ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Levincia Gym, today

Iridium: -Wearing an East Sea Shellos mask that covers her whole face as she walks outside-

Iono: -From an intercom- Hey, hey, heyyy! Your eyeballs are MINE—caught in my Electroweb! Whosawhatsit? Iono! I'm the Gym Leader here! 'Ello, 'ello, hola! Ciao and bonjour!

Iridium: -Confused as she looks around- Wha?

Iono: Don't freak out too much kid, but you're being streamed live to the whole world right now!

Iridium: -Grins behind her mask, if more akin to the sort of "grin" a primate mon gives before biting- ...

Iono: You're not very talkative, are you? Anyway, while I'm super happy you're here, I'm all kinds of busy, so we can't collab unless you show your chops in this Gym challenge.

Iridium: What do I need to do?

Iono: Glad you asked! Well, there'll be a guy, and you'll need to find them about three times.

Iridium: That doesn't sound too tough.

Iono: Great! Now let's begin! Time is views after all.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 16th 2024 at 2:07:37 PM

The GM House

-The January cold tries biting into the only-recently-insulated walls of the Galvani-Morton house.-

-It's oddly quiet.-

-Dune and Deziree have fallen asleep on the couch.-

-Ludmilla is underneath a striated mountain of blankets in her room.-

-Baby Phosphora is both curled up in a blanket and nuzzling her face into the fur of a big, fuzzy Stoutland, who can barely fit inside of the crib.-

-Twitch and Vinegar are both sleeping off their post-work alcohol.-

-And Coyote is currently observing from a respectable distance, as enforced by the ever-vigilant ghost sentinel of the house.-

-Meanwhile, underneath the bedrock of the house as it sits on the Pyrite Mesa, in a forgotten corner of the The Under...-

-A small golden bolt begins to squirm...-

Stormchaser exterior

With permission now having been granted, Whitt walks up to the door of the Stormchaser and reaches for the handle. It moves to the side, making his hand rap painfully against the metal.

"Ow!" he yelps. "Stupid door!" He considers murder, but decides against it. First, it wouldn't endear him to the J-Team if he murdered their ship. Second, he isn't sure if it actually can be murdered. And third, he doesn't want to consider that he would probably lose against the door in this fight.

"Can I please come inside?" he asks.

The door doesn't answer, but something about its demeanour makes him think that it's probably a no.

"Come on, Hiro said I was alright."

The door doesn't answer once again, but Whitt gets the sense that it doesn't agree that it should do something simply because Hiro says it should.

"Okay, I get it," Whitt says. "You want to protect your J-Team, and I have... possibly... done some bad things to one or two of its members. Or... more than that. Very bad things in fact. But, when you really think about it, the things I did are all in the past, and I am not here to look for a fight. All I ask, oh noble ship, is that you agree to shelter me so that we can wage war on the School, the true source of my actions against the J-Team, together."

Keep talking, the door seems to say without moving or making a sound.

"And on top of that," Whitt says. "I swear that I won't attack any member of the J-Team, or anyone else on board, as long as you allow me to walk on your decks."

Still no response.

"And... I'll never leave dirty dishes in the sink?"

Well, considering that most of the J-Team don't hold themself to that particular standard, Storm-chan decides that she can let Whitt in. Provisionally.

The door swings open, and Whitt smiles. "You know, Stormchaser? I think you and I are going to be great friends."

If it was possible for a door to vomit, it would have.

Distortion Realm

Thorn brings Hoops to a place in the Distortion World that, at least visually, is no different than any other. But Hoops feels a crushing sensation on their chest the closer they get to it, as the unavoidable feeling of pure darkness radiates from the thing that waits for them there.

Thorn lets go of them as they float in an open section that's just a little bit wider than all the rest. Hoops tries to move, but finds that something is now restraining them in place - a force far stronger than they are.

So says a voice. This is the human who chose to come to the Distortion World.

The voice is an ancient and powerful one, seeming not to come from a single source but rather from all around. But of course - on some level Giratina is the Distortion World (although the various books that Hoops was made to study as a child disagreed on just how much).

Hoops finds that, at least, they can talk. "I'm not afraid of you! Come out!"

Not afraid? I think not. You forget, that I am not some wild pokémon you find in a cave. I know everything that there is to know about you from the merest glance. And I know that fear rules your very being.

Something is moving in the darkness below them. Something that, if they remember their lessons correctly, is supposed to be a lot smaller than this.

Fear of being called a monster. Fear of being like the father that you rejected. Fear of me. Fear of the face that stares at you when you look in the mirror. Fear that you will never be strong enough. Fear that you'll be here forever. Fear of losing the ones that you love - not do death or injury, but to them realising that they simply can't stand you. Tell me, is that why you didn't bring your pokémon here with you? Or Xaster? Why, you're a member of the J-Team are you not? I would have thought you might have thought to bring some of them with you. After all, isn't your mission a noble one, to save your two friends?

"Where are they?" Hoops yells.

All in good time. We're still talking about you.

