You're shivering. Are you afraid?
Now, think you can do that with a ring?
Dreadwing: <No, you don't get to touch this bone again...wait, a ring?>
Yeah. That's what this competition is about.
Dreadwing: <Shouldn't be too hard...>
Do not fear power... fear those who wield it.
Dunsparce Cloud
Salamence: <Well, you'll have to get past me. :3>
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
You're shivering. Are you afraid?
-Dreadwing looks at Salamence-
Dreadwing: <You don't look that tough.>
Do not fear power... fear those who wield it.
Dunsparce Cloud
Salamence: <Hey!> -puffs up-
Jab: <Getting beat up in fights I can't win is my shtick....>
Salamence: <...> -backs down-
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Rex: Oh, so there's Jab. I was wondering where he was. ...Hmm...maybe he can help me?
Yuki: *still floating around aimlessly*
Dunsparce Cloud
Jab: <With?>
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Rex: ... Hey, how'd you hear me from over there? 
*comes over* Well, actually, I was wondering how good you are at treasure hunting.
Dunsparce Cloud
Jab: <See these ears?> -eartwitch- <Anyway, I wouldn't know much about treasure hunting...>
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Rex: Awww. Well, thanks anyway.
Dunsparce Cloud
Jab: <Welcome.>
Frillish: -sniffs at Yuki-
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Yuki: <Eh?> *turns to him, tilting her head* <Who are you?>
Dunsparce Cloud
Frillish: Frillish!
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Yuki: <I see...> *hides the Heart Scale in her cloak* <Hehe...you're a cute little guy.> *pets his head*
Dunsparce Cloud
Frillish: <Eeeeeeeee!>
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Yuki: <Hmmm...where are you from, little Frillish?> *floats around lazily*
The Fastest Man Alive
Katie: -looking for Forte, bored-
Katie: -decides to call him-
Dunsparce Cloud
Frillish: <Hotel!>
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
You're shivering. Are you afraid?
I didn't even know Rex had a Froslass. They're neat. My older brother has one.
Oh, speaking of which, apparently he'll be coming by soon. At least that's what Forte told me...
Forte's tent
-Forte answers Katie's call-
Forte: Hello?
Do not fear power... fear those who wield it.
Dunsparce Cloud
...Your brother has a Froslass too?
...I have to meet him.
The Fastest Man Alive
Katie: Hi, Forte! It's Katie! Where are you? I've been looking for you for like, an hour.
edited 5th Jan '12 7:54:35 PM by BadWolf21
Yuki: <Hehe, cute.> *dives down towards the ground, looping back up towards him* <I'm from an icy cave on the Sevii Islands. Nice place. Sometimes this lady with glasses would bring her Pokemon by to hang out with us. She really liked Ice-types...>
-Jeff returns to his hotel room after a day of relaxing-
You're shivering. Are you afraid?
Forte's tent
Forte: I'm camped out under the big snow cloud. The tent is kinda hard to see under all the snow. Where are you?
Icicle: <Ask if she wants to join Team Glacier!>
Do not fear power... fear those who wield it.
adopting kitteh
Closing 2011!Megapost, part Ⅱ
Former Mirage Tower, Hoenn, morning of Jan 1
Several Pokémon have pooled their efforts into the reconstruction of (something similar to) the [Mirage Tower]. Silent has set up his laptop's camera and left it recording part of the process for posterity. Walking the Egg he got from Fool around, Silent is careful to keep his distance from the tower and the Pokémon there to avoid interfering in the natural process, and is also careful to keep away from the laptop, under the care of [Algira the Masquerain♀], so that he can not be recorded speaking to Pokémon (or showing understanding of their language).
The two Eeveelutions at his side walk observing the labour of the wild Pokémon.
Sol the Espeon♀ of Luke -looks around: <If you ask me, it is a very beautiful thing what they are doing here.>
Ichtacya the Leafeon♀: <I'm not used to see this many mons working together.> — rolls eyes — <Even when for Lugia's son's kidnapping, we had to do a lot of convincing...>
Sol -peeks in, interested: <...The kidnapping? So it is true that Lugia has a son... How did that happen?>
Ichtacya: <Oh, it was a horrible thing... some Delta Pokémon were trying to blackmail Lugia into making the world better for them.> — waves a paw — <One would think they'd simply turn around, as if the Moon falling and the Zombie apocalypse around the same time weren't enough indication.>
Sol: <But Zombies are not too hard to beat, you know?> — waves tail proudly. — <You can just use a Revive or cast Wish on them...>
Ichtacya: <Well not all of us have such kind of techniques...> — half-growls.
Silent meanwhile observes as Dintel and his sister are assisting a group of Sandshrew and Vibrava in setting small sand walls and blocks, solidified by some nearby Bug Pokémon using their silk, as containers and barriers to assist the construction against the strong winds.
The egg shakes a bit, causing the three to notice.
"...The sandstorm is growing worse, girls. Do you want us to go back to the sandcave? You two can cuddle the egg."
Ichtacya: <Eeeeeeeee~ yes please :3>
Both Pokémon nod at unison, at least Ichtacya knowing full well how uncomfortable and damaging a sandstorm can be for a Pokémon not well adapted. Sol seems to have or at least be growing an understanding too, as every once in a while she stops to try and lick her paws clean and try to remove some dust of her ear fluffs.
Watching Silent walk with the egg, Sol approaches.
Sol: <Uhm... you do know what the egg will hatch into, yes?>
"I have no idea, Sol..." Silent answers as he covers the egg from the sandstorm.
Sol: <Errr... that's weird, I saw that was a blatant lie. And why was it linked to something else anyway? You are a researcher... have seen that kind of eggs several times...>
"I have my suspicions, Sol, but... If you don't mind, I prefer to keep some level of surprise."
Sol -swings her tail, trying to understand: <...Keep surprise?>
"See, sometimes it is not that bad to not know everything." Silent thinks back to his old years, the memories strong enough to be temporarily eclipsing Sol's ability to read the more shallow thoughts of the human. "They say happiness lies in the journey to the truth. That kinda requires a journey to be available."
Sol: <...Wouldn't have expected to hear something like this from you.>
"I've been there... wished I knew less."
