Amarin House, 25th

Ever: ...Yeah.

That's about right.

We're not always wonderful people. We're not even always good people. There are too many of us to be just one thing. We're just...people. Who are trying. And who end up in situations in which people shouldn't be, and do what we can to make sure other people don't have to.

The fact that you ended up in one of those situations, it's a failure on our parts. The sum of many, really. And I'm sorry. But...it does mean we've been there too.

-...-

Ever: Are you a hugs person? Would hugs help here? Or alternatively penguin cuddles?

Arc: <Act now and you can get penguin cuddles while I still retain my baby down!>

Glimmer: <For, like, five minutes more.>

Arc: <That's hurtful!>

Ever: (wearily) Glimmer, stop reminding Arc of the inevitability of death. Arc, use your words, not your hydrokinesis.

-they glance at Logan expectantly-

Azalea Town, currently

-Ever has let the Dreepy out of their ball, and the other Dreepy surround them in a loose formation-

Ever: ...Weird.

Dreepy Prime: <>

Ever: Right?

Dreepy Prime: <>

Ever: I'm Ever. I'm your trainer, which is—

-they frown-

Pleth, how do you learn the Vow? Is it taught?

Pleth: <I dunno. I was a baby. How much do you remember learning Galarian?>

-Ever wrinkles their nose-

Ever: Right. But, they haven't attacked me yet, which is probably a good sign?

Pleth: <They don't appear to have much by way of volition.>

Ever: If you tape a Snorlax's mouth shut, what's left for it to do?

Pleth: <Interesting and unsettling analogy.>

Ever: I may have to ask someone about the game they're from.

Maybe if I get a telepath to help with communication...

-there's a skittering, and Muninn runs up, carrying a small paperback book with what are, in fact, the Sword and Shield symbols-

Pleth: <Oh, hey.>

Muninn: <...> (warily) <H—>

Muninn: <Is there a hypothetical point at which I am sufficiently revenged upon?>

Pleth: <Don't be such a baby. This doesn't even hurt you.>

Muninn: <It's annoying. Have you ever been sprayed with a water pistol?>

Pleth: <You broke my heart and tried to kill me.>

Muninn: <You actually killed me. And ate my flesh.>

Pleth: <I didn't. Blame Marmalade.>

Muninn: <Oh, trust me, I do.>

Ever: (claps, startling both mons) Hey. Focus up. Muninn, can I see that? Ugh, I don't like carrying stuff with wolf imagery.

Pleth: <And how'd you procure that?>

Muninn: (sneers, not that it makes him look any less small and adorable) <Nothing you'd want to know about.>

Azalea Poke Mart, earlier

-Muninn hops onto the counter, carrying the guidebook and some bills-

Cashier: Oh, what a precious little Mimikyu!

-he leans towards Muninn, who narrows his eyes-

Did your trainer send you on an errand, sweetie?

Muninn: <I predate your country.>

Cashier: Oh, I love that disguise. Who made it?

Muninn: <I am the reason the moon is barren. Well, half of it.>

Cashier: Gosh, do you mind if I pet you? You're just so cute and squeaky.

Muninn: <...Indulge yourself.>

-the cashier pats Muninn's head. He sighs and waits patiently-

And we're back

Muninn: <And I'm back.>

Ever: Dreepy. The...Lingering Pokemon? These nicknames get weirder and weirder.

Pleth: <Pfft. I'm the Forest Pokemon. You have to figure someone was having a bad day when they named me.>

Muninn: <I'm alright with mine.>

Pleth: <The Disguise Pokemon?>

Muninn: <...Fuck off.>

Ever: Ooh, I like this evolutionary line. Says here they like being...

Muninn: <Oh my gods.>

Ever: ...Hm.

-they hold out a hand, which Dreepy Prime drifts towards, the others following suit-

-they scoop up Dreepy Prime, and fling them away from the town, the other Dreepy zipping after them-

-and they land on the route, in a small explosion of dragon power-

Ever: HOLY SHIT!

