bravenewworld | Departure

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Departure

The time has come.

At General Ironborn’s direction, the assorted troops of Caldera, Citadel, Refuge, and Union begin to roll out of the gates of the city. It would be a long trip – Sanctuary lay far to the west of Caldera, beyond any of the territory currently known to Union. Crossing the perhaps now-familiar desert would be merely the first leg of this journey. The atmosphere, as they depart from the gates, seems chipper. There are high hopes for the reclamation of territory from Gigas, and the people of the Sanctuary Resistance, especially, begin to entertain the appealing notion that their city might be free once more for the first time in decades, exchanging wide smiles and congenial laughter.

They do not travel light, of course. Caravans pulled by Ponyta and Tauros accompany them, stocked to the brim with food and supplies to last their small army for weeks. Their efforts hopefully wouldn’t last much longer than that, but they are assured by the Sanctuary natives that so long as they were able to reclaim a portion of the city, the people would happily provide them with what they needed. Other wagons are stocked with odd-looking machinery and gadgets – those sitting inside will spend the majority of the journey fiddling with equipment. Anyone who inquires will be informed that the technicians are making preparations to highjack Sanctuary’s communications network for their missions – perhaps they would care to assist? Still others are filled with armor and weaponry, useful Enhanced Items hurriedly crafted by the artisans of Union, and a few even tote heavier Pokémon who wouldn’t be up to the task of traveling the distance alone.

As it turns out, war is very troublesome to wage.

Over the course of the journey, there is plenty of time for idle conversation and brief side excursions or rest stops. The caravan eventually elongates and stretches out such that the furthest travelers are several miles in front of the rear – still, it is simple enough to go between wagons. In a pinch, the Valkyries swooping in the sky are always happy to take on a passenger for a short ride.

Eventually, word would spread that they were only a day’s travel from Sanctuary, and the mood will become somber, serious. But in the meantime, why not chat up your fellow travelers?

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[Michiru starts unpacking utensils and food. A quick, hot meal wouldn't go amiss for any of them. Waltz automatically helps, disappearing to find something burnable.

A glance at the new hole in the middle of their camp and then a glance at Haruka.]

[Brad is running blind! And he's hardly the fastest Pokemon in a chase, unless he gets lucky. If Breeze catches him, he'll continue windmilling his legs, as if trying to run on air.]

No problem, dude. Dad'll appreciate the business. Oh, and, congratulations with the you know.

[Well, all's well that ends well right? He is glad they're happy even if he is jealous of Ez.]

[She nodded. Of course, Ami was right. There was really no doubt in that.]

I know. We just have to do our best to support her.

[Diplomacy wasn't Minako's strong point. Her Enlightened ability was Mastery of Battle, after all, but she was really coming in case things went sour and she could protect her friends.]

[ Breeze has recaptured her prisoner. Now, where to build her hole -

Hm. Trainer's saying an interrogation isn't necessary. Just fly the creature out into the wilderness, dig a deep hole, and leave it there. She can do that.

Hope you don't get airsick, beaver. Night has almost fallen, and if she wants to make it back to the campsite in time to guard it properly, she'll have to use all her speed. ] Sssssk.

[ ....too deep, Trainer? Ninjask can sense the disapproval Haruka's radiating, and begins filling in her hole. She was just making sure no enemies could reach the fire once it'd been constructed, but if Trainer wants to be so bold as to put it in plain view, that's her decision.

The fire pit will be ready (properly this time) when Waltz returns. And Haruka's there with a matchbox. She nods at Waltz. ] Go for it.

Oh! It -- It's nothing!

[Lucas stammers as he recognizes how strange this must all be from his friend's end. After a pause, though, he smiles shyly.]

It's just.

...I think I've misjudged you a little, Kiyotaka. You -- ['you're not totally crazy' is not the right thing to say here] ...You're the kind of person I think I really admire.

Let's keep helping each other, OK?

[Waltz starts properly stacking the pieces she's found - and rolls in some tumbleweed underneath the stack, hoping it'll be easier to burn than the branches she had found.

At least these ones aren't quite as magnificent as the one Lulu found.

Michiru sets aside a small pot and the pasta, and then beckons Lulu over. A small Water Pulse, a towel, and then she's rubbing down the Grass type of any dirt. She's fussing a bit more than usual, but this is a desert, after all.]

Doooooooof...!!

[Brad protests mightily! This is not how you treat the cutest Bidoof at the Lake Shrine! Also this is the opposite of where he wants to go!!]

[~~What a glowing endorsement.~~ In all seriousness, Ishimaru is genuinely touched, and it takes a few moments for him to come back into himself.]

Your support...is greatly appreciated, Lucas-kun. Alright! Let's do it, then! As long as we're both standing, we'll have each other's backs!

[He's absolutely beaming.]

[ Alas for Brad, but his captive is a cold and cruel ninja with a cold and sleep-deprived master. Breeze seems to recall having dug a mighty pit out here, to ensure no one comes across their trail.....

