Sojaveña Wilds Clan Battlegrounds

[Phoenixsong]

The wind was howling and lashing at them, grit was flying everywhere, and in general everything was exhausting and annoying and frankly making it kinda hard to actually enjoy a close, dangerous match. Screw all of this.

"I don't want to fight these stupid little sneezes," Leaf said, glaring down at the legendary from atop the hill. "I want to fight you. And buddy, I don't let anyone or anything get in the way of what I wanna do. The weather doesn't care about me? Cool. I don't care about it, either."

Spoiler: Turn 4

Leaf (58 STM, 12 TMP, +2 SPD, +2 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to East Field
- **Act:** Item (Leppa Berry) (+40 STM)
- Pay Day @ Zapdos (-6 STM, +6 TMP)
- CRITICAL Psycho Cut @ Zapdos (-13 STM, -11 TMP, +5 TMP)
- AGILE Tenacious Soul @ Zapdos (-45 STM, +5 TMP)
- CRITICAL Tenacious Soul @ Zapdos (-30 STM, effect, -16 TMP, +7 TMP) [Effect: +1 Speed]
Net change: -43 STM, -4 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 15 STM (46 after regen), 8 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

Spoiler: Enemy phase RP: Spoilered so this post doesn't get too long

Eyes wide, Steven let out a cry of dismay as Astrid's body flopped to the ground. But before he could see if she would rise again, the swirling dust swallowed her. The same dust that was now bearing down on his position.

Wind ripped up the hill, tearing chunks from the cliffside in its approach; a howling malestrom with two gleaming eyes. There was only enough time to shove Koa out of the way with a pulse of magnetism before Zapdos was upon them.

Wings and talons rained down, stronger and more frenzied than before. Steven's vision spun as he was bunted back and forth, claws grasping at nothing but air trying to right himself. One final blow, and he was spiked to the ground and bounced, leaving him struggling to list back to horizontal. Or as horizontal as he could manage.

But Zapdos was already upon his new targets. In desperation, Steven called out. Anything to try to keep the bird's attention on him, and not his teammates.

"Hey! Where... are you... going?" he shouted between labored breaths. "I'm not.... finished yet!"

At first Steven wasn't sure if the Cyclone even heard him. Except he must have, because in between his assault on Leaf and Koa, Zapdos kicked out. But to Steven's surprise, it wasn't aimed at him-- it was aimed at one of the boulders dislodged in the onslaught. It flew straight for him, launched like a missile by Zapdos's kick. There was a resounding GONG as it struck Steven broadside before he could react, and both he and the rock dropped to the ground in a cloud of dust.

When his eyes managed to refocus, Zapdos was gone. Steven pushed himself off the ground with shaking arms; the effort of only levitating was simply too much. Dirt grated in his joints. He could barely stay afloat. His vision fuzzed with static. But he was still standing. And that's what mattered.

The rest of his teammates had already renewed their assault on Zapdos, who he could barely see through the wall of swirling winds. Steven had a feeling, though, that the Legendary could see him.

"Cyclone!" he called, hoping to see two yellow eyes turn his way. "What's your aim in all this? A test? A thrill? Or is it really to see us gone?"

He huffed a single, weak laugh, fighting to keep his voice steady. "You tout your strength, but strength isn't only the ability to beat your opponent into the dirt over and over. It's also the will to stand back up every time."

He was on his last legs, that much was obvious. If Zapdos wished to strike him down, it would be trivial. But he would be damned to give the bird the satisfaction of taking it lying down.

Despite his fatigue, he raised a claw and leveled it at the Legendary.

"Tell me, who is stronger: the one who strikes without reason or the ones who persist?"

Steven's gaze hardened, and he dove straight for the heart of the swirling winds, a bullet punch shining in each fist.

Spoiler: Turn 4

Steven (29 STM, 5 TMP, -1 SPD, +0 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- **Act:** Item (Leppa Berry) (+40 STM)
- **Act:** Call @ Astrid
- **Act:** Call @ Zapdos
- Dash to East field (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Bullet Punch @ Zapdos (-9 STM, +2 TMP)
- Bullet Punch @ Zapdos (-6 STM, +2 TMP)
- Bullet Punch @ Zapdos (-9 STM, +2 TMP)
Net change: +14 STM, +4 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 43 STM (68 after regen), 9 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

 

[Goat]

Spoiler: Aige turn 4 (Aux)

Aige (Aux)
- Call @ Leaf

 

[RJr3:2]

The longer the battle went, the more Aige felt that *everyone* was just wasting their time. What would beating Zapdos on his own terms prove?

