(Relative to this post by Eskay, opening RtAU)

AU - Arborville, Johto, two weeks ago

The forestland below us was living its usual life. At least, usual in terms of the timecoordinates that this world has spent, its history being unrolled, as of recently. Yeah, more relative terms... absolute terms are horrible because of their uncertainity, I don't use them anylonger. The other does, I guess..

I've seen it uncountable times, characterized by meetings like the one that is held below. Not my business, really. They don't know I'm here, they don't even know I'm now...

Time changes, and with it the world.

I see it with a little pain this time though. Just like some other times in the past and the future. Just  like last time when not only I myself but also the Director were forced to change time. That wasn't pretty. It only has happened a couple of times before. Of course no one remembers because they were deprived of having to live through it. Bad thing... I very much liked Princess Diana.

<...wouldn't be able to find him and ask, you know?> said a Pidgeot that was flying around in a somewhat nervous manner. <He's the one who tracks the migrating herds.>

<I have heard nothing but faint rumors either,> explained a Duskull that had come visiting from Ecruteak, <and not even the Seer there has been able to say if something is going on.>

An Ampharos leaned his head on from the tree she was sitting at and bleated at the Duskull.

<Well duh, a Seer can not tell you things you ask for. That's what a Oracle is for.> -- she swung her head in a more orless exasperated manner.

The Duskull replied with a gesture that given its physiology I'm going to freely interpret as flipping the Pidgey.

<Nevertheless,> explained a Linoone who had walked from the southern peninsula <the rumors have grown to the point of fracturing some clan relationships and that can not be denied.> He explained turning to the Pidgeot. <You said it yourself, about when you visited the Dragon Holy Land.>

The Pidgeot simply shrugged. <Could be the recent changes. The Mareep have been acting strangely since the debate with Icelus in Azalea if you ask me.>

The Ampharos narrowed her eyes at the Pidgeot, then turned to the others.

<So? We just... wait and ask?>

A Wingull in the group pecked the trunk. <Well, miss... What are we even looking for?>

The various Pokémon started looking at each other while murmuring the subject.

They always start muttering like that. No matter the time or the place. It exasperates me every single time, as it is always time lost to prevent a loss. Time I might freely have, but they don't. And it is their lives.

But it's not their fault. It's a little... defect in the foundation of consciousness and self-awareness that even the Director is unwilling to debate any fix for. Alas, I can't put blame on this. The last time somemon tried a fix, a bit crude one but a correct one, well... we ended up vaporizing their civilization from the face of the planet.

Then after a moment, a sole voice emerged from the other side of the tree.

<Discontent. Expansion. Outcasting.>

The other turned around and made some room for a Luxray that had managed to climb up the tree. (Well, of course, he's a cat).

<Claudus be welcome,> trilled the Pidgeot now perched at his right, <about time you spoke your voice.>

The Luxray turned and nodded. <Those are the things that always proclaim an upcoming Twist.>

<Here spoke the old... I mean wise!> self-corrected the Pidgeot with a chuckle as he saw the Luxray's fur stand on end.

<Unhappy peoplemons then.> The Linoone spat on the trunk of the tree. <Shouldn't be hard to find.>

The group consulted for a moment and then they reached an agreement.

I hate when they waste time.

<I'll be consulting with Crestadoro at the Tower for any precendent,> explained one of the mons.

Some nods.

<Next moon cycle then,> explained the Duskull, <but this time at the edge of the southern swamps.>

<Aye.>

<Aye.>

<Sure.>

<Purr.>

After some more short conversation they started going each one to their place. At their different paces they left until only one remained. Wasting time.

It is really annoying but not like I could, or would want to, do anything about it. Each change in the world is merely a turn of the page, and everything continues its life, but a Change is hard, painful, requires a lot of work... and of bureaucracy, which is more of an issue.

So I can do nothing.

<Excuse me, Tani?>

The Ampharos looked up as I floated down gently, as I usually do when I appear from somewhere all of a sudden. Of course she recognized me and bowed. More time wasted.

<Oh, Celebi... an honour to see you here. I had just invited some Pokémon to a meeting, I hope you don't mind...>

I pretended I didn't care or know and that it was nothing of my business (that part is unfortunately true). The Ampharos continues.

<Were you having fun in your travels?>

<Yes,> I lied, floating around the Pokémon and motioning for her to stand up. <I just arrived from the Third Grand Clefable Retrieval. Not that you'd know anything about that. Clefable, huh? So... groundbound...> I giggled giving a sense that it was just one of my random "usual" visits.

It worked of course. It always works. With their lifespans and minds, what else would they be able to think?

<I am a bit tired> that was not a lie <and I was wondering if you could do me a favour?>

<S-Sure,> the Ampharos stepped ahead eagerly. <What is your bidding?>

I stopped before Tani's eyes until her tail stopped swinging.

<Could you very please fetch me that marvelous messenger you told me about? The Arcanine?>

She frowned. <Eltenios? He's on duty somewhere in [Generation 7 Region]  I believe.>

I spun around. <Fetch him for me. I need to retrieve something from the southern islands.>

Tani, as unclever as usual, bowed and asked again. <What do I ask him to fetch?>

Waste time... sigh.

<I'll tell him when he gets here. You just bring him to the northern volcano.>

Tani was about to speak her mind, probably voicing the "obvious" opinion that I could just send the messenger word of the object to fetch and save some time. Poor creatures, so... fivedimensional, I tell myself as I pat the Ampharos on the shoulder. They mean well and all, I mean I'm serious. Did you know that in the other timeline I have that silly one who... nevermind.

I put some  more strength and Tani seemed to understand. She bleated a thanks.

<You and your friends spend a nice weekend. Now if you don't mind I'm tired and have a lot of memories to record, so if you don't mind I'll return to my Shelter...> -- yet another lie.

<O-of course...>

Tani departed swiftly to her bidding,  and then I returned to the base of the tree. I waited a moment until this area of the forest was alone, and then floated up again to rest in between the foliage.

No shelter. It's not here, not anymore I think. That silly one human has it in the other timeline... I've seen it, he and the Staraptor will take good care of it, they've been so respectful to make sure that it will not be used for experimentation.

Wonder where the silly one and his Royal Couple are now, in the now timeline.  Wonder if he would take care of my house as well now as he would do... not now.

A sigh. I can't know... I won't ever get to know, I guess.

The female of the Royal Couple.... could have been of quite some help, in that forked timeline she made well sure the Traitor Garchomp wouldn't continue with the Treason, or with any treason, anytime, ever. The Seven Arbiters dealt with the Seven Jerk as indicated, or even better. The Blaziken in particular did a good job. I only ended lamenting the fate of the fellow Grass-type, a mature Leafeon female. That was a weird time, wrong yet not wasted...

But now is not bound to that present anymore, I'm afraid. Unless I missed something, a deeper Change than instructed.

This is now now.

That part of history is already written and I'm bound to not interfere. So I haven't.

That doesn't mean I can't ask personal leisure favours.

If that means the right chess pieces are in the right places at the right time, I call coincidence.

It can not be any other thing.

All is not foreseen.

Some hours ago, Magnet Train railroad

A group of Pokémon are watching the chaos that unfolds in the city ahead of them, discussing as they try to understand what is going on. Of the three airships that were stationed above the city some hours ago only one remains, the others having already left towards open sea for safety.

As a Noctowl is commenting on the turmoil he can see in the city streets as various dragon Pokémon start attacking some important buildings, a couple of figures emerge from the shadows. A Buizel in the group turns around and greets one of them, the largest one.

