ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Stormchaser, kitchen

Percy: ...It's Percy. Not Phosphorus.

You're the guy who attacked Artazon. Did the other Templars not like you making a show of yourself in public?

East Province Area Two

Chiyo: -Walking, face deep in thought when she hears a familiar voice- Isn't that?

-She looks ahead to see Qinglong talking to two Oinkologne with EX markings-

Qinglong: -To the Oinkologne- <Yes, indeed.>

Oinkologne♀️-EX: -Noticing Chiyo- <Qinglong, it seems we have a guest.>

Qinglong: <Drem yol lok, Chiyo, it has been many months since our last meeting.>

Chiyo: It has Qinglong, good to see you're well.

-To the Oinkologne-

And who are they?

Oinkologne♀️: <You may call me... Mrs. Pig.>

Oinkologne♂️: <And I'm... Mr. Pig.>

Qinglong: <You can consider them... inspectors of sorts.>

Mrs. Pig: -Sniffing Chiyo- <Chiyo, was it? Ah yes, I know this smell, we've met your piglet.>

Chiyo: What?

Qinglong: -Headtilt- <Piglet?>

Mr. Pig: <A Schoolchild derived from our friend here, she went by Sally, but it seemed more like she tolerated the name rather than considering it her own.>

Qinglong: -To Chiyo- <They made one out of you?>

Chiyo: Out of me and Tagg if I want to be specific, but yes. This Templar I've met before, Lydia, is her handler.

Qinglong: -Snorting flames- <A Templar? Do you need me to    burn    her and rescue your progeny?>

Chiyo: -Sounding uncomfortable- No, I don't think that's necessary, in fact I'm sure it'd make things worse since Lydia's. Tagg and I decided that unless she was in immediate danger, the choice to leave the School would be hers alone.

Qinglong: <You would trust one of them?>

Chiyo: She has a "vested interest" in keeping her "asset" alive as she'd put it, so I trust her where that's concerned.

-Bitterly-

Lydia gets to be like a mom, Tagg can at least secretly be her father, but the School taught her to hate me in particular, so she's obsessed with trying to surpass me. But me, I don't get to be her-

-The last word is unsaid, but obvious-

Mrs. Pig: <Well Ms. Chiyo, your child may be lost right now, but even if things are strained, that doesn't mean you can't help her find her way.>

Chiyo: -Clenching her fists- I've tried to be that person, subtly, but it's not like what she and Lydia have, or even what she and Tagg have, that mentor-mentee relationship.

-Humorless laugh with clear bitterness-

Lydia doesn't even realize she has it and is self-rationalizing otherwise, or at least that's what Tagg thinks. Even my Batchmates she has less of a grudge against.

-Sadly-

I just want to hug her and tell her everything will be okay, that she doesn't have to care about the School, but I know she's not going to listen, she thinks beating me is her only way of meaning something. Honestly, I'm surprised she was even willing to agree to that truce after we "fought".

Mr. Pig: <If she's willing to parley, you've had an opening to change her mind.>

Chiyo: I guess that's true, I think I might've been able to get through to her at least a little bit.

Mrs. Pig: <So it seems you've already been helping her find her way.>

-She starts releasing an aroma from her tail-

<Brave heart Ms. Chiyo, she will need you, all of you.>

Chiyo: -Feeling soothed- I know... That's why we're doing this.

Mrs. Pig: <Best not to let envy get the better of you, we've been around long enough to see the unwary fall to it, that's part of why we're in this region.>

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 28th 2024 at 4:48:13 AM

Paldea, Area Zero

Red: Doc P- er, Doctor Previa? You needed me for something?

-The scraggly gnome of a man looked over his shoulder at Cid's latest experiment. He was going to make a biting retort if he'd gone through with calling him "Doc Prev" again, but it appears that Cid's taught his dog not to pee on that carpet.-

Dr. Previa: Yes. Director Cid has claimed your training has proceeded at an excellent pace. Thus, he's cleared you to take on the opponents down here, in Area Zero.

-Red looks around anxiously. Previa sniffs. He couldn't say this one was cocky, just confident. While it's splitting hairs when you get down to it, it does make putting him in his place considerably less satisfying.-

Red: I appreciate the offer, but most of my team isn't ready for that sort of scrap...

Dr. Previa: Then you'll be disappointed to hear that Director Cid wants you to catch one of these "Paradox" Pokemon before this time next week.

-Red's eyes go from wary to anxious, just shy of horrified. Previa's face twists into a sour look. He'd told Cid this was a dumb move, far too fast for someone this young, and undeserving at that. But Cid insisted.-

Dr. Previa: I don't like it any more than you do.

-He huffs his shoulder before a second thought occurs to him.-

Dr. Previa: I suggest you find a target that your gifts might aid you in taking down.

-He goes back to his workbench. Red hesitates before Previa waves him away and he leaves the tent.-

Dr. Previa: Hmmm. Don't like this. Don't like this at all.