Listening to her teammates, Aige called out to Leaf in between flurries of attacks and dodges. "If you want to fight, then just fight him and be done with it. Talking just prolongs things." She paused a moment. "Unsolicited advice, I know. Ignore me if you want."

 

[Chibi Pika]

Turn 4
Player Phase Four​

Six dust devils encircled the Roaming Cyclone in a whirling frenzy, to the point that it was almost hard to even see the thunderbird in the eye of the storm. Striking him down would mean braving that storm--but that's what everyone was prepared to do.

Astrid's Spotter Feat - Zapdos AI

Zapdos doesn't have perfect aerokinetic control over the dust devils, but he does seem to guide them with his movements. He probably makes a gut-instinct call on who he feels most threatened by, and then the dust devils veer to intercept the threat. The dust devils appear to spread fairly evenly between the threats, and would probably just get in each other's way if he tried to put too many in one spot. Grabbing his attention in other ways would likely affect their behavior too...

Aige called out to Leaf!
Steven called out to Astrid!
Steven's TRIPLE Bullet Punch dealt 6+8+8 damage to Dust Devil 5!

Koa's AGILE Ganbatte Soul dealt 33 damage to Dust Devil 6!
Koa's Mach Punch dealt 62 damage to Dust Devil 6! Destroyed!
Koa's Ganbatte Soul dealt 37 damage to Dust Devil 7!

Koa's paws trailed lightning as he tore through the first cyclone with relative ease. But then a second one moved into his path, threatening to slow him down--at least, until a pair of ghostly tassels wrapped around his middle, carrying him through to the center of the whirlwind!

Koa's Mach Punch dealt 18 damage to Zapdos!
Koa's Thunder Punch dealt a CRITICAL 37 damage to Zapdos!
Astrid's AGILE Soul Rocket dealt 21+23 damage to Dust Devil 8! +1 Mag
Astrid's Soul Rocket dealt 37 damage to Dust Devil 8! Destroyed!

Meanwhile, a burst of light dissolved another cyclone--Astrid, shooting through the air in a blinding burst of light. A second cyclone swerved into her path, but the light carried her straight through, bursting through the whirlwind and into the eye of the storm.

The second hit dealt 32 damage to Dust Devil 9 and carried Astrid straight through!
Astrid's Frost Breath dealt a CRITICAL 35 damage to Zapdos!
Astrid's Sheer Cold--

A horrible chill had formed around the ice fox, like all the warmth had been sucked from the atmosphere. Compressed tighter and tighter, a single, tiny singularity plunging toward absolute zero.

Until finally, it expanded.

A sphere of nothingness, enveloping the two of them. Breath solidified instantly into clouds of frost. Shrubs and grasses were replaced with gleaming, spindly statues. Even Zapdos had stopped moving, standing transfixed, staring at Astrid. And for a single, eternal moment, everything hung motionless, as if time itself had frozen.

Leaf's Pay Day dealt 25 damage to Dust Devil 10!
Leaf's Psycho Cut dealt a CRITICAL 64 damage to Dust Devil 10! Destroyed!
Leaf's AGILE Tenacious Soul dealt 14 damage to Zapdos!
Leaf's Tenacious Soul dealt a CRITICAL 37 damage to Zapdos!

Zapdos shook the frozen feathers from his wings, sending glittering shards falling to the ground like bits of glass knives. Then, without another word, he struck.

Zapdos's Thunderous Kick struck everyone in the zone!

Thunderous footfalls struck the earth relentlessly, over and over. And when the dust cleared, only Leaf and Steven remained, the golden glow of their Revivers enabling them to stand back up once more. Zapdos watched them push through with a wild gleam in his eyes.

Steven and Leaf were revived!
Steven called out to Zapdos!

"You tout your strength, but strength isn't only the ability to beat your opponent into the dirt over and over. It's also the will to stand back up every time."

Zapdos's beak curled into a harsh grin. "Do you think you'll be able to keep standing back up? Through everything this world throws at you?"

