It was starting to sink in that Hoenn was an extremely lively region, full of excitement and adventure, unlike the lives she'd lived before. Truly, without a single doubt, this land was a perfect new home for Saki in every way she could possibly conceive. Well, maybe a pinch on the dangerous side, but that wasn't a concern for the Saki of today, not in the slightest.

She'd arrived in mask and hood and sunglasses, sufficient to keep her head obfuscated; her civilian life was a bit too enjoyable to put at this level of risk. One could say a great deal about how abnormal Saki's psyche was, but even so, outright insanity wasn't quite her style.

Two of the Legendary Pokemon were too far away to matter for now, although she watched them for just a second, analysing in case they made their way over. Of the closer duo, she found the Ruinous Pokemon somewhat enthralling, but the mission came first.

On further reflection, the mission came second. Not being buried under snow and frozen to death, actually, was what came first. Saki thought for only a fraction of a second, and they already knew what to do. Protection against an attack of that scale was dubious at best, and when it came to evasion, there was only one option. Sending out Marisa, they mounted the beast and gestured upwards. Via the twin powers of magnetism and telekinesis, the Metagross floated upwards, tucking its legs beneath itself before jetting towards the sky.

She would have loved to immediately dive into action, but... no, that wasn't quite right. There was so much chaos unfolding already. She loved that, no doubt about it, buuuut... smarter to take a moment to assess how things were going first, even in her wild eyes. Then she could swoop in.

---

Metagross uses Magnet Rise and tries to ascend to safety. Saki otherwise just observes.
YoLkWaga

GOODBYE GALAR SIGN-UPS

RAID: RUSTED SHIELD

CHARACTER: Saki Shitachi [break]PKMN TEAM:
-Annihilape. Ability: Inner Focus. Moves: Rage Fist, Cross Chop, Swagger, Focus Energy, Pursuit, Mud Slap.[break]
-Metagross. Ability: Clear Body. Moves: Meteor Mash, Psychic, Magnet Rise, Hammer Arm, Agility, Iron Defense.[break]
-Iron Valiant. Ability: Quark Drive. Moves: Close Combat, Spirit Break, Hypnosis, Double Team, Future Sight, Wide Guard.[break]WHAT DO YOU DESPISE?: "Unlike my partner here, anger and hatred aren't really my style. None of this really matters, we're all gonna check out of this world eventually, so I just roll with the punches. No use getting worked up. If I don't like something, I can always just destroy it, or go someplace else. Getting mad is just a distraction from all the fun life has to offer. ...Fun, huh? Yeah, that'll do. I guess the only thing I can despise is 'boredom'. Stagnation. A world where everything stays the same. Even a casual life without action or adventure needs a couple of plot twists to keep things interesting. 'Course, losing fun toys and good actors always sucks too. Getting abandoned sure is boring too, whether it's by choice or by the sweet embrace of death. Good thing I found Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki , or I might have seriously hated her too. Although, that aside, I will say... other people's hatred? Now that can be real fun.

Among the crowd of Rocket initiates, not all of them stood out. Although one could argue Saki stood out precisely because of how plain she was. Quiet, fairly short, and with a dull, lifeless expression. Not even trying to avoid attention, showing not a trace of the shyness or timidity her hairstyle may imply, simply standing with polite, formal posture.

What she did, however, was observe. And of course, any observer couldn't miss Xenon. A warm, serene smile spread across her lips. Quite the character; she was hooked already. Just where would this woman's story take her? Saki opened her mouth a little, then covered the lower half of her face with her hand, silently mouthing 'shut up' to herself.

The others' comments drew her attention, but not a response. All this talk about backing up one's words, she found agreeable. The best course of action here was to keep one's head down and just show results. At least, that's what she'd thought going into this. Albert's comment flicked a lightswitch in her brain, and she scowled for a split second. Of course, teamwork. Which meant, of course, socialisation. Only one way she knew how do that...

With a gentle expression, she first approached Violet, clasping her hands together softly. "Yeah, it's gonna be challenging, for sure. I think that's why we should all relax, though. Even for something serious, it'll work out if you approach it calmly and confidently. Don't you agree?" Saki gave the other girl a friendly, gentle smile, then glanced over to the side. "Speaking of which..."

She then walked off, with a vague beckoning gesture, but she didn't expect Violet to follow, especially since she was headed over to Xenon. "A girl with your eyes on the future, huh? I guess that makes two of us." Saki glanced over to Isaac and his Pokemon with a subtle smirk. "Or maybe three?" She chuckled, a dark glitter in her eyes. "So you're gonna be the star of this event, are you? Sounds like it's in my best interest to stick close. Maybe I'll get to learn a thing or two by watching you work. Especially with the amazing Pokemon you've got there."

---

She's just bothering Violet Fairbanks and Xenon Antheil .

MP from threads: 2330.

Exchanging:
1500 MP for Extra Move Slot.
500 MP for Iron Valiant.
150 MP for Silvally Memory (Type of Choice).
10 MP for Shard (Color of Choice).

