ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Ecruteak Pokemon Center

-Herbert flinches and pales slightly at the physical contact, but he returns Duke's smile.-

Herbert: ...Thanks, Duke. Now let's just hope that you never have to make good on that responsibility.

-EDI watches Joseph as he leaves.-

EDI: <Goodnight. And avoid ingesting wild fungi and/or flora in future.>

edited 28th Dec '13 8:29:06 PM by Herbert40k

Ecruteak

Tesse runs after them.

"Hey wait up!"

Nanako makes a soft "ohhhhh" in understanding.

"Biko and Bono and Kata and Fema and Cebu are my family! We don't sleep in a hole!"

The examining Nidorina may notice that there is no poison at all, inside or out, on Nanako's body. How odd.

edited 28th Dec '13 8:32:18 PM by Orichalcon

Valorie beamed at Tesse, incredibly happy with the other to say the least. Suddenly she was being grabbed and hauled off. She quickly sped up to a jog in her struggle to keep up and not lose her composure. She didn't want to look like a fool!

"A-Alright!"

...She did wave at Tesse, seemingly offering to let her come along.

Spag with Tagg.

PEFE-B - Medical Ward - Night

-A Druddigon is resting when he is roused by the sound of scratches at a door-

<???: “Rrgh! For crying out loud, I thought we put a stepladder here!”>

<Karst: “... What the-?”>

-And the door swings open with an Archen latched onto the knob, who hops off and pushes the door closed behind him-

<Karst: “... What are you doing here?”>

<“... I heard you were almost ambulatory. I figured that since I’m heading off the island soon, there was something I needed to do with you.”>

-Starting to get apprehensive-

-... What do you want?-

<Karst: “... Okay… What would that be?”>

-And is interrupted by the avian form hopping onto the medward bed peering into the Druddigon’s eyes-

<“I want to have a talk…”>

-Oh great… Again?-

<Karst: “... Look, I already went through this with Tangent, we don’t see eye to eye, alr-”>

-The small bird gives what can perhaps be described as a frustrated growl-

<“Karst, this isn’t some dry difference in opinion! Those mons you left us for would have killed us if they had the chance!

How on earth did you ever conclude that that was a good idea-?!”>

-The bird’s tirade is cut off by the sound of the door opening-

<“Dammit.”>

-And the sound of figures entering the room-

Tagg: "... On my end, I don’t particularly appreciate my mercy getting shat upon by you joining up with those cultural genocidal bastards!"

-Did you just wake me up to put me something that you could have just asked your friend about? Leave me alone, seriously!-

-Growling-

<Karst: “Excuse me for putting stock in blood ties! Or are you insinuating that those don’t matter to you?”>

<Muddy: You don’t betray those who fed and healed you when next to no one would for them. When was the last time you even saw your clan?>

<Karst: “Half past an eternity ago, because you never ‘‘let’’ me see them!”>

-Looking away-

<“... You never asked.”>

-Huh?!-

-In an aggravated tone-

<Karst: “Say what?”>

<“I’m not trying to be cruel… But you legitimately never told us about this. You didn’t tell us that they still were important to you or that you were homesick-”>

-I- I- But I shouldn’t have to tell you that!-

-And what are the odds you would have listened anyways?-

<Karst: “I haven’t seen home in years! Do you honestly need to be a genius to figure that out?!”>

Tagg: "Some species don’t put much stock in family ties, others simply don’t want to see their old homes again. Considering your past, it’s possible you wouldn’t want to see them again out of pure shame for your past actions."

-... Get. Out.-

-The Druddigon curls away on the medward bed-

<Karst: “Thanks for assuming.”>

<“... With all due respect… But you’re not exactly making things any less murky for us.”>

<Karst: “...”>

<“Karst, if you had told us that you were uncomfortable out there, we would have tried to arrange something! Don’t you think that Draca felt uncomfortable out there? Or Garchomp? If it bugged you that much, why didn’t you bring it up with them?”>

<Karst: “Let me sleep.”>

<“Why did you really join those mons, Karst? I mean, picking up sticks and abruptly changing camp? Family loyalty alone doesn’t do that! What was your cause behi-?”>

<Karst: “I said let me sleep!”>

<“...”>

-A certain Salamence decides to speak up-

<Draca: Dovah are supposed to be loyal to their comrades, Karst. Your clan asking you to assist in subjugating everyone else, including your friends, doesn’t exactly count as that.>

<Karst: *growl* “What kind of teacher did you have that encouraged you to side with wandering friends over the ones who would have taught you how to even say 'Dovah' to begin with?”>

-Glares-

<Draca: When I was young I used to think like that, but there’s the family you’re born with, and then there’s the family you choose. Did you not think some of my siblings or even my parents have likely joined in our clan head’s mad crusade against other species and that I may have to fight them. I made my choice to stick with my friends no matter what, have you?>

-Leering back-

<Karst: “I’ll believe it when I see it.

