#then again Flygon is just a better bring since it actually has time to be used | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

battletowered · 3 years ago

Text

Anniversary

Headcanon Drabble in Leon’s “ more severe darkest day au ” verse which I’m reposting and bringing forward to this blog from the archive for the anniversary.

TW: Deals with mourning and major character death.

Leon shifts, rolling over in bed and throwing his arm over his eyes, the first rays of the sun already coming in through his window and shining on his face. There’s a thump and a pattering sound.

One.... Two…. Three… Four… Fi--

There’s a trill, and the feeling of a body colliding with his own, forcing the air out of his lungs for a moment. Leon feels a muzzle nosing at the arm over his face, trying to wriggle under the weight of his arm for snuggles.

“‘M not awake yet.” he whines, though it seems to have very little effect on the excited pokemon squirming on top of him. He sighs affectionately, giving up on the idea of getting any more sleep this morning, instead prying his eyes open and looking down at the clingy flygon that has come to perch on his chest. Leon doesn’t mind it as much as he probably should. Instead he rubs Flygon’s head while he builds up the energy to get up and be productive this morning.

He’s got a lot on his plate today, after all, it would be naive of him to think that trying to go back to sleep would make that go away. Besides, if Flygon was awake already, that meant that the rest of his pokemon were soon to be up as well. Even Margo peers at him from where she normally slept on the edge of his bed, as if confirming that point. Flygon seemed to punctuate that point by nuzzling at his face more persistently, and Leon laughed drowsily.

“Alright, alright, I’m up!”

-_-_-_-

“No, Goodra, I just finished showering.” Leon ducks a slimy kiss as he works on preparing breakfast for his pokemon. He doesn’t have to cook anything (thank god), but Raihan’s pokemon all had a specialized diet and he couldn’t bring himself to change that for them when they came to live with him.

Goodra bloops at him playfully, and Leon huffs. It was a game they played every morning, where Leon would shower and try to get ready for the day and she’d try to ruin his dress shirt by snuggling him. He ducks through her wet grasp again as he steps around her, and she follows after him, finally taking notice of her breakfast in his hand.

Once he’s managed to get everyone fed, he opens the rear door to his home and takes a seat at his patio with a cup of tea to wake himself up. He’s been living here for a while now-- it had been maybe six or seven months since he’d signed the mortgage for this place-- but he didn’t think he’d ever quite get over how pretty the property was. It may not have been quite Postwick, but it felt like home-- several acres of land that were open until they met the forested tree line or the corral fencing he’d spent his first weekend here putting up.

It wasn’t quite Postwick, but it was close, at least. Plus, he was just outside of Wedgehurst, he really was closer to home than he’d ever been. It might have meant commuting to get to work, but it was worth it if for nothing else than the sense of peace it gave him.

Well. Most days. Today he can’t quite shake the little pit of dread that’s sitting in his stomach.

There’s a sleepy bleat, and he turns his head in time to see Lanolin. She bleats again, drowsily, and then bumps her head against his, giving him an expectant look. She seems to know that something’s bothering him, and tries to nip at his hair repeatedly until Leon laughs at her insistence. She seems pleased to have gotten whatever result she wanted, and then went bounding off into the yard to graze.

One thing is for certain, he’s never lonely here. Not the way he had been in Wyndon. His home is always full-- with pokemon and friends and family. It had been entirely overwhelming at first, but overwhelming in the best way possible. A reminder of how loved he was, and he was grateful.

At this time normally, he’d already be at the Battle Tower, leaving at the crack of dawn to be on time, but on Amelia’s request, he’d taken the day off. The importance of the date hadn’t been lost on her, he’d noted, but she didn’t force him to talk about it, and he appreciated it.

Things were starting to feel a little more okay, but that didn’t make it any easier to talk about. He was adjusting, he guessed. Or, at least he was adjusting better than he had been before, because his chest didn’t clench painfully every time that he thought about it, now. It was hard to avoid dealing with those feelings when every morning Raihan’s pokemon lived and worked alongside him.

Leon is too lost in thought to react fast enough when a pair of wet limbs encircle his shoulders, and he shudders as he feels a wet plop against the crown of his head and a contented blurble.

Goodra wins.

-_-_-_-

A fresh change of clothes later, and Leon is finally ready to leave the house. He glances out over the yard again, where most of his extended family of Pokemon have gathered and are now sunbathing or playing. He watches Duraludon and Aegislash play-fight for a moment until Margo nudges him and chuffs.

He pats her cheek, but stares resolutely out the window. Now that it’s come to actually leaving… he’s dragging his feet. Margo seems to be able to tell, and she nudges him and chuffs again, harder this time. He sighs, but nods, finally.

“Alright, come on girl. It’s going to be a long ride. You ready?” She watches him for a moment, like she’s trying to figure something out, and then shakes out her shoulders and spreads her wings so that he can climb on her back. Leon has no idea what that was about.

-_-_-_-

It’s surprising how quiet it is. He guesses it’s because, despite showing up later than he did the year before, he’s still pretty early in the morning. There’s already bouquets and balloons, but no people that he can see, and he kind of appreciates it. The gravestone has been cleaned recently, and the two cypress trees which stand next to it have gotten taller-- they’re already taller than he is.

He tries not to think too hard about that. It reminds him it’s been two years.

Instead, he sits, and stays for a while. Margo didn’t want to go into her ball, but since she’s not bothering anyone, he doesn’t mind. He lays against her side, tucked under her wing. The sound of pidove cooing and the distant hubbub of Hammerlocke city are almost soothing, and it fills the silence that Leon isn’t sure how to fill himself. At least this year he has enough of a handle on himself that he can bear to actually spend some time at his best friend’s grave.

He spends an hour and a half. Some people drop by, though most are Raihan’s family coming to pay respects of their own. He trades condolences with some and shares fond memories with others. It’s nice.

Before he leaves, Leon remembers that he’s brought something of his own as a gift. He pulls a photograph out of his coat’s pocket, protected by a waterproof acrylic frame. Leon pushes the peg down into the ground next to the stone, and then steps back to appraise the photo. He hopes Raihan would be happy to see it. It’s just a photograph of Leon in his yard, the day that Raihan’s pokemon came to live with him permanently. They look happy. Leon has a lot more that he would have liked to have brought, but he figures the grave keepers wouldn’t appreciate having to step around two dozen acrylic photograph holders when they did their rounds. It’s a shame, the picture of Goodra hugging him hard enough to lift him off the ground that Hop too was really cute. Maybe he can bring that one another time.

Margo pulls him close to her body as they turn to the exit of the graveyard, tucking him underneath a wing in a way that she hasn’t done since he was young. Leon lets her fuss, because he knows she’s only doing it because she’s worried.

Leon doesn’t feel as bad as he expected to. Maybe because every time he comes here it reminds him how loved Raihan was, and still is, loved. He likes to think that wherever Raihan is now that he knows that.

-_-_-_-

It isn’t until the flight home that the grief hits him, and when it does, it hits him so hard that he’s suddenly choking around the thickness in the throat and struggling to see as tears cloud his vision.

Margo senses his distress and brings the both of them down to rest on the ground. They’re halfway home-- she lands in the first clearing she can find and sends several bug pokemon scrambling for the brush in panic when she does. She bellows over her shoulder in concern. Leon’s grip fails him as she shifts to stand a little taller, and he falls into a heap onto the ground, shaking because he feels like he’s not able to get enough air into his lungs.

He doesn’t know what’s set it off, but he’s so suddenly overwhelmed with the thought that he was gone and Leon had never made the time to make sure he knew how much he mattered to him. He wishes he could still tell him, but now all he can do is leave gifts as a grave and hope that somehow his message reaches him. He feels sick, his head is pounding like it’s too full and he feels like his ribs are squeezing in on him.

Margo has to drag him up off the ground, and she wraps her wings around him the way she might for one of her clutches of charmanders and rumbles deep in her chest.

-_-_-_-

Leon doesn’t make it home until nearly 6pm. After spending 45 minutes crying, Margo had dragged him to one of his favorite bakeries in Wyndon, apparently having realized herself that whenever Leon was feeling down he buried his feelings with sugar. He’s exhausted, and the first thing he did when he arrived home was slump down on his couch.

He’s awake for all of five minutes before he falls asleep right there, on his own couch.

When he reawakens, it’s nearly 9 pm and he finds himself surrounded by pokemon. Margo has her snout nuzzled against his hand which has slumped off the edge of the couch, and Flygon has perched on his stomach, curled up like a sleeping purrloin.

Maybe he’s not okay as he should be, but he’s starting to get there.

#ic || standing on top of the world #Verse || Mourn with the moon and the stars up above #queue;;#Drabbles || Written Histories #tw: character death #tw: major character death #tw: character death mention #major character death #character death #character death mention #||this has not been edited or betad so sorry if its rough||#||Happy anniversary its time for p a i n||

3 notes · View notes

punz4lyfe · 4 years ago

Photo

Okie dokes, this episode. When I first read the leaked summary and I saw the preview for it, my expectations were... um.... iffy? There were just some things I felt could go really wrong if dealt with incorrectly, but after seeing the episode myself, I have to say that it was... okay. Was it a bad episode? Not in the slightest. But was it perfect? Not even close, but nothing’s perfect anyways.

To help get a better understanding of where I’m going at, here are my overall thoughts:

1. Ash’s depression in this episode was, imo, not necessarily dealt with well. Compared to past depression sessions from his losses against the likes of Paul, Wulfric, and Napu, it was just kinda cringey with how subtle Ash is with it. In all those past instances, when Ash was depressed, it was still noticeable, but not in an overly-dramatic way. Heck, with all the “droopey” effects shown around the beginning when Ash was starting to get depressed, it was like they were trying to showcase his state in a comedic manner, which is just... no! If we want to take his depression seriously, then it needs to be done in a more-so serious sense, not in a way for people to laugh at.

2. Speaking of his depression, the reason why Ash was so down wasn’t that good either. Ash became depressed when his ranking reached back down to Normal after suffering two consecutive losses with Riolu. Much like with Bea, though, if you really look into it, it kinda seems he just took it was too seriously. One, his ranking barely went down that much and if he went that down by losing to two normie trainers, then he can easily go back up by beating two normie trainers with different Pokemon. Two, this is Ash we’re talking about. The same guy who, before Alola, lost six consecutive regional leagues (discounting the Orange Islands) when league victories was his primary goal. When he lost the Kanto League because of his sleeping Charizard, did he doubt himself as a trainer? No! He got up and kept going! Especially since now Ash has won a regional league (two counting the Orange Islands this time), with a new goal in mind, three simple loses shouldn’t be that much to bring him down. Three, as mentioned before, the two losses Ash suffered at the beginning were done with Riolu against two Pokemon with tentacles as a callback to their past lose against Bea’s Grapploct. Yes, it’s true Riolu is Ash’s youngest member of his team, so he needs more training. But Farfetch’d is also new and he lost as well, so about him? Plus, shouldn’t this be an eye-opener for Ash to train Riolu and Farfetch’d on his sides while using the already-powerful Pikachu, Dragonite, and Gengar to help build his rank back up? This is now all seeming like a bunch of missed opportunities now. (also I need to move on because this second point is now LOADED with words)

3. The goggles are back and that one gag with Sobble was pretty cute and funny. (though, how many times have they been to Hoenn now?)

4. Ash commanded Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on a Flygon... I could rant more about this, but I’ll save it for the next point.

5. Goh’s capture of Flygon. We all knew it was coming. How? The intro. But Goh having powerful Pokemon is not so much the issue. It’s just the way is was handled and much more. Ooooh boy, where do I begin with this? First off, because Ash’s mind was too lost in his previous losses, Goh was the one who took over for the battling this time. To get Flygon in their grasps, Goh actually incorporated many of Ash’s own previous strategies to turn the tide in his favor, like using Sobble to wash away the Sandstorm, using Raboot’s hearing to detect Flygon, and then having Raboot climb over Flygon’s Draco Meteor. One problem is this: When the hecks did Goh get so good? This is a far-cry from his previous battles when he mostly relied on booksmarts which perfectly contrasted from Ash’s on-the-fly strategy motif. Yes, Goh should improve, but seeing him be this good just feels too soon. Like his unseen victory over the Karate Master, it feels the writers are giving Goh too much credit without any proper development beforehand. Is he secretly training with Ash on the side? Does he take notes of Ash during his battles? We need at least SOME semblance of development, otherwise, it just feels wrong with all these achievements, and while I’m glad that he’s earning his captures for a change, giving him a Pokemon as powerful Flygon THIS EARLY with all what I said in mind just seems incredibly iffy. A perhaps better way of having him catch Flygon imo would be to start off incorporating strategies similar to Ash’s. Ash, instead of just sitting on the ground, SEES what Goh’s trying to do and gives him the tips needed to do stuff like climb Flygon’s Draco Meteor. Taking Ash’s advice in mind, Goh would defeat Flygon and catch it afterwards, thanking Ash for the tip and then asking him if he feels better, which Ash agrees to because helping Goh pull off his own tricks restored his battling spirit. And this brings up my last point...

6. The ending. Look, Ash and Goh are best friends and they’re supposed to always have each other backs, I get it. By the way things turned out at the end, especially with the framing, just seems off. Yes, I said framing. The way both trainers and Pokemon were set up with Goh kneeling over a sitting Ash and Raboot looking taller than Pikachu and Riolu while staring down at them just, imo, gives the interpretation that Ash and his mons should be the ones learning from Goh and his. Of course, with the next episode in mind, this is probably not the case, but it just seems wrong. Ash is a champion while Goh is still a beginner, so Goh should still be the one learning from Ash. Again, I’m probably thinking too much of this, but I still feel it should’ve been treated better.

7. While the effects were great as usual, I feel Ash’s battles at the beginning were a little on the slow side. Goh’s battle against Flygon was overall smooth, especially with the Draco Meteor part, but some parts kinda dragged for too long, like Flygon’s Dragon Rush.

Overall, not the best, but certainly not the worst. I’m glad Goh got Ash outta his depression, despite there being better directions it could’ve taken, but from what we’ve got, I’m fine with it. (plus, in a friend-zy sense, he handled Ash’s depression kinda better than Serena. Like, girl, I LOVE you to death, but throwing snowballs is now how you talk to depressed people) ‘Sides, next week we’re going back to Alola!! I know many fans have already said this, but LET THE CHAMPION TITLE BE KNOWN.

#pokemon #pokemon anime #pokemon journeys #anipoke #pokeani #ash ketchum #pikachu #riolu #goh #raboot #sobble #flygon #hoenn

24 notes · View notes

alolanrain · 5 years ago

Text

Found Family!AU *Christmas Edition* Pt.2

Imagine Opal dealing with Madam Boss and bby Giovanni

Gio learns all his baking skills from his Aunt Opal

But his mother hated her sister with a passion

So he doesn’t see her often

When Madam Boss dies, it’s a bloody gory mess, he’s the first one to call her

“I have a son.” Is his hello, because I’m not making Giovanni and utter asshole in this AU he’s going to love Ash from a distance and actually steps down from Team Rocket the first time Ash stops him

And Opal is like, “P l e a s e let it be with that Female Kanto Trainer you brought to Galar that one Christmas, she’s such a sweet heart.”

And Opal finds out it is!!!

