Viridian City, MMO Space:

The Clawitzer would barely take any damage while it was rolling about, with only noticeable health deductions when Travis' Grovyle lead the boss crashing into things.

"Careful guys, damage adds up quickly and I'm no healer!" Travis warned, though he wasn't really concerned about his party, his mind more focused on enjoying this unexpected but by no means unwelcome content update on a quest he originally thought was going to be a boring rinse and repeat. "Come to think of it, is there anyone here who isn't a DPS?" He would later ask moments before the Clawitzer would fall down to about a quarter of its health. At this point the Clawitzer would stop rolling around and began using Aqua Jet, a move which in this game wasn't particularly high initial damage, but could be spammed in rapid succession which the boss wasted no time in using. Random targets followed by dense water beams would rain upon the ground, prompting Travis to move his character around more quickly than usual, occasionally taking damage...although not very much due to the type disadvantage.

Hulbury Town

PEFE!Every: I've been waiting for you forever. Where did you go?

Ever: Been busy.

PEFE!Every: With?

Ever: Stuff. Things. Matters of great import.

Spaghetti: <Hi.>

PEFE!Every: Oh! Hello, Sinistea.

-she holds out a hand to shake. Spaghetti looks bemused, but the expression gives way to a faint gratification as they shake PEFE!Every's hand-

Spaghetti: (severely) <I hope you're less of a disaster than my trainer.>

Ever: To quote Glimmer, hope is an illusion we create to pretend that tomorrow will be different if we don't do anything.

Spaghetti: <Glimmer never said that. You can't do anything right.>

Ever: Heh. (to PEFE!Every) So, ready to get your Gym challenge done? I hope you spent all that time coming up with a strategy that's more interesting than "inexorable slide towards victory".

PEFE!Every: I don't see what's boring about victory. But...

Flashback, Hulbury Gym

-the sun shines-

-Reflect shimmers-

-and a tired-looking Drednaw shrinks out of Gigantimax, looking tired from several stat drains-

Nessa: I saw your match with Milo. You know there are other options than stall tactics, right?

PEFE!Every: I am most comfortable when I am impervious to most forms of attack.

-...-

PEFE!Every: Anyway, Tuft, Solarbeam.

Tuft: <It's been fun, chompers!>

Dreadnaw: <My name is Pamantha!>

Tuft: <My condolences!>

-the sun's glow intensifies-

-and a tremendous beam descends onto Pamantha, knocking her unconscious-

Nessa: ...If it works, it works, I guess. Though in future, please don't climb the structures. They're really not rated for it.

Unflashback!

PEFE!Every: And no boos this time, which was helpful for focusing.

Ever: ....Oh.

...Well. Uh. Cool. Okay.

Congrats. That actually sounds like a pretty solid tactic.

-blink, blink-

PEFE!Every: What?

Ever: I just didn't really expect you to actually take initiative. Not bad.

PEFE!Every: So what about you?

Ever: Oh. May as well, I suppose.

Hulbury Stadium, Puzzle Zone

Ever: ...

...

...

...

Ugh. I feel morally compelled to actually treat this seriously.

This is why it took me so long to get past Candice. Honestly.

-but, one somewhat interminable puzzle later...-

Hulbury Stadium, Battle Zone

Ever: I hated that.

Nessa: I don't suppose you want to dry off first?

Ever: I'm about to battle a Water trainer. Feels a bit like tidying up when you're expecting a Muk over.

Nessa: You may be right. You know, we Gym Leaders watch the challenges too. I saw your trick with Milo.

Ever: Oh, cool. Thoughts?

Nessa: I hope you're not planning something similar here. You seem like a refined battler, but...not much stands up to the ocean, if you catch my drift.

Ever: Yeah, that wasn't veiled at all. I'm honestly excited, Water specialists are a big part of my life and I'm sort of eager to see if my counterstrategies for them are actually viable.

Nessa: No clue how to take that. Well. Might as well get started, shouldn't we?

-Nessa sends out Goldeen, and Ever sends out Oracle-

Ever: Quite a throw for about five feet of distance.

Nessa: Good taste in starters.

Ever: Intense thought went into the decision.

