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Post by The Big Cheese on Jan 24, 2016 20:37:28 GMT -6
"A valid point. Certainly a lead not to be dismissed. A convenient lead, even. I'm glad I didn't misinterpret the fish comment, too." Mewtwo trails along in the psychic equivalent to mumbling, clearly keeping some thoughts to himself. "I trust you met the one who infiltrated here on that day? An interesting suit she has, no? Even Sycamore and the tops of R&D here couldn't approach its quality. I know of only three people currently of this world who could have made one like that, and one who passed on from here whose work I'm very interested in right now. If it isn't too much trouble..."
The dossiers before Mewtwo begin to unfold and rearrange themselves in mid-air. Three in particular separate from the crowd, wafting like they trailed in a gentle breeze towards Joshua. The first contained bizarre looking blueprints to what appeared to be AZ's ultimate weapon, detailing its structure at the time of Kalos' destruction and theories on the material and power source. The second, a collection of subterranean maps, legends and folk sightings of Groudon, details of the crisis in Hoenn over a decade prior and bits and pieces of notes apparently belonging to Team Magma. The last, photos which the bulk of are centered around a giant of a man with wild orange-red hair and a matching beard, included with reports filed by one "Hilda White."
"The objects of my recent focus." Mewtwo explains. "As you could gather, it pleases me that you come with this information. Our mysterious new faction, we'll call them 'Team Zygarde', must have connections to the ultimate weapon to recognise its use so readily. If their threat narrative is genuine, I bear them no ill-will. At the same time, I believe I have use in them and Galactic both. It may not be as directly as would be ideal, but would you help me secure their cooperation?"
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Post by empireoffire on Jan 24, 2016 20:55:39 GMT -6
Joshua kept a small thought hidden in his head, refraining from "vocalizing" it from the current discussion.
Team Magma? What do they have to do with anything?
"I really don't think that's going to be that simple," said Joshua. "I was briefly captured by them, as you could probably guess." The cuffs' broken chains jingled as Joshua held his wrists up. "Hugh offered to let me and maybe Yancy join, since the alternative was to leave me in a room until they finished doing what they set out to do. But since I broke out, they're likely going to rightly assume that I went and told you everything, and any further attempts from me or Yancy to join them after my taking a trip to Realgam would be seen as a blatant trap. Additionally, well... Hugh's at the helm, and he... Made a point about wanting nothing to do with you, specifically."
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Post by HHDeception on Jan 28, 2016 1:53:40 GMT -6
"What ARE you doing?"
"Trying together plot threads brah."
A pink stuffed toy was currently hung upside down, tangled up in several balls of metaphysical yarn. A blue one watched on.
"...did you get into the space catnip again?"
"Dude, no. Do you see nekomimi on me? Nah this is legit God work". The doll picked up a strand, "Like, put your peepers on this!"
A hammer struck the thread out of Palkia's hands. It advertently caused Palkia to yelp in surprise, and inadvertently caused the contents inside to unravel...
Location: Over the Sea
Marissa brought Suicune to a halt. Her visor was giving her warning signals.
"That's Orre waters boy," She said to her tamed steed, "Any closer and we'd be within mindshot of a psychic stronger than I am. And we can't have that now, can we?"
As expected, the Pokemon didn't answer. But it didn't change face.
"If your brothers are hiding with Mewtwo then they're not what we need anyways. I need a Legendary with more...desperation. Be a good boy and find me one of those."
Suicune ran off in another direction. But a sudden beeping alerted Marissa to something potentially even more interesting.
"On second thought, let's go manual. Take us underwater."
Suicune howled, and a tunnel of northern winds carved out an airway beneath the waves. Suicune and its Master shot off.
Dialga was surprised that Palkia was, in fact, doing some "legit God work".
"Dude! Not cool! I needed to tie that with this first..."
Palkia's two plushie arms wiggled a bit trying to join two pieces of yarn together, before realizing that they couldn't even reach ether other, and so a crochet hook materialized out of the aether and just did it for him.
Location: Higher above the Sea
"You know this can only end with you being dead right?"
Yveltal made some space and fired an Oblivion Wing through a Phantom Force portal, diffracting it into a life-draining kaleidoscope. Several beams hit the water, immediately calming the ocean currents beneath and perhaps KOing a few unlucky Magikarp. Others hunted down and latched onto Celena's suit like tentacles might an aborted simile.
"LIKE I CARE!" Celena said shouted nearly as percussively as the punches she could throw. She teleported leaving behind a vacuum implosion and her sudden reappearance rocked pressure waves though Yveltal's body. The inaccurately named micro-missles she released did the same as well. She appeared above the bird's head, but Yveltal had gotten privy to her patterns of attack and twirled in the air to take her assault with the cushiest part of her body. Yveltal plummeted, changing her downards momentum into a Dragon Rush, and another Phantom Force portal turned what would have been Yveltal crashing toward the water into Celena crashing into the water. And an Oblivion Wing followed.
"You don't have a plan to capture me. So I will kill you. And If you kill me I kill everything here," Yveltal continued, "Which is you. I've tested my resurrection technique against a proto-Deoxys on one of these lives I've had. Still got the poor sucker on Mars. Regardless of how far away you get, your soul is in my blast radius."
"And you're in mine!" Celena screeched as a teleport-punch-explosion threw Yveltal for another loop. As in a portal loop that dropped her back into a safe banter distance.
"Big boom big boom, do something original!" Yveletal crowed.
Celena revealed two plasma-throwers and lambasted the bird. Oblivion Wing drank it.
"KA-KAW!" Yveltal chuckled, "Actually no, stick to bombs. The concussions are more challenging to heal off."
"Is it too much to ask you put these in the right order?"
"Nah bro, order in the court is your thing. I'm just tying the knots!"
Location: Agate Village
Joanna watched Mega-Armor Genesect blow a building up on TV. She had the exact same smile a 7-year-old boy might have watching the hottest new action movie.
Meanwhile, Shoegaze and Disco were having a snack, taking a break from their motor-bike repairs. Shoegaze was describing the pictures around the living room to Disco. They were mostly family related.
Disco squeaked asking for some music.
"Now now Disco!" Joanna said, "It's just getting good!"
"Knit 1, Perl 2...woah...perl! Dang man, Father's gonna approve of this hobby."
Dialga sighed and pulled out a loom, beginning to spin Palkia's yarn into Fabric.
"If you're going to actually work, let me know and I will help you out. As wretched as you are, sometimes it's pitiful."
"Don't go getting nice brah! It's out of character."
Location: Goldenrod City
"Do me a favour lil' Mercury!"
Saturn's voice was now somehow resonating out of the Mecha-Genesect itself, which by proxy. Harry grit his teeth. The Galactic Leader was definitely attempting to provoke him. Manipulation is his game.
Genesect, find the rat and blow him up already!
"Take a good long look at yourself and ask how you even got here."
Harry scoffed. What a cliche.
"Look at the state of Nova. You are the best person they have to defend their home city right now. Are you that good or are they that desperate?"