She puts her foot down on choosing the name bc Giovanni is fucking HORRIBLE with names and Delia was so tired and stressed a lot during the pregnancy to the point she couldn’t get a lot of shit down for the baby’s

Ash forces reluctant Grunkle Kabu to come to Alola for a week to meet up with extremely reluctant Grunkle Nanu

NANU AND KABU ARE EX-BOYFRIENDS

And Ash doesn’t even KNOW

Acerola kinda knows bc there’s this one picture her Uncle Nanu has at his desk at the police station next to a frame of her parents, him, and Acerola as a baby

She never commented on it and catches Nanu either looking at it with such a warm smile or either a really pained look in his eyes

it was a friendly split up

Both got to busy

And just had to let go

But it still hurt them a lot

ALLISTER AND ACEROLA ARE GHOST BESTIES

No but I’m expanding on the relationship of Bby! Ash and Gary with the older Head Chairman, who I’m naming Diego Thorn, and Younger!Rose, and finally Younger!Kabu

I’m hc that the Chairman BEFORE Chairman Thorn was named Theo Grass

So it’s kinda like earth, grass, thorn, then rose

Because it’s the pretty things in life that are truly poisonous

grumpy Grunkles are getting back together with the help of Ash, Gary, and the Ghost baby’s

the only reason why Kabu is considered a Grunkle is because both Ash and Gary seemed to have fucking LOVED him so much and he fathered Delia a lot since her own family was shit

So he’s the honorary Grunkle while Nanu IS Ash’s Grunkle bc yes tf Nanu is Giovanni’s Uncle but he’s really distant so he never actually found out Ash was his great Nephew until Ash at the age of 20-something came stumbling into his police station with wide whisky brown eyes and shocking black hair and a jaw line that seemed to familiar that Nanu could never forget

Chairman Thorn ALWAYS Came down from his work place, dragging Rose and his own assistant/secretary, Milly, to see bby Ash and Gary bc he’s a really big family man and the two boys absolutely adore him as much as Thorn adored them

And Delia was so afraid at first that Opal would nearly be/ or just plain be the same as Madam Boss and hurt the poor girl but it’s quite the opposite

Opal spoiled her SO HARD, she was the one to make sure that Delia and Gio had everything they could need for Bby Ash’s arrival and afterwards

And both women found out that they share a deep love for winter in general

So they start small traditions that they then pass down to Ash and Gary, because the Oaks get sucked into this bc Professor Oak can’t say no and Daisy loves Delia like the mom she barely remembers

And Opal is just like “Yes more great grand babies.”

And she was there for Delia when Giovanni left Ash and Delia, yes she was absolutely ROYALY pissed at her Nephew, but she also knew why Gio did what he did

Because he did the best thing to protect her, Ash, and by extent the Oaks as well

Because he fathered Gary and Daisy as much as Delia mothered them

But it because a tradition to bring the kids up to Galar to see Graunty Opal and Grunkle Kabu and spend the second week of December all the way to a week after New Years there

So like almost a whole month of family lovin’ time

BUT IMAGINE BBY ASH WADDLING INTO THE GYM FEILD AND CLINGING ONTO OPAL WHOS TALKING TO LEON/RAIHAN/OR BOTH BEFORE THEIR GYM BATTLE

AND SHE NEEDS TO GRAB SOMTHING BUT ASH IS CLINGING ONTO HER LEG SO OPAL JUST S C O O P S HIM UP AND HANDS HIM OVER TO THE TRAINER(S) AND IS LIKE “brb gotta go get some stuff before hand” AND JUST L E A V E S THEM THERE WITH BBY ASH WHO HAS JUST STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS AND HAS FALLEN SO HARD IN LOVE WITH POKÉMON

Raihan would just inwardly panic bc he’s never been good with baby’s before

But damn OH DAMN does Leon start bouncing Ash up and down while trying his best to answer Ash’s questions because he absolutely ADORES children at Ash’s age and wants to get better bc his mom and dad are thinking about having another kid and he wants to be the BEST big brother that he can be

Then Gary waddles over bc he couldn’t find Ash and Gary’s suppose to stick by Ash’s side to make sure the younger boy doesn’t get hurt

Raihan would start to panic even more bc there’s TWO babies now

But Leon would be ecstatic because there’s T W O BABIES NOW

HHH SO THEN COUSIN LEON BECOMES A THING

BUT ITS A SHORT THING BC ASH HAS TK GO BACK HOME AND HE DOESNT SEE LEON ANYMORE

but then he comes back with Gou in tow and the first part of the HC happens and then he sees Leon again

And everyone just watches Leon gush’s about how Ash and Gary were so cute as toddlers and then Ash recalls and just screams “COUSIN L!!!!” Because as a Bby he couldn’t pronounce Leon’s full name

And Hop is like “w h a t”

BUT ALSO IMAGINE NEWLY GRANTED GYM LEADER PIERS BEING BROUGHT OVER TO OPALS HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS BECAUSE HIS FAMILY IS S H I T AND HE MEETS ASH AND GARY

DELIA KINDA SUBCONSCIOUSLY BECOMES A MOM TO PEIRS DURING THAG MONTH AND ASH IS LIKE

“Y A S ANOTHER SIBLING!!!!!”

And then Piers gets abducted every year until Delia and Ash stop showing up bc their busy with work/traveling

Until, again, Ash comes back with Gou in tow and Gary gets guilted to come up to Galar

And he sees Piers and just gives the man a cheeky smile and then sees Marnie kinda hiding behind Piers and thinks “Ah yes, new sibling #5,437”

And Marnie latches on faster to Ash than Piers has seen her ever do to anyone else bc she’s been grown up on the wild things Ash would get Piers and another boy into before he stopped coming back to Galar every winter

Bede also gains Brotherly Love bc his family kicked him out for being trans and Ash was having NONE OF THAT bc he’s trans himself

I’m thinking about having Ash and Gary together since this AU is kinda like my AM!AU but not really

Still debating on that

But no My favorite part has to be the competition between all the League officials, except Rose bc he’s an asshole, to get the best seasonal themed picture/video with the trio bc OF COURSE Gou is immediately adopted into the family and becomes Ash’s little sibling

Even people like Allister and Bae get into it

Like there’s a picture Melony took for Allister that had Ash lofting the boy up so he could place the star on the small Christmas tree at their gym lobby with Gou and Gary helping to place other decorations on it

Or Bae’s selfie of the Trio with her together with a snowman that looks like a certain Galar Champion, stolen cape and all

Gou fears for a while that they were all just being awkwardly nice about it until Kabu find them out at night behind Opals mansion they were staying at and gently nudges the truth towards them that they actually LIKE having Gou with them and participating with their family shenanigans and other shit and that they ARE family now because do you honestly think Delia is going to let go of you know? Because she sure as hell hasn’t let go of Kahuna Nanu in Alola

God when Ash brings all his friends who don’t have Good Families over it becomes even more Chaotic

Opals like “WHAT DO YOU M E A N YOU NEVER BAKED COOKIES UNTIL THREE IN THE MORNING?????”

And Lillie and Melony talk about ice types over a cup of hot coco why Allister, Bae, and a shit ton of other people are loosing their mind over Silvally because it can change TYPING W T F GLADION

and Ash is like “oh it’s Silvally!” And Gary would be intrigued but Ash literally shares EVERYTHING with him so he can meet the Pokémon another time when Gladion isn’t so bombarded by people bc the blonde was so used to people in Alola who are used to seeing Silvally that he forgot Alola is definitely not like everywhere else

Hhh Serena, May, Dawn, Zoey, and a bunch of other girls talking with Opal, Oleana, and other female League members about fashion and the younger girls find out that the Women watch their performances religiously bc Ash flippantly said something and that got them interested now they can’t stop watch them

IRIS AND RAIHAN DUKING IT OUT ON THE BATTLE FEILD BC IRIS SAID HER DEAGONITE IS STRONGER AND BETTER THAN RAIHANS FLYGON AND HES LIKE “B E T YOU TINER FUCKER!!!!”

RAIHAN DUKING IT OUT WITH DRAYDEN, because he’s still cousins with Delia in this AU, AND W I N N I N G

So it’s canon, from the new Pokémon game app, that Iris is Leon and Hops cousin

So now Leon just rounds on Ash and is so confused bc Iris talked about this one boy name Ash with a Pikachu who acts like such a kid over face time but Leon didn’t make the connection it was THIS Ash she was traveling with

Hhh snuggle piles in the living room after a fun day outside building forts and what not

Like Ash is dead center in the kids pile bc he’s a kid at heart and Gary’s legs are thrown over his shoulder a bc Ash is in a blanket fort/nest with the other younger kids while Gary is pressed between Delia and Daisy

Opal is curled with Serena bc she’s currently getting deets in the fairy world in Kalos

PROFESSOR OAK TALKING TO MELONY ABOUT ICE TYPES BC HE USED TO BE AN ICE TYPE TRAINER BEFORE COMING KANTOS PROFESSOR

All the younger trainers are so focused on the movies as the adults just talk quietly in the background

And Gou is laying over Ash’s lap while on their phone and Ash doesn’t say anything even though his legs are falling asleep

Idk I’m gonna have Lance as Delia’s brother in this AU

But that doe NOT stop him from acting like Ash’s uncle because Ash ripped Lances two titles out from under him in three years

Leon has been Champion for 20-something years instead of the in game 10 Years

So that it could be plausible that Trainer!Leon and Bby!Ash/Gary could meet each other

115 notes · View notes

animefan-overran · 5 years ago

Text

What’s on your mind... (Contestshipping)

Ok, so Contestshipping has got to be in my top 10 ships in pokemon, it’s just so perfect. This is my first time writing a fanfic so constructive criticism is appreciated.

****PART ONE****(RATING: HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE SITUATIONS)

“Ugh, Drew I don’t want to do this right now. Why can’t we take a break and eat?” May tapped her foot impatiently “I heard there’s a great noodle shop right around the...”

“May!” Drew interrupted. “You’re never going to succeed if all you can think about is your stomach. C’mon, surely you have it in you to partake in one more battle, unless you’re too weak that is.” Drew smirked

May stared daggers in the green haired boy’s skull, but he took no notice. Sometimes, he really got on her nerves. All she remembers is him walking up to her after their last contest asking if he could train with her. Why did he even want to train with her? The only reason he was here is because she allowed it, so why was he being so hard on her? However, as much as she hated Drew pushing her limits, there was still a small part of her that found him kind of endearing, and sometimes even attractive.

“Hello, Earth to May, are you in there? Why are you staring at me like that? Maybe Max was right, there really is nothing up there.” Drew shook his head “Or maybe my looks have put you in a trance. Eh, I can’t say I blame you. I know I can have that effect o...”

“Will you shut up! I was not caught in a trance,” May lowered her voice, “I was just thinking” she blushed as she stepped back whilst pressing her index fingers together a couple of times. “But that doesn’t matter right now. What’s important is that I put you in your place.” May’s voice slowly got louder as she pulled out a pokeball. “Skitty, c’mon out,” May launched her pokeball onto the practice battlefield.

“Skitty” Skitty excitedly jumped out onto the field. Excited to be by May’s side.

“Ok, Drew. You’re on, one more battle. Just know I’m not going easy on you!”

“Hm,” Drew laughed “I wouldn’t want you to, hun. I like it when you go all out” Drew winked. “Ok Masquerain, I choose you!” Drew hurdled the pokeball out in front of him.

“Masquer mas” Masquerain chanted as it prepared for battle.

May blushed and quickly looked away from Drew’s gaze. What the heck is that supposed to mean? May thought. Surely he can’t be flirt... NO, why would he do that. What could he possibly see in me? NO! He’s just trying to get on my nerves, yeah. I need to stay focused! I can’t let Drew win!

“Oh, it’s on, cabbage-top” May grinned evilly. “Skitty, use Blizzard!”

“SKI-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-TY” Skitty let out a spiraling blast of cold wind and ice pellets at Masquerain.

Drew looked at the beautiful display of icy crystals looping down at their target. Wow, Skitty’s Blizzard attack has so much control and power. May must have really been training hard with Skitty since the last competition. She really has grown into quite a beautiful trainer... wait, I have to focus! Drew called out his next attack.

“Masquerain, dodge it and use Bubble”

“Mas-MAS,” Masquerain blocked itself with its wings and let out a jet stream of bubbles that coated only about half of the icy shards hurtling towards it. It tried to hold out but it was too much for it to handle. Slowly, Masquerain huddled lower and lower to the ground until it fainted.

“Masquerain!” Drew ran over to and huddled over it. How could he let this happen? If he wasn’t so distracted by May, he wouldn’t have been so late to call out an attack. Now, his Masquerain was hurt, and it was all his fault. He lifted Masquerain off of the ground and gently held it “Masquerain, we got to get you to a pokemon center!” Drew looked over at a bewildered May running towards him.

“Do you need assistance? I hope Masquerain is alright! There’s a pokemon center just a couple of blocks from here. I can come with you, afterall you gave my Beautifly a run for its money with your Flygon” May smiled.

“Um, it’s ok... I...” Drew quickly snapped back to reality “I mean, yeah sure you can come if you want. I gotta say though, that Skitty of yours truly is amazing. It really knows how to pack a punch. I can really tell you two have been practicing your Blizzard attack. Keep it up, and you’ll have no problem winning in pokemon contests all over Hoenn.” Drew flicked his sweat glazed hair away from his eyes.

May glanced at Drew, and searched his eyes for any signs of sarcasm, but came up empty handed. Was Drew actually giving me a genuine compliment?!? Wow, maybe he’s not so cold hearted as he puts off. May reasoned and slowly smiled. “Well thank you Drew, you’ve definitely gotten stronger too, uh but we should get going, your Masquerain really isn’t looking too hot”

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go!”

When they finally reached the Pokemon Center, May and Drew gave their pokemon to Nurse Joy and proceeded to wait out in the lobby. That, however, was hours ago. Naturally, as time would have it the more the trainers waited, the more worried they became for their pokemon.

Drew’s mind was racing to the brim with awful thoughts of his Masquerain. “Oh, man, I really did it this time, didn’t I! If only I wasn’t so distracted!...”

“Huh, why were you distracted?” May asked in return. Drew’s eyes widened as he realized he was talking out loud. “Oh did I say distracted, what I meant to say was if only I wasn’t so, uh inactive!” Drew insisted. “Yeah, my reaction time sucks right now, I guess I need to work on that.”

“Hmmm” May looked intently at Drew. She knew he was lying. Afterall, he has already displayed some of the best reactions she has ever seen in the past. Something was throwing him off for sure, but she didn’t quite know what it was. She was even further confused because she considered him a friend. Why wouldn’t he want to tell her what was on his mind? Unless... it was about her. May smiled. If her theory was correct, then that had to be it. May’s stomach started tangling itself into knots, and what she did next even she could not have predicted.

“Drrreeeew, we both know you’re lying” May sang as she scooted closer to him just to test the waters a little. Caught off guard, Drew looked away from May’s gaze as he gulped. From that point, that was all the evidence May needed to proceed with her interrogation. “Now, are you gonna tell me what was distracting you, or do you want me to say it out loud for everyone in the pokemon center to hear.” May taunted, as she used her hand to rotate Drew’s face back towards her. Drew’s eyes were completely dilated from embarrassment. She wasn’t really going to humiliate him, but she was really good at bluffing, so she played the part.

“I uh um, you know I was just thinking about your Skitty and its Blizzard attack.” Drew admitted. He wasn’t lying necessarily, just not telling the whole truth, he reasoned with himself. Feeling a sudden burst of cockiness out of nowhere he himself started a little detective work of his own. “And what about you May?”

“Ma mee?” May stammered blushing softly.

‘Bingo,’ Drew thought. “Yes you, you were distracted before our battle, and don’t try to lie about what...” Drew paused and got closer to her ear “or who was distracting you.” he backed away smugly. “Because we both know the answer to that million dollar question.”

At this point May was ripped to pieces. She could feel her heart beating even in her feet. How was he doing this to her? Nevertheless, he made her excited, and he seemed to bring out an edge in her that no one else could.

