QST.Clarifications {
@Note: Altairian Honorifics are used by Yuuma and Aiko
• Yuuma refers to Aiko and Ciri as -zhell
• Aiko refers to Ciri and Yuuma as -mete
@Note: Yuuma ≠ Yuma. The Yuuma in this episode is the witch from Magical Pokan
@Replacables: "@Incantation:RS_Omnipower"
}
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
@QST.SetPrerequisite("Soul Eater™");
@QST.SetPrerequisite("Magical Pokan™");
New Scene(Temporal = Early Morning)
QST.camera starts out synchronized with Max’s vision, As he wakes up on top of the greenhouse. As Max’s eyes slowly open, he sees both May and Ciri staring up at him, and sits up in shock bumping the girls in the head with his own.
May: Ow! Max!
Ciri chuckles quietly holding her sore head, then gets up and stands.
Ciri: He’s up here!
New Scene(@desynch: Max)
In the kitchen/living room, everyone is talking as Brock and Caroline prepare breakfast. The TV is on in the living room, showing The Chewy and Crunchy show. Caroline talks to Max, explaining how everyone was worried, especially since it was usually Norman who sleepwalks.
Norman: Hey, now…
Many giggle at this comment. Suddenly, the TV goes into advertisements, and Norman shuts it off with the remote.
Norman: That’s better.
Behind Norman, a munching begins to come from the trash can. Norman whirls around.
Norman: You, stop that!
Bayleef pulls it’s head out of the trash can long enough to hit Norman with an aurora beam. Norman backs away slowly as everyone giggles.
May: Bayleef sure loves garbage.
Suddenly a poké ball hits Bayleef, and he (Bayleef) disappears inside.
Benjy: And I just fed him too…
Max: At least Slaking‘s to big to sneak in here unnoticed like that.
Norman: Benjy, you know what the other pokémon are doing?
Benjy: Garbage doesn’t look like it’s moving.
Brock: Maybe Bayleef didn’t get enough to eat?
Benjy: Doubt it…
Ciri now emerges from the kitchen, announcing that breakfast is ready, and everyone else follows her to the table to sit down.
Brock: So where are we headed next?
Benjy: Well, based on the books I’ve read, the next gym is in Fortree; it’s quite a distance.
Max: I don’t know what you’ve been reading…
Ash: Quite a ways you say.
Max lays out the map of Hoenn on the table and shows Ash where Fortree is. Ash admits that it’s quite a ways. They are interrupted in the background by Caroline asking May how many badges she’s gathered. May tenses up as she hears this.
Ciri: She’s got two ribbons.
May relaxes and admits she’s not that into classical battles.
Norman: I wish you said something earlier, there’s going to be a contest going on in Oldale in about a week.
May: Really?
Kinji: It’s new, if you’re wondering why you didn’t see it when you first came through Oldale.
Ciri shifts nervously behind them.
Max: Ciri, you’re going to have to go home sometime.
Ciri: I know, I know. Just if we stay at my place, don’t eat anything my aunt offers you.
Ash: Why not?
Max: What did she feed you Ciri? A human soul?
Ash and Brock flinch at this.
Ciri: She called it a key-something.
Norman: Ciri’s aunt has a tendency to experiment on guests…
Ash gulps hearing this.
Norman: But don’t worry about being polite when rejecting her hospitality. She won’t take offense.
Max: We know.
May: To her, feeding children is a challenge.
Max: May, I think that came out wrong.
May ponders this briefly.
New Scene()
In the front yard of their house, Norman and Caroline wave goodbye as Ash and Company depart and begin to walk through Petalburg.
Ash: So what happened when you ate the key soul?
Ciri: If I recall correctly, I was unable to go to school for the next few days. Right May?
May: Ciri, it put you in the hospital with vomiting and diarrhea, they almost thought you were bulimic.
Ciri looks at Ash and sighs.
Ciri: I can’t remember it clearly, I just remember vomiting and then lying in the a hospital bed.
Brock: I never knew souls were tangible.
Ciri: I thought so too… She said she bought the soul at the supermarket; they were having a special that day.
Ash: A special on souls?
Brock: Doesn’t really make sense.
Benjy: A lot of things don’t make sense around here.
At this point, Ash and company are no longer able to see Norman and Caroline.
Ash: So Ciri, you’re coming with us?
Ciri: If you’re going to have anything to do with my aunt, then I’d better. She hasn’t tried anything like that in recent years. The only thing recently was that lawsuit.
Brock: Lawsuit?
Max: You mean the show-and-tell incident?
Ciri: The school sued because of the exploding cantaloupe, not the show-and-tell incident.
Brock: Would you mind filling us in on these things?
Max: Well, the show-and-tell incident was when the teacher told Ciri she had to bring in something.
Ciri: And I brought my aunt’s doomsday device.
Brock: What kind of a doomsday device?
Max: I think it makes the sun go supernova or something.
QST.camera split-screens showing the expressions of sheer horror as worn by Ash, Brock, Benjy, and Pikachu.
May: I thought it melted the polar ice caps…
Ciri: No, that’s right. It aims a heat ray at the poles. My aunt just told me I borrow it, as long as I returned it if I didn’t use it.
