victory_road | [Post Dated 7/7, Cherrygrove] [Action]

[ A soft grumble seemed to come from nearby - well, it would be soft if Ignis was his regular size. But it also sounded... feral, dangerous, angry.

(The creature which gave this sound was none of these things. Anima is an innocent soft boy.) But that sound? That's Anima noticing this little man. Moving in for a sniff - curious. Of course, being a Silvally and rather tall, the Pokemon might feel dangerous - his sniffs being so very quiet between grumbles.

Honestly, Anima wanted to find his friend, but Prompto had gone missing in the morning, and lots of people were far too small and Anima couldn't handle it. ]

[ Yes. Yes it absolutely sounded dangerous to Ignis's sharp ears. His head snaps around. He could feel the air moving around him as he's sniffed. The sense he had was that this was bigger than Porkchop and thankfully calmer. He extended a hand to offer it to the unknown Pokemon. ]

Do I know you, friend...?

[ The sound of sudden little patter of paws was the only warning Ignis had before Porkchop came upon him.

Chubby pink paws knocked Ignis over, rolling him through the grass roughhly. Porkchop happily squeaked, then turned his attention to Anima. A little butt wiggle then he was lifting his front paws to bap at Anima's nose joyously.

Ignis scrambles to his feet, brushing himself off. He was going to have bruises from that one. ]

[ If there was one thing Anima was not used to, it was sudden boops and Pokemon smaller then him. Or bigger, but that's not now. Letting out a whine, there's suddenly a harsh clawing at the Skitty.

Anima used Crush Claw! ]

[ Porkchop squeals with surprise at the sudden claws. He was too close and got hit. The impact sent the little Skitty tumbling backwards.

He pulls himself back up, ears flat against his head. He was a lover, not a fighter!! And just a baby, he was very confused now. Why did the nice dog become a mean dog?

Porkchop keeps his body down now, looking ever the sad, berated kitten he felt like. Plus that had hurt!

I just wanted to be friends! He mewed softly at Anima. ]

[You thought your experience with the Skitty and Type:Null were bad Ignis?

At least you don't have to deal with a Larvitar and a Tyrunt chasing you because that's exactly what Noctis is dealing with.

He's actively avoiding the terrible ~~Godzilla~~ duo when he runs, literally, into Ignis, grabbing the other man by the shoulders to steady them both before Noctis is pushing him behind a boulder--a rock. A small rock.]

Don't make a sound.

[ Ignis had barely gotten to his feet when he was being suddenly crashed into by Noctis. This was not turning out to be a good day for them it seemed. IT was good that they were all the same size though. ]

No--

[ He shut up immediately when Noctis said don't make a sound. So he was being chased by previously loyal Pokemon as well.

Ignis listens closely to try and hear the sound of any approaching 'Mon. He closes a hand gently around Noctis's arm, just above the elbow to yank him away if need be. ]

[Oh you would definitely hear the little monsters, Ignis. And feel them. Because each step the Larvitar and Tyrunt took the ground shook like an Earthquake and when Crowe let out a roar as she caught their sent? It was loud and earth-shattering.

For mouse sized individuals.

Noctis winced and covered one of his ears since his other arm was in Ignis's hold, the prince nudging at his steward to get him moving.]

Come on. [It's said in a hurried whisper but apparently that was enough for Kitty because the Larvitar was suddenly looming over them, rumbling in excitement.] Shit!

[ Ignis did the same, one hand pressed over an ear. It was especially loud to him, one eye squinched shut a little as he listens. It was definitely close. He turns his head to nod slightly to Noctis and starts to follow before he feels Noctis stop and..

Then swear.

He pulled his cane off his belt, snapping it out straight with a quick flick of his wrist. He placed himself between Noctis and the Larvitar, quite ready to fight the little beast if need be. ]

Stay behind me.

[ And it would have been an interesting fight if not for Oleander. The Espurr darted out towards Kitty, attaching himself to her to try and hold her back with distressed mews. ]

Specs what exactly are you going to do against her?

[Not that Noctis doesn't appreciate the sentiment, he does. And it's good to have Ignis here with them but use your head man!

Kitty is immediately sidetracked by Oleander, the strange little creature causing the Larvitar to stumble back before immediately starting to try and get him off. She's very obvious displeased with the attachment, rumbling and growling irritably. Meanwhile, Crowe has found the pair as well and lowers her head to sniff at them, the oncoming gust from the gesture enough to make Noctis sway.]

Crowe, be nice! It's me, girl!

