Tyrrier Islet of Light

[Tetra]

It took a great deal of self-control for Koa not to roll his eyes at Looker's statement. Definitely not from a world like is, or one with Avis then. She was practically the same age as him...Not to mention everything else that had happened while on Forlas. He guessed he couldn't blame him too much though, no telling how different his world was with trainers and ages...

He pushed aside the thought, trying to discern what the Honchkrow meant. If that meant 'yes' then what was Honchkrow doing back here? Had it returned just to enjoy the scenery?

"I think after the wannabe demon king dragon trying to take over the underworld, almost dying, and ousting a group of criminals bent on creating a shadow army I can handle an investigation," he said plainly. "But we can leave sensitive information for... later," he said. The less they gave away to Garnet the better he supposed.

"Honchkrow," he said, turning back to the bird. "Did you run away?" He gestured to the still shining brickwork. "Or were you... left." He tapped one paw on the ground, hoping it would mimic one of the motions. If Honchkrow was abandoned...

 

[Inkedust]

Honckhrow tilted his head, confused. It seemed like the answer to Koa's question there was 'neither'.

"Perhaps he left his trainer's side by his own volition to loot what was left of the dungeon with the intention of returning to his side," Bellatrix muttered as she watched the bird's behaviour. Murkrow and honchkrow are drawn to shiny things –" she looked around the dungeon, now notably dimmer but still sparkling "– I imagine that a place like this is nothing short of a paradise for them."

Bellatrix then sighed at Laura. "I wasn't expecting a fight here," she said. "Unless we carry cuffs on our person at all times, I don't imagine that we did. I wonder what the trainer would think we did choose to take him with us, we don't think that this might've been his only pokémon, do we?"

Looker shook his head in response. "I am sure there are others," he confirmed. He exchanged another look between Koa and Laura. "In a sense," he replied. "I must confess, it is hard to fall into a portal to an alternate dimension that just opened up beneath you on purpose but after enough coincidences, you do start to wonder how much of an accident your presence here is.

"I would also advise against underestimating this person if my suspicions are proven true," Looker added. "One does not mastermind an entire criminal organisation and its many fronts at such a young age for nothing." The arcanine looked somewhat guilty. Despite not wishing to downplay the Wayfarers' feats or capabilities, he still looked hesitant to say more. Was the matter more personal to him? "It is safer that you remain out of it," he finished.

 

[Namohysip]

"What has this person accomplished before?" Mhynt asked for clarity as she recalled Owen from surveying the area for any particular scraps of information or remnants. "Perhaps their skills would have transferred in some way relevant here. That could be useful for all of us. Who knows, we may even have clues we don't realize are already known."

 

[Tetra]

Well that was something, then. "That seems likely," he murmured in agreement with Bellatrix. "I would try using a pokeball but if he wasn't released that means his trainer probably still has the ball."

Too bad they couldn't just ask Honchkrow who his trainer was. "Your trainer must have the relic then, right Honchkrow?" He already expected the answer was yes. Could they... follow him? Track him somehow, back to his trainer? He tried to sort through ideas, however farfetched, of how they could get something from this. Get the Relic back, before it was used for something terrible.

Looker's words only half registered. Something about Looker's description... But then, he'd given up ages ago trying to make sense of the whole multiverse thing, it would be impossible to know who it could be. Although whoever it was, it sure had Looker on edge...

Koa looked back at the Arcanine again, this time with his gaze more pointed. "We're already in it. Whoever this is, if they're here, they're a problem. They must have the Relic now." The thought of some other criminal mastermind type having the relic made him furious.

 

[Jackie Cat]

The situation was all-too familiar. Maybe any Relic that turned up would immediately catch the eye of just about any ambitious individual or organisation – after all, the Wayfarers were ostensibly here as Covenant agents, weren't they?

She blew air from her nose and glanced at Looker.

"Detective, I appreciate your concern, and I respect your professional experience, but, uh. There's not a chance we stay out of this, is the thing. It's best you take that as a given, so we can move on – if it helps at all, you should know that we're not exactly pushovers ourselves."

Among the most powerful mortals on the planet, she was pretty sure. And there were still plenty of them. This new enemy would have to be seriously formidable, and well-entrenched for a long time, to face up to a determined squad or two of Wayfarers.

