The Opening Ceremony

Kim: "You look great." (then, after a pause) "Might I ask... why 556?"

The Opening Ceremony

-Ian and Evelyn turn back around, wearing the silliest smiles.-

Me: Why 556?

Evelyn: Because "kokoro"!

Me: Japanese word for heart...

Evelyn: ...AND mind!

-Ian and Evelyn do a back-to-back pose while smiling all the while-

Evelyn and I: It's a pun!

Monostoke Stadium - Opening Ceremony

-Released Carbuncle-

<Hello! You feel nervous Aspen. Are you ok?>

"No. Pretty soon, we have to go in the stadium for the opening ceremony. All in front of thousands of people, lots of noise, cheering, clapping." -She starts to get nervous-

<It's okay Aspen. Becides, I'm your emotional support mon. We can do this!>

"R-right." -Carbuncle releases a calming aura-

"T-thanks. I needed that."

motostoke stadium ceremomy

-Violet and Cady are walking down the corridor.-

Violet: Wait, aren't a load of these guys on the j-team?

-Amadeus is sitting on Cady's shoulder.-

Amadeus: <Yay, we're famous! Look how many people have come to see us!>

Cady: They've not just come for us, there are plenty of other challengers too.

Amadeus: <Nonsense. They must all be here for me! Why wouldn't there be?>

motostoke, past

Violet: You know alolan and galarian forms? Delta pokemon are kind of like that. They've got different typing to what's typical of their species. It's illegal to own one because they're quite rare and they want to protect the wild populations.

-The Meowstic sits on the ground to watch the conversation.-

Roger: <Huh, interesting.>

The Captain's Table

Sure, next time I'm hanging out or on a sec job I'll drop a good work in with Renard.

-He peeks at the menu a little and smiles-

So, whatcha thinking of having?

Motostoke Stadium

-Amongst the J-Teamers heading down the corridor, there is a familiar costumed person silently walking with them-

-She is walking confidently though it's hard to discern much about her mood under her helmet-

-On the back of her clearly not regulation suit is something that is clearly not a proper number: "0v0"-

Edited by Pentigan on Feb 15th 2020 at 8:32:33 PM

Motostoke Stadium

DS: (has changed into her uniform) Hmm... Guess this is fine. (takes a deep breath) All right, just gotta smile and walk normally, I guess.

Edited by DarkerShining on Feb 15th 2020 at 10:27:10 AM

The Opening Ceremony

Kim: "Ah. Goroawase, I'm familiar." (then, after a bit) "I wonder if you can guess why 912 is my number."

The Opening Ceremony

Me: 9/12... The Day Neil Peart was born?

The Opening Ceremony

Kim: "Indeed. And also the closest I can come to putting 2112 on my uniform- 9:12 PM is 21:12 in military time."

The [NHS]

Dave: Lieutenant? You're still not exactly in top form for that.

Nurse: A Mr. Herbert Cross. You're up next.

Valentine's Day at Motostoke, elsewhere

Tommy: So, how goes the memory search?

Gimbal, from Tommy's Phone: It's been... I dunno. I kinda feel morose every time I get into it. Your Kalosian friend's rotom mentioned that he also had trouble remembering.

Tommy: Oof.

Gimbal: Take it easy on the Gen-Z language, honey. I mean, it suits you but don't overdo it.

Tommy: Okay boomer.

Gimbal: You don't know that! I could be another millennial for all you know.

Tommy: I'm just joshing with you, Gimb. So, how long has that memory thing been going on?

Gimbal: Yeah, I'd peg it around the time I started using the text device on your phone. It's been rather slow, but—things tend to jog it sometimes.

Tommy nodded. It was par for the course for Rotom's memories to be jogged when they encounter familiarity. He does wonder what could cause it. Certainly the ability to speak a human language was one, though Gimbal had always understood Galarian.

Gimbal: Honey, you still upset about Johnny boy stealing your girlfriend.

Tommy: I... I...

Gimbal: You wanna say you're not upset at all since she's technically not your girlfriend anymore but you still have feelings for Jane and can't stand that Johnny found a way to get in your skin.

Tommy: I hate that you're right. Gimb, tell me. Am I that easy to read?

Gimbal: I wouldn't know from a psychic's perspective. Your face does give it away. Plus, I've known you for several years now. If that doesn't clue me in to your behaviors—

Tommy: When you put it that way, it kinda makes sense. If I didn't know any better, I figured that you were just being a mom again.

Gimbal: Hey, if there's anything I'm good at is parenting immature adults.

Gimbal briefly paused. Something about that her last statement jogged her memories again.

Tommy: Gimbal? Gimbal? Are you okay?

Worried, Tommy pocketed the catatonic phone and walked toward the Pokémon centre.