Giratina raises its head to be level with Hoops, and they barely comprehend how large it is. Of course - this is the Distortion World. Giratina's home, and the force of its power. It could appear as large as it wants, but this? Hoops is barely half the size of one of its eyes. The rest of the body seems to flicker in and out of solidarity, and it's not clear what parts of the rocks and space around it are part of its vast form, and what parts are not.

So... you came to my realm all alone, for a heroic rescue mission. But why alone, unless... ah. You were trying to prove something. Merely that you could, yes? With only the pokémon that you caught yourself, without the crutch of the partner that looked after you all your life, without any help from a team of people who specialise in such things, you wanted to conquer the Distortion World! To prove to yourself that the fear given to you by your father meant nothing! Well, do you feel unafraid!?

"Shut up!"

Hoops tries to escape again, but it's no use. This space is Giratina.

<Is that true?> The small voice of Vul emerges from his pokéball. <Was this really more of an ego thing for you than saving our friends?>

"No!" Hoops protests. "Of course I wanted to save them! I didn't bring anyone else because I didn't want to drag them into my mess!"

Of course Giratina says. You believe that this is true. There is a nobility in such a thing, no? To be willing to throw your own life away for others? Trust me, young human, in my life I have seen many try such a thing. But do you know what many of them think of in those final moments? There is a satisfaction in knowing that they will be remembered well for their sacrifice. That is all that you humans are - you act solely in the interest of yourself, doing things only so that others will view them well. The Ledian was different. She came here only for you. The Salazzle was different. He came here only so that his love would not be alone. And to think that their trainer, at their deepest level, cared only for the glory of conquering my realm.

"No..." Hoops answers weakly. "That..."

You should learn the lessons of the past. Do you know of the last person who sought to conquer me? Its form shifts, and for a moment Hoops perceives a blue haired man screaming in agony, before he's hidden from them again.

"Please!" Hoops yells. "I don't care if no-one knows about it! I just want to save my pokémon!"

Just! Giratina roars. You continue to deny the truth! And as long as you do, you shall never leave my world!

And then it swallows Hoops whole, and they fall into an even deeper darkness.

Battle Academy, Training Section

Xavier: ... and then he- uh, she? They? They did this weird trick with their heel where they dug it into the sand and made a big cloud out of it.

Gebura: Interesting. Not a trick most people would even think of unless they were born in the desert.

-Ding!-

Gebura: That's my next training program to test. I'll think about it and see if I can't come up with a good counterstrategy for you, if you don't have one already.

Xavier: Thank you, ma'am!

-Gebura walks into the training module and the doors slide shut.-

Xavier: Hmmm... Bandit...? No... Toothless? Eh, maybe... Not Madeleine or Sarge... Hm...

-On the display showing the inside of the training module, Gebura dons her black trenchcoat ensemble and her red eyed sword. Counter to her is a monstrous form, a barely humanoid mass of flesh and combat augments. It's two mandibles shiver in anticipation.-

Craver Bloodguard: What do you sound like... when you scream?

Gebura: Good question. Come over here and maybe we'll both find out.

-Xavier, meanwhile, is lost in thought.-

Xavier: Maybe I need a Rock-Type...?

Levincia, yesterday

Iono: -Via intercom- Okay challenger, your challenge is to find Ms. Easybreezy. Alright, come on out.

Ms. Easybreezy: -A short Black woman with a mint green minifro- How did I even get roped into this crap?

-Sees Iridium-

Long time no see kiddo.

Iridium: ... -_-

Ms. Easybreezy: -To Iridium- Yeah I know it's you under there.

Iono: Okay challenger, I'll be giving your Rotom Phone access to the cameras and you'll need to find her. Good luck out there!

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 17th 2024 at 9:40:46 AM

With the Aqua Jet from Bulbal, the Klawf is put on unsteady ground.

Titan Klawf: <Wh-whoa! I'm tipping over!>

Trill: "Okay, think we got this! Sweet Kicks! Let's do this!"

They throw a ball, a Flamigo coming out of it.

Sweet Kicks: <Hachacha! Time to say goodnight!>

Trill: "Low Kick! Trip the Klawf up!"

The Flamigo dives and kicks low, tripping the Klawf over onto her back. She closes her eyes with this.

Trill looks to Sweet Kicks then to Iridium.

Trill: "Did... did we do it?"

South Province Area Three, past

Iridium: -To Trill as the Klawf faints- We did it.

-She smiles before looking around-

But where's the Herba Mystica?

Levincia, yesterday

Del Lurra: -Defeats the Flaafy in front of her with Bulldoze- <Piece of cake~>

Gym Trainer Marti: You might've beaten me, but I'll always be number one when it comes to Iono!

-He runs off-

Iridium: These people are weird...

Iono: -Via intercom- Well well well, you're going places mighty quickly, challenger. Now, all you have to do is find Ms. Easybreezy one more time, and you'll be done with this Gym Challenge.

Iridium: -Checking the cameras, switching to a shot of the Levincia skyline, with people and Pokémon milling about-

Iono: Alright challenger, let's see if you can find her!

Iridium: -Looks and looks and looks- Where is she...?

-Angles the camera up and zooms in to see Ms. Easybreezy sitting atop one of the skyscrapers-

Ms. Easybreezy: Here I thought I'd found a good spot...

