elite Four.

<Pose Tracker> Mariel has posed.

Magilou speaks to Mariel.

It's very rare that Mariel has the urge, ever, to hit someone. She has never struck a person in anger as long as any Drifters have known her; the closest she came was when she hit Marivel at Pentagulia, and that was to shock her, not to hurt her. She did not even strike Mother. (She did try to banish Seymour, but that's different; he was already dead.)

But for one instant, Mariel feels only anger toward Magilou for mocking Filgaia's pain, and there's a part of her that just wants to take a swing at her.

The moment passes, and Mariel feels a surge of guilt. "How can you be so callous...?" Mariel turns away from Magilou, her ears flattening down now that her surprise has passed into upset.

She takes a few moments to recover herself. "If that is Lahan," and she has no reason to assume it isn't, "then it is in central Ignas... that's not all that far from my Garden." So she knows where it is, at least.

Gwen asks a question. "...I don't know. I don't know if this rift was made deliberately, or opened accidentally and then stabilized, but the energy is going - " She closes her eyes, and though it's hard for her - it's like trying to find downhill by putting your hand in a puddle of blood and seeing which way it flows around it - she points, and she's in the right direction; east by northeast, the direction Phynal actually is from here even though nobody's told her that.

She opens her eyes again. "That way."

Mariel pauses a moment as Oak continues. "If there's a second portal - if it's like this, perhaps it goes to Lunar. It is actually our moon, but it has an ecosystem of its own," she explains, to the Nedeans. "We call it the Old Moon, on Filgaia. The New Moon is artificial, and it is where the Wise Men went to reach Nede. I don't know Lunar as well as I know Filgaia, but its life, its Ley, is..."

How to explain this? "They're related," she says. "Like cousins. It would be easy to use both together to do something, if you were drawing on it at this distance. They wouldn't interfere." She doesn't like *any* of where these thoughts are taking her.

A plan to attack Phynal... "I... I think I should ask you some things. Later. If it's a dimensional boundary they are using to seal us out." Mariel doesn't know very much about dimensional boundaries, in a technical sense - but she knows who does. "And I know some about bindings and sealings, by now..." 

<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.

    Mariel explains how the portal is drawing away the 'life of the world', and how it's moving towards Phynal. She speaks in a manner that she can't understand. She can sense the hearts of Pokemon and people, but she can't hear the voice of the world.

    "Artificial or not," Joy replies to Magilou, "This is our world -- what remains of it -- and I'll defend it with my life. And if they're stealing life from your world, then..."

    But there's a comment about puppy bullies! Joy stares to Rena on her comment and says, "You don't have to talk like we aren't here. I'm not going to argue on whether the Boss is a great man or not, because he did start a criminal organisation, but he did turn my life around at a time no one else could."

    Gwen ponders the nature of Ponytas -- and comes up with a simple solution. Ponyta are Ponyta, and Horses are Horses. "Hmm... perhaps. I imagine Peace has more advanced research on what Pokemon truly are, but to me... no matter the shape or guise, they are my dear companions."

    Ida's visible change has her peering towards her for a moment longer. "Lahan." An unfamiliar village. "Filgaia... the dying, but still living world."

    She gets tugged along by Peace at her enamored expression of the portal, and she knows where this is going. But Peace stopping herself is certainly something new, since Peace's as driven as the snow when it comes to something she's taken an interest in, as far as Joy knows.

    "It'll be too dangerous for just the two of us."

    Nall mentions the Psynard clones, and Joy, too, has a frown on her face, but says nothing. But the topic of the Four Fields holds her interest.

    ... but it's telling that Nall isn't in a hurry to urge any Nedians there, himself. If the leadership can't even advertise it, then why should anyone follow? She doesn't feel she's wrong, when she feels Team Rocket was the only path she could take to contribute here. But at least the police and the League will fortify the rifts, and break down the barriers...

    Leaving the dirty work to the Visitors.

