ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Naranja y Uva Academy

-To Student E-

Not that I know of.

Alola Route 12

Chloe: -Sitting on a large rock- That little museum by the Geothermal Power Plant seemed a little kitschy didn't it?

Chiyo: -Sitting next to her- Maybe a little, but that made it charming.

Beremices: -Eating a bunch of steamed Berries bought from said Power Plant between them-

Chloe: This ground's so rough, it'd probably tear up our shoes if we tried walking on it ourselves, like those rock formations over in [Madagascar].

Chiyo: -Amused- Well that was another reason I didn't try going to Mt. Lanakila, I can't just turn into wind like you and bypass all the obstacles.

Area Zero

Sombra: "Oh yeah, I remember hearing about that! It’s a really strong Pokémon too!"

-She looks around Area Zero, trying to scope out where it’s safe-

Sombra: "We should definetly try to avoid some of those weird Pokémon that she talked about though…"

Day 2035

It's been more than five years since I first arrived in the past. Looks like I was right, at least. I don't seem to be aging ever since the ultimate weapon went off - or if I am, it's even slower than what Cof's ritual caused. I'm probably immortal, then.

The cart that rides as part of the travelling caravan shakes, and Hoops' quill makes a line on the parchment, which they frown at before continuing writing.

After the ultimate weapon fired, the war was basically over. Kalos and the surrounding regions and kingdoms have been a lot quieter, at least, but I think a lot of the old anger is still there. I wouldn't be surprised if things start up again. And a few weeks ago the skies over Galar turned dark - the darkest day, I suppose, though I don't know what effects that will have on this timeline. I'm on my way there now to find out.

The cart comes to a sudden halt, and Hoops looks up in frustration. It seems that the caravan is being robbed - a group of bandits with their Houndour and Houndoom are moving down the caravan demanding the valuables and goods of the travellers.

Hoops' hand goes to their belt instinctively, but of course their pokéballs aren't there. A wave of loneliness washes over them, before they focus on the robbery at hand. Part of them wants to throw off this rough cloak and fight the bandits themself, but they're keeping a low profile right now. As far as everyone is concerned, the mysterious stranger who could summon their pokémon as if from nowhere is no more.

"Hand over the money, kid," the bandit is saying. Hoops thinks that this bandit calling them a kid is a bit rich, considering they can still see the acne on his face. They meet the bandit's gaze and glare at them.

"I don't have anything to give you," Hoops says. "I used the last of my money to get this caravan."

"Yeah, right," the bandit says. "I see that pouch around your neck. You must have something good in there."

The bandit is half right and half wrong. The pouch contains Hoops' gym badges - something worthless to everyone in this time, except for the one person who is carrying them.

"It's nothing you'd want," Hoops warns.

The bandit laughs. "Then we'll throw it away later. Hand it over if you don't want to get hurt."

The arm starts to react. Hoops knows they could take down these bandits in a second, but...

There are other people here, on carts made of wood and canvas. When there were a bunch of fire types here, getting into a fight wasn't ideal. What were they, really? A few pieces of metal. They could probably get replacements when they made it back to their time.

"Fine," they say. They take off the pouch and hand it over to the bandit, who smiles cruelly.

"Thank you kindly," the bandit says. He walks off, his Houndour following obediently behind him.

Once the bandits are gone, the woman seated next to Hoops turns to them. "Those damned bandits," she complains. "After the war, not enough of us have pokémon to stand up to them with, and they know it."

"Yeah," Hoops says, not really listening.

"Did you lose your partner in the war as well?" she asks.

Hoops hesitates. "In a sense. They're very far away now."

"Ah," the woman says. "Perhaps you could get a new one. I'm looking for a new partner as well."

Hoops' lack of further replies leave her unable to continue the conversation, so she gives up. Hoops goes back to writing.

It will be hard for me to train a new pokémon. Whatever I do, I know that I'll outlive them. I don't know that I'm prepared to lose anyone else.

Alola Route 13 Motel

Chloe: If I were by myself, some dumb rockslide blocking the Route until tomorrow wouldn't mean anything.

Chiyo: -Jokingly- Well if I'm such a burden you're free to leave without me.

Chloe: -Snorts- Yeah right.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 27th 2024 at 11:40:37 AM

Student E: That's good. If there's something we don't need, it's Shadowed legends like that Lugia.

A familiar, sinister chuckle echoes through the student's head.

Naranja y Uva Academy, past

-Doc and I share a look-

People who make things like that have a tendency to be ultimately self-destructive, I remember one instance of someone getting literally devoured by his own creation due to his arrogance when he lost control over it, but that's a story from my other line of work.

If no one else has any questions, we'll adjourn for today.

Aether House, today

Chiyo: -Sits quietly with Chloe- So this place is an orphanage right?

Chloe: Yeah, we could tell from the sign outside. "Where Pokémon and people huddle together."

Chiyo: If we stayed in Alola after, you know, you think we could've ended up here?

Chloe: I don't think it'd be here today if we did. The School would've stopped at nothing to get us back, probably would've ended up with people dead.

Chiyo: Like the Sunazawas...

Acerola: -To Chiyo- Hiya! You must be the new trial-goer.

-Looking at Chiyo a little more closely-

Wait, are you that Akala challenger from last year after the fires? I saw your picture in the newspaper.

Chiyo: -Scratching the back of her head out of slight embarrassment- Yeah, that's me.

Acerola: -Smiling- You brought hope to a lot of people of it with your Grand Trial, you know? But anyway, I'm Acerola and I'll be your Trial Captain today.

-Heading outside-

Follow me and we'll head over to the trial site.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 28th 2024 at 1:16:16 PM

Alola Route 14, last night

Chiyo: -Looking around at the area's general state of disrepair- It reminds me of the Poni facility...

Acerola: -In front of the abandoned Thrifty Megamart- So this trial's pretty simple. Inside this old place are a whole bunch of Ghost-type Pokémon, including the Totem. The totem's a bit of a trickster, and it likes to play hide-and-seek and mess around. If you take pictures of the other Ghost-type Pokémon inside, it'll definitely come out to get in on the fun and have its photo taken, too! As soon as you enter the building, your trial will begin.

Chiyo: -Nods- Got it.

Acerola: Ms. Chloe here has to stay outside too.

Chloe: Darn.

-To Chiyo-

Well Chiyo, you'll just have to tell me how it went after you beat it.

Chiyo: -To Chloe- Yeah, we'll see.

-She enters-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 30th 2024 at 4:39:14 AM

Area Zero

~CrobatOfTheStars

Mithos: "Those chumps? Don't worry, if you can't take care of them I can. Now let's get to Terapagos!"

-he starts heading for the cavern-

Edited by Umbramatic on Mar 30th 2024 at 10:09:46 AM

Levincia

Another day, another successful Gym Battle. Using a Tera-Dragon Donut, Poppy had just taken down Iono's Tera-Electric Mismagius, and earned her third Gym Badge.

Iono: And there you have it, folks! Another challenger showed their stuff and gave me a run for my money! What do you have to say about your victory, Poppy?

Poppy: It was nothing, really. I just have to keep getting stronger. Until I can ensure that the mistakes of the past can never happen again...

Poppy then walked away, sights now set on her next Titan.

Iono: Oh. W-well, thanks for tuning in to another Iono stream, everybody! Who knows what amazing challengers and equally amazing Pokemon we'll meet next time!

Poppy, meanwhile, healed up her Pokèmon and retrieved Crusher, Nessa and Stormwind from the box, as she didn't use them for the Gym Battle. The next objective? Titan Orthworm.

East Province Area Three

Poppy had brought out Sunrise and Crusher for her mission? Sunrise's purpose? To defeat Titan Orthworm. Crusher's purpose?

Poppy: Just act like a fool to draw the Titan out. It shouldn't be too hard, you are a Steel type, I reckon Orthworm would gravitate towards you.

Crusher: I'm not sure about this. I don't like being used to draw out a giant worm thing!

Sunrise: Don't worry! You'll be fine. Just relax!

Crusher was worrying.

Sunrise: ...Poppy, are you really sure we should be doing this? Leaving Crusher, who's terrified of like, everything, as bait for a giant worm? This is strange behaviour from you.

Poppy: Quiet, Sunrise. I think our target's about to take the bait.

Crusher then froze in his tracks as the ground began to shake beneath him. A Sandstorm was fast approaching, and it didn't look natural, like a Pokemon was summoning it. Then the ground broke beneath him, and he was shot high into the sky.

Sunrise: What the?!

The Titan Orthworm had come out to play, and now Crusher was trapped in its mouth.

Crusher: Help me! Poppy, Nessa... Sunrise! Anyone! Help! This thing is going to eat me!

Poppy: Yes! Here's our prey. You know what to do, Sunrise!

Sunrise: Seriously?! Crusher's trapped, and you want me to battle it?

Crusher, meanwhile, flailed helplessly in Orthworm's mouth.

Crusher: Sunrise, I know we haven't had the best relationship in recent times, but help me! I have no clue why Poppy isn't telling you to rescue me! Help!

Sunrise whispered underneath her breath.

Sunrise: Stormwind was right. What has gotten into you, Poppy?

Abandoned Thrifty Megamart, past

Beremices: -Defeats the Gengar opposing them with a Shadow Claw-

Chiyo: This place is creepy, but it's nothing compared to Poni.

