Umbramatic
The Ghost Lord
Hi! Whenever I do one of my Pokemon game liveblogs/let's plays on my Tumblr, I like to flex my writing muscles along with it, and write dialogue and fanfic snippets for certain important moments, especially with new generations. Here is a collection of the latter I did for my Shield playthrough. They're a bit quick and dirty but I had fun writing them and I hope at least someone has fun reading them.
You can find the original liveblog here - go to the last page and read backwards for chronological order. There's a poll near the end you might want to vote on.
(Also these are dubiously set in the Yangverse. It's complicated.)
Shield Snippets
Funky, Heinwald, Mantle, and Duke were idling around the Gym lobby as Siegbert got them registered.
"Doesn't all this seem... Funny to you?" said Heinwald.
"In a cosmic sort of way, yes," said Funky, shrugging his shoulders.
"No, no no," said Heinwald. "I mean... Suspicious."
"What's suspicious about this?" said Mantle. "We get to enter a big tournament! See lots of humans and Pokemon! It'll be incredible!"
"I shall truly be able to show my might!" said Duke, flexing his muscles.
"Yes, I know we all are excited-"
"I'm dreadfully bored," said Funky.
"...Most of us are excited, but some things aren't adding up. The legend of the Darkest Day. The mysterious Pokemon Funky mentioned he encountered in the woods. The infuriating boy collecting Wishing Stars. Something is going on here and I will be the one to find out what."
"Hey! Seigbert is done registering us!" said Mantle.
"It is time!" said Duke.
"Finally..." said Funky.
The three went over to the counter as Heinwald shook his head and sighed.
"I almost wish I had a proper partner right now..."
---------------
Mantle was the happiest he'd been in his entire life.
He'd started out as this lowly Bug-type crawling around in Route 3, catching easy prey and hoping stronger Rookidee didn't notice him. But then Seigbert found him and recruited him for this fancy-ass Gym Challenge and now there was a screaming crowd all around him in a huge stadium cheering for him! Yes him!
(The notion they were cheering for his Trainer crossed his mind, but he dismissed it as ridiculous.)
And now all that stood in his way was Milo's Gossifleur.
"You think you're a bigshot, being a Gym Leader's Pokemon? Take this!"
He curled in a ball and barreled at the Gossifleur with a Flame Wheel, bouncing off him and sending him skidding back. In response the Gossifleur started... Singing, using Round.
"What the hell are you trying to pull?" said Mantle.
He used Flame Wheel again, and whatever the Gossifleur was trying to pull was cut off as he was knocked out. Milo promply boasted a few things Mantle wasn't really listening to and sent out an Eldegoss.
"More of the same?" said Mantle. "This'll be ca-"
Several things happened at once.
The Eldegoss was recalled into his ball. The ball ballooned and the Eldegoss was sent back out, now titanic in size. Mantle was about to object about how it wasn't fair when the same promply happened to him.
He couldn't belive it. He was huge! There was so much power flowing through him. No tiny bug anymore, he towered over all these humans. He was the apex predator now.
The Eldegoss slammed into him with a Max Strike, shaking the stadium. He didn't care. He fired a Max Flare, a massive gout of flame that made the sunlight harsher via its mere presence. They traded blows again. Both were weaker. Mantle shook away fear in his mind so he-
His trainer ran over to his massive form and sprayed him with a Super Potion. What was he planning?!
Then the Eldegoss caused a mass of plant growth to sprout beneath his massive form, which did... Almost nothing to his fiery, chitinous body. Then, the two Pokemon shrank back down to normal size.
It was then that Mantle realized what his Trainer was trying to do. Outlast them.
"So much for that, huh?" said Mantle, ignoring a Leafage and slamming into the Edelgoss with another Flame Wheel. This time, he went down.
The crowd cheered. His Trainer cheered. Mantle cheered. He'd done it. He'd made it to the big leagues. Mantle realized his Trainer was a big help here.
...But he still deserved most of the credit.
-----------
Funky really wished he weren't here right now.
He could be looking at the beautiful Galarian scenery, or cities, or even other Pokemon, for inspiration for a painting. Instead... He was facing down a Goldeen. A measly Goldeen.
"Let's get this over with," he said, rolling his eyes.
He swirled one of his paintbrushes in the air, sending a flurry of Razor Leaves at the fish. The Goldeen air-swam out of the way and rammed a Horn Attack into Funky's side, but a second, up-close flurry finished her off. An Arrokuda was sent out in her place, but the second fish suffered a similar fate.
"Is this a joke?" said Funky.
Nessa sent out her Dreadnaw. Both the Drednaw and Funky ballooned to kaiju size via Dynamax power. Funky admitted it felt good. Inspirational even.
His thoughts were interrupted by a G-Max Darkness directly at his massive knees, causing his enormous body to stumble dangerously close to the crowd - not that this interrupted their frenzied cheering. Funky gritted his teeth and caused a massive burst of plant life to erupt beneath the Drednaw in a G-Max Overgrowth. The Dreadnaw let out a mighty roar of pain as the plants penetrated her shell. There was an explosion, and the Drednaw shrank back down to size, KOed. Funky shrank back down to size as well, smirking.
"Like I said. A joke."
------------
The crowd cheered, the music blared, the lights shone down on the battlefield... and HeInwald didn't really care. He was looking for traces of how this place allowed the Dynamax phenomenon, and was so engrossed in doing so he barely noticed the Ninetales in front of him.
"You going to fight me or not?" she said.
"Hm? Oh. My apologies."
He lunged forward with a Night Slash. The attack barely cut into the Ninetales' fur as she spat a Will-o-Wisp at him, burning him.
"Concerning," he said. He let out a Snarl, dampening her retaliatory Ember. And again to her Fire Spin. And again to her Quick Attack. A second Quick Attack eventually took him down.
