ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

[Venice], July 7th

"Right, right, plan time..."

"I.. may need to borrow something yeah. I'll admit I did not pack accordingly." u_u

"Me, be the beautiful and mysterious Suiko for a day? Oh, I couldn't possibly~"

They put their hand up to their forehead in a mock swoon.

"Though in all seriousness I can think of a few reasons why hiding your identity'd be important for this stuff-"

At Megan's question they blush again, just slightly, and grin before taking the outstretched hand.

".. Do you even need to ask?"

"..."

"Just to clarify that is an 'of course'"

Air Train

Trojan: -Is directing the escapees to escape pods with digital signs, their coordinates randomized to avoid the School just tracking them down again, as he also deletes their data on the train-

Child: -To Nicky and Kendra- Shouldn't you guys be coming with us?

Nicky: -Shakes head- No, we can't come with you, not yet.

Kendra: Just save yourselves, we still have a friend to find.

Child: -Nods- I hope you guys make it out.

-Before getting an an escape pod with a couple other people-

Chiyo: -Has one of her discs burn away the webbing surrounding her, as Hortensia fires Pin Missles wreathed in sparks at her-

Arceus, she has a subtype too?

Hortensia: Please keep things interesting why don't yo-Ack!

Dactyl: -Nails her with a Stone Edge-

Hortensia: -Angrily- Out of the way, clod!

Dactyl: -Is stuck to the wall by an Electroweb, his outer casing shattering- <Chiyo!>

Chiyo: -Summoning a disc to try cutting him free- Dactyl!

Hortensia: -Rushing at Chiyo quicker than she can block- Don't worry dear, I haven't forgotten about    you!   

Chiyo: -Is rammed against the bulkhead before also being pinned to the wall with a mass of electrified webbing-

Ovis: -In front of a mass of webbing- <W-Where'd all this come from?>

Azumarill: -Ears twitching- <Chiyo's in there, we've gotta help her!>

Anguis: -Slashing with Leaf Blade- <You don't need to tell me twice!>

[Venice], July 7th

-the person who isn't Megan giggles hopelessly at the drama her partner exudes-

Not Megan: -covering a big ol' grin- I th-think that's the first time anyone's called Suiko beautiful...

(-partner in romance...and crime-)

Not Megan: -beam- As much as a tragedy as it is to cover that face up,

-Megan's grin goes rather soft as they take her hand, and she steps backward—-

- —through subspace, into an alleyway, and her clothes have gone to streamers of red-and-black mist flowing over the junction of their hands to engulf Daydre-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Aug 23rd 2021 at 5:27:41 AM

Air Train

CW gore, kinda suggestive content

-Nicky and Kendra manage to come in just as Hortensia has webbed up Chiyo and Dactyl, everyone turning to see the new arrivals-

Nicky: -Looking at Hortensia- What in the fu-

Chiyo: -Struggling- Nicky, Kendra run!

Kendra: We're not leaving Chiyo, not without you!

Hortensia: -Chucking as she licks her lips- Oh, are the rats attempting to escape the sinking ship?

Nicky: -Planting her heels- We're not running, even from something like you!

Hortensia: -Rushes at them-

Mary: -Uses Helping Hand on Horatio-

Nicky: Horatio, use Foul Play!

Horatio: <I'm not much of a fighter but->

-Flips Hortensia as she attempts to Poison Jab him and slashes her across the face-

Hortensia: -Enraged-    ARGH!   

-And they end up joining Chiyo and Dactyl on the walls with a coating of webbing-

Hortensia: -Calming down slightly- My apologies, that didn't feel very pleasant.

-Looking at everymon she's ensnared-

I think I'll feed on the Pokémon first, they're painfully ordinary so I don't think Gerald will mind too much, starting with the Minior and Liepard for my face.

-Nicky and Kendra in particular-

As for you, depends on whether our superiors think you're worth experimenting on, if not, then I get to feed on you right away.

-To Chiyo, as she glares at Hortensia with an intensity that could kill (And probably would if the shocks weren't interfering with her fine concentration enough to prevent her from inducing a stroke)-

As for you, Iridium, my original plan was just to drain you dry from the start, but I think I have something... better in mind, since the little bit of Aura I got from your barriers was oh so tasty.

-Holding Chiyo's chin as her fangs start aligning with Chiyo's neck-

I'll just give you a little bite, enough to keep you from moving but not enough to kill you outright, and let the scientists have your little genes. Then, I'll just feed from you and your little friends as I please, drinking all the colors of the rainbow.

-Looking at Chiyo eye to eye in a way that would suggest the feeding might not only be on Chiyo's Aura-

So, what do you say?

Chiyo: -Spits in her face, as the silk where her hands are starts to smoke, unbeknownst to Hortensia- Fuck off.

Hortensia: -Preparing to bite Chiyo's neck- Big words, from someone who's about to be my newest feeding sl-

Anguis: -Has slashed his way through the webbing- <We're here!>

Hortensia: -As she angrily glares at the new arrivals- Must I be constantly interrupte-

Azumarill: -Rushes over and strikes Hortensia full on with a Rollout before she can attack-

Hortensia: -Crashes hard into the wall- Ack!

Chiyo: -Takes the opportunity to burn herself free of the webbing-

Hortensia: -Rushes at Chiyo- I'll have to end this right here!

Chiyo: -Sends out a flaming disc at Hortensia's head-

Hortensia: -Dodges- Hah!

Chiyo: Got you.

-The disc bounces off the wall and turns into five small burning discs that all strike her in the back as she screams in pain-

Chiyo: -Claps her hands and crushes Hortensia between two spiked barriers that form into a vertical rectangle-

Hortensia: -Surprisingly still able to talk despite her obvious mortal injuries- This can't be! Not to some truant like you!

