Once More With Scars

First topic message reminder :

"Thank you once again for taking my mission! That ol'raggy bunch has just been merciless to everyone they meet!"

Spoiler:

"I-It's no problem, really. B-But uh...I guess let me know if y-you see any gravelerocks around here..."

Spoiler:

It's been a while since he took on a mission binge, especially alone. He wasn't so sure about this though. There was an audino here, the audino could get hurt. The purpose of the mission was to heal things, but with a "raggy bunch" laying around, he his hopes were a little high. It was a low ranked mission, but it could have easily been more dangerous than it seemed. Acro walked along with the Audino, the friendly normal type going on about whatever she felt like.

If trouble came, he could just tell her to run. That way, she'll be long gone when something bad happens. She'd have to follow his command, right? He's the explorer. If he could give her enough time, then it'd be alright. However, this hinged on whether the pack would decide to show their faces or not. While a part of him hoped they did, the other was fearful of what kind of consequences could come with his very very stupid decision.

Kat carried out 1 launched of one Mission Dice :

2

"Maaan, I've waited forever for this!" Osiris hollered, immediately trying to do backflips in the air. When he succeeded, he just kept trying to do more, turning himself into a spinning wheel of noodle in the air, joyous giggles escaping from him as he rotated.

He didn't know how evolving worked, but if it started with flying, he didn't think it was all that bad, honestly. The dratini figured it would have taken him a lot longer than this though; evolving happened when you got older and stronger, and besides learning some better moves, Osiris didn't feel all that powerful. He made a mental note to ask Zircon about the specifics next time he saw the guy.

The haunter, meanwhile, was drawn from his chuckling when a little gastly floated up out of the ground to join the party. "Ah - haha - here he is now, miss," he remarked, gesturing to the damaged gohst-type with his recently healed hand.

The Archeops watched the dratini seemed to turn into some wheel that picked up in velocity as time went on. The gengar giggled as he watched the dratini have fun with it. The Gastly, meanwhile, approached the audino cautiously, but eventually received the same treatment. The audino gave a polite smile and performed some sort of bow, "Thaaat should do it!"

Acro looked back to the audino, "Any one else around here?" he decided to ask.

The Audino was quick to respond, "Yes! If I remember correctly, there's a pair of Linoone up closer to the house. They had it pretty nasty from what I've heard. We should head up there next." The archeops nodded before he looked over to his suddenly airborne companion.

"Uhh...Osiris, it's...kinda time to go I think?" He responded. As he did, the Gengar almost seemed sad. The dratini was slowly settled onto the ground, the few moments of fun were over with, unfortunately.

Pokemon Healed: 2

Kat carried out 1 launched of one Mission Dice :

4

Energy: 70

Kat carried out 10 launched of one Pricklemist Hill :

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"Oooooh, I'm kinda dizzy," Osiris mumbled as he was gently placed on the ground. Maybe he wasn't evolving after all? He shook his head out as if to cast off the queasy feeling in his stomach, and after he did so he caught the eye of the gengar again - which winked at him. Did... Was it the gengar, and not him? The dratini's jaw dropped, his ear fins fluttering strongly in agitation.

That was embarrassing; Iris felt glad that he didn't voice his suspicions out loud. At least he had fun for a few seconds. "Yeah, okay." he drawled out, turning to follow Acro and the audino after waving bye to the ghost-tyes with his tail. At least now there was no doubt as to whether or not he was allowed to come along. The archeops in charge—or, well, escorting the person in charge—asked him to come along!

+1 energy (new page)

the sunset hero carried out 8 launched of one Pricklemist Hill :

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The trio wandered along up the hill after bidding their farewells to the trio of friendly neighborhood ghost types. Though the encounter had nothing to do with it, Acro wondered if he would come back as a ghost pokemon if he were to perish. Would he remember anything? Would he be able to recognize the few friends he had? Hm...probably not. Knowing his luck, they'd probably end up fighting. Then either he'd be killed again or they would be. If the world was cruel enough to bring him back, it would be just to taunt him yet again with how truly powerless he was.

The audino finally seemed to shut up at least, satisfied with the service it gave to the friendly pokemon back there. Instead, it seemed to hum a little tune as they climbed up the hill. Once they got closer to the house, the audino's keen eye suddenly looked off to the side. "Oh!" was all she would say before she suddenly ran off. Acro was quick to follow along, though if it looked like the dratini didn't notice then he would scoop him up to bring along.

The Audino approached a collection of bushes that looked almost out of place among the tall grass around it. Well, it looked as if the shrubbery around it was utterly destroyed. Holes littered the area that lead down into dens, though the Audino seemed to hone in on one in particular. "Hellooooo! Rosey from the Pokemon Healers Association?" She called into the hole.

"What's up?" Acro whispered to her.

"I saw a linoone poke its head out here." she whispered back.

The dratini did notice the audino's change of direction, not having a lot to entertain himself with after leaving the ghosts to their own devices. Iris slithered along, curious at the new development, and when the audino explained her findings, an idea popped into his head. "I can fit in there if you want me to go explain," Osiris offered. "Or just see if anybody's home."

