[PKMN OPEN] (M)(IC)Pokemon Battle Royale - Earth and Sky: Beyond

Dear Friends, gather around, I will begin to tell you the tale that spawned the combat league. It began year's ago in the region of Orre, A city of lights and excitement, an atmosphere waiting for new blood to flow through it's veins to either suck dry or entertain and a place that few barely ever dared to even step foot in to explore; Ignea. At the time, Ignea was what it is now, a barren wasteland of dust and dirt with little fresh water for miles out of reach and scavengers of all kinds hunting for their prey to survive on. It was as harsh as Lethia is if not worse though the region attained it's strange properties from this place. It was to this region that a promise was made between the tribes of the pokemon and a promise that was broken... And through this tale, is my-... Our Story of Redemption.

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It is early in the morning at the crack of dawn in the Orre region. A bus is preparing to make a long trek to an unknown city outside of Orre, just beyond the mountain pass out west. The sun is slowly rising over the east horizon as the few folk looking to explore an see where the world takes them and blinding the few as they wait by the bus stop. The driver arrives, pulls the bus into port and steps off to get his cup of coffee as various folk from different walks of life begin to pick up their belongings and prepare their bus passes. The driver walks back out with a cup of coffee and an oversized thermos. He addresses the trainers preparing to board; "Alright, anyone with large luggage please leave it out here on the platform and we'll load it up in the storage under the bus and have your passes ready. This is a 8 hour drive through the Perdita Pass and things will get rough once we're half-way through. Any walkmans, pokedex's or other electric devices must be shut off while in transit for your safety. Please have your bus passes out and we'll make our way to Lux Bravio. Those who are participating in the contest, you will need to be patient until we reach our destination for further instructions." The driver boards the bus and the travelers begin to load their cargo.

Anyone taking part; you are boarding a bus. You have a chance to interact and talk with other players onboard. Players seeking to take alternative routes, May do so. This setting is setup for characters to interact with one another before we're thrown into the thick of things.

Two young ladies who wouldn't look out of place in the city boarded the bus. You could almost see it immediately in the way they stopped in tandem and looked around, staying close to one another without really acknowledging how close the other was. They were traveling together. The brunette of the two with the longer hair surveyed the bus for a moment, observing everyone on it. Her eyes lit up and she turned to address the blonde next to her. "Look at all the other people here~! I bet they're trainers too!" Mary cheerily remarked, leaning over and slipping her hand into Rose's, which the other absent-mindedly took. She quickly lead Rose over to a pair of vacant seats and sat down next to Reanne, with Rose taking Mary's other side.

"Hi~!" Mary greeted Reanne, apparently full of energy in spite of the heat and the cramped space. It probably helped that they were both wearing skirts, Rose's long and Mary's short, that looked rather cool in the warm weather. She had a very inviting look on her face, seemingly unfazed by the fact that they'd never met. "Wanna be bus buddies? I've got some Pokemon Cards if you wanna see!" she offered, shifting her purse into her lap. The collectible pokemon cards were a lot like baseball cards, but with pokemon! They were generally flattering photographs with little factoids all over them, not unlike cardboard pokedex entries, which was conveneint considering actual pokedexs weren't allowed.

"Nnn... Don't bother people too much, Mary. They probably just want to nap." Rose softly reminded the other, attempting to curtail her excitement before someone took offense to it.

Joseph Climbed the bus with his fanny pack hanging from behind as he drops his campers backpack on the Platform and his Lombre, Caboose, Carrying a cooler of food on it's head for the long trek through the mountain pass, Containing Pocky, Ramunae, grape soda, Potato chips and some other small snack stuffs to bring on board. He walks over to the counter, purchases his bus pass and climbs aboard, Caboose drops off the cooler under's his feet as he sit's back and looks at all of the lively trainers who boarded. He return's Caboose to it's poke'ball as the bus driver climbs aboard and start's his prep work as another pokemon comes on board, a Pidgeot with a large bag attached to it's back with a

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[img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/3d70/f/2017/234/3/1/the_forbidden_treasure_by_shadoan-dbkz2uh.png[/img]

printed on it. "Oh?.... Alright Attention passenger's. We have a small business from Ignea bringing food in for the first leg of the trip before we push off." The Pidgeot pulls a slip of paper from a pocket on it's harness. "This pokemon is carrying Watermelon Tea, BBQ Puffs, Hearth Chili with Sweet Potato Fries, Northern Light Poffins, Ether Jerky and Attack of The Sandwich... Sandwiches; courtesy of the Edge and End Inn. The tea is free, though you will need to pay for the food at a 30% discount and visit the Inn at Fool's Garden for more food this pokemon couldn't carry, a warm bath and bed and evening entertainment.... Does that cover it?" The Pidgeot nods as it walks in the center lane of the bus. It's harness has several thermos's containing the tea dangling from it's body. It's back has a large Satchel with Velcro flaps with pockets it can open easily to retrieve food and other supplies and a small 'pay here' bag hanging in the front. It retrieves a small menu from it's beak and slowly goes through the passengers, offering up it's small goods before getting ready to make the long trek home.

