distortion world

Hazel: <Wait, there are people here? I thought this place was deserted.>

A Karaoke Bar, Castelia City

Shutter, Flash, Anthony, Adrian, Lars, and Jane all attend the sing-along birthday bash prepared by Jon.

Flash: I see you two are in great terms despite having dated.

Jane: Exactly once. Nothing was going to happen between us. This surprises you?

Flash: Naw, this played out exactly how we thought it would.

Shutter: No one placed bets at all.

Jane: He was clearly looking for a rebound and I just wanted to make a certain someone jealous. We surprisingly had a lot in common. Dude's a sucker for musicals. He plays Pokémon junction with a spreadsheet.

Shutter: He has an inability to let go after a breakup.

Jane: Hey.

Flash: It's true though.

Jane: He's pretty gutsy for a nerd. He asks public officials uncomfortable questions.

Flash: Explains the appeal. Though who am I to judge.

Shutter: I'm right here.

Jane: Yeah, he gets beat up a lot. He's got a lot of scars in places.

Flash: I thought nothing happened between the two of y—

Jane: I mean his arms!

They look across the room where Jonathan is. He was wearing an atypical short-sleeve shirt, which reveals a few obvious scars on his upper forearms.

Jane: He wears long sleeves almost all the time. It's not something people notice. But Gavin's right. He just hasn't moved on from that Priscilla lady he dated before. I mean, it could just be his rose-tinted nostalgia goggles but apparently they were really happy.

Jane, of course, knew that was a lie. It didn't take a genius to figure out why Priscilla might've had to dump Jon. She had similar misgivings in the past of a certain someone who just could resist getting into harm's way for one reason or another.

Jane: If nothing else, I gained a new best friend.

Flash: We're happy for you.

Shutter: Should we hook you up with Anthony?

Flash and Jane: Oh, God no.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Apr 30th 2020 at 10:18:30 PM

Halis: <Let's be honest, as well... while you're having to escort me around, your capacity to fight is inhibited, isn't it? It probably is...>

They've been sulking around for a lot of this.

Halis: <...Also, I don't think I'd ever be cut out for an idol's life. I don't handle mass attention well.>

"Music?" Silas pondered, "He fancies himself a musician?"

"Captain I do have recordings of you idley singing yourself," Bishop pointed out.

Silas frowned a bit, "Not bad for choice in music, but what could this mean?"

The Lucario was knocked back a bit, as the Abra was coated in orange paint. The Singer did not like that, and soon began to whisper a deep melody, it snuck into Des's ears and painted a picture before him of futility and his own insecurities.

The Singer however was struck with a arrow and the song was interrupted.

The Soldier raised it's mace and brought it down at Gale, as it's Lucario fired a aura sphere right at Acolyte.

Silas let out a loud grunt before raising his sword, and bringing it right down onto the Grunt, cleaving it in two. Hacks responded by using a brick break right on the Glitch Raichu, causing it considerable damage. The Grunt flickered and then with a loud static buzzing noise, phased out of existence, the Raichu following it.

"One down..."

And for a instant, a voice echoed throughout the hallways.

"A decisive blow! Destroy, them, all!"

Silas looked about, "what the fuck?"

Hammerlocke, now

Channah: -surveying her new Galar Pokemon playing in the street- Well, I think that's a good team, don't you think, Hale? Except Andy. I still don't know what to do with him.

Hale: -grunts- <Ground.Rock.AndSteeltypesaregoingtobeaproblem.Defensively.SpeedisalsoanissueasonlyJackandOwenhaveaspeedstatofover100.WehavenocountersforGhostandDarktypes.IhighlyrecommendteachingOwenRainDancetomaximizehispotential.Gwenhasaterriblemovepoolandcannotsweepproperlywithoutgoodprotection.SpecialDefenseislowoverall.EveryonehasthewrongNaturesandpoorIVs.Ingeneral.Theyarenotterrible.Buttheteamcouldhavebeenconstructedwithfarmorecare.>

Channah: Gotcha. Never change, Hale. -beat- What's "over 100" supposed to mean?

Andy: -floats by- <hehehehehehehe!>

Hale: <ReleasetheMilcery.Itexudesanintenseblursedenergy.>

Old Ruins, past

Kamon: -looks up at the ceiling- A voiceover? Not unfitting. -shrugs, takes aim, and fires his pistol at the Singer-

Distortion World

-Some of the apprehensive tension in the man's expression fades.