<Good for you to show about,> he explains in a fairly distressed tone, <this has been going on for a while.>

The Nidoqueen growls in discontent and takes a look at the city in the distance. Her eyes don't show any emotional response at first, though the movement of her tail betrays a mixture of surprise and despair building up inside her.

<Do we know what is going on?> asks Inka.

The Buizel shrugs and turns to one of the other Pokémon, an Ariados, for an explanation.

<A couple of Marill managed to bring news from the city...> the Ariados explains. <Some airships arrived just a couple of hours ago and they did... something. A Linoone saw... All of the humans in the city disappeared and now the city is a mess.>

Inka grows. <Disappeared? What do you mean?>

<More or less that. We haven't been able to get into the city. Those mons there are attacking with a lot of strength and we can not distinguish friend from foe in the mess.<

Inka is about to speak but the words die in her open muzzle. After a moment she simply lowers her head.

The Noctowl turns to them and shrieks. <One thing we know, those who started the attack are dragons.>

<Dragons?> inquired Inka.

<...In airships?> -- continued the Ariados, more or less missing the point.

The Buizel turned to the Nidoqueen. <It would mean a lot if you can take a look at it. I mean... you are the one who understands human stuffs here, right?>

<More or less,> responds Inka with a scowl. She hasn't been inside her Pokéball in a good while, almost four months, and hasn't seen anything like man-disappearing flashes before, not to this degree. Not even back then in Angela.

The Pokémon there continued to talk as they watched the skirmish unfold; one of them commented that Ecruteak seers sucked for not being able to figure this one out,  and then they started debating how to find out more information about what was going on. After a couple of minutes, the Noctowl pointed out to the city skyline and the other Pokémon turned their heads in that direction to see the airship turning around and a flock of Pokémon approaching the Magnet Train railroad, destroying some nearby buildings with blasts of fire.

<So we want to find out more?> -- inquired the Buizel, taking charge of the operations -- <Now is our chance. Those Pokémon are trying to attack the train.>

Inka tilted her head and thought for a moment. <They are trying to isolate the city,> she explained.

<That's right!> -- explains the Ariados. <Some Pokémon who escaped mentioned that the dragons were trying to stop everyone at the outskirts. they were rounding up all flying mons...>

Inka and the Noctowl focused their eyes on the approaching flock who started lowering themselves closer to the ground.

<They'll attack closer to the creeks, right outside the city.> explained the Noctowl. <There's a Dragonite, two Altaria, four Braviary and four others I can't see, probably Venomoth and Mismagius.>

The Buizel issued a call to the nearby mons. <We have to intercept at the creek and try to take them down.> He then turned to Inka.. <Can you deal with the Dragonite?>

Inka snorts and cracks her muscles. <Don't worry, he's mine.>

<We'll need rides then...> states the Buizel.

As if on cue some Pidgeotto and Pidgeot show up to assist in carrying various forest mons towards the city outskirts as the enemy flock starts circling the area. Inka takes a brief look at the Colony to the north and then follows after them.

Not five minutes after the forest echoes with the cries and the blasts of battle. Some of the Pokémon circling above start firing at the Magnet Train while at the same time they are being held away with various Thunderbolts. Some seconds later there is a goofy, even derpy, grumble and then an entire section of the Magnet Train blows up.

Some time later in the depths of the forest

A Nidorino walks carefully across a small depression in the forest; hidden between the bushes he tries to cause as little noise as possible while picking the strong scents in the area. The two of the scents he knows fairly well, though he is worried about the implications of it and what is to follow.

The Nidorino peeks out from under the bushes and gulps as he recognizes what is going on. At the other side of the clearing and right by the entrance of a Nidorina's flow (burrow), a bulky and scarred male is frolicking around, snorting, dancing and scratching the ground around as the Nidorina coyly hops around evading his presence but following his tracks and his scent. Despite coming close to the bushes a couple of times, the Nidorino of the couple seems to be way too deep in his ecstasy to even notice the obvious thing that doesn't match the tree trunks and leaves.

The messenger Nidorino gulps. There's no worse way to die than by interrupting a mating ritual, he thinks as he observes the two Pokémon hop towards each other and rub their mzuzzles against each other for a very brief moment. He sighs... he has to get the news to them, to both of them, or horrible things will happen.

With a gulp and with his head down, the messenger steps outwards from the bushes with as much noise as he can, pretending to not have noticed the private meeting, and then announces his own name and rank. The clearing instantly turns to silence that is only broken by the gasping breaths from the two Pokémon front and center. The messenger raises his head to meet their eyes and instantly steps back when he notices the murderous intent on the other male's eyes; he's probably still caught deep in his trance what would only allow him to recognize his loyal subordinate as nothing more than a competing male appearing at a critical moment... a good offering of death to complete a mating ritual, even.

<Uhmmm... M-maestro...> -- the Nidorino messenger tries to speak, his ears still scanning for an escape route -- <t-the city... problems... you really need to come with me...>

In response, Vinollo merely lowers his head and aims his horn at the messenger, letting out nothing more than a buff.

<N-n-not like I was trying to order you, I swear!> -- he speaks to the female, making sure to avoid eye contact with her -- <Please, this is critical... the human city... is being attacked!>

Vinollo steps towards the messenger who suddenly falls prey to tharn (near-death sensation). However his mate, Roa, lets out a giggie that seems to stop him. She then lies on the ground and looks at the messenger Nidorino for a moment, looking obviously displeased for the interruption of the mating ritual and even more obviously lusting for a bloody revenge.

But after a moment of consideration, she simply brushes her male's neck quills with her paw and then turns to the messenger.

<Explain yourself. But first...> -- she turns to speak to her male's ear -- <Ram him, émar.>

Vinollo's horn comes down; at the sight of this the messenger Nidorino yelps and turns tail, but he only manages to run past the first layer of bushes before a tremendous force impacting on the right side of his abdomen takes him off the ground. The tremendous pain overtakes his body and fills his head, and a moment after the poor Nidorino manages to collect his consciousness enough to realizze he is looking now up to the sky and the tree above him, the tree he crashed against. Then he notices something wrong with his legs and tries to move around a little, trying to regain his footing.  As soon as he tries to get up however a new wave of pain surges across his body and he scents his own blood which he notices freely pouring from an open wound about as long as a human hand, running from his chest down to his right hindleg.

There is a bristling sound in the bushes and the Nidorino turns around, still in pain, to see Vinollo standing nearby, breathing harshly; he is being held back by Roa who gently holds him by the neck. With a courtly gesture she turns her male's head towards her and then licks the blood off his horn, which seems to calm him down.

Then, with a swift motion, Roa knocks Vinollo off his feet and down to the grass, in pretty much the same position the messenger Nidorino had found himself fallen. Vinollo merely blinks, confused, as he starts getting off his mating-sensation trance.

Roa goes pick some roots from the ground nearby and approaches the messenger. <Now you can talk.>

[spoiler]Well, since someone has to move RtAU a bit, I'm progressing  with my plans a bit. If ythere are details to change they will be changed during the afternoon.

Goldenrod City, Sometime Later Than The Previous Post

A squad of Grass and Rock type mons descend from one of the airships, guarded by a team of orbiting Solrock, and take over some of the banks and police stations by assault. Soon after the humons and mons inside are dragged outside and moved towards a nearby plaza, just a couple of blocks from the Radio Tower, which another airship has already taken control of.

