Space

Des looked at his access card thoughtfully.

"Oh don't worry about it, Susan. My doors swing both ways."

He hazards a glance at Kaiiseii.

"Uh..so uh you wanna check out the zero g arena?"

Aurabolts

Stranger propped his feet up on the table and took off his mask.

"Really? Was it really that much of a success?"

(Post Deleted)

Edited by AspenKarch on Dec 15th 2019 at 6:08:46 AM

Space Hotel

"If everyone's gonna check out the Zero-G arena," the Unovan trailed off. "Wait, labs?" He asked. "What experiments and research are done up here that can't be done on Earth?"

Edited by AbsentCoder on Dec 15th 2019 at 4:09:00 AM

Space Hotel Persephone (Ian's Adventure)

Me: Zero-G battles?! I'm there!

-Beat-

Which way to the battlefield?

Multi Carrier

-Multiman is sitting in his office. Sulking. With a glass of eggnog. this is playing on [SPOTIFY] on loop. He has this◊ expression on his face. It is then Izaya walks in.-

Izaya: Ivo old chum!

-Dr. Multiman perks up a bit-

Dr. Multiman: Oh, uh, Izaya. Come in.

-Izaya closes the door and sits down on a chair next to Multiman's, making sure to slouch with as horrible posture as possible.-

Izaya: Feeling down?

Dr. Multiman: Gee, what gave you that impression?

Izaya: -chuckles- I guess I just have good intuition.

Dr. Multiman: Heh.

...

...I don't get it.

Izaya: Get what?

Dr. Multiman: All my life it's just been a long series of people turning against me or siding against me or straight-up leaving. Cho Ling or whatever she's going by now, Alonya - who knows what happened to her - Gabrielle, Des, Paula and Robinson just the other day, m-my family, M-Metal... I feel like there's something wrong but I can't pinpoint what.

Izaya: Hm. It sure is perplexing.

Dr. Mutiman: Well at the very least I still have you. And Owen. And nothing can take Mobius or my vision or my quest to save my son from me.

Izaya: -pulls out two Master Balls- Well actually...

Dr. Multiman: Wait, where'd you get tho-

-He's knocked off his chair as the balls burst open, revealing a certain Dusk Mane Necrozma and Diancie, eyes glowing red.-

You...

Izaya: I did a bit of backroom experimentation. Cheri OS here made sure Oran OS couldn't peek in.

Cheri!Merlin: That wretch of a brother has nothing on me.

Multiman: Damn you! How long has this been going on?

Izaya: The whole time. You see, Multiman, I have my own vision. One where I summon and control The Fanatic. One where the humans I love don't need anyone else. And I likewise don't need you anymore.

Cheri!La: Goodbye!

-He forms an Ultra Wormhole right beneath Multiman. Multiman falls through and lets out a long scream before it closes.-

Izaya: Now then...

Mobius Main Deck

-Izaya strides in with Cheri!La and Cheri!Merlin, horrible parka billowing-

Izaya: Hello all of you! I'd like to inform you all Mobius is under new ownership. Specifically, mine.

-There are many gasps and murmurs, but also a fair amount of cheering-

Owen: Wait, what? You- you can't just stroll right in here and make me listen to you.

Izaya: Ahhhh, but I checked the contract between Best Berry and Mobius regarding your use! The contract leases you out to Mobius as an organization, not Multiman himself. So you do have to listen to me. Unless of course I let your brother hijack your programming.

Owen: -flinches- ...Damn it.

-Izaya turns to the crowd-

Izaya: Anyway! The united universe I want...

...Starts now.

Edited by Umbramatic on Dec 15th 2019 at 7:30:09 AM

Viridian City

-Someone witnessed a spectacle.-

-The witness, of course, was on the ground, looking up. Not many people look up generally, but considering the company she keeps, it's something she's gotten used to.-

-At first, it's just a cool sight to see. Some weird person taking a wing suit and skydiving is something that, while strange, is not unheard of as a publicity stunt.-

-But then it turns out it's a weird person she knows-

-And has been meaning to talk to-

-So that's what they're up to.-

-Alyssa rushes over to the landing site as fast as she's able, which she soon regrets because she's not used to rushing places, and looks around for Logan.-

Stormchaser

"I'll see you later Alexa, I'm going to have a look around here."

