Pokemon Umbral Intermission: The Ensnaring Conspiracies

[Dracorion]

Pierce and Irene

Irene laughing at his suggestion made Pierce feel more than a little foolish. "I didn't think I was all that good. I'm not one of those experienced older women. Don't tell me you've fallen in love at first fuck?"

He composed himself, though, and replied jokingly. "Even if I had, it'd be more like love at sixth fuck."

Unfortunately, Irene got a call from Harliette that required her to head into the office, officially putting an end to their time together. As Irene apologized, Pierce noticed the peculiar pendant she was wearing, then turned his attention back to her. "Of course I'm serious. I'll call you." Then he remembered that's what guys always said when they're weren't going to call. "Really. I'll call you."

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

Pierce and Chizuru

"Mister Granger, you look good. Better than me after what had happened, anyways."

"I don't know about that. You always look great to me." Pierce complimented her, blushing.

Then Chizuru mentioned his upcoming birthday. Dammit, how'd she hear about that?! "I'm not really good at picking presents for guys. It'd be my first time, but you can definitely expect me to cook something that will help your body recover from Gaea. I wish I could've stayed and continued to help. To use Rio's vernacular, "shit be wack, yo". But with us working side by side from now on, we'll get to spend a lot more time together. Hell, perhaps you can come by the dojo once we've settled in. After what you've done for us, you can consider our services free for your use anytime."

"Y-yeah, I look forward to it."

Then he changed the subject. "The work on the dojo's going great, actually. It'll still be a couple of months, but considering all the work that needed to be done that's pretty fast. I stop by every now and then and the guys even let me and my Pokemon pitch in."

Pierce doing construction work? So many naughty implications...

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

Catherine, Calisto and Riolu

Riolu was gone when they finished counting, so Catherine and Calisto split up to look for him.

Catherine was walking between the trees when she suddenly felt something collide against her chest. Not painfully, but the impact caused her to topple backwards and fall on her ass. She barely saw a blue shape comfortably pressed into her breasts before it disappeared with a playful bark.

Not long after that, Calisto heard a noise coming from a hollow tree trunk. She bent over triumphantly to catch her prize and saw... nothing. Instead, she suddenly felt a weight on her backside.

... Apparently someone was quite the little ninja.

She looked back and saw Riolu clinging from her ass, though he let go (before it could get weird) and ran up to her face, licking it. "Riolu Ri!" He pronounced happily, declaring her the winner.

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

Pierce's birthday

Pierce could only mumble incoherently out of sheer shock as everyone started singing.

"Sorry about this," Chizuru said. "But most people decided that the usual Happy Birthday song was kind of gay."

"Huh, bwuh... wha?" Then he composed himself, shaking his head. "Oh, uh... It's just, this is my first birthday party." Okay, maybe not so composed. "I- I mean, I had plenty of parties when I was a kid, and I have celebrated my birthday, just, y'know, never with a proper party." OKAY STOP BEING THE MOST PATHETIC MAN ALIVE.

Fortunately, he was saved from his embarrassment by a pair of figures he now recognized as the masterminds of this whole affair approaching. "Oh Pierce, never change."

"Just what the hell have you been teaching her?" He asked Elizabeth.
"Hey, don't look at me. That was all her idea."
"Sneaky." He said to Aria with a smile.
Aria giggled. "You're welcome Master."
Pierce turned to Liz. "So, uh, Liz... wh-"
"Oh come on. It's not hard to tell you're still down, no matter how well you think you're hiding it, or that you've been working your ass off. You know kicking 'em while they're down isn't my style, so I arranged for a little pick-me-up."
"Little? Liz, Alphonsine Dione is here. How'd you even manage that?"
"Shenanigans." She replied simply, with her ever-present playful smile.
Pierce hugged her. "Well, thanks." And then he hugged Aria. "You too."

"Yeah, yeah. Just go enjoy your party." Liz pushed him in Chizuru's direction. Aria frowned before allowing herself to be dragged away.

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

Sophia at the party

"Uhm... I- I'm not much of a drinker."
"Come on, just one drink."
"Well..."
"I promise, you'll like it."

Sophia was being accosted by Elizabeth into trying some Mollesk wine. She reluctantly took the glass she was being offered and took a hesitant sip.

"... It tastes good." She mumbled, and downed the rest of the glass in one go.

... Yeah, this was going to end well.

Elizabeth smiled.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Charlotte and Elizabeth

"Oh, not much. I just wanted to get acquainted with my new boss." said the girl, apparently trying to friendly. "I know being in charge can be tough, so if you ever need to relieve stress, I'm available to help you out." And then she gave a little more than friendly wink before walking off.

Charlotte's eye twitched. Was that for real? She wasn't imagining it? With a harsh sigh she just continued onto her car, hoping to forget that. "That girl ain't right," she muttered as she opened her car door.

Pierce's Party

"Aria!" shouted Pierce as he chased the talking lizard person/pokemon into a hotel.

"Looks like we're late," Jeremy said from the passenger seat as he watched Pierce chase his pokemon into the building.

"Well then it'll be a bigger surprise when he sees us," Charlotte sais as she opened the door an stepped out onto the street. Jeremy followed as they walked over to the door. "First things first, we decide who is the designated driver." Charlotte pulled a quarter from her pocket and bet heads, Jeremy bet tails. It landed on heads.

"Seems like you're staying sober tonight," Charlotte said as she pocketed the coin.

"That just ain't fair," he retorted, "Not like you're going to to get drunk anyways."

"Don't care," she said with a chuckle, "sometimes you lose a gamble. Thought you'd realize that."

As they climbed up to the designated room, they could hear "He's a jolly good fellow" being sung loudly. 'Glad I'm late.' It was only after the song had completed that Charlotte and Jeremy walked through the door.

[Menarker]

Renny & Lola
-------------

Renny was in a great mood spending time with her that he wasn't stunned uselessly even as he silently admired her form including her sleeveless vest that put more focus on her torso and the hot pants that emphasized her legs. They stood on a dock near the water after the two went to the pokemon center to register Lola as a trainer.

"Knowing Rachel, she'd probably kiss you into submission if you got her a bunch of candy," Lola said, looking into the water. "I dunno why her teeth haven't fallen out from all the candy she consumes."

"Haha. Yeah, she looks like she's in terrific shape. I'll definately grab some for her."


"My birthday is this winter. I imagine it'll be sometime after we come back from the Corpsemire," Lola said, looking a little sick. "What a horrid nightmare that place must be. Bodies from the war locked in cold, wet mud. Poor people."

Renny nodded with a solemn expression as she said this. Such a place was indeed an ill omen. At the very least it was interesting to know somewhat when Lola's birthday was. But he hoped that the Corpsemire wouldn't stop either of them from enjoying the winter afterwards.

"You know, I always kind of wondered why you joined PATCA in the first place? Granted, I'm very glad you did, but you seem more like the type of person who would be a great Pokemon Rancher."

"Hehe, I have been asked this before. You know what? I'm slightly embarressed because my goal for joining PATCA came out of some mistaken impression of what they do."

Renny cleared his throat as he elaborated.

"A fair bit of time after I started as a trainer, I came across a particular gym battle. The challenging trainer was losing and his pokemon showed signs of extreme weariness and potential abuse, but it looked like trainer didn't care. It was a painful sight, but the match ended suddenly as the gym leader used his full authority as a representative of the Pokemon League to revoke the trainer's license for mistreatment of his pokemon! At the time, I thought I would be doing something more like that where I would basically be searching out trainers both legal and criminal who violate the terms of the trainer license and end their immoral treatment of pokemon which they capture as well as the manner in which they are used. The first mission was pretty close to what I was expecting, but as you told me before, things have changed so much from what we were expected to do."

Renny looked at slight bit embarressed as he continued.

"I always felt that everyone was responsible for the connections they make throughout their lives. That living with others meant that our interactions touch other in different ways. It is because of those differences that we struggle because we perceive the same values in different ways, and we may hurt each other in the attempt to understand where we stand. But these differences are supposed to be things worth celebrating. That's what I thought then."

Renny stopped for a moment, deep in thought.

"Now, I'm a bit more uncertain. Everything here is still important to me and I want to stay, but at times I feel like my exact motivation is... incomplete. Like I keep feeling at odds with how I feel or how I want to live and the reality we're forced to live with. "

Renny sighed as he looked toward the horizon. He then summoned Togekiss, Shaymin (who had been triggered in Sky mode before they left the house) and Swampert. They all stood at ready as he looked toward Lola and smiled.

"Well, let's see if we can find you a water pokemon you'll like. Togekiss and Shaymin will fly with us and help catch the pokemon once we find one you like as well as keep an eye for pokemon around us. Swampert, you think you can handle the two of us riding you?"

Swampert smirked as if that question was a joke as he slowly entered the water to keep his head dry and prepped himself to be ridden with his head near the dock. Renny then stepped in front of Lola and grasped her hand, guiding her toward the pokemon as the Gallade performed each of the instructions that followed as he said them.

"Lola, hold onto Swampert's head-fins as you step on and then sit on his head. He's good at swimming, but he'll use the dogpaddle style, so it'll be a pleasant ride. Normally if I'm traveling long distance or quickly by water, I grab the fins, lie on his back and let him swim full speed. But that's a very wet experience, hehe."

Swampert slowly coasted off with both riders on his head (Renny right in front of Lola), gradually picking up speed as the two fliers escorted them. After some time passed cruising, Renny readied the Super Rod.

