until the darkness turns to light [tanz+red+etc]

[platinum]

[atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][cs=2][style=font-size: 25px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: -2px; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: #E0A1FF 2px dashed;]A PLATINUM GIRL LIVES INSIDE OF YOU[/style]

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[atrb=style, border-left: 2px dashed #E0A1FF;][style= width: 300px; text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; margin: 10 0 0 10;]She'd entered Hearthome on the very edges of Nox ground, where a doctor had set up shop. One medical bay looked much the same as any other, and Platinum had swooped in none the wiser. In hindsight, she should've paid more attention. When she'd left the medical tent, she'd found herself facing a squadron of armed soldiers--not near so well armed as a Lux soldier, but when there were twelve of them and all their pokemon against Platinum and one revolver, she called that staring at defeat. She wasn't on the outskirts of Hearthome anymore. Instead, she was in some sort of holding facility, maybe an old school building. With the war, all the buildings had been converted, so it was hard to tell. She'd been too busy wiping away tears on the way here to commit everything to memory, but from what she could recall, Nox held pretty much smack in center of their half of the city. The room she was in wasn't heavily guarded, not by Lux standards, and it certainly wasn't a real prison (the real prison was on Lux's side of the city), but there were a pair of guards outside, and another one inside keeping an eye on her. A pair of Mr. Mimes held her in place with barriers and what she suspected was a light screen (Platinum wasn't sure what that was for, she was neither a psychic nor an aura guardian). It was really very inconvenient. "What will you do with Leon? The empoleon. Mine. The dead one,"

[/color] she'd asked when they'd first trapped her there. The guards found some mercy, and one of them bothered to find out. He'd ducked in to inform her on her second day. He'd been cremated, and Platinum supposed that was alright. Hearthome was a good city to lay ashes to rest. It wouldn't be divided in war for forever, after all, and usually Amity Square was a nice place. Hopefully it will be again someday.

A couple days in confinement had soothed her nerves. They took decent care of her, letting her out to wash, providing meager rations; Platinum couldn't really complain. She'd lived far worse when she was a green trainer, but back then she was young and stupid. Younger and stupider, anyway.

For the most part, she was done mourning, for necessity if nothing else. She could have another good cry when she was back on Lux turf--until then, she had to wear her game face. The pair of guards outside seemed more attentive, and she heard them changing shift fairly often. They'd be alert if they weren't too busy joking around with each other. It didn't seem like they seriously expected to face a threat. Honestly, Platinum figured that was a pretty safe assumption. If she wanted to get out, she'd probably have to do it herself.

Her gun and her pokeballs were nearby, placed in a box under the human guard's chair. The man barely paid attention to her, and why should he? She wasn't going anywhere with the barriers in place, and he may as well enjoy a good book. She'd tried talking to him, because Platinum knew she could be charming, but he was professional enough to have none of it.

She'd tried yelling at her pokemon, most of them healed by the kindly Nox doctor, to break out of their pokeballs, but the Mr. Mimes wouldn't have any of that. A psychic barrage into her mind sent her reeling, clutching her head until the reverberations slowed and the world stopped spinning around her. Platinum didn't try again.

Platinum rested her back against the barrier. She'd figure a way out soon enough, if she put her mind to it. Platinum kept telling herself that, but as the days went by, she was starting to lose faith.

tags: shamees, thalia, (balendin?), red, dante? Something like that. I dunno. POSTING ORDERS ARE CONFUSING TO ME.

notes: MASSIVELY LONG I APOLOGIZE. Just wanted to set shit up for you etc etc.[/style][/td][/tr][/table][style=text-transform: uppercase; font-family: courier new; letter-spacing: -1px;]CREDIT TO DAZZLE @ PREDORMITUM 4 KATYA ONLY[/style][/center]

[tantan]

[bg=AA98A9][atrb=width, 500, bTable][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][style=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 40px; color: #dddddd;text-align: right;height: 150px;display:table-cell;vertical-align:bottom;margin-right: 180px;width: 330px;text-transform:uppercase;]just once, rise above your[/style]	[bg=AA98A9][style=border: 5px solid #dddddd; width: 100px; height: 100px;float: right;margin-bottom: -30px;margin-right: 40px;] [/style]
[cs=2][atrb=vAlign,top][bg=dddddd][style=width: 200px;color: #AA98A9;font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 50px;vAlign: top;text-align: right;width: 500px;float: right;text-transform:uppercase;]demise[/style][style=text-align: justify;padding: 15px;font-size: 11px;font-family:verdana;color:black;]Minutes before dusk trickled in. The surprise attack planned out days ago was to be executed today. It was only a matter of time when his duties would summon him in the battlefield again. They were to take Hearthome once and for all for the greater plan to take Oreburgh City. Hearthome wouldn't be enough to take down Nox in Oreburgh especially with the massive support reigning in the eastern half of Sinnoh. Control over Jubilife - a territory on the other side of Oreburgh - was unstable and Eterna City's threat lied northward. But gaining Eterna Forest several weeks ago illuminated the possibility of slowly overtaking the area. The chances of that happening depended on the success of this plan as did future campaigns. He spared some time for himself until then. No, not really. He did not acknowledge that there was a self left in him. This was preparation for his work. He never left the burden of his mantle or the curse on his hands. He needed the peace the little he could find before engaging the terrors once more. Each soldier did that and even the figure viewed as the strongest authority was no different than the other disposable many. Some cleaned their murder weapons as a meditative ritual, some spent their time laughing like holy men, some watched the ceiling from their bed, dreaming of their lives half a mile away. He spent his in seclusion, meditating, praying. Faint light from outside made the stained glasses glow. They remained undamaged, strangely, while the rest of the sanctuary slowly crumbled to pieces. Holes in the ceiling created heavenly rays that beam at the center stained glass - a bed of green grass bowing beneath a mountain crowned by the golden sun with luster that pushed away the clouds. It served as an altar. He offered some handpicked flowers he found in clusters outside the city. It was a miracle how there even existed a single flower in this war zone. The brilliance of the altar was slowly dying. The rays from the sky began to thin and fade out of existence. The flowers would wilt and be blown by the pungent wind. He was seeing just how time was moving. When he returns here, will the altar still be in one piece? He stood up, stretched his knees, feeling the strain on them after hours of kneeling. Dusk had been the agreed time. He left the foreign building, or maybe foreign wreckage, and met up with the squads. He closed his eyes and opened them to see the shadows take over. He could only see the figures of his armed men and women, silent, each of them waiting for his signal. He drew out two pistols in both hands. "Let's go-" A small explosion erupted on one of Nox's base of operation, an old school building. An accident? It wasn't part of the plan but this called for a few changes. "Balendin." He turned to his direction though he couldn't see his face clearly in the dark. "Lead the operation." Without another word, he left toward the school building - alone. - ((Lol. Your president, everyone. Not quite sure how Balendin and Thalia might react I'm hoping they don't let Shamees go alone so just drop me a word in the cbox about it later. The explosion was Red just now. He's soloing the entire Nox. He be posting later when we get there. Feel free to control NPCs or whatever for this thread. Oh yeah, totally love your post Kat. My eyes feasted on every word!)) [/style]
[cs=2][bg=AA98A9][style=text-align: center;font-size: 10px;text-transform:uppercase;]Don't speak the words of the eternal curse Don't listen to your true wishes[/style]
[style=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;]template by pianissimo of BTN and LS