Ash: As long as you didn’t use it‽
May: The exploding cantaloupe was the a Bridget’s attempt at building a firework. Can you guess who supplied them with the nitroglycerin…
Ciri: That’s right.
By now, Ash and company are approaching the edge of Petalburg.
Brock: Sounds like a mad scientist?
New Scene()
Ash and company are walking eastward through the forest with Petalburg behind them. Ciri has her hands at her sides.
Brock: So Ciri, how come you’re not in school.
May and Max look up at this innocent question in sheer horror.
Max: B-Brock! That’s not something you want to ask her!
Brock: I’m just curious…
Ciri: It’s alright.
Ciri takes a deep breath, and closes her eyes for about one second, before responding.
Ciri: I didn’t get in.
Brock: I thought getting into Junior High was guaranteed…
Max: It’s supposed to be, but sometimes there are so many students that some have to get left behind. Ciri was one of them.
As Max speaks, Ciri starts looking down at the ground.
Ash: Ciri, you okay?
Ciri: I… I try not to think about it.
Ciri now surveys the rest of the group–and promptly breaks down crying. Despite her best efforts to stop crying, Ciri’s eyes continue to water as she wipes away the tears on her sleeve.
Brock: Um, if that’s what you want. I can certainly get you into a–
Brock is cut off by May tugging on his ear.
May: Don’t make promises you can’t keep!
Brock: It can’t be that hard…
Max: We literally set the admissions guy on fire, and he still wouldn’t consider it.
Ash: Think Pikachu could change his mind?
Pikachu sparks eagerly.
May: Maybe…
Max: I really don’t think Pikachu could do better than the local tar-and-feather business.
Ciri isn’t crying as much as before. The rest of Ash and Company watch Ciri, now slightly concerned. Ciri takes a couple deep breaths, and slowly wipes away her tears.
Ciri: But thanks.
Refresh Scene(Overhead View)
Ash and company are walking under the canopy of the trees.
Ash: Uh, so what are you doing now, if you’re not in school––I mean…
Ciri’s tone changes with the following line.
Ciri: I’m trying to track something down.
Brock: For your aunt’s research?
Ciri shakes her head.
Ciri: Not getting involved with that. It’s been hard when I was in school, but now I can devote much more time to it. Flygon can fly between Petalburg and Oldale in under an hour, but we don’t handle long distances too well yet.
Ash: But don’t you get time off school?
Ciri: I’m not an official trainer, Ash.
Ash: Oh…
Max: Ash, Ciri’s like the poster child for unofficial trainer.
Brock: So what are you looking for?
Ciri: Something no one’s ever heard of.
Ash: But what is that?
Max: You’re still looking for *that*?
May: Make any progress?
Ciri shakes her head. QST.camera shifts forwards along the path to a figure sitting on a branch, silhouetted by the angle of QST.camera.
Person: Assassins' Rule Number One: Blend into the shadows...Hold your breath...And wait for your target to let down his guard. (whisper)
By the end of the time that this line is spoken, Ash and company are right under this person: The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
Yami Benjy: These trees. I bet you could headbutt them to knock interesting pokémon out.
May: Do any of our pokémon know headbutt?
Figure: Assassins' Rule Number Two: Locate your target, predict their thoughts and actions. (whisper)
@QST.camera::return_from_overhead()
Ash: I have an idea! Corphish, crabhammer on the tree trunk!
Figure: Assassins' Rule Number Three:…
Corphish uses crabhammer on the tree’s trunk, causing the figure to lose it’s balance and fall to the ground, bonking it’s (his) head.
Figure: Yaaah…
A kid with blue-spiky hair crashes to the ground at the feet of Ash and company, holding an odd-looking dagger in his hands. Ash turns to Yami Benjy.
Brock: Definitely an interesting pokémon…
The kid suddenly jumps to his feet.
Kid: What did you do that for?!
May: We were trying to knock pokémon out of the tree…
Kid: Yeah right! Why did you headbutt my tree!
Suddenly, the kid’s dagger begins to speak, startling Ash and company, who proceed to back away slowly.
Dagger: They were just looking for pokémon, it was a coincidence they hit your tree.
The weapon suddenly glows, and transforms into a girl that stands about Brock’s height. QST.camera split-screens as Ash and company stare at the girl that was the dagger only seconds before. Brock starts to blush as the girl bows to them slightly.
Girl: I’m sorry, we get a bit carried away at times. Black✭Star, let’s search elsewhere.
Kid → Black✭Star: Hold it Tsubaki! That one with the glowing pendant! You knew I was in the tree!
Yami Benjy: True. I overheard you reciting your assassins' rules. I think you forgot a critical one somewhere along the lines.
Black✭Star: Tsubaki, I told you.
Yami Benjy: Whichever one of us you were trying to assassinate, you have officially failed.
Pikachu sparks to back Yami Benjy up, as does crackling energy in Ciri’s hand.
Black✭Star: Uh… Hold on… We aren’t trying to assassinate any of you…
Tsubaki looks around at a shocked Ash and Company
Tsubaki: It’s true, we weren’t trying to hurt any of you kids. Uh, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on our way.
Tsubaki turns and begins to pull Black✭Star by the arm.