"It's been a long time since I used it, but I'm very good at handling my rod." Renny said obliviously and with good cheer.
"Don't feel like you have to choose the first pokemon we find. I'd feel much better knowing that you'll be happy raising whatever you do end up choosing and that you would feel safe with it."

As he waited for a jerk from the fishing rod, Renny tried to think of something to keep the conversation going...

"So... Lola, Do you have anyone else you call family? I only know you have your sister Harliette."


-----------------
Renny - Darcelle
-----------------

Renny stood patiently as the receptionist worked to contact Jeanette and Darcelle.

"Ha! Darcelle heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere!" came a very cheerful voice out of the speaker.

Renny expression broke into a warm smile as he heard Darcelle speak more fluently than before.

"Ha! Nope! Rezonscape! Ren-Ren can come here! He comes here now!"

Renny then looked toward the receptionist, cued by what he assume was her going to give instructions.
"Professor Ricewood is currently attempting to access and explore the Rezonscape, but you seem alright to Darcelle so I suppose I can let you through. Just hop on that elevator and the whole lab is on the twenty-third floor."

"Ah ok. Twenty-third floor by the elevator. Thank you kindly."

He made his way to the elevator and followed the simple instructions, smiling as the elevator ascended the height of the building.

"Glad to know she seems happy to meet with me."

As the door opened, he stepped out slowly and respectfully into the lab so as not to disturb anything, calling out so as to alert Darcelle to his presence.

"Hello? Darcelle? It's Renny."

----------------
Renny Vs Kurika
----------------

Renny's plan of action jumped the rails as his senses swiftly died from the roundhouse kick.
"Hold!"

With that command to end the battle vaguely heard, the fighter then collapsed into a familiar soothing softness that preceded total unconsciousness.

He woke up later in the sick bay with a cold compress attached to his head which he removed promptly, feeling chilled. His pokemon stood nearby sympathically, although Renny could see they were sorta disappointed that he got knocked out. Togekiss cuddled up near him, patting the tip of his wing against his sore head reassuringly.

"... God, that hurts. I'm sorry guys."

"Hay? Shay Min Min!" Shaymin expression was quizzical as it darted back and forth at top speed nearby Umbreon who stood. Renny watched curiously even as Umbreon began to become increasingly exasperated with the grass type particular explanation.

"Faster? No? Evasive? Not that either? Oh, you mean teleport?" Shaymin stopped jolting around and nodded pleasantly.

"I was going to use some of my other techniques. I did. But I changed my mind. You see, Irene said the point of their exercise was to get me used to battling head-on and that they drained Kurika's strength to do so. Somehow, it just felt... wrong for me to try to win by tricks. I didn't win against Sexy with tricks either. Since they were trying to help me develop actual fighting skills, I thought that using tricks to win against Kurika would be counterproductive, preventing me from learning actual combat skills while they had a safe..."

"ZONE!" The other pokemon chuckled from Magnezone's deadpan comment.

"...err safer training environment as opposed to trying to learn to fight in life or death situation."

The pokemon seem to understood, although Swampert pounded Renny's back warmly, seemingly proud of Renny's decision.


--------------
Renny - Aster
--------------

"Unfortunately, I regret to say that I do not have the ability all of the time. It kind of comes and goes, and usually is little more than a surge of a feeling like dread. I felt strong dread that fateful night, but I thought it was only because Millenium House was going to be a very dangerous, yet unavoidable operation. I had no knowledge as to the nature of this terror I felt. I guess in a way my power is such that it doesn't allow me to interfere with the true destiny of this world, only sense major changes in this destiny. I could provide warning in some way, possibly, but it may be too late to change the outcome."

"Oh, I see. I guess I had the wrong impression because of how detailed and accurate you were when we suppressed Faynoc's speech in Fainas Square."
Renny was a bit disappointed, but understanding.

"Actually, this is why I joined PATCA in the first place. Irene Crosswald. She had, at some point in her life, gotten hold of an artifact of incredible power, the White Catseye Gem. It's a dangerous and hidden artifact that can foretell the entire destiny of this world, even to the exact moment in time when it ends."

This really got Renny's attention, shaken by all the implications.

"You joined because of this... White Catseye Gem? I mean, if it could foretell the world's destiny, even predicting the moment that it all ends... If it predicted the end of the world thousands of years from now, I don't think anyone would really care. The fact that you joined..."

Renny could barely hide his anxiety even as he humbly demanded an answer.

"Aster, are you saying the end of the world, and everyone in it, is to be during our lifetime? Perhaps soon? I can't believe that! Doesn't anything that we do matter to change it?"

The pronounced doom of everything, including those he knew, horrified the young lad. The idea that everything ran on some diabolic script fated to run its course was just as depressing as he hoped if at all possible that Aster could been wrong about the damned thing.

"You said the gem itself is dangerous. Why is that? The end of the world is horrible, but that doesn't mean the gem itself is, just whatever is causing the world's destruction. Its just an oracle if that was the case. Does seeing the future have some cost on the person using it or something? What is it?"


------------------
Renny & Whitney
------------------
*OOC: Changing Whitney's color to a darker Green for this part since the two share the same color scheme normally.*

"I...am fine."

Renny felt a little hollow at the response. He couldn't imagine having done anything wrong to her, she had been friendly to him before...

"Since when did this happen? She was friendly at my party. She seemed happy enough when she asked us to rescue Muon... Then it was the last mission where it happened, after I got the pokebrid form."

"So... what will you do now? Faynoc is dead. So is Phantomere."

Renny stood by silently for a brief moment not really expecting her to answer or have one ready, although what he was leading toward was fairly obvious. He looked toward her sympathically and spoke softly, trying to tread delicately with her feelings.

"Whitney... am I troubling you with my pokebrid form? I didn't choose this form on a whim. I really thought it was the form that would allow me to protect others the best... I just remembered that your brother was also a Gallade pokebrid. Was his name Wyatt? Whitney, I never intended to bring up sad memories of that night. I mean, he died at Phantomere's hands the night we met..."

Renny looked aside briefly, feeling guilty for practically forcing the memory in order for her to open up.

"I only met Wyatt once as an enemy, so I didn't get the chance to get to know him. What sort of person was your brother like? What were the two of you like before we met for the first time?"

---------------
Pierce's Party
---------------

Renny had been preparing various bottles of wine nightly soon after his first meeting with Liz. The prototype batch from his first he made most plentiful since it was well received before. However he also experimented with a few batches that favored sweetness, sour and spiciness, while limiting the dry and bitterness berries to balancing aspects as opposed to making those the primary aspects of the wines. Finally, Renny made fairly plentiful a revised version of his first wine which reduced the bitter, spicy and the amount of hard typed berries while focusing on the sweet and sour berries of softer builds with dryness as the balancing factor. He only had a small bit of the actual wine to sample (he mainly compared the taste of actual berries or read up on existing documentation instead of drinking actual wine), but overall he found it closer to his particular palette, a signature choice for himself. Mollesk slept that night as if dead, gorged to excess from the feast of berries. As an afterthought, he kept a few miniature bottles handy for individual use to give to the designated drivers.

Renny and his pokemon along with the large stash of wine arrived at the site of the party early to prepare in advance with the help of Lola's driving. He and Swampert proceeded to transfer them into the designated party room. However, Renny kept himself clean as a whistle as he helped himself to some root beer and some light snacks from the spread and otherwise behaved as an amateur sommelier, helping the guests choose which of his drinks they'd might prefer, easily able to mingle with everyone who dropped by for a drink.

As Pierce burst in, he held his ground but joined in the singing. He was certain that Pierce would come by soon to grab a drink, wherein he could present his present of the variety pack of wine bottles.

[Astral Harmony]

Pierce & Irene in the morning

"Okay, okay, I know you will, you big dope," Irene laughed at him. "Just name the time and the place and I'll come running."

-----
Pierce & Chizuru on the dojo subject

"You'll probably get a lot of help when it comes to reconstruction," Chizuru advised him. "Rio loves heavy lifting, as her muscles show. And Kiyomi goes crazy over construction ideas. I bet if she was left to do all the construction herself, the place wouldn't even look like a dojo anymore."

-----
Catherine, Calisto & Riolu

Catherine fell to her hands and knees in defeat. "Aw, I lost again! Everything I find that's cute is always getting away from me."
"Hmmm," Calisto thought for a moment with Riolu held gently in her hands. "I'm Calisto Bellmond. So what's your name, anyways?"
"Catherine Shevenston. I just joined the agency earlier this week."

"Let's do this, then," Calisto said. As Catherine watched, Calisto sat down and spread her legs. "Now do like me and put your feet up against mine."
Catherine tilted her head in curiousity, then did as Calisto asked. Finally, Calisto placed Riolu in the small diamond-shaped arena formed by their legs. "There. Playpen," Calisto said, then started to scratch Riolu behind the ears.
"Calisto, I think this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship," Catherine said, joining in the fun.

-----
Renny & Lola go fishin'

Lola looked like she was trying to think of what to say when Renny asked about her family. "Well, I've got a dad. We don't really talk as much as we should anymore. It's...complicated."
And definitely not the kind of stuff I should be talking to Renny about. He's got enough bad stuff on his mind to begin with, Lola thought to herself.

"Underwater sure is a lively place to be," Lola said, holding onto Renny instead of Swampert. "There sure are a lot more Pokemon than I've ever seen on land. Then again, maybe it's just because the water's so clear. It's more like picking food at a buffet than choosing Pokemon to protect myself. Oh, hey, a Gorebyss. They're so cute."

