Decompression

Hideo Kino & Eris Halla

They all settle into what he hopes is a more comfortable silence for them than it is for him.

And then his cellphone begins pinging like mad.

'Fuck's sake.'

He knows better than to ignore it. His pokenav is for personal use. His cellphone? That shit is league business. As he pulls out the cracked mobile, he manages to sort through the touchscreen until he finds that a new channel had been opened by the commissioner.

angelo vestri and skyler dross were AQUA now. Unexpected, but hey, good news were nice.

They had lost, which he already knew. Thanks for the reminder, dahlia goode.

A councilwoman, a head ranger, a PR specialist and... Eris were missing.

...

"Hey Eris, since when are you dangerous?" Doug asked while squinting at his phone, looking like he was considering 'losing' it in a nearby pond.

Tapu Playdate

Mission: Vs Tapu Koko, ft. Eris Halla

"Since Selena Desmarais left hoenn." He said.

Some avatars believed they had some unbreakable bond with their patrons, and they were wrong. The gods were in Hoenn for their own reasons, and those who abandoned the region or went against their patron's goals would find themselves alone.

Speaking of fickle gods.

"Nope. Pushing and pulling sounds 'bout right." He said with a shrug, glancing over to Lele whilst she danced with Mesprit. "Even when she's willing to share what she wants, she won't utter a word."

Which he wasn't entirely convinced was not purely just to frustrate him.

To which Tapu Lele only snickered and giggled from her spot besides Mesprit, joining in on her game of Mean Girls.

Doug squinted at them besides Reiner.

Tapu Koko continued to bounce in place, merely tilting his head as the little girl's attention was directed at her. Much like his sibling, and Mesprit, no words were involved in the interaction.

Instead, he suddenly lurched low, his face level with Eris even as his body continued to bob rhythmically.

His eyes stared into the girl's briefly, before it slowly rose in the air.

"Eh? What's he doin'?" Doug wondered as the legendary's totem suddenly clamped shut— before it launched into a flurry of passionate movement through the air, prompting Tapu Lele to suddenly whoop.

Oh.

Tapu Koko was throwing it down on the dance floor.

Your ass is grass.

Put
@bugcatcherdoug
FOR...

Acquaintances.

Yeah, even after all that 'F*CK YOU', killing of Drowzee (RIP sweet princess) and Doug's attempt at murdering Kouji for a short bit there, Doug's a little too pacifist run to go full enemy on Kouhi (yet?). Kinda looking forward to seeing how this develops, specially after GG, where I expect Doug to become even MORE of a peaceful bean.

STUDY

Field studies with Eva Morales

"The bugs are getting restless." He muttered as he dragged a gloved digit over thin webbing, eyes following the wet thread stretching from one dying, rotten tree to the next.

The ruination had stopped spreading across the undergrowth, and the pokemon that remained had all but cordoned the area; an almost universal agreement to never approach whatever was inside.

Reports of a toxic substance in the forest, one neither known to the locals, nor of ruinous origin, had brought them here. There had been 'unrelated' sightings and reports of 'flying tentacools' recently, too.

He rubbed his digits. It was not the familiar, acrid smell of an Ariados' toxic thread that touched his nostrils.

He wrinkled his nose, observing similar splatters of venom leading beyond the webbing, deeper into the ruination. Stepping back, he reconsidered his first thoughts.

Perhaps they were trying to contain whatever was inside instead.

"Recognize these venoms, Eva?" He asked, turning towards the doctor, his hands lowered to the pokeball carrier hanging off his hip, fiddling with the rotator with obvious nervous energy.

Taking with Eva Morales

Overcome

Nice to meet'cha, francie myrtle!

A loud scream interrupted this wonderful bonding moment.

A young man soared through the air like a rag doll, right over the wooden fence and straight into thermal baths with resounding splash.

A large mass of hot water rose high in the air, threatening the sanctity of Fionna's dry rocks.

A moment later, a gasping youth broke the hot water's surface with a yelp, skin slightly red.

"Aaaaargh, hot, hot, HOT! that's HOOOT!" He shouted while rubbing his face, reeling back and nearly falling back in before snapping forward like a rubberband, his fist raised angrily at the fence he had just cleared.