Seriously, why are you all even up at this hour?!”>

-Sighing-

<“... If you must know, it’s because we’re headed home. And the trip length is such that our best odds of getting in unnoticed is if we leave before the sun rises.”>

-And hops off the bed-

<“... Originally, I was hoping that this would be a smaller meeting… But… I must say that Dr. Tagg and the others perhaps poked at a few matters that I would not have thought of.

I was going to say that I would try to find a way to break things softly to everyone else… Since we are friends… Or at least, were. But… Given that it seems word got out anyways… It might not be a promise that I can reasonably keep anymore.”>

-And reaches the doorway-

<“I know that I can’t control you… For your own sake… Try to be honest with yourself about what you’re really after here.

After all, there is a chance that you might not have an opportunity to be honest with me in the future.

… The others will find something useful to put you up to when you’ve recovered.”>

<Karst: “What’s that supposed to-?”>

<“You said that you’re fighting for your clan, yes? … Unfortunately, since you so insist, we will have to treat you accordingly.

Anyhow, you raised a decent point earlier… Get some rest. You are still rather weak right now.”>

-And departs, shaking head-

Tagg: "I suppose we should be making preparations for our return to Kanto then."

-And also departs-

-The room quickly empties, leaving behind a Druddigon, and perhaps a few sundry mons roused from their sleep who attempt to nod back off, grumbling about the disruption-

-... Is… This… Really what I wanted?-

-... I mean… I know that I wanted to have a purpose beyond looking out for my own hide all the time, but…-

-And shakes head-

-It must be worth it… I mean, fighting for one’s own is a purpose…-

-... Right?-

-But, alas, there is no response to the question… Which prompts the Druddigon to drift off to uneasy sleep, if with a gnawing feeling of uncomfortable loneliness and isolation that might be unwelcomely familiar-

edited 28th Dec '13 8:43:48 PM by TracerBullet

Ecruteak Pokémon Center

Noticing Herbert flinching and getting a little pale upon being touched made Duke raise an eyebrow

"What's wrong? You got a little pale all of su..." it then dawns on him "Oh. Right, I forgot..." he said as he let out a sigh and rubbed his neck.

Ecruteak Pokemon Center

-Herbert also gives a sigh and shakes his head.-

Herbert: It's alright, no need to worry about it... I'm going to have to get over it somehow, after all.

Ecruteak — A Coffee Shop

-Diane skids to a halt outside a quaint little shop-

Diane: Heeeeere we are!

Skye: Next time, slow down a bit. @_@

Ecruteak-Coffee Shop

Tesse yawns.

"I'm gonna have to take a raincheck ok this ladies. Maybe I'll join you tomorrow."

She takes another photo.

"It was nice meeting you Skye and Val. I hope we have fun in the future."

She heads back to the center.

Ecruteak Pokémon Center

"Right..." said Duke, trailing of for a bit as he tries to cheer up a bit "Anyway, yeah, let's hope nothing else happens to you, you went through too much already. But, well... You know you can always count on me when you're having a problem."

Valorie giggled at Diane's actions. She was a bit strained from the jog to catch up with the larger girls, but she wouldn't show it if she had the choice. "What're you both going to get?" she asked, mildly curious.

Ecruteak Pokemon Center

-Herbert nods at Duke, stands up, and recalls EDI.-

Herbert: Got it. Again, thanks for... well, thanks for a lot of things, Duke. I think I'll be heading to bed now. Hopefully I should be able to get a decent night's sleep. Night.

-He heads upstairs to one of the rooms.-

edited 28th Dec '13 8:44:51 PM by Herbert40k

Ecruteak Pokémon Center

Duke nods "Good night."

He then starts heading to bed himself.

Ecruteak — Coffee Shop

Diane: I'll have a caramel macchiato here~

Skye: I, um... I'll just go with a cup of hot chocolate.

Valorie thought about it for a moment. "...I'll have hot chocolate too! I'll meet you guys at a table, alright?" she said before moving over to go order and pay.

Ecruteak Coffee Shop

Diane: All right, see you in a bit!

Skye: Okay— Aah!

-Skye is pulled along again by Diane before she can finish her sentence.-

And Part 2 of spagpost with Tracer.

A Small Craft on the Sea of Kyogre, Off AU!Kanto

-Having heard part of a debrief while travelling through a radio tuned to a very specific and somewhat finicky frequency-

<Tracer: "Wait a minute...>

<Kammy: "That voice is... Surge?> O_.

<Kyle: "Somehow I pictured him sounding less like a squeaky rat, even as a Pokemon.">

<Muddy: This is a lot different from how we last came to Kanto.>

...Yeah.