Yami Benjy: Hold it. I’m not just about to let an assassin out of my sight.
Tsubaki: It’s okay; we’re not after you. We came to get the soul of the witch Yuuma. Sorry for any confusion.
Tsubaki bows again slightly, and Ciri gasps.
Black✭Star: So yeah, that’s it. Bye bye…
Yami Benjy: You’re not going any–
Suddenly, a giant burst of smoke engulfs the area where Ash and Company are standing, and Ash and company all cough on the smoke and making it impossible to see more than a few centimeters. Ash collapses to the ground, while May gasps for breath, only to get a mouth full of smoke. A split-second later a soft breeze starts to push through the smoke, blowing it all away over the next couple seconds, leaving Ash and company once again visible to QST.camera. All have collapsed except for Brock and Ciri, the latter of whom has air coming from her left hand.
Ciri tenses up, and the wind accelerates, blowing the rest of the smoke away. In the distance, Black✭Star and Tsubaki have taken off running, and are almost out of sight. Ciri now lets the wind die down.
Ash: What was that all about?
Ciri: Yuuma’s the name of a girl that moved into a treehouse in these woods about a fortnight ago. She’s a Gielinorian refugee. Which probably means…
Brock: He’s going to kill her! Ciri do you know where–
Ciri points in a direction about 100 degrees clockwise from the direction Black✭Star and Tsubaki took off running in. Brock instantly takes off running in the direction that Ciri is pointing, leaving Ciri startled.
Max: He’s in full white knight mode. Ciri, you have to do something!
Ciri: Me?!
Max: You’re the only one fast enough.
Ciri sighs, then suddenly darts after Brock with a surprising burst of speed, and the others chase after her. As they run, they make a large disruption in the bushes, sending a flock of Pidgey flying.
Refresh Scene()
Ash and company race through the forest, over rocks and branches after Brock and Ciri, both of which are moving faster than the others are comfortable running.
Ash: Wait *pant* does this mean that that boy–
Yami Benjy: We don’t know enough to piece the story together yet.
In the distance, a large tree stands out in a clearing, having dwellings built onto it. Ciri jumps and lands panting a few paces from the front porch while Brock rushes up to the door and knocks on it. A few seconds later the door opens an an odd girl steps out.
Girl: Can I help you?
Brock: Are you Yuuma?! There’s an assassin that’s trying to–
Girl: Huh?
Brock: There’s an assassin in these woods who’s looking to get the soul of the witch Yuuma. That’s you, correct?
The girl looks at Brock in confusion.
Girl: Sorry, we’re not interested–
Ciri: Sorry Aiko. He’s not trying to sell you life insurance.
At this point, the rest of Ash and company come running up behind them.
Girl → Aiko: Ciri-mete, what’s he talking about.
Ash: Are you Yuuma?
Ciri shakes her head and swallows hard.
Ciri: When they searching for pokémon, we knocked an incompetent assassin out of a tree, who accidentally let slip that he was after the soul of the witch Yuuma.
Aiko: But he’s incompetent, so there’s nothing really to worry about, right?
Yami Benjy: We don’t know how "incompetent" he really is.
Aiko: Excuse me, but who might you be.
Panting, Ciri introduces "her friends" to Aiko, then Aiko to the rest of Ash and company. Now somewhat concerned, Aiko says that she’ll go get Yuuma, as she (Yuuma) needs to hear what they’re saying.
New Scene()
A girl is sitting in a treehouse reading a manga comic. Suddenly a knocking is heard on the door. The girl looks up.
Girl: Who is it?
Aiko’s Voice: It’s me.
Girl: Go away, I’m busy.
Aiko’s Voice: Ciri-mete has important news for you!
With this, the girl looks up from her manga and walks to the door and opens it, to where Aiko and Ciri are standing.
Girl: What’s up?
Ciri’s Voice: Okay. We were traveling through the woods when we accidentally knocked… Well…
Aiko: Yuuma, you’ve got an assassin after you.
Girl → Yuuma: An assassin?
Aiko: Ciri said that she and some friends discovered him when they were passing through the forest.
Yuuma’s hair bristles in response to this comment.
Yuuma: How did you…
Ciri: We knocked him out of a tree…
Aiko: Not the most competent assassin but an assassin nonetheless.
Yuuma: Is he cute?
This question causes Ciri and Aiko to stare at Yuuma, with blue lines to express their surprise(-2) at the comment (Yuuma’s not grasping the point of the situation). May now walks into view from the room, and asks Ciri what her expression is about. Ciri now whispers something to May and her expression quickly changes to match Ciri’s while Yuuma stares, confused at what everyone is up to.
Aiko: Yuuma, this is serious. There’s a real assassin out there!
Refresh Scene()
Yuuma sits on her porch looking down at Aiko and Ash and company (minus Ciri) below her. She kicks her legs absentmindedly as Ciri stands behind her.
Yuuma: He wants my *soul?*
Ash: I admit it doesn't make much sense, but it’s what he said.
Ciri: And of course they want to know if this has anything to do with the quote-unquote soul Amelia fed me that one time…
Yuuma: Why?
Brock: Did get a chance to ask him.
Ash: He took off after we confronted him.
