The CELESTIC Team (PLOT)

Romeo's wings fluttered as he neared the ground, Juliet wrapped tightly in his arms. They had been flying for so long, they had been forced to work together to stay afloat. Ever since the epidemic hit, they had felt more comfortable in the air- it felt safer, like they were the only two left in the entire world. But every once in a while they were forced to land. Romeo hated those times. The world itself no longer seemed familiar to him, the very ground was foreign. For a small little bug who had never been away from home, this monstrous world was far too large.

Night had already fallen as they touched down, the sun having set behind the mountains, the moon just beginning to rise. Shadows danced across the few buildings in the town, enlarging and creating different shapes. A faint mist, just beginning to form, also served to restrict vision. Romeo had a sinking feeling about this place, but he knew that the two of them could go no farther that night. "Romeo... I don't like this place..." Hearing Juliet confirm his premonition gave him cause to shudder, but he refused to let his nervousness reach his face. "It'll be fine my love." He knew it would be. He would protect Juliet whatever the danger, whatever the cost.

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Juliet was not enjoying her adventure. It seemed like they had not had a proper place to rest in years. Every time they landed, they were forced back into the air soon after by some monster or other, and it was really beginning to show on her psyche. This dark, forsaken ghost-town was unsettling, especially with the only real light coming from Romeo's tail. She was uncomfortable in this sort of situation. Voicing her concern, she hugged Romeo a little closer. His reassurance made her feel a bit better, but there was still a nagging sense of dread at the back of her mind.

Looking around, she tried to get a feel for what the town consisted of. She could see the shape of a few buildings, with random silhouettes of different shapes strewn around the roads. What looked like a bike laying on its side under a tree. A table upside down in the road. A box of some sort against a house. People had probably left in a hurry, she thought, and left whatever they were using or carrying at the time on the ground. The various shadows actually seemed to make the town seem even emptier, though she couldn't seem to place her finger on why that would be worse than the alternative. The cool mist that was beginning to form was welcome after the long, warm day of travel, but she still could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Like eyes were watching her from somewhere.

Staying close to Romeo, they began to enter the town. The moving light on Romeo's tail only served to make the shadows dance even more wildly. Once, she thought she saw something move out of the corner of her eye, and she jumped, letting out a little squeak. The "something" turned out to be a tree branch, however, when Romeo's light was shone on it. Don't let this place get the best of you... She thought to herself, gripping Romeo's arm tighter. He'll keep you safe.

The thing that hit him the most was the silence.

These streets used to be alive with the chatter of people and pokemon underfoot. Even this late there would be lights being turned on and the aroma of cooking meals wafting from homes. The town was never busy like the cities where he had traveled for contests but it had been home, warm and cozy with everyone sticking together.

Now there was just the melancholy whistle of wind around the empty buildings. The detritus of everyday life lay out in the streets like grave offerings at the foot of tombstone houses, memorials for the normal lives that once were lived here.

One wooden door of the shrine hung off its hinges, the cavern behind crudely barricaded with the other.
Paris inclined his head towards the ancient human construction as he passed. It felt like disrespect to the legendary pokemon to whom the shrine had been dedicated but he had needed the door to keep his hoarded food safe. The cave with its ancient paintings of the pokemon of myth was always cool, meaning he could keep berries and other supplies for a while.

The Paras's claws scratched on the dirt as he scuttled from building to building with the mushrooms on his back barely above the growing mist, keeping his insectile eyes on the shadows and on the sky. Just because things were quiet didn't mean they were safe.
With a bright round berry clutched in one orange claw the bug scurried back across the street towards the house he had once shared with his trainer and Cacturne father. Its coat of bright paint had already begun to chip and fade without maintenance. If his human were still around he would no doubt despair over the state his stately home had gotten into. As it stood it was the most solid building in the town; his castle.

A light flickers in the growing gloom. That was unusual. Paris tensed himself, putting the berry to one side so he could raise both his claws ready for combat. He was so close to being home too.
"Who goes there?" He asks, on the small chance it was someone capable of an answer.

((Sorry for Intruding. Cofagrigus is unable to reach a computer today, please skip him this cycle))

Juliet's feelings of being watched were getting worse. A light wind had picked up, whistling around the ghost town, giving the shadows a false voice. She could feel her skin prickling with every high-pitched wail that seemed to come from nowhere. Then came the scratching.

She could hear it coming from the darkness, and moving somewhat fast. An almost... scuttling sound. It was probably some branch being blown against the side of a building or something, but she couldn't shake the feeling of there being something out there. "Romeo... She whispered, not daring to speak any louder. Something was out there, she could feel it.

Romeo seemed to know too. He clenched her hand tightly in his own, but kept his pace in the direction he was going, and she followed him. She trusted him to know what to do, if anything went wrong, after all.

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Juliet wasn't just panicking this time, Romeo knew that. Something was for sure out there, and it was getting closer. He tried to keep his pace, to not speak so as to not allow her to hear the panic in his own voice. He didn't want her to get worried, of course. But when the voice spoke out, he stopped cold. "Who goes there?"

Juliet let out a yelp, and Romeo couldn't blame her for it. Something was here, something had found them, and something seemed to be very territorial. Slowing turning to face his back towards the sound of the voice, Romeo turned his head back. "We are but... Weary travelers." Even his voice was slow. He didn't want to cause whatever was out in the darkness to get surprised by anything. Well, not until Romeo could see him.

