Museum Gala

Evelyn: -jokingly- Looks like Tommy could use one.

Me: Yes, I did. It's a Long Story. And I have a few Pokémon on me that can further corroborate those events.

Stow-on-Side— Gym Battle (pre-Wild Area)

(Boseman notices the salute and grins a bit, while Allister returns his Mimikyu.)

Boseman: <It is a shame I cannot return that salute yet. I am only a Litwick; my arms are far too short.>

Kim: "Well... once you evolve you'll be able to." (She takes out his PokeBall.) "For now, return. You put up a great fight."

(And with that said, she turns to face Allister.)

Kim: "So... which Pokemon will you use next?"

Allister: (takes out a PokeBall) "This one... should be familiar to you... Cursola... rise..."

(He throws it, and in a flash, a Cursola emerges from it. Kim smirks, taking out another PokeBall.)

Kim: "Well. I suppose then it's time for this mon's first battle." (She throws the ball.) "Red alert, Jagger!"

(In a flash, the Galarian Zigzagoon appears, and when he notices where he is, he starts laughing to himself.)

Jagger:    <HEHEHEHEH! 'Bout time you used me in a battle! I've been itching to get to one of these!>    (he notices the Cursola)    <Hey, is that a Cursola?! Sweet! What's your ability? Perish Body?>   

Cursola: <Actually, it's Weak Armor.>

Jagger:    <Awwww. Well, don't worry. I can still do... THIS!>   

(And with that said, he jumps up into the air and licks the Cursola across the face.)

(Kim smirks.)

Kim: "Well. Something tells me this is going to be fun."

(The Cursola glares over angrily at Jagger.)

Cursola: <Hey! You ignorant fool! Why can't you listen to the whims of your Trainer?>

Jagger:    <Oh, simple. She doesn't call my shots. Hit me!>   

Cursola: (angrily) <Gladly!>

(Within seconds, the Cursola's branches glow brown, and she releases stones from them towards Jagger.)

(Jagger, meanwhile, effortlessly dodges them all with his blinding speed, before snickering.)

Jagger:    <Oh, sorry. Did you forget I had blinding speed?>   

(He cackles mischievously, before jumping up and licking the Cursola yet again. Seconds later, sparks go off from her body.)

Cursola: <Why, you—!>

Jagger:    <Heheheheheh...>   

The Wild Area (post-Stow-on-Side, pre-BOB)

(Kim turns and notices Ian and Evelyn walking towards her.)

Kim: "Ah. Greetings."

Paul: <Hello, Ian!>

Strummer: <Hey, mates!>

Kim: "You were saying something about a funny joke?"

Hammerlocke (post-Wild Area, post-Bond or Break, post-Ballonlea)

(Kim notices the two of them approaching her and grins.)

Kim: "Ah. Greetings." (She pauses.) "I must ask you a question... why did you decide to come here?"

Museum Gala

Jane: You okay, Tom?

Tommy: It's nothing. Think you can get me a coffee?

Jane: Way too much cream and way too much sugar?

Tommy: As always. You need an extra pair of hands?

Jane: Tom, just sit down. First the funny feeling and then this. Just relax. I got it covered. A round of drinks for everyone.

Gimbal: Do as she says, honey.

Jane: We have other takers. Can any of you help me? I will be carrying four or five drink orders.

Stow-on-Side Stadium, Stands

Me: -joking- I've always wondered what Cursola tasted like...

The Wild Area (Post Stow-on-Side)

Me: Yeah, yeah! Evelyn told me this really funny joke and I recommended that she tell you.

Evelyn: I definitely got a laugh out of Ian with it. By the way, what brings you here?

Hammerlocke, Down at the Train Station (Post-Ballonlea, Pre-Gala)

Me: Well, we are heading to Wyndon for my battle against Daisuke-san, and the train out from Hammerlocke is how we'll be getting straight there.

Evelyn: I'm a little nervous about how well Ian will do, considering my father was a powerful Gym Challenger back in the day... So, Ian? Kim? Want me to buy the tickets?

Me: Golly. Thanks, Evelyn. Kim?

Museum Gala

Me: I'll help with the drinks.