Yuuma: And you’ll protect me right?
Yuuma stares directly at Brock, who immediately falls head-over-heels for Yuuma, as seen by the hearts on his eyes and in the background as Brock swears that he’ll protect Yuuma until the end of time if she such desired. This background fades as Brock finishes speaking.
Ash: Brock! You can’t be serious! This is a real assassin we’re dealing with!
Brock dismisses Ash’s concern, by saying something along the lines of that it’s his duty to defend every girl from assassins.
Aiko now turns to the rest of the group.
Aiko: But seriously though, what do you suppose we do?
May: Max, call the police, on your pokénav!
Max: On it!
Brock: That won’t be necessary, it’s nothing we can’t–
Benjy: Famous last words. Max–
Max: Already on it.
QST.camera now zooms in briefly to allow us to listen to the woman on the other end say the following line:
Pokénav: This is police dispatcher Jane, what’s the matter?
Max: Um…
May grabs the pokénav from Max.
May: This is May Tennyson. I’m calling to report an assassin in the forest west of Petalburg.
The group gathers around May.
May: Uh-huh?
*pause*
May: Yes, we just saw him. He said he had an active target.
*pause*
May: Something about a witch.
*pause*
May: Okay. *pause* Okay. *pause* Bye.
May now hangs up the pokénav and hands it back to Max.
Ash: What did she say?
May: They have our location, and someone will be here in twenty minutes. She said to stay together until then.
May looks around, trembling slightly.
Ash: So what do we do now?
Aiko: Just wait for them I guess.
Yami Benjy: Hopefully they won’t show up.
Yami Benjy appears to nod as he scans the vicinity. Ciri takes out a very old-fashioned poké ball, and activates the opening mechanism. A blue light inside the ball jumps outside, condensing into an Azumarill.
Ciri: Tell us if you hear anything unusual, okay Zumi?
Azumarill(Zumi): Azu Azu!
Zumi jumps onto Yuuma’s bed, and bends over the book she was reading, trying to make sense of it.
Ciri: Zumi!
Zumi’s ears perk up while Yuuma continues trying to read.
Revert Scene()
Ciri is sitting on top of Yuuma’s roof, looking down at the forest. Brock is patrolling the grounds outside, whist Yami Benjy and Aiko watch from inside the main room of the tree-house/secret base like setup. Everyone else appears to be inside Yuuma’s room with her. Ciri looks down at her pokégear, making a note that it’s been ten minutes. The hair on the back of her neck suddenly stands up. Ciri then starts to turn around very slowly, and quietly. From the side of her, a voice can be heard somewhat faintly.
Black✭Star’s Voice: Second rule of the assassin: Tune into your target; know his thoughts and actions!!
Ciri now continues to turn to face the noise, and seeing the boy from earlier hiding in the tree across from Yuuma’s window (about 15 feet away).
New Scene()
Inside Yuuma’s room, Zumi's ears perk up, and Ash quickly quiets everyone. Following this, Pikachu’s ears perk up too.
Black✭Star’s Voice: …down before he is aware…
Revert Scene()
Ciri: Runema (Rue-neh-mah)
A small ball of energy gathers itself in Ciri’s hand.
Black✭Star’s Voice: Here I come! (loud)
Weapon in hand, Black✭Star jumps from branch to branch in the distance, and then upon reaching the closest branch, grabs a vine and swings towards the treehouse. As he reaches the middle of the swing, Ciri points her forefinger at him.
Ciri: Povmiemenya!
From Ciri’s forefinger flies a ball of water directly on a collision course with Black✭Star, striking him in the stomach and knocking him from the vine, and causing him to crash to the ground with a thud. Tsubaki bonks him on the head as she, (weapon form) falls into his lap.
Black✭Star: What the zark was that?!
Tsubaki: I don’t know! Maybe some kind of defense mechanism.
At this point, Ash, May, and Max are all staring out Yuuma’s window at Black✭Star. Zumi jumps onto the windowsill and stares down at him also. Black✭Star points at Zumi.
Black✭Star: Tsubaki, what’s that?
From somewhere, a loud snap is heard. Immediately, Zumi shoots an ice beam at Black✭Star, who flinches from the cold. He gets up, and starts running as Zumi follows up with more ice beams, chasing him around in a circle.
Black✭Star: Tsubaki, smoke bomb!
Suddenly Black✭Star disappears in a cloud of smoke.
New Perspective()
Tsubaki’s smoke bomb has Brock whirl around to face Black✭Star, whom he had failed to notice up unto this point. From Yuuma’s window, Zumi wiggles her ears trying to locate Black✭Star in the smoke cloud. Zumi then fires a hydro pump into the smoke cloud, this causes Black✭Star to come running from the cloud of smoke, holding Tsubaki as Zumi shoots an ice beam at him. The beam hits Black✭Star’s leg, temporarily freezing him to the ground. Black✭Star wastes no time trying to cut himself free.
Black✭Star: Some powerful magic… Let’s try this again–
Brock: You’re not getting away!
Black✭Star finishes cutting the ice away as Brock grabs him by the arm. Black✭Star quickly knocks Brock backwards.
Black✭Star: I said I wasn’t after you!
Brock: You’re going to kill an innocent girl!
