Striaton City, NYD

(Kim's Pokemon gather with concern around Gilmour.)

Gilmour's Vision

( We are suddenly treated to multiple ominous-looking scenes, played in quick succession through a pink filter. The first scene is of a closeup of Gilmour's body, followed by one where a crack runs through it. The scene flashes out and is replaced by one of Gilmour's upper half falling to the floor, eyes closed, before it disintegrates to bits. That scene then flashes out and the pink filter grows even brighter, before we see a ghostly wisp rise up out of the carcass of Gilmour's lower half. That ghostly wisp grows and grows and branches out— and then the pink filter floods the entire screen.)

Striaton City, NYD

(At that moment, Gilmour's eyes suddenly reopen, now back to their usual black color. He suddenly lets out a groan, and all of Kim's Pokemon look in concern.)

Kim: "G-Gilmour? Are you okay?"

Freddie: <W-what was that just now...?>

Gilmour: <I saw it... I saw a vision...>

Elton: <You saw a VISION?!>

Gilmour: <Yes... I saw it again... my untimely demise...! It is certain to arrive at any moment this year...!>

Geddy: (shocked) <WHAT?!>

Dalt: <Gilmour is going to die?! I do not want Gilmour to die...!>

The Wild Area

Kim: "I'm sure it was nothing, Ian. For now... I believe we shall make our way towards Stow-on-Side."

Motostoke Stadium

Kim: (singing to herself) "This is the greatest plan..."

(And then she notices Agnes leaving.)

Kim: "Ah. Farewell, Agnes."

Striaton City, NYD

Hatty: <How... how long has Gilmour known about this?>

Piku-chan: -tearfully- <Will... will it really happen?>

Wild Area

Me: Yeah... it was probably nothing...

Evelyn: So, what are we waiting for? Let's go to Stow-on-Side!

Ian and Piku-chan: <Yeah! To Stow-on-Side!

Motostoke Stadium

Me: See ya, Agnes.

Striaton City, NYD

Gilmour: <I have known about it for a long time... and I believe... that it will indeed happen very soon... in Stow-on-Side...>

Freddie: <In... in Stow-on-Side?!>

Gilmour: <Indeed... however... I will vow... to live my life to the fullest before I do...>

Boseman: <That is a very wise decision. I hope your last few days on this Earth are good ones.>

Elton: <We're going to make them the best ones possible!>

Kim: "Indeed we are! To the New Year!"

Everyone: <HOORAY!>

(And seconds later, everyone begins to sing:)

Everyone: <Should auld acquaintance be forgot

<And never brought to mind

<Should auld acquaintance be forgot...>

(While everyone is busy happily singing the New Year's anthem, Kim takes out her phone and sends a message.)

Textspace:

NYD, Striaton City

(She hesitates for a bit after writing it, but eventually hits send. Kim promptly puts her phone away and turns to face Ian and Evelyn.)

Kim: "I just sent Rever a 'happy new year' text. I do not know if he will respond."

The Wild Area

(Kim turns to her mons and smiles.)

Kim: "Alright, let's go."

(She returns everybody and heads out of the Wild Area. Seconds later she takes out her phone and sees that her New Year's text has not been responded to.)

Kim: (thinking to herself) Rever has not gotten back yet... I assume he is still busy...

(She puts her phone away.)

EVENTUALLY...

Stow-on-Side

(After a while, Kim finally arrives in Stow-on-Side. Delighted, she turns to face Ian.)

Kim: "Well... here we are."

Motostoke Stadium

Kim: "Alright, Ian." (She stands up out of her seat.) "Shall we get going?"

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Feb 1st 2021 at 9:57:09 AM

Eterna Forest — Outside the Old Chateau

-Alyssa shivers.-

Alyssa: They weren't kidding about spooky...

