Just as Mitchell hoped, he has drawn Red Delicious' attention. It's strange to him, though, that Red reacted as if the Poffin hurt him. Was that one stale?, he thinks.

"I don't need to be lucky forever!", Mitchell retorts to Red Delicious' threat. "Just long enough until-" He cuts himself off, as he stumbles out of the way of Red's retaliatory shot.

Gavroche takes a quick moment to admire how his and the other Pokemon's attacks are decimating the giant Appletun, before turning to Mitchell. He was about to say <What now, Boss?>, but what he sees makes his blood run cold.

The shadow of the Appletun was about to fall on Mitchell!

Ignoring the pain within it, Gavroche's body moved on it's own. Whatever it took, Gavroche was prepared to pay any price, even the ultimate one, to keep Mitchell from meeting an untimely demise.

Fortunately for both human and Rattata, the two were pulled out of the way by threads suddenly wrapped around them. As the two were pulled away, time seemed to slow for both of them.

What the? Thread?, Mitchell thinks. It's gotta be some Arachna-Guy fan or a spidery Pokemon who's got us. Oh, Truth and Ideals, that giant's all slimy and pinkish now. And now Gav's all glowy and- wait, what?

As for Gavroche, his attempt at self-sacrifice had pushed his will and body to their limits. At long last, he was about to evolve.

"Our middle son, actually," Christopher says to Jeff. "And yeah, he's got guts enough for all of us."

"I saw his eyes before we left, Your Honor," Aveline says to Judge Sanchez. "If he was being a fool or had a you-know-what, I'd have dragged him here."

Heighton watches the ongoing battle outside, hands clasped in silent prayer, while Lowry keeps an eye on the unfolding drama within the hotel.

And then, the sudden arrival of Louis and Miley into the room caused a chain of events that led to the being the Rhodes thought was Tommy being exposed as-

"A Ditto!", Lowry exclaimed, causing Heighton to spin around and see the thing's frightening form.

"Aw, shoot, now I know we're in a disaster flick," Heighton complains.

"Not the time, Big Bro," Lowry responds, halfway through sending out his Klink. "Get your partner out before the Ditto gets you!"

"Way ahead of you," Heighton says, as he sends out his Gurdurr.

"You ain't getting past us," Christopher says to "Tommy", as he sends out his Beartic.

"No sudden moves," Aveline threatens as she sends out her Zebstrika, "or you'll be in for more than a shock."

The Rhodes and their Pokemon tense up, ready for the slightest false movement the newly-exposed impostor makes.

School safehouse

Dratini: <Really? There's a key to here in the office!>

An argument can be heard from further down the corridor.

Templar 1: Dammit! Get off your damn phone and go to sleep! You! Need! Rest!

Templar 2: Come ooon, I only got impaled a bit, I can regenerate it whenever I want. Anyway I've got like 5 different identities that are supposed to be awake right now, you think people are going to believe them if I stop posting for a few hours???

Templar 1: They'll be fine! Now put the phone down!

Templar 2: No!

There is a thud noise.

Templar 1: Fine, if you want it to be that way it can be that way.

A door in the corridor slams open.

Micro: ~Everyone, quiet!~

Sunyshore Cafe

Maurice: "Yeah, that's been going around a lot. Victor's also been complaining about so many of his potential test subjects ending up as Truants."

Bubba Gump: <You struck a nerve, girl.>

School Safehouse

-Justice, ha ha, freezes-

Celstic Town

Noble Elemental: "It's a Ditto?!"

Coil: "Change up your tactics as much as you can! It could throw anything at us!"

Iris: "Oh I SUPER don't like this."

J-Chat

Battle Academy

-Retek looks Dune up and down.-

Retek: That's... not quite what I was expecting.

Angela: Indeed. I honestly expected a more... "desert warrior" aesthetic, rather than metal combat mole.

Dune: This feels very weird now that the adrenaline has passed.

Retek: Honestly the fact that you've held it this-

-A gust of wind blows by and Dune's curious metallic skin dissipates into his normal outfit.-

Retek: Ah, there we go.

Deziree: ... You actually had things under control, didn't you.

Amkoh: I will not say.

