ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

DU-ICA-6: Our knowledge of the Avenger mostly revolves around the first individual to take up the mantle. His identity was Lucius Cain, an on-and-off member of the J-Team, who later became a victim of a tragic murder alongside one Alice O'Sullivan, whom we believe was the identity behind Gaia. They, along with Shingeko and Gekkobi and also Valiant Knight Skarmory and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., served as the inspiration for the Bronze Birds.

-They turn their head briefly between the two of them.-

DU-ICA-6: However, we do not know who took up the role after Lucius's death, nor who either of your identities may be, whether you are the same individuals who took it up after him or not. If we are to understand, though, you have dropped the "Auric" aspect of the Avenger's name, and thus your abilities could be those of any able-bodied human. Regardless of who it is behind your cowl, we have no intention of discovering your identities unless you choose to reveal them first.

-It's at this point when a Drifblim descends onto the rooftop.-

Air Raid: <Apologies for my late arrival, I was...>

-Beat-

Air Raid: <I made an error of directional judgment, of which I have fixed. In my defense, there was a wind advisory in effect.>

DU-ICA-6: Ah, yes, so you must be the new form-changing hero we were also expecting?

Air Raid: <...Yes! Yes. I am.>

-Scarlette exhales to calm her nerves, and sends out Gus.-

Scarlette: Then how about we skip the pleasantries and get to the part where we fight you to save them.

edited 20th Jun '18 3:13:05 PM by BittersweetNSour

Stormchaser

Talbain awoos in celebration before sitting down and meeting Kaisei’s eyes with a look that says “play with me!”

Hasslemon

SP: Did he just... awoo?

SF: You mean howl?

LE: You need to spend more time on the internet.

SC: No! Don’t! He’s having fun and that’s all that matters!

SF: Which?

SC: Don’t interfere with Talbain.

KG: I thought his name was Colt.

VA: He goes by Talban in that form. I don’t get it either.

Lumiose Alleyway

<Why is it staring at us?!> Pichu the Second hollered.

Pichu the First stood up fully. Electricity started to spark, and then coalesce around him, the pain dwarfed by his desire to protect.

<Run.> He told his brother simply as he attempted to Volt Tackle the thousand-eyed monstrosity in front of him.

Lumiose

Azelle nods and begins taking Deirdre to the Stormchaser.

Driftveil

Buddy: <Hm, personally I like the idea of a lower stress job, though Rumba would probably agree with you, I feel.>

Hajime goes through the city, walking on a road which is labeled as leading to the gym. Eventually he stops and looks to the left, where there's a large black building at the top of a set of stairs leading up the hill.

"Okay, up the hill to the left on the road to the Gym. I thiiiink that's the place?"

???: Do you understand why we took it from you?

Fortis: It's because you think I'm just a kid who can't handle it, but you're wrong! I'm not just some kid!

???: No, you and your whole team are really nothing but spoiled children.

Noelle: That's not true!

???: Children that have been given too much power. And we know what follows from that.

???: If you insist.

-the mysterious person sets Astral down; it begins to glow and levitate slightly-

-they send out an Alolan Sandslash and Aurorus-

Lily(?): Snow, get in there!

-Lily(?) sends out her Crabominable-

-the Aurorus opens up by letting loose a loud screech, a Hyper Voice that chills the ears of those listening-

-Scarlette shivers. Gus staggers back at the noise, but shakes off some frost forming on his coat.-

Scarlette: Gus, y-you can handle this just fine. Stone Edge! Aim for the Aurorus!

-Gus howls, and kicks up a chunk of the stone beneath them to launch at the Aurorus.-

-Kaisei pats Talbain on the head and smirks.-

Kaisei: "What, should I find a stick for you to fetch?"

Fortis: You're wrong! We're doing what's right, and we need Astral back so we can save the other universe!

???: That's what you say to yourself, isn't it? That you're the hero, the one fighting the good fight, and anyone who stands against you is wrong.

Noelle: She didn't say that, though.

???: I know what you really want. You want to take the star child and turn it into a weapon. To proclaim yourself just by divine right, and smite anything that opposes your rule. That is why you cannot be allowed to possess it.

Noelle: What makes you think she would do something that horrible?

???: Because I've seen it happen already.

-the Aurorus tries to swerve its head out of the way of the incoming stones, but takes a direct hit-

-it manages to stay standing-

Lily(?): Snow! Get in there and finish it off with a—

???: Iron Head.

-Snow(?) is interrupted by the Sandslash slamming its head spike into him-

Snow(?): <Whoa! That came out of nowhere!>

Stormchaser

<What? No.> Talbain said. <I was thinking a battle,> he explained.

And then, with his rational thought process back in control, he paused. His eyes went wide and he sweatdropped.

<Oh my goodness that was embarrassing. Was I having too much fun there?> He muttered.

<Yes!> Sylveon bellowed, her head poking out of the backpack set aside before the pets began.

edited 20th Jun '18 4:58:48 PM by AbsentCoder

N's Castle

Alright, crack it open. Those things are usually good for getting us some zone objectives and necessary exposition.

"O... kay.."

Rikuo: <I thought it was cool!>

Kaisei: "No, Colt, you are not having too much fun. Your Sylveon's just a buzzkill."

"So a battle with me or with my team?"

 Stormchaser, past 

-To Alonya and co-

Well I guess I'll leave you guys to it then.

Leeya: Okay! Well, we won't keep you any longer, Tagg. -to Alonya- You there! You're new, right? We'll show you around the J-Team.