Black✭Star: She’s not innocent! She’s a witch!
Aiko: She’s an innocent witch!
New Scene()
In Yuuma’s treehouse, Ash is ready to have Pikachu hit Black✭Star with a thunderbolt, but May stops him, worried that he’s going to hit Brock and Aiko too.
Max: I hope the police arrive soon…
Revert Scene()
Black✭Star: Let me go! We came to get the soul of the witch Yuuma, and we’re not leaving without it!
Brock: Not on my watch you’re not!
QST.camera now switches to the ones watching from Yuuma’s window while Black✭Star quickly knocks out Brock and Aiko, and approaches Yami Benjy, still inside the main room. From her window, Yuuma sticks her head out of the window to see what’s going on.
Ash: Yuuma, get back inside!
Black✭Star: Ah-ha!
Black✭Star turns to the treehouse.
Yami Benjy: Why do you want the soul of a witch so badly?
Black✭Star turns to face Yami Benjy, but instead, Tsubaki comes out of weapon form to address Yami Benjy.
Tsubaki: It’s one of the things I need to become a death scythe. Please, do not interfere.
Yami Benjy: What makes so sure your target is a witch?
Tsubaki: Can you just trust us?
Yami Benjy: There are methods of telling whether or not she is a witch.
Tsubaki: What methods?
Yami Benjy: Tell me. What do you do with witches?
Black✭Star: That’s easy. We eat them!
Yami Benjy: And what do you eat, apart from witches?
Tsubaki: More witches… What are you getting at?
Black✭Star: I know! Bread!
Yami Benjy: Now tell me, why do you eat witches?
Black✭Star: Because they're made of bread?
Yami Benjy: Good. So how do you tell whether she is made of bread?
Black✭Star: Let me think… Maybe spread butter on her?
Yami Benjy: But can you not also spread butter on a potato?
Black✭Star: Oh yeah. So how do you determine if she’s a witch?
Yami Benjy: Does bread float in water?
Black✭Star: Tsubaki, does bread float in water?
Tsubaki: I can’t believe you’re having this discussion.
Black✭Star: Just tell me! Does it float or does it sink?!
Tsubaki: Black✭Star, it sinks! It gets full of water and sinks…
Black✭Star: Throw her into the pond!!!
Yami Benjy: No, no. What else sinks in water?
Black✭Star: Wood.
Brock: Apples.
Aiko: Plastic Bags.
Black✭Star: Cider.
Brock: Gravy.
Aiko: Cherries.
Black✭Star: Mud.
Aiko: Churches.
Tsubaki: I’m going with lead.
At this point, Ciri jumps down from where she was sitting on Yuuma’s roof to a lower branch of the tree.
Ciri: A snowmobile?
Yami Benjy: Exactly! So, logically–
Black✭Star: If she weighs the same as a snowmobile, then she's made of bread…
Yami Benjy raises his forefinger into the air.
Yami Benjy: And therefore…
Black✭Star: A witch!
#Monty_Python_Reference
Tsubaki: Then that’s one sturdy tree…
Cutscene() {
Inside Yuuma’s room, she sits on her bed crying.
Yuuma: He called me a snowmobile!
May: I’m sure he doesn’t mean it…
}
Black✭Star: So we first need to weigh her…
Suddenly, a siren is heard faintly in the distance. Black✭Star looks around in somewhat of a panic.
Black✭Star: What’s going on?
Tsubaki: Not sure… Lets get out of here!
Black✭Star: Wait–
Tsubaki goes into smoke-bomb mode, causing Yami Benjy, Brock, Ciri, and Aiko to cough on the smoke while the siren wails in the distance, slowly getting closer. Yami Benjy calls on Satolite to blow the smoke away, and it does, revealing that both Black✭Star and Ciri have gone missing.
Brock: Wait, did he take Ciri?
Ciri: I’m over here, shh…!
While Ciri’s location can’t be pinpointed from her voice, she is obviously hiding somewhere in or around the tree.
Ciri: Going after that assassin!
Brock: Wait, Ciri!
The siren blares again, louder this time, and the headlight of a police car with four Officer Jennies is seen driving towards the tree. May, Max, Ash, and Yuuma, now exit Yuuma’s room and descend the tree to the grass where the others are.
Ash: Where did Ciri go?
May: She's not exactly fond of the Petalburg police…
The police vehicle pulls to a stop in front of the group, and the Officer Jenny on the passenger’s side gets out of the vehicle.
Officer Jenny0: We got your call. Something about an assassin?
Aiko: Uh, yes, there was a boy with spiky blue hair
Officer Jenny0: Hold on, slow down.
The two Officer Jennies in the back of the car now exit the vehicle; one of them has a pen a notepad. These three Officer Jennies proceed to get details of Black✭Star, Tsubaki, and the incident from the group. When asked, Yami Benjy explains how they met Black✭Star, which one of the Officer Jennies scribbles down on her notepad, then turns to her comrades
Officer Jenny1: What do you think? (whisper)
Officer Jenny0: Sounds like the DWMA. They probably have an agent hunting witches in these woods. (whisper)
Officer Jenny1: That’s more than a bit nerve-wracking in itself. (whisper)
Officer Jenny2: Are witches even in season right now? (whisper)
Officer Jenny1: I don’t think so, let me check…
Officer Jenny1 pulls out a large binder, and with it confirms to her colleagues that witches are technically in season for a couple more days. Officer Jenny2, walks over to Ash and company and imparts this news.