Chiyo: -Glaring at Hortensia with a fire in her eyes- You're right about one thing Hortensia, things do have to end here. I'd say I'm sorry that it has to end this way... But that'd be a lie.

-And things heat up inside the barrier until there's little more than bones, chitin, and some indeterminate organic matter on the floor as the Burst Heart, having survived its user's passing, rolls down a grate-

Chiyo: -Drops to the ground from exhaustion as Anguis frees everyone else from their binding-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Sep 9th 2021 at 2:22:04 PM

School Hallway

-Victor is walking down from the library when a lower-rank Templar with a Clauncher on his shoulder approaches him-

Grunt Templar: Sir I have bad news.

Victor: What is it?

Grunt Templar: Hekatochires... It was destroyed.

Clauncher: <Good riddance. Thing gave me the creeps.>.

-Victor looks distraught, but in the sense he looks like a Growithe puppy who's toy has been thrown in the trash from excessive chewing-

Victor: What? No! That one was one of my favorites! Such a shame...

Grunt Templar: I- I know sir.

Clauncher: <Man this guy...>

Grunt Templar: Good news is we got some good combat data out of it, I guess?

-Victor immediately perks up-

Victor: Excellent! Look on the bright side! And hey, if a peice doesn't work out we can learn for the next one! Speaking of...

-He holds up the vial and disc-

I visited the librarian - wonderful lady, do give her a visit - and she gave me the last of the Auric Spectrum human DNA I needed AND bonus Victini DNA! Which for Pokemon DNA leaves us with...

-He consults a checklist on his phone-

-The "Victini" is newly added and checked off-

-Victor shows the list to the grunt-

Let's get to work on the others!

Grunt Templar: -gulps- Yes sir...

Clauncher: Oh boy, sacrilege. This will at least be intresting...

Air Train

Chiyo: -Has moved Hortensia's remains aside with a barrier, as Nicky and Kendra hold her tightly while they sit together-

Nicky: This J-Team-style adventuring is a bit much for me, don't think I'm taking to it well...

Kendra: I'm just glad we're all together again...

Azumarill: <How are we leaving, can we just warp out of here through Chiyo's portals or Nicky's diving?>

Trojan: -From an intercom- The teleport blocker is still in place, in a reinforced area near or at the bridge so Draca hasn't been able to destroy them, and controls have been switched to manual so that I cannot simply deactivate it remotely.

Ovis: <T-Then that means...>

Chiyo: We still have Gerald to deal with, it's probably him who's operating the blocker. He expects us to come to him.

Anguis: <Smug prick, we didn't get a good look at his powers did we?>

-To Nicky and Kendra-

<What about you guys?>

Nicky: No, he let his soldiers do all the work capturing us after we split up.

Chiyo: -Standing up with Nicky and Kendra holding one hand each- Gerald seems to be the leader of all the Templars who've been sent after us, or at least takes his walking orders from whoever they are, so this was going to happen sooner or later. I'm not letting him just chase us down again, or any of those other people you rescued.

Anguis: <Then let's get going.>

Chiyo: Yeah, let's.

-And starts walking forwards, Nicky and Kendra's hands still in hers-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 23rd 2021 at 8:26:47 AM

AU!Celadon

Channah: Whoa. Tracer sounds like a badass.

Jack: -eyes like saucers- <That's horrible...>

Wyndon, around August 7-8th, wow I took forever to do this

-Kamon is lying on his sofa, wrapped in a blanket burrito and dead to the world-

Rockstar: -worried, staring at the immobile lump- <Kamon honey? Lad?>

The Blanket: -stirs- Wwweh...

Rockstar: -sighs- <It's aboot two in they afternoon, ye gret loafin draftpak.> -rubs his face with a paw- <Fucks sake, wit am a sayin, its been years n you're nivir goan tae understand me. You [English] huv nae capacity fer languages.>

-a white arm blindly reaches out from the blanket pile and smooshes Rockstar in the face, who splutters-

Rockstar: <Oi, quit it. Am no yer silly pet. Lemme see if ye huv a fever. Ye dinnae look all thir still from wit a kin see.>

Kamon: -wiggles out and away from Rockstar- I'm up, I'm up. What're you wittering on about. -sits up groggily- Ugh. Six years 'a sobriety, down the fuckin drain. Stupid E. Stupid Filip. -gets up and staggers to the kitchen- Stupid me.

Rockstar: -following- <Ach, it's no yer fault ye got roofied n went a bit schizo oan us in they middle a Wyndin. Maist else mebbe, but thit isnae. A say we press charges. After some self-care, thit is.>

Kamon: It feels like there's a whole troupe doing Riverdance on my brain... while shouting a lot... in [Japanese]...

Rockstar: <Yep, figured thit was in they post.>

Edited by Metanoia on Aug 23rd 2021 at 9:51:20 AM

AU!Celadon

-To Channah-

People tend to forget about him and his mons a lot, but we're not that far apart teamwise.

-Deep breath-

Of course it didn't really feel like that big a victory with a giant war criminal Samurott laughing that we were now the same as him and some of our team members were busy lying hurt on the ground.

Air Train

-The rest of the walk to the bridge is pretty uneventful, as basically everyone who'd be otherwise obligated to attack them has evacuated by now-

Chiyo: -Standing in front of a reinforced door- Stand back.

-Has two flaming discs slice open a circular entryway, as she walks inside first-

Nicky: -Looking around an area she assumes to be the bridge- It's... bigger on the inside.

Anguis: <Tagg said the Anistar Gym works like that somewhat.>

Kendra: -Pointing ahead- Look.

-Gerald stands in the center of the room, his back to them-

Gerald: By your presence here, I'd imagine Hortensia is no more. Shame, but she always did play a little too much with her food, it only makes sense that it would bite back one of these datys.

