[IC] Pokemon: Worlds Collide

[Cerces22]

February 18th Catherine "Circe" Lin Philidelphoa, P.A.

Catherine woke up a little on the late side, but she has been tired.lately ever since the incident she has gotten very little sleep. She sat up in bed and looked over at her girlfriend asleep next to her. She lit a cigarette and got dressed for work. The green in her hair was slightly faded, she would have to retouch it after the shop closed. She gave her girl a small kiss so as not to disturb her and went on her way.

She walked her way to the shop but had to stop at an alley as she saw a Pidgey blast sand at an approaching cat. Catherine went on her way, shaking her head. A month and a half ago Pokemon were just manga, video games, and cartoon characters. The little girl in her would just lose her shit if she knew this would happen one day. She didn't believe it herself for a few days after the first reports came in. Now she like the rest of the Earth had the Pokemon Go they were promised when it was announced. She was expecting the call any day now, constantly checking her phone for the call that could change her life.

Work was the same busy body it was everyday, just off of 9th and Locus a lot of the LGBTQ community, mostly the drag Queen's, came to her shop. She had been a hairstylist at Liberty Spikes for a couple years now, she was the shops go to colorist. Many of the customers were still gossiping about wanting to be trainers, this was perfect nostalgia for millennials. Some even pointed out that a Meowth was spotted around the block. And everyone marveled at Catherine's Gengar tattoo.

"Hey boss, I am going to touch up my hair than head home for the night kay??" She said to Denise, who nodded her thanks to the young goth. After having one of the other girls color her hair Catherine left the shop and headed home. She walked in the door and her girlfriend walked out the bathroom and gave each other a quick kiss.

"Off to work babe??" She asked as she lit up an other smoke.

"Yes I am, they say WMMR is going to be there tonight, hopefully they think we will be the new Halestorm!! Wish me luck, I will be home late,
so don't have to wait up." She said as she went back in the bathroom to finish dressing. Shortly after Catherine's girlfriend walked out the door, and the phone rang.

"Hello??"

"Hello, Catherine "Circe" Lin?? This is Professor Oak, we have reviewed your application, we want to select you to take the test to become a Pokemon trainer!!" Circe's cigarette fell from her mouth as she was given the details on when she was leaving for the test.

@balthazar007

[Balthazar007]

Loading Arc...

"Hello, Catherine "Circe" Lin?? This is Professor Oak, we have reviewed your application, we want to select you to take the test to become a Pokemon trainer!!" Circe's cigarette fell from her mouth as she was given the details on when she was leaving for the test.

@Cerces22

Their phone call was short and rehearsed. In fact, it wasn't actually Professor Oak at all but a very well made recording, which gave her a quick congradulations and a simple request that she check her email for more information.

Inside her email she would find a message with simple instructions. There would be twenty oppritunities to take the exams, any day (Monday through Friday) from March 2nd to March 27th. Since she lived on the East coast, her testing sight would be a federal agent training camp located in Washington D.C. At the bottom of the email there were even instructions on how she could be reimbursed for any travel expenses.

The ball was now in her court. All she had to do was choose a day, and get there on time. Check in would be from 2pm till 8pm the day before her exams, and they would start bright and early at 8am. There were very little details on the exams themselves. Only a warning that she dress comfortably and study hard.

"Study hard"??? That was strange. What exactly was she supposed to study, it didn't say.

[Cerces22]

The Ides of March, Catherine "Circe" Lin on route to D.C.

It had been a month since she got the call, and checked her email. Circe had been so thrilled to be part of the test to be a real life trainer. Though she was still unsure of what she was suppose to study. Her long coffin shaped nails put out the cigarette in the ash tray and pushed her huge green pony tails behind her. She turned up the radio as her girlfriends band was displayed on Jacons local shots artist of the month on her favorite radio station.

She entered Maryland and the radio got fuzzy and faded out. Damn, there goes the good music. She thought to herself, as she blindly flipped through the channels hunting for a decent rock channel. After a few hours she finally arrived in D.C. as her phones GPS directed her to the training site and parked. After showing her I.D. and checking in she was shown a private room, and was told to wait.

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January 1st Liz Freshly Discovered Ruins

"Hades, be a dear and check the other side of that room for me??" Liz said to one of her newest partners, a little Duskull. She didn't need her whole team for this expedition, and figured in her down time she could train her newest pokemon. Adephagia was off sleeping just on the outskirts of the ruins, worn out from the morning training, just because she was a Snorlax didn't mean she would just eat and sleep all the time. She was the championship pokemon, Ade needed to be battle ready. Her Pokedex chimed and she looked down to see Rin had texted her.

Hey Champ, everything is going great here at the gym. Just had a headstrong trainer come through, his Bulbasaur wiped out my star pupils team.
Hope your training hard out there, remind you of anyone?? Anyways hope your training those new Pokemon hard, when you get back I want a match. Got to make sure the Champion is in tip top fighting condition ya know?? She smiled at the message, Rin always wanted to challenge her. Since their first day they started together, they had many battles, both claimed victory many times. They worked together to take down the Brawlers, and both fought very hard to get to the elite four, after they both got to the top they had a final battle for the true championship. Circe worn by the skin of her teeth if she was honest with herself. She missed her friend very much, and knew they felt the same.