Man: Ah. That is... quite daring. I cannot say I have met anyone who would willingly travel here, given this realm's damning reputation. Do you... know what it is you are looking for?

Nazena: A glitch.

-The man gives a look of slight confusion.-

Man: Glitch? I apologize, I am not familiar with what that means.

Nazena: It's... an entity that warps reality. Causes strange, unnatural things to happen.

Man: ...Mmm... I'm still not quite certain what you are talking about, but perhaps one of the newer residents of Shadesden may understand you better. Follow me, please?

-He turns around, gesturing to follow him down the path.-

distortion world

-Hazel and her team float towards the path.-

Distortion World

Medea: -to Nazena- I daresay he's used to it.

-The group follows-

-Duolis is weirdly quiet-

Hammerlocke Power Plant

-The group peeks around the corner-

-There, in the guts of the power plant, is an entire enemy base-

-Complete with a strange altar-

Takumi: Dastard...

Metropolis Of Vanity

-At the end of the song, Idol!Owen bows...-

-And teleports out-

Royal: Shit, he's gone.

Flamel: We've got to track him and the Treasure down some other way...

Turffeild, Macraul

-Sylvestra suddenly lunges, teeth bared, trying to sink them into the Flunky's throat.-

Motostoke Gym

-Jared barges into the stadium-

Jared: I love pressure. I eat it for breakfast!

Kabu: Gree- oh, it's you. Let's get this over with.

Halis: <Uhh... I think trying to gather information on the performances themselves might be a good idea, but I wouldn't know where to start with that. Maybe we can find a staff member of some kind and go from there?>

It's obvious they're trying their best to be helpful, but all of this has been keeping them in a consistently-worried mood. The crowds aren't helping their anxiety, either.

Karaoke Bar

Jon was singing his own cover of [Vertical Horizon]

Jonathan: She was everything I want
She was everything I need
She was everything inside of me
That I wish I could be
She said all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to her and I don't know why
And I don't know why

The song concludes.

Walter, via speech device: Bravo.

Jonathan: Okay, Walter, even in monotone I know that was sarcasm.

Walter: Heh.

Jonathan: Everyone, having you all here just feels right. I know you're all thinking that I have this unhealthy inability to move on and stuff, but just being able to sing about that helps get it out of my chest and stuff.

Anthony: Gee, we didn't notice.

Jonathan: Touché, Peterson. Touché. Anyway, who's next?

Flash: Come on Gav, I know you want to.

Jane: Make it that duet from [RENT].

Flash: Yes.

Jonathan: I loved that! Put it on.

Shutter: Which duet, though? The mushy one or the angsty one.

Flash: Let's see what this machine has.

Shutter: I'll be surprised if it doesn't have just Seasons of Love and nothing else.

Edited by MasterJayAM on May 1st 2020 at 12:11:07 AM

Vanity Concert Hall

"...So he's most vulnerable singing his own praises... Arceus' unholy flank, that's the joke," he realized. "Anyway, where could he have gone? Maybe there's a literal echo chamber?"

Hammerlocke Plant

Roy's breath catches in his throat. "... do we need more numbers?" He asked himself. "Have we been caught by a camera? Does Surtr have a plan once he's conquered this place? If so, what is it?"

Numerous questions of this kind raced through his mind, each with no answers to latch to.

Distortion World, past

Time doesn't flow and space is distorted, who knows how long this guy has been here?

-Following-

Hammerlocke, past

-Looking at the altar-

I would presume that's the Rite of Flames, and we might need to come back with reinforcements.

Metropolis of Vanity

-To Royal-

This place is like an idol stage, maybe we can attempt a takeover like we did with Robinson's Palace.

Hammerlocke, today

-Overhearing-

Hale sounds like a damned simulator right now.

Cyber City of Vanity

Anthem: <'Asking people' probably isn't a good idea when everyone can become a full on battle the moment they spot us.>

-But her eyes sparkle a little at the concept of taking over-

Anthem: <Can we? I would love to out-idol the computer guy!>

Old Ruins

-The armor blunts some of the blow, but not enough to prevent Gale from recoiling in pain and dropping the second arrow she was preparing. Acolyte is also hit as the fate of mon and trainer are entwined and takes a moment to swoop around the hallway and back behind Gale-

Oh, we are all hearing that? That's cool I guess, weird voice.

