The Grand Opening

[driftingmods]

[A large WELCOME sign is hanging from the buildings when you walk into Levanta Town, but that seems to be the only sign that today is any different than any other day. The villagers are simply going about their daily business. However, if they are approached they are more than happy to explain the region as well as they can to any new arrivals.

Welcome to Levanta Town in The Drifting Land!]

Comments

[torrential]

[...This isn't Hoenn.]

[That's probably the most obvious statement ever, but it's the first thing Archie noticed. This place isn't familiar - and Archie's got a fairly good memory when it comes to places he's been. This isn't Hoenn.]

[He's talked to the people around here and gathered some information, but that doesn't tell him how he got here or why he's here. Whatever the reason is, he's certain he won't like it.]

[So he's currently wandering around the landing strip, Sharpedo floating after him. He's gotten used to keeping at least one of his Pokémon out with him at all times to protect himself. You never know when your rival is going to attack you from out of nowhere, after all!]

[Not that he's particularly concerned about that. He's more worried about the fact that he ended up here, in some strange land he's never heard of.]

...Guess we're stuck here for now.

[The Sharpedo doesn't reply, though zips forward to rub on Archie's leg affectionately. He offers it a smile and rubs its fin, ignoring the rough skin and the scrapes he's getting.]

Might as well see what this place has to offer, huh?

[lightcharms]

PIPLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!

[a poffin rolls down the path in front of Archie, followed by an upset looking Piplup. A few feet behind him, his trainer runs after him, looking frazzled]

Piplup! Watch where you're going!

[torrential]

[A wild Water-type Pokémon appeared!]

[Archie grins and leans down to retrieve the Poffin, holding it out for the Piplup to take.]

Hey, lookin' for this?

[He glances up as the Piplup's trainer approaches, altering the smile to a more self-confident smirk.]

This one yours? It's a Water-type, right?

[He's never actually seen this one before, but it's a penguin and it's blue. Clearly it's a Water-type!]

[...His logic is amazing, shush.]

[lightcharms]

[His logic is sound. Piplup gives a happy squeal, taking the poffin and scarfing it right down. Onomnomnomnom.

Dawn catches up, looking a little winded]

Yeah, that's right.

[she smiles]

This is Piplup, a water pokemon from the Sinnoh region.

[then she spots the sharpedo, kneeling down to take a good look]

This is a sharpedo, right?

[torrential]

They're pretty rare, aren't they? I've never seen one.

[It's so cute! Err, awesome. Yes, it's so awesome.]

Yeah, this is a Sharpedo. He's from Hoenn; he's a Water an' Dark-type.

[The Sharpedo floats over to examine the newcomer, grinning widely and moving in to rub on her. Archie reaches out and grabs the shark by the fin with a quick reprimand.]

Hey, what've I told you about that? Knock it off.

[The shark looks like it's pouting for a moment before returning its attention to Dawn.]

Sorry, he's a little over-eager.

[lightcharms]

Mmhm. They're one of the starter pokemon.

[she brings out her pokedex, doing a quick look up. huh, rough skin?

She then grins, searching in her pockets for another poffin that she tosses over]

That's fine. He's a lot friendlier than the others I've encountered.

[fated_fall]

[...Hm.]
A Sharpedo?
[He likes dark-types okay??? Especially ones which don't come by Unova often. They're so cool.
He's still got Hydreigon at the ready as protection, hovering behind him.]

[torrential]

[Dark-types are pretty awesome! Archie will be a bit more concerned with that Hydreigon, however. There's something vaguely familiar about it - and it's not familiar in a good way. Archie's relatively used to this feeling however, and he brushes it off. It doesn't seem like this kid wants to hurt him, after all.]

Yeah, a Sharpedo. They aren't common around here?

[fated_fall]

They weren't common in Unova. [He then shook his head.] I have no idea if they're around here at all. [He'll only want to hurt you if you tell him to treat his Pokemon right. (He has no clue how to treat them because he is so pampered.)]

[torrential]

You're from Unova? So did you just randomly show up here too?

[Strange. So this place just sucks people in? Sort of like that island... But we're not going to talk about that.]

What's that Pokémon? I've never seen it before.

[fated_fall]

I did - it's irratating. [Well, it's just stupid, but he's trying to sound more mature so big words.
And he wouldn't curr about that island anyhow because he's not kidnapped there. But then--]
This is my Hydreigon! [His and his alone. He sounds a little defensive.] She's a powerful Pokemon, found only by the best of people - Dark and Dragon-type. And she's never lost a fight. I bet she never will. [He is so proud of her. Even if she's full of max EVs and IVs. Hydreigon just floats there, though. Watching.]

[lockedtrainer]

[ Don't feel too dumb, Archie; it's the first thing that crossed Tallie's mind as well.

"This isn't Hoenn."

She's a little reluctant to believe what the locals are saying, but it's not like her own theories are any better. The only semi-logical one is that she's dead and this is the afterlife, but she doesn't feel dead, or remember dying...

Tallie's not paying attention even as her Castform tugs on her bandanna to get her to turn around. Eventually the little Pokemon will give up and start zipping around on its own... meaning that it'll nearly run straight into Archie. Fun times. ]

[torrential]

[Contrary to Tallie, Archie does remember dying, but that's not something he's going to bring up even if asked. Nope, that totally didn't happen! That version of Maxie he was bonding with totally didn't kill him!]

[But that's neither here nor there, and Archie isn't dwelling on it. He's here now, right? So even if this is some sort of afterlife, it's better than being dead, right?]

