#I tried making the two Pokémon look like they were his stands or smth

[buggythemoth]

Quickly doodle of Leonardo before I go see femtanyl live!

[alloftimeandspacetosee]

Adventure in Time, Part1

OK SO

this one is long and split into many parts now

[2] [3] [4]

[Adventure in Space]

 It comes in part of the first roleplay where we introduced another coconspirator! We planned big dramatic shenanigans in unova!

 Legendary shenanigans.

 This is Arlette’s adventure, bc she’s Dialga’s guardian.  Reshi and Zek got jealous or... didn’t believe they were worthy or smth, so they got judgy and had to do tests.

 Also I wanted to explore some of Unova’s history, so. The two princes war!

 I will do world building posts at some point

~

The ground beneath her was blue glass, a lake surface, and it echoed beneath her every step with a distinctive ticking sound.

<And when are you going, little Guardian?> He didn’t appear, but her surroundings were tinged bluer.

Arlette spread her arms, flexing them like wings. “Backwards, I suppose. You know my task?”

<They are presumptuous>

“Going to do anything to stop them?”

<I cannot> He sounded disgruntled. <You are shared with him, and so it is your right>

“You have to share?” Arlette smiled, helmet fixing into place over her head.

<It will not be for long> he sighed. <Playing with time is dangerous, little one>

“It’s mine to play with though, isn’t it?” Arlette looked around. “I am your Guardian.”

The place shook, and glass shattered under her, splintering with harsh cracks. Arlette fell to her knees, armour clanging against glass as she was plated in the stuff, blue and silver and white with red hints.

<Then go there, play with it. But do not come crying when you mess up>

The glass rippled and rolled under her, and Arlette was thrown backwards out of the rip.

“That wasn’t really–”

“Get down!”

Arlette was cut off by someone tackling her to the ground as fire blasted overhead.

“The fuck?” Arlette spat out grass and looked around.

“What are you doing?” The man rolled from her back, fire still raging overhead. “Keep down when you’re in range, unless you want to be toast.”

“Why would I… oh.” Arlette looked over and took in his armour, the spear in his hand, the sword at his belt. “There’s a war going on?”

“Where have you been?” He cursed. “Get back in formation, beside your pokémon!” He pushed her away.

Arlette scrambled to her feet, ducking the hail of shrapnel that flew overhead as a shelter exploded. “Shit!”

“Althea, strengthen the barricades!” he roared, and was answered by a gigalith as it rumbled and settled in its stance. “You – explain yourself!”

The ground surged around them, and a wall grew up as they descended, shielding them.

“Well–”

“You’re young to be so high up.” He frowned, looking closer. “One of the prince’s own guards?”

“Something like that.” Arlette ducked, wincing as the wall shook and dirt rained down on them.

“Get back to your post – you shouldn’t be out here.”

“Right.” Arlette nodded. “Thanks.” She stood up and stumbled, falling back onto one knee.

“Have you been hit?” He spared her a glance as he started to bore a hole through the wall.

“No… don’t think so.” Arlette shook her head, collapsing to her side. “Just… I used too much energy.” Her armour disappeared, leaving her comatose on the ground.

“What do you–” He looked over and cursed. “What is going on?”

The barricade rocked as something hit it, and plants started to grow through it, slowly pulling it to pieces.

“Retreat!” The order was yelled along the line, and echoed on down past him.

He glanced around to see what was happening, and saw the rest of his troop crawling away, getting to their feet and running as vines overran the wall. He glanced to Arlette, nudged her. She groaned, but didn’t move.

“Why did you come out here?” he muttered, hauling her across his back and starting to run. “How did you get out here?”

The gigalith followed him, ground shaking with every thumping footstep.

#

Arlette blinked and looked around, propping herself up on her elbow. She was in a rough tent – more of a pavilion – on a thin bed of cloaks. People could be heard outside, but so could the steady banging of metal, the occasional roar of a pokémon.

“So… not back, then,” she murmured.

“You’re awake?” The man stood up from beside the fire and stepped over to offer her a bowl.

“Yeah… guess so.” Arlette nodded and sat up properly to take the bowl. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He sat down beside her. “I’m Arden, by the way.”

“Arlette.” She dug into the thin porridge. “How long have I been out?”

“Couple of days.” He scratched his head. “I should take you to command.”

Arlette gulped down the last of the porridge. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Why?” He narrowed his eyes.

“I’m just here to do one thing. I won’t be sticking around.”

“You need to get back to the prince.”

“About that…” She put the bowl to the side.

