69. [Text/Video/Action for Olivine] Early afternoon ----> Early evening

[foolishwren]

<sub>[It's been chaos. Once everybody realized that... no, what people were falling into were not the once-just-as-scary-but-now-almost-mundane comas that usually took hold of certain people for a week at a time, there had understandably been more than a little panic-- but then Professor Oak's announcement came in.]

[For Heather, it was a relief. So Pokemon were causing it. That didn't exactly make the situation itself any more ideal, but at least they knew. And when 'Monsters did it' was the explanation, well... Heather (understandably) considered this to be exactly the kind of problem she was good at handling.]

[About half an hour after Oak's announcement goes out, a mass text from Heather will pop up on everyone's 'Gears.]</sub>

[MASS TEXT]

So most of you have probably seen that announcement about the bug things stealing peoples' souls. If you haven't, I guess this is a heads up.

Since I DOUBT the police will be doing anything about this... it's probably best we all try and catch as many of these stupid things as possible. I'm sure everybody has friends who're vegetables right now because of them.

I'm in Olivine City-- if anyone in the area wants to help me and Dad stomp these things and get some peoples' souls back in the process, it'd be appreciated. Meet us in front of the Center.

-Heather

~*~

<sub>[And it's quite a few hours later before anything from Heather shows up on the network again-- presumably after a long afternoon of cautiously catching as many Shedinja as she (and anyone else who decides to help out-- be they natives or fellow foreigners) can, without falling victim to the soul-sucking holes on their backs. When the feed DOES blip on, the scene is steeped in dim green light-- it's evening and the PokeGear's owner appears to be carefully moving low to the ground in a forested place. There's faint sounds of other people around-- she's not the only one in the woods trying to catch the bugs, but she does seem to be the only one in the area.]

[She speaks in a hushed tone after fumbling around with the camera a little bit.]</sub>

Hey, guys ... uh, great work so far.

I'm in the woods just north of Olivine and there's a few hiding around here-- if any of you guys need to contact me, just text me-- I don't want any sudden noises scaring the crap out of them and giving me a nice, soul-sucky view of their back ends as they flee in terror.

_{[And with that, she hits the mute button on her 'Gear to silence her speakers-- still transmitting sound from her end, though. She turns slightly to address the snowy-white creature just beside her-- it's Alessa, her Absol-- now much bigger than when she first hatched back in December. She doesn't look particularly happy (but then, does she ever?)-- her coat is bristling, her scarlet eyes are round and wide, and she's hunched defensively, almost like she's trying to disappear into the forest floor, despite her bright coat making it impossible.]}

Sorry, girl... Cooj and Carousel've been at this all day, and you're the only one I have left who's good against ghosts... <sub>[Heather was no type expert, but she'd taken a quick glance at the Pokedex before going out on the bug hunt and figured-- well hey, it should work, right? The Growlithe and Ponyta duo had stomped these things fairly thoroughly, and fire was good against the bugs, right?]

[Alessa replied with a small, unsettled growl-- but Heather's attention was snagged by something popping up on her screen.]</sub>


Harry: Heather, I thought we were going to stick together. Where are you?

Heather: sorry dad, a couple of us followed a few in the woods. Don't worry, we're all being careful.

Harry: Heather...

Heather: DAD seriously, it's ok, I know what I'm doing!! also you still have the Pokemon I let you borrow, right?

Harry: Of course, but that's not what's important. I'd really like it if you came right back and met me. If something happens to you out there I won't know where you are!

Heather: DAD take a chill pill! I've been here a whole year I'll be fine! you don't need to be such a worrywart, I'm not even alone

Harry: That wasn't a request, Heather! I'm serious. Get out of there.

Heather: dad stop freaking out

Harry: I'm not freaking out.

Heather: you totally are
Heather: you are SO freaking out

Harry: I'm worried. Please, you've been doing this all day. Let's go back to the hotel.
Harry: ... Heather? Are you there?

Heather: sorry i was doing something
Heather: [IMAGE ATTACHED]
>>
Heather: ^ that's you right now

Harry: ... cute.
Harry: That rendition of me isn't nearly as worried-looking as I am in reality right now.
Harry: ... But seriously, Heather, get back out here. I wasn't asking.

Heather: [IMAGE ATTACHED]
>>
Heather: better? :D

Harry: ... All right, young lady, I'm really losing patience now.

Heather: i added freak-out sweat and bloodshot eyes

Harry: CHERYL MASON.

Heather: oh snap, the full name
Heather: you must be mad
Heather: All right, all right. as soon as I get this one I'm after, I'll come back out and we can call it a night. deal?

Harry: ...
Harry: If I don't see you in ten minutes, I'm coming in after you.

Heather: fair nuff. Seeya! hey, start thinking about where you wanna go for dinner, too. I'm starved.


_{[Rolling her eyes with an amused grin, she closes the text message and turns her attention back to their target-- a glint of gold and pearl glimmering faintly from the bushes off to the side. She lifts one arm up at eye level in case it's facing away from her and she needs to quickly cover her eyes-- then grins when she sees that it's facing the right away, drifting vacantly a few inches above the ground.]}

Okay, 'Lessa... when I say 'Go', you hit it with Dark Pulse, all right?

