Flying Colors
Hearthome Pokemon Center
Kai: Ohh. Oh that's cool. Mine used to just be purple. Oh, uh, by the way, speaking of purple, the eyes have nothing to do with the School, it's just, like... weird Ecruteak energy. Ho-oh stuff.
-In response to the Ferrum thing, Kai shakes her head.-
Kai: A Templar, apparently. Just one that probably used an Iron as a template based on the ferrokinesis, and got a really on-the-nose name. But, uh, I'll go over the full list in a moment.
Vierr: Oh, trust me, I've been making a point to avoid letting the School get their hands on my genes. The base in Saffron was my first and last encounter with them until now.
-He sticks his hands in his pockets.-
Vierr: Anyway, er, Kai, take the floor?
-Kai snaps out of her starry-eyed daze and to attention.-
Kai: Right, right. So, uh, this whole incident started with a pair called Victor and Maurice, trying to steal my Rainbow Wing for their purposes. They almost succeeded, so when they teleported away, I... well, Marlowe Pursued them, capital P. And then I ended up in a base, uh, somewhere in Sinnoh. North of the Battle Zone.
-They take a sip of their cocoa.-
Kai: In my escape, I met two of the newest batch of kids, two Templars, a... ghost, of a dead experiment, and an alumna.
-They count off on their fingers.-
Kai: Neodymium, an ability augmenter, one who I met before when I fought Ferrum. A Silicon who disabled my nerves so I couldn't move. The Puppeteer and Ten-Zero, a Templar that controlled marionettes and a ghost that provided general interference. And then... the other Templar was Louise. A sharpshooter, who claimed she wanted out of this whole system. She was the one who told me about you.
-She shivers, recalling the final encounter.-
Kai: And then, waiting outside, Nitrogen. Of the Phantom Class. She... controlled the weather outside, and I almost had to surrender. Until Vierr showed up.
-Another sip of cocoa.-
Kai: So, uh, that's the dossier. Pick a place to start, I guess?
The Wanderer
CW for suicide mention
Hearthome Center
Chiyo: -To Vierr- My plan was to take my own life in such a way that any genetic material was unrecoverable if it came to that. Luckily that hasn't happened yet.
-To Kai-
The numbers are a bit arbitrary most of the time, like, me being Iridium with a rainbow Aura was mostly coincidence, but it's so on the nose that you're probably right that he was made from an Iron.
-Victor and Maurice-
That's not good.
-To Kai, pulling out my own Wing-
If the School's looking for legendary DNA, it can't be for anything good. Did they have any others?
Chiyo: They might want to make a new Templar, they'd probably consider it a waste to use to make a Schoolkid, or...
-Shudders-
Something like that Project Hecatonchires Tagg's mons and I fought in Nimbasa, if the creators aren't one and the same.
-Dead serious-
If this Victor is any way associated with Pokefutures, dealing with him is the PEFE's responsibility, we've been hunting the rats that managed to escape the sinking ship for years. Did he mention a surname or anything like that?
Chiyo: -Neodymium- Right. I know of a Bug-type Molybdenum and a pyrokinetic Antimony amongst that class, and Tagg mentioned fighting another, older Molybdenum with mind-altering abilities.
-Silicon-
Hmm, possibly an Electric or Poison subtype going by that description.
-Puppeteer and Ten-Zero, disgusted-
Even in death they just won't leave us be.
-Louise-
Louise... We fought in Wyndon not too long after I escaped the first batch of School forces sent after Dactyl and I, I nearly killed her, but I spared her life out of the belief that it might work out. And it might just have, because you probably wouldn't be here if she was actually trying to kill you, or at least in worse shape than you are now. I beat her soundly and I got knocked around a lot.
-Speaking up-
Technically that whole area isn't actually part of Sinnoh proper, but I guess it made a good enough ballpark.
Chiyo: -Nitrogen- Nitrogen... of the Phantom Class you said? I know another person of that Class who told me about her, but nothing about her abilities. The weather control does sound like something a Flying subtype would be capable of, though. Did she have anything in particular to say to you? Louise as well, did she have anything else to say.
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 2nd 2022 at 6:12:19 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Flying Colors
Hearthome Pokemon Center
Vierr: ...I'll take my chances on not needing to do something like that.
-Kai nods-
Kai: I was with Tagg when we fought the older Molybdenum. I can handle a mind manipulator, it's... the others that gave me significant problems. As for Victor, I don't know his surname, or if they had any other Legendary DNA, I didn't stop to ask questions. Just got a quick identification from everyone, and they were surprised enough to respond in the moment.
-She thinks to herself-
Kai: ...Louise suggested leaving Galar, as a whole. Things... are gonna get ugly, with me having shown up like that. Especially with every old Schoolkid that escapes, and probably even more once Louise gets out. I promised I'd talk more later, and that I'd help get her out. I... would like to keep that promise.
-She rubs at the scar from her machete wound.-
Kai: As for Nitrogen? She knew about me specifically. Because I sponsored Mason in the Galar League — her class's Carbon, if you haven't met him. She wanted to use me to lure him out. And I think she was Flying-aligned, yeah, along with whatever her Obscura type was — she could control the blizzard, but specifically kept it away from herself and her Noivern. And used the air currents to give herself a flying advantage, up against me and Spectrum. My Flygon. I... might have stood a chance if I met her first, but after nearly burning myself out like that? I might have died even with my near-surrender.
The Wanderer
Hearthome Center
Chiyo: -To Kai- I know someone who might be able to hard counter them if it comes down to it, but I haven't made direct contact with them yet, Tagg's helping me bring my old Batchmates back together.