    "Let me into these grounds as well," Joy requests. "That's the least you could do, for us Nedians who still have the 'spark' to fight." 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius nods in acknowledgement, as others chime in. Mariel puts it in harrowing terms he never can, and others speak of more familiar names. It's been years since anyone's set foot there. He doesn't protest Claude's volunteering, nor Rena's - he'd come to the same conclusion as to the necessity of this arrangement, as Blue goes into further detail of what he saw on the other end.
 
     "...I can speak to a point about the locals and their guns," Ethius adapts to that terminology regarding ARMs rather fluidly. "That particular region of Ignas - the... name of the continent where it's situated," he starts to explain as he faces to the Mayor and Professor alike, "is host to ongoing hostilities between two powers."
 
     A hand goes to his forehead again. "I would consider it fortunate the people of Energy Nede have done their utmost to keep weapons locked away, going by how you've described it. Anything of your level of technological development would have dire consequences in their hands."
 
     This gives Ethius away as someone from a place of greater development than most the rest of the gathered here, but the gathered largely know the truth of who he is and what he does at this juncture.
 
     There's talk about a set of training grounds, and cloning facilities. Ethius quietly shuffles his weight. Cloning is not a subject that's a settled matter on moral grounds in the Federation (beyond a lot of clauses of 'don't, bad').
 
     "I would reinforce this barrier right away to minimize the odds of such disruption," Ethius says, knowing it might be a fool's errand given what hand a certain power on Filgaia has on destabilizing the various cultures and societies of the two worlds. Beyond this recommendation, the resolve and courses of action are clear. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

A second portal... Jacqueline frowns.

"...If the first one is on Filgaia, then... the second must lead to Lunar." Jacqueline comments. ...That's her assumption, anyway. "So they're not just satisfied with draining one world with life. That's... just like them, I suppose."

She sighs, massaging her forehead - but offers Professor Oak an uneasy smile when he apologizes.

"...It's alright. This isn't your doing. ...It's better we know, so that we can study it and do something about it." She replies, then nods. "Thank you."

She listens to Blue, then, as he explains what happened - armed people in the ruins of Lahan... Something to look into, but one thing at a time.

A plan of attack - and four Symbologically-powered training grounds... Jacqueline has to admit, the idea piques her interest.

"I'm definitely curious... Thank you for the advice. The moment you find out more, please don't hesitate to let us know." She says.

A form of flight - a Pokemon called a 'Psynard'.

"...I see." She considers, and then nods. "That's a good idea, on both accounts."

And they're going to look into getting help.

"That's a good idea, too. ...I imagine we'll need all the help we can get." She says. "...Thanks for letting us know about this. I feel like this is a step in the right direction." 

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

 
Venetia looks at Claude. She replies to him, not with words, but by getting out one of her Crest Graphs. The Pokemon Prof and Blue might get their first direct shot of Crest Sorcery when Venetia raises it up and wordlessly bestows a blessing upon Claude C. Kenny: a rippling liquid-ruby luminosity that sinks into him and gives him, for a while, the assurance of one-use immortality (terms and conditions apply).

Externally, of course, it was just some witchcraft or other.

In the background of Venetia's stern countenance, an ancient witch high-fives some kind of space lizard.

"They had... Pokemon?" Venetia asks Blue, somewhat incredulously. "We don't have such things on our world. Well, I should correct that; it's much less the thing than it is here."

On the topic of breaching a barrier, Venetia tosses her hair back. "I'll send for my own 'ultimate door knocker.'" But then she looks at Mariel (having not heeded, perhaps, her feeling of anguish on Filgaia's part... or being too Venetia-esque to respond to it.)

Her attention turns back to Dias. "If there's already a company there... well, Aveh has some kind of king or something, doesn't it? I'm sure they'll see sense if we talk to them about the necessity. There was all that disturbance in Adelhyde when the Lunar people first arrived, and that's practically the same thing as Aveh."

A pause. "Or am I thinking of Nisan?" Venetia looks down at the ground. "Well, whatever, it will all come out. Even the Kaiser's not going to see a percentage in leaving a wound in time-space."

