“Oh, that? That was Terastallizing! Pretty cool, huh?” The PokéManiac casually replied, flashing a shit-eating grin. “Jalapeño turned into a Dragon type just now!”

The Fuecoco was not a Dragon type anymore, of course, suggesting the type change was only temporary. There were still many mysteries surrounding the Terastal phenomenon, but the next topic was arguably even more mysterious.

“To be fair, I was born here, and I don’t even know everything about the Draconids.” The dragon fanatic leisurely strolled the ruins, ignoring a wild Gabite that passed them by. “They were a tribe of humans that lived in Hoenn many, many centuries ago. They built this Sky Pillar and also the shrine in Meteor Falls. They also drew those murals of Groudon and Kyogre in Granite Cave. That alone should tell you how ancient they were.”

beckett carlson //skipping

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Second try. She could not afford to fumble this. If she wanted to surpass the wall of iron known as Gwyar Wledig, she needed to give more than her best. She needed to be extraordinary! What better way to do that than with an extraordinary Pokémon?

Scientists called it Gouging Fire. Josh Devlin called it Hoennian Entei. Andrea called it--

"Enteisaurus, I choose you!" The ceratopsian beast burst out of its ball. Its brown mane fluttered with the wind, while its magnificent headpiece shone, as it summoned an evening sun with its Sunny Day move.

This was it. Gym Leader versus Gym Leader. Paradox versus Paradox. Dinosaur versus machine. Past versus future.

Gwyar Wledig //traditional 1v1

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“I dunno where the Great One went, but I’m sure he’ll come back when we need him the most.” Said Andrea with confidence, knowing that sort of thing had happened before with Rayquaza and Celebi. “You think the sages would let Isaac Merlo and Suicune in too?”

The dragon lover was not as interested in ground racing courses, since she much preferred flying in her Sygna Suit. She had gotten her fill of that during their trip to Mt. Coronet. This time, it would be Josh’s turn to have fun.

There was, however, something else the PokéManiac wanted to do. “Once we’ve done all that other stuff, I’d like to study Johto’s traditions and arts. Those masks we saw, and even the ones they made us wear, seemed heavily influenced by Far Eastern culture.”

Josh Devlin //mission thread

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Hearing Remiel Calcifet’s name reminded Andrea of that offer she’d gotten to work at his renowned draciary. She was meaning to get back to him, but a thousand other things kept getting in the way. Excursions, patrols, being abducted, and so forth. Curse her short attention span!

While Josh made plans to race the Black Yin Pokémon like an absolute madman, she made a silent vow to stop getting distracted and actually pay her fellow dragon lover a visit. Having a second job in case something happened to her Minor Gym wasn’t such a bad idea.

It hadn’t been that long since their vacation in Sinnoh, but taking another trip away from Hoenn didn’t sound like a bad idea either. “That would be lovely!” The young woman beamed. “What region do you have in mind? Ooooh, maybe we should go to Johto! It’s where Raikou originated from, after all!”

Josh Devlin //mission thread

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“Nomi. What a cute name!” The younger woman beamed. It certainly beat calling her Visionary all the time. “Don’t worry, I’d never sell you out. And I don’t believe any of the stuff they wrote about you. Someone who loves Pokémon can’t be a bad person!”

Star-shaped pupils stared back at Kallistatus with childlike curiosity, a grassy appendage being extended towards the shiny Unown. However, at Nomi’s approach, the green-clad ogre shrunk back, staring at her with trepidation.

“P-pon…”

“Shhh, it’s fine… Nomi is a friend.” Andrea tried to comfort the nervous creature. She thought for a moment, before cutting a piece off the sandwich she had just made, which she handed to the Rocket scientist. “Try winning her over with this.”

The way to every person’s heart was through their stomach, a saying that was true for humans and Pokémon alike.

