Castelia City, Hill

Alyesha grinned and nodded

Alyesha: "Never intended to~! Now, let's do this~!"

On the field meanwhile, Sonya's eyes went wide when Esmeralda suddenly seemed to come from three directions at once, letting out a slight yelp when the attack hit her, throwing her back to the edge of the marked field.

Semyon all the while had less trouble, skillfully dodging the charge while letting out a bellowing laugh.

Semyon: <Keeping up with ye matey~? Yer finally making me move me old bones again~!>

He shouted in reply before looking at Alyesha with what probably counted as a sly grin, netting him only a nod and an equally sly grin from her.

Seeing that his plan was a-go, Semyon extended his anchor chain. Only moments after, the chain began to glow bright blue, seemingly becoming enveloped in a sheath of water, with Semyon swinging said chain against Esmeralda almost like one would swing a sword.

Semyon used Liquidation

Sonya for her part shook her head slightly to get her bearings before quickly looking back over to Alyesha

Sonya: <I-I'm fine! I-I'm still fine!>

She shouted

Sonya: <What do I do?>

In response, Alyesha pointed to Esmeralda

Alyesha: "Go for a Bite, Sonya! Show her how it's done~!"

The Dreepy grinned and nodded, shooting up towards Esmeralda, intending to nibble at her.

Sonya: <Now we'll see how you taste as food~!>

She almost cheerfully shouted as she rushed towards the other Pokémon.

Besides the filed meanwhile, Matvey watched the match with excitement only surpassed by Katyusha who was rather literally scuttling around all over her larger team-partner in excitement.

Vasilissa sees Semyon's water-wreathed anchor chain, and she's pretty sure she doesn't want a direct hit from it. She zig-zags like a Zigzagoon to dodge Semyon's skilled swordplay, but a few glancing blows strike true, and boy do they hurt!

<Mrgrgr!> Vasilissa whinnies. <My prize-winning coat, ruined!>

Rebecca signals to Oliver. <Alyesha didn't call an attack for Semyon. Is that a foul?>

<The water formed around Semyon's chain is sufficient as a tell. It's legal,> Oliver responds, showing the Official International Pokemon League Rulebook (ver. Q1 2023) turned to the relevant section.

Meanwhile, Esmeralda leans to try dodging Sonya's charge, but she only succeeds at getting her right talon chomped on. The imbalance caused by this limpet-like Bite causes her to struggle to remain airborne.

<Curses!> Esmeralda cries. <You taste the earth now. Soon, I might taste it, too!>

Unperturbed by this sight, or perhaps lost in a delusion of his own making, Mitchell covers his face with his right hand while thrusting his left pointer finger at Semyon. "Vasilissa! Esmeralda!" he orders. "Focus on the Dhelmise! Trap it inside an infernal Fire Spin, and cut it down with a Wing Attack of certain doom!"

<Here goes everything!> Vasilissa says, as she races around Semyon faster, and faster, and faster still, until a cyclone of orange flame threatens to engulf the Dhelmise. Meanwhile, Esmeralda flaps her wings and climbs up above the flames, before diving nearly-straight down on top of Semyon, wing ready to strike him.

Beside Mitchell, Edmond is awestruck by Semyon's inspired swordplay. <Such incredible martial arts,> he says.

<But can our stunts overcome it?> Gavroche asks. <If not, this match is done right here.>

Stormchaser

-A smell wafts from the Stormchaser kitchen-

Maggie is hanging out in er room when Scouter happens to catch a whiff from the kitchen.

Scouter: <Interesting smell!>

Maggie: "Huh, curious... I can kinda smell it too but my smell Is kinda bad."

Scouter: <Check it out!>

Maggie: "Yeah, could be a nice idea..."

And the two go head to the kitchen to find it out.

Stormchaser Kitchen

-Maggie and Scouter go in to find a glasses-wearing blonde woman of seeming mixed white and [East Asian] descent, her hair tied into a bun this time around, going over a pot with indeterminate food items inside. Watching her cook is a taller than average Black teenager with an aghast look on her face. Both have purple eyes-

???: Boron, I still don't know what you're trying to make.

Boron: You only live once Louise, so it's best to make the most of it, though I guess that's not as true for me as it is for most people. I just know I'm pretty sure I'm getting the hang of this.

??? Louise: I'm not sure how Chiyo and Dr. Tagg are going to react if they find you dead after all they trouble they went to reviving you.

-Noticing Maggie and Scouter the same time her Boltund's head turns towards the entryway-

We've got company.

Edited by rmctagg09 on May 12th 2023 at 11:41:50 AM

Desmond lets Morgan out of the scabbard, and she grumbles some more telepathic curses before beginning to talk, a weird, warbling noise akin to metal slamming on metal, but somehow soothing.