-It's then that she's approached by what appears to be Acerola-

Acerola (?): Good job with the Trial, how'd you like to leave?

Chiyo: -Eyebrow raise- Leave? The Totem hasn't even shown up yet.

Acerola (?): It's really creepy here though, wouldn't you just like to leave and get your Z-Crystal.

Chiyo: -Eyes narrow- You're not fooling me.

Acerola (?): -Makes a Nightmare Face before disappearing, leaving behind a door that Chiyo is pretty sure wasn't there before-

Chiyo: It's back there, obviously.

-She enters-

Back Room

Chiyo: -Looking around- There's like, nothing in here.

That I can see...

-She takes out her phone in camera mode and looks down to see...-

Totem Mimikyu: <Tee hee! Do you see me?>

-The walls of the room fall away to reveal a featureless brick room, the area surrounding them in complete darkness-

Chiyo: -Looking around- This is not just an illusion, are we on a subplane?

Totem Mimikyu: -Immediately erupts with a glowing aura-

Chiyo: Okay, if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you're going to get!

-Throwing a Moon Ball-

Go Ceres!

Ceres: -Appears-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 31st 2024 at 3:30:32 PM

East Province Area Three

Poppy: Well, don't just stand there, Sunrise! Go on, Flamethrower!

However, Sunrise saw the obvious risk - Orthworm would drop Crusher, and from this height it wouldn't be good for him at all. So instead, she leaped into the air and onto Orthworm's head, not using Flamethrower at all.

Sunrise: Okay, so, how should I do this?

Crusher: I don't know, just get me out of here or I'm breakfast for this thing!

Sunrise saw that due to the fact she was quadruped, getting him out of there would be no easy feat, but decided to try it anyway.

Poppy: Sunrise, what are you - guess I'll have to do this myself!

She then sent out Shroomy.

Sunrise: Shroomy! Listen, I've no clue what's gotten into Poppy, but you have to come up here and help me get Crusher out of here!

Shroomy: Sure thing!

Shroomy didn't seem at all bothered by the fact Poppy was seemingly opposed to saving Crusher. Rather, he thought Poppy wanted him to save him. He lept up on Orthworm's head, trying to hold on as it tried shaking them off.

Shroomy: So long as it's going crazy, I can't get him out! Think you can distract it?

Sunrise: Alright.

She lept off its head.

Sunrise: Yoohoo! Big red thing straight off Arrakis Junior or something! Over here!

The Orthworm noticed her, and took the bait. Meanwhile, Shroomy, using his extended arms, managed to pull Crusher out of its mouth, carrying him over to Poppy.

Shroomy: Alright, Poppy! Here's Crusher, safe and sound and-

However, Poppy seemed to take no notice of this, rushing over to Sunrise, who, now that Crusher was out of its mouth, was battling it.

Poppy: Finally, you obey my orders!

Sunrise: Yeah, because Crusher's actually safe now! What the heck happened to you, Poppy? Genuinely.

Poppy: Now, let's finish this off!

She charged her Tera Orb with power, preparing to Terastallize Sunrise.

Sunrise: I expected nothing less, and yet am sorely disappointed at the same time.

With Sunrise Terastallized, defeating Titan Orthworm was a piece of cake. They had the Salty Herba Mystica in no time.

After the battle, Poppy flew to West Province Area One once again - this time, with a new destination in mind.

West Province Area One

Poppy, during dinner time, revealed to the team her plan.

Poppy: Listen up, everyone, there's something I need to tell you.

Donut: Oh? And that is?

Poppy: Tomorrow morning, we're heading for Cascaraffa. But we're not heading for the Gym. The Asado Desert is home to not one, but two Titans, so if we want to beat them and get ourselves the Sour Herba Mystica, we'll need to bring our A-Game. Which means no funny games like today's Titan hunt.

Sunrise: Crusher was in danger! And you wanted to leave him in Orthworm's mouth?

Poppy: Quiet, Sunrise. If I want to bring my brother back, I better see no failures from any of you, got it? After this, we'll hunt down the Spicy Herba Mystica - wherever it is. And if I see any of you fail me one way or another... I'll make sure you never forget. It's only fair you don't forget your mistakes, just like me...

Poppy then climbed inside her tent. This announcement shocked the rest of the team, sparking concern in all of them.

Stormwind: See! I told you! Something's up with her! Has she been possessed or something?

Shroomy: ...I think I know why Poppy's acting this way. I just hope she doesn't mean what she's saying... she'll get better, right?

Abandoned Thrifty Megamart, past

Chiyo: Ceres, use Moonblast!

Ceres: -Blasts Mimikyu with shining light-

Mimikyu: -"Neck" gets crooked-

Mimikyu: -Slashes with Shadow Claw-

Ceres: -Takes damage- <Oof!>

Mimikyu: -Cries out-

Banette: -Phases in-

Chiyo: Ceres, use Shadow Ball on the Banette!

Ceres: -Gathers a ball of Obscura and fires it at Banette-

Banette: -Takes major damage-

Mimikyu: -Goes for another Shadow Claw-

Ceres: -Manages to dodge this time-

Banette: -Stabs itself with a needle-

Ceres: -Feels a slight chill, but just tilts her head in confusion-

Banette: -In the red with a look of frustration-

Ceres: -Immediately faints Banette with her next Shadow Ball-

Mimikyu: -Grabs Ceres with a tendril and starts draining them with Leech Life-

Ceres: -Is brought down to under half health- <Ack!>

Chiyo: Use Meteor Mash!

Ceres: -Leaps up and punches Mimikyu with a starry fist-

Mimikyu: -Is sent reeling as its eyes glow-

-And smacks Ceres with their own starry fist-

Ceres: -Is brought down to the red, barely standing-

Mimikyu: -Cries out as a male Jellicent floats in-

Chiyo: We'll have to end this with a bang.

-Proceeds to do the Z-Move pose, ending with clanging her fists together and pointing her fists right at Mimikyu-

Ceres: -Spins as she drills into Mimikyu-

Mimikyu: -Takes major damage, but is still left standing as it and Jellicent faint Ceres with a Shadow Ball and Shadow Claw combo-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 31st 2024 at 1:20:03 PM

Silas’s foot fidgeted, he stared at the clock in the hotel room. Just a little bit until it was April 1st. Things had been quiet but he still hadn’t found where Roxy had vanished off to, or where his ship went, and it bothered him. Hacks sat next to him, resting his head on Silas’s leg, an old trick he had picked up years ago during his time as a support mon.

Silas took a deep breath, and scratched behind Hacks’s ears. “Really intent huh?”

~It worked long ago, kind of hard to keep being fidgety having a dog next to you huh?~

Silas nodded a bit, this was true. He looked to the others sitting in the room, Tae, Bishop, Blackquill and Snakeye. He gave them a wave. “We’re gonna be in some deep tauros shit soon.”

<Hoss, it’s AFD, we can only hope that ya just get turned into a Deoxys again,> Snakeye pointed out.

“I really don’t want to go back to dealing with Biohazard stuff,” Silas admitted.

<Whatever it is Grant-Dono… we are prepared,> Blackquill said.

The clock turned 12:00am, and Silas closed his eyes as April Fools Hit.

Silas opened his eyes slowly, he felt around himself carefully, he was still intact, in fact his hair was normal as well. He looked down to his left hand and saw the dark prosthetic with the gold fingertips. “Hm…”

~That’s… that’s weird,~ said Hacks. Silas looked over and saw him sitting in a seat next to him, the two were in an old car of some sort. Another model from the 1990s from the looks of it.

Silas checked his belt and found his pokeballs there, he still had his team, but he was somewhere… else entirely. Looking out the window he saw what looked to be a… giant wall in the distance. “The hell?”

~Hey, found something!~ Hacks said, pulling up what looked to be a manilla envelope. He dug through it and pulled out some official looking documentation.

The two looked over what it had to say.

~Well that’s fucking ominous,~ Hacks muttered.

Silas sighed and started the car, putting it in drive and heading off. “Ominous or not, we can’t just sit and wait for this day to be over, AFD has a weird pull over time and space, we could be stuck here a week and yet only 24 hours will pass.”

~Think we’ll be a week older?~ Hacks asked.

Silas said nothing, he just headed forward, following the road.

Hacks looked out the window, up to the skies above, thinking of his home. Rain started to come down, Silas turned on the wipers

Silas ran a hand over his team, counting down who was still left with him. He picked a ball and cracked it open, out appeared Bishop, who shook his head a little confused. He looked at the radio and flew into it. They passed through a tunnel, Silas turning on the headlights.

Turning off onto a dirt road, the car continued along, Silas just wanting to get through this day as fast as possible. The giant wall of the “Olympic Zone” as it was being called, whatever that was. He had done some reading on Area Zero and the Crater, what he could get his hands on, Bishop was only so good at his job.

Whatever this was, it was and wasn’t that, it was like that in many ways but also… not like that.

The car passed by a red light, and stopped. Silas and Hacks looked to each other, and instantly to open the doors. Nothing, no matter how much they fought the locks it wouldn’t budge, Silas started pounding at the door… even more so when the Car started to float.

~Hate this hate this hate this!~ Hacks repeated, throwing wild punches into the door, hoping to dent the door into opening.

“FuuuuuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKK!!” Was what Silas screamed, as the car flew into the red sphere.

Meanwhile, inside the Pokeballs…

superSparker [SS] started hassling mazingMushroom [MM] and risingFox [RF].

SS: We have to talk about Poppy.

RF: No kidding. She's been acting strange for days. First she's unenthusiastic about your evolution, then she's the same for beating Iono, then she tries to use Crusher as bait for Titan Orthworm, and what she said last night worries me even more.

SS: But why’s she like this now?

MM: I have a theory. It's her brother's… current state.

SS: Shroomy, what are you talking about?

RF: Oh, you haven't heard, have you, Shroomy? Basically, Poppy's brother went into a coma protecting her, and that's why she's been collecting all the Herba Mystica. It's to save him.

MM: I think maybe the guilt of feeling responsible for his coma is getting to her.

SS: Sounds plausible enough, but we don't know for sure. Maybe it's teenage angst?

RF: Either way, it feels like she's going to forgo Gyms for the Herba Mystica. And what she said about us failing… really worries me.

MM: I just hope she isn't true to her word on that. She'll feel better, and so will her brother, I know they will.

SS: I appreciate the optimism, Shroomy, but we won't know for sure until her next move.

superSparker [SS] ceased hassling mazingMushroom [MM] and risingFox [RF].

Asado Desert

Poppy was true to her word - in the worst way possible. She was out in the middle of the hot sun, in the Asado Desert, looking for the two enormous Pokèmon that were the Quaking Earth Titans.

Poppy: Where in the world are you, Titans?

Eventually, she noticed a strange, metallic Donphan rolling nearby. Not only that, but it was seemingly guarding something alongside another Donphan - a Donphan that looked a lot more… primal than regular Donphan. And they were both enormous.

Poppy: There you are.

She sent out Shroomy and Lila to face the Titans in a Double Battle.

Shroomy: Are you sure we should be doing this?

Poppy: Just take down those two weird Donphan for me, alright? Friendly reminder, no goofing around.

Lila: When have we ever goofed around mid-battle?

Shroomy: Whatever. Surely if we fight just fine, we'll be okay, right?

The two Titans then took notice of Shroomy and Lila. They got into Double Battle formation, ready to defend the Herba Mystica.

Poppy: Perfect.

Shroomy and Lila used both their moves on Great Tusk, but it was defended by Iron Treads, who took the hits instead.

The move hit both Shroomy and Lila, who were both blown back by the attack.

Poppy: If you focus your attacks on one, they'll both go down much slower. Shroomy, focus on the metallic one, Lila, go for the caveman-looking one.

Shroomy: Are you sure? We could take on one at a time just fine!

Poppy: I have no idea what you're saying, but I don't need you to disagree with me! You're only here because I need to save my brother!

Shroomy: Poppy, I-

Lila: I have to try, Shroomy! For Poppy!

Shroomy: But Poppy's not making any sense!

The fur around Lila's neck turned pink, signifying her change into a Fairy type thanks to Protean. She then traveled around Great Tusk's body in a fighting flurry, only for Iron Treads to take advantage of this.

The move sent Lila flying towards the ground, where she was caught by Shroomy, only for the next move to take them both out of the fight.

Poppy's teeth gritted as she returned them both to their Pokeballs, sending out Stormwind and Sunrise.

Stormwind: Sunrise, I’m starting to think I should just carry Poppy away from here. I can't even do much against Ground types!

Poppy: Well? Don't just stand there! Fight them!

Stormwind sighed.

Stormwind: Forgive me, Sunrise. But she leaves me no other choice.

The attack aimed for Great Tusk, which actually did good amounts of damage - however this was followed up by a brutal beatdown.

Stormwind was knocked out of the sky.

Both attacks left Stormwind looking like a dead seagull. He was still alive, but the Titans weren't kind to him in the slightest.

Poppy returned him, and sent out Donut.

Donut: What in the world are those things in front of me? …Ew. I'm not working with you.

Sunrise: Seriously? I'm afraid we kind of have to. I'm starting to think Poppy's mental state depends on it!

Donut: Alright, fine, I'll work with you, just - wait. What do you mean her mental state depends on it?

Sunrise: I'll explain later. For now…

Both the moves landed on Iron Treads, doing a good chunk of damage to it.

Sunrise added some extra damage to it.

Donut: Hey, how come everyone else is getting cool new moves and I don't? Also, its so hot out here… like my body's burning up!

Sunrise: I don't think it’s the heat, I think it’s your body!

Donut looked down on his body, which was heating up - almost like he was about to unleash a Fire type move.

Donut: What? Wait. You're right… Aw yeah! It's new move time! Take this!

He crashed right into Iron Treads with it, and it looked like it took serious damage with it.

Donut: Yeah! Alright!

Maybe this battle was starting to turn around… until Great Tusk did something none of them saw coming.

The attack absolutely mowed down both Donut and Sunrise, leaving only two Pokemon left. Poppy begrudgingly brought them out to see if they could do something, anything.

Crusher: Yawn… where are we?

Nessa: Look, Crusher! New friends! We could ride them!

Crusher: Those aren't… Nessa! We have to get out of here?

Nessa: Oh, why?

The attacked blitzed Crusher and Nessa the same way it did Donut and Sunrise. They didn't stand a chance.

Poppy looked at her Pokeballs in her bag, simultaneously feeling defeated and infuriated. With no reason to stay there any longer, she rushed to the Pokemon Center after the absolute massacre that had just occurred.

CW: references to death

Pewter City, Owen's House (June 2022)

When Tyrie was finished telling his story, everyone else present was staring at him with looks of shock and sympathy. Owen and Stipax, in particular, looked absolutely shocked, while Nautilu, Crina, Chasmo, and Saura were all flashing each other looks of concern. Eurypedis shook his head and turned away, Anomalo looked sympathetic despite not being able to look directly at Tyrie, Cephalo face-faulted, Gwana was giving a look that simply said "whut", Archie looked relatively contemplative, and Rhamphor and Steggy's eyes were nearly bugging out of their skulls. Tyrie looked around at everyone, confused.

<Huh?> asked Tyrie. <What's wrong...?>

There was some tense silence for a few moments.

<Should we tell him?> asked Stipax.

<I'm not really sure how he'll take it,> said Nautilu.

"I think it's best for someone here to tell Tyrie what happened," said Owen.

<Welp. 'Spose it'll have to be me, then,> said Chasmo.

<What's wrong?> asked Tyrie.

<Put simply, based on what I'm hearin'... well, sorry to say it, but your parents were terrible.>

<Huh?!> cried Tyrie. <T-they weren't all that bad!>

<They literally bullied you and called you "Prince Panic",> said Gwana.

<B-but they're right, aren't they?> asked Tyrie. <I panic about a lot of things...>

<Are you kidding?!> Cephalo said, laughing a bit. <Your parents are the real cowards!>

<You already have the makings of a true leader and don't even know it yet,> said Eurypedis. <However, you do need a lot of training. You cannot simply run away from your enemies.>

<I know...> said Tyrie sadly. <I wish I could be like my parents... they were so brave...>

Owen glanced over at Stipax with a look of sympathy, who nodded. He approached Tyrie sadly.

<Tyrie... your parents... well, they weren't all that brave,> said Stipax.

<Of course they were!> cried Tyrie. <They risked their lives fighting off that enemy!>

<There was no enemy,> said Gwana with annoyance. <That was an earthquake.>

Tyrie blinked. <...Oh.>

<Tyrie, your parents did nothing but engage in family drama,> said Nautilu. <They bullied you relentlessly, as Gwana said, but they also fought amongst each other and talked about how terrible everyone was; they laughed at you because you didn't want to eat... "peasant bird" meat— more on that later— they doubted your abilities as king; they kill others because they infringe on their territory; they denied you food multiple times; and to top it all off, they died for nothing. You became a king because your parents suffered a foolish death— and given how they ruled, it is absolutely no wonder you don't know what a king does.>

Tyrie looked down sadly.

<N-no...> he muttered. <My parents... I thought they were...>

<I’m sorry, Tyrie…> said Stipax.

Tyrie said nothing, he just looked down in sadness. The group’s expressions, even those of Eurypedis and Gwana, turned to sympathy. Nautilu turned to face Owen.

<Should… we still tell him who the ‘peasant-birds’ were…?> he whispered.

“...Peasant-birds?” asked Owen. “I mean, I heard Tyrie talk about how his parents gave him meat and laughed at him because they didn’t want to eat it, but… I didn’t specifically hear him mention ‘peasant birds’.”

Nautilu gave his Trainer a look of slight annoyance, then whispered in his ear. Owen listened, and ever so slowly his eyes widened with horror as he slowly realized what Nautilu was getting at. He pulled away from Nautilu and stared at the sole Poke Ball on his belt with horror. Stipax, noticing Owen’s expression, tilted his head.

<Owen?> asked Stipax. <What’s wrong?>

Owen turned to face Stipax and whispered:

“... Tyrie’s father killed Teryx’s parents.”

Stipax’s eyes instantly went wide, and seconds later, he burst into tears. Tyrie noticed and went up to Stipax sympathetically, his sad expression having changed to one of concern.

