The Children Are Hunted

Zaria let out a soft cheer for him as Zoran paused. "Hey Thomas... this may seem weird and crazy but... do you think you could try seeing with Esper's eyes? Psychic and Ghost types can connect with the soul kinda like Aura users can, so... maybe with your bond with Esper you can do something." Zoran seemed to shrug. "I was thinking that or... seeing what happened when our rwo powers clashed or something. It's stupid but no one'd get hurt... probably."
 
The Flame Wheel was more irritating than hurting. The Arcanine glowed a dull red as his Flash Fire absorbed the fire, using it to stoke his own internal fires. Fire aside, though, that Cyndaquil could do anything else from his back.

Garet was about to roll over to get the Cyndaquil off when he noticed a blue serpentine Pokemon come into view. As the Dragonbreath came at him, he turned to expose the Cyndaquil as well. Garet gritted his teeth, taking the attack. At least it should've hit the Cyndaquil, too. After it ended, the Arcanine rolled onto his back and back up, briefly squashing the Cyndaquil.
 
"I never thought of that!" Thomas said. Before he could even ask for Esper's permission, he found himself at ground level. Eveything was oddly distorted, and the colors were all wrong for what he knew them to be. Reds were very prominent, and blues and greens were subdued. It was like looking at the world through a magnifying glass. Everything was very sharp and crisp. Thomas seemed to be sharing all of Esper's senses. He felt his own confusion and slight panic. He felt the enormous power that lay inside both giant human bodies that were in the room. He smelled several deep musky scents, but he couldn't have told you where they came from. Esper looked up at him. Thomas was seeing himself through his partner's eyes. He was way bigger than he had thought. Either he had gone a few inches, or it was Esper's point of view. Amber was jumping around trying to get a reaction from the now immobile Thomas. Esper hissed at her, and she stopped. His ears picked up every little sound that was nearby. It was mind boggling. Then Esper turned his gaze on Zoran. Thomas gasped in fright, as Esper's view passed over a dark human sized blur that was floating next to Zoran. He felt death from it, and was kind of scared. Then it clicked into place. This is how Esper sees Zaria! No wonder he hadn't liked her when they had met. With a flash of pain, Thomas was returned to his own body. Not his own pain, but Esper's. He felt cold inside. What had Esper just done?
"It looks like Esper can do that, but it hurts him to have to share his head I guess. He doesn't seem to be able to do it for very long. I don't know if I want to try that again. Esper's senses are too sharp for me to be able to process correctly," Thomas said. Even now, he was feeling overloaded by what he had seen, heard, smelt, and felt. Esper had an extra sense that Thomas wasn't capable of even processing! Thomas was amazed again by the marvels of pokemon. Every time he turned around, he learned something new about them.
 
"It was a little freaky. But I'm over it. You can't help what you look like. Or maybe you can, but I wouldn't know. You're you, no matter what you look like!" Thomas said firmly.
"I am worried though. When I came back to my body, it felt as though I had just climbed out of my grave. That was a little insensative, and I'm sorry. Maybe a body needs a soul to occupy it or it begins to die... Anywat's this doesn't exactly matter that much. I still don't know if I'd want to do it again," Thomas said with a smile. He scratched his forehead. As he moved his hand away, he thought something looked different. The whiteness wasn't as white as he moved his hand closer to his face. Maybe he had imagined it. He couldn't be sure whether he was seeing things or not. He told Zoran and Zaria what he thought he had seen.
"What do you think. I can't tell if it's just me or not! But either way, my vision isn't coming back anytime soon. By the way, how long have we been done here? It feels like I've been brooding and then training all day!" Thomas said.
 
"It may not be just you," Zaria hummed. "You could be getting better. We'll know for sure tomorrow."

"And my sense of time is weird but I think you guys have been down here for a fair few hours mate," Ash called down the stairs, trooping down with a grin she knew Thomas couldn't see. "Feeling better buddy?" Zoran stilled. That voice was too happy, even for cheerful, sarcastic Ashara Harris.

"You okay Asha?" he called softly.

"As long as you never use the name Asha again yes I'm fine," she replied with murderous cheer. "Just came to see if you wanted dinner Thomas. Zora here probably isn't." She was acting as though nothing had happened.
 
"Heh, that would be great, thanks!" Thomas said. He caught the vibe in the air, and was on guard. But he didn't let Ash see that. To her, at least he hoped, he was resting peacefully after a rough training session with his friend. Esper questioned him in his mind, then scanned the area for danger. Either there was none, or he was being blocked. Esper never could tell. He informed Thomas and Zaria of this fact, and asked them to keep it quiet.
 
