Halis tries to look around a bit, though they can't make out many details. They start speaking up a bit more.

Halis: "...Is it because I went back to being human? I think they only recognized me because of that. None of this happened before, after all."

They're simply being carried by Lucius, not making any effort to move on their own.

Cerulean Pokemon Center

-Lucius doesn't answer Halis at first, and it's only once they get back to his room at the Center that Halis's surroundings begin to become clear.-

Lucius: ...I don't know how Metus recognised you. I don't know why she did this, or how long she's been watching us for. I dunno if it's got anything to do with you being human, or if being in your Lopunny form would've helped, or... urgh.

-He sighs and buries his face in his hands, his composure visibly wavering.-

Lucius: You were gone for two hours, you know that? Two hours. I was worried sick. I said to myself, "nobody takes two hours to get hot sauce". I ran all over the city looking for you, I must've called your phone a hundred times, and when I think of what she could've done to you in that time... I dunno if I can keep us safe.

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Halis: "It's not your fault, Luci. It's mine. I could have just ignored the door and went somewhere else, but I chose to investigate it... I should have just done what you said to. I would have been fine if I did."

They look around the room.

Halis: "Though... if she did something to me, I wouldn't know about it, I think. What should we do about this? Staying here might just make things worse, and I don't know where else we can go... I don't want to endanger you, Luci. It's me she's after, after all."

They stare directly at Luci for that last statement.

Cerulean Pokemon Center

-Lucius lets out a long sigh, his eyes trying to focus on anything but Halis.-

Lucius: I... I don't know. I think we're in too deep to split up at this point, though. Maybe... maybe try and find out what she actually wants? It's gotta be more than just fucking with us or kidnapping us or anything like that at this point. If we know what she's after, then that might give us some idea when and where we're gonna run into her again, give us a chance to head her off.

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Halis: "She mentioned my last name... talked about how she knows what I am and what could be done with someone like me or something like that. I don't know what she wants, but... it's not good. It can't be good. That means, then, that wherever we go, she'll likely follow, stalking us until... until... I don't know when or what, but something."

They sigh, trying to think of what to do.

Halis: "She specifically mentioned that she's more interested in me than you now, though. You could just let me go, leave me to my own fate. You don't have to stay here. I don't want to endanger you any more than I already have, Luci..."

They're trying to hold off on crying about this.

Cerulean Pokemon Center

-Lucius frowns and leans forward to put a consoling hand on Halis's shoulder.-

Lucius: Hey. Hey. Don't start talking like that. We're a team. You know I wouldn't abandon you, no matter what. Where you go, I go. Besides, you would never have gotten involved in any of this bullshit if it hadn't been for me, so I reckon I'm obliged to stick with you till the end of it.

-He leans back again, opal hand on his chin.-

Lucius: Still... she knows way more than I'd like. And she's practically a ghost - in the metaphorical sense, I mean, since we've got no way to track her. Maybe... we might need to look for some help on this one.

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Halis: "...I do think we're going to need help, but thank you for sticking with me. She seems to also know about Ersatz since the place I went to was a broken-down version of it, so places like that aren't safe, either. I don't know who should help us, though... then again, I don't know too many people in general. Any ideas?"

They keep lying down, looking around the room, contemplating things.

Cerulean Pokemon Center

-Lucius thinks for a long moment.-

Lucius: ...Not yet. Still, one perk of being affiliated with the J-Team and dating a legendary is that I've got plenty of well-connected friends I could call upon. For now, though, I think the best course of action is to keep a low profile and sleep on it. She only shows up when we're out and about, so we should be safe here, not to mention that there's a bunch of other trainers around too. I do have a tent if you'd feel safer camping out, though.

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Halis fell asleep almost immediately as soon as they heard the word 'sleep'. They've likely just been waiting for an excuse to go back to bed this whole time.

Cerulean Pokemon Center

-Lucius smiles as Halis nods off.-

Lucius: ...Heh. Don't blame you, kid.

-He makes sure they're comfortable, then - seeing as his bed is currently occupied by a Halis - props himself up on a chair with a couple of cushions and promptly falls asleep too.-

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Azalea PMC, Roof

Brie: I don't get why you go up here to think.

Ever: I literally came up here to find you sitting on the roof.

Brie: Exactly. It's my space, get your own.

Ever: Consider: No.