The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
Benjy: It’s like the 1700s all over again…
Ash: How so?
Benjy: Countless innocent women have been executed because someone thought they were witches.
Officer Jenny1: You don’t think she’s actually a witch?
Officer Jenny0: We could always apply the scientific method…
Officer Jenny1: But where are we going to get a snowmobile to weigh her against?
Officer Jenny2: We’ll worry about that later, it’s best to track down that assassin.
Officer Jenny0: Right, lets get on it girls!
New Scene()
Ciri rides on her Flygon through the forest, past tree after tree, searching for Black✭Star. Flygon lets out a cry to alert Ciri of a low-hanging branch, which she ducks to avoid.
Ciri: Let’s go bird’s eye.
Flygon: Gon.
Flygon now beats it’s wings and flies up above the forest, allowing Ciri to look down between the trees, searching from above for Black✭Star. It takes Ciri about 15 seconds (real time) before she spots him; (which is about a minute of story time). Upon seeing Black✭Star, Ciri gulps and then points him out to Flygon:
Ciri: Down there, in the clearing!
Flygon: Fly.
Ciri: Wait for my signal, lets take him by surprise.
Flygon nods, and proceeds to fly in a large Circle around Black✭Star
Ciri: Assassins' rule number 1: Blend into the shadows...Hold your breath...And wait for your target to let down his guard.
Ciri: Assassins' rule number 2: Locate your target, predict their thoughts and actions.
Ciri now correctly gauges that Black✭Star is not paying attention to her, and is not even aware of her presence.
Ciri: Assassins' rule number 3: Strike before your target notices you. This is too easy, something’s wrong.
Tsubaki: Hey Black✭Star, did you hear something?
Black✭Star: Hear what?
Ciri: I’m going to need a powerful spell… Povadamenya!
Pointing her hand at Black✭Star, Ciri launches a ball of "earth" magic at Black✭Star, striking him between the shoulder blades. Black✭Star turns in the direction that the attack came from, but due to Flygon’s circular flight path, he doesn’t see either Flygon or Ciri.
Ciri: He just shrugged it off? Okay then, Tesserum Novas!
Again striking Black✭Star from the backside, this blast succeeds in knocking Black✭Star off of his feet and onto the ground.
Black✭Star: Ow! Who’s doing that?!
Tsubaki: Looks like we found her!
Black✭Star: Tsubaki, ninja sword mode!
Catching Flygon in his peripheral vision, Black✭Star leaps onto a tree branch, and then leaps at Ciri and Flygon, surprising the later two
Black✭Star: I’ve got you now, witch!
As Black✭Star prepares to strike Ciri, she leaps from Flygon to avoid the attack, pushing Flygon out of the way as well (in the other direction); Black✭Star flies over both before landing on a tree branch. Ciri meanwhile lands hard on the ground, quickly striking Black✭Star with a blast of energy, knocking him off the branch and onto the ground.
Black✭Star: You’ll pay for that, witch!
Ciri: Bring it.
Black✭Star: Yaah! Take this!
Black✭Star charges towards Ciri, who opens up a flurry of spheres of water and earth energy, before striking Black✭Star with other magic attacks. These do noticeable damage to Black✭Star, although he charges right through them and punches Ciri, sending her flying backwards several feet.
Now approaching an injured Ciri, Black✭Star prepares to strike.
Black✭Star: This is the end, witch!
Black✭Star now attempts to stab Ciri, whom is whisked away by Flygon. Black✭Star gives chase as the dragon pokémon takes off through the forest, slowly gaining distance from Black✭Star and allowing Ciri to somewhat recover from the blow.
Black✭Star: Get back here!
Tsubaki: Hold on! Black✭Star, something’s off! I don’t think she’s a witch!
Ciri: Distance attacks don’t seem to be effective… Which means…
Ciri gulps.
Flygon: Flygon fly!
Ciri: Wait for my signal! (Whisper)
Flygon: Fly! (Whisper)
Ciri and Flygon are now about 25 feet ahead of Black✭Star, after about 4 seconds from this last bit of dialogue (real time):
Ciri: Now!
Flygon releases Ciri whom appears to fall towards Black✭Star, although this is really just due to the later moving quickly towards the former.
Black✭Star: Take this!
Ciri: @Incantation:RS_Omnipower
QST.AppearOnScreen("Omnipower")
As Ciri casts Omnipower, she puts both her arms out in front of her, both glowing with rainbow-colored light, while Black✭Star charges forwards with Tsubaki pointed right at Ciri. Both draw nearer to each other, then finally touch. Ciri’s outstretched hands prevent Black✭Star from stabbing her in the chest as Tsubaki’s blade leaves a nasty cut on the inside of Ciri’s right arm. Then Ciri’s hands touch Black✭Star’s clothing and both stop moving for a split-second.
