Rosa: <...>

-he kicks Jab's possibly-unconscious form, halfheartedly-

-...and then screams as he is set on Fire-

Bag: -...-

Rosemaster: -clutching her stubbed...foot- Damn it, I thought those might have been duds Gasp~! Your heroic heart has overcome my drakes' dark determination…

-unable to walk, she tips back in an emotional swoon-

Rosemaster: -distraught- If you proceed, I may have no choice but to donate this check to the Eeby-Deeby Charity for Displaced Valentine's Apples! The HORROR!!

-a pause-

Rosemaster: -in the same tone- Or. Possibly whatever firefighter's association exists around here! Do Pokémon have all the jobs…?

-her Roserade extinguishes the burn (not Burn…?) with one picture-worthy cape-swoop-

Rosemaster: ...that is, if you can beat me first.

Rosarade: -dusting himself off- <Sigh. Let's get on with it.>

-he tries to beat Salamence at her own fluff-

-a lot of her own fluff-

-...which promptly sets itself aflame-

Rosa: -plant-chortling deviously- ...oops.

Edited by Asterisk395 on Apr 24th 2021 at 9:15:58 AM

Hammerlocke Feast

Jane and Tommy recognize the band from the BoTB their office choir performed with (against?) last year.

Jane: Damn, they're good.

Tommy: Pity there's just the two of us, right? Can't do a good performance without the others.

Jane: We know a few songs we can perform with just the two of us. Think they'll let us perform?

Tommy: Not on an empty stomach, we're not.

Jane: Well order up, waiter boy. I'm famished. What was on the menu again?

Hammerlocke Banquet

-Rogue matches Aislinn's smile, even if it doesn't appear on their mask screen.-

Rogue: Heh. I won't pry about your secrets if you won't pry about mine. I will be looking forward to seeing your matches going forward, though.

-And to Tagg-

Rogue: Hey, an invitation's an invitation even if you're already further ahead than everyone else, yeah? And "back to more training" sounds just as classic-Trainer as anything. Even more, after already beating the League, really.

Mason: ...Huh. I just stayed home. Kind of hard to live in the woods around Snowpoint.

-He gives an awkward look toward Blair.-

Mason: Er, yeah. It's kind of a long story. You're fey, you'd believe me if I said it involved weird fey stuff, right?

Phenac City Pokémon Center

-On a gurney in the Pokémon Center, a tutu-wearing figure covered in ash and soot stirs restlessly in sleep. She tosses and turns until her body jolts into an upright position. When she opens her deep blue eyes, they retain a somewhat glassy appearance until she blinks. Upon blinking, light begins to reflect off her eyes again. However, she feels completely lost.-

Emilie: Wh-What happened? Where am I?

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Apr 24th 2021 at 1:39:26 PM

Phenac City Pokémon Center

Emilie will hear the soothing mental voice of a kadabra not long after.

Urie: ~You've come to, Miss Emilie. Ms. Tran had been worried since the incident. You've given us quite a scare. Fortunately, the doctors said you would be out of your trance within a few hours and you were otherwise healthy.~

Rosie: Good, you're awake. Thank Arceus. Everything happened so fast. First there was a fire, then the bad guys came in. And then we received a call from corporate. Apparently, they don't like supervillains barging into their storerooms. And the one time this happened our investors threatened to pull out unless we did something. They fired my boss. Suits, am I right?

Urie: ~The villains were unfortunately hard to read. The remaining psychics and I weren't able to identify them. Their memory is hazy in your head, but they will clear in time.~

Rosie: I'm apparently in charge of running things until they can find a new manager. Same as always, I guess. Anyway, we told them about your actions. You don't need to worry about paying for anything Miss Superhero. We suggested we cover for your expenses and give you a voucher for our restaurant, but corporate didn't think that was enough.

Urie: ~Name your reward and it is yours.~

Phenac City Pokémon Center

-Emilie thinks long and hard about a reward that she would really want.-

Emilie: Hmm... what do I want? Can it really be any reward I ask for?