Stow-on-Side Stadium, Stands

Led: <Did I not say that Boseman would emerge victorious?>

Tot: <You did. Please stop talking, you're hurting my bard ears>

Hoops: Oi, you two. Stop fighting or you're going back in your balls. Just watch Jagger's battle, okay?

Kec: <What do we think of this one?>

Hoops: Well, Jagger has the type advantage...

Wild Area, Post Stow-on-Side

Hoops and Kec come up to where the others are, having been travelling with the others this time.

Hoops: I also have a joke, if anyone wants to hear it. Well, Kec knew it, but I'm going to tell it.

Museum Gala

Hoops looks between the others in confusion.

Hoops: Giga Mega Venustoise? Time cops from the future? Santa Claus? We sure joined a weird group, right Ke-

They stop talking when they remember Kec is not there.

Hoops: ...I'll also help with drinks, I guess. I want to see what they have available.

Stow-on-Side— Gym Battle

(The Cursola, still sparking with electricity, glares over at Jagger, who is still cackling menacingly.)

Allister: "W-well... y-you've got... quite the feisty little Zigzagoon there... b-but we're not giving up yet... Cursola... use Ancient Power..."

Cursola: <I'd be happy to...!>

(And she tries to— but is suddenly held back by the paralysis.)

(The Cursola glares up at Jagger.)

Cursola: <You... insolent...!>

(Jagger grins over at her menacingly.)

Jagger:    <Oh, I'm not insolent!>    (and then, as the grin on his face gets wider)    <I'm a DEVIL.>   

(At which point he laughs uproariously, shooting forth darkness energy from his mouth directly at Cursola, throwing her back.)

(Cursola is promptly thrown back against the wall, and a cloud of dust goes up. When it fades, the Cursola promptly pushes herself up off of the ground, glaring menacingly over at Jagger— who isn't even fazed in the least.)

Cursola: <OH, THAT IS IT!>

(Seconds later, her eyes glow a bright purple, and a ghostly energy emerges from her. Said ghostly energy suddenly travels straight to Jagger— and it hits.)

Jagger:    <HEY—! Wha— what was that for?!>   

(Jagger suddenly flinches as the ghostly energy leaves his body, and Allister's Cursola smirks with triumph.)

Cursola: <I have you...>

Jagger:    <Pretty impressive. But you still cut your own HP.>   

Cursola: (furious) <WHAT?!>

Jagger: (promptly jumps up into the air, his claw suddenly glowing black)    <Yeah, sorry, bye-!>   

(He attempts to aim his move at the Cursola— but then Cursola suddenly dodges, catching Jagger off-guard.)

Jagger:    <Huh?! Hey! No fair!>   

(And then the ghostly energy leaves his body yet again.)

Jagger:    <GAH-!>   

Cursola: (smirking) <Time to end you.>

(Her branches glow brown again, and she releases the energy from them as rocks that hurl towards Jagger. This time, they hit— and throw him back.)

(Jagger's body slams against the wall, and a cloud of dust kicks up. Concerned, Kim stares over at where Jagger's body hit the wall. Eventually, however, it fades, and we see Jagger on the ground, barely managing to push himself back up. Once again, the ghostly energy leaves his body, causing him to flinch.)

(But he doesn't fall. He pushes himself back up— and this time around is glaring over at the Cursola with every intent to make her faint.)

The Wild Area

Kim: "Simple. I am here to find a Pokemon that is capable of Mega Evolution."

(She notices Hoops.)

Kim: "Also, I would be happy to hear both of your jokes."

Hammerlocke

Kim: "Yes, that would be fine."

Museum Gala

Tommy: I'll say. I'm just as confused as you are. I go to weird places like all the time and that still strikes me as weird.

Jane: Don't be like that. You have someone in your department who's basically half-Zapdos and he came through one of those holes in the sky. And Ian's account is what weirds you out?

Tommy: Well, I had context for the weird stuff in our office.

With that, Tommy went to the nearest chair and sat down, trying to parse everything Ian had just said.

And with that, Jane escorted Hoops and Ian to a bar set up by the caterers. Available were a wide range of drinks both alcoholic and otherwise, plus coffees.

Jane: Pick whatever you want, even the alcoholic ones if you're legal aged.