Iono: Oh wow, how'd she even get up there, did she just get blown away like a leaf in the wind? Anyway, congratulations challenger friendo, you've passed the Gym Challenge! Just go talk to my Gym staff and they'll set you up for our big collab.

Iridium: Finally...

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 17th 2024 at 11:15:24 AM

Trill: "Should be in the cave here... the one the Titan knocked open..."

They continue on in, looking in while Sweet Kicks poses victoriously outside, eventually finding a few pink sprigs of a special plant.

"Yup! Here we are! This is the Herba Mystica!"

South Province Area One, past

Iridium: -To Trill- So what are going to do with it? Eat it?

Levincia, yesterday

Iridium: -Walks into the center arena-

Iono: There you are friendo!

Iridium: I don't remember us being friends...

Iono: -Doing her usual thing- Ladies and gentlemens! Are you readyyyyyy?! Your eyeballs are MINE—caught in my Electroweb! Whosawhatsit? Iono! 'Ello, 'ello, hola! Ciao and bonjour! It's time for the Iono Zone, everybody! Today's challenger is flyin' high like a Wattrel! Iiit's Sally! Before we start, how're ya feelin' about this battle Sally?

Iridium: -Eyes boring behind her mask, not that it can be seen past some shifts in body language- Like I'm going to win.

Iono: Oh ho, I like that energy you've got there friendo, it's such a contrast to that funky mask you've got.

-Getting ready-

Let's see if you'll get me more views than those J-Team guys (gender neutral) I battled, I get the same feeling I did when I battled their leader when I look at you, no idea why tho.

Iridium: If Dr. Tagg was able to win, I should be able to as well.

Iono: You sound like you know him. Are you like, his apprentice or sumthin'? Anyway!

-To the crowd-

Are you ready to see me kick some butt, my loyal followers?

-Cue mass cheering-

Let's get this show on the road! How strong is our challenger? I 'unno! Let's find out together!

-She sends out a Wattrel-

Iridium: Go Struthie!

Struthie: -Appears-

Levincia - Sushi High Roller, today

-Watching the Gym challenge from a reserved room-

Lydia: I must admit Dr. Tagg, it was a good idea to go for the mask.

-To Lydia, neutrally-

It was our best bet for anonymity.

Chiyo: -Enters the room just as the battle proper begins to start- Tagg.

-Eyes narrow-

Lydia.

Lydia: -Smiling- Hello Chiyo, it's been a long time since we've been able to have our little talks.

Chiyo: -Not as enthused as she takes a seat- Let's just get to business shall we?

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 31st 2024 at 3:14:01 PM

Levincia

-A young teenager in a grey coat watches as the gym challenge plays out for the crowd.-

-He says nothing, and his face is uncharacteristically neutral.-

Paldea, Stormchaser Exterior

-two people watched Whitt's very normal entry negotiation-

Logan: -with too-long practice at precisely determining earshot- ...what's on your mind?

Hiro: My cranium, for one.

Logan: Cheap deflection.

Hiro: Thinking space. More people should wash dishes.

Logan: -shudders-

Hiro: ...the School has people that leave dishes in the sink.

-Logan eyes him, carefully neutral-

Hiro: -at length- I didn't say he was alright. I implied I was willing to try things your way.

Logan: "You came to the J-Team needing [...] help. That's all."

Hiro: -picking up Megan's trident- Will fewer escapees come to us for help, knowing he's within our walls?

Logan: Stormy won't let anything happen.

Hiro: I wouldn't trust that an eldritch floating building has my best interests at heart, in those circumstances. In these circumstances, I'm not sure I do.

Logan: -beam- Stormchaser-chan knows this, and loves you.

Hiro: Please stop hugging the walls.

Logan: But the pillars are so huggable now!

Hiro: You have tiny arms. They're being tailored to you.

Logan: -fond- Yeah.

-they watch Joltik swarm an embezzled slice of bribery cake-

Hiro: Is that enough thinking space?

Logan: Just about. For one, we can't cleanly separate them into "dangerous ones" and "protectorate"—everyone I've talked to describes how they're trained to go after each other. Many probably have hurt each other at one point—which is to say, J-Teamers have hurt each other, often—and there's a decent record of finagling something to let people coexist under this very large roof.

Logan: And part of it is, we can't turn people away. We have to be a refuge—no ifs, ands, or buts.

Hiro: Gave me that impression.

Logan: School propaganda takes cues from fascist propaganda—anyone offering an alternative is lying, and wants to destroy you. The only defense is destroy them first.

Hiro: But we do need to defend ourselves when they do try to kill us, following that, and that defense will often be violent.

Logan: Us-and-them again.

Hiro: -shaking his head- Whatever Chiyo says, we just don't have the power to deescalate every situation cleanly and bloodlessly. And frankly I'd trust us less if we were so much more powerful—as myself and this hypothetical escapee.

Logan: Catch-22. You've made mistakes, defending yourself?

Hiro: -frown- Yes. Many.

-Logan's peering at him, eyes gold; Hiro narrows his-

Hiro: I know my list of names better than Molybdenum does.