Phenac City Pokémon Center

Urie: ~Within reason.~

Rosie: A lift? Monetary compensation? Heck, if you're willing, you have a lifetime pass to a free three course meal in the Brimstone if you'd like. And no, it won't nullify us covering the bills you expect. Least we can do for our employees. Our new parent company raised the standard higher. Don't worry about any of that.

Urie: ~She's a bit too excited that we've been acquired by one of our investors. King Industries treats its employees well.~

Banquet, Dragon Songs

Takcorian: Oof, that was a strong performance...

Luperian: I don't think Shining Souls is gonna cut it Tak.

-It takes a moment before the chef twitches and lets out what could be interpreted as a mournful breath-

Takcorian: ... You want to do Red don't you?

Luperian: We gotta go all out, just this once.

-Another twitch, Takcorian's gaze narrows a little and they bear their (too sharp by far for an ostensible mortal guise) teeth briefly-

Takcorian: Easy for you to say; you're not the one with the bulk of the lyrics!

Luperian: Cause I gotta handle the guitar work. Come on, they've gone hard with a swansong and we're not going to get an audience whoop like that with silly little—

-It almost looks like the chef is going to go into a full on outburst at the words of their twin but eventually calms themselves-

Takcorian: ... I'll do it. But I'm blaming you if I choke.

-The chef takes a moment to prepare; their cook's regalia shifts and changes in a moment of purple light into a black dress that bears along the fringes claws and teeth and hints of blood red, like the clothing itself was a manifestation of a dragon's lethal nature. Luperian doesn't have as much of a dramatic prepwork: they simply load up a CD into the karaoke, put down some kind of microphone assembly at the front of the pair and retrieves a very stylized electric guitar from their inventory-

Luperian: I'm gonna record this. Need a proper performance for the mixtape.

Takcorian: Yeah yeah... Alrighty. We heard this song being sung by a reaper, not the one you assume.

-The words are pointedly directed not at the audience, but at Gale (who is busy with a different interaction-

Takcorian: This song's called Red; Pay attention to the lyrics mortals, I don't sing it exactly the original. Kick it!

Banquet, Gale Stories

-Gale doesn't really verbally respond to Kim's question, just vaguely gesturing at the visible tables of food behind her. It's when a certain ghost of her ancestor's court appears that she actually finds something to anchor conversation to-

Ah, hey. Yeah sure I'm up to talk. You feeling a bit more clearheaded now?

Hammerlocke Banquet

"Y-yes," Katsuragi allowed. "I just... wanted to say I understand and acknowledge your decision to relieve me of my duties," he summarized. "Though, I do find it at least a little amusing that I'm now under your girlfriend's command."

From the table, the trio of trainers politely applaud the duo.

Ballonlea Stadium Stands

-Ian joins Evelyn in the stands to cheer on their friend.-

Phenac City Pokémon Center

Emilie: A lift? Can it be to anywhere I want?

Oblivion Wing, Lounge - The distant past, at this point

-Alice frowns at Silas, tapping her blunt nails against the lounge table.-

Alice: I suppose I'll take your word for it. I do trust your judgement, after all, and we'll both be closely monitoring the project. If anything underhanded does end up happening, then it certainly won't be happening for long.

-Her expression softens as she leans back in her chair.-

Alice: Regardless. Perhaps I'm being too cynical. You had something to show me, didn't you?

Hammerlocke Banquet - The Present (or closer to it)

-The crumpled-up page that Agnes tosses into the distance is caught between two fingers of a white opera-gloved hand, connected to a figure in a skintight Roserade-themed costume whose face is concealed by a tinted green visor.-

Gaia: Oh, do be careful with that. Such an act could very well be construed as littering. You wouldn't want to be found guilty of such a crime in front of the combined forces of law and justice, would you?

-She tosses the page away, but her voice is tinged with amusement as she glances back at her companion, a serious-looking young man in a navy blue suit and hat with a holster at his waist.-

Shun: ...I still don't see why we have to be here when we're still so far behind in our challenge.

