It had been a long time since anyone really commented on his past. But then, he had made himself scarce from the public eye, following his departure from the League. The man hardly knew how to respond to the compliment.

"Hey, I'm just a man who does what needs to be done.", he'd tell her.

The Ceruledge would reemerge away from where the Sableye had attempted to attack him, only to be pelted with Sludge from one of the trashcans. The black knight Pokemon shot the trashcan the Trubbish ducked back into the dirtiest look, before seeing the Houndoom attempt to spray down Thomas and his new friend with Flamethrower.

Quickly, he'd Ally Switch with the Iron Valiant, putting himself in the path of the Flamethrower. Thanks to Flash Fire allowing him to absorb the jet of fire without repercussion, the Ceruledge charged the Houndoom, before lunging at the hellhound, and attempting to maul it in Close Combat.

The Iron Valiant would leap towards the trashcan that housed the Trubbish, leveling a Psycho Cut at it.

As the Persian attempted to attack the mechanical Tyranitar, Thomas reached for another Pokeball. He'd bring out Thread the Galvantula, who'd emit a Bug Buzz aimed at the Persian, in order to assist the Iron Thorns.

---

tags: Vanilla Kingsley
notes: Ceruledge took Sludge
Ceruledge used Ally Switch with Iron Valiant
Ceruledge took Flamethrower. Flash Fire Activated
Ceruledge used Close Combat on Houndoom
Iron Valiant used Psycho Cut on Trubbish
Thomas sent out Galvantula
Galvantula used Bug Buzz on Persian

"I suppose so.", Thomas replied to the man.

"Pleasure to meet you, as well.", Thomas started, before the cries of the Espeon and Umbreon duo alerted them to the coming of two Pokemon.

Much to his surprise, the two Ice-types ganged up on the Espeon. It seemed that whatever was going on with this place, it drew some ruthless Pokemon in.

Despite being ganked, the Espeon managed to hold her own, even weakening the Glaceon for a capture. He saw the Sealo coming in for another attempt at a Rollout. Quickly, he deployed his Galvantula, Thread. Using his Compoundeyes, the electric spider fired a bolt of Thunder from is mandibles.

The attack struck the Sealo, sending the walrus flying into the distance.

"You okay?", he asked his partner.

---

tags: mikael rosenberg
notes: Sealo Fled

This time, the Bitter Blade struck down the Scizor, its life force seeping into his body. He would allow the Sableye to come closer to him, before vanishing into the Phantom Force, causing their Shadow Claws to whiff.

The Iron Valiant, seeing an opportunity, subjected the two Sableye to a more concentrated Dazzling Gleam, intent on knocking the two of them out.

Thomas eyed the rest of the group, noting that the Persian, Trubbish, and Houndoom were all in play. He had his hand ready for another Pokeball, should they attempt to come after him directly.

"I'm good, and you?", he'd ask her.

---

tags: Vanilla Kingsley
notes: Ceruledge used Phantom Force to escape the Sableye
Iron Valiant used Dazzling Gleam, attempting to finish off the two Sableye

This bug was tough, the Ceruledge had to admit. Still, the Metal Claw did little to harm the battle hardened Fire-type, who retaliated with a more concentrated delivery of Bitter Blade, intent on finishing off the Scizor, before finding a new target.

Thomas expected the men who 'escaped' earlier to attempt to attack him from behind. But the fact that the girl, rather than just running off, decided to help him, helped things along. Especially when she produced a Pokemon that looked like a shorter, mechanical Tyranitar.

He had to wonder if it would benefit from Electric Terrain as well.

"Of course. Let me set the stage.", he offered, having his Iron Valiant set up an Electric Terrain around them. This would set the conditions for their Quark Drives to activate, causing the Iron Valliant's strength to increase, which would likely be the case for the Iron Thorns accompanying the girl.

---

tags: Vanilla Kingsley
notes: Ceruledge used Bitter Blade, attempting to finish off Scizor
Iron Valiant used Electric Terrain

Thomas scanned the alley carefully, looking over all the Pokemon that they had on them. A Scizor, two Sableye, a Houndoom, a Trubbish, and a Persian atop the catwalk.

As the three men scarpered off, Thomas stared down the others. Mordred, from his position, would watch the men takeoff, making sure they didn't get ready to rush Thomas from behind.

Before Thomas could correct the idiots on his affiliation, the head goon, the man he wanted the most, spoke up. If not for his strong sense of discipline, he'd have laughed in their faces. Little did they know, having a hostage wasn't going to save them. And the fact that she was handed off to a Scizor only made it worse for them.

Thomas acted like he'd comply for a moment, slowly taking off a Pokeball he had hidden on him first. But as it looked like he was about to put it down, he stared the leader in the eye.

"I like those odds.", the Kalosian commented.

In that moment, the short teenager would suddenly find herself teleported out of the vice-grip of the armored bug, and to the entrance of the alley, where the Ceruledge was. Mordred would end up in the grip of the Scizor, staring down the bug with sadistic intent, before slashing at the insect with Bitter Blades.

"Say hello to my little friend!", Thomas bellowed out venomously.

The ball that he grabbed would be deployed, revealing a strange Pokemon that resembled a Gallade, but with traits of Gardevoir, and a robotic appearance. The strange Pokemon wasted no time in unleashing a Dazzling Gleam down the alley.

---

tags: Vanilla Kingsley
notes: Ceruledge used Ally Switch, switching places with Vanilla
Ceruledge used Bitter Blade on Scizor
Iron Valiant deployed
Iron Valiant used Dazzling Gleam

Nothing could ever be so simple.