Stormchaser

Alexa waved goodbye.

Well, that was abrupt, she thought.

Stormchaser

Shizuo: -shrugs- "Kids. They're always impatient."

Stormchaser

'Where to first? There's so many doors. They all might be rooms.' Aspen continued walking down the hallway. She noticed a big door that was labeled "Training Room" and went inside. There was a battlefield in the middle of the room for battleing. The corners of the room were filled with training dummies, punching bags, and other training equipment. "I probably won't be here in this room much. Maybe this is also used for EV training since there's equipment here."

-the weird person she knows in question is just kinda-

-chilling-

-on their back in the crater they made more or less with their face-

-surrounded by a number of vaguely still-curious birbs-

Logan: ...do you think we can set up an express Fly route with like...a bunch of Whirlwind relays?

Addie: -likewise laying, kicking her tiny squirrel feet- <That sounds kinda painful and bad.>

-kick, kick- <Which I guess isn't really too different from most express aiLYSSA!>

-perking up- <Hello!>

-Logan blinks-

-and birb-startlingly suddenly is on their feet, actively but casually emitting a tasteful amount of sparkle-

Random Pidgey: -chirp??-

Logan: -Professional but Trustworthily Informal expression skewed by a ridiculous grin- Hey! It's good to see you on your feet.

Addie: -somehow clinging to their shoulder after that blur of motion- <What's up?>

Edited by Asterisk395 on Dec 15th 2019 at 9:28:05 AM

Viridian City

-Upon encountering Logan, Alyssa starts to say something-

-But pauses before she actually makes a noise when Logan and Addie suddenly rush to vertical positions-

-And she is promptly sparkled at-

-The sparkles gleam in Alyssa's eyes as she stares in... admiration?-

Alyssa: ...Uhhhhh hi! Hi. I, erm, I am glad to be on my feet again! My arm is still a bit weaker than it used to be, but I can still, uh, do things with it.

-She waves her right arm, slightly shakily.-

Alyssa: How have you been?

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Dec 15th 2019 at 9:49:56 AM

Fuscia

-Alex is staring at Abeline-

Alex: ...Need any help kid?

Logan: -shrug, sparkle- Oh, just usual Ranger business.

-some crater topsoil scatters off of their shoulders-

-shine, hooking their fingers in their pockets- Kinda dull, really, but I like the work.

-grin- I like the peoplemon.

-apparently unprompted, Logan extends their arm toward her-

Addie: -scampers down it to get a closer look, similarly disheveled- <Yeah, that's a problem with that kind of injury, unfortunately.>

-beam- <Still, this amount of articulation is a good sign!>

-head-tilt, earnest curiosity- <How've you been, besides?>

-she whirls, jabbing a finger at her new pink-haired acquaintance-

Abilene: -sheer affront- I am not a "kid"!

Lanatus the Watmel!Natu: -wiggles for balance, hiss-

Abilene: -marching forward- Would a kid have established dominance over a capital city's farmer's markets? Cornered the markets for luxury fruit and farmory?

-in front of Alex, her cane taps to a halt-

-gesturing back at the...white, vaguely glowy tree-thing- Could a kid have created this?

Rosa: -murmur, leaning back against the oak- <I'd be proud of being precocious.>

Sapinda the Kee!Tropius: -looms behind Abilene, wings wide- <Rrrrrgh.>

Abilene: -jamming a finger under Alex's chin- Behold my work and dare call me a child!

Viridian City

-Alyssa blinks, the tiniest bit confused as she takes Logan's hand???-

-She doesn't even really think about doing it, she just does, because it was an extended hand that one cannot simply not take.-

Alyssa: Right, uh, yeah! The Ranger thing. I've been thinking about the Ranger thing a lot! Because, uh, it's, um, really cool??? And... um, weirdish question, how do you become one?

Fuscia

-Alex smirks-

Alex: I see I touched a nerve. But you've made me curious. What is that thing?