Zaria nodded quietly, watching Ash lift her friend onto her back. "Zora you are too light. Ever consider eating?"

Zoran scowled playfully. "When you beat Deena in an argument."

"Then you're a cloud."

"Awesome." The pair continued to bicker lightly. If Ash caught Thomas' and Esper's suspicion, she ignored it, going back up the stairs. Kira waited for Thomas and the others to go up. Cody ran up with Ralts, looking hungry.
 
Esper stood up and held his tail up, it barely brushed against Thomas's hand. He lightly grabed it and followed Esper to the steps. Esper halted and sent him an image of where he was, and Thomas climbed the stairs without incident. Thomas had no reason not to trust Ash right now, and every reason to trust in her. She had protected him and healed him. He reasoned, even if someone had replaced Ash and was good enough to fool him and Zoran, her pokemon should be able to sense a fake. He began to wonder what Marcus and Vulpix were doing.

(OOC: Did something actually happen that I as the RPer should know about even if Thomas doesn't or am I just jumping at shadows? I never can tell. You don't have to tell me what, if anything, happened. But I would like to know if my NPCs are still around.)
 
(Ash wasn't replaced and something did happen. It'll just come up more later. XD)

Ash was quiet before she spoke softly, loud enough for Zoran to hear. She knew Thomas could to but didn't bother to tell him to step out. He deserved to know. "Theo called."

If he could have, Zoran would have twitched. "Oh? What about it?"

"They want you and I to come back."

"Uh... why? I wasn't a part of it."

"Yeah you were Zora. Remember when you could control your power?"

"No."

Ash sighed. "You have way too many blank spots than is healthy Zora. It's a long story Thomas," she called down to him. "And I have no idea what Marcus and Vulpix are up to. I was sleeping for the past few hours."

Zaria giggled. "She sleeps badly on dirt."
 
(OOC: Ah! Makes perfect sense now! Or not, but at least I know I'm not crazy)

"Theo? Do I even need to ask?" Thomas said. He had made no attempts to hide himself. He had merely stumbled on the top stair. Esper hadn't told him he was at the top, and he had almost fallen down the stairs. Thomas hadn't asked what happened to Marcus and Vulpix, and didn't quite know the answer. But he found out soon enough. He heard a very loud roar and what sounded like a tree being ripped apart.
"Ah! Bad Gyrados! Don't attack the tree!" Marcus yelled. Thomas heard a yelp of fear.
"ELEKTRIKE!!" Volt yelled, briefly deafening Thomas. He heard a scrabbling of claws which told him that Volt didn't like this knew challenger and had run out to chase him away.
"Put Vulpix down! He is not a toy!" Marcus yelled.
"Get this great big monstrosity off of my! No Volt, not like that!" Vulpix yelled as well. Thomas laughed at the confusion outside. He knew that Volt had blasted the crap out of anyone in his way, including Vulpix.
 
Cyndaquil and Dratini! Will Garet Succeed?

Volcan was squished by the Arcanine. When, the Arcanine removed itself, it appeared he would not be able to battle. Dratini stepped up and began to use its Tail to lash out some Aquatic hits. It's tail changed from the light blue color to a deep blue, as water began to spin around it. Volcan, who seemed down for the count, sat this round out, as the Dratini made contact. That had to be some attack.

Mark had an idea, but it wouldn't work without his Cyndaquil. Dratini would have to hold the Arcanine off a bit.

"Who sent you, the RDM or the AAPM?" Mark finally got the nerve to say anything.
 
"Hah! You can't get me that easily!" Vulpix shouted after a loud thud. Gyarados roared, and Volt roared back.
"That's enough!" Marcus said. Gyarados roared at him.
"Stop that! You don't scare me!" Marcus said. The noise of destruction stopped.
"That's better! Now, return!" Marcus said calmly.

"Well?" Thomas prompted when no more information was forth coming. Before anyone could answer, Marcus walked in the room.
"OW! Put me down! Not on that!" Vulpix said.
"Elektrike!" Volt said happily. Thomas didn't care what he was so happy about.
"Oh my god! What a nightmare! I was training Magby and Magicarp, when he evolved! I've never been so scared in my life!" Marcus said.
"Hey! Leave my paws alone!" Vulpix snarled angrily.
"But they're bleeding!" Marcus said.
"What happened to Vulpix's paws?" Thomas asked.
"Gyarados bit them when he picked Vulpix up," Marcus said.
"You should let someone take a look at them," Thomas said.
"I will! Just not him! He doesn't know the first thing about how to treat an injury!" Vulpix snapped back. Thomas sighed. He was ready to strangle the Vulpix because of how stubborn he was.
 
