Drannith

And if it was easy to test whether we could buck fate I really would just to hope but... Egh, we're civilians in this city at best so I don't see us intervening in the arrest and escape easily...

-She sighs and grabs another steamed bun to chew through-

J-Team Textspace

Ballonlea

-There's a brightness to Gale as she finishes the distraction and returns her attention back to the meeting she's having with the production crew for her infrequent Pokemon Masterfoods cooking streams-

Field Producer: Okay so we've got you booked for a truffle thing tomorrow around nine in the morning which leaves us a window to cook in the afternoon, might be a bit late for people to go 'I should make that tonight' and get ingredients but it's still a pre-dinner show so might influence some folks. Whatcha thinking of cooking?

Hm? Oh uh... Man I really want to say garlic 'chic but explaining why it's fitting would be an issue. Besides, it's dangerous~

Cameraperson: What?

Egh, podcast joke. Anyway I'm thinking like... We gotta use those truffles, maybe something fungal and colorful?

Field Producer: Did the legwork, those neon 'shrooms are really not good eating. The luminescence in the skin isn't outrageously toxic but it is still a little not intended for consumption and past the skin it's just dense rubbery mushroom flesh without much flavor.

What, like a big button mushroom? Anyway uh... Okay well still, I'd like something with a lot of color so how about a good summer salad with fresh fruit? If we can do something with safe luminescence that'd be nice. As for the truffles... Okay this is maybe on the nose but I've had some really nice pies so far in Galar so maybe a cute pork pie?

Cameraperson: Salad's probably gonna photograph well, might need to put extra effort in on making the pie properly gold-brown and shiny.

Field Producer: That sounds like a good idea. I'll do the recipe research overnight and get the ingredients while you're out with the truffles. And I guess you've got a gym challenge lined up?

Yeah I schedule those through my primary sponsor. Going for day after the cooking stream so I can sign off with a call to action for people to watch my run at it.

Cameraperson: Nice. Is that everything?

Think so? Actually I've got a recipe picked out for Circhester but I haven't been able to find any Silphium in the local markets, can you see if PM has any in stock?

Field Producer: Silphium? Like the company? Whatever, I'll ask my higher-ups about it.

-Gale shoots a thumbs-up at the production staff as she departs the meeting. She was back in every element she could call her own-

Hulbury

-Ian and Evelyn hop off the carriage.-

Evelyn and I: Thanks for the ride.

Me: So, Evelyn, Hatty, Piku-chan... What do you think we should do now?

Evelyn: Hatty? Do you have any ideas on what we should do?

Hatty: <I do believe that now might be the time to challenge the Gym, now that Ian is virtually unrecognizable.>

Me: Yeah, soun-HEY!

Evelyn: Don't worry about Hatty's comment, Ian. They'll recognize you on the field of battle.

Me: I suppose that's true.

Evelyn: So come on! Let's go to the Gym!

Me: Yeah! Ready, Piku-chan?

Piku-chan: <Yeah, I am!>

Me: Then let's do this!

-Ian, Piku-chan, Evelyn and Hatty head down to Hulbury Stadium for their next Gym Challenge.-

Glimwood Tangle [Twitch]

-A 2D model of an anime girl slides up from the bottom right of the screen. The girl has hot pink hair put it up in a ponytail and red eyes. Two fox ears poke out of her head, and her outfit is very pastel goth.-

???: *in [Japanese]* "Hello? Can you all see me?"

-The chat on the left side of the screen answers affirmatively.-

???: "Great! So today we're playing, uh...Brigoo 2 right? Or did I say we were gonna play something else today?"

???: "I'm not fucking playing any lewd shit like that [Doom] mod."

-Some of the chat seems suprised.-

???: "Oh, you must be new here. Don't expect any nice, polite behavior here. I'm Homura fuckin' Momoiro!"

Homura: "Of course it's a fake name. You think this is what I look like in real life?"

