#//There is a rotom in Apple's phone. The rotom is the one that recorded the video. Apple doesn't know this

[hammeragainstbirds]

[There is a video attatched, do you want to watch it?]

//This is so long but I swear it's not that bad. In the tags will be what you need to know after this even if you don't read it so everything else makes sense.

//I'll actually rewrite the ooc paragraph into several shorter ones so it's easier to read.

//Apple's friends don't react in the best way possible, as they don't know what is going on. This is made worst because Apple was already distressed.

//Apple isn't out to their friends, so they'll only use he/him to refer to her. He does use that pronoun, so it's not misgendering, but don't expect them to use anything else. Also, it's name will be written [Apple], as that's the one they use online, not her actual name. It's not deadnaming, but I understand that it can look as if I was censoring a deadname.

//There is a mention of the current state of Apple's transformation. Specifically, the start of the face changing.

//Also, first and probably last time a character uses a swear word (or whatever those are called in english, I think it's that) in one of my post. I feel like that friend would use them, but I don't like writing them.

[The video is taken from around the height of Apple's head, so it's impossible to see everyone else's faces. Apple can be seen next to the window, trying to check where they would land. Steps can be heard from the other side of the room as other three people enter it. The room is dark, except for the small amount of light entering though the window.]

"What the... what is that?"

[Apple is covering its face and making a ball in the floor, ashamed of how she looks like. One of his friends tries to get closer, but Sharp the pawniard jumps to his trainer's rescue. He positions himself between Apple and the rest, ready to fight.]

"Sharp? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with [Apple]? Where is he, anyway?"

"Yeah and, more importantly, how did that... tinkaton? get here?"

[[Blue] hits [Pink] with her elbow while looking at him with a disapproving face.]

"What? It was a joke! I'm obviously looking for him!"

"Get out of here."

"[Apple]? Where are you?"

"Leave me alone, okay? I don't want you to see me right now."

[[Red] tries to get close to Apple, suspecting that their voice comes from that part of the room. Sharp, feeling his owners distress, does the only thing he can think of.]

"What the fuck Sharp? Why did you do that? Agh, it hurts a lot! Just let me get there already!"

[[Red] holds his leg with a pained expression while looking at Sharp. [Blue] throws a pokeball, freeing the Skeledirge inside. The pokemon uses its tail to move Sharp out of the way and keep him there.]

"No! Leave him alone! He can't get hurt. I- I didn't hurt him, you can't do it. P- please, don't do anything. Just get out of here!"

[Apple says this while crying. He looks at Sharp, hoping he's fine. That allows both the camera and her friends to see their new face. It's still very similar to the face it had before this began, but it is pink and is starting to change to look more tinkaton-like. It can be noticed mostly in the eyes, which are starting to get taller and thinner. The three of them flinch when seeing this.]

"Is that... Wha- what happened to you?"

"Yeah, you look terrible! Is that your excuse to let us study by ourselves?"

"I told you to leave me alone!"

[The camera seems to fall and look to the ceiling for a moment, before it repositions itself. Both pokemon appear to be fine, but the three humans seem to have been launched against the wall. Some glowing particles can be seen floating around in the room, quickly disappearing. Apple gets to where Sharp is as fast as she can without showing themself more than necessary and hugs him.]

"You are okay, everything is okay. I'm here to help you, I promise. I- the instincts won't win, I'll protect you."

[Apple is holding the hammer, which is longer now. The new addition is a different color to the metals used before. He runs towards the window and jumps, the camera following behind. Its landing is good enough, so they can start running towards the nearby forest almost immediately, Sharp still in his arms.]

[End of the video.]

//Not fully convinced with some parts, but probably good enough. I don't know if I should tag this anything specific, but the warning in the beginning should work for that.

[pokemedia-text-dump]

Match Recording: Cera vs. Grusha

[Video ID: Cera, with her hoodie drawn tightly, overlooking the edge of the Glaseado Gym's arena.

Teko, leaving the Rotom Phone being used to record in midair, walks up to her: he's wearing a fluffy hoodie that looks suspiciously similar to that of Sans.

"...Woaaaahhh...You can see for like MILES up here! Awesome!" Teko says, amazed.

"It really is, isn't it? Of course, I wouldn't expect you to be able to focus long enough to realize that, but that's none of my concern." Cera says.

"Yo, check this out! ECHO!!!" Teko screeches, his voice bouncing back to him.

"...Of course you had to go ruin it." Cera sighs.

