ID: 1
Username: Pixelmancer
Title: What Remains
Steely gray eyes peered up from the sea-stained slip of paper, the shock of crimson hair discernible even through the crinkles weathering the image - a copy of a copy. Scowling. Haggard. Bags under his eyes. Eerily familiar.
“We don’t know how the League got ‘em, but they did. Chummed the waters something fierce.” Archie huffed out a disbelieving laugh as they overlooked Slateport, blending in easily among the leisure fishing vessels. “Got my suspicions, though.”
She smiled. “Am I to make a guess?”
“If ya like!” He laughed again, to which they both shook their heads. There was no need. The levity was brief, and Archie sobered quickly. “But if that boy steps outta line, you think you can do it?”
Her thumb brushed over the boy’s portrait - the symbol of the enemy emblazoned on the upper right. She tried to muster the familiar embers of her Ideal, feel it focus her, guide her path. It wouldn’t come.
“I may. If he deserves that fate.”
The man stopped short. “If?”
Durand clasped the shard of a fossil in her palm, eyes dark. “If I cannot grant clemency even to children, exactly what world is it that I fight for?”
ID: 4
Username: Bronze | bronzekat
Title: To Tumble a Tower
Crouching in shadows thrown by flickering lanterns, Chiyo heard the heavy footsteps of the third pair of patrolmen to pass by recede. One more and she’d have an opening. In her cloaked grasp, her young Houndour Hikaru stayed still and silent.
She bit back curses against Jirou, who defected and stole the Society’s registry. Chiyo was another of the Society’s few contacts among the Palatine retinues; she scrambled after him, but she caught up only as he was discreetly admitted into the Brass Tower. Wild panic nearly overtook her: Tsuki had their monks everywhere; they’d arrest them all in hours if she couldn’t stop it. Memories of blood-spattered vines flashed in her dark eyes.
What to do now? Their plan… She calculated her options, her cold expression drawn taut. She’d have to do it herself then, here and now: torch the Towers of tyranny, destroy the sacred roosts whose power these cruel despots claimed. On their pyre Ecruteak would be cleansed of the aristocratic plague, reborn in the fraternal League.
Hikaru whined morosely. Chiyo caressed him, smiling wanly. They won’t live to see dawn. But the Towers must tumble, no matter the cost, so that Ecruteak can rise in light.
ID: 5
Username: Screamachine
Title: Beat The Heat
“This blows,” Ash gasped, voice grittier than usual as he baked in the heat that was Lavaridge post-Groudon.
To put it mildly, it was hot.
To put it accurately, Ash felt like he was being boiled alive and every second he was outside was worse than death, and he knew a thing or two about dying.
Flannery wasn’t making it any easier.
She giggled like a schoolgirl at his drained expression, dumping another bottle of water over her head for good measure.
“Don’t be such a crybaby, Ash!” She laughed, shaking the excess moisture out of her hair like a Growlithe. “I’ve been dealing with this for weeks, get used to it!”
Ash just rolled his eyes, too tired to think of a comeback. Truthfully the residual heat from Groudon’s tantrum wasn’t that bad (if you ignored the negative humidity that was turning him into a raisin).
No, the real problem came from the uncontrollable blush that erupted across his face whenever he looked at Flannery - or more accurately, her outfit.
And judging by the teasing smirk on his best friend’s face, she knew exactly what she was doing.
At least she had found her way to beat the heat.
ID: 6
Username: Umbreon | Umbreon717
Title: MissingNo
Flesh withered and rotted on the dirtied sands, cracked stone melting into desiccated growth weaving onto broken scales. The lush jungle behind the dead thing bore the scars of its passage, trampled saplings and dissolving flora leaving a trail towards its origin. Scorch marks extended out dozens of feet from where it had ended.
It had gotten so close to the ocean before it was stopped.
Four forms trod towards the corpse, men in dark uniforms with carefully broken tools following behind them. The taller of the two crouched down to inspect the broken restraints still on the grey flesh of the corpse.
"Damn thing slipped out of its tube." The one crouching said, the dead-eyed Arcanine behind him twitching at the sound of his voice.
"Son of a bitch, which iteration was it this time?" The man standing said, the Golduck behind him swaying in the tropical heat.
"Hell if I know. It must have copied a Weepinbell or something, the ID tag is too warped to read.” The first man said as he stood.
“That’s not our problem anyway. Only thing we need to concern ourselves with is making sure nothing leaves New Island without the boss’s say-so.”
ID: 10
Username: Joker | Jokerx6
Title: Free
She was finally free.
