#I feel like because we see the pokemon world through the eyes of trainers and trainer owned mon. they never really like go into the

[bxtonpxss]

Cages and ropes, he knew what those were. Common tools used to trap and contain wild Pokémon like himself to make it easier for them to get caught, but jails and handcuffs? Those words were foreign to the wild rodent's ears but he understands that they're just other methods of capture a human might use. ["Of course it's ok! I wouldn't still be here if it wasn't,"] he snorts before raising his head to glance at Daisuke when he pulls his hand away. His ears would fall back against his head as the other explains what he was, what he did, and why he did it.

["Human rules sound stupid."] Thor says simply, rolling his eyes with a huff. ["I don't let what a human says or does stop me from bein' who I am. I don't think you should either."] Sure rules were in place for a reason, but humans always seemed to make things so much more complicated than they ever needed to be. ["Some of the stuff you said, I don't really understand,"] he admits with a bashful expression, ears lifting slightly then falling back down. ["But it sounds like you're trying to be helpful in your own way, so if others can't see that, then that's their problem."]

Daisuke didn't seem like a bad person, maybe to others he seemed bad, but it sounds like they just didn't bother trying to understand him. They haven't even been together that long, but Thor feels like he's gotten sort of a general idea for how the boy operates. He might not even be revealing everything to him at this very moment, but his actions spoke louder than his words and he seemed like a pretty decent guy.

["Well, if a human tries to capture you while I'm around, I'll make sure to shock em!"] Nobody else he knew was getting caught while he was there. ["I won't let them catch you, cause nobody should be getting caught against their will, it's…"] Thor takes a sharp breath as the memory of his eldest sister being captured so suddenly right in front of him flashes in his mind's eye. Then he lets it out evenly through his nose. ["It's not right, and it's not fair!"]

he almost laughs after dark shares every word with him , but something keeps his face stuck at bashful and troubled . humans can't even get caught in pokeballs --- of course , that was a simple fact . yet there were still plenty of other traps that humans could use to try to capture and subdue . ' there are still things like jails ... or ropes and handcuffs , and cages . not to mention , even if it has no effect , having a pokeball thrown at you still kind of --- um , hurts . '

would a wild pokemon have even known what a human jail or pair of handcuffs was , or what any of it was like ? for all he knew , thor might not have even known what a criminal was . human beings and their laws were always like that , and having to explain the way that he was not only aware of certain complicated , sometimes unnecessary human rules , but also a person that was readily outright breaking them --- felt like an awful , awkward confession to make .

' i'd also ... like to be your friend . if it's really okay --- is it really ... ? ' he couldn't have blamed anything or anyone for at least a little defensiveness , and likewise he would have understood if thor suddenly decided to change their mind and run away from him as well . his hand retracts from the space of the other's head to anxiously grip a fist above the space of his own heart , the niwa fretting already about the outcome of the sort of unpleasant self-description that would have no doubt alarmed if not disgusted a great , great majority .

' i'm ... a thief . ' then --- ' a phantom thief . i take things like arts , or treasure , or sometimes ... even pokemon from other people . ' a swallow , and he quickly continues . ' --- b-but it's not because i want to hurt them ! the ones that need help , or the ones that are being abandoned or mistreated , i just want to be able to do something for them ! there are these distortions , too --- where pokemon , all the time , are getting misplaced in completely different times or places , and i try to bring as many as i can back home , ' he winces a little , here .

' humans ... i'm breaking a lot of human rules , and they also --- think that those distortions are my ... dark's fault . i wouldn't --- i don't want to hurt anyone , but because of the way things are ... ' he hopes the other could somehow understand . ' ... it's dangerous . i'm --- ' a bad person , he can't help but briefly think to himself . ' ... sorry . i'm sorry . even if it should be okay if you don't have a trainer , and you live here where no humans are , i still don't want to bring you --- anyone here any trouble . i'd never try to capture you , but there are --- a lot , always a lot of people who always want to capture me . '

[askmerriauthor]

Regarding this post I made earlier examining Geeta's antics in Paldea.

In Defense of Geeta

I feel like Geeta absolutely was written to be the shitty boss she is intentionally. There's too many situations where attention is drawn to her bad habits, either as them being directly pointed out or indirectly referenced. But what I really hope the case ends up being is that she's not at all a villain. Pokemon has gone the route of the suspicious CEO-type character being the "twist villain nobody could have seen coming!" for several games now. It's getting pretty old and I feel like it would be a weak direction for S/V to take.

Interestingly enough, one actually can look at all of Geeta's actions and not really see anything nefarious about them. Discussion after the jump for the sake of spoilers and wall'o'text.

It's very easy to look at Geeta and think she's a Bad Guy, given her strange behavior and all the negative attention she gets among the fandom. I'm certainly not innocent of seeing her in a less than endearing light, given my prior post. But a lot of that view does come from real world parallels and comparing the game's presentation to past Pokemon games in which nobody ever says the slightest criticism of the Champion, which may not necessarily be fair.

One of the biggest justifications Players have to indicate Geeta is bad is the way she meddles with the Gym Leaders and how corporate she's made the League. I pointed that out myself. But to flip it around... maybe she behaves that way because it's what the Gym Leaders need?

We constantly see Geeta inserting herself into events throughout the game. She shows up at the Academy, pops up at Gyms seemingly at random, and is always talking about how she has other pressing business that pulls her away from lingering too long. The only way she gets time to participate in casual encounters is when others (usually Nemona or the Player, if not both) take some of her workload off her plate. While I criticized the way Geeta had apparently deeply intertwined the Pokemon League, the Academy, and the Paldean economy itself, it does stand to reason doing so puts a ton of work on her having to maintain it. That's her own doing though, so it's a case of her getting what she signed up for and she never seems to shy away from it despite her habit of recruiting others to help.

The Gym Leaders, though? While they do remark about Geeta meddling with them, giving frequent reviews, and otherwise sticking her nose into their business, they've also shown that they're all pretty flaky. Rather, they're a total mess both individually and collectively. It's possible that the reason Geeta is constantly keeping an eye on them is because they need that in order to fit the direction Geeta is trying to guide the League in.

When we meet each of the Gym Leaders both in our first encounter and in the rematch post-game, we learn a lot about their behaviors through casual exposure. All of the Gym Leaders have a job besides running a Gym and, with the exception of Grusha, all of them show that running the Gym is by no means their top priority. Nor are any of them especially reliable when it comes to managing their Gyms. Based on past games, we're accustomed to Gym Leaders taking a large amount of pride in their position and holding it in esteem even when they also had other simultaneous jobs. We've seen Gym Leaders and Elite Four who were also artists, performers, athletes, CEOs, and such before. That's not the case with Paldea though; to these Gym Leaders, it's just a job and not necessarily one they put a lot of personal investment into compared to their actual passions/careers. It's mentioned that Geeta "strong-armed them" into taking on the role, which can be read that she went out of her way to convince strong, capable Trainers to become Gym Leaders for the sake of Paldea and because she saw the potential they held but weren't utilizing.

Katy flat-out forgot that she was under review and only appeared for the rematch by pure coincidence because she just so happened to visit that day. When we first meet Kofu, he and his assistant are both a totally scatterbrained mess. Iono only bothers with being a Gym Leader because it gets her viewership for her streamer career; if something else better came along, she'd surely jump for it immediately. Brassius is very upfront about his artistic passions being the number one thing in his life and openly abandons his responsibilities as a Gym Leader to pursue them during the rematch. Tulip's modeling career keeps her busy and she only has just enough time to show up for a brief match before immediately leaving to get back to her work. Ryme is more focused on her music career and wasn't even the original Gym Leader; that position belonged to her sister, Professor Tyme, who left the role to become a teacher. Larry, despite being the most vocal about his dislike of Geeta's habits, is also the most distracted as he has three simultaneous jobs and constantly works overtime. Finally, Grusha doesn't have any job besides being a Gym Leader, but that's only due to an injury that has made it impossible for him to pursue his original passion. That same injury has likewise cost him his motivation and drive to improve; he's only hanging onto his role as Gym Leader because he doesn't think he has anything else going for him now.

With all that in mind, it makes sense a rigid sort like Geeta would want to keep a close watch and short leash on all these unreliable personalities, doesn't it? She has to keep tabs on them because they risk failing the various Trainers who hope to challenge them otherwise, along with squandering their own potential. Geeta is always very open about her desire to foster powerful Trainers out of Paldea, if nothing else. After the rematch, all the Gym Leaders express a level of understanding and even appreciation toward Geeta for what she's done for them. Grusha and Larry stand out in particular, as they both confess that her meddling has helped motivate them to go beyond what they've settled into. Where Larry mentions that Geeta will dock his pay if he wastes time, he also mentions that she insists he stop overworking himself with overtime hours. So it's possible she's simultaneously trying to keep him focused without letting him overdo it as well.

When it comes to how corporate Geeta has made the League, that's not technically fair to say either. It's an easy shorthand but not entirely accurate. The goal of corporations is to make profit no matter what, but that's not really Geeta's motivation. She's not looking to get rich or powerful, but to rally as many genuinely powerful and talented Trainers up within Paldea as she can. That, in and of itself, isn't at all a bad thing and is commonly shared among all regions that have a League. While I criticize League Points as being company scrip, it does supply not just Trainers but all citizens of Paldea with an alternative way of funding themselves. This would include the Gym Leaders; despite common remarks (which I have made myself) about Geeta not paying the Gym Leaders a living wage, it's entirely possible they do indeed make plenty to thrive on and just have their non-Gym Leader job because that's their true passion that they want to put their effort into. Be it cash or League Points, they do have a salary. Larry himself mentions it outright, while Grusha and Brassius don't seem to be in any financial straits despite their unstable working conditions outside the Gyms. When it comes to the region's economy as a whole, subsidizing major commercial chains throughout the region just to make food and supplies more accessible can't be cheap; when you sell goods to the PokeMart for cash, you only get a fraction of the total value, but get significantly more (usually double) the value in League Points. Geeta's overall emphasis doesn't seem to be shaping the League and its sphere of influence within Paldea to make herself wealthy or powerful, but rather to make the whole affair as plainly efficient and self-sustaining as possible. In that regard, she's done a fantastic job.

When all is said and done, I genuinely hope Geeta isn't a villain but simply a boss with lofty visions, exacting demands, and absolutely terrible interpersonal skills. I feel like she'd be a lot more interesting that way in that she'd be a genuinely flawed person without her issues just being dismissed as "because she's the Bad Guy".

[yanderes-galore]

Hello! May I please request 3.) "You'll love me, even if we have to sit and wait for it to happen." For Colress from Pokémon, thank you! :)

Sure! I'll see what I got for this >:) My prompts were used for this.

I really do enjoy making my Colress completely delusional and unhinged.

Yandere! Colress Prompt 3

"You'll love me, even if we have to sit and wait for it to happen."

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Kidnapping, Isolation, Manipulation, Drugging, Delusional behavior, Forced relationship implied vaguely.

Being a scientist, Colress knew sometimes you had to be patient for results. Be it technological advances or research... it all took time. Although Colress admits he did get impatient at times.

Understanding you was one of these times he tried to be patient, but was quickly failing.

Colress saw power through bonds. The bonds between trainer and Pokemon were perhaps the strongest of all. However, humans themselves also have strong bonds.

You helped him learn this even if you never meant to.

In fact if you knew the scientist was like this you wouldn't have befriended him at all.

Colress spent days doing research when he had an experiment or subject to study. You were a subject he spent even longer on. For this, Colress adored you even more.

He wanted to gain results from the bond you held between the two of you.

What he had done was, in his eyes, necessary foul play. A sedative needle hidden up the sleeve and into your skin did the trick. Now he had you right where he wanted you.

You wondered if Colress saw you as a human from the start. If he did then maybe he'd be more considerate. Colress is unfortunately not a normal man...

He's a man that only sees results and subjects.

That was your only conclusion. If Colress was truly someone you could trust then he'd never stick you in a glass cell. If Colress truly cared, he wouldn't stand in front of you with a hard gaze and clipboard in hand.

Had he no shame for isolating another human?

You weren't some Pokemon to lock up!

You cry over and over to him in the cell. You want to know his reasoning. You want to know why.

The psychopath only smiles, closing his eyes and chuckling.

"It's because I love you!"

He says it like it's the most obvious reason in the world. His behavior leaves you horrified. Colress is completely insane.

"You do not...!" You argue. "Why would you lock me up if you love me?"

"You don't get it?"

Colress frowns, still standing in front of you.

"Love is the strongest bond of all according to my research. It's seen between humans and Pokemon all the time. The resulting bond makes both of them stronger."

He paces in front of the glass wall, flicking through the data in front of him.

"By that logic, the bond between humans is also strong. The moment you stepped into my life you made me more confident yet tormented my thoughts. Obviously I had to look into it. Now, I have you, and I plan to take care of you here until I find out just why I feel this way."

His tone is that of someone who's explaining an experiment to a crowd. You begin to wonder if he can't see the error of his ways. His response stuns you into shock.

"... It seems you do not feel the same way."

Your fearful eyes track him as he moves about the lab. His eyes still hold a certain coldness in them, his glasses catch glare from the lights above him to hide his gaze when he turns. You don't dare give him a look any longer.

"No matter!" Colress says in a sickly energetic tone. "This is a minor set back."

He then pulls a chair and sits in front of the glass. The two of you stare at each other. You're on your knees with the look of a scared Pokemon, while he looks at you with a seemingly cold yet lovesick gaze.

"You'll love me, even if we have to sit and wait for it to happen."

Those words strike fear into your heart. You feel cold suddenly while the heat drains from you at the thought of Colress's form of love. Chills consume you and Colress doesn't show any sign of regret or remorse.

Only a smile.

Perhaps he never had good morals... Colress may have always been a monster.

A monster that looks as though he'd dissect you in order to understand you with that look of his.

[bakfoo]

Opening Post:

It’s 1990, we open with Kangaskhan (Kanga for short) and her baby looking quite peeved.

“So you’re supposed to be my new guardian? Let’s hope you’re better than the last.” Hints that she’s a problem and almost refuses help altogether. 

“Ironic, sending a human to protect me when humans have been the ones to take away from me.”

“It’s alright. I’m not a fan of humans either” the human replies. We’re gonna call him Arthur (Art)

Over the course of the open inbox it’s revealed:

The weapon Art carries is from his time in the Kanto Johto war. He hasn’t fired his service weapon in almost a decade

Kanga and her baby are very much self sufficient and Kanga feels that this is an empty gesture from the people in charge

No matter how they try to evade him, Kanga and the baby are always chased down by Art because he’s that good at his job

Team Rocket is very much on the rise and is starting to get eyes on the safari zone

Art is very distrusting of humans, ESPECIALLY trainers

The baby goes a little bit behind her mom’s back to find out more about Art because she was told a lot of things but this is the first time she’s learning about things on her own

Plot point 1: 

Kanga and the baby get into actual trouble

Art goes through great lengths to get them back to the safari zone but at the cost of his health 

Even still, he refuses to fire his rifle

He’s badly hurt and taken to a hospital. 

Kanga has this nagging feeling that this guy isn’t telling her everything so she demands to go with him.

Open inbox:

Art is fine and he makes it clear he’s been through worse

She questions him, others question him, he slowly opens up:

Tadaaaa backstory/flashback time

Art was a “handler,” an officer who sent pokemon in waves to attack Johto to varying success

He was born in Kanto, but others distrusted him for obviously not having a lineage in the country

That pressure pushed him to send his most trusted companion, a Marowak, to his death. That Marowak's skull is what adorns his helmet.

He would’ve been the most decorated officer in the Kanto Johto war if he hadn’t thrown his medals away in disgust

He was a key figure in a coup that is responsible for the rise of the current Kanto government

He is still so dangerous that he’s considered an “Operator” (think of a trainer who fights along side their pokemon in perfect harmony) without having any pokemon under his command

He never wants to fire his weapon again.

Plot Point 2: 

Kanga and baby go back to safari zone while he heals. She’s all “well damn ok I guess this dude is at least trying to make things better” and slowly over time they become friends

Eventually, they develop a working bond and help kickstart the Kanto Preservation Operators Union (KPOU) with help from other people who are very much like Art.

The baby grows up and is anxious to see the rest of the world, Kanga lets her go with a tearful goodbye. She tells him that she’ll send letters to Art, especially. He feels accomplished for what he’s done.

After their time together, Art finally comes to forgive himself and starts to become a better person, coming out of his shell to make friends with more of the safari zone and even other humans who have like minded views.

Kanga starts to feel trustful again, inspired by the trailblazing that her daughter set out before her since the baby was the first to reach out to Art instead of her.

Plot Point 2:

Team Rocket attack again, but this time, they actually want to take out the newly started KPOU so that they can cause trouble without impunity. 

Art finally fires his rifle. This situation is no longer about him. Team Rocket is the embodiment of everything he hates about his past, and he won’t let the KPOU dissolve before it can do any good. With gunpowder and steel, instead of fighting for a wrong cause, he fights for his happiness. 

Since team rocket know know he’s dangerous, they jump his ass with almost everything they have. He’s almost overrun but Kanga is the one to save him in the nick of time. Together, they fend them off 

Epilogue:

Done via article or written docu-series moment. The KPOU is a resounding success, one of the greatest success stories being the restoration of the Lapras population. Its founders are still living strong, doing better things by the day

The inbox is open for one last time, a final send off is had, and the askblog is over

[shadowonwater]

Pokemon Masters EX: I completed the PML arc, my thoughts so far (spoilers if you care)

This is long and rambley, prepare to be rambled to if you read ahead. Includes thoughts on Team Break, new characters, and how weird Pasio is as a concept.

I honestly really enjoy this game, it's a lot fun to play! I really enjoy the battle gameplay, it's sort of like triple battles from the B & W games. It's interesting how you have both Pokemon moves and trainer moves. I like the use of the move gauge. That you may have to wait a bit to charge the gauge to use a powerful attack or use a bunch of smaller attacks and hope to use a sync move sooner.

I'd say the story isn't quite as good though, but it's like what can you expect from a kid's game? Like I don't want to be that guy that says "It's fine that the story isn't the best because it's for kids". But it's that a lot of stuff that made me roll my eyes was stuff like "We'll win through the power of friendship" and "we won because we had such good teamwork" and in the case of the villains "Pokemon are just tools" (which is pretty much the Pokemon equivalent of a villain that kicks puppies for fun).

It's like, it's a kids game, so yeah. Friendship is important and all that but people don't win via just the power of friendship. If it was only friendship that determined winning, that implies that the people that lose just didn't care enough about each other and I don't like that. It makes me think of the Just World Fallacy where the belief is that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people.

Anyway sorry about going off on a tangent. Very quickly, another thing that I'm lightly annoyed by is the main character's sync partner being another goddamn Pikachu. I get it, that's Pokemon's mascot. But I like Raichu more and I'm sick of all these Pikachu's I can't evolve. I was more neutral on Pikachu before but it's everywhere and I am so done with it.

Anyway, Team Break. Not much of a Pokemon game without an evil team, ha ha. They were ok, kind of goofy though, couldn't take them seriously, and it's weird seeing the characters take them seriously. It's interesting that they didn't have full on uniforms, just a mask. Makes it easy to hide I suppose, really anyone could secretly be part of Team Break, I like that implication.

I used to not like them as much when I didn't know what their ultimate motivation was. Also it's interesting that the group didn't really have a character made as the leader, it was just one of the npc models. I'm used to Pokemon having really interesting designs and charismatic personalities from villain team leaders but this leader was really just some guy.

Originally they were just like "mwa ha ha, we steal Pokemon" a lot like Team Rocket really. Villain's stealing Pokemon to use for themselves never really made much sense to me because of how sentient Pokemon are. Like that Pokemon you stole knows that you stole them, why would they ever do what you want them to do, y'know? Like, with Hoopa later in the story, it's like, why is Hoopa doing what you want it to do? It can literally create portals? Why doesn't it just leave? That was never answered. The true answer is it didn't leave because the story needed it to stay.

Anyway, I feel it was a little unclear, maybe because I was only half paying attention. But I think it was said that Team Break specifically formed to mess up the tournament because they don't like Lear. Which is fair because Lear is kind of an ass, and even with his redemption I'm still not sure he's make for a good king, but then again I don't think anyone makes for a good king, king's should not exist. Too much power, really.

So they were stealing Pokemon to help them interrupt the tournament. And I might be reading into this a little but the whole Villain Team act was also to cause problems with the tournament. Maybe they were hoping that a villain team might cause the tournament to be cancelled or something? Anyway this also implies that maybe they weren't serious about permanently stealing Pokemon, but that it was just another part of trying to put it to a stop.

Yeah I'm probably giving them to much credit. But I'm vibing with the idea of a villain group that are going out of their way to look like villains to help achieve a not so bad goal. Makes me think about the goal of the Villain from Fossil Fighters 2 who turned out to not really be a villain after all.

Prince Lear put this whole thing on to convince his dad to name him his successor. So considering Lear is kind of an ass I can 100% see why people would not want him to be a king. So trying to interrupt the tournament because of that is totally valid. Anyway he became a better person so Team Break didn't really have much reason to stay together anymore. I guess you could say Team Break got Broken up.

Anyway, speaking of Lear, this game introduced 4 new characters into Pokelore. That being Lear and his retainers, Rachel and Sawyer. As Well as main character's rival Paulo. I ended up really liking Lear, Rachel, and Sawyer. I'm a bit mixed on Paulo. Partly because I'm not entirely sure what they're trying to do with him.

Like, the thing about Paulo, is that he's one of those rivals that is really affected by losing to you all the time. But unlike Hop, he's less sad about losing and more angry. Like it feels like he's going to do something dangerous and drastic to try to get power, and the story is encouraging this idea. I've played part of the Team Rocket story and it is also encouraging that idea.

Honestly, I LOVE the idea of a formerly friendly rival becoming a bad guy because they can't handle the frustration of losing all the time to you. I understand that. Frustration can really bring out the worst in people, including me. It's just that I'm not sure if the story is going to go through with it. It feels like a carrot being dangled on a stick to me. I want Paulo to give in to his frustration and become a villain, at least for a little while. As a treat. Like, come on story! Pull through with it! You're hinting at it so much! Gimme evil Paulo! If they don't do anything I'm going to be very disappointed.

Anyway I'm fond of how much Rachel and Sawyer care about Lear, they knew him before he was an ass. He used to be a really nice kid. When they said it started when his mother died, at first I wasn't on board because I didn't that that alone was a good enough reason to become as ass. But then they further explained that after his mom died he was basically sent to a boarding school. Where he was treated very badly there for 2 years (I think it was stated to be 2 years). We get to see a little bit of his time like that and it was indeed bad. So I was like, yeah I can now see how he became how he is. He kept hoping for someone to come and help him but no one really did so he lost his trust in others and learned that he can only rely on himself.

Well I guess he had one thing helping him, the mythical Pokemon Hoopa. I like the foreshadowing they gave Hoopa so it didn't feel like it came out of nowhere in the story. Although you could have potentially avoided the stuff about Hoopa because it was like bonus stuff. There were also sync stories talking about people getting teleported to the island through Hoopa's rings.

It was mentioned earlier in the story that Lear got Hoopa to help them make the artificial island by transporting stuff. I think Sawyer mentioned bribing it with doughnuts. Which I think is hilarious because of course the Pokemon with magic rings loves a ring shaped pastry, do you think it also likes onion rings and chicken rings? (Or would they be Torchic rings?)