Current Total MP: 170.

A secluded clearing in a desolate land, wreathed in fog that demarcates the mortal realm from that of the spirits. The surrounding vegetation has long since perished, leaving mere twisted leafless corpses, yet the loam retains the feeble dregs of life...

Plot 1: Tamato Berry. Planted 6th May. First matures 20th May.
Plot 2: Grepa Berry. Planted 6th May. First matures 20th May.
Plot 3: Grepa Berry. Planted 6th May. First matures 20th May.
Plot 4: Grepa Berry. Destroyed October 16th

Purchasing:
1x Lotad Pail (200 PD)
1x Tamato Berry (10 PD)
3x Grepa Berry (6 PD)
Total: 216 PD

SIGN-UP[break](PARTICIPANT)

CHARACTER: Saki Shitachi [break]
ROCKET POSITION: Infamy aside, I don't have a list of options, so Grunt will do.[break]
POKEMON TEAM: Annihilape, Metagross. Ideally whichever Paradox Pokemon I pick if I'm allowed to sneak one in after. I'm still deciding which one I want, send help. Or assassins. Or I can just go in with 2.[break]
PREFERRED PARTNER(S): N/A[break]
PREFERRED POSTING SPEED: A little slower is fine, but I can do fast too.[break]
SPECIALTY: Eccentricity? Seeming harmless, sometimes. Trickery and manipulation, sometimes. Efficiency and strategy, sometimes.[break]
WEAKNESS: "Inefficiency, lack of focus. I strive to be my best, yet perfection escapes me in that regard. My mind is a little scattered at times, that's all. As for non-personal weaknesses, I have lost most of my Pokemon and lack a complete team for now."[break]
WHICH LEGENDARIES ARE THE GREATEST THREAT TO HOENN?: "I'm somewhat intelligent, but not very learned. I don't like making blind theories either. The only Legendary whose capabilities I can personally verify is I believe Rayquaza. It proved to be quite impressive."[break]

"It sounds like you're someone who already has a lot of answers, if that's what you wish to know. If you're speaking to god, I would have thought both grander and more fundamental would be what's appropriate."

Her eyes remain fixed on the enemy trainer, watching and observing. Elise's demeanour led to a miscalculation. It wasn't frequently that she found herself distracted by conversation, but this topic... perhaps it was the one thing in all of existence that could pull her attention from her objectives. A masterful choice, if it was intentional.

Though it was common for Pokemon to act outside their trainers' orders - indeed, in Saki's opinion that was a core component of training - she'd gained the impression that Elise was stricter on her beasts of war. As such, Mazinger Z's sudden autonomous attack slipped Saki's notice for just a brief moment.

"Magnet Ri-"

A loud dull thud echoed across the beach, followed swiftly by another. Metagross was well-trained and more than capable of acting on its own, but its exhaustion from earlier battles caught up to it. As such, at this distance, it too didn't perceive the oncoming attack until it was too late. The powerful ground-type move struck upwards into Saki's Pokemon, threatening to flip it over were it not for the beast's immense weight. Metagross collapses nonetheless with a weary grunt, lacking the stamina to move even with telekinetic assistance.

With a dark glare, her hair hanging down to cover her eyes once again, Saki recalled her one and only usable Pokemon. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, weighing her options and her myriad of perspectives. That stoic determination once again vanished, and she returned to her lively animation from before.

"Well then... ...seems like you've crushed my team! Guess I'm not cut out for gym challenges, huh? Maybe you'll see me in a year or two once I've got more Pokemon worth wrestling with. So now that we've established I'm just a depressed bitch who couldn't fight her way out of a cave full of Zubats, can I get to shelter or something? Wouldn't want any Rocket scum jumping us like this, would we?"

---

Clash 3
Post: +10 MP
Saki's Pokemon KO'd: +50 MP
(Total: 2330 MP)

Saki clicked her tongue, scratching the side of her head through her hood. "Well, that's not-" She winced, covering her face with her forearm and gesturing to the Metagross she was riding. Her expectations were swiftly betrayed as the two siblings absconded, and despite herself, Saki let out a sigh of relief. Her Pokemon either hadn't understood her bizarre attempt at a command, or had been waiting for a second cue.

Briefly glancing over at her comrades, the young girl adjusted her position and made herself comfortable, smiling warmly towards the fog. "That's not a wrong way to look at it either, huh..." Shaking her head, she loosely clutched herself and laughed a little. "What am I saying! We didn't come here or join Rocket to be understood, did we, partner?" As she patted the steel-type's side, it quietly grunted in vague, dismissive response, seeming moreso annoyed by its trainer than anything else.

The rest of her squad could piece themselves together and finish running. Once they recovered from the trauma, or failed to do so, they surely had another battle to attend to. Saki, meanwhile, flew off on her Metagross in a different direction. Seeing as she survived, that meant she too had business of her own to deal with.

