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adobe-outdesign · 3 years

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Reviews of All Scrapped Spaceword Betas

Exactly what it says in the title. This is also for my reference, as I might redesign some of these later for funsies.

I’m only including Pokemon that were 100% scrapped (we’re not here to argue what might have become what) and aren’t evos/pre-evos of existing Pokemon. Also, I’m using the English fan-translations for the names because I don’t speak Japanese.

Flambear/Volbear/Dynabear

Our original fire starter, and yeah, I can see why this was scrapped. For starters (heh), it looks more like a rodent that evolves into a lion than anything resembling a bear. And secondly... it doesn’t really have a clear focus, nor a memorable design. It’s just kind of a rodent-bear thing with flames tacked onto it.

The best Pokes usually have a "catch” to them, and these guys lack that. For example, this got replaced by Cyndaquil, which has the concept of flaming spikes that form out of its back. That’s memorable. This, well, isn’t.

Possible reason for being scrapped: Lack of focus/interesting design

Pokes to fill the void: Teddiursa and Ursaring are probably the closest in terms of being bears. Something about it also reminds me of Growlithe/Arcanine, probably because it’s a fluffy fire thing that evolves into a bigger fluffy fire thing with a mane and black markings.

Cruz/Aqua/Aquaria

This has the same problem as the Flambear line, just less extreme. It’s okay, being a little plesiosaur that evolves into a bigger plesiosaur, but it also lacks an interesting catch to it. The pearls are maybe something, but they’re not really emphasized, just kind of tacked on. Plus Dragonair kind of has the crystal neck ornaments on lock. And the horn. And the underbelly. And the water theme...

Whoops.

I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to a plesiosaur water starter in the future, but it would probably have to be completely redesigned.

Possible reason for being scrapped: Lack of focus/interesting design; too similar to Dragonair

Pokes to fill the void: Dragonair, as mentioned above. If you want a plesiosaur, Lapras is always a thing.

Putting the rest under the cut for length.

Sunmola1/Anchorage/Grotess

This is one of the most chaotic beta evolutions out there, aside from beta Girafarig. I can see the resemblance between Sunmola1 and Anchorage to some extent--counter-shaded blue fish with two fins and a short body--but the anchor part of the evolution comes out of nowhere. Then it sporadically turns into a gulper eel, which has nothing to do with the previous two evolutions at all.

I’ve heard some people suggest that Sunmola1 basically gets dragged into the depths and turns into a deep-sea creature due to its anchor, which is a fantastic idea. However, if that’s what they were going for here it’s not really clear, and I think it could be executed much better.

Individually, Sumola1 is a little plain. Not terrible, but I think they could do something more interesting with the little head thing. Anchorage is memorable, but there’s something very un-Pokemonish about it. I think it’s just the fact that it’s basically cut in half--I keep expecting the backsprite to show its organs or something. Grotess is also a bit too plain.

It’s also worth noting that at some point, this was the evolutionary line, which is more consistent but much less interesting (save for the middle evo’s eyes, which are pretty great).

Possible reason for being scrapped: Lack of evolutionary consistency; some designs plain or not very fitting for Pokemon

Pokes to fill the void: Alomomola is a sunfish Pokemon. Sharpedo is a shark crossed with an object, and Grotess almost certainly became Huntail and Gorebyss.

Rinring/Bellboyant

These two... are pretty good. They have a simple catch--black cats with bells--and the designs are nicely executed and memorable.

If I had one complaint, it’s that they maybe seems a tad unfocused in the backend of things. They’re dark types, but have a bunch of “cutesy” moves, and it’s not clear why’d they be dark apart from being black cats. They seem to have a magical girl vibe (Bellboyant looks a bit like Luna from Sailor Moon, which is probably not a coincidence), which also has nothing to do with the bells or the dark theme. I do think that the designs themselves are fine though, and that if you just focused on the sound concept a hair more you’d have a pretty great Pokemon.

Possible reason for being scrapped: Not entirely sure, these definitely would’ve been popular. Might’ve just been a balancing thing, or it lost the dev popularity contest.

Pokes to fill the void: Skitty kind of has the same vibe as Rinring. They also remind me a bit of the Meowth line, being cat Pokemon with metal attached to them. The Purrloin line takes over the “dark-type cat” aspect.

Bomseel

I’m torn on this one. On the one hand, it’s a very plain looking Pokemon. The idea of it balancing a fireball/bomb on its nose instead of a ball is clever and memorable enough... except that it’s dependent on it being on that pose. It can’t balance that 24/7, and once it stops all you’re left with is a plain sea lion with dark points.

However, it’s fire/water. The only fire/water we have right now is a legendary, so it would be sweet to have one that’s just a regular poke. So it’s not that the concept itself is bad, using a water-based animal and adding a fire type; it’s just more that the execution is lackluster. Give this guy a hook not related to the fireball and make the seal itself more interesting and I think you’d have something here.

Possible reason for being scrapped: Lack of interesting design

Pokes to fill the void: Volcanion is our only fire/water Pokemon for now. In terms of seals/sea lions with a circus theme, Popplio is a decent enough match.

Tigrette/Electiger

Someone at Gamefreak hates tigerballs, because this line was planned for Gen 1, scrapped, then planned for Gen 2 and scrapped again. Which is strange, because while it’s not the best design it’s not bad either. It’s very very cute, and could definitely find an audience.

However, I’m not really sure what the premise is here. If it’s based on tiger clay bells, then it doesn’t really play into the bell theme much at all. And if it’s not... why is it so round? It’s not that the roundness is bad, but it would usually form the hook for this Pokemon, like it collects static electricity in its fur that makes it puff out or something. Maybe some dex descriptions would’ve made this clearer, who knows.

Also, Electiger is literally the exact same design as Tigrette, just bigger. It would either need a completely new final evolution or would need to show up as a single evo.

While that sounds harsh, I do really like this design. Fix the evo, figure out/build on the hook of it being round or bell like, and maybe refine the markings a touch and it would be pretty perfect.

Possible reason for being scrapped: Not sure. Might’ve been too similar to Pikachu (both being yellow round electric type Pokemon with zig-zag tails, and og fat Pikachu was also very round). The need to rework the evolution also might’ve turned GameFreak off of it.

Pokes to fill the void: Spheal and Rowlet are both pleasantly round. Pikachu is cute and electric themed in a similar way. In terms of tigers, Raikou is also electric-type. The exact way the stripes are done here is also very similar to Litten.

Kurstraw/Pangshi

GameFreak. GameFreak, you are telling me that we almost had a voodoo-doll Pokemon based off of Ushi-no-Toki-Mairi that evolves into a fucking jiangshi panda?? You are killing me here.

A few interesting things to note here:

Kurstraw evolves at level 1. How? Why? No idea. It could just be a placeholder, but...

The fact that Kurstraw was set to have Curse as its signature move (then called “nail”) and that it only learned this move at level 100 makes it evolving at level 1 seem intentional.

To make things more confusing, it almost seems like (and this is speculation on my part) GameFreak’s intention was to encourage players to not evolve this thing. Stats are comparable, Kurstraw only gets its signature move if you level it up to where it can’t evolve, and Kurstraw has the better moveset (getting frigging destiny bond at lv. 16, while Pangshi gets... splash (which. makes more sense when you consider it’s called “hop” in Japan but it’s still useless). If that was what they were aiming for, then that’s a really unique mechanic that would really make this poke stand out.

Design wise, Kurstraw is... well, it’s a doll with a nail rammed through it. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not very Pokemon-ish. Meanwhile, Pangshi is maybe a little too much like a Jianshi rather than being reminiscent of one, right down to the little hat. The pose, fangs, and panda colors (which resemble Jiangshi mandarin robes) are more than enough to get the hook across.

What I really love about these two are the expressions. They are just like, so dissonantly happy. Kurstraw is literally like

and Pangshi has the dead-eyed thousand-yard stare of Espurr, except unlike Espurr it looks completely and utter deranged. It looks like if this Pokemon ended up in Mystery Dungeon, it would respond to every question with “my favorite color is blood”. Amazing.

Possible reason for being scrapped: I think these two might’ve been scrapped just because they were too scary. I mean, it’s a voodoo doll impaled on a giant nail that evolves into a literal actual corpse. The implied violence was probably just a bit much for GameFreak.

The reason I think this is, beside the fact that they have fairly solid designs, good hooks, and all of their stats and moves in place, most beta Pokemon have had their premises revisited at some point. But we’ve really never gotten a voodoo doll Pokemon since this, and we definitely haven’t gotten any jiangshi Pokemon either, which suggests the problem lied in the very concept rather than the execution.

Pokes to fill the void: People say that Kurstraw was reworked into Banette, but if anyone Pokemon resembles it to be, it would actually be Mimikyu. They both have cloth bodies with drawn-on smiley faces that resemble something cuter than them and they both want to curse you for existing.

For Pangshi... well, there’s Pancham if you’re looking for tiny pandas. If you’re after a jiangshi though, you’re out of luck.

Wolfman/Warwolf

This Pokemon has a great hook. I mean, a Pokemon that wears a pelt that transforms it into a werewolf? Hell yeah. Not to mention it might be a reference to an obscure Nordic tale about people donning wolf pelts to turn into wolves for ten days.

Design wise, it... well, Wolfman looks almost exactly like Venonat. I’m not the only one who sees this, right?

That aside, I think the idea could be played up a little more. Wolfman is fine, save for its Venonat-ishness, but Warwolf doesn’t do much for me, basically just being a larger version with claws and fangs. If the idea is that it turns into a werewolf by wearing the pelt, what if its evolution looked somewhat like a wolf? Or better yet, the actually body of the thing changes to fill the wolf skin more, so it looks like its a part of it? That would really elevate this Pokemon to a new level.

Possible reason for being scrapped: I’d guess that it’s the same problem as Kurstraw and Pangshi--too scary. I mean, that is a dead pelt of some kind, which means that it killed and skinned some kind of Pokemon, and that’s not getting into questions of what Pokemon they got that from.

It’s also worth noting that when we did finally get a werewolf Pokemon via Lycanroc, it was minus the pelt concept.

Pokes to fill the void: Lycanroc as our werewolf Pokemon. In terms of design, Venonat is very similar as noted above. And something about it really reminds me of Snorunt, being little critters with glowing eyes that wear a cloak of some kind and live in the cold (this line was ice-type).

#pokemon #pkmn #beta pokemon #pokemon gold and silver #pokemon gen 2 #outdesign posts things #god this ended up a lot longer than I intended it to #anyway I hope you enjoyed me rambling about concept art for 2k words

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sage-nebula · 2 years

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pokemon games :D

I was hoping someone would ask me about Pokémon!!

blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most)

ZINNIAAAA MY BELOVED. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are a lot of characters from these games that I love. Heck, there's a whole handful of them from the Galar games alone because the Galar games have a great cast (like Professor Sonia, my other beloved, who would be #2 on this list). But despite only appearing in the ORAS postgame, Zinnia is just . . . my ultimate blorbo. I love her so much. I love her, I love her culture, I love her, and I'm glad that Pokémon Evolutions FINALLY gave her the spotlight she deserved in animation, and in such a beautiful way, too.

scrunkly (my “baby”, character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped)

We will be here all day if I am allowed to name actual pokémon for this one. Between Charmander, and Furret, and Dreepy, and Umbreon, and Lapras, and Mimikyu, and . . . you get the picture. There are just too many babies. All pokémon are babies. It's a law of the universe, Arceus theirownself told me so.

But if we're talking human characters, then gut instinct says that it's a tossup between Emma and Marnie. Emma is basically the only Kalos character from the games that I really like; I adore everything about her and if Looker hadn't adopted her first, I would have. But I also really love Marnie, because between her cockney accent and the fact that she's the sweetest angel in the entire universe while trying so hard to be strong for her town . . . babie girl, babie.

scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave)

I mean, Zinnia is pretty damn underappreciated!! In fact, because a lot of people in the fandom have poor taste, I remember seeing quite a lot of hate for her back in the day. Thankfully, opinions on that seem to have changed with her inclusion in Masters and then Evolutions, but still. She doesn't get nearly the love (OR THE MERCH) she deserves. :( It's a real issue.