May couldn’t take it anymore, and considered telling the truth to Drew. What would he say? At this point she didn’t even care, even if he laughed at her. She brought her face closer to Drew’s until they were inches apart. “Well, at least I can admit that I was distracted by my opponent... unlike some people.” May whispered slowly as her lips grew closer to Drew’s until they were barely brushing his.

“m ma May, I” Drew stuttered weakly.

“And the fact that you’re not moving away...” May moved back to a reasonable distance “proves I’m right”. May gloated in victory as she stared at the green haired boy practically at a loss for all words. “Drew, we’ve been friends long enough for me to know you better than you think”

Drew just looked away, his face as red as a rose. “Oh yeah, well...”

“Thank you so much for your patience, all your pokemon are happy and healthy once again!” Nurse Joy beamed as she came into the lobby followed by Chancey with May and Drew’s pokemon. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

“Oh no, you’re fine! Thank you so much!” May quickly stood up to take her pokemon.

“Um, yeah thanks!” Drew added grabbing his pokemon as well.

May and Drew were walking out of the pokemon center. When May decided to set up Drew one last time to take her bait. “You know Drew, you were looking kind of nervous at the end of that conversation. As far as I know, young men aren’t supposed to let embarrassment get the better of them when faced with a difficult question. I guess you’re still just a...”

“Don’t even finish that sentence May! You and I both know we aren’t ten anymore! I am a man, now” Drew pulled closer and closer to May, and May backed further and further away from him until she was backed up against the wall. “but maybe I need to show you that.” Drew’s lips made their way to May’s ear once again, his words dripped like honey “you are a persistent girl May, I’ve always admired that about you, so I’ll tell you the truth... but not here. If you want to know everything, I’ll be an open book. All you have to do is come by my place later today, be there by 3:00, and come alone.” Drew smirked, and finally sauntered off. “I gotta go for now May, all of that training has made me hungry. See ya later, yeah?”

May stood motionless in utter disbelief. What did she get herself into? And whatever she just witnessed was a new side of Drew that she had never seen before. It was downright sexy, and every part of her knew it. Drew was like a drug to her at this point, and she needed to know exactly what was on his mind. She finally composed herself together, and checked the time. 12:00 May read. I guess I could go get something to eat, and then, I need to head home and get ready to go to Drew’s. Even her own thoughts were foreign to her, as she headed out of the pokemon center in search for a good restaurant. Even so, she kind of liked them...

****END OF PART ONE****

I hope everyone liked it. As I said before, this is my first fanfic, so I’ll probably get better with time... like most people, lol.

#pokemon #contestshipping #mayxdrew #may x drew #drewxmay #drew x may #pokemon otp #pokemon fanfic #pokemon fanfiction #otp #pokemon fiction

10 notes · View notes

non-binary-laurie-strode · 5 years ago

Text

My Sword and Shield #Thots

So, this weekend I bulldozed my way through Sword and Shield. I know that they had leaked beforehand, but I did not look at the leaks because I wanted to play the game blind, as I haven't played Pokémon blind since like 2007 with Pearl. And because of that, I had to stay off of social media for a couple of days, because I follow too many Pokémon accounts, and I am sure I would have seen something had I stuck around. (I did actually see Sobble's final evo's head and the witch hat girl beforehand, but I recognised what those posts were and just scrolled away quickly.) So, I started at like 3pm on Saturday and just chugged away until last night, when I got the final "The End" screen and officially beat the post-game!

Anyway, here are my #Thots! (Obviously, spoilers.)

* We were supposed to get Shield because I wanted the cotton-candy Ponyta, but Amazon sent us Sword instead. Which is fine by me, as I like Zacian more than Zamazenta (and, from my competitive friends who have already dipped into competitive SWSH, Zacian seems like the better choice so yay), and you can get Deino in Sword. But I do want G-Ponyta and Larvitar especially, of the Shield exclusives. So if you have extras, heyyyyyy.

* My final team was Inteleon, Corviknight, Toxtricity, Flygon, and Excadrill. I also had Thievul, Meowth (the long boi event Meowth), Orbeetle, and Centiscorch all in the sixth slot of my team, but I never really used them all that much. Meowth was good in the early game (especially with Pay Day), and Centiscorch notably took down the Dark gym, but otherwise they were just kind of there.

* Of the starters, I have to say that, while I love the base forms and the final form of Scorbunny and like the final Sobble form, I don't know if I would call them the most cohesive starters we've ever had. Like, Sobble's whole crybaby thing just vanishes when you get to Drizzile, and I don't see anything in Sobble that would even hint at Inteleon's spy gimmick. They're the cutest base forms, but the finals are... something. (Also Cinderace totally has a harness, I will not hear anything against that.)

* Also, idk the movesets of the other two starters, but Inteleon, you have got to get a better movepool. I literally ran around with Snipe Shot, Liquidation, Water Pulse, and Tearful Look through the end of the game because it just... doesn't learn anything by levelup. It's Watermove, Watermove, Watermove, Watermove over and over. I got the TR for Ice Beam after beating the final antagonists of the post-game, so at least I have that now!

* So the starters are kind of Hm, but overall I do really really like the dex in general. The designs all feel so whimsical. Like, they are very plainly by the same guy who gave us Vanilluxe and stuff in gen 5; but again, they're very fun. Falinks made me !!!!! when I first saw it because it's such a simple concept but I had never thought of it until now. I love the witch hat girls, and I need to find one. Cursola, as an evolution of Corsola which died due to climate change, is just brilliant.

* The idea of bringing over the Raid battles from Go is a neat idea. It's a very convenient way of allowing them to reintroduce Pokémon that they couldn't fit into the game normally by making them Raid battle events. (Which is kind of the Thing To Do in game nowadays: Run constant events so that people have a reason to keep playing the game and keeping your hype alive.)

* I hope we never get the Eternatus Max form because that thing would be absolutely broken in competitive. The Primal Hoenn mons warped all metagames in which they were allowed around them, and so I don't need to say that we don't need an 1100+ BST mon causing the endtimes.

* There are only a few clues that they ran out of time making this. Like, we're all aware Nintendo has Pokémon on a strict annual release schedule for like the exact same weekend in November, right? And Let's Go PikaVee was totally just padding so Sword and Shield could have more time? Like, Animal Crossing is a low priority franchise for Nintendo, so they can totally get an entire year-long delay because they're not ready, but I feel like the big money would have had someone's head if Pokémon had tried to get a delayed release. But like, there are definitely some graphical moments where it's like, Oh, you needed more time to do polish this up. Hop's catching of his Wolf is probably the most "You couldn't animate that any better? :/" moment, but also the tree textures and the overworld shadows are rough. They just needed time to clean up the art in a few places. But overall, it's like 9/10 for everything else they managed to create. Like, it's definitely a very pretty, very detailed game except for those little blemishes.

* I also have to laugh at that one angry, over-the-top discourse post that circulated a few days before SWSH's official release which was like, Game Freak doesn't care!!! They'll just make bad product without even trying and people will eat it up!!! The final scene of SWSH is literally a slideshow because they couldn't be bothered to work on it any more!! And it's like... That's hilarious in how incorrect it is. I was totally waiting for a slideshow moment at the Champion match and at the very end of the post-game, and it just never happened. There is ONE cut to stylised art, and it's when the villain is moodily gazing out a window at the moon while giving the audience the typical villain monologue, and honestly, it works so much better than an actual in-game model just standing there. So, you look like a fool for spreading that.

* Overall: I really really loved it, and it was pretty much everything I wanted. It exceeded my expectations, honestly: I was so worried it was going to be Bad because of the whole time crunch resulting in Dexit, and I guess everyone's negativity got to me. But honestly honestly? It's right up there with Black and White with how much I genuinely enjoyed playing through it. It's a very pleasant experience. And I feel like the whole Wild Area is the best post-game situation they've left us in to keep us playing the game. So it's got some longevity to it. I would for sure recommend it if you enjoy Pokémon at all because I really did love it.

So yeah, on to grinding up a team for competitive!

#sword and shield thots

3 notes · View notes

kibanafuji · 5 years ago

Text

27/12/2019

sleepless nights, and then one more // ft. @obstatune

He’d let them see too much. A tired face he’d hoped they wouldn’t notice. But they did. He insisted it wasn’t too bad, but...

[nezu opened a new conversation with kibana]

[nezu >> kibana]: hey man [nezu >> kibana]: I mean this in the least weird way possible but I was actually really good at singin marnie to sleep if you think that might help, I’m actually pretty close by today

[kibana >> nezu]: gonna admit i did just picture full on screamo lullabies which would be interesting to say the least [kibana >> nezu]: ineffective but interesting

He thinks for a moment. The truth of the matter is that he didn't get any sleep. He's afraid it's gonna get worse, too.

[kibana >> nezu]: yeah alright [kibana >> nezu]: little sleepover, pay you back with breakfast, how's that sound?

[nezu >> kibana]: heh. I mean I probably could, if that’d help more. [nezu >> kibana]: sounds great. I’ll bring you some more salami too this time, slommy whore [nezu >> kibana]: I think they make vegan salami too. I’ll look. we can have a real rager with it

[kibana >> nezu]: omg your so woke king [kibana >> nezu]: slommy night with the lads

While he waits for Piers, Raihan is working on making himself look... slightly more presentable. He looked tired in that selfie but it's much worse in person. ... This is probably as good as he's gonna get. So long as he smiles, he won't look too... horrifically tired, hopefully. Oughta clean up a little too, while he's got time. He continues idly talking over Chattr, though eventually his messages begin to drop in frequency--- mind’s too tired to handle both.

[nezu >> kibana]: 😔👊🥖 [nezu >> kibana]: no salami emoji so we got bread [nezu >> kibana]: 🐉🥖🎤🥖

[kibana >> nezu]: just spent far too long trying to find this one mad lad meme and can't for the life of me find it wanted to send it like "let's recreate this but with salami"

[nezu >> kibana]: whatever it is I’m down [nezu >> kibana]: we could make the all women are queens video but with salami instead of light sabers

[kibana >> nezu]: i thought putting me to sleep meant letting me have a nap not euthanizing me via laughter-induced suffocation

[nezu >> kibana]: well you know what they say [nezu >> kibana]: if he breathe [nezu >> kibana]: ... [nezu >> kibana]: he’s a THOT

[kibana >> nezu]: by that logic if you die by suffocation do you get your virginity back?

[nezu >> kibana]: shit you know what I don’t actually know the logistics there

Piers is only a route over from Hammerlocke, so thankfully there’s no need to take a flying taxi to make it there. As promised, he has two varieties of salami in his bag, along with his ukulele and a blend of tea that always helps him get to sleep.

“Rai! I’m here!” He calls, but shoots off a quick text too, just in case.

[nezu >> kibana]: outside! And I picked up the slommy. in for a wild night I’m sure

Raihan is further inside, cleaning up his bedroom, but Flygon opens the door for him; it's done this before, even takes in packages for him sometimes. This is roughly when Raihan sees the DM, and mutters an "oh, shit."

Right, he guesses this will have to do-- his room isn't too bad, but it's messy by his standards... Whatever. He heads out to go open the door for Piers--

but Piers is already inside. And he hasn't put his "i'm not that tired" face on. He quickly remedies that, though, the moment his brain recognizes what his eyes took in. He's good at that, good at hiding. He just has to hope Piers didn't spot him before fixing it.

"'ey mate. Flygon let you in, eh?"

Piers smiles brightly as he sees Flygon open the door. “Heh. Didn’t bring Sylveon with me this time, so you can rest easy. Thank you, by the way.” He offers him a pat on the head.

It takes a minute or so for Raihan to make it in, but it’s immediately apparent how tired he actually must be, even from across the room. Piers pretends not to notice.

Raihan is like him. He doesn’t want anyone to worry about him. He’d probably outright reject Piers’ help if he knew he did worry.

“Ey! Yeah, hope that’s alright.” He pulls Raihan’s share of salami out, waving it. “And as promised!”

"Aww, hell yeah."

A grin stretches across his face but quickly transforms into a yawn that he hastily hides with his elbow.

"Right, gimme that, gonna deepthroat the shit out of i--" Raihan can't finish the last consonant before he starts laughing. There is one benefit to being sleepless: everything that is funny in the first place is infinitely funnier when you're delirious.

"Still couldn't find that picture, by th' way. Got Rotom lookin' for it, though I'm startin' to think I 'allucinated it." He waves Piers over to the kitchen, opening the fridge. Likely due to him simply being tired, he sounds more... Hammerlocked than usual. He's never been one to speak in any way that didn't come naturally, and his tone is exactly as it usually is, so it certainly still sounds like Raihan; but the difference is notable nonetheless. "Want somethin' t'drink?"

"Aww, changin' the subject because you can't deepthroat it?" Piers teases, handing off the salami before following Raihan into the kitchen. He's a lot better at hiding his concern than Raihan is at hiding the fact that someone should be concerned about him.

"Water's fine, if you've got that sort of thing in Hammerlocke." He says. "Otherwise, whatever game of thrones style norse mead you have in here'll do fine."

He looks back into the other room at Flygon, trying to gauge if Raihan's pokemon are worried too, or if this is something that happens often. "Whenever you're ready to sleep, too, we can do that. Don't feel like you need to wait up for me."

It's a testament to how out of it he is that he doesn't have much to say in response, just offering a few (genuine, but low energy) chuckles.

His Pokemon are worried, sure, but they seem too much like they know what to do-- be nice and quiet, leave Raihan mostly to himself, let him wind down, and hope he can get to sleep. At this point they even know to turn off any lights Raihan forgot about.

"Nah, was thirsty anyway..." He grabs two cups and since the fancy bastard has a fridge with a water dispenser and ice machine he's got two glasses of delicious, refreshing water in a jiffy. Hot water might make you sleepier, but god, there's no better drink to him than fresh cold water. He drank right out of a spring during winter once and it was heavenly.

He sets both cups down on the breakfast bar and hops up on a stool. He looks like he's about to say something but he's promptly cut off by another yawn.

"... Don't worry 'bout it, a lil longer isn't gonna hurt..."

Piers gratefully takes the glass, leaning up against the bar, well aware that Raihan’s stools are most likely specially made for someone who is 6’8. The last thing he really wants to do is flail around like an idiot trying to get up there.

“Not worried, really.” He lied. “Just puttin’ it out there. Don’t want you stayin’ up for my sake.”

He takes a sip. “I was serious about makin’ the thot video at some point. Maybe in the morning. Should do Uh...’numbers on the gram’ as the youth say.”

Snrk. "Gonna get liked an' 'retwittered' like crazy. Go totally 'infectious'. Definitely super hip with the teens, me. Know all the slang."

The stools do adjust, with the sole issue being that you've already got to be on it for you to lower the seat-- either that, or Raihan has to prop a leg up on it and hope it's enough weight that the lever on the underside will actually do anything. He doesn't plan on sticking around in the kitchen for very long anyway, so if Piers is fine with standing the dumb stools are staying where they are until he replaces them the second he gets the chance.

"Nah, just got a ritual, y'know? Like t'stick with it, even when I'm dead tired." The ritual is good, the routine is good. Pavlovian logic and a lot of melatonin are his main weapons against sleeplessness-- so long as he follows the steps, he'll get sleepy, and he'll hopefully fall asleep.

The ritual also helps him stay awake, when he finds himself not wanting to sleep. But not sleeping is easier than sleeping, no matter what he does.

He considers adding that he also needs a drink to take his sleep meds, but decides against it. Someone who doesn't regularly have sleep problems would get knocked out real quick with a dose of Benadryl, so getting to sleep would hardly be an issue. Takes more than that to down an insomniac dragon, though.

He downs the rest of his water, refills it, then with a short glance at Piers to follow along once he's ready, shuffles along towards the hallway leading to his room. He stops partway there, though, jerking a thumb at a door.