-while their flyers are also chatting-

Atlantis: <And how's it been?>

Spathi: <Dull, mostly.>

Atlantis: <I'm surprised you haven't at least been hunting to entertain yourself.>

Spathi: <I never really developed the habit. Marmalade thinks I'm ridiculous.>

Atlantis: <Huh, really?>

Spathi: <Raised in a cave and treated like a king. Never had the need.>

-he lets out a large yawn-

Atlantis: <Convenient.>

Spathi: <What about you? You're Safari Zone, aren't you? I don't imagine you're allowed to eat the other Pokemon in the enclosure.>

Atlantis: <No need. I eat krill mostly.>

Spathi: <I've never been one for seafood...>

Atlantis: <The trick is to swallow them by the hundreds without tasting anything.>

Spathi: <...I take it you like saltwater?>

Atlantis: <And it's good for oral hygiene, too!>

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Stormchaser gym

It would appear to any observer without extremely precise senses that, upon Bastion's transformation, Silversmith had teleported out of the gym. This would be an illusion: it was merely the speed with which he ran, reaching such magnitude that he had never achieved. He didn't stop till he reached the nearby Pokemon center, the refuge he had taken last time.

Reversal Mountain

Colton, Helmsman and Kazuma silently continue up the mountain, the former with almost tangible resolve in his eyes. A Heal Bell chimed from his backpack, as well as the three of them each pounding a can of lemonade.

They were as ready as they'd ever be.

[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]

Reversal Mountain

-Pent ponders something as he walks up the mountain aside his scrappy duplicate-

So... Are you also able to..?

-The Loudred Rabbid looks quizzical-

The knowledge thing.

-The Bwaaaahtmon makes a wordless, heaving guffaw-

Is that a yes? Cause I've had some problems with it recently and...

The Bwaaahtmon: <Bwah. Bwah Bwahah.>

I... I don't get it...

-The Loudred points at Pent's head and then tries it's best to sing seven notes. However being a biological noise machine, it's difficult to figure out what exactly those tones are meant to be. Then it raises a fist to his own head-

The Bwaaahtmon: <Bwa-bwaha!>

-He tries to mime recoiling his head (and by the way things are formed his entire body) away from the fist. With, the charades finished he looks expectantly at Pent-

What?

-The Bwaaahtmon shakes his head-body and resumes walking with a chuckle-

You are a weird little mon, you know that?

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

stormchaser gym

Cady: So, Loony. How's your costume getting along?

Kat: It's coming along well, yours?

Cady: Finished the main part. Just working out how to keep the hat on my head.

Kat: I also made a few pokemon costumes.

Cady: Cool! I never thought of that!

I used to plug my deviantart here but turns out the link was too long.

Castle Lycanrow, Tomb of Helmuth the First, Past

Taipan, gleefully eyeing the walker armies: Okay, I'm getting the sense that this wave of walkers isn't the only thing that awaits us here.

Murphy, via commlink: I'm sensing a bit of rival lady tension with Ms. Gaia and madame science bitch.

Taipan: Also, I'm starting to see why Orrens like these things so much.

Murphy: T...

Taipan: Cut me some slack, I'm still getting used to the fact that being extra prepared for this turned out to be useful.

Jackie: ~Dragonite sounds~

Murphy: Aw, man, you want guns, too? You're a dragonite, Jackie, you don't need them!

Lumiose City Streets, several days later

Older Miley: Didn't Uncle T say the time travelers loved going here. Why?

Riley: Yeah. We've been looking for days. We have two psychics looking and still no luck.

Older Miley: Now, now, stiff upper lip. We'll find them eventually. You stumbled on the arsehat version of yourself. They congregate in this doughnut store, so they say. It's a matter of waiting.

Riley: We've been staking out near that doughnut store for days. He hasn't sho—

Suddenly, Riley and Miley hear off-key singing and footsteps. Someone who is dressed and looks almost exactly like Riley is walking down the sidewalk, listening to what appears to be an MP3 player. Following him is a beheeyem and a floating rotomdex.

Dave: All that I do
Is not enough for you.
I don't wanna lose it,
But I'm not like that.

Older Miley: Uh, David...

Riley: What can I say? It's my jam.

Dave: When finally (finally)
You get to lo-ove,
Guess what (guess what)?

While the distracted cyborg danced, his alternate counterpart gave Miley a mischievous look and approached him, dancing and singing while mirroring .

Lillifuture Dave and Riley in unison, while dancing in sync: Every little thing I do
Never seems enough for you.
(For you, babe.)
You don't wanna lose it again,
(Don't wanna lose it.)
But I'm not like them.
Baby, when you finally
Get to love somebody,

PC, telepathically: <Uh, Dave? Dave? That isn't a mirror>

Lillifuture Dave: Guess what?

Riley/Faller Dave: Guess what?

Lillifuture Dave: It's gonna be

Dave sees his counterpart. His face sours in shock.

Riley/Faller Dave: ME.

There was silence. The cyborg narrows his mechanical steel-gray eyes in contempt as he stares at his brown-eyed, mostly intact and emotionally well-adjusted doppelganger.