Sol senses Silent thinking back to Giovanni for some reason, and sensing the accompanying mixture of envy and disgust, decides to not press the issue further. She falls back to where Ichtacya is also walking, and for some minutes the two Eeveelutions dedicate themselves to stop periodically and lick each other's fur clean of sand.
Sol: <...Well, at least it is not the friggin techniques of homing rocks that Trainers of Battle Tower-level of experience [tend] to abuse in battle.> — shivers — <Ugh...>
"Let's go." Silent walks ahead of both Pokémon.
Ichtacya -tries to remember: <...Homing rocks? I don't think I've seen anything like that...>
Sol -squints at Ichtacya: <...You have. You don't remember because you- oh wait, it is better if I just show you...>
Sol walks closer and focuses her mental powers on Ichtacya, her jewel glowing green; the effect of their shared evolutionary memory gives Sol an easier access into Ichtacya's mind, channeling the dormant memories of the Leafeon to allow her to flash back to the battle she had with Gaea, Rex's Golem, for Maekrite's birthday party party party party~...
Gaea turns to Ichtacya, waving a stubby arm. <Hello; it is a joy to meet you as well,> she announced.
Rex then instructs Gaea to go at Ichtacya, but not too much. Ichtacya's senses are momentarily invaded by the memory of the growing pain in her spine due to injuries suffered in combat at the time, and her mind only clears in time to see Gaea curling and shooting small rocks that fall everywhere around the battlefield... except at Ichtacya.
Memory!Ichtacya -rears up and looks around: <...What is going on?>
Ichtacya: <Whoaaa! That was a trip!> — blinks a couple of times, realizing she is back in the desert, turns to Sol. — <But what did those do? I didn't notice much of what happened later due to being recalled and having a lot of pain.>
Sol: <Well, when an opponent appears, those rocks spring to life, propelled probably by a psychic link to the caster's aural memory of the pain opponents have caused...> — blinks and shrugs as she sees Ichtacya frown at her — <Hey, I'm mostly guessing here. The Safari Zone does not have that many research books, you know?>
Ichtacya: <Fine, sorry... So...?> — waves a paw and :3s.
Sol: <Well, digging in your memory and that of your Trainer, I can sense even his team leader had some problems with it. The rocks had laid dormant longer than needed, perhaps because Rex's mons did not sense Silent's as threatening. Which, when you take into consideration they skipped Dintel, might make sense. Thing is...>
Maekrite is sent out to battle Laplace, the Nidorino leering to the Lapras. As the marine Pokémon charged power and shot a Water Pulse, the memory was suddenly filled for a brief moment with a weird sensation of contestation, as if she or something close to her had been challenged or called out. The rocks spread across the field suddenly levitated themselves off the ground, aimed at the poison Pokémon.
Memory!Rex: "Huh...that was kind of delayed. Almost like they forgot they were there."
Targeted by so many attacks, the Nidorino surprisingly had no choice but to stand still, easing the job of aiming for the rocks. Corageously he let them crash against him, but that had the effect of partially blocking the path of the Water Pulse also aimed at the Pokémon. Still, with that damage, Maekrite was forced to roll to the side to avoid staying a sitting Ducklett for longer.
Ichtacya yips as her recollection of memories ends. It is surprising for her, since she was not directly there, to have a so clear and "first-person" view of those events.
Ichtacya: <Those things are mean! He could not avoid them...>
Sol: <They usually can not be avoided,> — tilts head — <as they are a surprise for entry and have no aura or motion of their own, much like spikes.>
Ichtacya: <So it is like a Grass Knot, only you can not ever see it coming?>
Sol: <More or less...> — nods — <They are inherently riskier that way. I saw a news [report] about a Charizard in a match having a wing clipped by a sudden burst of the flying rocks in a Battle Tower tournament, the kind of stuff where some Trainers have their Pokémon just throw all their artillery at each other.>
Ichtacya: <...Artillery?>
Sol -turns to her somewhat annoyed, although not at her: <Exactly what you are thinking.>
Ichtacya gulps, not knowing what to answer. The weird idea of being stuck in a sandstorm of Stealth Rocks almost caused her to vomit. But the worst part was something else. For a single moment an imaginative memory of [Shahinne] being crippled or crushed by a surprise attack of Stealth Rocks crosses her mind, and the Leafeon has to make the effort of physically shake that thought off her head. The Psychic type also winced, feeling the psychic whiplash from the Leafeon's enormous care for the little Starly in Silent's team.
Both Pokémon, tails down and ears flattened from the conversation, decided to drop it for the moment and simply followed Silent around, as the human headed to a nearby oasis where other Pokémon were gathering to take a rest.
Dintel and his sister remained at the construction site, lying on top of some rocks, talking about things. After Sandslash narrates more or less what was life like after their parents left to the north and she inherited their old nest, Dintel starts drawing some figures in the sand and tries to tell a story; however, it takes some adequate prompting from his sister for Dintel to actually go somewhere with his narration, as he tellsa summary about his life after he left the Mirage Tower and until he was caught by Silent.
Meanwhile, Algira has fallen asleep on top of Silent's backpack. Sol observes the strange patterns the Pokémon seem to emit in her sleep, and then turns back to the group, to notice Silent talking about something to Maekrite as the Nidorino motions to the lands to the west.
Sol: «Weird... why was the human's voice tagged [golden] in the Eevee's memory as well?» — turns to examine the group — «Wonder if Luke would allow me to stay with these peoplemons to research this matter further... it is [admittedly] very intriguing.» — realizes what she has thought and shivers from surprise — «...And it is randomly happening to me too!»
Mandarin Island S, some days ago
An opulent family is celebrating the holidays with cake, wine, drinks for the kids and all kinds of berries for the two Pokémon in the house. In particular for the one still in recovery.
A young boy enters a room in the second floor holding a tray. There are a couple of food bowls, a water bowl and a carrot. The boy walks in and moves to the balcony, where a Nidorino is lying on a low makeshift bed, his chest and part of his left flank bandaged. The Pokémon watches the nearby forest and flickers his ears in apparently random directions.
Boy: "There you are. Still don't want to come with us to eat?"
The Nidorino doesn't respond although he does give the human enough deference to turn his ear at him. The boy answers with a smile as he leans in closer to examine his pet.