Gaia: All the more reason to get the measure of the competition, then. Is there anything we can help you all with?

Edited by Herbert40k on Apr 29th 2021 at 2:01:04 PM

Silas smiled, genuinely smiled, "Oh yeah. He's kind of afraid of you, worried you'll break him like a glowstick. Me he knows well enough that I wouldn't."

Roxy tilted her head, imagining said glowstick snapping.

"Bishop how close are we?" Silas asked.

"We're here Captain," came the response as the ship jerked a little on the landing.

Silas stood up, Hacks tossing him a coat, "We best get dressed, we're at the Bolts Island now."

The island itself was a lush forested area, and before them stood an impressive deco style base, the Wing had landed on a landing pad though judging by the large pit there'd be a hangar area soon.

Construction workers and their various pokemon darted about getting the place built up.

And standing at the front of the base itself, was Gio and Jessie, talking to none other than Gale.

Silas adjusted his coat, "Whatcha think Alice?" he asked with a grin.

The false voices returned.

~It's a trick, we're so close to the exit, just head through the doors we said and you'll be out!~ they intoned.

Seems like it was up to Ian and Evelyn to determine how much they trusted the false voices that sounded just like their partners, or their partners altered voices.

Hammerlocke, Banquet

Aislinn giggles, before turning to Tagg.

Aislinn: "Oh, my name's Aislinn."

If anyone present's been watching news coverage of the league they may have heard this name mentioned in talks about the weird interview she gave.

Blair: <Oh, I could believe that, yes... My cousins can be very strange. Anyway, I just wanted to ask about the distress you've been feeling. Would you be able to stop that?>

Bond or Break

Raru: -telepathically to Ian- ~I don't have a cold, Ian. For some reason, you hear me sounding like Axon.~

Me: -telepathically to Raru- ~That makes much more sense.~

Axon: -telepathically to Evelyn- ~And no, I did not get into the Helium again. That was one time and you're apparently hearing me sounding like Raru.~

Evelyn: -telepathically to Axon- ~Now I get it.~

Raru: -telepathically to Ian- ~Good, now listen closely. From where I'm standing, there are two doors. One to your left and one to your right.~

Axon: -telepathically to Evelyn- ~One of them reads "Win", the other reads "Fail".~

Evelyn and I: -telepathically to Raru and Axon- ~WHAT?! But the voice we heard earlier said that the other door was a do-over!~

Ballonlea Stadium- Pitch

(Kim enters the room for a few moments before eventually nodding. Seconds later, Bede arrives, carrying a PokeBall in his hand. For a few moments, the two of them say nothing, but eventually:)

Kim: "Shall we start?"

Bede: "Yeah, let's just do this."

Kim: (taking out a PokeBall) "Very well, then." (she throws it) "Red alert, Strummer!"

(In a flash, the newly-evolved Toxtricity appears, ready to start the fight.)

Strummer: <AWWWW YEAAAAHHH-!>

(Bede smirks.)

Bede: "Well. I see what you're trying to do... but it's not going to last." (he throws his PokeBall) "Go, Rapidash!"

(And in a flash, a Galarian Rapidash appears.)

Galarian Rapidash: <Well, well, well... what do we have here? A Pokemon that's part-Electric type? And part Poison-type?> (He smirks.) <A real shame that you find yourself up here against me.>

Strummer: <So... you're part Psychic- type, eh?>

Galarian Rapidash: <That's right. And you're going down.>

Kim: "I don't think so. Strummer... hit him."

Strummer: <Gladly!>

(And he promptly jumps up in the air and nuzzles his cheek against the Galarian Rapidash, paralyzing him.)

Galarian Rapidash: <Hmph! You're impressive! But you're still no match for me!>

(Kim and Strummer promptly look at each other, realizing- from Hoops' battle- what Bede is probably intending.)

