Aphelli

That’s a nice chapter. Taka’s, um, reunion with ZEL goes as expected. I’m finding Eve a bit too emotional in that scene (Zero and Lumi are very in-character however), but you can’t really have her as a Florinia copy. Also, what’s that hacking scheme? More mysteries (or perhaps it was Matthew)... Matthew is quite reckless to be out of bed so soon, but he’s been more-or-less this way the whole story long, iirc. Wettham wasn’t much of a moderating influence either. I also like the idea of not everything happening to the Devon prisoner (you could have Taka witness Ame’s death, as part of the death trap intended for him, but Matthew did instead). And we’re bound to see Taka and Matthew teaming up for real, that’s great! Keep up with the good work.

It's time for a new chapter! As advertised, we get a bit of action in this chapter. Will Gabriel manage to defeat the Jasper PULSE? Or maybe find an unexpected way out of the situation? Also, I can't help but notice that the view counter keeps going up but nobody actually commented since about ten chapters ago. I'm assuming that some people go on reading but maybe there isn't any? Did I say/write the wrong thing somewhere? Is my protagonist boring, too unrelatable or too repetitive? Is the text too lengthy or too predictable? Is my English some Frankenstein-like linguistic zombie that devours the brains of anyone reading? Did you all leave when I started mentioning math? Are my pictures (or puns, or titles) repellent instead of merely clumsy? Anyway, here is the chapter: Chapter 20: F for Effort I felt dejected after leaving the police station. My assignment had been ill-defined from the start, but I wondered if I didn't actually prefer the ambiguity, as I was tasked with an impossible job. Worse, it was a matter of life or death. In stories, such situations made the lead character do their best, and pull off impossible feats of wit, stamina or strength. I mostly felt hopeless, and started wandering the Ward. Very quickly, I found myself walking away from the forest, in the wrong direction, barely aware of what was around me. As I was directly under some tree, I felt some sort of drop fall on my head. Putting distractedly my hand in my hair, I actually found something. Something smelly, colored in a foul dark green. Something thoroughly unnatural... I took two quick steps away from the tree, as an Alolan Grimer dropped from it. It seemed surprised to land on the pavement instead of somebody's head, but it recovered almost instantly from the shock and tried to leap at me. I managed to get Baby between the Grimer and me, and it took only a few moves to make him back off. I thought it was over, but I heard a Pokeball coming out and a Mudbray appeared. So somebody was sniping at me? Luckily, while the Pokemon seemed gifted, Baby and Mouse were more than a match for it and it didn't take long for them to win. I backed off, expecting the owner of the Pokemon to show themselves. "Damn", someone said from somewhere with a male, annoyed voice, maybe from one of the broken alleys around. "I'm not playing anymore. Show yourself." Fear fell upon me. I wasn't enthusiastic at the idea of being identified -- after all, he could, and probably would take out his defeat on me. I wasn't eager to start running either. Not only did the cracks and the vines make the ground treacherous, but I would also have to expose my back, which (according to stories, at least) wasn't a great idea. So I decided to hide behind the trees from which the Grimer had jumped, paying cautiously attention to my surroundings, including upwards. Fourtunately, there was nobody there, and I was able to observe my former opponent as he came out of hiding. I felt a terrible apprehension rise in my throat when I recognized the dark grey uniform and the black hood. Meteors. How great. From a more positive outlook, however, this finding increased the possibility that another, similar, but more developed, PULSE, was to blame for the situation. It probably wasn't some Ent uprising. The Meteor took some sort of walkie-talkie -- that was so well-planned, why didn't I have one -- and spoke words of dread, still while looking around. He didn't seem to see me, who was hidden against a tree and trying to peek. "There's a suspicious person in the area. They're a Trainer, with at least a Loudred and a Herdier. Not too bad. Over." A buzzing noise was all I could make out. The grunt put the device against his ear and waited. "No, I think not. What are the instructions?" Noises again. "Roger that." he put the device away. Then he turned at the trees and spoke loud and clear. "I didn't hear you escaping, whoever you are, so you're probably there, even though I can't see you. I would get away from that place right now if I were you." As if it were so simple. "The plants are going to rip what's left of that place to shreds." Oh no. "They're all going to die, but you don't have to go with them." These words froze me. I tried to get away from the grunt, still remaining under tree cover, but didn't succeed. He was too close, and the tree strip wasn't wide enough. "You know, you can come out, I pretty much don't care, I've done my job. But you've been spotted. We'll look out for you now. We'll ambush you and defeat your purpose, whatever it is." And I was trapped behind the trees, as I didn't want him to see me. But I couldn't remain much longer playing peekaboo. So I took a candy bar to give me some courage, and moved as silently as I could out of the tree line, on the side of the police station. The grunt kept his eye on the trees, and, very nervous, I walked until I was sufficiently far from him to be hardly seeable, as it was almost night, then ran into the next alley I could find. That had been much too close. But I had gathered valuable information. Which the police probably already had, my inner skeptic commented. Regardless, this was heavy evidence favoring the theory that this plant uprising was similar to the Meteor-engineered one back in Obsidia. Therefore, I should be looking for a PULSE. The Chief had stated that the assault had come from the forest. The logical conclusion was that I should look for this hypothetical PULSE there. Or that I let the actual people whose job it is to protect the inhabitants, the policemen, handle it. They probably already knew about it anyway. There wasn't a real way to the forest. In what seemed like the main path, many trees had grown, and nasty-looking weeds, the offspring of the unearthly plant growth, were occupying the rest. So I went to the forest by a winding route. It took me in dark alleys, led me to have Wolfgang cut a few trees, plunged under ruins of fallen buildings (although I tried to minimize that part, as the atmosphere there was oppressive and I was forced to find my way by feel, as it was darker than the night), but I was able to get there. And then I realized why the police hadn't been able to break the PULSE. The Malchous Forest was... more than invaded by the PULSE-bred plants. It was more than taken over. It was... colonized, there hardly was another word for it. Countless vines formed as many layers of fortification. I felt at a loss. Who was I to stand a chance against such numbers? Such odds? And yet, someone had to do this. Maybe the plants wouldn't react too aggressively if I just slipped by? I started making my way in this very dense, quite oppressive, new vegetal environment. The vines resisted pressure, but, not without effort, I was able to push them one by one, and thus progress through the forest, towards the hypothetical location of the hypothetical PULSE, deep in the woods. But my advance was slow and difficult, and, while I was growing more and more tired, the plants were starting to organize, bracing themselves to resist my push, or waving so threateningly that I didn't want to try and antagonize them too much. As a consequence, my way was anything but straight (something which the very irregular layout of the vines and the darkness made very difficult in any case). After over an hour of asserting myself against one plant, and the other, my arms and back were protesting so much that I couldn't take it anymore and had to make a stop. I stood against a luckily placed lone tree and tried to rest my strained muscles, while getting my breathing in order. The forest was quiet and dark, all the more so because of the high density of thick tree trunk-shaped vines and because the night had completely fallen. It hadn't been light exercise I had been doing, and this drove me to doze off. It was so surprisingly peaceful... No cold wind, I wasn't too chilly, if a bit sweaty, due to my physical effort... The buzzing of bugs in the distance... They went wherever they liked... A great life... As, while falling asleep, I subconsciously focused on these inconsequential sounds, they seemed to become more and more noticeable. They were hardly a distant buzzing at first, then I managed to half-consciously make out several patterns, based on small pauses and pitch of the vibration, then I started hearing air rushing to my ears, then I saw a darker shape before my two-third unfocused eyes... The air hissed. There was the sound of a brutal impact on something soft, and a moan, all of which jolted me awake. I started when I realized that, not two feet from me, a fallen Beedrill was lying motionless, the abdomen flattened and leaking yellowish blood, its delicate legs twisted at impossible angles. I cautiously knelt near the Pokemon, but it looked beyond saving. I started to feel nauseous. And then terror rushed. I had to leave this instant. "Bugger. Couldn't it wait two minutes?" someone with a feminine voice nearby complained in my back. Adrenaline rushing, I turned back, trying to see who was there. I only could see a dark shape, at the very edge of the tiny clearing around the tree. "I know you're there. You've escaped us once, but you won't make it far from here. You are trapped." I needed time to think, I realized. To get my mind back. To process information. "Who are you?" I asked, with a stressed out tone. There was a second's worth of silence, then the voice answered again. "I remember you. You were the useless guy that attacked the factory. We've warned you, and you're not going to escape a second time." Crap. A Meteor. It would be really dumb to engage her on a terrain she so thoroughly was in control of, so I had to leave fast. I called Wolfgang out. "Start cutting a way through the vines", I whispered to him. "Try going in... that direction" I added, pointing roughly at where I thought was the Jasper Ward. I felt a draft near my neck, on my left. Something had been flying very close to me, but too fast for me to see. There was only one good counter. "Batley, please force this flying Pokemon off me. Confusion!" The Swoobat got out of her Pokeball, soared in the air and quickly identified her target, as it was the only other flying Pokemon close by. It attempted to target the unprotected Wolfgang, who was bravely cutting his way through the unbelievable tangle of increasingy agitated, and angry, vines. However, Batley flew straight at the Pokemon, and the Psychic attack seemed to quite damage it, as it broke off and tried to flee towards me again. Batley didn't leave the Golbat the time to have a bite at me, and took it down with another Confusion. Whew. I started walking towards the path Wolfgang had created, but I realized that my feet were almost glued to the grass. "A commendable aerial battle," the Meteor commented. "However, I can only recommend that you learn to better watch your surroundings. One might," she added, and could hear her smile, "find it easy to land a String Shot on you." Double crap. I could see her now, with my impediment it would be easy for her to take me as a prisoner or hostage or something, if not straight out murder me, Arceus. I tried to take the string off me with my hands, but it was too sticky and I barely managed to free my hands (returning to the status quo), which were so sticky that they could probably retain water now. I had to do something. "Something" finally amounted to a desperate thrashing around with my legs, hoping against hope I could free myself, hoping that the string wasn't made for my weight class. And fortunately, it wasn't and gave way. I instantly ran for my life, in the path Wolfgang had created. The weakened string couldn't hold my feet again to the ground. It couldn't compare to the desperate energy terror was filling me with. And when I caught up with Wolfgang, I managed to push the plants out of my way with more desperate strength than I previously had, using only my elbows and legs for fear of finding myself glued to a plant. But the adrenaline-fueled energy ran out more quickly than I had hoped. I was out of breath, every plant was harder to push around than the previous one, many of them were fighting back, trying to swat me aside like a frail Beedrill, and I had to watch in every direction, duck, push back, or simply take the blow where it wouldn't hurt too badly. Worse, Wolfgang was growing tired and I recalled him. It probably took forty grueling minutes, where I had to focus on my breathing before I got out of this nightmare, and managed to catch a break against a broken building. I was back in the Jasper Ward. My legs ached by the effort they had made to fight the glue in the String Shot and the dash on the unequal ground of the forest. My arm muscles and my back were sore due to all the vine pushing around, added to my previous injuries. My neck was aching due to all the moves I had had to do to avoid getting hit in the head. The rest of my body was hurt on general principle, pretty much everywhere. My hands felt sticky and dirty. I was so tired I probably could have passed out on the spot, but a man's screaming prevented me from doing that. It came from inside this very building I was standing against. At such a strange angle, being inside the building felt a bit like exploring underground ancient ruins. The structure was made of different rooms, rather open to one another. It was pitch black, so I had to call on Leaf, for her Flame Charge to periodically light up the place. Sound also tended to echo a lot, a very disturbing occurrence which made locating the plea's origin harder. However, the building ultimately wasn't very big, and I finally found the screaming person. They had good reason. They were wrestling with an ugly, massive, and highly aggressive Alolan Raticate, that felt like eating them (or at least, it looked this way). For some reason, they were lying on their back, struggling to not let the Pokemon get at their vital organs. I didn't think and tried to kick the Pokemon away with my full body's weight, something that should have worked beautifully. I got the Raticate in its fat flank instead (I didn't dare aim at its face and big, ugly teeth), and barely dislodged it. Furious at being deprived of its meal, it leaped at me. Panicked, I stepped backwards, tripped over some debris, fell on my back, and could only witness in naked terror as it sprung at me. Instead of eating my face, it was beautifully intercepted by Leaf, which was originally making light, but whom the repeated Flame Charges had considerably quickened. She delivered a vengeful Double KIck to the rat monster, fainting it. I rose to my feet, every part aching now, and trembling in tension. But I still knew what to do. "Are you okay?" I went asking the man. I noticed he had bruises all over his face, a few with dried blood, including a black eye, and that he was wearing a torn blue uniform. The logic asserted itself. "Are you a police officer?" "I am brused and bitten, but I'll manage." he panted. "I was kidnapped by a Meteor. He threatened to have his Raticate eat me if I moved. When he went away he left his rat guard me. I tried to run, it attacked me, and you came. Thank you." What a dreadful fate it would have been, I thought. "Can you get up? There has to be a way to the police station. You'd be safe." "I know... a shortcut." he panted less heavily, mastering his breathing again. "Help me up."