The sole Altaria leading that operation chirps at the sight of the eastern side of the city falling easily into draconic control.

Jerk Altaria: <Well this is excellent! In a matter of days this world will be ours as it should. No pesky humans or annoying robo-psychic civilizations to deal with. All it is left to do here is… let's see...>

The Pokémon flies above and produces some notes from his personal Fluffspace. He checks the next-to-last one of them, which says "Disband Police :3" (yes, the :3 is included) and after taking a look at the last one turns to the east.

Jerk Altaria: <Oh yes, the PEFE place here. Should be enough of a mess by now. I guess I can just take the squad that–>

The conversation with himself is interrupted by an explosion coming from the Magnet Train railroad. The Altaria sees with surprise and pleasure that three of the pillars holding the infrastructure have been felled or blown off; however, his joy at the progression of the scene is interrupted when he hears, very clearly despite the distance, the agonizing cry of a Dragonite. The Altaria files in circles mildly nervous until he hears the cries turn into death throes that only last for a while before ceasing.

Jerk Altaria: <Oh my! Wh-what is going on there!> -- turns to one of the Solrock -- <You! Are you finished moving those peoplemons?>

Solrock #21: <We are almost at completion, sir.>

Jerk Altaria: <Delegate it to somemon else and go inform Commander Nightthrash that we have problems at the Magnet Train! Then pick a group of Rock-types and head there, I'm on my way now!>

Solrock #21: <As you say! Heil Qorıık!> -- shakes himself a bit.

Jerk Altaria: <Heil Qorıık!> -- stretches right wing as a salute.

Then the Altaria departs top speed while the Solrock returns to his ring of Solrocks to organize the shackling and transfer of the prisoners.

At the MT Railroad, about at the same time

At the site of the battle, a group of Ariados and Loudred try to protect one of the pillars of the Magnet Train from the attack of the two Altaria and the Mismagius in the group; however, their efforts prove fruitless as just a moment after a combined force of Dragonbreaths finally fells the structure, the third in a row. Pieces of the railroad structure fall down everywhere, forcing the combatants to shuffle around and reorganize, with some of the groups changing opponents; while the Ariados are left to handle the Mismagius and one of the Altaria goes nearly undisturbed to destroy another pillar, the leading Dragonite and two Braviary are mercilessly assaulting a certain Nidoqueen.

Braviar #3 -turns to the Buizel pinned under his claws: <Your defense has failed. You ought to better surrender.>

Buizel Leader: <Look around.> -- smirks.

In the time it takes to the Braviary to blink, as he was about to dismiss the threat of his capture, a piercing cry echoes across the battlefield.

Dragonite Leader: <AAAAAAAHHHHH! My wing--!>

The Braviary observe as the Dragonite falls to the ground, writhing in pain; one of the Braviary is then grabbed and smalled against a tree by the Nidoqueen who walks towards her prey.

Inka: <Should have known. What, you forgot rocks fall down?>

Dragonite: <You'll pay for this offense to the new Gods, you mewling quim. I don't need to fly to crush you.>

The Dragonite stands and charges at Inka with a leap, knocking her over to the remains of one of the railroad pillars. The other Pokémon continue fighting, moment that the Buizel takes advantage of to use his free arm and slice the Braviary's eye with his fin.

Buizel Leader: <What you can't see…> -- slides away while the Braviary lashes out.

One of the Ariados uses her silk to contain one of the Mismagius that were about to try and assist the Dragonite, but is blasted by an Air Slash from another Braviary. The Buizel tries to assist with a Water Gun, but sees something at the lid of his eye and has to lap away just in time to evade the Ice Beam trail of one of the Altaria, who starts chasing him.

Inka gets up from the debris and tries to attack the Dragonite with Superpower and Fire Punch but still able to glide short distances the Dragonite easily overmaneuvers her and fires an Ice Beam straight to her neck, bringing the Nidoqueen down again. Then the Dragonite walks over and lifts a huge piece of debris with his claws.

Dragonite Leader -frowns: <Shame that your payment for my eternal pain will be brief.>

Inka looks up and only sees the huge piece of debris come down on her, with a huge thud, and tremoring the ground around. The Dragonite then leaps back a couple of meters, and, to be extra sure, fires an Hyper Beam at the debris, causing another explosion.

Dragonite Leader -turns to his assistants, gasping: <A-are we done yet?>

Suddenly he sees one of the Mismagius's sight change focus and he turns around with an Ice Punch ready…

…one second too late, as he meets Inka's Rock Smash punch right in the jaw.

The Dragonite is pushed back some distance and lands over some pieces of debris, but looks mostly unharmed. He turns to Inka and laughs, causing the Nidoqueen to frown. With a hiss, the Nidoqueen charges fowards her enemy and hops with her arm raised, ready to unleash a Double Edge at the Dragonite…

…THUMP!…

The attack however lands on the Protect shield the Dragonite has suddenly summoned. Taking advantage of Inka being airborne, the Dragonite immediately uses the fading energy of the shield to shove Inka down to the ground in the right place for a fulminating Dragonbreath attack. As Inka lands the Dragonite opens her muzzle, ready to fire, only to see the Nidoqueen smile.

Dragonite Leader: <Wha-aaaa-aaaaaa....a.a..a.a.a.a.aaaa..aa...a.......a.....a>

Invading Mismagius -looks in horror: <N-not possible!>

The Dragonite starts bleeding from his muzzle; he looks down to see, emerging from his chest right where the heart should be, one of the I-beams that comprised the Magnet Train section just some minutes ago. In disbelief he manages, with his diminishing strength and consciousness, to stare up to Inka only to see her starting to melt away into nothingness… and lets out some agonizing roars as he finally understand his defeat…

…for the real Inka rise up from her rabbit hole and walk besides the Dragonite from behind, her stare that of intense hatred.

Inka: <That was for your disrespect. And now will follow your species.> -- points to the city.

Dragonite: <Y-you can't win… doomed… all those who follow the culture of humans…> -- gasps.

Inka -growls: <What you are doing is destroy the Pokémon World.>

Dragonite Leader -jerks head: <New world… our… image… H-H-Heil… Qorıık~>

The Dragonite exhales and passes away; the Altaria in the group staring in disbelief at the horrible death as do the Loudred and Ariados, who have never seen Inka fight.

Ariados #2 -to a Mismagius: <You should leave, now! You don't know what you are declaring war against!>

Mismagius #2: <N-no, we can't! We need to save this world!>

Altaria #2 - spreads wings: <For the glory of true dragon Pokémon! All attack! Leave no mon alive!>

Mismagius and Braviary: <Heil Qorıık!>

The battle turns into a quick disorder with the Ariados and Loudred resuming their defense of the area, for what little they have; after managing to down a Mismagius with an Aqua Pulse, the Buizel Leader retreats to where Inka is fending off two Braviary.

Buizel Leader: <This is getting too hard!>

Inka: <Yes... We need to reach those airships…> -- growls -- <Surely their leader is there… this "Qorıık". Once we kill him, we can surely end this.>

Buizel Leader -turns to one of the accompanying mons: <You, run away and spread the voice! This invading force is responding to someone called Qorıık!>

One of the Ariados nods and swings away, chased by a Mismagius.

Inka, meanwhile, focus her sight on the horizon, where an Altaria leading a group of Solrock and some groundbound mons she doesn't manage to distinguish are approaching, obviously not in a friendly fashion.

