#sigh. even updated my app and that didn't work

[nyxronomicon]

Ugh so annoyed the link in my childe fic is broken and I'll have to get on browser to fix it... 🙄 I'll reblog it again when it's no longer broken lol

[lololololchips]

Kim Mingyu || in which love lingers…

synopsis: in which love lingers even after their relationship reaches its end. Mingyu discover that his enduring love and care for his ex will always remain, even if she has now found happiness in a new relationship…

genre: one shot smau, fake texts, fluff, angst, non!idol, lovers to strangers (?)

warnings: fem reader, cursing, mention of alcohol/being intoxicated

a/n: hiiiii i am very happy and excited to announce that this is my first collab!!! soooo allow me to introduce the amazing, talented, and great person that completed this smau @spamgyu !!!!! ces completely ruined me with her opinion on ex!mingyu to the point that it made me want to do an smau on the topic so here it is:)) the amazing writing portion that she did is towards the end so make sure not to skip over it and read it!!! also go show her support on all her great work, she’s gonna make u suffer and cry BUT HEY THATS OKAY🙈🙈 once again i’m truly so happy to have worked with ces so ENJOY WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER HEHE<333

Taking the final bite of his shave ice, Mingyu couldn't help but let out a pitiful chuckle as the cold treat made contact with his tongue - he had gone mad.

He had always wanted to visit the tropical island, looking forward to crossing off all the sights he had on his four year old list in his notes app.

Only difference was, it wasn't meant to just be him completing this list.

You were supposed to be there.

You were the one that had come up and done research for all the places he had paid a visit to.

From the small surf town up north to the local eateries, Mingyu couldn't quite find himself to enjoy the experience fully - knowing that there was something missing.

You.

It had been three years since the two of you had separated, both coming to terms with the end and moving on with your lives. It had been months since he had even thought of you - as a romantic partner, at least.

What was meant to be a birthday trip had turned to somewhat of a trip to tie up all the loose ends he never did seem to get to - nor was he aware had been undone.

This place was supposed to be for you two.

Mingyu knew it was stupid; relating every activity he had been doing back to you instead of fully enjoying the trip.

He was supposed to have moved on; and he has!

But why did his stomach feel like it was constantly sinking? Why did his heart feel as empty as it did the first day he had experienced a life without you?

With each picture he snapped, he found himself mumbling how much you would have loved the place.

It was everything you two had dreamed of, maybe even more.

You always did like the ocean - remembering the first time the two of you had spent at the beach together.

He could remember the smile on your face that day, almost as if it was just a week ago.

He could remember the sweet smell of coconut shampoo that lingered in your hair, wafting into his nose as the wind blew.

He could remember the sunkissed glow on your cheeks as the sun beat down on the two of you.

Would it have been the same if you had made it to the Hawaii trip with him?

Would you still have been using the same shampoo?

Would you still allow him to playfully drag you into the water - pretending as if you didn't want to wet your hair in the cold ocean water?

Probably not.

Time has passed, there was no way you were the same person - just as he wasn't that same foolish boy that he was when he was wrapped around your fingers.

You were most likely using a different shampoo now.

And you probably would have jumped into the ocean first.

He wanted to text you; send you all the images he took, update you that Matsumoto Shave Ice was as delicious as you imagined it be, tell you all about what he had been up to.

You probably wouldn't even care - at least, not like you did before.

You would simply reply casually, just like your other mutual friends.

Letting out a sigh, Mingyu tossed out the now empty cup - shaking his head to try and shake away the thoughts of you.

"I'm a fucking idiot." He scoffed, rereading the word vomit that he had spilled to you just a few minutes ago over text.

You two had been cordial, friends even - and now, that could possibly go down the drain.

All because of this stupid thing called nostalgia.

He had allowed for the emotional tie that the island had to overpower his coherent thoughts - typing all that he had felt the duration of his trip into the messaging app.

Mingyu knew he had to get it out, he had to let you know - he felt as though his chest would burst if he didn't. He had done so well holding back for the past few days, simply talking to you in his head.

But he heard it, someone had played the song the two of you had jokingly dedicated to each other after the break-up - and almost as if his younger self had possessed his body, he opened the messaging app and went on to spill all that his brain had been bothering him with.

His younger self missed you; gravely.

But not the you that was now, no - he didn't know who she is.

She is a stranger.

She may look familiar, having the same features that had once had him so weak in the knees - but she no longer felt like the home he once resided in.

He no longer knew the address to this home, nor does he think it has it's light on for him anymore.

Even if his kept the porch light on; just in case you needed to seek shelter in the darkest of nights.

It will always be on.

[wasteddmoondust]

pineapple || james potter

pairing: james potter x reader 1,219 words, teacher and james go on their first date! what could go wrong? a/n: can you tell i am horrible at titling my fics... somehow i just need it to relate to what happens. so uh. enjoy!

prev. chapter

You feel your heart going absolutely crazy. You know it's first-date jitters, but somehow it feels worse this time. It's nothing special, really. You try to tell yourself. Just another first date. Just like other first dates (that has turned to nothing...) And now this first date is the father of one of the children you teach. Yeah, nothing special.

After several attempts to make yourself busy by looking at your phone, you hear your name. It's James and he's walking up to you.

"First name basis already?" you ask smugly.

He chuckles, "What? Sorry, I guess I'll just call you-"

"Please don't, I hate being called that outside of work."

"Got it."

The two of you walk together and he leads you to a quaint coffee shop, James swears by the coffee made here. When the orders are made you find a seat and sit down.

"It's been a while since I've been on a date," he says, hands fidgeting with the receipt.

"Same here," you admit.

He stops playing with the receipt and furrows his brows. "Really? But I'm the parent."

"And I'm the one taking care of your kid for a whole day, 20 kids, actually."

"Huh... and you don't even meet people in the industry?"

You snort. "Unfortunately no, a lot of them are older and married with kids. There's no one to date there. Trust me, even the older teachers try to make me get on dating apps. If anything, you're doing them a favour."

He grins that grin that makes your heart do a little flip. Oh god, it's happening, huh?

"I'm happy to do that."

You continue your conversation, keeping it light with small talk. Then, a waiter comes by to give you your meal and you both thank him. James' phone dings, he checks the message and he replies to it while you patiently wait for him.

He looks back up at you and keeps his phone. "Sorry, my best friend is taking care of Harry today, he was just sending an update."

"That's alright. Is he doing okay?"

"Harry?" he asks, looking a little nervous. His arms are resting crossed on the table. "Uh- yeah. He's fine. Not so sure about Sirius. He just said he's letting Harry use his tattoos as a colouring book."

You laugh. "Yeah, I can see that. He does love to colour. Have you always wanted to be a father?"

James looks stunned, but laughs it off. "Not a normal question for the first date, is it?"

"Well since you already are one," you shrug.

James thinks for a while before answering. "Yeah... I've always wanted kids... Well I'm sure you've seen from the documents I sent to the school when Harry enrolled. I'm widowed..."

You nod, you do in fact know this, you had read through those documents for every child. Understanding their family structure and dynamics can be a big help in understanding the child and improving their development in school and at home.

"She uh- had complications at birth and didn't make it." He let out a sigh and shrugged. "So now it's just me and Harry. And I wouldn't trade him for the world.

"You really love him, don't you?"

"I do."

"You know you can talk about him, right?"

James looks down and purses his lips. "It's just that... other people I've dated weren't really... keen on the fact that I have a kid. You know, another person's child and all."

You tilt your head down to try and make eye contact with him. Somehow, your hand reaches out to his. "You know that doesn't matter to me, right? I already knew you had a son, hell, I even taught him for a whole year, and I still accepted your date."

His mouth forms a small frown, but his hand grabs yours anyway. "I just didn't want to seem weird."

"You're not. Promise," you give his hand a squeeze.

"Is it too early to want to kiss you?"

You both stare at each other for a second before you burst out laughing, making him laugh too.

James starts to tell you about Harry, and visibly gets more comfortable the more he does it. He tells stories from his first words to potty fails. He shows videos and pictures. From there, the both of you fall into an easy rhythm of branching from topic to topic in your conversation. You exchange bites of your food. Before you know it, you're laughing while your meal is long done and you're both on your second cup of coffee.

For some reason, you feel an itch in your throat.

Nonchalantly, you ask, "Did your pasta have pineapple?"

"Yes, why?"

"Firstly, who the hell puts pineapple in pasta? Secondly, I think I'm having an allergic reaction."

James sits up in a panic. "Oh god- I'm so sorry-"

You cough into your first. "It's fine, it usually doesn't react as bad as it used to but I like to stay away from pineapples anyway. I'm not gonna die. Can you get me some cold water, please?"

He immediately stands up and gets you a glass from the counter. You down the glass in seconds and you feel better.

"I'm so sorry that was embarrassing-"

"You're sorry? I gave you a bite!"

"I forgot to ask, it's my fault."

He gently places a hand on your shoulder. "I'm so sorry, let me make it up to you"

"James, trust me, it's fine-"

"I'll bring you on a second date."

You furrow your brows. "You just saw me cough my lungs out from an allergic reaction and you still want to bring me out?" you can't help but laugh at the ridiculousness.

"I mean... I still find you attractive after all that so if you find me attractive after I rambled about my own child to you though you have taught him for this past year I don't see why not."

At this point, you're pretty sure your cheeks hurt from all the smiling you've been doing the entire time.

Despite your protests, James insists on driving you home. When you reach the entrance to your apartment building, he tells you to wait before rushing out of the car to open the door to the passenger's side. You giggle and take the hand he holds out to you as you step out of his car.

He tugs the hand that is holding yours to make you face him. He's so close, you're desperately hoping your cheeks don't show how flushed you are.

"So... same time next week?" you suggest.

He nods. "No pineapples this time, guaranteed."

"And you're allowed to talk about Harry."

He beams at that, looking down and letting out a sigh before looking back at you. "Is it still too early to kiss you?"

"Yes, but for now I'll give you this," you press a kiss to his cheek. You slowly walk towards your building, your arms stretching until you gently let go when you're too far away. "I'll see you next week!"

And like that, you disappear into the building. James is left standing there, still in disbelief of the entire day.

He lets out a sigh, smiling, and gets into his car. He 's so excited to tell Sirius when he gets home.

a/n: if i'm being so honest i have zero idea how most allergies work so please don't get technical with me... also!!!! thank you so much for the love on part one eek i am on a roll i'm so happy to be writing this series.

taglist: @willows-lane @celosiastarr @nsr-15

[pacifierbby]

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ONLINE LOVE

* ੈ✩‧₊ Bumble where women come first. where women send the first message. However, Emily didn't know she was talking to anyone other than Lando Norris. Will Bumble be the first dating app she finds love with no other than an F1 racer?

୨ৎ 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 LN4 x reader

୨ৎ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 none

୨ৎ 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 1,350

-𝑵𝑨𝑽𝑰-

──────────────୨ৎ 𝑩𝑼𝑴𝑩𝑳𝑬 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 ୨ৎ───────────────

The week has been nothing but stressful back and forth of messages with your boss updating him about the meetings which sometimes he took an hour to reply to even though he promised he be free for these things making everyone at the table annoyed and making you feel embarrassed about the way your boss was acting you couldn't apologies to them enough the meeting took a lot longer because of that. however, you were thankful that today was Saturday and you could be free of stress for the weekend You and Lando texted back and forth him sending you sweet messages making you smile during the stressful week you both planned to go seeing today you were nervous it was your first date after so long after taking a break from relationships.

The sun shining through the big bay windows of your hotel room is the only thing your boss has done right during this week but you are going to put work behind you today and leave the stress for next week however you will have a conversation with your boss when you return. getting up from the comfort of your hotel bed and slipping on your slippers that were placed at the side of your bed looking outside of the window Monaco's city active cars passing by from the streets below going to their next destination.

Lando texting you that he be with you in an hour. giving you plenty of time to get ready for the fun ahead.

straightening the last strand of your hair. Looking at the mirror making sure that you didn't miss anything and that your outfit was okay nothing too casual but something in between for what Lando planned ahead your phone pinging with a message from Lando I'm 5 minutes away. xx quickly typed back okay see you soon ill meet you outside the hotel. xx

Making sure you have everything you need making a small checklist in your head grabbing the key card from its holder looking back at the mirror making sure your outfit is okay sighing here we go.

The seconds were going slower making you a little nervous you knew you were a little early to leave the hotel but you really didn't want him waiting for you looking down at your watch 1 more minute hearing a small beep looking towards the noise seeing a black Lamborghini pulling up slowly the window rolling down "your guide is here madame" laughing opening the passenger door "where we going?" putting your seatbelt on Lando pulling away from your hotel "that my love bug is a secret" blushing at the cute nickname sighing "I hate secrets but because its you I let you off" Lando looking over quickly winking at you.

The conversation bounced between the both of you like you knew each other for years. "well sweet here's our first destination" The road looked memorable "I remember this road from somewhere but cant remember where" Looking around Lando drove slowly around the corners "this is Circuit de Monaco you may see it on TV from F1" now he said it you did remember it from that your little sister addicted to formula one and tells everything about it "oh I remember now! my little sister talks about Formula One all the time she really likes this one guy uh" pointing her finger to her lips "that's it, Lando Norris!" making him laugh "yeah I enjoy it too big fan off that Lando guy would love to meet your sister one day" Making Emily nod looking at Monaco scenery leaving the first destination and onto the next.

──────────────୨ৎ 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ୨ৎ───────────────

Lando didn't want to dare to tell her that he was the Formula One driver that her sister liked he just enjoyed being a normal person for that day he knew that he would have to tell her one day but that's another subject for another day for now he wanted to have fun with her bringing her to all the destinations that she couldn't go to on her last visit. The conversations constantly flowed making it easy for them both Emily talked about her work and how her boss embarrassed her in front of new contractors for the boss making Lando want to tell her to be the CEO assistant for McLaren but he knew he couldn't open up just yet. they just met she could easily be there for his fame if he told her but deep down he knew she wouldn't do that she sounded like a genuine person.

Pulling up to the next destination Fontvieille Port "I've been here before to meet with one of my boss's contractors" Lando parking his car at a parking space "Well my love we are doing something other than meeting contractors we are going on one of them yachts that I booked for us to ride while we're watching the sunset" making Emily smile at Lando "stay their ill open the door for you" jumping out of the car the sunset going down slowly just in time Lando thought opening the door for Emily holding her hand helping her out of the car shutting the door behind her. both of them making their way towards the yacht.

────────────୨ৎ 𝑭𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑷𝑶𝑹𝑻 ୨ৎ────────────

Emily was surprised by Landos date planning no boy had done this for her always took her to a restaurant which between me and you she actually hated she preferred having a takeaway at home and watching movies she hated restaurants she avoided them like the plague so the fact that Lando planned this wowed her.

Lando helps her onto the boat The sun slowly sets behind them quickly taking a quick photo for memory Lando tells the driver to set off. walking towards her holding his hand out "Shall we?" Emily instantly took his hand leaving a small spark between them. Lando brings them over to a table and chairs on the top deck, which was nicely set out with a bottle of wine in the middle candles and flowers placed next to it plates and cutlery placed, giving Lando an instant brownie point. Helping her sit down at the table she knew he went through so much for this to be perfect tonight and that warmed her heart. The wine instantly opened her and Lando's glasses filled The boat went through the waves with ease her hair blowing with the wind conversations flowing back and forth. A man walks towards their table with a small clipboard in hand "Are you ready to order food?" looking up towards Lando "Can I have a medium steak with chips please" The waiter nods and looks towards you "Can I have the same please" writing down your order and rushing off towards the end of the boat

The sky slowly fell into the dark blue the stars lightening up the sky the lights surrounding the boat lightening up Lando's face "Thank you for planning this it's been beautiful so far" you softly spoke Lando smiled " only for a gorgeous woman" Holding up his glass making you instantly blush clicking your glass with his. You didn't have to wait long for the meals to come but you found it more beautiful that you and lando were having a meal on a boat under the stars you couldn't really find anything better than this right?.