Mantle was sent out in his place. He was excited! He was in his element! Literally! Quickly he Coiled in on himself to sheild himself from the Ninetales' Quick Attack. A Fire Spin was sucked into his body via Flash Fire. Finally he used Bite, biting down hard on one of the Ninetales' legs.This was too much, and the pain caused her to promply fall to the ground, fainted.
An Arcanine was sent out in her place. "Stay, puppy!" said Mantle as he lunged and Bit the much larger Pokemon. The Arcanine Bit back, and the two Pokemon kept wrestling and Biting one another until Mantle proved victorious.
"Alright, who's next? I'm ready to take on any-"
He was promptly recalled and replaced with Lir.
Lir promptly panicked. There were so many lights, so many noises. And a very powerful-looking Centiskorch right in front of him. He wanted to go back in the ball. The ball did not judge. It only hated.
It got worse when the Centicorch grew and stretched into a much more intimidating form, and Lir grew and stretched in turn. The massive centipede hit him with an overwhelming blast of heat that turned the temperature in the arena up by several degrees, and in turn Lir hurriedly dropped a pillar of rock on the Gigantimax Centiskorch. Weak Armor causing bits of his body to fall away, he promptly yelled and dropped another pillar of rock on his opponent. When the G-Max Rockfall crumbled away, the Centiscorch was normal sized and unconscious.
Lir couldn't believe his eyes. He'd done it! He'd defeated a scarier foe! He could get used to this kaiju thi-
He shrunk back down to normal. He was small and vulnerable again. Where was the ball when you needed it?
---------
Heinwald had a soft spot for Ghost types, as paranormal as they were. He felt it was his obligation to inspect them. But no, his trainer wanted him to fight this one, this Galarian Yamask in front of him. Ah well.
"Hold still a bit will you?" said Heinwald.
He lunged at the Yamask with a Night Slash, only for a twofold tingling feeling to creep up on him. It didn't take him long to deduce that not only had the Yamask stolen his Ability with Wandering Spirit, he'd also Disabled his Night Slash. His Trainer concluded the same, recalling him.
Upon entering the battlefield Uk was hit with a Brutal Swing. Uk did not care, it barely scratched him. What did phase Uk was all the lights and noise and worse of all PEOPLE. Uk wasn't used to this kind of attention - normally Uk fed on negative emotions, not the screaming frenzy of an excited crowd. But Uk wanted to make his Trainer happy, so...
"Uk no let you win!" he said as he slammed the Yamask with a Sucker Punch, taking him down. The crowd cheered, and Uk did as well... only to be recalled.
Duke was sent out next. Finally. He had been honing his blade-claws long enough, and he would finally be able to prove his worth in a gym battle. A Mimikyu was sent out to face him, and he scoffed.
"Glorified Pikachu-shaped eldritch sack of oats! You think you can face ME?!"
As the Mimikyu Honed its Claws Duke slashed at him with Metal Claw to break his disguise. Duke barely flinched at the following Shadow Sneak as he barreled through and struck the Mimikyu with an Iron Head, taking it down.
"Ha! Is that all you've got! I need stronger opponents! Give me more! MORE!"
His request for more was ignored as he was swapped for Uk, and the Mimikyu was swapped for Cursola.
"Hey!" said Uk. "Enemy look like Lir! Maybe I should go easy on her... NOT!"
He jabbed the Cursola with a False Surrender. The Cursola attempted to Curse him in response... Only to KO itself from the effort. Uk scratched its head.
"Uk confused."
He was promptly recalled and replaced with Heinwald, who found himself facing down a Gengar.
"I suppose this is the part where things... Escalate," said Heinwald.
Indeed Heinwald grew to massive size as the opposing Gengar transformed into a massive, gaping maw. Heinwald sent coils of G-Max Darkness at the Gigantimax Gengar while the Gengar spat a wave of G-Max ooze that would have smothered the crowd if not for the protective barriers in place. Heinwald was hurt, but also mostly annoyed. He sent another Max Darkness that shook the stadium, doing the Gengar in. The crowd cheered. Heinwald shrank back down to size and smirked.
Guess fighting Ghosts was ALSO worth his time.
----------
The pastel colors of the arena almost blinded Duke, but he didn't let it get to him. This was his finest hour. Members of the Galaian Meowth line were raised to be warriors, and now he would be a warrior on the grand stage.
Also this Galarian Weezing was looking at him funny and that would not stand.
"You dare cross the great Duke, slayer of Champions? I'll END you!"
The Weezing sneezed a Fairy Wind in his face, further incensing Duke to deliver an Iron Head to her floating form. The Weezing collapsed to the floor and was recalled.
"Ahaha! Come at me! I will end you all!"
A Mawile was sent out. This one gave him pause... Those jaws... He missed an exchange between his Trainer and Opal but he felt something cause his abilities to falter further.
"Warrior's retreat!"
He was swapped out for Mantle.
"Some warrior you are..." said Mantle.
He Coiled in response to the Mawile's Iron Defense, also guarding against her Crunch. A Flame Wheel straight into the Mawile's Iron Defense position caused the Mawile to skid back, Mantle was confident when -
"What do you mean pink isn't your favorite color?"
This outburst from his trainer made him realize he was far more vulnerable, and he Coiled again, the Mawile attempting to shake him around with Crunch. Finally he yanked the Mawile's jaws into another Flame Wheel, taking her out. Opal sent out a Togekiss in her place.
"Heh... Guess you are tough..." Mantle said. "But you aren't tough eno-"
There was an Ancientpower and he went down. Duke was sent back out, and was torn. On one hand, one of his comrades had gone down. On the other, he felt invigorated.
"DIE WEIRD BIRD"
He slammed an Iron Head into the Togekiss' face, ignoring the Air Slash in reply. The Togekiss fell out of the sky as the crowd cheered. An Alcreamie was sent out, but Duke felt invigorated and felt more so after Obal said something about liking his trainer's "answer." He felt strong.