-Thinking pose-
Mason, huh?
-To Chiyo-
I told him about my meeting with you when I went to that Oasis meet-up, about the Curse and my promise to figure out a way to fix it so that we're not just giving the escapees a place to die comfortably.
Chiyo: -Nods-
Yeah it turns out Chiyo and I actually go way back, saved her life from people who in retrospect were totally Templars back when I was 10. Small world, huh? Molybdenum said back when we fought her that the School already knows about Mason and a couple of the others being with us, but now...
Chiyo: They're definitely going to want their pound of flesh. I'd agree with Louise, we should leave Galar as soon as possible once we're done here.
-To Kai-
And I don't plan on letting her die either.
-Clutching her rainbow necklace-
I've lost far too many over the years.
-To Kai-
That can be done, but I'm not sure how long it'll take to get everyone gathered together.
-To Chiyo-
Do you have any idea of what forms a reprisal might take?
Chiyo: Seems my talk with Percy about what might happen is definitely coming to pass.
-Speaking up-
Well as you know, there's the totally predictable sending a bunch of Templars to try forcing their way into the Stormchaser, but they something far more dangerous than their armies of mercenaries and psychic super soldiers.
-Purple eyes prominent-
They have society. The governments and corporations of the world all having some representative or useful patsy of theirs involved with them. You may all be strong, but that's not something you can beat with brute force like a Glitch or a Team, the School has co-opted the levers of civilization itself. That's why until I met you all, before they decided to attack me again and kidnap my friends as leverage, we all avoided them, no one person can beat them.
-Serious-
Yeah, when Deziree told me about the School the first time, she made me swear not to tell anyone else until the School made its first move because they'd come at us like a hammer.
Chiyo: She was right, when I was younger I wasn't careful and, well, I learned that for myself.
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 2nd 2022 at 6:14:11 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Flying Colors
Hearthome Center
Vierr: ...Sounds like this is going to be a long fight. Whatever we take down in Sinnoh, even if they seem to go under? It won't be the end. Someone, a lot of someones, are gonna want to rebuild.
Kai: Guess we'll just have to do what we can, huh?
-She finishes her drink.-
Kai: ...When I first encountered Ferrum, and Neo and Beryllium, I pulled the bluff of being a School escapee — what with the eyes and all — to protect a friend. During this whole... escape incident, Neo thought I was a Templar, so I leaned into that. Called myself Kai the Radiant. That, heh, was probably a stupid impulse, but I... want to think being a symbol like that can inspire... something. For people like Louise.
Edited by BittersweetNSour on Jan 1st 2022 at 11:57:36 AM
Trans Terminus Homo
Sinnoh, Jubilife City, Tech Expo, Interior:
The girl, still nuzzling onto her Pokémon, shook her head slightly at the tip.
Girl: "Why would we boss each other around? Fiore's my bestest of friends~! We know eachother since forever~!"
She exclaimed happily, shotly followed by a similar statement form the Beedrill.
After having said that, she nodded happily at the question from Owen. She still seemed a bit confused though, shown by a figurative questionmark appearing over her head.
Girl: "You mean Fiore's feelings~? Of course I can~"
Fiore meanwhile shook his head.
Fiore: <My name coems from flower~ Because that's where my bestest friend and I met for the first time~>
He said, his face sporting something as close to a smile as a Beedrill could have.
Fiore: <And umm... I never really got into sparring - I don't want to accidentaly hurt anymon>
Galar Mountains
Alyesha nodded slightly, using her non-petting hand to give a thumps up - also to grab at the air a few times aftewards
Alyesha: "Oh, don't worry about that, I have a bit of experience with dealing with rocky bits without hurting myself~"
Saying that, she pointed down the mountain they just climbed up.
Alyesha: "Also, many memebers of my team are also Rock and Ground types~"
Edited by Sergey_Smirnov on Jan 1st 2022 at 6:16:27 PM
"One may feel fear in the face of danger so long as one banishes fear when danger actually arrives"
The Wanderer
Hearthome Center
-To Vierr-
Yeah, that's how these things tend to go, you can't kill an idea after all. Shit, we know it from how many of our villains either came from Teams or ended up joining or forming new ones.
Chiyo: -To Kai- If you go for it, it'll be dangerous. The Templars will be gunning for you just for claiming to be one of them.
-To Chiyo-
You thought about doing something like that? You are the oldest Schoolkid we know.
Chiyo: Not unless my cover's completely blown first, I've still got too much to lose before I try becoming some rallying figure to other escapees.
I mean you do have this easy... charisma to you though. If we take the fight to the School, we're gonna need more than Kai to get them to start rebelling.
Chiyo: Hmm...
-Smirks-
I guess, it's just funny coming from the guy who has a throne but doesn't sit in it.
-Snorts-
Chiyo this is a equal opportunity outfit, I just press the proverbial raid button, people might think I'm leader but there's nothing saying "Tagg, J-Team Leader" on it.
Chiyo: They all respect you though.
-Thinking-
That does give me a bit of an idea, you and Kai sharing that spotlight. Definitely help them survive longer.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Dunsparce Cloud
Morata Manor, Atrium
Avery: Aaaaaa.
Okay. Just gotta stay calm and keep focused. This is just like any show.
Well, the maid with the swords is a bit of a change, but you've been stabbed at before! It's nothing! Just don't be where the pointy bits are!
Okay. Logically speaking there are first and third keys that are all required to get in. In no world do we have that kind of time.
It went in like a CD so it's probably being read somehow...of all times not to have a Rotom.