Before anyone else could make a move or speak, Romeo used his Flash, his tail flaring brightly to illuminate the area for a short moment. Eyes focused as they were, he was only able to see a small Paras sitting near the roadway, before the darkness returned and his eyes were forced to readjust. Covered once more by darkness, Romeo sighed heavily in relief, and Juliet seemed to relax as well. He had seen Paras's before, in the contests back home. He had never competed against one, but he knew they weren't the best of fighters. They didn't seem to be in any immediate danger from this one at least.

"I apologize for that friend. These times make a man cautious when he has someone to protect." He turned his tail back away from the Paras so as not to seem aggressive. He didn't think he blinded the poor thing, but he still didn't want it getting to angry at him for making it so bright so fast.

((OOC: You can have the flash affect Paris in any way you want. c: It can temporarily blind him, it can let him get a glance of Juliet, he could just flat out turn away, etc. Your choice.))

The mist curls around his feet and the shadows in it move, proving themselves to be something after all.
The small bug type holds himself braced, ready to use his spore based moves if it turns to attack.
"We are but... Weary travelers." An unfamiliar voice says slowly and Paris lowers his claws.
Living pokemon, no doubt hungry, tired and lost in the ghost town Celestic has become.
What kind of count would he be if he did not offer shelter to these poor souls?
He is about to extend a claw of friendship when a bright light dazzles his many small eyes. He covers them with his claw to avoid being blinded but his eyes are still left stinging and covered in why spots.
"I apologize for that friend. These times make a man cautious when he has someone to protect." The voice says again, the pokemon in question now rendered an unintelligible blob for some time afterwards.

Paris rubs one round blue eye with the back of his claw.
"If your intention was to near blind me you've succeeded admirably." Paris tries not to use too snappish a tone. "I cannot blame a man for being wary in such times but if that was not your intention a word of warning would not have gone amiss."
He picks up his berry again and takes a bite. The cool fluid helps to restore his sight as well as fill his stomach. The mushrooms on his back itched, a sure indicator that trouble would not be far behind.
"I am Count Paris, pleased to meet your acquaintance." He draws himself up on his rearmost legs and bends a claw over his underbelly in a bow.
"It is not safe to be talking in the open at this hours. I have shelter not too far from here, if you are in need of a place to spend the night." Paris consuls.
He looks from side to side. The shadows left by the sinking sun are becoming decidedly darker. The time for talking was long passed. This was the time when the Zubat struck by the infection liked to come out and feed in a manner decidedly sinister.
If he had doubts about these stranger's intentions they would have to be addressed inside.

A shadow moved across ground an inky blot standing out from the omnipresent whiteness of the mist. A town lay ahead, wrapped tightly in an envelope of stone. It was cold, the damp saturating, penetrating. The shadow was driven forward, primal urges pulling it inexplicably towards civilisation. "Cofa Hungry..." A low rumble rose from the umbraculo. A warmth lay ahead, one, two... four meals, ahead. Four foods, four meats, four ways to end the gnawing at his empty belly. The shadow narrowed, and darted forward.

It entered the town, merging with the lack of light cast by the cliffs, the rotting buildings. It heard the voices ahead, talking, worrying, fretting over life, love. Meaningless babble from a meal unprepared. The shadow rose from the ground, Gold glinting in the dying light, eyes shining red, the only outward sign of his infection masked by a simple fact, the eyes of all his species shown as such. Behind the Volbeat the Cofagrigus rose, before collapsing backwards against a wall with a resounding crash of metal on stone. Spectral arms raised, and slowly rose the coffin back up, to lean canted against the wall. A voice issued forth, straining with the effort of speaking clearly, "Pl-please help Cofa. Cofa hungry, so hungry. Not eat in weeks. Am... am weak.

Romeo grimaced slightly. He was unsure of which was worse: That he had indeed nearly blinded the poor fellow, or the fact that he didn't seem to be too angry about it. Guilt panged at him, and he averted his eyes so as to not be looking directly at the stranger. Brightening his tail slightly, he grew the circle of pulsing light enough so that the survivors could all see each other, if barely. Romeo was honestly surprised at the fellow's rather proper behavior. It had been so long since he or Juliet had found anyone of quite such a... polite demeanor. Because of this, his introduction as a count went unsurprising.

Bending his back in a bow of his own- though slightly deeper than the one given to him, Romeo introduced himself. "I am Romeo." Raising himself back up, he put his outstretched arm around his companion's shoulder. "And this is Juliet."

I have shelter not too far from here, if you are in need of a place to spend the night.

Shelter... The word bounced around Romeo's head like a ball. Just hearing the word made him more painfully aware of how tired and sore his entire body felt. Yes. Shelter would do nicely.

"I believe that that would be most agreeable. Thank you for your hospitali-"

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Juliet's ears twitched slightly at the Paras's name. It sounded familiar, and tweaked something in the back of her mind, but she could not put her finger on it. Perhaps she had met him before, in contest training perhaps? If she had the chance, she would confront him later. His mention of shelter though... She sighed heavily at the thought. Somewhere protected, away from the elements. Somewhere safe. How long had it been since she and Romeo had been somewhere safe? Ages, for sure.