Her face fell at Nomi’s next statement. “It’s hard to be entirely okay after what we went through…” The redhead sullenly replied. “Also, that whole peace thing we’re trying to achieve hasn’t been going too well…”

Naomi Sato

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Hearing of Josh’s hypothetical avatar powers reminded Andrea of the interdimensional doppelganger they’d fought last year. That man had a corrupt version of the Gym-Leader-now-Champion’s righteous heart. That man had not deserved Raikou’s favor, but her friend did.

“I have a different theory…” The crocodilian cosplayer calmly countered. “The thing that’s holding you--and by extension Swift--back is your own fear. How are you supposed to reach new heights if you’re constantly worried that you’re gonna end up just like those other avatars?”

She was neither judging nor thinking less of Josh because of that. Being afraid was perfectly normal. But a Champion could not afford to be normal; a Champion had to be extraordinary.

“You’re right. Swift is not the same Raikou that died in the invasion… He’s better! He’s a Raikou you can raise to be your ideal partner!” Andrea continued, taking hold of his good hand. “If you think battling Pon could help you on that journey, I’d be glad to help!”

Josh Devlin //mission thread

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“She does?” A smile crept upon Andrea’s lips. For her, being compared to the Visionary was a positive thing, not a negative. It meant that she was right to trust her.

The flamboyant cosplayer took a moment to think about Theo’s followup question. “If Team Rocket stands down… then there’ll be no reason to go to war, right?” She surmised, perhaps incorrectly.

Even with her newfound maturity, it would take a while to deprogram her brain of the League’s propaganda. Big bad Rocket was responsible for all wars, always the aggressor.

“D-do you think differently?” The young woman meekly added.

THEO BECKETT //mission thread

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Bronson the Slowking was so insanely chill, he didn’t mind the tiny Ultra Beast getting close and personal. His royal gem was brighter than most of his species, perhaps due to his shininess or the Illumina phenomenon itself.

“I’m something of a scientist myself! I’ve been working on a research paper recently that’s turning out pretty good!” The eccentric trainer pridefully stated. “That’s unrelated to me being here, though. I just wanted a nice adventure to help take my mind off… things.”

Namely the trauma of being incarcerated, humiliated, and tortured.

“W-we could use both your thingamajig AND an Electric move! Yay, teamwork!” She hastily changed the subject, before sending out an Iron Jugulis that looked like the robotic twin of her signature Hydreigon. “Ready when you are, Ms. Lulu!”

Lulu Flint

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Despite her attempt at being whimsical, Desi’s response was rather dark, casually talking about eradicating an entire evolutionary line. Moreover, her mention of the Toxic Chain was in poor taste, and it showed in the other woman’s reaction.

“I wasn’t trying to imply they’re the same thing!” The redhead vehemently stated, terrified at the thought of comparing her friend to those monsters. “The Megalopolans and the Lousy Three never even bothered to ask for consent. They never bothered to ask us anything…”

They had never asked Hoenn for help in reclaiming their city. They had never asked them if they wanted to be imprisoned. They had never asked them if they wanted to be beaten, laughed at, and treated like slaves.

Those intrusive thoughts clouded Andrea’s mind as she took the hallucinogenic pill and swallowed it. “TOUKON is fine.” She nodded. It was a word she held dearly in her heart, so she was guaranteed to remember it.

Ogerpon made the first move of the battle, attempting to smack the big monkey off the tree with a Power Whip that was much stronger than her puny frame would suggest.

DESIREE BLOOMS //augmented traditional 1v1

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Despite Eris’ attempt to spare the frozen specter, the simulation registered Andrea’s first input, triggering the appropriate cutscene. Soon, the horse-slayers were celebrated as heroes by adoring townsfolk.

Ogerpon’s eyes watered. Those humans did not yell at her with vitriol. They did not try to chase her out of their village. For the first time, the Oni felt loved.

“P-pon…”

But it was fake, wasn’t it? They were not real. Real humans could never love her.

“It was the only way.” Said Andrea curtly, while staring at Glastrier’s corpse. She clenched a Hydreigon-shaped fist. “If you show kindness, it will take you away just like it tried to take Josh Devlin. I won’t forgive anyone who messes with my friends!”

Eris Halla

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