Silas paused for a moment at the request and grinned a bit, he gave out a low chuckle and said, "Sure the Kalosian can take you into the airspace of the sworn enemy of his people. Want me to surrender and eat cheese as well?"

Hacks stared in shock at this, while Dimitri tried to comprehend why Silas's arm was on a table, and why the arm attached to his body was skeletal. Byleth had also entered, and was now just as confused.

"Nah I can pick you up and take you to Galar no problem, I'm heading there myself to do some myth hunting, get back to my roots and all. Where should I pick you up?"

Orre, Phenac City

-Coyote was bored.-

-Bored bored bored bored bored bored.-

-At least, until he saw what had transpired with the little Pinocchio girl.-

-Coyote was far from an expert on the many facets of Those Beyond Veils And Fog, but a mortal girl, no matter how unique in her circumstances, to draw the attention of one...-

-And for it to be him, the enemy of Nyarlathotep... interesting.-

-Very interesting.-

-Coyote pondered a moment longer before dragging a finger across the graffiti of a door and stepping through.-

The GM House

-Ludmilla stared at her phone for what felt like hours.-

-The mysterious app that had installed itself on there taunted her with its oblique design, its insulting color scheme, its non-Euclidean help tabs. There was no field to type in anything, so she spoke. Everything returned a curt "No match found", which Ludmilla could not help but perceive as growing increasingly condescending with each passing hour.-

-Her stomach growling and her back muscles cramping, she threw the phone at the wall before throwing herself onto her bed.-

-However, instead of the satisfying crunch or at least thump she expected, instead there comes a slight chuckle.-

-Ludmilla sits back up slowly as a clawed hand, holding her phone, bleeds out of the wall.-

Coyote: Now, now, it's natural to be upset, but property damage can't be taken back. Though, I suppose in this household, that may not be quite so true.

-Coyote's lupine form slinks through the wall and hands the phone back to the frustrated girl.-

Ludmilla: What do you want?

Coyote: My, such hostility. My apologies for entering your room uninvited, my dear, but I have a... favor to ask.

-Ludmilla blinked so hard she gave herself floaters.-

Ludmilla: You don't ask for favors.

Coyote: What, did your father tell you that? That is only because so few people can accomplish that which I can't on my own.

-He materializes an apple and takes a bite out of it. You know, like an asshole.-

Ludmilla: Well, I'm somewhat busy at the moment.

-Coyote chuckles and swallows before tossing the rest of the apple over his shoulder, where it fades into mist.-

Coyote: Busy being frustrated? That is something you certainly take from your father. I assure you, this is quite applicable to that bit of arcane data you're working with, there.

-Coyote slithers up onto Ludmilla's shoulder.-

Coyote: But first, some backstory!

Ludmilla: Can we skip the backstory?

Coyote: Hahaha NO!

-An extended claw is soon filled with a mirrored orb, producing bizarre pseudo reflections of a world that does and doesn't exist.-

Coyote: You see, I am neither Pomemon nor Human. In fact, I could be far better likened to the creatures that you may know as "Personas". Through some bizarre interaction of Obscura, I am able to manifest in both your realm and theirs. The Collective Unconsciousness what humans use to describe the portion of that realm that directly pertains to them - and you, little toy soldier, bear the smell of a particularly nasty part of it.

-Ludmilla does not appreciate the nickname, as her glare makes clear.-

Coyote: However, that portion you were in that has seen such change these last few seasons is also where a good friend of mine lives. His name is José. He calls this new, bizarre realm... Mementos.

App: [Match Found.]

-Ludmilla looks down at her phone before giving Coyote a side eye. The wily spirit for his part is now slowly spinning from the ceiling fan.-

Coyote: Wonderful little boy. White hair, yellow eyes, you can't miss him. Oh, don't you glare at me, he's as harmless as a teddy bear, and not associated with your baggage at all. Would you deny this innocent young boy the aid he requires?

-Ludmilla only sighs.-

Coyote: Excellent! Just follow that wonderful little mental trauma detector and when you see him, tell him I said hi!

-Coyote slinks through the crack in the door, leaving Ludmilla alone in her room.-

Pyrite Town, Closed Under Entrance

App: [Location reached. Preparing to enter Mementos.]