"I don't want to fight these stupid little sneezes. I want to fight you. And buddy, I don't let anyone or anything get in the way of what I wanna do. The weather doesn't care about me? Cool. I don't care about it, either."

"If you have the power to defy nature, then defy it."

Zapdos called out to Steven!
Zapdos called out to Leaf!
Zapdos ran to West Field.

The giant avian raced across the field once more, and this time, the dust devils did not follow. He stood alone, defiant, daring them to finish what they'd started.

Strike me down, if you're able.

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

This time when the lights came back on, it was startlingly pleasant. Almost a warm, tingling sensation as Steven picked himself off the ground once again. At his side, Leaf also clambered back to her feet. Across the field, Zapdos stared them down. No dust devils, no swirling winds; just a bared soul and an open challenge.

Steven narrowed his eyes, claws clenching into fists. "You say it as if it's even a choice," he said, lowly. If what the Relic showed him was true, if he didn't stand back up, if he let this world push him out, he would disappear. Forever.

Zapdos's smile made him seem so sure there was a limit; something to justify giving up and fading away. Letting the aggressor win. Except he didn't know who he was talking to. A Stone was far too stubborn for that. Stealing a glance at his teammate, he had a sneaky feeling that Leaf shared the sentiment. Zapdos could talk all it wanted; neither of them were backing down.

His body tensed in response, a shimmering glow skirting over his steel skin before coalescing in both fists. The air hummed between him and Leaf.

Maybe he could chalk it up to being in the body of a pokemon, but he had the sudden, overwhelming desire to punch that grin right off of Zapdos's face.

The standoff held for another tense, suffocating moment. And then Leaf exploded into action. He was off like a shot right behind her, fist cocked at the ready.

He didn't swing until he saw the yellow of Zapdos's eyes.

"You can bluster all you like--"

A left. "--but I am--" A right. "--not going--"

Both arms came down together. "--Anywhere!"

Spoiler: "Turn" 5

Steven (68 STM, 12 TMP, +0 SPD, +0 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to West Field
- Iron Defense (-13.5 STM, +2 TMP)
- Soul's Requiem @ Leaf (-30 STM, +2 TMP) [+2 Endure, -3 Def Steven, +3 Def Leaf]
- AGILE Bullet Punch @ [Zapdos] (-9 STM, +2 TMP)
- Bullet Punch @ [Zapdos] (-6 STM, +2 TMP)
- CRITICAL Bullet Punch @ [motherfucking Zapdos] (-9 STM, -20 TMP, +2 TMP)
Net change: -68 STM, -10 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 0 STM (25 after regen), 2 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

 

[Phoenixsong]

The wind cut and slashed at them as Zapdos whipped past. Screw the wind. Cut back. Cut through.

And they did. Threw everything they had at him. Fists and lightning flying through the air; a flash of cold so sharp Leaf could feel it clawing at her chest even as she ran past. Encouragement (...kind of?) and shouting and striking. Everyone, everything, together.

The winds died down. Zapdos didn't. All that and he still hit like they were playing chicken with the friggin' Magnet Train. The rapidash hauled herself back up, glared at the Cyclone through the stars searing her eyes. Steven was up, too, giving her a look like he knew this was it. Hell yeah.

"Ghaspius! You got them, right?" Leaf called over her shoulder as she threw herself into one last charge. Koa and Astrid would be okay with him to help them up. They'd be even more okay once We Have Roadrunner At Home here was a cartoon bird-shaped hole in the ground.

...Kinda felt like she could do with some helping up herself, she wasn't gonna lie. But not yet. Not when they were this close, this good. Can't stop when you're about to crush a god damn legendary pokémon. Can't fall down if you just keep moving forward.

Spoiler: turn sorry pal the leaf remains uncrunched

Leaf (77 STM, 11 TMP, +1 SPD, +2 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to West Field
- Bulk Up (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- Pay Day @ Zapdos (-6 STM, +6 TMP)
- CRITICAL Psycho Cut @ Zapdos (-13 STM, -11 TMP, +5 TMP)
- STRONG CRITICAL Tenacious Soul @ Zapdos (-45 STM, -10 TMP, +7 TMP)
Net change: -77 STM, -1 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 0 STM (0 after regen), 10 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

Spoiler: Turn Order

- Leaf
- AND IT'S STEVEN WITH THE STEEL FIST

 

[Tetra]

Koa felt the strike, and then nothing. Nothing until is vision slowly swam back into focus, and the rest of his senses trickled back in and the world stopped spinning quite so fast.