Joseph sit's back, a little puzzled a business owner would send a pokemon out from Ignea to do business, though he wasn't completely unsurprised. He pays for a sandwhich and a watermelon tea. The pokemon leaves the menu with him, pulls out a wrapped sandwhich and an empty plastic bottle, filling that bottle with the tea before hooking the thermos back to it's harness. "This...is impressive." He sit's back and wait's patiently for the driver to get his paperwork in place and check his gauges before shoving off.

---

Clutching his stomach, Emmanuel stumbled out of the bathroom stall with a groan. Perhaps it hadn?t been the best idea to buy some food from a wandering vendor off the side of the road, but he couldn?t help himself with his stomach grumbling the way it had back then. At the sink?s mirror, Emmanuel gave himself a brief look over. ?I look awful,? he told himself through a crooked smile, and made sure to give his hands and face a thorough wash. Upon exiting the restroom, Manny found a large camping bag thrust into chest.

?Was is that bad? You took off right after you parked the bike.? His older brother, Tyson, teased.

?Yeah, it was real bad,? Manny replied with an exhaled exaggeration, slipping the bag onto his back. ?What?s that?? The young man continued, gesturing to the slender piece of paper his brother was waving in his face.

?Your boarding pass, I took care of it when you left all your junk in the sidecar with me.?

?Oh, thanks.?

The two men spent the rest of the walk to the boarding platform in an apparent silence, neither knowing what much to say at Emmanuel?s departure. It was only until Emmanuel began to take a sip of water from his canteen, that his brother decided to speak up. ?We?re all going to miss you, you know. Well maybe except for Ollie, but he?s an ass,? he said with a chuckle.

?I know, we?ve talked about it before.? Emmanuel replied, trying to clumsily divert the conversation, and in a way, trying to extinguish any of the lingering thoughts of doubt he had left.

Tyson nodded in response. ?You?re right, we have,? and then he paused. ?You know, I?m pretty proud of you man.?

?Proud of what?? It was an unexpected comment, one that stopped Emmanuel right in his tracks as he turned towards his brother, who was looking him right in the eyes.

?Just? you know, choosing to do something like this. It takes a lot of courage, a lot of guts, bro. Compared to what you were getting involved with before, I?m just? all of us are just happy to see you doing well, Manny.?

Those words stumped him, they really did. He felt the smile breaking out on his face and he knew he could do nothing to stop it. ?You?re a dumbass,? he relented, letting the grin breakout in full. The brothers embraced for a moment before Manny continued. ?I haven?t done anything, so save the ?proud of me? spiel for when I get back, yeah??

?I lay all that out and that?s the ???? you say to me.? Tyson laughed, ?Yea, yea, whatever, just be safe and make sure you do get back.?

Emmanuel nodded, his attention turning towards the bus, seemingly close to departing. He turned back to his brother, his hands digging in his pockets. ?Did I give you the keys to the bike already??

?I took ?em out of the ignition. You left them there when you took off for the bathroom.? With those words, the brothers took to truly and finally exchanging goodbyes, and when Emmanuel made his way onto the bus?s aisle, purchased a delicious looking sandwich to tide over his now empty stomach, and sat down in a nearby empty seat, he felt a soothing wave of relief wash over him.​

Rose had to do a double take as she listened to Reanne innocently mouthed off to an older man that happened to be nearby. ...Huh. It was at that moment that she had an epiphany. This girl would get along with Mary juuust fine. And to Rose's expectations, Mary couldn't help herself. She snickered at Reanne's mannerisms, seeming to appreciate their showmanship. "My name's Mary Maple, and this is my sister Rose~!" Mary introduced as she fished out a pack of cards from her purse. "We're pokemon trainers too, from all the way over in Unova. We're traveling to Ignea in search of adventure and new experiences." Rose added, deciding to join in on the conversation. Mary splayed the cards out for Reanne to see, flashing a playfully knowing look up at Nathaniel without really acknowledging what was going on. Far be it from her to call the elderly old.

There were five cards on display. A minccino, a snivy, a rufflet, a vanilluxe and a holographic victini. "This one's my favorite~" Mary added, gesturing to the victini. It almost seemed to move slightly and sparkle when viewed from different angles. "I thought the rufflet was your favorite." Rose absent-mindedly remarked as she purchased two plates of sweet potato fries and some northern lights poffins for the two of them to share to go with their tea. "They're all my favorites~!" Mary light-heartedly replied.

Finally settling in for the road ahead, an announcement rang through the cabin.

"...Attention passenger's. We have a small business from Ignea bringing food in for the first leg of the trip before we push off."

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A rather large Pidgeot covered in several pouches climbed onto the bus and began making it's way down the aisle. It began filling cups and fulfilling orders with ease as the passengers began to stuff their money into a small pouch hanging from the bird's neck. Toru was fascinated.

...uhh.

Finishing up with the passengers in front of him, the Pokemon pulled out a menu and handed it to Toru. "Just the tea for now." Replying quickly as he continued to skim through the menu.