<Stipax?> asked Tyrie. <What’s wrong?>

Stipax was so saddened he could barely speak, but eventually managed to say:

<It’s worse than I thought… I don’t know how you’re going to take it…>

<Take what?> asked Tyrie. <I’ve never taken anything…>

A few other mons were starting to notice Stipax, too. Chasmo was looking over at Stipax with deep concern, while Anomalo looked similarly concerned. Gwana, meanwhile, merely had an eyebrow raised, but her concern for Stipax was still clear.

<Stipax?> asked Chasmo. <Ya aight?>

<Did something happen?> asked Anomalo.

Stipax nodded.

<Think you could tell us?> said Gwana.

Stipax looked down.

<I- I’m not sure if I should,> said Stipax. <I’m not sure if he’d overhear.>

Chasmo blinked.

<You mean Teryx?> asked Chasmo.

Stipax nodded– and all at once the other three knew what he was getting at.

<Oh…> said Chasmo sadly. <Oh, you mean the ‘peasant-bird’ thing…>

Stipax nodded sadly.

<...oh yeah, that,> said Gwana. <Honestly, though, couldn’t those two have just been any random Archeops?>

<It’s them, most likely, I’m afraid,> said Chasmo. <We all know that they died via a Tyrantrum attack, and them infringin’ on the Tyrantrum’s territory would be a pretty valid reason for a tyrant like him to attack them.>

<Oh no…> said Anomalo simply.

<We don’t know when Tyrie died, though,> said Gwana.

<I mean… that’s true,> said Chasmo. <But remember, Tyrie said he knew it was fall when he died and when he got that meal because he saw the leaves fallin’ from trees. We know for a fact that parents died on October 11th.>

<Oh,> said Gwana simply.

And then it struck her.

<...OH,> she said. <Oh sweet Arceus how are we going to tell him?!>

<Pretty sure he’s already heard everythin’ we’ve said,> said Chasmo.

<No, not Tyrie!> Gwana snapped. <Teryx! If he finds out about this–>

<Hah!> Chasmo chuckled. <Look at you, huh? Stipax’s had quite the effect on ya!>

<What, I can’t relate to other mons’ parents’ deaths?!> snapped Gwana.

Chasmo just chuckled knowingly, while Archie was grinning.

Gwana looked over at him in annoyance.

<Well…> Stipax muttered. <If Tyrie already knows about it maybe he could tell Teryx…?>

<Depends,> said Chasmo. <Hey, Tyrie! Ya hearin’ us over here?>

There was no response.

<Tyrie?> asked Chasmo.

He and the rest of the mons all turned to face Tyrie, only to find him gone. Gwana sighed.

<Oh don’t tell me…> she said.

“He had to go to the bathroom,” said Owen. “He didn’t hear anything you said, don’t worry.”

<Oh, that’s good,> said Gwana.

“Still, though… someone has to tell Teryx eventually,” said Owen. “And I think Tyrie would be just the candidate to do it. Him and Stipax.”

Stipax blanched. <Me?!>

Owen nodded. “I’m sure he’d be able to handle it, Stipax. You two are very close with each other.”

<I… I don’t want him attacking Tyrie again, though…> said Stipax.

<But then he’d know that Tyrie wasn’t the one who did it,> Chasmo pointed out.

Stipax paused.

<Huh,> he said, wiping away his tears. <That… that’s true, actually…>

He took a deep breath.

<O-okay, then,> he said. <I’ll do it.>

Owen smiled, then went over to pet Stipax on the head.

“I had a feeling you’d come around eventually,” he said.

<But… who’s gonna tell Tyrie?> asked Stipax.

<I was the first one to figure it out,> said Nautilu. <I should be the one to tell him.>

“Fair enough,” said Owen.

<But should we tell him once he’s done in the bathroom?> asked Stipax.

“Not right away,” he said. “We should probably wait until Rhamphor’s done telling his story. And Archie, too, if he wants to.”

<Okay,> said Stipax. <That works.>

And at that moment, Tyrie came back into the room, having come back from outside.

“Hi, Tyrie!” said Owen.

<Hi guys!> said Tyrie. <I feel a lot better now! I had to go to the bathroom, but I don’t feel as sad anymore!>

The group of mons looked at each other with sympathy, knowing what they would have to tell Tyrie later. Tyrie blinked.

<Huh?> asked Tyrie. <What’s wrong?>

“We’ll… tell you later,” said Owen, motioning for Tyrie to approach him. “For now… I think Rhamphor should tell his story. I-if he wants to, of course.”

<Oh, absolutely!> said Rhamphor cheerfully. <Believe me, Tyrie, you are far from the only one that had members of your fellow species treat you differently based on who you are.>

<Really?> asked Tyrie.

Rhamphor nodded.

<Huh,> said Gwana.

<What happened?> asked Stipax.

<Well, I’m glad you asked!> said Rhamphor. <Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? It was millions of years ago, and I was with a group of my fellow Aerodactyl…>

In a hotel at Cascaraffa…

Poppy was staying for the night in one of the rooms a hotel offered for traveling trainers. She had brought every single Pokemon of hers out to make a… scathing statement.

Poppy: What. On Earth. Do you call that?

Donut: …Losing?

Shroomy: Now's not the time, Donut. Poppy, listen. I have no idea what's gotten into you recently, but its not okay. Me, Sunrise and Stormwind have been genuinely concerned for your mental state, and what you said back there didn't make it any better.

Sunrise: Look. I… I can relate to feeling guilty for a past mistake. It weighs you down and makes you feel like you aren't worthy of life. But there's no reason to start treating people with a cold and uncaring attitude.

Crusher: I… I can relate to that, too.

Lila: And look at all the good you've done! You let Stormwind show that giant Bombirdier who's the boss! And you gave me a second chance at life! You're a savior to me, you know that!

Shroomy: See, Poppy? You aren't alone. You have your Pokemon by your side at all times! We understand how you feel! So-

Poppy: None of you have a single clue about how I feel!

Poppy's sudden outburst shook the whole team.

Nessa: P-Poppy?

Poppy: Newsflash! None of you have any idea the nights I've spent wishing I could go back in time to save him… Brayden…

Stormwind: I knew it! It was Brayden making her so unlike herself! …His coma, I suppose.

Shroomy: Shut up, Stormwind. Besides, it was my theory.

Poppy: … But when I discovered the Herba Mystica, I had a second chance! I could save him! I decided I'd get them all! All I needed were people who'd listen to my commands. Now, take a wild guess who didn't do that.

Lila: When did we not listen to commands?

Poppy: Let's see… when Stormwind got trapped in that Rock Tomb against Klawf, and then again when he wanted to be a total showoff against Bombirdier! Not to mention Sunrise trying to help the bait against Orthworm, and then most recently, that same Pokemon tried running away from those weird Donphan! I would be laughing at how much of a coward he is, if it also wasn't so infuriating!

Sunrise: It wasn't his fault you sent him against an opponent he wasn't ready for!

Poppy: If he truly wasn't ready, he would've fought and lost instead of running off with no glory!

Shroomy: What’s this about glory? Who are we, anyway? Just tools to you now?

Poppy: Exactly! So why don't you make like the tools you are and might I add are supposed to be, and actually be useful and listen to me?!

Shroomy, Sunrise and Crusher gasped. Donut, Nessa, and Stormwind’s jaws hanged from their mouths in shock. A single tear dropped from Lila’s eye.

Lila whispered underneath her breath.

Lila: To think I called you my savior…

The team started to leave in shock, processing what she just said about them. Poppy did not care.

Poppy: That's right! And don't come back until you're willing to actually act like tools, not fools!

Later that night, on the outskirts of Cascaraffa, what Poppy said kept ringing in Shroomy’s head. He was angry, how dare she call everyone, his friends, tools?! Then, he had an idea. He was going to battle Great Tusk and Iron Treads - at least he thought that's what they were called - again, all by himself. Just to prove to Poppy he wasn't a tool, none of them were, for that matter.

As the sun rose, he tiptoed past everyone, still sound asleep, and made for the Asado Desert.

Abandoned Thrifty Megamart, past

Chiyo: Go Beremices!

Beremices: -Appears-

Chiyo: Use Shadow Claw!

Beremices: -Slashes Jellicent with paws laced in Obscura-

Jellicent: -Is hit but glows oddly-

Mimikyu: -Goes for a Wood Hammer-

Jellicent: -Fires a Water Pulse-

Beremices: -Splits into two pairs to dodge the attacks-

Chiyo: Use Bullet Seed!

Beremices: -A through D start chewing on a fruit before spitting the seeds at high speed at Jellicent-

Jellicent: -Faints-

Mimikyu: -Enters a rage as it tries Playing Rough with Beremices-

Beremices: -Duck under its strikes-

Chiyo: Alright Beremices, show that you can Play Rough too!

Beremices: -B knocks Mimikyu over as A, C, and D proceed to start using its body as a trampoline-

Mimikyu: -Smacks the Maushold into the air with Wood Hammer-

Beremices: -Go flying-

Chiyo: This might not be a good idea but I don't want to be in here any longer...

-Does the Z-Move dance, ending with Chiyo rising up as if she's a blooming flower-

Beremices: -Hold their paws up in midair as a beam of green light falls upon Mimikyu, exploding in the shape of a flower-

Mimikyu: -Stands unmoving for a couple seconds as the smoke clears- <Me me... curse you...>

-And faints-

Beremices: -Gently land on the ground-

-The area then goes completely dark, before Chiyo and co are left outside the back door-

Chiyo: Okay, we won.