-Ah, there it is. The "world going fucky" thing again.-

-After reorienting herself, she takes stock of her surroundings. The sky: red and black. The nearby buildings: collapsed, blocking the path back out. The entrance to the Under: now open. At this point Ludmilla was so tired of spinning her tires, she didn't care if she was walking straight into a trap or not, so, in she went.-

Mementos, ???

-Despite everything, the main thing Ludmilla found disturbing in this tunnel, forged in bone and sinew, was that the air felt moist as she entered. Some bizarre sounds, rumbling of a sort, could be heard and felt through ear and feet alike, but the entrance to this place was strangely quiet.-

-Ludmilla, now attired in her threadbare suit, ceramic mask, and straw, coned hat, strode into the dimness of the tunnel.-

-The tunnels were wide, deceptively so. You could drive a car through here, is what Ludmilla thought, just as a small buggy came roaring out of a side tunnel and nearly splattering the young woman across the front bumper.-

Ludmilla: Sonofamothergodbullwatermelon!

-The buggy quickly swerves, turning the sudden jerk into a smooth donut and stopping with sudden thunk. The pile of furniture and knickknacks in the back seat settle as a tiny boy pops his head out, a dome of white hair crowning it.-

José: Oh, I'm sorry, miss! I didn't know anyone was coming.

-Ludmilla, now face-flat on the ground due to a panicked dive, grumbles a bit before pushing herself to her feet.-

José: Ooooooooh, you must be one of Coyote's friends! I'm Josė! You're the first real human I think I've ever met.

-He waves before putting his hand out for a handshake.-

-Then he fumbles and reorients it into a fist bump.-

-Then he fumbles and switches hands.-

-Ludmilla, getting tired of trying to follow whatever hand interaction the little boy was trying for, just puts a hand on his head.-

Ludmilla: There. I'm Ludmilla. Coyote said you needed help.

-Josė picks Ludmilla's hand off of his head, and he starts inspecting her straw gloves with wonderment.-

José: Yeah! I collect flowers!

-Even behind Ludmilla's mask, her confusion must have been plain.-

José: Oh, I turn them into things. Watch!

-He runs over to his buggy, still holding the girl's hand, dragging her along. He pulls out a lily.-

José: Flowers embody all kinds of memories, encompassing bright colors, strong smells, and occasionally sharp thorns. Human associate flowers to feelings all the time, which lets me make them manifest!

-With a quick flash, the flower is now a glass of lemonade. José hands it to his new helper. She takes a sip - it's actually not bad.-

José: This area has a really rare flower, a Scabiosa Butterfly Blue. It's weirdly specific, and very far from where anyone would even know about it outside of collectors. Like me! But it's protected by a... hm, how do I put this?

-He tilts his head.-

José: A... blister? A bubble? It's like whatever is inside is so dangerous that Mementos itself is trying to lock it away. But I can still smell it. I have a good nose! I can give you a ride, if you'd like, as far as I can go.

-Warning bells started going off in Ludmilla's head as metaphors of splinters being encapsulated in scar tissue ran through her head. But, again, it was the only lead she had.-

Ludmilla: Alright, let's go.

Mementos, Some Driving™ Later

-Ludmilla practically melted out of the buggy, her bones feeling like they were jostled into big piles of goo. José jumps out and points to the pulsating energy wall in front of them.-

José: That's it. Mementos is filled with some nasty bits of humanity, but I've never seen it react this way before. Like it's scared.

-Ludmilla takes a moment to steady herself before doing a few stretches.-

Ludmilla: Takes a lot more than that to scare me.

-She then strides forward, through the membrane. The wall, thankfully, is selectively permeable, and lets her in with no problem.-

Mementos, The Scourge's Blister

-The first thing Ludmilla notices is how dry the air is. It feels almost like Orre's air, but carrying a tinge of cold, of bare stone beaten by hooves.-

-Second, is the light. An orange glow, like the hour before sunset.-

-Third, and most importantly, the Kommo-o. The towering, armored dragon, eyes closed.-

-Ludmilla slowly approaches. The Kommo-o stirs, but eyes remain closed.-

Kommo-o: The Scourge of Gods. The Sword of Mars. The King of the Huns. Those were my names in life.