Venetia puts her hands on her hips -- and is momentarily distracted as she looks down at the Caterpie that's been following her. "You're not even afraid of this business?" she remarks, sotto voce, to the creature. The Caterpie seems undaunted. 

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Chase looks to Blue and nods with a gravity one might not expect a teenager to have. He's a reckless boy, demonstratively, but it seems there's some calculation in his risks... whether or not anyone agrees with the reasons for his math.

Guns. Soldiers. Chase brings out his phone and begins typing and scrolling through whatever off the cuff research and planning he's doing. Pikachu leans over his shoulder to point at certain segments. "Chachu!" she calls, and chatters like she's a part of this planning. Nidoran climbs up Chase's leg -- with some struggle -- all the way up to his other shoulder. The three of them look up as further details are discussed and given, and then they all look to each other, eyes narrowing in mutual conspiracy.

There won't be wild Pokemon that Chase can beseech for help in these other places like he does here. He'll have to be careful, and he'll have to be prepared.

But what he can't do is pretend none of this is happening.

After a moment, he looks to Elaine, as silent as always, but his expression softened. He wants to know what she thinks of this.

(He's also covered in his Pokemon.)

<Pose Tracker> Magilou has posed.

    "These people don't know your world from Dixie," Magilou shrugs, to Mariel, with cheer. "And now they know just what tub they're draining!" Claude said she helped them, but Magilou's help is a difficult thing. The worst part is that she recognises the look of someone about to hit her --

    -- and she doesn't even stop smiling.

    Like how she grins at Charizard, with a wink. Sprigatito looks up at him, the Cutest Kitten In The Universe.

    "The Earthpulse -- as we call what Filgaia calls the Ley -- is much healthier on Lunar," Magilou asides, to the locals, on the heels of Mariel's explanation. "Healthy enough to bear spirits of its own, in fact! Of course, it's also more wild, and you'd not want to be caught in there, unless you enjoy being tortured to death by shards of your own existence." She says it as if someone might enjoy that. No judgement. "But Armlock City, huh? Looks like we're taking a hike!"

    Beat. "... is what I'd like to say, because I'd love to get out of this cultivated hellscape, but I guess I'm obligated to dig up more on these Ten Wise Men. How fortunate for you! Magilou will be visiting your lands for a while, yet!" Magilou is, of course, an Unwanted Visitor, but she still wants to fight. "And don't you worry about me," she adds, tapping her finger to her temple, "... I can already fly!"

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

"...What was that?" Claude wonders if Venetia. "I feel stronger?" Some witchcraft or another! He appreciates it. He thinks. He's pretty sure.

But Nall's approach.... "Right," he says.

He's working on a plan... Claude's brow furrows in thought. "I see. All right. Then we'll be waiting for your reply on that front."

Claude nods to Rena, feeling strong for her support. And Dias's, too. He won't wonder this time if it's 'like him' to say something like that. Instead...

"Mister Hesiod's right," he says. "We need to keep your stuff out of the hands of some elements on Filgaia. It's... Dangerous, to think what they could take."

Then he frowns at Joy at her response to Rena, but doesn't say more. Instead...

He looks to Mariel, then Magilou. "...Yeah. I think some of us should head back as soon as possible, but..."

"I'm staying for now." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Ida rakes her fingers through her hair at the mention of a second portal. "We'll have to investigate that one, too," she says. When Blue brings up people and 'Pokemon' who passed through the other side, she frowns. "Soldiers from Aveh or Kislev," Ida says, inclining her head towards Venetia, and then Ethius. "They're two nations that have been at war, on and off, for the better part of a century." A grave expression settles onto her face. "The last thing we need is for our world's conflicts to spill into yours."

    Nall has instructions. Ida is not unused to the concept of spiritual resilience, and the cultivation thereof. The mention of clones makes her furrow her brow.

    Catastrophe Sal has craned her head portalwards, and stares into it with big Caterpie eyes. Like it's calling to her. Like it's the sort of thing she's always wanted.

    "Caterpie," says Sal. She meets Pikachu's gaze from across the field. 'See you on the other side, when it's time,' it says.