Renny began fishing, sparing just enough time during the battles to have Lola judge it. Women were surprisingly picky when it came to choosing Pokemon.

Gorebyss? "Yeah, I said I thought Gorebyss was cute. But I'd kinda like something...I dunno...majestic?"
Starmie? "Mmm...maybe something else? I just don't feel like I can connect with it."
Crawdaunt? "For some reason, I'm hungry for lobster now. Next."
"Wait, check that out! That wasn't there a minute ago!"

A Lapras had just swam here with all the speed of one running away from something, and Renny could tell because it wasn't the only Pokemon that swam here in such a hurry. There was even a flock of some frightened Pelipper in the sky.
"Renny, that one! The Lapras!"
The Lapras was rather distracted in battle. It didn't seem to have any fight into it at all. "Let me try something, Renny. Excuse me."
Here, Lola let herself slide off the Swampert's back into the water and started swimming, slowly and steadily, up to the Lapras. The Lapras still seemed to be preoccupied with something. Lola got really close and tried to reach up out of the water to touch it when-
"Ack! Hey!"

The Lapras suddenly snatched Lola up in his mouth and hauled ass to shore, struggling Lola clutched gently in its maw. Swampert made a sharp turn and steered Renny to the shore. By the time they got there, Lola had already put on her scouter. "Renny, could you catch it, please? Something has it spooked. I'm gonna go have a quick scan."
The Lapras let itself be caught without a fight. Lola was right. That Lapras did not want to be in the water anymore.
Renny caught up to Lola, who was checking her own scouter. "Well, if that's any indication, it's the Water Ruin General, Lathiron. It's very powerful."
Renny could vaguely see it, a very big, very dark silouette in the water. It...kinda looked like a giant tadpole with many things that Renny couldn't identify hanging from its massive bulk.
"It's huge," Lola said. "It's even bigger than Lexhur."

But Renny noticed something else. In the breeze, Lola's soaked body was shivering. Her wet clothes hung from her curves and...she's not wearing a bra?!
"Anyways, we should probably get out of here. No way can we take on a Ruin General with just us and our Pokemon. Besides, we'll be seeing that thing again in just a couple of weeks."

-----
Renny & Darcelle in the lab

No sooner had Renny entered the lab and introduced himself before he was glomped to the ground. But before he could even open his eyes, Darcelle was already standing up again.

"Ha! Ren-Ren, Darcelle thanks you for comiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!"

Darcelle was wearing a french maid outfit, and Renny had to admit that she filled it out pretty well. She had an unnatural set of bright blue eyes that glowed with otherworldly light and white hair, features she shared with the Darkrai DNA she was processed with. Combined with the outfit, she gave off some serious "andromaid" vibes.
"Ha! Darcelle is really sorry, Ren-Ren, but Jay-Jay is going sleepy bye right now."

There was a viewing window on the nearby wall where Renny could see Jeanette. The women was wearing some kind of white skin-tight plug suit with strange gauntlets, boots, and a helmet, and she was quite firmly strapped to a chair. "Ha! Jay-Jay was visiting the Rezonscape, but that place is dangerouuuuuuuuuuuuuus! Her mood has to be stabilized or else she'd become a Madsoldier. It will take about six hours for it to finish, so Darcelle is glad that you caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. Did Ren-Ren bring his Pokemon? Darcelle is booooooooooooooored."

The way she said her "has", sang out certain syllables was a little disturbing, not to mention the word "Madsoldier". It seems that Renny decided to show up at a strange time.

-----
Renny & Aster

Aster looked thoughtful. "I had tried to see if I could glean some information about the White Catseye Gem from Irene's thoughts, such as where it may be located and what it could have shown her, but it was all a mess of disturbing memories. War. Bloodshed. And I think I've even seen the bodies of quite a few people I know here. I don't know if this means the world will end soon, but it sure foretells of a rather grim future."

Aster found a nearby seat and sat down. "Sometimes being able to see the future isn't a gift, Ren. In fact, sometimes it can get very bad. I have the feeling that beholding the artifact's power forced Irene's hand in some way. She may have had to do some things that she would never have thought of doing before. Unspeakable acts that she could not reveal to anyone, and I must admit that I am afraid to try and find these secrets out for myself. But I will stay here in PATCA. I will continue to increase my power and hone my gift. I can't just let the truth remain hidden, no matter how terrible it could be. Even if it turns out that Irene is actually doing what she knows would be best for the world."

-----
Renny & Whitney

Whitney shrugged. "I intend to stay in PATCA. I can't really let the Prideguard take over Honmyr, now can I? Besides, it's not like I joined because I had any intentions of stopping Faynoc."

Then Renny started going into Wyatt and everything. "Renny, I'm honestly not in the mood for any of this. I just need...I dunno..."

Renny and Whitney's awkward conversation was suddenly disrupted by Bon Jovi. Whitney pulled out her scouter and answered the call. "Calnein here. Oh, Harliette, what's up? Huh, drinks? Sure, I'll uhhh, be right over."

Whitney put away the scouter and then finally faced Renny. "Look, uhh...let's give the next mission our very best, okay?"

And like that, without even waiting for an answer, Whitney 'ported out.

-----
Irene & Harliette

"...And that's what happened," Harliette explained. "Look, I'm not even really asking for advice or anything, I just maybe wanted to know why it felt so good to aim a gun at my big half-sister's forehead. Nice dress, by the way. I didn't even know you like dressing up."
Irene smirked, then stood up and walked over to the window. "Tell me, Harliette, what's your rank in the Black Page Society?"
Harliette suddenly swallowed too much tea at once and burst into a coughing fit. Irene waited until Harliette settled down and started drinking again. "How...how did you know I was a member? How did you even know about the Society?"

Irene reloaded and fired the next bomb. "Umm...because I was the one who founded it?"

Another coughing fit. Followed promptly by insane laughter. "How in the entire Rezonscape are you the founder of the Black Page Society?!"

Irene apparently had a whole armory of metaphorical explosives. She strolled over to the right wall, removed a luxurious panting, pressed some buttons on the back of it, and then replaced it. A section of the wall slid up to reveal something that literally made Harliette's eyes sparkle. "Holy shit! Is that the real thing?!"
"It would pretty much have to be," Irene said, taking it out of the space. "Nobody outside of the Society would even know about it, so I can't see anybody producing replicas."
"Wow, the real Corpsemaker," Harliette breathed, looking like she had just fallen in love all over again. "I've never seen a real EvoWeapon before, let alone a legendary one!"
"Well, the Recycled City never sells EvoWeapons to outside citizens," Irene shrugged, unsheathing the massive blade. The sword was easily more than twice the size of Irene's larger Brymstone sword.

Harliette observed Irene carefully. The moment her hand gripped the hilt of the Corpsemaker, Irene's eyes started to glow. Trails of red lights ran up and down her face, body and limbs. Her hair and clothes apparently gained the power to levitate. "Whoa...fuckin' awesome..." Harliette marveled.
"And now you know why the Recycled City doesn't sell EvoWeapons outside their borders," Irene said. "Granted, the Corpsemaker is much more powerful than what they do, but with any EvoWeapon, a Slayer could bridge the gap between human and Pokemon."

Irene put the sword away and now they were seated again. "But we've digressed a bit. Those of us who worship Rezonark, the Black Page Society, tend to be more susceptible to the effects of the Rezonscape's influence bleeding into our world, and that includes the generation of Rage and all of the applications of it from Signature Techniques to Paradigm Shifts. This of course, includes madness. Pure, unfiltered madness. You must have been a little more influenced by it that night. But I wouldn't worry about it, Harliette. The only reason I would see you killing Lola because of the Rezonscape's influence is if you were a full-blown Madsoldier. You're nowhere near that out-of-control. I think I even saw you one day stopping your car to feed the leftovers of your takeout food to a family of Delcatty in an alleyway."
Harliette blushed a bit. "Damn it. I don't mind doing kind things, I just wish people never saw it."
Irene sat down and folded her arms. "So, now that you're a little more level headed, do you still want to kill Lola?"
"Hell, yeah."
"Not even a split second of hesitation on that answer."
Harliette shrugged. "What? I hate Lola. I will always hate her. She uhh...does make it easy to, after all."

[Dracorion]

Pierce and Irene

Pierce decided to give Irene something to remember him by, so he rose from the bed and held her close, locking lips with her and kissing her deeply. "I'll see you around." He said simply as he pulled away, and he watched her leave with a smile on his face.

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

Pierce and Chizuru

Pierce chuckled nervously. "Well, I don't think they need to help, like I said the work's going fast. But then again, I'm not supposed to be helping out either. So I guess it's fine."

"Anyway. Are you doing all right? I mean, are you and the other Kimonos getting along with everyone? I worry sometimes that you're being kept at arms length because of what you are and where you come from."

Then he turned red in embarassment and shook his head. "Actually, nevermind, I didn't say anything. I'm just stupid and worrying too much and rambling. Sorry."

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

Catherine, Calisto and Riolu

Riolu laughed and barked and rolled around, quite enjoying the playpen made by the two women's lovely legs. He also kept giving each of them quick hugs out of sheer gratitude, his body holding tightly to their abdomens and their open legs.

Unfortunately, though they spent a long while together, it wasn't long enough as Riolu stopped and stood, trying to tell them something. "Ri Ri!" He barked as he made going away gestures. Either he was playing charades or he was saying it was time to go home.