Genesect repeatedly found itself without an adversary. It turned a corner only to find a Nova guard that had swept down the opposite street. From the skies it sensed nothing but their own people.
There's a hint in there somewhere, isn't there?
"Is there anyone on the Nova hierarchy who is even remotely human anymore? If your face is the best face they can bother to put up, I'd call it symbolic."
Yep, Saturn was pushing aaaall the buttons.
Genesect flew high and scanned for any sort of biomarker or unique technology. Essence of Aegislash was a telltale sign of a King's Shield generator, but none of that could be found anywhere below. It flipped through the registry of all active duty Nova members and began cross-referencing with the street presence.
Come out and fight me. Or are you a coward?
"So your giant bug can squish me like a human? Of course I'm a coward. I can't fight you and win. Only beat you in all the ways that matter."
...Harry was still going to fight him.
Saturn. I hope that your broadcast is continuing, because your followers deserve to know. Your manipulation of the masses was gifted from Cyrus, the premiere psychopath of a bygone era. I was his protege. I would know. You poison their minds like he did ours, and when he tried to take power for himself, he left an empty husk of a family behind.
"A leader must demonstrate-"
Saturn, when our family fell apart, Galactic fell to you by default, and with your authority you cast me out as a child. And while your reward for assisting Cyrus's delusion was eternal youth, mine was growing up an orphan. When your body was destroyed, you were put back together with flesh. When you destroyed mine, I had to make do with metal. When I bonded with a legendary, it crippled my mind while the legendary you met gave you immortality! You dare judge the positions of others when the world seems content to hand itself to you?
"You kill and torture people and pokemon."
SO DO YOU!
"..well we've had a nice distracting chat. I've rescued Diancie from your vault and now I'll be on our way. Since I've confirmed the inhumanity of Nova's home base, I will have a clear conscience when I wipe it off the map. Rest assured though, Ilex Forest and the National Park will be safe. I suggest any just following orders to get some orders over there."
DESTROY THE EXITS FROM THE UNDERGROUND!
Genesect fired. Buildings exploded. Saturn's transmission cut to static.
The cavity of Genesect's Techno Boost canon was surprisingly spacious. Saturn dropped himself off on the edge just as soon as the 3 storey Mega-Armour enhanced monstrosity passed within Phantom Force range.
The tricky bit was timing departure correctly. The cavity would heat up a tremendous amount before firing its laser, and would vent this heat after firing. But this heat combined with the blast itself left a very indicative wake of air thermals leading from the canon to its target. And as any flying-type might tell you, air thermals are ride-able by anything that can glide.
Inside the rubble of a destroyed building, Saturn's King's Shield generator shattered under the strain of protecting him from a crash landing. He switched his Skill Swapper from Levitate to Compound-Eyes and quickly found a way into the Underground.
He discarded his generator's remains. When he got back to base Mars could make a-
Oh...right. Anyways. Necessary losses.
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Post by GX1997 on Feb 7, 2016 17:59:41 GMT -6
When Meridia and Molly were standing outside the diner, a few feet away from the door to be out of the earshot of others, she decided to take a gamble and confront Molly.
"So, what is it about you that makes it impossible for me to get any kind of read on you? Just who are you?"
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Post by HHDeception on Feb 7, 2016 20:45:51 GMT -6
Molly fidgeted around. She was playing this by ear now, and that's not a situation she wanted to be in. She figured that she's lucky that Meridia is probably the best person to catch on to her if any. She talked quietly but not obviously hiding.
"I...I'm different."
Yeah, that's an acceptable answer alright.
"I'm part of something bigger...and that something protects me. And while my mind is unreadable, yours isn't...so I'm not going to say more. Nova can't know about me. And I don't trust Mewtwo to keep it that way.
...I can't let you act out of duty...but I do trust you and you're in deep already. If you're just curious...if you help me meet some people I might, um...help satisfy that if I can."
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Apr 1, 2016 9:05:22 GMT -6
"So unlike other Pokemon, it doesn't use a Mega Stone to evolve?" Neal wondered aloud after listening to Zinnia's erratic explanation. "And it most know how to ascend on its own?"
He looked around the cave rather cluelessly as Katherine decided to take over the interrogation.
"So would you happen to know how to teach Rayquaza this 'ascension'?" She helped Zinnia up but kept a firm grip on her hand in order to ensure she didn't try to flee for any reason.
Suddenly, a loud chime rang from something in Neal's hand, probably a phone of sorts.
"Apparently ancient knowledge is pretty commonly pirated and this cave has decent signal..." He muttered as he clicked a bright download icon which caused a survey to pop up. "Crapbaskets."
A few minutes passed as Neal attempted to find a mirror which didn't have a survey gate until he succeeded with a loud "Aha!", and once the file, named Dragon Ascent.TM, finished downloading, he removed the SD card from his mobile device and placed it in a conveniently located slot on Robo-quaza.
Everyone expected a flash of power or loud roar, but the cyborg dragon just froze in place and collapsed as it began to run an antivirus. Zinnia stood in righteous anger but Katherine held her steadfast until Robo-quaza began to whir and glow with Mega Evolution energy.
Katherine quietly whispered "Yiss..." as the legendary Pokemon before her rose up from the ground and grew an amazingly sharp jawline and tastefully glowing ribbons.
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Post by The Big Cheese on Apr 9, 2016 0:15:14 GMT -6
Mewtwo does something with his eyes that might be akin to a person raising their eyebrow, but one could be forgiven for not really picking up on that subtlety of psychic-cat-fetus physiology. "I did gather as much from your report, yes. Though you make it sound so... perplexingly personal. Is it truly so remarkable that I would acknowledge and work with the appearance of a new faction in the midst of total war?" He waves a paw as if to dismiss any notion that Hugh's enmity might bother him. "Clearly, I still have much to learn. Regardless, I don't need you to simply march back into their compound and ask for help. Forgive me for getting ahead of myself. It's quite simple, you see. For reasons that I intend to keep in the dark until it is convenient to do otherwise, we desperately need a Groudon. To brave the harsh conditions in which the only Groudon is being kept, we would need some kind of Magma Suit. Unfortunately, and for no points awarded to he who manages to guess their identity, the only person who knows how to make a Magma Suit has been compressed into roughly the size of an atom. You were there, if memory serves."