Anyway it was said that Rachel and Sawyer had no idea where he got Hoopa and he refused to really explain it to them. Turns out he met Hoopa as a child when he was stuck in that awful bordering school. I'm not really sure why Hoopa didn't try to teleport him out, but then again I doubt that would really make things better for him since people would probably search for him. But anyway, Hoopa was his companion during that time and would teleport in and out to hang with him. But after he went back home he didn't see Hoopa again, I suppose it didn't know where he went?

While he's at the beach he first met Hoopa at, he sees Hoopa again and enlists it's help in building Pasio by using it's rings to transport stuff. I like the plot point that he can't use sync moves because he's not close enough to his Pokemon to use them. That is until he realizes he has a sync pair with Hoopa.

I like what this story does with Hoopa what with using it help explain how the island was made. I'm also just fond of stories in general about mythicals and legendaries. I like it when they get integrated into a plot.

Anyway, Pasio. Really fucking weird actually. Dude straight up makes an island, by like... taking pieces of other places and combining them together??? And somehow there aren't any wild Pokemon??? What.

Pasio really does not make sense.

Like where did he get all those pieces to make such a big island? How the hell are people not raising a fuss over this? Taking pieces of other countries is a political nightmare, did he pay for those or something??? How does taking these pieces effect the ecosystem of where they come from?? It's a political nightmare, a logistical nightmare, and I'm not sure how you even get those pieces to stick together.

Also why are there no wild Pokemon? Really there should have been Pokemon hanging out in those places that he took, did Hoopa teleport them out of something? What's to stop wild Pokemon from showing up? Clearly some legendaries start showing up in Legendary Adventures. What's to stop flying Pokemon from flying in? and What's to stop water Pokemon from swimming in?

Imagine being on an island with no animals aside from visitor's pets. That'd be kind of eerie right? Reminds me of Danganronpa v3 a bit. I imagine given time the island will have wild Pokemon showing up, it's still very weird that it's empty now. In Gardina's sync story she says that she thinks that the island will eventually lead to new regional forms. I think she's got a point, it would still probably take awhile for that to happen though.

Anyway a small thing, it's really funny having scouted sync pairs before finishing the main story and then having those characters show up in the story and act like they aren't in your team. I guess the people writing maybe didn't anticipate I would do scouting on my own before finishing the main story. The fact that I can fight people with themselves is also really funny. And because there are characters with multiple sync pairs you can have multiple versions of 1 character on your team. Like I could be fighting someone with Gym Leader Brock and also Sync Suit Brock. I guess it's an area where game mechanics don't make sense story wise. I guess with Brock he could be using two Pokemon at once, it's still funny though.

Anyway that's all I wanted to say for now, might make more posts to talk about specific sync stories or talk about Legendary Adventures or The Villain Team stories.

[slimeywooper]

Labmas AU - Unintended Consequences

Chapter 13 Part 3 - Visit

CW: some cruel statements in the latter half and curse words at the very end.

"I'm curious, what do they actually do for Team Plasma? They mentioned something about working on different lines, and with their uniforms, I'm assuming they work on trains. I didn't want to ask Colress because everything about them seems to put him on edge." You tilt your head to the side, anticipating his response.

"That was probably a good idea. Colress does not like them, at all." Addressing your question, he continues, "Yes, their job involves riding and operating trains. The station they work at doesn't just have traveler lines, but also battle lines. This means Pokemon Trainers from around the world come to Gear Station to go through a gauntlet of sorts. The different lines they have determine what kind of Pokemon battles the person partakes in. The Single line is for regular Pokemon battles, whereas the Double line has trainers using two Pokemon at a time. As for what they do here," —Nobori begins stroking his goatee— "during their battles, they keep tabs on the trainers that show the most talent and send us the information that's been acquired. This is used for Team Plasma's recruiting efforts." After his long-winded explanation, you arrive at Kudari's door. He announces, "Kudari, Ingo and Emmet are—"

"I know! Let me out!" comes Kudari's voice from the other side.

Nobori quickly enters the code into the wall panel. Kudari barely waits for the door to open before squeezing out.

"Let's go! I can't wait to see them!" Kudari must have gotten prepared when he first smelled them, as he's already dressed and ready to head upstairs. When he sees you, he becomes withdrawn. You can't help but notice the bite on his throat looks red and tender, as if it has been recently reopened.

Feeling a pang of guilt, you apologize to him, "Hey, Kudari. I'm sorry about yesterday, I didn't mean to hurt you."

He raises his hands midway up his chest, "No, I am the one who should be sorry. I did not realize that… I should have…" he is trying to find the words, but the ones he chooses don't seem to be what he wants to say exactly.

Lightly patting his shoulder, you assure him, "It's alright. Just, try to pay attention to me next time. Don't ignore me when I try to tell you something."

Kudari vigorously nods, but avoids making eye contact, "I will." He seems greatly embarrassed, his face becoming a shade of pink.

"Then we'll call it even. But, are you sure your throat is okay?" you inquire. The wound looks irritated, and you worried whether he was tending to it or not.

"Yes, most definitely. I have been scratching it, that's why it looks like this." He takes a glance at you, then averts his gaze.

Sighing, you instruct him, "Be sure to take care of it, I don't want it getting worse. But, anyway, the Subway Bosses are awaiting your arrival. We shouldn't stand around talking for any longer."

You walk to the elevator with the hybrids in tow. As they get on, you make sure to stand on the opposite side of Kudari, so you aren't next to Nobori. You don't want to accidentally touch him again and have to explain why you look flustered to Colress, especially not in front of the guests. The doors open, and Kudari rushes out, running down the hallway. Nobori immediately jogs after him, with you trailing behind. Turning the corner, you spot Kudari eagerly standing outside the door where the Subway Bosses are waiting.

Before scanning his badge, Nobori looks to make sure you have caught up, then holds it under the scanner. He lets Kudari go in before him, then waits for you to enter next. You offer a smile as thanks, which he returns.

The vibe in the room feels heavy. They must have been speaking about business related matters, though only Colress appears to be bothered. You stand off to the side, not wanting to get in the way of their reunion. Ingo is the first to start speaking, "Hello, boys, you look like you are doing well," he comments.

Emmet chimes in with, "Yup. Spindly has missed you! Here, say hello!" He grabs a Pokeball from his belt and tosses it.

Shocked, Colress starts to protest, "No loose Pokemon in the lab! Ugh…" but immediately falters and makes a displeased face as the Galvantula, Spindly, has already set upon Kudari.

It crawls up his legs, onto his abdomen. Kudari tenderly grabs Spindly, positioning it by his lips so he can kiss around its face repeatedly. "I've missed you as well!" He makes his strange clicking sounds, conversing with it. "It's been a few years since you guys last visited! I was so sad to see you go."

"We are very sorry for not coming to visit sooner," Ingo begins.

"I'm not," Colress sighs, not taking his eyes off the twins.

You aren't sure if they heard Colress, but Ingo continues as if they had not, "Most challengers that we see are decent, but not up to the standards of elite Team Plasma grunts. So we diligently run Gear Station to find worthy candidates to present."

"And it's fun battling all day, every day!" Emmet pipes in with a smile. Colress looks from one to the other, disgusted.

Ingo readies his hand on his belt, next to a Pokeball. "Since Kudari is getting to see Spindly, surely it wouldn't be too much of an issue if I let Nobori see Empyrea?" he asks, glancing at Colress.

Looking back at him with murderous intent, Colress relents acidly, "Just make it quick."

Grabbing the Pokeball, Ingo releases the Chandelure, Empyrea, which floats to Nobori and begins chiming at him.

Following with a similar trilling, Nobori rests his head on the glass body, looking into its eyes, placing his hands on each of its metal arms. You weren't aware Nobori could even make such sounds, but they must be a form of communication between the two, like Kudari has with his Joltik friends or Spindly.

Only a few minutes pass before Colress grows impatient with the display, tapping his foot. "Alright, that's good enough. There's only so much Pokemon can talk to each other about."

Nobori obeys, quickly releasing Empyrea. Kudari, however, is holding Spindly closer to himself, turning his body to shield it.

Emmet smiles at him, patting his shoulder, "Don't worry, Kudari. We will be back again someday. Hopefully there will be more time for catching up then."

Kudari's arms loosen, and Spindly walks down his body to the floor. The Pokemon are returned to the Pokeballs of their respective owners.

Colress doesn't wait for the Subway Bosses to speak, telling them,

"Well, it's evident you two are very busy, just like we are here. You can hand me the report with all the potential recruits on it and be on your way. Hopefully in MLA style like I requested last time." Without taking a second to think about it, Emmet responds, "It doesn't look like you have much going on here."

Colress' eyes widen, marveling at the audacity of the twin. "We do. Now if you have nothing further to add, we really must be getting back to work."

"Just like old times! Always to the point! Verrry professional!" Emmet's smile is even wider now. "I remember the first time Ingo and I met you." Colress gives him a death glare, clenching his jaw. "You were in the Chess Club."

"Yes, you were a very bright and studious young man," Ingo recounts, nodding along to the memory.

"A total nerd!" Emmet announces. There isn't any malice in his voice, so you assume he said this without the intention of being rude, but you can't help but snort, suppressing laughter. Kudari looks to be in a similar state, facing the group once more. "You decided that being good at chess would automatically give you an advantage with strategic planning during Pokemon battles. Challenging the top students in the Battle Club was bound to end in failure on your part."

Ingo is quick to attempt to lessen the impact of Emmet's statement, "Honestly, it's an easy mistake to make. They both can require complex thinking," he assures.

Emmet isn't done yet, continuing to narrate his recollection of the event, "But, you misjudged! There is no waiting in a Pokemon battle! It's fast paced! That is why you lost so badly! You took too long trying to think up what to do next!"

"I was there, I remember," Colress mutters darkly, straightening his coat. "I must thank you. Without that experience, I would have never been drawn to the pursuit of creating the perfect Pokemon. Ones that don't lose battles."

"We are quite humbled by your decision to use our DNA to make such wonderful hybrids," Ingo says sincerely. Kudari happily dances in place at hearing this. He continues, "It is lamentable that they would not be allowed to compete on the Battle Subway. They would have too much of an advantage over the other Pokemon," Ingo informs the group solemnly.

"No Pokemon would stand a chance against us!" Kudari interjects, stepping forward.

Colress uses his arm to push him back, ignoring what he had just said. "Well, they aren't quite up to snuff with what I was attempting to create, but I believe they are a step in the right direction."

What a terrible thing to say, and right in front of everyone, too. You glance to Nobori. He makes eye contact before looking to the floor. At least Kudari doesn't appear to notice what was said, he's intently watching the Subway Bosses. Ingo and Emmet look at each other, seeming to converse in some kind of twin telepathy that no one else is privy to.

Reaching into the inside of his coat, Ingo pulls out an envelope. "Well, Since you are so busy, we won't keep you any longer." He hands it to Colress, explaining, "This is our report, it contains a detailed analysis of the best Pokemon Trainers we have faced in the past few months, as well as their battle strategies."

Without a hint of sarcasm in his voice, Emmet requests, "Colress, be a good, old friend and lead us back to our tram."

Colress closes his eyes, opening them a moment later, smile back on his face. "Very well, follow me." He uses his tablet to open the door, exiting with Ingo and Emmet behind him, followed by the hybrids, then you very last. The short journey is made in silence, no one saying anything until the Subway Bosses' tram is reached.

Ingo and Emmet turn, the former speaking first, "It was good seeing you boys again, though I suppose you're old enough now not to be referred to as 'boys' anymore."

"That means we're old," Emmet proclaims, smile widening. "We look forward to seeing you again. Perhaps someday you can even come to visit us," he nods after saying this.

They both board the tram, pointing at the group, and in unison shout, "All aboard! Next stop: Gear Station!"

As it departs and speeds down the track, Kudari says, "They're leaving. It's going to be a few years before we see them again, isn't it?" With a somber tone, he adds, "They didn't even remember it was our birthday…" his voice cracks, eyes filling with tears. He wraps his arms around himself, starting to rock back and forth.

"Kudari… don't… start," Colress warns.

"Don't take it personally, Kudari. You know they have a lot going on at Gear Station," Nobori tries to ease his brothers sorrow, rubbing his back.

Oh no… why didn't anyone tell you it was their birthday? After musing it over for a moment, you slap your head in realization. Luckily everyone is too preoccupied to notice. Before Kudari grabbed you yesterday, he had said today would be a 'special day.' When you asked what he meant, he wouldn't tell you because it would 'ruin the surprise.' Finding your voice, you speak up, "I'm sorry, Kudari… I didn't know it was your birthday…"

"There's no reason to be 'sorry,' we don't celebrate their birthday," Colress states coldly. "Here, how about you take your mind off it. Go work in the wash room again."

Great, even with the twins gone, he's still in a pissy mood. "Alright, if that's where you want me. Kudari, are you coming? You can help me out."

"No, I believe he's had enough excitement for one day. You shouldn't have any issues working by yourself." He looks right through you when he says this.

Even with the Subway Bosses bringing out the worst in him, there's really no reason for him to be so nasty. "I just thought—"

Not letting you finish the sentence, Colress cuts you off, "Please don't, I know it's not your strong suit." The tram is no longer in sight, but he turns to stare in the empty space, no longer finding value in looking at you.

You leave, not saying a word. God, he's such a fucking asshole, it makes you want to scream. Not even guests are treated with dignity. That must be what he does. Acts nice when first meeting people, then shows everyone what a dick he is. You're fuming the whole journey to the wash room, slamming the door after entering. If that's how he wants to be, then you'll just hang out here pretending to work. It's not like he can blame Kudari for you not doing something. Your time is spent playing on your phone, waiting for an adequate amount of time to pass before leaving the room.

[pokeslut-breeder]

So I ADORED the rillaboom oneshot I asked for and I’ve been reading it over and over and reading your other requested one shots and I cannot get the raboot and his trainer out of my head or the houndoom and his trainer. Can I request another one shot of either raboot or houndoom with their trainers pretty please?🥺

You don't know how happy reading this makes me! Thank you so much!!!! I hope you enjoy this story!!!! 🥰🥰🥰

The trainer runs through the forest as she tries to catch up to her rebellious Raboot. The Raboot smiles as it does a slide through a log. He laughed as he sees his trainer stuck from trying to dive after him. "I'm... I'm going to get you Raboot!!! Just you wait until I get unstuck..." The trainer groaned as she struggled to get herself unstuck. The Raboot smiles and goes to his trainer and uses her ass like a spring board. On the way down he grabs her shorts and pulls them down. The trainer yells in surprise as her bare ass is exposed in the wild. Raboot heated up his foot slightly and kicked her ass like a spanking. He chuckled and liked the way his trainer's ass jiggled. He suddenly began to get a boner and shrugged. He jumped up and squatted while pressing his cock against her ass. She struggled and wiggled as she didn't want to get fucked again but she couldn't do much. The Raboot thrusted and inserted his cock into her ass. The trainer groaned as she hasn't done anal yet. Raboot grinned as it began to piston his cock into the tight fuck hole of his trainer. Both were feeling new sensations as the Raboot has found his new favorite thing in the world. The trainer couldn't muster any words because even if she didn't want to admit it but she was riding the biggest orgasm she's ever felt. She felt the Raboot increase it's speed and and intensity. "Oh God if he cums now I'm going to cum to the little brat's cock... But I want his warm cum in my ass so bad~" she thought as she was soaked. The Raboot roared it's name as it began to unload it's biggest load that it has ever produced. With all the rough movement the trainer finally was able to get loose. She looked down and saw the cum leak out and her bratty pokemon exhausted from his orgasm. She grabbed him by the shoulders and brought him to eye level. "Listen here you little shit! If you ever want to fuck my ass again you better do what I say and if we win you can fuck my ass for as long as you want. Deal?" She asked the Pokemon. Raboot tried to hide it's excitement from the deal and shrugged with a smug aura.

[casuallyimagining]

Darkest Day

Min Yoongi x Reader

Summary: Yoongi doesn't like pokemon, doesn't want one, doesn't care to be around them. What happens when he finds an abandoned pokemon during one of the hardest weeks of his year? Can you help him through it? Genre: Pokemon Trainer AU, fluff, angst Word Count: 8,549 Rating: T Warnings: None

Notes: This is for The BTS Writers' Club October prompt, Spooky.

Thanks to @eatjeanjin and @moon-write for reading over this for me, to @aroseforyoongi for helping me plan this out literally months ago, and to @foxbroart for the crazy awesome banner.

You called it Yoongi’s Darkest Day, but it was more like a week.

He’d hide himself away from the world. He wouldn’t call. He wouldn’t text. If he left his house, it was always entirely alone. He’d made it clear a long time ago that he didn’t want you around for that week. He wanted to be alone, to go through it alone, to feel his feelings and process his emotions and come out of it on the other side alone.

And you hated it, but you understood. He knew you were there if he needed you. And part of you, every year, hoped he would call you, hoped that he would admit that going through it alone was unhealthy. You hoped he would finally let you be there for him in the way you knew he wanted but was too stubborn and hurt to recognize. But you never pushed. You let him hide away for as long as he needed.

You didn’t even really know what prompted the Darkest Day. You’d heard rumors. People talked about how anti-social Yoongi was, how he was rude, and cold, and stoic. They said that his disappearance every year was nefarious, or that it was him going off to be a part of some murder cult, or that he had some secret family somewhere far away. But you didn’t believe them. You knew Yoongi--the real Yoongi. You knew that he was just quiet and preferred to listen. You knew that he cared a lot, but that he had no patience for mean-spirited people. So you knew he had to have a good reason to disappear for a week at a time.

He just wasn’t ready to tell you. Maybe he’d never be ready to tell you. But you were determined to be there if and when he was ready to talk.

So it was startling when your phone rang two days into the Darkest Day. And yeah, you were a little nervous because what if something terrible had happened? But you answered your phone anyway, not expecting to be sneaking around the weird alley of the train station with him not even 20 minutes after his call.

But how could you say no to him? You’d been waiting for literal years for him to ask you for help, and here it was, unconventional though it may be.

Yoongi carried the paper bag of pokemon food he’d asked you to bring. You were confused, but you followed him anyway.

“What are we looking for?” you asked softly, following him closely down the alley.

The buildings were close together, the alley barely wide enough for four people to pass through comfortably. It was surprisingly dark in the alley, despite the fact that it was mid-afternoon and the sky was a clear blue. You didn’t like the feeling the alley gave you, so you stayed close to Yoongi.

He shushed you. “He should be around here somewhere.”

“Yoongi.” You stopped walking, annoyed, and grabbed his arm. “Who?”

He sighed, pushing his box-dyed grey hair off his forehead. He looked exhausted, and you could see an unknown emotion swirling in his eyes. “I was here yesterday and I saw this Gengar sitting outside on the steps by itself. I asked around, and the guy at the cafe across the street said that it used to come here with its trainer, but he said he hasn’t seen the trainer in weeks. I guess the Gengar keeps coming back to wait for its trainer.” Yoongi frowned. “It drifted over to the cafe this morning when I was over there. It looked hungry. But it got scared by a truck and floated off.”

You hummed. Weird. Normally, Yoongi hated pokemon. Hate was maybe a strong word for it, but he had a general dislike of them. He never tried to catch a pokemon of his own, and actively went out of his way to avoid the wild monsters that wandered through the city. He didn’t even like your Nickit, despite the fact that the fox pokemon was sweet, if not a little sassy.

So it was a little strange--okay, a lot strange--that he was going to such an effort to find this random, trainerless Gengar.

He took your hand as you continued to walk, your fingers loose in his grip. His eyes silently searched the alley for any signs of the abandoned Gengar--a too-dark shadow, unexplained movement, a trash can with eyes.

“Guess it’s not here,” Yoongi said after you’d searched the length of the alley twice. You couldn’t believe it, but he actually sounded sad.

“Maybe it went home.” You doubted your own words, but you were trying to stay positive for his sake.

“Maybe.” He sounded sad and dejected. He squeezed your fingertips lightly. You hadn’t realized that he was still holding your hand.

You took a few steps out of the alley, your free hand coming up to shield your eyes from the sudden sun, when you heard a hiss and a clatter from behind you. Yoongi spun around, his hand dropping yours. When you looked, it seemed as though the wall of the train station had some sort of bulge, a large shadow growing and emerging from the bricks.

Beside you, Yoongi scoffed. “There you are,” he chided. His tone was gentle, caring even. Who was this man and what had he done to your best friend?

Yoongi approached the shadow as it fully emerged, a large purple blob plopping unceremoniously onto the ground. It watched Yoongi, its sharp red eyes focused on his movements. But when Yoongi was within a foot of where it sat, the Gengar dissolved into the shadows on the pavement below.

Sighing, Yoongi sat on the ground, opening up the paper bag and pulling out the container of food you had brought. You weren’t sure if ghost types had a preference, but your Nickit liked it, so you figured it couldn’t be too bad. When he opened the container, Yoongi sniffed and almost gagged.

“Yum,” he said dryly, placing the food on the ground and cautiously sliding it toward the shadow on the pavement. “Here. Eat.”

Always so graceful with his words.

You sat beside him, trying not to think of how many people have thrown up in the alley. Yoongi shifted, his knee touching yours. Despite the calm front he was putting up, you could sense the tension in how he was sitting, how he held his shoulders, how he unconsciously chewed the skin on the side of his thumb. You reached over and gently tugged his hand away from his mouth, interlocking your fingers with his to prevent him from continuing to bite his cuticles.

Silence enveloped you as you sat there, waiting for the Gengar to come out of hiding again. Thankfully, you had no plans for the rest of the day, although if you did, you would have gladly cancelled them. Yoongi’s appearance worried you--the dark circles and disheveled hair and rumpled, baggy clothes--and though he was hyper-focused on the Gengar, you wanted to be there for him. So you sat there in complete silence, your thumb rubbing small circles into the soft skin of Yoongi’s hand.

You weren’t sure how long it took, but eventually, the shadow in front of you started to swirl and bulge, two dark spikes beginning to emerge from the ground. When the Gengar was fully emerged, it eyed the container of food warily.

“Go ahead,” Yoongi coaxed, gesturing to the food. He offered the pokemon a soft smile, his catlike eyes crinkling with the action.

The Gengar watched Yoongi carefully, its red eyes following every subtle movement. Now that it was sitting in front of you, fully emerged, you were able to really look at the pokemon. It was small--smaller than normal--and Yoongi was right. It was less round than a Gengar normally should be. You wondered if it had been eating at all since its trainer disappeared.

Finally, the pokemon reached forward, eyes never leaving you and Yoongi. But it grabbed a piece of the pokemon food out of the container, slowly bringing it up to its mouth. It watched you as it chewed, slowly but surely eating through the food you had brought.

For the rest of Yoongi’s Darkest Day and a few days after, it became part of your routine to meet Yoongi at the train station. You would bring a container of pokemon food--after the second day, you made it a point to actually buy something specifically for ghost and poison types--and you and Yoongi would walk around in an attempt to find the Gengar.

It took a few days of searching for it, but eventually, the Gengar would be sitting on the steps of the train station waiting for the two of you to show up. It would hide in the shadows of the steps, waiting and watching but still scared of the strangers hurrying about their days. But it would emerge as soon as it saw Yoongi, its red eyes following his movements almost exclusively. It didn’t seem to care that you were there. It trusted you enough to not hide from you, sure, but it seemed to latch onto Yoongi exclusively.

Perhaps it sensed your Nickit.

And it was very cute seeing how the Gengar looked at Yoongi like he was some sort of celebrity.

The days after the Darkest Day turned into weeks turned into a month, and you were still visiting the train station. And you had started to notice something interesting. When you left the station, after the pokemon had eaten and you’d spent some time with it, it would follow you and Yoongi. Not for long. A block or two at most. But the purple ghost would toddle along beside Yoongi, its short legs and round frame causing it to almost waddle. Then, when it got too far from the station, it would look back almost sadly, and it would stop.