Gimbal's Mind

Gimbal became detached from the physical world and her consciousness entered a world of very hazy memories. Slowly, though, they became vivid. She now fully remembers being human. Falling in love with a human that she frequently argued with. She had another friend who was like a sister. She raised that friend's daughter like her own. She then had her own baby.

She started longing for these memories. It was something that was taken from her. She couldn't remember all of it, but the circumstances of her death were especially unjust. This was the appeal she made when facing the powers that be. They agreed. She also couldn't quite wrap around the trial she took to get back, only that her lover chose not to undertake it himself.

It wasn't always the case when a soul is granted permission to return to the mortal coil. Gimbal's return left her with patchy memories. She had to re-learn a lot of things about how humans functioned, and her adaptation was rarely perfect the first time around. But as she adapted, she got good at it, and her hazy memories became clear.

Motostoke Pokémon Centre

As she came to, she could finally put enough pieces together to know who she used to be. She could hear Nurse Joy explain to a relieved Tommy that she wasn't in any immediate danger and may just need to rest. And as her sight returned—however briefly—she was comforted knowing that her human companion had nothing else to worry about. That's not what she wanted to subject him to.

And as she drifted into temporary unconsciousness, the last thing that came to her mind was a name. A name she know belonged to her.

Stephania Ditkovic-Petersen.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Apr 8th 2021 at 3:29:09 AM

Monostoke Stadium

"Alright, it is time. Let's go Carbuncle." -Sge stands up and they head enter the corridor-

The Opening Ceremony

'Oh man, so many people. Thousands of people. All I have to do is walk, that's it. That all I have to do.' -Her stomach starts to hurt, pupils dilate, and sweats- "Ugh, I can't do this!"

-Carbunkle sences Aspen's stage fright and releases a calming aura-

<Aspen, your going to be fine. Just take deep breaths. Ok? I'll be right by your side the entire time. Trust me Aspen.>

"Ok. I trust you." -She takes deep breaths- "It's not working!"

-Carbuncle releases a calming aura- <Just pet me. It's okay Aspen. Everything's fine. It's ok...>

"I-i know... Everything going to be ok."

-Carbunkle continues to release a calming aura-

Captain's Table

"I 'unno, fish is fish," she shrugged before looking at the menu proper. She hummed, intrigued, flipping through the options.

Motostoke

He didn't even seem to notice the Corphish greeting him. A marvel, given a lack of both headphones and his phone.

Just waiting.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Feb 15th 2020 at 2:03:26 AM

Motostoke Stadium — Day of the Ceremony

-Scarlette and Mason are milling around just before the corridor to the stadium. On the back of Scarlette's uniform is the number 429; on Mason's, a single 6.-

Mason: Mmmmh. Too many people.

Scarlette: I didn't think you were the sort to get stage fright.

Mason: My entire skill set is stealth and misdirection! I'm not meant to be in the spotlight surrounded by two thousand people! When I asked Kai to sponsor me for this, I thought it was just gonna be, y'know, maybe a bit more publicity than every other League in the world!

Scarlette: Oof. Well, I guess it is a bit more than I anticipated, too, but we'll be fine! It's a whole crowd of us, you're not being singled out or anything.

Mason: ...I guess. Still don't like it, though.

-Scarlette shrugs.-

Scarlette: I mean, I can just kick your ass in the first round when we reach finals, and then people are just gonna care about me.

Mason: In your fucking dreams.

-Scarlette grins.-

Scarlette: Better. So, Kai, huh? They're your sponsor?

Mason: Yeah. I'm not exactly a former Alola champ like you, so they were the first one I thought of to sponsor me, as much as I hated going to them for it. Said that it should be fine since they're not taking part themself.

Scarlette: Glad to see you set aside your weird rivalry for it, then. ^_^

-And then another figure pushes through the door. Superficially, they've got a uniform, but it's clearly been integrated into the rest of what they're wearing. It's been dyed black, made long-sleeved, and worn along with black pants, midnight-blue gloves, and blue boots, leaving no skin exposed. On their back, a blue cape, with hexagons forming the number 330; on their head, a helmet, with a screen over the face displaying the same number.-

-Mason stares at Rogue as they strut through the corridor, and silently fumes.-

Motostoke Stadium

-A purple haired man wearing a classy and slightly anachronistic red riding suit with a white cravat plus cap enters the stadium-

Leon: Ladies, gentleman, and those who are neither!

-Adjusting his hat as the stadium roars-

As you probably know, I am Leon, former Galar League Champion and current acting chairman of the Pokémon League!

-More cheering-

I know that everyone gathered here and watching from home have all been waiting for this big moment! It is my pleasure to announce that finally, this year's Galar region Gym Challenge will now begin!

-Even louder cheering-

This year's challenger must obtain the Badges from all eight Gyms, defeating eight Gym Leaders, in order to be worthy of the Champion's Cup!