Dew: <Any sign of that cranky coot?>

Alyssa: Uh... -clears throat- <Hello? Old Vigoroth? The Murkrow didn't mention a name, do you have a name?>

-The Chimecho beside Meloette tilts her head, and everything else, curiously.-

Chimecho: ~Bit of an unconventional greeting.~

-A nearby tree's leaves rustle, and a disgruntled Vigoroth hangs down from it, blinking in annoyance.-

Old Vigoroth: <Eh? Whozzere?>

-Alyssa waves.-

Alyssa: <Hello! I've got some questions, if you have time?>

Old Vigoroth: <.........>

-The Vigoroth grumbles, and pulls himself back into the tree.-

-...-

Dew: <...>

Alyssa: <...>

-Dew kicks the tree. It doesn't do much, but the spirit is there.-

Dew: <Oi! Least y'could do is say "no"!>

Alyssa: <Dew!>

-The tree grumbles, and the old Vigoroth hangs back down.-

Old Vigoroth: <What in the Torn's yer problem? Can't I get a wink o' sleep?>

Alyssa: <It's— it's fine, we'll look elsewhere, don't mean to bother you— >

Dew: <A bunch o' Murkrow said you might know something we need to know.>

Old Vigoroth: <Gah, them? Those tailpickers can't stop bein' a pain in the pisser for one day!>

Alyssa: <Terribly sorry, we can go, I hope you— >

Dew: <We ain't them! Just help us out and we'll be outta yer hair.>

Old Vigoroth: <Says the weird dog who kicked my bed!>

-The Chimecho leans slightly toward Meloette-

Chimecho: ~The rookie's hitting a bit of a rough spot.~

Meloette: Nobody learns without a few missteps, Lydia. I'm sure she'll figure it out.

-The old Vigoroth drops out of the tree, groaning a bit as he hits the ground uncomfortably, but rights himself, looking very annoyed.-

Old Vigoroth: <A'ight, now I'm awake, and yer about to learn real quick how much of a problem that is.>

Alyssa: <Uh-oh.>

-And with a lot more energy than he displayed at all up to this point, the Vigoroth charges at Dew, who leaps back and brandishes her scalchops. Alyssa quickly pulls out her Styler.-

Dew: <Hey, whoa! Now ya done it!>

-She starts to swing a Razor Shell at the Vigoroth, but teeters to slow down as Alyssa's Styler line passes between the two.-

Alyssa: <Dew! Negotiating!>

Dew: <Aggressive negotiations, apparently!>

-The Vigoroth bats the Styler away in aggravation. Not enough to damage it, but enough to break the line.-

Old Vigoroth: <Ya best stay outta this, human!>

Alyssa: <Mmmmmh.>

-She fires up the line again, dividing between Dew and the Vigoroth. Dew mutters, stepping back.-

Alyssa: <I know we came to you at a bad time— >

-She loops it around the Vigoroth once, who tries to follow the disc for a moment to kick it away again. The loop completes just in time to avoid the line getting claws straight through it.-

Old Vigoroth: <It don't take a genius to see that!>

Alyssa: <Yes, which is why I'll gladly leave you to— >

-She glances at Dew as another loop completes.-

Alyssa: < —your personal bubble— >

-She coughs loudly and pointedly, and Dew blinks.-

Alyssa: < —if we can get out of this without too much of a fight!>

Old Vigoroth: <Would you stop with that glowing thing?!>

-He lands a very solid smack on the Styler, and Alyssa yelps as the receiver in her hand sparks violently.-

Alyssa: <Ow!>

Old Vigoroth: <I told you to stay out of this, kid!>

Alyssa: <I know you did, I just— >

-She glances at Dew.-

Alyssa: < —want you to hold still for a moment!>

-And a prepared Bubble Shield gets flung at the Vigoroth, who gets stuck inside and rolls a bit.-

Old Vigoroth: <H-hey!>

Dew: <Tryin' to negotiate!>

-The Capture Styler starts going around the bubbled Vigoroth again, who staggers to try and get his balance within it. Alyssa exhales, and attempts to speak levelly. In the background, Lydia the Chimecho hovers onto Meloette's head, glowing a faint blue.-