[tsundere]

still the voices have stories to tell
OF THE POWER STRUGGLES IN HEAVEN AND HELL
but we feel secure against such mighty dreams

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Whichever way Thalia thought of Platinum, it felt like a lie, a deceit to the younger girl.

Could she called friend? She thought so. They were both non-Gym Leader female officers in Lux, which was both a rarity and quite the feat; there were the friendly texts, the conversations, the general fun that Thalia experienced whenever the two met up. The lightheartedness that Platinum could inspire in her was something she craved, something she had missed dearly for the past two years.

But were they friends enough to warrant the concern that Thalia had felt when she heard that Platinum had been captured, the sleepless night before she decided to volunteer for the rescue mission (and they’d better damn well take her), the nerves that squirmed in her stomach as she waited for Shamees to return from the church and lead the mission?

She restrained the need to shiver. She felt out of place here, and she couldn’t say why. Both the feeling itself, and the lack of explanation worried her, prodded at her mind as she tried to clear it and focus on the battle ahead.

Despite her hopes to the contrary, Shamees’ emergence didn’t put her worries to rest. He’d barely begun to speak when there was a small explosion, burst of fire and smoke. It was hard to make out his face, but his tone when he continued--

So Balendin was in charge of operations. And Shamees was striding off on his own toward what could be presumed toward what was most likely a hostile enemy situation.

Her leader or her friend?

No, that wasn’t fair.

A lone soldier, or a POW about to be busted by the finest Lux had to offer?

There was no choice.

Thalia was after Shamees in a heartbeat, falling in behind the president.

”You’ll be needing backup, sir,”’ she stated calmly. That was the trick, she’d learned in the military. No emotions, no overdramatics. ”It’s only prudent for me to accompany you.”

She would die for the president, if she had to. Lux’s plan came before her personal safety, and h was the man who would carry it out.

(That didn’t stop her from hoping that someone rather higher ranking than she might send a few grunts to round out their little expedition though.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TAGISFOR shamees, plat, bale, red(?) ANDICOUNTED three hundred and ninety nine
EXTRASTUFF none

[/center]

[balendin]

1 Month Earlier, Fuschia City, Sentinel HQ.

Balendin leaned back against the back of his chair while eating an oddly delicious piece of beef jerky. It was quite possible that the deliciousness of the beef jerky could be an illusion of sorts brought about by the fact that Balendin had forgotten to eat for the last 24 hours. He was so caught up in this Olivine City case that anything else simply slipped his mind. He was closing in on the identity of the killer. He could feel it.

Suddenly the door to the room he had made his office swung open and a young Sentinel crossed the room. Not so much a sentinel as a sentinel-in-training. He ran up to Balendin's desk and presented him a piece of paper.

"This message just came in, sir. Orders from high command." the youth told the veteran.

Balendin gave the boy a questioning look, but accepted the paper anyways. Balendin got few orders from high command mainly because his role amongst the founders made it impossible for most to give him orders. Balendin was normally given fairly free reign to work as he chose. Only one man could really send him orders that he would likely follow even if he disagreed with them.

"What do you want from me Shamees?", Balendin said speaking to himself.

Balendin slowly stood up and spoke to the youth.

"Have a message sent back to them. I am on my way. " Balendin commanded the boy.

Shamees had set his eyes on Hearthome City and Balendin was to take command of the assault. Balendin personally would prefer Shamees to focus his efforts on driving Nox out of Olivine, but who was he to question the President. It was good to see Shamees finally taking some initiative.

Present Time

Balendin waited in the shadows next to Lux president. The assault was about to begin. Plans had been carefully made in the last month. A force of 1,000 Lux soldiers accompanied by two squads of 6 sentinels and about 10 tanks had been mobilized. About twice that number had attacked Eterna City days earlier to draw soldiers out of Hearthome to defend the neighboring city.

The raid had been carefully put together. They would use the element of surprise. From their hidden positions, a large force of flying pokemon carrying bombs and electrodes would take to the skies and shell key Nox held targets. The army would then move in led by the tanks and hit the Nox main base, a converted school, hard from three sides.

Suddenly there was an explosion. Orders had not yet been given for the shelling to begin. Someone had jumped the gun. Shamees turned to Balendon and transferred command of the operation to him. The President had decided to lead the assault. Things were certainly getting out of hand. Balendin motioned to the 6 sentinels nearby to follow their leader and then turned to his communications officer nearby. Shamees had already decided to deviate from the plan. They could not shell the city with him charging in and the tanks did not have enough time to move into the forward position. Balendin would have to give the President quite a tongue lashing if he did not get everyone killed.

