[CYOA] You Are a Rock

[Negrek]

Oof. Poor Lenora! She's really doing her best for us...

Well, it was worth a try at least. Weird that she's having so much trouble when we didn't have any issues injuring Weavile... Do we have some kind of energy that her Pokemon don't?

Namo's used this trope in a number of his stories, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what's going on here. I'm guessing we have some connection to whatever Weavile is, and that allows us to damage him normally... and I hope knock him out!

Sucks that we'll have to give up the camouflage Lenora provided us with, but I don't feel great about lying low and just hoping Weavile doesn't try to hurt her/abduct her/anything else bad!

I think I'm going to go with a Rocky Tackle so we don't, like, immediately faint from energy loss? If that's what would happen after we hit zero...

> Consider: I need to look for a good opening!

> Special Action: Rocky Tackle @ Weavile

 

[Namohysip]

RESULTS​

Rocky Tackle at Weavile!

Considerations:
- (1) I need to carefully dodge Weavile's actions!
- (1) I need to look for a good opening!

Now it's personal. Lenora, a target? All this fighting and not once were humans being targeted by civilized Pokemon. Humans didn't seem to fight. Lenora fought by summoning Pokemon. She does not look like a fighter herself.

You break your cover just as Weavile fires at her. He spots you and there's a glimmer of surprise in his eyes, but his body does not react any further. Instead, the ice pierces Lenora's shoulder during her dodge, passes through, and goes into the wall, leaving a hole in her shoulder and the museum. Braviary screeches in alarm and stops what he's doing, flying to her.

"If anyone can hear me, we need help! Our lives are in danger!!!"

You shout this as much as your telepathy allows. Raise the volume if you can! Anything to be heard, if it's at all possible. And at the same time, you smash into Weavile... You don't see anyone coming to your aid. Not immediately.

And the give the body returns is sickening. You crunch his arm like a twig, going into his chest. The strange resilience Weavile had evaporates in an instant. His chest caves in from the impact and he coughs a glob of blood onto your rock. You hear his heart and go further, snapping... something else inside, before finally bouncing away. Your body touches inner flesh not meant to be touched. Your stony surface turns crimson.

Direct hit! You deal... 1 damage! Weavile goes down!

"What?" Weavile croaked, barely able to breathe. Apparently, you missed his lungs, despite hitting so much else. "No... NO...!"

He still has energy, but not to fight. On his back, he uses the arm you hadn't crunched to pull himself away. His legs weren't working properly. All he had was his arm.

Lenora is on the ground, a pool of blood from her shoulder and onto the ground. Her other arm is holding the wound, applying pressure. She says something to Braviary, who flies deeper into town at speeds that left distortions in the air. You sense... that she is okay, for now. It could have been worse... like Weavile.

You turn your attention to Weavile again. No longer a threat, you instead realize that he is trying to get away, trying to dig into his bag. Perhaps he has a means to escape, even in his so severely harmed state. Perhaps Pokemon can bounce back from even this, given the proper care...

But now, you hold all of the power. And you feel... something within you stir. A new power... But what will it become? You feel as though depending on how you go forward here... a part of you will awaken.

You feel... as if you could suppress it all, and let him go. Perhaps something would happen there, sparing him to flee and live another day. Somehow, this... disagrees with you... but with so little to go by, it is still an option to take.

You could try to restrain him instead, sap his energy... Perhaps he will live. Maybe you could question him? But that also runs the risk of him fleeing, being rescued, attacking... You do not know what tricks he has, no matter what precautions you take.

You could kill him. At this point, it would be trivial. And this power bubbling within you... would make the matter quick and easy. Weavile would be no more. But, do you have that right, the right to kill even as he flees? What ramifications would that have for this place, this world? Well... you are sure you could call it justified. Also, you're a rock. You are doubtful their legal proceedings would know how to handle that.

But there is... another option. You do not know where the option comes from, or what it means, but it is a word. The word holds so much weight behind it. A deep power. Are you ready for that? What would come with it? A burning curiosity and yearning tells you to try anyway... but you are uncertain. All you know is that it, too, would kill Weavile... but there would also be something more. The word echoes over and over in your mind, throbbing like a migraine: Claim.

The world stands still. Weavile, showing fear in his eyes instead of his stoic frown, will flee shortly.

What do you do?

DECISION​

What is Weavile's fate?

1. Spare. Let him go.
2. Restrain. He isn't going anywhere.
3. Kill. He's too dangerous to leave alive.
4. Claim.​

Current Status​

HP: 2/4
Energy: 1/6
Offense: 2
Defense: 1

Considerations:
- (!) I need to carefully dodge Weavile's actions!
- (!) I need to look for a good opening!