-She vaguely pointed at the Soldier and drew another shot-

These fighters are the big obvious threat but whatever that singer is doing is likely not good.

-She releases the arrow at the Soldier while Acolyte goes after the Lucario-

Hammerlocke Power Plant

Oh thank the nine I found you all.

-A pair of faint red glowing ovoids flicker on in the shadows, followed by a certain blackbird-themed superheroine stepping out of the shadows-

You're all about to make a terrible mistake.

Wild Area, Watchtower Ruins, a den

Brie: I just don't see the point in spelunking with me. I really don't spelunk.

Ever: Stop saying spelunk. I'm going to switch to [Japanese] if you say spelunk again.

Brie: Oh no. Please don't speak my first language. I'd die.

Ever: You will once I'm through with it.

-they hold up Glimmer like a flashlight. She giggles-

Brie: She's so creepy.

Glimmer: <Thank you.>

Ever: She has ears.

Glimmer: <No I don't.>

Ever: How do you hear?

Glimmer: <...>

Brie: Anyway, why couldn't you get Amanita for this? She likes all this ruins exploration stuff. I just miss seeing the sky.

Ever: Exactly. If you hate it, it incentivizes helping me out so we can get out of here faster. If I brought Amanita, she'd get distracted wandering off through the ruins and I'd never catch anything.

Brie: ...

Ever: Besides, she is high as a kite right now. I asked her if I could borrow a Pokeball and she told me she was in one.

Brie: ...

Ever: Her tent, Brie.

Brie: Oh. Is she okay?

Ever: She's probably fine.

Brie: Hm. I hear there are Drifloon in here.

Ever: Ugh, just don't. I assure you it's not worth it.

Brie: Oh yeah, yours was evil, wasn't she?

Ever: Evil is a strong word, but she did try and kill me a couple times and also make a reasonably serious attempt at trans-universal conquest?

Brie: ...Enterprising.

Ever: Ayep.

-up ahead, there's a skittering noise, like china on rock without the shattering-

Ever: !

Brie: .

Ever: Oh, get excited. We're almost done here!

-they dart after the noise, Brie letting out a sigh and following-

Hammerlocke, today

Big Savings: < becky i got u stick >

Channah: He's actually slowing down in his old age. When I first got him I had to like, record what he was saying and play it back on my Hello Skitty tape player at like quarter speed. Hunter was the only one who could understand him back then. Still not sure why. -sighs- Is there anything else to do in this town? I'm kinda antsy.

Wild Area, Watchtower Ruin, a den

Ever: That's it, right?

Brie: Looks like it's just an abandoned teacup. If a Sinistea lived there, it sure doesn't now.

Ever: Hmm. There's liquid in it.

Brie: Yeah. They can leave behind some of themselves as tea. Or their evolved forms will do it. I think one of those is here, playing a prank.

Ever: You've done your research!

Brie: Not much else to do.

Ever: Anyway, I think it's fine.

-they drink the tea-

Brie: ...Ever, did you just—

Ever: Who's Ever?

Brie: ...

-sigh-

Hi. Whatever you are, please stop being Ever.

Ever: Not a chance! Do you know how rarely this trick works? I'm taking this body, and I'm going to go commit crimes! Jaywalking! Meter dodging! Wearing suspenders and a belt!

Brie: That last one's not a crime. Though it probably should be.

Ever: And then I'm going to commit the worst crime of all!

Brie: Mismatched socks?

Ever: Premeditated murder.

Brie: Oh.

Ever: I know just the guy, too. It's a long stor— AUGH

-they double over, hacking the Sinistea back into the teacup, as the Dreepy Swarm emerges from Ever-

Ever: I have the best plans.

Brie: I think that Sinistea wants to murder someone.

Ever: Eh, so did Muninn for like a year. Help me out here.

Brie: Uh, that is one mon. And it's tiny. You're on your own.

Ever: Ugh.

Hammerlocke

-To Channah-

I was speaking less about his speech pattern, and more on his rundown on your team makeup.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Apr 30th 2020 at 12:02:35 PM

Hammerlocke

Channah: -watching Hale haranguing the new kids- Oh, that? Pfft yeah, he dreams in battle statistics. Loves that shit. It bothers him when things aren't perfect. Or at least, his idea of perfect.

