"You're worried about justifying your existence, and becoming a tyrant. One who crushes others under her sword," Arthur said, "Best I can guess it."
He sighed and scratched his head, "I am reading this right? You worry about become a despot who justifies her existence with violence?"
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Hammerlocke Banquet
Evelyn: Not my fault that the corporation Ian, Hoops, several other people and I protected from Neo-Flarites last Christmas decided to name themselves that.
-And as if the name of the eight-branched serpent was a post-hypnotic cue to wake up, Ian slowly awakens from his sleep.-
Me: Huh? What did I miss?
-Ian looks over at Evelyn and TBD and begins to wonder.-
Me: Evelyn... Did I miss anything? Also, who are you talking to?
Piku-chan: -to Ian- <They're the band of theatre kids that I almost Thunder-fried that time.>
Me: I know that. It's just, I never really got the chance to introduce myself to them, did I?
Piku-chan: <Technically that little speech you gave was introduction enough.>
-Ian facepalmed.-
Evelyn: That's my friend, Ian. He's really nice when you get to know him better. He's a bit of a prankster and a bit of a klutz, but I love him all the same. I'm Evelyn and the one on my head is my best friend, Hatty. She's like a sister to me.
Hatty: <A pleasure to meet you.>
Ballonlea Stadium, VS Bede
Me: Piku-chan! Hatterene is a Psychic and Fairy type, so Steel type moves should be super effective!
Evelyn: Hatty! Just because Hatterene is your evolved form and looks big and intimidating doesn't mean it should scare you! I've believed in you ever since we started our journey together, and I still believe in you now!
Me: Use Max Steelspike!
Evelyn: Use Max Darkness!
-Piku-chan makes his giant tail glow a metallic silver color, but it becomes so heavy due to the Gigantamax Power that he turns around and drops it, causing it to slam into the ground, raising row after row of metallic spikes in the direction of Bede's G-Max Hatterene. Hatty makes her braids glow with a dark aura of violence, which glows red due to the Galar Particles, magnifying the power so much that one swing from Hatty's braids sends a wave of dark energy in the direction of Bede's Hatterene. The dark wave of energy traps the G-Max Hatterene in a cage of shadows...-
Bede: Is that all you have? Ha! Hatterene, use G-Max Smite!
-Bede's Hatterene's eyes shimmered and shone with a heavenly blue color as she chanted something under her breath. She pointed one of her tendrils to the sky, releasing a beam of light into the air. The beam of light calls down seven stars comprised of divine aura from the sky and brings them down around Piku-chan and Hatty. The divine energy converges in the middle and blasts the two Gigantamaxed Pokémon with a massive explosion, followed by a pillar of heavenly light.-
-When the light dies down, Piku-chan and Hatty are rubbing their eyes and looking around as if they lost their keys or something.-
Bede: This is G-Max Smite... Hatterene's signature power. When it hits, all opponents will become confused, just as Piku-chan and Hatty are now.
Mementos, Quasi-Palace
Joybringer: I'll stay close behind.
-to Rakash- Ready when you are, Rakash!
-Joybringer reaches for his mask, preparing to summon either Cu Chulainn or Banshee to fight by his side.-
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Snowy
Palacementos
Lioness: -nods- OK. -She quietly follows everyone into the palace-
-To Jackal-
Lioness: You'd think I'd be used to some sort of confusing shenanigans happening anytime I'm with this group...Hopefully won't be worse than the whole alternate universe break, though. Or that time I got stuck in my Pokémon form for like a month.
Fwomph
The Defiant Wing
Yeah? Maybe. I fear that there is a cosmic force that pushes the idea of might makes right; whether that force is the Daedra sitting just at the edge of reality like the one I follow or whether that force is a logic built upon the idea of a sword. I fear that if I start killing to resolve problems, then I will fall into the template of that force and stop being able to do anything but killing to resolve problems. Ever since I obtained my first blade and started realizing the power I wield in every facet of myself, I have had to pull my punches in everything I do. I fear that if I let go, if I use more power and lose any desire to hold back and not kill, I'll just... I will be unable to stop and bridges will burn and I will only be able to exist if I can prove that existence through power.
