ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Route 8

-Ludmilla stretches as she exits the Pokemon Center. She stops for a moment when she hears something scraping on some nearby rocks.-

*Scritchscritch, scritchscritch*

-Ludmilla goes toward the sound, and the coast. On the rocky outcropping, a Wimpod is busying himself on some algae.-

Wimpod: <numnumnumnumnumnumn>

-Ludmilla scratches her chin. Was the little bug eating the green stuff on the rocks? Is that what Wimpod eat? That would explain why Polydamas disappears during meal time... well, that, and he doesn't want to be around Gelert and Cu Sith when they're eating.-

Route 5, North, At the Trial's Gates.

Phaz is still there, waiting for the Trial.

-Forte is looking over the list of names-

Forte: I guess our mission is to find these guys and talk to them or whatever.

Icicle: <Yep.>

Forte: Uh, just one problem with that.

-...-

Forte: Where are we?

-a red-haired Skull Grunt is meandering around, trying to shield himself from the rain-

Po Town

-Gracie and Hadilla walk past the red-haired Skull grunt, but don't notice him-

Route 5, Yesterday

Youko: Hmm. Maybe not today.

She sighs, sticks her hands in her pockets, and turns away, making her way back to her RV on Route 8.

Lush Jungle, Today

Today Youko is making her way through the Jungle, accompanied by Ki'i and Musashi. She'll probably bump into a villain somewhere in here.

-Shaun, after staying in town for a few days, has come with his team to the path, which does indeed lead to the shrine.-

Shaun: "Wait, stop!"

-Everyone comes to a hault.-

Ace: "What?"

Shaun: "Shh! Look."

-He point to the entrance of the the Shrine, where a Garchomp flanked by a Golbat and Gabite can be seen guarding the entrance.-

Tsunami: <Good, a fight. Finally, something I know how to handle.>

Shaun: "There must be more of them. Tsunami, take the Garchomp. Jessica, get the Gabite. L and I will take out the Golbat. Ready? Go!"

-They charge forward, Tsunami and Jessica in front.-

Garchomp: <What?! Take them down! Vlad, sound the alarm!>

Golbat Vlad: <Right away, sir!>

-He flies inside, screeching.-

Shaun: "Lightning!"

-The Pikachu shoots a Thunderbolt at the Golbat, but misses.-

Lightning: <Sorry, Shaun.>

Shaun: "It's fine, Light. Get em, girls!"

-Tsunami parries a Dragon Claw and answers the Garchomp with her own Metal Claw.-

-Meanwhile, the Gabite attacks Jessica with a Dragon Rage.-

Jessica: <Yeuughh! Ever heard of mouthwash?>

-She releases her internalized flame in a tight stream, engulfing the Gabite.-

edited 17th May '17 3:35:10 PM by SwiftSeraph

Outside the Shady House

Grunt: Well, you can't! Now beat it, before the Mayor comes!

(Mention of "the Mayor" sends a brief ripple of anxiety through the other assembled grunts.)

edited 17th May '17 5:38:00 PM by Uilleam

-Mallow notices Phaz-

Mallow: "Heya! You here for the trial?"

Route 5, North, Trial Gate

Phaz: Uh? Oh, yes! I am! Can we start?

sorry for taking so long, but I needed to do a thing. Going to sleep to, sorry.

-After short but intense battle, the Gabite has been knocked out, and the Garchomp has been defeated and is being held down by Tsunami.-

Shaun: "Now, how many more of you are there?"

Garchomp: <Eghh...a flock of Zubats and Golbats, some Gible and Gabites, and, guarding the main room, my mate and a Crobat. But you won't get past them! You won't deface our shrine or rob it!>

Ace: "Calm down. We aren't thieves or vandals. We just want to look around."

Garchomp: <That's what they all say!>

-Shaun sighs.-

Shaun: "If that's what you feel, fine."

-He grabs a Revive and some Sitrus berries from his bag and revives the Gabite.-

Garchomp: <Huh?>

-Shaun hands the berries over to her.-

Shaun: "Here. You two eat these. You'll feel better."

