Old Ruins

Kamon: -bounces- Whenever you are!

Rockstar: <Shall a say eh prayer?> -sighs-

Old Ruins

Alright Kamon you're about to see something cool.

-With a flick of her wrist and leg, she withdraws a dagger from her boot (the dagger is small, ornate, but has clearly been laser-cut or fab-printed rather than properly forged and the upper half of the likely dull blade bristles with electrical contact points)-

Shadows guide me. Suit up.

-With a fluid motion she slams the dagger through a slot on a slightly chunky bracelet on her opposite wrist and... Nothing happens. Gale stands there a moment in the pose, waiting, before she extracts the dagger from the bracelet-

Ahem. Shadows guide me. Suit up.

-She does the same motion again, sliding the dagger home in the bracelet and nothing happens again. She makes a soft unconscious sound and just jiggles the dagger a little-

It normally... It normally works fine.

-She slides the dagger in and out without the graceful gravitas movement-

Suit up? Suit uuuuuuup...

-Gale glares, emits a frustrated grunt and sticks out her arm-

Captain, why isn't it working???

Motostoke stadium, yesterday

-Cady walks out onto the pitch. Kabu also walks out onto the pitch.-

Kabu: Welcome! I am Kabu. The fact that you're here means you've bested both Milo's grass types and Nessa's water types. I wouldn't expect anything less than someone else from Hoenn. So, let's see which of us can bring out our pokemon's full potential today!

you are challenged by gym leader Kabu!

-Kabu sends out a Ninetales.-

Cady: Go, Nocturne!

-Cady's new Litwick, having been healed before the battle, jumps onto the pitch.-

Turffield, Past

Beck: That's good to hear. Just give me a call and I'll see what I can do. There always seems to be room for one more at the 'Chaser.

“Do you think we could go there now? I’d really like to take a look.”

Giving her a spare Water Stone to wash herself off with, Clara returned her mum to a Master Ball. Two other balls on her sash suddenly pinged as if “online” as she took the topmost one, opening it to reveal a miniature Servine.

<New Message from tomiyaki: ok sent suzuki + funny purple rock over now>

<New Message from tomiyaki: don’t die pls>

Turffield

Beck: It's a long way away from here, though. It's parked in Wedgehurst, last I remembered. You okay traveling that far? We leave once Mr. Petersen here and I finish the stuff we need for his article. Would you be joining us, Tom?

Tommy: Yeah, you guys go ahead. I've a bunch more interviews back in Wyndon. I'll be staying here. If you want, you might catch my coworker Upton. He's working on some early Halloween stuff in some house there.

Gimbal: Tommy took this assignment specifically to ditch him.

Hammerlocke Gym Entrance

Gaius: Food, huh? Too bad we-

-Petra grabs a piece of candy from his bag and yeets it down the hall-

HEY

-the Swalot notices and chases after it-

Petra: <Let us be going in!>

-The group approaches the door, but...-

Gaius: Shit, it's locked. Can I pick this lock?

Metropolis Of Vanity

-the Blob is hit pretty hard, but still standing-

Royal: It's weak to fire! Hit it with that!

-Medeus!Loptous belches a Flamethrower at the Blob as it screeches-

“I mean, I walked all the way here from Unova, so it shouldn’t be that far, right? I’ll be alright going with you gu-“

“SERRRRRRR! Fownd hyumanns! Lorra wohnts pettss! Give pets pliess!”

The small Servine, Laura, latched himself onto Tommy’s leg in excitement. Despite being adolescent and even knowing some English, he still had the mental capacity of a hyped-up 6 year old.

“Laura, ksksksks... come on, off the human’s leg please.”

Turffield

Tommy: Hehe, no worries. I'm used to Pokémon climbing on me.

The kabuto and the joltik were still there. He attempts to pet the Servine.

Beck: Doesn't that fella look a bit heavy, though? I usually see you with that joltik and all, so that's got to be heavier than usual.

Tommy: No trouble at all. I work out.

The two hangers on crawl downward as if to greet the servine.

Drake the Joltik: <New friend!>

Shinji the Kabuto: <Hello there. Here's hoping your not insectivorous.>

Drake: <Not an insect.>

Shinji: <Pffft. Details. Deep down we're all arthropods.>

<Other Pokémon... want battle or want friend? I can be friend! I like friend!>

Laura peered over the two, tail wagging rapidly. Clara tried to call him back to her side to no avail.