The group of thugs he was after had managed to find a new victim, it seemed. A girl had been cornered, only for her to bring out three Pokemon. Of course, their friends snuck up on her, and began to drag her into the alley.

Thomas signaled Ceruledge to trail him, but stay out of sight. He would move in, Pokeballs ready to be drawn quickly.

"Get the fuck off of her, and leave her stuff!", a familiar voice hissed. In the darkness, a tall man would walk into the alley. Though his face had been marked with a vertical scar down the left side, and his hair blackened, the voice of the Kalosian gave him away quickly.

Mordred waited in the shadows, watching the scene. Spotting the girl, he found a potential way to move in.

---

tags: Vanilla Kingsley
notes: tl;dr

The fluffy Audino cried out happily as the man began to pet him. The Audino would attempt to go in to hug the man, only for him to stand up, while petting him.

"This bundle of joy is Pulse. He's extremely affectionate.", he'd tell Kazimir with a chuckle and smile.

"Was that something one of those strange Pokemon from around the area?", he'd inquire.

As he leaned up against the wall, the Audino held his arms up, as if asking the large man to pick him up and hold him.

"Not only that, but they managed to capture a member of the Council. I shudder to think of what they'll do to her.", he'd reply to Kaz. He knew what they would do to such a prisoner, all too well. "I feel you, to be honest. I should've done so much more myself.", he'd admit.

---

tags: Kazimir Wynter
notes: Mission - Post Postdormitum

Thomas knew his targets liked to hang around this area.

After recovering from his injuries, Thomas focused himself on finding answers. His partner, Andraste Breathnach , had vanished before the events in the Ultra Sea. The rumor was that she had been abducted. If that was true, he suspected Team Rocket of the deed, considering they likely knew she was seeking answers, and revenge, for the death of her mother and brother.

He had a lead on a group of Rockets that might've had a hand in the act. Though they seemed to be the type that someone like Andraste could handle, he had no idea what circumstances were behind it. Were they backing up someone stronger?

Thomas waited quietly, accompanied by Mordred the Ceruledge.

"I need them alive.", he'd whisper to the Fire-type.

---

tags: Vanilla Kingsley
notes: Mission - Intrepid Sword

Returning to the Silent Icelands was never an easy task for Thomas.

After the battle of Littleroot, he wound up crossing through the area. And to his horror, found several Pokemon encased in icy prisons, unable to be thawed out, no matter what Thomas had thrown at them. That day, he vowed to free the trapped Pokemon from their icy tombs.

So when he and his new partner agreed to go here, Thomas solemnly got himself prepared with winterized clothing. Aside from seeking out Steel-types to add to his arsenal, maybe he could learn more about this wretched place.

Mikael wouldn't have to wait long at all for Thomas to arrive. Though the knight arrived first, Thomas would arrive before the scheduled time as well.

"Mikael, right? I'm Thomas.", the man with the scar greeted him, offering a handshake.

---

tags: mikael rosenberg
notes: tl;dr

The sound of a motorcycle got the vigilante's attention. He would look over to see a familiar face pulling in. Though he wasn't in any sort of scramble to get up, or shoo the Audino or Eevee off of him. In fact, he wasn't ashamed of the image at all.

"Guess you could say I'm full of surprises, Kaz. Not like I even bother hiding it, though.", he replied.

"As well as could be, to be honest.", he told the man with a frown. "Spent this past week licking my wounds, and mourning for lost friends.", he'd continue.

Normally, the Audino he held close to him would shy away from strangers, take a step back. But being huddled up close to her master like this gave her a sense of added security, especially since Thomas seemed to know him.

"And you?", the Kalosian inquired.

An Audino would walk up to the large, musclebound biker. This one had longer, thicker, and fluffier fur than the norm. He was of normal size otherwise, and had a friendly expression. He would let out a soft cry to greet the man.

---

tags: Kazimir Wynter
notes: Mission - Post Postdormitum

Thomas couldn't help like feel that he made a mistake, somewhere. Rocket managed to make off with the Sealing Stone. And they had managed to capture a Councilwoman in the process. Maybe he should've done more to directly support the League? But would that have been enough?

In any case, the battleworn and weary trainer quietly made his way back to Verdanturf Town. He needed to lick his wounds, after all of the fighting and bloodshed that took place. To mourn all of the friends he lost on this bloody day. To process the reopened wound of having a Pokemon stolen from him.

At the very least, he didn't come out of the conflict completely empty handed. In his travels, he managed to obtain some strange, powerful Pokemon. Pokemon that represented either ancestors of existing Pokemon, or robotic versions of others.

Payback would come. Eventually, he'd be ready to return to his place as Wraith. But all he could do was quietly cultivate power from the shadows. Power he needed to take on the likes of Cillian Quinn, who's mortifying power he got a taste of.

"Gavin, Rocket. I promise, I will have my revenge.", Thomas venomously muttered to himself.

---

tags: @tag
notes: tl;dr

"I know what you mean.", he'd reply to her solemnly. He was all too familiar with the types she alluded to.

"I appreciate that.", he replied to her. He wasn't sure how else to respond to that, not being used to such a thing. But he did understand her sentiment.

He would listen to what she had to say. Though one would call it a conspiracy theory, what happened to the Tropius was enough to make Thomas interested in whatever was going on. How many more Pokemon would suffer because of their negligent actions? How many would end up dying?

"How can I reach out to this friend?", he'd inquire.

She would pivot the subject onto his work. "I've been taking it day by day, to be honest.", he'd tell her.

Dede smiled and waved at the two, before heading off to play with the others. Not long after, an Eevee walked over, investigating the child with innocent curiosity.

---

tags: Aubre McKenna-Settentrione
notes: tl;dr