Other than Zinnia though, I think Morty and especially Eusine also count. I do think that Morty does have an all right number of fans due to his glowup in HGSS, but Johto as a whole tends to be overlooked and its Gym Leaders right along with it. And then Eusine is probably even more forgotten than Morty because he's not attractive at all. I love them both though, and I am waiting every day for Eusine to finally be added to Masters. (Hopefully with Suicune, please just give this man his day.)

glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won’t shut up about it for a week)

[SLAMS HANDS ON DESK] DO YOU REMEMBER JUGGLER IRWIN?

Juggler Irwin is this NPC in the Johto games who asks for your phone number after you battle him. And then, if you give it to him, he constantly calls to FLIRT WITH YOU, in ways that heavily imply he is stalking you. Like after you go sailing on the S.S. Anne, he calls you and is like "I saw you getting on the ship, you looked so beautiful with the sea as a backdrop~" He's so creepy and just stampedes over the line of what is an acceptable way to talk with someone you battled with a grand total of (1) time, but it's also so over the top that it's extremely memorable and, if he ever showed up again, I would just be like, OH HI JUGGLER IRWIN, I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD djsfdsl.

poor little meow meow (“problematic”/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave)

I mean, Zinnia would probably fit here again, but in the interest of picking a character who isn't her for once, let's go with Lear from Masters! I don't think that he's necessarily unpopular, but he is a little shit for the vast majority of the PML storyline and he is kind of pathetic as well, considering he started the entire tournament because he was salty that Red beat him, and then was so salty about it that he went aggro on any trainers who wore hats. Lear pls.

However, I'm not sure anyone in the series is as pathetic as Paulo. Poor, poor Paulo.

horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason)

If you put me in charge of the plinko basically the whole think will be filled with Kalos characters. Professor Sycamore (because remember this is for the games)? In the plinko. The rival squad? In the plinko. Diantha after she decided to defend Lysandre to a degree in the New Year's opening chats in Masters? In the plinko. But there are other characters from other regions that I would put in the plinko as well, such as Chairman Rose (for being a capitalist who monopolized an entire region), Lance (for being a dickhead who takes pleasure in assaulting people with his dragons), and Wally (whom I always forget about and so he's kind of in an emotional plinko by accident, sorry Wally).

eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell)

I would dropkick Lysandre into superhell so fast he would create a crater in superhell's floor. All of his admins who helped him attempt mass genocide (Malva, Xerosic, etc) are going with him. Joining him there is Lusamine (child and pokémon abuser), Ghetsis (child and pokémon abuser), and [Legends Arceus character redacted for spoilers]. Oh, and last but not least, Steven Stone for being perfectly fine with Devon Corporation for using Infinity Energy even though it's made from dead pokémon; for using racist microaggressions against Zinnia by calling her "the Draconid" after he already learned her name; and for taking Mega Rayquaza from Zinnia in Masters. I was going to put him through the plinko, but no, my dislike for him is too strong for that now, so into eeby deeby he goes.

#chidorinnnnn #blorbo meme #pokemon

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eldragon-x · 2 years

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for the ask game, 5, 7, 11, and 13!

Which Pokemon from Gen 7-8 would you consider potential hero/partner options, outside of the regular Starter Pokemon?

I know ghost-types are normally not an option because they can pass through dungeon walls, but outside of that, Mimikyu would be a perfect option from Gen7. It's cute and popular. As for Gen 8, I'd say Rookidee especially due to Corviknight's popularity and Nickit.

Favourite dungeon(s)?

Outside of final dungeons, I easily count Hidden Land (tho I guess it's close to a final dungeon) and Vast Ice Mountain to my favourites. The soundtrack is great and it's so atmospheric, especially considering the parts of the story you visit the dungeons in. Also!! Great Canyon. It’s nostalgic.

Any headcanons that take place after the games that you want to share?

There's too many but one I haven't really talked about is that I think Nuzleaf does eventually have a better relationship with Fix (my hero). Despite Dark Matter's influence, he grew genuinely attached to them and they're both willing to start over once some time has passed and Fix got a bit older. They consider Carracosta more of a father-figure at this point, but they still want to reconnect with Nuzleaf and Carracosta support them in that.

Free pass to talk about anything you want!

Since I finally recently got to play psmd, I could look more into how Krookodile is doing after ✨All That✨ and apparently he ends up no longer committing crimes, helps Miltank with work and is very hard-working in doing so, and gets himself a little crush on her. Good for him.

#pmd

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raeloganthesonic06fangirl · 3 years

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If Quackerjack were a Pokémon, which one would he be? Alternatively, if he were a trainer, what would his team be?

Well, that's already a well thought out choice on my part, lol.

I'd imagine if he was a Pokémon, he'd be a Farfetch'd, on account of being a silly little duck carrying around a produce based accessory that he can't function without.

As for what I'd imagine the team would be if he were a trainer if he were to be thrust into the Pokémon universe via shinnangins and he needs to adapt to survive this world, I've compiled a list in the past that has a good selection of Pokemon that either fit his aesthetic or would be appealing to him because it hits the right notes for him:

Pikachu line (electric rodents. This extends to all Pikachu inspired and Pikachu-esque pokemon, so if you don’t see those further down, I am indirectly naming them here)

Jigglypuff line (balloon)

Psyduck line (troubled ducks)

Farfetch’d (grumpy looking duck with produce based accessory)

Ghastly line (Gengar is a big, grinning prankster ghost, at least as I recall from earlier seasons)

Mr. Mime line (obvious visual aesthetics aside, there’s a performance element there he could have fun with)

Aipom line (big grins, playful, also cartoon monkeys are fun)

Hitmontop (… It’s a top. He likes retro toy things)

Wobbuffet line (… It looks like a bop bag)

Ralts line (Ralts has that whole emotional sensing thing, QuackerJack needs emotional support.)

Lotad line (Ludicolo is designed all around bouncy, fun dancing party and has a great hat)

Spoink line (Spoink needs to jump to stay alive until they evolve. It’s a piggy on a spring. He’d probably name it Pogo).

Spinda (happy dizzy twirling panda thing, playfulness is appealing)

Baltoy line (it’s a living spinning top)

Shuppet line (Banette is supposed to be an abandoned doll given life, that would instantly hit all his interests, he’d probably adopt it outright, and completely ignore that it’s bent on revenge)

Tropius (BANANA FACE)

Chimeco line (bells)

Drifloon line (balloons)

Chatot (chatty bird with nice ruffled neck fluff)

Swirlix line (you cannot tell me that he wouldn’t like the cotton candy pokemon, not for food reasons, but probably because the thing is soft and cuddly)

Sylveon (alright, probably all eeveelutions are valid for him, but this one responds to emotional state, and he needs something like that, also it has a ribbon aesthetic)

Pumpkaboo line (Halloween aesthetic much? I’m sure he likes Halloween, with all the costumes and candy and fun)

Popplio line (… I think you know why~)

Oncorio (… Dancing birds, the energy and all that is his sort of thing)

Stufful line (living “stuffed” animals)

Passimian (Gosh, can you imagine the sort of fun he’d have with a rugby playing lemur??)

Mimikyu (he’d be making it all sorts of cute and fun costumes)

Yamper line (electric and a puppy dog, and dogs are playful by nature)

Milcery line (freaking dessert creature, it can be a giant party cake!)

Morpeko (same reasons as Pikachu)

Also plausible

Any big-grinning pokemon

Any pokemon with frills and ruffles

Anything that fits the playful and/or performance arts aesthetic

Anything that immediately reminds him of his teammates

Blacephelon, but that's an Ultra Beast and I imagine that he wouldn't be that dedicated in collecting all the Pokémon through extreme measures. But that's definitely his visual appeal.

((Friendly reminder that QuackerJack has legit once said in his debut episode: "I could learn to like video games.", and I don't intend to let that actual quote that spilled out of his mouth be swept under the rug))

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imjeralee · 3 years

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Comfort in Despair: Chapter 18 - The Witch of Wedgehurst

Leon x F!Reader

Disclaimer: Do not own Pokemon

Summary:

Galar is rich in folklore and tales of the supernatural.

As a Pokemon Researcher who specialises in ghost types, this is a great opportunity for you to investigate and learn more about the paranormal.

Along the way, you meet Leon (in the most awkward way possible) who becomes embroiled in your adventures.

^ Basically this story is about ghosts :/

Rating: General/Teen

@marydragneell oh my goodness, I almost forgot to keep the tag list on my chapter updates. Sorry T_T

The Witch of Wedgehurst

...

["Oh please, say to me You'll let me be your man And please, say to me You'll let me hold your hand Now, let me hold your hand I want to hold your hand."

- I Want To Hold Your Hand, The Beatles]

…

In the laboratory, you are occupied with Leon’s flowers and Pokemon School is forgotten for now. You are keen to display them and intend to keep them for alive for as long as possible, and you grab a pair of scissors from Magnolia’s stationary tub and find a spare vase in the cupboard underneath the sink which you rinse out before you fill it with some water.

You’re not a professional at flower arranging in any manner whatsoever but you carefully unravel the cellophane and neatly take the flowers out one by one, placing them over the table until the bouquet rustles, and you suddenly hear a loud squeak.

“What was that?”

Looking up and around, the ghost pokemon haven’t seem to have noticed. Gengar and Runerigus are playing upstairs, shadow tag or something, whilst you have left Mimikyu on her own with pieces of blank paper and some felt-tip pens.

Perhaps you’d heard wrong.

With an inward shrug, you pull out another flower and the squeaking returns and it occurs to you it’s coming from within the bouquet so you gently pry some flowers apart and it’s then you see a tiny little yellow pokemon nestled within, blinking its massive, bright and wet eyes at you.

“Oh!” you exclaim, before you scoop the Sunkern out and hold it up in the base of your palms. “Oh my gosh, what are you doing here, little guy?”

It squeaks and jiggles up and down in your palm, shaking its two leaves happily.

“I wonder how long you were in there,” you murmur, before you gently place him over the surface of the table.

He ends up rolling around in a semi-circle and comes to a stop, lying on his back. Squeaking for you, he is unable to get up so you scoop him into your palms once more, inch a mug over and prop him up against the handle. He squeaks loudly with gratitude and you giggle.

“So cute…” you coo, as you reach over and pet him affectionately on the leaves. “You can stay right here with me.”

But he must be hungry and thirsty, you think, so you find Magnolia’s mini Phanpy watering can by one of the potted plants. It’s almost empty so you fill it in the sink and head over to your little Sunkern before you sprinkle some water over his leaves.

He blinks and looks up, then begins gulping some of the water and bounces up and down on the spot.

Pulling a seat out, you plop yourself down and pick up one of the flowers, snipping off an inch or so of the stem before you slip it into the awaiting vase.

The ghost pokemon eventually return to you, with Gengar slinking into one seat and Runerigus standing beside you and you smile at your pokemon as they gather around. Mimikyu pokes your arm with a claw and as you turn round, she's waving a piece of paper in the air; she wants to show you what she drew and you take the picture off her. It's a crude drawing of Mimikyu stabbing a Pikachu, complete with blood. Below, she has scribbled ‘Me Kill Pikachu’. You put the drawing down, then turn to Mimikyu who giggles and waves her tendrils around happily in the air.

“….I think I’m gonna keep an eye on you from now on,” you murmur but she merely snickers and climbs into a seat.

With a shadowy claw, she picks up a single flower before she's joined by Runerigus who copies her action, twirling the flower around in his fingers and Gengar does the same.

“Ohh, do you want to help me out?” you ask with a smile, and everyone nods. “Thank you, I would like that very much.”

The pokemon respond cheerfully and together, you work on preparing the bouquet which doesn't take long with your pokemon helping you. Mimikyu and Gengar pass you the flowers one by one and you snip the stems off carefully and pass it to Runerigus who slips it into the awaiting vase. You finish up in a few minutes or so, and Runerigus appears to have taken a liking to flower arrangement and his skills are impressive. He’s very careful and gentle with the flowers which you are grateful for and once the vase is full, you empty the packet of flower food supplied and pick the vase up.

“Now grow strong, my pretties,” you say with a cackle, and your pokemon join in, grinning and chortling by your side. “Alright, let’s go home.”

The pokemon cheer and Gengar leaps into your shadow whilst Mimikyu and Runerigus return to their capsules.

You want to display the vase in the house, somewhere in the conservatory where it can get as much sunlight as possible. Donning your jacket, you slip Sunkern into your pocket since he doesn't have a pokeball yet and when you ensure that he won't slip out, you smile as he squeaks and nestles himself into the small slot. He looks rather cosy and you proceed to switch off all the lights of the lab and inspect the space once more in case you forgot anything, then carefully scoop the vase up with one hand, close the door and lock it behind you.