Zapdos' voice rang across fields. A challenge, even though Koa couldn't organize his thoughts enough to make out the words. His hackles rose and a defiant snarl built in his throat that abruptly turned into a cough as he hacked up dust, his ribs protesting. He realized he was still lying on his side, not moving. Useless. Had he fallen so easily? Pathetic. Is that all the strength your spirit can muster?

Get up!

His mind screamed, and he made a feeble attempt to rise, but his body only responded in a half measure, scrabbling at the dusty earth. Fighting back a wave of dizziness, he tried to rise again, but couldn't even drag himself upright.

Above the howling winds, he heard Steven. Saw him charging defiantly, streaking after Leaf. Something in him snapped, a piercing determination and resolve at the sight of their strength. He couldn't give up now, couldn't let them do this alone, couldn't let this stupid Zapdos be right.

Digging his paws into the earth, he let out a furious howl. A bolt of lightning struck his body, sending a crackling rush of last reserves through him. He surged to his paws. His body was spent and he had no strength left to attack, but he refused to accept defeat. Refused to lie down and give in. Standing as tall as he could, he faced Zapdos.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Turn 5​

One final assault. It would all end here, one way or another.

Leaf's Pay Day dealt 5 damage to Zapdos!
Leaf's Psycho Cut dealt a CRITICAL 22 damage to Zapdos!
Leaf's STRONG Tenacious Soul dealt a CRITICAL 28 damage to Zapdos!

Steven's Soul's Requiem toughened up Leaf! +2 Endure
Steven's TRIPLE Bullet Punch dealt 3+4+6 damage to Zapdos! KO!!

A whirlwind of blows, capped off by a flurry of punches and the thud of metal colliding with Zapdos's skull. The giant avian staggered backwards, eyes widening suddenly as he just barely caught himself from tripping. He stood there, doubled over, breathing heavily. It was clear from the slight tremble in his muscles that his energy was spent. He didn't have another assault left in him.

The battle was over.

"Hah..." Zapdos breathed, steadying himself as his feathers dripped with melting frost. He blinked a few times as if still coming to grips with what had transpired. Just how long had it been since he was last bested? There was just a moment's hesitation, as if he hadn't planned on what to say in this situation.

"So, you've weathered one storm. What do you intend to do with that strength? Crush all who would oppose you?"

His eyes swept over everyone, from Leaf, to Aige, to Koa and Astrid picking themselves up, and finally lingering on Steven.

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

Steven drew back, the aftermath of his outburst still humming in his limbs, despite them feeling like they were made of lead. He looked on in surprise as Zapdos staggered back. Had they done it? Was it finally finished? (Was everyone alright?)

He retreated towards the rest of the group, regarding Zapdos with a wary gaze. This wouldn't be the first time the bird seemed satisfied with talking, only to strike out unexpectedly. And, just like the orchard, the Saint's words were so ridiculous he couldn't stop his exasperation from tumbling out.

"What? Crush? No! Why would--" He shook his head, too incredulous to even finish the thought. "Why are you so fixated on the idea that strength should be wielded like a weapon, aimed at those deemed lesser? Are you afraid that somehow your power is diminished if it's not on display at all times?"

The disbelief was clear in his tone. Even after all that, Zapdos was still spewing such nonsense. Did they have the belief system of a child? Or perhaps a tyrant? The unpleasant image of one Ignatius Voclain came to mind, and dryly Steven wondered if all birds in Forlas were so contemptuous.

He narrowed his eyes at Zapdos. "Those with strength should strive to be respected, not feared."

 

[Tetra]

Koa nodded as Steven spoke, glad that he'd spoken first. It gave him a chance to gather his addled thoughts and quell his annoyance.

"No, we won't be. Because that's not what strength is for," he growled. Had Zapdos paid attention to anything that had happened?

"It's not about crushing anyone. It's not about proving anything or hurting anyone. Or about blindly destroying things. It's about protecting. It's a responsibility to make the world better. Only weak willed people use their power to make things worse. That's easy."