Hammerlocke Banquet

(Once again, the crowd goes wild with excitement— though notably not as wild, considering that everybody is either still suspicious of TBD or eating. The sole exceptions, of course, are Braker and Walter, who again applaud politely, and, of course, Cuddles.)

Cuddles: (excitedly) <YEAH—!! WHOOO-HOOOO! GO RANDOM DRAGON PEOPLE-!! I WANT TO HUG YOU GUYS!> (then, turning to Braker) <Hey, Lenny! Think we could maybe do karaoke ourselves after this?>

(Braker pauses to think about it.)

Braker: "Actually... I may have a song in mind for you and I."

(Cuddles' eyes widen with delight.)

Cuddles: <Eeeeee~>

Hammerlocke Banquet

Aislinn, where have I heard that name before, think I might've seen it in a newspaper since Mustard hogs the TV all the damn time... Her Aura though, it definitely has its similarities to someone else I know...

-To Rogue-

I suppose, but it's of greater importance than just keeping my team's edge.

-To Mason-

My home's woods are perhaps the last place I'd camp out in personally.

Ballonlea Stadium Stands

Evelyn: That Rapidash is extremely tough. It could take out a good chunk of Hoops' team...

Me: Kim's gonna be in for a fight... Especially when you consider Smart Strike and Psycho Cut.

Evelyn: Of course. Psychic types are strong against Poison types, so Strummer's at a serious disadvantage...

Me: I wonder how Strummer will deal with this...

Piku-chan: -wearing his kimono- <FIGHT ON, KIM! YOU GOT THIS!>

Ballonlea Gym Battle

(Kim promptly smirks, realizing what she needs to do.)

Kim: (taking out Strummer's PokeBall) "Strummer, return for now. You've done all you can thus far."

(Strummer is promptly returned— and Kim sends out another one of her Pokemon.)

Kim: "Red alert, Ozzy!"

(In a flash, Ozzy appears, ready and willing to battle. The Galarian Rapidash scoffs, and Bede glares over at Kim.)

Bede: "So... you knew what my next move would be..."

Kim: "Indeed I did. And now the time has come to take your Galarian Rapidash down."

Galarian Rapidash: <So you believe.>

Ozzy: <Oh? Do go on.>

(And seconds later, the Galarian Rapidash's horn starts to glow with a metallic energy.)

Galarian Rapidash: <How's about this?!>

Ozzy: (realizing the move never misses) <Oh dear.>

(He promptly rams his horn towards Ozzy, and while the Corvisquire attempts to dodge, it ends up hitting.)

(Ozzy is thrown back a bit by the attack, but quickly recovers and gets back up on his feet. Kim smirks.)

Kim: "Alright, Ozzy... hit him."

Ozzy: <Gladly.>

(He flies up to the ceiling of the Gym and starts scratching his claws repeatedly.)

(The Galarian Rapidash and Bede, meanwhile, look up in slight confusion.)

Galarian Rapidash: <You're not "hitting me"!>

Bede: "What is he doing...?!"

Hammerlocke Banquet

Rogue: Greater importance, huh? Guess there's no rest for a classic J-Teamer.

-Their eyes drift down toward Rakshasa, but they don't ask anything about him.-

-Mason is about to respond to Tagg as well, but whatever he starts to say trails off as Blair offers her vibe diagnosis-

Mason: ...I'm sorry? I'm doing my best to look not distressed, what more am I supposed to do?

Ballonlea Stadium Stands

Evelyn: -thinks to herself- Nice touch... Switching out to Ozzy.

Me: -thinks to myself- And with the use of Hone Claws, I think I know what's coming up...

Evelyn and I: -think to ourselves- Power Trip...

Ballonlea

(Kim smirks, knowing full well what Ozzy is planning next. The Galarian Rapidash, meanwhile, scoffs.)

Galarian Rapidash: <Seriously? He calls that an attack? Well, I'll show that Corvisquire what he's made of!>

Bede: "As you shall. Rapidash, use Psycho Cut!"

(The Galarian Rapidash nods— but is suddenly stopped from attacking due to the paralysis.)