Inka -examines her wounds: <I can fight dragons, but not this many!> -- looks around -- <We need to distract them somehow.>

Buizel Leader: <I'll send some mons through the sewers as a distraction. Meanwhile…> -- turns around -- <what if we show those hostiles how will they be received?>

Inka turns around and follows the sight of the Buizel, landing on the impaled Dragonite.

Inka -shrugs: <It worked once. It can work again.> -- to the Buizel -- <Send me backup, fire-types, so I can reach the center of the city. And have one Ariados ready there.>

Buizel Leader -blinks: <One?>

Inka nods, then goes pick up the I-beam with the Dragonite still hanging limply at its top. Then she walks towards the fourth Magnet Train pillar, still not taken down, and with all her strength she plants the I-beam with the deceased Dragonite there as if it were a flag.

Buizel Leader: <He everymon!> -- whistles to his group -- <Let's scram!>

The Ariados and Loudred switch to distraction techniques as they make their way back to the forest line, followed by the Mismagius; meanwhile some other mons waiting at the border are using some attacks to leave trails of powder and smoke that Inka uses to disappear in a different direction.

Weeks ago, during the opening of the invasion

The resistance in the city has been slowly but steadily pushed back by the dragons, who take over the various areas of the settlement and leave guards there. The humans, now mons, are evicted from their homes, rounded up in the streets, and tagged with numbers as prisoners, while some Loudred and Chatot are placed in every corner and square to announce to everymon the inherent and obvious superiority of dragons.

Announcer!Chatot: <Here we all welcome our new overlords, the dragons!> -- fans out his left wing -- <Heil Qoriik!>

To make their point clearer, the dragons have moved one of their airships right above the main avenue and the center of the city, just one or two blocks away from the largest Pokémon Center in the area.

Leader Garchomp -swings tal: <How are we with the schedule? I would like to return to base soon and nom delicious berries.>

Messenger Zweilous: <We are about to round up the humons at the PEFE place. And there's the mons still trying to attack us from the city, you know…>

Leader Garchomp: <Oh, those?> -- shrugs, goes look down an opening in the airship.

While a group of Pokémon attempts to raid the PEFE building in the city and the underground path, two of the latest focus of resistance, a shock response team emerges from various buildings and heads downtown.

Far from there, however, there is still action.  Two Girafarig and a Lairon are trying to fend off a Salamence who is rounding up some humon babies from a hospital.

Girafarig #1: <…What kind of jerk are you?> -- headbutts the Salamence -- <These are the babies our Trainer was taking care of!>

Invading Salamence: <There is no such things as humans anymore. Those critters shall be raised to properly worship the godly race of dragons!>

Tame Lairon -snorts: <Last time I checked, "dragon" was just a type.>

Salamence -roars: <Silence, you worm!>

The Salamence then flamethrowers the Lairon, hurting her greatly and pushing her out of the way as a couple of Scraggy enter the hospital and steal all the babies.

Salamence -to the Girafarig: <And you two better fall in line, or don't you have a Pokémon to care of?>

The two Girafarig grunt as they turn to the formerly human Cubchoo scared and hiding behind them.

Girafarig #1 -starts charging psychic power up: <You have no authority here.>

Salamence -frowns: <Watch what you say. We have power.> -- starts charging draconic power of his own -- <We ARE power. We ARE authority.>

????: <My fist is power.>

The Salamence then turns around just in time to be Mega Punch'd in the face; the Pokémon falls down and struggles to turn to his attacker, who reveals herself to be a Miltank. As the Salamence examines his now profusely bleeding muzzle, another Miltank comes around, walking heavily and with obvious difficulty.

Miltank!Whitney: <Hey, you two! Move those mons out of here!>

One of the Girafarig picks the Cubchoo up and then the two of them run away to the east, while the Lairon also attempts to stand up; however, before he can reach any long, he is brought down by a couple of Dark-type attacks.

Miltank: <…Who-?>

Scraggy Kidnapper #4 -walks in from the hospital door, holding a humon baby: <Hey! Come here, the prisoners are escaping!>

Before Whitney and her Miltank can do much, another of the Scraggy drops a baby and climbs to the roof, crying the alarm. Then the three Pokémon are surrounded by the various Scraggy who are then joined by some Grovyle and Venusaur.

Invading Grovyle #4: <Quick, take them down! And someone whip that Lairon!>

Whitney and her Miltank try to defend themselves, but are forced to fall in line when they see the Salamence get up and pick one of the humon babies in his muzzle.

Salamence: <Look, you better sit this one down, cows.> -- pins the baby down -- <One of you is her, right? The gym leader?>

The two Miltank growl at unison.

Salamence: <We are the law now, and you can either support the law, or learn to live our new world the hard way. Your call.>

Miltank: <Wrecking the world with some weird magic shit and kidnapping babies, huh, what a law.> -- frowns at the Salamence.

Salamence: <Watch your mouth, walking udder. It's dragon magic, the holiest kind of magic around, 20% holier than Clefairy magic.> -- to the Grass mons -- <Handle them!>

The two Pokémon prepare themselves for an attack as they are surrounded; however, at that moment there is an explosion coming from elsewhere in the city, with the various Scraggy climbing up the hospital building to check in the direction of the city's downtown, where one of their airships is.

Scraggy Kidnapper #5: <Sir, there appears to be some emerging resistance.>

Salamence -snorts: <It won't last long. So you two,> -- turns to the cows -- <don't think you can do better.>

Listening to some explosions fall down, the two Miltank finally submit and they are Grass Knot'd to the ground.

Salamence -to the Scraggy: <And go fetch back those hatchlings! They shall be raised properly in our new world!>

A couple of minutes later the hospital is emptied of mon and humon presence, and then the Salamence flies up to circle the building a couple of times; after making sure no mon is left behind, he instructs the Grass squad to take the prisoners back to the coast.

Meanwhile, at the city's flowershop district, what started as a rushed attempt by the mons living in the city to parliament with the dragons has turned into a skirmish when the group of Pokémon defending the Magnet Train has come intervene. While the dragons start quickly taking the advantage and rounding up some civilian mons, the Buizel leader manages to gather another group of mons who escape throug the narrow streets of the city towards the main avenue, where they are planning their main response.

Back in the Near Past

The airship that the dragons are using as the post of command has now turned to the east and is sending a couple of Altaria and Salamence to bombard the buildings in the area, trying to flush the nascent resistance out to the streets where they can be easily targeted. Meanwhile, a squad fails to take over the Underground Path when the local mons, better fit for the narrow tunnels and tubes and more knowledgeable about the connections of the various paths, manage to trap them in a labyrinth of their own imagination.

Up above, a losing battle is being fought. Using various piece of debris as ammunition, a group of Ariados is attacking the airship via catapults, however their attacks are blocked by the Pelipper. The forces in the ground are being held back by a group of Zweilous, Altaria and assorted non-draconic mons who are taking as many captives as they can, though their efforts are mostly thwarted by things suc as their inability to distinguish a common Rattata from a fighting, FEAR-capable one.

Below in the tunnel, a random Feraligator Fire Punches a Haxorus on the chest, with the sheer force felling the Haxorus instantly. He asks to a nearby figure if they are ready to emerge yet, as the Ariados above are going to need help.

In response an Espeon appears.

Espeon♂: <No, we must wait. If we go up now we will only provide the enemy with more targets...> -- looks around -- <we must change plans.>

Feraligator: <…Oh?>

Espeon: <We must gather all the mons. ALL of them. Let's go to the Dept. Store and hide among the population about to be captured. Then we can sucker punch right as they try to use us as leverage against the defending forces.>

Feraligator -smirks: <I like the sound of that.>

Suddenly the Espeon's jewel starts shining.

