route_1065 | This Place is not Safe [Forward Dated to October 30th]

Entry tags:

This Place is not Safe [Forward Dated to October 30th]

Who:

newfrance,

of_france,

broken_tool,

usedfoxhost*,

originofawesome
Where: Cherrygrove City → Route 30 → Route 31 → Violet City
When: October 30 after lunch
Summary: "We're leaving. Now."
Rating: PG; rating may go up to PG-13
Log:

The music hadn't let him sleep the night before. France had lain awake, twitchy and uncertain, unable to calm himself enough to slip even into a light doze. Now, as the sun (was there a sun in Hell?) had risen, he could see the people, the town, the buildings had... changed.

Blocky.

Pixelated.

Wrong.

He had gone to the Mart to pick up food and drink, but it had been in the same condition, and, when he opened his bag, it had been full of mysterious candies that were completely uniform. And something was wrong with Marianne. She had returned to her Pokeball--something that had not happened since he first let her out when he arrived--and would not reappear.

Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong -

The Pokemon Center was the same 2D appearance as earlier when France returned. Glancing around, France reached down and picked up Canada before nodding towards the door.

"We're leaving. Now."

[OOC: Due to hiatus, Naruto-mun has given Haku-mun permission to god-mod Naruto.]

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Not only was the music terrible (and creepy as fuck), it wouldn't stop playing. Needless to say, he didn't get much sleep, tossing and turning until pure exhaustion allowed him a few moments.

When he woke in the morning to that God awful music, everything had suddenly become...pixelated. There was something was terribly wrong with his eyes and now he was panicking he really needed his eyes God why--

Then it occurred to him that he may have fallen asleep playing video games (something he decided he may need to swear off for awhile if it induced such insane dreams).

Prussia stood up, feeling a sense of vertigo the longer he looked around. Where...WHERE WAS GILBIRD? Why wasn't she coming out of the Pokeball? Fortunately, France cut through his panic long enough for him to gain a sense of composure, trying to ignore the fact that this definitely wasn't a dream, and they were seriously fucked.

His military training took over, keeping him composed as he hoisted his bag, fingering Gilbird's Pokeball uneasily.

"France, Haku, let's go."

Never had Haku really slept deeply, the simplest of things that could spell trouble more than enough to wake him and get him to move. The music certainly hadn't helped, usually it was somewhat soothing, but something about the current choice just... it really sent a shiver down his spine the longer he truly listened to it.

A soft squeak escaped from him as he heard his name, wriggling about to sit up and rub his eyes to try and get the sleep out of them. The sight of the world at large got him to pause, what was this mess? He'd never seen anything like this by any means and it was horribly unnerving to him, though he scrambled to his feet, grabbing his bag and looking about for Akemi, Aoi, and Akira. Though, not finding them but the Pokeballs in their spots got a rather confused frown. They hadn't wished to go into their balls before, so why now?

For the time being he wouldn't question it, quickly stuffing the balls in one of the pockets of his bag and looking towards the older men for what was going on and where they were going. Where they would lead, he'd gladly follow without question right now.

Canada has no idea what is going on. At all. He doesn't know what video games are, so he has no idea what this landscape is. The word 'pixelated' isn't even something he can comprehend. He'd actually made it through the night okay- he'd been very, very tired from the day before, and sleepy children were hard to keep awake. He'd gone to bed with his head on Sedna's squishy tummy, and Maple the Rattata asleep on his feet. While the little rat pokemon wasn't entirely ready to trust most of this party, he'd grown to like the little boy who feeds him, and was gradually working his way into the actual cuddle pile.

So it was quite a surprise to Canada when he woke up and found that both his pet and his beloved nature spirit were missing. First reaction? Burst into tears. Upon discovering they were in their pokeballs, he immediately calmed down, but the music was starting to get to him now that he was awake.

The true horror came, though, when he spotted the pixelized people. More tiny, Canadian hysterics. France was out shopping, apparently, so he snuck over to sit close to Prussia for comfort, hugging his backpack to his chest in the absence of both Kumajiro and Sedna. It felt weird to not have some warm animal to snuggle. He sat there sniffling and watching the door, hoping his papa would come back soon.

"Papa!" Canada squealed as France finally did come to pick him up, snuggling into his chest and shivering. "Wh-what's going on?" He whimpered.

France adjusted his hold on Canada so that the boy was mostly facing into his chest; better not to let him see the world around them as Hell showed its true face.

"It'll be alright," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss against the crown of Canada's head. "We'll head to the next town and see what we can do. Don't worry; I am here to protect you."

He took Canada's pack and slung it over his own shoulder before turning to Prussia and Haku who were ready. France had not had time to get to know the boy, but it seemed that Haku was used to unusual conditions; it was both worrying and reassuring at the same time.

France inclined his head to Prussia's words and started out, heading quickly towards Route 30, absentmindedly rubbing small circles with his thumb on Canada's back.