Reluctantly, Catherine and Calisto accompanied Riolu back to the PATCA building, as soon as they entered the lobby, a voice rang out. "There you are!"

Riolu yelped happily and jumped into Elizabeth's arms. She smiled, petting his head and kissed him on the cheek. "Did you have fun today?" Riolu nodded happily. She put him in his usual spot between her breasts, placing an arm under her breast to support him, instantly giving Calisto and Catherine ideas on how to play with him next. She approached the two women. "Hi, I'm Elizabeth. Thanks so much for taking care of Riolu for me." She said gratefully.

"It's time to go home now." She said to her cute little dog Pokemon. "Actually, would you two be okay with taking care of him again every now and then?" Riolu barked happily, noting his approval. "Ri! Ri olu Ri!"

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

At the party - Pierce and Chizuru

Pierce approached Chizuru upon being pushed by Liz. "So, um... Thanks for coming." He said with a red face, remembering his earlier embarrassing admission.

Then he hugged her. He couldn't help it. "Really. Thanks for putting all of this together, and for coming to this world, and for helping us, and for your food, and your smile, and for inspiring me."

"Thank you for everything."

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

At the party - Pierce and Renny

Pierce decided it was time to mingle and thank the people who had come to his party. He started by going for a glass of Mollesk wine, and he found Renny helping people pick out their drinks.

"Hey Renny." He said, approaching him. "Thanks for helping out with the party. Any particular wine you recommend?"

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

At the party - Sophia interrogates Tsubasa

Her cheeks were flushed as Sophia had another glass of Mollesk wine. She looked around at everyone in attendance. She really wasn't very good at social gatherings in the least.

Then, she spotted someone she'd been meaning to talk to, but had been too nervous to actually do it.

Maybe it had to do with the wine, but this time she walked, slightly unsteadily and approached Tsubasa.

"Um... Excuse me, Tsubasa-san? I'm Sophia Vernier." She bowed in greeting. "It's nice to meet you."

She hesitated for a moment before continuing nervously. "Um... it's just... I heard about you and the Kimonos and I was wondering about some things." It was true, hearing that a band of universe-hopping demonic superheroines was helping PATCA had piqued her scientific curiosity, and all her nervousness vanished as she asked the questions that had been eating at her.

"Things like, what kind of place is the Hungry World? I mean I heard it had evil demon lords and monsters but could you be more specific? Do all the dead from all the worlds end up there and is that why you can travel to other universes from there? Exactly how are demons different from half-demons? Why did Shizuka-sama decide to start helping other worlds?"

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

At the party - Pierce and Shizuka

As Sophia interrogated Tsubasa, Pierce approached Shizuka casually. "Hi." He greeted. "Thanks for coming."

Then he asked the question that was eating at him. "You know, I didn't think you guys celebrated birthdays. What's another year, after all?"

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

At the party - Pierce, Jeanette and Darcelle

Pierce approached Professor Ricewood and Darcelle happily. "Hey Darcy, Professor." He greeted them. "How've you been?"

He waited for them to respond before he apologized to Jeanette. "I'm sorry. I wanted to come visit you at the lab. But I know you're busy all the time, and I didn't want to get in the way of anything."

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

At the party - Pierce and Irene

He greeted and thanked Irene too, and chatted with her. Then he gave a quick look around to make sure no one was listening, leaned in and whispered. "Nice dress. But it looked better crumpled up next to my bed." He teased her with a playful smile.

Then he straightened back up and looked normal. "Are we still on for this weekend?" He was referring to their date, but also the sparring session they planned.

He had approached Irene not long ago, asking he she could train him as a Slayer, and she accepted. He figured it was long past time to take the next step.

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

At the party - Pierce approaches Alphonsine

Pierce felt rather bad about having people he had never met before come to his party, considering Liz probably had to blackmail them. He decided probably the best way to remedy that would be to get to know them, and he began by rather awkwardly approaching Alphonsine Dione.

"Excuse me, Ms. Dione?" He inquired. "I'm Pierce Granger. I just wanted to thank you for coming, even though we've never met." He held out his hand. "And actually, I've got to admit I'm more than a little surprised to see you here."

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

At the party - Pierce meets Fujiko and Nyoka

He finally approached the only two people, and the only two Kimonos, he had yet to meet. "Um, hi. You two must be Fujiko and Nyoka. It's nice to meet you."

[Menarker]

Renny-Lola
-------------

"Well, I've got a dad. We don't really talk as much as we should anymore. It's...complicated."

"Ah... ok."

"Underwater sure is a lively place to be. There sure are a lot more Pokemon than I've ever seen on land. Then again, maybe it's just because the water's so clear. It's more like picking food at a buffet than choosing Pokemon to protect myself. Oh, hey, a Gorebyss. They're so cute."

Renny nodded as he continued to skillfully lure various pokemon with his rod and lure while Lola continued to reject them. Lola grasping onto him for support made him warmer and comfortable and even a bit more confident.

"Crawdaunt? "For some reason, I'm hungry for lobster now."

"Hahaha, you did say this was more like picking food at a buffet, Lola."

Then a Lapras came, a pokemon often noted for being dangerously close to extinction, a very rare pokemon but also suitably gentle and strong.

"Wow, talk about lucky!"
"Renny, that one! The Lapras!"
The Lapras was surprisingly lacking in resistance even as Shaymin and Togekiss attempted to prime it for capture.

"Let me try something, Renny. Excuse me."
"Lola, be careful!"
Lola slid off the Swampert's back into the water and swam slowly and steadily up to the Lapras. Renny watched very carefully as Togekiss and Shaymin held off on fighting with Lola entering. The Lapras still seemed to be preoccupied with something. Lola got really close and tried to reach up out of the water to touch it when-
"Ack! Hey!"

The Lapras suddenly snatched Lola up in his mouth and hauled ass to shore, struggling Lola clutched gently in its maw.

"NO! After her, Swampert!"

Swampert made a sharp turn and steered Renny to the shore at full speed with the flying pokemon quickly flying ahead. By the time they got there, Lola had already put on her scouter.
"Renny, could you catch it, please? Something has it spooked. I'm gonna go have a quick scan."
Renny swiftly did so, and recalled his pokemon, quickly returning to Lola's side as she checked her scanner.
"Well, if that's any indication, it's the Water Ruin General, Lathiron. It's very powerful."

Renny could vaguely see it, a very big, very dark silouette in the water. It...kinda looked like a giant tadpole with many things that Renny couldn't identify hanging from its massive bulk. The fact he couldn't see all the details was pretty spooky in its own way and the size didn't help matters any...
"It's huge. It's even bigger than Lexhur."

But Renny noticed Lola's soaked body, shivering in the breeze. Her wet clothes hung from her curves and...she's not wearing a bra?! The vague image of the Ruin General's shadow did not nearly do much to attract Renny's attention quite as much as Lola's wet figure did. It occurred to him that he was also quite damp from riding Swampert full speed, although not nearly to the same extent.

"Anyways, we should probably get out of here. No way can we take on a Ruin General with just us and our Pokemon. Besides, we'll be seeing that thing again in just a couple of weeks."


"Yeah, let's go while it's leaving us alone." Renny hastened her away as they walked to the car, holding her hand tight.
"Lola, let's get you warmed up, you're totally soaked... I brought some towels with us in the car. Here, use my jacket too. It's waterproof, so you'll be warmer in this. Sorry if it's not quite big enough. I... I'll look to the side until you're ready." Renny blushed a bit as he tried not to disturb Lola from staring at her chest for long.

Renny took off his jacket as he gave that and one of the towels to Lola. He turned away politely as he took off his shirt and wrapped himself in the other towel. He waited patiently for Lola to give him permission to look back in her direction.

"Are you warm now?"

"Well, you got a Lapras now waiting at the pokemon center for me to transfer to you... You think we should ask Milsha for that bathtub that fits 20 people now?" Renny joked as he smiled her way. "That was quite fun. I hope you had a good time as well Lola."


--------------------
Renny - Darcelle
--------------------

Renny hit the ground shocked by the forceful show of affection, but worked himself back up. His good nature and humor wasn't hurt at all though.

"Ha! Ren-Ren, Darcelle thanks you for comiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!"
"I'm glad to come! It is good to see you too."

"Ha! Darcelle is really sorry, Ren-Ren, but Jay-Jay is going sleepy bye right now."

There was a viewing window on the nearby wall where Renny could see Jeanette. The women was wearing some kind of white skin-tight plug suit with strange gauntlets, boots, and a helmet, and she was quite firmly strapped to a chair. Renny's interest perked up a bit, wondering this was all about, recalling what said downstairs about the Rezonscape.

"Ha! Jay-Jay was visiting the Rezonscape, but that place is dangerouuuuuuuuuuuuuus! Her mood has to be stabilized or else she'd become a Madsoldier. It will take about six hours for it to finish, so Darcelle is glad that you caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. Did Ren-Ren bring his Pokemon? Darcelle is booooooooooooooored."

"I almost always do! Do you have a room where we can all relax or something? I'd rather not have anyone damage or mess with the lab's equipment. Magnezone especially is a giant magnet, so I'd want to keep him away from the machines..."

*Assuming Darcelle leads Renny to such a room*
Renny then summoned all his pokemon, although he kept an eye particularlly on Mollesk. The pokemon were generally scattered around, although they paid attention to Darcelle. Mollesk poked his head out of his shell, barely even remembering the Darkrai's face but waving hi with two floppish fling of a tentacle before retracting it in the shell.