Ah, here it is. Breeze flies over the pit and lets him fall. If he's good at midair acrobatics, or extremely lucky, Brad might land on the rim, but her intention is to drop him where not even the moonlight will reach. Such is the fate of intruders. ] Nin.

[ Good choices, Waltz. Haruka will just get this fire started now.

Once that's both burning well and under control, she goes to fetch the food. Bathtime gets a smirk. ] I thought plants were supposed to like dirt.

[Lulu bounces by, damp towel still on her head. It's nice and cool, after the heat of the day.]

Lulu doesn't mind. [Michiru does.]

[Brad lands on the rim! And then bounces off and drops down into the pit with a squeal.

He lands on his face with a thump.] -oof.

[ Breeze waits until she hears that landing before turning to buzz away. Her work here is done, and she cannot waste all her time handling this miscreant. There might be others lurking closer to camp.

She must check her traps...for she doubts this culprit will be surfacing anytime soon. ]

[ Ah. ] I see.

[ Yeah, that's another stupidly head-over-heels glance. You're just so....Michiru....sometimes, you know that? It's really funny and also really endearing. ]

Do you?

[she's either unaware or blatantly ignoring that look. Instead, she's spreading a tarp on the ground in lieu of a tent. It certainly doesn't look like rain tonight, but she'll still be glad to have something (relatively) clean to sleep on. Or sit on, as she's doing right now.]

[ ....Practical woman. Haruka stirs the pot of pasta as Flight the Reuniclus hovers over to check in. All clear, Trainer.

Receiving a few dried Berries for its report, it floats to the tarp to eat. Hello, Trainer's Trainer. The tiny head bobs politely. ] I'll take first shift tonight. We should get as much sleep as we can.

[ Before Brad catches up to them.

Oh, or did you think she meant the war? ]

[Michiru gravely returns that nod. At least the Reuniclus seem...well. Relatively happier with them? Or at least they don't seem unhappy.]

Let's hope the rest of the camp has the same idea. [ragtag army and all. Waltz hands her a small sack and Michiru picks out the salt and whatever other spices would go with the pasta. Maybe if she doesn't think about Brad, he'll get eaten by something.

Lulu bounces up to Flight and seems intent on offering that damp towel to it. It's nice and cool!]

[ What, don't you trust their stealth? Neither does she. But the night's catching up to Haruka, too, so rather than sass, she stirs the pot. Ready for the seasonings when you are. ] We're making good time.

[ Flight does not seem to understand at first what the towel is for, but after phasing a piece of Berry through its cell wall into its mouth, it transfers its dinner to just one giant psychic hand and accepts the towel with the other. It's supposed to place this on its head...?

The towel levitates, floating over Flight's head and staying there. Apparently the cell doesn't quite understand this concept just yet. ]

It has been uneventful, I'll give them that. [not that she minds. Better uneventful than filled with problems. And here you go, Michiru's handing over the small packets.]

[huh. That's pretty cool. Buuut...] Rose! [Lulu picks up a (dry) towel and then wears it like a hat. Tada! Like this!]

Forty years of security works in our favor. [ Thank you muchly, Michiru. Haruka adds the ingredients and stirs the pot: this kind of cooking, she can do. ] If only we were as prepared as the enemy's unprepared.

[ Oh, making contact. Flight understands now, so the towel descends. A shiver runs along his cell wall, sending the whole thing shaking like gelatin. That's cold! It even startles a laugh out of the Pokémon.

Haruka pauses. She won't give this event more than that, but....that laugh was noticed. ]

I'd suggest a more militarized structure, but... [Michiru has difficulty acknowledging superior officers as it is.

Lulu giggles happily, hands the towel over to her Trainer, gets it back damp, places it on her head, and plops down next to Flight. Yeah! Now they match!]

[ Yeah, Haruka's smirking under her breath at that. ] Don't even joke about it.

[ She doesn't honestly mind, but still, she.....would rather not imagine that. Union does foster quite a few independent spirits, which is nice except when you need them all to unite for a common goal but still be sensible. Attempts to impose discipline would only end in a lot of speeches.

She's been trying to keep an open mind about that stuff, though, so she'll say no more and keep stirring their dinner. Not much longer here.

Flight observes that they do, indeed, both now have towels on their heads. He eats another piece of his dinner, then notices Lulu does not have anything she's currently eating. So he offers her one of his dried Berries.

They're supposed to match, right? Here you go. ]

[Michiru just chuckles and continues digging in the bag for pre-rationed packages of trail mix consisting of dry Pokemon food and dried berries.]

Not a fan of discipline?

[Lulu's eyes get wide at the offer! You sure? That's so nice!] Rooselia! [and she'll carefully pick it up and nom on it with relish.

Waltz nibbles at her dinner and wonders if she should tell Lulu about hers.]

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Page 17 of 18

Departure

somewhere, Michiru shivers and starts planning another trip

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have we proven he's repel-proof

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no, but that's a very good point

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i think michiru got some from rei (?) as a salvation present

maybe it's time to experiment with different repels

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this sounds much simpler than cross-country travel. let's do it

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