Morgan: <Ah, sorry for my rowdy apprentice as well. Good day to you, kind fellows! I am Morgan, and we are together to hope and achieve great martial prowess!>

Desmond: Morgan says hi. We're trying to become really strong.

the boy supplies, gesturing to his sword. The two of them bow, less formal now.

Desmond: What about you? what're you guys here for?

Celestic Town

Atrin: "Exploring, I guess. I wanted to see what was outside Unova, so first stop was Sinnoh. It's a really nice region, a lot of really amazing stuff here. And I guess I'm trying to get stronger as well. So we have that in common."

Scouter: <Here to see the source of the smell!>

Maggie: "Uh, hey... I heard something about Schoolkids and revival in that talk. What's going on here?"

Scouter: <Perhaps a member of an older and a more recent batch?!>

Desmond considers challenging Atrin to a battle as a fellow trainer, but decides against it. Perhaps later, when the two of them were well rested.

Desmond: Actually, we're going to rest at the moment. You challenging the gyms? We actually haven't started, yet.

Morgan <Yeah, because someone forgot to ask whether our unique pairing was even allowed to join in the first place!>

Morgan vibrates angrily, but Desmond simply Dope Slaps her to shush her.

Desmond: Sorry, but what she meant was because of our fighting style, we haven't considered if we would be allowed to take the gym challenge. So, anyway, you also challenging the gyms?

Celestic Town

Atrin: I am. Got four Sinnoh badges already, but I get the feeling it's gonna get harder from here. As for if you can compete, ask one of those champ-in-the-making guys, maybe?"

Mimir has been quiet again, looking between everyone, as if analyzing every little detail.

Desmond: You have a point. Thank you again, friend.

he smiles, before starting to walk to the Pokemon Center. He quickly stops, however, and turns back around.

Desmond: Oh yeah. Forgot to ask. Wanna take a break from the sightseeing, maybe battle after?

Stormchaser Kitchen

Boron: -To Maggie- Cooking.

Louise: -Apprehensively- Who are you?

-Hearing Scouter-

Something like that.

-Both seem to be a bit cagey about saying anything more about themselves-

Celestic Town

Atrin: I'm game if you are. Should be fun."

Mimir seems to bow his head a bit.

Atrin: Hoping they let you compete. Good luck with all that."

Desmond: Great! I'll grab some coffee. You can go ahead to the center.

he smiles, and starts to walk away.

Morgan: <Good, at least you're making friends.>

Morgan hums sleepily from her scabbard.

Desmond: I thought you told me, "A knight is weaker without fellowmen."?

he grins, and Morgan could only chuckle in response.

Morgan: <Get me a coffee too, please?>

she asks. Desmond starts to nod but catches himself.

Desmond: How do you...? Never mind.

Scouter: <Uneasiness detected, understandable!>

Maggie: "...Oh, right, sorry, should have probably led with the fact that I know Chiyo. I play Stellaris games with her sometimes!"

Edited by CorvusAtrox on May 11th 2023 at 9:19:34 AM

Celestic Town

Atrin: Sounds good. You take care until then.

Atrin heads to the Pokemon Center to heal up and relax a bit. He gives a wave back.

Stormchaser Kitchen

Boron: -Eyebrow raise- You know Chiyo, huh? I'm one of her Batchmates.

Louise: -Looking er over- Are you that Maggie person she and Dr. Tagg mentioned then? My story's... kinda complicated.

Boron: I wouldn't say it's that more complicated than mine, even if we have the commonality of fighting Chiyo. Difference was, Louise lived to tell about it, you see.

Edited by rmctagg09 on May 11th 2023 at 10:54:27 AM

Desmond walks up to one of the small shops in the town, and buys a couple of coffees from the nice old lady. He hands one to Morgan, who holds the cup using her appendage. She dips it into her coffee, and sighs.

Morgan: <That's pretty good coffee.>

Desmond sips his, and nods in agreement. He carries the other two coffees, and heads for the Pokemon Center. The red and white building in the southwest holds a patio with seats and tables. Desmond walks in to find Atrin. Once he finds where Atrin is staying, he places down the coffees nearby, and gives one to Atrin.

Desmond: Here you go. Not sure if your Pokemon can drink coffee, so I bought an extra, in case they want it.

he says, before drinking his coffee. A nice day outside, it's perfect for a battle. He'll rest first, though.

Edited by Jules-Firenze on May 11th 2023 at 11:12:46 PM

Celestic Town

Atrin takes a drink of the coffee.

Atrin:That's good stuff. Thank you. And Mimir doesn't drink much coffee. Orchard, on the other hand, might.

Atrin pulls out a Pokeball and sends out an Appletun next to him, who takes a few sniffs of the coffee, before starting to drink.