-He isn't mumbling to anyone in particular in his empty tent.-

Edited by DuneTheWanderer on Jan 27th 2024 at 11:27:04 AM

East Province Area Two, yesterday

Chiyo: -Having calmed down enough- You said you guys were inspectors? What brings such... distinguished mons as yourselves to Paldea?

Mrs. Pig: <Well you see Ms. Chiyo, our job has us inspecting certain bindings placed in ages past, making sure threats to common humonity remain sealed away.>

Mr. Pig: <Our last trip was to that Glitch Pokémon's grave in Sinnoh, but now we've been assigned to Paldea.>

Mrs. Pig: <There are cursed objects that are to remain bound, lest the entire region be at risk. Beads of Envy, Tablets of Resentment, Swords of Hatred, and Vessels of Fear. Collectively they're known as the Treasures of Ruin, and the beings that can form from them, a quartet of powerful but dangerous legendaries. Chi-Yu, Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, and Ting-Lu, they were all born when their constituent objects were imbued with the negative emotions of man and set off by the Paldean emperor, only to be sealed away thanks to the efforts of those not too dissimilar to the J-Team.

Mr. Pig: <There's also the Great Crater, and the things that lurk within its deepest depths. They must all be assessed.>

Chiyo: -Whistles- Sounds like a lot. Kinda what Tagg told about about why he really went to Galar in the first place.

Mrs. Pig: <You get used to it after a couple centuries, as I told your piglet, we're hardly spring pigs here.>

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 28th 2024 at 5:09:02 AM

Paldea, East Province Area Three

-Liliaceae blinks, bemused-

-she's never been so insulted in her life-

Liliaceae: <...I'm so going to crash your wedding.>

-but it hasn't been much life yet, so she shrugs and gets in the utterly nefarious...minivan-

Abilene: -adjusting the mirror- Ufufu. Don't expect me to start ranting about revolution, now - I'm not that kind of villain.

-she puts her petal to the metal and the car takes off-

Abilene: Yet I must confess, I'm uncertain what else one—does, in a villain's car. I believe traditionally I would be stroking some manner of cat. You, perhaps—

-without turning away from the (lack of a) road, she brandishes a dagger at Ever...which on closer inspection appears to be some sort of novelty lollipop-

Abilene: At my mercy.

Phone!Wisp: <In three hundred feet, take the next left.>

Abilene: Thank you.

Stormchaser Kitchen

Whitt's smile falters for a second as the conversation turns towards Artazon, but he fixes his face quickly.

"I won't lie and say that I've never made mistakes, Phosphorous. It's our lot in life to live with the consequences of the mistakes that we make. My consequence is the loss of the only home I ever really knew, and now you'd try and throw me out of the only place to have accepted me since that happened? The only place that wants me for no agenda, solely built on the kindness of those who live there? For shame, Phosphorous. For shame."

The GM House

-Dune's leg is jumping, even as he's sitting on the couch by himself.-

Deziree: Are you really gonna make me ask what's wrong?

Dune: My parents are getting up to new kinds of trouble, and now I'm getting reports of unexplainable infrastructure failures in Pyrite.

-Deziree sits down next to him and puts an arm around his shoulder.-

Deziree: Your parents have themselves to contend with, and Pyrite's needed an infrastructure rework for decades. You'll do just fine.

Dune: Yeah... yeah, I know.

Deziree: Tell you what, when I've got Doomsday or Selene on baby duty this week, I'll break out the fishnets again~

-Dune blushes despite being in his own home.-

Dune: You sure? You haven't gone back on the pill yet...

Deziree: Oh no, I'm not gonna be the one wearing them...

-Dune blushes brighter.-

Dune: I-is Ludmilla out again tonight?

Deziree: Yep~ I know you don't let anything bleed through, but I know better than having dirty thoughts around an impressionable young psychic.

Dune: Okay, good.

Deziree: Dune, I am your wife, in your house, in an empty living room. You don't need to get embarrassed.

Dune: We haven't even tried what you're suggesting since before we were married.

Deziree: Ah yes... Kalos...

-Her smile turns from whimsical to impish.-

Deziree: You did make a cute mermaid~

-Dune buries his face into his hands. He still doesn't know how she knows about that.-

Deepest Distortion World

Hoops floats in darkness. How long has it been since they defeated Thorn? Minutes? Days? Years? That's what happens when no-one writes about you for a while because they were working on essays for school. Time gets weird.

So. This is a difficult situation. Giratina's voice is as sourceless as ever. Was Hoops inside Giratina this whole time?

"Seems that way."

You understand that I cannot simply allow you to leave just because you defeated the barrier I made for you. They were not representative of my power. Regardless, everything that I said about you is true. Despite the perceived nobility of your mission, I cannot ignore your selfishness. Your pride. Your twisted forms of love that you show to others.

"Then don't."

The darkness shifts in a manner that suggests confusion.

Hoops looks down at their hands - one flesh, one made of bandages.

"I don't know if your assessment of me is right. But maybe I am selfish. Power hungry. Maybe everything I do is about my own ego. But who cares, in the end. I have friends who were willing to dive into an abyss with me, which means that whatever friends I might have, they can accept me for them. So, Giratina, your lordship of the Distortion World, I thank you for the life lesson. But I'm going to do everything that I can to get back to the world of the light."