Espeon -meditates for a moment: <Then you take care of that. My assistance is required elsewhere.>

The Espeon then turns to the shadows and meows. A pair of bloodlust red eyes appear and then a Umbreon emerges from the shadows.

Umbreon: <Do we go, brother?>

Espeon: <We go, yes.>

The two felines then head up through some of the ladders of the tunnel infrastructure, while the Feraligator calls in for a Machoke friend and leads some defending Pokémon towards the Dept. Store.

As that happens, the dragons get ready to reorient the airship and beam blast the attacking Ariados from above, to that purpose they order the Solrock and Pelipper to change formation as well. However, before they can put that strategy into effect, a Zweilous comes with a notification that apparently the defenders have switched their strategy as well.

Horvutaan the Messenger Zweilous: <Commander Sotsinak! It seems the Ariados are trying something different!>

The Garchomp turns around and looks out one of the windows to see that the Ariados have fallen back from the rooftops and are gathering at a couple of squares, as if they wanted to become a larger target.

Sotsinak the Garchomp: <…What would they be-> -- caresses a necklace he is wearing.

Suddenly the Ariados attack by launching silk treads at the airship, most of them impacting on the barriers the Pelipper put up and then falling to the ground as the barriers dissipate.

Sotsinak -prepares to get out: <Trying to board us? Ridiculous!>

The dragons aboard climb to the exterior of the airship and try to locate the treads to cut them. Sotsinak peeks out from the edge of the airship just in time to notice something yellow heading towards him, and manages to move out of the way of a Charge Beam. He mutters some curse words in draconic then checks his necklace to see that his Mystic Water tear is still held in place.

Airship Bagon: <We are under attack! Let's handle those intruders while the Axew cut the treads!>

Immediately a skirmish takes place as a group of feline mons climb up the treads with the utmost ease (well, they are felines, this is expected), trying to board and attack the airship. A Persian that manages to land by the rear end of the ship is quickly dispatched by a Bagon's Dragonbreath, only to be substituted by a Glameow that manages to pounce on the Bagon and land a fatally crushing bite to the Pokémon's neck. While the Ariados continue to fire treads, one after one various Pokémon try to board the ship, some of them falling to their deaths as they are repelled or as the treads they are trying to climb up are blocked by the Pelipper.

Random Axew: <…Found one!> -- looks at a Umbreon climbing up in the distance -- <Not that! You're dead!>

The Axew then tries to cut the tread, only to have his tusk bounce back from the silk and a huge headache invade his head.

Axew: <…---uh?>

The Pokémon waits for a moment then tries again with his claws, only to have his slash be repelled as well without damage. Various other Pokémon trying to destroy the treads meet the same strange oppossition, until one of them notices there is something moving within the silk.

Axew: <Whatever you are, die!>

The Pokémon then lashes at the cable, only to have his attack be bounced by a very, very small green barrier.

Cable Joltik -uses Protect: <Trolololololololololol :3>

Sotsinak, quick to notice the change in the tides, retreats to the cabin to send a special message to the forces in the ground.

As the Axew try to handle the many Joltik hidden within the silk treads, the last contingent of defender mons from the ground manage to climb up to the airship and start fighting the dragons there. A Skitty, a Espeon and a Umbreon start fighting their way towards the leading dragon, but are slowly subdued by the power and numerical superiority of the dragons. The Espeon, trying to help his brother, activates his Morning Veil ability to grant him some extra health, while the Umbreon also activates his Moonlight Veil ability to remove the type weaknesses the two of them have for the time being.

The Skitty manages to make his way to the engines before he is tackled by a couple of Axew and taken prisoner, but the Pokémon fail to notice that their attack has caused a small bag to drop and fall to the shadows when the airship suddenly tilts..

Axew #1: <…O-oh the- what is going oooooooo~> -- slides down the now tilted ground.

Outside, the dragons observe as various strong mons such as Machoke are pulling the treads from the ground, trying to pull the airship to the ground. The treads, being thick and strong, resist the tremendous forces involved, and it is clear that the structure of the airship will soon begin to crack down under the pressure. The Pelipper, feeling the urgency, try to navigate to cut the treads with their Protects, but most of them are distracted and taken off-course by a group of Uproaring Noctowl while they are at it.

Meanwhile, the Espeon and Umbreon continue their fight but are eventually cornered; as they are brought to the eddge of the ship by some dragons, the commander observes that an attack from the Solrock has managed to force the ground mon to recede. Now the airship stands level again, moment that the Garchomp Leader takes advantage of make a new claim.

Sotsinak: <Listen you, and everymon in this city! This is for your own welfare. You better surrender, or they will suffer!>

The Espeon and Umbreon, as well as the Buizel on the ground, look to somewhere in the distance where the dragons have managed to take many hostages, near the exit of the Department Store. Many of them, humons who are not yet capable of defending themselves, are pinned down by the dragons and assorted accompanying traitors.

Sotsinak -smiles: <We do not wish more deaths. All we wish is a world that is servant and worshipping of Qoriik and the Seven and the divine greatness of our races.>

The Espeon and Umbreon eye the situation and stand down, while down in the ground the Buizel tries to find a way to get closer to the prisoners, but gets Thunderbolt'd by an opposing mon in the process. Suddenly there is a commotion coming in from the prisoners and Sotsinak looks down to see some of them surprisingly rebelling with full force. A Donphan manages to knock out his captor Haxorus with a surprise move while a Feraligator punches a Dragonair in the neck and then slams her on the ground.

SWAT Umbreon -hisses: <We did not wish more deaths. We did not wish more than worshipping our gods. Then you came around. Remember that>

The two feline Pokémon manage to overpower their captors for a brief moment, and then one of them fires a Shadow Ball at te Garchomp, who blocks it effortlessly only to notice the two Pokémon have taken the opportunity to escape to the outside of the airship.

Horvutaan the Zweilous: <Those cheaters! Find them and destroy them!> -- manages to get up.

It is at that moment that two clicks are heard and Horvutaan notices something in the shadows. The tilt of the ship changes again, this time from internal pressure as it is revealed that something has been released from Pokéballs the Skitty had previously equipped. A moment after there's a Fire Blast coming from the engine room, and a couple of draconic mons come out running, scared and yelling some words in draconic language as they try to hide behind their leader.

That is when Inka and Baluarkos make their entrance, wrecking the airship from the inside with their punches and tail whips. The various dragons try to fend them off, but are thwarted by the Royal Couple's combined strength as well as the beam attacks that the Espeon and Umbreon are still using from above. Sotsinak himself tries to attack Baluarkos directly, but receives a Water Pulse in the face for his efforts and is forced to retreat to the front end of the airship to let his growing confusion heal.

SWAT Espeon -notices something in the distance: <We have serious trouble!>

Inka and Baluarkos manage to climb up to the outside of the airship and look to the west, only to see that there are two more airships closing in. One of them was the one stationed at the Radio Tower, while the other is following close, coming in from the sea. Both look guarded by squads of Altaria flying around.

Inka -looks dismayed: <We can't take out that many…>

Baluarkos: <It takes too much sacrifice to beat them…> -looks at the engine where the Skitty was.

The four Pokémon watch as the airships get closer, then the Espeon and Umbreon walk behind the Royal Couple.