"Cancel the air stikes and tell the tanks to move in immediately. Infantry is now leading the charge, but I want the tanks to make their way to the front as soon as possible.", he ordered his communications officer to relay.

Damn you, Shamees. Balendin thought to himself.

[platinum]

[atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][cs=2] SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS

[atrb=style, vertical-align: bottom;]

[atrb=style, border-left: 2px dashed #E0A1FF;] So far, nothing had changed. She was still in her cell, and the Mr. Mimes smiled. Not at her, they just smiled constantly and endlessly for no reason. She'd tried telling one that he had a bidoof for a mother and a psyduck for a father, but the smile still remained frozen in place to her dismay (plus she felt rather rude after the fact). Platinum suspected that this was because it had Mr. Mimes for parents, and it doesn't really get any worse than that. Unsurprisingly, the days had made Platinum cranky. Cranky enough that when she felt the ground shake and alarms go off, she didn't worry for the safe-being of everyone around her. Instead, her face lit up in a cheerful grin. "Well, isn't that a lovely sound? Shoo shoo. Better run off and check out what's causing all the ruckus, yes?"

[/color]

As if on cue, the door opened, and one of the guards outside stuck his head in. "Shit's going down outside, rookie. They're gathering all the guys we've got to fight back. Let's go. The mimes can keep an eye on her."

The guard gave a curt nod, bookmarked his page, and left through the door with hardly a backwards glance. With her cell empty except for the Mr. Mimes, Platinum stared at her pokemon stashed away and made an ill-considered decision. Without Leon now, she counted her lucario as her most faithful, and Rio usually paid attention even inside his pokeball. "Rio! Rio!"[/color] she yelled, and she felt the dizzy, pounding headache of a psychic attack from the Mr. Mimes. Platinum shook her head and ignored it.

"Sol, Voir, release yourself, any of you--stop that,"[/color] she hissed through teeth clenched in pain, whirling to backhand one of the Mr. Mimes, only to bruise her wrist on the barriers. A echoes of a psybeam brought Platinum to her knees, and she glared at the pokemon, who only smiled that infernal smile in return.

"Mime?" one asked, possibly in concern.

"Die in a fire,"[/color] Platinum replied. Blood trickled out of her ears as the ringing in her head persisted, so it took her a moment to release that the building trembling and the sounds of an explosion weren't just in her head. That was enough to put a grim smile on her face.

With a toss of her head, made no less arrogant by the blood dripping down her face, she shrugged off the pain. "Sounds like a proper invasion out there. I'd run if I were you. I'd stop smiling too."[/color]

tags: idk. shamees. nox fighters are mobilizing outside, and red will probably run into the guards in the hallway or something.
notes: wrote this while I was procrastinating on other replies. was going to trash it, but fuck it. I wrote it. I'm making you guys read it.[/div][/td][/tr][/table]

CREDIT TO DAZZLE @ PREDORMITUM 4 KATYA ONLY

[/center]

[aka]

notes feel free to tl;dr.

He had been, several hours ago, quite calmly penning a note in neat, cursive handwriting on top of the flat rocks in his cave. His writing was clean, and far more eloquent than his speech. He didn't use a pen often, but situations like this called for a pen as well as good penmanship. Red took care to dot his I's and cross his T's, not in the least perturbed by the fact that he seemed the unlikeliest person in the world to write a letter to someone. He folded the letter, slipped it into an envelope, and was ready to have Ptera send it over when Lizardon returned. Its flames were unlike its usual blaze; they seemed excited at the advent of a battle. Red stood up from his cross-legged position, adjusting his cap to get a better look at the fire pokémon. Neither party exchanged words.

They both silently knew - one knew that something had happened while the other knew that they had to do something.

---

A flame-tipped shadow sped through the sky, followed by a familiar cry - then bolts of lightning briefly illuminating the night sky struck the ground. The ground crackled as static was forcibly pulled from it, running ripples of electricity through the feet of the men outside the school building.

There was nothing more frightening for the half-paralyzed guards stationed outside the school building than a famished snorlax wobbling towards them, crowing amusedly. A catbus smile was all the guards saw before they were picked up by a pair of pudgy hands. The guards were squeezed against each other before the hands exerted their force, effectively squishing them before the mass of fat and muscle gracefully dropped them on the ground. Then it sat on them, yawning.

A hand extended, and the pikachu hopped on it. The rodent seated itself comfortably atop Red's shoulder. Twin beams of light shot forth from capsule pokéballs; Kabigon and Lizardon were withdrawn. Silently, the young man walked towards the main entrance of the school building, uninterested in the lack of guards. He soon reached a security system, which Pikachu promptly overloaded with a [Thunderbolt]. The power boxes installed around the school building received an electrical surge. Behind Red, Kamex stepped forth, a powerful jet of water striking the first power box. Soon, sparks flew; the fuses, unable to withstand the high voltage, broke - it was only a matter of time before they began to explode in turn.

Red turned around; alarms had sounded amidst the explosions. He should have expected this. Overriding the power sources with Pikachu instead of approaching it calmly had admittedly been a rash move. Kamex angled his cannons toward the mass of guards approaching them. A magmar, two, three. An electabuzz. A couple scyther. The cannons locked on to their targets; as Pikachu overloaded the second security system, a rush of water caught the first wave of humans and pokémon before Kamex's barrels flashed a violent silver. Sparks, metallic in nature.

"[Flash Cannon]," Red calmly stated, as the blastoise roared, letting the blast of silver energy rip the night sky apart. The luminescent glow gently faded from the edges of Kamex's double cannons as Red stared across the battlefield. Guards were strewn across the floor, from either the initial push of water to the following flux of raw liquid steel. Several pokémon were left standing, more resilient than their human partners, but battered nonetheless.

Kamex gave Red a glance, but the champion stopped the blastoise from further attacks. They had suffered enough. Without a trainer, they would be aimless, no star to guide them on. And indeed they were. A magmar glanced around itself, but chose to stay by its trainer's side. Even in battle, some pokémon were still loyal and obedient. Two scyther had fled the scene, but Red let them go as well. Crimson eyes shut themselves from the world. He turned on his heels.