-Gesturing behind him-

And now, I'd like to invite the Gym Leaders to show themselves!

-The Gym Leaders start walking into the stadium-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Feb 15th 2020 at 5:28:05 AM

Opening Ceremony

'So that's the used to be champion of Galar? I wonder who the champion is now.'

Motostoke, pastiche

Oracle: <You're a starter, aren't you?>

<Know might be overstating it, but we're hardly strangers.>

PEFE!Every: Neat is right. ^_^

Ever: It's not.

Brie: (to Logan) Ah, thanks!

Ever: Yeah, me and Pef.

PEFE!Every: Pef and I. And my name isn't Pef. Also, I don't want to do this.

Ever: You'll be fine.

-they beam back at Megan-

Motostoke, V-Day

-Brie is waiting, hands on hips-

Brie: Kai. That pun was atrocious.

Motostoke Stadium, today

-PEFE!Every is here-

-she's wearing her PEFE labcoat, despite protests that it's PPE and not a uniform. She's drawn the number 18 on it in washable marker-

-she has a beanie, and under it, noise-canceling headphones-

-she's also visibly texting-

-next to her, Ever is wearing what appears to be a horrifying combination of the Magma and Aqua uniforms, stenciled with a 37-

-their hands are in their pockets, which means they are also texting-

Ever: Pef, I've got a thing. Cover for me.

-she gives no acknowledgement of this. Ever takes this as an affirmative and vanishes-

The Opening Ceremony

(Orwell sinks in an instant.)

Orwell: (sadly) <Reef...?>

Turffeild, Past

Merlin: Of course my most famous alchemeical potions are the genderbend- oh good.

Fou: -sigh-

Merlin: What brings you here?

[NHS]

H. G. Cross: YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE [NHS]!

-he starts... limping away-

Motostoke Stadium

-Oh, right, uniform numbers-

-Jared's is 17, after his idol's birthday, 1/7-

-Julius' is 776, after the game that came after his-

-Neon's is 10, for similar reasons to Mason's-

Julius: So these people are important figures in this society?

Neon: They don't look THAT strong...

Jared: Kinda funny looking if you ask me.

Motostoke — Valentines Day

-Kai just grins as they approach.-

Kai: That's the goal. I can't let myself get a reputation for making good puns, can I?

Motostoke stadium

Channah: -watches as the gym leaders enter, squinting at the distance-

-oh, and her number is 19, the most perfect of numbers-

Motostoke Green Room

He doesn't seem to respond verbally, although Orwell does hear something.

I have a name, and I asked you to refer to me by it. He turns his head, looking at Kim and drawing a little attention to the "210" on his back.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Feb 15th 2020 at 4:55:50 AM

The Captain's Table

I'm seeing some decent stuff here too. Might think on it... Got any other things to talk about?

Motostoke Stadium

-Nightingale gives a curt nod to the arrival of Rogue but continues saying nothing. She carefully watches the Gym Leaders walk in, picking out targets amid them-

Captain's Table

"Well, Colton's been bouncing around the idea of using only his original six - and Koyasa due to reasons involving Sunny's concern as a mother - but that does kind of mean he'd need to free up a slot for him. I'm bouncing around the idea of taking six of his other Pokemon, and doing my own challenge. Is that a little too ambitious? Would I need my own sponsorship? I'm running it by Xatu right now and while he's not opposed, he's just one. I need five more," she started talking a little faster, a little more excited, pausing to catch her breath and take a drink. To distract herself, she looked over the page of the menu.

"Hmm, [seared tuna] seems like a good starting point," she mused.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Feb 15th 2020 at 3:36:33 AM

Motostoke Stadium

-Looking ahead-

If there's one thing I'm glad about, it's that in arenas I only have to focus on the folks directly in front of me.

Leon: We're doing some experimenting with the League lineup this year, so things might not go the way you'd expect! Now, let's meet our Gym Leaders!

-As the Gym Leaders file in and stand in unison at the center of the area, restarting the cheering-

Here's the Grass-type expert, the fighting farmer, Milo!

The raging wave and master of Water types, Nessa!

The ever-burning man of fire! Here comes the Fire-type veteran, Kabu!

The Galar karate prodigy, and the silent boy of mystery! Nobody's better with Fighting types than Bea, and Allister's a friend to all Ghost types!

Our new Fairy-type user, Bede!

The hard-rock crusher and the ice-cold professional! Please welcome the Rock and Ice-type masters, Gordie and Melony!

Taking over from her brother, the one who brings    darkness   , Marnie!

And last but certainly not least, the tamer of dragons and my greatest rival, it's Raihan, the top Gym Leader!

Opening Ceremony

'Hmm... Judgeing by the order, Grass, Water, Fire, Fighting/Ghost, Fairy, Rock/Ice, Dark, and Dragon. Instering gym types here.'