As you pull the key out, a loud swoop penetrates the atmosphere along with an alarmed squeak from Sunkern; a dark shadow has appeared from literally out of nowhere and with claws out, it dives for your bouquet and proceeds to tear at the flowers before you can stop it.

The momentum knocks the vase out of your hands and it meets the concrete, shattering into various pieces.

"NOW!"

You're staring wordlessly at the mess on the ground and so you don't even notice the trio of youngsters who jump out from the bushes by the lab with a loud battle cry and their arms are full of little pebbles, which they promptly begin to toss at your direction.

"Witch!" they yell, "take this, you evil witch!!"

Their voices are so far away, your gaze transfixed on the destroyed bouquet at your feet.

Making no effort to avoid the stones, one sharp pebble in particular smacks you in the side of the head and the edge tears at your skin.

Gengar immediately emerges from your shadow on the door, his eyes glowing a furious red as he holds his arms out. The stones stop in mid-air, surrounded by a dark purple glow, before they go shooting the opposite direction and towards the kids. He is joined by Runerigus who leaves his capsule in a burst of light. He guards you, preventing any loose stones from hitting you; they smack into his large and rocky body instead though the pebbles are akin to a piece of cork being thrown against a brick wall, and he roars as loudly as he can at the children.

They wail and scream as Gengar pelts them in return with their own stones, and they spin on their heel to make a hasty retreat only to be met with Mimikyu.

"Pick on someone your own size!!" Mimikyu growls, before her ragdoll disguise splits into two, unleashing many shadowy tendrils to smack them on their rears as they scrabble away. Spearow follows them, who is promptly returned to its pokeball by one of the kids.

She attempts to chase after them but you say, "Mimikyu, stop."

"But-"

You shake your head and her ragdoll body pieces itself back together and she shuffles over to your side; you thank the pokemon for protecting you but the damage is done. Leon's flowers are ravaged and you gaze limply at the scattered pieces of the broken vase.

"...It's ruined," you mumble under your breath, before you emit a sigh and shake your head. "...I can't believe it."

You had them for less than fifteen minutes.

They were a gift to you.

From Leon.

Leon.

Frustration claws its way into your system along with an overwhelming urge to mourn, and the corner of your eyes become prickled with tears; you dab at them hastily and Gengar pats you on the head whilst Mimikyu and Runerigus rub your back. You thank your pokemon again and lower yourself to a crouch, picking up the broken pieces. They join in, helping you tidy up the glass and the flowers silently, before Runerigus finds an intact white flower which survived the onslaught and he nudges it for your taking.

"Oh...Thank you, Runi."

His eye creases slightly before he plops his large hand atop your head and you smile at him as you hold the flower gingerly in hands. You will protect this flower at all costs.

"He says...it's going to be okay," Mimikyu pipes up and you nod.

"Thanks Mimi. Thanks everyone. C'mon...Let's go," you murmur.

With your pokemon by your side, the walk back home is a long one.

...

Sonia's not home yet and Magnolia and Yamper are still sleeping. It's just you on your own as usual. It's a typical night you suppose (aside from the stoning), and after you carefully put the salvaged flower into another vase in the conservatory, you lift Sunkern out from your pocket and settle him into one of the larger potted plants where he can sit in the soil and hopefully soak up all the nutrients he needs to grow healthy and strong. Sunkern glances around his new home and squeaks happily at you before burrowing inside, closing his eyes.

He's out for the night so you head upstairs to take a shower. Gengar, Mimikyu and Runerigus remain in the lounge, watching you plod upstairs with your head low.

"Let’s find those kids and kill them, mi mi," Mimikyu growls, curling one claw into a tight fist.

Gengar and Runerigus throw each other concerned glances before Gengar floats up and into the air, shaking his head.

"Then let's curse them, mi."

Gengar pauses, partially tempted, but shakes his head once more.

Killing or cursing children is not the answer so he iterates that they should focus on cheering up their trainer.

He suggests they should call Leon, perhaps.

"Call Leon, mi?"

He nods, and Runerigus seems happy to go along with this plan too.

"Yes, let's do that, mi," Mimikyu replies, clapping two tendrils together, "Rotom?"

There is a brief silence until your phone comes hovering towards the lounge, having been summoned.

"Yo wazzzup, what'zzzz the - Bzzzrt!! What???"

Mimikyu envelopes Rotom with her tendrils and reels him in to sit in front of her, tapping at the screen with her claws, going through the phonebook and finding Leon's contact number. You only have five contacts so it didn't take long at all and she spots Leon's name and hastily presses the button. Rotom switches to phone mode and it rings for a few seconds. The ghost pokemon wait with baited breath as they huddle in front of your phone, watching the screen.

The screen flickers on before Leon abruptly appears.

"Hi - oh, what's this?" he utters, shocked by what he's seeing.

"Mi hello."

"Mimikyu?"

"Yes, it is mi, Mimikyu."

"What's wrong?" Leon asks, before he asks for your whereabouts. Are you okay? Has something happened? Arceus, are you in trouble???

"It's an emergency, mi mi, the flowers. She is in trouble, mi. Come to the house."

"I'll come over right now!" He exclaims without a second to spare; he promptly hangs up and Mimikyu giggles, clasping her tendrils together.

Her work here is done.

...

"I can't fight it anymore. I ran away from you once. I can't do it again. Oh, I don't know what's right any longer. You'll have to think for both of us, for all of us."

"All right, I will. Here's looking at you, kid."

"I wish I didn't love you so much."

Sappy, romantic music plays from the TV as you watch the couple on screen embrace tightly.

"They make it look so easy," you mumble as you sit slouched low on the sofa, grabbing a handful of chips from the bowl and shoving them into your mouth and crunching on them noisily whilst Gengar and Runerigus sit beside you, sipping their tea.

Then the doorbell rings and there's someone pounding on the front door.

Who could that possibly be, and at this hour?

Did Sonia forget her key again?

You stop stuffing your face and emit an exhausted 'mrrgfhhh', before you drag yourself up and off the couch, yelling, "Sonnie, you're lucky I'm home tonight!" as you shuffle over. Once you're at the door, you peer through the peephole and gasp when you see who it is. "No way!" you exclaim under your breath.

You hastily unlock the front door and throw it open, revealing that it is none other than a flustered-looking Leon who stands in full Champion gear on your doorstep.

For a second or so, you both blink at each other before spluttering out simultaneously:

"Leon?!" "Are you okay?"

You blink whilst his face goes red.

"I'm okay." "Mimikyu called me and said you were in trouble!"

"...Sorry."

"Um. Y-you go first."

Leon subjects you to a look from head to toe; here you are barefoot with a large bag of original-flavoured chips in one hand. No trouble here.

You cringe, hoping he didn't hear you yelling about Sonia.

"I-I'm fine, Leon, there's no emergency," you toss a glance to the lounge where your Rotom phone and the rest of the Pokemon wave and waggle their fingers and claws at you. "Wait. You said Mimikyu called you?"

He nods and notices the cut on your forehead.

You quickly piece two and two together and cringe again. ".....Oh god, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Leon. It's a false alarm. I'll keep a closer eye on Mimikyu from now on. I'm fine. Really, I am."

He does not look entirely swayed so you nod vigorously to convince him.

"Um, do you want to come in?" you ask, holding the door open.

"Ah...I-I can't. The beauty pageant is tonight."

"Tonight?!"

"Yeah."

You blink cluelessly as you had absolutely no knowledge of this but you supposed it was due to your lack of interest in current affairs. However, Leon didn't mention it to you either and neither did anyone else; you can only presume no-one in your limited social circle is interested in the pageant and you're brought out of your reverie when Leon raises a hand to carefully brush away some hair from the side of your face and you freeze on the spot as his fingertips gently press against the small wound.

You wince under his touch and he murmurs, "What happened?"

"I got stoned. Literally," you grumble with a roll of your eyes.

"Mimikyu mentioned something about flowers."

Your face falls. "Oh. Right. Um....yeah, about that..." you give Leon an exasperated look and sigh, "...they're ruined."

You tell him about the kids.

Leon's expression softens before he pulls his hand away to wrap around your own. "I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you. Come with me."

"...Where?"

He chuckles. "My house."

And Leon smiles reassuringly at you and so you nod and grab your coat. Returning your pokemon into their capsules, you slip into your shoes and fling a glance to the staircase. Magnolia hasn't woken up so you quietly lock the door behind you and join Leon on the stony path. He gives you a warm smile and you return his smile with a fond one of your own, pulling the lapels of your coat tighter to yourself.

"So, how long do you have before they notice you're gone?"

"Half hour or so."

"Really?"

"Yes, they think I'm in my dressing room."

"Oh, Leon."

He's snooping out to see you; this isn't like him at all, but you can't help but feel happy.

"When Mimikyu called, I was so worried. I had to see you," he utters.

You pause slightly in mid-step, your heart fluttering for the umpteenth time; Leon responds with a sheepish smile.

As you meander further down the path with him, you sigh and throw your glimpse to the night sky. It's getting colder and Leon sticks close to you which you are grateful for as he provides some extra warmth to you just by being close.

Your footsteps echo one another and your shoulders nudge together. On several periods, you'll carefully slide your glance to his direction and you will see him smiling to himself. You like that about him, how he's always wearing a kind smile no matter what.

With that thought in mind, your cheeks warm up all over again and your fingers suddenly brush together as Leon steps a little closer to you than necessary and the sides of your palm briefly come into contact.

You stiffen somewhat yet you do not retreat from his action so your hands linger millimetres apart in some kind of limbo before Leon ultimately takes charge and uses his pinky finger to hook around yours and pull you in just a little closer to him. It's a careful and calculated movement on his part to test the waters but it's enough to make you blush.

As Leon glances at you from the corner of his eyes to gauge your reaction, you weave your pinky finger around his in return and for a while as you're walking along the linear path from Wedgehurst to Postwick, you wish this tender moment you are sharing with the Champion would never end, though you inwardly hope there would be more.

As though reading your thoughts, Leon decides to step it up a notch and slinks his ring finger around yours.

He's becoming bold for good reason, and you encourage him further by mimicking his action and looping your middle finger around his and this continues until the rest of your fingers entwine together and the two of you are holding hands very firmly.

Neither of you say a word nor do you look at one another but your heart pounds and he clears his throat silently. You dare to sneak a peek at him again to see what he's up to, and you see he's got this goofy smile plastered on his handsome face and his cheeks are tickled pink.

His hand is much bigger than yours and also a lot warmer and the base of his palm is rather callused, probably from long and hard years of training with his Pokemon. Initially nothing else happens until Leon gives your hand a squeeze and you respond by rubbing your thumb over his and this sets off a brief fondling session where he slides his thumb over the smooth skin of your knuckles and you shiver somewhat before you squeeze his hand playfully in return.

This enjoyable moment does unfortunately comes to an end when you arrive at Leon's house and as if on cue, the front door opens and Leon's mother pokes her head outside, glancing at the two of you in surprise.

"Leo!?" she exclaims, before she sees your joined hands and her eyes actively pop out of her sockets. "Oh my."

"Hi mum."

She giggles and holds the door wide open; ecstatic to see you both, she proceeds to usher you inside. "This is such a lovely surprise! Come in, come in, my dear!"

"Thank you very much."

She's not alone. Hop emerges from the lounge, clutching Wooloo in his arms. "Lee???"

"Hi Hop."

He shouts with joy, diving for his older brother, "What are you doing here???"

"Unfortunately I can't stay for long," Leon replies, chuckling.

The grandparents are missing but you imagine they're most likely fast asleep. Leon sheepishly explains to his family why he's brought you over but his mother says no reason or explanation is necessary and she's extremely glad to have you over and see you again; you will need to catch up later, she says. She's smiling widely at you and you're not sure what's quite going on.

"What in the name of Arceus happened to you, dear?" Leon's mum asks; she has noticed the nasty cut on the side of your head and your bandaged arm.

"Ah....it's nothing. Just an accident."

"Oh dear, let's get that looked at ASAP," she hastily steers you to the kitchen where she seats you in a random chair and Leon follows, settling himself into the chair beside yours whilst Hop lingers at the doorway with Wooloo. Leon's mum bustles around the kitchen, locating the first-aid kit from a cupboard near the sink which she brings over; immediately, Leon begins sifting for the appropriate supplies.