-She just kinda slumps back in her chair-
So that's why I've been so adamant on not killing folks I guess. Also because it's kind of that morally dubious spot where I don't want to be seen as 'that girl who kills people' even if those people are the bad guys?
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Arthur leaned back and considered what to say, he smiled, "I can understand that. Trust me I can, I did my best to avoid hurting people, and despite what Victor says I'm just a experienced fighter. Not some god as he's building me up to be."
He laughed, "It's absurd... but the truth is this. I had to learn fighting from the ground up, by myself. And in the end I sometimes didn't have a choice."
Arthur sighed and continued, "And in the end... sometimes the choice was the only responsible one. The Yveltan Inquisition, zealots with a fixation on fire... guess how many families they went after, suspect of them carrying the curse. 200 men strong, versus me a man who couldn't stay dead."
He looked to Gale, "We are swords and shields, true our actions may in the end take a life... but it will protect many more. We have existences beyond that, and so long as we have those, our actions have meaning. You do not justify yourself by the sword, the sword is justified by you and the life you lead outside of it. You are not acting to take a life, you are acting to protect more. You are not just the sword, you are the shield as well."
Hayden surprisingly looked a little confused, "What?"
Flying Colors
Textspace
From: Kai
Oh, wouldn't want to pull you away from work, Alice, so that can easily wait a bit.
In the meantime, Brie, does outside of the Pokemon Center work for you?
Some Rando
Palace Adjacent Place - The Mansion, Maybe?
He rolled down his sleeve and Ahemaint growled in affirmation, as ready to lay down as he was.
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]
The Wanderer
Hammerlocke Banquet, far past
...
...
...
-To Gale-
I accept your challenge.
Isle of Armor, past
-Is hugged-
One could get used to this...
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Dunsparce Cloud
Hammerlocke, Macro Cosmos Bank
Salamence: <...Well, that was extremely weird. I'm just gonna...>
Salamence: -pecking at the birdseed- <Jab, am I getting too old for this?>
Jab: -unconscious-
Salamence: <Oh yeah. :3> -stuffs Jab and Cross into her wing-
Textspace
To: Shiny Roserade 💚💜🖤 (Group) From: Brie
yeah sounds great! :D
see you soon! E>
Flying Colors
Hammerlocke — Outside the Pokemon Center
-A Purple!-
-With a box, with a lid. They're noticeably holding it very carefully.-
No voice to cry suffering
Isle of Armor, Challenge Beach - past
-eventually, she backs off-
Megan: ^_^
-...-
Megan: While you're waiting...
-she glances left and right-
Megan: -surreptitious, grinning- Wanna see what I've been working on~?
No mind to think. No will to break.
Ballonlea Stadium
While Ian and Evelyn are in the final parts of their gym challenge, Hoops enters the lobby of the stadium. Their Kecleon patterned gym uniform is gone, replaced by the standard issue white one that all trainers receive.
Receptionist: Welcome. Are you here to - oh. It's you.
Hoops: Yeah, I'd like to challenge Bede.
Receptionist: Well, you're allowed if you want to, but you realise that you have a few more days before you're allowed to challenge him again. And if you lose for a second time, you'll be out of the gym challenge.
Hoops: I know. Sign me up for after these two.
Receptionist: Well... I can't say that I'm too comfortable with it, but if that's what you want...
Hoops: Thank you.
Receptionist: Good luck.
Hoops turns away from the check-in desk and heads to the waiting room. When they get inside they see Ian and Evelyn's dynamaxed battle on the screen. They scowl when the camera shows Bede.
Hoops: I'll show him how strong I am.
Fwomph
The Defiant Wing
-Gale doesn't look entirely convinced but she has also calmed down a bit-
I'll... I'll consider your words. I suppose I'll try not to hold back as much...
Hammerlocke Banquet, Gale
Well then, I look forward to our match. I'm sure there's a lot of people excited for a theoretical match between a founding J-Teamer and myself.
-Gale does a little bow and gestures to the camera crew who back off-
Sorry about the uh... Fakeness of it? Publicity, yaknow.
Hammerlocke Banquet, Dragons
Luperian: Well I'm Luperia, grand-daughter of the Worldbreaker and daughter of the Stormjaw. The dead and bedeviled lights lay at my command.