Homura: "Fucking Blasters...anyway, what was I saying? Oh yeah. One of my friends is getting married soon. I get to be maid of honor!"

Homura: "No, my boyfriend and I aren't engaged or anything. He's afraid to."

Homura: "Cause he's fuckin hot as shit, that's why! I might propose to him soon. He and the guy getting married are kinda vitrolic."

Homura: "The only laws I worry about are Fae ones. Besides, my daughter's in a polycule where two of them are married."

Homura: "Yeah I have two kids. Who are both older than me and my boyfriend, who is their father."

Homura: "Remember when the sky was fucked up? That's why."

Stow-On-Side

-Isbrand stops projecting the stream and looks up at Shaun.-

Shaun: "You're up first. Bea's already set up."

Isbrand: "So when we get to the sixth one are you fighting Gordie?"

Shaun: "As cute as he is, no."

Isbrand: "Oh well. Time to go win. Kinda bullshit that I have to fight Bea, the Fighting leader, and not Allister, the Ghost leader. Since I monotype Dark!"

Shaun: "And? Cope. Go fight Gardenia with a Prinplup and a Starly and then we'll talk."

Galar Mine, far from prying eyes, quite some time ago

-In a secluded spot in Galar Mine, a young man with dark skin and hair is pacing up and down impatiently. He only stops when he sees another figure emerge from the shadows, clad from head-to-toe in a skintight, Roserade-themed costume.-

Shun: There you are. Do we really have to meet in places like this like spies furtively swapping documents every time we wish to train together?

Gaia: Training with you out of costume and in public would create the risk that someone might come to conclusions about my identity.

Shun: Yes, but you yourself have said that your identity is practically a matter of public record. Why can't you confirm it to me in private so that we can do away with this charade?

Gaia: You're the detective prodigy. Are you a hundred percent certain that I am who you think I am?

Shun: ...No. I am reasonably sure, but one can never guarantee certainty.

-Gaia puts her hands on her hips, looking satisfied with herself.-

Gaia: Then I suppose we will just have to stick with the current arrangement.

-She unclips two Nest Balls from her belt and sends out a Grookey and an Appletun.-

Gaia: Gloriosa, Hemlock, you two are up.

Shun: ...Where'd you find those two?

Gaia: I've been busy making new friends. I would have hoped you'd be doing the same.

-Shun folds his arms.-

Shun: Gregson, Morstan and Ferrier have been company enough for me so far.

Gaia: Mmm. And I suppose you think that peashooter on your hip is the ultimate guarantee of personal security. Is that even legal here?

Shun: I am an officer of the International Police, I have special authority that applies regardless of region and-

Gaia: It was a rhetorical question. I'm not actually concerned about the legality of the thing.

-Shun murmurs something under his breath that could be interpreted as "you don't say".-

Gaia: My point is that you are not going to defeat the Galar Champion with the team currently at your disposal. Quite honestly, I'm surprised they're considered sufficient for serious police work.

Shun: Is this meant to be a training session, or just an excuse to insult me?

-Gaia tilts her head at Shun.-

Gaia: ...I do apologise. Insult was never my intention. I made the assumption that you would invite such criticism based on your apparent desire for perfection, but I understand if I was mistaken.

-Shun glares for a moment, then hesitates, then sighs.-

Shun: No, you... you're not mistaken, as such. It's more that I would ask for some professional tact when discussing such matters in future. Otherwise it feels as though you don't regard me as an equal.

Gaia: ...Ah. I... I see. Then I offer my apologies once again, redoubled this time. Though neither of us may have asked for this partnership, that is no reason not to treat each other with respect. I will try to refrain from insensitive assumptions in the future.

Shun: ...I see. Apology accepted, I suppose.

-There is an awkward silence before Gaia speaks again.-

Gaia: Anyway, shall we begin our training for the day? We are already behind schedule, and there are certain participants in this challenge whom I am determined not to let surpass me.