Reborn works with 7th gen (US/UM) move progressions, not the 8th gen (Sw/Sh) ones. According to Bulbapedia, your Swoobat should learn Psychic at level 41.

If you want to keep it light (there are plenty of reasons to make the inside dark), I have a few ideas: "And another thing" / "Mostly Harmless" "If Voldemort played Reborn" "When Gandalf met Meteors" "Life in Loopyland" "Fail better next time" / "Striving to fail better" "The All-you-can-try Life." "You only die so many times." "The fair fare for failing" / "That price isn't right" I'm not sure how you feel about any of them (I'm very bad with titles), but I hope at least you have fun reading them.

Yeah, it becomes really not-obvious when you have to write this part. But I’ve got a consistent (if maybe far-fetched) explanation / theory: (at least, I don’t remember any canon fact that invalidates any of it) Actually, at this point, Heather is relatively pretty bad. She barely had a Pokemon ever. The Salamence, as well as the rest of her E4 team, is her mother’s, an actual, accomplished E4 member. (Thus explaining why a certain somebody thought Corey suitable for Ruby Ring safekeeping.) In Reborn-verse, we already know that Pokemon power trumps trainer talent (else, it’s pretty strange how Sigmund’s patients got E4 ranks while in there — and that explains also why 3 E4 members out of four are below 20-ish). So Heather simply “inherited” her mother’s unbelievably strong and experienced Pokemon. On the other hand, against Corey, she only has a single Salamence out there, who has barely battled since Elena’s death, so the dragon is rather out of it. Furthermore, Heather is riding the Salamence, seriously restricting its moves. Moreover, she’s using it against Corey, who probably saw it in battle many times and knows exactly what not to do. Finally, Heather (through Salamence) has to protect herself against a Crobat attack, so the Salamence can’t attack too recklessly. TL;DR: Heather attacks riding her Pokemon, hampering its mobility and power, making herself vulnerable, against an enemy that (unbeknownst to her) knows the Salamence better than she does. Edit: I realize (after reading Lua’s comment in another topic) that the argument isn’t significantly weakened if you assume that Heather has been training the Salamence regularly. Still, I think it would be in character for Corey to keep Elena’s Pokemon away from her and if she only got them very recently.

I think it’s all her mother’s Pokemons, who obey her because of... reasons? I’m assuming Gym Leaders and E4 are exempt from level caps.

That’s a good interpretation, but I think it’s incomplete. Look at what happens before the battle (the quotes aren’t literal, obviously, but iirc the idea is there): Heroes: “stop right here, you’re evil and we’re heroes so we will thwart you.” Solaris: “Wow, I am totally not impressed.” Heroes: “Well, go get beat up by [PC] and we’ll talk then.” Solaris: “[PC]? I will not need more than a single Pokemon to delete them.” Meaning he probably hasn’t only Garchomp. Our (hypothetical) victory is “inconsequential”, not only because the eruption is going to happen very soon, but also because it results of a ”challenge” Solaris imposed to himself. Note also that Solaris inflicted really serious damages to Amaria while fleeing a battle he was losing. There is no question that he could kill us during a battle, whether or not he was losing, and Solaris knows we’re much weaker than Amaria. So he knows that, on the volcano, no matter how many Pokemon we still have, our actual protection level is negligible. The battle is inconsequential because both outcomes are identical for Solaris. Either way, he’s just as relatively strong, threatening and in control of the situation (especially with his, um, plant).

I had never considered it, but I have to admit it might make sense. If it is the case, though, we are probably going to get a gruesome death (or fate worse than death or whatever) related to the discovery. Perhaps Fern will get killed, perhaps Florinia (because he cares for her in his own way), perhaps Aya (easiest because a hostage), perhaps someone else. But it would be very unlike this game to let Fern pull that off without any of the “good guys” dying.

That doesn’t seem to make sense. Either way, as you look at the overworld sprites, story-wise, the Garchomp is unharmed or barely harmed (Solaris must have had a Max Revive or something). Even if we took down the Garchomp, Solaris has five Pokemon just as strong, any of which is able to effortlessly kill the player (or anyone on the volcano for that matter). It’s absurd if he decides to kill us if we lose (and thus get incinerated in the imminent eruption regardless), but spare us if we win (ie are more dangerous to his plans).

Indeed, for that instance (that in the linked video of Andracass) of the Devon Square Puzzle, there is a shorter (18-move) solution: First we start with the first square which is 629 134 578 Column 3 Down #make the W-E and NW-SE sums correct Line 3 Right Column 2 Up Line 3 Left #we permute the 2,3,5 so that we get a magic square Now the left square is good: 638 159 274 Now onto the right square, which is originally 475 829 316 First step is doing: Column 5 Up Line 1 Left Column 5 Down Line 1 Right and the right square is 427 859 316 We're nearly done, all we have to do is switch 2 and 9. Except that for mathematical reasons it's impossible to do without messing up the left square. There's probably a more elegant way to complete the puzzle, but actually we switch two pairs: 2 and 9 as well as 3 and 7, which then becomes possible. Line 3 Right Line 3 Right Column 6 Down Line 3 Left Line 3 Left #permute "downwards" 7,9,3 We get: 423 857 916 Line 2 Left Line 3 Right Column 5 Down Line 3 Left Line 2 Right #permute "downwards" the displaced 2,7,9 And that's it. As promised, the 18-move solution: 638 493 159 852 274 716 ********************************************** And a shorter (19-move) solution to the other version of the puzzle as well. I haven't tested them in-game because I don't have a savefile that advanced, but they satisfy all the rules so they should be good. It's slightly trickier than the other one, because the squares aren't each stand-alone, so we have to make them so. The starting position is 496 125 583 779 241 638 Line 1 Right Line 1 Right Column 2 Down Line 1 Left Line 1 Left We get: 496 124 553 779 281 638 Column 3 Up Column 1 Up Line 2 Right Column 2 Down Line 2 Left We get: 583 124 951 779 426 638 Line 2 Right Line 2 Right Column 1 Down Line 2 Left Line 2 Left We get: 483 124 951 759 726 638 Again, the left square is done and to complete the right one, all we need is permute 2,1,7. Line 1 Left Column 4 Up Line 1 Right # permute "upwards" 2,7,6 Column 4 Down #permute "downwards" 1,6,2 and we are done in 19 moves. The things I'm willing to do to procrastinate...

It's been a while since my last full playthrough, and I remember surprisingly few hard battles overall. I assume the sheer number of defeats drowned out the victories in my mind. Some of them, however, remain egregious, but they remained so only mostly because of sole-purpose mons (or stupid strategies such as collapsing the field on Luna's ace). So I can't recall when, or how, a long-standing member of my team singificantly contributed to a win. Examples include how I used a (surprise, that's so original) Prankster Murkrow to disable most of single-Pokemon boss fights, how a Klingklang destroyed Serra, how a tag team of Excadrill and Alolan Muk carried a lot of weight starting from the return to Reborn (and incidentally defeated Adrienn as I wasn't even trying at 3am), how a Baton Pass Girafarig, X items, and a Kaimorse teamed up to sweep Ciel (and even now I don't think I have a reliable strategy for her, as her Pokemon are both bulky and powerful), how Amaria barely managed to damage a couple of Ferrothorn and M-Venusaur. About the consistent key players in my runs, I think I should mention Swampert: as my starter Pokemon (also the first starter Pokemon I chose, about fifteen years ago), it did a lot of work throughout the entire game, because of its movepool, offensive stats, and relative bulk. Of the same kind (but hitting hard completely diffeent Pokemon, and using the amazing talent Intimidate), is Scrafty. I'm giving honorable mentions to Kricketune (in the category "early-game enemy wiping") and Meowstic (for support, Prankster screens, Rain Dance for Charlotte, and Fake out for Shelly).

