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Catriona had seen Penelope win over many a person, but this instance seemed a bit much even for her. Usually, her sister's winning demeanor had been used to ameliorate tense situations, but Alois's mother had already shown feelings of goodwill toward the group, so the lord didn't see how it was quite necessary to cater to this woman. Still, her sister's actions were usually beyond her to begin with, so this situation was no different. "My, my, you sure are good with your words, ain't ye?" Mene smiled at Penelope. "Alois, you could stand to learn a thing or two from this girl," she said. "And as fer things of Alois...well, I know he has a couple o' books," she scowled briefly, "but other than that there's not really much at all." Catriona took note of those going to Alois's house and those who had already left, most likely to explore the village. While she didn't feel entirely comfortable with all of them splitting up like this before they could take stock of the situation, there wasn't much she could do about it, short of ordering them to stick together. And a few people were already gone, including--no, Gunther had just returned, but Sienna was still out there. Tsetseg and Citron had left as well. The merchant aside, those two are the ones I'm most concerned about being off on their own, Catriona thought. Penelope and Ciela were the only ones she'd worry about more--the former because of her royal status and the latter because of past experiences. But Penelope seemed set on accompanying Alois to his house, and Gunther with them. Those two were some of the most trustworthy people in the group. Ciela, though, was passed out and by herself. Adel was as well, but Catriona had significantly more faith in the pegasus knight's ability to take care of herself than she did the troubadour. Penelope seemed to think of that as well. "Someone should try and rouse Adelaide and Ciela. I would rather not leave them unconscious on the floor if we can help it." "I'll do that," Catriona volunteered. As she began to look over the two, she looked up at the sound of voices. Gunther had addressed Acantha with a bow. "I appreciate your help. I'm glad you understand animals like this." He looked towards Peaches. "I hope you feel well. Do be sure to keep the others safe, if it's not too much to ask." He said to the wyvern with a smile. Citron joined in with some instructions of her own, to which the wyvern replied with a set of noises that sounded more like a "skree" than anything else. From what little Catriona had heard, wyverns tended to roar, but this one seemed rather unusual for wyverns in general. Perhaps it was just a young wyvern? The lord couldn't say she was an expert on wyverns, after all. She couldn't say she was an expert on people either, though. For instance, she had no idea why Acantha's face turned about as pink as the wyvern she was tending to. "It's not that I understand them, or that I'm being kind!" she turned her head away. "I just...it's my job as a cavalier. That's all." She humphed, not meeting anybody's gaze. "J-Just go and do what you need to get done, okay?! Don't worry about me or Peaches here!" The knight then gave his thanks to Mene with another bow, who shook her head with a flustered smile. "Oh, nay, not at all. Any friend o' Alois is welcome." Then the others began to leave the town hall, joined by Edrick, Link, and Abdul at the last minute. Catriona couldn't say she approved of the lancer moving about quite yet, but it would be better for him, in the end, to be resting on something that wasn't stone or hardwood. So, against her better judgment, she did not speak out against the action, turning her attention back to the two unconscious people nearby. -- Wandering the village under the evening sun, Sienna would find that there were quite a few people who looked in the process of repairing their homes who looked in need of aid. However, each and every one of them turned her offers away, their eyes respectful but wary. In fact, all of the villagers kept their distance from her, save for the children who stared up at her ears and tail in abject fascination, though they were usually herded away by their parents before they could get too close. Only one person, who was sitting atop a barrel in the village square and whittling out a long piece of wood, accepted her offer for help. An older man dressed in the leathers and mail of a hunter with a small beagle puppy at his feet. The puppy looked quite curious about Sienna, approaching her and sniffing, barking multiple times before turning back to the man. "No, Icleias, that isn't a fox, just a fox person," the man shook his head before turning back to Sienna. "You want to help out? Sure. My home's a bit of a mess right now after Icleias here started going wild as a human. Guess some of yer friends came