Upstairs, however, a plan is set in motion. A dark figure begins pacing the glass of the skylight, barely visible to the viewers below. Nearby, once again just at the edge of Hoops' field of vision, was a mysterious coffin-shaped thing moving in the shadows.

The Wild Area

Hoops: Okay. Knock knock.

Kec: <Okay, that's good. You've got the first part down>

Museum Gala

Hoops notices the shape moving at the edge of their field of vision. In true ADHD brain fashion, they put down their Sitrus Juice half way through pouring it and go towards the coffin shape without saying anything to any of the others.

The Wild Area

Kim: “Who’s there?”

Wild Area

Hoops: noticeably getting excited The interrupting Wooloo

The Wild Area

Kim: (smirking; she knows where this is going) “The interrupting Wooloo who?”

The Wild Area

Hoops: completely missing the timing on the joke and speaking after Kim Woo!

Hoops: ...

Kec: <...>

Hoops: I messed up the joke, didn't I?

Kec: <Yes, you did, but it's okay. You've never told a joke before, so you weren't going to nail it first time.>

Hoops: Sorry Kim

The Wild Area

Kim: “Oh, no, it’s quite alright.”

Museum Gala, One Semi-Isolated Corner

In a less densely crowded side of the gala was a wide yet somewhat dark area whose only lighting is the dramatic illumination of a few of the exhibit specimens in their [Plexiglas] displays. Some were clearly recognizable: primitive corsola and shelder, while others looked like no pokélmon seen before. The centerpiece was the dismembered bits that, when assembled, formed what appeared to be a fragmentary armaldo.

The spotlights, however, were enough light to reveal the identity of the snooping intruder who flitted around. They appeared to be rubbing what in a human would've been their lower back. It wasn't a human, nor was it particularly human-shaped. It was a cofagrigus.

A rather large, intimidating looking cofagrigus.

It turned to see the human who had wandered off.

Cofagrigus: <Oy, 508 million years will give you such a crick in the cephalothorax. Wouldn't you say? I'm telling you, nice to be discovered, ladies and gentlemen and otherwise. Hi! Where you from? What's your name? Oh, silly me, I guess I forgot your kind doesn't speak pokémonese. Tell you what, I do a scary face and you go run away. Seriously, you funny little tynamos just took over everything but you're just so easy to scare. But enough small talk. I am busy right now and if I don't alert the right people soon we're going to have a terrible time.>

Museum Rooftop

Malacostra: I hope you're ready Salem, because it's showtime.

A few taps was all it took to break through the glass ceiling.

Museum Gala Hall, center stage

Down came an ominous and malevolent masked woman in power armor resembling a crawdaunt mixed with a kingler. The crowd scatter as broken glass shards fell everywhere. She falls just in the middle, narrowly avoiding the aquarium and the cases containing the centerpiece fossils. Wouldn't want to destroy the targets, now, do we?

Malacostra: I love these dampeners. They take the shock out of the dramatic entrance, wouldn't you folks say. Hello, Wyndon and assorted eggheads. Tis I, the fabulous Malacostra, the Crustaceous Queen of Crime and supervillain extraordinaire. Is my super entrance on point? Presentation matters!

She turns around and sees Tommy and Evelyn. Tommy had attempted to shove Evelyn out of the way of some fallen glass. He and his Pokémon seem ready for a fight.

Tommy: Oh, I'm very familiar with you.

Malacostra: I'm sorry, who are you again? Whatever. Congratulations, hero. You and your little friend here and all the other eggheads in this building are now going to help me.

Tommy: You wish—

Malacostra then grabbed Tommy, effortlessly lifting the young man in her gripper claws. Tommy attempts to free himself and almost appears to succeed but at the last minute just fizzled out.

Malacostra: Look, Captain Cutie, I've clamped down hundreds of hostages and attackers and so far only Arachna-Guy was strong enough to wiggle free. And honestly, you're nowhere near a tenth the hunk he is. Not gonna lie, I wish he was here. Or maybe some other hot do-gooder in Technicolor tights like Gaia or Vulpecula. They've got curves for days. Rrrrawr.

Tommy looked at her with a venomous and somewhat bemused "are you fucking kidding me" expression. This is gonna be an awkward night.

Tommy: Drake, electroweb.

Malacostra: You'd really think I'd be dumb enough not to account for that. This suit and its workings are insulated, boyo.