Pleth: <What.>

-at which point Dreepy Prime floats off of the ground, unharmed, and the other Dreepy swirl around them curiously as they zip back to Ever-

Ever: ...O-okay.

Muninn: <This has to be one of Mew's jokes.>

Ever: She probably found a dead Bagon and got sad about it.

Uh, okay...want to go again, little...demon?

Dreepy Prime: <!>

-the rest of the Dreepy all flit around in unison-

Ever: Hey, that's an emotion. They learned an emotion. Come on, up you go—

Pleth: <Hang on, how come only you get to throw the dragons?>

Ever: Uh, I'm the trainer.

Pleth: <Muninn has a better arm than you do.> Muninn: <It's true.> <Gimme.>

-she picks up Dreepy Prime, and-

Ever: ...They're going to get lost!

Pleth: <It's fine.>

Muninn: <Hope you didn't hit anything important.>

Pleth: <It's fine, I said.>

-Ivan sits on his sofa, staring out his window. A light frost obscures his view.-

-He sighs happily. Ever since Icarus got a job and his own apartment a few weeks back, Ivan has been unburdened by stress, and has been able to simply live in peace, attending his job and pursuing his hobbies.-

-It's been a while since he's been happy.-

-Tanten, however, is not content. A sense of restlessness fills him as he ponders what it means to truly be alive. He thought that joining the J-Team would fill some sort of void within him, but he sort of didn't actually talk to anyone after his first week.-

-He sighs unhappily. Perhaps he should actually talk to someone. But chatter says that some weird shit has been going down recently, and Tanten wouldn't know where to begin.-

-Tanten resolves to be more present when this all cools down.-

Lumiose

Delphox: <Thanks, kid. You got a name?>

Luca: "Luca. Luca Ardizzone."

Delphox: <Well, Luca, we'll be off now. Neo, if you would.>

-The Zorua returns to her normal oddly-colored self and picks the money bag up.-

Luca: "Wait."

-He eyes the bag.-

Luca: "The cops are still looking for you. What say we do a bit of shopping."

-The Delphox rests on his cane thoughtfully before tilting his hat.-

Delphox: <Now we're talking, kid.>

Luca: "I assume you have a name, considering your friend here does as well."

Delphox: <Call me Roman Torchwick, renowned thief and criminal.>

Roman: <This might be the start of a long, wealthy partnership, if you play your cards right. Now let's go, there's this suit I've been eyeing.>

Amarin House

Alli:

Chateau D'Avarice

-Neamean Lion Crunches again, probably eliciting another horrifying honk-

Nemean Lion: <This tastes funny.>

Royal: I think this clown needs a little more makeup, because he is uuuuuuugly!

SPACE

-Both Julius and Magnus chuckle at Silas and Hacks-

Julius: Good thing my Pokeform's kind of big...

Final Shell

-Just outside the base, a MASSIVE creature emerges from the portal-

-It resembles... a strange sphere or egg, strange shapes inside, surrounded by countless purple tentacles made of purple ones and zeroes-

Knuckes Tribe Cheiftan: <...It's Him. The Worldstitcher. The Fanatic.>

   The Fanatic:    Àh, ͏he͞ll̡o,̀ he̢l͏l͢o, J̛-̕Te̢a͏m.̢ ̧I͝'̀v͡e̴ ̵be͠e͝n̨ wa̸ņt̵i͟ng͡ ̛to ̡me͢e̡t͠ y̕o̡u҉ a̕ll͏ ̶for̴ ą ļon҉g,̸ l͡o̵n͜g ͠t̢i̴me̢. Go̸o͟d to ̀s͟ee yo͝u̕ ̧ag̨a͝i̶n̡, ͝Gu͢d̢r̷u̕ņn. S̨e̕n̴d that͟ Te͞am͞ ͡Umb́r͡a͠ ̴m̧y ҉r͢e͜ga̡r͞d҉s҉.͡

-Gudrunn just grits her teeth-

final shell

Sapphy: We should've just stayed in Kanto...

Saffy: For once, I agree. It's not like we can do anything here...