Edited by Metanoia on Apr 30th 2020 at 12:39:23 PM

Distortion World — Shadesden

-At the base of the mountain, the frequency of the crystalline lamp posts increases, thinning the haze and illuminating the air, to the point where it almost looks like a normal, albeit overcast, daytime sky. And in the clearer air, it becomes evident that Shadesden is a sizable, fully established village. Houses seem to be built from the strange woody plants that normally dot the Distortion World's landscape — houses too solidly built to be called mere shacks or huts. Farms of foreign crops but familiar Pokemon — Wooloo, Mareep, Gogoat, and other common livestock and pets. A clock tower, stationed to create a semblance of the passage of time despite the disconnect from the prime material world; another clock tower in the distance, miraculously in sync with the first. A series of bells chime to signal what might be the turn of the hour — D-D-E-E-G-G-D, pause, E-E-D-D-G-G-C.-

-Eyes of many, many individuals turn to see the newcomers. Not all, but the vast majority seem to be of Ranseian descent. Young and old, men and women and both and neither, families living just as they would on the other side of the portal.-

Man: Oh, ah, my apologies, I may have forgotten to introduce myself. You can call me Haru.

Hammerlocke Power Plant

-Niles smirks behind the mask he's generated for himself.-

-(Does it bother anyone else that everything a Ditto makes is flesh? Technically?)-

Niles: "Sure you're not making a mistake, little bird? Unless you have friends on the way. But you don't strike me as the type."

Wild Area, Watchtower Ruins, Den

Ever: Alright, Glimmer. Ready?

Glimmer: <Nobody ever is.>

Sinistea: <Most people don't drink me! But normally when they do there's a lot more there for me to eat. Are you okay?>

Ever: Nah.

Brie: What

Ever: Anyway! Let's do this!

Sinistea: <Okay!>

-make my mon grow-

Ever: ...Is that...

...Is that supposed to happen?

Brie: Yeah.

Ever: How do they fit?

Brie: Just roll with it!

Ever: ...Okay! Still not helping?

Brie: You are absolutely doing this yourself.

Ever: Ugh, fine.

-they send out Arc-

Okay, time to—

Brie: No.

Ever: (annoyed) What?

Brie: I know what you're going to say, and know that if you say it, I'll punch you.

Ever: But when else am I going to get the chance?

Brie: I will literally never forgive you. I will report you to Mezzo.

Ever: Ugh, fine. Glimmer, Arc, Teakettle!

-Arc leaps into the air, eyes glowing blue, while Glimmer floats up next to him, the flame on her head intensifying-

Arc: <If you ask me, this technique isn't really sufficiently practiced. We should really stick with the basics until we have a better hang of—>

Glimmer: <Time runs short.>

-she spins, sending circles of flame flying onto the battlefield-

Arc: <Or we could learn on the fly. That's...fine.>

-water in the air coalesces into whirling streams, which he sends after Glimmer's Fire Spin-

-the two attacks land around the Sinistea, kicking up a spinning cloud of-

Brie: Wait. You're using steam?

Ever: Well, not exactly. See, with precise manipulation of the water and fire traps, Glimmer and Arc can work together to create separate clouds of heat and water vapor, simultaneously enervating and avoiding serious injury!

Brie: Right, that makes sense. But have you considered that that may not be the best plan right now?

Ever: Why not?

-there's a whistling noise-

-...-

Ever: Oh, yeah, tea.

-and several dozen Sinistea come flying out over the steam trap, scattering-

Brie: Was this part of your plan?

Ever: I do have even more ghosts to catch now.

Brie: So no.

Ever: Oh, absolutely not.

Brie: We should run.

Ever: We do often seem to.

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Apr 30th 2020 at 10:23:13 AM

Stormchaser

-Luca idly fiddles with a pencil as he stares at a computer screen.-

Roman: <Whatchya up to, kiddo?>

Are ya winnin, son?

-Luca laughs quietly at how close Neo is to the truth.-

Luca: "Nothing you need to worry about. Just a loose end I've been tracking for a while."

?

Lydia: <Have you not told them yet?>

Roman: <Told us what, hopscotch?>

-Lydia frowns.-

Lydia: <A Pokefutures scientist. One who sees Pokémon as tools, resources, lower forms of life to be experimented on.>

Roman: <Pardon me, dear, but wasn't that the whole Modus Operandi of good ol' Futures? Use the dumb animals to further the human race?>

Lydia: <This one is Luca's father.>

Oh.