Oracle: <It didn't really.>

Goldeen: <Oof. Sarcastic trainer?>

Oracle: <Eh, they're not the worst.>

Nessa: Normally, I might start off a battle with weather. But it seems like that will benefit you as much as me, here.

Ever: Unquestionably! In fact, let me take the work off your hands. Oracle, Rain Dance.

Oracle: <It's not really a dance, though, is it?>

Ever: And Sunny Day lasts less than a minute. We'll quibble later.

-Oracle cups his hands, moisture leaking out to form a bubble, which he flings into the air above the battlefield. It erupts into a large cloud, rain pouring down-

-Ever snaps on their goggles-

Nessa: Horn Attack!

Goldeen: <Hope that sarcasm comes with something to back it up!>

Oracle: <Eh.>

-the rain falls, and the floor of the battlefield becomes waterlogged and slick-

-turning from an area where Goldeen is slow and clumsy into one where she's in her element-

-and she swims forward, practically flying as she charges down Oracle-

-who is gone-

Goldeen: <...Hm.>

Oracle: <Spooky, right?>

Goldeen: <Spooky. But you might want to be quieter.>

Nessa: Water Pulse! There's no hiding from sound, challenger!

Ever: Mostly true...

Goldeen: <Try this on!>

-she hums-

-the hum intensifies, rippling out through the rain, which glows as the charged-up sound passes through it-

-as it moves, through, there's a brief pop, as a teardrop hidden in the rain goes boom-

-and another-

-and another-

-suddenly, Goldeen finds her eyes unusually sensitive. She flails at them with a fin, the force of her attack weakening-

-there's a grunt of annoyance from within the storm, but that's all-

-and Goldeen's eyes still sting, keeping her from focusing-

Ever: Oracle, get ready.

Oracle: <I'm already ready. Turns out when you get everything done ahead of time, you have the rest of the battle to chill.>

Nessa: That water won't hide you for long! Whirlpool!

Goldeen: <Come closer!>

-her horn glows with blue light, and the rain diverts-

-stronger and stronger winds pulling it in towards her in a spiral-

-as the water is moved, Oracle is briefly revealed, as he's tugged off his feet and into the Whirlpool-

-at which point half a dozen explosions ring out from inside it, and the Whirlpool disintegrates before even fully forming, Oracle disappearing cleanly again-

Nessa: ...Not at all bad.

Ever: Swift bubbles. Nearly invisible in the rain, just like Oracle.

Nessa: It's the kind of trick that only works once.

Ever: Yeah...

Distortion World — Shadesden

-Lauren rubs her neck uncomfortably.-

Lauren: I... I dunno. Maybe a couple months? It kind of blurs together... Mr. Haru says that coming here for the Watch is supposed to help with that feeling, but, I dunno, it hasn't really set in...

-The moment Medea mentions cults, Lauren goes a bit wide-eyed and steps back a bit in panic.-

Lauren: H-hey, you— you ain't here for some voodoo shit, are ya? I ain't getting dragged into that again—

Nazena: Relax, we're only here to investigate. Are you familiar with Glitches?

Lauren: ...I... like, video game glitches?

Nazena: Similar, certainly. Something going around in reality, that's causing strange things in a similar way to how a video game glitch might. Unfortunately, due to the nature of this world, it's a bit harder to identify something that's out of place.

-Lauren fidgets.-

Lauren: ...Well... out there, there's these sorta blob things made of shadows? According to Mr. Haru, they're normal, sometimes the energy in the shadows around everywhere just sorta swirls together into some sorta living ooze thing. But... until lately, they weren't usually aggressive? Not usually smart enough to be aggressive. But now they are.

-When Logan and team glance at the clock, it's about 9:05. There's no particular indicator of whether it's AM or PM, since there's no real daytime cycle.-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on May 9th 2020 at 4:58:43 AM

distortion world

Hazel: I think we fought some of those earlier. Maybe the glitch is making them more agressive?

Bridger: <But if they're not that strong, how come one of them was able to turn into a Doublade?>

Turffield Stadium Entrance Room, Pre-AFD

Evelyn: Very interesting, Ronin-san.

Me: Anyways, Evelyn and I will be getting ready for our Gym Challenge. Wish us luck.

Castelia City, Flash's apartment

A doorbell could be heard from above. Meanwhile, a gussied up Flash is waiting on her mother.