Alyssa: <Okay, phew. I'm sorry that we disturbed your sleep. We could have moved on, knowing you were not in the mood to talk.>

-She shoots a look at Dew, who slumps slightly.-

Dew: <...Mmmyeah. Kickin' the tree was kind of a dick move. Sorry.>

-The Vigoroth manages to get his balance, and glares at Dew, but his aggression seems to soften somewhat.-

Alyssa: <We didn't realize what your history with those Murkrow was — they were the first ones we got to talk to, and they pointed us to you.>

Old Vigoroth: <...Mmmmh.>

Alyssa: <We want to help, because we know there's something bad going on here in Eterna Forest. This wasn't a step in the right direction, and I'd like to make up for that, if you'll let us.>

-And the Styler makes a final loop, before Alyssa lets it power off. The Vigoroth lets out a sigh, before poking at the bubble until it pops and lets him onto solid ground.-

Old Vigoroth: <...........>

Alyssa: <...>

Dew: <...>

Old Vigoroth: <...How in blazes is a human talkin' like a mon?>

Dew: <It took ya that long?>

Old Vigoroth: <Oh, gimme a break, I just woke up!>

-Alyssa clears her throat.-

Dew: <...Carry on.>

Alyssa: <Thank you. Anyway, this is the language I grew up with, it's my more comfortable one. I had a bit of a weird childhood.>

Old Vigoroth: <...Not gonna lie, it is refreshing to hear instead of normal human squawkin'.>

-He hobbles over to his tree, leaning against it for balance.-

Old Vigoroth: <...So, what's yer question, kid? Yer here to ask me stuff so you can help out around here, what do ya wanna know?>

Alyssa: <We heard about a mysterious singing that's making Pokemon aggressive. The Murkrow said that spooky things happen around here, so they suggested you might have known something about it.>

Old Vigoroth: <...I mean, some o' the ghosts around here sing to freak out anyone who comes around, but I know that ain't what it's about. You're gonna wanna look deeper that way.>

-He extends a claw toward the northwest of the forest.-

Old Vigoroth: <Some sorta critter nobody's seen in the forest before showed up and holed itself up near a lake that way. Scared o' everything, and when it panics, it sings, and that song has a way of hittin' the wrong nerves. Makes 'em wanna lash out. And it lashes out at anything that decides it wants to come close anyway.>

Dew: <Right. Means it's gonna try to fight us when we go to see it.>

-Alyssa nods.-

Alyssa: <Good to know. Thank you.>

Old Vigoroth: <...Careful, kid. Whatever's that way, it's dangerous.>

Alyssa: <I'll do my best to be cautious.>

Old Vigoroth: <Mmm. Right, then, that's my piece, I'm goin' back to sleep.>

-He starts climbing up the tree again.-

Old Vigoroth: <...Good luck.>

-And he disappears into the leaves. Alyssa turns to Meloette and her Chimecho, who stops glowing and starts hovering again.-

Meloette: Not bad at all. Lydia translated all that for me.

Lydia: ~You had a bit of a fumble at the start, but that was a pretty good save you had there.~

Alyssa: O-oh. Right, yes. Um, so, something at a lake?

Meloette: None of the region's major lakes are in this forest, so it most likely isn't related to any Legendary Pokemon, I don't think. But the Vigoroth did tell you it was unfamiliar, right?

-Alyssa nods-

Alyssa: Yes, he did. I... think something might have brought it here?

Meloette: A former Trainer-owned Pokemon, released in an environment it's not meant to be in. That would explain its distress, too.

Alyssa: Then we may need to, um... rebil... reheat... rebit... find it a safer home, then?

