Victory Road!

What’s this? There’s glitter in the air. What’s this? There’s dresses everywhere.

Oh right. It’s Prom time.



From the afternoon on, on Friday the 7th of April, your characters will all be arriving at Tohjo Falls via the transport arranged for by Lance. He did end up borrowing a few of those Corviknights from the JKBA, but there are also several of you who will find themselves flown to the Falls by one of Lance’s Dragonites or Charizards. Please give them a poffin if you are able, they are all very good boys and girls.


Your characters will be set down on a tiled driveway (more like flyway, Ha) in front of an impressive-looking villa. Those who have been here before might note that the villa has gotten a bit of a renovation and an update. Turns out that when Team Rocket kidnaps you and keeps you captive in your own home for several weeks while wrecking the house and digging Arceus knows how many basements beneath the house, you might be entitled to some compensation.

And from the looks of things, Lance and co used that compensation to turn their little vacation home back into something where they can relax in peace.

After you arrive, you’ll be greeted by Lance or one of the other Elite Four members, who will give you a quick run-down. You are free to explore the house and surrounding area at your leisure. Please respect their privacy and do not go into any of the locked rooms. You’ll find your accommodations behind the house, so feel free to head there and unpack. Oh, and, there will be a little announcement later, so if you could be in the dining room for that, that’d be stellar.

Well, off you go!




WELCOME (BACK) TO THE FALLS


( The sights )


( The announcement )

As promised in the mysterious invitation, on March the First, every breeder (and potential guests) interested in attending, will be met by a flying taxi -- not a standard UBIRD this time, but instead a stately fleet of Corviknights, each carrying a small carriage. There is no further explanation inside the carriages or by the silent drivers of each carriage (no matter how much your character might try!). Instead, all you can do is take a flight of fate.


-*-


The Corviknight taxis will carry your character to Kanto, to an area on the outskirts of Viridian City, where one can find several large and old mansions. Your characters will be brought to the garden of the largest of these mansions, where a small fleet of uniformed servants and their Indeedee are waiting to lead you inside to a large, ornate tea room.

Listen, some of your may have attended the prom hosted by Riegfried and Soy. If you did, then you'll have been surrounded by wealth once. The wealth on display here though is different; where Riegfried and Soy's wealth is new, almost playful, this is Old Wealth. Its stately mansions and hereditary titles and extremely fancy little finger sandwiches served on even fancier little plates.

Frankly, unless you are already used to this sort of thing, it's somewhat uncomfortable.


-*-


Waiting, as your characters are lead into the tea room and onto old, expensive chairs, is an old man and a young woman. A regal Nineties sits at his side, while an adorable little Alolan Vulpix rests on a silk pillow besides her. Both are dressed to the nines, though the man's clothing is far more stuffy than that of his companion. His expression too lacks her warm and open excitement; instead he regards everybody with a stiff expression that best can be described as 'Oh, must we?'. You get the sense that the only reason he is not rolling his eyes at all of this is because he was brought up better.

It's his female companion who takes command of the situation though, clapping her (finely gloved) hands together to call for everybody's attention.


"Welcome all. Thank you for responding to mine and my uncle's--"


( "My uncle and mine's, do speak properly, Honoria." comes the sotto voce interjection, though this Honoria cheerfully ignores it)


"-- invitation. I'm certain you are all familiar with our fine work--" At the undoubtedly confused faces, she looks a tiny bit crestfallen. "No? Oh heavens. Then please allow me to introduce ourselves! I'm Honoria Ameliá Hornsbury, and this is my uncle Reginald Archibald Hornsbury the Third. We are the present chairs of the Johtonian-Kantonian Breeders Association. The JKBA has a long history of uniting the best breeders in our combined regions under a single banner."


"Rightly so!" Reginald takes over, his hands folded on the head of his cane, and his expression can only be described as 'resting patronising'. "Ours are not common breeders. The pokemon produced by the JKBA are the finest and most skilled pokemon around. For generations we've strived to better ourselves and our pokemon; to create pedigrees any trainer could be proud to own! Not that I'm sure many of you here would understand the importance of such a thing."


Honoria swiftly cuts in again. "Uncle, you promised to be nice!" And then back to the crowd with a big, bright smile. "Yes, the JKBA has always strived to be a gathering of only the best of the best. Up until now, membership of the JKBA was not open to, ah, individuals like yourself. But I believe it is time for a change! And my uncle has agreed to agree with me. So, as of this moment, JKBA applications are open to you far-flung travellers from beyond the stars! On your tables, you'll find more information about our darling Association for you to peruse and consider." And yep, there it is -- fancy little booklets silently and swiftly supplied by the waiting staff. "I, for one, would certainly love to see you among our number."