The night was sadly coming to an end you and Lando at the front watched the midnight waves coming in contact with the boat "Again thank you, Lando, it has been memorable no one has done that for me" Lando turned towards you grabbing your hand "and I'm glad I could make this memorable for you but uh um can I have another date with you?" making you instantly nod "of course cant wait for what you plan next" lando softly leaning forward "can I?" making you nod both off you leaning in the kiss bring you butterflies and you swore you heard fireworks in the sky but that only what comes from Disney movies but this is going to be your Disney movie.

© pacifierbby works

𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻 ✧˖*°࿐@eloriis @sltwins @sagestack

✧˖*°࿐ 𝐀/𝐍 Please show this some love. Should I do another part of this?

[trashboatprince]

Here's a little one-shot based on this recent drawing I did for Fourteen and Donna, involving a flip phone. It's gonna have different dialogue, but that's alright.

As always, I write Fourteen with they/them pronouns.

On with the fic!

--

"You have got to be kidding me..." Donna growled as she stared at the alien sitting in a chair before her. They looked a bit roughed up and were grinning, but that kind of grin that meant that they knew damn well that they were in trouble.

"Hi, Donna!" The Doctor gave a little wave. "Finally tracked you down, this building is huge! How do you even get around in here without constantly getting lost?"

"What are you doing here?" Donna asked, crossing her arms. It's not that she didn't mind being visited by her family while at work at UNIT, but it was bad enough that Rose worked here twice a week for some extra cash, now her adopted-alien sibling was breaking and entering instead of just calling her! She didn't need to keep an eye on two troublemakers while she had to deal with aliens and paperwork!

The Doctor looked away, toying with their tie instead of making eye contact. "Well... I was bored."

"You were bored."

"Yeah. Sean's off at work, Sylvia has her book or cooking club, can't remember which one she said she was going to, and Wilf was busy with his friends, leaving me alone." The Doctor shrugged. "Andyoustillhavethetardiskey." They quickly added, pouting.

"For a damn good reason, spaceman." She huffed. "So, why come here?"

"To help! Or see if I can get back into the Black Archives. They changed up the security system the last time I was there, and I know that they have some stuff in there I really want. Like the copy of this one movie with Peter Cushing in it based on one of my old adventures! It's an excellent movie, it's even got Bernard Cribbins in it! Remember, he's that lovely chap who was..."

They trailed off under Donna's heated stare and they swallowed. "Also, I miss hanging out with you, and talking with you, and just spending time with my best friend. You're always so busy with work!"

Donna sighed loudly, rubbing at her eyes. "Doctor, it's sweet that you miss me, but this is my new job, and I'd really like to keep it for longer than a few months. I know you miss hanging out with me and going on adventures, I can't deny that I miss it too. But you are retired, and Kate says you are not allowed to help with UNIT stuff unless if it's an extreme emergency and we can't get in contact with your other half."

"I'm sure I could be of great help here, I'll even put up with the scientific advisor job again!"

"No." She held up a hand. "Look, just... go home, relax, and break the TV or something. It'll entertain you for a few hours as you try to, I dunno, update it to get channels from Planet Blue."

"Oh, you don't want channels from there, they are just the worst, all public access, but not the fun kind with the puppets or the people in costumes. Those are good ones."

Donna just stared at the Doctor, who smiled. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What can keep you occupied while I'm at work?"

They shrugged. "I dunno. I just... wanna hang out with you in some way while you're at work."

"What about a phone?"

They looked bothered, even offended, at this suggestion. "A phone? Donna, I hate phones."

"Your home is a phonebox!"

"Not really, she just likes to look like one. And besides, I don't like all the... apps and options, and the fact that it's just a shitty computer and not really a phone anymore. Also, Kate gave me one, remember?"

Donna scoffed. "Yes, and it 'accidentally' ended up buried in the garden."

"That was the ghosts who did that."

"No, they didn't."

"Yeah, they didn't." They sighed, pouting. "Don't wanna smartphone, don't need one. Never had a need for one, and the only reason I even had a phone back when you traveled with the younger version of this pretty face was cause Martha wanted me to have it."

"And I want you to have one." Donna pointed out, poking them in the chest. "If Martha can convince you to have one, then I should be able to as well."

The Doctor groaned, rolling their head back before slumping in their seat. "Fine, I'll use a phone."

Donna grinned. "Good, I'll find you a good one."

--

"A flip phone?" The Doctor asked when Donna arrived home that evening, staring at the little device in her hand.

"It's better suited for you, no apps, just takes and makes calls, and does a bit of texting. It's a phone. And one that I know you're not going to just conveniently lose." Donna stated. "I made sure of that."

"Really?" The Doctor blinked, taking it. "How so?"

"Got a tracker on it, so if you try to lose it, I'll find it. And if you try to have the TARDIS lose it, she'll just give it to me, cause she loves me."

They glanced at the window, glaring at the big, blue box that stood out on the back porch. Yeah, she did love Donna, and would so rat the Doctor out in a heartbeat. "Fine! I'll keep it on me!"

"Good. And, now that you have one, if I lose you in public, which is bound to happen because it always does, I can easily find you with a single call!" Donna said with a smile.

The Doctor sighed, staring at the dark blue and silver flip phone, opening it up and seeing the most basic of backgrounds on the screen. First things first, they were changing that, and maybe getting custom ringtones. They might not like phones, there were easier ways to communicate, and more fun, like writing letters on psychic paper and having them show up throughout time and space, but they were going to make this work in their own way.

"And Rose helped me pick it out." Donna spoke as she moved to the kitchen. "She said it's the kind that can have a little phone charm hang from it, she'll help you find one, or she'll make you one."

This instantly got the Doctor's attention, and they perked up. "Oh? Ooh, I love a little charm! Adds a bit of, well, charm, to something!"

"Yeah, I figured you'd approve of that." Donna said before vanishing into the other room.

After a week with the blasted device, now loaded in photos and every one of their contacts having custom ringtones, and several charms hooked to the thing, the phone seemed to be a good compromise to keep the Doctor from pestering Donna at work.

At least in person.

However, calling was quite often, and Donna was now regretting ever getting them the damn thing.

At least she finally got them to use the damn thing for once.

--

The Doctor is the kinda person who would love phone charms.

Also, the reference to the Peter Cushing Doctor Who movies is a canon fact from the novelization of Day of the Doctor, Ten and Eleven found the movie in the archives and were obsessing over it.

Also, the letters on psychic paper are from a Ten and River audio adventure. I can see Fourteen doing this too, but I think they and Fifteen would do it to keep in communication.

[forcebewitht]

From The Bottom Of My Heart (Yandere!Ace Trappola X Reader)

…..Today was just not your day. You had been stressed out by the trials and errors of life, especially hard as of today, and you just needed a little period of rest and relaxation for yourself as of now. So, you settled down within your bed after a tired sigh had escaped your lips, which faintly dissipated as you smiled and scrolled to your favorite game app on your phone- Twisted Wonderland. You had always been a big Disney fan, so making the villainous characters or the franchise into their own hot anime boy characters that were tied to them was right up your alley! You even had your favorites within the game that you would work very hard to pull for (as not to clear out your bank account), and you loved the rhythmics the game had to offer. 

You waited as the screen did its usual bits of loading, humming the game's theme, Piece Of My World, to yourself as you sat. However, a message suddenly popped up on the screen, which was normal, sometimes given small updates in Japanese- but that wasn't why you stopped. It….was in English? The message read: 

"A new update has arrived- download now?"

While peculiar...you didn't opt to think too much on the thought, maybe they were trying out a new English update you hadn't heard of? You simply pressed the button that read "download", faintly arching a brow at the heart's that were beside the text box on either side. Regardless, the usual theme began to play as the update swiftly downloaded. You had grown into a habit of guessing who greeted you into the game once it loaded up- having nothing else to say other than "Twisted Wonderland" in their usual fashion. Today, Ace's voice was the one you heard.

"Twisted Wonderland~" 

You couldn't help but to smile to yourself as you pressed the button to load in- Ace's bright voice never failed to make you smile. However, your joy was quickly overwhelmed with a bit of confusion- as Ace was the one to appear upon your screen. In his Dorm Uniform. You faintly arched a brow- you never...received that card before. Ace said nothing, simply opting to smile warmly and place his hands onto his hips as you stared in a dumbfounded manner at the redhead. You….you were certain you had (favorite character)'s card on before? And you certainly didn't have it switch or rotate characters on its own. Being curious, you decided to go to your roster and check your cards- and your eyes widened in even more confusion. Every single Ace card that you could earn in the game was now there. You had never really been an...Ace lover. Sure, he was cute and had a fun personality that progressed throughout the story, but...you just weren't ever really a big fan of his. You knew you hadn't earned these cards, so what gives? Going over to the menu and attempting to switch his character to another on the home screen proved even more daunting- for you couldn't toggle to anyone else besides Ace. 

Now, you were even more weirded out than before. Maybe it was a glitch? To test your theory, you attempted to close the game- in which it popped right back open again. Your eyes widened as you were placed right back onto the home screen again, Ace still in the same position as before- that is, until he suddenly moved and started talking.

"Heeeeeyyyyyyyy, (Y/N)! Whatcha tryna do, huh? You were gone for too long today, it's hard to keep Deuce and Grim under control on my own, you know~" 

H-he was speaking in English! You froze on the spot, now watching your screen more intensely. Ace suddenly moved again, now folding his arms over his chest- he looked pissed. 

"Plaaayeerrrr. How about you show a little more appreciation for what I did, eh? It wasn't easy to do this!" 

You quickly began to move your finger towards the Power button on your phone, utterly shaken to your core about what was happening- and that's when the screen glitched. You gasped, jumping back a bit upon your bed and staring down at the screen….

For a moment, it had been the beach that Epel and Deuce were standing upon from Chapter 5...but now...it was this…..Ace's voice could suddenly be heard through the screen. 

"It wasn't easy taking care of the others, you know! Sure, once I so easily figured out what would get them vulnerable and bring them down, it was easy! Pulling records on Riddle's mom here, calling Farena over there, it was all too simple after I figured out the patterns! Then….watching the life fade from their eyes...knowing that I, the first guy you laid your eyes upon….would be your one and only…..well, I couldn't contain my excitement anymore! And woooo! Hacking the systems to get you all of my cards you missed out on, you poor thing~ well, I had to make sure you got 'em all….as your Ace~"

Your hands shook as you attempted to lean forward and power your phone off to get this...monster off of your screen- and that's when you heard the taps. Tap tap….tap tap….

"Knock knock, (Y/N)! I'm still here looking right at you!"

Yet again, you froze- but that was because the lights in your room began to flicker. Skin pale, your eyes warily glanced around your room- so much so, you didn't notice that Ace's face now filled the screen. 

"I love ya', ya' dolt….from the depths of my heart….and back...and no one is gonna keep you from me anymore~" 

The lights in your house all shut off at once, your phone's screen now going black….and the last thing you saw before you passed out was a gloved hand reaching through your mirror towards yourself upon your bed, followed by the sound of your own scream.

[imyourbratzdoll]

𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒔

hello, I hope you are all doing well and apologise for the lack of updating. I recently entered a writing competition in september and just got back today that I sadly didn't win or even make a place in it, so I thought I'd share with you all what I wrote.

summary - amber truman is a hard-working woman, having overworked herself she finally gets a break only for the apocalypse to begin on her day off, thankfully her neighbour frank jones is with her, together they survive but will they always?

warnings - death, angst, zombies.

the headers I use aren’t mine.

Warnings and Reminders - Please do not plagiarise, copy, repost/republish, adapt, or translate any of my work on any social media platforms, apps, or third-party sites. The only platforms I post my work on are: Tumblr and Wattpad. I do not own any character of any franchise (Marvel etc.) All my works are fiction and may be dark or triggering content: READ ALL WARNINGS BEFORE PROCEEDING.

No one had expected this, there had been news circulating around that the world would end, but as the years went by and the world continued. Everyone moved on, they lived and grew, but there was a darkness lurking around the corner. A darkness that could potentially destroy lives, and cause people to unlock the survival part of them.

Amber Truman had been having a rough week, she had finally gotten time off from work. She entered her apartment, drained and groggy as she hangs her coat and places her keys into the dish next to the door. Amber made her way through her home, heading into the kitchen and grabbing herself a glass to fill with water. She could feel the pounding in her head as she watched the water flow through the tap and into the glass. For a split second, she pauses, zoning out, not noticing the water overflowing, wetting her fingers.

She blinks, shaking her head slightly as she notices and quickly turns the tap off. Amber reaches over and grabs a paper towel, wiping her hand and the glass before she brings it to her lips, and takes a sip. The feeling of the water gliding down her throat and replenishing her thirst is refreshing, a flash of lightning catches Amber’s attention, her brows furrow because there wasn’t a weather report for a storm. The night was supposed to be a clear one, there was not meant to be a single drop of rain. Yet, Amber watches as the night sky brightens with lightning, the sound of thunder rumbles through her small apartment, followed by harsh drops of rain hitting against the window.

Amber places the glass onto the counter and makes her way over to the window, confusion takes over her features as she watches the storm roll in. She could practically feel the weirdness radiating from it, the lightning looked to be a weird green, causing Amber to rub her eyes, feeling as though she’s seeing things. Maybe work had been too much for her, she was extremely tired and that would explain her seeing things. With a shake of her head, she moves away from the window and heads down the hall to her bathroom, stripping from her clothes and turning the shower on. Amber hopes that this could help relax her tense muscles, and as she steps underneath the boiling hot water, she sighs, letting it wash away all her worries and troubles.

An hour later, Amber finally gets out of the shower, her muscles feeling relaxed and like jelly. She wraps the soft fluffy towel around herself and exits the bathroom. She groggily heads into her bedroom, still sore and tired. She was ready to plant her face down into her pillow and drift off into a peaceful sleep, one that she hadn’t had in a while. As she entered her room, it felt as though her bed was calling to her, she could feel the ache of her body relaxing into the mattress. Slowly slipping into her pyjamas, Amber flops onto her bed, exhaustion taking over causing her to slip into a deep slumber. She would not be prepared for what was to come in the morning.

During the night as the storm continued, thousands upon millions of people had changed, died. It had become a disaster, a tragedy. In the morning would be the beginning of the apocalypse, a zombie one to be precise. No one had expected the world to end like this, everyone thought a giant meteor would hit and destroy Earth as it once did. Those that wandered the streets at night had come across a shock, they turned before they could even open their mouths to let out a scream. But when morning would come, it would be as though those screams were music.

As the sun rose and Amber’s eyes fluttered open, she sat, arms stretching above her head before they fell, and her hands rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She looks around the room, squinting as the light shining through the window blinds her. Amber wondered if today would be any different, her boss had told her to take as much time off as needed, but she felt useless staying at home, doing nothing. Amber stands from her bed, letting the sheets slide from her body gracefully. Her head moves to the side as she hears something faint, with slow movements Amber makes her way over to the window.

With curious movements, she opens it, causing the faint noise to become clearer. Down below, Amber watches as people scream and run, wondering why some were attacking others. She swiftly moves to her phone, dialling the police but she is met with a message.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience all emergency services are unavailable right now. We advise that you stay indoors. We repeat, please, stay indoors.”

Confused, Amber stumbles out of her bedroom and towards the loungeroom. Her hands fumble for the remote control and once she finds it, she switches on the television. The same thing is repeated, news reports are showing people being attacked, torn apart. A gasp escapes her as she watches one reporter get attacked, blood splattering across the camera before it shuts off. The screams echo and the scene plays out inside her head.

A scream can be heard from the hallway, Amber’s head snaps to the side and she cautiously rushes over to her door, pressing her ear against it. She could hear someone struggling on the other side, and she was stuck between helping them or saving herself. A muffled voice interrupts whatever is happening on the other side, one that Amber can slightly make out that sounds like her neighbour Frank. He lets out a shout and without a second thought, she swings her door open only to stop short with wide eyes and a sharp breath.

The monster has Frank Jones pinned, another one of her neighbours lies on the floor with their hand to their neck, their life slipping from their eyes rapidly. Amber stumbles, her eyes moving between Frank and the thing, not knowing what to do, she feels stuck.