Arden shook his head. “Command is where you should be going.”

“This could get interesting, then.” Arlette made as if to stand up.

“You should… probably stay down for a while.” Arden caught her by the elbow.

“It was just tiredness.” Arlette shook her head and flicked her arm out of his grip, standing up. “I’m fine, see?”

“Alright then.” He stood up as well.

Arlette patted her pockets, checking them. “Where are my things?”

“Oh – there.” Arden pointed to a neat pile. “I didn’t understand much of it.”

“You’re not supposed to.” Arlette crouched down and picked up the pokéball, the vial of swirling liquid and the knife, tucking them into her pockets again. “Thanks.”

“This way, then.” Arden picked up his helmet – plain white, tinged with red and no fancy bits – and tucked it under his arm, gesturing out of the tent.

Arlette ducked out of the tent and looked across the site in front of her. Soldiers at every corner, in varying types of armour – mostly washed in red – alongside pokémon, all of them – with few exceptions – Unovian.

As Arden led her through the maze, they got a few looks. Arlette tried not to stare around too much, but did flick glances at people she heard talking about her. They stopped as soon as they saw her watching, and she allowed herself a little smirk, lifting her head up a bit.

Arden stopped before a big pavilion, in the middle of the camp, and stood to attention in front of the guards. “I have the newcomer.”

One of them nodded and opened the flap of a door, speaking to people inside.

Arlette didn’t make too much of an attempt to listen in on them – that was her sister’s job, not hers, and she was probably in enough trouble as it was. She did, however, examine the two guards, who wore red washed white armour, similar to her own had been.

“Enter, but leave your weapons here.”

Arden unbuckled his sword and laid it down, while Arlette pulled out her knife and flicked it into the grass with a soft shck. The guards stiffened and braced themselves in a minute movement, but made no move to stop her as she followed Arden in.

There was a table in the middle of the pavilion, a map spread out across it with roughly carved blocks in position. As they entered, the three people around it looked up, noting them. Arlette scanned them, taking in the fancy clothes, their cleanliness, and the weapons at their side.

“So this is the newcomer who dresses like one of my guards?” The one in the middle, in the whitest clothes, examined her.

“Yes, sir.” Arden nodded, saluting.

“At ease, soldier… where is her armour now?”

“It – it disappeared, sir.”

“Disappeared?” The other man – stout fellow, dark hair, rough beard – coughed. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, sir. She collapsed, and it – vanished.”

“How did you manage that?” He turned his attention to Arlette, the fierceness of his gaze turning it into a glare.

“It’s complicated. Sir.”

“How so?”

“Perhaps you are like my grandfather?” the white-clothed one suggested, raising an eyebrow. “Blessed of the Legendary.”

“She cannot be – that is hereditary!”

“And I do not have it,” he replied calmly. “And so there must be another heir.”

“Are you the Truth blessed?” the last person, a woman in a sleek gown, asked, turning her gaze from the map to Arlette.

“Would you believe me if I said I wasn’t?” Arlette asked.

The woman smiled. “Truth blessed cannot lie, so yes.”

“I am n–” Arlette erupted into coughs, doubling over as she shakes with them.

“Are you alright?”

Arlette nodded, getting them under control. “Yeah. Fine. Sorry. I… you said the Truth blessed couldn’t lie, right?”

The woman nodded.

“Oh, hags,” Arlette cursed.

“You are the Truth blessed?”

“Seems like it.” Arlette frowned, folding her arms. “I… I wasn’t before,” she said carefully.

“Before what?” the woman asked.

“Before I… made plans to come here. It’s… complicated.”

“But he has sent you to us. This is good…” the leader nodded. “And we thought he was sleeping, all this time…”

“Your majesty, is this wise?” the other man asked. “A virtual stranger, one who just – who just appears, and you think she is the answer to our problems?”

“Hildred.” He fixed him with a glance. “She is blessed for my grandfather’s dragon. How could she not be the answer?”

“Sorry, your majesty. I shouldn’t presume.” Hildred dipped his head in a bow.

Arlette glanced between them. “Ah… I see. You’re the White Prince?”

“Prince Abner Eldred, of the Vale.” He put a hand to his chest and bowed his head.

“Lady Apphia Wynne.”

“Sir Hildred Peyton.”

The other two took his lead and introduced themselves, though Hildred offered her only a quick nod, not breaking his glaring eye contact.

Arlette dipped them a short bow. “Arlette Nightgale,” she said, and then wondered if she really should have given them her name.

“Arden, you may leave.”

“Of course, sir.” Arden saluted and left the tent.