-A look of suprise crosses the Garchomp's face.-

Garchomp: <You really aren't like the others. Thank you. I'll make you a deal - I'll convince my mate to let you in, but if he sees you damage anything or pocket something, he'll have all of your heads.>

Shaun: "Thank you."

-The Garchomp nods to the Gabite.-

Garchomp <Go with them; tell the guards what I said.>

-The Gabite nods and beckons Shaun and his team.-

edited 17th May '17 6:02:52 PM by SwiftSeraph

Po Town, Shady House

-Ahe crosses his arms and cocks his head slightly-

Ahe: What if I don't leave? And who's the Mayor?

Mallow: "Sure. You'll probably need a Pokemon who can smell things out, but I can help you with that. Come on in when you're ready to begin."

-She heads into the Jungle-

Team Iron Auxiliary Base

-Dr. Orlandeau looks over the formula left on his desk. He goes over it once, twice.-

Orlandeau: You're sure this will work?

Mister Bateman: "Sure"? No sir.

-The tiny man gives a small sigh.-

Mister Bateman: Testing has been... difficult due to the quantity of nectar we can acquire, and the variant qualities.

-Orlandeau runs his fingers down his long, pointed chin.-

Orlandeau: I think it's time we requested some aid from our... cohorts.

Mister Bateman: Best Berry?

Orlandeau: They likely have stockpile of nectar for minor research - as well as the facilities to enact that research. I'll send a request.

-Mister Bateman nods.-

Orlandeau: Oh, one more thing: The VR room. Is it ready?

Mister Bateman: With the power supply reinforced now, and Miss Prokleti assuring me that Dr. Aulstyne's response algorithms are tested and in place, it should be ready. No matter which island we pick.

Orlandeau: Perfect. Then this is the last piece of the puzzle - see to it we can finish before the summer's end.

Mister Bateman: Bartholomew, with all due respect, I can have this finished before July with the proper resources.

-Orlandeau gives a toothy grin.-

Orlandeau: Good. You are dismissed.

-Bateman nods before leaving the room. Orlandeau gives a content smile as he starts writing up a draft of a letter of cooperation.-

Shady House

Grunt: I-if you don't leave, you, we'll-

(A sharp female voice cuts through the Grunt's like a knife.)

???: Hey, hey, what's this about some guy not leaving? Lemme deal with it!

(The Grunt freezes briefly, then quickly steps aside, as do the rest of the assembled underlings. Through the resulting gap strides a young woman - pale and red-haired, with a gaunt face dominated by magenta eyes and a constant predatory half-smile. Her outfit bears a resemblance to the female Grunt uniform, but incorporates cargo boots, ripped-up black stockings and a pair of large, spiked shoulder-mounted frills on top of the usual attire. Heading right up to Ahe, she stalks around him in slow circles, like a hawk watching its prey.)

???: (mock-casually) 'Sup. I'm the Mayor.

edited 17th May '17 6:58:48 PM by Uilleam

Po Town, Shady House

-Ahe nods in greeting-

Ahe: I'll just cut to the chase. I'm looking for some guys in gray cargo vests with lots of pockets on them. Seen anyone like that around here?

-Shaun and Co. have entered the main chamber.-

Garchomp: <There. Don't try anything.>

Shaun: "Thank you."

-He looks around, taking it all in. There's a lot of moon-themed imagery, and a throne lies at one end of the room. Shaun and Ace are drawn to a set of carvings on one side of the room. Tsunami stays by the entrance, wary, while Lightning, Ruby, and Jessica head over to the throne.-

Shaun: "Ace, look at these symbols. Look familiar?"

-Ace looks at the symbols.-

Ace: "Unown?"

Shaun: "Yeah. Give me a sec. 'In the begining, before humans lived, the god of life and the god of the moon came together.'

Ace: "Xerneas and Lunala?"

-Shaun nods.-

Shaun: "See?"

