Celebi: ... Hmm... I should probably speak with Mewtwo eventually concerning that Smeargle... hmm... but, I digress... right now, I’m far more concerned with the Ralts and Scrafty that seem to follow Lugia as their Proxies... I should get back to observing these new timelines...
>Celebi appears to be focusing on Lugia for the time being...
>Hints Updated!
Carla: Simply put, focusing on the Team Machine bit: one of their many plans were to use the Emotion Trio as weapons to control the masses-I assume anyway; the experiments imply they went for the islands around the Archipelago near where Kryona used to be. Their experiments must’ve failed, but the idea that the legends were made to control People and used them to kill Pokemon is a bit unsettling, to say the least...
King: I thought those islands were inhabited by Pokemon only...
Carla: So did I, so they were likely humans who chose to isolate themselves from advancements, which is rare in this day and age... but not unlikely, I guess. And then, there’s the bit that made me curious about other, presumably safer areas-
Nelda: This idea that Team Machine had some of their mutated Pokemon infect the population somehow? It’s a bit of a stretch... what’s the point in that?
Carla: Probably nothing, but we can assume they were going after certain kinds of places-I’m sure if they knew about the Emotion Trio, they knew about other Legends and made the effort-
Alma: To target and probably kill them-got it...
Lyle: Oooh....
Lyle: That’s quite the plan, using Pokemon like that-and presumably-based on bits from that other book-Team Machine had a habit of using their “Preserve” as a way to get more and more Pokemon for their experiments-thus more “Agents”... That’s a bit... smart, regretfully.
Bartholomew: ...
Carla: I know, but we can’t... ... ....
--
“Daaad... m-my head-”
“W-what?! Son!? Terry!? Alan?! Why are they-what are you three doing here?!”
“T-there was a weird... f-flash and then... they fainted, m-my head....-”
“The mission is a failure! Retrea-”
“We can’t!”
“Try blocking my power a second time!!”
“Yvetal!”
“Barto-MOVE-”
--
“Terry and Alan’s dads are still “missing”-it’s been YEARS!! When are you going to tell them the truth, dad!? When are you going to tell us?!”
“When I’m ready-”
“They’re dead... dad, they’re dead... and it’s OUR fault! Why were you fighting Yvetal?! Why were you able to block the death beam once?! WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME?! WHAT’S WRONG WITH THEM?!”
“Calm down... calm down... please... give me... time, I’ll... I’ll consider it-”
Lyle: Bartholomew?
Bartholomew: Huh...?!
Lyle: You... alright?
Bartholomew: Yeah-yeah, I was... spacing out pretty bad, huh? The idea of Terry’s dad being... a Team Machine agent, just... got me thinking back a bit...
Lyle: Anything useful?
Bartholomew: ... N-no... sorry...
...
Did I miss anything?
Lyle: Hmm...
Carla: Are you serious, King? After what I’ve said?!
Lyle: No-
King: We should not ignore their actions! If this... “Rteddy” creature was created by The Black Pikachu and it torments the Terrible Trio, has enough power to seemingly finish off Team Machine, fight with me on equal and greater footing AND after taking one of our own hostage-despite it saving her-we cannot ignore that! Any of it!
Damaris: I agree-
Gareth: I don’t.
King: What-
Gareth: Think about it from the standpoint of the available Knights; they’ve been handling their respective regions, but hearing things from others visiting; Alma’s base? They all know he’s upset with you concerning what happened with Locke and Zara and now that we all know they’re truly dead... do you THINK-once that gets out-anyone will side with another hunt for The Black Pikachu OR other members of the Terrible Trio? I WON’T be offering the Kanto Knights towards any hunts for the Trio or this Rteddy individual. Did I put enough emphasis on my words for you, King?
King: I... Gareth-
Damaris: Someone sounds a bit... testy... that’s new of you-
Gareth: This is a conversation we’ve heard and had for years; it’s about time we moved onto more serious situations, don’t you all agree?
