Grass Continent ~ Treasure Town Beach

[RJR Basimilus]

"Wow, you're like a real leader," Seyka said, his voice quavering a little. "And don't tell me you're not, because I've made up my mind already."

The Skarmory took a deep breath and slowly forced his way out of the sand. "That was nice," he murmured, lying in the sand. "I'm no good at keeping anyone together, so I'm counting on you, okay? You can't back out either, cause we're here and now."

Seyka stood up straight, shaking the sand off his body. "I'll help! No promises, but I don't mind dying if it means the storm will give way to a rainbow!"

The Skarmory faltered slightly. "Oops, maybe I'm being a bit optimistic. If the house falls, it falls. At least I can be there to see it happen."

 

[Ambyssin]

A bitter laugh rumbled in Necrozma's core. "Nobody's backing out. It was Diyem that sent us here. We have no way to return home. And who's to say he can actually send us back, anyway? For all we know, we signed up for a one-way trip." He looked around. "At least... this new home is nicer than the dark, spiraling distortion of Etherium. Maybe I can be of actual use here."

 

[RJR Basimilus]

"One-way?" Seyka asked, tilting his head. "Haa- that would be..." he trailed off.

The Skarmory shook his head. "Oh well, no time to get hopeful." He stomped in the sand. "It's great that you're feeling up to it though. We'll save the world easy, uh if that's what we're going to do. I know I can count on you... er," Seyka stopped.

"Boxy," Seyka finished after a moment. "I can count on you Boxy." Seyka smiled lightly, "Just a little nickname. I know it doesn't do you justice for how cool you are."

 

[Ambyssin]

"I'm a psychic-type, not an ice-type."

... wow, did I really just make that joke?

"In any case... are you not going to join the others for a meal?" He tilted to the left slightly. "I can't speak for your universe, but where I'm from skarmory still need to eat."

 

[RJR Basimilus]

"There's always food," Seyka said blithely, "A sentiment I suppose you can't relate to."

Seyka started balancing on one foot again. "Different universes huh? I wonder why this one being in trouble is such a big deal. Aren't other universes in trouble too?"

"What do you think Boxy? Is this universe worth more than the others, or is this the only universe in trouble." Seyka stared at the sky. "If the latter is true, then we really lucked out! We could have been sent to a boring universe."

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma stayed silent. He bowed his head. Then, he whispered, "A world without trouble is a world where free will does not exist." He straightened up. "However, I believe this to be the type of the trouble that could imperil other worlds if it is not stopped. Like, say, the world you come from. Or any of our teammates' respective worlds. Mine is already dying a slow, agonizing death... but failing to resolve this problem will likely lead to all of your worlds being erased."

 

[RJR Basimilus]

"I suppose so," Seyka said. "Some might say that true freedom is freedom from choice- from the burden of having to make one." The Skarmory hopped to the other foot. "I guess we have to figure this out so that other worlds are fine, but..."

Seyka grinned, "It's all very confusing, but theoretically, if I could trade my world so yours would come back to life- I just might take that deal."

"I think anyone with half a mind would know better than to give me a choice like that though. Ha!"

 

[Ambyssin]

"If I just had more light..." Necrozma's voice trailed off and he stared into the orb. It looked like he wasn't going to be saying or doing much else.

 

[RJR Basimilus]

"I'm sure you will, because I believe in you," Seyka said. "I'll let you enjoy your light now though, sorry about the weird questions."

As he walked away, he whirled to face his acquaintance one more time. "You better be ready Boxy, cause you're going to lead us to victory." He waved a wing at him.

 

[Ambyssin]

He watched Skarmory head off, but didn't take his gaze off the light orb. Him... leading? Unlikely. It had been far too long. He wasn't the leader type anymore. But, perhaps, with a bit of help, he could use what little light he had to protect those who were in a position to lead. Like that cranidos or that absol or (begrudgingly) that Owen kid.

<><><>​

 

[Adamhuarts]

After their lunch, Cynthian decided to return to the beach for more sunlight and also peace and quiet. It's not that he didn't like it, but he wouldn't have been able to stand it if he wasn't surrounded by folks he knew then. Then again, did he really know any of the others? And what did they know about him?