Prussia nearly lost his composure when Canada started crying (how could children hold so many friggin tears?), but sighed in relief when the colony stopped. Unsure of how to react when Canada scooted closer, Prussia placed a hand on the boy's head, hoping it will help calm him. He couldn't deny the relief that flooded him when France's return seemed to calm the little colony.

He immediately followed France, pausing momentarily to make sure Haku and Naruto were following, as he tried to ignore the world around them.

It hadn't taken much for Haku to get Naruto moving, more than used to having to move quick and without any notice from his days back home. His expression was kept relatively neutral, trying to at least not make it obvious that he wasn't sure what to make of any of this mess. He'd never seen this landscape or people like this and he was being a little unnerved at his Pokemon deciding to remain in their balls. He wasn't terribly worried about his Poliwag and Hoppip, but without his Seel... things were just strange.

For the time being he merely ignored the rest of the world at large, focusing on his current task of keeping up with them. Not that it was terribly hard, even at reduced speed, he was still probably a bit faster than them if he truly wished to try.

"Should the music not change with leaving the city? If nothing else, we can probably get rid of the eerie music to let us think at least a bit clearer," he questioned softly, barely hiding the edge of worriedness in his tone.

As bad as Prussia is with kids, the simple pat on the head was enough for Canada. He manages a little smile, and sniffles.

He clings desperately to France and nods weakly when his father promises to protect him. He lifts his head to make careful eye contact, searching France's face to see how he's feeling about this. "I-I'm scared, papa... I don't like this music... A-and Sedna and Maple won't come out of their pokeballs! A-are they mad at me?" For some reason, he doesn't come to the more logical conclusion that they're scared of the music too, but, hey, he's insecure.

He whispers a soft 'merci, papa' when France picks up his bag, and buries his face in his father country's chest.

France walks as quickly as possible without jostling Canada too much. It's been a while since he's carried this many objects of significant weight at the same time for necessity rather than training; for once, France is glad that he remained on reserve duty for the army even after the Algerian War.

"I'm certain that they are alright; it must be this atmosphere that has frightened them into hiding," he murmurs, kissing the crown of Canada's head and trying his best to look reassuring; "Marianne does not want to come out either."

He refrains from mentioning the possibility that this might be Hell's true face and that the short time before this was just to lull them all into a false sense of security. Shivering slightly, France continues on, occasionally glancing around to make sure that they haven't lost anyone to the pits of despair.

"Maybe in the next city." Prussia didn't really believe that, but only said it in hopes of reassuring Haku. He had a feeling the eerie music would continue, no matter where they were.

He kept turning Gilbird's Pokeball over and over, unable to stop worrying about his partner as they traveled through the pixelated landscape. It was good that they had passed through Route 30 and were now on 31, but-

Wait.

It should take them more than two hours to finish the route. It was physically impossible according to the map.

"The hell. It's impossible for us to be on Route 31 already."

It was a thin hope, certainly, but it was one he was hoping would work out. Except for the fact that leaving the city didn't change the music but it just continued its loop and slowly was beginning to work his nerves. Not much could really do that, but this music was certainly becoming one of those few little things.

Two hours. Just two hours. He remembered the route between Cherrygrove and Violet taking him about a week or two, not two hours.

"That is because it is physically impossible, the last time I took this route, I was nearly on it for two weeks. The map must be wrong or someone moved the signs." Because, really, he wasn't about to believe it was something else entirely. Just an innocent fluke, right?

Canada looks contemplative for a moment before he nods. "Y-yeah... Th-that makes sense! They're just hiding from the scary music..." He snuggles further into the safety of France's arms, comforted by the familiar warmth. If he kept his face hidden, he didn't have to look at the bizarre landscape, although there really was no escaping the music.

Canada still hasn't really come to terms with France's opinion that they're in hell- his conviction that Sedna is a nature spirit really helps in that regard.

He doesn't stop hiding his face until the party recognizes how long they've been walking and how very far they've managed to come.

"Eh? W-we're on the next road already?"

France glanced around before closing his eyes and breathing in deep. He was starting to feel like his mind was breaking from his body. It was not a wholly unfamiliar sensation, although he did tend to...

"What do you mean we..." France trailed off, looking back at the sign as they passed it. "No. Oh..."

He stopped for a moment, closing his eyes and breathing in deep.

You are fourteen in body, and there are voices. The child-king is awake and listening with you at the door. He doesn't exclaim; he doesn't twitch. He holds your hand.

France opened his eyes and continued on ahead. "Don't ask questions. Just keep going."

Prussia turned sharply to Haku.

"So there's a possibility we don't even know where we are?" He cursed under his breathe in German. Although Haku had already traveled this particular path, it was unlikely the ninja would recognize the area, given the new change in scenery.

Prussia nodded and followed France. There was no time to panic or question anything.

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This Place is not Safe [Forward Dated to October 30th]

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