5th Dia: The Guardians of...Union...[Video/Action]

[frozenflame]

Video:

[Yukiko appears on the video today looking a little bit haggard and run around. Her apartment is clearly in shambles, and she's holding her head and nursing a bruise. Her voice is irritated, a little angry, even.]

Hey. Has anyone seen a group of Pokemon roaming around? A Linoone, a Sudowoodo, and a Snorlax? They...took off in a rush this morning after Rocket made a mess of my apartment and I can't find them anywhere. They'll answer to Rocket, Wroot, and Peter. Or...uh...Snor-Lord.

[Groan at that stupid nickname he'd given himself.]

Seriously, let me know so I can keep them out of trouble.


Action, Around Shopping District/Junes:

[Well would you look at that? The aforementioned trio are just taking a stroll through the shopping district, poking their heads into the various shops and such, checking out the goods. Rocket's generally riding around on Wroot's head, but sometimes he'll scuttle off and paw through piles of something. Generally fragile things, like glass vases and the like. And accidentally knock them over. He just can't seem to help himself, having to touch everything!

Eventually the group makes it to Junes, where they plunk down in the food court and seem to be holding a meeting of sorts. They've actually managed to acquire some money from somewhere, and have bought sodas. And a pair of dolls. For some reason. And they're chatting away rather loudly. Because Snor-Lord doesn't do anything quiet. At all. Ever.

Please for the love of god stop them before something bad happens...]



Action for Fuuka

[Part of why Yukiko's so annoyed is that Peter's antics cut into her afternoon plans. But it's taken care of, and Peter and his...lackeys...are safely in the Habitat for a couple of days. She'd asked Fuuka to meet her at the West Gate so they could get going, and she's waiting right there with Bereth at her side. The Noivern was already saddled and ready to go, peering around excitedly. He chirps happily when the girl arrives, and Yukiko waves animatedly.]

Hey, Fuuka!

Comments

[bokukotantei]

Snor-lord? Do you mean the Snorlax you had with you at the fair?

[Naoto frowned thoughtfully. The fact that he was travelling with a Linoone and a Sudowoodo stood out to her, as she recalled his fondness for those types of plushes at the fair.

It was a Most Curious Dilemma.]

[frozenflame]

Peter. Yes. I do mean him.

[After the fair he'd...pretty much press-ganged the other two Pokemon into joining up with her. They hadn't seem to object overmuch, but it'd been a little strange to just suddenly have two Pokemon show up at her camp and ask to be Bonded with.

The coincidence wasn't lost on her, either.]

[bokukotantei]

I'll keep my eyes open for them, then; a Snorlax shouldn't be able to hide too well in a place like this.

[It was simply too big, but she didn't doubt that Peter was clever.]

Have you noticed any strange habits they may have picked up on the whole since they all got together? That might help us get a few leads.

[frozenflame]

Well, you never know...

[Peter was pretty resourceful. It would be Wroot and Rocket that really stood out.]

Ah...um, yes, actually. They are a little odd. The three of them are basically inseparable. Though, Wroot doesn't seem to be too keen on talking, and he pretty much just does what the other two say. Rocket though, he's bad about touching things, and knocking them down.

[bokukotantei]

....We may need to start in the shopping district, if that's the case.

[It was big, and it had lots of places to hide, touch things, and knock expensive items over.]

It might be best to move quickly too-- for the sake of your wallet.

[You break it, you buy it after all.]

[frozenflame]

I. Yes. I hadn't considered that. Yes, we do. I can meet you at the district's western gate in five minutes?

[She does have a Rapidash, after all.]

[bokukotantei]

It might take me longer than five minutes, but I'll be there as quickly as I can.

[She lacked a pokemon to ride on either ground or the air at this point-- perhaps after Brigid evolved, but not currently.]

[frozenflame]

Fair enough, I'll wait.

[And wait she will!]

[bokukotantei]

[Naoto appreciated the wait. She had been in her meager quarters at the time, and had set off at a brisk run to meet up with Yukiko and avoid making her wait too long. With one hand holding her hat in place while she maneuvered through the streets, she eventually arrived at the shopping district looking little worse for wear.

Running on solid concrete was far easier than running through the desert sands, after all.]

Yukiko, [She said, taking a moment to catch her breath.] Sorry if I kept you waiting.

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko's standing at the entrance, gently brushing the flaming mane of a Rapidash. It looks up along with her, snorting a steaming breath and whickering. The girl smiles fondly and pats the horse one more time before sending her away in a flash of Warp-Light.]