Overall, you make very good points. I never thought "azure hair" could apply to Amaria, but I suppose it fits in the appropriate timeline. I can't say I am too pleased with your hit list (please, anyone but Noel... or Shelly, or Laura, or Heather, or anyone else under 21-- that's the age under which you really shouldn't be fighing a war, right). You provided a good rebuttal for the "no postgame without a living PC" argument, as they could be resurrected somehow (I really wouldn't be thrilled if that were the case). The Rejuv argument doesn't convince me either (IIRC Jan doesn't work on Reborn, so I doubt they actually asked Ame if the PC would be living through the game). Still, the PC finally succumbing to the overwhelming odds stacked against them doesn't feel right to me, even though I can't explain it. Probably just wishful thinking, especially since the Void thing (nobody bothered explaining what it was, though an actual back hole doesn't let people out intact). Terrorist organizations don't work like... Star Wars or Doctor Who story corpora (that's a pretty stupid comparison, but it's funnier than a lot of others). There isn't a "true" or "false" leader. All the power is, at every instant, up for grabs. Solaris wasn't anymore in control in Meteor the second he let Lin disrespect him or Sirius recruiting people on his own. Titania stabbed Taka from behind because for some unexplained reason, he put on a helmet and made himself undistinguishable from Lin (whom she knew was running around, wanting the bracelets and threatening her). And he knew firsthand (well, almost) that Titania had no issue whatsoever with killing Meteors (it's almost a shame she didn't slaughter the whole assaut team in the Fiore Mansion). It's sad to say, but with such, um, toxic higher management, there seems to be little hope for Team Meteor to be reformed from within. They function more like an enabling ring, normalizing even the most heinous actions (the assault on Tanzan Cove being one of the most clear-cut, morally speaking, showoffs in the game). Look at Simon: Tara's loss broke him down, but he can't acknowledge the reality of what they, what he did. The best we can hope for is probably that the PC brings a bunch of sane therapists from afar and put them to work with the former (and still living) members. I do agree with how sad it is about people dying. Fern or Blake dying, for instance, no matter how much one feels they got it coming, would shatter the "good guys" Florinia and Cal, in their slow and uncertain path towards sanity. I believe that Radomus and Bennett's actions mandate a slow and excruciating death, but these would destroy respectively the twins and Serra and Laura (and by extension unbalance even more the other Belrose sisters). Zero and Sirius have more than earned a similar death, but that would accomplish nothing. Just add more pain to the world. Anyway, nice idea with the Jirachi. It seems a bit far-fetched, but it provides an explanation for her words. The only thing that confuses me is that when you defeat Solaris on Mount Pyreous, literally nothing changes to the story. Except later, but there isn't a wish-worthy consequence to failing on Mount Pyreous.

Time for the next chapter! This is definitely not at all clickbait, but there is still a bonus chapter (maybe a slight anticipation of what's in store for Gabriel, maybe somebody else's viewpoint) if someone solves the math problem in chapter 16. Or, you know, you could just wait and I'll probably post one anyway. To be honest, that chapter is a bit of a short-ish filler. In my current outline, the action happens mostly in chapters 20 and 21, there's a slight pause, then the climax of the Beryl Arc (and Part 1) is set for chapters 24, 25, and 26. That's not set in stone though. And no, the title is in no way a horrific pun on a game I've only vaguely read about. Chapter 19: Biomass Effect In retrospect, I was really amazed by all I did in order to delay my going to the Jasper Ward. I held a long training session, where I oversaw Mouse's evolution into a bulkier Herdier, and where I sped Antum, my Railway-originating Klink, and Sicy, the deceptive ice cream cone, up to a level where they wouldn't be too lost. The training session also resulted in Hex and Batley both evolving, making them more reliable, powerful, and sturdy members of my team, something which I would doubtlessly come to need in the Jasper Ward. If I were honest with myself, I was starting to feel bad about delaying such an important assignment. I had been tasked to help with a growing threat against the very place I couldn't leave; if I played truant, it would become an existential threat, until it grew out of control altogether. Better a fighting death than a life in chains, they said. Had they thought about the same situation? Where death was the most likely short-term outcome either way? Where the choice was between death while fighting, and being squashed by a demented plant? Such gleeful thoughts, only made grimmer in the dwindling light, went through my mind as I was making my resigned way towards the north of the Peridot Ward, until I came to the first police blockade. I wasn't alone with the policemen, as there already was a very animated talk between them and some guy in a lab coat again -- was it a fashion accessory for would-be scientists? "Look, we've let you in because you could help us, we've taken risks to protect you, you got one colleague in real trouble, and all you're telling us is that you got it wrong and you need to start over?" one officer roared, his animated face visible even in the scant lighting. "Listen, I'm sorry. I'm not saying I'm didn't do anything wrong, but someone just messed up my Pokegear with an untested app update that broke data collection. I'm confident I can get the analysis to run again in a couple of hours, it's nothing?" the scientist replied. "And how many comrades are we going to need to sacrifice for that analysis?" the policeman almost sneered. "If even it's going to help us. You've had your chance and you wasted it. You're not coming back." the policeman went on, annoyed. The scientist looked dejected. He tried to keep looking at the policeman, to keep protesting, but he wasn't really convincing, and it was plain that the policemen wouldn't even make eye contact. The scientist noticed me and my puzzled look and commented simply: "It's a shame. Somebody's been releasing an untested app update on the Pokegear. I was trying to run some data analysis about... the situation in Jasper. But the update caused everything to reboot, wreaking havoc on the config files and the metrics. So they booted me out. At least", he added bitterly, not noticing my dismayed expression, "everyone will know about the Factory Field, as long as the update didn't erase that data." I didn't get the chance to answer, as the policeman turned to me. "Yes?" he asked in a weary voice. "What's it about? Jasper is off-limits for now, it's too unsafe." I took a deep breath, and answered with a very unconfident voice: "I was sent by Florinia. I think I'm supposed to assist you with the plants, or something?" "I heard about that. They're saying you put an end to the floral kerfuffle in Obsidia?" "It was dumb luck." I replied quietly. "I'm not exactly sure what you were told, but if I can advise and assist, I'll do it. I'm not very confident about managing to do it again." "Advise and assist?" the officer chuckled humorlessly. "There's little to assist or advise. What do you think there is in the Jasper Ward?" "I heard that," I started, uneasy, "the plants had devastated it?" "These are merely words." the scientist, the presence of which I had forgotten. "I can't tell you about it. It's... more than a sorry set-up, it's a nightmare. " "The Beryl Ward is where it all started. Of course, it's even worse there." the policeman completed. "Like in Obsidia, plants started going crazy all of a sudden. But we couldn't catch it early in Jasper and Beryl, as you somehow managed. And we can't evacuate the trapped citizens here -- you'll see why. We have only three purposes. Watch each other's back, keep civilians out, and stop it all. That's why we're glad to have you here." What were they expecting? That I stepped in, and managed to singlehandedly destroy a monstrusouly powerful machine that could devastate an entire neighborhood? But the question went deeper: what had Florinia been thinking? She had to have known my mission would be of the "locate and destroy" rather than any kind of advice. Had she deliberately misled me? It was, alas, entirely plausible. Fully aware that I was heading past the likely point of no-return, that it was likely to be my literal funeral, I said, in a dull voice: "I'll come." Because I knew that there just wasn't a safer option. "I'm on watch here." the policeman answered, pointing behind him. "The Ward is about a mile and a half past there. Don't worry too much about the vines until you get near the broken buildings, but don't go poking the vines either, because they're real nasties when taunted." What little guts I had were making themselves scarce, as I walked on, very worried. At first, the area was desert, without any construction, and very little flora, mostly small bushes and patches of grass, without any sign that everything was amiss. Then, as I went on, abnormal manifestations of flora would become increasingly frequent, such as vines as tangled as bushes, or heavy immobile vegetal tendrils, completely supple and woodless, lying on the ground. These modest displays, as I was striding nervously in the slight twilight light, were steadily growing, first to pine tree-shaped vine tangles that were taller than me, then to assemblies of such structures, linked by multiple aerial vines, wider than tree trunks. These seemed to be the ultimate gall on the Jasper Ward. When I reached the Ward, I realized what the police officer and the scientist meant. It was horrific. It was insane. It was... mind-breaking. It was, I thought, like seeing a prosperous ancient kingdom being pillaged and ruined in less than a day. But it was more than that: it had to be your place, the one you've alwys lived in, its culture and ideals which were your mind's roots and sape... All of them reduced to naught, broken, defeated... Obliterated. Reduced to mere entropy. For centuries, mankind had striven to master nature, to learn the secrets it had gathered due to chance, to duplicate and improve its processes, to make it harmless, to turn it into a tool... Lately, the mindset had somewhat shifted, and nature had been let be, but nature claiming lives or property was still an anomaly, or an "act of Arceus", an error to be taken care of. And here, nature had taken action, struck back at civilization, and reclaimed its land. More than a few parts of my brain flashed yet-unknown alarm signals, knowing the event was but a prelude to a collapse of home, that I would need to search for a welcoming cave somewhere near, for fear of what came out at night... Don't forget it could as well have been PULSE-wielding Meteors, I tried to force my brain out of its crash mode. The Ward was... invaded, there wasn't really another word. Most of the buildings were either broken in half, the once-higher part lying, massive and inaccessible, near them, or plain torn to pieces. There usually were several of these vine camps around each inhabited piece of debris, threateningly waving at nearby people, such as myself, even though there wasn't any wind. It felt as though these vine camps were the foreguard of an occupation army. But, as any foreguard, they weren't alone. Middle-sized trees had seemingly sprouted as fast as mushrooms, and were everywhere, making moving in the broken town difficult and hazardous. Flora's army, reclaiming its land. That sounded nice in my head. Maybe there could be a story about that. One of the very few buildings not destroyed was, ironically, the police station. I assumed I had to go there first, to hear about the situation, or objectives, even though I knew there rather weren't any. Regardless, I needed to make my presence known, if only so that, if it went wrong, they knew they would have to search for me. The police station hadn't been destroyed, but it had incurred some damage. The walls were cracked, the windows had been shattered and fixed with cardboard, and the power was out, so there were a few candles, dimly lighting the room. Only one person was inside, sitting at a prominent desk, with one ominous candle on each side, their elbows on the desk and their head in their hands. Nevertheless, they noticed my entering at once and said with a clear voice, and a practised tone: "Greetings." he drew his hands out and faced me. "I am the Chief of the Reborn City Police Department. Although civilians affairs are of the highest importance to me, I am afraid I cannot take any requests at this time. Our force is already highly overextended, and I am afraid that we cannot spare the manpower at this moment. Especially with more missing turning up each day." "It's not about that," I answered shily. "I think you've been told about me, I'm..." I took a deep breath. "I'm the one Florinia..." "Oh, yes." he answered. "In this case..." he took a closer look at me. "Look, I'll give you the picture." He stood up, and took the cardboard protection out of the left window, and pointed it at me. "Six full days ago, the inhabitants of the Beryl Ward, northeast from here, woke up with a plant army inside the Ward. There was an understandable mad panic, but we managed to relocate most of the inhabitants to the Jasper Ward, and stockpile supplies there. However, we weren't able to stop the plants, and they ransackled Beryl. So we focused on building defense lines at the border, places where plants couldn't grow." "We had to pour massively damaging chemicals on the ground, which was of course, a disgusting thing to do, but the plants were so aggressive that we only thought of defending that line. And then..." his expression went sadder. "The night of the attack on Grandview Station, the same thing happened to the Jasper Ward. We were busy with the investigation and couldn't take the same measures. The plant army grew in the Malchous Forest, westwards, in the night, and by the time we were aware of it, it already was even stronger than in Beryl..." His voice broke and his head lowered, as in shame. "We couldn't even evacuate everyone. So many coordinated vines were uprooting buildings, and smashing them on the ground, or just tearing through them until they broke in two or collapsed... And they assaulted us when we tried to get close, to try and save the inhabitants. They still do that." He now looked down, and weary. "Every day since, we've sent men to look and rescue survivors. And each time, less come back." God. "If ever they so decided, they could wipe the Ward out without us being able to do anything. I'm not too sure why they haven't. At least," he sighed, "many citizens were asked to stockpile, so there's a good chance that part of the citizens trapped in their homes are alive. " "Do you think they're natural," I asked, "or that, as was the case in Obsidia, someone is manipulating the plants?" "I've lived for a while, and it's the very first time I hear about such a situation." the police chief answered. "And the plants' reactions... don't feel too alien. I'm inclined to think somebody's pulling the strings." "That's probably a stupid question, but why didn't you set the plants on fire?" I asked, curious. After all, I had been scared to use fire in Obsidia, but the situation was worse here. "We've decided that it wasn't worth burning all of the trapped civilians alive. That a blaze strong enough to halt the invasion was very likely to spread to the rest of Reborn City." "So", I asked, as I felt I couldn't delay it anymore. "What can I do to help?" "What can you do?" he commented, chuckling humorlessly. "Well, you can try and locate the source of the infection and shut it down. I would also like you to find some police officers which have gone missing in Jasper or Beryl." "You're basically telling me : 'do or die'." I pointed out. I wasn't sure about how I felt about that. Very uneasy, for sure. "Well," he answered darkly. "You're on Reborn City's last defence line against a plant assault. We're outnumbered and outmatched. If they win here, it's probably going to be over. So it's do or die for all of us." Character ratings:

