New Fizz City: The Metropolitan Zone

[ShadowDRGN]

Liltwick - The third and final of your team has been revealed before the crowd—and they’re eating it up! Sneasler’s sleek, flamboyant form proves appealing even before Kiba starts showboating, and the announcer’s voice seems even more charged than the last fight:

Woah! It looks like Hotaru has even more Hisuan Pokemon up his sleeve! Those of you familiar with modern-day Sneasel might be questioning this matchup, but looks can be deceiving! Those claws it uses for climbing are dripping with venom!”

Your opponent seems to acknowledge the disadvantage he’s at immediately, and behind those kind eyes you can see a plan brewing. It matters not how outlandish the Pokemon you face—an experienced Trainer takes many forms, and is not to be taken lightly.

Taking the initiative, you order Kiba to bolster his offenses, and he does so with spectacular flair! Spectral swords whirl around the Pokemon’s body as he undulates rhythmically, each pass sharpening the point on his claws until they gleam under the stage lights! As the ghostly procession fades, the anticipation of the crowd only seems to rise as your Sneasler closes in to strike!

An abundance of caution colors Chapman’s face as he watches your Pokemon buff up, and he quickly responds with a command of his own, “Alcremie, use Acid Armor!”

Receiving his order, a tie-dye of colors washes over the living dessert’s body as it partially dissolves. Carefully-groomed and shaped swirls sag as they slide down Alcremie’s form, before they rapidly re-harden into a thick layer of frosting meant to protect her from physical harm.

Not a moment later, Kiba rends his claw through the Fairy-type, attacking with swift, yet brutal decisiveness. Though her armor absorbs the effects of his Swords Dance, a neutral hit from the Sneasler still proves dangerous—especially once it becomes clear that his venom has taken hold. Alcremie’s body seizes up, finding it harder to move as the poison courses through her sugary veins!

“No! Alcreamie, regain some health with Draining Kiss!” Chapman calls, his composure wavering a bit in the face of that unlucky blow. Fighting against her condition, Alcremie lunges towards Kiba’s leg and latches onto him, leeching some of his energy away until she’s shaken off by a second Poison-type attack!

As she tumbles to the floor, the Fairy-type’s wounds are simultaneously healed. Though it’s nowhere near enough to recover from Dire Claw and Poison Jab, it’s enough to stem some of the bleeding.

“Quickly, use Aromatherapy!” Chapman calls, but is dismayed to see his Pokemon completely stiffened by paralysis. Kiba may have been Hurt after taking a neutral blow, but Alcremie is looking to be in much worse shape.

Now’s your chance to press the advantage!

[KingSalmon]

Originally Posted by Lil'twick

KingSalmon-

Hesitation gripped you even more. Your mind was starting to get clouded by doubt. This Abra seemed too trained, too ready to make things harder for you. Yet, as you doubt it, you feel the TwistedSpoon in your hand grow icy cold. Wrong. You could feel a sense of communication with you, as the Pokemon moves its head towards you... before letting out a snore.

"Found it!" Bradley exclaimed, and you hear a rusted hatch swing open.

The Abra stirs not from its sleep, yet the spoon still feels readily cold. Wrong. The word flashes through your head once more. Perhaps this Abra was attracted to the spoon? The line was known for its bond with spoons, and this one was surely all gnarled.

Regardless, the knocking gets louder and louder, with almost no proper progress being made. Bradley goes to one of the boxes your Litten hard marked and begins to move it. You hear the clinking of bottles as you do so, and see him do it with a small huff. At this point, you hear another box clinking, and see Gustav bounce off of it.

Litten then meows, going up to the box. Another pawprint mark. Seems that was that, right? You go to lift the box and find that it is extremely heavy. How was Bradley moving these things?

For finding the boxes, both Gustav and Litten have gained 1 Level.

You then see the small teen set the box next to where the escape route was, wiping the sweat off of his brow. He takes off his black hoodie, and you see him wearing a plain white wifebeater. Yet, that wasn't the important thing here. This kid was fucking JACKED. Muscles were barely contained in his lithe frame, and he was much more cylindrical than his frame would suggest.

"U-uh, please don't look..." he stammers with embarrassment, quickly putting the hoodie back on.

He could probably kill you in a single punch, you reckon. Though you reckon for all of his abilities, he is only trained into doing this. There were flaws there, and quite easy to exploit if you needed to. Yet, despite this, he was your ally for now. You just needed to stick to this plan, and you'd get your payment. The spoon, however, remained frigid in your palm.

Stop.


That voice again, now with a splitting headache. You notice the now drooling Abra still following you. Were its psychic abilities that great that it could watch you in its sleep? Or was... it perceiving the spoon? No matter, this Abra was here for a reason. Perhaps it was best to figure it out before you potentially break your back moving these crates.

What do you do?

This was a most conflicting situation. On one hand, they were definitely making progress – Gustav and Litten had both found the boxes they were looking for (and appeared to be filled with glass bottles, hopefully not explosive) and Bradley, it turned out, was a freak of nature with the strength of Machoke with a malfunctioning belt. On the other hand…

Accursed headache…

It had been bothering him ever since that Abra had shown up, but it was definitely getting worse. The Psychic-Type showed no open hostility, and so Gustav remained on the defensive as well, but something about its mere presence was unsettling. The headache, it turned out, got worse once Bradley approached and opened the hatch, and either the pain was getting to him, or Arne could tell he heard a voice telling him to stop. His heart rate went up as he realized what might be happening.

“Bradley? Who exactly tipped you about that escape route?...”

He could be walking straight into a trap here, but the assumption that Abra might belong to an enemy also triggered a similar headache and warning. Maybe it was leading them away from danger, from terrible choices, and not toward them. Maybe it could be trusted, and Bradley’s plan was shit.

“Stop. Don’t go down there, close the hatch!”

Was there time to explain still? Was tampering with the teens’ plan going to land them all in trouble? Or was Abra the one to be trusted after all? He held the Twisted Spoon tighter in his grasp, as if waiting for a response. Silly superstition.

“Bradley I… believe we should trust this Abra more than your connections. I know how this sounds, I do. However, this Pokemon has been warning me of something. I do not know what, but it clearly does not want us to follow your plan, at least as far as the way out of this room is concerned.” He needed to make a choice here. “Bradley, clearly you can look after yourself if the worst comes to pass, and I trust my Pokemon to fight if it comes to that. What do you say we risk using this Abra to Teleport us and the boxes out of here instead?”

Here he was, suggesting they do exactly what he feared at first – that they let this strange Pokemon just whisk them away to parts unknown, possibly straight into the authorities’ hands. But at this point, with so many unknown variables, it came down to a matter or faith… and he felt inclined to believe Abra more than to distrust it.

[Zelphon]

Originally Posted by Prof.Enigma

Sunder Island: Zelphon

It did not take you long to reach the abandoned power plant. Rather, what was left of it?

A building laid before you, a shadow of its once former glory as a prestige well-maintained power plant now in shambles. Giant slabs of concrete mixed with dirty marble and iron support beams laid askew amongst the radius of the building's presumably nice parking lot. Marked upon one of the larger piles of debris you could make out the black paint which read: "S n der Isl d Powe Pla "

You could only assume it read Sunder Island Power Plant as that's the most logical thing to put together with the sign. Something struck you as odd about all of this, however. It was too quiet here.

Where were the shadow beastly pokemon that attempted to hunt you and the pumpkaboo down earlier? Would they have not returned to this place should it be the home of their power? Or perhaps they found other prey on the island to go after?

Walking amongst the rubble you soon found a door that seemed a little too carefully placed, in fact, it wasn't even in any form of decay, time-worn, or anything of the like to its surroundings. But trying to pull on this door placed within the ground yielded no results. Perhaps a Pokemon move could move it? Or was there somewhere around here that served as a key? You could investigate further unto your surroundings to see what it yields or you can attempt to work on the door. Which do you choose

Perplexed by the lack of activity in the area as well as the question of how best to move forward Marietta considers all of her options, weighing the risks and benefits of sticking to an aggressive or subtle approach.

"On one hand this whole situation reeks of treachery & ambush, an attempt to assail our forces while confined and secure in our lythe entry to this beastly den. On the other hand, a more brutish approach might guarantee conflict where before there was to be none.."

Having come to a decision Marietta flings out a series of pokeballs to bring out her Woobat, Stella and Duraludon. "Stella, unleash your Defog to clear the area and give us sight! Woobat, once the dust clears use your Odor Sleuth to sniff out any of those who might yet remain in the area, lastly Duraludon charge our Doom Desire that we might strike down any who come to face us!

[ShadowDRGN]

Originally Posted by Lil'twick

ShadowDRGN-
Adapt or die. The dinosaurs failed to do it. Dragons almost did as well. Yet, here you were, Hatchley. It was your turn to adapt or get blasted with frigid temperatures... And adapt you shall. Taking the Paras webbing gunked onto your items, you begin to fashion the adhesive to the bottom of your shoes. You do a pretty good job of it too, allowing yourself to still have a bit of traction and movement.

So, you begin to walk against the wind. If you had an open hole in your suit, this would mean frostbite. Yet, there was none. Of course, the force of these winds was a lot more than you expected. Sure, there was one thing seeing gale-force winds, and then another thing actually being in them. Trying with all of your might, you begin to push against the wind...