If not for the archeops' outburst earlier, he probably would have just slithered on in without asking, but he got the impression that Acro took the safety of his companions really seriously. Which was cool - seeing the bird go out of his way to protect him back at the frozen stream was another instance of that trait. But he didn't think there was going to be any mean mightyenas in linoone dens; how would they even fit?

The dratini made an offer. A tempting offer that Acro was quick to make a decision on. Unfortunately, the Audino would interrupt him before he could answer, "Oh! That'd be lovely of you and very kind!!"

"W-Wait, if something happens down there-we wouldn't be able to get to him." He was quick to point out. Acro looked between the dratini and the Audino, uncertain and concerned for the safety of Osiris.

"Oh don't you worry about it! The Linoone around here are friendly folks! They only really lash out if they're threatened...or hungry. They're not them when they're hungry." The audino giggled as if she made some joke, though it only really confused Acro.

"It's dangerous-"

"Well do you have a better idea?" The Audino huffed, clearly already annoyed with him. Of course, Acro was shut down. A sinking feeling stuck in his gut, but this didn't seem to be a battle he could win. The audino turned back towards the dratini, "Alright. Just go on in and let them know that we're hear to help them. They might be a little spooked still, so don't make any sudden movements and keep your voice soft. Okay sweetie?"

Acro could hardly believe they were doing this. His gaze was fixed on the dratini, almost as if he were silently begging the dratini to back down. His attention was ripped away quickly, however, the plantation behind him rumbled. He turned around quickly to face the noise, but it became clear that the two spoink that created it were not interested in a fight as they bounced away at speeds Acro didn't even know spoink could travel at.

"Don't worry, Acro. I don't think I'd taste very good anyway." he said solemnly. He turned to the little tunnel that the audino spoke down earlier. No sudden movements and a soft tone of voice; he got it. The dratini slithered right in, keeping his movements slow and steady.

"Hello~~?" Osiris stage-whispered, working through the tunnel. One thing he didn't really take into consideration was how dark it was. He wondered if he was going to - oh, wait, no, there was some light... at the end of the tunnel, heh. "We're here to help fix you guys up, there's a lady from the, um, healing association, waiting outside." he softly called, making his way to the dimly lit crevice at the end of the tunnel.

What he found wasn't just two linoone. It was three, and a zigzagoon, all of whom looked like they could use the services of a healing pokemon - they bore claw and bite marks. The fully evolved pokemon stood protectively in front of the zigzagoon, alert and wary, searching his expression for any hint of falsehood. Iris smiled nervously. "I'll go up," one of the linoone muttered. "See if they are who they say are."

And so Osiris turned nervously and led the pokemon back up the tunnel, keenly aware that if it wanted to, it could slurp him up from behind like a noodle. No such thing happened, though, and both dratini and linoone popped out of the hole, both looking relieved to see Acro and the audino up there. "Easy peasy," he said, an easy grin on his face as he looked up at the archeops.

Pokemon Left: Fletchling Kriketot Fletchindr Seviper Gastly

He was tense as the little dratini went under. His expression was apparently enough to prompt an attempt at comfort from the audino. He felt a hand on his shoulder once again, he looked over to the audino to see her smile and tilt her head. He ignored it at first...but then the Audino leaned onto him in a hug.

What.

The Archeops attempted to pull away, but she clung on, "Come on now, it's gonna be ooookay!" she insisted, "You don't gotta worry so much!" Acro, of course, tried to push the Audino off kindly at first, but as soon as the ear-feeler started to touch him he put full muscle into the force and shoved the audino off to the side.

The normal type was more baffled than hurt as she landed on her rear. Acro was sure to keep her distance from her. "Please don't touch me." He requested very strongly.

The normal type looked at him with big round eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but Osiris then returned with a linoone in tow. Immediately her attention was pulled away, back to her cheery self as she stood herself back up, "Hello!!! I'm Rosey, from the Pokemon Healers Association!" The audino greeted once more, "If you have any injuries, I'm here to heal them all up for free!" she chimed to the linoone with glee.

The linoone sagged with visible relief. "Oh, thank goodness. After the rest of us got drove off by those dogs, I thought it was just them around here. Please, wait here just a moment while I go fetch the others." it said, diving right back into the hole.

It popped back out a couple of minutes later alongside two other linoone and the little zigzagoon, all three looking quite rough. Osiris, for his part, spent this time scanning their surroundings. He thought he saw another gastly in the distance—though it could just be a cloud of mist, in this kind of environment—but aside from the amusing sight of a fletchling chasing around a kricketot under the watchful eye of a fletchinder, there wasn't a lot going on.

"Is this the kinda thing you like better?" he asked Acro while the linoones and zigzagoon all lined up for healing. "Or do you like the fights with bad guys more?"

He was asked a question. He had to think about it for a moment. Normally he quite liked these more peaceful wholesome missions. Ones that didn't require a lot of fighting or life-risking choices. Nobody was in danger of dying and everything was peachy. Right at that moment, however, he wanted danger. He wanted something big, but he also wanted it alone.

