86th moon [They are walls, and there were four of them once.]

[paladinlost]

[Question: What is worse than awakening deep within an unknown cave with no idea how you got there, again?

Answer: Awakening deep within an unknown cave with no Pokémon, no supplies, no Pokégear and no way to obtain any of those, of course.

In other words, Cecil would greatly appreciate some company and help right now. Preferably before those Zubats manage to eat him.]

Comments

[seasaltkeys]

[Why couldn't he have stayed at the beach? He liked the beach. Why's he in this cave now. Good thing Sparky knows Flash. and Discharge.]

Hello?! Is anyone else down here?

I would have run into a trainer by now or something.

[paladinlost]

[Hey, that distant voice sounds somewhat familiar! ...It would probably be easier to recognize if it wasn't for the Zubat bombings, though.]

Over here! I'm also- Get off, or you'll find yourself with your fangs ripped out!

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas runs down the hall, following the voice and thanking whoever's listening for Flash and repel.]

Sparky, use Dishcharge!

[That should deal with most of them.]

[paladinlost]

[It does indeed! Which finally gives Cecil the opportunity to turn around and look at the other person there.]

Ah, thank you. I was starting to believe- Roxas?

[seasaltkeys]

Hey. Looks like I'm back.

[For now at least.]

How'd you wind up here?

[paladinlost]

It's that biyearly wave of teleportations again. I awoke in this cave some time ago, and I've not yet found the way out.

[seasaltkeys]

No sandwiches this time, then?

It's a good thing I came along. Sparky knows Flash, so we can get out of here. Plus I have my whole team with me.

[And a doublade.]

[dragoon_pride]

[That's definitely not expected. Kain is mid-jump, ascending... which means he makes a heavy collision with the cave ceiling before crashing downward. Ouch... Now who put that cave ceiling there in his way?]

...Now where am I?

[paladinlost]

You are in Zubat Hell. Please enjoy your stay.

[The answer comes from the ground. Cecil has apparently decided to simply lie down and look at the bats flying overhead, at some point.]

[dragoon_pride]

[He quietly groans, but, at least the unimpressive landing is no worse an impact than his armor could handle.]

And where is that? It's not another new arena to fight in, is it? Part of someone else's world, perhaps?

[paladinlost]

Part of someone else's world indeed, but not anyone you'd know. This land has a tendancy to bring more visitors than usual, twice a year.

[Which would explain half the people taking part in this conversation.]

[dragoon_pride]

Are we to fight someone else's war, then?

[Just what they need, really.]

[paladinlost]

Not as far as any of us can tell. We're encouraged to raise powerful creatures instead.

[Such as the very powerful bats zooming over their heads.]

[dragoon_pride]

Because that's so much saner of an option.

[He stares up at those bats.]

Are they yours?

[memoryborn]

[ There's the sound of air and space and darkness being pushed aside and out steps Xion, hood up. She had only tried going through this route to see where it would come out to, but... She blinks at a familiar face. ]

Cecil?

[paladinlost]

Xion!

[Normally he'd sound much happier to see her, but in this situation...]

Be careful, this cave is full of-

[Of the things that are now divebombing in the general direction of his face.]

[memoryborn]

[ Several of the Zubats try to nag and nip at Xion herself, but she swats at them for a few moments before taking out Tiamat the Hydreigon to take care of them. Tiamat roars and snaps at most of them away, using her heads to great effect while Xion moves towards Cecil. ]

Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?

[paladinlost]

I'll say yes and no, in that order, and ignore the bruises on my dignity.

[He manages to punch one or two bats away.]

You have Tiamat with you? At least you've not been left completely unarmed.

[susukodama]

[Somewhere nearby, there is a wooden crate.

From beneath this wooden crate, you might be able to hear faint singing.]

Ben ben ben ben benbenben ben ben ben... bebebeben~

[paladinlost]

[...Wait, where sis that crate come from?

Never mind. He can figure that out once he's peeked around it and figured out who's singing.]

[susukodama]

Hehehehehe!

[Guess who! :D

It's sitting inside what looks suspiciously like a metal helmet.]

[paladinlost]

[My, what a surprise!

...Actually, considering the whole mysterious crate and helmet part of it...]

Hello again. How did you find yourself in this cave?

[susukodama]

Find! Find! Find! Hehehehehe! Find!

[...yeah it's about as helpful as ever]

[paladinlost]

...Shall we say 'biyearly unexplained visitings' and leave it at that?

[susukodama]

Visitings! Hehehehehe! Visitings! Visitings! Visitings!