"I'm really glad that you look like you're doing really well. You learned to speak very well so fast. We're all real proud of you. Are you enjoying life so far?"

Renny smiled warmly as he conversed with Darcelle, although soon he cut to the chase.

"Darcelle, there was something I wanted to ask. You know that many of us are going to the beach soon, right? For a mission? The beach can be a lot of fun, but it can be somewhat dangerous in the water if you don't know how to swim or you don't have water pokemon, especially since there is a huge water monster we're hunting." Renny started gesturing with stretched arms as if telling the biggest fish lie ever.

"Massive! I saw this huge shadow in the water when I went fishing with Lola! All the other pokemon were running away from it. It could probably wear small trees as earrings!"
He then realized he went off on a tangent and set himself back on the right line of thought.


"I'd think everyone would love for you to come Darcelle, so I just want to make sure you'll be safe when you're there. Have you been taught how to swim yet? Perhaps we could help teach you. I'd think you would have a lot of fun."


Renny's thoughts then went to Jeanette recovering from the Rezoscape.

"So, what is this Rezonscape that you mentioned earlier? Do you know why it is so important that she'd risk herself for it?"

---------------------------------------
Renny (After Aster's conversation)
---------------------------------------

Renny bid farewell to Aster and let him be with his own thoughts... Renny's own thoughts were bleak and his stomach was roiling from it.


That evening Renny tossed and turned in his sleep. Disjointed portions of his memories started stacking themselves in ways that plagued his mental fortitude.


"Sexy is compiling data. Sexy thinks that target group's performance is-"
"It's piss poor, isn't it?"
Renny's body also seemed to ache on cue from the fights in Millennium House including the wounds from the Prideguard and Ginnuagagap, the exhaustion and mental disappointment from Sexy, and the recent blow to the head from Kurika while she was in her weakest state when Renny was close to his strongest. His thoughts then wandered to his old home and the life he used to have with his parents and the events leading to his running away played out in his head. Then things like Shevetson's death, Shannon's incident and the uncertainty with Whitney among other unpleasant incidents starting piling up in his head. And it all cumulminated to a high point with the conversation with Aster the afternoon earlier.
... And I think I've even seen the bodies of quite a few people I know here. I don't know if this means the world will end soon, but it sure foretells of a rather grim future."

Finally Renny woke up sluggishly from bed, feverish with sweat all over. The hour was still dark in the early morning. Scarcely 3 AM. He quietly left the bedroom and walking through the dark into the kitchen for a glass of cold milk. His pokemon laid around in small pockets of the apartment, Umbreon being the only one wide awake as he tried to wash his face in the sink to cool down as he drowned his worries in milk. The moonlight pokemon leapt on the counter, getting chest level with Renny. Its golden bands glowed in the dark as it peered at Renny oddly for being up this late.

"Breo?"
"Hey Umbreon."
"Umbre?"
"It was just a dream."
"UmBreon."
"It was a long dream... It was a sad dream too..."

Umbreon nuzzled his arm as he placed his glass in the sink.
"You want to go for a walk? I don't think I can sleep right now."

"BRE!" She exclaimed affirmatively.

Renny wrote a note on the table so as not to worry Lola with his disappearance. He silently got changed into something more appropriate for outside. As he got ready to recall Umbreon to the pokeball so he could teleport out, he saw Swampert also standing there, slightly groggy from being woken up.

"Sorry about that Swampert. You can go ahead and go back to sleep. I can't get any so I'm going for a walk with Umbreon."
"pert pert..." It stood by waiting as if wanting to come too.
"Sure, ok."

The other pokemon were still sleeping so Renny let them be as he recalled the two that were ready and teleported out. The two strolled along to the park for about an hour, looking around in silence, as Umbreon led the way glowing ambiently with a moonlight radiance that made up for the otherwise pitch-black core of the park at twilight.

"You guys already know this, but things are getting worse... It's a good thing I became a pokebrid. Some of the techniques have really helped out... but I really don't feel like I'm as strong as I need to be."

Swampert then started to egg Renny on, pretending to punch in the air, intentionally missing Renny by an easy distance.
"Eh? What are you doing, Swampert!?"
Swampert shook his head as he's gestured toward himself, grunting incessently.

---------------------
*Various intervals in the past several YEARS between the pokemon's various evolutions*

"Mudkip KIP~ "TOMP TOMP!" ~"Per per! Swa ert" ("Come on! Help me practice!")

"Togepiii ~ -ge tic ~ ge ISS" ("No thank you~ I really don't like fighting or getting roughed up.")
"MagneMite ~ Neton ~ ZONE" ("Analysis dictates pointless energy expenses. Rewards not expected from one-sided battle.")
"veee ~ Breon on" (I just cleaned my coat! You always want to fight and roughhouse!")
" SHUCK ~ ... Moll? ... Esk." ("... practice? ... Nah.")

*Shaymin interjects*
"Shay Shay!" ("Sure, let's play target practice again!") *Shaymin darting back and forth.*
"Swam Pert Pert ert Swamer Pert" ("I can't get stronger from target practice! I'm talking strength training.") * Shaymin lands on the ground disappointed*
"Shaymin minshay minnnn..." ("But I hate playing that. I'm barely 1 foot tall and I can't win unless I cheat with grass moves. Renny would yell at me if I used those on you.")

*Whenever Snorlax is nearby, Swampert gets pumped up with someone with a similiar build to himself.*
"Swam! PERT PERRT!" ("Snorlax! Buddy! Let's wrassle!")
"Snorr Snoorrrrr" *BOOM* ("Sorry... Can't now. Tired.... zzzz..." *Falls flat facedown on the ground in hibernation mode.*)
"Pertt...." ("Not again... I don't have anyone to play seriously with...!")

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

Swampert continued to try to convince Renny when Umbreon bolted toward him with a Quick Attack. Swampert smirked as he braced for impact and then grabbed Umbreon and rolled her on the grass like a glorified ball. Renny watched shocked by Swampert's unusual behavior. Umbreon then went behind Renny's ankles and started shoving her head toward Swampert, while lamenting how dense their master could be sometimes.

"Like... this?" Renny did a half hearted swipe of his arm toward Swampert as the large pokemon blocked with his own forearm and made the movement to do an uppercut, stopping just below the chin even as Renny moved back. Seeing the pokemon hold back on his own blow but gesturing for more, Renny gradually raised his power, as if to confirm if he had the right of it. Swampert tackled with a grin as the smaller lad smirked in turn. Renny then started rough-housing instead of actual fighting as Swampert intended but the fun became infectionous as all three started pretend brawling. For the next half hour then, Renny sparred with Swampert. Lightly at first, but then increasingly more serious as he finally seem to believe this was what his pokemon wanted. Swampert eyed Renny with wet eyes. For several years, he had waited for someone whom he could practice and grow with. For several years, his co-partners were either unwilling (with few exceptions) or just plain incompatible with their body types. Now, his own trainer, his master and great friend for so many years, have become the compatiable sparring partner he has long waited for.


--------------------
Renny - Whitney
-----------------

Renny stood by silently after she left, wondering if he had done wrong by what he had said or how he said it, picking mentally at why she was as cold as she has been lately. He soon gave up dejectively, not having an inkling what to think and hoping that the result wasn't harmful... or permanent.


----------------------
Renny - Pierce (Party)
----------------------
"Well, try anything you like. I made quite a bit."
Renny then pulled out a birthday bag with about 5 large bottles handing it over to Pierce. "And this is your birthday variety pack to you to keep for whenever you want. Just don't swill it before a mission, ok?"
Renny joked on the last bit as he looked for something in particular.

"Maybe try this one? This is basically my modified version of my first batch. I like it better myself, but that's just my preference. But I put more time with researching and experimenting with this one, so there should be less random factors in the flavors.

Anyhow, I hope you have a good time."

Renny smiled affably as he silently expected Pierce to find other people to talk with.


---------------------------
Renny - Shannon
---------------------------

After the party started going into full swing and he thought that everyone that would want a drink got one, he started to mingle among the others, taking a small tray of food (Tasty thanks to Chizuru) and some non-alcoholic drinks. Looking around for a short while, he noticed Shannon in attendance. He approached her with a friendly greeting.

"Shannon! It's great to see you. Are you enjoying yourself?"

He recalled the last time they chatted, it was interrupted by Jeanette's angry outburst and everything figuratively exploding out of control...

"I was worried about what happened the last time we were talking. Have you been doing ok? Is everything alright now?"

----------------------
Renny - Bretton
----------------------

After the conversation with Shannon, he noticed Bretton not too far away from the other Eevee Thirteen. His muscles really stood out and it made Renny think really hard on the inferiority of his own. Renny then approached him.

"Hey Bretton. Are you enjoying the party? I hope you like the drinks."

Renny tried to think of what to say to Bretton when it occurred to himself that he didn't really know a thing about him. Aside from his looks and muscles and that he specialized in fire pokemon, Renny didn't know anything at all except rumors that he got from Shannon that were... probably not useful to know. Renny figured he should probably get to know him a little before asking anything.

"So... how are you liking it in PATCA?"

----------------------
Renny - Catherine
----------------------

A little later in the party, Renny was still wandering around and looking to mingle with people. He saw Catherine and decided to greet her just for the sake of her company.

"Catherine. It's good to see you! How has things been going for you? Are you liking PATCA so far?"

After a small amount of small-talk, Renny remembered something in Miracle's voice.