Even so, there's no path home for you now. There's nothing you can do.

"No? Because I have a good friend called Tot, and he taught me about this great thing called foreshadowing. An example of foreshadowing would be hinting at me having more powers than I knew before I used them for myself. And thanks to Thorn, I know that I can take in abilities that don't just come from Cof."

They spread their arms. "Giratina, I'm going to take as much of you as I can!"

Hoops starts to yell, in the way that seems more effective when doing something like this, and spread their arms wide. For a few seconds nothing happens, then darkness starts to gather at the ends of their fingertips - sucked in from the surrounding Distortion World.

How are you doing this? demands Giratina.

"Honestly, no idea," Hoops says. "But that reaction seems to mean it's working." They start yelling even louder. Their bandages start to writhe as they accept the energy into their folds.

Enough! Hoops is hit with a blast of darkness far more than anything Thorn ever produced. It throws them through the nearest boulder, leaving a Hoops shaped hole in the rock.

"So that's your full power," Hoops says. They look up to see the full body of Giratina manifesting before them. "And looks like you've granted me an audience."

Levincia, Past

Kendall backs off, reserves depleted, as Kamui's Drought wanes as well, her Solar Beam faltering as fire builds up on the tips of her tails instead. The Will-O-Wisp flares arc towards its right hand, with intend to light up the appendance and draw attention to it as the target.

Exhausted, Kendall retreats into a shadow cast by one of the buildings, catching his breath and watching as hero after hero descends to deal with the monster. He nods, recognizing that there were plenty of more capable allies allying with him that he could afford to step back.

Stormchaser, Present

"Am I relapsing?" He asked as he looked up at the ceiling, a robotic Groudon flying around his room as he thought out loud, looking over to the kitchen where he himself was making something.

"I think you would know better than anyone else your single-minded obsession with the pursuit of a target you don't know how to find. Do you remember how it ended last time?"

The color left his face as he recalled, his fist tightening in indignation before he sighed, placing his hand over his eyes as he shook his head. "Is this going to happen every time?"

"Well, we can't even ask them," his double joked grimly, the sound of a fork clicking against glass almost drowning out the response.

"Yeah, feels like we're the only one they've spoken to, anyway."

<Are you arguing with yourself again, Kendall?> Roy's voice asked from behind a door.

"And losing!" They answered in unison as the Kendall in the kitchen brought over the drink, the real Kendall swiping it as the double vanished into black smoke.

<What even was the "last time"?> Roy pressed as he opened the door, Koyasa appearing at the same time in shared interest as the fire-types sat down on the bed once occupied by the real Kendall.

"It started in 2010..."

Paldea, Casseroya Lakeside

-the Tatsugiri looks bemusedly over at the person who's supposed to be her Trainer, who's been facedown a good amount of the time she's known her-

-or jogging-

-or pacing-

-she presses the next sentence completer—astonishingly little Training-

Megan: -still facedown- ...huh, you're picking this up pretty fast.

-next to no Training-

Tatsugiri: -simply- <I'm a quick learner.>

Megan: No kidding.

Tatsugiri: <And I've been going through your notes!!>

Megan: Oh I'm so sorry for my handwriting—

Tatsugiri: <We are a Water specialist.>

Megan: Yeah.

-she tilts her head-

Megan: ...everyone in my littler friend group is for some Type, really. It's a little weird.

Tatsugiri: <Specializing! Solid way to build diverse expertise.>

-Megan frowns-

Tatsugiri: <Like the death guy, the mean girl you hang out with, and...>

-she puffs up her sac and lets it deflate, slowly-

Tatsugiri: -glancing toward the fridge- <...Water, representing life?>

Megan: -rubbing her eye- They're all associated with a lot of things. But in the sort of trio dynamic we have...

-she yawns-

Megan: We usually use Grass as the...condenser, to put environmental energy in usable form in a body. Fire the engine that releases it. And Water the transitory element that keeps it moving.

Tatsugiri: <Oooh...>

Tatsugiri: <Like what's happening in your hands?>

Megan: -blink- Kind of, actually, yeah.

-she lifts her head, looking down at her bandaged hands—and the faint glow emanating from within-

Megan: Since it's cut off from the rest of me, we need to keep it circulating—and are kind of cheating nutrient influx and waste clear with a niche bit of a Move we have.

Tatsugiri: -nodding- <Dive.>

Megan: Um. Yeah.

-she shifts to look at the Tatsugiri-

Megan: Life support pod. Inside-out submarine.

-who lets out a happy trill-

Megan: But like I said, it's moving things around, but not really building it back up—ideally, just feeding life to the right parts should make them fix things the way they normally would—

Megan: Ah. Um.

Pippy: -flippers glowing- <...'um'?>

Megan: The pain means it's working, right?

Pippy: -tamping down nerves- <A-Actually, kind of, yeah. If it's nerves, and they're reconnecting—>

Megan: I do not feel much pain.

Pippy: <M...hm.>

Megan: Buuut I'm kinda messed-up.