Luca: "The father I ran away from when I was 12. I've never been able to find my mother. I have no leads for her. But my father was never arrested when the company went under. He isn't dead. And there are only so many fragments of Pokefutures left."

"Angela might just be one city, but her Dona has connections. Connections that just found another splinter cell."

Lydia: <That makes, what, thirty-three? And what of this one?>

Luca: "...he's there."

Wild Area, Watchtower Ruins, den

-Ever and Brie flee the den, an army of Sinistea in hot pursuit-

-it's like listening to an avalanche made entirely of old porcelain-

Ever: I have a plan!

Brie: I'll testify against you if you bring down the ruins!

Ever: I have half a plan!

Brie: Which half?

Ever: The half where we run faster!

Brie: Why don't you just catch all of them?

Ever: I only have this one Premier Ball!

Brie: Why do you have a Premier Ball?

Ever: I was supposed to give them out to challengers at the last gym, but then I sort of finished my shift and I had a couple left, so the person who replaced me said—

Brie: Stop talking and run!

Ever: Oh yeah.

-they make it out of the tower, and there's a heavy thump, the Max Sinistea not big enough to fit out the door after them-

Ever: Whew. Saved by the physical dimensions of the universe.

-the smaller ones, on the other hand-

Ever: Augh not saved by the physical dimensions of the universe! Glimmer, Hex!

-tiny spheres of energy appear in the air, circling Glimmer-

Glimmer: <Pew. Pew.>

-and are fired into the oncoming swarm of Sinistea-

Brie: Well, at least we're outside now. Halcyon, Shadow Ball!

~This seems like overkill.~

Ever: So do you think these guys are independent? Because...hm.

-they throw the Premier Ball at one of the Sinistea in the horde-

Brie: ...You're just using it? Normally you're supposed to make some effort to weaken them first.

Ever: Eh. It's all in the wrist.

-...-

-...-

-...-

Ever: You see.

Brie: What dark pact do you make to be that lucky?

Ever: It's mostly about self-confidence.

Brie: Are you a latent obscuric?

Ever: I'm the opposite of that.

Brie: Channeler?

Ever: Unwillingly, sure.

Brie: ...Warlock.

Ever: Probably.

distortion world - shadesden

-Hazel and her team look around. Hazel takes off her transformation necklace so she can take some pictures.-

Hazel: Nice to meet you, Haru. This place is pretty impressive.

Clarent: <I really like that bell chime.>

motostoke stadium

-Violet is in the middle of fighting Kabu's g-max Centiskorch with Celsian, who is also dynamaxed. The Centiskorch is at about half health because of stealth rock, which had been set up earlier. However, Celsian is on very low health. It is currently raining after Celsian used max geyser. Both sides regain a small bit of health because of grassy terrain, which was set up after the Centiskorch used max overgrowth.-

Violet: Max geyser again!

Kabu: Use g-max centiferno!

Karaoke Bar, April 29

Shutter: All that I do, is not enough for you
I don't want to lose it
But I'm not like that
When finally (finally)
You get to love
Guess what? (guess what?)
It's gonna be me
Every little thing I do
Never seems enough for you (for you babe)
You don't want to lose it again (don't want to lose it)
But I'm not like them
Baby, when you finally
Get to love somebody (love)
Guess what (guess what)
It's gonna be me

Minutes later, to rapturous applause.

Shutter: Thank you. You're a beautiful audience.

Flash: I'm more of a Backstreet fan but it is the end of April so I'll let that pass.

Jane: Anything for the meme, aight?

Shutter: Thanks, honey. We'll save the [RENT] duet for later. Who's up next?

Anthony: How about Adrian and Lars?

Adrian: You heard him, honey.

Lars: Do they have anything from [The Phantom of the Opera]?

Adrian: Ohh, I know. Choose our wedding song. You know what it is, Jon. Could you check?

Jonathan: Walter?

Walter, via speech device: It's there.

Jonathan: Punch it!

Wedgehurst, a few days before

The Becketts, their wooloo, Tommy, and Clara arrive at a quaint and picturesque Galarian rural farmhouse. The Stormchaser—a large airship—should be visible some distance away from Beckett farm.

Farmer Beckett releases the wooloo, who roll away comically from the truck.

Farmer Beckett: Home sweet home. The science airship is that way. But wouldn't you all like a spot of tea before hitting the road?

Edited by MasterJayAM on May 1st 2020 at 7:54:58 PM