Logan: That's over now, isn't it? If this is working?

Hiro: Aiming away from vitals doesn't mean that you'll hit.

Logan: I've heard that line of reasoning far too much for my liking.

Hiro: Bad faith is papering-over in retrospect how little they tried.

-he clenches his fist around the trident-

Hiro: I am trying.

-Hiro watches his hand until it stops shaking-

Hiro: Total control doesn't exist. Not of them, the situation, or ourselves. Claiming you do no less and no more than your intent in every fight is—

-he scoffs, dropping it back in his Bag-

Hiro: unrealistic.

-Logan gazes up at him-

Logan: She's healing fine, by the way.

-Hiro raises an eyebrow-

Hiro: I have no claim over her. Deciding what fights she picks is more paternalistic than I'd like.

Logan: -dry- You could care as a friend.

-Hiro turns-

Hiro: Why don't you seem angry?

-Logan smiles, curious-

Logan: Living well is fantastic revenge.

-they regard each other awhile-

Hiro: ...so as a friend: are you telling her he's here?

Logan: -blinks- Aren't you telling her?

Hiro: Taking cues from you. How likely, on average, do you expect storming down here and ramming a miscellaneous pointy implement through his vitals would be, from her?

Thespi: Pretty low, while neither of her hands work.

-Logan blinks-

Thespi: Hi! I got traded like two seconds ago. ^_^

-Hiro stows his Reshidex, giving Logan time to recombobulate-

Logan: -eventually- Let's go make some mistakes.

-they extend a hand, then pause-

Logan: ...I just hope he doesn't find out about the fanfic.

Thespi: -giggles-

Ersatz

Nimbus scoffed. <Eh, you'll get used to it. Everyone stumbles a little bit during their first change,> he reasoned. <And you've had more than a few "firsts",> he chuckled.

Sakura Genetics Raid

Watching Gale eye the fire escape, Lamb nodded. "Take it slow," she warned.

Her body lit up with a Flame Charge as she attempted to run up the side of the wall, leaping off of it at the apex and grabbing the lowest deck. Pulling herself up with a grunt of exertion, she sighed and lowered the ladder for Gale to take to join her, slowly so as to avoid the sound of a crashing ladder.

Snow!Thespi: Alright, we're tee'd up. You sure you want to do this?

Megan: Yeah.

Snow!Thespi: You sure you're up for this?

Megan: ?

Snow!Thespi: -vibrating- Yeah no I wanna dive full in. I'm building tension.

-Megan runs her wrist over her Pokéball belt-

Megan: -shivering- Working—and, napping—for days, 's gotta get somewhere. You worked hard. Send me out.

-she can feel Thespi pout-

Megan: ...got a line saved up?

Snow!Thespi: I can't crown you. You have to take it with your own hands.

-...Megan raises her bandaged, petrified hands-

Snow!Thespi: you have no poetry in your soul. :c

-her eyes plead drama-

Megan: -puffs out her cheeks-

-so Megan straightens her spine-

Megan: Yeah. This is important. I am different! Megan Nguyen doesn't just lose, anymore! She gets goin', keeps fightin', and, and,

-she rolls the declaration around, inside her mind-

Megan: Get your game face on.

Snow!Thespi: Oh, you were so close—!

Megan: Say the words.

Thespi: Aw. Fiends. [Romans]. Countrymen...

-Megan feels the bulwark build, behind her eyes-

-reinforcement for the yet more terrifying foe she's next to conquer-

-for victory, she takes a deep breath-

J-Con, months ago

-and Fraidy wheels Megan out from behind the panel, where she grins gamely at the J-Team's fandom-

Megan: Hehe~ Hi, everyone!

-she can't make out the reply—except for one voice, rising above the rest-

Fan: Show us your muscles!

Megan: -boldly- No! Wow!

Other Fan: -in the back- Are you okay??

Megan: -beam- Thanks for asking! How are ya??

Other Fan: ...pretty chill!

Megan: Me too! The encounter not too long ago was harrowing, but I'm alive! ^_^

Student Benjamin: -waving, from the crowd- S-so are we!

Megan: -normally- Haha, I'm really glad! But this is—

-she coughs-

Megan: -hoarse- ...Tuesday for the J-Team.

Student Benjamin: I-I just wanted to say—

-she bucks up and answers questions. they don't matter-

Megan: Now, the show already covered this—it's great, you should watch it—but I had a lot of free time on my hands. Better yet, I couldn't get a few things out of my mind... And you know, that needs telling, emotionally.

-she elbows the controls-

Megan: Which is why, before I headed out to Angela, I made sure to get with a cool writer—

Thespi In A Giant Fursuit: Hi!

-deafening outpour of applause (some jeers)-

Megan: -loudly- You're a pretty big name!

Thespi: Didn't I tell you??

Pollen: -muffled- <Why do you always make me be the ass??>

Thespi: What??

Pollen: <I said,>

-they just wait for it to die down-

Megan: -beaming- ...to capture my stroke of insight! Just scribble it down, really. But we got to talking, one thing led to another, and, well...