I'm not too sure about other people, so I'll attempt to list all the reasons why I might dislike him. Then I'll give the reason why I do hate him. Up to the end of E17, his main (only?) appearances (in the ruins and in the cult sanctuary) are huge dei ex machina where the PC did all the work, got stalemated, and he and Gossip Gardevoir save the day without a sweat (and conveniently at the last minute). He's a very eccentric character living in a luxurious castle -- where exactly did he get the money, as a chess grandmaster doesn't have a grand salary -- and his support of the PC's goals is implicit at best. He carefully hides his actual goals while being very obvious at them existing. He actually kept the purple thingy he took from Elias, requiring us to trust him. Remember that Anna got badly sick when the Amethyst Pendant was snatched from her, and we were "entrusted" by the oldest character responsible to keep them safe (ie Saphira). He acts and speaks as if he knew exactly what was going on (and he likely has a better grasp than the PC) without bothering to explain (special points for the chess lingo when Gossip Gardevoir gets abducted, more special points for acting like a dummy throughout the exploration of the ruins, only to reveal that -- surprise -- he wasn't fooled). His Gym is annoying because we can barely move the pieces in the intended way or tell them apart (no, I am not salty at all). And his team is irritatingly bulky and strong, with horrific set-up moves (I don't need to go into detail). The actual reason why I dislike him so much, however, is

Lin may well die in E19, but I'm afraid of it happening. So far there hasn't been a death without some variety of tearful backstory linked, and they would have to amp that a bit (it's more or less the big bad, and it's the endgame). If we're really unlucky, she'll turn out to have been forced, as a child, to burn kittens alive until it went all out of control one day, her parents got burnt and her brain damaged. Actually, there are other characters in the game (such as Bennett and Radomus) that deserve, in my opinion, a slow and excruciating death for their heinous actions. The trouble is that, for instance, Bennett coming to harm is going to pain Serra greatly, no matter how much he deserved it. Such a penalty would also psychologically damage (spoiler for E18) I do agree that Sirius's karmic bill is overdue by about 18 episodes and 10 years in-game time, and I look forward to his demise. Solaris's story (up to E18) seemed quite good to me, so if his actions can cause his downfall I will be as pleased with Sirius. Also, Taka dying in the Reshiram route is indeed pretty unsatisfying (not to mention heart-wrenching). He has shown a considerable lack of spine, but he's been an invaluable ally. It would have been so much more satisfying to see him take a greater role in the further anti-Meteor assaults (and maybe get killed, but for a significant goal instead of some ploy that achieved literally nothing except his death).

I concur about it being an interesting read and I suppose I agree with a good part of it. Then again, you’re missing a huge swath of, um, interesting characters and I look forward to reading your opinions when you finish e18. To be honest though, I don’t have that many issues with people taking my money. It’s not because I don’t lose, it’s because I am a worthless save-scumming coward (and worse, I watched a playthrough beforehand so I knew all about the plot twists and random/insane boss battles). I beg to slightly disagree with you about Cal and Shelly (and some more, but I can’t make it spoiler-free). Cal’s not turning evil, he was a Meteor all along (and he didn’t tell you because he has a mound of issues – Shelly’s, the fact that he joined an evil terrorist organization so he can’t really quit, like in literally every story featuring that kind of organization). Shelly’s a bit weird. The thing is that in the state of Reborn, and taking her age into account, there’s pretty little she can be instead. She could be a middle-schooler, sure, but somehow I don’t think it would be much better for her. Her parents’ being completely missing from the picture is strange, though. We would have heard about her being an orphan, right?

The issue with Team Meteor is that the “current leadership” is pretty much made up with omnicidal maniacs (warning: do not look it up on tvtropes) who want to rewrite reality. I don’t think you can expect such people to actually keep their part in any deal. But even in the “old leadership”, the goal of “trap people and let them rot and starve to death” (when the actual objective is “simply” to drive them out) does not inspire me a lot of trust. So basically, I cannot see any reason to wilfully join. They wouldn’t give me anything I would care for (and neither would I, probably). Force (or threat or blackmail) might work, though.