Hades returned bringing her out of her mind and he shook his head no with a smile. So the antechamber wasn't booby trapped, that was good. Her pokeball hissed as Hephaestus came out from his pokemon, the Infernape was ready. The woman gave a nod and the monkey pokemon began digging his way into the room. As he broke through there was a quake, before they could say anything, Liz pulled her Pokemon back to their balls and ran out the site. A large clap of thunder was loud enough that even Ade woke from her deep slumber, Liz called her back as well.

She seen Rin a quick message asking if they felt and heard it too. Just as the champion finished the message a hole opened in the air before her. Before she could stop she fell into the vortex. She opened her eyes slowly fearing she hit her head. The ground beneath her felt like concrete, and by the sounds she was hearing, she knew she was no longer in the ruins. She looked around and saw a city unlike anything she had ever seen before. It appeared she was in a bay like area, and in the middle of it was a giant green woman. She knew she was no longer in Primus.

Three days later Liz was picked up by officials while she sent Hades after a man trying to poach a couple of wild pokemon. She's now on her way to what they call a training center in a place called Washing A Ton Dee Dee to better learn more about this planet Earth. She had not heard from Rin since she arrived her, she couldn't even get a signal. The men in suits want her to help make trainers in this world to go on missions. They told her she was not the only trainer from an other world of Pokemon to show up.

@Balthazar007

[Balthazar007]

Loading Arc...

The Ides of March, Catherine "Circe" Lin on route to D.C.

... She entered Maryland and the radio got fuzzy and faded out. Damn, there goes the good music. She thought to herself, as she blindly flipped through the channels hunting for a decent rock channel. After a few hours she finally arrived in D.C. as her phones GPS directed her to the training site and parked. After showing her I.D. and checking in she was shown a private room, and was told to wait.

@Cerces22

Circe's one bed hotel room was nothing to write home about. But of course, given the grand scale of these worldwide tests, even a country as developed as the United States couldn't be expected to provide luxuries for EVERY participant. Besides, she would only be in this room for one night. Tomorrow, she and ninety nine other participants would be put through the ringer.

But for now, she had nothing to do but rest. Details of the exams would be explained to everyone bright an early. Her instructions, "Be on time for an 8AM auditorium style meeting at the governemnt training complex located just across the street from the hotel."

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January 1st Liz Freshly Discovered Ruins
...She's now on her way to what they call a training center in a place called Washing A Ton Dee Dee to better learn more about this planet Earth. She had not heard from Rin since she arrived her, she couldn't even get a signal. The men in suits want her to help make trainers in this world to go on missions. They told her she was not the only trainer from an other world of Pokemon to show up.

@Cerces22

Liz was a quick learner, but she was no genius level Pokemon Professor. From the day she was picked up (January 3rd) till this very day (March 2nd), she had been working to learn this "English" language. The key was speaking slowly and using hand gestures.

"One hundred." Ronald spoke very clearly and steady but not in a patronizing way. He had been Liz's main language coach these last two months. The two had developed something of a freindship even. "There will be one hundred canidates each day." The two of them sat in lobby chairs on the third floor of the training facility's main office building. They sipped on coffee and watched the people below, especially the people checking into the hotel across the street.

[Cerces22]

@Balthazar007

March 2nd Washung A Ton Dee Cee Liz

"So. Why are ou tranig pepoll to been pokemon Trainor's??" Liz asked with her broken English. She wasn't a fan of the language, multiple words having multiple meanings depending on where they fell in a sentence?? The worst part about this place, was the fact it seems like Hephaestus had de-evolved, now he was a Monferno again.

She worried about her friends, and wondered what happened to Primus?? Was it still there?? Would Rin be looking for her, never to find her again?? Her heart ached for her Pokemon, and rival. Though she doubted that Rin felt the same towards her as she did for them. She wanted to find a way to eventually go back to her home. But the best part was the openness of many different people. She wasn't the only openly transwoman here, some even famous. Still she had to get past this damn English barrier.

"Lok, ar ou any closer to sanding me ome?? Pleez get Roland." She did her best to gesture with her hands but found it fustrating. She wanted to speak to that professor and the guy with the Pikachu again. They understood the language better than her, and despite not being from the same world, their language was almost an exact copy. The men didn't respond, they just stood there all day, never talking. She sighed heavily and went back to studying the English books.

Liz looked out a window and saw the people selected to be trainers lining up outside. Across the street a young woman dressed in black walked out and scanned them as well, and she looked up and saw Liz. A hand placed on her shoulder made her turn around.

Two weeks later

"Those are the people who are trying to be pokemon trainers.
As a former champion, we will need your knowledge on pokemon to lead the ones who pass on mission around the world." Roland insisted on using English for their convos, to force Liz to get better.

"This place is unsulferble, Roland. I feel like a lab Ratata.
End or men steel ave my pokemon. I need to see them, are dey ok??" She asked with worry in her voice.

"Yes, we have kept them on the diet you have fed them. They are constantly exercising, without us asking them. And it seems in the few months you have been here your English has improved remarkably. Come with me, let them deal with the test, you will meet those who pass it. And you need to filled in on some news about your missions that you will eventually go on." The two turned and walked off, Liz was excited to see her friends again.

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March 16th Circe Washington D.C

Circe woke up at six am to grab a quick shower. She put her makeup on a little more sparingly today. She turned on the television and found a Pokemon anime, she had seen every episode and movie she could find, memorized everything she could. She just hoped it would be enough. Her cellphone chimed in with Final Fantasy 7s victory fanfare and she chuckled to herself. Better Pokemon than Sephiroth, she thought to herself. It was her girlfriend wishing her luck on the big test. She walked out the hotel and saw the other 99 people in line to get in the training site. She saw a woman about her age with vibrant pink hair looking out a window at the people as well. Soon a man came up behind her, and after a brief conversation, both walked away from the window.