“A-Amber, get something to hit them with! Hurry!” Frank shouts, trying to fight this thing off. She quickly backs into her apartment, looking around to find something to hit it with. The thing her eyes land on is a trophy she won in high school; she remembers the day well. Her family stood proudly in the crowd, applauding her as she won first place in a school tournament. With quick movement Amber grabs hold of the heavy item and launches forward, swiftly swinging and hitting the back of the person’s head. The body falls, dropping limply and Frank breathes. “Thank you, I-” His eyes widen, and he moves her behind him, grabbing the trophy from her grasp and swinging at the newly changed person.

Amber’s eyes are wide as she watches yet another one of her neighbours fall to the ground, feeling guilty for causing them harm. Neither of them had seen something so horrifying in their lives, the skin had already begun decaying, eyes white and lifeless. “What are they?” She wonders aloud, staring at them frightened. A gasp escapes her as Frank quickly pulls her back into her apartment, slamming the door shut and locking it. “What are you doing?! You can’t just come into my apartment!” Amber glares, crossing her arms over her chest and at once looks down, realising that she is still in her pyjamas.

Frank huffs, putting his finger against his lips. “Shh, there is more. I didn’t have enough time to unlock my door. We need to figure out a plan, something to protect ourselves with, possibly a way out to get out!”

Amber looks at him bewildered, “What? What do you mean get out of here? Why would you want to leave a safe place? Have you never watched a horror movie?!” Her arms wave around as she talks. “Did you not see what happened? It is completely insane out there and you want to leave?”

Frank shakes his head and pinches the bridge of his nose, “By the looks of things, we may only be able to survive for a short while. We will run out of food and water; we also need to look for help.” He walks around, ensuring that everything is safe and locked, while also searching for anything to use in a fight. “If we distract those things long enough, I may be able to slip through and get into my apartment. I can grab a few things that could help.”

Amber stares at her neighbour, wondering why he would want to risk his life so easily for a small chance of finding help. With slow movements, she moves over to the window and peers down, a shocked gasp slips past her lips. “Oh my god... Uh, Frank, I don’t think we will have any luck on finding help.” She stares down at the crashed vehicles, some into poles and buildings, others into other vehicles. Flames burst from them as slow-moving zombies walk around, snacking on the dead bodies. Flashing lights from both police cars and ambulances reflect on the nearest glass surface, there sirens echoing through the dead streets.

Frank moves across the apartment, standing next to you as he looks out. “Oh, but... There must be someone out there that can help us, this can’t be it! We can’t just give up so easily!” He seemed so sure, and she had never seen something like this before. How can one man still have so much hope even when the world has ended?

A week had passed since the beginning of the apocalypse. Amber and Frank had been through hell in those short seven days, being trapped indoors with no escape was a nightmare. Those days felt long and tiring, Amber barely got sleep because with every thud her body would jolt and flinch, nightmares replaced dreams. Their food source was close to becoming non-existent. Frank had begun to be persistent on getting to his apartment, and then venturing out to find help. Amber had lost hope, figuring that it has been a week, yet no one had entered their building.

Frank pressed his ear against the door, seeing if he could hear anything. When it came back quiet for the first time in a while, he turned and looked at Amber. “Alright, the coast is clear. I will go out and quickly enter my apartment to grab as much food and water as I can. You will make sure the coast is clear while I am doing that, right?” He seemed nervous but covered it with a brave expression.

She nods, rocking back and forth on the heels of her feet. “Yeah, yes. I will keep watch and make sure nothing happens.” Amber watches as Frank grabs one of her largest kitchen knives and looks over it, ensuring it will protect him if needed. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Frank huffs a laugh, shaking his head. “No, but if I don’t then we will run out of the food we have and starve.” He looks at her and feels his heart squeeze. He had always liked his neighbour a small bit, but having spent an entire week with her, trapped. It had made his feelings a lot worse. Frank knew he probably wouldn’t make it out alive in this world, but he could not gather up the courage to kiss the girl standing in front of him. He clears his throat and turns toward the door. “Alright, are you ready?”

Amber nods, quickly moving behind him but not before grabbing a knife of her own. She holds her breath as he opens it, his head moves side to side, checking to make sure the coast was clear before he moves out and towards the door of his apartment. Amber stands guard at her own door, feeling her breathing pick up and her heart squeeze, anxiety filling her being. “Frank! Hurry up!” She whisper-shouts, not wanting to be too loud but also wanting him to hurry because she could feel chills of fear exploding throughout her body.

Frank ran around his apartment, gathering the essentials, Amber’s voice had carried causing his movements to pick up. Once he had everything, Frank exited his apartment and when his eyes met hers, they lit up, a smile appearing on his face before it is replaced by a frown as the sound of groans fill the air. Ambers and Franks heads turn, and their eyes widen when they see a group of zombies making their way towards them.

It had all happened so fast, Frank had made his way over, but they kept multiplying, coming from both directions. Some seemed faster than others, catching up quickly before Amber could close the door. They snarled and pushed, all their body weight piling onto the door, causing Amber to stumble backwards, her mouth falling open into a silent scream. Frank spun, the items he grabbed falling from his grasp and crashing onto the floor.

“We can fight them!” Frank stumbled, the knife nearly slipping from his grip.

“No! There’s too many! We need to move!” Amber states, shaking her head as she watches them fill her home.

Frank nods, seeing the fear in her eyes and he knows that they need a plan. He knows deep down that one of them won’t make it out alive, and he will do everything in his power to ensure that she’s safe. “Okay, move to your bedroom, quickly!” He ushers her, hand on her lower back as he pushes her deeper into the apartment. He kicks the food further ahead of them, knowing they’ll need it if they will be stuck in a room for a while.

“Ahh!” Frank shouts, feeling something grab the back of his shirt, holding him back from moving forward with her. Amber spins, her eyes widen when she notices how close the monsters have gotten to them both. Frank was terrified and with a burst of courage and fear, he pushes forward, his lips touching hers tenderly, giving her their first and last kiss. Tears fell from their eyes, splashing onto each other’s cheeks. As Frank pulls back, he gives a sad smile and turns with a shout, swinging and stabbing. The zombies pull Frank down, ripping and tearing him apart in front of Amber’s poor eyes, her vision is blurred as she stumbles.

“N-no...” She’s in disbelief, not understanding how things could turn bad so fast. Her breathe hitches in her throat as their attention turns to her and they slowly begin to stand, a scream escapes her when a figure she knows so well stands with them. His eyes white instead of the gorgeous blue they were before, skin decayed and torn into shreds. “Frank...” She knew this was the end, but this wouldn’t be the end for her. Amber was going to fight; she had realised this was not how she was going to go out. Her eyes connected to his dead ones and a whisper slipped past her lips. “I’m so sorry.”

With a shout, Amber fought, never once giving up no matter how tired she had grown or how saddened she was. This was not her ending.

To Be Continued...

thank you for reading!

feedback and reblogs are greatly appreciated.

[sinnohsiblings]

The Aftermath

TLDR: Something happened between Gal and Zeph as a result of poor choices the night before. Zephyr has left to who knows where. This takes place the morning directly after the gala so asks answered that took place after the gala also took place after this. The askbox is open! (Available asks open cast updated) Content warning: Suggestive content under the cut. (Nothing explicit said, but heavily implied)

Last night had been awful...The humiliation the fighting...the drama and gossip that will spread about the absolute disaster it was. Thank creation that her father called the party off early and that her mother was there to reign him in after the mess with Shae. Luckily her friends managed to snatch some of the beverages meant to serve the party and the group retraited to Galadriel's personal quarters to have their own little party with the one of lightweight fairy types of the group tapping out early after 3 glasses. But while Xavier drunkily slept with his head on Yvette's app. Zephyr managed to keep pace with Galadriel, Diva and Yvette. After several hours of the group of friends drinking to forget the night it was inpossible to say if any of them would remember that night. Several hours later rays of light danced through Galadriels bedroom as the void simulated sunrize through her crystaline windows. Like all other mornings in her territory the void was still and for the most part silent. However, Galadriel was woken by an unfamiliar sound of someone breathing beside her her eyes fluttered open and seeing Zephyr snoozing infront of her at first she smiled and tried to go back to sleep before realization spread across her face and her eyes snapped open as she let out a blood curdling shriek jolting the Zacien awake as he looked back at her, coming to the same realization and a look of horror was soon plastered on his face as he screamed back at her in realization of what happened. "OH NO! NO NO NO! FUCKING...WE DIDN'T...I DON'T EVEN LIKE YOU LIKE- SON OF A BITCH!" Zephyr barked getting off the bed and quickly cloathing himself. "I AM SO FUCKED! WHAT WILL LORD ABBADON THINK? WHAT WILL THE CROWNEDS THINK?! THEY ARE GONNA DOCK MY BRAIDS!" "Don't freak out! Don't freak out!" Galadriel said trying to calm down the Zacien as she climed out fo the bed, "We're adults, he's not gonna care! We're friends, we got drunk, we got stupid...it was a mistake! don't freak out! Like you said we don't even like eachother like that! Calm down!" "DON'T FREAK OUT?! THIS IS SUCH A VIOLATION OF THE LEGION CODE! FRIENDS OR NOT YOU ARE MY WARD AND THIS IS SUCH A VIOLATION OF OUR CODE OF CONDUCT WHILE ON DUTY!" The Zacien started pacing back and fourth with his tail thrashing with his anxiety "But you weren't on duty! You were a guest! You were with friends! You're not gonna be in trouble!" "The legion isn't gonna see it that way! We are expected to be bound by our duties! Our code of honor is everything! And I basically broke rule number one! That means I can't be your Zacien...i've got to go." The zacien huffed and quickly made his way to the door. "WHAT?! No wait you don't have to leave! Zephyr wait! You aren't gonna get fired for this! Lets just talk it out we can work it out." Galadriel said a bit paniced as Zephyr whipped around "You don't get it! This code is my whole being an I just violated it, I need to go because I have failed in my position! Friends or not, I broke pack law, and I need....I DON'T KNOW WHAT I NEED EXCEPT I DON'T KNOW SPACE TO PROCESS?! For eons I have been understanding of your emotions and beliefs. Understand mine, I need to go...we- I've fucked up..." He sighed before vanishing past the door leaving Galadriel standing in her room. Galadriel (and Zephyr???) are open for asks. The askbox is open.

[akiology]

HI ITS 💌 ANON!! with another thought!! this one’s a bit angsty bc of that last line >:(((( /lh i loved ur thoughts!! omg!!

[SPOILERS FOR ROYAL]

i just realized that akechi’s “fake reality” probably would’ve had him and reader be able to just have a peaceful relationship where he didn’t have to worry about whether or not she’d be in trouble because of him 😭. where he *could* do dumb matching halloween costumes. even if he’s kind of,, well,, yk in 3rd sem, in his perfect reality, he can be his own true self *with* his princess idk!! UR THOUGHTS??

[a slightly silly maybe a bit sad thought: goro always makes sure he sends a goodnight and good morning msg no matter how busy he is. the issue is, if he dosent receive an “i’m home safe” msg from reader he’ll freak out internally.]

- 💌 cuter thoughts will come soon </3 school has totally put me in an angsty mood i swear

yes yes!!! goro's perfect reality would be a reality where you are safe and he does not have to hide anymore :((( i genuinely think that if it weren't for the circumstances of the current reality, he would be alot more open to the public about your relationship.

i headcanon goro to be very proud of his s/o, like if you specialize in something he would be boasting about it. oh you are great at cooking and made him lunch? he's telling the whole office that he has a lovingly-prepared homemade lunch! oh you are an artist? he'd be showing yusuke your work and slightly goading him that you're better than him!

he is very proud of you and loves you very much!!

so yes! in his perfect reality he would gladly match outfits and do dumb halloween costumes! he HAS some limits though, he still has his pride. but maybe you have a way around that? (give him a kiss on the tip of his nose and do puppy eyes!!! he turns to mush and goes soft with that.)

but sadly the circumstances do not allow it :( so he resorts to sweet nothings spoken behind closed doors, hidden matching accessories, and texts that are locked behind a secret phone.

speaking of phones, NGL ANON I ALSO THINK HE DOES THAT!!!! i feel like goro, if it weren't for his occupation and... other occupation, he would be a very clingy and concerned boyfriend. but since he can't exactly be there with you at all times, he opts for texting you.

he texts you through random parts of the day, sometimes with a picture.

"just arrived at school! i love you❤️"

"about to eat lunch, having curry. what's your lunch, my princess?"

"going to work now, tell me when you get home. mwa❤️"

alternatively, i don't know if this app exists in other countries BUT my friends and i downloaded this app called life360. and basically what it does is, if you make a group and added people in it, all the people in that group will be updated when you go to a certain place and/or if your battery is dying.

I FEEL LIKE THATS A THING GORO WOULD LIKE!!! so yeah :3c maybe you guys have that with him, and if you didn't text right away, he would just check the app.

---------

you turn to your side after minutes of shuffling and trying to get comfortable. you come face-to-face with your boyfriend, goro. he seems sleepy, but refuses to fall asleep. you're confused, but bring a hand up to play with his hair. he seems to like it when you do.

"can't sleep?" you ask, voice soft. as if it was a secret meant just for you two.

"i don't want to," he answers, much more quieter. he sighs, and puts an arm around your head and one on your waist. he pulls you closer.

"why?" you nuzzle your nose into him, he gives a small smile and closes his eyes.

"i'm scared you won't be here when i wake up," he stilled.

"i will be, i love you goro. i won't leave."

he's silent for a moment, and then opens his eyes. "i love you, so so much. i would do anything for you to be happy."

you bury your face in his neck, and goro breathes in your scent. he hugs you tighter, and hopes that this time, it's different. whichever god, entity, or demon is listening to him, he hopes that they let you stay. if they were to grant him his first and last wish, it would be you.

it will always be you.

[redfurrycat]

🌀Beau "Cyclone" Simpson Fic Recs 🌀

Check the Top Gun Masterlist post for the latest updated version. 💕

List of Ao3 Authors: Aprilfoolish ~~~ Chicabae | Cristinuke ~~~ Enthyrea ~~~ Fuddlewuddle ~~~ LadyLanera ~~~ MayWilder ~~~ Percyjacksonfan3 | PurpleArrowzandLeather ~~~ Ropememory ~~~ Tluz.

> Nick "Goose" Bradshaw

Top Gun: Maverick retold by Fuddlewuddle {E}

Promise me, Just hold my hand

/Cymav/

It follows Rooster and Hangman's relationship over the months and years following them getting together. Each chapter will be a difference slice of life--some will be between the end of the previous fic and the epilogue, and some will be after the epilogue. It will also expand on Maverick's developing relationship with Cyclone as hinted at in the previous fic.

Cautious by ChicaBae {E}

/Cymav/

There was a tension between them that even the civilians could see. That’s because nothing involving Maverick was simple, including the admiral.

You weren't even on the list by Tluz {G} {T} {M} {E}

/Cymav/

What if Admiral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson was insanely attracted to Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell? And what if he thought it was inappropriate because of their ranks?

Will and Testament by PurpleArrowzandLeather {G}

/Pete “Maverick” Mitchell & Beau “Cyclone” Simpson/

The Request of Admiral Kazansky

Cyclone receives a letter in the mail after the miraculous completion of the suicide mission only a week prior. It's addressed from the one and only Iceman. Upon reading the contents, Beau thinks he should've seen this coming.

Damn it.

The Owner's Manual

After being left Maverick in Iceman's will, Cyclone is horrified to learn that Maverick does, in fact, come with instructions.

Practice Makes Perfect

A few snippets of Cyclone learning what exactly Iceman put up with throughout his years protecting Maverick. Thank goodness the man thought to give him a manual.

Perfectly Matched by Fuddlewuddle {E}

/Cymav/

Bradley sets Mav up with an online dating app. Somehow, Mav ends up matching with someone who might just be the love of his life. Someone he already knew, but didn't think would ever be interested in him. Bradley better not say, I told you so.