“I wish there was a way to explain that its trainer wasn’t coming back,” Yoongi groaned, hiding his eyes in the crook of his elbow.

He was laying on the floor of your living room, a blanket stolen from the back of your couch balled up under his head as a pillow. His soaked t-shirt clung to him in odd places--parts of his sleeve stuck to his bicep, you could see the light definition of his abdomen through the fabric hugging his tummy. Outside, rain pattered against your window, the dark sky rolling with rumbles of thunder. Your apartment was closer to the train station. You had run when the deluge started, the fat, cold drops spurring you on faster. You hadn’t missed the sadness in the Gengar’s eyes when you left.

Apparently, neither had Yoongi.

You had your arms shoved in a hoodie--Yoongi’s hoodie--to stave off the chill of the outside. Curious and slightly amused, you watched him from your position on the couch. Your Nickit laid at your side, its broom-like tail curling around its body and covering its little nose as it napped. You stroked its soft fur gently, frowning slightly as Yoongi huffed. You knew he was still thinking about the Gengar and how hurt the shadow pokemon had looked when the two of you started to run away.

A clap of thunder shook the walls of your apartment, causing Yoongi to jump slightly. Seconds later, his phone rang, just once. A text message. He read it and swore.

“Jin says the power’s out in our building.”

“Stay here,” you told him softly.

He nodded once, and that was that. You hadn’t really expected an argument. This was nothing new. Yoongi stayed over often enough that he had clothes in a drawer in your dresser. You kept a stock of his favorite coffee brand because he complained when you offered him anything else. You even bought toothbrushes in packs of two. Not because it was economical--though it certainly was--but because Yoongi needed a way to keep up with personal hygiene, too.

You knew that none of this arrangement was normal for people who were only close friends, but you refused to let yourself consider the alternative. That would make it real, and you weren’t particularly ready to face the implications of any of it yet.

“You should adopt the Gengar,” he said suddenly. When you looked at him, he was staring at you. His dark eyes were intense, and you could see something in them--some kind of emotion--but you couldn’t tell what.

You laughed, the sudden noise jolting your Nickit awake. It scurried off the couch and away--probably to your bedroom. “That Gengar wants nothing to do with me.”

Yoongi scoffed. “It likes you.”

“It likes you.” You slid off the couch and onto the floor, scooting closer to him. He lifted his head from his blanket-pillow, adjusting how he was laying so he could plop his head against your thigh. “It likes me because it associates me with you.”

He hummed, but didn’t say anything. His brow furrowed and he frowned, refusing to look at you even as your hand found his hair, your fingers carding through the unnaturally ashen strands.

“What’s wrong?” you questioned softly, pushing his bangs off his forehead. “And don’t tell me it’s nothing. I know that face.”

“You know I don’t want to do the whole trainer thing.” Yoongi sighed, rubbing at his eyes in frustration. His long fingers dug into his eye sockets, and for a second, you were concerned that it was painful. But then he let one of his hands drop, his other rubbing down his face tiredly. “I can barely take care of myself half the time.”

“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.”

He snorted derisively, rolling his eyes. “I disappear for a week every year because I get sad. Can’t really do that when something else relies on you.”

You frowned. You’d never been sure if the Darkest Day was intentional or not. You hadn’t wanted to ask him. It seemed too personal, and despite how close the two of you were, it seemed like a line that, once crossed, you couldn’t go back from. But knowing that he knew what he was doing--that his isolation was planned and purposeful--you hated to admit that it hurt a little bit. Yoongi was your best friend. You wanted him to feel like he could rely on you and trust you with the heavy stuff.

“It’s okay to be sad sometimes, Yoongi.” You kept your voice soft and gentle as you ran your fingers through his hair. “Everyone gets sad. It’s human.”

“Not like this.”

“What do you mean?”

For a while, Yoongi was silent. He sat up, scooting backwards so that his back rested against the couch, his knees tucked up close to his chest. You let him go, let him retreat into himself, let him stay quiet. You figured you had waited for him to come to you during the Darkest Day, you could wait for him to want to talk to you.

He didn’t say much for the rest of the night. You fell asleep with a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, like you were standing on some sort of precipice, unsure of whether to back off or take the leap.

Something woke you up. You weren’t sure what it was. Maybe it was the rain that was still pelting against the window. Or maybe a sudden flash of lightning. Or maybe it was Yoongi shifting beside you. He was curled up in front of you, one hand tucked between his knees. You had wrapped yourself around him in your sleep, your body curled close to his, your arms encircling his waist. The hand that wasn’t tucked between his knees clutched your hand, his fingers laced loosely with yours.

He shifted again, and you heard him inhale shakily. You could feel him trembling slightly and you pressed ever closer, moulding yourself against him in hopes that, if he was cold--Yoongi was almost always a little cold--the extra body heat would help. But he continued to shiver and after a second of silence, he let go of your hand to wipe at his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” you questioned, unsure if he could hear you over the rain.

Yoongi shook his head and you hummed, pressing your cheek against his shoulder blade.

You laid there for a while, listening to him breathe and feeling his body move with each breath. You sighed. “I know you know this,” you told him quietly, half-mumbling into his t-shirt. “At least, I hope you know this. But I’m here for you. Whatever it is, I’ll listen.”

His hand found yours again, and he squeezed your fingers in acknowledgement.

Silence fell upon you again, even the thunder dying down to just leave the rain pattering against your window. For a moment, you thought Yoongi had fallen asleep, but his breathing wasn’t even enough, wasn’t shallow enough. So you laid there quietly, mentally luxuriating in the softness of his shirt against your cheek but refusing to go back to sleep before you knew he was okay.

Yoongi took a deep breath. “When I was a kid, my parents both had pokemon.”

You knew that. You’d met both of Yoongi’s parents. His dad’s Crobat was surprisingly kind, and his mother’s Swellow had the softest feathers you’d ever seen. You had always wondered how Yoongi could have grown up surrounded by pokemon and not come out of it with a love of the creatures.

“They got me a Litten for my eighth birthday.”

He readjusted then, rolling onto his back so that he could stare up at the ceiling. You gave him a bit of space, one of your arms coming up to support your head so that you could look at him properly. Yoongi kept a hold on your other hand, clinging to you loosely. You let him rest your joined hands against his stomach.

“I loved that cat,” he said softly, his thumb absently rubbing against your hand. “Back then, I had no idea what was wrong with it. I just knew that it couldn’t use its fire moves and that it had trouble walking. Mom and Dad said it was sick, but I didn’t care. I’d come home from school every day and I’d play with it and carry it around the neighborhood on walks. But it just kept getting sicker and sicker.”

He cleared his throat, rubbing at his eye with his free hand. You waited silently, patiently, giving him time to collect himself. Yoongi was in touch with his emotions more than most, but that didn’t mean he particularly enjoyed crying.

“When I got older, I did some research.” His dark eyes met yours briefly before darting to the side toward the window. “Hip dysplasia, respiratory issues, epilepsy, and heart disease. It never stood a chance.” Yoongi sighed, loosening his grip on your hand so that he could play with your fingers. You could see the tracks of his tears in the low light of your bedroom. “When Litten died, I had barely turned nine. I was devastated.”

The Darkest Day. Every year, like clockwork, the Darkest Day happened seven weeks after Yoongi’s birthday.

He swallowed thickly before continuing. “They got it at a breeder mill. They never said it, but how else does a pokemon get all those problems? Either poor Litten lost the genetic lottery purely by chance, or the jackass breeder didn’t know what the hell they were doing.” The shadows on Yoongi’s brow darkened when he frowned, and you could sense more than see the tension in his jaw. “Either way, Litten didn’t deserve it. My parents tried to get me a new pokemon a few months after... “ His voice caught slightly and he cleared his throat again. “A Poochyena. But I couldn’t bring myself to love it. It hurt too much.”

“I’m so sorry.” You pushed his hair off his forehead gently.

“It’s....” He shrugged, dark eyes finally meeting yours. “It’ll just never be the same, you know? I don’t want to replace Litten. It wasn’t his fault he…”

He trailed off and silence enveloped you once again. You stroked his hair once more before going back to leaning on your hand, watching him. His eyes slid closed and he took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Outside, the rain was finally beginning to die down.

“You wouldn’t be replacing him,” you told him softly, testing the waters. “You can still love Litten and care about another pokemon. Of course they won’t compare. But I think that’s a good thing.”

He hummed. A soft rumble of thunder sounded outside, the last vestige of the storm. “Do you think Gengar’s okay?”

You couldn’t answer that. If Yoongi’s information was correct, the ghost pokemon had been abandoned by its trainer. This had been the first major storm since Yoongi had found the Gengar. You had no idea how it had weathered the storm, if it had been scared of the thunder, if it had been able to get out of the rain.

“Do you want to go check on it?”

Yoongi shook his head. But then, he paused. “Yeah. I kind of do.”

And that was how you found yourself at the train station at two o’clock in the morning, searching the alley for the plump purple shadow. It was cold, the chill of the storm still clung to the air and the soggy ground did nothing to help your freezing feet. Neither of you had bothered to put on actual clothes--you had pulled on a pair of old sweatpants and the hoodie Yoongi had bought two sizes too big specifically so you could share it.

Yoongi clutched your hand tightly as you searched, and for a moment, you were transported back to the Darkest Day, when he had first called you to help him feed the Gengar. How much and yet how little had changed since then.

Eventually, you found the Gengar. It was sitting under an overhang on the steps at the side entrance of the station, staring at its feet gloomily. As soon as it heard your footsteps approaching, it started to dissolve into the pavement.

“It’s us!” Yoongi called, trying to keep his voice as quiet as possible. The train station closed at midnight, and while the city was busy enough that it wasn’t entirely suspicious that you were out so late, it certainly wouldn’t be great if you managed to disturb all of the neighbors.

The Gengar froze, the lower half of its body hidden in the shadows of the steps. Its red eyes watched the two of you warily. It didn’t look particularly happy.

Carefully, Yoongi took a few steps closer. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, crouching down in front of the pokemon. “I was worried about you in the storm.” The Gengar huffed and looked away. “It’s chilly out. Are you cold?” Yoongi attempted, his tone placating.

From a few steps away, you watched as the ghost pokemon slowly let its guard down. Its red eyes softened, and it frowned ever so slightly.

Yoongi sighed. “I’m sorry we left you out here. We shouldn’t have done that.” Quickly, he corrected himself. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

He looked over at you then, his dark eyes meeting yours briefly before darting away. He stared at the logo on your hoodie--his hoodie--for what felt like an eternity. Then, he took a deep breath and turned back to the Gengar.

“Did you… Do you want to come home with us?” You could hear the nerves in his tone, the slight wobble in his voice.

The Gengar sat silently, staring at Yoongi. It didn’t move. It didn’t pull itself from the shadows. It just stared.

“I know you have a trainer,” Yoongi said quickly, attempting to smooth over the situation. “So it wouldn’t even need to be a permanent thing. I just… feel bad that you’re out here all alone.”

Eons passed. Your toes froze in your sneakers. But still, you stood there, slightly behind Yoongi as he crouched in front of the purple ghost. If you hadn’t been sure of it before, you were convinced of it now: Yoongi could probably convince you to jump off a bridge. He never would do that, because he was a good person and a kind and benevolent being, but looking back over your years of friendship, standing outside of a train station at two in the morning wasn’t even the weirdest situation he had managed to drag you into.

So yeah, you were pretty sure if he asked, you would jump off a bridge.

Eventually, though, the Gengar slithered the lower half of its body out of the shadows, its little legs phasing into existence in a transparent gradient. It reached forward and Yoongi grabbed its little hand. Gengar smiled at that, its eyes falling closed and a wide, toothy grin spreading across its face.

Yoongi stood then, the Gengar’s hand still in his own, and turned to you. “Do you uh… mind if we still crash at your place?”

You laughed and nodded. He grabbed your hand as he passed you, leading you and Gengar back towards your apartment for the night.

The power outage at Yoongi’s apartment complex had been more significant than anyone had initially realized. Apparently, during the storm, a bolt of lightning had hit something electrical on the roof of one of the buildings and sent a surge through the complex, shorting circuits and frying wires all through the system. Some parts of the building needed to be rewired, and then the city had to inspect everything to make sure it was safe.

Two weeks later, Yoongi was still crashing at your place.

You didn’t mind. Honestly, you didn’t. Yoongi was far from the worst roommate in the world--he cleaned up after himself, and he was quiet, and he was a kickass cook. And Gengar wasn’t too bad, either. It seemed to get along with Nickit, but it mostly kept to itself, seemingly entertained by phasing in and out of walls.

It was just… for two weeks, you’d barely gotten any sleep.

You weren’t quite sure why, either. All you knew was that you would wake up exhausted, as if you had just spent eight hours running a marathon instead of resting. Some days, you would wake up with a pounding headache that couldn’t be touched by over-the-counter medication. Other days, you would wake up and your whole body would hurt, like you had spent all night with muscle cramps.

The lack of sleep was starting to get to you. You could feel your fuse getting shorter and shorter, and you were almost always grumpy, even with Yoongi. So when he plopped himself down on your couch after work one evening, you fought the urge to explode.

“Jin says the landlord thinks it’s going to be another week at least,” Yoongi reported, tucking his phone into his back pocket.

He didn’t deserve your frustrations, you tried to remind yourself. He was just doing his best.

“Great,” you said dryly. You could hear the snap in your voice, and when you saw the corners of his mouth turn down, you knew he had heard it, too. “I’m sorry,” you said immediately, sighing and running a hand through your hair. “I just… haven’t been sleeping well.”

He hummed in understanding. Normally, you loved how level and even tempered he was, how understanding he could be. Yoongi never judged you too harshly, giving you the benefit of the doubt, even when you probably didn’t deserve it. Even his kindness was starting to annoy you.

“Do you want to try to take a nap?” he asked softly, turning slightly so that he was better facing you. “I can put something boring on tv, and you can get comfortable?”

For a moment, you wanted to snap at him again, to tell him that no, you didn’t want to take a nap. It was six in the evening, and there was no way you would sleep at night if you took a nap now. But the smile he gave you was so soft, and his arms looked inviting, and really, who cared if you couldn’t sleep that night? It wasn’t like you could get rest anyway. So you nodded, just once, and he pulled you into his chest.

You’d always been amazed at how natural cuddling with Yoongi felt. Your bodies fit together well. His torso and legs were the perfect length for you to curl around when you were laying down, his shoulders were the perfect height for you to lean against. You knew most people were confused by your relationship.

Lying there on the couch with him, your head against his shoulder, his arms wrapped around you, you felt yourself begin to drift. Yoongi was warm and soft, despite the fact that he had been hitting the gym more frequently. And he had put on one of those Behind the Music documentaries where the narrator was just dronelike enough that it was soothing to listen to on a low volume.

You were asleep in no time.

It was dark, darker than you’d ever experienced before. At first, you thought maybe the power had gone out. But no, that wasn’t right. This darkness felt foreboding, ominous, almost primordial. And it went on forever. You weren’t sure how you knew that, but as soon as the thought entered your mind, you knew it was true. The inky blackness had no end, no beginning. It just was.

And it was thick. Like heavy fog in the mountains on a midsummer morning. You could feel it in your lungs, how the air was saturated and oppressive, could feel how it weighed your body down as you moved. Every breath you took was a little difficult, as if you were taking in barely enough oxygen.

A flash of light off to your left drew your attention, and you made your way to it, moving carefully. As you got closer, a pit started to form in your stomach--a strange, nauseating dropping sensation, as if you were in perpetual freefall.

The light was blinding. You had no idea how you were moving closer to it--your legs and arms felt like lead. Closing your eyes didn’t help, the flashing shined through your eyelids in bright hues of reds and oranges. The brightness hurt, and as you squeezed your eyes tight against it, your ears started to ring.

One last flash, brighter than the others, and then it all stopped.

When the spots cleared from your eyes, you could see a figure in front of you. He wasn’t facing you, but you would recognize the box-dyed blue-grey hair anywhere.

“What are you doing?”

His voice was cold, his tone even. For a moment, you didn’t think he was talking to you. But then his dark eyes met yours, and you could see the annoyance in them. Of course he was talking to you. Who else would he be talking to? Your stomach dropped.

“Why do you have to cling to me all the time? Do you know how annoying it is to always have you hanging off me?” He scoffed. “I don’t like people touching me. Don’t you know that? Or are you too stuck in your own world to care?”

The pit in your stomach solidified into something akin to dread, and you could feel your heart start to race. This was a dream. Your brain was just creating lies. Yoongi had been your closest friend for a long time. He would have told you if anything you did made him uncomfortable. Right?

You shook your head, trying to clear your mind, but it only brought the ringing in your ears back.

“You need to stop.” Yoongi’s voice, firm this time, sounded further off, like he was speaking to you from underwater. “It’s not nice.”

You were confused, but the Yoongi in front of you spoke again. “God, sometimes I just… I need you to leave me alone. I need my space. Just because I’m staying with you doesn’t mean we have to hang out every second of every day. You can be so annoying sometimes.”

When you opened your mouth to respond, you couldn’t speak.

Underwater Yoongi spoke again. “Gengar. I know you understand me. Stop.”

It was like a fog lifted from your mind. The Gengar. Was it causing this? In front of you, Yoongi turned, his mouth contorted into a wide, toothy grin, his eyes glowing a bright red. And then he was gone.

A few seconds later, you woke up, feeling very much like a deep sea diver surfacing after a particularly long dive. For a moment, you were disoriented, the Behind the Music documentary still quietly playing on the tv confused you. It felt like you had been asleep for hours. But in reality, it had apparently only been forty-five minutes. The pressure around your body felt wrong, and immediately, you sat up, pulling away quickly. Your sudden movement scared Yoongi, and he jumped, his hands flying up to shoulder-height in an expression of submission and innocence.

You rubbed your forehead. The pressure around you had been his arms. He had been holding you. You sighed. Your head hurt.

Yoongi looked at you, concerned. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

When he reached out to grab your hand, you pulled away, your brain screaming at you.

Do you know how annoying it is to always have you hanging off me?

Confusion flashed in Yoongi’s dark eyes, his brow furrowing slightly. He whispered your name, his hands falling helplessly into his lap. “You had a nightmare?” You nodded, and his eyes fell closed. “I was afraid of that.”

“What do you mean?” It was strange to hear your own voice. It was hoarse, like you had spent the past hour yelling.

He scratched behind his ear with his index finger, refusing to make eye contact with you. “Gengar is… well, I had to scold it.” You said nothing, still too out of it from your dream to question him. “I think it’s the reason you’ve been sleeping so badly.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure exactly. I think it might be jealous. You did say it liked me more than you.”

You nodded. You knew that you should be angry, or at the very least, upset with the fact that Yoongi’s Gengar was eating your dreams and giving you nightmares. And maybe eventually, you would be. But in that moment, you were kind of relieved. It was Gengar that had made the Yoongi of your nightmares say those things. It wasn’t your fault that you were so sleep deprived.

“I told it that it had to stop or this wasn’t going to work,” Yoongi said softly. “I want Gengar to be happy with me as its trainer, but I won’t let it attack you. That’s not happening.”

“I appreciate that.” You let him take your hand then. “I would like to not have a dream like that again.”

Yoongi nodded, and you could tell he wanted to ask more. But he didn’t, choosing instead to lean back against the couch and turn his attention back to the documentary.

“Gengar’s sulking right now,” he said softly. “But I want it to apologize to you.”

You hummed. You appreciated his desire to make it better, at least.

You thought he had dropped the subject of your nightmare. But then you went to bed for the night. You were still shaken by the dream, but you hadn’t realized just how much it had affected you until you laid down.

Normally, you would have automatically curled yourself around Yoongi, your legs curving to fit behind his, an arm draped lazily around his waist. But you hesitated. Deciding not to risk anything, you faced away from him, burying yourself in your blankets.

You weren’t sure how long it took, but eventually, you heard him sigh, and he rolled over. He tossed and turned for a while, grunting in dissatisfaction every time he moved. It took a long time for him to lie still and stay silent, and you thought that perhaps he had fallen asleep.

“Are you okay?”

Perhaps he hadn’t.

“What do you mean?”

You rolled to your other side, readjusting so you were looking at him. In the darkness of your bedroom, you could tell he was upset. His brow was furrowed, the corners of his mouth downturned in a half-frown. It was quiet except for the sounds of Nickit and Gengar playing somewhere in the apartment.

“Are you okay?” Yoongi repeated, his voice husky with sleep. He was clearly tired, and you felt bad that he was still awake.

“I’m fine,” you told him, not meeting his eyes. “Why?”

“Then why…?” He sighed and then yawned, struggling to open his eyes back up again. “I don’t mind the cuddling. You should know that by now.”

You shrugged. “I wasn’t sure.”

“What was your dream about?” His sharp eyes were on you, then, still tired, but attentive and worried. “What’s got you so in your head?”

You chewed your lip, unsure if you wanted to tell him. But Yoongi was your best friend, and what was the point of that if you couldn’t tell him everything?

“You called me clingy,” you said softly, picking at your thumbnail. “And said that I was annoying.”

He swore under his breath, letting out a heavy sigh. He grabbed for your hand, bringing it up to rest against his chest, his fingers loosely intertwining with yours. For a while, he was quiet, his thumb thoughtfully ghosting against your skin in small circles. When he spoke next, he wasn’t looking at you.

“I have never once thought you were clingy or annoying,” Yoongi said quietly. “Trust me, I live with Jin. I swear to god, if you Google ‘annoying,’ his picture would be the first result.”

You laughed in spite of yourself. Yoongi loved Jin like a brother, no matter what he said. But he was right--Jin’s demeanor certainly wasn’t for everyone.

Yoongi smiled, squeezing your hand gently. “I don’t think you're clingy. And I don’t think you’re annoying. I like hanging out with you. I…” He paused, and for a moment, he looked like he was scolding himself. “I like how affectionate you are. It makes me feel appreciated.”

When you finally fell asleep that night, it was with an arm hooked over Yoongi’s waist, your face pressed between his shoulder blades.

‘Do you want to grab dinner tonight?’

You’d been staring at the message in your notifications for ten minutes. You felt bad ignoring him. You’d never outright ignored Yoongi before. But you had spent the past week avoiding his calls and not reading his texts.

You hadn’t seen him since he’d gone back to his apartment, the electricity finally fixed. Not necessarily because you didn’t want to see him--you missed him desperately--but you needed space. You still weren’t comfortable being around Gengar, even if you mostly understood why it had attacked you.

It had lashed out because it was jealous. Yoongi was its trainer, you knew it had gotten attached to him quickly. In a way, you had come in between them. Your closeness with Yoongi kept him from hanging out entirely with Gengar. Thus, the frustration and the attack.

But understanding why didn’t really make you any more comfortable.

You locked your phone, the screen turning off immediately. Sighing, you leaned back against the back of your couch and ran a hand through your hair. You couldn’t keep ignoring him. You didn’t want to ruin your relationship with Yoongi.

You should have dinner with him.

You unlocked your phone and tapped into your message app. You typed out a quick reply, agreeing to get dinner and hang out. And you sat. And waited.

The minutes dragged as you waited for him to respond. Normally, he was good about texting you back. Even if he was busy, he was attentive to his notifications, especially when they were from you. You started to get nervous. What if he was upset with you?

You started to type out an apology for the late response when you heard a hiss from the corner of the room. When the shadows behind your television started to darken and shift, you yelped in surprise. But then the shadow started to solidify, and two purple horns started to emerge from the wall. When the red eyes and the big, toothy grin appeared in the shadows, you groaned.

“How did you get here?” you asked the shadow.