Listening to Romeo's response, she couldn't help but nod. A shelter sounded perfect. His acceptance of Paris's hospitality was interrupted however, by the ungodly crashing sound of something heavy falling on the stone behind them. Whipping herself around, Juliet tried to see what it was. Eyes widening, she realized that, whatever it was, it was alive. God... It got so close to us without us even noticing... Barely suppressing her urge to shudder, Juliet wrapped her arms around Romeo's waist. Looking into his eyes, she was calmed by what she found. Romeo had a plan. She could tell.

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Romeo had no plan.

This... creature, was much larger in size than any of the gathered bugs. He had never seen a pokemon like this before, but in the limited light, he could make out a body that reminded him all too much of a coffin. Straining his eyes, he realized with difficulty that there seemed to be shadows dancing around the over-sized box as well. The glowing red eyes didn't help calm Romeo's mind either. Something about this pokemon gave Romeo the chills. He caught himself on the urge to flee immediately, to run away from whatever this spooky thing was. No. He had to be brave for Juliet. They could go no farther this night, and needed the shelter Paris had offered.

Leading Juliet by the waist, Romeo backed them both up slowly, never taking his eyes off... "Cofa". Its voice seemed to struggle to find words, to speak clearly. And it talked in the third person. This discovery did calm Romeo, if only barely. This pokemon, perhaps, was not too bright. Perhaps it was just looking for food. Turning his head slightly, so as not to take his eyes away from the creature, Romeo addressed Paris.

"You think you have anything this guy can eat?" Romeo hoped this creature ate berries. If not... Thinking about the alternative, he was unable to suppress a small shudder. Please eat berries...

The small bug type winced. He couldn't see anything more than hints of shadow in the curls of white mist, let alone which one was addressing him.
"I am Romeo and this is Juliet." The stranger introduces himself and, presumably, a companion.
"I once knew a most amiable lady by that name." Paris muses as he rubs his eye mechanically.
His sight is still slow in returning.
I believe that that would be most agreeable. Thank you for your hospitali-"
The voice falters as another sound rumbles across the alleyway.
"Pl-please help Cofa. Cofa hungry, so hungry. Not eat in weeks. Am... am weak.
if Paris had fur it would be standing on end, instead his claws click and mushrooms growing on his back start to release spores. They surround his body in a shimmering cloud, ready to be released if this turns out to be a threat.
Stand behind me." He orders in a tone of command as he approaches the sound and grips the bitten Oran berry in claw.
Turning towards the noise he offers a swift prayer that the pokemon merely sounds dangerous.
"Take this."
He tosses it up in a lazy arc towards the source of the noise, prepared to attack if needed.

The red insect was the first to respond, when he hesitatingly asked, "You think you have anything this guy can eat?" The parasitic lobster was next, as it tossed an Oran berry forward, "Take this." The coffin's eyes narrowed as a shimmering cloud of spores rolled off the creature. "Why you ready for fight? Cofa no fight. Just... hungry, weak. Cofa safe."

A new voice intruded from the shadows, "I come in peace with no ill will toward anyone here." A small venonat strode forth, confidently stopping to pick up the berry, and offered it to the Harbinger, hand outstretched. It was... Two meters... So close, Cofa can feed, Cofa can eat... Shadowy hands reached out, near intangible in the darkness of the town, and... hesitated. A thought clicked through the mind of the undead, If wait, can eat more. Trick rest of them, eat all. Three of the four shadows retracted, melting back into the gold and lapis. A single hand moved forward, and  the berry was lifted, and pulled to the Undead's side. A dull thunk issued from the Harb, and the edge of the coffin opened a scant few centimeters. The berry disappeared inside, and with a boom, the lid slammed shut again. A muffled crunch was heard as the berry disappeared.

"Cofa thank, was weak, not well. Food help Cofa. Make strong again" Spectral arms touched the ground, and shifted the 78kg ghost upright again. "Why here? Nothing here but death. Why bugs meet here?"

Romeo slowly pushed Juliet slightly behind him, so that he was between her and this... Cofa. The fact that the overgrown Box was several times their size did not serve to ease his discomfort. Behind him, he could hear Paris command them behind him. In a normal situation, Romeo might have scoffed at such an order from someone he had just met. This was no normal situation.

Quickly shuffling so that the Creature was never out of sight, Romeo ushered Juliet behind the Paras. He felt rather rediculous hiding behind someone no larger than he, but the Paras's confidence was admirable. Somewhere at the back of his mind, however, Romeo wondered how well the poor bloke was able to see at this instant.

His concern was quickly forgotten, however, with the introduction of a new voice.

"Oi, friends"

Romeo's eyes widened. He knew that voice. What the Devil... Eyes moving slightly, Romeo caught sight of him. "Mercutio? What are you doing her- No, nevermind." His eyes widened further as he realized how close his old friend was to the Creature. "C-come a little closer over here, so I can see you better, friend." He spoke carefully in an attempt to not anger the Creature. His warning came too late, however. The purple ball of fuzz had picked up the berry Paris had tossed, and was within reach of the Creature. Romeo could see the shadows dart out from around the Box, reaching towards Mercutio. He shut his eyes.

