ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Pastoria

That's good.

-looks confused- ...Glitch...thing?

Veilstone Department Store

With a blip, Lucius and Maul arrive here whilst the former is still freaking out.

Lucius: Arceus, I can't belive I forgot... how am I even supposed to know what she wants? I've spoken to her exactly once this whole year!

He shakes his head.

Lucius: Whatever. I'll figure something out. We need to scour this entire store with military precision. You ready, Maul?

Maul: <...>

Lucius: I'll take that as a "yes". Okay, let's go!

First Floor

Lady: Hey kid! Want a Turtwig mask?

Lucius: Uh, no thanks. Telling the birthday girl that I don't want to see her face might just send the wrong message.

Second Floor

A cashier in a thick coat sidles up to Lucius.

Cashier: Psst. Hey kid. Want some vitamins?

Lucius: ...I don't feel comfortable with this.

Third Floor

Lucius: Excuse me, do you stock any first-generation Teleport TMs?

Cashier: That depends. Do you have a small fortune in Pokedollars?

Lucius: ...Not anymore.

Cashier: Then no, we don't.

Fourth Floor

The cashier Lucius is speaking to glances beneath the desk.

Cashier: We're almost out of plush dolls, I'm afraid. All we have left are some Spiritomb and Ariados.

Lucius: Are there any plushies that don't look like they're plotting to murder you in your sleep?

Cashier: There might be a couple of Mr. Mime on the back shelves...

Lucius: Forget I asked.

Fifth Floor

Lucius and Maul are stood on the rooftop plaza, drinking Soda Pops.

Lucius: Well, that was a wash.

Maul: ~Perhaps you should've thought about this earlier.~

Lucius: Yeah, I already know I'm a shitty friend. I don't need the guy who could've reminded me at any point over the last few weeks but chose not to telling me that.

He sighs.

Lucius: Maybe I should just settle for some regular gift. It's not as if I have the time to make anything, and it's not though we're that close anymore either. She wants to do her whole Battle Frontier career, and I...

Something seems to occur to him in the middle of his sentence.

Lucius: ...I think I might actually have an idea.

Maul: ~That's a first.~

Lucius: Quiet, you. I'll explain as soon as you get us out of here.

Maul shrugs, and the pair blip away.

edited 21st Aug '16 12:32:16 PM by Herbert40k

Pastoria Center

-Sarah frowns as Keys retreats into the bag-

Sarah: Suddenly, I'm very concerned about the contents of my bag...

Pastoria Center

-The window Selene bumped is now shattered.-

-The wall above Sarah now has an Aura spear embedded in it-

-It fades and deposits a bag containing 3 boxes! One small and square. One medium and more oblong, and a third rather large and rectangular.-

-The second smells like sweet!-

-The third smells like...burning-

-The first does not-

-There's also a holodisk message thingie!-

-Three guesses who it is from~-

Pastoria Pokemon Center

Considerably more than five minutes later, Lucius stumbles back though the door, exhausted, still muddy, and with a hastily-wrapped package in his arms.

Lucius: I'm back... no thanks to you, Maul...

He collapses.

Maul: ~You should be grateful. Rocks are very character-building.~

edited 21st Aug '16 1:13:05 PM by Herbert40k

Pastoria Center

-Sarah yelps as the window is suddenly shattered and ducks as an Aura spear is embedded above her.-

Sarah: Aah!

-She stays down for a moment, before peering up to make sure nothing else is coming at her, when she sees Lucius-

Sarah: Oh, uh, hey. Again. You, uh, okay?

-She very cautiously takes the three boxes from the bag that came with the spear, then turns on the holo message.-

Near Sarah

-Chrome busts through the wall Kool-Aid Man style with Lina in her robes on his back-

Chome: <OH YEAH> :D

-ahem-

<Terribly sorry. Lina requested it and it was a special occasion so I felt I'd comply.>

Lina: -smirks- Anyway, here's your present.

-digs a box out of her robes and hands it to Sarah-

edited 21st Aug '16 1:24:29 PM by Umbramatic

Pastoria Pokemon Center

Lucius hauls himself to his feet.

Lucius: Yeah. I'm just tired from running around all over the place trying to find a pr- ...uh, errand. I meant errand. I was trying to find an errand so that I could run it. That's what I was doing.

He extends the thin, rectangular parcel.

Lucius: Anyway, here's a present that I got ages ago for your birthday which I totally didn't forget about until today. Um... hope it's okay.

He blinks at the sudden entrance of other present-givers.

edited 21st Aug '16 1:45:01 PM by Herbert40k

Pastoria Center

Sarah: Oh, th— AAH!

-She flails and stumbles backwards as Chrome suddenly bursts in-

Sarah: Geez, people are trying to give me a heart attack today.

-She takes and rapidly unwraps all the various gifts she is receiving-

Pastoria Pokemon Center

Inside Lucius's present is a decorative silver shield, emblazoned with the Battle Frontier logo. He rubs the back of his neck.