Deziree: You're an asshole, Amkoh.

Angela: Be that as it may, it did work.

Deziree: Don't encourage him!

Angela: I'm not. In fact, he's already on punishment duty. Again.

Amkoh: I am willing to accept this.

-Angela snaps and Amkoh disappears.-

Angela: Moving on to more interesting matters, I can say that, while I can confirm that you did, in fact, manifest your E.G.O, you did not do it as we know it.

Dune: How do you mean?

Angela: Rather than manifest a wholly new set of armor and weaponry, you appear to have combined with an already manifested part of your psyche.

Dune: ... Is that not what you did?

Angela: No, actually.

-She snaps her fingers and a projector drops down from the ceiling and starts displaying on a nearby wall.-

Angela: The Seed of Light's original purpose was the bestow upon humanity the ability to manifest their desires and dreams, regardless of birth or station. It would be a great equalizer - the ultimate competition between two forces. However, this world already had one such manifestation. Your Personas.

-The projector displays Arubeg wearing a metal plated red suit (with an arrow pointing to it saying "Actual E.G.O") and a giant red sword with eyeballs growing down the side of it (with an arrow denoting it as a "Borrowed E.G.O"). Next to her is Dune's E.G.O form.-

Angela: You see, Personas, while manifestation of a person, are reflective of a larger phenomena in this world's Collective Unconscious. That is why some people share Personas, be they different interpretations of a single individual or even the same.

-She then shows a mock-up of Dune's Persona, Asura.-

Angela: So instead of drawing power from a wholly original source to create a unique manifestation of it, as with Gebura here, you fused with your interpretation of an already existing concept.

-Red ouroborous circles form around Arubeg, while two conjoining red arrows connect Dune and Asura on the projection.-

Angela: I believe the terms used for this phenomena would be akin to "Gouitsujin", or "unified god", though a more modern word for it would be "Nahobino".

-Deziree is taking notes.-

Angela: However, rather than a true "fusion" of the two, it appears to act in a temporary manner similar to Mega Evolution or other, similar phenomena. Most likely due to a manifestation of such nature being rejected by reality's standards, though that is entirely speculation. It may also be because that's just how transformations work here. I don't know, nor do I find it an engaging enough topic to research.

Deziree: It is for me.

Angela: But yes, you have successfully manifested your E.G.O. I suspect won't be able to do outside of specific, high-stress situations. For Gebura, no matter how necessary it might be, she cannot manifest her own until combat has reached a certain fever pitch. Our other guests could not manifest theirs until they were nearly on death's door, and were at an emotional turning point.

Dune: So only "once in a while, against real drag-out battles" kinda deal.

Angela: That, or something that has immediate and lethal consequences. That was the case with us, anyway. For all we know, you could do it once a day, at any time. Or when presented with a threat of similar nature. Who knows? I don't. Moving on.

-The projector goes back up into the ceiling.-

Dune: I... feel really spent.

Retek: Don't worry, kid, that's pretty much how all of us feel after a good E.G.O boost.

Angela: I'm curious as to what Deziree's would look like.

Deziree: Nope, not going there until this bun in the oven is done.

Sunnyshore Café, past

Chiyo: -Smirks- At least it's doing something.

Hearthrome City, Amity Square (December 2022)

The Eevee stood her ground, getting into a crouch while looking straight at Tony and his mons.

Eevee: <Alright, let's see what you guys are made of! First one to knock each other out wins!>

Tony nodded, and turned to Stephen and Saul.

Saul: <I think Stephen should take this one, I'm kinda getting a little tired after that Team Skull brawl. I'm gonna snooze for a bit. See you guys later!

And then he went away from the group to a nearby rock.

Tony: That sounds like a good plan. Stephen, you're up!

Stephen would then float in front of Tony, awaiting whatever command he had next.

Eevee: <Enough talk!>

And she immediately rushed at Stephen with a Bite. It knocks Stephen back a bit, but he still manages to stand up floating pretty fine.

Stephen: <Huh. That was actually pretty cool->

And Stephen is immediately Bitten again. Stephen is obviously a little frustrated at this.

Stephen: <Okay, what the heck was that for?!>

The Eevee grinned.