Which looking now... had a smug looking Tyranitar looking over.

"Son of a— I mean, daughter of a gun! What the HELL!"

As the youth shouted and the Tyranitar... growled, huffed, spat and did everything short of actually talk, it became clear others were also struggling with the exercise.

"Ya think I can't suplex yer 2 ton ass into the water if I have to?! WRON— ..." Both the youth, who upon closer inspection may or may not be identified as former gym leader/current AQUA member John Sullivan, and his tyranitar, briefly fell silent as their eyes fell on the instructor, faces blanking.

"... Hiiiiii, Ms. Myrtle. Don't, uh... don't mind us." The youth began. "Just. Going through a few hiccups, s'all... Yeah..."


...

"Wassup?"

BALLOONLEA

Rusted Shield

There was no time to lament the fact that his suggestion had seemingly gone ignored. From too cold to too hot, what awaited them beyond the portal was, well...

The whiplash was outstanding.

The cold, somber air of the tundra had been exchanged for the burning desperation of people fighting for their lives, in the world's most macabre renaissance-faire.

Before their very eyes, a man was seized and consumed by sentient sludge. A life snuffed out in an instant.

Dangerous.

Worrying about Rocket would have to wait.

"Let's go!" He boomed to Hideo Kino and luka chêne, before his eyes found the unmasked people in their group— absalom steel and Lucas Holden.

He briefly considered recruiting their help on the spot— but he had no idea of what their pokemon were. Best to just let them help as they saw fit for now.

Primary Action

DIVERT SLUDGE FROM CITY

His Orbeetle launched the young man into the air, throwing him in a controlled arch towards the rooftops of the tudor-style housing, the youth landing on a crouch.

"Omega! Psychic Terrain!" He lied as he breathed, his Orbeetle rising above him in tandem with the act, eyes aglow as psychic terrain suddenly emerged and spread out, enhancing everyone's psychic powers. "Mega evolve!"

His dog-tags came alive with infinity energy, their glow breaking through the darkness that surrounded the town as his Orbeetle was enveloped in a dark egg, growing bigger and bigger until it shattered.

The Ufo soared over the struggling peasants, shimmering lights glittering underneath its hull as psychic power overflowed from within it.

Holding forth its arms, the overflowing power gathered visibly before it, the force briefly expanding to massive size before slowly shrinking down to fit between its two palms—

Expanding Force!

The psychic power was released spilling forth like water out of a broken dam and ramming not into the sludge but the soil underneath, carving large fissures upon the soil as rock both gave in and upheaved, lifting natural barriers as well as creating river avenues to divert the flow of the poison away from the town.

Secondary Action

Maintain Morale(?)

From his elevated position, Doug had a slightly better eye on everything going on— which let him find the spots in the peasantry's defenses that were beginning to wane in strength.

"Don't falter!" He called out at the top of his lungs, summoning healing scales and letting them fly. The attached themselves to worn out peasantry, healing away the damage they might've accumulated in their daily struggles and the battle against the sludge.

Leaping down from his perch, he rushed towards one of the walls and slammed his shoulder against it, pushing alongside the rest of the peasants while shouting at the top of his lungs.

"It's almost over! Just give a lil' more! RAAAAAH!"

---

XbJ9A2wp

TL;DR:[
-Arrives to Balloonlea.
-holy shitstorms batman.
-Let's fucking go.
-gets launched into a rooftop by his Orbeetle.
-Summons Psychic terrain under the disguise of it being his orbeetle's move. Standard procedure.
-Mega evolves Orbeetle.
-uses actual move, Expanding Force to DIVERT WAVES OF POISON SLUDGE AWAY FROM CITY
-Uses healing and good ol' young buck muscle to HELP THE PEASANTRY/Maintain morale?
-Pls roll okay
-i f-kin knew it :suffering: Salac.

Everyone's doing it

ft. Shalin Nariya

Taped to a Notice board posted in front of noah faber's gym, a particular poster was found amongst many.

Historical Galarian Martial Arts
Instructor: Sootopolis Police Deputy Gwyar Wledig
Saturdays
Verdanturf Town Community Center
6:00p.m.-10:00p.m.
Equipment will be supplied.
Availability: April-June 2023

---

"Dang, really? No, it's no problem, I was just... Don't mind me. I'll just come next saturday." He said, pushing away from the counter with a sigh.