Lucius: I, um... I'm probably not the first person to get you Frontier-related stuff, but I figured you'd like the shield symbolism.

edited 21st Aug '16 1:58:05 PM by Herbert40k

???

-Meanwhile, a present lands in a particularly twin's lap. Or nearby, should his lap not be available. There's a tag on it.-

Pastoria Center

-Sarah looks in awe at the shield-

Sarah: Oh, wow, thank you! Considering the trends for how I'm getting these today, I might actually have to use this so I don't lose my head or something.

-Since the twins are no longer twins, but rather, one single person again, the gift ends up teleporting right above Sarah's head. In a panic, she uses the shield to smack it away, before sweatdropping and going to retrieve it-

Sarah: I guess Selene hasn't heard the news yet...

-She likewise opens that as well as the rest-

edited 21st Aug '16 2:05:38 PM by BittersweetNSour

Pastoria Pokemon Center

Lucius: Glad you like it. Though, um, I think we'd both be happier if you didn't have to use it all that often.

He sees the label on Selene's present and frowns.

Lucius: I guess I probably should've got something for your brother as well, but, y'know, screw that guy.

edited 21st Aug '16 2:12:23 PM by Herbert40k

Near Sarah

-Alli mysteriously pops out of the the box with an egg of unfamilar species pattern-

Alli: Happy birthday, big sis! Me and Lina got this from Alola!

Pastoria Center

-The box contains a rather snazzy pair of leather braces, one of which has an engraved silver socket just the right size for a Key Stone.-

Selene: <Phew, got that off on time.>

-Selene walks into the lobby to see Sarah with the present.-

Selene: <... Wha.>

-She's quiet for a time as a myriad of facial expressions pass over her face.-

Just putting this here to say I'm headed out for RL birthday stuff but may (try to) post from my phone

Pastoria Center

-Sarah smiles and hugs Alli before taking the egg-

Sarah: Thank you! I haven't looked into what species are around Alola, so it'll be an interesting surprise.

-She then sweatdrops at Lucius and Selene-

Sarah: Yyyyyeah, uh, I guess you guys didn't hear... we sorta... got fused back into one person. I'm Sarah and Kieran. Things are complicated.

edited 21st Aug '16 3:05:14 PM by BittersweetNSour

Pastoria Pokemon Center

Lucius stares dumbfoundedly at Sarah.

Lucius: Wait, really? So you're... but you're also...

He grabs his head in his hands and grimaces.

Lucius: ...Okay, I have no idea how to feel about this. Are you... I dunno, mostly Sarah right now? Or are you both... ugh, this is hurting my head.

Pastoria

(to Star) Ah, you haven't heard? There's been some glitch activity in this region... We've been trying to deal with them. There's this one glitch Tagg and I have met a few times that doesn't seem so bad, but some of the other things are... not so friendly... I'm not sure how it's all connected.

Holo Message!

-It's Jason and some of his team!-

Jason:You've been spear mailed!

-Beat-

Yeeeeah, not the best name. Working on it. Either way, we've got presents for ya! Happy birthday!

-The small box contains a Ralts-line heart gem shaped pendant!-

It's a little something Maria made with a Fire Stone I found. Because, well...Gardevoir. =P

-The medium box is a berry mixed box set! And a few pouches of instant yogurt-

Senshi:<Rosa didn't want me sending full parfiets so we sent ya the ingredients for berry treats!>

Rosa:<Happy Birthday~>

-And the last...well...it looks like what might have been a Magikarp filet...but it's more...ash...than anything-

Efreet:<The MAGNIFICENT Efreet has prepared a traditional Efreet family meal! Cooked by my own GLORIOUS flames! Only the HEALTHIEST!!>

-The message ends with various well wishes before Efreet overzealously knocks the camera over and it devolves Ito static until Crash paws the off button-

Pastoria

Oh. Huh. I guess I must be really out of the loop, then.

Well, if you guys need any help, I'm around still.

Pastoria

Sarah: Honestly, if I had a good answer for you, I'd gladly tell you... but I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

-She looks down-

Sarah: I-I figure I should at least apologize for what the Kieran side of me... y'know... did.

Pastoria Pokemon Center

Lucius folds his arms, his expression dark.

Lucius: Yeah. You should. And did you really have to call yourself "Kieran"? I don't have good history with that name.

Pastoria Center

-Sarah pauses-

Sarah: ...Wait... who else had that name...?

Pastoria Pokemon Center

Lucius: Here's a hint. He's the reason why I'm now this weird Obscura zombie that you and the Purple Sword were able to turn into a dancing marionette.

edited 21st Aug '16 5:19:13 PM by Herbert40k

Pastoria

-It takes a moment, but Sarah realizes exactly who Lucius is referring to. She goes deathly pale, her blood runs cold, the air around her drops several degrees, and her expression is not unlike the one she wore when she first received her scar. When she finally speaks, her voice is quiet and shaky.-

Sarah: ...Oh. I-I didn't... I didn't know that was... his name...