Mewtwo telekinetically shuffles the papers before Joshua into a new order, displaying the blueprint of what would be a Magma Suit in front. "In our current prototypical form, the wearer of this Magma Suit would lose all of their flesh within a minute and likely die of shock before experiencing such horror. Theoretically and not as gathered by field data, in case you were going to ask. Professor Sycamore is, unfortunately, simply incapable of recreating such a high-end piece of equipment when it's so far out of his field of expertise. In fact, we agree that there would be only five people not confirmed dead who could finish it in a timely manner. Doctor Celeste, Admin Duncan and Admin Celena among them, are simply not on the table." Again he shuffles the paper in Joshua's hands, this time fronting the photos and documents attributed to Commander White. "These photos and documents you see belong to a man named Lysandre, the former head of Kalos' Team Flare. In a theoretical parallel world had they not been exposed as the genocidal maniacs they were, perhaps I would have been created instead to dispose of them. Currently, Lysandre is working within Team Nova, because of course he is, but our inside information reveals to us that he is not greatly loyal to them -- in fact, he had been playing two sides with Team Xerneas all along. He too has the knowledge to head development of a Magma Suit, but merely threatening his job with our information of his treachery wouldn't be enough to secure cooperation. Like our angst-ridden friend Hugh, Lysandre loathes this organisation. He loathes any who would simply wish to preserve the state of the world as it had been, in fact. Which leads me finally to your failed captors. The suit belonging to that girl who extracted Hugh and the egg of Zygarde from our base was clearly of a technology which only the four I previously detailed could make, and one other. A scientist of Team Flare, no less. If my suspicions are correct and this man is behind the infiltration of our compound, then we could obtain his cooperation and Lysandre's both."
Perhaps having snuck up behind him at some time during that exposition dump, Benga claps Joshua amicably on the shoulder and leans in, grinning. "What Mewtwo is trying to get at is that we're gonna kidnap that 'Lee-Zander' dude and use him to get those Zygarde guys to lend us a hand! What we really need is a face who isn't totally hated in those parts and somebody who knows how to find them! So if we promise to get phase two out of the way will you, like, help us with phases one and three? All we need first is to look into your muscle memory and recon... reconstuck... reconstrick... do that jigsaw thingy with all of your movements in the last few hours and what we know about your mission to figure out where those eggheads are hiding!"
"As Benga so eloquently said, we -- or rather I -- can probably reconstruct the whereabouts of Team Zygarde using your muscle memory. As it's just the physical movements of your body we'd be tracking, unless you've been, er... 'physically intimate' since embarking on your mission no invasion of your privacy will be necessary."
"Pretty please...?"
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Post by empireoffire on Apr 9, 2016 1:23:33 GMT -6
Joshua thought about Mewtwo and Benga's idea.
Genocidal maniacs, eh?
"...I can cooperate with what you're asking for regardless, but I have a few questions," said Joshua. "First of all, why do you think Team Zygarde would cooperate if you kidnap Lysandre, and not, for example, abandon him or try to rescue him by force? Why assume that this other Team Flare scientist still cares about him enough to think that he might cooperate with us if we had Lysandre? They could've had a major falling out and now hate each other, for all we know. Got anything to suggest that they're still... acquaintances, I suppose?
And you want to trace my movements back to where I was held, but would that even result in anything? Hugh is many things -- hot-headed, emotional, and with a nasty case of tunnel-vision -- but he's not stupid. I teleported out ASAP with a Gallade's teleportation, and he's probably figured a signature could be traced back to them and thus probably would've abandoned that hideout, if not buried it completely.
...And is Team Xerneas even aware that you're targeting a benefactor of theirs, or is this a case of 'they didn't ask, so we won't tell'? I don't know about you, but I'd rather not have a teammate think I was performing a breach of trust."
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Post by The Big Cheese on Apr 9, 2016 20:39:53 GMT -6
"To answer your questions in the most brief of terms, we neither assume nor expect anything." Mewtwo responds. "We have noted several unusual communications on the part of Lysandre -- ones which we can only assume are being hidden from Team Nova and not from us. This isn't likely communication with any Team Xerneas operative -- most remain under our roof, Neal's location is unconfirmed but we presume that he has since cut ties with Lysandre. It is, of course, possible that this is contact with yet another splinter faction, this time from Xerneas or even that it's something entirely trivial such as a family member or a romantic affair. In any case, if you were concerned that any of those you would consider a friend from Team Xerneas' members here would have objections to our use of one of their former contacts, his relationship was strictly secretive in nature and with only the top members. As for the possibility that they've moved base, this is why we must move quickly. There is the possibility that Team Nova will retaliate for the kidnapping, but we're shorter on time and risks must be taken. A particularly wise human once said 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst.' I intend to take that idiom to heart."
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Post by empireoffire on Apr 9, 2016 20:48:54 GMT -6
"...Whatever you say," said Joshua. "Anyway, you start the muscle memory download you wanted."
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Post by The Big Cheese on Apr 9, 2016 21:36:29 GMT -6
"Oh, I already have. Were you expecting more? A bell as if to say 'toast's ready!,' perhaps...?" After receiving no response, Mewtwo clears his throat (or whatever) awkwardly. "Forgive me. That was unduly condescending. Benga, perhaps you could escort Mr. Doe out? I shall be taking the Zero Squad to help investigate this base immediately."
"Right-o'!" Benga responds, beckoning Joshua to follow him to the door. "You're dismissed for now, but we're going to have to ask that ya' stick around on standby. There's probably gonna' be some announcements and tests later on today, plus a final test on some equipment we were working on while you and the Sevii Seven were away. Oh! That reminds me that I never asked for an autograph! Like... you guys were on TV!"
He trails off on some other nonsense until they step outside and get a nod from the guards. "Anyway, sorry about Mewtwo's attitude these days. It might not seem like humour, but I think it helps him with the stress and, man... could you believe that he called me an idiom?"
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Post by empireoffire on Apr 9, 2016 22:01:13 GMT -6
Benga, this is hardly the time or place for me to think about autograph signings.
"Yeah, Mewtwo did look rather... irritable, nowadays," commented Joshua. "Anyway, I'd love to love and hear about what kind of idioms he used to describe you, but I have things to do. Like check with my team. And the Hoenn news reports. And get a file to rid myself of these cuffs."
Joshua bowed and walked over to his waiting Pokemon.
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Post by empireoffire on Apr 18, 2016 4:16:43 GMT -6
Realgam Tower, Orre - Training Room
*BOOM*
The blast from the Dragon Pulse launched Primeape right past her trainer, colliding against the room's perimeter walls and landing back to the ground face-first.
"Primeape!"
Curtis ran over to the defeated Pokemon, who stirred on the ground in pain. Rosa, his opponent, recalled her Hydreigon and walked over to him as he knelt down to console the primate.
"You did good, Primeape," he said. "You've earned a rest." He recalled the simian before standing to speak with Rosa. "How'd we do?"
"Better," said Rosa. "But... Your Primeape in particular needs to... look to her surroundings. She ran into three separate Electrowebs from Galvantula."
"Y-Yeah. She's a rowdy one," chuckled Curtis. "I've never been able to get her to ease up."
Rosa smiled back. "I... guess it's just in the nature of their species."
Curtis was about to suggest that they go find something to eat after healing their Pokemon when they heard a knock on the door to the room they were occupying. The door opened to reveal an unexpected visitor.
"H-Hey, you two," stuttered Yancy nervously.
"Yancy? Well this is a surprise," said Curtis, as he and Rosa walked over to her. He noted her current uniform. "On break?"