Ash whistled softly. "You all worked hard, but let us take a look, right Deena?" Deena came out of another room. She looked at them all and sighed.

"Gyarados?"

"You betcha." The Audino groaned and muttered something derisive. She released a Heal Pulse and placed her paws over Vulpix.

"You, boy, have got to learn not to be so reckless," she chided the Fire-type. Without looking up, Deena stated. "So you're gonna tell them, huh Ashara?"

Ash growled. "Darn it, Deena... I don't have a choice." Her tongue was slipping, her words beginning to drawl slightly.

"You do have a choice. You could run."

"Run where? And for how long? Gods, I'm sick of running!" The girl's eyes flashed blue and Zaria rose up in alarm.

"Ash..."

"Calm down Ash," Zoran muttered. "You're scarin' the others."

"Like I care!" Ash's face had a dusty pink flush as she obeyed, sitting down. Ralts tentatively went to sit in her lap and the girl smiled wanly, reaching to hug her. "Poor lass," she mumbled. "Nothin' to be scared of, 's okay."

Zaria attempted to change the subject, but knew it'd be brought up again sometime. "Good job Marcus," she said happily. "You have a really strong Pokemon now! Soon Magby could evolve too!"
 
Thomas did something he didn't normally do. He didn't press her for more information. He wanted to, but figured he'd learn when the time was right. Instead he turned to Marcus.
"I heard what happened. Great job!" Thomas said with a smile. Esper sent him and image of Volt laying down near Sparx, and he laughed. The elektrike was persistent! At least he wasn't doing anything openly annoying.
"Magby too? I don't know-" Marcus said.
"Ouch! Be more careful! And you! If you can stand up to a Gyarados without flinching, you can handle a Magmar!" Vulpix said. Thomas sighed and shook his head.
 
"Don't think you'll have to worry about that," Ash mumbled. "You've raised Magby pretty well from what I can see and he won't evolve until Level 30." Sparx purred at Volt patiently, looking curiously at him. She wondered if he would still like her when he evolved. Doom walked up to Thomas and licked his hand curiously.

"As long as you don't treat him poorly over these next few levels, you're probably okay," Deena commented. "Hold still or I'll tear your paws off." Zaria managed a shy giggle and looked at Ash, who had gotten up to go salvage food from the fridge.

"I'm not ordering takeout," she told the room at large with amusement. "Stuff tastes terrible. Anybody up for hot chocolate along with pizza?" Ralts bounced after her, eager to help.
 
"Sorry, but I'm allergic to chocolate," Thomas mumbled, scratching the houndoom behind his ears where he seemed to like it.
"You're allergic to choclate? Why didn't you say this before?" Marcus asked.
"Never seemed important. But yeah, I had some when I was 5, and swelled up like a baloon! My parents took me to the hospital right away, so I was alright. To this day, I can't have any kind of chocolate, but water would be good. I don't mean from you, Deluge!" Thomas said. The wartortle put his head back down. Volt was giving out a somewhat cat-like pur, but didn't move. He must have been tired.
"Rip off my paws, and I'll bite yours off!" Vulpix snarled.
"Gosh, you're awfully fussy today!" Marcus said.
"Almost getting eaten will do that!" Vulpix shot back. Thomas could hear him stop moving though.
 
"Tea work?" the girl asked softly, setting mugs down on the coffee table. She carefully turned on the oven and set to work. Ralts lifted the ingredients with a Psychic attack to help. Ash laughed at her.

Deena rolled her eyes. "Good boy. Now is behaving so difficult? Your fussy behavior is making it difficult for the energy to do its job." Zoran gave a tired chuckle as she sat back down.

"Should take a bit," she mumbled smoothly, sitting back. "Hey Marcus, can you hear Zoran at all?"
 
"Hear Zoran? But he's not saying anything!" Marcus said confused.
"Tea works fine, thank you!" Thomas shouted.
"Fine, it's not like I jumped in the gyarado's mouth," Vulpix grumbled. Esper shot him a glance.
"I doubt he would have swallowed," Marcus said.
"Yeah, his grumpiness is too sour!" Thomas said laughing at the Vulpix. Vulpix snarled at him.
"Alright, I'll behave!" Thomas said, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace.
 
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