Boy: "You don't. Well, I brought you some food."
As the kid leaves the tray on the bed, two blood red eyes pop out from nowhere to look at him. The kid yells as a Nidorina appears from behind the bed to growl at him, in a not menacing but still unwelcoming manner.
Boy: "Fine, fine! I'm leaving..." Points at the Nidorino. "But you eat all your food, you have rehabilitation treatment tomorrow."
The boy smiles at the female Pokémon, who lunges at him rushing him to leave. As soon as the human has closed the door behind him, the Nidorina honks happily and turns around to notice the Nidorino has got on his feet and is trying to reach the tray.
Maria: <Again with that, love?>
Tony: <I... I can feed myself.>
Maria -swipes the Nidorino's paw, forcing him to wait as she drags the tray: <We agreed that I would take care of you.>
The Nidorino sighs and goes lie on the carpet as the Nidorina picks the carrot and feeds it to him patiently; he takes begrudgingly it and grumbling something unintelligible as he observes how much fun she seems to have.
Maria: <...What was that?>
Tony -drops ears: <...Sorry...> — turns to the female — <I just want to be healed. To run and hop around in the forest again.>
Maria: <Awww...> — goes hug the Nidorino — <I want you to be healthy too, you know?> — playfully noms his ear — <So you are taking it slow. I don't want to lose the bravest Nidorino around.>
She nuzzles him for a moment and then lets him continue his meal, staring at him intently. The Nidorino goes for the water bowl last, and slurps soundly and steadily until there is just some water left in the bowl. He proudly offers the bowl to the Nidorina, who grabs it and drinks the rest of the water.
After a moment of nuzzling, the Nidorino turns to the Nidorina and asks with some hesitation.
Tony: <Say it again, please?>
Maria: <....Uh? What?>
Tony -tilts head: <What you say when you nom my ear?>
Maria: <Silly. I'm proud of you~> — holds the male closer, careful to not bruise the bandaged flank — <You saw that [evil mon], the police humans said he destroyed a plaza in a fight... You survived him...> — shrugs — <They threw him out, Trainer said. And there were so many weird things happening around afterwards...>
Tony: <But I had to protect you from them...> — snorts, trying to scratch his ear — <and I lost.>
The Nidorina sits on her hind legs and watcher at her boyfriend curiously; a comment comes to her head and escapes it before she can really give it much thought.
Maria: <Come on, you were doing pretty fine until he slashed your chest.>
The Nidorino winces from the comment and tries to curl a bit to hide his wound as he uses to do; the female notices though and with a sly smile she forces the male to uncurl and embrace her. Not that he would offer much (willing) resistance.
Maria: <And I'm sure that is going to leave a pretty scar...>
The Nidos rest on each other for some minutes, only giving soft growls every once in a while. At some point the male raises his head and answers with some confidence.
Tony: <...Yeah! In three sessions they're going to remove those bandages and we'll be the envy of all the other Pokémon here!>
Maria -chuckles: <That's the spirit. Now come~>
Before the Nidorino can do anything, the Nidorina drags him (carefully) back to the makeshift bed. Once he gets comfortable there, the couple stare at each other lovingly for a moment.
Maria: <Silly. I'm going for food.>
The Nidorino nods and looks as the Nidorina goes to the nighstand on the room to open the door from there; with that done, she lets out a promising growl and then disappears into the red-carpeted corridor... not before dragging in the family's new priceless ming vase closer to the door.
Just in case~
Mounts Near Lavaridge, earlier during Jan 1
The fireworks explode all around the Hoenn sky. Orange, violet and green blasts of sound and powder filling the skies. The more the better for two aerial figures battling in the sky against this backdrop that could so easily pass for a warzone one in different circumstances...
???? #1: <.....Ack! That one almost gets me. Take this, invader!> — flamethrowers his opponent.
???? #2: <...Take my advice!> — blocks the flamethrower with one if his blue paws, then responds with a Swift — <Be more decisive!>
Twenty starts fly above and the Salamence above tries to fly past them to circle and once again try to evict this foreign Salamence from his mountain. Decisive, he wants. The local Salamence flies up a short distance and turns towards the intruder, hearing the energy stars among the loud blasts of powder turning to chase behind him as well. As the first dragon dives, imbuing his claws in draconic energy, the intruder charges up as well: with a Headbutt to the neck, he meets the charge of the first dragon while getting his flank pierced by the defender's Dragon Claw.
Both Pokémon, still in close quarters, some fireworks explode a very short distance from them, temporarily blinding both Pokémon with a green light. It is at that moment that, while both dragons spiral out of control biting and clawing each other in a blue and red ball of violence, the Swift stars whirl around above them impacting both dragons's faces and wings due to the angular velocity of their fall and flailing...
With the world spinning wildly around them, both dragons continue to try biting and clawing each other, their roars eclipsed by the explosions in the sky. After one blast of purple and orange that to the dragons smells like the spicy berries of the land below, the local manages to perceive the lack of lights and explosions to his right — which means the ground is in that direction. Roaring and swirling to reorient himself, the Salamence manages to land on the intruder consecutive slashes.
The intruder is forced to curl and Headbutt to make away, then realizes that the direction he has pulled to is the one gravity is pulling towards as well and extends his wings to try and recover flight capability. As he turns around, he sees a large rotating stream of orange headed in his direction and quickly summons Flying type energy to propel himself upwards, off the course of the Fire Blast.
Quickly and unexpectedly having his dominion of the higher "ground" overtaken, the local Salamence charges his natural power and flies towards his opponent in a spiral, trying to build a good angle of attack. Finally managing to pinpoint his opponent's position thanks to the lights the fireworks provide, the local dragon covers himself in a shining blue aura and charges upwards with a roar and a Dragon Rush; the intruder dives from his Fly attack and both dragons collide in mid-air, the severity of the impact and the released elemental energy causing a small blueish explosion and a shockwave that sends both Pokémon spiraling down again.
The local dragon's senses are overtaken by the explosion and the pain, and it takes him a moment to notice that the sound of the fireworks has started to faint, realizing with this that they are both pummeling to certain death. He opens his eyes and tries to overcome the pain to stretch his wings; with great difficulty he manages to reorient himself to see the intruder pummeling a short distance away as well, his face bleeding as he tries to recover himself as well.