-To a radio onboard the ship-

So what should we expect when we get there, I’d imagine the situation on the ground has changed a lot since the last time we were in Kanto.

<Lt. Surge: You bet it is. First of all, we've got those HES bastards patrolling all the routes between the cities.>

HES...?

<Tracer: "What now?">

<Lt. Surge: Some dragon gobblygook I don’t understand, but I've been told it more or less means "Human Extermination Squad," and these guys are no joke, we've lost plenty of good soldiers to them.>

-Angrily-

<They're indiscriminate killers as well, there's quite a few civvie graves dotting the sides of routes.>

I'll have to remember to try to make a new pair of dragonskin boots later. Any advice for getting around them?

<Lt. Surge: Simple, avoid travelling the routes if you can, especially at night. Of course if you can zap a couple for us I certainly won’t complain.>

<Luxray: We'll certainly try if we get the chance. What about resistance pockets?>

<Lt. Surge: The main centers of resistance are right here in Vermilion, Fuchsia and their ninjas, and over in Celadon and Saffron. Not to mention all the independent groups running all over the place.>

<Kammy: "So then… It’s a question of where to slip through...">

<Mike: "The place with the most robots of course!">

<Kyle: "Uh... Yeah... Let’s consider some other metrics before that first-"> >_>;

-And the sound of some movement in a compartment can be heard-

<Tracer: "What the-CAW!">

-And is slammed into a wall by a compartment door swinging open revealing-

<Dovile: "Are we there yet?">

-Dazed-

<Tracer: "Whee~ I’m flying~"> @v@

-Recoiling-

<Kyle: "Gah! You again!">

<Buster: "Why are you even here?!"> O_o;

I'd imagine she’s here because she wants a good fight, and what better place to do that than here in Kanto.

<Kyle: "Oh I dunno... Unova...? Kalos...? Someplace where she isn't anywhere around me to be a constant creeper?"> >_>;

<Dovile: "What? You *do* need help, don’t you?">

-Nods-

<Draca: Indeed, your help would be useful, Dovahkiin.>

<Kyle: "Draca... You’re not supposed to *support* the evil little gremlin being around us..."> >_>;

<Leana: "Oh hush. Anyhow, I can’t say it would *hurt* to have her around...">

-Raspberries at Kyle-

<Dovile: "So... We are headed to...?">

<Tracer: "Well, if I were lucid, I could probably give a long argument about the location and all, but since I’m not, I’ll just leave my vote at Vermillion."> @v@

<Buster: "... Eh? Why there though?">

<Mike: "... They have hangars full of mechs that we don’t know about? I hope...?"> :?

<Kammy: "No, think about it… The reason's a bit more straightforward...">

-And fishes out a map-

<Kammy: "Where are all the places that Surge said had major resistance within towns located?">

<Kyle: "Does Pallet Town cou-?">

<Kammy: "Resistance, not currently liberated."> >_>;

-Skeptically-

<Dovile: “You seriously expect me to believe that a dinky little hamlet hasn't been overrun when everything else in the region has?"> :|

<Kyle: "Believe it, bub."> >:|

<Leana: "Home... The rest of the sprawl... Fuchsia... And...">

-And draws some wing feathers over a location that serves as a convenient geographic hinge-

...Vermilion. Would an SEP Field be of use, I wonder?

<Tracer: "A what?"> @v@

<Dovile: "Whatever it is, if it gets us fighting faster, I’m all for it.">

<Kyle: "If it’s whatever Psycho here doesn't want, I’m all for it."> >_>;

-To Tracer-

It’s a perception filter that should get us by whatever patrols they have as long as we avoid being too suspicious. Cobalt, let’s do this.

-And both human and Metagross activate a field as the craft continues its journey to a familiar yet forbidding destination-

Valorie giggled again at Skye's expence, talking with the cashier for a few moments and waiting several more before receiving her drinks. She then made her way over to the two and joined them at the table they'd selected. Taking hers, she began to blow on it testily.

"...So you two are girlfriends?" she wound up asking. She seemed rather interested in this fact, ...as if it were a new concept to her.

ABSTRACTION: Dashedreams

Charizard!Basket:    It hurts, knowing so many people are out there suffering the fate of not being Charizard...   

   But there's a small consolation.   

   As You Know, we aren't real. We are components of a metaphor for the abstract process of thought.   

   But they say that powerful enough ideas can change the world...   

   ...and these sextillions of cookies, saturated with Mindscape energy, are thus quite powerful ideas indeed...   

   By exploiting that power...   

   -C!Basket has been modifying one of the Antimatter Condensers while expositing, and now switches it on, converting a few building-sized stacks of cookies into energy-   

   Well, you know what they say. If you want something done right...   

-spacetime is starting to look rather feeble-

   ...you have to do it yourself. BANZAI!   