"Yer room for t'night, by the way." He opens it to let his guest take a peek-- a big cozy bed, what looks like a door to its own bathroom, even has a TV set up. "No game system in 'ere, you can 'ead out to the livin' room for that, if you want. Got cable, though!"

"Oh, that's what we call it! Perfect. I'll make sure to "retwitter" the video once it "gets contagious."" Piers laughs, only vaguely aware of the actual nuances of any social media platform besides Myspace.

Raihan looks exhausted, but Piers can't rush him, as worried as he is. Nothing keeps a person awake like feeling like they need to be asleep.

With a bit of relief, Piers follows.

He doesn't mention that the bedroom is bigger than the one he has at home, but he does smile. "That's perfect, thanks man. Hope I don't wake you up yellin' at the TV, though. Get kinda heated when I'm watchin' food network. Hopefully you've soundproofed the room. Heh."

Piers quickly thumbs through his bag and pulls out his ukulele again before setting the rest of his things inside the door. "I'll be quieter with this, though. No screamo lullabies, unless that's what you're into. I'd be happy to oblige if it was."

"Your surname secretly Ramsey or summat?" Raihan jokes. "Now that I think 'bout it, Gordon Ramsey'd be right at 'ome in Spikemuth, wouldn't 'e?"

He's definitely curious about screamo lullabies, but he's thinking too slowly right now to formulate a thought in time. He ends up just opening the door to his own room, and heading in--- and making a quick turn towards the bathroom, where he'd stored his sleep meds for tonight. Out of the way, so hopefully Piers won't take notice.

He'd already ripped the labels off of all the bottles that weren't prescription a long time ago. Just in case. He quickly and quietly swallows his nightly sleeping pill, and then quickly tucks a few tabs of melatonin under his tongue.

And then he washes his face and takes out his hair ties like that's all he was doing in there. He runs a hand over his hair sideways, to loosen up his dreads a little now that they aren't tied back, and walks back out to go take a seat on his bed. He's silent, hoping it'll be taken as him just zoning out due to sleep deprivation; in actuality, he's waiting for the sublinguals to dissolve.

"Somethin' like that." Piers says. "Fuck, he really would. I'd love to add someone like him to the band. Screamin' that much takes uh...lotta breath support. I could totally see it."

Piers doesn't look as Raihan heads into the bathroom, but he has some idea of what he's probably trying. Again, he knows not to address it.

Growing up, Marnie was a closed book. Piers learned quickly to nurture and protect the small bits of vulnerability willingly given to him without pressing. So if that's something Raihan wanted to talk about later, they would talk.

For now, he waits for Raihan to get out of the bathroom, quietly crossing his legs to sit on the floor and tune his ukulele.

"I have a list of songs I used to use, but if you had anything in mind, I could probably figure it out." He says, trying not to stare too much now that Raihan has his hair down. "And don't worry. I'm kind of a night owl myself, so I won't get sleepy on ya if this takes a bit."

"Nah, nothin' in p'ticular." The lack of enunciation is easily excused with him being tired-- honestly, it's actually influencing it more than the sublinguals anyway.

... He's really starting to feel like Piers is... noticing, though. That he can tell.

It's not the medication that he's worried about most. ... Honestly, if he happens to open his mouth too wide, he'd be downright enthusiastic to inform him he uses melatonin tablets, because those things melt into white goo, and even for a closed-off person like Raihan he'd rather confess to being an insomniac than look like he'd just taken a load in the mouth or something...

In any case, he'll have to hope he's wrong, and that he's just imagining it.

Right. He takes a moment, goes over things in his head. Did he forget anyth...

... Shit. He's only now realized Piers is sitting on the floor-- he forgot to get something for him to sit on.

... Too late now, though, he supposes. He feels bad about it, but... he does need sleep. And if he thinks too much, moves too much, he'll lose the chance.

... Oh, that's it. Something else felt off, unfinished-- because something had fallen off his bed, and was stuck between it and his nightstand. He puts the little plush Goomy back next to his pillow, where it belongs, and lays down on his side to face Piers.

Only as an afterthought does he toss a blanket over himself-- he'd prefer not to, he feels vaguely embarrassed about getting all tucked in and cozy so his mate can sing him to sleep when Raihan is supposed to be an adult (despite the fact he'd gladly do this for someone else and not see a problem with it), but... He's fucking freezing, and the weighted blanket helps him sleep, so he pulls it on. Casually, though.

"Mkay... Piers, use Sing... status move, but let's hope it's super effective anyway..."

Piers laughs. "All else fails, I'll go catch a Jigglypuff or somethin'. Shouldn't take too long."

He's plucking the strings softly now. For a few moments, it's just that. But then he starts to sing.

It's quite the opposite of how Raihan saw him sing before - his tone is airy and gentle, a sound that precious few have ever heard from him. Only Marnie. Marnie and Raihan.

The songs he wrote for Marnie are probably too much. Hell, they're too much even for her at times, and he has to tell her that he wrote them about someone else. So he sings a different one - a lullaby that doesn't ask anything of him. Doesn't ask him to lean on Piers, or to open up to him, or to let him keep him safe. He will if he wants to.

At one point, he fades out the instrument and sings by himself. Only for a verse. It's almost as though he got so lost that he forgot to keep playing. It's a choice, of course. But not necessarily one he planned before.

He wasn't expecting it to work so quickly.

But it does.

And quicker than he's experienced in years, he notices all the signs he's going to fall asleep soon, but without all the steps he usually needs to take-- no careful repositioning of his body, no focusing on thinking about one specific topic to keep his mind from becoming too busy and waking him up. No routine. A few minutes, rather than an hour or longer.

And yet, he's a little unhappy about it, if only for the fact that once he's asleep, he can't listen to him sing anymore.

His eyes are still slightly open, but a memory occludes his vision. The image is vague, but the feeling, it's nostalgic, warm-- he wants to remember clearer, he wants to see it.

If he closes his eyes, maybe it'll be...come... ... ... ... bunkbed, it's... the bunkbed...... he sees it now ... ... ...

Quiet, steady breathing, and nothing else.

(Sure would be a shame if that changed at some point.)

Piers sings a few more songs. Just as soft, just as gentle - making absolutely sure that Raihan is actually asleep. He's more than happy to keep going all night if he has to.

Once he's almost sure - he pauses, then sings one single line from Raihan's favorite song, Weenie Man. No laughter.

Confident that he was successful, Piers stands up and makes his way to the room he's staying in. He changes into the pajamas and slippers he brought with him, then tucks himself into bed and turns on the TV. Food Network. Cupcake wars.

He stays awake just long enough to root for the little vegan girl to win, then falls right to sleep.

Some hours later, the TV switches on by itself.

It isn't set to a channel, but the volume setting is rising without any input from the remote---

And then suddenly, it's playing a movie.

... Or, part of one.

Over and over and over again.

A character saying a single word.

"Help-- Help-- Help-- Help-- Help-- Help-- Help-- Help-- Help-- Help-- Help--"

It keeps it up until Piers is awake, and as soon as he is, and as soon as he's conscious, it begins flicking between different moments in the film.

"Rye-- Hann-- needs-- Help-Help him-- Please-please..."

"Wh...hello?" Piers calls out in a daze, almost certain he's having a nightmare at this point. But he rubs his eyes, and the TV is skipping.

It takes a few seconds.

Then he recognizes Raihan's name. But why--

...Rotom. It has to be that.

What an absolutely brilliant Pokemon. But he'll think on that later. Now, he's stumbling out of bed, still half asleep, and before he can even catch his balance, he's running right to his room.

Piers swings the door open.

It's silent.

Silent, aside from the sound of breathing-- quiet, very quiet, yet erratic in its tempo.

Rotom flies into the lamp on the nightstand and it flickers on. The light reveals Raihan; he's upright... somewhat. He isn't lying down, but he's hunched over, head in his hands.

Body, trembling.

Fingers, twitching.

Jaw, agape.

And eyes that are wide, wide open, but might as well be blind.

That expression of sheer terror, of horrified realization, isn't one that the foot of his bed could possibly cause.

"Rai..."

Piers should think about what to do next. Weigh what must be happening with what would be appropriate to do in a situation like this. Especially because he's never seen this happen before.

Marnie had nightmares. This was something else.

He moves faster than his brain can tell him not to. Before he knows it, he's kneeling in front of the bed, placing himself directly into Raihan's line of sight. He's unsure what to do with his hands - touching Raihan suddenly could startle him to the point of trauma, so he settles on resting them on the bed next to him.

"I'm here." He says softly, expertly masking the alarm in his voice. "I'm here, Raihan."

Not another one... Not another one, he doesn't want to lose another one... He only has so many left that that don't turn into that...

There are tears pouring from his unblinking eyes.

Eyes. Eyes Staring at him. Don't look ■•》~♤ie

Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh Don't look, please He doesn't want you to see him like this

...

Rotom is back in Raihan's phone. It's showing Piers a picture. Two, in fact. Instructions.

Rotom knows Raihan better than Piers ever will. Probably better than anyone ever will, save his other pokemon, possibly. So when it tells Piers what he needs to do, he only hesitates a bit.

He doesn't want to touch him without asking. But there isn't a way to ask. And Raihan is terrified.

So Piers swallows his inhibitions. All he can give Raihan is the best he can do. That's what he owes him. And if he's wrong, and Raihan hates him -

...

He takes one last look at Rotom, and then moves to the bed. He's shaking, too. But as instructed, at least he thinks, he gathers Raihan in his arms. Pulls him close. Reaches around to rub his shoulders.

"I'm not goin' anywhere." He says. "I'm here. I'm here."

Inhale... exhaleinhale in ha le exh ale

"..."

He's coming back. He's coming back now, back to the present, back to...

"... ■■■ie...?"

The first ■ letters don't make it out of his mouth-- and it's a good thing, too. He doesn't want her to see him like this.

Only those last two letters of her name make it out, perhaps aided by him suddenly snapping into

his room. Warmth. Embrace. P

ier

"... h...hhi...hhs...?" It's an attempt to say his name.

He's

...

God damn it.

He's got no hope of hiding. Every other time he's already hiding by the time this happens, but this time, he...

... He... ... ... This has all been too much for him Far too much

...

it's been a really long time since someone last held me after a nightmare...

...

Raihan moves his feeble, shaking arms, and he's suddenly, even suddenly to himself, clinging onto Piers-- Piers is shaking too, he's-- He wants to scream, but he doesn't want to and he can't want to-- A whimper, a very faint whimper, all he can manage--

"... nh..."

... pathetic.

Piers is really, really good at hiding what he feels. Even to himself.

He doesn't remember feeling after his mom's death. He remembers Marnie. He remembers existing to make life better for her. He remembers swallowing everything. Because if Piers doesn't hurt, he can't burden others with it.

But that was distant. The knowledge that she had passed was something he could separate from himself. This...

...This is breaking his heart.

Raihan clings to him, and he's sure he can feel the way Piers is starting to choke, too. Even then, he holds him tighter.

"Don't have to say n'yth..."

...His voice cracks. Piers takes a second.

He's an expert at this. Raihan needs stability, and Piers will let his lungs tear themselves to shreds before he denies him that.

"I've got you." He says. "You don't need to say anything."

But he wants to. He wants to, but he can't. It drives him fucking crazy. He can't stand it. He's so pathetic.

Rotom nudges his hand, knowing full well that there is a want-- but he can't get himself to let go, either, to take his phone and tell him what he wants to say.

He needs to calm down first.

Just... calm down. Calm down, ■■■ ■■■■'■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■... ■■■■. ■■ ■■ ■ ■■■■ ■■■■, ■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■.

... But even when he starts to calm down, it just makes the sorrow deeper.

Another memory has been corrupted by... the other memory. Another memory, finite, only eight years' worth, that he won't be able to think about anymore, without also seeing that awful red splattered pooling on white

"...n... hh--"

He inhales sharply and grips Piers tighter. Raihan's body is suddenly very, very tense. ... No... no, no... have to stop... thinking about it.

Anything else, think about... absolutely anything else.

Piers keeps holding him. Even closer.

There's a lot he can offer him, but not yet. Not until he's stable. Now, he just reaches up with one hand and gently rubs the back of Raihan's neck.

He starts synchronizing his own breath to Raihan's - for the most part, that is. A trick his Sylveon used on him the one time he had a panic attack in front of her. Once they're synched, he starts to gradually slow his own breath down, hoping Raihan's might follow.

"Would it help if I sang again?" He whispers, nuzzling his face into Raihan's shoulder without thinking about it.

... 2 minutes, 45 seconds.

... It's excruciating every time, but that's a lot... faster than normal.

It helps that it's Piers.

Piers, of all people, he... He doesn't want anyone to know, to know, to know, but Piers has a little sister too Strong-willed, focused... A sister he cares about who he'd do anything for, protect no matter what, never ever make a mistake like raihan did Maybe even if he knew if he found out then at least someone would finally yell at him for being such a fuck-up that would be nice

... He doesn't respond. But after a while, his grip has softened, too. And Rotom comes back, and this time, he takes his phone.

He doesn't let go of Piers entirely. Rotom knows what he wants to type, and corrects it for him.

It soon floats over to show Piers what he wanted to say-- what he kept trying and failing to say, and what he wants to say now that he's calmer.

Piers nods after reading Rotom's note, but doesn't fully let go, either. He wants to stay, wipe Raihan's tears away, keep him company so he doesn't slip into a nightmare again -

...But that's not what Raihan needs. He might want Piers around, but he wants his dignity more. (Not that Piers would ever think less of him for this, or think him pitiful or pathetic, but he understands. He gets it.)

"You have nothin' to be sorry for." Piers says softly. "I mean it. You're the strongest person I know. That hasn't changed. I promise."

He does pull back, just a bit. Then, just to make sure this wasn't an issue of Raihan wanting him to stay but being too embarrassed to ask -

"I can go, if you want some privacy. But I'll stay if that'd help. Gladly."

His hands don't move. They give way with Piers's movement, but they don't let him go completely.

"..."

He closes his eyes, tightly. Tears had still been flowing quite steadily until then, but as soon as his lashes part back open, he isn't crying anymore.

He's not strong at all. Not when it's his own emotions. But if he's too weak in front of people, they're going to think he can't be strong for them. That they can't rely on him.

That's not an option.

... And now he has to consider if he'd seem less strong if he did ask him to stay. Even if he didn't talk at all-- not about what just happened, that is. Would asking him to stay be

... Piers probably... already thinks Raihan's weak, doesn't he? After all, he... he came here, and... ... Why does that feel a little bit... relieving? ... Must be because he's so tired. He'll... he'll fix it later. He'll try, at least. For now, though... he feels like if he isn't just a little bit selfish right now, he isn't going to be able to keep himself together for the rest of this awful, awful period.

He doesn't say anything. But he moves his arm, and he takes the glass of water still on his nightstand. It's still cold. Rotom flies off somewhere momentarily while he slowly takes a drink. He's hoping once he's finished, he can... speak again.

He's careful not to move too suddenly. It's obvious that this is hard enough for Raihan without Piers assuming what he wants or needs.

He doesn't press, either. Just sits quietly as Raihan drinks.

...

He wants to stay. He wants to be there for him. To take care of him. If it were his choice, that's what he'd take. But it isn't.

Piers doesn't know exactly what happened. Or what Raihan feels. But he knows, at least vaguely, what it's like to feel like he needs to hide it. And how that can override almost anything else.

He's silent, patiently waiting for Raihan to get his bearings before he tells him what he needs.

It's refreshing, and it clears his head a little. ... He's pretty thirsty, actually. He wonders why for a moment, but then he remembers he did just cry his damn eyes out. Shouldn't be surprising he's a tad dehydrated.