“Well then, I suppose you’ll have to come along too, since Laura here is refusing to settle down... when do you think we can head over?”

Distortion World

-The last wave of attacks hit the Shadow hard enough for it to break form, melting into its original globby form before seeping into the ground. Nazena looks around.-

Nazena: I doubt that was it, but it's at least a sign we're on the right track.

-In the distance lower on the mountainside path, a point of light seems to be bobbing up and down, seemingly getting closer.-

Turffield

While Tommy was preoccupied, Gimbal possessed one of the cameras and took more pictures.

Beck: Well, in all honesty, about a day since we'll be lugging your lizard along with us.

Tommy: Humans are complicated creatures. We're gonna have to ask my superiors though, it'd be rude to leave 'em hanging. Plus, I'm a photojournalist. I kinda need to be physically there to take pictures.

Beck: Of what? Our co-working space? Look, I'll talk to Dame Williams herself. She's a reasonable old woman.

Shinji: <I see no reason why we can't battle and be friends.>

Drake: <I'm not in the mood. Friending is the only thing we will do today.>

Turffield Stadium: Will vs Milo

Will sets into a stance, a smile growing on his face as the battle begins. Ronin the Cubone florishes his bone like a fencing epee and points it at the Gossifleur.

Milo: That really the Pokemon you want to be using? I can't recall the last time a Trainer threw a Ground-Type at me.

Will: It is. Ronin! Show them we're not afraid to play it risky!

Ronin: <With pleasure!>

The Cubone charges ahead. While not the fastest Pokemon around, he's much faster than Milo's Gossifleur. While he does strike with his bone, the attack is not his earlier Bonemerang or anything else, as evidenced by his Ronin tenses and staggers slightly once he's done, but seems no worse for wear.

Milo: Double-Edge, eh. Not as big a risk as you say, seeing how hard headed that Pokemon seems to be. Still, if that's how you want to go about it you'd best be ready to reap what you sow. Magical Leaf!

Immediately after it recovers from Ronin's Double-Edge, Gossifleur sends a scattering of leaves flying towards Ronin. Unlike the Razor Leaf attacks Ronin and Will are used to from Dart the Nuzleaf, these have a glow to them. Ronin tries to use his bone to deflect the attack. He wards off some, but most hit and clearly do some damage. Despite that, Ronin is still standing tall and, once the attack has passed, strikes a pose.

Turffield Stadium Stands

Fuka (giggling): Ronin is such a show-off.

Suzie: No kidding. I wonder if Will caught what Milo said about Ronin being "hard-headed".

Fuka: What do you mean?

Suzie: Will was trying to play himself off as reckless, but Milo spotted that Ronin's Double-Edge didn't have much recoil. He may already know he's looking at a Pokemon with Rock Head.

As they watch the battle proceed, Fuka squints at the big screens when it does a close-up of Ronin as he mugs for the camera.

Fuka: What's that bit of red poking out from Ronin's helmet?

Suzie looks and spots what Fuka's referring to: Something red poking out from the back of the Cubone's skull helmet. She gets a mischevious look on her face as she sees it.

Suzie: I was wondering who Will would give that to. I had even odds on it being Ronin or Dart.

Paige Manor

Upton noticed that Roxy was fiddling with the wires. He stared at Phineas, who seemed to have some reservations with the idea.

Upton, in [German]: <It's a good way to ingratiate ourselves with the owner. This shouldn't be hard for a genius of your caliber.>

Phineas, in [German]: <Hmf, fine. But only on an advisory capacity. You're wearing metal.>

He turned off his tablet and approached the other two.

Upton: If you're looking to fix the wiring in this place, we might be be able to help.

Upton ditched his metal harness. He started to flicker a bit. Phineas does not like this at all.

<Both friend? Both want talk each other on Pokeball talk machine? I want talk both of you on talk machine!>

“I’ve walked longer distances before. I walked most of the way here from Unova, even. Plus, if you want, I can return Laura here to his ball. He’s really excitable sometimes.”