And he felt stronger as he grew and stretched and his foe grew and stretched to gargantuan sizes. Now it was a battle of titans. Bright bursts of light that reverberated through the stadium hit Duke, and it only increased his bloodlust. Steel spikes ran from him to the Gigantimax Alcremie, impaling it, breaking its massive form and causing it to shrink down, unconscious.
Duke shrank down and gave a roar befitting a much larger cat mon. He had conquered this puny Fairy gym and all had seen it.
Meanwhile his Trainer scratched his head. "Can't believe the quiz was in the gym battle too..."
------------------
Mantle felt a little insecure. He could kind of feel he was falling behind a bit. No. No he wouldn't let such thoughts get to him. Especially not against this damn Frosmoth.
"I know you're all head but heads up!"
He used Flame Wheel, rolling through the Hail the Frosmoth cast and slamming into it for an instant KO. The crowd cheered. A Darmanitan was sent out in its place.
"You really think you can clear this gym with moves like that?" said the Darmanitan with a Taunt.
"Oh I sure can!" said Mantle, ramming into her with another Flame Wheel. It was then the Darmanitan's form shifted - to a bouncing, hopping mad firey snowman.
"Woah, you seem mad... Good!"
The Darmanitan attempted to clamp down on Mantle with a Fire Fang, only for Mantle's Flash Fire to absorb it and Mantle to wrap her up in a Flame Wheel, tossing her across the arena and knocking her out. Next came... a Eiscue.
"And what are you supposed to be?" Mantle said.
He rolled into her with another Flame Wheel, only to merely shatter the ice around her face as she spat an Icy Wind at him. Mantle spat in annoyance as as the Escue tried to hit him with a Freeze Dry before he coiled into another Flame Wheel and KOed her.
"Aw yeah, I'm on top!" said Mantle.
He was promptly recalled and replaced by Funky as the opposition sent out a Lapras.
Funky cocked an eyebrow at the creature. How did it move around on land?
The question remained unanswered as the two embiggened to massive sizes that towered over the crowd. Funky waved his paintbrushes in the Gigantimax Lapras' direction to summon a G-Max Overgrowth, thinking it would end it quickly. Instead the Lapras responded with a song, a chilling song that clutched at Funky's heart like ice.
The pain The song. He thought back to his old troop. How they all were supposed to be musicians, it was in their blood. But he didn't want to be a musician, he wanted to paint amnd draw, but they forced him to do what they wanted, scolded him, until he finally ran away. But this icy song ate at him, damaged him both physically and psychologically untill he finally cried out, his booming voice aweing the crowd and echoing beyond the stadium.
"NO! ENOUGH MUSIC! I AM A PAINTER!"
Another Max Overgrowth. The Lapras collapsed, shrunk, was recalled. Funky shrank as well, panting heavily, even as the crowd cheered. He felt... Relieved.
Maybe this Gym challenge was an even better inspiration for his art than he thought.
----------
Heinwald didn't like the look of this place. And this Gym leader was totally copying his hairstyle. But what was more concerning was this Scrafty. He was Intimidating, and Heinwald knew one good Fighting move would take him down.
"Uk, don't let me down."
The two swapped places, Uk coming out straight into a Brick Break.
"Ow! You break brick? Uk break spirit!"
He lashed out with a hair-whip in a Spirit Break, sending the Scrafty flying and knocking him unconscious.
Before Uk could celebrate Heinwald was sent back out, and found himself facing another Obstagoon.
"...I forgot the rest of my kind were this crude."
He hit the other Obstagoon with a Brick Break, only to be grabbed and slammed with a Counter that took him down instantly. Funky was sent out in his place.
"Of course I'm on cleanup duty..."
Funky's Brick Break did the job this time, nailing the Obstagoon in the head. Funky was then swapped out for Mantle as Piers sent out a Malamar.
"Alright you overgrown piece of calamari time to get yours!"
He clawed at the Malamar with X-Scissor, ignoring his Foul Play, causing the Malamar to screech and keel over.
"Alright who's nex-"
He was swapped for Duke, who was now facing a Skuntank.
"Your stench offends the way of the warrior! You will be defeated!"
A Sucker Punch glanced off Duke's migty beard as he burrowed beneath the Skuntank and attacked from below, and a second Sucker Punch didn't dissuade him from doing it again, taking the Skuntank down. Duke roared a victory cry before glancing around in confusion.
"No Dynamax this time? I wanted to be a GIANT warrior..."
--------
Galadriel looked at the Flygon and Gigalith before her as a sandstorm raged. Then at her partner, Uk.
"Fascinating... You're my partner again then?"
Uk nodded. "Uk happy to share limelight with team!"
"It is settled then."
She lunged at the Gigalith with a Smart Strike as Uk attacked the Gigalith with a False Surrender. Galadriel dodged a Steel Wing from the Flygon as the Gigalith threw up a Stealth Rock.
"Hey! Trainer say Stealth Rock cheating!" said Uk.
"Refocus on the Flygon!" said Galadriel.
The Flygon slammed her with a Steel Wing as it tried to swoop out of the way, but a Spirit Break and Dazzling Gleam did it in. The Gigalith hung on, and Body Pressed Uk to little effect. A Sandaconda was sent out in the Flygon's place.
"What we do now?" said Uk.
"Get rid of the Gigalith!" said Galadriel.
A Dazzling Gleam from her took him out and heavily tore into the Sandaconda, which failed to do much of an impression with its Glare. A Spirit Break tore into it further, but the Sandaconda hissed in defiance as a Duraldon was sent out.
"Uk, now's your chance!"
"What Gal mea-"
Before Uk knew it, he was a giant! He couldn't believe it! All the humans in the audience looked so tiny and cute! He wanted to pet the-
Uh-oh. The Duraldon looked like a building now.
