ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

East Province Area Three

-Cutting a sprig of Salty Herba Mystica-

And that's two more to go.

Chiyo: -As if she can't believe it- We're so close now.

All these years you've suffered, all the sacrifices you've had to make, it'll all mean something in the end.

-It's then that I get a text message and frown-

Well crud.

Chiyo: -Eyebrow raise- What's up?

-To Chiyo-

Our devil's bargain.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 15th 2024 at 12:01:28 PM

Montenevera

Moss' eyes look at something that isn't there.

.. He blinks.

And reflexively crouches next to the Litwick.

Moss?: ".. Now this one is new."

Pokes at the Litwick, which may or may not be a smart idea.

Moss?: "Who are-"

The burning net passes through him, and despite himself he flinches.

Large amounts of fire bring back bad memories.

But, well, the things he doesn't like to think ab

Home?

Moss? is more used to his body and lips being under the control of something else than most people, but this is still a bit strange.

He goes along with it, just... because, though.

Moss?: "... Hm. Seeing strange things when following ghosts is normal, but this is..."

... His muttering may be heard in the waking world as well.

Somewhere(?)

There is a random human and his dogs here.

Marco: "..."

Marco: "Where are we?"

Luc: <I don't know....>

Amelia: <Dunno!>

Arianne: <Not a clue :3>

Paldea, Montenevera

Hiro: Seeing things?

-he abandons all attempt to be casual, eyes flaring openly-

Hiro: "Following"?

Cubone: <What's wrong?>

Hiro: You didn't draw out any medium or implement. You're just looking at me…

-Hiro presses a hand to his chest, beside his Cubone's head…

Hiro: …but I don't feel anything…

-his vision resolves all at once-

Hiro: Are you in the Spirit World?!

-Hiro fumbles at his belt, Thespi flying from his pack-

Hiro: Moss, how are you calling—what are you channeling?!

torture, murder

Paldea, Glaseado Mountain

-Glaseado Mountain in spring is cold and forbidding as ever-

(-which is to say: it's cold and Trainers come here anyway-)

-the rocky slopes in Paldea's north are quite welcoming to Rockruff - rife with veins of delicious stones, picked-over already by the feral Lycanroc population-

-it's hard to relax, though - Pyroar stalk these slopes, too, snapping at Ursaring for territory and the rare Gogoat-

-his delivery - right, that's why he's here!-

Old Man: -cough, wetly- Yhhh—young man. Please. If this gets in the claws of those damn Squawkabilly…their dominion will be absolute.

-he clasps Marco's face with a grip like rigor mortis-

Old Man: This must travel on foot. Trust no one. Please—the future—all Paldea—it rests in your—!

-you know, one of those-

-gig economy; Mobius doesn't play too well on resumes-

-already gave him a nice [Yelp] review, which is nice-

-but in the last leg of the journey, something's tickled the back of Marco's neck-

-nothing tangible—Bite a Misdreavus enough times and it'll stop trying to tease-

-but the sense something's been watching him…rumbling low on the edge of hearing-

-a shadow passing over the sun-

-breath coming too hard, too loud, puffs of mist passing over his eyes—-

-Marco's ears might perk up - an eerie song beckons from the north-

Paldea, Dalizapa Passage

Logan: —nything at all?

Fritte the Rapidash: <To make a Jigglypuff do that?>

-he nickers, eating a Chesto Berry out of Logan's hand-

Fritte: <...m' first guess is EX or Alpha…though m' biased.>

Logan: And a Pokémon of legends might lend out its power to…maim hikers and Beartic?

Fritte: <Seen fickler.>

Logan: …geez.

Fritte: <Seen worse.>

Edited by Asterisk395 on Mar 16th 2024 at 1:09:31 PM

Montenevera

Moss? continues muttering, half conscious of Hiro's words. He doesn't even stop to wonder why Hiro knows his name.

Moss: "I wouldn't know who this is, you tell-"

He abruptly cuts himself off and stiffens.

Home?

Death is no stranger to Moss- though his heart pangs with empathy for the person whose memory he's dwelling in, it doesn't stop him.

No, the thing that stops him is...

...

...

...

Moss?: "Why is she here?"

Templar are scary as a rule.

And this one is a cut above most.

She's the absolute last person Moss expected to see today, and even in a memory her presence brings him dread.

Despite himself, Moss clings to the scene with a white knuckle grip. He himself isn't even sure why. In a calmer moment he might claim it as a strategic decision, see if she betrays any weaknesses he can exploit if he ever... comes across her again.

In reality it's probably more a form of.. penance.

Don't look away.

Don't run.

If watching is all you can do, then watch.

Montenevera

In the physical world, Moss' hand presses down on a specific spot on his chest.

