Slumbering Weald

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

Me: I get that... Sometimes, I confuse myself. But what I'm trying to say is, battles are fun for reasons more than winning. You get to experience so much in the heat of battle; the rush of adrenaline as moves clash, the feeling of pride when you play fair, the sense of camaraderie among trainers... Everything about a battle is what makes it so great.

Weald w/ Ian

"Oh, I'm Gail..." she introduced before trailing off, noticing that the conversation and battle between the newcomer and Ian was more enticing to the former.

She shook her head and sat down, not quite registering Jamie's wing wrapping around her back. "Why is this so familiar?"

S-o-S Pitch

A somewhat familiar avian landed opposite the Samurott, caught off-guard by a brutal strike he could barely see coming.

One swing to his back and he was downed.

His trainer shook his head as he returned his starter, throwing forward someone he was more confident in.

The Delphox landed, already with a purple force on his staff that blinked out of existence and began to cause pain. The pain only went away when he was struck out of his focus.

Familiar with the malice, a flame built up before being thrown forward with a spin to it like the Delphox was skipping a stone on the water.

For all the good it would do while taking a massive stick to the face.

Irritated, he focused once again, much more intently.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Sep 10th 2020 at 2:36:58 AM

Slumbering Weald

Hoops shakes their head. "It's not that what you say confuses me or anything. The words you say go together well, and form ideas that in theory I can grasp. But in practice, no reason that anyone ever gives resonates with me. Call me crazy, or a psychopath, if you like, because I'm used to it. I asked you because I hoped you'd awaken an enjoyment of battle in me that I've never experienced. But all I have is the desire to win, the same as always. So, come at me!"

Kec cries out passionately, mirroring his trainer's sentiment.

Slumbering Weald

Me: We're not gonna hold back either! Piku-chan! Use Twinsteel Tail Strike!

-Piku-chan's tail glows a metallic silver, as he begins to spin even faster, gaining enough momentum for a powerful attack!-

Piku-chan: <YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-!>

-Piku-chan throws himself at Kec, striking the Kecleon with an Iron Tail attack!-

Slumbering Weald

Hoops expected an attack and reacts quickly. "Use Iron Tail!" they order.

Kec turns grey again and meets the attack with his own Iron Tail. He is quickly knocked to the ground, but the damage is reduced as a result of his changed typing.

"Counterattack before it regains balance with Shadow Claw," Hoops yells. Kec turns a deep faded purple colour and a large black claw grows from his hand, which he uses to attack at Piku-chan.

Slumbering Weald

Me: Don't count Piku-chan out just yet... There's a reason it's called Twinsteel Tail Strike...

-Piku-chan spins around on one foot, regaining his balance, and strikes Kec with a second Iron Tail.-

Slumbering Weald

"What?" Hoops exclaims. Kec had committed to the attack, and so couldn't defend quickly enough and was knocked to the ground. He struggles to get up for a moment.

Hoops goes quiet and looks at the ground. The words of their father flash through their mind, along with the memories of dozens of losses.

"You're weak," the voice says. "I can't believe you're my child. A competent trainer wouldn't lose all the time."

Hoops looks up and their gaze fixes on Piku-chan.

"I have to beat him," they say, to know one in particular. Their voice is aggressive, and angry.

"Kec, use Shadow Claw! Keep attacking until you hit that Pikachu."

Kec nods, large black claws extending from his hands. He charges at Piku-chan and starts furiously and relentlessly attacking.

Slumbering Weald

-Ian notices Hoops' sudden burst of rage and jumps back.-

Me: Gah! Piku-chan, pacify Kec with Electro Ball!

-Piku-chan nods as an orb of electrical energy forms at the tip of his tail, which he throws at the rampaging Color Swap Pokémon.-

Slumbering Weald

The Electro Ball flies towards Kec, who slices it to pieces with Shadow Claw. Some of the damage carries through, but Kec ignores it, and continues to attack Piku-chan.

Slumbering Weald

Me: Piku-chan, use Agility!

-Piku-chan glows with a blue aura and his movements become lighter and floatier. Using this boost in speed, Piku-chan proceeds to evade the worst of Kecleon's attacks.-

Slumbering Weald

"Stop running away!" Hoops yells angrily. They look at the ground.

"Kec, use Shadow Claw on the ground. Carve it up!"

The pokemon begins to ignore Piku-chan and furiously attacks the ground of this makeshift battlefield, creating deep furrows and holes. The terrain becomes difficult to move quickly on due to its random unevenness.

"Now, use Iron Tail!"

Kec turns grey, and lashes out with his tail.

Slumbering Weald

Me: -nervously- PIKU-CHAN, USE VOLT TACKLE!!!

-Piku-chan completely surrounds his body in electricity and throws himself at Kec with everything he's got!-

Slumbering Weald

Kec's Iron Tail collides with Piku-chan's Volt Tackle. He tries to stop it, but the attack is too strong and he is knocked aside.