Galadriel sent out another burst of Dazzling gleam, taking out the Sandaconda and cutting into the massive Duraldon. The Duraldon, however, sent out a Max Steelspike, causing Uk to keel over and shake the stadium before shrinking down and being recalled.
"Uk! No!" said Galadriel. "You will be avenged..."
"And I'll do the avenging!" said Duke, being sent out. "Aye, glorified high-rise! You don't hurt my friends."
"I'll hold him off!" said Galadriel. "You get the jump on him."
Galadriel bombarded the Duraldon with another Dazzling Gleam. The Duraldon's massive fist crushed Duke with a Max Knuckle, but by the time the fist lifted Duke had buried underground. Galadriel fired one last Dazzling Gleam before a Max Steelspike left her prone.
"Duke... I leave this to you..."
Suddenly, the earth beneath the Duraldon shook as Duke burst from it, clawing at the Duraldon's underside. The Duraldon gave an unearthly creak and moan before toppling over into the protective barrier around the crowd, then shrinking and being recalled into his ball. The crowd went wild.
Duke cheered! His and Galadriel's plan worked! He was the friend-avenger! His name would be legend for ages to come!
...Also he'd hopefully get skritches and treats from his Trainer.
--------------
Galadriel peered around this city of Wyndon; it was so very different from the forest Seigbert had found her in. She wasn't sure she was so fond of the pollution and the noise but the bustling Auras of the people and Pokemon there... They were fascinating.
Almost took her mind off the looming threat.
Heinwald had told her everything. The conspiracy to hide the true nature of the Sword And Shield and the dual heroes, the strange boy on a mission from the chairman... and she had seen some of it herself. The resurgence of rouge Dynamax Pokemon, the state of Spikemuth, the tremors, all of which they refused to let her handle...
She turned her horn from Wyndon back in the direction of Hammerlocke. She could still feel the immense power radiating from its spire, and how... unstable it was. She feared the worst. She hoped that Heinwald wasn't right.
That the Darkest Day wasn't coming back.
In the Glimwood Tangle, they told stories about that event. About the rampages as the astral projections known as Dynamax and Gigantimax went out of control. About... it.
She knew a resurgence would be devastating. But at the very least she had hope.
Her Team. Her Trainer.
-------------------
The crowd was extra-wild today. Why wouldn't they be? It was rising star Seigbert vs. long-standing Champion Leon. Funky understood this and yet he did not care. All he was concerned about was getting rid of the Aegislash in front of him.
"Don't blink that one eye of yours."
Funky slapped the Aegislash with a Knock Off only to take a Shadow Ball to the face. With an annoyed grunt, Funky slapped the Aegislash to the ground with another Knock Off, knocking him out.
"Hmph. Thought so."
He was recalled and replaced with Mantle, as Leon sent out a Cinderace.
"Hey, Funky told me about you!" said Mantle.
He Coiled in on himself, only to be sent flying by an Acrobatics. He was quickly swapped for Duke, who ate a Quick Attack with little effort only to be sent flying himself by a Pyro Ball. Uk was sent out and delivered a couple Sucker Punches before he too was felled by a Pyro Ball.
Galadriel was sent out. Pyro Ball tore into her even as she dodged an Acrobatics. Seigbert switched back to Mantle, but as soon as the Cinderace let loose another Acrobatics Heinwald was switched in in his place.
"You may have been able to fell my friends... But not me!" said Heinwald.
He slammed into the Cinderace with a Double Edge, smacking him into the side of the stadium, KOed.
Heinwald was then switched for Funky as a Sesmitoad was sent out. Funky smirked.
"Cake."
He let loose a Drum Beating, knocking out the Seismitoad easily. Leon sent out a Dragapult to replace it. While his Trainer was fumbling around in his bag for Max Revives, however, a jet of flame left Funky unconsious, and Mantle was sent back out. Mantle tanked a few Shadow Balls and lashed out with a Crunch.
"Man this guy is tough!"
He was swapped out again, for Uk. Uk withstood another Shadow Ball and Sucker Punched the Dragapult to metaphorical death. A Haxorus was sent out in its place, and slammed Uk with an Iron Tail, KOing him again. Mantle was sent out only to fall to an Outrage. Finally, it was Galadriel's turn.
"Your rage only makes me stronger!"
She absorbed the Outrage without the scratch, and then, in the Haxorus' subsequent confusion, took him out with a Dazzling Gleam. Then... came Charizard. It grew and stretched into Gigantimax Charizard, dropping a pillar of rock on Galadriel. She fell, and Heinwald was sent out.
"This ends now."
He grew and stretched to Gigantimax form. The Charizard buffeted him with a Max Aircurrent before Heinwald dropped Max Lightning on him... And the Charizard shrank back to normal. He grinned.
"Too bad."
He charged his foot with Max Lightning and stepped on the Charizard. When he lifted his foot the Charizard was unconscious.
Heinwald shrank down to normal. The crowd went nuts. His Trainer went nuts.
Heinwald, ever so subtly, allowed himself a small fist pump.
------------
Zacian stared into Galadriel's eyes as she steeled her resolve.
"If I must face you this way... So be it."
Zamazenta's Iron Defense did not stop a barrage of Dazzling Gleams, but a Behemoth Bash did. Mantle slithered into the battlefeild.
"We're fighting a Legendary AGAIN?"
He was sent skidding back by a Behemoth Bash, but retaliated with a Fire Lash, striking Zamazenta's hide. Zamazenta bit down with a Crunch, only to have her jaws singed by a second Fire Lash.
"Sigbert, NOW!" said Mantle.
A Luxury Ball was thrown, but torn asunder. Zamazenta bit down again, knocking Mantle out. Funky came out next, eyeing the situation warily.
"You might want to bring out the big guns."
At this, a Master Ball was thrown. It sucked Zamazenta in, wobbled three times, than clicked. Funky grinned.