-A King by name, not by birth.-

Kommo-o: I struck down those who would threaten my tribe, and burned the land of kings and gods...

-The elders, in their cries of desperate vengeance, came to her birthplace...-

Kommo-o: And here I am again, to tear down the tyranny of civilization, that threatens to twist the world as it did ages past...

[[gray:-And their cries were answered by the song, and the song birthed me...-])

-Ludmilla shook her head, these strange thoughts blurring her senses, as the Kommo-o stood, eyes open and aflame.-

Kommo-o: I am Attila the Hun. I will burn this world to free it.

-The thrill of battle, one of the few things she could feel...-

-Ludmilla readies herself for battle, the shadow of the Yellow King rising behind her.-

Most interesting...

What is?

-The Yellow King returns to vexing silence.-

-The Kommo-o strikes forward, a straight Brick Break to Ludmilla's face. A fast Psyshock stops the dragon's momentum, though it strikes again with a Dragon Claw.-

-The battle of Catalaunia...-

-The Yellow King grabs Ludmilla and pulls her to safely. The young psychic shakes her head, her thoughts becoming fuzzy.-

Attila the Hun: Stardevil, why do you interfere?

-A nosebleed, they said...-

-The Yellow King remains silent as Ludmilla's thoughts fizzle and snap, draining into a massive sink. Attila charges again, and the Yellow King freezes the Kommo-o to the floor with an Ice Beam.-

-The nosebleed was a symptom, not the cause...-

-The last thing Ludmilla sees is the black tendrils of the Yellow King stopping a wave of Clanging Scales before she loses herself to the mental static.-

453 AD

-I saw the truth, the tyranny they wished to have me make in their name. I raged, tore apart their army they had taken from me, but in the end...-

450 AD

-They demanded a killing blow be struck. I refused. The Roman beast was mortally wounded. Let the prey bleed itself out. The walls of Constantinople were of greater concern. They would face her divine fury.-

447 AD

-The walls stood, as if crafted by gods. They may well have been. Even she could neither tear them down or climb them. She fumed, but Constantinus had won his prize. She would be back.-

435 AD

Bleda? Bleda?!

No, Bleda, please, we were... we were supposed to do this together!

Bleda, you need to control yourself, or you'll-

Bleda, no! No! NOOOOOOOO!

434 AD

-We stepped out. The metal had finished its song, and the elders fell silent. Rugila stepped forward.-

-He claimed we were created by a blessing bestowed by ancient gods of mind and metal. He asked our names. We could give none, so he gave us ones of his choosing.-

-My sister, my equal, was Bleda.-

-And I...-

-...-

-...-

-...-

Mementos, The Scourge's Blister

-Ludmilla returned to the present with a snap as the Yellow King was struck by a Fire Punch, blowing the air from her lungs. The Kommo-o grabbed Ludmilla, now unprotected, and pulled back a claw to rend her to pieces.-

Ludmilla: Altera...

-The Kommo-o stops.-

-The Yellow King rallies and Avalanches her opponent hard enough to cause Ludmilla to spin in the air as the dragon is launched into the opposite wall. A helpful tentacle catches her and gently returns her feet to the ground.-

Ludmilla: Attila was your title as king. But that wasn't your name.

-The Kommo-o bursts from the snow with a roar.-

Ludmilla: Your real name... is Altera. Isn't it?

Attila: THAT NAME DIED WITH MY SISTER!

Ludmilla: ... Now I know why I'm here.

Bring peace to this lost member of the flock, my little shepherd.

-Attila charges, a Fire Punch at the ready. Ludmilla closes her eyes, reaches a hand forward, and thrusts it upward. A Psychic sends the dragon skyward, unable to manage her momentum, and flying clean over her target. On landing, the Kommo-o opens her maw wide and fires a Dragon Pulse. The Yellow King counters with a stream of Frost Breath, the two streams clashing.-

Ludmilla: Now!

