This world is inhabited by creatures that we call pokemon. People and pokemon live together by supporting each other, but now the scourge threatens the safety of the entire region. Kohaku has become a dangerous place, where children stay at home and only brave souls go adventuring.
Welcome to KOHAKU. Come for the nightmares. Stay for the tea and crumpets.
The season is SUMMER. It is easy for survivors to forage for food from the land, as there are entire abandoned farms ready for harvest. On the downside, you can smell the corpses.
swarms
GRAND OPENING !
Welcome to KOHAKU REGION's grand opening! If you're interested in joining, come check out our grand opening giveaway!
"Of course it did. It was a message, remember? The push was just opportunism."
Neo paused, watching the lucario suffer. It was satisfying, but it wasn't really enjoyable.
"Starting the fight was not the best decision," she said to the lucario, ignoring Batin. "You could have stayed hidden the whole time. You know, unless you're a mindless beast unable to contain yourself--which I'm not sure you are."
"It seems like he prefers to talk to tainted, broken things."
Neo recalled the gyarados and blaziken. It wasn't really a mercy, because she released another pokemon into the field. A young lucario appeared, released in the burst of red light.
"Lucario, meet Athena. Athena, meet scourge lucario." This was potentially a bad idea. It also potentially the best idea. "You can fight her, Mr. Lucario, but she might kill you. I have an alternative solution though. Take a step into the water. The Amberwell has potent healing properties, don't you know. And if they don't, Athena will have a heal pulse ready."
<Like hell I will,> Athena said. She weathered a blistering glare from Neo, and she remanded, <Like hell yeah, I will.>
< My name is Heron, Neo. I could have remained hidden. Would you have not eventually attacked Batin regardless? I care,> it obviously stumbled over the word, <and would not see that happen. You offer a false choice. Even if I do not drink, the Amberwell may kill me as surely as Athena. No heal pulse would stop that.>
Heron grinned. His fangs were bloodstained. <Yet I would not have chosen Batin if I did not share some of his aspects. I will try this, and see which story wins.>
What happened next genuinely caught her by surprise. The waters shouldn't have caused instant death--perhaps it was because it was already wounded. Perhaps because it was a higher form of intelligence than the other scourge. Perhaps its strange coloration was fatal. Her mind raced as she considered the possibilities.
Light burst around Athena, traveling in a targeted beam to Heron. It had no effect. Light burst around her again, but then it fizzled out. <Oh,> Athena said, only just realizing.
Neo waded into the well to examine the corpse. For science.
Athena looked around, eyes and aura both, then--lacking any other options--she picked up Neo's bag, slung it over her shoulder, and walked off in search of her trainer.
"Yes," she admitted without a hint of shame. "It was worth a shot."
So this was awkward.
