#medium stakes

Good news! Lord kleaver is no longer in a frenzy and i did not lose an arm

Bad news!

[An image is attached. Mick is shirtless, back in his living quarters. His face is obscured by the camera angle, as it's meant to show off a new golden scar circling his entire midsection. The edges of the scar are red, indicating that it may still take a while to heal the finer aspects of the wound.]

[A video is attached]

It's Aegis's enclosure, late at night. His star nightlight casts light around, but Aegis himself is fast asleep in a nest of pillows and blankets.

All is silent until.. a door somewhere out of view of the camera creaks open. Footsteps can be heard sinking into soft earth, a ghostly mist seems to manifest itself in frame.

The source of the footsteps makes itself known, as it stops just inches away from Aegis's sleeping nest. It's someone in a white suit and nice shoes. They crouch down, leaning forwards and their face- or rather the full face mask they're wearing can be seen.

An Arbok mask.

The masked figure turns to the camera, and lifts up the bottom of the mask so their mouth can barely be seen and they flash a grin before lowering it and looking back to the sleeping child.

They place a hand over Aegis's mouth. The touch causes Aegis's eyes to flick open. He sees the mask and is about to scream but a distorted and threatening drifblim call cuts him off. The masked man speaks.

"scream, and you'll just make this worse for yourself, kid. You understand me?"

Aegis makes no movement, just staring, terrified, at the man in the mask.

"nod your head." Aegis continues to stare for a moment but then slowly nods. There's a low chuckle from the man.

"Good, you can follow orders at least. Now... You may not be a pokemon right now but. I still have a score to settle with you 'Aegis'. You got away from me. You and your little Rotom pal got one of my bases raided and destroyed. And you're gonna pay for it."

There's a soft whimper from Aegis, he's beginning to tear up- another chuckle from the masked man.

"aw, don't cry, kid. I have a really important role for you to take in some plans for me and my friends. You like being useful, right? Protecting your friends?"

Silence, just more tears.

"nod your head."

Very quickly Aegis nods.

"Good! You have a perfect chance to. You just have to stay quiet once I remove my hand from your mouth and follow me outside. Got it?"

Aegis nods again.

"good kid. Alright. I'm gonna take my hand back now."

As the masked man removes his hand, Aegis bites down on one of his fingers. The masked man almost screams, but stops himself, growling.

"Why you little-" he doesn't finish his sentence, regaining his composure as much as he can, and then roughly grabbing Aegis by the shoulder and hauling him to his feet, dragging Aegis behind him out of the enclosure. Aegis can be heard struggling quietly, but he doesn't scream.

He stays quiet.

Before the video ends, the camera source is picked up by a dark shadowy hand, and then it clicks off.

On the plus side my brain no longer wants to fall outta my skull so i can lift my head finally! Didnt uh. Didnt mention that before for. Obvious reasons

Fret not, for he has taken the task most seriously. He is yet to take on the Lord of the island, though... He is to battle soon with this trio of women. Misfortune Sisters, I believe they called themselves?

Alright, then, Sapphire. You know what'll go on, so is he gonna be fine?

Well, there are... many outcomes to be had.

Fine, Garnet. What's the most likely?

The good ending is a few incredibly minor burns!