Save the Happy Tree Friends!!!

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With his new accessory, gotten from some stranger that had been mumbling about how useless it was, Astir felt like he could do anything. His movements felt so much more nimble, and his mind felt fresher. Earlier today, he had avoided some rocks thrown at him by some children who had called him delusional, as well as names the he didn't quite understand, as easily as if they weren't even there! With gentle sun from the clear blue sky smiling down on him, he just felt so good! His sash even seemed to be smiling; it seemed to have an otherworldly joy in the fine weather of today. The cloth seemed to twinkle, almost. Astir felt magnificently strange and empowered all at the same time while wearing it! There couldn't have been a better day to resume his quest to vanquish the monster called "Danger!"

He set out on a road that he had learned led out of town, and he charged down it enthusiastically despite having absolutely no idea where the road actually led. In his vigorous journey down the path, he began to notice more and more and more trees, and these trees were growing denser and denser. He stopped as he happened upon a large, dense, and particularly dark forest. His eyes widened. This was it! It had to be!!! This was the place where he and Danger would finally settle the score! Astir could feel his inner fire raging. He was ready for this!

But what was he looking for? Astir still didn't have any answers to this particular question. He did know that it WASN'T a particular leafy behemoth, but that was the extent of everything that he knew. He would have to investigate further if he was going to be the hero that conquered danger. Astir started to prowl the forest's edge first, being very thorough. He rustled through bushes and crawled through abandoned dens. He even called out Danger's name and explored holes in trees!!! As he was experimenting with how quickly and agile-y he could climb a tree, he found himself in one of the trees he had been trying to search. His head and part of his body had managed to pass through the knothole, but as he tried to escape, his head fins made it impossible to do so. He sat there for a minute, unsure of what to do.

Then, he smirked.

Of course!!! It was a test from Danger; it was trying to prove Astir's worth! There was no way that Astir could fail now; if he did he would never get a second chance to fight Danger! Well, that was how Astir imagined it worked anyways. Whatever the terms were, the tiny snake would not be jaded!!

"I can play your game, Danger!! We wiwl meet on the battlefield!!" Astir exclaimed with pride. And so, he waited.

Astir - 4 energy
Exclusive Items - Dragon Sash - Evasiveness +2 if weather is Clear ***
(Note: Astir still has a slight lisp from his injury, but the majority of it has worn off at this point. He mostly just has trouble with l's.)

Varda felt like he had gotten his message across. The bug-like creature at least had stopped attacking, which to him meant that he had been listened to! That was that, then. The bird nodded and was ready to leave everything behind them. No harm, no foul. There was still so much to do, lots of hours in the hour left… Though that, of course, was quite impossible to see when they were in the middle of the very dark forest where the sunlight could barely make it through the canopy! Varda just… Felt like it couldn't be evening yet, at least. He had just gotten here!

And then the bug tried attacking again. Not the Altaria though, despite him being the closer target. Astir had slithered closer but never actually stepped in front of him, so he was still a rather roundabout Pokémon to try to harm in this situation, but the husk of a bug still tried! Another shadowy ball made its way to the snake Varda had just helped out of the tree just earlier, and perhaps that might have made someone else question if there might have been something Astir had done to anger this Pokémon, but… Varda was Varda. Such things were missed by him, sometimes. Or often.

"Hey!" The bird chirped, definitely not letting this just slide without objections,
"Didn't I just say… Oh, some Pokémon are just impossible to reason with," he cooed, letting out a sigh. Well, at least the bug still seemed like it wasn't going tor full-blown attacks, waiting such a long time in-between that it didn't look like a proper fight, really. But he still didn't like it, how his friend was being targeted like that.
"I don't think we're going to get through, I'm not sure if that Pokémon is even listening," Varda turned to look at Astir with a slight frown,
"We should probably get some distance between us…"

The blob that suddenly hit Astir in the face knocked him a good distance backwards. Everything was shadowy for a moment, then it all turned green as he landed in a bush. He heard a faint "eep" and then a grunt, and he could vaguely hear a stifled squeak also nearby. He squinted for a moment as his brain registered what was going on. He could vaguely feel something... warm and squirmy beneath him. He did his best to roll off, freeing a small Flabebe that had been hiding in the very same bush. Another came to tend to it while Astir was still sorting himself out. It wasn't easy with all of those branches in the way. He would have charged that foolish bug, if it weren't for the two Flabebe who caught him as he was trying to escape the bush.

"Wait!!! Don't draw attention to us while he's near!!!" one of them begged in a hushed whisper.

"Who, Varda? He's fine, he only looks big because of the fluff," Astir responded.