Flash: Come on mamita, we're gonna be late. Gavin's already here.

Maria: Do not rush me, Penelope. If Gavin wants to impress me so bad, he can wait as long as he needs.

Fenton: You two have fun, now.

Fenton walks toward Flash.

Flash: So, when do we come back again?

Fenton: Ideally, only a few hours, but if things get a tad complicated, try to stretch it a bit, okay. I want this surprise to be absolutely perfect. Are the psychics in on it?

Flash: Their thoughts are sealed.

Fenton: Attagirl. Now go downstairs. Your gentleman awaits.

Flash: Right.

She rushes down the stairs to meet a dressed-up Gavin and a heavy-set older woman beside him.

Shutter: Hey, honey. Where's mamita?

Flash: Upstairs getting ready.

Shutter: Yeah, guess who decided to stop by.

Flash: Ohhh. Hello ma'am. I didn't expect to see you here.

Shutter: Neither did I.

Rachel: Gavin!

Shutter: Well excuse me, this is the first time I invited you and you said yes and actually showed up.

Rachel: I'm here now, am I?

Shutter: Yeah. Mom, my girlfriend Penelope. Penny, my mother, Rachel Caktiong-Albright.

Rachel: Darling, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. He doesn't tell me about you, though. I'd love to get to know you better. You look lovely, dear.

Flash: Gracias. Come on right in. You'll love to meet my parents. Mamita will be ready shortly. My dad's in the living room.

Rachel: I'd love to meet them.

They enter. Greeting them is a stern, fatherly looking Galarian man.

Flash: My father, Professor Fenton Grant. Dad, Gavin's mother, Rachel.

Fenton: Hello, Mrs. Albright. This is a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Make yourself comfortable.

Rachel: A pleasure, professor.

Mamita arrives.

Fenton: Likewise, my darling wife, Maria.

Maria: Gavin! You didn't tell me that your mother will be coming with us?

Gavin: I didn't expect this either. She's usually quite busy and cancels at the last minute.

Maria: An engineer's work is never done, I see.

Rachel: Thank you, Mrs. Grant, for putting it so generously.

Gavin: No worries, though. I did make preparations for four and we shouldn't have any problems.

Fenton: You go along now, while the day is young.

Hulbury Stadium, Battle Zone

Nessa: Arrokuda! Get in there with Bite!

Ever: Arro-wha—

Arrokuda: <You best get ready!>

Ever: Oh boy.

Oracle: <How many times do I have to tell you, I am.>

Arrokuda: <We'll see.>

-she rockets into the storm-

-hidden in the rain, Oracle waves his hands side to side, drawing bubbles in-

-and every one of them is avoided with ease-

Arrokuda: <Please! Goldeen's a bit on the slow side, but you'll have to work harder than that to hit me!>

Oracle: <You can't even find me.>

Arrokuda: <I'm a marine predator, darling. I've found better-hidden lizards than yourself.>

Oracle: <Empty thre—>

Ever: Look out!

-Arrokuda slams into Oracle, chomping down-

Oracle: <Hey now.>

-as around the storm, Swift bubbles pop and vanish-

Nessa: Whirlpool, now! Trap him!

Ever: Sensing a theme. Oracle, you're ready?

Oracle: <Ready enough.>

-blue lights shine in the storm as both Arrokuda and Oracle's eyes glow, manipulating the water-

-Oracle is a lot stronger, certainly, but Arrokuda's faster, and the current propels them up-

-and then it doubles in speed, because Oracle wasn't trying to push down-

-instead of suspending them in the air, as intended, it keeps going-

-and goes right through the rain cloud, into the much clearer (well, relatively. It's spring in Galar) stadium sky-

-Oracle and Arrokuda tumble end over end, but suddenly Arrokuda's no longer at a tremendous speed advantage-

-and Oracle's got eyelids-

-he closes his eyes, leaning into the tumble-

-as Arrokuda is shaken free, he taps his hydrokinesis once more as his flight turns into a backwards fall-

-he opens his eyes again, no longer spinning, to see Arrokuda high above him, doing her best to control her flight path and dive back towards him-

-he takes careful aim-

-and fires dozens of bubbles into Arrokuda, catching her mid-air-

-before spreading his arms wide and gracefully plummeting-

-he's recalled before he hits the ground, Ever clipping the Poke Ball back onto their belt-

-Arrokuda is not so lucky-

Arrokuda: <...Ow.>

-as the rain clears away-

Nessa: I see.