Shun: Right, yes. The sooner we get this over with the better.

-He sends out his own mons, and the training begins.-

Later, in the present...

-A few hours after Silas's text, it receives a reply.-

Stow-on-Side Pokemon Center

-Lucius is currently lying in bed, eating brownies, with a blue-eyed Espurr sleeping on his chest. Barring a handful of exceptions, this has been his extant state for most of the last month.-

Hulbury Stadium Entrance Room

Me: So this is Hulbury Stadium...

Evelyn: The lobby isn't too unlike the lobby of Turffield Stadium...

Piku-chan: <...but remember what Milo said... the puzzle here won't be as easy as herding Wooloo...>

Evelyn: Too true, Piku-chan.

-Evelyn pets Piku-chan on the head.-

Me: Think we should get ready for the Gym Challenge?

Evelyn: Yes, but shouldn't we be waiting for someone?

Me: Kim? Didn't she say she was going to go train on her own for a while?

Evelyn: Oh, right...

Me: Well, we'll have to get properly dressed if we wanna challenge this Gym.

Evelyn: Right you are. To the Locker Rooms!

Hulbury Stadium Locker Room

-Ian changes out of his new outfit and into his Challenge Uniform.-

Me: I know I've probably said that I don't exactly feel used to the plaid trousers, but this I know I feel comfortable in!

Piku-chan: <Back to your old self, I see?>

Me: Sure am, Piku-chan!

Piku-chan: <Then let's get ready to RUMBLE!>

Another Part of the Hulbury Stadium Locker Room

-Evelyn changes out of her Paintsplatter Magic robes and into her Psychic Kimono.-

Evelyn: This is nice. Just getting ready for our Gym Challenge. What do you think, Hatty? Think we'll do a good job?

Hatty: <You've done a great job in Turffield, you can do it again! I believe in you, Evelyn.>

Evelyn: Thank you, Hatty. Now, let's go. Ian's waiting for us.

Glimwood Tangle

Logan: … :|

-they close their eyes and mutter something to themself about being surrounded by [hedges]-

Abilene: -to Logan- To think, with a little more foresight, you could've chosen something that lent itself that slightest bit better to wordplay, or confusion.

Logan: -mutter mutter- —fast computing times? It kinda stuck before I could consider the possibilities.

Abilene: Hey, I found the name derived from "Meadow" and called it a day. Elaboration is for people with time on their hands.

Logan: Or people quick enough.

Abilene: ...are you arguing against our competence?

-Beat-

No, speed is your thing, isn't it? It's all you.

Logan: Fast, but not especially well-considered, I'll admit. ^^;

-speaking of which, they cast an eye about looking for hide or hair of an Impidimp's hairy hide...or anymon looking particularly amenable to Capture-

(-in the background, Sorbus ties an expanding field of grass into knots-)

-Addie shakes her head, toning it down a couple notches-

Addie: -voice: Addie-classic- <I'm in search of assistance!> ^w^

-big, wide eyes- <Someone's messing with my friend, and I'm having trouble tracking down the mon in question. I thought someone around here might help figuring something out?>

-you can practically see the exclamation-point speech bubble light up over her head-

-he has so many parents to give that talk, too!-

-ah, well—the bubble pops, releasing:-

-several pieces of blank...note paper? alchemically spent to fuel some sort of windy propulsion-

-a red envelope full of money-

-a box with a bow on it, and,

-some notes-

-consisting of: a metal plate, in laser-etched, micron-perfect calligraphy-

-in swirls of riotous color, on an obstinately dry, scribbled-over "Congrats on the big 100! You're old now." card-

-and some laminated, illegible Torchic-scratch, written with not a lot of dexterity but a ton of heart-

(-inside the box is a luminous Mystic Water, set in a shiny new necklace/bracelet/tiara/jewelry-that-Arc-likes, and behind it is a slip of paper clearly taken from a game of [Monopoly]-)

(-“Get Out of Jail Free” is scribbled out, and written over it is “I’m Telling My Mom”-)

J-Textspace

Glimwood Tangle

Ever: I mean, I just chopped off a random letter and called it a day. If I were a character in a story, I'd call the author stereotypical and lazy.

