victory_road | WHO'S THAT POKEMON?

"So, are they anything like these Mega Stone things we get?" Dare was now trying to get Shiron to play with them.

Listening to Lillie explain it, it all seemed rather over dramatic to Diana. "So what's that got to do with the poses?"

"If I don't leash my 30 dogs I ain't leashing the kid. Plus of you wanna try and wrangle her into one, be my guest. She bites."

Gaia is helping herself to some if the ever present snacks in Diana's bag.

"You want more?" Diana cocks her head and twitches her fluffy ears. "I figured we were passed the point of seeking out more shit. Since it just comes for us anyway."

"So, other regions do have their own Leagues. I wonder why Johto and Kanto share one."

She watched his demeanor change. "Recovering? Ah, I see. Suffered a loss or two? Well, that's to be expected in large competitions, isn't it?"

He mentioned a term she'd not really heard used before. "Conference? Does that mean there are different rules?"

Well, from everything I've heard from those who jump back and forth frequently, time in your own world won't move along without you.

So, I suppose you could think of this as a mini vacation. Especially if things are being 'a lot' back home.

She shrugs. "It is what it is."

Her brow furrows. "I see. And what about the Pokemon that live with him?"

She less concerned about the people. Human collateral damage had never really been an issue for her, besides, people couldn't die here.

As fast as the Fastball Special was, Rowlet was incredibly fast, the small ball of feathers slipping in behind the attack and vanishing from sight as the Absol passed by harmlessly. Without warning, he reappeared behind Incineroar and slammed into the back of his head with powerful talons with a loud hoot, the only warning he would get.

Pikachu dodged the night slash as he launched himself into the air as Ash replied, "I'm also real good at thinking on my feet! Pikachu, ground Absol with Electro-WEB!"

Pikachu spun once on its axis, firing a ball of electricity from its tail without any wind up, and it shot towards Absol, exploding into a large net that would expand to capture Absol -- a completely misleading move from it's original intent of Electroball.

"Now Rowlet, SEED BOMB!"

Soaring behind Incineroar, Rowlet flew upwards and fired a energy-laden projectile, the Everstone poised to smash into Incinerorar's forehead if he was unprepared for the attack as Ash smirked, changing direction to parkour across a car.

"It shared one in my world too," said Ash with a nod of confirmation. "Same area, Victory Road as well. I competed in the Conference twice."

"It's a little more complicated than that," he said with a quiet intensity before his expression flickered back to normal. "A Conference is a round robin tournament with multiple trainers. We battle one another until the top trainer is crowned the Champion of the Conference. The last two I placed fairly well, but the last three, Sinnoh, Unova and Kalos I'd like to put behind me Conference wise."

"They're similar, but they come from a completely different subsect of power. If anything, Megastones focus on Evolution, while Z-Crystals are..." Lillie thought for a moment before saying, "More spiritual."

"The Z-Crystal and Z-moves are all combined into one. Each Z-Move is focused into the fighting spirit which is focused into the Pokemon, mind and spirit. Shiron, shall we demonstrate?"

Shiron nodded as she looked up at where she was jumping with Dare. "Coo!" exclaimed Shiron.

"All right. If you give me a moment."

Taking out the Z-Crystal from her purse, she fixed it onto her bracelet with a soft clink. Stepping a few feet away, Shiron stepped forward and cooed softly. "You're right, I can do this!"

Breathing in, she exclaimed, "Here we go!" as she crossed her arms and light flared from her wrists and body, a symbol flashing into being as she and Shiron started moving as one.

"Snow slightly fluttering down from the heavens... countless glimmering crystals of ice... O, freezing Z that covers the land... Along with my heated soul, return now once more to the heavens!"

Power raged from Lillie's body as power built, a cascade of Z-Energy as it flared towards Shiron as the symbol appeared -- but suddenly the energy cut out as it shattered.

Lillie sighed. "That's about as far as I've gotten so far... I haven't mastered it yet."

[ Pikachu makes one of his astounding leaps and dodges away, squirming free from the grasp of the girl as he exclaims, ]

You're not listening to me!

Chu!

Replies Pichu,[ defending his friend as he sends a bolt of thundershock at both opponents. ]

"Normal. Don't let the name fool you kid, they're tough as nails. Capable of powerful moves, rest, sing, even roll out. Oh boy rollout."

"I've got sacs in my cheeks, they're full of electricity. Well, they would be but I can't remember how to use them cause I've got Amnesia." said Pikachu. "Genuine Amnesia. Can't remember most of my past, or how to use abilities."

[There's a pause.]

I don't know.

[Well, there's an oddity--Egon saying that he doesn't know something. Egon allows Sigourney to prod at the PKE meter, thinking. If he could frown, he would.]

Give me a second.

[He hands off the PKE meter to Sigourney, reaching out mental hands towards the entity currently haunting Venkman's bag in an attempt to communicate. His grip on these newfound powers is tenuous at best, but having a big brain's gotta count towards something, right?]

