ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Simone giggles. "I was a stubborn child. It was basically my goal ever since my parents told me I couldn't."

Jack: Ah, I know how that is.

I come from a stubborn family.

Simone smiles sadly. "Tell me about it. My parents always wanted me to be a doctor. I was never really keen about blood, though, so whatever."

Jack: I don't know, a lot of doctors don't have to deal with blood.

Like, my parents have a good friend who's a physical therapist. He doesn't have to deal with blood.

Simone shrugs. "Ah well, too late to change now."

Jack: Yeah, sorry.

Victory Road

Elysium: <Are you done? May I end you now?>

Ever: You won't be ending anything.

All: Except your presence here.

Ever: Don't force it, All.

All: If you say so.

Ever: Marmalade, you're up!

Marmalade: -hits the field- <Okay, why are we fighting a deer?>

Ever: Well, it's a surprisingly tough deer.

All: Slick, start with an Ice Beam!

Elysium: <You're too slow.>

-Elysium charges forward with a Horn Leech, but is stopped by Marmalade catching his antlers with a Fire Punch-

Marmalade: <No one hurts the frog but me. I don't think I hurt the frog either, come to think of it.>

Slick: <Okay, my turn!>

-Slick fires a beam of ice under Elysium's hooves, turning the ground into a skating rink-

All: Final blow's yours, Ever.

Ever: Right. Marmalade, Stone Edge.

-Marmalade shreds the floor apart-

Elysium: <Nngh!>

-he stumbles backwards, letting out an annoyed bray-

Elysium: <Well, at any rate, I've gotten what I came for. Good day.>

-and he turns tail and bolts-

Ever: ...That was incredibly strange.

All: It certainly was.

Jr. Contest. Backstage

-Heidi flips her hair as she passes the others, laughing haughtily-

Heidi:Good luck, amateurs. You'll need it~!

Iggy:Grrrrr....

Johnathan:Don't let her get to you...

-He steps out onto the stage-

Stage

Announcer:What an adorable performance by our young beauty! Now, for our next Appeal...Johnathan and his faithful Furfrou, Danny!

-Johnathan gives a curt bow before beginning-

Johnathan:Now then, Danny. Cotton Guard!

-The Dandy Furfrou gives a bark as his suit-and-hat-like fur fluffs up to cuddly proportions-

Now Swagger!

-He grows even bigger and therefore fluffier!-

-The crowd gives more ooohs and aaahs.-

And finish with Return and show them your Charm!

-Using his fluff and size, the Dandy mon rolls back as Johnathan tosses a small object for Danny to fluffily ram. The object, a ball, bounces off Danny, to the stage, and then to the now normal sized fluff dog who catches it on his nose, smiling and sparkling with Charm-

Simone shrugs. "C'est la vie."

Jack: Or, as I pronounced it when I was about five "Sest lah vye". :P

Simone hisses. "HEATHEN."

Jack: I'm sorry, that was fifteen years ago. :P

Simone shakes her head. "Ah, whatever."

Jr. Contest

Announcer:Up next, we have the 13 year old heartthrob, Marcus!

-The boy gives a deeeeep bow.-

Marcus:Tulip. If you would~

-He throws a rose as the Roselia falls asleep on her feet-

-She then begins to talk in her sleep-

<Hohohoooo~>

-She releases a sweet smelling powder that begins to swirl about her in an alluring fashion.-

-This continues for a while as the Sweet Scent makes the Roselia begin to turn and turn in the growing ball of powdery scent-

Marcus:Aaaah...parting, such sweet sorrow....but alas, we bid adieu~

-The ball of scent bursts into Powder hearts as Tulip winks to the crowd in an Attracting manner-

Backstage

Iggy:Wow...everybody's so good...

Bitter Root:<Ah c'mon chin up. This is what we practiced for!> ^_^

-Iggy pets-

Iggy:Yeah...you're right.

Heidi:Talking to your pokemon? Heh! Like that'll help.

Iggy:It will! I'll show you!'

-Determinedcutiefaec.jpg.-

Heidi:Haaaaaa, keep telling yourself that.

