”Man, it’s hot!”
[break][break]
When Vic had first moved to Hoenn in order to work as a ranger, he had never expected that one day he would be stepping into an active volcano in order to go tell a primal and ancient being to “chill out or you’re gonna destroy the region”. But, alas, here he was: stepping into an active volcano because Groudon really needed to chill the heck out or the whole of Hoenn was going to turn into a not-so-fun game of the floor is lava.
[break][break]
He looked around, and he thought he saw a few familiar faces among those who had shown up at Mt. Chimney to help, but even the ever friendly and cheerful Vic knew that this wasn’t the time or the place to be acting all happy to see his friends. He could read the room! Or, rather… read the mountain?! Damn, that sounded way more impressive!
[break][break]
Okay, okay, focus...
[break][break]
He took a deep breath, and reaching for a pokéball, he summoned his Dragonite and climbed onto his back. Since, honestly, as much as he cherished his partner pokémon, he needed someone a bit more alert than the Dragapult to navigate through all this smoke and soot...
[break][break]
”Be careful, okay? There’s a lot of smoke up there!” He said, making sure to be properly wearing his protective gear so he also wouldn’t breath in ash.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ TL;DR: Vic says this is SeriousBusiness™ and he flies up on his Dragonite

[break][break]

qOzibdSy

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

”He likes you.”
[break][break]
At this, Vic couldn’t help but smile. Most people probably wouldn’t have cared if the pokémon of a stranger they had just met liked them or not, especially when that pokémon was one as disliked as ghosts were, but Vic… Well, it made him happy to hear that. ”Yeah? That’s good! I like you too,” he told the Duskull in response, never one to be ashamed of saying things like those.
[break][break]
His new-friend-whose-name-he-still-didn’t-know wasted no time though, and the pinkette followed along, wondering how in the world it was that he didn’t seem to be at all affected by the darkness that surrounded them both. In contrast, Vic still held his phone in his hand, flashlight on – a small comfort to protect him from the endless shadows.
[break][break]
Where were they going?
[break][break]
He would have asked, but he had a feeling that in reply, he would have only received a short answer that didn’t really explain things at all. So, instead, he turned his attention to the Duskull, a quiet and gentle laugh leaving him when seeing the antics of the little ghost… He really was cute… ”What’s his name?” The question came, naturally asking this before asking for the boy’s own.
[break][break]
They made it to a security room, and it was then when he was distracted by the flashing of the screens. And, sure, Vic wasn’t the most tech-oriented guy out there, but even he could tell that something was amiss with all this...
[break][break]
”Huh… Some were flashing like that down at the café too, right?… Weird...”



[break][break]

+ jayden cross

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It wasn’t a Zigzagoon.
[break][break]
Vic had noticed the vans just like the Luxio had, and he had been keeping an eye on them as well. Of course, there was always the possibility that those vans had nothing to do with them, that all this was just a weird coincidence, and that they were also just there on their way to Slateport (especially since this was the main road we’re talking about here). But… even an optimist like Vic knew that all that sounded too good to be true.
[break][break]
A third vehicule appeared behind them, tapping the back of the pick-up truck, and Vic had to hold on in order not to fall. The Slowpoke stirred, confusion although not all that distressed just yet, the pink-haired man turning his attention to the growling Luxio by his side. ”...Fuck,” he whispered under his breath, carefully standing – a hand on the edge of the roof for support and the other knocking on the back window in order to alert both Siobham and his friend. The vans were getting closer and closer, they were being trapped.
[break][break]
He looked at the car, meeting the gaze of the person at the wheel, and he reached for his belt in order to retrieve one of the pokéballs that never left his side…
[break][break]
It was then when a question was raised in his mind: How do you stop three moving cars without hurting anyone?
[break][break]
The answer came in the form of a Dragapult that was summoned out of its pokéball with a flash, Vic turning to it as it flew by the side of the truck. ”Taffy! Dragon Darts, but aim just to pop the car’s tires!”
[break][break]
Thankfully, the Dragapult was great at following commands, and his aim also wasn’t half bad.
[break][break]
In a split second, a pair of intrepid Dreepy shot out of its horns, aimed directly for the front wheels of the vehicle. One of them missed, but the other hit its target with a loud POP! The car swerved, but eventually came to a stop without much damage.
[break][break]
One down, two to go. Or, well, so Vic hoped...