Alma: Yeah.
King: ?!
Alma: It has nothing to do with my grudge about Locke and Zara... I’ve... moved on. I guess being in Orre and its really strange “air” has some impact on me, so, I had time to actually relax and think...
Carla: ...
Alma: We’re a team short since Annika’s entire base is apparently in shambles and her team’s missing in action-we really can’t afford it. And if it wasn’t for Gareth, Damaris and Lyle, Annika, Jett and I would likely be dead-something’s off in Hoenn and we need to investigate that over this pointless chase.
Annika: ....
Bartholomew: I wandered around the area-found a broken Mega Stone in the scorched earth; on top of that, I also met Yoshi’s mother-and learned what they’re dealing with while you let Victini run free...
Nelda: Bartholomew-
King: Victini...
Gareth: So, we’ll add Victini to the list of problem Legends...
Damaris: Those stones came up again...
Lyle: Ah, yes, Mega Stones... it is curious how problems seem to follow them if they leave Kalos or Alola or Hoenn, since they’re common in that region too...
Annika: ....
Gareth: I have to agree, we need to learn more about those-would you know about them, King?
King: Mega Stones? ... I know little, to be frank...
Gareth: ...
King: ...
Lyle: Hmmm...
Annika: B-besides... we’re still on the issue of the Trio and this Rteddy thing-even if you think we SHOULDN’T worry about them, we really should. This Rteddy thing could potentially be causing the problems that caused Legends to lash out, right? By Altering reality by opening holes in space, that’s what you and Carla saw, right K-King...?
King: That’s... right...
Carla: Hmm... true, but, we can’t focus on hunting the Trio then-let’s focus on at the very least finding a safe way to confront them.
Lyle: I can agree there-we don’t need to fight-and I’m on the same page as Gareth and Alma: there may not be many of us in Alola-but we’re going to shy away from the Trio’s punishment.
King: Right... they’re “welcome in Alola” or something similar to that, if I remember correctly, Lyle?
Lyle: Of course.
Bartholomew: Kalos won’t join in on this either.
King: Ugh-
Damaris: This is ridiculous... You four are defending a monster created by Team Machine, another monster made by Team Cipher, and a Politoed who rallied together two destructive forces that were produced to destroy-and their target is humanity! Do you understand? If we don’t deal with them, and they attack again, we’re allowing the condition of how humans view Pokemon to change-to worsen-where they fear and resent us to a point of wanting to control us more than they already entertain. We cannot ignore these monsters-especially the freaks of nature that are Vris and the Black Pikachu-
Gareth: So, why can’t we help them instead?
Damaris: What?
Gareth: Why? Why do we have to fight them? Why do we have to punish them? What’s the point? When this organization started, our focus was on humans who harmed Pokemon. And what does the Terrible Trio have as a mission? Dealing with Humanity, for the sole reason we existed-they’re just violent about it. Team Machine? Cipher? What about Team Rocket, Damaris? What about me? Am I a “monster” in your eyes?
Everyone: ....
Gareth: Experiments, torture, forced to fight one another, who knows what they did to the Black Pikachu to not only make him, but to train him... prepare him for what he is now-what amount of power he has-the control he has-the skill-it’s all hardwired into us-and here you stand, claiming ‘monsters’. The Trio are the biggest examples of why we, as the Strident Knights exist-or it was-
Damaris: Why should we care?
Gareth: ...
King: Damaris!
Carla: What is wrong with you? Were you just pretending to listen to what I’ve said? You’re not interacting with Pokemon like Gareth, like I do, like Gareth himself has experienced and what we can only imagine for the Black Pikachu-Gareth, Shadow Pokemon, Mutants-
Damaris: Are among individuals that should be wiped out.
Alma: Sheesh...
Lyle: My-my... Johto’s traditions are scary-and to think Alola took them on...
Nelda: ...
Annika: Damaris, please...