Of course it is.

Malacostra: Now, none of you folk out there will move or else this dork and every other egghead in this facility gets it. Get it? Jolly good, then.

As she does her villain speech, she releases a crawdaunt, kingler, crabominable, parasect, barbacle, clawitzer, and golisopod, all looking at the crowd with murderous contempt.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Mar 5th 2021 at 9:46:23 PM

Hammerlocke Stadium

Raihan: Time for phase two!

-he sends out a Sandaconda-

Ever: ...Huh.

Sandaconda: <...>

PEFE!Every: This is actually going better than I'd expected...Xeno, Ice Beam.

Ever: Misery, Giga Drain again.

Misery: <How long do you really expect to hold out at this point?>

-Xeno fires an Ice Beam at the Sandaconda-

Raihan: Earth Power! Rock Blast!

Sandaconda: <...>

Gigalith: <Could use a hand...>

-once again, Gigalith stomps the ground, conjuring up rocks-

Sandaconda: <...>

-as the Ice Beam rakes towards him-

-another circle of green light appears around Gigalith-

-Sandaconda's eyes glow a deep orange-

-the spell circle flashes orange and disintegrates, a ring of earth expanding out around Gigalith-

-the Ice Beam strikes Sandaconda, who looks unimpressed-

-while around Gigalith, the ground erupts in all directions-

-as dozens of tiny stone flechettes curve in the air towards Xeno-

-he zips back and forth to avoid them, but there are quite a lot, and one catches him in the wing, slowing him-

-before about twenty more connect, and he plummets from the air-

PEFE!Every: ...I may have spoken too soon.

Ever: We're doing fine...

-she recalls him before he hits the ground-

Stow-on-Side Stadium, Stands

Piku-chan: <This fight is looking intense... Especially with that curse on Jagger...>

Me: Curse... What a scary move...

Piku-chan: <When used by a Ghost Pokémon, I would have to agree with you...>

-Evelyn starts thinking about the move "Curse".-

Evelyn: Ian?

Me: Huh?

Evelyn: I have a question about that move...

Me: Oh? Let's hear it...

Evelyn: Is it at all possible for Piku-chan to be able to use that move?

-Ian and Piku-chan look at each other with a horrified expression on their face. After all these years of having known each other, Ian and Piku-chan don't know if a move as frightening as Curse is something that Piku-chan can do...-

Me: I... I don't know...

Piku-chan: <N-Neither do I... I never looked into moves like that...>

Wild Area (Post Stow-on-Side)

Me: Mega Evolution? Is that where the trainer and Pokémon wear jewelry that senses their bond and allows the Pokémon to undergo a Magical Girl transformation and become super duper powerful?

Hammerlocke Station (Post-Ballonlea, Pre-Gala)

Evelyn: Okay. I won't let you down.

-Evelyn turns around and walks over to the ticket booth.-

Ticket Seller: Hello there, ma'am. How may I help you?

Evelyn: I would like three tickets to Wyndon, please?

Ticket Seller: You goin' for the Gym Challenge, I reckon?

Evelyn: Of course. Well... you could say that. A friend of mine has an arrangement to be there for a battle. You could say it's a sort of exhibition match against an older Gym Challenger...

-As Evelyn chats up the ticket seller, Ian notices something on his Xtransceiver.-

Me: Huh? What's this?

-The app looks like a square with a black and red icon that resembles an eye with a star-shaped pupil.-

Me: Uh, that app wasn't there before... Hey, Kim? You seeing this?

-Piku-chan jumps off of Ian's shoulder and walks over to Evelyn at the ticket booth.-

Museum Gala

Me: Well... Since I can't drink alcohol, what nonalcoholic drinks do you have?

Salem's Position in the Museum

Salem: Do your thing, Lady Malacostra! I'm goin' shopping!

-Salem begins to peruse the museum, swiping some ores and pretty gems while Malacostra does her thing.-

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Mar 5th 2021 at 9:39:54 AM

Stow-on-Side— Gym Battle

(The Cursola glares over at Jagger again, but the Galarian Zigzagoon isn't having it. He starts laughing like crazy, jumping over to Kim's pocket, and grabbing her phone, before scrolling to... something. Seconds later, he turns to the Cursola, and says menacingly:)

Jagger:    <IIIIIIIT'S SHOWTIME--!>   

(Seconds later, he hits the "play" button, and "Be the Winners" starts blaring across the Gym Stadium as Jagger suddenly begins to glow in a bright blue light, cackling all the while. Cursola, Allister, and Kim watch on in shock, stunned by what they are seeing.)