Circe was finally ready to be let in the camp, her i.d. was checked and she was given paperwork to fill out. Standard non-disclosure agreement, and who her favorite Pokemon were. She filled everything out quickly and went into the auditorium like room and sat near the middle of the room. She waited for the show to start, wishing she was allowed to smoke in here.

[Balthazar007]

Loading Arc...

...
"...Come with me, let them deal with the test, you will meet those who pass it. And you need to filled in on some news about your missions that you will eventually go on." The two turned and walked off, Liz was excited to see her friends again.

@Cerces22

Later that day...

Liz was seated in a room with about fifty other people, all trainers from the Pokemon universe. Most of them were already familiar with the speaker at the front of the room: Professor Aurea Juniper. Her speach had been delivered in perfect English, with only a hint of her Poke accent remaining...

Apparently, all that has been found is that an estimated ten thousand people from the Pokemon world have been transported to this world: Planet Earth. So far, 101 different families of Pokemon have been discovered, but more Pokemon are appearing every day. There are many theories as to how this could happen, but nothing has been proven. What we do know is that many of the Pokemon that have been transported here are confused and scared, or simply aren't mixing well with the native population (both humans and animals). As such, it has been decided that the best plan of action will be to go out and catch as many Pokemon as possible with new Pokeballs that are being developed. They should be ready by the end of what the people of this planet call April. Also, to increase our numbers, around twenty thousand volunteers from this world, will be enlisted to help.

She ended her speach by assuring everyone that this was their choice. They weren't being forced to do anything, but their help would be extremely valuable in saving both worlds and figuring out what's happening. "And that is pretty much it. Are there any questions?" She asked.

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---

...
...She filled everything out quickly and went into the auditorium like room and sat near the middle of the room. She waited for the show to start, wishing she was allowed to smoke in here.

@Cerces22

Later that day...

Circe's debreifing started out practically identical to Liz's, as they went over roughly the same information. Only, the speaker at the front of the room was clearly from Earth, a captivating speaker for sure, but many in the room were dissapointed that he wasn't a Professor from the Pokemon World.

But his speach didn't stop there. "Now, for today's details. As soon as I finish speaking, you will all recieve a written test. Every question is essay format, so there will be no guessing. You either know the answer, or you don't. The test will cover three main subjects: "Geography and Ecology", "Survival Techniques", as well as "Animals and Pokemon". Basically, we want to make sure you know about the world you will be traveling, about how you would conduct yourself under stress, and how to tell native wildlife from Pokemon. You will have three hours. After that, we will move on to the practical exams."

The man didn't leave much time for questions. The moment he finished, assistants began passing out the test, or more accurately, the laptops. Once everyone had a laptop, they were all remotely activated. Progress was displayed at the top... "0 out of 100 completed".

[Cerces22]

@Balthazar007

March 16th Washing A Ton Dee Cee Liz

Liz listened patiently to Professor Junipers speech, she was amazed that it was in near perfect English. So they were to capture pokemon for the safety of this planets ecosystem?? That would be for the best, the wild pokemon would wreck havoc upon the world, the animals here would have little defense against pokemon attacks. Liz stood up to gain the professors attention.

"Yes, hello professor!! Primus Champin Liz speaking, please accuse, my poor English. I was curus as to the therees to how this hapen?? And when we catch all the Pokemon, what will becom of them?? I have looked in this planet, and they constanly fight each udder. The land we are in now, no ofens to those that have givin us a place to stay, the pepoll don't even trus own gufernmen. How can we, and what effert is bing made to get us ome??" She said as best she could.

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March 16th Circe Washington D.C.

Circe listened to the speech, she thanked her father wherever he was that he enjoyed nature with her. They went camping almost every year in the Poconos, and they only ever brought the barest of needs. Though she did worry about geography, she didn't really travel to far from Jersey and P.A. She would just have to hope for the best on that section. She answered everything as best she could, some of the Earth animals gave her pause. A shame really, she knew more about pokemon than she did Earth creatures. Two hours in and her leg was bouncing a mile a minute, she had a few more questions to go, and would use the rest of the time go over what she could. Other people where already turning in her test, but rushing to get done would do her no good. With just a few minutes left Circe walked up and turned it in, and waited to be led to the practical exam, wondering when she would meet her first pokemon.

[Balthazar007]

Loading Arc...

..."Yes, hello professor!! Primus Champin Liz speaking, please accuse, my poor English. I was curus as to the therees to how this hapen?? And when we catch all the Pokemon, what will becom of them?? I have looked in this planet, and they constanly fight each udder. The land we are in now, no ofens to those that have givin us a place to stay, the pepoll don't even trus own gufernmen. How can we, and what effert is bing made to get us ome??" She said as best she could.

@Cerces22

Professor Juniper listened to Liz's question with a soft smile. "Those are some good questions indeed. Let's see, as for how this happened... we don't know... As an expert in Pokemon origins, my focus is on legendary Pokemon such as Arceus, as well as Palkia and Dialga. Theoreticly, those three Pokemon have the ability to make this all happen. But there are many theories floating around, some having nothing to do with Pokemon, and some hybrid theories involving both Pokemon and phenomenon from this world. Once we figure this mystery out, we will hopefully be able to figure out how to return home.

