Spooky House, Oh Sexual Tensions Mine

Jane: With the rain outside, our only choice is to go west. You okay, there, Tom?

Fred: ~He is very frightened.~

Jane: Well, that doesn't take a genius.

Tommy: Gee, Fred, thanks a lot. Wanna tell her why, too?

Fred: ~Yeah, that one's on you. The not-admitting your fears part was my prerogative since it's not healthy to internalize it.~

Tommy: Figures.

Jane: Anyone can see you're scared. And I'm pretty sure it isn't the ghosts. I mean, you and Newsreel get along like a house on fire. I'd assume the only ghost you'd be afraid of is Gimbal, and that's a perfectly normal everyday fear.

Tommy: L... Leave my mother out of this.

Fred: ~To be fair, though, the jump scares and their disturbing nature do elicit a fear response. That just happens to be the least of our collective worries.~

Jane: It's that thing, isn't it?

Tommy: What thing?

Jane: Tom, we talked about this.

Tommy: Then why are we bringing it up again?

Jane: Because if we don't resolve it in some way, things might happen. We all get it. Nobody likes seeing the people they care about getting into danger.

Tommy couldn't say anything at that point. Jane had grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a tight hug.

Jane: Feel better?

Tommy: You afraid, too?

Fred: ~She is, but not of this house.~

Jane: Fred...

Fred: ~Sorry, Jane, but I calls it like I sees it. I don't need to tell him what it is.~

Jane: Well, It's true that I'm not scared of anything in this house any more than I should be. Because I can take care of myself. And because you're here with me.

Tommy: Wish I could say the same.

Jane: I can be brave for the four of us, then.

And they proceed. Jane leads the way with Tommy and the pokémon trailing behind.

Circhester Mach Motors, Oh Criminal Cyborg Mine

The cinderace dissolved into a ditto again. The blob creature attempted to regain her composure. Whatever it was gave her profound psychological trauma, perhaps unlocking a few unpleasant memories. Whatever it was, Astarte cannot fight back; not without taking on a different form, anyway.

In retaliation, the sudowoodo, Tanit, uses mimic, in a possibly vain attempt at redirecting some of the attacks to the cyborg thief.

Astarte: <I suppose you wouldn't mind if I slipped into something more formidable?>

Upton: We've been through this; no.

Astarte: Come on, it'll be easy. The exact genetic structure is right in front of me. I can even get the eyes right.

Upton: Ugh, fine, but you're not doing this without backup.

Astarte: Oh, god, not them.

Upton: Yes them. You and Tanit are gonna need all the help you can get. And where in blazes did Ba'al go.

An unseen voice goes "Looking for Me?"

And out drops an absurd-looking fellow in black, dressed in that outfit from The Mask of Zoroark. He's even brandishing an elegant saber.

Ba'al, as Zoroark: Theft? The assault on the humble working people? You have failed this city, Genesect! Surrender, and I shall take it easy on you.

Meanwhile, Phineas was just watching the whole thing from a distance. If he could face palm, he would.

Phineas: Terribly sorry for the mixup, by the way. Now, about that fire-type. Granted, I don't think we'd be able to take it on without a heavy hitter.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Feb 23rd 2021 at 10:50:41 PM

Circhester, Mach Motors

PEFE!Every: Fetch? I'm not familiar with—

-oh dear-

PEFE!Every: Uh, attend to your team! I don't have any Fire-types in condition to fight right now, but—

-she sends out another Dunsparce, though this one is shiny-

Nadia: <Two of us? Cervantes, what's—>

Cervantes: <Is this the time for pleasantries, Nadia?>

Nadia: <...Well. That's, uh...that's not what you want.>

Cervantes: <Sometime this epoch, please!>

-the two of them hover away, taking positions on either side of Apex, floating above-

-and both breathe down Flamethrowers-

Silas sat in his workshop, adjusting the focus array on his laser rifle, maintenance was important. Especially for one known as the Jackal, Hacks sat next to him, handing tools, as Snakeye ran tests on the power supply.

Bishop floated out of a nearby terminal, "Captain, the Jackal just got a message from some Angelan politicians wishing to talk to him about what occurred and where he got the information causing the current scandal."