"Nice to see you again, kid." Grusha says, walking into frame. "Cera, right? This is, uhh...your fourth? Fifth try here?" he asks.

"Don't rub it in." Cera mutters angrily.

"Hey, I'm not trying to. You're persistent, at least. It's kinda admirable, you know?" Grusha says, shrugging.

"Look, it's not persistence. I'm going to win one of these times. You know what? It's probably gonna be this time!" Cera says.

"...that literally is what persistence is but okay-" Teko says under his breath.

"...Anyway. You ready?" he asks.

Both battlers assume position on the battlefield.

Cera looks back at the camera with a determined gleam in her eyes. Teko holds a thumbs up from behind the camera.

"...Let's do this." she mutters, turning back towards Grusha.

"Mizzter Blizzard's Snow Bowser Statue" begins playing from the Rotom Phone as the combatants send out their Pokemon: Cera sends out a Cyclizar and Grusha sends out a Frosmoth.

"Alright, Truck Freak, let's try and set up with Shed Tail!" Cera yells.

"Frosmoth! Set up Tailwind!" Grusha says.

The Cyclizar slams its tail on the ground repeatedly until the white part autotomizes itself, then returns to Cera to be recalled. The shed tail then grows back into a phantasmal copy of the Cyclizar.

Meanwhile, the Frosmoth flaps its wings repeatedly, causing a big burst of wind to blast the other side of the battlefield.

Cera sends out a Hydrapple. "Alright, Ghidorapple...try and set up with Nasty Plot!" Cera says.

"Frosmoth, follow up with Blizzard!" Grusha says.

The syrpents in the apple pop out and start conversing with the main one, chattering noisily. The Frosmoth flaps its wings again, summoning a large cloud of ice around itself, then blows it all at the Hydrapple in one mighty gust. However, the Cyclizar jumps in front of the Hydrapple, absorbing the attack before fading away.

"...Well played." Grusha admits.

"Heh heh...of course it is. Now's our chance, Ghidorapple! Hit it with Tera Blast!" Cera says.

"Frosmoth, try to counter with Blizzard again!" Grusha says.

The Frosmoth summons another snow cloud, but this time, the attack is blown off course. In the brief moment in between, the Hydrapple's main syrpent charges up a beam of Tera energy, and the two in the back charge up with it. They fire all at once, instantly knocking out the Frosmoth.

"Doin' good! Man, even with the type disadvantage, you're killing it!" Teko laughs from behind the camera.

"Impressive...Let's see how you do against this one." Grusha says, sending out a Beartic.

"Ghidorapple, try to use Fickle Beam!" Cera says.

"Use Icicle Crash before it can fire the attack, Beartic!" Grusha says.

The main syrpent charges up an orb of energy in its mouth, but the Beartic roars, and several icicles crystallize and form above the Hydrapple, bombarding it: when the dust clears, it's knocked out.

"...Spoke too soon." Teko says sheepishly.

"What, you have that little faith in me?! Honestly! We're NOT giving up that easily!" Cera says to the camera, indignant.

Cera recalls the Hydrapple and sends out the Cyclizar again.

"Truck Freak! Shed Tail, again!" Cera calls out.

"...Beartic, use Icicle Crash again." Grusha says.

The Cyclizar autotomizes its tail once more, and Cera recalls it. The Beartic roars again, sending a thin mist swirling up into the sky.

"...Ugh." Cera says, looking at the swirling cloud. "...This might put a wrench in my plan...Seregios, you're up!" she says, sending out a Hakamo'o.

The Beartic slams its paws against the ground, and the mist crystallizes into large icicles.

"...SEREGIOS, DODGE, NOW!!" Cera yells.

The Hakamo'o briefly looks above it, then nimbly dodges the icicles as they fall.

"Not bad...Beartic, use Earthquake...try to get rid of the Substitute." Grusha says.

"Alright, now's our chance, Seregios! Use Work Up!" Cera says.

The Hakamo'o slams its fists together, roaring. As the scales on its fists reverberate, it's surrounded by a faint red aura.

The Beartic prepares a sumo stomp-like motion, then slams against the ground, making a shockwave. The Cyclizar copy absorbs the hit, then fades.

"Let's put all of that training to use, Seregios...Drain Punch!" Cera says.

"...Counter with Aqua Jet." Grusha says.