It cackled and emerged fully, tumbling out of the wall and landing on the floor with a soft ‘thud.’ Gengar laughed, a gleeful look on its face. When it saw you weren’t smiling, its grin faded. Slowly, it waddled over to you, its little feet silent against the floor. It touched your knee, patting it gently, a look of remorse on its face.

You sighed. You wanted to stay mad at the pokemon. You wanted to hold a grudge. But you couldn’t. The poor thing had been abandoned at the train station, left to the elements. Attacking you had been the wrong decision, but you couldn’t fault it for panicking when it thought Yoongi was spending more time with you.

“Does Yoongi know you’re here?” you questioned softly, rubbing the tufts of shadow on top of its head. That was when you noticed it was clutching something in one of its hands. “What do you have there?”

Gengar made a proud noise, perking up slightly as it handed you the object. A cell phone. You were about to ask whose it was when the lock screen lit up from the movement, answering your question.

Your own face grinned up at you from the screen, your chin tucked over Yoongi’s shoulder. He had taken the selfie at the carnival when it was in town. You had thought the lights by the carousel had been pretty--all blues and greens and purples--and had insisted that he pose for a photo with you. He’d made a dumb joke just before snapping the pic, and had managed to catch you both mid-laugh.

Your heart swelled at the memory, but at the same time, it ached. Partly because you felt guilty for ghosting him for a week. But mostly because you missed him.

“You shouldn’t take people’s things,” you chided, gently but firmly. “It’s not nice. Yoongi’s probably wondering where his phone is.”

Then you realized, Yoongi was probably wondering where Gengar was.

So you walked it home. You trekked ten blocks to his apartment, walking slowly so the ghost pokemon could keep up, its little hand clutched in yours the whole way. Gengar chattered away beside you the whole time, cooing when it saw a bird pokemon or pointing up at the clouds when it saw something interesting. It felt almost like you were taking a five foot tall toddler for a walk.

You knocked on the apartment door, standing on the steps and leaning against the banister. You were nervous. Why were you nervous? It was Yoongi. You’d been to his apartment hundreds of times. You and Jin were always on the same team when your friend group got together for game night. You shouldn’t be nervous.

And yet your stomach gave an uneasy flop, and you picked at your nails, unsure.

Beside you, Gengar looked around, waiting patiently at your side, its hand still clutched in yours. It got distracted by a Mothim flapping by, its orange and yellow wings hypnotizing the ghost pokemon for a brief moment.

But then the door opened, and both your and Gengar’s attention snapped to the man on the other side. Jin was tall and broad, and if you believed him, he was so handsome that women stopped him constantly asking to date him.

“Yah, there you are,” Jin groaned, swatting at Gengar to get it to enter the apartment. “You can’t just disappear like that, you know.” He sighed, leaning heavily against the door. “Thank you for returning our little Houdini. We’re still trying to teach manners.”

“I noticed,” you laughed, holding up Yoongi’s phone. “Seems it swiped this on its way out.”

Jin rolled his eyes and stepped back, motioning for you to come in. You kicked off your shoes, nodding when he told you Yoongi was in the living room. Gengar stood in the entry waiting for you, and you ushered it into the living room.

Yoongi sat on the plush chair, head in his hands, his hair a mess from running his hands through it. You couldn’t see his face, but you could tell he was upset. His back was tense, and he had made himself as small as possible.

“Hey,” you said softly, attempting not to scare him. “Brought your runaway back.”

His head snapped to you, dark eyes darting from your face to Gengar in front of you. Gengar, for its part, looked apologetic, its mouth turned down in a frown. Yoongi stood, moving to meet you. His hands fell on Gengar’s head, examining its round face for signs of distress. When he saw none, he looked at you, eyes meeting yours briefly before he looked away.

You handed him his phone. “It brought me this, too.”

Yoongi nodded. “Thanks.” His voice was soft, unsure, like he didn’t know how to talk to you.

It hurt, hearing him like that. In the years you had been friends, Yoongi had never been anything but straightforward with you, had never been anything but confident. Even when he was feeling shy or nervous or broken, his unease was never directed toward you.

You waited for him to say something else. He looked like he wanted to, but he stood there, his hand stroking Gengar’s head gently, unspeaking. It was awkward, and you hated it. When nothing came, you sighed.

“Okay, well, I uh…” you stuttered, rubbing your hands together nervously. “I guess I’ll go.”

You took a few awkward steps toward the door, but stopped when Yoongi spoke again.

“So that’s it?”

“What?” you turned, immediately taking a step back. He was standing in front of you, his body barely inches from yours.

“That’s it? You’re just going to leave?” He seemed frustrated. “We haven’t talked for a week. Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” you said quietly, looking at your feet. “No, I-”

“Is it Gengar?”

“No.” It was the truth. You weren’t mad at Gengar. Not anymore.

“Then what?”

“I needed time. I didn’t want to be around Gengar at first. But…” You sighed, leaning against the wall beside you. “It got hard to reach out. I wasn’t sure if I should.”

“I wanted to hear from you,” Yoongi said softly. “I always want to hear from you. You’re...” He trailed off, a strange look in his eyes.

He stayed silent, you could see him struggling with what to say next.

Best friends tell each other everything, you thought to yourself. Even when it’s hard.

So you told him the truth.

“I missed you,” you admitted, reaching out and grabbing his hand. You could feel the butterflies fluttering in your stomach as he intertwined your fingers. You were nervous. Why were you nervous? “Did you still want to get dinner?”

Yoongi smiled and nodded. “Of course.” There was something about the softness in his voice that warmed your heart.

You knew you should turn, lead him to the door to go get takeout or to the couch to scroll through a delivery app. But for some reason, you couldn’t move. You were rooted to the spot, stuck there staring at Yoongi’s wide, genuine smile and his deep brown eyes. His head cocked to the side, his eyebrow raised in confusion. For the briefest of moments, you thought you saw his eyes dart down and then back up to meet your eyes.

It wasn’t clear who leaned in first, or when. Only that it happened and that Yoongi’s lips brushed yours gently. Your body felt like he had lit you on fire, every nerve ending simultaneously telling your brain something different. You were suddenly hyper-aware of your hand clutched in Yoongi’s, and the way his hand rested on your hip. When did that get there?

“Was that… was that okay?” his voice was soft, his cheeks flushed the brightest shade of pink. He was still standing so close, his breath fanning against your skin.

You nodded, your brain unable to form coherent thoughts beyond the obvious. You had kissed Yoongi. Or Yoongi had kissed you. You still weren’t clear on the specifics. But his lips had been soft and warm and moulded perfectly to your own. You had to admit that while you had never particularly thought about kissing Yoongi before, now that it had happened…

You very much wanted to do it again.

Thankfully, Yoongi seemed to have a similar thought, because he leaned in again. Your hand slid up his chest, gently knotting in the hair at the base of his neck. Somehow, in that one action, he managed to answer all the questions swirling in your brain and some you didn’t even know you had.

Why did he treat you differently than his other friends?

Why didn’t he seem to care that neither of you had personal boundaries around each other?

What were you?

A raspy giggle behind you jolted you apart. Gengar’s head poked through the wall, it’s red eyes closed as it laughed gleefully.

Yoongi let out a dry chuckle, his hand connecting with the Gengar’s forehead. “Get out of here, you creep,” he scolded playfully. “I’m still mad at you for running away.”

Gengar let out a happy cackle but disappeared into the wall. A second later, Jin screamed in the kitchen, apparently the victim of the ghost pokemon’s mischief. You laughed loudly, Yoongi’s shoulders shaking as he attempted to mask his laughter by burying his face in your shoulder.

“Yah! Don’t laugh at me,” Jin yelled back, appearing in the kitchen doorway. His shirt was completely soaked. He must have been doing dishes when Gengar scared him.

“We’re going out,” Yoongi managed between laughs, squeezing your hand gently. “Watch the little criminal while I’m gone?”

Jin grumbled and waved you away, returning to the kitchen. “Guess it’s just you and me tonight, kid,” you heard him mumble. Gengar cackled in response.

Yoongi kissed you once more, quickly, catching you off-guard. But then he tugged you down the hallway, his hands only separating from you so he could put his shoes on.

“Where to?” he asked softly, eyes meeting yours as you both stood back up.

You walked out of his apartment hand-in-hand. Eventually, you would have to talk about it, but for now, you were content with the new, unexpected development in your relationship.

[yellowocaballero]

This chapter is amazing!! Just where do I start! First of all I love your inclusion of "Dawn". just reading our trainer character going through and seeing time and space for a moment was so cool. Like I really was seeing things through her eyes... And when the "Dawn" character told the protagonist that they shared the same name 🥺🥺 and how they thought the protag was so cool and wanted to be just like her, and that's how she got to where she is now 🥺. For a moment I thought she was gonna turn out to be a descendant of the protag and Ingo would remark they looked identical or something. Like, protag would go back to the modern day but knowing that someone with her blood was like her neighbor or a celebrity. Also the Emmet letter was heartbreaking but so very sweet. The brothers are more sad to me if Ingo is the younger one lmao.

I'm really happy Akari has finally realized how valuable she is as a person, or at least on the road to it. Not to mention the convo for Rei, i like how you didn't ham in any romance into the work. Like if there is any romance, its not shouted, its just there with traces. Also her being the overseer of the clans/team contract was really funny to me. Honestly I was surprised for a second but her role as a mediator suits her. I'm really happy for her

Thank you!!!

Definitely romance in that situation would have felt so weird haha. Being someone else's ancestor would also feel SO weird. I didn't mention Akari's sexuality because it wasn't relevant, but since she's just Vaguely Me she's probably aroace. As it stands we have absolutely no explanation as to why Dawn and Akari look so similar and have the same name. Maybe Arceus has same-face syndrome when designing protaganists?

I really liked how the letter turned out. I'm rarely happy with stuff like that, but I was pretty happy with it. If it helps (?), when Emmet says something along the lines of "you're my little brother (would you believe me if I said that?)", I meant that Ingo was OLDER and that Emmet was teasing him by pretending he was younger. As in, did Ingo really remember so little that he would believe Emmet if he told him that he was younger? So if that helps???

Akari's arc was purposefully made a bit subdued and subtle, but it's still a big influence in the story. Just a local teen with bad self-esteem, who's been through something pretty traumatic and feels rejected. She had found something resembling a community in Galaxy Team and Jubilife, and she hadn't been able to get over their rejection. She probably always felt weird and an outsider at home, and she's an outsider here too. The timeline thing is a very flashy and fictionalized way of depicting something very simple - that our relationships matter, and that the good we do in the world matters. That nobody's really unimportant, and when you help people and care about people then they'll care about you back. Community will find you and this is a threat. Very Ghibli.

I think Pokemon lends itself well to a message that can be as simple as "let people care about you" or "you're deserving of love" or just a very 'Good Place' what we owe to each other type of thing. Ingo summed it up pretty succinctly - that even if it's hard to believe and even if she still feels alienated, she's not riding this line alone. And it's not really until she accepts that she CAN change things that she decides to change things.

The mediator thing was pretty important to me. I realllyyyy didn't want to go Dances with Pokewolves and have a white ("white") savior narrative in there. I didn't want Akari to show up and use her colonizer culture to fix colonization. I hope I made it clear enough that the solution isn't for the clans to become Pokemon trainers as Akari understands them. It's not about catching Pokemon or battling, it's just about teaching them how to train Pokemon so they can protect themselves better against wild Pokemon and deepen their pre-existing relationships.

At the end of the day Akari just used her connections and respect among both cultures to bring the conversation to a more open and honest footing. And use her army of sentient WMDs to make sure that nobody gets into any fights about it and that any agreements are honored. I hoped that was the most respectful way to depict both Akari's passion for decolonization, Adaman and Irida's autonomy and importance, Galaxy Team's [unrealistically...] good intentions, and punting any ideas of modernity/civility/advancement out of the window. Not completely sure if I got it right but I did the best I could considering - woof, the messaging of the source material, the fuck.

God, like. I don't LIKE talking about colonization from this super messy perspective. Going too realistic would really ruin the tone and just make the whole thing even weirder. The entire story was a really weird balancing act and I ended up having to frame the events and narrative really carefully. I was sweating over it quite a bit, but it was so incredibly weird how the Jubilife guys talked so much about how Hisui was some lawless, dangerous unsettled and uninhabited wasteland where nobody could possibly survive...when the Pearl & Diamond guys are just chilling. It's bad rhetoric. I didn't want to prop up D&P as inherently more moral and virtuous and good than the GT by nature of being indigenous, but I don't think D&P would have let a fifteen year old get mauled by wild Shinx if she wasn't a Pokemon catching genius, is what I'm saying. It was just weird and I couldn't leave it alone. Balancing that weirdness was the hardest work of the story.

Stuff I don't like talking about because it's so out of my lane that it's not even funny but it would be disingenuous not to address. Thanks for reading! We'll see if Akari's efforts helped any in the epilogue.

[ask-hauyne-and-orion]

( Imani paces back and forth in the inn room she's in. Her Primarina, June, is out of his ball, watching his trainer pace around with a concerned look. )

( Today was tiring. Between having to explain herself in front of her friends,to learning more about Hauyne, then learning even more about Hauyne from Melia and Aelita. Suffice to say, she feels like a jerk after what she said earlier. For saying she was angry. Though, the more she thought about it, the more she felt like she had a right to be. Still, Melia and Aelita stating how Hauyne shrewd her own story to make her seem like a villain was eye opening. She frowned at the idea of viewing oneself as that. It's....kinda miss how much people care for you, doesn't it? Despite the countless mistakes people still care and want to be around you..maybe that's hypothetical, coming from her, but Arrow-)

' Arrow! What would Arrow do?'

( Imani thinks long and hard about this, going through the memories that she had with Arrow up to know. One finally comes to mind. The memory was right after the School of Nightmares, Imani locked herself into her room. It was immature, she knows, but she needed to be alone. And yet, when Arrow asked to come in, she let him)

' You're just a kid, you know,' they said that day, ' You have the whole world on your shoulders.'

( Imani looks at them quizzically, prompting Arrow to continue)

' There's people who care about you, and are more than glad to help you carry the burden. I'm more than willing. Please don't forget that,'

( Imani still frowns, looking off to the side)

' But....but all of this started because of my own existence. Maybe things would be better off if I -'

'Shut up'

'Huh?!'

( Imani looks to see Arrow with a genuine frown, their eyebrows furrowed. Were they- angry?!)

' There are people who care about you tremendously. People who you made their lives so much better. Do you really think we would be better off without you, Imani?'

' I-'

' We love you, Imani. Flaws and all. Never forget that'

( The memory fades, and Imani's heart is a brazen. She looks at her starter with great determination.)

" I know what to do now. But I don't know how,"

( She walks up to June, once again cupping his face)

" I think an apology would do it. Not about being angry, but being so quick to judge. And...hmmmm"

( Imani ponders a bit more. The banter between Hauyne and Kali. Specifically the one about her Alolan Ninetales.)

" You think Hauyne is up for a makeover during our downtime? She did mention her Ninetales enjoying fashion...."

( June's eyes light up and he barks happily. Imani grins ear to ear)

" Yeah! I knew you'd get it. So that's the plan for tomorrow! During our downtime we give Hauyne the best makeover ever!"

( June barks again and Imani never felt better. She returned him to his ball, and said her good nights to everyone. That night, she wouldn't wipe the smile off her face if she tried. )

[ooc: resend via ask! Also Imani makeover......2!!!!!]

Prev < Post 2 > Next

(Tonight was another one of those nights for Hauyne.)

(Not wanting to spend the rest of the hours tossing and turning, Hauyne quietly snuck out into the Zorrialyn Coast. As she didn’t want to wake anyone, she left her Pokemon in her room - including her first partner, Kali. God knows she needs her rest; a Mythical she may be, but she isn’t immune to the call of slumber like Hauyne is. Thus, she left the Zeraora to her rest.)

‘Nice weather tonight,’ she mused idly, feeling the sea breeze caressing her face. ‘The skies are clear, the moon is full, and not a trace of light pollution to be seen. The best time to stargaze...’

(She directed her gaze heavenward, allowing herself bask in the rhythmic crashes of the waves against the shore. Even when she’s worlds away, the sounds of the sea never failed to soothe her spirit. It’s only a pity that she could never know the joys of swimming ever again... even the mere thought of going for a dip sent lances of phantom pains searing through her chest.)

(She quashed down the memory of her nearly drowning, in the very beginning on her journey...)

(From deep within her very being, she felt the stirrings of a familiar song emerging. She didn’t fight it, instead letting it flow freely, allowing a poignant sorrow to bleed into her usually dispassionate voice.)

“For whom weeps the storm? Her tears on our skin~ The days of our years gone, Our souls soaked in sin~”

(Her eyes fluttered shut, allowing herself to be enveloped in the song. The rest of lyrics had faded away into the tranquil darkness, yet it mattered not; she was more than familiar with the song to know the exact words that had spilled from her lips. Before long, the final verse had been sung, and Hauyne moved on to a different song. As she sung, the weight pressing against her heart lessened and lessened, and eventually it lifted just enough to feel as if she could finally breathe freely...)

(Eventually, the final song came to a close, giving way to serene silence. Feeling much better than she had before, Hauyne opened her eyes once more. In the lonely coast illuminated only by the glow of the moon, it looked as if her brilliant blue eyes were shining with a preternatural light. Though it could be merely them reflecting the moonlight.)

(Well, anyhow, she felt calm enough to return to her room. Still, there’s one more thing she wanted to do before leaving...)

(A strange yet familiar energy pooled within her chest, building and growing until it felt as if it was going to burst at any moment. Then, she released it, unleashing it all in the form of a thunderous roar. One so powerful, she could practically feel the air ripple violently under its sheer volume and might. It echoed satisfyingly, gradually fading away towards the horizon.)

‘Here’s hoping no one figures this out,’ she snickered to herself at that thought. ‘Or maybe they did, but they’re too nice to point it out.’

(It didn’t matter, anyway. She had vented out everything that she had kept bottled up, and she honestly couldn’t care less if people knew that she was the source of the rumoured “dragon’s roar”. It was, quite honestly, rather cathartic. She could see why dragon Pokemon had loved to roar so much.)

(Dusting off the sand off her clothes, Hauyne spared the night horizon one last glance, before making her way back to Sashila Village.)

[ask-rp-devra]

With things in order the pair moved out of the barn, into the cold breeze that began to pick up through the morning. Val tagged along by peach’s side as per usual. They wound their way towards Greys home from home, a water type area, and the treatment plant for the drinking water on the island. You could just make it out down the road.

“don’t feel like you have to take them, but I suppose it saves us finding another place to rehome him...”

She shrugged as they walked, enjoying the view of the island. “I know. But it still won’t hurt getting to know the little one. You never know! We might just hit it off.”

Peach knew the Pokemon pretty well, and quite frankly it was difficult not to love him. They came to a halt outside the water treatment building, inside you could see Professor grey talking to a visiting trainer, busy with work.

“‘let’s try the side door.” The woman waved to Devra to follow her, round the side to a slightly overgrown entrance. You had to step on thorny vines and dodge nettles as you went but it was otherwise easy to get to.

Devra carefully stepped over the thorns as best she could, trying to keep from getting scratched. “I didn’t even know there was a side door. Guys you guys don’t use it too often with all the brambles.”

“‘we put it in for busy days, and it counts as a fire exit, though I’ll have to come back to clear the area a bit, this isn’t up to code.” She was annoyed it had slipped her off her plate, but she would get it fixed quickly. The growth was only one seasons worth, so nothing unmanageable. “‘I guess with grey using the big double doors, most of the time we don’t have to slink around the side.

The room beyond the door was a little small, it looked like a break room come kitchen, with a slender staircase up to one side, and a door at the back that from the layout you could tell lead into the main room with the pool and big doors at each end. Peach began to climb the staircase, coming up to a reasonably long space, a few plants, a desk, some chairs, and a large sleeping houndoom, monitoring several puppy Pokemon. Two growlithe, one darker in colour, a lillipup with a bright blue bow, a couple of poochyena, one striped a little at its legs, an electrike, and a Pokemon not a lot of trainers would have seen before. It’s body was stocky like a houdour, with the bright cream mane and fur of growlithe, a sweet looking hybrid of a momma arcanine, and the houndoom dad that guarded them all, one of Professor Greys older team mates, and a part of the household in the evenings. Peach gave a whistle and the lot came over to say hello.

Devra gasped excitedly when she saw the pack of puppy Pokémon. She knelt down right away and was soon swarmed by the little ones. She never got tired of dog Pokémon, being one of her favorite group of Pokémon for their use in herding. “Oh my gosh look at all of you!” She gave everyone attention in turn, then came to the hybrid. “Is this who you wanted me to see?” She squished her own cheeks as see looked the pup over. “He’s adorable!”

The messy ball of cream and black fur was a people Pokemon, he saw his chance to be adored and took it, jumping into Devra’s lap with a very playful expression.

“eeeeyup, he’s the runt of our last litter, a real character though, even if he is a little small at the moment. You can look after him leading up to the trip if you like, get to know him a bit. You two might like to travel together during the Tundra trip.”

Devra busied herself ruffling his fur and smushing his face as Peach talked. “Oh my gosh I’d love to get to know him! Just look at this sweet boy!” She looked up at the Professor as she pressed her cheek to the pup’s. “Does he have a name?”

He was lapping up the attention, some of the other Pokemon joining in with play. The older houndoom sat beside Peach overseeing the little ones, keeping them from getting out of hand with little huffs and looks.

“nope, he’s not got a name yet, we never got round to picking one.”

She flopped back onto the floor, always ready to be swarmed by puppies. “Well we’ll just have to fix that. Every big strong Pokémon needs a good name. Makes me feel special. Isn’t that right big guy?” She ruffled his cheek fur as she was licked in the ear by the lillipup.

“‘maybe time together will present you with an adequate name, there’s no rush to find one for him, can change them whenever you like now days.” The pups swarmed then dispatched to play with toys, leaving the hybrid behind with Devra where she sat.

Devra laughed as they went off, giving the little guy a good chin scratch. “I love him Peach. Will Grey be okay with me watching him?” She looked over at the houndoom and smiled. “I hope dad is okay with it too.”

“he was up here with the others because these lot were lol going to be potentially rehomed tomorrow. If you take him, it won’t make much difference, no one had a reserve or anything on the little guy. And as for dad?” She looked to the big guy who was quite old now, had had many pups, and was quite happy to see them go, he liked his peace and quiet when not out with his trainer. “‘Nah, this ones good, he’s Grey’s loyal bud, he doesn’t have a lot of time for child rearing most of the time, he’s only really here because he’s a good child minder.” The woman laughed a bit, that old fleabag of a houndoom was always lolloping around the house, making an excellent door stop or foot rest.

“we trust you’ll look after them, there’s not too much between them and growlithe, so you should be just fine care wise.”

Devra grinned as she hugged the little guy tight. She then got up and went over to the houndoom, kneeling down to be on eye level with him. “I promise I’ll take good care of your pup.” She then got up and turned to the little one, opening her arms and calling him over. He barked happily and leapt into her arms. She had a few more words with Peach before making her way back to her little world on the island.

[razieltwelve]

The Gap (Final Rose x Pokemon)

“You’ve done very well in your travels, Ash.” Averia smiled faintly. “But I am not as kind as my wife.”

Ash’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“The bonds of friendship between a trainer and their pokemon are priceless. Without those bonds you will never rise to the rank of champion. However, those bonds alone are not enough.” Averia nodded at the towering Blastoise beside her. “For this match, we will be using a modified ruleset. It will be all six of your pokemon against one of mine.”

“But... but that’s not fair!” Ash protested.