    Does it? Is it anthropomorphization? Where does one draw the line with these engineered companions?

    Ida pauses, finally noticing Venetia's tail. "I didn't know you had one too," she says.

<Pose Tracker> Peace Kishinami has posed.

    "Filgaia," Peace echoes. Her eyes have that glint of curiosity again; she's clearly still itching to just heave herself through the portal and open her satchel, but Joy's comment is one that she's very aware of. Even if Blue hadn't just mentioned the presence of armed guards and people watching for intruders, she's not exactly in the right state to be able to just launch off on a journey right now, and she has responsibilities to think of first.

    'Later,' says her expression as she glances back at Joy, and she makes sure to flick her eyes to the Drifters present: that is, 'without everyone else here'.

    She seems to have no time for the existential horror that everyone else is experiencing; her mind is on other things, and it shows as she picks up on Gwen's comments. "Have you tried throwing a Pokeball at a horse? Just as we both know symbology, so your Horse might have the same ancestry as our Ponyta. I couldn't account for several millenia with different evolutionary conditions. I'd have to see one to know better. Of course, I can assist in reconnaisance."

    (Later: a Pokeball goes 'donk' off a horse's side, and it looks deeply confused.)

    She does come back to herself to catch Dias' comments - though she doesn't answer them directly, choosing to pick her battles. If she's honest, she doesn't really mind that much about the greater standing of Team Rocket or Nede in how they choose to react to this crisis, outside of the most utilitarian perspective that sitting around won't do much of anything. But at least that's one thing Team Rocket isn't doing.

    As if to echo that, Joy asks for the ability to access the training fields herself. If Peace is surprised, it certainly doesn't show on her face. Maybe you might expect her to say something in return - words of support, or words of denial. She doesn't. She simply seems to accept it for what it is, nodding to acknowledge the request as if to indicate she's witnessed it. 

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia's agitation is at its maximum, having learned of a threat to Filgaia as a whole. Frustrating though it is, she doubts the barrier is anything that can be brought down just by punching it hard enough, or she would've be off there right now, see if anyone could stop her. Thankfully there are Ideas, perhaps even Plans, but everything about her bearing shows that she has extremely little patience at the moment. She doesn't want to just listen to what can be done, she wants to start doing things, right the hell now. She waits only for as long as it takes Blue to finishes speaking before she speaks up herself.

"Okay, fine, just as soon as someone knows what I should do, just tell me and I'll do it. Don't care what it is. If I need to fight something, fine. If I need to go somewhere to get stronger, fine. If I need get a Psynerd or whatever, fine! For now..."

She indicates the rift to Filgaia. "There are others who need to know about this. Telling them is something I can do right now. As for those people carrying guns..." She turns away from the gathered group. "...I almost feel sorry for them."

It should not surprise anybody at this point - Xantia proceeds to rush towards the portal, wasting no time in taking advantage of this method of returning to Filgaia. She's not going to listen to anybody telling her no. There's going to be trouble if Blue's Pokemon get in her way. She's heard all she needs to. The time for talking is over, now it's time for action. 

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    Elaine continues to stare at the portal for a bit, but then something to come to her mind as her eyes suddenly dart to Professor Oak, then the portal as her hand clenches her Pokedex for a moment. And then it's gone. She says "The Pysnard's would be a suitable flight option for those in need and in a hurry... But they're not the only methods of flight here also." as she pointedly looks up at Blue's Aerodactyl and then Charizard. "And, " she continues turning to look at Nall "You should be getting the League involved. The Pokemon can help as much as the police and government can if not more at this point." the teen looking more lively and set as she speaks. Chase, and likely Oak, will recogenize this change as her having made a choice over something. Luck to all who decide to stand in her way.

    As Joy demands access to the mentioned fields, Elaine jumps right on that Rapidash too, saying "She's right. You should.". Elaine is using guilt trip on Nall! "It's part of our hertiage, it shouldn't have been locked away to begin with." Is it effective? Listening to Ventia, she tilts her head racking her brain for a moment but can't seem to remember anything as she mutters softly "What were they called before we had Pokemon?"

