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 Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 6:45 pm
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Aile and her little group continued to stare at the Kricketot, with the trainer looking up at her Flygon before shaking her head again. The group would look around again when the apparent violin music started to play, trying to figure out where it came from. The shrill cries would bring them back to focus on the Kricketot, with the tiny bugs charging forward. Tatooine easily swatted them away with her tail, but some unease came over Aile. She felt like there should be more, should be…
Rancor growled and cooed as he squirmed in his trainer’s arms, apparently catching something Aile had missed. She’d realize this as well once the first String Shot hit her back, pulling on her jacket. Before she could react, there was a second String Shot, and she felt her staff sliding out of the jacket. “No!” She went to reach for her staff, letting one hand off of the Gible, who decided to jump out of her arms and chomp down on the flying staff. “Rancor, what are you doing?! ” Aile watched momentarily as the Kricketot that managed to snag her staff was running off with it, apparently currently oblivious to the little land shark that was attached to it, for the moment. With a shrill whistle, she got her larger dragon’s attention, pointing out what happened with a motion. Tati’s eyes widened and she flew after the staff, continuing to bat away any other bugs that got in her way. Aile would follow the best she could as well, though the bugs were a bit worse to deal with now, without anything to help her bat them away.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:44 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2022 6:04 pm
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Aria wouldn't be able to evade the swarm of flailing Kriketots, something had her off balance and she was going to have to weather the smacking while she sorted it out. A burst of electricity from near her feet would drive off the bugs for a moment, Billy having asserted his presence against the mob that had encased him. Finally having a moment's reprieve, Aria would finally be able to pick out what was throwing her out of sorts. She could just pick up on a tone that was ringing through the air, fluctuating slightly despite continuing to sit at just the edge of her hearing. And it began to slowly snap into place for Aria. While there was the loud violin playing ringing out from the forest, there was also this matching harmonious tone that sat just outside of normal hearing.
That had to be what was actually directing the Kriketots even as the violin music began to fade in volume. A lower pitch tone like that could go far beyond the normal music, directing the bugs at ranges that would otherwise seem ludicrous. Well, knowing it was there left only one option. Figuring out how best to counter the sound. Smiling after a moment of thought, Aria would look at Billy. "Alright. Lets try the singing thing again, Billy. Round!"
The small Toxel would begin to hum and sing, attempting to generate an attack out of the noise before its ears perked up. Aria was also singing, her own voice raising and lowering as she attempted to find something. Eventually settling in on a specific bass note, Billy would quickly join her in singing that note. While the chosen note was not a perfect match to oppose the frequency of the song of the Kricketune, it would hopefully be able to loosen its control and give the other Snagems time to get to the source of the noise and stop it more permanently.
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 2:46 pm
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Brian followed Abby after taking out the two Starly, and Sparx, sensing his trainer's wariness, didn't jump around with his usual energy. He could feel that something was off, and although the Yamper didn't know what it was, he knew it wasn't natural. As soon as Brian saw the sheer number of Kricketot, he knew Sparx, young and inexperienced as he was, wouldn't be able to handle that many opponents, and he recalled the Yamper, amid some grumbling from said Electric-type, and called out Firebrand.
"Firebrand, follow Angela's lead and burn a path through the Kricketot, but keep the flames focused only on them," he said. "Ignore any Pokemon besides the Kricketot, unless they attack ye first." The Magmortar, sensing the urgency in his trainer's voice, gave a nod and used a weak Flamethrower, not wanting his flames to do more than knock out the Bug-types.
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2022 8:38 pm
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2022 11:27 am
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"Ack! Accursed bugs!" Sub cried out as he smacked a Kriketot away with his hoverboard, Bohdan now out of his ball and assisting his trainer with well timed Tackles and Sludges to keep the Kriketot at bay but they just keep coming. One had latched onto Sub's head and in his struggle to pry it off a clump of hair came along with it. "Darkrai that hurt!" He shouted as he tossed the creature. It was at that moment that his SNAG sounded off and he heard Sol speak. "We're heading for the city, Bohdan!" Sub called out to his Koffing as he jumped on his hoverboard and bolted north, his Koffing letting out a burst of gas from a single opening to jettison himself in that direction as well.