[The sudden Castform from nowhere prompts Sharpedo to leap between the trainer and the offending Pokémon, using Protect to shield his trainer from an attack. Except... the Castform wasn't attacking and the Protect failed. Archie is a little startled by just how quick the shark reacted - it's been awhile since they've battled like this, hasn't it? Besides, no one would throw a Pokémon at him in an attempt to attack him here, right? That's only something that particular version of Maxie would do...]

[Again, he's not going to dwell on it.]

Hey, watch where you're goin', little guy.

[Archie's tone is light though, and he absently pets Sharpedo again to calm the Pokémon down.]

[healpulse]

[ Kyaa! A Sharpedo and it's so cute she has to pet it. ]

Aw, aren't you a cute Sharpedo~ [ You seem like a Sharpo, can she call you that? She's totally gonna call you that. Cuts and scrapes, pshaw, no biggie. Having healing abilities solve that problem.

Sorry Archie, you totally being ignored by this odd girl in favorite of your Sharpedo. ]

[torrential]

[He's the cutest Sharpedo ever, Rosetta! The Sharpedo very happily rubs against Rosetta, shrieking happily in recognition. It's been quite awhile since he's seen her, right? It feels like it's been awhile anyway, despite the fact that his trainer was dead for the majority of that time.]

[But eh, details.]

[Archie stares at the pink-haired girl for a moment, trying to figure out if that really is Rosetta, and if so, what she's doing here. Probably the same thing he is - she probably just appeared here. He finally speaks.]

Rosetta...? That you?

[healpulse]

Eh? [ Upon hearing her name, Rosetta looks up at Archie in confusion. After all, it's not everyday a stranger knows your name.

Although, there's definitely something familiar about him...but she can't quite place a finger on it. Maybe when she was visiting another region?

...Nah, her memories are probably just messing with her as always. It would be hard to forget someone has huge as this guy. ]

Yeah, that's my name. How'd ya know?

[torrential]

[That catches him off-guard. She doesn't remember him? How is that possible? Or maybe... she's not the same Rosetta? It's another girl who just happens to look like her and has the same name...? But what are the odds of that?]

We met on Awesome Island. You don't remember me?

[The Sharpedo ignores his trainer's confusion, continuing to rub on Rosetta affectionately.]

[entertheninja]

[Smoke bomb]

STOP, FIEND.

CRIMINALS HAVE NO PLACE HERE.

SURRENDER YOUR POKEMON AND POSSIBLY POKEMON FOOD TO ME AND I WON'T HURT YOU.

[torrential]

[AKERLWKEMKSNLEK WHAT WAS THAT]

Yeah right, I'm not surrenderin' to anyone!

[Archie laughs, reaching for a second Pokéball. It's been awhile since he's had a battle.]

Bring it on!

[entertheninja]

[Koga is a bit surprised that a member from Hoenn's infamous Aqua Team would be ready to battle an actual Elite Four, given that elite Fours are so much better at fighting, breeding, training, and everything else you can do witha pokemon. You name it, Koga is better than you at it.

This would've been the case if his pokemon weren't starving to death. It's not usual for him to be this careless, but it is also unusual for him to be in a completely foreign land, trying to stay alert and in the shadows the whole time. It's not easy being a ninja.]

I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR A TRIVIAL FIGHT, CRIMINAL.

AND IN ANy case that wouldn't even matter if it weren't for my current state of faint status, it's not like you would care anyway so I won't even bring it up BUT! I SUGGEST YOU GO NOW, FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO LOOT, THIS PLACE IS UNDER THE EYE OF THE ELITE FOUR NOW. BE WARNED.

[SMOKE BOMB.]

[But... instead of disappearing, a wind of gust catches Koga unprepared and in the middle of tiptoeing outside of view.]

[torrential]

[Oh come on, he's heedless of danger! Besides, he enjoys fighting against people he can't possibly win against!]

Oh c'mon, I was lookin' forward to a fight. Yeah, yeah, I'm not plannin' on doin' anything here anyway.

[Archie rolls his eyes at the smoke bomb, and stifles a laugh when Koga's escape attempt fails.]

Hey, in the future, you might wanna make sure it's not too windy when you use those things! Just sayin'!

LATE TO THE PARTY BUT HI

[foolsgoal]

[Here's a familiar green-eyed idiot wandering around with the same look as the rest of the new people, and murmuring that it doesn't look like anywhere in Hoenn or Johto . In his typical accent, of course.

And then he spots you, and if the bandana didn't give you away, the Sharpedo certainly did.]

Should've known ya'd be here.

'SUP BB

[torrential]

[Adrian? It feels like it's been forever since he last saw you. Despite the fact that he's been dead and would have no knowledge of how much time has passed. Huh.]

Can't get rid of me that easily, kid.

[That said, he's looking quite pleased. It's good to see a familiar face, even if it is someone who's opposed him.]

So I take it you just found yourself here too?

ARCHIE'S BACK IN ACTION AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS RN

[foolsgoal]

I thought I might finally be free'v ya for a while! After y'went'n disappeared for seven months... [You might not remember so well, but he sure does, and you know what? He's still mad.

And he owes you a punch to the face.

So he'll be doing that now. It's been a long time coming, and he does have farmerboy muscles, so that punch? Is going to hurt if it hits.]

\o/!!!!

[torrential]

Seven months? No way.

[That's not possible. It couldn't have been that long.]

[That punch says otherwise, however. Archie's fast - his reflexes haven't dulled any in the span of seven months - he catches the punch before it can connect, but it's hard. Archie has been in plenty of fights and he's never really been outclassed, but hell, he didn't expect Adrian to be this powerful.]

What the hell're you doin'? Calm down! Punchin' me's not gonna solve anythin'!