Bartholomew: ...
Gareth: ... Is that what you-
Damaris: To be truthful-knowing your standings now-
Carla: Don’t you DARE!!
Nelda: Oh please! Get off that high Ponyta you’re on, Carla-you’re not a Shadow Pokemon, not a Mutant, not whatever Gareth is-you can’t speak on their behalf-
Carla: And YOU can?
Nelda: I’m not the one threatening to keep one of MY Knights in Orre over what YOU caused! You and that “client” of yours! I wonder why he left so suddenly, huh? Scared off by what he caused? He’s the reason Yoshi is a Shadow Pokemon, isn’t he?
Carla: That’s not-
Carla: Coming from the ghost that’ll die if she even receives the tiniest of rips in her body? Yeah, I’m doing damn well FINE!! And Yoshi? He is too-better than fine-he might be staying here, permanently-
Nelda: Excuse me-
Carla: Go home to Unova and tell his mother that-if there’s anything left after it’s all burnt to ash-you lazy excuse for-
Damaris: Stop.
King: I think it’s understandable that everyone’s on edge; yes, Gareth is a “Creation” like Vris and the Black Pikachu, so what? You shouldn’t carry that kind of tone with an ally-
Carla: Seriously...?!
Nelda: What’s with you all of a sudden?!
Carla: WHAT’S WITH THE BOTH OF YOU!? Who comes here and starts saying shit like THIS!? Unlike you, I can sense emotions-even Gareth FEELS, despite what he puts out-at least somewhat-being this harsh-DAMARIS-is uncalled for, and YOU Nelda-
Nelda: What?
Carla: You’re just a failure at everything-we’re all looking to Alma as the troublemaker here, because he’s the youngest, the loudest, but his Knights operate fine! Last I checked, outside of Annika’s missing Knights-how many died between the Team Machine attack and the Victini attacks? Huh? We’ve been skirting around that subject all evening, but I’m aware-you’re throwing lives away at a losing battle and now you’re letting Pokemon and Humans die because you’re too damn lazy to do anything about it-
Nelda: WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I HAVEN’T!?! Unova is the founding land of the Strident Knights! DO you think it’s EASY?! Do you think it’s easy running that place?! We’re on fucking sacred land for crying out loud! The Swords of Justice-Yoshi’s mother-the whole damn village-all of it is important, not just to the Knights as a whole, but to King as well! You can’t hope to understand the weight on my shoulders! Your region is the calmest one there is-
Carla: You say that knowing next to nothing about what goes on here-that “Air” Alma mentioned before? That’s a Shadow Pokemon-a powerful one, stronger than the Trio for all we know-and instead of throwing lives away, I’m trying to understand them, and understand ways to HELP them, but no, no, I have to sit in this room, right now, and justify why we shouldn’t be focusing on three damn Pokemon that have been missing for nearly a decade!!
They were never a problem-Goldenrod was our fault! People and Pokemon died because of our Knights-the damn human we let in with his uncontrollable Dragonite-you know where it ended up, King? HERE! It’s dead! Buried in the Relic Forest! WHy? Because that piece of shit human YOU trusted ditched it on someone from here! This region is full of pain and death, just because it’s not exclusively over some overzealous Legend does not make your problems any larger than my own, Nelda! And I dare you to say the shit you’re thinking-do it, and I will era-
Lyle: Just... staaaall... I need time to focus, and-
Bartholomew: Just for a few minutes...
Alma: And what are you going to do...?
Damaris: ...
Bartholomew: She called me a “Mutant Spawn”... put two-and-two together, Alma, I have some crazy “mutant ability” that’ll help here... I’m sure.
Lyle: And we’re not alone...
Alma: What-
Annika: Alriiiiight, time to finally sleep-
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
Annika: Huh-
Annika, they have a plan-
You need to-
Annika: What? Giratina, Huh??
Gareth: I... shut down... what happened?