Megan: To memory. 😘

Agate Village

-Dr. Alejandra Gonzalez was not having a good time.-

Alejandra: Malditas abejas! It's January! Now is not the time for this!

-The good doctor shouted at the feuding clouds of Beedrill and Combee.-

-The Beedrill were individually much stronger. However, because the Combee both had a command Vespiquen somewhere in close proximity and did not need to evolve, they had a major numbers and coordination advantage. Power Gem flashed through the buzzing from time to time as a Beedrill would stray too close to a Vespiquen.-

Alejandra: Stupid buzzing's keeping me from sleeping...

-She pulls out a Pokeball and gives it a toss, revealing a Vikavolt.-

Alejandra: Callalos!

-The Vikavolt rushes into the fray, and maybe one or two of the combatants have time to realize just what flew into their conflict before a massive chaining wave of lightning fires out in every direction, shattering the war's front line and scattering both hives in every direction - those that could still fly, at any rate. A good number of Beedrill and Combee just fall to the ground on the spot.-

Alejandra: Good job, mijo.

-The Vikavolt shoots a couple more Thunderbolts at a Vespiquen that looked like she might try her luck before both sides completely quit the field.-

Alejandra: And now... it's time for bed.

Levincia, past

Iridium: Struthie, use Psybeam!

Struthie: -Fires a beam of psychic energy at Wattrel-

Wattrel: -Is hit square in the chest

Iono: Wattrel, use Spark!

Wattrel: -Wreathes themselves in electricity before ramming Struthie-

Struthie: -Gets knocked to the ground-

Iridium: Use Psybeam again!

Struthie: -Rises back up and tries blasting Wattrel-

Wattrel: -Manages to dodge and flies above the arena, diving down for another Spark-

Struthie: -Gets visibly angry and blasts a Psybeam straight above-

Wattrel: -Is blasted in the face by the crit-strength Psybeam and faints-

Abe: -Is in the crowd watching the battle when he feels a sudden gust of wind- Figured you'd come watch, "Ms. Easybreezy".

Ms. Easybreezy We All Knew It Was Chloe Right?: Well I can't just leave you alone for too long, now can I? We're making a huge risk just showing up in public.

-As Struthie faints the Wattrel-

This feels about as commercial as Chiyo's grand trial felt sacred.

Abe: You sure that's fair?

Chloe: Maybe not. You know, I'm surprised neither of them are here for this.

Abe: Maybe they thought showing up together would attract too much attention.

Sushi High Roller, past

Chiyo: -Eyebrow raise- That is one angry little bird.

Lydia: Struthie is a violent little hellion, about as much as Del Lurra is placid, even if she doesn't track slime everywhere. But she's what little Iridium wanted.

I had some misgivings when she came back to the Academy with Struthie because I wasn't sure if she'd listen to her fulltime even with the deal, but she's proven better than I thought. I just hope that holds once she evolves to Espathra, since they tend to be even more aggressive.

Chiyo: She had a pretty good command of her mons when I met her, but I guess that leads to my own question. So Lydia, have you been... encouraging those thoughts in her head?

Lydia: -Sounding (To Chiyo) oddly offended- No, Iridium already had them when she was assigned to me, but here I thought you already knew that.

Chiyo: -Staring Lydia down- Can't be too careful, I have no idea what plans you have for her past her not being dead.

Lydia: I consider her vendetta a distraction, a waste of time and resources that can better be spent elsewhere, and I've said as such to her. But you know kids, they have their own ideas and won't always listen to you.

Chiyo: Their own ideas, something the School would consider a defect.

Yeah, they seem to prefer their fully obedient, almost soulless worker drones, which Lydia here would have happen to our kid eventually.

Lydia: Well Dr. Tagg, that's where you're incorrect, she's much more than a drone. Iridium is worth far more than that, she's an asset could change the very face of the School, if they'd stop being too dumb to see.

Chiyo & I: -Look unconvinced-

Chiyo: -Eyebrow raise- And you think you'll somehow change their minds? I guess only a Templar could be so arrogant as to believe that.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 19th 2024 at 11:29:02 AM

Naranja y Uva Academy

Poppy and her team stood outside the doors to the Academy, where Poppy would officially become a student at the school - so she could get her hands on a Tera Orb.

Poppy: Okay, guys, I'll come get you when I get the Tera Orb. Just wait right there, okay?

She then shut the door behind her.

Sunrise: This could either take like, 5 minutes, or she has to go through an entire school day and so she'll forget we're here until midnight.

Crusher: I don't like the sound of being left outside at night. It sounds like some scary Pokemon could attack us...

Nessa: In which case, we'll just make the Pokemon our friends!

Stormwind: Or beat them up!

Shroomy: Or one of us could just tell Poppy she forgot about us. Stormwind can fly, he'll just fly into the Academy, knock on Poppy's window until she realises where we are.

Donut: Shroomy, I may hate you sometimes, but I feel like you're the smartest out of all of us.

Stormwind: And me, the coolest out of all of us?

Donut: The cockiest, more like.

Inside the Academy...

Clavell: Here you go, then! Your very own Tera Orb.

Poppy: Wow, thanks!