over and he got excited. Even got my chimney banged up for some reason." He had a gruff way of speech, but he didn't seem particularly afraid of her like the other villagers had been. "Name's Amas. I'm a hunter. I'm usually the one who supplies the meat 'round here. The stuff that ain't livestock, that is." He wouldn't say much more than that, urging Sienna to "go on, git a move on." If the Protean inspected his house, which was just outside of the village square, she'd find that the man had been correct in that it was a mess. It was little more than a hut made of wattle and daub, with a floor that was little more than packed dirt and a small bed with the blankets in disarray. At the far wall, the chimney looked a little cracked in places, as if something, or someone, had taken a tumble down it. A wooden table lay knocked over, food and a stone plate scattered around the floor. A washbasin had fallen on its side and soaked the ground nearby, causing a small muddy area to form. Various leather garments lay strewn on the floor, and a small wooden shortbow had been cracked in half. It was as if a fight had taken place there. She would have her work cut out for her trying to fix it up. -- As Citron stumbled her way through the darkening village, she would eventually be pointed in the direction of the village square by a concerned-looking woman. Upon arrival, the wyvern rider would catch sight of Sienna talking with an older man who looked to be a hunter, but also the fruit stall that she and Peaches had ruined earlier. Several villagers were congregated around the stall and working to fix it. One woman, in particular, seemed to be doing most of the work. Dressed in modest clothing, with most of her brown hair covered under a veil, similar to Mene, she had gathered some fruit into a large basket that she carried atop her head. The rest lay in a large pile to the side, the same pile that Citron and Shiro had made. "All right," she said. "That's that done, now fer the next. Don't forget I need good stout wood fer this part, ya hear?" "Aw, we know, we know, Thile," a man shook his head. "Don't you worry 'bout that, all righ'? My lumberjackin' skills ain't nothin' to sniff at." "Nor are your armpits, Achos," an older woman nearby waved a hand in front of her face disgustedly. "It's called the sweat o' hard work, Pheodea, summat ye'd know nuthin' about." "I'm here now, aren't I? Now stop working your jaw and start working your arms, or are they just for show?" "Yeah yeah, I hear ye--oi! Who're ye?" the man, Achos, pointed at Citron then. "Ack! It's her!" the brunette woman pointed at her. "She's the one who broke my stall! She an' that winged lizard!" There was a slow pause then, before, "Hang on, ain't she the one who came back and tried to help fix it too?" Achos asked. "Well, aye, but she still's the one who broke it," Thile replied. The tense atmosphere was shattered as a familiar wolf cub came barreling into the plaza from the direction of the mayor's house. Upon seeing Thile, its tail started wagging, haunches wriggling, then leaping into the air and landing in a pounce directly on top of the woman's foot. The brunette started to scream then, the sound akin to that a hare would make when frightened for its life. "Aiiiiiiiiii! It's back! It's back! The demon wolf is back! Get it away, get it away!" she screamed again, dropping the basket and fleeing for her life, eyes glazed over as she began to run around the plaza, Rohns bounding along behind her. The others took a second to register what was going on before they scrambled into action as well, chasing after Thile and the wolf pup behind her. "Hey, hey, calm down Thile! It's just a baby wolf, is all." "I don't care, get this blasted beast away from me!" In the ensuing chaos, Citron had been completely forgotten. -- After leaving the town hall, the main group, which consisted of Alois, Penelope, Gunther, Edrick, Link, and Abdul, followed Mene out the main entrance of the town hall and down the main street. They would find themselves passing by people going about the task of cleaning up the village in the remaining daylight, though a large group was in the square as well. Oddly enough, they didn't look to be working, save for an old man carving out a piece of wood at the edge of the square and Sienna next to him. No, most of them seemed to be chasing after a harried-looking woman fleeing from a familiar-looking wolf cub. Every so often it would catch up to her and nip at her heels, prompting her to scream like a frightened hare and run faster. Citron was also nearby. "Oh my, looks like some sort of ruckus is going on over there," Mene said, stopping to look over toward the square. "Goodness, Thile seems to be in a right fit, don't she? And her stall's a ruin. Wonder what happened to it?" She shook her head. "I know we were all in a complete panic after the