Moss: "Adelinde the Scythe."

Upon this smallest of utterings, the mask strapped to the side of Moss' head rattles and starts glowing yellow.

... Its voice is inaudible, but Hiro gets the distinct impression of anger and hatred.

Paldea, Glaseado Mountain

If there were a camera to look into, Marco would be looking into it right now.

Marco: "Couldn't that old guy have gotten anyone else?"

Arianne: <Couldn't you have picked another job? :3>

Marco grumbles, unable to come up with a retort.

The vague feeling gets him to stop and look behind him.

His posse of Dogs stops, looking to him with confusion in their eyes.

Marco: "... It's nothing, let's just keep g-"

And then, the song.

Apparently weremon don't usually find their senses improved after infection, but Marco could swear his hearing got better after the whole Macraul thing.

... Or maybe he's just more paranoid now.

Either way, yeah, weird noise.

Marco: "You guys hear that right?"

Luc and Amelia both nod. Arianne frowns, and then suddenly sprints off in the direction of the noise without waiting for the others.

Marco: "Hey, wait! Don't follow it-"

Marco reluctantly follows Arianne, attempting to catch her before they find out what's singing.

Mesagoza

Atrin: All good. And I get that."

Atrin chuckles.

Ecto: <That is no problem! I'll destroy one later!>

Paldea, Montenevera

-Moss's Pokémon might see Hiro turn stricken, then ashen-

Hiro: ...I had wondered if it was really her.

-his hand drops from his Pokéballs-

-he scrubs at his eye, and the tears forming there-

Hiro: My family, most likely. What they left behind.

-when it becomes clear Moss isn't leaving, neither is he-

-he stares at the mask, and Moss himself-

-if watching is all he can do, then he'll watch-

death

 Unova - Hiro's Home, then 

-wherever that may be-

Paldea, Glaseado Mountain

-unfortunately for Marco, he finds it all too soon-

Froslass: -tearful- <Oh please, won't you follow?>

-a beautiful woman slumps on the slopes ahead, wrapped in a shining shawl-

Froslass: <I'm cold and alone, traveler, and can't make my way home.>

-she stretches out a hand-

Froslass: <In this terrible blizzard…>

-it's…overcast, sure-

Froslass: <Do be kind. Guide me home.>

-she starts singing again, and even if her words are unclear—her meaning would come across in her mournful tone-

(-there's that feeling again-)

Paldea, Dalizapa Passage

Fritte: <Paldea's oddly shy on local Legends—most ecosystems support one or two, and several lesser. Those few here th't might grant power…>

Logan: Secret thing?

Fritte: <How's your telepathic shieldin'?>

Logan: -prim- It's held up.

Fritte: <Mm.>

-he turns his head to eyeball Logan, trotting along-

Fritte: <Well, if it's seethin' with curse, I can try and rend it pure.>

Logan: And if it is a Legend's vassal?

Fritte: <We'll learn somethin', I suspect.>

Montenevera

Moss' eyes fade back into focus.

Moss: "... Who are you and-"

???: "Who are you and why was she after you?"

Moss? suddenly leans over and grabs Hiro by the collar across the table, eyes burning gold.

???: " How can we be sure you're not being threatened by them into selling us out?"

His eyes abruptly snap back to purple and he relaxes his hands.

Moss: "AHEM. Y'know, there was a lot of truth telling in that memory, so I don't think cape man over here is inclined to lie. Relax."

Glaseado Mountain

Marco's eye twitches.

Marco: "Oh no I know how these stories go. I'm not looking for a wife, move lady I'm gay^* bisexual with a male preference but that's not as pithy !"

He shoves past the woman and continues running after Arianne, who didn't actually stop for her for some reason.

Outskirts Of Medali

~CrobatOfTheStars

Mithos: "Okiedoke! Hold on tight."

Area Zero

-the two blip in here-

Mithos: "Yesss, we got in before a certain SOMEONE could catch us.

-he looks around-

"Let's see...If I were another Legendary Pokemon where would I hide..."

-to Sombra- "You got any ideas?"

Treasure Eatery

Chiyo: -Disgruntled as we sit towards the back of the restaurant- ...Why did we even agree to doing this?

-To Chiyo-

Observation, that's at least what I'd like to say.

Lydia: -Taking a seat, along with a Black man I don't recognize, but Chiyo seems to somewhat even if she's trying to hide it- I hope we didn't keep you waiting for too long.

Chiyo: -To Lydia- You didn't.

-To Lydia's companion-

I guess you must be Lydia's plus one.

Ben: I'm Ben, Lydia invited me to this little gathering.

-To Chiyo-

You've met this guy before?

Chiyo: Not directly, but I saw him once back when we were still in Sinnoh.

He's not like us, or Lydia, I can tell.