The two dragons let themselves fall a short a small distance until they hear a buzz and turn their heads to avoid one, two projectiles that fly past them.
Local Salamence: «...The missiles of light! We are pummelling towards the human settlement!»
Summoning all his (pseudo)legendary strength, the Salamence curls to facilitate a swirl, and then extends his wings again to brake easier; he turns to his opponent, ready to Dragon Claw him, only to notice one second too late that the intruder has also recovered and, with his tail imbued in draconic energy, also swirls to land a powerful whiplash at the local; the impact's elemental energy is disruptive enough on the local's nervous system to send him spiraling again without control, and without an immediate chance of recovery, and the dragon falls to the darkness of the hot springs near to the town.
The foreign Salamence glides and circles around until he can stabilize his flight and then, carefully avoiding the human projectiles, flies upwards a short distance again. Looking for a moment at the explosions around him, he summarizes his situation in his mind with only one word: "fun".
«Well, had to find something to do. I'd take this so-called "[Poké Ringer]" competition to show the birds around here how to be awesome, but... I'd need a Trainer to get into it. Or...» — smirks as he catches an updrift to observe the roads to the east — «I could just go and crash the place. Why to stop the fun of the new year?»
Content with the results of this adventurous day, the Salamence stretches his neck and lets out an egregious growl as the sky continues to be saturated with celebrational explosions and colors around him.
Foreign Salamence: <These skies and mountains are mine now! Whooo hoooo~!> — casually lets out an Hyper Beam to the skies.
Goldenrod City, earlier during Jan 1
Copahue and Harriet are waiting on top of a building, in a more or less secluded position, waiting for Shahinne to come up with them. From that place they observe the festivities taking place across the city as some city officers walk across the shorewall, giving the countless launchers for the fireworks a last-minute check.
Harriet: <....Oh?>
Suddenly Shahinne flies very fast at them as behind her there is a ruckus in the plaza. Trilling, she clings to her adoptive mom's belly plumage and starts crying soundly.
Shahinne: <Mom! Mom!>
Harriet: <....Ooooof!> — surprised — <Shhhh... there there, what happened?>
Shahinne digs herself further in her mom's plumage and speaks from there, only a little fluff of tailfeather visible, at the very same moment that some hurras and celebrations can be heard from the plaza below.
Shahinne: <[-The other birds are mean to me! And I did nothing bad to them!> — cries more, sneezes in one of Harriet's feathers — <They said I am a [mean] bird that bullies other birds when I grow up! ...And I don't even know what that means!!!> — chirps.
The two birds try to interpret that as they try to calm the Starly down and speak to her for some moment, retreating nearer to the wall of the building to protect her from the loud fireworks... After some cuddling, convincing and a couple of requests for Shahinne to repeat the information, Copahue and Harriet reach a conclusion.
Copahue: <...A Staraptor? Here?>
Harriet: <Oh dear... Must be to the north in the tall buildings...>
Shahinne: <I'm not mean! >.< > — claws her mom's talon, nervously.
The two larger birds nuzzle their adoptive daughter, wishing that for once the loud fireworks stop. After some waiting time seeing the situation not improve, Copahue instructs Harriet to have Shahinne hold tight, and the three birds fly across the streets, looking for the less populated route back to the PEFE building...
Down in the City, at about the same time
At a random window below them a Hoothoot has just perched on a heap of clean and warm clothes to watch the fireworks. The Pokémon looks at the streets below him and decides to wait until the next series of fireworks to fly to a nearby tree where his friends are probably watching the celebrations as well.
Suddenly, a purple tail appears and swings eerily behind the bird, and before the Pokémon can react, the heap of clothes moves and the Hoothoot's leg is clamped by... something. The bird's back is slashed by purple claws as well and then dragged to the bottom of the heap with barely a screech. Only a couple of feathers pulled by the sudden movement glide for a moment and deposit themselves gravefully on top of the heap, as only testimony of what has just happened.
Some moments after, the swinging tail appears again and a soft growl can be heard. A Purrloin climbs up to the heap and, after licking her claws for a moment, watches outside through the window, enjoying the experience. Some minutes later, a bit tired, she arches, stretches, and starts clawing and scratching the heap of clothes.
Purrloin♀: <Free meals :3> — curls and purrs contently.
A human enters to the room, screeches and walks right up to the heap with the Purrloin on top.
Girl: "...Mina! What did you doooooo! I need those clothes! Tomorrow!!!!!"
For an answer the Purrloin uncurls and curls again, purring.
Girl: "...What am I gonna do with you!" She angrily points at the cat and tries to remove her from the heap, without much success. "I should give you a bath! So that you see how terrible is what you did!"
The Purrloin turns on her back and swings her paws playfully; seeing no positive answer from her human servant, she tries purring, which is responded by a buff, a glare, and angry footstomps.
Mina the Purrloin♀: <Oh well...> — licks a paw — <I hope I didn't have to resort to this so early...>
The Purrloin plays on the heap a bit more and then turns to the human, ears pointed to the sides, playfully looking at her.
Mina: <:3~>
Girl: "Oh no I know that trick." Thumps.
Mina: <:3?>
Girl: "..."
Mina: <:3?> — swings her tail.
Girl: "..."
Mina: < :3 > — leans head to the side casually.
Girl: "...Awww, silly kitty! How can I be angry at you in the New Year celebrations..."
After the human cuddles the cat for a while, the cat yawns and scratches the girl's sleeves. Taking that as a hint, the girl then leaves the cat to sleep again on the heap of clothes, and departs from the room.
A couple of minutes pass as the Purrloin hears her surroundings.
Minna: <About time, nya~>
She then goes to a small box in a corner, from which she produces a communication device. After inputting some digits, a brief static can be heard.
????: <Feline Agent Orion M-4, report, nya~>
Mina: <Here Mina reporting absolute success, purr~ The humans fall prey to our :3 faces pretty easily.>
????: <No news from the other agents, nya~?>
Mina: <Not yet,> — shakes her head — <because of human festivities. But don't worry, nya~ In a couple of years they'll adore us more than those silly fireworks.> — licks her paw triumphally.