It's alright. It gave me time to brush Lilith. [She gestures to where the Pokemon had been.] She bites strangers, so I didn't want to take chances.

[A pause, and she looks to the district entrance.]

Thanks for offering to help. You...must get this a lot, as a detective.

[bokukotantei]

It's all part of the job, [Naoto replied, following Yukiko's gaze out over the district with an equally serious look in her eyes.] Pokemon are like family; it's only natural to worry over them.

[Make that worry doubly so when the pokemon in question had a habit of wandering off or getting into trouble. She knew how she had felt when Ichiro had taken off during their first couple of days in the city, and she could only imagine how Yukiko must feel with three troublemakers on the loose.]

[frozenflame]

[In fairness, Snor-Lord and his gang were pretty safe. Who'd mess with them?]

Yes, though...I wonder what it says about me that I'm bonded to those three knuckleheads.

[Starting out, she makes her way into the district, listening intently for the sounds of broken glass...]

[bokukotantei]

Doesn't it make things more interesting, though?

[Naoto followed as well, alert for any glimpse of the massive Snorlax and his surprisingly fashionable coat, or for the tell-tale sounds of a commotion in the shops or on the streets.]

[frozenflame]

[Commotion is easy enough to find, definitely. There's the sounds of shouting and people's feet crunching on glass in the distance, though Yukiko's focused more on sight. She gets like this, a little spacey...]

[bokukotantei]

Yukiko, [Naoto cut in, turning her gaze in the direction of where the sound was coming from.] I think I hear something a few blocks away-- we must move quickly!

[frozenflame]

Ah. Um. Okay!

[Yukiko's eyes track with Naoto's...and she makes ready to follow. Lead on!]

[bokukotantei]

[And Naoto took off, easily covering the distance despite her short stature, and cast a glance behind her to make certain that Yukiko was still following. A mess like this...

It was hard to tell right now what the damage was, but with three energetic pokemon involved in the situation, Naoto was willing to bet that it was a not insignificant amount.]

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko is following, hot pursuit. Her eyes are turning green again, with anger now.]

Where? Which way did you hear it?

[The sound seems to be coming from a small shop on a corner, Steven's Stones.]

[bokukotantei]

[--Tone of voice was enough of a hint for Naoto to understand the full picture. Yukiko could be quite frightening when she chose to be, and there would be no envying the trio of mischievous pokemon for what they had coming at them when they were finally rounded up.]

Just follow me-- I don't know the area well enough to give directions yet, but they're this way!

[frozenflame]

[Oh no there wasn't going to be any envy.

But as Yukiko stalks forward, the sounds become louder, as does the scuttle of feet on cobblestones...]

I hear them now. They're near one of the jewelry stores...Hurry!

[As they round the corner, Naoto, who's not so furious she can barely see? will catch sight of a Sudowoodo's departing form slipping into an alley. While Yukiko stalks towards the shopkeeper who'd come out into the street, shaking her fist.]

[bokukotantei]

[Naoto only had a second's moment of indecision as she cast her gaze between the alley where the Sudowoodo was disappearing into and a Yukiko that was positively vibrating in fury. She didn't need to have any special skills to recognize Yukiko's strength of personality and skill-- and she had a feeling that it was best not to interfere with that sort of wrath.

Instead, Naoto took off after the Sudowoodo at top speed, leather shoes clapping against the concrete streets as she ran. There was no time; she needed to see if she could catch the trio, or at least head them off.]

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko blinks when Naoto takes off, but goes on badgering the shopkeeper, prepared to pay for the damage. Just a pot or two.

Naoto will have a bit of good luck, and a bit of bad. Wroot trundles into the crowd outside of Junes, taking the back alley path there. And Snor-Lord isn't that far ahead, clearly visible with Rocket on his head.

Buuut there's a large crowd, because of the sale.]

[bokukotantei]

[Target sighted!

.....Except for the crowd, which left Naoto cursing her short legs and her poor luck. Fortunately, the alley way had to have an exit somewhere-- now all that was left was to beat them to the other side.

Turning around, Naoto back tracked and made her way back to Yukiko.]

--I have an idea, [she said, sounding a little breathless from all of the running around in the heat that she had been doing.] Come with me, Yukiko. They might listen to you.

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko whirled...]

Where are they? You found them?!

[bokukotantei]

They went into the back alley-- I think it goes behind the store.

[Naoto glanced off in the direction where she had seen them run off to.]

It's too croweded back there to tail them, but we might have some luck if we can head them off.