[Well, not any card that Juno was hoping for, but maybe he can squeak by with some high cards and a straight on the table...? He fights back the urge to grimace as he raises--yet again. He's definitely pushing his luck here. The man across from him may as well be wearing a mask--he can barely tell what's going on behind that guy's head. In a situation like this, he wouldn't really mind having a horrible mind-reading Martian parasite attached to the back of his eye right now.

...Come to think of it, he hasn't so much as seen the man blink. Or breathe. Or, like...do anything that a human being is supposed to do. Alarm bells go off in his head--an unfamiliar situation dealing with an unfamiliar foe. Great, Steel. You stuck your nose where you probably won't be able to get it out.

But how can you reveal the cover of someone fake without alerting them? He stays quiet for now, waiting for the stranger to slip up. He--or, it, whatever it is--has to make a mistake sometime.]

[He's a little nervous to be back here, but he does miss his pokemon and everyone here.He gives a little wave and comes on through the doorway.]

Just now-- Came as soon as I could.

[OH GOD. Crushing wrestle cat hug. Keith would normally have no issue, but he forgets this place sort of dampens his alien strength. So what would normally be a fun time is instead a crushing of his lungs.]

Okay-- [He wheezes it out, patting the Incineroar's back.] Okay-- Yes, I'm here, hi.

We're expected to face most battles alongside our Pokémon, which works well enough against others of their kind or against honorable opponents... But we've previously been attacked by extremist groups that aimed to reshape the world, along with career criminals that will not hesitate to steal pet cats from civilians.

[He shoots a look at the Meowth as he speaks. An attack from Team Rocket is unlikely this weekend, but better warned than robbed.]

Still, have no fear. If the officers try to give you trouble, I'll have a word with them. Or post your bail, if they insist on being strict.

Thanks, Egon. That's not terrifying to hear from you at all.

[Sigourney fumbles with the PKE Meter for a moment before she has it levitating at good level. She turns some knobs, and the meter screeches for a moment before cutting off abruptly. That's probably fine.

... There's definitely something in the bag, though it mentally shies away from Egon reaching out- closing up mental walls and hiding. Whatever it is, it doesn't want to be seen or communicated with.]

[Hmmm. Interesting. Egon pulls back into his own mind and taps his hand against where his chin should be, turning to face Venkman.]

Well, whatever it is, it doesn't want to come out right now. It could be ultimately harmless. Or it could be merely planning for you to show weakness before it takes advantage of the situation at hand.

[He doesn't seem terribly concerned about this.]

Sigourney, do you mind giving me the meter back?

[Somehow, the Aggron manages to pull off Shiro's Tired Dad Look. No mean feat when your face isn't as expressive as a normal human's. But maybe that will help erase any further doubt.]

[Luna perks up at the fluttering. Only to have Shiro gently pat her down again.]

[Then, deliberately he nods. Shrugs. And shakes his head. All in that order. Yes, it's him. He doesn't know about the others. He doesn't know if they've changed too.]

Jesus Christ- thanks. I love you too.

[Venkman grimaces down at his bag, idly scratching at a few patchy scales on Georgie's forehead protrusions- signs of an oncoming shed.]

So I've got a ghost in my bag, and I'm just supposed to let it chill here?

[Sigourney does not give the meter back. In fact, it doesn't look like she even heard Egon- she's too absorbed in the meter's settings.]

[Shiro's muscle cat only slightly loosens her hold. Breathing is important, tiny friend! As is stretching! But more importantly, someone needs to see you.]

[So please excuse her if she just. Carries him inside. Making sounds that probably should come from a tiger, not a pokemon. Into the kitchen...]

-- what is it?

[Is the tired-sounding response from the guy up to his elbows in the sink.]

"Hey! Why'd you keep someone all trapped like that in that itty bitty ball?" she protested. She ran to try and put herself between the pokemon and the trainer. "Don't you know that's cruel and usual punishment."

"But you remember all this stuff about pokemon and how things should work. Carlos... wanted to mention the oddness of sing being considered powerful and ask what rollout was, but... well Audrey would have argued that singing was a strength until everyone's ears bled. He was sure. And besides, the amnesia thing was more interesting.

"Now we need to find a library for sure. There are different types of amnesia, but I don't recall off hand which is which."

[He's definitely not breathing. He's barely even moving, and what little movements he does make are purely for the sake of the game. This human shell is a perfect mask of any of Venkman's own tells, with one fatal flaw- it's too good. He's cheating without even altering the cards.

All things considered, Venkman's got plenty of Pay Day money to burn. He raises one last time, and for the first time since arriving at this table, the human shell grins- ever so slightly. If Juno pays close attention, he'll notice a glint of sharp teeth.

The remaining bikers fold, grumbling- all except for one, who raises as well. The river card is revealed:

Nine of Diamonds.]

Well, yes. Also, we're not sure whether or not it's a ghost. If this entity has been in your presence for the last few days, weeks, or months, then logically, it wouldn't pose a risk towards you.

[Says the guy who willingly wears unlicensed nuclear accelerators on his back for a job. Who ever heard of radiation poisoning? Egon turns to face Sigourney, slightly concerned.]

Sigourney, please.

WHO'S THAT POKEMON?

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Unusual, Gos. Unusual.... No matter what you think about being grounded, it isn't the same.

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