-She immediately bends over, panting as her face is left wet with sweat-

I know Tagg said it's generally not advisable to use Z-Moves too close together in tandem, even for us, but I'm really feeling it right now.

Beremices A: -Offers a bottle of Fresh Water that Chiyo is unsure where they even managed to get it from-

Chiyo: -Taking it anyway- Thank you, you and Ceres were great out there.

-Managing to straighten herself-

Let's get back to Acerola and Chloe, I think I'd like to go to bed after this.

-They then head out the store-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Apr 1st 2024 at 5:06:19 AM

Cascaraffa outskirts

The sun was up in the sky, it was a brand new day. And Poppy's Pokemon were starting to wake up.

Donut: Yawn. Another day, another… I'm not sure, actually. Morning, Sunrise! ...Did i just make a pun?

Sunrise: Ha ha. Very funny.

Donut: What? I'm just trying to lighten the mood.

Crusher: So, what happens now?

Sunrise: Crusher, if I can be honest, I don't know what- Wait a sec. Where's Shroomy?

Stormwind: Why, he’s right - Shroomy? He's not here like last night.

Nessa: Shroomy? Where are you? He disappeared, dad!

Donut: You're right! …Anyways, you guys wanna get some breakfast?

Sunrise: Donut! How can we have breakfast? Shroomy's gone and we have no clue where to find him!

Stormwind: Think, guys. What would I do if I were Shroomy?

Donut: I just remembered something.

All the members’ heads turned to face Donut.

Donut: I think Poppy's phone tracks each and every one of us Pokemon. She didn't seem opposed to us leaving, but technically she never released any of us. So why don't we use that to track Shroomy?

Lila: Oh, no. We're not going back. The only reason we would go back is to destroy our Pokeballs and release ourselves, which if I can be honest, I think Poppy wouldn't be too bothered by.

Donut: Come on! I know you guys were… hurt by what she said…

Lila: 'Hurt' is an understatement.

Donut: …But I still have faith in her, and her brother. After all, if he hadn't found me… Nope, stay on topic. I'm sure if we go back and ask for help, Poppy will realize her wrongdoings!

Sunrise: Right. Well, anyone else have any ideas?

No one else seemed to have any other ideas that were sure to work.

Donut: Yes! We're going back for Poppy!

Lila: Arceus have mercy on our souls.

Cascaraffa

Donut, who conveniently remembered the room number, knocked on the door, and soon a conveniently fully-dressed Poppy opened it.

Poppy: Oh. It's you. Come to act the way you should?

Donut then immediately grabbed her Rotom Phone - an action everyone else wanted him to perform - and checked Shroomy's location. Once it was figured out, he dashed out of the room, Poppy in hot pursuit.

Donut: I got his location!

Stormwind: Yeah, where is he?

Donut: Right in the middle of the Asado Desert… lovely. Anyways, we better get going, Poppy will be here any second demanding her phone!

Poppy: Give me back my phone!

Sunrise: Here she comes! Let's go!

And so, the Pokemon dashed all the way to the Asado Desert, Poppy following closely behind.

Asado Desert

Donut: Why does the desert have to be so hot all the time…

Crusher: Look! There he is!

Sure enough, up ahead was Shroomy - battling the two Titans once again by himself. The Titans seemed exhausted - miraculously, Shroomy was on the verge of winning.

Shroomy: Oh, hey guys! You're just about to watch me prove Poppy wrong once and for all!

Poppy: My phone… just within reach…

Shroomy: Aw, and you brought her with you too! You shouldn't have.

Donut: Listen, Shroomy-

The Rotom Phone in his hands was snatched back by Poppy.

Poppy: Gotcha! Now- hey, wait.

Donut: What's-

Everyone turned around to see both Great Tusk and Iron Treads eating the Herba Mystica. Now not only were they back to full health, but they had also received a power boost.

Shroomy: You have got to be kidding me.

Mitchell and his Pokemon have just finished watching a trailer for a summer movie.

"What the Trio did I just watch?", Mitchell asked, dumbfounded.

<Please tell me you won't make a Reacts video about this, Becky,> Gavroche says.

<A bit late for that, Gav,> Rebecca admits, pointing to the [You Tube] thumbnail titled "Bec*Star REACTS to PR 1 M 0 RD 1 A Reveal Trailer!"

<They put a bitta everything in that trailer, seems like,> Vasilissa comments.

<What mysterious creatures,> Edmond ponders. <How will they fight?>

<It will not be natural,> Esmeralda claims. <Perhaps not even convincing.>

<I do hope the film is more imaginative,> Oliver says, <than this trailer is.>

<The Occulture designs need a lot of work,> Auguste complains. <Look at how sloppy Roaring Moon's markings are. They're like instant marker work!>

<Are those two humans supposed to be a couple?>, Christine asks.

Angela hacks up an herb-scented hairball.

The rest of the day was largely uneventful for Mitchell and his team.

Asado Desert

Poppy: Right. Well, dear Titans, I think there has been a big misunderstanding. So I think we'll just leave…

The Titans both let out mighty roars. They weren't letting her or her Pokemon get away.

Poppy: I see. So, looks like a battle, then. Lila-

Before she could finish her sentence, Lila jumped into action, launching a flurry of attacks. She didn't want to take actions from Poppy anymore, not after what she said.

Some of the other Pokemon acted similarly, launching all of their attacks at the Titans in rapid succession.

Poppy: What's gotten into them? They don't battle like this!

Lila: Oh gee, I wonder why! Ever considered its because we don't like being called tools?

Poppy: But I never-

At that moment, all of what she had done flashed into her mind. Her treatment of her Pokemon, and what she had said to them last night, it all came rushing back to her. A single tear left her eye.

At the same time, the Titans had managed to survive the flurry of attacks by everyone else, with Great Tusk unleashing a deadly move.

The move sent everyone crashing on the ground right in front of Poppy, who ran off to properly process her feelings. Crusher misunderstood this.

Crusher: See? Who's the coward now, huh?!

Poppy, tears streaming down her eyes, had only four things to say.

Poppy: What have I done?

Continuing to panic, she thought back on her past.

Poppy: Brayden… who am I?

She thought of the day she first met Donut. The day she first met Shroomy. The day she met Sunrise and Crusher. The day she met Nessa. The day she met Stormwind. The day she met Lila. And then, it hit her.

Her guilt had completely messed with her head, and yet, she wasn't alone. She had her Pokemon, her friends, her comrades. And she had nearly ruined everything. She then had an idea. An idea that was obviously risky to say the least, but she had to do it.

Poppy’s Pokemon lay defeated on the floor. They were preparing to get demolished by another Headlong Rush, when…

Poppy: Hey, you big dummies!

The Titans turned to face her.

Poppy: My name is Poppy Campbell. I come from Fortree City in the Hoenn region, and I have something to say. Everyone, I'm sorry I nearly took you all for granted, saw you as tools, and nearly ruined everything.

Everyone lifted their heads to listen to her.

Poppy: You aren't tools at all. You're… you're my friends. Comrades. And I nearly let my guilt destroy everything we had. So, let me make it up to every single one of you!

Great Tusk roared, and charged toward her, preparing another Headlong Rush. Poppy closed her eyes.

Poppy: Brayden… forgive me.

Sunrise: She's going to-!

Lila: No! I won’t let that happen!

Lila got on her feet and begun to run after Great Tusk.

Donut: No, Lila! You have no chance of outrunning that thing!

Lila: Yes I do!

Lila picked up speed out of sheer determination, tears of that same feeling leaving her eyes. Poppy opened her eyes to see Lila running towards her.

Poppy: Lila? What are you doing?!

Lila: I’ll… never let that beast hurt you! I’ll never let it hurt my savior! NEVER!

Lila then began glowing a bright blue - which let everyone know what exactly was about to happen. Within moments she turned from quadruped to bipedal, as she stopped in front of Poppy, unleashing a new move, and her new appearance for all to see.

The flurry of leaves released from Lila’s flower yo-yo not only stopped Great Tusk’s Headlong Rush, but also did enough damage to send it backwards, crashing right into Iron Treads.

Poppy’s tears had now turned into tears of joy.

Poppy: Lila, I…

Lila: The fact you were willing to take a Headlong Rush to the face for everyone… that proves to me who you really are, Poppy.

Poppy: …Thank you so much.

She wiped the tears from her eyes, saw that the two Titans weren't quite finished yet, and called out to her entire team.

Poppy: Listen up, guys! I've got a plan to take down these two - and it involves every single one of you!

Nuvema Town, about two weeks ago

A shout out to AnimeBoyIanPower who gave me permission to use his characters for a cameo appearance

A young blond teenage boy had just finished a [PowerPoint] slideshow presentation he set up for his parents, who were seated in the couch with Pokémon on their lap. On his mother's lap was a Pikachu with a heart-shaped tail, and on his father's was an Oshawott.

Ian's Mom: Copying those Kalosian supers was a bit too on-the-nose, though. Think they'll get mad?

Ian's Dad: Eh, they'll probably think it's a bunch of cosplayers stepping up in an emergency.

Ian: Well, I hope that clarifies everything. The last thing I want is you guys being jumped by a bunch of Templars unprepared and why you shouldn't touch or listen to mysterious talking feathers that attach themselves to your things.