The Hakamo'o's fist glows green as it charges towards the Beartic. It manages to land a punch on its belly with the glowing fist, but the Beartic charges, cloaked in water, and knocks it off its body after being hit. The Hakamo-o then stumbles back onto its legs again.

"It can't keep this up forever" Cera muses. "...Drain Punch, again!"

The Hakamo'o charges up its fist again, then dashes towards the Beartic. It sidesteps, but the Hakamo'o uses its momentum to spring back towards it, punching it in the face and knocking it out.

"THIS is what you've been worried about?! You're already halfway there, dummy!" Teko cackles from behind the camera.

"This is starting to heat up...Let's see how you fare against Cetitan." Grusha says, sending out a Cetitan.

"...This guy is what ended me last time...But it's not gonna happen again! Seregios! Work Up!" Cera says, confident, after faltering again.

Cetitan, Ice Shard!" Grusha says.

The Cetitan forms several orbs of icy energy on its horns, which then crystallize into ice chunks before launching themselves at the Hakamo'o.

The Hakamo'o is knocked back, bouncing across the ground, before staggering to its feet again.

"This is our last shot...Seregios, counter with Drain Punch!" Cera says hesitantly.

The Cetitan slams its feet on the ground, coating the arena with a thin layer of ice with a shockwave. It skates towards the Hakamo-o, building up speed, then begins spinning rapidly. The Hakamo'o braces for impact, as does Cera...

...

...But it refused.

The Hakamo'o catches the spinning Cetitan as one of its fists glows again. Its body glowing, its limbs and tail begin to grow longer, the scale on its head grows several more layers, and the scales on its body multiply, forming into long chains. The scale on the end of its tail splits, forming into a mace-like implement.

When the glow dies, it's evolved into a Kommo'o. It promptly launches the stopped Cetitan away with its glowing fist in a mighty uppercut. The impact produces several green orbs of light, which are absorbed into the newly-evolved Kommo-o. The Cetitan goes flying, bouncing across the arena: when it stops, it's been knocked out. The Kommo'o looks at its new hands, jingles its tail and scales, and roars triumphantly. Grusha's eyes widen in surprise.

"Nahhhhh...No freaking way..." Teko giggles in awe from behind the camera.

"S...Seregios...You're HUGE. All that fighting's finally paid off, huh, you little idiot?" Cera says, amazed. "...Well, I suppose I can't call you 'little' any more, but the other part is still true!"

"...Now this just got interesting! Time to see if this new partner of yours can take on Altaria!" Grusha says, intrigued, as he sends out an Altaria.

Teko grabs the Rotom Phone out of the air, briefly aiming the camera towards the ground, and "Battle Against a True Hero" starts playing when he points it back at the match.

"Woooo! Yeah! C'mon, you got this!" he cheers from behind the camera.

Grusha holds up his Tera Orb and throws it over the Altaria, engulfing it in Tera Crystals. The Altaria then bursts out of the crystals as an Ice-type.

"Moonblast was what took down Glaivenus the last time, wasn't it..." Cera says. Her eyes light up, and she spins her Tera Orb on her finger, then tosses it over the Kommo'o. It emerges from the crystals as a Steel-type.

"Wait, WHAT?! Since when was Seregios Tera-Steel?" Teko asks.

"Heh heh...What, you thought training was all I did yesterday? As much as I hate associating myself with you, Seregios did need a little extra something...so we went to the Treasure Eatery with Florian!" Cera chuckles.

"I've been saving up these Tera Shards for weeks...this is gonna be sweet." she says, grinning.

Grusha, realizing he's suddenly at a disadvantage, thinks for a bit. "...Altaria, try Ice Beam."

The Altaria charges up a beam of bluish energy in its beak, then fires it as a zigzagging ray of blue energy. The Kommo-o holds up the scales on its fist, getting knocked back a bit, but otherwise parrying the energy beam. It shakes ice crystals off the hand it used to block the attack.

"...You okay? Try Headbutt this time!" Cera says, attempting to mask her concern.

The Kommo'o hesitates for a bit, then nods at Cera.

"Wait, what are y-" Cera says.

The Kommo'o then rattles its scales rhythmically. As it grinds more and more scales against each other, the cacophony of clanging and grinding grows louder and louder, until it eventually reaches a breaking point, bursting out as a bluish shockwave that knocks the Altaria out of the air briefly. The Kommo'o pants in exhaustion from its performance once the ringing clears.

"...W-was that..." Cera says, before nodding in understanding. "It looks pretty roughed up...Let's END THIS with Drain Punch!" she roars.