"Yeah," said Yancy. "Actually, I've been here for a while, but I didn't want to interrupt, so..."
"What... brings you here?" asked Rosa.
"...I... I wanted to talk to you," she said to Rosa, before awkwardly looking at Curtis. "Umm... Alone, if that's okay with you."
The two of them raised their eyebrows at the request and how distressed she appeared to be about it. Curtis looked back and forth between the two. "I'll, uh... Go looking for a vending machine to use."
Curtis nodded and slipped past the two.
"What's wrong, Yancy?" inquired Rosa, once Curt was out of earshot. "Is... it about Zekrom?"
"Huh? Oh, n-no... Well... Not exactly," half-mumbled Yancy. She took a moment to get her thoughts in order and cleared her throat to speak. She kept looking downward, not completely able to look Rosa in the eye. "I... I wanted to apologize to you."
"Apologize?" Rosa asked curiously. "For what?"
"I don't know how much you know, but... I was the one who had the DNA Splicers," Yancy explained. "I kept it with me ever since Nate died, thinking I was better off hiding it, but..." she pursed her lips briefly. "I eventually learned from Mewtwo that it was because of the Splicers that you got captured and... you know. So in a way, it was my fault all that happened, so... I just wanted to confess and say that I'm so terribly sorry for what I caused."
Rosa's eyes widened in surprise. "Is that true? That's... what's been worrying you?"
"Yes!" said Yancy, slowly stepping backward toward the door. "So, umm... I just wanted to say that it's okay if you want to hate me, but I... I just..."
Silence followed as Yancy struggled to find the words to say next. Rosa mumbled something that wasn't quite intelligible to Yancy.
"W-What?"
"I said I forgive you," said Rosa. "I... don't really blame you at all, actually."
"W-What?!" Yancy exclaimed. "But... But I..."
"From how you explained it," Rosa said, "You... didn't seem to know that Mewtwo wanted to obtain the Splicers, did you?"
"But still..." Yancy muttered.
"You were trying to honor Nate's wishes," said Rosa. "I think that's actually a really admirable thing to do. And... in a strange sort of way... You hiding the Splicers might have saved me."
"What?!" Yancy exclaimed in disbelief. Saved her? But they were the very reason she was tortured! Why Curtis was blackmailed into ratting out the Nimbasa base! Why she was...
"It... Is kind of true that I was captured because I was following a supposed lead," said Rosa. "But looking back at that day, and how I used to be, maybe I would have looked into what Nova was doing anyway back then. The... only reason I wasn't killed as soon as I was caught was because one of the soldiers there recognized me. They thought I would know where the Splicers would be, so I was imprisoned instead."
Yancy still had to protest. "B-But Curtis had to..."
"That wasn't your fault," interrupted Rosa. "Above... all else, I consider Nova to be the culprits behind those. They didn't have to force Curtis to choose between me and Nimbasa, knowing that either choice would haunt him. They didn't have to continue tormenting me when they knew I knew nothing. They didn't have to force Nate to give you the Splicers for safety while he went to give up his life." Yancy looked down to see that Rosa was tightly clenching her fists. "They... didn't have to start this war... all this suffering..."
Yancy stood looking at Rosa, mouth agape. "Rosa, I... I don't know what to say, except... Thank you. It... It feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. You don't know how much this means to me."
Rosa closed her eyes and took a deep breath to stop her trembling. When she opened her eyes next, she gave a smile to Yancy. "Don't... mention it. I don't usually hold grudges too tightly anyway... And after what you did for the Sevii Islands... You wouldn't deserve anything like that."
"Oh please, don't say things like that," protested Yancy. "I'm really nothing special. Really! Anyone would've done the same."
"I don't personally think so, but if that's what you think," chuckled Rosa.
Yancy laughed awkwardly. "...So, umm... This may seem a bit forward, but... would you mind if we got together to talk some more, another time? I think my break is about up."
"I would like that," replied Rosa. "I... don't have many friends to socialize with here."
Yancy smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 19, 2016 13:43:21 GMT -6
"Did you come to Realgam in part hoping to find people to help you with something? Trying to solve some kind of problem, or maybe even complete some kind of mission?" Meridia asked.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 20:40:01 GMT -6
As Austin and Jacquelyn sprinted through the underground, their steps resounding in the vast void, they heard an earsplitting sound from where they entered.
"The entrance must've been sealed off. We'll have to keep going. No turning back now." Jacquelyn sprinted forward, Austin struggling to catch up.
'I have to keep him stable. His Drive is the key to saving Diancie. I promise, dad, I'll save Diancie and him. To carry on the research you never got to see to completion.', Jacquelyn thought whilst dashing through the tunnel.
Austin panted trying to catch up. He held onto the memories of the previous week to keep him going. Their memories together. She didn't see him for what he was. He wasn't sure why, but she saw him as a normal boy stuck in a bloody war, despite knowing he had schizophrenia.
Meanwhile...
A dark haired girl stood atop an old stone temple in Fiore. Several showdowns between righteous and evil had taken place there. She sighed. It was nothing like the beauty of Almia, the home she had lived in for so many years prior to the war.
The Ranger, like the Pokemon Leagues, had fallen rather quickly. Her friends had been captured or killed. Noone knew what happened to Kate and Kellyn, the top Rangers who'd been the stsrs of Operation Brighton. Likewise, the famous Sven and Wendy had been written into history as heroes as they died trying to defend the Union. Not many survived the seige on Almia and the Ranger Unions across the globe.
So few Rangers were left now. She could count the ones she knew on one hand. But that's why she was here. She needed help.
Ashley approached the mysterious girl who'd summoned her.
Luana turned, he greying balck hair falling into her face. She brushed it out of her way and said, "I was hoping you'd come."
Ashley's solemn expression did not change, her hands in her jeans pockets, she replied," You said you wanted to hire me?"
Luana gave a slight smirk. "Ashley Zirkovir, my goal is to help end this war and then help reestablish the Ranger Union. Yours is to liberatr your parents, whom I have located for you."
Ashley furrowed her eyebrows." What I don't understand is, what's in it for you?"
Luana smirked, poping her knuckles.
"The prison they're being held in also happens to hold an old friend of mine. And seeing as how I'm all alone, I needed help. Are you in? You won't actually be getting paid."
AshleyAshley clenched her fists, full of determination and the overwhleming desire to at last rescue her parents, she said," Seeing my parents will be all the payment I need."
Johnny stared down the dirty-blonde headed boy. Caleb, likewise, stared intensely at the older brunnette. They sat as far apart on the old couch as possible, daring the other to initiate contact.
"You better not break her heart, or I'll brrak you neck.", Johnny threatened.
Caleb just gave a "hmmmph".
They sat there in silence. Ashley had said she was going out, but hadn't specified where, and it had been a day since she'd left. The two boys had slept in the cabin with an uneasy peace between them, the ice keeping them from maiming eachother wearing thin and cracking.
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Post by HHDeception on May 2, 2016 2:05:33 GMT -6
It's....