He... he's still having a bit of trouble. Come on, Raihan, get it together...

Rotom is back. ... Oh. It's possessing his Switch so it could carry it ov It smacks him right in the face with it.

"Geh!?"

... He has spilled water all over himself.

"... You're a little shit," he says, affectionately, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he gives the floating device a gentle bop on what he thinks is probably where Rotom's head should be--

... Oh. He's got his voice back.

... He's also... covered in water, but more importantly, he can talk.

"... S... sorry. Again." His hand travels upwards, rubs the back of his neck... and then Rotom sets its vessel down in his hand before popping out of it again, and after a moment's thought, Raihan speaks up again. "... Wanna play Snipperclips?"

With that offer comes the same friendly smile he's always got. The same tone, too. His eyes are still a little puffy and red, and there are still tears drying on his cheeks... and he's acting like nothing even happened.

If it weren't for the remaining evidence, if he'd had the chance to clean himself up a bit, no one would be able to tell anything was wrong. Not unless they knew him too well, or were too perceptive.

His will is strong enough to compensate, though, and he knows how to avoid giving a real answer without having to lie, either. Fake the vulnerability, only say as much as he needs to so he doesn't seem like he's trying too hard to cover up how he really feels, like he never feels less than good, because people wouldn't want to be helped by someone like that, but also make any problems sound like they aren't severe enough to warrant someone getting worried about him-- hopefully, at least.

you can still lean on me, see? i can pull myself together well quickly, so... even though i look pathetic right now, and even though i was pathetic earlier... i'm only weak when it's just myself.

"AAAah!"

He's not sure if this is the appropriate response, but he laughs.

He really can't help it. The water gets on him, too - not like it got on Raihan, but enough that it jolts the last remaining sleepiness out of him in one quick move. It's dissolved a lot of the tension, too.

Not that he was uncomfortable, but Raihan seems more at ease, now. That's what matters.

...

The thing is, Piers is that perceptive. (Music alone doesn't draw Team Yell to his side so loyally. It's charisma. It's empathy. It's being good with people.)

Raihan isn't okay. And this probably isn't the first time this happened. But the side of him he let Piers see a moment ago has been rescinded, and he respects that. If he feels safe, maybe-

...But he owes Piers none of this. So he lets it slip from his hands like sand.

"Snipperclips! Never played it, I'll probably be pretty bad..." He says with a smile. "Sure you could show me the ropes, though. Or wipe the floor with me. That might be more fun, actually. I'm pretty good at being a professional ego boost."

"... Pffhaha. Nah, man, it's a puzzle game, got co-op 2 player," he responds, then after a pause, grins mischievously. "Well, most of the time, it's cooperative."

Oh, he fully plans on attacking Piers the moment they clear the level. That's half the fun of Snipperclips: spamming the snip button until you clip so much off of the other player that they disappear, completely without warning at the end of every stage. Since Piers has never played it, he's not going to complain about always being the smaller-shaped (and thus disadvantaged for the battle) piece until it's far too late.

Yes, it's a little mean, and he doesn't deserve it, especially not after what happened mere moments ago.

... But come on, how can he resist? He usually loses the snip battle because he's so satisfied at the end of completing a puzzle he forgets that Leon's about to come at him like a fucking rabid weasel and literally tear him to shreds.

Raihan hops out of bed. First, let's pop the controllers off and stick the Switch in its little docket so they can play on the TV-- there we go. "'ere, pick what colour you want," he says, tossing the JoyCons in the general direction of the bed. They're a custom set, one controller being light blue and streaked with yellow and orange, and the other purple streaked with red and pink-- reminiscent of a sunrise and a sunset, respectively. Rotom flies towards the TV and disappears into the electronics again to get the console and game prepared for play.

A moment later, he also tosses a towel to Piers from the bathroom. Since he's already covered in water, it isn't much of a deal if he gets more water on himself, so he might as well wash his face again and make himself look less miserable.

Once he's done with that, he heads back out and walks to his dresser on the other side of the room. Wet clothes aren't very pleasant to sit around in, and he's soaked. So with very little thought about it, he pulls his shirt off. The motion flows in such a way he feels a bit of stiffness in his muscles, so he lets the action transition into a quick stretch, and the dragon tattooed on his back almost looks alive. The motion of his spine makes the dragon's body slither, the flex of his shoulderblades expands and collapses the wings; the artstyle isn't particularly realistic, but it doesn't have to be for it to look like an extension of his body.

He tosses his shirt in the laundry basket and starts rummaging around for a new one.

As Raihan gets up, Piers awkwardly looks around the room. It definitely wouldn't be weird to get settled on the bed, and it would actually probably be weird to dip down to the floor at this point, but it's not like Raihan actually invited him to sit there - then again, the bed is huge, and it's not like they didn't share a very close moment only a second before - then again, Raihan didn't ask -

...

Stop overthinking. Stop. Stop. Idiot.

So he turns, sitting up in Raihan's bed, facing the TV.

Yeah. That was definitely worth the stress.

Piers picks the purple controller, waving it a bit to get a feel for it. He's only ever played the wii. This feels nicer. "Heh. Got to get me one of these sometime. Didn't know they came in pink!"

The controller isn't even completely pink. Piers is just on edge.

...

Well.

Heh.

So, Piers notices the tattoo. It's gorgeous. It looks like it must've hurt like nothing else. It isn't surprising that he has it - but -

...Okay. He's going to call a spade a spade here. Raihan is hot. This is a secret to exactly zero people.

But Holy Shit, my guy. Holy shit.

Piers shakes his head. He's good at this, too. One moment of being completely floored by how attractive his friend is won't set him back too long. It happens.

“...That tattoo is sick." He says, hoping that the earnestness in his voice comes through as being genuinely interested in the artwork alone and not...well. The canvas it's painted into. "How uh...how long did that even take?"

"Oh, yeah, you can get 'em in all kinds of colours! Those ones're custom, though. I 'ave a few different pairs, sorta got into collectin' em. Or at least the ones that look particularly neat."

... Snrk. Yeah, he's got to wear this one.

He glances over his shoulder when Piers speaks up again, blinking twice.

"Oh, heh. Thanks," he smiles, running a hand over the back of his neck again. "Yeah, took a damn while. Not to mention I was 15, and... obviously, seein' as I don't have any others, my first tattoo. It's a tradition for us vault guardians to get one, though, so cool as it is--" He reaches behind himself and taps a finger near the tail of the dragon, where the tree branch blooms yellow, hanging above a field of purple flowers. "--that was the only part of the design I 'ad anything to do with."

Raihan tugs on the shirt he selected, and turns back ar--

Goku, lovingly embroidered over the right breast, stating "My Caprisun is MINE So eyes on your OWN WOMAN".

"I mean, don't get me wrong, I'd probably 'ave something similar even if it weren't part of the job. Definitely the wings, at least." He continues without commenting even a little bit on his choice of clothing, hopping up onto the bed and sitting cross-legged next to Piers. "But I'd like to get another, maybe somewhere a little more visible. ... And design the whole thing myself this time, too. Been thinkin' about what, though, and where. I got a few ideas, but... all the designs I've got in mind are pretty meaningful to me. Don't want to be haphazard about the placement, or the design, or in choosin' an artist."

Piers wonders if it would make him completely out of his mind to go ahead and get custom joycons and no switch. If he's going to be hanging out with Raihan more...

...That's assuming, again. Eh.

“Makes sense, mate. Don't think I could've handled somethin' like that at 15, though." He says. "Love to hear more about the vault sometime! Only know uh...well, what's made public. I know it's significant. And for a better reason than that fuck-ugly mural that used to stand in Stow-On-Side."

...Raihan is.

...

...He's really, really good at hiding. It's almost like what he saw didn't happen.

And Piers tells himself he's more than ready to move on with him. He's done it with Marnie before. And with himself, more often. But there is something in the room that hangs over them like a heavy fog. He keeps breathing it. Raihan isn't okay. Raihan isn't okay.

Shut up.

Let him wait until he's ready.

...

But...he won't be. Probably. Piers knows this.

Because Piers never was. And that's something he's only distantly, detachedly aware of. Like seeing someone in a dream, with a different face, and knowing them anyway. Seeing his own pain but feeling none of it. By choice.

By choice. Not for himself. For other people.

Shut up.

Two instincts are fighting tooth and claw inside of him. Both equally fed, both equally violent. Let him be, the time isn't now, and the person isn't you and please, please, please let me take care of you.

"Ay, I can give you the number of the girl who did mine." Piers says despite himself. "She might know a few other artists, even if that's not the style you're goin' for. I'm sure anythin' would look good on you, though. Especially that shirt."

The physical pain of the tattoo was little compared to how it felt when his sister was taken from him.

He chooses not to respond to the first remark.

"I'd love to!" ... pff. "If we were housing a slab of pavement with a child's chalk drawing on it that they drew in 1993 and treating it like it's actually got incredibly important historical value, I'd be destroying the vault, not guarding it."

Raihan isn't okay, but he doesn't need to be okay to convince someone he is-- or at least convince them to leave it be. Ignore the Donphan in the room until it gives up and leaves. It just takes patience. He has plenty.

"That'd be wicked," he grins. "Thanks, mate. ... You just put an idea in my 'ead about getting a tattoo of Goku and his Capri Sun."

The vault is locked shut.

#﹙IC.﹚#﹙DISCORD LOGS.﹚#obstatune #﹙182.﹚#very VERY long post under the cut

1 note · View note

sage-nebula · 6 years ago

Note

If Alan had to assemble a new Alolan team (he'd keep Lizardon of course!)who do you think he'd pick?

Hmm, do you mean like if he did what Ash does at the start of each new saga and only brings Pikachu with him to new regions, thus filling the rest of his team with ‘mon exclusive to that region? Okay, I can do that … but to make it interesting, let’s make him a team from every region, and then I’ll assemble a final team of six out of those. =) Putting this beneath a cut, because it’s going to get long:

I’ll put the species name first, and then the nickname he’d use for them second. And of course, the first ‘mon for every single region is always going to be the same. ♥

Kanto:

Charizard — Lizardon (Fire/Flying; Fire/Dragon)

Lapras — Lace (Water/Ice)

Raichu — Rai (Electric)

Nidoking — King (Poison/Ground)

Gengar — Gar (Ghost/Poison)

Aerodactyl — Ptera (Rock/Flying)

Lizardon is self-explanatory. He goes with Alan to every single region and they’ll never, ever part.

Lace is a callback to my Immortality AU, where I think I ended up giving Alan a lapras (or maybe reunited Ash with his?) because I imagine that lapras are a species that live a very, very long time—that even they’re not technically dragons, the lifespan of the Loch Ness Monster in our own world lends to the idea that lapras would be long lasting. In any case, I could see a lapras on Alan’s team. Lapras are very strong and very durable, and we know that Alan does like pokémon that can be both tanks and very heavy hitters, which lapras are. In addition, though, lapras are known for having very gentle temperaments, and since Alan is so calm and gentle himself (when he isn’t given reason not to be), I feel that would fit well with a lapras. Lapras are very rare (they’re more easily captured in Johto on Fridays), but there could possibly be a situation where someone working in the Safari Zone gives him one to raise and take care of once they learn that he comes from the Kalosian Pokémon Lab, because they need someone to look after this particular lapras and raise her, and they know he’ll do a good job.

Rai, I figure, could have been inspired by Ash, in the sense that knowing Ash and his Pikachu made Alan take interest in the pikachu line and thus decide to raise one himself. Rai would be captured in Viridian Forest as a pikachu, raised up, and then eventually evolved with a Thunder Stone (not against his will, of course), because although Alan would be inspired by Pikachu, again, he does value reaching for one’s max potential in his team, and as we’ve seen in canon he does tend to evolve his pokémon all the way.

King, I feel, would be a little male nidoran who saw Alan in the Viridian area and decided, for some reason, that Alan was an Opponent and a Rival and an Enemy and that he would take him down. Unfortunately, nidoran are not very big or intimidating ‘mon, so this … did not go as planned for King … but Alan recognized and appreciated that fighting spirit and so offered King a place on his team. King originally accepted with the idea that once he gained enough strength he would defeat Alan once and for all, but ultimately he came to really love him as a trainer and became a very faithful member of the team. So, you know. Maybe he’ll eat someone else instead. (Spoiler: He’s not going to eat anyone, Alan won’t let that happen.)

Gar would be a temporary member of Alan’s team; he’d be released back to the Lavender Tower once Alan was ready to leave Kanto. I don’t really have a story behind this one, but gengar seems like the type of pokémon that Alan would find an interesting challenge to train, and the gengar that we meet in Lavender Tower in the anime is friendly enough so that he probably wouldn’t want to drain Alan of his life. (Probably.) So I think it’d probably be more of Alan offering to show Gar interesting things around Kanto, Gar agreeing, and then the two parting ways at the end of the journey.

Ptera is another callback to the Immortality AU, because I’m almost positive I gave Alan an aerodactyl there, because again, they’re basically immortal themselves, very long lasting. (And for Alan and Ash in the Immortality AU, that’s very important.) This wouldn’t necessarily be the same aerodactyl that tried to eat Ash—rather, maybe this one was revived from Old Amber, flipped out because it was fossilized and now it’s suddenly alive again, Alan helped calm it down, and so the scientists were like, “Please take this before it eats us.” Nonetheless, aerodactyl again seems like the type of pokémon Alan would train, so I could see him with one.

Those who know that Alan is my valiant dragon son are probably surprised that dragonite wasn’t included, but while I considered dragonite, in honesty I … have never been very fond of dragonite. Its design has never appealed to me, and while it is strong, I just kind of … eh. There are better dragons out there, in later gens.

(Also, I know you’re probably thinking, “Well, I’m still surprised you didn’t give him an arcanine!” but listen … the temptation was there … I do think Alan would be very good at training an arcanine and that he’d like it, but when thinking about his Future Permanent Team, I couldn’t bear to have him leave the arcanine behind, and I don’t want his team to be too similar to mine, so … a call had to be made. I had to restrain myself, despite how very real that temptation was.)

Johto:

Charizard — Lizardon (Fire/Flying; Fire/Dragon)

Noctowl — Yoru (Normal/Flying)

Tyranitar — Bangiras (Rock/Dark)

Houndoom — Soot (Dark/Fire)

Donphan — Don (Ground)

Mantine — Tine (Water/Flying)

Lizardon is self-explanatory, as always.

Yoru comes from my Fix-It of the team we see him with in the League, because it kills me that they gave him unfezant, of all pokémon, when you can’t even catch that in Kalos (but you can catch noctowl), and noctowl is far more fitting thematically. I think that Yoru (short for “Yorunozuku”) would bond with Alan very quickly as a hoothoot, and would evolve into a beautiful noctowl in short order.

Bangiras is that very same tyranitar we see him with in the League. I didn’t have any real issues with him having a tyranitar in canon, so there’s no reason not to stick with that choice now. Bangiras would be captured as a larvitar and would start out feeling a rivalry toward Lizardon (that is not reciprocated) because he would want to be Alan’s strongest and favorite, but that attitude would settle down over time. Whenever he’s in Kalos and/or otherwise around Bonnie, Bonnie likes to sing “Getta Ban Ban” because of his name.