-Turning around-

You've caused a lot of trouble for me, for us over these several days. Two Templars critically injured, two dead, all those test subjects that I'm sure are the reason most of the escape pods are gone, that can all be laid at your and little friend's feet, Iridium.

-Pause before saying the next phrase like it's a curse word-

No, Chiyo, you've earned the right to having a name for being such an utter pain in my ass.

An enemy Templar actually calls me by my name... and it feels like I just stepped in something nasty, like what was left of Hortensia.

Chiyo: Earn, you say? A chosen name isn't something that's earned, it's yours by right. It's not like you Templars earn your names, you're just given them like people who aren't genetic experiments get them. Not to mention you brought this on yourself by being involved in this in the first place, and kidnapping my friends in particular. Did you really think I'd just let you try doing to them like what was done to me and countless others? For the sake of the School's eugenics problems, Gerald!

-Snorts-

You're out of your mind.

Gerald: The smart thing for me would be just to evacuate and regroup since this has turned out to be such a failure.

-His purple Aura sizzles as he speaks, in a way more akin to a soft drink fizzing than Chiyo's flames-

But I think I can rectify that... by taking your heads. Starting with you of course, Chiyo. Your truancy has gone on for long enough!

-And a clear barrier comes down separating Chiyo and Dactyl from the rest of the group-

Azumarill: -Tries Brick Breaking it, but it doesn't seem to budge- <We'll have to figure out another way of helping!>

Chiyo: -As they circle one another, rainbow Aura meeting purple- All those Templars and soldiers and that... thing you made out of my Classmates, what makes you think you'll fare any better than they did in a fight against me? Against us?

Gerald: We'll see, Chiyo.

-And sends a wave of psychic energy at Chiyo which she blocks, but she notices that the barrier as the immediate area around her appear partially eaten though.

Chiyo: -Gritting her teeth- Poison subtype, I'd imagine.

Gerald the Caustic: We'll see.

-And the two meet with a clash of powers-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 24th 2021 at 5:14:38 AM

[Venice], July 7th

The person who is certainly not Daydre shivers a little as the mist flows around them.

Hehe, trainer in law... er, I mean-

Vee will probably notice a few suggestions roll through their mind. Not that they've thought about this before but- okay they have. Just a couple times.

Maybe something like... Wait no she was like, trying to kill me-

But the outfit was pretty cool and unrelated to the murder

... You know maybe it figures that I'd like an outfit another me was wearing. Not like I have any better ideas.

There's the mental equivalent of a sigh before this◊ appears in their thoughts.

... Something like this? Probably a little more adapted for water though if we're going to be. Doing that.

Air Train

Gerald: -Rushes at Chiyo with a staff construct-

Chiyo: -Wields two discs in her hands as she parries his strikes and Dactyl barrels towards him-

Gerald: -Summons a barrier that Dactyl knocks into, a little bit of casing being taken off him-

Dactyl: -Flying back- <Eep!>

Chiyo: -As she sends more discs at him- He can use it in his barriers too, huh? Guess we'll have to keep things long range!

Dactyl: -Fires Stone Edge fragments as Chiyo attempts to find a blind spot-

Gerald: -Spins his staff at high speed to block the shards- That all you got!

Chiyo: -Sends a spiked barrier into him from behind-

Gerald: -Ducks under it and tries grabbing Chiyo-

Chiyo: -Punches him in the face with an Aura infused fist, sending him reeling, bringing his face down to meet her Aura infused knee-

Gerald: -Barely brings up a barrier to avoid getting his nose broken, though not without injury as he sends out a caustic psychic wave to make Chiyo jump back as he wipes the blood from his nose- Not bad, Chiyo, but don't think you've gotten any closer to winning!

-He rushes her again, breaking his staff into two kali sticks, dodging and deflecting discs as they meet her barrier-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 23rd 2021 at 11:05:56 AM

AU!Celadon

Channah: -frowns- ...

Wyndon, past

Kamon: -turns around while looking at his phone, absently- Rockstar, you know I went to Johto when I was, oh, a teenager? I'd forgotten. Don't know how, it was a bloody long trip. The whole summer practically, while we had a break from filming.

Rockstar: <Yin a them filemin trips, a assume - Oh, nivir mind.>

Kamon: I think I'd made a lot of noise about wanting to get away from Galar, so off to the other side of the world we went. My great-aunt and I. We detoured to this little town in the mountains. A bit shady. I'd - I'd slipped her - she was difficult, so it was a relief to get away - and went exploring down this alley. It opened into a dreary courtyard. In the middle of it, this boy was standing there, looking down at his Pokemon. A small Grass-type, I don't know what kind. He was so small and stunted-looking, with huge black eyes and terrible greasy hair; ratty, sour-smelling clothes. Now I understand he must have been an - I don't know, an orphan or runaway perhaps. Just pitiful. He looked up when I came close, and sort of hunched into himself and pointed a rusty knife at me.

Rockstar: <...>

Kamon: -weak laugh- I didn't know what the fuck to think. No one had ever threatened me before for real, not even in Spikemuth. There wasn't any hate or fear on his face, just a kind of sad certainty. He had these curious eyes - dull and inscrutable, like a matte finish. Miss Channah, reminds me of. So I... informed him that I'd just seen this darling new jacket in the boutique down the road that would make him look a lot less like a Slakoth wearing a rotting Herdier as a coat.

Rockstar: -rolls his eyes-

Kamon: Hey, you weren't there. He smelled like rancid butter from about 15 feet away.

AU!Celadon

-To Channah-

But I threw his words back in his face when we fought him the second time as a Glitch facsimile.

-Acting it out-

"Violence does set us free, free from people like you!", and then I smashed him into Glitch particles with a hammer construct. Kinda wish I'd said that to the real him at the time, and not six years later, but I was far less experienced back then and also drained from everything that was Celadon.

Air Train

Azumarill: -Looking around when she spots a terminal- <Over there!>

Nicky: -Running over- Okay, let's see if this button does anything.