Kim: (stunned) "No way..."

Cursola: <He— he's EVOLVING?!>

The Wild Area

Kim: "Indeed it is. And I've heard there are many Pokemon in the Wild Area that are capable of the feat. Once I catch one... I shall get a Mega Stone and a Key Ring. And then... I wait."

Hammerlocke

(All of a sudden, Kim gets the notification on her phone— and suddenly notices the app.)

Kim: "Well. This is... unusual. Never seen this app before."

Kevin rolled one of his shoulders, Dallas soon came up and tucked himself under it, Kevin then spoke, "My advice for Policy makers is to keep in mind that our actions were in response to violence and should only ever be a reactive move. Sentencing comes after not before."

Aeson spoke up, "It's like treating symptoms to ease a patient, that way the treatment of the cause can be easier. We're the anesthetic for a painful operation."

Kevin nodded, "They're more or less correct."

The Pen manifested beside Gale and looked about, Watch out for the Clownish looking one.

<Okay... no thank you on the drinks,> Stylus commented, <What happened here, why is your station in such... disrepair?>

Stow-on-Side Stadium, Stands

-Ian quickly checks his Pokédex to see what Zigzagoon will evolve into.-

Ian's Pokédex: Linoone, the Rushing Pokémon and the evolved form of Zigzagoon. A Normal type. Linoone have different forms depending on their region of origin.

Linoone: Common Form. The Rushing Pokémon and the evolved form of Zigzagoon. A Normal type. Its fur is strong and supple. Shaving brushes made with shed Linoone hairs are highly prized. When it spots its prey, it runs after it in a straight line. Though able to run over 60 miles per hour, it is unable to turn.

   Linoone: Galarian Form. The Rushing Pokémon and the evolved form of Galarian Zigzagoon. A Dark and Normal type. It uses its long tongue to taunt opponents. Once the opposition is enraged, this Pokémon hurls itself at the opponent, tackling them forcefully. It is very aggressive and will recklessly challenge opponents stronger than itself.   

Evelyn: Look, Hoops! Jagger's about to evolve!

Wild Area

Me: Mega Evolution sounds so cool!

Evelyn: Almost as cool as Z-Moves?

Me: Of course!

Ian and Evelyn's Shared Imagination

-Ian and Evelyn, depicted as chibi versions of themselves drawn in crayon, stand on a battlefield with a chibified Piku-chan and Hatty.-

Me: We already have Dynamax...

Chibi Ian: Piku-chan...

Chibi Evelyn: Hatty...

Chibi Ian: GIGANTAMAX!

Chibi Evelyn: DYNAMAX!

-Chibi Ian and Chibi Evelyn raise their Wishing Stars to the sky, which glow a bright reddish-pink, causing Chibi Piku-chan and Chibi Hatty to grow in size, with Chibi Piku-chan looking even rounder and squishier.-

Evelyn: That we do. And Piku-chan has a Gigantamax Factor, allowing its form to change as it grows.

Me: Right... and if we had Mega-Evolution...

-The scene changes to Chibi Ian and Chibi Evelyn standing together on a battlefield with a chibi version of Axon (equipped with Alakazite). Chibi Evelyn is wearing a tiara with a Key Stone embedded in the middle of it and a translucent purple veil draping down from it and covering Evelyn's face, as though she was a princess.-

Chibi Ian: Love that transcends time...

Chibi Evelyn: ...becomes power that transcends Evolution...

-Chibi Ian and Chibi Evelyn dance together and touch their foreheads cutely, causing the Key Stone to react.-

Chibi Ian and Chibi Evelyn: Axon... MEGA-EVOLVE!

-Chibi Axon's Alakazite reacts to Chibi Evelyn's Key Stone and the strong bonds of both Chibi Ian and Chibi Evelyn's friendship, allowing Chibi Axon to become a Chibi-Mega Alakazam, growing out his beard until it's long and silvery-white and manifesting three more spoons, created from pure psychic energy. Chibi Axon then crosses his legs and begins to float a few feet in the air.-

Evelyn: That would be amazing! And if we also had Z-Moves...