Soot is … okay, listen. For those of you who have read Genesis, you’ll know that technically the first pokémon Alan ever had was a houndour puppy that he, at the tender age of five, named “Soot.” Alan didn’t actually catch this houndour, nor was he able to raise it, but he tried and he gave it a name and it remains a very important part of his past, because if he’d never tried to keep that houndour puppy, he never would have met (and been unofficially adopted by) Sycamore. So I’ve always entertained the idea that one day, Alan and Soot would be reunited. How Soot would get all the way to Johto from Kalos is anyone’s guess, but maybe Soot was actually captured by another trainer at some point, who then traded him away to someone in Johto, who then released him. It’s possible! In any case, Soot and Alan meet by “chance” (read: destiny) at one point in Johto, Soot recognizes Alan instantly, Alan realizes that Soot is Soot, and so he’s captured and raised up (probably captured as a houndour, still, just a fully grown one at this point, close to evolving but not quite there yet). The naming convention is off from the rest, but Alan named him Soot so long ago … he’s not going to change that now. Soot is very playful and, even as a full grown adult, likes to act like a baby and get belly rubs with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Sometimes Alan still calls him “Sootie.” It’s hard not to.

Don doesn’t have a story behind her; I think a donphan just seems like the kind of pokémon that Alan would train, particularly since donphan can be tanks, can be fast (ROLLOUT), and are hard hitters (again, ROLLOUT). Also, I have a real soft spot for phanpy, so I like the idea of Alan raising one up to be a mighty donphan (albeit a mighty donphan that still thinks she’s the size of a phanpy).

Tine is partial bias to sea rays that I gained during my Japan vacation, and partial “I do think this would fit.” Again, no real story to this one; I just think it’d be interesting for Alan to raise a mantine and I think he’d enjoy and be good at it. Everyone was mantine surfing~

Again, the big surprise here might be that I left off kingdra, particularly since he has dragon clan heritage in Blackthron City (though if this is a canon compliant timeline, he might not know about that yet). But I didn’t want to give him two water-types, since water’s not really his thing so much, and I personally prefer mantine over kingdra. But don’t worry, there will be dragons to come in the future regions.

Hoenn:

Charizard — Lizardon (Fire/Flying; Fire/Dragon)

Flygon — Lye (Ground/Dragon)

Milotic — Milo (Water)

Absol — Sol (Dark)

Salamence — Bohmander (Dragon/Flying)

Metagross — Meta (Steel/Psychic)

Lizardon remains self-explanatory.

Lye would be captured as a trapinch, and perhaps got its name both because of its future final evolution, and also because it was very hot to the touch (due to being out in the desert) when Alan first met it, thus it burned him and made him think of how lye burns when it comes in contact with skin. In any case, even as a trapinch Lye always wanted to be off the ground, which makes Alan wonder sometimes if he should have named it Fly instead.

Milo is another call to the immortality AU, though it’s Ash that has a milotic in that one, rather than Alan. Nonetheless, milotic is a big pokémon that looks like a sea dragon, is very strong, and very much a tank as well, so it’s the type that he’d have on his team. Plus, I like the idea of him catching a feebas, and knowing that no matter how weak it is at the time, he can help it become stronger. And with time, he does.

Sol would be a healing, reclamation type pokémon for him. For those of who you have read Genesis (linked above), you’ll remember that the mayor of Isolé Village compared Alan to an absol in a derogatory way:

The mayor looked back at [Augustine], and her furious scowl was instantly replaced by an apologetic smile. “Oh, Professor Sycamore! I’m so sorry about all of this. I should have warned you to watch out for this one, but I didn’t think even he would … well.” She chuckled, but Augustine could hear an undercurrent of anger in it as she placed her hand on the boy’s head and shook him a little, her fingers gripping his hair far more roughly than Augustine had ruffled it back in the houndour den. “I should have known better! Alan here is like our own little absol—brings disaster wherever he goes!” She laughed again, the sound loud and aggressive.

That was years and years ago, but Alan has an eidetic memory and so he remembers everything that happened to him in that village: every punishment, every name he was ever called, and so forth. And as a result, given that he was always compared to absol and that it was meant to be a bad thing, seeing absol has always filled him with a very uncomfortable, anxious feeling. It’s not something he ever takes out on them, obviously, but seeing absol (or hearing the word “absol”) reminds him of those days back in Isolé, and he doesn’t like it. (Buneary sort of do as well, come to that, since they were always allowed to run around the village at will, but it doesn’t have the same tie to him as absol does.)

So in that sense, if he came across an absol in Hoenn, he wouldn’t want to capture it at first, but perhaps the absol would keep following him around because she knew that something bad was going to happen to him and wanted to prevent it. And after she helped save him from whatever disaster, it’d help him come to terms with things. Sycamore himself taught Alan that absol never bring disaster, and Alan knew that … and he also knows that he never really brought disaster, that the things he was blamed for weren’t really his fault … but sometimes it takes a while for the heart to catch up. And so he’d capture the absol, and name her Sol (meaning “sun” as well as being a play on her name), as a sort of healing / reclamation thing.

Bohmander would either be captured as a bagon, inspired by Zinnia and her salamence, particularly in my preferred scenario where a version of the Delta Episode is carried out post-XY(&Z), and Alan and Zinnia become quite acquainted with one another as a result. Boh is a bit smaller than the average salamence and is quite gentle, but he’s no less fierce in battle and everyone would do well to remember it.

Meta is the same metagross that Alan has in the League in canon, inspired by Steven and his metagross. If I remember correctly, the personality that I gave to Meta is that they are very young but also very desperate to prove themselves and be strong to make Alan proud. They struggle with self-esteem, but Alan always reminds them that he’s proud of their progress, and that helps a lot.

See? I told you there’d be more dragons.

Sinnoh:

Charizard — Lizardon (Fire/Flying; Fire/Dragon)

Mismagius — Mumargi (Ghost)

Lucario — Cario (Fighting/Steel)

Weavile — Manyula (Dark/Ice)

Mamoswine — Mammoo (Ice/Ground)

Gallade — Rei (Fighting/Psychic)

Lizardon is self-explanatory, as always.

I don’t really have a story for Mumargi, except that maybe Mumargi kept “accidentally” crossing paths with him as a misdreavous before he finally caught her. After he caught her she tried to wander off at every given opportunity, because she’s contrary like that.

Way back when the Flare Crisis was airing, and Alan did that amazing back handspring to avoid the spikes in the megalith, I came up with a headcanon that perhaps he studied martial arts under Maylene for a time while traveling through Sinnoh. Perhaps that headcanon could still come to light and that’s how he ends up with Cario, who was his sparring partner while studying with Maylene and who decided to travel with him when he left. (And now whenever he and Maylene encounter each other in public they have to spar immediately, as soon as they make eye contact, without explaining anything to anyone in the nearby vicinity. Those are the rules between martial arts sensei and student.)

Manyula is the same weavile we see him with in the League. Again, he chose a weavile there, I had no real issues with it, so why not keep it up? (Also, the Sinnoh ‘dex is hard enough to choose from without eliminating canon choices orz.) If I remember the characterization I gave her, she’s very mischievous and prideful and somewhat tsun in that she doesn’t like to play well with others … or at least, that’s what she pretends.

There’s no real story behind Mammoo other than I thought it’s the type of pokémon that would fit Alan’s battling style, and same for Rei.

Honestly, this one was really hard because I don’t like the majority of the Sinnoh ‘dex, and those I do like are already taken by members of Alan’s family (Sycamore has garchomp, Clemont has luxray), or just wouldn’t really fit his battling style (glaceon, leafeon, floatzel). So I struggled a lot with this one, I won’t lie.

Unova:

Charizard — Lizardon (Fire/Flying; Fire/Dragon)

Krookodile — Rook (Ground/Dark)

Zebstrika — Strike (Electric)

Beartic — Bear (Ice)

Chandelure — Lure (Ghost/Fire)

Bisharp — Sharp (Dark/Steel)

Lizardon is self-explanatory.

Rook seems like the type of pokémon Alan would train (fast, strong, tanky), and so there’s no real story behind this choice. That said, I like to imagine that if Rook met some of Alan’s more mischievous ‘mon from the past (such as, oh, Manyula or Mumaragi), he’s the type they’d try to scapegoat for their own wrongdoings even though he’s super honest and sincere and would never do anything wrong ever in his life if he could help it. Don’t worry, Alan never falls for the lies.

Strike might seem like kind of an odd choice, but I think that zebstrika can be pretty strong and fast and Alan would appreciate that, especially in an electric type. Strike is proud and hates losing, and is prone to tantrums and sulking fits when things don’t go his way. This is something he and Alan work on together.

Bear would have been captured as a cubchoo and not intentionally named Bear, but when Alan first encountered the curious little cubchoo trying to raid his bag for snacks, he said, “Hey there, little bear,” and from there on out the cubchoo would not respond to anything else. So now he’s a bear(tic) … named Bear. So it goes.

Lure tried to, well, lure Alan off a cliff at some point, back when she was still a litwick. That didn’t work, and when it didn’t, Lure tried again and again until finally Alan got exasperated and captured her. She still likes to try to lead him off places, this time in earnest, but she has a bad sense of direction and so she can’t be trusted as navigator even when she’s doing her best. She is a solid member of the team, though.

Sharp is the same bisharp that we see in canon. I had no problems with this one, so why change it? I can’t remember the personality I gave him, except maybe he was another that hated to lose? God, I wish I could find that post. Anyway, Sharp is bisharp, you know how it is.

I hated that canon gave Alan a random unfezant, as mentioned above, so that one got axed. I was also really strongly tempted to give him a haxorus, but I feel that’s Iris’ territory since she has that iconic axew, so I left that be.

Kalos:

Charizard — Lizardon (Fire/Flying; Fire/Dragon)

Pangoro — Pandar (Fighting/Dark)

Aegislash — Exagide (Steel/Ghost)

Tyrantrum — Rexillus (Rock/Dragon)

Noivern — Bruyverne (Flying/Dragon)

Meowstic — Mistigrix (Psychic)

Lizardon is self-explanatory.

For some reason I imagine Pandar as a little pancham at Sycamore’s lab that becomes utterly fixated on Alan because he (Pandar) wants to grow up to become very strong and knows that Alan could train him to do so. Thus, Alan ends up taking him along on a journey. Lo and behold, Pandar ends up achieving his dreams, so it’s a happy ending for everyone.

I don’t have much of a story for Exagide, but I think that Alan would be very interested in training an aegislash because of how much strategy goes into battling with one. I think he’d find the challenge exciting, and that Exagide would be happy to have someone who appreciated their talents.

Rexillus just seems like the type of pokémon Alan would like, as with so many others on this list. I’d like to flip the script a little and imagine Rexillus as a very lazy pokémon that Alan really has to work with to get motivated, and that even though Rexillus will at least battle reliably now, his favorite activities are still eating, sleeping, and watching cartoons. (He knows what’s up.)

Bruyverne is, I will admit, a personal bias of mine because I really like noivern, so even though Ash had one, well … it’s not an iconic pokémon of Ash’s, so it’s fine. Hell, maybe Alan was even inspired by Ash’s, I don’t know. Either way, I do think noivern would suit Alan’s battling style, and thus Bruyverne would be a good fit.

Mistigrix might seem weird, but I decided to give one to Alan as a call to the game character Emma, who I feel at least partially inspired Alan’s inclusion in the anime. Emma has an espurr named Mimi, and so I feel that giving Alan an espurr (and then meowstic) works. This works even better if we go with an idea I had once where Emma was Alan’s childhood friend in Lumiose, and she still has Mimi; she has her girl, Mimi, and Alan has his boy, Mistigrix, inspired by Emma and her Mimi. They make a pretty good team.

Alola:

Charizard — Lizardon (Fire/Flying; Fire/Dragon)

Mimikyu — Kyu (Ghost/Fairy)

Mudsdale — Dale (Ground)

(Midday) Lycanroc — Lycan (Rock)

Kommo-o — Kommo (Dragon/Fighting)

Toxapex — Tox (Poison/Water)

Lizardon is self-explanatory.

Kyu is a carry over from my fic To Devour the Sun, although I guess saying that is spoilers a little bit. Regardless, one of the ideas I have for near the end of the fic is for Alan to go off to the abandoned Thrifty Megamart to get some space and time alone (with Lizardon, of course), and while he’s there enjoying the quiet, a very lonely but curious mimikyu ends up coming up to him. The mimikyu means no harm, and she seems to be hurting in some way that he can’t quite identify, but that he empathizes with … so he takes her with him. He names her “Kyu” both because it’s a play on her name, and because she’s curious; “Kyu” sounds like “Q,” like question. (Also, I’ll fully admit that I love mimikyu with all my heart, so. This is a bit of personal bias, too, but I still think it’d be interesting to see Alan with a mimikyu that rides around on his shoulder because she, like Ash’s Pikachu, doesn’t like pokéballs.)

Dale doesn’t have a story behind him, but he seems to fit Alan’s battling style. Also, tbh, Alan is a hero, so we might as well give him a gallant steed to ride on in at least one region.

Lycan is a result of my third eye opening and finally allowing me to see sense. For the longest time I planned on giving Midday Lycanroc to Sycamore in To Devour the Sun, as a play on the whole “papa wolf” theme. As a result I was going to give Alan a drampa here, particularly because I feel that a drampa would gravitate to this boy. However, I have that so backwards. Sycamore should get the drama, as the caretaker of children who can get fiercely protective over them (were it not for the laws of Kalosian land Sycamore may well have burned Isolé Village down for how they treated Alan), and a regal wolf suits Alan far more. Plus, this also works in the sense that Ash has dusk lycanroc, while two of his rivals have the other two forms (Gladion with Midnight, and Alan with Midday). It works out.

Anyway, Lycan still has a very protective personally when it comes to his pack, which is Alan and the rest of the team. So he still acts like a papa wolf, at least.

(Also, don’t tell Sycamore’s drampa about Isolé or it very well might still get burned down after all.)

Kommo is another that I imagine would try to challenge Alan to fights, ultimately see that he can’t win, and then want to come along to train and get stronger. So not a very original story, I guess, but Alan attracts these types because he has that type of warrior spirit.

Tox is kind of a random choice to most, I imagine, but of the remaining pokémon in Alola I figure that toxapex is a good fit. It’s a bit outside of Alan’s normal training style, perhaps, but I think he’d like that challenge.

Final Team:

Charizard — Lizardon (Fire/Flying; Fire/Dragon)

Absol — Sol (Dark)

Mimikyu — Kyu (Ghost/Fairy)

Salamence — Bohmander (Dragon/Flying)

Tyranitar — Bangiras (Rock/Dark)

Aerodactyl — Ptera (Rock/Flying)

a.k.a. The team one would be likely to face if battling him when he’s the Champion.

I spent about three hours putting this all together, and this final team was probably the hardest one. I honestly have a notepad open that I’ve been using to do a base rundown of weaknesses and type coverage and, honestly, I feel like I should be going even deeper by selecting natures and movesets and all that, but … it’s 3am. I’m tired. So I’m not going to do that right now, even though Alan deserves it.

Anyway, my reasoning:

As an overview, I was torn between two different themes. Part of me wanted to give Alan’s final team the theme of mega evolution, in that every single pokémon on it would be capable of mega evolution. The other part of me felt that it was more important to give him pokémon that had more emotional value to him and his story, particularly since the only ‘mon on his team that would be mega evolving during battle would be Lizardon. In the end I did a bit of both; five out of six pokémon on the team above are capable of mega evolution, but I also did my best to choose at least most of them due to emotional weight with regards to him and his story.

So with that said:

Lizardon, as I’ve said a billion times by now, is self-explanatory. He’s Alan’s partner, his platonic soulmate—these two are never going to be separated. Their partnership is so iconic, so legendary, that anyone who even knows of Alan in a passing fashion (“oh yeah, he’s the Kalos Champion”) knows that Lizardon will show up if one challenges Alan to a battle. They’re like Ash and Pikachu. There’s no separation here. And of course, Lizardon is the one who mega evolves as well, meaning that it’s not even that easy to plan against him since his type could change to Fire/Dragon mid-battle. (So, you brought a water-type to deal with him? Too bad for you, he’s not weak to water anymore, suckaaa.)