Suddenly a powerful blast of energy pulses out from where Ciri was touching Black✭Star, sending both Ciri and Black✭Star flying in opposite directions, and knocking over a large part of the forest simultaneously. Black✭Star shoots backwards about thirty to thirty-five feet, to where he crashes into a large rock, hitting his head and almost knocking him unconscious.
Sent flying in the other way, Ciri doesn’t crash into a rock, but into the (softer) ground, where she rolls a little ways and finally comes to a stop amongst the broken trees knocked over by her spell, looking sick to her stomach. Tsubaki instantly comes out of weapon form.
Tsubaki: Black✭Star!
Ciri’s Flygon also lands at her side, looking down at the cut on Ciri’s arm nervously. Flygon flaps it’s wings defensively and lets out a loud cry that startles Tsubaki, who is trying to tend to Black✭Star. In response to Flygon’s cry something rustles in the forest.
Ash’s Voice: They’re over here!
Ciri now manages to pull herself into a sitting position with minor difficulty, blood still streaming down her arm. Across the clearing Black✭Star holds his head and moans loudly. Aiko now emerges from the thicket, Ash behind her.
Aiko: CIRI!
Ciri: I’m okay!
Ash: Ciri! Your arm!
Ciri: This?
Ciri starts to raise her arm. Brock now appears out of the forest.
Brock: Don’t move it!
Ciri: It’s just a flesh wound–
#Monty_Python_Reference
Brock: Ciri, you’re in shock!
Ash: He nearly cut your arm off!
Ciri: Its hardly anything; I’ve had worse.
Ash: I somehow doubt that.
QST.camera synchronizes with Ciri’s vision as Ciri’s vision starts to get blurry.
Refresh Scene(Desynchronize QST.camera (from Ciri))
Aiko has made a makeshift camp for the sake of first aid. Ciri is lying against a fallen tree, knocked over by her spell, where Brock is working the bandages on her arm. Ciri doesn’t appear to be in much pain as he does so.
Ash meanwhile is examining Black✭Star as the later lies on the ground with a cloth over his eyes, moaning. Tsubaki looks down at him nervously.
Tsubaki: I can’t shake the feeling something’s off…
Ash: You still want to kill that witch? (somewhat angrily)
Tsubaki: That was what we were sent to do.
Ash: Well it’s going to be tough doing that now. (somewhat angrily)
Tsubaki nods nervously.
Black✭Star: Tsubaki, the witch…
Tsubaki: But…
Black✭Star: Do it!
Tsubaki looks up, and Pikachu sparks dangerously, forcing Tsubaki into a mini-standoff.
Ash: That’s not a witch, that’s out friend!
A closer inspection of Ciri reveals that she is fighting back tears as Brock treats her. Tsubaki also seems to have a tear in her eye as she turns her arm into a blade. Pikachu sparks again in response.
Ash: Just knock it off. You’re really just going to kill someone just to strengthen your weapon?
Tsubaki shoots Ash a cold glance as Pikachu continues to spark on Ash’s shoulder.
Tsubaki: Why are you getting involved? You have no business, and yet–
Ash turns to Pikachu, which jumps up onto his shoulder.
Ash: She expects us to standby and let–
Pikachu suddenly launches an unnamed and previously unseen attack at Tsubaki, temporarily blinding and zapping Ash.
Ash: Aack!
Both Ciri and Brock gasp, and Ash struggles to regain his bearings, quickly to discover that Tsubaki is unconscious, and far closer than he thought possible, almost within striking distance.
Ash: She’s fast, if Pikachu hadn’t–
Brock: Ash, she means business! Don’t take your eyes off of her for a second!
Despite Tsubaki’s unconscious state, Ash continues to back away from her and Pikachu hits her with a thunder wave.
New Scene(@Temporal = Mid-Late Afternoon)
In a dark room, tied up by string shot and leaning against a wall, Black✭Star and Tsubaki awaken and look around them.
Tsubaki: Black✭Star? (whisper)
Black✭Star: What? (whisper)
???: We can hear you (whisper)
Black✭Star and Tsubaki gulp and then wince as the lights come on, revealing Max and Benjy watching them.
Black✭Star: Tsubaki, transform and get us out of here!
Tsubaki: I can’t! I’ve been trying to, but something won’t let me!
Benjy is staring hard at Tsubaki.
Benjy: And how do you do it…?
Tsubaki grimaces back towards Benjy.
Black✭Star: Where’s the witch we fought earlier?! I demand a rematch!
Benjy: Witch?
Max: I thought he fought with Ciri though…
Black✭Star: Where is she?!
Max: She’s in the restroom.
Black✭Star: I’m not waiting! I demand a rematch and I demand a rematch RIGHT NOW!
Benjy: We might need more string shot!
Max: May!
As Black✭Star flails, the string shot threatens to break, prompting Max to holler for May again. Two more calls later, May finally appears with Beautifly, whom she has coat Black✭Star with string shot, binding him to the wall. Black✭Star continues to struggle, but the new string shot is even less inclined to break.
Benjy: May, can you get…
May nods silently and darts out of the room.
Black✭Star: Let me out of here!
Max: You seriously injured my friend. I’m not letting you go scott free!
