46th PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[voice]
Oh, everyone...!  It looks like something strange is happening, after all.  I don't want to say I told you so, but... well, I did tell you so.  Be careful if you're going outside, alright?  Until we sort out what's happening, it'd probably be for the best if everyone kept to themselves.  After all... Wouldn't it be just like the town to

Comments

Action ☆ 1

[badend_replay]

[ Rika was just minding her own business, on her way to school, when she notices Lucas. And though she knows nothing about plants, it breaks her heart to see them being ripped out like this. ]

m-mi! What are you doing?

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh, Rika!

[He turns to her with a cheerful smile.]

I'm getting rid of the plants, of course. They're all going to die soon, so it's better not to leave them until they're an eyesore.

[badend_replay]

Oh, I see...

[ No, she notices. Rika looks at the ripped plants sadly. ]

They are only dying soon, though. They have not died yet. Perhaps it would be kindest to leave them until they are truly done being beautiful, Lucas.

[a_gentle_boy]

Do you think so? It's probably because you haven't had a garden before. Last year, they all started weeping so quickly I couldn't get to them in time; it was really bad.

[Lucas beams again.]

Action 2!

[foalingaround]

[It wasn't hard to put together that the pods and changes of behavior in the townspeople were related, so Rainbow Dash's plan of attack was smashing open those pods.

Not knowing Lucas is inside, she raises one of her back hooves and cracks that pod open like an egg.

A very gross, gooey egg. Yuck.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[There is a familiar looking green-haired boy in the pod. .....Wait no that's just the slime; Lucas splutters as the air begins to seep into the pod.]

W-What... What's all of this ooze?

[foalingaround]

[Guess who wasn't expecting a person to come out of that pod.

This pony right here.

Rainbow Dash leaps back, startled, before finally recognizing Lucas.]

K-kid? What the hay were you doing in there?!

[a_gentle_boy]

Ergh.

[Lucas waves around his arms for a moment or two before trying to slip out of the pod; this mostly results in a feeble flopping motion.]

I have no idea! Is this someone's idea of a practical joke?

Action 3

[gezellighe]

[Of course, once he's recovered enough from being in a pod and parted ways with Nina, he'll be checking on those most important to him. On the way is Lucas' house, and he's definitely hearing some worrying sounds. He's still got his hammer, so he'll approach cautiously, using a car parked on the street for some cover.

. . . he's still covered in slime. Great.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[After Rainbow Dash had freed him, Lucas had lacked the foresight to realize that the goop could help identify him. It was only after taking a shower and changing clothes that he'd run into his doppelganger who had... attacked him on sight.

Oh, well.

The Netherlands will be treated to the sight of both boys panting in some exhaustion as they level flickering orbs of light at each other.]

If you stop now... I promise I won't hurt you!

Of course you won't! You'll just shove me back into one of those pods!

Aaaaugh! This is so frustrating!

Tell me about it.

[gezellighe]

[There just wasn't any way to tell which was real right now. . . All he can do is watch.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[If the Netherlands watches closely enough, he'll see that one has a tiny badge clipped to the front of his shirt. Whether or not he's noticed it before will depend on if he paid some attention to what Lucas was wearing. This is the Franklin Badge, the only one of its kind in the world, and Lucas never took it off, pinning it even to his pajamas.

Sadly, it was usually hidden underneath something else so maybe it wasn't a very good sign.

While the Netherlands is watching, one of the Lucases rushes at the other with a stick.]

Hyaaaah!

Shield Omega!

[They're locked once again, the attacking one putting all his weight against the shield thrown up by the defending one.]

[Phone]

[godisachild]

Oh wow. I've met some pretty crappy pretenders today but you're not even bothering to really try, are you?

[a_gentle_boy]

That depends on what you think I'm trying for! But, you know, this is how it always starts.

[godisachild]

Yeah, it is how it always starts. And while I wouldn't say I like him? I've known the little nerd you're supposed to be for a year and a half. You don't sound that much like him.

And, you know. Someone already admitted that they were an impostor.

[a_gentle_boy]

It's interesting, isn't it? The idea of identical imposters. I mean, you could have been replaced and maybe you'd never even know.

But, um. Maybe if you paid attention to people, you wouldn't make stupid mistakes like this.

[kleptophile]

Yeah, well, if the fakes are the ones out and about, isn't that exactly the sort of doubts they'd want us to have dealing with 'em?

I mean, not like I really want to kill anyone, but I'm betting the real ones will come back the next day. And the fakes won't. Problem solved, right?

Besides, you sound...weird. In a not particularly trustworthy kinda way.

[a_gentle_boy]

That's a little too much reverse psychology for me, Mr. Lyn. Are you sure it's not just that you don't trust anyone?

[kleptophile]

Maybe, but so what? You ever heard the phrase 'healthy paranoia'? There's a reason it exists.

Besides, we could just tie 'em all up or something. All the people with more than one of 'em running around. This shit the town pulls never lasts long - the fakes'll go away and the real ones will stay.

[a_gentle_boy]

Aha, I'm not sure you're the best person to define what's 'healthy'... Tying everyone up sounds kinda psychopathic to me.