Something to be sheltered by MayWilder {T}

/Jake “Hangman” Seresin & Beau “Cyclone” Simpson/

“My wife has asked that you join us for dinner tomorrow night,” Beau says carefully. “Your wife, sir?” Jake’s brow furrows. “Why would she like to meet me?” “She thinks its important that my mentee sees a healthy work-life balance.” “I’m your mentee?” Jake teases, smirking lightly. “And you talk about me enough that your wife wants to meet me?” “You can continue to be a pain in my ass,” Beau sighs, looking up at the ceiling. “Or, you can take the offer of a free dinner with a beautiful and intellectually stimulating woman.” “Oh, I definitely want to see this side of Cyclone,” Jake grins. “Domesticated.” “You’re bordering on impertinence.” “Me? Never.” “Let’s go back to when you respected me and my position.” Jake appears to settle down, but only slightly. He clears his throat and squares his shoulders. “I’d be honored to attend dinner with your family, Admiral. Just tell me a date and time.” *** or, Beau Simpson didn't mean to adopt a fully grown naval aviator, but, you know; shit happens.

give me a warning honey (oh, I’m in the danger zone) by Percyjacksonfan3 {T}

/Cymav/

After the mission Maverick has to come to terms with the fact that the Dagger squad is splitting up, he has a relationship with his godson to work on, and that he's facing an unwanted impending retirement. Oh, and the fact that apparently Cyclone is suddenly his biggest defender, for reasons Maverick cannot figure out, no matter how hard he tries. Still, when the man is the reason he's still flying for the Navy and working with the Daggers, Pete will happily take it. And if they have to continue working together because of it, well, they're adults. He's sure they can handle it. Things will be fine. Until Maverick starts to develop feelings for him, that is.

Pick me up when I'm down by Fuddlewuddle {T}

/Cymav/

Five times Mav calls someone because he needs them, and one time he calls someone just because he wants to hear their voice.

Cyclone's Secret Life, from Flock Together Universe Series, by LadyLanera {G}

/Cyclone/

Throughout the years, Cyclone has had one secret he plans to take to the grave with him. Penny knows it. His late wife Emily knew it. That's it. The truth will find a way, though. Always.

Oh My God, They Weren't Roommates... by aprilfoolish {G}

/Cymav/

Cyclone is happier he's even been, now that he's together with Maverick. Romantically. He never would have believed that, and neither would his own children, it seems...

oh, captain (let’s make a deal) by ropememory {M}

/Cymav/

“Mitchell’s not a bad choice,” Warlock says when the amusement subsides, because he’s a traitor, and certainly not Cyclone’s friend at this particular moment. “It’s barely even a month long training.” “He’s a terrible choice.” Cyclone doesn’t care if he sounds petulant, because Warlock is clearly not understanding the severity of Admiral Kazansky’s decision. “A walking paperwork generator. This assignment is my own personal nightmare come to life.”

The path less travelled by Fuddlewuddle {E}

/Cymav/

Mav survived the Uranium mission by the skin of his teeth. But he's home now, he's working on his relationship with Bradley, and he's somehow friends with Cyclone? Or are they more than friends? The sex probably complicates things, he admits. But then so does his growing feelings for the Alpha. Not to mention the fact that he ends up pregnant...

Matchmaker(s), Matchmaker(s) by Cristinuke {T}

/Cymav/

Ice and Goose are dead, but they're still tethered to the living, specifically to Maverick. It's up to them to figure out how to close their unfinished business, and why it might include a certain admiral.

Cyclone's Kids by LadyLanera

/Jake “Hangman” Seresin & Beau “Cyclone” Simpson/

Accidental Family {T}

After getting into a bar fight in a random civilian bar, Jake accidentally calls the wrong phone number and calls the airboss of TOPGUN.

Father-Son Talk {T}

After the events during the disastrous mission debrief, Hangman gets summoned for the talk.

Calm Before the Storm {T}

The night they're to leave, there's just one thing Hangman needs to do. As Fate allowed it, that turned out to be just what he needed for the upcoming mission.

The Long Goodbye {G}

As Hangman waits in his jet as the selected team gears up for the mission, he finds himself saying goodbye while hoping there will be a hello later on.

Heroes Landing {T}

Oh, Jake could kiss that old man. He really could. Because he knew if Maverick was there, Rooster couldn’t be too far behind. He glanced around at the aircrew, waiting impatiently for a signal to launch. He was ready to back them up. He’d escort them home with a goddamn ticker-tape parade, stay right on their wing the entire damn time until they touched down. He would not leave them.

acquired taste by enthyrea {T}

/Cymav/

“Admiral Simpson!” Maverick calls, waving him over. “Thanks for coming.” He grins, leaning his elbows on the bar in an inviting stance. Cyclone can’t help but look him over, appreciating the way the jeans on Maverick fit him just so– No. Not doing that. He appreciates Maverick’s outfit in a completely straight and normal way. Taking the spot next to the other man, he takes care to plant his feet in a completely natural and normal manner. “Maverick, thank you for extending the invite.” He says, like he rehearsed it fifteen times in the rearview mirror before leaving his car. “It’s good to see you.” AKA, Maverick invites Cyclone to a night out at the Hard Deck. Cyclone is entirely normal about it.

[studentbyday]

day 15 // 100dop

on @diaryofastemstudent's suggestion, i'm finally testing out forest! i planted 5 trees today and i didn't have to use the app the whole day to focus 😊 hopefully i'll get more and more used to not looking at my phone and eventually not have to use the app at all anymore!

but...even though i was focusing better, i still didn't finish everything i wanted to today...which tbh makes me a bit sad and scared, even though my goals were probably unrealistic, because i have to go through all the material and understand all of it by the end of this week to give myself at least the minimum 3 days to review for the final 🙈🙈🙈

but there's still tomorrow, so- BUT STILL!!! i have a lab report (always takes me longer than i'd like to write it and make sure it makes sense), a quiz, an assignment, and 2 chapters + the tail end of a 3rd chapter to go through!!!

sigh. "somehow it'll work out okay" is quickly becoming my mantra 😅 i have no idea how but somehow it will.

I had to break up a really long section on liquid-vapor equilibrium into several pages. I'm almost done with that section, just need to finish notes on azeotropic mixtures and their graphs...somehow that really threw me for a loop.

Then I need to get through eutectics and Henry's law, and get through the last two chapters which...sorta seem to make more common sense??? I think??? I hope????

I have no idea how I made it through high school. That was a breeze compared to this 😩

update after some thought: i think it was in part because i had great teachers who always guided you through every step of the logic AND because i always had math in high school and chemistry has sm math so i guess it's much easier when you're not out of practice. i have not touched math since high school. so 🤷‍♀️

Day 9: What is your favourite song in your study playlist?

don't have an actual study playlist but lately i've been loving slow-ish bass-y lofi, the music in this study with me video, and studio ghibli music!

[west-tokyo-incidents]

Akira stares at the ceiling of his bedroom.

It's his bedroom.

It's not a cell, it's his bedroom.

He tells himself that multiple times. He's laying on his bed. The wall is to his left, not his right. It's proper wall, not concrete, too. His bed is comfortable and warm.

His ears strain to hear anything in the silence. He sits up and tightens his fists in the blanket laid over his body, just to hear the fabric moving.

Cars distantly make noise on the road, but so very faintly.

He wants to call out to the cell next to his, but there is no cell, much less anyone in it. He leans against the wall and stares at nothing.

Maybe Pardonner healing them hadn't been such a good idea. Because now he's staring at his arms, totally bare of any proof of what had happened. Was it even real? He knows that it was real. It happened.

But there's nothing to show for it.

He could ask Sayama to wipe his memory, but she's just as messed up as he is.

He wants to call out. Get a response back from the other side of the hospital room. But the black of his bedroom curls in on him, the lights of the city outside barely piercing it.

And then his phone screen lights up. A silent notification from some app or another asking for an update.

He picks it up to dismiss it, not much paying attention to what he's doing. Detached.

And then he unlocks his phone. Stares at the picture of his latest trophy in his background. It's so far away.

He grips his phone tighter.

He just... He just wants...

Something clicks in his head before he can think and he's holding the phone to his ear and listening to it ring. And ring.

And ring.

His heart sinks as it goes to voicemail.

Right. It's the middle of the night.

He drops the phone away from his ear and stares at it before hanging up. Stupid. Acting instinctively, impulsively. He should have just thought it through, of course no one was going to answer at this hour--

He just about throws the phone as it suddenly starts ringing, scrambling to pick it up and answer with a very quiet;

"...hello?"

"Hey, 'kira. You alright?"

It's Fusataro. He almost doesn't answer.

"Akira?"

"I'm here, sorry, I... I'm so sorry I didn't mean to wake you up--"

"I wasn't sleeping, it's okay. Are you okay?"

Akira considers that, staring down at his blankets, "Better now. I just... I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep." It's more than that, but Akira doesn't have the words to keep talking.

"I gotchya. I haven't even tried laying down yet. Been wrapped up in work."

"...it's 2am, why are you working?"

"Got a lot to catch up on and I hate being alone right now."

"Me, too..." He pauses. Stares off as he considers something. Straightens his back, even if Fusataro isn't there to see it, "I could come keep you company." He slips on a facade like he's going to be the one comforting Fusataro. He already knows she'll say yes, they've been--

"No. But thank you. Your parents would skin us both alive if you were missing in the morning."

"My dad already thinks I'm a prude for not sneaking out--" Akira sputtered.

"Before you were kidnapped and missing for five days. If you go missing again even for a second I don't doubt they'll go insane." Fusataro sighed. Waited for him to say something. When he didn't she tried to keep talking, "As much as I'd love to have company, it's not worth the consequences... You're not thinking entirely straight. We can meet up tomorrow some time?" Still he didn't answer, staring at nothing. Slumped again.

"...Akira?"

Her voice cracked, almost fearful, and he swallowed, "I'm here. Sorry, I'm here."

The facade between them was almost completely gone again.

"No, it's okay, it's... It's okay." He can hear something move and can only imagine she's just sat down or stood up.

He tries to recover himself. His mind really is screwed on backwards. His god reading is all sorts of frazzled. He tries to recover it, the false sense of normalcy, "...I think I'd like that. Meeting up tomorrow. When are you free? I know you're really busy."

They make plans... And hesitate to hang up the phone.

"Hey... Akira."

"Hm?"

"I'll still be here in the morning..."

He swallows thickly and closes his eyes, "Promise?"

"Only if you will, too."

Akira cracks a small smile, "Yeah. I promise. I'll still be here."

"Good. Then I promise, too."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Get some sleep, Akira."

"I can't promise that."

"...yeah, me neither."

A pause.

"Goodnight, Fusataro."

"You, too."

That feels better. Akira takes the phone off his ear and hangs up.

The room is still dark. His mind is still spiraling. But it's a little less frantically now.

He has a tomorrow, at least.

[kiliinstinct]

💌

Fic Writer Asks // Accepting More! 💌share something with us about an up-and-coming work (WIP) that has you excited!

Uhh- so.. this is awkward, because I don't know if I should ramble about my Genshin Wips or my FT wips (though I'm 75% certain you'd prefer the FT-) Recently, I had a down moment where I just felt like my writing was stagnating and that I wasn't really improving, but regressing instead. After talking it out with some friends, I came up with an idea for how to approach my writing and then started using this app called 'stimuwrite' that... hoo boy, it has been quite a handy tool so far and it's had me excited to write again. I haven't had this much fun writing in ages. It's definitely made me enjoy my wips and actually look forward to working on them more than I've felt in a long time. A blessing, really. But this is for my up and coming work- and thankfully, the soon to be updated Violent Moon and Flames Desire were both written using that app so- here's some "bits" from both those stories that I had a lot of fun writing (I'll also include one Genshin since it's also been worked on with that app and has been a lot of fun):

-- Flame's Desire --

”Whoever taught you how to write needs to give you another lesson,“ She muttered. Natsu's answering response was to scrawl a single letter over the paper, large enough that no amount of chicken scratch could hide its secrets from her: a large E.

Before she could respond with the obvious answer, he quickly scratched over the letter and shook his head frantically, lips thinning as he frowned. In larger letters, he added two more words that Lucy translated to, 'never again!'

She laughed so hard ink sloshed onto her fingers and dripped onto the paper. A subconscious part of her realized she'd have to help acquire him cleaner bedding later if this kept up. 

”Fine. No Erza to teach you. Let's try again... slower this time.” Lucy sighed, blowing a strand of hair from her face, “maybe I can understand it then.“

Natsu crumbled the paper under his hand and flicked it into her face, grinning maniacally as she quickly tossed it back, missed, and watched it sail by his ear to bounce off the back wall. More laughter ensued and even Natsu managed a chuckle, grunting from the strain. 

-- Violet Moon --

”... so,“ He drawled, refusing to meet the others' eyes, ”ya' gonna try and convince me to come back?“ Fat chance of that happening, he thought. If Freed believed he'd return after a short conversation, he'd be wrong, but would the more reserved man accept a fight involving tooth and claw rather than debate?

It was only in that moment that Natsu realized he'd never seen Freed transform: none of their family gatherings through the years had the green haired man running through the fields on all fours like the others had. 

”Quite the opposite, actually,“ Freed's voice pulled him away from the revelation, amusement tinging the edges of his words, ”I was going to ... urge you, into running back to town. On all fours if I must.”

Wait.. what? Natsu spun back to face him, the world spun in his rush and he wobbled in place, fingers digging into the ground to balance him. ”... you actually WANT me to go against the old man's orders?“

-- Magnetism (The Genshin one) --

That's right, recollection settled back in and Aether relaxed, but it didn't answer the question shifting in his ribcage. If he'd learned it before coming to Liyue, why did it feel as if he was fishing it out of the void? 

“I think,” He began, feeling his throat fill with molasses, “I think I may have met one.”

”Really?“ While it sounded like a question, the way Lumine grasped his wrist and forcefully dragged him through the crowd told him otherwise. She pulled him towards a shaded area beneath the largest tree she could find and immediately reached for the offending mask, intentions clear.

His reflexes were faster, smacking her hand away with a frustrated squawk. ”What are you doing, Lumine?“

”You somehow got your hands on a Yaksha Mask, Aether!“ She hissed, frustration burning through her words as she made another grasp for it. A short scuffle erupted between them as both twins muttered beneath their breaths and tried to overcome the other, ”Hand it over! I knew we shouldn't have kept it!”

“Do you really think Hu Tao would have let me keep it if it was dangerous?” He reasoned, yanking the mask off his hip to hold it over their heads. Their heights were too even and he had to move to his tip toes just to avoid her grasping fingers.

[annicaax]

I reached the last poise check point... (sigh) ... that CG... oh the dress too! Love it. It had been an incredible journey til here. (and expensive) (insert another heavy sigh)

Luca's route is better described as a rollercoaster ride. The other cast shines. Especially Farris.

I liked the preveiw episodes I read on Love 365. But on the app they are even more better. Didn't expect I'd like this app to this extent (coz princely titles aren't my cup of tea and I was bummed because bakuten didn't get out). Voltage handled the storyline in a better way. it helps then mc is a modern woman and isn't meek (despite this title being 7 year old, the story works (it might be the localization team's job or maybe it's that way without it). The princes are all so charming, it's hard not to love them. I already have three favs here: Luca Vince and Farris. Falko seems a great guy as well.

p.s. I'm not posting much on the route updates/CGs because I don't wanna reveal too much at this early stage of the app release. I will post later. Meanwhile please download the app and support them by reading/buying stories and stuff.

[sweetswesf]

Check In

What I Did Today

Actually woke up w/my alarm

Procrastinated getting the day started after waking, but at least I did not hit snooze!

Worked out

Talked to my gym crush...albeit nervously, but I still did it!

Accepted the invitation to the event hosted by the only 2 men I've slept with...then invited a friend...then commenced to trying on what I plan to wear...I hope I don't have a nervous panic reaction and start shaking when talking to one of them like I did last time in a surprise encounter of them *eyeroll*

Worked for about 6 hours on the AlgoExpert videos! This is the longest I've spent on them.

Cooked all my meals, never ordered out, and ate pretty balanced!

Stayed pretty hydrated

Took a walk for 10 minutes after dinner

Got over 10k steps

Did BOTH of my face wash routines

Look at this progress!

What I Learned Today

Hash tables, stacks & queues, strings, & runtimes of their common operations

I can do this!