"Mum, I can take it from here," he says, fishing out a cotton swab, some ointment and a clean plaster.

Surprised, Leon's mum nods and nudges the kit further for his taking. Then she hastily makes a swift exit, grabbing Hop and Wooloo along the way.

"Whoa!!" Hop exclaims, but she goes 'sshhhh, they need to be alone!' and then it grows silent.

You watch their retreating backs whilst Leon reaches over and dabs at your cut with the cotton, sweeping ointment over the wound.

"Tell me if I hurt you," he murmurs.

"...M'kay."

You sit still in the chair with your back straight as much as possible, head tilted to the ceiling slightly so Leon can brush the small cut with the ointment. He applies the plaster over your skin once the task is completed, smoothing it down with his fingers.

"There we go."

"Thanks Leon."

He grins, leaning forwards in his seat to grab and squeeze your hand affectionately. "...You can call me 'Lee'."

A smile worms its way across your face as your gazes meet and you're both smiling at each other; however, the moment is short-lived when Leon catches glimpse of the clock behind you on the wall and his smile drops.

"I should go."

"Okay," you say, with a sulk.

He chuckles and releases your hand, rising to stand and adjusting his cap and you follow him out of the kitchen and into the landing; mum and Hop return, keen to know what's going on and what's up between the two of you and whatnot. He exchanges some brief words with his family before they share a quick embrace; he needs to return to Wyndon. The beauty pageant is beginning in forty minutes and his presence cannot be missed.

"I'll see you guys soon," he promises as he exits the house and steps into the front yard. Mum and Hop follow him out and so do you, watching as he releases Charizard from his capsule. The flame pokemon lands on the ground and spreads his wings, glancing at Leon expectantly.

"Bye Lee!" Hop shouts, waving fiercely as Leon climbs over Charizard's awaiting back.

"Be safe, dear."

"I will!" Leon yells with a wide grin; he waves to his mother and brother before his eyes lands on you and his grin widens. Your cheeks heat up and you wave as the flame pokemon manoeuvres himself into position, stamping his large and bulky hind legs over the ground as he prepares for lift off. Leon pats the side of his neck and the pokemon huffs loudly. "Charizard, let's go!"

Emitting a loud roar, Charizard flaps his wings and in one massive swoop, he takes off to the sky, disappearing in a blink.

Leon is gone.

You linger with his family outside before they decide to retreat into their warm and toasty house.

"Why don't stay here for the time being, my dear?" says Leon's mum, nudging her head towards the direction of the living room.

"Yeah!! Let's watch the beauty pageant together!" Hop exclaims, and you nod.

"Thank you. That would be nice."

"I'll get the popcorn!" Hop yells, and he rushes past you and into the kitchen.

“And I’ll get the camera,” says mum, before she dashes to one of the cupboards near the mantelpiece, pulling it wide open and lifting out an old-fashioned camcorder which she hastily switches on. "I always record all of Leo's programs or shows."

You join her as she plops herself down on one of the plushy couches and Hop returns into the living room with a large bowl of popcorn. He climbs over the settee with Wooloo and switches the TV on, passing the popcorn to you, and the TV, switched to the Galar main broadcasting channel, is now playing the Miss Galar Beauty Pageant theme song with the logo slapped over the screen. Checking the clock on the wall, you think Sonia might be home by now...no doubt, she'd be watching the pageant too.

"Have you watched the Miss Galar pageants before?" Hop asks, and you shake your head. "It's a blast! Lee's been a judge for five years now!"

"Oh, r-really?"

He nods. "Yeah, and some girls get really attached to him after that."

"Oh," you say again.

You're not really surprised.

"I swear, every year some floozy decides to latch onto our Leo and obsessively call him 'hers'." huffs Leon's mum, who shakes her head as she stuffs some popcorn into her mouth.

The show begins and it's an impressive display; the stage is alit with loud modern music and bright lights, accompanied with dancers and pokemon in funky costumes who parade around onstage and you watch as two men and a woman in evening outfits along with a Clefable appear at the very end of the extravagant opening, excitedly introducing themselves as the presenters of the program; it's taking place at Wyndon stadium and the pitch has been converted from Pokemon battle arena to a stage ripe for a pageant, with a massive T-shaped catwalk, tonnes of spotlights and various tables and chairs for the judges. It's a full audience, too.

The judges are introduced; looks like Leon made it in time because he's sitting at his designated table and waving to the crowd once the spotlight is on him. The audience cheers at wildly for him as he smiles and waves. He is impeccable as always.

With camcorder in hand, Leon's mum flicks her gaze to you and directs the camera to your direction to record your reaction whilst Hop points and hoots excitedly.

"There he is, there he is!!! Lee!!!"

"Thank you," Leon on TV says, and your heart thuds terribly when you see his grinning face on screen.

The remaining judges are introduced but you're too busy gawking at Leon to pay attention to the other judges and when the camera returns to the Champion, Hop exclaims and jumps up and down in his seat all over again.

The pageant begins, curtains rising, and the contestants step onto the stage; the judges are strategically seated so they can get a good view. The contenders consist of tall and beautiful young women dressed in swimsuits with ribbons looped around their bodies detailing where they're from. There's Miss Postwick, Miss Wedgehurst, Miss Turrfield and so on.

Each and every single contestant proudly stride past the judges and Leon, waving cheerfully to the crowd with massive smiles on their faces. These ladies are extremely fit and slender, with lean bodies and not a single blemish on their body. Their high heels are a ridiculous height yet they have no difficulty as they perform the rehearsed routine with the dancers and Pokemon behind them.

It's a long show.

You plough through two gruelling hours with Hop and Leon's mum, going through three or so bags of popcorn altogether as each and every single contestant go through several montages; they are interviewed and questioned, receive the opportunity to show off their dresses and swimsuits, demonstrate their unique talents, talk about their goals and visions for Galar and soon it's time for the results, beginning with third place.

"Are you ready folks? It's time to reveal who our third runner up is!" exclaims one of the presenters and you are all on the edge of your seats as you await the result.

A red throne has been carried to the middle of the catwalk where the winner will sit. After the short drumroll, Miss Spikemuth is called out and the audience goes wild. A pale-skinned young woman with long and flowy jet black hair stalks over to the three-tiered podium where a man in a tuxedo with a ribbon and tiara is waiting for her. The camera shifts to Leon and the judges who clap for her.

"Congratulations, Miss Spikemuth! Now......second runner up....is-!!!"

"I hope it's Miss Ballonlea," you utter. "Her talent was very impressive."

"Yes, that flute recital was very enchanting," says Leon's mum.

"I hope she wins too," says Hop.

"Miss Ballonlea!!!"

You, Leon's mum and Hop whoop, then you all exchange a high five.

Miss Ballonlea, a blonde-haired woman, joins Miss Spikemuth on the opposite of the podium whilst crying incessantly.

"And finally, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for...WHO will be this year's Miss Galar????"

The drumroll intensifies.

And the living room is quiet until-

"Miss Postwick! Miss Postwick!" cheers Leon's mum, whilst you're secretly rooting for Miss Wedgehurst to win.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this year's Miss Galar Beauty Pageant IS.........."

The suspense is killing you all.

"....MISS HULBURY!!!!"

A small fraction of the crowd who hail from the city cheer wildly as an extremely attractive young woman steps forwards, clasping both hands over her mouth in shock. Confetti is tossed over her and a fanfare plays; Leon and the remaining judges move to stand, clapping as she glances around the stage, awestruck and numb. The unsuccessful contestants clap, though some look a little annoyed by the results.

"Give it up for Miss Hulbury!!! Congratulations, your city must be very proud of you!" the TV presenter roars wildly into the microphone and he beckons her to join the other two crowned contestants, though she briefly steps on the podium for a few seconds or so before all the winners leave.

They head for the red throne though Miss Hulbury seats herself down and soon, you see Leon leaving his seat and heading for the stage.

This is the first time you've watched a Miss Galar Beauty Pageant and you're not sure what he's doing, but a whole shebang of awards are presented to Miss Hulbury consisting of a glistening silver tiara, a silver sceptre with the symbol of Galar, a ribbon and a red velvet cape that...looks similar to Leon's????

The tiara is carefully fastened atop her head by the young man in a tux and she is handed the jewel-encrusted silver sceptre. The ribbon is also fixed around her torso and Leon arrives at her side as the cape is looped over her shoulders; she looks at him and smiles.

The newly crowned Miss Galar rises to stand and joins the Champion, who offers his arm to her.

As you watch the scene unfold, you lean forwards in your seat, your eyes glued to the screen. Hop and Leon's mum swerve their gazes to you.

Background music begins to play and Wyndon stadium is alit with cheering and applause.

"There she is, Miss Galar...there she is, your ideal....the dream of a million girls who are more than pretty can come true in Wyndon City ~ " one of the presenters begins to sing, joined with a Clefable, with his arm out as the beautiful young woman strolls down the catwalk with sceptre in hand and her arm looped around Leon's, her cape fluttering with his.

You gape as they stride to one side of the catwalk and back, and it feels like the walk of eternity until they return to the middle and Leon pulls his arm away gently so she can return to the throne; they shake hands and she reclaims her seat on the red velvet chair, smiling and waving for the camera.

She blows a kiss, and the screen fades to black.

....

Meanwhile.

It’s night-time.

She discovers she’s standing underneath an old and large, derelict tower for some reason, damp and cold.

There’s a single thought running through her mind right now and it is quite simple: I want to go home.

Home.

Where is home?

….Motostoke….Twenty three…Dorset… Road…

Where is she?

Glancing around, she has no recognition of where she is nor does she recognise her surroundings.

However, the loud crow of a bird pokemon along with a rather frantic and anxious yell of “Miss, are you okay?” grabs her attentions and she glances up to the dark sky to see a Corviknight taxi landing before her. The windscreen wipers are switched on, the rubber blades squeaking against the glass as they swipe away the heavy rain in hypnotic fashion.

The cabbie hops off the vehicle, heavy-duty boots crunching over the squelchy mud as he holds onto his woolly trapper hat which is threatening to blow away in the wind.

“Good heavens, Miss, a-are you alright?” he squawks in alarm as he looks at her from head to toe. Even Corviknight seems perturbed by her appearance, his red eyes widening thoroughly.

“....Home,” she merely says as she settles her limp gaze on the little man, “I want to go home.”

“Uh, Miss, I think I outta take you to the nearest hospital…”

“Home,” she says again, blinking through the raindrops that batter her bedraggled form and pelt her eyelashes. “I want to go home.”

“Okay, where do you live? I’ll give you a ride,” the cabbie replies and he dashes to his carriage, climbs the ladder and returns to his perch atop his large steed.

��Motostoke,” she says, “Twenty three…..Dorset Road…”

"Got it, hop in!"

The cabbie watches her slip inside the empty, awaiting carriage and close the door. She sits rigidly in the chair, staring limply ahead of her.

On the small control panel of the cab, he locks the door, grabs onto the reigns of Corviknight and instructs the large bird to take off to the skies despite the heavy rain. A thunderstorm is in the making and the wind is reported to be over eighty miles per hour but he is undaunted. The cabbie braves the fierce storm and avoids some dangerous-looking clouds; Corviknight, being a seasoned flier with over eighty thousand miles or so of experience, isn’t shaken by the random bouts of lightning and the loud, overhead boom of thunder as they traverse the miserable sky.

He’s not supposed to fly in these conditions, but it doesn’t help that he was trying to get out of the storm and the Wild Area as quickly as possible after depositing a customer near North Lake Miloch and happened to see a blood-stained girl on the ground looking rather lost and dazed near the ruins of the old Watchtower.

However, he can’t shake off the feeling that there is something wrong with her.

She’s drenched in blood, covered in bruises, donned in raggedy clothing…she’s clearly shocked and confused and needs help.

He should report this, and once Motostoke looms into view, he finds the address the girl had stated and presses down on a button that links to the intercom inside the cab.

“Miss? We’re here.”

Awaiting for a response, he is however, greeted with silence and the occasional crackling of static.

He shrugs inwardly and directs Corviknight to land in front of a two-storey detached house with red bricks and a white door and the cab lands safely on the ground, a low but steady grumble emitting from the earth upon arrival. Immobile, he unlocks the cabbie door, climbs off his steed and down the ladder whilst the bird stretches his wings and shakes himself, sending huge droplets of water into the air.