"SHHHH, no, the other one!" the other Flabebe quickly corrected him.

Astir was confused by this, but he didn't want to upset the two pokemon further, so he obliged.

Satisfied with the birds observance of his demand for them to leave, the mute Shedinja turned his back and left in a huff. He was more than eager to get to his next surveillance post, and away from the two strange pokemon that were trespassing on their land. He could still feel water sloshing around in his hollow body. He could call for backup to search the area later, after he had drained himself.

".....He's gone," the first Flabebe whispered after a moment of silence had passed. She sounded as if she almost didn't believe it. Astir interpreted this as an o-k to move around a bit. He peeked up and out of the bush.

"Hey Varda, I'm okay!" he exclaimed.

"Don't do that!! What if that bird is bad?!?!" the second Flababe hissed silently.

"I don't think so... The scout was threatening them both," The other whispered back. "Besides, we're not really in the position to pass up an opportunity for help."

"Yeah, but we - uuuugh, fine!" The other Flabebe exclaimed back, "I don't care anymore!"

The two Flabebe exited the bush, followed by Astir, who went to rejoin Varda.

"Thank you for scaring that Shedinja off," the first Flabebe sighed gratefully with a bow, "We've had nothing but trouble from those pokemon for the past month, and we're struggling to get by. We haven't had any responses on our request for assistance in that time, so we've been stuck hiding like that whenever we try to get out and find food."

Astir - 1 Energy

Varda was happy when the bug husk decided to turn around and leave, though he didn't let that happiness ease his stern body language before the Pokémon had disappeared from view. He did like how they had managed to fix this issue with words – well, his words at least, as the other Pokémon was as quiet as a Pokémon could be – but… There had been some threatening and attack attempts. Attempts… No, there had been actual attacks! As the bird was reminded of Astir, he twirled around in an attempt to find the Pokémon. Unfortunately there was no one right behind him, so where could have…

The bush rustled and Pokémon came out. More than one, though one of them, luckily, was the snake-like Pokémon he had been searching for! The Altaria let out a sigh of relief and smiled. His eyes flicked downwards at the two other Pokémon that had emerged, two little flower Pokémon… Or no, Pokémon on top of flowers? It was hard to say. He had seen Pokémon like this before, but he wasn't sure what they were called. They didn't seem to be hostile, though!

"Oh um, that wasn't much!" Varda chirped as he was thanked for… Scaring off the Shedinja. That bug husk, that had to be it. Though… He hadn't exactly scared anyone off, he felt. It seemed like there was some trouble brewing up in the forest, and the Pokémon had asked for assistance…

Assistance? Something inside the bird's head seemed to go off as his eyes grew wider with realization. Oh, that was right! That was why he had come here in the first place! Oh, the whole meeting with Astir had gotten him so involved, he had pretty much forgotten all about his task!
"Um, you say assistance," the Altaria started, tilting his head slightly,
"Does that maybe mean… You were talking with the Guild? I was sent here by the Guild in Grassveil…"


Current Energy: 35 (55 -20 from the enemy encounters with Sky Powder, -1 from the item roll, +1 from the new page)

The first Flabebe perked up as the large fluffy bird Pokemon mentioned the guild. "Oh, thank Arceus!" she exclaimed, letting out a huge sigh of relief, "I can't believe it, help from the guild!!! We weren't sure if anyone would ever answer; we weren't even sure if the message had even made it!!!" She sighed and placed a tiny hand over her heart. "Yes, we sent somebody to post a message long ago, but the messenger never came back so we.... assumed the worst." She spoke with heavy words, as if it had pained her for a long time. "I can't..... it just boggles my mind that it actually made it to the guild!"

Astir looked at the Pokemon quizzically, still mentally catching up. "Guild? But why; why is the guild so exciting to you? Is it that great?"

The Flabebe looked pensive. "Well, it is an organization that many Pokemon find thrilling, but right now they are a final ray of hope for us. We need somebody to help shake the situation up here. There are a lot of oppressive Pokemon emerging, trying to get us out of the forest... If we have a member of the guild here, maybe even multiple, it could scare them off!!"

Astir's eyes gleamed. "Wow, the guild can do that?!? Are they really powerful or something?!?"

"I certainly hope so...." the Flabebe sighed.

The wheels in the little snake's head started to turn, and thoughts of the apparent greatness of guild training began to carry him away.

The second Flabebe, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke up. "Now, hold on just a second!!" they exclaimed, "We can't just rush into these things!!! How can we know you're from the guild? Do you have your badge?" They glared at the other Flabebe. "You can't be so careless in these situations!!!