Now to the other side of your question, the care of Pokemon and trustworthyness of this planet's people. These are understandable concerns, but we are all in the same situation. So in order to figure this all out, we must work together in good faith. As to what will happen to Pokemon after they are caught... this is still being disscussed. Mainly, we're waiting to find out how long we'll be on this planet. If it's short term, we'll just keep the Pokemon in suspended animation inside their Pokeball's till we can figure out how to go home. If we can't find a way home in the next year or so, we'll start moving Pokemon to regions in this world, where they can live peacefully in habitats that support their needs.

I'm terribly sorry, but that is all we know at this point. Are there any other questions?" By the end of her answer, whispers had already started circulating the room.

A short pause and then she finished. "Okay then. I'm sure everyone is excited to be reunited with their Pokemon. On the way out of the room you will be given new Pokeballs, enough to hold whatever Pokemon came with you. You'll also be given what is called a "credit card". You will be able to use it to buy food at restraunts, new clothes, or whatever you like. For the rest of the month, you are all free to do whatever you like in this city. We'll meet again in what they call April to begin working with the new trainer canidates from this world."

With that, the room was dismissed. Professor Juniper watched with a smile as everyone eagerly filed out of the room, grabbing their Pokeballs and credit card on the way.

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---

...Other people where already turning in her test, but rushing to get done would do her no good. With just a few minutes left Circe walked up and turned it in, and waited to be led to the practical exam, wondering when she would meet her first pokemon.

@Cerces22

The cold air greeted Circe and the 99 others as they all walked outside. This was most defininately a military training complex. Before her stood a field about the size of a football field. Scattered about were numerous obstical runs, and around it all was a running track.

This part of her exam was explained to her by a sturdy looking man wearing a plain grey sweatsuit. He explained with all the authority of a drill sergeant... Each person would run the obstacle course. Along the way, they would have to make regular stops at spots where they would attempt to tie knots, pitch tents, start a fire, and demonstrate other survival techniques. Scattered across the course were transplanted trees, flowers, and bushes from all over the world. At the end of the course, an examiner with a clipboard would approach each person to see if they could identify any of the plants they passed.

They would run the course in groups of ten, and it would take everyone an estimated hour and a half to finish it all. When finished, they would break for lunch and then continue with the last part of the exams.

[Cerces22]

@Balthazar007

March 16th Liz Washing A Ton Dee Cee

Liz nodded to the professors answers, taking it all in stride. But when Juniper mentioned seeing their pokemon again, her mind shut down, she would see her friends again. She was lead to a private room a little on the bigger size to accommodate Ades girth. She jumped up on her Snorlax belly while Hades and Hephaestus joined her. Ade wrapped her arms around all three and they laughed jovially.

"Looks like we about to start an other adventure in a brand new place, are you guys ready?? Her pokemon nodded with excitement, they were estatic to be reunited with their Trainer after so long. "Right, well let's do some shopping first get some new clothes."

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March 16th Obstacle Course Circe

She had to bloody quit smoking, the survival skills were nothing, but oh goddess the running would kill her. She struggled a bit climbing a high wall but still she wasn't in last at least. This was just a test, so that I can own my own pokemon. She glanced down at her leg to the Gengar there and knew she just had to pass this test. She got to plant identification and began telling the proctor each different plant, good thing she went camping all those times. As she crossed the finish line she noted she was in the top thirty. Not horrible, but not great either, Circe hoped that her written test and the next section would make up for this part.

[Balthazar007]

Loading Arc...

..."Looks like we about to start an other adventure in a brand new place, are you guys ready?? Her pokemon nodded with excitement, they were estatic to be reunited with their Trainer after so long. "Right, well let's do some shopping first get some new clothes."

@Cerces22

One hour later...
Liz walked through the city with the help of her translator/friend Ronald. For a Monday, the sidewalks were quite busy. Soon she would arrive at a local shopping district, one suggested to her by a front desk worker back at her hotel. Here she would find many clothing shops to choose from.

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...As she crossed the finish line she noted she was in the top thirty. Not horrible, but not great either, Circe hoped that her written test and the next section would make up for this part.

@Cerces22

The lunch provided for the 100 canidates was good but nothing too special. At least it was an all you can eat buffet. When the lunch hour was finished, they were led back outside. On the other side of the obstacle course, there was a large building, built very much like a school. Inside the main lobby, everyone would wait while others would be taken to rooms for a "final interview". Circe didn't have to wait long, as she was a part of the first group.

Up two flights of stairs, she arrived at her room. The room was large and empty, except for a desk with one empty chair in front of it and a woman sitting behind it. A camera was set up off to the side on a tripod and pointed mostly at the empty chair. The woman stood up to welcome Circe, and introduce herself as Kathy.

Just a few minutes into the interview, it became apparent that Kathy wasn't any old interviewer. She was a professional phsychiatrist and damn good at her job. She asked normal questions like, "Why do you want to be a trainer?", "What are your life goals?", and "Before all of this, where would you have seen yourself in five years?". Yes, the questions were normal, but the unwavering eye contact, that was the unsettling part.

(Quick Note: Don't end the interview or leave this room in your post. There's another part to this interview.)

[Zarkun]

𝓙𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷 '𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻' 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓻

1:46 PM Paris, France March 16th

It was still early afternoon in Paris, France, when the call came into Jason's new cellphone. "Hello?" He had managed to pick up French fairly quickly after arriving on this strange world known as Earth but three months prior, but English had proven more difficult, though he was confident in his grasp of it at this point in the interim. Around him his team was spread out, with Slayer and Gaia having a debate about one thing or another. The voice that answered him had a clear French accent in their English.