Damaris: No wonder Alma compares you to a “robot”-
Gareth: Lyle? Bartholomew? What’s happening?
Bartholomew: I’m focusing...
Lyle: I’ll explain later-Alma~ <3
Alma: Annika!! Let me say somethin’ first!!
Annika: Huh-what? What’s going on?? What do you want!?
Alma: Oooh, someone’s agitated...!
Annika: O-of course I am! I can’t... why can’t I sense Giratina-WHAT DID YOU DO?
Alma: Sorry, but out of the six of us here, I’m the normal one, besides, I wanted to ask how you managed to do any of this while being half asleep and all anxious? You’re amazing, you should teach me when we get out of this mess-because come on-you CAN’T kill us.
Annika: I-I can!
Alma: Nah~
Annika: AAgh-
Damaris: It sounds like you’re a poor Proxy. I can’t imagine how or why Giratina chose you.
Annika: A-and you think you’d be better at this?!
Damaris: Actually, yes, I would’ve been, I could’ve been, I was going to be, but no...
Alma: Wait, what?
Annika: Huh??
Damaris: Why don’t I tell you a story before you brutally murder us, Annika?
Annika: U-um... I... what??
Gareth: I have a lot of questions...
Lyle: I know you do, actually, I do too... but that’ll wait-Carla~~
Annika: Huh-
Carla: Hi-
Annika: W-what, bu-
Carla: ... Okay... bleeding out...
Carla: Need to borrow more...
Lyle: Whoooh...!
Gareth: Are we sure she’s not a Proxy too? It only seems logical at this point...
Alma: Holy shit Carla...!
Damaris: Hmm...
Bartholomew: Carla-
Lyle: Focus on getting us out of this mess, Bartholomew, please~?
Bartholomew: R-right...
Bartholomew: How can you be at your limit already?
Damaris: I agree-and we need to find something to dress those wounds with...
Alma: There should be some storage boxes nearby, I think I saw some-
Carla: This was a storeroom before this... should be something there-and, I used up everything for Heal Pulse... Psychic didn’t work out well...
Bartholomew: Carla...
Carla: I’ll be okay...
Gareth: Huh... By the way-
Carla/Bartholomew: ...
Lyle: Alright.
Bartholomew: So this is your “Proxy Power” deal?
Gareth: I guess? For me, it’s more, I gained control of what Team Rocket wanted me to be.
Lyle: Koko’s power is uncomfortable, so let’s form a plan and... understand what’s the situation, quickly. Can’t say how long Annika’ll stay missing.
Gareth: I think she’s running away, her energy is heading down the mountain we’re on.
Lyle: Lovely, we need to hurry then.
Carla: Wait, Barto, I have a question-
Bartholomew: It’s a “gift” from my father-I think Lyle was on-to something with the “Sleeper Agent” thing.
Carla: So, is Terry-
Bartholomew: Probably the same situation-Alan too.
Carla: Huh...
Bartholomew: But your eyes-are you going to become a Shadow Pokemon now?
Carla: I’m... more or less borrowing power, so... hopefully no.
I love this and hate this now because I see an error days later and it’d require me redoing the text to fix it and I don’t... remember... what... I... did.
Let’s get this very slow moving show on the road, yes?
Alma: I’ve never seen any attack that big... no one in Sinnoh can do that...
Annika: We’ll figure it out later! Run Alma!!!
Lyle: That doesn’t appear to be the case... They’re just watching. I wonder why they’re so focused on your old HQ... hmm?
Annika: I... wouldn’t... know....
Troy: ...
Alma: It doesn’t matter anymore; what the hell did you do?!
Lyle: Me? Ah... what I did was called a “Z-Move”. Commonly, to avoid extreme strain, it’s done with a human partner, which allows us Pokemon to unleash immense power in the form of huge attacks like that. I achieved my ability to use Z-Moves without a partner through rigorous training with our guardian deities, the Tapu... nearly died a few times, but Troy, myself and all of our old friends can indeed utilize Z-Moves without our old trainer. Mines is exclusive to my species and is called: Oceanic Operetta~
Alma: Sounds dumb...