“We are losing ground, Truth blessed,” Abner said, looking to the map. “Can you help us regain it?”

“Ah – I’m not really a warrior.” Arlette frowned. “And… I don’t think I can interfere too much.”

“Then if you cannot help us, what are you here for?”

“Good question.” Arlette tapped her lip, beginning to pace. “I need to get back to the chasm.”

“We’ve lost that ground.” Abner shook his head, motioning to the map. “We’re in a bad place, Truth Blessed.”

“Can you just call me Arlette, please? Sir,” she added, seeing Hildred’s scowl.

“Of course.” Abner waved a hand. “Now, come here.” He beckoned her to the map table.

Arlette sighed and stepped over, looking down at the placements. “Wow. You’re really not doing well.”

“I suppose that’s true enough.” Abner smiled. “Is there anything you can do to help us?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “What troops do you have?”

“Some mounted – air and ground – some range, most melee.” Hildred pointed at the markers. “The colour is the main typing in that group.”

“Pokémon?” Arlette looked up. “Just checking!” She raised her hands as he sighed. “How well do you know the land around here?”

“Very. We ruled the northern half of the region.”

“Excellent.” Arlette grinned, beginning to move the markers. “We need to take the Chasm back, it’s better defensively than this place, I would think. So – how are your flyers at night?”

“Fair enough.”

“I imagine there’ll be fire enough to see by, anyway.” Arlette frowned. “Mounted up on this ridge, ranged here… foot soldiers spread out. Pincer movement, send the flyers in above.”

“Disorientate them.” Eldred looked at Arlette as if seeing her for the first time. “Not bad.”

“Thanks.” She flashed him a smile, pulling back to examine the board. “If you can, take out their sentries before they can sound the alarm.”

“Will you fight with us?”

“I… I’ve never fought before.” Arlette shook her head. “And I have my own things to do.”

“Your majesty, if I may?” Apphia turned to him. “The girl is still tired.”

“What? No I’m not.” Arlette frowned. “I only just woke.”

Abner nodded. “Apphia, go with her, look after her.”

“This way, Truth blessed.” Apphia stepped around the table and turned Arlette around.

“Wait – what?” Arlette shook her head.

“Just come,” Apphia sighed, leaving the tent.

Arlette glanced back at the prince and then hurried after Apphia, stooping to yank her knife from the ground.

“No experience in fighting, yet you carry a knife?” Apphia raised an eyebrow as Arlette caught up with her.

“Mam always said that it was better to look capable than truthful.” Arlette shrugged.

“A wise woman, your… nan.”

Arlette didn’t bother to correct her, and shoved the knife through the fold in her jacket as she looked around again. The tents were bigger here, smarter as well. These weren’t the rough and ready tents of the common soldier.

“In here.” Apphia held open the flap of another tent.

Arlette ducked past her with a murmured ‘thanks’ and looked around. It was someone’s living quarters, simple but still elegant.

Apphia stepped past her and let the flap shut. “Now. Sit.” She gestured Arlette to a chair as she turned to face her, standing in the centre of the tent.

Arlette frowned, but sat down.

“What are you doing here?” Apphia asked, a reuniclus appearing beside her.

“I… told you,” Arlette said slowly.

“You just said it was complicated.”

“It is.”

“I want the truth.”

“I can’t lie,” Arlette pointed out with a smirk. “It’s better if you don’t know. I have to get into the Chasm to do one thing, and then I will leave.”

“And what about the war?”

“It…” Arlette frowned as the words died in her throat. “It will be finished.”

“Will we win?”

Arlette tilted her head. “In a manner of speaking. Look – Apphia. Don’t ask me. I… shouldn’t tell you.”

“But you know the outcome?”

“I’m not just the truth–” Arlette cut off sharply, frowning.

“What else are you?”

The reuniclus advanced on Arlette, arms outstretched as it started to glow dark green.

Arlette yanked her knife out and backed away. “Don’t do this, we’re on the same side.”

“We can’t trust you.”

“I can’t–” Arlette hit a post and stopped, coughing. “Dammit.”

“What were you going to say?”

“Something wrong, apparently.” Arlette flashed Apphia a fleeting smile. “I’m Truth blessed. It means I can’t lie, remember?”

“I’m afraid I will need more than that.”

Arlette frowned and straightened up, knife held loosely at her side. “Fine.” She lifted her head. “I am Arlette NightGale. Right now, I am blessed for Reshiram, dragon of truth. We are on the same side, and you can trust me. And that,” she said, glaring, “Is all you need to know.”