Final Shell

Evelyn: I think we ought to get out of here... What do you think, Hatty?

Hatty: <I-I agree... Whatever "The Fanatic" is... I'm sure it isn't friendly...>

-Evelyn and Hatty get up and run out of the Final Shell-

Piku-chan: <Whoever that girl is, she has the right idea... Let's go, Ian...>

-The power boost dies down and the pink glow that surrounded Ian fades, and with that, Ian follows Evelyn's example-

-As he is running, Ian realizes his situation-

Me: I just HAD to do the thing, didn't I? I just HAD to make Izaya hit himself... Taihenda...

Piku-chan: <Don't beat yourself up about it... And think about it... This will be the first true world-ending glitch you've ever fought, won't it?>

Me: Hey... You're right... Haha! This'll be fun!

-Ian and Evelyn run out of the Final Shell along with the J-Team-

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Jun 3rd 2020 at 5:31:31 AM

Santa's Workshop

An uneasiness has gripped the occupied workshop complex. One by one, a pair of Interpol soldiers leaves, and every other one comes back with another injured cyborg.

Communication lines were hard to come by since The Voice's interruption, and the senior officers were jealously guarding the few emergency lines available. There was a communication blackout in effect, and the soldiers were not happy, especially given the difficulties they've had in maintaining order at the coal mines.

Santa was now detained in a makeshift cell appropriated from one of his sheds, and beside him was an Interpol Authority guard bored out of her wits in the cold. They were approached by a senior officer.

Not Goober: Soldier, you are relieved of your guard duties. We'll take it from here.

Guard: Then what am I supposed to do?

Not Goober: You are to take a boat to the Cumberbatch and ask for reinforcements. The situation in the mines has gone out of control.

Guard: Yes sir!

She salutes and leaves. She notes that the officer's aides were a bit on the young side for Interpol Authority privates. Almost as young as she was when she was first recruited.

Santa, meanwhile, looked on. He knew who those were.

Goober: Don't panic. Oh, I forgot who I was talking to here. You know who we are.

Goober gestures to Ian and Hazel to help him untie Santa.

Santa: I don't need to fear the heroes who come to the aid of my Pokémon and myself. I do wonder if the electromagnetic pulse in my basement was necessary, though.

Goober: Uh... desperate times, Nick. Desperate times.

Bridge of the Carrey

The Cumberbatch had begun firing at the Carrey... with little success. The shells bounce of pathetically over the newer ship's protective hull without so much as a scratch on its paint job. The Jammer-controlled Carrey fired with a few warning shots, and their defecting flag-bearer sent rude messages through semaphores.

The mutineers have kept Captain Macraul and a few of his bridge officers as hostages. Deputy Director Panelo had been knocked out.

Mutineer: Captain, the intercom is yours.

Captain Macraul: Thank you.

Bridge Officer: Are you sure about this, sir.

Captain Macraul: The Carrey is my ship, and I her captain. The wellbeing of her crew is my responsibility. If I must be taken hostage to do it, so be it. If the Authority believes this to be treason, then treasonous I must be.

Tommy, Jr.: Deep words, sir.

Captain Macraul: I hope I've done all I can to guarantee your safety, Mr. Petersen. This was not meant to be your battle. Let it be known that there are heroes among the Authority yet.

Panelo, tied up, comes to. She snarls venomously as she is escorted by the mutineers along with her journalist companion.

Deputy Director Panelo: I swear, Macraul, this is not over. I will have Cross arrest you the moment you enter the Cumberbatch and I'll personally have you marooned in some frigid island in the [Canadian] Arctic! You hear me. By hook or by crook, I am going to sink this boat and all of you along with it!

Tommy, Jr.: Honey, let it go.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Captain Macraul and his loyal officers looked at each other awkwardly.

Captain Macraul: You know, you should be evacuating as well.

Bridge Officer 1: We're not leaving you here. We leave when you do.

Captain Macraul: Can we?

Beat.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jan 2nd 2020 at 5:08:29 PM

Final Shell, Vs. Fanatic

"What even is this thing?" Colton asked as a few of his teammates appeared.