-Presses it-

Draca: -Notices a port open and an antennae coming out, which she fires a Dragon Pulse at-

Chiyo: -Feels the ground rumble as Draca's Dragon Pulse connects- That can't be that good for you now can it, huh?

Gerald: -Kicking her with an Aura infused foot- Damn you!

Chiyo: -Is sent back a bit as Dactyl whips up dust to obscure their position- The School's already damned so many of us, even you Templars, I'd rather pass.

-Sends out two flaming discs at Gerald-

Gerald: -Dodges one, but the other manages to graze his cheek, and he barely dodges a ricocheted Dactyl while he's distracted-

Chiyo: Not so smug when you don't have a hologram and paramilitaries to hide behind, are you!

Gerald: -Aura glowing- I'll admit, you truly are one of the School's greatest creations Chiyo, shame you're gonna die here!

-And uses his staff to send a more directed poison strike at Chiyo-

Chiyo: -Ducks under it but not the staff blow and is sent to the ground-

Gerald: -Turns his staff into a spear and attempts to run her through-

Chiyo: -Blocks the strikes with barriers-

Ovis: <L-Let's try another one.>

Kendra: -Presses a second button-

-Said button disables the main shielding of the car they're fighting in-

Gerald: -Parries a disc and manages to catch Chiyo in the stomach with a swipe of his staff-

Chiyo: -Doubles over in pain, as Gerald's following blow manages to knock her to the ground, as he knocks aside Dactyl when he tries ramming him-

Gerald: -With his trademark smug smile as his weapon looms over her- Checkmate, Chiyo.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Sep 17th 2021 at 3:10:34 PM

AU!Celadon

Channah: Eh, that's what always happens. You think of the comeback when it's too late. Still must have felt kinda good to finally get it out.

Wyndon, past

Kamon: -smiles to himself- Of course I won him over. We were friends for most of the summer. It felt sort of lame sometimes, hanging out with a younger kid, but he was so happy to have a friend, and I was... more than a little lost myself, so I didn't mind much. I was fucking sick of my costars - don't tell anyone, haha - and of being treated like a cute little child star and interviewed twenty-four-seven. This was a few years before I started on the coke and whatnot. At the height of Parkermania he hadn't the faintest idea who I was and that was amazing, a novelty. His parents I guess didn't want him to have friends, so I was extra nice to him. Well, nicer than I usually was back then. -beat- Of course he responded. He was always trying to hold my hand and stuff. I'd... laugh at him for it, call him cruel things. Poor creature looked so hurt, but wouldn't say anything.

-Kamon puts down the phone and folds his arms, leaning back against the expensive countertop, lost in memory. Rockstar watches him constantly-

Kamon: Ira was a trainer. Never told me about himself but he'd go crazy for Pokemon. Loved them like family, said he could understand what they "said" to him and they listened to his heart. I watched some of his battles; he had the fiercest team, but sometimes he'd forfeit because he hated seeing them hurt each other. Yet - It only occurred to me later, though, that when he felt threatened, instead of sending out a Pokemon, he went for a knife. -smiles- I believe that's what they call a red flag.

AU!Celadon

-Smiling briefly-

It did, yes.

Air Train

Gerald: -Taking the time to gloat as Chiyo just glares back at him- Even on the back foot, you never give anyone the satisfaction of seeing or sensing your feelings.

Chiyo: Why would I share them with someone trying to kill me?

Gerald: -Spear raised as he prepares to skewer Chiyo- Truant that you are, you were definitely an interesting opponent. When I'm done with you, know that you'll be reunited with your friends in the Spirit World shortly. Well, if we actually go anywhere, that is.

-It's at that moment that Draca fires a Dragon Pulse towards the center of the car-

Gerald: -Senses the energy blast coming and manages to dodge as it lands where it he would've been seconds ago- That would've been nasty if it had connected.

-Smugly-

But it hasn't, so we're back to our scheduled programming

Chiyo: -Looks up at the sky, the stars and the lunar rainbow shining over them- Well, I don't know about that Gerald.

-Summons two discs like usual, but they're then formed into stars radiating rainbow flames, as a number of miniature barriers start forming around Chiyo's body into armor-

I'm not out of tricks yet, and I'm not letting you harm them.

Gerald: More barriers?

-Sends out a poison wave-

We both know how it'll go!

Chiyo: -Just looks on as the acid effect seems to just not do anything to the armor- That's where you're wrong. Congratulations Gerald, you get to be one of the few people who've pushed me enough to use this.

It's very energy intensive to use both the armor and the stars, but I'll need both to take him down.

-Looking to the star filled sky with its lunar rainbow as the stars rotate around her as she clutches her necklace and the now Core Form Dactyl comes to her side as she forms a rope made of barriers ending with him encased in a flaming bubble barrier-

Curium, I hope you're watching over me...

-And sends Dactyl and the stars at Gerald-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Oct 22nd 2022 at 4:32:00 AM

Air Train

-The rainbow star constructs fall upon Gerald like judgement from the heavens, exploding in rainbow flame, as he barely dodges Chiyo's swing of Dactyl inside the meteor hammer construct-

Gerald: This can't be!

Chiyo: -Swings Dactyl around-

Gerald: -Is knocked several feet into the air upon Dactyl connecting as he tries forming a barrier to block what he knows is probably coming- This cannot be!

Chiyo: -Eyes meet his for a brief second- This is what happens when you fuck with my friends!

-And sends a constant star barrage that breaks the barrier before the rest end up very much breaking Gerald with a rainbow explosion-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 23rd 2021 at 12:15:43 PM

Wyndon Pokemart

-Adelinde untenses as Logan withdraws the fidget cube-

Adelinde: I'm not from around here, I fear. I don't keep up with most news.