Meloette: Quite possibly. I wouldn't put that duty on you quite yet, especially since under normal circumstances new Rangers aren't supposed to take Pokemon out of their home environment, so I can handle that. If you can manage to connect with it and calm it down, we'll call that a successful mission on your part.

Alyssa: R-right.

-Alyssa looks around, then up at the Vigoroth's tree, then toward the direction he pointed, and starts leading the way again.-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Feb 1st 2021 at 12:05:47 PM

New Year's Day, Striaton City

Evelyn: Well, whether he responds or doesn't is up to him.

-Ian wakes up from his trance and looks around, still blushing.-

Me: What just happened?

-Evelyn looks away from Ian and just giggles.-

Stow-On-Side

Me: Yes! We're here.

Evelyn: I can tell that Ian's eager to challenge the Gym.

Hatty: -concerned- <If this is how it has to be... then... I hope Gilmour's ready...>

Me: Huh?

Evelyn: What makes you say that, Hatty?

Hatty: <Gilmour's vision from New Year's Day said he'd... h-he'd...>

-Hatty's eyes begin to fill with tears as she can't bring herself to say that Stow-on-Side is the place in which Gilmour will live his last...-

Hatty: -crying- <YOU tell them, Piku-chan!>

Piku-chan: -surprised Pikachu face- <ME?! Why can't YOU tell them?>

Hatty: -crying- <It hurts too much to think about...>

Motostoke Stadium

Me: Yeah.

Evelyn: Let's get going.

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Feb 1st 2021 at 10:37:17 AM

Scratch stared in shock and reached for his getup, only for a report to come in from the lower levels. He darted into his office and gripped the radio as he pulled on the iconic mask of Scratch, "What?!"

"Sir! We have a problem!"

"What is it?!"

"It's him sir!"

"Him?" Scratch commented in confusion, "Who?"

"It's him sir it's-" there was screaming heard, a burst of static and then, "IT'S THE SLAYER!"

Scratch stared in disbelief, and slammed the alert, the casino would flood with what Grunts were still available."

The Grunts approached slowly, staring at the individuals before them, the power armor wearing hammer wielder, the black bodysuit wearing woman in the canine eared helmet, and finally the man with the golden skull mask in front.

"Is that all you have?" One of the Grunts shouted.

"No," Coyote commented condescendingly, "We have a special surprise for all of you!"

The Grunts could almost hear some muffled music coming from the back of a truck. Two approached slowly, there was something wrong here... the leader of this small band of thieves was almost too confident... what was he planning?

Two of the Scratch grunts opened the door...

And were greeted to a shotgun being loaded with malicious intent with a Metagross, a white and green Haxorus and a Letterman wearing Blaziken within. The Undying Slayer had arrived...

With a grunt, a kick, and a blast of psychic from Clutch the Grunts were tossed into a panic. Coyote engaging in the mayhem as well, directing Wolf to attack several Haxorus types attempting to get close, "Lycan! Grab the drill, we got a vault to crack!" he commanded with a laugh.

Lycan crawled into the open truck and hefted out a large set of industrial tools, "Ready to break shit?"

The Defiant Wing spun as it avoided a missile, though a blaster volley broke through and did more damage to the hull. Silas grumbling in his seat as he did so.

Two sets of airlock doors broke open, the first set was near Nightingale and Arthur, revealing two Space Scythers wearing some form of red chest armor. Near Upton and Shutter opened a singular rather tough looking Space Scissor, who clicked his claws, <Fresh meat huh? You don't look too impressive.>

Arthur released Cayde who stared at the Scythers before him, <Seriously?>

Arthur nodded, Cayde sighed and threw a sucker punch right into the face of one of the Scythers, who stumbled a bit.

Striaton City

Kim: (matter-of-fact) "Evelyn kissed you on the cheek."

Stow-on-Side

Kim: (sighs) "He had a vision that he would die in Stow-on-Side."

Motostoke Stadium

Kim: "Alright, then."

(And with that, she leaves the stadium.)