-----
An abundance of flames would scorch the horde of Kricketot thanks to several of the Snagems and while it was very effective in knocking them out and making a way forward it would not stop the horde as sheer numbers were on their side, for every one they took out two more took their place. Clare would especially note this futility as a large mass of Kricketot fell on her at once from a tree top. It seemed as if these bugs were endless in numbers.
As for Aile, the Kricketot that was making off with her staff didn't notice the hitchhiker on the staff, at least not immediately. The little creature would try to run off with it, another Kricketot running up to help carry it only to spot the dragon holding onto it seconds after arriving. These bugs weren't all that bright. "Tooot!" The pair screeched as they flew off into a violent panic and began to flail around and pummel the Gible with Struggle Bug. In their panic they lost their grip on her staff and sent it flying into a tall patch of grass, landing in front of a frenzied Bidoof who immediately began to gnaw away at it, confusing it for a tree.
Leon’s quick thinking managed to prevent too much of a gang up on him and Roserade thanks to Sweet Scent but it only gave pause to the savage bugs, the song of their leader driving them to attack. Now only dealing with three, the fourth taken out by a Poison Jab, Leon would be presented with the Kricketot all three relentlessly slinging mud at his rose with Mud-Slap.
The chaos continued until suddenly it stopped, with very little fanfare and for apparently no reason. As apparent quiet fell over Route 202 and the Kricketot began to look around confused, the Snagems could hear the faint sound of singing, the source being one of their own in the form of Aria and her Toxel, Billy. They had managed to find the right tune to counteract the effects of the Shadow Kricketune’s song which held sway over the Kricketot but how long she could keep it going was anyone’s guess. They would need to use the opportunity presented to them to get that bug. Though why did it stop playing all together?
-----
Sol and Inigo were fast but Shadow Kricketune was faster, the String Shot having slowed Sol down and the Shadow virus giving the Kricketune a considerable boost. However Sol did have a plan and while he definitely wasn’t close enough, nor had enough time, to get a clear shot of Flamethrower or something else he could try to time the throw and trajectory of his Great Ball just right and maybe slow it down. As the ball arched into the air it looked like Shadow Kricketune would just barely avoid it until the device connected with its lower back and sucked the creature inside.
The ball would hit the ground shaking but two times before it burst open again, the Kricketune inside for a few seconds. The angry Shadow Pokemon appeared from the ball with an infuriated screech, becoming even more irate as it heard the song of Aria and Billy. While Sol did slow it down it did not stand around for long and continued for Jubilife, resuming its ‘violin’ playing, however now a different tune which would soon set the Kricketot off again.
While Sol slowed it down and Aria stopped the horde for a while the Shadow Kricketune would make it through the gates of Jubilife City. While it might be inside the city proper it was now out in the open, no trees or grass to hide behind. Now was their time to strike if they were going to stop it from doing any damage. Thankfully Sol was just yards behind it and perhaps Igino even closer.
“A Kricketune…?” A young male trainer asked as he turned around and came face to face with the Shadow Kricketune as it entered the city, his Piplup at his side. The boy was with a group of friends, two other trainers, both girls. One with a Chimchar, the other a Turtwig.
“Tuuune!” It screeched at them both, trainer and Pokemon recoiling in fear as the Shadow Kricketune raised one of its arms and prepared to strike at the boy. Whether or not the Kricketune attacked the boy the girls would command their starters to retaliate, a foolish action as it put them both at risk to become infected. The Snagems would need to stop them as the Chimchar and Turtwig rushed the Shadow Kricketune.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2022 1:23 pm
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As Clare attempted to make their way to Jublife, flinging Kricketot away with nearly every step, they'd find themself swarmed in short order, buried beneath a tidal wave of the bugs, it felt like. Beneath the swarm, hands fighting to cover their head as the insects crawled all over them, a memory returned.