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Juliet couldn't look away. The shadowy arms reached towards the Venonat... then, stopped. Juliet released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Cofa had been reaching for the berry, not for Mercutio. Relief washed over her as her fears began to fade. If Cofa had wanted to attack, he would have already had the perfect opportunity to. She didn't even consider the possibility of his planning or waiting. To her, his difficulty speaking was a sign of relatively low intellegince. Nothing to be afraid of anymore.

Turning slightly, she noticed Romeo, eyes clamped tightly and head turned away. Smiling softly, she nudged him in the shoulder. His eyes jolted open, and he seemed to be visibly surprised by the Venonat's survival. To her own surprise, Romeo did not seem to relax as she had. Oh well. He always was overprotective of her.

When Cofa began to speak, Juliet smiled again. "We're here because it seemed a safe place to stop for the night." Looking around, she realized that they had found more survivors- for that's what she believed they all were, here, than anywhere else. "I'm certainly glad we did!" She added cheerfully. Still, she continued to note Romeo's tightened muscles in his arm. He wasn't relaxing. He wasn't convinced.

((OOC: Edited to fix text colors. Sorry Kaze! ))

"Why you ready for fight? Cofa no fight. Just... hungry, weak. Cofa safe." The massive thing sounds almost hurt and Paris pauses.
The cascade of poisonous spores slows its fall. True the thing was much bigger than any of them and ghost types did not have a good reputation but it hadn't tried to harm them. The fog must just be making him jumpy.
"Oi, friends" Another shape is making its way through the fog. The heavily cloud-like mist clinging to the ground made it difficult to tell which ebb in the flow was something alive and which was just curls of the mist.
"I come in peace with no ill will toward anyone here"
The newcomer introduces himself in an apt fashion before he draws close enough to show his purple furred body and bright pink compound eyes. A Venonat, a species he was familiar with. He gives no name but the pokemon he now recognizes as a Volbeat through the haze of his clearing vision does.
"Mercutio? What are you doing her- No, nevermind." The strangely familiar looking bug mutters.
Without fear the Venonat picks up the tossed berry where it has fallen short (his frazzled vision has not aided his depth perception) and holds it out to the massive metallic box of a ghost type.
The massive thing creaks, something on the lid of what Paris now recognizes as a coffin creeping open. a flicker of shade passes over the gloom as a ghostly hand delicately picks up the berry and retreats back below the lid.
Cofa thank, was weak, not well. Food help Cofa. Make strong again.
Paris breathes a sigh of relief and stops the fall of spores entirely. Whatever 'Cofa' was doing here it didn't seem to wish them harm and he feels a little guilty for doubting another based on their appearance.
"My apologies friend. These are troublesome times."
"Why here? Nothing here but death. Why bugs meet here?"
"We're here because it seemed a safe place to stop for the night." A softer voice speaks up and Paris finds he certainly does remember this one.
Haloed by the flares of his temporary blinding Paris looks over and sees Juliet as radiant as the day he had first seen her.
"I'm certainly glad we did!" With that Paris knows where he had seen the Volbeat before. That was the bug that had caused such a fuss in the contests! No doubt he was just here to try and take advantage of such a tender-hearted lady.
Trying not to let the revelation color his tone Paris turned back to the massive Ghost.
"There is shelter not far from here and I can get more berries. It is safer to rest in a group than alone. I would be honored by both of your company." He says both to the looming ghost and the tiny Venonat beside it.

((OOC: It appears we've got our text colors a bit mixed up Drago ^^;))

"Mercutio? What are you doing her- No, nevermind." Romeo has said to the venonat, just as the shadow hand came out taking the berry from his small hand. The tension in the small furred body was hidden very well as it relaxed. His compound eyes then turning back to the other bug type pokemon, who seemed to relax just as much as he did. Cofa thank, was weak, not well. Food help Cofa. Make strong again.
Mercutio 'grins' then now walking back closer to the other pokemon and his eyes only set to Juliet. Just how he remembered seeing her back in the days of those contests. 

"Why here? Nothing here but death. Why bugs meet here?" about to say why he was here the sweet voice of Juliet rang in first. "We're here because it seemed a safe place to stop for the night." Mercutio waited for her to finish, "I'm certainly glad we did!" The purple fuzz ball walking back looking out into the dark of night his eyes able to filter out a little more of the junk image. "The angel returns to earth to find earth has become Hell, be her wings carry her back to the skies in seek of heaven". "There is shelter not far from here and I can get more berries. It is safer to rest in a group than alone. I would be honored by both of your company. Looking back at the paras. He could have said that he had his own place to stay, were he had stayed before this whole thing but he liked the idea of staying in the group.


"Ah, my friend the honor is with you opening your arms to the company you see before you. Lead on and I shall follow", Mercutio's mandibles click again turning to Romeo. He looked tired and worn from the challenges of the new world but still held that helpless lover look. Or was that still caution about the ghost type. "Even the angels needs protection from those that seek ill, a archangel be sent to protect those who need. How have you been friend?" the venonat walks over offering a hand shake to Romeo. "Earth finally weigh you two down enough to return to her embrace?".