Clavell: Now, despite the fact our big Treasure Hunt is on, so that you may travel Paldea in search of your own personal treasure, you are still welcome to take classes if you'd like. Knowledge is just as important as adventure, after all...

He didn't notice, however, that Poppy was already out the door with her fancy new Tera Orb, off with her Pokemon to her next destination.

Clavell: Oh! And I didn't even give her her academy starter Pokemon! What to do... I know!

He summoned one of the Squawkabilly the school was looking after, giving it a letter and three Pokeballs to carry.

Clavell: Now, I need you to track down that Poppy woman so that she may pick between these three Pokemon - Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly!

Squawkabilly received its cargo, and began searching for her. It did not find much clues, however, aside from a Wattrel feather near the eastern gate, which gave it an idea to wait in Artazon in the hopes she'd arrive there soon enough.

Edited by ThunderKitty86 on Jan 19th 2024 at 5:49:50 AM

"Speaking of which, I'll take over from here," A voice rang out, and in walked an individual in a dazzling pink suit, adjusting a pair of glasses over their eyes. "Payment for services rendered of course, never quite so easy to figure out."

Silas blinked. "Oh, hey Denali."

"Ah!" Denali cried out. "Good to see one of my patients, where have you been? You missed one of our scheduled sessions!"

"Long story... of which I'm probably gonna need more sessions for," Silas muttered. "How goes the jewelry store in Kalos?"

"It goes well," Denali replied. "Business is doing just fine though I'm not selling as many mega stones these days. I've really only sold one recently."

Silas just nodded. "So. How are we going to handle this, we can't just pay for this stuff."

Denali smirked. "Well, Halis here has a few choices, a challenge, a favor, etc. Tell me, what do you think would be a fair payment for these wonderful little rubbish bin items?"

Ersatz

Nimbus could tell he was looking at another Mythical Pokemon as Denali entered the store. His claws scratched his cheek in thought at their question; typically Mew was better at coming up with challenges than him.

Until he stood upright with a flash of inspiration.

<Your payment will be a round of Battle between yourself and one of your two previous forms,> he decided. <Step through that door,> he instructed as one behind the counter swung open, seemingly on its own.

Stormchaser, Room 713

"This isn't exactly what I meant, you know," Bismuth remarked.

"Ah, shut up, you couldn't have not seen this coming," Kendall countered as he hefted his laptop bag over his shoulder.

"We both know that you can't find her, and that even if you do, just because you're immune to that skill of hers doesn't mean she can't do anything else."

"Are you trying to-"

"I'm trying to keep you in our back pocket when the day comes," she reasoned. "I don't know what'll happen, after all. Or even when."

Kendall looked down at the Sun Stone he had taken off his nightstand. He took a deep breath.

"You can't have it both ways, Meredith. You may have your sister, but all I have is me, myself and I," he countered, reaching for it, only for Bismuth to grab his wrist.

"And that's exactly what makes you so valuable. The School can make another kid like me as casually as you can make a sandwich. You're the only Colton Kendall Rever in the entirety of Castelia… whoops, got my wires crossed." She blinked.

"I'm going to do my damnedest to find her," he decided, pulling away and grabbing the Sun Stone. "Enjoy watching from the Stormchaser," he added as the lights flickered off for a few seconds, the Unovan gone after they turned back on.

Cesium poked her head in from outside.

Meredith's annoyed expression turned to a predatory smile.

The confused whine of their Mightyena brought them out of their conversation.

Casey knelt down to pet him.

"Don't worry too hard about it, Chaos," she comforted. "We'll be home soon enough."

Somewhere in Sinnoh, I forget lol

It's gone.

"What?"

Do you remember where you found Sunny and me? The Templar base you raided? It's gone. Like it never existed.

"But you-"

Physically traveled there to confirm it. Their cleanup crew is something else. Probably more Templars.

"… I think I've just grown numb," Kendall chuckled before sighing, sitting down on a rock as he looked up at his first Flying-type.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jan 19th 2024 at 7:14:07 AM

Deepest Distortion World

The darkness is impenetrable. It is the kind that swallows not just light, but sound as now, leaving its subjects to wonder if the sounds of their own breath are real or just imagined. Is there truly anything beyond them, or is this all that there ever was?

They scream, and the darkness snatches the sound away from them. It hurts for it to be taken away - that sound felt like the last proof that they existed at all.

But then they hit the ground, and they're in... a place? It looks as far as Hoops can tell, like the Glimwood Tangle. Of course, if they were being sent to some place of punishment, it would have been here. It also isn't surprising when they look down at their hands and see that they're both human, and both the size of an eight year old's.

This is your origin explains the voice of Giratina. The place that twisted you into the broken creature that you are.

"That's not my fault!" Hoops protests, momentarily stunned by how childlike their voice is. "I'm only acting in response to the way I was raised! How can you blame me for that?"

It's true. You were broken as a child by the sins of your father, and your loneliness only contributed to the person that you became. But you haven't been alone for years, have you?

Faces flash through the trees, as though their owners are running through the trees while trying to stay out of sight. Members of the J-Team. Their pokémon. Xaster. Xaster pauses for only a second to look back at them before disappearing.