His luck never failed to disappoint. The one time he could make, well, time to attend to the sword class and the instructor couldn't make it.

"Man..." He sighed, scratching at his cheek as he turned his gaze down at the sword in his hand. It wasn't really a galarian type, but it was close enough... right? The kantonian doubled Jian was a beaut to behold, even a wooden one like the one in his hand.

"... Maybe next time." He finally told himself, shaking his head before making for the way out of the community center.

Rusted Shield

Goodbye Galar

He should've been used to death by now, but the way Calyrex went out was just obscene.

It was a massacre.

Their attempts at protecting it were completely useless, and his attempts at healing did not work any better. Even kyle lopez's own efforts bore little fruit, against all odds.

He couldn't even blame this entirely on rocket. Several of their own numbers had bore down viciously upon Calyrex.

Vengeful or merciful. The reasons didn't matter— he felt sick to his stomach. Even as most began to disperse, the mission the king had lain at their feet fresh on everyone's minds, he stood by, silent and despondent. Slowly, he approached.

Near the corpse was his Porygon-Z. His phone was cracked, and the pokemon inside unresponsive. But not dead, at least. As he picked it up his hand glowed like neon, healing scales pooling between the cracks... until the screen flashed to light, a familiar face popping over it.

"You did your best, Zeke. Good job." He said, slowly pocketing the phone back. Without another word, he released his Orbeetle instead, the radar beetle keeping an eye out for him as he focused entirely on what was before him.

Staring at the corpse was difficult. It always was, even when they weren't as brutalized and horribly disfigured by damage as Calyrex's was.

Bless luka chêne's heart for being so kind.

"Wait." He says to her without delay, his feet raising to slowly approach the eviscerated corpse, before sinking to his knees besides it. "First, just... just let me..."

He fought back every urge to shy away or wretch, gazing into the works of League and Rocket alike with an unblinking gaze. This was their fault— arguably the league's even more than Rocket.

"I'm sorry." He muttered as he raised his hands, staring at them for a moment before taking off his gloves and holding them towards the body. Pressing them against the gore, a neon glow came alive in his palms.

His healing scales flowed into the body. Even if he couldn't raise the dead... Surely he could at least try to make it pristine, his palms gently fleeting over the damage in a careful massage.

Every scratch and hole and burn made him shiver and wish to wrench away. But he refused to so much as blink... until the work was done.

"That's... that's all I can do." Doug said to Luka, rising to his feet with hands covered in blood. "... For now."

His gaze rose to the skies, to Eva Morales. He needed more of her and illeana reyes's help. There had to be more he could do. Something he was missing.

Seeing Luka struggle with the statue, he shoved his hands back into their gloves before helping the woman with the weight, struggling alongside her until the Musharna's brought life to the icy snowscape.

"... Yer very kind, Ms. Chene." Doug muttered to Luka as he stared at her handywork. He gathered his hands briefly, just as cait alfric had taught him. He didn't believe in prayer, but sometimes it made him feel better about things.

"I'm not much of a hero, but... I'll shine brightly so ya can rest in peace." He promised before the tomb.

After a long moment, the youth finally pried himself away from his prayer, walking away a respectful distance before directing his gaze to his Orbeetle.

"... Omega. Report."

A brief summary of some of the things that had transpired occurred. The maneuver from kyle lopez in particular was noted. Smart and quick as ever, the champion— Matias was a big target.

"Did you track 'im well?"

Of course. Only one of the 3 signatures carried Matias Silph, after all.

"Brilliant as ever." He muttered, before raising a hand to his ear.

League Comms

Sullivan here.

There's four locations. We're outnumbered, 22 to 31.

I would like to suggest we spread ourselves out evenly between 2, maximum 3 cities, just to prevent ourselves from being vastly outnumbered.

kyle lopez and MATIAS SILPH have gone to Hammerlocke. I'm going to Balloonlea. If anyone else wants to follow my suggestion, These two locations would be ideal.

...

Do your best, but don't die. We're all making it back home.

Lt. Collonel Sullivan, Over and out.

