Shift

#16

"Ugh. When you two are done y'ur cuddlin', we have a pressing issue that needs dealin'." A larger mouse Pokemon scowled to the two, a constant frown on her face. This iteration was much larger, and far more powerful, a Raichu. She had a bandana tied over her head, and numerous ornaments hung from her frilly ears. Across her body was a weathered belt which hung amoung other things, a miniature cutlass of black metal and a flask.

All in all, she seemed quite fearsome.

The Raichu led the charge up the steps of the museum, and slammed through the door only to be overcome with a terrible sense of disorientation. While the outside world was falling apart, inside the museum it was clearly already broken. Everything inside seemed frozen in place, even a guard by the door who was currently defying gravity by remaining in a pose somewhere between getting out of his chair and fully standing.

The Raichu muttered something under her breath and removed her cutlass to poke a utterly massive vase that hung in the air, tipped over off it's stand. The vase rose upward as easily as a balloon on the point of the blade, and stayed frozen at it's new height when she removed the force.

Apparently they had time to trip the alarm before this area had been stuck, as it echoed loudly from further in the building. Unfortunately, the large metal gates that sealed this area off from the rest of the museum had already descended and locked, which meant our heroes couldn't easily go investigate...

<big>New area effect: Characters don't "shift" while in the lobby of the museum!

New area effect: Broken physics while in the lobby of the museum! </big>

#17

"Gerroff me!" the stuffed panther said, pushing her stuffing filled claws against the mage ineffectually. "And I have a name you know!"

The flash came again, this time dropping a bright red Dragon with bright green eyes next to the mage, who stared at the museum, swished her tail and snorted "No chance in hell am I going in there, besides, I won't fit" she said, before turning around and opening her wings to fly off.

Jent · #18

"We all have names miss, not just you," Vertumnus sighing as he straightened his jacket. "My friends, seems we might get to see the curator to this fine establishment."

Nowhere near desperate in flight, the beige mage strolled up the steps to the chaotic museum, eyes taking passing glimpses of the surroundings for his imagination to foster in. At the door, the man brushed back his autumn faded hair to the side as he entered. "Seems relatively peaceful-" he commented before recognizing the unraveling situation the Raichu assisted in.

"inside. So, any bright ideas?"

#19

Before the Dragon could do as she threatened and leave, without responding to the mages comment other than a derisive snort, another flash came. This time the flash dropped a black, human sized cocoon on the ground that bounced into the entrance of the museum. The cocoon pulsed as though it had a heartbeat, but other than that didn't appear to be moving.

#20

"Arr vent." The Raichu answered, in response to the mage's aggravatingly sarcastic question. She pointed with her blade at a fair sized grate near the ceiling of an area called "The Information Center".

It was far beyond either of their reach, but if they could get to it the Raichu could definitely fit. The mage might even too, if it squished up enough.

"Hum. 'aybe we can stack against that." She indicated at the newly arrived cocoon.

Jent · #21

"Then we will need some muscle," Vertumnus noted, checking back at the large cocoon behind them. "That? Yes, but that might be of use later. Homunculi?"

Around the man, glowing balls of light radiated outward, forming into six solid illusions of the caster. The apparitions obeyed their master without question, with three of them acting as a human step-ladder beneath the air vent. Gesturing at the cocoon, the remainder went about to carry it towards their new exit. "Might as well bring it along, I always enjoy the rebirth of new life," he informed the Raichu. "Ladies first."

#22

The cocoon simply stayed as stock still as a cocoon could be when the solid illusions approached it, other than the pulsing it exhibited.

Once picked up though, the creature inside the cocoon stirred briefly before settling back down into stillness.

#23

"Or..." The Raichu added, now balancing the frozen guard upside down on the point of her finger. "Or, whatever is in 'ere bursts out and eats our brains."

She left the guard hanging in the air, and walked over to the human ladder.

"Food for 'ought." She concluded, bounding up the "ladder" to face the grate. The Raichu let out a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her cheeks began to glow a dull blue, and she raised her arms, slowly pulling back.

There was an odd screech... but ultimately nothing.

She frowned, snapping her eyes open and looking furious. Dissatisfied, she tried her odd little meditation again, cheeks now taking on a more dazzling color. After five minutes of this, anyone with a keen eye would notice her feet had left contact with the ladder, and she hung suspended in the air of her own will.

The screeching intensified, and with a terrible CRUNCH, all four corners of the grate crumpled outward. The Raichu dropped, losing her concentration, and smirked at the damage. The vent was now open, a jagged half ball of metal dangling from one corner.

She hopped in.

