|5.5| [Action]

[wing_attack]

[Today is a good day. Not because of the weather, but because when Tobias wakes up, he's back in his old body. Not the human one, but the one that's become incredibly comfortable for him over the past few years.]

[You might catch him flying high above people, but he's more content to perch in a tree and watch as people go past. The local birds seem uncomfortable with him, but that's okay. He can't exactly use a Pokeball while like this anyway.]

[Eventually though he calms down and morphs to human (and puts on clothes) long enough to make a post.]

[Video]

[Tobias' cheeks are flushed with excitement, and he's grinning from ear to ear.]

They're back! I mean I'm back. I mean I can do it again. Is anyone else getting... uh... 'abilities' back? I'm kind of curious...

[Regal butts his head into the shot and Tobias jerks his head away to avoid getting a feathery mouthful.]

Sorry, Regal. I can't exactly ride you like that...

Comments

[alonearisth]

< Tobias? Tobias, is that you? >

[Ax all but freezes when he hears that familiar voice in his head, his stalk eyes immediately swiveling up to search the sky for a bird soaring overhead.]

< I am not going anywhere, but you should hurry. I am being followed. >

[wing_attack]

[Tobias lands on a tree branch nearby, dropping his bag down to the ground.]

<Reach in there and grab the red and white ball that has a dent near the button, and press the button. The creature that's in there will keep us safe.>

[Even if Regal had been incredibly confused this morning, he should still listen. His voice is the same, at least.]

[alonearisth]

[Ax starts in spite of himself when the bag drops, not because he didn't see it, but because all of this excitement just has him that on edge. He bends down to pick up the bag and carefully pulls out the ball in question, the slits on his face flaring slightly when he sees it.]

< The human children here have been throwing these capsules at me. >

[His voice is both tense and unsure as he stares at the ball. He trusts Tobias, but why on earth have they been using these things? In an effort to capture him? It's been rubbing him the wrong way, and all he can think of is how the Yeerks must be involved.

Nevertheless, he does press the button after a moment.]

[wing_attack]

[A very large bird pops out, ruffling his feathers. Tobias glides to a branch nearer to the Braviary, and looks right at him.]

<Regal! ... Yeah, it's me. You recognize my voice, right?>

[The Braviary looks... confused, but he does recognize the voice! He chirps happily.]

<Okay. The creature behind you? He's my friend. Don't let anyone try to catch him, okay?>

[Regal puffs up. He can do that! He turns his back to Ax and stands guard.]

<We'll be okay for now. He's pretty strong, and he's been traveling with me for a while. He's smart, too. It's okay to talk openly about things, though. There's no Yeerks here - not that I've seen in a few months, at least.>

[alonearisth]

[When Tobias mentions that there are no Yeerks his tail lowers just a hair, though the attention of his eye-stalks remains rigid on Regal up in the tree by Tobias. He's still got the ball in his hand, turning it over cautiously as if trying to decipher how it functions just on a glance.]

< How can you be so sure? The actions of these humans are too suspicious for me to believe otherwise. >

[Then he pauses, actually turning his head up to face Tobias now.]

< You said they are trying to capture me. Who else would be trying to do such a thing other than the Yeerk forces? >

[Not to mention he says it's been months, but he can get to that later.]

[wing_attack]

<The 'animals' here are called Pokemon. People catch them and train them for a lot of reasons, though a lot of people do it for battling each other. It's not considered cruel, and the Pokemon like it. It's kind of a measure of strength of heart and conviction rather than just physical strength, since there's some Pokemon that are better against others, and a lot of Pokemon just won't listen to someone who's cruel. They probably thought you were a new type of Pokemon, since there's some that showed up recently that haven't been seen in this region before.>

[Yeah he notices that eying.]

<I've got some spare Pokeballs if you want to look at them. That one's Regal's though, so I'd kind of like to keep it intact.>

[alonearisth]

[Ax falls silent for a moment, thankfully having stopped prodding at the ball before he could force it open or something. He moves to put it back in the bag as he replies.]

< I can understand fighting for measuring strength or preserving honor. That is, only when both sides have come to an agreement to do combat in the first place. >

[There's a note of disdain in his thought-speech as he takes a slow step back, one hoof pawing the ground. Clearly he is still a bit miffed at having balls lobbed at him.]