"Something something unstoppable force meets immovable object."
---------------
And that's all of them! There might be a bonus down the line but that depends on if an in-game thing can stop kicking my ass.
You can find the original liveblog here - go to the last page and read backwards for chronological order. There's a poll near the end you might want to vote on.
(Also these are dubiously set in the Yangverse. It's complicated.)
Shield Snippets
Funky, Heinwald, Mantle, and Duke were idling around the Gym lobby as Siegbert got them registered.
"Doesn't all this seem... Funny to you?" said Heinwald.
"In a cosmic sort of way, yes," said Funky, shrugging his shoulders.
"No, no no," said Heinwald. "I mean... Suspicious."
"What's suspicious about this?" said Mantle. "We get to enter a big tournament! See lots of humans and Pokemon! It'll be incredible!"
"I shall truly be able to show my might!" said Duke, flexing his muscles.
"Yes, I know we all are excited-"
"I'm dreadfully bored," said Funky.
"...Most of us are excited, but some things aren't adding up. The legend of the Darkest Day. The mysterious Pokemon Funky mentioned he encountered in the woods. The infuriating boy collecting Wishing Stars. Something is going on here and I will be the one to find out what."
"Hey! Seigbert is done registering us!" said Mantle.
"It is time!" said Duke.
"Finally..." said Funky.
The three went over to the counter as Heinwald shook his head and sighed.
"I almost wish I had a proper partner right now..."
---------------
Mantle was the happiest he'd been in his entire life.
He'd started out as this lowly Bug-type crawling around in Route 3, catching easy prey and hoping stronger Rookidee didn't notice him. But then Seigbert found him and recruited him for this fancy-ass Gym Challenge and now there was a screaming crowd all around him in a huge stadium cheering for him! Yes him!
(The notion they were cheering for his Trainer crossed his mind, but he dismissed it as ridiculous.)
And now all that stood in his way was Milo's Gossifleur.
"You think you're a bigshot, being a Gym Leader's Pokemon? Take this!"
He curled in a ball and barreled at the Gossifleur with a Flame Wheel, bouncing off him and sending him skidding back. In response the Gossifleur started... Singing, using Round.
"What the hell are you trying to pull?" said Mantle.
He used Flame Wheel again, and whatever the Gossifleur was trying to pull was cut off as he was knocked out. Milo promply boasted a few things Mantle wasn't really listening to and sent out an Eldegoss.
"More of the same?" said Mantle. "This'll be ca-"
Several things happened at once.
The Eldegoss was recalled into his ball. The ball ballooned and the Eldegoss was sent back out, now titanic in size. Mantle was about to object about how it wasn't fair when the same promply happened to him.
He couldn't belive it. He was huge! There was so much power flowing through him. No tiny bug anymore, he towered over all these humans. He was the apex predator now.
The Eldegoss slammed into him with a Max Strike, shaking the stadium. He didn't care. He fired a Max Flare, a massive gout of flame that made the sunlight harsher via its mere presence. They traded blows again. Both were weaker. Mantle shook away fear in his mind so he-
His trainer ran over to his massive form and sprayed him with a Super Potion. What was he planning?!
Then the Eldegoss caused a mass of plant growth to sprout beneath his massive form, which did... Almost nothing to his fiery, chitinous body. Then, the two Pokemon shrank back down to normal size.
It was then that Mantle realized what his Trainer was trying to do. Outlast them.
"So much for that, huh?" said Mantle, ignoring a Leafage and slamming into the Edelgoss with another Flame Wheel. This time, he went down.
The crowd cheered. His Trainer cheered. Mantle cheered. He'd done it. He'd made it to the big leagues. Mantle realized his Trainer was a big help here.
...But he still deserved most of the credit.
-----------
Funky really wished he weren't here right now.
He could be looking at the beautiful Galarian scenery, or cities, or even other Pokemon, for inspiration for a painting. Instead... He was facing down a Goldeen. A measly Goldeen.
"Let's get this over with," he said, rolling his eyes.
He swirled one of his paintbrushes in the air, sending a flurry of Razor Leaves at the fish. The Goldeen air-swam out of the way and rammed a Horn Attack into Funky's side, but a second, up-close flurry finished her off. An Arrokuda was sent out in her place, but the second fish suffered a similar fate.
"Is this a joke?" said Funky.
Nessa sent out her Dreadnaw. Both the Drednaw and Funky ballooned to kaiju size via Dynamax power. Funky admitted it felt good. Inspirational even.
His thoughts were interrupted by a G-Max Darkness directly at his massive knees, causing his enormous body to stumble dangerously close to the crowd - not that this interrupted their frenzied cheering. Funky gritted his teeth and caused a massive burst of plant life to erupt beneath the Drednaw in a G-Max Overgrowth. The Dreadnaw let out a mighty roar of pain as the plants penetrated her shell. There was an explosion, and the Drednaw shrank back down to size, KOed. Funky shrank back down to size as well, smirking.
"Like I said. A joke."
------------
The crowd cheered, the music blared, the lights shone down on the battlefield... and HeInwald didn't really care. He was looking for traces of how this place allowed the Dynamax phenomenon, and was so engrossed in doing so he barely noticed the Ninetales in front of him.
"You going to fight me or not?" she said.
"Hm? Oh. My apologies."
He lunged forward with a Night Slash. The attack barely cut into the Ninetales' fur as she spat a Will-o-Wisp at him, burning him.
"Concerning," he said. He let out a Snarl, dampening her retaliatory Ember. And again to her Fire Spin. And again to her Quick Attack. A second Quick Attack eventually took him down.
Mantle was sent out in his place. He was excited! He was in his element! Literally! Quickly he Coiled in on himself to sheild himself from the Ninetales' Quick Attack. A Fire Spin was sucked into his body via Flash Fire. Finally he used Bite, biting down hard on one of the Ninetales' legs.This was too much, and the pain caused her to promply fall to the ground, fainted.