After all these years, trapped in the Lily-of-the-Valley. A throne that was really nothing more than a gilded cage. Caroline's little brat had come, stepped in and took her place, and let her free.
She couldn't wait a moment longer. Bertha could handle the transition. Spectres should never be contained. She fled the Lily-of-the-Valley, barely acknowledging Bertha's request to keep in touch, fleeing until she dived into Coronet.
Deep within Coronet, where no human had walked for centuries, her team by her side, she finally stopped.
In front of them, stood a shimmering rainbow barrier. The stone she flung in, floating within the barrier, speeding forward, then slowly reversing its path, confirmed her suspicion.
“A Space-Time Distortion.” She whispered, excitement building up within her unlike anything she felt in years.
"Everyone, Distortion Field!" Together, they trudged through the barrier, protected by the multitude of barriers her team threw up, woven together into one by Weaves-Echoes-of-Calamity.
They finally emerged into a completely new world. An Albaster Iceland, with Sneasel packs that darted around lumbering Avalugg, both only existing as specimens in the Lily-of-the-Valley Museum. Pokemon as far as the eye could see.
Caroline would be so jealous.
ID: 11
Username: Northern | Northernwind
Title: The Last Drop
Only stars remained, little blobs of psychic energy that she could see with her mind. Around her, the fight was ending. Gardevoir felt another star fade as Mienshao was torn apart by the Traitor’s Houndoom.
“This was your plan?” The Traitor laughed.
Jacqueline screamed. Gardevoir could do nothing but lie there, body broken, as her sister hurt.
“Did you really expect to achieve anything?” She was so certain of her success. “Houndoom!”
It roared and charged. Gardevoir could see where it should have existed. They wouldn’t be able to stop it. The enemy was content with just watching. Fools.
This war wouldn’t end until they were all dead.
She unleashed every last drop of energy that remained and made it crash into the beast that would slaughter Jacqueline, Laurent and Corin. That would kill those that remained.
Her body cracked and withered, the strain far too much. It was enough.
A wave of Not surrounded her family. Then they were gone. Safe.
Gardevoir lay there, blackened and bloodied.
“Kill it.” Words said through clenched teeth.
Gardevoir looked at where the voice had come from and grinned. One day they’d have their justice.
Perhaps she would be watching from the stars.
ID: 12
Username: Point Me At The Sky
Title: Leaving The Nest
For centuries he had remained at Lake Acuity. He had meditated, learning more about the workings of the world. He had spread his hard-earned knowledge amongst the Learned.
He felt the Abomination battle with the Guardian of Life in distant Kanto.
He felt Fire, Ice, and Lightning clashing for dominance. He felt a human gain the title of Storm-Tamer.
The Concepts were awakening.
A human met him. How long had it been since he had spoken with one that was not amongst the Learned?
The human Saw him. How interesting!
The human introduced herself as Cynthia. She had come for answers.
She offered to take him with her. He had doubts. Did he truly wish to leave his solitude?
She offered to show him how the world had changed. She defeated him in combat. He accepted her offer.
She offered him a new name.
Mint Chocolate Chip? What did that mean? Cynthia smiled.
This is the type of food that is available nowadays? I should have left Lake Acuity years ago!
Cynthia smiled. The Learned had told her about his love for pastries.
Showing him what a true delicacy was had become her first goal when he’d joined her.
ID: 13
Username: Jellicent Fanatic | Why Try For Quality
Title: Games Night
Mewtwo roared with cold fury as millions of dollars of property erupted into flames. He focused his thoughts and a residential block was disassembled into a fine dust. His hand twitched, and every home within sight imploded in on itself.
YOU ARE CHEATING!
Mewtwo thundered at the guardians of Life and Casualty, eyes ablaze with hateful power. His unwanted companions were content to ignore him as they recreated the monopoly board from the ashes he had reduced it to.
Mew. I know you are aware of this. Why do you allow it to continue?
Mew continued to ignore him as the game board was reset, while Victini giggled its denial.
Do not play dumb, Guardian of Causality. My patience grows thin.
Look Mew, he's learning patience already! You must be so proud!
Mewtwo clenched his teeth and focused his thoughts elsewhere. Whatever inane nonsense Ash Ketchum had embroiled himself in was no doubt more worthy of his time than this obnoxious creature.
Earth to Mewtwo! It's your turn! What could possibly be more interesting than your 97th straight loss?
