[h1][center][color=0072bc]Ty Westgrove[/color][/center][/h1]

[h3][center][color=0072bc]Mesalon Pokecenter[/color][/center][/h3]

As the nightmare visions appeared along the walls and even the floor, Hunk jumped into action. The Timburr growled and stood to place himself solidly in front of Lacey, stump out in a shielding position, as if to protect the small Gothita from the dread shadow creatures. Hunk glared bravely at the darkness -- while trying to conceal his shaking hands.

Reaper paused his eating momentarily to look at the spontaneous shadow monstrosities. The Scyther gave a nod of acknowledgement, mildly impressed, before returning to his meal.

[color=0072bc]"Jeez!"[/color] Ty exclaimed with a flinch. Though the trainer who requested a show was the most acutely aware that [i]something[/i] was about to happen, the sudden and all-encompassing visions were still enough to startle just about anyone. After a few seconds, Ty's look of shock morphed into a mischievous smile.

When it was over, Ty laughed in an odd mix between amusement and a tinge of nervousness.

[color=0072bc]"Good one, little dude,"[/color] Ty addressed Fantoccino. [color=0072bc]"I don't think Pokémon contests have a scary category, but if they did, you'd [i]totally[/i] win."[/color]

A loud whining sound, like somebody slowly letting the air out of a balloon, filled the Pokémon Center. Medic, who had apparently been too paralyzed with terror to make any motion or sound, was definitely doing so now. Ty turned toward the loud crying with a startled look and then his cheeks turned slightly red.

[color=0072bc]"Ah jeez... It's okay, Medic. It wasn't real. C'mere."[/color]

The tearful Igglybuff ran to her trainer's outstretched arms and buried her squishy body as tightly against his chest as possible. Her sobbing quieted down a little, but with her species' particularly powerful lungs, she was still likely to wake up half of the Pokémon Center. The blond trainer spent a minute petting her and murmuring vague attempts at motherly reassurance. Once he was sure the worst of her panic was over, Ty rolled his eyes and looked toward Reaper.

[color=0072bc]"Alright, our turn. We could use something silly after that."[/color] Ty left the table for a minute, still carrying Medic bundled in his jacket, and returned with a few pieces of fruit. The Scyther gave Ty a look that seemed to convey 'I'd rather walk into an Onix's lair.'

[color=0072bc]"We'll have plenty of time for barrel rolls later, but [b]not[/b] inside,"[/color] Ty argued. [color=0072bc]"I don't think that light can take another hit. Now, back up a little bit."[/color]

At Ty's gesture, Reaper sighed and hovered toward an empty corner. Ty tossed a large apple toward the bug type. The Scyther slashed up with both of its blade-arms, slicing the apple into three pieces, and then managed to hit two of them on the way back down. The trick wasn't perfected yet - he couldn't quite get to nine evenly sliced chunks - but Ty still grinned with satisfaction. Ty picked up an apple chunk and gave it to Medic. The Igglybuff continued to weep slightly as she nibbled on the treat.

[color=0072bc]"Alright, orange time."[/color]

Ty set down an orange in the middle of an empty table and backed away. Reaper rolled his eyes. Then he closed them and took a couple deep, centering breaths. A blur of green appeared around the orange. For a second, all was still, the orange unchanged. Then, the orange exploded into a pile of sticky juice and pulp from its many clean cuts. Ty laughed, a worker in the distance huffed about the mess these people were making, and Reaper victoriously licked the juice from his blades like the blood of his enemies. It was then that the two battling researchers walked back into the Pokémon Center.

[@LuckyBlackCat] [@Dusksong]