“No. No, it’s not. But if you want to be the very best, if you want to be the champion, then you will need an ace.” Averia’s lips curled. “At the moment, your Pikachu is your ace. He is a very impressive pokemon, especially for one so young. But you need to understand that he isn’t a real ace, not yet.”

Ash opened his mouth to reply, but Averia cut him off.

“I know how you feel. Pikachu was your first pokemon, and he has been with you throughout every step of your journey. You have risen through the ranks together. You care about all of your pokemon, and that speaks well of you. But you have always trusted Pikachu the most.” Averia paused. “But Pikachu isn’t strong enough or experienced enough to be a true ace, not yet. I know you won’t agree. I know you will insist that he is an ace and more. I would do the same in your position, which is why I need to show you what it’s like to face a world champion’s ace pokemon.”

“I’ve faced Cynthia’s Garchomp!” Ash replied. “I lost, but it was close!”

“Ash,” Averia repeated. “I am not as kind as my wife. Cynthia was taking it easy on you.” Again, Averia cut off Ash before he could reply. “It was not done out of disrespect, but because she knew you would be having a league match soon. The injuries, especially the mental damage, your pokemon would have suffered if her Garchomp was to fight at full strength... she would not have wanted to hamper your league performance that badly.”

“...”

Averia glanced at Torrent. “Torrent, go. Show them what it means to be the ace of a world champion.”

Ash’s fists clenched. “Let’s cut to the chase! Pikachu, I choose you.”

“Brave,” Averia murmured. “To send out your strongest pokemon first. Brave but foolish.”

X     X     X

Ash slumped to his knees.

Six pokemon.

And they hadn’t even landed a real hit. Not even Pikachu had been able to do anything. Torrent had used a combination of ground types moves to block or absorb all of Pikachu’s attacks before simply smashing him into the wall with his barehands.

His other pokemon had done even worse.

He’d lost to a Blastoise who hadn’t even used any water type moves. Even without seeing them, he knew the battle would have been even more brutal. He heard footsteps and looked up as Averia stopped in front of him.

“Ash,” she said. “Do you think I am cruel?”

“I...” He swallowed thickly. Cruel? Before their match she had spent weeks helping him train his team and pointing out ways he and his pokemon could improve. Some of her methods had been tough, but there had been a point to all of them. “No,” he said at last. “I don’t.”

“Then why do you think I did this?” Averia asked.

“Because...” Ash thought back to what she’d said before their battle. “You needed me to understand what I’d be facing one day... what it would be like to face a World Champion.”

“Good.” Averia chuckled. “You were listening, and you didn’t let your loss cloud your mind completely.” She put one hand on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t think you and your pokemon could handle it. Tell me, having lost so utterly, do you feel discouraged, do you want to give up?”

“No!” Ash said fiercely. “I... I...” He searched for the words. Finally, he looked up. “I want what you have. I want my pokemon to be as strong... no... stronger than yours!” He glanced at Pikachu who had yet to regain consciousness.

“Are you afraid?” Averia asked.

Ash shook his head. “I just... this feeling...” His fists clenched. “I want to grow stronger, so I never have to feel this way again. I want to help my pokemon grow stronger, so they never feel this way again either! I... it’s like... like... like seeing the top of the mountain and realising how far I have to climb.” He took a deep breath. “It’s so, so far away, but at least now I know where it is. And if I just... if I just keep climbing then I know I can get there. I know I can get to the top!”

Averia helped him to his feet. “And that, Ash, is why you and your pokemon will get there one day. You’re heading to Unova next, right?”

Ash nodded.

“Good. You’re ready.” Averia smiled. “Your match in the Finals of the Sinnoh Open Tournament was close, Ash. I have a feeling that in Unova, you’ll go one better.”

X     X     X

Ash stared across the arena at Virgil. They each had one pokemon left. Whoever won would be the champion of Unova Region’s Open Tournament.

“Pikachu,” Ash said with a small smile. “You’re up, buddy.”

“Pika!” Pikachu cried as he leapt into the arena.

“It's you against Umbreon,” Ash said. “He might be Virgil’s ace, but we’ve faced a World Champion’s ace before.” He thought back to Averia’s words from roughly a year ago. “Averia said she believed we could win this thing, and she never once told a lie while she was training us. Let’s do this!”

X     X     X

Author’s Note

In this AU, each region takes Ash about a year. Since he started when he was already ten years old in Kanto, he starts the Unova region when he is fourteen and finishes it after turning fifteen.

Unova becomes the first league that Ash wins. The Open Tournaments are essentially the ‘leagues’ from the games. Whoever wins each year gets to challenge the Elite Four and the Champion of the region. People’s eyes were really on Ash after his narrow defeat in Sinnoh in the Finals. When he won Unova, people really began to sit up and pay attention. Not many people win Open Tournaments at fifteen, and most of those have gone on to become regional champions or world champions.

The youngest person to ever win a league was, you guessed it, Lightning who won at the age of eleven. She literally won an Open Tournament within a year of starting and took out the Elite Four and the Regional Champion before promptly refusing the position of champion and just moving on to the next region where she promptly cut through everybody there like a chainsaw. When people complained, she pointed out that entrusting an eleven-year-old with the decision-making power of a Regional Champion was probably not the best idea.

The other Regional Champions laughed... until Lightning took out another Regional Champ the following year. From then on, they were all freaking out because they realised that, no, it was not a fluke, and that, yes, she was going after all of them. Regional Champions all over the world breathed a massive sigh of relief when Lightning became World Champion since it meant their jobs were safe.

Yeah.

In contrast, in Ash’s era, the Regional Champions have been stable for quite some time. For instance, Cynthia has been Sinnoh Champion for more than a decade at that point and has never been seriously threatened in a match for that title. Her only defeats have, ironically, come at the hands of various members of the Yun-Farron family.

[ishibishie]

i said i would maybe do this two weeks ago but i'm on a steven loving high and i saw a stupid post that was basically brainless bashing and hate in his tag so i'm here to fix this with steven love and ramble about the baby boy with a........

27 RANDOM STEVEN HEADCANONS POST!

uh cw for mentioning dead parents ig. there's a lot of dead parent stuff here sorry

- steven is asexual and aromantic. he discovered this a bit "late" when he was about 20 years old. despite his high profile in hoenn, he isn't very open about his sexuality and has only come out to a handful of close friends, the first being wallace. it was also wallace who gave him the black ring he wears.

- steven is half galarian on his mother's side. he would often visit the region with her before she died, and steven has very fond memories of watching gym matches: those battles are what inspired him to become a pokemon trainer along with his mother having been one herself in galar before she moved to hoenn. his favorite place in galar is wyndon city and he loves finding any excuse to hop aboard the trains scattered throughout the region to see all the unique scenery pass by and collect rare new stones for his collection.

- he adores space and astronomy! when he can't sleep he'll go outside and look at the stars until he eventually dozes off. this also led him to look into the mythology behind the constellations he sees, and he's had a few passionate conversations with cynthia about pokemon mythology.

- when nervous, steven tends to bite his nails. this has led to many scoldings and impromptu manicure sessions from wallace!

- his biggest fear is ghost type pokemon as he hates thinking about the concept of death. he also dislikes very strong thunderstorms, and being left alone for long amounts of time.

- as a result of his pampered childhood, steven is a bit of an attention seeker. he tends to get fussy and impatient when nobody acknowledges or listens to him. there was an isolated incident of steven throwing a pebble he had in his pocket at someone to make them pay attention when he was at his limit.

- likewise, he absolutely hates getting dirty when he's not caving. a single blemish of dirt on his nice clothes will drive him mad. he hates being disorganized and is a bit of a clean freak.

- he's a big contest fanboy! if a day off and a contest line up on the same day, expect to see steven somewhere in the audience cheering the coordinators on.

- steven and his father have a rocky relationship ever since his mother died. steven always wanted to become a pokemon trainer like his mother, but his father wanted him to take over the devon corporation one day. this unwanted pressure from his father ultimately led to steven running away from home to pursue his dreams when he was 14. now, they're still on speaking terms, but that's not to say steven looks forward to and enjoys their conversations. things only got worse when steven came out to his father and was brushed off as "going through a phase". despite everything, steven one day wishes to reconcile with his father and hopes that they can be as close as they were before his mother died.

- the one thing steven regrets most is never saying goodbye to his mother. the last thing he told her was "see you tomorrow!" before she died the very next day

- he met wallace during the time he ran away from home. the two met in lilycove city, where wallace was practicing for a contest and steven happened to be in the city. steven was intrigued by wallace's skills and ability to charm him with his pokemon. the first thing steven said to wallace was a compliment about his pokemon and the two decided to spend the day hanging out. they've been best friends ever since, and steven tends to see wallace as the big brother he never had and his main source of advice.

- he loves to write, whether it's journalling or taking notes about the rare stones he finds. however, he uses the same notebook for everything so his journal entries are often bordered by crammed-in notes about rocks. good luck reading anything, though: he has very small and cursive handwriting.

- steven is a disaster in the kitchen. the only thing he can make without any risk of burning his house down is a cup of tea.

- he's a big nature lover! in contrast to his sheltered life as the son of the ceo of a big business, he enjoys looking at flower gardens and finds any chance he can to lay down on a grassy hill and let the world move by without a care.

- he enjoys classical music and can play the flute!

- due to how he grew up without many real friends as a kid, steven tends to act a bit childish in personal social situations. he'll simply say whatever's on his mind without thinking twice and randomly cut in whenever someone else is speaking. not to mention he's terrible at holding eye contact. more "professional" conversations are where he shines as his parents taught him everything about etiquette.

- steven is polite to a fault: he usually has trouble telling people no and doesn't like to intrude on other people's conversations even if he was invited to such a conversation. it can make normal small talk awkward for both parties.

- his favorite place in hoenn is sootopolis city. he adores being surrounded by history while chatting with wallace at a local cafe, not to mention taking in the beautiful scenery at night.

- clear, sunny days are his favorites. when he travels to a colder region and gets caught in a sudden snowfall, he likes to watch it snow as it's an extreme rarity in hoenn.

- he loves to read and often wears a pair of reading glasses when he finds the time to open a book.

- steven carries a few special items with him wherever he goes: these include his key stone, the first gym badge he ever earned, an old pocket knife that belonged to his mother, and his mother's galar gym challenge league card.

- he's great at various card games. it's best to cut your losses if you make a bet with steven and he pulls out a deck of cards!

- it's easy to tell if steven is lying: he'll always rock back on his heels and bite his lower lip when doing so. using this knowledge is limited however, as steven doesn't tend to lie very often.

- his favorite food is galarian curry, especially the kind his mother used to make. he also enjoys sampling the cuisine from other regions, especially kalos. when it's time for dessert, he'll never pass up: he's got a bit of a sweet tooth!

- steven is a very laid-back person and hardly anything can really upset him. he tends to laugh off any embarrassing blunders he makes and will sometimes make small quips and jokes at his own expense. however, saying anything bad about the devon corporation will cause him to go on a profane offense, a bit ironic considering his odd and shaky relationship with the company.

- steven wears his jacket everywhere he goes. he's always complaining about being cold and it baffles everyone how he can keep wearing his blazer even in the dead heat of hoenn's summers. since he's always freezing, you can often find him at home wrapped in the fluffiest blanket he owns near the fire.

- even though he's champion of hoenn, steven still feels like he's working towards his initial dream of making his mother proud. he really only sees his championship title as one of many steps he still wants to take to live the life and dreams his mother hoped he would achieve!

(i copy pasted this from my phone notes so if the format is screwy, sorry!)

EDIT 8-30-21: yes i lowkey made this post to combat the people who are bashing on steven for getting a mega evolving rayquaza and posting this hate on his tag. it's fine to not like steven or how zinnia didn't get the mega rayray but for the love of god DON'T post hate in steven's tag! the people checking his tag are people who like him and we really don't appreciate you mindlessly calling our baby boy a racist bitch because you're salty. i'm sure you wouldn't like it if i went into zinnia's tag and posted "haha suck it side character" so. don't be a bitch. be considerate, okay?

[talesofsonicasura]

Stone Novas

Ch 4: Exposition

Astra's secret is revealed to Team Monkie Kid much to her dismay! A challenge is wagered, plots are formed and soon wills shall be tested. CH3 CH5

Megapolis' Docks, Secret Base

To say Astra was upset would be an understatement. She was thoroughly pissed off for one good reason. Sun Wukong, Monkey King and 'Great Sage Equal To Heaven' didn't know how to keep his mouth shut. And the feeling to flay him grew as Mei poked at the Frontier Brain.

All of them had hustled back to the Secret Base after MK had blurted out her otherworldly origins. Luckily, no one else was there to hear it. When the young man had accidentally sent himself flying out of the Weather Station, not only did Wukong appear to take away his invulnerability but also told him about her Battle Observatory.

He didn't mention Macaque oddly enough or her taking his clothes, no doubt to keep some of his pride. The reactions from Sandy, Pigsy, Tang and Mei were expected once they got back into the base after a silent ride. Dumbfounded disbelief from MK's boss, curiosity from Tang, awe and wonderment from Sandy, as for Mei…

"Are you human or is this a disguise?! Wouldn't that make Bao Chang, Lupe, Mars, and that giant bird Siegfried alien animals?! Are there any dragon Pokemon where you're from?" A thousand questions alongside her wild poking and prodding. Astra didn't mind someone being curious but this was aggravating.

Having enough with the mildly rude treatment, the redhead grabbed Mei's hand tightly. "I would love to talk if you stop scrutinizing me like a Noctowl pellet." Astra let the raven quickly scoot away, slightly embarrassed but still had that same vigor. The Frontier Brain massaged her head, carefully picking her next words before speaking.

"I am human but from an alternate Earth. Instead of demons, we have Pokemon that can be found everywhere whether it be land, sea, sky and even space itself. During my free time, I usually explore various worlds by traveling through Ultra Space but I am actually the Frontier Brain for the Battle Observatory."

Mk had heard about the facility Astra owned from the Monkey King although neither of them knew what it really meant. Picking up on the young man's confusion, the ginger continued her explanation. "Where I'm from we have something called Pokemon Battles."

Mars connected his tail into the base's computer, the screen switching to display a battle between two trainers and their respective Pokemon: a bipedal rhinoceros covered in orange stone plates and a smaller bipedal chinchilla with large white fur that curled like locks of hair.

"Trainers bring out their Pokemon to battle and give them instructions. When all Pokemon on the opponent's team is unable to battle, the Trainer whose team is left standing wins. No Pokemon are forced to battle without their consent and no killing is allowed." The chinchilla-like Pokemon took down the much larger opponent with a strong blow to the head, spirals appearing on the eyes of the knocked out rhinoceros Pokemon.

Mars then changed the screen to display six different buildings, one of them being the Battle Observatory. A picture of Astra stood in front of the observatory as a shadow silhouette stood at the other 5 facilities. "There are tournaments that test the mettle of both Trainers and their Pokemon, the Pokemon League but we'll be discussing my domain, the Battle Frontier."

Battle Frontier, just two words that sent a shiver down the spines of everyone in the room. MK, unlike the rest of his companions, had a look of determination but also hope in his eyes. Something that made the redhead smile brightly.

"Trainers have to face the Frontier Brains, powerful trainers and their Pokemon that can rival the strength of the Champion for each respective region. Those who defeat a Frontier Brain, earn a symbol of their success, a badge for that gym. If someone manages to collect 5 of these badges, then they can become a Frontier Brain for their own facility. This is my badge, the Nova Badge!"

Astra then took something out of her pocket. It was a metal badge that resembled a fiery meteor from the red flame locale surrounding the yellow star shape and the center was a gray X bearing sharpened edges similar to a stake.

"Only those with conviction to face the burning flames of tribulation and strife can earn this badge. One of the reasons many trainers call me the Battle Frontier's Shooting Star." The redhead didn't even flinch when MK and his companions had suddenly gotten into personal space.

"Woah! That is the coolest thing I have ever seen. It looks really well made too! I wish I had my own badge but I really don't like fighting." Sandy stated with mild disappointment. Astra patted the big aquatic demon on the side and gave him a kind grin. "I can make you a custom badge if you want, Sandy. Send me a design and I'll have it ready in a few days."

The redhead chuckled at the sudden bone crushing hug she had gotten from a very happy Sandy. Pigsy was a bit indifferent to the whole otherworld thing. "As long as you come in peace then I don't really care about your origins. Plus you have a good head on your shoulders considering what happened back at the Weather Station."

Every member of the Monkie Kid team knew where the restaurant owner was getting at. All of them would've been captured by Red Son after MK got taken out of the fight. They couldn't forget about the people that might have been hurt or worse without Astra's intervention.

Something that raised a question for a certain bandana wearing young man. "Hey Astra, can I talk with you outside for a moment?" The Frontier Brain gave MK a confused look before nodding. Mars could fill in any questions the rest of the group had anyway. Neither of them said a word until the two adults were back on the boat.

It was here that Astra saw the brunette's carefree attitude dissolve into disappointment and shame. She had a bad feeling about this. "Do you think I'm worthy enough to be the Monkie Kid?" Now the Frontier Brain really hated where this was going.

"Back at the Weather Station, I was practically useless during the whole thing. I hurt Sandy with the staff and nearly got everyone captured because of my invulnerability ego. I even flung myself out of the building with my own weapon! Sometimes I feel like being able to pick up the Monkey King's Staff was a huge fluke. I…"

MK didn't get to finish when Astra gently caressed his cheek, a warm motherly expression on her face. "It's ok to feel like this, MK. You are new to this whole experience but I know for damn sure that your achievements aren't fake! I read about you saving the city from that huge Demon Bull King fiasco some time ago."

She pulled him into a side hug and turned to the open ocean. "When I first started out as a trainer, sometimes I doubted if I could even become a Frontier Brain. There were times that I wanted to give up but my friends and my Pokemon gave me the courage to keep trying. Look at me now, I achieved my goal alongside my faithful partners. Remember that 'the strongest mountain started as a stone.'"

MK then felt something metallic in his hand and stared down in shock to see a colorless Nova Badge sitting on his open palm. "I want you to hold onto this badge, little Kubfu. When you have found and mastered your full potential, face my team to fully complete that badge. If the Monkey King's training isn't sufficient, I won't mind stepping in for some proper training."

Astra's grin sharpened, the sun making her apple green eyes glow like emeralds and her flaming red hair burn like fire. "I might not have magical powers but I definitely can teach you how to wield a staff. A lot of my Pokemon would also love to help you master your newfound magic. What do you say MK? Want to take your training to the next level?"

The young man looked at the Frontier Brain. His uncertainty became hardened determination. "Please teach me how to become stronger!" MK bowed his head in respect, a sign of a student ready to learn under their master. Astra's smile grew from the young man's response. Now she had a few things to do before she started training MK.

Flower Fruit Mountain, Water Curtain Cave

Siegfried let out a mighty caw as he soared through the air. The Frontier Brain was currently seated on the Raven's Pokemon back with her goggles keeping any volcanic ash away from her eyes. All of the monkeys who saw the large Steel/Flying Type quickly scattered or watched Siegfried fly through the curtain of a waterfall.

This particular waterfall was shielding a cavern that held a small wooden shack within its stone walls, Sun Wukong's home. Once Siegfried landed and was recalled to his Pokeball, Astra went over to the house. She had spotted a large ancient mural to the side depicting Wukong alongside three other people.

A pig demon, fish demon, and a human monk riding on the back of a horse as Wukong sat on top of his cloud with a fillet on his head. It was quite eerie but not for the soft golden glow that lined the characters. No, it was the fact that they looked too much like Pigsy, Sandy and Tang that unnerved the redhead.

Astra walked up to the door of the small home and gave it a hard knock. The door opened to show a disgruntled looking Monkey King who was probably asleep earlier from the yellow pjs decorated in peaches. The demon quickly straightened himself upon seeing those apple green eyes glare into his own ambers. "Fancy seeing you here, Astra. Want to come in?" Wukong nervously laughed, he knew he was in hot water.

"You told MK about my origins WITHOUT my permission, jackass! What in the absolute Distortion World were you thinking?!" The redhead harshly poked the monkey's chest, every word burning with rage. The Monkey King raised his hands innocently despite Astra looking ready to skin his hide.

"I can't keep such information from my successor! MK had the right to know and I trust the kid to keep a secret." Wukong took a step back when the Frontier Brain snarled and dragged him down by his pajama shirt so they were at eye level.

"You are an idiot of the highest caliber and a poor teacher! I read the story about MK fighting that giant bull demon and saw him recklessly using your staff back at the Weather Station. Have you even given him proper training at all?!" Astra hissed, glaring daggers into the demon's fiery amber eyes.

Wukong nervously smiled at the accusation which didn't help with what he said next. "The kid did defeat Demon Bull King and came out of both fights completely fine. We've been practicing some hand to hand combat too. MK just needs to believe in himself, even just a tiny smidge." The Monkey King's world turned upside down in seconds as he hit the ground.

Astra sat on top of him, her legs straddled between his so he couldn't move while she held him up to her face with an iron grip. "You are an incompetent fool that clearly doesn't know what he's doing! Did you know MK asked me if he was even worthy of being your successor? That he thought of his achievements as a mere fluke, you insufferable Stunfisk?!"

Wukong's smile dissolved into a shameful frown. Did he really make his student believe that he was a failure? The mere thought made his heart sink. "I'll be taking over MK's training from now on since it's clear you are ill suited for the task." He instantly froze. Did she really just…?

"What do you mean you're taking over?" A look of anger and shock crossed Sun Wukong from the Frontier Brain's words. Astra didn't seem to care about the Monkey King's growing temper. "You heard me. Unless you start taking MK's training seriously, then my Pokemon and I will do it instead. I may not have powers but I can teach him to wield a staff. My team can handle the magic part since you're shit for this job."

Rage boiled underneath the demon's skin. What gave this human the right to say he was an unsuitable teacher? It's his powers and his staff! Who did she think she was to say that to the Monkey King, Great Sage Equal To Heaven, Sun Wukong?!! He'd- The monkey demon immediately stamped that thought before it could continue and instead turned his head away.

This wasn't about him. It was about his student MK. Astra had a point, the young man wasn't ready at all and if a tougher opponent came along… The look of remorse on Wukong's face was enough for the redhead's rage to slowly simmer down.

"How about a compromise? If you are that serious about helping MK, then battle Bao Chang." Sun Wukong immediately looked at the human woman in surprise. "It is said that someone's true intentions can be revealed in the heat of battle. Clash with my darling Monferno at the Battle Observatory on the morning of next week and show me how far you will truly go for your disciple."

The redhead got off the Monkey King so he could get back onto his feet. He could see in those apple green eyes that Astra wasn't fooling around. His only chance. "Alright. I'll accept your challenge. Where do we meet up since we're going back to your world?" Wukong's question only got him a chuckle from the Frontier Brain.

"Ask your apprentice, he'll tell you." With that said, Astra walked away from his home leaving the Monkey King to his thoughts.

Megapolis, Astra's House

The sound of a hammer hitting steel echoed across the small forest. It was from Bao Chang who was fastening a brand new windowsill to the upper floor of the old house, a paintbrush wrapped around his tail too. Astra and some of her Pokemon decided to fix up their brand new home after returning from Flower Fruit Mountain.

Bao Chang worked on replacing the windows, Lupe disposed of any garbage he found, Mars scanned for any issues with the infrastructure and Siegfried helped transport any of the heavy goods such as furniture or any stuff that can be exchanged for extra cash. Aniani kept watch in case of an accident or intruder, as for Astra…

"Sticky Web, Arachne!" A large blob of webbing struck the worn pillar. The substance slipped it into the cracks with the wood, Astra then placed a large metal sheet onto the sticky goo. "El Dorado, melt that metal a bit with Incinerate!" Quickly stepping back as a stream of fire hit the steel plate.