"I don't exactly have a visual of size, Noct." Ignis maybe snapped a little. He didn't know how big this thing was. He only knew he needed to protect Noct from the danger.

The gust from the sniffing was certainly giving Ignis a very good idea of it though. He steps navk a but, letrinf Noctis greet Crowe.

"Will this one assist?"

Oleander refused to be shaken off. He gripped with his little paws, crying.

"No! He helped me and was nice! Don't eat him!!"

"Which is why you should stop trying to protect me and let me protect you for once," Noctis shot back a bit grumpily before focusing fully on Crowe. "Maybe? Depends on if Kitty tells her otherwise."

The unfortunate part about having a naive as hell Tyrunt was that your bratty Larvitar could manipulate them into anything.

Crowe rumbled in delight as she realized it was her trainer, stepping forward and knocking Noctis off balance with said steps, causing him to almost fall.

"Whoa--Crowe stop!" The Tyrunt did though she looked dejected in the process, lowering her head down to Noct's level now. "Easy..I'm not mad. You're just..really big right now. Think you can give us a ride?" She perked up immediately and snapped her jaws lightly before dropping her head to rest on the ground. Noct grinned and turned to Ignis. "Come here. We're going for a ride."

"I'm not going to eat him! I'm just going to beat him up!" Kitty protested, shoving at Oleander's face more and turning in circles, doing everything she can to shake him off.

Ignis felt a deep irritation forming in his gut. He was irritated a little at Noct but more at himself. He was back to where he was a decade ago, too crippled to be of any service to his Prince. It was starting to weigh more heavily on him than he would have wanted.

He raises a brow when Noctis decides they were going to ride the thing that was just trying to eat them. Alright, so... they would be risking life and limb that way instead.

"As long as it doesn't get into a fight with the other one we should be just fine then."

There needed to be positives in everything. He moved with Noctis to mount the Tyrunt, but it was a rather immediate sense of discomfort at being high up. He grasped Noct a little tighter on the hips than he meant to before shifting to the young man's shoulders out of politeness.

Determined little paws stayed fast on the Larvitar. Oleander closed his eyes at the shoving, fur puffing up in distress.

"That's not any better, he's really tiny!! You could squish him, don't squish him!! Don't you love your trainer too?"

He wished he was bigger and stronger. He wished he could actually do anything against this Larvitar but he was small and probably always would be because he was weak too.

"..I don't think she will?" Yeah that was probably super encouraging to hear. Noctis being Noctis, he didn't pick up on the irritation and honestly wasn't even thinking anything about the fact that Ignis was the one that needed help right now. All that mattered to the prince was getting them out of there before Kitty could rampage again.

Settling on Crowe's back, he helped his steward get up, wincing briefly at the tight grip on his hips before it shifted to his shoulders.

"You good?" Once he got an answer he'd spur Crowe into motion, guiding the little Tyrunt to head for the Pokemon Center.

Kitty, realizing what was going on, growl-roared again and flopped forward onto the ground suddenly with the intent to squish Oleander.

"Wanna beat them up! Get off!"

Ignis nods shortly after he's settled behind Noctis. His grip was a little overly firm because this wasn't exactly how he expected to be moving around today. He could feel that he was higher up than he would have wanted to be.

This defnitely wasn't how he wanted his day to be going. Or his life. Being miniaturized was just one more reason to not want to be in this world any more.

"Where are we going."

Oleander squealed when he was suddenly squished between the ground and the Larvitar, thrashing about in distress.

"You're so mean!! I'll ... I'll beat you up myself!!"

"The Pokemon Center. It's safer there than out here. I don't think we could make it into the hotel like we are," Noctis replied, patting Crowe gently on the neck in praise as she continued going the correct way.

Thankfully she wasn't listening to Kitty who was in the process of trying to force Oleander off her.

"No you won't! You're a wimp! I'm Kitty the Catastrophe! I can't be stopped!"

Yep. She thinks she's a wrestler.

"I'm sure we could crawl under the gap beneath the door if we tried hard enough."Ignis sounded amused at the thought. It was a possibilty but then the Tyrunt would be left to the Larvitar's influence.

"Perhaps they have some knowledge of what is going on. This is certainly an unusual magic at work but its better than being in the shape of a frog."

Oleander was determined. He clung fiercely, trying to think of how to stop this rampaging Larvitar from reaching his trainer.

He was smart, he had to figure it out!! He could!

"W-well... I.. I'M OLEANDER THE OBLIVIATOR AND I'LL EAT YOU!"