"I can give you the play-by-play of some of the upsets we've pulled off, Detective, but I get the feeling we're on a time crunch, so the more you can tell us, the better."

 

[Chibi Pika]

Ralsen tapped a claw to his own notebook. He'd been observing the area, taking notes on the altar, the ruined stonework, the lingering effects of the Radiance, everything. But after seeing how the Honchkrow had responded, and the fact that it very likely was still linked to its trainer...

"I wouldn't be surprised if its trainer had the Relic, then," he surmised. "Our best bet is seeing if there's any way the bird can lead us in the right direction."

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Guess so," muttered Laura. Betel, can you track it, possibly...?

 

[Inkedust]

Honchkrow responded with another affirmative. His trainer had the Relic and it might've been for a few days already.

"For all intents and purposes, I do not know the full extent of his capabilities here," Looker replied. To Mhynt he said, "He nearly ended the world as we knew it, and while that power was not his own, he managed it through great research and deception. I fear what he may be capable of now that he has natural strength and the powers that may have been found within that Relic."

Another sigh. "It's not that I doubt you," Looker then said as the Wayfarers began to pester him further about the mystery trainer. "It's that I fear you may be underestimating him. I do not even know what form he even took here, let alone where might be outside of the area." He looked at Honchkrow who was preening his feathers again. "But you have a fair point and I believe that there is some degree of psychic influence over the area. Insidiously subtle too. It has been... difficult to think clearly sometimes because of it."

Bellatrix spared a look at the Arcanine before she turned to back to the bird. "Tracking it back to his trainer may be the best option, but he may not return to him immediately." She folded her arms. "Although the murkrow and honchkrow are not the only odd pokémon around. Do you think that gyarados in the lake is also another of that trainer's pokémon?"

Looker answered with a solemn nod.

 

[Namohysip]

"Hmm." Mhynt watched Honchrkow thoughtfully, wondering something to herself. "Looker. I have... a particular power. I do not know what its range is, but so long as we are careful, I could... potentially try to spy on this Honchkrow's movements until reunited with this mysterious trainer. Though, I doubt it will last much longer, as it can be fragile..."

Mhynt nodded. "I could try to attach my shadow to it. Some other tracking may also help. Then, when my shadow is destroyed, perhaps he can relay any and all information he'd gained."

As if to announce his present, Mhynt's shadow waved at Looker from the ground, independent of Mhynt's actual arm.

"Of course... this relies on Honchkrow actually returning. We could also simply interrogate here, or somewhere safer. We have... an ally of sorts as well who has great charisma with Pokemon. Perhaps with a friendly chat, we can get information that way." She was, of course, thinking of Red.

 

[Tetra]

"The Murkrow have been acting weird for a long time..." Koa muttered. He shot a glance toward Odette. She'd tried to talk to them once, awhile back. Just how long...? He stared intently at Honchkrow. "Have you and your trainer been here a long time?"

"He nearly ended the world as we knew it, and while that power was not his own, he managed it through great research and deception.

Do you think that gyarados in the lake is also another of that trainer's pokémon?"

For most of the conversations, he'd only paid part attention. Filed it away as 'important' but something to think about later. Figuring out the Honchkrow and the Relic problem captured his immediate attention. In the back of his mind he absorbed Laura investigating Looker, going reporter mode on him. Took note of Ralsen's prattling even if that Grovyle ticked him off.

Until he registered Looker and then Bellatrix's words. And a single terrible chain of thought wrapped around his thoughts. Looker. Sinnoh. Criminal mastermind. Such a young age. Power not his own. Ended the world.

Honchkrow. The way it looked at him, the way it fought. The Gyarados at the lake. His stomach giving a sickening lurch. They were His.

Koa felt cold, then hot, then pins and needles all over, punctuated by a constant ringing in his ears that blotted out all else. Everything narrowed into a buzzing singularity. Here, he was here, he’s here. Cyrus was here and he had a Relic-

The world around him tilted, and the air seemed to leave his lungs. A part of him wanted to just turn and leave, get out of the too small clearing - had the air gotten thinner? - right then and there. Except that would bring questions.

Get a grip. He blinked. Swallowed past the lump in his throat and nausea in his stomach. Then pulled on a familiar mask.

Annoyance. Disgust. Focus on the frustration of missing the Relic. Bury everything else. "Well, we should decide quickly. We don't have long."