Sylveon and Sunny both put up Reflect and Light Screen while Ammy materialized and let Drought kick in, Nasty Plots running through her mind.

Sean Swords Danced while Julius Bulked Up.

Colton began to build up his reserves, only then taking notice of just how much more powerful he was.

"The Nexus," he realized, grabbing a Luxury Ball and throwing it up. Roy landed and nodded while Colton reached for his Mega Headphones.

<Obsessive yearning, compulsive burning~>

"Still never learning, insane-"

"<RANDOM THOUGHTS OF NEAT DISORDER!>"

Roy Mega-Evolved in an orange flash, Honing his Claws.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jan 2nd 2020 at 2:50:48 AM

santa's workshop

Hazel: Okay...

-Hazel starts trying to untie santa.-

Final Shell

Misaki: "It's...an egg?"

Jin: "Now's a bad time to get cocky, kid."

Jessica: "Oh, whatever. Let's scramble this egg!"

Cereza: <At times like this I miss my old bodies...what I wouldn't give to be Kunaimi right now.>

Elizabeth: "Oh, not another one...Lizzie should have stayed in her room."

Luca: "Am I supposed to be scared?"

Kaiiseii: "Sis, promise me we'll get out of this in one piece."

Isbrand: "I'll never let that happen again."

Morgan: <Compared to Grima->

Camilla: <And Anankos->

Hubert: <You are nothing!>

Shaun: "Well then...shall we?"

Edited by SwiftSeraph on Jan 2nd 2020 at 3:49:06 AM

Final Shell

-To the Fanatic-

That was you? Well, I have no intention of bowing to any Glitch, haven't done so for the past eight years, and it won't be starting now.

Final Shell

-Pent says nothing. He says nothing as he stares directly at the Fanatic and channels as much Aura Nexus as he can through himself, through the pen, through the grinding bone into pure beams of damage-
-While everyone's focus is on the big monster, it's unlikely anyone notices the figure dressed in white faintly vwooping in behind them-

Santa's Workshop

-Ian follows Goober closely, taking a good look around at Santa's Workshop-

Me? -quietly- Wow... I've heard many stories about this place... but I've never actually been here...

-Ian then follows Goober to see a man in a red suit all tied up-

Me?: -internal squeeing- It's him... It's Santa...

-something crosses Ian's mind and he looks at himself- Why would these people do this? Santa couldn't have done anything wrong...

Me?: -out loud, to Santa- Are you okay, sir?

Outside the Final Shell, VS The Fanatic

-Ian and Evelyn witness the massive glitch monster looming over them-

Me: The Fanatic, I presume...?

Evelyn: Th-That thing is "The Fanatic"?!

Me: -to The Fanatic- I certainly hope you don't morph yourself into a hot-pink Hitmon Fusion and swiftly defeat us in 1930s cartoon fashion...

-Oshawittle, Piku-chan and Hatty all get ready for battle-

Final Shell

-Aspen took out her crystal earbuds and put them in her bag. She than ran outside-

Final Shell - Outside

Me, exhausted: "I-i made it! What's going on?"