-she thinks for a moment before replying-

-a long moment-

-a weirdly long moment, honestly?-

That's...well, it's a shame, I guess. But they'll find something new, or they won't. That's how life is, sometimes.

AU!Celadon

Channah: Well that's good. Now, uh, what?

AU!Celadon

-To Channah-

Well, there's still one thing left I wanted to do, but that can wait until tomorrow evening.

Air Train

-The rest manage to come back just in time to see Chiyo go ham on Gerald and what's left of him gets eaten up by the rainbow flames, and the clear barrier moves out of the way-

Dactyl: -Getting released from his barrier- <It's done then.>

Chiyo: Yeah, the School's not going to be chasing after us again for a while I think, not while they're still recouping their losses.

Ovis: -Looking on- <W-Wow...>

Nicky: -Running over and hugging Chiyo- That was amazing Chiyo!

-Looking her over-

And you look amazing too.

Kendra: I'll say, with the armor and stars and everything.

Chiyo: -Blushing slightly at the praise- You really think so?

-Dissipates the armor as she stumbles slightly, Nicky and Kendra supporting her-

Kendra: Don't worry, we've got you.

Chiyo: Arceus, forgot how much doing that takes out of me...

Azumarill: <That was amazing Chiyo!>

Anguis: <It was very impressive wasn't it?>

Draca: -Lands- <I take it the Templar was eliminated.>

Chiyo: Definitely, he won't be a problem for us anymore.

Nicky: Is that your Salamence Chiyo?

Chiyo: No, she's Tagg's.

Kendra: -Jokingly- Rode his Salamence huh?

Chiyo: Yep, all the way here once I got the portal working.

-To said mons-

Thank you for all your help, especially since I'm not even your trainer, this would've been near impossible without you.

-To Dactyl-

Can't forget about you, of course.

Dactyl: <I'd hope not.>

-And Horatio and Mary-

You guys might not be fighters, but you gave me the opening I needed to defeat Hortensia.

Trojan: -From the intercom- You're welcome, but I have good news and bad news. Good news is that the way I've made it means the School won't be able to easily find you all for reprisal, and once I'm done I'm deleting everything behind. The bad news is...

-The car begins to lurch-

That enough damage has been sustained that we all need to leave if we don't want to go down with the ship. Azumarill, could you come get me since the broken communications means I can't just beam myself to join the rest of me in the Stormchaser.

Azumarill: -Runs off to find a port-

Anguis: -To Chiyo- <Do you think you have enough in you for a jump?>

Chiyo: -To Anguis- Not back to Unova, but I can get us over to Galar. Nicky, Kendra, hope that's okay with you guys.

Nicky: Of course, we're a little too beat up to try diving anyway.

Chiyo: -Forms a barrier portal with difficulty as Azumarill comes back and the Air Train begins a final dive- Quickly, I don't know how long I can hold it open like this!

-Everyone rushes in as the portal closes-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 23rd 2021 at 2:47:19 PM

Mason's Room

-Mason sighs, pacing the room. Sleep wasn't happening tonight, it seemed.-

Mason: ...

-His fingers twitch, and a figure peers out of the darkness.-

Mason: You're getting awful crafty at hiding, now, aren't you?

-He turns around to face the young individual looking at him. Short, scrawny, with long black hair messily shoved down the back of her shirt in an attempt to pretend it's not there.-

Mason: You should be careful, Six. Not every Templar takes kindly to being snuck up on. You wouldn't want to end up getting caught by, say, Adelinde, would you?

Subject 06, Carbon: ...Why not? 'Snot like she can do anything to me.

Mason: Heh. Maybe not, but don't tell her that. She might sprout another gray hair.

-Little Carbon snickers. Mason smiles.-

Carbon: Besides, I'm just practicing, right? I'm supposed to practice.

Mason: Ah, but right now you're supposed to be going to Professor Carmot, aren't you? Her lessons on molecular visualization are invaluable for illusionists like us.

Carbon: But I already know that stuff. It's just shapes. See, look!

-Little Carbon points toward Professor Carmot — or rather, a cartoonish caricature of her, with big goofy glasses and oversized jewelry.-

"Professor Carmot": Blah, blah, crystals are hexagons but sometimes they're not! You've just gotta see the rocks for what they really are!

Carbon: But professor, I see the rocks! I can make the rocks. Look, I'm making so many rocks.

-With distinct poofs of Obscura, little hexagonal spires start dotting the whole room.-

Carbon: Rocks, rocks! It's all rocks.

"Professor Carmot": Oh, yes, fantabulous! These are very good rocks, excellent job, Mason!

-The scene pauses, and Mason's face falters. It rewinds a bit.-

"Professor Carmot": Oh, yes, fantabulous! These are very good rocks, excellent job... Carbon!

-Little Carbon grins, posing proudly.-

Carbon: You heard the lady, Mr. Twilight-Thief. I know my stuff.

-Mason chuckles, moving past the minor slip-up from earlier.-

Mason: I suppose you do. Still, it wouldn't hurt to give her something to smile about, would it?

-He ponders.-

Mason: You know what the element carbon is, Six? What it can make?

Carbon: ...It can make Addy the Scythe mad?

Mason: The maddest. But that's not my point. Carbon can make many things. The graphite in your pencil, to sketch doodles or draw masterpieces with. It's one of the biggest building blocks of life. Carbon fibers are always finding new uses in technology. And, when it's pushed to its limits, put under pressure?

-An octahedral stone forms in his hand, and he gently sets it in hers.-

Mason: Carbon turns to diamonds. That's you, by the way. You're the diamond under pressure.

Carbon: ...Mmmmmeh. I don't want to be a diamond. Too girly.

Mason: Oh, fine, fine. Pencil smudge it is, then.

Carbon: Pencil masterpiece! Y'know, it's so weird they call it lead. It's not.