Alonya: Er, sure?

Jackie: Trust us, it'll make things go a bit smoother.

-they head off, Alonya seeming slightly confused at how friendly the two are being-

-Deirdre follows-

Jean: Wait, don-

-the Stakakata swats the Pichu aside-

Stormchaser

“We got enough who want to battle?” Colt asked over his shoulder.

<Hang on!> Sylveon allowed as she returned.

About 10 seconds later her head popped up. <Caliburn, Sunny, Roy, 9-Volt, Lucario and myself are all in! Those were the first six, at least,> she explained.

J-Con

Silently, Colt nodded to Rikuo and waved goodbye to Daydre, returned Amaterasu and walked away.

Lumiose

<First!> Pichu the Second hollered as he ran after his brother. He placed a couple of fingers to his neck and breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he looked at Stakataka.

He picked up his brother, lugged him over his shoulders and hid behind the human.

edited 20th Jun '18 5:53:12 PM by AbsentCoder

Scarlette: All right, looks like we'll have to do the finishing-off, then. Accelrock!

-Gus darts forward at blinding speeds and rushes at the Aurorus.-

Kaisei: "Well then, Colt...race ya to the battling rooms!"

Noelle: What do you mean, seen it happen already?

???: I've seen what your J-Team does when given too much power. And I'm going to do everything I can to ensure that it won't happen again.

-the hooded person points at Fortis-

???: And I've seen what you really are.

Fortis: Huh?

???: You may lack the mark on your arm, but I can tell that your heart is the same. Your cute, angelic appearance fooled some, but we know all too well that you're an angel of death.

-the Aurorus faints, and the hooded person sends out a Weavile-

Lily(?): I really like how you keep bringing out Pokémon that are double weak to Fighting. Makes my job way easier.

???: Really, now? Icicle Crash, both of you.

-the Weavile and Sandslash gather ice in their paws-

-the Sandslash releases it to the sky, causing icicles to rain down on Snow(?)-

-the Weavile leaps into the air, forming an icicle below itself, then leaps to send the icicle flying at Gus-

Snow(?): <Oh no, not this time, buddy!>

-Snow(?) fights through the ice and hits the Sandslash with a pummel of punches-

Snow(?): <The heroes always win!>

-causing it to fall to the ground-

-the hooded person sends out a Jynx in response-

Stormchaser

Colt started to run after Kaisei. “No cheating!” He hollered, stuffing his Sun Stone into his shirt so he wasn’t tempted.

He mostly followed Kaisei because he figured he’d know the way. He had no plans to attempt to pass him. “Wait!” He paused. “Did you ask your team?” He asked Kaisei, keeping pace, even if that meant he had stopped to lean against a wall.

-As the Aurorus faints, Gus glows.-

-In a flash, he emerges from the light, with a thicker mane, sharper spikes, and of course one jet-black front left paw. He speeds out of the way of the Icicle Crash, leaving a literal dust cloud in his wake.-

Scarlette: Look, you're outmatched. At this rate, there's no way we're going to lose, especially not to some weirdo in an Organization XIII cosplay!

Gus: <We're only doing what's right. Now surrender.>

-He chomps down on the Jynx, attempting to shake aggressively like a Jynx-shaped dog toy.-

edited 20th Jun '18 7:06:08 PM by BittersweetNSour

Fortis: But that doesn't make sense! I only want to help the universe without a sun! I'm not some angel of death!

???: I've seen the way you "help" people. The world doesn't deserve your kind of mercy.

Noelle: Now I'm just really confused.

???: Now that's something I haven't seen before.

Jynx: <I'll surrender when you—>

-the Jynx is then picked up and chewed on, staggering her-

-Gus is then pounced on by the Weavile, who swipes at him with a Night Slash-

Lily(?): Hey! Snow, don't let them—

-Snow(?) says nothing, as he is immediately knocked out by a Psychic wave from the Jynx-

edited 20th Jun '18 6:59:37 PM by Mezzopiano

Azelle eventually brings Deirdre to the airship.

Azelle: <So, uh, here. It's where a lot of them are.>

-Gus yelps at being slashed, and lets go of the Jynx.-

Gus: <Ow!>

-He whips around and gives a sharp headbutt to the Weavile-

Scarlette: I'm not surprised. You don't strike me as the sort to be close enough to your team to do that. Or, clearly, to anyone.

Kaisei: "Don't worry, they're happy to spar."

???: It doesn't matter. The point is that you're here and the star child is not.

Noelle: Can we just get to the fighting now?

-the figure laughs-

???: This, this right here, is what I've been talking about all along. Something happens to you? The answer is fight!

Fortis: What else are we supposed to do? You won't give Astral back!

???: Haven't you been listening? I don't have the star child. My partner and I have already played the Sun and Moon Flutes. It should awaken very soon... and very far away from you.

???: Perhaps you're right, since I view my Pokémon as something other than weapons.

-the Weavile collapses to the ground-

???: Enough. The star child will soon wake.

-the figure points at Astral, who is glowing even brighter-

???: Nothing that you do matters now.

Deirdre: <Amazing...>

-Azelle may notice a goth about-

Jean: Right then. I'm trying to purify this guy but it's tough finding good ways to do so. They didn't have Shadow Pokemon back home.

-A purple-cloaked woman with purple hair is walking alongside a Sandygast-

Medea: Remind me of why you rarely take human form here?

Odin: <It's... Complicated.>