ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Vs. Maylene, Final Pokemon!

Maylene: Congrats on the evolution! Now, let's see the power you have!

Maylene and Lucario smile in unison as both of their pairs of hands form a Kamehamehadouken stance. Lucario's hands hold a ball of pure energy, and just before Atrin and Mimir resume, Maylene yells,

Maylene: Use Aura Sphere!

as the ball of energy rockets towards the Reuniclus. The Psychic, however, stops it in its tracks, much to their surprise, before the energy is sent back towards Lucario. As it explodes, Mimir's Psychic takes hold of the Lucario and slams him straight into the ground, smashing through the stage. Lucario stands up after a few seconds, and panting, goes for one final

Maylene: Close Combat! Let's end this with a bang!

As Lucario expends the last of his energy to run towards Mimir.

Veilstone Gym

Atrin and Mimir both grin in unison.

Atrin: You know what to do! Let's move it to a crawl! Trick Room!

The whole arena is surrounded by a cube of energy, and speed is reversed! The previously fast Lucario's run seems to be slowed by a lot, and Mimir just zips behind him!

Atrin: Psyshock!

From behind Lucario, a concentrated blast of Psychic energy hits it point blank!

Despite himself, Lucario smiles. Good match. He thought, projecting it into Mimir's mind, before collapsing.

Maylene sighs, a mixture of happiness and frustration.

Maylene: Ugh, man I lost... But hey, you were amazing, especially with that clutch evolution!

sh laughs, before a karate guy tosses her something shiny. She catches it, and tosses it to Atrin. A badge, nice and gleaming, a rock with four parts.

Maylene: This is the Cobble Badge. You and your Pokemon definitely earned it.

She grins as she fist-bumps Atrin, and leaves to begin treating her Pokemon.

Morgan: <Wait... What about us?!>

she cries out as Desmond consoles her.

Desmond: That was a great battle though! Nice job! That makes... 5 badges, if memory serves me right. That makes 3 more?

Desmond chuckles and Morgan nods eagerly.

Morgan: <Quite the spectacle, Atrin. Congratulations again to Mimir! (Lucky bastard.)>

she mumbles that last part to herself, and Desmond stifles a chuckle.

Edited by Jules-Firenze on Aug 15th 2023 at 11:00:12 PM

Veilstone Gym

Atrin takes the badge, looking at it and smiling. He hugs Mimir.

Atrin: You were amazing, Mimir! I figured you were close to evolving, but I certainly didn't expect it mid battle. And four badges, actually.

Mimir smiles happily, proud of himself.

Veilstone Gym

Maylene: Sorry, Desmond. Maybe later this afternoon.

Maylene bows apologetically, and Desmond bows back.

Desmond: No problem Miss Maylene. We shall simply celebrate Atrin's victory.

Maylene smiles and waves goodbye as Desmond and Atrin exit the gym, walking around town.

Veilstone City

Desmond: So whaddya feel now? Feel like you can take on anything?

he laughs towards Atrin.

Morgan: <I must admit I'm quite envious of your victory.>

she sighs, and Desmond pets her hilt.

Desmond: We'll be fine. Now let's find a place to cele-

he gets cut off by a sudden yell. "Damn you! Lemme back in!" Desmond and Atrin rush to the Game Corner, where a scraggly, wild-eyed man was being dragged screaming out of it by some buff men. "You can't do this to a loyal customer!" the man roars, trying to get past the bouncers. Eventually, he stops, huffs, and turns away. Seeing Atrin and Desmond, his eyes widen and he dives to his feet in dogeza.

"Please! Help me get back in! There's something I left in there! Something important!"

Veilstone City

Atrin: Are you okay, sir? And what'd you leave in there?

Atrin peers past the man, trying to get a good look at the place.

Resort Area, July 5th

-Looking between the mons assembled-

I think I'll go with...

Fight Area, today

-Sitting by the ocean as a Sprigatito and Pawniard playfight in front of me-

Tonight's my last day in Sinnoh, then we're headed to Paldea for my temp gig.

Hitodama: <Gras and Kinsho seem to be fitting in alright.>

I'd hope so after more than a month.

-It's than the Nacli egg I'm holding, another gift from the facility, starts to shake-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 21st 2023 at 10:19:49 AM

Outside Veilstone Game Corner

The Game Corner was adorned with flashing signs of all colors advertising their gambling, and the entrance was flanked by two bouncers. "I left a trinket of mine! It's lucky and belongs to my family!" pleads the man. "They won't let me in, but two trainers taking the Gym Challenge can open up some real traffic, so they won't refuse you!" He grips onto Atrin's pant leg, pleading.