Chiyo: -To me- You're right, he isn't.

Then why'd she bring him here?

Lydia: -To Ben- Ben, this is Chiyo and Dr. Tagg. They're my... work colleagues.

Chiyo: -Doing the mental equivalent of an eyebrow raise- We're colleagues now?

-To Chiyo-

I suppose that's one way of putting it. With what's been going on, it's not exactly incorrect.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 30th 2024 at 10:23:02 AM

Paldea, Montenevera

-Hiro blinks, and says:-

Hiro: I am Hiro Alíthea, natural-born descendant of Unova's first king and heir of Reshiram's Chosen.

-the natural-born descendant of Unova's first king (and heir of Reshiram's Chosen) scrunches up his face-

Hiro: Not N. The Twin Prince of Truth, who reputedly split the Vast White Dragon from his, now her, whole self. My flame is hers, safeguarded for her resurrection. The knowledge and blood we bear has been coveted by whom I infer are your progenitors, as—I suspect—you have seen.

-released, he rocks back on his heels-

Hiro: Answering narrowly, I didn't know you specifically existed until about seven minutes ago, and only suspected your origins. The purple eyes are I assume an intentional hint. Broadly:

Hiro:    'They' have tried and failed to make me yield. My mind is shielded from telepathic intrusion, and I have not knowingly or willingly offered up the safety of your wayward kin.   

-he sticks his hands in his pockets-

Hiro: Though being honest, my record is not clean. I have, as you may expect, worked to curtail their influence - and, in so doing, encountered runaways.

-his expression is pained-

Hiro: …who have naturally grown wary of anyone prying into 'their business', especially supernaturally.

-he straightens his collar-

Hiro: We have fought, and I have killed several…and suspect they visited in the aftermath of several other commotions I raised.

Thespi: …maybe should've left out that last part?

Hiro: No. I'm working to avoid it. If they're following me now, I haven't seen it. In summary:

Hiro: They've already tried to kill me, and never offered a surrender I took. They already have my bloodline, and used it in…

-he squints-

Hiro: …I assume your batch. Apparently once was enough. There's not much room to escalate from there.

Hiro: They can't offer me my parents, brother, aunt, or two decades of life back, and if they were so inclined, none of them would be interested in acquiescing. They have nothing to gain from sparing me, and I have nothing to gain from threatening you.

-he muses-

Hiro: …though your ability to access my family's Archive is somewhat unsettling.

Thespi: Hiro.

Hiro: I came here to give a guy some bottle caps, and look at a town with Litwick decorations. If we're going to kill each other, I'd rather we get it out of the way.

-he places a Nugget on Moss's table-

Hiro: If you'd prefer liquid funds, I think I have enough cash on me.

Paldea, Glaseado Mountain

-behind Marco, the Froslass pouts-

Froslass: <I've got a bear of a Glalie in my cave! House! Two of them! In your area! And—oh, who am I kiddi>

-abruptly, Arianne might circle back toward him-

Froslass: <Wait, did that work? Well, hello, b—AAAAAUGH!>

-there's a sound like a delicate ice sculpture being mulched by a wood chipper-

-behind Marco-

Misdreavus: <It's close.>

Misdreavus: <It's near.>

Addie: <Finally.>

Logan: And here's a visible trail! We might have a clean Mission after all. Before anyone else can get hurt.

-Fritte trots along it, the Misdreavus spurring him on-

Logan: …funny, though. Its tracks look almost human.

-...-

Logan: Oh no.

Montenevera

The mask rattles, mollified. (For the moment).

Moss: "Apologies for grabbing you. Much as I know to be wary... My gut is telling me to trust you."

He scratches the back of his head wearily.

Moss: "Dunno why I have so much intrinsic trust for somebody I've just met, but there it is. Maybe it's the voice or something."

Moss: "And as much as I'd like to be offended you've... killed some of us, I know not all of us are distrustful of them as we perhaps should be. If you catch my drift."

He grows somber for a second.

Moss: "... I'm sorry for your loss, also."

And his standard tired deadpan returns.

Moss: -pointing with his thumb- "Bottlecap guy is that way, candles are all around you, I'd rather 6-9 not have to kill any more people but life isn't fair..."

His eyes widen slightly and he picks up the nugget.

Moss: "Not too proud to take this, either... I know some places to pawn it, don't you worry."

Moss: -frowning- "Archive?"

Glaseado Mountain

Arianne turns around and freezes. (Thankfully not literally).

Marco takes one look at the expression on her face and grimaces.

Marco: "... Maybe if I don't turn around whatever is over there won't try to come after me?"

Marco: "Oh who am I kidding. If I'm about to get mauled I don't want it to happen back first."

He turns around to face the source of the noise.