Time...
That...
Nova Mailbag's Back!
With our schedule back on track!
We're so sorry for the slack
(This new writer is a hack)
But Nova Mailbag's back!
Here's our stunning hostess Anna in a sparkling miniskirt
To her camera crew, a goddess. To her audience, a flirt.
We've got Eusine on the scene
Making Blue so red he's green!
And Celebi's not letting me
Dress Molly like a queen.
But Nova Mailbag's back!
Because it's in Anna's contract!
Drink some serum, eat a seed!
(Loose the Mankeys if they plead)
And Nova Mailbag's back!
Those are the facts!
"Here's the deal."
Anna speaks from a small spotlit platform, floating in the air. The only other thing notable on (more like above) stage is spotlit opposite her: Eusine in a full tuxedo standing on a similarly floating cage tall enough to stand comfortably but barely wide enough to sit in. He was slightly confused how he got there.
Anna continues. "I'm going to ask you some questions. You are going to answer them. But we have you under the watch of the best lie-detecting software in the world, and if you lie, or even think about it, the platform you're on drops."
"Sounds kinky so far." Eusine replied.
"It gets better," Anna said, with a wink to the cameras. The air above us is filled with invisible lasers that are harmless to us, but instantly will disintegrate the clothing we're wearing. And, " raising a hand to stop Eusine's inquiry, "Before you ask how that's possible: Science. That is all. Demonstrating!"
Anna produced a bra and threw it into the air above her head. It traveled only about a foot before fizzling away to dust.
Eusine watched and wondered if he could steal stage equipment. "That's not disincentive for me." he observed.
"If you answer questions honestly and quickly, my platform rises~" Anna said with a smile. "Let's get started."
Q: How can mirrors be real if our eyes aren't real?
Eusine: You pay for mirrors. Your eyes come free.
Anna's platform lurched upwards a few inches.
Q: Molly is given a gun with one bullet, and is forced to choose between shooting either you, or an evil clone of you. Neither you nor your clone are able to dodge, block, or otherwise get out of getting fatally shot when Molly chooses. How do you get across to Molly that you are the real Eusine?
Eusine: ...No fair, this one requires thinking! I'd uh...I'd shoot fake me. Because I'm not gonna lose quick-draw to a clone, and if I do, he's more useful to her anyways.
Q: How willing are you to take on Kyurem in a fight?
Eusine: Willing, but it wouldn't a be a fight. It would be me cheating until I won.
Eusine's cage jerked upwards.
Eusine: Eh!? So uh...not willing? I guess?
Q: Yancy has a lover. How do you respond?
Eusine: Two words. Sex Tape.
Anna's platform lurched upwards again. Her hair tie snapped and let her red hair drop to about shoulder-blade height.
Anna: You're pretty good at this.
Eusine: You're pretty.
Q: Seeing as your head appears to be in order during this mailbag, what words would you say to your delirious, hospitalized self, if you could speak directly to him/yourself?
Eusine's silence was accompanied by his cage rising until his shoulders were bare.
Eusine: Woah you're serious! Alright alright, I don't know. Seriously, I hate the state I'm in, and I don't even know how, when, or if I'm going to get better so I'd uh...I'd tell myself...Jigglypuff. Jigglypuff is cute. Thinking of them might calm me down.
Q: Nurse Yancy, Idol Yancy (Nancy), or Yancy cosplaying as Skyla?
Eusine: All of them at once.
Anna's platform rose to bare her shoulders...not that her sparkling hostess top had shoulders to begin with, but it's an indication.
Q: Have Eusine any men you wouldn't mind taking on a few dates?
Eusine: No, I'd totally date Wallace, for one.
The cage jolted in a place a bit, apparently confused by the double negative.
Q:Who's the most beautiful woman Eu'vesine in Realgam Tower so far?
Eusine: Yancy. Duh.
Simultaneously, Anna's platform rose to just about censorship levels while Eusine's cage rose to the point he had to hold his shirt up as the sleeves detached.
Eusine: Well I guess, like, Molly. In the non-physical sense. But her competition is that receptionist and nurses who do nothing but stick needles in me.
Q: Do you prefer to be seen as a comic relief character or underestimated, or do Eusique glory?
Eusine: That's...not mutually exclusive. I do the first two so I can do the third more easily.
Q: MFK - Suicune, Raikou, Entei
And suddenly Eusine was topless, and he could practically feel Anna's gaze.
Eusine: Ok ok! M - Suicune, F - Raikou, K - Entei, in that order. Because Raikou would kill me quickly.
The cage was satisfied.
Q: To finish up, how would to describe and rate these ladies out of ten?
Eusine: Oh goody, another one of these.
Images flahsed up on screen
Marissa!
The image didn't do any favors by placing her in black leather straps.
Eusine: Negative six.
Anna's platform rose to the level of requiring censors. But since censor effect cost money she made do with her arm.
Molly!
This one was in a school-girl outfit.
Eusine: Eight-point-five. The point is for the get-up.
Rosa!
Wrapped in a towel and looking hopelessly embarrassed.
Eusine: Nine. I swear this one is familiar...not like that says much.
Anna's platform rose steadily.
Emma!
She was in a skin-tight under-armor zero-suit.
Eusine: Three. I'm betting underaged and I have some standards.
Anna's platform rose again, and if her top wasn't so tight it'd already have fallen to reveal her navel. Eusine watched intently.
Zinnia!
She was riding a Salamence (the normal way, you sicko).
Eusine: She's cute. Eight.
He shrugged. Anna's top was now completely gone.
Human!Jirachi
Eusine: Not a lady.
The plaforms didn't argue.
The Witch
Eusine was very confused by the image of something halfway between a hex maniac and a Trevenant.
Eusine:...I'm not sure that's a lady either.
His cage rid him of his belt., forcing him to grab his pants.
Eusine: Ok Six! ...dammit
Daisy Oak!
In a nurse's outfit no less.
Eusine: Ten. I've even heard about her massage service and I'm sorry Blue, I have to be honest~
Anna now had to use her other arm to hold up what's left of her skirt.
And finally, Anna!
Eusine: Forty-two.
Anna's platform shot up and stripped her of everything else. Eusine grinned.
Eusine: Yo hostess! How about you slip me out of this cage and into something more comfortable back stage!
Some good amount of time later...
"For you, I'm altering the deal." Anna said to her next victim guest. She had a new outfit on of course. Identical to the old one. "I'm not stripping this time since you're all the fanservice we need!"
In the cage opposite her, Blue rolled his eyes. He was in a tuxedo too.
Q: How Can Mirrors Be Real If Our Eyes Aren't Real?
Blue: They can't.
Q: Molly is given a gun with one bullet, and is forced to choose between shooting either you, or an evil clone of you. Neither you nor your clone are able to dodge, block, or otherwise get out of getting fatally shot when Molly chooses. How do you get across to Molly that you are the real Blue?
Blue: I wouldn't have to. Molly would find out on her own.