"...After all, I think we'll probably end up joining PATCA, Mom and I. She's a really talented boxer with some of the quickest hands you've ever seen."

"Catherine, I have something to ask you if I may. A favor actually. I have found out several times through practice and the past mission that I'm not quite as strong as I hoped to be. Some limitations in my fighting style as it is. I'm very worried that things will get worse in the future and I want to be prepared for it." Renny paused as he became a little nervous asking the request. He then pleaded Catherine...
"So... Will you train me with your boxing style? I heard that you are incredibly talented. My form is largely hands and arms oriented so I think I would learn a lot from you. I would really be in your debt. I'm willing to pay for the lessons to help you out if you would be comfortable with that."

[Astral Harmony]

PATCA HQ - Pierce & Chizuru

"It's alright. Well, some people tend to think the way we dress is weird, not like I really care. But I don't think many people believe in demons here so nobody's causing any trouble for us yet. But we can take care of ourselves in this world pretty well."

Makes sense. The Kimonos were most distinguishable by their color-coded mini-yukatas that they wore pretty much all the time.

-----
Party - Pierce & Chizuru

Chizuru looked around rapidly when Pierce hugged her, obviously embarrassed. "Geez, Mister Granger, I think you're overreacting. Did you have some alcohol before you came here?"

-----
Party - Sophia Interrogates Tsubasa

"Mizuno-sama would be the best person to ask about the Hungry World, but here's what I know from her teachings. Apparently, the Hungry World started out maybe the size of a grain of rice. It gets bigger by 'tasting' numerous worlds. I guess it's like the Hungry World is sentient. It tastes different worlds, then 'emulates' them inside itself, expanding ever greater in size. So, the Hungry World is actually just an enormous collection of various copied pieces of numerous worlds, copied right down to their native residents, so the Hungry World also has a large number of different lifeforms, a large number of them pretty dangerous. Anyways, it used to be pretty crazy and lawless until this one being called the Overseer came to exist there. Wait, hold on."

Tsubasa walked off and came back with a glass full of water straight from the tap. Strange girl.

"Phew, my mouth was so dry. Now where was I? Oh, the Overseer. We dunno what he looks like, but he's got all these bigass reptilian warriors called Sentinels and he uses those to keep balance throughout the Hungry World. So whenever a new world is emulated into the Hungry World, usually the Sentinels are the first to go in to observe the environment and ascertain any possible threats from the new emulated lifeforms."

Tsubasa paused, trying to remember the other big features. "The Hungry World only absorbs souls from the Root World, the first world that it emulated. Mizuno-sama calls it Sengoku Era Japan. While demons like Mizuno-sama and myself were born right into the Hungry World from emulated spider demons from some world called Infernia, half demons like Rio, Chizuru, and Mika all entered the Hungry World as human souls from this Sengoku Era Japan. And then there's Kirie, born from angels emulated from a world called Celestia. And I think that's about all I can tell you about it."

-----
Party - Pierce & Shizuka

"You're right, we don't celebrate birthdays," Shizuka said. "But I know what a birthday is and how important it can be to people who won't live nearly as many years as I can, so here's this birthday party for you. We're not complete barbarians."

Then she leaned in close so only Pierce could hear her. "I'd advise caution, Granger. That Irons woman has more or less plastered her own eyes on Chizuru's ass. I think I can keep her from attacking the poor girl, but if push comes to shove, I'd like some kind of intervention on your part to prevent bloodshed."

-----
Party - Pierce, Jeanette & Darcelle

Darcelle was smiling, but apparently had a habit of not speaking whenever Jeanette was around.

"You know me very well, then," Jeanette said to him. "I've kept myself pretty busy with work. I just really don't feel like doin anything else but working. After all, my missing daughter is not the only problem I've got, and unfortunately for me she can only become my smallest concern by comparison. A scientist's duty is never done."

-----
Party - Pierce & Irene

Irene gave Pierce a strange, inquisitive look with her fists on her hips. "I don't know what I did to you that night, Pierce, but I think whatever it was, I made you hit your head a few times."

Irene had to wonder just how she felt about Pierce. It was a bizarre feeling, like she was trying to be both a lover and a foster mother for a perverted little adolescent boy. Yep, a bizarre feeling. "And yes, we're still on for this weekend. I never forget."

-----
Party - Pierce & Alphonsine

"Oh, it's good to meet you, too," Alphonsine said, taking his hand in both of hers. So soft. So warm. "I'm actually here because of my friends. Especially Shannon. First she'd dating Moon and now she's some kind of sword goddess or something? I just had to get all the dirt. By the way, I'm surprised this is the first time we met. You certainly look like you could have a career in modeling."

-----
Party - Pierce, Fujiko & Nyoka

"Oh, uhh, it's cool to meet you, too," Fujiko said, scratching her hair.
Nyoka didn't say anything. But she was certainly vocal about how good the sushi was. Her cute voice came out everytime she stuffed her face.
"Forgive her, yeah? I guess even catgirl robots can't resist fish."

-----
Pokemon Center - Renny & Lola

"Yeah, I'm okay now, thank you," Lola said cheerfully. "But wow. Lathiron, Renny. It didn't even seem like a terrible monster, just a really big...terrible monster, heh."

"But I don't think that jacuzzi could fit a Lapras, could it? We might have to try the hotel's indoor swimming pool."

-----
Ricewood Masterworks - Renny & Darcelle

"Ha! Yes, Darcelle is satisfactory right noooooooooooow! Jay-Jay tells Darcelle that Darcelle is surprisingly quick at learning! Darcelle hasn't done anything that makes Jay-Jay put her hand to her forehead lately. What is it caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalled?"

What, a facepalm?

"Ha! Don't worry, Ren-Ren! Darcelle has learned a lot about wateeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer, especially since Jay-Jay processed Darcelle! Jay-Jay was surprised that Darcelle has a different body! Jay-Jay says Darcelle's body processes legendary Pokemon DNA well, so Darcelle was processed with Kyo-Kyo and Grou-Grou DNA!"

Kyo-Kyo and Grou-Grou? Wait, Kyogre and Groudon? Well, they are Jeanette's Pokemon so they were certainly very handy.

"Ha! Because Darcelle is a strong Pokebrid and wants to fight, Jay-Jay trained Darcelle hard! Darcelle will go to the beach! Darcelle even discovered this bikini photoshoot and will do that, too!"
Then she stopped and looked thoughtful. "Jay-Jay put Jay-Jay's hand on Jay-Jay's forehead then, too. Jay-Jay said something about Darcelle's body being only a few weeks old."

That made sense. Despite what Darcelle looked like, she could technically be considered an infant...maybe?

Then Renny asked her about the Rezonscape. "Ha! Darcelle is sorry, Ren-Ren, but Darcelle doesn't know much about the Rezonscape, just that the power of Rage has its origins there."
"But as it grows stronger usually through conflict, soon the Rezonscape will start to bleed directly into our world and have some dangerous influences here in Honmyr."
Darcelle turned to see Jeanette standing nearby, no helmet on her head, her body drenched in sweat, and her hand on her forehead as though trying to quiet down a headache.
"Sweetheart, could I get some ice-cold tea and a towel, please?"
Darcelle rendered a sharp salute. "Ha! Darcelle will get Jay-Jay the iciest tea and dryest towel eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!"
"Thank you," Jeanette said, taking a seat and looking at Renny. "So you're curious about the Rezonscape, eh? Well, here's the skinny and I can get more in-depth if you are even more curious."

Darcelle returned with a glass of tea loaded with sugar and ice and a dry beach towel. Jeanette fixed herself for a brief moment, then stared at her tea in order to get her mind to focus. "Our world consists of this place in which we all dwell, but there are also a handful of parallel worlds that one can somehow access, and these worlds usually have some kind of effect on our world. Here in Honmyr, we have the Rezonscape. The Rezonscape gives us our drive and, more officially, our Rage. Driven scientists like myself are able to propel Honmyr's technological and scientific advances. So, in a way, you could say it supercharges our passion for the things we are interested in. We owe the existence of Pokebrids, Evoliths, and advanced robotics to this drive boost. On the other hand, there's the Rage aspect. We generate Rage in battle because of the Rezonscape's influence. If the Rezonscape wasn't around, you can kiss everything you need to spend Rage on goodbye. Signature Techniques, Paradigm Shifts, Synchronization Techniques, Divide, Focus, recharging...even Rage Rockets would cease to function as intended. Honmyr owes much to the Rezonscape, but it is also a threat to us that we shall have to deal with one day."

Ricewood finishes the glass and Darcelle hurries off to refresh it. "The Rezonscape is slowly bleeding into our world as an aftereffect to all the wars, crime, and violence here in Honmyr. You can see evidence of this in the existence of the Corpsemire. As it continues to bleed into this world, those of us with weaker minds will succumb to the Rezonscape's power and become dangerous maniacs which we call Madsoldiers. What I do when I enter the Rezonscape is try to find a way to retard this world merging. At least until we can find a way to destroy the Rezonscape itself, but that is an unpopular idea. For if the Rezonscape were to go away, Honmyr's growth would slow down greatly, possibly even stagnate. Honestly, it's not all bad, but it's not all good, either."