 

[Mirage]

Man, was this an exciting chapter! As mentioned in the discussion, I'm very split between the claim and the restrain options, but I think restrain might be the better idea here, if just because we might only get one shot to interrogate Weavile. Let's see what we might be able to get out of him?

Decision: Restrain. He isn't going anywhere!

Consider: I need to keep Weavile away from the bag and its items!

Telepathy (Weavile): "How did you withstand Lenora's attacks so well, yet not mine? Who was I, before I was transformed?"

 

[Negrek]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who wasn't at least a tiny bit tempted by Claim, haha. Maybe if Weavile gets saucy and it looks like he's going to escape, then, heh. But let's at least start with restraint and see if we can get anything else out of him...

Decision: Restrain. He isn't going anywhere!

Special Action: Telepathy (Weavile) If you want to survive, you'd better tell me what you've done with Millie!

 

[Namohysip]

RESULTS​

Restrain!

Considerations:
- (1) I need to keep Weavile away from the bag and its items!
-

These abilities bubbling inside you swirl with temptation and a need for release. The circumstances are right. And yet, you resist this, sensing that there is much more utility in restraint. Deep within you, one of your abilities seems easier to work with with that in mind, though it requires some energy to do so.

But at this point, it is your best option.

You tap into a new ability...

The fear in Weavile's expression redoubles, and surely he thinks he's about to die. And yet, what instead infests him is a strange, dark energy that slackens his body and drains him of his power. Not enough to kill, but certainly enough that he can't fight back. He tries to lift his arm and a wave of lethargy makes it look like he's swimming through honey.

You use Enervate! Weavile is debilitated! You feel energized...

Enervate - 1 Energy - Debilitates the enemy, making them perform badly in future exchanges. Fades over time. If it fully connects, gain 1 energy, and your next attack costs half energy, rounding down.

"How did you withstand Lenora's attacks so well, yet not mine? Who was I, before I was transformed?" you ask, and at the same time, you push his bag away from him and well out of reach. Can't have even that slight bit of energy pushing him to a clever escape, whatever's in there.

Weavile could hear you. Despite this, he refuses to reply. He turns his head away and shudders. "You really know nothing," he says. "You... are a blight upon the world. One that was sealed away, only to flee with the last of your strength. We were... only finishing the job..."

"A blight?" you whisper. Somehow, this feels familiar. You know that Weavile isn't making this up, at least not entirely. But... surely that's not the whole truth. You can't be a blight--you'd done nothing but help people you'd found so far!

Weavile is deliberately avoiding an answer. Nothing direct. Maybe... he wants to avoid giving you more knowledge? But that is precisely what you want. Need! What are you? What "blight" is this? Agh--!

But... there is something else that's also important right now. He's already afraid. Maybe if you played that to your advantage... "If you want to survive, you'd better tell me what you've done with Millie!"

Weavile flinches again. The threat of being killed apparently deeply frightens him enough to break that stoic nature.

"...Millie... will be in danger... if I don't return," Weavile says. It's clear that he's choosing his words. "They recognize that you've attached to her. So, if you release me... I'll... tell them... I killed you. And she'll be free. But as of now, she is not hurt. She's... a bargaining chip."

There is no way he'd be able to prove he'd do that. And even if he was telling the truth now, attitudes can change quickly. But, Millie...

Sirens echo from far away. It seems that time to interrogate is running out. Lenora is sitting up, looking conscious, and powering through the pain. She's stable. Tough one, that human. Braviary is flying over--he must have been the one to alert the authorities.

DECISION​

What is Weavile's fate? You have no time left.

1. Let him go. Millie might survive.
2. Capture him for future interrogation.
3. Kill. It's not worth it anymore.
4. Claim.​

Current Status​

HP: 2/4
Energy: 1/6
Offense: 2
Defense: 1
Energized!

Considerations:
- (!) I need to keep Weavile away from the bag and its items!
-

 

[Mirage]

Decision: Claim.

Consider: I'm scared of what this power might do, but I need to use it to protect myself and Lenora!

Special Action: Telepathy (target is Weavile)

"I was bluffing earlier about remembering my past Weavile, but I wasn't bluffing about needing to know what's going on. If you refuse to give me a straight answer, then you leave me no choice!"

 

[Negrek]

From the powers we have and the way the Knights have reacted to us, I kind of wonder whether we're Yveltal? Or perhaps Giratina? Either of those could be seen as evil and could potentially have energy-draining abilities, hmm. Maybe even a Treasure of Ruin?

Let's see what's up with this whole claiming thing, I guess!