...Hm.
-she sends out Optics-
Avery: Can you phase through the statue?
-Optics makes a concerted attempt-
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Morata's Mansion, Atrium, 2021
Josette: "I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't try to keep this place clean! Can't just go home in the middle of all this."
Jefferson doesn't have time to protect himself and ends up slammed blade first into the tile, leaving large cracks in it. Josette kinda tsks. The two attacks hit home, but he just barely hangs on. His 'arms' come up and wrap around the one holding him. Suiko will feel her aura start to drain.
Josette is oblivious to Odin's presence until he (presumably) releases the Shadow Ball. It hits her square in the back, knocking her down a ways. She obviously struggles to get up, but from another pocket she pulls another pokeball, releasing...
A Dragalge: <!!!>
Odin now has a Water Pulse flying at him.
Pippy might notice the medallion— it being just knocked off Josette's apron by Odin's attack. Nothing in the room seems to have changed, but now that she's here again it becomes obvious that the two medallions are related. The one on Josette looks to have a Dusknoir relief to go with the other's Dusclops.
Meanwhile, Fraidy's shadow seems to have gained eyes of its own. A Dragapult explodes out, striking at Fraidy's back while she's distracted.
Nothing is preventing Optics from just... fading inside. Seems whoever made it hadn't thought of that. The maid seems a bit distracted with Odin so she doesn't send a mon after her. Inside the statue is a narrow maintenance area and a small terminal with a variety of buttons. Wires connect it to the inside of the front of the statue, coming from what is presumably the slots where the medallions would be housed.
Textspace
I'll see what we can do from
Morata's Mansion, Upstairs
"..."
Ynos avoids most of the discs while trying to close the distance, though the rest slice into his back. This doesn't stop him in the slightest— the cuts quickly heal over in wisps of red aura.
He makes like he's going to charge in with a staff strike again, but at the last second throws it forward like a spear. Whirling around, he tries to sweep his foot under her leg.
off the shits
Dunsparce Cloud
Morata Manor
-oh no not a Ghost trainer-
Avery: -knocks on the statue-
Optics: <Hmmm...hmm.>
-she climbs up onto the maintenance panel, tracing the wires between the medallion slots and the control panel-
-she looks at all the fascinating and interesting buttons-
Avery: -knocks more frantically-
-maybe they're labeled? Maybe in Kalosian, a language with which Optics has some tangential familiarity? Perhaps it is time for a tense game of determining which buttons do what-
-except for the slight hurdle that Optics can't read-
-instead, she cuts all three wires, and then grabs them in a crackling claw-
Optics: <Sure hope this is how it works.>
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
The Wanderer
Morata's Mansion, upstairs
-Reading Witch's text-
They've probably made contact with Morata.
Shamhat: -Seeing the wisps- So he does heal quickly. Probably can't come back from getting cut in half, but I'm not trying to kill anyone here.
-She manages to dodge Ynos' staff throw, but does get sweeped by his next move, barriers going out from her person as Shamhat flips back up so he can't capitalize on her fall-
Not bad Ynos, but if this was a real fight, it'd be long over already.
Alright, let's see how quickly you heal from these.
-Shamhat then creates two discs that start rotating rapidly, until they turn alight with her rainbow Aura as she sends them at Ynos, more barriers appearing to try and box him in-
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Misunderstood Mimiga
Halis: "...What was it that made them consider me a friend? That I simply fought a few battles for them? Found some fancy rocks with imbued power? For that matter, why was I so... happy with how things were?"
An inward expanse of the self lies before Halis. A once-grassy field filled with self-truths, shattered like glass from the sky and sticking out of the ground, not unlike a field of blades. Each one is reflecting a moment in time from their past, and while a lot of them reflect recent history, there are a few of their relatively uneventful upbringing... all except one.
They walk around this field, eyes aimed at the aberrancy. A fogged up, darkened shard, one that seems to stare back at them even now.
Halis: "How can I be sure of myself when this exists? No decent person would ever have something hidden from themselves, a secret within a bed of memories... even after thinking it over in every way and looking up anything I could while I was doing other stuff, I couldn't come up with any trace of information on where I actually came from."
They simply stare at it after getting close to it, seemingly trying and failing to pierce its shade and haze.
Halis: "Am I really who I say I am...?"
They're pulled back into reality by the sound of fireworks on the TV screen, a new year having arrived... naturally, Euryale and Asterios were trying to stay up to see it, but failed and fell asleep. Halis, however, was too busy thinking things over, specifically their inquiries into the existence of the Regis.
Halis: "...I was hoping by figuring this out, I could get some sort of answer for myself, too."
Silently staring at the book on their bed, still in the lotus position from their self-reflection, they grab their PDA, looking up their contacts list.
Halis: "Dead ends, dead ends everywhere... even if I asked one of them, it'd probably just end up with some whole 'you're fine as you are' speech, issues glossed over, everyone's fine be on your way, so on and so on. Heck, there's even the bit where whenever I change to what I can only assume is my default form at this point, I suddenly get more willing to commit to violence and fight..."
They hold their head in their hands.
Halis: "What am I now?"
Before they can think it over more, their stress wrings the last bit of energy they have out of them, causing them to stop what they're doing and fall asleep on the spot.
...A spot they have not moved from since, for that matter. The other two in the room have since abdicated, gone off to sightsee more, but Halis remains, still asleep even at this moment and not stirring an inch.