Varda didn't quite seem like he understood what a miracle his appearance seemed to be to these small Pokémon, staring at the flowers with a blank smile on his face as he listened. It indeed seemed like there was some kind of a problem in these woods… But whatever it was, he had a hard time figuring it out without a proper explanation! Strangely enough, Astir looked like he had never even heard of the Guild, though. That caused the bird to tilt his head. Okay, maybe he hadn't really heard of the Guild before he was separated from his home, but… He thought everyone in this area knew! It seemed like such a big thing!

But finally, through the conversation the flower and Astir had, Varda managed to learn one thing: some Pokémon seemed to be bullying the flowers and trying to drive them away from the forest! That was no good – in fact, it was outright mean! And the Altaria did not like mean things, pouting with righteousness.

Until the other flower called out, exclaiming that the bird couldn't be trusted like that without proof. Luckily, he had the exact proof that was requested!
"Oh, the badge? I got that!" The bird chirped happily as he looked down at his bag and flipped it open with his beak. Craning down his long neck, he dug through it for a moment, pushing his supplies around until he got to what he was looking for. Closing his beak gently on the smooth object, Varda pulled out what seemed to be a smooth emblem, mostly white in color.
"Hea, shee?"

"AHA!" the milder Flabebe exclaimed excitedly upon Varda revealing his badge. "Now what can you say to that? He's acknowledged and everything!"

"I can say it's still and suspicious that someone claiming to be from the guild just so happens to finally show up," the other Flabebe retorted, still clearly set on being a pessimist.

"You know, with that kind of attitude sometimes I think you won't be happy until you lay down and die in the forest.

"I know, I'm sorry." The pessimist took a moments for herself, looking sullen an conflicted. She sighed and turned to the other two pokemon, taking a moment to observe them more closely. At least one of them looked capable of handling themselves, but the other....... clearly a foreigner. A clueless, clueless foreigner. On one hand, at least maybe that meant that he wasn't another double-crosser. On the other hand, was he capable of handling anything at all? Could he even comprehend the levity of the situation? Weighed against the alternatives though... "....ghh, alright alright, it'll work. You two just have to not screw anything up; don't take anyone for face value. In fact, try not to talk to anyone else more than necessary... or at all. Just... let's get to the thistle choke at least, so we won't hit too many prying ears.

Astir just pretended like he understood most of what they were saying. Watching two pokemon bicker at each other was not going to get him any closer to achieving anything remotely respectable. On that front, though... he was certainly interested in Varda. Astir reasoned that he must have definitely achieved a lot based on the reactions of the other two pokemon. It was all aparently because of this guild thing recognizing him.... Astir didn't have a clue why all of this was so important, dut the had sure made it feel big! And if somebody like Varda was getting involved in this... well Astir definitely wanted in.

Before Astir could manage to ask Varda any questions aabout this epic guild thing, the group arrived at quite the natural spectacle and the two Flabebes slowed and turned around as if indicating this was their intended destination. They were in a slight valley now, approaching an impressive natural formation. A few felled trees bridged the gentle dip, all proped up against each other and other living trees. Near the forest floor, the undergrowth had begun to graciously reclaim these trees. Thistle bushes in particular had begun to grow their branches like vines onto the trees, spanning them like nets so that their leaves could catch the scant sunlight that escaped through the canopy. Underneath these nets, more thistle bushes were competing for space and shade-loving ferns had grown to above average proportions. It would have made an excellent burrow or camp were it not above ground in plain sight and full of thousands of prickly pains.

"We'll be able to talk here. The place where we live isn't too far but this path is for the most part unnable to be navigated except for the exceptionally tiny and the most well-versed locals, so we shouldn't have to worry about being heard," the amiable Flabebe explained as they arrived. "I'm sorry we didn't introduce ourselves earlier, but you never know who's around when you're out in the woods and the atmosphere around here... well, you've seen how my friend here is." She gave the other Flabebe a good-hearted poke in the ribs. The other Flabebe didn't look entertained. "My name is Lisle, and I'm a forager in the underground community. We call it Inerde." She paused for the pessimist to speak.

"You can call me Mae. I do the healing," was her flat contribution.

"What are your names?" Lisle promptly asked.

When the little flowery Pokémon were happy with the badge, Varda couldn't help but be happy as well – he did try to smile, but that was rather difficult with his beak full. Well, okay, the other one didn't seem to be too happy, but it seemed like they were coming around too. That was good! It was good when everyone was happy. The blue bird put the badge back into his pouch where it belonged before straightening his neck and looking at the flowers. One of them was already barking instructions to them, but Varda wasn't put off in the least. He just spread his wings slightly and replied with a happy chirp.
"Okay!"