The blue bug began speaking as the coffin lifted into the air, it's bottom a scant few inches above the soil, "We're here because it seemed a safe place to stop for the night, and I'm certainly glad we did!"" The Mushroom spoke next, "My apologies friend. These are troublesome times." The ghost turned, ballanced as a spider between four arms of shadow "Cofa think shoudl not be out here. Night coming. Danger for bugs in the dark." He turned, swaying slightly as he put his back to the creatures. A hand rose and fell, and a crash filled the air as the metal door of a nearby house crumpled from the force of a Psychic attack.

We go inside. Cofa guard door, bugs find way to block it. House safer than outside, has shelter, has walls. The harbinger scuttled forward on it's arms, through the now ruined doorway. Bugs come now. Sun leaving soon. Cofagrigus not dumb, dead things come eat soon. Best to be inside.

"There is shelter not far from here and I can get more berries."

Juliet smiled softly. The word shelter no longer held as much weight as the word berries did. After so much traveling, and after having so much initial fear of Cofa, her stomach felt more empty than it ever had before. Yes. Some berries would go nicely. She was interrupted from turning by Romeo's friend, Mercutio, who had shown up previously.

"Earth finally weigh you two down enough to return to her embrace?".

Juliet couldn't help but laugh softly at this. It was quite poetic, really. A hint of beauty in this tragic world. "Even angels must rest eventually." She said, giving a small curtsy to the Venonat. Turning to follow Paris, she reached her arm back to pull Romeo along with her.

He didn't move.

Confused, Juliet turned around. Romeo was still in the same position he had been for the past few minutes. Something was wrong in his eyes. The way they kept darting back and forth. What was wrong? Was he still afraid of Cofa? Juliet had never seen him like this before. Pulling slightly harder on his arm, she found she was still unable to make him move, or even turn. His eyes never left Cofa.

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This wasn't good.

The Creature's proposal rang in Romeo's ears.

We go inside.

No... never in closed spaces with this thing.

Cofa guard door...

Even worse. Romeo didn't trust this shadowy-box. He couldn't let his guard down. He would protect Juliet. He had to.

Bugs come now.

No. No no no. This wasn't good. This was not good at all.

Cofagrigus not dumb...

There.

That was what worried Romeo the most.

It wasn't enough that this terrifying box was bigger than all the bugs combined... If it was smart enough to trap them all...

Romeo wanted nothing more than to go with Paris. To find his shelter. To eat some berries. But he couldn't turn his back to Cofa. He couldn't follow the Box either. He was stuck. Stuck between the Box and Juliet.

Trapped.

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With a small gasp, Juliet realized what seemed so off with Romeo's face. Staring into his eyes, she began to feel small bits of fear creep back into her, sending a shiver down her spine.

He wasn't blinking.

((OOC: Sorry Kaze! I edited the post to fix the colors.))

The small bug type winced at the colossal crash of the building being smashed open.
"We go inside. Cofa guard door, bugs find way to block it. House safer than outside, has shelter, has walls." The massive ghost intoned.
Perhaps this was not the time to mention they already had shelter, the great coffin-like ghost seemed determined to help them.
"Thank you Cofa." He says politely.
The purple-furred Venonat seems to be good friends with the brutish Volbeat. Reason enough to trust him but not to like him.
The Paras turns back towards the two and sees the color seems to have leached from the Volbeat's face. He waits statue still with shock. He is afraid of something for once. Juliet beside him also looks terrified.
For all his big talk the Volbeat was scared. He couldn't even protect her.
Quietly enough that the Cofagrigus couldn't hear him Paris offers a claw
"I promise to protect you my lady. With my life if need be."
He takes a step towards the opening in the side of the house.

((OOC: Sorry, short post))

"We're here because it seemed a safe place to stop for the night, and I'm certainly glad we did!"" The venonat smiled then just listening to the voice of the sweet juliet was enough to calm his soul. "My apologies friend. These are troublesome times." Mercutio nods his heads though he had not seen many other thoughtful living pokemon around these parts for awhile, any that might have come through durring daylight he must have missed if any. 

The large ghost type then started to move in a very odd way as if a spider was waiting on the inside of the gold and lapis. The venonat watched with part amazement. "Cofa think shoudl not be out here. Night coming. Danger for bugs in the dark." the odd voice rang out as Mercutio was going to correct the statement. Before the door the the near by building blew apart. Mercutio's mandibles clicked a little as if a jaw drop should have happened.

We go inside. Cofa guard door, bugs find way to block it. House safer than outside, has shelter, has walls. His compound eyes watching the ghost type as he seemed to have a good idea there. But something started to feel a little off now, Bugs come now. Sun leaving soon. Cofagrigus not dumb, dead things come eat soon. Best to be inside. The venonat walking started walking toward the doorway that was opened before looking at his other companions.

Romeo seemed frozen as Juliet seemed to also freeze in reaction. He knew that they were close but this was odd even for both of them. Sparring a glance at the paras now. "Thank you Cofa." , did the paras have the same sinking feeling as the rest of them now or was it just Romeo. "I promise to protect you my lady. With my life if need be." The venonat's antenna flick to the words of the paras, before it turned around and started to enter the building. Mercutio was now worried for his friend as he waits for any indication from Romeo or Juliet. His lenses now turn to the gold giant, maybe something was off. 

"You seem large and powerful enough friend to block the door yourself, but maybe your words are true and we should be careful of the pokemon lurking in the dark as all seem to he hiding something." he said then his cheery outlook slipped a little. Moving around the gold and lapis hulk he turns to the paras then his eyes would have carried cation.