Desmond gently pulls the dude off and looks at Atrin.

Desmond: Whaddya think? Should we help him?

Edited by Jules-Firenze on Aug 16th 2023 at 12:50:04 AM

Veilstone Gym

Atrin: Can't hurt, can it? Besides, I like helping where I can. What's this trinket look like?

Atrin looks at the man on his pant leg, definitely a bit awkwardly about it.

A Mysterious Location

Whitt raises his swords in front of him, and the Heat Wave parts around him as Horus uses Protect. The ice that is forming on his face and body appears unaffected from being so close to the hot air.

Whitt: You know Nitrogen. You really are impressive. Escaping the Phantom Campus is nothing to disregard, and as far as I'm concerned you're one of the strongest things that the School ever created. There really would be no replacing you.

As the Heat Wave ends, he releases Morrigan from her pokéball.

Whitt: But I am a templar.

Light begins to shine from the artificial mega stone placed inside Morrigan.

Whitt: I was built to dominate. That part can be reproduced. But I've made myself into something they never could.

Morrigan's form changes, becoming her Mega Banette form. She smiles cruelly.

Whitt: You were right, I haven't yet earned the right to be Whitt the Frozen Emperor. Some day, yes, but not yet. I still have more to do, and you stand in the way of that now. So, call me Whitt when you beg for my mercy. Morrigan?

Morrigan spreads her hands, creating darkness around her as she calls upon powers that aren't meant to exist. She bends them to her will and directs them towards Grieve. And she uses Curse.

Sinnoh — The Mystery Zone

-Nitrogen scowls.-

Nitrogen: I don't beg for mercy. If I had to rely on mercy to survive, I'd be long dead.

-Grieve shudders, doubling over as the Curse kicks in. Once the flash of pain fades, he glares at Morrigan.-

Grieve: <You'll regret that.>

-His mouth fills with Obscura, which he fires off into the wind toward Morrigan.-

Nitrogen: There's no room for mercy in the School. No room for someone who goes soft. That lesson is taught to me over and over again, every time I kill another of my former classmates. You, suggesting I run? Suggesting I'd expect mercy from anyone? That's an insult.

-As the Protect barrier fades, Whitt is bombarded by the wind. After the burst of hot air, the winds take on a haunting chill, absent of any actual temperature change — one that cuts through the ice around him.-

Nitrogen: Die like the rest of them, or kill me like you mean it.

Sinnoh Mystery Location

Morrigan is struck hard by Grieve's Dark Pulse attack, which pushes her back several feet. She grins at her opponent.

Morrigan: <My my, you are a strong one. I wonder how you feel taking a taste of your own power?>

She focuses on that white hot needle of pain that the attack caused as sends it back towards Grieve as she uses Pain Split.

Nitorgen's Ominous Wind hurts. Whitt grits his teeth, as he feels like the wind peels is the skin from his face, and covers the skin with more ice as a protection even though it appears unharmed. He slashes Horus's swords through the wind, having Horus activate Sacred Sword as he does - the force that the blades give off is enough to push the wind away and create a moment of calm.

Whitt: I always kill like I mean it, Nitrogen. If you won't run, don't blame me for what happens next.

He breathes out dramatically, ice crystals freezing within his breath. The ground around him freezes, with the ice spreading across the earth like the crawling mass of a furious swarm. The air gets colder, besides the chill of Nitrogen's attack.

Whitt: And don't assume you can frighten me with the cold.

Orre Desert

-Vulture enjoyed the night.-

-...-

-What, you want an explanation why? Fuck you, I don't gotta explain shit.-

-And then a massive plume of sand erupts nearby.-

-Oh god what is it now?-

-A tower of metal rises as the sand drops around him.-

Vulture: And who the fuck might you be?

???: [    TARGET VERIFIED. COMMENCING HOSTILITIES.    ]

Vulture: Oh aren't you just adorab-

Battle Academy

-Xavier, asleep in bed, has a notification alert on her computer ping... quietly, so as not to wake her.-

Phenac City, Hospital

Rebecca: ... Hm.