An Arcanine was sent out in her place. "Stay, puppy!" said Mantle as he lunged and Bit the much larger Pokemon. The Arcanine Bit back, and the two Pokemon kept wrestling and Biting one another until Mantle proved victorious.
"Alright, who's next? I'm ready to take on any-"
He was promptly recalled and replaced with Lir.
Lir promptly panicked. There were so many lights, so many noises. And a very powerful-looking Centiskorch right in front of him. He wanted to go back in the ball. The ball did not judge. It only hated.
It got worse when the Centicorch grew and stretched into a much more intimidating form, and Lir grew and stretched in turn. The massive centipede hit him with an overwhelming blast of heat that turned the temperature in the arena up by several degrees, and in turn Lir hurriedly dropped a pillar of rock on the Gigantimax Centiskorch. Weak Armor causing bits of his body to fall away, he promptly yelled and dropped another pillar of rock on his opponent. When the G-Max Rockfall crumbled away, the Centiscorch was normal sized and unconscious.
Lir couldn't believe his eyes. He'd done it! He'd defeated a scarier foe! He could get used to this kaiju thi-
He shrunk back down to normal. He was small and vulnerable again. Where was the ball when you needed it?
---------
Heinwald had a soft spot for Ghost types, as paranormal as they were. He felt it was his obligation to inspect them. But no, his trainer wanted him to fight this one, this Galarian Yamask in front of him. Ah well.
"Hold still a bit will you?" said Heinwald.
He lunged at the Yamask with a Night Slash, only for a twofold tingling feeling to creep up on him. It didn't take him long to deduce that not only had the Yamask stolen his Ability with Wandering Spirit, he'd also Disabled his Night Slash. His Trainer concluded the same, recalling him.
Upon entering the battlefield Uk was hit with a Brutal Swing. Uk did not care, it barely scratched him. What did phase Uk was all the lights and noise and worse of all PEOPLE. Uk wasn't used to this kind of attention - normally Uk fed on negative emotions, not the screaming frenzy of an excited crowd. But Uk wanted to make his Trainer happy, so...
"Uk no let you win!" he said as he slammed the Yamask with a Sucker Punch, taking him down. The crowd cheered, and Uk did as well... only to be recalled.
Duke was sent out next. Finally. He had been honing his blade-claws long enough, and he would finally be able to prove his worth in a gym battle. A Mimikyu was sent out to face him, and he scoffed.
"Glorified Pikachu-shaped eldritch sack of oats! You think you can face ME?!"
As the Mimikyu Honed its Claws Duke slashed at him with Metal Claw to break his disguise. Duke barely flinched at the following Shadow Sneak as he barreled through and struck the Mimikyu with an Iron Head, taking it down.
"Ha! Is that all you've got! I need stronger opponents! Give me more! MORE!"
His request for more was ignored as he was swapped for Uk, and the Mimikyu was swapped for Cursola.
"Hey!" said Uk. "Enemy look like Lir! Maybe I should go easy on her... NOT!"
He jabbed the Cursola with a False Surrender. The Cursola attempted to Curse him in response... Only to KO itself from the effort. Uk scratched its head.
"Uk confused."
He was promptly recalled and replaced with Heinwald, who found himself facing down a Gengar.
"I suppose this is the part where things... Escalate," said Heinwald.
Indeed Heinwald grew to massive size as the opposing Gengar transformed into a massive, gaping maw. Heinwald sent coils of G-Max Darkness at the Gigantimax Gengar while the Gengar spat a wave of G-Max ooze that would have smothered the crowd if not for the protective barriers in place. Heinwald was hurt, but also mostly annoyed. He sent another Max Darkness that shook the stadium, doing the Gengar in. The crowd cheered. Heinwald shrank back down to size and smirked.
Guess fighting Ghosts was ALSO worth his time.
----------
The pastel colors of the arena almost blinded Duke, but he didn't let it get to him. This was his finest hour. Members of the Galaian Meowth line were raised to be warriors, and now he would be a warrior on the grand stage.
Also this Galarian Weezing was looking at him funny and that would not stand.
"You dare cross the great Duke, slayer of Champions? I'll END you!"
The Weezing sneezed a Fairy Wind in his face, further incensing Duke to deliver an Iron Head to her floating form. The Weezing collapsed to the floor and was recalled.
"Ahaha! Come at me! I will end you all!"
A Mawile was sent out. This one gave him pause... Those jaws... He missed an exchange between his Trainer and Opal but he felt something cause his abilities to falter further.
"Warrior's retreat!"
He was swapped out for Mantle.
"Some warrior you are..." said Mantle.
He Coiled in response to the Mawile's Iron Defense, also guarding against her Crunch. A Flame Wheel straight into the Mawile's Iron Defense position caused the Mawile to skid back, Mantle was confident when -
"What do you mean pink isn't your favorite color?"
This outburst from his trainer made him realize he was far more vulnerable, and he Coiled again, the Mawile attempting to shake him around with Crunch. Finally he yanked the Mawile's jaws into another Flame Wheel, taking her out. Opal sent out a Togekiss in her place.
"Heh... Guess you are tough..." Mantle said. "But you aren't tough eno-"
There was an Ancientpower and he went down. Duke was sent back out, and was torn. On one hand, one of his comrades had gone down. On the other, he felt invigorated.
"DIE WEIRD BIRD"
He slammed an Iron Head into the Togekiss' face, ignoring the Air Slash in reply. The Togekiss fell out of the sky as the crowd cheered. An Alcreamie was sent out, but Duke felt invigorated and felt more so after Obal said something about liking his trainer's "answer." He felt strong.