Eevee: <You were too busy talking to see my attack, dumbo.>

Stephen: <Oh! So that's how we're doing this huh?>

Tony: Whoa, she does not play around... Stephen, do what you do best! Confusion!

Stephen: <COME GET SOME OF THIS!>

And Stephen fires a Confusion point-blank at her. The Eevee doesn't look impressed at it though.

Eevee: <Oh wow...a Confusion attack? Yeah, like that's actually gonna do anything->

At that moment, the Confusion hit her like a truck. And her mind got completely scrambled.

Eevee: <Duuuhhh...the weather forecast today is cloudy...>

Tony: Now, get her with all you got while she's lost in her head!

Eevee: <Urrrgh...no...I can't...I gotta...WIN...GRAAAHHHH!>

And she snaps out of her confusion and just straight up lunges straight at Stephen out of desperation.

Tony: Aw, crap! Stephen, do something!

But all Stephen was doing was staring at the Eevee pretty intensely, not moving an inch.

The Eevee got closer, and closer, and closer, but then...

She suddenly stopped.

In midair.

The Eevee looked like it was literally frozen in time.

Stephen then turned to Tony, with a smirk, his eyes showing a distinct gleam from them.

Tony: Holy Miltank...you were able to stop her with a Mean Look! I knew that move would come in handy!

Stephen: <Like I said many times before: every move has a purpose, Tony.>

The Eevee has fallen down to the ground, still frozen in place from the mean look. Stephen then floats over to her.

Stephen: <You might be as strong as you say, but you made one silly mistake: Don't. Call. Me. A Dumbo.>

The Eevee was then struck by a final Confusion, leaving her rolling off away into a rock, with swirls finally appearing on her eyes.

That rock also happened to be where Saul was taking a nap, from which he just so happened to wake up from the Eevee, suddenly crashing into him. Saul yawned, and turned to face Tony and Stephen.

Saul: <Ahhhhh...that was a good trip to dreamland if I do say so myself. How did the battle go for you two?>

Stephen: <I think the fainted Eevee in front of you should pretty much explain everything.>

Saul then looks at the Eevee in front of her and winces.

Saul: <Oh dang...you guys really roughed her up!>

Tony then hangs his head down for a bit.

Tony: Yeah...I guess we did...

It's then that Saul comes up with an idea.

Saul: <Hey! Why don't we all take her back to the Stormchaser? We can get her all healed up there!>

Stephen: <I think that's a pretty good idea, what about you Tony?>

Tony: Why, of course we can go over there! Let me just call that Gruber guy again, he's probably out of town somewhere so it's gonna be a while. You two go watch over that Eevee, alright?

Stephen & Saul: <Yessir!>

And so, while Tony pulls out his phone to call the Gruber Driver again, Stephen and Saul took to comforting the unconscious Eevee.

Stephen: <Don't worry, it's all gonna be fine in the end. You're gonna love Tony as a trainer. Take my word for it.>

Edited by ThanosBoi on Feb 1st 2023 at 11:34:57 AM

Stormchaser, kitchen, past

Kamon: (stares at him for a second, then pffts) Whatever. Didn't know you knew Ludi's family. Gorgeous people, awful taste in interior decor. And the laundry thing.

Sunyshore Cafe

Maurice: "Yeah it sure is..."

-He's just kinda. Looking respectfully at Chiyo.-

Bubba Gump: <...You OK there bud?>

Floaroma Town

-Mog is here-

-She seems very perplexed by the local obsession with flowers-

Ecruteak

-Olivia is here, at the outskirts of town, near the golden leaves-

Stormchaser, far past

-To Kamon-

You shouldn't smoke in here, she doesn't like it.

-More serious-

I've had my dealings with the Macrauls, yes. Most of them are kinda the worst.

Sunnyshore Café, past

Chiyo: -Can tell that Maurice is looking at her... respectfully, but chooses not to bring attention to it- So you agree Maurice?

-She winks-

You're looking a little red there, was your coffee too hot?

-Well, not completely anyway-

Floaroma Town, today

Chiyo: -To Mog- Interesting place, isn't it?