"Hello, Blader. We've just recieved word and a shipment from the US. They finally made working Pokeballs, thanks to the Professors." This brought a smile to the trainer's face as he stood and approached the door to the balcony, where he leaned against the railing.

"Excellent. We've been getting restless sitting in this hotel, even if the view is beautiful," three streets over had the Eiffel Tower after all, "and the food is excellent. How long before we can hit the road?" On the balcony beside him was Prankster, who looked longly at the skies above him, but knew that he couldn't, because most people were still coming to terms with their new residents. Slayer soon joined the pair, leaning against the wall to the right of the door while Crunch remained in his corner, snoring as he napped. Gaia had taken up her spot against the foot of the bed on the floor, still grumbling to herself as Tracer came over and attempted to comfort her, friend to friend. And, true to his nature, Lucky remained near the door to their room, seemingly asleep, but truly using his ability to sense Aura to keep watch as he always has.

While waiting for an answer, Jason couldn't help but look back at the last three months, starting with sudden appearance of a rift beneath him as he chased a rumor about Latias and his subsequent awakening in what he had learned was called the City of Lights, his team all around him and his Pokeballs non-functional. There had been chaos as police officers appeared all around and shouted at him in a language he hadn't understood. He attempted to explain what had happened, ask where he was, but they couldn't understand him any better than he understood them.

When firearms came out when he didn't comply with them, his team had wasted no time. Slayer unleashed a Psycho Cut, cleaving a car in two as Gaia attacked another with Night Slash. Crunch vanished with Dig before sending a group of officers flying after reappearing beneath them while Tracer sent others flying with a Surf and yet another car rent into pieces from an Air Slash from Prankster. Lucky rounded it off with an Aura Sphere that silenced everyone before yelling at the others. Though the officers had wanted to shoot after it all, government officials had arrived in time to talk them down before finding a way to let Jason know it was alright.

And now, here they were, sitting in a luxury hotel room waiting to begin an adventure on a new world. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, but he also knew that he had his team, so his fear was minimal.

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𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 '𝑱𝒆𝒅𝒊' 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕

San Francisco, California USA, 9:22 AM March 16th

If it hadn't been for the fact that he'd joined the National Guard and they'd instilled a sense of enjoying working out in him, the second part of the test would have whooped his butt. Or most of it anyways, since he'd only had a little bit of trouble with the chin-ups, but only that. The written, or computer, part had proven not as challenging as he'd thought, but still harder than he'd have wanted. He'd aced almost every question about the Pokemon themselves, though he was still pretty uncertain about the Fairy type, it messed with his preconception of Dragon-Type weaknesses.

Still, as he finished his lunch and was shown to the interview area, he was confident. Can't believe I'm going to become a real life trainer. Man, mom's gonna flip when I send her the news.

[Cerces22]

@Balthazar007

Circe Interview Room 3/16

Circe walked into the room for her final part, at least she grabbed a quick smoke to calm her nerves before the last section. As she sat down a woman named Kathy threw a few questions to her. She wasn't messing around.

"I always felt that Pokemon trainers were a bit more free than the other characters in the games and anime. Able to travel the world, gain experiences, make many different friends. To me, a Pokemon trainer is pure freedom. As for my life goals, with the appearence if pokemon they have askewed a bit, before I would of settled down with my girlfriend, and been her stylist while she went on tour. Now I want those things and to be a Pokemon master. And that was my life goals before the Pokemon as well, I most likely would of opened up a salon myself at some point, I still would like to, but now I want to be a battling salon owner. And if we can find a way to habitable with pokemon on our planet, I would like my salon to be a gym for other prospective trainers on their adventure. Do you have any other questions ma'am??" She had given this a lot of thought long before this and knew this is what she wanted most in life, and answered with the conviction to back it up.

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Liz Clothing Store 3/16

Liz wondered the clothing store that was suggested to her, Roland was close by in case she had any questions. This Hot Topic definitely had her taste in clothing, if not a bit on the darker side. She waded through some options selecting a few plaid skirts, and some "rocker" tees. Not what she usually used to wearing but she would make due with this.

"Finding everything to your liking??" Roland asked walking up to her.

"Mostly yes, the pet coat will do very well for colder places as well."

"It's called a Petti Coat, and yes it should do fine in areas not below freezing, who knows where they will send you guys."

Liz bought several items and after a quick lunch at a place Mick Donals, they went back to the site and awaited further orders, Liz took the time to train with her Pokemon, now they were weaker, but the shift to a new world didn't diminish their fighting spirit.

[Balthazar007]

Loading Arc...

...And now, here they were, sitting in a luxury hotel room waiting to begin an adventure on a new world. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, but he also knew that he had his team, so his fear was minimal.

@Zarkun

The man on the phone explained to Jason, "All you need to do is attend a meeting tommorrow at 14:00." Naturally Jason had a few questions...

Apparently, the plan was to be picked up tomorrow at 13:00 by two vans. The first would take him and all his Pokemon besides Crunch and Prankster. The second would take those two and follow closely behind. They would arrive at a French governemt building about five miles away. His Pokemon would wait with the other Pokemon while he sat through the meeting. When it finished, he would recieve six Pokeballs (one for each of his Pokemon). From there, he would be free to wander the city and think over everything that was discussed.

(Quick Note: He will also be given a credit card like Liz was.)