Treasure Eatery

-To Ben and Lydia-

So uh, how do you guys know each other?

Ben: Well, I work in diplomacy, so does Lydia, we met at the bar and hit it off.

A cover I'd imagine.

Chiyo: That does explain why Lydia can just show up basically anywhere.

Lydia:-Wrapping an arm around Ben- Ben has become a very dear friend over time.

...They're like a thing aren't they?

Chiyo: Ben would like them to be in an offical sense, but Lydia fears the School finding out he's not just her booty call.

I got the impression she didn't care much for non-Aurics. Does she think he's special or something?

Chiyo: That's what I wondered when I asked her about it.

Here I was wondering if she was just a chas-

Ben: -Looking around the table- You know it's kinda funny, you've got purple eyes Lydia, Chiyo here has purple eyes, Sally has purple eyes, I don't think I've met that many purple-eyed people until this past year.

-He laughs a bit-

What are the chances?

-Speaking up-

I'd agree, it is a bit... improbable.

Chiyo: -To me- He's met our daughter?

Seems like it.

-To Ben-

You know Sally?

Ben: She came by one day when Lydia and I were having... a special conversation. Nice kid.

-To Ben-

She is.

And not just because we're related.

Lydia: Dr. Tagg has been helping with Sally's tutelage, hence our collaboration.

Ben: -To Chiyo- So what do you do?

Chiyo: Freelancing, to keep it simple.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 16th 2024 at 1:52:04 PM

Paldea, Montenevera

Hiro: There's a bit of a conundrum when it comes to "no, this supernatural means of conveying earnestness doesn't work if you lie, for real you guys". But for the record, it burns if you lie.

Thespi: Feh.

Hiro: A reputation for not lying is its own method of establishing trustworthiness, I'd say.

-his frown ticks two degrees down-

Hiro: Be offended if you like. We're all trying to survive.

-and with the condolences weighing him down, he slumps incrementally-

Hiro: I've…learned to live with it. It was better, for a while…

-he absorbs the directions with his special eyes, primarily by watching Moss's thumb and remembering where he's pointing it, and nods appreciatively-

Hiro: The flame entrusted to the Alíthea by Reshiram's first incarnation is fueled by, and radiates, truth. We draw on its strength, and feed it in turn with our own observations and life experiences.

-he clasps his hands together, and draws them apart slowly-

-in the space between his cupped fingers burns…a flame of Obscura that doesn't obscure anything-

Hiro: The sum of this kindling is the Archive.

-he lets it fade-

Hiro: "We have no secrets; only things we aren't telling you." In the time since the First, my branch of the family has taken it upon ourselves to study the world, and sequester knowledge that might be misused. I'd like it to feel less like hoarding it, but…

-he gestures, somewhat ruefully, at Moss himself-

Hiro: I'm a Lorekeeper.

Thespi: Again—

Hiro: They already know most if not all of this, which is a bit inevitable after generations of 'this shit'. I mean, some of it's public knowledge back home, it's not like we never talk about it to each other. Contents, not nature.

-something in him seems to settle, in a comfortably studious stance-

Hiro: …speaking of the Archive, what did you see while you were there? Not the—vision—itself, but, what led to it.

-he grows serious-

Hiro: I was expecting you to beckon; I wasn't prepared for you to…pursue. It's much more direct than most other Mediums I've met—the self-taught ones.

Paldea, Glaseado Mountain

-what once was a conscious Froslass is a puddle on the ground-

(-her Dawn Stone fallen to the wayside and starting to slide down the slope-)

-and hacking up icy shards, snarling in the bitter admixture of winter and grudge, pawing at the snow—somehow unreal-

-is a Jigglypuff-

-tuft overlong and dipped in a crimson hue-

-fangs jutting oddly in the sides of its mouth-

-eyes like pools of sulfur where clear spring water would rest-

-and fully three times the size of any Jigglypuff he's seen-

Scream Tail: Jigu?

-no one would mistake this for divine-

-a faint strain of ghostly music wafts from the Dawn Stone, and the Jigglypuff—-

Logan: No no no no no—

Addie: <Gods, it sounds rabid.>

Misdreavus: <Rage builds!>

Misdreavus: <Glorious feast!>

Addie: <You want to eat that?>

Misdreavus: <Haha! No.>

Fritte: <How're we playing this?>

Logan: Alright. Okay.

Logan: When approaching a territorial Pokémon, the first thing to remember is—

- —finally punting the battered Stone down the mountainside, sailing out of sight-

Scream Tail: -heaving, apoplectic-

-it Howls at the crescent moon above, shaking the mountain with its fury-

-shaking the snow…-

-near as he is, Marco might be shaken with it-

-his poor ears-

Outskirts of Medali

Sombra: "Wait, wha-"

-blip-

Area Zero

-Sombra looks slightly dazed as the duo teleport into the restricted Area Zero.-

Sombra: "Well, no turning back now, huh?"