Silas sighed, "All right guys, suit up, Bishop bring the message up please."

Bishop nodded and from Silas's pDroid came the text in holographic lettering.

Circhester

-Is preparing for the Gym challenge-

Textspace

The Angelan Capitol

Armitage: So, this is what we've stooped to. Dealing with vigilantes to do our work for us.

Governor Sly: That sounds like a lot of Hank Harvey hooey if you ask me. If we get them to our side, we wouldn't need to worry about any violations of the rule of law. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Armitage: With due respect governor, I do hope that your trust in them is founded.

Governor Sly: Sometimes life works like an action movie, you know what I'm sayin'. Better we bring them under control and accountability so they do it all above board than let them do their thing without supervision. When you deal with supervillains, you gotta have superheroes on your corner.

Armitage: You're starting to sound a lot like my daughter.

Governor Sly: The Vulpecula Fan Club president? I can see what the big deal is now.

Armitage: Mr. King doesn't seem too happy that they're here.

Governor Sly: Well, Champ can have his reservations. He said it himself; those guys needed the axe and the Aurabolts obliged. But I have our people to care about and you and I both know we can't let that... thing happen ever again.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Oct 30th 2020 at 6:13:45 PM

Motostoke Stadium, VS Kabu

-Ian and Evelyn checked their Pokédexes.-

Ian and Evelyn's Pokédexes: Centiskorch, the Radiator Pokémon and the evolved form of Sizzlipede. A Fire and Bug type. When it heats up, its body temperature reaches about 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. It lashes its body like a whip and launches itself at enemies. While its burning body is already dangerous on its own, this excessively hostile Pokémon also has large and very sharp fangs.

Kabu: It's time, my old friend... To show your true might!!!

-Kabu raises his hand to the sky, and the Dynamax Band on her wrist glows a brilliant red.-

-A burst of energy surges from Kabu's Dynamax Band, causing his Centiskorch to glow with a red aura. The energy surge causes the Radiator Pokémon to let out a screech as his strength intensifies.-

Kabu: Let the fires of our determination be converted into strength, AND INCINERATE ALL WHO STAND IN OUR WAY!!!

-The transformation was sudden. A swirling storm of Dynamax Energy blocks out the sun as Kabu's Centiskorch, bathed in the Galar Particles, began to grow in size and length, to a height and length of over 246 feet. The flames on its face's heats intensify and form an "x", glowing with a crimson and golden glow like fire as he lets out a screech that signals the coming of something terrifying...-

Motostoke Stadium

Hoops scrambles back in shock, a look of pure terror appearing on their face.

"Don't burn me don't burn me don't burn me," the start to mutter frantically.

<What's wrong with them?> Led asks.

<A bad childhood memory> Kec explains frantically. <They tried to run away from home, ended up seeing one of these in the wild area. They nearly died.>

"Don't burn me don't burn me don't burn me."

Motostoke Stadium

(Kim and Peechee look up in disbelief at the Gigantamax Centiskorch in front of them, but Geddy almost immediately notices that Hoops is panicking and runs over to them.)

Geddy: <Hoops? A-are you okay?>

Motostoke Stadium

Hoops pauses and tries to suck in air, but it's like they can't breathe.

"No," they reply.

Led and Sal disappear to try and find a paper bag. Kec say <It's okay. You're not there now. You're okay.> It has little effect.

Motostoke Stadium

Geddy: (to himself) <Oh boy... what do I do?>

(He goes up to Hoops and puts his flipper on their hand.)

Geddy: (gently) <Do you need to go to the lobby?>

Motostoke Stadium

After a moment, Hoops nods wordlessly and lets themself be led out. Kec follows a few paces behind.

<Thanks for helping them> he says.

Motostoke Stadium

(Geddy blushes.)

Geddy: <It was nothing.>

SOMETIME LATER

Motostoke Stadium Entrance Room

(One of the people at the entrance desk notices Hoops, Kec, and Geddy and approach them as Geddy guides Hoops to lean against a wall.)

Entrance desk lady: "Excuse me? Is everything okay?"

Motostoke Stadium

Hoops looks to the pokemon to explain but then realises that they are actually in the minority of understanding them.