And he felt stronger as he grew and stretched and his foe grew and stretched to gargantuan sizes. Now it was a battle of titans. Bright bursts of light that reverberated through the stadium hit Duke, and it only increased his bloodlust. Steel spikes ran from him to the Gigantimax Alcremie, impaling it, breaking its massive form and causing it to shrink down, unconscious.
Duke shrank down and gave a roar befitting a much larger cat mon. He had conquered this puny Fairy gym and all had seen it.
Meanwhile his Trainer scratched his head. "Can't believe the quiz was in the gym battle too..."
------------------
Mantle felt a little insecure. He could kind of feel he was falling behind a bit. No. No he wouldn't let such thoughts get to him. Especially not against this damn Frosmoth.
"I know you're all head but heads up!"
He used Flame Wheel, rolling through the Hail the Frosmoth cast and slamming into it for an instant KO. The crowd cheered. A Darmanitan was sent out in its place.
"You really think you can clear this gym with moves like that?" said the Darmanitan with a Taunt.
"Oh I sure can!" said Mantle, ramming into her with another Flame Wheel. It was then the Darmanitan's form shifted - to a bouncing, hopping mad firey snowman.
"Woah, you seem mad... Good!"
The Darmanitan attempted to clamp down on Mantle with a Fire Fang, only for Mantle's Flash Fire to absorb it and Mantle to wrap her up in a Flame Wheel, tossing her across the arena and knocking her out. Next came... a Eiscue.
"And what are you supposed to be?" Mantle said.
He rolled into her with another Flame Wheel, only to merely shatter the ice around her face as she spat an Icy Wind at him. Mantle spat in annoyance as as the Escue tried to hit him with a Freeze Dry before he coiled into another Flame Wheel and KOed her.
"Aw yeah, I'm on top!" said Mantle.
He was promptly recalled and replaced by Funky as the opposition sent out a Lapras.
Funky cocked an eyebrow at the creature. How did it move around on land?
The question remained unanswered as the two embiggened to massive sizes that towered over the crowd. Funky waved his paintbrushes in the Gigantimax Lapras' direction to summon a G-Max Overgrowth, thinking it would end it quickly. Instead the Lapras responded with a song, a chilling song that clutched at Funky's heart like ice.
The pain The song. He thought back to his old troop. How they all were supposed to be musicians, it was in their blood. But he didn't want to be a musician, he wanted to paint amnd draw, but they forced him to do what they wanted, scolded him, until he finally ran away. But this icy song ate at him, damaged him both physically and psychologically untill he finally cried out, his booming voice aweing the crowd and echoing beyond the stadium.
"NO! ENOUGH MUSIC! I AM A PAINTER!"
Another Max Overgrowth. The Lapras collapsed, shrunk, was recalled. Funky shrank as well, panting heavily, even as the crowd cheered. He felt... Relieved.
Maybe this Gym challenge was an even better inspiration for his art than he thought.
----------
Heinwald didn't like the look of this place. And this Gym leader was totally copying his hairstyle. But what was more concerning was this Scrafty. He was Intimidating, and Heinwald knew one good Fighting move would take him down.
"Uk, don't let me down."
The two swapped places, Uk coming out straight into a Brick Break.
"Ow! You break brick? Uk break spirit!"
He lashed out with a hair-whip in a Spirit Break, sending the Scrafty flying and knocking him unconscious.
Before Uk could celebrate Heinwald was sent back out, and found himself facing another Obstagoon.
"...I forgot the rest of my kind were this crude."
He hit the other Obstagoon with a Brick Break, only to be grabbed and slammed with a Counter that took him down instantly. Funky was sent out in his place.
"Of course I'm on cleanup duty..."
Funky's Brick Break did the job this time, nailing the Obstagoon in the head. Funky was then swapped out for Mantle as Piers sent out a Malamar.
"Alright you overgrown piece of calamari time to get yours!"
He clawed at the Malamar with X-Scissor, ignoring his Foul Play, causing the Malamar to screech and keel over.
"Alright who's nex-"
He was swapped for Duke, who was now facing a Skuntank.
"Your stench offends the way of the warrior! You will be defeated!"
A Sucker Punch glanced off Duke's migty beard as he burrowed beneath the Skuntank and attacked from below, and a second Sucker Punch didn't dissuade him from doing it again, taking the Skuntank down. Duke roared a victory cry before glancing around in confusion.
"No Dynamax this time? I wanted to be a GIANT warrior..."
--------
Galadriel looked at the Flygon and Gigalith before her as a sandstorm raged. Then at her partner, Uk.
"Fascinating... You're my partner again then?"
Uk nodded. "Uk happy to share limelight with team!"
"It is settled then."
She lunged at the Gigalith with a Smart Strike as Uk attacked the Gigalith with a False Surrender. Galadriel dodged a Steel Wing from the Flygon as the Gigalith threw up a Stealth Rock.
"Hey! Trainer say Stealth Rock cheating!" said Uk.
"Refocus on the Flygon!" said Galadriel.
The Flygon slammed her with a Steel Wing as it tried to swoop out of the way, but a Spirit Break and Dazzling Gleam did it in. The Gigalith hung on, and Body Pressed Uk to little effect. A Sandaconda was sent out in the Flygon's place.
"What we do now?" said Uk.
"Get rid of the Gigalith!" said Galadriel.
A Dazzling Gleam from her took him out and heavily tore into the Sandaconda, which failed to do much of an impression with its Glare. A Spirit Break tore into it further, but the Sandaconda hissed in defiance as a Duraldon was sent out.
"Uk, now's your chance!"
"What Gal mea-"
Before Uk knew it, he was a giant! He couldn't believe it! All the humans in the audience looked so tiny and cute! He wanted to pet the-
Uh-oh. The Duraldon looked like a building now.
Galadriel sent out another burst of Dazzling gleam, taking out the Sandaconda and cutting into the massive Duraldon. The Duraldon, however, sent out a Max Steelspike, causing Uk to keel over and shake the stadium before shrinking down and being recalled.