Then he clamps his mouth down onto Larvitar's arm firmly.

Edited 2017-07-13 19:20 (UTC)

Noctis can't help but snicker.

"You're more than welcome to try if you want, Specs. I don't think we're that small," he mused but hey, you never know. "If anyone's going to know, it'd be someone that works at the centers. There might even be a Jenny around that we can ask."

The bite on her arm gets a shrieking roar out of Kitty and the Larvitar thrashes to get away, falling backwards and letting Oleander go.

"CHEAP SHOT!" she growled, scrambling to get up so she could headbutt the other Pokemon. "I'll make you pay!"

Come now, Ignis was still thin. He could fit where he needed to. It did bring to mind all the times Noctis would slip through cave gaps and Gladio struggling to get through the same space. Quite amusing times to reflect on.

"It does not concern anyone that there are so many people who look exactly the same with the same name..?"

It certainly concerned Ignis at times.

Oleander held on firm, at least until Kitty was on her butt. Then he bounces back, little paws clenched tight with a determined face. He had succeeded in distracting the Larvitar!!

....Oh no he'd succeeded in distracting the Larvitar...

The determined face changes to one of sudden fear when the Larvitar is swinging its head at him.

So Oleander does what he does best. He turns and starts trying to run away as quickly as his little legs could carry him.

"You know, I just sort of stopped questioning it after awhile. There's a lot of really weird stuff around here. You noticed the music, right?" Noctis asked, glancing back at Ignis while directing Crowe to the left. Almost there. Soon they'd be safe from any further Larvitar attacks.

Hopefully.

Speaking on Larvitars...

Kitty wasn't about to let Oleander get away that easily, charging after him as a glow started to form around her mouth.

Someone was charging up a Hyper Beam.

Ignis made a face when Noctis mentioned the music. That damnable music.

"I've.. noticed it, yes. If there wasn't that constant music I wouldn't need any help at all from a cane or Pokemon." Well, besides a few minor things involving reading and memorizing the Pokegear but Ignis had become quite capable.

"It's been years since I needed assistance, so pardon my frustration. Is there a way to make the music stop or are we all doomed to chipper tunes?"

Oleander let out a panicked squeal, picking up the pace in his attempt to get away when suddenly---

DEATH FROM ABOVE.

Ravioli slams onto the back of Kitty's head to knock her face first down into the dirt. He lets out a happy whoop as he takes to the air quickly again before landing gracefully some feet away. He waves his wing with the smuggest of looks on his stupid Pidgey face.

"How unfortunate for you, not watching your back!! It's okay, not everyone can be as skilled as me!"

...And suddenly things made a bit more sense.

"It throws you off," Noct said softly, coming to the realization and feeling really, really dumb all of a sudden. He turned slightly to face Ignis, staring at him with a mix of shock and regret, in a way. "I didn't even think about that. I have no idea if there's a way to stop it but we'll figure out something. That should make it easier for you to get around."

He and Prompto would figure out a solution! Just leave it to them!

Kitty hit the ground but was immediately scrambling to get up, huffing out a mix of dirt and air as she wheeled on that blasted bird.

"You--"

The Larvitar snapped her mouth shut as a shadow loomed over both of them suddenly, the towering figure letting out a low rumble.

Ravioli meet Bean the Snorlax.

"I think that's enough from both of you."

Oh.

Right.

Even Ignis could get too comfortable and forget that Noctis and Prompto here couldn't know that it was how Ignis had adapted. It was his fault for forgetting. He absolutely had the courtesy to look embarrassed of himself.

"I apologize, I.. forgot you weren't at the same point of.. understanding as I am. If there is a way it would certainly be appreciated but I am learning to adapt around it."

Ravioli stared up at Bean then quickly bow his head, wing across his feathery chest.

"M-My lady of course!! I was simply putting this ruffian into her place. Bullies always insist on bullying the weak, don't they?" And boy, Oleander was weak.

Oleander had disappeared into the long grass, plopped over and breathing heavy from his little sprint.

"No it's--I keep forgetting. And assuming," Noctis murmured, looking forward again though his shoulders were hunched a bit. Not that Ignis would be able to see it. "Sorry.."

Bean rumbled, almost a chuckle more than anything else, shaking her head a bit.

"It's alright. But no more fighting," she said firmly, turning her gaze on Kitty who shrunk back some, glaring off to the side. "Understood?"

"..Yes ma'am."