And you make progress, but barely. You can feel your body getting battered from this, and each step forward was becoming more and more difficult. You don't know how many minutes it's been, but you could start to feel the exhaustion start to take hold of you. You needed to stop, even if you were in the middle of a wind turbine.

Taking another step forward, you feel something slippery beneath your feat. The cryogenics lab was so frigid that what faint moisture was in the air was causing the surface of this turbine to be covered in thin ice. What in the fresh hell was this HVAC system, a JRPG Labyrinthian Bonus Dungeon? It was starting to feel like it.

Yet, try as you might in traversing the ice, and you start to slip. Every second counted here. If you failed, your helmet may very well shatter against the ice you were flying towards. You had to survive and fix this problem. So what, in this quick thinking life or death moment, decide on?

How do you save yourself?

Hatchley has everything he needs to deal with the cold, but he fails to account for the sheer physical toll that pushing against this hellish wind has. Every step feels like ten, and even with his sticky boots, staying upright is its own battle. Even breathing in this mask proves difficult, as the whipping current makes it hard for him to draw any air through the filter without taking deep, almost desperate gasps.

This isn’t looking good already, but this damn ice is going to turn “difficult” into “impossible”! His boots start skidding as he puts his weight down on the corrugated metal, forcing the teen to grit his teeth as he begins to lose control over the situation. All of his senses are completely overloaded by the howling wind and biting cold, leaving only his vision protected by the thick glass of his safety goggles.

In his mind, this is no mere obstacle in a fantasy dungeon—this is a fight straight out of a manga, and this enemy has a unique and bizarre power. And if that’s the case... then he can’t win this through sheer brute force. Not unless he pulls out a power of his own, as well!

“Prince, anchor me!” he shouts, grabbing the Tyrunt’s Heal Ball and throwing it ahead of him. As the pink orb pops open, the dino inside moves to catch Hatchley before he can go flying. His Rock-typing should help him stay put against the air current, but of course, he knew that subjecting his Dragon-type to this wind is dangerous.

With his other hand, Hatchley takes out the Rare Bone from his pocket and tosses it to Prince, shouting an order above the hurricane-force wind, “use Fire Fang on the bone to keep yourself warm and melt all this ice!”

This is it—the best scheme he can come up with in the time he has. He has no clue if it’ll work, but he has to believe that he and Prince working together will get them out of this mess!

[Lil'twick]

KingSalmon-

Feeling something wasn't right, due to Abra's insistence, you call out to Bradley. He pauses for a quick second, looking at you confused. This was certainly strange for him... Everything was planned out. Yet, he gives you a nod. If this escape route was bad, he rather trust that information. And, it turns out your intuition was right.

You hear an explosion, and see smoke start to rise through the hatch. Then multiple other explosions, and hear alarms all throughout the building. Bradley looks at you, a mix of shock and panic in his eyes. This was bad, really fucking bad. And, just as you could look at the Abra, it was gone without a trace. Seems that spoon saved your life, and your companion's. Now, the real question was how to get out of this locked room.

Bradley quickly unrolls the maps onto the ground, covering his mouth with his arms. Who knew what was in here, and what might happen if it burned? It was a smart idea, to say the least. The kid then begins to trace his fingers along a few routes and gives you a glance.

"Shit, we only have two routes. Go back the way we came, and risk being caught by security. Or..." he looks at the smoking hatch. "We risk it and go down. If this place was being bombed, it should've happened simultaneously. We either risk being caught, or risk fire. Either way, we'll need to fight our way out at this point."

Two options were given to you now. Fight head-on, or fight to escape. No matter what, there was almost no time left. This was something you'd need to be on your feet for the entire time. If you hesitate even once... Well, that might seal your doom.

What do you do?

ShadowDRGN-

You make a quick decision. Bring out the dino, despite the horrid freezing winds. It might end up shocking the Tyrunt, but you have no other option. You toss the ball immediately beneath you, and the terrible toddler materializes in time for you to land. Prince lets out a small growl, shocked at the sudden weight on him. The good thing, at least, was that he understood the gravity of the situation.

Taking out his favorite chew toy, you turn the dragon into a dog. He starts to drool and let out small happy chirps, too fixated to notice the cold. That was good, as you toss the bone into his mouth. The Tyrunt munches happily, before igniting his fangs. You hear the bone start to crackle, it becoming a little brittle from the heat. Yet, that warmth was enough to keep the Tyrunt going.

And oh boy did he go, he manages to catapult himself forwards, barreling towards the fans. With all of his momentum, the Tyrunt uses the heated bone to smack the fan in front of you. You hear the Rare Bone shatter, due to how brittle it had become, but also see the fan's blades come to a stop. The Tyrunt then runs through and flings you off once you were on the other side. Your life was saved, and the Tyrunt looked a lot stronger for it.

You have lost x1 Rare Bone...

Congratulations! For saving your life and getting you through the fans, Prince has gained 3 Levels!

Sure, you were on the wrong side to get into the door... At least, you thought so. You see another, hidden door here. Perhaps they used this to also get into the maintenance room? You could see the tunnel quickly stops, but there was a branching path to your left. Decisions... decisions...

What do you do?

[Lil'twick]

Originally Posted by ShadowDRGN

Liltwick - The third and final of your team has been revealed before the crowd—and they’re eating it up! Sneasler’s sleek, flamboyant form proves appealing even before Kiba starts showboating, and the announcer’s voice seems even more charged than the last fight:

Woah! It looks like Hotaru has even more Hisuan Pokemon up his sleeve! Those of you familiar with modern-day Sneasel might be questioning this matchup, but looks can be deceiving! Those claws it uses for climbing are dripping with venom!”

Your opponent seems to acknowledge the disadvantage he’s at immediately, and behind those kind eyes you can see a plan brewing. It matters not how outlandish the Pokemon you face—an experienced Trainer takes many forms, and is not to be taken lightly.

Taking the initiative, you order Kiba to bolster his offenses, and he does so with spectacular flair! Spectral swords whirl around the Pokemon’s body as he undulates rhythmically, each pass sharpening the point on his claws until they gleam under the stage lights! As the ghostly procession fades, the anticipation of the crowd only seems to rise as your Sneasler closes in to strike!

An abundance of caution colors Chapman’s face as he watches your Pokemon buff up, and he quickly responds with a command of his own, “Alcremie, use Acid Armor!”

Receiving his order, a tie-dye of colors washes over the living dessert’s body as it partially dissolves. Carefully-groomed and shaped swirls sag as they slide down Alcremie’s form, before they rapidly re-harden into a thick layer of frosting meant to protect her from physical harm.

Not a moment later, Kiba rends his claw through the Fairy-type, attacking with swift, yet brutal decisiveness. Though her armor absorbs the effects of his Swords Dance, a neutral hit from the Sneasler still proves dangerous—especially once it becomes clear that his venom has taken hold. Alcremie’s body seizes up, finding it harder to move as the poison courses through her sugary veins!

“No! Alcreamie, regain some health with Draining Kiss!” Chapman calls, his composure wavering a bit in the face of that unlucky blow. Fighting against her condition, Alcremie lunges towards Kiba’s leg and latches onto him, leeching some of his energy away until she’s shaken off by a second Poison-type attack!

As she tumbles to the floor, the Fairy-type’s wounds are simultaneously healed. Though it’s nowhere near enough to recover from Dire Claw and Poison Jab, it’s enough to stem some of the bleeding.

“Quickly, use Aromatherapy!” Chapman calls, but is dismayed to see his Pokemon completely stiffened by paralysis. Kiba may have been Hurt after taking a neutral blow, but Alcremie is looking to be in much worse shape.

Now’s your chance to press the advantage!

Observing the game state, Hotaru sees he's at an advantage here. Seems that his opponent didn't see how devastating a Psychic-type move would be here, which was good. Perhaps this was the opening he'd need with Lili. After all, he could see the poison putting in enough work. Yeah, that would work.

"Kiba, return!" Hotaru states, and the Sneasler nods. His job was done for now.

"Lili! It's time to dance!" he states, sending out his next Pokemon. The Assault Vest looked rather out of place on the Liligant, but they had plans up their sleeves. Fairy or no, they'll win this matchup.

"Alright, let's begin by giving them your Leaf Blade, before drilling in with a Drill Run! Then, show off a firey display with Blaze Kick!" he orders to Pokemon. Having her status moves cut off to him was a massive dent in his strategy, but these no moves should help patch up the holes. Besides, that Special Defense boost will more than make up for things in this match-up.

[PikaGod]

Originally Posted by Prof.Enigma

As time passed within Fizzy's largest city, it was inevitable that change reached the shoreline megalopolis.

New Fizz City still stands as a shining beacon of hope and prosperity for the world of Fizzy Bubbles. Built on the shores of Cape Effervescence over two centuries ago, the city started root as a trading port that fell into great prosperity during the industrial revolution. The port town attracted people from far and wide in search of a better life, quickly growing into a diverse and bustling metropolis sprawling for miles across the land and stretching way up into the clouds. As the modern urban center of Fizzytopia, New Fizz City boasts significant high-rise development, widespread use of cars and motorcycles, and one of the most extensive transit systems in the world; from its subway and commuter trains to the world-famous yellow cabs that shuffle along the city streets paired with the bus system, there is just about nowhere you can’t get to in the city.