> Decision: Claim

> Consider: What's in Weavile's bag?

> Special Action: Telepathy (Lenora) "Are you all right?"

 

[Namohysip]

RESULTS​

Claim

Considerations:
- (1) I'm scared of what this power might do, but I need to use it to protect myself and Lenora!
- (1) What's in Weavile's bag?

At first, it seemed like a bad idea to give in to those strange instincts. A blank check on what could be done, only a little fragment of temptation in the back of your mind with no way of knowing what would happen.

But now, you realize you are out of options. Killing could have been the simplest answer. Releasing him perhaps is out of the question--not when he was so hostile. And further interrogation... It is a risk.

Trapped with no ideal option, you fall upon your instincts at the final hour.

"I was bluffing earlier about remembering my past, Weavile," you say, "but I wasn't bluffing about needing to know what's going on. If you refuse to give me a straight answer, then you leave me no choice!"

And with your rock sitting next to him, you tap into that power to Claim.

Your rock turns black as pitch. Weavile's leg, which you happen to be resting on, sizzles in response. His eyes widen and he croaks out a feral scream--not in anger, but pure, concentrated fear.

He reaches for your form and tries to tear you off, but you stick to his hand instead, and then drop squarely on his chest. There, you sink deeper, magnetized to something in the center of his body. You feel his heart. You melt through his chest like a red-hot ingot through butter.

Weavile's body spasms as he tries to dig you out of him, but it's already too late. Energy erupts through you like a breath of fresh air. The world around you becomes hazy. You feel a sudden weight upon you--and everything goes dark.

But... only for a moment.

The world returns to you and your body aches. Everything feels a lot warmer than before. Uncomfortably warm. You don't like this environment. It makes your fur frazzle and your feathers bendy. You prefer the cold, tundra environments.

You squeeze your eyes again as a headache takes over. You sit up, running your claws through your fur.

Without thinking, you pick up your bag--Weavile's... bag?--and then rummage through it. You see a badge, you see a Warp Seed--did you always know what a Warp Seed was?--and a few other seeds that might help you. You know these supplies. It seems silly to look through them again.

It dawns on you that none of this made sense.

Reaper's Harvest ~ Claim. 0 Energy.
If the target's HP is 0, overtake the target's body and claim their soul. The target's body becomes The Reaper's Avatar. You gain their max HP and stats on top of your own and restore your energy by their remaining energy, but it is otherwise merely a vessel. You can only have a single Reaper's Avatar. If a new body is taken, the old body becomes lifeless stone.

The sirens are getting louder. You hop to your feet and wince--your body is badly injured, though it had patched itself up a little. You hear... thoughts in your mind, faded thoughts of someone who had once been in control of this body. It bothers you. You feel as though the body's previous owner, the rightful Weavile, is still there with you. His bothersome thoughts are obstructing your judgment...

You have gained a third Consideration slot!

This slot is claimed by Weavile... and is Ironclad! Ironclad Considerations cannot be overridden, only navigated around.

Consider: I must warn the Prism Knights of Yveltal's awakening.

You gasp. Yveltal. Yveltal, Yveltal, Yveltal... you know that name. You... are Yveltal?

The god of death. The winged harbinger of ruin. Images and titles and screams echo in your mind.

Yveltal, reaper of souls; Yveltal, being of oblivion; Yveltal, The Deathbringer.

And then you remember Lenora. She's on her feet, holding her shoulder. Her hand is bloodied and that same blood is trickling down her other arm. Braviary has his wings outstretched, guarding her and keeping you from a direct line to her.

But instead, still dazed, you attempt to say to her in telepathy, "Are you all right?"
Lenora flinches.

"...Cobble?"

And then the first police cars screech to a halt, officers and their Pokemon hopping out of their vehicle. They have their eyes trained on you first, and others swarm to Lenora, who is dazed from blood loss and does not immediately understand what's happening, but she follows them into the building to be sat down. She says something, but the police don't appear to be listening, more focused on making sure she's stable.

This is getting messy. You'd Claimed Weavile so late that you didn't have time to hide. Could you do anything?

DECISION​

How do you address the police?

1. Fight back. They're about to attack me!
2. Negotiate. This isn't what it looks like!
3. Flee. Nothing I say will help right now!
4. Surrender. It's too chaotic to risk anything else.​

Current Status​

HP: 2/4+5
Energy: 5/6
Offense: 2+2
Defense: 1+1

Considerations:
- (!) I'm scared of what this power might do, but I need to use it to protect myself and Lenora!
- (!) What's in Weavile's bag?
- (∞) I must warn the Prism Knights of Yveltal's awakening.