...

... Alessa?

_{[Frowning, she turns to look over her shoulder-- because the only reply she received was that low, buzzing growl that the Absol only ever gave off when something very, very bad was about to happen.]}

... Alessa, are you-- ... oh, fuck--

<sub>[She had been staring at a Shedinja off to the side-- and in her distraction, hadn't noticed the ones drifting vaguely down from above-- not at her, not at her Pokemon-- just wafting downwards and spinning gently in place, the same way an ornament on a string might-- except ornaments don't usually suck out your soul.]

[Heather's eyelids were already shutting, her arm rising to shield them .... but it's too late.]

[The screen careens sickeningly as the 'Gear falls from her hand to the forest floor with a soft thump-- followed by the heavy thud of a body collapsing directly behind it.]

[The rest of the feed, until it times out-- is dominated by the distressed squalls of the Absol.]</sub>






[ooc: Video (or action, if people are stumbling across vegetable!Heather) replies will largely be answered by Alessa-- also, since Heather spent most of the day actively working with other people to capture Shedinja, feel free to set action replies earlier in the afternoon if your character might have been one of the ones going bug-hunting with Heather!]

Comments

video

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[She had been staying in town, trying to protect the townspeople, when this message comes through.]

Heather...?

Heather!

Heather! Noooo!

[In that panicked scream, she begins running, trying to find those sections of the woods. WHY IS EVERYONE I LOVE FALLING-]

video

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Poor Minnie... This is what happens when reckless kids go and take risks. Everybody loses. :(]

[The coyote-like yaps and squalls of the Absol are loud and not hard to follow-- it's probably not long before Minnie will be able to hear them in reality rather than just through her speakers.]

[Not only that, but Alessa's milky coat is easy to spot, even in the dim light-- she's trotting in circles around the fallen teen-- nearby, the Shedinjas that were in the air are lying on the ground, twitching-- ready for capture, but there's no one to throw the ball. The comatose Heather certainly isn't going to...]</sub>

action

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[Minnie manages to make it to the area, and gasps in horror as she sees what's going on. She's not alone - Walt the Charizard looms behind her, ready to take down any nasty bugs that are around.]

Heather... Why, why did you have to...

[Sniffling, she rubs her face, and sees the fallen bugs.]

Oh...! I have to hurry! I won't let what she did, be done in vain!

[She unclicks Pokeballs from her belt, and begins a throwing, trying to catch/save as many as she can.]

action I have no happy icons for Alessa

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Alessa had weakened them sufficiently beforehand-- so they're helpless to resist being captured as Minnie's Pokeballs snap them up. The Absol in question had hunkered down over Heather's body, red eyes wide and ears flattened out to the sides. She's shooting nervous glances at Walt (because he's big and on fire), but at the very least she does seem to realize that Minnie is a friend.]

[Whine whine whiiiiinnneee.]</sub>

action NGL she is terrifying

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[Once the bugs are gone, Minnie sighs, and begins to head towards Alessa and Heather's body.]

It's all right... we're friends. Walt is out guardian.

[Walt nods to this, and even folds in his wings. See, I'm not scary, I'm good.]

We want to bring you and back to Olivine, so we can make sure her body is kept safely.

[video]

[miniworth]

... Heather?

[ His voice is tiny and a little--a lot--frightened. Because Heather just didn't lose her soul, did she?

She can't have.

... But she did, didn't she? ]

[video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Yeah... sorry kiddo, but... she did.]

[And she really can't blame anybody but herself-- it was a big slip-up.]

[Unfortunately all Miles will be able to see on the screen is the occasional flash of white as the Absol trots in anxious circles around her fallen trainer...]</sub>

[video]

[miniworth]

[ He watches helplessly for about half a minute until Pess shoves her way into the screen and grunts at Alessa to see if she could catch the Absol's attention.

Does no good if the trainer is down and the Pokémon is near panic. ]

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[The sound does catch her notice-- and a couple seconds later, Alessa's large red eyes swim in front of the screen. She looks upset. She sounds upset. She IS upset. Her ears are pinned back and her thin lips are curling upwards off of her teeth, though the snarl is more worried than vicious.]}

[action]

[ahokonakamori.livejournal.com]

[Aoko saw that post. And all at once, fear and horror swept over her. She immediately began running toward that area in the woods. Once she arrived there, scared and out of breath, she walked over to Heather.]

H.......Heather? [She shook Heather a little bit.] H-Heather, please wake up.

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[When Aoko stumbles across the listless Heather, Alessa is crouched by anxiously, bristling and agitated. There's a few twitching Shedinja lying on the ground nearby-- but none of them facing away from Aoko, thankfully.]

[The Absol stiffens first, but after sniffing tentatively at the girl, she backs away and lets her approach Heather-- who... is completely limp. Her head lolls a bit when she's shaken, but she doesn't wake up.]

[Dead to the world... like Kaito.]</sub>

[action]

[ahokonakamori.livejournal.com]

[No.....no, this can't be happening. Not Heather, too. This isn't real. Aoko already lost Kaito. She can't lose Heather, too.]