-she traces a triangle on the table with one bandaged, braced finger-

Tatsugiri: <And physical structure is more of a Grass thing!>

Megan: Yeah. But injecting most plants Abilene does have in there and feeding them up is what we colloquially call "an infection", or possibly "no hands disease".

-the Tatsugiri leans in, eyes alight...-

Megan: -gasp- Don't touch it.

Tatsugiri: -flinch- <I wasn't gonna!>

Megan: Okay. Please don't. It's delicate, and without Pippy here to fix it up...

-she glances around for Fraidy, whose job it would be to fix it up-

Megan: -sigh- It should be fine for jostling, but on the energy side of things it's...on the higher end of what, head down he can do.

Tatsugiri: -pout- <...can't even learn Aqua Ring...>

-Megan's eyes, slowly, take on some of their usual light-

Megan: What can you do?

Tatsugiri: -points- <...you've got the 'Pokédex'.>

Megan: It's more of a record.

Tatsugiri: -headtilt- <You read it for hours.>

Megan: I'm...I get bored. For trainerly purposes, it's nice to scan with—I think I've forgotten what half the apps I've installed do—but it kinda falls short with what Pokémon specifically can do.

Tatsugiri: <Like what?>

-Megan chews her lip-

Megan: ...Pollen uses a needle like a sword.

-she makes a broad gesture-

Megan: Ribombee tend to follow—I guess you'd call it the pixie model? Frail, fast, makes up for teeny tiny squishiness by being hard to hit and blasting at range. But Pollen gets in close.

-the Tatsugiri muses on that awhile-

Tatsugiri: -finally- <That sounds like a huge disadvantage.>

-Megan surprises herself with a laugh-

Megan: It kind of is!

-she blinks and glances around-

Megan: Don't—don't tell her I said that. But also—

-she reaches for the Pokédex, before remembering-

Megan: ...okay. Flip to the "Pollen" folder—

Tatsugiri: <How do you spell that?>

Megan: Ah. "花粉".

Megan: And scroll down...down...little more...?

-their heads are pressed in close, squinting down at the fourth-gen Pokédex screen-

Megan: There. That one.

-the Tatsugiri gapes at a clip of a Ribombee sawing a Flamethrower in half with a laser saber-

Megan: Things like Moonblast look in the League definitions like glowy balls. ...the rulings, most of the TM screens...every Trainer has their own twist on it, of course, but

Megan: -tap- Wait, no but. That's what I'm talking about, actually.

Megan: When she channels stuff through the needle, it gets focused to a point. There's less distance, but she carries the locus of the move with her. She can angle it around a guard, sometimes...

-the next clip: her nailing a Scrafty in the chin, straight up, from between its arms-

Megan: And she's fast.

-the Tatsugiri, eyes wide, drums her flipper on the next video button-

Megan: So, y....um. So. What can you do?

Trill is here with Quack Parade, who is now a Quaxwell, shopping for things.

Trill: "Okay, let's see, strawberries, noodles, what else..."

Quack Parade: <Too bad they don't have Herba Mystica here.>

Trill: "Yeah, that'd make this a lot easier wouldn't it."

They pick up a can of pickles from the shelf.

"Where to next, though, I mean we're already on our way to where the Steel Titan is, though we could also loop back for the Flying Titan, that could be interesting."

Quack Parade: <Think they might want to join us? It would be kind of fitting after.>

He finds a can of tennis balls and puts it in the cart.

Trill: "Mmm... maybe, could definitely be helpful. We're gonna have to keep trying to find things if Sally's expecting to make sandwiches after. Glad I still managed to get some later."

They then add a can of bread and add it in as well.

Quack Parade: <Yeah, how much of that stuff are you gonna need anyway?>

He finds a can of socks.

<Could you use more of these by the way?>

Trill: "Nah, I should have enough, this hasn't been too much of a journey."

They pick up a jar of peanut butter and then check out.

Quack Parade shakes the jar of peanut butter, thinking it's a bit weird, and opens it, causing a bunch of Paper Orthworm to come flying out.

Quack Parade: <Gah!>

Trill: "Mmm... maybe I should have looked better at that."

Silas grumbled a bit, a bit tired from everything going on. The search for the Defiant Wing and Roxy was going nowhere. Helping Halis get a new form and deal with fae shenanigans had also put some stuff in the back of his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes. He looked to his phone and Bishop popped out.

"How are the savings?" Silas asked.

"Still good," Bishop answered. "Captain we have enough money, I didn't keep all our banking information on the Wing."

Silas breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's very good. Right now let's grab some food, find a hotel, and rest."

"Captain, have you been sleeping alright?"

"No," Silas admitted. "I'm having trouble getting comfortable in bed anymore, even swapping forms doesn't help."

~You miss her,~ Hacks admitted. ~You've changed, having Roxy next to you helped you sleep.~

"And you know this how?" Silas asked grabbing a loaf of bread off of a shelf.

~You could call it my "empathic powers" if you want,~ Hacks responded, smiling.

"Smartass," Silas muttered.