Lyle: As does your decision to fight a Regi...
Alma: That was a Regi?! Why does it look weird?!
Gareth: I guess it’d be a ‘shiny’... they all likely were.
Damaris: And powerful...
Lyle: Really? It didn’t seem that strong...
Damaris: Rrrgh...
Lyle: Anyway, I understand not knowing about Z-Moves... though, I am curious, Alma, can’t you Mega Evolve? I feel like a Strident Knight should have access to that kind of power at least, right?
Troy: Hmm, that’s true, but...
Everyone: ....
Lyle: .... .... ....
Troy: Lyle... The Castform-
Lyle: Well, such a concept doesn’t commonly exist in your regions, so I guess it’s safe to assume you wouldn’t know about it... but trainers are curious humans... they like to tamper with the norm... you’re all saying... you’ve never seen a Pokemon Mega Evolve? Ever? None of your subordinates? None? Ever? Not even the item that triggers it? No Pokemon-especially in Sinnoh-there are a couple Sinnohian Pokemon that can do it-ever spontaneously achieved it in alternate ways? Nothing??
Gareth: Other than my ability to temporarily evolve with this orb... no.
Lyle: ... ... ... ... ... ... The Tapu were right...
Gareth: What-
Troy: Let’s drop this topic for now.
Gareth: I’d rather not...
Lyle: ... ... ...
Gareth: What did you mean by that?
Lyle: Ask our ‘great king’...
Gareth: ... I thought we agreed-
Lyle: To work together towards our Strident Knight goals-not disclosing information such as this; if you want to know more about it, ask the King-he should know the process better than I would, Alolans use Z-Moves.
???: Oh, I see... well, I'm glad you're alright, but... you came here for a reason, yes? So late though...
King: Well, it was morning on the other side of the world, you know, Kalos, but...
[One Explanation Later...]
???: Oh... oh wow...
King: Yes, it's a bit... difficult to take it all in, just experiencing it all was too much to process, honestly, but...
King: I... didn't expect to see anyone here, it'd give me time to rest, but, here you are...
???: W-well, I...
King: I thought you'd found a successor by now, this was only supposed to be a temporary spot for you... unless-
???: ...
King: You've been at this for a few years now, Annika... I need you to stop, if I have to appoint someone-
Annika: They're scared.
King: ...
Annika: Not only did the former Prince's death lead to anxiety here, stories and rumors about Alma's team spread pretty far...
King: Even here...?
Annika: Every HQ knows at least some of the story revolving around Alma and Yoshi... how he convinced two of Alma’s allies-his friends-to leave on some suicide mission, never to be seen again, and not just them-all of these missing Knights... some of them turn up, but, they'd no sooner fight to the death than come back here... they... they don't want ANYTHING to do with the Knights after that fight with the Machine... and all these new revelations?
Someone strong enough to best you? Some sort of situation where Shadow Pokemon can come from likely anyone? The fact that... Alma's old team members actually are... It's... all, just a bit overwhelming, the questions they all ask here, just imagine them now...
King: ... I'm sorry-
Annika: I-It's not your fault...! Oh no, I didn't mean to imply that-I shouldn't have ranted either, I'm sorry!
King: No, no you're right... I understand your former position as a Lord left you... with much less stress and, my actions in the past put a lot of Pokemon in danger and Team Machine took full advantage of that... so many were lost or are still missing... I'd understand if you'd like to resign-
Annika: You ask me that every time you show up here, King... it's fine!
King: ...?
Annika: I'll be fine, I promise. I just... need some sleep is all... hehe!
King: ... Right... I think I can make the last leg of my trip... but, Annika, I don't care if you're late to this meeting-just get some sleep, get away for a few hours... anything... please.