Refresh Scene()
Still tied up by string shot, Black✭Star and Tsubaki face Ash, Brock, Max, Benjy, a wolf-girl, and Aiko, whom face them. The six all have expressions of concern, if not outright anger.
Wolf-Girl(Liru): We could always eat them…
Brock: I don’t think that’s the solution we’re looking for.
Benjy: This is way to bizarre just to be random. So many questions come to mind though.
Tsubaki: What kind of questions?
Benjy: You said you wanted to eat a soul.
Black✭Star: Correct! We came to–
Cutscene() { QST.camera looks down at the treehouse from the air.
Benjy’s voice: Are you zarking stupid! }
Benjy: I don’t know who told you this nonsense, but I guarantee if you cut any one of us open, no soul is going to come out.
Benjy paces back and forth, shaking his head.
Liru: But if we could eat them, what would they taste like?
Benjy: Even if there was such a thing, it would be entirely intangible.
Brock: At first I thought they were on super-caffeine or something… But this is just strange… (whisper to Benjy)
Aiko: Who told you you could do this?
Black✭Star: I’m not tell–
Tsubaki: We’re students of the DWMA. If you don’t let us go, more will definitely come to our rescue.
Black✭Star looks at Tsubaki, surprised. Aiko looks to Ash and company for clarification, but Ash shrugs.
Ash: Never heard of the place…
Brock: I have.
Ash: What do you know about it?
Brock: It’s a demon-hunting school located in the far northeast of the Orre Region. They train fighters to slay demons, and their pretty highly regarded across the world. So it’s starting to make sense now.
Max: They fight demons?
Brock: Supposedly…
Brock now scans Black✭Star and Tsubaki.
Brock: The question is why would they come all the way out here, and for someone random.
Black✭Star: It’s not random! We heard there was a witch!
Liru: Do they have something against witches?
Benjy: There’s a missing piece to the story.
Brock: Ash, can you check if the police got back? I’m going to see if we can contact their organization. Maybe there’s some sort of mix-up?
Tsubaki looks at Brock hopefully.
Tsubaki: If he contacts the DWMA, they’ll certainly send someone to rescue us…
Black✭Star: Stop it with that expression, Tsubaki! We don’t need rescue!
At this point another girl (Pachira) enters the room.
Pachira: I tried to tell Yuuma that we caught them, but she’s too scared to come out of her room.
Ash: Personally I don’t blame her.
Black✭Star: What do you mean too scared?! She was fine before!
Tsubaki: She’s about to turn into a keshian…
Benjy: Let me check on them…
With this, Benjy exits the room. Ash now opens up his pokédex.
Ash: How do you spell that?
Pachira: That wasn’t Yuuma you fought, you idiot! That was Ciri!
Black✭Star: Wait, so are there two witches?
Brock: There are zero witches!
Aiko: The girl you battled was a local sorceress who came to help out when we discovered there were assassins lingering around.
Tsubaki: That makes sense, her attack patterns were different than the typical witch…
Max: And you still haven’t told us why you’ve come out here anyway. I’ve found the list of all the witches their quote-unquote school is after, and Yuuma isn’t on here.
Tsubaki: He hacked our network?
Max: Actually it’s displayed right on the website…
Black✭Star and Tsubaki hang their heads with disappointment (and the blue vertical lines appear temporarily to show this emotion)
Max: So why are you out here?
Black✭Star: We told you a million times! To get the–
Pachira: Do we have sodium penthazol?
This comment leaves everyone confused.
Black✭Star: Maybe they didn’t update their database?
Tsubaki: They update that database before they even post the mission!
Ash: Suddenly I get the feeling their just as in the dark as we are…
Black✭Star: Well maybe there was a mistake!
Tsubaki: Maybe if you hadn’t bolted from the room before Lord Death had finished talking, he might have given us more instructions!
Black✭Star: As if!
Tsubaki: Can you let us out, we need to contact the DWMA!
Ash: Not until the police get back.
New Scene()
Up in Yuuma’s room, May examines Ciri’s injury whilst Zumi stares out the window.
May: It’s been an hour…
Ciri: Yeah… Now that we’ve caught him, we just have to wait for them to get back.
A knock reverberates on the door, and May gets up to let Benjy in. Yuuma cringes in the background until she sees who it is.
Ciri: Did you get any more data on them?
Benjy: It’s still as clear as mud right now.
Benjy’s gaze now falls on Ciri’s arm.
Benjy: I know it hurts, but you need to keep it cold. That’s going to be…
Benjy shudders thinking about the injury and is unable to finish his comment
Ciri: It’s just a flesh wound…
May: Ciri, stop being such a tsundere!
Ciri now glares at May, who glares back. After a few seconds, both girls’ gaze softens somewhat.
Ciri: I’m a kuudere and you know it…
Yuuma: Well I always thought of you as a dandere.
Ciri now puts her head in her hands, but is careful not to move her injured arm. As she does, Zumi’s ears wiggle and Benjy and May turn their attention to the window.
Benjy: Looks like the police are back.
Ciri: Then it’s time for some answers.
The Millennium Gameboy Advance glows brightly.
Yami Benjy: I agree, but please let me handle it. This is delicate.
…///To Be Continued///…
© November 16, 2012 to December 1, 2015 by Benjy Strauss