#charmanderposting

What's in it?

...A note talking about a "team leader". Forgot Rescue Teams had those... Who should it be?

M-Maybe it should be Wave? He's always been super strong, and he has the heart of a true Ranger!

[Chris and David cringed at the suggestion.] ...He's also... Well... Crazy.

I HEARD THAT! I CAN HANDLE MYSELF JUST FINE, THANK YOU!

That being said... I don't think Stephanie would be a great choice either. She's kinda always on the move, isn't she?

So you won't say she's crazy, but you'll say I am?! She's more of a lunatic than I could ever hope for!

I was about to get to that.

HEY-!

He's right and we all know that. What about you, David? You look like you know what you're doing. I'd be lying if I said you weren't the reason we survived our first encounter with Yveltal...

Sure, but you're the one that decided that he had awful vibes to begin with.

Me and Lucas were the only ones that knew who he was back then!

And you chose to tell us about him immediately after.

And I didn't want any of you following me after the fact. If you all had gotten hurt, it would've been my fault. And some of you DID get hurt.

Not by Yveltal, we didn't. Wave wanted to be a daretina and try using a move he hasn't learned yet to break his fall, and ended up breaking his nose instead. And... I'm... kind of a special case.

...You... [Wave turned his back to Chris, blushing a bit.] ...I guess you would be a good leader. But I'm still stronger, alright?!

[Chris laughed awkwardly.] He-he... right...

I think you would do really good as a leader, Chris!

So... it's decided?

[Chris continued looking through the box, and he found two blue stones, no bigger than his nose leaf, alongside another note.] Hey, there's some other things in here too...

"To further your path to becoming professional Rescue Rangers, we've given two Link Stones to your team as a gift. One shall remain with the leader of the team, although the other can be given to whoever the leader decides on.

These are very powerful items. You must be very careful, ensuring not to use these items in quick succession with each other, lest you suffer unspeakable consequences.

Best of regards, Claude Samurott and Hanson Blaziken of the Rangers' Guild."

[Chris held one of the stones in his wing. For a brief moment, it flashed red, before becoming a calming forest green. It appeared that only he caught the bizarre change.] ...I guess we get to keep these until we graduate? [Chris took the other stone and tossed it to Stephanie, who caught it with one of her vines. Unlike Chris's, it remained the same blue it was when it were initially revealed.] If we're going to be using these often, we should try finding something to wear them on.

Oh no... Please keep updating on the situation. I really hope noibat is not hurt...

Aaand that makes three folks that found out he's missing before the day was over. David, you owe me 15 Poke.

Besides the point. Look, Jay-

Are you sure we're on nickname basis with the guy yet?

-We're trying. We really are. Best we can assume is that he's not out of town, 'cause he's made it very clear that he wasn't ready to explore on his own yet, at least not without a reason.

We'll try convincing Mr. Nidoking if we can just try looking outside. We'll just say Wave threw Stephanie's necklace out the window or something. But, if we can find a way to take a picture, I'd show you what we did in the meantime...

Wait, David! I-I know how to do that! Can I use it?

[ID: A Cubone's face, of course covered by a skull mask. The right eye socket had a crack running from either side of it, although it didn't look like it was falling apart any time soon. It was taken at a very unflattering angle, with parts of his chest and his chin taking up most of the frame.]

Ga-ak, wrong way, wrong way!

[ID: The top bunk of a wooden bunk bed, presumably the Noibat's. Under a purple blanket was an plush imitation of him, which was oddly well-made. The nose-leaf and ears was made from various shades of purple shreds of cloth, and the eyes were made from some kind of hard, shiny plastic balls. From a distance, it could easily be mistaken for the missing teammate.]

Stephanie helped us make this! It fooled every t-teacher that's seen it so far, b-but I'm scared that they're going to find out it's a trick. We'll really be in for it then.

I doubt anyone'll find out. Unless that Katie girl snitches. Which she probably will... But it'll be fine. Remember, if anyone asks, just deny everything.

Everything?

EVERYTHING! Jayden, I assure you that he's going to be fine. Because if he comes back dead... I'll kill him!

That d-doesn't even make SENSE.

Wave!

WHAT?!

[David sighed, face-palming at the Buizel's idiocy.] ...We'll keep you updated, dude. Promise.

...So we may have been doofuses. Not only have we been completely wrong about some of the stuff with Heart's... situation, which was already a mess of its own, but now... it seems like Chris found out that we have access to his phone.

H-He's gonna hate me, David! ...Wh-What if he breaks up with me? I threatened on of his b-best friends a-and said they d-deserved what they got...!

Actually, that's half-true. Big Bones ended up telling me that he had Chris's phone, a bit before he, Wave and Steph left the Academy again to visit Jayden. But, I chose to lag behind and see what else comes up.

I'm just here for damage control, really, making sure that things don't go tails-up while they're out... The stuff with that "Heart" fellow is...

Dangerous.

I'm still really upset with myself, though... I've been doing this since I was, like, four. Why does breathing fire still hurt so much? It doesn't help that it's only gotten worse for me since. I talked to the nurses at the school a while ago, and it turns out that I'm slowly ripping the inside of my throat to shreds because I can't control it yet. And I'll probably lose the ability to do it altogether, or even SPEAK, if I can't get that in check by the time I evolve. She gave me a necklace with Never-Melt Ice on it to try alleviating the issue, but it's meant to only be a temporary fix, like Chris's plug-in.

Mom looked like she understood what was going on, and I knew she did, but the fact that I can't get it down when both my older and baby brothers can... It's embarrassing. She says that it's just proof that I have stronger flames, but I don't WANT strength, I want CONTROL. And, now... I need it.

And speaking of that vocal violet, I'm really glad that he came in clutch through for me and Steph in the end. I know he was scared out of his mind, especially since he hasn't gotten into any real battles since he's become a Pokemon until that day.

...But still... I don't want to just be dead weight, y'know? Maybe I can keep working on Metal Claw instead? That move's never failed me, it even saved my life once...

...

[ID: Chris, standing on what looks to be a running track, looking dazed. He was covered in soot, and one of his bangs ended with a small flame.]

Yeah... I'm finally back. I've been through... a lot... but it looks like things are going to be alright from here on.

I hope Jayden's been alright. He's been pretty quiet about what you two had to go through a few weeks ago...

I'm telling you, it's nothing. Promise.

I swear, if it was Yveltal's goons again...!

Just take Chris's word for it, Noodlezel... Still, though... We've been through a lot so far... Do you really think he's behind all of it?

...!

BURN IT, YOU IDIOTS! We've been through TOO much for this to just be another trap set by Yveltal! Don't give them the chance!

Wave, give me my phone back before you break it!...

...Hold on.

I've never seen any of my asks be ended with a heart before. I don't think any other non-eeby Pokemon have a Rotomblr, anyhow. Is this someone I know? Lucas, you didn't send this, did you?

N-No, of course not! Why w-would I send you an ask to yourself?

It's a lovely day in your Gliscord server. Everyone's chatting, having a nice time, all is well.

Been only a month since you created it, and it's going fantastic so far.

And then, a simple, innocuous question happens.

And from it, springs a conversation. Then an argument.

The argument escalates, and despite your best efforts, you're unable to calm it down before it spirals out of control.

Members leave, one after another. Your server is collapsing, and you can't do anything about it.

Before long, you're all alone in an empty server.

Mmmrgh... That definitely didn't feel good. Is everyone still here? I... I just want to make sure.