[aaaand canon updates are go]

[pkloveomega]

[For better or for worse, Lucas is back.

It must have been one heck of a day trip, that's for sure. There are faded hints of bruises peeking out from under Lucas' sleeves. His usual crude tree branch seems to have turned into an unfamiliar bat. Strangely enough, he's wearing a Franklin Badge. He's looking pale, bewildered, and anxious... but his

Comments

[rockinthrutime]

[There is, behind him, a ten feet tall creature. It looks at him curiously, and gives off a small snort, despite having no visible mouth.]

[pkloveomega]

[Lucas turns around. As huge and strange as this creature is, he's not afraid of it. He looks up at Arceus, speaking quietly.]

...He's gone.

[rockinthrutime]

[She had been afraid it would happen to one of them, sooner or later. There are things in the world which even Bob would rather not speak of, but Lucas has been through a lot the last few months.]

Don't worry, he still lives here. I cannot even begin to fathom the emotional turmoil you've been through, and yet doing what you did. Now walk with me.

[pkloveomega]

[So he does, resting one hand against her shoulder.]

Did you know this was going to happen?

[blondprodigy]

[Jeff still exists! But he is existing inside where there is air conditioning. Thinking Lucas is still on his trip seeing as it's only been like a day.]

[pkloveomega]

[Not to worry; Lucas is coming to verify Jeff's existence anyway. Here he is, knocking on Jeff's window.]

[blondprodigy]

[pkloveomega]

Can... can I come in?

[Lucas is quiet for a moment, just trying to figure out what to say. He doesn't even know how to explain what happened -- and part of him isn't even sure if it really did happen, or if it was some kind of crazy Tanetane fever dream.]

...Something really bad happened.

[pkmachomega]

[Claus is asleep in his room.]

[pkloveomega]

[Claus' room is the first place Lucas checks. He just stands outside the door at first, unable to bring himself to do more than that.

His hands are shaking. As much as he fears finding out, he has to know. So he knocks -- a bit more of a formality than usual, but part of him fears just walking in and witnessing the same thing he saw at the site of the last needle.]

C-Claus...?

[pkmachomega]

[Some rustling could be heard from inside, then... a quiet groan. Claus groggily rises from his nap, trudging his way to his door, and opens it. Slowly. But there he was, in the flesh, looking a bit sleep deprived, but fine other wise.]

Lucas? Why're you back already?

[1/2]

[pkloveomega]

[It was like some invisible boa constrictor had been squeezing him tighter and tighter, then suddenly let go. A horrible, heart-wrenching weight slid off his shoulders.

It was Claus.

It was him. He was alive. Not a mindless puppet. Not a lifeless body. Claus' question went entirely unanswered -- suddenly, it was as if Lucas had forgotten how to speak. How to make any noise at all. Even if his eyes were burning with tears, he didn't make a single sob. He just stood there, shaking and staring at Claus like he'd seen a ghost. No noise in the world could possibly explain how he felt, so he didn't even bother trying to explain it with words.]

[pkloveomega]

Mr. Shinon!

[Lucas, on the other hand, is most definitely not in any mood to pretend much of anything. So he's going to call urgently after Shinon, no matter how busy or grumpy the teacher may look.]

[pkloveomega]

[Lucas just tugs on his shirt uncomfortably, trying to cover the marks up better. He knows he should have healed himself up better, but...]

Mr. Shinon, are... are you okay?

[Kind of a bizarre thing to ask, considering which one of them is scuffed up and which isn't. But he doesn't know if the Dark Dragon ended this part of the world, too -- this is the only way he knows how to ask without outright going "did a gigantic dragon come reset everything while I was away?"]

[monotreme_101]

*Oh look. Here come an Echidna and his giant flying monstrosity fresh from a walk through the woods.*

Hey! Lucas! It's been a while, how you doing, man?

[pkloveomega]

Knuckles...?

[Lucas is thrown off for a second -- that greeting was so... normal. How could anything possibly be normal again, after all that had happened to Nowhere Island? It's like nothing had changed over here. Lucas still isn't sure if he's relieved or weirded out by that.]

I... I'm okay.

[And in spite of everything, that's the truth.]

Listen, Knuckles... this might be a weird question, but did... did anything weird happen while I was away?

[monotreme_101]

Hmmm... Not really? I'll admit though - I have been kinda busy so maybe something went on without me knowing.

...you sure you're OK? You look a little rough 'round the edges, buddy.

[pkloveomega]

Yeah, I'm fine. I... I can just heal these away if I have to.

You're really sure you haven't noticed anything? There weren't any earthquakes or twisters? No volcanoes went off? Nothing...?