The 4th Storm [4th Wall Four; Video/Action for Olivine Pokemon Center]

[soggypastry]

[Normally there would be some kind of comment from Lightning about this, being that she currently has her memories of this being the fourth time things have gone to chaos in a handbasket, but instead of that, her gear feed is focused on something else in the Center room she still occupies; something that Sen is pawing at in curiosity. It appears to be a regular old Clefairy doll, but the moment that Sen gets close enough to sniff it, it giggles and transforms into something else entirely. Something that sends Sen skittering back in surprise and has Lightning blinking.

Not that she has time do much of anything about it, though; the creature is already forming pink bubbles and launching them everywhere, bouncing on one and sending the rest bouncing across the room, walls and ceiling included. Sen immediatly starts yipping in amusement, chasing and popping bubbles, while the Skitty that had been on Lightning's lap does the same. The creature continues to giggle and make more bubbles for the two mons to chase, and Lightning? Well. She just smiles and watches for a bit. It could be a lot worse, right?

Definitely could be a lot worse, especially since the creature is floating in front of Lightning's face now, blowing a small bubble that pops right in Lightning's face and makes her jump, soft amusement now replaced by a most definite lineface as the creature nearly falls over itself laughing, Sen and the Skitty doing the same no matter the looks she gives them. Anyone coming in for a visit is likely to get the same treatment, so watch out. At least it's friendly, though! That's good, right? ....Right?]

Comments

[lasthuman]

Looks like everyone's having fun. Including you.

[soggypastry]

[New person! You're getting a very curious Mew in your face, much like if it's a cat sniffing you. Hope you don't mind that, because Lightning isn't stopping it. Noopee. She's just watching you, too. And who might you be, she wonders...]

I wouldn't be too sure of that.

[lasthuman]

[He leans his head back but amusedly pokes the Mew in the stomach. Kindly like Mog, only cuter.]

I haven't pinned you as someone who likes cute creatures, yeah. Guess that's more of Serah, huh?

[soggypastry]

[Only cuter, huh? And how about that pink kitten sniffing your boots, Noel? That any cuter than Mew giggling in response to your poking?]

It is, generally. [A pause, and a frown. You know Serah, but how...] You got a name?

/sneaks in here, don't mind her

[chasingstorms]

Noel!

[A shape that's familiar to Lightning at least bursts into the room, holding what's obviously a pokegear. On his heels there's a flustered trainer, who's still not noticed what's going on in the room just yet.]

Noel! Give it back!

aaaaaaa

[lasthuman]

[Some light surprise on his end as realization dawns, and he shakes his head.]

... you don't know me? You do look different from when I last saw you. You're not the Lightning we're looking for then. We probably went and got lost some--

[And then there's a surprise Sentret. Alert to his partner's distress, he's moving to block it, ready to grab it.]

Ser-- whoa, where you going, little guy?

now why would they mind Serah? :3

[soggypastry]

[There is confusion: How does this guy know Serah is the more prevalent issue, but from what he's saying, there's only one person he could be. Noel, the one who told Serah he'd bring her to Lightning. She's about to ask that, actually, but then Noel the Sentret comes scurrying in, Serah's gear in his mouth. This is an old routine, and Lightning sighs. Normally she'd get up and join this merry chase herself, but she can't right now and instead her Skitty does, thinking this is a game. Watch your feet, Noel; these two are rather rambunctious.]

... Maybe they're secretly pod people?

[chasingstorms]

[The sentret stares up at the stranger for a moment and then neatly tosses the pokegear towards the Skitty. Catch partner! Then he's off like a rocket, that silly tail of his being a great way to get around. Noel the sentret moves really fast when he wants to.]

[Serah, for her part, is ready to let them have their way with it for a little while. After all, what's the worst that could happen? Besides, her attention is honestly on other things than her stolen pokegear right now. After all sentret and skitty would get bored with it soon enough.]

Noel?! When did you get here?

rood, serah

[lasthuman]

Just now, since I seem to be missing a lot of things here. ... don't you still need that?

[He nods a head at the wayward Sentret and Skitty.

And a Sentret. Serah. Really. You named him after a Sentret? 8| He doesn't give further chase though unless bidden. Strange monsters she's tamed this time around, though he can't talk, he hasn't let out the monster he's been given since arriving here.]

[encountersbarriers]

[So there's this big guy with chocobo hair who's just walked into the Pokemon center, looking, well, out of place and lost. He rubs a hand against the back of his neck as he looks around, first spotting the Mew and then a very familiar pink-haired lady.]

Lightning?

[A broad grin stretches across his face, and he ambles over, waving a hand.]

Heeeey, Lightning!

[soggypastry]

[The chocobo-hair throws her off, at first. It's been a year since she last saw him and of course things have changed for both of them, but...she knows that voice. She'd know it in a crowd no matter how much he changes or how much time passes. So it's with a small amount of actual relief that she looks up, arms crossing over her chest as she stares him down, Mew floating over to peer at his face and tug at his hair. Who you be, new person?]

About time you showed up.

[encountersbarriers]

[He gets distracted by Mew briefly, lifting a hand to poke at its belly; he makes no gestures to make it stop playing with his hair though. Snow just grins good-naturedly before turning his attention back to Lightning.]

What, you don't see me in... [Two years? Three years? Kind of hard to tell these days, what with all that time travel...] You don't see me in a couple of years, and that's how you greet me?