His message delivered, the youth turned towards the portal leading to Balloonlea, where Omega had informed him Hideo Kino had gone to... with an unknown rocket (mint frost) in tow.

His lip curled down as he raised his hand, tugging firmly onto his gloves as blood dripped down his forearm.

"No one else is dying on my watch." He swore under his breath, steeling himself before marching into Balloonlea.

tDzw4f14

TL;DR:
-Recovers and heals his Porygon-Z. Summons his Orbeetle.
-horrified at the level of violence with which Calyrex is murdered.
-Mourns.
-Decides to help luka chêne.
-Heals the body of Calyrex so it can be interred hopefully immaculate.
-prays besides Luka at the King's tomb.
-Listens to Orbeetle's report on what's going on, specifically, kyle lopez, MATIAS SILPH and Hideo Kino's choices.
-Informs of his opinion to to all the leaguers over the comms, as well as Kyle and Matias' location.
-Informs his own location: Balloonlea.
-Let's fucking go lads.

roots of the jubokko tree

This is one weird ass hangar, angelo vestri

The squeaking sound gets immediate feedback, the youth's gaze snapping in its general direction.

"Don't be a ghost." He said bluntly. Oh, it was angelo vestri. "Oh thank gods, it's just you."

He tipped a brow at the older man. What a silly question.

"... This is one weird ass hangar, dude." He said wryly as he smirked up at the man, raising a hand in salute. "I don't think even you could land somethin' here."

He stepped around the dismantled door, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Petalburg woods is the home to many buggies, ya know?" He said, taking a single step onto the stairs. "This shit show is scaring them off. Gotta figure out what's going on'ere. Plus..."

He stared at one of the pictures left behind. He wondered if it had meant anything to Elisabeth Fiorelli.

"One of our club members' gone missing."

BLOOM

Meeting with Rowan Wrynn.

He gave a sad smirk, shoulders sagging.

"They were." He said. "Fixed them up for her."

He scratched at his head roughly, some of his hair falling over his eyes as Rowan spoke. He wasn't wrong.

There really was little to gain from worrying about an enemy.

But.

"No. I don't think yer wrong for worrying." He muttered.

He didn't know Elisabeth Fiorelli deeply. He probably barely knew anything at all. But...

He looked around the garden of blooms.

She had taught him how to do all this. There was no reason to do so, but she had. She had happily joined his silly bug catchers joke club. She had loved her pokemon and her pokemon had loved her— it seemed so to him.

"Who's to say she'll always be our enemy?" He said, grinning at Rowan before clapping his shoulder. "Ya know best 'bout that."

Hearts could change, and one's side wasn't set in stone.

Just another one of many reasons to not kill.

Decompression

Hideo Kino & Eris Halla

"No she can't." Doug followed bluntly, fixing Mesprit with a look. "I'll get you one too. Don't bully Eris."

She got enough of that from the rest of the universe.

Jimbo was only too happy to give another ice cream (more money for JIMBO), and with that, everyone had their own little snowball. Even Reiner and Doug's shedinja.

It was only once they were all sat on a bench that he resumed talking.

"... I'm not gonna ask ya kids to not get stronger; ya should always be strivin' to get better." He said, leaning back. "I'm askin' ya to remember ya have friends that care for ya. 'cause half the time, it feels like ya would rather jump head first alone, just on the off chance I happen to get mad."

He sighed.

"So if not me— call anyone else you both trust. Please."

Tapu Playdate

Mission: Vs Tapu Koko, ft. Eris Halla

Doug and Tapu Koko both stared at Eris.

"Uh... I don't think they talk though." Doug explained to Eris, before pausing. "... Not to anyone but their avatars anyway."

He could've sworn he could understand Lele. Sometimes. Precious, few times.

His fist suddenly dropped onto his open palm!

"Oh! How's 'bout ya make 'im yay or nay questions?" He suggested, grinning. "Should've be easy enough, yeah?"

For his part, Tapu Koko's gaze suddenly snapped towards Mesprit, fixing her with a stare. As with any deity, his emotions were not as simple as to read as a human's. Or perhaps they were simpler yet?

It was hard to tell if he appreciated the prod or not.

His sister certainly did, joining hands with the pixie to spin in the air, their combined neon pink particles falling to the beach sand.