curse struck. Wonder if that's what caused it. And that wolf...ye don't think it's a villager still ensorcelled? Must be one of them wild forest wolves, but it makes ye wonder where its ma is. Anyway," she turned back to the group with an airy smile. "Let's just move on, shall we? I'm sure Thile and the others can handle it, and we need to get this boy to a bed." They hadn't gone much farther, still within view of the square, and just beginning to pass the gaudy-looking mansion that they had seen before when they found their way blocked by two people, one of whom would look a little familiar to the few who had been quick to glance about their surroundings in the aftermath of the recent battle. He was a stout curly-haired brunette wearing a maroon vest and pink satin ribbon over a clean white shirt and olive green trousers. This kind of colorful attire was uncommon amongst the villagers, yet when compared to the man beside him, he looked positively homely. By all appearances, the other one was a nobleman from head to toe, adorned in a rich ruby overcoat inlaid with gold thread over a silken white shirt and wine red bottoms. From the shoes that had been shined so one could see their reflection in them to the ruffled cravat at his neck and the polished wooden cane in his grip, every aspect of him screamed nobility. And yet, there was something about him that seemed off to those familiar with such things. "Oh, Pylauses," Mene's voice fell a bit flat. The woman coughed and spoke again, though this time her voice was more cheerful. "What brings ye here today?" "Exempt me the peasantries, Mene dear," the man said, turning startling green eyes to the group. "Ahem, allow me to inundate myself," he cleared his throat and performed an elaborate bow. "I am denominated as Pylauses, Pylauses Gaston, at your servitude. This one here is Hanikap LeFou," he waved dismissively at the man next to him. "Hehe, nice ta meetcha," the brunette grinned and waved at them. "Yes, yes, moving on, I have arrived hither to congenially invitate you to reside at my chateau," he gave a grandiose wave toward the mansion behind him, "for the extension of your sojourn here in this...humblesque hamlet," he sneered as he spoke the last words. "Huh? Wuzzat you say?" Mene asked, appearing quite bewildered by the man's words. "In layman's terms, I am taking these people off your hands, Goodwife Mene." "Hang on a moment, Pylauses. Laying men aside, I'm already taking these kind folks to my house." "Yes, and while I am surfeit that your homely hut is quite...splendiferous," Pylauses replied, "I do not quite accredit that it has capacity enough for the plenitude of the group. Whereas mine has more than sufficient traction to comprise all of you. Or to say it in a language you are sure to understand--your home is too small." "Er...well, I s'pose you might be right 'bout that bit," the woman admitted, deflating slightly. "Still..." "Yes, yes, indeedulosity. Now, shall we be expatriating?" he asked, turning toward the mansion. "I am indubitable that we shall have plenteous to confabulate with reference to this commune." "Come on, let's go!" Hanikap urged. -- After the group filed out of the building, Acantha's shoulders dropped as she let out a sigh. A hush fell upon the town hall then. "My thanks," Catriona spoke up, breaking the silence. "Your aid today has been most appreciated. I doubt we'd have made our way through the village quite so easily or as quickly without you." The beaver had been one of the first animals they had met after entering the village, and certainly the most helpful. Acantha jumped then. "Egads, warn a person a little, will you?!" she grumbled. "For a royal, you certainly don't have that much presence." Catriona paused. "I...suppose," she admitted. As a regular rank-and-file soldier, she had been drilled on the necessity of being only as important as the next soldier, and that training had stuck with her, perhaps more so than her private tutoring. "If you go about shouting that you are the princess of Galtea in battle, that will only put a target over your head," she had been told. "You might get to strut about in fancy dresses and balls back home, but here, you are a soldier first, and a royal second. You got that?!" It had been a hard lesson to learn, and one that went against her natural grain, but in the end, Catriona had taken it to heart, just as she had all the other lessons she had learned. "Don't go acting like a kicked puppy, I didn't mean it that way," the cavalier crossed her arms. "Just, you surprised me, that's all. But not that much. Just a little bit." The lord nodded in slight bemusement. She couldn't really understand this girl's turn of phrase. A kicked puppy? Surprised, but not that much? If the girl was only a little surprised, then why act so aggressive after Catriona had spoken? There was another silence