Sol is included because of everything said above about Alan’s reclamation / healing with absol. Absol don’t cause disasters, and neither did Alan himself. He and Sol would grow really close throughout this process and I feel that Sol would be a very strong member of the team, even though she only has that one singular typing. Sol is also capable of mega evolution, though she would not mega evolve since, no matter how close they are, she and Alan don’t have that level of bond. That’s reserved for Lizardon.

Kyu is also a healing pokémon in Alan’s story, in the sense that when Alan first finds her, her actual Jolly nature has been pretty worn down and smothered by her isolation and other past traumas, the nature of which Alan is never able to learn (but figures it’s not his business anyway). But as they travel and train together, she’s able to heal and her true nature is able to come through. I think that, when looking at the rest of Alan’s team, a mimikyu seems rather unexpected—but that actually works in their favor, particularly given how wicked strong mimikyu can be (and how strong Alan’s in particular would be, given that he would absolutely utilize that Swords Dance + Play Rough / Shadow Claw combo). Kyu would be a smart choice to trip people up.

Bohmander, more often called Boh and inspired by Zinnia, is an important emotional choice for Alan because of that association. I don’t want to spoil too many of my ideas for this adaptation of the Delta Episode (though whether I’ll ever get it written and posted is another matter altogether), but Alan and Zinnia have a platonic, spiritual kinship of sorts that that they feel on a level they can’t entirely explain. They go through a lot together, and come out better because of it. Boh would, in a way, be a reminder of all that, on top of Alan caring for him as a pokémon. Plus, he’s a dragon and he can mega evolve (though he wouldn’t), so that also earns him a place on the team.

Bangiras doesn’t really have emotional significance, but despite being weak to practically everything, type-wise, tyranitar is still an extremely strong pokémon, and is capable of mega evolution (though again, he wouldn’t) to boot. I feel like Bangiras wouldn’t exactly be comfortable hanging out at the lab, and if Alan raised him up from a larvitar, releasing him into the wild would also be a pretty painful choice since it takes so long for larvitar to reach the tyranitar stage. So I feel like keeping Bangiras on the Champion team is worthwhile, even if Bonnie starts singing “Getta Ban Ban” every time she sees him.

Lastly, Ptera is a choice I’m still waffling about, but ultimately decided upon because, while Ptera is technically not a dragon, aerodactyl is dragon-like enough to the point where Lance had one back in Gens I and II. Additionally, aerodactyl is capable of mega evolution (though she wouldn’t), so thematically she also fits in that sense as well. I think in the real world competitive scene aerodactyl isn’t valued so much (unlike tyranitar), but the anime operates by different rules and aerodactyl are shown to be pretty fierce there, so I think that Ptera would still be a smart choice. (Plus, aerodactyl can learn Aqua Tail via move tutor … that would come in handy for any pesky ground-types.)

All that said, I’m still waffling about Ptera because part of me feels like Meta would also be a very good choice. Meta tries very hard and wants to be strong to make Alan happy, so it makes me feel bad to leave them off the type, and Steel/Psychic adds a bit more variety to the above type set. However, the reason why I’m waffling is because even though Meta was inspired by Steven’s metagross, metagross just doesn’t feel like a very Alan pokémon in the same way that an aerodactyl does. Aerodactyl are dragon-esque, and metagross are … robot-esque, I guess? I think I read once they were inspired by UFOs? Metagross stands out in a way that doesn’t feel very true to him, and while it could be argued the same for mimikyu, I think the backstory that I created for Kyu (which honest to god did develop naturally as I was outlining To Devour the Sun) feels like it makes up for it, versus “Steven had a metagross and that seemed inspiring so I caught a beldum to raise up myself.” I love Meta, but ultimately this is why they didn’t make the cut. Though that said, this could easily be a situation where Alan’s sixth pokémon is up for debate, and you see either Ptera or Meta and you’re never sure which one it will be before the battle … that could be the case, too. (Although honestly, that could go for any of his pokémon, because in a universe where he honest to god did catch all these, he could call upon any of them at any time. I imagine the same is true for Ash when Ash is Champion, even if Ash has a more “regular” team that he has on him when traveling and such.)

Anyway, a few more notes:

I really debated adding Soot to the team, since Soot has a VERY strong emotional tie to Alan, second only to Lizardon. However, I think that Soot would prefer belly rubs over battles, so while he can battle, he prefers to spend his time at home being a house dog instead. Alan respects that, and thus doesn’t have him on the active roster. (There’s also the fact that Soot is the only pokémon that Lizardon … it’s nothing personal. Soot hasn’t done anything wrong. But on some level that Lizardon doesn’t like to talk about, he’s jealous of the fact that Soot knew Alan before he did and has a kind of special bond with him because of what happened in Isolé. Lizardon knows that what he has with Alan could never be replaced, but … that sort of unreasonable jealousy is still there. So honestly, Lizardon wouldn’t want Soot on the permanent roster, so it’s good that Soot doesn’t like battling much anyway.)

I did briefly consider Rexillus, particularly since that’s another dragon, but then I remembered that Rex is a lazybones that doesn’t like battling either, so it’d make more sense for Alan to use someone like Bangiras who does enjoy battling instead.

I really, really, really wanted Yoru on the team because, thematically, noctowl suits Alan so well—but ultimately there are stronger choices, so as much as I love Yoru, he’s not a regular battler. (Except for in canon when he was totally in the League instead of that ridiculous fanon unfezant, am I right?)

Anyway, it’s about 3:30am now and I really need to get some sleep, so I’m going to leave this here for now. (I’ll also probably schedule it for a daytime reblog since I’m posting this at an ungodly hour.) Sorry I decided to be so extra about this instead of just answering the question more simply, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless! Thanks for asking!

#decadeoldtiger #trainer alan #trainer alain #my valiant dragon son #meta #champion alan

11 notes · View notes

jaybug-jabbers · 4 years ago

Text

Bug Run 5: A Clean Victory

There was something I needed to do before going any further in this game.

I made a little visit to the Name Rater.

Truth is, I was never satisfied with the nickname I gave my Galvantula OR my Crustle. For Galvantula, it was just such a plain and common name, and she deserved better. For Crustle, her name was alright, but a little too long and awkward to say outloud, you know?

After christening the new names, we were prepared to tackle anything!

However, the moment I took a step toward my next destination, I ran into my rival. The encounter was a tad unnerving, which is the only reason I bother to mention it here. Tonka took care of my rival’s bird with Rollout just fine, so that wasn’t so bad. (Yes, I know. I still had Rollout. What can I say? It takes a while for Scoliopede to earn its better moves, and in the meantime, a rock move really is darn useful.)

It was Emboar that worried me. This was the first time I was facing it fully evolved, and the thing is damn intimidating even for a very balanced team, let alone a mono-bug one. My newly-named Crustle, Gaia, went toe-to-toe with the massive swine, dishing out Rock Slides. Emboar decided to use Rollout and start powering the move up on me. So that was a pretty scary moment. Thankfully, Gaia did not miss any of her Rock Slides, and the pig went down.The last foe, that water monkey, was trivial when I had a Leavanny with Leaf Blade.

The next gym we faced was the dragon-themed gym with Drayden. I noticed there was a big of a level jump with that gym, though, with just the gym trainers outlevelling my team. So I decided to do a little grinding beforehand. In our travels I taught Volcarona Psychic, because at this point, the poor moth’s moveset is still quite terrible. (It still had String Shot and Whirlwind, for pete’s sake.) I also taught my Galvantula Thunder and … well, Flash. I didn’t want to teach it Flash, but I was wandering around a cave attempting to reach some TMs. Sadly, a roadblock prevented me from ultimately getting the TM, but we’ll talk more about that later.

After a little training, the fight with Drayden wasn’t too bad. Ra took out Druddigon with Psychic, Green Bean got a 2HKO on Flygon with Leaf Blade– after a lucky miss with Flygon’s Rock Slide– and Tonka took on the big boy Haxorous with a combination of Toxic and Venoshocks.

After finishing off the dragon gym, we’re treating to another piece of the plot with Team Plasma. Some giant steampunky ship shoots ice cannons at the city, there’s a lot of running around and shouting over some “DNA Splicers,” and lots of grinding on Plasma grunts. The usual.

I MUST take important note of one event that took place in the midst of all this, though. As I was running back and forth between Pokecenters and the Plasma ship, I ran into a random trainer with just a Crustle. And it wiped out my entire team.

The problem had been it got off two Shell Smashes and I hadn’t been paying it close attention and was fooling about. So, naturally, it outsped everything and destroyed us with rocks. Also, I was super dumb and forgot my Galvantula had Sucker Punch. (Look, it was really late at night and I was tired and being stoop.)

Wounded by this experience, I took a lengthy side-quest to grind for Blue Shards by losing many times at the World Tournament (they give shards as consolation prizes) so I could visit the Move Tutor and give my Scolipede Superpower. This is actually only neutral on Crustle and in the end I still needed to use my own Crustle v. Crustle to take care of the foe cleanly, but. Still. Superpower would end up proving very important on my Scoliopede. I suspected as much, as it was excellent coverage for a team largely lacking coverage.

Anyway. I finally reached the Colress fight.

This was a fun one. I had to actually think very carefully about his team. Colress opens with a Magnemite that loves to thunder wave and then Volt Switch. I eventually decided to try equipping Green Bean with a Cheri Berry and getting up a Swords Dance. Then he just stubbornly hacked away with his Leaf Blade. This is a very difficult approach, but it was important for someone to take out the ‘easy’ pokemon so I could save my other pokes for the tougher ones. Colress used a Full Restore once on Magnemite, so after that, I did the same for Green Bean. Then continue with the Leaf Blades. Green Bean somehow barely takes two Flash Cannons to the face and finishes Magnemite off, in red health and paralyzed, but alive. He did a very good job.

Next, Magnezone came out. This one was for Tonka. Superpower brought it to the low yellow, and then Magnezone thunder waves. I have to take a big hit, but a second Superpower takes Magnezone out.

Beheeyem is the easiest for my team to cope with, being pure Psychic with low defense. It does Calm Mind, which can be scary, but I can easily take it out before it does anything awful; Gaia just X-Scissors it to death.

Metang, on the other hand, is not easy. Zen Headbutt messes with Tonka, Meteor Mash cuts through Gaia and gives scary boosts, and the thing has ROCK SLIDE to add insult to injury; plus Agility. With a Steel typing, it resisted a lot of crap, too.The trick, as it turns out, was fucking it up fast and hard with F-Zero’s Thunder before it could do much damage. Thunder brought it to the low yellow and luckily paralyzed it; Signal Beam finished it off.

The ace was Klinklang. I find it odd this pokemon is pure steel when it has so many electric moves, but okay. F-Zero uses Thunder, which brings it into the yellow and paralyzes again (whoo!). Klinklang Shift Gears. I know it resists bug so I need to Thunder again; unfortunately I get the miss. However, the foe gets paralyzed. I Thunder again and finish things off.

It was a good battle, but Team Plasma wasn’t finished quite yet. We run into the true man behind the scenes, the foul abusive-parent Ghetsis, and chase him off his ship and into some backwater cave somewhere.

Then N shows up, there’s some drama with legendery dragons, and Ghetsis is very cranky about the whole thing. Without giving us a chance to even save or anything, he launches right into attacking us.

Not gonna lie, this last fight is exciting and the music is damn good. It feels high-stakes.

Ra was first out, since I’d just used him to take care of Kyurem. He was able to take care of Confagrigis with some Psychics– although we had to get toxiced and put up with a full restore, but held on long enough to take it out. A special defense drop did help us.

Next out was Hydreigon; Green Bean used X-Scissor. After that was Eelektross, and I was fearing the Flamethrower, so I sent out Gaia. It’s a bit rough, with thunderbolts and acrobatics, but it never actually pulls out the flamethrower and I finish it off. After that is Seismetoad; that’s easy as pie with a grass move.

Drapion is out next, and I really want to use Psychic on it, but Ra is pretty weak from his long fight with Confagrigis. I try it out, but he’s outsped, as I suspected. Dang. I send out Green Bean next, and take it out with three X-Scissors.

Toxicroak is handled cleanly with Thunder. And then that’s it!

In retrospect, the battle didn’t give me any trouble. But somehow they still made it feel exciting. Possibly it’s just because I remember the fight vs. Ghetsis from original Black/White, which really left an impression on me.

(Lord N was there to talk to me after the battle. Still love him so much.)

After the Plasma plot wraps up, we move on to Victory Road. And that’s when I run into some trouble.

See, the plan all along had been to add my sixth and final teammember at Victory Road. That is where Durant, a super-late-game bug, hangs out. The problem is, I was playing Pokemon White 2, and apparently they tweaked it so that you can’t even reach Durant until post-game.

That really stinks! I have no idea why they did that, but I decided I wasn’t going to let a technicality like that slow me down. Like previous game runs I’ve done, if a particular version I was playing didn’t technically have full access to the species I needed for a bug run, I … bent the rules slightly.

So we snuck into Clay Tunnel. This trip was only for one thing: capture a Durant. We grabbed the first one we saw. She was lovely, and we named her Kolibri. She didn’t have Hustle, and honestly? I think I’m ok with that. Missing is pretty darn annoying.

Once we had our final team member, it was all about going through Victory Road and doing a little grinding. We met our rival one last time along the way. His Emboar was tough enough by now that it could shrug off Gaia’s Rock Slides. So I went with a new tactic, using Volcarona’s Psychic. The rest was easy enough to deal with. Then it was on to the Elites!

(MIGHTY BUG POWER DETECTED!)

Unfortunately, I made a mistake when I was grinding before facing the Elites. I thought they would be around level 60, so I brought my team all to level 60. As it turns out, no. They were all in the high 50s. So I was ever-so-slightly overlevelled.

Not a huge deal, but it is a shame. I really prefer to never be over-levelled, even by a little bit. Unfortunately there wasn’t much I could do about it.

The Elites were not too hard. Shauntal’s fight was kind of fun. Ra took on Confagrigis with Heat Waves, but got a Spec. Def drop with a Shadow Ball, so I had to switch out when Chandelure came in. I decided to bring Tonka in. As cruel as it sounds, Tonka was kind of expendable against this particular team. I got a Toxic off before going down, though. Ra came back in to blast with Psychics for neutral damage, but unfortunately the darn thing was hitting all its Fire Blasts and it got a crit, so Ra went down. Luckily it was injured enough that F-Zero could finish things off. Golurk was easy pickings for a Leaf Blade, and Drifblim went down to a Thunder.

Marshal fight had Tonka doing some work on the opening Throh. I feared Guts on Conkeldurr, and sent out Kolibri; however, it did not fare well against those Hammer Arms. Thankfully those moves dropped Conk’s speed, though, so I felt safe bringing Ra in, even against the inevitable Full Restore, and I could just Psychic. (See, at the time, I didn’t realize that thing is actually slow as dirt anyway.) The rest of the team was an easy clean-up, especially when Meinshao misses its High-Jump Kick and I put a Rock Wrecker in its face.

It may not be very effective, but nobody’s surviving a boulder to the face at half health.

Since the other two Elites are Psychic and Dark type, I don’t think I even need to bother mentioning their fights. With a full team of Bug types, it was pretty trivial to get through.

The Champion battle was decently difficult, so I was glad it wasn’t too anti-climactic. Tonka used X-Scissor on Hydreigon and managed to tank a Flamethrower– in the very low yellow health, after Leftovers. He finished the dragon off and Druddigon was out next. I honestly forget what I did with that fellah. I probably used F-Zero against him. Aggron was out next, so I went with my special attacker Ra. Heat Wave did a respectable chunk, but Rock Slide was, of course, a death sentence for Volcarona. Knowing that the Full Restore was incoming, I sent Tonka out and potioned up too. Then I used Superpower, which ALMOST killed. Tonka goes down and I clean up with F-Zero.