Mewtwo sighed and returned his attention to he game. Even Giovanni's spawn deserved better fortune than the attention of its embodiment
ID: 17
Username: Omni | _omniman1
Title: Paraflinching
“Fae, use Thunder Wave!” The boy in his mid-teens called out. He had a pretty strong looking Togekiss, something Ash seldom saw a trainer use. Regardless, he was curious and didn’t indicate for Oz to dodge, letting the move engulf his Electivire harmlessly.
“Now, Air Slash!” It was then Ash realized exactly what he was dealing with, and he sighed, rubbing his temple. Inwardly, though, he was gleeful at the chance. It was time to teach these trainers who relied on this strategy a big lesson.
“Yeah no, I’m not having that.” Ash deadpanned. “Thunder Punch, finish her off.”
There was no room for the Togekiss to dodge. Oz simply ignored the Air Slash and slammed a Thunderpunch in Togekiss’ face sending it packing. Even before the opposing trainer could register what had happened, Ash cut to the chase.
“Paraflinching, really? You live too much in the simulation world.” Ash deadpanned at the shellshocked trainer. “Any well-trained Pokemon can overcome flinching, and paralysis and Serene Grace are too unreliable to be counted upon. This is not a kid’s game, so don’t waste everyone’s time being a smartass and get real.”
That perfectly summed up his thoughts on Paraflinching.
ID: 18
Username: Asmodeus | princeasmodeus0666
Title: Fanning the Flame
Raucous laughter could be heard inside a room that heavily resembled a furnace, coming from a red haired trainer wearing a yellow vest. Around him, several Fire-type Pokémon were gathered.
Trainer and Pokémon were both hunched above a Pokenav watching a single scene of a battle on repeat.
A massive Machamp with a black belt tied to its waist granting a poor Swampert the ability to fly.
“Can't wait for this guy to come to Sinnoh! You guys agree?” The Pokémon Master asked with an excited voice, only to get deafened by the chorus of agreeing grunts and roars around him.
Ash Ketchum was center stage on the Sinnoh Elite’s radar ever since he beat Fino Moore in a full battle. The Fire Master longed for a worthy challenge outside of his fellow Elites.
Soon.
An immense, unbearable heat broke him out of his musings and he and his family turned to look at the massive Magmortar that approached him. Its trainer already knew what it wanted.
“Of course, if nothing else, you will definitely get to battle him,” Elite Four Flint said as he brought up a glorious photograph of Infernus melting the very earth.
The Magmortar grinned maniacally.
ID: 19
Username: Zeraora | Zeraoratheknight
Title: Infernus
Since his birth, Infernus had hungered.
As Magby, he emerged from his egg and sought combat. Something within him needed it; the adrenaline that enveloped him even in the first suns of his youth was as necessary to him then as oxygen was to flame.
His first ascension was grand, but the hunger became grander. Magmar was foolish then; in seeking out greater heights, he found himself cast to the depths of misery by the Rocket scum. He no longer hungered; no longer lived.
But then, he arrived.
Magmar was “strong”, yes, but felt weak; that boy, however, saw something. The eyes of Ash looked upon the smoldering remnants he’d become, and, stick-by-stick, began to forge “Infernus” into a rampaging wildfire.
Time passed, and the hunger returned to him. But in his foolishness, he challenged Fire.
Now his life passed by his eyes, and he witnessed his mistakes and victories for the final time.
A voice, however, called to Infernus.
A mighty Magmortar stood ahead of him; tall, battle-scarred, mighty.
It extended a cannon, red-hot flames within.
Mine would be blue.
An overwhelming hunger filled him.
Infernus would ascend again, reborn by fire and flame.
And he would hunger forevermore.
ID: 20
Username: The Sound Defense |
Title: Flannery
Flannery wiped some sweat from her forehead as she stepped out of the Lavaridge Gym hot springs. Her face was flushed from the heat, which her bedroom only offered a slight reprieve from. There was no escaping heat in Lavaridge, but in the Fire-type gym it was practically smothering.
A distinct, familiar chime issued from her Pokénav, and her eyes reflexively lit up. She immediately reached for the device and opened it, blinking in surprise at the blurry, tilted image she had been sent. She could easily spot Sneasel - wait, Weavile?! - alongside a Garchomp, Ferrothorn, and Kommo-o. A familiar boy was cut off on the left side, while the right offered a glimpse of long blond hair and a black overcoat.
Flannery's eyes bugged out of her head.
"What in the bloody hell have you been up to, Ash Ketchum?!" she shouted, as a manic grin spread across her face. She fell backwards onto her bed and her thumbs began excitedly hammering out a reply, her heart quickening in her chest, as a hint of pink tinged her cheeks.
Amidst the overwhelming heat she was immersed in every day, there was one person who managed to make Flannery feel warm.