Flying Colors
Hearthome Pokemon Center
Kai: Heh. I've got... an unfortunate amount of experience with people targeting me, so that's not what scares me. They're targeting me anyway, Radiant or not. What... actually scares me, is people like Nitrogen, people like Carmilla, people who would hurt me just to hurt my friends and vice versa.
-She glances up at Chiyo again. The first-impression adoration is still evident in their expression, but now paired with an air of determination.-
Kai: But having someone else there, someone who knows what they're doing the way you do, makes the weight of that more manageable. You're something of a symbol yourself already anyway, if Louise is to go by.
Vierr: What worries me is how outmatched you are, Kai. We saw with Nitrogen — you nearly burnt up every last bit of your soul just trying to keep warm out there. Even beyond the obvious of being able to tell you're no Templar, you've got a severe disadvantage in power.
Kai: ...I was underprepared. Of course I'm no match for a whole facility of specialized psychics — and more, apparently. Sure, as an Auric Vampire I can overcharge myself to do big things at the cost of my own health, but my real strength is in my team, and they weren't all able to be there. Holly and Avada got left behind at Castle Bluestone at the beginning of this whole mess, and Spectrum is... not suited to deal with the cold.
-As Kai is talking, Vierr takes the time to respond to texts-
From: Vierr
Apparently? Pretty good place to hide, I guess. Hard to know about, hard to find, and I wouldn't be surprised if the area had a psychic ward making finding it difficult even if you do know it's there. I only found it because Kai's Aura was a big bright headache-inducing beacon at the time.
Edited by BittersweetNSour on Jan 2nd 2022 at 1:00:51 PM
Silas's brow furrowed a bit. Roxy stepped over and made a swiping motion over her left eye, Silas caught on.
"Oh. That. Yeah I went through some stuff."
Roxy was now hugging Silas very tight, Silas let out a sigh and returned the hug. "The reports of the alternate universe me? The asshole teleporter who I had to burn Shaun's phone for? Yeah we faced off, he got a brief upper hand. I turned it around."
The Wanderer
Hearthome Center, yesterday
-To Kai-
Yeah, Vierr's right, we definitely need to toughen you up a bit if you're going to start tangling with Templars on the regular. You can't only be prepared to fight with your mons, but also alongside them like Chiyo and I do. Admittedly not the thing you normally do as a Trainer, but we're all not exactly regular Pokémon Trainers are we?
Chiyo: -Arms crossed- It also seems efficiency is the skill you'll need to prevent yourself from burning out.
Dactyl: <Like a star about to burn out into a white dwarf.>
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 2nd 2022 at 6:10:40 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Meet The New Boss
Morata's Mansion, Atrium
Odin: <ACK!>
-The Water Pulse hits him, and hurts-
-But it causes him to harden-
Odin: <wha- oh, I've always wanted to say this. FOOL! YOU'VE MADE ME MORE POWERFUL!>
-Earth Power at the Dragalge-
Textspace
Locke: Wait is this that weird school you went to? That we had that meeting about?
Neon: Yeah! They've been WAY more active recently. It's a Problem.
Locke: ...I picked a hell of a time to get sudden supernatural inspiration and come back.
Edited by Umbramatic on Jan 2nd 2022 at 5:09:55 AM
Contact Me!
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Hearthome City, Over a Hundred Years Ago
-It's a beautiful autumn day in Hearthome City, over a hundred years ago. To the east of the warm and kind town is a simple hirairi-style shrine, where a shrine maiden, dressed in a white haori and red hakama, swept the leaves off her porch.-
Yuki: <Well over a hundred years ago, before the region was even called "Sinnoh", I was a miko who worked at this very shrine. My name was "Yumeko".>
Me: That's a lovely name.
Evelyn: As in "dream child"?
Yuki: <Thank you, and yes. However, Yumeko was not the first name I had.>
Evelyn and I: It wasn't?
Yuki: <No... You see, I was actually born to an [Ainu] chief, and the name I was given at birth was Ayay.>
Me: Ayay?
Yuki: <Yes... It was the [Ainu] word for a baby crying. It wasn't a permanent name...>
Hearthome City, Yumeko's Shrine
-Yuki then looks over her shoulder, almost in shame.-
Yuki: <...but it definitely could have been worse...>
Back to the Flaaaaaaaashbaaaaaaack
Yuki: <As I was saying, the name wasn't permanent. Temporary names were often vulgar and given to children to ward off disease. Once I was four, I was given my permanent [Ainu] name: Mike-hekaci* . It means "glitter child".>
Me: That, too, is a lovely name.
Evelyn: So, what caused the change from that name to Yumeko?
Yuki: <Well... If you must know...>
Spikemuth, VS Marnie
Marnie: Morpeko, use Seed Bomb! Grimmsnarl, use Bulk Up!
Me: Piku-chan, use Electro Ball!
Evelyn: Hatty, use Mystical Fire!