Q: Were there any soldiers from your time in Mewtwo that caught your eye in particular?
Blue: Yes, but I cannot disclose the identities of Zero Squadron.
Anna paused for a bit, rather disappointed that Blue's cage hadn't even wiggled.
Q: How do you feel about Professor Oak forgetting your name?
Blue: I don't.
The cage wiggled. That's it.
Q: How do you feel about your grandfather? What became of him?
Blue: He is my hero. Once he was captured at Lumiose, there was nothing else preventing all-out war in Kalos. We all know how that turned out.
Q: What was being a gym leader like?
Blue: The most entertaining thing was participating in World Tournaments. On a sentimental note, it was nice seeing new trainers pass through Viridian, and working close to home.
Q: Is the thing about your Raticate true?
Blue: Yes, I used them to sink the S.S. Anne during that operation. It was a calculated sacrifice. Or is that not what you're talking about?
Q: Who do you think you would have the most trouble against in a fight?
Blue: If we're talking an ordinary fist fight, I'd resort to fighting-type pokemon for a challenge. Unarmed human combat, any skilled Psychic or Aura user would have a definite advantage over me. But in a Pokemon battle, I have only ever struggled against Nova Admins and Red. That should be a sufficient answer.
Q: Favorite Pokemon?
Blue: There is not a single Pokemon I currently possess who has not been a replacement. But I have found the Alakazam and Pidgeot species to be most useful.
Q: How's your sister doing?
Blue: Ten out of ten apparently. Otherwise, that's another thing I can't disclose.
Anna was getting very frustrated about the lack of cage movement
Q: Keep, Kiss, Kill:Red, Brock, Eusine
Blue: Keep Brock, Kiss Red, Kill Eusine.
Q: What does it feel like to "smell someone later"? Do you like what you smell?
Blue: It feels invigorating and the smell varies depending on the person.
Anna shuffled through her question pile and wrinkled her nose at the lack of anything else. "I never thought I'd say this, but you are so boring."
"Your questions were terribly impersonal," Blue remarked, "Not going to ask me to rate girls in bikinis?"
Anna shrugged "Rate me."
"Four."
....
"Next!"
"Alright, now for the guest you've all been waiting for!"
Celebi flitted around the bars of a cage.
"I'm already naked."
"Yeah yeah, just answer the questions."
Q: How Can Mirrors Be Real If Our Eyes Aren't Real?
Time paradoxes.
Q: Is Jirachi x Celebi canon, or will you remain Celebi-t?
Canon is in the eye of the beholder. But I do enjoy laughing at some of that fanfiction m'dears.
Q: Do you want to be a Celeb-rit-i?
I'm being interviewed. I already am!
Q: Thoughts on Palkia Space Drugs?
I've tried some of the stuff meant for mortal minds and it's a pretty good trip. Wound up time traveling and bringing a hot-tub full of trainers back a few decades. Good times.
Q: MFK - Mew, Manaphy, Victini
M - Victini for Victory, K - Manaphy because type advantage, F - Mew for that Transform move. You humans think you know why, but you really don't.
Q: Rate your fellow Tiny legendaries from least favorite to favorite
Well that's a big list, and even harder since I've met different versions of them from different times. But here goes. Bottom is Hoopa for sure. Meloetta is kind of a snob and Diancie's very clique-ish. I kinda get Shaymin's deal but he's always been a bit too shy. Same with Victini and Manaphy, although there was this one Phione I need to go back and visit some day. Mew are quite nice once they accept you as one of them. And Jirachi is near the top of course for being super adorable. Magearna is definitely up tops as well but um...hm, maybe I shouldn't talk about the future.
Q: How does Time travel feel?
Like slamming a long silver bullet into a well greased chamber. Serious though, it's a bit like waking up, but in a really good way.
Q: Do all Celebi know eachother?
No. Most of the time our independent time-lines don't line up, so even if I know someone, I might not know them yet. I also don't cross paths with my reincarnations. I have a ninth sense for that sort of thing.
Q: Favorite Human?
I heard through the time-vine that at some point one of my reincarnations will owe its life to a human who's alive today. But until then...none stick out in my mind. Celeste is interesting, but if I could I'd skip forward to see how he ends.
Q: Thoughts on: Celeste, Eusine, Molly. Blue, Dialga, Palkia
I just did Celeste. Eusine is useful and...well I have some spoilers on him, but not going into that. I haven't met Molly yet but I'm sure she's going to be interesting. Blue has a definite legacy, but I don't have an actual opinion of the man. Dialga is the worst parent-who-isn't-your-parent ever and Palkia is a bro.
Celebi whirled around a bit, watching Anna hoist up some chains into an empty cage.
"Oh don't mind me," Anna mentioned off hand, "Just setting up for our grand finale!"
Molly found herself chained against the walls of a cage, once again suspended in the air. She was wearing a full tuxedo, just like the two men before her. Her arms and legs were held such that she had no hope of being able to cover herself should she have to. Anna looked on with a smile.
"...You know if push comes to shove...I wonder if these things could hold me..." Molly muttered, obviously a bit nervous about her assertion.
"Pushing, shoving, holding, that's the spirit girl!" Anna cheered as she rifled through the questions.
Q:How Can Mirrors Be Real If Our Eyes Aren't Real?
Molly: That question makes no sense!
The cage didn't argue.
Q: Hardest experience in the war to go through?
The cage began to ascend, detecting Molly's hesitation.
Molly: Stop! Stop! Losing! Losing....everything I knew. Family, home, time....technology....everything's different...the world MAP is different. We're missing a country now.
Q: Thing you miss most from before the war?
Molly: My family....
Q: Who do you value the most in your life pre-war and now?
Molly: Pre-war it was my dad...my mom was never around and he worked so hard to take care of us so...yeah. Now I guess...Blue? I haven't really met anyone else. I mean, Meridia is nice I guess...
Molly looked down, possibly daring the cage to suggest anything about Eusine.
Q: Do you consider your existence in space-time an anoMolly?
Molly: It's hard not to...
Q: Have you lead a hard life or were you Mollycoddled?
Molly: Ok, I was probably spoiled as a child. We were very well off and my dad was well respected so....I- uh...can I please stop thinking about this stuff now?
Anna was meanwhile receiving orders from the show producers. Apparently an actual victim as opposed to a sexy victim does not attract good ratings. The chains soon undid themselves and Molly made use of her new freedom. She mainly used it at this moment to hide an "exactly-as-planned" smile.
Q: What's your most coMo(n)lly favourited FleTweet?
Molly: I don't actually post on FleTwitter...I just use it to keep up with the world. I have a lot to learn.
Q: MFK - Red, Blue, Red's mom
Molly: Uh...I don't know two of those people but I guess...M - Red, F - the Mom, and K - Blue because I'm sorry but I don't want to outright kill someone's mom or son...
Q: How are you able to possess enough patience to deal with Eusine at his worst?
Molly: I thank Arceus. But really, it's knowledge that he's sick...and I'm not exactly helping him get better....