    It's then Elaine notices Chase, and she smiles at her brother resting a hand on his head. "We can only do what we want and can, don't push yourself to make a decision." she says to him. "But I think... I might help them. Maybe not with fighting just yet, but... We might be able to offer more?" as she looks back to the portal, and then away across from the fields at the carefully cultivated plains of Kanto full of Pokemon. 

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.

 Rena seems astounded Joy calls her out, "I genuinely didn't know you were Team Rocket!? I was kinda- distracted by your colleague trying to steal Pokeballs with a vacuum. You were really there that day!" Rena says, as if she got whiplash, is it really just a Nedian thing for the police to let puppy bullies run around, "Um- I mean, turned your life around is usually what criminals say when they reform right? It feels unusual to say it when you're... still one."

Dias' blunt admonishment, does say a lot, as Rena seems mildly taken aback, "I would hope someone so many people have respect for would be but - if that's all it is, then, you're right." But what he says next, Rena's gaze looks more serious, and while she won't call him on the details in public, "Maybe you're not wrong, but I don't think you're entirely right either." She tells him, as the subject almost shifts to a little more pointed without naming names, so to speak, "Some things don't have to be dealt with alone. Especially when the people that care about you are willing to share your burdens."
 
Indeed in a sense it's the opposite to what he said, but she's presenting it as if his way isn't entirely wrong either, like there's two pieces of the puzzle - and often one half is lost.

It gets worse, quickly in what is described to them. The Ten Wise Men are doing something big, and whatever it is, it's going to harm Filgaia.
 
Rena however can't help but a moment's smile at Charizard high fiving Magilou, "Aw, they're getting along." She's glad Magilou gets along with you know, SOME PEOPLE. It'd be a really lonely existence if she didn't.
 
"I'm glad we were too." Rena can't exactly say she's grateful to the Ten Wise Men for bringing her here, but she is grateful that she is here now. On this world where she came from, able to help them in this crisis.
 
"What kind of ancient powers?"
 
Rena can't help but feel a little uneasy over that, in the same way that the Quadratic Sphere was probably some kind of ancient power. Her pendant probably is... did she just make things worse? Whereas there's an almost grim nod of agreement at Dias' statement because - indeed, it is that as well, for Filgaia, for Nede, perhaps the Universe.
 
They can't ignore it.
 
"Think it's settled then. We're staying." She agrees with Claude on the matter.
 
However, Nall explains more, about the four fields and- "A Psynard?" She looks to Claude, and then Dias, "Alright. We're both very new to Pokemon training, me and Claude - but being able to fly would help us a great deal."
 
She does pep up though, smiling as if to reassure them.
 
"I promise even if we're very new though, your faith won't be misplaced, Claude is already showing he's quite talented, he did such an amazing job with Barry!"
 
The League? The Elite Four? She has no idea... she assumes it's another sports thing. She'll ask Claude later.

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    Guns are a familiar sight on Filgaia. The mention of soldiers on the other side toting them around... isn't cause to not worry at *all*, but it's a threat Dias knows how to handle, and that Ethius is willing to explain to those who don't. More importantly: find a way to fly, and explore the rifts.
    
    "That's direct enough," he says. (Direct, of course, is not the same as easy.) Mariel and Jay both conclude that the second rift must lead to Lunar, but even if it's smaller than Filgaia, it's still a big place. Dias glances to Venetia as she speaks of Aveh's king (or whatever it has). "You know someone who can get an audience with them?" he asks dryly.
    
    Well, whether they can reinforce it on *that* side, it sounds like *this* side is covered, based on what Nall, Oak, and Blue have to say. (Dias doesn't know what the League or the Elite Four are either, but he can make a decent enough guess based on context clues.)
    
    Venetia then casts a spell on Claude. Dias frowns at that too--but whatever its effect, it seems to be positive, given what Claude says. He would've thought Claude would want to return, but... Xantia charges to the portal, so it's not like *no one's* going back.
    