-She takes out her phone... no new notifications. Since a month ago.-

-She sighs.-

-She opens up her web browser. Gramgram may be covering the hospital costs, but she'd need some way to make scratch - legit, mind - now that her last job exploded with his stupid fuckin drug lab.-

-Her eyebrows go up.-

Edited by DuneTheWanderer on Aug 16th 2023 at 7:33:03 AM

Mezagoza

Iridium: -Knocks at the door-

...

Iridium: -Knocks some more-

...

Iridium: -Knocks even more-

-The door opens, and Lydia peers out, her dress looking a bit disheveled, as does the clothing of the Black man behind her-

Lydia: -Smoothing out her dress with her hands and fixing her hairband- Oh, Sally, I... wasn't expecting you today so soon.

Iridium: Classes ended early today.

-Headtilt-

Who's the guy behind you?

He's not a Schoolkid, or a Templar, he doesn't have our eyes.

???: Who's the kid Lydia, you didn't say anything about her before.

Lydia: Ben, this is Sally, I'm serving as her acting guardian while we're here in Paldea. Sally, this is Ben, he's a... friend of mine.

Iridium: -Doing her best impression of a regular child- Hi Ben!

Ben: -Smiling- Nice to meet you Sally, I hope you haven't been giving Lydia here too much trouble.

Iridium: -Shaking her head- Nope.

Lydia: -Telepathically- As I'm sure you've realized, he knows nothing of us, and I'm going to ask that you not mention him to anyone, especially not anyone from the School, got it?

Iridium: -To Lydia- Got it.

Lydia: -To Iridium- That's a good girl, I'll have to get you something special this week.

Iridium: So uh... what were you guys doing just now?

-Ben and Lydia proceed to share a wordless glance-

Ben: We were doing... adult things that you wouldn't be interested in, real boring stuff.

Lydia: So you might want to come back a little later.

Iridium: -Is not quite buying it but suspects prying more would probably be unwise- Okay...

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 16th 2023 at 12:38:02 PM

Battle Academy

-Xavier rushes to the training room - it's time to fight some Durant!-

Phenac City, Hospital

Deziree: So.

-Deziree grabs a chair and spins it around, sitting on it so she's leaning onto its back.-

Deziree: I found a veeeeery interesting job application in my inbox this morning.-

Rebecca: Fuck yeah you did.

Deziree: Alright, I'm still technically a small business owner since I've only got four employees on payroll at the moment, I don't have to justify my hires to anyone, but I gotta ask - what makes you qualified to be a security and transport aide?

Rebecca: I like guns! I really like guns!

Deziree: Uh huh. Got any references?

-Rebecca reaches under her hospital bed and pulls out doorstopper of a book.-

-The cover says, "Tungsten And Lead: Every Gun On Earth, 3rd Edition".-

Rebecca: Like this?

Deziree: ... I like the hustle, but I meant work references.

Rebecca: Oh. Well, that dipshit got himself exploded when his drug lab went up.

Deziree: ... Uh huh.

Rebecca: Look, I need scratch, and if I know anything about machines, like what I am, mostly, I'm gonna need someone who can work on me.

-Deziree stops and thinks. Having the prototypes in close proximity, being able to observe them in action in person, being able to make iterative changes on the fly... being able to show off her designs...-

Deziree: Tell ya what. You agree to help show off those prosthetics I put in you every once in a while, and I'll take you on.

Rebecca: "Show off"? Are you kidding? Why would I even wear clothes with all of this? Not like I can get sunburned!

Deziree: Look while you're on security detail you can be in your underwear for all I care, just please make sure you're decent when you go outside or when we need photos.

Rebecca: Hell, that's a better pitch than I got last time I took a job!

Deziree: You applied to me.

Rebecca: Yeah, I know, right?

Slateport City Ranger Base

Poppy: So, today's the day, I come here, receive my gift, get on the ferry for Kalos, and once I get there, the guy I'm training with will come pick me up. Better head inside.

She headed inside, and was greeted by the two Rangers she met earlier on the helicopter.

Male Ranger: Ah, Poppy! You're here! Now, about your gift...

Female Ranger: I have it right here.

She was holding what seemed to be an incubator in her hands.

Male Ranger: Ah, yes!

He took it out from her hands.

Male Ranger: Now, this here is an incubator, and within, a Pokemon Egg containing a Pokemon we think will aid you on your travels once it hatches. We trust that you will take good care of it.

Poppy: You bet I will!