Famed for its vibrant neighborhoods and unparalleled culture, New Fizz City is a proud cultural melting pot where you are sure to encounter trainers from every walk of life. While many of the city folk have a strong sense of community you will find them just as welcoming to outsiders, although tourists are advised to keep out of certain districts after dark, Despite all of the effort put into changing the city crimes and gangs, they still manage to be prevalent and adapt to the changing times. Green spaces are now a bit more abundant, it's still rare to find those kinds of pokemon you'd see in other parts of the world, many species of Pokemon reside within this urban life. Resident strays have a certain street smart about them making them valuable companions, provided you can win their trust. As the locals will tell you, the city that never sleeps holds adventure on every street corner. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!

Alderboro Harbors

The largest natural harbor on the Fizzytopian Coast and its busiest waterway, Alderboro Harbor welcomes thousands of ships carrying millions of metric tons of cargo from around the world each year. The harbor is also serviced by several cruise lines, commuter ferries, and tourist excursion boats; if you ask around you might just find a captain offering a sightseeing tour or a job on their boat. Further down the wharf, Alderboro Harbor is archetypical of a seaside funfair, with several attractions and a Ferris wheel, though the promenade at night is a sight for sore eyes to drown their sorrows on.

Little Kanto: A vibrant and densely populated neighborhood founded by immigrants of Kanto and its neighboring regions – foodies and tourists come from all over for a taste of authentic sushi, ramen or famous fried Farfetch’d. The busy sidewalks are packed with souvenir stores, bubble tea shops, and markets selling everything you’d expect to find in the faraway region it pays homage to. There is also an abundance of green spaces where locals can be watched practicing traditional martial arts, stick around and they might be willing to teach you a move or two.

New Fizz City, huh? A young man, nearly 30 but he still considered himself young at heart, Karmas stood at the harbour. He hadn't ever been to New Fizz City, which was actually sort of wild considering how long he had actually been adventuring around Fizzytopia. But hey, thems the breaks, and it seemed like sometimes areas just appeared and disappeared. But the place seemed pretty bustling, which was always a good sign, it meant that hopefully the city would be too busy for anything too bad actually happen. Or at the very least, too busy for it to happen to him.

His destination was going to be New Kanto. He had never actually made it over to Kanto over his life, but he had heard nothing but good things from the couple of people that he had talked to. Plus there was new foods to try, and Karmas was always up for trying new food. There was a cry at his side. He looked to his right at Igloo, his Alolan Sandslash, who was also curious to find out a bit more about the region its counterpart originated from.

"Yeah, I can't wait either," said Karmas with a grin on his face, "What do you say we go and see what all this fuss about Kanto is about?"

[ShadowDRGN]

Originally Posted by Lil'twick

ShadowDRGN-

You make a quick decision. Bring out the dino, despite the horrid freezing winds. It might end up shocking the Tyrunt, but you have no other option. You toss the ball immediately beneath you, and the terrible toddler materializes in time for you to land. Prince lets out a small growl, shocked at the sudden weight on him. The good thing, at least, was that he understood the gravity of the situation.

Taking out his favorite chew toy, you turn the dragon into a dog. He starts to drool and let out small happy chirps, too fixated to notice the cold. That was good, as you toss the bone into his mouth. The Tyrunt munches happily, before igniting his fangs. You hear the bone start to crackle, it becoming a little brittle from the heat. Yet, that warmth was enough to keep the Tyrunt going.

And oh boy did he go, he manages to catapult himself forwards, barreling towards the fans. With all of his momentum, the Tyrunt uses the heated bone to smack the fan in front of you. You hear the Rare Bone shatter, due to how brittle it had become, but also see the fan's blades come to a stop. The Tyrunt then runs through and flings you off once you were on the other side. Your life was saved, and the Tyrunt looked a lot stronger for it.

You have lost x1 Rare Bone...

Congratulations! For saving your life and getting you through the fans, Prince has gained 3 Levels!

Sure, you were on the wrong side to get into the door... At least, you thought so. You see another, hidden door here. Perhaps they used this to also get into the maintenance room? You could see the tunnel quickly stops, but there was a branching path to your left. Decisions... decisions...

What do you do?

Everything happens so quickly, it’s hard for Hatchley to process. When the dino is motivated, he honestly forgets just how fast he can be. One moment he’s tumbling towards a human blender, and the next he’s laying on the ground, having passed through the fan while it was disabled.

His legs are shaking as he picks himself up off the ground, and it’s by no means due to the cold—that was genuinely fucking terrifying. Unforgiving metal jabs into his back as Hatchley leans against the wall, catching his breath after nearly being choked by the wind. There isn’t a Snover’s chance in hell that he’s trying that again.

Prince, meanwhile, is prodding his snout against the teen’s pant leg, trying to get his attention. Hatchley crouches down, gently patting down the Pokemon’s rock-scaled snout, “thank you, buddy. Guess we aren’t goners just yet, huh?” he says, switching to scratch under his chin. He can only barely feel it under all these protective layers, but the dino’s throat is rumbling contently

Another cracking sound echoes down the steel corridor, directing his gaze to the blackened bone fragments scattered underfoot. Well, so much for selling it, but better to have all his limbs still attached... Now that he thinks about it, though, don’t people tell fortunes using charred bone fragments? Well, whatever future these ones are telling, he just hopes it’s as lucky as the save he just made moments ago.

Recalling Prince, Hatchely stands back up slowly. Though the air has gone still, a sense of unease is gnawing at the back of his mind. This is no place to loiter, especially as the fan could start back up at any moment with him squarely in the path of being sucked into the blades.

Thing is, now he has a choice to make: To take the door he’d been aiming for this whole time, or to take either of the paths hidden on the other side of this death trap. RPG logic dictates one of the latter, but he had no idea where any of these doors lead—nor how useful their destinations would be to him.

Still, if he thinks about it from his prey’s point of view, the fan could easily be bypassed using a smaller tunnel, so there’s a better chance that it continued onward rather than slipping under the first door. That’s probably how it avoided the worst of this hellish cold, too.

...Besides, this is a secret door. Secret doors always have to be good, right? Nodding in agreement with himself, Hatchley walks towards the hidden door. His gloved hand wraps around the handle, and with a deep breath he opens it to get a glimpse inside.

[ShadowDRGN]

Liltwick - Kiba seems more than capable of finishing this foe off now that his poison has taken hold, but that would be too straightforward. True to your calling as a ninja, this fight is all in service to a larger goal, and you have yet to fulfill the objective given to you. In order to do that, Kiba will have to accept that this isn’t his mark to claim.

Returning the Sneasler to his lacquered Pokeball, you quickly replace her with Lilli. The Hisuian Lilligant appears in a shower of petals before an excited crowd, dancing as elegantly as ever despite the bulky armor attached to her body—armor that very quickly gets the more knowledgeable Trainers in attendance whispering.

“Not only has Hotaru switched out his Pokemon, but it looks like he’s switched up his batting style, too! With that assault vest equipped, Lilligant’s going to have to rely on her offense to get through this matchup! I do wonder what the Twilight Ninja has up his sleeve if he’s willing to get rid of his edge...”

Though they may not understand the significance of your actions, you have a feeling that your mysterious informant is paying close attention to what will happen next. With that in mind, you formulate a combo that should wrap this up easily, whether it’s by cutting through her defenses with a crit or the raw power behind a fiery kick!

The orders fly, and Lilli charges in to finish off her weakened foe! Brandishing her forearms like blades, she slashes at Alcreamie’s hardened body, slowly exposing her vulnerable core! Another solid hit like this should do it!

“Alcremie, weaken her with Baby-Doll Eyes!” you hear her Trainer cry. The living sweet drops her guard, her eyes widening like a newborn Shinx begging for food. A feigned ploy for mercy, but unfortunately for you, an effective one, as Lilli instinctively holds back when she follows-up with a spinning kick.

“Now! Safeguard!” he calls. The Fairy-type sings an odd chant, and a strange aura begins to glow around the Pokemon’s body. Though it doesn’t cure Kiba’s poison, you definitely feel that his claws would have no effect if brought out now...

Alcreamie has bought a little time for herself, but it would be foolish to expect her to survive a third strike. Lilligant readies herself, for this next technique could be as dangerous to her as it is to her foe—and setting her stalky legs alight she strides forward to strike!

In that moment, you see your opponent reach for his Pokeball. Alcreamie disappears in a flash of light, and replacing her as Lilli’s target is another Pokemon you’ve never seen before, whose leafy wings support a behemoth body, its long neck bearing a beard of yellow fruits.

“Tropius, use Air Slash!”

Your Pokemon’s burning leg crashes into the creature as it takes to the air, striking a weakness versus its foliage-covered body. Despite your weakened attack you did pretty decent damage, but that was soon going to be repaid as its wings beat, sending blades of sharpened air directly at Lilli! The impact is dampened by her armor, but her double-weakness rears its ugly head yet again!

“Oooh, that’s gotta hurt! In order to save his Alcreamie from becoming the first KO, Mr. Chapman has switched her out for Tropius! This match-up isn’t looking good for either contestant—it all comes down to who can get the first decisive strike in, folks!”

So, what will you do to secure victory?