The intense flame caused the alloy to slowly curl around the pillar's surface until it was fully enveloped. Another stream of fire went down where the two ends to the sheet metal converged, sealing it together. With a short inspection of the plating, Astra gave a thumbs up to the two Pokemon responsible.

One Pokemon was a shockingly large black spider around 12'3 in size, six long yellow legs with the bottom half black that had medium sized water bubbles on each joint, a big water bubble that encased their head, two large blue eyes bearing light blue horizontal wave shaped pupils with three smaller triangle blue eyes on the forehead, four large fangs at the bottom of the head, a vertical tannish brown streak with two horizontal ones on the top of the abdomen and a small yellow stinger on their rear.

The other one was a 1'3 dark gold gremlin, eyes were light gold diamonds cut in an hexagon shape, two fin like ears bearing two points on each side of their head, a small emerald on their chest alongside a small jade and light gold crystals on the back, three fingered claws, three fur like spikes on the elbows and three toed bearing sharp claws. On their left arm was a dark violet wristband that held a black, red and violet jewel inside.

"Looks pretty stable. Got a few more support pillars to go, think you can handle it Arachne and El Dorado?" Astra first looked at the large spider then to the small gremlin Pokemon. The large spider Pokemon named Arachne did a small nod while the little gremlin El Dorado gave a thumbs up.

The Frontier Brain shortly paused as a serious expression overtook her face. Her focus was on the corner of the room that was unnaturally darker than the others. "Arachne, Bubblebeam over there!" The large spider took a deep breath before letting loose a rapid stream of dark blue bubbles.

In seconds, a purple outlined shadow cudgel emerges and promptly bursts every single bubble with a single swing. Macaque took a step out of the shadows, clearly impressed from the fang filled grin on his face. Astra only sighed at the sight of the shadow demon.

"I guess you do have some decent senses to detect me. Nice improvement on this dumpster pile by the way." The Frontier Brain rolled her eyes at the intruding monkey, both Pokemon beside her had their guard up. A sight that made Macaque chuckle.

"Usually I am not that defensive unless near a potential threat. I just didn't know that you used to eat humans before we met." Astra spoke, her arms crossed and an offensive edge to her voice. Dismissing the shadow cudgel from his hands, the demon gave the redhead a mischievous look.

"I knew you overheard me and Sun Wukong the other night instead of going to your room. Had me surprised when you still treated my wounds while keeping calm from your steady heartbeat. Pretty brave and bold, Apple." Macaque walked closer until he was standing in front of the Frontier Brain.

The demon could still hear her heart remain steady despite their close proximity, a thought that made his tail wag happily. "What do you want, Macaque? Because I'm pretty sure spying on someone isn't a proper visit." Astra didn't feel like playing around at the moment. One demon had already gotten on her nerves, she didn't need two.

"Straight to the point I see! What I want is to train under your tutelage." Astra looked at the shadow demon like he was crazy. She let Macaque continue with his explanation. "My clash with the Monkey King proved my training methods are ineffective, training dummies can only do so much. What's a better sparring partner other than a Frontier Brain?"

The redhead kept her eyes on the monkey as he circled around her, Arachne and El Dorado stayed silent. Both Pokemon were waiting for any sign of a threat. "So how about a deal? I help around your observatory and you let me battle your Pokemon in exchange. I can even help fix up this rusty junk heap as a bonus." Macaque offered, a calm yet manic grin etched on his face.

Astra mulled over the proposition in her head. She wasn't stupid or naive. Macaque and Wukong had a nasty history paired with a mile wide grudge. There was also the chance of manipulation for the Frontier Brain since the monkey demon might have abandonment issues, inferiority complex and probably low esteem.

Taking his offer could lead to two scenarios. He'll end up taking revenge on Sun Wukong, possibly dragging anyone associated with the Monkey King into it. Or two, she could learn their history and might be able to help both demons before their sour relationship leads to a much bigger problem down the road.

Whatever the case, these two needed help. "Fine but you must listen to what I say and respect any rules that I make. By the way, if you try to use whatever you learn against some innocent soul…" Astra's eyes sharpened, her teeth on full display from the huge snarl and a dark aura came off the redhead in waves.

The sudden malice was enough for Macaque to take a step back in instinctual fright. "I won't hesitate to show you why I'm the most feared amongst my peers in the Battle Frontier. Angels, demons or gods, nothing will save you from my wrath. Got it, little Alolan Rattata?" The shadow demon quickly nodded at the Frontier Brain's threat.

In seconds the frightening aura quickly vanished as Astra clapped her hands happily. "Splendid. For now, you'll be helping El Dorado and Arachne with enforcing the support beams. Arachne is my dear Araquanid while El Dorado is my sweet Sableye." Both Pokemon waved a hand or leg in Arachne's case in greeting to the demon monkey.

Macaque was about to say something when the redhead threw two small cards at him. Quickly catching them, dark amber slightly widened to see they were Pokedex Entries for the two Pokemon before him. Although the one for El Dorado looked different since the Sableye in that picture was violet instead of gold.

"'Araquanid, the Water Bubble Pokemon. Bug/Water Type. The water bubble around Araquanid's head can be used to carry Pokemon they consider as friends to safety or drown potential prey. It has a habit of storing things it likes in its water bubble so their trainers have to be extra careful to not get dragged in. This Pokemon likes to savor its meal and can also launch the bubbles from its legs as another way to capture live prey.'" Macaque looked warily at the giant spider before reading the other card.

"'Sableye, the Darkness Pokemon. A Ghost/Dark Type-'" The demon monkey went silent for a few seconds. 'What in the absolute hell?' Macaque shoved the thought in the back of his head before continuing his low mutters.

"'-It digs up gems with its sharp claws then uses its sharp teeth to devour them in the deep darkness of caverns. This diet caused Sableye's eyes to become gemstones and some of that material to float to the surface of their bodies. It's feared for the misconception that these Pokemon can steal the souls of people when their eyes glow a sinister color in the dark.'"

The shadow demon paused to look at the card then the small Darkness Pokemon. He blinked a few times before pocketing the Pokedex entries into his jeans. Macaque had a feeling this won't be the only time Astra decides to make him feel uneasy. Shrugging his shoulders, the monkey resigned himself to his fate and got to work with the repairs.

Megapolis, Flaming Foundry

Deep underneath Megapolis, there laid a massive factory unknown to others. This facility was the Flaming Foundry, where every mechanical creation was manufactured to assist the Demon Bull Family. A family of three who seeked to rule the world in an age of darkness and fire: Princess Iron Fan, her husband Demon Bull King and their child Red Son.

Standing in front of a large screen was Red Son alongside two others. One was a huge minotaur type bull demon around 15 in size, powerful bulging muscles to red violet fur that seemed to almost synthetic, bottom jaw covered in a heavy steel plate with similar steel under burning yellow eyes, a gold bull nose ring, gear similar to that of a barbarian: steel pauldrons, multiple straps on the chest that held a gold furnace like slot at the center, dark grey pelt around the waist similar to a barbarian's, slightly long tail, sharp clawed fingers, large fangs and strong gray hooved feet.

The other was a woman about a ft taller than Red Son, soft tan complexion, two large black horns on both sides of her head, long raven hair, red lipstick on full lips, thin but buxom form hidden under a beautiful red traditional Chinese dress, and heeled sandals. They were Red Son's parents, Princess Iron Fan and Demon Bull King. Red Son seemed mostly healed from his encounter with Team Monkie Kid minus a few bandages.

All three of them were watching the large monitor, it was on the news which covered the Weather Station. The broadcast was about none other than two of Astra's Pokemon rescuing civilians who were trapped inside. "-No one knows what these strange creatures were but the families of those who were trapped inside are truly grateful for their assistance."

Red Son then changed the feed to camera footage from the Weather Station, most of the audio was fried courtesy of Mars' hacking the mainframe earlier. "I can see why your plan went asunder, my dear son. You said this woman's name was Astra?" PIF questioned, looking at her only child.

The red haired demon did a short nod before answering. "Yes from what Noodle Boy called her during our battle. All those creatures appear to follow her command; unlike Noodle Boy's group, she's very competent in both strategy and execution. The marks of a tactician."

DBK looked inquisitively at the footage. His attention darted from Bao Chang tearing apart their soldiers using various elements, to Lupe destroying his troops with powerful acid then blasting his son away in a giant laser, Mars stealthily hack into the Weather Station's mainframe and finally Astra's conversion of a broom handle into a weapon that melted through titanium steel. He's seen that type of cleverness before, it got him trapped underneath a mountain for 500 years.

"It appears the little thief has made a powerful and dangerous ally. Get as much information on this 'Shooting Star Astra' and 'Battle Frontier'. Even better if you somehow manage to capture her." DBK glared at the Frontier Brain's picture, a dark grimace on his face.

"This human woman could change everything."

And that's it! Sun Wukong has been challenged by Astra while Macaque and MK are accepted for training as things slowly begin to change in the background with some of the LMK villains.

Astra isn't someone who would beat around the bush when seeing a possible problem. Especially considering her status as a Frontier Brain and just how dangerous this new world is proving to be.

She is the type who wants to be prepared for the worst. To her, Sun Wukong and Macaque's 'relationship' is an issue just as bad as MK's current training routine.

Moving onto Astra's Pokemon, her team is the Pokemon she had caught during her journey to become a Frontier Brain, not exclusively just six Pokemon. Her Pokemon has two different movesets which is reserved for either exploration or gym battles. I'm bringing this up now to not only clear up any confusion but especially for upcoming chapters.

And for anyone questioning why Astra didn't do anything to Sandy for hugging her, it's because only touches with any romantic sort of sense are a trigger. Stuff like hugs don't bother Astra.

Next chapter is the battle with Sun Wukong! Before I go, I am currently working on a story for my Broken Toys AU! Someone asked if I was going to release all the information first before writing it.

The answer is actually no. I will be posting some stuff for the au like the monsters MK has and his relationship to them but the really juicy ones will be coming once a few chapters are posted.

Until next time folks, see you back in Megapolis.

New Pokemon added! El Dorado the Sableye and Arachne the Araquanid

Astra's team: Bao Chang (Monferno), Siegfried (Corviknight), Lupe (Garbodor), Aniani (Necrozma), Arachne (Araquanid), Mukasa (Zarude), El Dorado (Shiny!Sableye).

[another-bloody-multimuse]

True Intentions

So, the latest Pokemon Masters event gave me Feelings, and therefore I had to write something for it.

Needless to say, this contains Pokemon Masters event spoilers, verbal/mental abuse, and one reference to physical child abuse.

And in case the “read more” breaks, this is also tagged as a long post.

N stepped into the cave, his heart thudding. He could see the oh-so familiar cloaked figure in the distance, and he swallowed hard. He was not alone, for which he was very grateful, but companionship was not doing much to assist his nerves. 

‘You’re sure about this?’ his companion dubiously asked. In Nate’s opinion, N was making a huge mistake, and it was not yet too late to turn back.

‘Yes. This is the answer I’ve come to. I’m sure,’ N insisted, and Nate held back a sigh. Damn it. ‘...Thank you for coming with me, though.’

‘It’s fine,’ Nate replied. ‘I wouldn’t want you to go and see him alone.’

‘Mmmm,’ N murmured. He knew only too well that Nate had a point. ‘We need to be careful when dealing with a man like… him.’

N had tripped over his words. He was uncertain how to refer to the man they were meeting. “Ghetsis”? “Father”? As much as he wanted to call the man “Father”... it was too soon. Much too soon for that.

‘I’m still a little worried,’ N confessed, after a pregnant pause.

‘Yeah, well no matter what happens, I’m on your side,’ Nate promised.

‘Thank you…’

Any further conversation was cut off,  by a sudden interruption. 

‘N! You’ve come to see me!’ a voice called out. For a moment, N froze; when they entered, Ghetsis had his back to them. His and Nate’s conversation had been in whispers, and he had assumed Ghetsis had not seen them yet. 

He shook himself out of his reverie, his face calm, stoic, as he turned to lock eyes once again with the man he called Father, his abuser.

At least in appearance, Ghetsis had not changed. N sincerely hoped that was the only thing that remained static. Incredibly tall, Ghetsis towered over those he met, and his own son was no exception. He still used a cane. N’s gaze lowered to the gloved hand that held onto it, as his mind helplessly wandered to thoughts of what was hidden beneath the cloak. Was Ghetsis’ health the same? Had it improved? Or perhaps worsened?

That was the most likely scenario; Ghetsis always had a great love of expensive wines, scotches and other such alcoholic drinks, and it had taken its toll on him. Combined with one arm, the nerves permanently damaged by his Hydreigon, Ghetsis was an incredibly unhealthy man. 

N lifted his head, staring his father in the eyes. One was still covered, and the other just as vividly scarlet as he remembered. It was difficult for him to maintain eye contact, but he forced himself to push through it. 

‘I’ve come to let you know my answer,’ N declared. He had taken a quiet, deep breath in before speaking, to ensure his voice would not wobble, nor crack.

His head had been spinning, ever since Ghetsis initially approached him. Wanting to be a father to him again…

Though in order for him to be a father “again”, he had to have been one before. N knew that, deep down. But it was a thought he tried to keep pushed to the back of his mind. 

‘Let’s send out our Pokemon,’ N added, when Ghetsis remained silent, just observing him. 

Zekrom and Kyurem were both released from their Pokeballs, two thirds of the Tao Trio coming eye to eye with one another again for the first time in years. 

‘Well? What’s your answer?’ Ghetsis demanded. Still so impatient. 

‘...I don’t think it’s possible for us to become a true father and son so easily…’ N cautiously replied. His nerves were threatening to spill over, and he grabbed the brim of his cap. Something to focus on, while under his father’s scarlet gaze. ‘But… if you’ve really had a change of heart, and are seriously prepared to face people and Pokemon, then… maybe one day, it will be. That’s why I need you to show me that you have love in your heart -’

Ghetsis, the lower half of his face hidden by his incredibly high collar, clenched his jaw together tightly. How the fuck was he going to do that?

‘- through battle!’

Oh. The former Plasma leader relaxed. That was alright, then.

‘Father!’ The word escaped N’s lips, as he called out to the man before him. Ghetsis’ eyes slid shut.

‘I am grateful you’ve given me this opportunity…’ he started, his voice soft. N’s demeanour changed a little - Ghetsis was accepting what he said? Then maybe, just maybe, he had been telling the truth, after all! If Ghetsis could work on his issues, and treat those around him like human beings, and N himself like one, instead of an extension of Ghetsis, then -

‘Thank you for this chance.’ Ghetsis’ voice pulled N out of his thoughts again. The Plasma leader’s face twisted into a wicked grin, as he leant forward on his cane, a malicious glint in his eye. ‘To capture Zekrom for myself!’

No. No, please, God, no -

‘What?’ N gasped. The words left him winded, as though Ghetsis had struck him with his cane.

And it was a feeling he remembered all too well.

‘Now! Restrain Zekrom!’ Ghetsis commanded, his voice thunderous, as N tried to wrap his head around what was going on.

How could you be so stupid? Of COURSE Ghetsis was going to betray you, it’s what he DOES! the former king mentally chastised. How could he have been taken in so well? How, even now, with years free from Ghetsis’ influence, could he still be so easily manipulated? 

As Ghetsis slammed his cane down on the rocky ground, several unfamiliar figures in black and white masks suddenly leapt out, having been waiting for Ghetsis’ signal. More Pokeballs were flung into the air, as more Pokemon were sent out, between N and Ghetsis. 

Crackles of electricity zapped around Zekrom, the giant legendary held in place. N had frozen up again, feeling helpless, lost for what to do. 

‘Zekrom!’ he cried. 

‘It can’t move,’ Ghetsis said, a sinister chuckle coming forth. ‘I took special measures to use Pokemon that can hold it in place.’

N’s hands clenched into tight fists, shaking. How could I be so stupid? The entire thing had been a scam. Not only had Ghetsis prepared his Hydreigon to counter his team, not only had he made sure the Shadow Triad had Pokemon that could take down Zekrom, he had now done the same thing again on Pasio, to ensure he got what he wanted!

And like a fool, I fell for it, N’s mind traitorously whispered. 

‘What d’you think you’re doing?!’ Nate angrily snapped. He looked as though, if the Pokemon were not there, he would run at Ghetsis and try to physically attack him. 

‘I can’t believe you’d actually do such a thing…’ N’s voice was flat, hollow, belying the deep sense of betrayal that was rooting him on the spot. 

‘Of course I would!’ Ghetsis taunted, cackling. In typical Ghetsis style, he seemed to be relishing rubbing salt into the wound. When he spoke again, his voice was a disdainful sneer, not making the slightest effort to mask his contempt for his own child. ‘I only put on that ridiculous act so that I could get my hands on Zekrom! That is all you’re worth to me! As if we could be a true family! Me? With a freak like you?!’

N’s jaw was clamped tightly shut, only barely managing to contain an outburst of pain at Ghetsis’ words. He had heard that insult too many times.

“He’s nothing more than a freak without a human heart!”

“DON’T TALK LIKE A PERSON, YOU FREAK!”

He had lost count of just how many times that word had been wielded like a weapon against him throughout his entire life. Every time he had attempted to talk to his father, particularly about his ability to talk to Pokemon, it had always gone the same way.

And that was no doubt the reason why, as an adult, he was still being called a freak. Because Ghetsis had always refused to believe his claims. 

The fight had left N, and he did not bother to counter his father’s harsh words. But Nate was livid. 

‘How dare you play with N’s feelings like that?!’ he yelled, launching his Pokeball into the air, Braviary bursting from it. ‘I’m going to help N protect Zekrom!’

With an instruction to attack, and N still paralysed, Nate began to battle the Team Break grunts that had gathered under Ghetsis’ command, and easily took them down. As the last opposing Pokemon fell, Ghetsis’ expression twitched, ever so slightly. 

‘...Not bad,’ he conceded. ‘I can feel your anger!’ And it fuelled him.

‘Next is the pair holding down Zekrom!’ Nate declared. The Team Break trainer in question looked concerned as Nate attacked again. 

‘That’s enough.’

A new, commanding voice interjected, as yet another Pokemon appeared. The sleek, yet threatening form of Mewtwo landed between Ghetsis and Team Break, and N and Nate, pushing the latter two back. Mewtwo extended one arm, launching a hard blast of psychic power, taking Braviary down. Trying not to panic, Nate recalled his Pokemon before it could hit the ground, as N gawped at the newcomer.

‘Is… is that…?’ His voice trailed off, his eyes wide in horror when he recognised his father’s ally. 

‘Stay out of my way,’ Giovanni warned, his voice a low snarl. He looked almost exactly as N remembered. He had not seen anything of Team Rocket himself, not even on the news; Ghetsis had done too good a job when Team Rocket were around, of keeping N secluded and ignorant of the outside world. But the boy had heard things from his sisters, and done his own research since escaping Team Plasma. 

This Giovanni did not look too dissimilar to the man he had seen in photos. Perhaps a little older, his face slightly more lined. A few flecks of grey in an otherwise jet black head of hair. But the biggest difference, was the symbol emblazoned on the breast of his jacket. Not a red R, but multicoloured. Reds, yellows, greens and blues, one colour transforming into the other. 

Rainbow Rocket Giovanni rolled up a sleeve. In doing so, he revealed not just the fact that his arm was so heavily tattooed that his skin colour could not be seen, but more importantly, the Mega Bracelet enclosed around his wrist. 

‘Giovanni?’ N questioned, as the man in question approached, coming to a stop beside Mewtwo. ‘W-What are you doing here?’

The realisation that an already bad situation had just gotten worse caused N’s voice to crack. Which in turn made Ghetsis smirk. N was afraid. Good.

‘I just so happened to meet Ghetsis, while recruiting Team Break members,’ Giovanni explained. The apparently leaderless team had been like a gift for him. Already organised, already with their own Pokemon, all they needed was someone to take them under their wing. Someone to guide them.

And who better than Giovanni?

‘He told me all about his plans. And if he’s able to get his hands on your Zekrom, then that works out perfectly for me.’

In just getting him this far, this Ghetsis had already proven himself to be much more useful than the one he had already met and recruited into Rainbow Rocket. But, Giovanni was a smart man. He knew that the Rainbow Rocket Ghetsis had already tried to manipulate him, and was absolutely prepared for the current Ghetsis to try and do the same. Ghetsis no doubt had his own hidden agenda, but he was certainly not the only one. 

‘Yes, so I should thank you for gathering these pawns, and sharing your information with me,’ Ghetsis smirked. ‘I’ll be sure to return the favour. Now, our preparations are complete! I will soon possess a legendary that combines two powers!’

‘No…!’ Nate gasped. 

‘The fusion of Kyurem and Zekrom…’ N murmured, the memories of the exact same thing happening before flying through his mind. 

‘Watch this moment closely!’ Ghetsis cried out, as he approached the trapped Zekrom, Giovanni keeping close behind him. 

‘Zekrom!’ N called.

‘Ghetsis, don’t do it!’ Nate added. He knew too well that there was no way Ghetsis would listen, but without his Pokemon and badly outnumbered, there was not much else he could do. 

‘Kyurem! Absorb Zekrom, use Absofusion!’ Ghetsis ordered, an unhinged, determined grin set upon his face. 

‘Now’s my chance,’ Giovanni quietly said, watching the scene intently. He snapped his fingers. ‘Do it.’

Mewtwo reappeared, floating in the gap between the two other legendaries, facing Kyurem down. 

‘What the -?’ Nate spluttered. N looked similarly taken aback.

‘They stopped them from fusing?’ he questioned, not entirely certain whether he believed what he was seeing. 

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ Ghetsis spat, glowering at Giovanni. He slammed his cane on the ground again. ‘Giovanni!’

‘Well, you see… I too have a plan,’ Giovanni replied. ‘I know how you operate, Ghetsis. Perhaps a little too well, and the way I see it, once you have both of these legendaries under your command, your next move will be to secure more pawns to make use of. And as these Team Break members answer to me, I know that it’d be me you target next.’

Ghetsis remained silent, teeth bared. As Giovanni observed him, he could see that he had been completely right. Granted, it would not have been out of character for Ghetsis to lie, and claim he had nothing of the sort planned, but he surmised Ghetsis would only have done that if he were calmer. And the ex Plasma leader, as he was currently, looked apoplectic with rage. 

Ghetsis’ raging, hateful silence was the only answer Giovanni required.

‘So, I intend to take Kyurem and Zekrom before that can happen!’

‘How cunning,’ Ghetsis hissed. ‘But it’s too little, too late.’

More masked members of Team Break appeared, again, on Ghetsis’ cue, standing beside him, as Giovanni’s eyes widened, just for a second. 

‘What?’

‘You are not the only one who has a talent for convincing people to join you,’ Ghetsis gloated. ‘I am more than capable of that, too! A faction of Team Break is already under my command!’

Oh, shit. This was not what Giovanni had in mind. He knew exactly what Ghetsis was planning, yet the son of a bitch still out-witted him!

Despite his inner panic, the Rainbow Rocket leader’s expression continued to be a smug grin, as though it was all a game they were playing. He would be damned if he was going to let Ghetsis know that he was rattled.

‘I guess I underestimated you after all,’ he admitted. ‘In that case… Mewtwo, get them!’

‘Rise! We must defeat Giovanni!’ Ghetsis roared. 

‘...So they’ve broken their alliance,’ N mused, as more Pokemon were sent out. With the attention mostly taken off Zekrom, N felt he could breathe a little more easily. ‘...I suppose they were never actually allies in the first place… 

‘I want to help Zekrom, but there are way too many Pokemon over there…’ Nate fretted. 