Mason: Isn't it? Maybe you should go find Lead and ask them yourself.

Neutronium: Yeah, let's go find them.

-Mason blinks, and stares at the Schoolkid wh









Mason: Oh, fine, fine. Pencil smudge it is, then.

Carbon: Pencil masterpiece! Y'know, it's so weird they call it lead. It's not.

Mason: Isn't it? Man, I miss Lead, they were fun.

Carbon: ...I don't... wanna think about them. I think I'm just gonna go to Professor Carmot's now.

-Carbon kicks her 3D modeling experiments, and they disappear with unceremonious poofs. Mason watches Carbon walk out the door, and as the scene fades...-

-He's reminded just how tired he is.-

Mason: ...Right. Good night, Six.

-He sighs, trudging back to bed, putting on some quiet white noise and attempting to fall asleep again.-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Aug 23rd 2021 at 2:13:26 PM

The Defiant Wing exited jump into the zone, it flew past a field of debris, Silas adjusting the course as he slowly navigated the area. "Bishop... where are they?"

"They're here Captain, passive scans detect several thermal signatures."

As if on cue, out drifted a large battleship, there was a hail and Silas pulled on his helmet as he answered.

On the other end was a Gigalith in a torn uniform, <Uh... huh. You are?>

"You can call me Silas," Silas responded, "This is a neutral zone is it not?"

Hacks just stared at the Mando with a frown, ~Really, pulling this stunt?~

<I am Captain Kanako. Why are you here?>

"I am here to negotiate for assistance, I am on a mission for the Federation, we seek to take on the Rebellion, we have valuable information on the weakness in their battle net."

Kanako had a puzzled look, <Really now?>

"I invite you and other captains here to board my vessel for negotiations. My company chef is quite impressive and it may win you over," Silas said.

Kanako scoffed, "Very well. We'll teleport over shortly."

The call cut, Bishop set about entering the Kitchenette in the lounge area, "The Captain has secured negotiations, please be set to prep a banquet meal."

Just right after came Silas's voice over the ship intercom, "Everyone get ready, we're getting visitors... this time leave the transformation trinkets off. It's time to lay out all the cards, we're nearly to the end."

Delta leapt forward at Lightwave, their grunts now chasing Kitbash and Salem to the server room.

Lightwave raised a wrist and a shield appeared. Delta's knife struck, he grimaced under his helmet, "Oh right. You use fancy technology."

Lightwave tilted a head, as a projected smiley face appeared, "And psychic powers! Don't forget that!"

Delta grunted, "Big deal... Zatara!"

Zatara raised his hands and attempted to hold Lightwave in place, only to be blocked off.

~Ah ah ah... that's no fair,~ a haunting voice came out, as several tendril hands of a Cofagrigus appeared.

Kincade walked the party into the casino, it was bustling and lively... and compared to the Brimstone this place had class. Everyone was dressed appropriately, there were no themed tables or slots anywhere.

Dimitri had to admit, it looked good, "Very nice very nice."

Kincade grinned, "As for your friend in the labcoat, well I could set her up with a contact."

He pointed to the bar where a man in a white suit, slicked blonde hair, and a set of gray eyes sat sipping a martini (shaken, not stirred). The man looked over to the party as Kincade continued, "That's Dr. Glenn White from... the company. He's been a loyal client for awhile now, ya need work or something grabbed, talk to him."

Dr. White took another sip of his Martini as he observed the party, he could only ponder what they were planning.

As the tour came to an end, they stood outside the complex. Jackal stood there, "We hope you enjoy your time here, we hope we can teach you many things to help prepare you for the world out there. I don't have much more to say but this one last thing."

He took a deep inhale, straightened his posture, "For all those who will be staying, we will begin work tomorrow on setting you up with new uniforms. Come see me at the Workshop by tomorrow and we'll begin the work. You will get proper gear and outfits meant to protect you, all designed by the Jackal."

That would get some attention.

Wyndon, facing the [Thames]

Shutter is just there on a park bench at the waterfront, idling by while waiting for someone from the nearby hotel. Apparently, his old assistant had discovered something really peculiar. In the interim, he was busy singing a song. It was a breezy day and he decided to wear a dark wind catcher jacket with a green plaid pattern as a lining.

Fluttering above him are a ninjask and shedinja, as well as a magnemite. Pidoves were pecking at the grounds next to him and his group, while a Pelipper looked on hungrily.

Shutter: You take the pieces of the dreams that you have
'Cause you don't like the way they seem to be going
You cut them up and spread them out on the floor
You're full of hope as you begin rearranging
Put it all back together
But any way you look at this...

Charger the Magnemite: <Kinda melancholic for a guy who's about to become part of a mated pair.>

Shutter: Dude, lay off and let me sing my Galarian rock songs in peace. We're in Wyndon now. At least we're not whistling that ditty from [Twisted Nerve].

And speaking of Giratina, they hear that exact creepy whistling. Out came a familiar non-threatening brunet with a joltik on his scalp and a spinarak of peculiar coloration on his chest. He was wearing a navy shirt and a gray fleece jacket. It's a very Galarian thing to wear, to be honest.

Shutter: Oh, you're getting good at this. The psychic range, I mean, not the creepy Bernard Hermann song.

Tommy: I try. Say, what was the title of that Coldplay song you were singing?

Shutter: What Coldplay song— wait, that was Keane!

Tommy: Was it?

An orange phone pops out of Shutter's breast pockets,

Gimbal, via smartphone: Yep. Keane is known for their general absence of guitars in most of their earlier songs. Notably, Perfect Symmetry was one of the first albums they released that did have them, and The Lovers are Losing is the most notable single from that album.

Shutter: See, she gets it!

Gimbal: Feels good to be back, honey.

The shedinja and ninjask, however, were not too happy.