The red bug was frozen, unblinking eyes fixated on the Ghost as the front of the house blew apart. Bug knows, bug not trust. Plan not working. The others in the group seemed much more receptive to the coffin's plan, with the fungus moving towards the opening slowly, and the moth striding forward with all the bravado he'd possessed previously. And yet... the ones with wings stood transfixed, unwilling... or unable to move. The harbinger's frame lifted, turning it's body towards the gap and begain to crawl forward into the abandoned ho-

A wave seemed to roll over the undead. Power, strength, and... malevolence, all mixed into an aura of hate so strong that the Coffin physically stumbled in it's motions. It came from two directions, as if some massive storm  had been split and now sought to find itself. From the east came darkness, a sense of superiority and dark hatred rolling in with the rising moon. And from the west, power. Power and a cruel omnipotence, omnipresence, laying down on the land as the shadows from the setting sun. The harbinger shuddered, torn between fear and hunger. "Cofa... need to go... Cofa hungry, so hungry... Bad moon rising tonight, bad things come soon...." The ghost seemed to wither into itself briefly, shadowed arms curling towards it's core. A faint click let loose as the side of the beast unlatched.

Shadowed tendrils rushed forward, wrapping around the face and torso of the Red insect, who was still frozen to the spot. The coffin opened fully as the spectral arms retracted, revealing the macabre contents; Flesh, flesh and bone, bone and flesh. A hollowed depression in the rotting core of the beast. It was into this pit that the red bug, Romeo, was held. The lid slammed shut, a resounding boom echoing through the fog. "Cofa hungry, so very... very hungry... Cofa eat now, Cofa eat then leave..." There was a wet sound now, the sound of shifting flesh and moving bones. The harbinger's red eyes closed, and with a dark squelch, the beast's ribs burst through the front of it, the gold and lapis moving to accommodate the spikes now perforating the internal cavity. A single scream rang out, fading to low moans and pained groans. The harbinger fell forward, melding with the shadows as it struck the ground. Into the distance it fled, away from the hateful auras colliding overhead. The harbinger fled, the living body of Romeo perforated, impaled within the creature, spikes of bone now holding it in place through it's eyes, it's stomach and joints. For the last time, the Ghost spoke up, "Cofa keep you alive for long time, make slow meal. Bug not die yet, spikes not break anything important..."

Above the silent mountains of Sinnoh, where there was once thousands of pokemon squawking, nesting and thriving, there was now... nothing. Nothing but a king who strode over his new domain with a refreshed sense of delight. Though it had been a grueling year of searching and recruiting, Honchkrow could still find peace in the simple pleasures, and that in itself was reward enough to ignite his passions once more. His Harbingers, his wonderful, powerful children were scattered, lost and in some cases, frightfully absent. Where had they all gone? He knew that it would not be easy to find them all -or very quickly for that matter-, but his current situation was bordering on the ludicrous. Even Mandibuzz, his most loyal servant was nowhere to be found...

Still, he was determined to enjoy himself, if only for a moment. Outstretched wings sailed on the wind alone, the entire Sinnoh sky his throne. The last rays of the day clung in a losing battle to his feathers and form, already giving way to the pale blue of night. The moon had already taken her seat, patiently waiting for the haughty sun to finish his lament and die already. The thought amused Honchkrow, procuring a soft chortle beneath his breath, if he'd the need to breathe. It was a metaphor for his own patience, dealing with his own sun. If only the living pokemon would just learn their role and... die already.

But as he mused and soared, a power overtook his senses. One of his children was near, he knew it! Glancing quickly down below, he spied a small town, covered in fog. There. One of his was likely dining there. He banked hard, spiraling down and down into the fog, eager to see which of his beloved Harbingers he'd managed to stumble across. Alas, the fog was far more stubborn on the ground and for a moment, Honchkrow thought to rid himself of it. But a lighter thought stayed his wings; perhaps his Harbinger was hunting? Well, he certainly wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. Folding his wings, he was content to take a stroll through the town. Seeing sights was always a favorite pastime.

He walked around for what seemed a while, finally catching some voices here and there. Interest immediately piqued, he strolled toward them, genuinely curious. Through the fog that had seemed to thicken during his stay, he spotted a few... bugs? He let out a small chuckle, gobsmacked that these inferior things had managed to stay alive in the hell he'd created. Eager to meet these oddities, he continued forward, walking up to them. "Well, well, well!" he began cheerfully, continuing to approach. "How utterly delightful-- I didn't think I'd be able to find low-level fodder such as yourselves anymore. How charming! Tell me, you don't seem like you're running for your lives-- you haven't happened across another creature, have you?" He glanced around; the feeling of power was still there, so whatever Harbinger he'd felt had to still be nearby. But the fog was still very adamant on acting as a blanket over the town, so Honchkrow looked back to the kindling before him. Surely the Harbinger would show itself soon enough; he needed only to be patient, like his moon.

A cold sweat began to break on Romeo's skin. Just the way the Creature moved terrified him. Dragging itself along the ground... Like some sort of moving corpse. Fear still clutched at his heart. He had to keep Juliet safe from this monster. Had to-

"Cofa... need to go... Cofa hungry, so hungry... Bad moon rising tonight, bad things come soon...."