All this help that you could have asked for, and you didn't ask for it? Why not go to the J-Team, if there was one who you cared about that needed help.

"Because they didn't save her!"

A final voice in the forest, this one unmoving. It's funny - reduced as they are to their childlike self, Hoops and Vana are basically the same height. She is expressionless of course - she has nothing left to say anymore.

"I didn't give her the help she needed in time, and then by the time I did, the J-Team was already helping her. But it wasn't enough. They didn't save her in time."

Vana speaks with Giratina's voice. And you blame them for that?

"No! Yes! I don't know!"

So when someone needed to be saved, you decided to forego their help and do it yourself, as a redemption of sorts for yourself. Truly, you embody the selfishness of humans. The desire to prove your strength, the desire to save only to fix a mistake. It's sickening!

Vana launches herself at Hoops. In mid-air, she transforms into Thorn, whose giant muscled arm is outstretched. Hoops finds themself back in their adult body, and back in the void of the Distortion World, and is slammed into a rock and dragged across its surface.

"Fight!" Thorn screams. They throw Hoops across the void into another rock, then leap after them as their arm takes on a viney exterior that resembles Sno. Hoops is pinned to the rock by the plants, which continue to hold them in place even this arm withdraws.

"Fight!" A Pol form punch.

"Fight!" The insectoid Jas form, and dozens of lightning fast hits.

"Fight!" Another as yet unseen form. This one must be Gon, as Thorn grows scales along their arm which now ends in claws, while a pair of large wings erupt from their back. Rather than a punch, this form summons draconic energy and hurls it at Hoops, who yells in pain.

"Fight!" A shock of electricity from the Ray form.

Hoops goes limp, and Thorn hovers in front of them. "Why are you insisting on being alone? You have pokémon with you - use them!"

Hoops shakes their head. "The Distortion World... would hurt them. They aren't... ghosts."

"Neither are you! Not really! But you think it's okay for you to make that sacrifice?"

Hoops grins. "Not so selfish now... eh?"

"Would you call it selfish if it were reversed? If they fought while you could only watch? You'd be angry, because they weren't letting you fight. Just like you wouldn't allow anyone to stop you from coming here."

They draw back their arm, which grows blades as they channel Bis's power. "It seems you'll die a fool."

The flurry of events unfolding visibly confuses Halis, until they hear the part about needing to fight something.

Halis: <I need to fight... myself? Why do I feel like I should know this one already?>

They shrug, gaining a bit of a smug look in spite of their relative inexperience with the new form.

Halis: <Well, nothing to it then. I know all of my own moves already, so this should be super-easy~>

They Teleport again to get in front of the door before entering it. It's hard to tell if it's hubris, confidence, or both that's driving them... but it's probably hubris.

Trill looks to the side a bit at Iridium suggesting eating it.

Trill: "Well uh... we could eat it, yeah, I'm trying to gather multiples for... a reason but I should know how to cook something with this one if you wanna give it a shot."

Lavincia, yesterday

-The young man in the grey coat speaks into a microphone on his lapel, low enough to where no one in the crowd would hear. He moves away from where he was standing and starts following a pair of tall bystanders who are now wandering off from the festivities.-

Lavincia, yesterday

-The two Templars turn at the sound of someone slapping the top of a trash can. They turn to see a young man in a grey coat standing at the entrance to the alley they're in.-

Templar 1: Wha-?!

Templar 2: You idiot, you were supposed to be scanning for anyone who was catching on to us!

Red: In his defense, it wouldn't have done you any good.

-He takes the trash can lid and and spins it in his hands for a bit.-

Red: I figured you'd be around if one of your test subjects were being so public.

-The first Templar tears his right sleeve as a psi-blade springs from his gauntlet. The other Templar musters a pair of black Obscuric claws.-

Templar 1: Then we'll just have to stitch that mouth of yours shut!

-There's a flash of steely grey in Red's eyes for the briefest of moments.-

Templar 2: W-woah! Hey, where'd my claws go?!

-The Templars look at each other. Not only had the Obscura claws disappeared like smoke on the wind, but the psychic Templar's gauntlet had gone completely dormant.-

Red: Now now, none of that. We're doing this the classic way.

-Red pulls out an Ultra Ball with a lock on it. The lock disengages.-

Red: Boss gave me the reigns for this one, so let's do this, Bison!

-A massive, unnerving Emboar appears in front of the teenager. The Templars quickly scramble for their own Pokeballs.-

Bison: <Hmph! Why should I listen to a runt like you?>

Red: Because the Boss-Man said so. And because it'll be fun.

-The teenager's voice had a searing confidence to its tone. The Emboar gives a chuckle.-

Bison: <So that's what Cid sees in you, huh? Fine then.>

-Black, shadowed flames erupt from his hands.-

Bison: <Let's play!>

-The Templars desperately send out a Poliwrath and a Jynx.-

Team Iron HQ

Cid: Red has engaged two Templars.

-Cassandra laughs as she gazes into her cracked glass orb.-

Cassandra: And so reality shall be defined

Not by instinct or mind

But by that which is most real

A soul, forged in steel.