Lilycove City, Shoreline

With Travis having stopped work on the - now finished - sand castle, the S³ would once again gather around him, all of them grinning from ear to ear as they playfully ran around him. At Tricky's question, they all enthusiastically nodded while still running circles around Travis - quite literally so.

Meganium: <Yes~ We're the lords over these lands~!>

Amaura: <And this mighty castle is our home~!>

Tropius: <But now we need loyal subjects~!>

Amaura: <Oh, oh~! I know~!>

The young Amaura giggled, stomping around a bit more, the sand under his feet rumbling - until it rose!

Amaura: <Earth Power~!!!>

Upon seeing that, both Tropius and Meganium stopped running around Travis, instead running circles around Amaura

Meganium: <Woooow~>

Tropius: <Coool~!>

The two began cheering on Amaura happily - eventhough they very likely had no idea what was going on (not that that had stopped them in the past). Travis and Tricky meanwhile would be able to see the sand slowly rising in small "mountains" about the size of a hand - and then how those tiny mounds began taking on the shape of tiny humans, all styled in simple fantasy looking clothes and armour.

Amaura: <Look, look~! I made people~!>

Amaura's eyes were shiny from seeing his efforts succeeding, earning him a glomp from the two other members of the S³ before all three of them stormed back to Travis and tricky, all but bumping into them.

Amaura: <Isn't that awesome~?!>

Tropius: <It is~! It is~!>

Meganium: <Right~?!>

The three looked up to Travis and over to Tricky, wanting to see if they as well thought their little masterwork was awesome. Both Tricky and Travis could see that the three were pretty much radiating eagerness, their energy almost palpable.

Meanwhile, the tiny sand-humans would begin to move, the guards traversing the area around and on the castle, almost like real guards patrolling, each of them carrying a tiny sand-spear.

Last post here

Brimstone Casino

A pillar of purple smoke forms, a vague silhouette descending through it and landing. With a swift Fire Spin blowing it away, Lamb stands beside Terra Preta.

She holds out a few fingers, flames forming.

New Year's Midnight

Brimstone Casino, Superhero Battle

-Belladonna remains en pointe, with her blade drawn.-

Belladonna: -thinks to herself- What is she planning with those flames?

-out loud- Growltiger! I leave the Lilligant to you!

-She reaches for another Poké Ball.-

Belladonna: Levy, En Pointe!

-Belladonna throws the other Poké Ball in the air, which opens with a burst of light, which reveals Levy, her Bisharp, when it dies down.-

Levy: <Well, This is another nice mess you've gotten yourself into...>

Belladonna: Another matter for another time, Levy... I'm leaving that supervillainess over there...

(Belladonna points at Terra Preta.)

Belladonna: ...to you, while this fire-fingered felon of the fell is all mine... EN GARDE!

Striaton City, New Year's Day

Me: -a blushing mess- Is that a fact? Haha...

Evelyn: -smiling at Ian- It sure is, buddy!

Stow-on-Side

Me: Wait... this is where Gilmour will buy the big one?!

Evelyn: Maybe we shouldn't have come here so soon... for Gilmour's sake...

Hatty: -still sad- <It still hurts to think about...>

Piku-chan: -worried for Hatty- <But at least you didn't have to tell them...>

Hatty: -slightly reassured- <That's true... thanks...>

Motostoke Stadium

Me: Let's go!

Evelyn, Piku-chan and Hatty: AYE!>

-Ian and Evelyn, with Piku-chan and Hatty, leave the stadium.-

Stow-on-Side

Kim: "Indeed. And I hope he makes the most of his last days here."

(She takes out her phone again, only to see a message.)

Kim: "Oh! Hang on one moment, I believe I missed a message. Let's see what it says here..."

(And then she opens up the message— and as soon as she sees it her eyes widen in horror, guilt, and realization. She doesn't even see the "volcanicAlkaline" part— all she can focus on for now is that Colton Kendall Rever has blocked her.)