Feeling

Accomplished; I got a LOT done...more than I thought

Proud of myself; I didn't even need a nap nor did I get hella tired today

A bit more energized now that I'm averaging a bit more hours of rest at night and a little less constant stress...work put a LOT of stress on me...no matter what I did, I always felt like I was being watched or should have done something better, or that I should have been monitoring something that I deployed somewhere

Hopeful that I can keep this up and do better

Grateful that I don't have crazy headaches anymore...slight dizziness...but, I just remind myself to keep pushing through

Takeaways

I'm going to get something like that house in Spain

Don't allow my mind to think negative thoughts

As I have heard throughout my life, I gotta stop being so hard on myself...

How I Got Myself Out of a Rut Today

My friend telling more people I am looking when I am not trying to interview drove me nuts for many reasons: 1) I have a LOT of things lined up that I am PREPPING for!!!, 2) I TOLD him I was not trying to interview right now...MANY TIMES, 3) I would NEVER apply to the places he's volunteering my name for without running past me, 4) This lowers my stock having someone search around for me when I don't want or need them to...After telling him to chill and taking a big sigh, I got to work, because I need to shake this identity off me! LOL If I was prepared, I wouldn't even have aggressions like these! It sounds spoiled, but I hope y'all understand; I appreciate his gesture, but he's deciding to ignore my judgement despite me telling him, and throughout my life I have been trying to show people that I got it and some just don't trust my word, even if I was trying to prove it to them (which I'm not)...

Wasting less time overall

Telling myself it's okay to feel tired and that it was going to be worth it

Goals Completed

Found a therapist

Stopped listening to people worried about their own circumstances and remembering God works on his own time and that I am in no rush...

Got back on the ball

Being kinder to myself and stopping guilting myself if my energy isn't always on 100%

Goals After Today

Strengthen my relationship with God

Understand the main concepts I need to from Interview Cake, AlgoExpert, etc. in 6 months, NOT less than 3

Drop my body fat percentage to Marion Jones, Michaela Cole, or Jade Cargill levels

Consistently fight urge to fill up my time with social media/YouTube

Fully forgive my family & build a great relationship with them

Be more confident & faithful

250 steps/hour & 10k steps/daily consistently

Drink more than 64oz a day consistently

Go on a date with a guy I actually like who actually likes me too

Learn more about my gym crush & get him to ask for my number

Get a house similar to that one in Spain

Update my personal app

[umbrahighpriestofgiratina]

Hello! This is the latest installment in my Snippets series, (collections of drabbles from my playthroughs of mainline Pokemon games) and this one's special - the Violet run I was doing this off of was my first Nuzlocke kinda sorta - you can see the rules here, and the original run here. Obviously having played or watched a playthrough of either Pokemon Scarlet or Pokemon Violet would be ideal. 

Also! This stars one of my non-Pokemon OCs, Vaespar, who you can read about here and here. 

As for feedback preferences:

-These are not full-blown journey fics, and were never meant to be. Don't review them like they're supposed to be or need to be. 

-Don't complain when things are disconnected or don't have much context because I was literally writing these things on the fly as I was playing. If you want more context I linked to the original run. 

-Overall just be nice. I'm not looking for super academic feedback on these, I just want people to have fun reading them. 

These will either be posted all in one go or in installments, or in multiple installments, depending on the place. For places where I'm doing the former, just enjoy the fic; for places where I'm doing the latter expect updates every week or so until it's done (if things don't veer wildly off course).

Anyway here we go into: 

Violet Snippets: The Sorceror's New School

-------------

"Choose a look for yourself."

What? Why were they asking him this? None of these... Children looked like him.

And where was he anyway? Some kind of void? Where had he been sealed away to THIS time? 

He sighed and picked the least objectionable child. 

"What is your name?"

What? The being asking these questions didn't know who he is? He is the great and mighty Vaespar!

The void was asking him to change the look of the child. Vaespar pondered. Perhaps he could make it look more like him....

He meticulously messed with the child's form - hair, eyes, face - until he was satisfied. Still, he didn't know what this was even for. 

Wait. An enrolment form? An academy? This didn't make sense! What was this now, some commercial for the academy? Ridiculous. And who were this girl? This old man?

Paldea? Is THAT where he was at? It needed work on how to bring in tourists like him. 

Wait... Pokemon? Wasn't that... No. It couldn't be. 

WAIT! IT WAS! THAT'S- wait, that's not a Pikachu. 

More familiar Pokemon... Wait, what was up with that Tauros?

And what was that flying creature? CreatURES?

Suddenly. He came to. He was in a room. He looked down at himself, at the reflection in the window, to see he was now the child. 

...What was going on here?

-----------

Arceus stared aghast at his computer. 

<Well. I imported the wrong file! Now where DID I put the right file...>

He started slowly searching through the computer's hard drive.

--------------

-----

Vaespar What a world Vaespar had dropped into. He had been given a Fuecoco he dubbed Louis (a useful ally, keep him around), been dragged around this strange, oddly old-Earth Spanish landscape by a very excitable, very violent girl named Nemona, lectured by an irritable boy named Arven, and discovered a strange dragon of great power named Miraidon (another useful ally to keep around). He collected various other Pokemon in his journey, usually the first ones he found in any given location, but he had one problem - he held stricter standards for any that were not his twin generals Louis and Miraldon, and unlike the generals falling in battle was something worthy of some sort of punishment. Then the woman at one of the places known as Pokemon Centers activated a Poke Portal that contained Surprise Trade - an app that could hurtle any Pokemon off into the unknown and substitute a new one in its place. Perfect. He immediately tested it on Oates - a piglike Pokemon known as Lechonk - and got a puppy Pokemon called Rockruff in his place, who he dubbed Lang. Yes... This system had potential. At the very least it'd mix things up. 

-----

Louis

Louis always wanted to be a musician. He held up at the academy, waiting for the day he could journey with a Trainer and find his musical spirit... and Vaespar walked into his life to make that happen. 

Sure Vaespar could be a little... Strict, and... Temperamental.... And yes, he could be unfair to the rest of the team so to speak... 

...But hey pobody's nerfect, right?

------

Lang

Lang could smell trouble when he found it. He had the spirit of the wolf. He could smell the spirits of others. So he knew when someone was bad news, and Vaespar had that smell all over him. But he knew trouble attracted more trouble, and he'd heard about a Team Star causing problems to humans and Pokemon. Perhaps if Vaespar could help him bust those punks he'd be a good partner. 

...So long as Vaespar didn't get tired of him first. 

------

Miraidon

Goodness! What a day! First he had escaped from the Crater and was in grave peril, then some brave human boy had saved him by offering the most delicious food! A sandwich he called it... He'd willingly stick around this Vaespar if he could get more!

...Vaespar was a little... rough around the edges, sure, but he seemed to have SOME degree of respect for him... I could fix him!

...Maybe. Possibly. Potentially. If his calculations were correct. 

-------

Vaespar stood regarding the woman before him. A rotund baker woman who commanded BUGS? Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. She'd be squashed in no time. 

He sent out Louis. She sent out. A strange cricket like Pokemon. Measly. "C'mon Vaespar, our first gym battle, let's do thi-" Louis started to say before the cricket Double Kicked him. 

Vaespar chuckled. "A futile effort. Louis, Ember."

Louis breathed fire onto the cricket, knocking it out. It was replaced by a Tarountula, which Vaespar scoffed at. "Ember again."

The Tarountula was also burnt into submission. "We're on a roll Vaespar!" said Louis. Then the baker lady sent out a Teddiursa. Vaespar rauised an eyebrow. "That's not a bu-"

It promptly Terastalized, giving it curly antennae. Oh right. Pokemon could do that here. 

It Fury wiped Louis and Vaespar laughed it off. Then as Louis used another Ember it used Fury Cutter. 

"Oof, that was a bad vi-" Louis started to say. Then a Fury Cutter again and he was done. "What? Impossible! Lang!" Vaespar yelled, sending out the Rockruff. 

"Heh, you've messed with the wrong pack!" said Lang. He Terasta;lized himself and prepared to strike- 

Fury Cutter again. Lang fainted. Vaespar balked. 

"S-Stormsurge!"

The Pikachu was sent out. "Come on man! You can't just-"

Another Fury Cutter. Another mon down. But Stormsurge's Static paralyzed the Teddiursa, creating an opportunity. 

"F-Furby!:

The Jigglypuff was sent out and gazed at the Teddiursa with her big, soulful eyes. "R E S T   N O W  C H I L D"

A Disable. The Teddiursa flinched, unable to use its Fury Cutter blades. Furby smacked it over the hed with a Pound, finally knocking ot out!

"Well now!" said the baker woman. "Congratulations! That was a well fought victor-"

She was interrupted by Vaespar's frustrated scream of rage. 

Afterwards he told every mon involved that they were exempt from his "rules" here. He would never admit someone had gotten away with tactics that low against him and succeeded. 

-----------

Vaespar had finally found it: a massive, massive crab. People said that crabs were the ultimate life form, the end goal of evolution. Nonsense. That was him. 

The giant Klawf's eyes snapped in his direction, as if hearing these thoughts, and jumped down to face him. Vaespar sent out Primadonno the Quaxly who scoffed and rubbed his pompadour. 

"Make this quick will you? I don't want to ruffle my feathers too much." The crab Blocked Primadonno from escaping, but he did not fuss as he launched Aqua Jet after Aqua Jet into the Klawf past its Rock Smashes. Eventually the Klawf seemed to give up, and ran away. 

"Hey! Get back here!" said Vaespar. "I still need to make king crab legs out of you!"

He pursued the Klawf to the bottom of a cliff, where it broke the cliff open to reveal a strange herb it started to eat. It was then Arven rushed onto the scene. "Is that the Herba Mystica? No Klawf has any business getting that big!"

"That Klawf is a big pain in the rear is what it is!" said Vaespar. 

The Klawf finished dating the herb and glowed with a surge of pink energy as it turned to face the pair. 

"Well this is looking a little rough." said Arven. "Shellder, let's serve up a helping of defeat - on the half shell!"

"I would kill anyone else for a pun that bad," said Vaespar. Arven ignored him and sent out a Shellder. Vaespar sent out Louis. According to the books in the school there was a type disadvantage sure, but if he could whittle the crab down...

"Let's rumba!" said Louis,biting the crab repeatedly with multiple Bites. The crab responded with Rock Tombs, knocking out both Louis and the Shelter. 

"Bluster! Poisonpowder!"

"Wheeeeeeeee" said Bluster as he sprayed poison spores all over the Klawf. The crab gagged and then hit Bluister with another Rock Tomb, knocking her out. Vaespar scoffed. Another team member he ought to replace. He sent out Primadonno again. "You don't learn your lesson do you?" said Primadonno. "Terastalize! Aqua Jet!" said Vaespar. "He activated his Tera Orb as Primadonno sprouted a hat and gained a crystalline sheen, then slammed into the Klawf with great watery force. The Klawf fell over, defeated. 

Afterwards Primadonno glowed - brightly enough that Vaespar briefly saw double - and grew into a newer, taller form. 

"Ah, now I have even more style!"

Vaespar grinned. Yes... this would come in handy... -----------------

An artist, huh? Bah. The only art piece this Brassius chump would get out of Vaespar is a portrait of defeat. 

Louis was standing against Brassius' Petilil. He did a little jig to get himself pepped up, Terastalizing in the process. . "Let's dance!" he said, as he weathered Petilil in the flames of an Incinerate. This made short work of the Petilil. Braassius sent out a Smoliv and the same thing happened to it. Brassius then sent out a Sudowoodo, which he promptly Terastalized. Vaespar panicked. Would this cause devastation to his team again?

"I can do that too!" said Louis, letting out yet another Incinerate. The Sudowoodo barely hung on and hit him with a Trauilblaze, causing it to move... Faster? Vaespar panicked further. "Take it down!" The Sudowooodo slammed Louis with rocks in a Rock Throw. Vaespar's heart was racing. Then Louis let out a final Incinerate and the Sudowoo's Terastilization shattered as it collapsed. 

"Yeah! Music to my ears!" said Louis. 

Vaespar sighed in relief. He had nothing to worry about.  

---------

Vaespar After the Grass gym had been vanquished Vaespar went back to Mezagoza to prepare for his next destination, the Flying Titan Arven had marked on his map. In the meantime he caught up on classes at Uva Academy to glean strategic information on this Pokemon dimension he had ended up in. In history class he learned one useful tidbit in particular: Of an empire and emperor in search of a powerful force in the crater. The crater was forbidden to students, but if he could secure a way in...

He also learned something far more concerning in history class however. Of a hero known as Evithyan who saved the Hisui region - now known as Sinnoh. Could it be... No. She was dead. He had devoured her. ...But perhaps he should still look into this. 

------

Primadonno

Primadonno was initially a bit concerned when he had been handed off from his old Trainer Dieggo to this Vaespar. He didn't LOOK like he had any pomp or circumstance. But Vaespar so far had proved to have a sound strategic mind, and had even gotten Primadonno to evolve, so perhaps he wasn't all that bad. 

..Just hopefully he wouldn't be handed off AGAIN.

----- Stormbolt

Stormbolt was one of a select line of Pikachu handed off to Trainers for a special event, and he had been handed off to Vaespar. He was a little concerned with Vaespar's ruthless nature, but there was a challenge to beat Flying types up ahead. He'd shine in that. 

...Right?

----

Denny

Denny the Flamigo was handed off to Vaespar in Surprise Trade and wasn't sure what to do. This was a new team, with new rules, that he wasn't sure if he could fulfill, and he had seen no battle time yet. 

But just hanging around with Vaespar and his team was making him stronger, he could feel it. Perhaps soon he would have time to shine. 

-----

Vaespar was staring down the second biggest stork he had ever seen. He knew what birds were like. This one could be a major threat. He'd have to be careful. 

"Louis, Incinerate this fool!" 

"You got it!" said Louis, sending hellish flames in the bird's direction. The bird responded by Plucking at Louis with its beak. The two went back and forth until Louis went down. In response Vaespar sent out Lang. "We've got an oversized poultry problem, huh?" said Lang. The bird seemed insulted by this and hit lang with another Pluck. Lang held on and Threw A rock at its head, forcing the bird to retreat to a cliffside. Like the Klawf before it, it broke open the cliff and began eating something inside. 

It was then Arven arrived. "Vaespar! You managed to get to the Titan somehow, huh?"

"Somehow your directions were adequate," said Vaespar. "Ha ha. So that's the Open Sky Titan... Wait, is this Titan what's been dropping all these boulders?"

"Me and Miraidon had an interesting time with those earlier."

"I was lucky enough to sneak up here because it had all its attention on you little bud!"

"Don't call me little."

"Okay fine. Anyway the Titan looks like it's trying to power itself up. Like with some kinda mystical Meal Power or something. So we'd better be ready to go all out!"

The bird flew over to challenge them again. Arven sent out a Nacil, and Vaespar sent out Stormbolt. "Stormnbolt, Terastalize! Electro Ball!"

"All right!" said Stormbolt. "Let's g-"

Wing Attack. He was down. Fuck. He sent out Primadonno in a desperate fumbling of Pokeballs as Arven's Nacil pummeled the bird with rocks. "Aqua Jet!"

"I do hate cleaning up messes," said Primadonno. He lunged at his fellow avian with a bolt of water, just as the bigger bird Plucked him. But then Arven's Nacil Smacked it Down with another rock, and Vaespar saw an opportunity. 

He quickly fed a Revive to Louis just as Primadonno got Plucked again, and then swapped the two. The bird Plucked the Nacil, and then moved to Pluck Louis when - 

Smack Down.

And it stayed down. Vaespar sighed in relief. Maybe, possibly, he should be nicer to Arven. 

----

What was with this car? Vaespar thought. It was as if it were... Alive.

No matter. He was up against a Pawniard. And everyone knows what you do with pawns. 

"Louis, Incinerate!"

"You think you've got the tunes?" said Louis. "You've got another thing coming!"

