Slumbering Weald

Me: Sorry about that. We do kind of have a psychic connection.

Evelyn: And I apologize for how I look at you... I feel as though we may have met somewhere in the past...

Slumbering Weald

Hoops scans their memories of their childhood in Ballonlea, but they can't remember this person. They appear to be about the same age, so it is possible that they look different now, but there's no recognition.

"I'm sorry, but... I don't remember you. I didn't get to hang out with other people much as a child, so I probably only met you for a short time."

Slumbering Weald

Evelyn: That I understand.

Slumbering Weald

"Anyway..." Hoops says, staring at Evelyn out of the corner of one eye. "Ian, was it? You said you wanted to be a great trainer. Would you be up for a battle at some point?"

Slumbering Weald

Me: Of course I would, Hoops.

Slumbering Weald

"Right now? Because Kec and I are ready to go whenever."

In response to the statement, Kec jumps off his trainer's shoulder and readies himself for battle.

gameshow space

Copper: <Yes! This is going to be good... Wait a second... I don't have a camera on me! Noooo!>

Violet: I guess I'm ready.

slumbering weald

-A shiny Cinccino, an Amaura and her human are walking through the forest.-

Eva: Woah! So this is where those pokemon were sleeping! Seems kinda uncomfortable if you ask me...

Borealis: <They only slept for a couple thousand years? Those are rookie numbers.>

-Merah notices a gathering of people nearby.-

Merah:<Hey look, there's some people. We should go see what's going on.>

Slumbering Weald

Me: I'm ready whenever you are, Hoops. You ready, Piku-chan?

Piku-chan: <For a battle? Always!>

-Piku-chan jumps off of Ian's shoulder and into a battle-ready position.-

Wyndon, The 21st Century

Mog and crew have been driving in a car Upton had been lent. They arrive in the sprawling metropolis of Wyndon.

Upton: Ah, Wyndon. It actually looks nice when you're not trapped in some metal prison that's under someone else's control. So, where's the nearest parking lot?

Phineas, via the car's GPS: A mile that way. Near our studio. Doesn't anyone find it odd that Contact Communications opened their office across the street from the Society's office?

Upton: I did a bit of digging and no. Contact's partners with the GBC, which led to them getting dibs on the GBC's fatuous collection of nature documentaries.

Phineas: That explains Pokémon Planet.

Upton: They gave them that office. Geo Soc International's local office was just next door. It was all a big coincidence. Heck, where we come from, they're in opposite sides of the city.

Phineas: At least before Pokefutures bought them out.

Also, throughout the trip, Upton lent Mog his phone to let her watch as many videos as she can.

Upton: I dunno about you but I'm famished. There's a chip shop not far from here and they let you have all Snom Slurm you can conceivably drink. And so near the studio. What do you folks want? Kebabs? Fries? Arrokuda and chips? Jellied tynamo.

Phineas: This region has the worst food on Earth.

Slumbering Weald

"Then let's do this. We'll take the first move. Kec, use Slash!"

The small reptilian pokemon jumps towards its opponent, its claws glowing brightly as it brings them down.

Slumbering Weald

Me: Parry with Iron Tail!

-Piku-chan's tail glows a metallic silver as he swings it to meet Kec's claws.-

Slumbering Weald

Kec's claw meets the Iron Tail. He struggles for a moment, but is repelled and land a few feet away.

"Kec, you use Iron Tail as well!" Hoops yells.

Starting at the stripe across Kec's body, his skin turns from green to a light grey because of his Protean ability. His tail glows in the same way that Piku's did, and he swings low towards the midriff.

Edited by theoncominghoop on Sep 10th 2020 at 9:01:07 AM

Slumbering Weald

Me: Piku-chan! Match Kec's attack blow for blow if you can!

-Piku-chan nods, then turns his body so Kec's Iron Tail would meet his own.-

Slumbering Weald

"Kec, match that Pikachu as well!"

Kec begins to repeatedly strike at Pikachu with its tail. His power has increased since the last attack, making it harder to defend against.

Slumbering Weald

Me: Piku-chan! Link Kec's tail with yours!