The cabbie goes up to the door of the cab, peers through the window and proceeds to gasp loudly.

The interior of the cab is empty.

He flings the door open and pokes his head inside.

“S-she’s gone?!!” he cries, before he tears off his goggles as though determined to ensure that his old eyes were not playing tricks on him.

Summoned by the commotion outside and a random Corviknight taxi, the front door to the house of twenty three Dorset Road opens and a middle-aged woman and a teenage girl with a Sylveon peek out.

“….Can we help you?” the woman asks.

The cabbie gawks at the woman and lass and points frantically at his own cab. “The girl!!! The passenger!!! She’s gone!!! She asked to be taken to Motostoke, twenty three Dorset Road!!! I swear she was inside and never got out, the doors are automatically locked and only I can unlock or lock and the door alarm never went off, I-“

The pair blink numbly as he babbles and flails uncontrollably over the missing hitchhiker.

“…A girl?” asks the woman, after he gives up on trying to explain and pants and groans heavily.

He nods and takes off his hat, fanning himself. “Yeah!!! She had dark hair and-and she was covered all over in blood, she was all bruised and battered all over!!!! Never mind. Forget it, I-I’m sorry to bother you, ma’am.”

Shaking his head, he wonders who will pay for the cabbie ride. Most likely, it will be deducted from his wages.

However, the woman promptly bursts into tears and rushes back inside the house. The muffled sound of a door slamming can be heard.

The cabbie gawks for a moment or so before the teenage girl with the Sylveon leaves the doorstep of her house and strides up to him.

“That was my sister,” she says, “you’re not the only one to bring her home. Thanks.”

“H-huh?”

The girl digs a hand into her pocket and pulls out her purse, pulling out some frayed notes which she plops into his hand. “This should cover the taxi fare.”

...

#pokemon #pkmn #pokemon shield #pokemon sword #pokemon sword and shield #leon #dande #reader x leon #fanfic #fic #reader insert #jeralee #archive of our own #Comfort in Despair

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zoepumpkinhead · 3 years

Text

Pokedoll ranking (I love them all though)

15. Pikachu 1

Good ol' reliable Pikachu. I got this one at my first convention. He can be clipped on to a bag and has a lil zipper in the back where u can store stuff (I stored quarters in him). He has lil threads sticking out which is why he ranked the lowest but he's still reliable! :)

14. Pikachu 2

This Pikachu came with the let's go Pikachu game. He is pretty hairy compaired to my other Pikachus which is probably why the embroidered bits look a little odd. Other than that, this is a pretty standard Pikachu that you can hook onto a bag. :)

13. Rowlet

I got this Rowlet at a gamestop. Rowlet is a cute pokemon but this doll is very stiff? Hard? I feel like if I threw this doll at someone's head, they would get knocked out. Someone else might like that sort of thing but it's not for me lol. Still a cute doll though

12. Eevee

I got this Eevee at another convention. I have nothing bad to say about this Eevee. My favorite thing about this Eevee is that the brown hair is like, little curls? It's very cute.

11. 10. 9. Scorbunny, Litten, and Fennekin

These three dolls are from the pokemon center (online). I feel the same about all of them: smol babies. I love fire type starters, they're such cuties, so of course I had to get dolls of them.

8. Torchic

I got this doll at a pokemon center in Japan. Which was a long time ago? Ten years maybe a little less? This doll has held up pretty well despite that. Also Torchic is my favorite of all the starters so he ranks higher than the rest. :) Goodest boy that I love.

7. Mewtwo

Also bought at a pokemon center in Japan. This doll has also held up really well. Look at their widdle arms. LOOK. Mewtwo is a good bean. I think they deserve all the hugs.

6. Halloweevee

I got this Eevee from the online pokemon center. This is clearly a draculaeon and I love him. Perfect little top hat and cape. And!! You can clip him to your bag. :)

5. 4. Graduationchu and Halloweenchu

These Pikachus are from the online pokemon center. I love the costumed Pikachus, they're very cute and fun. Graduation Pikachu comes with a cute little card that congratulates you and it makes me so happy. :) Halloween Pikachu has little pumpkin pants and goes :p

3. Halloween Mimikyu

Another one from the online pokemon center. I love this Mimikyu! All dressed up like a scarecrow! All the dressed up pokemon are great but I think this one is my favorite!

To be continued.

#long poat #pokemon #pokedolls #i love my dolls :)

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imaginesfubu · 4 years

Text

Obey Me Characters as Pokemon Trainers AU (Pt. 2):

Part 2 is finally here! Read Part 1 here! Again, the pokemon chosen were considered based on character personality, appeal to said character, Pokedex entries, and, in the demon brothers' cases, their respective sin they represent.

Asmodeus: This demon trainer of Lust is all about fashion and appearances, meaning he prefers Pokemon Contests over battling. If he does engage another trainer, his brothers, or the MC, he will surprisingly put forth an effort if he notices that his pokemon party actually want to battle and dirty up their precious costumes. Since Asmodeus rules the pokemon contest industry, both the personalities of Asmo and his pokemon charming the industry and their fan club without fail, I would think Asmo would be a Normal type. His team will wreak havoc ob his opponents when all of his pokemon know the move "Attract." Vietnam war flashbacks to Whitney and her Miltank

Asmo's team would consist of: Sylveon (originally an Eevee), Wigglytuff, Cinccino, Blissey, Staraptor (refer to its Platinum entry), and Lopunny.

Honorable mentions: Audino, Chatot, and Purugly (when caught as a Glameow; was horrified that it evolved into Purugly. Emphasis on ugly, but still loves it nonetheless)

Legendary: Meloetta

"You are such an ADORABLE trainer! You're so cute that my pokemon and I could just eat you up!~"

Beelzebub/Beel: Beel as a demon trainer would look VERY intimidating due to his height and body build, he is actually a softie and a major foodie; he likes traveling with his brothers to different regions and their respective cities and towns to try signature dishes. Unfortunately for all the chefs, they love Beel as their regular customer, but ultimately hate the fact that he's literally eating the restaurants out of house and home, and kick him out in order to restock on food and other supplies. Don't worry, once the restaurants are fully stocked, the chefs graciously allow him back in, serving him and his twin brother Belphie to a free meal, accompanied by a dessert of their choice, also on the house.

Considering Beel's insatiable appetite, his loving nature towards his family, and his physical strength and physique, I can see him as a dual trainer of Normal and Steel types, leaning more towards Steel pokemon due to their resistance of Poison and sheer endurance to most of the other elemental typings.

Beel's pokemon would be: Ursaring, Munchlax (later evolved into Snorlax, sweetly reminding him of Belphie when apart), Alolan Sandslash, Copperajah, Aggron, and Bastiodon.

Honorable mentions: Steelix, Solgaleo as "the beast that devours the Sun"

Legendary: Melmetal (see Shield pokedex entry) or Solgaleo.

"I'm hungry. After this battle, wanna go grab something to eat together?"

Belphegor/Belphie: Y'all know Caitlin from Unova's Elite Four? That's Belphie. All this pokemon demon trainer wants to do is sleep and spend time with his twin brother Beel. Out of all of his brothers, Belphie is by far the most ruthless of all when it comes to pokemon battling, but doesn't like to show it until after you can't run away from a trainer battle. You wish you could. Belphie would be a very powerful Ghost type user. If you wake him to battle, only for the battle to be time that "I could be using sleeping," you will pay dearly your life. The only two people who have the honor to wake him for a battle are Beel and MC, only after MC proves themselves as a competent trainer.

Belphie's pokemon team would consist of: Gengar, Bannette, Spiritomb, Jellicent, Golurk, and Mimikyu.

Honorable mentions: Decidueye, Palossand

Legendary: Lunala or Hoopa, alternating Hoopa's forms depending on the battle.

"*YAAAAAAAWWWNNN* ....You woke me up to battle? ...Fine, but if this turns out to be a waste of time I could be using to sleep, you're suffering will be slow and painful."

Diavolo + Soon-to-be Dateables

Diavolo: This Demon Lord trainer is of course, the Champion of the Devildom, succeeding his dad. Diavolo is a trainer with many great titles and even greater status, but that doesn't stop him from swinging by each school in the Devildom to have fun with the younger demons and learn all about the latest trends and memes. Diavolo himself is a big kid himself, never thinking twice about his child-like actions in front of nobles or any demon trainer with a high status. He's very charming and charismatic upfront, and is the kind of demon you could talk to or joke about anything without feeling nervous. Diavolo knows that the only reason he's so laid back and fun-loving is thanks to Lucifer, so he trusts and appreciates Lucifer a great deal.

Taking into account Diavolo's personality and status, I would deem him as an expert in Dragon type pokemon, embodying the many personalities Dragon type pokemon have. They enjoy having as much fun as Diavolo does, and both are forces to be reckoned with.

Diavolo would have the following team members: Duraludon, Salamence, Dragonite, Tyrantrum, Haxorus, and Dragapult. Diavolo loves seeing Dragapult yeet Dreepy to their opponents because he finds it funny every time.

Legendary: Giratina, gifted to him from his father after beating him in battle and becoming Champion

"Being both a Demon Lord and a Champion is such a draaaag! Nobody wants to challenge me because they're intimidated by me, I guess. How about you an I have a little fun with a pokemon battle? Don't hold anything back from me!"

Barbatos: His ability to see alternate timelines and universes and manipulate them to his will leads me to the obvious: Psychic. Between caring for the royal family and their grand palace, he can't find the time to battle with his pokemon as a stress reliever, unless Diavolo orders him to battle him and to "have fun" while battling him. Even though Barbatos apparently knows all and sees all, he nonetheless humors Diavolo already knowing the outcome.

Barbatos's team: Gallade, Gardevoir, Alakazam, Espeon, Xatu, and Gothitelle.

Honorable mentions: Orbeetle and Indeedee (one male, one female whom he asks them to help with his daily tasks in the Devildom's royal palace.)

Legendaries: Dialga and Palkia: They both assist Barbatos when he uses his abilities to maintain order amongst the alternate timelines and universes, and keep him from over-exerting himself in the process.

"Would you like to challenge me in a pokemon battle? Haha, no need to answer that, I already know that that's what you want."

Luke: Precious child of God. Very defensive and reluctant to associate with demons, but over time begins caring for them. He favors Beel the most out of all the brothers, but will never admit it outright to anyone no matter how obvious it is to everyone else. Enjoys baking more than battling, so his team isn't fully evolved. He won't battle unless Simeon is training him in battle or Luke challenges trainers in the Celestial Realm that are around the same age and level as he is. Because of his personality as of now, he would be a Grass type trainer.

Luke's team: Treeko, Turtwig, Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Snover, and Bounsweet.

Honorable mentions: Snivy and Milcery, with Milcery helping Luke bake in the kitchen, and Skiddo

Legendary: Celebi or Jirachi

"What? You want to battle m-m-me?! Why? I know I'm not that strong, but I think it won't hurt to try!"

Simeon: Literally Luke's guardian angel in the place of Michael the Archangel during their time in the Devildom. He's very patient with everyone, especially with Luke. His patience gives off an impression that Simeon is a grounded angel who thinks things through before speaking and acting. But if someone hurts Luke in any way, all logic and patience goes out the window, as he will savagely check the individual and pray to God asking for forgiveness. Ground types would be Simeon's cup of tea.

Simeon's team: Torterra, Gliscor, Mamoswine, Flygon, Rhyperior, and Mudsdale.

Legendary: Suicune or Ho-oh

"I think I may be missing something in Luke's lessons as his mentor in both battling and teaching about the ways of the three Realms. Think you could help me figure out what I'm missing with a friendly pokemon battle?"

Solomon: Very mysterious human trainer who doesn't talk much about himself. Is he a rival or friend? It's difficult to tell, but he hasn't done anything to raise any alarms, so the MC deems him as decent for now. But why does he act like he knows something that everyone else doesn't? Because of his seemingly shady impression he gives to others, whether he realizes it or not, makes him a Poison type trainer.

Solomon's team: Roserade, Venusaur, Naganadel, Salazzle, Crobat, and Drapion.

Legendary: Eternatus or Kyurem

"Oh? You're approaching me? Instead of running away you're coming right to me?"

MC: "I can't beat the shit out of you without getting closer."

"Then come as close as you like!"