The doors opened with a jingle, the cashier at the front was scrolling through their phone, bored out of their mind. They didn't really even pay attention, not until they heard a loud *CHA-CHUK*. Looking up they saw a gang of goons, one of which had just pointed a cut down shotgun in his face.

The other customers were in shock as the other two drew pistols, one fired into the ceiling. "Alright, everyone just play it cool! Just give us your money, and we'll leave!"

The Cashier was breathing heavily, he went to reach for the silent alarm when he heard the hand of the lead goon slam his hand on the counter. "Nuh-uh, just give us the money, and we'll be gone shortly."

Before anyone could pull out a pokeball, a zubat flew above everyone and let out a ear splitting screech. One of the other customers crumpled over from the Supersonic attack. The other customer was suddenly tackled to the ground by a Salandit, with a Weavile having walked, sharpening their claws as an idle threat.

In the back near the restrooms, Silas had recalled Blackquill and ducked into the shadows. Hacks hadn't approved. ~Come on, we can take em. It's just 3 goons.~

"That was when we had a full team and a fistful of gadgets and body armor," Silas whispered. "We gotta play this smart."

~I could take those 3 no problem,~ Hacks boasted. It was true, Silas had no doubt that he could, easily. He was more worried about the cashier who had a shotgun pointed at his head. Hacks followed Silas' line of sight and understood, that was the big thing.

~I see, waiting for the right opportunity...~

The two stood by, Silas watching intently. The cashier began to empty out the till and dump it into a bag, the other goons began walking over. One tapping his finger on his pistol idly. He came over to a distressed customer and grinned. "Hey, boss, think I can make em dance?"

The shotgun goon groaned. "Idiot, we are getting in and out!"

"Yeah but ya never let me have any fun, come on, it won't be too much."

The shotgun goon ignored his stupider companion, who proceeded to grab a can of apple juice and balanced it on the poor customer's head. Before stepping back, raising the pistol, and grinning. "Hold still, don't wanna miss~!"

As his finger wrapped around the trigger, Silas felt an electric spark run up his spine. Things slowed, and he darted forward, closing the distance in an instant. His body burned, and more than anything, it felt good.

He reared his right hand back and threw a punch, the fist collided with the goon. Time picked up and the man went flying right across the store and into a shelf. The man crumpled, blacked out. He looked to the remaining too goons, a grin spread across his face.

~WHAT THE FUCK?!~ Hacks cried out.

The other goon looked to his pokemon companions. "GET HIM!" He shouted.

The Weavile didn't even have a chance before out of the shadows leapt Hacks, who hit with a focus palm. He wasn't pulling anything back, this wasn't a friendly competition. The Weavile didn't fly very far, slamming into a wall before crumpling unconscious. Hacks rolled his shoulders, looking to the Salandit.

<Hey whoa there, no hard feelings huh? Guy's gotta eat?>

Hacks said nothing and just walked slowly, his bone spikes becoming metal claws. The Salandit backed itself into a wall, nervous. <H-hey come on! I'm just a little guy, just a little guy! You wouldn't->

Hacks quickly put the claws away, sighed, and just slapped the salandit, who crumpled over easily.

Goon 2 was firing his pistol, Silas was dashing, his body energized. Whatever this was, it felt good, real good. He closed the gap and gripped onto the pistol with his bionic hand, crushing it. The goon cried out in pain, before getting kicked in the chest by Silas.

That just left the leader, with the shotgun. He raised it and fired, Silas instinctively brought his left hand up, a blue shield pulsed around him, blocking the shot. The Goon and Silas stood there, and blinked. Silas stood there, surprised, and felt a chill run up his spine once more. Let's make that happen again.

Time slowed, he darted around behind him, rearing up his fist once more, time resumed.

The Goon barely had time to look back, to see his assailant framed in shadows, two glowing eyes staring at him... and for an instant he swore the profile changed, a wisp of white flame showing something else... before he hit the ground hard.

The Zubat hung there for a moment, Hacks stepping out around a corner. It turned its head to Silas, who held up three more pokeballs, to Hacks who had crossed his arms. <So... is it too late to negotiate surrender?>

Silas stood outside the variety, having talked with the local PD about what happened. Hacks eying him the entire time, the two gave their statements and the footage from the CCTV would be taken soon, leaving the two of them to just sit and wait.

~So...~ Hacks began. ~The fuck was that?~

"What was what?" Silas asked.

~The... the teleporty flash step, the force of which you punched those guys.~

"They didn't die," Silas protested. "They're not even in critical condition."

~Yeah you humans are durable, we get it. Just... you can't do that, or at least you couldn't do that,~ Hacks muttered.

Silas shrugged. "Ever since we escaped the fortress, I've felt... different. Yaknow? It finally just settled. I mean you've seen me zap people with the new hand."

~That's one thing, anyone could rig a stun-gun into a prosthetic hand. But it's more than the new hand, you said you underwent an operation, that Mr. Strings did something, right?~

Silas nodded, not fully getting it.