Ecruteak City, also today

Ann: -Has Arrived-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Feb 2nd 2023 at 2:18:38 PM

A Pokemon Breeder wearing a Mightyena-themed coat arrives as well.

Mitchell arrives, dressed in a new-looking dark blue coat.

School safehouse, storage room

The thundering footsteps come closer to the room...

...Before stopping halway down the corridor and slamming a door open.

Schoolkid: What is it?

Templar 1: Where's your Breloom?

Schoolkid: Over there, Morel!

Some scuffling around the room can be heard.

Schoolkid: Careful, that's pretty poisonou-

Templar 1: Don't order me around, kid. I've dealt with enough brats today already.

Schoolkid: Yes sir, sorry sir.

The templar, having apparently got what he was looking for, stomps back down the corridor to the other room.

Micro: ~Great, of course someone would end up in this specific medbay on this specific day and rile up that templar. We'll need to be extra careful heading down to the office to get those records.~

Dratini: <And the keys for here!>

Micro: ~Yes, and that too...~

Micro levitates a poke ball off the shelf.

Micro: ~Fortunately, I'm just about done in here. I think this is the one.~

Hearthome City Gym

Xaster brings out ToTo, who has evolved into Togekiss. Just Gengar and one more pokémon left.

"Use Air Slash!" he says. ToTo flies upwards to gain height, then launches dozens of blades of air towards Gengar.

"Dazzling Gleam!" Fantina counters. Gengar focuses and begins to glow bright colours - the air slash attacks bounce off in this form. "Now, Shadow Ball!" Gengar extinguishes the light, then pulls together the darkness that seems to linger afterwards into an orb that it throws at ToTo. She is hit in the chest and she begins to fall, but she spreads her wings at the last moment and pulls up from the ground.

"Ancient Power!" Xaster yells. ToTo skims the ground, pulling large stones from the battlefield that she launches towards Gengar. The shadow pokémon takes several of them to the face. "Noonblast, now!" Taking advantage of Gengar being stunned, ToTo flies up and closes the distance between them, creating a powerful ball of lunar energy.

"Dark Pulse!" Fantina shouts. Gengar summons dark energy - both it and ToTo release their attacks at the same time, creating an explosion that throws both of them back.

"Je suis desolée," Fantine tells Xaster. "I think you cannot reach us, no?"

Xaster grins. "Check again." Above him, ToTo spins and flips in the air before righting itself and flying forwards. "Air Slash!" Gengar, who is still off balance from the last explosion, is only just able to right itself before ToTo's next wave of wind blades slam into it. It falls limply to the ground, unconscious.

"Gengar is unable to battle," the referee says, as Fantina recalls it. "The Gym Leader now has only a single pokémon."

"Oui," Fantina says. "Time to take the stage, mon amie! Go, Mismagius!"

Mismagius emerges from its pokéball with a huge flash of purple light, before floating in a somewhat menacing manner in the middle of the arena.

Xaster frowns. "This is her ace? Doesn't look that tough, but..." He makes eye contact with ToTo. "Okay, use Moonblast!" ToTo begins to charge its Monnblast attack.

Fantina grins. "Mismagius, use Power Gem!" Mismagius only needs to focus for a moment to create a giant red gemstone in the air in front of it. It launches it towards ToTo, who releases Moonblast. The Moonblast is knocked aside by Power Gem in an instant, and ToTo takes the attack head on.

"Togekiss is unable to battle," the referee says, as ToTo falls to the ground.

"No way," Xaster mutters, as the crowd roars. "In just one attack?" The darkness in his mind starts to creep forwards. If Mismagius was that strong, then there would be no way he would be able to defeat it. He might as well just give up now, better that then being humiliated.

His pokéball opens, and RiRi pops out. <Azu!> he snaps. The sound snaps Xaster out of his funk.

"What did you say?" he asks.

<Azu, Az, Zuma!> RiRi repeats. Xaster stares at him, then nods and takes a deep breath. He looks up at the scoreboard - there they are, the five pokémon that have given their all to this fight so far. He can't let them all down now. And, he decides, he won't.

"Are you ready?" Fantina asks. She frowns as she sees Xaster recalling RiRi. "What are you doing?"