then, during which the princess inspected both Ciela and Adel. The two were out cold still, but from what she could tell, there wasn't any serious injury to their skulls. However, she wouldn't be able to know for sure until they woke up and she could inspect their eyes and body movements. "Hey," Acantha's voice caused the woman to pause. "Don't mention it." Catriona said nothing for a couple of seconds while she worked the words over in her head. Don't mention what? That she was surprised? "Pardon?" she finally asked. "Don't mention it." "Exactly what am I not supposed to mention?" "Gads, you're denser than a brick, you know?!" Acantha's voice rose, face reddening. "I said, don't mention earlier. Me helping you out. I only did that because I wanted that stupid curse lifted, that's all." "Oh." "What, you don't have anything else to say?!" "I am abiding by your instructions," Catriona pointed out, her flat tone belying her underlying confusion. "Aaargh!" the other shouted, pulling at her reddish-blond locks. This girl is unnecessarily antagonistic. Yet, her actions lay at odds with her words. She had gone out of her way to help the group, had led them through the village, and even tried to assist in the fight against the stone statue. Therefore, Catriona could tolerate her attitude. Deciding that staying silent was the better course here, the woman continued to tend to the two unconscious patients in front of her. With some effort, Catriona had finally managed to rouse Adel, though Ciela was still giving her trouble. She could only hope that the troubadour would wake soon, though she knew a noble girl like her was likely unused to such strains to her body. After treating the pegasus knight's head with a vulnerary, Catriona nodded. "You should be fine. But I recommend staying here for now until you feel up to moving around." "What, you're babying her then?" Acantha snorted. The lord shook her head. "Carelessness can lead to greater injury," she explained, before turning back to Adel. "When you think you're ready, I have a task for you." As she focused her attention on her remaining patient, she decided to voice something she had suspected for a while, but hadn't had a chance to confirm. "Pardon my asking, but were you one of the beavers we were fighting back at the river?" The cavalier blinked. "That? Yeah, that was me. Me and a few others, anyway. We decided to head out on a patrol around the village perimeters, make sure nobody would try to enter while we were in the state we were in. We'd have succeeded too if we'd been human!" "Then that injured one...were they...?" "Oh, Melesus?" Acantha shook her head. "No, he's fine. We got him back and applied a vulnerary to his wounds right away. None of you did any lasting damage. Actually..." she paused, "I should probably thank that archer girl for saving Phai's life. I'd have done it if I were closer, but I was busy trying to keep an eye on my troublesome siblings," the last part ended in a mutter. "Phai?" The girl looked reluctant to answer. "I suppose you deserve to know since one of you helped her out. Though she wouldn't have needed help if we didn't have to fight you off," she grumbled the last part under her breath. "Phai, well, Phaidra's her full name. She's my cousin, and new to the militia. Hasn't been in it any longer than a week or so..." -- "Well, thanks for thanking me anyway! And I totally get what you mean! Once you're part of a fighting force you want to do alllll you can for it right? It's a real tough job but it's all the more fun when you do it right and everyone thanks you!" The archer then patted the militia girl on the head. "Good job on making your patrol proud!" At that, the girl started to tear up, eyes wide and watering. "Yes, yes, you understand!" she sniffled. "I try so hard every day, but it's really hard, but I keep trying, because, you know, it's really an honor to be in it, protecting the village and all!" she shook her head. "And that's why I tried to attack you all! And about that...I'm so...so sooooooorry!" she burst into tears then. "I can see now that you're a good person! You know, I've been told that outsiders are bad, but I don't think they're all bad, you know? Or at least not you, anyway! You saved my life! For that...thank you so much! It would've been so scary to get crushed like that," she sniffled. Hiccuping slightly, the girl continued. "A-And I know you said you don't remember, but it happened just this morning! You saved me from the falling tree! Or at least, I think it was you. I was a little out of it then." She rubbed at her eyes, before opening them wide. "That was so brave of you! I had just attacked you, but you still risked your life to save me! Like a true hero or something!" Her eyes sparkled with adoration. OOC

I recently rewatched the Prequel Trilogy, and they were better than I remembered them being.