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Finally done! This AU is still a WIP, but thank you for reading such a long post! I decided to include Diavolo and the rest into one big post to keep from making so many parts to this AU

#obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me asmo #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me beel #obey me belphegor #obey me belphie #obey me diavolo #obey me barbatos #obey me simeon #obey me luke #obey me solomon #pokémon

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misskikuwrites · 4 years

Text

Pretty in Pink (2/3)

Bede/Gloria (dressedinpinkshipping)

Two days.

It had been two days since the incident with Gloria in the Glimwood Tangle. Two days and Bede couldn't get the tender press of soft lips against his cheek from his mind. That split second of warmth. The moment as fleeting as his gasp. Gone with a final smile and a wave goodbye.

The memory persisted in his mind with the tingle of heat left on his cheek from her kiss.

It didn't make sense. Her kiss. The fact that Gloria had kissed him. Confusion swirled in the pit of his stomach at the recollection. Sure, she was known for being physically affectionate with her friends, Hop especially. She hugged Hop eagerly for every greeting and parting, going so far as to launch herself into his arms at times and they'd sway in a tight embrace when they hadn't seen each other in a while.

She was a hugger. Someone who displayed affection so easily, so casually, going in for full-body hugs like it was as simple as a handshake.

She hugged all her friends, even if they weren't particularly close. She'd started hugging the other Gym Leaders as she got to know them. Bede had seen her giving Ms Opal a brief embrace the other day.

Yet she hadn't hugged him. Not once, not counting the desperate way she'd clung to him in the Glimwood Tangle as she'd cried, not in all the many long months he'd known her. It had already been more than a year since their tumultuous relationship had begun, starting as fierce rivals then begrudging friends and now… whatever they were, and they had never hugged.

The most Gloria had given him in all that time had been brief handshakes after their matches. Handshakes that had started off as stiff and reluctant, forced with a sharp tug, became gentle and pleasant as time went on. His hand began to linger in hers. Never too long, not enough to bring attention to the fact that he was drawing the moment out. He'd make some comment about their battle to distract her - and sometimes himself - from their hands.

Handshakes and nothing more. Not hugs.

Definitely not kisses.

It made no sense. Gloria wouldn't hug him, let alone even try to, and yet she'd kissed his cheek which was infinitely more affectionate. He hadn't ever seen her kiss anyone else. Not even Hop.

Though that didn't mean she hadn't…

Stop. He had to stop thinking about that. About her. He had Gym Challengers to defeat, to solidify himself as a serious contender for the strongest Gym Leader in Galar. With Gloria's Mimikyu added to his team, Bede stepped out on the pitch for the first battle of what would be another long day of forcing her from his mind.

He greeted the young trainer and they took their places opposite one another. The hum of excitement from the crowd buzzed palpably in the air. Bede's blood blazed with determination. Eyes set forward, he barely paid attention to the announcer introducing the challenger. He had a match to win.

And then-

"We have a very special guest joining us today! The renowned Champion of Galar, Gloria!"

Her.

Gloria's bashful smile flicked up on the huge screens set high above the stadium. A silent laugh, a nervous wave at the cameras after being caught. Bede's heart stammered and he snapped his gaze to the VIP stand where she sat.

She'd come to watch him. Waved at him across the pitch. Bede stole his eyes back to the challenger, rueing the fact he'd looked to her as a blush creeped up his neck.

What was with her and randomly appearing! Shouldn't she have better, more important things to do than watch his match?

His match.

Had she come here to watch him…?

Bede steeled himself. If she'd come expecting a match then he'd give her one. A fierce spark flickered to life in his eyes as he chose his lead Pokemon.

The challenger confidently sent out his Lampent, bursting forth into the arena with a flare of blue fire. The kid had a smirk on his face. Bede revealed nothing in his expression and sent out Gloria's Mimikyu.

The challenger paled.

Not the Mawile he was expecting. It was Bede's turn to smirk, a smug confidence building in him. That's what they get for assuming he wouldn't change up his team when challenger after challenger unoriginally started with a Fire type.

"F-Flamethrower!" the challenger cried and the Lampent inhaled a breath, blue candle flames roaring to life as the Ghost pokemon readied its move.

Too easy.

"Phantom Force, Mimikyu!"

Mimikyu chittered happily. A stream of fire burst forth from the Lampent, shooting fast in a wash of heat. Mimikyu disappeared beneath the blast in ripple of dark shadows. The crowd roared. The challenger gasped in panic. Lampent whirled around in the air, flames dancing this way and that as he and his trainer searched desperately for a sign of the disguised pokemon. Bede smiled and let the Mimikyu strike.

Too quick for the trainer to react. For the Lampent to turn as Mimikyu emerged in a fountain of darkness behind the lamp pokemon. A black claw swiped from beneath the Mimikyu's disguise and sent the Lampent flying across the pitch. The flames on its candles flickered and went out as the Lampent fainted.

Cheers erupted from the stands. A clean one-hit KO. The challenger recalled his Lampent, his face now a ghostly white. He sent out his next pokemon, the Intelleon standing tall and composed as it emerged from the pokeball's flash.

Too easy.

"Liquidation!" the challenger called. Intelleon shot forward with a surge of water, crossing the pitch with alarming speed.

Exactly what Bede was expecting.

"Wait for it," Bede directed and the Mimikyu chittered in acknowledgement.

Intelleon slammed full-force into Mimikyu. Water sprayed in all directions from the impact, Mimikyu's disguise wobbling before collapsing to the side. The challenger pumped his fists in a cheer. Right as Mimikyu swung its dark arm around and smashed a Wood Hammer right onto Intelleon's head.

Intelleon staggered backwards, grasping his head as he stumbled. And a well timed Shadow Ball launched into his chest.

The challenger recalled Intelleon before Mimikyu could attack a third time.

The match was simple.

The kid's Gloom fell to Mimikyu's Psychic. Corvisquire defeated by another Phantom Force in combination with a Shadow Ball.

Intelleon was the last to fall. Wood Hammer did it's job.

The crowd lapped it up and went nuts. Screams and cheers roared all around Bede. With a friendly, post-match handshake, he gave the challenger a few words of advice. He didn't know if the pale-faced kid heard him over the buzz of noise even though he nodded stiffly. The kid trudged away and Bede finally looked towards the VIP stand again.

Where Gloria was watching him with a grin, elbows propped up on her knees, chin in her hands. He managed a nod, heat trickling through his body from her smile, and he stalked to the exit before the warmth could spread to his cheeks. The last thing he wanted was for his full-faced blush to be broadcast on the screens for all to see.

She was in the waiting room when he arrived. With her pink dress still in his possession she'd worn a pink tartan skirt, a casual black shirt with a Espeon curled on the front and dark tights concealing the cuts and bruises on her legs. More pink.

It suited her.

Bede swallowed that thought when she smiled at him, standing from the bench without wobbling.

"Great match out there!" she praised. "Smart idea leading with Mimikyu. You two worked really well together!"

"Hardly. That wasn't what I would consider a match at all," Bede said. He brushed off her praise, feigning boredom as an excuse to look away from her.

Gloria laughed. "Still aiming to be the strongest Gym Leader?"

"Of course. What do you take me for? I'm not going to stop until I'm recognised as the strongest Gym Leader - no, trainer - in all of Galar."

A sparkle of challenge glimmered in her eyes. "I look forward to it!"

Bede's stomach flip-flopped at her determined, excited smile. Eager. Interested. He swallowed again. "Hmph, I'm not going to go easy on you the next time we battle. Don't expect me to hold back just because you haven't been Champion for long. I plan on being the one to take that title off you!"

"I don't plan on losing that easily," she countered. That grin - the one she always wore to her battles - flashed at him. He'd never seen it this close before. Not with her standing a few feet away instead of opposite sides of a pokemon battle.

"Speaking of battles," Gloria said, changing the subject as that grin of hers faded. "How's Mimikyu going? You were really in sync on the pitch out there! Hard to believe you've only had her for two days."

"See for yourself." Bede released Mimikyu into the waiting room. She looked around, saw Gloria, and launched into her trainer's arms.

"Hey, I missed you too!" Gloria giggled happily as the Mimikyu snuggled into her chest.

The sight had an immediate but strange effect on Bede, he stiffened at the flutter in his stomach, the spiking of his pulse in his chest. He tore his eyes away as if he was witnessing something he shouldn't.

"She getting along with the rest of your team?" Gloria asked, nuzzling her cheek on the top of Mimikyu's disguised head.

"No issues there," Bede said. "Despite being completely uncultured, reckless and mischievous - I can't think of where she would have gotten that from - she's performed better that I expected."

"Hey!" Gloria huffed. "Hang on… was that a compliment or not?"

Bede made a non-committal noise in his throat, shrugging with a coy tilt to the corner of his mouth.

Gloria rolled her eyes with a short, frustrated huff. "I'm never going to get a proper compliment out of you, am I?"

"I don't give compliments out for free unlike a certain someone who I'm not going to name." He looked pointedly at Gloria.

"Well, sorry that I like being nice to people! You should try it sometime!" She pouted and Bede's heart squeezed at how damnably cute it was. Her lips curled, arms wrapped tightly around her Mimikyu as she peered over it at him, cheeks rosy with indignation.

Utterly, damnably adorable.

"And here I thought I had been nice to you after carrying you all the way through the Glimwood Tangle on my back the other day," Bede countered, raising a smug eyebrow. "Or does that not count in your books as being nice? Weren't you the one who said you 'didn't know what you'd have done without me?'"

Gloria flushed. Her Mimikyu squirmed in her arms as she hugged the pokemon tighter in embarrassment. "Okay, okay. That was… very nice of you. And sweet. And… unexpected. All of it."

Now Bede's cheeks began to colour. He found something else to say, something to distract himself from how adorable she looked peeking over her Mimikyu at him.

"Unexpected? You thought that I would have ignored you and left you there in the woods? I didn't realise you thought that little of me."

She paled. He'd gone too far.

"N-No, not that! I mean… everything after. You were… so sweet to me. I'd never seen that side of you before. It surprised me."

Oh.

Everything after. The bath, letting her borrow his clothes. Tending to her ankle and the cuts down her legs. Washing her dress.

The kiss she planted on his cheek.

No, no, no, no! Now was not the time to remember that!

"Well, I don't make a habit of doing that for just anyone."

"Oh." Her eyes widened fractionally.

Bede realised with a start, with a surge of heat, what he'd just said. "Y-You're the Champion. It wouldn't have been right to have done anything less."

"Right. Okay." She nodded into her Mimikyu, her response muffled in the pokemon's disguise. He could still see the tips of her ears burning pink.

"A-Anyway, how's your ankle doing?" Bede asked, desperate to change the subject. "Should you really be walking around like this? Here I thought you might finally take your self-preservation more seriously."

"It's not too bad, actually." She wiggled her foot in the air for emphasis. "I already took two days off and I'm taking it easy at the moment but it hasn't been giving me too much trouble." She sat down on the bench, cuddling her Mimikyu who happily snuggled into the embrace. She planted a gentle kiss to the top of Mimikyu's head.

Bede flushed as if he'd been the one kissed instead. Damn Mimikyu was so lucky-

No. No, he was not jealous of her pokemon.

"When do you finish tonight?" Gloria asked.

Bede's heart skipped. "Depends on the amount of challengers. Why… do you ask?"

"Well, I wanted to return your clothes and pick up my dress sometime if that's okay with you. But if you're going to be busy…"

"Tonight is fine."

Gloria smiled at him. "Great! Text me when you're free then."

"That would be rather difficult considering I don't have your number."

"Oh!" Gloria's eyes widened in realisation and it made Bede's heart flutter strangely. She dug around in her bag before pulling out a shiny card and handing it to Bede. "Here, it's my rare League Card. It's got my contact details on the back."

It was not what he was expecting. Her card. The picture on the front, a glossy heart pattern shining in the light. It was Gloria alright - the glamourous woman in the picture had her smile, the same spark in her brown eyes, the same long chocolate brown hair - but it was so far removed from the Gloria he knew.

Gloria lounged on a regal white couch, long legs extended out before her. She wore a fancy pink dress, the same shade as her favourite. Intricate lace decorated the close fitting bodice, down to where the skirt flared at her waist. Her right arm slung over the back of the couch, Gloria faced the camera with a knowing smile. Her hair flowed in graceful waves over her shoulders.

"It was Nessa's idea," Gloria chuckled nervously. "I'd never worn so much makeup in my life! My face actually felt heavy!"