< Perhaps some other time. Right now I want to know what happened. I was just speaking to you at my scoop approximately an hour ago, and you speak as if I have not seen you for days. >

[wing_attack]

<Most Pokemon know either to run or to fight. Most also can't talk back like you can. ... But yeah. I haven't seen you for months. Either time stands still in this place, or people are taken from different times. Or both. Trying to figure it out makes my head hurt.>

[Oh yeah. There's something else he should mention.]

<And normally anyone who has any kind of superhuman ability has it taken from them, and anyone not human gets turned human. I don't know why it's not happening right now, but I'm glad that I can fly again. I've been riding around on Regal over there since he got big enough.>

[alonearisth]

[Well that earns a bit of a pause.]

< When you put it that way, I cannot help but wonder if this may be the work of the Ellimist. Otherwise, I would find the fact of you apparently existing in two different realms at the same time to be highly unusual. >

[It is highly frustrating, but there isn't really anything he can do about it right now.]

< Are Prince Jake and the others here as well? >

[wing_attack]

<I don't know whose fault it is. Apparently people from other worlds have been showing up here for years and no one knows why.>

[The second part makes him pause, and there's a noise in his thought-speech almost like a sigh.]

<No. I was on my own for a bit, but I ended up traveling with someone else. She knows about... well, some of the things about me. A lot of people here know about other worlds, and a lot of people have also fought things from other worlds. Our situation is weird but not unheard of here.>

[alonearisth]

< Strange, but not unheard of... >

[He echoes, his tail blade finally settling into a more relaxed posture, instead of sharp and at the ready over his back.]

< And you are positive there are no Controllers here? No Yeerk activity of any kind? >

[He knows you, Tobias. You might not be quite as soft hearted as, say, Cassie, but you're the next closest one. Knowing that he's shared information with these strangers makes him a bit uneasy.]

[wing_attack]

<As positive as I can be without actually looking inside the heads of people here.>

[And it worked for Jara, but most people here don't heal that well.]

[alonearisth]

< ...I trust you, Tobias. The Yeerks have just traveled so far throughout space...it is hard to imagine any one planet not yet inhabited by them. >

[wing_attack]

<I know. But I think this isn't even in the same universe.>

[At least, he hopes not.]

[alonearisth]

< Well, that certainly would explain some things.

Though you have been gone for months...you are okay, aren't you, Tobias? >

[wing_attack]

<Yeah, I'm okay. It's kind of nice here, not having to fight. I've been exploring the world, training with my Pokemon... there's a few people here that I might even call friends. It's... a weird kind of normal, but I like it.>

[alonearisth]

[Ax shift s alittle in place, his ears falling back a bit.]

< I understand. I know I should be feeling the same, perhaps... but this place still makes me uncomfortable. I am just not accustomed to it, I suppose. >

[wing_attack]

<Yeah. It's okay, though.>

[Regal turns and offers his head for pettings. You will feel better after you pet the burd, strange Sawsbuck-thing.]

[alonearisth]

< If you say so... >

[Tobias is his shorm, and honestly he would put his own word over his sometimes, if you didn't count that of Prince Jake.

He hesitates when Regal turns toward him. He's still a bit wary around these strange creatures, but something about them is fascinating in its own right. So, he lifts a gentle hand to touch the crown of the bird's head.]

< But I must ask. Is there a way to get back to Earth from this place? >

[wing_attack]

[Yay, pettings! Regal nuzzles against the hand gently.]

<Not that I've found. Some people go back, but no one seems to know how or why or a schedule of when they do.>

[alonearisth]

< If that means I may be here for a while, we are going to have to think of something for me to do. I could acquire some of your creatures for emergencies, but it will be impossible for me to remain in morph all the time. >

[That, and he honestly isn't sure he wants to morph a Pokemon...someone might try to really catch him, then.]

[wing_attack]

<I can probably have Regal keep most of the weaker trainers away... but we might need to head further into the forest. Between the two of us we can probably find somewhere out of the way.>

[Since he... might be too big to carry, even for Regal.]

[alonearisth]

< If nothing else, I can defend myself if absolutely necessary. Though, I would much rather avoid conflict with these children if I can help it. >

[wing_attack]

<Yeah. You can borrow some of my Pokemon if you need to. Though we should find somewhere to camp out first. And I should send a message to the person I was traveling with so she doesn't worry.>

[alonearisth]

< I think I will be fine, Tobias.

Who have you been traveling with, if I may ask? >