A wild HONEDGE appears!

[ofpromisedvictory]

[Action - The Verdant Forest]

[On your way to/from Caldera for the festivities? Wandering out in search of Pokémon? Fleeing from a flock of Spearow? Odds are that you might run into a Honedge wandering the woods. They're not completely uncommon in Union, but finding them in the wild outside of ruins is almost unheard of. Too bad it's not Shiny...]

[It's definitely behaving oddly, though. Rather than going for the immediate attack, as many Wild Pokémon do, it's...lurking. Observing, actually. It's too honorable to lurk. But it seems to be hesitating about approaching for a little bit.]

[At this point, you can choose your path, almost like it's some sort of visual representation of a novel with multiple options given to the reader:]

1

[Approach the Honedge with Pokémon ready to attack, or with a Warp Band as if you're about to try to bond it (she, actually), and she'll unsheathe herself, ready for a fight.]

2

[Start speaking plainly, or wait long enough for the Honedge to get comfortable, and the Honedge Shifts into the form of a young lady in an old-fashioned dress, who immediately bows in greeting.]

Greetings. I ask of you - do you know the way to a place called "Union City"?

Comments

2

[lunchleader]

[Right, at this time, is heading back from the Flower Grove with his now-Furret draped around his shoulders and a red-flower Flabebe floating alongside him. He almost didn't notice the Honedge until his Fairy companion started complaining loudly about the smell of old metal.

Right quickly realized that the Honedge isn't attacking. So, he simply started talking to the Honedge as if they were already human, and was trying to get her to say her name when she...Shifts? Huh... That's something he doesn't see every day.]

Uhh...yeah? We're actually on our way there, since that's where we live.

[ofpromisedvictory]

Truly?

[She sets her face with a serious expression.]

I would be extremely grateful for directions. I am not accustomed to journeying above ground, and I am in need of assistance.

And in answer to your earlier question, you may call me Saber.

[lunchleader]

Nice to meet you, Saber! I'm Right Suzuki. This is Percy-- [He gestures to the Flabebe, and then points to the Furret dozing on his shoulders.] --And this is Night Eyes.

Since we're actually heading home, you're welcome to come with us.

2

[untalented]

[The Honedge, a pokemon he had only read about and studied illustrations of in dusty old encyclopedias, suddenly shifting form was one thing in and of itself. The primly dressed young woman who appeared in the ghostly blade's place was a completely different story.

Waver, who was standing stark still with his eyes wide and his tiny Foongus held firmly in his hands, stared blankly at the woman for a moment before quickly searching the surrounding trees for any sign of anyone else.

Turning up nothing, he uneasily pointed at himself with questions in his eyes.]

Are you....talking to me?

[ofpromisedvictory]

I am.

[She considers for a moment.]

Unless the young one you're holding might know the answer better.

[untalented]

[The little Foongus looked up at him with a curious little chirp; he just went along for the ride, you're the navigator.

At least, his words would have sounded like that to those who understood the Pokemon language. Waver, still unfamiliar with how the Warp Band worked, simply based his next words on his analytic judgement and knowledge of his friend.]

It's to the south if you follow this path, [He said, relaxing his stance and his shoulders just enough so he could calm his breathing.]

Honedges are rare out in the forest, [He continued,] but it doesn't seem like you're a normal Honedge. Is that right?

1

[rainsrespite]

[Well, this was a little unusual. Okay, so Honedges probably weren't something Yuuna should expect to find in the woods outside Union but she could hope. She'd opened the warp band in an attempt to communicate, because a Honedge would be an interesting partner...and it'd just drawn itself.

Which prompted Yuuna to draw her own sword, and as a precaution call out her Gallade, Kokishi.]

Well, if you want to duel, I've got no objections.

[ofpromisedvictory]

[The Honedge definitely wants to duel. And more importantly has no idea what that Warp Band is.]

[She postures aggressively in a Sword Dance]

[rainsrespite]

Well if that's what you want...

[Yuuna's sword flicks out testingly, a flash in her hand. Fighting a sword with a sword is pretty novel...

The band flares too, it's empathy link starting, Yuuna's sense one of interest and general curiosity.]

1.

[platinumlucifer]

[ You know, it's not very polite to sit back and watch someone like that. A seasoned soldier on the field, it isn't hard for Excellen to tell that she's being followed, and while she doesn't perceive any immediate danger, after a while she simply can't take it. She's too curious.

She might not have a warp band yet, but that doesn't stop her from attempting to communicate. ]

That's rude, you know, watching a girl like that without introducing yourself first. She might get the wrong idea~

[ Excellen no. ]

[ofpromisedvictory]

[The Honedge just...blinks its single eye at that.]

[platinumlucifer]

You should come out and introduce yourself. I promise I don't bite.