-Tentacles leap from the shadows on the ground and grapple Attila. She tries to cut the limbs off her with an X-Scissor, but they constrict her too quickly to matter.-

Ludmilla: And DOWN!

-The Yellow King acquiesces, throwing the Kommo-o into the floor with a Seismic Toss.-

Ludmilla: Drain!

-The Yellow King raised a hand to her masked lips before laying the hand on the struggling Atilla. A surge of energy rushed from the dragon to the girl and her Persona, as well as a rush of a vision.-

-I tore their armies with blades they could not see, killed their leaders with arrows they could not hear, and killed their minds with fears that did not exist.-

-Yeah, she had already figured that part, but confirmation is always good.-

Ludmilla: Freeze!

-The Kommo-o lashes out with a Sky Uppercut. It connects, carrying her and the Yellow King up into the air. It's only then she realizes the air was growing far more cold as a Blizzard billowed from under the Yellow King's cloak.-

Attila: No! NOOOOO!

-Ludmilla could only give a sad sigh as Altera, frozen in a block of ice, slams into the floor. The Yellow King materializes beside her.-

Is this why you manifest as a Jynx, so you had nothing but type advantage on her?

No, that was a happy coincidence.

-Ludmilla placed her hand on the ice, and closed her eyes.-

You don't need to hurt anymore.

How dare you? What gives you any right to say that to me?! I watched my sister die, watched the men I had brought countless victories turn on me on the word of a council of traitors, had my own powers turned against me...

I know, because... we come from the same place. Altera... we're sisters. Sisters of the School. And you were the first.

Mementos

-Josè wakes up from his nap with a jolt. A wonderful Scabiosa Butterfly Blue greets him. With a squeal of joy he takes it.-

José: Oh, thank you! I'll make you something wonderful from this, just come back later! I just want to smell it for a bit longer.

-Ludmilla smiles and nods before starting her walk back to the entrance. The dim of the tunnels hides it well, but an extra shadow walks beside her now.-

Stormchaser, Outside Megan's Room

There is like, a soft thump at the door. It sounds like if someone were trying to knock, but they didn't actually have hands or knuckles so they just used some other part of their body to do it instead.

Chateau d'Avarice

Kaguya takes the Discharge pretty well.

"So I guess we.. smack it around now?"

Kaguya shrugs and fires a Flash Cannon at it.

Persephone

-Kaiiseii grins at Des.-

Kaiiseii: "Ah thought you'd never ask, pardner."

Almia, Neuron Ranger Base

-Misaki is doing some last-minute checks.-

Hal: " There. Integrated a Power Spot locator into your Legatus. Modified it to work for those wormholes, but it'll still work if you go to Galar."

-Misaki slides the Legatus into its holster on her back.-

Hal: " I'm looking into ordering some parts to upgrade your Styler for battle. A Wishing Star, Sparkling Stone, and Key Stone respectively."

Misaki: "Jeez Hal, I know I'm fit but are you trying to weigh my arm down?"

-Jin walks into the room.-

Jin: "Bike's ready. Brenda and Olive are still loading up some medical gear and provisions for the road."

-Misaki nods and walks over to Marie.-

Misaki: "Don't miss me too much, okay?"

Marie: "You sure you don't want me to tag along? I can be your field-support! And keep you warm at night!"

-Misaki laughs and adjusts the brim of Marie's hat.-

Misaki: "Babe, don't tempt me with those sweet charms of yours. I don't want you to get hurt, and Lappy isn't much of a fighter."

Marie: "Hey! Laelaps can hold his own!"

"..."

"...when he's not getting belly rubs..."

-Marie hugs Misaki and rests her head on the redhead's shoulder.-

Marie: "Call me everyday."

-Misaki squeezes Marie.-

Misaki: "I will, Marie."

-Misaki pulls her girlfriend's head off her shoulder and kisses her warmly.-

-Throughout the night air, the roar of a motorcycle engine reverbrates.-

Logan: -blinks-

Addie: -blinks-

-well, there's really only one thing their training tells them to do in a situation like this-

Addie: -scampers across-

-roll with it-

Addie: -all the way up Alyssa's arm-

-because Alyssa's a whole foot taller than Logan, it's an uphill climb, but...she's a squirrel-

Logan: -surprised at the comment- Oh!