Ian's Dad: The clone of you that's evil is a lot to unpack. Let's talk about that in depth some other time.

Ian's Mom: This does explain why Evelyn's father has been on-edge lately. Poor man needed that vacation more than I already thought he did.

Ian's Dad: Being overworked does that to you. And with what I've been hearing about Macro Cosmos...

He shuddered.

Beat.

Ian's Dad: We can still take vacations, right?

Ian: Oh, we can. You can refer to the map on the coffee table to avoid the hubs of Templar activity. I asked Miss Priscilla about that and she was happy to oblige. She even leaked out a decoy map just in case someone tries to leak it to the Templars. The Stormchaser usually keeps the bad guys out but they're not taking any chances.

Ian's Mom: Fascinating. And this is all connected to the stone artifact you and Miss Priscilla were studying?

Ian's Dad: I was about to ask about that. The stone seemed inert when we asked your chemist friend about it. If I didn't see those pictures you and your friend took with my own eyes...

Ian: It's hard to believe at first, but the stone activates only in a two-week span between March and April. I've asked Miss Priscilla to look into it, and I put forth a few theories myself. And after all these years we still know so little about it other than the fact that it's dangerous at that time.

Ian's Dad: That explains all the secrecy. And why you needed all that lead for your previous metalworking class project.

Ian: I mean, wrought iron can hold some of its power well enough if you let it vent but it's really only lead that's strong enough to keep it under control enough to be undetectable when active.

Ian's Mom: I was actually more worried about the lead than any of the other things in the J-Team.

Ian's Dad: I'm sure the equipment we bought for handling it should be sufficient. Though thank Arceus we still have that shed out the back. A nice and safe spot for a workshop.

Ian's Mom: I'm glad you decided to have this talk with us. And that you shipped that stone away already. Why did you need a separate lead box? Couldn't you have kept it in the container you made for it?

Ian's Dad: And why not have an armed escort? I'm sure PEFE could have security to spare.

Ian: Well, an artisan wand like the Pollon with a gem in it is going to attract attention, but won't attract any attention if it's empty. I sent the finished product to my friend Tommy to inspect it and give it the thumbs up. He knows how to test these things, though I question some of his methods sometimes.

Ian: And he told me it was secure enough. Plus, by using the regular postal service, I've basically kept the stone hidden in plain sight. They won't be able to sense it through much of its journey. Evelyn and I noticed its powers in the weeks before it became active.

Ian's Dad: I see. Though I think you could've used a thicker lead box.

Ian: It's already in transit. I'm sure it'd have been in one of PEFE's secure vaults by now. While it's only two weeks, a lot can happen if it falls in the wrong hands.

Ian's Mom: Like those terrorists who took over that one ship in that sea lane. I don't even want to imagine what they're capable of. Those "School" folks may be capable of so much worse.

Ian's Dad: Good thing the Aurabolts showed those creeps what for. I'm wondering if they're hiring right now.

Ian's Mom: Honey...

Ian's Dad: Come on, babe, we'll look good in tights. I always said you looked like Margot Kidder, and that would make me the Christopher Reeve.

Ian's Mom: Oh you.

Ian rolled his eyes as his parents devolved into lovesick adolescent teasing.

Ian: I'll leave you two Luvdiscs alone. If all goes according to plan, it'll be there before it becomes active later this week.

As he walked to the exit door, he heard a buzzing from his Xtranceiver. He picked it up and saw a note from the post office. What he read left him mortified. This was not unnoticed by either of his parents or the Pokémon on their laps.

Ian: Shit.

Ian's Mom: What is it, dear?

Ian's Dad: What's it say?

Ian: Mr. Salberg, we regretfully inform you that your package sent to this address in Paldea has been stalled due to redirected shipping traffic. The safety of both your parcel and the crew is our primary concern and rest assured we will keep you posted on any developments. Our current estimated time of arrival to the recipient will be on March 31st, 2024, Paldean time.

He stood in silence for a brief moment.

Ian: I just had to open my mouth. I just HAD TO SAY IT!

Ian's Mom: It's not your fault; you can't account for everything.

Ian's Dad: Shit happens. Only thing you can do is tell your friends at PEFE about it. I'm sure they can handle something like that.

Ian: I certainly hope so. I'll set up a video call today before dinner.

Paldea, in the wee hours of the morning

A buzzing noise was heard from Tommy Petersen's phone. At first he tried to ignore it, but then a chill came down his spine. He picked it up, squinting at the text he could barely read, but got the gist of it. He mustered as much energy as he could from his fatigued, non-morning person frame and made his way to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and set up a laptop.

Kanto, breakfast time

Priscilla had just finished setting up a sumptuous and kind of pretty-looking breakfast when she heard a buzz on her phone. Congee with a smiley face on it, steamed mantou with condensed milk, and a side of meat dumplings. Beside it was a piping hot cup of tea and a cup of sweetened silken tofu.

Priscilla: Murphy, put my inbox on the screen.

Murphy: Right away!

The Porygon does what he's told. Priscilla took a sip of her tea but then stopped, just barely stopping a spit take, as she realized what just transpired.

Priscilla: Oh, we've done fucked up.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Apr 10th 2024 at 6:20:41 PM

Pain, he woke up in pain. Get up, slowly, check everything and make sure you’re still intact. It was a stinging burning pain, he opened his eyes and looked about. He was under the rubble of the car, and he could see a faint yellowish glow around him. Great… just great, if something was glowing a sickly yellow it definitely wasn’t good for his health.

Creaking, off the car got pushed, he looked up and saw Hacks, a little bruised but otherwise together. ~You okay?~

“Could be better,” Silas said, letting Hacks help him up onto his feet. “I’m not dead.”

~Yeah, that’s something, still got your team?~

Silas held up the belt, and moved slowly, it stung, whatever this sickly yellowish glow was, it stung. Supposedly the energy of Area Zero radiated… but it didn’t radiate like this, did it? He couldn’t think, he was in a lot of pain.

He heard shuffling, Hacks dug something out and darted back over. Silas felt something wrap around his neck, and the pain abated, he took a deep breath in. <Thanks.>

~You’re welcome.~

Silas looked over himself, he was a lucario again. <Huh, how’s this working?>

~One, Area Zero doesn’t have actively harmful radiation. Two, radiation doesn’t cause actual pain and damage, it damages your DNA but the way you were moving made it clear it was something more… toxin related. So, since steel typing includes toxin resistance.~

<Smart I suppose, we’re still stuck in this area… I think.>

~Yeah, Area Not-Zero as I’m calling it. Or Olympic Zero, we’re in a different kind of story, we don’t know if this is actually anything like Area Zero itself.~

It was at this point Bishop finally poked his head out. “Are you alright Captain?”

<Just fantastic Bishop… where were you?>

“I… I hid after the crash. This place is… out of my depth. Please put me back in the pokeball. We don't have any computers or anything. I am very much confused.”

Silas and Hacks sighed, recalling Bishop back to his ball.

The two headed off, Silas keeping the scarf on as he did, whatever this hazard was it was deeply unpleasant even with the added protection. Climbing over rocks was also way easier as a pokemon well known for living in Mountain Regions. Exploring the zone shouldn’t be too difficult like this, just had to-

Silas became human again, he panicked for a moment but calmed when he realized he was nowhere near any of those dangerous hazard spots anymore. Hacks was more confused than anything. ~The hell?~

He took off the scarf and showed it to Hacks. It had become a dark red colour, Silas let out a sigh. “Okay… it’s not working.”

~Try your shield.~

Silas clenched a fist and pulsed the shield… it lasted for a few seconds before petering out as well.

“Seems whatever is here is intent on not letting me do things the easy way.”

~I love it when places have rules like that,~ Hacks dryly remarked.

“It’d probably be too easy otherwise, the universe has a sense of humor.”

Round a corner, they heard a crackle of static.

“Hello, anyone out there?” came a voice, distant and cutting in and out. It was an old radio, had to be, that’s the only thing it could be.

Picking up on that they darted over to what looked to be a shed of sorts. Inside was an old family sedan, Silas wasn’t certain of the make, but the lights were blinking on it. Hacks closed his eyes as his lekku raised upwards. ~It… it has an aura.~

Silas popped the hood and looked inside, hoping to see a Revaroom inside. A frown creased his face as he saw a regular engine. “Aura huh?”

~It has one,~ Hacks insisted.

Silas opened the door, stepping inside, the radio cracked again. “Hey, hey there’s someone out there, in the zone!” the voice sounded familiar.

“There’s no way, we haven’t had a Breacher in years.” Another voice came out, where the first was deeper, this one was more… high tone and on edge.

“Heh-hey there’s not just one… but two… oh wow this guy’s got a belt. Multiple breachers!”

Silas felt a little better, in the car, but he was more confused as to what these two were talking about. Hacks sat in the passenger seat and looked at him, then back to the old radio. ~Can’t we talk to them?~

“Not a two way model, we’re gonna need to fix that when we can.”

~Still, wheels, walking is nice but I think some steel between you and the zone is a good idea.~

Silas didn’t disagree, he looked at the ignition and found the key, with a quick twist the engine roared to life, and the gear shift suddenly put itself into drive. Silas turned to Hacks, who shrugged. Foot on the gas pedal and pull forward, out of this area.