Takcorian: And I was gonna be chill and say that I'm Tak but someone had to go with some titles so uh... Archmage, Archdruid, Arch— there's no good way to describe the third one.
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
"I can recount numerous tales from memory of the things I had to do, what I had to face," Arthur said, "If you like I can discuss them over a drink some time. Heck ask Silas, he probably has numerous stories about this stuff. He has experience in areas regarding space."
He smiled, "You'll do just fine."
Jackal froze up at Lioness's comment, inside his head he could hear Knight screaming as he recalled the 3-4 months he spent.
"Huh, how about that," he said, "I can relate. I spent 3 months at least trapped in my Lucario form."
He looked back, "Hopefully the trainer who caught you was at least nice."
Not A Lawyer
Hammerlocke Banquet - past, by now
-Despite himself, Shun can't help but chuckle at Tommy's retort
. Alas, Gaia's visor is much less expressive.-
Gaia: Thank you, both of you. I must say, your commitment to the truth is most admirable. I have ways and means of getting in touch with people I take an interest in, and the pair of you strike me as most interesting, so I imagine this won't be our last conversation. I look forward to the next one.
Shun: As do I.
Gaia: I thought you didn't speak to the press, detective?
Shun: I- again, not in a formal capacity, but... I mean, if Mr Petersen wants to sit down to discuss matters outside of a professional remit, then I would-
-Luckily (or unluckily, depending on who's perspective you're viewing it from) Shun is interrupted by attention being drawn to Gale and Tagg's challenge.-
Gaia: Oh my. This seems like it will be quite the spectacle... and possibly quite the story as well. Until next time, you two?
Textspace - May 11
-Alice blinks once Brie's last message finally comes through, seemingly at a loss as to what to make of it.-
Alice: ...Huh.
Lissa: Seriously? Is that all it takes to get you weak at the knees? If I'd known that I would've started employing ambiguous syntax in my messages long ago.
Alice: Hush, you.
-She starts typing out a response.-
From: Alice
Understood.
In that case, I shall await your arrival here at the offices, Kai.
Edited by Herbert40k on May 13th 2021 at 4:17:52 PM
Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Hammerlocke Banquet
Me: It's a pleasure to meet you both.
Evelyn: Remember that corporation that we saved from those Neo-Flarites last Christmas?
Me: How can I forget? I've always wanted to punch a Nazi, and I finally got my wish then!
Evelyn: Turns out they were the ones responsible for what happened to Hard Candy, Apocaklipz and the Church Choir...
Me: Which they? The Neo-Flarites or the corporation we protected from them?
Evelyn: It was the corporation we protected from them.
Me: And no one told me about this why exactly?
Hatty: <Maybe putting him to sleep wasn't the best idea, Evelyn...>
Ballonlea Stadium, VS Bede
Piku-chan: <Huh? Where... Where is everything? Why is purple? Help...>
Hatty: <What? Where? Why? Who? Hoothoot?>
Me: Uh oh...
Evelyn: I agree...
Me: Let's try something. PIKU-CHAN! USE G-MAX VOLT CRASH!
Evelyn: Ah, I see where you're going with this... HATTY, USE MAX STARFALL!
-Piku-chan looks around, wondering who called on him to use a move and then discharges electrical energy from his body, firing a bolt of lighting into the storm of Dynamax Energy, dropping massive lightning bolts EVERYWHERE!-
-The lightning strike blasting Piku-chan and Hatty jolted them awake and out of their confusion. Hatty then chants a spell while glowing a radiant pink. With the spell, she calls several star-shaped light blasts down from the heavens which strike the area surrounding Bede's G-Max Hatterene. After that, the starlight converges on the center and explodes into another pillar of light that blasts Hatterene for a decent amount of damage!-
-The starlight and faerie energy seeps into the battlefield, coating it in a magical mist.-
Bede: Hatterene! Use Max Flare!
-Bede's Hatterene chants something under her breath, glowing with a radiant crimson aura laden with Galar particles and summons a massive magic circle in front of her.-
-A pulse is emitted by the magic circle, followed by Bede's Hatterene unleashing a massive arcane blast of fire colored crimson, orange, blue and purple directed at Piku-chan and Hatty.-
-The radiant light of the arcane fire causes the light of the sun to shine brighter than before and pierce the Dynamax Storm's clouds.-
Me: It's getting around the time to finish this... So...