????: <Excellent, Agent Orion M-4. Carry on, our feline races should succeed soon now that our social engineering operatives have managed to infiltrate even the dirtiest corner of human soliture.>
Mina: <...Oh?> — raises ears and swings tail with interest — <Is this the "internet" thing that the humans keep talking about?>
A feline not-exactly-villanous laughter is heard, and Mina tilts her head at the receiver.
????: <Yes, Agent Orion M-4. Some of our operatives have managed to infiltrate the humans's factories of cute pictures, and are mass-producing silly pictures of cat Pokémon with captions to mellow the humans's psychological defenses.>
Mina: <That's excellent, nya~! I can keep calmly coordinating the feline domination efforts in Johto then?>
????: <Sure thing, if you want to.>
Mina: <Oh I want to~ the new clothes are so nifty to sleep on here... and I hear Mareep wool is very comfortable to cuddle on as well.>
????: <Very well then Agent Orion M-4. You can stay in the human city for another year. Carry on, for the glory of the Ceiling Persian.>
Mina: <For the glory of the Ceiling Persian! Nya~ :3>
Purring contently, the Purrloin shuts down the receiver and then goes play with a small toy for a while, thinking on how long will it take the human servant to do the laundry again. Oh well, until it happens, she has some fresh and soft Hoothoot feathers to decorate her place with, nya~.
Cerulean City, earlier during Jan 1
At the Pokécenter Lounge, a group of Trainers are sharing a meal for the festivities. There are about six Trainers there with some Pokémon, the first clients of the day who have agreeded to collect some money and help prepare a small party in the Pokécenter, also helping the local nurse with everything she needs.
As one of the girls offers a gentleman's Kecleon a cookie, the Nurse walks in with a group of three Pokémon that have just been healed. The group is welcomed by a Gentleman and two other adolescent trainers with attitude.
Nurse: "Here they are, now fully healed." Turns to the gentleman. "Thanks for the help."
Gentleman: "Don't worry."
A certain Combusken separates from the group and goes sit besides the trainer girl, in a not very light mood. From the other side of the group a Marowak walks in holding a cup with watermelon icecream.
Squall the Marowak♂: <Oooh... someone is still angry.>
Tephros the Combusken♂: <You would be angry too if you had lost to that... that... thing.> — kicks the chair — <Friggin' Starmie - how do they work?>
For an answer the Marowak shrugs, picks one of the cookies that their Trainer Miria is offering to the rest of the group, and hands it over to Tephros. While the girl tries to offer more cookies, a boy brings up some sandwiches, which for the surprise of many a Seel and a Spinda in the group start noming whole.
Squall: <I warned you to use the Grass Gem I traded.>
Tephros: <I did not think about that before battle! Besides, you would have to tell Trainer about that, not me. Sesh...>
The Combusken growled and started noming his cookie; the Marowak sat by his side and continued licking his icecream too, a bit too shy to try and eat it completely because of his bone mask. Their Trainer seems to notice and offers the Marowak a larger, empty cup.
Miria: "Hey, little, don't you prefer to drink that?"
Squall looks at his cup, then licks the icecream again, and shakes his head.
Miria -pats Squall's skull: "Oh, fine, but remember you can ask for help." — she goes then to give away more cookies.
The two Pokémon watch the humans bringing food for a moment in silence. Then Tephros growls again and bumps Squall's shoulder.
Tephros: <Besides, you didn't have to spend New Year unconscious.>
Squall -points to the Nurse Area: <It wasn't that bad, wasn't it? Isn't here like, the best possible attention around?> — frowns — <And the Chanseys?>
Tephros: <...Well, I did have a nice dream.> — rolls eyes. — <I was curbstomping you in a really big stadium.>
Squall gives a half-glare at the Combusken, but then lets go and simply waves his free paw.
Squall: <Whatever. So long as you have a happy new year.>
Tephros -smiles, rests on the chair: <You too.>
The two Pokémon look at each other for a moment and then keep eating fast enough so that they can later grab some noms, before the tuber's Seel finishes the entire variety of cakes and icecreams. The Spinda is already asleep, being rocked by his Trainer.
A House in Arborville, some days ago
A Solrock is above the treetops, levitating and spinning while capturing some sunlight. Every once in a while, the Pokémon discharges some built up psychic energy towards the sky, to avoid importunating the various type Pokémon and humans living right under the treetops. Solrock floats even higher and takes a look at the world below, taking interest in how from one of the borderline settlements of Johto dense forests extend to the west, to meet a rough chain of always clouded mountains.
Inside one of the taller buildings, an hybrid between an observation tree hut and an underground storage center, a Nurse Joy is helping a man pack his stuff for a long travel. A Lairon is walking around, dragging several materials out of the building and to a small truck stationed in a road nearby.
Nurse Joy: "...plus the sonic stunner, the Escape Rope and the 25 Antidotes. It is all packed then." Closes a backpack and holds it for the man to grab. "Has the government said anything new about the settlement?"
The young man takes his backpack and walks out of the building, accompanied by the Nurse.
Intern Firuz: "Yes. With any luck, from this spring onwards there will be a permanent pioneer team in the fort, helping us maintain presence until we can colonize. I have to hold on until then, I guess..."
Firuz calls Solrock, who comes down from the treetops swinging with a very light mood, and heads to the truck. Once there he recalls Lairon and Mawile, takes the passenger's seat and greets his colleague Rodríguez. The Nurse walks in to the driver's side and also greets the other intern with a kiss in the cheek.
Nurse Joy: "Remember you can get here faster by the river if you have a boat or a flyer. That or the Battle Tower, they're much closer than Olivine."
Rodríguez: "Don't worry, if we need to fall back we have the Johto [Safari Zone] in the meantime, but thanks, cousin."
The interns then drive away to Olivine, to prepare Firuz for yet another month of adventure in the yet to be tamed lands of Firuzland. As the Nurse watches the truck go, she takes a last look at the tag on the back and can't help but smile:
[AU] Goldenrod City, earlier during Jan 1
Across the city there is celebration. For the humans, a new year begins, which has its own importance after the events of the one that has now ended. For the Pokémon living there it has its own importance as well, as it is the turn of a cycle. The bad things have ended — now it is the turn for recovery, recreation and reaffirmation until whatever comes next. At a backyard in a house hidden in the west side of the city, a young girl is playing with the family of Eevees that Bill has been raising this year plus some older ones.