-Sorbus will feel a tug on one of the Knots of Grass-

Ponyta: <Verilywise! Adviceth shallst bestowify upon thou! Fourth exampleth, haveth thine considereth thatst this enflowered modeth ofeth speakingeth couldeth perhapseth beeth ath distractionst?>

Arc: <Oh! Gosh.>

-he idly pops the money into his mouth and chows down, sliding the envelope into his hammerspace-

<Hmmm...>

-he looks over the cards intently-

<This would probably be pretty heartwarming if I could read.>

-he puts on the Mystic Water, putting the cards into hammerspace-

<Hey, Ever! I got a gi—>

<...Ever?>

-he's alone-

-odd, since he doesn't recall moving much-

???: <They can't help you now.>

???: <Your fate is sealed.>

-Arc looks up, to find himself surrounded by Impidimp and Hattena-line mons-

Arc: <...Oh. This is a very bad decision for you.>

-the source of the tugging, Sorbus will find, is a Grass Knot Ever has idly threaded into their shoe in lieu of a lace-

-which is being pulled on by a Morgrem intent on tying their laces together-

-Beat-

Addie: <Yep!> ^_^

-while she's still parsing that—she's very good at reading tone—little lines like wires shoot in all directions except the one she's talking to-

???: -splutter- Ever didn't teach him how to read—

???: <wait o-oh goodness, look—>

???: oh frick

???: <yeah we should—>

??V: <no no no sh sh sh>

-and whether they're able or not, five eyes peer out from behind the comically thin tree-

-...and don't use any move more assertive than the [Status] and [Self] tags imply-

Logan: …!

Abilene: Oh?

Logan: ...everything's going according to plan! ^_^

Abilene: "Winging it?"

Logan: That is always Plan A, as you kn—

-tug-

Logan: !!

Abilene: -at a warning rustle, stab-pointing her cane out- Go.

-arboreal essence crashes in from all sides, in a Touhou-esque spherical pattern-

-Logan :|s and tries to sweep Ever off their (tied) feet, further than [less than two inches away]-

Glimwood Tangle

Ponyta: <Oh no. I've been trapped. How absolutely tragic.>

-they sit down, rather cheerily-

<I can't escape. You've defeated me, clever knight.>

-horse smile-

Arc: <...>

Hattrem Lead: <...>

Morgrem Lead: <...>

-and the beams start flying-

-okay, that's not a beam-

Morgrem Lead: <Why don't you come and play? You look like you'd give us a challenge—>

Arc: <Can't hear you!>

-as water condenses from the air with a rush that drowns out the Flattery-

-and into dozens of discs, each one nicely patterned with some nonsense sigils-

Arc: <Step two...where's Glimmer when you need her?>

-he exhales an-

-which ricochets off the discs, forming a dome of ice around Arc that continues to stave off incoming attacks, slowly chipping away-

-and then Arc plows clean through it, leaping skywards in a cloud of ice shards-

Morgrem Lead: <...Uh. You know what's going on here?>

Hattrem Lead: <I'm as clueless as you here. Well. Maybe not that clueless.>

-his flippers glow, and he lashes out with two crescent blades of silvery light-

-each of which catches the ice shards, and splinters out into dozens of lasers that spear down into the forest-

-rendering the mons inoffensive-

Arc: <...That felt excessive. Hm.>

Ever: ACK

-they are removed from the situation by Logan as the Energy Ball cascades past them-

-striking the Morgrem head on and sending him flying into a rock-

Morgrem: <Anyone catch the number of the Mystery Van...>

Ever: Okay, points deducted from Abilene for near-murder, given to Logan for averting near-murder, and...hm.