Flames danced to the beat around the Pawniard atop the car. It tried to retaliate with an Aireal Ace, but to no avail. Up next came... The truck? Damn it. Vaespar KNEW it was alive. "Woah! Your car moves to its own tune!" Louis said as he let out another Incinerate. The car - a Revaroom apparently - retaliated with a Metal Sound and a Snarl, taking Louis out. Vaespar knew he had to be careful. He sent out Primadonno. "That is the most garish car I have ever seen!" said Primadonno, before swiping at it with a Low Sweep. The Revaroom retaliated with more Metal Sounds and Snarls but Primadonno held on. "Now!" said Vaespar, recalling Priimadonno and sending out Denny, Terastalizing him in the process. The Revaroom shot Swifts at Donny in resistance but it was too late - one Low Kick sent him sputtering. "Wow... I did it! I DID IT!" said Denny. "Yes!" said Vaespar. "I love a successful conquest."

--------

Vaespar Getting rid of Stormbolt after his failure, surprisingly to Vaespar, hurt. 

It hurt more after Arven told him his story. Unlocked the most fragile remnants of empathy left in his heart. 

He thought of it while traveling. Thought of it white fighting the Dark Crew, even as he passed that with flying colors. Especially thought of it when one of Team Star's generals talked about being a gang of friends who valued each other. He had for millenia thought of such emotions as childish, outdated, unnecessary. He was trying to convince himself he still did. 

But although he had found other Pokemon to take Stormboilt's place. A Smoliv named Olivia, a Tadbulb named FROGGE, directly from the Suprise Trade in place of Stormbolt a Bonsly named Plant - but he had to wonder. Were his methods worth it?

----------

Olivia

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa what was olivia doing here she wound up in a weird crystal den with the power of flight and she found these trainers and one of them caught her and he seems scaryand she is not sure what to do and she is very small and aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

----------

FROGGE FROGGE IS STRONG. FROGGE IS MIGHTY. THE MIGHTIEST TADBULB EVER TO TAD BULB. VAESPAR LEFT HIM IN THE BOX, BUT CAME CRAWLING BACK, SO FROGGE WILL PROVE TO HIM WHAT IS UP! DEFINITELY!

...HOPEFULLY

------------------

Vaespar

Vaespar journeyed off to the city where the Electric gym was - he couldn't bother to remember the name - and was briefly stopped near the Fire Crew base where Clavell - er, Clive - filled him in on more of Team Star's situation. He then maneuvered with Miraidon around a Team Star barricade to reach the city, where Nemona challenged him again (and lost handily) and the Gym Leader Iono subjected him and Clavell to a bizzare gauntlet of tasks for "subscribers". Vaespar knew Iono's chaotic energy was not to be underestimated, and so started putting his Pokemon through grueling training, which led to Lang evolving. Eventually they would beat her...

---------

This "streamer" was certainly something else. 

For her "livestream" she'd sent out a strange bird called a Wattrel, who was up against Lang. Lang scoffed. 

"You don't mess with my pack."

He launched an Accelrock from his mane. It knocked the bird out of the air with ease. Next came a Bellibolt, which Vaespar wasn't as sure how to handle.

"Hm. Olivia!"

The Dolliv was sent out, figeting nervously.

"Oh, uh, um, aaaaaaaa"

She threw a volley of Seed Bombs at the Bellibolt. But the Bellibolt hung on and Vaespar knew he needed a new strategy.

...Which was sending Lang out for more Accelrocks, which did the trick.

Next was a Luxio. Vaespar pondered, then sent out Louis.

"This stream needs some groovy tunes!"

He sung some Incinerate flames into existence, which powered through the Luxio's Sparks and took it out. 

Next was a Mismagius, which Terastalized into an electric type. Vaespar knew there was only one solution: An all-out attack.

"Burn it to the ground Louis!"

Louis terastalized as well. But the Mismagius had already cast a Confuse Ray. Louis was teetering in a daze, burning himself with his own flames.

"NO! Louis, come on..."

The Mismagius blasted Louis with Hexes. Vaespar sprayed a Hyper Potion, but Louis was still in a dizzy state.

"Louis, snap out of it, I command you!"

And then Louis did.

"Sorry about that, let's get this show back on the road!"

His onslaught of flame continued. The Mismagius tried to counter with more Confuse Rays and Hexes but it was too late. 

It went down.

Vaespar pumped a fist and yelled "Yes!". Iono's subscribers better have liked THAT. 

--------

Vaespar

Vaespar had just scored a decisive victory against the mystifying streamer Iono and her demon Mismagius, with no casualties. He was feeling good about himself. He went to train in the hills outside the city, encountered a strange tumbleweed Pokemon he caught and named Sundown...

...And lost FROGGE in the process. 

Cursing to himself, Vaespar tossed FROGGE away on Surprise Trade, and got a Mudbray named Mudb1 in its place. Feeling she'd be useful for his purposes Vaespar started training her in FROGGE's stead - he had passed the Fire Crew on the wayu to coming here, of course, and knew they needed dealing with next...

----------

Mudb1

Uh, Mudb1 wasn't sure what she was doing here, or who this Vaespar guy was, but she was trying her darn best. Vaespar was giving her lots of different opponents to fight, in preparation for fighting a "Fire Crew". This was Mudb1's chance to prove herself, and she was going to take it head-on. 

------------

This woman seemed determined to kill him. She was atop her Revaroom, glaring down at Vaespar, a Torkoal at her side, its Drought casting down sunny rays. 

Thankfully Vaespar had Lang. "You ruffians will never escape the laws of this land!" said Lang. "Accelrock!" said Vaespar. 

Lang launched sharp rocks from his mane. It barely made a dent? That thing's shell must be TOUGH. Sure enough, it slammed that flaming shell into Lang with a Flame Wheel. Wait. Lang's mane was on fire. He was burnt. "Shit- Rock Tomb!"

"I'm not... going down that easy..." said Lang, burying the Torkoal in rocks. The Torrkoal launched itself from the pillar of rocks with another Flame Wheel, slamming into Lang again. "A-Accelrock!"

Langh fired more rocks from his mane. The Torkoal went down. But then the Revaroom surged forward to attack. Lang was weak, and one of Varespar's more valuable servants. He couldn't risk him falling here. Then he got an idea. A risky gambit to be sure, but if it paid off...

"Lang, return! Go Louis!"

If Louis could just bide time... 

"Bring it, ugly car!" said Louis. The Revaroom slammed into him, with a Blazing Tourqe. It didn't do much, but it started moving... Faster? Shiot. Speed Boost. "Loius, Round!"

Louis pulled out a trumpet and began playing sweet tunes. The Revaroom tried to screech in response, but the only thing that was drowned out was the Torkoal's Drought. "Yes! Louis, keep playing!" And keep playing Louiis did, until the Revaroom's Blazing Tourqes finally took him out. 

"NOW!  Primadonno, Terastalize!"

"Louis was right. This IS an ugly car."

The crystalline sheen enveloped him as a fancy hat grew on his head. "Aqua Jet!"

Primadommo rammed into the Revaroom with a burst of water, and it Screeched in pain. Primadonno kept it up even as it hit him with Blazing Tourqes. Finally, one caused the Revaroom to crumple in pain. Vaespar smirked. His gamble had paid off. 

-----------

Vaespar and Louis were face-to-face with a rather large worm. "That is a rather large worm," said Vaespar. "Sure is!" said Louis. "...Burn it," said Vaespar. "On it!" said Louis. He spat Incinerating flames at the worm even as it tried to hit him with its head and tail. The flames were too much for the massive beast and it retreated into a cave. "Get back here you wiggly beast!" said Vaespar as he chased after it. 

He pursued the woprm on Miraidon through the cave, up the sand dunes, until he cornered it in front of a large cliff. "Oh dear," said Miraidon. "I do believe I know what's coming..."

"No shit," said Vaespar. "Get ready!"'

Sure enough, the worm broke open the cliff and began eating a strange herb. Right on cue Arven showed up. "Vaespar! You managed to pin down the Titan?"

Vaespar rolled his eyes. "Once again long before you did."

"This is no time to brag!" said Arven. He looked upon the worm. "THAT'S the Lurking Steel Titan? It's... uh, well, it sure is long!" 

"Very."

"I think our little friend might be even feistier now after eating those herbs! We're gonna need to do this together Vaespar!"

Vaespar sighed. "If you insist."

Sure enough, the worm glowed with power after munching enough from the herb. Louis was accompanied by a... Toedscool? As they both faced off in battle against it. 

"Burn it again!" said Vaespar. "Twice sure is nice!:" said Louis. 

He bathed the worm in flames as the beast recoiled, and the Supersonic from the Toedscool caused it to flail further. It used a last-ditch Iron Tail to take out the Toedscool, but it was too late. Another Incinerate caused it to roll over in defeat. 

"Alas poor worm," Vaespar muttered. 

---------------

Vaespar

After defeating the Fire Crew and Steel Titan - and learning more of Arven and Team Star's tales in the process - Vaespar headed to the city housing the Water gym. Unfortunately the gym leader had lost his wallet, forcing Vaespar to trek across an ENTIRE DESERT and REPEATEDLY GET LOST to return it. The nerve. Once he did return it he was forced to fight the gym leader's apprentice and win an auction in place of his normal gym test, which he won handily of course. He sensed the Gym Leader would be a tougher challenge and went to prepare...

During his prep he found a traveler who he accompanied across other parts of the region. The Traveller was also on the Treasure Hunt and was easily distractible but off to a good start, and they did multiple raids together. 

-----------

This was a very strange fish. 

It was long and pointy and toothy and - something about the way it floated was odd. Vaespar had an idea. 

"Louis, Bite it!"

"It probably tastes gross but OK!"

Louis Bit down onto it, doing it a sizable chunk of harm, but was knocked off by a Aqua Cutter that knocked him out. 

"Rrrgh... Primadonno! Cut it back!"

Primadonno was sent out and blinked. "That IS an ugly fish."

He repeatedly Slashed it with Air, the fish too staggered to resist, until it fell. A disgusting creature called a Wugtrio was next. Vaespar retched and sent out Olivia. "Oh! Um, what is that? Eek," she said. The thing slapped hear with a Butt of one of its heads, but she Bombed it with Seeds, obliterating it. Next was a Crabominable. A Water Tera Crabominable Vaespar considered his options carefully. "Olivia, Seed Bomb agai-"

Too late. The Crabominable had brought a fist down on her in a Rock Smash, knocking her out. Fuck. "Primadonno! Get it!"

"Well this is a pickle," said Primadonno as he was sent out. He Air Slashed the Crabominable again, only for it to Slam him unconscious. Fuck fuck fuck. "Denny! Terastalize! Double Kick!"

"I'll do my best!" said Denny. With a crystalline glow he started kicking the Crabominable repeatedly. But he didn't get many in before he was swatted away by a Crabhammer, knocking him out. Fuck fuck fuck FUCK. 

Vaespar had one last hope here. "Sundown!"

The tumbleweed was sent out. "You," he said. "Me?" said the Crabominable. "Draw.,"

He fired a barrage of Bullet Seeds. The Crabomable finally fell. Vaespar sighed in relief. He didn't think he'd make examples of any of his team here. This guy was tough.

------------

Vaespar

After braving the tides of the Water Gym, and sparing his team the consequences because what the fuck, Varespar met up with the traveller again. They traded several Pokemon and caught several more in raids. Afterwards Varespar subjected his team to more of his intense training, upon which several of them evolved into new, wondrous, powerful forms - a Mudsdale, a Skeledirge, a Quaquaval, an Arboliva. 

It was then Vaespar fell upon an unsettling, horrifying realization. 

He was getting attached. 

No. He'd have to put that aside. Team Star's Poison crew was up ahead...

--------------

Cassopea was right, Vaespar thought. This Atticus sure was eccentric. I mean, sending a Skuntank at him of all things? No matter. There'd be a dead skunk in the middle of the road in no time. "Louis! Torch Song!"

"Ready for the fiery tune!"

Louis blew his trumpet and a blast of fire went out and scorched the Skuntank. The Skuntank responded by spraying Louis with noxious goo. Vaespar realized it was Toxic. He was on a timer. "Louis, again!"

The Skuntank Sucker Punched him, but Louis' flaming sound waves still pushed through and knocked it out. Once again, the Revaroom surged forward to take its place. 

...Except this was a smaller Revaroom. 

Vaespar knew Atticus was planning something, but knew he had to stay on course. "Louis, keep at it!"

Louis kept blaring his trumpet. The Revaroom's Assurance did nothing to stop the flames from taking it out. But the poison continued to eat at Louis. A Muk was sent out, only to be bathed in flame like those before. 

Then the REAL Revarroom came forth. Of course. It rammed Louis with a Noxious Tourqe, finally ending his song. Time for Vaespar's real plan to go into motion. "Mudb1! You're up!"

"Yeehaw! You messed with the wrong squad!" said Mudb1.

The Revaroom tried to Spin Out at Mudb1, but her High Horsepower countered it with incredible force."

"Ah, you see, my dear Team Star leader, the show has only just begun. MUDB1, TERASTALIZE!" Mudb1 shone with a crystal glow as she delivered another High Horsepower. The Revaroom tried to resist with another Spin Out, but it was promptly crushed under Mudb1's hooves. Vaespar smirked. All according to plan. 

-----------

Vaespar's team was chilling by the Medali Pokemon.Center. 

"Man, it's great we've made it this far with Vaespar!" said Louis. "Yes, uh, especially with his... rules...' said Olivia. "Why DOES he have those rules anyway?" said Denny. "No other pack I know of has laws like that, it's true..." said Lang. 

"He acts like he's... some kind of evil overlord from a fantasy story," said Primadonno. 

"But... He can't be, right?" said Mudb1. "He's just a kid!"

"...What's he even doing right now, anyway?" said Primadonno. Sure enough Vaespar had set up a corkboard that he was frantically adding to. 

"Oh that's his Conspiracy Board," said Lang. "He's updating it with new info about Team Star. Probably to put those goons in their place.:"

"Vaespar is, sure, uh, an enigma..." said Olvia. 

------------

This Larry was professional. Almost too professional. Vaespar knew his Komala would be simple enough to deal with. "Louis! Bring the funky music!"

"On it!" said Louis. He brought out hisflaming trumpet for his signature move, which the Komala tried to Sujcker Punch out of his claws but failed to quench the flames.

Next was.. A giant Dunsparce? What was with its segments? Vaespar wasn't going to think too hard about this one. "Keep playing Louis!"

Louis sent a Flamethrower from its trumpet, but a Glare from the Dunsparce stopped him in his tracks. Shit. A Drill Run did not stand up to a Flamethrower however. 

Wait... Was that an audience? Cheering for Larry? Did his Staraptor just Terastalize and leave Louis on the edge? Oh no. This could be ba-

Oh. Louis' playing had taken out the Staraptor. Okay. Guess the Normal gym leader really was just a guy. 

"That was for Denny."

---------------

Vaespar

We lost Denny. 

It was during the Normal gym test. One of the contestants in that test had a Greedent , and that Greedent had Counter, and- 

He shouldn't be thinking about this. He had forged ahead up an icy mountain, finagling up its icy slopes with Miraidon, making their way all along to the next gym. He needed to forge onwar- 

We lost Denny. 

No, no, that was wrong. Denny was still there. In his boxes. He had elected not to trade him y tis time, he just couldn't use him and he traded a random Pachisru in his place for a Charcadet. That was \within the bounds ofhis own rules, right? He made the rul-

We lost Denny. It wasn't that big a deal right? They had made it through the normal gym fine. Sid the Arctibax proved to be a decent enough replacement. We lost Denny. 

...Why did he CARE. Denny was just another pawn. Expendable. Replaceable. He HAD been replaced even. ...What was going on?

--------

Sid

Sid the Arctbax knew he had some big shoes to fill. 

He knew he had been called in to replace a key team member of Vaespar's because of the rules the team had in place. But he was just a little guy. He had already gotten a bit stronger by evolving once but the other team members were also powerful. He had catching up to do. Catching up he knew he might not be able to complete. 

Why? Doesn’t anyone love him? Isn’t there anyone who cares about Sid the Arctibax?

-----------

Was this a gym battle or a rap battle? Vaespar wasn't sure. All he knew is Mudb1 and Louis were up against a Mimikyu and a Bannete. "Oh, Rhyme! I love her music!" said Mudb1. "Aye, I can appreciate a fellow musician!" said Louis. "You two, focus!" said Vaespar. "Mudb1, Heavy Slam on the Mimikyu and Louis, Shadow Ball the Banette with some hocus pocus!!"