~Heck, even your hairstyle now tells me something, don't get me wrong shaved at the side is a good look, but... I swear I can see some scar tissue in there. What you just did, the whole thing... something is up.~

Silas looked to his left hand and clenched it a bit, he let out a sigh. "I suppose so, guess I should get checked out?"

~Uh... yeah.~

Silas grumbled and pulled out his phone.

Autumn Mountain, past

Ann: -Heads to the Magic Circle-

J-Textspace

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 31st 2024 at 4:11:47 AM

Autumn Mountain

Good to hear. Sorry if I was uh... A little awkward about it. Regardless, looks like we'll be witnessing the power of the Vellumental!

-Gale however does wait, letting Ann do the honors of invoking the power of paper-borne water-

Sunyshore Salon

Putting it simply? I'm more powerful than you. Maybe if you did make this a nice fair magical girl duel you could have won, but you just had to play around and assume I'd be bound by your rules. I'm not playing anymore. Jammer; change targets, every mirror in the room, confirm.

Jammer: <Confirmed.>

-The Magnezone still spinning through the area changes course to begin hitting the mirrors-

Levincia City, MidKnight's Last Stand

-Over and over again, the reckless charges foiled. The Fool felt things bubbling up, anger, interesting. It reached deep for a new tactic and found something... Novel-

-Meanwhile, with the deathbird construct, it manages to recover enough to take to wing again, ready to divebomb like a bolt from the blue. It's skull opens as-

-MidKnight conjures forth skulls, floating like Hughinn and Muninn at its shoulders-

Tell me a story. Lamb.

-It intones in a falsified gruffness as the gasters fire-

Sakura Genetics Raid

-The remark was enough to get Gale to calm, waiting at the bottom of the fire escape for the ladder and then making her ascent a few rungs at a time. Still, the critical thoughts directed at her own judgement were bubbling within her mind and she just tried to keep them contained as she started trying to get a window open-

The interior of the facility reflected the design that SG had been known for, minimalist and cold. The guards were sparse, as if the place wasn't much worth. Whatever was here, was something they weren't too focused on.

Cameras turned back and forth, close inspection would show a few were fake.

J-Textspace

Somewhere in Paldea, today

-To Chiyo, holding a flier-

...So yeah, while I know you're doing the Island Challenge and Tera Orbs are pretty much useless outside of Paldea and a few other places, it might be worth looking into.

Chiyo: -Eyebrow raise- Nice sentiment, but I'm not exactly enrolled in the Academy now am I?

That's the fun part, this special course is even open to people unaffiliated with the Academy. Directive from La Primera herself apparently.

Textspace

Levincia City

Kamui's legs buckled under her for a moment, as did Kendall's. This beast would dare spill her secret?

Without so much as another word, a Fire Blast built up in her mouth as Kendall leaned back into the wall, vanishing into the shadow and reappearing with a Protect wall in front of everyone he could save from the Gasters, Kamui following up with every last bit of ferocity she could muster in one breath.

<Omae wa atai no daimonji de shinu ato koibito wo modoru. Kan.>^note You give me back my lover after you die in my Fire Blast. The end. She seethed beneath the roaring flames.

Sakura Genetics Raid

Looking out through the hall, at the cameras, blinking and paying attention, motes of flame orbited around Lamb's fingers, either with intent to become Confuse Rays on the cameras or Hypnosis on the few guards that roamed the halls. She dimmed the lights on her visor, intending to stay stealthy and allowing her partner to take a look, and the lead.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jan 31st 2024 at 9:58:40 AM

South Province Area Three

Poppy was making her Pokemon do team-building exercises to strengthen their bonds with one another. After all, she now had a reliable team of six, she had to help them get used to one another, despite how different they all were.

The results were as follows: Shroomy worked particularly well with Sunrise and Crusher, who were slowly starting to warm up to each other again. Donut still had troubles with trusting his teammates and wasn't happy at having to be a father figure for Nessa. Nessa herself was too friendly and innocent towards everyone that not even Stormwind could bring himself to make fun of her.

After a long day of training, the whole gang was settling down for some dinner, and eventually sleep.

During the night, the Squawkabilly sent by the school finally found Poppy's tent, and begun making landfall.

Crusher, out of his Pokeball, was woken up by the sound of wings flapping. He froze in fear of what could be right outside the tent, and when the Squawkabilly zipped the tent flap right open, Crusher didn't seem to care the Squawkabilly was there to help, he took action.

Crusher: No, no, no! Don't hurt us! Stay back!

Squawkabilly only barely dodged the attack, dropping one of the Pokèballs in the process, it flew off not realising this.

Poppy: Crusher -?! What are you doing? It's midnight! Get back to sleep!

A trembling Crusher, who didn't realise a Pokeball was stuck on his back, could not move after what transpired?

Poppy: Think something was going to attack us, didn't you? Come back in, there's nothing to be afraid of.

Crusher gathered his strength and stumbled back into the tent. However, just as he was ready for sleep again, the Pokeball rolled off his back.

Poppy: Wait. Crusher, is that a-

The Pokeball then burst open in a flash of light, which was practically blinding in this level of darkness.