<New Message from tomiyaki: ok I’m heading out for a bit, please contact @Jynx0001 if you need help>

distortion world

Hazel: <Huh. I wonder what that is?>

-Hazel and her team float towards the bobbing light.-

motostoke stadium, past

-A dynamaxed treble is defeated by a g-max centiferno. The Centiskorch then returns to normal, and it is on quite low health. Cady sends out Amadeus.-

Amadeus: <Hello, my adoring fans!>

Cady: Amadeus, use spore!

-Amadeus releases a cloud of spores, sending the Centiskorch to sleep.-

Cady: Now, let's finish this! Mega drain!

-Amadeus attaches his roots to the sleeping Centiskorch, draining enough energy to KO it. Kabu withdraws his pokemon. Cady is just about to withdraw Amadeus, but then he starts glowing.-

Congratulations! Amadeus evolved into Shiinotic!

Amadeus: <Yes! More power! Praise me!>

-Cady withdraws him before something gets out of hand.-

Kabu: Good job. You've earned this.

Cady obtained the Fire Badge!

Turffield

Drake: <Talk machine? Like a phone?>

Shinji: <Or like the translator device Jules is wearing?>

Beck: I usually just drive, though. I just got my dad's truck out of the shop.

<Like machine talks thing inside ball! Thing that lets talk to other Pokémon in ball!>

Clara stares down at the three chattering on.

“That’s cool too. I don’t think Pokémon are allowed to drive, so I usually either walk or take a Pokétaxi... maybe I can ask some more questions when or if we get in the car?”

Old Ruins

Des tilted his head.

"Uh...something wrong, Gale?"

<What is she trying to do?>

"Go all super sentai on us."

Hayden and Arthur stepped with caution, Hayden soon asking, "Did anyone bring observation equipment?"

Arthur rolled his eyes, and turned to Nazena and let out another grunt noise, as if asking, "Anything we need to know?"

Silas blinked, pulled out his pDroid and clicked it to life, there was a brief hum and the hologram projector seemed ready to work, only for it to whine and die right there.

"Oh... Seems our more advanced technologies are out here."

~What about your arm?~

Silas flexed his left arm a bit, "Seems fine, perhaps it is protected somehow..."

Hacks sighed, ~Well, Gale, got a backup outfit?~

Roxy smirked, "Help would be appreciated at the very least. Got any experience?"

Turffield

Beck: Oh, it's how we got here. I parked my truck downhill. Be warned though. We're ridin' with me dad and his wooloo.

Jules, via speech device: She's talking about Hasslemon, mates.

Drake: <Oooh oooh add me!>

Shinji: <And me. I am modern, hip, and trendy.>

Paige Manor

Upton: My dad taught me everything I know. We used to fix up stuff together when I was a teen. He's a genius. He used to be an inventor, too.

Upton began to inspect the wiring. Everything seemed a tad vintage. He relished the challenge.

Metropolis-vain-ia

Anthem: <Cool tidbit but I don't have any Fire moves!>

Mimic: Same

-The two repeat their previous attack patterns-

The Ruins

Not on my person no. Uh... Maybe if...

-She looks around-

Maybe if my other powers are working I'll be able to pick one up real quick once we get inside, yeah? Hopefully won't take me long.

Distortion World, past

-Just watches as the light gets closer-

Hammerlocke Gym, past

-Looking at the lock-

Looks electronic, I might need to have Trojan hack it.

Metropolis of Vanity

-Mokele-Mbembe fires another Psychic at the Blob-

Hammerlocke, today

-In front of the Gym-

Nice to finally see this place properly.

“That’s ok with me! (maybe I can pet it...)”

Laura became too hyped to talk properly, as he began chirping Snivian gibberish. Clara was ready to head off anytime.

Turffield Stadium Entrance Room, After the Battle, Pre-AFD

Kim: "Will do."

(She writes down:)

NOTE TO SELF: WHEN GIVEN THE CHANCE, REMIND IAN TO INTRODUCE ORWELL TO [PRETTY CURE].

(She puts her pen and notebook away, and then returns Orwell back to his PokeBall.)

Kim: "Anyways... what are your thoughts on Elton's new form? I must say, for a Raboot, he's... still pretty much the same as he was when he was a Scorbunny."

(On cue, Elton steps forward and grins over at both of them.)