 

[Chibi Pika]

Zapdos settled himself into a crouched position, one where his spent muscles would be able to rest somewhat. His body language seemed almost relaxed, and there was a definite sense that his way of regarding the Wayfarers had shifted with their victory.

As Steven spoke, his expression grew more and more amused. "Have I heard wrong, then? Hasn't your group needed to use force to oust whatever obstacles you would face? Because you were stronger, your intentions won out over theirs, and your hopes became truth." Zapdos's tone was neither critical, nor disapproving. Just observing.

Something shifted in his eyes at Koa's words. "Protecting? I see. So you'll keep on protecting the weak, then. Do you know what will happen next?" He leaned forward, eyes flashing. "The weak will bleed you dry until you have nothing left to give, and then they'll turn on you when you fail to meet their lofty expectations. Do you think they'll care anything for you when you can no longer be of use to them?"

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

"We had to use force because otherwise you threatened to hunt us down and kill us in our sleep," Steven grumbled.

A little part of him couldn't believe this was the same Zapdos that proclaimed he would cause mayhem and destroy things for no reason, simply because it was his nature.

Steven glanced around the assembled group, looking for affirmation as he spoke for the collective, and maybe a little help in trying to convince this Saint of their position. He nodded at how confident Koa was in his explanation.

"Our hopes were the hopes of those who asked us for aid. We lent our strength to the very people whose fields you destroy, because someone else thought that their strength made it okay to impose their will over whatever and whoever they saw fit."

Ignatius. Cipher. Alex. Now this. A pattern of obstacles. A pattern of resistance. A pattern not of solving the worlds problems, but instilling hope.

"Does that concept not trouble you? Allowing the strong to harm others simply because they are more powerful? That doesn't sit right with me."

 

[RJr3:2]

Aige listened quietly, not sure what to say. When Zapdos spoke of the weak and their expectations, she looked at the ground for a moment, muttering something.

"There's not really a concept to worry about if he just puts his words into action," Aige said, replying to Steven. "It just is- right and wrong are secondary considerations to reality."

She hesitated. "Crushing our enemies or protecting our friends, the underlying assumption is the same either way."

 

[Goat]

Something shifted in his eyes at Koa's words. "Protecting? I see. So you'll keep on protecting the weak, then. Do you know what will happen next?" He leaned forward, eyes flashing. "The weak will bleed you dry until you have nothing left to give, and then they'll turn on you when you fail to meet their lofty expectations. Do you think they'll care anything for you when you can no longer be of use to them?"

Sympathy and prejudice fought for real estate on Astrid's face, twisting her expression. That hurt like hell. She grimaced at the sight of Zapdos on the ground, part of her eager to pounce again. But no, he really was done. In the end she just sigh-groaned and let her guard fall against her screaming impulses.

"...So someone hurt you," she concluded, walking up slowly. "Okay. That sucks, and I'm sorry, but c'mon. 'The weak' aren't some big bucket of people you can just generalize like that. Some people do care about and appreciate and remember kindness and- and selflessness. You've just gotta keep looking until you find them. Life is empty without trust in the right people."

Astrid swayed forward a little. "And um, I don't care what previous offworlders did or whatever-- we aren't them." She was firm about that, to be sure. "We aren't."

 

[Tetra]

Koa steeled himself as Zapdos spoke, nodding as he listened to the others. "They're right." Somewhere under his annoyance he felt a flicker of pity for Zapdos. Expectations... Clearly Saints here were not at all like Legends back home, even in how they got their powers. Or how long they had been legends. Had the people here done something to their saints? Zapdos hadn't been good enough... He wasn't useful anymore.

Wrestling down a harsh reply, he bit his tongue and considered his next words. "Did Xoco do something to you? Did the people whose fields you destroy personally bleed you dry?" he asked pointedly.

"I know people take advantage of those with power. Use them like tools. And sometimes nothing you do is good enough to satisfy certain people." Bitterness edged his voice, along with defiance. "But just because you're hurt or someone was mean doesn't give you the right to take it out on someone else. Or the world. You're supposed to be stronger than that."

 

[Chibi Pika]

Zapdos chuckled darkly at Steven's words. "You speak of tyrants and those who aim to rule and control others." The word was said with particular spite, almost as if it was aimed at someone not there. "They seal their own downfall by existing. By crushing others under the rule of law, they inspire rebellion, and cultivate the strength of the ones who would overthrow them. It's an endless cycle no different than the cycle of extinction."