[ Unless asked ]

2

[nippy]

[ it isn't uncommon for Jack to strike up a conversation with any Pokémon he sees, and the Honedge on the way back to Union from Caldera is no different. Jack talks to Pokémon the same way he talks to people, despite not having any gift that allows him to understand them; living alone in the woods and the wilderness got him used to holding conversations without expecting an kind of response. it was too easy to get jittery otherwise, things built up in his head too much and he would end up more unstable than he usually was.

he's gotten a lot of reactions from talking to wandering Pokémon. he... has never gotten this one before. ]

Uhhh... [ he would have gaped for a lot longer, but the Duskull accompanying him makes an impatient rattling sound, and Jack jumps. ] Oh! Uh— Yes? Yeah, we do! We were going to stick to the forest today, but I'm pretty lousy at giving directions, sooo... We could walk you there?

[ofpromisedvictory]

Thank you for the offer, but I don't want to be a bother. Your companion seems to be in a hurry.

[nippy]

What, him? [ he rolls his eyes and flicks his hand out at Duskull, spraying harmless frost; Duskull doesn't seem bothered by it. ] He's probably just grumbling at me for spacing out. Fun guy, but he sure is bossy.

Trust me, we're not doing anything important out here. In fact, my only plan for the immediate future is sleep! We can definitely walk you to Union before that.

2

[heartandsoul]

[Well, after a staredown with the Honedge, Maka has determined that it's not just going to go on its own. And Maka doesn't want to fight it at all, she's had enough dealings with Honedge to know that they are not to be trifled with.

So, instead, she takes a deep breath and decides to use that Kindred Soul ability she's got going on.]

Listen, I don't want any trouble, I'm just here on a walk, so--

[Until the Honedge unexpectedly transforms into a person. Maka jumps back with a yelp, falling directly onto her backside--she almost doesn't catch entirely what Saber has to say.]

Um...Union? W-well, I live there, so of course I do. Do...do you want me to show you the way?

[ofpromisedvictory]

[Saber, for her part, looks immediately concerned...not that it stops her from continuing to kind of loom over Maka.]

I didn't mean to startle you. I'm not used to taking on this form quite yet.

2

[halfterlife]

[ as is fast becoming normal for him whenever there's a Ghost-type involved, Danny senses her before he sees her, the cold, shivering someone-just-walked-over-my-grave feeling giving him a heads-up before he spots the Honedge... staring at him?

he exchanges a puzzled glance with his own Pokemon, a Cleffa, before he looks back at the Honedge. yep, still... staring... ]

Uhm-- sorry, but are you looking at me? [ being able to have an actual understandable two-way conversation with Pokemon? definitely the only thing he thinks is 100% awesome about these weird Earthkin powers. ] Not that I have a problem with that or anything, but it's kinda a little-- whoa!!

[ OKAY, HE DEFINITELY WASN'T. EXPECTING THAT? ]

Um, greetings! [ wow, Fenton, that was smooth. he tries to cover it with a chuckle, one hand going to the back of his head. ] Wow, that startled me. But uh, Union's really not too far from here, actually!

[ofpromisedvictory]

I apologize for startling you.

[She bows her head, honestly apologetic.]

I thought it would be easier to communicate this way, and you didn't seem to be a threat.

1

[ladyofluminosity]

[ Lux isn't the most observant girl out there, but when something is following you that closely, it's hard not to take notice. The blond will often sneak a peek behind her, trying to catch a glimpse of what is observing her, before giving up and continuing on her way.

Around dinner time, however, she pulls out a bit of food, before calling, a bit loudly (and over-dramatically.) ]

Wow, I'm not sure how I'll be able to eat all this food by myself. I wonder if there is someone around who is hungry enough to help me eat all this food.

[ Acting has never been her strong suit. ]

[ofpromisedvictory]

[The Honedge floats slowly up. This person definitely wasn't going to attack, but...what's this she's calling food? It's unfamiliar.]

2

[divine_braid]

[Duo paused. He was starting to recognize fellow ghost types pretty quick. And, having explored a lot, even though he only had two Pokemon, he knew this particular Honedge wasn't where it would normally have been. Curious. He tilted his head a bit and then glanced at Shinigami, the Duskull that was following him silently.]

Hey, partner... go find out if that one's lost, okay?

[He bobbed in the air for a moment, then floated over gently.]

Skuuuulll... Duskulll? [Did she need any help?]

[ofpromisedvictory]

Honedge.

[She is fine, thank you. A point in the general direction of the city would be appreciated, however.]

1 because Minako is eventually going to get a Honedge, and this is too funny in my head to pass up

[child_of_luv]

[Woah... Minako didn't have a ghost type, but she knew the steel type, definitely. She smiled a little to herself. A sword. This one was like the one Haruka had. That would be really neat if she could get something like that!]

Eros, come here.

[Her Sylveon came up.]

Let's go!

[With a quick trill of excitement, Eros jumped forward, ready to fight!]

[ofpromisedvictory]

[Oh, another fight. Well, Saber's not going to back down from this.]

[The "wild" Honedge flicks itself through the air in a Swords Dance, challenging the Fairy-type.]