Sombra: "We might have to go deeper into Area Zero if we wanna find any Legendary Pokémon. Let’s just hope they aren’t hostile…"

Edited by CrobatOfTheStars on Mar 17th 2024 at 1:13:39 PM

Montenevera

Moss shrugs.

Moss: "Mmh. It's hard to be offended when I've had my own classmates try to kill me before."

Moss:-as Hiro explains the Archive- "Ah. Something they'd kill to get their hands on, I see. And, well, clearly have. I personally wasn't aware, but... They have their feelers out looking for Auric Spectrum powers all the time, I'd be surprised if there were any they didn't already know about."

Moss: -looking faintly embarrassed for a second- "... The ghosts I had when I was being taught didn't particularly want to cooperate, so I... learned to take a more active approach, I guess. Not that it helped me much in the end."

Moss: -to Thespi- "I don't mind. I don't think I should exist either, but I do and the rest of the world has to deal with it."

Moss' brow furrows as he recalls what he just saw.

Moss: "It was... a person. I think his name was John? It felt like he was being called back home. He said something about a brother and sister. I'm to assume based on the memories I saw that that's you?"

Moss: "He wanted to see you again. But... not any time soon, I don't think."

Glaseado Mountain

Marco: "Hm."

All of them blink in unison.

Marco: ".. Well. This looks like our cue to run."

Before he can return all his mons, the thing screams.

Marco covers his ears and cringes, as do Luc, Arianne, and Amelia. In that second they're left vulnerable...

Edited by Daydre on Mar 17th 2024 at 8:44:26 AM

Paldea, Montenevera

Hiro: Ah—?!

-Hiro clutches the table, a sudden desperation in his eyes-

-and as Moss watches, white-hot logic cooks the hope out of his gaze-

Hiro: No, John's…gone.

-but as Hiro's face falls, it remains focused on Moss-

Hiro: If you saw a person…

-...-

Hiro: You may have seen his first last words to us, over eighteen years ago. He returned—soon after, sooner than anyone expected, and burnt himself up—

-realization dawns on his face-

Hiro: Saving me from Adelinde a second time.

-his Cubone clasps his shirt, forlorn-

Hiro: It's been less than three years.

-it might be strange—when Hiro cries, he makes no move to hide it-

Hiro: He's passed beyond. I shouldn't see him again until I follow, twice.

-not the least bit embarrassed of abject misery-

Hiro: And our parents still haven't returned yet.

-and, oddly-

-you can see it in his face: he aches, without restraint, every seething facet laid bare, then with a heave—-

-he lets it go-

-taking one breath-

-two-

Hiro: Thank you for humoring me. I'm sorry you experienced that - perhaps I should've expected the—shared point of reference.

(-sets it down, perhaps—to be picked up again, inevitably-)

Hiro: -gesturing to the mask- The regrets you wear weigh you down as well.

(-as long as he lives-)

-he wipes his face off with a cloth—even in the cold, the damp that remains steams and drifts away-

-and smiles ruefully at how Thespi beams at Moss's retort-

Thespi: -grinning, to Moss- Well said!

Hiro: …I'm coming to terms with it.

-he makes no secret of it—he's weighing whether a truth should be told-

-another danger to an unexpected peace-

Hiro: …

-he chooses honesty-

'Hiro: Existing out of spite is a common sentiment among your Classmates I've met.

-...and then a little more honesty-

Hiro: Who I have not killed or known to die. And whom already survive in their crosshairs—not implicitly endangering a cover story.

Thespi: Couldn't you have let it hang a little?

Hiro: Please understand that by now I place avoiding misunderstanding more highly than the sanctity of a one-liner. That mask scares me.

-he blinks, compelled by honesty-

Hiro: -to the mask- You scare me.

Paldea, Glaseado Mountain

-believe it or not, this was the right thing to do-

Logan: Don't move.

-when the Jigglypuff…runs out of breath, and turns snarling toward Marco, it only snarls…-

Logan: Don't make any sudden movements…that might startle it into attack.

-with bone-rattling threat-

Logan: Don't make eye contact.

Logan: Don't take your eyes off it. Don't turn around.

Scream Tail: Jigi?

Logan: Back…away…slowly.

-Marco can't see the voice in his ear (its eyes are like searchlights)-

-with every moment, the thing draws nearer to him (him and his Pokémon)-

-it sniffs the air (it comes up to his torso)-

-it paws the snow (it could bite him in half)-

-it floats like a stone shouldn't-

-it's wrong—air rushes in and out, its bagpipe wheeze ruffling the ends of Marco's hair, but it stays—perfectly level-

-like buoyancy has no hold over it-

-it's sniffing at Arianne-

Logan: It'll be alright. I'm going to try something—

(Scream Tail: -snort- Pu.)