Ever: You sea?

Nessa: Hey. The puns are sacred. Don't touch the puns.

Ever: Oh buoy.

Nessa: -narrows eyes-

Ever: -innocent smile-

Nessa: At any rate, it's nice to know you're not just a one-trick Ponyta.

Ever: One-trick Horsea.

Nessa: Don't make me come over there.

Ever: :)

Nessa: You know what's next, don't you?

Ever: -long sigh- Yep.

Nessa: Then why beat around the bush?

Ever: Hey. Grass puns. That's dirty pool.

Nessa: ...Normally, I suggest that challengers not take these things personally.

-and now for the fun bit-

-Nessa sends out her Drednaw-

Arc: <...Hi?>

Drednaw: <Just a moment.>

-recalls him-

-and the ball grows-

-and grows-

-Nessa pitches it behind herself, and-

DREDNAW: <THERE WE GO. NICE TO MEET YOU.>

Turffield Stadium Entrance Room, Pre-AFD

Fuka: Good luck! (to the others) Hey, you guys wanna stick around and watch?

Suzie releases Will from her smothering and considers.

Suzie: I wanted to explore the historical sites, but other than that, sure,I got nowhere I need to be. (gets a good look Evelyn, and her kimono, for the first time) Besides, I have to ask where you got that outfit afterward.

Will, Fuka, Puri, Ronin, and Sami all stare at Suzie.

Suzie: ...What?

Fuka: Mom, that is, without a doubt, the girliest I have ever heard you say.

Will and the Pokemon all nod emphatically.

Suzie (blushing and defensive): Hey, I like kimonos, you know that.

Sami: <It's true. She wore one for her wedding.>

Fuka: Not like she was going to wear a dress.

Suzie: Darn right.

Will: I can't even picture that.

Hammerlocke, past

-Inside the elevator-

Getting real tired of always having to run from that guy.

Distortion World, past

-Just stays quiet and observes-

Metropolis of Vanity

-Hearing the voice-

Oh boy...

stormchaser, earlier today

-Hazel is wandering around, then notices the date.-

Hazel: Huh, it's mother's day. I wonder how things are going at home.

stormchaser, now

-Cady is practising the guitar. Hazel wanders in and sits on a nearby seat. She looks up from the novel she's reading and looks slightly surprised.-

Hazel: Uh, hi.

Cady: Oh, hi there. Sorry for not noticing you.

Hazel: ...

Cady: Are you okay?

Hazel: Yeah, I'm fine, you just reminded me of someone I knew. Who are you?

Cady: I'm Cady. Cady Lane.

Hazel: That's- That's nice. You don't happen to know anyone called Kat, do you?

-Kat walks into the room.-

Cady: Speak of Giratina!

Kat: Oh, hey. Were you guys talking about me?

-Hazel stands there and doesn't say anything.-

Kat: Uh, hi? Huh, I guess you're not much of a talker.

Hazel: No, it's just, you.... Look a lot like my mother!

Kat: Oh, really?

Cady: You two do look quite alike.

Hazel: Yeah, what a coincidence.

Kat: So, what brings you to the Stormchaser? I haven't seen you around here before.

Hazel: I just came to take some pictures and videos of the j-team doing j-team stuff. I'm a big fan!

Kat: So, you're going to record stuff and not help?

Hazel: Well, I'll try to help as much as I can. I just don't want to draw too much attention to myself.

Kat: Why's that?

Hazel: I have my reasons.

Wedgehurst

Gimbal: Thomas, you don't have to get me anything. Really.

Tommy: Come on. It's Mother's Day. I'm sure we can find something in the electronics store there.

Gimbal: I appreciate the gesture, kiddo, but go spend your savings on something for you. Gavin has all the cool electrics I need.

Tommy: I would be amiss if I didn't give you something—

Gimbal: We're together again. Isn't that enough?

Beat.

Tommy: It isn't right. I got Aunt April something every year. Now that you're here, you should get one, too.

