bravenewworld | Fourth Dream: Nightmares [Action]

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Fourth Dream: Nightmares [Action]

Yuuna’s Dream

[This particular dream is set in Union, inside a large room covered in gymnastics mats. On one end is a tall woman, shaved bald and wearing a martial arts gi and standing beside a Meinfoo while on the other end is Yuuna, dressed in the same, with Gouken the Hitmonchan at her side.

The woman and her Pokemon square off against her, rushing at them with a battlecry, and the fight is on. And it doesn’t take a particularly observant person to see just how outmatched Yuuna is. Her movements are clumsy and sluggish, as are Gouken’s. The woman catches her with a right cross that knocks her flat, and Meinfoo sends Gouken flying with a single throw. Scrambling to their feet, they try again. And again, and again and again…and they just can’t seem to get in a hit.]

Why keep fighting? It is pointless. You should just give up and go back to whatever hole you crawled out of. Only the strong should be allowed to train Pokemon. You’re just a waste of space. Someone who’s abilities are just so limited doesn’t even deserve to be called a trainer, much less pretend to be a Ranger.

[Yuuna growls and shakes her head, trying to get up again and stumbling, wiping blood from her mouth. Gouken does, however. And he looks to his trainer, eyes filled with disdain. That says it all, really. You’re weak, and you’re just holding me back. Slowly, he turns and walks over to join the other woman. The look of shock and horror on Yuuna’ s face is beyond hurt. It’s a breaking, and she drops back down, fists clenched in disbelief, tears darkening the mat in front of her.]

See, even your closest companion doesn’t want to be with a weakling like you. You’re nothing, Yuuna. Just trash, waiting to be swept away!

Gouken’s Dream

[This, much the same as the other, is set in some sort of training room, only this one is much more run down and shabby. Only this time there’s no other human. Just Gouken, Yuuna, and another Pokemon. A monstrous form, amorphous and evershifting, the creature seems to be intent on attacking the human. Gouken lunges in the way, hammering at the shadow with his fists, but each blow is just swallowed up by shadow.]

Pointlessssss

[A hissing laughter fills the room, and the shadow flows around the Hitmonchan. Yuuna’s eyes go wide and she shrieks in horror as tenebrous arms reach for her, grabbing her up by the throat.]

G-Gou…ack…ken! H-help me!

[Again he tries, pounding away with Ice, Fire, Lightning and every other kind of attack he knows but nothing seems to phase the strange Pokemon. It just absorbs the blows again, loosening it’s grip and shaking Yuuna from side to side as it slowly chokes her. She squeaks in pain again, unable to cry for help anymore as the Hitmonchan continues a barrage of punches.

And all the shadow does is laugh…]

Dream World

[Here’s someone who seems prepared, at least. Yuuna, in her long sleeved white martial arts uniform, meanders through the through the odd landscape. A Ranger’s insignia is emblazoned on the arm now, and she’s wearing handwraps like always. Her hand is never far from her sword, and she’s surrounded by several Pokemon, six visible, though anyone with preternatural senses will catch a 7th in the area…though it’s well hidden. She approaches anyone without much reservation, waving and announcing her presence well in advance.]

Hey. You okay?

[OOC: Catch her in any place, or help Gouken out! I’m totally open with this!]

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And who are you to say that, hmmm?

[The bald woman's gaze is acidic, almost disgusted.]

Her friend.

And? Are you strong, yourself? Someone she's able to hide behind? Or are you the kind who supports her, tells her she's not a waste of space?

[Merrill shakes her head.]

No... I'm not strong at all. Not by myself, anyway. But with people like Yuuna with me... that's when I can feel strong. If anyone's supporting anyone, it's Yuuna who takes care of me.

Then you must be truly pathetic, to be cared for by someone like this. Look at her, on the ground there.

[And there she is, head down, fists clenched in a mixture of rage and despair. She's never dealt with failure well, but this...this is something entirely different. This is deliberate humiliation, and...in front of someone she likes, no less.]

No one can do everything on their own. I should know. I've tried.

[Merrill walks over to Yuuna, placing a hand on her shoulder.]

Needing help doesn't make you weak or pathetic.

[The woman sneers and takes a menacing step forward, her Meinfoo doing the same. Yuuna, though, looks up at Merrill gratefully.]

Merrill...

[Please, go on. She can't confront this fear alone.]

Yuuna's strong. She's one of the strongest people I know. Even if we haven't known each other for very long, she...