-The particle accelerator collapses into a wormhole, its exit opening up in...-

REALITY: Viridian Forest

-A wormhole opens up. Its entrance isn't real, but there you go.-

edited 28th Dec '13 9:04:10 PM by Tangent128

Dashedreams City

Noir looks (and then points) at the wormhole.

   Noir   :    So you want me to jump in there?   

   ...   

Noir gets a Slasher Smirk on her face.

   Perfect~   

Ecruteak Coffee Shop

-Diane and Skye smile, the latter a fair bit more shyly than the former.-

Diane: Yup! And we're not afraid to admit it, either.

Skye: Well, she isn't afraid to admit it. I just sort of let it happen.

Dashedreams City

C!R!C!A!P: -stares blankly-    Don't... do impossible things..?   

Charizard!Basket:    Not without me you aren't, I have a Tropius to find you know!   

   -she quickly takes a selfie of herself & the breach in logic-   

Valorie grinned. She seemed amused. Her attention seemed to focus on Skye now. "Why..?" she asked, all bright eyed. She had a feeling she knew~

Dashedreams

   Noir   :    As I have an orphan to find~   

Noir hops in the wormhole as well.

Viridian

The wormhole is pushed open further by 8 tar like tendrils as Noir thrusts herself out of the portal.

   Noir   : -Examining her befleshed self as tar-equse black and red obscura drips down her body-    I couldn't ask for anything better~   

edited 28th Dec '13 9:25:15 PM by PippingFool

Remember when I said I loved my gaiden posts? Well, I'm not sure if this qualifies, but I couldn't help but make it anyway.

AU!Orre, Eclo Base

-Derek walks onto the commons room, his claws nicked and scratched due to the recent influx of combat sorties. He sits down next and old friend, who had just received a promotion to Commander after several successful intelligence gathering missions had almost paralyzed the Dragon's supply lines.-

Derek: <So, Commander Justy, how does it feel to be the first person to make General Guy squeal like a schoolgirl in over two hundred years?>

-The Sandslash chuckles.-

Justy: <It feels good. It feels good. Say...>

-Justy takes a drink from his cup of water.-

Justy: <We've been doing good now, haven't we?>

Derek: <Heh, indeed we have. It's good to see everyone in such high spirits. Like we're all one big family for the holidays. Or after, I suppose.>

Justy: <That reminds me... and this has been bugging me for some reason... what do you consider family?>

Derek: <Oh? What brought that up?>

Justy: <I, uh, had your parents in my squad the other day.>

Derek: <... Ah. And you want to know about my opinion because of my... unique upbringing.>

Justy: <In a nutshell, yes.>

-Derek grabs himself a glass of water before he starts.-

Derek: <To start... they say that there are two kinds of family. The one you're born with, and the one you choose. I think this is a false dichotomy. Family based strictly on one factor, be it blood, motivation, calling, is not family. It is one dimensional, and is merely a intersecting interest. But...>

-He looks out at the groups gathered in the commons area. The Coyotes comparing their lists of stolen supplies; the scouts, sharing stories of daring escapes from enemy hands; the Rangers, trading tips for finding the best hunting grounds.-

Derek: <When that bond takes hold and grows... when you begin to learn the nuances of people, you bond more deeply than you would ever suspect.>

OU!Orre, Phenac City

-A pair of clashing weather effects cover a portion of downtown as a battle rages underneath.-

Derek: <Sometimes those bonds are not enough, and things fray... or worse, turn violent.>

Holon Ruins

-A white and yellow Kirlia is fighting multiple sparring partners simultaneously, pushing herself to her limits.-

Derek: <Sometimes, the bonds are left unfinished, creating a sense of longing that can never truly be resolved.>

Ecruteak City

-A Stoutland and Donphan laugh as they watch a late-night airing of their favorite anime.-

Derek: <But despite that...>

Houskay

-Selene cradles the green and white egg in her arms as she drifts off to sleep.-

Derek: <These bonds take hold.>

Ecruteak Center

-Ajax is getting some late night reading lessons in with Rill, mostly going over the rules of "gh".-

Derek: <Despite differences.>

Houskay, Basement

-Dune and Deziree both lie asleep in each other's arms.-

Derek: <Against all odds.>

Phenac City, Silph Labs

-Professor Mesquite calls up her granddaughter, wondering how her VR research is doing.-

Derek: <And even though we may be separated...>

Mt. Mortar

-Phosphora climbs inside her tent, the three Jagers taking watch outside.-

Derek: <We will always be linked where it matters most.

Eclo Base

Derek: <So, to put my answer short... no, I do not think being related means being family. Being yourself, and being accepted for it, is being family.>

-Justy gives Derek a nod.-

Justy: <I'll drink to that.>