Kim: (thinking, horrified and remorseful) Rever... blocked me?! W-was I too much for him?! I... I must have been too much for him! This is exactly why I feared expressing my envy... he had so many things that I--

(She suddenly stops herself and tries desperately hard to hold in the tears that are forming in her eyes. Eventually, she speaks, her true feelings masked by her usual guise of stoicism.)

Kim: "Well. This is an interesting new development."

Striaton City, NYD

Kim: (smiles) "Indeed it is. We have a whole new year ahead of us... and I can't wait to see what it is."

(She turns off her phone and puts it in her pocket, before turning back to her Pokemon, all of whom are singing still:)

Everyone: <For Auld Lang Syne, my dear

<For Auld Lang Syne

<We'll take a cup of kindness yet

<For Auld Lang Syne>

(While her phone is off, the message goes through. Kim doesn't notice. And yet all the while she is thinking to herself still.)

Kim: (thinking to herself) Was that really the right decision? Did I do the right thing in sending out that text? Rever and I have had a complicated relationship, but regardless... I figure that sending out a Happy New Year's text is the right thing to do. Goodwill and kindness and all that. Ah, well. I suppose Evelyn is right. Whether or not he responds or doesn't is entirely up to him...

(She smiles, ready to start the new year.)

Brimstone Casino

-Growltiger's Flamethrower hits the Lilligant-shaped silhouette in the smoke... and only seems to blow away a cloud of the strange substance as a faint sigh comes from elsewhere within.-

Terra Preta: Our business is just that: our business. Business we'd really rather people like you not get caught up in. We don't want anybody to get hurt here, but...

-Her voice seems to be speaking from somewhere near to Lamb as a sparkling, translucent barrier, likely Elderberry's work, starts to layer over the smoke.-

Terra Preta: Try to disable her. We'll play support.

Stow-on-Side

Evelyn: Is something the matter, Kim?

Me: Yeah, what's wrong?

Striaton City, NYD

Me: All new adventures to go on!

Evelyn: It's a whole new year, and we're gonna make the most of every minute!

Piku-chan: <And we'll do it together.>

Hatty: <As long as you have your friends beside you, you're NEVER alone!>

Stow-on-Side

(Kim says nothing for a few moments, trying to compose herself. Eventually, she stops and turns towards Ian and Evelyn, before stating simply:)

Kim: "Rever blocked me."

Striaton City, NYD

Kim: "Indeed."

END OF NEW YEAR'S PLOT

Stow-on-Side

Me: Huh... Has this been going on long or is this a recent thing?

Stow-on-Side

Kim: "It literally just happened. I checked my phone and saw that I had missed a message... and it turns out that he blocked me. And it was in response to the text I sent him on New Year's Day. I am... rather devastated, to say the least."

(And then she notices the second part of the text.)

Kim: "Oh, hang on; someone named 'volcanicAlkaline' texted me." (She suddenly pauses.) "Wait a minute..."

(She sees the text— and seconds later she looks down, slightly downcast. Hesitantly, she types in, "I know"— only to pause and immediately detract it afterwards. Seconds later, she replaces it with:)

Textspace

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Feb 2nd 2021 at 3:11:11 PM

Textspace, 1 Month Ago

Edited by AbsentCoder on Feb 2nd 2021 at 12:14:36 PM

Stow-on-Side

(Kim grins.)

Textspace

Textspace

Edited by AbsentCoder on Feb 2nd 2021 at 12:24:47 PM

Stow-on-Side

(Kim pauses, noticing the text and looking...nervous and pensive, to say the least.)

Textspace

Textspace

Textspace

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Feb 2nd 2021 at 4:14:16 AM

Textspace

Textspace

Stow-on-Side

(Kim pauses, and then looks back at Ian and Evelyn. Seconds later, she types into the chat:)

Textspace

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Feb 2nd 2021 at 4:31:10 AM

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