victory_road | Twenty-fourth Sacrament: Otherworld

There's something wrong.

The footage shows...somewhere. It's not clear where it is. The ground is nothing but rugged rock and there seems to be construction in the distance. But the sky is blood red - not the soft orange of a setting sun but a hellish red. Despite it's glow, the world seemed dark. Almost grimy, with strange rust covering the rocks around. The scene was in front of some kind of ruined building, covered in red rust and scorch damage. The usual background music that played had been replaced with something far more ominous, giving no further clues about where the footage was taking place. It repeatedly corrupts, flashing a strange symbol before cutting back to the scene. Strange cries echoed in the distance.

A Solrock hovered in front of the husk of a building, surprisingly clear of the corruption around it and turning, like a wheel. And with it was Walter. Something was wrong with him as well. His gaze was blank. His clothes were stained with blood. He only turned his head slowly up to the Solrock hovering in front of him and for a moment, as the Solrock's eyes shone, his eyes glowed red. The Solrock stopped turning, looking at him with a blank expression. He murmured to it, only just audible on the video. "I knew you would find me again."

The Solrock's expression didn't change. It's eyes glowed again, and something lifted from Walter's bag - an Ultra Ball. The ball floated towards the Solrock, lightly tapping it. The moment the Solrock disappeared into the ball, the world righted itself; red sky to a starry night, blood and rust vanishing, the mansion disappearing, music fading back to it's usual, cheery tone and the weird echoing cries of strange Pokemon replaced with the chirps of Fletchlings and Wingulls.

Walter collapsed. The Gear fell as well. All that could be seen was the Ultra Ball, landing in front of it. It shook once, then clicked shut.

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[Diana's stomach drops and she reacts first.]

Walter! WALTER!

[She tries to keep herself from panicking, shouting at an unconscious man isn't going to help.]

Doll! Wisdom!

[ While he had Doll with him, it was two of his other Pokemon who reacted first. Assumption roused Walter gently and comforted him in his dazed, disorientated state, while Chaos gave a deep roar, glaring into the dark with her gleaming eyes and channeling sparks of electric all over herself.

Walter retrieved the gear (and, after a pause, the pokeball lying beside it) but he still looked tired and not completely there. ]

This was on...

[Diana lets out a long sigh of relief. Jesus tap dancing Christ...]

You scared the shit out of me.

What happened? There was a... thing? A Pokemon? You dropped like a rock.

I'm not entirely sure. [ He looks at the Ultra Ball in his hand, the one now housing...whatever it was. ]

I thought. I think Valtiel has found me. I knew he would eventually.

[She still looks worried.]

What? Really? Are you sure?

[Diana winces, a previous conversation coming back to her.]

How would it be here?

This is a Pokemon of the Sun. A Solrock. I don't know how but... it showed some of Valtiel's abilities just now.

If it is not him, then it must be an agent of his.

But if he was like, really him, you'd know for sure, wouldn't you? I mean, you'd feel it?

I don't know. The Gear said, that they can read minds. Valtiel was capable of that. It doesn't... feel the same. But, it must be connected.

[Diana wants to argue that a lot of Pokemon can read minds. That is doesn't have to be that horrible thing he called an angel. But the images on screen had been worrying and she didn't want to argue with him when he was clearly not in a good way.]

How are you feeling? Do you... Need help?

[She knows Walter's a strong guy but things can hit him hard. And he's traveling alone again.]

[ How did he feel? Revisiting the Otherworld? Feeling like Valtiel's presence is back in his life? Knowing that he couldn't just let this Pokemon go, given it's tenacity and it's status as a Pokemon of the sun? ]

I feel... like I did before. [ Sad and alone and scared of what was looming over him. And at the offer of help, he shook his head. ] No... no. This is my burden.

Well, that's the opposite of good then.

[Walter talks about how much better he felt in Johto/Kanto than he ever had back home. Returning to that feeling could only be bad news.

At his other comment she bristles.]

That's your Order talking. When I talked about being safer together I wasn't just talking about Rocket's crap.

[ He tensed up, drawing closer into himself and huddling Assumption close. ]

No. I was made the Conjurer. I can't, bring others into this.

You're not bringing anyone into it.

I, because I'm incredibly stupid, am bringing myself into it.

[Oh god, what the fuck was she doing?]

I want you to help you. That other stuff aside, it's how you are that concerns me.

Diana. [ He was tense and afraid and squeezing Assumption because this is where it all went wrong. It'd been going too well, things had been too good to him this past year. This was... right. As it always had been. ]

I told you, about the murders I had committed. The person I attempted to kill and didn't want to, was the only person who had ever been kind to me. If. If Valtiel does appear here, and the ritual begins again...

[ Assumption gave a cry, holding Walter back just as tightly. He murmured, pressing his hands together in prayer. ]

God. Holy Mother, please, spare my Pokemon your wrath. They have served me loyally and shown me guidance and great kindness. They are free of the sins that plague humanity. Please, God, please, let them be spared.

Walter. [She says the name with an authority she does not have nor stake any claim to.]

Yeah, you did tell me. But that doesn't mean anything is starting. It's a Pokemon. Not an angel.

[Her voice is wavering a little because she's worried but she has to keep pressing on.]

Stop it. It's not here. You know that! I know you know that, Walter. You would know if it's here.

[ He shook his head again. He didn't know. Even if this wasn't Valtiel himself, it meant something. It was some kind of sign. ]

Something is coming. [ He stood slowly, with Assumption and Chaos helping him up. ]

Of course it is. [She sighs. Because something was always coming. Because people like them couldn't catch a break ever.]

Just... Don't go thinking you're all alone.

...be safe, Diana.

[ But Assumption takes his hand and nods to Diana. Walter's not alone. He'll make sure of it. ]

You be safe.

[She nods back to Assumption.]

I'll see you all soon.

Twenty-fourth Sacrament: Otherworld

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