‘Go, Volcarona!’ 

Another new voice entered the fray, as a familiar Volcarona appeared over N’s head, striking the Team Break Pokemon. As they were knocked out, N and Nate spun around on their heels to see the former champion, Alder Castillo, striding forward. He was staring directly at Ghetsis, his expression set into a look of grim determination, with a young redhead behind him. 

‘Alder! Silver!’ Nate greeted, a wave of relief washing through him to have some backup. 

‘I had an unpleasant feeling that something bad would happen,’ Alder stated. The sensation of foreboding had been with him ever since he learnt Ghetsis was back. He knew that N had been ambivalent about forgiving him, and having a proper father and son relationship with the man again. And Alder did not want to completely squash his hopes of that happening. He had been direct with stating that he did not trust Ghetsis, but seeing the look of utter defeat in the young boy’s eyes, Alder had to wonder just what he had missed. That maybe he had not been severe enough. Perhaps he should have explicitly told N not to trust his despicable excuse for a “father”, even for the faintest fraction of a second. ‘I’m glad we made it in time. We took care of the Team Break members at the entrance, but reinforcements are on their way right now! We need to get out of here!’

Silver, the young redhead, was not paying any attention to Alder. Nor was he even paying any attention to Ghetsis. No, his gaze was firmly on Giovanni, and his expression was one of hatred. 

‘Oh?’ Giovanni questioned, glancing over. He was uncertain how to react, so he kept the same usual smug demeanour. This boy was not his Silver, but was a Silver. And clearly things had gone the same way between him and his Giovanni, as they had in the Rainbow Rocket leader’s timeline. 

‘I have more important things to worry about right now, than him,’ Silver declared, without giving one single fuck about the fact that his voice was loud enough for Giovanni to hear. Not that Giovanni seemed bothered. He was used to it from his own Silver. ‘Come on, hurry up!’

Now freed, N turned back to the rest of the group to see Zekrom land before him.

‘I’m so glad you’re okay…’ he murmured, relief sparkling in his eyes.

‘Let’s get out of here,’ Nate urged. 

Sensing that the situation was no longer in their favour, the Team Break grunts who had followed Ghetsis began to retreat, much to his annoyance.

‘Tch… Worthless fools,’ he growled. 

‘Now that a former champion has arrived, I suppose I have no choice but to give up on Zekrom,’ Giovanni decided. For now. ‘Kyurem, on the other hand, will be mine.’

‘I warned you before…’ Ghetsis started, his voice dripping with rage, before suddenly ramping up to a scream, ‘NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE ME!’

The cane struck the ground, as Kyurem roared. Alder winced at the noise, but Giovanni seemed unbothered. A snap of his fingers later, and he was gone, along with Mewtwo. Alder glanced back, seeing N approach, and noticed how the boy looked mentally exhausted. It was no surprise, Alder guessed that N must felt like he had been put through the wringer.

Because he had been. He was about to speak up, to try and reach out to N, when Nate interrupted with another insistence that they should leave. He was right, the less time they spent in the cave, the better. Giovanni might have been gone, but there was still Ghetsis to contend with. 

N stopped before he reached Alder and Nate. And, without breathing a word, he turned his back, and strode over to his father. 

‘...What?’ Ghetsis questioned, a look of annoyed confusion on his face. N refused to clarify, but stayed by his side. 

‘What are you doing? Just leave him!’ Silver irritably told N.

‘Yes, what are you doing?’ Ghetsis agreed, clearly as baffled as his son’s friends. 

‘...I want to save Kyurem, regardless of whose Pokemon it is. Even if that means I have to help you...’ N finally answered, without looking at any of them. Part of him had to wonder what the hell he was doing, siding up with Ghetsis, after how Ghetsis had betrayed him, insulted him, and openly laughed about it. He told himself that he was not doing this for Ghetsis’ sake, or even his own.

This was for Kyurem.

‘...I won’t call you my father, Ghetsis.’ That was fine with the Plasma leader. His skin always crawled when that word left N’s mouth. Disgusting. N turned and looked at him. ‘But if you co-operate, I’ll help you get out of this!’

‘I see. Very well. That’s convenient for me,’ Ghetsis replied. No “thank you”, but of course not. N had never gotten a “please” or a “thank you” from Ghetsis in his life, and he definitely did not expect that to change now. ‘Let’s take him down, N!’

‘N and Ghetsis, standing side by side…’ Nate muttered. The idea left him unsettled. It was wrong. He brought the Pokeball with his unconscious Braviary in it up to his mouth, whispering to it, as he used a revive. ‘Just a little longer, we need to help N…’

‘Hey!’ Silver called out, as Nate and Braviary took off. 

‘It’s too late to stop them. Let’s just make sure that they have a safe escape route,’ Alder told the redhead. 

‘The plan is to hold off Mewtwo until he can’t come after you any more, alright?’ N told his father.

‘Yes,’ Ghetsis crisply agreed.

‘Well, why don’t we put it to the test?’ Giovanni questioned, as he was joined by his own Team Break grunts again, now they had recovered from the previous fight. ‘Let’s see what your little father-son team up can do!’

Nate’s Braviary, and the two other legendaries opposing Giovanni started the battle, fighting ferociously against the Rainbow Rocket leader and his underlings. It was not long until it was just the legendaries against each other, and with Mewtwo outnumbered, it was Giovanni’s team that fell. 

‘...Hmph, I suppose that does surpass my expectations,’ he reluctantly confessed. 

‘After him!’ Ghetsis then commanded. 

‘No! You remember what I said earlier, don’t you?! We’re getting out of here!’ N countered. 

‘What?’ Ghetsis hissed, angry that N spoke back to him. But he could see that this time, N was not going to be moved. ‘Fine.’

‘Too bad,’ Giovanni said to himself, as the others left. ‘This would have been so much easier had you stayed here...’ He glanced to the cave exit. ‘Go after them.’

‘Hey!’ 

Giovanni had assumed that it was just him, Mewtwo, and his underlings left. That the others had all left with Ghetsis and N. So he was surprised when he saw himself suddenly face to face with his son.

‘That’s enough. Your plan failed,’ Silver glared. ‘Let them go, or else!’ 

To Giovanni’s surprise, the Pokemon that Silver released was none other than Ho-Oh. 

When did Silver obtain a legendary of his own? Giovanni thought, as Ho-Oh flapped its wings and released a loud cry. 

‘...Change of plans,’ Giovanni decided, recalling Mewtwo. ‘We’re leaving.’

His decision confused his underlings, who had been readying themselves for another fight. 

‘B-But sir…?’ one hesitantly questioned.

‘The more people you command, the harder it is to control them. I think learning that much is enough for today,’ Giovanni replied. He tilted his head, glancing to the side at Silver. ‘Besides… I’m very pleased by what I’ve seen today.’

Silver pulled a face, and blinked. Was Giovanni complimenting him? For standing up to him? Obtaining Ho-Oh? But once the shock quickly wore off, his expression turned back to angry. He was not going to be taken in, be swayed by Giovanni’s words! This man had no idea who Silver was, if he thought a few pretty words could appease him.

It was probably a lie, anyway.

Silver headed outside the cave again, where the rest of the group - unfortunately, still including Ghetsis - were waiting for him.

‘I think they’ve stopped coming after us now,’ Silver declared, without offering any explanation as to why he had stayed behind. None of them needed to know about him challenging Giovanni. Or what Giovanni had said to him. 

‘I see. In that case…’ Alder pointedly looked back at Ghetsis.

‘You want to come after me, now? I can’t allow that to happen,’ he warned. ‘Perhaps we can come to a truce for today. What do you think, N?’

‘...I know that you haven’t changed, at all,’ N said, and Alder was relieved. He had been concerned that siding with Ghetsis to protect him might have caused N to start reconsidering, again. He wanted nothing more than for N to have a father he could be happy with, but as long as his father was Ghetsis, that was just not possible. ‘If you do anything to harm the people or Pokemon here, I will be the first in line to stop you!’

‘I’ll keep that in mind,’ Ghetsis replied, tone thick with sarcasm. Clearly he did not believe N to be a big enough threat to him. ‘Then, farewell.’

‘Wait, Ghetsis!’ Nate then called. Ghetsis paused, not turning back around to face them, but instead peered over his shoulder, to see what Nate wanted. ‘I hate you. I’ll never forget what you did in Unova! But you’re still N’s father! You raised him, and spent all those years together!’

Ghetsis had no idea where Nate was going with his tangent, and neither did N. N’s childhood had been spent cooped up inside one room. A very spacious room, admittedly, but still locked away from the rest of the world, and fed only whatever information Ghetsis deemed worthy of him knowing. As much as N longed for change, he was no longer blind to the horrendous circumstances that stole his childhood. 

So why was Nate bringing it up?

‘Are you really going to say you felt nothing when the two of you were fighting side by side?!’ Nate demanded. ‘It’s not too late to change your ways! Please, at least think about it!’

Oh. N braced himself. He was certain that Ghetsis was going to scoff, laugh hysterically at such a ridiculous notion, and he knew it was going to hurt. 

‘Nate…’ N began. 

‘Ghetsis!’ Nate repeated, when he got no reply. And N’s heart sunk to his stomach, when sure enough, Ghetsis began to chuckle. At last, he turned back properly to face them, and erupted with laughter.

‘You naive fool! Our relationship is nothing more than that between a master and his tools! What happened here changes nothing!’ he barked, before turning his evil scarlet gaze onto N. ‘As long as I can keep using you, I don’t care what you call our relationship! I do whatever I please! I am not your ally, not your friend, and I am certainly not your father!’

In unison, N and Nate both tugged on the brims of their headwear. Nate in embarrassment, and upset for N, and N to try and cover his face. He was attempting to be as expressionless as he could, but the hurt shone in his eyes.

‘How dare you -!’ Silver began, readying to go into a full force rant. 

‘Despicable,’ Alder quickly interjected, unwilling to let the youngster draw too much of Ghetsis’ attention. ‘You’re the one without a heart!’

‘If that’s all,’ Ghetsis sneered, their anger and words bouncing off him. With another - but more sardonic - farewell, Ghetsis was whisked away by Kyurem, leaving them free of him at last.

‘I had a bad feeling this might happen,’ Alder sighed. ‘N, my apologies. I think I should have stopped you before you went to help him.’

‘Don’t apologise,’ N said, to Alder and Nate. ‘It was my decision. Please, don’t be sad on my behalf.’

‘...Nate, are you crying again?’ Silver questioned. He looked embarrassed.

‘You truly have a kind heart,’ N gently told Nate, ‘one that resonates with others. You got angry for the people of Unova, you yelled at Ghetsis for me… and now, you’re even crying for me...’

‘I can’t help it! It’s just all so messed up!’ Nate wept. ‘You’re not asking for anything special! You just want a normal relationship with the man you call your father! It’s not asking for much! Why can’t you have that too?!’

‘Nate… It’s okay.’ It was a lie, but a lie told for N’s own sake as well as Nate’s. Right now, he felt like being strong for his friend distracted him from his own pain. ‘I may not have a father, but I have good friends like you.’

‘N…’ Nate sniffled.

‘Yeah, you can survive without a father,’ Silver chimed in, and N nodded in agreement.

I’m blessed to be surrounded by such kind people and Pokemon. That’s enough for me. I suppose… a father figure was just never meant to be.

...But it was nice to hope for it.

[pokeexehasstoppedworking]

Love Doesn’t Do Encores Ch16 Battle Gym Leader Opal

You did NOT want to get into the flying taxi! Even when the kind middle aged man in the flight suit and goggles let you pet the pretty friendly corviknight and assured you it was perfectly safe you did NOT want to get into the flying taxi!! Of course your Drizzilie didn't seem to care about anything and had jumped into the awaiting metal carriage and seated itself into one of the seats available and curled up to lay down on it as Gloria climbed in as well and had a firm grip on you as she tried to pull you into the cab with her.

"Y/n! C'mon! Don't be a wee lil baby!," she grunted as she tried to pull your struggling form into the cab with her. But you effectively blocked yourself from coming in with one heel dug into one of the steps and a hand firmly placed on the outside. After you had gotten yourself to eat and then downstairs to the outside of the inn, the cab was already ready and waiting for you two. The corviknight and it's owner even perched on top of it watching awkwardly waiting. "I'm not walkin' days ta Glimwood Tangle in this bloody heat!"

"I think I'd rather take my chances with the sun- ACK!?" That was it. Your hand finally slipped and you faceplanted half your body onto the floor between the two seats. And you immediately scrambled when you felt something grab at your legs. "GLORIA NO!!"

You two fought against each other as you were losing and yelled at Gloria who was quicker than you thought she could be as she wrestled the rest of your fleeing body inside the cab as you continued to physically and verbally protest and within the scuffle somehow managed to slam the door shut behind the two of you, yelling the word 'GO!!' and not too long after you felt a lurch as the cab took off. You let out a bloody curdling scream and clutched onto the seat your drizzilie sat upon smashing your face into the seat from the force of the take off and cutting off your scream only after a second of it leaving your mouth, half your body still on your knees on the floor as Gloria sighed and plopped herself into the seat across from you as the wind whipped through the windows. Acting like vents and while the wind was warm it most certainly wasn't the grueling heat you two had been traveling in. You remained face in the seat for a little while longer clutching onto it, your stomach felt like butterflies were in it, your feet felt awfully light, and you were kinda starting to regret eating that waffle before the two of you left. .......After a few more moments of just staying in that death grip position your Drizzilie gave a questioning noise and tapped the top of your head.

"Y/n you're perfectly alright. Just sit in the seat there instead of lookin' like you're prayin' to Arceus himself," Gloria encouraged.....You didn't respond for a hot second before she watched as your body shook as you weakly pulled yourself from the floor, trying not to get sick and pulled yourself onto the seat to face her. Pausing for a moment before with a click you scrambled for the seat belt and hastily threw it around yourself before gripping the sides of your seat next to your pokemon. Pale as a ghost. "See? It's not so bad!" She turned and stuck her arm out near the nearest window as her hair blew around her face as did yours. "And feel that air! It's great! Look at the view-"

"HEY!" You managed to pull yourself together enough to shout at her and shakily point a hand to her. "A-Arms, legs, and head INSIDE the taxi cab at all times!! And p-put on your seatbelt right now! W-We might hit some wind turbulance or something!"

"What? But I've done this before. It's perfectly safe."

"HEY! I-If I'm going to agree t-to ride this thing all the way to Glimwood Tangle then you're going to wear a seat belt all the way there too! There's no getting around that!....Speaking of which." Your Drizzilie made a sound of protest but didn't fight back when you pushed it back against the seat next to you and buckled it in as well. "Much better. Now you."

She rolled her eyes but complied. "Fine fine. I'll put the bloody thing on." And she began to do so.

"Thank you. So how long until we reach Bellonlea?"

"A whole two days and a night. It would've taken much longer ta get there by foot and there ain't no train running to or from Glimwood Tangle since the entire place is a national wildlife preserve as well as there ain't too many places like it in the world."

"...What do you mean?"

"It's a fifty square mile forest of giant trees so big and growin' so closely together that it blocks out the sun. It's full of these glowing giant mushrooms that light up everythin' in there 'n there's a whole slew of pokemon from dark to physcic to ghost....But mostly a bunch o' fairy type pokemon. It's why the fairy type stadium is located there."

You nearly felt sick to your stomach again. You had to sit and ride on this thing who knows how high off the ground for a two whole days and night?! ".....Well great."

"Oh relax, Y/n. Once we get in ta that big shady place from the sun it'll be worth it I promise."

"Where did you even get the money to pay for this trip? We used the last of it at the inn."

"Remember how Gym Challengers are paid a bit once they win a gym battle? I had enough ta pay for two people to be flown there don't worry." She looked back out the window. "Let's just relax n' enjoy the trip."

"Body stays inside the cab!"

Relax? It was easy for her to say! She was used to this!! Thus began your nerve wracking over the next two days. Gloria attempted to distract you and calm your nerves by having her rotom fly between the two of you and showed her uploaded battle against Allister from the Gym League's official sight. That helped a little bit as you two talked about Allister and the Gym battles that Gloria had had thus far, and you ended up rewatching them all including the ones you missed. Milo, Nessa, Kabu( Your Drizzilie looking the slightest bit proud of himself as you watched again this time without the panic or worry), Bea (you were surprised Gloria won against her actually. And you had a sneaking suspicion still that she might've won easily against her and Milo due to being worn out by the incoming of multiple trainers), and Allister again. Recounting that she had five gym badges thus fair, four needed to compete in the finals at the end of December, and was half way there already. This stop would hopefully make it five badges by the time of your departure. By the time it was night you all had the driver stop and take a rest for the night, you SO GLAD to be back on none moving land again with jello legs and shooting a glare to Gloria when she giggled at your predicament. Rinse and repeat. Pitching a tent, as the driver slept in the cab, and then the next morning you all packed and were off a second time. This time you didn't HAVE to be pulled in by Gloria but it still took a lot of coaxing and Gloria mentioning how much money she already paid for this trip to get you back on. But Gloria found out that meant you wouldn't budge unless she buckled up as well. Safety first after all. The second day went pretty much the same as yesterday lovingly distracting yourselves by talking a lot and looking anywhere but outside and down to keep your nerves down as well. During this time Gloria decided it'd be a great time to glue whatever pictures she had left over into her dex book as you two talked, apparently she planned on using the same lense on her camera to take pictures of the pokemon you both came across while in the Glimwood Tangle, and then showed you her small collection of League Cards so far. You weren't sure how she managed to balance a hobby of collecting multiple things on this trip but glad she was having fun and enjoying herself so far. Ultimately it reached the second night and you two (with her having to convince you) agreeing to flying through the night in order to reach Bellonlea by morning. It's safe to say sleep did NOT come easily to you that night when it eventually did come. The Moon replacing the sun and stars replacing the clouds. You weren't sure when or how you were able to fall asleep still buckled into the seats, but you must've been too tired to stay awake. The next thing you knew was that you were jarred awake in a panic when the entire cab was shaken like some rollar coaster upon landing on some path! Your Drizzilie chirping out in panic as it bumped in shook and even Gloria had clutched her seat for stability on your decent. Thankfully SOMEHOW NOT crashing but you two did end up a bit shaken from the experience.

"I'm so sorry!," a man's voice called out and you guessed the driver must've hopped off the bird pokemon because not a second later you saw his concerned self in the window looking at the three of you. "Is everyone alright? We were cut off by a flock of wild spearow outta no where!"

".....I'll let you know when I find out where my stomach flew off too," you mumbled back clutching your seat and still half asleep brain processing what had just happened.

"She's fine," Gloria assured rubbing her head, "Are we there?"

The man nodded and it was only when you finally dared to look out the window yourself you noticed that the cab was set down in the BIGGEST shadows from trees you had ever seen. Gloria was quick to unbuckle herself(thank gosh. You were glad she was buckled in for that fun fair ride-) and run herself out of the cab and after a moment you slowly followed. Legs feeling like Jello and SO GLAD to be on ground that you almost collasped to the grassy fields below you. When you looked up however is when you realized how small you actually felt. Before you was the BIGGEST DENSES TREES YOU HAD EVER SEEN!! THEY WERE LIKE SKYSCRAPERS WITH HOW BIG THEY WERE!! Their branches and leaves entertwined so much that the inside completely blocked out the light right inside the inner workings of the forest inside, and on the inside of the darkness you could make out lots and LOTS of different glowing lights in the shapes of mushrooms within there as the path you all landed on continued off into the darkness. And in front of the entrance to this forest was two large lamp posts that at the moment remained unlit. This was it. The Glimwood Tangle.

"I'm afraid this is as fair as I can take you ladies to Bellonlea." You blinked to the Driver as your Drizzlie stumbled out to walk over to you. "The trees are too tight nit to fly through and it'd be too dangerous to risk that."

"That's ok," Gloria assured him. "Would you mind waiting for us here? This shouldn't be take more than a couple hours if we're lucky."

He nodded. "Sure. Corviknight could use the break anyways after the long night we had."

She smiled before turning away and waving. "Thanks! We'll be back soon!" She walked past you towards the entrance to the forest and after blinking you followed. "OH! This is gonna be great!"

"Uh huh. And how are we not supposed to get lost in there?," you asked walking away the feeling of you as a violently shaking jello someone tossed to the floor with your pokemon at your side. "It's pitch black in there besides all those mushrooms but I dunno if that's gonna be enough to keep us from getting lost."

"Don't worry. I checked my regional maps before we got here. As long as we stay on the main dirt road and not go off onto any of the hiking trails or other paths leading to someone's house, we should be totally fine. And the main road is always the biggest one, so all we gotta do is stay on the biggest road and we're there...buuut it'll take us a bit to get to Bellonlea. It's dead smack in the middle of the forest and this place is pretty big."

"Y'know I think as long as we stay out of the hot sun I'll be perfectly fine. Just make sure the both of you stay close and no wondering off. The last thing I need after a ride like that is a sour stomach from worrying over you."

As you two entered leaving the taxi behind, it didn't take too long for it to get dark really fast. And it was like you two were traveling at night even tho you were absolutely sure it was daytime. You all marveled at the colorful glowing mushrooms along the path being your only source of light as you all traveled and casting dancing shadows within the dark as well across the trees. It was really beautiful but also in a way scary like when you all saw those ghost pokemon in the middle of the night. More than ONCE you had to smack one of the smaller glowing shrooms out of your drizzilie's hands before he could eat it. Maybe pokemon could eat these things, but you weren't about to risk finding out and unintentially making himself sick or worse. At the five minute mark the entrance you came through had completely disappeared from view, and at the ten minute mark the larger path shrank before splitting off into two different directions and you two had stopped...And you turned to Gloria who didn't look too sure where to go before pulling out her phone again as you stood there.

"Well so much for following the bigger path. Which way do we go?," you asked.

"Accordin' to the map we goooooo..." Gloria paused for a moment lifting a hand before pointing to the left, "That way! And then we go straight when we hit the second set of paths."

You two had continued down the path she pointed out with her phone out and she continued taking pictures now that you two began seeing a few pokemon. Usually some small imp looking pokemon she mentioned were called impadimps, a couple hatenna, some tea cup looking thing called a sinistea, some mushroom looking pokemon, and quite a few others as you two walked. Eventually coming across to the second set of pathways and continued to walk down the middle pathway as the map said to go....Although you began to have an off feeling as you walked. Almost as if you were being watched but that was ridiculous! There was pokemon all around you probably watching as the three of you walked on the pathway so of course you'd feel like you were being watched. But neither of you were aware of the larger figure moving from the brush over towards the both of you as you walked.

"So where do we go from here?," you asked watching a couple impadimps as they laughed and bounced on a mushroom as you walked, "And how long have we been walking anyways?"

"Lost count after forty five minutes. But accordin' ta this thing we take another left up ahead and that should lead us straight to Bellonlea!" The bushes up ahead of her rustled out as someone peeked out.

"Oh good. I'm kinda getting tired of walk-"

"FUGAAAA!" Before you had even finished talking the person in the bushes jumped out at you from the middle of the path spraying you two with a shower of leaves from the poor plants. Pokemon scattered as Gloria let out a scream and your Drizzilie let out a panicked chirp diving behind your legs. In an instant, Gloria was yanked from in front of you as you shoved her behind you from the crouched form, arms raised in a 'I'm going to get you' like way with a wild look in his eyes. "FUGAGAGA!! I'm a pokemon! Have a battle with me!"

Startled the two of you wide eyed stared at this messy looking man who had literally appeared out of NO WHERE....before you looking to the petrified looking teen peeking out from around your back. "Hey. Are you ok?"