---

Sneakers squeaked across the linoleum flooring. The sounds of claws scraping against the smooth ground was mildly irritating, but Red was used to it. The hallway was oddly empty; it was as if the entire building had had the majority of its troops dispatched - just to face him. Adrenaline surprisingly numbed his feelings. In battle, he was just another robot, having his pokémon perform move after move. Aware of that fact, Red quietly plodded on, until Pikachu stopped him. To his left was a long-unused water fountain and staff office. A seemingly empty classroom to his right.

Red chose the office.

He stepped into it, noting the change in appearance between sleek hallway and captive room. Cool, flat barriers boarding up skeletons in their individual cells. Chains on the walls where the prisoners were flogged. He felt nothing. He was numb. Numbly walking towards the end of the room where a passageway had been hollowed out. It'd take him to Platinum.

"................."

She might have been bleeding from the ears, but Red was far too numb for that. He recognized the colour, however. And for that his hands balled into fists. He wasn't having anyone he know hurt. Pokémon. Human. No one deserved to be hurt. Or wounded.

Pikachu sensed his inner turmoil. It gripped his shoulder comfortingly, nuzzling him on the cheek with its own. It tried to keep Red calm.

But after a period of numbness, receiving a wake-up call was like going through a part of hell. The information seized his nerves. Asphyxiation. He felt it. The brief lack of oxygen to his brain nearly choked him, but he remembered this feeling. Familiar, like he had felt it since he was a young child.

Kabigon emerged from its pokéball.

"Go."

Catbus smile intact, the snorlax lunged for the two mimes. The massive pokémon was soon caught in the back by a bullet, but a quick [Stockpile] and [Swallow] combination remedied the situation. Mimes forgotten, Kabigon turned to the guards. Its mouth opened, sounding a hungry roar.

There was a reason why Red didn't bother feeding it before coming.

"[Body Slam]. If they survive, [Crunch]."

[/size][/justify]

[dante]

Dante wandered around the Nox base settled in Hearthome. It was a dangerous place to be, Dante really just wanted to take the soonest fight to Unova and return to Castelia as soon as possible. But no, he had a duty to Nox. He had the duty of dissobeying Lux. He couldn't let happen what they wanted to happen. It had to be stopped. Tyranny was unnaceptable and it seemed to the majority of Nox who fought for a cause that Lux had lost the goal they had in mind from the begining to now just ruthless warfare.

This was supposed to be a simple babysitting job that he'd signed up for in the case of getting easy money and good reputation. But, knowing Dante's luck, of course that hadn't gone according to plan. Nothing seemed to go as he wanted it to anymore.

Dante was patrolling the area. They had an eventful day today, he thought with a sigh as he looked at a steel door that was patrolled heavily. Some idiot had grabbed the attention of Nox's only doctor with some Empoleon that had been fatally wounded and no chance of living. Of course there was no way she could escape with grief and all that. They'd captured her and locked her up making sure that the rest of her team were secured with Mr.Mimes. Dante shuddered. He personally hated the species. They reminded him of clowns. Oh Arceus how he hated clowns, those poor Pokemon probably hated themselves. The reason they probably didn't show up much around the world was most likely out of shame. No oned liked a Mr. Mime. Mime Jr.'s were cute. But that was about it.

Dante sighed and shook his head. He'd just got back from a cremating ceremony on the opposite side of the building. He'd made sure the Empoleon was disposed of. He wanted no fusses, he'd wait to see if Lux called for negotiations. That would be the reasonable thing to do. They needed Blue back. Lux was holding him hostage after the stupid arrogant idiot had gotten himself caught by Xander Cromwell. Dante had heard rumors about him and could have sworn he'd heard the name mentioned to him. But now, the black haired male looked around him, his face flat and emotionless. He'd learned, since Olivine that emotion was a key part into suprise for your character. Dont let them see the real you, they'll simply take advantage of you. Simple as that.
Dante had begun walking off to patrol the rest of the area when he heard a loud boom. Dante spun on his heel and looked in the direction. He saw fellow Guerilla's stick their head's out of rooms to see the big commotion.

"Don't stand there. Move. Lets go. You all know the drill make sure its a unified front. We work together." Dante said and removed the steel tonfa's he kept in his jacket and ran with several other men. Dante looked around him and saw more soldiers coming.

"No. Guard the girl. We need Platinum to make sure that Blue gets back. Those were Alyssa's orders. Follow them." Dante said before running to see the reasoning for the explosion. Dante looked up and saw a giant snorlax as the men were attacked. Dante jumped back and reached for his waist where his team awaited ready for battle. He watched the Snorlax with a glare as he reached for the Pokeball of his best teammate.

"Poisideon. Get out there!" Dante yelled seeing his opponent. Fuck. Red. Lux was pulling out big guns now? They were here.

"Secure the perimeter. We have company. Get rid of them or at least slow them down. Someone call the higher ups for possible backup!" Dante yelled to his left and right as people scrambled out of the way and Dante was left alone with a ravenous Snorlax Dante's pokemon, red and several dead bodies already. This wouldn't be good for the death toll.

"Poisideon. [Hydro Pump]! Spray some excess water for the floor!" Dante said already planning his strategy. The Feraligator took a step back and fired the high pressured water attack the Snorlax immediately. Dante kept on his gurad not sure what the Kanto Champion would do. He knew Blue was pretty rash and Red was an unknown factor. Keeping his tonfa's in a defensive stance Dante watched as the attack finished and plenty of water was left on the floor.

"Gather the excess water and deliver a [Aqua Tail] Poisideon." Dante hollered as he prepared for whatever was coming next from the Champion. Dante most likely wouldn't make it through this. But if he could at least get past him and flee that would be enough. Dante had a feeling this was going to be a losing battle right now... And not just the battle between him and the Kanto Champion.