[break][break]

+ siobhan burke & mint frost
[break]no Dreepy were harmed in the making of this post

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The Arcanine flopped down on the sand. Exhausted, defeated, his energy reserves depleted.
[break][break]
Vic let out a soft laugh. ”Guess you win, Sam! Obviously, as one would expect, there was a grin, along with a hearty pat on the back. ”And you too, bud!” The pinkette added, looking at the Golurk and giving him another thumbs up.
[break][break]
Then, he turned to his Arcanine. ”Aaaand... you too, Nougat! You did so so good!” This was said in the higher pitch ‘baby voice’ some people used when talking to cute pokémon, a bright smile illuminating his expression as the tired Arcanine managed to muster enough energy to happily wag his tail at his trainer’s praise.
[break][break]
Vic’s attention then returned to his dear pal Sam.
[break][break]
”Wanna go grab a bite or something? My treat! To celebrate!”
[break][break]
Honestly, having some tacos sounded pretty good right about now...


[break][break]

+ samuel carter | SAM WINS!!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

’Unless you're packing more magma than a Heatran I don't think it's gonna be fazed.’
[break][break]
Huh... Okay, so, Vic was the type of guy who could easily accept most things (like how he had barely even questioned the fact that he was having his Dragonite try wake up Tapu Bulu himself with a bunch of attacks), but… were there really people who just casually said stuff like that?! What kind of life does someone have to lead to be so nonchalant about two legendary pokémon duking it out?! The Hoenn life, apparently.
[break][break]
He just looked at Zac, stunned, blinking a couple of times. ”Right… yeah… that makes sense. So… uhmm… question… Why is Tapu Bulu even here anyways? I thought he was supposed to guard one of the Alolan islands...” He should have probably asked that earlier, huh? Like… around four posts earlier. But, of course, Vic had been too distracted back then to think of that.
[break][break]
And, while he was busy being stunned, his Dragonite grew more and more annoyed with the situation, throwing a couple more fire and thunder punches at Tapu Bulu – almost as if the bovine legendary were an unmoving punching bag against which he could vent his frustration.
[break][break]
”Hey, hey, Pez… Chill out. Here, have a drink.” Upon saying this, he lightly tossed the open can to the pokémon, somehow managing to barely spill any before Pez caught it in his mouth – a fang piercing through the bottom of the can and successfully shotgunning the Charja-Cola in an instant. Though, let's be honest, it wasn't like that would help him chill out.
[break][break]







[break][break]

+ Zac Ramsay

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Look at that! Two successes in a row! Maybe Sam should have tried his hand at being a motivational speaker or something!
[break][break]
”Hey! Not bad! Wanna do a tiebreaker round?” Vic grinned, because really, with the way things were going, they might have ended up throwing the frisbee around at the beach all day long.
[break][break]
Nougat waited for him to throw it once more, wagging his tail and ready to pounce, as if his reserves of energy were endless when even the pinkette himself was starting to feel a bit tired of this. ”Ready, bud? Let’s go!” Vic threw, grinning, and with another EXTREME SPEED, the Arcanine ran towards the frisbee...


[break][break]

+ samuel carter | 3 CATCHES

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

To be fair, despite the puppy-like whimpering and the now constant failed attempts at a catch, Nougat was actually having a good time, because dogs sometimes are easily pleased like that – even ones that can shoot fire and are six feet tall at the withers!
[break][break]
Unlike Sam, Vic did actually feel kind of bad though, because he definitely was that guy.
[break][break]
”Mmm… Maybe it’s the wind or something? Maybe I should have brought another frisbee…” He commented, mostly musing out loud. But, there was no more than a slight breeze at the beach at the time, and he usually didn’t have much issues with this frisbee…
[break][break]
What the heck was going on?!
[break][break]
He picked up the disc and readied another toss, Nougat this time going for a EXTREME SPEED, as he had done before...