Q: What would to do to a person who tries to touch you in a place or way that makes you uncomfortable? Please demonstrate on that Eusine fellow over there.
Molly: I would, but unfortunately he now lacks the anatomy for it...I'm almost sorry to bring that up...
Q: What's your history with Entei? Does it involve some loser named Ash?
Molly: Who? Entei is our family crest. I was raised on legends about Entei and the other Legendary Beasts. I never thought I'd actually be able to meet one in person though...
Q: Show us on the doll where the Unown touched you.
Molly: It'd be easier to show where they hadn't but I'm afraid even that would be too difficult.
Q: Who would win in a fight between Eusine and Blue?
Molly: Blue. If they had pokemon then...still Blue. But Eusine would cheat until he won anyways.
Q: How did Blue find you?
Molly: ...He pulled me out of the Unown Dimension. I don't know how he found me in the place, or why he was even there...or even how he got there come to think of it...but I am grateful. I haven't bothered to ask, and he hasn't bothered to mention it.
The participants were gathered around. Cages discarded and laser's safely out of Eusine's reach. All were dressed in smart and fully-intact tuxedos, except Eusine who was in a bathrobe.
"One final question for you all!"
Q: You are stranded on a deserted island. Help is on the way. However, it is impossible to not die of starvation before rescue comes, so one of you all must be cannibalized. Which one of you would be the one to die, and why did you all decide on Celebi?
"You know that I can plant seeds, and cause plants to grow and bear fruit right?"
Eusine decided not to ask whether or not Molly's brand of "magic" would re-grow limbs and instead just opted to render the question moot like everyone else.
"Well that settles that!" Anna announced proudly. "Thank you, and good night!"
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Post by HHDeception on May 2, 2016 2:16:46 GMT -6
"You could call it a mission," Molly said resigned, "But it's from someone on your side. You can trust me on that."
Molly looked around, again suspicious of her surroundings, and then took a step closer to Meridia. Disregarding personal space, she moved her hand to brush against the other girl's. In that flash of contact, the faint outline of an Unown pulsed beneath the make-up on her hand, and a telepathic message was passed.
"I need to talk to Shaymin, Cobalion, and Keldeo. Just talk. That's all I'm saying for now. Can you help me or not?"
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Post by empireoffire on May 6, 2016 22:54:38 GMT -6
Hugh pushed past the makeshift wooden door to Xerosic's lab and began making his way through the maze of unplugged, broken, or otherwise out-of-commission machinery that haven't been harvested for parts yet.
"Hello?"
Hugh heard something resembling a "Nyaah~", and traversed the maze in search for the noise. He eventually found the source of the noise in the middle of the path, as it eagerly greeted him.
"Hey, Mimi." Hugh knelt down and petted the Espurr in the head. "Emma will be done soon. Is Xerosic here?"
Mimi pointed back the way she came and beckoned for Hugh to follow. Soon enough, he found the scientist in question sitting at a desk filled with disassembled pieces of equipment. He was thoughtfully stroking his chin while wearing the slightly oversized headphones he wears for "thinking music" (of which Hugh once took a listen to. Traditional Kalosian music. With excess accordion solos). Hugh tapped his shoulder, grabbing his attention. Xerosic pulled the headphones off and sprang up, reaching over to an adjacent table.
"Ahh, Hugh, perfect timing!" exclaimed Xerosic. "I have something for you!"
Before Hugh could bring up the important development he came to talk to Xerosic about, a laser rifle was being shoved in his face. "...The newest version?" he asked. "Did you finally fix the self-destruction thing?"
"Bah, that again?" scoffed Xerosic. "You need to let that go sometime. No, what I've added to further perfect this beauty is this!"
Xerosic pointed to a new attachment on top of the gun.
"A scope!" announced Xerosic. "If these rifles can shoot cleanly through long distances, why not just slap a sniper rifle scope on it? I think it was positively genius; if I do say so myself."
"Y-Yeah, I guess," muttered Hugh.
"I thought as much!" declared Xerosic in triumph. He then placed the laser rifle back on the desk. "Anyway, I see that you've returned! Did you enjoy your trip to Hoenn? Did you grab what we needed?"
Hugh winced slightly. "Well, yeah, but--"
"Excellent!" said Xerosic. "Now, we can finally track--"
"Team Mewtwo most likely knows of our existence," said Hugh, knowing that he wouldn't be able to speak if he didn't cut Xerosic off.
The self-proclaimed scientist's smile slowly faded as he stared at Hugh. "Explain."
"For some reason, Joshua Vega was in the base," said Hugh. "We captured him and tried to persuade him to defect to us, but he escaped, and there's a likely possibility that he's told Mewtwo about us."
"...Can they track our operation in any way?" asked Xerosic.
"We've completely buried the area he teleported out from and didn't extract ourselves out until about a kilometer away. If they're going to look for us, they'll have to do a lot of digging."
"...Did you say anything at all about our plans?" asked Xerosic.
"Just about the Ultimate Weapon," said Hugh.
Xerosic thought for a moment before shrugging. "Oh well. That isn't so bad."
"It isn't?" asked Hugh.
"Well if we were ever going to proceed our agenda, they would've figured it out eventually. All we have to do is keep Zygarde in core form or in a Poke Ball anytime we can so they don't sense him. Besides, what are they going to do with this knowledge? Galactic and Nova took everything away with you, I would be surprised if Emma knew anyone of note given her... history, and I've cut ties with anyone I used to acquaint with. They have no leverage against us, and on the general scope of things, we're on the same side."
"...Fair enough, I guess," said Hugh. "Anyway, Emma and the others are unloading the stuff we stole. I'll let you know when everything is set up."
"Excellent!" said Xerosic. "I'll be there soon."
Hugh nodded, then knelt back to Mimi. "Want me to take you to Emma?"
The Espurr nodded and happily allowed Hugh to carry her in his arms. As Hugh went back to the maze, Xerosic slipped his headphones back on and reached over to grab a circular device. "...Well, that's a bit inconvenient. Now, where was I?"
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Post by GX1997 on May 8, 2016 21:43:38 GMT -6
"Well then... I may be able to help make that possible through a contact of mine. He's pretty good at blending in, and if anyone knows where the legends would be hiding, then-... well, I assume you know what I'm getting at," Meridia projected to Molly as she quietly walked away.
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Post by The Big Cheese on May 11, 2016 1:10:23 GMT -6
Hilda and Hilbert arrive at the highest point of a familiar chasm, accessible through the ruins of a derelict Team Snagem hideout. Overlooking the Orre desert, they step out onto the plateau and take a seat for a few moments, each catching their breath and drinking from cannisters of water.
"So, this is what passes for a romantic getaway these days, huh?" Black asks as he wipes the sweat from his brow, looking up at the burning sun. "Can't say I'm impressed..."
"Given the restrictions on our movement, we take what we can get." Hilda replies curtly. "Quite pretty when you can see all the stars at night, I'd say! It's better than anything the underground at New Mauville has to offer, anyway."