-Ian bows flirtatiously to Evelyn.-
Me: Shall we?
Evelyn: -giggles- I thought you'd never ask.
Me: Piku-chan!
Evelyn: Hatty!
Evelyn and I: With heart, mind, body and soul united, time to strike with power eternal!
Evelyn: Use Max Mindstorm!
Me: Use G-Max Volt Crash!
-Hatty clings to Piku-chan's head, gathering her power and focusing her mind as Piku-chan's cheeks crackle with a startling level of electrical power.-
Evelyn and I: Thunder of Heart and Mind, unite! May our powers blaze a path to a brilliant future for all!
Evelyn: Hatty!
Me: Piku-chan!
Evelyn and I: G-Max PsyVolt Storm!
-The sparks radiating from Piku-chan's cheeks unite with the ball of psychic energy hovering above Hatty's head, and the two Pokémon send the orb of lightning and PSI-Power into the air, sending ripples of rainbow light through the clouds of the Dynamax Storm and focusing on the Hatterene below, first the rainbow waves of Psychic energy pour down on the Gigantamaxed Silent Pokémon at a constant rate, followed by a seven-colored bolt of lightning that follows the path of PSI-Waves and strikes the Hatterene with immense force.
二重の大術: 巨大ーエスパボルト嵐*
-A fiery explosion bursts from Bede's Hatterene as her Galar Particle-laden aura fades and she shrinks down to her normal size and form, unconscious.-
Referee: HATTERENE IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! PIKU-CHAN AND HATTY WIN! WHICH MEANS THE VICTORS ARE IAN AND EVELYN!!!
Announcer: INCREDIBLE! IAN AND EVELYN HAVE DONE IT AGAIN! THEIR SYNERGY HAS CONTINUED TO IMPROVE BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS!!
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
The Wanderer
Hammerlocke Banquet, far past
-To Gale-
This region's all about that, I've noticed. Galar, where celebrities are kings.
Palentos
-As we're moving-
I spent several months in Swampert form, but that was because I was in places that locked me into my mon form, save for when I ended up borrowing a mon to human Armband for a while.
Isle of Armor, past
-To Megan-
Er, sure.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
No voice to cry suffering
Isle of Armor - Challenge Beach, past
-Megan examines him for a long moment, and then grins-
Megan: Don't feel like you need to agree for politeness' sake! If there's something you'd rather do, I'll follow along or leave you to it, hehe.
-seems like she's considering their probable traits-in-common?-
-regardless, she steps out onto the water, waves bobbing up and down beneath her soles-
Megan: This is a very pretty place.
-invitation, hesitation, observation-
-she pulls out her PEF Edex and scans the horizon while waiting for a reply-
Stormchaser, today
-it is dang near impossible to remember who is and isn't on the J-Team these days-
-that no one's seen this guy here before may only be slightly a hint-
Hiro: -eyes alight- ...hm.
-he's staring at a wall like it could contain the secrets of the multiverse-
No mind to think. No will to break.
Dunsparce Cloud
Hammerlocke
-Ramphyros descends from the sky, carrying Brie in her claws, then curls up on her shoulders, peering down at the box-
Ramphyros: <Hmmm...>
Brie: Hi!
-she pecks Kai on the cheek, taking the box in the same motion, and carefully opens it to reveal-
Stormchaser
-Hiro's being watched-
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Ballonlea Stadium, Post-Battle
-The Galar Particle-laden aura fades from Piku-chan and Hatty, causing them to shrink back down to their normal size. The swirling storm of Dynamax Energy that once hovered over the battlefield disperses, and the sun shines as brightly as it once did.-
Evelyn and I: -holding each other and jumping for joy- Yatta! Yatta! We did it! Yay!
-Bede calls his Hatterene back to her Poké Ball. He then shakes his head laughing.-
Bede: I must say, you did an incredible job, you two. Even when I had seen through your telepathy trick, you still manage to surprise me. Your victory was as genuine as your smiles.
Evelyn: Thank you for the battle, Bede.