-Cid nods. Cassandra's lack of concern was as good a sign as he could ask for.-

South Province Area Three, far past

Iridium: -To Trill- Sure, we could do that.

Levincia, past

Iono: Alright, not bad friendo, but let's see how you handle this!

-She sends out a Luxio-

Luxio: -Growls-

Struthie: -Suddenly shudders, but for reasons unrelated to the Intimidate-

Iono: Luxio, Crunch that Flittle like it's my subscriber count!

Luxio: -Bites down on Struthie-

Struthie: -Looks yet more enraged as she blasts Luxio point blank with a Psybeam-

Luxio: -Is sent sprawling back before they pounce on Struthie and faint her with their next Crunch-

Iridium: Go Del Lurra!

Del Lurra: -Appears-

Iridium: Use Bulldoze!

Del Lurra: -Stomps in place, sending dirt everywhere-

Luxio: -Takes major damage-

Iono: Freeze 'em with Ice Fang!

Luxio: -Bites down on Del Lurra with cold-wreathed fangs-

Del Lurra: -Bitten- <That's not very nice~>

-And immediately faints Luxio with her next Bulldoze-

Sushi High Roller, past

Chiyo: -Face has not changed since Lydia's last statement- You can think the things you do because you weren't experimented on like us, no one was jabbing you with needles.

-Unimpressed in a similar way to Chiyo

It seems like you're only going to get the kid killed.

Lydia: -With a bit more emotion then she herself is expecting- ...I'm well aware that to both of you I'm hardly your most favorite person in the world, but if it wasn't for me, she wouldn't even be here for you two to be angry at me about. She would've died before either of you would've ever known she existed.

Chiyo: What?

Lydia: She was slated to be liquidated last year, because the School deemed her "too dangerous", and I couldn't have that. So I changed the list.

You can do that?

Why didn't you do it before then?

Lydia: It's not my job, but my... responsibilities placed me close enough to do so. A great risk, I could get liquidated too if they ever found out, but I deemed it worth it to save a useful asset. As far as the School's higher ups are concerned, I'm here in Paldea by myself, since the infiltration mission was never technically canceled. Effectively, she's both dead and alive as far as the system is concerned. Of course, I'm sure the School will cotton on to the "rounding error" eventually, but I'm sure by then our Iridium will be in a place where it won't really matter.

-Angrily-

You're risking our daughter on a whim? That the School will magically change their minds on liquidation once your interference is found out because she'll somehow prove useful to them?

-There's an odd emphasis on "our" on the sentence, that it's not only referring to one group in the room-

I think... I get her a lot more now.

Chiyo: They won't, they're very bullheaded like that, and already afraid of her. You think they won't be more afraid of an Iridium with proper training, with my "taint" on her?

That explains the long leash, she can get away with it because the School won't be breathing down her neck. Also, I'm sure it makes it a lot easier to pretend they're doing other things if anyone tries checking in.

Lydia: -As if she can see the logic but is stubbornly ignoring it- Chiyo, Dr. Tagg, the risk would be the same regardless of her status, that's the potential fate of all Schoolchildren, something I don't think I need to tell you. And when we're done, the School would be fools to still try liquidating her, it would be a major waste of an asset and resources.

Chiyo: -Snorts- Well, as I think we all know, the School is comprised of plenty of fools. Say this blows up in your face, what's your plan then?

-Eyes narrow-

You can get yourself killed on your own time, but don't you dare drag Iridium down with you. Here I thought your survival was the thing you put at the highest priority.

Lydia: -Smiling, but it's not reaching her eyes- If that happens I have... my contingencies. Something that's ironically been made far easier by certain attacks on a number of our Paldea safehouses that've lowered the chances of an impromptu visit.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 31st 2024 at 3:20:58 PM

Levincia, Past

-Focus Punches came out as simple taps of the fist.-

-Psychics didn't come out at all.-

-All the while, shadowy flame blasted through supposed type advantage at every turn.-

Bison: <These are the elite? Please. I've found Picnickers with more passion than these rag dolls.>

-The Templars looked down at their KO'd Pokemon... and then ran.-

-Right into a young lady with pink hair, wearing a suit of similar grey to the teenager who had just trounced them.-

Dr. Aulstyne: I'm afraid you won't be going this way.

-They tried shoving past her, only for a cybernetic whirling sound to preceed both receiving simultaneous punches to the jaw.-

Dr. Aulstyne: Ach... so much better doing that when they can't soften the blows...

-She grabs their collars before looking over her shoulder.-

Dr. Aulstyne: Guten Tag! Give Cid my regards!

-Red gives a short wave to Dr. Aulstyne as she drags off the Templars for interrogation.-

Red: See ya, Doc Aul. Alright Bison, Boss Man told us we get one run before heading back.

Bison: <That shouldn't count! I didn't even get to snap a bone, let alone a spine! I need my cathartic auditory stimulation!>

Red: Wow, man, you are messed up. Eh, maybe Cid'll have something lined up for you. He seems to know you best.

-The two continue to banter, leaving the two Pokemon used by the Templars unconscious in the alley.-