Romeo's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. It was leaving. They would be safe. But what in God's name could be enough to frighten this monstrosity? Romeo pushed the thought away immediately. They would cross that bridge when they came to it. For now, it seemed a small victory just for the Box-ghost to be leaving.

Wait.

Something was wrong. Drawing back slightly at the sound of a latch opening, Romeo's eyes widened. No... Shadows. Tendrils. Hands. He knew it. He knew this thing was a monster. He couldn't run. He couldn't move. Fear locked him into place. At the last moment, he managed to force himself to release Juliet's hand so she would not share his fate. The shadows wrapped around his body, pulling him into the beast's disgusting core. His struggling was futile. He was trapped. Grasping at air, reaching towards his lover, he called out one last time.

"Julie-"

SLAM!

________________________________________________________________________________

Juliet's eyes struggled to stay in their sockets. What... Why... She had barely had time to realize that Romeo was no longer holding on to her than she heard him call out, heard the box slam shot. What was Cofa doing? They had to get to the shel-

Spikes smashed through the front of Cofa's chest, sending tortured screams and squelching sounds from the inside.

Juliet screamed too.

"ROMEO!" She cried, falling to her knees. Before she could move, Cofa had disappeared into shadow, taking Romeo with him.

No...

Tears fell from Juliet's wide-open eyes. No... We... We trusted him... He was going to keep us safe... Romeo had never believed that. Romeo had tried to get them away. She should've listened.

Now she was alone.

Alone...

Head spinning, Juliet fell to the ground, and the world went black.

________________________________________________________________________________

Darkness. All Romeo could see was Darkness. He had fainted when the spikes impaled him, but he still could not see. He could not blink. cold metal penetrated his eye sockets, and various other parts on his body. The pain was immense, but he could not scream. Every ounce of energy in his body had been sucked out. He was well and truly trapped. Being stuck in that God-forsaken box, impaled and dying, he had one final happy thought.

At least Juliet escaped...

((OOC: Juliet has fainted, so she hasn't noticed Honchkrow yet. She may or may not wake up next cycle.))

One moment the massive box seemed to pause apprehensively, the next there was a creak and a sickly sweet smell of dry rot.
Compared to the massive metal box the shadow arms had been lightning fast. Paris had prepared to flee when the darkness had closed around the immobile Volbeat.
He had nothing but contempt for the hot-headed bug type protecting his fiancee but even then he dud not wish harm on the plainly terrified insect.
The shadows close around him and drag the Volbeat back into the rotting meat and splinter bone that lined the coffin before Paris could move.
With a high pitched shriek of alarm the tiny bug type rocked back on his hind legs, waving his pincers as menacingly as he can manage.
Everything happened so fast!
The coffin is enveloped by the mist and away before Juliet can hit the ground.
Swiftly Paris manages to catch her in her fall. The beautiful Illumise has swooned. No doubt she has been too mortified to continue.
"I have made a grave mistake." The Paras says softly to himself as he holds her tenderly in his claws.
"We must flee, quickly!" He turns towards the Venonat.
The mist has high, if they were lucky they could escape to safety before 'Cofa' returned.
"Well, well, well!"
Their luck has not held. A wavering shadow in the dark becomes a large black feathered bird stalking towards them.
"Take my Lady and run, I'll hold it off as long as I can." Paris whispers to the Venonat.
"How utterly delightful-- I didn't think I'd be able to find low-level fodder such as yourselves anymore. How charming! Tell me, you don't seem like you're running for your lives-- you haven't happened across another creature, have you?"
"A cofagrigus..." Paris addresses it cautiously, urging Mercutio onwards with his hind legs as his mushroom start to produce a thick poisoning cloud of spores.

The Venonat having followed the Paras into the building, inside was dark and a little cramped from human items sprawled every where. Though, like the town it's self nothing was in one piece all party dissembled in some way or another. Looking to Paris a little with his compound eyes, questioning both their choice to be in here now. His attention moved quickly to the gold coffin like pokemon as it moved heavy behind them toward the house.
 
It jerked nearly falling over on it's self, about to run over and try and help Cofa in some way. It's Voice and words stopped him though, "Cofa... need to go... Cofa hungry, so hungry... Bad moon rising tonight, bad things come soon...." Mercutio was about to ask what it meant. The words that the coffin pokemon had used along the voice weighted with panicked like tone, but under it intelligence that was hidden on the first encounter. Even the cocky venonat now backed up and became weary of the massive gold and lapis pokemon.
 
A faint click, Mercutio's antenna jolt like being hit by a electric jolt. Ominous shadows move from the inside of the box, only half turned toward the two in the building so only got to see barely inside the coffin. The smell and the view of it, it was something that Mercutio would never forget. 

It had all happened to fast for the venonat to make a move to help and protect his close friend before Romeo was pulled into the abyss of death that was Cofa. 
The lid slams shut just as the venonat get around front of the pokemon, his eyes lighting up in a prismatic display of the coming psybeam toward the undead. "Cofa hungry, so very... very hungry... Cofa eat now, Cofa eat then leave...", the sudden cruel sounds of flesh being torn open. Canceling the attack in mere shock as bones smash through the front of the gold and lapis hints of red adorn the tips, Romeo's blood. The muffled scream of his best friend snapping him back into action, rainbows dance around the lenses of his eyes then as the coffin falls forward causing him to jump back to avoid being smashed himself under the coffins weight. 