-The scene changes to Chibi Ian and Chibi Evelyn standing together on a battlefield with Chibi Raru and Chibi Mirai. Chibi Ian and Chibi Evelyn wear bracelets with magical sparkling crystals on them. The Z-Crystal on Chibi Ian's bracelet is Psychium-Z, and the Z-Crystal on Chibi Evelyn's bracelet is Grassium-Z.-

Chibi Ian: Alright, Raru... Let's do this!

Chibi Evelyn: Ready, Mirai?

Chibi Raru: <Yay!>

Chibi Mirai: <Ready when you are, Evelyn!>

-Chibi Ian and Chibi Evelyn perform the Z-move dances of their respective crystal's types...-

Chibi Ian: Power of the mind and imagination... manifest and become our truest strength!

Chibi Evelyn: Powers of nature, I call unto thee... Grant me thy strength and I shall reveal your true radiance to the world!

-Chibi Raru and Chibi Mirai are surrounded in radiant auras of light.-

-Chibi Raru is filled with Z-Power!-

-Chibi Mirai is filled with Z-Power!-

-Chibi Raru can now use his full force Z-Move!-

-Chibi Mirai can now use her full force Z-Move!-

Me: We could have so much fun!

Evelyn: I agree!

Back to Our Reality

Me: So, Kim... What Pokémon do you think you'll find first?

Hammerlocke Train Station

Me: What do you think it does?

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Apr 23rd 2021 at 11:33:04 AM

Stow-on-Side Stadium, Stands

Hoops: grinning I'm not really surprised. Kim's pokemon evolve a lot.

Tot: <But of course, an evolution requires an appropriate song.>

Before anyone can protest, he opens his peak and lets out a cry that perhaps does have some musicality to it, though not particularly good music either way. People sitting nearby look at him in annoyance.

Hoops: Tot, people are staring

Tot: <Of course. It's natural to stare at an artist>

Kec grabs his beak and forces it closed, ending the cry.

Kec: <No>

Wild Area

Hoops: May be hard to work out mega evolution. Even if you get a pokemon that can do it, the stones are basically non-existent in Galar.

Kec: <Yeah, we looked into it a while ago. The key stones and mega stones have to be imported since they aren't found here naturally, and since they're rare in regions where they are, they can be really expensive.>

Hoops: You could basically buy a key stone or a small house

Museum Gala

Hoops looks at the Cofagrigus.

Hoops: I do speak Monese. Which means I understand what a weirdo you are. Oh, and I'm Hoops by the way.

Before the conversation can continue, the thing with Malacostra happens, with Hoops watching from the far side of the room.

Hoops: Her...

They grab two pokeballs from their belt and throw them forwards.

Hoops: Luxray! Poliwrath! Drapion! Attack that woman!

The three pokemon emerge into the museum and charge towards Malacostra and her pokemon with Hoops close behind, their face full of anger.

Museum Gala, Cofagrigus Time

Cofagrigus: <Well met. I don't do that 'name' thing humans do; it's such a weird thing to just pop up out of nowhere. The humans called my corpse "Dome Fossil 24." It's right over there.>

He points his creepy ghost hands to a kabuto fossil whose cracks appeared to match the centerpiece fossil.

Cofagrigus: <I just went by Yamask a while back. But I'm not apparently a yamask any more. So call me cofagrigus or something.>

Suddenly, the cofagrigus watched, in horror at what Hoops was doing. Such rash action.

Cofagrigus: <Oh, my Arceus this is exactly what I've feared would happen. She's that evil lady who's going to take my wife and ki— What are you doing! Come back!>

Museum Gala, Malacostra Time

Malacostra turns around and sees an oncoming angry teen at her. She wastes no time signaling her pokémon to come to her defense. To taunt her would be attacker, she raises up one of her claw-appendage hands and presents her hostage: Tommy Petersen.

Malacostra: Oh, excuse me. Do I know you? Whatever. DiGiorno, Winchester, Sebastian, Lawrence, you know what to do.

