[@Pirouette] Erika gave her command, and Chic sent a fireball into a nearby trash-can, setting it utterly on fire. They ran past, and Erika shouted her thing back at Everfair… who stopped short. [color=e4d857]‘How could you! Dragonair, put it out! Use…’[/color] Everfair stopped short again. Dragonair spun around, stopping its effort to cause a Twister to impede their advance. Unfortunately, this was the moment where Everfair was confronted with the reality that his super-cool dragon-serpent that lives in water does not learn any water-moves until level 39. He instead resolved to stand helplessly as he picked up a phone from his pocket and dialed a number. [color=e4d857]‘Hello? I’d like to report a fire…’[/color] Of course, this bought the two of them far and away enough time to turn a corner and run away from their pursuer. The thief looked behind them and there were no signs of their pursuers. [color=ac705c]‘I’ll have to remember that one, good job,’[/color] she said, sounding a bit impressed. Golbat made a noise, and she quickly looked up… [color=ac705c]‘Don’t look up,’[/color] she then quickly told Erika as they wandered on… [hider=if she does look up]… There are faint shadows of people on top the buildings looking down on them. While difficult to see, they looked like they had strange helmets on them, and various birds next to them. [color=ac705c]‘The Vultures. They earned their name by busting people out of trouble, and then demanding payment for it after. I guess they heard a fight going on,’[/color] the thief said, in direct response to seeing Erika look anyway. [color=ac705c]‘But they sometimes are just hired, like proper mercenaries. They never take jobs from the Cigs, but that doesn’t mean someone else might not have it out for us. Did I not tell you not to look up?’[/color][/hider] They kept walking, snaking through several back-alleys and walked through several dark streets. In one spot, the thief stopped, as there was noise nearby. Looking out by a corner… there was a Pokémon battle going on. A band of four was fighting another band or four. There were various Pokémon, primarily fire on one side, a variety on the other side. The combatants were all wearing masks, albeit the four on the fire-type side had gone all the way and were wearing fiery red complete suits. The other side were also covering their faces, but their masks were just black, but with the classic card suits on them for some reason. Clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades. [hider=fire side][center][url=https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Arcanine_(Pok%C3%A9mon)][img]https://i.imgur.com/mMDZeS4.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #59 – Arcanine, the Legendary Pokémon. It is not actually legendary, but it has long been admired by many for its majesty and grace. Capable of dashing without pause for day and night at substantial speed. It is powered by an internal fire that continually blazes.[/i][/color][/center] [center][url=https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ninetales_(Pok%C3%A9mon)][img]https://i.imgur.com/GKYZdzG.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #38 – Ninetails, the Fox Pokémon. Legend has it was formed when nine saints/wizards coalesced into one. Its nine tails contains supernatural energy, allowing it to live 1,000 years. It is highly intelligent, but also very vengeful. It is said pulling its tail causes a 1,000 year curse.[/i][/color][/center] [center][url=https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Talonflame_(Pok%C3%A9mon)][img]https://i.imgur.com/I4C5eRg.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #663 – Talonflame, the Scorching Pokémon. Its diet is mostly built of smaller birds. It flies high, then swoops down at speeds of over 300 mph to catch its prey. Flames fill the gap between its feathers as it flies. If excited in battle, it fans its own flames to scatter fire in splendor. Its sturdy feathers have been used to make fireproof clothes.[/i][/color][/center] [center][url=https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Solrock_(Pok%C3%A9mon)][img]https://i.imgur.com/vPDPJdj.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #338 – Solrock, the Meteorite Pokémon. Pokémon fallen from space, they’re rumored to originate from the sun. They’re powered by solar power, during the day they line up and face the sun. Their psychic power allows them to read the emotions of others. When it rotates, this Pokémon shines brightly and gives off intense heat.[/i][/color][/center][/hider] [hider=card side][center][url=https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/de/286Breloom.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/bkDIQw7.