-She laugh again as Iggy begins to make her way to the stage-

Jack: So you speak [Japanese] really well.

How did you come by learning it?

Simone smiles. "My first love was fluent. I spent a lot of time with her and her family~"

Jack: Ah, I see.

How long ago was that?

Sootopolis - Lane's Room

Tori: "Wow, seems like they're all doing pretty good for a junior contest"

-She takes a bite from a bag of popcorn-

"They're all older too... Do you have any idea what sort of appeal iggy is gonna use?"

Simone sighs wistfully. "About 6 years ago. Right before I moved. Our parents did not seem to get along very well, I'm afraid. "

Jack: Aw, I'm sorry about that.

Holon, Court of the Metal Kingdom

Dave: <My lady...>

-The Delta Mr. Mime hands the Gardevoir on the throne a tablet. Princess Devilotte de Deathsatan XII scowls at the marks on the stone.-

Princess Devilotte: <Another cave in at the mines? That's the third this week. Someone or something is sabotaging the mines.>

Dave: <But the guards have reported no intruders within two kilometers in any direction in the last moon!>

Princess Devilotte: <Then tell them the next time they make that report and we have another series of injuries, that I'm going to rip their shells off and let the Cat Tribes drag them off for a Full Moon Feast!!>

-She throws the tablet into the air and shatters it with a flying ball bearing.-

Simone sighs. "Ah well. C'est la vie."

Sootopolis-Lane's Room

-Lane noms-

Lane:Not at all...I didn't even know she registered!

Jr. Contest

Announcer:And now, our final appeal of the night! Our youngest aspiring coordinator, Ignia!

-Iggy shakes a little-

Iggy:Ok...I can do this... B-Bitter Root! Let's do this!

-The Vileplume nodnods-

S-Sweet Scent!

-The flower mon begins to puff out the sweet smelling powder, making it swirl into a cone above him-

N-Now Protect!

-Rather than wrap himself in it, Bitter uses the shield to contain the cone of scent-

And then Tickle!

Bitter Root:<Wheeeee~>

-A few vines come out of his head flower to tickle and agitate the protect ball, destabilizing it-

A-A-And finish with Return!

<Bring it ooooooon~!>

-Bitter swings his stubby arm round and round until it glows, and then he leaps up, striking the ball and causing it to explode and the powder within to burst out in a sparkly display as the Vileplume twirs down to the ground-

Announcer:And it's over! Ignia, everybody!!

-The crowd cheers-

We'll be right back with the results of the Appeal Round!-

Sootopolis Gym

The Gyarados is struck by both attacks, but only takes about moderate damage.

"Hm... Looks like I'll have to take a gamble."

Wallace then triggered the Mega Evolution, transforming his Gyarados into a Mega Gyarados

"Earthquake!"

It then sends a powerful shockwave at both Argentum and Jazz

Sootopolis Pokémon Center

She then flips the last card, The Lovers

"You might be presented with a choice, not necessarily between two people, but a choice nonetheless. Such a choice will have a deep impact in your relationship with another person and depending on your decision. No matter which choice you make, however, you must follow with it through the end and not let anyone or anything stop you from pursuing the result that choice will bring you. The effect could either improve your relationship with this person, or just crumble it."

She pauses

"That is what the cards tell me." she smiled

Sootopolis Gym

Jacob: Can... can I see it...?

-He tries focusing on the battle more and he grabs his head-

Ugh nope. Okay, I'll just have to wing it then.

-Argentum is struck by the Earthquake and falls to very low health-

Hmmm....

Jacob: "Okay, make it count, Hone Claws and Hammer Arm!!"

Argentum: -His eyes gleam again, as he sharpens his claws and rushes at the Gyarados again, his life orb draining him to the last sliver of his health-

Sootopolis Pokémon Center

Jacob: -Sits there, staring at the card- "... Well then. I know that you were correct about who I was and who I am. But. Hm. I suppose I'll be mindful of choices I need to make in the near future."

Need to keep in mind this does not necessarily mean Hikari. But who am I kidding it probably is.

-He sits back- "Thank you for that. Now then, fair is fair. About being related to a ghost, anyways. Tell me, what do you know of Ranseian history?"