-He points to what appears to be an engraving of a deer with massive antlers and a large bat with curved wings.-

Shaun: "Let's see - 'These gods created a magical artifiact - the Lunar Pendant. A magical amulet capable of granting any wish.'"

Ace: "Like finding your missing parents..."

Heahea City, Hano Grand Resort

It's a lovely evening in Heahea City. Clear sky, shining moon, glittering stars. Tourists and locals alike are out and about on the town, enjoying the weather.

This is, after all, paradise.

However, its curious. People have noticed, throughout the day, a strange statue, of an unfamiliar mascot character. It looks like a stylized, chibi Darkrai, with a big L on its chest, sitting in front of the hotel. However, everyone has dismissed it as some sort of publicity stunt for a movie or something.

Now, as the hour grows late, throughout the building the sound of hissing can be heard. A certain gas rushes through the airducts.

Then the walls started melting.

Then people started collapsing.

Then the nightmares struck.

The Floating Fortress, Off the Coast of Alola

Lazarus: Haha, I slay me.

edited 17th May '17 7:27:41 PM by BluBeriPi

Shady House

(The Mayor blinks. Obviously she hadn't been expecting a response that was neither fearful nor combative.)

The Mayor: ...noooo? What makes you think anyone other than Team Skull cares about Po Town in the first place?

'tis late and I want time to think. okay if I postpone the fear toxin stuff till tomorrow, Beri?

Shady House

-Ahe shrugs-

Ahe: Eh, it's just that I'm looking for guys like that, and I figured something would've cropped up here.

Lush Jungle, past

-One battle later-

Fomantis: @_@

Tyto: -Preening- <That was easy for a skilled hunter like myself.>

Pici: -Sighs-

Well, let's try getting more of those ingredients for Mallow, and hopefully we won't end up disturbing any more wild mons.

Heahea City, today

-Has finally gotten a chance to look at my texts-

Elsewhere in Heahea

The Wanderer: -Looking at a map of Alola- It's been what, a month and a half since we've been here?

Pikachu: <Seems like it, though time doesn't really mean much to us multiversal travelers.>

-Pointing to the hotel-

<That said, shouldn't we do something about that?>

The Wanderer: I certainly want to, I'm sure I could easily squish whoever's causing this and all those reality anomalies, but my senses are telling me that we can't interfere, for now at least.

Pikachu: -Sparks up, annoyed- <Ugh...>

--

<But wait!>

The Wanderer: Eh?

Pikachu: <Maybe we can't fight and stuff because it would bring attention to us, especially from demons or the Red Talon, but if we stick around we could actually see those J-Team people in action.>

The Wanderer: -As Pikachu climbs on his shoulder- Yeah, I think I see your point. Let's go, buddy.

-And both seemingly disappear-

Route 5, North, Trial's Gate

Phaz nods.

Phaz: Are you all ready?

Cynthia: ~Yeah.~

Embry: <I can sniff things out!>

Takumi: <I think that means yes. Yes then.>

Phaz: Perfect, let's head in.

Lush Jungle

Phaz and his team come close to Mallow.

Phaz: So, what shall we do?

Lush Jungle

Mallow: "Oh, I need help making a dish called the Mallow Surprise and I need you to gather the ingredients for it. They should be fresh too."

Lush Jungle

Phaz: Okay... What are the ingredients?

Lush Jungle

Mallow: "Oh, I'll need a Mago Berry, Tiny Mushroom, Revival Herb, and Miracle Seed. Here's a Forage Bag to keep them fresh."

-She offers it-

Lush Jungle

Phaz: Thanks. I'll be trying to find them, then.

Embry: <Can we start with the Mago Berry?>

Phaz: Sure. You're smelling one?

Embry: <Ye!> -points at a nearby tree- <Right here!>

Phaz: ...I can climb this.

-one and half a second later...-

Almost... Touching... It... Yes!

-it would be very unfortunate to have a Pokemon attacking right as he is catching a Mago Berry.-