"These are a little uh...easier...on the stress..." he admitted, "When it comes to 'fighting bad guys' it was kinda exciting I guess at first, but after a while it just wears down on you. Just when you think you've seen the worst a pokemon could be, someone else pops up with an even nastier crime than the one before." It was demoralizing in a way, to see so many terrible pokemon refuse to turn around and admit to their crimes. Selfish horrible pokemon who didn't care for those they impacted.

"It's always nice to take these kinds of missions..." he finished with as he watched the Audino work her magic with each and every one of them. The Audino seemed to be pretty worn out by the time she finished, fortunately for Acro, as she seemed to forget about the Archeops entirely. She wiped her bro with a content breath.

"There you all go! If those Mightyena come back don't be afraid to give me a call! I can also pin up a mission at the guild for somebody big and strong like Acro here to take care of him!" The audino giggled.

The first linoone dipped his head low, his tone sincerely grateful. "Thank you. We may just end up taking you up on that if the rest of the tribe returns to us." it intoned, gesturing for the rest of them to head back down to the den. They did so obediently and after one last thankful look, the linoone scurried down after its kin.

"I think I can get that," Osiris nodded along, a little giddy at the fact that he was having a grown-up conversation with an actual guild member. "Would be kinda boring if all the missions you took were like this too though, huh?" he went on, mostly just trying to extend the conversation. Maybe he could get a little nugget of wisdom to pass on to Geo to make their career a little easier.

Unseen and unheard by the dratini, though, another serpetine pokemon lurked in the shadows of the mist. Iris didn't pick up the quiet, almost inaudible hissing of a nearby snake, but it was there still, its eyes trained on the plump, tasty-looking normal type in their little group.

The most likely answer for an explorer would have been, yes. It would have gotten boring if all of the missions were dull and uneventful escorts like this...and rock collecting. Acro, however, found himself with a different opinion, "...No." he admitted, "I don't think it would." Only problem with that, however, was that it was made apparent to him time and time again in the past that he was barely capable of protecting anyone. Linus's final accusatory gaze flashed into his head. He hunched up at the thought of it. Was rock collecting really all he was good for? Rock collecting and barely managing to handle an E-Ranked outlaw?

The audino waved goodbye to the linoones as they retreated to into the depths of the den. Her smile seemed almost unwavering, until her ears twitched. The ears of an audino were one of the most sensitive of any pokemon in the world, thus why they were called the hearing pokemon. While the snake's hiss was near inaudible to the remaining pokemon, she heard it clear as day.

"WATCH OUT!" she suddenly cried as she pointed out the direction of the seviper.

As soon as Rosey shouted her warning, the seviper sprung into action - they may have been alerted to its presence, but there was a chance it could take one or two of them off guard before they were ready. It slithered a quick distance before springing forward, swinging its body around so that it's swordlike bladed tail was poised to come down on Acro in an overhand slash.

Osiris, remembering the archeops' words from earlier, backed up considerably as soon as he turned and saw the much bigger serpent hauling tail toward them. He technically wasn't a guild member yet, and this was absolutely not his mission to take, but he felt an obligation to keep the audino safe regardless; running away here would be like a police trainee turning a blind eye to crime. So he gravitated towards Rosey, not covering near as much ground as the seviper did in the short moment of action, but far enough away that anything Acro did immediately probably wouldn't come close to him.

Besides, he'd watched Acro tangle with not one but two whole cloysters and come out on top. Three, if you counted the one he dropped in one shot. What were the odds he'd get trounced by a silly little snake?

Very likely. The blade of the tale slashed into him. The warning of the Audino gave him a good amount of reaction time, but the serpent was quick. Immediately in reaction, the archeops attempted to launch himself back away from the snake with his powerful legs. The blade caught him, but it wasn't deep. Acro bit back a cry of pain. Once the snake returned to the ground, it quickly attempted to slither off towards the Dratini and the Audino.

Acro, however, was not about to have any of that. No, he thought. He came here to be the one to be attacked. This strictly wasn't allowed. The archeops's foot landed on the serpent's tail. The seviper cried out in pain before it whipped its head around to lunge at him. This time, it aimed to sink its long fangs straight into him. Acro narrowly managed to dodge the seviper's quickly timed attack, which caused it to fall flat. With a swift kick, he managed to deliver a harsh blow to the seviper's skull. The creature flopped over as its body went limp, effectively dazed by the strike.

"Go!" he ordered the dratini and the audino, his claws releasing the seviper as he would chase after his escorts.

Osiris' eyes bulged when the venomous snake actually managed to touch Acro, suddenly feeling a lot less safe. That seemed to be the end of the threat, though, as the archeops pinned its tail to the ground and gave it a wicked stomp to the head as soon as it turned around for another attack. It was a pretty awesome sight to witness, but the dratini didn't get any time to dwell on it; the archeops told to him to go.

So he was goin'. Iris turned on a dime and, already close to Rosey, nudged into her powerfully to get her going. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" he chanted hurriedly, taking off in a rapid slither to create as much distance between them and the seviper as possible. Acro would win, of course, but maybe the snake was gunning for a cheap shot on him or the audino. Best remove that possibility altogether.