She took the incubator, and said goodbye as she then headed for the docks and went on the ferry heading for Kalos. The ferry then sailed onwards until reaching its destination.

Coumarine City

Poppy: At last, I'm here! Now, let's see what the email sent today said about the guy I'm supposed to be training with... Has black hair, wears red, can often be seen travelling with a Greninja...

She looked around, and spotted a trainer on her phone matching that exact description.

Poppy: That must be her!

She walked over to her.

Sophia: Ah, you must be Poppy! The Rangers told me about you. Name's Sophia, it's nice to meet you!

Poppy: I am Poppy! Nice to meet you too!

Sophia: Now, why don't we head over to Route 13 so me, Greninja and the rest of my team can show you the ropes?

Poppy: Okay! Let's get started!

The two then began heading to Route 13, where Poppy's training would begin.

Weald - Past

Roxy smiled. "Nah, nothing like that."

Silas rounded the corner, seeing Kamui. "Ah, you're here."

"Just catching up, seems she had a distress signal of some sort, psychic in origin."

Silas nodded, and then held up his pDroid and pressed a button. A faint electric beeping noise could be heard. "We got a radio signal, distress call, SOS."

"I don't think he'd know what to do with a psychic distress signal if it ever hit him."

Outside Veilstone Game Corner

Old Man: Thank you, son. It's... how do I describe this... It's a white belt. About yea long.

he stretches out his hands about the length of his arm.

Old Man: It's a lucky charm of mine. I last saw it near the slot machines.

Desmond: Alright, let's go then.

He nods determinedly, striding towards the Game Corner, when Morgan flies out of her sheath to stop him, putting her appendage in front of him.

Morgan: Whoa, whoa whoa! Desmond, I can't allow you to go in there!

she yelps worriedly. Desmond looks at her in confusion before realizing why she was so worried.

Desmond: Oh. My addiction. But what about this man? Shouldn't we help the people?

he asks Morgan, who is struck silent.

Morgan: <I'll be there to watch over you. Don't worry.>

she nods resolutely, and Desmond sheathes her as he walks towards the Game Corner. Immediately the bouncers stop him. "Halt. No Pokemon allowed in the Game Corner." one growls.

Morgan: <Well there goes that plan.>

"You either leave your Pokeballs at the Center before going in, or don't enter at all." huffs the other. The two block the doorway.

Desmond: Sorry Morgan.

he sighs, as Morgan huffs and puffs in anger. They both look to the old man, then at each other, and there's a spark of agreement.

Desmond: Atrin, guess we're going to the Pokemon Center.

he sighs heavily.

Veilstone City

Atrin: Alright. We'll do that. Mimir, keep an eye on the others.

Mimir:: ~👍~

Atrin walks a bit to the Center before turning back to Mimir.

Atrin: Scratch what I said in front of the bouncer, Mimir. Stay close, focus on my mind, and if there's trouble, be ready.

Mimir: ~♞~

Atrin: Yeah, ride in like a knight in shining armor. Desmond, want to keep Morgan with Mimir instead of going all the way to the center?

Atrin puts his backpack on Mimir.

Sinnoh — The Mystery Zone

-Grieve shrieks as the Pain Split tears through his energy. Feeling the Curse about to take hold, he lands to recover for a moment.-

-It hurts, but he hisses and bears it. Nitrogen advances as Whitt swings Horus, and with the wind offering resistance as it's parted, she catches the blade in her hand, coated with a faint layer of Spectral energy. The edge cuts into her hand, and she grits her teeth at the pain, but the Sacred Sword enhancement dissipates harmlessly around her.-

Nitrogen: And you can't frighten me with ghosts.

-The moment of calm is quickly disrupted by another gust of Ominous Wind — not at Whitt this time, but at Morrigan, while Grieve is taking the time to heal.-

Sinnoh Place

Morrigan grins.

Morrigan: <And now that you heal, you find yourself vulnerable!>

She raises her arms, and talons of darkness grow from her hands, their blackness seeming to writhe with something unseen within. She uses her Shadow Claw to attack Grieve.

Whitt realises that Nitrogen is attacking Morrigan, and throws himself to the side, getting in the way of the Ominous Wind. It tries to creep around him, but he chills the air and stops the reaching fingers of the wind. But it hurts. His exposed skin becomes dry and sallow, his eyes go bloodshot, and he almost drops Horus. Only the binding Horus has on his soul keeps him standing.