Me: It sure was fun.
Bede: As battles are meant to be.
-Ian, Evelyn and Bede approach the center of the pitch.-
Bede: To honor your victory here in Ballonlea, I want you two to take this... The Fairy Badge...
-Ian, Evelyn and Bede shake hands, with Bede handing Ian and Evelyn the Fairy Badge.-
Evelyn and I: YATTA! WE GOT THE FAIRY BADGE!
Piku-chan: <VICTORY~!>
Hatty: <Number Five! Three more to go!>
Bede: That's your fifth Gym Badge in Galar. It takes a lot of skill, determination and heart to make it this far. Looks like your next target is the Gym up in Circhester. I'd recommend you warm yourselves up at the Hero's Bath before you challenge them.
-At that moment, Bede's Gardevoir jumps out of her Ball.-
Gardevoir: <Bede, I only find it fair to warn you: The path of these travelers is far from clear.>
Bede: Huh? What do you mean, Gardevoir?
-Gardevoir then whispers into Bede's ear.-
Gardevoir: <I have looked into the future, where I saw them heading to Wyndon instead. The boy has to battle a strong opponent for the heart of his friend. How romantic!>
Bede: Ah... I see... My Gardevoir says you've made an arrangement in Wyndon. Is this true?
Me: It is.
Bede: Very well... I wish you well in that battle. Also, take this. It might prove helpful.
-Bede hands Ian and Evelyn a pink-colored disk.-
TM Draining Kiss!-Bede: This is the TM for Draining Kiss. It allows your Pokémon to heal itself while dealing damage to an opponent. From what I know, Ralts line Pokémon, Hatenna line Pokémon, Froslass and even Pikachu are capable of learning this move.
Me: Thank you, Bede. I wish you well with your next challenger.
-Ian and Evelyn step off the pitch.-
Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Mar 14th 2022 at 7:45:48 AM
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
No voice to cry suffering
Stormchaser
-this is a sensation he's not unfamiliar with as of late-
Hiro: …
-the quality of this feels...different, though, so he-
-just kind of-
-turns, those just-upwards-of-naturally-luminous eyes on wherever the sensation's coming from-
No mind to think. No will to break.
Flying Colors
Hammerlocke — May 11th
-Kai grins, cheeks going rosy as Brie arrives and kisses her.-
Kai: Hey there, cutie. Nice of you to drop in.
-The box is opened! And inside is-
-egg-
-A Pokemon egg with a primarily green shell, splotched with reddish-orange wrapping around it. It's protected in the box by cushions.-
Kai: I was thinking about how Galar really doesn't seem to have a lot of Flying-types, so... How do you feel about Yanma?
Dunsparce Cloud
Stormchaser
-nobody there-
-still, however, being watched-
-a shiny Dunsparce crawls placidly along the floor, being small and round-
Hammerlocke, May 11
Brie: A Yanma!
Ramphyros: -leans in-
Brie: No es comida
Ramphyros: <pero tengo hambre>
Brie: no—
Brie: I've always wanted to train a Yanma! They're hard to find in Kanto, you know, and the last time I visited the Sevii I nearly died a couple times, so...
Edited by memyselfandI2 on May 13th 2021 at 9:23:38 AM
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
No voice to cry suffering
Stormchaser
Hiro: : )
Hiro: Well, hello, there.
Sturdiness: A
Speed: C
Small: A
Round: A
Serious: A
Analyst speculation: "A good Dunsparce."
-soul-sense not working too well on Normal-types, he lets the eye-flame fade a tad-
Hiro: -rummaging- I'm sure I've got something you'll like premade...how do you feel about Luminous Moss truffles?
Edited by Asterisk395 on May 13th 2021 at 12:39:21 PM
No mind to think. No will to break.
Isle of Armor - Challenge Beach, past
Megan: Oh, neat!
Pippy: -whistles- <...daaang.>
Vee: -headtilt- <...you've lived a busy fuckin' life, haven't ya?>
Megan:
Will you sign my PEFEdexThat's pretty sweet. ^_^-she then proceeds to apply an awkward, awkward hug to Tagg for the duration of several seconds-
(-she at least gives really good hugs-)
No mind to think. No will to break.