Flashback "Shadow Pokemon... They say Snagem failed to stop them from taking over outside the barrier. That was a long time ago, before we needed it, at least. It was too dangerous to explore the world because of them. Nobody knows if it's true or not anymore but they say all it took was being near one to get infected by the virus that turned them into monsters." Clare cocked their head to the side a bit as they listened. Nothing like that could still exist, could it? The beasts outside the barrier made short work of anything and everything, after all.
"Oh no... No no no!" Clare shouted, as the loose granules of dirt around them stirred. Pushing against the assailing insects, they'd find a small burst of strength as the granules of loose sand sparked to life for a moment, battering the bugs just enough to release their grip upon Clare's glass-like flesh allowing them to push to their feet before the singing interrupted the song from that Kricketune.
Pressing forward at a full sprint, arm outstretched, Clare would direct her Pokemon. "Visage, use Disable!" The little Dragon, which had been watching and trying to help free it's master from the insect swarm, nodded and shot toward the Kricketune it could see in the distance, eyes aglow as it attempted to arrest the insect cellist's movement before it could make contact with anything. "Someone else needs to hit it hard!" Clare called to the others. Visage wouldn't be able to hold it still and attack it with anything resembling damage at the same time.
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:14 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:46 pm
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Speed might not have been on Sol's side right now, but good aim and an even better targeting system was, and that meant the Great Ball had pretty great odds of getting a clear hit on Kricketune. Though the ball failed to capture it, it didn't matter- he slowed it down enough for him and Inigo to close in on it, and that all he needed out of the ball.
As soon as the two got into the city and Kricketune was about to strike, Sol was poised to strike back and try to draw Kricketune's attention away from the other trainers. "Inigo, now! Ember!" He called out, his Scorbunny trying to attack from a slight distance. He'd add a Flamethrower to further the efforts, weakened and angled to mitigate any damage that might come from the crossfire. He'd have to hope it was enough to give the others time to enter the fray, or at least anyone else that was already in the city. Seeing a couple of others joining in, he felt confident that they had a decent shot at keeping things from getting too bad.
Still, there were the other trainers to worry about, and trying to avoid them being in even more danger than they were already in. "All of you, keep back! You don't want that Kricketune striking you or your Pokemon!" |
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2022 9:18 pm
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At last, Monique had cleared a path out of the ambush, a path paved with scorched bugs.
As she looked forward at the outskirts of Jubilife City, she saw three figures standing in the middle of the road, staring down the big bug. They had Pokémon with them, but they looked quite small, not to mention unfamiliar. There was no way those two had an opportunity to take out Kricketune. Suddenly, it cried out and lunged in the direction of the boy in the middle.
Deo and others were already starting to send Fire-type attacks in different directions. Sol had ordered the Trainers to stand back, but given the number of Fire-type attacks, someone could still be singed.
"Get outta the way!" Monique barked. "Marowak, Flamethrower!" Her companion started launching more flames at Kricketune, which was now being encircled by Fire-types.
Meanwhile, Monique corralled the Trainers to the side of the road. "I'm sorry, but that Pokémon is quite dangerous and it could harm you and yours..." She looked at the Pokémon they had with them, not recognizing any of them.
"They look cute... Sorry if I seem a bit out of it, but... You see, I'm from Alola and only recently joined this group. I used to be the sheriff of a town there..." She wondered whether to say the name, though she recalled someone not recognizing it the last time she'd brought it up. "Anyway... This is my first time in Sinnoh. Mind telling me about your Pokémon?"
Monique wondered if they'd seen an Alolan Marowak before this. but she was still trying to piece together what sort of world she'd found herself in.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 2:26 pm
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Brian wasn't far from the city when the Kricketune suddenly stopped playing, and he wondered what had caused it. Nothing good, he was sure of that, as it suddenly resumed its melody. This one was different, he noticed, and that couldn't mean anything good. As he reached the city, he could see Sol and a few others already there, but his attention wasn't on them; it was on the two rookie trainers that had sent their Turtwig and Chimchar at the Shadow Kricketune. "No!" he yelled, putting on an extra burst of speed to try and stop the two starters from coming in contact with the Shadow Pokemon. "Don't attack it, it's too dangerous!"