Whitt: It's good that you don't fear ghosts, because you're mired in them. We both are.

He uses ice to cover his damaged areas, wincing as the ice makes them heal faster, but also hurt more.

Whitt: You fight so hard against me, but you won't fight for your own life!

Sinnoh — The Mystery Zone

-Whitt jumping in the path of Nitrogen's attack earns a scoff.-

Nitrogen: I fight for my life when I'm being attacked!

-Morrigan's Shadow Claw strikes true, and Grieve staggers.-

Grieve: <And now you're close. So I can heal easier now.>

-And he sinks his teeth in. Power drains from Morrigan — not as blood (as per Leech Life), but as pure life essence, siphoned from the ghost through the same sort of ghostly energy his trainer wields.-

-Nitrogen keeps advancing, kicking Whitt squarely in the chest — not a move, per se, just an attack-

Nitrogen: You really think you can survive outside the School? And yet you sacrifice yourself for something that's already dead?!

-The wind continues to batter ruthlessly — not at Whitt, but at the living sword he clings to, with the intent to blow Horus out of his grasp.-

Sinnoh Zone

The force of Nitrogen's kick and the force of the winds cause Whitt to slam into a rock (there are rocks here). Horus falls from his hands and is thrown away by the storm, his blades embedding themselves in the ground somewhere.

Morrigan: <Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!>

Her power is quickly drained from her by Grieve's bite. She howls in pain again in order to demonstrate the agony, the sense of defeat, the -

Morrigan: <Just kidding.>

She puts her hands on the sides of Grieve's head and uses Pain Split again. As quickly as her energy is drained and sent into her opponent, she balances the scale and heals herself while damaging Grieve.

Morrigan: <I can keep this up as long as you can.>

Whitt wipes some blood from his mouth.

Whitt: You're right. Sacrificing myself for her is just stupid. She wouldn't even do the same for me.

Behind his back, he starts to form a dagger out of ice.

Whitt: I wasn't trying to be good or anything. It's just loyalty. Twisted though it may be. I need her.

He moves suddenly and strikes out at Nitrogen with his dagger.

Sinnoh — The Mystery Zone

-Nitrogen gets an ice dagger in her side, and momentarily chokes up in pain.-

-But once the pain fades, she laughs.-

Nitrogen: Took you long enough.

-Grieve's continuously marred attempts to heal bring him to the edge, and he breathes heavily.-

Grieve: <...That's fine. I was stalling. Hope... you can pack a bigger punch against the next one.>

-With his final taunt...-

-He lets the curse run its course, and gives out.-

Nitrogen: Now I can make you hurt.

-She swaps Grieve out, releasing Beck — still Mega Evolved, and somewhat winded from the previous fight, but still fierce and fearsome as ever.-

Beck: -snort- <Good. I've wanted to burn you to a crisp since I had the displeasure of meeting you.>

-She spits flames into the raging winds, once again filling them with unbearable heat that washes over the whole battlefield.-

Veilstone City

Morgan: <Right... Good thinking, Atrin.>

She flies next to Mimir, taking her sheathe with her. She waves at Desmond, and he waves back.

Desmond: See ya, Morgan.

Desmond smiles, before walking away with Atrin. Back at the Game Corner, the Old Man was sitting in the alleyway next to the Corner, watching the bouncers intently. Atrin & Desmond approach the bouncers, who pat them up and down. Satisfied that there weren't any Pokemon on hand, they step aside and let the two in. "No loitering. You spend to stay." one of them growls.

The Game Corner, though small in comparison to other casinos, was packed and chaotic.

People were scrambling around, betting on official Pokemon battles, some were trading their Corner Coins at the cashier, while most were sitting, either lethargically or with more energy that you'd expect from pulling a lever, at several slot machines, which take up 80% of the Corner space. Of course there were several gambling spaces for card games and the like, but slot machines took up most of it.

Desmond: A wretched hive of scum and villainy. Not really, but look at all that money!

he gasps at all the coins and the people. He shakes his head rapidly.

Desmond: Focus, Desmond! Atrin, I'll get us some Corner Coins. We can't be suspicious.

he whispers, looking around at several bouncers watching each part of the Corner intently. Desmond gulps as he heads over to the counter, avoiding the unfriendly eyes of bouncers and fellow gamblers.

Edited by Jules-Firenze on Aug 19th 2023 at 12:40:45 AM