[break][break]

+ samuel carter | 2 CATCHES

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Fate being cruel as it is, poor Taffy’s Phantom Force almost completely misses the back of the car, merely causing a small dent on the trunk. He floats closer, as if inspecting it, and then he hisses – clearly displeased.
[break][break]
While all this happens, Vic lightly laughs. ”Really? Lilycove’s nice! I like it way better than Slateport, at least.” Who could blame him, really? Slateport had its charms, but no one wants to live at a place where pokémon are loudly destroying things a few blocks away at the junkyard.
[break][break]
On that topic: the Dragapult, coming to the conclusion that non-ghostly attacks apparently work better on this weird metal thing, aims another SUCKER PUNCH at the car just as time begins to run out...

[break][break]

+ Rory Faust | MISSION[break]
CURRENT TOTAL: 291

The Sucker Punch sends the car flying back a couple of metres, and the Dragapult seems rather pleased with this – or, as pleased as the ever aloof dragon can be. His phantasmagorical tail sways in the air, and the Dreepy that rest within its horns almost seem to quietly chuckle as if they were having a great time seeing the rusty machine getting wrecked to bits.
[break][break]
Vic is glad, because that had been kind of the point of coming here, hadn't it?… That, and the challenge... and the pokédollars, of course.
[break][break]
”Nah, I’m from Unova! Moved here recently. You?” He answers Rory’s question just as Taffy completely disappears from sight, soon reappearing in order to hit the back of the car with PHANTOM FORCE.




[break][break]

+ Rory Faust | MISSION[break]
CURRENT TOTAL: 235

Seeing the Hatterena giggling at the destruction she is causing is a bit disconcerting to Vic, but people did often say that Fairy types can be mischievous by nature. Then again... maybe that’s just his Dragon specialist bias speaking here.
[break][break]
And speaking of dragons…
[break][break]
The Dragapult’s attack is followed by the sound of shattering glass, metal bending under the force of the Hex as if it has just suffered a really powerful punch. ”Keep that up, Taffy! Though... you might wanna try something else.”
[break][break]
In response, the pokémon does a slow roll in the air, staring at the car before rushing towards it without a warning. He moves almost too quickly to see, this time hitting the side of it loudly with an actual punch. A SUCKER PUNCH.
[break][break]
Vic blinks and then returns his attention to the stranger. Or, well, to Rory.
[break][break]
”It’s good to meet you too!” He smiles, shaking the other’s hand.



[break][break]

+ Rory Faust | MISSION[break]
CURRENT TOTAL: 115

”Oh! Yeah, that’d be great,” he smiles at the stranger, his words almost muffled by the sound of the Dreepy crashing against metal. Or, well, they would have been, if the collision had been at least a little bit more impressive.
[break][break]
Damn, they really weren’t feeling it today, huh?
[break][break]
He laughs lightly, the Dragapult by his side tilting its head slightly and squinting as the Dreepy return. Then, they all watch the Hatterena, her psychic attack definitely doing more damage than what the Dragon Darts had…
[break][break]
”Nice one!”
[break][break]
It was the Dragapult’s turn, and apparently, the pokémon knew this as well; its amber eyes turning dark purple and eerily glowing before rings of dark energy are released – a HEX aimed straight for the vehicule.
[break][break]
“I’m Vic, by the way,” the one of pink-hair introduces himself, as if completely immune to the destruction before them. Let’s just say he has his priorities straight.
[break][break]


[break][break]

+ Rory Faust | MISSION[break]
CURRENT TOTAL: 73

Destroy a car within the time limit with your Pokemon.
[break][break]
Well, how can you say no to that! Vic wasn’t a particularly destructive person, per se... unless we’re talking about totally accidental and not-at-all intentional destruction of property (which for some reason happened way more often than what he was comfortable with admitting). But! He did love a good challenge, and he did also have one or two pokémon with a penchant for blowing things up…
[break][break]
Cue him standing a few metres away from the rusted up husk of a car, a tired-looking dragon floating by his side. ” ‘Kay! You ready for this? Give it all you got!” He grinned at the Dragapult, and honestly, he was pretty sure there was supposed to be someone else there, but there was no time to waste: he needed that coin and there was a DRAGON DARTS already being prepared to launch.
[break][break]
3...
[break][break]
2...
[break][break]
1…
[break][break]
And off the two intrepid little Dreepy went, heading directly in collision course with the car.




[break][break]

+ Rory Faust | MISSION
[break]TL;DR: Dragon Darts POG