Team ThunderWaves Taiga watched on as she made her approach. The Raichu had done some sort of insane attack that she'd never seen once before in her life. It was kind of incredible how devastating it looked. But even after all that their foe still stood, albeit, with a new hairdo. Taiga still was running, faster than before, when Veronica started to lift herself into the air. "No...I shouldn't expect uncivilized plebeians like you to understand. I didn't want to use this move, but...I won't hold back anymore!" The godslayer began to twist in midair, whipping up a tornado that sucked the close range Keanu into it's swell. Taiga stopped in her tracks, commanding her spectral fangs to clench themselves into the ground beneath. With a tight grip, Taiga held onto the jaws. However, due to the force of the vortex, the ground the teeth hung onto was starting to give way. She need a plan, and fast. She'd need to move fast enough that the winds from Veronica wouldn't be enough to lift her off the ground and into the attack. But how was she even going to get a running start in this situation? After a quick second of thought, she laughed at herself. "Same as always!" She roared, as a geyser beneath her feet sprung out in an instant, lifting her to the top of the room in almost an instant. The geyser pinned her against the ceiling, and at the rate of speed in which she did so, she managed to give herself a bit of recoil. But the maneuver gave her enough time to get herself into a favorable position. "LOAD THE SHARPEDO!" She cackled, as she could feel a surge of energy spread throughout her body. She could feel almost every bit of muscle tense up, before boosting themselves to their limit. "Is this how you did it, ya old fossil? Well I'm gonna do it ten times better, so says Taiga the Terrible Tyrant who Toppled the Tyrnatrum!~ FUFUFU!" The geyser had stopped, Taiga's feet pinned against the wall. In an instant, she shot herself directly towards Veronica's position in the storm, a powerful vacuum appearing in front of her head as her speed and power was enough to neglect the fast winds. "TAIGA BOMB!" She roared, as she soared into the gale force winds.

Tavares watched Nathan for a few moments before starting. “Cubone, Leer.” And the battle began with the small, yet determined, Cubone giving his opponent a stare down which lowered their defense right from the start. Nate watched the Cubone intently. “Cassius, Harden.” The Golett braced itself and a few cracks that had appeared throughout its body sealed. “Now use Mud-Slap!” Cassius stomped the ground and once again punched a gust of dirt in its opponent’s direction. “Hm.” Tavares grunted. “Bone Club.” The Cubone took a few steps forward and swung the bone he was holding down. When it hit the mud it caused it to spray in either direction. The Cubone didn’t stop there, however, and continued on towards Cassius ready to swing the bone again. “Block it Cassius,” Nate instructed. The Golett raised both arms up defensively, and the club hit it with an impact that wobbled the Automaton. It managed to shove the Cubone away after that but it was showing signs of slowing down. “. . . .” Nate hesitated. He had a lot of experience battling with Tyson, his starter, but very little practice with juggling an actual team. Only one way to learn though. “That’s enough bud. Take a rest. You’ve earned it,” he said, and the Golett vanished in a flash of red light as it was recalled back into its Poké-Ball. “You’re up Tyson!” His starter. His most trusted Pokémon. Tyson appeared on the battlefield with a trumpeting cry, waving his hands around in hypnotic circular patterns from the start. His expression shifted when he realized he was facing off against the Cubone again. “That’s right bud. Rematch time, right? We’re not gonna let ‘im beat you again. Start it off with a Reflect!” Drowzee began to more furiously wave his hands. Swirling psychic energy gathered around them, before coalescing into a thick barrier that shimmered for only a moment before seemingly melding into the skin of the Hypnosis Pokémon and fading from sight. “Leer. Then get through that defense with a Headbutt.” Tavares said. The Cubone once more assaulted Nate’s Pokemon with a fierce leer before tucking their head down and charging into the Drowzee. The Reflect mitigated the Leer but the hard head of the Cubone still made solid contact. “Tyson, Pound!” Nate said. Tyson clenched his hand into a fist and met the Cubone head-on; the