[aka]

A feraligatr certainly wasn't Red's idea of a pokémon to challenge a snorlax. However, it was quick enough to disable the flooring so that Pikachu couldn't be used in the battle. A [Thunderbolt] would mean that everyone present would receive a full ten thousand volts to their body, aided by water's conduction. And that was in no way to end a battle - that is, with numerous fried lifeforms in the prison cell. Red glanced over the battle once, scarlet eyes roaming the field where Kabigon was lunging for Poseidon. The water slipped under the large pokémon's feet.

It started to hydroplane. That wasn't a good thing when he was over a thousand lbs in weight. Kabigon roared; despite his size, he was surprisingly agile, but only when he was hungry. And boy was the snorlax famished. The layer of water proved to be an interesting factor in the battle, for the snorlax had slipped on it - using [Body Slam] in the process, whatever water was on the ground splashed up, soaking the edges of Red's clothes. Then it bounced off the flooring, using its abdomen.

Like an torpedo coated in fat and oil, Kabigon lunged for Poseidon. The [Aqua Tail] came directly for it, and responding accordingly, Kabigon opened its mouth. The snorlax was incredibly hungry. Nothing seemed more appetizing than alligator - or anything else, really. Its catbus smile widened. "Snooooor!" it cooed, before reaching out a pudgy hand to grab Poseidon's tail and deliver a [Crunch] to it.

Meanwhile, Red had sent out Eifie. The espeon darted between the tussling giants, and made a beeline for one of two mimes. Its gem started to glow a translucent white, and as it jumped from the ground, a rainbow-colored beam started to manifest before the gem. The rays of light seemed to disorient one mr.mime, and as the other came for Eifie, it lithely dodged it before retaliated. Snapping, the espeon jumped for the mime, trying to use a [Bite] attack on it. The faster the mimes were disabled, the quicker the barriers would go down.

[/justify]

[tantan]

[style=float: left; padding: 8px;][/style] [style=font=family: tahoma; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;]
Pink. The explosion and the signal flares briefly lit the city up and so he saw. He saw pink. The female soldier that stepped out of the squads and followed him. He didn't know who she was though he was sure he had gotten to know each soldier for the attack today. Weeks of planning he pruned out who was unfit, made sure none of them were spies. Then who...?

The volunteer. It was a bit of a last minute. Had it not been for Balendin's approval, she being here wouldn't have happened. She was unnecessary but he thought just one more wouldn't make a difference. He didn't expect something like this was going to happen.

"Thank you." There was no point in arguing. He smiled at her out of habit. Not quite displeased, irritated, but certainly not glad or relieved. It was his practiced courtesy, though if given the choice, he would rather not be polite.

No other soldiers followed them but hostile eyes have. Armed rebels have already been spilling out toward the school building. He was less and less convinced it had just been an accident but whatever it had been, it split their forces from focusing on the real force. It was a decoy, and so - he realized - were they. Him actually.

They gawked at him, shocked to see his face of all places. They recognized him instantly. The very face of their enemy. His scarf flowed behind him like a waving flag from a neck they wanted to cut down. Hatred pooled in their eyes and very easily, they steered from whatever they have been doing to kill the very man of their sufferings.

He knew what was coming. He relaxed his muscles, his steps suddenly slower.

"DIE, SON OF A BITCH!"

Machine guns from abandoned houses were fired. He relinquished control on his speed and shot off like lightning to dodge them, leaving Thalia on her own. If she wanted to accompany him, she better keep up with him. He had nothing against her but this was the battlefield in question. He protected no one but himself, the most wanted man in the vicinity.

A blockade was waiting ahead, rifles poking above the stacks of sandbags. He scrolled a Pokeball outside and Nox tensed, expecting an intimidating dragon to emerge from the light. Instead, they got a flying squirrel soaring to the sky to whom the president's other gun was passed into the air. Amusement crawled to their lips while some choked in laughter. What the hell did the most powerful person in Lux have an Emolga for? They ignored the thing soar out of sight with a gun and fired at the president. What a tale to tell once the man was dead. The twinkle in their eyes showed just how sure they were they would soon see their families and look back at all this like it was a big joke.

He leaped far forward, free hand reaching to the ground. Bullets whistled past his ears but not a strand of his hair was hit. Upon contact to the cement, he carried the weight of his body on one arm, sprung in the air feet first in an uppercut, and retrieved his other gun from Mina. The sudden movement toward the air surprised them and before they could fire again, an army of Mienshao filled their vision. Out of nowhere, the Mienshao twins have intervened with their Double Team. Simultaneously, they struck down the humans with Swift, the fur under their arms exploding with star-shaped projectile weapons.

He found an Arcanine bounding in. He fired at it twice on the legs but the Arcanine was stubborn. The Arcanine lunged at him but he delivered the finishing blow on its cranium once his feet were back on the ground.

He made a move on, the building just steps away but ahead, an Onix and Haxorus along with their Trainers have gathered. A grenade was thrown at them but the third Mienshao, Kanya, appeared on the battlefield and threw it back to them with an expert bounce on her arm. Effortlessly, the Haxorus took it down with one Dragonbreath.

He gave Mina a signal to use Agility. The twins disappeared once more to attend to the humans shooting from the buildings. He let loose one more Pokemon, a Toxicroak, to join the fray.

There were less force attacking him now but he doubted they would gather here just for him. He was obviously a decoy. The explosion inside was a decoy. If they wanted to keep Hearthome, they have to defend themselves against Balendin and the others. If they wanted to end the war and kill him, that was their gamble to make. He had no intention of dying.

((Since everyone's naked. And let's kick ass too, Tsun! Sorry for leaving you behind by the way.))
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[tsundere]

still the voices have stories to tell
OF THE POWER STRUGGLES IN HEAVEN AND HELL
but we feel secure against such mighty dreams

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Even as Shamees charged forward, the Nox’s lucky accidental ambush on the President of Lux rolling out in the hiss of unlocking Pokeballs, the near-melodic by now, always familiar rattle and hum of machine gun fire, Thalia couldn’t feel particularly bitter about him haring off and leaving her on her own. For one, he was the President after all, and had to look after himself. She was an officer, but still chump change compared to him. Which was nothing to be upset about, it was a simple fact. Noble thoughts were bound to wither and die on the battlefield. If he was beside her and a bullet was fired, she’d throw herself in front of it, no doubt, but if he were headed for the thick of battle himself and

And two, he was drawing a good two-thirds of the enemy fire his way. For once, her pink hair and shining white armor was not the first thing that the opposing soldiers noticed. Thank god for Shamees’ posters being plastered over every inch of every region that Lux controlled (and a good chunk of the one’s they didn’t, though she suspected that those posters were rather less flattering in nature.)