Xaster grins at her. "Making one heck of an entrance!" He turns to the audience. "Ladies, Gentlemen, and anyone who falls within or without of that spectrum, I hope you've enjoyed the show until now! We're unfortunately coming to the end, but I want to introduce all of you to my one and only first ever partner. RiRi, I choose you!" He throws the pokéball into the air. It opens, and a flood of water spills out that turns to ice and crystallises in a large fountain shape. RiRi lands on the top of the structure and spreads his arms, letting everyone get a good look at him.

Fantina watches with a smile on her face. "Are you ready?"

"Ready!" Xaster says. (The animation suddenly improves significantly). "Use Aqua Tail!" A huge surge of water appears from the end of RiRi's tail and he rushes forwards, swinging this huge wave towards Mismagius.

"Psychic!" Fantina yells. Mismagius uses its psychic powers to stop the wave in its tracks, as though holding back a great storm.

"Play Rough!" RiRi releases the water and allows itself to be carried by the tide of the water. The water throws it towards Mismagius, and he lands several hits with his arms and tail before he is thrown away by a Shadow Ball. Rather than hit the ground, he lands on his tail use it to bounce himself back towards it.

"Ice Punch!" RiRi covers his fist in ice, and closes in on Mismagius.

"Power Gem!" Fantina shouts. Mismagius creates another giant ruby red gem, this time using it as a shield rather than an attack. RiRi smashes the gem, but Mismagius is protected and flies backwards to get some distance.

"Use Mystical Fire!" Fantina says.

"Aqua Ring!" Xaster shouts in response. Mismagius lashes out with a swirling fire, but RiRi covers itself with a spinning ring of water that douses the fire. "Now, Ice Punch on the Aqua Ring!" RiRi uses its ice to freeze the Aqua Ring, which it then throws towards Mismagius, dealing a solid hit.

Both pokémon are breathing heavily, clearly tired. Xaster and RiRi meet each other's eyes and share a grin.

"Let's finish this!" Xaster says. "Use Aqua Ring and Aqua Tail!" RiRi places its tail on the ground and begins to use Aqua Tail. He digs his feet into the ground as an anchor, creating a giant wave behind him that quickly dwarfs him. As he engages Aqua Ring, some of the raging water wraps around him, covering his front with the sea's wrath as well.

"Power Gem!" Fantina shouts. As the moment when RiRi stops anchoring itself and lets itself be thrown forwards, Mismagius creates a giant gem to defend itself. As Xaster and RiRi scream in excitement together, RiRi hits the gem and smashes through it, reching Mismagius on the other side.

Mismagius is thrown past Fantina and into the wall, cracking it. She turns and watches in shock as it falls out of the wall and to the ground, unconscious.

"Mismagius is unable to battle! Challenger Xaster wins!"

Xaster cheers and runs forwards, scooping up RiRi and giving him a hug (as the animation returns to normal). "We did it!" he says. RiRi responds in much the same way, and they share a big hug.

Fantina approaches Xaster. "Well, look's like you 'ave proved me wrong. I think zat if you like, you can be a great battler or coordinator."

Xaster puts RiRi down and turns to face her. "Merci, Fantina. Coming from you, that means a lot."

"Please, accept this," Fantina says. She holds out a badge to Xaster. "Zis is the Relic Badge. Zat makes eight, no?"

Xaster takes the badge, and squats down to RiRi. "We got a Relic Badge." He stands up. "Now, Miss Fantina, if you'll excuse me, I have to go call my partner."

Almia, North

-Logan drums their fingers on their knees-

-they rub their upper arms-

Addie: <...just take the L and call Eric.>

Logan: -breath misting- It's too cold for dragons, Addie.

Addie: <And not for hoverbikes??>

-for the umpteenth time she's holding jumper cables, paws to cheeks-

Logan: I thought it was rated for winter weather!!

Addie: -sparking- <Winter weather in Oblivia!!>

Froslass: <...there's an Abomasnow who owes me a favor,>

Addie: -sigh- <No, it's fine, we're waiting on someone anyway.>

Froslass: <Hrm.>

Logan: "Hrm"?