"Sounds like you speak from experience." Hilbert winks.
"Maybe I do. Would that disappoint you, hotshot?"
"Nah. Aren't I bit young for you now, anyway? You're how many years my senior now?"
"Ummm... there are conflicting reports on that." Hilda grimaces a bit. "You don't have to rub it in, you know."
Hilbert chuckles. "Wasn't really trying to. It's not like being frozen in time comes without its drawbacks..."
"You're right. I'm sorry. We still have so much to clear up that I... I forget what it must be like for you." Hilda suddenly finds something of interest in her feet and awkwardly looks down at them, only to have her vision obstructed as Hilbert pushes her pink rimmed cap down over her face.
"Ah, forget about it." He says brightly. "I gotta' say, when I first found out that I missed the PWT I was pretty disappointed. When I found out exactly what happened, I... there are no words. It was probably for the best, is what I'm trying to say."
Laughing wryly, Hilda corrects her hat. "You definitely haven't changed." She says, her voice quivering. "Maybe we should talk about something else..."
"Maybe we should... but I'll have to face the facts someday and there's nobody I'd rather hear them from. You don't have to hold anything back around me, you know."
Sighing, Hilda relaxes a little. "Oh, alright. I don't even know where to begin... all our friends... it's like everyone we knew is just gone now. Most of them dead. You've seen how it is now. Ever since the Pokemon World Tournament, everything's gone to shit!"
"How was it for you?" Black asks. "I mean... you were there, right?"
"They landed in some kind of shuttle like they were invaders from space... everything from that day is just such a blur. The participants, they were people we knew. People we cared about! All of the best trainers in the world were gathered, and with no knowledge of what StarBurst was it was a massacre. The world's strongest Pokemon turning against their trainers. I remember running from a berserk Rhyperior, holding onto Bianca's wrist while she wailed and stumbled along behind me... if I hadn't have been a spectator that day I'd be dead. Any of us who escaped only managed it at the expense of another. I haven't heard anything about Cheren since."
Subtly, Black turns sullen. "And Bianca..." He trails knowingly.
"She survived the initial attack. Nobody was more crushed by their inability to protect anyone than her. She joined the resistance under Mewtwo before I did, in spite of her parents' best efforts. She really looked up to a lot of the big names in Pokemon research who had flocked to here, not to mention the ones who were killed. Eventually we reunited in Johto. She was working with some insiders at Goldenrod Radio from Azalea Town, which was still a resistance front at the time, to help establish what would become our main communications network. I sent out a distress signal from Fuschia city, we were working to persuade the unaffiliated ninja clans under Koga to join with Commander Blue's forces and work together with us when Admin Jay uncovered our operation and sent his Pokemon to kill us. If it hadn't have been Bianca who received my call, I doubt anything would have been done, but before I knew it a team had been dispatched to rescue me and we were together again. I only got my honours as a Field Commander because of her help as my mission control. The day that happened, she and some of my team threw a little party... I think it was the last time we laughed and had fun together."
Hilda was now avoiding any eye contact, tears streaming down her face. Hilbert gets up to a kneel and places a hand on her shoulder. "Please... I want to hear it."
Sniffling and rubbing her eyes, Hilda continues. "After Johto was all but lost for Mewtwo's forces, we were transferred across a number of regions. We were able to set foot in Unova again for the first time in so long. We both agreed that the first thing we should do when we got the free time was to go back to visit our parents, see if anyone had heard from you or Cheren. On the night before we would have been able to sneak out for a bit, our group got caught in a fire fight with a much bigger force of Nova soldiers. I called in for backup and with her voice shaking, Bianca told me that any reinforcements would take at least until dawn to arrive. We used a construction zone as surrogate trenches, but consistently lost ground for the better part of six hours. By my fifth distress call, Bianca had stopped responding... Nova had begun deploying StarBurst Excadrills and we were at our last hold when Bianca showed up... all by herself, at least an hour before sunrise. I commanded her to turn back, but... she said she wouldn't let me die there. She had her Musharna put up a barrier and light screen around us, but the enemy quickly StarBurst it. That was when... she took out a knife and held her controlled Pokemon for a moment... slipping the knife into and piercing it right in its... well, the entire field was bombarded with pure, unfiltered dream mist. When I came to, the only people still conscious around me were our reinforcements. They made quick work of the demented Nova grunts, but Bianca was at the center of the area of effect... she was crying and screaming for her father in a completely delusional state until she bled from her throat... and still wouldn't stop. There was... there was nothing left of her after that... she was declared dead after months of... living torture... she just stopped..."
Black remains silent for a moment. Hilda sobs between gasps for air, eventually managing to speak again. "I didn't visit mom that day... but I've spoken with her a few times since, only briefly... she's doing well... yours too."
Hilbert stands, offering a hand for Hilda to do the same. "Thank you for telling me. I'm so sorry you had to think about it again." He says, grinning sheepishly. "I needed to know, though. What we're fighting against... and what we're fighting for."
Hilda wipes the tears from her face again, letting out a wheezing, desperate chuckle. "You really are something else. This isn't like anything you've ever faced before. Thousands of people are killing and being killed every day, all across the world. How can you face this reality and still act like everything's going to be OK!?"
"I guess it's a super power... like N used to say." Hilbert replies. "I see the blackest truths of ourselves, and I look straight forward to the light ahead anyway. Maybe this isn't like back when we fought Ghetsis at N's castle, but I know what it means to put my life on the line for the sake of our way of life and for the sake of my friends. And... what it means to take a life for it all, too. So I'm ready now. There's no length I'll stop at to stop Team Nova. I promise you that."
He walks forward a few steps, looking at Realgam Tower in the distance. "I'll forgive you if you need more than just talk to believe me, though. Which reminds me... weren't we here to watch these friends of ours begin the next phase of their grand plan...? There's still a few minutes before the gears start turning. You hungry? I think I'm hungry. Bet you I can pick us up a snack before the show starts."
"You're serious..." Hilda says, unable to hold back a smirk.
Suddenly, Hilbert waves at Hilda and lets himself fall backward off the side of the chasm. A sound like jet engines revving up comes from below, as Black, still waving and grinning stands on top of Reshiram's neck, her wings spread imposingly by his sides.
"How insensitive. Now you're just showing off." The dragon speaks, the whirring noise intensifying as it rises over the chasm, a powerful heat gathering in its tail.
"Look who's talking!" Black yells back.
"There's a place not too far from here!" Hilda yells over the billowing pressure pushing pebbles away around her and blowing her hair and clothes back. "If you can get away with it... I'd really appreciate you bring me back a stiff drink!"
"I know you well enough to assume that won't be supporting a habit! I'll figure something out, so be right back!"
With that, Reshiram gathers full power. "Brace yourselves, humans!" She roars, blasting off into the sky before looping around into the far off distance in a matter of seconds.
"You really haven't changed..." Hilda mutters.
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