He could see Sol firing a weak Flamethrower at the Kricketune, and he looked at Firebrand, who looked back at him with a determined look. "Flamethrower, aim it at the Kricketune," he said. "Don't let it get a hit on ye, Firebrand. It's not in its right mind, and the virus affecting it could transfer to ye." Although he had no idea what his trainer was talking about, the Magmortar nodded and fired a Flamethrower directly at the Kricketune, aiming to distract it and hopefully allow the three new trainers to escape unharmed.
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2022 12:01 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2022 12:41 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2022 1:35 pm
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2022 12:12 pm
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Leon and Roserade managed to smack away and gas a few of the Kricketot but the bugs were vivacious and relentless. For a time it looked like they would not stop, not even risk of death would stop them. But then, all the sudden, the bugs stopped. They would stare at Leon and Roserade for a while before looking up into the sky and then bolted north. What was that about?
As for Aile she would retrieve her staff just fine, the Bidoof had calmed down since. It was curious though that she appeared to be targeted by the manipulated Kricketot, or at least her artifact was. Was that on purpose or just a coincidence? Questions to be asked later, she needed to get back to the others and help out.
—--
Sol and his Scorbunny made the first moves, their combined flames striking the Shadow Kricketune, causing it to let a garbled and pained screech, sparing the Piplup from being struck and potentially becoming infected by the Shadow Virus. Next came too more Flamethrowers but the Shadow Kricketune didn’t seem too keen on taking those as well as its body gave off a faint green glow and it leaped right into the air and over the two streams of fire, Firebrand’s Flamethrower blasting Marowak instead and Marowak’s blasting Firebrand. Looks like Sol did more damage than he thought and triggered its Swarm ability.
The Chimchar squealed as Rex’s Flamethrower struck it but thanks to being a Fire type itself the flames didn’t harm it too much, if anything it was more shocked and then annoyed than anything but it was for its own good as the well timed attack prevented it from striking the Shadow Kricketune and risking infection. Monique and Brian would manage to stop the Turtwig and explain to the trainers the risk this bug presented, causing all three to recall their Pokemon, the kids following Monique to the sidelines.
“Our Pokemon? Oh uh, they are the traditional starting Pokemon here in Sinnoh. We all got ours from Professor Rowan.” The little girl who owned the Turtwig explained.
“You’re going to stop that bug, right? It won’t ruin the Poke Swap Festival in front of the Global Trade Station, will it?” The boy with the Piplup asked her. Poke Swap Festival? There was an entire event going on involving trading Pokemon out in the open? That didn’t sound good, what with a Shadow Pokemon running around.
“Um, miss? I know your funny looking Marowak can use Fire moves but is it going to be okay with that?” The girl with the Chimchar asked as she pointed to Monique’s Marowak who just took a face full of Flamethrower thanks to the quick thinking of the Shadow Kricketune.
As for the Shadow Kricketune it would land on a nearby street light and let out a savage cry, violent strumming its its ‘chest violin’ and with its horrible song came a surge of Kricketot swarming into the city, up to it, and swarming the Snagems as it executed a large scale and most literal Infestation, the little Kricketots biting at anything living thing as their were little more than drones under the command of the Shadow Kricketune yet again.
With the Kricketots now swarming the city the Shadow Kricktune made its move, leaping off the lamp post and rushing north, seemingly drawn to the largest gathering of humans and Pokemon, the exact location the children warned Monique of; the GTS. In order to keep its arms free to play and keep the Kricketot in a frenzy the Shadow Kricketune would make large leaps, utilize its wings (they weren’t the best fliers), and well timed String Shots on streetlights to get some serious air and clean large areas quickly. It was moving very fast, quicker than before thanks to all this convenient open space and spread out sturdy posts to swing from.