North Pole

-Mia and Cross are still fighting-

-And will probably keep fighting until one of them loses or someone stops them-

Final Shell

   The Fanatic:    I͞͡͡ ̡͢h̀͟͟a̢̢̕v̢͟͝ę ͏̛̕ob̧s̶e͟͠r̴̶v́͝e҉̨ḑ̵ ́y͡ǫu͢r͟ ̡w͠ǫr̸̕͞l͘͜͝d̷͠ ̡f͢͠o̶r̶ ̧̀̕a̶̸ ̷҉lo͏̴ng̸͞ ̢̛͝tí̡̧m̨̛͏è͘. ̨̕T͞r̕͟i̶̵̕e̸d ́͟to̵ ̕e͟x͢e̶͞rt̀ ̴̛͏y̡̡ ̶̴į͢n̨̧fl҉úen̷c͘e ͠͝ù̸̧po̢͜͟n̸̸͘ ̵í͜t. F̵̶̨or͟͞.͞.̨̕.̷́ ̶͡I̕̕t̵̵͝ ̨̀́d̛i҉s̢͏ģ̕͟u͘͢s̢̨t͏͢͏s ̨̨̡ḿe͞.͏͢ I̵̶͡t̷͞ ̸i̷͝s ͜͟a͞ f̛͡à̕͝r̡ ̵̡c͜͞r̛͜y̧ ͘f̸͘͜ró̴͟m͡ w̸̛h̕͝a̵̕t̸͞ ̡͘a̷͢ ̡͝͏w̧̢͞o̸r̢͠ļ̷͢d̕҉ ̡͘i͢҉n̶̶̢h̢̀̕a̡͝b̡͟͞i̶͢ţ̷҉e̶͏d ̛b̛͞y҉ ͜t̢h̛̀e͟͜͞ ͏͞c͘͞r͟e̵͟͝á̛t͏͜͠ųr̡͝e̛͞͞s͡͏ ̷ķ́n̡͠o̷̧̨ẃ͡n̨̛͟ ̀͝a͘s͝ ̧͟P̸o̧͜ķ͟͝e҉m҉͟ǫ͜n̕͜ ̢s͢͜ho͝u҉͠l̶̨d͟͠ ́̀be̡͝. ̢̧́Ý͞o̸ų͘ ҉̶al͠l͢ ̕͘m̕͜e̸d̛dĺ́í̴ńg̛̀͡ ̀҉J͢-̶̀͢T̷̀͠ea̷͝m͠҉è̸r͝s̡ ͜ą̵n̴d̷͞ y͘͠o͘͝ú̸̷r̵͞ ̛f̨r̢̢ì͘ȩ̨nd̷̨s̛ ͏ąn̛d͢͢ ҉̢ý̴̡our ͞m͏ul̵̨t̢̕͝iv͞e͠r͘͟͞s̛a͜l͝ ̕͘b͝҉ud͟͏d̵͘͜i̷̧e͢s҉ ̷̛ha̷͠v͠e͠ ̢́j̶̀us͡t̴̢ m̵͡a̶d̕e ̕t͜͢he̴ ̛w̕o̷͡͞r̕l҉d͏̨͟ m͟ǫ̷r̀͡e̵ ̴imp̵̴͘u͏̶r̶͘ȩ̴.̸͢ ̡So ̀t̨҉̵ó̵d̢ą͜y̷̶̡.̸̛..̴̀́

-Waves of power exude from the Fanatic as His tentacles stretch. A storm forms around Him-

҉̢.͜.͝҉.̵̷I̷'̡m̧͝ ̕͝g͜͏o̡in͟g̨̨ ͏̵͟to͟ ̨f̶ix̶͘͠ ̵i͏t̀͡.͘̕

҉͡Ţ́͢ḩ̕i͝s̀́ ̀p͢͡͝ow͢͢͞er҉͝ ͠͏͏ì̴̶ş ҉i͡͝l҉l̵ ͏b̸̧e͘f̨̕̕f̡it͏͘͏in͢͠g̢͝ ́of̡͡ ͘m͢e̡ ̸̨͜bu̴t̨̕ ̧͡͡i̷͝t̷ ̷͢͠w͡͝i͞l̵l̵͠ ́͝b̀é҉́ ͡e̵͝no͞u͘g̵h̡́ ̀͢t̢ò ̵̵d͢is̨p̨̢̀os̕e ҉͏o͏̸f̸ ͘y̕͜͠o̶u̴.͜

Fanatamax Raid, VS The Fanatic

-Ian silently calls upon the power of the Aura Nexus and the pink glow surrounds him once again-

Me: You'll have to go through US, first! Piku-chan! Oshawittle! Get Ready!

-Piku-chan and Oshawittle jump into action-

Evelyn: Wow... Those two glow so brightly! I wish I could do something like that... Ah, well... Hatty? You ready?

Hatty: <Ready when you are!>

Evelyn: Alright! Kako! Mirai! Let's go! Hatty! Use Life Dew!