Makeup. Right. That must be why her eyes, her gaze, looked so alluring. Why her pink lips looked so glossy and tantalising. Why he couldn't stop staring.

"O-Oh, it's you? For a moment, I couldn't tell who it was." He cursed the tightness of his throat. It was so hard to speak, to form words on his fumbling tongue. Bede slipped the card into his League Card case as Gloria huffed, jutting out her bottom lip in a pout.

"I don't look that different."

Oh, that pout was adorable. A spear of heat shot through Bede right to the tips of his fingers. Damn it, the dusting of pink on her cheeks filled with that infuriating warmth again.

"Well, I'd have to study it closely to see for myself…"

"Please don't!" Gloria flushed and covered her face with her hands. "It's hard enough just handing those out…! It's so embarrassing!"

"Then why'd you go along with it? You're the Champion. Hardly think that makes you a pushover."

"It was fun, I really enjoyed the whole process… I just didn't think about having to actually give them to people…" she lowered her hands slowly, peering at Bede over the top of her Mimikyu. "Please don't show it to anyone else! I'm only giving them out to the other Gym Leaders and my close friends. I wouldn't be able to cope if other people saw it!"

Close friends. That meant Hop…

Bede sobered instantly. "I won't."

"Oh, and while we're at it, you can have my updated League Card! I got a new one done since I'm the Champion now." She brought it out and handed it to Bede.

He feigned disinterest. "Never said I wanted it but if you're handing it out…"

She snatched it back. "Well, if you don't want it…"

"I didn't say that." Bede's brow twitched into a frown.

Gloria tilted her head, dangling the card between her finger and thumb. Toying with him. Waiting for him to admit what was burning on his tongue.

"I… suppose there is a part of me that does want it…"

She raises her eyebrows. "Good enough, I guess."

Bede took it from her before she changed her mind again and glanced at it briefly. Enough to see that it showed Gloria in her Champion's uniform, cape and all, sitting on what appeared to be a throne painted in the same colours of her uniform. She had that stunning, dangerous grin on her face that she would reveal in the heat of battle. That blaze in her eyes. One foot resting on her knee, she leant back, hands poised on the arm rests, and she grinned at the viewer.

Now that looked like Gloria.

Even though it was a quick glance, the intensity of Gloria's gaze set something aflame inside Bede's chest. His heart hammered against the cage of his ribs. He tucked the card away.

"That's it? No snarky comment?"

Heat had risen up his neck and began to pool across his cheeks. "It's not bad, I suppose. For you, that is."

Gloria huffed. "There's no winning with you, is there?"

She'd already won his heart.

Gloria rolled her eyes and shifted Mimikyu off her lap to stand. "I've got to get going, Hop's expecting me soon."

Hop.

Again.

Clarity crashed over Bede in a cold wave of reality. He recalled her Mimikyu and pocketed the ball. He was an idiot, letting his heart run after her when there was another who had her attention. Another who had the advantage of a whole childhood, of tight hugs and honesty, over him.

Gloria gave him a parting smile, her eyes crinkling slightly. "I'll see you later tonight. Remember to text me when you're free!"

She left with a bounce in her step and Bede cursed the way her smile and those simple words made his heart flutter.

He was an idiot. A complete and utter fool. He loved someone who was in love with someone else.

He hated it. Hated being second best.

But his heart wouldn't listen. He watched her leave, eyes following her as she disappeared through the door.

It hurt.

But he didn't want to be in love with anyone else.

Bede composed himself and headed out the same door Gloria had left through, ready to greet the next challenger and send them off to the Gym mission.

Gloria was still in the lobby, Rotom phone to her ear. "Yeah, I'm in the Gym," Gloria said. "What? Here?"

"Gloria!"

Bede stiffened at that voice. As Hop burst through the Gym doors and swept Gloria into a tight hug. She laughed in confusion and happiness, eagerly returning the embrace.

A sliver of ice dug into Bede's heart. Before he knew what he was doing he tugged Gloria out of the hug by the back of her shirt.

"What are you doing?" The venom in his voice shocked him, running like ice through his veins.

Gloria startled, glancing over her shoulder at him, before flushing darkly.

"B-Bede!" She tore herself away from him, brushing down the back of her shirt.

"That's called a hug. Maybe you've heard of it?" Hop scoffed, folding his arms. "Pretty sure I'm allowed to hug my best mate without your permission."

"You're making complete fools of yourselves." The words burned his throat like acid. "Maybe you should pay attention to your surroundings before people tell you to get a room. This is a Gym - if you're not here for the Gym Challenge then you need to leave."

"S-Sorry Bede!" Gloria squeaked. The crimson blush on her cheeks made his stomach churn. "We were just leaving!" She grabbed Hop's wrist and tugged him out of the Gym before they could argue any further. It left a bitter taste lingering in Bede's mouth that poisoned his thoughts for the rest of the day.

With the last challenger for the day defeated and the Gym clearing out, Bede stared at his Rotom phone. Gloria's rare League Card in hand, he input her number into his contacts and paused. Stared at her number. Opened a blank text and paused. Again. His stomach was a heavy weight in his belly.

What was he doing?

Bede huffed and put away the card, his mind drawing a blank. He had to text her. Let her pick up her dress so he could finally bring the matter to a close.

The sickly churning in his gut swelled with trepidation. He didn't want to see her.

He wanted to see her.

Two sides swirling together in his gut, in his mind. It wasn't right to feel this way about her, to have this searing irritation towards her for spending time with Hop. A burning, burning frustration she didn't do anything to deserve. A cold, heavy weight sank onto his shoulders, knowing he wasn't the one to make her smile like she had earlier, to make her laugh as she had in Hop's embrace.

He tasted bile. Swallowed it down and typed a curt message.

Bede: I'm free

There. He'd done his part. Bede pocketed his phone and gathered his stuff to leave, having already changed from his Gym Leader uniform into his casual clothes and pink jacket.

His phone buzzed to life in his pocket. Bede jolted, a spike of adrenaline coursing through him as he tore his phone from his pocket and saw Gloria's name on the caller ID.

She was calling him?!

Bede tightened his jaw, answering the call and placing the phone to his ear as he tried to calm the rapid crescendo of his heart.

"Wh-What?" Bede barked, scowling as his cheeks began to burn. He tugged at the collar of his jacket, hitching it higher. Damn it. Why did she have such an affect on him?!

"Hey, Bede!" Her voice sounded the same; light-hearted and bright. Right into his ear. "I got your message - I can be over in like, fifteen minutes if that suits you? I've just got to grab a sky taxi and I'll be over."

So soon? At least he had a warning this time.

"That's fine," Bede said, trying to sound as casual as he could through the tightness in his throat. He felt too warm, too flustered, too sweaty all at once.

"Great! I'll see you soon, then!"

Bede muttered, "Bye," as she ended the call and hung his head.

Arceus.

A few simple words, just hearing her voice, was enough to awaken a torrent of emotions inside him.

Damn it. He was too far gone.

Those next fifteen minutes were the longest in his life.

It would have been better for her to have dropped in randomly, unannounced and unexpected, than to have anxiety crawl up his throat with every minute that passed. He paced nervously in Ms Opal's quaint living room.

It was different, having her come over this time. There was no sense of urgency. No task for Bede to focus on. Sure, she was coming here to get her dress and return his clothes but the whole thing was so simple. The way it was between friends.

It was getting harder and harder to hide the fact that he saw her as more than a friend.

Knocking on the door, three times in quick succession, broke Bede from his thoughts. He strode over and opened the door for Gloria before gaping at her.

"What is that?"

Bede stared at the cap she had on, the Fairy Gym logo emblazoned on the front. His Gym.

Gloria beamed at him. "It's cute, isn't it? I saw it when I was in Wyndon and just had to get it!"

Bede felt his cheeks burn. It was just a stupid hat, nothing more.

"It looks ridiculous." Bede turned away from her, closing the door after ushering her in, so he didn't have to face her. Her and her love for all things pink.

Gloria laughed. "Wait 'till you see what else I got!"

There was something in her tone, in that laugh of hers, that made him pause. He watched her warily as she set her black bag on the couch and opened it up, searching for something inside.

"Tada!" She pulled out a plush doll, holding it up with glee. With a cheeky grin. It took a moment for it to sink in. The doll had a mess of fluffy white hair. A Fairy Gym uniform. Not just that but one that hung a bit long and was tied back.

Bede paled, face going white. The pink. Then finally scorching red. "That's-?!"

"A mini Bede! It's it adorable?" Gloria chimed, holding up the monstrosity. "There's so much merchandise of us! Oh, and there's more!"

There's more?!

Bede's head spun. Heart pounding like thunder in his ears, he couldn't think straight. Couldn't breathe properly. Why did she buy something like that?! How was he supposed to take this?!

"Look! He's even got your jacket!" She held up a miniature version of the pink jacket he was wearing. "You can change their clothes too!" She tugged open the back of the mini Bede's shirt with the sound of Velcro tearing.

"What are you doing?!" Bede's heart stopped.

She didn't look at him. "Changing his clothes. I like the jacket better."

Bede burned with indignant embarrassment, glowering at the wall to the side so he didn't have to watch Gloria strip and change a doll version of him.

"You are unbelievable…" Bede muttered. His cheeks ached as he flushed darkly.

"What? I think he's cute! He's even got a little scowl too!" She laughed again, pointing at the doll's eyes, sewn in with violet thread. "Pretty accurate if you ask me."

Bede had to wonder if she was trying to make him combust to death the way she was going on about that stupid doll.

"They're so soft and squishy," Gloria noted. "Pretty good quality for merch if you ask me!" She gave the doll a few squeezes as if to prove it.

"Why would you even buy something like that…" Bede sighed. He brought a hand to his brow and shook his head. Pretended it didn't feel like his heart was ricocheting around in his ribcage. "It's utterly ridiculous and a waste of money."

"Aw, don't say that! Mini Bede's so cute though! How could you say that to his adorable face?" She wiggled the doll's plush arms up and down in the air.

Bede frowned. "Very easily." He leant closer to the doll, trying not to notice the way she cradled it in her arms. "It's ridiculous and a waste of money."

Gloria puffed out a breath of air and turned away, hugging the Bede-doll closer. "Fine then, be like that. I happen to think he's cute." She put the doll back into her backpack and pulled out a cloth tote bag. She held it out to Bede. "Here, your clothes. Thanks for letting me borrow them. I made sure to wash them too, so you can't complain that they're gross or anything."

Bede rolled his eyes and took the bag off her. "I'll go and get your dress then. Give me a moment." He headed off to his room and Gloria took the time to peruse the display of tea in the kitchen.

"Ooh! There's so many types of tea!" Gloria exclaimed in awe, clasping her hands together in glee. "Roselia tea, lavender, oh - there's an Applin blend too!"

She was so excited that it stopped Bede before he retrieved her dress. An eager sparkle lit up her eyes. Her attention bounced between the different tea blends that Ms Opal had, each time finding something new and interesting to chime about.

"Would you like to try one?" Bede headed into the kitchen, his offer making her whirl to face him.

She gasped. "Oh, can I? Is that okay? Are you sure Ms Opal won't mind?"

"She won't. She's always forcing them on me anyway." Bede shrugged and stood beside Gloria in the kitchen. "I'm sure she'll be glad to know someone else enjoyed it. Besides, if I didn't offer you any then I'd be reprimanded for not being a good host."

"Oh, then can I try the Applin blend? Apple and cinnamon tea sounds amazing!" Gloria bounced on her toes in excitement. Bede bit back a smile. She was so obvious in her emotions like a child. Innocently happy.

It made him relax. Loosen the tension in his shoulders and breathe easier. Seeing her so happy and bright, despite all the pressure she'd endured as the Champion and Hero of Galar, then it gave him a sliver of hope.

Everything would be alright.

Bede filled the kettle with water, enough for two, and set it to boil on the stove. Gloria opened the Applin tea pack and breathed in the scent with a euphoric smile.

"It smells so good!" she sighed happily. "Like an apple pie!"

"You're not meant to inhale it," Bede chided lightly, rolling his eyes at her with mirth, and took the pack off her.

"I know!"

"You sure about that?" Bede scooped a measured teaspoon into the waiting teapot. "It looked like you were about to bury your nose into it for a moment there."

"I was not!"