[KingSalmon]

Originally Posted by Lil'twick

KingSalmon-

Feeling something wasn't right, due to Abra's insistence, you call out to Bradley. He pauses for a quick second, looking at you confused. This was certainly strange for him... Everything was planned out. Yet, he gives you a nod. If this escape route was bad, he rather trust that information. And, it turns out your intuition was right.

You hear an explosion, and see smoke start to rise through the hatch. Then multiple other explosions, and hear alarms all throughout the building. Bradley looks at you, a mix of shock and panic in his eyes. This was bad, really fucking bad. And, just as you could look at the Abra, it was gone without a trace. Seems that spoon saved your life, and your companion's. Now, the real question was how to get out of this locked room.

Bradley quickly unrolls the maps onto the ground, covering his mouth with his arms. Who knew what was in here, and what might happen if it burned? It was a smart idea, to say the least. The kid then begins to trace his fingers along a few routes and gives you a glance.

"Shit, we only have two routes. Go back the way we came, and risk being caught by security. Or..." he looks at the smoking hatch. "We risk it and go down. If this place was being bombed, it should've happened simultaneously. We either risk being caught, or risk fire. Either way, we'll need to fight our way out at this point."

Two options were given to you now. Fight head-on, or fight to escape. No matter what, there was almost no time left. This was something you'd need to be on your feet for the entire time. If you hesitate even once... Well, that might seal your doom.

What do you do?

If he'd decided a mere ten seconds too late, they would've ran straight into an explosion. How? How had things taken such a turn?

I was helping a group of teenagers plan a party! How did I go from that, to almost being blown up? What on earth is going on here?!

For what it was worth, Bradley seemed equally taken aback by these recent developments. For all his careful planning, he'd been duped. And now, they were faced with a very serious decision.

Go back and risk being caught, or take our chances down the original escape route now that whatever explosive device they'd set up has already gone off.

The decision came to him much faster than he'd like to admit. He was a Haraldson, battle was supposed to be in his blood. By his very upbringing, he should be jumping for joy at the possibility of fighting his way out of this mess. But...

I can't do it. I'm not strong enough yet. I'd only be dragging Bradley down with me if I chose to backtrack and engage these people head-on. And besides, they're the local authorities - they will no doubt have been trained to handle these situations. If anything, they must all have more actual battling experience than me and this kid combined.

Brandt would obviously tell him he was overthinking things again. But at this point, he didn't care. All he wanted was a way out, ideally before the police got a good look at his face.

"We can handle fire better than a horde of policemen," he finally said, pointing to Gustav. "I say we take our chances down the hatch, now that our likelyhood of exploding seems to have diminished."

Arne and the Squirtle stepped forward, but Litten remained frozen in place.

"Come on little one, if we stay here it'll be a lot worse," he urged. But the Litten didn't budge.

What is he afraid of? Litten are Fire-Type Pokemon...

Puzzled, but with no time to dwell on the matter, Arne turned back around and picked the cat up, carrying him in his arms. Litten nestled close to Arne's chest and closed his eyes.

"It'll be fine, I promise," he whispered, unsure of what could be frightening the critter so much. "Bradley, lead the way."

[Lil'twick]

ShadowDRGN-

Ah yes, the inner gaming nerd in you was starting to take over. Despite everything that had just happened, no matter how much you were in danger here... All sense of self-preservation was dropped. Like a hat in the wind, your fear was gone. What was this hidden door? What was this shiny thing? You didn't know, but you hungered to find out. To find the answer. Prince just nudged you, and you headed into the secret door.

Inside was the control and maintenance room for the fans. You look around and see the door on the other side. The door that you would've taken to get through here. Talk about disappointing. There was a control panel along the wall that was most certainly connected to the fans. Most likely to turn them off to perform maintenance. Yet, you had an odd feeling turning them off right now would be extremely bad.

Closing the door behind your, Prince follows. Just as you close the door, you hear an odd... squelching sound. Looking around, you could see something huddling in the corner. Purplish gray... lavender... with green spots... It was the Goomy! You notice a small ventilation shaft to your left and the slime trail from beneath it. It seemed you had lucked out and found it, and it looked to be in awful shape.

Yet, before you could move, you hear a loud... scraping sound. The Goomy, despite the state it's in, suddenly becomes alert and notices you. It tries to run, but its poor little form gives out. Then, after scraping... CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. Then the sound of nails on a chalkboard. This continues before it stops a few minutes later. What in the hell was that shit?

Looking around the room, you see a lab coat hanging on a chair, and a report hanging out of its pockets. You also see a small medicinal kit. Inside are three Potions. This looked like an obvious safe room... or a room before a boss fight.

What do you do?

KingSalmon-

Flight was your response. Bradley gives you a reassuring nod and jumps in immediately. You then see him take one box down, then the second. Despite the smoke, it seemed whatever he was going to use to carry the crates out was still safe. That's odd then. Gustav was already down, and the Litten was within your arms. Taking in a deep breath, you then jump down.

Everything down here was smoky and smelled like a mixture of limestone and saltpeter. Gunpowder. That was... an interesting way to make a bomb nowadays. Yet, you hear Bradley call to you. You follow his voice, and the smoke soon clears up. Blinking, you see him and Gustav, the Squirtle riding atop a small cart. That would be obvious, wouldn't it? Well, considering what just happened, perhaps not.

You make your way out of the passage with Bradley with haste and see light. You find yourself emerging into what looks to be a receiving bay. Barrels were stacked to the brim, and you see that one of the bay doors was already open. The smell of smoke also permeated the area, and further down you could hear people talking and the illumination of the fire. Bradley then runs through the door, and you do without a second thought.

Adrenaline soon starts to loosen up, and you see Bradley take in a deep breath. He looks at you, a mixture of surprise and relief on his face. Seems he was appreciative of the help here after all. Looking around, you see you were at the same trash clearing as earlier.

"We dump the cart here, and carry the rest back by hand," he then states, unloading the crates off of the cart.

Yet, you hear footsteps as someone suddenly emerges from the dark alley. You can see Bradley's face drop, and fear running through. You turn to see the figure, with them wearing a gas mask to obscure their face. Yet, you can smell the gunpowder on them as well. The bomber, for sure.

"Stop," they state, the mask distorting their voice slightly. "Those are mine."

"We already had this heist planned out," Bradley retorts.

"And I'm high jacking it kid. Best do what I say," the person says before brandishing a Pokeball. "Or you'll be sorry. That alcohol will fetch me a high price in Kalos."

"Hey, this is where you come in," Bradley then says, looking at you. The person sees the Pokemon around you.

"Ah, it seems your bodyguard is a little bit on the scrawny end, Pokemon-wise. But fine, if you can beat me, I'll only leave with a bottle," they state. "That's three months' pay for just one."

"A bottle, you think we're going to hand you anything?" Bradley asks with gritted teeth.

"You forget who's in charge here kid," they state, pulling something out with their other hand. Bradley immediately steps down seeing it, putting his hands up. Seems the gunpowder smell wasn't just from the bombs.

"And if you win?" Bradley then says meekly.

"You carry those crates to my boat. Then, well, depends on my mood. Put up a good fight, and I'll just leave a mark," they state, a hint of sadism in their voice. "Pick your Pokemon."

Seems you had no choice but to fight.

Who do you send out?

[Lil'twick]

Originally Posted by ShadowDRGN

Liltwick - Kiba seems more than capable of finishing this foe off now that his poison has taken hold, but that would be too straightforward. True to your calling as a ninja, this fight is all in service to a larger goal, and you have yet to fulfill the objective given to you. In order to do that, Kiba will have to accept that this isn’t his mark to claim.

Returning the Sneasler to his lacquered Pokeball, you quickly replace her with Lilli. The Hisuian Lilligant appears in a shower of petals before an excited crowd, dancing as elegantly as ever despite the bulky armor attached to her body—armor that very quickly gets the more knowledgeable Trainers in attendance whispering.

“Not only has Hotaru switched out his Pokemon, but it looks like he’s switched up his batting style, too! With that assault vest equipped, Lilligant’s going to have to rely on her offense to get through this matchup! I do wonder what the Twilight Ninja has up his sleeve if he’s willing to get rid of his edge...”

Though they may not understand the significance of your actions, you have a feeling that your mysterious informant is paying close attention to what will happen next. With that in mind, you formulate a combo that should wrap this up easily, whether it’s by cutting through her defenses with a crit or the raw power behind a fiery kick!

The orders fly, and Lilli charges in to finish off her weakened foe! Brandishing her forearms like blades, she slashes at Alcreamie’s hardened body, slowly exposing her vulnerable core! Another solid hit like this should do it!

“Alcremie, weaken her with Baby-Doll Eyes!” you hear her Trainer cry. The living sweet drops her guard, her eyes widening like a newborn Shinx begging for food. A feigned ploy for mercy, but unfortunately for you, an effective one, as Lilli instinctively holds back when she follows-up with a spinning kick.

“Now! Safeguard!” he calls. The Fairy-type sings an odd chant, and a strange aura begins to glow around the Pokemon’s body. Though it doesn’t cure Kiba’s poison, you definitely feel that his claws would have no effect if brought out now...

Alcreamie has bought a little time for herself, but it would be foolish to expect her to survive a third strike. Lilligant readies herself, for this next technique could be as dangerous to her as it is to her foe—and setting her stalky legs alight she strides forward to strike!