Shutter: Come on, guys. Don't be rude. You keep flaking out

Gaffer the Ninjask: <This man reeks of joltik. You do know what those tiny little monsters eat, right? And is that a spinarak of some sort?>

Shutter: A bird helped me catch you and you're freaked out by the little harmless domesticated spider on my friend's head. One you're several times the size of.

Gaffer: <Okay, that took several weeks of acclimatization.>

Shutter: Well start acclimating, bro. Tommy's a friend of mine and we're gonna be seeing him a lot for a very long time.

Beat.

Shutter: Sorry about that, T. You haven't been properly acquainted with the group yet since they keep freaking out at the sight of Tobi and Drake. But yeah, meet the critters I got on that trip to Zoropark during the catching festival back in Unova. Formally.

Tommy: I'll remember to join that festival 17 years from now.

Shutter: Or you can wait until Gaffer here reproduces with someone.

Gaffer: <You've sold my unborn children to him? Sir, this is uncalled for. Be glad the vow prevents my overt aggression.>

Xerox the Shedinja: <Give him a chance. They don't seem to wish us any more harm than Scout ever did.>

Gaffer: <Ugh, fine.>

Shutter: Meet Gaffer and Xerox. I caught Gaffer while he was mid-way evolving, and then Xerox showed up occupying Gaffer's old skin. Guys, meet Tommy Petersen.

He looks at the Ninjask rather cheerfully.

Tommy: Hello there! This little guy on my head is Drake. And the crawly purple one on my abdomen is Tobi.

Drake: <Hi!>

Tobi: <Hey!>

Xerox: <See, they don't seem especially dangerous. That yellow one is so cute.>

Gaffer: <That predatory arachnid? Cute? What were you in your past life?>

Xerox: <A story for another day, young bug. And that Tobi fella. Kind of reminds me of someone. Name sounds like the guy from the [Pleasantville] movie. Also, you don't see spinarak in that color often.>

Gaffer: <His trainer looks like he's from somewhere.>

Tommy: Yeah, [Pleasantville], [The Social Network], [Scott The Woz].

Gaffer: <I was thinking of the third Captain Unova movie.>

Tommy: Yeah, that too.

Xerox: <A pleasure to formally meet you. Now I don't have to call you servant boy.>

Tommy: Did you just describe me as a servant boy? I sometimes work as his assistant, they mean different things in Galarian.

Xerox: <They don't in Pokémonese.>

Shutter: Okay, that's enough of that. What did you find out about the goop?

Tommy: Don't ever call it that again. I have opinions about that show that aren't very appropriate.

Shutter: That certainly explains the hate-watching.

Tommy: If I wanted real magic, I'd get that from an Obscuric, a fairy-type, or a reality warping Legendary. Not some pseudoscientific hullabaloo masquerading as health advice. Anyway, you know darned well that I have an innate mistrust of magical anything.

Shutter: Admittedly, that's the first time you've mentioned it in a long time. Remind me never to get you involved in anything magical.

Tommy: Ha ha.

He sits down next to Shutter, leaving a gap between them to place in a clear [Tupperware] box with something gooey inside it. He opens it. A small sample of the iridescent gelatinous mass he received a few days ago was there.

Tommy: Dig this. The lab didn't find anything anomalous when they sent me the results. They showed me the formula and there's a lot you can do with it. And it's got a lot of cool properties, too. They just warned me not to eat it.

Gimbal: And you wanted to "taste the rainbow." Score one for mother's intuition!

Tommy: Most of it is in the minifridge in the hotel. Anyway, watch this.

After laying the piece of [Tupperware] down, the gelatinous substance inside it began to jiggle and reform into something vaguely in the shape of Galar.

Shutter: Oh, it's the island we're on right now. Huh.

Tommy: Impressive, eh.

Shutter: Didn't you just diss magic like a few sentences ago?

Tommy: Nope, totally different.

Shutter: You're an auric, what else could it possibly be?

Tommy: Not every part of the Auric spectrum refers to powers beyond natural comprehension. Psychics like myself are a bit more grounded in the mundane. Our abilities are well studied in the literature.

Shutter: Tell that to the guy who wrote the Prax Obscura.

Tommy: Psychics have a better established medical literature. And it's in no small part to us being more common than the others. I did a lot of digging and it turns out that psychics kind of recur in my family.

Shutter: Which side?

Gimbal: The Petersens. I did some of the searching and my boy here is so far the only Ditkovic in the past hundred years who's in the spectrum. We've also determined that little Miley has similar powers. Not sure yet if we should tell them.

Tommy: ...we were going to keep that a secret until she was ready to tell her parents herself.

Shutter: Still, it's kind of arbitrary what you decided to just narrow down as "not magic" simply because it's better analyzed. I figured that magic is just another thing you can study and systematize. And could you really call it magic if it is?

Tommy: Point. But I'm calling it like I see it. We just need to define what it is.

The colloidal substance transformed into a wizard and a clefairy.

Shutter: So, about that thing.

Tommy: Oh, I'm seeing a lot of possibilities here. Once the new equipment is set up in the new lab at home I'll have a lot of time to tamper with it. Its chemical composition makes it a pretty sweet base for a polymer. And literally too.

Gimbal: And so is antifreeze.

Tommy: It won't retain the flavor when I'm done with it.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Aug 24th 2021 at 10:46:38 PM

AU!Celadon

-Is amongst the crowd in a throng of people at the shoreline during the evening-

Ginny: -Has been quiet. Actually a lot of mons have been quiet-

Muddy: -Aside- <So, do you understand now, that not all combat is as glorious as whatever stories you might've been told? Of course, it may be horrible, but we still have to fight anyway. So what kind of knight do you want to be Ginny?>

Ginny: -Just continues looking on as at appears someone is about to speak-

Wyndon

And so after we ended up in my flat, we just... rested for the rest of the day. Was a little cramped in my bed I have to admit, but nice. After that, the next day...