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #286 – Breloom, the Mushroom Pokémon. It lives in warm and humid climates feeding on trees and plants in fields or forests. It’s a powerful fighter, with light footwork and punches that stretch, it’s said to put pro boxers to shame. The seeds on its tail are poisonous and should not be eaten. It spreads poisonous spores from its head as it fights, taking advantage of the dazed opponent.[/i][/color][/center] [center][url=https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Carbink_(Pok%C3%A9mon)][img]https://i.imgur.com/8hTfsER.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #703 – Carbink, the Jewel Pokémon. Born from the temperatures and pressures deep underground, it slept for millions of years before birth. It can fire high-energy beams from the gems within its body. It uses its mane to polish one another’s jewels.[/i][/color][/center] [center][url=https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/1/10/594Alomomola.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/uOCSnOD.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #594 – Alomomola, the Caring Pokémon. Typically found floating on the open sea, they’re enveloped by a special membrane with a special mucus that heals wounds. If they find an injured Pokémon or person, it will hug them, heal them and bring them to shore if they’re a land-based life-form. Very gentle in its nature.[/i][/color][/center] [center][url=https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/e/e3/0530Excadrill.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/mwMBk2R.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #530 – Excadrill, the Subterrene Pokémon. 300 feet underground they and Drilburs dig mazeline nests in which they live. They’ve evolved drills powerful enough to dig through metal plates, and are commonly used to dig out new tunnels. Measures sometimes have to be taken so they don’t inadvertently destroy underground subways.[/i][/color][/center][/hider] Fire was flying, which the Breloom was trying to dodge as best it can, and the Alomomola sent sprays of water back, and the battle continued, with the trainers on both sides intense in their commands. What few regular people was left were running for cover. Still, the ones with the fire-Pokémon seemed like they had the edge… [color=ac705c]‘The Clovers and Daybreak,’[/color] the thief muttered. [color=ac705c]‘We’re taking a detour.’[/color] With that statement, she turned around and they took a different route. With that, the thief escorted Erika through what felt like it must have been half the city. If Erika knew her directions, she would be able to tell they were heading roughly north-west. Eventually… the buildings started to look a lot less fancy. Despite this being the main street, the main street looked dirty. The buildings grew far more closely together, the street smaller and more claustrophobic, and it felt like a lot less care had been taken in lumping these buildings together. Darkness found its way naturally into the corners, as the buildings themselves were covering for any overhead light. There were people walking around, and few of them looked well-off. They looked dispirited, simply accepting that this is the way life is now. To the west, the buildings were getting shorter, indicating the end of the city. In the distance the sun could be seen, as if making its descent. [color=ac705c]‘Welcome to the Sunset Slums,’[/color] the thief said in a dry tone. [hider=Sunset Slums][url=i.imgur.com/1RguN5t.jpeg][img]https://i.imgur.com/gaW7NK1.png[/img][/url][/hider] Eventually, they arrived in front of a building. In front of it stood the other four robbers. A girl in a beanie with some red hair under, black sunglasses, the one that had used a Magnemite. A girl with brown hair and a cheery expression, the one with the Chimecho. A seriously big guy, the one with the Quilladin. A lanky guy with a gas-mask, the one with the Koffing. All were wearing black and some form of masks. Only Quilladin of the Pokémon was still out. [color=d7bf83]‘You brought one of the freshies?’[/color] the guy in the gas-mask asked. [color=ac705c]‘Ssh. Let’s just show her what we do, first,’[/color] the thief said. In the building, there was a counter and they brought the stolen goods to said counter… Where a purple Pokémon with gems for eyes suddenly peeked up. [center][url=https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Sableye_(Pok%C3%A9mon)][img]https://i.imgur.com/bETR9C8.png[/img][/url] [color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #302 – Sableye, the Darkness Pokémon. They live quiet lives in dark caves where they dig for their favorite food, raw gems. These gems surface on their eyes as glittering jewels. They tend to be feared, for it is said that those who meet with these glittering eyes in a dark cave have their spirits stolen away.