Bede chuckled softly at her flustered pout. He glanced up, looking briefly out the front windows, about to quip back at her before his heart leapt into his throat. He practically dropped the tea pack on the counter and snatched Gloria's wrist. Without so much as a word of explanation he tugged her into his room and shut the door.

"Now of all times?!" Bede muttered under his breath.

"What's going on?" Gloria asked. She blinked at him in shock before her eyes began to wander around the room. Bede's bedroom.

"Hey! Eyes front!" Bede stepped in front of her before she could study his room. A bashful scowl narrowed his violet eyes. "Don't you dare gawk at my room."

Gloria raised her eyebrows but nodded in confused surrender. "Okay, okay. But why'd you drag me here in the first place then?"

"It's Ms Opal," Bede whispered in a hushed tone, craning his ear to the door. "If she knows that you're here, she won't let me here the end of it."

"Right…" Gloria trailed off and then gasped, "oh, wait! My bag's still out there!"

The front door clicked open.

"Shh!" Bede hissed. Focused on the door, he didn't notice how close they were standing until then, until Gloria leant over in order to hear what he was listening for.

A bark of complaint rose in his throat and he caught it before it escaped, before he could snap something he'd regret. Right as his door swung open.

Bede blanched, turning white as Ms Opal cased her keen eyes over them.

"Now, I don't mind you having your girlfriend over, but I would much rather you let me know in advance so I don't accidentally intrude on a private moment between you two," Ms Opal said, a twinkle in her eyes.

"S-She's not my girlfriend!" Bede barked, a rush of crimson washing over his face.

Ms Opal smiled knowingly. "You say that, yet you're holding hands." She tapped at their joined hands with her umbrella casually. Bede yanked his hand away. "And I believe I saw her dress in your room not a few days ago. Your affections towards each other are fairly obvious, my dears."

Gloria coloured pink and gaped at her shoes.

"Th-That's not…!" The words left Bede at the sight if Gloria smouldering beneath a blush. His blood felt electric. Jolting like fire through his veins.

Ms Opal chuckled. "Ah, young love. I don't mind you having her over, just make sure you're careful. We wouldn't want any unfortunate surprises on our hands."

Gloria sounded an embarrassed squeak in her throat.

For the final blow, Ms Opal tapped Bede on the shoulder lightly. "Make sure you use protection. You can't always afford to trust your judgement in those circumstances!"

"E-Enough! We get it you… you…! Wh-What are you here for anyway?!" Bede brushed Ms Opal's hand off his shoulder. He wouldn't look at Gloria.

"Oh, I just came by to grab something I'd forgotten. Then I happened to see lovely Gloria's bag on the couch and wondered where she was." She pottered away, collecting a container of sweets from the kitchen. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything." The insinuation in her tone sent a score of heat right down Bede's spine.

"You didn't! There was nothing to interrupt!"

"Oh? Then you won't mind if I stay and have a word with Gloria here?"

"Don't you have somewhere you need to be?!"

Ms Opal chuckled again. "I'm just kidding, my dear. I'll leave you two alone." She winked at Gloria who flustered and stared intently at her feet again.

The click of the front door closing left the house in a stiff silence. Heat prickled at the back of Bede's neck. His ears burned. He forced a glance at Gloria, who was still fascinated by her laces.

"So… that's what you meant…" Gloria mumbled quietly.

Bede snapped his gaze away. It was hard to breathe. The air was too thick. Too warm. The kettle whistled and gave Bede something to do, to focus on, as he desperately tried to settle his thundering heart.

"Ms Opal is always like that. You don't have to take anything she said seriously."

The sound of hot water pouring into the teapot filled the silence. The lid clattered, teacups clicked as Bede retrieved them, letting the tea slowly steep.

"You seem to get along well." Gloria quietly stepped over, out of the doorway to his room and into the kitchen. "It looked like she enjoys teasing you."

Bede huffed. "You have no idea. Living with that woman is absolute hell at times."

Gloria breathed a soft beat of laughter. "You say that, but, to me it looks like you're happy here."

Bede paused. He looked at the teapot, a golden hue slowly blending into the clear water, his expression growing pensive.

"...Perhaps. It's not the worst place I could be."

Gloria scoffed, blowing out a puff of air. "You're so not honest with yourself. It's not going to kill you to admit that you actually like living here. There's nothing wrong with that."

Bede began to pour the tea. "Isn't there? She's not my mother. She's not family. I have no right to be here, to be mooching off a stranger and owing her a debt. I should be finding my own place. Being independent."

"Bede, you're only sixteen."

"Seventeen," he corrected her.

"Ugh, I missed your birthday again?! Wish you'd just tell me when it is so this doesn't keep happening." Gloria huffed. "Anyway, that's not the point. It doesn't matter if Ms Opal's not your blood relative - she cares about you. And family is more than just genetics! It's whoever, whatever you want it to be. Whether that's pokemon or a strange, persistent woman who makes you her successor of the Fairy Gym."

"You're saying Ms Opal is my family."

"Only if you want her to be. It's up to you."

Bede looked at her now, the concern in her eyes sinking something strange into his heart. A strange feeling of tightness. A warm squeeze. It was somehow fuzzy and light. Not uncomfortable.

"You make it sound so simple," Bede said, shaking his head. He brought the teacups and teapot over to the dark wooden table before taking a seat.

"It can be," Gloria said as she sat opposite him, bringing her cup closer so she could breathe in the rich scent.

"You're meant to drink it, by the way."

"I know that!" Gloria puffed out an indignant breath. "Just let me enjoy the smell for a moment! Sheesh!"

Bede's lips quirked into an infinitesimal smile which he hid behind the teacup as he brought it to his lips to cool it with a gentle breath. "Just checking."

Gloria rolled her eyes. She blew on her tea for a few breaths before speaking again. "You know, I consider my pokemon part of my family. We've been through so much together, it just feels natural to have them there." She took a tiny sip of her tea, flinching at the temperature. "I think family is whoever makes you feel safe and loved. It feels like you're home when you're with them. That kind of thing."

"Hm." Bede answered with that ambiguous noise and nothing more.

Gloria's heart sank slightly. She'd hoped to get Bede to open up to her, even if it was just slightly. Every time she'd tried to get closer to him, to peel back the layers he was hiding behind, she'd hit a wall. Just like this.

"Mm, this tea is pretty good!" Gloria hummed in delight, changing the subject. "I'm so jealous that you have all these incredible teas lying in front of you every day! You can just pick and choose from then anytime you want…" She sighed whimsically.

"They're not going anywhere."

"What?"

"The teas. They're not going anywhere. They'll be here next time too."

Gloria put down her cup and stared. "Next time? Is that… is that an invitation? I can come here again?"

Bede drank his tea slowly so he didn't have to feel her gaze on him. She was still staring at him when he placed his cup down.

"You've still yet to return my Rapidash, remember? I wholly expect I'll be seeing you again at some point. You have a way of turning up out of the blue."

"That's right! They sent me a picture!" Gloria excitedly for out her phone and flicked through it for a moment before the Rotom phone hovered over to him. The image on the screen showed two Rapidash resting on lush grass, snuggled up close.

"The message said they're getting along really well. I don't think it'll be long now until they find an egg!" Gloria beamed happily. Her Rotom phone flew over to her and she pocketed it. "You'll have your Rapidash back soon enough."

"Good."

Gloria rested her chin in her one hand, smiling at him. Her eyes softened. "You really love your pokemon, don't you?"

Bede looked at her questioningly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing really, it just makes me so happy when I see such a strong bond between trainer and pokemon."

Her smile set off wild butterfrees in his stomach. A warm feeling remained in his chest as they leisurely drank their tea and chatted. Time passed too quickly. The tea disappearing too fast. It wasn't long before Gloria huffed that she had a few busy days ahead of her and Bede knew she would stay much longer. When he stood and gathered their tea cups, he noticed the sun had begun to set.

Had it really been that long?

Bede retrieved Gloria's dress from his room as he'd meant to earlier. He grabbed his own clothes from inside the tote bag she'd brought them in and handed it back to her with her dress.

"Wait, did you iron it?" Gloria gaped as she held up her neatly folded dress. "You didn't have to!"

"It's not a big deal. I was ironing my own clothes and just happened to do yours as well."

"Still. Thanks, Bede."

Again. That smile of hers toyed with his heart, sending it fluttering. He purposely ignored it. Purposely stuffed those emotions away into a deep corner of his mind.

The sky taxi came sooner than Bede would have liked.

"Thanks for the tea," Gloria said as she headed out the door. "It'll probably be a couple of days, maybe a week, until I'll be free enough to come by again. Hopefully there'll be some eggciting news by then!"

Bede huffed. "Really?"

"Aw, come on! That was a good one!"

"No, it wasn't."

Gloria rolled her eyes dramatically and climbed into the sky taxi. "Whatever. It was funny."

Bede bit back a smile at her forcibly sour expression. "Bye, Gloria."

"See you!" Her smile returned. Just like that.

And just like that she was gone.

Bede felt strangely warm the rest of the evening. Fuzzy and warm. He kept thinking back to Gloria's visit, both to the Gym and his place. The Fairy-type cap she wore. The Bede plush.

If he'd been any more conceited he might have thought she was trying to flirt with him. That she'd deliberately chosen things that represented him.

But Bede had already been shot with a dose of reality that morning when Hop had come by the Gym. She'd hugged him so tight, laughed in his embrace.

It was so obvious her heart already belonged to another.

Bede's phone buzzed as he got ready to sleep and he lazily grabbed it, seeing a new message from Gloria. There was a picture attached.

Gloria: they're all ready for bed!

The picture attached was focused on a bed, four plush dolls sitting side-by-side propped up on cushions. It was obvious who they were meant to represent. He'd already seen the Bede-doll before. Next to it sat one with brown hair, wearing the Champion's uniform and cape - Gloria. Beside the Gloria-doll there was one representing Hop and then Marnie.

She'd bought all of them. Not just his.

Bede's heart dropped. The warmth drained from him like a bucket of water emptying as the bottom fell out. He absently scanned the rest of the image before he froze. Was that…?

Oh.

Bede: maybe you should clean up your drawers before taking a picture with them in it.

Silence.

Bede's phone buzzed to life with a call from Gloria. He smirked and answered it.

"Hey-"

"Delete it!" Gloria shrieked into his ear. "Oh, Arceus, Bede! Delete it! Now! You didn't see that!"

"I believe it's a bit late for that."

A strangled noise came from the other end. "Of all the times I forget to put my bra away…" she muttered faintly, the phone barely picking up the audio. But it did.

Bede smirked despite the blush on his cheeks. He'd never heard her so panicked before. Not like this - horribly embarrassed and flustered.

It was worth teasing her a little to hear it.

"Bede…!" she drew out his name in a pleading whine. "Please, put me out of my misery and delete it! Please…!"

"I wasn't going to save it. Consider it deleted. Though it'll be quite a bit harder to delete it from my memory…"

"Forget you ever saw it!"

"What, you mean you don't make a habit of sending pictures of your underwear to guys?"

"No!" she shrieked again.

Bede stifled a laugh. "I'm sure I'll figure out a way to remove it from my mind."

Her reactions were worth it. Worth the embarrassment of pointing it out in the photo. Worth making it obvious that he'd noticed it in the first place.

A cute, lacy pink bra hanging out of the open drawer to the left of her bed.

Pink. Again.

Was everything she wore pink…?

"If you forget it then… then I'll owe you! Anything you want!"

Anything…?

Bede's cheeks warmed. "You already said you owed me for helping you in the Glimwood Tangle and for lending you my Rapidash."

"Oh, shoot."

Bede chuckled.

"Hey! Did you just laugh at me?"

"Who would've thought I'd have the Champion at my bidding. Now, what should I have you do…?"

"Arceus, put me out of my misery already…"

"I'll think of something." Bede's cheeks ached from the grin on his face.

Gloria grumbled into the phone. "Make sure you delete it…! If you don't I'll come after you…!"

"I'm not going to risk that."

"Good." A pause. "Goodnight, Bede."

His heart fluttered. Oh. This was different.

"Night," he muttered as heat washed over his cheeks. They continued to burn as the call ended and he swiftly deleted the image.

It was too different. Saying "goodnight" instead of "goodbye."

A single word difference and it felt too intimate all of a sudden.

Bede sighed. He really was too far gone.

#bede #gloria #bederia #dressedinpinkshipping #pokemon swsh #pokemon

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