There were a few guns aimed her way to be sure, but nothing impossible to handle. Her Charmeleon and Swampert burst forth from their Pokeballs. The Charmeleon, Sparare, unleashd a blazing Flamethrower on the men before her, charring flesh and bone to gruesome ash.

Subtle--not exactly, but perhaps this wasn’t the time for it?

Her attention focused before her, Thalia supposed that she ought to be blamed for the attack that took her off guard from behind; the Machamp that caught her by all rights ought to have killed her. It was only luck that her forward momentum carried her forth just as the blow landed. A glancing blow to the calf instead of the neck was enough to save her life, although the sickening crack told her she wouldn’t be walking anywhere soon.

She careened forth into her Swampert, the two hurtling through the remains of the men Sparare had decimated. Again, her unimportance saved her life: as Thalia crashed through the wall, all eyes were still on the president. Behind her, she dimly noted Sparare in duel with the Machamp. Threw blurry eyes she watched, sprawled across her Swampert’s back, until the Charmeleon’s victory.

And back to her side the Charmeleon returned, after the inevitable. While her position on her Swampert was rather un-dignified, it allowed Thalia to survey where they were. A building, quite abandoned looking--but she could hear the sounds of battle somewhere beyond. Releasing her Gengar and Umbreon from their Pokeballs as well (it never hurt to be careful), Thalia rearranged herself on her Pokemon so she could ride on him through the building without aggravating her leg.

The story of how she arrived where Platinum was held is for another day--the focus here is of the scene she encountered there: the legendary champion Red dueling a Nox trainer, and her friend being held captive. The wretched scene unfolding before her eyes. As always, the heavy realization: this is war.

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TAGISFOR shamees, plat, bale, red(?) ANDICOUNTED WHAT IS THAT EVEN I'LL DO IT WHEN I'M SOBER
EXTRASTUFF SORRY I SUCK

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[dante]

Dante kept his eyes on Red and wondered what the Kanto champion would do. Dante wondered if the other dark haired male would make a aggressive move towards himself or not. The war had changed people so no matter what people knew of Red, he could be a totally different person. This was techniquelly a hostage situation anyhow. Dante watched the scene between Poisidon and the Snorlax. He didn't even blink as the Snorlax crunched on the feraligatr's tail. It would hurt, but other than attack damage that was it. The feraligator was used to having it's tail chomped or stepped on. That had been a problem for him ever since his days as a Totadile. He'd always slept while leaving his tail out and about which often resulted in it getting stepped on or chomped on by another pokemon. Poisiodon didn't even wait for Dante to order his next move. He knew what was the priority, this Snorlax may be hungry but no way in hell was he going to eat Posiodon while he had a chance of it. Dante would redraw the water before if Posidion became incapable of battle anyhow.

Hearing some choas near the mimes Dante looked to see an Espeon attacking them and quickly pulled out a Ultra Ball that withheld Hades. Dante released the Sabeleye and movedhis head towards the Physic-type and the small purple pokemon nodded and rushed off to sneak behind the Espeon with his speed agile he preformed a [Faint Attack] to stop the Espeon. No matter what they'd fight their hardest to protect what they had taken. They'd most likely make a big escape when things turned for the worse. And as the vibration of the ground rumbled through the Sableye's feet he rushed towards the Physic type with a big grin on his face and his diamond eyes glistening.

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[balendin]

Balendin stood overlooking a scaled map of the battlefield spread over a large table. Small figures representing different squadrons of soldiers dotted the map. Reports came pouring in constantly and the map was frequently updated. Other generals stood watching him with less than friendly eyes. The reaction was to be expected. He was not well known throughout Lux command; a personal decision he had made when he decided to not accept a public position in Lux hierarchy. Instead he protected Lux behind the scenes away from the public eye. To these generals, he was just a random sentinel that Shamees had put in charge of them for no logical reason. So far they had kept in line, but how much longer would they take orders from an unknown Sentinel? Shamees had put Balendin in a very delicate position. Sooner or later they would stop tolerating commands and when that happened the whole operation could fall apart.

"We must move these squadrons here to reinforce Shamees. Our dear leader is in danger of being overrun," one of the generals said pointing at the map.

"No, he is fine. Shamees knows what he is doing. He is far more capable then you can imagine," Balendin snapped.

"You sir are insane. Leaving him to die would be treason. I will not stand for it," another general said reaching for his side arm.

A knife embedded itself in the table right next to the man's arm.

"The next one is going in your heart. I will not tolerate any dissenters."

That seemed to shock them into submission, but for how long it would last, Balendin could not say. He could not hold these men in check forever. Only Shamees could bring them back under proper order, but he was out gallivanting around playing the mighty warrior. If he was killed, everything would go to hell. Hopefully the girl that went with him and the 6 Sentinels sent to shadow him in secret would be enough protection because Balendin could not afford to send any reinforcements his way in the foreseeable future.