Letting the confusion attack go in hopes to hit Cofa now, only hitting the ground where the shadows had embraced and removed them from the attack. Mercutio's pain filled voice cried out then screaming at the betrayer that had played and fooled him into a false hope and security, "You Bastard, you hell spewed creature of death!". Another prismatic psybeam hitting the ground again where the shadow took Romeo away within the coffin still alive. "Juliet!", Mercutio turned himself toward Juliet that was closest to Romeo of the attack. 

He had not even hear her scream, looking over as he saw Paris holding her up as best as he could. Has she fainted from the shock of the unexpected action?. "I have made a grave mistake." Paris said then, Mercutio wasn't sure if he was talking about what just happened or that they were just played like fools for trusting that creature. Feeling like he was now the biggest fool now for letting Cofa get that close to everyone. Romeo was taken, still alive in that hell spawn and Juliet will be heartbroken when she wakes up he knew that for sure.

"We must flee quickly!" now the paras was talking to him now as Mercutio nods his head turning one last look to the gouges in the ground from his rage and fear. The best bet was to try and take cover in the building that Cofa had blown a hole into, though maybe not the greatest of idea by this point due to the hole in the wall. It would take to much time and effort to plug it back up, with one less friend and Juliet out of it it leaves only Paris and himself. Or so he had thought it was just the two of them. 

"Well, well, well" a forbidding voice emerging from the mists as a dark shape starts to take form in front of the pair. "How utterly delightful-- I didn't think I'd be able to find low-level fodder such as yourselves anymore. How charming! Tell me, you don't seem like you're running for your lives-- you haven't happened across another creature, have you?".

This pokemon wasn't going to fool him again this was a threat no mistaking this pokemon. From the black oily looking feathers to the grinning like expression of the wicked beak, red pricing eyes also embedded on the pokemon's face. Mercutio felt small and weak before this great black bird suddenly, wanting to fall into the shadows that took Romeo and just leave.

"Take my Lady and run, I'll hold it off as long as I can." Mercutio looked toward Paris then as he pushed Juliet's limp form into his small stubby fore paws. Paris's voice then covering the change of hand, " A cofagrigus...". Mercutio's antenna flicker again as he had not even heard the question from the bird only the answer from his only companion. Was this how Romeo had felt, frozen in fear. No, Mercutio wasn't going to die here not now. 

Taking Juliet into a better grasp in his fore paws backing deeper into the building knowing not to give his back to this undead creature. Mercutio looked around then a panic sliding over him then, the building it was a trap. The hole was the only way into this building, the doors was bolted shut by the humans that had made this their last stand. Had cofagrigus planned this before hand, 'No get a hold of yourself look around there has to be another way out of here' he had to protect Juliet looking around now frantic. 

A stair case to the upper floor was lined across the far wall, maybe they could use it to get away from the threat that cloaks the black bird. Nudging Paris a little hinting toward the stair well, if they are lucky they can use the rooftops to jump to another more secure location. If they were unlucky it would lead to another dead end, and they would see why birds eat bugs soon enough.

The prey before Honchkrow acted accordingly; one had even fainted before he could see them clearly through the fog. Delightful. He glanced at each eagerly, a bounce in his step and movements. They were all bugs, as he'd first thought, and what surprised him more was that they lackde a chaperone of sorts. Such low-level pokemon without a guardian to fend off the hordes of his children? He would have felt insulted if he weren't so giddy at the thought of hearing fresh screams pierce the air. They squirmed beneath his crimson gaze, their scents dripped fear at the sight of his greasy feathered pelt. Yes... this was how he was to be seen, to be addressed.

With quiet, screaming fear.

Though the paras had mentioned something to the venonat about taking the limp illumise, the former sought to actually answer Honchkrow's question, which was a pleasant surprise. " A cofagrigus..." The raven quirked his head, not expecting that answer in particular. Cofagrigus? All the way out here? Honchkrow hadn't had much time with the Iron Maiden fiend, but he knew that Cofagrigus should have at least begun to hunt. Looking about, still not seeing any signs of the terrifying ghoul, Honchkrow looked back down to the paras that had addressed him, even as the little venonat sought to go deeper into what looked like a hideous trap.

"Really? How odd-- he should have killed you by now," he commented casually, glancing around once more before finally studying the insect before him. How astounding that they were still so... healthy. "Well, I suppose he's waiting for something. It would be rude to encroach on his hunt, so I'll just wait to see what he has in store for you..." Honchkrow's eyes widened a little as he realized he hadn't even gotten any of their names-- vermin had names, yes? "Dear me, forgive my rudeness; what were your names? It's been so long since I've conversed with... living... that I completely forgot proper protocol. Embarrassing, really. Venonat, why don't you share your and your unfortunate friend's names first, since you seem so disinterested in the conversation?" He extended a wing, as if to further invite them closer. "After all, you'll likely just get yourself killed in there."

[[Forgive the insultingly sub par post... I am not feeling well.]]

((That's what I get for not writing this post on notepad first... Wrote up a dream sequence for Juliet, then accidentally closed the browser. So... Juliet is still unconscious, so skip please. Sorry!))