Darcelle returned. "My research has revealed that the effects are more strongly felt the further down you go into our planet. I imagine subterranean locations like Metal Hell are filled with Madsoldier class humans and Pokemon. Should you encounter them though I pray that nobody does, you are well advised to kill them on sight and without mercy. There is no way I can think of right now to save people consumed by the Rezonscape's madness. The Rezonscape itself looks strange inside. It's...beautiful. There are green fields loaded with flowers, healthy forests, picturesque mountains, sublime waterfalls and all kinds of other features. But there are strange and dangerous residents there. I call those Madshades. There is also reference in the Ruins of Resonance which point to a "Mad God", the legendary Pokemon Rezonark. My guess is that we can destroy the Rezonscape by destroying Rezonark, but I can't find it with my equipment. If only there was a different way."

-----
Party - Renny & Shannon

"Oh, Renny. Yeah, I'm doing a lot better now. Mika told me these weird Gaea powers of mine will need to be honed, and will only show up when my emotions hit their peak. Oh, have you met Alphonsine?"

"Oh, is this him?" the radiant blond stopped to look Renny up and down. "I see what you mean, Shannon. This little guy is just the cutest thing I've ever seen!"

And then Alphonsine crushed Renny's face in her breasts. Sigh, not that one would mind something like this, but is this going to be a running gag?
"So, who's your girlfriend at this party, Renny? Surely a boy as loveable as you isn't all by yourself here.
Shannon helped Renny escape Alphonsine's grasp. "His girlfriend is registered nurse Lola Phelps, and don't call him Shirley."

-----
Party - Renny & Bretton

"Oh, I'm having a pretty great time. It's a very different kind of gym training, using my hands to beat the tar out of people instead of lifting dumbbells. I know I look like this, but I'm not a violent guy so let's just hope I don't get used to this kind of thing, you know?"

Then Bretton remembered something. "By the way, are you alright, little man? Rumors fly around pretty fast in PATCA and I heard Kurika overstepped her boundary a little. When I heard that you sparred with her, I was irritated because I thought I'd have to go rent another suit for your funeral. Glad you're still in one piece, though. Next time you should probably spar with someone like me. I used to be a personal fitness trainer so I know how to take it easy on people."

Wow. He was surprisingly easy to get along with.

-----
Party - Renny & Catherine

"Of course I like it here. Cute little boys, cute little dogs, this is hug heaven for me. And I'm eager to see how I fare against these Ruin Pokemon I've been hearing about."

When Renny asked Catherine to spar, it was all Catherine could do to not bury Renny in her chest again. "Ah, you need the use of my fists, eh? We can do that right now, actually. I kinda brought all my gear for the talent show we've got going on and I'm not drunk enough to forget how to hold back a little. That is, only if you're no longer broken by Kurika. Seriously, fighting a Muay Thai kickboxer, Renny? You're lucky she didn't break your back like a twig. Then you'd just be the cutest thing in a wheelchair."

Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Catherine.

[Dracorion]

PATCA HQ - Pierce and Chizuru

"That's good. I'm glad." Pierce said, still quite embarrassed from bringing it up in the first place. "I know you guys don't need help or anything. But if I can, I'd like to make things easier for you. So, y'know, I'm here."

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

At the party - Pierce and Chizuru

"Geez, Mister Granger, I think you're overreacting. Did you have some alcohol before you came here?"

"Ah... erm... sorry." Pierce mumbled awkwardly as he released Chizuru. "I'm not drunk. Just tired and still stupid. It's been a long day."

Then he looked at her again with a weird look. Like he was bursting with gratitude. "It's just... I really do appreciate what you're doing just by being here, helping us. I understand that's what you guys do all the time, but that doesn't mean it's not a big deal. It is, and that's not lost on me."

He had hugged Chizuru, he bought them the dojo, because of that. Even though it put him on the verge of homelessness. Because for what the Kimonos were doing, not just for this world but for all the others they had helped, they deserved a lot more, even though he knew they would still do it even if no one ever thanked them.

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

Party - Sophia and Tsubasa

Sophia couldn't stop her curiosity, so she asked the questions raised by Tsubasa's explanation. "Do you know why the Hungry World only absorbs souls from the Root World? And, can you tell me what kind of powers demons and half-demons have?" She had noticed the Kimonos were all quite... pretty. It was possible that they were that way naturally, but she thought the most likely explanation was demonic influence. It made her feel a little jealous.

She took a moment to properly process all that Tsubasa told her. So the Hungry World emulated the properties of other worlds? And Tsubasa said 'tasted', not 'consumed', so apparently it didn't damage the worlds it emulated.

Then something clicked in her head.

"Wait... if the Hungry World emulated this world's native inhabitants too, does that mean there are Pokemon there?"

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

Party - Pierce and Shizuka

"You're right, we don't celebrate birthdays," Shizuka said. "But I know what a birthday is and how important it can be to people who won't live nearly as many years as I can, so here's this birthday party for you. We're not complete barbarians."

"Ah... I didn't mean to offend you or anything, I was just curious. I'm sorry, I don't think you're barbarians." Pierce apologized, embarrassed.

Then she leaned in close, making Pierce feel a bit more nervous, only he wasn't expecting what she said. "I'd advise caution, Granger. That Irons woman has more or less plastered her own eyes on Chizuru's ass. I think I can keep her from attacking the poor girl, but if push comes to shove, I'd like some kind of intervention on your part to prevent bloodshed."

"Erm... well, I really don't think there's any danger of Liz attacking Chizuru. I know she seems pretty sex-crazed, but she-" Then he realized. "Wait, wait. Are you saying Chizuru could attack Elizabeth?"

... Huh. He thought Chizuru was just always nice, but now that he thought about it, it made sense. She had to be aware of her looks, and that people objectified her. So he wasn't surprised that she defended herself. But... he hoped Shizuka was just exaggerating with the bloodshed.

Pierce couldn't really blame Liz, though. Chizuru had an amazing ass. He still mentally kicked himself every time he caught himself looking at it. Chizuru was too nice and he wasn't going to objectify her, dammit.

"Well, sure. I'll do my best to keep Liz from getting hurt. But do you really think Chizuru would go that far?"

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

Party - Pierce, Jeanette and Darcelle

"I really appreciate you taking the time to come." Pierce told Jeanette. "Are you sure that's okay?" He'd feel really guilty if he kept her from inventing a Pokemon Center that fit on the palm of one's hand or an anti-Gaea weapon or a cloning machine or something.

Then he turned to Darcy with a smile. "How are you, Darcy? Are you two getting along? I hope you're not having any trouble getting used to everything."

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

Party - Pierce and Irene

"I don't know what I did to you that night, Pierce, but I think whatever it was, I made you hit your head a few times."

Pierce looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, we were banging pretty hard against the headboard." He joked.

Then he coughed and composed himself a bit. "Come on. You know I'm just playing around." He told her with a sincere smile.

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

Party - Pierce and Alphonsine

Alphonsine returned his handshake and proceeded to explain she was here to catch up with her friends from the Thirteen Eevee Threat. "By the way, I'm surprised this is the first time we met. You certainly look like you could have a career in modeling."

This caught Pierce by surprise. "Geh? Aha... Ahem." He looked a bit incredulous, and scratched his head a bit awkwardly as he replied. "Um... I don't know about that. I don't think I'm good-looking enough."

"Anyway, regardless of why you're here, I do appreciate it, Miss Dione."

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

Party - Pierce, Fujiko and Nyoka

Pierce watched as Nyoka ate sushi and let out her cute voice. "Catgirl robot, huh? I didn't know robots could eat." He mumbled.

He turned back to Fujiko. "Anyway, I was just wondering, out of curiosity, why haven't I seen the two of you around headquarters at all?"

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

Party - Elizabeth and Leprihare butt in on Renny

No sooner had Alphonsine finished asking about Renny's girlfriend than Elizabeth and another person suddenly hooked their arms around both of his.

"Since Nurse Bunny doesn't seem to be around, I certainly wouldn't mind playing the part of Renny's girlfriend. He's just so handsome and popular." Elizabeth said.
Meanwhile, her Pokesapien bunny friend took a good hold of Renny's arm, pressing her breasts against it. "Oooooh, I see what you mean. He is good-looking." She told Elizabeth. "I'm Leprihare. I hear you're fond of bunnies." She told him with a wink.

Liz was wearing her usual attire of short shorts and a small tie-up shirt that left her midsection bare. Leprihare was wearing a black bustier that made her breasts seem like they would pop out any moment, and a black mini-skirt and stockings.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Charlotte and Jeremy contribute nothing

As the duo walked in, Charlotte immediately sauntered on over to the table and reached for the wine. "Oh just rub it in," Jeremy muttered as she poured a glass.

"Get over it," she said as she took a drink, "I'm sure there's something here that's non alcoholic. I mean, Renny is underage or something. Just 'cause he's a provider doesn't mean he's a consumer." This was purely an assumption on her part. She knew nothing about the kid.

"Yeah maybe the tapwater," he said with a roll of his eyes. "To think I came here in my good clothes and am relegated to drinking water or soda or something," he said, pulling at his gold trimmed vest.

"You always dress like that, I don't think you own anything that doesn't involve a necktie of some sort."

Jeremy said nothing, but shot her a sour look before wandering off to speak with someone else.

Happy Birthday from Jeremy

"Er, Hey there," Jeremy said as he walked over to Pierce. "You're the birthday guy right? Congrats to you. I haven't had a chance to meet you yet. My name's Jeremiah. I'm sorta new to your unit." He extended a hand forward, hoping he could have a good introduction.

[Menarker]

Renny - Lola
---------------

"But I don't think that jacuzzi could fit a Lapras, could it? We might have to try the hotel's indoor swimming pool."