"Come on, Kec. Use Slash and finish this."

Kec nods, though clearly winces in doing so, and returns to his natural green colour. He runs towards Piku-chan, ready to attack, but suddenly his injuries become too much and he collapses to the ground, unconscious.

The anger and aggression instantly fade from Hoops' expression. "Kec!" they yell, and run forward. They drop to their knees next to him and spray him with a potion to help heal his wounds.

"We lost," they say, the word "again" remaining unspoken but clear between pokemon and trainer.

Hoops looks at Ian. "I'm... I'm so sorry about that. I lost control. It keeps happening, and... I'm sorry. Please don't hate me for it."

Slumbering Weald

-Ian tries to catch his breath as the energy surrounding Piku-chan disperses.-

Me: Wow... THAT was scary...

Slumbering Weald, After Ian catches his breath

Me: Honestly, Hoops... I don't hate you. I just... didn't expect that at all...

Slumbering Weald

"I really am sorry," Hoops says, on the verge of tears. "I... I had a bad childhood, and it seriously messed me up. It left me with such a strong compulsion to win, and when it looks like I'll lose, every bit of aggression that I try to repress comes rushing out and that happens. So, I guess I am crazy."

They look at the ground to hide their face. "I don't know who I was kidding. Beating Zacian and Zamazenta? I can't even beat a Pikachu, and even before that I had to drop out of the gym challenge with only two badges. I guess I am just weak, after all. Thank you, I suppose, for helping me realise that."

Slumbering Weald

Me: Wait... you only have two badges?

Slumbering Weald

"Yeah. I've been travelling around Galar for nearly two years and I only managed two badges back when I first started my journey. Pretty pathetic, right?"

Slumbering Weald

Me: Not at all! I have eight badges from Unova, four from Kanto and two from Galar and you still gave me a real challenge! That's all the more reason why you SHOULD challenge Zacian and Zamazenta!

Evelyn: Honestly, Hoops... The way you battled was just plain awesome!

Slumbering Weald

Hoops looks surprised. "Wait... seriously? You have that many badges, and I was able to challenge you that much? It looked from my side like you were in control of the battle the whole time. And you're fifteen?"

They look at Evelyn again, and this time get a slight flash of recognition. Not much, but just for a moment they see a younger version of the same face.

Hoops leans in close to Evelyn, close enough that anyone who had social skills would find it weird to do so, and starts examining her face closely. "You do look... very slightly familiar," they say quietly.

Kec watches his trainer do this, absolutely horrified by the lack of social awareness, and pulls on their trouser leg to try and make them back off. Hoops doesn't notice.

Slumbering Weald

Evelyn: -whispers- When did you see me last?

Me: Yeah... If anything, I was reacting to how you'd act back there.

Slumbering Weald

Hoops whispers as well. "I... I don't remember very much. Assuming you're the same age as Ian, and the age you look in this image I have... I think it must have been nearly ten years ago. Does that match up with what you remember? I could be wrong. I think I remember you smiling."

Then he pulls away and says to Ian. "I don't think I've ever been told something so positive before. If you'll allow me, I'd like to make a request."

Macraul Villa, Past

Ah, you want me to kick this up a notch? I guess I can be a bit of a Thyme Lord for ya.

-She pops a giddy smile and stands up-

Prepare to translate. Ladies and gentlemen. In my land, food and magic feed off each other, strengthening each in turn. And this, mostly the stew, is some weak magic.

-Gale starts rummaging in her bag for her spice rack-

I keep a small apothecarium on me at most times, for both miracle-making and because food deserves to be excellent.

-She pauses for a thought-

Do I have enough supplies to make a pizza..?

Slumbering Weald

-Evelyn looks up into the sky.-

Evelyn: I... I think it does match up to when I was seven or eight, though I can't place the exact date...

Me: -tilts head slightly- And if you don't mind me asking, what is the request?

Metropolis of Vanity

-Has Mokele-Mbembe attack Odetta with a Freeze-Dry-

???, past

Galarian Rapidash-EX: -To us- <We have served as guardians of these ruins at the center of the Deep Tangle since around the time of the Fell Star 20,000 years ago. The power of its Aura Nexus sustains us, but that's not the only thing that makes this area particularly special.>

Grimmsnarl-EX: -Walks over, snickering- <Are you familiar with the Feywilds?>

Hatterene-EX: <This forest and Ballonlea you could say are partially fused with the realm of the fae, all thanks to the power of the Nexus.>

Edited by rmctagg09 on Sep 13th 2020 at 6:00:01 AM

Slumbering Weald

Hoops takes a deep breath. "I know I just met you, and this is weird and all, but please let me stay with you for a while. I feel like I can get stronger that way. I'll do my best not to get in the way, I promise."

Then to Evelyn they say: "I don't remember much, but I think I was upset. And you helped cheer me up."