The thunderbird glanced at Astrid, his expression difficult to make out. "Offworlders... are interesting to me. They're gifted with great strength, and they love to speak of their lofty ideals, but ultimately they're all using their strength to do as they please the same as anyone else while thinking themselves purer than that. It's all the same. They pretend as if they're above using violence for their ideals rather than embracing the fact that they're not. No one is."

He stood up and stretched--apparently sitting in one spot for too long made the avian restless. And at Koa's question, he closed his eyes. "A storm swept through. New growth always follows. They are free to take their revenge upon me if they wish."

 

[MintyMimix]

Ghaspius had silently listened in on the conversation as he pulled out handed around seeds, berries, and helped to patch up the bruises and burns on each of his fellow Wayfarers. "Ya know, all of that is predicated on the assumption that all folks are inherently selfish," he said, applying an Oran concoction to a cloth, "But I feel like that's reductive, ain't it? We wouldn't have clinics, communities, or even families for that matter if at least most of us weren't fightin' for someone other than ourselves."

He gently brushed the cloth against Astrid's injuries. "Now I don't know much 'bout this whole ideals and power philosophy stuff, but I do wanna ask this," The Mismagius's hat slid just a bit over his face and casted a shadow over his eyes. "Why are ya so fixated on this? Who are you tryin' to prove a point to?"

 

[Phoenixsong]

They'd battled a legendary pokémon. They'd battled a legendary pokémon and won. Leaf's whole body felt electric, alive, the all-over pain practically forgotten in the wake of wanting to run and fight and win again. (Or maybe it was just the sparks in the air from Koa's badass last stand. Whichever.) God, she needed to find that zapdos. Everyone back home had to feel this. Rey and Minerva would go nuts.

...maybe it'd be even more exciting for them when they did it, too, if they didn't have to sit through a weird backwards lecture that was sucking all the fun right out of it.

"You wanna know the truth? For me, at least?" Leaf walked up to him, not flinching, staring him right in his lightning-bolt eyes. "Yeah. We're strong. I'm strong. And hell yeah it feels good. Feels incredible to want to change something and be able to make it happen. To see something's wrong and make it stop." To just act and to make a difference, instantly, with no stalling or fussing. To know what she was capable of and then to do it, no you don't know what you're doing and no matter what you'll only make it worse to drag her down. She snarled and ground a hoof into the earth, as if there were something under it to crush, before taking a deep breath and continuing.

"So sure, we've tried to make a difference here by fighting. Sometimes innocent people would've been hurt if we didn't. Sometimes someone friggin' asked us to." She rolled her eyes at the Cyclone. "Sometimes... maybe it wasn't the right idea after all." Like with Sonora, or the Wolf. Another deep breath.

"But just because we've got the power to fight doesn't mean it's the only thing we can do. We can change things by being strong, but we can also do it with help from the people who actually live here. Get rid of the problems that don't belong on Forlas so folks have a chance to grow back better, the way they want. Just because one set of guys made some stupid decisions one time doesn't mean everyone else is going to do it every time, because they're different and can choose for themselves. Or what, you gonna tell me every single zapdos there's ever been thinks the same as you?" She could name one she was pretty sure didn't.

 

[Tetra]

"A storm swept through. New growth always follows. They are free to take their revenge upon me if they wish."

Had Zapdos listened at all? Or did he just not care? Disappointed pooled in Koa's chest. "You don't get to make people's lives worse because you feel like it. You're not a storm, you're a Saint." His voice came out more forceful than berating. "How does turning people vengeful help?"

This time, he studied Zapdos closer, wondering what his deal was, as Ghaspius had said. What did he want to prove by acting like some mindless beast or force of destruction? "There'll always be people with some kind of power. Good and bad. That's why good people with power need to use it well. But if all you're gonna do with that is trample everyone else then you're not much better than one of those tyrants, are you? Maybe that's why offworlders are summoned, to keep Saints like you in check, if this is how you think your power should be used." It was more a question than a statement.

He looked into Zapdos eyes, curious. What did Zapdos believe? It didn't seem right that they should come here to control anything, but if the Saints weren't acting...