"You clearly don't know much, do you?", Dorian asked the boy, bewildered. Despite the disbelief that a boy his age didn't know about poisonous berries, Dorian remained firm. "I'm asking you kids nicely. The others won't be so nice, I assure you.", he warned the kids.

As the kids finally moved on, Dorian doubled back to Zev. The Mad Dog nodded in agreement with his suggestion to barricade the area. "My Incineroar and Emboar can set up barricades for us.", Dorian told the Black Hand, before deploying the two Fire-types.

"Porkchop, Mister Bigglesworth, barricade the area around the tree. Make sure no civilians find their way in.", Dorian told the two.

---

tags: Zev Harcourt
notes: tl;dr

As soon as Jayden remarked on the state of Dorian's punching bag, he looked back to it. The man couldn't hide his embarrassment, as he looked at how badly he wailed on the bag.

"Got carried away, I suppose.", Dorian admitted to the Admin sheepishly.

When offered a spar, Dorian was surprised. He knew Jayden to be a well-trained fighter, bred to be a weapon for Rocket. And while he had tremendous strength, he didn't know how he'd fare against the Admin.

"You got it. Maybe you could teach me a thing or two?", Dorian replied to the man, a sly grin on his face.

As the Rotom powered on the recording equipment, Dorian got into a fighting stance. A typical street brawler, one who'd use his size to his advantage.

---

tags: jayden cross
notes: Bond Bridge - May
Rotom & Porygon

With Ryker having his back, Dorian slipped into the entrance to what seemed to be a subway system.

Upon turning on his flashlights, he could see that the Megalopolis Subway tunnels were in a state of decay. The only light they had to fall back on was either their flashlights, or any Pokemon that could illuminate the area naturally.

"I know I'm preaching to the choir, but stay frosty. Who knows what's lurking in these Arceus-forsaken tunnels.", he'd caution Ryker. Though as he acknowledged, Ryker was the last person who'd needed to be advised on such a thing.

Dorian slowly pressed forward, making sure to carefully scan the area ahead of them with his flashlight.

---

tags: ryker hayes
notes: Prompt 18

For a moment, Dorian was afraid she didn't want to answer. As curious as he was, he was prepared to drop the subject, if that's what she wanted.

When the name dropped, Dorian was shocked. Lulu Flint, the little sister to the Underboss. Though he and Cillian Quinn didn't see eye to eye, Dorian still held the man in high regard.

"I see. I take it you don't tell many people this?", Dorian asked her. "If so, my lips are sealed.", he reassured her.

---

tags: Lulu Flint
notes: tl;dr

"I was just in the area, thought I'd take a look, while I was here. But since I'm here, I might as well help out.", Dorian replied to the Beast.

Dorian remained calm as the Bloodmoon Ursaluna sniffed him, and his Houndoom. "A Bloodmoon Ursaluna, eh? I heard after what happened in the Swamps, more started to rear their heads around the Region.", Dorian remarked.

Dorian was the first to spot the children. The blonde-haired man approached the children calmly. "Run along now, kids, the tree could be dangerous! We have no ideas what these fruits will do! We have to make sure the area's safe for everyone!", Dorian told the children, his tone firm, but friendly enough.

Bony Buddy eyed the kids calmly. If he had to scare them off, he was prepared to do so. Dorian hoped it didn't come to that, however.

---

tags: Zev Harcourt
notes: tl;dr

The fact that Dorian couldn't participate in the battle last year, due to the aftereffects of his battle with John Sullivan greatly bummed him out. What he heard of the story was strange, to say the least. One moment, the two dogs were clashing with Chien Pao and Ting Lu, the next moment, both sides had seemingly blacked out, only to end up with strange mementos, as well as the seeds that blossomed into Dyna Trees.

The Mad Dog walked up to the tree, in order to inspect it. Before he could take the time to admire their prize, the Mad Dog spotted a familiar face.

"Good to see you, sir!", the Mad Dog respectfully greeted the Beast and assassin.

By his side was his Houndoom, Bony Buddy.

---

tags: Zev Harcourt
notes: tl;dr

"Sounds like a plan to me!", Dorian told her, before parting off to the other side of the island.

The Dorian flew around to the other side of the island. He'd find the grisly remains of a Rocket Grunt. Unlike the one Xenon found, this one had long since been eaten. Though rather than looking like the aftermath of a Pokemon attack, this one looked like they had been deliberately butchered, the broken bones having had their marrow sucked out of them.

A Breloom charged at Dorian and the Charizard. Accompanying the Breloom was a Megalopolan wielding a shock baton. While the Charizard cut down the x with an Air Slash, decapitating the creature, Dorian dodged the jab of the shock baton, before pinning the baton-wielding arm. He'd then slam the Megalopolan's head into a rock repeatedly, until he fell limp.

Dorian looked over to the freshly killed Megalopolan, taking note of their blue blood, and strange features. He'd then examine the decapitated Breloom, noticing the markings where a Nihilego no doubt infected it with Neurotoxins.

No doubt, the Grunts had been victims of rogue Megalopolans.

---

tags: Xenon Antheil
notes: tl;dr

Their trip to the Lesser Megalopolis could not have come at worse timing.

'Night' had fallen onto the City of Darkness. Feral Megalopolans wandered the street, looking out for anyone to attack. It seemed that even the slightest provocation could trigger them into a frenzy.

As much as Dorian wanted to just wipe them all out, there were far too many for him and Ryker to take. No, they'd have to be smart about this, if they wanted to survive.

"Yo, Ryker.", Dorian called out to his friend. "Why don't we try our luck with the underground tunnels? I'm hoping we can bypass the horde this way.", he'd suggest to the assassin, his voice but a whisper.

---

tags: ryker hayes
notes: Beginning of Prompt 18

"Cover your ears, my boy. Cup your palms over them tightly.", he warned Demitrius.

Upon seeing his father do just that, the toddler imitated his father. This spared the two of them the worst effects of the loud vibrations that ripped through the area.

Dorian looked up to see the woman, sitting atop the Beedrill's wing. For a moment, he was astonished at the audacious display before him. Then it occurred to him.

Was this woman wearing a Sygna Suit?

He had heard reports of the benefits of those who wielded a Sygna Suit. Not only from the bonds they formed with their Pokemon. But being able to survive what mortals usually couldn't. Pulling off feats thought impossible.

He was impressed.

---

tags: Shalin Nariya
notes: tl;dr

"Admin Cross recruited you? Interesting, I've known him since he was a teenager in the organization.", Dorian remarked with a chuckle. "I knew his father as well. Now there was a man dedicated to the cause.", Dorian remarked.

If he knew he was involved with what happened to Chu-e Choi, he'd disown him.

"Eighteen, eh? I was kicked out of my orphanage at eleven. One too many pranks on the caretakers.", Dorian remarked with a chuckle. Soon after that, he was catapulted into a life of violence and crime.

Not that he had any regrets.

---

tags: bryan delarosa
notes: tl;dr

Truth be told, Dorian didn't even mind being put on Grunt work. It certainly beat being cooped up in his office all day. He had people at his club able to fill in his usual administrative duties of paperwork. Being able to get back into the outside world, and flex his muscles again was a treat.

Not that he was going to let that be known.

"I've been taking it day by day, sir.", he told Jayden. "I did break the rules, now I'm going to see my penalty through to the end."

If Jayden were to look to the punching bag Dorian had been wailing on, he'd see just how aggressively Dorian was going at it. Clearly, something was bothering the Mad Dog. What data the Porygon could gather from the Rotom supported this.

---

tags: jayden cross
notes: Bond Bridge - May
Rotom & Porygon

Dorian listened closely to the woman's story. The fact that she brought up her brother was a Kanto Rocket was a point of interest to him. Depending on how long ago her first attempt to get in was, he most likely knew her brother. Either way, a Galarian in the Kanto Branch did help narrow it down somewhat.

"Shame that you two were saddled with rotten parents.", Dorian told her empathetically. Though he never knew his parents, nor their situation, stories like hers didn't exactly make him feel he was missing out. While being an Orrean orphan was certainly not easy, at least he could say that the people running the orphanage were fair. That any punishment he took were genuinely his fault.

"So he tried to keep you clean of the underworld's stench, then? I can't say I really blame him.", he'd remark. "Not to insult you, or question your abilities. Just in the eyes of an older brother who cares about his little sister.", he'd quickly add.

There wasn't a day he didn't regret Eris Halla joining Team Rocket at such a young age.

"I see. I'm just glad you lived long enough to be one of us.", he'd tell her.

"Now, if you don't mind me circling back, you mentioned your brother was with Kanto Branch. If you don't mind me asking, would I happen to know him? In my five years in Kanto, I met all kinds of people. Mostly from Kanto itself, so a Galarian would stand out."

---

tags: Lulu Flint
notes: tl;dr

As his partner was playing the role of the 'good cop', Dorian leered at his victim with a bloodthirsty grin. One could easily see how he was enjoying the horror he was inflicting upon the unfortunate man.

Just as Dorian was readying himself to sever a second finger, the woman who knocked herself began to sing.

As the woman spoke, Dorian couldn't believe it. Were these traitors that desperate to get out alive, that they'd cooperate? Didn't they know how Rocket handled deserters like them? Did the head trauma from smacking into the frozen window scramble her brains that badly?

"Good. Now, we're gonna have to take you three back to a hideout, to get your memories scrubbed. Can't have you having second thoughts, after all.", Dorian told them. Another lie, but one that sounded sincere enough.

He'd give Maki the nod to start leading the three to the van. The Incineroar was ready to act as additional muscle for her, preventing the trio from acting out during the walk to the van.

Incidentally, Dorian didn't release his torture victim. No, he had something special in mind for him.

---

tags: MAKI YUKIMURA
notes: tl;dr