---

Clash 2
Post: +10 MP
Mission Completion: +100 MP
Mission Win: +200 MP
(Total: 1920 MP)

Finding a comfortable, non-bloodied place to seat herself back down, Saki half-watched, neither enamoured by the gore nor appalled by it. Tragically, she didn't own a meat cleaver either, much less carry one on her person. As was currently being demonstrated, her Pokemon sufficed perfectly well in most use cases, rending flesh and snapping bone with monstrous claw and telekinetic force.

She snickered a little when Hitoshi elaborated, covering her mouth with her hand. "You too, huh? I guess I should have paid more attention back when I lived there. Then I'd be cool and own a sword too. It's probably too late now though, and Johto's so far away. I can't leave Hoenn yet anyway, there's someone I have to meet first." Saki sighed, her voice steeped in wistful yearning. "...What about you, do you know your next mission after this one? Any fun plans ahead, or do you expect a bad day?"

With the size of their craft - and the much larger, much more dangerous crafts drawing everyone's attention - it was easy to slip in through the chaos and finish their journey, then meet up with their co-conspirators. All that left was the unpacking...

---

Cargo 1
Post: +10 MP
Mission Completion: +100 MP
Mission Win: +200 MP
(Total: 1610 MP)

Her gaze turned towards the sky, the wind blowing her hair aside to fully reveal her wistful expression. "There are some questions I don't think even god can answer. Although, perhaps... heh." She closed her eyes for just a brief moment, wearing a sorrowful, arrogant smile, before returning her attention to the battle. "I won't let you get my hopes up so easily. Although I admit it would be nice, having-evade, Psychic-the weights on our hearts removed."

The Metagross scrambled backwards with an unnatural haste boosted by telekinesis, inadvertently kicking up sand as its bulky limbs tore into the ground below. It kept running, not only evading but outright retreating. Obviously, the duo had made the decision to commit to ranged combat, and sure enough Mazinger Z was soon targeted by a series of telekinetic blasts. Even taking a subdued Fire Punch had dealt plenty of damage, after all. As expected.

With its proper trainer by its side, Metagross was more capable and threatening than it had been at any other point this evening. Defeat was still inevitable in Saki's eyes, but if this woman was with the League, this fight could still soften her up and stop her from causing Rocket as much harm. Best give it their all.

---

Clash 3
Post: +10 MP
(Total: 1300 MP)

The shining blue fire washed over Shouko's would-be assailants, covering one of them entirely within its unnatural light. The blaze dispersed to reveal absolutely no effect, not even the faintest of singe marks on either of the odd Pokemon. They made equally odd noises as they both charged at Velvet and began trying to kick her back and forth between them, approaching her with joyful sadism as if she were just a soft plush toy.

Yakumo succeeded in cowering behind her behemoth, who easily managed to protect her for the time being. For all its resilience, this many foes still required thought and moving with care; barrelling through the creatures and charging all the way to Shouko was too dangerous. Maybe by itself, but not while protecting Yakumo. They didn't seem smart enough to use their most dangerous attacks with frequency, or Yakumo's Metagross was too durable for them to tell what worked and what didn't, but they had enough bite to them to pose a threat.

"I'm fine, I promise! This is nothing! Owwwww... it, it hurts, but it's nothing!" She clutched at her arm, her usual carefree nature fading just a little, as she pleaded Shouko with her watery eyes.

---

Interdream 1
Post: +10 MP
(Total: 1290 MP) (From this thread: 520 MP)

"That's good! Hahahaha..." She starts clapping. "Oh that's very good! Yes, yes, perfect! The former monster's going to become a hero of justice, is she? I can't wait to see how you struggle and evolve!" It almost sounds like she's proud. You know full well that her mirth is genuine, but whether or not it's mired in spite and sadism is another matter. She acts like she's feeling a parent's joy, seeing you as her child that's outgrown her. But maybe she's just excited, because she thinks she'll get to put you back in the place she thinks you belong.

Her composure slips with a sudden frown. There's no time to run, or to send out that second Pokemon, whichever one happened to survive. She curls up into a ball and tries to protect herself; sharp grunts of intense pain escape her, as your Pokemon burns away at her flesh. Though she acted like a spirit from the moment you first met, she burned and melted all the same as anyone else, and still does.

That Pokemon of hers takes kindly to none of this. Stumbling and lurching - not from the overbearing pain, but simply from the damage to her body - she grabs and lifts Sakura, holding her in your direction. At the same time she drops your Pokemon, she delivers a second Rage Fist, sending Sakura hurtling in your direction like a living bullet. She then hunches forwards, growling and grumbling insatiably. She tries to make her way towards the two of you, practically walking on all fours, before collapsing and succumbing to your venomous affection.

---

Clash 1
Post: +10 MP
Saki's Pokemon KO'd: +50 MP
Mission 'Completion' (5 posts): +100 MP
Mission Win: +200 MP
(Total: 1280 MP) (From this thread: 450 MP)