Archeops is next; one Rock Wrecker is all it takes, after Gaia survives the Rock Slide. Very happy Gaia hit all of her Rock Wreckers when she needed to.

Lapras was a bit of a troll. I sent out F-Zero, confidant in one-shotting the beast with Thunder, but it didn’t quite kill and it used freaking Hypnosis on me. Urgh. Swapped over to Kolibri and took a Surf very badly but finished Lapras off.

Finally, the ace, Haxorous. I sent out Green Bean. It was a tough choice, knowing this thing was probably going to Dragon Dance, and that was pretty scary. She could have easily gotten her late-game sweep if I let things get out of hand; my team was already weakened a bunch. I decided to get a Reflect up. I think that ultimately saved my butt. It did use Dragon Dance as predicted, and Green Bean used one X-Scissor before going down to an X-Scissor of Haxorous’ own. Then I sent the low-health Gaia in. He managed to survive the Earthquake thanks to Reflect and finished Haxorous off with an X-Scissor. (Yes, that’s an awful lot of X-Scissors going ‘round, but to be fair, this *is* a mono bug team)

And that’s it for Pokemon White 2! It was a fun little romp, but I admit it was very easy. I did expect that, though. Oh well! Maybe next time, if I’m hunting for a challenge, I can do that all-Vivillon run of X/Y I keep considering. :P

This is a repost on a new blog. The original post was on Feb 25, 2019.

#pokemon #bugrun #bugrun5 #mycontent #pokemon playthroughs

0 notes

pokemon-swsh-bartender-au-crew · 5 years ago

Text

Heavy Heart, Heavy Soul: Chapter Nine

————————————

Raihan froze up when he saw that Piers wanted him to quit his job as the Eighth Gym Leader of Galar. He loved his job so very much, but he knew it did keep him incredibly busy. If he quits his job though, that would make Spikemuth’s Gym be the final Gym, since no one else is particularly suitable to take over Hammerlocke Gym. However, if Raihan quits his job as the Eighth Gym Leader of Galar, then that would leave the Stadium unoccupied and more than likely, Chairman Rose would try convincing Piers again to relocate his Gym to a place that allowed the use of Dynamaxing. Since well, to be honest, Rose was not pleased that Piers was refusing to move his Gym from Spikemuth. And that in itself caused a massive argument between Piers and Rose, which is why Rose now refuses to help Spikemuth at all, leaving only more of a burden on Piers’s shoulders. But Raihan knew very well that if he refused to do this, Piers may not want to date him anymore. His hand trembled as he typed a response to ‘Piers’. >>If... If that’s what you think will be best, then, alright, Piers... I’ll... I’ll go talk to the Chairman this morning and tell him I’m resigning from my job as Galar’s Eighth Gym Leader... Just know that this means that your Gym will become the final Gym of the Trainer Challenges unless a replacement is found for my Gym... I love you, my perfect little Rockstar. I hope this makes you happy...<< After having sent the text, Raihan got up and put some clothes on; his usual outfit with his dragon hoodie. As sad as Raihan was to resign from his job, he knew this was all just to repair his and Piers’s relationship, or so he thought. After all, once a Gym Leader resigns, they are by law, not allowed to become a Gym Leader for that Region again. And here Raihan is, willing to give up essentially everything he has just for Piers...

Raihan sent the Chairman a quick text to let Rose know that he was stopping by Rose’s office soon to talk with Rose about an important topic, then he put his phone away in his hoodie pocket, walking downstairs and leaving his house. He took his Flygon out of it’s Ultra Ball, having Flygon fly him to Wyndon. On the way to Wyndon, he couldn’t help but feel a heavy weight on his heart. He’s given up his social media, he carved Piers’s name in his arm, and now, he’s giving up his beloved job. All just for Piers. He knew life wouldn’t ever be the same without having his social media and his Gym, but, it would be worth it right?... As for Leon, Leon was overall shocked that Raihan had actually agreed to give up his beloved job all because Raihan believed Piers was the one telling him to do that. But had Leon gone too far this time?... Perhaps so... It’s not like he could undo the damage now though. So for now, he closed the social media app while staying logged into Piers’s account.

Piers as of the current moment, was sitting at a small table at the cafe area of the PokéCenter, having a small conversation with someone as he sipped on his coffee. Basically everyone in Spikemuth knew Piers had been having bad relationship issues as of late, and most people avoided bringing the topic up, not wanting to upset Piers. Piers sighed as he was talking with his friend Felix, whom had recently moved to Spikemuth from Alola. “Ya know Felix, I’m glad ta have ya as a friend, y’know?...” Felix of course, nodded a bit, trying to keep his energy levels at a normal amount so that he’s not talking fast enough that it’s impossible to understand what he says since he has a tendency of being incredibly energetic. “And if you ever need help with anything, Piers, I’m here for you, alright? I understand what it’s like going through rocky relationships as well, believe it or not. The only relationship I’ve ever been in ended with me finding my girlfriend cheating on me...” Piers sighed softly, putting a hand on Felix’s shoulder. “I’m sorry ta hear ‘bout that, Felix...” Piers then put his hand back down on the table. “Ya know... I’ve... I’ve been actually thinkin’ of maybe just breakin’ up wit’ Raihan... Our relationship has only been gettin’ worse, an’ I don’t think it’s gonna get any better...”

Felix looked down under the table, feeling his Torracat rubbing against his legs then looked back at Piers as he reached down, petting his Torracat gently. “I don’t think now would be a good time to break up with Raihan, Piers. This is just my opinion though...” Piers gave a confused glance to Felix, taking a sip from his coffee. “An’ why is it that ya think today wouldn’t be a good day ta break up wit’ Raihan?...” Felix sighed softly. “Have you heard the news that Raihan deleted almost all his social medias last night?... People are really worried about Raihan and some people are already spreading rumors that Raihan might be going through some bad depression right now. By chance do you have any idea why Raihan suddenly deleted his social medias?...” When Piers heard that Raihan had deleted almost all his social medias, Piers nearly spat out his coffee in shock. “He WHAT?!” Piers quickly picked up his phone to message Raihan, but when he saw those messages that he knew for a fact that he didn’t type those, he mentally panicked. And when he saw that one picture Raihan had sent, he felt as if his heart had just dropped and his face paled even more than it had originally been pale. He got up from his seat, tossing his coffee cup in the waste bin. “Sorry I have ta cut our conversation short, Felix. But I need ta go talk ta Raihan immediately.” He then quickly walked out of the PokéCenter. All he could do was hope that Raihan was still at his house in Hammerlocke, because if Raihan wasn’t there and was on his way to Wyndon, Piers knew for a fact he would not be able to get to Wyndon before Raihan could. But if he’s not fast enough, what is he supposed to say the next he sees Raihan? Say it wasn’t him that sent those texts and that someone else had ruined Raihan’s life? Or lie and go along with it as if he had been the one to send those texts?...

—————————

First Chapter: https://pokemon-swsh-bartender-au-crew.tumblr.com/post/616794959808479232/warning-this-story-overall-contains-topics-of

Previous Chapter: https://pokemon-swsh-bartender-au-crew.tumblr.com/post/617209945861013504/heavy-heart-heavy-soul-chapter

Next Chapter: https://pokemon-swsh-bartender-au-crew.tumblr.com/post/617232561995972608/heavy-heart-heavy-soul-chapter

#swsh #pokemon swsh #leon #Piers #Raihan #heavy heart heavy soul #sword #shield #depression #betrayal #drama #fanfic #fanfiction #punkdragon #punkdragonshipping

0 notes

dontfindyourcenter · 6 years ago

Text

Chapter 21/ Trial 7: Seven trials a-swimming, six geese a-trialling, five trialen rings, four calling trials, three Kalosian trials, two trial doves, and a trial in a trial trial

Rules: https://dontfindyourcenter.tumblr.com/post/177027661290/rules

Previous chapter: https://dontfindyourcenter.tumblr.com/post/178325494555/chapter-20-my-island-poni-magic-is-friendship

Jumping right into the action, there are six Team Skull grunts blocking the road to Vast Poni Canyon, which is our next destination. One of them fights me with a fomantis, which goes about as well as you’d expect. After she runs off, the other five grunts claim that they’ll fight me all at once… Then end up just fighting me one pokemon at a time like normal. Horde battles (where five pokemon would indeed fight the trainer at the same time) were actually quite common just a single generation of games ago, but apparently everyone forgot to tell that to Team Skull.

Plumeria then comes down from a nearby cliff, but she doesn’t fight me - she just gives me a poison-type z-crystal, telling me to find Guzma and bring him back. She also gestures and Lillie and tells me to “take good care of our little princess here.” How does Lillie get so many cool female characters calling her “princess” in this game?

Then Plumeria walks off and Lillie heals my team right back up to full health. Oh! Maybe that’s how.

Before I actually go into Vast Poni Canyon, Hapu says that she “wants to see this battling skill of (mine) that make Lillie smile so.” Did she just turn challenging me to a pokemon battle into a pickup line intended for Lillie? That feels rude. In any case, she’s challenging me to a grand trial. A few minutes ago it seemed like we were all pretty anxious to save Lusamine as quickly as possible, but yeah, I’m sure we’ve got plenty of time for this.

Mr Nancy starts the battle off in style by beating Hapu’s dugtrio with a single scald attack, giving her only enough time to whip up a sandstorm before fainting. Her flygon is a little trickier - the only move I have which would be super effective against it would be Loki’s Draining Kiss, and Loki’s vulnerable to ground attacks. Instead, I send out Wash, who takes quite a bit of damage but is able to beat the flygon in a couple of moves.

Hapu’s next pokemon is gastrodon, so I switch out Hedwig for this round. Despite taking quadruple damage against grass-type moves, though, this gastrodon is able to survive a Leaf Blade attack. Gastrodon’s defence stat must be higher than I remembered! Her special attack isn’t, though - she’s only able to do 28 damage against Hedwig before getting knocked out.

Finally, Hapu sends out her signature pokemon, mudsdale. I send out Mr. Nancy for this match, and it’s a bloody lucky thing too, because the mudsdale uses Tectonic Rage, the ground-type z-move, and even though ground type moves aren’t very effective against Mr. Nancy, he still only barely survives the attack. Since Nancy is one of my most defensive pokemon, it’s likely that none of my other pokemon would have survived that move.

Wait, hold on, Wash is immune to ground type moves. Never mind.

And after a couple of Scald attacks from Nancy, that’s the grand trial over! Definitely the hardest one of the four, but that’s not exactly hard. Hapu rewards me with a ground-type z-crystal of my own, and then I find a max potion off to the side of the canyon’s entrance. And as I make a move towards entering the canyon, Lillie gives me a max revive and heals my pokemon. It makes me a bit nervous, to be honest with you. It’s like the game is saying “here, you’ll need these in a moment.”

Here’s a fun thing, though - inside the canyon, a pair of Ace Trainers fight me with the alolan forms of ninetales and sandslash, and after Digit Al beats them, he evolves into a magnezone! That’s pretty cool - he’s been kicking it as a magneton for so long I’d almost forgotten that wasn’t his final evolution, but it gives most of his stats a pretty welcome boost. Enjoy your suddenly enormous head, Al!

Ooh, there’s a revive on the ground in between the first two caves. Yoink.

Although none of the trainers in the first two sections of this cave are anything but very strong, none of them give me too much trouble. The biggest scare I get is when a veteran’s talonflame is able to bring Donna down to 1HP before being knocked out. ...Actually that sounds like a pretty big deal now I’ve written it all out like that, but seriously, I think I’m doing pretty well.

Lillie catches up with me as I’m approaching a wooden bridge, and compares it to the bridge I first met her by, way back in chapter one. This turns out to be tempting fate, though, because just like back then, three bird pokemon fly in and block her path. This time, though, she’s able to summon up the courage to run past the three murkrow completely unscathed! Amazing!

Not really, of course; it’s a dramatisation of someone running into a wilk pokemon and clicking the “run” option. They even show a two second clip of my character kneeling next to the birds and gently shooing them away, just to drive home how little it needed to be made into a big deal. But hey - Lillie’s happy about it, and she even heals my pokemon afterwards, telling me she’s got loads of revives and potions and ethers. Hey, I have a question; why does this person who isn’t a trainer carry around loads of revives and potions and ethers?

In the third cave, in between shoving some boulders into some holes, I find a full restore. I’ve got to say, Vast Poni Canyon has been really good for my medicine cabinet so far. Hopefully I won’t have to use any of this stuff any time soon.

Okay, I jinxed that pretty badly. I don’t even get out of the third cave before I have to use a revive on Donna; a scientist’s magnezone knocked her out with a ridiculously strong Discharge attack. Oh well; ‘tis better to have used a revive and lost it than to never have had a revive at all.

Outside the cave, I run into Mina, the sole Trial Captain of Poni Island. She’s wearing a ring on her finger with the same symbol of a “+” control pad that Kiawe had on a pendant around his neck. Guys, we get it! You’re gamers! Anyway, Mina admits she doesn’t have a trial to herself - at least, not until the sequel games - so she just gives me a fairy-type z-crystal and walks off. I mean, not to be ungrateful, but she didn’t even ask for my name first - I could have been anybody. If it turns out that Lusamine has a fairy-type z-move in the big boss battle later in the game, I am absolutely blaming Mina and her lackadaisical approach to z-crystal recipient screening.

The two veteran trainers outside the entrance to the trial turn out to be very, very tough, and I end up having to use a few more healing items in their battles. First, during the fight against a tsareena, I’m forced to use an energy root on Donna; next, when a cloyster turns out to be faster than I was expecting it to be, I have to use a revive on Digit Al; and when both the trainers have been beaten, I have to use max potions on Hedwig and Loki, to undo the damage inflicted by a stoutland and a gengar respectively.

What a bloody waste of two max potions - Lillie comes running up behind me as soon as I walk a step further and heals all my pokemon. Oh well, could have been worse; at least now all the rest of my pokemon have been healed up, too. Anyway - trial time!

As ever, the pre-totem pokemon fail to make too much of an impact; Hedwig beats the jangmo-o and Loki beats the hakomo-o, with neither of them taking any damage from their respective fights. I don’t flatter myself by imagining this means the totem battle will be that easy though. And here it comes; the totem kommo-o!

Wash goes first for this battle and uses Beak Blast. This goes as well as I could have hoped for; the totem pokemon uses Sky Uppercut on Wash, leaving itself burnt from Wash’s charging beak, and then the Beak Blast hits it for a pretty sizable amount of damage. The Sky Uppercut attack did a lot of damage to Wash, though, and with the kommo-o having summoned a scizor to help it out, I don’t fancy Wash’s chances if I try to get him to attack again. Time to switch out to Loki.

That switch-out actually works out really well for me, too! The kommo-o uses Clanging Scales, a move which would have obliterated Wash, but which doesn’t affect Loki at all due to her fairy typing. The scizor gets a reasonable hit in with metal claw, but all told, this is the best that the fight could be going so far.

My word! There was a tense moment when the kangmo-o used Flash Cannon, which took away an unnerving chunk of Loki’s health - but that’s ok, because Loki was able to knock the kangmo-o out altogether with a Draining Kiss attack - a move which stole just enough hit points that Loki was even able to survive the scizor’s next metal claw! After that, it’s a simple case of switching over to Donna and having her defeat the scizor. Then I’ve done it! Another trial down - with no deaths!

That’s a pretty good place to call it a day, huh? End of chapter 21.

#totem kangmo-o #Pokemon sun and moon #Pokemon moon #alola #suicide run challenge #no Center challenge #pokemon #trial captain mina

0 notes