The Parasect moved to fire a stun spore at the poliwrath. Meanwhile, the drapion was faced with a Crabominable firing close combat at them. The clawitzer fires a crabhammer at the luxray. As for Hoops themself, they were confronted by a very angry Crawdaunt.

As if to protect them, however, Tommy's kabuto and joltik starts firing attacks on their own. The electroweb hits the clawitzer, preventing them from making any further attacks. The kabuto fired rock throw several times at the crabominable before stopping once he saw his trainer again. Only one of them managed to hit.

Shinji: <I'm giving you an opening fellas. Now help me save my family!>

Hoops might feel themselves being pulled away by ghostly appendages. The kabuto, Shinji, moves toward the aquarium, ostensibly to try and talk to the other kabuto in the tank.

Shinji: <Hey, weren't we looking for the yamask that hangs around mom's corpse. Is... is that him.>

Zelda: <Yeah. It's dad.>

Shinji: <Say what?>

Zelda: <That yam— cofagrigus. That's our father. He's number 24.>

Shinji: <Yikes.>

Edited by MasterJayAM on Mar 6th 2021 at 10:15:20 PM

Museum Gala

Me: Oh, nice to meet you, Cofagrigus. I'm Ian. I speak Monese too...

-And then along came Malacostra.-

Me: What the-?! Her again?

-Ian then smiles, knowing that he was right.-

Me: Heheh... I knew she couldn't hide from us forever...

-When Hoops sends out their Pokémon, Piku-chan watches on in terror as none of them are the ones he was familiar with.-

Piku-chan: -horrified- <W-Who are you and what have you done with my friends?>

-Piku-chan turns Ian's attention towards Hoops' new Pokémon.-

Me: Hello. When did Hoops get those Pokémon?

-Ian checks his Pokédex.-

Ian's Pokédex: Drapion, the Ogre Scorpion Pokémon, and the evolved form of Skorupi. A Poison and Dark type. Its body is encased in a sturdy shell. Its head rotates 180 degrees, eliminating blind spots. It takes pride in its strength. Even though it can tear foes apart, it finishes them off with powerful poison.

Me: I didn't think they'd have such a powerful and menacing Pokémon on their team in a million years...

Piku-chan: -like a worried parent- <What happened to Kec and Led and Tot? Where are they?>

Me: We can look for them later, Piku-chan. But right now, we have unfinished business to tend to.

-Ian takes a couple of Poké Balls out of his pockets and throws them towards the action.-

Me: Raru, Yuki, Mothra! Come on out!

-The Poké Balls open and out come Raru, a Ralts, Yuki, a Froslass and Mothra, a Larvesta.-

Raru: <Whoa... Is this a museum?>

-Raru then sees Hoops' Pokémon and freaks out. He then hides behind Ian's leg.-

Raru: -scared- <Wh-Who are those Pokémon and why does Hoops have them?!>

Me: -calmly- I wish I knew, Raru... but I need your help to battle Malacostra and stop her from robbing this museum.

Raru: -feeling a little better- <Okay... Thank you...>

Wyndon Natural History Museum

-Salem's Anti-Esper mask begins to react as it detects extra psychic energy. He smirks, knowing it might be a powerful Psychic-type Pokémon.-

Salem: Jackpot...

-Salem then stashes the ores and gems and begins to follow where the signal is coming from.-

Museum Battle

Yuki: -bows to Hoops- <Greetings. I am Yuki. It's a pleasure to->

-The sight of Hoops' Poliwrath, Luxray and Drapion catches Yuki's eye.-

Yuki: -shocked- <YOI TENGOKU!^Translation Good heavens! What is THAT?!>

Me: -sigh- That is a Drapion. And no. Kare ga doko de mitsuketa no ka wakarimasen.^Translation  I don't know where they found it.

Yuki: <Sōdesu ka.>^Translation I see.

Mothra: <As unnerved by Hoops' sudden changing of the guard as I am, we have to focus on the battle at hand.>

Me: Couldn't have said it better myself, Mothra. Now, let's get down to business! Raru, use Psychic on Crabominable! Yuki-san, use Ice Beam on Crawdaunt! Mothra, use String Shot to keep Malacostra from escaping again!