[/i][/color][/center] The Pokémon took the goods, inspected them very, VERY closely, and then dove down behind the counter. Then, it skipped up again, and put a bunch of money on the counter. The thief picked it up, and… [color=ac705c]‘… Geh. It would have been more…’[/color] the thief muttered. [color=e090b8]‘It would have been more, but a gallant hero got in our way~’[/color] the Chimecho trainer called weirdly jovially in Erika’s direction. [color=d7bf83]‘I mean, it makes sense, we look like bad guys,’[/color] the guy in the gas-mask said. They stepped out, and the five of them journeyed a bit more. Eventually, they stopped by a new building. They knocked on the building’s front door… and eventually, an older woman opened the door. The leader of the thieves held forward the money to her. [color=ac705c]‘This should cover the rent of those two families we couldn’t pay for last time, right?’[/color] [color=green]‘It will. I’ll feed them, too. Thank you for your service,’[/color] the woman nodded to them, and the door closed. They then stopped at a couple more places of various sentimental value. A day-care with both kids and Pokémon, a home-bakery, a little shrine… Eventually, they’d distributed all the money they’d received, and then headed for a place where they could look back east towards Bigfjord City proper. There, the thief turned back to Erika. [color=ac705c]‘I’m going to ask you one more time. Do you truly want to know what’s going on here? I warn you that, when you’ve heard it, you won’t be able to unhear it. You can always leave this city, go back to your blissful life as a normal person. Are you sure you want to know?’[/color] [hider=assuming Erika says yes][color=ac705c]‘Alright. So an explanation…’[/color] she said, starting to walk again, and gesturing for Erika to follow. [color=ac705c]‘This is Bigfjord City, the center of working in offices and having promising careers in Isson. That is the promise which causes people to move here. However, there’s no luck to be found here. This city is a cold-hearted machine that drives common people to the bottom, to work for scraps until the end of their days.’[/color] [color=ac705c]‘And the reason why so helpfully displays its own name for all to see,’[/color] she then said, and pointed east, at the tower so proudly declaring “RUKH” to the entire city. [color=ac705c]‘The noble families of Isson have inherited all the largest businesses. The Rukh family, the Mercia family, the Agni family, the Rivens family…’[/color] she spoke with some distaste. [color=ac705c]‘All take the lion’s share. This leaves this city with areas such as these, where those who failed lives, barely making ends meet. The rest of Isson don’t hear about this… but of course they don’t, the Rivens family controls the media.’[/color] [color=ac705c]‘Fortunately, this world has afforded us means to fight back,’[/color] she said, holding up a Pokéball. [color=ac705c]‘With the money we steal, we feed the people and keep their rent paid, pushing their deadlines a little further, making lives a little easier to live. We support the few businesses that are not owned by the noble families. It isn’t as if we’re hurting their income in any meaningful way, they can take a little pain.’[/color] [color=ac705c]‘Also, most of their HQs are in Bigfjord. We break into their bases and search for evidence. Any dastardly plans, anything that could get them into trouble. That’s what we’re searching for. It is also just in general our way to show our displeasure. Our protests. That is illegal, absolutely, but they’re not giving us much choice,’[/color] she said. [color=ac705c]‘That’s why we wear these. If any of us one day gives up, we hope to be able to return to a regular life… eventually,’[/color] she said, gesturing to her mask, which each of the others also wore. [color=ac705c]‘… Then some people decided to play it up, adding code-names and dressing in fancy outfits under their given name, like they’re heroes and villains or whatever…’[/color] she shook her head, looking like she thought it was all stupid. [color=ac705c]‘Of course, the noble families aren’t about to let us do this freely. They established the Cigs… The “City Guardians”, to hunt us down. They're a mix of good-willed people actually fooled by the noble families into thinking they’re doing a good thing, and those who know and don’t care. The real pieces of work.’[/color] [color=ac705c]‘With the streets of Bigfjord City as our front-lines, our groups are trying to make a difference in this world. We don’t know if there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and we’re breaking the laws and risking our necks to show our displeasure. That’s what we’re doing.’[/color] [color=ac705c]‘Having heard all that… what are you going to do now?’[/color] the leader asked, crossing her arms and looking at Erika.[/hider] What will Erika do?