-Evelyn throws two Poké Balls, and out come the Kirlia Twins-

-Hatty scatters a magical healing water that replenishes the strength of herself, Kako, Mirai and all her new allies-

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Stormchaser

-Gaius is helping himself to leftover Christmas candy when he hears a voice behind him-

Robin: Happy birthday!

-Gaius yelps and whips around-

Gaius: Yeesh, Bubbles, don't do that!

Robin: -smirks- You're easy to surprise for a thief.

Gaius: Har har.

Robin: Speaking of, guess what? I got you something!

Gaius: -eyes widen- What is it? Chocolate chip cookies? Peanut butter cups? Those split-able chocolate oranges?

Robin: Better!

-He produces... a rather large, creamy-white egg-

Gaius: ...That's not a sweet food.

Robin: It's a Pokemon egg! It'll hatch into your very own Pokemon!

Gaius: ...Wait, really? I get one of those weird monsters everyone else has or got turned into? Sweet! What kind?

Robin: You'll find out when it hatches.

Gaius: -shrugs- Fair enough, Bubbles.

-They kiss-

Robin: I'll be back, I gotta help Umbra and Ammy with wedding plans. We found this nice, out-of-the way location in Galar, that's where I got this egg.

Gaius: Great! Good luck to them.

-Robin leaves, and Gaius glances down at the egg-

Now who are you gonna be...

Fanatamax Raid, VS The Fanatic

-Aspen noticed a weird egg looking thing. She tossed out two pokeballs, and out came Nessie and Tesla-

Nessie-noticeing the Fanatic-: <Guys, what on earth is that? Is it a new Pokemon?>

Tesla:<I have no idea Nessie. But other Pokemon are attacking it so we must fight it. But for the love if Arceus don't use Perish Song!>

Nessie:<Don't worry I won't.>

Tesla:<Good. Now let's get battling!>

-Tesla and Nessie unleashed a Discharge and Scald at Fanatic respectively-

Fanatamax Raid

"Define impure," Colton demanded. "I'm not saying that we're always just, or even half the time right, but the burden of proof's on you."

<This Glitch is definitely chaotic,> Sean observed, blinking out of existence for a moment due to Extreme Speed. <he won't listen to reason. Kick the tar out of him.>

Roy's Speed Boost kicked in, and he blinked out for a moment, his location highlighted by a backflipping Blaze Kick from his heel that reached to the heavens.

<Don't have to tell us twice!> Ammy and Sylveon chorused, the two of them and Sunny firing off attacks.

Final Shell, Fanatic Finale

-Pent never stopped firing his array of gaster beams. No snappy comebacks, no ideal-filled retorts, no extra aesthetic flair like flowing shadows or floating hair, just attack-
-His hate, so strong-
-There was no hate here, no anger. Today had drained the emotion from him and all that remained now was a feeling of cold and the rush of energy flow-
-Doubtful-
-Though there was... Just enough cognizant thought left to retrieve an old pokeball from his bag with the hand not clutched tight-to-almost-bleeding around the pen-

Ur. Kill.
-"Kill" isn't the wording of someone with no hate-
-In a small flash of light, a tiny goddess joined the battle and gathered the power of the sun-
-Huh, now that's a throwback and a half-
Victini, Fusion Blaze

-Another beam joins the seven skull-borne glitchlasers, a beam of crackling atomic fire-

Edited by Pentigan on Jan 3rd 2020 at 1:47:59 AM

Azalea Town

-Ever and Brie are sitting at an outdoor cafe together, drinking hot chocolate-

Brie: —and that's why Torchic Run was propaganda.

Ever: Hm. I'm just not sure I buy the idea of a secret bird conspiracy operating behind the scenes of the film industry. Now, the baking industry—

Brie: Uh, what's that?

Ever: -glancing at the swarm of Dreepy floating behind them- Looks like it's snowing.

Brie: I could not more obviously mean the lizards.

Ever: Oh, they're a new team member.

Brie: Flying?

Ever: Ghost.