I'm not sure what I can add to the comment before the previous chapter? Again, I'm welcoming all sorts of feedback. Please do not hesitate to criticize my English as well. Also, the delayed updates keep are due to studies taking over my available time. I'm not giving it up, just... slowing the story down (even more than the previous pace, I mean). There's also that chapter a few pages ahead that I'm struggling to write down, but hopefully I'll manage it sometime soon. Anyway, time for Chapter 18. Chapter 18: Freezer Logic Six minutes later, I was back at the anteroom with full marks on the test. I noticed first that the door was now unlocked, but I also found that the communication device could make calls elsewhere than the "Gym Access" terminal, given a suitable log on. I got Ame again on the other end, who actually provided me with useful information. Florinia, she explained, was an unusual Grass-type Leader. She was favoring the Desert Field (I recalled Julia had given me the information and I had entered it in my Pokegear before... Obsidia) and stall tactics over offense. Her ace, a Cradily I recalled seeing in the factory, an eternity and two days ago, was epitomizing her battle style, as a tank. It was, I mused, an unusual outlook on battling from a Grass Leader. Didn't they know Grass-types to be overall frail? I supposed I would find out either way. The Gym Arena was indeed desert-themed, and Florinia was already waiting for me at the end. What I wasn't expecting, however, was the audience. There were several rows of seats all around the battleground, with maybe twenty people watching. No pressure, then. I went to see Florinia, intending to ask about the spectators, if the battle had to be public. I should have known better, as she hit me with one of her unintelligible monologues. They had to be monologues, as speaking to someone was about making an effort to put yourself to their level. Look who's thinking, some new inner voice helpfully pointed out. "Welcome, Gabriel." she said as drily as ever. You would think she was giving directions to an engineering team, instead of greeting a person who, even by random chance, actually saved her life. "Your assistance in Meteor-related affairs is appreciated; however, that alone fails to merit the appropriation of a Badge. In order to determine eligibility for Badge-ownership, further testing is required. Do not mistake impartial application of these tests as unthankfulness. It is simply procedure. Accordingly, let us begin." In other words? Saving her from the Tangrowth wasn't enough to deserve a Badge, I had to go through the usual thing. Not unexpected. She motioned me to take my place on the other end of the arena, and started addressing the audience. Crap, I hadn't even been able to ask her to drive the spectators away. Too bad. "Audience, please take note on standard battling procedure. The demonstration will commence. Hypothesis: Subject displays insufficient data for conclusive success. Expected outcome: Failure." A science lesson as well as battling one. Neat. Wolfgang was my first Pokemon, facing her Maractus. While the latter was thinking of strategy by laying out Spikes, Wolfgang didn't bother with the planning and started Fury Cutting, taking his opponent out in two moves. Florinia then sent her Breloom, but Wolfgang, now in the flow, won with a single Fury Cut, almost not letting it act. Florinia's next choice was more interesting, if a bit late. It was a Ferroseed, able to use the Desert Field to get faster and bulkier. This enabled her to seed Wolfgang and set a Sandstorm up, but she still fell to two Fury Cuts. The Leader then chose to call a Cottonnee, which managed to disrupt Wolfgang's cutting series with a well-placed Protect. This effort, combined with the Ferroseed's Leech Seed, utterly broke Wolfgang's momentum, thus earning the Cottonnee enough time to defeat Wolfgang. As the Cottonnee had demonstrated that she could use Sand Tomb as an expression of her Nature Power, as Spikes were set up, I decided to send Batley next. The Woobat made short work of her opponent, and of Florinia's Cacnea who was her fifth Pokemon. Then, of course, was the time for her ace, Cradily. Ame had warned me that it had a very good bulk, so that I would struggle to defeat it directly. Luckily, several members of the team could use various means of weakening it, and I opted for Hex, my Gulpin, who poisoned it direly. The rest was mostly a matter of patience, as the Cradily couldn't last for too long. It put up a decent fight, but Leaf triumphed in the end, not without taking a few hits. That battle had been entirely different from Julia's. Julia had had decent defense and powerful offense, a fearsome combination against my team then, as it had neither good defenses, nor a reliable offense. Florinia was, as Ame predicted, overly defensive -- too much, as she wasn't prepared for what I had thrown at her. Overall, funnily enough, the battle might have been a good demonstration of why one shouldn't rely overly on knowledge and tactics. One may have preparation and strategy, one may have sophisticated Pokemon and language, but if they weren't able to take in the damage dealt by the other party, it was over. "Well fought." Florinia commented for me. "Challenger remains due to receive Canopy Badge." she then addressed more the class than me. "The Canopy Badge encourages proper behavior from Pokemon up to level 35." She motioned to me to come closer, showing me the Badge but remained addressing mostly the room, more than me. Was she training to be an actress, or something? Teaching was allegedly acting, I recalled. "Additionally, as per custom," she went on, presenting me the disk, "accept this TM. Nature Power varies based on the terrain and Field Effects in which it is used. To use it, one must exercise proper knowledge and understanding, a staple of an effective Trainer. Use it wisely." She turned fully to me, adding in a lower tone. "We need to confer. Please follow me to my office." I found it unexpected, but I obeyed, watching first the room emptying as Florinia was dismissing the audience. Florinia's office was nearby, on the first floor. As expected, it wasn't very large, merely functional. There were, carefully labelled, files all around the shelves, reminding me of the factory. "A short conversation with Ame brought me keener insight into you and your motivations. I, for instance, understood that you had little planning for the near future?" The question surprised me a bit, and made me rather uneasy. What was she heading towards? "No, I don't really. I mean, I was trying to get back home, but there's no way as long as the station is broken down. So, as Ame suggsted, I'm taking on the League challenge, for a change." "So I gathered." she replied noncommitally. "I actually have a request for you, if you do not have any other intentions." "What kind of request?" I asked with absurd caution. It was, after all, the reply she intended for me. "Because of my status as Leader and faculty at this school, I cannot stray far from it right now. However, there is still a crisis in the city." Florinia started. Oh. It was that kind of request. "As you no doubt know, the Jasper and Beryl Wards have been ransackled by the same machine as Obsidia." "No," I answered. "I didn't. How do you know it was the same machine?" "Very similar over-stimulation of flora life started four days earlier in these Wards. Whereas we caught Obsidia in a budding state, partly thanks to your actions, we were not so fortunate with those Wards." Arceus. "How 'unfortunate' was it?" I asked, trying to stray the conversation away from what, alas, might be Florinia's request. "About ninety percent of all infrastructure is nonfunctional. From the latest reports, less than thirty percent of construction is still standing. Emergency crews are ill-equipped to take action in such a predicament." Note to self: do not let myself get guilt-tripped into going there, for any reason. "Hence, my request. Being that you alone have had the successful experience of terminating the previously active project, I ask you venture to the Jasper Ward. I am not asking you to ascertain whether a similar plot lies behind the destruction there. I am merely requesting you to counsel the police in resolving the situation they are confronted with." "Why do you think I'll be able to help?" I couldn't help but ask. "I got lucky, once. Anyone could have done as much. I can't see any reason why I would tempt fate any more." I added, more for rhetorical effect than with utmost sincerity. "You can be reminded of a few such motives, as I have little doubt that you have not yet pondered them." No... "First, I was given by Ame the full rundown of your qualifications. If theoretical, they aren't unimpressive, when compared to your age." Fallacies. There just wasn't a point in comparing math-related achievements and ability to resolve such hopeless predicaments. "Second, psychological damage is a likely fallout of guilt over fear-based inaction." Possibly. That was a risk I was rather willing to take. "Third, if the assault on Jasper is not stopped, it is most liable to spread to Peridot, thus shrinking the odds of having the railway station repaired." I knew that, but it still seemed stupid. "If anything, you would be taking a positive action towards going back home." Er... "Fourth, the next Leader in the League that you have to challenge is Corey. He lives in the Beryl Ward, on the only way to which the Jasper Ward lies." Rationally speaking, the arguments were hard to refute. That I didn't like the conclusion wasn't a thing about the situation, or about the logic. It was a thing about me. If it was the logically right thing, it was the thing to do. Regardless of my preference. Florinia watched me and my expression turning from very sour to plain resignation. "If you will acquiesce, I have software that may be of service to you. First, I can set up an automatic update system on your Field Effects application, so that you can use the findings of everyone else using it. Second, insofar as more PULSE machines put to nocive uses are likely to be unearthed, I developed an application to store PULSE data on your PokeGear. It already contains details regarding the Tangrowth you engaged, but, as is, any future subjects will have to be added manually -- maybe you can find print-outs in areas surrounding such machines." I knew knowledge was power, but, well... I was just getting out of a Gym battle which had demonstrated how much knowledge alone was insufficient to actually trump power... This led to an even more unpleasant thought. Were Ame and Florinia setting me up to be killed? "I will make preparations for your passage in Jasper. They should receive notice within three hours. You would do well to use the time to prepare yourself, gather necessities you may not find in the Wards. Perhaps also," she added, as if she was just thinking of it, "train new team members, as you may need a more varied rotation to address other threats that you may be faced with." I mumbled something. I didn't have the strength to make a full approval. "I might wish you luck; however, luck is merely an illusory essentialization of statistics and is neither inherently good nor bad. Regardless, farewell." "Actually," I felt like answering, because this time I had a clear enough head to grasp what she was talking about, "I suppose luck is more of a personification of the randomness inherent to life, as it is the result of imponderable phenomena, small decisions made by everyone else, small perturbations of the environment with disproportionate effects, or even quantum fluctuations. Statistics, if I may contradict you," I added, because I felt I had gained that right after getting her Badge and accepting an insanely dangerous assignment from her, "look more like luck-guidelines, instead of actual rules." "Thought-provoking." she motioned at me, indicating the conversation was over and inviting me to leave. I had very mixed feelings when I left the Gym. On the one hand, I was quite glad to have been able to defeat Florinia so easily. It had been nice to have, for once, a meaningful battle where winning wasn't a life-or-death issue, that had been so... comfortable. On the other hand, I wasn't too pleased with the actual outcome. Now I had been tasked to go and be an advisor in the losing side of a battle. I had agreed. And results were expected, as I might soon die a lonesome or painful death if there weren't any... if the outbreak spread from Jasper to Peridot... if Reborn fell. Why, oh why, had I had to reach that accursed place? A running and panting man bumped into me as I wasn't paying attention. I fell backwards, my bag hitting the ground first and taking most of the impact, then my elbows and my back, both not quite healed and unhappy with this event. The man had lost his balance; he tripped over me and fell to the ground, with a groan. I managed to get out from under him and rise without too much trouble, but he wouldn't move on his own, groaning instead. "Are you all right, sir?" I bent over him and extended a hand. "It's... too hard." he panted. "I can't... hold." "Is something wrong?" I asked, alarmed. "Do you need help?" "It's fine." he answered at last, managing uneasily to get back to his feet. His balance was unsteady, due to the attempts by an extremely enthusiastic Lillipup to run on and on. His breathing hadn't still calmed but he looked more okay nonetheless. "I'm sorry, I'm practising for my drama group. But the issue's real. The Lillipup's... too energetic for me. I can't keep up." he explained, while needing a visible effort to hold the small (yet very eager) Pokemon still. "What are you planning to do, then?" Anything to delay going to the Jasper Ward. "I was thinking of, ugh, finding a Trainer to make it exercise." he said while straining to hold the over-excited Lillipup down. "Wait," he added, looking at me. "Are you a Trainer?" I wasn't sure what had given it away, between the typical bag, the Pokeballs, or maybe the fact that I still was toying with the Canopy Badge. "I'd take it if you want, but... there's a good chance that it will fight hard battles, possibly evolve. Perhaps when you meet it again, it will be an utterly different Pokemon." I warned him. "You look fine, I'm sure it will be all right." I took a Pokeball and approached the puppy Pokemon. It noticed me, and, of course, leaped at me with surprising vigor. I couldn't repress an instinctive attempt at moving away, but it bounced into me, leaving me out of breath and with vague pain from my previous misfortunes. It got into the Pokeball nonetheless, and I heard myself thinking that he needed a good, long, training session. The name I would give the puppy was obvious. There was an awkward pause as I stared at the person. I couldn't figure out what to say, feeling that something was missing, and yet I couldn't say 'thanks'. "Well, I feel bad doing that." he commented at last. "But maybe I'll have a more peaceful life now. Thank you." "Thank you, I suppose." I answered. We exchanged guilty, awkward goodbyes, and I went back towards the Obsidia Ward. If I wanted to go into such a devastated zone as I pictured the Jasper Ward, I would need various important things. Water. Food. Sweets for the morale. Trainer supplies. And a survival blanket, at least. Of course, I wasn't able to find the last of these items. Reborn City just didn't have the kind of sophistication that only prosperity provided. I was, however, able to buy a lot of water and edible-looking dry stuff and enough Potions, Pokeballs and Antidotes. My next stop was at a place that had proved its usefulness to me: the "Sweet Kiss" Candy Shop. Of course, I bought a lot of the same bars that had saved me from an ugly fate in the Slums. For luck, and also because they were deliciously sweet. I also realized, upon seeing a small child walk out with some ice cream, that they had repaired their machine. I went after them and bought ice cream as well, as I had been advised. A few Pokedollars later, I walked out with a very strange ice-cream cone, one that... Didn't have an actual cone. One that was really cold. One that also was shrieking something. A Vanillite, in other words. Character ratings: Death count:

All my sympathy for how stupid somebody must have felt when noticing that kind of error. From my very limited experience, these are the worst errors to happen in a program, as they won't keep it from functioning but it may yield unpredictable results... I am also surprised at saying that the AI was better than you: I understood you worked quite a lot on it, how can your program beat you? Has the singularity happened? Has the Reborn AI become sentient? Or maybe you can't keep up with all the calculations/checks it does, and/or you don't access all the information it knows? Also, can I say that with E18.2 and that, I'm terrified of how E19 is going to end me? Or, more accurately, how many times I'm going to lose? I was going to write a long text about who to eliminate for the quote, but I got lazy. Too many possibilities, too many possible recipients (emotional depth is very subjective), and a few people who would be glad to insult each recipient. Fern or Titania to Florinia could work, but they both already lashed out (maybe not in every timeline, though).