In that moment, you see your opponent reach for his Pokeball. Alcreamie disappears in a flash of light, and replacing her as Lilli’s target is another Pokemon you’ve never seen before, whose leafy wings support a behemoth body, its long neck bearing a beard of yellow fruits.

“Tropius, use Air Slash!”

Your Pokemon’s burning leg crashes into the creature as it takes to the air, striking a weakness versus its foliage-covered body. Despite your weakened attack you did pretty decent damage, but that was soon going to be repaid as its wings beat, sending blades of sharpened air directly at Lilli! The impact is dampened by her armor, but her double-weakness rears its ugly head yet again!

“Oooh, that’s gotta hurt! In order to save his Alcreamie from becoming the first KO, Mr. Chapman has switched her out for Tropius! This match-up isn’t looking good for either contestant—it all comes down to who can get the first decisive strike in, folks!”

So, what will you do to secure victory?

A Tropius as they called it...? Interesting choice. He could tell at the very least, from its wings and use of Air Slash it was a Flying type. Yet, at the same time, with the green hues, leaf-like wings, and fruit hanging from its neck it was most likely a grass-type. This was most certainly an advantageous match-up for the thing. Especially since his chance at an easy KO with Lili would've most likely not gone well. No matter, he had ideas.

"Lili, clip its wings with a Smack Down!" he orders. Even if this thing was a lot bulkier than the Skarmory, Lili was locked out of her status moves. Doesn't stop her powerful kicks, however.

Information was the second most powerful thing in the world, and he needed to play with that in mind. The only thing that held more power than knowledge were Names. Names held power. They could be used to control people, manipulate people, and help people. GIve a person a name, and it binded them. It defined them. His name means "Firefly". A light in the night, to guide those home. An oxymoron for a ninja, sure... but that small flash of light was all he needed. And he would now ignite his lights, and have Lili do the same!

"Then follow it up with a Blaze Kick before another Blaze Kick!" he ordered. A quick one-two would be more than enough to get in some serious hurt. Besides, there was nothing against repetition in the rules. Sure, it wasn't showy, but he had to win this no matter what. That was all that was flashing through his mind now, the desire to win.

[ShadowDRGN]

Originally Posted by Lil'twick

ShadowDRGN-

Ah yes, the inner gaming nerd in you was starting to take over. Despite everything that had just happened, no matter how much you were in danger here... All sense of self-preservation was dropped. Like a hat in the wind, your fear was gone. What was this hidden door? What was this shiny thing? You didn't know, but you hungered to find out. To find the answer. Prince just nudged you, and you headed into the secret door.

Inside was the control and maintenance room for the fans. You look around and see the door on the other side. The door that you would've taken to get through here. Talk about disappointing. There was a control panel along the wall that was most certainly connected to the fans. Most likely to turn them off to perform maintenance. Yet, you had an odd feeling turning them off right now would be extremely bad.

Closing the door behind your, Prince follows. Just as you close the door, you hear an odd... squelching sound. Looking around, you could see something huddling in the corner. Purplish gray... lavender... with green spots... It was the Goomy! You notice a small ventilation shaft to your left and the slime trail from beneath it. It seemed you had lucked out and found it, and it looked to be in awful shape.

Yet, before you could move, you hear a loud... scraping sound. The Goomy, despite the state it's in, suddenly becomes alert and notices you. It tries to run, but its poor little form gives out. Then, after scraping... CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. Then the sound of nails on a chalkboard. This continues before it stops a few minutes later. What in the hell was that shit?

Looking around the room, you see a lab coat hanging on a chair, and a report hanging out of its pockets. You also see a small medicinal kit. Inside are three Potions. This looked like an obvious safe room... or a room before a boss fight.

What do you do?

A maintenance room. Hatchley sighs as he inches the door open and steps inside. After all his hyping about finding a secret entrance, it turns out it’s just a regular old entrance. Sure, it’s practical, but after dealing with that... it’s kinda deflating.

Still, just because the door is rather mundane, doesn’t mean the room has nothing to offer him. The dim, somewhat pixelated glow of deep reds, oranges and greens draws his attention toward the wall, and he shines his light upon the control panel. Switches, buttons, dials—all of it barely comprehensible to a teen with no knowledge of engineering whatsoever. All he can really parse is the emergency stop button surrounded by a sea of caution stripes, and the gauge that monitors the RPM of the fans. With the needle resting firmly at 0, though, there’s really no good reason to be touching any of this.

A break is still in order, though, and he can tell that this room is much warmer than the shaft he left. Yeah, he should get some food and water for both himself and his Pokemon. Maybe there’s also a map or something he can find here?

Tucking his flashlight underneath his arm, Hatchley turns to close the door behind him. It’s heavy, and pretty hard to move even with both hands, but with his boots on much more forgiving ground he manages it. Dry, frigid hinges groan and rattle, filling the stagnant air with sound once again, until finally the door clicks shut, and everything falls silent again.

At least, things are quiet for a moment.

“Huh?” Hatchley says, whipping around when that slippery sound hits his ears. He trains his light on the corner, and much to his surprise, he finds the Goomy sitting right there! Just as he suspected, it’s in rough shape, but... wait, it doesn’t seem to be because of the cold. What the hell happened to it?

CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. That horrible din causes the Dragon Tamer’s hair to stand on end. He frantically searches the ceiling, worried that another Paras will come crashing down on him at any second, only for his attention to return to the Goomy as it tries to wriggle away.

“H-hey, wait! Where are you going?” he calls after it, gritting his teeth as the blood-curdling scraping continues. Maybe that’s it—whatever’s making that noise might be responsible for Goomy’s current state. If that’s so, then he’d best prepare for the worst.

Approaching the lab coat left folded on the chair, Hatchley quickly snatches up the medicinal kit. More Potions couldn’t hurt, especially when he only has a single Pokemon to back him up. His eyes then drift toward the papers stuffed in that sterile, white pocket. Slipping it out, he unfolds the report and quickly reads over it, hoping for a clue as to what’s in store for him—another experiment gone horribly wrong and/or right, if he has to guess.

Once he sits down, though, he quickly notices something hard pressing into his thigh. Something in the other pocket, maybe? Fishing through it, he feels something round and metallic against his fingers, and he produces an ornate-looking pocketwatch. The number “20” has been cleanly engraved into the swirling face of the tarnished, pewter surface. It’s been here a while, and when he opens it up, he finds the fractured face of the watch has been frozen just before the stroke of midnight. Broken.

As much as his overactive imagination wants him to believe this is the save point before a boss fight... he knows that whatever happens next is for real. There are no continues, no rewinds, no rolling a new character—just game overs. He’ll need to be careful, and decisive with Prince’s moves.

Now, let’s see what that report says.

[ShadowDRGN]

Liltwick - Information may be your weapon, but you’re finding yourself sorely underequipped beyond the name and visage of this beast. Tropius—a Pokemon that could find no home in Hisui as you knew it. Even if it were to migrate to the nutrient-rich bogs of Crimson Mirelands, the harsh winters would drive it south to warmer waters before too long, where it could cultivate its sweet crop under abundant sunshine and rain.

Indeed, the beast’s wings seemed indispensable for keeping it out of trouble—and against your Pokemon, they are its own greatest weapon. Knowing the ease with which Skarmory almost disposed of her in the last fight, Lili’s first objective should be obvious: Drag Tropius to the ground, and show it the power of a plant that shatters the cold!

Launching a piece of debris into the sky with a roundhouse kick, her impeccable aim strikes the stalk of Tropius’ leaves, disabling them! The Grass-type roars in surprise, its saurian body starting to roll in mid-air as it comes crashing down into the stage! You feel the backbone of steel struts shudder and flex under the weight of the impact, the boom completely drowned out by the crowd’s roar. This is something different from the Lili they first saw, something bolder—and they love it.

Your opponent is loving it a lot less, though. Tropius’ towering silhouette emerges from the smoke, covered in bruises and eyeing Lilligant furiously. It’s dubious whether it can take another Fire attack, but at the same time, you don’t feel any sense of desperation from the other Trainer.

“Tropius, recover some energy with Synthesis!” Chapman says, calmly. The Pokemon splays out its wings, blowing away the dust as it begins to bask in the limelight. A soothing glow wraps around Tropius’ body, and Lili runs forward to counter with her Blaze Kick! Fiery stalk crashes into the Grass-type’s neck, dishing out another devastating blow—but despite it all, Tropius remains standing, the rest of its wounds disappearing the more light it absorbs. You feel as though this is right where they want you.

“Now! Nature’s Gift!”

Smirking, Tropius bites down on the Yache Berry it had stored away in its beard. Trails of frost form around its fangs, mirroring the flames that engulf Lili’s legs. Within a split second, the two lunge at each-other, fangs connecting with Lili’s shoulder while her leg slams into Tropius’ ankle, each discharging an immense amount of elemental energy into the other!

When both finally let go, they each end up stumbling back. Lili’s arm is withering under a layer of rime, while Tropius’ vibrant foliage is charred and blackened. Neither of them look like they can stay in this fight for very much longer. At the very least, that surprise Ice attack was one-use, from the looks of it—

And like the punchline to a cruel joke, a brand-new Yache Berry sprouts out of the berry Pokemon’s beard. Your opponent smiles, and calls out to his Pokemon encouragingly, “good Harvest! Now, let’s get the edge on the next round with Dragon Dance!”