Gimbal: Son, being a ghost pokémon kind of limits exactly what kind of tangible thing I could possibly want or need that wasn't already met by my trainer who gets flashy toys from his parents. And let me tell you. Rachel and Richie flake out on Gavin so many times they end up buying flashier and flashier toys for me to play with. They just secured the contract to salvage Multiman's shit. You're on a photographer's salary. You can't compete. And I honestly don't want to drive you destitute this way. What'll that make me? Whew. I don't even need to breathe and it's still leaves me winded.

Tommy: I have a budget for it. I'm not dumb.

Gimbal: You know what, kid. There is something I wanna do. Let's go sightseeing and take selfies. I read somewhere that humans value experiences more than objects for much longer anyway. It'll be fun, and it'll stay with you until you turn into another ghost-type.

Tommy: Where do we start, them?

Gimbal: Okay, besides Turffield's geoglyphs, what's the most picturesque thing in this miserable island?

Edited by MasterJayAM on Mar 8th 2024 at 8:59:05 PM

Turffield Stadium Entrance Room, Pre-AFD

Me: -to Suzie- Beautiful, isn't it? She got it as a basic Psychic Uniform. I did some customization work on it and now it's the Psychic Kimono.

-Ian holds up his right hand, covered in bandages, to show Fuka, Will, Sami and Suzie.-

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on May 10th 2020 at 4:13:16 AM

Old Ruins

Des was shot in the shoulder with the plasma gun.

"Aaaw, that's gonna sting in the morning."

Sniper took the Aura Sphere.

<Tit for tat then.>

Sniper fired a Water pulse at the Crystal Hacks.

Des decided to dash up and Sucker Punch the Mimic Silas.

"You have something in your teeth, my fist!"

Galar Route 6, inside a Durant nest

Cam: <...I'm surprised this whole pheromone dumping thing you did with that Durant's gland actually works.>

Well, back when my friend Jacob was doing his tests to join the PEFE I had him don the pheromones in order to infiltrate a Kalosian Durant nest.

Yew: <But shouldn't they see we're not actually Durant.>

The pheromones are... very convincing, which is good because these tunnels are kinda cramped.

Geographic Society Kids [YouTube] page, April 1 2020

A cold open featuring one of the signature gags from the Coastal and Epipelagic Habitats episode, released in September 2019.

Tommy, uncharacteristically cool-sounding: You're watching Learner Lab. The only science education channel on [YouTube] without the need for a sponsor.

Dr. Williams: We're owned by a company, though. Shouldn't that count?

Tommy: It's not a sponsor if they own the show, doc.

Dr. Williams: Hi mum!

Smash cut to Tommy in a kitchen, surrounded by a large visible amount of ingredients for what was clearly a sponsored product. He does not have a happy face.

K-FAB, robotic pory voice: Gee, I wonder what your collab partners think of all this.

Tommy: Shut up.

K-FAB: Language.

Awkward pause. Muffled laughter can be heard.

Tommy: I can hear them laughing.

K-FAB: They're part of the episode.

Smash cut to a montage of laughing science show [YouTubers] who have previously collabed with the Learner Lab team, followed by the Learner Lab intro sequence, styled into a stereotypical cooking show intro with catchy music.

Learner Lab Season 8: The chemistry of baking

...brought to you by Clavis Foods.

Tommy, voiceover: Oh, laugh it up. You're all sponsored by the cake mix people! That's why you're all here.

[Indeterminate Science YouTuber], voiceover: Don't sneasel your way out of this one; this is a sponsorship on your end, too.

Edited by MasterJayAM on May 10th 2020 at 9:21:24 PM

Unknowingly, Clara and her mother walk onto the set where the Petersens are watching videos. The two stare at the screen awkwardly.

“Wait, is this a recording thing? Are you filming this? What’s going on?”

Edited by Weeabooeria on May 10th 2020 at 11:22:07 PM

Stormchaser, Mother's Day

Gimbal: Lower the volume, honey. They can hear you from the other room.

Tommy: Oh, Clara. We were just watching old episodes of my web show. See, they released this episode I filmed a few months ago on April Fool's Day and I was... busy then and I wasn't able to watch the release.

“..webshow? Do you still film it? Or was it cancelled? What did you do on it?”

Mama longingly stared at the screen, listening to the incomprehensible (to her) Galarian being spoken. She’d never really seen a television screen before.