[Merrill clasps one hand over her heart.]

...she accepted me. Even after hearing about my own weakness, and all my mistakes... she supported me without a second thought. Someone who can do that can never be called weak.

[The woman moves closer, raising her fist. The Meinfoo takes a stance too. But the Hitmonchan? Gouken? He's focused more on his former trainer, an odd look in his eye]

So the weak can accept the weak, huh? And hold one another up? And you think that's real strength? You're cute, kid.

[Yuuna's starting to find her feet now, slowly rising up.]

Walking the world alone... relying on no one but yourself... that isn't real strength at all. Too much pride is a kind of weakness. Some would say it's the worst kind.

[She gives a small, self-deprecating laugh.]

...Again, I should know.

[And then she shakes her head.]

But Yuuna's not like that. She isn't like that at all. There's nothing weak about knowing your limits, and nothing weak about working together with someone to surpass them. Haven't your Pokemon taught you anything at all?

My Pokemon have taught me a great deal, but limitations aren't among them.

[Nothing's getting through to this dream-beast, and it's unlikely to ever change. This...is an expression of pure pride, arrogance run amok. Yuuna's finding her feet more completely too, Merrill's words stoking her inner furnace, and she's nearly back upright.

And that's when the woman starts taking a swing at Merrill now, right for her face!

What do, Merrill...what do?]

Your pride will be your downfall.

[Merrill's tattoos glow with a purple light as she weaves a spell, and the woman's blow swings through empty air. Was Merrill always standing two feet to the left? It's suddenly hard for the woman to tell.]

Will it now? Gyozo, take her!

[The Meinfoo whips forward into a spinning kick, and the woman launches herself forward again. Only this time? Her blow is answered by a hand snapping forward to grab her wrist. Yuuna catches it deftly and tugs it down while stepping up against the prideful woman's underarm.

With a vicious yank, the woman flies off balance and cries out in pain as Yuuna completes the motion, a shoulder-throw that wrenches the arm out of it's socket.]

If it's a fight you want, leave my friend out of it. I'm done with your shit, bitch. You keep talking, but Merrill's right. Fighting alone is a good way to get yourself in too deep.

[Merrill takes the Mienfoo's kick, but she's toughened up at least enough to endure a single attack. Briefly knocked to one knee, she calls over toward Yuuna.]

We'll finish them together!

[Drawing a knife from her side, Merrill slashes her wrist open, blood pouring out but hovering in the air in front of her. As she stands, she moves her hands, directing the flow into the ground around her. A moment later, energy begins to emanate from all around the Mienfoo, bursting forth powerfully under its feet.]

(ooc: That was a Fairy-type attack from Merrill's own attack list, enhanced by blood magic. Should be pretty badass against a Fighting type.)

Right!

[The Meinfoo is taken totally of guard, hurled into the air like a ragdoll. It hits the ceiling with a crunch and drops down, KOed.

For her part, Yuuna completes the throw, taking the woman down to the mat and pinning her dislocated arm to the ground. She screams in pain and malice, ordering Gouken to attack.

The Hitmonchan, though, shakes his head and gives Yuuna a sheepish look. Sorry boss...]

Merrill's right. Teamwork is real strength. And you're nothing more than a bad dream.

Ma halam.

[Merrill walks over, looking disdainfully down at the woman.]

This fight is over.

[She growls, face twisted in pain.]

Trash. The...lot of you.

[And Yuuna ends it with a sharp blow to the back of her head, causing her to drop, KOed.]

Merrill...

Yuuna... it's all right.

This...it's not a thing I...could do alone.

Gods, I feel like...I don't know. Like I can take on the world. I've had people call me weak or a failure or flighty or...something for years. And now I feel like...like I've found my way.

You helped to show me mine. I wanted to do at least that much for you.

You're the first, really. I've only ever wanted to rely on myself, and...my team.

[She looks to Gouken, who's skulking back.]

I guess, I haven't done anything but rely on them, though. Other people...well, it's a bit of a stretch. But y'know? I could get used to it.

[Merrill nods at Yuuna's words, full of conviction.]

I think I could too.

[Yuuna smiles tiredly, getting fully up.] Sorry, I probably look like hell. And you're bleeding. Did she hurt you?

Only a little. I'm sure I'll be fine.

C'mere.

[She walks over, already going to her belt on reflex. Dream or not, she's not giving up that training so easily.]

Give me your hand, dear.

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