"......Define 'ok'."

The man held up a hand with a crazed smile and spoke before you could speak again. "Listen for a second. Scorbunny and sizzlipede are different species, but they're still both pokemon! Scorbunny and I are different species just like sizzlipede and I are different too! If you think about it that way there's no problem with calling me a pokemon. I don't mind!," he explained/rambled on much to the terrified people in front of him.

"What?," Gloria eventually spoke after a silence, "Did you hit your head there, Lad?" She asked before ducking behind you again as he snapped to her. You were starting to feel very uncomfortable now and cringed with every word the man spewed from his mouth.

"What? You don't have to worry about me! Even I know it's pretty lofty logic. I...I wanted to become a pokemon once," he rambled on staring off into space at nothing..and you two exchanged an uncomfortable look.

"Uh..W-Well good luck with that-," you tried to defuse inching with the two behind you over towards the right around this crazy man.

"Hey! I've got it!," he giggled happily to himself, "A change of fashion style could change the way I feel too! Basically if I can make myself feel the same way a pokemon does, it'd be like I became a pokemom. Don't you think?!" The three of you froze as he snapped to you again. By now you were ready to just push this guy over and making a run for it if it'll mean to get away to safety. He suddenly pointed at you. "YOU! Would you please put on some clothes with a fiery spirit that embodies my burning feelings?"

....And you stared.....Was this middle aged crazy man asking you to change right here and now!? The man at your silence hummed and glossy eyes looked up towards the darkened tree canopy mumblng something about fire types..when your brows rose as an idea hit you. "....Gloria." Said freaked out brunette blinked up to you as you slowly leaned your head towards her but kept staring at the man who mumbled off to himself. You weren't risking taking your eyes off this creep for a second. "Listen to me very carefully. Reach into my bag and hand me the blue shirt with the arcanine printed on the front. Once he's distracted we'll make a run for it." She didn't answer you but by the way you were lightly forced to lean back and someone quickly opening your bag she didn't have too. After a moment longer a blue shirt was thrown over your shoulder as you grabbed it. OH! You hoped this would work. "Oh wow!" In an instant he snapped to you and your flinched...before slowly holding the shirt out. "What's this I found?"

"What's this? Is that-?" He snatched it from you and you quickly whipped your hand back as a result from his face actions. Curiously he opened the shirt and his crazy eyes widened more as he saw the arcanine printed on it. And he chuckled. "I feel like I've completely become a pokemon! Wearing a hot fire styled outfit can make you feel different! I feel like I've become a Fire Type pokemon!"

"RUN!!"

The man blinked as you both bolted. You gripping Gloria's hand for dear life as you both scrambled in fear to get the heck out of there. Your poor Drizzilie fearfully scrambling at your feet as the three of you ran as fast as you could down the pathway towards the next crossroads.

"W-WAIT! DONT YOU WANT TO BATTLE ME!?," the man called out after you.

You didn't answer and you didn't stop. Pumped full of panic and adrenaline telling you to get AWAY from that crazy guy. You both ran and RAN until you came to the third way the path split and stopped to catch your breath. Eventually you also released Gloria's hand when she gently tugged at you to let go and you did. Silence filled the air as you two just breathed for a moment, often glancing back to make sure the crazy guy didn't follow you. At one point you looked to Gloria who pointed in question towards the left path you needed to take to Bellonlea before you nodded your head and the two of you two slowly went on your way again still looking behind you in case the guy showed up. It was better to keep moving and get out of that area as soon as possible before that guy found you again. With a new tired feeling in your guts, you two made to continue on down the pathway deeper and deeper into this strange forest right out of a fairytale. You might as well have been walking for a good hour or more at this point when you all finally turned and there it was. Among a whole bunch of mushrooms, some of which being the BIGGEST you had seen thus far, was the unmistakable shine of the metal stadium through the trees, along with a lot of houses scattered around and that same pink pokemon center. The town of Bellonlea. And already there were a few people walking about as you could barely make out thanks to the lights in their houses and the glow from the mushrooms. Hopefully none of them were the weird man you had encountered back on the trail.

You pointed. "There it is! Guess your map was right after-" You had paused and blinked upon looking back to Gloria who was again digging through her bag. "What are you doing?"

She smiled holding up the old looking letter from her bag although it was slightly wrinkled from being in the bag for so long. "Don't ya remember? Allister said I needed ta return this letter ta whoever Frank is as soon as possible."

"Well...yeah. But I thought you were going to challenge Opal." You started walking as she did into the town.

"I am, but this seems really important for me ta do if even Allister thinks I should." She gestured around to the town of small fairytale houses you all couldn't stop admiring. "Plus there's not too many cabins 'ere. We should be able to find this Frank really quick."

"Well, let's ask someone. It'll be faster than knocking on doors at least." She agreed and you both walked up to the nearest person. A small little boy with brown hair and jeans playing with what you were assuming was his impadimp, but both looked up as you walked up to him and stopped. "Hi there" You greeted with a smile and wave. "Sorry to bug you but do you know if there's anyone named Frank who lives here?"

The boy blinked at you both. "Frank?" You both nodded at him. "Only one person in Bellonlea has that name. That's my granddad's name."

"Oh really?" His grandfather?? Why would a little girl write a love letter to someone's grandfather? But the boy nodded yes. "Could you tell us where he is right now?"

He turned and pointed to one of the cabins closest to the stadium. "In there with my sisters."

You smiled and waved at him again as Gloria immediately began walking in that direction. "Ok thanks!" Increasing your pace to catch up with her, the both of you walked up to the door and before you could say anything Gloria had already knocked loudly on the door.

There was a pause for a moment as you both looked at one another, then not a moment later footsteps approuched the door as you two looked back at it, and a man who looked to be in his early sixties and cap opened the doors to the two of you. And Gloria smiled. "Hi! Is there a Frank here?"

The man hummed looking the two of you girls over for a moment. "You're looking for Frank?" You both nodded. That'd be me yes. Can I help you ladies?"

Gloria held up the letter to him. "A girl in Hammerlocke asked us ta give this to ya."

He blinked in surprise at the letter. "What's this? You've got a letter addressed to me?" He reached out and grabbed the letter from Gloria, and the two of you watched as the elderly man opened it. "Now who could be sending me letters." He went silent for a moment as he opened the letter, held it up to his face, and scanned the words on it..before he smiled. "Oh! Why this says it's from Paula! That does take me back ages."

"Oh. So you two do know each other!"

He chuckled. "Paula was the name of a girl I spent all my time playing with when I was a young lad. She fell ill. Didn't tell me though. She kept it a secret just how sick she was. We ended up having a great row of it...then I moved away not long after that fight. I never met her again after the day I left."...Illness? The flashes of how sick the little girl looked flashed through your mind and when you looked at Gloria, who could see that the connections must've hit her too cuz she looked a bit pale. The man looked up at you two semi sadly. "How was she? Did she look well? Dear old Paula."

"I uh-....Well she looked...well I guess," you managed to force out awkwardly.

The man nodded. "That's a comfort to hear. I thank you both very kindly for delivering me this." He smiled again looking down at the letter. "For you've brought me back a piece of my youth. ...Do you have a dear friend in your life? Make sure you treasure those dear to you while you have them close."

You nodded before signaling to a lightly spooked Gloria that you all should go. "Y-Your welcome. Have a nice day, Sir." He smiled and nodded to the two of you before going to close the door as the two of you turned around. You felt a little spooked yourself. Both of you had just managed to step onto the path leading to the stadium too when-

"...Thank you..." You both froze at the young girl's voice. "..for delivering my letter...."

.........Both of you slowly looked to one another......before you pointed to the gym. "To the stadium?"

"TO THE STADIUM!," Gloria agreed grabbing your arm and already making you two speed walk towards the building. As you both quickly approuched, neither wanting to acknowledge what had just happneded, you were more surprised by how they managed to find a big enough space between the tight knit trees to build it. Gloria letting go of your hand the closer you both got to the stadium and it's entance. "Why don't you go on ahead and go around and to the seating area then?" She suggested as she stopped in the doorway. "I'll just go ahead and go do the gym challenge. Oh. After this I'll need ta stop by the center and move some of my new wee ones inta rotomi boxes."

You nodded. Sounded like a plan to you. After all you were wanting to get away and distract yourself from the goosebumps forming on your arms. "Alright. You be careful now." She nodded before turning and with a whoosh sound the door opened for her to enter, and you turned to your bored looking drizzilie. "C'mon. Let's head in through the side doors and get a good front row seat. Ok?"

He rolled his eyes and groaned but followed you anyways as you turned and began walking around the giant stadium. To make a long story you walked around the giant stadium and found the entrance leading into the stadium for people to access the bleachers, and went inside with your drizzilie right behind you looking bored as always. The regular flight of stairs you usually encountered with these stadiums lead up, and up until you both reached the enormous stadium insides that you were used too. With rows upon rows of seats but besides you and your pokemon there was at most maybe twenty other people besides you that you could tell. Must be due to Bellonlea being such a remote and small town. But hey! This gave you a great chance to get a front row seat to a battle for a change and experience it at least once. Still following you, your Drizzilie walked behind you all the way towards the very first row facing the giant grassy field and joined you as you sat down with it taking up a seat next to you. Perfect! Now all you had to do was wait!........And wait...........and wait........And wait some more. You hadn't realized how long it would take for you to wait for Gloria to finish the gym's challenge, but that's alright. You didn't mind waiting. It gave you a long chance to rest your feet and for your Drizzilie to fall asleep leaning it's head back on the seat. And you chuckled at it's snoring. .......And waited even longer with a sigh. Until FINALLY with what seemed like forever somone came onto the field. You didn't even notice it at first bored out of your mind, with your head leaning in your hand until you just happened to look up at the screen and perked right up seeing someone. HEY! It was the same elderly lady you and Gloria kept running into! It was Opal. And at this very moment she was slowly making her way across the field, until she got to the very center, and turned to face the middle and closing her eyes. As if waiting for someone. And it didn't take too long for you to find out too. Gloria came jogging onto the scene out from one of the openings onto the field and you perked right up as she walked right over across from Opal who finally opened her eyes to her. You watched as they exchanged a few words, before jumping at the announcer's voice.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!! THE GYM BATTLE BETWEEN GYM CHALLENGER GLORIA AND GYM LEADER GLORIA SHALL BEGIN!! BATTLERS PLEASE TAKE YOUR PLACES!!" Both turned, Opal more slowly than Gloria obviously, before walking to their places on the field. Before turning to face one another. "POKEMON AT THE READY!! FIRST ROUND MATCH BEGIN!!"

In a flash of bright light both ladies sent out their pokemon. Gloria her raboot and Opal a weezing. And Opal was first to make a move when, fast for an old lady too, she slammed her umbrella to the ground and the wheezing puffed up it's cheeks like it was about to puke and suddenly it began spatting out purple glowing balls at the raboot. The move was sludge if you remember right. In an instant the rabbit pokemon looked panicked and began hoping about in weird poses and sometimes belly flopping to avoid the oncoming toxic attack thrown at it. Until Gloria pointed and gave it an attack. Then it was a whole new ball game as the raboot used that same technique you recognized she used back when battling Kabu. Using the quick attack of the raboot to boost it's speed as it turned it body and began charging at the weezing who amplified it's sludge attacks just as quick as the raboot was running with the flames at it's feet. Kicking something towards the weezing like a soccer ball player would before with a mighty bound it launched itself into the air, and kicked the flaming rock ember move at bullet speed towards the weezing. And no sooner than it did when a giant sludge ball hit it directly as well. With a cry of pain the small bunny pokemon FELL to the ground hard onto it's back. And didn't move. Meanwhile the rock launched at the weezing went straight into the larger mouth and the reaction was instant. It doubled over. In fact it went straight down to the ground almost at the same time as the raboot when the poison attack hit it head on. Your eyes widened as you leaned forward from where you were sitting. The weezing was unable to move besides shaking a bit and coughing from the flaming rock that went into it's mouth, and Raboot stayed there laying on the ground...until it got up. The poor thing looked like it was in pain forcing itself to sit up, and then eventually stand wobbling on it's two shaking feet. Shaking it's head and then facing the weezing with a look of determination in it's eyes. At least it did before the weezing was gone within a flash of light back into it's pokeball by Opal.

"FIRST ROUND MATCH OVER!! WEEZING WAS DETERMINED TO BE UNABLE TO BATTLE!!," Announcer stated as Gloria swiftly returned her own pokemon. "GYM CHALLENGER WINS FIRST ROUND!! SECOND ROUND MATCH IS ABOUT TO START! PLEASE READY YOUR POKEMON!!....POKEMON AT THE READY!! SECOND ROUND MATCH BEGIN!!"

And in more bright lights appeared two pokemon with the ability to fly. Opal sending out a togakiss and Gloria a corvi-......A CORVIKNIGHT!? SINCE WHEN DID SHE GET A CORVIKNIGHT!? The VERY large and black pokemon gave out a mighty roar at it's opponent. A shiver running down your spine. You still didn't forget how you arrived here after all. Opal was first to make a move again as she pointed and the togakiss sent out what looked like giant orbs of rocks. Ancient power?? Gloria did nothing at first and the corviknight screeched out an annoyed or perhaps painful reaction as the rocks shot out at bullet speed head on collided with it. But the BLOODY giant bird didn't even land from it's flying in place position, jut shake out it's feathered head and looked to the togakiss. Before bright light slash marks were made at it. Hone Claws! Was she planning on using the same technique she used against Hop? Well you found out when the corviknight let out a shrill cry that seemed to finally wake your sleeping drizzilie as it spread it's wings and with one beat of it wings launched itself into the air, before doing an entire circle upside down and with it's beak glowing launched itself right towards the togakiss who it turn made it's wing like appendages glow and with a shrill bolted right towards the corviknight. They were using steel wing to combat the drill peck!! But who'd win in this clash. Or at least that's what you thought would happen. To be honest what happened next was so fast you couldn't believe it unless you were sitting right there to watch as the corviknight out of no where extended it's GIANT sharp claws, and like an eagle completely SNATCHED the togakiss right out of mid air, encasing it comepletely in one of it's feet. Startled the togakiss could do only one thing at the moment. Shrill cry in panic as the corviknight parachuted using it's wings as it flew overhead. Opal must've been as surprised as you as you all watched the heavy duty bird pokemon, landed on the very edge of the feild with the yelling togakiss in its claws, stumbling a bit with landing on one leg, then simply while still holding the togakiss, placed it on the ground outside the boundary lines.

"SECOND ROUND MATCH OVER!! TOGAKISS IS OUT OF BOUNDS!! GYM CHALLENGER WINS SECOND ROUND!!" You watched as the corviknight ruffled its feathers before giving a few chirping noises, and walked it's way back over towards Gloria who waved at it. The togakiss looking rather spooked and shocked sat there for a moment....before flopping over onto it's side. And you frowned at it. Poor thing. You felt it's pain. "PLEASE READY YOUR POKEMON AS THE THIRD ROUND BATTLE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!!" In a flash of light both pokemon disappeared off the field and you hope the poor togakiss would be alright after that. "POKEMON AT THE READY!! THIRD ROUND MATCH BEGIN!!"

Although things were looking really well for Gloria so far. She won two rounds! Two more pokemon entered the field. Gloria's roselia and Opal's mawile. Oh boy. Gloria better watch out for those giant jars. In fact it didn't look too good at all when the thing use steel guard! That means it's defenses rose greatly. And Gloria pointed. The roselia used what you recognized as it's famous stun spore attack as it darted towards the mawile at lightning speeds, roses already tingling with electricity as the mawile turned to face it's upcoming attack as the grass pokemon threw it's roses out in a move to shoot at it- When the GIANT MAW engulfed it entirely. Stunned, you and your Drizzilie watched as the mawile gave a shrill as the stun spore kicked in and it's body was enveloped in electricity. Before with a grit, it raised the maw the roselia was still encased in, and SLAMMED IT down onto the ground multiple times. SLAM!! SLAM!! SLAM!! The sickening sounds echoed throughout the mostly empty stadium as you grimaced and could only watch as with a final slam the mawile stopped...it's body giving a spark every so often..before it's giant maw opened and the poor roselia fell out unconcious.

"THIRD ROUND MATCH IS OVER!! ROSELIA IS UNABLE TO BATTLE!! VICTORY OF THE MATCH GOES TO THE GYM LEADER!!" You sighed slumping back into your seat. Oh well. Couldn't win them all. Well she won two out of three rounds anyways so that was good enough to get a bad- "PLEASE PREPARE YOUR POKEMON FOR THE FINAL ROUND!!" Your eyes popped back open. Final round?! You mean there's more than three rounds!? "POKEMON AT THE READY TO DYNAMAX!! FINAL MATCH MAY BEGIN!!"

You leaned forward as you watched. Red energy forming around their wrists for the dynamax bands and you breathed. Here we go. Both held pokeballs the size of watermelons glowing red, and with incredable strength on Opal's part. Both tossed them into the air. And then came the shaking of the stadium as you held onto your seat as they appeared. Opal's alcremie as it was huge and.....and......looked like a giant decorated cake you'd find at a wedding or fancy party. Huh. Didn't remember that. On the other hand with Gloria, out came her corviknight. Her GIANT. Black. Menacing looking. Corviknight. Which gave a giant shrill cry of it's own that made your otherwise bored looking drizzilie yelp in fear and LEAP into your arms knocking you back against the seat for a moment. Not that you could really blame him really. You had bad experiences with this type of pokemon after all. And you could guess why Gloria would choose her corviknight. Raboot was most likely still affected by that poison attack from the weezing and even if he could still stand, he'd be crushed easily from being weakened. And roselia was most likely still passed out from mawile's body slamming. Corviknight would be the obvious choice since he didn't seem to be too affected by how easily he took down the togakiss and being a flying and steel type pokemon, he would be the most durable against a dynamaxed alcremie. Opal lifted her umbrella again and slammed it back down and the now dynamaxed alcremie made it's first move. You had too look away fromhow bright it was as the corviknight let out a shrill eagle like cry of pain as light enveloped it ending with a burst of stars but that big chicken was still flapping by the time you even looked back up, the wind from it's massize wings making you squint against it. It was bad enough the entire place shook as you held onto your petrified drizzilie and seat to not get knocked off. Instead more bright light danced across the sky infront of it, Hone claws. Before the thing let out a loud caw of protest as what you could only discribe as a huge pink light in the shape of a kiss mark and pink marks danced around it's head. What the- OH! That must've been alcremie's Draining Kiss move! Although unluckily for it it didn't seem to be very affective towards the bird brain. Another giant eagle cry pierced the air making your ear hurt and two black jet streams poured from it's wings. You watched as the dark jet streams poured like snakes from it's wings and in that move you had seen it use before when battling Milo encircled the poor pokemon. Encasing it with a dome of black before exploding in a blast of black. The alcremie crying out in pain as is tilted towards the ground. The pokemon went out in an explosion that sent dirt clouds flying up everywhere as it timbered glowing brightly through the dust clouds as it magically shrank down within it's own mess. You all watched with baited breath as the clouds spread out and covered the famous gym leader as well, Gloria's bird pokemon glowing a bright reddish color before beginning to shrink down until it was back to it's normal size. Normal being big enough to carry off a whole elephant. And you slammed your eyes shut at the shaking and the dirt that flew up everywhere with the gust of wind blowing it everywhere. ....You coughed and waved your hand in front of your face to swat away any left over dirt from your face as the dust clouds slowly settled on the field in front of you. Gloria was doing the same with the giant bird pokemon standing right behind her and Opal was merely standing there with a calm expression as if a giant pokemon didn't just fall over and shrink behind her...speaking of the alcremie, it was no where in sight when the dust settled other than the rubble it left behind in it's wake. Did that mean-

"FINAL ROUND OVER!! ALCREMIE WAS DETERMINED TO BE UNABLE TO CONTINUE BATTLE!! VICTORY OF THE GYM BATTLE GOES TO THE GYM CHALLENGER!!," the announcer shouted over the mic.

You sighed in relief, leaning back against your seat from all the tention that you had been feeling throughout this entire experience. Gloria and Opal in the mean time walked over and met somewhere in the middle of the field most likely talking, and you took that as your que to stand and slowly lower the lightly spooked drizzilie to the ground off your lap.

"Come on," you said starting towards the stairs as it blinked and followed you, "Let's go wait for her outside." You had made your way out of the stadium and walked the full way around the stadium towards the front of the Bellonlea gym to where the door was located and Gloria would soon walk out. And that's where you waited with your Drizzilie patiently until you turned your head at the whoosh sound of the door and smiled upon seeing the excited face of Gloria jog out excitedly. "Hey! There you are! Took you a while to get to the field."

"Hey. It's not my bloody fault," she protested with a light frown, "Opal's challenge was ta battle three of her employees n' answer questions at the same time! N' then she even asked me stuff during the battle!! I'm lucky I didn't exhaust my pokemon fully before the actual battlin' began! I swear she just does that to wear ya down before battle...OH! N' I ran inta Marnie again."

Your brows rose at that little tidbit. "Really?"

She nodded. "Yep. Ya probably didn't see 'er since you were already headed off to the entrance ta watch me."

You nodded in agreement. "Yeah. That is probably why I didn't see her leave." You then looked around with a raised brow suspiciously. Did that mean Team Yell was also around here as well? They usually weren't far behind if Marnie was involved. You hummed before turning to Gloria and pointing the way back towards the pokemon center. "Well, how about we head back to the pokemon center and get your pokemon checked out then head back to the cab?"

As much as you didn't want to ride that taxi again, you weren't too comfortable staying now that there might be Team Yell on top of that crazy man from the woods running around. Luckily Gloria was already wanting to get her pokemon checked out and it didn't take too long for you two to get to the pokemon center for her pokemon to get patched up. Thank god Nurse Joy was a miracle worker with these kind of things. It only took about ten minutes for her to heal up Gloria's pokemon and another five minutes for Gloria to comb through her rotomi boxes to add a few more pokemon she required before the two of you were able to leave the pink building and head back towards the way you two came in.

"So, do you know the way back out?," you asked glancing at Gloria. She hummed with a nod holding up her phone to you. "Good. If we run into that crazy guy again we'll have Drizzilie spray him down and make a break for it. Hopefully we won't run into him again."

"Hold on now." Both of you paused, blinking before looking behind you and low and behold right there walking slowly up towards the both of you was none other than Opal herself once again.

"Ms. Opal?," Gloria asked confused, "What are ye doin' 'ere?"

"I've got a few errands to run in Hammerlocke," she explained, "Care to join me for the journey?" Both of you blinked before looking at one another in a mix of confusion and surprise. "If you're headed for the next gym stadium you'll need to get to Hammerlocke too after all."

"Next stadium?"

"Oh right. We can take the train to Circhester from Hammerlocke!," Gloria mentioned and your mood soured a bit at the memory of Raihan hitting on you. You had to go back there??

"I surely do hope you wouldn't mind if I caught a ride back with both you young ladies. And as thanks I wouldn't mind covering the tab for the ride over there," Opal offered, "If you wouldn't mind of course."

"Are ya kiddin? With pleasure!," Gloria answered with a wide smile and nod and you sighed.

"Excellent. They say two's company after all." Two? Counting Drizzilie there was four of you taking this trip back now. She began slowly moving towards the exit herself. "Come along now. If we want to start before nightfall I suggest we leave now."

"Sure." You made to go after her but paused. "...Wait. How long will it take to get back to Hammerlocke from here?"

"Not very long with the taxi," Gloria mentioned following the older woman, "About five days and even faster if we fly one or two nights."

You groaned but followed after them. This journey just keeps getting better and better.