“Hey, the breacher is moving! And moving fast, you see this here Francis?”

“Let me grab the instruments! We might have a Remnant as well!”

Remnant? The hell was that. They were capitalizing the word so clearly it meant something about what was going on. He’d need to confer with the team on it as well, see what they thought.

“Hey, Tobias, the Remnant, it’s moving!”

Silas and Hacks felt their hearts stop on hearing that name. “Okay… we don’t know if it is him or not…”

~Doesn’t sound like him.~

“The power of April Fools,” Silas countered.

“Ey, you’re right Francis, moving quite quickly in fact! What do the scopes say?”

“Holy… it’s a car!”

“A car? Wait until Dr. Roy hears about this!”

“She told you not to call her that Tobias!”

Hacks grumbled, Silas really needed to work out some way to talk to them because all of this was driving him nuts! The way Silas’s knuckles were going white on the steering wheel told Hacks that he felt the same. He just needed to wait, until they got somewhere safe.

“Driver, if you can hear us, just follow the road. There’s an old garage up nearby, used to belong to Dr. Roy herself, she won’t mind hopefully,” came Tobias’s voice over the radio. “At least we think.”

“Hey why isn’t the driver responding?” Francis asked.

“Old car, probably not a two way radio in there.”

“Oh I’ll be fixing that soon enough,” Silas muttered.

Further up the dirt road, they came to what looked to be an old mechanic’s garage, rain picking up hard as they rounded the corner. Just as they did, the car became lopsided as a wheel popped off. The two let out a collective groan of frustration as it happened. ~I’ll get the wheel!~ Hacks said.

“I’ll get the garage open,” Silas replied, stepping out into the rain.

He followed around the outside of the building, before finding a door just barely cracked open, and stepping inside. Finding utter darkness waiting inside for him. Of course the power wasn’t on, why would there be any electricity at all in this place? Why was his life like this?

Breaker wasn’t too hard to find, with a flip, lights were on and the garage door was opening. Hacks soon pulled the car in himself, Silas had to admit he envied the strength of fighting types at times, and thankful that he was a fighting type in pokeform at least. The car was inside, they were out of the rain, and they were in a place that was stable at last.

Hacks sat down as Silas leaned on a workbench, exhausted already from everything. Hacks rolled his head around and looked at Silas. ~Can you make that radio 2 way?~

“Yea, give me a moment,” he said, before tossing out the pokeballs of his current team.

Snakeye, Bishop, Tae, Blackquill, and Conroy all blinked and looked about. Bishop was already aware and carefully informed the team of the going ons of the situation.

<Well damn,> Snakeye said. <Sounds like we’re in some deep shit hoss… how long is this gonna last?>

“24 hours, at least from the perspective of whatever tossed us here,” Silas answered. “Until then, we got some other characters to deal with, Snakeye, mind helping me pull apart an old phone?”

Snakeye followed Silas to the workbench, grabbing tools as they picked up an old landline phone and got to work. Hacks walked over to Conroy, Blackquill and Tae. ~So, there are a few more wrinkles?~

<Like what?> Tae asked.

~The Scarf has a time limit and a lot of the zone we’re in has toxic fields.~

<What, do you mean like areas full of toxicity? Or-> Blackquill began.

~Like spontaneous glowing yellow areas that are full of hazardous poison. So, we’re in an April Fools scenario with a lot of hyper specific rules to it. Even worse is that we have a car now, that I’ve checked and I’m fairly certain it’s alive.~

<Alive,> Conroy asked. <Like… Alive Alive? Like that one [Stephen King] story alive?>

Hacks just nodded, leaving the three others to just consider what kind of scenario they were in, especially as they looked at the old beater car, sitting there with parts falling off of it. If that thing was the only thing keeping Silas alive, then they collectively agreed that getting through the zone with it was the best thing to do.

Silas and Snakeye walked by, sitting in the car, hooking up what looked to be a makeshift piece of equipment in. Silas leaned back in the driver’s seat and picked up a phone receiver. Snakeye adjusting dials before finally…

“Hello? Hello? Tobias? Francis? This is the Driver, you can call me Silas.”

“Uhm… what” came Francis’s voice.

“Francis, are you hearing this? The Driver’s talking back to us, how’d that happen?” Tobias wondered aloud.

“Well for one thing I’m good with fixing things,” Silas responded. “Secondly, where in the distortion world am I?”

“Uhm, the Paldean Olympic Exclusion Zone” came Francis’s answer. “Man you must be a Breacher, this place was erected in 1966.”

“Yeah I’m not from this timeline,” Silas remarked.

“Man, Dr. Roy is gonna flip when she-”

“When she what? Finds out about a breacher, a remnant, the fact that they just entered my shop?” came a new voice, familiar sounding in an odd way.

“Heeeeeeey… Dr. Roy… listen about the Bigfoot thing-” Tobias started.

“Save it. The Driver is what I’m interested in,” Dr. Roy said. “Driver, Silas, if you look in the back you’ll find something I devised. An ARC Device, install it in your car and we can talk.”

Silas blinked a bit, rather forward wasn’t she. “Uh… sure,” he replied, looking at Snakeye.

Snakeye just nodded, walked off, and came back carrying what looked to be a flat screen system, designed to fit into the glovebox area. Fitting it into place, and hooking it into the 9 volt plug, it came to life and in a crackle of old static, suddenly displayed a face. A human woman with long curly hair, tied back behind her head, streaks of gray in it.

Despite the age she was, Silas knew who this was, his jaw hung open as he picked up the receiver.

“Roxy?!”

Stormchaser, Room 713, April 1st

The sun came in through the window on a bed full of haphazardly thrown-about sheets, Sylveon at the foot of the bed feeling the warm sunlight soak into the blanket and rousing her from her sleep as she looked around for Kendall, wondering where he could have gone before she blinked in recollection of last year.

From the kitchen, a cup of coffee in one hand and his Sun Stone in the other, Kendall sighed in contentment at the familiar taste, recognizing that Sylveon’s presence and animation meant the Kamui hadn’t betrayed his trust twice. He nodded, gesturing for Sylveon to follow as he left his dorm, already knowing where to go and where everyone was.

Stormchaser Arena

He blinked away the bright light overhead as he made his way inside, seeing his opponent on the opposite side of the arena looking much more well-rested than he ever could have been. He smiled through his fatigue, reaching a hand up to his Sun Stone as the crowd of 20-odd Pokemon watched what he wished to share with them.

He never understood it, but he would never complain, feeling an Iron Will reinvigorate him as he stared down his opponent… or maybe that was just the caffeine talking. His glare locked onto Helmsman, silently challenging his first and oldest partner to a duel of blades, his metallic antlers lighting up with Sacred Sword while the Samurott responded in kind with Razor Shell.

Despite the awkward angle he held his head at to clash with his starter, Kendall felt it instinctive to hold firm against his opponent, his much higher weight keeping him firm against the force of Helmsman’s pushing as he bucked his head to get the seamitar out of his way and fire off a Flash Cannon from his maw.

The water-type, barely fazed, divided the beam of hard light down the middle with an Aqua Jet projectile, the attack splashing into the Legendary Poseur as his coat lit up before detonating with Metal Burst. Satisfied, Kendall lit up with Sacred Sword to get back on the offensive, only to be met with an Air Slash that left him stumbling over his quadrupedal gait. As he flinched, Helmsman began to laugh, arrogance at his Trainer’s inexperience drowned out by the rushing water of a Swords Dance, but the water was beginning to glow around him, and no one could see what was happening.

By the time the water fell away, the Samurott looked tangibly different. His facial hair had grown out slightly, and his shell armor had turned darker colors, more jagged in their shape. He looked slightly more intimidating, but Kendall scoffed. Something about being Cobalion made this much easier to think about handling. His antlers lit up with Sacred Sword once more, easily powering through a swing from Helmsman’s splintering blade, only for the ibex imitator to be thrown for a loop as the shards turned to spikes around the field.

<How?> Kendall demanded simply.

<Cry about it!> Helmsman barked as his other blade adopted Sacred Sword, parrying Kendall’s own in one last clash before they began to slide their blades down the length of the others’, the act causing Kendall’s right antler to break off at the base at the same time he broke through, the impact striking both Pokemon and sending them to the floor, unconscious.

As Kendall returned to humanity, minor bleeding from the side of his head easily remedied by a Wish from Sunny and a Heal Bell from Sylveon, Helmsman stirred, apologetic before he saw Kendall smiling.

“That was awesome. What was that?” Kendall asked, observing that Helmsman still seemed to be in his new form.

“Already sent a message asking everyone!” Vincent declared from the bleachers.

Textspace

April 1st

Hoops: Tot? What are you doing here? And where are we? Did you come back in time somehow?

Tot: Don't worry, Hoops. We're in the liminal space where non-canon happens. It's something that can only happen on special occasions like April Fools Day, and then no-one will ever mention it again.

Hoops: Non-canon? Does that mean that this isn't really happening?

Tot: Nothing is ever really happening, Hoops. We're nothing more than words on a computer (or other device) screen as part of an online roleplay called We Are All Pokémon Trainers. Our lives our just the invention of a British person in their twenties who has gone through several gender crises since they created us.

Hoops: Huh?

Tot: And as mentioned, the non-canon nature of this conversation means that after we're done here you'll be able to continue your life without your entire understanding of your life being overrun.