The Kricketots would promptly be causing a lot of trouble in the city and would continue to do so unless stopped, or their mastro was. A wave of them chased some trainers into the Pokemon Center and began to cover the entire building, preventing anyone from escaping. Anyone trying to get them off would find them trying to crawl into air vents and squeeze through the once automatic doors, now turned off. Don’t think it would be wise to use fire one these ones and burn the entire Pokemon Center Down. There was even some chewing on the powerlines connecting the Pokemon Center!
Another wave went for the Trainer’s School, however they were not lucky enough to shut the doors in time and the swarm of Kricketot made it inside, promptly causing a massive panic as the students screamed and the few teachers try to gather them together and get them upstairs to safety and away from the biting bugs. Only one trainer was present with any battle experience and capable Pokemon, a Veteran and his Alakazam, attempting to throw back the Bugs with Psychic but alas there was far too many for even an Alakazam to keep them all at bay and while powerful the Psychic still had a type advantage and their numbers were overwhelming. The Veteran tried his best to keep them at bay while the children were gathered and pulled away but there were still several struggling students frightened into paralysis.
A third wave attacked the stage set up in the north of Jubilife City in front of Poketch Company headquarters. Prior to the arrival of the swarm there were some clowns putting on a show before they ran off throughout the city to promote the Poketch, an act they did every weekend to advertise the device and give out a free one to a lucky few. However this weekend things would take a turn for the worse as the Kricketot swarmed the stage and attempted to gnaw away at the clowns and those few pedestrians that stopped to watch, most of them elderly who were only here to use the seating. One of the clowns had begun to swing the mic stand he was using seconds ago at the bugs, the speakers throughout the city squealing and thumping.
-----
As everything fell apart, Sub arrived, however slowed down by the bugs earlier and arriving just after Leon, Clair, and Aile caught up with the group. GRAY had filled him in on what was going on and informed him that he had been able to deduce the areas of needed attention after viewing the various public cameras throughout Jubilife City. “Clare, Aile, tend to the Pokemon Center. Leon, Monique, go help out the Trainer’s School. Brian, Abby, help Aria get to the stage in front of the Poketch Company. I don’t know what you did out in the field to calm the Kricketot, Aria, but try to use the sound equipment set up there to do it again. Sol and Deo, you’re with me. We need to stop that Kricketune, now.”
With that command Sub took off on his hoverboard again, expecting the other two to follow. He would glide through the city, ignoring the Kricketot swarming and instead focused on the Shadow Kricketune as dedicated on his SNAG. It was about three hundred yards ahead of them, three football fields long, and gaining distance by the second. “GRAY can only give us a general idea where it is, but you, Deo, can tell us exactly where in real time. I need you to focus with your x-ray vision and point it out. Sol, you’re by far the fastest along with your Scorbunny, however we’re gonna make it faster.” With that said he released a Pokemon he hasn’t used since capturing it, Pluto the Absol. Seeing the white furred creature running alongside him reminded him of her, his original Absol. But now wasn’t the time to think about that.
“Pluto, use Agility! Get moving as fast as you can. Sol, have Scorbunny get going as fast as it can as well. Once Deo points out when and where we have a clear shot I’ll have Pluto Baton Pass to Scorbunny and you have it fire off the fastest Flame Charge the world has ever seen. We’ll turn that bunny into a fiery bullet. Might not be enough to knock out that Kricktune but boy will it sweep it off its feet. That’s where you come in specifically, Sol. Scorbunny knocks it down and you deliver the coup de grace. Understood guys?” He asked them both.
Whenever Sol, Scorbunny, and Deo were ready Sub would have Absol use Baton Pass on Sol’s okay and with Deo pointing out the Shadow Kricketune ahead of them, and where it was clear to launch, Sol would have the opportunity to send Scorbunny flying at the bug and sweep it clear off its feet and leave t vulnerable for Sol to attack without mercy. Hopefully this worked like he imagined.
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