-Marnie's Morpeko chucks the seed it was carrying at Piku-chan, who gathers an orb of electricity at the tip of his tail and throws it to intercept the seed, causing an explosion between the collision of attacks. Marnie's Grimmsnarl flexes his muscles and does a few [Jojo] poses, bulking up and increases his physical prowess.-
-Suddenly, Marnie's Morpeko undergoes a very sudden change. As its stomach begins to growl, its yellow fur turns to purple as its eyes turn completely red and glower menacingly in the dark of the stadium.-
Morpeko: <HUNGRY!!>
-Hatty closes her eyes and begins to glow with a crimson and orange aura, as two orbs of fire appear at the tips of her braids. Hatty lifts herself into the air and begins to spin around, creating a fiery ring around Hatty. Hatty then brings the ring close to her and morphs it into an orb of magical flame, glowing crimson, orange, blue and violet before taking a deep breath and releasing a multi-colored stream of fire at Marnie's Grimmsnarl!-
Hammerlocke Stadium, Pitch
-In that moment, Sebastian's Pelipper, Camilla's Ninetales and Aria's Abomasnow begin to glow. Pelipper glows with an aura the color of a sapphire ocean, Ninetales glows a bright gold with the hint of a hypnotic ruby red light, and Abomasnow glows with an aura as pure and white as the driven snow. The three Pokémon let out a sound; Ninetales with a howl, Pelipper with a squawk and Abomasnow with a mighty roar, and the resonance shakes the heavens, causing the sunlight to intensify, the rain to come crashing down and a hailstorm to pulverize the arena, all at the same time. Each trainer’s respective Castform undergoes a change into their respective forms; Sebastian's embraces the rain and changes into its Rainy Form, Camilla's basks in the golden sunlight and changes into its Sunny Form and Aria's harnesses the cold of the hail and changes into its Snowy Form.-
Sebastian: The time has come...
Sebastian, Camilla and Aria: Time to face the TRUE POWER OF THE ELEMENTS!!
♪Through the sun, the rain and hail♫
♫Time for us to knuckle down♪
♪With us three, we cannot fail♫
♫Face the elements all around!♪
♪Dragon’s guard, Battle scarred♫
♫In the name of Sword and Shield♪
♪Guards unite, we'll take flight♫
♫And we shall never yield♪
♪Sworn defense of Galar's king♪
♫Hammerlocke's bells shall ring♫
♫By this day's end, it's our victory we'll sing♪
-As the Gym Trainers start singing, their Pokémon go on the attack. The Castform unleash a barrage of Fire, Water, and Ice-type Weather Balls. Pelipper unleashes a Water Pulse as Sliggoo unleashes a Dragon Pulse at the challengers' Pokémon. Ninetales and Turtonator unleash Flamethrower blasts, and Abomasnow unleashes a mighty blizzard. Hakamo-O works itself up with a Dragon Dance, increasing his Attack power and Speed, before rushing in for a Close Combat.-
Me: ♪One and one and one are we♫
♫As we sing for a new dawn~♪
Evelyn: ♪With triple vision, we can see♫
♫a bright future for us and our Pokémon~♪
-Ian and Evelyn's Pokémon go in for the attack as well. Piku-chan unleashes a Thunderbolt on Sebastian's Castform and Pelipper. Oshawittle slashes at Turtonator with his Razor Shell and Raru unleashes a psychic wave at Hakamo-O, keeping the Scaly Pokémon At Arm's Length. Hatty surrounds her braids in a dark aura of violence and swings at Aria's Castform. Kako and Mirai surround themselves in a flurry of leaves which they unleash on Abomasnow, Sliggoo, and Camilla's Castform.-
Wyndon Stadium, VS Hoops
-The shadows of Hoops' Pokémon pummel Oshawittle and Mega Axon. Not helping matters is still the poison that courses through their bodies.-
Evelyn: Axon, use Dynamic Punch!
Me: Oshawittle, use Hydro Pump!
-Axon throws two of his spoons at Vul, then jumps on top of them, letting them carry him as he surrounds his fist in a rippling aura of pure energy. Axon then throws a mighty punch at Vul. Oshawittle follows up by firing a high-pressure blast of water from his mouth at Vul.-
Phantom Thief Textspace
From: Joybringer
Count me in. May I be allowed to bring a plus-one?
Ballonlea, Evelyn's House (Christmas)
-Ian and Evelyn are spending Christmas with Evelyn's family. They are enjoying themselves and are talking to each other.-
Me: Yeah... Our adventures got pretty tense!
Evelyn: But I'm glad I met Ian two years ago.
Daisuke: Well, I'm glad your happy!
Agnes: I'll be right back. I gotta go get something in the other room.
-Agnes leaves the living room to go retrieve something. At that moment, Ian receives a text from Kim.-
Me: Huh?
Evelyn: What is it?
Me: I just received a text from Kim?
Evelyn: What does it say?
Me: It asks if she hurt us at all.
-Little does Ian know, Agnes is hanging mistletoe over Ian and Evelyn's head. Evelyn on the other hand, notices. She silently snickers as she puts her plan into motion.-
Me: I'm going to respond. Evelyn, what do you think I should say?
-Ian looks over at Evelyn, noticing her expression.-
Me: Uh, Evelyn?
-Evelyn then swiftly kisses Ian, with a spark of psychic energy jumping from her lips, leaving Ian in a giddy, catatonic trance with spirals in his eyes.-
Me: -dizzied by the kiss- No thoughts, head empty.
Evelyn: Leave this to me.
Textspace
New Year's Day Textspace
Stow-on-Side
Evelyn: Is something the matter, Kim?
Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Feb 3rd 2022 at 4:33:50 AM
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Flying Colors
Hearthome Center, yesterday
Kai: ...yeah. Yeah, you're right. Louise did say I'm not nearly regimented enough to fit the bill. And at this rate, I'm gonna keep being in the thick of it whether I want to be or not.
Vierr: Yeah. Luckily, you've got a few good people in the midst to teach you, and if I know you as well as I remember? You'll probably pick it up pretty quickly.
Kai: H-here's hoping. I need to.
Vierr: Kai. You will.
-Kai nods, hesitating a bit.-
Kai: ...Thanks.
-...-
Kai: So, uh, what's— what's your, y'know, thing, Chiyo? There's the rainbows, but I'm guessing that you don't fend off School agents for two decades with nothing but a cool light show.
