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?

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.

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. ]

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?

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]

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

[She postures aggressively in a Sword Dance]

[ofpromisedvictory]

[She also gives a nod to the two Pokémon. Whether they were fighters or not, it pays to be respectful.]

I don't wish to be any trouble. I'm just not used to traveling long distances, so I could use directions...

[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.]

[ofpromisedvictory]

I am.

[She considers for a moment.]

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

[ofpromisedvictory]

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

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.]

[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.

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]

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

[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.]

[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.

[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.]

[lunchleader]

Oh, it's no trouble at all, really. Especially since we're heading there anyway.

[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.]

[heartandsoul]

[Please oh Savior please, don't let Stella have seen that this woman is a Honedge Shifter and is now appearing to be bearing down on her trainer. This situation does not need an angry Psychic cat.

Maka pushes herself up, trembling slightly not from fear of Saber, but the lingering shock that she witnessed a Shifter changing form. All right. She doesn't look that intimidating now that the girl is not on the ground gaping like a Magikarp.]

That's all right, I didn't mean to freak out, I just thought you were...

[Going to attack and she has a double weakness to a Honedge since she's Fairy and Psychic.]

N-never mind. Have you been traveling long? To go to Union, I mean.

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!