Forum Thread

Sputnik was *not prepared* for the array of alarm bells that rung in their head as the colossal Lunar Pokemon swiftly approached and attempted to make an equally swift back up. Their legs decided that this would be the perfect moment to show their treachery and their back-up turned into a barely dignified scrambled sit-down, their front paws sitting on top of their hind ones and their tail making a poor attempt to wrap itself around their waist to save face.

Sputnik signed deeply, dispersing some steam, before dragging a clawed paw across their snout to relieve some tension forming in whatever was left of their fried brain. "Oh, do I wish it was- Unfortunately, nothing life-threatening to snap me out of this. I meant it more in a matter of ‘Did anyone here have a spontaneous heart attack‘ but your concern and smart composure is appreciated."

So, Solgaleo. Sputnik might have heard the word once or twice, but couldn't recall much. At least they were still relatively feline, the poor Reshiram waddled like a goose with a brain injury. Sputnik could feel their expression spark with concern and they turned their head upwards, gazing at the sky while trey tried to school it back into neutrality.
"This doesn't seem like any cycle of hell I am familiar with, but you might as well put that in drafts too. But Darla - Darma, Delka? I apologize- here might have a more scientific answer for you. I still do know who I am, its just the body that doesn't match anymore. I will tell you when I feel memory loss coming up."

Della sighed. "It's Della, but thank you for trying. I don't have an answer, but I have concluded that the same thing brought us here and made us into what we are. The disorientation is most likely because, and I'm only guessing, your former anatomical structure was completely different than that which you have now. I myself was at a struggle to move due to the fact that I am actually a human, and am now without arms or legs. I can now tell that you are struggling in a way that I was not. But, I believe that we are all here not on accident, but indeed, for a purpose. That purpose is yet to be seen, but whatever it is that brought us here did leave one last final message in my mind. I do not know if you found that message as well, but I did hear a message asking for assistance, in basic terms these two words: Save Us."

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The dragoness titled her head to the side slightly, expressing confusion and deep thought. She adjusted her weight(or tried to) so that she was properly balanced on her two legs and lifted her wings up, attempting to look less lopsided. "Anatomically changed? I can see that. So you hear the voices too?" She breathed a soft sigh of relief at this revelation. Despite her vulpine origins, Yoru disliked being alone, especially for something like this...so it was good to know they had a group to talk things out. And those poor creatures...she would save them! This new body would not hinder her. It was intended to bring her strength, and that it would certainly do! She attempted to stand up straighter, using her tail and wings for balance, letting the feathery limbs curl as neatly as she could muster on either side of her body.

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Della nodded. "Yes, indeed, I did hear a voice describing its need for assistance in a most simple term, being those two words. I did not receive any further information, but I am hoping that the reason we were brought to this field was to be further informed as to who sent the message, why, and what we are to do to "save" the speaker and/or the party in question. Did you, in fact, find out anything else about this voice's predicament? If so, your assistance is vital if we are to return to our former selves."

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Yoru shook her head helplessly, her waving horns flickering as she did so, adding a slight majesty of which did not fit the consciousness of the being it was attached to at all. "All I remember is hearing the voice over and over again...begging me to help it, then waking up all different. But something about that voice...did you hear it? It sounded like multiple voices at once, yet at the same time...there was some kind of unity to it...and perhaps our new bodies could be a clue as to what the problem is...?" She glanced down at her shiny, glistening white feathery plumage. And noted that all of them seemed to have a single property in common; They'd each taken the form of one of the creatures of legend

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Della cocked her head, her eyes flashing with excitement as they always did whenever she had found a new problem to puzzle over. "Yes, thinking over the memories of the voice in question, I do believe that I can say that the voice I heard matched that description. Also, I do believe that you have made the same connection as I have, that all of us have taken on forms similar to the creatures of legend. You, in fact, seem to have transformed into Resheiram, the being of truth. It is originated from the region known as Unova and shares its legendary status with two other majestic creatures of tales known as Zekrom and Kyreum. Reshiram is a fire type that uses its long cannon-like tail to fly through the air through the act of sending out powerful bursts of fire." (Della was certainly expressing her habit of sharing everything, irrelevant or relevant, that she knew about a subject)

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"Yes, yes. I know. There was a legend about Reshiram in my town...though you're probably not interested in that..." Her sharpened blue gaze scanned the other Pokémon present. She noted a lion with a glimmering pelt of steel, the glowing aurora of the Cresselia, and what appeared to be the shadowy wisps of the mythic Marshadow...She herself was clearly Reshiram, the draconic goddess of light, facing off against the Ideals of it's counterpart, Zekrom to bring forth a world of Truth...but it didn't feel right...why were they in the bodies of the legendary Pokémon? Had they been killed and reborn anew...?

Then it hit her.

Those voices...all unified, was it possible there was enough for all of the Legendary Pokémon to be asking for help? Something about their tone...though through disparity, there was a certain...power to it. As if something were speaking down to her. If that were so, this message was not a request, it was a demand. Despite her large draconic appearance, she felt small. She curled her wings in closer, a movement that resembled when she tried to shrink and hide in her previous foxlike form.