The Bannete tried to Sucker Punch Louis but was smited by the Shadow Ball, and a Slash to Mudb1's side did not stop a Heavy Slam from breaking through the Miimiku's disguise. A strange doggo known as a Houndstone was sent out in the Bannete's place, but the crowd was now cheering for Vaespar. His Pokemon cheered as well in triumph, boosting their vigor. "Yes! I'm the one who reigns supreme! Deliver devastation to this other team!"

The Mimiky tried to Sneak its Shadow into Louis' face but Louis spat a Shadow Ball into the Hounstone's' own face, leaving it sprawling. The Mimikyu was then crushed by Mudb1's Heavy Slam. Next was a Toxicrity. Vaespar knew what was coming. "Keep up the chain!" said Vaespar. "And bring the pain!"

Her Toxicrity Terastalized, but it was too late - The combined force of the two attacks shattered its newfound power instantly. Vaespar cackled. "Looks like your performance just got panned, for I am the one with the master plan!"

-------------

A robot Donphan? That came from the Great Crater of Paldea? And it was a Titan here? Vaespar was very curious for his own means, but would comply with Turo's desire to subdue it. "Louis! You know what to do!"

"One Torch Song, coming up!"

Louis bellowed flames from his trumpet, which the Titan tried to swat away with a Knock Off, but could not subdure the flaming song. So it did the next best thing it could do: Rolled away. "Hey! Get back here weird robot! I - er, the professor needs to study you!" 

He pursued the creature on Miraidon ("goodness, that creature looks familiar") and sure enough it had broken open a cliff and was eating (how does such a creature eat?) a familiar herb. As usual Arven showed up. "Vaespar! Looks like you found yourself a Titan!"

"Yes and a doozy of a Titan too!" said Vaespar. 

Arven turned to look. "Wait... THAT's the Quaking Earth Titan? Uh... Is... Is that thing even a Pokemon?"

Vaespar shrugged.

Arven shook his head. "It must be trying to get pumped up with that little snack... Time to show that thing what me and you can do Vaespar!"

The Iron Treads turned around and glowed with energy. Louis got sent back out, along with Arven's... Scovillain? That was a new one. 

"Moire music Louis! With a Tera edge!"

Louis did so... but swung in a wide arc and hit the Scovillauin. "COME ON MAN!" said Arven. "...Oops," said Vaespar. "Louis, hit the right guy this time or there will be consequences!"

"Eep! On it!"

Louis bathed the Iron Treads in fire. It hit him back with a RApid Spin - how? Vaespar didn't have time to question this further before Louis took the beast out and it rolled away.

Darn. he was supposed to study that.

-----------

Vaespar

After delivering sick beats on MC Ryme's stage, Vaespar had confronted the mysterious Ground titan and was honestly still thinking about the latter. What WAS that thing? Why was Turo in particular so invested in its existence? Why did it resemble the creature from Arven's book?

Questions for later he supposed. After a very long and arduous journey he made it to the Psychic gym city, looked around at the architecture (including some mosaics which looked a bit familiar), fought Nempna again (and won handily) and survived jazzercise class. The Psychic Gym Leader was next... 

---------

Did this woman have... Moving wings on her dress?

No, Vaespar couldn't get distracted. He was up against... a Farigiraf? If it's related to Girafarig Louis' Ghost moves wouldn't do a thing... He needed a different strategy. "Louis, come back! Mudb1, you're up!"

Mudb1 took to the field and was greeted by a Crunch. This hardly phased her. "Ooh, teeny nibble! That tickles!"

"Earthquake!" said Vaespar. 

The Farigiraf tried to Zen Headbutt Mudb1 but she repeatedly stomped the ground, creating tremors that took the Farigiraf out. 

Next was a Gardevor. Vaespar knew he'd need Louis for this and swapped him in. 

"Louis, Shadow Ball!"

"One shady tune, coming right up!"

Louis blew into his trumpet and a large ball.of shadowy energy emerged to slam into the Gardevoir. The Gardevoir tried to assault him with Psychic energy in response but another Shadow Ball took it out of the picture. 

Next was... A bird? An Esparatha? Vaespar had encountered wild ones of these before... he figured he knew what to do. "Louis, keep up the Shadow Balls!"

Louis kept tooting Shadow Balls... but the bird got a Shadow Ball in on him before it went down. Louis was on his last legs. And now there was a Florges. A Tera Psychic Florges. Louis got one more Shadow Ball in on it before he was taken out. Vaespar had an idea... But it was a risky idea. Could he do this? 

"Lang! Go!" he said, sending out the Lycanroc. "That's one heck of a headpiece," said Lang. "Crunch it!"

Lang sunk his fangs into the Florges. Its crystal armor shattered, and it fell to the ground. Vaespar sighed in relief. Lang was safe. 

...Damn it, he was caring again. 

--------------

This Grusha guy thinks he's sooooooooooooooo tough. Vaespar would show him and his Frosmoth tough. 

"Louis! Your usual opening act!"

"Oh yeah! Get ready for a rootin' tootin good time!"

Louis's flaming Torch Song trumpet made short work of the Frosmoth. And the Beartic after it. But the... Cetitan after that managed to hold on and slam Louis with a Liquidation. Shit. 

"Keep at it!"

More flames did the Cetitan in. But next was an Altaria Vaespar had no doubt was Tera Ice. But Louis had to keep up the assault. 

"More music! MORE!"

"Oh yeeeeeeeeeeeeah!"

As the Altaria Terastalized, it blasted Louis with a Hurricane. Louis tripped, stumbled, Confused. But then his fiery sounds reached a flaming crescendo and blasted the Altaria in heat. It went down. 

Vaespar grinned. Who was out of his league now?

--------

Oh shit. Vaespar had made a vital mistake. He had sent Louis out against an Azumarill. "Louis, get back! Olivia, go!"

"Oh, uh, hi- Eep!"

Olivia yelped when hit by the Azumarill's Aqua Tail, but her Grassy Terrain and Leftovers softened the blow. "Energy Ball!" said Vaespar. 

The Azumarill tried to Charm her. But Olivia wasn't phased - a sphere of green energy knockled the Azumarill flat. 

Next was Mudb1 vs. a Wigglytuff. Vaespar knew what to do here. 

"Heavy Slam!"

"Wioooooooooooooooo!"

The opposing Wigglytuff tried to chain a Charm into a Body Slam, but was countered by an even more crushing force and promptly squashed. 

Thirdly, Louis vs a... Daschbun? It was a chocolate eclair dachshund. It looked delicious... No. Stop thinking about food for once Vaespar. "Torch Song!"

"I donm't know about you," said Louis. "But I like my bread lightly toasted!"

His trumpet sent flames onto the Dascbun as it gave him Baby Doll Eyes... Only for the flames to be absorbed?

Shit. "Change of plans, Shadow Ball!"

Louis tooted a Shadow Ball the Daschbun's way. It tried to leap at Louis with a Crunch, but Louis's tooting managed to shake it off. 

Then came the truck. "Louis, Torch Song again!"

The Truck slammed into Louis with a steely spin but Louis managed to get his fiery flames to roast its chassis. However it slammed again with a Magical Tourqe and Louis fell. 

"Mudb1! You're up!"

"Alright, you're going down, you ugly monster truck show reject!" said Mudb1. "Heavy Slam!"

The Revartoom tried to counter with a Magical Tourqe, but Mudb1 slammed into the side of it with more crushing force. The Revaroom tried a last ditch Confuse Ray but Mudb1 still got in a second blow. Still, Vaespar knew keeping her in was risky...

"Go Lang!"

"I've had enough of you Team Star punks," said Lang. The Revaroom slammed him with a Magical Tourqe, but Lang hung on. Just as planned. "Accelrock!"

Rocks shot straight from Lang's mane, denting into the beast's engines. It was done. 

Vaespar grinned. He loved when things played right into his hands. 

----------

Miraidon

Goodness, what an interesting journey Miraidon had been on!

He'd been with Vaespar and team over the hills and valleys and lakes of Paldea - there were so many amazing things outside of the crater! Including.... Delicious sandwiches...

He did hope that Penny girl would warm up to him. And that Arven boy. Perhaps he should try a different approach?

And Vaespar's methods were questionable... But he was learning! At least as far as Miraidon could tell. 

And there was the possibility they'd have to return to the crater...

Nope. Nope. Nope nope nope. Miraidon was NOT entertaining that thought. 

He should focus on the task at hand! Yes! That would be getting Vaespar to the Dragon Titan; they should be on their way...

------------------

Did that big catfish just eat that little fish?

Ridiculous. Vaespar was the one who was supposed to devour people around here!

"Louis, Shadow Ball!"

"Throwin' some shade at this... Fish!"

Louis' toots of shadowy energy left a dent. But the catfish's Aqua Tailand Water Pulse left more of one and Louis was left sprawling on the sidelines. 

"Olivia! You're up!"

"Eek! That's a big fish!"

"That doesn't matter! Energy Ball!"

Olivia smacked the beast with one and it sank back under the waves. Vaespar knew he had to go after it. 

 After frantically searching the lake, he found the Titan doing, what else, breaking open a cliff. And now Arven was here too!

"Vaespar! Did you find the Titan?"

"What does it LOOK like?"

Arven looked over at the beast. "So that's it? Sure is one big, uh, dragon? Wait, is it even a dragon? Or is it a fish?"

His question was not answered by the Titan, who once again gobbled up a smaller fish. Arven was in shock. 

"Th-the little sushi guy got eaten up by the titan?1 Yeesh. Didn't expect to see the food chain in action today!"

Vaespar rolled his eyes. "If this fish thinks it's an apex predator it'll have to deal with me." 

He sent out Olivia again, accompanied by Arven's Greedent. "Another Energy Ball!"

"D-Don't eat me!" said Olivia. 

Her sphere of green energy made a dent in the fish, but so did a Slam olf its Body, which caused her to twitch in paralysis. Damn it. 

"Keep it up!"

Too bad. She was convulsing violently. 

Shiiiiiiiit.

 Suddenly, things were a blur. Olivia's energy was renewed. She sunk a massive Energy Ball into the fish, sending it sinking into the bottom of the lake. 

Ha! Vaespar really was the apex predator.

---------

...Wait. Now this tiny fish wanted to challenge him for the role of apex predator? Pathetic. Arven had restored Louis to full health; might as well keep him his opener. 

"Shadow Ball!"

"...You sure you don't want me to go easy on the little guy?"

"NO!"

Louis shrugged and tooted a Shadow Ball at the fish. It replied with a Dragon Pulse smiting Arven's Greedent before turning Muddy Waters and Icy Winds on Louis that washed him away. 

"...Primadonno!"

"Hmph. Tiny creature. Know your place."

He chopped it with a Brick Break and was greeted by more of the chilling bite of Icy Wind. Then a Dragon Pulse did a significant dent and Vaespar knew he had to strategize. 

"...Mudb1!"

It was risky, but...

Mudb1 tanked a Dragon Pulse but was still standing. "OOf! Tough for a little fish!"

"Earthquake!"

Mudb1 charged through another Dragon Pulse, enduring the pain, before slamming her hooves for a tremor. The tremor created a tidal wave, washing the little fish away. 

Good. Vaespar's title was still standing. 

-----------

------

Vaespar

After Vaespar and Arven collected the final Herba Mystica, Arven's Mabostiff was restored to health (was that a tear on Vaespar's face? No, impossible. The Titan must have splashed some water on him). But the journey was not over - Professor Turo needed their assistance. They managed to unlock his lab and contacted him via a computer screen - where he said he needed the Violet Book brought to the depths of Area Zero. 

Both Vaespar and Arven had their reservations but agreed they should probably do it, and went to prepare. For Vaespar prep included working his way to the final badge - the Fighting Crew badge. Once he was nearby he started giving his Pokemon more intensive training - a brawl was surely brewing... 

----------

This Eri had apparently wiped out Clave- er, Clive. But she wouldn't wipe out Vaespar. Especially not with this Toxicroak. "Louis! Your opening act!" "Aw yeeeeeeah!"

The Toxicroack tried to Sucker Punch Louis, but the flames of his Torch Song were too much for the frog.Next came a Lucario, which befel a similar fate. 

..As did the Passimian. Vaespar cackled. Things were going well. 

Then came the Annihilape. What was this thing? Looks like... A Primape gone wrong... But Varespar knew keeping up the assault was the best option. "KEEP PLAYING!" The Annihilape's Rage Fist connected first. Shit. The song claimed it too but Louis was on his last legs. And now the truck was here. "PLAY LIKE IT'S THE LAST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!" "I'M ALREADY DEAD BUT OKAY"

But before he could, the truck hit him hard. High Horsepower. He went down. Vaespar figured this would get to this point. He had one gambit left, but it was, surprise surprise, risky. 

But he had to go for it. "Olivia! Terastalize! Tera Blast!"

"H-Here I go!"

She took on a crystalline sheen as balloons sprouted from her head. The Revaroom tried to Shift Gear, but the Tera Blast... well, blasted a good chunk off of it.

And then a second took it out. "I... I did it!" said Olivia.

"HA! YES YOU DID!" said Vaespar. Wait, what was he talking about? He did it. He came up with the strategy right?

...Right?

------------

So Clavell was claiming he was Cassopeia. Only one thing to do with him and his Oranguru then. "Lang! Crunch!"

"Finally the true mastermind... I've been waiting for this moment!"

The Oranguru's Foul Play didn't stop Lang from taking it out, but a Yawn still left him asleep. Shit. He'd have to deal with that later. Next was Louis vs. an Abomasnow. Simple enough. "Louis? You know the drill." "I heard you don't like HEAT!"

Indeed one Flamethrower lightly toasted the Abomasnow out of the picture. 

A Polteageist came and survived a Shadow Ball, then Smashed the Shell of pottery around its body. This was dangerous. "Keep it up!"

Too late. A Shadow Ball took him out. "...Primadonno! Aqua Jet!"

"Hmpph. That cracked look is so not your style."

He slammed a jolt of water into the Polteageist, taking it out. 

Next, Sid vs. an Amoongus. "Hey! It's a little mushroom guy! Hi mushroom!"

"Sid, focus! Icicle crash!"

Sid dropped icicles on the Amoongus, smiting it instantly. 

Next: Primadonno vs. Houndoom. 

"Hmph, more brutes?"

"Close Combat!" said Vaespar. Primadonno got up close and personal with the Houndoom, and it didn't last long. 

Finally was... Another Quaquaval? Vaespar would have to consider things carefully. 

"Primadonno, ujse - 

Oh shit it Terastalized. 

"...Close Combat!"

Primadonno did so but... It survived. And smacked Primadonno with an Aqua Step. 

Vaespar had one option left. 

"Olivia!"

"Oh no oh no oh no-"

An Aireal Ace cut into her and Vaespar flinched. But he had to keep it up. "Terastalize! Energy Ball!"

A Brick Break bounced off her new crystalline hide as she blasted it back with green energy. 

It didn't get up. Some leader of Team Star. 

---------

Vaespar

Vaespar had really been on a wild goose chase. Or perhaps on a Swanna chase in the terms of this universe. 

He had finally gotten all the badges, gym and otherwise, and was told Cassopea was the big boss of Team Star... by Cassopea. After trying to track them down Clive revealed he was Clavell and also claimed he was Cassopea - but after Vaespar defeated him in battle revealed the latter was a ruse - both to protect who he suspected the real Cassopea was and to protect Vaespar from them in turn. In the end, all this accomplished was subjecting Clavell to the wrath of the math teacher. Vaespar felt he shared Clavell's suspicions of who Cassopea was - but he'd have to wait until nightfall... 

---------

So this Penny was the mysterious overlord of Team Star. Vaespar had to admire her chutzpah. 

Though he also had to deal within her Umbreon. He swapped in Primadonno, who took a Dark Pulse with ease. 

"Tch. You're going to have to do better than that."

"Close Combat!" said Vaespar. 

Primadonno jumped and danced and kicked into the Umbreon even as it gave him Baby Doll Eyes. It got taken out with ease. 

Next up was Mudb1 vs. Jolteon. 

"...You sure we should be beating up this kid?" said Mudb1. 

"Positive! Earthquake!"