From: Vierr
Sure, we should probably get together and talk about this. But considering the circumstances, we definitely need to avoid drawing too much attention, even if we're past the point of absolute subtlety.
No voice to cry suffering
Dreamweaver, New Year's
-a quartet is getting drunk-
(-well, strictly speaking, three people are getting drunk and one doesn't trust herself to but is hooked up to someone who is because she would very much like to be-)
Megan: -with a mug of water- Isn't this nice?
Hiro: You could say that, yeah.
-half the friend group groans-
Abilene: Must you?
Hiro: -pointing at his face- I still can't lie. That's not a thing that's changed.
Logan: -smile- ...
Hiro: -mouth-quirk- But yes, I'm appreciating the company.
-Megan giggles-
Megan: ...say, what've you been up to, anyhow? I know we've all been, uh, occupied, lately...but aside from the sponsorship I've barely seen you?
Logan: -raises an eyebrow-
Megan: -dry, swirling her mug- Is it the kind of thing I'll feel better if I don't know it?
Logan: Got it in one.
Megan: -sip- I look forward to being surprised, then.
Logan: -holding their hands in front of them- Oh, nothing to be surprised about, I'm just running around with mice, you know how I do.
Megan: Awesome.
-Hiro mouths "liar", and then, after some deliberation, something like "[Disney] princess"-
Logan: -winks- ✨
-Abilene snaps for attention, wiggling the bottle she pilfered from her brother-
-Hiro stops, with a mouthful of wine-
-he purses his lips and breathes it out as a jet of fire-
Megan: hweh >_<
-Logan supplies polite little golf claps; Abilene joins in-
-excellent-
Logan: -leaning on their knee- So, any new oaths to see the turning of a calendar page in with?
-Hiro's molding the fire like clay, or...wax, into a glowing sphere the size of Lanatus-
Hiro: -exhale- ...I'll try not to die. If I get forsworn from that, I figure I'll be past caring.
Megan: ...
-Hiro passes it to Logan, sitting next to them-
Logan: -eyeing her, hand to their chest- I intend to be kind and sweet to everyone I meet.
-they're holding the flame at the tips of their fingers, by the very edge of the Styler shield crackling over their skin -
Hiro: ...
-Hiro flicks a firecracker spark at their feet-
Logan: -snicker, tipsy- I didn't say that was all I'd be! Easy!
Hiro: -with more of a giggle than a snicker- Truth. Ideals. Go.
Logan: -faux-pout- Mean...
Hiro: I've been called that.
-Logan not-quite snickers in turn—mirroring, you know—before returning their attention to the thing-
Logan: -drawing the shield back like a glove- Well...
-they put their bare hand directly onto the orb-
Logan: I'll keep in better touch with my parents. After the whole, uh, multiversal abduction thing. They worry.
Logan: I'll keep in better touch with you all.
Logan: [[evil:...I'll give those kids a chance. Not saying who, but...you know.
Hiro: -staring into the fire- ...
-Logan taps Abilene's arm and passes it to her-
Abilene: ...
-she turns it over in her grip, squeezing it rhythmically-
Abilene: -to the group at large- ...I'll keep you safe.
Hiro: Careful.
Abilene: -tch- I didn't say from what, or how much, or for how long, Hiro. Relax.
Hiro: -shaking his head- Not me, Abilene. Remember? Capumon...
Abilene: It's said. It's done. Now if you'd like to keep me warm rather than watch me burn, you'll accept the damn Wand, yes?
-Hiro rolls his eyes all the way up to the stars-
Hiro: -hand on the orb- We'll talk.
Abilene: Fair enough.
-she passes it to Megan, who looks somewhat stricken-
Megan: ...
-Megan stares into the light, fingers stinging—thinking, always thinking-
-...she shakes her head, quietly passing it back to Hiro-
Hiro: -pats her on the shoulder-
Megan: -stares at his hand-
Hiro: -removes it-
-and Hiro holds up the orb to an invisible audience, letting eyes adjust from gloom to light like midday-
-Logan stares directly at it, golden threads glimmering in their eyes; Abilene tucks herself a bit more firmly among the snow from the heat-
-Megan looks away-
Megan: -desperately- I'll love them.
-Hiro drops the ball-
-the word watches-
Hiro: Geasa.
-the pulse trembles through the gathering, and falls silent-
-Abilene has a book out in front of her, its pages pure black-
-Megan's watching—just watching, delicate fingers trail between pages, tracing minute details almost unthinkingly-
-she bites a finger—as Megan looks, Obscura trickles down from the vines on her arms, pooling in indistinguishable dots on the page-
-black on black-
Megan: ...could you give me a tattoo?
-Abilene pauses-
Abilene: -curious, a tad flushed- Didn't think it your style. But alright.
-she sends out Castanea, who is of course her needle artist-
(-Pippy yelps and scrambles back—after a moment under Castanea's bemused stare, he attempts an "I'm-watching-you" sort of gesture with the tip of his wing-)
(-he snorts, Megan pats Pippy; Vee giggles, and supplies an amiable, much more sincere "I'm going to eat your face" kind of look-)
Megan: Well, yeah! It's your New Year's, we're getting drunk—
Abilene: I'm getting drunk.
Megan: It's time for some rash, chronologically-inappropriate shenanigans with unforseen ramifications on personal aesthetic in a couple days, or possibly two months ago. In the future.
-...-
Pollen: <That's not how that happened.>
Thespi: -frown- <Do you wanna hear the story or not?>
Abilene: -shrug- Alright. What do you want?