"Uk! No!" said Galadriel. "You will be avenged..."
"And I'll do the avenging!" said Duke, being sent out. "Aye, glorified high-rise! You don't hurt my friends."
"I'll hold him off!" said Galadriel. "You get the jump on him."
Galadriel bombarded the Duraldon with another Dazzling Gleam. The Duraldon's massive fist crushed Duke with a Max Knuckle, but by the time the fist lifted Duke had buried underground. Galadriel fired one last Dazzling Gleam before a Max Steelspike left her prone.
"Duke... I leave this to you..."
Suddenly, the earth beneath the Duraldon shook as Duke burst from it, clawing at the Duraldon's underside. The Duraldon gave an unearthly creak and moan before toppling over into the protective barrier around the crowd, then shrinking and being recalled into his ball. The crowd went wild.
Duke cheered! His and Galadriel's plan worked! He was the friend-avenger! His name would be legend for ages to come!
...Also he'd hopefully get skritches and treats from his Trainer.
--------------
Galadriel peered around this city of Wyndon; it was so very different from the forest Seigbert had found her in. She wasn't sure she was so fond of the pollution and the noise but the bustling Auras of the people and Pokemon there... They were fascinating.
Almost took her mind off the looming threat.
Heinwald had told her everything. The conspiracy to hide the true nature of the Sword And Shield and the dual heroes, the strange boy on a mission from the chairman... and she had seen some of it herself. The resurgence of rouge Dynamax Pokemon, the state of Spikemuth, the tremors, all of which they refused to let her handle...
She turned her horn from Wyndon back in the direction of Hammerlocke. She could still feel the immense power radiating from its spire, and how... unstable it was. She feared the worst. She hoped that Heinwald wasn't right.
That the Darkest Day wasn't coming back.
In the Glimwood Tangle, they told stories about that event. About the rampages as the astral projections known as Dynamax and Gigantimax went out of control. About... it.
She knew a resurgence would be devastating. But at the very least she had hope.
Her Team. Her Trainer.
-------------------
The crowd was extra-wild today. Why wouldn't they be? It was rising star Seigbert vs. long-standing Champion Leon. Funky understood this and yet he did not care. All he was concerned about was getting rid of the Aegislash in front of him.
"Don't blink that one eye of yours."
Funky slapped the Aegislash with a Knock Off only to take a Shadow Ball to the face. With an annoyed grunt, Funky slapped the Aegislash to the ground with another Knock Off, knocking him out.
"Hmph. Thought so."
He was recalled and replaced with Mantle, as Leon sent out a Cinderace.
"Hey, Funky told me about you!" said Mantle.
He Coiled in on himself, only to be sent flying by an Acrobatics. He was quickly swapped for Duke, who ate a Quick Attack with little effort only to be sent flying himself by a Pyro Ball. Uk was sent out and delivered a couple Sucker Punches before he too was felled by a Pyro Ball.
Galadriel was sent out. Pyro Ball tore into her even as she dodged an Acrobatics. Seigbert switched back to Mantle, but as soon as the Cinderace let loose another Acrobatics Heinwald was switched in in his place.
"You may have been able to fell my friends... But not me!" said Heinwald.
He slammed into the Cinderace with a Double Edge, smacking him into the side of the stadium, KOed.
Heinwald was then switched for Funky as a Sesmitoad was sent out. Funky smirked.
"Cake."
He let loose a Drum Beating, knocking out the Seismitoad easily. Leon sent out a Dragapult to replace it. While his Trainer was fumbling around in his bag for Max Revives, however, a jet of flame left Funky unconsious, and Mantle was sent back out. Mantle tanked a few Shadow Balls and lashed out with a Crunch.
"Man this guy is tough!"
He was swapped out again, for Uk. Uk withstood another Shadow Ball and Sucker Punched the Dragapult to metaphorical death. A Haxorus was sent out in its place, and slammed Uk with an Iron Tail, KOing him again. Mantle was sent out only to fall to an Outrage. Finally, it was Galadriel's turn.
"Your rage only makes me stronger!"
She absorbed the Outrage without the scratch, and then, in the Haxorus' subsequent confusion, took him out with a Dazzling Gleam. Then... came Charizard. It grew and stretched into Gigantimax Charizard, dropping a pillar of rock on Galadriel. She fell, and Heinwald was sent out.
"This ends now."
He grew and stretched to Gigantimax form. The Charizard buffeted him with a Max Aircurrent before Heinwald dropped Max Lightning on him... And the Charizard shrank back to normal. He grinned.
"Too bad."
He charged his foot with Max Lightning and stepped on the Charizard. When he lifted his foot the Charizard was unconscious.
Heinwald shrank down to normal. The crowd went nuts. His Trainer went nuts.
Heinwald, ever so subtly, allowed himself a small fist pump.
------------
Zacian stared into Galadriel's eyes as she steeled her resolve.
"If I must face you this way... So be it."
Zamazenta's Iron Defense did not stop a barrage of Dazzling Gleams, but a Behemoth Bash did. Mantle slithered into the battlefeild.
"We're fighting a Legendary AGAIN?"
He was sent skidding back by a Behemoth Bash, but retaliated with a Fire Lash, striking Zamazenta's hide. Zamazenta bit down with a Crunch, only to have her jaws singed by a second Fire Lash.
"Sigbert, NOW!" said Mantle.
A Luxury Ball was thrown, but torn asunder. Zamazenta bit down again, knocking Mantle out. Funky came out next, eyeing the situation warily.
"You might want to bring out the big guns."
At this, a Master Ball was thrown. It sucked Zamazenta in, wobbled three times, than clicked. Funky grinned.
"Something something unstoppable force meets immovable object."
---------------
And that's all of them! There might be a bonus down the line but that depends on if an in-game thing can stop kicking my ass.
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