Eevee #1: <I want to be a Vaporeon!>
Eevee #2 -rushes around: <I want to be a Jolteon and run around~>
Older Eevee•: <...I wish I could have a nice Trainer to evolve me into a Flareon.>
Some patrols of Nidoran are roaming the city, sometimes accompanied by other Pokémon. They are no longer fighting for the city but rather enjoying the peace (and for a few selected of them, the responsibility) that they have achieved, and in those terms they are welcome by the human [citizens], starting to leave behind the grudges and preocupations.
Random Nidoran♂ #1: <This is like, the best Xmas ever...>
Random Nidoran♂ #2 -tackles the other: <New Year, silly!>
Random Nidoran♂ #1: <And what do you know!> — tackles back.
Random Nidoran♀ #1: <Yum! For my tastes, this Iapapa berry cake is really apt! I can feel waves of happiness just emerge!> — quickly noms part of a cake that has been offered by a paseant.
Random Nidoran♀ #2: <Why are there so many funny images of Mareep on the walls?>
Random Nidoran♀ #3: <Oh guys look!> — points to the next door — <That old couple has a box of chocolates!>
All the kits screech in happiness and dart towards the old couple, circling them and giving their bestest :3 faces.
As usual, the kits are arranged in clusters, each group under the care of a group of Nidorina and some Nidorino. Atop a car, the head of the groups is organizing the event of the day and making sure there are no threats for the kits, in a function so different than the one his predecessor held during the warring times of the year now gone, and one not unlike what, unberstknown to him, he would fulfill in a certain other timeline.
Hamada the Nidorino -talks to another Nidoran: <Well, don't waste more time. Assign two other Owsla to the roamers near the National Park as well.> — points to the west — <And try to convince some of the Nildrow to allow us to trade use of the roof — I don't want the coast groups so largely spread this past in the wake of Inlé.>
Discepolo Serbia (Nidorina): <Yes, Maestro.> — turns to two other Nidorina — <You and you, with me. Bring some Gems as offering... and someone call [Calino]! Ask her to check for herbs to trade to the Nildrow!>
The Nidorina and Nidorino start disbanding again, each one with their assigned task, and gathering the assistance of some of their allies of the past, such as Espeon, Umbreon, Rattata and Sentret. The leader meanwhile walks to a promenade where some other Nidorina are gathered, talking to a group of Pidgeotto with whom a temproary truce has been (re)established.
Nidorina: <...that came from the lands to the east, and the other one that came from the Lake of Rage.>
Pidgeotto Messenger: <I don't have problems with that.> — points to his group — <All we care is that we get free pass to the sea, mostly. That's where most of our friends are.>
Nidorina: <You have it.> — nods — <Go in peace...>
The Pidgeottos nod and fly to the buildings nearer to the coast. As they fade out of sight, one of the Nidorina walks to Hamada.
Owsla Nidorina: <Sir, most of our tasks here are complete.>
Hamada: <Excellent. Then, we move to the north side of the city.>
Nidorina: <Uhm...> — drops head — <We didn't get the information about that ship that sails to [Kanto] though...>
Hamada: <It matters not, now.> — swings his horn and happily hops ahead — <We have better stuff to care about.>
The Nidorin@ quickly assemble in a tight formation and rush towards the city. As they do, Hamada's sight wanders for a moment to the pamphlets of Mareep spread around. He makes a mental note to arrange for a representative of the Nidoran Colony to go meet Icelus's assistant and have an Owsla follow, just in case the evil [force] is hidden within Icelus's rows.
Murcott Island, earlier during Jan 1
As a group of marine Pokémon leave the coast of the island to travel to the non-canon region to the southwest, a Wartortle swims back to the shore. There, a Ninetails is waiting, watching the other Pokémon continue their migration.
Ninetales♀: <It feels so good, to have our peace back. No weird apocalypses and stuff to bother us.>
Wartortle♂: <Yeah. The marine Pokémon that came from the other side of the archipelago said there are no problems there erarlier.>
No problems anywhere around. Yeah, that's how the Pokémon of the archipelago like their lives. A place where nothing plot-important happens and thus they are safe from any apocalyptic stuff, right? At least, until all the craziness that happened some months ago what with Lord Lugia reportedly going on a rampage. And the Moon almost killing the Earth.
Not anymore.
Ninetales -turns and walks around: <It feels so nice, from a month ago to this part.> — yips — <And nothing bad will ever happen again for a good while, I hope.>
????: <Oh I wouldn't be so sure of that...>
The two Pokémon turn to the side in the direction the closest line of trees is, and notice a Scyther there practising some slashing attacks against a palm tree. While Wartortle walks right in Ninetails simply sits on the sand, focusing herself in case they have to fight as she doesn't remember any Scyther living in the island.
Wartortle: <Hey you there? What did you mean?>
Deathscyther Mantis: <What? Oh well just that.> — slashes the tree, then slashes the air in Wartortle's direction idly — <Who knows. The world might be changing right under your feet.>
Wartortle: <You have anything to back those claims up?> — walks closer, fists clenched.
The Scyther turns to Wartortle, scythes extended, prompting the marine Pokémon to stop on his tracks. After a moment of both of them doing nothing, the Scyther simply turned around and walked away.
Deathscyther: <Oh... not just yet, but worry not...> — waves a scythe to the pair — <If you stay alive then prepare to join a new world order, heh heh...>
Ninetales growls at the Pokémon and dashes ahead, surprising Wartortle. In that moment, however, the Scyther slashes the ground lifting a cloud of sand and dust. The fox Pokémon enters the cloud and senses Scyther's location without problem, then tries to Quick Attack to get on the Pokémon. However, to her surprise, just as she reaches him, two more copies appear and the one she impacts simply disappears.
Wartortle -stepping in from outside of the cloud: <What is going on there? Ninetales?>
Ninetales doesn't let herself be fooled though; with a second wind she leaps up to a nearby tree past the Scythers, and then with blinding speed leaps the opposite way to a tree behind them just as they turn their heads to look at her, thus missing her entirely. With a roar she then divebombs at them while unleashing a Flame Burst at the two remaining Scythers.