-they pass their hand through one of the Dreepy to demonstrate-

The one in the middle's solid though.

-they catch Dreepy Prime out of the air, holding them to their chest, the other Dreepy all flitting around in faint confusion-

Brie: Cute. So they're like a hivemind?

Ever: Not normally, I think. These guys are a bit of a special case, they're—

Muninn: (on Ever's shoulder) <Universal guardian.>

Ever: (not missing a beat) —completely normal and explicably deviant from the mean.

Dreepy Prime: <:V>

Dreepy Swarm: <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V> <:V>

Brie: ...You're a terrible liar.

Ever: Yeah, but if you never learn the truth, does it really matter? Anyway, check this out.

-they gently toss Dreepy Prime into the street-

Brie: Are they...supposed to do that?

-and the Dreepy swarm back around Ever, who smiles and pets Dreepy Prime-

Ever: Apparently.

Brie: You should not be trusted with that power.

Ever: Oh, you're so right.

Brie: Got a name?

Ever: (holding up a picture of Dragapult) Does this look like a stealth fighter to you?

Brie: ... (wounded) Why are they not Flying?

Ever: Because life is full of little injustices. I'm thinking Scramble, yea or nay?

Brie: ... -sigh- Yea.

Megan: -weakly, gazing up- ...ohhhh, Final Shell.

Abilene: If you have time to gawp at a pun, you have time to prepare.

Thespi:-chirpily- <Are you kidding? Awful pun names are half the intel we get on this kind of fight!>

Ceal: <Now we know that this guy values zeal!>

Thespi: <Or at least appeared to to whoever named him!>

Ceal: <He stitches worlds!>

Thespi: -shout- <Which means we can pull him apart at the seams!>

Ceal: -draw- <This is the end!>

Tripod: -bweeep—!-

Thespi: -draw- <Get ready, 'cause your time is—>

Pollen: <It's...>

Thespi: ?

Pollen: -backing away- <It's awful.>

Thespi: <Uh...we're trying to build the right pre-victory mood, here? You're kinda—>

Pollen: -hyperventilating, louder- <That's-that's the most toxic thing I've ever seen. Why isn't anyone—?>

Hiro: You can feel it, can't you?

Abilene: Mhm.

-Hiro draws a sword, and it bursts into bright white flame-

-and Abilene pulls out-

-...-

-is that a gun-

Hiro: -angling the point at the egg- We will defeat you, and finally see the sun again.

-no seriously, what the fuck-

Abilene: -cocking a fucking gun at the Fanatic- First, these aren't my friends.

Second, you're trying to crush a rather beautiful tree, that happens to contain my world.

You won't live past three.

-and without altering their stances, they each pull out a Pokeball and drop it-

Castanea: -clenching fists, experimentally- <A confluence of Dark-type energy. Interesting.>

Emboar: -cycling her elbow- <Fighting, too!>

Hiro: I thought it was Ghost.

Thespi: -blink- <Yeah, this's a Nexus!>

Megan: -still terrified, but determined- Wait, what's a—

Ceal: <Thespi, exposit later!>

Tripod: -boss fight music starting-

Thespi: <Fiiiine~> |:)

-banter aside, they're all so...tiny, in the face of this thing-

Logan: -glancing at Pent- All your talk of purity, and not a thought for whether it's even a virtue. What makes you the arbiter of what things should be?

I can guess. You have power, and don't give a damn about who you throw it at. All the pretty words in the world wouldn't convince you.

-demanifesting their guitar- Eventually, someone will rise to stop you, and damned if we're not gonna try.

-mirroring one another, Castanea and Hiro's Emboar each clench their fist around a slew of Aura and hammer-

Cease and desist.

-a blast of dark lightning, a piercing mental strike, and a crushing sphere of force strike up at the Fanatic from three keys streaming with moving glyphs-

Logan: ...I've met enough people to know that, yeah. Which I guess means—

-huff- I've been a bit unkind.

-going for a smile and ending up wan- It's hardly a failure on your part. Collectively or singular. I've got training, I pretty much signed up for...something.