Lonely Pokémon was undoubtedly stronger, but even after the Leer the Reflect prevented enough damage for the Drowzee to hold his ground. “Now use Confusion!” With his free hand Tyson began to gesture again, with the same glowing energy, before suddenly shoving his hand out towards the Cubone. The Cubone stumbled back but looked to still be determined to continue fighting. “You forget that Cubone’s training partner is Baltoy.” Tavares said. “Don’t let him get to you, Bone Club!” The boy seemed to be getting more antsy than before; more into the fight. Nate smirked. “Tyson has a few tricks that your Baltoy doesn’t. Like this one. Tyson, Hypnosis!” The tapir leapt into action even as the Bone Club was descending towards it. It motioned around, gathering power, and then began to chant and swirl its hands in front of the Cubone. Tavares narrowed his eyes but gave out an order despite the situation. Cubone then dove into the air and slammed his head into Tyson’s stomach. The Hypnosis still passed over the Pokemon but they looked to still be awake, if more tired than before. “Before it’s too late, Bone Club.” Tavares added. “Dodge Tyson!” Nate shouted. The Drowzee, reeling from the headbutt, managed to just barely leap out of the way of the Bone Club. “Now use Confusion!” Tyson trumpeted fiercely and once again attacked the Cubone with an onslaught of psychic energy. It was slowly becoming a battle of attrition, and that was a thing Nate knew they could win if they were careful. Cubone backed away carefully as the Confusion attack washed over him. Shaking it off he followed his trainers command and cast another Leer at Tyson. The Cubone then advanced again with his club raised. Yet he didn’t charge in. Instead the Pokemon scooted in a semi-circle around Tyson and waited before moving in again. “Keeping your distance isn’t gonna work here. Tyson, Confusion again!” Nate said. Tyson continued to stubbornly bombard Cubone with another blast of Psychic energy, determined to wear the Cubone down. Tavares seemed to be watching carefully and the moment Nate gave the order he called out. “Headbutt!” The Cubone charged in as Tyson went to use Confusion and slammed into him again with enough force to knock the two of them over and into the sandy ground. “You’ve got this Tyson!” Nate shouted. “Stick it out. Confusion again!” The tapir was bowled over by the Cubone’s headbutt, and he was obviously starting to slow down, but he managed to scramble back up to his feet and attack the Cubone once again with an onslaught of weak psychic energy. Cubone didn’t even bother to get to his feet as Tyson attacked. Instead he just lashed out from his position with a Bone Club attack. Smashing the Drowzee in his side. It was only after the attack that the Cubone got back to his own feet. Even without a command Tyson managed to back away from the Bone Club; he had already made it to his feet, so maneuvering was easier for him than his opponent. “One more time Tyson! Confusion!” Drowzee’s eyes glowed with a faint purple light and he swirled his hands around, amassing power, then unleashed it on the Cubone for what had to be the dozenth time in their short bout. Tavares had been staring at his Cubone, analyzing, and when the attack was coming he let out a sigh. But instead of giving in he called out for Cubone to do one more Headbutt. Attempting to power through the attack and deal solid damage of his own. Tyson had no time to dodge the headbutt. He was thrown backwards, barely managing to stay on his feet, but stubbornly powering through. “You alright bud?” Nate asked quietly. His hand was hesitant, resting on his oldest partner’s Poké-Ball, unsure of what his decision was. Tyson narrowed his eyes and surged back onto the flats of his feet, stubbornly waggling his trunk. He was beat-up and breathing heavily, but he was obviously determined to see the fight through until the end. “... Okay. Lets do this. Tyson, Confusion one more time. It’s almost over!” While Tyson regained his footing Tavares glanced around at the distance between the two. Deciding that the only change they had left was to attack at range, and knowing it was a shot in the dark, he ordered an Ancient Power. As Tyson went to attack he would soon be assaulted by a multitude of energy-based rocks. The rocks slammed into Tyson right as Cubone was hit by the Confusion. For a moment, both Pokemon wobbled, staring each other down, and then… Cubone collapsed. Nate had won his first gym badge!