Espeon: <We can Helping Hand or Baton Pass you with our last strength… if this stops them at least for a while, then we have done our job.>

A couple of Ledian and Togekiss come join the effort as well, lining themselves with the Espeon and Umbreon.

Random Togekiss: <We can help too! :3>

Baluarkos -swings tail carefully as he looks back at the Umbreon: <Are you sure? H-how are you going to leave?>

Umbreon -shrugs: <We'll figure out something…>

With that said, the two felines stand behind the Royal Couple and start transfering to them their force, as well as their status bonuses. Inka opens her eyes wide as she realizes that among the internal force the Espeon is transferring there is a lot of Special energy -- the Pokémon had to have the time to medidate before or even during the battle. The two Nidos also start receiving minute energy boosts from the Ledian and Togekiss, but enough of them that the actually amount to a meaningful contribution.

Inka -turns to Baluarkos: <We have to take them down, now.>

Baluarkos nods. Then the two Nidos start building up their Special energy into two Hyper Beam nodes, which then they start merging into one. They stand facing each other, arms spread out; using them as collectors and their bodies as shielding they force the accumulated energy to aim towards the incoming ships, and before the Altaria forces coming in ahead can do anything to warn about the attack, they turn towards the enemy forces and fire away.

The dual beam originated from the airship soars above the city, lighting it like it was high noon.

Flying past the Radio Tower airship, the beams hit first the seabound draconic airship, piercing the hull at the front and rear and destroying the internal structure instantly, resulting in a fiery explosion; even though the first airship was a small distance aside, the sheer energy radiated by the beams was enough that the airship's hull collapsed by itself, the energy tanks exploding as well and bringing the airship down as many mons were trying to make an escape.

Watching the destruction that ensued, Baluarkos falls to his knees, tired from the effort that was required. The Togekiss and Ledian fell as well, fainted from the effort to transfer their energy. It was at that time that Sotsinak came up to the hull, hurt from the battle and the destruction that his own airship had suffered from the beam attack. He noticed, as did the defender mons, that the airships were starting to lose altitude.

Sotsinak -looks at Inka: <…N-no, it can't be you... Kaal do…>

Inka turns towards the commander who in turns readies himself for battle. However Inka suddenly covers herself and before the Garchomp can do anything he is felled by a well-aimed Ice Beam to his neck.

Skitty: <You didn't think I'd fade away this fast, nya~>

The Garchomp turns to face the Skitty, who then leaps away towards one of the silk cables. However before he can decide to pursue the dragon is reminded of Inka's presence by her heavy steps as the Pokémon steadily but tiredly walks towards him.

Sotsinak: <You… you are only a imitator. A tale.> -- manages to get up -- <Just a… creature of the ground…>

Inka frowns, not understanding exactly what the Garchomp is talking about, and merely stops in place in a more or less rested stance.

Inka: <It is time for you to be brought down to the ground.>

Sotsinak -laughs nervously: <Fool! I am a creature of magic and strength! A dragon!> -- spreads arms -- <You have never seen power like mine!>

The Garchomp then starts some strange movements, which Inka quickly identifies as a Hone Claws. She stands still just as she notices something hanging from the Garchomp's neck… then water from all around the atmosphere is quickly cast together forming a wall right besides the Garchomp, and finally the Pokémon sends the watery grave towards Inka with a strong motion of his arm.

Espeon: <…Aaaaaaah!> -- tries to claw the hull as he is washed away, too tired to resist.

Ledian: <…Eeeeeeee~> -- loses flight due to his wings getting wet, nervously and uselessly tries to resist the wave.

The water wall washes most of the enemy mons off the deck, Baluarkos only barely hanging himself, but too tired to do anything else. However Sotsinak is surprised to see, as he looks again, that Inka manages to withstand the augmented power of the Surf attack in a barely changed stance, her arms covering her face. The ground Pokémon then uncovers her face and leers at the Garchomp. The horror is drawn in the dragon's face as he sees that the Nidoqueen looks pretty unharmed, pretty angry, and pretty absent… and is again walking towards her attacker even as the water continues to flow around her.

Sotsinak -scared: <…W-w-what…> -- stands back -- <What are you?>

Inka stops a couple of steps short of grabbing the dragon, apparently surprised by the question.

Inka: <I am a force of order.>

Garchomp gives one defiant roar and then lashes out at Inka, but she simply blocks his slashes with her arms and knocks him down with a Headbutt. The Garchomp falls on the hull the wrong way, one of his winglets broken, and with a cry of pain attempts to roll and stand up, only to find himself grabbed by the neck and lifted past the edge of the airship.

Inka: <Enough of these silly dragon games. You are but a pawn.>

Sotsinak -growls: <I am… a dragon…>

Inka: <Tell me where is the one that leads you. The one they call Qoriik.>

The Garchomp falls silent and still, barely breathing as he observes the Nidoqueen holding him. His tail swings just a little with the wind and he observes the landscape around him noticing that the airship is descending upon the city, now without control.

And he remains silent.

In response, Inka slashes the Garchomp's other winglet with her paw, but despite this Sotsinak remains silent, only his tears betraying his intense pain and fear.

Inka: <Tell me now! And you'll at least live!>

Sotsinak -- feels his body bleeding: <…Live? Huh…>

He then attempts to raise one of his arms with the strength he has left.

Sotsinak: <I shall give you nothing, not even my death. Your city will die, as has the race under your wing, as per Qoriik's command.> -- growls defiantly -- <Farewell, hio Vol. Heil Qoriik!>

Before Inka can do anything, Sotsinak digs his claws in Inka's exposed wrist, forcing her to release her grip. The Nidoqueen watches the empty air before her as the Garchomp pummels to his death for several moments, feeling the wet wind wash away her wounds.

A brief moment later the Umbreon from the group manages to climb back to the ship and tiredly looks down from Inka's position, wincing as he sees the parking lot where the Garchomp's body now lies, a large pool of blood flowing from his head and surrounding it.

Inka -tiredly: <…What kind of…>

Umbreon -paws her: <We need to get this airship out of here. Come on.> -- Inka doesn't respond -- <Can you hear me?>

Inka remains still, eyes half closed.

Umbreon: <It appears more reinforcements will be coming. We need to leave!>

After a moment Inka nods silently and turns away to follow the Umbreon through a safe path, while from the ground the Ariados are doing everything they can to pull the airship out of the downtown and towards a place safe for it to crash on.

In the distance, the other two draconic airships have crashed against a neighbourhood, causing a disaster. The dragons, now without a direct chain of command and at a loss of supplies, have to fight for their lives in defended territory just like they were forcing the locals to fight for theirs just two hours ago.

Glossary

* "Hio vol" - more or less "you monster".
* "Kaal": champion.
* "Sotsinak": more or less "White Claw".

Ecruteak

-Keith and Diane, along with all their associated mons, are recruited to the resistance forming in Bell Tower-

Plains Outside Greenfield

<Leave them alone!>

<They're by the mound! Get them!>

<…Ack! Someone take care of that Dragonair soon!>

<I need a Helping Paw here, on the double!>

A small skirmish is taking place after a group of dragons was too insistent on picking a flock of Hoothoot as prisoners to move them elsewhere. An Umbreon is clinging to the hide of a Gabite, biting and tearing apart, while the dragon herself is restrained by the attacks of some Ariados. Three more dragons fly in to attack the Ariados and force them off, while the Gabite manages to knock the Umbreon down.