Bede: "..."

(Ozzy, of course, smirks at this, and jumps to another point on the ceiling, scratching his talons.)

(The Galarian Rapidash scoffs again.)

Galarian Rapidash: <There he goes again. Shall I?>

Bede: "Indeed. Rapidash, use Dazzling Gleam!"

(The Galarian Rapidash promptly creates a rainbow-colored sphere of light around himself, and jumps up into the air. Ozzy starts flying over to another point on the ceiling— only to be interrupted by the attack and thrown backwards.)

(Ozzy lands on the floor, looking slightly more worse for the wear, but quickly manages to brush himself off, and takes to the skies again. He scratches his claws on the ceiling for the third time, smirking all the while as he plans his next move.)

Galarian Rapidash: (to Bede) <He's not even attacking. What kind of opponent is this?> (His horn glows pink.) <Let's finish him!>

Bede: "Yes. Let's. Use Psycho Cut!"

Kim: "Ozzy!"

(Ozzy looks down— while the Galarian Rapidash's horn suddenly becomes a pink scythe. He tries to fly away— but the pink scythe hits him— and crits.)

(Ozzy promptly falls to the floor, and a cloud of smoke goes up. Kim grimaces for a few moments, and when the dust fades, Ozzy is on the floor, struggling to get up. The Galarian Rapidash smirks.)

Galarian Rapidash: <Well, now. Seems like you're done for.>

Ozzy: (growing more determined) <No... no-! I... I can't be...!>

Hammerlocke, Banquet

Aislinn seems to notice Blair's bothered by something, but without a direct link clearly can't understand what she's saying.

Blair: <Oh no no no, I mean in your brain. Your brain is like, um, it's distressed? Oh wait, I already said that, but anyway. It's bothering me. If it would make you feel better you can talk about it?>

Aislinn's aura is a gradated purplish pink. It's probably not that surprising given how she's dressed- though her aura's colors are more muted. Something about those specific colors and the gradation might jog Tagg's memory.

Ballonlea Stadium

-Ian and Evelyn wince in pain at Ozzy getting struck by Psycho Cut.-

Me: That's Gotta Hurt!

Evelyn: Why wouldn't it? Bede's Rapidash took out three of Hoops' Pokémon effortlessly! That indicates its power and when it's our turn, we shouldn't hold back.

Me: Right!

Piku-chan and Hatty: <You got this, Ozzy! Show that sparkly horse what you are MADE OF!>

Ballonlea Stadium Gym Battle

(Ozzy slowly pushes himself up off of the ground, glaring over at the Galarian Rapidash the whole time.)

Ozzy: <You... HEATHEN! I shall not let you attack me again!>

(And seconds later, he becomes surrounded by a black energy as Power Trip loads up. The Galarian Rapidash's eyes widen as he realizes what Ozzy was planning the whole time.)

Galarian Rapidash: (shocked) <You're kidding...>

(Mere moments later, Ozzy soars up into the sky, surrounded by the black energy.)

Bede: "We can't let him attack! Rapidash! Use Psycho Cut again!"

Rapidash: <Gladly!>

(Once again, his horn becomes a pink scythe— but he's quickly taken off-guard by Ozzy grabbing the horn in his talons. The Galarian Rapidash struggles for a few moments, trying to break free— but Ozzy holds firm.)

Ozzy: <You... will not... knock me down...!>

(And then seconds later, with the black energy of Power Trip still surrounding him, he begins to glow in a silver-colored light. Kim, Bede, and the Galarian Rapidash all blink in shock, with the latter's horn turning back to normal as he pulls away.)

Galarian Rapidash: (stunned) <What the—?!>

Bede: "Is he...?!"

Ballonlea Stadium Stands

Me: Look, Piku-chan!

Piku-chan: <Ozzy's evolving!>

Evelyn: Now he can get a job with Galar's Flying Taxi service!

Hatty: <Now now, Evelyn. We don't know how much the Corviknight get paid for their services.>

Evelyn: I suppose that's true...