    He frowns slightly when Rena pushes back. It's a very Rena thing for her to say. "Then we'll just have to agree to disagree," he replies. At the very least, it's not a debate he's willing to get into in a huge crowd.
    
    "Then if we're staying here, let's work on getting that Psynard--or some other similar Pokemon," he says, noting Elaine's pointed nod to the Aerodactyl and Charizard, to Claude and Rena. The cloning part might be ethically dubious, but-- "No point in sitting around waiting."
    
    Especially if there's advanced training fields for them to reach. 

<Pose Tracker> Professor Oak has posed.

"Related..." Oak trails off, and then he nods. "Yes--this second portal could lead there. They might well want connected energies."

Then, Nall looks at Mariel. He hesitates a moment, before he nods. "Yes, of course--we'll get you with those studying it," he says.

Nall hesitates for a moment. He looks at Joy -- then he sighs. "We'll permit willing Nedians to go," he says. He looks at Elaine. "You've got a right to. And your brother."

Then, he looks at Joy. "But... I'm not extending the same invitation to members of Team Rocket. That's a risk I can't take."

He nods, then, to Elaine. "I'll also alert the League."

Oak looks to Jay then, and he smiles after a moment. It's a little tired. "I'm glad we can provide some help," he says. "Despite... cosmological concerns."

Mayor Nall looks at Ethius -- then Claude, and nods. "We'll get the barricades up, then. And... I'll speak with Mariana. We can have them up right away," he says. "Thank you for warning us."

'What kind of ancient power?'

"Things we sealed away," Nall says to Rena. "In this case, Symbology that enhances. I... pray it need go no further."

"Well--er--I guess they weren't really Pokemon," Blue says to Venetia, with a slightly awkward shuffle. Then, he blinks -- but seems happy to let Xantia rush through the portal.

"Then, we're happy to have your... assistance," Nall says to Magilou. He smiles in that practiced, politician's way. "Er. Miss... evil... witch."

"I don't think she is actually evil, Nall," Oak says.

"I'm not entirely convinced, Sam."

This time, it is Professor Oak's turn to sigh.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Pikachu salutes Catastrophe Sal with a solemn, "Pika." In time, Filgaia will learn of this Pikachu. There is no escaping her inevitability.

Chase takes a deep, steadying breath as Elaine says her piece. In, out. He leans gently into that head pat as a means of acknowledging her stated resolve and her effort to comfort him. Elaine will help, and Chase doesn't find that surprising in the slightest.

Offer more than fighting. Knowledge. Information. Elaine believes Pokemon can help, even more than people can. Chase knows that's true, too. Nede is their world as much as anyone's... If Chase wouldn't be happy leaving it all to these visitors, then there are Pokemon who would feel the same.

Yeah. Okay.

He looks up at Elaine and gives her a decisive nod. What they want to do, and what they can do for this world they must defend.

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

 
 "I could do it myself," Venetia tells Dias with a thin smile, "but if we can find an introducer, that would be much smoother." Venetia has not bothered to learn about Shakhan; she needs those neurons for other things, such as remembering where she left her camera.

"It's not as though I HAVE it," Venetia tells Ida. "The creature's been following me around ever since the forest and it seems to be helping me blend in. Besides,"

* Caterpie used STRING SHOT on the rift in space!
* It had no effect!

"It seems to appreciate me for whatever reason. Maybe it's the mask?" Venetia speculates to Ida, even as the Adamant Caterpie looks up at Ida and wiggles their mouthparts.

"You know," Venetia says, "imprinting, or something. I'm not good with animals." (More quietly, even as she stows her Crest Graph, she admits to Ida, "It's very determined.") 

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Venetia admits she's not good with animals.

Zephyr turns his head--from where he and Hannah had been arguing, quietly, about acquiring a Psynard--to stare at Venetia intently. 

<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.

    "Maybe it's something that would be more relatable, if you grew up here," Joy quietly comments in return to Rena. "But as it stands, I'm glad you had a chance to see where you were from, too. Not everyone here knows their heritage... or cares to."

    A pause, as she glances to her side: "As a Nedian around the same age... welcome to Nede, I suppose."

