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

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.]

Of course you would make an edit that invalidated my hilarious joke

[ofpromisedvictory]

[The Honedge flicks through the air, giving a brief but eloquent Pokémon-ish speech that the Warp Band gathers part of the intent of, translating to something like:]

One on one--

--st way to learn

[This statement is punctuated by a Tackle as the Honedge attempts to disarm Yuuna.]

because I hate fun

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna's hand is steady, riposting the Tackle, her sword thrumming with the impact of the Swords Dance empowered attack. She counters with a sweep intended to send the Honedge spinning.]

Best or worst? You broke off there...

[And through the band? A sense of respect, more interest...]

[ofpromisedvictory]

[After flipping through the air from the riposte, Honedge holds still for a moment, unsure of what precisely is going on with the communication here.]

Honedge!

That is, I find a one-on-one duel is the best way to learn the measure of another

[This is punctuated with a series of wild but well-practiced slashes in the form of a Fury Cutter.]

[rainsrespite]

It is. Truth is found in the heart of combat.

[Somewhere, Ryu's theme begins to play

And the Fury Cutter is matched each time by a wall of steel. Saber's strikes are driving Yuuna back, inching along. To recover ground, she nudges aside one strike, redirecting the final strike off to one side and moving past to switch places with the Pokemon.]

If you had a body, that would be the end.

[But as Honedges don't? Yuuna swipes her blade flat down against the Pokemon hard.]

[ofpromisedvictory]

[Saber is clubbed into the ground. Her typing and defenses mean she's not really taking much damage, but she also takes Yuuna's point.]

[In a flash, the sword morphs into a young lady kneeling on the ground and shaking her head.]

That's enough. I don't need to fight to a knockout today...

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna immediately steps back, sword lowering. A shifter? Huh...

The band closes down and her weapon returns to it's sheathe.]

And I don't need to hurt anyone today. Are you alright, stranger?

[Kokishi's arms glow with a Heal Pulse just in case.]

[ofpromisedvictory]

[She takes a deep breath, and stands up.]

That sword of yours is impressive, but I don't feel any serious damage. I'm unused to mundane attacks hurting at all, actually.

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna pats the hint of the sword and nods.]

It's my dojo's blade, and it's old. And Electric typed. I didn't have the shock field on, though.

Good spar though, stranger.

[ofpromisedvictory]

[She looks around for a moment, troubled.]

Er...it's customary at this point to pledge my services to the human who defeated me, in order to learn from them. I would normally do so happily, but it would be a bit awkward at this particular moment...

[rainsrespite]

Don't worry about that. I...don't really need anyone pledging services to me. Besides, I teach freely anyway. If you want to learn, you're welcome to.

Though, what's so special about right now?

[ofpromisedvictory]

[She bows her head.]

I gained this new ability to change forms only recently. I was seeking out a human settlement to search for someone who might be able to explain it, and interrupting that with important life decisions seems like poor long-term planning.

[rainsrespite]

Well I don't disagree there. I can show you to Union if you want. And point you to the library. I dunno what we know about Shifters, but someone has to.

[And she offers a hand]

Yuuna. Do you have a name yet?

[ofpromisedvictory]

[She stares at Yuuna's hand for a second. Oh right, this is what people with hands do...she reaches out and shakes Yuuna's hand firmly.]

You may call me Saber, at least for now.

[rainsrespite]

Saber. Are you the cavalry variety or something else?

[Okay that was bad.]

Anyway. Union? And are you hungry?

[ofpromisedvictory]

I am not certain what cavalry is. I simply know it is a word for a specific sword. Although I suppose I should be single-edged, technically...

[She smiles just enough to convey that that's supposed to be a joke.]

And I've been managing well enough off of the Berries in this forest. There's no need to delay for something like that.

[rainsrespite]

Hah.

[An awkward laugh, but she got it.]

Then we may as well go, you made it almost on your own. It's a good town, too.