-they toss a ball at the Morgrem-

-which bounces off, blinking an angry red-

Ever: ...Now that is unusual.

-as the Morgrem shimmers pink-

Ever: Ah, shit, he's evolving. I'd say brace for a fight, but I don't think that'll be—

-the pink glow lightens, fading to a gentle rose-

-and disappearing to reveal a Hattrem. A familiar one-

Misery: <Hm. That does explain some things, then.>

Hulbury Stadium Lobby

-Ian and Evelyn exit the locker room in their Gym Challenge outfits, ready to challenge the Gym.-

Evelyn: It's too bad Kim can't be here to cheer us on. But I do understand her desire to get stronger on her own.

Me: Yeah. I also wonder how Fuka and Will are doing.

Evelyn: I'm sure they're doing well. I bet you they're on their way here as we speak.

-Beat-

Me: Think we should get started on the challenge?

Evelyn: What else are we here for? Let's go! Come on, Hatty.

Me: Ready, Piku-chan?

Piku-chan: <Ready when you are, pal!>

Hatty: <Let's do this!>

-Ian, Evelyn, Piku-chan and Hatty all look at each other and nod before they step through the doors onto the playing field for their Gym Challenge.-

HULBURY STADIUM, GYM CHALLENGE: PUZZLE ROOM

Announcer: Ladies, Gentlemen, Enbies and Pokémon! Welcome, one and all to the Galar Gym Challenge! Here we are in the port town of Hulbury, where Two Gym Challengers prepare to perform with all their heart and mind! They both share the number "556", and they've already cleared the Gym Puzzle in Turffield, give it up for...

IAN from Nuvema Town in the Unova Region!

-Ian waves at the Rotom Drone's camera and smiles.-

And EVELYN from Ballonlea right here in Galar!

-Evelyn spins around once before curtsying in her kimono and laughing to herself.-

Motostoke, Macro Cosmos Building

-Daisuke throws three Poké Balls into the air as he sets himself in front of the break room's TV. Out from the Poké Balls are Blasty, his Blastoise, Orbito, his Orbeetle, and a Gengar.-

Gengar: <Wa-hey! What's goin' on?>

Blasty: <Watch closely, Doppel! Our trainer's daughter is live on television!>

Doppel: <Way cool! Evelyn's on TV!>

Orbito: <Yes, Doppel... and she's not alone. The boy, Ian, is helping her with the Gym Challenge...>

Doppel: <Y'sure it's the boy helping Evelyn and not the other way around?>

Orbito: <Legends above! I never thought about it that way!>

Daisuke: Regardless, you three, let's just watch and cheer her on!

HULBURY STADIUM, GYM CHALLENGE: PUZZLE ROOM

-Ian and Evelyn look around the puzzle room and see the pipes in many different colors, some of them with water pouring out from them.-

Me: Where's my umbrella?

Evelyn: Hmm... It seems that the puzzle for this one is to find switches that activate and deactivate the waterfalls.

Me: Doesn't seem too hard to do... but if I knew we'd be acting as plumbers, I'd have given you the red cap.

Evelyn: Well, what are we waiting for, Luigi? Let's-a go!

Piku-chan, Hatty and I: -laugh at Evelyn's joke-

Me: I'm with you!

-Ian and Piku-chan follow Evelyn and Hatty into the puzzle room.-

Drannith

Des is silent again.

"...I don't have any mons on hand. I don't have any of my gear with me. I wonder how hard it is to bond with one of the mons on this plane? Do you think we should try?"

Textspace, After Wedding Announcement

Drannith

-Gale is silent for a moment when the prospect of forging a Bond crosses her mind. Her face is inscrutable, a heady mixture of conflicting emotions as she sits down on a hastily-conjured black box chair-

It's effectively random chance. You just go out there and hey maybe one of the Pokemon you come face to face with will be your soul-match. I kinda want to experience it yaknow? It's a deeply personal connection that I don't think really exists back home, closest thing I can think of would be a Ranger's Styler but both ways and with a single companion...