-sincerely- Well, thanks! That makes me really happy to hear! ^_^

-and the half-manic light in their eyes dims slightly, for a more sober explanation- As for becoming...

-still hand-holding, thoughtfully taps chin (with other hand)- Becoming a Ranger is a process. There's a Ranger School in Almia that trains all the Rangers, Mechanics, and Operators that get sent everywhere else.

-"look" gesture- You get Styler training, of course, but the bulk of the training and testing revolves around conflict resolution.

Addie: -being careful with her claws, clinging to Alyssa's upper arm, casually- <Rangers, at their core, maintain the balance between humans and Pokémon—in a different way than Trainers. Aside from Partners—like me,> -wink- <...Rangers' Vow bonds are, wider, and less deep.>

-shift, warm- <But not less meaningful, I think. Instead of building a team, a Ranger builds a community. We make it so everyone can get on with their peaceful existence, and smooth over the rough bits when they arise.>

Logan: -emphatic shrug- In anywhere from months to years, you could be deemed fit to start field work, and be sent to shadow a more experienced Ranger around their Base. They show you the ropes, shape your advancement, give you experience—this is the last step before graduating.

Addie: -nod- <You go from being a Student Ranger to an Area Ranger.>

Logan: -nod- And that's when you're assigned a place to take care of.

Abilene:' -...sigh-

Abilene: -gesturing- This was the weapon used to kill some ancient vampire.

-pulling out a pointy object- It was a stake of Leech Wood—

Rosa: -piping in, examining his nails petals- <Grown from one of my Seeds—>

Abilene: —grown from one of my Roserade's Leech Seeds, and the one who wielded it dropped it into the earth.

Megan: -into a pillow- mmmmrglmrglph.

Vee: -batting at her- <Meg. Meg. Meg. Someone's at the door, Meg.>

Megan: Let's be really quiet and maybe they'll go away.

Pippy: <What if it's important?>

Megan: -muffled blink- Who would be knocking on my door for an important reason?

Vee: -still batting at her- <C'mon, we can just read the pamphlet.>

Pippy: -splutter- <It's-it's not like the Stormchaser has telemarketers—>

Vee: -bat bat bat- <Wrong function, P. Telemarketers're phone people.>

-considering, bat- <The Stormchaser doesn' have...door-to-door salesmen...?>

Pippy: -heading over- <Whichever it isn't, it's knocking. I'm gonna check.>

-he steps over some weird tiles on the floor, bounces a bit, and opens the door-

wild area

Evo: <I'm Evo, and at least that pokedex was right about one thing. Don't look under my cloth thing. It's not fun.>

Hazel: <You don't have to tell everyone we meet the long and drawn out story of how you died.>

Evo: <But it's integral to my very being! It's what makes me different from other versions of me! Who knows, this place's me could very well be alive and kick->

-Bridger blows Evo away with a gust.-

Bridger: <Sorry about her. She's a bit loopy.>

Glinda: ~Maybe dying messed with her head a bit.~

Wild Area (Evelyn's Adventure)

Evelyn: I can understand that. Sometimes I think my head might not have been screwed on right.

-Beat-

Evelyn: I have a funny feeling that we probably shouldn't be here... What do you say we take this show on the road?

Viridian City

Alyssa: Oooh...

-She thinks for a moment-

Alyssa: ...Yeah. That, um... sounds right, for what I know. I, um, tried the Trainer stuff for a while, but I never really had the right connection with the Pokemon I ended up catching? So now they're all either back in the wild, or at PEFE, or... well, Dew sticks around. Like— like you!

-She points at Addie.-

-Since her free hand is opposite the shoulder Addie is currently on, it's a bit silly looking.-

Alyssa: There have been moments where I felt a different sort of bond, though. I... don't really know how to describe it, but I think it might have been the sort you... do stuff. With. <Aaaaa words are hard>

-She clears her throat-

Alyssa: ...Um, maybe you could... I dunno, show me around? Introduce me? Sometime? I dunno???

wild area

Hazel: Yeah. Where should we go?