-hugs?-

Logan: Not...typically.

It-it does sound kinda nice right about now, though.

-they don't often appear hesitant, but they do now-

-holding out their arms for...well, either Ever or a fluffy baby-

Addie: -uncurling a bit, from an inconspicuous corner- <Baby down.>

-sideways- <Sounds marvelous.> c:

-and she goes for a fluff-hug-

Santa's Workshop Shed

Santa: I will be fine now, children.

With a few cuts from all three of them, St. Nicholas is freed. The grateful Father Christmas paused to share a thankful gesture at his rescuers.

Santa: Hazel, your mother has always been and will always be proud of you. You will accomplish great things together

He turns to Ian.

Santa: Ian, don't let the heat of the moment get the better of you or your judgment. The J-Team need more cool heads along good hearts.

...and to Goober.

Santa: Your heart is in the right place, Stanford, as with these two. Perhaps today you will come to learn that action is better than recognition.

And to all three.

Santa: You and your friends have my gratitude. But I feel we. My Pokémon still need to be saved and these soldiers sent back to their time.

Beat.

The Carrey, Lower Decks

Team Signal Mutineer, via commlink: Gobo, this is the bridge team. We're informing you that Captain Macraul of the Interpol Navy and a few other crewmembers on the bridge are defecting to Team Signal.

The Mines

Krampus and the coalossal continue to wipe the floor with the remaining pokémon. Dave and the other cyborgs, many of whom have vital organs replaced, sit motionless as their organs go into a backup analog mode that limits their ability to function.

The Pokémon released by Lila, Sarah, and Latias run amok. They'd be much more effective once they've been gathered together, however.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Apr 10th 2020 at 7:58:43 PM

VS The Fanatic

-The team fires beam attacks right at the Fanatic-

Muddy: <Two years we've spent doing this, that's two years too long!>

Helios: <Yeah!>

Tyto: <Gonna bag myself a Glitch!>

The smell of freshly cooked food filled the recycled air, there was a delicious beef stroganoff being cooked, along with a mound of mashed potatoes. For the past hour Silas had worked away, working with practiced precision as Hacks assisted him. The table was set and everyone was ready, Silas smirked as the stroganoff finished, the stew's scent now wafting over... Bishop had to be behind it, messing with the air flow in the room somehow.

Silas set down the pot of stew, the bowl of mashed potatoes, and two salad bowls and said, "Dig in."

Roxy picked up her servings and smiled, "So, Captain and Chef?"

"My grandma made sure I knew how to cook, and as the Captain of this vessel on this journey, I'm responsible for everyone."

~That and he actually really likes to cook, especially with beef.~

"Tomorrow's dinner will be curry with rice, morale is good when everyone is fed," Silas commented shooting Hacks a look.

Tassa took a plate, "Reminds me of old tales my father would tell me of sailing ships and how the crews mutinied when the Captain forgot to feed them," she said wistfully.

Silas sat down and looked at Tassa, "So, Miss Ambassador, what can you tell us?"

Tassa shot Silas a look, "Must we?"

"If you want to at the very least."

Tassa pouted a bit, "Hrm. I will save it for when we reach the Red Planet and see the artifacts you have picked up."

Silas nodded, "Fair enough. How do you find travelling this way however?"

Tassa gave it some thought, "Highly concerning, I had trouble sleeping in my cabin when waiting for the outfitting as you had warned us that outside is incredibly hostile. On Earth we at least had the chance of safety, here... well I must admit it is somewhat terrifying."

Silas nodded, "It's great."

"Great? GREAT?! How can you say that?"

"Because we are surviving it right now. We have made a way to get through that inky blackness and now we're on our way to another planet, through nothing but ingenuity from man and mon. we're bravely going where nobody else has dared go before," Silas explained calmly.

Tassa pouted a bit more, she didn't fully buy it, but he was assured, it would do for now, "At least you cook well."

Silas nodded, "So, first day done, a bit boring, the ship will be on a standard autopilot course overnight, any major thoughts for today everyone?"