-Piku-chan raises his tail to try and latch Kec's tail onto his.-

Slumbering Weald

Kec's attacks leave a lack of precision, and Piku-chan is able to hook their tails together. Kec struggles to pull away before realising her is stuck.

"Shit," Hoops mutters.

Slumbering Weald

Me: We've made contact. Use Thunderbolt!

-Piku-chan's cheeks sparkle with electrical energy which begins to surround his body. Piku-chan then releases that electricity, which travels from Piku-chan's tail to Kec's tail, and (to an extent) Kec.-

The Slumbering Weald

The mysterious figure in the fog is mysterious no longer. As the flames of a charizard clear part of the fog, it reveals a tall thick-in-the-middle man riding atop a howdah on a copperajah. Said rotund man was wearing a safari jacket over a suit and tie and a pith helmet. Beside him was a rather stoic, smug Galarian Mr. Mime.

Avoid the flames, kids.

Sir Nigel: Ah, company. Reeves, set down the ladder.

The Mr. Mime wordlessly does as he is told, unfurling a rope ladder with which the pompous aristocrat used to clumsily go down.

Sir Nigel: Hello, young travelers...

His foot gets caught in the ladder. The copperajah rolls her eyes.

Sir Nigel: I trust that your pokémon teams are properly documented. Wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of the law, innit. Percy would have the fog cleared in two shakes of a wooloo's tail, though you'd obviously need to stay out of the way. Pip-pip. How'd we ever get lost in the Weald?

Reeves, to the others but not Sir Nigel: ~Perhaps because he's a pompous old windbag stuck in a time we best forget.~

Sir Nigel: I dunno about you children, but this calls for a song!

So trip to heave and ho, up down, to and fro', you have no word

Please leave us here, close our eyes to the clobbopus ride!

Slumbering Weald

Upon hearing Ian's command, Hoops grins. "Kec, use Sucker Punch!"

Kec's body turns black, and dark energy gathers around his fist, which he brings towards Piku-chan's stomach while it's charging its attack.

"You thought we'd fall for something so obvious?" Hoops taunts.

Slumbering Weald

-Piku-chan is blown backwards by the attack, but quickly pulls himself back to his feet.-

Me: It had crossed my mind... Now, lemme show you one thing I really like about battles! Piku-chan, let's take that move for a spin.

-Piku-chan looks at Ian, realizes what he means, then starts to spin around in place, gaining speed with each rotation.-

Slumbering Weald

Hoops watches the spinning pokemon, eyes narrowing.

"Be careful, Kec. We don't know what they're planning to do. Gain some distance."

Kec obliges, and jumps back to in front of his trainer. They both watch Piku-chan carefully.

"What could they be planning?" he mutters. However, something else is on his mind.

"Ian, you said you enjoy battles several times now. Tell me, what does that feel like?"

Edited by theoncominghoop on Sep 10th 2020 at 10:10:32 AM

Slumbering Weald

-Piku-chan's spin continues to gain momentum.-

Me: It's awesome! The rush you get when you face a powerful opponent, like a Gym Leader or a Rival Trainer, the respect for your opponents when they practice fair play, and best of all, the rush of creativity, the spark of genius, the utter feeling of "I know what we're going to do today!" when you come up with a new idea for a move... EVERYTHING ABOUT A BATTLE IS AWESOME!!!

-Piku-chan's spin gains more and more momentum.-

Slumbering Weald

Hoops frowns. "I don't understand that. I understand the adrenaline of battle, and wanting to win, but that's all it is. The desire not to lose. To prove you're strong. When it comes down to it, that's what battling is. I can't understand battling if not for that reason."

In front of Hoops, Kec keeps his eye on the spinning Pikachu across from him.

Slumbering Weald

Me: Is... something the matter, Hoops?

Slumbering Weald

"Everything is fine. It's just that every trainer I meet tells me how much they enjoy battles, and no matter how many people explain it to me in their own ways, I can never understand them. You seemed different somehow, so I thought you might be different, but even when you explain it it just doesn't make sense to me."