Ninetales: <Got ya!>
An explosion of fire covers the area and some bursting flames fly around, reaching the ground and some trees, lighting the entire place orange as the sandy cloud also subsides. Ninetales watches as one of the Scythers, singed by the fire, vanishes away, but to her surprise when she turns to see the other Scyther, he has simply been knocked back by the attack as the fire brushes off his exoskeleton almost harmlessly... even though he has not unleashed any kind of protective energy.
Deathscyther: <Silly... Your simple thought can't harm me...>
Ninetales -arches and bares her teeth: <What kind of...>
The Scyther then steps up to her slowly, enveloping his scythes in Dark-type energy.
Deathscyther: <You seem to lack the adequate Janken...>
Irked, Ninetales raises her tails and focuses her mystic powers; in a couple of seconds, she darts forwards with all her strength as a translucent pyramid-shaped energy shield materializes in front of helf for a moment• ]]. With a growl, she lunges at the bug-type Pokémon with maximum speed and claws stretched for a Take Down. However, just as she is about to reach him, the Scyther smiles...
Deathscyther: <Enjoy your vacation...>
...suddenly the Pokémon is turned into a [blue beam of energy] and teleported away.
Ninetales: <What is this trickery!>
She paces around, sniffing and trying to sense the Scyther's presence. After a moment, she hears some footsteps and turns the direction she came from to see Wartortle running in, spraying the trees and the sand with Water Gun to put out the resulting flames. He finds Ninetales a bit irked about having to escape a couple of Water Gun attacks, but nothing else.
Ninetales: <What a way to begin the new year... that guy was weird.>
Wartortle: <Calm down, he's just bluffing.> — pats Ninetales a couple of times — <Obviously saw he could not back it up.>
Ninetales: <Well...> — grumbles as she looks around.
Wartortle: <We already scared him away, don't worry. Jerk mons don't survive long in this island!>
After silently checking that no more trees are damaged and confirming that the Scyther is nowhere around, Ninetales and Wartortle turn tails and walk away to gather with other mons to celebrate. Each of them tries to hide from the other the fact that they are glancing behind them to check that the Scyther truly isn't around anymore.
Ninetales: «Let's hope I can...» — sighs.
Rifure Town, Kanto, the night of Jan 3
In a room at the hostal, a young Trainer is asleep on the couch, the TV still on. By his side, a Nidorino and a Snorunt are also sleeping. The Snorunt is holding the remote of the TV as carefully as he can, while the Nidorino is asleep with his head resting on the Trainer's knees. That until...
???? the Nidorino: <...zZz... ...zZz... ...zZz... ...zZI'm awake!>
The poison Pokémon raises up and turns his head, causing the human Trainer to grumble and Snorunt to wake up. He looks around in all directions only to find the light coming in from the muted TV.
Stracciatella the Snorunt♂: <...Hey!> — leans in and Ice Fangs the Nidorino — <Aamu! What was that for, eh?>
Aamu: <...Rrrrragh!> — removes his paw from the Snorunt's reach, then licks it. <What was that for?>
Stracciatella: <For roaring and waking me up! We are sleeping, if you haven't noticed!> — picks the remote and caringly moves it closer to his Trainer. Who keeps snoring.
Mwanwhile the Nidorino stands up and yawns. He looks around as he recognizes the place.
Aamu: <Oh... so we did fell asleep.> — to the Snorunt — <Sorry about that, I just had a weird, weird dream.>
Stracciatella- swings the control intently: <Dreams are weird. I once was a Manectric.> — yawns.
The Nidorino looks back at the Snorunt, who after a moment just shrugs and goes back to cuddle with his Trainer. The Nidorino then check around and carefully moves to get a better look to the window.
Aamu: <But this was so weird. The strangest place I've ever been on.> — to the Snorunt — <There were many weird Pokémon there and...>
Stracciatella: <[-Sleepytime~-> — leers at Aamu.
Aamu: <..Fine, fine!> — leaps away. — <I'm off to train outside.>
The Snorunt sits by the human and watches him for a moment; then, as the human reacts to something and scratches his head while still asleep, the Nidorino circles around the TV set and starts walking outside of the room.
Stracciatella: <Be careful, it is chilling outside.>
Aamu -waves a paw at him in a dismissing manner: <Why would you worry about that? Go back to sleep.>
The Snorunt cuddles with the human (and the remote) while Aamu walks outside of the hostal. As Stracciatella announced there is a cold and dry breeze. The Nidorino flickers his ears for a moment, feeling uncomfortable, but a fter a moment he shakes himself up and walks ahead.
Aamu: «Who were those peoplemons? Was it all reall or it was a dream?»
The Nidorino walks until he reaches the corner of the building, and examines the nearby buildings such as the Pokécenter and a building of the Pokémon League.
Aamu: «Well if it was real, that spoiled [Maekrite] better be ready. I'm gonna be in top percentage shape for the next marlao...» — grins — «Surely that Nidorina will want something better than an always absent spoiled boyfriend.»
After some minutes of thought and of checking that there's nomon else than a couple of guarder Growlithe around, Aamu decides to trot all the way to the border of the town to disappear into the wilderness for a harsh training session; he won't return until the morning.
[AU] Right Outside of the City, During the Night
Several other Pokémon are gathered across the borders of the city, watching the fireworks in a mixture of amazement and envy — that humans are capable of expressing their happiness like that, at unison.
But near a creek, the mood is different for a sole Nidorina. She sits there, well hidden near a thicket, not paying much attention to the fireworks or to the other mons who are moving towards the city to participate in the generosity of humans. She simply sits there, brooding, as she has sat for the last four hours.
She tries to mentally prepare herself for what she suspects is about to come, if the gossips of the forest have any sort of truth to them.
They should. Her work is to believe them after all, and investigate in search for possible threats to the Colony. Here it could be one, and here she could stand and protect the Colony from it, all From a Certain Point of View.
In effect, after a while, a faint noise of footsteps can be heard from the thicket. The Nidorina carefully turns around and steps back at the very same moment a Nidorino walks in absolute silence. His movement is cut short as he sees her, however; he instantly recognizes her, he leans his head to the side to watch her, a longing pain, but also love already built and ingrained in his eyes as he peeks out from the thicket.