[aka]

 

[atrb=border,0,true][style=width:350px; border-top:#aaa solid 7px; -webkit-border-top-left-radius: 100px; -webkit-border-top-right-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius-topleft: 100px; -moz-border-radius-topright: 100px; border-top-left-radius: 100px; border-top-right-radius: 100px; padding:5 0 5 0px;] [/style][style=font-family:georgia; color:#777; font-size:28px; margin-left:5px;]isn't it beautiful,[/style][style=font-family:times; color:#555; font-size:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:25px; margin-top:-13px; width:310px;]the wind, like a heart that swam in the accumulated words, the clouds, a voice that was shot into the holding future, the moon, a shaking heart in an unsteady mirror, the stars, gentle tears in an overflowing stream, that heart, held within your body, in those confusing nights, i dream[/style]

[style=border:dotted #777 1px; width:150; margin-top:-10px;] [/style] [style=font-family:tahoma; text-align:justify; margin-top:-5px; margin-left:10px; width:330px;]Pudgy hands gripped the feraligatr's leathery tail. They were claw-tipped, giving the snorlax ample grip on whatever food it was holding in its hands. They were good for making sure food didn't escape its grasp. Kabigon opened its mouth wide, drool dripping from its mouth - it didn't even need a moment before it forcibly dragged the tail to its level and started to gnaw on it. Even though it wasn't particularly nice, food was still food. Beggars couldn't be choosers. Its trainer hadn't bothered to feed it, so it was just going to feed itself. The hands pulled Poseidon's tail closer and deeper into its mouth before the snorlax took a big [Crunch] into it. Red, on the other hand, was more focused on the other battle. As long as the alligator pokémon didn't attempt anything drastic on Kabigon, the snorlax should be able to handle himself. It also seemed that the other trainer had responded with another pokémon of his own, a sableye. The pokémon was notorious for its prankster-like nature, as well as a lack of weakneeses. However, that did not drive Red to withdraw Eifie. The espeon yelped as Hades emerged from the shadows, gripping her close and inflicting damage simply by gripping her. The psychic-type yelped once again, dragging herself away from the sableye. Tufts of fur were yanked up from her skin; there were a few trails where the ghostly claws had left their merciless marks upon her. The pokémon's ears pricked upwards as they picked up a quiet command from Red. Eifie sprang onto a nearby crate, gem gleaming with a mysterious energy. It wasn't a normal psychic-typed attack; it was a [Signal Beam]. The attack was bug-typed, and it served to confuse the two mimes guarding Platinum. The multicoloured orb proved to be an interesting object when it drew even the attention of Kabigon, who ambled away from the feraligatr to look at it. Then the snorlax picked up one of the dazed mimes and crammed it into its hand. Of course, the mime pokémon fought back - it drew a barrier within the massive pokémon's mouth, but it had barely reinforced the move before its hands were crushed by Kabigon's sheer grip. It snickered obnoxiously, before biting into the mime's arm, disabling it from further attacks. It snickered a second time, then in a rather calm manner, proceeded to finish its meal. Blood trickling from the side of its mouth, Kabigon turned around, grinned like a Cheshire cat at Poseidon, and made a beeline for its tail again. Eifie seized her chance and had lunged for the mime, claws unsheathing from her paws. She pinned the other psychic-type to the ground before attacking its jugular with a [Bite] attack. Crimson blood spurted from the vein, leaving traces of blood on the ground and spatter marks on the walls and Kabigon's back. The espeon's fur too, was stained by blood. She turned around, eyes flashing and ready to attack Hades. This was Red's cue. With both the mr mime gone, Red stepped across the wet battlefield. His eyes brushed past Dante, remembering the face that had kept Platinum captive in Hearthome. His eyes met the other man's just once - a second or two - before he turned away, crossing the room to where Platinum was kept captive. He looked at her, not quite sure what to say. Red remained silent, eyes staring into hers. He'd come to save her, but he couldn't cross that distance between her and him. It was as if there was a barrier between the both of them. "... Platinum."[/style] [style=border:dotted #777 1px; width:150;] [/style]

[style=font-family:times; color:#555; font-size:8px; text-align:justify; margin-left:7px; width:310px; margin-top:5px;]the wind, its halting words are a gentle illusion, the clouds, the broken future like a distant voice, the moon, a heart flowing in the clouded mirror, the stars, broken and swaying, like tears unable to be hidden, that face, a soft touch, dissolving into morning, i dream[/style][style=font-family:georgia; color:#777; font-size:27px; margin-left:25px; margin-top:-17px;]such faraway reflections.[/style]

[style=width:350px; border-bottom:#aaa solid 7px; -webkit-border-bottom-right-radius: 100px; -webkit-border-bottom-left-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius-bottomright: 100px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleft: 100px; border-bottom-right-radius: 100px; border-bottom-left-radius: 100px; padding:5 0 5 0px;] [/style][style=font-family:impact; color:#aaa; text-align:right; margin-right:15px; margin-top:-5px;]MADE BY [RED][/style]

 

[platinum]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=vAlign,bottom][style=width: 100px; margin: 0 7 11 0; font-size:20;font-family: georgia; text-align:center;]come, build that city on a hill. come, build that wall up to the sky.[/style][style=margin-right: 7px; background:url(http://i.imgur.com/k4t4i.png); width:100px; height:100px; -webkit-border-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; border-radius: 10px;][/style][style=font-size: 7px; color: gainsboro; text-align:center; margin-right: 7px;]MADE BY KATYA[/style]