This probably sounds a little bit whiny, but I still have little idea if the story remains read. The view counter suggests so, but I learnt lately that a large part of the web traffic was made with bots, so maybe it's artificial. And the views don't translate into feedback. I suppose I can't really blame anyone, I'm not really the talkative one myself (except in the chapters, but it doesn't really count, does it ?). As a consequence, I have very little idea what would be good to change or to improve. Whether, say, making Gabriel use math to gain access to the OTS, was a good idea or worsened the story. Whether I should write shorter chapters, at the expense of "worldbuilding" (or maybe completionism). Maybe even how I should change the text layout? Add colors to the dialogue, like Candy does (it seems to make for better readability)? I don't know, you tell me? (it's fun trying to find appropriate emoji) Anyway, the next chapter is out. Don't worry, there is no math this time. Enjoy! Chapter 17: The Obstructionists The Gym building of the Onyx Trainer School was quite more than a Gym. Well over a hundred meters, it contained classrooms, small study rooms, each one of which with at least a few bookshelves. Most of the books in the rooms were similar, as students liked using them: successful textbooks, classical works literature teachers would ask to study, and so on. Still, a part of it was always room-specific, but someone had carefully balanced it so that the rooms were more or less equally used. The building also contained a lot of training rooms for Pokemon battles. Despite the clear weather, a lot of students were actually indoors, reading up or doing something else. After my math lessons, I had expected it to go smoothly, to just head in the proper direction to reach the Gym, but the reality was quite different. Some bright mind, or lack thereof, had decided to lock another set of automatic doors (probably in violation of literally every security requirement ever) just left of the main entrance, so that I had to decide on a new move. Fortunately, there was a healing station just at the entrance, so I went there, asking for directions. "Hello, I'm looking for the Gym." I cut myself off, trying to formulate best my next sentence. "I know it's just left of there, but the doors are locked and... I wondered if it was normal." "The doors over there?" the nurse frowned. "No, they're not supposed to. I suppose the students are playing with the doors again." There was a long-suffering sigh. "I can't intervene from here and I can't leave my post. So you'll have to fix it yourself." Why? Why me? That wasn't any of my business. "The control panel should be on the other side. Just go right from where you are, go upstairs and walk across the first floor in the opposite direction, then go back downstairs." she indicated. "All right." I answered, reluctantly accepting the "assignment". There didn't seem to be a point in insisting: after all, I wanted the doors open as much as she did. I left the station with healed again Pokemon and set about reaching the stairs to the first floor, at the end of the right wing. Stupid building. Stupid Reborn. Stupid Fern. "Hey. You." The harsh voice took me out of my thoughts. I nervously put my hands on my Pokeballs. "You're not welcome here." the person, obviously a male student, added, clearly looking forward to kicking me out. I froze. The student walked threateningly towards me, adding a few other niceties, such that "I'll kick you out myself if you don't leave right now.", while I was struggling to figure out a course of action. Or remember how to walk. I must have looked absolutely helpless, because the student was getting more and more confident as he approached me. It was sad, I thought, that in such a situation the teenager looked confident enough to bounce their elders. How did they get that kind of confidence? The students... The word helped me regain control of myself and make my mind. There was enough room for me to go. I was in the right. The person against me was alone. I relaxed my arms, trying to look confident and strong, and went on, utterly ignoring the teenager, as if I did not deem him worthy of attention. I expected some sort of resistance, but the young man hadn't expected that kind of reaction. It was his turn to freeze instead of pursuing me. Anyway, I got through most of the ground floor (the first line of defence, maybe, in Fern's mind). Things got slightly trickier on the first floor, as the Trainers there used their Pokemon to force me to stop (and I couldn't ignore them). Luckily, I had a full team of stronger Pokemon, which made my progress swift. Besides, the teenagers seemed to lose their confidence after being beaten. That was a really stupid choice of organization, I thought. Had they been organized by patrols of six or something, which could alternate between stalling me and healing, I really wouldn't have been able to go through. I'd probably have found other means, though. If all else failed, I probably was more patient and had more available time than all of them put together. Available time... That thought upset me while I held it, because it reminded me of my situation in Reborn City as an exilee without much hope for a quick way back home, and my battling style went more aggressive, and probably less effective. Fortunately, the students weren't experimented Trainers, and their Pokemon were fairly new as well, and they remained manageable enemies. I managed to get on the right side of the infamous doors with tired Pokemon, but still able to fight. By some contrived stroke of luck, nobody seemed to be watching them in any way. The controls for the door were explained by a special sign on the wall. I just had to press a button to unlock it. I got nervous. Certainly, something would be about to happen. An alarm would ring, because the doors were in their natural state. I, a stranger, had no right to move them. I thought about it. I decided that the nurse had been pretty clear. I reckoned I could claim misunderstanding if it all went hidesouly wrong. I shut my eyes and pressed the button. Nothing happened. Well, actually, the doors opened correctly and no hell broke loose. I took profit of the opportunity to see there a short cut to the Pokemon Center and heal my Pokemon, which the series of battles had hardened, but tired as well. I was tense at the idea that someone might burst in from that side and shut the doors again. So I gave my Pokemon to the nurse two by two and watched that entrance while she was healing them, oh so slowly, ready to jump in or protest. Or to resign myself to it, a very optimistic inner voice pointed out. It seemed no one cared enough to cut off this way, and all of the stress was for nothing. I was free to go on towards the Gym. Well, free... The next room was more of a general purpose room, combining both several Pokemon arenas, bookshelves, and what looked like antediluvian computers. More students were sitting at scattered tables, sometimes in groups, trying to work through an assignment, some other project, or just chatting. It seemed to be a rather popular spot overall. More than a few of them reacted to my entrance. They moved quickly about the whole room, so that I would have to defeat them all to go through. And maybe it wouldn't be sufficient: some of them wouldn't let me pass even if I defeated them, and I wasn't sure what I could do to persuade them to. I needn't have worried; again, none of them actually tried to block my path in any other way than sending their Pokemon against mine, and that didn't succeed. It was rather surprising in itself -- was the purpose of schools to not let the students be Trainers too fast? What a stupid idea, I thought. The last people in my way were, if I recalled correctly, the two people Fern was with when he greeted me with such overworldly hospitality and elegance. They, at least, had realized their task would be easier if they teamed up. Or maybe they cared more about it. They were also harder to beat than the others, although this could have multiple causes. They were two instead of one, and definitely more involved than their schoolmates. But all they managed to do was delay me. "Just, what was the point of this?" I couldn't help but ask after I won. "Look." one of them said, then went silent, looking at the other. "Fern's the one asking." that one went on. "He's the best battler in the school and, well, he's calling himself the top dog for a reason. Nobody's crossing Fern here." "It doesn't mean we like it." the first one added. "But we've gotta live in the situation, keep friends, you know?" I understood, even though I didn't like it one bit, and thought even less of Fern for that. The ultimate question now was probably when he would get a negative rating. "So, would you mind letting me go?" I got two fazed looks. "Do we have a choice?" the question took me aback. "Of course you have one." I answered, cursing myself for my being (again) naive, but I had to say the truth. "Except that I'll go through one way or another, because you can't block me forever." And then, what was the logical conclusion again? "Do you really care about delaying me?" The two young men looked at me and at one another. "Remember, we gave you hell." I ended up in the very hall Fern had tried to lock me out of. There was a room on my right, but it was locked, so I went forward in another room. It was much more sober, and there was a sign indicating that the Gym was just behind the next door. I sighed. I had done it. I had overcome the blockade against me Fern had tried to enforce for whatever reason. Or, almost, actually, as the "top cat" himself (or whatever he wanted to be called) stood before that entrance, almost daring me to try it. Again, I wondered what attitude I had better adopt. I decided for conciliatory and understanding, as I didn't really believe the matter to be serious enough to warrant confrontation. Besides, he had been an effective partner once upon a time... Now I was referring to events from three days ago as "once upon a time". Great. "I'm sorry, Fern, but I really don't understand what it all was about." I started. "What's the point?" "Those dumb kids." Fern sighed with irritation. Like he wasn't a kid. A dumb one in some respects, too. "They can't do anything right, can they? But never mind, I'll explain." Good. "Look, Gabriel, really, don't take it personally, you're just a loser. Plain and simple." That baffled me. Who did he believe he was talking to? It was one thing for a school bully to toy with a psychologically frail younger new guy, who was more than unusual in many respects. I had been on the receiving end and not liked it one bit. But the abuse lost some effectiveness when the abuser was younger, smaller (if slightly), and had quite a few years less of education than their target. When you thought of it this way, it almost became funny. "So really, by not letting you embarrass yourself in our Gym, I am doing you a favor." How much of this was he even believing? "And you won't even thank me! " "I suppose," I stated, because this monologue was trying my sanity, "that I should thank you for the training your mooks provided me." "But it's fine. I got ya." Fern went on, ignoring me. "Now just turn around, go home, and give up." That was a low blow. The thought of home seared through me. I wanted so much to be back... "Oh wait." Fern had obviously decided that he hadn't been exceeding enough bounds this day. "You don't even have a home! Well then. Go jump in the lake or something." This was when I started to realize that Fern really, really, didn't like me, for no reason I could fathom. And that we currently were beyond diplomacy. "I'm not moving." I said in an even voice, quite low-pitched. Fern paused. "Yeah. I didn't thing you'd be smart enough to listen to me. Fine. Have it your way, then." Fern had made huge progress. He still had three Pokemon, but they were way stronger than before, and the battle wasn't as clear cut as the previous one. First, Fern's Sandile scared pretty badly Wolfgang, so that my musician couldn't appropriately Fury Cut in retaliation to his Bites, as I had planned. Fortunately, a single Double Kick from Leaf solved the issue. Leaf then proceeded to destroy the Roselia with two Flame Charges. But then came Fern's last Pokemon. His frail Rowlet had evolved into a frightening Dartrix. Even on sight, it was clear that the Dartrix had both power and bulk to spare; indeed, it shrugged off Leaf's Flame Charge and knocked her out with a single Pluck. I needed to weaken the Grass Pokemon; the task went to Tailor, who performed Tickles, just like when Fern and I had a common enemy -- a still vaguely painful memory. Unfortunately, the Dartrix didn't only have physical power: it also had "Nature Power", which translated to unbelievably powerful Triattacks. One of them landed on Tailor, taking him out. At least, Tailor had somewhat evened the field for Baby, and, even then, Baby barely won, as the Dartrix had used at one point the much weaker (thanks to Tailor) Razor Leaf than the still devastating Nature Power. It had cost me three Pokemon, almost four, but I had won. This displeased Fern even further, as anyone could have predicted. Even poor naive me. "So," I asked again, after the battle, as I recalled Baby. "I still can't see your point." What could I do but pretend there was an honest misunderstanding we could talk through? "You think you're so cool, doing the whole Gym League thing?" Fern snapped. I would have answered honestly that I didn't care this much, because I was doing the League mostly because I didn't have better stuff to do. I doubted it would have changed anything, as Fern was, by any reasonable measure, rambling on. "No. Because, you know what, two can play at that game." What? Was he insane? Was he going to drop out of school just to one-up me or something? Way to wreck his life. "If a second rate Trainer like you can do it, then I won't have any problem sweeping the Reborn league." The gratuitous abuse stung. But there wasn't any point in protesting. It was best to just let Fern rant. "I should thank you, Gabriel." No, you really shouldn't. "But I won't." Finally sanity somewhere. He moved to leave. "Fern?" I asked, trying to sound like I should have done from the start, the mildly patronizing (very) young adult. "You shouldn't give up your education for that. You'll have plenty of time to one-up me, or every Training feat I might ever achieve, later." Fern passed near me, ignoring me altogether. "Later, loser." was his farewell. He really was growing ever more sophisticated. I made my way inside the room he was guarding for a reason he still hadn't really uttered, possibly just because he didn't like me. This was rather the opposite of cool, but who was I to judge? The room didn't look like a Gym. It was slightly cleaner than the parts of the school I had seen (not that there had been much to complain about). It was quite small and almost empty. There were a few chairs along the right wall and a communication device, the exact model of which I had seen in Julia's Gym. There only was one exit to this anteroom, and it was very clearly locked, as eight sturdy-looking bars kept it shut. I did the obvious thing and tried to contact someone through the device. The only available station was something called "Gym Access". It seemed fitting. I made the call. "Yes, what's it?" someone answered on the other line. "I'm, er, a challenger for Florinia's Gym, the Onyx..." "Yes, I see." the person, sounding annoyed, cut me off. "And the bars are set." "That's right." "Well," he said. "As the principal, Florinia takes studying very seriously. So you'll have to pass a test to be allowed to battle her." "What kind of test?" I asked, while my mind provided me with vivid, yet vague, images of convoluted equations linking ineffably abstract objects. "A Trainer's test, of course." the answer was slightly mocking. "Here's how it's going to work. You've probably noticed a room with" -- a pause -- "many students and quite a few computers." "Yes." "I'm going to give you challenger-specific credentials to log on them. There's a test with eight questions, and you need to get all of them right to unlock the door. Some questions are tricky, so you'd better look up the answers in the books in the school. You can log off and back on anytime today, your right answers are saved." Just another test and one-off studying? I thought I wouldn't have that nonsense anymore a while ago.. Well, again, there was little point in objecting. He gave me a username and a password (both four-digit numbers, which made them easy to memorize without paper) and wished me luck. I went back, found a "computer" (truly a relic, I thought), logged in and had a look at the questions. Three of them were yes-no questions about Field Effects, and I believed the expected answer was positive. The other five were more technical and I didn't have the relevant information. I had to look for suitable books to get it. I knew only too well that I was on a slippery slope. Hardly ever had I resisted a book -- if I started checking the books, I probably wouldn't leave the school before I had read them all. Or at least, a large part of them. I'd stay there for ever. Wouldn't that be nice. Except for Fern, maybe. There had to be a better way. Perhaps the information was stored in an easier to browse format... Struck by a hunch, I logged off abruptly and went towards the healing station. "Hello." I said the nurse. "I have... two requests for you. Well, first... Could you please heal my Pokemon?" "Sure thing, that's what I am here for." the nurse remarked and took my Pokeballs. "What's the second?" "It's, hum..." my voice was less assured, and of course its pitch had risen. "Could I use your machine? There's information I need, but I didn't find the books for it." "I'm sorry." she answered drily. "I can't do that." "Are you sure?" I asked, my voice even less confident. "It's really going to take me forever to lay hands on the right books." "What do you want to know?" she asked, not too nicely. "It's about the Gym's test, isn't it?" "It is." I confessed. "But honestly, it's much simpler to ask you than try to find the right books. And I'd probably read through all of them and stay in the school for months... It would be so much quicker to just look the facts up." "All right." she sighed. "I'm not supposed to do that, but nobody's actually been asking me in a while, and you sort of did me a favor. Let's get this over with quickly. How many questions do you have?" Character ratings:

That Taka episode is a pretty nice idea and its content is well thought. You effectively took advantage of Taka's leaving the Meteors to start the insane ride-along that is the Devon arc. You also conveyed well the threat level (although one wonders why no similar ambushes were sprung at Matthew or, say, Shelly): despite how dramatically Reborn City's state has improved, the Meteors remain informed, dangerous and determined foes. Minor nitpick, maybe: how exactly would you have Taka go around both the Incineroar and Victoria in the short time frame to let himself be stabbed?

Well, sorry for the delay. Studies have a way of interfering with fan-fiction writing and proof-writing. Oh, and I suppose that they also give stupid chapter ideas. That concept was among the first I worked out for my mildly alternate story, but I still feel like it was a stupid idea. The math speech (not very long, anyway) can be skipped. Or, if you like math enough, you could try and solve the problem (or find where it comes from). I'm not too sure what sort of award I can give for that, but I'll try to think of one if the situation arises. Chapter 16: Of Math and Men The Onyx Ward was the best place I ever went to. Actually, no. Despite, or perhaps because of, Florinia's commitment to counter the rampaging PULSE, some part of the flora had expanded northwards and attacked the Onyx Ward. However, the damage wasn't as heavy as in Obsidia. The point was that overall, the Onyx Ward was neither too derelict nor too dirty, unlike any other part of Reborn City I had visited so far. I might not have been fair to the Obsidia Ward, since my only visit had been in the aftermath of a freak phenomenon, created by a "person" whose very existence was enough to make me shivering. Three minds in a body... That was more than enough to drive each of them insane. The pavement was cracked, and so were the buildings, of course, but at least they looked like they could insulate the inhabitants from the wind and the rain. The pavement wasn't full of litter and could even be compared favorably with some Lumiose City neighborhoods (not the most reputable ones, but it was a start). The street lights even looked functional, although I was observing them at about noon. The sky was light blue, with hardly a cloud, but it was cool overall. I had to try to not be surprised by the winter and get warmer clothes in advance. I had woken up early and spent most of the morning training my team, trying to get them ready for whatever would await me at Florinia's Gym. Seeing my six Pokemon, I couldn't help but feel that Grass-types wouldn't be too hard to counter: of my Pokemon, four resisted Grass-type attacks and could hurt very effectively Grass Pokemon. The other two were neutral and had proven their worth several times over. In a very prominent location, close to the main entrance of the Onyx Ward, a Game Corner was standing, doubtlessly due to a shrewd (and/or evil) businessman's insight. There wasn't any point for me in going there -- I would probably get kicked out, since I didn't have any document certifying that I was of gambling age. Besides, to make money, a Game Corner needed games biased against the customer. The only business where the customer was asking to get swindled. Even if the prizes were worthwhile (and they probably weren't), it would be likelier that I never won enough to claim them. And it wasn't exactly as if I had a steady income, sturdy savings, and a nice place to live. But the reason why I was going to the Onyx Ward was because of the Onyx Trainer School, a very reputable high school, by Reborn City's standards at least. I remembered that Julia, Florinia, and Amaria had all studied there, a few years ago. And for some reason, Florinia's Gym was still there. The School was, according to my PokeGear, located about the northern end of the Ward, and organized like a small university campus. For some reason, it had several dorm buildings, but their capacity was probably far exceeding the actual attendance of the school. If, as I recalled hearing somewhere, the city I saw was the distorted vision of what it once was, perhaps the School used to have more extended functions, requiring more buildings than necessary. With better transportation, and better communication with the outside world, maybe it could work as a good university? The Gym was located in the western wing of what I could only call a house. It wasn't tall enough to be called a building -- it didn't have more than a couple of storeys -- but it was easily over two hundred yards long. Someone had arranged for it to be located just behind a large lawn, which probably was very pleasant to enjoy on sun-drenched warm days. There were also increasingly many students around as I was approaching the building, who probably were enjoying one of their last beautiful days. Shouldn't they be in class or something? They probably were enjoying their lunch break, I thought. The Gym itself had a dedicated entrance, distinct from the main one, on the westmost part of its south-facing front. The door opened on a large hall, which might have looked majestic at some point, but wasn't (if by little) well-kept enough to be worthy of such a description at present. Also, there was Fern inside with people looking like... schoolmates of his? He hadn't mentioned he was attending the OTS. He just seemed the age. I was almost pleased to see him. Thanks to his decisiveness, and effective team, he had been an extremely helpful, if poor-mannered, partner back in that factory in the Peridot Ward. I walked forward him, intending to greet him, but froze when he turned my way. He didn't look like a soldier reuniting with his former comrade-in-arms (which he wasn't anyway). He rather looked... hostile, for some reason? But it was unthinkable... There wasn't any reason for it! "Gabriel." he called. His voice was acknowledging, but cold. It also definitely confirmed my impression that he wasn't thrilled to see me. "Hi Fern." I tried to keep looking positive while answering, without looking like a six-year-old beaming at some candy. "I didn't know you attended the Onyx Trainer School?" I went forward a few paces. Fern didn't look as hostile, since he hurried forward to me, leaving the others behind. I offered him my hand, which he didn't pay attention to. The good times definitely were over. He looked at me very coldly. I wouldn't have expected a teenager to manage that look. "A little birdie told me you were coming here to challenge my sister." he said after an awkward pause. "But, see, Gabriel, I know you. And you don't deserve to challenge her." "I'm sorry?" I asked. Smartest reply ever, I thought. "What do you mean, I'm not deserving? And why exactly are you getting involved? You're not exactly fond of her anyway." "Maybe you don't understand why I'm doing this." Fern said. "I..." I cut myself off, trying to understand what he could be getting at. Nothing came to mind. "No, I really don't." I shook my head, trying to still look positive, and with the appropriate level of politeness. Of course, I had forgotten about firmness. "It's not like I'm trying to stick up for the Flobot. But it's a matter of our family, and our school's pride." "I still fail to understand how any of this is relevant." I tried to argue, my patience and positive mind slowly waning. "I haven't exactly been the knight in shining armor, but neigher were you. Besides, " I tried a rational argument, "if every defeat of Florinia as a Gym Leader, even by a despicable individual, was a stain on your family's and the school's honor, even she would be overwhelmed by shame." "I knew you were going to argue. But you know, and I know, that you're not worthy. You're not good enough, and that's just reality. So I won't let you." he delivered, his voice icy. He stepped back and automatic doors I hadn't noticed so far shut off, blocking my way in. I tried, much to Fern and his minions' amusement, to move about to force the obviously existing motion sensors to acknowledge my presence, and open the doors. But nothing reacted (apart from a smirk on the few unsufferable high-schoolers on the other side). "Fern." I said more strongly, my voice firmer and lower-pitched. Almost a normal adult's, I thought bitterly. "Please open that door." The guy didn't bother to answer. It was time to find another way. I shrugged at how baffling Fern's move was, and exited the building. I would be luckier with the main entrance. My optimism was destroyed when I realized that at least half a dozen "students" stood before that entrance, talking with animation, but not looking like they were idly hanging out. Just to be sure, I waited, from a reasonable distance, for a few minutes, to check if they were going to vacate the entrance and let me in. As I half-consciously feared, they didn't move. "Excuse me?" I asked them after again a few seconds of hesitation. "Would you mind letting me in?" The chatter died down. They all started staring at me, which was rather unsettling. What had I expected? I tried to remind myself that I was the adult, and that they were a bunch of unruly children, to be educated. It didn't work, of course, as they were too old. "No." someone snapped finally. "May I know why?" I asked, always polite, even though the anwser had come as a displeasant surprise. "'Cause we said so, that's why." the same person said, in a deeply annoying voice. "You're aware that you're blocking off the only exit to a large construction? I'm pretty sure security is going to disagree with you." "I don't give a f***, d***head. Let them jump off the windows." he laughed at his stupid joke, and the others gave lip service (or maybe throat service). The verbal abuse didn't hurt much, only a little. The refusal was more annoying. But I knew it would do little good to escalate or use force (not to mention the outcome would probably be unfavorable to me). So I, as asked by so sophisticatedly, backed off to wait and see. After all, they had to have classes, didn't they? Besides, I needed a lunch. I came back about an hour after, only to find the automatic doors still shut and the main entrance obviously forbidden to me. The upside was that only three people were blocking it off now, and the former leader (so rude a person, really) wasn't in sight. I got closer, trying to argue my way in. "No, we can't let you in." was the answer. "Why not?" "Somebody asked not to." one of the students said after a hesitation. "Somebody at the school required that I