Riley/Faller Dave: Hello, handsome.

Lillifuture Dave: Well, you're not wrong.

Older Miley and the other fallers and presumably Ivan emerge from the bushes in rapturous applause.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jun 12th 2019 at 3:49:02 AM

Somewhere

-A massive, scarred Darmanitan is sitting on his throne. Waiting.-

Apartment

Sylvestre: Glad you two are starting to appreciate my genius. Anyway, I've been good. Designing new masterpieces and all that. Been trying to call Sylvestra like you asked.

Vermillion

-Jared is around-

Contact Me!

Silas is watching over his team, "Come on Snakeye, you've done this before."

Snakeye grunts as he dodges another kick from Hacks, <Well I ain't exactly th' one ta be fightin' Hacks! He's kinda your top dog!>

Amber snorted in laughter as Snakeye was kicked in the chest, Roxy clapped, she was sitting at a bench with Muggy, "You're doing better."

<Really boss, ya gotta remember, Hacks has been here the longest,> Snakeye commented.

Oliver ruffled his feathers, <I could take him!>

"You've got ghost typing, and that doesn't protect you from steel type moves," Silas added.

Roxy added, "You also need some work."

Silas stared, "Uh... I kind of want to just get back to regular pokemon trainer things for awhile."

Roxy smirked, "Come on with the J-Team, that's fairly normal at this point."

Silas sighed and soon found his entire team staring at him, Tae spoke up, <You're not getting out of this until you put on the scarf and practice.>

Silas grumbled and wrapped the emerald scarf around his neck, becoming Stylus (oh how he hated that name) once more.

<Happy now?>

Roxy smiled and scratched behind Silas's ear, he grumbled a bit as his tail wagged, <Stop it.>

"Now, let's find a challenger," she said before recalling the team, walking over to Jared, "Excuse me sir?"

Somewhere

A very angry-looking F!Grima walks up to the throne, glaring at the Darmanitan as she does.

F!Grima: "What do you want from me now?"

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.

Sylvestre's Apartment

Lowell looked around. Lofts had high ceilings, and homes like this were still very pricey despite their origins as buildings for industry. The fact that Primus could even fit inside and sit in the sofa without crushing it indicated that he may have misjudged Syl.

Lowell: I see. Always a pleasure for you to connect with your namesake. She's watched over the family for a very long time.

Primus: This is a very comfortable couch, sir.

Lowell: I'm amazed it hasn't buckled in his weight.

Guinevere, flying near Sylvestre: So, Arthur keeps a tighter ship than I thought.

Lowell: Now, on to business. You're probably aware that the arch-criminal the Last Laugh broke into our home and violated the sanctity of your mother's collection of Hal Lazarus paintings. It revealed the increasing vulnerability of our family's collections to thieves of a more... supernatural bent.

Primus: Your city's self-proclaimed crime-fighter was powerless to stop that wily fiend, and he narrowly escaped our grasp when we tried to catch him ourselves.

Lowell: And given the number of those with supernatural powers in Dr. Richard's accursed J-Team, I feel our residences and their collections are not adequately safe using the methods we've utilized in the past. I've discussed the matter with our head of security, but mortal means are no longer sufficient. It would take more than one genius of my caliber to deal with this matter plaguing our family.

The magnemite that came with them apparently got stuck in one of Syl's statues.

Lowell: How many of your art pieces are made of Iron?

Vermilion

Jared: Yo Silas, whatcha need?

Somewhere

Sutur: <We have been biding our time... Collecting these "Pokemon" for our army... For far too long I say.>

-He gives an unsettling grin-

<So I have a job for you.>

Apartment

Sylvestre: Oh, that's uh, unfortunate. And a fair few, why?

Contact Me!

Somewhere

F!Grima continues scowling at Surtr.

F!Grima: "... Elaborate."

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.

Cerulean Pokemon Center

-Having spent the entire night sleeplessly tossing and turning under his sheets, Lucius eventually lets out a long sigh upon feeling the morning sun hit his face, and rolls over to tap out a message on his phone.-

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Textspace

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.

Stormchaser

All My Pokémon: <6... 7... 8... 9... 10...>

Ian the Pikipek: -thinks to self- I have to sneak past my Pokémon without making a sound... That's how I'll ever hope to assist the J-Team in retrieving Voyd's Z-Crystal from the Macrauls...

All My Pokémon: <11... 12... 13... 14... 15...>

-I take a look around to see if anyone else is training...-

Ian the Pikipek: -thinks to self- Is that... Cady? And there's Kat... but... who are the others?

All My Pokémon: <16... 17... 18... 19... 20!>

-Ian the Pikipek hides behind a box in the Gym as Piku-chan looks away from it-

♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...