Morata's Manor, Atrium
-yeah, that's about the size of it-
frick frick frick frick I did not think this through
-Vee lights up, sharp and venomous-
Suiko: -staggering- Ghk—''don't mean—to make more work for you.
-there's a lot that gets drawn from Suiko into Jefferson aside from Aura, made from Aura:-
-purple-tinged light, transmuted to ice; Mist, blood-
-and when it all trickles down through Suiko's arm, it catches on something-
-a symbol burns on the back of her hand through her glove-
-Vee vanishes from Suiko's armor, reappearing as song within Jefferson's blade-
Vee: -snarl, vicious- <No.>
<<MINE.>>
-she channels a Blizzard through Jefferson, aiming out the other end-
Vanilluxe?Pippy: -strangled- <This is not ideal...!>
-he casts his wings forward-
-the Mist explodes out from their little huddle, wrapping around their teammates and trying to slam Josette's Dragons into the walls-
-unaware of the hacks going on behind her, Fraidy lunges for the medallion as she spots it-
Vanilluxe?Fraidy: -pained- <Augh!>
-but she's knocked ass over teakettle in a barrage of baby dragon-
-no one ever expects a barrage of baby dragon-
-so, medallion or no, she curls into a defensive ball, a third Blizzard shrieking out from her as camouflage-and-shelter-
No mind to think. No will to break.
The Wanderer
Hearthome Center, yesterday
Chiyo: -To Kai- Well, we'd probably need a bit more space to give a full demonstration but it's mainly barriers...
-Forms a barrier-
...And barrier related pyrokinesis.
-She forms a circular barrier in her hand, and generates a flame inside-
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Wyndon Stadium, past
All of the attacks being used at once creates a large explosion that obscures much of the field, including the pokemon within.
Hoops: Damn it.
They speak a moment before the smoke clears to reveal Vul lying unconscious on the ground, having been overwhelmed by all of the attacks. Hoops grimaces and returns him to his pokéball.
Hoops: You did well, Vul. I won't let your fight be worth nothing.
They select another pokéball.
Hoops: Ian. Evs. Kim. It seems you guys have gotten ahead of me. Not just in this battle, but... you've all gotten so much stronger. Stronger than I am, I think. Where I am right now isn't enough.
They clench the pokéball a bit harder.
Hoops: So for the rest of this battle, I'll break through my limits as many times as it takes. Go, Cof!
The ball doesn't open so much as it is prised open by dozens of spectral black hands. Cof follows them, creeping as a shadow onto the field and propping himself upwards to leer at the others.
Cof: <Aaaaaannnnnd here is the undisputed star of the show. I hope all the kids in the audience are strapped into their booster seats, because you're not going to want to miss a second of this.>
Hoops' Mind, Christmas Day
Hoops stares in confusion at the newcomer who looks so much like them.
Hoops: Who are you?
Hoops*: I'm you. Well, technically I'm a copy of you that was created that time you almost died to hold your mind together and give Evelyn someone to talk to when she entered your mind.
Hoops: She entered my mind?
Hoops*: Yeah. She's nice.
Dark Father coughs.
Dark Father: Excuse me, I was kind of in the middle of something here.
Hoops*: Oh, right.
They turn to Hoops. The original one.
Hoops*: I know how you can repair the damage to your mind. You have to visit the memory of when you found out our mother died. That was the moment the break was created, and that's where you can fix it.
Hoops: What will happen to them?
Hoops*: They'll... how do I explain? They won't disappear so much, because once they exist they can't ever stop existing. You won't be able to talk to them, and they won't be able to speak to you, but they'll always be a part of you.
Hoops nods.
Hoops: I guess... that makes sense.
Anna: No! Stop them!
Hoops* creates a doorway behind Hoops and turns towards them.
Hoops*: I'll hold them off for as long as I can. You go.
Hoops: Wait, what will happen to you?
Hoops*: I don't know. Let's find out.
They push them through the doorway before they can protest. Hoops yells in alarm and concern as they fall into some kind of mental void that twists and spins around them, throwing them into a time long ago.
Stormchaser, present day.
Hey gang. It sure has been a long time since we checked up on Xaster, and I'm sure you're all desperate to know what he's been up to recently. No? You forgot he existed? Well so did I, but let's not worry about that! Let's go and check on our good friend.
When last we saw Xaster, he had added ChiChi to his team, and was continuing to make videos for his fans. Well, he is still doing those videos, and his audience has been steadily growing at a respectable rate. It's so great that young people these days can make a living through their social media presence, right? What? You think it's shallow and exposes the flaws in our capitalist consumer culture? You're the worst audience ever.
He's also gone back to Kalos a few times to take part in contests, though he still hasn't gotten any wins, no matter how hard he and his pokémon try. But he was always told that if at first you don't succeed, try, try, and try again. So what if his inability to have any success or make any meaningful progress in the thing that he finds most important in his life, and his dependence on social media fame, are sending him into a form a depression where everything that isn't a performance of some kind feels like too much effort?
Oh, and he got a new egg. What could it possibly be? I guess we'll have to wait to find out that one.
He's still living on the Stormchaser, like he was when we last saw him. While he's not technically officially in the J-Team, the ship is letting him live there and besides, the rent's cheap. Why go anywhere else? Shall we look at his room?
No, that dish has something growing on it. Oh, that's disgusting. When was the last time this room was cleaned?
Well, that's what Xaster's been doing. I know I, for one, can't wait to see what he gets up to in the future.