"Altaria! Take it down with Dragon Pulse!" Grusha yells.

The Altaria charges up a multicolored orb in its beak, then fires it as a zigagging beam of energy. The Kommo'o sidesteps effortlessly as it charges. It makes a spinning leap towards the Altaria, smacking it with its tail and punching it in the face with a fist cloaked in green energy. The one-two combo shatters the Altaria's Tera Jewel as it falls to the ground, unconscious. The Kommo'o, roaring triumphantly, vigorously rattles the scales on its body as it looks back at Cera while its Tera Jewel dissipates.

"...W...we did it..." Cera says, processing her victory.

"...NYAHAHAHAHAAAAH!!" Teko cackles as the Rotom Phone shuts off the music. "That. Was. EPIC!! Damn straight, you did it!" he yells, running up to hug Cera. "Where was all of that when you were fighting ME, huh?!"

"U-ugh! Get OFF of me, you slobbering halfwit!" Cera says, trying to push Teko off of her.

"Never, you hear me?! NEVER! You EARNED this!" Teko laughs.

"...Well, I suppose it isn't so bad." Cera grumbles.

"...Gotta say, kid, that was an impressive showing. You got some real promise, you know that?" Grusha admits.

Teko reluctantly lets go of Cera, and the two battlers, along with the Kommo'o, meet in the middle of the field. Grusha flips Glaseado's Gym Badge to Cera like a coin, and she catches it.

"I can tell you've tried pretty hard to beat me, huh? You were pretty cool out there...How's it feel?" Grusha asks.

"Ahaha...Oh, you pitiable fool. I only had to try moderately hard to beat your sorry team!" Cera says.

"...yeah, right." Teko says, faking a cough.

"It was...somewhat enjoyable battling with you, though." Cera admits.

"Hey, you too. ...Say, I'm pretty sure this was the last badge you had to earn, wasn't it. You got any plans after this?" Grusha says.

"...Yep. Big ones." Cera says, looking out towards Mezagoza.

"Hey, you wanna head back down to Montenevera and grab something to eat? We GOTTA get something cool after this! Teko says, grabbing the Rotom Phone.

"...Works for me." Cera says as the video cuts out.]

[fickleminder]

Wild Area Ranger (Part 8/?)

<< First: Concept ideas and backstory

<< Prev: Grateful trainers defend your reputation

>> Next: Your turn to need some help

A glimpse at your battle prowess featuring worried!Kabu, overprotective!Raihan and your fourth Pokémon:

- Not all trainers make it past every gym and there are some who drop out of the challenge altogether. A few disappear without a trace and given that the Wild Area is a dangerous place to train, it’s plausible that tragedies happen sometimes

- With you on the job there are fewer missing trainers each season, but recently there’s been word of sabotage going around. Having been at the receiving end before, Leon privately asks you to investigate it

- Using yourself as bait, you borrow a fire uniform and disguise yourself, pretending to be a novice gym challenger wandering the Wild Area

- Kabu does not approve of your plan btw but he has his own duties to attend to early in the circuit so guess who he sends to watch out for you

- Corviknight shadows you from the sky with your Rotom phone in his talons, and it only takes a day before you’re accosted by the culprits

- Turns out their M.O. is to shove trainers into the mysterious pocket dimensions known as max raid dens and hope they aren’t strong enough to fight their way out. You suspect there are challengers trapped in these dens so you allow them to “force” you into an active one. Besides, Rotom has recorded everything and you can report them later

- Except that Raihan is also following you on his Flygon and sees you disappearing into a purple beam of light. He panics and dives in after you cus oh shit what if you can’t Dynamax and you get crushed by a giant Pokémon in there —

- He narrowly dodges the G-Max Resonance your Lapras throws at an overgrown apple

- (You never told anyone about finding a wishing star a few days after your parents left you behind. Shivering alone in front of a tiny campfire, your wishes for a companion had been answered with a stone falling from the sky and a curious Ralts wandering into your makeshift camp)

- Raihan assists you in battle and the two of you escort an exhausted challenger to Motostoke after the Flapple retreats. While you meet up with Leon to hand over the evidence, Raihan catches Kabu to return the borrowed uniform and reassure him that you’re still in one piece

I’m under the impression that not all trainers can Dynamax their Pokémon since you need a wishing star for that and I’m assuming it’s not something many have. It also makes sense that fighting Dynamaxed Pokémon in the stadiums without one of your own is part of the gym challenge :)