Hoops: What the Distortion World is British?

Tot: Better if you didn't know. Now, time to get into the real reason we're here.

Hoops: Besides giving me the world's largest existential crisis?

Tot: Yup. You see, we're going to be travelling through the multiverse today, discovering universes that are both eerily familiar and yet completely different from our own. It will be a wild odyssey indeed - a simple press of this button will catapult us into some random reality.

Hoops: ... you're throwing a lot at me today.

Tot: Right? Let's go!

Universe 32

Tot: Hmm, it's fascinating. It seems like this is the universe where the word for money is skibididoos.

Hoops: You're making that up.

Stranger: Excuse me, could I borrow five skibididoos? I really need to get this next bus and I lost my wallet.

Tot: And onto the next universe!

Universe 9000

Hoops: So what's this universe?

Tot: According to my device, this is the universe where disco never died.

Hoops: ...

Tot: ...

Hoops: Tot get me out of this universe right now, I'm serious press the button I can't be here we need to leave now-

Universe 3721864

Tot: singing This is the universe where everything is a musical.

Hoops: talking normally Didn't Family Guy do this one?

Tot: singing They specified Disney musical. That changes things enough.

Hoops: singing Just press the f*cking button. Wait why was that cens-

Universe 575

Tot: So this is the universe where a fancy european dinner has four forks instead of three.

silence

Hoops: Is that the only difference?

Tot: According to the machine, yes.

Hoops: Shall we just... leave?

Tot: Yeah, let's.

Universe 4

Hoops: Tot, there are more of us over there!

Tot: Oh yeah, I should have mentioned, every universe where there's a Hoops and Tot they're also doing this multiversal travel thing.

Hoops 2: So how many of the universes have us in them?

Tot 2: Only every one in a million. But it's an infinite multiverse, so also infinite.

Tot: Hi. Sorry, we didn't mean to come to the same place.

Tot 2: Yeah, what are the odds, right?

Hoops: Uh, hi. Same arm?

Hoops 2: Same arm.

Universe 374716746746656328918736128901837465

Hoops: They were friendly.

Tot: Yeah, but they were the ones from the cannibal universe. I wanted to get out of there quickly.

Hoops: There's a cannibal universe?

Tot: Infinite multiverse. Look on the bright side, in a world where everyone is trying to eat one another you're still alive. That has to reflect well on you.

Hoops: Anyway, what's this universe?

Tot: This is in fact the other cannibal universe. Apparently in this one we didn't make it.

Tot: We should probably leave.

Universe 69

Hoops: You know I haven't really been asking about it until now, but why do all these universes have their number in giant sky writing?

Tot: So people no where they are.

Hoops: Then why don't we have it in our universe?

Tot: We do. It's just the exact same colour as the sky.

Tot: Anyway, I bet you're expecting that this universe is going to be full of sex jokes because it's universe 69, right?

Hoops: Not really.

Tot: I was talking to the reader.

Hoops: Well go ahead.

Tot: Quite. Anyway, the reader is right.

Hoops: I beg your pardon?

Tot: Yeah, in this universe it's actually illegal to still be a virgin more than a month after reaching your country's age of consent, and you have to sleep with someone at least once a week.

Hoops: Oh my Arceus.

Tot: Yeah, the inter-universal travel guide says that this is one of the worst of all the universes. Worse than the cannibal ones, or the ones that are post-apocalypses. Seriously, this place is problematic as hell. And I bet the audience feels bad for thinking this one would be funny, huh. Come on, Hoops, let's go somewhere where the reader can't make any inane assumptions.

Universe 420

Hoops: So when you said...

Tot: I'm not engaging with this.

Universe 2

Hoops: Well, this one seems nice. What's the deal here.

Tot: Um... I think we should leave.

Hoops: What, is it super bad? Let me guess, here the pokémon capture the humans.

Tot: No, it's -

Hoops: Is this the gender flip universe? You know I always wondered how people outside the gender spectrum fit into those.

Tot: No seriously, we shouldn't be here because -

Hoops: Ooh, I've got it. This is the universe where the school already beat us and Whitt killed me? I can see why that would be a problem, but you started off by saying none of this is canon so I don't think it really -

Tot: This is the universe where your parents are both still alive.

silence

silence

more silence

Hoops: Oh.

The old woman smiled. “Figured you were who you were as soon as you said your name. Good to see a you after so long.”

“A me?” Silas asked. “You’re not my Roxy?”

“You’re not my Silas, that’s for one thing. In essence we probably were at one point but the nature of time travel, universes, and multiverse theory in general is a complicated matter. For now, just call me Roxanne, it’ll help distinguish things.”

Silas nodded, a little sad in a way. “Do you have-”

“That health implant? Of course, how do you think I’ve kept myself looking so youthful at my age?”

“Hey, Dr. Roy- er… Roxanne. Just how old are you?” Francis asked.

“Somewhere between “none of” and “Your business” Francis.”

Silas smiled a bit at her response. “So, Roxanne. What is this place exactly?”

“The Paldean Olympic Exclusion Zone. The Paldea of this world is a little different, tell me what was the last thing you remember?” Roxanne asked.

“It being March 31st, just moments before April 1st hit?” Silas answered.

“It’s what I figured. Remember that universe you saw, during your time dealing with Mobius? The timeline with the Earth absolutely hit by the energies of this day? The great crater when struck here so many years ago pulled in the energies of the 1st, it coalesced… for years it lay dormant until we arrived around 1955,” Roxanne responded, looking a little bored as she did. “When I say “We” I mean me and my Silas, during our travels we went hopping across realities.”

“That… sounds nice actually, being able to travel with you,” Silas admitted.

“It was, some of the best years just exploring with the family.”

“What happened?”

“An accident involving this place so long ago. From there we all just… split, the others moved on and I’ve been here, by myself.”

“Hey come on Dr. Ro- Roxanne! It ain’t all bad you got us!” came Tobias’s voice over the radio once more.

Roxanne had a wide frown and looked at Silas again. “See what I deal with?”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Silas remarked.

“Don’t be, the time we spent was worth it in the end. And make sure to make every moment with your Roxy the best it’s ever been.”

Silas smiled at her. “When I find her again, I will.”

“Now, what seems to be the problem here?”

“I’m kind of stuck here, I have no idea how long this “Day” will last and what it’ll entail. All I know is that Tobias and Francis kept mentioning “Remnants” and I have no idea what that is,” Silas explained.

<Yeah that’d be helpful, seeing as those two idjits kept calling the car a Remnant. Remnant of what per say?> Snakeye asked.

“A Remnant is a tool or piece of technology that has been haunted by the powers of the Olympic Zone. Any Breacher that gets tied to a Remnant will eventually start to become more obsessed with it, go mad, and vanish into the deep reaches of the zone eventually,” Roxanne explained. “Don’t worry, we’ll work on getting you separated from the grasp of the Remnant, somehow.”

Silas had turned a new shade of pale, before motioning Snakeye to get the others, with the team showing up shortly. He informed them of what was happening, and the fact that the car may drive him crazy.

<Well… it might drive Hacks crazy,> Tae pointed out.

Hacks blinked. ~Excuse me?~

<You saw it around the same time Silas did, by all means you’re just as likely to start going nuts as he is,> Tae continued.

~... shit…~

“Well, it seems we have some work to do. Gather what resources you can around the shop, grab an old grinder out of the locker… also I’m sending something through the pneumo line,” Roxanne said.

There was a loud Chuff noise, catching the attention of the group. Hacks walked out as Tae went to go get the grinder out of the locker. It was an ugly big metal piece with sharp teeth on a spinning wheel. <Uh… are we supposed to->

“Don’t mind that, it’s optimized for scrapping the pieces around the zone into their base components. You’re gonna need everything you can to keep the Remnant working as best it can, engine, plating, doors, excetera. Something in the zone pulled you in here, so we’re going to work on making sure you can get out,” Roxanne explained.

“Yeah it’s fine! Just take what you can, the Instability scrambles everything eventually so it doesn’t exactly matter,” came Tobias’s response.

<Oh, well that’s convenient,> Tae said putting the grinder in the trunk of the car.

“Very convenient,” Francis said.

That gave the team pause, they all looked to the screen at Roxanne, who pulled out a cigarette, lit it and took a drag. “Yes, Francis and Tobias can understand pokemon, not an entirely big deal. they went through a Mystery Dungeon pocket of instability once.”

“Turns out Francis is a treeko!” Tobias commented.

Silas chose not to focus on it too much. “So, what can we find around the shop?”

“Workbench and ARDA Fabricator,” Roxanne began. ''“Those will help you manufacture the parts needed for your drives, from storage, tools, and car parts. From there installing is on you, you have a tool belt there as well.”

<Dibs!> Snakeye called out.

“Next hooked up to that old projector is a route planner, get the antenna I just sent installed into the shop and then we can start getting you ready. It’s linked to the ARC device as well, safer that way.”

Hacks was already out the door with Snakeye. ~We got it!~

“Finally, there’s the backroom, where my research terminal is. With the resources and energy supplies you pull, you’ll be able to get better tools and parts for the Remnant. So, Mr. Grant, ready to get out of here?”

Silas grinned.

Edited by EchoingSilence on Apr 1st 2024 at 9:59:39 AM