Stormchaser, Training Bay

Thespi: You don't need to check for sabotage every time.

Hiro: If you're compliment fishing, one moment of relevance was enough.

Thespi: -snorts- Bet Stormy appreciates the attention.

Hiro: No bets.

-Thespi casts her gaze around yet another of the Stormchaser's innumerable training bays-

Thespi: Hey, Chips!

Chips the Torkoal: -crunch- <Hey!>

Thespi: Whatcha up to? 😮

Chips: -chew- <Ember.>

Thespi: Huh.

Thespi: Fritte?

Fritte the Rapidash: <Ember.>

Thespi: -blink- <...Parfait?>

Parfait the Emboar: <Ember! Mostly good to see ya, Thespi.>

Thespi: Same to you?

-indeed, everyone able from Hiro's newest Pokémon to his most veteran partners seem to be standing in a circle, steadily beating the frick out of a gigantic inflatable Alakazam with basic Embers-

Thespi: Surprisingly tame.

Hiro: Solid fundamentals contribute to quality performance.

-he calls up another balloon, separate from the rest-

Hiro: Show me some.

-Thespi notes how his eyes and Pokédex light up-

-pushing through her icy Forme, she inhales, swishes the air around inside her cheeks, and spits a gout of liquid fire over her target-

Thespi: And she still stays silly.

Hiro: It sparkles.

Thespi: Awesome, huh?

Hiro: Partitioning the embers like that is a display of skill—

-Thespi beams-

Hiro: —and of how it takes about twice as long as it could.

-Thespi pouts-

Hiro: -squinting at a replay- Rather than draw directly from your flamesac, you seem to be...wrapping the core in layers of vapor? I want to compare this to the hard candies with the uncomfortable names, but in reverse.

-that said, he moves over to a side table piled high with ingredients-

Thespi: Maybe you don't appreciate flourish. -he starts with bread and butter-

Hiro: I tend to prefer reliability.

Thespi: -flat- That's another word for 'predictability'.

Hiro: Genuinely yes. Being able to shout a command and know what to promptly expect is useful for both rapid response time and diagnosing anomalies.

-he squints at some avocado oxidation-

Hiro: Such as Psychic delirium.

Thespi: -puffing out her cheeks- We've fought Templar too, you know!

Hiro: And which of us is still visibly nursing injuries from doing so?

Thespi: Both of us?

-Hiro's own starter, dearest to his heart, lets out a hearty cackle-

Hiro: ...touché.

-he accepts the salt she floats over-

Mesagoza, today

Lydia: -Looking across from Iridium- ...I've noticed you've been eating a lot more lately.

Iridium: -Eating-

Lydia: Normally you'd be in the bathroom after eating that much, but it's seemingly not affecting you at all.

Iridium: -Stops eating- It's really funny, I ate that funny herb and now I can eat a lot more things.

Lydia: "Funny herb?" Whatever do you mean by that Iridium?

Iridium: Um, the Sweet Herba Mystica? I helped my fri-colleague Trill get it from this giant Klawf.

Lydia: -Interested- Oh, is that so?

East Province Area Three, today

Chloe: -Forms from the wind- You know, maybe I should invest in like, a new pair of Go-Goggles or something.

Boll: -Hiding behind Chloe from the desert wind- <Why'd we even bother coming to this stupid desert anyway?>

Chloe: You know I can't stay in one place for too long Boll, it makes me restless and claustrophobic.

Boll: <I know, but here though?>

Chloe: We're not staying much longer.

-Recalls Boll and drifts off, also picking up a wayward Bramblin who happens to be nearby-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Feb 2nd 2024 at 12:27:07 PM

Paul sighed and sipped a water, he looked to Joseph. "So... how is he doing?"

Joseph gave an apathetic shrug. "No major changes. His "therapist" has been out recently, didn't really think about the fact that he can just up and vanish."

The two looked out, laying down in the cage was the alternate version of Silas Grant, Tobias. At least that's what he called himself to differentiate himself. Tobias was... interesting to the two, they knew Silas, they liked Silas. Tobias was just a miserable individual, nothing like the person they knew.

"So, he loses his best friend, and doesn't process it?" Paul said. "That's his thing?"

"Apparently he lost him earlier on, Silas mentioned that if he hadn't been through so much he'd have a rough time as well," Joseph replied.

"Why are we keeping him here again?"

"He's smart, clever even. He figured out how to make teleporting gloves."

"Wat?" was Paul's only response.

"Honestly, it sounds pretty interesting," another voice came.

"Well yes, sure until he tries to-" Joseph said, only to realize the issue with the statement.

The two looked up, and saw an older individual, a familiar face, and a soft smile looking at them. The two started to freak before he quickly clonked their heads together, and turned to the security panel, and opened the holding cell.

Tobias blinked a bit as he heard the case hiss. He sat up and looked over as in walked a taller figure, his left arm shimmering silver in the light, as if it wasn't solid. He recognized this one instantly.

"What do you want?" Tobias asked.

There was a clunking sound as before him landed what looked to be a prosthetic arm of sorts. Tobias raised an eyebrow at it, before looking to the figure, who was smiling.