Summoning what little energy the creature has, Tropius begins to dance across the stage. The strange ritual summons up a wellspring of ancient might in the Pokemon, making it that much stronger, and fast enough to outmaneuver Lili even without his wings.

What will you do, now?

[Lil'twick]

ShadowDRGN-

There were no redos. No do-overs. You only had one life... And the pocket watch had stopped working. Your one chance to cheat fate was gone. So, taking in a deep breath, you begin to read the note.

'Research Log 20-

Alpha Speciman has escaped. Retreated into the ventilation system. Designation: Number 123. Scyther. We had hoped to tame this ancient Scyther, in order to study the Pokemon from Hisui. Though, we have not yet procured the "Black Augurite" that was mentioned in Professor Laventon's Pokedex...

Research Log 75-

It has been a few months, but people have been complaining of crunching and scratching noises from the ventilation system. We were under the presumption the Alpha Scyther had expired, due to no reports of it leaving the building. We are creating a task force to try and locate it.

Research Log 77-

We have obtained Black Augurite from a "Faller". Seems people from Hisui are beginning to fall through spacetime distortions. I think they are similar in nature to Ultra Wormholes, but that is not my department. We have still yet not decided on who will try to find the Scyther.

Research Log 81-
I have been holed up in this blasted room for two days, waiting for the maintenance crew to rescue me. I've found the Scyther, and it is angry. The chance of safely neutralizing the specimen is about 3%. Most of my colleagues have already fled. I locked myself in here to let them escape.

Research Log 82-
Maintenance has arrived... I may not survive much longer without food and water... They have brought me an HVAC suit... Grabbing my name badge and leaving my coat and notes here... For whoever may come to neutralize the threat...

-M.S.'

This was most certainly threatening, but you had an odd feeling you were well-equipped for this. Strange, that everything you'd fought so far were bugs. Yet, how was that thing surviving in here? Who knew... Best not to know, what you feel. Yet, it was time to go and fight your first true boss.

Good Luck.

[Lil'twick]

Originally Posted by ShadowDRGN

Liltwick - Information may be your weapon, but you’re finding yourself sorely underequipped beyond the name and visage of this beast. Tropius—a Pokemon that could find no home in Hisui as you knew it. Even if it were to migrate to the nutrient-rich bogs of Crimson Mirelands, the harsh winters would drive it south to warmer waters before too long, where it could cultivate its sweet crop under abundant sunshine and rain.

Indeed, the beast’s wings seemed indispensable for keeping it out of trouble—and against your Pokemon, they are its own greatest weapon. Knowing the ease with which Skarmory almost disposed of her in the last fight, Lili’s first objective should be obvious: Drag Tropius to the ground, and show it the power of a plant that shatters the cold!

Launching a piece of debris into the sky with a roundhouse kick, her impeccable aim strikes the stalk of Tropius’ leaves, disabling them! The Grass-type roars in surprise, its saurian body starting to roll in mid-air as it comes crashing down into the stage! You feel the backbone of steel struts shudder and flex under the weight of the impact, the boom completely drowned out by the crowd’s roar. This is something different from the Lili they first saw, something bolder—and they love it.

Your opponent is loving it a lot less, though. Tropius’ towering silhouette emerges from the smoke, covered in bruises and eyeing Lilligant furiously. It’s dubious whether it can take another Fire attack, but at the same time, you don’t feel any sense of desperation from the other Trainer.

“Tropius, recover some energy with Synthesis!” Chapman says, calmly. The Pokemon splays out its wings, blowing away the dust as it begins to bask in the limelight. A soothing glow wraps around Tropius’ body, and Lili runs forward to counter with her Blaze Kick! Fiery stalk crashes into the Grass-type’s neck, dishing out another devastating blow—but despite it all, Tropius remains standing, the rest of its wounds disappearing the more light it absorbs. You feel as though this is right where they want you.

“Now! Nature’s Gift!”

Smirking, Tropius bites down on the Yache Berry it had stored away in its beard. Trails of frost form around its fangs, mirroring the flames that engulf Lili’s legs. Within a split second, the two lunge at each-other, fangs connecting with Lili’s shoulder while her leg slams into Tropius’ ankle, each discharging an immense amount of elemental energy into the other!

When both finally let go, they each end up stumbling back. Lili’s arm is withering under a layer of rime, while Tropius’ vibrant foliage is charred and blackened. Neither of them look like they can stay in this fight for very much longer. At the very least, that surprise Ice attack was one-use, from the looks of it—

And like the punchline to a cruel joke, a brand-new Yache Berry sprouts out of the berry Pokemon’s beard. Your opponent smiles, and calls out to his Pokemon encouragingly, “good Harvest! Now, let’s get the edge on the next round with Dragon Dance!”

Summoning what little energy the creature has, Tropius begins to dance across the stage. The strange ritual summons up a wellspring of ancient might in the Pokemon, making it that much stronger, and fast enough to outmaneuver Lili even without his wings.

What will you do, now?

They were trying to play the defensive here. Their foe could easily just nuke down Lili with its Flying moves, so why was it playing on the defensive? Wait... this foe... Liked to play with his prey, didn't he? Whittle them down, mind and body, and then strike at the perfect moment. This was a foe all about momentum, and he was trying his best to swing it back into his favor. Lili needed to get the kill this round, and Hotaru knew he could get it.

"Slow it down with a Low Sweep!" he then orders, with Lili nodding.

He needed to play around with the Assault Vest, after all. She couldn't use her status moves at all, in exchange for a Special Defense boost. The concept of "held items" was still foreign to him, as he often didn't use them as more than things to heal Pokemon. Then again, Pokemon battling here was not just for survival. It was an art, a cultural phenomenon. Anyone could make a living as a Pokemon Trainer, and many often dreamed to. Become a champion... Become a Hero.

"Hero... huh. Sounds like Hiro..." he mutters beneath his mask, looking downtrodden.

The past was the past. Buried, long lost, and forgotten. He was a standing testament to an era long past. Sure, it might only be a century, but to him, it felt like six trillion years. An overnight story that only he knew. Of the loneliness... of the sadness. He was a Firefly. Something to light up the night... and fade away with the day. So, they'll just do that... Make this stage the brightest stage of all!

"Then continue your graceful dance! Pirouette into a Blaze Kick, before giving a tip-tap-two with Mega Kick!" he ordered.

Dance terms from Kalos. He had overheard Laventon telling the faller about them... once the faller had quelled the Guardian Lilligant. He had already been assigned to watch, to listen by his master by then. A joint ops operation. No, that was behind him. He needed to finish the mission.

[ShadowDRGN]

Lil'twick - Realizing that your opponent is toying with Lili, you pause to reassess the situation. Though its most powerful Flying-type attacks are likely cut off thanks to your Smack Down, there are no doubt any number of moves it could pull out now that would end Lili in an instant—and with it, your chance at completing your objective.

And yet, as you stand surrounded by the scent of burnt cinders, you catch yourself reminiscing about the life you were forced to leave behind. All those moments that went from recent memory to history in the span of a single step; your missions, your master, your people. All that you’ve learned from them has become your guide in this unfamiliar land, and in turn, you have become their living legacy.

Fireflies aren’t meant to shine eternal like the stars, but you can certainly outshine all else on this stage! Ordering Lili to make use of her martial abilities, you devise a plan that should finish this, once and for all! It all hinges on what attack your opponent calls next...

“Now! Finish them off with Dragon Hammer!”

It becomes clear there and then what his strategy is. As Tropius rears back its trunk-like neck, you realize that your opponent has been setting-up for a flashy kill of his own. An unassumingly fruity Pokemon packing a draconic punch—well, you’re about to demonstrate why he should’ve gone for the throat, instead!

Your brace yourself as Tropius wreaths its neck in violet energy, and comes crashing down onto the stage like a meteor! It’s a heavily telegraphed attack, despite the speed with which they perform it, allowing Lili just enough time to graze beneath Tropius’ body, and sweep through its legs with a spiraling kick!

With its wings and legs now disabled, the dinosaur loses its balance completely, and as the explosive impact ripples through the stage, both it and Lili are flung into the air! Your Pokemon is looking badly hurt, but not out for the count!

“You can do this, Tropius! Hit her with Air Slash before she can attack!” he cries, but to no avail. Even without wings, the acrobat is in her element now. Tucking her legs into a fiery somersault, she comes crashing down atop Tropius’ soft belly with one final Blaze Kick to seal the deal!

The crowd roars loudly as Tropius crashes into the ground, completely unconscious, followed by Lili performing a gymnast’s landing. You notice her wince as her feet touch the ground, and you can tell that the moment she walks off stage, she’s likely to collapse—as though adrenaline and duty are all that’s keeping her standing at the moment.

Tropius’ Trainer shows a mixture of emotions—surprise and concern are to be expected, but curiously also a bit of wonder. It seems your dazzling show has impressed him, and as he withdraws his fainted Pokemon into his ball, he hesitates, until finally staying his hand.

“I... think that’s it for me. Between Alcremie, Vanillish and Cherrim, I don’t think I have a snowcone’s chance in summer of beating your partners. Congratulations, that was an excellent battle,” Chapman says, smiling kindly. He’s lost, completely and utterly, and yet he is nonetheless happy to have fought you.