Maybe not see, but his hands were still resting on Noctis's shoulders so he didn't fall what he could only assume was a considerable distance at his size. He gives those shoulders a gentle squeeze now.

"No. I appreciate your assistance. Please, don't take heart if I seem frustrated at times. It is directed at myself. I should be protecting and guiding you, not the other way around."

Ravioli fluffed his feathers with happiness when she chuckled. Yes, good, very good. It was satisfying to make a beautiful female laugh.

"Of course, of course. Now, my little friend ran off somewhere.. I suppose I should find him lest Dahlia give me trouble."

Noctis can't help but relax at that squeeze though he does let out a soft snort.

"There's nothing wrong with letting people help you, Ignis. And here--there's no threat. We're safe. We can just live," he said softly and in a way that made it clear that he was truly enjoying himself here. Being able to relax was nice, especially since he knew that things had stopped back home.

Though the idea of people coming from further ahead wasn't one he was very keen on even now. It still made him feel sick to his stomach.

"Go on then," Bean mused, making her way over to Kitty so she could scoop the irritable little thing up. The Larvitar started to protest then decided against it, sitting in the crook of Bean's arm with her arms crossed. "And next time either of you decide to fight, you can fight me."

"I feel as if I"ve wasted enough time needing help, but that is my own concern and nothing you need to worry over."

The less Noctis worried the better. Ignis was the one in the situation where things needed to change. Noctis.. It was obvious that the young man was enjoying himself here. That it was a deserved enjoyment. Who was Ignis to insist he return? Obviously things would return to their status quo.

What Ignis didn't know was anything past his own point of time.

"You're very happy here, aren't you?"

The Pidgey ruffles his feathers again in surprise.

"I would never be quite so rude as to fight you, my lady." At least he hoped he never had to.

Because.. Politeness.

No other reason. But he flaps his wings and takes off.

"Fairwell for now!"

"You're my friend, Ignis. I'm always going to worry." He may have acted indifferent before but he's gotten a lot better about opening up since coming here. He's learned to actually show his emotions properly instead of bottling them up.

The question is met with silence that drags out for a long moment, Noctis mulling over how to answer as they reach the Pokemon Center.

"...I am...yeah. This place is really nice." The worst part about it was Team Rocket and even that was nothing compared to the things they deal with back home.

This Noctis is .. grown. A mature man, willing to share what he felt and it was definitely a positive change. Ignis wondered to himself if Noctis viewed Ignis in the same positive light.

He was sure in time Noctis would see the affe ts of the years... but for now Ignis had been trying hard to present himself as.. similar at least. Not too changed. The changes seemed to be upsetting Prompto.

"I think you should embrace every moment then. Life has robbed you of much and perhaps these moments can carry you through."

Urging Crowe to stop and coaxing her to lower herself down so they could climb off, Noctis started to do just that only to pause. His head turned towards Ignis and there was surprise on his face though the other wouldn't see it, he'd heard it when the prince spoke.

"Really?" he asked softly, surprised that Ignis would be alright with the idea of Noctis just wanting to stay here and be happy. Not that he ever doubted that his steward wanted him to be happy; it's just..with everything going on back home...

And he knew it was selfish to want to stay but he really did love it here.

Ignis had to admit it was comforting to have solid ground beneath his feet again. He brushes himself off and adjusts his clothes neatly as he had an image to put on even if he couldn't see it.

"Yes. Really. Based on your last memories it is obvious that... eventually.." He stops himself, because really, reminding Noctis had no purpose. This could go on for a long time, and Noctis should savor every moment of it.

"The four of us haven't had lives to speak of. If this is the opportunity we're being presented then we should take it."

Noctis is quiet for a moment, just watching Ignis and thinking about what the other was saying. It was still very Ignis like but there was something else in his tone, in the way he was handling all of this...the ten years he'd lived that they hadn't experienced yet really had changed him, huh?

"..Thanks, Ignis," he said softly, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. "I appreciate that."

And no moment can last when there's Pokemon around so excuse Crowe as she let's out a roar that has Noctis wincing and covering his ears.

"CROWE!"

Ignis nods slightly. He was, as always, the Prince's steward. He wanted Noctis's happiness and he knew that it was all short lived. Unfairly short, regardless of how much time they had. Ignis had never been able to truly provide it anywhere else so perhaps this was the opportunity to--

And.

That..

In unison with Noctis, "CROWE."

His voice far more firm, like a stern father who was seriously contemplating cooking and eating his children.

[Post Dated 7/7, Cherrygrove] [Action]

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-shoves html away-

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Oh its awn.

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