“Could be.” Navy agrees, although, as always, it is but the preamble to what he has to say next. Hattori’s eye trails down to the smoke beneath Kyle’s feet. He tugs at Voyager and Navy, trying to pull them both back.[break][break]
“But I wouldn’t ask anyone to do somethin’ I wouldn’t do.” He’s guilty of many things, but inaction isn’t one of them. Not anymore. Not now that he’s seen the writing on the wall.[break][break]
“That’s why they need to fight! If people who can’t control space, time or any of that bullshit would, we wouldn’t need heroes. All I know’s this!”[break][break]
Hattori is hesitant to attack. He senses this is a battle of wills at the moment…at least until it’s not. The shinobi, at least, tries to be conscious of the rising smoke.[break][break]
“When I don’t have a weapon, I punch! If I lose my arms, I kick. If they cut off my legs, I bite. When they knock my teeth out, I’ll spit. Don’t go gently into the night. Not when everyone won’t shut up about the death of the universe or what the hell ever. There’ll always be a fight! Don’t matter whether you win or lose!”




[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break]
Go boom boom

Back down, Michael. His father’s ghost whispers.[break][break]
Just stay down. You ain’t got this in you. You ain’t shit.[break][break]
He’s playing with fire. That’s the pressure of an avatar he’s dealing with. Kyle is on the brink of getting serious. It’s the same pill those goons back in Sootopolis had to swallow. This a fight he’ll lose. Three on three, with his opponents being Ho-Oh’s own guardians? Three legends in their own right, who have spurred men like Josh into fanaticism and obsession? Terrible odds.[break][break]
He supposes, in the end, it’s all about ideals. Kyle has the truth of it there.[break][break]
“I don’t think Gabe understood what he was getting himself into. Just like nobody did when we all ended up in Galar.” A statement that seems disconnected at first. Navy takes a single step forward.[break][break]
“I hate that he died. I know people would miss me if I died. I guess I’m a hypocrite ‘cause the more I think about it…the more I think there are things worth dying over.” Another step.[break][break]
“I wish I knew what happened. If he died with a smile on his face, fighting for what he believed in, I think that’d be okay. But he looked so scared when we saw him on the slab.” And another.[break][break]
“I hate inaction. That’s what it boils down to.” Something shadows him. “Gimme a sec, alright.” Navy inclines his head toward Hattori.[break][break]
“You don’t wanna fight this fight, do you?” Hattori’s shivering. He shakes his head as if to disagree with his Lord’s words. “Tell the truth. That’s an order.”[break][break]
The shake turns to a nod.[break][break]
“Then get out of here, little guy. I’m just a reckless idiot. Same for you two, Raijin, Voy voy.” The three cock their heads. Slowly, surely, they back off. They cut and run. Just Navy and Kyle.[break][break]
“That’s my ideal. Luckily I’ve got two guys that’ll dance with me. Two on three…not good odds. But I’ll chance ‘em.”[break][break]
Shuwen and Vortigern, his two strongest Pokemon, come out of their balls. Oil and water, those two, yet today neither seems to mind the other’s company.[break][break]
“Let’s dance, Lopez.”

[break][break]

+ kyle lopez

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Arceus, I’m starting to sound like one of you guys.” He says with a tired sigh, breaking character for just a moment. “But it’s just like old times, too, in its own way. We both caught crazier Pokemon.”[break][break]
Shuwen’s eyes move between the three guardians. He holds Kyle in high esteem. Despite the man’s low opinion of himself, Ho-oh has seen fit to bless him with his entourage. This is a match he must take seriously. Finally, finally, he can face another legend.[break][break]
Entei disappears. Shuwen thrusts his fist out. Were he any other fighter, were this any other foe, it would be a pointless maneuver. This is not any other foe. His fist slams into the charging Entai with enough force to make his shoulder ache. He is forced to bear the brunt of Entei’s attack as well as recoil. Such is the price demanded of those who would face a god in close combat.[break][break]
Vortigern paces, seeing the Blizzard coming. Shuwen and he are both caught in the freezing waves. He roars in pain, but pain is no stranger to a dragon. Cold as his blood is, it will take more than that to kill him. He wishes to taste the blood of a legend. He wonders how the flesh of a legend would feel against his teeth.[break][break]
He bounds towards Suicune and Raikou, not bothering to restrain his strength. His steps make the earth rumble. Though he may be called a dragon, he is also a beast of the ground. The earth trembles at his command. It rumbles. It quakes. The high ceiling above weeps stones upon them while the ground proves unstable.[break][break]
Were these foes anyone else, they would surely collapse. He moves with unrestrained glee.[break][break]

[break][break]

+ kyle lopez[break]
Shuwen uses close combat, is hit by extremespeed, and suffers recoil damage.[break]
Vortigern says fuck it we ball and charges Suicune/Raikou, using earthquake as he goes.[break]
Both Shuwen and Vortigern are hit by Blizzard.

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Shuwen’s eyes move between the three guardians. He holds Kyle in high esteem. Despite the man’s low opinion of himself, Ho-oh has seen fit to bless him with his entourage. This is a match he must take seriously. Finally, finally, he can face another legend.[break][break]
Entei disappears. Shuwen thrusts his fist out. Were he any other fighter, were this any other foe, it would be a pointless maneuver. This is not any other foe. His fist slams into the charging Entai with enough force to make his shoulder ache. He is forced to bear the brunt of Entei’s attack as well as recoil. Such is the price demanded of those who would face a god in close combat.[break][break]
Vortigern paces, seeing the Blizzard coming. Shuwen and he are both caught in the freezing waves. He roars in pain, but pain is no stranger to a dragon. Cold as his blood is, it will take more than that to kill him. He wishes to taste the blood of a legend. He wonders how the flesh of a legend would feel against his teeth.[break][break]
He bounds towards Suicune and Raikou, not bothering to restrain his strength. His steps make the earth rumble. Though he may be called a dragon, he is also a beast of the ground. The earth trembles at his command. It rumbles. It quakes. The high ceiling above weeps stones upon them while the ground proves unstable.[break][break]
Were these foes anyone else, they would surely collapse. He moves with unrestrained glee.[break][break]

[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break]
Shuwen uses his Z-move, Combo Strike.[break]
Hits all 3 with Close Combat[break]
Recoil x3 too, oof.[break]
Vortigern eats his way underground. Ima rebuy dig but I'm too lazy atm tbh[break]
Somethin's bubblin in the shadows.[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Navy catches his jaw growing slack at the battle. Kyle’s guardians were dubbed legends in ancient times for a reason. In the midst of this pulse-pounding battle, his mind goes to howard slayte and a talk they had in granite cave. They spoke of days long ago and how nothing ever really changes. Once more, he agrees with the man’s words. They’re living in an age of legends. To see such a legend, you need look no further than Kyle himself.[break][break]
“Damn, you’re good.” Navy isn’t too proud to say it. Vortigern rumbles beneath the granite floor. “Really good.”[break][break]
Help for Shuwen arrives too late. Since the bear first emerged from interdream mist to help fight off a horde of paradox pokemon, Navy has thought the bear was part of him. They understand one another. Shuwen burned his candle down to the wick. Were it a one on one battle, he’d have won. Sadly, that’s not the game they’re playing.[break][break]
Lightning strikes him. Raikou hits his mark. The bear is cooked, crumpling to the floor beside his honored foe.[break][break]
Only then does help arrive.[break][break]
Vortigern and Hattori emerge. Vortigern comes from the ground, his outrage making him see nothing but red. Suicune has battered him before he could even get close. Hattori emerges from Raikou’s own shadow, his shadow sneak giving him one opportunity to make a blow count.[break][break]
“Thought I told you to escape, Hattori.” His shinobi offers no reply.[break][break]
“Guess I picked the right greninja, huh Lopez?”


[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break]
Shuwen is out like a light.[break]
Hattori jumps back in with a steel chair shadow sneak[break]
Vortigern jumps up and tries to chomp on Suicune with outrage[break]
We're close!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Hey, why’re you congratulating me for—” Looking up, Navy sees a crack. His eyes go wide. Though he may be a warrior, though his eyes may be opened, though he may see the writing on the wall, he’s still that same Slateport kid at heart. So, when tons upon tons of granite collapse on him, there’s only one thing to be said.[break][break]
“Ho-ly-FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-” His scream is drowned out by the rush of a granite waterfall down onto their heads. The rumble can be heard for miles around. It’s a miracle that the girl manning the reception desk upstairs isn’t caught in the slide.[break][break]
Equally, it’s another miracle that they all seem to be bunched together. Navy, Kyle, Vortigern, and the rest of the gang are all scrunched together under the granite. There’s a nice little alcove of safety. They all ended up by Navy’s hall of fame. There, inscribed upon the smooth wall, are the words of previous victors.[break][break]
“Well, congrats, Kyle.” Navy says under the debris. “Ya won. While Vortigern chews us a way to freedom, carve an inspiring message for the next guy.”



[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break]
Ya did it!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]