Session 53, VP2

 (These notes were written by the player for Lauren, from Lauren's POV.) 

Spending the night with Sylvie and Donner had been really nice. But with the new day came new work. I was determined to try fixing Donner’s Pokedex at long last, so I asked to borrow some of Bronze’s tools to help with where my multi-tool can’t get, and got to work while she and Sylvie went to Elof’s stall. I presume there is— or was— something there she wants.

 

Reinhold asked to borrow the Gible dagger, so I handed it over, no questions asked, and he disappeared. Not sure where Donner went since I got pretty into the repairs, but we all met back up for lunch and I was able to show him that I was able to fix most of the physical components of the device. He wanted to pay me for the work, but I don’t even know if this is going to work— it’s not like I’ve ever done anything like this before. I tried insisting that I don’t need payment, but I suspect I’ll find an extra Nugget in my bag at some point…

 

After lunch, Bronze started tinkering with something while Reinhold explained what he had learned from Sollaug and his own little bit of research. I’m a little confused about it, but he told us about the prophecy regarding the swordthane weapons and seemed to imply that we’d have to get them together to break any of them, but we don’t know if that’s going to work or what will happen. The prophecy indicated that bad shit would happen if someone picked up a specific sword, so I have a feeling it’s going to be a mess that we will have to be involved in.

 

Well, we already have to save the world, might as well tack this on as part of that.

 

He also says the Gible dagger has nothing to do with the swordthane stuff, which I thought was obvious, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to double-check.

 

Sylvie then explained that things aren’t going well at home, which based on Gunnar’s text sounded like an understatement. I thought it was best not to sugar coat something like this, so I added on that Hysterig wants to force Sylvie to have a child, which uh… apparently Sylvie didn’t know that part. Bronze excused herself for a moment and accessed the PC, while I swear murder reflected in Reinhold’s eyes.

 

Once Bronze returned, we started discussing what steps we would need to take to protect ourselves while also freeing Hestr. I let them know about my texts with Brunick and let the group know that his grandparents offered safe harbor while we’re there. But that won’t be enough, and my techniques can’t offer a guarantee of safety.

 

Sylvie suggested asking Ilvri— which isn’t a bad idea considering the military fights some things out of the ordinary. What else do we have to go on?

 

Before we leave, Bronze hands Reinhold a sack of something, and he seems surprised that she had it. He asks if she looked inside and after a moment of back and forth, she admits to it. He groans and says that it was going to wait, but might as well be now. He drops the bag on the table and tells us that he got us some gifts in thanks for being his friends— jewelry he had commissioned from Elof.

 

Sylvie doesn’t detect anything strange about it, so we each take a piece— Bronze some lapel pins, Sylvie chose earrings. It feels a bit odd to accept the gift myself, but I take the bracelet. I think Donner got a pendant necklace? Leaving a ring for Reinhold.

 

With that resolved, we take a trip to Ilvri’s tent and politely wait while she finishes her training routine. Sylvie once again tries to gloss over the main reason we need this assistance, so I show Ilvri the texts I received from Gunnar.

 

Watching her get angry is quite something. Her skin turned red, crawling up her neck to her ears while she parsed Gunnar’s grammar. One might think she’s embarrassed, but there’s no mistaking her fury once she stood up from her desk and proceeded to smash it in half with one kick.

 

Years ago, Thyra tried to get me to pick who was hotter between Ilvri and Skirlic. At the time, I refused to choose since I didn’t find either of them particularly attractive. I still don’t (though I would pick Ilvri if only to annoy Skirlic), but I definitely understand why Reinhold had the fleeting thought that he should’ve tried to shoot his shot last night.

 

Ilvri asks Sylvie very seriously if she wants her to kill Hysterig for her, but Sylvie says no and asks if she has any skills or knowledge of things that could protect them. She doesn’t, but she has an idea of someone who might be able to help. She digs up the contact info for Morphada, the Gym Leader of The Hive, and provides that to Sylvie. Sylvie also asks her if she has a timepiece, and Ilvri gives her the hourglass she wears around her neck.

 

We remind her that we still suspect that there’s a third murderer on the loose, so she should keep her eyes peeled. She muses about Stikill Stikill for a moment, so I tell her no, he’s just a Pokemon in all likelihood. We’re more concerned about Ms. Fjallar. She offers to ask her team if they have any information and we accept that before heading back to the Pokemon Center.

 

I ask Bronze for help with the programming aspect of the Pokedex since I feel even more intimidated about that than I did about the physical repairs. She has no clue either, but it feels better to have her help, and we’re finally successful.

 

It's not restored to its previous state— that is unfortunately far beyond my capabilities— but it is factory reset and working. I make sure everything Donner will need is installed and updated, add contacts, and set the wallpapers to some pictures of Duna I had from our journey. It looks like the text messages I had sent while the device was disabled aren’t there (small blessings), since I sent a test message and it came through without any previous messages.

 

I also helped Bronze change her background and icons, but I think Perthro still has some setting on the phone set to something unusual. I guess we’ll find out what that could be when the time comes.

 

After that, we decided to see if Skirlic would be up for a gym battle. Entering the gym was entertaining since she decided that she still needed to train despite her broken rib, but no one would spar with her. She shouldn’t be doing training or sparring, and honestly, she probably shouldn’t be Pokemon battling either, but at least it’s better than the other activities she’s trying to do.