I should probably save what I have for now. Good thing I fueled up on the way here...

The Pidgeot popped open the thermos attached to it's vest and filled a small plastic bottle before turning it over to Toru and continuing on it's rounds.

This is... different...

Slowly sipping his tea, he couldn't help but notice a group of passengers a few seats in front of him. There was a trio of young women in one row with a lone gentleman that looked to be a bit older than the rest. The interactions looked to be of a friendly nature.

They seem so care-free despite where we're heading... I guess it's probably a good time to make friends when you're heading into the unknown.

Meh.

Toru slid back into his seat and waited for the bus to take off.​

The Pidgeot trots it's way to the front, turns about and bows before humbly stepping off of the bus and taking off towards the mountain. "Alright passenger's if that's everyone, We are now heading to Ignea." The bus starts and the engine roar's. The last of the luggage loaded into the expanded compartment and the bus rolls out over the the plains and reaches a familiar mountain formation. Traveling through the roads and through a few tunnels as the familiar gray and brown slowly shift the black and deep dark colors of Teal and Wine. The sky above was growing darker as noon was rolling around and static discharge was visible above, passing between the peaks. The shock of each discharge bring the hair of it's passenger's on end and the shock's echo off of the walls of the pass as the bus driver re-iterates the policy on electronics. "...Driver? What in the world is... Where are we?" "Perdita Pass; We are now in Ignea and still have a 5 hour drive ahead of us. Unless you want shock and kill everyone on board, keep electronics put up. We lost a small bus of travelers a few month's ago. Boom box blasting off heavy music, energy from the batteries started attracting the discharge..... Next thing we know, the bus is gone.... Working theory is it was vaporized, the next convoy of traveler's found a Boom Box charred and it's battery compartment melted by heat. We never saw those folks since then." The bus rolls along and the dark sky barely clears as the go through the next tunnel.

Joseph watches the cliffs as static discharges, finishing his tea before breaking into his snacks.

---

Rose furrowed her brows for a moment, giving Reanna a searching look. Ma'm, did you just smell probability?? Mary joined in, giving Reanna a shrewd look betrayed only by the goofy smile on her face. "...Are you tryin'a butter us up, Reanne?" she asked in an accusing manner, pausing a moment to playfully feign staring into the other's soul. " . . . Cause you're doing a really good job~! Wanna split some sweet potato fries?" Mary relented after the moment passed, dropping the act and holding out her order of sweet potato fries in offering. Nearby, Rose lolled her head in confusion. She on the other hand actually was looking into Reanne's soul. The problem was, she... really didn't recognize anything she was looking for! It was different, different from all of the others aboard the bus, but not in a way that meant anything to her. She'd need to keep an eye on Reanne and get to know her better before she actually understood what it was she was seeing with her mind's eye. ...Sometimes she felt her mind's eye was blinder than her normal eyes. "Careful what you wish for. She might try and adopt you." Rose playfully remarked in a rather dry tone. "...I can do that?" Mary replied after a moment's hesitation. "Nnn--" Rose began to correct, only to think better of it. Yeah, she better not go there. She shrugged helplessly instead, downplaying the idea. "The meaning isn't really in the word. Blood is thicker than water, and all that."

"...Right! Sisterhood comes from the heart!" Mary replied, drawing a stunned silence from Rose as she flashed her actual sister a thumbs up. ...Damn it, Mary. She returned her gaze to Reanne, throwing up an arm in the Rosie the Riveter pose. "We can be sisters-in-arms~!" she offered with a wink, extending her elbow a bit as if to offer to link arms with Reanne.

Rose found herself gravitating to her food--and the window. She'd definitely thought it odd that no electronics were allowed during their trip, but now that she heard the driver's story she abruptly understood why. "...Well I'm not going to be able to get any rest until we get past this weather." Rose dryly lamented. Hey y'know what? Being fried sounded awful. Maybe they could put that off for another day and nobody could do anything reckless. "The color of those mountains are really pretty though. I wonder what they're made of."

As the bus rolls through the trenches if darkness towards the end of the tunnel. A pair or red eyes glare at the passing transport. I gives off a loud whistle that echoes through the _t?ⁿ?el.

Joseph looked back at they left the tunnel. Thought the echoing whistle was strange and eerie. Several shadows along the cliff shift. The bus drones on as the static above seems to grow more intense and bolts of lightning begin to echo off the walls. The bus driver takes notice and starts to slow-down and begins to turn back. "Folks we're taking a bit of a det-" The tunnel in sight the discharge from above shocks the ground and the energy shocks and cracks "...oh Arcues...." the tunnel collapses and the discharge strikes the bus. "EVERYONE OUT!! GET OU-" A bolt of energy strikes through the bus driver, his body fading to a pitch black before vanishing into thin air. Joseph grabs his cooler, uses it to bust a window and hop out and pauses a moment. "COME ON! WE NEED TO GO!"

A few discharges start striking the bus as chunks of the bus begin to vanish, like bites from an invisible monster that couldn't barely even considered a pokemon and the discharge as it's fangs.