They couldn't talk where they were, though! Apparently there were ears in the trees here. Astir certainly looked like he had ears, and he had been a tree! When the two Pokémon started to move, the bird was on their tail with Astir in tow, jumping over the rocks and the roots that were on the way. It didn't take too long for the forest to give way to a slight clearing – though the trees around it were still so massive they managed to block out most of the sky. Some sunlight still managed to filter through, revealing a small valley filled with spiky purple flowers. Varda knew what those were! They stuck to you.

The two flowers stopped and turned to the pair, with the Altaria doing the same. He tilted his head as he listened, the two clearly not having wanted to reveal any information with the hearing-trees around. Seemed like there was going to be a secret that was going to be revealed! No grand mysteries had been solved yet, but the two Pokémon did introduce themselves, telling them both their names, occupation and where they lived in.
"Oh, I'm Varda! From the Grassveil Guild. I do missions!" He chirped happily, extending a wing in Astir's direction,
"And this is Astir! I found him. He used to be a tree."

"You said that there were bad Pokémon in here…?"

Astir nodded wholeheartedly. "Yep! I was a tree. Well, almost; It's a big responsibility, and I can't make that kind of commitment right now because it's hard to do anything as a tree. Sorry!" Astir made a gesture over in Varda's direction. "Varda was almost a bush. I don't know how clouds photosynthesize, but they're usually in the sky so he'd be a pro at getting sunlight!" Astir just kind of assumed they were looking for plants, because that's what came up when they mentioned needing help! He was a little disappointed that he had come all this way just to not be able to assist with the foliage. Maybe they would have another job for him? He could probably guard the trees pretty well if he didn't burn them down!

The two Flabebe looked at each other; Mae's expression looking significantly less assured as opposed to Lisle's look of reassurance. "Well... I'm glad you found him, and I appreciate your... plant-based talents?" she offered, honestly a little unsure of what she was even saying. "But yes, there are some pretty shady characters here." Lisle settled in, seemingly about to give a long spiel. "There are the natural characters, predators and such... the biggest issue with them is the Nincada, Shedinja and the like. It's a pandemic! Whenever they evolve, they fill up twice the space. They started moving in from other parts of the forest because they ran out of room, and now they're starting to fill up this grove as well! There weren't may options left, and we couldn't all just uproot and move all at once... Then, some of the bigger pokemon had the idea of moving underground, and it worked! They started digging into dead trees and old tree stumps, dug straight through and hollowed out the earth beneath. It worked, and suddenly we had more space! The only problem is we can't get out of them now! Specifically bug, grass, and fairy types like us. The pokemon who fancy themselves 'the leaders' around here are making it nearly impossible for us to leave. They know that they cant continue to expand or keep food growing in the sunless underground without us. It's just a mess!"

This time, Astir was following along much more attentively. If it wasn't plant problems they needed help with, then he could definitely get involved! It was the break he had been looking for! The more he listened, the more his heart raced and the more he liked what he heard. Invaders! Bad guys! Pokemon who needed help beating up bad guys!!! It was a prime setup for things to get dangerous. And where things were dangerous, there was danger. He had heard that, anyways. The prospect of fighting his greatest adversary in an epic final battle over the freedom of a bunch of small, mostly nice flower people? It was too good not to happen!

Mae just chilled there. She knew trying to do anything during a "Lisle" was utterly pointless, and her face showed it.

Lisle, seeing her acquaintance's facial expression, paused her soliloquy for a moment.

"...I'm sorry, this is probably a lot to take in all at once, especially after you just had a run-in with an aggressive pokemon. Maybe instead it would be easier if you ask me what you need to know? I'll answer anything you need to know, and if you need any supplies we can get you some in the meanwhile."

Astir's thought's derailed as the topic of potential food was brought up. "You mean, like berries? Do you really have some? I fell out of a tree earlier and falling is hard work." Mae gave him a strange look, but still handed him an oran berry which disappeared almost immediately. "That's great, thanks! I can definitely handle this now!" the little snake announced, completely forgetting he didn't have the whole story yet (and not particularly caring.) "What do you think, Varda? I know it sounds intimidating, but don't worry, stuff like this is all I do." He grinned.

"What kind of absolute delu-" Mae started to ask incredulously, but Lisle quickly interjected. "That sounds, great, just ask us whatever you need to know!

Astir - 1 energy + 10 (Oran Berry)

FoxFireAlchemist carried out 1 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :