As a few guards made their way to the front of the doors the sound of whistling greeted them from all around them. As they looked around they started to rub their eyes and begin to yawn as the whistling was a real soothing tune. Enough to lull someone to sleep, or keep them drowsy enough to not see a pair of figures jump from the roof and land on two of the guards before tackling the others to the ground and knocking them out with a few punches to the face.

Another handful of guards came out only to be met with a spray of magical leaves that cut into their legs and pinned a few against the doors of the laundromat. The few that were still standing were suddenly tackled down to the ground by a large mass that barrelled through the doors. Once inside the grunts were present in front of a costumed person that didn't waste any time throwing their fists to the closet grunt that looked in their direction.

Behind them trailed a Roserade who managed to provide back up by assaulting the other grunts who tried to get close to their trainer with the help of a few kicks and punches of its own. "Nice work Captain! Looks like this place is gonna get some great business cleaning the blood from these guy's uniforms!"

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Zev gave swift, clear orders to the grunts that remained on the second floor with him: turn off the machines, gather what counterfeit Pokedollars they had finished, and escape using the back entrance. He did not need them to remain and fight with him.[break][break]

Slipping on a common face mask that concealed only the lower half of his visage, Zev started for the stairwell. The sound of bodies colliding and crumling to the floor filled the air as he descended. Then came a voice—one he didn't recognize.[break][break]

It cracked a joke.[break][break]

"Who are you?" Zev demanded when he saw the costumed figure.[break][break]

As far as vigilantes went, this person looked most ridiculous. The green of his spandex suit matched the natural coloration of his Roserade.

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Both hero and Pokemon stood back to back as they surveyed their work. A few grunts were still on their feet but their faces gave off a hint of hesitation as a few of them shared glances between Pokkenger and their buddies on the floor. The masked hero never took his veiled eyes off of the ones still standing.

All it took to break his focus however was the sound of someone new approaching from the stairs and asking who he was. From under the helmet Kaz just grinned, "Just a friendly garbage man taking out some trash is all. And this here is my assistant." The Roserade smirked as it let some leaves fall out of its hands before they started to swirl around the pair of them and suddenly point right at the masked Zev and his other goons as if they were ready to fly off like darts.

"So let's get ya'll nice and packed up in the dumpsters so the cops can take ya away yeah?" The magical leaves inch a little bit closer as he makes his demand, "Cause I'd like to try and avoid making more dirty laundry here."

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Zev blinked. Was this guy serious? Between the costume and manner of speech, this vigilante was straight out of a children's cartoon.[break][break]

But the injuries he'd caused to the grunts were serious, judging from the way a few did not rise to their feet. The ones who did were hesitant to dive back into the fray. And either way, it would not benefit Team Rocket if this stranger discovered the printers upstairs.[break][break]

"Go," Zev said to the grunts. "I'll handle this one."[break][break]

As they dashed back up the stairs, shadows surged from the corners of the laundromat. They coalesced in front of Zev, taking the form of his Marshadow. Without waiting for a command from its master, it launched itself at the Roserade, its little fist reared back for an ICE PUNCH.[break][break]

At the same time, Zev charged at the masked vigilante, drawing a knife from his belt in one smooth motion. There was no need for his crystals yet, he thought. As far as he knew, the trespasser was just some idiot inspired by comics and television.

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The sudden appearance of the Marshadow gave the masked hero pause as his stare was so focused on it that he almost didn't see the guy suddenly make a move with his shadow partner following his lead. Seeing another one of those own by someone like this guy left a bad taste in Kaz's mouth.

As the little shadow charged with its icy fist the Roserade took the brunt of the attack by crossing its arms to absorb the impact as much as it could. While the cold touch of it was sending shivers all over the heroic plant's body it just gave a smirk underneath the pain. Letting one of its arms drop its guard before swinging it upward the grass type let out a yell as the magical leaves it had out suddenly sprung to life and gathered into a cluster right above the Marshadow before raining down on the little shadow's head.

Kazimir, or rather Pokkenger, could see the man's arm come right at him and he was quick enough to grab the guy's wrist as it was just about to hit his body, or rather the knife that he was holding. Guess that meant that he was a bit more serious than the grunts they took down. That thought alone almost brought a hint of excitement to Kaz but focus kept him in check.

He twisted the man's wrist while it was in his grip to try and get him to let go of the knife while also bring his leg up to try and kick him right in the ribs from the side just as swiftly. With the way this guy was quick to go for his weapon meant that he probably wasn't the run of the mill good, Pokkenger would need to be careful here.

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The rain of MAGICAL LEAVES forced Marshadow back from the Roserade. It retaliated at once with SHADOW PUNCH, summoning a fist from the shadows in an attempt to strike the Grass-type.[break][break]

The vigilante was faster than expected. He stopped the knife thrust just in time, twisting Zev's wrist while bringing up his leg for a high kick.[break][break]

The Beast made a split-second decision. He dropped his knife, took a half-step inside the vigilante's reach, and tried to grab the man's leg as it struck his ribs. If successful, he would pinch the leg tight between his armpit and elbow in an attempt to unbalance the attacker.[break][break]

And then Zev would push forward, one leg kicking out low to try and sweep the vigilante off his feet.