"Hehe, you're probably right Lola. It'll be fun too! Just hold on for a moment, ok?"

Renny briefly accessed the pokemon center's advanced PC and switched out Magnezone, Mollesk and Shaymin into the computer storage system, retreiving Snorlax, Latias and Lapras. Making a little room, he then summoned Latias and Snorlax in front of Lola, saving Lapras for when they had a better place to summon her.

"Hi Snorlax, Latias!"

The two greeted Renny with friendly smiles and Snorlax approached for a hug which Renny gave quickly.

"Ha, it's good to see you too. Listen, there is something important I have to tell you two."
The two focused their attention.
"I assume you both already meet Lola?" Renny stood beside her and presented her, in case they had forgotten, but they nodded all the same.
"Well... I'm giving your pokeballs to her. She'll be your trainer now."

"Lati..."

"SNNNNOOOOO ORR OR OR OR ORRRR!"

Latias was slightly depressed but nodded. Snorlax became the most heartbroken lug ever as his shoulder drooped and his posture slouched and he started to bawl openly, betrayed by one of his best friends and being given away to someone who was otherwise a total stranger. He crushingly hugged Renny trying to get him to change his mind. Renny was shocked by his behavior.


"Oh, Snorlax. Please don't be like that. As it is now, you two are practically stuck in storage all the time, and it upsets me that you two are like that. You two are still incredibly important friends to me. But Lola is also a really important friend to me. She even saved my life once."

Snorlax tried to straighten his posture, but his face was still moist even as he tried to wipe his tears away. He felt only marginally better what Renny had said, and he seem to regard Lola with more respect, but was still crushed and seemingly humiliated. Latias felt fairly reassured though.

"I'd really appreciate if you two could help her out."

"...... Snor... snor... lax..." Renny gently patted Snorlax.

"We'd still see be able to see each other. Actually, we'd be able to see each other more than now."

"Snor?" Snorlax whimpered, disbelieving but otherwise denigned to defeat.

"We're sharing the same apartment."

Snorlax stared at Renny with a baffled expression, glancing at Lola and then toward Renny again in a sense of disbelief. He then stood much taller, chuckling almost suggestively as he looked at Lola as a new "family member candidate".

"...I guess I should have said something like that sooner."

"LAX!" Snorlax smirked with his arms crossed, mildly annoyed but otherwise feeling very much assured. Latias looked at her bigger friend with a cheeky expression, giggling at how silly his outburst seemed now.

"So, that's ok?" They both nodded simply. Renny smiled back fondly
"Thank you so much. I'll see you both back at the apartment."

Renny recalled both pokemon to their pokeballs and then looked at Lola with minor embarressment.

"Hehe, sorry about that. Everything should be ok now. Anyhow, let's head over to Nurse Joy. I'm sure she can issue you a license and transfer Lapras, Latias and Snorlax under your name."

-------------------------
Renny - Darcelle/Jeanette
-------------------------

"Ha! Don't worry, Ren-Ren! Darcelle has learned a lot about wateeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer, especially since Jay-Jay processed Darcelle! Jay-Jay was surprised that Darcelle has a different body! Jay-Jay says Darcelle's body processes legendary Pokemon DNA well, so Darcelle was processed with Kyo-Kyo and Grou-Grou DNA!"

Renny was a little perflexed by her words, but then a gasp of realization and he smiled broadly.

"Hmmm? Oh, you have a Kyogre form? That's great then! I was going to say that knowing is different from actually having tried it. But being a water type pokebrid usually means it will be second nature for you. But I'm sure glad you're enjoying yourself!"

"Ha! Darcelle is sorry, Ren-Ren, but Darcelle doesn't know much about the Rezonscape, just that the power of Rage has its origins there."
"But as it grows stronger usually through conflict, soon the Rezonscape will start to bleed directly into our world and have some dangerous influences here in Honmyr."

Renny looked at Jeanette with alarm and worry, wondering if everything was alright, since Darcelle said she would need around 6 hours to wake up.
Professor Ricewood! Are you feeling ok?

Jeanette then continued to explain about the Rezonscape as he listened intently while Darcelle attended to her.

"Wow... that's amazing. Professor Ricewood, you already explained it so richly, I don't really have many questions. And you look like you could really use some rest." Renny then briefly summed up why he was here, since she just awakened ahead of schedule.

"I hope you can forgive my intrusion. I came by to see how Darcelle was doing and to make sure that if she was going to come to the beach mission with us, that she would be safe especially by learning how to swim. Lola and I caught a glimpse of Lathiron's silhouette when we went fishing for pokemon. His size alone is frightening, much bigger than Lexhur. Almost all the pokemon wildlife nearby was fleeing from him. I'm happy that Darcelle wants to help, but at the same time, I want to do my best to help make sure that everyone is as safe as we could possibly prepare for."

Renny smirked. " I would have been happy to teach her how to swim, but it looks like she'll be just fine. She's growing amazingly! I'm sorry if I looked like I've been underestimating her."

Renny just then had a thought occur to him.

Professor, there is one thing more I would like to ask if I may. If the effects of the Rezonscape are so widespread and so important to the livelihood of everyone that lives here in Honmyr, then why is knowledge of its existence and influence so scarce? It even sounds like some sort of secret knowledge of the state or something like that..."

----------------
Renny - Bretton
----------------

"Ah, I see. I hope you continue to enjoy it."

Renny was pleasantly astonished by Bretton's approachability, and his personal restraint from fighting.

"By the way, are you alright, little man? Rumors fly around pretty fast in PATCA and I heard Kurika overstepped her boundary a little. When I heard that you sparred with her, I was irritated because I thought I'd have to go rent another suit for your funeral. Glad you're still in one piece, though. Next time you should probably spar with someone like me. I used to be a personal fitness trainer so I know how to take it easy on people."

Renny tried to smirk, but the idea that Bretton thought he would need a funeral made him grimace for a moment before he corrected himself. PATCA's incredible rumor mill was starting to scare him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I got a big blow to the head, but I'm feeling alright now. So... did you like being a fitness trainer? Why did you stop?"

------------------
Renny - Catherine
------------------

"Ah, you need the use of my fists, eh? We can do that right now, actually. I kinda brought all my gear for the talent show we've got going on and I'm not drunk enough to forget how to hold back a little. That is, only if you're no longer broken by Kurika. Seriously, fighting a Muay Thai kickboxer, Renny? You're lucky she didn't break your back like a twig. Then you'd just be the cutest thing in a wheelchair."

"BROKEN? My god, just how far was the story of my spar with Kurika stretched? And I thought Bretton's view of the story was a little over the top!" This time though, Renny was feeling in a good mood since Catherine agreed to help him.

"Thank you so much Catherine. I didn't mean right now though. I don't want to cause an accident during Pierce's party. Although if you really need help for your talent show, maybe I help out somehow... Anyhow, I guess I was lucky to just get away with a blow to the head. But I'm ok now. But I'm really looking forward to the next time we have the spare time to practice!"


---------------------------------------------------
Renny - Shannon/Alphonsine/Liz/Leprihare (OH MY)
---------------------------------------------------

"Oh, Renny. Yeah, I'm doing a lot better now. Mika told me these weird Gaea powers of mine will need to be honed, and will only show up when my emotions hit their peak."

"I'm glad to hear that, Shannon."

"Oh, have you met Alphonsine?"

Before he could answer negatively, the blonde model interjected.

"Oh, is this him?" the radiant blond stopped to look Renny up and down. "I see what you mean, Shannon. This little guy is just the cutest thing I've ever seen!"

He then tried to greet her in turn when Alphonsine crushed Renny's face in her breasts, silencing him again and rendering him red cheeked and mute with modest embarressment. However, after the latest series of adventures with the chests of affectionately friendly young women, Renny was only mildly surprised by this turn of events. As Shannon helped free him from her grasp, he smiled warmly toward both of them as Shannon answered Alphonsine's question. Renny then tried AGAIN to speak when his arms got captured and he glanced up to see a Lopunny (Not Lola though) and Liz.

"Since Nurse Bunny doesn't seem to be around, I certainly wouldn't mind playing the part of Renny's girlfriend. He's just so handsome and popular."
"Oooooh, I see what you mean. He is good-looking. I'm Leprihare. I hear you're fond of bunnies."

Renny was starting to get sheepish from a 4 way conversation that was revolving around himself. Being captured by the arms made him even more so. It all made him feel flushed and unnaturally warm. He tried to naturally deflect the line of topic.

"It, It is a pleasure to meet both of you, Alphonsine, Leprihare." He said as he looked to both of them as he named them, making sure he had the right of it.
"Actually, Lola is around here somewhere. She kindly helped me bring over the wine I made for the party. I hope you all found them to your liking?"

Renny then tried to think of something else to possibly deflect the conversation too, possibly involving all of them...

"So, I was wondering... not very long from now there is that beach photoshoot being held as part of our mission. I know that, Alphonsine," he nodded toward her, "is starring in it, but I heard from Lola that it was a special group shoot and was wondering if any of you ladies," Renny exchanged glances with Shannon, Liz and Leprihare "were thinking of being part of it, like I heard several others have."

And then he asked Alphonsine "The photo shoot sounds like a wonderful idea but I was wondering if there was any special reason behind it. Like, why was PATCA chosen? I mean, you all look absolutely fascinating, but I can't help but wonder that the choice was no accident. I figured it might have been because many of your friends from the Eevee Thirteen are here, but I am a little curious."