-She sighs-

Okay yeah I kinda want to get a Bond going. It's a really cool thing about this world and I love how emotionally powerful it is as a concept...

J-Team Textspace

Drannith

"But do we go through with it and risk becoming pariahs? I mean the mons here are a lot more vicious. Then again so are the humans..."

He looked over their dwellings.

"We should make a decision soon. If we have a chance to change the course of history we should grab the Tauros by the horns."

Drannith

-Gale glances up-

I'm a trainer, I always carry a few spare Pokeballs. It's a luxury that most Bonders don't have but being able to keep your monster friend in your pocket deals with that whole pariah thing. The issue I'm mostly thinking of is how we're going to change fate, because the first little story event is gonna take place up in the main garrison full of soldiers and we're... Well we're no more than civilians right now.

J-Team Textspace

Somewhere, likely the Oblivion Wing

-The shadows shudder-

Silas opened the door to the Cabin, light flooding in, he looked in, "Hello again," he said with a small smirk, it was a bit uneasy. Not surprising considering him, but there was also the detail of his earlier comments.

"So," he asked leaning against the doorway, "What do you know about the Codex?"

The Oblivion Wing

-Framed in the light from the doorway is Gale Knight, the edges of her form still being clung to by dim wisps of Obscura-

Well, the name is deeply uninformative for starters. I'm aware of at least four different capital-T-capital-C The Codex-s so maybe you describe it to me and I'll tell ya if I've heard of it.

"Large box made of ancient stone and a metal that current technologies cannot replicate or analyze, said to hold the secrets to the creation of life and even contained the words of the gods," Silas began striding in, a little hand motion as he described the Codex, "Or more specifically. A container of ancient technology that is capable of replicating pokemon genetic code, especially the code of Legendaries."

He looked right at Gale, "The thing that spawned the Adonis, the thing that let Pokefutures clone the flesh of a Zapdos onto a mechanical frame back in Orre."

Oblivion Wing

Okay that's a new one. But you did say that PEFE acquired it and honestly if any group out there can safely utilize the ability to formulate legendary DNA for good honest scientific endeavors I would trust them. Getting published in scientific journals for sequencing the gene of divinity would be a pretty cool thing for them...

-She stops and sighs-

But I presume you're talking more about the acquisition itself rather than the idea of bold new scientific frontiers and/or forbidden knowledge that must be securely contained and protected...

Silas nodded, "Did you see the report on the Forward Fronts attack off in [Dubai]? Yeah... that... might have been because of me. I saw no way we could go in as the Bolts and had to make, for lack of a better term, a deal with Girantina."

He groaned and rubbed his face, "I hired my enemy. I hired Delta to get me the Codex."

Oblivion Wing

-Gale's face faulted behind her circular shades-

You— You hired the Hunters just because you didn't want... Silas. Silas I'm about to say something borne out of the place known as common sense: Just because a raid is an Aurabolts thing doesn't mean it has to be an Aurabolts-supertext-t-m thing. I and likely a lot of the team would be willing to go with generic armor and utilitarian code-names if it was for a good cause. Aurabolts-the-team doesn't have to be Aurabolts-the-brand all the time.

Silas blinked, and then in a instant his hand shot to his face as it clicked... unfortunately for Silas it was his bionic hand. He went to the floor shortly after it connected.

"Ow..."

He got up, "That had not occurred to me, I had just seen that they would be transferring the Codex to a secure location and I panicked. Delta was the best option on my mind because he could get in and get out, and he'd take no major public hit he is a hunter."

He groaned, muttering to himself, "For such a smart man that was a stupid move."

Oblivion Wing

Yeah well, something to keep in mind next time. What use is a black ops team if we're always so public eh?