    Elaine's speech about needing to know their heritage, and not have it locked away, resonates with her, in that regard.

    "It's foolish to have such weapons locked away at a time of crisis," remarks Joy. "I understand bearing the shame of our past. But to do nothing about it when our lives are on the line is..."

    Ida and Venetia speak of countries that she has no geographical whereabouts of; they really do come from aonther world. And as Peace flicks her the look, there's a nod towards her.

    "... what does a Horse evolve into, I wonder?"

    Xantia leaps across the portal in frustration and a call to action, and she can't help but feel a similar desire. Not to jump into the portal per se, but...

    To Dias and the topic of flying Pokemon, she explains: "You can ride many Pokemon, but one that can transport a party is quite rare. It also takes time to bond with them and train with each other so you don't fall off. The Psynards circumvent that process, but..."

    She has a distaste of the process.

    Nall tells Elaine that she can go -- but not members of Team Rocket. That's a risk he can't take.

    "Fine. I won't idly sit by and let this world that refuses to earn its future be destroyed, even when we know other worlds are being drained of life. I already said that if saving Nede requires me to be a criminal, then I'll gladly bear that shame."

    She glances towards Oak, then says, "... it's nice to see you again regardless, Professor."

    She gently tosses a Pokeball, and there's a screech as a six-foot tall blue and black Dragon (yes, this one's a dragon, unlike poor Charizard there) with three heads (two of which have no brains) emerges from within.

    "Let's go, Hydreigon."

    "Dreii," Hydreigon looks a bit uncomfortable at the amount of people gathered. Or, at least, the middle head does; the other two are spaced out, because see also: no brains.

    Joy climbs onto the back of the Dragon and holds her hand out for Peace.

    "You coming?" 

<Pose Tracker> Peace Kishinami has posed.

    If anything, Peace is not expecting Elaine to speak up for the both of them, and she turns towards the trainer with a muted look of surprise before slowly offering a nod. It really is appreciated, she's just awkwardly uncertain how to actually admit that, because most of her interactions with trainers have always been at a bit of arm's length. Give them the speech, give them a Pokemon, answer their questions, help them learn. Getting a moral vote of support isn't usually in the Professor playbook.

    Her feathers feel a little ruffled still as she looks back to Rena and Dias, but she's received several olive branches today alone, and she can find it within herself to offer one back. "... if you need any assistance, feel free to ask. I can also provide evolution stones should you require them," she notes. She's not good at reaching out, but she can at least try... even if she doesn't even explain what the hell an 'evolution stone' is.

    What she is expecting is for Nall to veto their attempt to accompany the Drifters to the Four Fields. She falls silent again as she turns to the official, watching him with a frown for several moments. "... can you - we - afford to turn down any help? Can they?" she asks quietly, but leaves it at that. Changing the Mayor's mind already feels impossible, but that doesn't really matter. Peace is well aware it's just more fuel for her and Joy to go anyway.

    Joy doesn't betray those expectations, and this time there's a definite little smile on Peace's face as she turns towards the Hydreigon, her Eevee hopping up out of her labcoat pocket and onto her shoulder as it prepares to enjoy the flight. "... mm," she nods her thanks as she hauls herself up and finds a secure spot to sit.

    "Ah..." she looks at a loss for what to say to the rest of the assembled Drifters, minus those that have already darted through the portal - but can't help but feel the need to add in something given the situation. "... then, we're blasting off. For the first time." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Calamity Sal nods, solemnly, to Chase's Pikachu.

    Then she leans out from the crook of Ida's arm, and trills a greeting to Adamant Caterpie.

    "I think it's a little confused," Ida says, as it shoots string, into the Badlands, "But it's got the spirit." And so do Peace and Joy!

    Ida's eyes widen as Peace calls forth a truly ferocious mount, yet another dragon (dragon-adjacent entity??) scaled down to... adorable size. "We'll see you on the other side, then!" she says, just before the two Rockets vanish.

    "They are in for the shock of their lives," Ida says, with a sigh.

    "Pi," says Sal, with a nod of agreement.

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