Desmond whistles in awe of the Appletun, and he and his partner take some more sips.

Desmond: Oh hey, an Appletun! haven't seen one of these since home. Where'd you get the apple?

Morgan: <Huh. So he has at least 3 Pokemon. That's gonna be rough on us, Des.>

Desmond brushes away his partner's words, however, and continues talking.

Desmond: So where'd you start your journey, Atrin? My "starter" is this lovely piece of work, Morgan. I actually haven't caught anyone else, haven't I?

he says that last question to himself. Gyms are gonna be rough.

Celestic Town

Atrin: "I'm from Nimbasa City. My family were friends with this local scientist. Not even sure how they knew each other, but he was studying Solosis. Long story short, one of them got attached to me during a visit to the lab, and he gave him to me as a gift, and here we are."

Orchard gives Desmond a friendly smile.

Atrin: "As for her, I found her near home as an Applin. I, uh, think someone a bit more well travelled might've left her there. At least, I think so. Not very common where I'm from."

Desmond: Aw, that's neat. Your Pokemon must like you quite a bit. I caught Morgan, or it's more accurate to say that she caught me, when she saved me from Parasect.

he smiles, reminiscing fondly.

Morgan: <He most likely would've died without my intervention.>

She laughs, but her voice is kind and soft.

Desmond: Yeah, I would've died. So we're inseparable. To the detriment of not catching anyone else. Yay.

he deadpans his sentiment.

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Lace: <Ooh, personality defects are fun too.>

Ever: She's my worst impulses, Lu. I don't imagine she'll be easily offput.

Ersatz Alliance

Didit: ~Death butler. I like that. Please only refer to me as such from now on.~

Neodymium: Right. Okay.

-she eyes the clothes suspiciously-

Neodymium: So what clothes give me the greatest bonus to subjugating people?

Castelia City, Hill

Semyon chuckled at the comment about Vasilissa's coat being ruined

Semyon: <Haha, 'tis only water, matey, it'll wash off~>

He shouted cheerfully, oh so obviously rather happy to get to train once more.

Alyesha meanwhile watched Esmeralda and Sonya tumble in the air, hoping (and being right in said hope) that Sonya would not be shaken off and "fall" to the ground, much as a floating Pokémon could be hurt by such a fall to begin with).

With both Esmeralda and Vasilissa focusing on Dhelmise now though, Alyesha looked up to Sonya and then over to Semyon

Alyesha: "Well, let's show them our own combo then, why don't we? Semyon, show them your own tornado, will you? And Sonya, give him a helping hand!"

Semyon let out a hearty laugh at the order, and so, as Vasilissa began spinning around him and the flaming tornado began to form, he began spinning around in its centre, causing water to erupt from the ground in a (now superheated) Whirlpool. While Semyon still took damage from the flames, he managed to at least lessen the amount of it. All the while, Sonya kept on nibbling on Esmeralda's leg as she went in for the attack, only letting go when she was already having a fair amount of speed, using that momentum to catapult herself into the Whirlpool and riding its edge in an effort to further increase its speed - and therefore damage.

Sonya: <Wohooo~! That's fun~! But hot... definitely hot - but fun~!>

Semyon used Whirlpool, Sonya used Helping Hand

And, though Semyon's strategically placed Whirlpool saved him from some of the damage while Esmeralda as well - maybe due to suddenly losing the imbalance she had calculated into her flight-path from having Sonya hang on her claw - did not manage to hit him directly and with the full force of the impact, his type weakness to both of their attacks still meant that the resulting damage was nothing to be scoffed at.

Edited by Sergey_Smirnov on May 12th 2023 at 6:20:46 PM

Scouter: <Hypothesis of being one of Chiyo's batchmates confirmed!>

Maggie: "Oh, yeah, I'm Maggie. Since Tagg's been mentioned I know him better, given he's my boss and all. Could've probably mentioned him too since he got mentioned by you in passing, but hey."

"But, yeah, I've definitely heard Chiyo mention the name Louise before. Not sure about other Batchmates before. I mean, I've met Zee, she came to my aid when a confrontation with this fire-specialist Templar started getting hairy, but... well, I'm assuming you're Not Chloe or Abe from what I've heard about either of them."

Scouter: <Fits with my own assessment as well! Especially as we heard the name Boron as we entered!>

Maggie: "So, on that end, stories. I hope this isn't a weird comparison to make, but well, complicated stories is kind of a commonality here on the Stormchaser by virtue of the stuff we get caught up in if not necessarily our past so you're in good company. If you wanna talk about your stories to a friendly ear, between Scouter and me, we've got 4. And I will say from something else I've heard, revivals are rare but they're something I have encountered."

Scouter wiggles his ears to indicate willingness to listen.

Edited by CorvusAtrox on May 12th 2023 at 1:50:53 PM