-Marco's instincts scream at him-

Some days after the special lecture, Mitchell stares at the Pokéball he had crafted, lost in thought.

Angela, looking up from her bowl of water, notices the Pokéball. She hops onto Mitchell's lap and tries to bat at the ball, only to be disappointed when Mitchell yoinks the ball out of her reach.

"Uh, uh, missy," Mitchell chides. "This thing's not your toy."

Angela giving Mitchell The Look, which only earns her a vigorous petting from his free hand.

As Mitchell puts away the Pokéball, he thinks about what he'd done since his time as an Academy student started. It was mostly studying and book learning, aside from the special projects Mr. Jacq and Ms. Raifort had him do. Time was running out for him to do something more with his Treasure Hunt.

"Right, then," Mitchell says. "We might as well do that."

Angela gives a questioning meow.

"You'll see," Mitchell replies. "But everyone else needs to know."

With that, Mitchell picks up Angela and heads out the door.

In a corner of the Schoolyard, Mitchell addresses all nine of his Pokémon at once.

"I know this is sudden," Mitchell says, "but there's something I've been meaning for us to do. We've all been exploring Tera Dens for Mr. Jacq, treasure hunting for Ms. Raifort, studying under them and all the other Academy tutors, and more besides." He then raises a finger and adds "What I'm thinking, though, is that we do something for ourselves. It's been long enough. So," he concludes, pointing at his crowd of Pokémon, "who wants to become a Paldean Champion-ranked Trainer's Pokémon?"

The nine Pokémon glance between themselves for a moment, then politely clap (or the approximate equivalent for their anatomy). Gavroche is the first to speak up.

<First of all, kinda weird phrasing, Boss. Second of all, it's about time you got started on this.> Gavroche smirks. <Better be ready for the olive course, K?>

<Will you need anything for your eyes?> Auguste asks. <Those Sunflora are very good at hiding.>

Rebecca gives Mitchell a discerning look. <We'll need your looks in top form,> she says, <for our next Iono Zone collab.>

Oliver bounces happily. <Oh, boy,> he says, <I can't wait to show you the markets. It'll be just like [Auction Kings]!.>

<Do not expect hints from me,> Esmeralda bluntly says. <You will know what to do, Master.>

<I know you're going to love the E.S.P. part!>, Christine says, rather giddily.

Edmond taps his foot to an unheard rhythm. <Study the verse, / avoid the curse>, he chants.

<Fancy y'can handle Glaseado's slopes, Pops?>, Vasilissa asks.

Angela suns herself, a bit drowsy from the sunshine.

"Thanks, everyone," Mitchell says. "Yeah, I'm aware of what we need to do. First the trials, then the Gym Leaders, and then the Champion test after. Before we start, though, I've got gifts for some of you."

Then, Mitchell pulls out three Rare Candies, a Shiny Stone, and a Moon Stone, all spoils from the group's exploration throughout Paldea. He gives one Candy each to Oliver, Esmeralda, and Edmond, the Shiny Stone to Auguste, and the Moon Stone to Rebecca.

<Huh?>, Auguste asks. <Are you asking us to evolve now?>

"No, actually," Mitchell replies. "I'm leaving the choice to you. Both if you want to, and when you want to. I'm trusting your judgement on this."

<Why, thank you,> Rebecca sardonically replies.

After that, the group spent the rest of the day preparing for the challenges ahead.

Owen Edmundson's House- Pewter City (June 2022)

Levincia

In a mixture of disbelief and confusion, all Kendall could really do was refresh his Obscura reserves as Kamui looked up at the sun, a Solar Beam building up through the sparkles on her fur before the pancake batter explosion.

They didn't need to be told twice before attacking.

Sakura Genetics Raid

Still scouting, Lamb paused to take note of the blind spots between the real and fake cameras, pointing at them to commit them to memory while Gale searched for the camera room.

Escape route for both directions set in her mind, she stood watch as her partner searched.

Treasure Eatery, past

Ben: -Is looking between Chiyo and I, like he's seeing something familiar but he can't quite put his finger on why-

Lydia: -Leaning over the table- How about family? I've always wondered about it, I never knew my parents.

Because you never had any, unless you want to count your constituent templates and the machine.

Lydia: Which do you think is more real when it comes to family, blood or choice?

So that's what this is about.

-Speaking-

I think it's a bit of a false dichotomy, you choose to love somebody. Just because someone's blood doesn't mean they'll love you, my "dearly" departed grandfather was a testament to that one. That said, I don't think it's completely nothing either. You can't just purposely make a baby and go "The vibes are rancid", they didn't ask to be created, no one does.