*Lili gains 3 Levels!*
*Kiba gains 3 Levels!*

Both the crowd and announcer are stunned for a moment by the chef’s forfeit, but soon you and your Pokemon’s name are being shouted by all once again. Another win for you, and another step closer to coming out on top of the leaderboard of this tournament.

Yet, there’s a tight schedule to keep, and you’re ushered off-stage rather quickly in order for the next match to begin. You feel that you will be called up again soon enough, but that the next few battles will be nowhere near as intense. Barring any more requests from your strange admirer, there’s only one more opponent you can think of that’ll really be between you and walking away with the grand prize.

For now, you have a little time to heal up, wander the convention center, and prepare. What will you do?

[ShadowDRGN]

Originally Posted by Lil'twick

ShadowDRGN-

There were no redos. No do-overs. You only had one life... And the pocket watch had stopped working. Your one chance to cheat fate was gone. So, taking in a deep breath, you begin to read the note.

'Research Log 20-

Alpha Speciman has escaped. Retreated into the ventilation system. Designation: Number 123. Scyther. We had hoped to tame this ancient Scyther, in order to study the Pokemon from Hisui. Though, we have not yet procured the "Black Augurite" that was mentioned in Professor Laventon's Pokedex...

Research Log 75-

It has been a few months, but people have been complaining of crunching and scratching noises from the ventilation system. We were under the presumption the Alpha Scyther had expired, due to no reports of it leaving the building. We are creating a task force to try and locate it.

Research Log 77-

We have obtained Black Augurite from a "Faller". Seems people from Hisui are beginning to fall through spacetime distortions. I think they are similar in nature to Ultra Wormholes, but that is not my department. We have still yet not decided on who will try to find the Scyther.

Research Log 81-
I have been holed up in this blasted room for two days, waiting for the maintenance crew to rescue me. I've found the Scyther, and it is angry. The chance of safely neutralizing the specimen is about 3%. Most of my colleagues have already fled. I locked myself in here to let them escape.

Research Log 82-
Maintenance has arrived... I may not survive much longer without food and water... They have brought me an HVAC suit... Grabbing my name badge and leaving my coat and notes here... For whoever may come to neutralize the threat...

-M.S.'

This was most certainly threatening, but you had an odd feeling you were well-equipped for this. Strange, that everything you'd fought so far were bugs. Yet, how was that thing surviving in here? Who knew... Best not to know, what you feel. Yet, it was time to go and fight your first true boss.

Good Luck.

Scyther. More bugs, great.

Hatchley folds up the piece of paper and stuffs it into his pocket. He’s going to have a treasure trove of morbid notes, at this rate. At least from the sounds of it, nobody died, but still. This ventilation shaft is a fucked-up place, and the sooner can leave it, the better.

Speaking of. The Dragon Tamer turns his gaze toward the grate that Goomy had disappeared down, and crouching before the entrance, he feels as though there has to be something he can do to keep this from becoming more of a chase than it needs to be. It looked hurt, and it looked like it was Scyther that hurt it...

“Hey!” he calls out, hearing his voice distort as it echoes down the narrow shaft, “I know you don’t trust me, but I’m here to help you, not hurt you! There’s something I have to go do now, but I’ll come back soon, so... please, don’t leave.”

Unsure of whether shouting into the void has done anything, Hatchley shakes his head and stands up again. He turns to Prince, and the two exchange a wordless nod. There’s really only one thing they can do; take Scyther down!

The sound of hellish scraping continues as Trainer and Pokemon approach the door. They may have a massive type advantage, but he doesn’t want to take any chances against an Alpha. What he’s heard of the ancient things, they have a ferocity that’s hardly matched by today’s Pokemon, on top of being absolutely massive. Truly, a boss-worthy encounter, and one they’d need a strategy to enter in with.

Grasping the handle firmly, Hatchley looks down at his Tyrunt with a determined, thoughtful look, “okay, bud. When you see Scyther, I want you to start off with a Charm to lower its attack. Then, use Ancient Power to blast it! Got it?”

It took considerable effort for Prince to not interpret those orders as commands he ought to use now, but rather later, but after a moment he nods understandingly. Hatchley grins, and takes a deep breath, “we got this, buddy.”

Turning the handle, he opens the door and walks inside, battle plans at the ready. Let’s do this.

[Lil'twick]

Originally Posted by ShadowDRGN

Lil'twick - Realizing that your opponent is toying with Lili, you pause to reassess the situation. Though its most powerful Flying-type attacks are likely cut off thanks to your Smack Down, there are no doubt any number of moves it could pull out now that would end Lili in an instant—and with it, your chance at completing your objective.

And yet, as you stand surrounded by the scent of burnt cinders, you catch yourself reminiscing about the life you were forced to leave behind. All those moments that went from recent memory to history in the span of a single step; your missions, your master, your people. All that you’ve learned from them has become your guide in this unfamiliar land, and in turn, you have become their living legacy.

Fireflies aren’t meant to shine eternal like the stars, but you can certainly outshine all else on this stage! Ordering Lili to make use of her martial abilities, you devise a plan that should finish this, once and for all! It all hinges on what attack your opponent calls next...

“Now! Finish them off with Dragon Hammer!”

It becomes clear there and then what his strategy is. As Tropius rears back its trunk-like neck, you realize that your opponent has been setting-up for a flashy kill of his own. An unassumingly fruity Pokemon packing a draconic punch—well, you’re about to demonstrate why he should’ve gone for the throat, instead!

Your brace yourself as Tropius wreaths its neck in violet energy, and comes crashing down onto the stage like a meteor! It’s a heavily telegraphed attack, despite the speed with which they perform it, allowing Lili just enough time to graze beneath Tropius’ body, and sweep through its legs with a spiraling kick!

With its wings and legs now disabled, the dinosaur loses its balance completely, and as the explosive impact ripples through the stage, both it and Lili are flung into the air! Your Pokemon is looking badly hurt, but not out for the count!

“You can do this, Tropius! Hit her with Air Slash before she can attack!” he cries, but to no avail. Even without wings, the acrobat is in her element now. Tucking her legs into a fiery somersault, she comes crashing down atop Tropius’ soft belly with one final Blaze Kick to seal the deal!

The crowd roars loudly as Tropius crashes into the ground, completely unconscious, followed by Lili performing a gymnast’s landing. You notice her wince as her feet touch the ground, and you can tell that the moment she walks off stage, she’s likely to collapse—as though adrenaline and duty are all that’s keeping her standing at the moment.

Tropius’ Trainer shows a mixture of emotions—surprise and concern are to be expected, but curiously also a bit of wonder. It seems your dazzling show has impressed him, and as he withdraws his fainted Pokemon into his ball, he hesitates, until finally staying his hand.

“I... think that’s it for me. Between Alcremie, Vanillish and Cherrim, I don’t think I have a snowcone’s chance in summer of beating your partners. Congratulations, that was an excellent battle,” Chapman says, smiling kindly. He’s lost, completely and utterly, and yet he is nonetheless happy to have fought you.

*Lili gains 3 Levels!*
*Kiba gains 3 Levels!*

Both the crowd and announcer are stunned for a moment by the chef’s forfeit, but soon you and your Pokemon’s name are being shouted by all once again. Another win for you, and another step closer to coming out on top of the leaderboard of this tournament.

Yet, there’s a tight schedule to keep, and you’re ushered off-stage rather quickly in order for the next match to begin. You feel that you will be called up again soon enough, but that the next few battles will be nowhere near as intense. Barring any more requests from your strange admirer, there’s only one more opponent you can think of that’ll really be between you and walking away with the grand prize.

For now, you have a little time to heal up, wander the convention center, and prepare. What will you do?

Hotaru had a look of shock in his eyes, as his opponent surrendered. The battle was a beautiful song and dance, looking for a technical finish. His unexpected moveset choices gave him the edge, no doubt about it... Yet, this very much could of gone a different way, couldn't it? He just gives his opponent a respectful nod as they part ways. They had finished this new mission, and he needed to prepare for the next bout... and the reward. Whoever this mysterious stranger was, they were beneficial to him as of this time. A clue... as a faller.

"Lili, return," he stated before he left the stage completely, the Liligant once again giving a final bow.

The game was up. His squad choices are no longer hidden. Whoever his opponent was, well, they knew what to expect from him. Meanwhile, he only had an idea for one more. Viv... the woman who gave him a little bit of a reality check when he needed it the most. This was it, wasn't it?

He needed to prepare his squad. Swap out the Assault Vest and back to the Muscle Band. He truly felt the limitations of the item as it was worn by her. After all, how he used her... was with subterfuge and grace. A deadly dance to demolish their enemies. Kiba was a fragile trickster too, but he always was there to rush down the kill. Momiji, however, was calm and patient. Each move was planned, and like a maple leaf would cause his foes to fade within the wind.

Quickly healing up his team, Hotaru once more wandered the halls of the convention. His informant would most likely find him in the strangest of places, after all. Ninja, Spies, and others who slithered within the dark... All made sure their public dealings looked like nothing more than a passerby bumping into the other on accident. Or in some dark corner that wasn't obvious. He then realized he was hungry... Perhaps wherever food was being served would satiate that. Perhaps they had Takoyaki? He was fine not being able to return, as long as he had memories of those halcyon days eating takoyaki and potato mochi.