While that is happening a group of Ghost and Bug mons manage to reach the squad that is trying to take the prisoners away and cut their path, however the dragons and the Pokémon assisting them, led by an armored Lickitung, don't look very impressed at it.

Combatant Pinsir: <Leave those prisoners go. You have no authority in this land.>

-Two Banette stand by the Pinsir, providing support, and they leer at the Lickitung as the Pokémon produces a whip-

Traitor Lickitung: <…Are you kidding?> -- points to the two Haxorus by the group -- <They're the new overlords and they told me to capture as many as I want. That's all the authority I need.>

Invader Dragonair #1 -hovers up, swirling menacingly: <You better stand down and join the row. You'll be taught appreciation towards the Draconic Master Race.>

-And charges a Thunder Wave to aim it at the Banette, but they don't answer at all.-

????: <…You might just want to change your mind about that.>

-The two Dragonair and the Lickitung turn to see a group of Pokémon from the south, composed by various Raticate, Beedrill, Graveler, Slowpoke and Arbok. Leading them all is a Flareon-

Lickitung -laughs: <Awww, look at the cute thing! Just what can you do to me? Throw me some embers?>

-In response the Flareon glares at the Lickitung. The Lickitung then signals to the various Pokémon assisting him to secure the Hoothoot prisoners, then walks towards the Flareon while swinging his whip. The Pinsir is about to move in and try to help, but is held back when the two Dragonair move towards the ghost group and surround them-

-The Lickitung smirks at the Flareon, who shrinks just a bit but doesn't stop glaring at him. The Lickitung swings his arm and hits the Flareon with his whip, causing the fire type to yelp-

Lickitung: <What, no Flare Blitz?> -- licks the whip -- <Well then we'll have to see what use can you be made of.> -- turns to his group -- <Let's capture them!>

-There is a communal growl as the two Haxorus, accompanied by a group of Dratini, Swellow, Golduck and Klang, rush in and start attacking the group of defender mons. Meanwhile, the two Dragonair shoot Thunder Waves at the ghost group before they can intervene; however some of them evade the attacks and together with the Pinsir they start spreading around to retaliate-

-Not far from there, atop a moun, a Flygon meets an untimely end after placing himself on the wrong end of a Hitmonlee's roundhouse kick. The Flygon's body is then dragged away by a Buizel who is looking around and firing Water Pulses to a group of enemy mons to keep them at bay and occupied with the local Beedrill swarm-

Guest!Grotle: <That was really nice of them.>

Leader Buizel -turns towards a figure standing behind: <…We did manage to reach in time after all.> -- nods -- <Thanks for the information.>

????: <Just don't let anymon know that I gave this to your people.>

-The Hitmonlee is hit by a Thunderbolt coming from somewhere ahead and is sent back rolling, but manages to get back to his feet-

Guest!Grotle: <…The vermins! Hang on, I'll help.> -- and rushes downhill to meet the opposition.

Hitmonlee -rubs his shoulder: <…I think it'd be better if you guys leave this place. It doesn't look like we're going to win this one.>

-And walks down the hill, while the Buizel and the other figure look in the distance as the Pinsir's group is slowly but steadily being subdued by the dragons, with the Flareon's group incapable to offer them assistance as they are under heavy attack themselves-

Leader!Buizel: <…He's right you know. You have some training to attend to if you want to make it to the Ceremony.>

-And the figure steps out of the shadows to reveal a Charmeleon-

Charmeleon♂: <I see… I can not do much more than this. I'm not really a fighter...>

Leader!Buizel: <For the time being, you leave that part to us. Your help will be required later if what you say about your clan is true.> -- walks downhill but stops just a moment after, looks back -- <Is that the reason you left your home?>

-The Charmeleon cringes and observes in the distance as a Raticate and an Arbok manage to finish off one of the Haxorus with a combo-

Charmeleon♂: <No... Home is all right, it's just...>

-And shies visibly. The Buizel, not wanting to force anything, just points the Charmeleon to the forest path back to Goldenrod and rushes downhill to join the Umbreon in his fight against the Gabite-

-The Charmeleon stays behind for a moment, watching the battle, and sighs. Then he turns tail and walks back to the forest thickets, where a Nidorina is waiting for him to lead him to his designated spot-

Charmeleon♂ -hesitantly: <It's just …Things are actually kinda... weird, up there.>

(This part spagposted with Mr. Tracer, thank you very much)

Somewhere just off Rt. 32

A couple of Furret are wandering around, eating some berries and chatting about the news, when one of them stands on tail and looks to the north. He sniffs and listens for a moment, then turns towards his colleague.

Furret #1: <Somemon's coming! Very blue!>

Furret #2 -hides a berry under the ground: <Around here? Not travellers, I guess. Hang on->

-and emits a brief hiss as a call for someone-

-The voice of a small form can be heard calling out warily from the distance-

???1: <Huh? What was-?>

-And is answered by a deeper voice belonging to a much larger creature-

???2: <I don't think it's [after us, it doesn't sound ‘dragon-y’ enough. Come on!>

-The sound of undergrowth being trampled can be heard nearing the Furret, still a bit muffled by the folliage. One of the Furrets climbs to a nearby tree while the other one goes behind a tree, where he grabs a vine that can activate a [trap] when pulled.-

Furret #1 -whispers: <I'll halt them in the meantime.>

Furret #2 -whispers: <I'll wait here to guide the boss in the meantime.>

-The second Furret quickly disappears behind a thicket-

-Not long after, the head of a downcast-looking Feraligator can be seen poking over the brush, not really minding its surroundings-

AU!Lake: <... Are we doing the right thing?>

-A small Bagon trails behind-

AU!Nadia: <I mean… We're just two mons… It's not as if we could fight off everything... And especially not like THIS!> - and growls at her small body.

AU!Lake: <But… That other me... He wouldn't have to run away from dragons! He'd stand his ground and let them come! And–!>

-A moment passes-

<I don't know... I just don't understand how he was ever able to do that if he was really me.>

-They continue drawing nearer to the Furret's position-

-As soon as they reach a clearing, one Furret pulls the vines, thus lifting various wood barriers around the area-

Furret #1: <Halt there you criminal scum!> -- steps out from behind the tree -- <This is a private area! Who goes?>

-Meanwhile the second Furret examines the 'gator and Bagon from afar and completes a crude drawing of them on a piece of bark, then lifts it facing west expecting for somemon to see it-

-The Feraligator and Bagon quickly find themselves boxed in by wooden barricades-

AU!Nadia: <ACK! Wh-What-? Who are-?!>

AU!Lake -assumes a defensive stance: <Whoa! We don't mean any harm! We're passing through! And how on earth did you GET traps like these?> O_O;

-The Furret listens clearly, walks in and polishes his paws-

Furret: <Oh, well, we do have a good lot of spare time. Ahem…>

-and points to the two Pokémon-

<This area is private property, the road is down the way you came. So, identify yourselves!>

AU!Lake: <Uhm… I'm... Lake. My trainer is Luke of New Bark Town... This is my friend, Nadia...> ._.;

AU!Nadia -hesitantly turns around to examine the cage: <Not sure if we're supposed to be intimidated by them, or the fact that they probably buried landmines all around us while we weren't looking.>

-The Furret looks at the two of them for a while with a blank expression, clearly showing he doesn't know who they are-

Furret: <Oooh, trained mons. Shame what happened to your places. Nice to meet you. Now wait just a little~>

-And pulls another vine on the ground, retracting the wooden cage-

<...to be honest, this is mostly for show and for [gaining] some time.> -- waves at Lake -- <We don't mean harm either. Now, can you explain what are you doing this far from the road?>

-Lake hesitates, looks at Nadia-

AU!Lake: <Trying to keep someone safe...>

-The Furret raises a figurative eyebrow and signals the 'gator to continue-

<I know some family further down this route… I... Was hoping they'd let us stay around for a while...>

Furret: <Family, huh… well, you look like the part.>

-crossing his arms and assuming a stern expression-

<You should know that the path south from here is a bit of a mess. The dragons,> -- stares at Nadia for a moment -- <came from Violet to wreck the trainroad and all the trails nearby. I trust you don't have such... destructive allegiances?> - stresses the last part with a leer.