"I'm fine," they lie. "I just needed some air. Nerves for my battle and all that, you know?"

They force an unconvincing smile.

"Actually, could I maybe get a glass of water? It would really help calm me down."

Once the lady leaves, Hoops turns to Geddy. "Thanks, Geddy. I hope Kim knows what a considerate partner she has."

Silas read over the results and looked to Hacks, who nodded, ~Seems worth the time.~

"Right, Bishop, compose a short response that I'll be there. Snakeye we need to finish maintenance."

<On it hoss,> Snakeye responded before setting to work on adjusting the rifle's internals.

Silas stretched, "I'll be back, gotta talk to Roxy about heading out first."

A little while later, Armitage and Sly would hear a distorted electronic voice from behind them speak up, as out of the shadows stepped the Jackal, accompanied by his Lucario Hayon.

"You wanted to speak to me?" Jackal asked, the blue pinpricks in his mask looking between the two.

"I'm guessing the Scandal is getting out of hand, especially after Mr. King's press release condemning the system that let corruption allow a cancer that was supposed to be excised return."

Hayon smirked a bit behind his mask, ~He isn't exactly wrong. How did so many senators let the allure of a bunch of liars get to them?~

It was unsaid between the two about Mr. King's other identity and his own reasons for hating Pokefutures. Jackal may have stood against everything Delta was, but he couldn't help but agree that Pokefutures was dangerous. The Guild was better off not dealing with them, which divided their foes and would later allow the Aurabolts to Conquer.

Circhester Gym

-Going through the puzzle-

You know this is pretty simple when you don't need your eyes to see.

Circhester, Mach Motors

-Apex takes multiple Fire attacks from all sides, and screeches in pain.-

XD:APEX: -recording of a fire alarm-

-In rage, they lunge to grab the closest living creature and slam them into the ground, over and over and over again.-

Motostoke Stadium, VS Kabu

Me: It's our turn, Evelyn!

Evelyn: Right! Ready, you two?

Piku-chan and Hatty: <Just say the magic words!>

-Ian pulls his Wishing Star out of his pocket, looks to Evelyn and nods. Evelyn looks back to Ian and nods. The two trainers stand side by side, hold each other's hand and raise the hands holding their Wishing Stars to the sky, as though to invoke the Dual Aurora Wave.-

Evelyn and I: O, Wishing Star, hear our plea
May heart and mind unite as one
Great Power, we do ask of thee
To grant unto our Pokémon!

-The Wishing Stars begin to glow a brilliant red, matching the color of Eternatus' core, before generating a heart-shaped surge of Dynamax Energy.-

Me: Piku-chan...

Evelyn: Hatty...

Me: GIGANTAMAX!

Evelyn: DYNAMAX!

-Hatty jumps onto Piku-chan's head, and a second surge of Dynamax Energy is released by the two Wishing Stars.-

-The transformation was sudden. A swirling storm of Dynamax energy formed overhead as Piku-chan and Hatty were bathed in Galar Particles, granting them a red glow. Piku-chan and Hatty, bathed in Galar Particles, begin to grow to massive heights, with Piku-chan growing to over 68 feet tall, and Hatty growing to around the same height. However, Piku-chan's form begins to change, his tail lengthens and starts to glow, his physique gets rounder, and the electricity stored in his cheeks grows to startling levels.-

Spooky House, Oh Basement-Dwellers Mine

Evelyn: I did, and before you ask, It's a Long Story.

Me: I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to listen, right, Ms. Knight?

With no other major location picked out, a Anonymous benefactor had kindly rented out a local community center with a large auditorium. Decorations were up, snacks were out, there was makeshift bar and plenty of caterers.

The J-Team this year would have to make do.

"Perfect," Gio commented looking out over the location.

Motostoke party

-Violet, dressed in a generic mad scientist outfit walks through the entrance.-

Violet: Is this where the Halloween party is?

Motostoke Stadium Entrance Room

Geddy: (turns to Hoops, smiling) <You're welcome.>

(then, after a bit)

Geddy: <Do you want to stay here for the rest of the battle?>

(Eventually, the lady returns with a glass of water for Hoops.)

Desk lady: "Here you are."

Motostoke Stadium

(From inside of the stadium, Kim and Peechee look up at the epic Gigantamax battle in front of them.)