Froslass: <Did this friend happen be yea high, Herdier partner, no sense of direction...>

-...-

Froslass: <Cleans up in white?>

Addie: <...definitely not.>

Froslass: -drifting off- <Shame.>

-...-

Logan: So that's where that tourist got off to.

Addie: <Call Eric.>

Logan: Latiascicle.

Addie: <Logancicle!!>

Froslass: <You have nice cheekbones.>

The GM House

-Deziree taps the fast dial on her phone.-

Ms. Fowling: Fowling here.

Deziree: It's me. How's the search?

Ms. Fowling: Well, the factory floor wasn't a whole lot of info. Just angry workers who were looking for a reason to strike.

Deziree: That's something. File that away for later.

Ms. Fowling: Already done. Oh, but I did get some login credentials off of a floor manager.

Deziree: Oooh, did you find the No Fly List?

Ms. Fowling: Hah! No, it's even better. You wanna know what their formula uses that makes it so special?

Deziree: Well, don't keep me waiting.

Ms. Fowling: They add Hidden Valley Ranch.

Deziree: ... Of course.

Ms. Fowling: Yeah, go figure! Anyway, this baby formula is a bust. Sorry, boss.

Deziree: Damn. You still have some on the list to hit, right?

Ms. Fowling: Oh yeah, I've still got a good five or six to go. I'll check back once I'm half way through that.

Deziree: Make it fast. If I want to have a solid supply line by the time I need it, I'm gonna need to act sooner rather than later.

Ms. Fowling: Right-o, boss. Fowling, out.

Thieves Hideout

Susan: Wait they're on the Thieves? Huh... I mean if we're going up against the School we should get all hands on deck, yeah?

Battle Academy, Tick Tock Tick Tock

What? But she's being controlled by—

Elizabeth: I should go.

-The energy crests-

The Owl: <Jaunting.>

Glimwood Cabin

Hm. Well you're certainly well-informed, little man. But it seems like if anyone in here needs help with their life it's you.

-Gale mostly just watches him drift about, her stance still in a slightly guarded idle animation-

What's your play though Mister Big Deals? Is this some Free To A Good Home thing you're trying to play with me?

Celestic Town, Exterior

Well, looks like your big muscle has fled leaving just you and me.

-The Nightingale does a little flourish once she's back on her feet-

Does your benefactor see through your eyes, Red Delicious? Because I can see where the gaze of all those who take up his feather find purchase...

-With that cryptic remark, she goes in for another flurry. This time however, she's assisted by Acolyte swinging around to join her in the charge-

Ecruteak City, Olivia's Origami Adventures

-The shadows shift as Gale wanders out nearby the group and makes a little half-jog over-

Heya. Any idea what Ollie's done now that we're on-site?

Before long, Halis is prepared to head over to the link they were sent. Before that, though...

Halis: "You stay right where you are, alright? No turning my room into a non-euclidian hellscape with your weirdness while I'm out!"

Morgul simply stares back, as always.

Halis: "Good, good, glad we understand each-other."

Strobe: <Well, as long as that isn't coming with us, I'm fine with this, I suppose...>

Halis: "Oh relax, I'll handle everything. These are going to be friends, after all!"

Strobe: <You say that about everyone you meet until you suddenly decide otherwise, I swear...>

Not in the mood for any further arguing, Strobe recalls to the PDA, and Halis steps outside...

...More specifically, directly towards where they were told to go. They've already been invited, after all, and they were told to come promptly, so what better way to show up than to simply arrive?

Halis: "Friend delivery service, you've got a package~"

Battle Academy

Angela: Oh, for the love of-

-Then time stops.-

-Chains, locks, pillars fill the room.-

-Black and gold as the laws of the room are enforced.-

-Arbitrated.-

-Allowances, suspended.-

-Powers, revoked.-

-Exits, locked.-

-The Arbiter enters the room, not a footstep to be heard.-

Binah: Your host has asked you a question. It would be an unacceptable breach of hospitality to leave it unanswered.

-Her faculty robes have been replaced by something... deeper. More voluminous. A uniform of a different kind. Golden hexagons trace the trim of her robes.-

Angela: Thank you, Binah. I detest going to such measures, but I will have answers.