Chiyo: Or sometimes people steal children as their own, try to mold them in their image, whether that's what they want or not.

-Looking directly at Lydia-

Like certain schools, for one. Stripping children of culture, language, and anything else they disapproved of after stealing them from their parents. If coercion's supposed to make a family, I'd consider it a false one.

Day 618

It's been a long time since AZ and Hoops saw one another, but nevertheless AZ isn't surprised when Hoops walks up to his machine. It is a tall, crystalline thing made of metal and stone, whose design resembles a flower of sorts.

AZ's Floette lies in the middle, protected by the petals of the structure. Hoops takes note of this as they approach.

"I knew that this would be the day I saw you," AZ says, watching them approach. "I assume this is the day, then."

"Yes," Hoops says. "After today, you'll never have to see me again."

AZ nods. There isn't really much to be said, so he begins the firing sequence of the weapon that will kill thousands, if not millions. Hoops stands nearby. Once the core of energy appears in the centre of the weapon, Hoops walks up to it and extends their good hand.

Please they think. Allow me to go home.

They add a secondary objective into the machine with those words, and ensure that when the machine becomes active, there will be a doorway to the future.

In the distance, a horn sounds.

"What is that?" AZ asks.

Hoops looks up at Tot, who is flying ahead. Their loyal bird flies down and lands on their shoulder. <An army, boss> Tot confirms. <I don't know how many, but it's a lot. They must know what's going on somehow.>

"How long does the machine need?" Hoops asks.

AZ shrugs. "Less than an hour."

"I'll buy you that time," Hoops says. AZ sees, really sees, for the first time, the way that they use those strange capsules to summon their six pokémon. Perhaps this isn't just a power of theirs after all.

Hoops runs out to face the opposing army. Thousands of pokémon bare down on them, so they use Sal's Flamethrower and Led's Hyper Beam to tear up and burn the ground that's in their path, then have Sud and Cof handle those who push through. Tot flies overhead, holding off many of the flying pokémon all on his own, while Vul runs between the fights offering support.

For a short time, it works. But as well trained as they are, for how well they work as a team, they have to start retreating. The battle becomes a backwards run up a hill towards the weapon, knocking flying pokémon out of the sky onto their allies and making it clear that no-one can attack the weapon until they've been dealt with.

AZ continues to work on the machine's start-up sequence. He doesn't know what fate awaits him after this - likely a terrible one, and one that he'll rightly deserve. Still, he's come too far to stop now. He owes it to Floette to keep going.

A series of attacks bring down Tot. Then a group of water pokémon team up on Sal and he goes down too, and Led falls to a Rock Slide attack. Hoops returns them to their balls, allowing them rest, and sees that Cof, too, has collapsed. Even Sud, whose number of times going down in battle can be counted on the fingers of Hoops' flesh hands, collapses.

It's only Hoops and Vul now, but they just need a few more minutes. Minutes that Hoops realises they won't have. They beckon Vul towards them.

"I need you to do something for me," they say. They take off their belt of pokéballs, and drape it around Vul's neck.

Vul's eyes widen with realisation. <No,> he insists. <No, no, I can't do that. I can't leave you!>

"You can," Hoops insists. "Giratina called me selfish. I'm doing the most selfless thing I've ever done."

<But you'll be stuck here!>

"True." Hoops nods. "Vul, I haven't aged a minute since I got this form. You'll see me again. And it won't be more than a day for you."

<But for you it'll be three thousand years!>

Hoops kneels down and puts their forehead against Vul's. "I'll be okay," they say. "This is the only way. Promise me you'll get them home, Vul. Promise me."

Tears fills Vul's eyes. <I promise.>

"Good boy." Hoops tries to hide the tears in their own eyes. "Go on." Vul starts to run up the hill. He hears the protests of the rest of Hoops' pokémon, and realises that their balls must have been locked from the outside. The ultimate weapon reaches its zenith of power, and a great pillar of light shoots into the sky. Within that light is a small hole, and as Vul approaches it he can see the Stormchaser on the other side. He leaps through.

When he turns around, the door is already gone.

Hoops turns to face the oncoming army. They let their bandages loose, and the left half of their body splits into a writhing mass of fabric. Then a black wing, tipped with red claws, grows from their shoulder, casting a dark shadow over all of the pokémon. They stop charging, held back for a moment by fear of the monster.

It's enough time. As light fills the sky, it begins to rain down on all of the pokémon, stealing their life to give it to the Floette in the machine.

"I'll see you soon," Hoops mutters. "What's three thousand years?"

Everything goes white.

Floette awakens. She is sure that she was dead, and that she is now alive. She is in the remains of a machine of some kind - her Master AZ stands over her, with tears running down his cheeks.