[He walks a little closer, resting his hands on the side of the bed.]

Can't say I'm used to seeing you down and out like this though.

[He looks like he wants to give her a hug, but... Well. It's Lightning. Stuck in bed or not, that doesn't change the fact that she's Lightning Farron and has socked in him in the face a few times.]

You been alright?

[soggypastry]

[Since Snow doesn't try to move it away, Mew continues to tug on his hair as he walks over, looking much like a bright pink ponytail attached to his already messy hair. When he puts his hands on Lightning's bed, the woman in question looks up and remembers just how much she hates the height difference between them. Really...is it just her or has he gotten taller somehow? If it's been a couple of years for him, she wouldn't be all that surprised.]

Considering you disappeared on me a year ago? Yeah, that's how I greet you.

[She looks like she wants to do more than just give him stern looks and half-lectures, but he's out of reach and she can't really sock him from here. That and she...almost doesn't want to. Almost. She really has missed him.]

If alright means being pinned under a tree during a storm that put Bodhum's entire storm season to shame in just under fifteen minutes two weeks ago, then yes, I'm alright. It could have been worse.

[A lot worse. So she sighs, lowering her hands into her lap and shaking her head. No use fretting over it now.]

[encountersbarriers]

Huh?

[A year? And she's been here that long? But isn't she supposed to be in Valhalla? Come to think of it, can she even leave the place? Is he dreaming again?

Her statements doesn't register properly in his brain, and for a moment, he just stares at her, confused. Snow hasn't seen Lightning since Cocoon fell--aside from in his dreams, at least--but here she is saying that he disappeared on her. There's also the matter of the weird animals(?) in the room, and the fact that he doesn't recognize the place at all.

It hadn't bothered him at first to be in a totally alien place. It became something of the norm when you jump from time to time, place to place, but having Lightning here just throws... everything out of whack.]

Hey, Light? Where are we?

[soggypastry]

[She's about to ask if he's feeling alright, since that's a bit much for even his normal level of "in one ear, out the other" listening she grew accustomed to, but even if he doesn't remember this place, he's honestly confused and she can't leave him like that. Not after all this time.]

Olivine City, Johto. It's nowhere on Cocoon or Pulse, it's...it's a whole other world, Snow. I've been here for almost two years.

[encountersbarriers]

[He straightens back up and whistles low. Snow takes a slow turn around the room before ending right back where he started. He crosses his arms across his chest and shakes his head lightly, disbelieving.

Alright, well, where does he go from here?]

And how did we end up here? Fal'Cie magic? Etro?

[soggypastry]

[For starters, he could sit down while Mew is distracted. If he want all the details, Lightning will give them to him, but it's a lot to process standing up.]

No one knows yet, but I doubt it had anything to do with anything from our world. There are people from dozens of worlds here, not just Cocoon or Pulse. There's no way the Fal'Cie could have done this.

[At least, she hopes not. The Cocoon Fal'Cie were all gone, last she knew, and the Pulse ones generally left them alone. If they did have something to do with this...well. It wouldn't be pretty.]

And before you ask, no one knows a way back, either. People just appear and disappear at random, with no warning for either event. You and Hope have done it twice already, no matter how close an eye I kept on you.

[And that...well. It should be obvious that's still a sore point with her. Can't even keep her own family together anymore.]

[restardom]

[ whoa um why is there SUDDENLY A PINK THING.

Sorry, Lightning, Rise hasn't spotted you yet, backstepping and toppling over in surprise. ]

Whoa?!

[soggypastry]

[Mew just giggles, paws in front of its mouth as it floats over Rise's head while Lightning...well. She just gets the best surprise she could have had all month. She knows that voice. Fal'Cie, she knows that voice!]

Rise!

[Yes, she's attempting to get out of bed for you, littlest sis. She's missed you so much she's willing to risk busting her broken ankle up further. Please stop her. And hug her.]

[restardom]

Huh-- Light?

[ she gives the Mew no more thought, scrambling over to the bed - why is Lightning in bed, is she sick, is she hurt - and opting on a tackle hug to keep her there. ]

Light!!!

[soggypastry]

[The good news, Light's arms are open in the split second she has before that hug. The bad news, that's a tackle hug--ow, Rise, her ribs are tender--not that she cares because she's hugging back so tight, tight enough that if Johto tries and rips Rise away again, it'll take them both if she has her way. No signs of letting go, either.]

You're back.

[It's said around a lump in her throat, one that makes it sound like she's about to cry or something. And maybe she is; tears of relief and happiness, anyway.]

[restardom]

... Yeah.

[ she's already tearing up and burrowing into Lightning's embrace like if she curls up enough, she's safe there. ] I really, really missed you.

[soggypastry]

I missed you too. It's gotten too quiet around here without you.

[Oh, fal'Cie, Rise, don't you start crying on her. Then she'll start actually crying and it'll be a mess and and and...getting hugged. So getting hugged and she's never, ever, ever letting you go. Ever. You burrow in there and you'll be safe from all this chaos, dear. Big sis is here.]

[restardom]

That's no good. [ muffled, but she's already curling comfortably, like she's a little girl. ] You're already stuck in bed when I'm not here.

[soggypastry]

[Lighting's just shifting a bit so she can be sure Rise doesn't fall suddenly, but that curling up? Is mutual. That is indeed Lightning's cheek on your head, littlest sis. You're not going anywhere.]

Think that would have happened even if you were here. The weather's still crazy in this place.