 

I call her name from across the gym, and she whirls to glare at me. I smirk at her and challenge her to a Pokemon battle (I was careful to specify, knowing she would love to throw me on the mat six ways to hell given the chance). She agrees, we clear some space, and the fight begins.

 

Bronze sends out her Ursaring and faces a Machop while I sent Oli against a Shroomish, and Reinhold chose Scyther against Riolu. Reinhold and I have little trouble against our opponents with type advantages working in our favor, so we’re on to Lucario and Breloom respectively. I’m tempted to keep Oli out, but he’s paralyzed, so I decide to give Solana a chance to fight and send her out.

 

Bronze eventually manages to finish off the Machop, so Skirlic sends out her Machoke. Rin faints, so she sends out Ros. I had to focus on my own fight since Solana is weaker than Oli and doesn’t have the resistance to Fighting he did. She nearly gets knocked out, so I use a super potion I found in our group bag, and then with the next uppercut, she only just barely manages to hang on, but I think we have it with the next hit, so I give the command, and she follows through— sure enough, the Breloom faints, and I cheer for Solana, rummaging through my pack for my last potion— note to self, buy more potions— and apply it so she’s not quite so injured.

 

It looks like while we were busy, Reinhold managed to beat the Lucario, and while it took a little more effort, between the paralysis and confusion that Ros inflicted, the Machoke eventually knocked itself out.

 

A resounding defeat for Skirlic. I know she’s…not really that mad but still mad, but she’s absolutely going to punch us if we go over there. Surprise, surprise, she does, but she doesn’t know I’m psychic, so it doesn’t hurt me as much as she thinks it will, and then Bronze accidentally shocks her, so it works out in my book. She gives us a TM for Bulk Up and some prize money.

 

She asks if we’re planning on leaving town now that we defeated her, but I assure her that she’s still stuck with me— I said I would be her squire, so her squire I will be, and I slap a water in her hand. I don’t remind her that there’s a third murderer we’re watching out for— I’ll be with her, and I intend to have Oli help keep an eye on things tomorrow, so hopefully between the two of us and Ilvri chilling in one space and the rest of us being in the crowd, we can ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

 

Skirlic also asks if we have Aegson’s phone number, getting a bit flustered as she does, and I don’t hide a smirk since she’s not talking to me. Reinhold tells her he doesn’t, but if he did, he’d give it to her. If it were me, I’d at least ask Aegson first, so perhaps it’s for the best that Reinhold doesn’t have his contact details. I don’t really think he’d be all that interested, honestly…

 

There’s also a moment where Reinhold uses the wrong metaphor and implies that Aegson is his son. If I get to chat with him, I hope I remember to tell Aegson that factoid…

 

We head back to the Pokemon Center and while Sylvie and Donner go somewhere else, the rest of us decide to go see if we can find some new Pokemon.

 

We found six Pokemon, all fully evolved, fighting each other. Trevenant, Snorlax, Thievul, Tinkaton (I didn’t know those made it to Vanachrom!) Bronzong, and Piloswine. We thought, yeah, this could be good— we can get some good catches, pass one on to Sylvie or Donner if they want one.

 

It at least started well. Bronze snatched up the Thievul right away. Reinhold accidentally knocked out the Snorlax he wanted to catch, but that wasn’t so bad. We put the Tinkaton to sleep. Oli was chanting and landed a pretty solid hit on the Trevenant and Bronzong.

 

Then everything started to go downhill. Gary got knocked out in a solid ghost attack move, and Izu, well… let me see if I can paint a picture of what happened with Izu.

 

Bronze stands across the field, and I can hear her give a command, though not exactly what move due to the distance and Oli’s chanting. I can’t even see her since she’s so small, but I get a psychic impression of one leg kick, then the other. And then?

 

Explosion…s

 

The first attack is a dark swipe, the second(??) a flourish of grass, the third(?!) a scattering of electricity. Then comes the blast(!!) of fire that completely obliterates the Bronzong and Trevenant and leaves the Tinkaton barely conscious (and still asleep), and Reinhold looks a bit crispy.

 

The battle stops as we all turn to stare. Oli and I were both out of range, and we blink at each other. The Piloswine, also out of range, makes a half-hearted attempt at a tackle but it can’t really be considered a true attack. Bronze rushes over to Izu and cradles her in her hands. There’s a brief moment where they communicate with each other and Reinhold and I recognize that this is a goodbye. We pray that it’s not a final one, but as Bronze doesn’t go to throw a Pokeball at the easily capturable Pokemon, I don’t have to read her thoughts to know that no, Izu is gone.

 

Reinhold and I catch the remaining Pokemon on the field, and I quickly give Reinhold a water to help his injuries before heading over to Bronze. Oli cuddles up next to her leg and I place a hand on her shoulder.

 

It almost seems silly that this was supposed to be a lighthearted adventure and random encounter, but if she hadn’t done that move, I’m not sure how well the rest of us would be coming out of that battle. All that we can do is keep Izu in our memory, honor her death as best we can, and support Bronze as she navigates through her grief and guilt for commanding one of her own Pokemon to her death… perhaps another conversation to have with Ilvri.

 

We made our way back to town, but now I have to explain what happened out there to Sylvie and Donner… maybe I’ll just show them…

 

Tomorrow, the tournament resumes. I’m going to try to wake up extra early to make some quality breakfast sandwiches with enough to share with Skirlic too. There won’t be anything wrong with it, but I’m curious to see if she’ll think there is… guess we’ll see. :)