[Video]

[crimsonspearit]

[There's a familiar face that pops up on the warp band, although it's been a while since Kyouko found herself in Union. She doesn't look much different. A bit dirtier, maybe. Wandering unexplored lands training and in search of her adversary was not exactly a vacation.]

It's been a while, Union. [While she looks relaxed, there's just a tiny edge to her voice, like she really doesn't want to be here.]

I'm lookin' for someone. [She's not going to beat around the bush.]

Thought I saw her on the band when I stopped in Caldera not too long ago. Blonde hair in two like, twisty formations. [She takes her ponytail and twists it into the approximation of one of Mami's drills.] Too nice for her own good. She's from Citadel. Anyone seen her?

Comments

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[wishingalone]

...No.

[The wild Pokemon that killed her parents. That attacked Kyouko and her family. They never managed to find it. It's the last thing that Mami wants to remember -- it brings her parents' deaths to mind -- and yet...]

What will you do? After you find it, Sakura?

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[crimsonspearit]

That should be pretty obvious by now.

[It's the only reason she learned to fight. She wouldn't be powerless again.]

I'm gonna kill it.

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[wishingalone]

I knew that much. But... after that.

[She frowns again.]

What will you do after that?

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[crimsonspearit]

I ain't going back to the tree if that's what you're thinkin'.

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[wishingalone]

Was it truly so bad there?

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[crimsonspearit]

I got nothin' to go back to.

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[wishingalone]

...You could have, though.

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[crimsonspearit]

Isn't it a little late for that?

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[wishingalone]

[She frowns. It might be too late. She glances away.]

Why did you hate it there? Was it really so bad?

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[crimsonspearit]

What's it matter?

Not like anything's gonna change.

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[wishingalone]

[She doesn't want to admit why it matters: because Kyouko was her friend. Because to Mami, she didn't leave Citadel, she left her. But Mami can't say that. She's supposed to be the ace Valkyrie, loyal above all else, putting high-minded ideals before friendship and companionship.]

...I suppose it doesn't matter, then.

[And now for the clumsiest subject change ever:] I hope that you like Union, at least, Sakura.

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[crimsonspearit]

[There was a time Kyouko had thought the Valkyries were cool, at least until the pair that was late patrolling came across the distraught girl and the remains of her family. Of course, she doesn't blame just them for that either. Even so, finding out Mami was one of them practically disgusted her.]

It ain't bad. The food in Caldera's better. [Not that she actually earns or buys it. She's raided quite a few pantries.]

I'm not here for idle chitchat. Have you seen it?

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[wishingalone]

[She's not surprised that's what Kyouko's focused on. Not... really. She told her what happened to her parents; that the same great, terrible Spiritomb killed them too.]

No. I'll... tell you if I do.

[But she's disappointed, too.]

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[crimsonspearit]

Will you?

[She sounds doubtful.]

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[wishingalone]

Why would I hide it from you, Sakura?

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[crimsonspearit]

To stop me.

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[wishingalone]

Throwing our lives away to try to defeat it means nothing. You have to know that. There are many more wild Pokemon that pose a danger, besides... that one.

[That sure isn't an agreement to not stop her.]

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[crimsonspearit]

[Kyouko knows it's a suicide mission, and there's a few others that've seen her face that thing in her dreams.]

Those don't concern me. That's your job, isn't it?

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[wishingalone]

It should be your concern. Why else do we have these abilities? To focus only on what has wronged us?

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[crimsonspearit]

I ain't one of your little valk buddies, not that they know how to handle anything anyway.

What I do or don't do shouldn't concern you.

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[wishingalone]

No, I suppose it shouldn't.

[Her tone of voice suggests that she doesn't think that anyways. In fact, she's angry enough to say something that she immediately regrets:]

I wonder what I possibly could have seen that made me decide to train you.

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[crimsonspearit]

[Kyouko doesn't really show it, but that hits her pretty hard for some reason. There's a bit of an awkward silence on her end.]

That's a good question, isn't it?

video | private | being meguca is suffering

[wishingalone]

...It certainly is.

[She's glaring. Mostly so she doesn't start crying.]

video | private | very much so

[crimsonspearit]

[Kyouko's got a much more convincing glare. The circle is now complete. When last they met she was but the learner, now she is the master.]

I'll give you one warning, then. Stay outta my way.

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[wishingalone]

[She gets that smile.]

I will do no such thing, and you know it.