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...Still, as he finished his lunch and was shown to the interview area, he was confident. Can't believe I'm going to become a real life trainer. Man, mom's gonna flip when I send her the news.

@Zarkun

Forest seemed to be doing well in the interview. His interviewer, Jacob, was very welcoming... dissarming even.

After a few minutes, Jacob finished with his regular line of questioning and opened up a laptop on the desk. He then turned it around to reveal a paused video. "Now, I'd like to show you a couple short clips. After each one, I would like you to talk about what you've seen, how it made you feel, that sort of thing. Okay?" The videos were high definition clips of Pokemon in the real world. In some clips, they were mearly walking across the screen. In others, they were eating wild native animals or fighting. And in others, they seemed to be communicating, with each other or with the person behind the camera.

(Quick Note: Make sure you read the next part targeted at @Cerces22's character, Circe. It applies to Forest as well.)

---

---

...Do you have any other questions ma'am??" She had given this a lot of thought long before this and knew this is what she wanted most in life, and answered with the conviction to back it up.

@Cerces22

Circe's interviewer, Kathy, calmly nodded her head and pulled out a laptop. "Yes, now I would like to show you a few things..."

She was shown multiple videos, some pleasant, some disturbing. Kathy watched her reactions very closely and listened carefully to her responses. Then finally, she closed the laptop.

"Okay then, now, one more thing..." Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, a red light flashed. As she turned, she found herself only six feet away from a three foot tall Beedrill that hovered at eye level...

(Quick Note: Make sure you read the above section targeting @Zarkun's character, Forest... Also, @Zarkun, Forest's surprise Pokemon will be Kingler.)

---

Liz bought several items, and after a quick lunch at a place called "Mick Donals", they went back to the site and awaited further orders. Liz took the time to train with her Pokemon; now they were weaker, but the shift to a new world didn't diminish their fighting spirit.

@Cerces22

Liz's training took place in the middle of a large emptied out warehouse. Three government scientists observed her training from above, through the window of a second story office.

(Quick Note: I know this doesn't give you much to go off for Liz's next post, so it's up to you to decide where to go next with her. If you get stumped, you can always time skip.)

[Cerces22]

@Balthazar007

March 16th Circe "Interrigation"

Circe watched the video and made a comment how she worried for Earth's animals, claiming that she hoped that Pokemon and normal animals could eventually balance and co-exsist. And how she was excited to be a Pokemon trainer to battle and test her skills against others and how she wanted the world to gain a Pokemon league so that she may challenge it. But when the Beedrill came out she had no words to express what she felt. She coyly reached out asking the Pokemon to pet it. It eyed her with caution but relented slowly to her affection.

"I always wanted a Pokemon, since the first game came out it caught my attention. And with the t.v. show stole my imagination, traveling the world, catching pokemon and having an adventure with friends. This is my one chance to follow that childhood dream. I understand you can make that happen or take it away. Please don't crush that little girl's hopes." She said calmly to the therapist.

[Balthazar007]

"I always wanted a Pokemon, since the first game came out it caught my attention. And with the t.v. show stole my imagination, traveling the world, catching pokemon and having an adventure with friends. This is my one chance to follow that childhood dream. I understand you can make that happen or take it away. Please don't crush that little girl's hopes." She said calmly to the therapist.

@Cerces22

Kathy listened to Circe with a tight lipped expression. Circe's child-like wonder did not seem to be going over well.

When the Beedrill was released and Circe held out a hand, Kathy's lips parted, and her eyes grew slightly wider. She was about to warn the girl not to touch the creature, but decided against it at the last second. Instead she watched as the Beedrill allowed itself to be petted. As Circe spoke, with one hand rubbing the Beedrill's head, Kathy remained straight faced. But truth be told, she was amazed...

About four weeks later...

Circe hadn't heard anything about being accepted or not as a trainer. Every day for the last week, those that were accepted would recieve a phone call. Their pictures quickly went up on the news. There were no calls telling anyone they were NOT chosen, but each day, fewer and fewer people were being announced.

Finally, Circe's call came while she was at work. "Congradulations!" The voice was Professor Oak's again, another convincing recording. "You have been selected for the oppritunity to become a Pokemon trainer! In your email, you will find everything you need to know. I look forward to meeting you in person someday soon!" And with that, the recording ended...

[Cerces22]

@Balthazar007

Circe April 18th Philadelphia

Four weeks, they made her wat four weeks, her nerves where killing her. She was sure the therapist lady denied her. Probably thought she was naive. Circes girlfriend was on tour right now and couldn't comfort her nerves with her hugs and kisses. Than while on break at work she got the call, she got accepted into the program!! She called her significant other and they both screamed in excitement. Circe promised to do everything in her power to sneak her a Teddiursa, both knowing that most likely wasn't going to be allowed. She finished out her day telling her boss to be on standby for the day she quit. She rushed home that night, not minding the deadlock Philidelphoa traffic the least bit today. As she blasted WMMR on they radio Dracky Bam Bam announced her name as one of the only locals to receive an acceptance so far. She squealed in an unadult way as she ran in the door, threw open her laptop and began reading the email, which somehow made it into the Spam folder of all places.

[Zarkun]

𝓙𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷 '𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻' 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓻

3:32 PM Paris, France March 20th

The trip up to the mountain range outside Paris had been interesting, especially as he watched Prankster enjoy the mountain skies during the drive, where he could fly without concern. Crunch and the Skarmory hadn't been thrilled about being separated from their trainer during the drive up, but after he explained there wasn't another way to do it yet, the pair had climbed into the second van without issue. None of the team had liked waiting in a separate room, but they had done it, once again at the behest of their trainer.