School Hunting Trip
Vana regards Platinum over the top of the snacks that they purchased a few minutes ago. Is it really worth all this work just to potentially get one other schoolkid on her side? And what can she do with Aurelia?
Vana: So, what's our play?
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
School Hunting Trip
Platinum: I send one of my Pokémon in disguise as someone from the failed attempt and coax the information on my sister out of them.
-Platinum grows a Poké Ball and spins it on her fingertip.-
Platinum: Allow me to introduce...
-She then flicks her wrist, dropping the Poké Ball and causing it to open, revealing a Ditto.-
Platinum: ...Oingo.
Oingo: <You call me, Platinum?>
-Radon breaks down laughing.-
Radon: Wahahahaha! Oingo?! You named your Ditto "Oingo"?! Lemme guess, Boingo's somewhere around here, aren't they?
-Suddenly, Boingo's Poké Ball opens, revealing a Kirlia reading a comic book. He looks up at Radon, nonplussed.-
Boingo: <Actually, I am, if that's what you wanted to know.>
Radon: I don't believe it...
Platinum: Vana... If you would please show Oingo the memory of the failed attempt to recapture Aurelia?
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
School Hunting Trip
Vana sighs and puts her hand on Oingo to pass over the memory.
Vana: You know, this does kind of tire me out. Not as much as if I was summoning fire or something, but I'd rather not spend my whole day playing memory hot potato.
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
School Hunting Trip
-Oingo receives the memory and picked out the figure of the person who looks like they are half-Whimsicott.-
Oingo: <I know just what to do.>
-Oingo focuses his mind on the half-Whimsicott figure and proceeds to transform into them. Oingo's appearance is almost a perfect copy of Florence's. Keyword: Almost, as there is a single thin pink streak down the cotton fluff, barely noticeable except to a highly-trained eye.-
"Florence": How do I look?
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Turffield Gym
Frida: <She's still sleeping? I certainly wasn't expecting her to sleep for this long.> (beat) <Well, I suppose I might as well prepare myself, just in case she happens to wake up.>
(Seconds later, she glows in a light white aura, and cotton balls surround her, before disappearing quickly. Eventually, a light blue aura surrounds her, and she smirks.)
Ananpi: <Well, would you look at this, folks! Talk about defenses, chuu~! Hopefully when that Cherrim awakens those defenses will be able to protect Frida from any damage she might have...>
(Soon afterwards, though— the Cherrim awakens, a bit battered.)
Cherrim: (stirring) <H-huh...?>
Frida: (her eyes widening) <You're awake already?! Well~! I suppose this strategy of mine won't have to wait long~!>
Cherrim: (cheerfully) <Ooh~! Strategy? I have one of my own~!>
Frida: <Oh really now? Is it as good as mine?>
Cherrim: <Maybeee!>
(And with the sun still shining, she holds up her arms and creates a ball of fire above her that she aims directly at Frida.)
Frida: <Oh deeeearrrr~!>
(And she gets hit.)
Ingrid: "Frida!"
(Ananpi looks over at the battlefield for a few moments, with a slight look of panic, before slowly turning to face the camera.)
Ananpi: <...Well. Guess I spoke too soon.>
New Year's Eve, 2021
(It is New Year's Eve. In direct contrast to last year, Kimberly Bond is sitting alone on board the Stormchaser, with not even her Pokemon directly next to her. All she has out is her phone, and her textspace, as she glances over at the New Year's text she sent to Kendall one year prior— and the conversation with 9-Volt that followed. Her mind is frantic. She glances up at the TV, which is displaying the ball drop and countdown. She looks over at the texts, thinking for a few moments, until what she said on Christmas Day to Ian and all of the therapy from Denali starts flooding back to her. Her eyes widen, as she seems to reach a realization, and goes through, in her mind, everything she has done since the beginning of the year.)
Kim: (thinking, to herself) "So that explains it... I feel like... every time I try to talk to one of my friends... I end up... hurting them..."
(25 seconds left.)
Kim: (thinking, to herself) "Without even meaning to do so..."
(20.)
Kim: (thinking) "I made 9-Volt feel self-concious... I made Ian cry at the meeting... I probably made everyone feel uncomfortable there..."
(15.)
Kim: (thinking) "Why did I have to do that?"
(10.)
Kim: (thinking) "Why can't I change myself?"
(9.)
Kim: (thinking) "I had thought that everything would go well..."
(8.)
Kim: (thinking) "...but now I'm more conflicted than ever."
(7.)
Kim: (thinking) "Why won't they do something?"
(6.)
Kim: (thinking) "I hurt my closest friends!"
(5.)
Kim: (thinking) "I hurt the whole J-Team!"
(4.)
Kim: (thinking) "Do something!"
(3.)
Kim: (thinking) "No wonder Jigsaw was able to get into my mind that badly!"
(2.)
Kim: (thinking) "I hurt them!"
(1...)
New Year's Day, 2022
Kim: (aloud, tears starting to form) "Why won't they hurt me...?!"
(She pauses for a few moments, realizing what she just said— and then quickly goes to Textspace.)
Textspace
NYD, The Stormchaser, Kim's Room
(She shakes her head, quickly deleting Kendall, Kamui, and 9-Volt's handles.)
Kim: (muttering to herself) "Nope. Nope. Don't even bother. You're just going to remind them, and the last thing they're going to want to do is help you, because they'll think that therapy will be enough for you even though it's been 3 months..."
Textspace, New Year's Day
Jubilife City Expo
Stipax: (beat) <Wait, you were in a body cast?! T-that's horrible! What happened to you, Chopper?!>
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