#24

The cocoon that was touched by the obedient homunculi stirred before they'd even managed to get halfway across the room. A cracking sound could be heard, followed by the sight of an actual crack across the top of the thing.

It stopped pulsing as the crack widened enough for the new life form within to arise.

The creature that hoisted itself out of the fluid sac in the cocoon was of a basic humanoid shape, however she was entirely covered in black chitinous armour. Even the hair that fell down her back were actually strands of chitin, whilst down said back two rows of backwards pointing spines ran from shoulder to waist. Her hands sported three clawed digits, whilst on the side of her arm from wrist to elbow ran smaller spikes, the point of the elbow itself not spared this fashion statement. The creature had a mostly humanoid face though, well, not counting the fangs that had replaced omnivorous teeth.

When she went to pull herself out she'd also reveal a segmented tail with a point like that of a scorpion, though far more prehensile.

Her legs had undergone a similar transformation to her arms, with half the feet becoming claws. This Swix put a hand against the wall the wall to steady herself, heaved, and then threw up a long stream of fluid that had until now been keeping her alive.

The rebirth of new life had just happened.

Jent · #25

"BeÃ„Âtum diem nÃ„ÂtÃ„Âlem!"

Applauding the rebirth, the mage clamored in a booming roar as the new Swix entering the world, whilst the duplicates gave nauseated pleas in their quick apprentice. "SuÃ„Âve tÃ„â€œ cognÃ…Âscere est!" Vertumnus squealed, bounding off to greet the alien being.

"Why, what a miraculous form you turned out. GrÃ„ÂtulÃ„ÂtiÃ…Â!" he said smiling. "Now, why don't we go on through our adventure?" Pointing to the air vent, a fine petrichor mist enshrouded the mage as he waited to walk along with her.

#26

The new life form looked up after all the liquid had been removed, to an apparently very enthusiastic audience.

Swix stared at Vertumnus, who appeared to be the leader here until he walked over to her, when she looked down at her clawed hands and quietly muttered "Miraculous... "

The transformed creature then nodded when the man suggested carrying on with their adventure and walked over to the air vent herself. Her memory up until emerging from the cocoon was a bit... hazy

Jent · #27

The man always enjoyed a fair swing in change. Trailing after the silky alien, Vertumnus comfortably thought of the small band he joined. With the three of them, he doubt anything could stop them.

With a simple nod, the remaining homunculi disappear as he went through the air vent behind Swix.

#28

The transformed Swix follows behind the Raichu, not entirely why they needed to go in here but doing it anyway.

#29

The Raichu dashed ahead, leaving her companions behind. They could sit on their hands as much as they wanted, but she for one was eager to get to the bottom of this and return to her ship. The air vent curved and bent, eventually leading to a long stretch with another grate at the end. Confidently, she picked up speed and tackled into it, sending it flying and herself spinning into the room.

It was a hallway, with large advertisements for the "ancient world" exhibition ahead. Behind her she could see the other side of the sealed lobby door, though there didn't seem to be a way to raise it. Her companions would have to take the vent like her.

The Raichu started walking down the curved hall towards this so called "ancient world". It seemed to be the only way deeper into the museum, and it was entirely possible they would have to wander through several exhibits before they found a solid lead. The Raichu was wondering when and if the other two would arrive when a familiar and dreadful flash stole her away.

In the Raichu's place was something that looked like it belonged in a museum, just not smack in the middle of one of it's hallways. It was the full skeleton of a Pikachu, assembled so it stood in a neutral pose on a thick slab of what appeared to be ornate black rock. Red lettering spelled out a simple description for any passing viewer, as it waited for the others to come by.

"Coolpikaaa. Failed little interesting one."

New area effect: Shifting is back on!

Jent · #30

The Illusionist frowned as the rodent scampered ahead of them. Plopping down to the floor, Vertumnus gave the alien woman a subtle smile as he ventured forth. "Shame the Raichu cannot spend some time to enjoy the scenery, I do enjoy the lovely coating on the walls," the man spoke aloud.

Seeing no sign of the pokemon so far, Vertumnus quicken his step as he bounded through the winding passage. "She couldn't have gone far-oh my world!" Vertumnus gasped, face twitching upon the sight of the skeleton creature, all in the process of the shifting light.

"Woe is you, little rat," came a sardonic toast. The women who replaced the beige man tugged on the collar pf her violet cloak. Kneeling, with the silken trouser ends draping the floor, she leaned forward to examine the subject. "Perhaps the next life would suit you better, no?" Munthukh pondered, turning around to leave the inanimate stature alone as she explored further along.