The meeting for Jason had been...informative. Even now, as he watched his Pokemon train together, minus, of course, Lucky, who continued his vigil for wayward threats, specifically the confused wild Pokemon who's cries echoed out on occasion. He had been shown videos of how they were adapting and how this world's wildlife were affected and he was...concerned. He knew for a fact that there were Legendary Pokemon out there with incredible powers that would raise hell on this world if they choose to. And he could only hope that they hadn't come over as well. As he thought, Tracer approached and nudged him. "Kabu?"

Jason chuckled and nodded. "I'm alright, Tracer, just...thinking."

---

𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 '𝑱𝒆𝒅𝒊' 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕

San Francisco, California USA, 9:29 AM March 16th

His interviewer's attitude, his effort to be disarming about it, put the former Idaho National Guardsman on edge. In his experience, if they didn't want you to be worried, they'd go out of their way to make sure they showed no outwards signs. Still, as the questioning came to an end, he wondered if his distrust of the man across from him had been unfair. He'd not done or said anything that Forest hadn't expected after all. When he turned the computer around, the young man watched the videos with disinterest, waiting until they were over to give Jacob a dead pan expression. "You're kidding me, right? These same videos, with different Pokemon, are all over Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, all of it. Sure, it's disturbing watching them eat our wildlife, but at this point, I've seen it."

When he mentioned one more thing, Forest expected some kind of question about what his life goal if he became a trainer was, to reiterate and see if anything had changed. Instead, the wall to the right vanished after the flash of a red light, revealing a-"Holy shit, is that a Kingler?!" As much as he wanted to rush forwards and touch the crab-Pokemon, his stepdad's dad was a crabber, and he had run afoul of a few crabs growing up and fishing, so he wasn't overly eager to put himself willingly in the reach of a crab that could snap him in two.

The Pokemon itself slowly approached him, and after a moment of judging the man in front of it, spoke. "Kingler?" Forest grins and reaches out, patting it reassuringly.

"It's alright, buddy. I won't hurt you." The Kingler seemed to relax and even nuzzle his hand.

[Balthazar007]

The Pokemon itself slowly approached him, and after a moment of judging the man in front of it, spoke. "Kingler?" Forest grinned and reached out, patting it reassuringly.

"It's alright, buddy. I won't hurt you." The Kingler seemed to relax and even nuzzle his hand.

@Zarkun

Forest's interview seemed to be going well, but honestly it was hard to tell, with such a one-dimensionally happy interviewer. Then came the moment of truth, the moment Forest came face to face with a large Kingler. As Forest and Kingler sized each other up, Jacob (his interviewer) watched carefully. It was actually in this moment that Jacob's one-dimensional smile faultered, momentarily turning into a genuine soft grin. But before Forest could see this expression, it vanished behind the normal professional smile.

Three weeks later...

It was still early in the month of April, April 6th to be exact. There had been no news on Forest's results, or anybody else's for that matter. But considering the tests lasted till the end of March, most people were understanding. Then, right at noon, 12 O'clock on the dot, he recieved the call. "Congradulations!" It was a recording Professor Oak's voice. He had passed the tests! Acording to the message, everything would be explained in an email that was sent to him at the start of the phone call....

(Quick Note: The following "email" is recieved by all human characters. In other words, this applies to @Zarkun, @Cerces22, @LuckyBlackCat, as well our fourth person (assuming we get a fourth person).)

Greetings (Your Character's Name),

Congradulations! You are on your way to becoming a part of the world's first Pokemon trainers. But before we hand you Pokeballs and your first Pokemon, we must be absolutely sure that you are ready. While we expect the life of a trainer to be fun and exciting, it could (and probably will) also be dangerous.

For this reason, we are going to hold a seven week bootcamp. Everyone will be split into seven groups, each with about 50 individuals from across the globe. You will be a part of "Group 3". With your group, you will travel to seven different locations across the planet, to experience different ecosystems first hand and hone the skills needed to be the best Pokemon trainer you can be.

Your journey, should you accept, will begin May 4th. On that day, you will catch a flight from an airport near you and be taken to your first training site. You have until April 21st to respond to this email. If you do not respond, your spot will be forfeited. If you respond and affirm your commitment, you will recieve your plane tickets via email within 24 hours. If you need special accomidations to get to the airport, please let us know.

We hope you are still on board!

Sincerely,
(Your Character's Nation)
& Nations of the World

(Quick Note: Notice that this "email" is structured to apply to everyone in "Group 3". This is the group of which all player controled characters will be a part.)

[Cerces22]

@Balthazar007

April 18th Circes apartment Phili.

Circe couldn't of been more excited as she got home and read the email. She had to read it three times just to believe they accepted her!! She was apart of group 3 for boot camp, which she hoped was nothing like Full Metal Jacket, and more like Major Payne. She had never been to Russia before, knowing her choice in people she loved made her a target, but she was sure she would be fine with being with the military.

May 4th Russian Bootcamp Circe

She was still riding cloud nine, Circe had on tight leg warmers, a Dragon Ball Super shirt and a heavy coat to battle the cold. She waited in a line of other prospective trainers to learn what they wanted from them, a man paced back and forth in front of them with the woman she saw in D.C. off to the side. She had to be from a Pokemon world not from the games or t.v. show cuz Circe didn't recognize her.