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Della took note of the Rehiram's behavior. She had dabbled in psychology and knew a bit about body language. Perhaps it was a suggestion of fear? Della had never good at having or reading emotions, so she was bringing herself into an unknown world. She decided that in order to resume communication, it was necessary to dive into a subject that was unfamiliar to her. "What is the emotion and/or thought that is causing you to perform actions that reflect an upset or frightened attitude? If we are to continue this investigation of the purpose of our transformation and transportation, we need to have all emotional issues aside before we can properly proceed."

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"Is that not a strange question to ask? Where I come from, ordinary pokemon would have at least worded that differently..." Pouring out their emotions to a stranger was not something anyone would want to do, especially in a new and frightening scenario such as this. Most understood this quickly, she had learned. So why did this chick talk so weirdly? Did it have something to do with being a...scientist? Yoru didn't know much about scientists, other than the awful stories of their experiments on Pokemon...and she certainly didn't like the idea of such a creature taking charge like this. Where she came from, Yoru was often the one in the leader's position, often making decisions and easing the emotions of others. Due to this, she made an effort to sound confident with her next words, letting her emotions slip into her voice a little.

"I have come upon a new relevation, however. A sort of idea on the cause of our current predicament. We've taken the form of the beasts of legend, correct? So is it possible this is the legendary pokemon asking for our help with something? Lending us their forms to allow us to do them a deed?" She let her wings unfurl at little, standing up straighter to appear larger and stronger before the Cresselia, making it clear she was not going to let her fear stop her. It never had before, and she wouldn't let it. Not now, not ever.

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Della frowned, sighed, and rolled her eyes. She might not have been an expert in emotions, but she could tell when someone was trying to take control. "I simply making an inquiry in order to further my knowledge of the situation in the way that I am familiar with. However, your observation seems to be affirmative. But the manner of task that is requested of us is still unknown, and we have no further communication with those who transported us here, correct am I not? In that case, it is my conclusion that the best course of action is to continue to explore this landscape until we can either find someone or something that can tell us the purpose of this mission or at least a physical clue pertaining to the answer to that question."

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For Sputnik, It wasn't unlike trying to ground themselves after surgery, eerie sense of regaining control of the body they cant quite recognize yet.
Other than the constant feeling of sunshine-from-nowhere on their face and lightening the darkness of their offlined visor but decidedly on just one side, the next most pressing matter was the fact they couldn't feel their chest expand as they breathed- instead after few moments there was a series of barely audible clicks as minuscule vents opened up at their too-slim waist and let the all very same air out at once. Sputnik wasn't soo far gone as to lack the instinctual horror at being left breathless, but their alien body damped the supposed creeping fear before Sputnik had a chance to even gasp. They stopped reaching to control organs they apparently don't have anymore and let the internals of the mechanic body do as it pleased.

And sure enough, when they finally looked down and online their optics to look at the surrounding legendaries, there wasn't any oxygen deprivation to be found. Instead, there was a spark of annoyance as their visor warningly flashed at what they perceived to be Reshirams attempt at a display of dominance. She might shadow both of them, but Sputnik has -had- wounds made by broken lab equipment that proved just how familiar they are with how brawl-types attempting to assert themselves ends, especially if they are so threatened by a bit of scientific jargon. Their hardened face and tone as if they were scolding a wayward child said as much.

"That might be because an ordinary Pokemon from your lands would walk into a ditch in flatlands before they would string together a multi-syllabic word to help untangle our situation. If that is your normal, then please, do settle down and be glad that we have such an anomaly as Dalla among ourselves. For both of our sakes."

With that hopefully out of the way, Sputnik angled themselves into a lazy stretch that was familiar to all the cats, no matter if were they mechanical fully or just on wheels. With what finally felt like a had a steady hold on the alieness of it all or at least the beginning of one, Sputnik started to slowly pace in tight circles, trying to train the limp out of their hind legs before the journey.
There was constact buzz of static leaping between where their visor met their crown and their tail, persistently trying to coax them into stillness- and although it wasn't difficult to fight against it, it was angrily lashing when Sputnik faced a specific direction, never allowing itself to be fully tuned out.
Perhaps this is why Alexanders Magnemite was always able to win the game of spinny chairs. Sputnik lost a good amount of gem staches to their unmentioned inbuild cheats, the insolence of it all.

"This might be the only situation when a cross hiking trip to nowhere is the soundest course of action, Della. Solgaleos apparent steel typing comes with an inbuilt compass that works without my consent. Unless this place has any other otherworldly surprises for us, I might be able to keep our noggings pointed towards the North Pole, if you wish. Just in case we need to easily return here for the Legendaries to pick us up and collect the apology gift baskets."

Della's feelings were mixed as to how she felt about being called an "anomaly." No matter. "I do believe that you are correct. In that case, the best course of action would be to continue North, using that basic directional to align ourselves and to give us a certain goal as we continue our investigation. With that being said, it appears that the most logical action would be for you to lead the way. However, and forgive me if I am wrong, it seems that I have not received your name."