-In the midst of said Oasis meetup-

Alethea: ...Wow.

Yolei: Damn, Chiyo, why didn't you tell us? Nicky and Kendra are our friends too, you know? As are you.

Chiyo: -Azumarill on her lap as Dactyl orbits- I know, but there wasn't enough time to get everyone together, and as strong as Draca was I think she would've had issues carrying you all plus Tagg's other mons on her back. Also with how dangerous those Templars were I couldn't risk you guys getting hurt even if I did have the time, I know you're not really fighters like I am. That's also why I went dark for the past couple days, I wasn't going to risk leading them here.

Jacques: Anyway, at least things went well.

Nicky: Our hero riding on dragonback to rescue us from that horrible School.

Chiyo: -Kinda embarrassed- Stop...

Kendra: -Smirking- Why would we do that, you and Tagg's mons seriously saved our lives.

-Shivers-

I hope I never have to see anyone like that Hortensia again.

Ovis: <I-It's just all in a day's work for us.>

Chiyo: That is what I'd like to say right now.

Alethea: So the School won't come for us right?

Nicky: That Porygon of Tagg's made sure of that. All they'll be able to figure out is that Chiyo and her mons came to rescue us and wrecked their flying train. And who we are got deleted, along with all those other people stuck on that train.

'Chiyo: If it ever does happen, it won't be because of that, is the understanding.

Yolei: Then let's party!

-Holding up a paper cup-

To our friends! To the Oasis! And to a successful rescue!

-Cue toasting-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 24th 2021 at 3:57:19 PM

Wyndon

-Owen is wandering outside the Stormchaser-

-When he sees a rustling trash can-

-He eyes it oddly-

Owen: ...Who are you? Are you from Best Berry?

-The trash can continues to rustle-

Owen: -Pulling out a Pokeball- I'm armed! ARMED I TELL YOU!

-More rustling-

Owen: YOU ASKED FOR IT.

-Throws the Poke Ball at the trash can-

-Right as Ein pops out, the trash can falls over, and a Blipbug and a Nickit fighting over a stale piece of pizza tumble out-

Ein: <What was THAT for?>

Owen: ...Oh.

Edited by Umbramatic on Aug 24th 2021 at 2:54:41 PM

[Venice], King's Ransom Casino, July 7th

Thalia: -mou- The company.

Pauline: -demurring- Of course.

-they both stand there, exuding that hauteur-masking-hunger so very welcome in clients-

-...at least in a few select circles-

-but wait for one of the more veteran of their company to make the first overtures-

[Venice] Alleyway, July 7th

Vee: <Uh. Are you, like. Okay? Do we need to give you a talkin'-to?>

-then at their query there's a fluid little chuckle-

Vee: -lilting- <<Fear not! If there's anythin' I am at heart, it's adapted to water. Now how's…>>

-with the utmost delicacy, Vee tugs a teeny tiny strand of Daydre's Aura from them and uses it as a seed for the fabric texture-

-and with proficiency granted thrice over by being Vaporeon, vampire, and much-beloved art companion, she weaves the design from life-

(-like, a rather beefy quarter bar's worth, starting with the bodice-)

-the sleeves and leggings form and fill with Vee's Strength, ready to lend a Helping Hand to any action they're able; the gauntlets form, claw-tipped and Dark-

-and the helmet she crafts of a carefully-formulated Dive bubble, inexplicably porous to air and reflective the way one-way mirrors are reflective-

-Vee seems to pause several times, at a bit of a loss for several of the components…-

-and each time, someone silently and swiftly introduces something new to the sequence-

Vee: <<...hope you brought that belt with ya, Day, I dunno if I can replicate that!>>

-they might be able to feel the trigger Vee builds into the armor for flipper-webbing, hand and foot, to spring forth as needed-

-and it's done-

-the mist bubbles off them from the ground up in a haze of red and black-

-a complete costume more or less like Daydre imagined exists underneath it, fox ears and all-

-no whip as such, but they may find a flask of fluid on their hip, saturated with powdered crystal and ash that resonates with their Obscura-

-across from them is original-flavor Suiko◊, tinted a similar color scheme, with an absolutely giddy grin beneath her mask-

HUD!Vee: <So, uh...how d'you like it?>

Wyndon Pokémart

-Logan seems to think for a moment-

Logan: -spinning the little wheel- True enough, I suppose. Still, these specific conditions are set by people. It's not hard to imagine a scenario where if someone were a little more competent—a lot more kind, perhaps, but even a little more competent—these losses wouldn't be necessary at all.

-they go over to the paper towels, which are in the same aisle for some reason, and put one pack in their basket-

-somehow-

Logan: -looking back over at Adelinde- What brings you here, anyhow? Pardon me if I'm overstepping, but you seem about as out of sorts as me.

-they soften the statement with a smile and a general air of harmlessness-

Chiyo's Flat

Tagg's mons did have to leave eventually, of course, and so we bid them farewell, at least until next time. Nicky and Kendra are going to head back to Unova eventually, but that's a while from now, they still want to hang with me while doing their own thing. There's also the matter of making sure the School doesn't just manage to take back all the people we freed that night. In the meantime however...

Chiyo: -Drinking some tea by a window- This world is made up of many wondrous things, isn't it Dactyl?

Dactyl: -Floating by the window- <Indeed.>

The School's still out there, obviously, they'll come after me again, but we've got a bit of a reprieve for now. Not sure how long it'll last, but at least I didn't have to go looking for new lodging after this all ended. There's a lot of things I still want to take care of, but for today, they can wait...

Chiyo: -Looking outside as a double rainbow appears while clutching her necklace- Wish you could be here Curium, I know you'd probably enjoy it, this rainbow colored world of ours...

-And so the two just continue sitting quietly, looking towards the sky-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 24th 2021 at 5:49:02 AM