specifically wasn't to be let in?" I questioned further. "Yes." the students looked at one another. "Fern? He really asked the whole school to keep me from challenging the Gym?" I asked, unable to hide my bafflement, and a tinge of disappointment as well. "I didn't say it." the "lead" student looked at his shoes. They didn't look very resolved. I might have been able to force my way through. But I didn't like my odds, and it rather disgusted me to try it. So again, I backed off a few steps, biding my time. They were pretty wary of my being so close at first. Then, upon seeing I wasn't about to break their blockade, they started talking again and I tried to pretend to not listen. "So have you seen the math paper?" one of the students, a brown-haired girl, asked. "No. I'm expecting it's ludicrous, as usual." the "lead" answered. "Yeah," the girl went on, "well, actually..." "I've had a look at it." the third student interrupted. "Lena's right. It's just too hard." "It's that bad, Pat?" the "lead" interrupted. "Let's say, Jack," Lena answered, "that the clearest part is when he claims he's inventing numbers." "Inventing numbers?" Jack said, the notion clearly alien to him. I repressed a smile. "How can one invent numbers?" "I've looked it up." Lena added. "Apparently, he's using something called the complex numbers. But that's really harsh of him, not to teach us about them first. They're supposed to be in the curriculum, but later." "Why did we have to get such a math teacher on graduation year?" Pat commented in a despairing tone well-known to students that don't like their teachers. If there ever was one, that was my cue. "I'm sorry I eavesdropped on you." I went towards them, trying to look nice. "So you've got issues with your math homework?" "What's that to you?" Lena snapped. "Well, I think I can help you with that." the plan had sprung to my mind. With the swarm of an hour ago, it would never have worked, but these three might favor good grades over obedience to the cool dog (or was it the top cat?). "If you let me in." "You don't look the type." Pat observed, skeptical. It was true. I had neither obvious delusions, nor bare feet, nor a year-long unshaven beard. Nor glasses or a blatantly unintelligible math book in my hands. If I looked like anything, I probably looked more like any beginner Trainer, rather than a successful math student. "Do you want to test it?" I asked, smiling confidently, perhaps for the first time since I arrived in Reborn City. "I'll give him Problem Three." Lena whispered to Pat. "What if he could help us on something else? Problem Three really isn't easy." Pat answered. "But if he does it, he'll probably solve the whole thing." Lena explained in a whisper, very quickly. "So, the question is the following." "When are you letting me in?" I interrupted, sure that I would solve without a sweat whatever high-school problem they could ask. "Prove that 707,933 divides two to the 677,375-th, plus three to the same power, plus six to the same power, minus one." Lena read. "We have other questions about the homework, but if you can solve this for us, we'll let you in." ... Was the teacher giving that kind of problems? What was wrong with them? Little wonder they all struggled with that! I had solved a similar-sounding problem, an eternity ago. It was one of those I remembered best. I also remembered the key part. I just had to check two things: first, that it really was similar. Second... that they would let me in. "Have you tried to factor seven hundred thousand and... I can't remember the rest?" I asked. Lena and Pat shared a look. "No." they answered finally. "Factor it, that would simplify the problem." I answered as elliptically as I could, as I didn't want them to just have me do their homework for free. "That's not good enough." Pat said after a silence. "I can't give anything more specifically relevant before that number is factored." I said. It was... approximately true. I could have given something more, but I didn't want to before they delivered their part of the bargain. "Let's find someplace inside where we can do it." They looked at one another, hesitating. I couldn't believe it would actually work. I tried to conceal my excitement and wait calmly for their decision, but my heart was pounding inside my chest. "Okay." Jack said. He wasn't talkative, but answered when needed. I almost liked him already. "Let me just check inside if you can go unnoticed." He entered the building. "Don't you have classes or something?" I asked, surprised (and slightly dismayed) that so many people could be obeying Fern's stupid whim and actively preventing me from having the Gym challenge for reasons nobody could explain. "We usually do." Pat answered. "But some teachers got wounded a couple of nights ago, when..." he hesitated, unsure of how to follow. "I know how it was. I was in there." I answered simply. "The way's free." Jack came back. We all went inside. We found a room close to the entrance, on the ground floor. Afterwards, Jack and Lena came back at the entrance to pretend to abide by their orders (for about fifteen minutes), leaving Pat to watch me. When they came back... It was wonderful. For a blessed hour, maybe an hour and a half, I could forget about being a sitting duck in the most wretched "City" on Earth. I could forget about PULSEs, Team Meteor, or the strange accident that had stranded me there. I could stay in the inner realm I had made for myself more than half a decade ago. The realm of math... I started crunching numbers, to check if the idea I had in mind would work. It turned out I had been right, and so I was asked to provide explanations for the numbers I had written everywhere on the blackboard. I gave them my solution, as I had found it at their age on a similar, if less misleading, problem. I tried to provide them with useful intuition, so that they could solve similar problems later. I started giving them, upon their questions, an overview of the so-dreaded "complex numbers", and, after reading the corresponding homework problem -- of a kind I wished I had had -- started explaining the solution. "Thank you," Lena said hesistantly, "but..." "Now that we've understood the core idea, we'd rather try it on our own." Jack concluded. I gained a new respect for these high-schoolers who took math seriously. In a proper academic setting, they would do great. "There's a last favor we'd like from you." Pat said. "We were tasked to keep you outside. And... you're inside. We'll need some sort of cover." "What do you mean?" I asked, feeling that the situation had come back to abnormality, that I had left my favorite realm, that of math. "Nothing really... Just defeat each of us in Pokemon battle. You're here actually for the Gym, right?" Jack asked. "That'll be training for you." "Sure." I said. "Why not?" Character ratings:

That's overall a hard poll to answer. In "Most hated Team Meteor Member", I felt the choices were fifty-fifty. In the list, there are severely rotten apples (Zero, Solaris, Lin), outright jerks (Fern, of course), monsters beyond redemption (Sirius, Blake), mind criminals beyond forgiveness (Zero, Elias), and random low-rank enforcers, as innocent as they could be of the crimes of their admins (not much, but a bit). I don't really hate Solaris or Lin, however bad people (or non-people) they are. Fern really annoys me, but I don't hate him either. I'm not too clear about Sigmund, as he doesn't really have outright malice, just badly misguided pride, self-confidence and possessiveness. It is hard to remember that in his story, we are the genuine bad guys. Indeed, we stole kids he had to care about (however bad he actually did it). In any jurisdiction, it is a serious felony. Leaving aside the "Doctor", I hate Zero for his actions towards Eve and Lumi. I hate Blake for how casually he masterminds his own town's literal starvation. I hate Elias, Zero, Bennett and Radomus for their involvement in mind control, a crime horrific beyond most. Of course, this leaves one person to be voted for (or is it rather against?): Sirius. Unlike most of the others, the "person" seems to enjoy causing pain and misery. He seems to be an entity entirely made of malice, the way Lin is made of impossiblium and Terra of sheer nonsense. Unlike Sirius, for instance, Solaris hasn't used a doctor's persona to poison a delivering mother. He didn't burn a home to the ground to get a stupid jewel (when easier tactics could have worked, such as, you know, buying the jewel back or hiring a burglar). In the two other questions, I answered more or less at random. I chose each time the character least far from me (although that admittedly isn't the exact question). For the Belrose sisters, I still am disturbed by Saphira's more-or-less on screen actions, although as far as murders go, hers are pretty justifiable one: she mowed through a terrorist horde willing to assault her home and abduct her family (and guests, but hospitality isn't what it used to be). I also feel closer to Laura than to Charlotte, as the violent teenage rebel with a troubled past doesn't really appeal to me. I suppose I sympathize more with Laura, who cannot inflict violence (merely annoyance to her sisters with her eights) and yet is determined enough to go save Saphira. For the BFF, I voted off the beaten path, as Cain is awkward with his innuendos, Victoria or Shelly wouldn't be BFFs (friends maybe, or at least we could start a bookworm club with Shelly), and I already told how I felt about Charlotte and Bennett. Amaria tried to murder the MC, Adrienn called them a thief without any kind of provocation, Arclight deliberately kept a Mega Ring from us (instead of, you know, giving it to us for Devon) to offer it after a wild chase. So these are some characters I didn't vote for.

Nuzlocking Reborn... That's some serious motivation, I'm really impressed. I'm even more impressed that you actually keep the challenge while grinding. Honestly, the wild mons can be dangerous to not-fully-trained team members. I had tried Nuzlocking (it wasn't as brutally hard a game as Reborn, but a not-easy fangame regardless), but ended up loosening the constraint for grinding, because caution made training very tedious and it was still dishearteningly easy to let the Pokemon die due to aggressive hax (which was really frustrating when I absolutely needed that Pokemon for the next Gym). So, again, all of my respect. Also, sorry for your near team wipe-out and good luck for your next sessions.