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The Shadow Punch came from right under the Roserade and found its mark on the Grass-type's face. It stumbled back holding its nose, or whatever counted as a nose, and glared back at the Marshadow. Its eyes started to lightly glow as it raised its arm towards the little shadow and a burst of Extrasensory power exploded forth. Its anger fueled the psychic energy it sent out nearly rocking the machines surrounding it as it aimed for some payback.

Meanwhile Pokkenger found his leg stuck as his opponent had some good instinct and/or sense. With a simple push the costumed crusader could feel himself suddenly lean back and his whole body being pulled to the floor. With his leg being taken from underneath him there was nothing to hold him up and the hero fell onto his back with a loud thud and a small yelp escaping his masked lips.

He may have been thrown onto his back but he wasn't out quite yet, he knew that if he stayed like this it would be a death sentence. So he kicked. He kicked with his free foot wildly to try and push his attack off of him and shove him back to give himself some space.

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The Roserade's EXTRASENSORY smashed into Marshadow, sending it tumbling backwards across the floor. The ghost coughed and struggled to rise, but the psychic power had dealt it a vicious blow, enough to prevent it from striking back for the moment.[break][break]

At least the Roserade's trainer had also fallen. Zev held onto the vigilante's leg, planning to stomp down now that the man was on his back. But his opponent knew better than to lie still. His free foot kicked out, hitting Zev's stomach, knocking the wind out of the hitman and shoving him against a washing machine.[break][break]

Zev, who had not thought he needed his armor for the fight, clenched his teeth against the pain. He knew there'd be bruises there the next day. But he'd worry about that later; his attention remained fixed on the masked man, watching what he might do next.[break][break]

A gleam of metal caught his eye—his knife. Zev scrambled to snatch it off the floor.

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As distance was gained for both Pokkenger and his Roserade the grassy crusader Pokemon rushed to its trainer side to try and shield him from further harm. While it was appreciated Kaz's mind was elswhere and his eyes gave a hint to where it was as they kept themselves trained on this Rocket grunt who was getting back to his feet. The guy was stubborn and that was not a trait he liked seeing in a Rocket so it was probably a good idea to go on the offensive. "Time for-shit!"

The Rocket suddenly shot forward towards something gleaming on the floor and Kaz's body started to move with one intention in mind. Hit them really really hard. His hands clasped together as he lifted them above his head and spread his hands so that it looked like a flower spreading its petals and his body started to glow as an aura started to surround him and pour out from his body into his Roserade who raised its arms with a cry as it tried to mimic its trainer z-pose.

Suddenly through every nook and cranny around them all flowers began to seep through covering the entire room from top to bottom in a colorful flower bed. He hoped that the sudden growths would keep the knife out of the Rocket's hands for just a second longer before they experience the power of a blooming doom that was coming their way.

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As Zev snatched up the knife, a brilliant light filled the laundromat. Emanating from the masked vigilante, it reminded Zev of a Z-move. The stranger confirmed it as soon as his arms moved in the motion of a Z-pose.[break][break]

Without warning, flowers burst from the nooks and crannies all along the walls, floor, and ceiling.[break][break]

Zev made a split-second decision. Though he'd practiced absorbing lights plenty of times since he discovered the power, he'd never used it in combat. But perhaps he could use it to stop the Z-move from firing in such a cramped space.[break][break]

It was worth a shot.[break][break]

He concentrated, willing the aura surrounding the vigilante into him.

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For a second Kaz lost his footing.

Something was wrong. The energy that usually flowed through his body felt dull and it was reflected in the Z-move. The blooms ceased to grow and soon exploded into small bursts of petals that pop into small sparks that filled the room. As if someone had lit fireworks inside of the usual explosion of light he was used too.

As the fireworks went off his Roserade wasted no time in using this chance to catch their foe off guard even while his trainer was also caught in confusion. Aiming one of its bulbs at the Marshadow it launched a giga drain at it to sap some of its strength to try and replenish its own.

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Unlike previous experiments, when Zev had siphoned in light from both natural and manmade sources, the light of the vigilante's Z-move did not totally disappear. It dimmed, the power of attack dampened.[break][break]

And the light Zev did absorb was less than he expected—the mere flicker of a flame compared to a surge of cosmic heat.[break][break]

More curiously, the energy felt familiar. It swept through him like an OMINOUS WIND, brushing against something deep within him with a hint of power. Startled, Zev took a step backward.[break][break]

Marshadow swooped into the space between the men. The GIGA DRAIN that smacked its small body did not deter it; instead, it barreled toward its foe, drawing its fist back.[break][break]

As soon as it was close enough, it unleashed an ICE PUNCH on the Roserade.

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