[Lil'twick]

ShadowDRGN-

Reading the log, you gulp. Great, more bugs. And you had a sinking suspicion that this one was responsible for the wounds the Goomy at sustained. You yell down the ventilation shaft, but hear nothing in response. Seems the little goopling was making its way away from you. No matter what, you had a target in mind, and begin to brace yourself. You pre-prepare orders for Prince. A pre-preparation of rites, of sorts. For this foe would be one that you haven't gotten to experience yet, hasn't it?

Opening the door before you, you hear scraping noises. Yet, the Scyther was nowhere in sight. The entire hallway was cut up, with steel shillings all over the floor. You saw what seemed like drag marks heading toward the off-shooting hallway that you had decided to not go down. Now was the time to give chase, and therefore you did. You see that small hallway immediately turn right, and you can see a green, hulking figure.

Beneath it was a grated floor and a gargantuan fan that was on beneath it. Great, not only would it be chilly in here, the wind would be perfect for the Scyther to abuse its flight. As you get closer to it, you realize how big this thing was. Normal Scyther averaged out to be the size of a human child. This thing towered before you and was most likely the height of a Dragonite. Prince was dwarfed by this thing... though his Evolution could stand on equal.

BOSS BATTLE! APLHA SCYTHER!
The wheel of heaven or hell is turning
Rebel 1
Action!

Prince immediately rushes forwards from behind you, seeming to not be phased by the wind blowing below him. He immediately tries to Charm his opponent, looking cute and giving out some hearts. The Alpha Scyther turns to look at this, and you can see its Attack stat dropping. However, the Pokemon lets out a harrowing screech that momentarily stuns both you and Prince. At this moment you notice its eyes aglow with bright red energy... It looked to be frenzying over something. It looks down at your little rocky dinosaur and takes flight.

You watch it zip and zoom as it reaches towards the ceiling above, before letting out a wave of compressed air at lightning pace. Your hearing quickly goes away as the vacuum wave crashes into Prince, dealing a super effective hit with a lot more punch than you'd expect. The hums of the fans return to your ears shortly afterward, before you see the Scyther analyzing you. No, this thing wasn't violently in rage yet. It was letting its frustration out earlier. Lucky for you, your next orders accounted for an aerial foe.

Channeling in the powers of his past, Prince fires off a barrage of magical fossils. The Ancient Power doesn't give the boost, but it does do the job. You watch as the move sails toward the Scyther, and the large Pokemon can't get out of the way in time. The attack does a massive amount of damage to the bug, its quad weakness coming back to bite it in the ass. Yet, it wasn't there to give up. No, the Scyther soon creates clones of itself. They circle the entire room, at varying heights. This was gonna be a tricky one to deal with, wouldn't it?

What do you do?

[ShadowDRGN]

Liltwick - Off with the self-imposed handicap, in with something that’s more Lili’s style. After all, now that your hand’s been played, you’re gonna need the edge these items give you to get through the rest of these bouts. Win some or lose some, you feel confident that your standing won’t change much—you’re well on your way to 1st place, and knowing who will challenge you for that title in the end, you prepare your team with that matchup in mind.

Vivian... you haven’t seen her since the tournament started. Granted, you’ve been pretty busy in-between matches, but it’s starting to feel like she’s purposefully keeping her distance—after all, you weren’t the only person to get a reality check up on that rooftop court. As the clans of Hisui often say: All things need their proper place, and their proper time.

Regardless, your stomach is getting empty, and that wouldn’t do. Seeking out the obligatory Kantonian food stall, the oily scent of fried everything leads you home. Round, flat cakes of crispy, starchy goodness and greasy dumplings glazed in savory sauce are a bit different after a hundred years of cultural appropriation and adaptation. Even so, there’s no way these flavors and textures could be mistaken for anything else.

As you stuff your face and reminisce about home, you find that your guard slips just the slightest. Enough that you don’t immediately notice someone sitting down across from you. A black leather boot crosses over one knee, and you hear the chin drawstrings of the figure’s hood rattle a moment before they speak:

“Looks tasty. Wish I could try some, but—well, y’know,” they say, waving their hand in front of their blacked-out face. Based on the sound of their voice, your informant sounds pleased, though not surprised. Seems you’ve met their expectations perfectly.

“Good job out there, by the way. Way to make a banana split,” the figure chuckles, lacing their hands together as they lean forward on the table. Their voice becomes hushed, barely audible over the sound of frying oil and general con noise. You’ve held up your end of the bargain, and now here comes the reward.

“I mentioned already that you’re not the only Faller, yeah? It’s a pretty... unique situation, so a bunch of Fallers who weren’t comfortable with living normal lives came together and founded a village here in Fizzytopia. Some of them are looking into ways of returning to their original worlds, so if that interests you, or you just want to check it out...”

They raise their hand a little bit, revealing a folded-up piece of paper hiding in their oversized sleeve. From the looks of it, it seems to be a map, though it’s sure to be heavily encrypted, given the nature of your informant’s apparent job.

What will you do?

[Lil'twick]

Originally Posted by ShadowDRGN

Liltwick - Off with the self-imposed handicap, in with something that’s more Lili’s style. After all, now that your hand’s been played, you’re gonna need the edge these items give you to get through the rest of these bouts. Win some or lose some, you feel confident that your standing won’t change much—you’re well on your way to 1st place, and knowing who will challenge you for that title in the end, you prepare your team with that matchup in mind.

Vivian... you haven’t seen her since the tournament started. Granted, you’ve been pretty busy in-between matches, but it’s starting to feel like she’s purposefully keeping her distance—after all, you weren’t the only person to get a reality check up on that rooftop court. As the clans of Hisui often say: All things need their proper place, and their proper time.

Regardless, your stomach is getting empty, and that wouldn’t do. Seeking out the obligatory Kantonian food stall, the oily scent of fried everything leads you home. Round, flat cakes of crispy, starchy goodness and greasy dumplings glazed in savory sauce are a bit different after a hundred years of cultural appropriation and adaptation. Even so, there’s no way these flavors and textures could be mistaken for anything else.

As you stuff your face and reminisce about home, you find that your guard slips just the slightest. Enough that you don’t immediately notice someone sitting down across from you. A black leather boot crosses over one knee, and you hear the chin drawstrings of the figure’s hood rattle a moment before they speak:

“Looks tasty. Wish I could try some, but—well, y’know,” they say, waving their hand in front of their blacked-out face. Based on the sound of their voice, your informant sounds pleased, though not surprised. Seems you’ve met their expectations perfectly.

“Good job out there, by the way. Way to make a banana split,” the figure chuckles, lacing their hands together as they lean forward on the table. Their voice becomes hushed, barely audible over the sound of frying oil and general con noise. You’ve held up your end of the bargain, and now here comes the reward.

“I mentioned already that you’re not the only Faller, yeah? It’s a pretty... unique situation, so a bunch of Fallers who weren’t comfortable with living normal lives came together and founded a village here in Fizzytopia. Some of them are looking into ways of returning to their original worlds, so if that interests you, or you just want to check it out...”

They raise their hand a little bit, revealing a folded-up piece of paper hiding in their oversized sleeve. From the looks of it, it seems to be a map, though it’s sure to be heavily encrypted, given the nature of your informant’s apparent job.

What will you do?

The taste of chewy mochi and greasy takoyaki merged together in Hotaru's mouth, and he could remember the taste of home. Even if he had only had this yesterday in his time, that was a hundred years ago now, wasn't it? But still, his mask was around his neck, but that was fine. People here... they didn't know his face. They barely knew his name. The singular name he went by. It didn't matter, did it? But, this was where he'd be now... if he didn't find a way back.

Yet, he let his guard drop. This was a fatal mistake or would've been. One moment of weakness and he'd be dead. Yet, was this really the place to kill someone out of the blue? He was a spy, not an assassin. Despite his proficiency in the arts... he preferred to skulk for information. And it seems this fellow informant of his does the same. They tell him they wish they could have some food, but they were adamant about keeping their identity hidden. There was more to this story. There always was. Yet whatever lurked behind that black veil, he did not wish to find out yet. Informants were vital, and breaking trust was a death sentence.

They then tell him about the settlement of fallers, not feeling like could fit within current times. People from the past, the future... perhaps even alternate worlds. The idea seemed like a fairytale to him, if not for his own lived experience. They wave a map, seeming to pinpoint the way to this location. Yet, why would they give him this? Was this really worth proving himself? No, this was a lead. A way to finish his mission.

"I accept."

He then clears his throat, takes a paper cloth to wipe the sauce off of his mouth, and puts his mask pack on.

"You gave me a trial, and this is my reward. There is only one thing more valuable than a person's life in my work, and that's information. Knowledge. Names... Places... faces... All of them I can recall. Yet, my name means Firefly. A light in the night, ironic for a nin to have," he then tells them, extending his hand to take the map. "I may need... a few minutes to decode the cipher. I think that's the word for it. But, that'll have to wait. I need to finish this current mission."

He then gets up slowly, taking in a deep breath. The final bout would be soon. His new confidant, well, she would be his last obstacle. Lili, Kiba, Momiji... the three of them would surely assure his victory in this tournament.