Turffield Stadium Entrance Room, Pre-AFD

Suzie marvels at the kimono, quite intrigued.

Suzie: What would it take to get a version of that in Flying-Type colors? (notices Ian's hands) Other than supplying the cost of bandages... and possibly disinfectant?

Will: Oh, that reminds me. (Will fishes a package out from his bag) The Gym people gave me a Grass uniform on my way out. I think I'll stick with the regular one for right now, though.

Fuka: Neat. Keep it up and you'll have a whole set.

Stormchaser

Tommy: Season break. We don't start filming Season 9 until a few months from now. Season 8 just wrapped up. I'm the current host of the program. We do science experiments for kids. But before, I used to be part of the production crew. I started as a cameraman, then I was asked to do all sorts of other jobs like assisting the director, writing episodes, and even helping Doc Williams as the on-site lab assistant. When Dr. Williams retired, the test audiences thought I was likeable enough to take his place, and I've hosted it ever since. Doc sometimes come back for jokes, though, since it's still his show.

He breathes.

Turffield Stadium Entrance Room, Pre-AFD

Me: Heheh... I really need to keep a steadier hand when I'm sewing something for you, Evelyn.

-Evelyn chuckles at Ian poking fun at his own sewing skill.-

Hulbury, [Royal Court Theatre]]

Elizabeth: "How do we top that?"

Christina: "We simply do, dear."

-They all take a deep breath...-

Orre

-The lab is ominous, all smooth, clean metal and bright lights. Not at all what was expected.-

Luca: "Where is everyone?"

-As if to answer him, the sounds of pseudopods slapping the ground like a washcloth dropped in the shower echo from down the hallway.-

-Behind closed doors, servos whir to life.-

Benedetta: "There's your answer."

Luca: "Suddenly I feel all this nonlethal equipment was a mistake."

- And now, continuing to look at what DS has been up to off-screen -

The Wild Area

- After evolving Rouge into a Raboot, challenging Turffield's gym and earning her first Galar gym badge, DS began making preparations for the next one -

DS: (examining an Applin with her Pokédex) Hmm... I was hoping you'd be able to help me against the Water-type gym in Hulbury, but I guess you don't learn a lot of moves until you evolve, huh?

Cinnamon the Applin: <I guess not?>

DS: (tilts head) You need a special type of apple in order to evolve... I wonder where I can get those?

At another Poké Job

- While DS was trying to figure out how to evolve her new team member, Goggles and three other Ground-type Pokémon have been sent to another job, to help build cars -

Goggles: (examining a "car" they put together) <Hmm...>

- Instead of a car, Goggles and the other three ground types have somehow managed to build a helicopter -

Goggles: <... This doesn't look right.>

Turffeild Shop

-The blood is nice flavoring as Sylvestra sucks the Flunky dry of Aura with hearty slurps-

-Once she is done she lets his body drop to the ground-

Sylvestra: Delicious... now, what were you doing with those apples again, sweetie?

Distortion World

Huginn: You've developed video games? Independently?

-shakes her head-

Er, also, do you have any hints as to why these blob creatures are getting more intelligent?

Hammerlocke Power Plant

-The fire alarm and sprinklers confuse Sutur JUST long enough for the group to get in the elevator-

-As it goes up there is a CRASH from below-

Gaius: ...Close one!

Metropolis Of Vanity

-A purple Shadow appears in front of the group-

Galar Mine no. 2

-Dave and Mia are traversing through here-

Dave: Remind me why we're traversing through this fucking cave?

Mia: <We're catching up with the rest of the group.>

Dave: Yeah yeah...

-something nearby twitches-

Edited by Umbramatic on May 11th 2020 at 3:17:01 PM

Turffield Stadium Entrance Room, Pre-AFD

Fuka chuckles at Ian, too.

Suzie: We can discuss it later if you still have your own battles to get to. Or if you need time for your hands to heal.

As Suzie negotiates, Fuka notices Will being quiet and staring at the package with the Grass uniform.

Fuka: What's got you quiet all of a sudden?

Will: I could get a whole set of these... all of the badges. I've never really thought about it before...

Fuka: Because you were so against doing the Gym Challenge?

Will nods.

Fuka: Feels different when you're actually here, huh?

Will: Yeah...