Mudb1 sighed and complied even as the Jolteon gabon her more Baby Doll Eyes. Predictably, it was taken out. 

The next match was Olivia vs. Vaporeon. This girl really liked Eevee, didn't she. 

"Energy Ball!"

"I... I'm sorry..." said Olivia. 

Her spheres of green energy surged past an Aurora Beam and decimated the Vaporeon. 

Next: Lang vs. Flareon. "Finally... I've found my prey," said Lang. "Stone Edge!" said Vaespar."

The pointed stones took out the Flareon handily. 

The fifth match: Sid vs. Leafeon. Sid furrowed his brow in concern. "This kid looks sad... Ya think she'll be all right?"

"She... She wants us to do this," said Vaespar. "Icicle Crash."

What was wrong with him? He shouldn't care. Sid's Crashing Icicles took out the Leafeon regardless. 

And now the final match: Louis vs. Sylveon. 

"...Gonna play a sad song for this one..." said Louis.

"...Torch Song," said Vaespar. Louis played a mournful tune on his Trumpet. Bathing the Sylveon in harsh flames. It Terastalized and Baby Doll Eyes in response however, dulling the impact. "Keep it up! Then Flamethrower!"

Louis's fires intensified into a crescendo that burnt away at a Shadow Ball from the Sylveon and then into its crystalline armor. It was down. 

Vaespar had defeated Team Star once and for all.

....Why didn't he feel good about it?

--------------

Vaespar knew Arven would be using the Pokemon he sicced on the Titans, and also Mabosstif, but there was no telling what they could do. 

Including this Greedent. "Close Combat! Now!"

"You really need a better furstyle. Let me fix it up for you," said Primadonno. 

He launched into a flurry of punches and kicks, which sent it flying into a nearby tree. Guess the Greedent wasn't doing much. Next was Sid vs. the Toedscruel, truly a disgusting creature. 

"Ewwwww, you should get those lumps checked out," said Sid. 

"Hit them with Icicle Crash!" said Vaespar. 

That, indeed, did the trick, and the pelting ice meant the Toedscruel was out for the count. 

Next: Mudb1 vs... Garganacl? "MMmm, salt... said Mudb1."

"Don't eat it NOW!" said Vaespar. "Earthquake it!"

The creature tried to Body Press back, but Mudb1's unrelenting tremors shattered its salty armor and made it collapse. 

Next was a Scovillain. Vaespar knew it was rixsky... but sent out Lang in response. "Bit off a looker if I ever saw one." said Lang. 

"Stone Edge it!" said Vaespar. He tried... But missed. An Energy Ball left him on the ropes. Time for a new plan. "...Olivia!"

"...That thing is scar-"

She meeped as she was hit by an Energy Ball. "Terastalize! Tera Blast!"

A Fire Blast bounced off Olivia's crystalline armor as a gust of air emerged from her fronds and blew the Scovillain away. 

Next up: Cloyster vs. Primadonno. "And YOU! You need to polish your shell!"

"Close Combat again!" said Vaespar. The Cloyster was ill prepared for Primadonno's dancer kicks and was sent skidding aside. 

Next was Mabosstiff. Primadonno frowned. For a sick dog it was awfully Intimidating. 

Vaespar noticed this and swapped him for Mudb1. But uh oh, it Terastalized. But oh yay, its Play Rough did nothing to Mudb1. "Nice doggie.." said Mudb1. "Low Kick!" said Vaespar. 

The Mabosstif tried to latch on with multiple Crunches but Mudb1 reared up and smacked back with sharp kicks, eventually knocking it loose and sending it tumbling down. Yeah Vaespar felt he was ready for Area Zero now. 

----------

Vaespar

The matter of Team Star had been taken care of, in a roundabout manner. But Vaespar had other tasks at hand. He had also beaten Arven, completing his Path Of Legends, but Arven still needed help getting into Area Zero. Vaespar knew after the Starfall Street debacle he could get Penny's help... But then there was the question of Nemona. Which meant the final thing in his itinerary. 

Victory Road. 

After frantically searching Mezagoza for the entrance he went into a tunnel he emerged on a grassy knoll, and Geeta greeted him at the Pokemon league building with vague promises to kick his ass. He got his team ready. His team. No more punishments. They had survived so long. He was sticking with them until the end. 

...Why was he like this?

---------

Vs. Rika

First a job interview, now a fight? This Rika was really testing Vaespar. 

Olivia took a Muddy Water from her Wiscash, but wasn't phased. "Uh, that... Did damage I guess..."

Energy Ball!" said Vaespar. 

The Energy Ball knocked the Whiscash flat. 

Next was Primadonno vs. Camerupt. Hm. She seemed to be a Ground-type specialist... "If you make any hump day jokes," said Primadonno, "I swear to-"

"Just Aqua Step it!"

Primadonno quickly obliged, and the Camerupt didn't get to make a peep. The Donphan that came next befel a similar fate, as diod the Dugtrio, 

Next was... A Clodsire? What a dopey creature...

...Which meant it had to be a threat. "Keep up the assault!" said Vaespar. Primadonno kept up his dance, but then - it Terastalized AND Protected itself. Vaespar growled. 

"Don't let that stop you!"

"Oh absolutely not!" said Primadonno. 

HE tried again- only for the watery force to be slurped into the Clodsire. Water Absorb. Shit. "...Go Sid!

Sid was sent out and immediately hit by an Earthquake, though it didn't seem to phase him much. "Aw, what a little cutie!" said Sid. "That thing is a menace!" said Vaespar. "Icicle Crash it!"

Sid did, in fact, Crash Icicles onto the Clodsirew, finally taking it out. 

One down, three to go. 

--------

Vs. Poppy

This... This was an infant. Were they sure - 

He couldn't underestimate her. Her Copperajah LOOKED tough. She was probably a Steel specialist. 

Which meant Louis. "Fire, Louis, FIRE!"

"Coming right up!"

A Torch Song took the Copperajah right out. As did the Bronzong. And the Corvinight. And the Magnezo- Oh shit, that survived and set up a Light Screen. "Flamethrower!"

Louis breathed stronger flames that did the trick. 

Last was... A Tinkaton? A tiny pink creature with a huge hammer? And it Terastalized! And Stone Edged Louis!

Oh wait. Louis Flamethrowered it to death.

Phew.

----------

Vs. Larry

Wait... This man was a gym leader AND a member of the Elite 4? Was that even ALLOWED?

Questions later. Vaespar had to deal with his Tropius first. He said he used a different type for the Elite 4... Was he a Flying specialist?

"Primadonno! Ice Spinner!"

"Hope you like chilled bananas."

The Spinning dance of Ice left the Tropius frozen on the floor. He tried to do the same to the Staraptor that came next, b\ut the Intimidating Staraptor's Brave Bi9rd took Primadonno out in turn... and then itself from the recoil. 

Next was Sid vs. Oricorio. "Ooh, this one is.. Electrifying!" said Sid. "Icicle Crash it before it paralyzes you or something!"

Sid's icicles did in fact surge past an Aikr Slash to do exactly that. Next was an Altaria. Vaespar knew he couldn't send Sid against that... GHe swapped to Lang. "Hmph. My fur coat's better than that cloud fluff."

"Stone Edge it away then!" said Vaespar. 

Lang summoned pointed rocks that cut away at the Altaria's fluff and sent it spiraling downward to the ground. 

Next was.... Flamingo... Denny....

No, Vaespar had to stay in reality. 

He sent out Louis. 

"Flamethrower!"

"Here we go!"

The Flamigo Terastalized and connected a Brave Bird first, but Louis' scorching flames and the recoil left it barely hanging. Vaespar had an idea. 

"Lang! You're up!"

Lang entered, was hit by another Brave Bird, and watched as the recoil wore away at the Flamigo. Perfect. "Got you cornered," said Lang. He sent an Accelroc from his mane straight into the Flamigo. Its crystal armor broke into a million pieces as it fell. 

That was a tough one, Vaespar thought. But there was still one more... 

------------

Vs. Hasslel

Vaespar had to fight his art teacher. He shuddered. Terrifying. 

First up was his Noivern... A Dragon specialist. "Primadonno, Ice Spinner!"

"Ice skating time!"

The spinning ice took out the Noivern in an instant. 

Next was Mudb1 vs. a Dragalge. It probably had Water moves but...

"That's some weird seaweed!" said Mudb1.

"Earthquake it!" said Vaespar. 

The Earthquake took it out with no fear of Water moves in sight. Next was Sid vs. a Flapple. 

"Mmmmm... Apples..."

"That apple will kill you if you don't Icicle Crash it!"

Sid begrudgingly oblidged, removing the Flapple from the picture. The Haxorus that came next dented Sid with a Dragon Claw, but Siid Icicle Crashed it too into oblivion. 

Next was... Hassle's own Baxcalibur. Hm. "...Lang, go!"

"The dragon guarding the end huh..." said Lang. "Stone Edge!"

"Wait. Shit. He Terastalzed. Lang's Stone Edge delivered a critical hit...

...But so did the Baxcalibur's Glaive Rush. Lang was down. 

...But Vaespar still had one ace up his sleeve. 

"Primadonno!"

"Your hat is ug-leee. Sid's hat is much nicer." "Ice Spinner!" said Vaespar. 

The Spin of Ice struck true and caused the Tereastalized Baxcalibur to fall flat. 

That was the Elite 4 down. 

As for what's next...

-------------

Vs. Geeta

Slenderwoman was attacking him. He was going to die. 

He'd have to get through her Espratha first... 

"Louis! Shadow Ball!"

"Alright, time for one last song in this league run!"

A psychic shatter did not stop Louis from wiping out the bird with a shadowy sphere from his trumpet. An Avalugg fell to a similar Flamethrower. 

Next came Primadonno vs... a Kinggambit? Was that thing sitting on a THRONE? That was VAESPAR'S job!

"Some ruler you are," said Primadonno.

"Close Combat!" said Vaespar. 

The pummeling knocjked the Kingambit off its throne. 

Next: Sid vs. a Gogoat. "You're far from GOATed dude," said Sid. "Prove it with an Icicle Crash!" said Vaespar. 

The Crashing Icicles did indeed prove Sid's point. 

Next was - oh no not another He took a risk and kept in Sid. 

"Crunch!"

"Mmm, fish..." 

Sid bit don hard on the Veluza, knocking it out instantly. 

Finally came... a Glimmora? What WAS this thing?

"Torch Song!" Oh. It Terastalized into a Rock type. And used Earth Power. Not good. 

"...Mudb1!"

Mujdb1 switched into a Rock Tera Blast, but didn't feel much."

"We're in the home stretch! No giving now!" said Mudb1.

Vaespar felt a thrill tingle his entire body. He then realized what was happening to him: 

This entire universe believed so hard in the power of friendship he was starting to believe it too. 

"TERASTALIZE! EARTHQUAKE! WE CAN DO THIS!"

Mudb1 shone, glittered, and gave a hearty yell as she slammed her feet into the ground. The resulting tremors knocked her opponent out easily. 

They had done it. 

They had won. 

Vaespar cheered. 

--------------------

Vs. Nemona

One last extra test from Nemona huh. Vaespar could handle it. 

Probably. 

It was Mudb1 vs. Lycanroc, who had set up a Stealth Rock. Disgusting. 

"Earthquake!"

"Here we go! Yeehaw!"

She slammed her hooves into the ground even as the Lycanroc tried to Drill Run her, and it was out. 

Sid vs. Goodra was the next matchup. Sid retched a bit. "Ew, slimy..."

"Freeze the slime with an Icicle Crash!"

The first attempt... missed. Oh no. A Dragon Pulse from the Goodra hit sid hard. But a second Icxicle Crash got it in the end. 

Mudb1 vs. Pawmot time. The Pawmot let loose a Close Combat? That didn't hurrt much. "Alright fluffy, now you get yours!" said Mudb1. 

Her Earthquake sent the rodent flying into the crowd, to much cheering. 

Up next was... Primadonno vs. Dudunsparce. "So many segments..." said Primadonno. 

"Hit 'em with Close Combat!" said Vaespar. Primadonno hit each and every segment with a powerful punch or kick. Causing the Dudunsparce to roll right over. The same happened to an Orthworm. 

Finally, the fateful Louis vs. Meowscarada. "We've come so far.." said Louis, a tear coming to his eye.

"We sure have huh..." said Vaespar. "Let's make it count! Terastalize! Torch Song!"

The Meowscarada tried to Terastalize itself. And Shadow Claw Louis, but it bounced off his crystal armor. He let loose another powerful, fiery song. 

It fell. 

Vaespar cheered again. His long Victory Road had reached the end at last. 

---------------------

Vaespar was fighting robots. Robots. How did it come to this? Regardless. It was Mudb1 vs. Iron Moth. "Woah, things got crazy sci fi in here..."

"I know right?" Earthquake!"

The Earthquake sent the Iron Moth aside. Next was Iron Bundle vs. Primadonno. "This crystal room is garish, you know?"

"Not the point!" said Vaespar. "Close Combat!"

A Freeze Dry caught Primadonno off guard, but he pummeled the creature into scrap all the same. Now for Mudb1 vs. Iron Hands. "These things again? One Earthquake coming up!"

A Fake Out deterred her briefly, but the Tremors struck true all the same, resulting in a ring out for the robot Hariyama. The Iron Thons that came next tried its own Earthquake, but that hardly phased her and she rammed it right back to take it out. 

The Earthquakes had no effect on the Iron Jugulus Dark Pulsing her however. The Low Kick didn't do much either. Vaespar needed another option. 

"...Sid!"

"Well this is a wacko future robot sitch we're i-" Sid started to say. He yelped as a Dark Pulse hit him and then a Flash Cannon, but then the usual Icicle Crash destroyed the iron hydra. 

Finally was Louis vs. an Iron Vallant. Vaespar knew this one was unpredictable. "Shadow Ball!"

"This song isn't for your future battle AI," said Louis. "It's for OURS!"

The Iron Vallant tried to shred Louis with his Psycho Cuts, but Louis trumpeted and trumpeted and trumpeted some more. Shadow Balls flew everywhere, and the might of the future Gallade fell under the assault. 

AI Turo's mission had been accomplished. But Vaespar knew it was bittersweet. 

----------

So a Miriadon vs. Miraidon match huh? So be it. "Miraidon, Power Gem!"

"Am... Am I really doing this?"

He unleashed gems of energy at the other Miraidon. "Hmph. Weakling as always." 

A Taunt I see, thought Vaespar. "That's not going to work on me anymore!" said Miraidon. He slammed the other Miraidon with an Electro Drift. Then a Tera Blast. But it still did not yield. 

"Die. "

It blasted a Hyper Beam into Miraidon's side. He barely hung on. "You can do it! Endure!"

"...I... I can! I can do this!"

He Endured, but the other Miraidon was winded - and the others were pointing out an opportunity. "Miraidon! Terastalize! Tera Blast!" "I'm not-"

Miraidon crystalized. "Afraid of-"

A dragon hat appeared on his head. "You-"

Energy began to charge. "ANYMORE!"

The energy fired. 

It blasted the other Miraidon away. Vaespar did it. No. Miraidon had done it. 

----------

-----

Denny

Light filled Denny's eyes. He stretched, blinked. He wasn't in the Box anymore. He was in Mezagoza. All hiks teammates were around him, smiling. Vaespar was there too. "We did it, Denny. You can come home now."

He was embraced from all sides by human and Pokemon alike. He squawked, then gavea beaky smile. He really was home. 

------

----------

Vaespar

Vaespar was staring out at the Paldean landscape from atop the Zero Gate, content. 

He had saved Paldea. He had a great team, friends who loved him. It was all he could ever want in life. Maybe his old goals weren't all they were cracked up to be anywa-

~BZZZZZZZT~

---------

Wha-

Oh. He was still sealed away. Must be having one of his sealed away astral visits again. 

He shrugged Guess it was back to business trying to become a god and devouring anyone who stood in his way. At least once he inevitably broke free...

-------------

Arceus

Phew! Arrceus had finally gotten the right file and removed that weird virus. He could assume direct control now. ...Though was it really a virus? It did solve that same problem Arceus was trying to fix in the end.

...Just like that hero from another world he asked for help in Hisui. ...Maybe he should do this more often...

***