"For you to raise a little hell. Chaos is the order of the day."

Tobias sneered a bit. "Really? That's all you want?"

"And to pass a message if you see him... tell him I said... Hello."

Tobias just watched as he walked out, wondering what had happened, and why he was involved.

J-Textspace

Stormchaser Kitchen

Percy: ...Sure, yeah. I'd be okay with that.

Apple-A-Day: If you're going to be here, you kind of have to not be a jackass. Otherwise, I'm happy to fight you.

East Province Area Three

Cornflower: <...I'm a knight. Knights don't get married.>

Ever: You're also a Pokemon. Well, traditionally villains have people driving them, and I won't lie, I'm sort of hoping you're adhering to tradition here.

Just because I can bail out of moving vehicles doesn't mean I'm excited to.

After having returned from their decidedly-important Ersatz trip, Strobe managed to convince Halis to return their room to its prior state... albeit with more green. A lot more green, in fact, and if it wasn't green, it was a dark void-y black instead.

Strobe: <I know I said you should have put it back to begin with, but WHY is it so gloomy-looking now?>

They simply shrug in response to the question.

Halis: <Felt like it.>

They go to sleep...

...And wake up, not recalling what time it was and just assuming it was some morning. No nightmares, no ominous feelings, no self-doubt left to plague them.

Halis: <Ahh, I slept so much better this time~>

They get up, deciding they should probably return to a human form for the time being, switching out their scarves... and nothing happens.

Halis: <...Eh?>

They do it again, and again, continually switching between the two scarves they have, even layering both on at once, but nothing happens.

Halis: <What, is it broken or something?>

They try every possible configuration and style imaginable, but nothing works. Every single one of their items does nothing to their form, remaining a Kirlia instead of turning back to human as expected.

Halis: <Oh, what the frick.>

Strobe: <What did you do THIS TIME?>

Halis: <I didn't do anything, that's the problem! Well, aside from forcibly having my form changed... again.>

They realize something after having said it out loud.

Halis: <Wait wait wait, hold on... do you think that's why?>

Strobe: <I wouldn't know, I don't touch BROKEN THINGS! There's a reason those items are REJECTED!>

Halis: <What's that supposed to mean?>

Strobe: <You couldn't get me to go inside one of those MODERN phones if it meant my life! Those things BREAK so often because they WANT them to break!>

Halis just sighs. Strobe's on one of their 'back in my day' phases and isn't going to give any solid answers on this, so with no other recourse they try using their new Psychic-type abilities to gently lift the PDA over to them instead of grabbing it, sending a message as it hovers in front of them.

They stop early, realizing they can't actually read what's on the screen. All the words are just a jumbled mess to their eyes.

Halis: <...Oh, that's a bigger problem.>

Strobe: <WHAT is?>

Halis: <I can't actually read any of this... or type it out, for that matter.>

Strobe: <So you're telling me your new glasses made you ILLITERATE!?>

Halis: <At the very minimum, unable to understand human language, which needless to say is a massive issue. You'll have to act as a translator for me until we can solve this.>

If Strobe could sigh, they'd also be doing it right about now.

Strobe: <I KNEW you shouldn't have trusted those vain things! But NOOOOOO, you just HAD to GO and get yourself a new form! Well, hopefully THIS teaches you not to trust them again!>

Halis: <Please don't blame them for something that's my own fault... also if you could send the message for me that'd be appreciated, thank you.>

Battle Academy, Superintendent's Office

Angela: So, Melody...

-The little girl, hair tied up neatly into two low-hanging ponytails, sits in the child-sized chair in Angela's office, pretty as a picture.-

Angela: You're here at Battle Academy because your uncle... Wants to keep you away from your older sister.

-Melody nods.-

Angela: And he feels this is the safest place for you to be?

Melody: Uh huh- I mean, yes mu'um. Uncle Fitzjames doesn't trust the insti- insisit- intisis- in-stih-too-shuns in Galar.

Angela: Do you know why?

Melody: He says that they always follow money, and until the matter of... inheritance... is handled, that all belongs to Ludovica.

-Angela notices that the hesitation just now was not brought about by trouble with pronunciation.-

Angela: If you don't want to continue with this subject, we may pick it up again later.

-Melody chokes as her thanks comes out as a strangled cough, so she just nods as she dabs her eyes with a handkerchief.-

Angela: You may return to your room. I will send for tea.

-Melody picks herself up and leaves. Roland, who had been sitting in the corner as quietly as he could get away with, speaks up.-

Roland: We have to tell Dune.

Angela: I fully intended to. I merely wished to get a gauge on her before proceeding.

Roland: I never like seeing kids cry.

Angela: You didn't need to stay.

Roland: Just 'cause I don't like it doesn't mean it ain't my duty.

Angela: Hm. Anyway, call Dune. Let him know that we have a Cain situation.

Roland: You going to visit Melody later?

Angela: Perhaps. I'll see after Binah's report.

Roland: But you didn't- oh, right. Tea.

Angela: It would be more difficult to send her tea without Binah hearing about it.