<You're... I'm...> she says.

"Floette! I'm so glad you're alive!"

But this life inside her feels wrong. As she floats into the air, she sees the land around her. An uncountable number of pokémon lie dead on the ground, coating the earth for miles in every direction.

She looks down at AZ. <This was the price? You should not have paid it.>

She flies away, leaving him screaming her name. As she does, she sees another figure walking away from the machine. A youth, with torn clothes of a strange style, who walks with a hunch of sadness. Their story isn't for her to know, so she flies off until she is a speck in the sky.

Silas rounded a corner, Hacks at his side. It had been an interesting little bit, the left hand of his had so much... honestly all the new abilities he had installed into him. Mr. Strings was planning something, what he wasn't certain, but it related to the idea of steel typing for certain.

~Thinking about something?~ Hacks asked.

"Thinking about a lot of things, you know better than anyone my brain doesn't stop thinking."

~Yeah, still, I worry.~

"If something worries me, I'll tell you, I promise," Silas said. "I'm just worried, we've found nothing of the Wing, or where Roxy went."

Rory left a variety store, a Mon-brand energy drink in hand, the taurine was terrible for him but he needed the extra energy. Paldea was a place of mysteries, and his entire thing was finding mysteries, and if needed, punching them.

~You know that shit is terrible for you,~ Raiden said.

"Honestly I've been told that about a lot of things in my life," Rory said.

~You know what would be better for you?~

"What?"

~Trying to get in contact with Carbon for one thing, maybe talk about what the hell happened,~ Raiden responded.

Rory rolled his eyes.

Vaughn cautiously poked his head out from an alley, before motioning for Colt to follow him. "We're good."

~Hey, Paldea's an odd place after all. I think the Crater throws off the trackers of the Authority and all,~ Colt responded.

"I still don't like it," Vaughn said. "Who decided we have to die because of some time travel tauroshit?"

~Whoever backs the Authority Apparently,~ Colt mumbled a bit.

The two stepped out.

All 3 parties entered the same spot, blinked, and all 6 of them pointed at each other.

Edited by EchoingSilence on Mar 19th 2024 at 5:15:18 AM

Sunyshore Salon

-The barrage of fireballs seem to warp the ground around them.-

Angelica: What the...?

-And then the glass breaks, sending reality tumbling back in like a drunk man leaning on a suddenly open door.-

-Angelica can be seen standing on the far side of the room, dazed and confused.-

-Back towards the door, an old surgical scalpel lies on the floor, it's blade dulled and covered with chips of glass.-

Angelica: B-but... how...?

Medali, past

-Coming out of the Treasure Eatery-

Ben: Well it was nice meeting you both.

Chiyo: -Smiling- Likewise. It was very enlightening.

Lydia: We'll be continuing to see a lot more of each other, I'm sure.

-To Lydia-

Yeah.

There's not much of a choice I think.

-It's then I get that certain weird feeling again-

I guess this devil's bargain has become a lot more literal.

Chiyo: -Picks up on the look on my face but chooses not to say anything-

Lydia: Well Ben and I need to get going now, we have business of our own to discuss. See you both around.

-They both leave-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 19th 2024 at 11:54:21 AM

Montenevera

Moss watches Hiro. Impassive now, mostly, with the tiniest drop of empathetic pain.

Moss?: "We're strangers, for the most part. You don't expect random strangers on the street to have the same trauma as you."

He shrugs.

Moss?: "... What is your name, by the way? You know mine for some reason, but you seem to have some kind of Something going on so I'm not gonna question it for now."

Moss?: -faintly surprised- "... And there's another surprise. I haven't been in contact with them for so long that I..."

He shakes his head.

Moss?: "Regrets, huh..."

The mask is eerily silent for a moment.

???: "Regrets are the only thing holding me here..."

Moss breathes in, then out. His eyes are purple when they open next.

...

The mask rattles smugly in response to Hiro's fear.

Moss rolls his eyes, exasperated, but digs around in his pocket for something.

He withdraws a slip of paper and a pen, and writes a number down on it.

Moss?: "I'm lucky enough to have a phone, so I suppose if you ever need to get in contact with me again here's this. You strike me as someone who could bring me a lot of business. And, also, I guess if my less murderous classmates ever want to get in touch I could be open to that."

He tries (and fails) not to sound hopeful.

Glaseado Mountain

Marco forces himself to close his eyes and bites his lip. Maybe that'll help or something. He doesn't know, the voice just told him not to move.

Arianne, despite everything, has the presence of mind to stand stock still.

Luc, who's anxious by nature, has no problem freezing up. He shivers a little, like a much smaller dog would, but he stays still.

Amelia lets out a whine despite herself.