Kim: "This should be fun."

Peechee: <INDEED IT SHOULD!>

(Kim suddenly pauses and looks around.)

Kim: "By the way, where are Hoops and Geddy?"

Peechee: (looks towards the empty seat) <I am not sure... but we'll look after the battle is done.>

Kim: "...that seems fair."

Motostoke Party (post-Betrayalplot; ||Geddy is a Brionne by this point||)

(Kim enters, still dressed as Vatista, and looks around.)

Kim: "This certainly looks like it to me... Now, three questions. Are Ian and Evelyn here, is Rever here, and will there be karaoke?"

Motostoke Center

The door opened, a half-dozen people in costumes of respectable quality walking in.

Colton had his costume he had debuted back at the abandoned mansion, still as imposing as ever. But everyone else had costumes of their own to debut.

Mae had grown out and died her hair off-white, substituting her sensible shirt and skirt for white short shorts and some hi-cut vest. Highlighting her front was some cloak with what looked like teeth as big as her feet on the seam. She was wearing what looked like a captain’s hat distended over cat ears given the creases. On her left leg and arm were red bandages.

Max had adopted a similar aesthetic with a vastly different shape. Rather than Mae’s more soft-spoken attire she had managed to make something resembling a wedding dress. Her own “ears” were on display, but they were large enough to be comparable to rabbit ears. A bouquet of roses, a shotgun and a rifle were on her person.

Rather than anything grandiose like Colton, Julius had taken a more direct, subdued approach to a costume, styling his brown hair into a combover and having acquired an outfit reminiscent of a tuxedo given the jacket’s tails and the tie shaped like an inverted cross on his white button-up. On his shoulders was a red scarf, flitting in an invisible, intangible wind, likely the same one causing Colton’s hair to wave.

Surprisingly, 9-Volt Vincent had dressed up as well. In his blond hair, in a less pronounced combover than Julius', he had perched a pair of goggles, never mind the leather vest on his person. He wore a pair of blue jeans with some sorta book attached to his belt and on his left hand was a large, golden gauntlet.

Similarly soft-spoken was Curtis, who had dyed his blue hair yellow, combing it down save for a lock in front of his face. His reading glasses hung a little lower on his face. On top of his normal shirt was what looked like an orange vest, a dog tag draped around its collar. His pants were a somewhat sickly green.

Motostoke Stadium

Hoops takes the water and drinks it after thanking the reception lady.

"I think we should go back," they tell Geddy. "Once I've calmed down, that is. I think once I've gotten over the shock I should be able to watch. Let's just take another five minutes, okay?"

After a moment they add: "Sorry I'm making you miss the battle, Ged."

Motostoke Stadium Entrance Room

Geddy: (smiles) <Oh, no, it's fine. I don't mind. This is Ian and Evelyn, I know they're going to win.>

(then, after a bit)

Geddy: <So... why are you so scared of Centiskorch?>

Motostoke Party (post-Betrayal)

(Kim grins and walks over to them.)

Kim: "And there is the answer to my first question. Hello, Rever, Shunner, Barrett, Strider, and..." (she blinks upon seeing Vincent and Mae) "...who are you?"

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Oct 31st 2020 at 3:05:41 PM

Motostoke Center

-Evelyn arrives at the doors to the center, dressed in her Little Red Riding Hood costume, also wearing a slightly concerned expression on her face. If one could read her mind and/or her body language, they could tell she was worried about something or someone... Nevertheless, she enters the center.-

Evelyn: Is... is this where the party is?

Motostoke Stadium

Hoops looks uncomfortable as they answer the question. "Well, I've mentioned a few times that my dad was kind of a bad parent. Well, one day when I was, nine I think, Kec and I tried to run away. We got through the Glimwood Tangle, and then we were in the wild area. There were some trainers battling a Gigantamax Centiskorch like that one. When we appeared, it started attacking us. I think it was worked up or something. I got burned pretty bad, and then when I woke up I was in hospital and Dad was there to take me home. It's like... I don't know, it was like it was there as a barrier to keep me in that life. It scares me out of trying to run for nearly seven years."

They look at Geddy. "Sorry to just dump all of that on you."