Vinollo: <...Rrrrr-oa?>
Roa -sighs: <...Knew I would find you here... Maestro.>
The two Nidorino stare at each other for an instant, the male flinching at the accusing glare of the Nidorina's red eyes and the mention of the title. He so wishes he could be more than the superior rank to her. He so wishes he could be anything that he has to be, hers and only hers, instead of submitting to the desires of the leaders as easily and blissfully as his brother has been doing the last few weeks.
He wishes to be hers so much, he has to leave. They won't be allowed to be in peace otherwise.
Vinollo -blinks, more or less in realization: <Err... I can explain.>
He steps forward, only for the Nidorina to step back again and circle around respectfully. She doesn't want to, she wants to step closer, but it would break so much, for both of them. And that's why for the moment she tries to avoid looking at him.
Roa: <Rumor was that you were leaving today... uhm... I...>
Vinollo: <I need to go fetch something... in a harsh faraway land...>
Roa: <That place was a hellhole...> — looks away casually, mentally comparing the flowers and thickets with whatever her mind can come up with for the place called "Sinnoh".
Vinollo -lowers his head: <I have to... only that way I can return to...>
The female then gives him a half glare.
Roa: <...You are not even carrying a berry...>
The two Pokémon stay together for a while, looking away eerily and not saying anything. He shifts around uncomfortably, knowing himself caught. It's not like the Colony didn't already know he was leaving, or that half of it — mind, the female half — had more or less an understanding of the real why.
But he had done so well evading having to explain to anymon his reasons to leave. Even to Mayonaka, when she and Taisho asked. Why had he been so easily caught at the very last moment? By her, of all the Pokémon? The fireworks didn't illuminate the forest that much, and he had been careful to take the creek with the hardest possible layout...
D'uh, he knew full well why.
Vinollo: <...I-I wanted to see you.> — he announces with a more or less loud (for the situation) roar, as he steps forward.
It is only one step, and then silence, as Roa has turned his sight to Vinollo in surprise and her stare has pretty much frozen the male in place. She is surprised that he has stated this so openly, after a month of barely speaking to each other even when in private; he is surprised as well.
High above them in the distance, the explosions that trigger happiness can still be heard. Far below them, the humans celebrate.
It is the ones in the middle who always suffer.
Unless they assume control of their lives and do something to avoid it.
As a new kind of fireworks, more noisy and illuminating, blast in the sky, the two Pokémon are now together, each breathing softly on the other's shoulder. He turns his head to nuzzle her, carefully to avoid making any noise, and she answers by clinging her left paw to his neck, then rubbing his flank to examine his battle scars more closely.
As more and more explosions can be heard in the distance, the sea is faintly illuminated, giving a ship docked near the city a spectral silhouette. Vinollo manages to distinguish the silhouette and sighs, flattens his ears. Closing his eyes, he tries to escape the soft embrace of his secret émar and walk away. He focuses only on taking one step — one is enough to reaffirm his intention. He knows he has the skill — only one step beyond her and he'll be able to disappear...
Roa: <...Are you...?>
To every force, exists a reaction though. One equal and opposite, regardless of reason. Roa pushes her body against Vinollo, the advantage of standing in two legs and having learned Detect strengthening her grip on him, her claws digging enough on his neck to draw some blood. She stares at him for a moment, noticing he is trying (desperately) to not stare back, to not let his resolution falter.
But she does not want to prevent him from going; she can't. Carefully she leans forward and licks his neck as a gesture of half-appreciation, half-"good luck". To that sudden gesture he responds by leaning his head towards her, ears still flattened. She growls, retreats for a moment and then sits on the grass to sotfly bite his ear.
That suffices. At the sensation of an inviting bite the Nidorino surrenders, and lies on the ground, Roa turning around and following suit; shortly the two Nidorin@ lie on the grass like two juveniles, watching the fireworks afar with half-closed eyes as they nuzzle each other, she taking some turns in the darkness between fireworks to nom the male's ears.
Not much of an issue. It's not like the ship is gonna leave in the night.
Cliffs Near Forina (Hoenn)
Several Pokémon with white manes and head sickles have gathered on the cliffs to observe the movement of the stars, and with them, the movement of the planet as another cycle of life has been completed, their wills impervious to the chilling wind that comes from the southeast. The families of Absol nuzzle each other, practice roaring calls and talk about the disasters they've tried to, and failed to, warn about. Some of them are also sparring and drinking water from a creek below.
As they sense in silence the incoming beginning of the new year in the immensity of cosmos, all the Absols start congregatin on the tops of the cliffs to savour the moment; the eldest among the sickle Pokémon are given some room of their own, so that they can try and sense the impending apocalypses this year will bring if they want to.
Random Absol♂ #1: <You know this year we have had so much work...>
Random absol♂ #2 -tries to clean his sickle: <It would be better if we could get some respect ya know...>
After a couple of minutes enjoying the moment, some of the Absol that live on the edges of the region start preparing to leave. However, the ceremoniousness of the day is interrupted as they sense a presence and turn around to witness the arrival of one particular Absol. However, this one looks... different. Too orange to begin with.
????: <Trick or treat guys!>
While obviously a normal Absol on the inside, he is wrapped in a large pumpking that he has produced from somewhere and managed to cut and hollow to use as costume. He is also holding a small bag on his sickle. More and more Absol turn around, the elder ones groaning as they feel the magic of the moment has been shattered. They let out some glares and hisses at the Absol who has just climbed to the cliffs.
Because of course, dressed that way, this particular Absol sticks out pretty clearly from the others. With that clumsiness he breaks the seriousness the moment is about. They all know it, shouldn't he as well?
Constantly Late Absol -shrinks: <....What?>
Some of the other Absols roll their eyes, paw the ground or facepaw.
Random Absol♀ -heads to another female: <You owe me 8 Jacoba Berries. I totally saw this coming.>
Welcome to WAAPT 2012! Happy New Year!
Also, it's definitive. I'm back to coffee. Statistics in the Discussion Thread later...
edited 5th Jan '12 8:17:26 PM by SilentReverence
Fanfic Recs orwellianretcon'd: cutlocked for committee or for Google?
I suppose.
Salamence: ‹Hmph.›
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.