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

May 4th Russia Liz

Liz now had a good handle on this blasted English, she still struggled with the bigger words, but at least now she won't sound like a babbling idiot, she met with a man named Professor Oak in Japan a few weeks ago, and allowed him to examine her Pokemon to see if there was any major differences between the Pokemon from different worlds. She aslo met a young boy and his Pikachu, who immediatly challanged her to a battle after learning she was a champion. Hephaestus didn't even break a sweat.

She now stood against the wall of a boot camp in Russia looking at a group that was about to become trainers. She would be paired with one of them and go off and capture pokemon. She got tired of waiting for the drill instructor to begin so she tossed Ades ball in the air. When the Snorlax popped out the recruits gasped at seeing the huge sleeping Pokemon. She climbed onto her stomach and laid back.

"Let me know when I am needed." She said to no one in particular as she closed her eyes for a nap.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Mililani Kekoa

January 1st, Hano Beach, Alola -> London, England

Strolling along the beach, Mililani kept a look out for any more Pyukumukus. It seemed as if the job may be done, all the sea cucumber Pokemon safely returned to the water. "Good work, both of you," she said, with a little smile over at Naia, who stood on her fins like feet as she craned her neck, and Ohanna, who peered into the distance using more than just her sight. "Looks like they're all back home now. Time to head back, time to face that idiot again." Her face settled back into its usual solmenity as she thought of the guy asking her to "clean up those slimy little pests". Oh, joy. People who put out these job requests never seemed to have the wellbeing of the stranded Pyukumukus in mind.

She turned, taking one more glance over her shoulder at the nightscape's serenity. Moonlight glimmered on calm water, which gently lapped at the shore. The world was pretty, if nothing else. At least one good thing could be said about it. A region explored without her travelling companions, though, was a region dulled.

In a matter of seconds, the moon's glow disappeared, clouds sweeping across the sky. "What...?" As a gale-force wind sent needles of rain lashing at her, Mililani recalled her Pokemon and ran across the suddenly drenched sand. The raindrops turned solid and even colder, buffetting her and bouncing off the ground. Hail? In Alola, anywhere other than Mt Lanakila? Whoever was playing this prank with their Castform, the trainer thought as she searched for shelter, they'd better damn well cut it out.

An almighty tremor rumbled through the ground, sending Mililani tumbling forward. Her surroundings lurched, seeming to split into a rift in front of her. Everything blurred, faded...

... And reappeared as she hit the ground. She yelped from the impact. Concrete, not sand, against her hands and knees. She raised her head, eyes widening. No, the beach hadn't reappeared. In its place was a city, towering buildings lit up against the night sky, some reduced to ruined silhouettes. Rubble littered the area.

Knocked from their Pokeballs, her team appeared all around her. Ohanna and Keahi leapt up, with wary glances at their new surroundings, and Naia squealed, taking in her suddenly shrunken form. "Is everyone alright? ... Naia! Oh, Naia..." Picking herself up and shivering from the biting cold she was unused to, Mililani stared down at her starter, who had somehow devolved from a Primarina into a Brionne. "C'mon, let's go find out where we are and what in the name of Solgaleo and Lunala is going on. Ohanna, use aura to find anyone who's hurt, and Liko, assist them in any way you can."

Before she could search for help or survivors, cries filled the air as a crowd gathered around, pointing at her Pokemon and babbling in a strange language. Keahi instantly shielded himself with his bone club, the green flames brightening, sending people shrinking back. Naia placed a flipper on his shoulder, gently pulling him away. All Mililani's attempts to ask where this place was fell on deaf ears, the only responses being more excited shouts like she and the team were some circus attraction, and... camera flashes? Clearly she'd ended up in some region her Pokemon weren't native to. Or - the realisation sunk in with an even sharper chill than the wintry air as she thought back to the Ultra Wormholes - some other world altogether.

"This is a disaster zone, not a safari!" Mililani snapped, although by now she knew full well none of the group spoke her language. The wail of sirens drowned out her words. The next thing she knew, a group of officers closed in on her, barking questions in her face that she couldn't understand. A blur of green fire swung towards them. "Keahi, NO!" she yelled, attempting to recall the Marowak before he could hit anyone.

A stick whipped down, sending pain jolting through her head and lights dancing in front of her eyes. Finding herself on the ground, she stared up at the baton-wielding police officer towering in the middle of the spinning chaos. Metal glinted through the fog of dizziness. A firearms unit, guns pointed right at her. She jabbed at the buttons on her Pokeballs, which, to her horror, didn't work. The capsules fell to the concrete as the police hauled her to her feet, clamping handcuffs around her wrists and bundling her into a car.

"He's afraid! He has no idea what's going on!" she protested, still unable to make herself understood. Realising that for all the police knew, she could be shouting abuse, she fell silent, the rest of the journey passing in a nightmarish blur.

Once in the station's holding cell, after being bombarded with more questions she couldn't answer, the reality of the situation hit full force. Hunched on the bed, she drew her knees up to her chest, stomach clenching as if all the breath had been knocked from her. She'd gone and ended up stuck in some strange land, in trouble with the police, and alone. Truly alone. The guardian deities only knew what was happening to her Pokemon... She didn't want to imagine, but thought after horrific thought played through her mind.

From the station, she could hear voices. An angry, shaken one, and a much calmer one, as if someone were trying to reason with the other speaker. Mililani listened, trying to glean what she could from the conversation, but to no avail.