C-come on, Heather. Th-this is just a bad joke, right? [She shakes Heather again.]

Right??? [But Heather doesn't wake, no matter what Aoko does. Once Aoko realizes this she holds heather and cries.]

Heatheeeeeeeeeer!! Noooooooooooo!

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Sorry, Aoko... At least you've still got Crow, right?]

[Heather just hangs in Aoko's grip like a ragdoll-- or a marionette with its strings cut. She doesn't even react to the tears falling onto her face and arms. But... she is breathing. Even if she's soulless, at least she's still alive.]

[Beside the pair, Alessa sits down on her haunches and starts to howl along with Aoko's cries.]</sub>

[Action]

[harryusedworry.livejournal.com]

[How many times did he have to tell her not to run off by herself? Harry sighed and looked at the time again. Nine minutes and she still wasn't back. This wasn't good. He'd given her ten minutes and she usually liked to brag about coming back with time to spare. Telling him he worried too much.

He felt panic start to creep into the back of his mind. If something had happened he'd have no idea-

Trying to push those thoughts away, he looked down at the time again. Ten minutes.

And at that he picked up his backpack. Lisa the Togpei was safely inside her Pokeball. She'd been fighting a lot today. A shame, he could have used to company. But he wasn't going to drag her out, he'd walked around more dangerous places then this by himself.

Instead he just brought up the map feature on his communicator and started walking towards where hopefully Heather was. They were going to be having a long talk about this when he found her.]

[Action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Sadly, Harry, you are... not going to be happy with what you find.... B-but hey, at least she won't be HARD to find!]

[The Absol-- a Dark-type Pokemon who Heather had appropriately named 'Alessa' when she'd received her in an egg the previous winter-- is making quite a scene around the little clearing where Heather had collapsed. The coyote-like yaps and howls will undoubtedly clue Harry in to where he's supposed to go.]

[And when he gets there... well, the first thing he'll probably notice is his daughter, sprawled half on her back at the base of a bush, her 'Gear on the ground next to her and one of the specialty Shedinja-capturing Pokeballs still loosely clutched in one hand.]

[The creatures in question are lying around-- evidently taken out by Alessa after Heather's collapse-- be careful not to look at them, Harry!]</sub>

[Action]

[harryusedworry.livejournal.com]

[The creatures laying on the ground are the last thing on his mind as comes across Heather and her Pokemon. The first thing he does is rush over and check to see if she's breathing.]

Heather...Heather. ...Cheryl.

[She was still alive at least. That was something. He needed to focus on that. It wasn't like she'd just collapsed for no reason after all.]

[Action] I need to make icons for Heather's Pokemon that aren't just angry

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Thank god this happened AFTER Oak's memo came out, right?]

[Heather didn't react at all when she was touched-- no stirring, no twitching, nothing. But at least she is breathing... soulless was better than dead. ... Well, at least in this scenario...]

[Beside Harry, the white beast tentatively draws up, poking a sharp, narrow nose at his elbow, gently. This creature looks canine, too, but... is thankfully nowhere near as rambunctious as Cujo. Indeed, she looks ready to shy away if Harry so much as looks like he's about to raise a hand to her.]</sub>

[Video]

[show_my_cannons]

[How does an Onix turn on the 'gear? Maybe Cliffjumper left it on for her. However it happens, there's a very concerned rock snake staring at the feed.]

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Answer: very carefully.]

[It's a moment or two before she gets a view of anything but the canopy above and the occasional white flash of Alessa passing the screen-- but eventually the Absol spots motion on-camera and arrives in front of the 'Gear, teeth bared anxiously and ears slicked back against the bristling ruff of her on her neck as she panted anxiously, staring at the Onix on-screen. She's whining too-- she knows exactly what happened to her trainer and RRRGH she'd even seen it coming why hadn't Heather listened?!]</sub>

[Video]

[show_my_cannons]

[And Napalm can only tilt her head, looking sympathetic. They never listen. They think they know best sometimes.]

[But then she bobs her head, a reassuring growl coming from her. They just need to keep finding the bugs. Everything will be all right then.]

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[GOD WHY ARE TRAINERS SO STUPID]

[It's hard to quell Alessa's nerves-- it always has been, even from the moment she hatched-- but the rumbling sound does at least seem to calm her down a little. All the same, her scarlet eyes are full of worry.]</sub>

[dead-black-eyes.livejournal.com]

[L's Froslass remembers Heather's face from the various video conversations he's had with her in the past, and though she's since evolved from the Snorunt that was often perched on L's lap during those instances, she's still the same sweet pokemon at heart.]

Froslass...

[But to a pokemon...]

[foolishwren]

_{[The voice coming from the speakers... it gets Alessa's attention. The sharp-snouted beast appears in front of the camera again, and although her teeth are bared, it's out of worry and not aggression.]}

I warned her. She didn't listen! My trainer is a FOOL!

[dead-black-eyes.livejournal.com]

[foolishwren]

But she IS!

_{[The Absol insists.]}

She knew the risks and she took them anyway! And then did stupid things instead of focusing! I cannot believe her!