AU!Nadia -frowns: <If we did, you think we wouldn't have tried busting our way out of here already?>

Furret #1 -laughs nervously: <That's what a dragon would say. They are treacherous, biggity and opportunistic creatures. Trust me, we know.>

-The Furret points to the west, where from the general direction of a nearby mountain a small squad of a Furret, a Charizard and two Charmeleon are approaching-

Furret #2 -aboard the Charizard: <Those are the ones.>

Charizard: <Huh, a Bagon around here? Who would have thought!> -- and waves a hand in a greeting gesture as he begins to land.

AU!Nadia: <…Wait a minute, Lake...? There's Charizard in Johto?>

AU!Lake: <I think there's supposed to be a valley or something somewhere. But I keep forgetting how you're supposed to even ge–>

-Tthe Charizard lands right after that, shortly followed by the two Charmeleon catching up and spreading around the clearing, assuming fighting stances-

Charizard: <My, my, what do we have here, Eylan?>

Eylan (Furret #2) -raises a finger: <Two Pokémon coming from the city, it seems. And apparently they were trained ones. Ahem...> -- smirks -- <formerly trained.>

-The Charizard seems to snarl at the Furret pointing out the last part and the two Charmeleon look tense for a moment. However at a gesture from the Charizard, the Charmeleon depose their fighting stances and start circling around Lake and Nadia-

Furret #1 -points to the Bagon: <That one is a young dragon! Might be of interest to you~>

Charizard: <So, what brings you to the borders right outside of [Charizific Valley]?>

AU!Lake: <…That place is seriously right here? But- How did I never-?!> ._.;

AU!Nadia: <Uhm... Looking for a place to lie low, really.> ._.;

-The Charizard snorts at Nadia's explanation-

Charizard: <Ain't that what we all want, lady?>

-He winks to his allied Charmeleon, who laugh friendily.-

Furret #1: <They mentioned something about going to the south.>

Charmeleon #1 -crosses arms: <The south is not a place to lie low. Here though, this is a good place.>

Charizard: <So long that you don't come with offers to side with the Holy Land dragons or the Ursaring from the north. Charizard welcome travellers to stay and treat them well, provided you drop such attitudes.> -- folds his wings.

AU!Nadia -shrinks: <Um... "Holy Land?" Ursaring? Lake? What the heck are these guys talking about?> ._.;

AU!Lake: <I don't really know either…>

-And turns to the Charizard, in an earnest and eager tone-

AU!Lake: <Um... Thanks for your hospitality… We've really had a lot of trouble just finding a place to be able to stay put lately.>

Charizard -waves a hand: <As the saying goes, any friend of a Bagon is a friend of a dragon.>

Furret: <Good thing we found you instead of those patrols that come around from Violet sometimes, huh?>

AU!Nadia: <I guess so…> -- grumbles.

Charizard -nods: <Anyway, what are your names? And [clan], for the Bagon lady?>

Furret -stands proudly: <I heard something like "Jake". That's a good name!>

-Nadia seems a bit taken aback at the question-

AU!Nadia: <Erm... Clan? I don't know that...>

-steps ahead hesitantly-

<It's ‘Nadia’, though.>

-Lake turns somewhat reluctantly to the Chars-

AU!Lake: <Oh… Me...? Uhm... It's Lake, I guess…>

Furret #1 -blushes: <Oh, I was close~>

Charmeleon #1: <Lake? And you say you had a Trainer?>

-shares a somewhat suspicious look with the Charizard and the other Charmeleon-

Charmeleon #1: <Where do you hail from by any chance?>

Charmeleon #2 -to Nadia: <Huh, so you are not from a clan? Even better!> -- winks.

AU!Lake -walks closer to the Charmeleon: <Uh… New Bark Town, and my friend...> -- blinks, turns back -- <Wait, where are you from anyways, Nadia?>

AU!Nadia: <Let's just say it's a loooooong story…> >_>

-The Charmeleons gather with the Charizard and start murmuring, while both Furrets observe and tidy themselves up; after a moment the Charizard somewhat nervously steps forward-

Charizard: <So, you are *the* Lake, then?>

Charmeleon #1: <We heard you were travelling with… that boy, when you were little.>

Charmeleon #2: <And that you did something that brought one of the Dragon Guardians of Unova around here?>

Furret #1 -crosses arms: <Huh, you lost me there. What are you talking about again? :3>

-Lake is about to blush and rub his head for a moment, then looks somewhat downcast-

AU!Lake: <Um. Technically that was–> ·.·

AU!Nadia: <Yep. That's him.> -- scoffs.

AU!Lake: <Eh?! Nadia! Why on earth would you-?>

-The two Charmeleon let out a roar that could be interpreted as some sort of luck boast. Meanwhile, Nadia allows herself to giggle-

AU!Nadia: <As if they were to believe the true story.>

-The two Charmeleon fistbump while the Charmeleon approaches Lake, somewhat shyly-

Charizard: <A-aahhh...> -- fiddles with claws -- <it is a pleasure having you around then… So, you want a place to hide?>

Charmeleon #2 -snickers: <So, which side is trying to recruit you?>

Charizard -manages to straight himself, crosses arms: <We have some nifty accomodations right outside the Charizific Cliffs… A warm cave actually. And you are welcome to stay there for [free]!>

AU!Lake: <Wait, really-? I mean-> -- nods -- <Ahem... That's really quite->

AU!Nadia -steps in: <We'll take it. So where is this place anyways?>

Furret #1 -stands up: <Oh, just a short walk to the west. Past the last forest thickets, no way you can miss it.>

Charmeleon #2: <You'll have a good time there. There's good food for a 'gator, and for a dragon as well, obviously.> -- smirks to Nadia.

Charmeleon #1 -frowns at his partner: <…Are you flirting on the job?>

Charizard -unfolds wings and walks around relaxedly: <…you can even walk [around] and stretch your muscles, just in case, you know?>

The 'gator and Bagon look at each other, feeling a wave of relief wash over them at the creatures' seemingly earnest words-

AU!Lake: <... I suppose it couldn't hurt…> -- and bows -- <Once again... Thank you for this…>

-And heads off along with the Bagon… For the west, accompanied by the two Charmeleon serving as guides-

-The Charizard remains behind for a moment, looking at Lake and Nadia with interest. Then he squints at the mountains in the distance-

Charizard: <How convenient… He might just get us out of trouble. So long as he does not [figure out] much…>

-The Charizard extends his wings about to take flight when he hears a very faint growl. He then looks down to the side to see one of the Furret.-

Charizard: <…Eeep!> -- steps back -- <W-were you listening?>

Furret: <No. I just want my daily payment~> :3

-The Charizard smiles nervously; then he produces a bag of berries and scales which he gives to the Furret, and hastily flies away-