-Raru's eyes glow a mystical purple as he focuses on trapping Malacostra's Crabominable in a psychic field. Yuki opens her mouth and fires a bright blue beam of sub-zero energy at the Crawdaunt menacing Hoops and Mothra spits out a strand of sticky thread, aiming for Malacostra's legs.-

Wild Area

Me: You do have a point, Hoops...

Evelyn: But that won't stop Kim from finding a Pokémon that can and forming a strong bond with it, now will it?

Stow-on-Side Stadium, Stands

-Evelyn looks confused at what's going on between Kec and Tot.-

Evelyn: Does... does that happen often?

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Mar 16th 2021 at 1:51:53 PM

Stow-on-Side Stadium— Gym Battle

(Kim watches in shock as the evolution begins, but something still itches in the back of her mind. Eventually, she smirks and says it out loud:)

Kim: "Strummer's going to love this."

Post-Evolution Sequence

(Jagger promptly jumps up into the air, hurtling his paw towards Allister's Cursola. As he approaches her, the light snaps off of his body, revealing the new Galarian Linoone. Eventually, he places his paw right on Cursola's head and, just before attacking, stares at her in the eyes and says one word:)

Jagger: (smirking)    <Bye.>   

(Seconds later, he strikes Cursola with his paw, knocking her backwards into the wall of the stadium.)

(Once the dust settles, Cursola is on her back with swirls in her eyes. Jagger triumphantly lands, then reaches over, and turns off the music.)

Jagger:    <Aaaaaaand that was all I needed the music for. Just wanted to give a bit more flair to my big moment, if you know what I mean. Speaking of which, SWEET!>    (He laughs.)    <About time! I was kind of wondering when you were going to use me, honestly, because I had a feeling my evolution was coming, but... Oh, man, Strummer's gonna love seeing me like this!>   

Kim: "Indeed he is. That was incredible, Jagger."

Jagger:    <Word of advice; don't command me when I'm battling, got it?>   

Kim: "Indeed. Besides... watching you do your thing to Allister's Cursola was... fun, if I do say so myself."

(They promptly high-five each other.)

KIMBERLY BOND HAS DEFEATED ALLISTER'S CURSOLA

ALLISTER HAS ONE POKEMON LEFT

The Wild Area (Post-Stow-on-Side, Pre-Bond or Break, Pre-Ballonlea, Pre-Metaverse)

Kim: "Not a Gengar or an Alakazam, that's for certain. I already have Boseman and Gilmour with me..."

(And then seconds later she hears it:)

???: <Help—! HEEEEELP!>

(Kim's eyes shoot open wide.)

Kim: "Did you hear that?"

Paul: <I sure did. Sounds like a Pokemon over there is in trouble.>

Strummer: <Oy... Wonder what mess they could've gotten themselves into...>

Hammerlocke (Post-Bond or Break, Post-Ballonlea)

Kim: "I am... unsure... Should we open it?"

Stow-on-Side Stadium, Stands

Me: Jagger evolved!

Piku-chan: <That is just cool!>

Mirai: <Personally, I'm lucky Jagger can't learn Draining Kiss...>

Kako: <I hear ya, sis.>

-Beat as Kako gets a mental image of just that.-

Kako: <Mirai, WHY?!>

-Mirai giggles at Kako's sudden reaction.-

The Wild Area (Post-Stow-on-Side)

Me: I heard it loud and clear!

Evelyn: Someone's in trouble!

Piku-chan: <Well, what are we standing around here for? Let's go help them!>

-Ian and Evelyn nod as they follow the sound of the cry for help.-

Hammerlocke Train Station (Post-Ballonlea, Pre-Gala)

Me: Wouldn't hurt to try...

-Ian gingerly touches the icon on his Xtransceiver.-

Stow On Side

-Star is at a table near the market, trying to write a text-

-she tries a second time-

-third time-

-Star headtables, closing her messaging app-

Star: -thinking- (Come on, this should not be that hard. Just tell him. Sure, I'm coming out of the woodwork solely to ask him a favor but-)

-she glances at her phone again, and notices a new app on her home screen. Notably, it's black and red and eyeballed all over-

Star: (What the...did this thing update while I wasn't looking again?) -swipes- (Boop. Into the trash.)

-she lets out a sigh.-

Star: -aloud- Well, at least it's nice out.