[style=border-left: #F96EAD 1px solid; width:400px; text-align:justify; padding: 5 10 5 10; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 11px;]She hadn't expected anyone to come for her, as such. By the fighting outside, it was obvious enough that the tentative ceasefire in Hearthome City was no more, but even then, Platinum had assumed she'd have to fight her way out of here alone, the moment one of her jailers dropped their guard. Even then, the odds didn't look in her favor. When she first heard the fighting in the school building itself, then the cry of a starved snorlax (hadn't she seen to it that Kabigon would be fed?), Platinum had still been trying to work out how to escape alive, preferably without having her brain psychically melted into useless goo. For her, a rampaging, grinning snorlax was a beautiful sight for sore eyes. She'd sat by powerless to do much of anything through the battle, only switching to standing by instead when water sloshed along the floor. The barrier held strong even when the mimes went to battle, but she knew it was only a matter of time before they faded without the psychic pokemon's attention. Or, alternatively, they could die bloody deaths. Platinum winced when she heard bones crunch in the snorlax's mouth, but she didn't hesitate to test her psychic prison, pressing a hand to an invisible surface that held but finally broke when the second Mr. Mime fell lifeless to the ground. She couldn't say that they deserved to die, but Platinum found more satisfaction from seeing their corpses than she'd like to admit, but not as much as she'd like. They still smiled, or at least the one that hadn't been used for snorlax feed did. She met Red's gaze, and it wasn't quite so easy as before. She'd never seen the world's best trainer battle before, and it was... different: impressive to say the least, almost frightening to say the most--but that was fine. She was certain he was no stranger. Mostly, Platinum worried that she looked awful. On the upside, Platinum had very few problems bridging distances, and this one was no different. A few steps closed the distance between her and Red, and she threw her arms around him in a close embrace. She suspected Red wouldn't be comfortable with the contact. Too bad. She could apologize later. "I didn't think you'd come," she said in a tiny, pleased voice. "Thank you." The fighting had toppled the box that contained her effects, some of her pokeballs bobbing up and down in the water and others clattering onto drier ground. Rio finally chose to release himself. Sleepily, as if he'd just come out of some sedation, the lucario looked around, surveying the battle then glancing at Platinum before he shrugged and picked a side. Meditating for a second, a heal pulse radiated around him, reaching for Red's pokemon in a rejuvenating reverberation. Rio spoke easily through aura, but it was always harder with strangers, and harder now that the lucario's mind swam about vaguely. <Fortune does not favor you, trainer,> he said to the Nox fighter. tag er, shamees? probably dante for the folk inside the building. notes the lucario was drugged to sleep, so he'll be sluggish for a round or two before he finally shakes it off. and yes, despite the drugs, he had to say SUCKS TO BE YOU to Dante. hey, someone had to do it. [/style]

[tantan]

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[style=text-transform:lowercase; font-size:25px; font-style: italic; font-weight:bold; color:C9A0DC;]i am devoid of any feelings[/style][style=text-transform:uppercase; font-size:9.5px;]Except an impulse to destroy everything and anything[/style][style=text-transform:lowercase; font-size:9.5px;color:C9A0DC; margin-bottom:5px;]Since I can’t even choose the season of my passing[/style]

The dragon threw its arms out and let loose a powerful cry to the dark sky. From its gaping mouth, circular sound waves rippled toward the center so fast they became visible to the naked eye. A white whirlpool of wind swirled. The Haxorus hunched its shoulders and then threw its head out forward to blast Shamees with a Dragon Pulse that howled minaciously.

As soon as he skidded to a stop, Shamees moved to the side with a jump to dodge the Dragon Pulse that blew away an immobile tank that was close to Thalia on the street. His eardrums didn't stop ringing from the attack and all sounds were muffled to him. His sharp sense of hearing didn't help either and only made it worse. Faintly he heard the Nox bark orders but Shamees couldn't understand it. Even the whizzing of guns behind him didn't cut through his hearing.

Sanguine, his Toxicroak, was running in toward the Haxorus with a Poison Jab raised. The enemy Onix stretched its boulder tail and lashed it on the ground, creating vibrations deep within the earth. Something from inside rattled anxiously and started to crawl at an alarming pace toward the surface. Sanguine glanced below, sensing something was about to come out.

The ground shattered. Crisscrossing deadly spikes of rocks jabbed out of the ground under his feet. Sanguine dodged one from impaling him from the chin but he quickly resorted to leaping the in air to avoid the rest of the Stone Edge. By no means was Sanguine going to stop. From the sky, he dropped toward Haxorus for an attack but the two Pokemon were bound to defend themselves.

Kanya came in in a blink of the eye - and so did Shamees. Two guns shooting out, he provided cover for Sanguine. He still couldn't hear well but that didn't hinder his aiming, which coordinated perfectly with Kanya's movements. She was right at his line of fire but the bullets whizzed past her sides smoothly sailing toward the Trainers. The Onix used its tail as a shield and began to coil its body around the Nox to use its head to fend off against Sanguine's incoming aerial attack.

Kanya made a great jump before the Onix and soared in the air. Behind her, Sanguine's figure was descending. The Mienshao collected momentum with a spin, fur arms billowing like kimono sleeves, and struck the Onix on the head with a High Jump Kick that stabbed it like a cold blade of a dagger on the stomach. The Onix crumpled, forcing the others to disperse or get crushed under it. This gave Sanguine the opening in their defenses but rather than attack the Haxorus, Sanguine struck one of the Trainers directly on the chest. There was only a choking sound that came out from the human before he dropped to his knees, eyes lifelessly starring with shock.

Shamees' hearing went to normal just when the other Nox shrieked furiously. The noise of the battlefield returned to him in full force like everything have been unmuted to its maximum volume. A particular sound caught his attention. Shamees turned to the other enemy Pokemon and only saw vaguely the Haxorus turning to him with a brilliant light emitting from its mouth. The Dragon Rage had been blasted the moment he noticed. Shamees attempted to roll out of the way. His blood had gone cold. He knew he wasn't going to make it.

The white flashed before his eyes. The shock wave struck him on the chest. Everything went black, pitch black. He was rolled on the ground like a rag doll.

Kanya fought the Haxorus with a Drain Punch while Sanguine deal with other human. He was facing bullets and was shot twice now. Sanguine continued to charge blindly with his red claws extended, Revenge incessantly repeating in his mind. He thirsted for it desperately even as his muscles cried blood from the injury. Sanguine slit the human's torso diagonally. Blood sprayed out and drenched his blue skin in red.

Mina flew toward Shamees in a panic. She knew not to move him of risk making his situation worse but just looking at him made her think that he was...

Mina looked around. What if someone came and attack them? She didn't know how to defend Shamees alone. She never did fight directly. The Emolga searched frantically for allies, anyone -

((OOC: Uh, hold that emotional Platinum scene for a sec. Let me us catch up. We'll bring trouble along. Also no, Shamees isn't dead so hooray for sentinel backup! Feel free to control npcs whatev. Hit me up if this post is too difficult to reply to. This was so lifeless.))
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TSUN TSUN TSUN TSUN TSUN TSUN TSUN TSUN TSUN [/style]
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