Sunyhshore Cafe

Maurice: -at the first comment- "Yeah I agree."

-At the second comment, blushes harder- "Wait, no, it's- yes that's exactly it, the coffee and - the steam-

Bubba Gump: -snickers-

Floraroma Town

Mog: "Oh hello. I vaguely remember you from the J-Team..."

-she scrunches up her nose=

"It's a sickeningly sweet smell..."

School Safehouse

Justice: "Okay, get the Pokeball, get the keys, get the Dratini, get out of here..."

Thieves' Hideout

Flamel: <Oh Halis, there you are!>

Ecruteak City

Olivia: <Oh! I think that's tre right amount of people.>

-squints-

<...But where's the guy with the sign?>

Thieves Hideout, January 2022

-Is just waiting around-

Sunnyshore Café, past

Chiyo: -To Maurice- Well you have to be careful you know, don't want to burn your tongue. It took me forever to figure out how to boil tea right.

-Reaches over to take Maurice's hand-

I could always show you, if you'd like.

Floaroma Town, yesterday

Chiyo: -To Mog- It's kinda weird, there's always flowers here, even in the dead of winter.

Ecruteak, yesterday

Ann: -To Olivia- Who?

PEFE HQ, today

Everyone: -Gathered around a certain Yanmega and the cake- <HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY DARNER!

Darner: -Immediately starts digging into her cake, which seems to be made from meat- <Yay!>

-But her Trainer's thoughts seem a bit distracted-

Well, at least there's no generator hunt to deal with... but all the other stuff that happened ten years ago...

Chiyo: -Wearing a party hat, having been invited- What's up with Tagg, he seems a bit... not here right now. He's got that look on his face when he's thinking.

Azumarill: <Well, it's been, or going to be, ten years since we met this year, and the latter portion of 2013... wasn't good.>

Chiyo: -Eyebrow raise- What do you mean?

Ovis: <I-It's not our story to tell, we weren't even there. I-It was bad, for him, for us, for everyone. A-Admittedly I'm not gonna cry over who it was done to, but the aftermath chased us until roughly a couple years before we met you.>

Aaron: <With Constantin still being around, I'd argue it still does, in a domino sense. It made Echo lose faith, got her to create the Illusion Project, he joined them, and after it went kaput it gave him his followers.>

Kamella: -Glares at the very mention of Constantin's name-

Anguis: <Everyone on the J-Team who was around back then knows, but not everyone who came afterwards, Channah being an exception. He told her, Tyto's group told us, for obvious reasons.>

Chiyo: -Slightly concerned- What could that be?

Throh: <There's a lot you don't know about Tagg, but he trusts you, so he'll tell you eventually.>

Chiyo: -Arms crossed- You don't have to worry, I don't want to force it out of him before he's ready to tell me.

Gaia: <We've got around nine months till that anniversary, that day will come sooner than you think.>

Edited by rmctagg09 on Feb 13th 2023 at 10:52:12 AM

Mitchell pulls out a small, obviously hand-made sign from under his coat. It reads "Olivia?" in a childlike scrawl.

Mitchell: -to Olivia- This mean anything to you?

Kaisei: "Well, good to know I'm speaking to the right person at least hehe."

"Though, sign? Presume it's not that one."

-Kaisei indicates Mitchell's sign as he pulls it out-

Spamton looked over to Gale. "[[FREE]] isn't in my verbage [Little Plaything]. I'm looking for [Help Wanted], been looking for a long time! All you need to do is [HYPERLINK BLOCKED]!"

The Pen appeared beside Gale and patted her on the shoulder. Crazy little spud isn't he? Think the Banette thing ties in with the puppet thing?

Spamton was shocked and put a hand over his mouth. "Oh! You already have [OUTSIDER FASHION] help!"

The Pen's inky black avatar blinked. I'm not making myself visible to anyone but you right now, how can he see me?

"I'd love to talk [MOAR] about myself! I used to be a [BIG SHOT], selling [BRAND NEW CUNGEDEROS] around town. Now I'm the [It Burns! Ow! Stop! Help Me! It Burns!] guy! hahahahahahaahaha!"

Not exactly one to one is he? No full caps speech for one.