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Yoru didn't respond for a few seconds, simply fixing the steely feline with an icy blue stare. The creature appeared to be speaking in an odd tongue, a way of wording no one where she came from would speak in. Through a rough translation, however, she believed she had made some sense of what it had said to her. Said about her. "So, because my people aren't small minded and don't speak with the same fancy words, they are below you, foolish, even? Is that what I am to understand?" Her words came out coolly, yet they were barely audible. She wasn't one to lose her cool, even in the face if such an uncalled for insult. She was used to frightened Pokemon, and had trained herself in hospitality. She wouldn't let them call her out on being otherwise. However, she did not appreciate the disrespect these creatures showed her simply due to the fact they perceived her as 'below' them, for whatever reason.

"A simple respect for emotions is all I ask for. All I've ever asked for. You respect my emotions, I respect yours, kay? Please understand that I barely know you, and I'm not exactly prepared to spill my guts to a complete stranger. And of course I wouldn't ask such an outlandish thing in return." Her draconian face twisted into a slight smile. She attempted to be polite, but her words had a slight...chilly air to them.

"Oh, you aren't wrong. The names Sputnik- feel free to just call me whatever synonym of rude you feel most suits for my belated introductions. That goes for you too, Dragoness which name I would also appreciate."

Sputnik returned Yorus gaze with the flat optics of their own, before their composure was shattered in a single brittle moment- Not out of fear, although they were able to admit they would rather have that practiced fang-filled smile pointed somewhere else... Worse was the realization that they did *this*. Couldn't the legendaries find a different fool, one with better control of the mouth and mayhaps some functioning empathy to use them with?
Their words were always met with eighter a familiar chuckle or a bare acknowledgment through slamming doors just a little louder on their way out. This,, this didn't have a chance to happen since long ago.

Sputnik hated how this felt- Like they broke something. Actively chose it and made an impact that would be remembered. Although Yoru behavior might grate on them, they won't be helping anything with their own rotten character- and for all they know, they might just be a kid, grasping at control in the only way they know how to in schemes no one could plan for. They had time to grow out of that, unlike the fool who apparently just *hurt* them.

Their tail unwinded itself from their waist to flicker around before settling low, subconsciously wrapping itself above their hind paw for a grasp for control of their own, to hide the barely veiled show of quilt.

And they wanted to apologize, they did. But of course, that wasn't something Sputnik is allowed to do. They snapped their face away from Yorus as if burned, and instead immediately gave into the direction their senses were pulling them to with an unconfident amble. Despite being turned away, their words still carried, loud and clear in a way they couldn't bring themselves to fully feel. Maybe the new body didn't change as much about them as they thought it did.

"I did not ask for your respect and I am not inclined to believe I deserve nor care for it- What I do wish for is your cooperation. Not even with me, I am an over-glorified compass and you are allowed to use me as a chew toy the moment the rest of you get to safety. But Della here is trying to help you, without a threat in sight- In essence, we both are below her. And with that, we are better off nodding along."

Yoru shook her head. She wasn't trying to come off as rude, childish, or scary at all, but if the other option was to condone open questioning of others' actions, she supposed she'd take the former of the two. Though technically full grown, Yoru had always been known for her humor and energy. The fox pokemon had always had a spring in her step, a strong confidence and a nature that would often cause her to offend others unintentionally. With a deep breath, she fought to regain her former vibe, her voice coming off as her more characteristically cheerful tone. "Nonsense! Everyone deserves respect! Doesn't matter who you are. If this predicament wasn't so unexpected I might have come off kinder, so for that I apologize. My name is Yoru, I'm a Zorua from Leaf Town. I used to be a guide, you see, so I'm used to knowing everything."

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Della nodded. "Ah, I understand now. Then I should probably explain myself. I'm an astronomer who was studying Cressilia on Fullmoon Island."

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Daisy nodded, and stood up. "I'm Daisy, and I'm a Lilligant who lived in a big garden."

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Sputnik stopped their walk to look back at them, but didn't rejoin the circle. They sent a curt nod Yorus way, a silent acknowledgment to prevent themselves from giving their opinion on the respect part of the sentence. Everyone was really pushing it- but seeing as they did not apparently traumatize Yoru irreparably, they absolutely weren't letting their mouth go for another try. Half the faculty would be better off learning how to jump soo well between expressions, they thought. Sputnik could almost admire that.

"I have always been just a Purugly of Northwestern Orre. There's as of yet no evidence to prove the contrary, so being pulled into a mess of legendary making is an unwelcome surprise.

There's was no sense in telling them about the form fatigue and the lab, Sputnik wasn't about to be cooed at and asked if got enough sunlight yet. They didn't felt their condition catching up and pulling this new body into disorder just yet, if legendaries could even be susceptible to that- All they need is a quick warning before they are turned back and no one will be bothered.

"North is this way- or gargantuan mountains or the city's power lines. At this point, I take any change of scenery, so ready when you are."

Della straightened up. "Alright then, I believe that now is the best time to continue on. Sputnik, it seems best that you lead us on."

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It was then that the sunny field around them started to...fade. It was as if the entire environment had been nothing but an illusion. All the chosen heroes would soon find themselves ripped away, and brought into the center of a night lit city. Yet the street they were deposited at seemed empty enough

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