Cynthian's snapped back to reality when he noticed a familiar mass of crystals at the beach after he arrived. Of all mons to be there, it had to be... Cynthian wasn't even sure what to call him. He pursed his lips and groaned quietly. Should he just ignore him and walk to the other side? No, that would be rude.

After debating it in his mind for a few seconds, Cynthian decided he'd just make a quick greeting and carry on. He walked over to Crystal boi and waved his flower.

"Heyyy... you. What are you doing way out here by yourself? Most of the others are having a curry banquet. Were you not informed?" Cynthian asked with a shaky and forced smile.

 

[Ambyssin]

"Maple told me, yes. I... didn't think it appropriate to attend," Necrozma replied. In the intervening time between Seyka leaving and Cynthian arriving, he had formed a mound of sand and packed it with water to create a sandy slab he could lean against. He still cursed his stiff, lightless body and its immobility. "What point is there in going to a restaurant when you cannot eat anything? I didn't want to drag down the mood. If the team's to cooperate in future fights, they need to be able to experience some joy in the interim.

"What about you? Why aren't you there?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"I suppose. The food wasn't anything special anyway. Could only stand a bite out of my share," Cynthian said with a nervous laugh.

The waves crashed against the beach andthe ocean glittered brilliantly under the sun. Cynthian took a deep breath.

"But you didn't have to be out here by yourself, you know. I wouldn't necessarily say your presence would've brought the mood down. Surely some of us like you at least a little."

 

[Ambyssin]

Silence. Then, "I find it's easier to shield a group equally when I'm disliked by everyone." He looked down at his light orb. "I only have so much power like this. Having biases toward certain people may effect my ability to help in a battle."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"I don't know whether to call that admirable or unreasonable. I'm not really going to give you a hopeful speech, because we both know how that turned out last time," Cynthian said with an exasperated sigh. "But it's good to know you don't have anything against the others, right?"

The sand crunched beneath Cynthian as he sat. "So far, I only hate one person on our team, but let's not talk about that. Where did you get that light ball anyway? It's so shiny."

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma passed the ball between his hands. "Maple gave it to me. As it stands... this body cannot handle absorbing its contents at once. So I'm handling it like how one might handle a bowl of piping-hot soup or a scalding beverage. Small sips of light."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Oh, and here I was about to ask if I could touch it. Tell me how you absorb light. It's certainly not the same as my photosynthesis, is it? Do you take the light in itself or does your body just use convert the energy into something else." Cynthian inched a foot closer to Necrozma and awaited an answer.

 

[Ambyssin]

"Actually... Maple claimed this was a test for something that involved the whole team." Necrozma passed the orb to his left hand and held it up. However, his larger statute put it well out of Cynthian's reach. "But taking this light in — how should I put this? — it burns. Like being struck by a weak Flamethrower." He lowered the orb slightly. "I've been in pain for a thousand years. I can deal with it. But you're a grass-type. I'm not so sure you'd enjoy touching it."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian's jaw dropped. "You're a thousand years old?! Wow, that's... I don't even know what to say. You must have a lot of wisdom on your err... shoulders." Cynthian chuckled briefly.

"I guess if you say I shouldn't touch that orb, I should probably listen. But I really want to touch." Cynthian raised his flower at it before pulling it back. "Has it always been like this for you though? or is it just a side effect of the weak bodies Diyem gave us? I don't want to imagine what it'd be like if I was in pain whenever I had to sunbathe. Well it can hurt sometimes if the sun is particularly harsh, but getting a few burns here and there isn't a huge problem most of the time."

 

[Ambyssin]

"I'm sure it's linked to Diyem." Necrozma pulled the orb back toward his core. "Even if he's not trying to sacrifice us to the looming threat facing this world, I do not believe his motives are altruistic. He is... definitely withholding crucial information from us." If he had a brow, this is where it would furrow. But this worthless body was incapable of such things. "Not to mention I find it very... duplicitous that he thinks the best way to help us is by remaining in his dreary manor while we're the ones out here engaging the threats."

He pointed to Cynthian. "It was you all who coordinated to stop the magikarp. Diyem did nothing to help the team in that fight. No suggestions. No strategy. Hardly appropriate actions for one who claims to be so concerned about this world."