“It’s not controversial at all. Who doesn’t like avocado sauce?” Andrea remarked. Little did she know that the man planned to use the entire avocado.

“Oh… I see.” She winced upon realizing what he was up to, but nonetheless allowed Eddie to figuratively and literally cook. “That’s certainly unique. What do you think, Jalapeño?”

“Coco!” The Fire Croc Pokémon approved. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact avocado was also known as the ‘alligator pear’.

When the challenger sought confirmation, the woman nodded. “Yep, one more to go. Make it count!” Given his performance thus far, she was certain he would.

Eduardo Hisakawa

☉

“There is no right side!” Andrea rebuked him. “Why must the same thing happen again and again? Why must we save the day, only to then turn against each other? When will people learn?”

Through regulated breaths, the dragoness quelled the RAGE that burned within her, though its faint embers lingered in her amethyst eyes. “We’re so much stronger when we work together. It was proven against Kyurem, and again in that prison. The Lousy Three didn’t stand a chance even when they Dynamaxed!”

Chomper roared triumphantly at the mention of that frabjous day when the great Munkidori had fallen from grace. How satisfying the death of that clown had been!

“Why, even after seeing all that, do people insist on fighting a pointless war?” The young woman asked, clenching her Hydreigon-shaped fists.

THEO BECKETT //mission thread

☉

The cotton candy-colored fog grew thicker and thicker, feeding off their repressed traumas and the nightmares keeping them up at night, until…

“Grrrific!”
“Mmm-kiii!”
“Poot!”

Andrea was paralyzed by fear at the sight of the Toxic Chained mutt, monkey, and bird. “No, it can’t be… Y-you’re dead! W-we killed you!” She blurted out in a state of abject shock, her breathing getting more and more erratic.

Without hesitation, the former wardens of the Weakling, Dummy, and Ugly wards attacked the group with raw fighting prowess, telekinesis, and ephemeral pheromones.

Though temporarily manifested through the power of the Tera Crystal, these dollar store versions of the Lousy Three were just as dangerous as their flesh-and-blood counterparts.

“GRAAAAUGH!! POOOOOON!!!!”

Ogerpon charged to her caretaker’s rescue, though in reality, she was out for blood. All of the never-rot’s creations deserved death. The Oni’s demonic rage took the form of a Stomping Tantrum that shook the very earth.

Johanna Joy //mission thread

☉

The two girls gleefully daydreamed together, but their bonding moment soon passed. The Power Spot served as a segue into the next location: Galar, home of Dynamaxing, and the Crown Tundra.

And that darn horse.

“Poni?”

“A bad pony.” Andrea narrowed her eyes at the icy stallion that had been the bane of her RKS Simulation experience. “Kill it before it can kidnap our friends!” She ordered unflinchingly.

Although a pacifist at heart, in this instance, she was willing to ‘forsake’.

“GRAAAH!! PON!!”

With a demonic rage reminiscent of her days in the feeding pit, the orange-faced Oni swung her signature Ivy Cudgel, aiming to crush Glastrier’s skull like a watermelon.

Eris Halla

☉

The Paldean starter hardly even blinked its beady eyes at the big man’s compliment, seemingly immune to--or perhaps Unaware of--all forms of flattery.

“Why, thank you! His name is Jalapeño. and he’s my son!” The crocodile’s trainer responded on its behalf, her face beaming with joy. “He’s also my assistant, so he’s gonna be judging you, same as I am!”

Not that there was much to judge. Eddie was excelling in his challenge thus far, the addition of bacon to his sandwich crowned with another success. They could still fumble it near the finish line, though.

For now, both Andrea and her ‘son’ nodded in approval.

Eduardo Hisakawa

☉

“Hi, Desi!” The dragon maiden jovially waved at the pinkette, blissfully unaware of the latter’s trepidation regarding her newfound, impish little friend.

It was unclear whether Ogerpon herself remembered the faces of those she had hurt in a Toxic Chain-induced frenzy, but she initially seemed timid around the pink-haired human.

“Po…”

Sensing the presence of another Pokémon awoke her playful side. The citrus gremlin wrapped her vines around the tree where Desiree’s Zarude was hiding, shaking it with superhuman strength.

“Pon! Pon!”

“She’s pretty lively, as you can see!” Andrea stifled a giggle at the display. “I’m so glad we were able to rescue her from that awful place…” She added with a more doleful expression.

“A-a-anyway, what’s so psychedelic about this chateau?” Her attempt at changing the subject to one less triggering of her trauma was about as subtle as one would expect.

DESIREE BLOOMS //augmented traditional 1v1

☉

Following a spelunking adventure that had left their Pokémon completely exhausted, the group set camp in Area Zero’s depths for some much-needed respite and a meal consisting of homemade sandwiches.

Not many words were exchanged during the break, since they were all too busy stuffing their faces. And who could blame them? To taste anything that was not mochi felt like a godsend.

“Alright, that’s enough rest. Time to get back to work.” Said Andrea, while using a spare napkin to wipe Ogerpon’s mouth clean. It turned out she was quite the messy eater. “Are you ready to pummel that sparkly rock again?”

“Pon! Pon!” The ogress cried excitedly.

However, as the group returned to the large Tera Crystal to resume excavating it, they would find something amiss: Interdream Mist had encroached on the entire section of the cave.

“Stay close to me, Johanna. I have a bad feeling about this…” The young PokéManiac muttered, a hand instinctively reaching for her Pokéballs.

Johanna Joy //mission thread

☉

She remembered her name! Andrea’s eyes sparkled like Dragon Tera Crystals. Their friendship (that only existed in her head) was blooming into something beautiful.

The young PokéManiac reciprocated the tiny Ultra Beast’s wave, while the pink blubber sitting next to her followed suit with a delayed “Sloooooooow.”

“This station? I know nothing about it. I’ve never been here before.” Andrea casually replied to the Rocket scientist’s inquiry. “Is there something special about it? Maybe we could bring the power back with an Electric-type move.” She proposed, always thinking outside the box.

Lulu Flint

☉